THESPECTRUM / NEWS
Lasallians ace ChE, Law bar exams
32 ICA graduates receive chef’s hats
Photo by Nichol Francis M. Anduyan
By Starlene Joy B. Portillo
CLASS PHOTO. Graduates of the Institute of Culinary Arts pose for a photo together with the University administration and guests. By Lex Diwa P. Aloro
32 fresh graduates of the Institute for Culinary Arts (ICA) received their chef’s hats during the commencement ceremony held at the Santuario De La Salle last June 22. President and Chancellor, Br. Manuel R. Pajarillo FSC and ICA Director Chef Richard A. Ynayan, conducted the awarding rites, giving chef’s hats to the graduates. Guest speaker Simon Bewlay MBE, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the British School Manila, left the graduates with an advice, saying, “You are young. You have a trait that millionaires would give up all their money for. It’s youth. Don’t waste it.”
MAY TO JUNE 2016
Four Lasallian Chemical Engineering (ChE) and 10 Law graduates managed to make the cut of board passers for the 2016 Chemical Engineering Licensure Examination and the 2015 Philippine Bar Examination, respectively. Administered by the Board of Chemical Engineering
in Manila and Cebu, the Chemical Engineer Licensure Examination was conducted last May 18-20, wherein Johnemma Mae Chuayana, Churese Marie Lopez, Keeshia Rose Nacion and Benedict Salazar were included among the 320 passers out of 499 exam takers, as announced by the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) last May 24. This resulted to a 57.14%
passing rate in USLS out of a 64% passing rate in all universities nationwide. Meanwhile, Jan Michael Arbolado, Julie Ann Bedrio, Issa Gayas, Narciso Javelosa III, Kathleen Anne King, Maycee Palencia, Rytchum Pranga, Maria Ana Zenaida Quibir - Magbiray, Jose Pio Seva and Chery Shiel Valenzuela comprised 50% of the Lasallian first-time exam takers who
By Charlene Marie D. Lim and Starlene Joy B. Portillo
Jean Rose I. Garcia, who was awarded with the Chef’s Achievement Award with Highest Honors, gave a heartfelt speech about her journey in ICA. In a later interview she said, “It’s been a great honor because studying culinary isn’t as easy as ABC. It isn’t just about cooking. It’s all about your heart, in loving what you do. Cooking is a passion, not a job.” The graduates pledged loyalty to their institute, led by the USLS Alumni President, Atty. Pacifico Maghari, III. The ceremony concluded with the graduates singing their Alma Mater Hymn and with a banquet served by the next batch of ICA students.
The College of Engineering Technology (CET) was declared as overall champion during this year’s Summer Splash held last May 6 at Bantug Lake Ranch with the theme: “Oasis: Heart of the Desert”. “Oasis means hope. This year, we will be facing a transition year and one of our aims is for the student body to feel that something good is happening to them despite the challenges this transition year will bring,” said University Student Government (USG) President Kathlyn Tiu. Awards both major and minor that contributed to the success of CET include garnering the top spots in Live Act and Drum Beating, as well as ranking first runner-up for the Male Category and second runner-up for the Female Category of the Summer Hotties competition. Meanwhile, the College of Business and Accountancy (CBA) placed first runner-up by winning over the Water Volleyball game,
USLS, ASOG hold local candidates’ forum
passed the bar exams administered by the Supreme Court of the Philippines last November 2015 at the University of Sto. Tomas, Manila. The oathtaking ceremony for the Philippine Bar Examination passers was held last June 16 at the Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay City, whereas that of the ChE passers are yet to be announced by the PRC.
CET lords over Summer Splash 2016
Photo by Ma. Henna A. Pilla
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SUMMER FUN. CET Gov. Nila Mae Apares being carried by back-up dancers during a performance last Summer Splash.
Battle of the Bands and their Summer Hotties representatives coming in second runner-up in the Male Category and first runner-up in the Female Category. With their triumph over the Boat Race, Deadheat and their Summer Hotties in the fourth runner-up in the Male Category and Champion in the Female Category, the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) ranked second runner-up.
The College of Education (CEd) was named third runner-up with their Special Award in CLAYGO (Clean As You Go) and their Summer Hotties getting awarded third runner-up in the Male Category and fourth runner-up in the Female Category. Lastly, the College of Nursing (BSN) was declared fourth runner-up overall with their win on the Amazing Race challenge
and their Summer Hotties being the champion in the Male Category and third runner-up in the Female Category. Tiu said that preparations such as weekly meetings, finding sponsors and concessionaires were made during the months of March and April, and that she was glad that they were blessed with more than they expected. “Considering I’m part of the USG, my first experience with Summer Splash is very stressful because I have to work, unlike the students who get to enjoy [and] have fun with everything that we have organized,” Jiea Therese Sian, Undersecretary for Public Relations and CBA freshman stated. “We thank you for enjoying the program and we hope that you yourselves could find your oasis despite us facing a year full of challenges. We would like to ensure you that USG could help by catering your needs, being your voice and by making you realize that we are all together in this. Together we are oasis,” Tiu expressed.
Photo by Nichol Francis M. Anduyan
NEWS FEATURE
(L-R) Jude Thaddeus Sayson, Archie Baribar, Carl Lopez. By Eunice Dianne V. Tibay
Candidates running for Mayor and Congressman attended the 9th Local Candidates’ Forum held at the Santuario de La Salle last May 3, spearheaded by the Ateneo School of Government (ASOG) and in collaboration with the University of St. La Salle (USLS) and Balayan. Over the course of the event, five key agenda, namely Pro-Poor Participatory Budgeting, Agriculture, Fisheries Development, & Agrarian Reform, Youth Empowerment, Political & Electoral Reforms, and sustaining and enhancing the Social Protection Program laid out by the organizer were discussed by the Mayoralty and Congressional candidates present in the forum. However, according to ASOG Program Director, Joy Aceron, there were also five other key agendas, namely Anti-Corruption Effort, Health & Education, Urban Development, Peace Process, and Local Governance that were not included in the May 3 discussion. When asked about the initiative behind the event, Aceron answered, “We think it’s important to involve the local candidates in the discussion [of] issues and agenda and we think local government is
very important in order to achieve inclusive development.” “And our attention has been in the nationals so we want to shift the attention to local and facilitate [the] interaction between citizens and candidates on key issues and agenda,” she added. Furthermore, she also stated that ASOG does not have a formal and official process wherein the local candidates can present their platform and the citizens can ask questions on the key issues and agenda. In spite of the absence of Mayoralty candidate incumbent Congressman Evelio Bing Leonardia, and Congressional candidate Greg Gasataya, both of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC)-Grupo Progreso, the forum continued on with the presence of two of the three Mayoralty candidates namely Wilfredo David of the Independent Party and incumbent Mayor Monico Puentevella of Magbinuligay Kita Para Sa Kauswagan (MKK) Partido Bacolod. In addition, four of the five Congressional candidates were also present, namely Atty. Archie Baribar (Independent), Joel Enriquez (Independent), Mark Lopez (Liberal Party), and Thaddeus Sayson (MKK).
USLS-IS Educator Awarded as Most Inspiring Teacher By Chad Martin Z. Natividad
Raffy Ballesteros, a Mathematics and Social Studies teacher in the University of St. La Salle Integrated School, is among those awarded as Most Inspiring Teacher of the Philippines. Among the 28 teachers who were nominated for the award, 12 were named as Most Inspiring Teachers of the Philippines. From the 12, only five received the award, and among them is Ballesteros, or better known as “Teacher Raffy”. For 12 years, he has been an active member of the teaching ministry and has taught at both the elementary
*BALLESTEROS
and intermediate levels of the institution. “I tried to look for the meaning of inspiration or inspiring in the dictionary just to even understand what the award is all about,” Teacher Raffy confided. “It simply says
there that when you inspire people, you have the capacity to move people. I think it’s more than just moving them, but it’s actually motivating them to actually follow the examples that you have set.” “I cannot really state what made my life inspiring as a teacher. But I think it’s more of the things that I do for my students, the extra time I spend with them and the effort that I put into my job that has actually made this journey inspiring. One thing that I’d like to cite is the interview that I had with the judges. I’ve always pointed out how important education is, in order to get people out of the trap of poverty,” he added. For him, a Lasallian teacher must be prayerful, committed, dedicated and compassionate.
“And I believe that teaching is not a profession, it’s more of a ministry and a vocation,” he explains. “You have to sacrifice. You really have to be selfless in order to attain the mission of St. John Baptist de La Salle and that is to teach minds, touch hearts, and transform lives.” He also believes in the K-12 program and has taught teachers around the Philippines as far as K-12 is concerned. “Yes, it would mean two more years of actually allowing these kids to go to school. But if those two years would make them work-ready, college-ready, and globally competitive, I think that two years is worth it, or will be worth it,” he said.
Summer Workshop 2016 Concludes By Christiana Claudia G. Gancayco
The Artists’ HUB Summer Workshop 2016 held its culminating ceremony at the Mutien Marie Auditorium A last May 14 where its participants showcased their skills and learnings over the Summer. For five years now, the Artists’ HUB has been a conducting a Summer Workshop for aspiring artists and those who seek to achieve artistic excellence. “The Artists’ HUB,” explained Tanya Lopez, Workshop Director, “is committed to the development
of the artist and the holistic formation of the individual in line with the University of St La Salle’s commitment for person development as an integrated and holistic process of spiritual, social, intellectual and physical growth.” The Workshop was open to everyone, Lasallian and nonLasallians alike, whose age range from 4- up to 60-years old. The courses and tutorials offered vary from visual arts, music, dance, theater and literature/creative writing. Some courses were categorized
to cater for specific age ranges. For the Visual Arts category, basic painting and drawing and illustration were offered. The outputs of the participants were showcased on the stairs leading up to the venue during the culminating program. In the Music category, kids and teens flaunted their enhanced vocal skills they gained from the Voice workshop. New courses such as Music Production and Song Writing were also launched in this year’s workshop.
Official Student Media Corps of the University of St. La Salle - USLS Student Activity Center, La Salle Ave., Bacolod City, Negros Occidental 6100 - Volume 61 Number 1
Participants of the Hiphop category also rendered their refined and mastered movements through a few dance numbers. For theatrical skills, two new courses, Makeup for Stage & Film and Prosthetics, were launched, along with Movement and Voice for Stage. Tutorials offered were Basic Piano, Jazz Piano Improvisations, Violin, Guitar and Drums. In the Literature/Creative Writing category, Poetry for Self and Poetry as a Way of Seeing were also launched.