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VOLUME XXXVII • ISSUE 4 • SEPTEMBER 2013 • 12 PAGES
MARCHING AGAINST PDAF. Students of letran once again march to Luneta to join yet another call to abolish the cotroversial PDAF | Photo By Normee Agatep
Letran calls for PDAF abolishment Ralphe Lawrenze M. Alarcon
Members of the Letran community trooped to Luneta Park to join the Million People March calling for the scrapping of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) on August 26. Following alleged PDAF scam mastermind Janet Napoles’s hiding from both the media and government, a series of social media campaigns was launched
to gather people at the said park. The scam, which also involved bogus non-government organizations and lawmakers, ignited the public to stage a march and perform pocket activities where the Letran community, from administrators to alumni, participated in. In an official statement, Letran Rector and President Rev. Fr. Tamerlana R. Lana O.P. said: “In the advent of
recent events, the allegations and controversies concerning the tax payer’s funds spent maliciously for personal gains, and landed in the hands of only a few.” Fr. Lana added: “Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Intramuros, Manila strongly upholds, as ardent lovers of truth, that this issue be resolved for the utmost interest in Filipino people. He furthers: “If this is
IT students awarded Microsoft grants
Information Technology (IT) students from the College of Engineering qualified to be on the list of the premiere Microsoft Student Partners’ (MSP) program’s scholars this academic year. Letran Information Technology Society president Rachael Ly Uycoque, Karl Kevin Manabat, Mark Lloyd Alcones, Letran Student Council Secretary Rajiv Ian Aseron, and Sebastien Paolo Zapanta are the newest additions to the MSP students’ list. Manabat recalled how fortunate Letranites are producing a number of MSP scholars: “May partnership po kasi yung Letran and Microsoft kaya may bridge na for Microsoft to contact Letran.” According to Manabat, Institute of Information Technology alumni who were also part of the MSP handled the initial screening while Microsoft staff handled the second and final interview.
“Nakakakaba talaga kahit may experience na ako. Medyo alam ko na yung mga isasagot ko, sa bandang dulo ng interview medyo tricky na questions,” Alcones said, adding: “Para sa iba siguro wala silang pakialam. But for me, MSP is the first step in reaching my dreams. Sa MSP kasi, the program will train you the fundamentals ng IT work in the real world. We are here as student leaders hindi lang para magpasikat lang.” IT Studnets PAGE 3
not met and the system of allocating Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) is only becoming a nest of corruption, then Colegio de San Juan de Letran believes that this should be put to an end. Review the system, if not, abolish the PDAF altogether!” Amid the issue, President Benigno S. Aquino III said: “Sisiguruhin kong bawat mamamayan at sektor
ay makakakuha ng patas na bahagi ng pambansang budget para sa serbisyong pangkalusugan, scholarship, proyektong lumilikha ng kabuhayan, at lokal na imprastruktura.” Still, PNoy pointed out that there will be no abolition but a replacement with new mechanism. It would be remembered that PNoy
Letran calls PAGE 10
Alumnus nears sainthood Ina Mae B. Penafuerte
Following the footsteps of St. Vincent Liem de la Paz, an alumnus will be beatified on October 13, writing another historical event for the Colegio’s heritage. On behalf of Pope Francis, the beatification ceremony of Eugenio SanzOrozco y Mortera in Tarragona, Spain will be officiated by Cardinal Angelo Amato. Manila born OrozcoMortera will be known as Blessed Jose Maria de Manila after his beatification. The Letran alumnus was the son of the last
Alumnus PAGE 10