usl newsletter2

Volume VIII

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ISSN 1908-7683

USL Newsletter

The Official Newsletter of the University of Saint Louis, Tuguegarao City, Philippines SECOND SEMESTER

USL’s Mission in China USL goes global anew with the tie-up to two Chinese Universities Dr. James Pattaguan

In a business trip to 5 key cities in China by Fr. Neil Sta Ana, CICM, University Chaplain and CICM Liaison Officer and Dr. James P. Pattaguan, Vice President for Administration, the University of Saint Louis had signed up Memorandum of Understanding with two educational institutions. The schools are China Jiliang University and the Zhejiang Vocational College of Commerce. Representatives from the said school approached Fr. Neil and Dr. Pattaguan in the school booth on the occasion of the China Education Expo 2008 (CEE08).

CEE08 is a 3-day gathering of participating universities and colleges all over the world for the promotion of their program offerings.

With the new partners, USL’s commitment to globalization will be further enhanced. The areas of cooperation are faculty

Academic seminar thrusts e-learning Macekrell De la Cruz

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CAAKAP Librarians’ Association Inc. holds the 2nd seminar workshop on school librarianship Michael Pinto

Members of the teaching force of the university convened at the Bulwagang Teodulfo Domingo to attend the semestral academic seminar, Nov. 6-7.

“I learned much in this seminar...more seminars like this...” These are just some the feedbacks from the participants of the 2nd Seminar Workshop on Dr. Dylan Dizon, Vice-president School Librarianship held for Program Development of last October 22-24, 2008.

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The three-day seminarworkshop for School Librarianship was organized by the Cagayan And Kalinga Apayao (CaAKAp) Librarian’s Association Inc. with the theme “Enhancing the Basic Skills in School Librarianship”. The Bulwagang Teodulfo Domingo of the University of Saint Louis was the venue for this seminar workshop.

Fascinating China experience

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National Learning Foundation, and a national and international consultant on the integration of technology [in teaching], on assessment, and curriculum development, was the resource speaker during the two-day seminar.

The theme “Revolution in Education: the Shift from Teaching to Learning” was tackled in conjunction with the university’s thrust for E-learning, the common term for electronic learning. E learning is a mode to facilitate learning via the internet.

The functions of the brain were presented and linked to the roles of teachers in creating favorable learning environments. The child’s

The seminar was participated in by the elementary and secondary school librarians, teacher-librarians and library in-charge in Region 2 and from the provinces of Kalinga and Apayao.

During the opening program, it was no less than the DepEd Regional Director for Region 2 Dr. Jesus L. Taberdo who graced the occasion as the keynote speaker. In his message, he urged the participants and the organizers of the seminar to conduct more activities in their libraries to heighten the “love for reading” of their clients – the pupils and students. He reiterated the important role of libraries

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and librarians in the intellectual development of the child.

Being the host school and the seat of the association, USL’s VP for Academics Dr. Delailah B. Valencia welcomed the participants informing everyone of the programs that the University Libraries’ is endeavoring to. She also congratulated the organizers on their commitment to reach out to libraries that need assistance in terms of the proper way of managing the library and its resources.

The USL Director of Libraries and the President of the CaAKAp Librarians Association Inc. also

Reporting from malaysia

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a silent secret made for 101 years

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USL’s Mission in China from page 01 exchange, student exchange, and other academic undertakings subject to a mutual discussion of USL and the partner institutionS. Fast facts about New Partners of USL: China Jiliang University China Jiliang University (CJLU) has been the only university in the sectors of quality supervision, inspection and quarantine in China since it was founded in 1978. Under the joint administration of both Zhejiang Province and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China (AQSIQ), CJLU is entitled to confer bachelor ’s degrees and m a s t e r ’s d e g r e e s .

Focusing on engineering, CJLU has become a multidisciplinary university whose fields of study cover seven branches of learning, namely engineering, science, law, management, economics, liberal arts and medicine with its characteristics in the fields of metrology, quality engineering, quality supervision and standardization.

CJLU has developed into a multi-disciplinary university with undergraduate education as its mainstay, together with post-graduate education and continuing education. Currently, Zhuang Songlin, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, is the honorary president, and Professor Lin Jianzhong is the president of the University.

>>mOments

Situated in Hangzhou, the capital city of Zhejiang Province in southeastern China, and a historical and tourist city with world fame, CJLU now covers a total area of 1,580 mu. Endowed with a pleasant climate and picturesque surroundings, CJLU is an ideal place for teaching, research, and learning. The University now has 17 colleges and teaching departments, namely, College of Metrological Technology & Engineering, College of Information Engineering, College of Optical Engineering and Electronics, College of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Quality and Safety Engineering, College of Economics and Management, College of Sciences, College of Life Sciences, College of Law, College of Humanities & Social Sciences, College of Foreign Languages, College of Artistic Designing, Liangxin College, College of Continuing Education, Division of Physical Education and Military Training, and Engineering Training Center as well as one independent college (College of Modern Science and Technology).

The University now has 14 programs for master’s degree and 39 programs in 8 disciplines for undergraduates of which 4 are key provincial specialties. At present, the total number of fulltime students, undergraduates and postgraduates has reached over 15,000. There are also nearly 4,000 students taking courses in adult education.

And the University also has the right to enroll international students and students from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. The members, there are 900 teachers, 2 academicians of CAE, 1 State Excellence Youth Science Foundation Fellow, 2 Transcentury & New Century Excellent Scholar Training Program Fellows and 14 specialists who share special government subsidies, together with another 27 teachers under various provincial talents programs. Faculty members with master or doctoral degrees account for 81.2%, and 35% of them have senior professional titles. In addition, Wang Daheng, academician of CAS, Chen Xingdan, academician of CAS, and Li Tongbao, academician of CAE, work as guest professor or honorary professors of the University.

CJLU takes disciplinary development as its

USL Newsletter mainstay, and places emphasis on developing disciplinary features. At present, under its administration there are 1 National Center for Quality Supervision and Testing of Magnetic Materials and Products, 1 Zhejiang Province key discipline receiving key financial support, 4 Province testing base, 4 state-level AQSIQ key disciplines, 2 exemplary laboratory instruction centers of Zhejiang Province and 1 Zhejiang Province college students cultural education base.

Equipped with modern teaching and research facilities with a total worth of more than 100,000,000 yuan, a sound campus computer network for automatic office work, a library with a collection of more than 1,600,000 volumes (including e-books), and various public facilities, the University can provide excellent conditions for teaching and research.

With a firm focus on its teaching and talent cultivation, CJLU puts the improving of the quality of talent cultivation in the first place, and has gradually developed its featured talent cultivation modes: educate high quality talents wdha have firm quality notion, a distinct sense of standard and a strong ability in metrology, testing and measurement. In exploring new talent cultivation modes, the University has been actively promoting the credit system, the flexible schooling length system, the major/minor system, and the dual degree system. It encourages students to take inter-collegiate courses outside campus. The University runs pilot programs. For three successive years, its students have won prizes in various national and provincial contests, of which 14 are national prizes and more than 40 first-class prizes at provincial level.

These prizes fully display the strong sense of innovation and practical ability of its students.

CJLU has witnessed a prosperous enrollment every year and has been ranked among top schools in terms of undergraduate placement rate in Zhejiang Province. Up to now, CJLU has turned out more than 36,000 students. It is one of the 5 colleges and universities in Zhejiang Province whose graduated students are accepted by the city of Shanghai. Its students have owned favorable comments from all employers.

CJLU adopts an open policy ever since its founding in 1978. It actively promotes international exchange and cooperation. Up to now, it has set up academic ties and inter-university exchanges with more than 20 universities, colleges, and research institutes in countries such as Germany, France, U.S.A., Australia and Great Britain. With these formal relationships, the University has put into operation academic exchange programs, talent cultivation programs, and various international cooperative programs and research projects such as the EUAsia-Link project entitled “Standardisation in Companies and Markets”.

Looking back into the history, China Jiliang University has made remarkable achievements; looking into the future, she sees an even brighter future.

Currently, China Jiliang University is striding in big steps towards its aim: to develop into a national renowned teaching and research university.

Zhejiang Vocational College of Commerce Zhejiang Vocational College of Commerce (ZJVCC) develops from Hangzhou Secondary Commercial School that was founded in 1911.

For about 100 years, ZJVCC has insisted on the school motto of “Honesty, tenacity, diligency, simplicity”, and has adhered to the principles or “nurturing talents and serving the society”. ZJVCC has produced more than 60,000 professionals such as the economist Mr. Luo Gengmo and the patriot Mr. Zhang Naiqi. As a result, ZJVCC has been crowned as “the talent-nurturing cradle for Zhejiang commerce”.

The main campus of ZJVCC is located in Binjiang Higher Education Park, a picturesque area to the south of Qiantangjiang River, and another campus (Desheng campus) lies in the downtown area in Hangzhou city. ZJVCC covers an area of 569 mu (or 57 hectares) with floor space to page 06

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THE GALACTIC GAZER Dr. Ferdinand N. Cortez

Not An Ordinary Song

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HAT SCENE COULD NEVER be erased in my imaginings.

On a busy overpass in Baguio last May, I saw a blind old man hunched, on his lap an ancient guitar, the violet paint fading. The left hand was carefully wrapped on the stem, the fingers poised in G. The other hand holds a pick, shaped from a Globe call card. A wire is connected to a small amplifier, and other intestines of it to a speaker. He is doing some Jim Croces. I have been to Baguio many times. I know this scene could be transformed into a song.

Since then, that scene had been gnawing my senses out. Here is a man who is religiously hunched, caressing the old guitar that he considers his best friend.

He wails a song, his voice straining to get the correct pitch so people could toss coins.

This scene keeps nagging me. And I know someday, I will make a n article about that man, about that instrument.

in this desperate world. A mother pleading for a son’s life, women begging for love, a harlot in orgasm or a cacophony of earthly pleasures or man’s peccadilloes.

It was the poster of Eric Clapton that mesmerized me and aroused my desire to play the guitar. It was his posture that seems to be yelling, his guitar a flailing, legs akimbo and at his back, the drummer opens his mouth in ecstasy. I saw it in my cousin’s room and the afternoon sunlight wafted warmly to it. Next were the posters of Erika Elianak, Sharon Stone and naked local Filipinas like Coca Nicolas and Pepsi Paloma, which were immediately reduced to ashes as I gawked at Clapton, the God, as he was called. In that afternoon indeed did I understand art, and life. I understood the passion of Picasso and the Amorsolo in that surreal glow of sunset. I bought my own guitar.

Art is contagious. After learning the guitar, the itch to write haunted me. I

He strums and plucks with the gusto of a chef. He is totally oblivious to the people around him, there’s no use, and he can’t see them.

He is unmoved by the revving of the machines, the voices, and other vestiges that should have appealed to human consciousness. He caresses

The most sensuous musical instrument is the guitar. Look at the shape, it is distinctively feminine.

And the sound. The moment you strum it at some lonely nights, the atmosphere would be charged with electricity. It could be a child crying in this desperate world. the instrument with care, almost with solemnity.

I am familiar with the guitar. I was in second year high school when I became interested with it. I borrowed one from my cousin and with devotion; I practiced memorizing the keys, finger position and the melody. It was my uncle’s nocturnal playing that cemented my closeness to it.

The whole high school afternoons were devoted to strumming. It could be said: I was addicted to this lovely object. And why not? The most sensuous musical instrument is the guitar. Look at the shape, it is distinctively feminine. And the sound.

The moment you strum it at some lonely nights, the atmosphere would be charged with electricity. It could be a child crying

continued the first fiction I was writing, still read to this day, the short story which enamoured the likes of Carlia Valencia. I entitled it the Guitarman. In between songs, I was inspired to write.

In College, every semestral break I go with my friends to the only sari sari store in San Isidro and with our gin soaked voice we imitate the Eagles, America and Scorpions.

We howl and we strum the blues. The old folks request that we sing Ilokano ballads, and we do, for they recall the travails they had when they settled in Buguey. This was a scene the old and the young look forward to every vacation.

My sisters were concerned, not much to page 14

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KALEIDOSCOPE Dr. James Pattaguan

Air Pollution?

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ollution as can be found in existing literatures in Sciences has been discussed in Science classes refers to the introduction of contaminants into an environment that causes instability,

But what is air pollution? Air pollution is the release of chemicals and particulates into the atmosphere. The common gaseous air pollutants include carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, chlorofourocarbons (CFCs) and nitrogen oxides.These pollutants are

Our school, through the Kaibigan ng Kalikasan Program, is a no-smoking and no-burning institution, this way, USL has done its share in addressing air pollution. produced by industries and from vehicle emission. Moreover, there are photochemical ozone andsmog created as nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons that react to sunlight.

Particulate matters are also produced from natural sources such as volcanoes or as residual oil fly ash from power plants.

Diesel particles are another class of airborne particulate matter. Add to this would be the smoke derived from burning of wastes.

disorder, harm or discomfort to the physical systems or living organisms they are in. Once such form of pollution for the purpose of this paper is AIR POLLUTION. I was inspired to write on this subject matter as a continuation of previous papers published in our newsletter that talk about environment. I write not only because I so desire to. I write because, just like anyone who is concerned of the future of children, I will be able to share my thoughts on topics of relevance.This is my little share towards environmental education.

As I gathered information and look back into my notes on this topic, I came across this gem from Robert Orben, he once said: There’s so much pollution in the air now that if it weren’t for our lungs there’d be no place to put it all. I realized as I was reading the quotation, that indeed it is true that the air we breath is so polluted that, eventually affecting us, young and old alike.

At the global scene, Transport Canada, Australian Government website and so with the University of Michigan in an article by Bucahanan and Horwitz, that emissions from motor vehicles are the leading causes of air pollution. In the same report China,United States, Russia, Mexico, and Japan are the world leaders in air pollution emissions; however, Canada is the number two country, ranked per capita. Principal stationary pollution sources include chemiclal plants, coal-fired power plants, oil refineries,petrochemical plants, nuclear wastes disposal activity, incinerators, large livestock farms (dairy cows, pigs, poultry, etc.), PVC factories, metals production factories, plastics factories, and other heavy industry.

On the other hand, here n the Philippines, at one point, a report by Manny Mogato in 2005 entitled: Philippines Toughening Air Pollution Standards,the following can be read: Manila’s skies are among the most polluted in the world, surpassed only by Mexico City, Shanghai and New Delhi, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said, citing diesel emissions from public transport vehicles as a major part of the problem.

“The air in Metro Manila is still dirty but significantly improving,” according to Ramon Paje, an undersecretary at the environment department. He further said, to page 16

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USL’s Mission in China from page 04 of more than 190,000 square meters. The total value of all teaching facilities and equipment amounts to 40 million yuan (RMB), and the college library has a collection of over 600,000 books. ZJVCC consists of six departments: Department of Economics and Business, Department of Information Technology, Department of Accounting, Department of Cuisine and Tourism Management, Department of Applied Engineering, Department of Art and Design. Two out of the 29 specialties that ZJVCC has at present, cuisine and hotel management and cooling and airconditioning engineering are provincial key specialties. The total floor space of on-campus practical training venues amounts to 40,000 square meters. ZJVCC has built 78 specialized experimental and practical training centers, including a central-government-funded training base and a provincial demonstrative training base. ZJVCC has also established steady connections with 115 off-campus training bases. ZJVCC has set up a national appraisal institute for professionals, Zhejiang Research Institute of Commerce Economy, Zhejiang Research Institute of Tourism, and Zhejiang Development Center of Applied Engineering Technology. The number of fulltime students at present exceeds 8,000. Out of 569 teaching staff, 439 are professional teachers, more than 150 have got higher professional titles, more than 200 have obtained their doctor’s master’s degree, and more than 200 professional teachers have obtained dual-teacher certificates.

ZJVCC sticks to the principle that students are our first priority, employment is

our guidance and teaching is our focus”, and attaches importance to the exploration and innovation of the talent-nurturing pattern of combining classroom study and on-the-job training. ZJVCC has set up Radisson Hotel Management College and louwailou Cuisine College. Based on one of the top 500 Business in China (Zhejiang Commercial Group Corp.), Vocational Education Group of Zhejiang Commerce has been established. An incubator base has been established to encourage on-campus students to launch their own businesses in authentic settings and to train high-quality skilled professionals for modern industries of logistics and services. Averagely, over 97 percent of our graduates find employment on their first trial for five successive years, and more than 95 percent of the employers are satisfied with our graduates. In November 2006, ZJVCC was awarded the title “Excellent vocational college for nurturing talents” by the Ministry of Education, thus becoming a popular college for high school students from within and outside Zhejiang province to apply for.

ZJVCC has established broad communication and cooperation with higher educational institutions for more than ten countries including the USA, Britain, Japan and Australia. Overseas students from Japan and Indonesia have been enrolled. ZJVCC and TAFE Western Australia have started a cooperative project for the specialty of Visual Transmission Art and Design.

The current president of ZJVCC is Professor Luo Guanglin.

Appeal Appeal Ferdinand N. Cortez The road is dark again, Lord. . .

And I beseech your blessings and light I have said this before in another word, I know you will always be right.

The battles I fought before, Were won because of you Never was I alone, As far as I know Let me not tremble now, Lord As I face them again, their world I have served them with all my best, You have done the rest So, together we are today, Together, Lord, all the way I am your son, yours my soul, Let us conquer them all. . . .

(Written in great depression ....

September 8, 2008)

CAAKAP Librarians’ Association Inc. holds the 2nd seminar workshop... from page 01

gave his opening remarks informing the participants of the rationale of the second seminarworkshop. He also elaborated the up-coming projects of the association which are directed toward the enhancement and development of libraries and librarianship in the region.

The resources speakers during the seminarworkshop were, Mr. Michael A. Pinto, USL Director of Libraries and the President and Founder of the CaAKAp Librarians Association Inc. who lectured on the theories on Management Techniques for Librarians. After his lecture,

sharings on the best practices for elementary, high school and public libraries were given by Ms. Venus Ibarra, the Grade School Librarian of USL, Mrs. Cynthia Banzuela the head librarian of the Cagayan National High School Library and Mrs. Margie L. Cayetano of the DepEd Library. In the afternoon of the first day, Dr. Angela Abiqui of the DPWH discussed about basic correspondence for librarians to become more effective in the written communication skills.

During the second day, Dr. Enrique

Cayaban, the Director of Libraries of Saint Mary’s University in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya and the concurrent president of the Nueva Vizcaya Librarians Association Inc. lectured on the topic Cataloguing and Classification for whole day.

The participants had an actual experience on how to catalog and classify library materials using the Dewey Decimal Classification and the AngloAmerican Cataloging Rules 2.

On the last day of the seminar, Mrs. Fely Baliton a librarian from SMU lectured on the topic Indexing Periodicals and clippings. With the desire of the participants to learn, there was a good interaction between speakers and the participants to clarify their queries regarding the topics discussed.

The three-day seminar ended with a library tour visiting the libraries of USL, SPUP, CNHS and CCT after which, the group had a visit to the Callao Caves in Peñablanca, Cagayan. Michael Pinto

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The Travel to Xiamen Equipped with over 20 kilos of brochure and PowerPoint and flash presentations (thanks to our Publication/CCIS/SICS staff), we braved the more than three hour travel to our Airport of destination- Xiamen International Airport.

Xiamen International Airport is as good as the other best airports I have been to.

Lest I forget, we wanted to check in the 20 kilos brochure, but we learned later that we have to pay more than two hundred US dollars for excess baggage. We decided to unpack the brochures and divide it into two. Other than the

experience ating china The fascin

AM LUCKY AND BLESSED TO HAVE BEEN GIVEN permission to be with our CICM Liaison Officer and University Chaplain, Fr. Neil to a10-day business trip to China. As an experienced traveler, the excitement is still there coupled with anticipation of a safe trip to promote beyond boarders our university to a very progressive country like China. With the anticipation of joy is optimism to an outcome based visit, that will not only promote our beloved University of Saint Louis, but with the expectation of partnering with several institutions in the said country.

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Dr. James Pattaguan

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USL Newsletter

very impressive airport, the Filipino delegates were greeted Ni hao. These were the first Chinese words that were uttered to us by Chinese Airport staff. I didn’t know what those words mean not until I asked the tour guide. Ni hao means hello or how are you. ur first day in China and the contact with the Chinese have brought us wonders with much awe. Xiamen alone was one destination we could visit in one shot with many learning opportunities in the areas of Environment, Architecture and History. The pictures in the gallery make evident my claim that one can learn from it.

China as was described as the world’s oldest continuous is indeed true and remarkable. And as contacts between China and the Philippines increase progressively, there are greater opportunities than ever before for learning about China and its people. It is interesting to note that what is happening in China, as our Filipino delegations noted, will affect the whole world politically, economically and culturally.

It is also important to note that China is the third largest country in the world in area and the largest country in terms of population. In my attempt to know more facts about China, I had casual conversations with our interpreters, and have known once again, these fast facts about China, to wit: 1) it has two of the world’s longest rivers (the Yellow River and Yangzi); two of the largest deserts (the Gobi and the Taklamakan); the world’s highest mountain (Qomolangma Feng - Mt Everest); the vast QinghaiTibet plateau and the huge plains of North China.

Moreover, there are over 50 different nationalities living in China. The majority (94 percent) are Han Chinese; the other groups include Tibetans, Mongolians, Uyghurs, Zhuang, Li and Miao whose languages and customs are quite different from those of the Han. Perhaps the most difficult part of the trip is the communication barrier wherein we were not prepared to talk the Chinese language, even the basic ones. This was compounded by the fact that the local Chinese do not know how to speak the English language. Nonetheless, with pictures of the food in restaurant, and calculator to show how much we bought or have eaten, we have survived the barrier of communication, making our stay worth remembering.

From the digest of my readings from promotional materials during our trip, coupled with our interviews with some Filipinos we have met, we

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have learned that most Chinese people, especially the Han Chinese use Hanyu ( Chinese language ).The term ‘Chinese’( referring to language) includes many different dialects. The most important by far is Northern Chinese (Mandarin), spoken by several hundred million people. Other dialects include Cantonese, Shanghainese, Hakka, Fujianese, (Min), Xiang and Gan. In Wuhan We paid a courtesy call to the administrators of Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST). We likewise had a discussion with their students about the country and our respective institution. The focus of discussion was on why Philippines can be a destination for Chinese for their education. The good thing about our visit is of course the opportunity for a scholarship offered to Filipinos to take up masters or doctorate degrees. I may not forget to include the superb Chinese lunch offered by the school administration.

In Shanghai We took another plane from Wuhan to the magnificent Shanghai, to participate in the main event of the 10-day business mission, the China Education Expo 2008 (CEE 08).This CEE 08 is a three-day exposition of programs and academic services of different learning institutions. It was participated in by hundreds of educational institutions from all over the globe. As far as the Philippine contingent is concerned, the following schools participated such as, Asian Institute of Management, Father Saturnino Urios University, Recolletos School System, Technological University of the Philippines and our University.

It is worth noting that, it was during this event that we were approached by our new partners, the China Jiliang University and the Zhegiang Vocational College of Commerce. When we were approached by the representatives of the said schools, we were so elated. Why USL, why not the other schools.

None of the schools which participated did ever have any collaborations or arrangements made for their schools.

While in Shanghai, I looked forward to seeing or visiting the tallest building in the world as of this year, The Shanghai Business Financial Tower.

We did not have the chance to go up this building because it’s rather expensive. So we content ourselves to standing in front of it and have a good to page 16

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reporting from Malaysia: a visit to Kuala Lumpur and UUM Fr. Neil Sta. Ana, CICM

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EDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2008, AFTER A flight from Manila via Singapore, I arrived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The KL International Airport terminal buildings are modern and vast.

Immigration control did not post any problem.

I was at the arrival area in no time and scouting for a taxi to bring me to the city of Kuala Lumpur. The city proper is still 40 minute taxi ride in via an expressway. A new city is being constructed halfway between the present Kuala Lumpur and the new international airport. My taxi driver, Mr. Gani Abubakar, introduced himself to be a former tour guide so he knew much about the tourist destinations in Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia.

He offered his service to bring me around the city to see the different tourist spot. That was after bringing me to my hotel where I was booked for my overnight stay. I had the chance to sleep to a room with a very good view of the Petronas Towers (which are among the tallest towers in the world).

Thursday, October 16, 2008, around an hour flight from Kuala Lumpur to Alor Setar. I was fetch by Ms. Vinothiny Subramaniam, my student-assigned protocol coordinator and the driver, Mr Norrizwan at the Alor Setar airport.

In a UUM limousine, we drove 40 minutes via an expressway up to the UUM Campus in Sintok, Kedah, Malaysia. Kedah is a northern state.

I was brought to the UUM-EDC Hotel.

Putting my things down in my room, we proceeded to the School of Business and Economics Building for my enrolment for my doctoral studies in Education Management through a scholarship granted by UUM. At the same time, I submitted my dissertation proposal.

October 17, 2008, the second day was a Friday, a day of Islamic religious obligation so it was a day of rest. The evening was a dinner to honor the graduating students with high academic recognitions together with their families hosted by UUM and headed by Vice Chancellor Dr. Nordin Kardi. The dinner was attended also by many guests, presidents and dignitaries from other Universities in Southeast Asia, with which UUM has linkages.

I was there to represent the president and the University of Saint Louis. It was an evening of music and dances performance by the UUM Center for Culture and the Arts. It was also a good opportunity to encounter officials and dignitaries from other universities and to express openness to explore linkages and cooperation with other universities. I had a good talk with Prof. Dr. J. M. Papasi, the Dean of the Faculty of Social Science and Political Science and with Assist. Prof. Nifarid Raden Ahmad, Vice-President for Student Development and Cultures, Prince of Songkla University, Pattani, Thailand. They expressed interest to link with the University of Saint Louis.

October 18, 2008, Saturday was the first day of the series of commencement exercises which they termed as convocations. The convocations were held in six sessions for three days. As a tradition, his royal highness the Sultan of Kedah, the Chancellor of the Universiti Utara Malaysia presided over the first session. This first session was also graced by the invited dignitaries from other universities in Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries.

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In the Dewan Mu’adzam Shah hall, UUM during the 21st Convocation, UUM.

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emarkable was the strict protocol to be followed due to the presence of the Sultan, the head of the State of Kedah, one of the states in the federal system of Malaysia. The convocation was literally made colorful by the different academic gowns worn by the different academic dignitaries, UUM officials, members of UUM faculty, and the graduates.

The graduation march was accompanied by traditional Malaysian music. The convocation opened with a long chanting from the Koran.

I understood very little since everything was in Bahasa Malaysia, the Malaysian national language. The convocation was also marked by some quite long speeches by the Sultan – Chancellor, by the Vice-Chancellor, guests of honor, and the graduate of highest academic honor, interrupted with songs from the UUM choral groups. The first session convocation

lasted three hours and a half. The long ceremony was not that hard to endure in a huge, comfortable, and fully airconditioned Dewan Mu’adzam Shah Hall.

Quite a funny experience, I was in a formal coat and tie attire when I attended the Convocation Dinner where everyone else was dressed in their national dress. During the Convocation Rite, the gentlemen were all in formal coat and tie, while I was wearing our national barong tagalong. I guess I fell short of asking some details about the affairs considering that I was in a different cultural situation.

Sunday, October 19, 2008, I was brought back to Alor Setar Airport to take the plane to take me to Kuala Lumpur International Airport and to catch my flight to Manila… to catch up the next day flight to China.

With Prof. Abdul Razak Chik, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (left) and another UUM Official.

(top)At the foot of the Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur. (left)EDC – UUM Hotel.

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A silent secret made for 101 years

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Mediatrix Trinidad

HE COOL BREEZE BLOWING FROM THE Westside mountains, the silent night that breaks the hidden drums of the ears, and the song of the tiny night creatures that makes a lullaby ...this scenario made a perfect Thursday night for me to ponder on what will the next day bring after a long day school work. It was a great moment that painted colorful thoughts in my head, washed away worries in my heart.

As I was having a personal talk to Rhonda Byrne’s The Secret, I was so inspired thinking about the CICM’s secret why in God’s time it has more than a hundred years of existence.

It was Friday morning, the weather was fine, it had a fresh-chilling scent of December- a sign of Jesus Christ’s birth, a sign of love and peace which made a good timing for the school family to celebrate the 101st founding anniversary of the CICM. Everything was set ...the home of everyone (church) for the mass and for the performing stage, the heavenly voices of the choir members who made a last minute minie-winie rehearsal , the fresh from a trip missionary-visitors, the very supportive teachers (not to mention about the attendance), the over excited students (both for the program and for the non-resume of classes in the afternoon), and the “nervous-not” performers. These were all prepared with the unified efforts of the Louisian family.

These were jam packed for one reason...a reason to celebrate the gift of love, the gift of mission, the gift of talent, and the gift of oneness with all of its mightiest source-God. I was like Dora The Explorer that day, which in her adventure finds what she looks for by surpassing obstacles on

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her way. Just like Dora, I was so excited to see the performances though there were some unexpected things that happened, I was able to see the highlights of the celebration. y heart was full of joy when I saw the symbolic song interpretation of the silent angels from the Dinggin Ka Learning Center. The girls wore their international dresses creatednot from Pepsi Herrera of Kris Aquino’s wardrobe, with colors on their faces that showed their true beauty, while the young gentlemen on their coat and ties. It was their way of portraying different people from different places who come together for one mission. And God! what amazed me more of their performance was the creative pantomime which depicted the right manner in dealing with different people and the proper discipline they could get at home and in school. Of course, a little way of saying Thank You to the missionaryvisitors was the acrostics performed by the “bulilits” from the Elementary Department too. Trying hard though, they were able to deliver the message of what Thank You really means to them and the echoed clap by the audience cracked the sacred stage (the church).

One heart, One soul” an unending symbol of the CICM’s unending mission.

This mission showed more of its secret as the Center for Culture and the Arts’ Danza Louisiana presented an ethnic dance interpreting the Muslim culture of courtship and of livelihood...a world class premier (according to the CCA Director, Dr. Shamon Abraham) that made every almond eyes rest at the stage to see the

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(top) One heart, One soul” an unending symbol of the CICM’s unending mission.

This mission showed more of its secret as the Center for Culture and the Arts’ Danza Louisiana presented an ethnic dance interpreting the Muslim culture of courtship and of livelihood.

beauty of the nation’s different cultures.

After seeing a “Cultural Center of the Philippines-like” presentation by the performers, I placidly sat down in the covered walk sharing to a friend the video clips of the performances. And while he was enjoying the entertainment, I was thinking of the male teacher from DKLC who, during the program approached me asking in written words if they could get a copy of the video. I was not certain about what video he was asking (if that was of the CCA performance since, that was what I focused on the camera or the performance of the silent angels which I was not able to capture) that

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The symbolic song interpretation of the silent angels from the Dinggin Ka Learning Center.

It was their way of portraying different people from different places who come together for one mission.

is why I gave a thumbs up to him. But I was able to recall then, that he wrote the letters DKLC on his palm which I realized he was refering it to his students’ performance. y heart seemed crushed because of guilt. I gave hope to that teacher who seemed so excited to seeing the video clips of his students.

And now, I feel like I don’t want to pass by at their silent corner anymore because they might recognize the stamp of an elephant-feet nor show my shamed face to the teacher because I wasn’t able to share a clip of the silent angels’ performance. It should have been their pride seeing and appreciating their talents and showing it to their friends too. I was able to put a wide smile on my face when I saw them acting and singing through the sign language but I wasn’t able to give them the joy they deserve in seeing the finished product of theirs through a video clip. I wish I could bring back that moment of theirs. But what I’m convincingly telling myself now is that, their performance may haven’t been captured by the lens of a camera, but surely, the people who witnessed their talents captured in their hearts that big moment of the DKLC

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pupils. Now, the reason why CICM is extremely existing this longer, is because of the people who are behind its success.

One of which is what the DKLC angels portrayed.

The university being a missionary institution really marks the significance of everyone no matter how physically unfortunate they are or how blessed they are, still the mission is there...the mission to mold the students as good citizens, the mission to develop their talents, the mission to hasten their knowledge to being globally competitive individuals, and the mission to carry on True Christian values.

And these are all what made the CICM reach its 101st anniversary...the silent secret made by the Louisian community.

As the highlight of this success, the Louisian family extended their saying of Thank You to the missionaries by way of showing the talents of its products. It’s a secret way of preserving different cultures and honoring the faith to God through songs and dances.

Now, as the night closes its eyes to rest for the next day’s warm arms, my heart speaks loud saying Thank You for having witnessed the secret of the CICM and this secret is You.

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Galactic Gazer from page 04

with the wine, but more on my obsession.

They snort seeing that lovely thing in my lap. Though they like my songs, they were more concerned with my direction. That is they have not yet read about Andres Segovia, the Spanish master who topped the queue of string masters. He who snatched away the glory of Beethoven and Mozart in the piano. And talking about the piano. What a lonely thing! Perhaps it could be likened to a failed marriage, when you are married to a woman whose carnal appetite is in the freezer and there in the moonlight outside is a voluptuous mata hari that impales your heart in your rib cage.

So I started singing in college up to now, and played that axe Clapton was swinging in the poster. It was only when I was with fellow guitar players who had started with the electric guitar did I acquaint myself with the damned brands. Fender, they told me, was Clapton’s guitar. And the blind man in Baguio was as what Lourd de Veyra was calls it uses Stratocaster.

I was in fourth year college when I realized there would be no profession in my obsession. There would be no board meetings, no corporate sharing, no law office and no students to see. I would only have the guitar slung on my shoulder and walk in some dark alley of despair and hunger. My trophies would be the blisters in my fingers. . . .Again, Lourd de Veyra, let the it be. to page 16

Kontra Gapi visits USL Throght the initiative of Dr. Shamon Abraham, CCA Director, the University of the Philippines’ Kontemporayong Gamelan Pilipino (Konta Gapi) showcased their unique dance and music during a visit last November 3 at the Bulwagang Teodulfo Domingo, instruments and costumes used in the ensemble University of Saint Louis.

Konta Gapi is a recuperation of the Southeast Asian tradition in the Philippine music and performance. The brainchild of the University of the Philippines professor, Edru Abraham, Kontra Gapi was formed in 1989 to restablish the connection between the Filipino people and their past with the use and convergence of Southern Philippine instruments and Cordillera rhythms.

As the acronym intimates, the practice and performance counters (kontra) the predominance (gapi) of Western form in the archipelago.As a site of resistance, the company is also a site of innovation, rebirth, and rediscovery.

The group uses an orchestra like the Javanese gamelan. Gamel in Javanese means hammer, and percussion intruments are used extensively, including gongs and drums of different sizes, and native instruments made of wood, bamboos, and metals. The

are an eclectic array from all over the island, in particular the Cordilleras and the Islamic South, may of which are unfamiliar to younger and even older Filipinos. The wide variety and breath of the music evokes the sound of nature from thunder to raindrops.

Abraham’s vision reorders the hierarchy of value at music and performance set down by Western culture. For exapmle, musicmaking is not monopolized specialist and that only those who master an instrument may participate.

The ensemble is made up of young people with varying skills in the instruments. The more skilled play the complex intruments, and the less skilled paly other intruments. In fact, participation is not resrved for musicians. Like dances of the highlanders and other cultural communities, spectators are encouraged to participate bt clapping, whistling, and shouting.

Thus, communality is returned to Philippine musicmaking.

USL sponsors search for Best Higher Education Research Program 2008 Dr. Pyrene Quilang

University of Saint Louis Tuguegarao sponsored a Research Forum where the different HEI’s in the region showcased their best research program last October 23, 2008. It was held at the High School Audio Visual Room.

It was also the endeavor where six(6) HEI’s namely Isabela State University, Nueva Vizcaya State university, Saint Mary’s University, Saint Paul University Philippines, University of La Salette and University of Saint Louis Tuguegarao defended their research program to the members of the Regional Evaluation Committee for the selection of the three best research program. The members of the Regional Evaluation Committee were: Dr. Virginia Resurrecion, The Director of CHED Region 2, Dr. Milagros Rimando, The Director of NEDA Region 2 and Dr. Urduja Tejada, the Director of DOST Region 2.

The six (6) HEI’s presented their researches that have been conducted mostly by the faculty which are essentially applied and multi-disciplinary researches. The first place for the search wins P300, 000, the second place received P200, 000 and the third place receives P100, 000.

Search for Best HEI Research Program Award is intended to recognize the author(s) implementers and the HEI for the research program that has contributed significantly to the advancement of the discipline(s) and to the development efforts of the nation.

During the program, Dr. Ressurrecion,

the Regional Director of CHED emphasized that “research is the poorest and the weakest among the three functions of Higher Education Institution hence there is a need to strengthen this function since research enhances the academic institution’s capability to conduct technology directed and innovative work.” Dr. Delailah Valencia, the VP for Academics of USL pointed out in her welcome message; “this activity is very academic since it demonstrates the best researches conducted by the HEI’s in Region 2.”

luck y le ap

yea r

O

ne New Year’s Eve, December 31, Juan Tamad went to wish a happy New Year to his employer and took the opportunity to make a request: Juan Tamad: “Sir, I know you have much money. Can you not give a raise in my salary?”

Sir: Juan Tamad, did you work so hard for me as to deserve a salary increase?”

Juan Tamad: “Yes, Sir, I worked the nails off myhands.”

USL Newsletter Sir: “Hummm. Let me compute: “This year was a leap-year with 366 days, no?

Juan Tamad: “Exactly, Sir.” Sir: “Now let me see…Every Night you sleep 8 hours, that is one third of 24 hours, isn’t it? That makes a total of one third of the year or 122 days. Remain 244 days. Then 8 hours a day you have free time for yourself.

That makes another 122 days. Remain 122 days. There were 52 Sundays on which you did not work.

Remain 70 days. On Saturdays you work only half-day. That makes again 26 days.

Remain 44 days.You had 14 days vacation, isn’t it? That leaves you 30 days. You had also 5 days sick leave.

Remain 25 days. There were 9 official holidays. Remain 16 days. Everyday you had one hour lunch break, not to mention the two snack break of 15 minute each, making altogether 15 days. That leave you one day. That 1 day is today, the last day of the year, December 31, and Madame Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared it a nonworking holiday. Mr. Juan Tamad, you are lucky that this year was a leap

year of 366 days; otherwise you would have been a short of one day.” (Lifted)

addie Dina Naussica

When was it?

Early September morn You came out from Your mother×s womb A great delight We danced to eternity And we laughed There was joy, happiness and pride Just the other day you turned one, But before that . . .

You had your first steps . . . you walked.

While looking at you Stumbling I, the father, is a King (To Lyka Fernandine on her birthday)

Academic seminar thrusts e-learning from page 01 trust in a teacher, the learner’s development of basic language, mathematics, and psychomotor skills, and one’s ability to examine how he thinks are considerations in brain-based learning.

Moreover, the speaker pointed out that brain-based learning is related with active learning. Anchoring on the fact that the more senses are involved in learning, the greater learning takes place, Dr. Dizon cited the advantages of the integration of technology in the classroom.

“E-learning is at its best when there is active learning,” Dizon said to note that E-learning materials should be interactive. However, the speaker mentioned that problems on funds and infrastructure, lack of faculty support, and students’ difficulty to access electronic resources are barriers to E-learning.

Meanwhile, Mr. Edmund Evangelista, Mrs. Luisa Aquino, and Mr. Emilson Jimenez, all college faculty, presented to the other participants their sample E-learning lessons which they have actually executed in their respective classes.

Dr. Delailah Valencia, Vice-president for Academics, and Dr. Minerva Bunagan, director of the Center for Alternative Learning endeavor to make Louisian teachers and students e-learning. Accordingly, training on the use of Learning Management Software (LMS), specifically of Moodle, is coming up. The training will help teachers upload whatever instructional materials they want their students to learn online.

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Fascinating China...

The Galactic Gazer That scene in Baguio I could paint it. I know the colors vividly. The old man hunched in his ancient Stratocaster, the overpass, his jaundiced fingers, and the tin can infront of him.

It could be an abstract, or surrealism.

And sometimes you imagine it’s better to listen to music that to ear the rhetoric. For in music you feel something different.

And that music will go into a crescendo just like the sound boxes that jabs your heart and

shot from the ground.

The view of Shanghai by night was certainly awesome, and mesmerizing. It is full of lights, which greets every tourist through a ferry ride, amidst tall and grand buildings. I may not also forget the opportunity to have climbed the Shanghai’s TV tower, of the world’s best known tower. This climb gave a good view of central Shaghai. In this same tower is a wax museum, which showcases how Shanghai became what it is today, as one of the top three financial centers of the world.

Still in Shanghai, we also had the chance to meet officials of educational organizations as well as a Filipino organization in Shanghai. The latter meeting proved very exciting and memorable with the stories shared by our successful Filipinos there. I may not forget also, the experience of dining out with the Filipino Consul to China with her staff. In these meetings, I realized, once a Filipino, always a Filipino, and always shining wherever he/she is.

As the last part of our itinerary in Shanghai, we have met with officials of the East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST), with whom we have left a Memorandum of Understanding. We hope to hear from them soon.

from page 14

The last stop- Suzhou

make the beating stop. You think of a dim room where people are drenched with sweat, gyrating, pulsating, and beating into the rhyme of the universe.

You imagine me seeing the hunched old man in Baguio with the ancient Stratocaster, wailing, entertaining, while others succumb to the evils and arpeggios of the world.

I know this scenario could be transformed in a song.

But not an ordinary song.

Kaleidoscope from page 05

but we hope to meet the national standard by 2010.”

Since 2000, a year after a clean air law was passed, Cesar Siador, head of air quality management at the environment department said that the Philippines has been using Euro 1 standards as a benchmark to gauge the cleanliness of the air in the sprawling capital of 12 million and four surrounding provinces and slowly moving to the Euro 2 standard and will probably hit the highest level at Euro 4 by 2010.

In a related development, in the Better Air Quality Workshop in Bangkok, Thailand held sometime in November 2008, Asia Development Bank (ADB) Vice-President Ursula Schäfer-

from page 09

Preuss said: Asia must continue to mobilize resources to cut air pollution and address climate change despite financing pressures caused by the global economic crisis.In addition, she said air pollution remains a serious health problem for many Asian cities. At the same time the region is fast becoming a major source of global greenhouse gas emissions — the key cause of climate change.As a result, Asia needs to coordinate local measures to improve air quality with global actions to cut greenhouse gases.

From the above information, we see two important points, first, air pollution poses health hazards to man, and secondly, knowing the hazards require the pressing need to do something to make our air still

For about more than an hour drive from Shanghai, we have met the officials of the Suzhou Education Commission. Just the same, the meeting was focused on possible cooperation with schools in the city. But even with the short meeting, we are positive that possible cooperation can be established also in the near future with them.

From Suzhou-back to Shanghai After the last stop, we ended the business trip back to the country, with zest, renewed enthusiasm and excitement to see our love ones and colleagues once again.

When asked if I would like to visit China again, I would gladly do so, because our 10-day trip was indeed fascinating and worth remembering!

Volume VIII

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ISSN 1908-7683

USL NEWSLETTER The Official Newsletter of the University of Saint Louis, Tuguegarao City, Philippines SECOND SEMESTER

healthy for present and future generations.

To the readers of my column, particularly you, my dear fellow Louisians, let us do our own little share to address air pollution in our community. It will be good to note that our school, through the Kaibigan ng Kalikasan Program, is a no-smoking and no-burning institution, this way, USL has done its share in addressing air pollution.

Back in your community and or respective homes, you can also stop burning as an initial step. Better yet, on your own, think of ways by which you can contribute in solving this problem at hand.

Fresh air or Polluted air, your choice!

Editorial Board Ferdinand N. Cortez, Ed. D. Editor-in-Chief/ Publication Head Eurly T. Follante Desktop Publisher Tristan S. Baliuag Digital Lay-out Designer

USL Publication Office

Ground Floor, Theophile Verbist Building, University of Saint Louis, Tuguegarao City, Philippines The USL Newsletter welcomes contributions, comments, or suggestions. Please send your manuscripts to the USL Publication Office or e-mail: ferdz_cortez@yahoo.com.

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