109 years TOWARDS A PROGRESSIVE CAMPUS PRESS | VOL. LXXXV NO. 04 | THURSDAY, 06 SEPTEMBER 2012
VICTORY! Miss High School, Lissa Patricia Duch, hugs Miss SPAG, Mary Ruth Risma, as she was overwhelmed with joy when proclaimed as Miss Silliman 2012 last August 24 at the Lamberto Macias Sports Complex. PHOTO BY Alexandra Iso
Admin sheds light on ‘ERAP Scholarship’
‘We thought his statement was the contract itself ’ – Fontelo by Maya Angelique B. Jajalla AFTER BEING MUM on the ERAP Scholarship issue last week, Vice-president for Finance and Administration, Prof. Cleonico Fontelo, explained how the university came up with the “Study Now Pay Later” (SNPL) scheme. SNPL, which came about after the supposed ERAP Scholarship did not materialize, was developed and introduced to the 17 scholars before the school year started in order for them to continue schooling until graduation. “[The university’s] concern at that time was for [the scholars] to be enrolled. It would be unfair if we extract money from them right
away,” Fontelo said. All 17 are graduating this school year. Fontelo said the scheme only covers their fourth year. He added that the university will “not collect anymore from the students” their unsettled balance for their first three years in college. Fontelo mentioned non-regular operating revenues, existing complementary scholarships and income from the Ticao property project as among those that will cover the 17 scholars’ three-year worth of account balance. Asked why “terminate” the scholarship just now (after six semesters of ignored bills), Fontelo answered: “Maybe it’s not really what prompted [the university]
to stop [the scholarship], but we are not pursuing anymore the request for payment from the ERAP foundation...Because three years I think is long enough.” He clarified that the university did not impose a deadline for payment. The 17 scholars were oriented about the situation and were consulted on when, based on their estimates, they can settle whatever balance is left in their account during their fourth year. “Some of them said that maybe they can pay by November 2013. It really depends on them,” Fontelo said. In the event the students fail to pay on or before their respective deadlines, the university “will not
pursue any action” but will “just remind the students” of their unsettled account. The ‘verbal contract’ “I offered that I give 20-30 scholars for Silliman University students for Agriculture...” were the words that started the so-called ERAP Scholarship. Fontelo said that the university started selecting students for the said scholarship on the basis of the words above, spoken by former president Joseph “Erap” Estrada last September 2008 at the Luce Auditorium. When SY 2009-2010 opened, the university already had 20 students for the said grant. “We thought that [his public statement] was strong enough
to implement the scholarship program...we thought that his statement was the contract itself,” Fontelo said. He added: “However, what came out was that, we have not received any remittance from the [ERAP] foundation. Until we found out later on that they were looking for a [written] contract...We were not told clearly that they will not fund. At the end of the [scholars’ third year in college], the university felt that maybe it will not be funded.” As of press time, the university has stopped sending statements of account to the ERAP Foundation. The administration, according to Fontelo, is still open for negotiations from the camp of the said foundation.~
Master guitarist performs in all string by Paulo M. Lim
FILIPINO GUITARIST COMPOSER and conductor Michael Dadap featured the Orchestra Sin Arco for Silliman Performs: Handulantaw held Thursday, August 26. In collaboration with the College of Performing and Visual Arts (COPVA), Michael Dadap conducted the Orchestra Sin Arco composed of mostly stringed instruments to perform the classics along with College Dean Elizabeth Susan Vista – Suarez, the Silliman University Gratitude and Goodwill
Ambassadors, and the Silliman University Campus Choristers. “We love our culture and it is through our music that we can express our sentiments strongly,” Dadap said. “I share this vision with Dean Suarez to build a unique ensemble of instruments, which is now known as Orchestra Sin Arco.” Handulantaw also presented various cultural exhibitions such as the Jota Manileña, performed by the Kahayag Dance Company, and a poetry reading with Myrna Peña - Reyes of Edith Tiempo’s poem, Bonsai, which was a tribute to the
late national artist for her death anniversary. Dadap added: “The best way to introduce good music to the young Filipino children is to teach them to play in the concept of an orchestra, but it is very expensive and it’s hard to get good teachers in local areas. So I thought that using stringed instruments and creating an orchestra of plucking instruments is the most viable practical thing to do to introduce the music.” Orchestra Sin Arco is a string orchestra trained by Mr. Dadap in 1999.~
Ma’am Odal, the candidates, the Ms. SU committee) were all comforting me. I then realized that everything happens for a reason, as I was able to use my stage slip as part of my answer in the Picture Analysis portion.” said Duch. Besting out her co-candidates, Duch said she didn’t see her “ates” as competition, rather, she viewed them as new friends she could bond with. Mary Ruth Kristine F. Risma from the School of Public Affairs and Governance was the First runner-up (Miss Cover Girl) of the pageant while Hallona Ember Sgundina Z. Jiddah from the College of Performing and Visual Arts was declared second runner -up (Miss Campus Headline Girl). Harlee Jell I. Tia from the College of Nursing and Jyl Rae B. Ramirez from the College of Business Administration came in third and fourth runner-up respectively.
Movie and television director Mario J. De Los Reyes chaired the Board of Judges. He was joined by Outstanding Sillimanian in the field of Urban Planning Dr.Efren Padilla, Rep. Cesar Jalosjos of the Third District of Zamboanga del Norte, former Miss Earth runnerup Ms April Joy Villanueva, and businesswoman Ms Audrey TanZubiri. The pageant went smoothly, however, the organizers were unable to provide Rep. Josy Limkaichong a seat upon her arrival. The Miss Silliman Committee did not disclose the reason behind the change of plans but they gave their assurance that they had explained the matter to the congresswoman stating that: “We have sent a letter of communication to Ma’am Josy explaining the circumstances behind what took place during the pageant night.” ~
KILL BILL. A beggar, together with her child, sits outside the church gates where an anti-RH Bill banner is placed. PHOTO BY Henzonly Hope Alboroto
Former DFA Sec talks Another Duch wins Miss Silliman on Scarborough issue
by Susanah Jane L. Lapa
MISS HIGH SCHOOL, Lissa Patricia Duch bagged this year’s Miss Silliman title last August 24 at the Lamberto Macias Sports Complex. Duch is the younger sister of Miss Silliman 2009, Glenna Christina Duch, who also represented the School of Basic Education that year. Despite her minor slip on stage, the younger Duch kept her grace and composure all throughout the night. She redeemed herself by using the incident as a strong point in her Picture Analysis portion explaining that a person always has to stand back up after falling. “Even before the pageant started, I told myself to prepare for the worst. When I got backstage, I won’t deny the fact that I did cry when I hugged my make-up artist, Tito Gerry, but they (the make-up artists, my mom,
by Roselle Louise L. Publico
“I DO NOT believe that we can maintain our claim on the Scarborough shoal by force of arms,” said the former Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Delia Domingo Albert as she presented her stand on the national controversy last August 24 at the Eminent Persons Lecture Series. “To pursue this only rational alternative, the Philippines has to be well prepared with the legal, diplomatic and scientific knowledge needed to undertake the steps of this challenge… To support our claim, the Philippines officially have been maintaining sufficient take on proximity to the area and secondly on international agreement and international law,” added Albert. She supported this statement by enumerating the legal bases of the country’s claim to these islands: the 1982 United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea which governs issues of jurisdiction over land
adjoining water; The Treaty of Paris in 1898; The Philippine Constitution and The Republic Act of 9522 which provides one baseline around the archipelago and a separate baseline for a so-called “Regime of Islands” which claims Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal within it. Albert also stressed the importance of peaceful negotiations: “Having spent more than 40 years in diplomatic work, I’m convinced that in this day and age most issues between nations, big or small, can be addressed through skilled, learned and dedicated diplomatic negotiation.” Having served as Undersecretary for International Economic Relations and Philippine Senior Official for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Albert commended Silliman University’s strength in the field of environmental and marine science which led the school to be designated as the Center of Excellence in Coastal Research Management.~