With a strong commitment to hands-on learning and future-ready education, the Training, Information, and Communication Section of the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University–Sericulture Research and Development Institute (DMMMSU–SRDI) launched a 30-day intensive training on silk production, held from June 16 to July 16, 2025.
The program welcomed 22 third-year Biology students from the College of Arts and Sciences, South La Union Campus (SLUC), providing them with immersive learning experiences that connect classroom knowledge with real-world practices in sericulture.
The opening program began with a warm welcome from Ms. Maricris E. Ulat, Section Head, followed by an orientation from Ms. Crestilyn N. Damasco, Training Coordinator. In her message, Ms. Damasco highlighted the program’s goals: to develop responsible, competent, and globally competitive professionals by grounding their scientific knowledge in hands-on silk production processes.
Throughout the training, participants will be exposed to the full cycle of silk production, from mulberry cultivation and silkworm rearing to post-cocoon processing and silk yarn production, with a strong emphasis on laboratory-based instruction and experiential learning.
To cultivate a sense of community and shared purpose, each student introduced themselves at the start of the program, sharing their academic background, interest in sericulture, and personal goals for the training. This interactive start helped set a collaborative and engaging tone for the journey ahead.
As part of their orientation, the students also paid a courtesy visit to SRDI Executive Director Dr. Cristeta F. Gapuz, who welcomed them with words of encouragement. Dr. Gapuz emphasized the growing importance of sericulture as both a scientific and economic field, and underscored how experiences like this training can lay a strong foundation for their professional and personal growth. (By Maricris E. Ulat and Crestilyn N. Damasco)

