The Institute of Statistics (INSTAT) marked its 27th founding anniversary with a celebration themed “Linking Legacies, Shaping Futures”. This year’s events brought together students, faculty, and alumni to honor the institute’s enduring contributions while looking for new opportunities in education, research, and public service.
The celebration began with a research symposium on 22 February 2025, featuring talks from distinguished alumni. Dr. Alan Prahutama, a recent graduate of the UPLB PhD Statistics program, and alumni Mr. Joseph Albert Niño M. Bulan (UPLB BS Statistics Class of 2012) and Mr. Joe Marvin P. Alpuerto (UPLB BS Statistics Class of 2007) shared insights on non-traditional data sources, machine learning applications in survey data, and poverty mapping. The symposium highlighted the expanding role of statistics in addressing real-world challenges.
The INSTAT Family Day was filled with energy as more than a hundred faculty members and students came together for the Boodle Fight, a tradition that has become a staple of INSTAT celebrations. The event followed the highly anticipated Skewed Game, the institute’s own take on the Netflix hit “Squid Game,” where students competed in various challenges to win cash prizes for their batch.
Bringing back a crowd favorite, the INSTAT Faculty Bluff made its return after last year’s success. Participants tested their ability to spot deception as Assoc. Prof. Liza N. Comia, Asst. Prof. James Roldan S. Reyes, and Asst. Prof. Mark Jay P. Dating took on the roles of Faculty Bluffers, answering questions that were often stranger than fiction. The team led by Ms. Excell Joy V. Magno, an institute newcomer, secured the top spot with the highest points. Adding to the excitement, the Faculty Bluffers took on an impromptu performance as Madame Oracle, an enigmatic seer who could only answer audience questions one word at a time, much to the amusement of those in attendance.
The event concluded with the awarding of College Scholars and University Scholars for the Second Semester AY 2023-2024 and the First Semester AY 2024-2025, led by Asst. Prof. Reanne Len C. Arlan of the INSTAT Scholarships, Honors, and Awards Committee.
As INSTAT moves forward, the 27th anniversary celebration served as a reminder of its strong community and commitment to shaping the future of statistics through education, research, and public service.
~ Jeremiah R. Ventura
