The NORSUnian 9th Issue 2014 - 2015

Vol.XXXII Issue No. 9

July 28 - August 1, 2014

NORSU-JPIA regains quiz bowl champ title

By Klin C. Mendez and Joanne P. Ferrolino

Negros Oriental State University regained its championship title in the quiz bowl competition held during the annual week celebration of Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (JPIA) on July 20-21.

The NORSU delegates, Joanna Marie Gulahab and Retcel Tinaponan who are both senior BS Accountancy students, bested the other four pairs of representatives. Gulahab and Tinaponan garnered a total of 39 points out of 60.

Meanwhile, ranked two and three went to Silliman University (SU) and Saint Paul University Dumaguete (SPUD), respectively. SU garnered 33 points while SPUD got 26.

According to Tinaponan, they were expecting that SU will win since their representatives were the champions of last year’s quiz bowl. Tinaponan added, “Bisag ma-pildi mi, malipay ra japun mi kay daghan mi’g supporters.”

Accountancy Department Chair Brigido Enquilino II complimented the two NORSU representatives for the job well done. He said he appreciated the efforts of Gulahab and Tinaponan for being prepared and reliable.

“The results were convincing. We prepared them a semester before this event.

JPIA quiz bowl champions: Tinaponan (L) and Gulahab (R).

(Photo by Marve G. Fabela)

They too are consistent with their studies.” Enquilino said.

Moreover, College of Business Administration Dean Benjamin Villagonzalo congratulated the winners and hoped they could make a legacy.

“We almost got the grand slam

8 college deans tell plans

By John Dave V. Laturnas W h at s h o u l d N o r s unian s expect from their respective colleges this school year?

Interviews were conducted

by TN with the different college deans of NORSU Main Campuses I and II to ask for their plans on the school year 2014-2015.

College of Business Administration (CBA) Dean Benjamin Villagonzalo said their college is currently preparing for the upcoming accreditation which is tentatively scheduled in November and December this year.

“CBA is applying for Level I for BS Accountancy and BS Tourism and Level II for BS Business Administration program,” the CBA dean said.

Villagonzalo shared they will be fixing the damaged parts of the CBA building including the comfort rooms and water pipes.

He also said they will renovate the mini-bridge connecting the buildings of CBA and the College of Nursing, Dentistry, Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences (CNDPAHS) to ensure safety.

For the students’ involvement and development, Villagonzalo said their college will collaborate with the local student goverment in conducting suited activities for them.

College of Education (CEd), Dean Libertine de Guzman said their college will organize events to be sponsored by the different student organizations of their college like academic convocations, tutorial classes,

sports activities, mentoring and launching programs.

“Ang mga student organizations sa college will sponsor monthly activities and also the mentoring program in every major pareha sa gibuhat sa mga Math majors,” de Guzman said.

Aside from the ongoing preparations of the college in the upcoming accreditation for level II phase II status this November, de Guzman is also spearheading the realization of the two-storey laboratory building which will be located in the present CEd lounge.

Meanwhile, CNDPAHS Dean Dalisay Dumalag said their aim is to retain a high national rating and so, she said their college will focus on providing the students with extensive trainings in order to prepare them in the future board examinations. “ We w i l l l o o k i n t o o u r teaching, upgrade our faculty even more, and also, update ourselves with what should be emphasized in instruction,” Dumalag added.

College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Dean Michael Baldado said they will continue the usual activities of their college including the accreditation of various programs.

“Actually, kung unsa ang mga maayong activities sa mga previous years, mao ra gihapun for this year,” Baldado said. He added they will be providing additional ceiling fans and chalkboards in some of the CAS rooms.

8 COLLEGE DEANS ..to page 3

Do the Groove! NORSU contingent wins 1st runner up during the JPIA Pop Dance Competition held at Saint Paul University Dumaguete. (Photo by Kent S. Mapula)

(three-consecutive win) and this year, we regained the victory. We are also encouraging these students to somehow get involved in higher level competitions, such as in the regional and national,” said Villagonzalo. He added that the results of the accountancy

week celebration will be included in the documents for their accreditation.

The dean also extended his gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of the event. “I am happy and amazed. I want to congratulate all of the accountancy students, especially

to the officers who coordinated with us and to their department chair for the support and time, considering his number of workloads.” Meanwhile, Doriza Eumague and Karen Arbinica, the quiz bowl masters, shared that NORSU-JPIA REGAINS...to page 4

NORSUVA spends P27-T additional canteen facilities

By Joanne P. Ferrolino

To address the problem of inadequate facilities, Negros Oriental State University Vendors Association (NORSUVA) provided new tables, benches and chairs in the university canteen.

The cost for the new facilities has reached up to Php 27,000.

“Nag-amot ming pito (stall owners) para matubag ang kulang nga bangko ug lamesa,”said Felisidad Flores,president, NORSUVA. Flores said they came up with such action considering that some facilities were damaged and that it cannot anymore accommodate the growing population of the customers. “Nangabu-ak na ang mga tables so kulang na jud kaayo,” Flores said.

For a sophomore BS Information Technology student, James Francis dela Pena, he said he appreciated the project of

Newly set up tables and chairs enjoyed by the students in the University canteen.

(Photos by Kent S. Mapula)

NORSUVA for it gives him a sense of comfort. “Mas chada ron! Sa una man gud kay wa man kaayo’y bangko then crowded kaayo. Karon, gaan na kaayo ang paminaw ug daghang makakaon sa usa ka lamesa,” he said.

Chona Calago, a second year Bachelor of Technical and Teacher Education, commended the efforts of the stall owners. “Okay na sya, maka-accommodate na siya ug daghang estudyante. Mas limpyo na sya tan-awon,” she said.

NORSU to apply Level 4 status

By John Dave V. Laturnas

A f t e r h avin g b e e n recognized as top three among the State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in the country attaining Level 3 status, Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) has applied for Level 4 status on July 21.

The ranking of NORSU, including other SUCs was based on the leveling instrument and

guidelines jointly implemented by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC).

According to the Quality Assurance Management Center (QUAMC) Director Jim Vi l l a h e r m o s a , t h e D B M a n d PASUC issued NORSU two types

of instruments to be filled out for a consultation. He added the instruments comprised the four Key Result Areas (KRAs). “In SUCs leveling, we are evaluated in four KRAs,” Villahermosa said.

The first KRA, according to the director is in relevance with instruction which includes the documents and records of the student population, scholars, NORSU TO APPLY...to page 4

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Vol.XXXII Issue No. 8

July 21 - August 1, 2014

Go for gold Negros Oriental State University has consecutively grabbed the championship titles in 2011 and 2012 quiz bowl competitions held during the annual week celebration of the Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (JPIA). Those days, surely, we were cheering for our university’s name—very proud of the achievements of our fellow Norsunians.

Last year, NORSU placed second in the said competition.

It was a big woah! Considering that NORSU at that time, almost made a history. If by chance, it would have been a grand slam for us! In JPIA week competitions, it would be such an honor for a university once it attains three consecutive wins. It would then give plus points to a certain university’s reputation.

With its aim to regain the title in 2014 competition, the Accountancy Department of NORSU started providing trainings and reviews to the participants since last year. They spent extra hours just to guide and inspire those participants who were expected to bring home the bacon this year.

On the other side, the participants were determined and diligent enough in reviewing. They doubled their efforts and sacrificed some things. Yet, they remain humble and also consistent with their good class standings.

Until the most awaited day came. It was July 19, when NORSU got the chance to prove its name. Finally, gaining a total of 39 out of 60 points, quiz bowl delegates namely Joanna Marie Gulahab and Retcel Tinaponan, bested the other four pairs of contingents, thus regaining the championship title.

Such achievement shows that NORSU, aside from being a “university for poor but deserving students,” is also an academic institution of higher learning that provides quality education. Our university truly is capable of producing soon-to-be productive accountants. In fact, NORSU has so far recorded good ratings in the previous Certified Public Accountant Licensure Examinations.

Though NORSU didn’t really get the overall championship title, we still have a lot of things to be proud of. Aside from the quiz bowl competition, our fellow Norsunians also got first, second and third places on the other 15 competitions held during the JPIA week. And that’s all worth to be recorded, knowing that our university is applying for the level 4 accreditation status this year.

Really, 2014 is considered a productive year for our university, especially for the Accountancy department.

We believe in our fighting spirits and in our courage and will to succeed. Let us aim for more golds…for the future championship titles! Kudos Norsunians!

v

v

Boom Ratatat Don’t worry! I won’t be messing up with those bloody exchanges of guns and those ear deafening click of bombs. In fact, I will be congratulating ourselves for another milestone. Yes! Another major population booming milestone.

Last Sunday, 27th of July, the Philippines just commenced another symbolic event—the birth of the child who marked the Philippine population to 100 million. Wow! I could just imagine how proud the baby’s parents are. If only I was that child, I would let my parents apply a Guinness Record for me.

Lucky enough, the Commission on Population will be giving the child a good head start—talking about the fame and assistance perhaps.

But this milestone celebrated by them might be another source of fear from others if we will be looking at it in the wider scope. I mean, just imagine yourself living in this country together with 99,999,999 other people. That’s something to look forward into, I suppose. And I mean some bad things.

Now let’s try to do the Math. If you will be given the total land area of our country and divide it with present population of 100 million, what could you

Editor-in-Chief Joeylen A. de la Cruz Associate Editor Ariel B. Dizon News Editor Mary Grace G. Bornales Features Editor Kleine Jun B. Ontolan Arts and Graphics Unit Head Angelo K. Sastre Senior Reporters

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Adviser Joy G. Perez, Ph.D. Contributions, comments, and letters are most welcomed.

Articles must be typewritten or computer encoded, doublespaced and with sender’s full name and signature.

Start the Change!

Every start of a school year is an indication for a new challenge, a chance to continue what was already tracked and an instant to conclude the goal that has been aimed for years already. These could be the scenarios in the different elements composing NORSU as a great educational institution. There may be classes, offices, departments or even organizations taking plans and actions for the achievement of what specific vision they want to achieve in the future.

Nevertheless, my concern this time is not on the goals of these different bodies persevered to pursue, but it is to the individuals who will lead these groups of people.

Yes, I’m referring to the leaders. Individuals who are chosen to have an authority in decision making for the students’ wellfare and individuals who will motivate and do the first action so as for them to be followed by many.

get? The answer will be the land space allotted for each person living in the Philippines. Is it big or not? I’m quite sure it’s not that wide. And to note, not all land areas of the Philippines are suitable to live in, especially those prohibited ones—government protected zones and sanctuaries. So now what? Where do you think those new generations of Filipinos would place themselves into? Together with the NPA’s maybe? Or make themselves comfortable with floating houses perhaps?

And our country is not growing, so they could as well migrate to other land areas abroad. But remember, their population might also be increasing in a very fast pace. Some even are increasing in a rate faster than that of our own. So we’ll be fighting to acquire our own land I guess. Well, you choose.

Good thing if earthquakes form another land area— making the Philippines bigger and wider. But come on, that’ll lead to destruction. That will also be the least of the priorities to be thought of.

If this will continue, what will happen then? Will we just be sitting on our thrones and wait for our end? Our verdict?

What about those who still need to bloom and witness life as it is? Will they be left behind with nothing? Deprived to see the beauty of the world?

What if Dan Brown’s book Inferno is correct? That an airborne plague, making people infertile is needed to eradicate human population and let life of another generation, more immune that the rest continue. Survival of the fittest we could say.

So much for that, if you are to be asked, what will your decisions be? To be happy and live life to the fullest while it lasts but neglecting the situation of the next race? Or plan to make a move for our country’s future? Perhaps control your body temperature to not be tempted for the sweet indulgence.

Or better yet, think of the very painful way towards the glimpse of the future. As they say, expect for the worst, hope for the best. Don’t wait for our country to make this milestone something to shout BOOM RATATAT! In this column, I am placing a double quotation to the word “leader” because our university has been bombarded with a lot of legal issues regarding leadership in the previous and current years. And so, because of those issues, many were affected including students and the university itself. This time, let’s put a focus on the system of electing leaders we have in the university. Or shall we say the things we need to consider and reconsider in choosing a leader.

In my almost four years of stay in this university, election of leaders has not been of great importance to many. There’s even no criteria or requirements for those individuals who will be elected as leaders just to ensure their accountability and transparency in governance. Another point to ponder is the attitude of the voting body towards election. As far as election is concerned, many, if not all, of the Norsunians are not committed with their rights to vote for their leaders. There are some whose business is just to criticize the administration of a certain leader without even participating in the election from the start.

This reality is really a big slap for all of us. A lesson to know that our rights can make change in the community we are in. What if during elections, you spend time voting for a leader who you think deserves the position? What if you stand with that decision by supporting and believing with the administration’s ability? Or not putting the blame to someone for any disappointments because in the very first place you, yourself, have also been part of its cause? By all means, I believe that through internalizing the thoughts I mentioned, success for this university will be as transparent as a crystal clear. Just as Mahatma Gandhi’s quote goes, “Be the change you want to see in the world”.

Vol.XXXII Issue No. 9

July 28 - August 1, 2014

I heard over the news about the incident involving a student from a catholic school who aborted her innocent baby and threw it somewhere in the street.

That story brought me back to a time that I had forced myself to forget. It was in 2011 when I learned that my best friend was pregnant with her second child. She gave birth to her first back in 2008 out of wedlock. She was afraid that her parents might throw her away if, by any chance, they would know that she was bearing a child for the second time around.

Back then, I knew that if I help her, her mistake was as evil as ours. It was the perfect timing. Her family was out-oftown for a week. It was summer and I didn’t have classes and I was able to take a week off from work so I stayed with her the whole time.

“Tabangi ko,” was her plea. There were three of us in that ordeal. Our other friend, who was a nursing student, was the first who knew about it. They both convinced me that there was no other way but to abort the child. She was two and a half months pregnant at that time.

I tried to convince myself that helping her was the best way for her situation and to the child. I clearly knew what her family was capable of doing. The first time she got pregnant, she was badly beaten by her siblings without even considering that she was pregnant. Unfortunately, my friend never learned her lesson. Giving me no choice, she even threatened to kill herself.

I made some calls as I knew the person who could help us. It was my aunt. She is the liaison between the person who wants to get an abortion and the abortionist or the manghihilot as we call it. That’s what she does for a living. The three of us came up with cash, around eight thousand. Five thousand came from my own pocket as I was the one with an income.

Two days after she asked for our help, I found myself accompanying her in a squatter’s area. She asked me to be beside her during the whole ordeal. I saw everything! The creasing hands of the abortionist, the inserting of a hollow plastic tube with a knife-like edge into her private part, the echoing sound of suction—all of those, that have caused me goose bumps, most especially when I stared at the already lifeless blood that was being directed to a pail and also when the insensitive abortionist showed us of what was supposedly the feet of the fetus. That was where I drew the line. I stood up and left her to feel all the guilt herself. Outside of the room, I was crying for the unborn child and for the sin we just had committed. I thought of that as the filthiest and the most evil thing that had happened in my entire life. Never had I imagined to see an innocent angel being deprived to live—killed in the most painful way.

You might have expected that she had learned her lesson, especially since she got pregnant twice by different men and ended up aborting the second one and not to mention involving us with the crime she committed, but no, she didn’t! A year after that incident, she asked for my help again and this time, I said no. I just can’t put myself in that situation again.

The three of us promised that the ordeal was going to be a secret and would never be mentioned, ever. Until today.

Buttercup plans to travel every island of the Philippines.

Her favorite color is green and she collects frog-designed stuff.

“Would you like to join a fraternity?”

What comes into your mind when fraternity is mentioned? Probably, hazing would be the answer of most.

Some would even turn their heads to another direction when they see a group of people wearing Greek lettered shirts.

Some would see them as the troublemakers and goons in the society.

Several reports about deadly brutal acts causing the death of some fraternity members have existed. Yet, why do many students still take courage in joining fraternities?

The birth of brotherhood If only they are true to the nature of brotherhood, it couldn’t have happened.

Basically because few will even dare to have performed through their minds the idea of joining. Tell you what, back then, brotherhood was supposed to be really painful.

Year 1892 was when the spirit of brotherhood was introduced in the Philippines. Imagine that a single candle lit the room, a neophyte is brought in, and then series of questions is asked about their organization. Apparently, this is their way to test one’s loyalty and commitment to the org.

At the end of the ordeal, if he will be approved, then he will be brought to a table which lays a sheet of paper and a bolo (or ‘itak’ as we call it). Just visualize what that deadly thing was meant to do with brotherhood.

Before touching that thing, he then swears an oath to God and his country. He swears to defend the aims of the brotherhood. Then, he signs his name on the sheet of paper using his own blood. Okay, that explains the existence of the bolo. Bad thing, if it’s rusted or unsharpened.

This is the initiation rite of the Katipunan, with the primary aim to gain independence from Spain through revolution. The latter was brought to extinction, bringing in the new mode of revolt.

And yes, the brotherhood was meant for a sole purpose—

to fight for what is said to be right for the people and not because you wanted to be famous and be recognized.

Here comes the Greeks There in the Greek symbols lie the link between the Katipunan and the fraternities.

Around 600 BC, Greeks invented two things that were to become the bedrock of the entire Western civilization: democracy and philosophy.

During the 1700, philosophy was the language of the educated. Thus, it is no coincidence that the Greek letters were used in the first fraternity, Phi Beta Kappa Society with the motto, “Love of learning is the guide of life.” Have you read the same on any frat that you know? The idea perhaps. But the way to achieve such is hard to deal with.

Today, the word fraternity is link to these two words—hazing and death. These are the negative words associated in the brotherhood of the Greek letters. To count on, there are already 23 reported deaths caused by hazing in the Philippines since the 1980’s. And perhaps, it is still increasing. Better if schools recognize their existence, for them to monitor the by-laws of frats, as well as their members and the officers that run them.

The original purpose why fraternities were established was not to increase mortality rate nor to give pain and show violence. Those were created to produce groups of people with ideals that could help its members and the community through learning, fostering camaraderie and extending helpful services. But, sad to think that many were futile and have neglected the true meaning of brotherhood.

See? Fraternities are not supposed to be that cruel or brutal—they are meant to take care and defend. It’s just that the views of the common people are changing. Now, if you are to be asked, do you still want to be a descendant of the Greeks?

Question Everything Books are useful instruments for learning. However, having the fact that these books cost too much, students tend to find other means to lessen their expenses. For you, Norsunians, do you believe that photocopying is against the Copyright Law?

Mechanical Engineering said, “Dili labag sa copyright law because it’s just like borrowing as long as dili i-publish niya as his own and dili ilisan ang name sa author.

Mia Elaine Diez, a first year BS in Accountancy student said, “Okay ra ang pag pa-xerox ug copies as long as it is for educational purposes, but if whole book na, a big no!”

Two freshmen Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) students Leigh An Marie Egera and Rhea Sean Literal shared the same idea. According to them, photocopying is against the copyright agreement and only the author and publisher have the rights to distribute copies.

On the other hand, Elson Timbangan, a first year BS

For a BS Pharmacy student, Gwenneth Mae Tangente, the best thing she can do to cope up with their lessons is to have the book photocopied. “As a student nahimo na jud nato tanan na magpa-photocopy because we lack books.”

Harvey Peralta, a BS Electrical Engineering student, opined that having the content of the book photocopied is more convenient and more affordable. “Kung xerox copy ra, dali ang pagkuha sa content sa libro and kaya sa budget,” he said..— By Oliver Orlando B. Dometita

How did photocopying help Norsunians in their studies?

8 COLLEGE DEANS... from page 1

In the College of Industrial Technology (CIT), students will be having educational tours and other skills upgrading activities as listed in their college’s calendar of activities.

CIT dean Glicerio Duran Jr. said he actually has a lot of plans for their college, however, it is difficult for them to pursue since the Annual Procurement Plan (APP) was deferred by the Board of Regents (BOR) which is, according to him, a challenge especially that the college will undergo Level III phase 2 accreditation this July.

Since the College of Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry (CAFF) will be transferred to NORSU-Pamplona Campus next year, Dean Franklin Retes said they

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will still allow the continuing students to finish their degree in Main Campus II. “But the first year next year will already be in Pamplona, “ Retes revealed.

Retes further said, “Because of the lack of classrooms, most classes in Pamplona campus are held under canopies.” Retes plans to address this problem especially that the number of enrollees is increasing every year.

Moreover, in behalf of the College of Criminal Justice Education (CCJE) Dean Armando Alviola, his Assistant Dean Jose Rene Cepe revealed that Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo will be donating an amount of 2 Million pesos for the

improvement of their college’s facilities.

Cepe said they will focus on student activities that will include educational trips, symposia, sports fest, extension services, and other skills enhancement activities.

Talking about the plans of College of Engineering and Architecture (CEA), Dean Josef Vill Villanueva said he wanted the students of CEA to double their efforts in their studies and expect for more intense instructions.

Villanueva furthered there will also be accreditation in CEA programs this school year and according to him, proposals for college’s improvement are still at hand because of the deferred APP.

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July 28 - August 1, 2014

Vol.XXXII Issue No. 9

SAO renamed SAS Dgte City receives DOH Community News

Red Orchid Award

The exemplary effort of Dumaguete City in promoting a smokefree environment was recognized by the Department of Health (DOH) as it received its first ever Red Orchid Award from the agency.

SAO to SAS: A Norsunian inquires for his ID in the Student Affairs Services (SAS) office. (Photo by Kendrex B. Pael)

N ORS U - S t u d e n t s A f fai r s Office (SAO) has officially changed its name to Students Affairs Services (SAS) .

According to the acting SAS Director Robert Poculan, the renaming of SAO is in accordance with the Commissio on Higher Education (CHED) Memorandum Order No. 9, series of 2013 issued to the office of the University President.

“The changing of SAO’s name is not my desire, but we are just abiding the CHED memorandum,” Poculan said.

As stated in the content of the memorandum, “Students affairs and services are the services and programs in higher education institutions that are concerned with academic support experiences for the students

to attain holistic development.”

These academic support services, according to the memo, were related to the institutional programs and services.

Poculan further said that the name of the office will not matter. “Our focus here is the services, so even if they changed the name of our office, we will still do our very best to satisfy the needs of Norsunians,” he said.

Mellard Rafal, a junior BS Mechanical Engineering student, said the changing of SAO’s name to SAS is not a big deal for him as long as the office will do its works and responsibilities for the students.

Meanwhile, a first year Education student, Ramir Aranas, hopes that SAS will provide services that will be more convenient to them.— By Joe Hannah R. Gargoles

SYA,Dgte City Gov't celebrate Nat'l Disability Prevention & Rehab The Student Youth Advocates (SYA) of Negros Oriental State University has expanded their advocacy by celebrating the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week with the City Government of Dumaguete, July 17-23.

The celebration started with a parade participated in by advocates and persons with disability particularly those with visual impairment.

One of the speakers, Dumaguete City Vice Mayor Woodrow Maquiling Sr., gave an inspirational message during a short program held after the parade. He said that disabilities are not ought to become hindrance but must be the reason for ones to have faith.

“Ang kakulangan dili maoy babag sa Tatong isig-kaingon kay kana siya gihatag sa Ginoo alang kaninyo kay duna Siyay plano sa may kapansanan,” Maquiling said.

Maquiling quoted the Holy Scriptures, “Mas maayo pang musaka ta sa gingharian sa langit nga wala kay mata, kaysa naa kay mata nga makasudong ka sa kahayag sa kalibutan matumpawak ang imong kalag didto sa impyerno.”

NORSU-JPIA REGAINS...from page 1

NORSU’s performances for the four consecutive years are worth commending. They added NORSU never ranked below third. “So far, they are doing well!” Eumague and Abrinica said.

To note, NORSU-JPIA chapter championed the quiz bowl competitions in 2011 and 2012 and was awarded second place in 2013.

Aside from the said award, NORSU also got first place in the poster making and table tennis (mix); second place in the cheering squad, musical play, pop dance, table tennis single (men), badminton (mix), volleyball (women) and T-shirt design; third place in the creative attire-making (female category), basketball (men), speed test, table tennis single (women), badminton single (women) and torch design.

Moreover, their musical play entry got the Best

Furthermore, aside from joining the activity of the city, SYA also extend the celebration in NORSU by creating a booth in the College of Arts and Sciences lounge. The org members, comprised of Special Education majors have presented instructional materials for teaching children with special needs, basic braille and sign language tutorial, film showing and activities like guiding persons with impaired vision.

“I am really happy to all my supportive schoolmates who give their small time with us in this moment. And also I am giving thanks to all the persons who are with us,” SYA President Raquel Villacampa said.

This year’s celebration anchored with the theme “Talino at Panindigan ng Taong May Kapansanan: Pasaporte sa Kaunlaran” was aimed to give importance to the people with disabilities and to commemorate the 1st Former Prime Minister of the Philippines, Apolinario Mabini in his 150th anniversary.

As a leader known to have polio disease, Mabini has set as an inspiration and a good model for persons with disability. — By Niña Marie T. Pino. in Storyline award.

Junior BS in Accountancy student, Louie Jean Gulahab, said she is proud of NORSU’s achievement in the quiz bowl.

Meanwhile, Charina Rendal, another BS in Accountancy student, opined that this year’s JPIA week celebration is commendable. “It’s better than last year kay mas prepared ang host school, chada ang environment, dili maka-stress and accommodating kaayo sila,” she said. She also congratulated her schoolmates who won in the different competitions.

The quiz bowl competition was one of the events during the JPIA week celebration hosted

by SPUD. NORSU-JPIA placed 3rd in the overall school ranking after garnering 5,525 points.

(With reports from Francis Ivan G. Ho)

ERRATUM The previous issue of TN (Vol. XXXII Issue No. 8), “CEd to construct 8 lab classrooms” the total number of rooms is only 4, not 8; in the article “Autism Society conducts seminar” the pronoun that was used in the 5th paragraph to represent SPEd Youth Advocates Adviser Eugene Calingacion was ‘she’ instead of ‘he’. Our sincere apologies.

Dumaguete City bagged the said award for having been awarded as the “Best AntiSmoking Initiatives” among the Local Government Units (LGU) in the national level.

According to Dumaguete Metropost, City Health Officer Sarah Talla said the city garnered a score of 97 percent based on the criteria set by the DOH for the implementation of a Tobacco-Free Environment.

Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria told the Visayan Daily Star that his administration is honored and proud to receive such award. He acknowledged the support and participation of the community, the ordinance enforcers, and the private sector for the information dissemination regarding the side effects of smoking.

As proud inhabitants of Dumaguete, some Norsunians impart their observations

and reactions to the city’s achievement.

Comparing to the past years as air pollution is concerned, Krisila Magos, a sophomore Bachelor of Elementary Education student, said, “Naa ju’y change and difference kay karon mas aware na sila not to smoke on public places.”

John Mark Tolomea, another Education student, believes that because of the strict implementation of the ordinance, Dumaguete City deserves the award. “Naminimize ang smoking ug challenge na ni sa government na mapaundang ang smoking,” he said On the other hand, Angelle de la Torre, a College of Industrial Technology student, said she can observe that there are still public smokers. “Kulang pa man ang efforts kay kana ganing first time offenders kay dili mutungha ug seminar, manabako ra japon,” she added.

The Red Orchid Award is the highest distinction given by the DOH on antismoking advocacy of LGUs, government hospitals and offices and DOH centers nationwide. — By Maria Dominique P. Ferrolino

NORSU TO APPLY... from page 1

faculty profile, percentage of accreditation status of NORSU, performance in licensure exams and presence of the Center of Development (COD) and the Center of Excellence (COE).

Villahermosa stressed NORSU will have to work hard on the first KRA especially with the COD and COE, which the university does not have.

Meanwhile, the research capability and output is covered in the second KRA. This involves the presence of research centers, research funding and published research outputs like the NORSU Prism which was recently recognized as internationally accredited refereed journal.

“We have a lot of faculty members in NORSU who already had international presentation,” the director said pointing out that the university will have no problem with the second area. He further said the inventions of the technological programs like industrial technology and engineering courses were also included in this area.

The third KRA to be assessed covers the

extension programs and community services conducted by the university for community development.

“How we extend ourselves to the community especially with the expertise we build in the university like, the partnership of the College of Education (CEd) to Gawad Kalinga and others, will also be evaluated,” Villahermosa said.

The last area to be evaluated is the management of resources. “We will also be evaluated on how we operate as a business in NORSU, the income that we have and the faculty and staff development programs that we have,” Villahermosa said.

Furthermore, the director said, “Hopefully, if we will be able to pass the SUCs leveling for level 4 status, more budget will be given to us and more support will be given to our programs especially the programs that will undergo accreditation” Villahermosa said.

SUC leveling is the ranking of all state universities and colleges in the Philippines using Level 1,2,3 and 4.