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November-December
2001 Issue |
Headlines
| Campus Events | Alumni Affairs
| Rectors Standpoint | Sports
News
Perspectives | Editorial
| Featured News | Campus
Personalities
| Headlines |
BATCH ’76 HOSTS ALUMNI HOMECOMING
Batch of 1976 hosted this year’s
alumni homecoming last November 24, 2001.
A general alumni membership meeting took place
earlier in the program. This was followed by a concelebrated mass
where Rev. Fr. Edwin A. Lao, O.P. was the main celebrant.
The Jubilarians were presented to the alumni
followed by the presentation of the reports by Mr. Jose Maria
Aligada and Mr. Armin Sarthou, Jr., the alumni association’s
president and treasurer, respectively.
Outstanding alumni were given the following awards:
The “Fray Diego De Sta Maria”
Most Distinguished Alumnus Award was given to H.E. Prof.
Dr. Enrique P. Syquia and Dr. Augusto D. Litonjua.
Prof. Dr. Enrique Syquia who is from primary batch ‘39 and intermediate
batch ‘49 was the honorary general of the Hashemite, Kingdom of
Jordan in the Philippines from 1987 to 1996. Currently, he is the
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Sovereign
Military Order of Malta to the Philippines.
He finished Bachelor of Laws as Magna Cum Laude at
University of Santo Tomas while he graduated Sobresaliente in Doctor
of Laws at University of Madrid.
Dr. Augusto Litonjua the
second awardee, graduated valedictorian both in his Primary and
Intermediate levels. He continued his studies at University of the
Philippines where he obtained a medical degree. He went to
Massachusetts General Hospital where he was a research fellow in the
thyroid clinic. He later became physician of the Diabetes Clinic of
the Boston City Hospital.
Now, he is a Professor Emeritus at the College of
Medicine at the University of the Philippines. Also, the Chairman of Medicine and Chief of Endocrinology at the
Makati Medical Center as well as a consultant at Manila Doctor’s
Hospital.
Dr. Litonjua is the author of 4 books in
endocrinology and has written 5 chapters in books and about 71
articles in medicine in lay publications both here and abroad.
The “Don Juan Geronimo Guerrero” Letranism
Award was granted to Fr. Pompeyo De Mesa, O.P. Fr.
de Mesa is a true Letran Knight. He finished Elementary grades in
1950 and High School in 1954.
In 1975 he became the Rector and President of
Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Manila. He is currently the Regent of
the College of Science at the University of Sto. Tomas. He was
awarded the Outstanding Professional for Ecclesiastical Service in
1974. In the interim he was Letran Alumni Association (LAA) board
member from 1990 to 1995 and LAA President from 1996 to 1997.
The Outstanding Professional Award was given
to the following: Gen. Edilberto Adan, Dr. Isabelo Ongtengco,
Mr. William Uy and Mr. Al Francis Chua.
Gen. Edilberto Adan, the first awardee, graduated from the Elementary in
1960.
A young graduate of the Philippine Military Academy
in 1972, he served in the 26th Infantry Battalion where he saw action for the
first time defending Marawi from 400 rebel. He has an MBM degree
from the Asian Institute of Management.
The next awardee is Dr. Isabelo V. Ongtenco.
He has the distinction of being the first Filipino Cardiologist to
perform Mitral Balloon Valvuloplasty at the St. Lukes Medical Center
together with two other doctors.
Dr. Ongtengco is involved in charity work at St.
Martin de Porres Charity Hospital as consultant in Internal Medicine
and Cardiology. He is also the Chairman of the Department of
Medicine from 1984 to 1998. Meanwhile, in the field of the academe,
he is an Associate Professor and Associate Dean at the St. Lukes
College of Medicine at William H. Quasha Memorial.
The third awardee is Mr. William Carlos Uy a businessman.
Mr. Uy finished his secondary education in the
Colegio in 1960. He pursued his commerce degree in the same
institution and graduated in 1964.
A loyal and generous Letranite, he is now chairman
and president of Parity Values, Inc., Trade Demands Corp. and
Liberty Commodities Corp. He is also the vice-chairman and senior
vice-president of Liberty Flour Mills as well as director of Aghem
Manufacturing Corp., Malayan Bank and CCC Insurance Corp.
He was the recipient of a special award for a
feeding program and a special performance award from the Rotary Club
of Mandaluyong.
Mr. Al Francis Chua, an awardee, was the basketball coach in 1987 at
University of Santo Tomas Juniors. In 1995 he became coach of STAG
in the PBL and the team won three conferences. In the same year he
was appointed assistant coach of the SEA games where the Philippines
emerged as champion. He was also named coach of the Year of PBL in
1995. He was assistant coach of Pop Cola in 1998 and he coached
Tanduay from 1999 to 2000.
Atty. Leonard De Vera, the next awardee is an active trial civil,
criminal and commercial cases lawyer was among the very first to
file criminal plunder cases against the officials of the former
administration. He is presently the legal counsel of two high
profile individuals Mary Ong (Rosebud) and Danny Devnani.
Congressman Rodolfo Bacani the final awardee, is the primary proponent of
Sariling Sikap. Self-help Projects in Manila. Through the Bacani
Foundation he established the Bacani Computer Training Center in
Sampaloc where free computer courses are given to unprivileged but
deserving residents.
He is also the founding father of the Bacani
Livelihood center and the Filipinas-Nippon International Training
Foundation, Inc. The Bacani Livelihood Center provides free training
programs in high-speed sewing, hotel and restaurant management,
tailoring, dressmaking, quilting, cosmetology and food processing
for the residents of the 4th district.
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| Campus Events |
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LETRAN 6TH MEMBER OF THE NETWORK OF RESEARCH
CENTERS
Mr. Raem Mendoza, Chairman of Marketing and Entrepreneur Area was invited to the First
Lambat-Liwanag Conference on Empowering
Paradigm under the joint auspices of the SANIBLAKAS NG
TAONGBAYAN FOUNDATION, the LAMBAT-LIWANAG
NETWORKS and the Social Research Center of the University of Santo Tomas.
The conference was held at Chiang Ching-Kuo Hall, Central
Library Building at the University of Santo Tomas on October.
26,2001. This was a crucial event in a process seeking to facilitate
a “Dynamic Directioning and Synergy-Building for Research Work
of Universities and Colleges in the Philippines to face the
challenge of the New Millennium”.
Mr. Mendoza joined other participants from various
universities and colleges. Fifteen
empowering paradigms were developed and refined to be mainstreamed
in education and policy making in our society.
This process would go a long way in energizing not only the
academe but the entire nation in terms of transformative
consciousness against decisive and disempowering paradigms that have
dominated our lives from centuries.
The group approved and endorsed to the body the following
bullet-point summaries on the empowering paradigm on education,
namely;
·
Seeking light as pursuit of reason and not mere knowledge;
·
Promotion of seeking and sharing wisdom and knowledge as the
basic process in education;
·
“Reinventing” the teacher as a “sharing and learning
facilitator” and of textbook as channel of learning instead of
authoritative “last word” of anything;
·
“Reinventing” the school as a “sharing and learning
community” firmly rooted in the bigger community of stakeholder.
·
Recognition and enhancement of sources of skills and
knowledge outside the school systems;
·
Promotion of less-structured education systems for children
that would encourage and enhance intuition, aesthetic appreciation
and creativity, respect for self and others, love for all life;
predisposition to team play, and basic spirituality;
·
Critique and repudiation of current data-memorization based,
competition driven, grades indicated, teacher-centered and
commercialized education system, programs and policies.
Mr. Mendoza’s participation in the conference led to the
admission of Colegio de San Juan de Letran as a the newest member
school in the network.
Founding members of the Research Centers Network include
the Asian Social Institute (ASI); Pamamtasan Ng Lungsod Ng Maynila (PLM);
Philippine Normal University (PNU); Philippine Science and
Technology Center (PSTC); Polytechnic
University of the Philippines(PUP); University of the
Philippines (UP); and University of Santo Tomas (UST).
GRADUATING
STUDENTS ATTEND CAREER SYMPOSIUM
The High School Guidance Office once again sponsored its
annual Career Symposium for graduating Letranites. The event took
place last September 3, 2001 at the St. Thomas Building.
Mrs. Marilen Mintu and Mrs. Cecille Sanidad, High School
Guidance Counselors, organized the symposium. Mrs. Carmelita Pascual,
Languages Area Coordinator, advised the students to choose their
career wisely and follow their dreams with fervent enthusiasm as her
opening remark.
A College counselor in the said activity discussed topics
on college life. She gave a quick glimpse on what students should
expect and how to cope with the
stresses of college life. Different representatives from
various colleges and universities were invited to talk about their
schools. The schools participated were University of Santo Tomas, De
La Salle University, Aviation Flight School, Centro Escolar
University, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, and our very own
Colegio de San Juan de Letran. There were film showings, inquiry
service and distribution of brochures.
The symposium ended with a closing remarks delivered by Mr.
Edgar Garino. Application forms were also made available after the
symposium. The Colegio held its commencement exercises for the
graduates of May and October 2001.
The ceremony took place at the newly built San Vicente Liem
de la Paz Student Center Auditorium.
COUNSELORS ATTEND SEMINAR ON STRESS MANAGEMENT
College counselors, Manuel Correa, Xutchil Espiritu and
Amy Tabing attended a Seminar-Workshop on Stress Management held
at La Salle Greenhills last November 14, 2001. It was participated
in by educators and counselors of different colleges and
universities.
Iota Phi and La Salle organized the seminar with Dr.
Julian Melgosa, author of the book,”Less Stress”; and
Dr. William Andress, medical practitioner as resource
speakers.
The effects of stress on psychological and physiological
health were discussed. But
the focus was on the right attitudes to stressful situations. As Dr. Melgosa put it: “ Stress becomes negative when one
responds to it negatively. The
speakers also demonstrated relaxation techniques to the
participants.
SQUIRES ATTEND 43RD CMLI CONVENTION
The Colegio sent out its chosen delegates to the 43rd Children’s Museum and Library Incorporated (CMLI) Annual
Convention at Teacher’s Camp, Baguio City on October 22-27, 2001.
Fifteen high school students were given the privilege to participate
in the convention and to represent the Colegio. For six days various
contests, seminars and workshops were held.
On October 23, 2001, the
two debate team rivals - Letran
and CSA met for their final match to determine who will bring back
the prestigious Balboa Cup to their alma mater. The resolution for
the debate was: Resolve that Negotiation is the Answer to Terrorism.
Master Jonathan Yabut, team captain, with Master Jed Andrei Yabut,
Master Bryan Atienza and Master Erickson Dino, led the team to the
last match. The Colegio
San Agustin-Makati bagged the coveted Balboa Cup.
Eleven delegates joined the Sigaw 2001 at the convention.
Students had undergone rigid training under the supervision of Mr.
Larry Legaspi and Mrs. Carmelita Pascual. Jonathan Yabut and Master
Aries, a college student, choreographed the presentation. The
squireswere able to progress to the finals, performing in the
presentation night.
Master Joseph Emman Pineda, a senior student, was elected
as Region 4 Counselor of the Junior Council National Executive Board
(JC-NEB). After undergoing numerous screening, he won the favor of
the voting delegates. With the other 14 delegates from other
schools, he would aid in organizing the next CMLI convention.
“I’m very proud to have brought honor to our school in the CMLI.
I’ll try my best to make the Colegio ‘shine’ again!” he
proudly commented.
In
the Competition for Excellence (CFE), Master Jed Andrei Yabut, a
junior student from 319 won in the English broadcasting competition.
Winning the first prize, he bested candidates from the other 50
competing schools. “We would do better in our next batch!” he
exclaimed after going up the stage to receive his medal.
FRESHMEN ATTEND
STUDY HABITS SEMINAR
The Guidance & Counseling Center conducted a Seminar on
Study Habits to selected first year students last November 23, 2001
at the Mabini Hall. The
seminar was given since it was identified that majority of the
concerns of the students is academic in nature.
The topics discussed were obstacles to studying and its
solution. The talk was
given by a Letran alumnus, Mr. Alvin Bautista, who is currently the
School Director of Queen of Angels Learning Center.
CBAA HOLDS OPERATIONAL PLANNING
The College of Business Administration and
Accountancy (CBAA) conducted this year’s Operational Planning at
the new St. Liem dela Paz Student Center last October 29-30, 2001.
Led by the
College Dean, Dr. Nancy L. Eleria, assisted by Mr. Rey Tiambeng,
Administrative Assistant, the activity was participated in by all
full-time and selected part-time faculty members with the CBAA Area
Heads.
The two-day planning sessions commenced with the
orientation and an inspirational talk by Rev. Fr. Edwin A. Lao, O.P.,
Rector and President. He emphasized the significance of the
Colegio’s Vision-Mission Statement
which accordingly set the preconditions for the programs that
the Department would outline for next school year. Among the various
aspects considered in the operational planning were the programs for
faculty development, program of studies, facilities, students,
administration and linkages / community involvement.
Dr. Eleria also lectured on the SWOT Analysis tool and the budgeting
procedures.
Despite the tight schedule given, the participants per area
were able to complete their operational plans which were presented
to the whole body for evaluation.
Go Top
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
AND MARKETING AREA HEAD ATTENDS AGORA AWARDS NIGHT
Mr. Raem Mendoza, Entrepreneurship and Marketing Area Head,
who is also an active member of the Association of Marketing
educators (AME) attended the Agora Awards Noght at the Grand
Ballroom of the Hotel Intercontinental Manila on November 16, 2001.
It was an evening of fun laced with Filipino songs in honor
of our new heroes.
The Agora Awards is an annual recognition given to
individuals in different fields in recognition of their pride in
their enterprise, passion and perseverance in the pursuit of
excellence.
This
year’s Agora Awardees are:
I. Marketing Company of the Year:
United Laboratories
II. Outstanding Achievement In
Marketing Education
Mr. Tomas B. Lopez, Jr.,
Professor, Asian Institute of Management (AIM)
III. Outstanding Achievement in Entrepreneurship-
Large Scale : Abraham F. Pascual, Ph.D
Chairman and CEO Pascual Laboratories Group
IV. Outstanding Achievement in Entreprenuership (small to
medium scale): Mr. Amable C. Aguiluz IX, President,
ACA Video & Lasertech, Inc.
V. Outstanding
achievement In Export Marketing:
Mr. Luis Raymundo F. Villafuerte, Jr.,
President of Lara’s Gift and Decors, Inc.
VI. ASIA PACIFIC Agora Award for
Marketing Excellence: Mr.
Cesar M. Dela Cruz, Deputy CEO PT. Indo food sukses Makm ur
TBK Gedung Ariobimo Sentra, Indonesia
MATH CHAIR ATTENDS CONFERENCE
Mr. Enrico V. Torres, chairperson of the
Mathematics Area of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS)
attended the BIENNIAL CONFERENCE 2001 sponsored and organized by the
Philippine Council of Mathematics Teacher Educators (MATHED, Inc.)
held last October 19-20, 2001 at Rasco’s Woodland, Guimbal, Iloilo.
This year’s theme was “Curricular Issues and New
Technologies”. It was attended by mathematics teachers all
over the country and was hosted by the West Visayas State University
(WVSU). The welcome address was delivered by Dr. Lourdes C. Aranadar
of the WVSU, Iloilo Mayor Oscar Richard Garin and Congressman Oscar
Garin.
The conference got the best in the field of mathematics
education as distinguished speakers with the likes of Dr. Milagros
Ibe of Merriam College, Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, S.J. of the Ateneo De
Manila University and Dr. Maxima Acelajado of the De La Salle
University-Taft. Foreign guest speakers who graced the event were
Dr. Jorge Urrutia from Mexico and Prof. Dede de Han from the
Netherlands, who is a visiting lecturer at the University of San
Carlos.
“The conference and its theme is a relevant one as we
examine seriously our performance problem in mathematics education
as revealed in the Third International Mathematics and Science Study
(TIMSS) and TIMSS-Repeat”, said Dr. Ester B. Ogena, the Director
of the Science Education Institute of the Department of Science and
Technology (DOST). The two-day conference held plenary and parallel
sessions as well as workshops for the participants
CLAS HOLDS DEPARTMENTAL PLANNING IN LAGUNA
The CLAS Department, headed by
the Dean, Dr. Myrna A. Torreliza prepared and planned programs and
strategies for school year 2002-2003 at Lagos Del Sol, Cavinti,
Laguna last October 22-23. This was participated in by Mr. Reynaldo
Javier, the Administrative Assistant, the CLAS area heads and some
faculty members.
The group was able to improve
the syllabi, curriculum and other plans that will help the
department provide quality education to the students.
The said activity became the venue for
the finalization and presentation of the propositions made by the
different areas, namely: Social Science, Languages, Natural Science,
Psychology, Communication Arts, Physical Education, Theology and
Math. Each area devoted two and a half days to map out schemes and
other improvements outlined last October 17-19 at the Letran Campus.
In this planning, all the faculty members contributed ideas as to
how the program of instruction can best be implemented and how the
syllabi can be enriched.
The participants were able to align the goals, strategies
and activities to be implemented next school year based on the
Colegio’s Four-Year Development Plan.
LETRANITES WITNESS A WORLD-KNOWN PLAY FROM IPAG
The Integrated Performing Arts Guild
popularly known as IPAG, recently performed for the first time in
Letran’s newly built auditorium at the St. Liem de la Paz Student
Center. The group is
from Iligan. They are
students of the MSU- Iligan Institute of Technology. They have been
performing for almost 24 years now here and abroad. Some of the
countries they have already visited
were France, Belgium, Thailand.
Next year the IPAG performers
will be the representatives of the Philippines in Brazil for the
World’s Culture Exhibition.
HS DEPARTMENT HOLDS DANCE FEST 2001
The annually held Dance Festival has once again ended
fruitfully. This year the PEHM Area, headed by Mr. Cesar Suratos set
a new format wherein each section
competed against all other sections.
There were two categories: the Modern Dance and the Ballroom
Dance. An Elimination Round was also conducted last September
at the Quezon Hall.
The Finals for the Dance Fest were held at the Letran
Gymnasium in the afternoon of October 12 . The winners of the Dance
Fest are as follows:
MODERN DANCE
BALLROOM DANCE
Champion
IV - 217
III
– 319
1st runner-up
III - 319
III – 316
2nd runner-up
I – 414
I – 417
3rd runner-up
II – 418
I – 414
PAGES CELEBRATE ECOLOGY MONTH
November is the month of Ecology for the Elementary
Department. The month-long celebration was launched last November 5,
2001 by the Science teachers headed by Mr. Jimmy Gallo with the
theme “Preserve Nature For Our Future. Let’s Go For It”.
Master Abram Andrew Lumbang of VI-33 delivered some information
about Ecology. There were activities in Science from Prep to Grade
VI to make the celebration more meaningful to the pupils and to
enhance their knowledge about the subject. Each class put up
bulletin board displays about Preservation of Nature in their
respective room. The
celebration culminated with an Ecology Exhibit at the Pages’
Lounge on November 29.
Go Top |
| Alumni Affairs |
|
LETRAN ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD MEETING
The Letran Alumni Association, Inc. has
elected a new Board of Directors for 2002-2003 last November 24,
2001. The new board is composed of George Abeto, H.S. ‘72, Mario
Alberto Aligada, H.S. ‘77, Enrique Ambat, Col. ‘83, Marcail
Orlando Balgos Jr., Elem. ‘74, Ponciano Bautista, H.S. ‘78,
Gilbert de Ocampo, H.S. ‘63, Gilbert Legaspi, H.S. ‘67, George
Mariano, Col. ‘77, Jesus Mendoza Jr., H.S. ‘60, Federico Ortiz
III, H.S. ‘68, Domingo Patajo, Elem. ‘68, Edmundo Reyes, Col.
‘78, Armin Sarthou, H.S. ‘76, Ramon Tabuena, Col. ‘61 and
Jose Luis Zabala, Col. ‘78.
During the joint meeting of the out-going and in-coming
boards last December 4, 2001 at the St. Liem de la Paz Student Center, the following were elected as the new
officers of the LAA for 2002-2003: Mario Alberto Aligada,
Secretary; George Mariano, Treasurer; George Abeto, Vice-President
and Armin Sarthou, President.
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|
| Rector's Standpoint |
Email me here  :
rector@letran.edu
Perhaps, all of you are familiar with
the famous story of the Little Prince. I would like to begin my
speech to point out some important details of the story, relating
them to what we are celebrating this evening. On the surface, the
Little Prince is a short story for children, but in reality it is
a story of a child written for grown-ups or in a larger picture it
is a story of going back . . . . a return to childhood.
Welcome Letranites to this Saturday gathering of
reminiscing your old days. Your Alma Mater who is the sole witness
of your happy memories welcomes you with open arms. I can surmise
that most of your topics as you mingle around with your batchmates
are your “kalokohan” and “kakulitan” during
the old days . . . . how you used to cram for research works and
the pressures of daily quizzes and recitations. It seems that time
really flies. Look at you now, some of you are already known in
the industry; others have established their names in different
sectors, be it in private or in public; still others, already
contributed much for the progress of our country. Now you’ll
realize that the charming little prince is molded to become a real
gentleman, a knight, responsive to the calls of Deus, Patria and
even Letran.
Do you still remember the Little Prince’s interplanetary
travel that brought him to Earth where he learned the secrets of
what is really important in life? Once in your life’s journey,
you came across Letran . . . . your second home who taught you
from the basic principles of counting and writing to the more
serious approach in understanding human life. Yes, dear alumni, we
welcome you back to the Colegio to share with you the decades of
learning you have gained since your days here.
The world of Letran was a very different place when you
first entered. The administration continuously strives to give the
best to its students in terms of quality facilities. New
generation of Letranites now have the St. Thomas Building or what
they usually call the Megamall because of its structure, the San
Vicente Liem de la Paz Dormitory and the newly-inaugurated St.
Liem Student Center where we have our new auditorium. Letran now
can even boast of its television studio, video editing room, the
computer laboratories and air-conditioned classrooms. And the list
goes on. We did not get where we are today by standing still. Many
factors contributed to these changes and honestly you are on of
our inspirations. For as long as you are there, we will continue
to change and we will go on changing for the next generations of
Letranites.
We have a lot of things to be proud of here in Letran.
Aside from the common heroes and presidents like Aguinaldo, Osmeña
and Mabini, we also have you. Your integrity and sense of
leadership motivate young Letranites to follow in
your footsteps . . . . maybe not exactly in the same
package but at least on the training and formation you had, they
have and will have in Letran.
I can confidently say that you have made your own steps to
live in the ideals of Deus and Patria. Letran is now counting on
your support. I am giving you this challenge. I am passing on the
responsibility to your hands. For sure you will love to see as
many as little prince grow up in a manner you were trained and
developed.
There are so much things we need to do. There are so much
things that you can do.
Again, Letran kingdom celebrates as She welcomes your
majesty.
Live long . . . . and prosper! Arriba Letran!
Go Top |
| Sports News |
LETRAN SQUIRES
CHAMPIONSHIP
The Letran Squires grabbed the 77th
National Collegiate Athletics Association Juniors’ Basketball
Division over the expense of the San Beda Red Cubs, 63-61 in
overtime at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum last October 5, 2001.
Letran drew the first blood in the beset of three
championship series with a 74-69 win in Game one. But the Red Cubs
even the series by winning in Game 2 with a ten point, 8--70 final
score.
But Game 3 was the climax of the series. It’s a
do-or-die game with the NCAA title at stake. It’s the survival of
the fittest and the Squires proved that they more deserve
the crown.
The Squires not just won the title but also ended a
15 year Juniors’ championship title drought since 1985, and nailed
the jinx together with the Red Cubs.
Letran lost last season’s championship to Mapua
Red Robins after an outstanding 14 game sweep during the elimination
round. Last season’s frustration made the Squires hunger more for
championship.
This time, the Squires returned back at the Red
Robins after sending them on an early vacation after the semi-final
round.
Squire cager Jay-R Reyes was named
Rookie-of-the-Year and Most Valuable Player at the same time. Also
included in the Squires’ line up were Mark Anthony Balneg, Oliver
Cua, Rafael Joey Jazul, Agerico de Rama, Joseph Samson, Edward
Angustia, Andrew Ryan Dacanay, Ray Francis Guevarra, Rico Cariño,
Brian Jeffrey Javier, Juanito Quiamco III, and team Captain John
Christopher Intal, with former Knight Jing Ruiz as head coach and
Elmer Latonco, and Robert Joseph Guevarra as asst. coach.
HS AWARDS MISS
INTRAMURALS 2001
Attractive and stunning muses were presented to the High
School crowd during the opening ceremonies of the Intramurals 2001.
All the ladies were poised and showed off their beauty. They were
cheered by the students as they walked down the aisle to represent
each class. Three
lovely ladies were lucky to be chosen.
Miss Kristine Gay Santiangco
representing
III-316 is the second runner up. She is a 3rd
year college student and is taking up BS Accountancy here in Letran.
She joined the search for Miss Accounting and the modeling practices
during the pageant helped. She is also one of the cheerleaders in
our school and her cheering exposure made her feel confident in
front of a large number of people especially in front of the High
School students.
The natural look displayed by Miss Roxanne Tan Gonzales
made her first runner-up. She is a 4th
year High School student from Sienna College. She said that she just
acted naturally during the competition. She represented class
IV-315.
The crowd-favorite and very attractive lady, who
represented III-317, topped all the other candidates and was
proclaimed Miss Intramurals 2001 is no other than Miss Carla
Marie Manalac, a 3rd year college, BSE-SPED student
and is studying at St. Scholastica’s College in Manila.
Go Top |
Perspectives |
|
In His Time
Reasons Why Smart
People
Fail
People have sometimes experienced failure in any way. We
come to realize that the only way to avoid failure is never to
strive for success, to remain fixed where you are. But people as we
are, we can always learn from our failure, we have the power to
figure out what went wrong and correct it. We have the power to
change… for the better. Even someone as successful as Samuel
Beckett, a preeminent playwright, once wrote that he felt at home
with failure. Scrutiny of defeat is critical. One has to confront
his own failure to avoid committing the same failure again. Here are
the six most common reasons for failure, you might find yourself in
this list.
1.
Lack of social skills. Most people who fail for this reason
talk of “office politics” doing them in, but the politics may be
nothing more than normal interactions among people. If you have
trouble with “office politics”, you may really be having trouble
dealing with people. You may get along on brilliance alone for a
while, but most careers involve other people. You may have great
academic intelligence but lack social intelligence ( this is the
ability to be a good listener, to be sensitive toward others, to
give and take criticism well). People with high social intelligence
admit their mistakes, take their share of blame and move on. They
know how to build team support. Social intelligence is an acquired
skill. The more you practice, the better you get. Like good manners,
it can be learned.
2.
Wrong fit. Success requires fitting your abilities,
interests, personality, style and values with your work. The key
value is taking a risk. The core value is doing something
worthwhile.
3.
Absence of commitment. The imaginary terrors of failure loom
so large that non-committers try to prevent failure by not involving
themselves emotionally. Lack of self-esteem is a basic cause of
failure. To be committed- in deed, to be successful in anything- you
have to believe you can do it.
4.
Too scattered a focus. Some people do so many things that
they end up accomplishing nothing at all at the end of the day.
Refocusing is the main idea here. Recognizing your limitations,
establishing your priorities and organizing your ventures are
essential to success.
5.
Hidden barriers. Many times, ageism, sexism and racism are
used as the excuse for failure, but most of the time they are the
real reasons. The truth is that hidden barriers are very hard to
fight. More and more people are confronted with such obstacles. You
have to explore options- based on a truthful analysis of your
situation- to regain control of your life and your future.
6.
Bad luck. Sometimes things happen that you just can’t help.
When this happens, don’t blame yourself and always remember, you
are always given options.
Chance, accident, a hunch or a voice—who’s to say where
ideas come from? When nothing else works, listen to your inner
voices. Somewhere an idea may be lurking…just like now.
Opportunities come and go, and the direction that you have set out
may change yet again. But if you can think clearly about failure and
only if you realize that you are always given options, that you are
always given choices, you will have mastered an invaluable lesson.
People fail for many reasons. But failure is not the point
there, the point is—the best of people experience that. It is the
learning from failure that is special. We can always learn from our
failures…remember that. God bless.
ROTC IS NOW OPTIONAL
The issue on the
Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) as a mandatory course for
male students in the collegiate level has finally been resolved. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who
approved recently the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of
the National Service Law that made ROTC an optional course for male
college students in Metro Manila effective this second semester, SY
2001-2002 and next school year 2002-2003 for the rest of the
country.
Secretary Angelo Reyes of the
Department of National Defense revealed recently that the National
Service Program (NSP) as provided for by P.D. 1706 also known as the
National Service Program (NSP)
by P.D. 1706 also known as the “National Service Law”
will now have three (3) components or options and these are
-- Military Service (MS); Law Enforcement Service (LES)
and Civic Welfare Service (CWS) under the revised IRR.
Military service is one that
enhances military preparedness for national defense and internal
security. This is basically the ROTC. On the other hand, law
enforcements service is one which will assist law enforcers like
police and traffic enforcers in maintaining peace and order in the
community while civic welfare service is a service that contributes
to the general welfare and the betterment of the life of the members
of the community like those that would promote safety, health,
education, morale of the ROTC.
Under the IRR, a preference
survey shall be conducted by schools concerned to determine
individual choices for purposes of planning, organization and
control. And those who have rendered the required period of the
national service training shall be issued a certification and become
reservists in the National Service Force.
Thus, graduates of military
service (ROTC) will become AFP reservists. Those who finished the
LES will become police reserves and CWS graduates may be employed in
civic welfare brigades.
According to officials of the
Commission on Higher Education (CHED), students enrolled in the
expanded ROTC may either continue in the program component they are
currently enrolled in or shift to any of the other two components to
complete the number of training hours required for graduation.
Meanwhile, the CHED, in close
coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
have already issued implementing Guidelines and designed program of
instructions for the CWS while the Philippine National Police (PNP)
has undertaken similar preparation for the LES component.
The CHED had also issued a
memorandum to all colleges and universities to be ready for the
implementation of the National Service Program.
BEYOND
THE WALLS
Representatives of Colegio de San Juan de Letran
attended the opening of an exhibit of stage props and costumes
entitled “Hugis at Hubog” at the Metropolitan Museum last
November 13, 2001. On exhibit were elaborate and fascinating
costumes and props from local stage productions like the “The
Little Mermaid,” “Noli,” “Fili,” “Rent,” “Rama at
Sita and others. On display, too, were stage designs for plays and
for televelision productions. Spearheading the organizations that
put up the exhibit was Director Salvador Bernal, himself an
outstanding stage designer.
INSIDE
THE WALL
The Colegio de San Juan de Letran marked the 40th
day of the death of Cesar Sequera, former Letran basketball star on
November 10, 2001 with a mass celebrated by Rev. Fr. Edwin A. Lao,
O.P. Rector and President at the school’s chapel.
The memorial mass was organized by his teammate
former Manila Vice-Mayor, Herminio A. Astorga Sequera were members
of the legendary Murder Inc. the team which won for Letran the NCAA
basketball Championship in 1950.
The late Cesar de Sequera is survived by his wife
Rosario Carmen Alvin de Sequera and his children John Marie, Ma.
Luisa Asuncion, Ma. Cecilia, Ma. Rosario, Giovanni, Cesar Vicenzo
and Rosa Candida.
He graduated from the High School department in 1952
and took up his first two years in B.S.C. at the collegiate
department.
The mass was attended by some of his former
classmates, basketball coaches, Letran Seniors and relatives of the
de Sequeras.
MANILA TO UNDERGO MASSIVE FACELIFTING
To reaffirm that
the city of Manila is the premier city of our nation, the City
government recently revealed a multi-million rehabilitation plan to
revive Manila’s grandeur particularly the Quiapo and Sta. Cruz
districts as the main hub in the nation’s capital.
The ambitious rehabilitation
plan is part of Mayor Lito Atienza’s Program - “Buhayin ang
Maynila”. According to Mayor Atienza, the plan would serve to push
back urban decay that has plagued or enveloped the area caused by
years of neglect and apathy as he addressed businessmen, property
owners and potential investors in a press conference held recently.
The scheme was already
presented to the owners, investors and businessmen. And if they and
the city government agree, it is projected to be accomplished within
42 months (3 1/2 years) or about by April, 2004.
The plan initially will call
for the “total facelift” of Quiapo and Sta. Cruz Areas. This
includes the rennovation of at least 37 buildings along Rizal
Avenue, C.M. Recto Avenue, Soler and Evangelista streets.
It is further revealed that
most of the buildings would be connected by elevated and
air-conditioned bridgeways lined with shopping and food stalls. The
bridgeways will connect stations of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and
the future LRT Line 2 along C.M. Rector Avenue.
Air-conditioned ground level
walkways along the facade of some buildings would replace sidewalks
which would also be lined with shopping and food stalls.
Wide-conditioned overpass traversing roads would be set up to serve
as shopping walkways. This will eventually ease traffic snarls and
solve the proliferation of sidewalk vending.
Meanwhile, the Intramuros
Administration (IA) is continuously maintaining the old grandeur of
the Intramuros area by preserving its historical value amidst the
modern establishments and infrastructures around. Two main bridge
thorougfares in Manila, the Ayala and Quirino are having an overhaul
by strengthening their foundations conducted by the Department of
Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
If all of these
plans will be realized within the specified time frame, tourism in
the city will definitely get a big boost and this will have a ripple
effect in other major places nationwide. Because what Manila is
projecting to the eyes fo the world is what the world perceives
about our nation as a whole.
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RP’s UNEMPLOYMENT
Sad News for the Latest Batch of College Graduates
It’s quite
imperative for business organizations to recognize the importance
of its human resources to fully achieve its goals and objectives.
Thus, firms are exhausting all efforts to get the best qualified
individuals to work for them.
The supply for professional
labor for business firms comes mostly from colleges and
universities. With the present economic scenario, it is observed
that the supply of labor in the country exceeds the demand of the
industry. Thus, applying for a job has been a stiff competition
among job seekers, especially the new batch of graduates this year
which numbered less than a million. Limited jobs are available for
the new batch of graduates which pose a serious problem in our
society.
What are the factors
attributable to this? . . . . According to the Employer’s
Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) through its president, Mr.
Donald Dee, the following factors are, FIRST FACTOR. Wide
Gap Between the Needs of the Industry and the Skills Acquired by
the Graduates - this problem has been known for quite some
time, but nothing substantial has been accomplished on the part of
higher educational institutions. This mismatch often takes the
form of teaching graduates ending up as domestic helpers.
secretaries or entertainers.
Employers take the pain of
spending a lot of
money for the training of new recruits to adopt to their jobs and
continuously retraining their
workers to adopt to new technologies needed by of the times
the information age.
SECOND FACTOR. Business Firms are Only
Starting to Recover - this is another reason why the economy
cannot absorb these graduates who join the labor force this year.
This is due to the financial crises that struck most of the
economies of the ASEAN member nations including the Philippines
between 1997 and 1998 as well as the economic slowdown that took
place in the U.S., Japan and Europe.
Many factories are still
operating below their full capacity as consumer demand remains
flat. According to Dee, the problem is quite serious. Industry and
manufacturing used to absorb up to one-fourth (1/4) of new
graduates. The sector’s absorptive capacity has gone down below
20 percent.
The only bright spot in the
economy is the export industry which has consistently grown in
almost a decade while the rest of the economy stagnated. As a
proof to this, based from news report, exports from companies
operating in economic zones surged by 19 percent in the first quarter this year and
is predicted to be rising up to the end of this year.
THIRD FACTOR. Big Gap between Labor Rates
and Productivity - is another reason behind the failure of the
economy to absorb a big part of the unemployed Filipinos. The
annual report on the Competitiveness of Nations made by the World
Economic Forum in 1999 revealed that the Philippines has the
distinction of paying those with jobs much higher salaries than
their firm’s ability to produce goods and services. Furthermore,
the report said that workers in the Philippines from the lowest to
the top-level are getting paid much higher than most other
countries when remuneration is measured against per capita Gross
Domestic Product (GDP). The GDP measures the total value of goods
and services produced annually in a given country, while per
capita GDP is often used as a rough measures of a nation’s
productivity.
DOLE Report
In a report made by Sec.
Patricia Sto. Tomas of the Department of Labor and Employment
(DOLE) in the first quarter of the year, she said that this
year’s graduates will have to compete with a total of 3.4
million Filipinos looking for jobs but cannot find one. The
jobless represents 11.4% of all able-bodied Filipinos. On the
other hand, over 6 million Filipinos have only part-time jobs or a
seasonally employed. As of April this year, the unemployment rate
is 14% and continuously going up and might reach as much of 16%
according to some analysts. And according to the latest report
from January to September this year, the total number of
unemployed Filipinos increased by 37, 200.
FDI’s
It is a reality that our
country needs more investments particularly Foreign Direct
Investments (FDI) to generate employment among Filipinos which
will eventually neutralize the unemployment rate. But according to
a study made by the
U.S. - based investment house Salomon Smith Barney revealed that
it projects a bleak investment inflows into the country due to a
host of domestic issues that are making off-shore investors
cautious in ploughing their money to our economy. Some of the
issues are the kidnappings, the Abu Sayyaf, peace and order
situation and the question of political stability that deter
foreign investments. It is also noted that our country will not be
able to achieve our fiscal targets by yearend (e.g. revenue
collections).
Government Thrusts and
Challenges
The present administration
through the DOLE had laid down programs to ease unemployment such
as training on specialized jobs to make Filipinos more
competitive; Extension services like teaching them livelihood
Programs; Technology assistance to those inclined in
technology-based jobs and Emergency employment program like
placing unemployed Filipinos to seasonal or temporary jobs in the
meantime while they are still looking for a stable job so as not
to be idle.
Overseas
Employment
One potent solution to solve
unemployment is the placement of at least one million Filipinos
this year to overseas employment, according to the DOLE through
the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) in
coordination with private recruitment agencies. According to Sec.
Sto. Tomas, for the first half of 2001, there was an increase on
the total Filipinos who landed overseas jobs by 1.49 percent
compared last year on the same period.
U.S. Tragedy
The situation was aggravated
with the terrorists attacks on the U.S. particulary in New York
City and Washington D.C. on September 11, 2001. The tragedy
affected the conduct of business activities like investments in
almost all parts of the world including the Philippines. According
to the latest report of CNBC, around 40, 000 or more Americans
will be laid off by the airline industry alone.
And because the U.S. is waging
a war against terrorism particularly in Afghanistan, again the
Middle East will be affected. What is the implication??. . . .
simply means this will worsen the scenario if war will
break out in this region. Many Overseas Filipino Workers
definitely will be evacuated thus, unemployment will be at its
peak!
Concluding Notes
Unemployment problem is really
a major concern today of every nation if we may say so, even
industrialized countries like the U.S. because of global economic
slowdown. In a country like ours which is continuously struggling
to hasten economic growth, the following can be considered
remedies either in the short or in the long-term;
First, Job seekers should apply to
firms that are export-oriented like the electronics, garments,
semi-conductor, machine parts industries because these are the
sectors that are in full capacity of operations in the light of
the sluggishness of other industries.
Second, for the jobless Filipinos to
go abroaddue to the growing demand for
labor in certain industries in foreign countries while the local
business sectors recover and retools itself. Although it will mean
a “brain drain” for us, nevertheless these overseas employees
are now considered “new heroes” because of their contribution
to the economy through their foreign remittances that help
increase the inflow of U.S. dollars thus adding to our foreign
reserves.
Third, educational institutions on
the tertiary level must update consistently their course curricula
on business, economics and entrepreneurship programs to match the
needs of the industry that will make their graduates highly
competitive in their chosen field.
Fourth, develop in the minds of
college students the entrepreneurial spirit or character in taking
initiative to start their own business so that once they graduate
and they cannot find jobs right away, they have that option to be
an entrepreneur thus making them economically productive.
Fifth, for the government to
stabilize political as well as the peace and order situation and
strengthen or reaffirm its authority to govern. The result??. . .
. of course total confidence of foreign investors! Therefore an
inflow of capital funds that will propel mobilization of resources
through establishment of businesses which eventually generate
employment for many Filipinos.
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FINALISTS IN THE STUDENT CATHOLIC MASS MEDIA
AWARDS
Two of the Colegio’s alumnae,
both from the Communication Arts area, were chosen as finalists to
the first student Catholic Mass Media Awards. Reina Ida Matias
competed for Public Service Advertising, where she presented a 30
second ad about abortion, while Moneth Miranda vied for Best Short
Film Category with an entry entitled “Konsensya”.
Three schools were chosen for
each category. Matias fought against University of the Philippines
(UP) and University of Sto. Tomas (UST) for Public Service
Advertising, and UP bagged both awards, but the Letran alumnae
bested other finalists. Matias said that it is already an
achievement to be chosen as finalist in this very prestigious
competition. The awarding was held last October 24 at the Irwin
Theater of Ateneo de Manila.
CHED
APPROVES BSE PROGRAM
The Quality Assessment Team of
the CHED visited the Colegio last Novemeber 21, in connection with
Letran’s application for the program Bachelor of Science in
Education. The Colegio shall offer under this program major
courses in Math, English, Science and Physical Education. The team
was headed by Dr. Cleotilde Arcangel from the University of Sto.
Tomas and Dr. Paquito Badayos from Philippine Normal University.
Mr. Enrico Torres, the Math Area
Chairman, spearheaded the research and the application as well as
the compilation of the documents which were evaluated by the CHED
representatives. Among the documents evaluated were the curriculum
, syllabi, qualifications of the faculty and the Dean to head the
said program. After the thorough examination of the requirements,
the team gave its approval for the establishment of the BSE
Program in the Colegio.
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Personalities
CBAA
WELCOMES NEW FACULTY MEMBERS
The College of Business Administration Accountancy (CBAA)
adds new full and part time faculty members in the areas of
Computer Management, Entrepreneurship
& Marketing, Accountancy,
and Economics and Finance.
Economics
& Finance Area
Mr. Ricardo Bustamante Deri is a new full time faculty
member in Economics and Finance Area.
He is a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Business
Administration from Pamantasan Ng Lungsod Ng Maynila. He took his
Master In Business Administration ( MBA) from the state university
as a company scholar of Innodata Philippines where he worked for
eight years rising from the position of Project Analyst to System
Integration Manager to Implementation Officer. Currently, he is
pursuing his degree on Doctor in Business Administration.
Another full-time faculty member in the Economics and
Finance Area is Ms. Darlene F. Cruz, who
has been in the academe for twenty-two years. She graduated
Cum Laude from the University of the East in 1977 with a degree of
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and from the
University of the East Graduate School of business in 1985. She
has also earned seventy-one units from UE-College of Law.
Ms. Felicidad Dy Kam graduated
with a degree of Liberal Arts and Commerce major in Economics and
Management from Ateneo de Naga University of the Philippines. She
has been teaching since 1992. She started as a full-time high
school instructor at Children of Mary Immaculate College,then at
Meycauayan College,JIL Colleges Foundation, AMA Computer
University, and University of the East-Recto and at San Beda
College.
Before joining the academe, she worked with the National
Power Corporation for three years and
transferred to Siporat Municipal Hall.
Computer
Management Area
Ms. Jovy Soriano Lopez, is a Bachelor of Science In
Computer Engineering graduate from Adamsom University with twelve
units earned in Pre-Masteral in Education. She is currently
continuing her Masteral Degree in Information technology at
Adamdon University.
Aside from her teaching load in the Colegio, she is also a
part-time faculty member in the Computer Science Department of
Adamson University. She also worked as speech Instructor in he
English Department of Adamson. She was formerly the
IT Head and Executive Assistant to the President at
Cablelabs, Incorporated.
Mr. Jose Kaharian, another full-time faculty member,
is a graduate of BS Computer Science from Adamson
University. He is currently pursuing his Masters in Information
Technology. Before joining the Colegio, he worked as full-time
faculty member at San Pedro College of Business Administration. He
is also a free-lance programmer.
Mr. Francis Arlando L. Atienza,
had taught in East-Asia College–Far Eastern University,
STI-Dasmariñas Cavite and De La Salle University-Dasmariñas and
Bloomfield Academy. Mr. Atienza taught Turbo C Programming for
Professionals taking up non-degree courses.
Currently, Mr. Atienza is pursuing his
masteral degree in Engineering Management-Systems Management at
the Pamantasan Ng Lungsod Ng Maynila (PLM). He graduated with a
degree of Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from PLM.
Mr. Ronald Aquino Ricablanca, a new
full-time faculty in the Accountancy area, is a Certified Public
Accountant (CPA) with 15 units earned in Doctor of Juris Prudence
at the University of Batangas College of Law. He was a former
faculty member of the University of Batangas College of Commerce
and Accountancy.
COED COORDINATOR
The
Office of the Student Services (OSS)
recently appointed Mrs. Nancy Balasan a Marketing
professor, as the Colegio’s Coed Coordinator beginning November
2001 to March 31, 2002. Mrs. Balasan holds office at the OSS every
Monday to Friday except Thursday at one thirty in the afternoon.
All queries and problems pertaining to female students will be
entertained at her office.
ELEMENTARY MENTORS FINISH THEIR M.A. DEGREES
Miss Marilou Tolentino, Christian Living Coordinator in the
Elementary Department, finished her degree in Master of Education,
major in Religious and Values Education at the De La Salle
University, Manila last October, 2001. Her project is entitled
“Using the Theory of Multiple Intelligences in Enhancing
Religious Instruction in the Elementary Grades.
Mrs. Isidra Hernandez, adviser of Grade II-12 and a Science
teacher in the lower grades has successfully defended her thesis
for her M.A. degree entitled “Learning Styles in Science of the
Primary Pupils of Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Relation to
their Achievement : An Assessment at the Manuel Luis Quezon
University in Quiapo, Manila last November 5, 2001.
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