Universitas prelate midres

An official publication of the University of Asia and the Pacific

IP

Deluxe

January 2009

Opus Dei turns 80 No to HB 5043 World Youth Day in Sydney UA&P’s new secret weapon

Editorial

Leadership: Everyone’s option There’s a wide belief that leaders are not born, that they are trained. That is why universities are expected to produce leaders from the ranks of students. It is a great temptation for schools to look out for young people whom they can form into a Roosevelt or a Gandhi. Or for the young people to think that they don’t have a knack for leadership.

This is a sad excuse.

Leadership is not the preserve of a chosen few.

As the Youth Lens conference featured in this issue has made plain: Anyone with a desire to serve can be a leader. One can be a leader if one has the drive to see his or her work through, the courage to make and effect the right decisions, the capacity to challenge “There is no himself and inspire better leadership than wanting others, and a humane vision directed to serving people. to give yourself This concept of a true leader freely, to be useful is behind UA&P’s goal of forming to others.” “individuals who are...zealous for the ///////////////// common good and capable of making free and morally upright choices, and who can thus act as positive agents of change in society.” In his visit to the University, the Honorary Grand Chancellor Bishop Javier Echevarría also reminded the University to “form people to serve the country and not only for personal triumph.”

UA&P has been inspired in this pursuit by St. Josemaría’s words: “There is no better leadership than wanting to give yourself freely, to be useful to others.”

(Christ is Passing by)

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UNIVERSITAS January 2009

An official publication of the University of Asia and the Pacific, is produced by the Corporate Communications Office ✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽ ppppppppppppppppppppppp Editor: Ms. Boots Ruelos Managing Editor: Ms. Bernadette Malayo Contributing Editors: Mr. Luis Arcangel Mr. Carlo Cabrera Ms. Leigh Tobias Mr. Daryl Zamora Contributing Writers: Ma. Jessica Advento Mr. Luis Arcangel Dr. Riza Bondal Patricia Buensuceso Ramon Cabrera John Calica Mr. Carlo Cabrera Concha dela Cruz Viory Janeo Samuel Macagba III John Be Orenz Nito Cristina Pang Brixton Reyes Leah Tacuel Ma. Therese Villar Dr. Bernardo Villegas Mr. Daryl Zamora Contributing Staff: Ms. Romelyn Rome Photography: Justin Akia Mr. Carlo Cabrera Charade Castro Opus Dei Information Office Graphic Design: Jerry Manalili/Chili Dogs Printing: Primex Printers ✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽ ppppppppppppppppppppppp You may contact us at: Corporate Communications Office University of Asia and the Pacific Pearl Drive, Ortigas Center, Pasig City Telephone No.: 637 0912 local 301/342 Fax No.: 637 0912 local 342 Schools/Institutes: College of Arts and Sciences School of Economics School of Education and Human Development School of Management School of Communication Institute of Political Economy Institute of Information Technology Studies

Opus Dei

“Opus Dei burst into the world on that 2nd of October of 1928.” This is how St. Josemaría Escrivá described the day this Catholic institution was founded. He was on retreat in Madrid when he discerned that God wanted him to remind all men and women that everyone is called to holiness, and so he started Opus Dei. Today, it has around 87,000 members, both men and women; 98 percent are lay persons, most of whom are married.

The remaining two percent are priests, drawn from its lay faithful.

80

turns

Opus Dei arrived in the Philippines in 1964. Today, it has activities in many of the major cities. It complements the work of local churches by offering classes, talks, retreats, and pastoral care that help people develop their personal spiritual life and apostolate. Opus Dei oversees the spiritual and doctrinal formation of UA&P. To mark the 80th anniversary of Opus Dei, UA&P students in a fine arts class put up an exhibit of St. Josemaría, centering on his vision of what university students should aspire for and what university education should be. Some students shared their insights about the person and teachings of St. Josemaría and about working on the exhibit.

“Opus Dei at 80”panel Planning Planning was very important in this process. Nothing could have been achieved if we did not picture in our mind what we want the panels to have and say. ➽ Cristina Pang Just one class, about 25 students, to do everything—from getting pictures and sayings on the Internet, editing the panels using Photoshop, bringing it to the printers and, one by one, gluing and mounting the panels in Study Hall A. ➽ Ma. Therese Villar We were asked to come up with data about the subject matter (St. Josemaría Escrivá), centering on facts about his involvement in establishing different universities around the world. We also took quotes from the saint’s teachings in order to show his beliefs on what true education should be. ➽ Ma. Jessica Advento

Teamwork It is all about teamwork. Each person counted in making this whole thing happen because if one person was missing in the production, the output would not have been the same. ➽ Cristina Pang To finish the project we needed teamwork. We helped one another so we could finish the exhibit and we did finish ahead of deadline.

I didn’t know it was that hard and long to make an exhibit but the time and work were cut short because we were there for one another. If you work together, there would be more fun and less stress. You make new friends and get to know them better. ➽ Ma. Therese Villar

Form We were asked to use 27 “Bigkas” panels that can be assembled like puzzle pieces. Because of this, the class decided that there should be a unifying factor that will ensure the continuity

of the whole exhibit despite its seemingly “broken” medium. ➽ Ma. Jessica Advento

university students in helping one another resolve conflicts in the best possible way.

Impact

We are the future of society.

The university should be placed at the service of all. In order for us to achieve a deeper communication with God, we must study for the greater glory of Him who nourishes our soul. Aside from gaining knowledge, He is our main goal in studying. ➽ Cristina Pang

This artwork allows each individual to interact with the figures by allowing them to turn the panels and see in detail what it is all about …it actually inspires.

The panel is about the subject matter with a deep impact on society like the role of students and faith. One of the lines that I liked most was about striving to attain holiness in the world through daily work and ordinary duties, which is all about being a good Christian.

“Don’t let your life be sterile. Be useful. Blaze a trail. Shine forth with the light of your faith and of your love.” These lines motivate each person to be useful in society. God created us for a reason, to make an impact, to make a difference.

Quotes that inspire are the ones about university life and morality.

They give emphasis to the role of

Conclusion What people may see are pictures of St. Josemaría Escrivá, but for me, I see love, teamwork, cooperation, optimism, and patience. ➽ Cristina Pang

Overall All the hard work that the class went through paid off and looking at the finished product made me feel proud that I was able to take part in making it. ➽ Ma. Jessica Advento Was it worth it? I believe it was. ➽ Ma. Therese Villar

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top-quality students. Combine these with a globally oriented curriculum that stresses on ethics, and you get a top-caliber education.

Indeed, Dr. Villegas’s stint at IESE has also enhanced his view of education. He said doing a lot of mentoring—a feature that is also practiced at UA&P—is very important. At IESE, students freely go to their professors/mentors to talk about their classes, career goals, and other issues. Dr. Villegas said the professors have an “attitude of openness,” an open-door policy, which expresses the school’s dedication to its students’ personal growth.

The future of UA&P

UA&P professor returns from IESE

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anked by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) as the world’s best business school in 2005 and 2006, IESE Business School of the University of Navarra (Spain) wants no less than what it deserves: the best faculty for their elite group of students from 26 countries.

It is no surprise, then, that IESE had hired UA&P professor and cofounder Dr. Bernardo M. Villegas as a Visiting Professor in January last year. Numbered among the most renowned economists in the Philippines, Dr. Villegas co-founded in 1967 the Center for Research and

Communication (CRC), which grew to become UA&P in 1995. He has been a special economics adviser to five Philippine Presidents and other high-ranking government officials.

He also writes columns for local and international newspapers, including the International Herald Tribune and the Asian Wall Street Journal.

Until the European academic term ended this year, Dr. Villegas taught global economics in IESE’s full-time MBA program in the school’s Barcelona campus. His experience there confirmed long-held convictions.

IESE’s secrets One of those convictions is the

alumni

Alumni couple named

Philip and Joanne run a blog called Third World Gamer (http://thirdworldgamer.blogspot.com) that documents developments within the videogame industry in the Philippines and around the world. They also serve as

UNIVERSITAS January 2009

During his stay at IESE, Dr. Villegas observed that the school’s success was primarily due to the school’s world-class faculty and

Dr. Villegas is also looking at the possibility of starting a business school in the next five years.

This is possible “once we have faculty members who are more knowledgeable about teaching top executives,” he said.

Of course, Dr. Villegas is willing to teach again at IESE, if given the chance. But for now, he is devoting his energy and expertise at UA&P. Helping the University achieve its goals—as told to him by a saint— is equally, or even more, fulfilling.

Mr. Daryl Zamora Corporate Communications Office 

Microsoft MVPs

Philip Ortiz and Joanne FormosaOrtiz, who both graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology in 2001, have recently been named the Philippines’ Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals in recognition of their work as professionals and advocates of the brand. Sharing the same profession as videogame developers, the Ortizes are the first married couple to earn the MVP title not only in the country, but in the entire Southeast Asia as well.

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formula to becoming the best institution of higher learning: an intense professional and personal formation that treats “man as man.” Sounds familiar? It does, because UA&P and IESE are institutions whose founders were inspired by St. Josemaría Escrivá, founder of the Prelature of Opus Dei. Both schools emphasize the holistic formation of its students.

In May 1964, Dr. Villegas—then a young Harvard graduate—had a conversation with St. Josemaría, who inspired him to set up CRC.

Now that he’s back at UA&P, Dr. Villegas aims “to help in the integration of the School of Management, School of Economics, and IIT, so that they become more and more interdisciplinary in their research.” He believes this integration would give the schools “the business economics flavor, [which] is the strength of UA&P.”

moderators for PinoyXbox (http://www.pinoyxbox.com), an online community where Filipino gamers can interact and discuss their favorite pastime.

The couple was recognized under Microsoft’s Xbox MVP category, which gives recognition to people who made significant contributions in the promotion of the Xbox gaming platform.

There are now three gamers from the Philippines who have been awarded with MVP titles, with Philip and Joanne joining the other 42 Xbox MVPs worldwide. The titles are refreshed every year, which means all MVPs will have to continuously update their blogs and forum presence to maintain their status.

Faculty Highlights School of Management professor publishes book on work-life balance Executives highlights some of the best family-responsible policies and practices of some firms in the Philippines. The book compiles select speeches at the Work-Life Balance forums held at UA&P in October 2006 and January 2007.

It also banks heavily on the results of Spain-based IESE Business School’s International FamilyResponsible Employer Survey in 2005 to 2006. IESE has recently been ranked as the #2 MBA school

Dr. Caparas (3rd from left) during the book launch

If someone tells you to “get a life,” you’re probably bugging the poor fellow to the point of distraction.

Or destruction. If something inside you tells you to “get a life” and you have a list of to-do’s the length of a boa constrictor, that’s another story. You’re probably overworked, and your company might not be “family responsible.”

Well, that happens. But so does the opposite, according to a newly launched book edited by School of Management assistant professor Dr. Ma. Victoria Q. Caparas. There are exemplars in work-life balance among Philippine workplaces.

Work-Life Balance: Best Practices of FamilyResponsible Employers and

“To treat the family as an ally rather than as a distraction for the worker is not just a good idea— it is a business imperative...” ////////////////

in the world this year, according to a study done by The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).

According to Dr. Caparas, who earned her Ph.D. in management at IESE, “best practices can come only from companies that truly consider their people their most

alumni

UA&P alumnus named new media director

valuable resource.”

She adds: “To treat the family as an ally rather than as a distraction for the worker is not just a good idea—it is a business imperative. Efficiency, job satisfaction, employee loyalty— all these are significantly influenced by the control people have over their personal and professional lives. A balanced individual is a productive and a committed employee.”

Last July 22, Dr. Caparas also presented to a group of company executives the findings of the latest Family-Responsible Employer Survey in the Philippines. The study discovered that journalists and advertising agents are least likely to have excellent worklife balance, while people in the automotive industry enjoy the opposite situation. Dr. Caparas also recommended some steps for companies to be at par with the industries’ benchmarks of work-life balance.

Mr. Daryl Zamora  Corporate Communications Office

Independent media agency Carat Philippines recently named UA&P alumnus Liam Capati the new media director for its Procter & Gamble account. Capati finished the five-year Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) program in 2002 and came back to the School of Communication as a lecturer in 2007, teaching Contact Management and Channels Planning that school year. Prior to his new appointment, he was a senior planner at Starcom Philippines where he spent six years overseeing its account with, among others, San Miguel Brewery.

Carat Philippines is part of the global Carat network, which to date is the largest independent media agency in the world, employing a staff of more than 7,000 in 63 countries. The company’s client portfolio includes some of the leading local and international brands such as Adidas, Bacardi, Blims, BMW, Bose, Cherifer Vitamins, Chivas Regal, Cisco, Grey Goose, Kahlua, Moulinex, Procter & Gamble, Philips, Philippine Tourism, Rado, Watson’s, Intermed, and Yellow Cab Pizza.

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Civics

UA&P joins Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Women initiative UA&P recently announced its partnership with the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women initiative, a program that supports partnerships with universities and development organizations to provide a generation of women in underserved areas around the world with business and management education. In support of the initiative, UA&P joins the IESE Business School in Spain, one of the highest-ranking business schools in the world, along with a number of partnered universities from abroad.

banking, securities and investment management firm that provides a wide range of services worldwide to a substantial and diversified client base that includes corporations, financial institutions, governments and high net worth individuals. Its 10,000 Women initiative is grounded on the belief that expanding the entrepreneurial talent and managerial pool in these economies— especially among women—is one of the most important, yet too often neglected, means of increasing economic opportunity.

“The University of Asia and the Pacific is very thankful to Goldman Sachs for its 10,000 Women project,” said UA&P representative Ms. Ellen Soriano, director of the Entrepreneurial Management Program. “[It] will push the frontiers of women’s empowerment by providing business education, networking opportunities as well as mentoring services to the most disadvantaged Filipino women with the potential to grow their enterprises.”

The firm is committing $100 million to the program. It will help future generations of entrepreneurs and managers by strengthening the underlying quality and capacity of business education through professor training and the development of innovative curricula and locally relevant case studies.

Goldman Sachs is a leading global investment

“One of the powerful ideas behind 10,000 Women is educational institutions, development organizations and the private sector coming together to

UA&P’s Ellen Soriano (2nd row, 4th from left) with delegates of Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Women initiative.

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UNIVERSITAS January 2009

help address a profound challenge—driving and sharing economic growth,” said Lloyd C. Blankfein, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. “I’m proud that these new partners, along with the people of Goldman Sachs, are committing their expertise and dedication to help 10,000 women achieve their dreams and, in the process, improve the quality and accessibility of business education for future generations of managers and entrepreneurs.”

“[10,000 Women] will push the frontiers of women’s empowerment by providing business education, networking opportunities as well as mentoring services to the most disadvantaged Filipino women with the potential to grow their enterprises.”

//////////////////////// The specific program activities that will result from UA&P’s partnership include the establishment of a business and management certificate course for disadvantaged selected women-entrepreneurs, and a Teacher Training Program to prepare a pool of faculty who will help teach and develop the course and learning materials specific to the business and management certificate course.

Other academic partnerships that enlisted support for 10,000 Women are Saïd Business School, University of Oxford in the UK and Zhejiang University in China, HEC Paris in France and Tsinghua SEM in China, INSEAD in France and Singapore and Fundação Dom Cabral (FDC) in Brazil, IE Business School in Spain and FGV-EAESP in Brazil, London Business School in the UK and the National Entrepreneurship Network Wadhwani Foundation Initiative in India, and University of Cambridge represented by Judge Business School and the Cambridge Assessment Group in the UK and Camfed International in Zambia.

UA&P helps empower local governments to realize their dreams

From left: Mayor Pedro Poncio, Mayor Ricardo Revita, Mayor Meynardo Solomon, Mayor Evelyn Yu, Mr. Colin Crorkin, Mayor Ernilo Villas, Mayor Jaime Villanueva, Mayor Antero Lim, Mayor Demetrius Paul Narag

U

A&P has helped equip 22 mayors from Luzon and Visayas to implement their dream projects. The University, through the Center for Social Responsibility (CSR), in partnership with the British Embassy in Manila, recently conducted a conference-workshop for them under the Alternative Financing Options for Local Government Units Project, otherwise known as Project ALFI. Project ALFI is a three-year technical assistance program that aims to encourage continued economic reform and promote higher standards of economic governance among local government units (LGUs) in the Philippines. Specifically, it seeks to enable LGUs that are members of the League of Municipalities to become more financially independent from the Internal Revenue Allotment and national government financing by tapping various alternative modes of generating resources.

The Luzon run, which was held on September 22 to 26, was attended by 9 mayors. The Visayas, conference, held on October 13 to 17, had 13 mayors. Among those who shared their expertise with the mayors were Dr. Rolando Dy, Dean of the School of Management; Mr. Dionisio Papelleras Jr., UA&P CSR Director; Mr. Winston Conrad Padojinog of the School of Economics; and Mr. Colin Legarde Hubo, project manager of ALFI.

Rosales, Pangasinan Mayor Ricardo Revita said of the conference-workshop, “Project ALFI gives participants the hope to realize their much-needed projects by providing them with the proper tools to analyze and evaluate the soundness of a project.”

Aside from the conferenceworkshop, Project ALFI involves implementing at least 10 successful alternative financing option projects for LGUs; producing a guidebook on how to effectively access and utilize alternative financing options; and formulating a framework of partnership among local stakeholders, including civil society groups, the private sector, and communities, in tapping alternative sources of funding for local development.

2008 SERVICE AWARDEES 20 Years Rodolfo Astilla Aurora Hidalgo Dr. Antonio Jose Torralba Dr. Severina Villegas 15 Years Dr. Maria Andrelita Cenzon Johnny Cristobal Alexander Cuenza Ma. Victoria Legaspi Emmanuel Sator James Taupa Rolando Temporal Ilumin Zamora 10 Years Mellany Bravo Rey Vincenzo Cruz Jose Pan Y Vino Daz Ronaldo dela Cruz Dr. Joyce Dy Agnes Clarizza Enriquez Dr. Alfonso Augusto Hiquiana Glenda Hitosis Atty. Rosalinda Kabatay Jeanifer Oñate Dr. Francine Michelle Marie Racho

“Project ALFI gives participants the hope to realize their muchneeded projects by providing them with the proper tools to analyze and evaluate the soundness of a project.”

//////////////////

Mr. Colin Crorkin, Deputy Head of Mission of the British Embassy Manila, affirmed that “the project will help make the local government executive officers better equipped to undertake private-public partnership and source other financing options for their projects.”

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Campus Life

HB 5043

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he recently proposed Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2008 or HB 5043 has not been received without its fair share of criticism from different sectors of society—including representatives from UA&P. The bill, endorsed by Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, seeks to improve the country’s economic conditions by means of population control, particularly by promoting artificial contraceptives, limiting the “ideal family size” to having only two children, among others.

However, experts from UA&P believe there is a lack of evidence to support any of HB 5043’s stated benefits while tremendous amounts of data and research indicate that the bill could be more detrimental than the problem it seeks to combat.

That is, if the problem of overpopulation suggested by the bill even exists. According to UA&P co-founder and renowned economist Dr. Bernardo M. Villegas, while the Philippines has one of the highest birth rates in Asia, there is no reason to correlate poverty directly with the country’s population density while several other factors such as corruption and lack of education have had more observable impact. Citing several sources, Dr. Villegas presented the following points:

➽

According to some of the world’s most influential experts such as economists and Nobel laureates Gary Becker and Simon Kuznets and resource economist Julian Simon, there is no statistical evidence of a negative connection between population increase and economic growth. ➽ Dr. Mahbub ul Haq, father of the Human Development Index and former Prime Minister of Planning and Finance in Pakistan, regretted spending resources on population control to no effect, saying “If we could start again, I would invest almost everything in literacy for women.” ➽ In 1991, a study conducted by classical liberal macroeconomist and Harvard University Professor of Economics Dr. Robert Barro found that the growth rate of real per capita GDP is positively related to school enrolment rates and that countries with higher human capital also have lower fertility rates. The study made use of a sample of 98 countries over the course of 30 years, making it much more comprehensive than studies cited by professors in favor of the HB 5043. ➽ The World Bank and the East Asian Miracle attribute the economic success of eight East Asian countries to political stability, macroeconomic stability, a focus on early education, an accent on agricultural development, the establishment of a sound financial system, openness to foreign ideas and technology, and market-oriented economic policies.

They make no mention of birth control. ➽ Even without state intervention, the Philippine population would peak at 111 million in 2025, with a maximum population density of just 370 people per square kilometer, much lower than the current densities of countries such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea.

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UNIVERSITAS January 2009

➽

The roots of Philippine mass poverty can be traced, not to overpopulation, but to errors in economic policy, poor governance, and corruption. Annually, the country suffers a loss of P200 billion to tax evasion and another P200 billion through the misappropriation of funds.

Dr. Villegas explained that, contrary to the notion that having a large population is a problem, having expanding markets and abundant manpower should instead be viewed as an opportunity for growth, noting that the world’s expanding markets are all comprised of large populations.

He said that the Philippines, if it means to curb its high poverty rate, should focus on putting its population to good use by creating an environment more favorable to the productivity of its human resources.

Dr. Villegas suggested more focus should be placed on infrastructural support for small farmers, creating a conducive corporate culture, improving the quality of education through better English teaching at all school levels, industrial skills training, market-oriented vocational/technical schools, and a strong liberal arts foundation of professional courses.

UA&P School of Economics Professor and Applied Business Economics Program Director Dr. Roberto de Vera agrees, saying that the Reproductive Health Bill, once implemented as law, would only divert monetary resources better spent on these endeavors, which have verifiable direct correlation with economic growth. He stressed that funding for the enactment of the law will have more profound benefits There is no reason to correlate if it is channeled instead into the education of women, especially poverty directly with the in the Mindanao region. country’s population density

while several other factors such as corruption and lack of education have had more observable impact.

He added that the bill proposes health and moral risks with its promotion of contraceptives as a means of controlling the population. According to Dr. de Vera, not only are contraceptives proven to be abortifacients; they may have unintended negative side effects as well.

/////////////////

Dr. de Vera also rebuked HB 5043’s definition of “ideal family size” as having only two children (leading to a two-child policy) because it would encumber Filipino families’ right to choose for themselves, as well as endanger facets of society that depend on having large families for economic survival, such as farmers. Furthermore, a shrinking population means that fewer minds and hands will be around to find and implement innovative solutions to the challenges facing the country.

Mr. Carlo Cabrera  Corporate Communications Office

academics

C

hristians can still refer to Aristotle when “defending the basic tenets of Christianity in man-family-State relationship…but not in some details.”

Thus concluded Dr. Corazon Toralba of the Department of Philosophy in a forum last September 17. She read her paper entitled “Rethinking Aristotle’s Philosophy of the Family,” which she had presented at the World Congress of Philosophy in Seoul last July.

The paper presents Aristotle’s ideas regarding the family vis-à-vis clamors to redefine it by groups advocating homosexuality and population control. Dr. Toralba’s work was mainly based on Aristotle’s Politics and Nicomachean Ethics.

Theologian deplores RHB, says conjugal love ‘reflects God’s union’

men and women are naturally attracted to each other “because of the call to communion.”

Citing the Vatican II constitution, Gaudium et Spes, he said, “Our destiny is to give ourselves to one another in total self-giving.”

Thus the priest-theologian affirmed the wisdom in the cliché, ‘No man is an island.’

“To be is to live with others,” he stressed, and this he attributed to man’s call toward communion.

Sex and today’s youth Fr. Montalbo lamented the ignorance of many faithful regarding this Christian view of sex. He thus urged his audience to spread Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body, particularly to the youth.

“Aristotle endorses population control for the survival of his ideal state,” said Dr. Toralba.

She said that this was due to the limited resources of Aristotle’s ideal (city) state, whose commerce was primarily mercantile.

“Others [also] find his treatment on women demeaning,” Dr. Toralba said. “[Women were] cast as inferior and subordinate to men.”

Theology of the Body

Philosophy Department teacher rethinks Aristotle’s idea of the family

Throughout his lecture, Fr. Montalbo highlighted the importance of Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body.

A compilation of the late pope’s Wednesday general audiences from 1979 to 1984, Theology of the Body: Human Love in the Divine Plan, according to Fr. Montalbo, is an “effective and powerful tool…to recover sexual morality.” He described it as the “counter-sexual revolution,” referring to the “drastic relaxation in general standards of sexual behavior” (Science Dictionary) in the advent of contraceptives in the 1960s.

Despite these, Dr. Toralba said Aristotle saw the “naturalness of the union between a man and a woman for the preservation of the species.”

This philosopher was, therefore, against same-sex union, as well as homosexual acts, which were rampant in gymnasia during Aristotle’s time, she added.

Dr. Toralba also said that the ancient Greek sage saw the State as coming from the family made by conjugal union.

It, however, does not mean that for Aristotle, the family merely has an “instrumental” role in the State.

“The personal dimension has a special place in [Aristotle’s] theory,” Dr. Toralba said. “The family has a personal origin: friendship. In the same way, it is friendship that forms and holds states together,” besides being the root relationship among couples.

The concept of the person was central to Aristotle—for him, the State’s role is to provide its constituents with a “good life.”

“Aristotle defines ‘living well’ as having the minimum of material goods to survive, practic[ing] liberality with one’s neighbors, and…support[ing] the State,” said Dr. Toralba. “Living well extends to acting well alone and with others; hence, he saw the possession of virtues as the means to live well. The State, in turn, facilitates living well by enacting laws that help the constituents to live a virtuous life.”

Mr. Daryl Zamora  Corporate Communications Office

An expert theologian decried the Reproductive Health Bill (RHB) as “distorting the sacredness of marriage” in a lecture at UA&P’s Dizon Auditorium last September 24.

Fr. Melchor Montalbo, who earned his doctorate summa cum laude from the Angelicum in Rome, spoke to about a hundred UA&P employees about the sacredness of sex and the need to instill this in the youth. The lecture was held as part of a series commemorating the 40th anniversary of Pope Paul VI’s encyclical Humanae Vitae.

The priest said the RHB “makes of marriage an anti-Word,” even as marriage is a sacrament and reveals divine mysteries.

Sex as union of God, union of Christ and the Church Promoting the Theology of

the Body of Pope John Paul II, Fr. Montalbo said “our human embodiment as male and female, the ‘one-flesh union’ between husband and wife, reveals something of what God is in Himself and of God’s plan for us.”

Fr. Montalbo said the union of the triune God is reflected “when man and woman constitute together.” Marriage is, therefore, the “icon” of the communion of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

But conjugal love is also an image of the union of Christ and the Church, according to Fr. Montalbo. He recalled how Sacred Scriptures describe Christ as the “bridegroom” and the Church as the “bride.”

Called to communion Fr. Montalbo added that

“Our human embodiment as male and female, the ‘oneflesh union’ between husband and wife, reveals something of what God is in Himself and of God’s plan for us.”

///////////////// Currently the parish priest of the Holy Eucharist Parish in Moonwalk, Parañaque, Fr. Montalbo has published three books: The Body in Creation, The Body: Fallen yet Redeemed, and The Resurrection of the Body, Marriage and Celibacy.

He also teaches at the Don Bosco Center of Studies in Parañaque City.

Mr. Daryl Zamora Corporate Communications Office 

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SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Youth Lens: Servant Leadership What kind of leader should a student be? One who is prestigious and powerful, or one who connects with his constituents?

Youth Lens answers the question.

Youth Lens is a yearly forum organized and participated in by the youth as an avenue to discuss issues that have a great weight on their education and ultimately on their future. As always, this year’s forum was held last September during the Foundation Month of the School of Education and Human Development (SED).

Right Brand of Leadership This year’s Youth Lens had for its theme “Learning, Doing, and Living the Passion for Servant Leadership.” The organizers believe that while their idealism and active disposition can drive the youth’s involvement, it is important to ensure that they adopt the right brand of leadership.

Today, leadership has increasingly become positional, one that is coveted for the prestige and power it bestows. Given this country’s complex social needs, the youth should veer away from such a framework and exercise servant leadership instead, one that is driven by service and authentic concern for constituents.

But what is servant leadership? Robert Greenleaf, who developed this idea in the 1960s, said that “true leadership emerges from those whose primary motivation is a deep desire to help others.” This type of leadership is a departure from the previous notion that a person cannot be a leader without having a position. It holds that everyone can be a leader and that the power to lead is not limited to a certain few who are endowed with certain characteristics, such as charisma and power.

In servant leadership, anyone with a desire to serve can be a leader.

“True leadership emerges from those whose primary motivation is a deep desire to help others.” //////////////////////

Last September 17 and 18, the idea of servant leadership was introduced to high school student leaders and teachers. We invited Mr. Simon Mossessgeld, the congress director for the Ayala Young Leaders Congress, to explain the servant leadership framework and provide important notes about leadership. This framework became the basis for the structure of the different workshop discussions. In the workshop groups, we also included simulated and active learning experiences that allowed them to learn from their peers and discover their own potentials as servant leaders in their own communities, schools, or organizations.

Model Servant Leaders We also invited several young servant leaders actively involved in their advocacies in a panel discussion about servant leaders in action: Pia Campo, a pharmacist but who later became an advocate of education and an active member of different youth activities such as the Youth Alliance Philippines; Bayani Alonto, who fights for peace and equality through his organization and different professional activities; Rohaniza Sumndad, a devout Muslim who fights against discrimination; and Czarina Medina, a sociologist, researcher, and educator, who envisions to empower the youth through media and education. Their experiences helped the participants to look into the challenges and the rewards of leadership.

At the end of the forum, the organizers realized that more than the dialogues and sharing of ideas, what is important is to create a community of people who share the same ideals and principles toward service and authentic care toward their constituents. The real challenge of servant leadership will emerge as they face their own communities, schools and organizations. Nevertheless the process begins NOW! We practice leadership through how we act, how we make choices, or how we interact with our peers. After all, more than a process, leadership is a lifestyle.

Samuel Macagba III SED 5th year 

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UNIVERSITAS January 2009

Campus Life

S

cience is no longer just about white lab gowns and laboratory experiments. It is now a spellbinding world where new things are constantly coming out through research and discovery. These innovations have given rise to countless breakthroughs and opportunities that benefit man and society. Indeed, scientific knowledge has been integrated into practical use and we, young people, are offered a platform for creating ideas and empowering us.

Science Department holds seminar on “Enterprise Opportunities in Science” This was the clear message during the seminar on “Enterprise Opportunities in Science” organized by the Science Department last September 10. The main topic is “Biotechnology,” a promising new field of science entrepreneurship that could benefit many people in the future.

In her opening remarks, Dr. Marya Svetlana Camacho, the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said it was the Industrial Revolution that was the crucial turning point or the “big, profound change” in the use of science in industry today. Many jobs were created in order to fulfill the needs of entrepreneurs who favored technology in their businesses.

The main speaker, Ms. Maoi Arroyo, CEO/Founder of Hybridigm Consulting Inc., the first biotechnology company in the Philippines, spoke on her odyssey from science to enterprise. She started by sharing the lessons she has learned throughout her journey. Lesson one: in pursuing one’s dream, although to fail may be inescapable, you should not stay down.

Lesson two: in chasing one’s dream, you must

have three things—purpose, plan, and passion.

And to come out with the best output, you must “always define your terms to solidify the dream’s reality” and “aim for something higher than what you expect.” Finally, you must aim to make a good difference in the world. No matter how small that contribution may be, it will still be credited as a huge one by the world.

Ms. Arroyo also tackled the issues concerning the development of scientific research and development in the country. She said: “There are no fulltime researchers in the country.” A large number of the country’s top scientific researchers today only work part-time because they teach in a university, a job that really takes most of the day.

The solutions being conceived by the government have so far fallen off the mark.

Ms. Arroyo believes that “entrepreneurship—particularly high-impact entrepreneurship—is the only realistic solution” to those problems.

It is “the most powerful and efficient way to build wealth practically,” according to her. Truly, it does make sense because entrepreneurship combines the efforts of the private (corporate) and public (academic) sectors.

Hybridign CEO Ms. Maoi Arroyo speaks at Dizon Auditorium P H OTO : J U S T I N A K I A

“I truly believe that biotech can catapult us from being the most underachieving economy in Southeast Asia, to a legitimate emerging economy. Biotechnology is merely a set of techniques that harness the characteristics of plants, animals, and microorganisms to make products better, faster or cheaper,” she said once in an interview. Her many successful projects include products with AMOR, a cancer cell-killing “heat-seeking missile” that does not harm the other cells of the body and products with malunggay, which have numerous health benefits for people.

Dr. Jose Enrico Lazaro, Chairperson of the CAS Science Department, affirmed in the closing remarks: “If we believe and work hard in achieving a solution with dreams, then that dream can cure hundreds of problems as well.

Biotechnology, in my opinion, is one of the sure businesses of the future.”

Brixton Reyes CAS 1st year 

“Biotechnology, in my opinion, is one of the sure businesses of the future.”

UNIVERSITAS January 2009

11

Excerp ts from the Univer sity Da y L ec t u re

by Dr. R iza Bon dal, August 15, 200 8

C

Civic Education

Tradition

ivic education is the education that would enable a person to be a good citizen in a polis, that is, a political community, such as the city-state. The use of the term “civic education” implies that a person when left on his own will not spontaneously and naturally become a good citizen; he needs to be helped to become one through education.

A civically educated person then is one who is informed and skilled, and has the values that would lead him to commit himself to responsible and active participation in furthering the common good of the political community.

The civic mission of institutions of higher education Liberal Education and Civic Engagement, a project of the Ford Foundation’s Knowledge, Creativity and Freedom Program, revealed that institutions of higher education have an important role in promoting civic education.

Aside from imparting the best and most relevant competencies for productive contribution to economic development, these institutions should ensure that students acquire the knowledge, skills, and values favorable to the practice of an informed and responsible participatory citizenship.

An important practical implication of this idea is that higher education institutions ought to instill in their students the idea that the competent and ethical exercise of their profession is their means to contributing directly to

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UNIVERSITAS January 2009

c i v i C cation

of EdIu e v i t a mper

An tion a c u d E Higher

the common good. It requires the deliberate cultivation of the disposition of service because the promotion of professional competence alone is not necessarily accompanied by the development of the right moral compass.

It is hoped that through their exposure to the different forms of civic engagement, students may be able to achieve at least one of the following desired outcomes during college and to sustain them even after graduation: 1. Positive changes in civic knowledge or civic skills 2. Positive changes in civic attitudes and civic values 3. Increased service and philanthropic activity 4. Increased electoral participation

Liberal Education Plus as an ideal vehicle for promoting civic education Liberal education befits a citizen, who is capable of self-governance in a democracy. Consequently, it has long been viewed as providing the requisite knowledge, skills, and dispositions that are needed for a person to exercise an informed and responsible citizenship.

How can liberal education be a vehicle to promote civic education?

We can look at the options available for establishing the links between civic education thrusts and an educational institution’s infrastructure.

In this regard, we can consider two aspects. The first refers to how civic education thrusts can be integrated in a liberal education curriculum.

The second concerns the level of institutional commitment and support.

As regards the first aspect, the options are the traditional and the contemporary. In the traditional view, liberal education’s goal of preparing students for active citizenship was confined to the classroom setting. The emphasis was on “the development of intellectual skills conducive to critical thinking and reflection, combined with a broad knowledge of history, the social sciences and the workings of civic institutions.” This is particularly true of those disciplines that easily lend to the transmission of knowledge that are indispensable for the exercise of an informed and responsible citizenship in a democracy. Liberal Education and Civic Engagement mentions specific ways the disciplines can contribute to civic education: 1. “Some courses can help students make connections between the material they are learning and contemporary social and political issues, which capitalize on the use of critical thinking skills.”

2. “Other courses can seek to teach civic skills and knowledge directly— such as how governments work, how various policies affect students’ lives, or how social movements have changed the society in which we live.”

The contemporary initiatives, on the other hand, consist of more choices.

In one, civic education thrusts take place in extra-curricular programs.

In another, a civic engagement activity is integrated into the curriculum.

An example of this is Service Learning. Another example is the effort of Mr. Mirshariff Tillah, a former professor of the Institute of Political Economics, to incorporate Project Citizen, which has an advocacy component, in the subject “Philippine Politics and Governance.”

The creed of the University of Asia and the Pacific I think that everything that I have said today is congruent with what this University upholds. In this regard, I would like to cite some points in our Credo.

The primary purpose of education is the integral formation of the human person, the fullest development of everything that is human in the individual.

A university must be ever attentive and responsive to the real needs of the community that sustains it, seek to significantly contribute to human progress, and do everything it can to uplift the moral, cultural, and material level of the country and region in which it operates.

A university fulfills its role best when it forms individuals who are professionally competent, creative and enterprising, zealous for the common good and capable of making free and morally upright choices, and who can thus act as positive agents of change in society.

To promote civic education responds to these educational commitments.

And by promoting civic education, we are seconding the aspiration of St. Josemaría Escrivá, whose spirit and teachings are a permanent source of inspiration for everything that we are doing in this University.

To the students “As university students you undoubtedly realize that a university must play a primary role in contributing to human progress. Since the problems facing mankind are multiple and complex (spiritual, cultural, social, financial, etc.) university education must cover all these aspects.

Need for institutional support Regarding institutional commitment and support, according to the study Liberal Education and Civic Engagement, the options are diverse.

They have a bearing on the college environment, which influences the level and nature of civic engagement in the educational institution.

1. The “primary way many colleges actively seek to promote civic engagement is through offices dedicated to the task.” The services offered to students would depend on the directives set by the institution.

2. The institutional goals—whether written or unwritten—with respect to the programs that promote civic education will determine the kinds of civic engagement activities that will be encouraged and supported.

For example, the focus could be on giving the students some exposure to a type of volunteer work or the goal could be on institutional commitments to promote social justice by committing itself to address a concrete social problem.

I agree with the LEAP report that, while Liberal Education remains relevant, it may have to undergo some changes to meet the challenges in the 21st century realities. There has to be a paradigm shift, which involves discarding the conventional view that liberal education is, by definition, “nonvocational” and that the aims of liberal education can be attained only in the arts and science disciplines. Liberal education thrusts can be incorporated “across every field of college study, including the professional and technical fields.”

I also agree with Derek Bok, who in his book Our Underachieving Colleges includes a chapter on “Preparation for Citizenship.” His basic message is that while liberal education remains relevant, the traditional approach is no longer enough, although a sound liberal education is supposed to promote civic education. In fact, the latter has suffered considerable neglect. He says a lot more can be done. Specifically, there is a need to have greater concerted effort to deliberately promote civic education.

For example, he mentions that “there is recent evidence that professors who try to encourage civic participation can increase the interest and commitment of their students in becoming involved in politics and public issues.” Or academic leaders can encourage more students to participate in service programs by “merely expressing support for these activities.”

That includes institutional support: “University officials can also foster active citizenship by encouraging the growth of student government and the use of democratic processes in all extra-curricular organizations.”

Or “college officials can also stimulate interest in forthcoming elections and foster knowledge of the issues involved by organizing debates, candidate visits, mock conventions, and other similar activities.” He also suggests that “university presidents…offer leadership by making clear in words and actions that they consider voting an important obligation for every citizen” without this being construed as engaging in partisan politics.

“A university must educate its students to have a sense of service to society, promoting the common good with their professional work and their activity.”

There are thousands of places in the world which need a helping hand, which await someone who is willing to work personally with effort and sacrifice. A university should not form men who will egoistically consume the benefits they have achieved through their studies. Rather it should prepare students for a life of generous help of their neighbor, of Christian charity.”

(From Conversations with Msgr. Escrivá)

To those working in this university

“A university must educate its students to have a sense of service to society, promoting the common good with their professional work and their activity. University people should be responsible citizens with a healthy concern for the problems of other people and a generous spirit which brings them to face these problems and to resolve them in the best possible way. It is the task of universities to foster these attitudes in their students.” (From Conversations with Msgr. Escrivá)

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St. Josemaría Escrivá reiterates this same point on October 7, 1972 in an academic act to confer the doctoris honoris causa at the University of Navarra.

“The University cannot ignore any uncertainty, any concern, any need of the people. It is not its mission to offer immediate solutions to the problems. But in studying the problems with scientific rigor, it also stirs hearts, shakes off passivity, rouses lethargic forces, and forms citizens who are willing to construct a more just society.”

UNIVERSITAS January 2009

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Cover Story

“Youth of the Philippines: you are not alone.

Youth of the Philippines: you are not without responsibility.

Youth of the Philippines: so many people depend on you.”

PHOTO: CHAR ADE CASTRO

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UNIVERSITAS January 2009

P H OTO : O P U S D E I I N F O R M AT I O N O F F I C E

P H OTO : O P U S D E I I N F O R M AT I O N O F F I C E

The Prelate in Manila UA&P HONORARY GRAND CHANCELLOR VISITS UA&P

UNIVERSITAS January 2009

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Wearing

a white cassock and a purple skullcap (church buffs call it zucchetto), the 76-year-old bishop did not exactly look like a superstar. But the thunderous applause that greeted him at the SMX Exhibition Hall at the SM Mall of Asia said he actually is a superstar...or more.

Bishop Javier Echevarría, Prelate of Opus Dei and Honorary Grand Chancellor of UA&P, visited Manila last July 27 to August 1. On July 29, more than 10,000 people from different parts of the country packed SMX to meet him in an hour-long general get-together. To them, the bishop was more than a celebrity: he was “the Father.”

As head of the Prelature of Opus Dei— an organization of Catholic priests and lay people—Bishop Echevarría is father to more than 80,000 Opus Dei members worldwide and hundreds of thousands more who assimilate the teachings of Opus Dei founder St. Josemaría Escrivá.

He is the head of and figure of unity in the prelature. Members of Opus Dei and many others believe that next to the Pope, the Prelate reflects to them the love of the One Heavenly Father.

He is their guide in serving God.

to take care of their sacramental life, especially Confession and the Holy Eucharist. He also asked for prayers for the Pope and the apostolic expansion of Opus Dei. “Ask the Lord that many young women and men decide to spend their lives on this earth for the kingdom of Jesus Christ,” he said in Spanish.

Opus Dei (Latin for “work of God”) was founded by St. Josemaría on October 2, 1928 and is active in more than 60 countries. Now it aims to start stable activities in Indonesia and some eastern European countries early next year. In the Church, Opus Dei has the special task of spreading the universal call to holiness and apostolate, echoing St. Josemaría’s reminder that everyone can and should become saints through their ordinary work. Yes, even in things like peeling potatoes, the saint had said. And this is done by offering up one’s daily work to God and turning it into prayer.

In 1964, Opus Dei began in the Philippines when economists Dr. Bernardo M. Villegas and Dr. Jesus P. Estanislao returned home from Harvard.

The young PhDs set up the Center for Research and Communication (CRC), which later on became UA&P.

Saint’s successor

The Prelate at UA&P

Born and raised in Madrid, Bishop Echevarría was St. Josemaría’s personal secretary from 1953 to 1975, when the saint died unexpectedly in Rome. St. Josemaría fondly called the bishop “Javi.” With doctorates in civil and canon law, Bishop Echevarría was ordained priest in 1955. He became secretary general when Opus Dei was established as a personal prelature in 1982, with Bishop Alvaro del Portillo as the first prelate. In 1994, he succeeded Bishop del Portillo and was ordained bishop by Pope John Paul II in 1995.

Bishop Echevarría was fresh from a similar pastoral visit in Australia and New Zealand when he came to Manila.

Though now stooped with age, he still radiated youthful cheerfulness. It had been ten years since his last (and longer) visit to the Philippines. In August 1998, he visited Iloilo and Cebu as well as Manila and some nearby cities.

Bishop Echevarría had a tight schedule throughout his four-day visit. He met with families, had get-togethers with various groups, and visited shrines and ecclesiastical dignitaries. But on July 31, he finally had his official visit to UA&P when he spoke to the University’s executives. His get-together with them stressed on running the University with a healthy Christian secularity, just as St. Josemaría had taught. In the afternoon of the same day, he met with about 500 young men at Li Seng Giap Auditorium and talked about various aspects of Christian life.

Observers remarked that the bishop exuded a distinct holy air. Indeed, the one in charge of attaching the lapel mic on the bishop’s cassock was overcome by the Prelate’s presence that his hands were trembling as he put the mic on the bishop...With his kind, soul-penetrating eyes, the Prelate simply assured the man there is no need to worry.

Snap, and the mic was attached.

Observers remarked that the bishop exuded a distinct holy air. Indeed, the one in charge of attaching the lapel mic on the bishop’s cassock was overcome by the Prelate’s presence that his hands were trembling as he put the mic on the bishop—unlike those times when he did the same thing for national presidents and other dignitaries. (Bishop Echevarría was simply extraordinary, he later remarked.) With his kind, soul-penetrating eyes, the Prelate simply assured the man there is no need to worry. Snap, and the mic was attached.

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Bishop’s work When Bishop Echevarría spoke, the audience froze in rapt attention.

With his priest guardians (custodes) Msgr. Fernando Ocariz and Msgr. Joaquin Alonso behind him, Bishop Echevarría urged everyone

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UNIVERSITAS January 2009

Since its inception in 1995, UA&P has been entrusting its doctrinal and spiritual formation to Opus Dei, recognizing its Prelate as the University’s honorary grand chancellor.

Bishop Echevarría therefore provides the school with spiritual guidance through his priests.

Toward the end of his get-together with young men, Bishop Echevarría exhorted his eager audience to be firm in their faith and apply it fruitfully.

When the Prelate left for Singapore on August 1, people who had met him found themselves along EDSA in the usual weekday traffic jam, endured the long queues in MRT stations, and juggled the million and one occupations (and headaches) that make up an ordinary day.

Everything was back to normal; the Prelate came and went. One thing changed, though: the people who met Bishop Echevarría and heard his words resolved to “begin again” and strive for holiness in the middle of the world ever more intensely.

Mr. Daryl Zamora  Corporate Communications Office

Cover Story

P H OTO S: O P U S D E I I N F O R M AT I O N O F F I C E

Father of the Family I have always heard the name “Bishop Javier Echevarría.” My old high school—whose spiritual formation is also handled by Opus Dei—has the bishop’s name in many plaques and places. Sometimes I would also hear my teachers mention him. Despite those, however, my knowledge about the Prelate of Opus Dei was limited to the fact that he is the second successor of St. Josemaría Escrivá as head of the prelature.

That is why I was overjoyed when I heard he was coming to the Philippines.

At last, I could see the man whose name I’d been hearing and seeing (in pictures) for the past five years.

I was able to attend two get-togethers with him. The first one was the general get-together held at the SMX Exhibition Hall in SM Mall of Asia last July 29. The second was the get-together for male students at the Li Seng Giap Auditorium on July 31.

One thing I noticed prior to both events was that many people—mainly members of Opus Dei—referred to the prelate as “the Father.” I was wondering why they called him this way. To satisfy my curiosity, I mustered up some courage to ask no less than the University’s Vice President for Academic Affairs and Corporate Communications, Dr. Jerry Kliatchko, why this was so. His answer was plain and simple: Opus Dei is a spiritual family, and the prelate is the father of that family.

Dr. Kliatchko’s answer was crystal clear, but I only felt the bishop’s “fatherhood” when I heard him myself. In the two get-togethers I attended, I felt that indeed Bishop Echevarría is a father. He talked in a way that was personal. Onstage, he was a father talking to his children, not a bishop preaching to his flock. It seemed as if he were talking to each one of us, teaching us how to contribute to the good of the family.

Bishop Echevarría’s overall message was simple: “Put Christ on top of all human activities,” as St. Josemaría used to say. This message of sanctifying ordinary work or study has always fascinated me. Sometimes we look far to see Christ, and we fail to realize that in fact he is present

in our ordinary work. We fail to recognize the sanctifying value of intense work done with the right intention—a work offered to God so diligently such that it could rightly be called prayer.

In the get-together for male university students, one of the guys asked the Father how one can still have devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary even with a hectic schedule. I could certainly relate to the poor fellow. Given the tons of readings I have for PRS or the details I have to take notes of in Dante’s Inferno, I really find little time to tell the Blessed Mother how much I love her.

To this the Father replied: “Put all your mind in your work, to make it pleasing to God...Tell our Lady, ‘show me how to deal with Jesus,’ and she will show you how to deal with Jesus, even when you are absorbed in intense work done with the right intention.” Indeed, what could be a more pleasing prayer to God (other than the Mass)—coursed through our Blessed Mother—than our work well done?

Of course, the Father also emphasized the importance of sacramental life and prayer. “Deal with our Lord in the Eucharist,” he said. “Love him.

Accompany Him.” When one loves a person—let’s say your girlfriend—one is not contented with having that girl as motivation for work. There is always that persistent desire to talk to her personally and spend more time with her to get to know her more.

The Father wanted us to use the same approach in our relationship with our Lord. He encouraged us not only to make God our motivation, but also to talk to him in prayer and to frequent the Sacraments, most especially the Holy Mass, wherein we receive Christ himself. And of course, we should try to be more acquainted with those close to Our Lord. And who could be closer to him than his Blessed Mother, Mary?

My encounter with the Father ended with this challenge to you and me: “Youth of the Philippines: you are not alone. Youth of the Philippines: you are not without responsibility. Youth of the Philippines: so many people depend on you!”

Ramon N. Cabrera  CAS 2nd Year

UNIVERSITAS January 2009

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Student Life

W

orld Youth Day 2008, held in Sydney, Australia, was such an overwhelming emotional and spiritual experience! And at the same time it was immensely fun.

The event itself was scheduled from July 15 to 20 but we were there earlier to give us time to prepare ourselves for the WYD experience.

After all, we want to be able to truly feel and live the WYD theme: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be my witnesses.”

Our group, comprised of 17 members, was headed by Ms. Abby de Leon of the Institute of Political Economy. Our “small” group enjoyed each other’s company, relished the unlimited rides in the Aussie trains, took pleasure in the boundless supply of milk and bread, and cherished the engaging short talks and laugh trips we had inside and outside our accommodations. (We lodged in Retaval Infant School for our entire stay. It was a simple yet beautiful two-story building. A cozy place, it reminded me of the UA&P atmosphere.)

What is of prime importance, however, was not the thrill and excitement but the valuable lessons WYD has taught us.

First, you need to prepare materially and spiritually for WYD; I had to raise funds for travel and accommodations, winter clothes, visa and passport applications, etc. Beyond these things, you need to get into spiritual shape by attending formation classes that would help you appreciate fully the

real essence and spirit of the WYD journey. It was the formation that gave meaning to every activity that we did there; without the spiritual groundwork, the encounter would not be as powerful as it was.

These preparations were not at all easy for me with exams and school requirements piling up.

In fact, I would have given up a few weeks before the event if not for friends and teachers who urged me to keep on.They gave me tips on how to look for funds and supported my every endeavor. They shored up my confidence and creativity in dealing with people and asking their help. I would have had huge regrets if I had given up.

Receive the power If I had not gone to the WYD, I would not have discovered many more things about myself and known better my role as a Christian. For one thing, I learned that a Christian is one who struggles to be “like Christ,” to keep the faith alive and to spread the love of God. World Youth Day has reminded me that to be a Christian, it is never good enough to just obey all the Don’ts and even the Do’s. It is a good way to start, though.

Meeting friends from all walks of life, I realized how universal the Catholic Church is and how alive people’s faith is. A large number, if not all,

of the people during those days showed high spirits and enthusiasm in all of the activities. It dawned on me that I should try my very best to reach out to people and help them—as Christ would—so they would indeed feel the universality of the Catholic Church. So starting in Sydney, my friends and I have begun to reach out to other people. We made friends with everyone we met along the way and made them feel that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ.

Those days in Sydney also gave me an opportunity to experience how it is to give up conveniences and ease. Each day was undeniably a struggle for me: the heat under the sun and the coldness at night; long walks and short hours of sleep. Lastly, I missed the food back home.

This is what the WYD made me see—a Christian must be willing to make sacrifices, to step out of one’s comfort zone, offer help and give love.

In hindsight, I can say that WYD was such an extraordinary experience: to be with the Pope personally in one place, hearing and seeing him, even just from a distance, is wonderful. It was even more special because of the Filipino and foreign friends who welcomed us warmly in Sydney! And extra special because of the insights that I personally learned from the event.

May everyone be sensitive to the work of the Holy Spirit in giving them peace and joy and may the fruits of WYD’08 be felt by everyone. Here’s looking forward to the next WYD in Madrid, Spain!

Viory Janeo  SEC 3rd year

Spring down under

S

pring often signals revival, renewal, rebirth. The dreariness and lethargy of winter melt away and in its place, the vigor and hope of new growth blossom.

Last July 15-20, despite the biting 4-15°C temperature in the city of Sydney, the six-day celebration of the 23rd World Youth Day blazed in color and cheer that it almost seemed like spring. Gathering around 500,000 pilgrims from all over the world, among whom were some 50 UA&P delegates, WYD ‘08 marked the largest event held in Australia and Pope Benedict XVI’s first visit to the country.

Australia, as described by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in his address, is “a land of great freedom, a land of many cultures, a land of many faiths but also a land deeply shaped by and proud of its Christian heritage and future.” With the anticipation of the much-awaited event, the winter chill gave way to the warmth evident among the natives and guests—from the cheery welcoming party at the airport, friendly subway guides, to the endless greetings from pilgrims and fellow Filipinos.

The celebration, with its theme “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8), was unofficially started on July 14 with the Journey of the Cross and Icon, held just within the heart of the city. The enthusiasm of the crowd swarming through the cityscapes gave a glimpse of what we would see in the coming days—a spirit-filled flock invading the cold and busy streets of Sydney. In the mix of different cultures, the boundaries of race and color faded, as the youth in good fellowship and camaraderie chanted along “Receive the Power.” Unmindful of the evening chill, friendships were built and connections established—all in common faith.

Indeed, on July 15, when the Opening Mass jumpstarted the celebration, Barangaroo (a 22hectare piece of land alongside the business district and bounded by the harbor) teemed with pilgrims and volunteers alike, waving a kaleidoscope of colorful banners and flags.

Prime Minister Rudd warmly welcomed the youth with pride: “You are so much the light of the world at a time when the world has so much darkness. Too often in the history of the world, when young people traveled in great numbers to other parts of the world, they do so in the cause of war, but you are here today as pilgrims of peace.”

Cardinal George Pell, who presided over the Mass, also greeted us with an inspiring message of faith and hope: “Christ is calling you home to love, healing and community.” The greetings were met with festive cheers and chants, particularly when the Pope’s early message of affirmation arrived: “Young friends, God and His people expect much from you, because you have within you the Father’s supreme gift: the Spirit of Jesus.” The evening was capped with a concert and splendid fireworks.

On July 17, thousands of pilgrims, empowered by the Holy Spirit, gathered once again at Barangaroo to welcome the Holy Father as he arrived at Sydney Harbour. During those solemn moments Pope Benedict XVI’s presence moved the hearts of those who were blessed to see and hear him.

The next days brought us a vast array of activities and events that allowed us to rediscover our faith. There were the catecheses and youth festivals, with various forums and performances; vocations expo; and pilgrimage to St. Mary’s Cathedral. Among the forums our group, led by Ms. Abby de Leon, attended were the enlightening “Theology of the Body for Teens,” which explored love, sex and marriage, and “Get Real,” a forum on the objectification of women and children. These events were mainly held at major sites, such as The Domain (a 34-hectare open space sometimes used as a sporting venue),

Sydney Opera House, Darling Harbour and Barangaroo. Many of the pilgrims also packed the venues for adoration and confession.

Aside from sites hosting World Youth Day events, Sydney also has other attractions that begged attention. In between events, most of our group, visited what Sydney has to offer: the Olympic Park, Direct Factory Outlet, Woolworths, Taronga Zoo, Harbour Bridge, and Bondi Beach.

In the middle of man’s search for meaning, the Pope advises, “find fulfillment in love.” ////////////////////// The events peaked on July 19 when the pilgrims spent an overnight vigil at the Randwick Racecourse after walking approximately nine kilometers, with the temperature dropping to 3.7°C. During the vigil, we were amazed at the sight of thousands of flickering candlelight, vying with the sparkle of Sydney’s city lights. WYD 2008 came to a close with the celebration of the Final Mass the morning after, which earned us encouraging words from the Pope himself: “Burning with the fire and love of the Holy Spirit, go forth to proclaim the Risen Christ and to draw every heart to Him!” With the multi-ethnicity we were exposed to, the fervor of the fellow youth in their faith, and guiding words by the Holy Father, the World Youth Day experience brought us pilgrims to a rediscovery of what it means to be a Christian, and essentially to a renewal of faith and hope in the midst of a spreading spiritual desert. In the middle of man’s search for meaning, the Pope advises, “find fulfillment in love.” And with this kind of love—inspired by the Holy Spirit— spring took place in Sydney’s mid-July.

Leah Tacuel  SCM 3rd year

SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS

Development leaders What SEC students should become

O

ver 20 years ago, in my conversations with students in the Industrial Economics Program, it was appropriate for me to talk about the need for them to become development executives.

What is a development executive? He is first and foremost a keen analyst of business and economic trends. As a result of exposure to theories and methods of research, he is able to explain scientifically the trends in the national economy and in various sectors and industries. He also knows what paths of progress can be open to various sectors, regions, industries and firms because he is thoroughly acquainted with the experiences of more developed countries. More important, he is concerned not only with “doing things in the right way” but also in “doing the right things.”

Today we have to go beyond the concept of a development executive.

I want to introduce a new kind of executive that you in this generation should aspire to be—a development leader.

What is a leader? There are three criteria for leadership. First, a leader— as a manager—must be capable of defining strategies and producing economic value for the company. Second, he must have a certain level of interpersonal competencies to be able to communicate to subordinates the tasks to be accomplished and help them achieve their objectives.

Third, he must be able to govern himself and manage his emotions, his learning, and his personal development.

It is in this light that you should value your three years of humanities course. To produce development leaders means equipping students with both the technical skills and, more important, the virtues: understanding what it means to be honest, humble and generous, by being taught philosophy and theology and being introduced to figures like Dante and St. Augustine. That is an investment that will last all your lives even if you live up to 100. So don’t underestimate the value of those three years as a foundation for your graduate program.

I am not saying that you will attain it overnight. This is a lifelong process but what UA&P can do is put the foundation. And you can be sure that those five years in UA&P are good enough for a foundation. It is up to you later on whether or not you will build on that foundation.

Let me tell you about the different types of leaders. One is a transactional leader. Transactional leadership is built on a relationship of economic influence. A transactional leader relies on rewards and punishments to motivate his subordinates; his ability to influence people depends on his ability to give or withhold incentives. To do that, he lays down clear rules and sets carefully designed objectives. His management style tends to be one of command-and-control with the accent on control and a robust use of formal power. He pays close attention to the short term and uses processes and resources efficiently.

A transactional leader is therefore a good manager who seeks continuous improvement through standardization, organization, and repetition of tried and tested processes. Good transactional leaders tend to be good negotiators. They are authoritarian, even aggressive in getting maximum benefit out of the relationship of economic influence they have created.

In UA&P, it would not be possible for one of our managers or deans or department heads to be authoritarian because, by definition, our corporate culture requires collective government. Every person who is a department chairman or a dean always involves other key people in decision making. He never makes a decision on his own. It can be apparently inefficient, because it takes time to consult other people. But over the long run, it is effective, because you get everyone to own the decision. The two most important features for success are trust and ownership of the mission or objective.

The second type of leadership is transformational leadership. It is based on a relationship of professional influence. In a professional relationship, the subordinate is interested not only in the salary and benefits but also in the job as such, the challenge it offers, the learning he gets from it, and its overall appeal. As the old psychologists would call it, it is the

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hygiene factors, such as achievement motivation and all the internal satisfaction that the person gets out of the work. These factors are closely related to transformational leadership.

The influence exerted by a transformational leader goes deeper than that of a transactional leader. A transformational leader is able to influence people not only through reward and punishments but also through an attractive job in which subordinates learn and commit to tasks.

He is usually non-conformist, visionary, and charismatic. He repeatedly questions the way things are done in the company and his followers’ aspirations and ideas. He is an excellent communicator. Effective communication—that is also what the three years of the humanities in UA&P where you study philosophy, theology, theatre arts, etc. help you to cultivate. You cannot be a transformational leader unless you are good in communication. Compelling and persuasive, a transformational leader has great faith in himself and his vision and pursues the changes he has decided upon with great determination and energy. The transformational leader is not necessarily opposed to the transactional leader. He is an enriched version of an effective manager.

And then finally, as identified in the research of professors at the IESE Business School of the University of Navarra, the third type of leader is the transcendental leader. Transcendental leadership is built on a relationship of personal influence.

In a personal relationship, employees are motivated to accomplish a worthwhile common mission not only by financial rewards and the inherent interest in their job but also by a personal commitment to the leader, who becomes like a role model because of the virtues that he has. He teaches by example. And so all the people working under him are not primarily motivated by money or even by the internal satisfaction. They may actually find it hard to do things that are against their own inclinations, but because they see a leader who is selfless, dedicated, etc., they are moved by his example to go against the grain.

And this is really transcendental. The influence extended by a transcendental leader is even deeper than that of a transformational leader because a transcendental leader is able to influence people not only by giving out rewards and punishments or interesting professional challenges but also by appealing to their awareness of how other people need them to do their job well out of a sense of mission.

Your ambition should be: I want to be a development leader.

I don’t know whether or not I will manage people, but I want to lead and there is so much to be done in this country and so much that can be done by development leaders.

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The transcendental leader is strongly committed to a content-rich project and makes his subordinates realize how their work contributes to the completion of that project. In preaching by example, he enhances his credibility among his subordinates.

Lastly, he radiates a powerful sense of urgency and encourages his subordinates to accept leadership responsibilities so that they set themselves demanding and ambitious goals in the service of the corporate mission.

So, I would like to suggest that you aspire to be a transcendental leader in whatever career or profession you may pursue after your studies. Your ambition should be: I want to be a development leader. With your scientific knowledge of what it takes to achieve economic development for our country, you should go beyond being a transactional and transformational leader. You should be able to motivate the people with whom you work to work selflessly for the common good by the example of our own personal commitment. That is what it means to be a development leader.

Dr. Bernardo M. Villegas University Professor 

Campus Life

A transformational leader inspires his team with his vision and the challenge and learnings the task offers.

A transactional leader, such as a military commander, relies on rewards and punishments to motivate his subordinates.

A transcendental leader is a role model who uplifts his followers to serve the greater good.

He can empower his followers to become leaders themselves.

Napo

M a h at ma Ga n d h i

le on Bona p a r t e

M i c h ael Jor d a n

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Student Life UA&P student leaders join

iamninoy

Wanted: Young people, 16-25 years old, models of integrity, excellence…This call for participants in a leadership conference drew people who weren’t born yet when a modern- day hero—Benigno Aquino, or Ninoy—they are supposed to emulate made a supreme sacrifice for love of country. The Congress—Iamninoy: Connecting Young Filipino Leaders Congress— gave the delegates a deeper knowledge about Ninoy and his passion to serve his fellowmen.

Organized by The Ayala Young Leaders Alliance and the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Center for Leadership, in partnership with the Benigno S. Aquino Foundation, the congress commemorated Ninoy’s 25th death anniversary. Held in the Aquino Museum in Tarlac City last August 22-24, it was a gathering of 100 youth leaders with varied backgrounds, passionately committed to nation-building through leadership in business and entrepreneurship, government, media, arts and creatives, education, and spirituality and formation. They shared and listened to the rich leadership experiences that they have in their own communities, sectors, or schools.

In the congress, two UA&P students made it through the screening process for this event—Samuel Macagba III, a 5th year Development Education student, and John Be Orenz Nito, a 4th year Political Economy student. Here are their notes of experiences and some of the lessons that they want to share with the UA&P community.

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‘Stand up and be a leader!’

The challenge of our time: Stand up and be a leader!

We should not depend on one man, We should depend on all of us And therefore I say, Stand up now and be a leader And when all of us are leaders, We shall expedite the cause of freedom (Benigno S. Aquino Jr.)

To be honest, my knowledge about Ninoy Aquino was very limited: what I knew, I got from books and my high school history teachers. Because of the Iamninoy congress, now I know more about his charisma and legendary heroism. This has inspired me in many ways. For one, I am inspired to do more and become better. Ninoy started to be a leader at a young age.

Being young and inexperienced was never a hindrance for him to take greater opportunities and be the best that he can be as a student and as a leader. During his late 20s or early 30s, he served as a political leader in his community, then as a senator. He continuously expanded his horizon and leaped forward. All of this he offered to his fellow men and the country.

What is most impressive about him, however, is that he acknowledged his own humanness, that is, that he also had weaknesses. He taught us that what we really need to do is to humbly address our failures by developing ourselves in the best way possible. Ninoy said that at the peak of his political career, he thirsted for power and forgot the main purpose of leadership and service. But worse than this, he forgot the main reason for his existence—God. What he exemplified was that even though no one is perfect, everyone is entitled to self-development, which starts from humility and the passion to improve oneself. Everyone has the capacity to be a hero since, as Guillermo Luz—the congress keynote speaker—said, “Heroism starts from a personal transformation of oneself.”

This personal transformation is a constant struggle not just for personal growth but a dedication toward improving society. Every day, all of us are called to be heroes by always going for the principled choices, not the popular ones. Thus, we can persist in this effort only if we are with like-minded individuals who share the same goal of improving ourselves for the common good. As economist Solita Monsod said, “Everything depends on us. Our country can advance only if everyone takes some weight on his or her shoulders.”

As a future educator, I realize the value of my commitment to education. In the 25 seeds of commitment that were produced in this congress, everyone mentioned the importance of education as an instrument to empower others and to push the development of this country.

Believing in the goodness and the capacity of each person, and being inspired by the acts of Ninoy, I continue to learn more about my craft as a student and as a future teacher. My continuing commitment to developing others is lived through my choice of bringing out the best in people and myself because I believe that everyone can be a leader... everyone is a Ninoy in his or her own right.

The death of Ninoy started a war of sustaining development through collective action and personal transformation; and everyone is called to take part in this war. Let us not lose hope and continuously be inspired by the many people who tried their best to push forward what Ninoy and our other heroes have started. The challenge of our time, of this time is no less than be Ninoys! Stand out and be leaders!

Heroes are born, not made A hundred brave souls—young leaders as they would call themselves—gathered and took the challenge of becoming a hero in their everyday endeavor. The event not only reminded us, the participants, of Ninoy’s heroism, but also inspired us to look at things affecting the country and act upon them as Ninoy would.

At the end of the congress, we, a hundred brave souls, yelled loud and clear “I do what I believe is right. I do what I believe is good. I fight for justice. I fight for freedom…Iamninoy: there is a Ninoy in all of us. And after 25 years, it’s time we play our part…”

Ninoy’s death woke up millions of Filipino people waiting in vain for a hero to do the extraordinary. More than anything else, it left a big responsibility for everyone. Though the ultimate goal of Ninoy, which is to restore peace, freedom, and democracy, was met, his death left a big question about how to continue the unfinished business of selfless service for the country, and for the elusive quest for nation building.

Fast track, 25 years after, a hundred young men and women pledged and took the challenge via the “Seeds of Commitment,” which were inspired by the challenges posed by Ninoy’s life and death.

In the congress, we where divided among five different clusters— government, media, education, spirituality, and business—that represent the five different aspects of nation building. After hearing testimonies and lectures, and seeing films about Ninoy, we made action plans that could concretely realize our advocacies in line with the different clusters. The goal for each of us is to be a man for others, a man of service and a man of action, rather than a man with a thousand words—pure talk and nothing else.

Concretely, I made my commitment to serve the Filipino people through public service. Being in the education cluster during the congress, I realized that, although the field of education is the most powerful tool in transforming Philippine society, it is in a dismal and poor state. As a result, my advocacy in life was crafted in my heart: education for the Filipino people—rich and poor, young and old, men and women. Sounds passé…but to me it is an entirely new challenge that I have to rise to.

My goal in life now, therefore, is to work for the Philippine government, specifically in the Department of Education.

I chose to enroll in Political Economy in UA&P primarily because I need to get all the necessary tools and knowledge for me to pursue my advocacy.

Political Economy therefore is my means to achieve my end goal.

Ultimately, I want to take part in the reform of the Philippine education system, seeing it as the only hope for a better Philippines. Meanwhile, I do my course work and push socially and politically oriented causes that can help me grow as a person, a student, and a future leader.

Only after overcoming challenges can we be rightfully called heroes for heroism demands a personal transformation that we could realize only if we truly want it. Then we can truly “walk our talk.”

John Be Orenz Nito IPE 4th year 

Samuel Macagba III SED 5th year 

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some non-MFI clients eagerly applying for loans with Prasac. We were told that most of the villagers’ qualms about microfinance were somehow calmed, and their interest in venturing into microfinance was sparked.

Cambodia and microfinance Cambodia is one of the poorer countries in the ASEAN. Next to Laos, it has the highest poverty incidence in the region. Although microfinance has been in force in the country for quite some time, it has not fully developed as an industry.

There have been efforts to formalize the practice, but because of the lack of proper information dissemination, a large number of people do not understand or appreciate it. Current clients likewise have not been trained on how to efficiently use the loans they avail of and how to operate the micro businesses they have set up.

Inevitably, the clients are unable to sustain their business or worse, are put into debt.

UA&P students in Cambodia: Jardy Adolfo, seated, 3rd from left; the author, standing, 4th from right

School of Economics student promotes microfinance in Cambodian villages “Leadership in the ASEAN is characterized by leading by vision, and thus we want to make the visions of these future leaders translate to reality.”

These words of Professor Peter Pang, University Scholars Program Director of the National University of Singapore, show the firm resolve of Temasek Foundation-Model ASEAN Fellowship Program to live up to the commitment it avowed in December 2007 during the inaugural Model ASEAN Conference—that is, to make the youth more aware of the regional issues that need to be addressed as well as engage them more deeply in the region’s affairs.

As delegates-cum-fellows of that conference, we have been assigned to go to different ASEAN countries to implement the project trips we ourselves have planned. Designed to give us first-hand experience of the situation in other countries relating to our respective committee’s issues, these trips were planned to help us develop policy recommendations that we will present to the ASEAN Secretariat in early 2009.

From May 18 to 26, we were in Cambodia, together with eight other students from the region, representing the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Cambodia. We were there to promote to the people in the remote villages the practice of microfinance.

The villagers were given basic microfinance modules, crafted by Mr. Edmund Martinez of the UA&P School of Economics. The trip was made in partnership with Prasac Microfinance, Ltd., Cambodia’s second largest microfinance institution. The project was also endorsed by the Cambodia Microfinance Association.

To prepare for the training days in the villages, we were briefed by Prasac about the current microfinance situation in Cambodia, as well as some customs and practices of the country,

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and basic Khmer (the language spoken by the country’s predominant ethnic group), which we needed since English was not widely spoken. We then traveled to the province of Kampong Cham for the project implementation. The two villages we visited are Tbong Kmom and Osvay, both of which reminded me of our own rural towns, with old wooden houses and rice fields nearby.

The teaching sessions were done with the help of the local village officials. About 60 people attended per training day; only some of them were already clients of microfinance institutions (MFIs). Mostly dependent on farming for a living,

“Leadership in the ASEAN is characterized by leading by vision, and thus we want to make the visions of these future leaders translate to reality.” //////////////////////

they were simple and shy people. They were a bit intimidated at first because this training was a totally new experience for them, but they seemed happy to have us there.

Because the trainees didn’t understand or speak English, we asked students of the Royal University of Phnom Penh (classmates of one of our Cambodian delegates) to translate the modules and to conduct the training in basic Khmer. We tried as much as we could to communicate with the villagers but language was really a barrier.

Our newly found Cambodian friends, however, served as our bridge and that made things a lot better. The villagers were attentive and seemed pleased at the end of every training day, with

It is for all these reasons that our group—the Model ASEAN 2007 Economic Committee— chose to do its first project trip in Cambodia. With the inefficiency seen in microfinance operations in the country, we knew that this was where we can make the most impact. We thought that, among all the ASEAN countries, it needed our help most. Immersion in Cambodia was also what we deemed would help us come up with a good policy recommendation to the ASEAN Secretariat.

Cambodia’s rich culture The project trip not only fulfilled its goal of implementing the plan hatched some months back. It also allowed us to see and experience the richness of Cambodia’s culture.

Among the sites we went to, perhaps the grandest would be the Chatomuk Mongkul Royal Palace, the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, and Angkor Wat. Visiting the Royal Palace gave us a glimpse of Cambodian beliefs, values, and perceptions. The palace-cum-museum depicted the Cambodian culture through the paintings on walls, the design of temples, and even the architecture of the houses within the palace’s compound. It showed how the Cambodians have a high regard for their king, a truly impressive trait of the people.

We also had the chance to visit what Cambodia is best known for—Angkor Wat. Built for a 12th century king as his state temple, it left us all in awe at its majesty. Angkor Wat is covered in intricate and beautiful carvings that reflect the richness of Khmer religious beliefs.

But what made the trip really worthwhile is its people. Interacting with them made us realize that we in the ASEAN region share a lot in common.

Or Kun Naa Cambodia Working with people from different cultures is a delicate task. But coming together to achieve one goal and turn our vision to reality, we learned to bridge our dissimilarities and foster strong ties. Truly, no cultural difference should be able to stop the development of a better ASEAN, even a better world.

Patricia Marie Y. Buensuceso SEC 5th year 

Student Life families with absentee parents. On its part, PEN enabled the educators to identify opportunities for collaboration among higher educational institutions with respect to the urgent need to establish curricular bases and research direction vis-à-vis worker migration.

The Philippines has developed a culture of migration—almost 10% of the population are either working or residing overseas.

The delegates together with Ms. Ma. Concepcion Rapisora (CAS Faculty) seated, 2nd from left and Mr. Rene Ledesma (CSA Vice Chairman) standing, right most

UA&P hosts Joint civAsia and PEN National Conference on migration

T

he Philippines has developed a culture of migration—almost 10% of the population are either working or residing overseas. While the government has consistently declared that it is not encouraging migration, labor migration is part of its economic development strategy because it has helped improve the economy and reduce poverty. However, migration can have harmful social and economic effects on migrant workers, particularly women and their families. To find ways of addressing major migration issues, the country hosted the Global Forum on Migration and Development.

With the same spirit of weighing up the benefits of migration and the costs to the country and to families, the 2008 Joint Civitas Asia (civAsia) and Philippine Education Network (PEN) National Conference had for its theme “The Philippines Without Borders: Addressing the Challenges Facing a Migrant Nation.” Hosted by the Office of Student Affairs and the College of Arts and Sciences last October 23 to 25, this year’s conference brought together 28 university student leaders and 16 teachers from around the country.

WORK

The participants came from Cagayan (Cagayan Colleges Tuguegarao), Aklan (Aklan State University), Negros (University of St. La Salle Bacolod), Iloilo (West Visayas College of Science and Technology, University of San Agustin), Batangas (De La Salle Lipa), and Metro Manila (UA&P, University of the East, Far Eastern University, Global City Innovative College, Pateros Technological College, and College of St. Benilde).

The CivAsia conference enabled the student leaders to discuss and gain insight about migration. Philippine universities and colleges have an important stake with regard to the issue considering the sizeable number of students belonging to

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Among the experts who delivered lectures on the various migration issues were Assistant Secretary Evan Garcia of the Department of Foreign Affairs Office of the United Nations and Other International Organizations; Dr. Maruja M.B. Asis, Research Director of the Scalabrini Migration Center; and Dr. Jorge Tigno, an Assistant Professor from the University of the Philippines. Mr. Jun Aguilar, a former overseas Filipino worker and now president of a business enterprise, shared his overseas work experiences and how these have shaped his identity as a Filipino.

After the experts’ lectures, the participants engaged in intense discussions and workshops in order to arrive at viable resolutions and initiatives to be undertaken by the stakeholders of migration.

Among the resolutions from the students’ discussions are (1) for the Department of Social Welfare and Development to create a welfare support group that will cater to the needs of the Filipino migrant family, for instance, the need for the children to understand and deal with the effects of migration; and (2) for the Department of Labor and Employment to form a Committee on Human and Financial Resource, which will train and assist the OFW families regarding possible investment opportunities and the proper use of their remittances.

Ms. Concha dela Cruz  Office of Student Affairs

HOME

UNIVERSITAS January 2009

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Student Life

UA&P’s new secret weapon:

The Junior Marketing Communications Team Junior Marketing Communications Team Ryan Cancio Michael Chiong Benjamin De Leon Miguel Garcia Jonathan Gonzales Dae Lee Katrina Loring Van Andre Luzarraga Jessica Ann Magno KC Marcelo Gmenier Mendoza Nicole Miller Miguel Orleans Michael Pamintuan Rachel Rustia Jade Sison

You’ve all seen them around. They tote those oversized crimson and black ID tags paired with that highly coveted UA&P pin, all while exuding a cool confidence that underscores hours of intensely focused training. They’re the Junior Marketing Communications Team (JMC), and they currently serve as one of the spearheads of our University’s revamped marketing and public relations efforts.

When I came in earlier this year, JMC wasn’t in existence yet. What we had were random student marketers who would help out the Corporate Communications Office with campus tours and sometimes assist on a career talk or two. But there was no formal organization, no airtight roster, and no standard procedures set in stone.

That given, it was decided that a formal group be organized to help augment the upcoming marketing campaign.

The tightly sized-up 16-member team had to go through a stringent screening process that tested their essential communication skills in addition to gauging the level of their basic public relations acumen. In addition, as Jessica Ann Magno, a third year School of Communication student, says JMCs “have to live and breathe the UA&P way of life in order to market the school better. (They) need to have the drive as well as the passion to bring about the necessary exposure that UA&P deserves.”

Serving as the “face of the university,” they are real ambassadors who are an astute reflection of UA&P’s rich and diverse student population.

So what do they do exactly? They contribute through a myriad of ways. Usually when there’s a career talk to potential high school seniors, after the main talk is given, the JMCs take the stage, sharing their own positive insights and experiences before the captive audience—as Magno puts it, “talking to eager students who want to know more about my University.” They are also well versed in rendering the classic campus tour, keeping visiting students and VIPs entertained and well informed while showing them around. In addition, they help out in doing events management work for institutional events such as the University Day.

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As one of their on-the-job benefits, JMC members also get to travel not just around the metropolis, but all over the country as well.

Through marketing and public relations, they provide high-value contributions in developing a long-term provincial grassroots initiative. In this year’s marketing campaign, the JMCs have so far been to Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, and Bacolod, with upcoming trips to Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Bicol, and Baguio. These are all priceless and worthwhile experiences, which bolster both their personal development and this early, their professional growth. As Benjamin Jozef de Leon, another JMC, shares, marketing UA&P has helped develop not only their speaking skills, but also their personality and confidence, traits sought by companies in would-be employees.

Overall, the team has had a strong impact on this year’s campaign. Our presentation routines have been well received nationwide, and their presence has profoundly changed the dynamic of our marketing strategy. The presence of

The presence of young, hip, and knowledgeable students has opened up a highly pertinent avenue for our message to be conveyed. They make our university stand out amidst the profusion of schools making their marketing pitch.

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young, hip, and knowledgeable students has opened up a highly pertinent avenue for our message to be conveyed. They make our university stand out amidst the profusion of schools making their marketing pitch. With all things said and done, it seems that the JMCs are here to stay, jacking up an untested development initiative into an outstanding competitive advantage for our university in the field of higher education marketing.

Mr. Luis Arcangel  Corporate Communications Office

Arts

Breaking your

Glass Menagerie A review of Kultura’s production of the Tennessee Williams classic

The Glass Menagerie focuses on man’s natural tendency to escape when confronted with life’s harsh realities.

I was able to catch the final run of the play last September 30 and, with no offense meant to the alternate actors, I believe that Pam Imperial, Rhenz Gabalonzo and Steph Sol as Amanda, Tom and Laura were able to essay credible sketches of their respective characters. All of them, including RJ Torres, who played Jim, were almost whimsical in their portrayal, befitting the form of the play.

With this production, the audience is invited to a “sumptuous dinner”—prepared by the director, Mr. Joel Parcon—where one is lent the sweet option to relish every bite and experience the multisensory explosion of flavors.

Parcon was able to interpret the script in such a way that one will refuse to be that annoying member of the audience who tries to predict what’s going to happen next. From the first

scene that highlights the repugnance of the son towards his mother’s obsession with her ‘perfect’ life as a southern belle, up to that powerfully built

The Glass Menagerie attacks something fragile within us and forces us to break it, as if to tell us that the only way to experience real, tiny pockets of happiness is when we face our realities head on, allow them to crash our windshields, and let the shreds, however painful, cut our skin.

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up confrontation scene after the gentleman caller turned their worlds upside down, one can’t help but get lost in the characters, while maintaining a

firm grasp of what was going on. (I didn’t even realize that the play ran for three hours!)

Tom, Laura, and Amanda choose to live in their own dream lands but the utter helplessness of their respective states of being too angry, too afraid, and too obsessed with the past underscore the valuable life lessons that all of us need to learn.

The Glass Menagerie attacks something fragile within us and forces us to break it, as if to tell us that the only way to experience real, tiny pockets of happiness is when we face our realities head on, allow them to crash our windshields, and let the shreds, however painful, cut our skin. I hope that when Kultura, or any other theatre group re-stages the play, you’ll be first in line to take the challenge—the challenge to shatter your own menagerie of illusions.

John Calica Contributor

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GOD BLESS OUR TRI

Super