Maria Cresilda M. Caning | Phillippines

Maria Cresilda M. Caning is an teaches agribusiness management subjects while also leading research projects and extension activities at the College of Economics and Management of the Central Bicol State University of Agriculture, Philippines.

She is a member of the Regional Quality Assurance Team of the Commission for Higher Education for Agribusiness.  Her current focus is a research project titled “Innovation and Resiliency of the Food Processing Industry in the Bicol Region” and an extension activity “Promoting livelihood resiliency among small farmers and fisherfolks”.  

Cres has also conducted research in the fields of value chains, industry analysis, social capital and e-commerce and innovation adoption. More recently her interest has turned to studying female entrepreneurs and their business models.

Over time, Cres has observed the need to work on enhancing the financial literacy and livelihood capability of select marginalized communities within her province and so has instigated community development activities that focus upon enhancing livelihood capability [particularly of women] and developing their appreciation for prudent fiscal management. 

A life-long learner Cres believes that education is a great equalizer.  She is a Doctorate of Business Administration candidate at the De La Salle University.  In 2001 Cres was granted an AusAid scholarship which allowed her to pursue a Master in Agribusiness at the University of Queensland, Gatton Campus. She also holds an MBA from Ateneo de Manila and an undergraduate degree in Agribusiness from the University of the Philippines at Los Banos.   

Receiving an AusAid Scholarship was important to Cres as it signalled a change in her mindset and allowed her to believe that anything is possible. In turn she now tries to inculcate her students and colleagues with this same energy and optimism.   

In 2019, Cres received the Distinguished Alumni Award for Higher Education Governance given by the UPLB Alumni Association on the occasion of the 101st Loyalty Day Celebration of UPLB.

Despite her workload, Cres considers work-life balance as essential and says that since Filipinos love to eat – cooking and eating is her number one method for keeping a strong family connection and enjoying life.