Ciencia y Virtud First Issue 2020-2021

CIENCIA Y VIRTUD

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF CENTRO ESCOLAR UNIVERSITY www.ceu.edu.ph

First Issue 2020-2021

GIFANY TEN-TEN L. TONGOHAN Georgetown Law (2020), Merit Scholar LL.M. in International Business & Economic Law International Arbitration & Dispute Resolution

ABOUT CEU

CIENCIA Y VIRTUD Ciencia y Virtud or Science and Virtue is the life-long philosophy of Centro Escolar University.

2020-2021 FIRST ISSUE Ciencia y Virtud is published three-times in a school year by the University Publications of Centro Escolar University.

CIENCIA Y VIRTUD

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF CENTRO ESCOLAR UNIVERSITY www.ceu.edu.ph

First Issue 2020-2021

GIFANY TEN-TEN L. TONGOHAN Georgetown Law (2020), Merit Scholar LL.M. in International Business & Economic Law International Arbitration & Dispute Resolution

ABOUT THE COVER Gifany Ten-Ten L. Tongohan is a graduate of Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication major in Journalism with 21 units of Education from CEU Manila in 2010 and a Juris Doctor graduate of CEU Makati in 2014.

With four campuses and over 50 academic programs, CEU has gone far beyond its founders’ vision, laying claim to the distinction as the only higher education institution to have the following array of institutional awards for quality.

CEU was founded on June 3, 1907 as the “Centro Escolar de Señoritas” by two visionaries, Librada Avelino and Carmen de Luna, who were inspired by the patriotic movement to nationalize schools.

They were cognizant of a need for a center of learning for Filipino women focused on teaching ideal womanhood, intelligent citizenry and democratic leadership that would instill in them the tenets of science and virtue. Kindergarten, elementary, general secondary, music and home arts courses were the first programs of instruction included in the curriculum.

The school was granted university status by the Philippine government in 1932 with Doña Librada as President.

VISION CEU is the University of first Choice - the leading higher education institution fostering excellence in the advancement of knowledge while engendering personal integrity and social responsibility.

MISSION

EDITORIAL BOARD Editor-in-Chief Dr. Rosana D. Lucero Associate Editors Ms. Giana Anella G. Atienza Ms. Gelli G. Esguerra Lay-Out Artist Ms. Jessica Bravo Contributors Ms. Gelli G. Esguerra Dr. Avelina R. Raqueño Mr. Ricky R. Rosales Atty. Gifany Ten-Ten L. Tongohan Ms. Alondra Marie F. Sto. Domingo Mr. Joshua C. Flores Dr. Alex Bienvenido Jr. Alip Ms. Mediatrix Therese L. Realubit Dr. Ma. Cristina D. Padolina Consultant Dr. Erna V. Yabut Acknowledgements Marketing Communications Department President’s Office Human Resource Department

It is committed to: • Provide a rich and stimulating learning environment to prepare students to become productive, innovative and value-driven professionals and entrepreneurs committed to nation building in the context of one world; • Enhance the development of higher education through exemplar academic programs and collaborative practices; • Contribute to the promotion of human wellbeing through high-quality research, and community service programs

CORE VALUES The core values that serve as guiding principles of the University are: V - aluing others, caring for them and empowering them A - ccountability, integrity, and trustworthiness L - ifelong learning as individuals and as an organization U - nity, teamwork, and loyalty E - xcellence in all endeavors S - ocial responsibility as citizens of the Filipino nation and of the world

MASS MEDIA IN THE PHILIPPINES

by Ricky R. Rosales

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o fully understand the role of the mass media in Philippine society, we have to look at the condition of our political and economic life. In so many ways, our persistent problems with politics and economy coincide with the problems of the mass media as a social institution that provides pictures of them. The media is not a neutral actor in its relationship with the economy and politics. As it represents the many political and economic issues, it also produces them in the process using the constructed images or pictures of how our politics and economy should look like. This is the reason why the relationship between politics, economy, and the media is intertwined.

Mass media, particularly the dominant media, is being used to reinforce the predominant economic and political culture, because even our fourth estate is relatively controlled by political and economic elites. To be sure, there is a growing number of alternative media in the country, but their success is yet to be seen in the near future.

The political and economic institutions in return give legitimacy to the function of the press, long believed to be the oxygen of democracy. On a peripheral view, Philippine mass media’s role as watchdog of the three branches of the government is working well. After the country regain its freedom from the tyranny of martial rule, the institution of the mass media was among those who were freed, and there was a sudden surge of newspaper publications and broadcast stations all over the Philippines.

What then is the enduring problem of Philippine mass media since the time the country was released from dictatorship? Why is it that, despite the earned freedom, the mass media seemed to have worked a little in helping Philippine society to move forward and make its citizens politically and socially engaged? I would like to think that our brand of democracy doesn’t serve well the majority of the Filipino people it ought to serve. Our brand of liberal democracy borrowed from the liberal tradition of Western countries, particularly the United States of America, only favors few individuals from the upper class, and of course, the economic elites.

After EDSA people power, the critical tradition advanced by the alternative press rooted in the 19th century reform movement, has lost its momentum and was eventually replaced by a tradition of acquiescence and subservience. As they became hostage by the quest for profit of their owners, mass media began to be timid and supportive of the status quo. Social reform was taken out from the agenda. The sad reality is that, the country has never fully achieved the emancipation it longed for since the time of the colonization. Our story can be described as an unfinished ‘imagined community’ to borrow the concept of Benedict Anderson. It has been freed from the colonization and dictatorship, but not from the tyranny of neoliberalism.

This situation affects the overall condition on the role of mass media in Philippine society then and now.

In thinking about the interrelationship between mass media, politics, and economy, three important issues can be highlighted. First is the paradox of press freedom. Our mass media is tagged as the freest in Asia yet we remain consistent in the top 10 list of the most dangerous places in the world for practicing journalists. Second, our obsession for entertainment obscures the need to make a serious contemplation on issues that really matter to us as a nation.

This entertaining environment provided to us by the unsplash.com

culture industry makes it easy for mass media owners and business interests to sell their products and services through advertising. One will not lose this sight if he closely observes the dominant entertainment shows on Television with a lot of advertisements. Lastly, the attitude of indifference that Filipinos have acquired over time, I think, is most likely the result of the kind of culture perpetuated by the uncritical mass media in this age of neoliberalism.

The Paradox of Press freedom It should have been a great pride for all of us Filipinos that our mass media is the freest in Asia. Press Freedom and the right of expression have been consistently enshrined in the several constitutions drafted since the 1935 Malolos Republic until the post-Marcos era. This could be thought of as a recognition of the importance of the press in maintaining a democratic way of life we all aspired. But the appearance of these fundamental rights in all the constitutions has been persistently challenged. Despite the freedom, a lot of journalists have been killed in doing their jobs, and many others suffer from threats and intimidations until now. During the Arroyo administration, the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) reported that there were a total of 80 journalists killed over a nine-year period with an average of nine killed per year. This includes the brutal murder of 32 journalists in Ampatuan town, now known as the Maguindanao Massacre. Under the Noynoy Aquino administration, there was a recorded average of six killings per year.

More recently, another local journalist in the province of Pangasinan was killed while he was on his way home in Villasis town. Virgilio Maganes, 62, a radio commentator and a newspaper columnist was shot dead by two motorcycle-riding men. It was the second assassination attempt against Maganes. This successful second attempt was an indication that his first case was not resolved by the police.

Maganes, according to the record of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines was the 18th media worker murdered under the Duterte administration, and the 190th since 1986.

Given the culture of impunity we face today, all of us can expect that these killings will continue in the coming days if the government will not be serious in their campaign to end this.

This killing of journalists poses a lot of questions on how we understand substantive democracy. Essentially, democracy allows everyone to participate in all the affairs of society freely without any fear of being intimidated or killed.

Sadly, our present condition prevents many media men to actively engage in political and social transformation.

This is particularly true in our provinces and cities where political landlords and families are reigning. Journalists are not working in a vacuum. They have their own family to feed. They may have fully understood that serving society means sacrificing most of their private affairs, but being killed is a totally different matter. As one international journalist put it, there is no story worth dying for. Most of working journalists would rather keep silent than to criticize if their lives will be put in danger. No wonder, aside from just selecting a different career instead of journalism, some of them opt to go to entertainment media where the risk of being killed is apparently low if not totally absent. To ask what could be the reason why these killings continue to persist is to go back again to the interrelationship of our systems of politics, economy, and mass media. We have a free media, but the political and legal institutions that are supposed to protect this freedom are problematic.

Political elites involved in killings make use of their influence to get away with the law. The Reyes brothers of Palawan for instance who were alleged to be the mastermind in killing the environmental activist and broadcaster Gerry Ortega in 2011 easily evaded arrest by travelling abroad.

It took Philippine authorities several years before they arrested former Palawan Governor Joel Reyes and Coron Mayor Mario Reyes in a hotel in Thailand and sent back to the Philippines to face charges. Now, these brothers are running again for public office in May 2016 elections.

EDITORIAL

The role of the state against this alarming situation is also worth noting. As a matter of fact, the Ampatuan clan in Maguindanao cannot established their fiefdom without the support of the Arroyo administration during GMA’s time.

Our patron-client relationship in politics makes everything worse. Aside from this, the state’s neutral stance on critical issues concerning our public life, obviously rooted in tis neoliberal policy also provide a good environment for this political problem to thrive.

Entertainment and the Attitude of Indifference As globalization ushered in, mass media around the world has been used not only to strengthen its role as information disseminator, but as an instrument to propagate global capitalism. In a capitalist environment where the quest for profit is the only driving force of market competition, entertainment is the best avenue of the mass media to sell. Critical programs are anathema to consumer behavior.

As Thomas Friedman observes in his book Lexus and The Olive Tree, Understanding Globalization, the technology of mass media has been instrumental in reducing the size of the world into ‘small’ compared to the “medium’ size created by the Cold War system. But globalization, in my view, should also be understood economically and not only socially as what other apologists have argued.

Karl Polanyi’s work on The Great Transformation captured this point by insisting that the main reason for the Western powers to come together in a global village was to ensure the maintenance of their economic power. This is the fundamental reason why a cursory examination of Philippine broadcast media will give you a picture of imbalance between substantial programs and entertainment shows. Primetime news programs in Television run for less than 2 hours, with a lot of commercials in between, but the rest of the programs are devoted to teleseryes. Substantial public affairs programs are aired mostly in cable channels but the large portion of the consuming public are on free TV. Is it true that these broadcast stations would just want to entertain Filipinos who are experiencing everyday traffic, job losses and other social problems? I don’t think so.

This kind of programming attitude is very much connected to the demand of global capitalism. Owners of these media corporations are not journalists. They are businessmen. We may not see clearly their influence in news and current affairs (but they exert their influence in so many ways of course), it is obvious when you look at how we are bombarded with entertainment shows and advertisements in different forms.

How is this affecting our attitude as consumers of information? To me, this obsession for entertainment take away our critical thinking on substantial issues that affect our everyday lives. Theorists of the Frankfurt School has long argued for this kind of phenomenon and it is very much relevant to the present social order. People have been reduced as consumers in today’s society. Advertising has evolved from the psychology of the product to the psychology of the consumer. They have been successful in manufacturing needs that are in fact irrelevant in our everyday life. On matters of public concern through social issues, this situation has created an attitude of indifference among many Filipinos. They don’t want to engage in politics anymore. They are contented to be entertained.

Role of critical journalists then and now Despite this critical observation, I remain hopeful that the role of journalists during the reform movement of the 19th century and even during the Martial law years can still be revived. In fact, there are still progressive and independent mass media institutions that continue to exist aside from the alternative media that is so vibrant these days.

As a broadcast journalist who work for an organization that has always been one of the subjects of my self-reflections and criticism, I believe that there are people in our field who practice what Antonio Gramsci calls counter hegemony. We resist the dominant culture in media. In small spaces we find, our critical voices are still being heard. In ABS-CBN, I always try my best to give the public what they need to know. But honestly, the battle is very hard.

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A MESSAGE TO MY FELLOW ESCOLARIANS

by Gifany Ten-Ten L. Tongohan

Institute of International Economic Law (IIEL), Fellow (20192020) Georgetown Law Batch 2020, Merit Scholar LL.M. in International Business & Economic Law Degree Certificate in International Arbitration & Dispute Resolution Certificate in Legal English Communication

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am sending my warmest greetings and love from here in the U.S. to you my dearest fellow Escolarians in the Philippines. I want to thank the Centro Escolar University – School of Education, Liberal Arts, Music, and Social Work, Dr. Lucas, and Dr. Lucero for inviting me to your virtual orientation today. I am honored to take part in your journey and for this opportunity to be with you even though just virtually. I apologize that I am not able to join you in person or through zoom given our time difference and the difficulties of the current situation with this pandemic. I know that this is perhaps just one among the many concerns you may have now as you start or continue your undergraduate studies.

I am sure you worry about your health and security as well as those of your loved ones; you worry about how your interaction will be like with classmates and professors in this new normal; how you will succeed in the current mode of online instruction; how you will finance and manage your studies and meet the necessities accompanying learning in the digital age; how you will find work after graduation; or if there will even be a graduation ceremony at the end of your degree programs. I am sure there are many other things that are making you anxious which I may have failed to mention. I am not here to enumerate the obvious or to even give you false assurances, but I think it may be relevant to share with you my own experiences as a former student and as an alumna of SELAMS as well as the difficulties I have faced and still continue to face as an international professional post-graduate student dealing with digital learning during this pandemic. Through my sharing, I hope to inspire you and provide with you a renewed passion for learning, or perhaps even e-learning, and to encourage you to persist with completing your undergraduate degrees as well as to succeed despite life’s challenges.

Let me start by recalling my own SELAMS experience some 14 or so years ago. It seems like only yesterday, and I hope it also looks like only yesterday, that I was deciding where and what course to take. My mother was also an alumna of CEU and she had been motivating me to follow her footsteps as a dentist.

Unfortunately (or fortunately), I decided to pursue a different path and pursued a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mass Communication with a Major in Journalism instead. I did manage to not completely break her heart by studying in CEU. I have never regretted studying in CEU – SELAMS. It was in SELAMS where I met many dedicated, motivating, and supportive staff and professors who I continue to stay in touch with to this day, like Dr. Lucero and, even our own beloved dean, Dr. Lucas. You are lucky to have such a loving staff and Dean. I can honestly tell you that I still foster the relationships I built in CEU. These relationships have found no limits and continue to grow stronger even years after I have left the school. There have been many instances when I’ve been met with a warm smile or a kind hello while passing the streets or while attending hearings in court. I would be surprised by the simple yet extraordinary gestures I would receive from random people. This would include even getting good parking spots in crowded places. It’s funny because my memory would escape during those moments and I wouldn’t be able to recall how I knew those people. It’s only when they tell me that I had met them in CEU, that they used to work there, that my organization had reached out to them somehow in college, or that they had attended my lecture that I would realize that these are people I’ve met and relationships I’ve built in, and through, CEU. This just goes to show how your networks could expand, the same way that it expanded for me well beyond the stretch of Mendiola. Even before I flew here, I went back to CEU Mendiola and I fixed my transcripts for my applications for post graduate studies. I was amazed by the level of warmth and assistance that I received when I returned to school. These may seem like small things but I urge you to not forget to build meaningful connections while in CEU. This is even more important now that you are studying remotely. I say this because as you might be stuck at home and glued to your laptops or cellphones, you might forget that making real life connections

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are still very important. These connections will help you navigate through the difficulties of your studies and, thereafter, the real world. I am sure that, if you also take the time to make these kinds of connections, you will see your efforts returned ten-fold. Just as the warmth and love that I have received from CEU has seen no limits, so will the same be for you because I know that the concern that CEU has for its students is not bounded by the digital platform or by the disruptions in technology.

Another fond memory I have in CEU is one of Dr. Lucas.

She was among the pillars of the School who inspired me to pursue a second degree in Education. As her former student, I saw how committed she was and still is in teaching and forming young minds. Like many other professors in SELAMS, Dr. Lucero’s and Dr. Lucas’ dedication to the profession and to the pursuit of the higher cause of learning is something that I have always carried with me. The care and concern that the CEU family has for its community, staff, and students, as I said, go beyond the four corners of the classroom. I remember gaining many friends, engaging in numerous outreach programs, being active in various organizations in the School and in the community.

These activities helped me advocate for solutions to various social issues like poverty, hunger, education, environment, and women empowerment. All of which became part of who I am and the profession that I ended up pursuing.

Apart from the care and mentorship that I received from SELAMS, I am also proud to have finished a double degree during just those four years of undergraduate study. This is because I was able to pursue a degree in Secondary Education with a Major in English together with my Mass Communication Degree in Journalism. Not a lot of schools offer this type of opportunity that SELAMS offers. I was fortunate to have had this multidisciplinary approach to learning because I found it to be useful in both my personal life and professional career. Even outside and beyond my stay in SELAMS, I continue to learn and teach. I was able to incorporate my education and journalism degrees in my career as a lawyer. After graduating from CEU SELAMS, I took my Juris Doctor Degree in CEU Law in Makati where I also received a merit scholarship and graduated as Valedictorian. It was also because I had a good support system that I thrived there. Thereafter, I practiced full-time as a litigator in an all service law firm and then as a government regulator for the Philippine Competition Commission while at the same time teaching part-time in CEU Law and lecturing in other schools and organizations. I found great fulfillment in combining the different substantive trainings and knowledge I received from CEU. I can gladly share with you many other wonderful memories I had in SELAMS but I don’t think our time would not be enough. These are just among the many reasons why I have no doubt that CEU will continue to provide you, its students, with the kind of tight-knit community, the best quality of service, and guidance that you deserve despite the pandemic.

Even apart from all of these, I want to tell how much to this day I still value the principles of Science and Virtue that CEU prides itself with. Even after my stay at CEU, I continue to yearn for excellence because the same hunger for knowledge and belief in good values were instilled in me by my mother. I surmise that this is because her character and approach to life were also heavily influenced by the same Alma Mater. My longing for knowledge and personal development is among the reasons why I decided to pursue my Master of Laws in the U.S. despite the economic, personal, and professional challenges that accompanied this endeavor. Despite all of my preparations, hard work, and due diligence, I still had to cope with the added surprises that were brought by the pandemic which I know you are also familiar with.

While studying here in the U.S., I had to confront health and safety risks and overcome physical, emotional, intellectual, and even spiritual fatigue just to be able to fulfill my goal.

Just like you, I faced and still continue to face the difficulties that come with the times. While finishing my LL.M. Degree, I also worried about succeeding academically in the digital learning platform. I was caught off guard when establishments, offices, and universities started shutting down due to the outbreak of COVID-19. All of a sudden, I lost touch with friends and loved ones and was even forced to quarantine. When the international organization where I was doing my internship moved to remote work and when my own University, Georgetown Law, stopped in-person instruction and suddenly shifted to remote learning in the middle of our second semester, I found myself, along with the thousands of others, grappling with the difficulty of studying and taking exams online under stressed and limited conditions. I had to learn and adjust quickly to new information technologies while dealing with the abrupt transition to teleworking and online instruction. I also had to learn how to accept rejections graciously.

I had to deal with the experience of losing career opportunities and interviews due to the uncertainties of fast changing regulations, border restrictions, state closures, and the risks associated with my immigration status as an international professional/LL.M.

ESSAYS

student in the US. These were all happening as I was learning to cope with the loneliness and sadness of being isolated in my dorm.

After successfully completing with flying colors the hurdles of the sudden shift to a hybrid method of school instruction, I still had to deal with the disappointment of not being able to celebrate my accomplishments and graduation in person with family and friends. We had no physical graduation – only a virtual one.

Despite all of these and the rollercoaster of a final semester I had, I managed to finish and secure my LL.M. Degree in International Business and Economic Law and even with additional Degree Certificates in International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution as well as in Legal English Communication with double honors (with Distinction and as a Dean’s List). I am proud to share this because Filipinos are a rare breed in international universities especially those pursuing their post graduate studies. This is a shame because many global universities acknowledge the caliber and determination of Filipino students. I am blessed that I am one and that I have represented my country and my Alma Mater. I hope that you can do the same in the future and make our country and school proud.

I must admit, however, that my experience has not been easy.

I am just very fortunate to have a wonderful and supportive family, boyfriend, and friends. Looking back, I know that I would not have been able to face the stress and rigors of being an international student during a pandemic without having made ample preparations, going through the motions of doing my own due diligence, and, more importantly, without having a good support system and faith in God. I am thankful to everyone who has helped and shared in my success. I am also grateful to Georgetown Law for their effective handling of the situation and for having a good management committee that accommodated and dealt daily with the concerns of its students. I trust that you will receive the same kind of treatment, excellent governance, and well-developed learning methodologies with CEU as the one that I experienced in Georgetown. This is because CEU has always been recognized as a center of excellence, especially in education. As I did, you will also rise, together with CEU, to the occasion. You may also reach out to me anytime as I am also always willing to share my knowledge, experience, and expertise if this will help promote a better learning environment and assist in developing a more responsive and effective management and educational toolkit for you.

If there are any pieces of advice that perhaps I want to share from my own experience, these would be for you not to give up and to not be afraid to acknowledge weakness and rejections.

Often times, it feels counterintuitive, frustrating, or even shameful to own up to our shortcomings but this is really the only way to move forward and succeed.

Like many of you, the pandemic continues to take a toll on me. I am still anxious about my own personal safety and the welfare of family and friends. Just like you, I still worry about succeeding personally and professionally as I continue to study and prepare for the New York Bar Examinations and transition into my career as an international lawyer. I continue to face constant interruptions in schedule, changes in regulations and guidelines, receive varying news about social, economic, and political unrest, and I also still worry about my exams being cancelled anytime due to the rising COVID-19 cases. Believe me, I can relate with your anxiety because, like you, I am living through them. This situation, however, is not permanent.

It is in situations, like the one we are currently in, that I continue to hold fervently to the principles that I learned from my own upbringing and the teachings I received from the amazing schools that I attended. Despite the uncertainties and challenges, I am hopeful that we will all see each other on the other side stronger, more creative, and resilient than before.

Before I bid goodbye, I want to leave you with two quotes that have helped eased my own fears during these trying times: The first one is from Franklin D. Roosevelt, he said “[c] ourage is not the absence of fear, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear.” You will continue to face countless trials and overcome them. Whenever you are faced with the question of whether you have the strength or the ability to move forward, just remember that you are not alone. You are pursuing your goals and fighting life’s difficulties for something much greater than yourselves. You are doing it for your creator, the one who made you to do great things, and for your families who rely and believe in you even when you fail to believe in yourself.

Finally, please bear in mind what Alexander Pope wrote in the Essay on Man. He said that “[h]ope springs eternal in the human breast. Man never is, but always to be blest. The soul, uneasy, and confin’d from home, rests and expatiates in a life to come.” Always bear in mind that as long as you are living, there is hope and there is an opportunity to grow and recover. It is only when you give up or meet your final rest that you lose the chance of changing your narrative and the possibility of becoming the best person that you were meant to be. Good luck, God bless, and all my love as you start this chapter of your lives with this new semester! Mabuhay kayong lahat!

HOW IT IS LIKE TO BE IN UMAP-COIL

by Alondra Marie F. Sto. Domingo

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thought my quarantine would be just all about waking up, eating, and sleeping but it all changed when Centro Escolar University gave me the opportunity to apply for UMAP-COIL Program 2020 which was offered by the Institute for Innovative Global Education, Kansai University in collaboration with University Mobility in Asia and the Pacific, a voluntary association of government and non-government representatives of the higher education (university) sector. It offered lectures about Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), culture, economics, international affairs, and business innovation for a sustainable society. It started on July 27 and concluded last September 15, 2020.

After I found out that I had been selected as one of the participants of UMAP-COIL 2020 among the 180 plus applicants, I immediately hesitated if I would still push through since in the first place, I never expected that I would be accepted. I was worried for I knew that the program would require commitment and active participation. I feared that I might not be able to give my 100% best all throughout the class to well represent my University and even my country. But thinking about it again, I found a new feeling that greatly excelled and motivated me to keep going – gratitude. I realized that not everybody in my school had been given this chance so why let go of it if I had the whole University rooting for me?

When we had our first class, the setup was a bit awkward for me. I’d never been in a class full of non-Filipino students or even had foreign instructors. I wasn’t also comfortable speaking in fluent English even though I know how to. I was also too shy to open my video camera and show my face to my classmates and instructors. However, when we had our first breakout session, I was obliged to speak and turn on my camera to share my ideas about the certain topic we had. Every meeting went like that – the instructor would give a lecture and leave a question for the students to discuss in breakout rooms. The students I met in breakout rooms all throughout were always in random. I met students from China, Japan, Chile, Hawaii, Indonesia and even those who were from other parts of the Philippines.

After we finished our discussion in our breakout rooms, we would go back to the actual meeting then Dr. Keiko Ikeda, the head instructor, would randomly ask few students to share in the whole class what was discussed in their respective rooms. For those who had not been called, she would ask them to write their

group insights in the chat box. This makes the lecture active and more engaging. Once the meeting was done, we would be given one to two activities to answer in our LMS. Our meeting was only once a week, every Monday, and we had the whole remaining days to finish our posted activities. Every week, we had our guest speakers and few of them were Mr. Robin Jenkins (Founder and Director of Atlantic Pacific), Ms. Kate Sedwell (Co-Founder and Director of Atlantic Pacific) and Mr. Idrees Rasouli (Founder and CEO of X-Corp).

On the second half of the program, we were tasked to have a group presentation about a specific organization’s actions that greatly contribute in achieving the SDGs on the last day of our class. I was put in Team Six and we worked for the presentation for three weeks.

In those weeks, we were asked to hold online meetings on our own which at first was another uncomfortable moment for me but soon made me a confident individual. The group task had been my favorite part of the program because it gave me a chance to personally and deeply know people around the globe. While we were working on our presentation, we had became friends! We now even follow each other on our personal social media accounts. Our hardwork also paid off when we received great and

ESSAYS

positive feedback from our panelists.

I learned a lot of things based from the lessons we had. I gained more knowledge about the culture of different nationalities. I learned how politics work in their respective countries. I discovered that private companies are also great contributors of effort in achieving a better 2030 through the SDGs. I also learned the relevance of international relations in providing humanitarian aid and improving our planet. Because of our collaboration, I realized that I could also work with other people of different nationalities and heritage.

I came to value that culture, language, or even time zone is not a barrier to communicate with people around the globe as long as kindness, respect, and understanding are present may it be in person or online. I will also forever cherish our Filipino proud moments especially when our instructors asked us what is bayong, bayanihan, or even ukay-ukay and we got all excited to answer.

Overall, the experience was fun, productive, and great. It gave me a different perspective about life in this new normal and truly, the chance that UMAP-COIL and CEU has given me made me a whole lot better person.

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he journey with the UMAP-COIL is self-fulfilling; just being able to join such a prestigious program which is known internationally is already an achievement.

It began when our college dean and adviser motivated me into joining the program. I was hesitant to join because of the pressures of lectures in online classes brought about by the reality of unstable internet connection in the country.

Nevertheless, I passed the necessary requirements. After a few weeks, I received an e-mail congratulating me that I was accepted. I was ecstatic with the opportunity to join the program. I know that this summer program would help me in various areas of my Social Work course and most especially I can have a grasp on the Sustainable Development Goals.

Social work is a profession that promotes social development, empowerment of people and communities. Realizing that my involvement with UMAP would deepen my knowledge and understanding of these goals strengthened my motivation to join the program. It allowed me to expand my knowledge about the different global and national issues and be more resolved to stand for those who are unable to speak for themselves. It also influenced me to share my knowledge about advocacy, community development, good governance and aspects of political leadership.

An interesting part of this program is that it offers a variety of interesting subjects, particularly on the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). I have previously studied the SDGs but, through this program, I have acquired a better understanding about SDGs and how it can help nations achieve transformation of peoples all over the world.

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The whole lectures and group work gave me a load of new knowledge and wonderful experiences. At first, I had some difficulties since the lessons and the environment were quite different from what I have been used to. The English language has not been my strong point but I had to cope with it since we were an international group.

In our class exchanges, I enjoyed all activities, lessons and breakout sessions. It was interesting to note that our sharing of culture of our • Ciencia Y Virtud • 1st Issue 2020-2021 •

countries, particularly the principles and values of people in villages gave me so much pride that I am a Filipino.

MY JOURNEY WITH UMAP-COIL

Part of the learning process was to divide us into groups. I was both excited and anxious of which group I would be with. Actually, I really wanted to know more people who were part of the core group. When we finally got our own groups, there were a few struggles that emerged in implementing the project. During the first three days, we had difficulty communicating with each other. We started communicating through Padlet and G-mail, which did not seem appropriate for the team, so we ended up using the LINE app, which made communication easier and more convenient. Another problem we encountered was the time difference that made it tough to arrange and prepare meetings. The group was unfazed by these problems and was able to adapt to the situation to accommodate everyone in the group. We made a commitment that no one should be left out and that made me feel more comfortable and at ease. The difficulties that we encountered did not stop us from having a good time in doing the project. I also found myself appreciating the essence of teamwork and unity. The group projects made me realize what it means to be a team player, where everyone should work and move as one to achieve success. Being a team player gave me the realization how each one may affect and be affected by the whole group.

I also learned the meaning of respect. I have always been respectful towards other people but my experience with UMAP made me understand the true meaning of respect to people regardless of creed, color and nationality. I also realized the value of management and cooperation in the group, especially during our project planning and implementation.

My interaction with students around the world, while doing the project, gave me a sense of purpose and meaning.

convenient for everyone in the program but this new experience gradually gave me a new perspective to further develop my capacities and potentials.

In terms of the environment, in the beginning, it was a struggle to cope with the virtual and international teamwork but with the help of my groupmates, they made it easier for me. The environment was new but I learned to adjust to its challenge for it had become a part of the new normal in this pandemic. The old way of classes might be more effective and

ESSAYS

by Joshua C. Flores

I have noticed that I should address my weakness in public speaking, like unnecessary movements and speech delivery. I may not have achieved the real confidence that I long to have but I was able to establish comfort and take the initiative to meet new people and make friends with them. The program helped me enhance my well-being as an individual and as part of a group that can guide me when I become a registered Social Worker. With the help of my training and experience in the UMAP, I am certain that I will be more prepared to reach out and serve more people and be a strong advocate of social change and community empowerment.

The overall program gave me hope to make the world become a better place to live in, guided by the principles, values and programs which are aligned to the Sustainable Development Goals. There is hope in the world. We are the youth with hope and ideals. All we need is to put our hearts and acts together. The first step is in our midst. Our active engagement and commitment to the ideals of UMAP-COIL would certainly make a difference in the lives of future generations. Let us carry on …

LAUNCHING A DAUGHTER INTO LIFE

by AJBAJ

(Explanatory note: The piece is an excerpt from a talk delivered during a high school recognition ceremony of the author’s daughter, who graduated at the top of her class. The author was selected to give a response on behalf of the parents. The daughter went on to become a doctor, accepted in the Medicine honors course, and eventually ended up as a surgeon.)

I

t was Fr. Joseph Galdon, an esteemed college professor who wrote about “Launching a rocket” as a kind of parable for bringing up kids. He said “The first thing to remember about a rocket launch is that nobody launches a rocket alone. It takes a whole team of scientists and technicians to get the rocket off the ground and into orbit”.

The same thing holds about “launching a daughter into life”.

How these words ring true! Our experience tells us that no matter how hard we try, no matter how much love we give, parents cannot do it on our own.

We have to rely on others to support us, to prop us when the task seems to be too formidable, to lead our daughters when we are not available. Certainly, this is where the school comes in, where the teachers play a major role, more so when we feel the hand of our Almighty Partner moving in the school and its faculty.

Our daughters make us proud. But the parents do not grab all the credit.

In the course of their everyday lives, these young ladies interact with fellow Theresians, friends, mentors, counselors, their peer from other schools, role models, and other significant individuals who have helped mold their personalities, who have influenced their dreams and aspirations, and who have inspired their senses of commitment.

Each teenager in this hall today knows fully well who these people are. Because of them, each of you undoubtedly may already have a grasp of what you are and what you want to

be. And to them, our gratitude knows no bounds.

The second lesson from the rocket parable is that launching a rocket takes a lot of time. It is a continuing process, which does not happen overnight. The memories of our daughters as we were bringing them up, their photographs which we have been collecting, from infancy to becoming a toddler, to their grade school demonstrations, and now, of their high school barkadas are all too familiar to us. How they gave us something to cheer about—moments filled not only with laughter, but also with tension, as they started to develop their independence. In the latter instances, we were almost at our wit’s end but we struggled and we managed to survive.

While not being experts in parenting, as many of our responses to situations were trial and error, still we can mention that providing them a warm and caring home environment, showing interest in their accomplishments, taking part in their activities, and allowing open lines of communication, made it a little easier on us and insured some success as far as child-rearing is concerned. We are grateful to you for enriching our lives, being receptive to us, and sharing in our own vision of the world.

The final lesson in launching a daughter is that it involves some amount of pain. Not everything that will happen will be to our liking. We may meet with disappointment; we may deviate

ESSAYS pinterest.com/pesquisa

from the original ideal path that we set for ourselves – losing a competition or coming out second best or a failed friendship or even disillusionment with a teacher, are but some examples. Side by side with triumphs are the heartaches.

And we commiserated with them.

Initially, we find difficulty in accepting those unexplained events, but eventually we are able to adapt, learn to be resilient, and move on. We are able to derive strength not from within ourselves but from unwavering faith and through constant prayer – elements that make Theresian education special.

In the mid-seventies, when I participated in a summer program for selected high school students, I was absolutely impressed with my counterparts from STC. I felt they were extremely intelligent, outspoken and sensible. This thinking was reinforced particularly in medical school, as there were quite a number of Theresians in our class. Was it because they were encouraged to bloom, to hone their Godgiven talents, and be the best that they can be in the setting of STC? Coupled with the fact that part of the Theresian image was its Catholic backdrop and social commitment. I concluded early on that if I had a daughter, she would be in STC. This has become a reality and what makes me doubly proud is that this reality has been equated with achievement….

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ON THE CONDUCT OF TAKING EXAMINATIONS

by A. Alip

T

he global situation indeed has brought this generation an entirely novel way of life, demanding a kind of adaptation never before experienced with such a magnitude. All aspects of the daily bustle have been disrupted. Education has not been spared. This is the scenario we find ourselves in, trying to navigate online teaching with the tools that are available to us.

Arguably, one of the biggest issues that confront us in this undertaking is how to manage the task of evaluating learning. In more precise terms, how do we give examinations, and how do we gauge the grades as an acceptable measure of knowledge gained.

Granting that the above can be accomplished, we still face the hurdle of that age-old fault, which we call cheating.

In the electronic platforms, specifically in our LEAPS - Canvas mode, this dishonest behavior can be done in a number of ways: utilizing multiple devices, either to look at notes or communicate remotely with a peer; opening several tabs on the screen; or leaving the examination page temporarily.

Thankfully, for the faculty, there are some avenues available to counter that.

In the Quizzes Section of LEAPS, there is a functionality termed “moderating the quiz”. By clicking on that, the proctor will have an indication of how the exam is proceeding. And going even one step further, one can click on any individual examinee, and view the log, which is reflective of how the student is moving through the questions. There you can note whether the student seems to be taking too long in answering one question, whether he has left the quiz page, signified by a red mark, or whether connectivity was lost entirely, and resumed after a significant period has lapsed. The number of times all of these happen can even be detected.

The point being, these events may alert a proctor that something questionable might be going on. While this is not foolproof conclusion that cheating has taken place, this may be used as fair warning addressed at nobody in particular, but announced just the same to discourage students from engaging in such a practice.

The faculty need not even monitor each and every individual student.

There are red flags that would alert you: a very high score, spending too long in submitting, or a habitual occurrence. In fact, this last one can be taken as a sign against any particular student.

Again, may we call to mind other measures that have been recommended previously to mitigate the possibility of cheating: exam questions have to be more on the analytic type rather than recall; total examination time should be commensurate to the difficulty of the questions, i.e. do not give one hour for questions that would only need a half hour to answer; the settings of the exam are done such that the student can only view the questions singly and answers need to be locked. Of course, all these details are doable.

By employing such steps, we may be able to avoid using multiple devices in exam-taking, which seems not to be practicable in the first place, and similarly not to mobilize so many hands in monitoring the exam, which may be too labor-intensive.

Lastly, we may be able to devise other methods of grading the students, and not just focus on examinations. More facets may be explored towards this direction. unsplash.com

pinterest.com/lauramcveigh

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• Ciencia Y Virtud • 1st Issue 2020-2021 •

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painting is not just a combination of colors and strokes of brushes.

It is a feeling of a woman drunk in love as she fills the canvas with peach and red and hues of pink.

It is an emotion of Patriotism, of a man unable to fire bullets but could awaken minds.

It is the tear of a mother with a lying and oblivious husband.

We cannot tell the age of these paintings, of how many generations they’ve been through and how many hands had held them, and it does not only hold lines, shapes and figures, it keeps moments, memories that for once, everything was perfect. That there was a time when a girl is cured from Cancer and the world just seemed better.

A picture in a painting represents the emotions of the painter and for all we know those feelings are priceless.

You are not just buying its beauty and you are not paying for the image.

You are entering another world, you are given permission to know how it feels, to see how it looks like to live a life than your own.

ESSAYS

WHY IS ART EXPENSIVE?

by Mediatrix Therese L. Realubit

It could appear as color Red in others’ eyes, but to you, it could mean that is the blood of the people killed in a war or perhaps the lipstick shade of an upcoming superstar.

To see art is to witness a miracle, to know history’s untold truth.

And most importantly, you are taking the months, the years, even the decades of the person who strived and worked and shared and allowed you to feel magic in the form of circles, squares, in the shades of blues, blacks or yellows. Art is bounded in each artist’s soul, it’s a part of someone’s story that was better off created with dirty brushes than lying and sugar-coated mouths.

You see, money can only buy things that spoil, rots and fleets away. But somehow it could give you ticket to know perspectives and witness moments that no amount of time will be able to fade away.

Buying Art is expensive, But having your heart moved, your eyes tearing and your mind awakened, now that is priceless.

PRESIDENT’S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

Good afternoon to everyone. nang-una ayoko kasing makalimutang magpasalamat muna sa mga nagtaguyod ng ating Christmas party na may napakagandang tema, “Tuloy na tuloy pa rin ang ating pasko sa Centro Escolar”. Maraming maraming salamat sa kanila. Hindi ko na sila iisa-isahin dahil ang dami- dami nila. Tayo rin ay magpasalamat sa ating dalawang emcee. Thank you very much.

Nais ko rin muna… bago ko ipagpatuloy ang aking message, magpasalamat sa inyong lahat na nagtaguyod sa misyon ng Unibersidad ngayong taon na ito. Siniguro ninyo na hindi titigil ang pagtataguyod ng ating misyon. Maraming maraming salamat sa inyo. Sa ating faculty na talagang ang daming dinaanan sa paggawa ng mga modules nila, sa pagtuturo ngayon, sa kanilang pasensya sa mga estudyante na kapareho din nila na madaming pinagdadaanan na pagsubok. Sa inyong lahat maraming maraming salamat. At ganun na rin sa ating mga support staff na tumutulong din para maipagpatuloy nating lahat ang mga serbisyo ng ating Unibersidad.

Even though we experience so many hardships, there are still so many things to be thankful for.

Marami tayong pinapasalamatan maski mahirap ang ating pinagdaraanan. Yes of course. And one of the things we should be thankful for is that we are given opportunities to help others. Ang daming oportunidad ngayon sa atin na makatulong sa iba na dapat din nating ipagpasalamat. Magpapasalamat tayo sa Diyos sa lahat ng mga oportunidad na ito at salamat sa kanyang proteksyon, na sa kabila nitong lahat, sana magpatuloy na ganito, na talagang mabibilang mo lamang sa isang kamay, sa mga daliri ng isang kamay ang naapektuhan sa atin ng covid. So yan lang nagpapasalamat talaga tayo na kakaunti sa atin ang nagkaroon ng sakit na yan.

How many of you remember the story by Dr. Suess? This one is for the children and the title of the story is “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”.

Ibabahagi ko sa inyo itong kwento na ito at baka nakalimutan na ninyo o baka hindi nyo nabasa ito noong maliit pa kayo. Pero itong kwento na ito, maski maliit, bata, matanda, it is very good to look at this story again. I will just give you a very brief version of the story but I hope you get the gist.

U

a lot.

According to the story, Every Who down in Whoville liked Christmas

But the Grinch who lived just North of Whoville did not!

So, what did he do?

I must find some way to stop Christmas coming!

And he tried to disguise himself as Santa Claus, got a reindeer and he said, “If I can’t find a reindeer, I’ll make one instead!”

So, kumuha siya ng patpat at nilagay niya sa ulo ng kanyang aso. And then, what else did he do?

Then he loaded some bags and some old empty unsplash.com

sacks on a ramshackle sleigh.

What for? Well, this is what for Then he slid down the chimney, Where the little Who stockings hung all in a row.

“These stockings,” he grinched, “are the first things to go!”

So, he took down all the stockings that were hung there by the children hoping for Santa to come, but Grinch came first and took down all the stockings. What else did he do?

Then he slithered and slunk, with a smile most unpleasant.

Around the whole room, and he took every present!

Stuffed them all in the bags.

So, he said, “Pooh-pooh to the Who’s” he grinchily humming.

“They’re finding out now that no Christmas is coming!

Then the Whos down in Whoville will all cry BOO-HOO!”

Well, our question is, “Will the Virus steal Christmas this time?” and will we Escolarians all cry “BOO HOO?” Will we? Tuloy ko yung kwento.

“That’s a noise,” grinned the Grinch, “that I simply must hear!”

He wanted to hear all the boo-hoos.

He paused, and the Grinch put a hand to his ear.

And he did hear a sound rising over the snow.

It started in low, then it started to grow. and he heard Welcome Christmas! Come this way! Welcome Christmas, Christmas day!

And what did he see? What did he hear?

But this sound was not sad!

Why, this SOUND SOUNDED GLAD! Every Who down in Whoville, the tall and the small, was singing without any presents at all!

So, he wondered.

He hadn’t stopped Christmas from coming!

It came! Somehow or other, it came just the same!

And the Grinch stood puzzling and puzzling.

“How could it be so?”

So, he thought there carefully, and finally he came to a conclusion, “Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps means a little bit more” And with that realization came with his smile, a joy in his face.

So, my dear Escolarians, Will the virus steal Christmas from us? Will we let the virus steal Christmas from us? Will Sars-Cov 2 steal our decors? Will Sars-Cov 2 steal our gifts? Will SarsCov2 steal our Noche Buena?

Grinch Sars-Cov2 can steal the Noche Buena, the parols and decors, and the gifts.

But we CANNOT let it steal the BABY IN THE MANGER!

We cannot let the coronavirus steal Jesus.

We can skip it all. We can skip the lavish Noche Buena. We can skip the traditions, the presents. We can skip Santa, Rudolph, and Frosty too. We can skip it all. But we must not, we dare not, skip Christ.

Why? Well, With Jesus Christ, hope remains.

We read in Jeremiah 29:11; “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

With Jesus Christ, Hope remains.

What else? With Jesus Christ, Peace remains.

And we read in Philippians 4:6-7; “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

So, Peace remains with Jesus Christ. And with Jesus Christ, Joy remains. You heard the homily earlier of Fr. Garindo who said, “Joy remains”.

And we read in Luke 2:10-11; “But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’”

And this Christmas with our hearts, there will be born for each one of us, A savior, a Jesus Christ.

Emmanuel, God with us. And of course, with Jesus Christ, Love remains. He assured us in John 3:16; “For God do loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

That is the greatest gift of all; the love of God for us. And that is why the next commandment says, “Love your neighbor like yourself.” So, with Jesus Christ, love remains. So, let us be sure we do not give up Christ this Christmas so that, Peace, Hope, Joy, and Love will remain with us.

So, my greetings to everyone of you. May God’s Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love be ours to cherish and to share this Christmas and through the new year!

So, to all, blessings of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love! And with this, I have a closing video for you.

Enjoy it. This was done by our people in MCD.

45 Years

in Service 40 Years

in Service

35 Years

in Service

30 Years

in Service

25 Years

in Service

20 Years

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AWARDEES

FOR 2020

15 Years in Service

CEU SERVICE

CEU HONORS LOYAL EMPLOYEES AND ALUMNI VIA VIRTUAL LOYALTY DAY

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s Centro Escolar University continues in providing education, it also continues to celebrate one of the significant events in the CEU community, the Loyalty Day. The University staged its annual Loyalty Day via online streaming to recognize the teaching and non-teaching personnel whose allegiance in service to the University reached 45, 40, 35, 30, 25, 20, and 15 years. Parent-alumni who have chosen their alma mater as the same provider of education for their children were also given recognition.

The CEU Loyalty Day is celebrated every September 11 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr. Concepcion Aguila, CEU’s icon of fidelity and commitment to service and who served the University with excellence and integrity as Executive Director, Dean of the Graduate School, Dean of the College of Education, and moderator of extracurricular activities.

“I was not given the chance to meet her personally, but I felt her positive influence on the people who had the chance to work with her. Her legacy and mantra of strict discipline, professionalism and high standards are taken seriously, practiced earnestly and thoughtfully by her successor,” Dr. Allan Raymund Del Rosario said as he paid tribute to the late Dr. Aguila in his speech as guest speaker.

Dr. Del Rosario is a CEU alumnus who is now based in the United States as a teacher and Chair in Education of Children with Special Needs. He stayed for almost 20 years in CEU—four years as a student and 16 years as an employee.

“I hope that our care and love for our alma mater remains and stays forever. Let’s support one another, pray for each other, especially in this time of global pandemic. Again, my congratulations to all loyalty awardees and to CEU,” he added.

The highlight of the event is the presentation of the 101 parent-alumni and service awardees. Two of them are 45-year service awardees, Mrs. Patricia Alviar from CEU Manila School of Nursing and Ms. Amelia Rubin De Celis of

CEU Manila, School of Pharmacy.

In Ms. De Celis’ response as awardee, she encouraged her co-employees to use every opportunity to perform their work with the best of their abilities and enjoy working in CEU as much as she did while moving forward to their career fulfilment.

Meanwhile, Dr. Kathryn Cunanan-Elevazo, Doctor of Optometry alumna, Class of 1992 delivered the response for the parent-awardees. Like her mother, she and her husband, who is also a CEU alumnus, decided to pass on the Escolarian education to their son who will be graduating also as optometrist.

“On behalf of all my fellow parent-awardees, I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to our alma mater, the Centro Escolar University, for giving us inspiration, for molding us and the future students of Optometry to be better and successful individuals,” she said.

This very first virtual Loyalty Day was made possible through the efforts of the working committees led by Dr. Rhoda Aguilar, University Registrar and Dr. Paz I. Lucido, President of CEU Alumni Foundation Inc. (CEU-AFI).

EXEMPLAR EMPLOYEES IN 18TH QUALITY AWARDS DAY

O

n its 18th year of recognizing quality service and outstanding efforts of its faculty and non-teaching personnel, Centro Escolar University staged its annual Quality Awards Day online on November 21, 2020.

This year, CEU named qualified employees and teams for the category of Teacher of the Year, Non-Teaching Employee of the Year, Research of the Year, Best Internal Quality Audit Sub-Team, and Best Quality Circle.

The submission of nominees for each category started in June and the finalists for the Best Quality Circle were posted in the CEU Workplace.

This event is usually staged every July 17 to also mark the birth anniversary of one of CEU’s founders, Doña Generosa De Leon but was postponed due to the pandemic.

The current pandemic may have resulted to limited gatherings but the University decided to keep this significant tradition alive virtually.

Recipient of the Teacher of the Year Award is Ms. Josan D. Tamayo from the College of Accountancy, Management and Technology of CEU Malolos. Mr. Crisfel R. Del Mundo of the School of Pharmacy, CEU Manila received the Research of the Year Award for his study, “In vivo

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• Ciencia Y Virtud • 1st Issue 2020-2021 •

COX-2 Modulation and Metabolite Profiling of Pandanus Tectorius Leaves Extracts”. The NonTeaching Employees of the Year are Ms. Josiefhel Q. Palmiery of the Cash Section, Makati campus for the non-supervisory category and Ms. Rouella M. Baluyut from the General Services, Makati campus for the Supervisory.

The Best IQA Sub-Team is Team C Manila composed of Ms. Claudette Nuguid and Mr. Joe Andrian Catalla from the Guidance and Counselling Department, Manila. The Best Quality Circle is the Physical Plant and Facilities Department/ Dent QC Team composed of Mr. Arthur Escobar, Mr. Luisito Anoc, Mr. Arnel Red, Mr. Jon jon Mercado, Mr. Jason Betis, Mr. Rey Raposa, Mr. Noel Panganiban, and Mr. Joel Romandi.

The University was also honored to have Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso as guest speaker. He expressed his congratulations to all the awardees as well as to the institution for holding this celebration for 18 years.

“May this occasion serves as a reminder for us to continue serving our community with utmost passion and sincerity,” said Mayor Isko and ended his message with health and safety reminders for the COVID-19.

EVENT

The Quality Awards Day is dedicated to give credit to the sincere and quality efforts of the faculty and staff manifested in their service and work output. It is also an event that honors the past leaders of the University. The legacy of the founders of CEU, Doña Carmen De Luna and Doña Generosa De Leon, and former president, Dr. Lourdes Echauz were commemorated as models of excellence and quality.

“We laud all sectors of our community who are rallying to keep our services in CEU not just alive but robust and thriving. For me to say thank you to you is presumptuous. I am not the recipient of the service you do. Our students, our community, our nation are the real recipients. It is only on their behalf that I express profound and heartfelt gratitude and I also ask God to give us the strength and guide us to continue that service,” said Dr. Ma. Cristina Padolina, CEU President and Chief Academic Officer in her message.

The event was spearheaded by its overall chair, Dr. Olivia Limuaco, the vice president for CEU Makati. She was assisted by Dr. Charito Bermido, the dean of School of Medical Technology and Dr. Erna V. Yabut, the vice president for Research and Evaluation, served as consultant.

CEU ENGAGE AND QPQU DIGITAL CREATED AND LAUNCHED

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he global pandemic made digital media take on a huge role in the new teaching and learning setup of teachers and students, as well as in the work-from-home arrangement of employees. The wise and prompt decision of Centro Escolar University on the continuity of education led to the creation of the CEU Engagement thru the Net for Growth in the Digital AGE (ENGAGE) for its students and the Quality People Quality University (QPQU) Digital for its faculty and non-teaching personnel. Both programs focus on promoting connection and digital wellness for the entire CEU community. Both the CEU ENGAGE and QPQU Digital post their activities in CEU Workplace.

CEU ENGAGE (Engagement thru the Net for Growth in the Digital AGE) The CEU ENGAGE program was launched a week after the opening of classes of the University for school year 2020-2021. A series of online activities have been prepared for the students to build and maintain a sense of belongingness and spirit of community within them and with other members of the community, while also keeping themselves safe at the comforts of their homes.

The program comprises six teams namely Student Engagement, Successful Online Learners, Digital WellBeing, Digital Citizenship, Digital Etiquette, and Digital Safety. These teams have lined up fun, interactive and enriching online activities, information and inspiration for the students with a common goal of helping them be productive, responsible and safely engaged in the digital world.

During its launch, anime characters that represent each of the teams were introduced, and were given official names through the “Name That Anime Contest”, where students participated and recommended names suited for the roles of the teams and their character representations.

Meet the Anime Characters of CEU ENGAGE COLA represents the Student Engagement Team that posts artcards to make Escolarians feel good and inspired. She invites them to participate in contests like “Paint that Scorpion,” “Face Mask Design Contest” and others. Cola’s name was taken from Escolar. She is fun and bubbly just like the young Escolarians.

LEORIO which means “Gift of God” also represents “learning”. He is the anime character of the Successful Online Learners Team that posts activities that foster positive and pro-active attitude towards online learning. Leorio’s team helps students become successful online learners in their chosen program and profession.

He’s a smart Escolarian.

DR. PIERRE of the Digital WellBeing Team promotes healthy lifestyle.

As what doctors do, using scientific knowledge in expressing care helps Escolarians maintain a balance between digital and face-to-face interactions.

Extensive use of gadgets can be harmful to one’s well-being and Dr. Pierre knows what is best for healthy Escolarians.

CARMELA and AVEL of the Digital Citizenship Team assist students in becoming responsible, ethical, honest and literate in the digital world. There are loads of information that one consumes from digital media, but Carmela and Avel’s team guides the Escolarians to have the right mindset and behavior when appreciating and using them. That’s how Doña Carmen de Luna and Doña Librada Avelino’s way of thinking.

LARINA of the Digital Etiquette Team provides the “netiquette” or set of rules for acceptable manners and behavior while communicating online because the digital world is no different from the real world. An Escolarina knows the limitations and applies rules to follow.

OFFICER CYRINA equips Escolarian netizens with effective ways of protecting themselves from the dangers in using the internet.

Her Digital Safety Team provides infographics, videos and webinars on the basics and trends on safeguarding oneself and privacy online. That’s how prepared Escolarinas are.

QPQU (Quality People, Quality University) Digital The QPQU is a program already established and fully operational. It pursues activities to ignite real motivation for work among the faculty and personnel of the University, make them extra inspired to turn out quality work and outputs, as well as influence others to be motivated and inspired in leading quality personal and work life.

Considering that both faculty and non-teaching personnel are remotely located and have shifted to online work arrangement, the QPQU Digital was launched on September 2020 to strengthen their commitment to the Vision and Mission of the University and promote the CEU values in their online engagement. The program also advances the concepts of digital citizenship and technology-life balance.

EVENTS

Four teams were formed under this program namely Employee Engagement and Productivity, Digital Well-Being, Digital Etiquette, and Digital Safety Employee Engagement and Productivity The Employee Engagement and Productivity Team conducts fun and enriching activities through various digital platforms to educate employees about digital productivity tools that will help them with their day-to-day tasks.

Digital Well-Being Helping both faculty and non-teaching personnel maintain their health and wellness in an environment characterized by digital information and communication overload is the beat and call of the Digital Well-Being Team.

Digital Etiquette The Digital Etiquette Team promotes desirable manners in online interaction and engagement in all forms of communication platforms such as e-mails, video conferencing, digital and social networking sites.

Digital Safety This team provides guidelines on safe and responsible use of the internet. The Digital Safety Team also ventures on orienting and updating the employees on security risks associated with or inherent in the use of different online platforms.

The holistic approach of CEU ENGAGE and QPQU Digital applies the three principles of online engagement of the University-protecting the safety and promoting the well-being of all members of the CEU community; sustaining the quality of the academic experience; and ensuring the active engagement of members of the CEU community with one another and with the University undertakings.

“To give students a rich college experience, we have put in place programs to continue to foster a sense of community in the University and address their need for social connections despite physical distancing.

Let us promote each one’s well-being through kind, patient and thoughtful social interactions,” said Dr. Ma. Cristina D. Padolina, CEU President and Chief Academic Officer in her message to the members of the CEU community.

Be digitally engaged and be updated as quality people towards maintaining quality University. Visit CEU Workplace!

• 1st Issue 2020-2021 • Ciencia Y Virtud •

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CEU CELEBRATES HOLIDAY SEASON THROUGH VIRTUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY

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arrying with them the joy and spirit of the holiday season, the entire Centro Escolar University community gathered online for the first virtual University Christmas Party on December 16, 2020.

True to its theme, “Malayo Man, Malapit Din, Paskong Centro E-scolar Tuloy na Tuloy Pa Rin,” the current pandemic that physically have distanced the members of the CEU community did not prevent the celebration to happen. The Student Activity Center that used to be the event’s venue was changed to the virtual app Zoom that made everyone feel involved and connected.

Dr. Ma. Cristina Padolina, University President and Chief Academic Officer warmly welcomed the participants and shared the children’s story “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” reminding everyone a very important lesson that nothing could ever

steal Christmas from us, not even COVID-19.

Instead, we should focus on the true meaning of this special day which is spreading joy, love, peace and hope.

Interactive games and exciting raffle prizes were prepared for the faculty and nonteaching staff to enjoy. For the entertainment of the entire CEU family, they were also virtually serenaded by Mr. Gary Granada, a well-known Filipino musician and composer.

The celebration did not only serve as a reunion for everyone but also to unite in thanksgiving for how the Lord has greatly blessed and guided the University

all throughout the very challenging year.

The event was made possible through the leadership of Dr. Bella Marie Fabian, Assistant Vice President for Administration A week before the Virtual Christmas Party the 10th Escolarian Lessons and Carols was held to officially welcome the holiday spirit and mark the beginning of Christmas through songs and bible readings. It was spearheaded by the CEU Presidential Committee on Culture and the Arts in collaboration with the Conservatory of Music with Prof. Angelito Ayran, Jr. as Head.

CEU HOLDS FIRST VIRTUAL UNIVERSITY CONVOCATION

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n celebration of the University’s 113th Founding Anniversary, Centro Escolar University in coordination with the CEU Presidential Committee on Culture and the Arts staged an online presentation of its annual University Convocation on September 6, 2020 via Facebook, CEU Workplace and YouTube.

“In this program, we want to emphasize that the primary objective of the University during this year is not really just continuing education and continuing engagement of all members of the CEU community. It is to keep everyone safe, and to preserve the health of everyone,” said Dr. Ma. Cristina Padolina, CEU President and Chief Academic Officer in her welcome message.

Two experts in the field of psychology were invited to speak about “Ways to Wellness”. Ms. Lilian Ng Gui, a Registered Psychologist and

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• Ciencia Y Virtud • 1st Issue 2020-2021 •

Chairwoman of the Counseling Division of the Psychological Association of the Philippines talked about how life has changed due to COVID-19. She discussed how these changes can lead to overthinking which contributes to psychological problems like depression and anxiety; thus causing one’s mental health to decline. Given this reality, she shared ways to cope with the new normal and how to handle its psychological effects.

Mr. Michael Jimenez, a Registered Psychologist, a nurse and a licensed professional teacher, gave an informative discussion on Digitization and the Human Psyche. It is about the relationship between digitization and the human brain. Mr. Jimenez explained that the brain wants routine and is resistant to change. Hence, as the brain undergoes changes such as the new normal

EVENTS

brought about by the pandemic, it is subjected to stress. However, the brain has also the ability to restructure and adapt to changes by doing them repeatedly; thus, eventually becoming part of one’s routine. He added that the challenges that come with these changes are important in our lives because they shape us to be stronger individuals. He further explained that the more obstacles we experience, the better the brain will be able to adapt to these changes. So he emphasized that we must embrace whatever challenges that come along.

After the very enriching talks, questions raised via Facebook live were welcomed by the two speakers with Prof. Ricky Rosales, CEU Communication and Media Program Head and Prof. Angelito Ayran, Jr., CEU Conservatory of Music Head as moderators and event’s hosts.

The CEU PCCA chaired by Dr. Carlito Olaer, Vice President for Student Affairs, is a committee composed of board members from CEU Manila, Makati and Malolos campuses.

The committee handles the University’s cultural groups namely CEU Folk Dance Troupe, CEU Concert Band, and CEU Singers Manila, Makati and Malolos.

The CEU Singers Manila, Kim Correa of the CEU Concert Band, and CEU Folk Dance Troupe rendered virtual performances.

ESCOLARIANS GATHER FOR VIRTUAL USC LEADERSHIP CONGRESS

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entro Escolar University Student Council held its very first virtual Leadership Congress. It ran for three consecutive Saturdays, October 10, 17, and 24, 2020 and were livestreamed via Facebook, Youtube and CEU Workplace.

Although the CEU Librada Auditorium that used to be filled with student leaders from the three CEU campuses-Manila, Makati and Malolos was empty for the annual leadership congress due to the pandemic, the physical distance did not hinder the Escolarians to gather and be connected virtually for the event.

With the theme, “Ang Panday Series: Lilok,” the Leadership Congress became a venue for engagement, discussion and interaction among student leaders of CEU. Specifically, it aimed to make a difference in planning and organizing relevant and meaningful activities that would hone the leaders’ physical, intellectual, and psycho social skills towards holistic formation and growth while coping with the new normal.

“Do you want success in your life? Do you want to experience fulfillment, joy and meaning into your life? Do not despise trials and sufferings; just go through them. You may

feel weak at times, but God will give you the strength for He is the rock that you can grip on,” said Mrs. Miriam Quiambao-Roberto, Miss Universe 1999, 1st Runner-Up and Anchor Host at The 700 Club Asia. She was the speaker during the first day of the congress series and inspired the students on her discussion of her topic, “The Better Self: Leader’s Individuality, Grit, Honor and Tenacity (LIGHT)”.

She shared her wonderful journey from being in the limelight to having struggles in her relationship and career. But when she finally found God and accepted Him as her personal savior, she then was able to find the true happiness and meaning of success.

The enriching discussion continued on the second day of the series which focused on “Dignifying the New Normal: Shaping Online Influence and Leadership (SOIL),” with Dr. Leandro Loyola as the resource speaker. He is the president of Philippine Association of Practitioners of Student Affairs and Services and the Director of the Student Affairs of De La Salle University Laguna. For the final day, a talk on “Selfless and Abiding Leaders of Tomorrow (SALT)” was delivered by Mr. Marlon Molmisa, the Founding President of

Mzone Training Philippines and Chairman of the Elevaxion.

Open forum and announcement of winners for virtual contests and raffles were also conducted after each session.

The Leadership Congress culminated with the induction of the newly elected student leaders of School Student Councils, Universitywide and School-based organizations, and University Student Council for School Year 2020-2021 of CEU Manila. This school year’s USC is led by Maria Bernadette Nakagami, as the President; Juan Carlos Carranceja, 1st Vice President; Pamela Grace Corpuz, 2nd Vice President; Sofia Marie Gregorio, Secretary; Rica Mae Bautista, Assistant Secretary; Michaela Alisa Flores, Treasurer; Oliver Pineda, Auditor; Jhoanna Kate Lazaro, PRO; and Jose Carlo Olaer, Assistant PRO. Former USC president, Juan Carlos Carranceja turned over the key of responsibility to the new President, Maria Bernadette Nakagami.

This event was made possible through the efforts of the Student Affairs Office led by Dr. Carlito Olaer, Vice President for Student Affairs together with the USC Officers.

CEU OFFERS NEW STUDENT LOAN PROGRAM

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entro Escolar University is now an accredited partner of Landbank for its i-STUDY Program.

(Interim Student’s Loan for Tuitions Towards Upliftment of Education for the Development of the Youth) which offers financial assistance to parents, guardians and benefactors to help them send their children to school especially during this time of the pandemic that affected their jobs and businesses.

To apply, the student must fill out the application form which has been emailed to all Escolarians

EVENTS google.com/landbankloan

by Mr. Jericho Orlina, CEU Vice President for Business Affairs. The filled out form saved in PDF format with the student’s name as file name, is sent to Landbank with “i-Study loan for CEU” as email subject. Students from Manila and Malolos campuses may send the form to lbpmbd1@gmail.com and lanbank_ mbd2@yahoo.com for those from Makati.

Eligibility criteria and documentary requirements can be accessed through Landbank’s e-brochure posted on this link https://www.landbank.com/loans/businessloan/i-study.

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CEU GRANTED RENEWAL OF THE CERTIFICATION UNDER ISO 9001:2015 STANDARDS

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entro Escolar University was granted a new ISO 9001:2015 certification by Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS). The certification covers all the academic and support services in its Manila, Makati and Malolos campuses including the School of Medicine.

“We would like to thank each one of you for your contribution to this significant achievement of the University.

The audit this year posted many

challenges but you all rose to meet them.

Congratulations!”said Dr. Ma. Cristina D. Padolina, CEU President and Chief Academic Officer in her email addressed to the members of the Management Council, faculty, and non-teaching staff.

She also mentioned and expressed

her appreciation to Dr. Erna Yabut, Vice President for Research and Evaluation who spearheaded the recent audit.

This another milestone inspires and motivates the University to continue its founders’ legacy of quality and excellence in all its endeavors.

11TH METRO MANILA HEALTH RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CONSORTIUM (MMHRDC) ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE

by Avelina Raqueno

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he Metro Manila Health Research and Development Consortium (MMHRDC) conducted its first virtual oral and poster presentation competition on October 21, 2020 as part of its 11th Annual Scientific Conference. The contest was divided into two (2) categories: Professional and Undergraduate.

Centro Escolar University participated in the professional category. There were 16 entries from seven institutions.

Out of 16 entries, six were chosen for oral and ten for poster competitions.

The entries of the Centro Escolar University won in both categories.

1st Place in ORAL RESEARCH PRESENTATION COMPETITION “The Effectiveness of Topical Oxygen therapy in Wound healing of 2nd Place in RESEARCH POSTER Care in Patients Undergoing Elective Patient with Diabetic Foot Ulcer” COMPETITION Laparotomy Cholecystectomy MR. MARVIN QUEG (MS “Preventing Surgical Site Infection Surgery” Using Operating Room Bundle of ERIKA LESLIE R. MAGAT (MS Nursing) Nursing) st • Ciencia Y Virtud • 1 Issue 2020-2021 • 16 NEWS/ACHIEVEMENTS

CEU ALUMNA ESTABLISHES WORLD-CLASS EYE CARE CLINIC IN DAVAO

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entro Escolar University School of Optometry alumna, Dr. Lareen Dawn Baluso-Tan, is the eye care expert behind Eyecare Deluxe, an elite eye clinic which she opened recently in Davao City.

With complete advanced and up-to-date equipment and facilities, Eyecare Deluxe will provide its valued patients with quality eye care whether through eyeglasses, specialty eye care services or prompt referrals to other ophthalmologists, neurologists, internists, and other medical specialties.

“After I took my oath, I went back to Davao City with the sole intention of bringing to my hometown everything I

learned from CEU, all the international advancements in the eye care practice, world-class eye care services, and state-of-the-art ophthalmic facilities.

Even if my colleagues tell me that the Davao market is not ready, I believe that Davaoeños deserve to experience the best eye care experience,” Dr. Tan said in an interview with Sun Star.

“The optometry curriculum in CEU was the best one in the Philippines if not in the whole of Asia. It is patterned from the optometry practice in the US, Canada, and Europe. Its six-year curriculum provides in-depth study and understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the eye, ocular diseases, ocular pharmacology, optometry

medicine, binocular vision, orthoptics and pediatrics, low vision, neurooptometry, ocular prosthesis, as well as occupational, industrial, and public health optometry,” she added.

With Dr. Tan’s Eyecare Deluxe eye clinic in Davao City, Davaoeños can now have a much accessible place to go for their eye care needs.

Aside from being an optometrist like her parents, Dr. Lareen Dawn Baluso-Tan is a pediatric eye care, vision therapy and orthokeratology expert. It is also interesting to mention that she landed on the Top 2 spot in the July 2015 Optometrist Licensure Exam where the Top 1-9 were all from CEU Manila.

CEU FACULTY NAMED AS DISTINGUISHED EDUCATOR IN GERONTOLOGY NURSING BY NHCGNE

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entro Escolar University Graduate School faculty, Dr. Pearl Ed Cuevas, was recognized as Distinguished Educator in Gerontology Nursing by the National Hatford Center in Gerontological Nursing (NHCGNE) based in Virginia, USA. “Filipinos are known to be caring for older persons and what better way to do this than to be equipped with the knowledge, skills and attitude towards older person care. CEU’s Diploma in Gerontology and Master of Science in Gerontology Nursing program prepare

the students for the challenges of the aging population in the local and international arena,” said Dr. Cuevas.

“Coupled with Science and Virtue, the CEU programs in gerontology develop gerontology nurses that are passionate, dynamic, innovative, and ready to face the challenge of giving care for older persons in a diverse and changing world,” she added.

Dr. Cuevas received the prestigious award during the recent 2020 NHCGNE Virtual Leadership Congress. The Virtual Conference in Virginia USA. awarding was held on October 28, The said awarding is in YouTube.

2020 at the National Hartford Center https://youtu.be/2YD9YWCPsHk NEWS/ACHIEVEMENTS

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CEU MUSIC PROFESSOR IS MUSICAL DIRECTOR OF GERALD SANTOS’ VIRTUAL BENEFIT CONCERT

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entro Escolar University Conservatory of Music Professor Mr. Joed Balsamo directed and provided the musical arrangement of the virtual benefit concert of international theater artist and Philippines’ Concert Prince Gerald Santos. The concert was streamed online on 17 October 2020 (Saturday) from 9 to 11:30 p.m.

(Philippine time). Concept, script, and direction were by Antonino Rommel Ramilo.

Gerald Santos, who portrayed Thuy in the UK Tour of the hit musical Miss Saigon, held his first major virtual concert entitled “The Great Shift”. It was produced by TAG Media Group in cooperation with Frontrow and Globaltronics. The concert is also the first full-length concert to be shot on an actual stage since the lockdown began in March.

The concert featured top artists like renowned baritone Andrew Fernando, international theatre actress Joreen Bautista (who also portrayed Kim

in the UK Tour with Gerald), Asia’s Best Singing Competition Season 2 grand champion Elisha Pontanares, and Tony and Olivier award winner and international concert artist Ms. Lea Salonga

who rendered musical numbers from OPM pop and ballads to popular songs from Broadway and Philippine musicals. Mr. Balsamo also led the piano with Silent Sanctuary band members Kim Mirandilla Ng on the violin and Anjo Inacay on the cello.who will render musical numbers from OPM pop and ballads to popular songs from Broadway and Philippine musicals.

Professor Balsamo is indeed CEU’s pride with his numerous achievements which proved his expertise in the field of music. He was the 2nd Prize Winner in the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA) for his composition Passacaglia No. 1 in F-sharp Phrygian Mode which became the official contest piece for the 2016 NAMCYA Junior Piano Category. He also received the 3rd prize and Best performance Award of a Filipino piece at the 2000 UP Millennium Piano Competition and 2nd prize at the 2001 NAMCYA Piano Category C. Aside from these recognitions, he also joined musicals and is an active member of various music organizations.

Proceeds of the concert were given to the Good Samaritan Foundation and Artists Welfare Project, Inc. (AWPI) to help the displaced freelance artists in this time of pandemic.

CEU CENTRO CREATIVES DOCUMENTARY NAMED AS FINALIST IN NCCT #DOKYUBATA2020

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entro Escolar University Centro Creatives’ video documentary entry titled “Litrato ng Pandemya” produced by students from the School of Education, Liberal Arts, Music and Social Work (SELAMS) was among the top ten finalists of National Council for Children’s Television (NCCT) #DokyuBata2020 Young Adult Division.

With this year’s theme, “Pagbabagot’ Pagbangon: Mga Kuwento ng Katatagan at Pag-asa sa Gitna ng Pandemya.” the team’s documentary video revolves around the inspiring story of an event photographer whose job was badly affected by the pandemic and how his family struggled to survive all the challenges they had faced.

Students behind the video production are sophomore Communication and Media majors

Jerome Ventinilla, Moira Ocampo, Nicole Mendoza, Charisse Mahilum and freshmen Sophia Amanda Potenciano and Kyla Dela Peña who are also taking up Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media.

“One of the reasons why we chose this story was because the events industry which also economically suffered during this COVID-19 pandemic was not given much attention,” shared Jerome who was the team’s director.

The NCCT DokyuBata: Isang Pagdiriwang ng Dokumentaryong Pantelebisyon Para sa Batang Pilipino believes that through video documentary, children will be able to express their concerns, interests, ideas, and thoughts in a creative way. This is an annual documentary contest established in 2017.

CEU MUSIC STUDENT RELEASES ORIGINAL SONG IN MUSIC STREAMING PLATFORMS

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entro Escolar University School of Education, Liberal Arts, Music and Social Work (SELAMS) student Trischa Mendoza got her original song composition “Hanggang Dulo” released in Spotify, Apple Music and Youtube Music.

“When I heard my song on Spotify, I really felt so grateful and blessed. All glory to God!” she said.

“My love for music started when I was a kid, and as I grew up, I found that through music I was able to release and express my feelings, emotions, and experiences,” said Trischa who is currently a first year student taking up Bachelor

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of Music in Music Education Major in Voice.

The song Hanggang Dulo is about letting go of someone you love but despite losing that person, at the end of that phase of your life you will eventually find yourself.

She submitted her song to Enrich Originals and was featured in the Episode 4 of “You. Me. Maybe” which is one of the digital series that feature Erich Gonzales and Enchong Dee as lead characters. According to Trischa, someone approached and informed her that Enrich Originals was looking for an original song to be used for their drama, so she then grabbed the opportunity and the rest was history. This opportunity opens the door to CEU’s talented Conservatory of Music student, Trischa.

See links below.

Hanggang Dulo by Trischa Mendoza on (Music Video): https://youtu.be/35AflGYJbCk

FINALLY

by Mark Ivan M. Gomez

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eople judged me with no reasons; Based on superstition without propositions, They attacked my characters rather than my assertions, This is the world today, full of condemnation.

Speaking without validation; Concluding without reflection, Acting like a victim, Well in fact, they are dominating.

Yes, that is their nature as a person: But I must understand their reasons, Think holistically rather than partially, Be the avatar of love to your society.

They helped me to achieve my goals, They awakened my sleeping soul, They taught me to have courage and hope, Finally, to face life’s challenges and to cope. photo credits: gatienza unsplash.com

VERSE 76

HAIKU 73

by AJBAB

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by AJBAB

hank you God of creation for the promise a new day brings.

To you in prayer I bow down while soft melodies my heart sings.

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irl by the window why stare you so? where does your wandering mind go?

POETRY unsplash.com

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BALIKTARIN

A reverse spoken poetry

by Judiel Bautista

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aniwala ka kabayan, Sumuko ka na.

Hindi ako naniniwalang May pag-asa pa para sa bansa sa gitna ng pandemya.

Maniwala kang Karahasan, kawalan ng hustisya, at kaguluhan ang babalot dito Huwag kang maniwala na Kailangan mong magalit at makisama sa aksyon.

Ang hustisya ay para lang sa mga may kaya Tigilan mo na ang kahibangan na Maarok natin ang tunay na kapayapaan at panatag na kalooban Kasi kung tutuusin sa simula palang ay Wala na tayong laban Huwag kang maniwala na May kapangyarihan ka.

Sa mga buwayang naka-upo sa trono Na may lakas at makapangyarihang tono Ikaw ay ibong malaya, may huni ka ng sanlibutan, At dahil hindi ka pinapakinggan Huwag kang maniwalang Kaya mo pang baguhin ang lahat Andami nang namamatay dahil sa kaguluhan at maling katotohanan Ipagpatuloy ang pagpikit ng iyong mga mata Huwag mong Ipagtanggol ang mga nakikibaka, naaapi at inosente Isipin na ang kapayapaan ay katumbas ng isang kulungan Hindi mo kailangang Ipagaspas ang pakpak ng katotohanan Sikapin mong Manahimik sa gilid Huwag ka nang Sumali sa gulo Kumilos ka at tumayo Para sa iyong sarili lamang Hindi mo kailangan lumaban Para sa hustisya at kapayapaan Ito ang mga prinsipyo ko dati pero Biglang bumaliktad ang lahat Nang malaman ko ang mali sa tama.

Art graphics: Judiel Bautista