Christened. Rev. Fr. Gerald Costa, together with other CICM priests, blesses the newly renovated Burgos Gym, which has now taken the official name of Prince Bernhard Hall.
SSC Congress on slow pace; Speaker blames ‘lack of guidance’ by
photo by Ivan
Gedrick Lopez
Joshua Ganay
Congress of Louisians speaker Allan Paul Abando admitted that the Supreme Student Council’s legislative branch is making slow progress in implementing their plans and projects for this academic year. Abando, the 3rd – 5th year representative of the School of Engineering and Architecture, revealed in an interview with White & Blue that the problem was due to the “late election and induction of Speaker and Deputy Speaker [of the Congress]”. He claimed that the induction of the officers of the Congress were only done a month after their election. According to him, the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker were elected and proclaimed last Aug.18 and took their oath only on Sept.17. “We cannot start [working] unless we have taken our oath of office,” he emphasized. According to the SSC’s Constitution, the term of the past officers will end upon the proclamation of the newly-elected officers and the latter will only assume office after oath. He said that the interval between their election and induction into office is marked with the inability to perform their duties in implementing the schemes of the Congress. “We are looking into possible amendments on the [SSC] Constitution, the Omnibus Election Code, and the Internal Rules of Procedures [of the Congress of Louisians],” he answered when asked what they are there plans to prevent the inactivity of the legislative body during such time. Previous sessions of the Congress also pushed through with the amendment of these documents but to no avail. When asked if this year’s
news SLU jolts nat’l debate scene
PHOTO BY rina paula burgos
Louisian law students made noise in the debating arena after emerging as one of ANC Square-Off CVC Law Debates grand finalists among the top 16 law schools in the country. see more on page 2
features
Steve Jobs
Apple’s cult-like following would say Steve Jobs was an inventor, an innovator, a genius and such. Critics would say he was just a pirate who stole other people’s ideas.
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Double Celebration
illustration by bryan d. davis
sports 1,300 ‘Run for Hope’ amid rains
SLU centennial over, CICM sesquicentennial begins by
Banoar Abratique, Henri Lomeus Ching, Cheri Danielle Leyaley, and Grellyn Paoad
After celebrating 100 years of missionary education, Saint Louis University embarked on another set of year-long activities, this time to celebrate the Congregatio Immaculati Cordis Mariae’s 150 years of “Mission Beyond Borders”.
CICM Provincial Superior Rev. Fr. Ramel Portula, CICM, in his homily during the launching mass of CICM’s sesquicentennial held Nov. 28 at the university park, said it “is God’s mission, not ours.” The mass was celebrated by Diocese of Baguio-Benguet Bishop Carlito Cenzon, DD, and concelebrated by other local and visiting CICM priests. The mass featured an offering of the CICM Seal and the flags of the university during the presentation of gifts. Louisian elementary students also offered 100 candles during the offertory. Before the mass was ended, Rev. Fr. Jessie Hechanova, CICM, expressed relief over the culmination of the centennial activities of SLU. “Boy, am I glad that [the series] of centennial events [of SLU] is over,” he said. After the end of his speech, Hechanova signaled the opening of CICM’s celebration in SLU with a symbolic unfurling of a giant tarpaulin featuring CICM’s different thrusts of
SLU initiates efforts to end bullying by
missionary work around the world. Several balloons of white and blue were set free simultaneously with the unfurling. Hechanova then invited the CICM priests and guests to witness the unveiling of the CICM corner, located at the right side of the Diego Silang Lobby, and the SLU timeline, almost surrounding the left side of the lobby. An exhibit highlighting the earlier lives of local CICM priests was presented at the lobby. Meanwhile, booths were also set up by different organizations at the University Park after the mass while concerts by different Louisian student bands were featured on the main stage. The SLU Marching Band, Tanghalang SLU, Dance Troupe and Glee Club also performed pieces for the dignitary audience and the students. Thousands of students stayed until past six in the evening at the university park to witness the lighting of the Grand Christmas Tree of SLU, which was designed by the School of Humanities. After a short ceremony, cheers from spectators echoed among the walls of SLU’s building as flashes from cameras
flickered moments after the Christmas tree was lit. Subsequently, events of Dec. 2 were hosted by the Maryheights Campus. A motorcade at 2 p.m. departed from the main campus and traversed the route to the School of Accountancy and Business Management. From the Bakakeng archway to the Devesse Building, the visiting schools and offices were welcomed by the yellow-clad business students along with the SLU Marching band. SABM-based organizations and entrepreneurship practicum students set up their booths in different areas within Bakakeng campus. A program was launched in the afternoon where the Glee Club, Tanghalang SLU and Dance Troupe showcased performances despite the impending rains. Students, faculty and guests remained in the evening at the Devesse Plaza overlooking the amphitheatre to witness the Christmas Tree lighting at SLU’s Annex. Even when the rain poured, the Christmas Tree lighting pushed through with little ceremony preceding it. Continued on page 4
Line of the north. Lacking an online system to facilitate faster and easier transactions, Louisians have to bear the inconvenience of waiting and standing in long queues every enrolment season. photo by Henri Lomeus Ching
Jermaund Ivan Junio Banoar Abratique
and
Saint Louis University is taking the challenge of dealing with bullying head on. The Guidance Center, in cooperation with the National Service Training Program, launched the Gabay Series to address the rapidly globalizing issues on bullying in educational institutions last Nov. 20 at the newly inaugurated Prince Bernhard Hall. Themed, “Taking the Bull By the Horns: Taking an Active Stand Against Bullying”, Gabay Series seeks to confront the problem “head on [through] dealing with [bullying] openly.” The lecture seminar primarily focused on the existence of bullying in SLU based on a research by the Guidance Center. All over the world, bullying is widely recognized as one of the causes of suicides by teenagers, such as the Megan Meier case. Especially highlighting cyber bullying and bullying in school premises, which were the alleged reasons for the suicide of Missouri teenager Meier, the presentations showcased testimonials from school children who experience bullying. Bullying was characterized as a hostile aggression, which is intentional, harmful, threatening, and repetitive. It involves power imbalance with regards
to physical, verbal, social, racial, sexual and electronic circumstances. Although the seminar clarified that fighting or teasing is not always tantamount to bullying, there were discussions on how one can avoid being a target or a bully. It clarified that though not directly participating, one can still become a bully by being a disengaged onlooker or an active or passive supporter of the principal bully. Students enrolled in NSTP and visitors, as well as the Guidance Center’s peer facilitators, took active part in the efforts to end bullying in SLU through a pledge. Noted speakers include Guidance Center Director Corazon Kawi, Mia Cheong, Jam Dela Cruz, Renee Taguibos, and Krizza Hernandez.
Board passing rates sweeter for 2011 by
PHOTO BY rina paula burgos
Roughly 1,300 Louisians and Baguio residents joined the Centennial Run for Hope on December 3, an event staged for the benefit of the SLU Sunflower Centennial Halfway Home for Boys. see more on page 14
Labor issues hound SLU Shiela Marie Sandoval and Jermaund Ivan Junio with reports from Cesar Paolo Gemino by
Although awarded for the second consecutive year as the Top Employer in Northern Luzon by the Social Security System, Saint Louis University is still confronted by several labor issues. Here are some of the most recent labor issues that the White & Blue researchers have come across. Yearly problem on summer loading In 2008, a source from the Union of Faculty and Employees of Saint Louis University (UFESLU) submitted several suggestions to the SLU Administration to address the problems on teaching loads encountered during summer. Because of the uneven distribution of teaching loads, some faculty members would receive less than their regular salary during the summer term. The minimum class size maintained during summer is 35 students, in order to have an even breakdown of fees in terms of expenses and salaries of teacher. Classes with less than the prescribed number are eventually dissolved. For the convenience of the instructors, the Union suggested that the minimum class size should be decreased to 25, and the maximum class size of 50 lowered to 35 students. In addition, since some classes can have 50 students, the classes with less than 35 students should not be dissolved because the need to fill the class to a maximum of 35 students is already solved with the “excess” students of the other classes. With this, Continued on page 4
Henri Lomeus Ching
Almost all passing rates of the University on licensure and board examinations improved, some even the highest in Saint Louis University’s history. This year, board examinations for architects, accountants, electronics engineers, electrical engineers, physicians, radiologic technologists, social workers, and teachers had sweeter results for the University, while results of board examinations for pharmacists and medical technologists clung at the top spots, both maintaining 100 per cent passing rates. However, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, and nursing graduates slipped behind previous records.
Up Although SLU did not qualify as a top performing school in the October 2011 CPA board exams, SABM was still able to record the highest in its CPA board history of 62.13 per cent, with its first timers slating an 88.24 per cent feat. Bouncing back from an 83.33 per cent performance last June, the Radiologic Technology graduates rocketed to the top spot marking a 100 per cent. Meanwhile, the University managed Continued on page 4
Tree of light. Incorporating the Filipino spirit with Louisian creativity, the School of Humanities spearheads the construction of this year’s Christmas tree. photo by
Levin Ace Danganan