January-February 2013
Vol. XVI No. 6
www.feuadvocate.org
Sampaloc, Manila
Foundation week ends with no concert By Leonard I. Agustin and Justin Royce Z. Baluyot
Far Eastern University’s (FEU) week-long celebration on its 85th founding anniversary ended without the traditional Concierto Piyu, the school’s grandest concert that always wrap up the foundation celebration. Students admitted that they were looking forward to this year’s Concierto Piyu, thus surprised by the sudden postponement of the concert. “I was able to watch the [concerts of the] previous two years and [they invited] super big stars [in the] concerts. Plus [those were] really fun,” fourth year BS Nursing Jonalet Delos Reyes said. She was really looking forward to the traditional concert. “Because it is the only
Long-awaited event. As the University ends its 85th foundation week, FEU grounds, which is always crowded during anniversary concerts, remains on its usual evening set-up. (Photo by James Patrick B. Manaloto)
event of the year na lahat ng institutes ay nagsecelebrate (that all the institutes celebrate) and the concert gives a break [from] academics,” Delos Reyes reasoned.
“Parang hindi ko naramdaman ang foundation week. Parang ang highlight lagi ng FEU foundation ay ‘yung Concierto Piyu lagi tapos ‘yun ang nawala. (I did not feel the foundation week.
Isagani Leal. The award is given to alumni in recognizing their accomplishments in their respective fields. M e a n w h i l e , outstanding alumni awardees include Miriam College Center for Applied Music Executive Director Josefino Chino Toledo, Chang Kai Shek College Vice Chairman Allen Roxas, founder of several medical institutions Dr. Ronald Guzman
Tamaraws are still saving the tamaraws. Office of Student Affairs (OSA) recently launched a fundraising campaign while Far Eastern University Central Student Organization (FEUCSO) passed a resolution creating a student-collected tamaraw conservation fund. Both projects aim to contribute to the University’s funds for its tamaraw conservation programs. Dubbed “TAMS2,” OSA’s new program aims to collect money from students through a coin bank while FEUCSO’s resolution states that five pesos from each student’s “student organization fee” which is pegged at 250 pesos and is being paid every enrolment will proceed to FEUCSO’s tamaraw conservation fund. The resolution of the student council’s House of Congress urges the FEU administration to amend its policies regarding fund for Gawad Kalinga (GK) Pabahay, which is being collected mandatorily from students every enrolment period, in order
that a fund can also be created for the University’s tamaraw conservation efforts. Each student will now contribute five pesos for the tamaraw conservation fund which came from the 10-peso allotment for GK fund. FEUCSO’s resolution was passed last semester that already took effect during second semester’s enrolment. “The reason we didn’t totally abolish the Gawad Kalinga fund was for the sake of continuity with GK. It is doing well so there is no reason for it to be stopped,” FEUCSO Vice President Andrea Sarile said. FEUCSO collection of 55,360 pesos was transferred to TAMS2 through a turnover ceremony during the launch of OSA’s fundraising campaign last January 25. The fund will then proceed to FEU’s Save the Tamaraw campaign. M e a n w h i l e , thousands of students formed a Human Tamaraw Head in the University’s open grounds also during the launch of TAMS2, signifying students’ joined efforts in intensifying tamaraw conservation campaign.
Peak of excellence. FEU recognizes 35 alumni who are exceptional on their respective fields. (Photo by Jude Thaddeus F. Valderrama)
retired Judge Hilario Laqui, FEU Health, Welfare and Retirement Plan Fund Treasurer Fe Canilao, and Center for Muscoskeletal Science-Asia Medical Director
Admin named ‘Management Man of the Year’ Far Eastern University Vice Chairman Aurelio Montinola III was hailed as the ‘Management Man of the Year 2012’ by the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP). “There will… be many obstacles and challenges internally and externally but I am confident that with continuous good government, a strong and ever improving Philippine professional management corps as represented by your Management Association of the Philippines, and everyone’s help, we will all prevail, and that the Philippines will once again rise to its status more than 50 years ago of being among the top 3 countries in the ASEAN [Association of the Southeast Asian Nations], and maybe even in Asia,” Montinola III said in his acceptance speech. Montinola III shared in his speech the role of banking and management profession to the country’s development. He said that banks mirror the economy and it is in the best interests of the banking profession to assist in the growth of the economy. He also serves as the Bank of Phillipine Islands (BPI) President and Chairman.
Seeing opportunity in adversity, he said that from BPI Family Bank in 1985 and consumer banking business in 1986, they ventured in Overseas Remittance business to answer the need of Filipinos in the 80s who went abroad, initially as domestic and construction works. “Today, the Overseas Remittance business is our largest and most visible contributor to our consumption based economy, and was the game changer in our dramatic economic turnaround over the past 20 years,” Montinola III added. A d d i t i o n a l l y, Montinola shared his managerial experiences and challenges; and said “Management is very much still a noble profession”. P r e c e d i n g ‘Management of the Year’ awardees include, Jaime Zobel de Ayala, Alfonso Yuchengco, Henry Sy, Sr. and Erramon Aboitiz. MAP’s mission is to promote management excellence in Philippine business according to their official website (www.map. com.ph). -Gladis D. Morales
FEU foundation celebrations then it was scrapped),” second
Continue to page 10...
Alabang campus to begin construction Another Tamaraw home to rise. After establishing two campuses in Makati City and Silang, Cavite in 2010, Far Eastern University (FEU) administration is set to construct another new campus in Muntinlupa City. The Board of Trustees of FEU announced the establishment of FEU Alabang through a disclosure addressed to Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) on November 29. “Resolved, as it is hereby resolved, that the Board of Trustees of Far Eastern University, Inc., otherwise known as FEU (the ‘Corporation’), as it hereby authorizes and approves the formation and establishment of a new educational institution, the FEU Alabang Inc.,” the disclosure said. Strategic, accessible location There is a need for expansion to be more sustainable, according to Admissions and External
FEU honors outstanding alumni
Living the proof of excellence their Alma Mater brought them, distinguished graduates of Far Eastern University (FEU) were recognized last January 26 at the University Auditorium. Thirty-five alumni were awarded during the ceremony wherein 17 were honored as Distinguished Tamaraws and 18 were named Outstanding Alumni. Awardees came from different fields like arts and culture, business and industry, education, medicine, nursing, public service, architecture and fine arts. Distinguished Tamaraws include Philippine Women’s University Nursing Dean Yolanda Arugay, FEU Institute of Law lecturer
Concierto Piyu has always been the highlight of previous
year AB Mass Communication Kim Hazel Alday said her disappointment. However, Office of Student Affairs (OSA) Director Marilou Cao stressed that the concert is not supposed to be the highlight of FEU’s 85th year. “When we say 85th, every five years...the celebration is the entire year. Of course, we had this socalled week-long celebration [is composed of the] primetime activities,” Cao said. She also considers the foundation week celebration successful even without the concert.
Relations Office Director Albert Cabasada III. According to him, it is right for FEU to continue its expansion across Metro Manila as other schools are also expanding. However, he said that this is not the only reason. “FEU also would like to expand [because] we would like to bring FEU closer to the market and we would like to occupy centers [such as] business centers so you are close to your market, you are close to your industry and industry-partners,” he stressed. Cabasada said that Alabang might be ‘the next Makati’ if it is in terms of its commercial districts such as Filinvest. “It is a very developed area for the near future. It is all there; may mga hospitals doon (there are hospitals there) so we can offer Biology, Nursing, Medical Technology [among others]. And then we also have businesses there so we can offer Accountancy… It is actually all there. It is a very strategic location,” he added. Cabasada also stressed that FEU Alabang
will be more accessible to residents from the southern area of Metro Manila, Cavite and Laguna. The disclosure said that FEU Alabang will have an authorized capital stock of 100 million pesos divided into one million shares with the par value of 100 pesos per share. FEU subscribed to 249,995 shares valued at 6,249,500 pesos in the new unit. FEU Alabang is set to be erected on a 1.8-hectare lot in Woods District, Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang. Its construction will be funded by a five-year loan of one billion pesos from the BAnk of the Philippine Islands(BPI) according to a disclosure from the FEU administration to PSE dated December 21. Th e n e g o t i a t i o n was arranged by BPI Capital Corporation, which is led by BPI President and FEU Vice Chairman Aurelio Montinola, Jr., in a bid to support the construction of the new campus.
-Justin Royce Z. Baluyot and Jesserene D. Miranda
Continue to page10...
University raises fund for tamaraws
Reaching out. FEU students form a tamaraw head at the campus grounds while FEUCSO President Jayvee Badile turns over the TAMS2 coin bank two President Michael Alba. (Photo by James Patrick B. Manaloto)
Students in the Human Tamaraw Head wore yellow scarves and shirts while representatives from institute student councils and academic organizations were in green scarves and shirts. “Far Eastern University, in partnership with the Worldwide Fund for Nature and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, concentrates itself in nurturing a service-oriented and environment-conscious community,” Sarile said.
She added that the FEU community is already aware of the current state of the endemic land mammal. Thus, students should continue combating threats of tamaraw extinction. The event was attended by FEU President Michael Alba, administrative and academic managers of the University, academic service managers, officers of FEU Faculty Association, faculty, alumni and students. -Justin Royce Z. Baluyot