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UNIVERSITY
OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2020 VOLUME LXXIX
Tolentine Star shines in COPRE 2020 by CARLA JOANNE ROBLES
In its goal to deliver truth as it happens amidst the pandemic, Tolentine Star displayed its brilliance as its editorial staff bagged three individual awards and one publication award during the virtual College Press Conference (COPRE) and Awards 2020 by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Region Six via a Facebook live stream, Dec. 16. Among the winners were UNORian campus journalists Joelle Mariel Paderog, Photojournalism first placer, Carla Joanne Robles, Feature Writing - English third placer, and Romchelle Chris Danielle Waminal, News Writing - Englih second placer. “It was unexpected and I’m still shocked because I still can’t believe it. In so many years that I’ve been joining press conferences since high school, I’ve only felt the sense of belongingness in the field of journalism now,” Paderog said. The publication also bagged the fifth place in the Best Feature Page category with a spread from its magazine Vol. 78 No. 4 with the theme “Seasons.” “I think that the publication, as a whole, is elated to have won something in exchange for all the toiling day-in and day-out as campus journalists,” Tolentine Star Editorin-Chief Romchelle Chris Danielle Waminal said. Waminal shared that the recognition received by the members and the publication boosted the morale of those who won as well as the standing of the publication in the University. “Kudos to the previous editorial board and staff members for the painstaking attention to the magazine which nabbed the publication a spot in the top five [of the category],” she added. Waminal added that the win is for the publication and that through this, UNO-Rians and students in the region may be aware that campus journalists in their respective publications do not settle for anything mediocre. “We [campus journalists] are still pursuing stories, raising awareness, combating fake news, and keeping the campus journalism spirit alive continued on page 13
REACHING MILESTONES. UNO-R recognizes Class 2020 graduates in the first part of the video series. photo courtesy of UNO-R FACEBOOK PAGE.
Virtual grad rites push thru for UNO-R
by KRISHA MARIE SEMELLANO
In observance of health protocols due to the health crisis, a virtual conferment of baccalaureate degrees was initiated by the University administration as a way of recognizing the achievements of Class 2020, Summer 2019, and October 2019 graduates aired via the official University Facebook page, Dec. 5 and 12. “Your degrees, your diplomas are just instruments for you to work for evangelization, to spread the good news of God and to build the Kingdom of God here on earth. I ask you to build more lives and to build more communities of love,” University President Rev. Fr. Don Besana said. University Registrar Engr. Christopher Taclobos, MEng, shared that through this, the University may be able to give the graduates the assurance that their achievements are recognized by the administration. “This [virtual conferment] is to give every graduate that spirit of professions they earned from the University. It is an assurance to the graduates that the school has recognized their capability, and that they were formed according to the philosophy of St. Augustine - Caritas et Scientia,” he said. Taclobos also shared that they
have received feedback from the graduates with regards to the virtual conferment, such as the incomplete list of graduates and errors in the spelling of names. “[The] list is incomplete because there are graduates, particularly from the Summer 2019 and October 2019 [classes] who were inadvertently forgotten to be recommended [while] others have failed to apply for graduation,” he explained. Mechanical Engineering fresh graduate Jim Paolo Monterola expressed that it was a good idea on the University’s part to have a virtual conferment for the degrees. “As an engineering graduate, it really paid off my five years of hard work as a student. When I saw my picture and my name on that video, it motivated me to study more for my upcoming board exam,” he said. However, Education graduate Ronvic Magbanua shared that he was dissatisfied with the virtual conferment and also suggested that the University should include other student awards in the ceremony. “I think the awards and achievements of a graduate, if possible, should be included in the virtual conferment. I think everyone who has an award [in other fields] also deserves to be acknowledged,”
he shared. Taclobos added that face-toface commencement exercises will resume in the University once a COVID-19 vaccine is made available to the public. “Certainly there is no good substitute for face-to-face commencement exercises. But, at this time, we wanted everyone to be safe and healthy . . . We will resume our traditional [commencement] ceremony once there is a vaccine available to the public,” he said. He also expressed his message to the graduates to be inspired by the teachings of the institution towards achieving their goals. “Despite the pandemic, we were able to adjust our curricular requirement just for you to get the diploma you dreamt of. Let your hearts be inspired by the teachings of our institution that every student should be ‘SIMPLE’ even in the heights of his accomplishments. Make your alma mater proud of you as you participate in the building of a bigger community where you belong.” The virtual conferment of baccalaureate degrees was done by compiling photos of graduates in a video format and aired online via live stream.
To l e n t i n e S t a r i s t h e o f f i c i a l s t u d e n t p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f N e g r o s O c c i d e n t a l - R e c o l e t o s
