VOL. III NO. 2 �

Countdown to Sesquicentennial BeginsSUNDAY, THE 5th of August 2007, marked the beginning of the remembrance, celebration, and renewal of Ateneo de Manila’s 150-year heritage, as the three-year countdown towards Ateneo’s sesquicentennial celebration in 2009 was launched at the Church of the Gesù. No less than the Very Reverend Daniel Patrick L. Huang, Provincial Superior of the Society of Jesus, presided over the mass, while University President Fr. Bienvenido F. Nebres, SJ, served as the homilist. Fr. Carmelo “Tito” Caluag II and Grade School Headmaster Fr. Jose Moises Fermin were also in attendance. In his homily, Fr. Nebres remembered the beginnings of Ateneo de Manila in 1859, when the Jesuits returned to the Philippines, taught Ignatian Spirituality to Filipinos, and started what was then called Escuela Municipal de Manila. “We have a history of almost 150 years,” Fr. Nebres said. “We are children of a distinctive parentage, going back to St. Ignatius and the first Jesuits, Fr. Cuevas and the founding fathers of the Ateneo and the generations who have gone ahead of us.”

When Ateneo first started, the school had only 23 students. Today, Ateneo is a university that inspires 17,000 grade school, high school, college, graduate school, and professional schools’ students to be the best that they can be. Fr. Nebres also shared in his homily that Ateneans, whose mission is to be men and women for others, have a history of service to the community that dates back to the 1860s. He recounted how Jesuit scholastic Padre Federico Faura founded and built the Manila

Observatory to predict the weather and forewarn people of typhoons, and how our national hero, Jose Rizal, one of Ateneo’s renowned alumnus, strove to improve the lives of our countrymen by introducing modern methods of farming and new technology in fishing to farmers and fishermen and by healing and educating the poor. Fr. Nebres says this legacy of service lives on in Ateneans today who engage in nation-building activities by tutoring public school students, delivering

public health, and joining disaster relief and rehabilitation operations. This legacy of faith, excellence, and service is what Ateneo will proudly celebrate in its sesquicentennial anniversary. The activities lined up over the next three years towards Ateneo’s 150th anniversary aim for the Ateneo community to recall the rich history and humble mission of Ateneo, and to strengthen in their minds Ateneo’s thrust of academic excellence and spiritual formation to be of service to others. Sesquicentennial-themed theater plays, retreats, and fundraising concerts featuring Jose Mari Chan and Lea Salonga are among the activities lined up for the three-year celebration.

Thirteen Ateneans win Palanca,

National Book prizes

The number of Atenean winners at the 2007 Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature and the 26th Manila Critics Circle National Book Awards show the university’s strength in arts and humanities. Read the list of winners in page 3.

RM Awardees Share Lessons, Wisdom to Ateneans

“WITHOUT THE EARTH’S natural environment, human beings and all other beings cannot exist. Yet there is only one earth, which is our cradle, our home, and our paradise. The earth is vast but not boundless,” said Tang Xiyang, a 2007 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for Peace and International Understanding, during his talk at the Ateneo last 29 August.

“We must respect her, cherish her, understand and protect her. We must learn how to keep in harmony with nature.”

The 77-year old environmental writer and activist shared three main points.

First, he said, we must learn the place of human beings in nature. “Humans are one among many of the earth’s inhabitants,” he pointed out. “Since humans are only one species among many, only one part of nature, living within nature rather than outside or above it, then we should follow nature’s rules.”

He added that if we do not adopt a modest, prudent, and restrained attitude, and adjust the route of economical development and personal lifestyles, we will destroy our home and the earth.

Second, Tang said that we must learn to see the world from an ecological perspective. “We must learn to take nature and the eco-system as a whole into our consideration when we try to solve a problem. Only with this wider view in mind can we solve problems more realistically, more accurately, and more scientifically,” he explained.

And third, we must learn to respect nature, respect history, and respect tradition.

Quoting a nature scientist, Tang said,

Heeding nature’s wisdom, preserving humankind

“Nature never makes mistakes, because it does not have a brain.” He explained that this means nature moves forward according to its own laws, without any human subjectivity involved.

“The human brain may be a good thing, but it can also be a bad thing; it can be used for good or for evil. The good here is that human beings can get to know nature and follow ecological laws in doing things; the bad is that human beings can be self-centered, narrow-minded, greedy and arrogant,” he continued.

Also, the earth has a history of more than four billion years. “That is to say, the birth of a new species, the survival of a new ecological community and the progress of society are historical processes,” Tang explained. “History flows with time and we can’t just focus on the present without considering the past and the future.”

With regard to respecting tradition, he said: “The ecological wisdom of our ancestors can be found in tradition. Our ancestors had been immersed in nature for thousands of years, during which they learned how to follow, respect and protect nature.”

In closing, Tang said that we should learn and promote ecological wisdom, through which people and nature live in harmony. “This is a sacred mission that history bestows on us.”

HIS IS A story of perseverance. ”It started with a dream to connect my village to the Internet,” said Mahabir Pun of Nepal. The 2007 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for Community Leadership was speaking to Ateneans at lecture organized by the Ateneo School of Government (ASoG) last 29 August.

That was in 1997, a year when the World Wide Web was already a standard communications tool in other parts of the world, and when the political crisis in Nepal was at its peak. When the Himanchal High School received four used computers as presents from the students of a school in Australia, the dream began.

Their village of Nangi in the foothills of the mountains of Nepal, however, did not even have a phone line, making the task seemingly impossible. Pun approached political leaders and officers of Nepal telephone company, but came back with nothing.

In what seemed like a shot in the dark, he emailed BBC in 2001 about his problem. That email resulted in two news articles, raised the idea of wireless Internet, and brought to Nepal two volunteers from Europe.

However, they soon found themselves faced with several other technical, financial, legal, and management challenges.

First, they knew very little about wireless technology. While they had a wireless cards with them, there was a 40 km distance between his village and the nearest city (from which the signal would come from), and a 3,200m mountain in between.

Bringing Internet to Nepal’s villages

To bridge the distance, they tried to set up a relay station using ordinary TV satellite antennas at the mountain, but then electric power was not available. To address this problem, they installed solar panels, with wind generators and even a bicycle generator for back-up.

An Internet connection, though, is of little use without enough computers. Pun and his group sought for donations of computer parts, which were assembled into wooden boxes that served as the computer case.

“It was almost impossible to import the equipment, transport, and use them because of the political crisis and Communist rebels. There were strict regulations and a high license fee for setting up rural ISPs,” Pun explained. “So we just bypassed the regulation to overcome the regulatory and legal challenges. We smuggled all the equip-ment illegally and installed them.”

After seven years, Pun’s seemingly impossible dream was realized. In September 2003, they managed to connect to the Internet not only his village of Nangi, but six other villages in the area as well.

Their financial problems were addressed by a $6,000 grant from Donald

August - September 2007Volume III • Number 2

we build community we nurture hope

continue on page 2

Gokongwei book launched p.2

Ateneo teachers awarded p.4

Ateneo Art Awards p.5 Bukas Palad p.10 Lady Eagles p.12

ReveReND DANieL PATRiCk L. HuANg, Provincial Superior of the Society of Jesus, presiding over the mass, with university President Fr. Bienvenido F. Nebres, SJ, and Fr. Tito Caluag ii in the background.

By JeT DAMAzo

By CHRiSTiNe MALLioN

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RM AwARDee Tang XiyangRM AwARDee Mahadir Pun

AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 20072

Strauss Foundation solicited by an undergraduate student of the University of California, which they used to purchase the networking equipment, solar panels, and generators. Through a World Bank project, they received another $20,000 grant that is now being used for the project’s second phase.

Initially, he only wanted to connect students from different schools via e-mail. Now, he dreams of increasing educational opportunities in community schools by creating a live tele-teaching program,

JGSOM Launches Book on John Gokongwei Jr.SOME 200 EXECUTIVES, educators, and friends of the honoree congregated at Es-caler Hall last 29 August 2007 to witness the launching of a biography cum busi-ness book on John L. Gokongwei Jr. The first book issued under the ae-gis of the John Gokongwei School of Management (JGSOM), “John Gokon-gwei Jr.: The Path to Entrepreneurship” chronicles the struggles and triumphs of one of the country’s legendary busi-ness figures, and derives lessons on leadership and entrepreneurship from such a celebrated life. Written by Dr. Marites A. Khanser, former faculty of JGSOM, and pub-lished by the Ateneo Loyola Schools, the book traces Gokongwei’s life from his teen-age years as a bicycling ped-dler to his present status as a powerful Taipan with businesses cutting a wide swath of influence across the country and beyond.

In his welcome remarks, JGSOM Dean Rudy Ang said that this new publi-cation will, in time, be “one of the impor-tant contributions [Mr. Gokongwei] has made to the field of business education.” Former Bangko Sentral Governor Gabriel Singson, who wrote the fore-word, cited the many educational grants and endowments given by the Gokong-wei Brothers Foundation. In her speech, author Khanser called herself “Mr. John’s storyteller,” adding that her book carries the trademarks of two very famous brands: Ateneo and John Gokongwei. Vice President for the Loyola Schools Dr. Ma. Assunta Cuyegkeng thanked Gokongwei for his continu-ing generosity—this time for “sharing with us his life story and his business insight.” Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Antoinette Palma-Angeles said: “He

A US$100,000 ENDOWMENT from SC Johnson Philippines, Inc. established the SC Johnson Environmental Leader-ship Development Fund in the Ateneo. The fund will “support a perpetual professorial chair in environmental leadership in partnership with Ateneo.” Ateneo and SC Johnson Philippines, Inc. signed the memorandum of under-standing (MOU) covering the fund last 13 August 2007. The endowment was made “in rec-ognition of the need for environmental leadership in the country, and in cel-ebration of SC Johnson’s 50th anniver-sary in the Philippines.”

The fund seeks to award a profes-sorial chair to an environment leader who will “support and reward indi-viduals (or groups) which have shown leadership in environmental research, environmental management, environ-mental education or advocacy, and who have new ideas to present.” University President Bienvenido F. Nebres, SJ; SC Johnson and Son, Inc. Vice President for Developing Markets ASEAN Frank F. Guerra (BS Math-ematics 1975); School of Science and Engineering Dean Fabian M. Dayrit; and SC Johnson and Son, Inc. Malay Cluster General Manager Ramon P.

SC Johnson Sets Up $100,000 Environmental Leadership Fund in Ateneo

Office of the Vice President for the Loyola Schools

Jet DamazoEDITOR

Ronnie ElefanoRogie M. Ramilo, Jr.LAYOUT ARTIST

Gary Devilles, Eileen Lolarga, Christine Mallion, Eeya Litiatco-Martin, Rick Olivares, Art ValenciaWRITERS

PHOTOS COURTESY OF: Lara Chuavon, Miggy Mendoza, Amihan Perez, Joseph Salazar, Philip Sison, Alyson Yap

WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF:

Connie C. Camacho, School of Humanities; Marivi Cabason, School of Science and Engineer-ing; Anna Galvez, John Gokongwei School of Management; Milet Tendero, School of Social Sciences; Nono Felipe

Loyola Schools Bulletin © 2007 (ISSN: 1656-8354) is published bimonthly by the Office of Research and Publications, 2F Gonzaga Hall, Loyola Schools, Ateneo de Manila University, Katipunan Avenue, Loyola Heights, Quezon City

E-mail: Isbulletin@admu.edu.phMailing address: POBox 154, Manila 0917, PhilippinesTelephone (632) 4266001 local 5002Fax (632) 4266096http://www.ateneo.edu > Loyola Schools > LoyolaSchoolsBulletin OFFICERS OF THE VERY FIRST GRADUATE STUDENT COUNCIL IN THE LOYOLA

SCHOOLS: THe eLeCTeD oFFiCeRS and some departmental representatives of the interim graduate Student Council of the Loyola Schools after taking their oath of office before the vice President for Loyola Schools. (L-R): Dr. Ma. Assunta Cuyegkeng, vP-LS, Sheri Anne zerna (Secretary), Renee Ann ortega (vice President), Niña katrina Belleza (President), Pamela Joy Mariano (Finance officer), Perry Buenavente (eS rep), genevieve Lorenzo (eCCe rep), Dr. Norman Quimpo, Associate Dean for graduate Programs. (3 September 2007)

Bringing Internet to Nepal’s Villages... from p. 1

establishing a tele-hospital in an urban area and linking it to the district level hospitals and rural health centers to provide medical assistances to the villagers, empowering district governments through an e-governance program, helping villagers sell and buy their products in the local market through local intranet, and generating jobs for younger generation locally through communication centers and e-learning programs.

“We still have a long way to go,” he concluded.

By ART vALeNCiA

has enough stories in his life’s journey to fill several volumes, perhaps more than the seven of the Harry Potter se-ries. And just like the wizards, Mr. John seems to know enough magic that allowed him to transform his small companies into the big companies that they are now.” In his response, Mr. Gokongwei ex-horted the audience “to dream…, con-

quer your fears, rely on yourself, be re-silient, and take calculated risks.” In closing, Ateneo de Manila Uni-versity President Fr. Bienvenido F. Ne-bres, SJ, recalled Mr. Gokongwei’s ex-hortation as Commencement Speaker to the 2004 graduating class: Join a company, stay there for a few years to learn, and then leave to start your own businesses.

(Seated, L-R) RAMoN P. DAez, Fr. Bienvenido F. Nebres, Frank F. guerra, Dr. Fabian Dayrit; (Standing, L-R) Noel A. Resureccion, Benjamin N. Jacinto, gloria Panganiban, Dr. Antonio g.M. La viña, Floyd Pedernal and Dr. Teresita Perez.

Daez (BS Business Management 1983) signed the MOU. During the meeting, Father Nebres emphasized Ateneo’s active involvement in environmental issues since its early years, such as the Manila Observatory which helped the community predict potentially damaging typhoons. He also said that the endowment is “a wonder-ful gift” in continuing Ateneo’s mission

of helping preserve the environment. Guerra, meanwhile, proudly de-clared that just as the Ateneo forms “men for others,” SC Johnson is a “com-pany for others.” He also asserted that the awardee for the professorial chair must hold influence in the academe and the community to be able to effect sig-nificant environmental changes.

- Michelle Camille Correa, www.ateneo.edu

The Loyola Schools Bulletin is looking for contributing writers and photographers. If you are interested, send an email to lsbulletin@admu.edu.ph.

VOL. III NO. 2 �

JONATHAN ALDRIC CHUA (I-BS AMF) garnered the Honorable Mention at the 48th International Mathematical Olympiad, held in Hanoi, Vietnam on 19-31July 2007. The award is given to students who were able to provide a complete solution to one of the problems in the said competition. Over 500 contestants from 93 countries participated in this year’s math Olympiad. Jonathan is a member of the Philippine team composed of six contestants, which includes

Ateneo team is overall championof first ING Funds TournamentTHE ATENEO DE MANILA UNIVERSITY-Hello World Team was declared the overall champion of the 2007 ING Funds Tournament, an intercollegiate fund-management competition which is on its initial run. The members of the team are Carlos Miguel L. Cruz (IV BS Management Engineering), John Cezar S. De Guzman (IV BS Management Engineering), and Aceyork U. Unsay (IV AB Economics). The 2007 ING Funds Tournament provides the student teams with the opportunity to manage a virtual fund portfolio over a period of two months. The Hello World Team bested seven other finalists, including another Ateneo team, Team Duncan, with its solid and consistent participation in the competition. Only four universities had been invited to compete on the initial run of the tournament– Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, University of Asia and the Pacific and University of the Philippines. As the overall champion, ADMU-Hello World received a trophy and a 3-day, 2-night trip to Hong Kong, including a tour of the ING Hong Kong office. The awarding ceremony was held last 5 September 2007 at the Philippine Stock Exchange Makati Broker’s Lounge.

Atenean Tops 2007 Chemistry Board ExamDAviD PeRALTA (BS/MS Chemistry) garnered an average of 90.25% to top the chemistry board examinations given by the Professional Regulation Commission last 6-7 September 2007. He is the first Ateneo graduate to earn the top spot in the exams. Peralta graduated magna cum laude and was a BPi-DoST Science Awardee in 2006. He is a product of the Ateneo grade School (1998) and Ateneo High School (2002). He currently teaches part-time at the Chemistry Department, and will start teaching full-time effective in the second semester of school year 2007-2008. The other board passers from the Ateneo are Julienne eve D. Algabre (BS Chem 2007), Jovilyn Therese B. Fajardo (BS Chem 2006), Michelle D. Jose (BS Chem 2007, cum laude, and BPi-DoST Science Awardee 2007), Aran Homer San Juan (BS Chem 2006), and Deniz P. wong (BS Chem 2006, Honorable Mention; MS Chem 2007). wong is now a full-time instructor at the department, while Jose is a part-time faculty member.

ADS wins first round of Philippine Debating Championship

EIGHT ATENEANS WERE awarded the prestigious 2007 Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, which is considered as the “Pulitzer Prize” of the Philippines. These are:

• Miguel G. Alcazaren (AB Communication Arts 1986), first prize for “Prisoner Alpha” in the Dulang Pampelikula (full-length film, Filipino) category

• Cynthia Lapeña-Amador (MA English Literature 1990), third prize for "The Piano" (full-length play, English) category

• Douglas James L. Candano (AB Development Studies 2005), second prize for “Dreaming Valhalla” in the Short Story (English) category

• Mikael Co (BS Environmental Science 2003), first prize for “Hands for a Fistful of Sand” in the Poetry (English) category

• Michael M. Coroza (MA Literature - Filipino 2001), third prize for “Imbisibol Man ang Tatay” in the Maikling Kwentong Pambata (Short Story for Children, Filipino) category

• Amado Angelo R. Lacuesta (Grade School 1984; High School 1988), first prize for “Flames” in the Short Story (English) category

• Jose Edmundo O. Reyes (High School 1990, BS Management Engineering 1994), second prize for “Imaginary Number” in the Poetry (English) category

• Renato L. Santos (High School 1959, AB Economics 1963), third prize for “Sosy Atbp…” in the Tula (Poetry, Filipino) category

FIVE ATENEAN WRITERS were recognized at the 26th Manila Critics Circle National Book Awards. These are:

• Gilda Cordero-Fernando (Master of Arts 1960) for “Bad Kings” in the Best Children’s Book category

• Ceres P. Doyo (Master of Arts 1971) for "Daughters True: 100 Years of Scholastican Education" in the Best Book in Education category. Ms. Doyo co-edited the book with Neni Sta. Romana-Cruz, Paulynn Paredes Sicam, and Karina Bolasco.

• Maria Isabel O. Garcia (BS Legal Management 1987) for “Science Solitaire: Essays on Science, Nature, and Becoming Human” (Ateneo de Manila University Press) in the Best Book of Essays category

• Renato M. Labadan (MA Business Administration 1976) for “Coconut: The Philippines' Money Tree” in the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Prize for Best Book on Business/Economics/Finance category

• Alvin B. Yapan (BS Legal Management 1997; MA Literature – Filipino 2000) for “Ang Sandali ng mga Mata” (Ateneo de Manila University Press) in the Juan C. Laya Prize for Best Book of a Fiction in a Vernacular Language category

Atenean Shines inInternational Math Tilt

Notable Achievements

Darren Mendell Sy (1-BS AMF), Carlo Francisco Adajar (PAREF Southridge School), Tobit James Narciso (Philippine Science High School), Stephanie Anne Oliveros (Philippine Science High School) and Jeffrey Kenneth Go (Xavier School). The team is spearheaded by the Philippine team leader, Dr. Ian June L. Garces and the deputy team leader, Timothy Robin Teng, both faculty members of the Ateneo Mathematics Department.

ATENEO DEBATE SOCIETY (ADS) members Sharmila Parmarand and Charisse Borromeo, won the first round of the Philippine Debating Championship on ABS-CBN News Channel’s (ANC) “Square Off” program last 1 August 2007. Taking the opposition or the negative side in the topic “Should the government suspend the peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front as a result of the beheading of 10 Marine soldiers in Basilan?”, Ateneo beat debaters from the Western Mindanao State University, who took the government or affirmative side. Both schools are among 16 universities vying to represent the Philippines in

the 2008 World Universities Debating Championships, the largest debating tournament in the world, on 27 December 2007 to 5 January 2008 at Assumption University, Thailand. The other 14 universities are the University of the Philippines (UP) - Diliman, UP-Manila, De La Salle University, College of St. Benilde, University of Santo Tomas, University of Baguio, Ateneo de Zamboanga University, Ateneo de Davao University, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, San Beda College, UP-Baguio, Xavier University, Mindanao State University and Lyceum of the Philippines.

Jonathan Aldric ChuaPHoTo CouRTeSyoF MATH DePARTMeNT

Ateneans Win

alanca wardsPA

Ateneans Win National Book Awards

Members of the Ateneo-Hello world Team

AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2007�

FR. ROQUE FERRIOLS, SJ, University professor emeritus and three-time National Book Awardee, is no stranger to awards. Especially poignant, though, was the “Many Faces of the Teacher” award given him by the Bato Balani Foundation, Inc. (BBFI) and Diwa Learning Systems, Inc. (DLSI) last 2 August 2007. As one of the award’s four recipients this year, Fr. Ferriols is recognized as representing countless of teachers in the Philippines who have performed their work with resolute commitment and dedication, and have led a life of humility and simplicity. For the past 52 years, Fr. Ferriols, who celebrated his 83rd birthday last August 16, has committed himself to promoting philosophy in the Filipino language. “Ang pag-iisip ay hindi laro kungdi taimtim na paghahanap sa totoo… Kung mamimilosopya ka sa Ingles habang ang nagwawalis sa kalye, namamasada sa jeepney ay nag-iisip sa Pilipino, anong uring paghahanap ng katotohanan ito? Kailangang kilalanin na ang ordinaryong tao ay namimilosopiya din sa naghahanap ng katotohanan,” Fr. Ferriols once said to a national daily. His efforts to promote teaching in Filipino in the classroom were first recognized by the Ateneo when they

awarded him the Gawad Tanglaw ng Lahi in 1989. Aside from this, Fr. Ferriols serves as an example to his colleagues for his ingenuity, simplicity, humility, and, most of all, his commitment to his students. Philosophy professor Dr. Manny Dy describes Fr. Ferriols as: “One of a kind …a creative genius. He points to the truth. He leads you to the insight.” “Fr. Ferriols deserves the award because he is a teacher who gives from his very person,” says Roy Tolentino,

a colleague at the Ateneo’s Philosophy department and a former student. “Fr. Ferriols was one of the teachers who inspired me to pursue the teaching life.” Fr. Ferriols is an inspiration to students as well. Among Ateneans, he has a reputation for challenging his students to pagmumunimuni—reflecting and thinking in their own living language. “His quiet demeanor allows the students to enter into philosophical reflection and his method gives them the opportunity to discover their own capacity for

thought,” says Mr. Tolentino. BBFI is a non-profit foundation which aims to improve the quality of education in the country. BBFI partnered with DLSI in 2004 and founded “A Tribute to Teachers,” an occasion for Filipinos to express gratitude to the thousands of teachers in the Philippines who have touched lives, given inspiration, and shaped the souls of our youth even in the midst of insurmountable obstacles and difficulties. Within this program is the annual “Many Faces of the Teacher” search where outstanding teachers are commended to inspire other teachers to continue in their selfless mission to enlighten the minds of the Filipino youth. The “Many Faces of the Teacher” Award is given to teachers who not only have exemplified excellence in teaching but have influenced society through their profession as well. The award also recognized three other teachers: mobile teacher Ronyla Santiago of Nueva Ecija, special education teacher Elsa Grafilo Duran of Cotabato City, and journalism professor Luis Teodoro of the University of the Philippines. The four were recognized at the annual celebration of “A Tribute to the Teachers” held last 1 September at the Araneta Coliseum, attended by 15,000 teachers.

OUT OF THE 200 nominated teachers from all over the country, Dr. Benilda Santos was chosen as one of the 10 winners of this year’s Metrobank Foundation Search for Outstanding Teachers. Dr. Santos, currently the acting dean of the Ateneo School of Humanties and a professor in the Filipino department, was recognized for her efforts and contributions in literature and the arts as a teacher, writer, poet, and critic of Filipino literature. A prolific writer and author, Dr. Santos is a three-time Palanca awardee for poetry and received the National Book Award in 1997 for Kuwardro Numero Uno (Frame Number One). She also received the Loyola Schools

Publication Award for Poetry in 2004 and Parangal Amado V. Hernandez ng Samahang Anak Hagunoy Award in 2003. As an educator, she was given the Irwin Memorial Teacher Award in 2006, a university award for excellence from the Ateneo de Manila University, and was recognized as an Outstanding Senior Teacher by the Ateneo Schools Parents Council in 2003. Fondly called Ma’am Beni by her fellow teachers and students, Dr. Santos is seen as a mentor who gives special attention and care to younger teachers by patiently guiding them and helping them hone their skills as instructors. “Hindi siya madamot sa pagbabahagi hindi lamang ng kaalaman kundi ng sarili.

Kahit na minsan ay may limitasyon ang kanyang pisikal na katayuan, hindi iyon hadlang upang hindi magbigay si Ma’am Beni sa mga taong nangangailangan ng kanyang karunungan, kaalaman, at maging ng kalinga,” says Christine Bellen, a colleague at the Filipino Department. (She is generous in sharing not only her knowledge but herself. Though she has physical limitations, Ma’am Beni does not allow these to keep her from being of service to those who need her knowledge, wisdome, and care.) Metrobank Foundation initiated the 10 Outstanding Teachers Program in 1985 to bestow honor and due recognition to exemplary teachers who have shown profound commitment to honing the minds of the youth, dedication to their craft, and effective educational leadership. The program aims to elevate the quality of education in

the Philippines by choosing outstanding educators to serve as inspiration to thousands of teachers to continue their selfless mission to change the future of the country. The nationwide search for the Outstanding Teachers is open to elementary, secondary and tertiary education levels. The nominees were officially endorsed by the head of their respective schools and the winners were carefully chosen by a panel of judges headed by Senator Richard Gordon. Supreme Court Associate Justice Ma. Alicia Austria Martinez, Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Esperanza Cabral, De La Salle University President Bro. Armin Luistro, FSC, and Philippine Stock Exchange President Francis Lim were among those included in the board of judges.

More Ateneans Among Metrobank Awardees:• Fredo T. Laureles, Ateneo grade School• glendale Lamiseria (MS Math ed 2006, Deped-NeAP Scholar Batch 5),

Dulag National High School, Leyte• Dr. Ruben Abucayon (MS Bio education 2002) Alegria National High

School, Surigao del Norte

Ms. Lamiseria and Dr. Abucayon obtained their master’s degrees through the Deped-National educators’ Academy of the Philippines Scholarship Program for Secondary School Teachers. All winners received a trophy and P250,000.00 cash prize.

“Many Faces of the teacher” Awardee

Fr. Roque Ferriols, SJ

Metrobank Outstanding Teacher Awardee

Dr. Benilda Santos

By CHRiSTiNe MALLioN

FR. RoQue FeRRioLS, SJ--the teacher who keeps the light of truth burning–with students. Photo courtesy of the Department of Humanities

By CHRiSTiNe MALLioN

ouTSTANDiNg TeACHeR Dr. Benilda Santos (center) with university President Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, SJ (right) and her family.

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This year’s theme, Global/Vernacular, celebrates the participating visual artists’ ability to impart aesthetic experiences that speak a universal language, while maintaining a thematic cultural repertoire that is distinctly Filipino. It is a bold affirmation that Philippine visual arts, though catering to an international audience, has firmly kept the Filipino identity intact amid the threat of homogeneity brought about by globalization. That the event was indeed a milestone was not lost among the patrons who came to view the works of the 11 short-listed artists exhibited at the North Court, Power Plant Mall from 2–7August 2007. For the first time in the AAA’s four-year history, artists were short-listed twice: Bembol De la Cruz, Wawi Navarroza, Jay Ticar, and Jevijoe Vitug in 2007; Mac Valdezco in 2005; and Nona Garcia twice this year. The other short-listed artists include Racquel de Loyola, Winner Jumalon, Yasmin Sison, Lyle Buencamino, and MM Yu. The formal awarding ceremony, held on 8 August at the Rockwell Tent, concluded the week-long event where Wawi Navarozza, Lyle Buencamino, and MM YU were awarded the country’s premiere modern art prize. Lyle Buencamino paid tribute to his father in a series of paintings entitled “A Bowtie for John Lyle”, exhibited in July 2006 at the Mag:Net Gallery in ABS-CBN. The title was taken from a song the late composer had dedicated to his son. Buencamino’s works feature father and son engaged in humorous jests and banters portrayed in a comic strip fashion. He received the AAG – La Trobe University Bendigo, Australia Residency Grant. Wawi Navarozza, who received the AAG–Artesan Gallery Singapore Residency Grant, displayed her mastery of photographic alchemy in

her body of work entitled “Saturnine: A Collection of Portraits”, exhibited at the SilverLens Gallery in December of last year. The chemically-intoxicated photographs possess a surreal dream-like quality that succinctly “bring to light” the enigmatic realm of darkness and timeless mysticism. MM Yu’s photo installation is a collection of seemingly mundane objects and matters of everyday affairs that have stirred the artist’s musings. Autobiographical in nature, the photographs are thematically arranged in black notebooks. Her works were displayed at the Finale Art Gallery in SM Megamall from April to May of this year. The exhibition, called “Thoughts Collected, Recollected”, earned Yu the AAG–Common Room Bandung, Indonesia Residency Grant. This year marks the first time that all three winners were given AAG

International Studio Residency Grants. The first of its kind in the country, the residency grant is expansive and comprehensive. It translates into a three-week stay in a designated work studio in a foreign art institution with monetary allowance, roundtrip airfare, and accommodations provided for.

AAG’s managing curator Yael Buencamino says that the grant presents “an excellent opportunity for the local artists to interact with and be exposed to other artists on an international setting” and, consequently, to keep themselves abreast with the developments in the international art scene - a factor that certainly should contribute to their growth as artists. To mark the culmination of their residencies, the artists will hold solo exhibitions in their

respective venues. In sync with the exhibition theme

of the Filipino identity extending its reach globally, the grant gives the artists the privilege of raising the Filipino flag on foreign shores. Likewise a first in the history of the AAA was the presence this year of two foreign jurors: Vince Alessi, managing curator of the La Trobe University Art Museum and Collections in Australia; and art historian, critic and curator Eugene Tan, director of the Institute of Contemporary Arts Singapore.

The AAA aims to promote awareness and appreciation of contemporary Philippine art and artists both here and abroad, in line with the mission and vision of the AAG. Though diverse in forms of expression, these works give further credence to the value of art and culture to Philippine society. The AAA was held in partnership with the Unionbank, Metro Society, Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Land, Smart Gold, and Y Style with the support of Artesan Gallery, Common Room Networks Foundation, Arts Network Asia, La Trobe University Bendigo, Timbuk2, and Absolut Vodka.

The Comical: “A Bowtie for John Lyle” by Lyle Buencamino

The Mystical: “Saturnine: A Collection of Portraits”

by Wawi Navarozza

The Sentimental: “Thoughts Collected, Recollected” by MM Yu

TWO CINEMATIC FORAYS by Ateneans into the independent filmmaking circuit earned top recognition at the 2007 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival. Conferred the highest honors at the awarding ceremonies held last 28 July 2007 at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater) were filmmaker Alvin Yapan (BS Legal Management 1997) in the Short Feature Film Category for “Rolyo” and Ina Feleo (BFA Creative Writing 2006) as Best Actress for her role in the film “Endo.” Yapan received a Gawad Balanghai trophy and a P100,000 film grant from Film Development Council of the Philippines. It covers a one-term training in a discipline of his choice and a P25,000 grant from the International Academy of Film and Television. The breadth of Yapan’s artistic expertise has been recognized time and again by the top award-giving bodies in the country. A faculty member of the Loyola Scools’ Filipino department, Yapan is a three-time

Palanca awardee for fiction and won the NCAA Writers Prize in 2005. A true visionary, Yapan’s unpretentious take on a uniquely Filipino experience insightfully translated into reel life was hailed by Cinemalaya for “its lyrical depiction of the idyllic life of a young girl in the province, its rich symbolism, and its effective counterpoint of images that pit the materialistic with the simple, the pure and the pastoral.” Feleo, on the other hand, is no stranger to acting, being an active performer in Tanghalang Ateneo stage productions. The Cinemalaya award for her cinematic venture in “Endo” serves as a testament to her versatility as an actress. In “Endo”, she played the endearing and multi-faceted Tanya, a contractual laborer whose ambitions of working abroad are waylaid by her socio-economic disposition and her heated romance with the capricious Leo (Jason Abalos). Feleo is the daughter of actors Johnny Delgado and Laurice Guillen.

More than just a creative pursuit, independent filmmaking is a noble endeavor upheld by the belief in art for art’s sake, and whose notion of viability demands extraordinary courage and commitment. For the brave souls who dare venture into it, the gratification stems solely from producing something of noteworthy cultural and artistic value. Their’s is a world bereft of the glitz and glamour of the commercial filmmaking industry; and where originality, depth, meaning, and excellence of artistic delivery take precedence over popularity and the material rewards that normally follow. The Cinemalaya Film Festival aims to vivify the Philippine “indie” filmmaking industry by continually unearthing and cultivating gifted film-makers. It also provides a network of support for these alternative filmmakers and perhaps, more significantly, empowers the Filipino cultural identity in the international arena.

AAA winners and jurors with university President Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, SJ.

By eeyA LiTiATCo MARTiN

EACH YEAR, THE Ateneo Art Awards (AAA) unveils a roster of talented young artists whose creative zeal have played significant roles in shaping the face of modern and contemporary art in the country. Under the stewardship of the Ateneo Art Gallery (AAG), the awards give due recognition to select artists whose works have appeared in group or solo exhibitions in the past year.

VOL. III NO. 2 �

Recognize the Mystical, the Comical,and the Sentimental

Ateneans Garner Top Awards in Independent Film Circuit By eeyA LiTiATCo MARTiN

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AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2007�

IN THE NEXT few years, one out of every three graduates of the John Gokongwei School of Management (JGSOM) will have spent a semester abroad in earning his or her degree—even more if present trends continue.

TO MEET THE current and future challenges of globalization, migration, advances in information and communication technology, and increased competition among higher educational institutions both here and abroad, the Ateneo Loyola Schools is more vigorously pursuing internationalization.

Current Efforts

At present, Ateneo’s internationalization efforts include expanding student mobility between the school and its partner universities in Asia and Europe,

developing inbound student mobility through 3-5 week immersion programs, and establishing Ateneo as a regional center for graduate education. The University has also positioned itself as a Center for English Language with students from partner schools coming to the Ateneo for English language learning. Recently developed internationally-geared programs include the China initiatives spearheaded by the University’s Confucious Institute, such as exchange visits with Sun Yat Sen University and the newly approved AB in Chinese Studies (see related article in page 8). Theme-centered collaborative research is being encouraged as well, with the University’s research agenda focused on nation-building. The Ateneo is actively seeking foreign academics who can collaborate with our own faculty members on research. Current institutional partnerships supporting this internationalization thrust include the ones with La Trobe University in Australia and the University of the Assumption in Thailand on cityscape and social philosophy. Academic Vice President, Dr. Antonette Palma-Angeles shared that a conference involving all Ateneo units was held last August on campus with Indonesian and Malaysian academics in cooperation with La Trobe University’s Center for Dialogue

Adapting to theChanging Times

Ateneo’s Internationalization Thrusts

No lost time. Here’s how it works: • The typical Ateneo school-year has mid-June to mid-october for the

first semester and November to March for the second semester.• JgSoM organizes special junior-year classes held April to July

(semester 1) and January to April (semester 2). • This allows the batch to study abroad in the intervening term of

August to December—the period when most universities abroad have their first semester.

• As a rule, students earn credits for courses taken in partner universities abroad towards fulfilling their local degree requirements.

• JTA participants enter senior year on schedule (June).

Expatsas

Students

This confident prediction is the result of the very successful Junior Term Abroad (JTA) Program established in 2003. Now on its fifth year, the program organizes one-semester study placements of junior-year management students in various partner universities in Asia, Europe and the United States. It has grown from 17 participants in school year 2003-04—with JGSOM partnering with 5 schools in 4 countries—to 136 participants this school year, involving 33 host schools in 14 countries. The figures can only increase, given sustained student interest along with the growing list of universities undertaking exchange arrangements with Ateneo.

JGSOM’s JTA Program represents the bulk of Loyola Schools’ international student exchange activities. This is one of the principal ways by which the Loyola Schools is establishing stronger world-wide links, tasked as it is with achieving

higher levels of internationalization for the University. The challenge is more complex and varied now in this era of globalization, and certainly a far cry from the early 1970s, when Ateneo ventured in student exchanges with its first partner schools that included Sophia University of Tokyo.

It was in 1994 when the Office of International Programs (OIP) was created to be the university’s service arm for internationalization efforts. Working under Dr. Antonette Palma-Angeles, Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Director of OIP, the office manages student exchange programs and is composed of a six-person team.

OIP’s first efforts in the mid-90s dealt with short language training programs for Koreans wanting to learn English.

In early 2000, OIP administered special academic programs for student groups from America (University of San Francisco, University of California, Canisius College, Stanford University) and from Japan (Nanzan University) wanting to immerse themselves in the Philippine social and cultural environment. For this purpose, OIP organized month-long academic cum outreach programs, combining classroom lectures on history, economy, politics, and culture with visits to urban poor communities and historical sites.

In 2001, the French embassy in the Philippines offered Archipel scholarships to France, paving the way for the first two-way exchange of students between Ateneo and French students. Soon after many student exchange agreements were signed between Ateneo and French universities.

By ART vALeNCiA

By eRLiNDA eiLeeN g. LoLARgA

PHoToS CouRTeSy oF JTA PARTiCiPANTS

pursuing internationalization

VOL. III NO. 2 7

on Peace, Conflict and Religion. She mentioned too the Ateneo Art Gallery’s contribution to the University’s internationalization efforts through its annual Award for the Arts and the partnerships it entered into with the galleries in La Trobe and Singapore. Other internationalization efforts include the SYLFF and API programs coordinated by Fr. Jose Cruz, SJ, Dean of the School of Social Sciences.

Meeting New Challenges

To meet new challenges, the Central Administration came up with an update on the University’s internationalization program, which serves as the overarching guideline for Ateneo’s internationalization efforts. The first challenge is how to attract the right partners. Dr. Angeles pointed out that Ateneo’s response to this is strategic planning. They are actively seeking out University partners and are sending out students and faculty members as ambassadors, making sure that departing students are given appropriate

OIP and the Office of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (ADAA), however, had to address the problem of students being averse to exchange programs that will unduly delay their graduation. Because of the differences in school schedule, Filipinos going to foreign universities for a semester’s study stood to lose a full school-year in the Philippine school calendar.

In 2003, a revolutionary idea from JGSOM sparked student interest in studying abroad. The Junior Term Abroad (JTA) Program provided for a local class schedule that would accommodate a full-term abroad for the students with no time lost towards their graduation.

With the program in place, students queued up for placements. JGSOM and OIP actively sought partner universities all over Europe, Asia, and the United States to develop exchanges. With these agreements came various arrangements like tuition waivers and partial scholarships from some universities, which served the students and the schools well.

The success of JGSOM’s JTA program notwithstanding, the other Loyola Scools contribute their share in the internationalization thrust. The School of Social Sciences (SOSS) has been sending three or four European Studies students abroad annually for exchange programs. This year SOSS will send six students to France and Spain for a semester’s stay.

In the School of Science and

Argentina1. Universidad del Salvador

– Buenos Aires

Australia2. La Trobe University – Melbourne 3. Notre Dame University – Perth 4. The University of Newcastle – Callaghan

NSW5. University of Technology Sydney

– Sydney

Austria6. MCI – Management Center Innsbruck

Belgium7. University of Antwerp – Antwerp

Canada8. University of Saskatchewan

– Saskatchewan

China9. Beijing Language and Culture University10. Peking University – Beijing 11. Sun Yat-sen University – Guangzhou 12. Xiamen University – Xiamen

France13. Audencia Nantes School of

Management – Nantes14. Bordeaux Business School (BBS)

– Bordeaux 15. Ecole Supérieure de Sciences

Commerciales D’Angers (ESSCA) – Angers

16. Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Rennes – Rennes

17. Institut Catholique de Arts et Métiers (ICAM) – Lille

18. Institut National des Télécommunications (INT) – Evry

19. Groupe Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Pau – Pau

20. Groupe ESC Dijon/ Burgundy School of Business – Dijon

21. Institut Catholique de Etudes Supérieures (ICES) – La Roche sur Yon

22. Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Bordeaux (Sciences-po) – Bordeaux

23. Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences-po) – Paris

24. Management Institute of Paris (MIP) – Paris

25. Mod’Art International – Paris 26. Université Catholique de Lille (UCL)

– Lille 27. Université Catholique de l’Ouest (UCO)

– Angers 28. Université de Limoges – Limoges 29. University of Provence – Marseille30. Université de Technologie de Belfort

Monbeliard (UTBM) - Belfort

Germany31. Ilmenau University of Technology

– Ilmenau

Hong Kong32. Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU)33. Hong Kong University of Science and

Technology (HKUST)

Indonesia34. Sanata Dharma University – Yogyakarta 35. Satya Wacana Christian University

– Salatiga 36. Universitas Katolik Indonesia Atma Jaya

– Jakarta

Japan37. Aomori Chuo Gakuin University – Aomori38. International Christian University (ICU)

– Tokyo 39. J.F. Oberlin University – Tokyo40. Josai International University (JIU)

– Chiba41. Kansai Gaidai University – Hirakata 42. Kobe University – Kobe 43. Kyushu University – Fukuoka 44. Nagoya Gakuin University – Nagoya

45. Nanzan University – Nagoya 46. Okinawa Christian Junior College

– Okinawa 47. Osaka University - Osaka48. Rikkyo University – Tokyo 49. Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University

– Kyoto 50. Seisen University – Tokyo 51. Sophia University – Tokyo 52. Waseda University – Tokyo

Korea53. Catholic University of Daegu - Daegu54. Dong-eui University – Pusan 55. Incheon University – Incheon56. Seoul National University – Seoul57. Sogang University – Seoul58. Taejon University – Taejon

Macau59. University of Macau

Mexico60. Universidad Iberoamericana – Sta. Fe

Middle East61. Eastern Mediterranean University

– Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

Norway62. Norwegian University of Life

Sciences – Aas

Romania63. University of Transilvania of Brasov

– Brasov

Singapore64. Nanyang Technological University (NTU)65. National University of Singapore (NUS)66. Singapore Management University

(SMU)

Spain67. Universidad Complutense de Madrid

– Madrid 68. Universidad de Alcala

– Alcalá de Henares69. Universidad de Castilla - La Mancha

– Albacete70. Universidad de Cordoba – Cordoba 71. Universidad de Deusto – Bilbao 72. Universidad del Pais Vasco – San

Sebastian73. Universidad Pontificia Comillas de

Madrid - Madrid

Taiwan74. Chung Yuan Christian University (CYCU)

– Chung-Li75. National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU)

– Kaohsiung76. Providence University – Taichung County

Thailand77. Mahidol University – Nakhon Pathom 78. Thammasat University – Bangkok United States of America79. Boston College (BC) – Massachusetts80. Georgian Court University (GCU)

– New Jersey81. Loyola Marymount University (LMU)

– Los Angeles82. Middle Tennessee State University

– Tennessee83. Regis University – Colorado84. Santa Clara University (SCU)

– Los Angeles 85. Trinity College – Connecticut 86. University of California – California87. University of Delaware – Delaware88. University of the Incarnate Word – Texas 89. University of the Pacific - Stockton90. University of San Francisco (USF)

– San Francisco91. University of Wisconsin - Madison

– Wisconsin 92. Washington State University

– Washington

Engineering (SOSE), the Department of Information Systems and Communication Science (DISCS) this year sent 13 students abroad, up from two last year. Also active is the exchange program between the Electronic Communication and Computer Engineering (ECCE) Department and a French engineering school that provides for Philippine students to spend one school-year in France, and French students to spend five months in the Philippines while conducting their research project. Last summer, 14 ECCE students spent one-month in an Ateneo partner school in Taiwan for their summer on-the-job training.

The School of Humanities (SOH) has also sent its students abroad through the Archipel Scholarsip Program of the French Embassy. And, yes, there are other initiatives—the short term study tours organized and supervised by the schools themselves: Europe by European Studies and Japan by Japanese Studies, both of SOSS, and China by JGSOM.

All told, the various efforts at student expatriation establish Ateneo as an institution with strong ties with foreign partners, but ultimately, the students have the most to gain from the socio-cultural lessons they learnswhile living and studying abroad.

page 6

ADMU International Linkages

JTA participantsaround the world

AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2007�

pursuing internationalization

Part of the new program’s appeal and what makes it unique would be its tracks in Business (in a Chinese context), Humanities (aesthetic theories and the literature and arts of China), and Social Sciences (a broad introduction to the social realities in China and frameworks for analyzing them). Thus, students interested in taking on the program would not only have a comprehensive knowledge of basic Chinese Studies courses such as Mandarin Chinese, Chinese History and Philosophy, Government and Politics, but would also get to

equivalents. To meet this, the University created a special semester for outbound and inbound students which also involved internal negotiations initially with receptive departments. As far as recognizing courses is concerned, intense pre-exchange work and a close study of course contents is necessary. Outbound students, she added, do not take core courses during their stint abroad and the grades they get from this term abroad will not be part of their average grade.

Involving the Community

In order to better align the Loyola Schools’ internationalization efforts with the program laid out by Dr. Angeles, Loyola Schools Vice President Dr. Ma. Assunta Cuyegkeng, has invited the Loyola Schools community to send in their goals and action plans 5 November 2007. These action plans should include the benchmarking of degree programs and curricula, as well as pursuing international accreditation, improvement of faculty profile to more closely match standards of benchmark higher education institutions, and the acquisition of Asian references and materials. The plans should also cover the presentation of scholarly work at international conferences/workshops, as well as networking and the promotion of student exchange. The University work on internationalization is a continuing process. The Loyola Schools Community is invited to rise to the challenge.

China in the Horizon

orientation. The second challenge is to move away from Ateneo’s focus on the US. To address this, Ateneo sought out partners in Asia and Europe and sent out students in pairs for term exchange. Other efforts along this line included sending Ateneo students on immersion programs in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, and the European study tour of the European Studies program; developing multicultural immersion programs with the Jesuit network exchange in Asia which was suggested by Sophia University in Japan; and possibly developing a program with a multi-religious group such as Ritsumeikan University. In the pipeline are negotiations with Embassies for partnerships with Italian and Dutch universities. The third challenge is dealing with limited resources. In response, strategic planning will be done to focus the use of institutional resources. Increasing student mobility by bringing in more inbound students to internationalize the Ateneo community is being done, as well as encouraging more visiting professors both inbound and outbound. Research, moreover, should look into identifying the needs and the niche while scouting around for strategic network membership that could promote the research outputs and agenda. In line with this, Dr. Angeles said that the Ateneo is now a member of SATU (Southeast Asian and Taiwan Universities), a network which previously had only the University of the Philippines and De La Salle University as Philippine partners. The fourth challenge has to do with dealing with different academic calendars of the other schools, and the recognition of courses and grade

specialize in a particular discipline that resonates closer to their inclinations and capabilities. An interesting feature open to students in the AB Chinese Studies program is that they have an option to spend their junior year in China. For starters, Dr. Palanca revealed that the University already has tie-ups with the Jesuit Beijing Center for Chinese Studies in Beijing and Sun Yat Sen University in Guangzhou, where the students could go and take the equivalent of some courses in the curriculum. She said that many of the Ateneo’s Filipino Chinese graduates

New AB Chinese Studies Program LaunchedBy eRLiNDA eiLeeN g. LoLARgA

A NEW BACHELOR of Arts in Chinese Studies was formally approved by the Board of Trustees of the Ateneo de Manila University in April 2007. According to Dr. Ellen Palanca, Director of the Chinese Studies Program based at the School of Social Sciences, the whole process of getting approval for the program took a short while because of the support from administrators and members of the School Council.

would go to China to study some more or just to study the language. With this program, the immersion in China is already integrated into the program if they desire to go abroad to master the language. The course is particularly relevant now because China is an emerging world power and there is a real need to equip Filipinos with the skills necessary for engaging China from different dimensions and perspectives. Dr. Palanca emphasized the fact that the country does not have enough experts in Chinese Studies. The prospective graduates of the program will be able to train in turn more people in Filipino-Chinese schools about China. She further said that the kind of graduates they foresee emerging from the program could be described as those who know the Mandarin Chinese language well (so that they could go further on their own), has an appreciation of Chinese culture, has a knowledge of contemporary China (its economy and political system), and would have a more understanding of the issues and be able to analyze these objectively. To graduates of the program, a wide variety of career opportunities are available because of China’s growth and the increasing number of multinational corporations, governments, businesses and schools that deal with China. As Dr. Palanca pointed out, work for graduates of the program could be in business, foreign service, translation, research, arts, teaching, and writing, both in the Philippines and abroad.

For this school year, according to Dr. Palanca, the program does not have any freshmen yet. The AB Chinese Studies course is slated to go full blast for school year 2008-2009. The Chinese Studies Program office, however, is working with shiftees or those who want to double major. She said that of those who have inquired about the new program, about 10 students have already decided to shift by the end of the school year, with the interests now being mostly in the business track. A roster of highly qualified faculty members, both full time and part time, is ready to teach the courses to incoming students. Full-time faculty members at present include Dr. Palanca herself, Ms. Daisy See and Mr. Clark Alejandrino. Two Chinese professors from Sun Yat Sen University are currently visiting the University—Professors Luo Bin and Zhang Shitao. Other academic programs in the works include an M.A. in Education major in teaching Mandarin Chinese which Dr. Palanca said will be a tie-up with the Education Department. With the rise of Ricardo Leong Center for Chinese Studies on campus and Mandarin language courses under the wing of the Confucius Institute offered in both the Loyola Heights and the Salcedo campuses, China is indeed in the horizon. The program is ready to take off, fleshing out the internationalization efforts of the University through our solid links with China.

Adapting to the Changing Times... from p. 7

DR. eLLeN PALANCA promotes the new AB CHiNeSe studies Program

VOL. III NO. 2 �

DO INDONESIAN MUSLIM women fit in the globalization era? This was the question addressed at a symposium held last 14 August 2007 by the Ateneo Center for Asian Studies (ACAS), under the School of Social Sciences. Rina Shahriyani Shahrullah, PhD, a current ACAS fellow, pointed out that Indonesia, like most countries in the world, is experiencing the process of globalization, and Indonesian Muslim women are very much involved in this. She said that there exists a wrong perception that Indonesian Muslim women do not participate in globalization processes because Islam restricts their “freedom.” Correcting this misperception, she explained that the equal and fair treatment of women is very much emphasized in Islam. In fact, she said that

ACAS holds symposium on Indonesian Muslim Women and Globalization

Exploring the Legacy of Empire in the Languages of Sovereignty

THE HISTORY DEPARTMENT and Philippine Studies presented “The Afterlife of Empire: Sovereignty and Revolution in the Spanish Philippines” by University of Washington Professor Dr. Vicente Rafael last 19 September 2007. Author of several books on Philippine history, Dr. Rafael explores the uncanny legacy of empire in the languages of sovereignty—often confused with freedom and always associated with power—in the late-19th- and 20th-century Philippines. With particular reference to the writings of Apolinario Mabini and Santiago Alvarez, Dr. Rafael asks how this imperial legacy of “sovereignty” is conjured, re-appropriated, and momentarily suspended by the event of the Filipino Revolution. In doing so, he seeks to inquire into one of the most perplexing features of modernity: the vexed relationship between freedom and violence in various attempts to redeem social life in the face of human finitude.

Recent Events

Roundtable Tackles “Love-Teams” in Family Business CAN LOVE AND business mix? Absolutely, according to speakers at the Family Business Breakfast Roundtable held last 5 September 2007 at the Manila Polo Club. Attended by 35 family business practitioners, the roundtable featured two couples who shared their experiences as husband-and-wife teams running a business, as well as the marriage-threatening challenges that often come along with it. Salvador Magundayao and Pin Antonio of the Salon de Manila chain of upscale beauty salons, and Feliciano and Bernadette Juarez of the popular photocopying and printing chain Copylandia, explained that the key to a sustained relationship was respecting each other’s roles in the office—one partner had to be the “wallet-person”, and the other the creative/growth-idea generator. Both couples agreed that these business functions ceased the moment they arrived home and resumed their husband-and-wife roles. As a rule, both partners needed to have a shared vision of the enterprise, in much the same way that they share a dream for their family. The roundtable series, now on its 15th session, is held quarterly under the sponsorship of the Family Business Development Centre (FBDC) of the John Gokongwei School of Management (JGSOM). Headed by JGSOM Professors Ricardo H. Mercado and Ma. Teresa Galura, FBDC provides specialized consultancy service to family enterprises, addressing sensitive issues related to managing a family business. Slated for the next roundtable is the topic: Sibling Revelry—How Brothers and Sisters Work Together.

- Art Valencia

Picture Stories Show History

LAST 22 AUGUST 2007, history students were treated to a discussion on “Representation of Southeast Asians in 1930s Japanese Picture-Stories,” at the Social Sciences Case Study room by former History Instructor Mr. Karl Ian U. Cheng Chua who is currently enrolled in the Ph.D. Program in Japanese Studies of the Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo, Japan. Showing images found in a widely-read 1930’s Japanese “Boys’ Club” picture-story, Mr. Cheng Chua looks into the possibilities of how pre-war Japan imagined people in the nanyo (the South Seas). By using popular artifacts such as comic books, Mr. Cheng Chua gave light to the fact that popular artifacts such as picture-stories can be viable sources of history.

19-20 October “Sociologizing Education: Meanings, Processes, and Institutions”National Conference of the Philippine Sociological Society (PSS)9am-5pm, Escaler Hall

Hosted by the Department of Sociology and Anthropology (DSA), the conference will gather practitioners, researchers, faculty, and students of sociology from all over the country to discuss education and educational processes and, through sociological frameworks and methodologies, contribute to an understanding of this important aspect of our society. The conference will feature a workshop on “Communication Skills for Sociology Teachers” with Dr. Ricardo Abad, 2001 Metrobank Outstanding Teacher awardee.

For more information, please contact Dr. Czarina Saloma-Akpedonu, PSS President, or Bernadette Pascua, DSA Administrative Assistant, at 426-5990 or 426-6001 locals 5270 and 5271.

22-23 October “From Classroom to Career: Roadmaps to a Library’s Success”3rd Rizal Library International Conference Escaler Hall The conference is designed to encourage and appreciate the exchange of ideas and experiences on strategic plans that ensure responsiveness and relevance of libraries, librarians, and information professionals in the information society. Likewise, the conference pursues how library stakeholders create and manage library roadmaps in a constantly changing society. While it is true that some libraries and information centers have accomplished great strides, they should continue to create new roadmaps to meet greater challenges.

24 NovemberStudent Research Symposium School of Science and Engineering (SOSE)8am-12nn, Escaler Hall

For third year SOSE students in 4-year courses, 4th year students in 5-year courses, and new graduate students.

Upcoming Events

FICTIONISTS at the Ateneo got a rare treat this semester as acclaimed Singaporean novelist Suchen Christine Lim served as visiting faculty at the English Department. The author of such novels as “Fistful of Colors”, “Rice Bowl”, and “A Bit of Earth”, Suchen Christine Lim held two fiction workshops where she led Creative Writing majors and other beginning writers through a series of lectures, writing activities, and feedback sessions, which culminated in the production of a number of short stories.

During the semester, Suchen Lim also gave a talk on “Writing across Race, Language, and Culture in Singaporean Fiction”, joined as guest speaker in classes on Asian Literature where her novels were discussed, and met up with Filipino writers from different parts of the country. Her latest book of short stories, “The Lies that Build a Marriage”, published by Monsoon Publications and the National Arts Council of Singapore (and distributed locally by Anvil Publishing, Inc.) was launched last 26 September, and is now available in bookstores.

Singaporean Novelist Suchen Christine Lim Holds Fictions Workshops

SuCHeN LiM at work in class

Indonesian Muslim women are involved in almost all aspects of life: education, economy, science, politics, governance, etc. However, she added that in the context of Islam, “equality” is not identical with “sameness.” At the end of her talk, she challenged Indonesian Muslim women, especially those in the audience, to be pro-active agents of globalization without losing their identity as Muslims. Dr. Rina Shahriyani Shahrullah teaches International Law, Comparative Law, Legal Research Methodology, and Alternative Dispute Resolution and Arbitration at the Universitas Internasional Batam. She is also a fellow of the Asian Public Intellectual. She will be in the Philippines for a year to do research on human trafficking. The symposium, organized by the Departments of History and Political Science, was attended by visiting students from Indonesia, Ateneo faculty and students, and representatives from non-government organizations.

AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2007�0

THE COLD AND stormy weather that night proved to be of no hindrance to the hundreds of people who flocked to Ateneo’s Church of the Gesu on the 25th of August. Sitting on aisles and standing against walls, they all came to witness the launching of the Bukas Palad Music Ministry’s latest album. Hindi Kita Malilimutan, the group’s 13th album, is a double-CD project with 20 tracks. The first disc is compilation of 10 mellow liturgical songs and includes the title track

which was given a multi-lingual treatment, while

the second disc features 10 pop-inspired inspirational songs—one song, perhaps, to mark each of the 20 years the group has made music together. Yes, the launch also commemorated Bukas Palad’s 20th anniversary, making the event doubly significant. As a music ministry that began from a group high school friends—Norman Agatep, Jandi Arboleda, and Manoling Francisco—who simply enjoyed singing together during breaks from class, Bukas Palad has certainly come a long way. “We started writing songs in high school—songs which we would then sing in school masses,” recalls Agatep. In June of 1986, when the three, together with a handful of other friends, were invited to sing for a wedding, the formal beginnings of Bukas Palad emerged. Shortly after, they recorded their first album called Bukas Palad, thus giving the group its name. Bukas Palad has since performed in over a hundred

concerts all over the Philippines, and in Japan, Hong Kong, and the United States. Bukas Palad, under the under the Ateneo’s Jesuit Music Ministry, strives to help build a world of justice, peace, hope, and love by writing, performing, and propagating original liturgical and inspirational music. Its ministry i n c l u d e s

reaching out to choirs within Metro Manila and offering free workshops. Among its most popular songs are “Hindi Kita Malilimutan”, “Tanging Yaman”, “Sa ‘Yo Lamang”, “Anima Christi”, and “I Will Sing Forever”—songs that have become significant parts of the Filipino spiritual music culture. “Hindi Kita Malilimutan” is the first song composed by Fr. Manoling Francisco, SJ, to gain widespread recognition. It even earned Fr. Francisco six Cecil Awards. “[We chose it as the album’s title] because it is the theme of the album–God’s enduring love,” says Roy Tolentino, one of the album’s producers.

As a commemorative album, Hindi Kita Malilimutan “is a document of history, of prayer, of humility, and of gratitude,” says Rica Bolipata-Santos, Bukas Palad’s overall coordinator. “Every element of this album was thought of, prayed over, debated upon, and offered lovingly to the Church, to her people, and to God.” The album’s development process, in fact, involved members from all of the previous Bukas Palad generations. “The album is a collaboration of 111 people,” says Rica, citing the total number of members Bukas Palad has collected over the past two decades. Though not all were available to record the songs for the album, Rica explains that all Bukas Palad members will

By Christine Mallion

forever be part of the group. When asked how being a member of Bukas Palad has changed her life, Maan Villanueva says: “The dedication to serve is infectious. I’ve long admired the group for its ministry, being able to spread the goodness of God to His people through their beautiful original music.” Bukas Palad also collaborated with accomplished artists Noel Cabangon and Gary Granada in the creation of the album. Furthermore, five of the songs included the album are composed by winners of Bayan Umawit, a songwriting competition initiated and organized by Bukas Palad to encourage Filipino composers to write liturgical and inspirational music. Two decades down the road, Bukas Palad has certainly made its mark not only in the music industry, but in the lives of countless of people it has inspired. Hindi Kita Malilimutan is but a fitting way to celebrate

this milestone.

Photo courtesy of Norman Agatep

VOL. III NO. 2 ��

sa huli laban talaga mga ‘yan. Kaya mataas respeto namin sa kanila.” (Coach Pido said that even if Ateneo doesn’t have any wins, you should never underestimate them. They will fight to the end. That’s why we have a lot of respect for them.) After the NU Bulldogs pulled off the tourney’s biggest upset so far and denied Ateneo the second seed, graduating senior Joseph Lingao-Lingao was visibly elated, “We fell short of our goal of making the Final Four, but now, beating Ateneo, a team we have a lot of respect for, is the highlight of our season.” That was, indeed, a stinging loss. But given that, in the last two years, the team swept the first rounds before crashing in the later stages, that loss may be a sign that the tides are changing this time around. Maybe the team will learn from this adversity. Consider these: The two losses to pace-setting UE (who finished with an immaculate 14-0 record) were a pair of close shaves decided only at the last minute. The Blue Eagles have

If you thought that when former Blue Eagle star Olsen Racela said that Yuri Escueta was going to be the team’s X-factor, it was only because he was being magnanimous to his cousin, then maybe now you’re saying that it runs in their blood. “We’re under the radar,” said third-year mentor Norman Black, whose team basketball analysts have earlier predicted to finish fifth this season. “And we like it that way.” But after putting together a pair of two straight wins and a five-game victory run, no one is taking the Blue Eagles lightly anymore. Even if they squandered an opportunity to claim the second seed (finishing the eliminations round at 9-5) and the valuable twice-to-beat advantage, everyone gets up for a match with the boys in blue. Said UST’s phenomenal swingman Khasim Mirza right before the second round clash with Ateneo, “Sabi ni coach Pido [Jarencio, the Tigers’ coach], kahit walang panalo ang Ateneo never mo i-underestimate sila. Hanggang

THE PHILIPPINES MAY have just had a token presence in the recently concluded 24th World University Games held in Bangkok, Thailand, from 8-18 August 2007, but for the organizers, Filipinos have already made a lasting impression on what is considered to be the Olympics for university students. Roch Campana, Secretary General of the International University Sports Federation, who once competed for Belgium in the 1967 Universiade, recalls going up against a Philippine Basketball team bannered by none other than Robert Jaworski. The sports body’s president, George E. Killian, was the former head of FIBA from 1990-98 aside from being a member of the International Olympic Committee and coach of the Wharton High School basketball team in New York from 1949-51. He keenly followed the developments of our country’s internal basketball problem and was pleased to see it finally resolved. This year, some 130 countries participated in the biennial competition, which was held in Southeast Asia for the first time. Russia romped away with the most number of medals, while China, on the strength of its 445-man delegation bagged the most number of gold medals at 32. The Philippines, on the other hand, managed to bring home its first ever medal from a Universiade competition—a bronze medal in the taekwondo middleweight division by De La Salle University’s Criselda Roxas. One bronze medal may not be much, but considering that the Philippine team was a hastily formed one, it is quite an achievement.

The Philippines has not been a constant participant in the Universiade, but when the Philippine Olympic Committee was contacted by the Universiade Bangkok Organizing Committee, a 44-man Philippine contingent was quickly drawn up mostly from UAAP schools. The athletes from Ateneo, University of the Philippines, University of Santo Tomas, University of the East, De La Salle University, Far Eastern University, the College of Saint Benilde, and Ateneo De Naga competed in fencing, shooting, swimming, and taekwondo events. Ateneo de Manila’s contingent included 10 shooters including their coach Danny Flores and four swimmers who were led by new program coach Archie Lim. Francine Lu of the shooting team and Nicole Santiago, Gem Ong, and Bianca and Evan Uy of the swimming team will be competing as part of the Philippine contingent to the Bangkok SEA Games this December. Philippine delegation head Jose Capistrano said that by the 25th Universiade in Belgrade, Serbia in 2009, the Philippines will be ready with a better-equipped and bigger contingent. Mr. Sinisa Jasnic, President of the Belgrade Universiade 2009, said that organizers are planning on holding the competition a month and a half earlier to accommodate the United States National Collegiate Athletic Association Men’s Basketball Champion’s inclusion – basketball is a religion to many of the Balkan countries -- that also possibly opens the doors for a UAAP selection to compete as well. The Philippine team to the 24th Universiade Games was sponsored in part by Petron, Hapee, Accel, United Laboratories, and Uratex.

UAAP and Ateneo participate in 2007 Universiade

IF SOMEONE TOLD you prior to this UAAP basketball season that Claiford Arao would be the Blue Eagles’ leading scorer and go-to player, you’d probably think the person was joking. If you thought that Jai Reyes was too small to play college ball and that he was only good for a situational three-pointer, then you’d be pleasantly surprised to know that he’s one of the league’s leaders in assists.

repaid a pair of stinging losses to FEU and defending champion UST. It also completed its fourth elimination round sweep of the highly fancied De La Salle Green Archers, while stealing a startling end-game poise from their foe’s playbook. The Ateneo coaching staff will point to the sum of the team’s parts as a reason for this record, but the

notable ascension of some players has been a huge factor

in the team’s e l i m i n a t i o n round run.

Nonoy Baclao, even when he was in Team B, was an obvious choice for

promotion to the senior team. During the first round, he struggled to adjust to

the pressure of facing tougher competition and was often relegated to the bench because

of foul trouble. After the second match of the second round, where the Blue Eagles exacted revenge on the Tamaraws, Baclao’s game took off. He averaged 8.8 points, 5.2 boards, and 2.8 blocks per game. The numbers could have been higher, but he was sent to the bench early during the La Salle game because of foul trouble. In the final game against NU, Baclao blocked a league-best seven shots. Eric Salamat has been the team’s firestarter off the bench. A few days before the season kicked off last July, team captain Chris Tiu joked with Salamat and this writer that if the sophomore sensation can get his outside shot going, then he’d take a load off Tiu’s back, since he was certain to be shadowed by the opposing teams’ top defenders. Replied Salamat: “I’ve got my confidence going. Just everyone watch out.” “Bring it,” parried Tiu, who was obviously psyching his teammate to go out and show what he’s got. Although Salamat has had his flashes of brilliance in the past, the coaching staff was hoping for more consistency. With the remaining teams (UST, FEU, DLSU, and ADMU) now at the win-or-go-home stage, Salamat has proven his worth, scoring in double figures in the last three games. “Those aren’t garbage points,”

The Replacement KillersThe Replacement Killersnoted a long-time Blue Eagle watcher. “He makes the crucial shots and when it’s crunch time, he’s not afraid to go right through the heart of our foe’s defense for the drive. You like that in a player when they take responsibility.” Zion Laterre has been one of Black’s prized substitutes. A player of multifarious talents, the team’s graduating co-captain has thrived whether as a starter or bench sub, and whether as a defensive specialist or a rebounder par excellance, giving the team many second chances with his hauls off the offensive glass. “We all have roles in this team,” explained Jai Reyes after the big second round game against La Salle. “Anyone has to be ready to contribute when coach Norman calls you. That’s the way it has been for this team. We don’t have the talent the others have, but we cover and help each other out.” The Ateneo De Manila Blue Eagles have placed first, second, third, fourth, and fifth in the standings at one time or another during the course of the eliminations. When you read the newspapers now, those same basketball prognosticators who figured them to fall by the wayside have done an about face and have placed them next to UE as a “contender” or installed them as a “powerhouse” team that could win it all. Maybe next time they’ll take a cue from UST’s Mirza or NU’s Lingao-Lingao: Never underestimate the fighting heart of an Atenean.

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Ford Arao: go-to player

AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2007�2

But for all the gaudy numbers in recent years, there is one dubious record that the Lady Eagles wears on its sleeve: 1-35. It is a record of futility wrought at a time when Ateneo sports and women’s basketball hardly mattered. It was a time when the team was the unlikely doormat; a game with the team meant a sure win for opponents even before the opening whistle was blown. That was before. Today, opponents take every game against the Lady Eagles seriously. They know that they’ll be in for one heck of a match and that they’ll be lucky to walk away with a win. If their foes didn’t talk smack before, well, now they do. Except that, as it was before, they don’t get the satisfaction of a retort. “We have a rule where we forbid trash talking and taunting of any sort, no matter what the situation,” says 7-year coach John Flores. “Even now that we have a winning program, I always tell the girls that we don’t have the right to do that. Alamin at tandaan nila kung saan tayo nang galing. (They should know and remember where we came from.)” And the 1-35 didn’t even happen on his watch. This is more than just lip service. A few years ago, when the team was still struggling for wins, they managed to score a victory against the UP squad—their constant tormentor. However, the team unwittingly committed a violation when two of their foreign-born players—Carol Tanchi and Cassie Tioseco—were on the floor together during a crucial 30-second stretch in the game. UAAP basketball rules stipulate that only one foreign player can be on the court at any one time. But no one noticed it; not even the table officials. When the Ateneo coaching staff realized the mistake, they immediately volunteered their error even if it meant that their precious victory would be overturned.

“Well, it’s always about treating the game with respect,” explains

Flores. “You respect the game and the game respects you. I’d say that since that incident, we’ve been pretty lucky.”

It’s more than luck, though. It is to Flores’ credit that the program has grown. Every year since 2001, the team has shown marked improvement in the win-loss column.

Treena Limengco, the team’s starting two guard out of Maryland, USA, attests to the soundness of the current program: “While trying out for the women’s national team, it was there that I realized how fundamentally sound we were compared to most of the others. It really says a lot about the program.”

The team has three simple rules that govern their game plan: one, run every chance they get; two, they’re free to run what offense they think is best; and three, defense is Flores’ sole call: “I make the decisions on defense.”

Of course, a game plan is no good without the right players to execute it. “When we recruit players, we go for those with brains,” explains Flores. “Not just girls with an aptitude for basketball, but those who can hack the demands on them as students. If they’re not as athletically gifted, then their court smarts more than compensates for that.”

The Lady Eagles’ 2005 champion squad is now down to its last holdovers in guards Kat Quimpo and Cheryl Ngo, and forward-centers Tioseco and AJ Barracoso. The experience of having gone to consecutive finals finishes in 2004 and 2005 is golden, something that even University President Fr. Benvienido Nebres, SJ realizes.

“Fr. Ben constantly reminds the 2005 veterans to bring that mindset of a champion to the current team at all times,” says Tioseco, the league’s reigning MVP. “We have to act like one, not arrogantly, not just to our opponents, but also to our teammates.”

Flying High with the

Lady EaglesBy RiCk oLivAReS

PHoToS By ALySoN yAP

THE ATENEO LADY Eagles have been a final four habitué for five years running, have made three trips to the UAAP Women’s Basketball Finals (1987, 2004, and 2005), and have come away with one title. When it comes to recruitment, the school and the team are preferred destinations by female hoopsters.

Crystal Ballentyne, the Lady Eagles’ prize catch from Faith Academy, attests to this. “I was born here,” says the soft-spoken freshman who is taking up Humanities. “The Philippines is my home and I’ve been here my whole life. There were no plans of going to the States so it was really special to receive an invitation to go to Ateneo. I was thinking that being a rookie; I wouldn’t get too much playing time. But coach John has been great and my teammates especially Cassie (Tioseco who is one of the co-captains along with Quimpo and Ngo) have helped make the transition easier for me.”

This season the Lady Eagles have flat out demolished the competition with a 12-2 elimination round record. “Last year’s semis loss just fueled our drive this year,” says Limengco, referring to the wrist injury that kept Quimpo out for a crucial stretch. “So even if we lost twice this year – the UE loss in the first round just killed our spirit – we talk about what we did wrong and what we have to do to get back on the winning track. We know what we can do so it’s a matter of executing our game plan better next time.”

Last September 15, the Lady Eagles beat a long-time tormentor, the Adamson Lady Falcons, in the final four to set up a title series with archrival UP. “We match up well with them so it’s going to be a fun series,” smiles rookie Sarah Mercado, who has provided much needed scoring off the bench for Flores. “But you can

throw out the numbers even if we beat them twice in the eliminations. They’re that good.”

It’s the Lady Eagles’ fourth finals and third in the last four years. And in those past four years, the team finished with double digit wins. Not bad for a program that was the league doormat for years.

Since John Flores took over in 2001, the team’s record stands at 59-41. If they win their second title this year, then that will be the record he and his girls will proudly wear on their sleeves.

VOL. III NO. 2 ��

Mike Coroza believes, however, that his work (Palanca third prize awardee for “Imbisibol Man ang Tatay” in the Maikling Kwentong Pambata) is not a complete departure from his poetry since for him, a fictionist is a also a poet, working on various images and dramatic encounters that any writer expresses in a form that suits his reading public. What motivated Coroza to write a short story for children was the prodding of his son, Miggy, who one day asked him if he is a “real author”, since for his son “real authors” are those who write children stories. Coroza felt that there is a need to reach out to children in a literary form that is easily accessible for them, understandable, although not at all simplistic. Coroza explored the consciousness of a child and, in his winning entry, he tried to show how a child deals with the problem of being illegitimate, seeing his father with another family, and consequently hoping that he would acquire the power to be invisible from his classmates and playmates. Coroza reveals that writing whether poetry or fiction is never easy and simple since our very socio-political condition necessitates a writing that strikes at the heart of our problems, be it from the point of view of a child or an adult. Allan Derain (Palanca first place awardee for “Paputian ng Laba” in the Maikling Kuwento

Category), fictionist and last year’s Palanca awardee for Children’s Literature category, agrees with Coroza. Derain believes that writing for short fiction is no different from writing children’s literature and that’s why in

his collection of stories, “Iskrapbuk” University of the Philippines Press, 2005), he added two stories for children. Derain wants to be daring not only by experimenting with genres but with the retelling of stories itself. For instance, he wants to retell the popular corido Ibong Adarna where the protagonists will be the Aetas trapped in the bottle of King Salermo, Don Juan is actually a weakling, and the Adarna bird tastes like ordinary grilled chicken. Derain is hopeful that such project will be received with much enthusiasm. For Mikael Co (Palanca first prize

awardee for “Hands for a Fistful of Sand” in the Poetry-English category) who has been recognized early for his works in Filipino poetry, points out that although poetry is a function of language, in the end, language is also a function of poetry. Poetic language can be Filipino or otherwise and it is the purpose of poetry to estrange even the use of

Filipino or English. What counts in the final analysis for Co is that knowing English is not a guarantee in understanding English Poetry or being proficient in Filipino does not necessarily translate to an adeptness in Filipino poetry. Alvin Yapan, who received the 26th Manila Critics Circle National Book Awards Juan C. Laya Prize for Best Book of a Fiction in a Vernacular Language category for his novel, “Ang Sandali ng mga Mata,” (Ateneo de Manila University Press) and the grand prize for “Rolyo” in Cinemalaya Film Festival Short Film

Category, says that although writing for film requires a different approach or technique to writing a novel, the important challenge a writer must surmount is the tedium of the writing process itself. Writers must be output oriented, according to Yapan, whether one is working on the filming of novels or the novelization of a film, since what is important is how readers or viewers must always be constantly challenged by the literary work. This year’s awardees are definitely a surprise but a welcome surprise nonetheless; though it certainly won’t be surprising if Ateneans garner more awards in the coming years.

loyola schools bulletin special section

A Literary

Work by Any

Other Name

THIS YEAR’S HARVEST of awards and recognition at the 2007 Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards and 26th Manila Critics Circle National Book Awards was quite a surprise for Ateneo’s Filipino Department—an esteemed poet winning for children’s literature, a children’s literature writer winning for short story category, a Filipino poet winning for the English Poetry category and, finally, a multi-awarded fictionist winning the grand prize for short film category.

A Literary

Work by Any

Other Name

Allan Derain, Palanca first place awardee in the Maikling kuwento Category

Alvin yapan with Filipino Department faculty members

By gARy DeviLLeS

PHoToS CouRTeSy oFTHe FiLiPiNo DePARTMeNT

Mike Coroza, Palanca third prize awardee in the Maikling kwentong Pambata

AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2007���� AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2007

KRITIKA KULTURA, THE semi-annual peer-refereed international electronic journal of literary, language and cultural and studies of the Department of English, has recently received an invitation for indexing by the Modern Language Association (MLA) in its International Bibliography. Founded in ����, the MLA is often cited as “the principal professional association in the United States for American and international scholars of literature and literary criticism” with �00,000 members in �00 countries. As the MLA letter of invitation to Kritika Kultura states, the MLA International Bibliography is “the most widely distributed humanities database, is the preeminent reference work in the fields of literature, language, linguistics, pedagogy, and folklore” to which “most North American and European higher-education institutions subscribe.” Since its founding in 2002, Kritika Kultura has published works of nationally and internationally noted writers and scholars such as E. San Juan Jr., Peter Horn, Bienvenido Lumbera, Neferti Tadiar, Doreen Fernandez, Harry Aveling, Suchen Christine Lim, Danton Remoto, Oscar Campomanes, and many others. Kritika Kultura has been indexed in the Directory of Open Access Journals based in Europe as well as in the online catalogues of many top research and university libraries abroad. It is also listed in a number of noted Philippine and Asian Studies web links. A cursory glance at Google listings suggests Kritika Kultura’s global compass among academics in general, and in particular, among scholars in Literary Studies, Language Studies, Cultural Studies, Philippine Studies, Asian Studies, Postcolonial Studies, Critical Theory and Criticism. As a pioneering electronic journal of its kind

in the Philippines, Kritika Kultura is an attempt to respond to the needs of the globalizing world of the academe in general and of Philippine society in particular. Kritika Kultura addresses issues relevant to the 2�st century within the disciplines of literary, language and cultural studies even as addressing those same issues would have to be precisely about crossing the very borders of these disciplines. The themes it has covered include language and literature and cultural policy, cultural politics of representation, the political economy of language, literature and culture, the production of cultural texts, audience reception, systems of representation, effects of texts on concrete readers/audiences, the history and dynamics of canon formation, gender and sexuality, ethnicity, diaspora, nationalism and nationhood, national liberation movements, identity politics, feminism, women’s liberation movements. Kritika Kultura is edited by Dr. Ma Luisa Torres Reyes. The current editorial staff members are Mary Thomas, Ivery de Pano, Mark Anthony Cayanan, and Gino Sinio Dizon, and the editorial associates are Larry Ypil, Charlene Diaz, Marikit Uychoco, and Miguel Lizada. To date, Kritika Kultura has an International Board of Editors, and many of the papers, essays and literary works it has published have come from noted international scholars and writers who are actively engaged in a lively global scholarly conversation. The KK referees have also come from here and abroad. The members of the international editorial board are among the world’s renowned writers and scholars in literary, language and cultural studies, namely, Jan Baetens (University of Leuven, Belgium), Faruk (Gadja Mada University, Indonesia), Regenia Gagnier (University of Exeter, UK), Inderpal Grewal (University of California, Irvine, USA), Peter Horn (University of Capetown, South Africa), Anette Horn (University of Pretoria, South Africa), David Lloyd (University of Southern California, USA), Bienvenido Lumbera (University of the Philippines), Rajeev S. Patke (National University of Singapore), Temario

Kritika KulturaAteneo’s First MLA-Indexed Electronic Academic Journal

IN HER LECTURE entitled “Transnational Domesticities: The Dilemmas of the Hawaiian Quilt” last �� July, Dr. Vernadette Gonzalez, Assistant Professor in the University of Hawaii, discussed the economic and more importantly, the cultural history woven into the physical product of the Hawaiian quilt. In her discourse, Gonzalez asks three critical questions: first, “how do cultural technologies become vehicles for colonial agenda? Second, how does women labor negotiate a web of gendered and global geopolitics? And finally, how does the quilt get produced within the multiplicity of the domination of man? Guided by these questions and aided by her critical research and actual interaction with the factories and markets which sell these products, Gonzalez ultimately maps and links the contemporary trends with the cultural and economics constructions of tourism and gender politics. Given all this, Gonzalez views the quilt as “a tinted traveling text of ideology which shows domination, colonization and hegemony” and as remembrance not just of one’s visit to Hawaii but as a “souvenir of globalization” as well. The critique of Gonzalez on the Hawaiian quilt foregrounds and exemplifies the discussion of Charlie Samuya Veric on the rise and proliferation of Cultural Studies on a global scale in his July �� lecture entitled “World Republic of Theory: Notes of Cultural Studies Across the Planet.” A candidate for Ph.D. in American Studies from Yale University, Veric debunks the so-called death of Cultural Studies with the closure of the Department of

Transnational Domesticities: The Dilemmas of the Hawaiian Quilt

Kritika Kultura Lecture Series

Philippine-Australia Studies Network EventsBy PReCioSA RegiNA A. De JoyA

PROMOTING A LONG-term partnership in education and research, the Philippine-Australia Studies Network (PASN) of the Ateneo de Manila University, in cooperation with the Philippine-Australia Studies Centre (PASC) of La Trobe University, sponsored a week of events, from 17-22 June 2007, that included an international colloquium, a series of public lectures, and an art exhibit. The colloquium, entitled “Palimpsest: Mapping, Imagining, and Moving Antipodean Landscapes,” gathered a group of philosophers, sociologists, literary writers, performance and visual artists, and art theorists, to engage a multi-disciplinary reflection on the Asian and Australian responses to the challenges of a technological and globalizing age. These responses, seen from the perspective of the Palimpsest tradition, are the result neither of an unequivocal rejection nor an absolute assimilation, but of a cultural hybridity produced by an “overlaying of texts,” which is basically determined by the porous exchange or cultural flow between modernity and tradition, the local and the global, the city and the province. This hybridity, which is form of subversion through creative appropriation, notably attests to the perennial re-mapping and re-making of socio-

cultural landscapes. In exploring this theme, some of the presentations in the conference focused on the subversive power of art as a space for critical reflection, or offered a sociological analysis of the current trends in environmental and cultural conservation and management, while others presented the innovative ways by which local identities and cultures are able to reconfigure and reassert themselves amidst the socio-cultural encroachment of the commodity-economy. Aside from providing a venue for intellectual discourse, the colloquium was also organized to promote the collaboration among regional journals, namely Budhi: A Journal of Culture and Ideas, Philippine Studies Journal (Ateneo de Manila), and Thesis Eleven: A journal of Critical Theory and Historical Sociology (La Trobe University). This collaboration also includes Prajna Vihara: Journal of Philosophy and Religion, a journal of Assumption University, Thailand, which hosted the second leg of the colloquium. The colloquium, entitled “Cartographies, of Culture, Religion, and Thought,” was held in Bangkok, from 25 to 30 June 2007.

Rivera (International Christian University, Japan), E. San Juan, Jr. (Philippine Cultural Studies Center, USA), Neferti X.M. Tadiar (Columbia University, USA), and Antony Tatlow (University of Dublin, Ireland). Kritika Kultura is now on its �th issue, with the �th forthcoming. Visitat www.ateneo.edu/kritikakultura.

Modern Languages Department celebrates 50 years of the EUBY QUEENIE CARANTO, PATRICK MICHAEL L. CAPILI.

THE MODERN LANGUAGES Department sponsored an exhibit at the lobby of the Manuel V. Pangilinan Center for Student Leadership from 2 to 6 July 2007.

School of Humanities

The School of Humanities, through its six academic departments and one program, aims to provide students with a liberal humanistic education distinguished by sapientia et eloquentia. This liberal humanistic education draws from the rich traditions of philosophy, faith, literature, language, art and culture. it is manifested through courses designed for the holistic formation of students who are articulate and critical, imaginative and productive, students who are rooted in their own culture, yet open to other cultures, proactive in the global environment, and strongly committed to faith and justice.

New Appointees: Mr. Danilo Francisco M. ReyesoiC, Fine Arts Program 1 August 1 2007-31 May 2008 Dr. Margarita R. orendainChair, Department of english 1 April 2007-31 March 2010 Ms. Ma. Christine S. BellenoiC, Department of Filipino 1 June 2007-31 october 2007 Ms. Ma. Concepcion L. RosalesChair, Department of interdisciplinary Studies 1 June 2007-31 March 2008 Ms. Christa R. velascoChair, Department of Modern Languages 1 April 2007 - 31 March 2010 Fr. Adolfo N. DacanayChair, Department of Theology1 April 2007 - 31 March 2010

School of humanities events

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VOL. III NO. 2 ��Cultural Studies in University of Birmingham by investigating the rise of cultural studies across time and cultural spaces. Tracing the rise of cultural discourses from Birhimingham to Buenos Aires, Johannesburg to even the Philippines, surveying the discourses by critical writers such as Fredic Jameson and Zeus Salazar and ultimately how these theorists and critical works were received, interpreted and even challenged, Veric demonstrates how Cultural Studies became and still continues to be a global phenomenon, a critical mode of discourse which seeks to critically and effectively

critique the ideologies and principles which sweep the world and

govern what we do and how we think. - Miguel Antonio N. Lizada

Old Routes, New Exchanges: Building a Transnational Dialogue in Arts-Making, Arts-Exchange, and Critical Discourse

In this roundtable talk co-hosted with the Ateneo Fine Arts Program last 27 July, the path (or “route”) in question is one created as an alternative to those run by mainstream institutions. The creation of this path is said to be brought about by the propensity in art to self-propagate, find community (local and global), resist institutionalization, and freely integrate itself in the various sectors of society across cultures. Among the panelists was Jenifer K. Wofford, a Filipina-American visual artist and art educator based in San Francisco Bay Area, whose efforts to organize a series of international exhibits called the “Galleon Trade Arts Exchange” was motivated by the prospect of creating “new routes of cultural exchange along old routes of commerce and trade.” The Acapulco-Manila galleon route was the symbolic inspiration for the kind of “exchange route” that Wofford and her colleagues intend to form and sustain—to make it easier for artists, curators, and scholars (especially in the grassroots) to dialogue and form alliances across geographical and time zones, and especially with Manila. The Galleon Trade exhibits serve Philippine-, Mexico-, and California-based participants. With Wofford in the panel were fellow Galleon Trade artists Johanna Phoethig and Stephanie Syjuco. Phoethig is a muralist whose interest in the mural is its being a very public artform with the ability to intervene in urban spaces and community life. Her murals, inscribed on highly visible walls (“The problem is always looking where to paint,” Phoetig says), engage the community

with playful and sometimes satiric portrayals of their cultural and political life. Her belief in art’s purpose to communicate across cultures leads her to actively join international exchange programs wherein she can live in various communities, know their way of life, and paint murals for them—a demonstration of how the personal and the aesthetic cross with the political. Syjuco is a mixed-media artist who finds the idea of bootlegging, counterfeiting, and piracy very intriguing for art. Among her projects that address these issues is one she shared in the roundtable talk, the Counterfeit Crochet Project. With the tagline “debasing designer handbags one step at a time” (www.stephaniesyjuco.com), this “global” project invites crocheters around the world to parody designer bags by making crochet copies of them—for personal use, exhibit, or sale (in which case a restaging of “the strange cycle of manufacturing, distribution, and retail” occurs). For Syjuco, a humble crocheter’s reinterpreting of a very pricey commercial item into a home-made, blatantly counterfeit version can be a political statement (with a sense of fun). One does not mean to demean the brand; while alluding to widespread counterfeiting in the global economic world, and how designer companies themselves mark-up goods produced in overseas cheap-labor factories, the crocheted bags stand as individualized, agency-laden functional artwork. They also serve as commentaries on how mass production and product standardization influence consumer behavior. Also in the panel were Prof. Eric Reyes, a scholar-participant from Cal State Fullerton, and Norberto (Peewee) Roldan, curator of Green Papaya Art Projects, a venue for Filipino multimedia art expression and exchange with other art institutions in the Asia-Pacific area. The Galleon Trade in Manila was hosted by Green Papaya Art Projects, Mag:net The Fort, and Mag:net Katipunan from July 2� to August ��, 2007. The roundtable talk was organized by scholar Lucy Burns (co-organizer of the Galleon Trade with Wofford) and Prof. Oscar Campomanes of the Ateneo English Department.

- Ivery de Pano

Cuban Yankees and Resurrected Sphinxes: Stagings of America and the Orient in El Filibusterismo

The concept of international arts exchange was serendipitously touched on by Dr. Adam Lifshey from the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at Georgetown University last August �, in his lecture that seemed at first to be worlds apart from the modern art galleries and exhibits previously discussed. For one, this off-tangent topic was Jose Rizal’s El Filibusterismo (and in passing, the earlier novel Noli Me Tangere), which entered the reading scene more than a century ago as an anti-colonial (yet independence-reluctant) critique strangely contained in a very Western artistic form. In simplistic terms, Rizal was an agent of this cross-cultural exchange when he imported the Western novel into the Philippines and exported his “Filipino” sentiments to Spain (and the freethinking world). But in complicated

terms, as Dr. Lifshey showed, a lot more were caught up in this “exchange”: Simoun, the ambiguous hero (or anti-hero?) in the Fili, bore in his metaphorical body a clashing cultural hybridity, an “irreducible heterogeneity” gained from extensive transcultural interactions. The unstable multiplicity and dubiousness in Simoun displace attempts to familiarize him as “Filipino.” It is worth noting, though, that “Filipino” and “The Philippines” as concepts are non-existent in the setting of Rizal’s novels. On the one hand, as scholar Benedict Anderson famously wrote, the Philippines is “imagined into being” in the novels. On the other hand, as Lifshey argued, the Philippines is displaced in her own foundational novels because Manila in the Fili is “not imagined in Asia at all” but reflects, instead, the historical realities of Spain. There is also defamiliarization in the choice of Spanish as the literary language of the Noli and Fili, which has always raised questions concerning Rizal’s intended audience for the novels. Possibly, Rizal’s Manila in the Fili is an imagined space that could accommodate, ironically, a foreign idea embodied in the nefarious outsider Simoun. This pro-colonial protagonist who returns to Manila from years of supporting Spanish imperialism in Cuba turns out be the darkened, violent Ibarra of the Noli, whose revolutionary attempts fail at the end of the Fili. This recasting of Ibarra into Simoun echoes Simon Bolivar, the South American independence hero. This recasting turns the former Europeanized and subdued Ibarra into the Americanized and aggressive Simoun, albeit a pan-American figure, a mulatto with a confusing English-South American mixed accent. His reconstituted person suggests Cuban revolutionaries, Indian conscripts—New World realities exchanged for “Philippine” colonial realities. But why would Rizal frame Simoun in a starkly un-Filipino way? Lifshey suggests that Simoun is “secretly a Filipino, but not an Indio.” The purposive conflation of mixed references in Simoun, without a fixed cultural anchor, is the world traveler’s attempt at indirectly critiquing Spain’s relations with Manila. The Philippines in the Fili may not be “itself”—but that’s because it is imagined in the borrowed lens of the South American colonial experience. Lifshey ended by saying that Simoun’s unresolved hybridity is the unresolved hybridity of (colonial and postcolonial) history. In a sense, our national author is an author without a nation—the Philippines is “evacuated of itself” in the Fili. Yet we may respond: maybe not “without a nation,” but a nation being imagined despite unimaginable tension. The idea, perhaps, was not simply to “imagine the Philippines into being,” but to explore unfixed possibilities of that imagining. This El Fili lecture, in light of the earlier roundtable talk on international arts exchange, offers a closer and more critical look at the personal, political, and discursive reverberations of “global exchange,” not only in today’s modern world but in the world of the past that spills into the present. As critical dialogues are being opened by “new routes,” as old texts are defamiliarized and refamiliarized in the dynamic act of social reading, may the arts maintain its role as the vibrant and articulate soul of society—locally and globally.

- Ivery de Pano

The exhibit was part of a series of activities prepared in collaboration with the European Studies Department in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the European Union. The students of the Modern Languages Department showcased different European countries based on their language of study: Germany and Austria, France, Italy, Portugal and Spain. Interesting topics and colorful pictures about the country and its culture abound in every panel. Some presented geography and demographics, cuisine, famous personalities, fashion and cinema. Students from the German classes even kARiN HuTFLoeTz talk at Ateneo Art gallery

German Philosopher Visits Ateneo

KARIN HUTFLöTZ, a doctoral candidate from the Munich School of Philosophy, came for a three-week visit in August, holding lectures and engaging faculty members of the Department of Philosophy in discussions and conversations. Ms. Hutflötz delivered a public lecture, “What does it mean to think philosophically?” on 22 August 2007 at the De la Costa Hall. On 29 August 2007, she presented a paper titled, “What is art for?” before a small group of faculty members of the Department of Philosophy in the Ateneo Art Gallery. - Remmon E. Barbaza

donned traditional costumes and offered the guests a taste of German chocolate, while the Spanish classes prepared different versions of the Tortilla Española. A student of Italian also prepared a special and authentic pasta dish. Indeed, the students and faculty who visited the exhibit were transported to Europe in a matter of seconds. The exhibit was inaugurated by Dr. Benilda S. Santos, acting dean of the School of Humanities, together with Ambassador Rosario G. Manalo, director of the European Studies Department and Mrs. Christa R. Velasco, chair of the Modern Languages Department.

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the european union

AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2007��

IN AUGUST OF year, the celebration of Buwan ng mga Wika at Kultura (Month of Languages and Culture) centers on a theme that usually is an aspect or a dimension of the Filipino language or culture. Among the themes chosen in the past were Katatawanan (Comedy) and Kabataan (Youth), but this year, the Loyola Schools’ Filipino Department chose the theme Kahiwagaan (the Bizarre or the Uncanny). For many Filipino teachers and students, this aspect of our culture is oftentimes ignored and largely unarticulated in scholarly works and literature. But the uncanny or the paranormal is practically an intrinsic part of every Filipino’s life,

be it in communing with ghosts and spirits, or in accounting for the mysterious disappearance of billions of government funds. The month-long celebrations kicked off with the traditional raising of the Philippine flag across the administration office last August 6. The Vice President for the Loyola Schools, Dr. Ma. Assunta Cuyegkeng; the Dean of School of Humanities, Dr. Benilda S. Santos; faculty members of the Filipino Department; and students—all donning the country’s national costumes—graced the affair. In line with the theme, a two-week exhibit of fictionist Tony Perez’s works was held at the lobby of the Manuel Pangilinan Building. Mr. Perez is

ACELT’s 38th Bi-Annual Conference

Teachers as Learners By eeyA LiTiATCo-MARTiN

TEACHERS, TEACHER TRAINERS, and English language and literature teaching managers alike gathered at the Escaler Hall last 8 September 2007 for the 38th Bi-Annual Conference of the Ateneo Center for English Language Teaching (ACELT). This year’s theme, “Revisiting Student Centered Pedagogy: Teaching for Understanding in the Language and Literature Classrooms”, looks back at the philosophical reengineering that revolutionized teaching practices, and effectively allowed it to evolve from teacher-centered to student-centered learning (SCL). Though SCL has long been proven to be the most effective learning method for students, Dr. Edna Z. Manlapaz, keynote speaker and co-founder of ACELT, addressed the difficulties of putting this Western theory into practice alongside the need to adapt SCL into the Philippine context. Delving deeper into its core principles, Dr. Manalapaz discussed the challenges of effectively implementing this approach within the premise of language and literature teaching. The multi-faceted conference offered five interactive parallel workshops, each catering to a specific professional orientation and interests of its respective participants. One workshop pitted the traditional approach of information subordination against practical instruction, which makes use of more timely and relevant learning materials and activities in teaching grammar. In another, techniques for designing more meaningful writing activities for students as active contributors to the learning process were tackled. Issues, such as the challenges and opportunities presented by SCL, as well as how students can serve as active participants in the evaluation of their own academic performance, were also addressed. In tandem with the learning environment ACELT advocates, all participants were given the opportunity to experience student-centered learning in action by constructing learning materials and implementing what they have learned in the workshops. The Bi-Annual Conference coincides with ACELT’s 26th anniversary. ACELT was founded in 1981 as the Department of English’s outreach arm, in response to increasing requests for teacher training. Today, ACELT continues to live up to its commitment to refine the art of English language and literature teaching through a holistic approach that is grounded on the ideology of SCL. ACELT works hand in hand with Ateneo’s vision to mold professionally competent individuals as soldiers of progress in the country’s forward march towards the sustainable development of Philippine education.

Buwan ng mga Wika at Kultura Celebrating the Uncanny

known for his works in the paranormal and the bizarre, but in the lecture he gave as part of the celebrations, he discussed instead the problems in our society emanating from a certain consciousness of privileges, entitlement, and self-fashioning, which run contradictory to our nature. For Mr. Perez, such contradictions lead to our experience of the uncanny and bizarre, and if there’s one thing that we can learn from the paranormal, it is that the paranormal is symptomatic of everyday problems. Writer and Filipino Department faculty member Edgar Samar, in a follow-up lecture last 23 August, discussed the element of the uncanny urban spaces in Perez’s works, including how such spaces inhibit and become symptomatic consciousness of broken and uneven relationships, power play, and dynamics of alterity.

The highlight of Buwan ng mga Wika at Kultura was the various student competitions in poetry, song, and essay. This year, the Filipino Department added Kwizbibo—a team competition that tested students’ knowledge of pop culture and literature. The winners received three prints of original

artworks of budding artists, like Rodel Tapaya and Farley del Rosario, courtesy of 1/of Gallery and Artery Manila. The month culminated with KA, where winners were awarded and a “poetry jamming” session was held. This year’s Palanca champion in English Poetry division, Mikael Co, and the best actor ensemble of Tribu, grand prize winner in the recently held Cinemalaya Feature Length Film Competition, graced the event.

By gARy DeviLLeSPHoToS By JoSePH SALAzAR

BEFORE GIVING HER KEYNOTE address on Revisiting Student-Centered Pedagogy at the 38th Bi-annual ACELT Conference last September 8 at Escaler Hall, Dr. Edna Z. Manlapaz paid tribute to Fr Joseph A. Galdon, SJ, the spirit that moves the Ateneo Center for English Language Teaching. Recalling how ACELT began in 1981, Dr. Manlapaz spoke of the many invitations from teachers all over the country for Fr Galdon to speak on the concept he called Significant Human Experience or SHE—a way of teaching English and literature. Dr. Manlapaz pointed out correctly that SHE was in fact a mutation of student-centered learning, which Fr. Galdon passionately believes in, and which ACELT stresses in its process-oriented and learner-centered methodology in teacher training. Although Fr. Galdon is now afflicted with Alzheimer’s, Dr Manlapaz believes that “Faith assures us that in some secret place of his mind and heart, Fr Galdon knows of the good work that ACELT continues to do and rejoices with us” as ACELT celebrates its 26th anniversary. Fr. Galdon also marked his birthday this month, and the Galdon Club, a group of loyal friends, former students and fans celebrated it with him at the Jesuit Residence last 15 September.

By ANA MARie o. FeRNANDezACELT Co-founder Pays Tribute to Fr. Joseph Galdon, SJ

kick off: Flag-raising ceremony

kwizbibo contestants

Tony Perez lectures on the paranormal

kA’s poetry jamming

Teachers experience student-centered learning

Dr. edna Manlapaz giving her keynote address