2
NEWS
JULY TO AUGUST 2019
Remembering the past, gearing up for the future BY ALAN S. VILLANUEVA JR. AND DISNEY MARIE L. ESPARTERO
The perception that deterioration is entwined with age is ordinarily ingrained into people’s minds, but it is undeniably true that age is accompanied by growth and development. The curtains have been drawn for this year’s Handumanan Week Celebration, marking its 67th year with the theme, “Mehora”—signifying the improvement and continued growth of the institution over the years. Furthermore, new buildings and infrastructures built in the past year, from the Br. Miguel Building, the renovation of the university lavatories, and to the Handumanan Park were featured during the celebration with paintings showcased by the Artist’s Hub. Additionally, the university’s academic and spiritual advancements were also presented during the event. Specifically, the development of the Study Without Teaching Program
(SWOT) was cited as an effort to facilitate educational enrichment along with the university’s placement as 2nd among the prominent schools in the June 2019 Nursing Licensure Examinations. Celebrated annually, the Berde Bash aims to remember and relive the principles of the school’s founder, St. John Baptist de La Salle. This year’s celebration was truly special, marking the tercentenary of the death of La Salle. “While our founder may not be physically present, his spirit is with us. It is in us and among us,” said Geoffrey Bob Bergante, Vice Chancellor for Mission and Development. In relation to the central focus of the event, Bergante also expressed his desire for the Lasallian community to be driven by the founder’s legacy into the fulfillment of the university’s shared mission, particularly encompassing the spirit of faith, zeal for service, and communion in mission. In the course of the celebration, performances by the De la Salle Chorale, Vivace Strings, sports team captains, and faculty members were
FORGING THE ANIMO. The Maskara Theatre Ensemble performed during the Berde Bash with the theme “Mehora: Animomovement Chronicles” at the University Coliseum. —KARL BRIAN T. MARQUEZA
also featured. Br. Jose Peter Vincent H. Fernandez, Director for the Center for Alumni Relations, discussed the achievements made by La Salle in its 67th year of serving the Filipino youth. The event concluded with the annual tradition of
USLS-IS students prevail in SIMOC BY ERICA JAINE A. MESTRE
Three students from the University of St. La Salle-Integrated School (USLS-IS) brought home awards from the fifth Singapore International Math Olympiad Challenge (SIMOC) held in Gems World Academy, Singapore last July 6-9. Carmelo Velez (Grade 3) won two bronze awards in the Mind Sports Challenge and the Math Olympiad Challenge while Emmanuel Salgado (Grade 3) garnered a bronze award and Caleb Zeke Mellina (Grade 5) obtained an Honorable Mention in the Math Olympiad Challenge.
The students took a qualifying exam called Singapore and Asian Schools Math Olympiad (SASMO) and were awarded with bronze medals which qualified them for SIMOC last April 7 organized by the Asian MathSci Leag. Inc (AMSLI). “Our students who joined the SIMOC did not have any formal mathematics training, unlike their other counterparts in the Philippine team,” said USLS-IS teacher Dr. Michael Cañada when asked about the struggles they faced throughout. Cañada and other Math teachers took the challenge and trained Velez, Salgado, and Mellina by following a training plan based on
reviewers given by the Iloilo AMSLI Center. They also went to Iloilo on Saturdays to attend lectures from seasoned AMSLI trainers. Cañada expressed his gratitude to the rest of the school administrators for giving them the chance to partner with AMSLI so that the same opportunity could be passed on to the students in the field of Mathematics. “This year we are looking forward for more engagements in the international arena when it comes to mathematics competitions. I know that there’s so much talent hidden in our Lasallian students, particularly in Math,” Cañada expressed.
being complacent as well as highlight local demands such as the implementation of City Ordinance No. 562, or the plastic bag regulation ordinance. “We want the people to know that the youth is here, that we are aware of what’s happening, that we are not complacent about the current issues that plague our nation. We want to show them that we
have a voice,” Girard Mariano Lopez, Lead Convenor of Tribu Duag, declared. Alongside Tribu Duag, other organizations representing different sectors were also involved in the event such as Kabataan Party List, Anakbayan, Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino, Linghod, and Youth for Climate Hope, among others.
media” in order to engage the audience, especially the young, to read. Mariveles emphasized that the Web and social media has opened a lot of opportunities for a storyteller. However, the medium is not the question, but the discipline. “It is dependent on the journalist to provide value,” the Executive Editor said. Other than delivering stories, DNX also intends to provide facts and context— the whys and hows—through the following segments: DNX Verifies, the paper’s fact-checker; DNX Focus, its
investigative leg; and DNX Xplains, a newly-launched segment that merges video, text, and infographics to provide nuancing for issues, phenomenon, policies, or laws. Furthermore, other segments include: Public Life, Health, Lifestyle & Culture, Movie Reviews, and Columns. “They say that in journalistic principle, we must make the interesting relevant and the relevant, interesting,” stated Mariveles. And that is exactly what DNX intends to follow through.
NEGRENSES DOUSE DU30’S SONA
“The youth are concerned in various issues and we are affected in these issues. We hope that the voice of the masses—the voice of the streets—will be heard in the palace,” Krishna Ariola, Lead Convenor of Youth for Climate Hope, remarked. Through this, they aim to build awareness not just among the youth, but also the local community, to stop LASALLIAN PROF CO-FOUNDS
videos, film, animation, and podcasts to support text. “The craft of journalism hasn’t changed [...] Our traditional practices and values are still there. But whether you like it or not, you have to move with technology,” she added. The idea for a digital paper started four years ago, after Mariveles, then working for PCIJ, had a stroke. He was left unemployed for the first time in his 22 years of service as a journalist, which led to talks with his wife about starting a traditional newspaper, but decided later on to “fuse old and new
singing the birthday song and the administration consisting of the Director for Mission and Development Geoffrey Bob Bergante, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Dr.
Annabelle Balor, and the USLS Basic Education Principal Br. Sockie de la Rosa, giving their messages to the Lasallian community. “Therefore, we can say
with conviction, individually or collectively, I am La Salle. You are La Salle. We are La Salle. With one heart, one commitment, one life,” Bergante concluded.
Awardees slash 2018 Recognition Rites digits
ZEALOUS SERVICE. Giovanni Ferreras accepts his Medrano Award for tenure given by Br. Martinez at the University Coliseum.—CHRIS JOHN T. ACERO BY JOHN VINCENT E. RIVERA & STARLENE JOY B. PORTILLO
Two hundred and sixty-two administrators, faculty, and staff took their spot in the annual Recognition Rites last July 3 at the Coliseum, surpassing the previous year’s record of 168 awardees. The Recognition Rites has been a yearly activity which aims to promote excellence by acknowledging the loyalty and the committed service of employees to the University, conducted during this year’s 67th Handumanan Week celebration. As part of the ceremony, awardees received a trophy, certificate, and reward money in accordance to the award/s they received. “[The Recognition Rites] is our way of affirming them. Without this, we assume that good work is usual […] We need to get affirmation also in a good way,” Br. Joaquin Severino Martinez, FSC said. The awards, which
were all based on tenure and dedicated service exemplified by the employees, are as follows: Service, Juan Medrano, Merit, Perfect Attendance and Punctuality, and The Outstanding Mentor, Administrator and Staff (THOMAS) Awards. In addition, the Service Awards were given to the employees who served the university in 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 40 years respectively. “These are some of the awards which are difficult to maintain and attain. [I am] very happy because it is a good reflection that many are rising up to the challenge,” Br. Martinez said in a separate interview after the event. Having said that, Br. Martinez elaborated that the challenge is on how Lasallian staff become not just ‘present’, but ‘joyfully present’ in their journey to ‘staying and persevering’. Br. Martinez highlighted how he looked up to the only three awardees who received the 40 years Service Awards namely:
Alma Aboy, Suzette Eurabia, and Rosie Jardeleza ,EdD. “Let us consider this recognition, however, as a challenge to do better [and] become better. Let us not use this award to define us,” Vice Chancellor for Administration Charo Mae Cordova said, as a reminder for the awardees. She further stated that the actions of [the awardees] define themselves instead. The Recognition Rites has existed through years to acknowledge the efforts of employees in making sure that quality education is provided for the students. “To where is this University [headed] in ten years?” Br. Martinez asked as he narrated his three-week-long pilgrim in Spain in the middle of his closing speech. On that note, Br. Martinez challenged the awardees to maintain their good work and continue doing better, as part of his vision for the university.
THE OFFICIAL STUDENT MEDIA CORPS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. LA SALLE · USLS STUDENT ACTIVITY CENTER, LA SALLE AVE., BACOLOD CITY, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL 6100 · VOLUME 64 NUMBER 3 · JULY TO AUGUST 2019