Written by: Ma. Shara Micah Oliquino
The University of the Philippines Resilience Institute (UP RI) officially concluded its Midyear 2026 Internship Program last 17 July 2026, celebrating the accomplishments of its second cohort of 32 interns during the program’s culminating activity. Together with the first cohort, the program graduated a total of 63 interns from various academic institutions and disciplines, equipping them with practical experience through hands-on learning, mentorship, and meaningful contributions to the Institute’s resilience initiatives.Throughout the month-long program, interns worked alongside UP RI mentors and staff, gaining practical experience while supporting the Institute’s mission of advancing climate and disaster resilience in the Philippines.
Beyond their assigned projects, interns also participated in activities that fostered reflection and camaraderie. A Kumustahan session provided a space for interns to share their experiences, celebrate milestones, and learn from one another, while Interns’ Night encouraged meaningful connections across divisions through games and team building.
The Batch 2 Internship Program for Midyear 2026 concluded with presentations from interns assigned to the Education Division, Knowledge Sharing Division (KS), Research and Creative Work (RCW), Institution Building (IB), NOAH Hazard Assessment Team (NOAH HAT), NOAH Flood Modelling Component (NOAH FMC), and NOAH WebGIS. Together, they showcased projects that reflected the breadth of UP RI’s work, from resilience education and knowledge sharing to research, hazard assessment, flood modelling, institutional development, and geospatial information systems.
Apart from the technical skills gained during the internship period, the presentations also reflected the interns’ growth in communication, teamwork, adaptability, and problem solving, as well as their appreciation for the guidance and mentorship they received from UP RI throughout the program.
Wrapping up the culmination program, UP RI Education Division Director Dr. Bernard Alan “BA” Racoma reflected on the interns’ journey over the past month, recalling how they had grown from strangers into a community of learners and collaborators. He encouraged them to stay connected with one another and with their supervisors, emphasizing that resilience is built through collaboration across disciplines and teams. Echoing this year’s National Disaster Resilience Month (NDRM) theme “NAGHAHANDA at KUMIKILOS Tungo sa PANATAG na BAGONG PILIPINAS,” Dr. Racoma reminded the interns that preparedness begins long before disasters occur and expressed hope that the program had inspired them to carry the values of resilience, service, and lifelong learning into their future careers.
The UP RI Internship Program continues to provide students with meaningful opportunities to apply classroom learning in real-world settings while contributing to the Institute’s resilience initiatives. As another successful internship cycle comes to a close, UP RI extends its sincere appreciation to all interns, supervisors, mentors, and partner institutions for making the program a meaningful and rewarding learning experience.
Related stories:
- UPRI Concludes Batch 1 of its 2026 Internship Program.
https://resilience.up.edu.ph/upri-concludes-batch-1-of-its-2026-internship-program/
- BRAVE AKO 101 Kicks off with Fundamentals of Resilience Session.
https://resilience.up.edu.ph/brave-ako-101-kicks-off-with-fundamentals-of-resilience-session/