CPPO satisfied from SCD outcomes

Bearing the theme “WORKWORLD: Reality beyond the Four Pillars, the annual ‘Senior Career Days’ of the College Guidance Center – Career and Placement Program Office (CGC-CPPO) for 2010 was held at the University Gymnasium.

To prepare graduating students in job searching outside the campus is the main aim of the program aside from providing the do’s and don’ts or guidelines and the necessary skills and knowledge needed in applying for work.

Career and Placement Program Officer Cherry Rastrullo started the preparation of the said event last July – making and organizing the concept paper and committees which are program, secretariat, logistics, and food.

With promotional campaigns through the Public Address System, letters to Chairpersons and students, announcements from The Beat, flyers, posters and streamers, the CPPO Head Rastrullo expected high participation from seniors.

The office was able to get former Counselor Edsel Navera, Hazel Navera of Coca Cola Bottlers, Patricia Bea Anonao of Jollibee Group of Companies, Fiery Agramon of LCC Malls and Katrina Lautengco of Monde Nissin, Atty. Emilio Escueta III and Atty. Marion Eloisa Escuata-Legacion as speakers for Day 1 and 2, whereas Dennis Pabelico of John Clements Consultants lectured on the day 3.

Adjusting For Good

Since the activity commenced last 2005, ‘Senior Career Days’ has been conducted for five to six days and with simultaneous discussions per college, thus requiring more presenters and space.

To address the issue, the CPPO, established last 2008, revised it into three days only to minimize costs and maximize time of doing the affair.

According to Rastrullo, required student s who were not able to attend the first day will be accommodated at the second day, but if not complied with, Guidance Counselors will converse to the student and shall give alternative requisites equal to what they have missed.

Day 1 was scheduled 22 November for the Colleges of Arts and Sciences (AS) and Nursing, while 23 November, day 2, was for College of Computer Studies and BSBA Department.

Due to time constraint, the day 3 initially listed 29 November was moved to 8 December for Colleges of Engineering and Education, Departments of Accountancy and Financial Management and Digital Arts and Computer Animation.

Sunup Meetings

Starting from 7:30 am until 5:30pm, the number of graduating students who attended the activity was good according to Rastrullo, who has yet to come up with final report of exact attendance and evaluation forms of students after the 3^rd day event.

“We [CGC] are very pleased because of the various industries that became part of the program like businesses from Manila and Legazpi City, not just focusing on the locality of Naga,” said Rastrullo.

Work Style Preference Inventory Administration, Evaluation and Interpretation, Effective Resume Writing, Different Strategies/Methods of Job Design and Power Dressing were the discussed topics during the morning sessions.

Past Noontime Talks

The afternoon sessions, on one hand, include Handling Job Interviews, Basic Labor Laws: What Every Employee Should Know and special topics per college done at various venues.

When asked about the results of the seminars, Rastrullo uttered that they were smoothly tackled because of the variety of presenters, diverse sharing of ideas and no major problems encountered.

“We [CGC] hope that through Senior Career Days, graduating students were able to assess their strengths and weaknesses for improvement purposes para di sila caught off guard, na ‘pag sumabak sa labanan eh walang bala,” Rastrullo concluded.

Nationalism for Sale

Are you willing to die for your country?

Since ancient Filipinos grasped the idea of territoriality, people were able to have that sense of nationalism. Legends could it be, but the gallantry and resilience portrayed in every acts of Filipinos during the pre-Spanish, Hispanic and eras next to them proved it as they ousted Philippine colonizers.

In line with this commotion, people who have instigated revolutionary uproars, in the case of Andres Bonifacio, or even reformist actions of Jose Rizal have left great impact on people, that dying with honor for your country blazes Filipinos’ desire in caring for the Philippines.

At this modern world, people, except our military and police forces, don’t use lethal weapons and protective armors anymore to preserve and prop up one’s land. With the help of contemporary science and technology, entrepreneurs and resourceful entities, made our heroes’ praiseworthy deaths the main source of profit and nationalism. Rare times of unity and bonding come into our way through learning from the roots of these endeavors that surely gained prestige, power and wealth.

Intrinsically speaking, Filipinos have that ardent heart for the nation – considering that this serves as their habitat, sources of livelihood and basic needs in life and the area of responsibility towards the principles fought for by past generation for future races.

Bearing in mind the things that could strengthen that sagacity of partisanship to one’s country or hero, people’s creativity come up with income-generating works of selling items with statements or signs of nationalism. Isn’t so exciting to wear shirts or accessories with ideologies of national identity? Being a nationalist doesn’t end with you, being proud in participating to the flag ceremony and retreat; saluting to deceased heroes who have protected the government and state from tyrannical regimes and armed rebels; raising the countrywide symbols of the Philippines towards other earthlings; practicing proper behavior and superior demeanor or trying to be Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW’s) for the sake of high wage and adequate life-sustaining resources for the families left in the country.

Let me ask you. Have you ever made superb sacrifice which bounds the paradigm of nationalism? Well, this is not necessary for now for others may think you’re crazy to die for a country without the inhabitants acknowledging you’re patriotic or such action didn’t change anything at all but just upgraded the turmoil affecting the emotional, social and political perspectives of people and administration.

At the most unfathomable conception of nationalism, however, is the true act of demonstrating love to our country that can’t be merely shown to public by just shirts or fashionable accomplices of nationalistic testimonies.

Maybe, wearing clothes with a tagline like, “We are change!” or Corazon Aquino’s “Laban” may create a blow to intensify one’s nationalistic ideas. Indeed, this trendy look grabbed the attention of nationalist consumers, especially fashionistas, which have led to fashionalism, a term coined by Rhett Eala.

Various businesses indulged in customized shirt printing, national garment designs and store retailers or companies have materialized. Being hip, cool and stylish, consumers not just help the economy to boost up, but rather improving their appearances and nationalistic values. But, is this fad and craze really promoting social movement for our realm from a very deep angle?

It depends! If customers just want to add products with photos of Manny Pacquiao and Francis Magalona to their respective fancy collections, which could only be a sort of interest towards self, that feat is measly an act of idolatry and passion. On one hand, putting ornaments in your body or displaying commodities that says and implies something worthy to one’s terrain can be an indication of nationalism.

This rational thinking about nationalism, however, has encompassed other nations that we imitate even foreign concepts of fashion, speaking mode and even lifestyle. Filipinos seemed to be razed with Korean and American principles to the point that local products are not anymore advocated and imported goods are soaring with sales.

Nationalism must not be regarded as just a meager instrument of being ‘in’ within a circle of friends or to equalize, unrelentingly, one’s condition to the society for when these circumstances happen, our traditional ways of showing who the real Filipinos are will soon fade away. Profoundly rooted in our veins, that must not vanish, is the igniting aspiration to develop confidence, social interaction amongst people and feeling of affection for our own homeland.

Are you capable of spreading the good news through wearing outfits with national icons and witticisms? Anyway, you will not be sued by the Pambansang Komisyong Pangkasaysayan which monitors or grants product blueprints using national representations but the manufacturers will be deemed accountable for violating provisions of the law.

Heroes’ faces like that of Ninoy and Cory Aquino, country songs, slogans about nation building thoughts or artworks such as Philippine archipelago and flag are marks of the growing awareness of people in educating the Filipinos to where we should credit our fine status in life today. In every part of our history, from ancestors to Rizal’s death and People Power 1 and 2 to the outward show of modern Filipino idols in variety of fields, nationalism keeps on flaming high, yet we can’t conceal the verity of other people’s ignorance to these things.

On one hand, the sheer emergence of nationalism from people in commemoration of a surmised hero proves that, indeed, it’s just a seasonal activity of people instinctively knowing what would be the next obsession of people when another renowned and significant human being died from battle or severe sickness. Why, from a foremost scrutiny, businessmen haven’t started producing souvenir or marketable items of celebrated artists when they were still alive? Is the bereavement of one pro-independence the grandest launching of good works he has done for the country? Is it the day people would only initiate buying his state-of-the-art contributory creations, or items created by other parties not related to him, to give a supposed remembrance from the things someone never knew at the prime place?

The rise of establishments and bazaars, having loyal and devoted signs to Philippine culture and society such as Nike, Adidas, My Philippines Lifestyle, Inc and more that sell goods like caps, bowlers IDs, mugs, fans and the like, not just provide employment to Filipinos but also foster relationship of people, cooperation of state regimes - communities and reinforcing nation’s defense and offense troops.

Observable occurrences might be the accumulation of assets of investors and industries but in a way, we are being amalgamated as one and the nation being radically transformed to fair democratization. As a matter of fact, structures and functions of certain lands can pass through progression, but if nationalism is demoralized by tyrannical rulers, autocrats, and supremacy-famished politicians, it will only bring violence and divided populace.

Therefore, in advertising nationalistic services and objects, commercial manufacturing agencies must take into consideration the influence of media – be it television, radio, newspaper or the Internet – that they would not ruin the very essence of incorporating nationalistic figures into buy and sell operations.

At the end of the day, to tell you, buying the said items won’t automatically transfigure your persona to a nationalist one. For someone to imbibe the logic and revered experience of factual nationalism commences with definite actions of generosity, justice and love to nature and words of acumen that will touch Filipinos’ spirits to dissect apathy and to move against poverty, corruption, colonial mentality and dishonor.

Can be reckoned as a substantial calling for amendments in our rotten system of treating fellowmen, the nation and its decrees, people must realize why to spend money for national emblems of fallacious offers or merchants for revenues who attack buyers’ dehumanized character. Hence, buying and selling nationalism constitutes proper treatment and maneuvering for it reflects a particular state so it won’t decimate camaraderie and serve as wastes that it forcibly submerges humans into something they don’t feel at all.

Survival of the Fittest

Yes! I'm in... as an officially declared aspirant... I thought being an exemplar would be not so hard at all, but my expectations failed me. When I became an honorary member of Ateneo Paradigm Eclat Xircle (APEX), I was then so excited to attend our practices and meetings as major preparations for the past Pintakasi 2011. It was not just about my inclination towards entertainment which kept on motivating me to be on their sights whenever certain circumstances call for my presence, but rather the in seeing my new circle of friends – ang mga “kalog” na exemplars! Just when I thought things will be as ordinary as assumed, everything changed when I aimed for higher position in that organization. It is even more difficult than my current PEDS004 subject...hha... The exemplars have many requirements and tricky tests, which I supposed to be so trivial prerequisites... They want to add more members in their group, but why would they put hindrances in each aspirant's way? Aha! Want to be equal with other pioneers who did the same terrible services to all of you or is it the true principles of APEX and formation that count the most? Don't get mad, I know it's the second one. How I wish to turn back the time for me to inquire about the things you and your towering conglomeration have already accomplished in making this world a better place to live...hhe... Peace!hhe... Okay! Actually, whenever someone says not to do these kind of stuffs 'coz you are not telling so, but witnessing with my eyes that you're executing them at the moment, I reckoned it as stupid comments that triggered compulsive thoughts regarding the composition of your organization. Discipline? I don't think so! Finally, I hate being reprimanded, being punished for the things that I consider so petty and forgivable at a single glance. But to tell you, my dearest exemplars, I am now a better individual due to your principles, formations, services, games and the lifetime camaraderie that springs dictated by a common goal. TY. GB.
I WILL BE AN EXEMPLAR!!!

Rizal’s Sociology by Randy David: Reaction

Our predecessors, in my own opinion, are naturally industrious, but because of various factors affecting their social, emotional and physical disposition, they tend to experience the goodness of leisure. If Spaniards haven’t conquered us in the first place, we could be one of the First World Countries for we won’t be suffering from restrained international trades, personal developments and won’t be burdened by vociferous regulations and unreasonable injustices such as unjust taxes, derisive interactions with them and forced labor.

Rizal made a great point about the reasons of our ancestors’ being ‘indolent’ for sometimes brought by the stern setting they were engaged in before. His suggestions, however, can be reckoned with sky-scraping infeasibility because the system running amidst every sector of the society. Others are close-minded to the fact that they’ve been used to have employees that even they’re just sitting in one corner, they’re still earning. The problem is on the education system and the equal distribution of resources that must be shared to those who need them to guarantee their existence. But, if these conditions are in the concept of equity, business tycoons might deserve their owned properties due to the capital and effort they’ve spent on their establishment but originally, nature is not man’s creation so resource partitioning must also be subjected to humans. Pathetic are those who haven’t acquired any knowledge and skills that they can’t progress side by side with other golden-spooned families.

In terms of indoctrinating national sentiments to Filipinos, we are bound by colonial mentality that we advocate other culture and migrating to places just for income – a sacrifice it is but something can be done here in the Philippines if and only if the government provides great number of employments and good salary with outstanding benefits. With these things, Philippines won’t be teemed with sluggish and inferior people but rather prosperous and educated citizens.

70 YEARS of EXCELLENCE through SPORTS

“Sarabay, sararo! Go JPIA!”

Things will only be settled through the way of fair quest and competition. As the Ateneo de Naga University (AdNU) Intramurals 2010 unfolded at the center stage, Ateneans just afford themselves to cheer and/or play together with their respective teams.

I am so proud that I have witnessed the splendid opening Of Intrams ’10 last 19 August, Thursday afternoon. Seeing with my flabbergasted eyes all the colleges being amalgamated by only one exceptional affair made me realized the power of Filipino, Catholic and Jesuit Education. Come to think of it, the line of junior JPIAns was as long as the combined participants of U Education and Computer Studies (UECS), UNOCAS, A Nursing Students A, ACE, Institutes of Business Students (IBS). But the night was suddenly in rampage when a.k.a. Lady Gaga showed off on the crowd. At least, she redeemed herself in her following performances.

Of all the amusements and contests, I mostly like modern dance and cheer dance competition, badminton, basketball and gimmick presentation. In the modern dance competition, JPIA was not included in the top three, but it was just okay because the team got back what it deserved in other events.

And the most awaited event has finally arrived – the Awarding Ceremony. I can feel the pressure even if I was not, in the first place, totally part of the team. I was just a participant of cheering team –giver of moral and spiritual support.

Fortunately, the most fantabulous thing about the Intramurals 2010 is that JPIA was declared as the overall champion.

Next to us was Arts and Sciences followed by the College of Engineering (ACE). The fourth placer was UECS while IBS fell on the fifth place. On the last spot was the College of Nursing, but nothing to worry by them due to their other winnings during the games such that of modern dance competition where they reaped the first ranking.

In this kind of experience, I saw the vivid and outstanding camaraderie and sportsmanship of different people.

AdNU - Intramurals 2010

JPIA retrieves Four Pillars

By Englebert A. Villegas

Having no pressure at all, Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants-Ateneo de Naga University (JPIA-AdNU) Chapter retrieved the Intramurals Trophy of History (Four Pillars) and was declared as overall champion of Intramurals 2010 during the Awarding Ceremony last 22 August at the Gymnasium.

According to Mier, their being consistent in the second place from different events made them won the Intramurals.

Assembling the team

As the preparation started since summertime until the day of Intrams ‘10, JPIA have organized different committees from to handle particular functions like communication, secretariat, food, logistics, faculty and finance.

“At the very beginning of preparations, we were then working on the perspective that we will win against other contenders,” President Ludel Maiello F. Mier envisioned before the said affair.

“Late June, naghanap na kami players tas nag-assign mga officers. Masakit pati siya because we convinced them perseverely just to get the needed requisites which must be submitted on 8 August,” Mier shared.

JPIA’s fund for Intrams was Php60000 plus a subsidy of Php40000 from Athletics Office. According to Mier, further details of the expenditures will just be disclosed in their financial statements still to be prepared.

JPIA had a total of 400 members directly involved in joining games and doing props, including 350 players and 50 working staffs.

JPIA’s members included in Intramurals-related duties were Faculty Coordinator Adrian Ongog, student representatives for Intrams Board, Overall Coordinator Rizza Lyn Bermas, 20 team coordinators and 40 team managers.

Setting up goals

When asked about their ultimate goal for Intrams ’10, Bermas said that they just want to enjoy and recover the four pillars.

“Mas organized kami nguyan ta nag-prepare kami amay compared kang last year where we ranked third,” Bermas added.

On one hand, Mier said that JPIA lives up to the tradition of excellence. We don’t join to be second but second to none.

Bearing the theme of the Intramurals ’10, “70 Years of Excellence through Sports”, the organization develop the maxim “Sarabay, Sararo” to unite all JPIAns, those enrolled in Bachelor of Science in Accountancy (BSA) and BS Business Administration Major in Computer Management and Accounting (BSBA-CMA) and Financial Accounting (BSBA-FA) as well.

Trouble and shooting

In spite of early preparation, JPIA still faced problems such as collecting requirements like matriculation forms, identification cards, and medical certificates of participants.

Though JPIA dropped out other activities for August like Mr. and Ms. JPIA, JPIAlympics, and seminars to provide time for practices, they haven’t maximized the opportunity turning it to a setback.

As noticed that the judges were local and affiliated to AdNU, JPIA filed a complaint to the Tournament Manager regarding the qualifications of adjudicators. However, the Technical Committee headed by Chairperson Jec Claro with members Fr. Ritchie Elot, SJ and salve Verdadero denied the petition hereby retaining the decision about Cheer and dance Competition.

According to the technical committee, as taken from a letter forwarded to JPIA, they haven’t promised that the judges were from National Cheerleading Competition but the guidelines only.

Beyond limitations

JPIA plans to conduct the victory party, Dayaday, on 15 September. The Execom also expects to go ahead of any limitation through their shared visions.

“The challenge of having the Intramurals Trophy of History back in JPIA's hand is to create a more unified JPIA, actively involving in school activities and having one solid voice in university issues. Thus, we are calling our members to be active, to get involve, to take pride that they are JPIAns and to work for the development of the organization and of the university living out excellence that is beyond numbers,” Mier said when queried about the importance of winning the games.

“JPIA is the best organization on campus if the officers and members allow it to be. JPIA is not just a name. It is a tradition. It is a motivator. It is a family. JPIA's fate truly lies in our hands,” he ended.

COMELEC hopes for higher voters’ turnout

As the Commission on Election (COMELEC) prepares for the upcoming Ateneo de Naga University- Supreme Student Government (AdNU-SSG) General Election on 25 August 2010, COMELEC looks forward to seeing 6241 Ateneans at various precincts, exercising their rights of suffrage.

In contrary to what was expected in aforementioned elections, COMELEC anticipated 4 political parties and more or less 5000 voters. When the student populace ballooned to 6241 and parties reduced to two, COMELEC plans pre-election campaign through students’ thumb marks. Through this, determination of the total number of predicted voters will be at hand. Signing up means that students are willing to vote for change.

Despite a remarkable delay, Commission on Election (COMELEC) still pursues its goal for a just and clean 2010 Ateneo de Naga University-Supreme Student Government (AdNU-SSG) General Elections on 25 August.

BEYOND LIMITATIONS

COMELEC spearheaded different election-related activities to promote and fulfill their vision, to lessen the apathy of Ateneans when it comes to local and university-wide issues.

In this year’s election, COMELEC had already geared up with needed voting requirements, except for the printed ballot yet to be printed on Saturday.

Bearing the main function of COMELEC - to conduct, facilitate and declare the results of electoral proceedings - the agency asked for the full participation of students, through different promotional activities, announcements on the bulletin boards and Public Address System, to make the affair a successful one.

A NEW LEGACY

When the 2009-2010 Former COMELEC Chairperson Mary Grace Ortiz appointed Montemayor to lead COMELEC, the latter, according to him, saw the fading reputation of SSG. He furthered that he didn’t even know the real status of supposedly-be-conducted suffrage last Academic Year 2009-2010, whether it was a postponement or a failure of election.

With 60 members, including the Chairperson, Vice-Chair, five Commissioners, student volunteers and their Moderator, Mr. Ramon Beleno III, COMELEC got P42905 from SSG to be used in accomplishing the manual election.

Logistics, Secretariat, Budget Committee and Promotions are the four major division of COMELEC. They are assured that preparedness and organization seemed to be on their hands, considering the early venue reservations for the scheduled events.

Room to Room campaign which started from 11 August until the Moratorium on 24 July, execution of political rallies last 16 August , Presidential Debate that was carried out last 17 August, Grand Rally on 18 August were few of the happenings arranged by COMELEC to make the students aware of the political parties and their platform of government.

FOR SERVICE AT ITS BEST

Being the sole responsible for the upcoming election, COMELEC based its decision with the created 2005 Revised Election Code of Student Congress and votation [majority wins] on certain problems.

However, COMELEC has already been at the center stage of difficulty since the accreditation of political parties, SIGWA and with a decision from Student Tribunal on AKLAS’ qualification of candidacy.

In contrary to what was expected in aforementioned elections, COMELEC anticipated 4 political parties and 5000 voters. When the student populace ballooned to 6241 and parties reduced to two, COMELEC plans pre-election campaign through students’ thumb marks. Through this, determination of the total number of expected voters will be at hand, requiring thorough effort and money. Signing up means that students are willing to vote for change.

According to Montemayor, their fund was expensed on communication letters, memos to offices, advertisements, supplies, food and P2000 for each political party.

The Office of Student Affairs was in-charge in checking of the campaign materials and the places where they were posted before the end of campaign period. Meanwhile, student volunteers will be placed on precincts to assist the process.

The casting of votes on 25 August, from 7:30am up to 6:00pm, has been segregated to particular school areas. Extension in terms of voting hours is allowed by law if the voters’ line covers 30 meters from the precinct.

Every college has their own specific precinct. College of Business and Accountancy will occupy Burns Hall, 1^st and 2^nd floors for Department of Business Administration and Accountancy as separated. The Engineering building is for all Engineering students. Nursing students can exercise their right to vote at the Santos Hall while Arrupe Hall is for the College of Arts and Sciences. The precinct of Education is sited at Dolan Hall and Phelan Hall designated for the Computer students.

As soon as the final votes were shed off, the 7 COMELEC members will render the canvassing of votes at Xavier Hall from 7:30pm until past 1:00am, as approximated.

           Subsequently, oath-taking of newly-elected SSG officers will happen on 31 August with Montemayor as the presider.

TROUBLE AND SHOOTING

            In spite of these accomplished tasks, COMELEC was still faced with external and internal problems.

When queried about the crisis confronting COMELEC, Commissioner Jovilet Gratuito said that they are having trouble in being all present in a meeting that was called. She clarified that out of eight gatherings; only two of them were recorded with perfect attendance.

            “Para sako na baguhan, kaipuhan talagang mag-adjust. Namamate ko na pati an kapagalan. Kay asana naaapod ko na ining Consumisyun on Election (CONELEC). Mas dakula talaga kuta an maitatabang kang trainings o seminars. Pero syempre, after all, dapat magampanan pa man an samuyang obligasyon para matapos na,” Gratuito supplemented.

            On one hand, Montemayor shared those holidays, incorrect adherence to the election code about the days of room-to-room campaign which was written as 5 days in lieu of 8, and issues concerning AKLAS Party caused the election delay.Supposedly, Student Congress set the original Election Day on July 15 and was moved to 18 August, but due to time constraints and lacking preparations prior to the election, it was finally rescheduled on 25 August.

          “Sa laog, si internal system mismo an may problema. Dae man kami kulang sa tao, kaso kaipuhan pa nin little push. Wala kasing initiative an COMELEC. Election is really a hard thing to do,” COMELEC Chairperson Jerome Montemayor answered when asked about the weakness of his organization.

           “But if in case problems arise during the Election Day, we will solve them immediately,” Gratuito indemnified.

PASSING THE BENCHMARK

              As required of the Election Code, voter’s turnout must be 50% of the student population plus one which then put pressure to COMELEC, with Vice Chair Maria Corazon dela Rosa, Commissioners Ma. Christina Gumba, Jovilet Gratuito, Roxanne dela Rosa, Kaysie Consorte and May Borromeo.

              “Pressure talaga. Kaya sana mag-take part gabos. Kung Atenista ka, maboto ka. Makiaram kita, maging keen, observant. Encourage others na mag-attend,” Montemayor ended as a message to all Ateneans.