The Augustinian, August 2009

Farewell, Cory

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Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

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issn 0115-9226

Excellent Campus Journalism for the Common Good VOL. 55 NO. 1

the Official student newspaper of the UNIVERSITY OF san agustin iloilo city, philippines

june 15 - august 15, 2009

Autonomous no more University advances plans to restore autonomous status

By Jefferson Magbanua and Donna Isabelle Fresnido

After failing to renew its autonomous status, the University of San Agustin (USA) is losing no time in revamping its curriculum and facilities and in improving the faculty academic qualification through graduate studies for another shot at applying for autonomy in 2010 or 2011.

The five-year autonomous status given by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to the University had ended on October 2008 but the submission of documents for evaluation was extended from May 30, 2008 to July 31, 2008.

The standard procedure in passing documents to CHED is to have them endorsed by the CHED Regional Office before being forwarded to the National Office.

However, in an effort to catch up and beat the deadline, current Vice-President for Academic Affairs Rev. Fr. Generous Gonesto broke protocol and personally delivered the documents to CHED National Office in Manila.

Any educational institution applying for autonomous status must score at least 200 points based on the new criteria of CHED under the headship of Chairman Emmanuel

Angeles.

Based on the new criteria, to earn 200 points, the school must have programs with Level IV, III, II PAASCU accreditations, programs with Center of Exellence or Center of Development status, IQUAME, and international recognition.

The University got 50 points only for its seven Level II PAASCUaccredited programs.

“We didn’t improve. We’ve had problems in five years. As we were applying in for the Institutional Quality Assessment through Monitoring and Evaluation (IQUAME), we were also preparing for the accreditation of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), the College of Education (CoE), and the Basic Education Department (BED),” said Gonesto on the points that contributed to the loss of the University’s autonomous status.

Gonesto also cited the failure in three major areas during the PAASCU accreditation, namely, administration, library, and physical plant. “We had passing scores in the areas of faculty and instruction but these were pulled down because all areas are interrelated.”

In the meeting of the Board of Trustees on May 29, 2009, the

“TO TOIL AND NOT TO SEEK FOR REST.” A construction worker carries a sack of gravel away from the halfdone walkway area in the Administration building. This walkway area is expected to be completed before the first semester ends.

administration was told “not to relax and should do everything to regain the autonomous status.”

To concretize the University’s plan of action, Gonesto drew up three foci, namely, to apply for Level III status for BED (elementary department), CoE and Pharmacy, to appeal that CAS

be revisited in February 2010, and to apply for IQUAME. In this connection, the University is hurrying to improve its facilities, starting with the library. “For every 10,000 students in the library, at least 500 should be seated all together at a given time. This was recommended

to us by PAASCU,” said Gonesto.

The General Circulation Library was airconditioned and the Internet Station moved to the area adjacent to the Theology Office. A new nonairconditioned reading and discussion area was also built.

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Escudero: ‘RP lacks true leaders’

USA ranks 7th best law school in RP

(USA), and the Samahan ng Bagong Kabataan-USA Chapter (SBK) at the renovated ground floor of the Urdaneta Hall on July 3.

In the said forum, the 39-yearold senator stressed his disfavor to the government’s move towards charter change, saying, “Charter change is only pushed and discussed every time election period nears because many politicians whose terms are about to end want to extend their stay in power.”

Escudero, a member of the United Opposition, told those in the forum (Augustinian l a w, n u r s i n g , a n d A r t i a n students) that it was in 1997, a year before former President Fidel Ramos’ term ended that charter change was first talked about. On this, he said in Filipino: “Why do our leaders in goverment propose it [charter change] only when their terms are about to end?”

In relation to the worsening state of the Philippines, Escudero said that cases of corruption are still rampant in the country and shared two thoughts on corruption.

“Kung magnanakaw ka SPEAK UP. Escudero talks to Augustinian lang din, lakihan mo na [if you students in a forum on July 3, 2009.

THE University of San Agustin (USA) College of Law ranked seventh best among the 108 law schools in the Philippines and the first in the Visayas based on the Bar examinations result and in the 2008 Supreme Court statistical data.

In the September 2008 Bar examinations, the College of Law had 51 entrants comprising of 32 first time takers and 19 repeaters.

According to the 2008 statistical data of the Supreme Court, the USA College of Law produced 25 new lawyers resulting to a total passing percentage of 49.02% (50% first time takers and 47.37% repeaters).

The new Augustinian lawyers are Ma. Carolina Advincula, Princess May Alcarde, Jelou Almalbis, Francis Athanasius Ampig, Maynard Caballuo, Mae Jill Carillo, May Dezerie Cazeñas, Karren De La Cruz, Mark Espinosa, Kristin Marie Falalimpa, Rene Estocapio, Mary Anne Galanto, Marilyn Israel, Rey Magtubo, Paul Andre Margarico, Sharon Millan, Mark Geoffrey Paguntalan, Ronilo Pamonag, Ramon Niel Pascua, Sherwin Paul Quidato, Roberto Salazar, Grace Setras, Marilyn Te, Jennifer Torril, and Jerilee Uy. Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) topped the Bar

By Pietros Val Patricio

“THE greatest problem that we in the Philippines are facing today is that we lack true leaders who believe in and work for the good of this country.”

Thus said Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, in a keynote speech on the state of the country’s political and socio-economic setting in a student forum organized by the Augustinian Bar Operations, Inc., the Portia Club of the University of San Agustin

are just going to steal, steal big time] at walang kandidato sa politika na nagnanakaw [no political candidate steals],” said Escudero.

Escudero said many Filipino leaders still tolerate corruption.

To curb corruption in the country, Escudero furthered three solutions which he deemed necessary – increasing the salaries of government officials, putting to jail any person caught practicing corruption, and identifying areas of discretion and eliminating them as much as possible.

Furthermore, Escudero urged the students to change themselves to better the situation of this country.

“Change should come from each of us. Everyone has to do efforts for this country to be better,” he said.

When asked if he will run for presidency in the 2010 national elections, he replied, “I’ll decide on this when I’ll be 40 [years old] on October 10.”

Escudero also expressed his views on how to improve the Philippine educational system, saying that government should put higher premium on education.

The forum, hosted by ABS-CBN Iloilo’s Sedfrey Cabaluna who is a law student in the University, lasted for an hour and a half.

By Diam Queenie Permocillo and Mia Rose Emboltura

examinations after earning an overall passing average of 85.63%.

Aside from the USA and AdMU, the other universities which made it to the top 10 in the recent Bar examinations are the following: San Beda College (77.60%), Far Eastern University (77.42%), University of the Philippines, (75.32%), Ateneo de Davao University (58.23%), University of Santo Tomas (51.81%), University of Cebu (47.06%), University of San Carlos (43.22%), and Palawan State University (37.50%).

Out of the 6,364 Bar candidates who took the examinations, 1,310 passed, making the national passing percentage 20.58%.

Prior to the Bar examinations, the USA College of Law organized reviews for Augustinian Bar takers.

These were conducted through the guidance of the dean of the College of Law, Atty. Juana Judita PanigbatanNafarrete, LI.M and the members of the faculty of the College.

The College has been administering the “Quality Admission, Quality Retention P o l i c y, ” a n d t h e W r i t t e n Comprehensive Examination to produce quality Augustinian law students and lawyers.

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NEWS

The Augustinian

june 15 - august 15, 2009

CEA alumnus bags int’l refrigeration award

By Pietros Val Patricio

USASC syncs University time

By Josefa Maria Castro

Through the efforts of the University of San Agustin Student Council (USASC), a digital clock was installed at the Alumni Hall earlier this year to assure time synchronization within the University.

This Digital Clock project was conceived by former USASC President, Deken Chua (Academic Year 2005-2006). Through an SMS message, he stated the reason why he came up with the idea for the clock, “to address the time synchronization problem, since the University had and still has apparently different time zones.” However, it wasn’t until Christian Tioco’s term (2006-2007) that the digital clock was purchased using the USASC funds.

The installation of the project was approved by former General Services Director, Fr. Bernardo Coleco, OSA and immediate former President, Fr. Manuel Vergara, OSA. The clock was unveiled and inaugurated during the University’s General Orientation program on June 24, 2009.

College heads talk on community service programs

By Pietros Val Patricio

TO discuss the community based service programs of the University, the Tilipunan Community Service Center convened the college deans and the heads of the Basic Education Department (BED) of the University.

The seminar-workshop was headed by Rev. Fr. Danilo Cardido, OSA. Ma. Eden Ong-Yap, Tilipunan training instructor, presented the key problems, concerns and accomplishments of the Tilipunan Community Service Center for the past years, highlighting the “Agustino Para sa Tao” program.

The eight faculty coordinators for the community service affairs of the colleges presented reports and conducted brief lectures on their respective department’s priorities. The faculty coordinators who facilitated the talks were Irene Grace Galon (College of Arts and Sciences), Rachel Luis, RN (College of Nursing), Engr. Elmer Tolosa (College of Engineering and Architecture), Rizalin Gubatanga (BED-High School), Corazon Buenvenida (BED-Grade School) Dr. Lilia Teves (College of Education), Mary Anne Corpus (College of Pharmacy and Medical Technology), and Emily Dumalag (College of Business Administration and Accountancy).

USASC prexy appoints 2 secretary generals

By Josefa Maria Castro

THE College of Engineering and Architecture marked another milestone in the Philippines’ techonological innovation when its alumnus won an international refrigeration award at the gathering of engineers from around the world in the United States, June 20, 2009.

Cesar Luis de Leon-Lim, a 1975 graduate of Mechanical Engineering from the then College of Technology of the University of San Agustin (now College of Engineering and Architecture), received the

Milton W. Garland Commemorative Refrigeration Award at the annual Refrigerating and Airconditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) meeting held at Louisville, Kentucky. The meeting was attended by engineers around the world.

De Leon-Lim’s entry to the event was the conversion of the cylindro-conical (fermenting and storage) tanks from ammonia jacket cooling to laser welded cooling panel, a project located at the San Miguel Corporation’s brewery plant

New administrative personnel assume office

By Allin Joy Emboltura

SEVEN college deans, five department chairpersons, and two department heads assumed office on June 1, 2009 as new administrative personnel for academic year 2009-2010.

Attorney Juana Judita Nafarrete, Ll.M. was the newly appointed dean of the College of Law; Isidoro Cruz, Ph.D. for College of Arts and Sciences; Lucio Encio, Ph.D. for College of Business Administration and Accountancy; Alex Facinabao, Ph.D. for College of Education; Reynaldo Asuncion, M.E. for College of Engineering and Architecture; Sofia Cosette Monteblanco, M.A.N. for College of Nursing; while Ruby Catalan, Ph.D. is the acting dean of the Graduate School.

Quest for excellence, returning in the spotlight, improving the college’s performance were few of the goals

of the newly-installed deans for their respective colleges.

Asuncion, during his term, plans to regain the Level II Accreditation of the College of Engineering and Architecture that had been lost for almost four years. He is committed to create an environment of unity and harmony among students and faculty members. He spearheaded the reorganization of the Tech Faculty Club, which will maintain the harmonious relationship among faculty members. The Tech Record, official publication of the college, will be revived after being dormant for many years. “I will lead our college to excellence in academics and co-curricular activities, and a commitment to make our college great, as it once had been,” Asuncion stressed.

By John Palma

Former Rotaract Club and Atelier Council President Rey John Lorca was awarded one of the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP) for Western Visayas on April 24, 2009 held at Negros Occidental Capitol Social Hall, Bacolod City.

Lorca, a fresh graduate of Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the College of Engineering and Architecture, competed with 19 other nominees coming from different colleges and universities all over

Western Visayas. The finalists who excelled both in academic and extracurricular activities achieved high honors and received citations in their fields. They were nominated by their respective schools.

Lorca was recognized by the TOSP-Region VI because of his various involvement in community-related activities. Having served as president of the Rotaract Club of the University of San Agustin, he pioneered of the Recycle Mania project.

Lorca was also one of the National Board of Directors of UAPSA. He received awards such as the Achievers Award in Leadership, Award in Literary Musical, and Scholarship Awardee of the Filipino Architects Association in Washington. Moreover, he was also a national finalist in an Architecture Quiz Bee and sat as overall chairman during the first Regional Celebration of the Nationwide Architecture.

When asked to give a message to the youth, Lorca said: “My challenge to the youth is to discover and unleash your hidden talents and use it to help other people and the community.”

The criteria for the TOSP include superior academic performance (with a minimum average grade of 90.00), responsible leadership and active participation in co-curricular and extra-curricular activities, a deep sense of community awareness and involvement, personal values anchored on a living faith in God, sensitivity towards others, sincere determination to help and firm moral convictions and integrity, and pleasing personality and the ability to express oneself effectively.

All 20 regional finalists were screened in a week-long formation period which consisted workshops and activities that geared them to be self-empowered and responsible professionals in the future.

Moreover, Gonesto is communicating with an international agency to have practicum opportunities abroad for Education, Hotel and Restaurant Management, and Information Technology, and Business Administration students.

In addition, dialogues are being

initiated with other schools for a conference of ideas and faculty exchange programs.

Gonesto also conducts feasibility studies on the possibility of building a virtual laboratory in partnership with Healthcare Advantage Institute which is recognized by St. Luke’s Hospital.

“Wait for a little time for us to improve the services,” said Gonesto, adding, “With or without an autonomous status, the school is upholding quality education to its students and offers quality services to other stakeholders. We don’t want to lose a good school.”

CAS goes parliamentary

By Donna Isabelle Fresnido

...Continued from page 1 As extensions of the Main Library, two Instructional Media Centers (IMC) were accommodated in the newly-renovated Urdaneta Hall.

Other improvements on the physical plant include the covered walkway of the Administration building, where students and parents alike are afforded more space in paying outside on the renovated area

instead of lining up inside.

Apart from physical plant, the University is setting its sights on improving the educational experience of its students.

Sixty percent of the faculty should hold master’s degrees, which is why faculty members, especially the clinical instructors of the College of Nursing, are accommodated in the University’s Graduate School even holding classes on Sundays.

On the other hand, Cruz said that one of his main functions as dean is to upgrade academic standards - a function that is in consonance with vision of excellence pursued by both the University and the College of Arts and Sciences.

The newly-appointed department chairpersons were Josephine De Asis, M.S.C.S. for Information Technology; Ma. Delsa Gange, M.S. Bio for Biology ; Rowena Isidro, Ph.D. for Social Sciences; Pilar Arguelles, M.A.T. for Mathematics and Physics; Abraham Pinuela, M.A. for Humanities.

Engineer Josephine Gellecanao was the newly-appointed department head of Chemical Engineering and the new Executive Secretary of the Accreditation Office is Gladys Confesor, M.A.

Lorca awarded in 2009 TOSP (Western Visayas)

University of San Agustin Student Council (USASC) President, Noreen Mae Orquinaza appointed two secretary generals for Academic Year 2009-2010.

The two newly-appointed secretary generals are Patrick Daniel Ladrido, a sophomore BS Management Accounting student and Krizzia Zaldivar, a senior BS Foreign Service student.

Ladrido and Zaldivar would take charge of the Council Committees when the President is not around.

The Secretary Generals would perform the follwing specific functions stipulated in the constitution of the USASC: perform functions as may be assigned to him/her by the President, act as the head of the Central Committee, be accountable and directly responsible to the president, and attend all meetings of the directorate as non-voting members.

The College of Arts and Sciences is living up to its name as the premiere college by changing its student government from presidential to parliamentary.

This is the first time in the University that a student government adopted the parliamentary system of government.

While the presidential system allows all constituents to vote, only the representatives can exercise that right in the parliamentary system.

The shift to the parliamentary system in CAS was started in 2007 but it was only recently that it had become a full-fledged government due to its newly-ratified constitution.

Daisy Dawn Macahilo, AB Pol Sci 4, was elected Prime Minister of the Arts and Sciences Student Council (ASSC) on June 23 by the parliament composed of 141 class and course organization representatives taken from the 10 programs offered in CAS. In an interview with The Augustinian, Macahilo said, “I believe that even at this small scale, we could be able to revolutionize student politics. The parliamentary system would ensure that the playing field is now leveled.”

in San Fernando, Pampanga where he works as a consultant in the beer division.

De Leon-Lim’s invention was submitted to the competition for three consecutive years before it actually won.

De Leon-Lim who was sent by the San Miguel Corporation to Northwest Kent College of Technology in 1993 to study refrigeration earned his graduate studies degree from the De La Salle University in Manila.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Fr. Frederick Comendador, OSA, Rey John Lorca, Fr. Agustin Ty, OSA, and Philip Wen Bombita strike a pose after the formal ceremony of the 2009 TOSP-Western Visayas search, April 24.

NEWS

june 15 - august 15, 2009

The Augustinian

Usa registers more students this semester

By Ray Adrian Macalalag

AFTER a decrease in the number of students registered during the First Semester of AY 2008-2009, this year (2009-2010) marked an increase of 0.83% according to the resume of enrolment issued by Prof. Gemma Buday-Halili, University Registrar.

The University of San Agustin registered a total enrolment of 9,830 for this semester that is higher by 0.83% compared to last year’s first semester (9,749) showing that the enrolment this year is moving up again.

The official figures of enrolment are as follows: 377 for the Graduate School; 176 for the College of Law; 1,508 for the College of Arts and Sciences; 1,567 for the College of Business Administration and Accountancy; 1,051 for the College of Pharmacy and Medical Technology; 1,270 for the College of Education; 844 for the College of Engineering and Architecture; 63 for the Conservatory of Music; 2,149 for the College of Nursing; 472 for the High School; and 353 for the Grade School.

The College of Pharmacy and

UP AND DOWN. This bar graph indicates the progress of enrolment in the University from 2004 to 2009.

Medical Technology has the highest departmental increase with 45.17% from 724 of last year, followed by the college is the Graduate School with 38.10% from last year’s 273.

The Conservatory of Music has the third biggest increase with 16.67% from last year’s 54 followed by the College of Education with 13.49% from 1,119; the College of Arts and Sciences with 11.95% from 1,347; the Grade School with 7.95% from 327;

the College of Law with 6.67% from 165; and the College of Business Administration and Accountancy with 6.31% from 1,474.

However, the biggest decrease in enrolment is suffered by the College of Nursing with 25.95% decrease from 2,902 of last year followed by the High School with 7.09% from last year’s 508; and the College of Engineering and Architecture with 1.40% decrease from 856.

Nursing stude tops uni-wide newscasting tilt

By Josh Von iron Tondo

College of Nursing’s (CN) sophomore Marilla Cagas won this year’s ABS-CBN intra-school Newscasting competition held at the University of San Agustin Conference Room on July 30, Thursday.

Cagas, who ranked second in last year ’s neswcasting tilt, left College of Engineering a n d A r c h i t e c t u r e ’s (CEA) Elijohn Alcaraz, second and College of E d u c a t i o n ’s ( C o E ) Laragene Servando, third.

She will be representing the University in the 7th ABS-CBN Interschool Newscasting Competition.

The finals of the citywide contest will be on LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION! An ABS-CBN news reporter interviews Marilla Cagas after winning the 2009 ABS-CBN Newscasting contest (school level) on July 30.

September 12.

Aside from the abovementioned three, seven others spearheaded by the College of Arts competition pieces (a set for each from the University’s different and Sciences (CAS) and the University contestant) and were given only five d e p a r t m e n t s j o i n e d t h e s a i d of San Agustin Mass Communication minutes to deliver their lines. competition — all were part of the Network (USA.MassComm.Net).

The event was judged by All contestants were judged in University Center for Research uni-wide elimination’s top ten finalists held two days prior to the ABS-CBN three categories—English, Filipino and Publications (UCRP) Director newscasting competition which was and Hiligaynon—with three sets of Jigger Latoza, Film Theory and TV

Nursing graduates occupy Urdaneta

By Emmanuel Barcelona for NLE review SINCE April 2009, the graduates of the University’s College of Nursing have occupied the ground floor of the Urdaneta Hall as temporary venue for the reviews for the upcoming Nursing Licensure Examination (NLE) in November this year.

“It is just a temporary venue of the review while the archives and the mini-museum are not yet transferred,” said Fr. Nelson Zerda, the director of General Services in an interview with The Augustinian on August 3, 2009.

“The temporary conference hall can also be used by other departments for their own purposes,” Zerda added.

The rooms are furnished with an airconditioning system, a sound system, plastic armchairs, and a comfort room.

The University’s College of Nursing, a consistent producer of board topnotchers lacks a permanent venue for its review for NLE. Formerly, the College used the USA Conference Room and the Pharmacy and Medical Technology (PMT) Training Center as the venues for its graduates’ NLE review. If these places were not available, the College had to look for another venue outside the school.

Emboltura

Barcelona

redeeming its glory in COPRE, the said organization acquired new journalists.

The new staff members include Ray Adrian Macalalag, BSCE 1 as associate editor. Macalalag is a graduate of University of the Philippines in the Visayas (UPV).

He was the former managing editor of Kasanag.

Meanwhile, Mia Rose Emboltura, BSN 2, another

Castro

Permocillo

associate editor, is a graduate of Passi National High School. In her high school years, she was a writer of their school paper named Busilak. Emmanuel Barcelona, BSN 4, passed the Publications’ examinations as senior writer. He was a senior writer of Grain Land, the student newspaper of Napnapan National High School.

Josefa Maria Castro, AB Lit 1, was positioned staff writer. She was

The original plan of the ground floor of the Urdaneta Hall was meant for an archive, a mini-museum, and art gallery. The original plan is not yet executed for the general services and the contractor are still studying whether the area is prone to flooding.

Should this be the case, the plan of transferring artifacts and relics (some of which date back to 18th century) from the mini-museum in the fifth floor of the Fray Luis de Leon Hall shall be cancelled.

It is noteworthy that after its renovation, the Urdaneta Hall will house cultural and artistic groups in the University. The Conservatory of Music, Kawilihan Dance Troupe, USA Troubadours, and USA Little Theatre will hold offices in the said hall.

The Urdaneta Hall, the oldest building in the University, is nearing the final phase of its renovation which is expected to be finished within this academic year. The renovation was stopped for almost a year and a half because the administration waited for changes of the plan which involves the addition of steel beams, increasing the budget from 34 million to 50 million pesos.

Museo launches Augustinian friar’s historical anthology By Pietros Val Patricio MUSEO de Iloilo launched on July 24 an Augustinian friar’s book entitled “Iloilo, The Most Noble City: History and Development 1566-1898,” a historical anthology on Iloilo City as a center of progress and prosperity written in the perspective of an Augustinian friar.

Fr. Policarpo Hernandez, OSA, a Spanish friar of the Augustinian Order who was formerly assigned in Iloilo and served as head librarian of the University of San Agustin Library for several years, devoted his time writing the said book on Iloilo City after conducting research on the city’s historical past before he left Panay for Spain.

However, Hernandez was not able to travel back to the Philippines for his book launching ceremony.

Initiated by Museo de Iloilo

curators Gina Sarabia-Espinosa and the late Agustin Zafiro Ledesma II, in partnership with the Archives of the Archdiocese of Jaro and the Iloilo City government, the book launching featured lectures on the city’s rise to economic power and the relevance of personal history in local and national history. The director of the Philippine National Historical Society, Dr. Benita Reyes-Churchill and Eric Babar-Zerrudo of the University of Santo Tomas Center for Conversation of Cultural Property and Environment in the Tropics were resource persons on the said topics.

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas graced the occasion and encouraged those who came to conduct further research on the city’s history to strengthen Ilonggo pride and bring back Iloilo City to glory.

Production professor Oscar Reuben Nava, and ABS-CBN TV-10 news reporter Ma. Bulaclac Causete.

The College of Arts and Sciences’ dean, Dr. Isodoro Cruz, graced the said event and delivered a speech and this was followed by a message from

Atty. Jobert Peñaflorida, TV Patrol Iloilo news anchor and University alumnus.

The contest commenced at seven in the evening and was hosted by USA.MassComm.Net’s Ashera Jane Borda and Sin Il Kang.

USA Publications eyes COPRE next year WITH nine new members, the USA Publications staff this Academic Year 2009-2010 sets its goal to prepare for a Macalalag comeback in the College Press Conference (COPRE) next year.

To accomplish this, the new batch of the USA Publications benchmarked the past staffers’ prominence.

In 2004, The Augustinian Mirror won its third Gawad Graciano LopezJaena award and The Augustinian won as the second best newspaper in Western Visayas.

In line with the goal of

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Palma

Eregia

the immediate past editor-in-chief of the Junior Augustinian.

Furthermore, Diam Queenie Permocilla, BSN 2, passed as staff writer. She was a feature writer of Kasibulan, the Filipino school organ of Barotac Nuevo Comprehensive High School. John Palma, Med Tech 2, was also named staff writer. Palma was a feature editor of the Hilltop.

Moreover, Noel de Leon, AB Comm Arts 4, was chosen as staff

By Aljun Padisio

De Leon

Caminian

photographer. On the other hand, Nicole Fernan Caminian, BSN 2, was selected staff artist. He was the former cartoonist of the Point, the student newspaper of Colegio de San Jose.

All new staff members went through a series of examination on July this year.

The examinations consisted four parts, namely, editorial writing, news writing, lay-outing, and sanaysay.

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OPINION

The Augustinian Prodigy “Am I better off today than before Arroyo became president of this country?”

Jefferson Magbanua P resident G loria Macapagal-Arroyo delivered her State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa on the afternoon of July 27. While the president was boasting about her administration’s efficiency, the harsh rain poured down from ‘above’, flooding Metro Manila and caused traffic therein. To perfectly match the mood of the president’s SONA, thunder and lightning struck the Metro. The weather seemed indicative of one thing: Someone lied.

Old folks say that when somebody says a big lie, God sends lightning to strike the liar. Isn’t it that when somebody is apparently lying, the usual warning is “Basi makilatan ka” (You might be hit by lightning)? So someone must have been lying big time on that Monday afternoon.

But who was it? The answer is obvious. Arroyo, on her SONA, made us picture out the Philippines as a Utopia, a paradise built upon her dictates as miracle-worker, defeating not the Egyptians’ ruthlessness as was in Moses’ case, but the perils of poverty and unemployment. She cited figures and statistics (whose accuracy is questionable) to show that messiah as she is, she is the best the Philippines ever had as president. All these were obviously lies. No wonder the heavens opened up for her. Those protesters outside the Batasan that very afternoon were fortunate enough not to have been hit by lightning. The targets of the lightning’s wrath were safely inside the Batasan. The jeering cuckoos were scratching each other’s back inside their huge cage.

While Arroyo was rambling inside the Batasan, oppositionists Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo and Senator-wannabe Koko Pimentel gave Insert Latin Phrase Here “I wonder if there will finally come a time when my generation would have to fight for freedom again.”

Donna Isabelle Fresnido

As I sit here typing my column, the television blared out commentaries about the late former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino’s funeral. Glancing every now and then at the TV screen, I could see streams of yellow confetti raining on the multitude of Filipinos who marched through cold, slippery streets just to pay their last respects to the “icon of democracy.”

I felt patriotic when “Ang Bayan Ko” was sung, and that patriotism was bolstered when I saw my parents’ fervor. My mother, most especially, labelled the intense emotions as the “catharsis of a nation.” I partook in the collective grief, but never to the point of being cathartic. I understood Martial Law, having listened to the firsthand stories of my family, but it would have been totally different thing to have tied that yellow ribbon on my forehead during those fateful days of February 1986.

I was born during Cory’s term in the 1990’s and ever since, I’ve thought of her as a kind little bespectacled grandmother baking cookies for her grandchildren, the Filipino nation.

Growing up, I’ve also known of her

june 15 - august 15, 2009

What’s the real score? their own SONAs at the Kapihan sa Manila.

Ocampo and Pimental said that it isn’t difficult to determine whether the president was telling the truth or not. These two have a point. Just ask yourselves these questions: Am I better off today than before Arroyo became president of this country? Am I more satisfied today than before? Is the price of my favorite Lapu-Lapu higher or lower?

Generally, the answers are in the negative. Everybody, except Arroyo, her cabinet members and political allies, are worse off today than before she became president, Ocampo and Pimentel said. Although unemployment rate significantly lowered to 7.3% in 2008 from a 10.2% in 2003, many aren’t satisfied with their salaries and there are still a lot of jobless Filipinos now. This is not satisfying on the part of those who don’t have the means to work, the margins of society. No doubt many still enroll in Nursing courses despite the high tuition demands – they want to go abroad to leave the poverty-stricken Philippines. As a result the wide-range unemployment, the poor Filipinos became poorer now as Arroyo’s allies became richer. Just grab a copy of their assets – you’ll know why.

There are also more squatters, more children out of school, more children who sniff rugby to temporarily forget their hunger, and much more pitiful are those children who scavenge over junk and trash from garbage bins for food. Hunger and poverty can be correlated as each can seriously be a cause of the other.

And, yet, the president had the courage to say with a smug smile that her administration has provided several million more jobs to Filipinos, and there are fewer out-of-school children now. And this is the icing to her carefully-baked cake: The number of hungry Filipinos, she said, has been reduced to only two million. Is this an achievement worth bragging about? She said that her administration

provided millions of jobs to Filipinos.

Where are those jobs? Were they publicized well so that the poorest among the poor could have access to them? Why are there still many Filipinos looking for jobs and could not find any?

Maybe Arroyo has been referring to the Filipinos who were forced to go abroad, risking their safety and security, to be able to support their families. They don’t necessarily want to go abroad to work but since they cannot find a job so stable in the Philippines to sustain their families’ needs, they are forced to leave the country. If not for these OFWs, Arroyo could not have strongly claimed that the Philippine economy is kept afloat.

But for justice’s sake, I’ll cite some authentic achievements of the president. She has been pushing so hard to reduce our population because overpopulation has been hindering our growth. Even world agencies have acknowledged that our population is being reduced through assassinations and disappearance. For the latter, thanks to the deadly weapons of the military. The military has done an excellent job in making people disappear.

I am not suggesting that Arroyo’s administration is doing the assassinations; they actually do nothing. Because they could not catch the assassins, more are encouraged to join the bandwagon. Also, the more assassins, the more annoying journalists are being kicked out of the way. Peace be with her. *** Speaking of journalists, I am still lamenting the exclusion of former staff writer Daisy Dawn Macahilo from this year’s editorial staff. Despite passing the Publications’ examinations, she was not accepted because she’s the prime minister of the College of Arts and Sciences. Her exclusion was not decided by the staff members, but by the moderator. A matter of discretion?

Inheritance slain husband, modern day bayani Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr., of Fidel Ramos, of Cardinal Jaime Sin, and all the other movers and shakers, moved and shaken, through textbooks and stories passed down to me by family members who lived through the miracle of what we call People Power.

To call myself lucky was an understatement. The 1990’s were a safe distance from the horror wrought

by Martial Law. I had not known fear, had not known how sharp bayonets can be. Night is a peaceful blanket to shroud my sleep, not a deceptive calmness sure to be pierced by wailing mothers desperately holding on to the shirts of their sons as the Marcosempowered military drags the hope of the fatherland away to prison, or worse, death. It never felt so good to write a column such as this without trying to please an omnipotent dictator, but the ungagged status of the press was something I’ve always been used to.

Yes, my generation breathed freedom by the lungful at birth, revelled in it, abused it. We shout “Hallelujah!” whenever there are non-working patriotic holidays simply because that date can finally push through, your group practice will finally have a fixed day, or you simply want to burrow under the sheets all day – never thinking that you can do all those things and more without

forgetting the reason why there was a holiday. I find it a bit morbid to think that we heave a sigh of relief whenever these kinds of holidays are announced.

We enjoy a break from our hectic lives at the expense of people who died for freedom.

The day before Cory’s funeral, I noticed two large pieces of cartolina posted on the third floor of my college.

It was a message board for Cory and amidst the outpourings of gratitude and farewells, I was appalled to read the words “Sin-o ka?” I may not be able to directly connect to the elders in my family whenever they speak of EDSA, but I am not insensitive. Was it outright brashness, or a pervading apathy perhaps? But I’ve seen many of the Artians and, indeed, Augustinians wept, literally or figuratively, with the whole Filipino nation and nobody seemed to have an individual identity during those times. We are Philippines, even for a day or two.

I wonder if there will finally come a time when my generation would have to fight for freedom again. As I read the stories of student activists disappearing and turning up dead in some lonely mountainside or an urban metropolis, I shudder to think of the dark times that could come, that will come, if we aren’t vigilant enough to protect what is our inheritance.

Will this be finally what we will be fighting for?

Shall we dance?

THE political calliope is preparing to trill out a new tune peppered with lyrics such as “charter change” and “constitutional amendment”. The congressmen’s hands are clapping, the senators’ feet are stomping, and our top honcho is leading her band of merry men.

But of course, not all feet are budging.

Activists and the United Opposition are decrying this “rape of motherland”, justifying that charter change or “cha-cha”, spells further disaster for a country already saddled with enough woes to last this generation and the next.

We in The Augustinian believe that instead of having charter change as a solution to the worsening state of our country, repairing our current political system by minimizing elitist factors that control Philippine politics is more appropriate.

The shift from presidential form of government to parliamentary (which charter change will bring) has its own merits. But for such an impermanent and shaky structure of government to work, it demands political maturity and a standard bi-party system – these are what we don’t have, and acclimatized to parliamentary government is what we are not.

In a country where a ballot is only equivalent to a measly meal, people are bound not by the idealism of their minds, but the hunger in their stomachs, and those crafty enough to see that are well on their way to power. The rampant vote buying, the “dagdag-bawas” and the violence over those little scraps of paper bearing candidates’ names blatantly manifest how we, as a people, have elevated the swine of this country.

If we cannot abide by the current political set-up, how sure are we that replacing it would bring about rainbows and butterflies? As clichéd as this may sound, we should fix what we already have – our democracy.

What’s wrong with our political system is not the structure itself but the elitist orientation it follows. Our historical legacy reveals that only the privileged few have been dominating Philippine politics. Since the Spanish era and even before that, only those educated landowners and businessmen have been exercising governmental power. There are exceptions to that, yes, but these exceptions are too few to ever bring any lasting developments.

Granting that charter change be approved to divert our presidential system to parliamentary, will it make the Filipino people more sovereign?

Will charter change provide more opportunities for various sectors (women, youth, and religious, among others) to be fairly represented in government?

Everything is ideal in theory but application is a different thing.

We are the sovereign Filipino people; however, our sovereignty hasn’t been fully realized in this democratic country and this is the problem which pro-charter change politicians want to address. But instead of spending much time, effort and money into changing the political structure which doesn’t guarantee positive results, we should strive to change the elitist orientation of our political system to gain what should be ours in the first place – real sovereignty.

And so the political calliope continues to play. Will we dance to “chacha”?

Editorial

THE

augustinian Editors-in-Chief

Managing Editor Associate Editors Senior Writers

Staff Writers

Photographer Staff Artist Circulation Officer Moderator

Pietros Val Patricio Jefferson Magbanua Donna Isabelle Fresnido Aljun Padisio Ray Adrian Macalalag Mia Rose Emboltura Emmanuel Barcelona Mario Ivan Gonzales Allin Joy Emboltura Ronald Sorrilla Josefa Maria Castro Diam Queenie Permocillo John Palma Josh Von Iron Tondo Mary Leslie Eregia Noel De Leon Nicole Fernan Caminian Sheena Capindo Erwin Sustento

The Augustinian is the official student newspaper of the University of San Agustin.

It is published six times a year by the USA Publications with editorial office at Room 38, 3rd Floor, Gamboa Hall, University of San Agustin, Gen. Luna St., 5000 Iloilo City. Comments, suggestions, and contributions may be sent to the Editorial Board through the email address pubpipol@usa.edu.ph.

OPINION

june 15 - august 15, 2009

Modus “But, before enjoying our meal, it was like digging deep under the garbage receptacle.”

Ray Adrian Macalalag SNACKS are of the essence especially when we need to skip our lunch or any important meal of the day. We might be skipping those meals for other tasks worth doing or maybe for tasks needed to be done immediately.

Generally, a typical student erasing the mealtime in his schedule would prefer to eat snacks in the cafeteria. Butting in these for a few minutes to satisfy his momentary hunger, he would abruptly buy some food in the kiosks and look for a place where he could eat.

Now, what picture do we normally see? Imagining ourselves to be that student looking for a suitable place to sit on, we would see others twisting their necks left and right succumbing to this situation: The tables are garnished by crumpled wrappers moistened by drips of soda.

More importantly, food containers pile up on one another and sauces, like waterfalls, come from the summit of the pile.

Because we have no other choice, we would try to demolish the towering mountain of food containers causing spatters on our clothes from the muddle of sauces, pick up the crumpled wrappers, and maybe wipe the drips of the left out beverages. After these have been collected, we would look for a waste can. But then, where is it?

It would take several spins to finally discover two trash cans at each end of the overhang corridor of the cafeteria.

Metamorphosis “Sa bandang huli’y tao rin sila, Ati man o taga-syudad dapat ay pantay-pantay...”

Aljun Padisio Kung maririnig ang salitang “Ati,” ano ang pumapasok sa iyong paminsaron?

May mga taong agad maminsar na ang Ati ay walang permanenteng bahay.

Palagi nilang bitbit ang kanilang mga anak na nakabalot sa nangingitim na patadyong. May magsasabi na iban daw sa mga Ati ay pala-hubog, minsan lang maligo at higit sa lahat, kapag humihingi sila ng limos, hindi sila tumatanggap ng pagkain dahil gusto nila, kwarta.

Apang hindi ganoon ang pagtingin ng mga tao sa mga Ati noon kaysa sa mga Ati ngayon.

Noong una, pinaniniwalaang sila ang nagapanag-iya ng buong Isla ng Panay. Sila ang namumuno sa buong sulok ng lugar. Sila rin ang nangangaso ng mga kasapatan at kumukuha ng mga natural na patubas ng kalikasan. Kilala si Haring Marikudo at Reyna Maniwantiwan bilang makapangyarihan sa lahat.

Ngunit ang kanilang luwalhati sa patag ay naudlot pagdating ng mga pangayaw sa isla. Si Datu Puti, pinuno ng mga Malay ang nagdungka at nag-ayo kay Haring Marikudo na bilhin ang kabug-usan sang kapatagan kapalit ang gintong salakot para kay Marikudo at napakahabang kwintas o mananangyad naman kay Maniwangtiwang. Dahil nawili sila sa kanilang mga suot, unti- unti nilang nilisan ang kapatagan. Nalipat sila sa kanilang lugar na kinalakihan at pinakinabangan ng napakahabang panahon.

Digging deeper It’s quite questionable why they have to be too close together, making it hard for us to locate them.

At last, it’s eating time. We have cleared the area, so we can now eat.

But, before enjoying our meal, it was like digging deep under the garbage receptacle (guess my appetite’s all gone because of the digging).

A cafeteria should be as clean as our food. Taking a peek at a neat cafeteria, we would never experience any sense of bewilderment. Neither a pile of dirty dishes nor a flood of mixed up spills of soda would be in our sight. Tables would be squeaky clean. Chairs would be carefully oriented to which table they belong.

And much more, we would enjoy our food first before being smacked up by our mess.

As an exaggeration, the clutter we produce after eating is like a heaping mountain in the dumpster.

That’s why the cafeteria ladies and gents could not focus their attention when we order food because they would need to rush back and forth, tidying up the eating area for us.

Combating the collapsing pyramid of trash are the self-service signs we see on the tables and posted on the walls. These instruct us to return our used food trays and other containers on their designated area. Some signs would tell us to dispose our garbage in their proper container.

The cafeteria is indeed doing its part, I have thought. But do we students and teachers comply with their simple request? The cafeteria staff needs not to remind us one by one to do what has to be done in order to pay sympathy to others who will use the tables next. Should they need

to do so, then there would have been a colossal pile of self-service signs on the tables and the same signs will be used as wallpaper for the cafeteria walls. Would you like that? I don’t think so.

Visualize ourselves following the simple golden rule of collecting our trash and disposing them properly. It would be a cycle that is never going to end (at least until the end of the day, no one will eat there at 12AM anyway). But if we can’t lower down our pride getting near the trash can, then that’s another disturbing story.

If we don’t want to dig up the fragments of trash all around our tables because it’s too disgusting, then we should find some other place for us to eat where we could be a mess like our trash is going to be. Or why not follow the notice we see on our tables? Let us stick our eyes on those and be responsible. Who would want to eat on a dirty place anyway?

And for the cafeteria’s part, they should at least provide more trash cans for us, making it easier for us to perform our responsibility of disposing our trash. All of us are be responsible for the spotlessness of the cafeteria.

Lastly, we should try not to complain in having this little responsibility. Isn’t it excruciating to dig in garbage? Isn’t it hard to look for trash cans if virtually, they are not there? Isn’t it difficult if there is no systematized cycle of garbage disposal in the cafeteria? Are there better ways for the management to serve us than just cleaning up our mess? Which has a need for more attention – we the customers, or the trash? Let’s think of it that way.

Hari pa sila kun tani Doon nag-umpisa ang pamukidbukid ng mga Ati at paninirahan ng mga pangayaw sa patag. Sa pagdating ng mga Kastila, nanatili ang mga Ati sa bundok. Doon sila namumuhay at nagsinarayo. Hanggang sa pagsakop ng mga Amerikano’t Hapon sa Pilipinas, bundok pa rin ang nagsilbing kanlungan nila laban sa mga dayuhan.

Doon siguro sila naga kinuyampad dala ng kanilang pagkatakot sa pagnilupok ng bomba.

Pagkalipas ng ilang taon, natapos na ang giyera, napaayos na ang mga syudad at iba pang mga kabanwahanan apang ang mga Ati’y andun pa rin sa kanilang puluy-an. Pumupunta lang sila sa syudad kung may dapat bilhin o ibenta tulad ng bayawak, kahuykahoy, batu-bato, at mga lana-lana na pangontra sa mga aswang.

Paglipas ng panahon, ang ilan sa mga Ati ay nagpalanaog; naengganyo sila ng mga masasarap at magagandang bagay sa palibot ng syudad.

Subong, tinitingala na natin sila sa itaas-doon sa overpass, nagatumpok katulad ng kanilang mga ebak, masangsang ang amoy at nagsisiksikan. Hindi ba’t may mga karapatan din sila sa mga propriedad ng ating bayan? Naisip ko tuloy si Martin Luther King, isang black American na nagtanggol sa karapatang pantao ng mga “blacks.” Kilala siya sa kanyang linya na “I have a dream…”

May mga black Americans din na nakipagtagisan ng kanilang abilidad laban sa mga Kano. Kabilang dito sa Micheal Jordan na tanyag sa larangan ng basketbol, Michael Jackson sa “pop music” at ang pinakabago ay si US President Barrack Obama.

Sila ay ilan lamang sa mga blacks na nagpatunay na kaya din nilang gawin o lampasan pa mismo ang nakakamit

ng mga puti.

Malay natin baka may mag ala-Martin Luther King din dito sa Panay. Baka sa huli’y may mga titser nang Ati, pulis, nars, mga mayor na Ati, at gobernador na Ati dito sa isla. Karapatan din siguro ng mga kapatid nating mga Ati ang ginatawag na hustisya at ito ay pagbibigay kung ano ang nararapat: edukasyon, progama ng gobyerno na tutulong sa kanila na makapag-umpisa ng sariling pamumuhay, lugar para sa kanilang balay at maliit na pwesto para sa kanilang kaugalingon na negosyo at para hindi na sila mag talang-talang.

Sabi nga ni Confucius, “Give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day.

Teach a man how to fish so that you will feed him for a lifetime.”

Sa bandang huli’y tao rin sila, Ati man o taga-syudad dapat ay pantay-pantay, walang mayaman at walang pobre. Apang wala ring silbi ang ating pagbulig sa kanila kung sila mismo ang nagatinamad at gusto pa rin nila magpabukot sa kanilang puluy-an. Siguro kung minsan ay may mga maling desisyon silang nagawa o may mga pagkukulang din sila.

Hindi rin natin mabasol si Marikudo na naengganyo sa bulawan na salakot ng mga dayuhan. Kung wais lang sana sila, hari pa sila kung tani.

The Augustinian

My sad republic CONSIDER answering these three instances in history: 1) How far has the Philippines gone after the EDSA Revolution of 1986? 2) What have the South Koreans done to achieve industrialized status after the Korean War in 1953? 3) What good have you ever done to save this country?

As the election period is now fast approaching, our country is once again about to face new challenges and crossroads. A new set of political leaders are going to begin a new era of governance and assume power over these sovereign islands. Looking at the bigger picture, however, we also have to be reminded that we still have a very long list of must do’s and don’ts in our county, so many hungry mouths to feed, so many unenlightened minds to educate, and so much undeveloped lands that still have to be developed. The opportunities in this country are vast and endless but most of our countrymen don’t even see it that way. In the bottom line, we still have an entire country to build – Filipinos, wake up!

Globalization actually gives our generation the chance and opportunity to either compete globally or be left behind. Colonialism and imperialism, as we experience them today, are not the same anymore as they once were with the foreigners because we, Filipinos, have now become a deserted race exploited by our own elites. I should know this very well because I myself am a product of globalization. My whole family now lives in Ireland. I was born in Athens then raised in Berlin, educated by the social welfare values of the German Public School System. And I have seen the difference. I have been a citizen of this country since birth and even up to this very moment.

Believe it or not, but even Filipino expatriates who have spent the best years of their lives abroad still dream of seeing this country progress. And you can count me in.

I admire former President Fidel Ramos for lambasting the country’s capitalist oligarchs during a business conference in Makati several years ago by telling them straight to their faces that they are the main reason why this country is still suffering from poverty, to which I agree. All they do with their vast wealth is build endless shopping centers, luxurious golf courses, hotels, resorts and high-end condominiums for their own profit. If only these people would have invested their money in building industries that create jobs or generate national income and secure social welfare for the masses to boost the country’s growth, then the gaps between the country’s divides would have not worsened up to this extent.

Our tycoons should have poured all their wealth in this country instead of keeping them in big banks abroad. It’s quite disturbing that many Filipinos aren’t even capable of realizing that the Philippines is a nation being

5

Mindscapes “Building a country may be long and painful but it definitely is worth all the sweat and pain...”

Pietros Val Patricio exploited by its own elite and raped by its own government. Mea culpa, mea culpa! How I wish I could have shouted louder and wailed as an advocate, even up to the moment of becoming hoarse.

Our culture of poverty is actually self-perpetuating. We are poor because most of us are a bunch of lazy and ignorant pessimists. I pass by an Iloilo slum area every morning and I see the same old scenario of fat-bellied men sitting idly, doing nothing, gambling and drinking while women are gossiping and quarreling.

We also do not save. We love to dole out all our money instead of being frugal like the Japanese and Singaporeans; therefore we remain forever poor. Many of us are great show-offs. Too much pahambog and tikal that lead to nowhere. We like to brag about our assets even if they’re half true; we brag a lot of how good we are in this and that even if we’re not even that good at all. Our sense of nationalism is very much inbred and inward looking. They barely even fit to the demands of modern times. Most of us don’t even dare to strive for what is best.

Apparently, history proves to be the best teacher. Six decades ago, the Philippines was a leading country in Asia only second to Japan with a high standard of living. Our forefathers once shuddered upon visiting our backward neighbors. In the 1950’s, we were one of Asia’s largest financial donors while impoverished South Korea and Taiwan were one of the largest borrowers. Our excellent research institutions once helped reduce world hunger and poverty.

We had the best schools, the best people, the best facilities – simply because we were the best. But what happened to us now? What lesson does this nightmare teach us – if it has anything to teach at all?

Building a country may be long and painful but it definitely is worth all the sweat and pain as long as we believe and strive for the ideals we stand for.

Solution: 1) Cory Aquino has recently buried the bitter memories of Martial Law upon her death but twenty-three years after the peaceful EDSA Revolution, all our democratic efforts to fix our society anew have failed drastically for there was very little effort in reshaping our crooked institutions. No ruling class of thieves and cronies has ever been overthrown. 2) The South Koreans have done a remarkable job in building their nation out of the backwaters of poverty within a span of a few decades though the sacrifice and common vision that they all had for their country. 3) The last question in the query bracket is left for you to answer yourself.

6

FEATURE

The Augustinian

june 15 - august 15, 2009

Farewell, Cory

A tribute to the mother of Philippine democracy

By PIETROS VAL PATRICIO

eventually wearing yellow armbands and wristbands. A huge portrait was hanged outside the University’s main gates in gratitude of the late leader.

After all, what does Cory Aquino mean to us Filipinos? As we all mourn on the death of Corazon Aquino, the woman who became the icon of Philippine democracy after toppling the twenty-year dictatorial rule of late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, let us take a look at the inspiring legacy she has left behind.

FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT: Cory Aquino did not just become the first female president of the Philippines but also the first in Asia as well as the first female head of state in Southeast Asia. She became Asia’s second female leader after Indira Gandhi of India who first became prime minister in 1966.

THANK YOU, CORY. USA Publications Editor-in-Chief Jefferson Magbanua writes a message of gratitude in a poster of the late Corazon Aquino.

“The icon of Philippine democracy is gone.”

“What a great gift we’ve lost.”

These lead paragraphs of The Philippine Star and The Philippine Daily Inquirer’s banner headlines happened to struck countless passersby and avid newspaper readers one Sunday morning along the busy thoroughfare of Iznart St., one day after the demise of former President Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino. After many months of battling colon cancer at the Makati Medical Center, the late president, better known to the Filipino masses as “Cory”, eventually took her final rest on the 1st day of August at

the age of 76.

I even remember wearing a yellow t-shirt that morning to commemorate the former president, a day after the Acquaintance Party of the Political Science Club. It was actually the first time that I have witnessed a nation mourning at the advent of the death of a Philippine president. Days after, a massive poster signing activity was launched at the Alumni and Rada buildings, initiated by the Office of the Prefect of Students and the College of Arts and Sciences. The large tree of the so called Batibot Park was even decorated with yellow ribbons, followed by students

Pakibasa lang po pagkatapos mong panoorin ang Hayden-Katrina scandal

By Donna Isabelle Fresnido

Parang kahit sino na lang ngayon ay pwede nang maging direktor.

Bigyan mo lang siya ng digicam o kahit cellphone na may magandang camera, at handa na siyang gumawa ng obra maestra. Isara ang pintuan, patayin ang ilaw, paghuhubarin ang mga artista, pagsuotin ng bandanna at sumigaw ng, “Lights, camera…

AAACTION!” Aba, kahit si Dr. Hayden Kho ay pwede nang manalo bilang “Best Director” at “Best Screenplay” (basta huwag lang “Best Cinematography” – pangit ang ilaw at magulo ang pagposisyon niya ng camera) sa Metro Manila Film Festival! Daig pa nga niya si Brillante “Dante” Mendoza, isang Filipino na nagwagi sa Cannes Film Festival sa Pransiya.

Hindi katulad ni Hayden, pagbalik ni Mendoza sa Pilipinas, hindi ganoon karami ang mga dyornalist na sumalubong sa kanya sa paliparan: sa kabilang dako, hindi mabilang ang tumutok ng mikropono at kumuha ng larawan sa hearing ni Hayden at Katrina. Lumabas ang hearing sa Daily Inquirer, Philippine Star, Yes! Magazine, TV Patrol, Ratsada at kung anu-ano pang bigating istayson at dyaryo sa Pilipinas.

Pero kahit tingnan mo ang lahat ng mga anggulo sa cellphone o computer screen, at tawagin mo pa na bastos, kadiri, seksi, astig, immoral o anuano pa ang Hayden-Katrina scandal, mananatili pa rin ang isang bagay na hindi pwedeng itanggi; “Binaboy sina Hayden Kho at Katrina Halili.

Binaboy ang kanilang reputasyon, ang kanilang dangal, at ang kanilang karapatang pantao.”

Sila ay mga biktima lamang sa loob ng isang kwentong maraming karakter, maraming sorpresa, maraming malilibog na mata, at maraming luha. Pinagpyestahan lamang sila ng isang bansang wala nang ibang magawa kundi magdownload ng mga malalaswang video sa fleshasia.com at magsalita sa mga online forum tungkol sa haba ng utong ni Dr. Kho. Sa ganang akin, pwede kong sabihin na sila ay nakakaawa, pero insulto na iyon sa kanila kapag awa lamang ang pwede nating ibigay, hindi respeto.

Oo, magaling gumiling si Katrina at napatunayan ni Hayden ang kaniyang pagkalalaki, pero tama na iyon. Iwanan na natin silang gumaling at gumising sa bangungot na ito.

Tao lamang sila.

‘ L O N G E S T S TA N D I N G OVATION’: She was the guest speaker who received the longest standing ovation at the United States Congress in history after her installment as president of the Philippines in 1986.

Then US House Speaker Tip O’Neill even hailed her delivery as “the finest speech I’ve ever heard in my 34 years in Congress.”

WOMAN OF THE YEAR: Acknowledging her heroic role as a “savior of democracy”, Time Magazine honored Cory as “Woman of the Year”

for 1986 making her the third woman to ever make it to its cover after Queen Elizabeth II and Wallis Simpson, for whom English king Edward VIII gave up his thrown. She is so far the only Filipino to be given such honor

by Time.

FIRST FILIPNO NOBEL PRIZE NOMINEE: She was the first Filipino to be ever nominated by the Swedish Royal Academy for a Nobel Peace Prize, although she lost to Jewish German-American Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel also in 1986. She was later decorated with countless international recognitions such as the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award, United Nations Silver Medal, the Ramon Magsaysay Award for International Understanding and the Martin Luther King Jr. Nonviolent Peace Prize among others.

‘FREEDOM CONSTITUTION’ & LEGAL REFORMS: Under Presidential Proclamation No. 3, Aquino declared a revolutionary government and promulgated the “Freedom Constitution” after abolishing the “Marcos Constitution” of 1973. The legitimacy of Aquino’s administration was affirmed by both the Philippine Supreme Court and the community of nations as a de facto and de jure government until the present Philippine Constitution of 1987 was drafted. It was later followed by further legal reforms such

as those in the Family Code and the Administrative Code.

A G R A R I A N REF O R M : T h e ‘Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law’, which was passed into law in 1988 as Republic Act No. 6657, authorized the redistribution of agricultural lands from landowners to tenant-farmers, who were paid in exchange by the state’s “just compensation” and were only allowed to retain not more than five hectares of land.

ONCE MORE IN TIME: Cory was selected as one of Time Magazine’s ‘20 Most Influential Asians of the 21st Century’ in 1999. In 2006, Cory was once again chosen as one of the ‘60 Asian Heroes’ that moved and shook Asia followed by fellow Filipinos Eugenia Apostol, founder of The Philippine Daily Inquirer, and multiple World Pool Champion Efren “Bata” Reyes during Time Asia’s 60th Anniversary.

For a grateful nation like ours, we should never forget the contributions this ‘Woman in Yellow’ has once brought to our nation. The prayerful widow, whose hesitant rise to the political stage later transformed the fate of her country and eventually turned her into a world icon of peace and democracy, should always inspire us to never be afraid of change. She will surely be missed.

Remembering Michael Jackson

By Mario Ivan Gonzales

“Music has been my outlet, my gift to all of the lovers in this world. Through it, my music, I know I will live forever.” – Michael Jackson, late 2007 If life was a big stage play, Michael Jackson singlehandedly ran the whole show, and he gave a rousing performance. That has been his life for the past 40 years of success in the industry he loved. He was a star from the beginning of his career, starting out as a bubbly nine-year old belting out high notes who would eventually rise as was one of the music industry’s priced possessions.

He need not brag it- his numerous strings of certified hit albums, hundreds of sold-out concerts, legions of fans willing to shout out at the top of their lungs for him, his huge media mileage and a 40-year career track to boot, would speak of how much of a huge star he was. No other artist had been given this kind of adulation since Elvis Presley and The Beatles.

He was not simply just a huge star – he was an artist in the true sense of the word. He lived and breathed music. He was a dedicated performer who does his homework, and gives a to-die for performance, and he does not disappoint. He electrifies the stage just by standing there, and the audience goes gaga.

He was a worldwide phenomenon, and together with his popularity, his imitators come rushing in. They copied everything that’s him- from his unique fashion sense to his moves, especially his one dance step that stood out from the rest: the moonwalk.

The backward glide steps made the whole world put their dancing

shoes. Neil Armstrong may have garnered international acclaim by being the first man to set foot on the moon but undoubtedly, Michael Jackson’s famed dance step “The Moonwalk” became his official trademark, and Michael Jackson without the moonwalk would be unthinkable. Several years later, the moonwalk still makes a ripple, and would become a staple to accompany a Michael Jackson song. His dance routine successfully transcended from one generation to another, and people all over the world had been bitten by the Moonwalk bug, from the Caucasians in the West to the Cebu Inmates in the East. It certainly became a worldwide fad. All may have tried to do the step perfectly, but only one can pull it off.

He experimented with other dance routines but none of them equaled nor surpassed the popularity generated by the Moonwalk. That dance step indeed moonwalked its way not just to the top of the entertainment scene, but also to the hearts of millions.

And it’s not just the dance steps that made Jackson a sensation.

Imagine what would a great Michael Jackson dance be if not without an equally great Michael Jackson song.

Many will surely agree that his music made him became THE Michael Jackson. His music defined him, and catapulted him into the stratosphere of superstardom. His distinctive vocal prowess sang its way to the top of the charts, and made him a well-known entertainer. From the upbeat hit “Billie Jean” to the billion-

dollar smash classic “Thriller”, to inspirational and eye-opener songs “Heal the World” and “We are the World”, Jackson raised the bar to the music industry and set new standards for a quality performance which was followed by recent artists who made him their source of inspiration. Beyonce, Akon and other black RnB artists would not be possible if Jackson did not pave the way for them. He used his songs not just to entertain, but to convey a message and to raise awareness about certain issues, which was to become an inspiration for some recent songs like the Black Eyed Peas’ hit “Where Is The Love?”, a proof of his great influence on the world of music.

He was a performer par excellence, an embodiment of what entertainers should be. He left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry, a legacy that will stay for eternity. In his untimely passing, he did not just leave his legacy; he left his heart and soul for music and art.

Many would agree that we will never find another Michael Jackson, not in this lifetime. He may have ended his earthly existence as he joins the great kings of the past, but just like his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, he will continue to shine and will forever be in our hearts.

Maybe this time, the angels have learned the moonwalk.

Photo credit: http://www.mp3lyrics.org

FEATURE

june 15 - august 15, 2009

The Augustinian

7

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince The battle begins.

Accepting the most important and dangerous mission in the entire cosmos, which is to end the evil of the dreaded Dark Lord, what will you, “The Chosen One”, do? Will you embrace the prophecy given to you or will you just run away?

Combating the dominion of evil and darkness, terror and fear, Harry Potter once again proved that he really is the greatest wizard of all time in Warner Brothers’ “Harry Potter and the HalfBlood Prince”.

Dark clouds are looming over the Muggle and Wizarding worlds as Voldemort and his Death Eaters wreak havoc and sow destruction. Thanks to the intricate special effects, both all-out and subtle, the silver screen is alight with magic as visual as understood by us Muggles. The opening scene itself is a telling example: thunder is rattling the gray skies with the monotony broken by Death Eaters hurtling like comets through the air and landing on Muggle streets, zapping and cursing

everything in their way. Civilians are panicking as windows explode, bridges twist effortlessly like DNA strands, and buildings and homes are razed to the ground. Just two minutes into the movie, the audience were frozen in their seats.

Returning to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) watches the darkening skies with a heavy feeling. Inching closer to unlocking the weaknesses of Lord Voldemort, Harry is now tasked by the venerable Headmaster himself, Albus Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) to lure the retired Potions Professor Horace Slughorn (Jim Broadbent) back to Hogwarts to find out the missing pieces of the past of Slughorn’s former star pupil Tom Riddle, or as he is more widely known, Lord Voldemort. As Dumbledore said to Harry, “Once again I must ask too much from you Harry.”

I n t h e Wi z a r d i n g Wo r l d ,

Halloween in July

By Donna Isabelle Fresnido and Josh Von Iron Tondo

The dead do tell tales.

Flickering candles lined the outskirts of Alumni Hall’s fifth floor stairs on July 7 as the day marked the staging of the USA Little Theater’s Siete Peccados. A cold gust of wind blew against upturned collars, and arms drew tighter around waists.

The fifth floor was transformed into a gaping cavern with wet mud on the floor reflecting the glow of even more candles. Deliberately turned down low, the lighting was barely enough to aid one in finding a free seat. By then, the feeling of apprehension and dread had almost reached its crescendo – and that’s even before the play begun.

The LT was bound to portray the seven deadly sins of Man against nature as its participation i n U N E S C O ’s c a m p a i g n f o r environmental preservation with the scripts the actors themselves have written. Yes, stage plays about nature are pretty much “old school”, but the monologues of seven ghosts from seven different eras and seven different deaths are quite compelling in themselves.

We talked among ourselves, trying to ignore the drying mud and huddling together against the wind that continued to tear across the “cave”. Just then, shrieks that

seem to have been dragged from the gut resonated around the room. The cacophony continued until we saw at the center the ghosts themselves, caked in mud and blood and viciously hurling accusations against the living audience. As their stories unfold, their bitterness is explained…

The ghosts and their predicaments are varied: a pious mother working for the Spanish friars finds herself raped by the earthly representative of the god she swore to believe in and was killed by the person whom she fully trusts; an optimistic prostitute passes the time nervously during a flood until the water eventually consumes her; an NPA rebel lost her unborn baby while fleeing from the military; a selfproclaimed “ugly” girl drowns with her dreams; a mountain lass searches for the restless spirit haunting her as she fights to preserve the gold buried by her ancestors in the mountain; a haciendera is murdered by her son when she aims her own gun at his fiancée, a servant girl; a Filipina forced to don Japanese kimonos in order to survive the terrors of the 1940’s falls to her death.

The stories themselves are eerie and they are given justice by the actors on a hit-and-miss basis with, fortunately, more hits than misses.

It wasn’t really the dim lights,

By Mary Leslie Eregia, John Palma and Emmanuel Barcelona

something different is happening, something ominous. The mood is dark: most of the scenes are gloomy, somber, and draped in black, white and shadows; the starkness is unnerving.

Even Hogwarts, considered as a haven by most wizards and witches, is no longer a safe place as it was before and it may never be the same again.

Meanwhile, students are busy in their romantic entanglements, trying to fight their raging hormones and the demands of the transition process they are undergoing. The problems they encounter along the way as they emerge from the tranquil waters of childhood into the turbulent sea of adulthood.

Inside the grounds of Hogwarts, romance blossoms as Harry’s friendship with Ginny Weasley (Bonnie Wright) grows deeper. His best friend Ron (Rupert Grint) is enjoying his romance with Lavender Brown (Jessie Cave), leaving Hermione (Emma Watson) simmering in the corner, jealous yet determined not to show her feelings. But amidst the normal adolescent tears and laughter, one student remains aloof with far more important matters in his mind. Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton), the newly-recruited Death Eater and son of Lucius Malfoy, has been tasked by Voldemort to kill Albus Dumbledore.

Should he fail, Voldemort will kill his family. Protective of her only child, Narcissa Malfoy (Helen McCrory) enlists the help of Severus Snape (Alan Rickman) to help Draco carry out his mission, forcing Snape to promise with the Unbreakable Vow. On the other hand, Harry is doing unusually good in Potions class with Slughorn thanks to a ratty old book he found. The Potions book used to be owned by a certain Half-Blood Prince, and the little tips scrawled on the pages ensure Harry’s high grades.

But exactly who is the Half-Blood Prince?

To say that the film looks fantastic would be an understatement.

Production designer Stuart Craig’s team continues doing the best of what they can, bringing Rowling’s words to life. Cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel’s camerawork and lightning and colour schemes, particularly when differentiating the memory scenes, are masterful and well-crafted. The special effects make the magic look more natural with each installment, but the eye candy is overshadowed by the story itself because of its characters and the relationships that led to the series’ success.

The entire cast excels as usual.

Each of the lead trio of young actors has a range of emotion to convey.

Everyone would not argue with how well Rupert Grint portrayed the infatuated and the bewitched Ron Weasley who left the audience sniggering in their seats. The jealous Hermione Granger was depicted quite well by Emma Watson and It is also worth noting the flawless flair of Tom Felton in the way he gave life to the afraid and confused Draco Malfoy in carrying out the Dark Lord’s wishes. However, the accolades are heaviest on Daniel Radcliffe. He had wholeheartedly acted the role of Harry Potter as if a real Potter really existed in real life. How Radcliffe grew as an actor was astounding in the face of the how he manifested his emotion, filled delivery of lines. Other stars had also shone, unobscured by the glow of the lead stars. Rickman had given a tinge of understated menace, and plus points go to the outstanding performance of the award-winning actor Jim Broadbent portrayed as Horace Slughorn.

But the film has several significant missing pieces, with the story’s ending

as the most notable among them. The climatic battle between good and evil and the funeral of the legendary Wizard that was essential in the book was undeniably absent in the film.

The very disappointing ending left the viewers asking, “Was there really an ending?”

One of the biggest shortcomings of the film was the revelation of the identity of the mysterious Half-Blood Prince. Harry wasn’t concerned about the identity of the Half-Blood Prince, nor did he actively search for answers to the mysterious owner of his Potions book, a far cry from how the book depicted it. The revelation of who the Half-Blood Prince is was so anticlimactic that you can barely see it for what it is. This time, the audience might as well add, “Was there really a climactic revelation?”

However, despite the shortcomings that may be constitute the most noticeable departure from the canon of the book in the Harry Potter series, fanatics of all ages really enjoyed the astonishing presentation of the sixth episode of Harry Potter bolstered by the emotions of the promising teenagers up to the multi-awarded actors and actresses.

Dumbledore has already left Harry in the middle of the battle.

Now, the Chosen One must face his fate with nothing but courage, sheer luck and, of course, his friends. The story is about to end, and everybody is preparing to give their all for victory.

Only the fittest will survive. Who will it be? Will Harry Potter outdo what has been destined for him? Who shall prevail in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”?

Prepare for the final battle.

Photo credits: http://images2.fanpop.com http://www.impawards.com

the make-up, the set or the damp pale portrayal of the rebel who lost social ills with the occasional flood air that suspended disbelief but her child, set the mood and served as thrown in to comply with UNESCO. the shrieking of different tones, of the foothold of the whole play from This made the play simply appear different voices and their unison which the rest of the acts followed like a scary showcase of shrieks, still to convey a message–a message and brought upon, in their own way, looking for its uniting theme to piece wrapped in a blanket of ghostly high distinctive horrors—and comedy for all the fragmented pieces together. Or pitched notes - that brought life and the case of the optimistic prostitute is it just us? an admirably haunting quality to the and the “ugly” girl who both drowned But no matter what the pitfalls in different ways. show. are, a monologue of a ghost is still a The hardest of all flaws to monologue of a ghost, which means it It was a good show in totality, but as we’ve written, it did have its overcome is perhaps the play’s lack is very absorbing—what more seven pitfalls. As the ghosts walked to the of determined direction. Given that of them! center stage, they made sighs that, in a this is a response to UNESCO’s call Halloween may be in November lighter sense, somehow “bastardized” to save the environment, we were but as the chill of the night doggedly the horror conjured by their hellish expecting the events to focus on stuck to our bones, we can’t help but shrieking. Their sighs sounded man’s neglect and abuse of nature. look over our shoulder to see if a stray monotonous and single-tuned. Instead Rather, what we saw was a slew of ghost followed us home. of sounding like sighs of different people, it sounded like different people desperately making the same sigh. Whatever mood the shrieking produced, the sighing somehow eroded. Unfortunately, it made a chink on the stage play.

Another thing is the use of a piece of cardboard or paper to cut the video projected on the backdrop. It was so distracting that it made the show look mediocre and in a way undermined the efforts made to create a good production. A fade-in/fade-out effect on the video could have been a better option.

Despite the slight pitfalls, however, the acting was almost perfect. The first act (that of the SHRIEK OR SHREK? Thespian John Jesner Perce Punsaran delivers a pious mother raped by a Spanish monologue during the second showing of Siete Peccados at the 5th floor of friar) though followed by a rather Alumni Hall, July 7, 2009.

8

SPORTS/NEWS

The Augustinian

june 15 - august 15, 2009

PE teachers undergo upgrading Beefing up the line-up

By Ronald Sorrilla & Aljun Padisio

The Physical Education Department of the University of San Agustin sent its PE teachers to various seminarworkshops this year to upgrade their teaching competence.

On April 3-4, Joan Patricio and Ma. Violeta Samis attended the cheerleading workshops in the Colegio de San Jose Gym in Jaro, Iloilo City.

It was sponsored by Cheerleading Philippines, International Federation of Cheerleading Union, and Asian Cheerleading Federation.

It was a two-day activity which focused on Cheerleading techniques, principles and strategies that will help PE teachers train their students especially in cheerleading competitions.

On April 26 - May 1, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) organized a workshop and festival entitled: DANCE EXCHANGE: 1 st International Dance Workshops and Festival which

different countries have participated in with the host country – Philippines which were held simultaneously in Manila, Dumaguete City and Negros Oriental.

The USA delegation was led by PE Department Chairman, Eva Zaldivar, together with USA PE instructors composed of Henson Banaylo, Abel Padernal, Jesusita Hifarva, Agnes Segura, and Leila Tiu. The workshop strove to provide opportunity for interaction and learning; offer new ideas and stimulate creativity; showcase unique dances of each country; strengthen network among international dance organizations; and utilize dance as a tool for peace advocacy and cultural understanding.

It was a four-day activity which included various topics on international dances, fundamental dance movements, dance forum, and outreach performances of the

different countries. The participating countries were: Malaysia, Singapore, Korea, China, Malaysia, Japan, Spain, Indonesia, and Macau.

On May 18-22, Zaldivar, Noemi Sumagaysay and Tiu joined the 2009 National Folkdance Workshop for Teachers at the Ateneo de Davao University, Matina Campus Sports Complex, Davao City.

The affair was an annual gathering of teachers with specialization on folkdance. It aimed to address the needs and concerns of the teachers in folk dance education and folk dance production; upgrade the understanding and skills of the teachers in the teaching of folk dance; pay tribute to Filipino folk dance researches by reviving, teaching and presenting their works and contributions in the development of dance in the Philippines; and provide teachers, dance directors and choreographers resource materials on dance.

By NOEL DE LEON and JEFFERSON MAGBANUA

EAGER to reclaim the titles the Eagles lost in previous tournaments, coach Rodolfo Betito Jr. now brings in a bunch of raw yet promising greenhorns at the start of this school year.

More than just backstopping their veteran comrades Skyld Corillo, Jared Siao, John Garrido, Jade Babao, Chino Tajanan, Jong Sombrea, Abubakar Hdadjilul, and Joedel Yuson, rookies Russell Pe, Joeven Patizar, Rez Villanueva, Gian Carlo Jumilla, Dondei Taño, Raynelle Villorente, James Ty, and Vinze Zafe are raring to parade their individual arsenals against the fiercest hard-court battalions assembled for this year’s ILOPRISAA wars, among other basketball competitions.

Russell Donovan Pe Jersey No 23.

5’10” ft.

Shooting Guard

Pe, a 16-year-old BS Architecture freshman, relies not only on his good play anticipation but also on his hefty frame for heavy one-on-one defense. This cager knows how to deliver the goods when they’re needed most in court.

Joeven Patizar Jersey No. 6 5’9” ft.

Point Guard

Paltizar, a BS Marketing freshman, is a crafty playmaker with a veteran’s knack for moving the ball well and finding the open man around the perimeter. The 18-year-old is also a danger beyond the arc.

Rez Villanueva Jersey No. 8 5’9” ft.

Point Guard

Coming from the stables of the strong basketball team of the University of Iloilo (High School), BS Hotel and Restaurant Management freshman Villanueva comes with full force to reckon with not just in setting the play but also in safeguarding the ball at hand.

Gian Carlo Jumilla Jersey No. 7 5’11” ft.

Power Forward

Jumilla, a rare pick from the University of San Agustin High School, is an offensive work horse. The 16-year-old BS IT newcomer stands as a forward but runs like a point guard.

LAY IT UP. In a practice game, Eagles sharp shooter Jared Siao (right in photo) attempts to lay up the ball for two but was blocked by his opponent.

San Ag prepares for ILOPRISAA ‘09

By Josh Von Iron Tondo

As early as this time, the University of San Agustin is busy preparing for this year’s ILOPRISAA where in the school will serve as host of the events in terms of the venue.

Rev. Fr. Generous Gonesto, overall-chairman of the USA PRISAA committee, said that we are in charge of the opening and closing ceremonies, the awarding ceremony and the venues where the events will be held.

He further claimed that other schools will take part as well and we are just in charge of the responsibility to ensure a smooth holding for PRISAA. De Paul College might be

considered as venue for basketball men, Iloilo Doctor’s College and University of San Agustin High School for volleyball, and the Iloilo Sports Complex for the athletics and swimming.

Personnel from the PE, other concerned faculty members and the student government will be asked to facilitate with Demosthenes Toledo as the USA PRISAA Committee General Manager.

With regards to safety, security measure is under ILOPRISAA committee but the University will provide assistance if the University is to be the venue of an event.

Events held outside school

premises will be provided security assistance by the different participating schools.

The theme, however, for this year’s PRISAA is yet to be agreed upon in the board meeting this November.

“As for our players, our athletes in the college level are very competitive and they are preparing very well,” claimed Gonesto.

“We have a good chance in swimming as well as in basketball secondary, and players for volleyball are also doing well he said. Everything is almost in place and we are just waiting for the submission of the requirements,” he added.

...Continued from page 1

students of the University.

As additional preparation for Bar examinations, the Bar Operations (Bar-Ops) led by its president, Gina Gomez and officers and members of the Sigma Alpha Lex (SAL) accomplished codified Augustinian Bar reviewers covering the eight major law subjects for the use of both the law students and graduates.

In light with the College’s accomplishments, Nafarrete said,

“The unwavering achievements of the USA College of Law are products of the 70 years of uncompromising, unselfish, and untiring desire for academic excellence,” adding, “With wisdom and fortitude, it [the College] will surely surmount the challenges in the quest for realizing our collective dream of producing more Augustinian lawyers who will assist the state in the administration of justice for the common good.”

Moreover, the USA College of Law has been providing support to its students in the form of the Atty.

Wilfredo J. Ladrido Mermorial Hall serving as the Bar review room, the STELLEX Bar Review Center catering exclusively to the Augustinian students, the USA College of Law Library, equipped with complete collection of law books and other reference materials accessible to the reviewers and law

Dondei Taño Jersey No. 22 6’1” ft.

Power Forward

When this 22-year-old was still playing for Leganes National High School, he dominated the court as a center man, showing exemplary passing and shooting skills. Despite the shift in his court position to forward, his aggressiveness in the games never wanes.

Raynelle Villorente Jersey No. 24 6’0” ft.

Shooting Guard

Villorente who comes from North Fundidor, Molo is the second tallest in this group. The BS IT freshman displays a strategic approach in guarding the ball from opponents’ forceful stealing movements.

James Ty Jersey No. 24 5’10” ft.

Center

Known for his defensive and offensive tactics in playing, Ty always attempts to claw down their opponents’ scores. His blocks leave no room for an opponent to shoot for three or two.

Vinze Zafe Jersey No. 13 5’9” ft.

Small Forward

From being a shooting guard in his high school days at the University of San Agustin, 18year-old Zafe has learned to be versatile in court, boosting his team’s offensive play. His position is between the key and three-point line.