Biology faculty, students replace flood-ravaged trees

Intent on adding more trees planted the previous year, the faculty members of the Department of Biological Sciences, together with the student enrolled in Environmental Science and Biology, went on a tree-planting activity at Brgy. Ginomoy, Alimodian, Iloilo last September.

The faculty and students were totally dismayed to see the previously planted site already forming part of the riverbed with seedlings totally ravaged by flood.

The tree planting activities were done for two consecutive Saturdays on September 18 and September 25. A total of four hundred eighty-nine students participated in this endeavor.

Source: N.F. Latumbo/Communitas-November 2010 issue

CAS 75th Anniversary & Alumni Homecoming 2010

SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES

DECEMBER 6-11, 2010

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Dr. Cruz has been selected as the sole finalist in the Literary Criticism/Literary History Category

On Saturday, Nov. 13, at the Manila Metropolitan Museum, the National Book Development Board (NBDB) and the Manila Critics Circle will hand out the 29th National Book Awards to the best books published in the Philippines in 2009. Trophies were designed by Michael Allen R. Cacnio. Donors of cash awards include the NBDB, Jaime Laya, and the Alfonso T. Ongpin Memorial Fund.


The finalists are:
Art (Alfonso T. Ongpin Prize): The Life and Works of Marcelo Adonay, Volume 1, by Elena Rivera Mirano, Corazon Canave Dioquino, Melissa Corazon Velez Mantaring, Edna Marcil Martinez, Ma. Patricia Brillantes-Silvestre, Iñigo Galing Vito, and Patricia Marion Lopez (UP Press), A Satire of Two Nations: Exploring Images of the Japanese in Philippine Political Cartoons, by Helen Yu-Rivera (UP Press).
Fiction (Juan C. Laya Prize): Flames and Other Stories, by Angelo R. Lacuesta (Anvil), The Revolution According to Raymundo Mata, by Gina Apostol (Anvil), Sibago, by Abdon M. Balde Jr. (UST Publishing House), Unang Ulan ng Mayo, by Ellen Sicat (Anvil).


Graphic Literature: El Indio: A Graphic Novel, by Francisco V. Coching (Vibal Foundation), Trese: Mass Murders, by Ferdinand-Benedict G. Tan and Jonathan A. Baldisimo (Visprint).


Literary Criticism / Literary History: Pungsod, Damming the Nation: Region/Nation and the Global Order in Contemporary West Visayan Literature, by Isidoro M. Cruz (University of San Agustin Publishing House).


Nonfiction Prose: Bilanggo: Life as a Political Prisoner in the Philippines, 1952-1962, by William J. Pomeroy (UP Press), The Drama of It: A Life on Film and Theater, by Daisy Hontiveros Avellana (Anvil), Wash: Only a Bookkeeper, A Biography of Washington Z. Sycip, by Jose Y. Dalisay Jr. (SGV Foundation).


Poetry: Aves, by Jerry B. Gracio (UP Press), Bird Lands, River Nights and Other Melancholies, by Jose Marte A. Abueg (UP Press), The Fashionista’s Book of Enlightenment, by Carlomar Archangel Daoana (DBW), The Highest Hiding Place: Poems, by Lawrence Lacambra Ypil (ADMU Press).

Professions: The Law and Practice on Philippine Corporate Governance, by Cesar L. Villanueva (Holy Angel University).

Social Sciences: Bakwit: The Power of the Displaced, by Jose Jowel Canuday (ADMU Press), Kalusugang Pampubliko sa Kolonyal na Maynila, 1898-1918: Heographiya, Medisina, Kasaysayan, by Ronaldo B. Mactal (UP Press).

Best Design: Mapping the Philippines: The Spanish Period, designed by Felix Mago Miguel (Rural Empowerment Assistance and Development Foundation), Palaspas: An Appreciation of Palm Leaf Art in the Philippines, designed by Karl Fredrick M. Castro (ADMU Press), Palawan: Land of Blessing, designed by Felix Mago Miguel (Provincial Government of Palawan), A Sudden Rush of Genius, designed by Mandy Cabral (Art Quest World Wide), Mga Tambay sa Tabi-Tabi: Creatures of Philippine Folklore, designed by Mela Advincula, Robbie Bautista, Liza Flores, and Leo Alvarado (Anvil).

The awards this week are preceded by a terrible event last week. Last Thursday, Ophelia Alcantara Dimalanta, one of the founding members of the Manila Critics Circle, passed away. She was the Chair of the Circle at the time of her death. We will miss her terribly. Please say a prayer for her soul. EARLY ATTEMPTS AT K+12: There are already existing successful models of public schools doing streaming or adding years to basic education. For example, after the Department of Education issued an order (DECS Order 37, s. 1998), known as “Establishment of Pilot Provincial Science and Technology High Schools,” the Pilot Provincial Science and Technology High School in Tamontaka, Cotabato City, was established. In this school, students go through the regular four-year high school, then take a fifth year under the supervision of both DECS and TESDA. The school specializes in Rice Production and produces not only rice, but graduates that immediately make use of their education to improve farming in the area.

Another example is the Cañizares National High School of Arts and Trades, also in Cotabato City. This school specializes in garments, electronics, food trade, and building construction. The teachers are certified by TESDA and the graduates receive not only high school diplomas but TESDA certifications, enabling them to be employed in technical jobs once they reach 18 years of age.

There is a school in northern Luzon that has four valedictorians every year, one for the academic stream and one each for three separate technical streams. This school (since I have not been there yet, I cannot remember the name, but I think it is Narvacan) also proves that streaming is a doable option.


The Philippine Science High School, the school system with the country’s brightest high school students, recently decided to consider adding two years to its curriculum. Since PSHS is not run by DepEd, but by DOST, it does not have to follow the K+12 plan. If the country’s young geniuses need two more years of basic education, how can we claim that other students do not?


Congratulations Dean Isidoro Cruz!


Source:
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=628973&publicationSubCategoryId=442

BSIT 4-B conducts a seminar

This photo was taken after the seminar sponsored by BSIT4-B with their adviser.

Committed to the thrust of incessantly enhancing the competency of the BSIT and BSCS students, the BS Informartion Technology (BSIT 4-B) sponsored a seminar on current trends and innovations in IT with the theme "Creating world-class Information Technology and Computer Science Professionals" last September 14, 2010 at the University of San Agustin Conference room.


The seminar resource persons were Mr. Orlando Cabillos, an educator and presently the Chief of the Technical Support Personnel of PC Korea, Iloilo City; Dr. Arnold Fuentes, Head of Animations Department of the Dominican College of Iloilo; and Mr. Paul Tura, a former Call Center agent in Cebu City. Mr Cabillos delivered his topic about the importance of computer hardware and networking on Today's IT work and TESDA competency standards. While Dr. Fuentes talked about the multimedia animations and Mr. Tura shared his precious time to speak on the topic data communication using voice over Internet Protocol. The activity was attended by fourth year BSCS and BSIT, together with some invited students from first year BSCS. At the end of the seminar, students were able to learned something new on topics that were being discussed.


This capacity building activity was facilitated by the adviser of BSIT 4-B, Mr. Dominico Laude, together with the different committee heads.

CAS-IT leads Tilipunan computer literacy project

The College of Arts & Science (CAS), with its dean, Dr. Isidoro Cruz, spearheaded the kick off of the Tilipunan Computer Literacy Project last 6 December 2009 in Ginomoy, Alimodian, Iloilo. The college turned-over to the Ginomoy Barangay Council a computer unit for community use, particularly in the preparation of documents and incorporating computer lessons for the Tilipunan children.


To start off the alternative education, faculty members from the CAS-Information Technology (IT) Department, with its head, Prof. Josephine de Asis, and Tilipunan volunteer Mr. Dominicio Laude, spent their time last 29 May 2010 in Alimodian to facilitate hand-on basic computer training to barangay officials and community volunteers. IT Professors Christopher Langrio and Rodrigo Delmoro served as speakers for Microsoft Word and Excel. The training will arm the community in improving documents preparation in the barangay. For School Year 2010-11, the college, with its faculty coordinator for community service, Ms. Irene Grace Galon, and the student volunteers, will conduct a series of computer education sessions with the Tilipunan children.





Source: M.E.O. Yap-Aguirra -  Communitas Vol XX No.1 June 2010

CAS leaders join AGBAYAN 3

The College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) student leaders joined the Annual Gathering for Building Augustinian Youth Action Networking 3 (AGBAYAN), a joint three-day live-in leadership training and seminar workshop of student leaders from the University of San Agustin (USA-Iloilo) and Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod (CSA-Bacolod) at Guimaras.

The CAS leaders who actively participated was headed by the Arts & Sciences Student Council prime minister Benice Orleans together with the officers of the different course organization under the College of Arts & Sciences namely: ICT Society, ComSci Club, Psyche Cell, Literary Circle, Turismo Agustino, PolSci Club, Foreign Service Club, Biology Club, and MassCom Club, etc.

Through AGBAYAN, CAS student leaders were all ready to fulfill their responsibilities to the fullest.

AGBAYAN 3 was made possible through the efforts of Rev. Fr. Pederito A. Aparece, OSA, VP for Student Affairs; Ms. Fely Caturas, Coordinator; VP for Student Affairs of CSA-B, and Coordinator of CSA-B.

CAS goes tree planting

As part of the Biology Department's awareness month for the whole September, the College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) students, spearheaded by the Biology teachers, joined the tree planting activity on September 13 in Ginomoy, Alimodian, Iloilo.


The CAS students who actively participated in the activity were composed of Literature, Psychology, Foreign Service, and Tourism majors. The slots were limited and only a few were selected to represent each course enroled in BSC15 or Environmental Science subject.


The Biology teachers who actively spearheaded the tree planting activity were: Evelyn Sorianosos, Emily Cataluna, Christine Villanueva, Edda Brenda Yerro, Nancy Latumbo, Marylou Arabaca, and Lovelyn Jucaban.


The students and teachers were picked up by the school bus at 10:00 o'clock in the morning, and after an hour of tiresome travel, everyone finally reached their destination. A few meters away from Ginomoy Kiddie Center was the Aganan River where the tree planting happened.


The scorching heat of the sun did not stop the students and the teachers in doing their tasks. Each had successfully planted his/her tree near the river and had taken pictures with their planted trees. After planting, they cleaned the area and found their respective areas, in groups, to feed their hungry stomachs. It may have been God's blessing when rain suddenly fell. With positive thoughts, everyone believed that the rain was God's way of watering the newly-planted trees for new lives to being on earth.