Genre, the university's central student publication reaped a total of 27 group awards and several individual awards this morning at the 2010 Association of Tertiary Press Advisers of Region III (ATSPAR III) Regional Press Conference held in Abucay, Bataan.

Erson C. Magsakay, a third year MassCom major passed two rigorous screenings to qualify for the third and final selection process for the 13th National Ayala Young Leaders Congress, according to an official communication received by the Office of the Student Affairs yesterday.

Magsakay, who was Wesleyan's lone qualifier, was among 153 successful nominees out of 722 applicants from colleges and universities all over the country.

He is scheduled to be interviewed on November 24 at Ayala Tower 1, Makati City. The set of interviews will be conducted by a panel comprising of senior executives from the Ayala Group of Companies.

Out of the 150 hopefuls, only 80 student leaders are to be selected to join the AYLC summit at Alfonso, Cavite on February 8 to 11, 2011.

"It is overwhelming. Speechless ako, hindi ako makapagsalita noong sinabi sa akin. Sabi ko sa sarili ko dapat ko pang paghusayan," Magsakay said in an interview.

The AYLC is the flagship program of the Ayala Group of Companies dedicated for youth development to prepare them for nation-building.

President MGP appointed a new administrative head for the Human Resources Development Department and another for the newly-created Office of the University Accreditation Program earlier this month.

Dr. Erlinda C. Mones was appointed new HRDD director while Dr. Apolinar M. Alfonso was made the first director of the University Accreditation Program.

Dr. Mones earned her Ed. D. from Wesleyan, where she also received her M.A. in Educational Management and her undergraduate in BS Social Work. She has been a DSWD supervisor in Pampanga, and a Child Development coordinator at WUP.

She taught at WUP’s High School department, College of Social Work and College of Arts and Sciences, and in 1990 was appointed director of the Guidance and Placement Office until 2006, when she was appointed director of the Human Resource Development Department up until May 31, 2009.

In November 2010, she was reappointed as head of the office.

Dr. Alfonso graduated from the Philippine School of Business Administration as an Accounting major, and then pursued his MBA and later, his Ed.D. at WUP. He passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers (1990) and worked as faculty member at the General de Jesus College (where he became head of the Commerce Department) and The Good Samaritan College in the 1980s.

In 1987, Dr. Alfonso began teaching at WUP’s College of Business and Accountancy (then called the College of Commerce) and then served as the assistant dean of the same college from 2005-2006.

He was appointed dean of the college and served up until 2010.

OPERTA, WUP's official entry to the 2010 Ecijas Film Festival will be shown on Friday, November 19, 2010 at the Megacenter the Mall Cinemas 3 and 4.

Written and directed by Dr. Gener Subia, Operta is a story about juvenile dreams, struggles and sacrifice. It stars Von Patrick San Pedro and Famela Marisse Tan, along with an entire cast comprising of Lee Justin Mangundayao, Roxanne Mari Tiongson, Sherwin William Vidon, Bryan Angelo Wy, Anna Aurea Ramos, Cesiah Garcia, Aldrin Geronimo, Rein Jesol Parinas, Florencio Dela Cruz, Trizian Gloria Lacson, Alfredo Sarmiento, Jr., Victor Marcos and Sharly Timoteo.

Cinematography was done by ICT's Michael Jacinto, while the theme song was performed by WUP Chorale's Citadel Bitangcol with music composed by Rafael Ramirez.

The film is a production of the WUP Scholars Organization for Worthy Endeavors and Reformative Skills (SOWERS).

A Wesleyan alumna made it to the top ten of this year’s July Nursing Licensure Examinations, according to official results issued by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) in Manila late last month.

April Joy Diane G. Galicia passed the exams alongside thirty other examinees from different schools nationwide who obtained a grade of 84.60, landing in the top tenth of the list.

She was the only alumna from a Nueva Ecija school to be included in the upper ten this year, while other top examinees in the region hailed from Angeles University Foundation (AUF), Tarlac State University (TSU) and Holy Angel University (HAU).

Meanwhile, Wesleyan University-Philippines was Nueva Ecija’s top-performing school in the said board exams.

WUP, which ranks 82nd in the nationwide list, had a total percentage of 43.67 in its overall number of board passers – first-timers and repeaters combined.

It was followed by the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology (NEUST), which is 95th in the nationwide ranking with 39.93% passing rate.

The College of the Immaculate Conception (CIC), third in the province, was 110th in the national list with 34.86% passing rate, while the Good Samaritan Colleges (GSC) and Araullo University (AU) were 166th and 174th in the national rankings with passing percentages of 21.97 and 19.87, respectively.

The M.V. Gallego Foundation Colleges (MVGFC) ranked 185th nationwide with 16.88%.
The Dr. Gloria D. Lacson Colleges ranked 198th with 12.89%, while the Nueva Ecija Colleges was 202nd in the national list with 11.65%.

The oathtaking rites of successful examinees in the National Capital Region took place on September 20 and 21 at the SMX Convention Center in the SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City. ###

A total of 14 Mass Communication and two Psychology majors underwent on the job training in various mass media outfits and medical facilities in Metro Manila last summer.

The Mass Communication students alternately trained with NBN 4, GMA 7 and TAPE for television, DZRH for radio, and the Manila Times and Bulgar for print.
They experienced working with professionals as on-camera talents and members of the television and radio production staff and had their articles and photos published in newspapers.

On the other hand, the Psychology majors served in the Neuro-Psychiatric Section of the AFP Medical Center where they learned to administer, check and interpret psychiatric tests of soldier-applicants, and Sunrise Hill Therapeutic Institution, a drug rehabilitation facility, where they conducted interviews of patients, gave tests and prepared case presentations.

This year’s batch was composed of Mass Communication majors Jonathan Constantino, Nico Paulo Rodriguez, Cherry Rose Pascual, JR Kagahastian, Maria Feliciano, Cris Rey Adriano, Mario Mark Capalad, Jhoana Espino, Crystal Joy Dauz, Byung Hag Kim, Gladys Mae Lapina, Seychell Sarmiento, Rose Maningas and Harlene Baluyan.

Psychology majors included Rona Sioson, Vanessa Domingcil, Mary Rose Bajar and Hanna Mae Garcia.

Prof. Michael Fronda served as OJT coordinator. ###

Twenty-four students comprise this year’s editorial board of Genre, the Central Student Publication of WUP, after results of a series of competitive exams have been released late last June.

Last year’s Managing Editor Edwin Santos from the College of Nursing was selected as the new editor-in-chief after evaluations were made on editors’ performances in their previous positions.

Ma. Zeycel Roxanne S. Dasig, also from CoN and formerly Genre’s news editor, was promoted to associate editor while former CAS correspondent Abigail Junia was chosen to be the new managing editor.

Section editors were Arnel Bien Francisco from the College of Business and Accountancy for news; Ren Gemuel Ramirez (also from CBA) and Rona Rose Moises (CoN) for features; Ronnel Simbulan (CoE) and Rose Ann Alabastro (CBA) for literary; Cris Adrey Adriano (CAS) for opinion; Raniel Cabato (CoE) for sports; and Marjorie Collado (CoEd) for art.

Julius Rafael Pili (CAS) and Dexter Azarcon (CoE) made their entry as photojournalists.

Erson Magsakay (CAS) was appointed as the new circulations manager.

Kevin Sagun (CCS) was chosen as the new design artist, while Aldrin Deocares (CoEd) returned as cartoonist after a two-year stint in the United States.

Genre also designated news correspondents to different colleges, to wit: Kevin Sagun for the CHRIM, Jeza Marie Torres for the CBA; Dexter Azarcon for the CoE, Jihad El-Zeany for the CCS, Rosilier Webster Lumantao for the CCJE, Ronald Ian Victorino for the CoN, Lorenz Arthur Ilagan for CAS and Lilybeth Palon for CoEd.

Prof. Ruth C. Alfonso serves as the paper’s technical adviser, in coordination with Student Affairs’ Director Mr. Henry Cocoy R. Nacpil.###

It was an event leaders should not miss.

President Manuel G. Palomo arrived in Manila on June 8 to watch the lecture of former US Vice President and Nobel laureate Al Gore at the SMX Convention Hall at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

Gore arrived in the Philippines to deliver his live Asian edition of the Academy Award-winning documentary “An Inconvenient Truth.”

He connected recent environmental calamities in our country such as Typhoon Ondoy and El Niño to population explosion and scientific and technological revolution which, according to him, have brought as much blessings as unintended side-effects, for instance the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

He gave emphasis on the importance of renewable energy, citing as example the windmills of Ilocos Norte, noting as well that RP and the US are the world’s top two leaders in generating geothermal energy.

Gore, who served as vice president under the Clinton administration but lost to George W. Bush in the 2001 US presidenatial elections, won half of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize “for [his] efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change.” ###

Three member schools of the Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program (SWEEP) including WUP recently struck a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) offering on-the-job training to Electronics and Communications Engineering (ECE) students with Smart Communications, Inc. last June 10.

WUP, Systems Plus College Foundation (SPCF), and the University of Baguio (UB) inked the deal with Smart, represented by its Chief Wireless Advisor Orlando Vea.

The program was intended to help raise the quality of engineering and technology education, particularly in the field of ECE.

The schools were represented by President Manuel G. Palomo (WUP), Vice President for Administration Eric Estropia (SPFC) and College of Engineering and Architecture Assistant Dean Elisabeth Calub (UB).

Other officials present in the MOA-signing were WUP College of Engineering Dean Crizaldo Vicencio, Smart Public Affairs Group Head Ramon Isberto, SPFC external and community affairs Director John Dizon and College of Engineering Dean Reylen Garcia, along with Smart Network and Platform Services Senior Manager Byron Tabada. ###

The College of Business and Accountancy honored 12 new certified public accountants (CPAs) in a Thanksgiving Service and Testimonial Luncheon held at Alessandra’s Banquet Hall last June 25.

Passing the May 2010 CPA Licensure Exams were Sheila Marie Alfonso, Jeffrey Alvarez, Donnie Glenn Banzon, Zydel Bunag, Ma.Loraine Calara, Maeza Constantino, Kristian Joy del Mundo, Ma. Cristina Joson, Kimberlyn Pascua, Lanette Pascua, Cyro Cam Saragpon, and Doniver Soledad.

Atty. Antonio F. Marzan, who was also a CPA, was the guest speaker of the affair. He reminded everyone that poverty should not be a subject of disappointment but rather be the subject of inspiration, and that there was no limit to what one can accomplish.

President Palomo also attended the testimonial luncheon to deliver his congratulatory message, sharing as well some thoughts on poverty which he himself experienced as a youth.

An outpour of emotion proceeded when the honorees delivered their testimonials, most of whom sharing stories of their trials on their way to the board exams and how they overcame them.

Families of the honorees also attended the event. ###

United Students’ Party’s Ruby Grace R. Rosale was elected president of the 2010-2011 Supreme Student Council in the general synchronized student elections held on July 16, 2010.

Rosale, a senior nursing student and Ayala Young Leader, defeated Eagles Students’ Party standard-bearer Famela Marisse Tan (CHRIM) by 972 votes.
Rosale’s running mate Filwyn P. Villanueva of CHRIM won the vice-presidency by 644 votes over Ane Moraine M. Vafakish of CBA.

The USP (who clinched the majority for the second straight year) took over 71% of SSC seats, the top six positions having been occupied by (in addition to Rosale and Villanueva) Junieca M. Bernardo as secretary, Jeremie A. Del Rosario as treasurer, Roderick L. Aguilar as auditor, and Shimaski Manuel E. Moreno as press relations officer.

Also elected were Philip Justin G. Siwa (press relations officer), Reyzil B. Catalan and Janelle Roseanne T. Libunao (business managers).

Representatives include Joshua G. Gaetos for CoN, Charmaine Y. Soriano for CBA, Edisen F. Mamauag for CoT, Ferdinand Martin J. Bote for CCS, Loissa L. Parungao for CoEd, Jonathan M. Constantino for CAS, Kenneth Jelmar C. Tangliben for CCJE and Heherson G. Tangliben for CHRIM.

Dm Pascual and Jean Andrei M. Alvarez were voted high school and elementary governors, respectively.

The Commission on Student Elections (COMSELEC) in coordination with the OSA proclaimed the winners of the 2010 SSC and local council polls at 5:00 p.m. of the same day. ###

For the sixth year in a row the College of Nursing managed to sweep across the scoreboards to top this year’s Palarong Wesleyan with 109 gold medals.

The CoN was followed by the College of Business and Accountancy, who got a total of 69 gold medals; the College of Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management with 26 gold medals; The College of Criminal Justice Education with 23; the College of Computer Studies with 12 (27 silver medals); the College of Arts and Sciences with 12 (10 silver medals); the College of Engineering with 8; and the College of Education with 2.

The top-placing college of this year’s Palaro was determined using the gold-medal tally instead of the usual point system used in previous WUP intramurals. ###

The cagers of the College of HRIM managed to come from behind and clutch a narrow victory over the College of Computer Studies Knights 97-96 to secure this year’s Palarong Wesleyan basketball title in a match dubbed as one of the most exciting and heart-stopping games ever played in Wesleyan at the University Gym last August 13.

The HRIM Jaguars, who went past the preliminary rounds by four successive wins by default, trailed by as much as 23 points during the first half, a gap filled by silence among CHRIM bleachers.

During the half-time break, Jaguars Coach Darwin Morfe held a brief heart to heart talk with his players.

“Go hard, play hard, play with your heart, one team!” Morfe told his players, urging them to focus on the game to reduce the lead.

The Jaguars rallied on the second half with Nicholas Claudio firing away consecutive three-pointers that helped cut CCS lead to five.

They finally took their first lead in the match during the last three minutes of the fourth quarter, which was soon bolstered to a five-point lead with just a minute and 47 seconds remaining in the game.

The CCS Knights managed to level the game to 96, only to commit a foul which sent John Lord Germino to the free-throw line with just 6.2 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.

Germino missed the first throw, but made the second one which became the winning shot of the game as the Knights failed their attempt to field a buzzer beater.
The team unanimously commented that they prayed and worked hard as a team, and according to them it was the secret to their victory.

Last year the combined colleges of CHRIM and CBAA (the College of Management and Accountancy or CMA) also won the title in the men’s basketball tournament of the Palaro.###

Twelve book companies pooled together along the lobby of the university auditorium for a three-day book fair held last August 10-12.

Chief Librarian Dr. Carmelita A. Tiglao and her staff invited various publishers and book companies from Metro Manila to exhibit their latest academic reference books, textbooks and multimedia for all levels of learning up to the most recent copyright date.

Deans, faculty and students were invited to browse through different books and multimedia which can be used as instructional materials or simply as references in their fields of interest or study. The books and multimedia they chose were then requested for purchase.

The companies which participated in the book fair were Anvil Publishing Inc., Academic Book Sales, CD Books International Inc., Sta. Maria and Kelly Book Co., Belview Co., Linar Educational Materials, EDCA Publishing, New Century Books, FELTA, Great Books Trading, Omnibooks International and Creative Minds Books Co.
The University Library received 19 titles donated by CD Books Int’l, Inc. and three titles from Anvil Publishing, Inc. They paid P2,000 each as Book Fair Fee.

With its vast collection of different types of books the University library stands as the largest in Nueva Ecija.###

The university garnered a total of six awards in this year’s Search for the Best Libraries and Outstanding Librarians of Nueva Ecija in an awarding ceremony held last July 22 at the Conference Hall of the Department of Education – Division of Nueva Ecija Office in the Old Capitol of Cabanatuan City.

Wesleyan’s Retired Chief Librarian Mrs. Adelina S. Bumanlag, retired High School Librarian Mr. Renato S. Dizon, and retired Graduate School Librarian Mrs. Virginia C. Ramos received awards along with current Chief Librarian Dr. Carmelita A. Tiglao.
Mrs. Clarita A. Capuyon was commemorated with a posthumous award for her outstanding service in the WUP library.

The WUP HS Library received a plaque of recognition and a P5,000 cash as one of the best libraries in the Private Secondary Schools category.

Organized by the Nueva Ecija Librarians Association (NELA), the search was the first in the province where librarians were honored for their exemplary services to their respective schools and communities. ###

Wesleyan University-Philippines through the College of Arts and Sciences hosted the Third Annual General Assembly and Regional Convention of the Association of Philippine Colleges of Arts and Sciences (APCAS), Region III last August 27.
A total of 67 deans and representatives from some 45 colleges and universities in the region participated in the event themed “The Role of General Education for Global Competitiveness.”

In welcoming the delegates WU-P President Manuel G. Palomo, Sr. cited the importance of the university’s own College of Arts and Sciences as the General Education provider for students of different colleges.

Ms. Lorna Yusi of the Commission on Higher Education Regional Office 3 (CHED-RO III) keynoted the affair with a discussion on the trends in program offerings and enrollment in Humanities, Social Sciences and Communication among Central Luzon higher education institutions.

Resource speakers included Dr. Felizardo Y. Francisco, director of the CHED Office of Programs and Standards, who discussed the topic “Revisiting CHED Policies and Standards in General Education”; Dr. Isagani Cruz, consultant on Academic Institutional Development of Far Eastern University, “Visioning the General Education Program”; and Dr. Conrado Iñigo, Jr., vice president for academic affairs of Lyceum of the Philippines University, “Matching General Education with Global Industry Needs.”

The APCAS Region III Board is composed of Dr. Edgar G. Galang of Systems Plus College Foundation, president; Dr. Epifania S. Gosioco of Pampanga Agricultural College, vice president; Dr. Carmela S. Dizon of Angeles University Foundation, secretary; Dr. Gloria B. Abrazado of Republic Central Colleges, treasurer; Dr. Beverlyn I. Agustin of Ramon Magsaysay Technological Institute, PRO; Dr. Narcisa R. Figuerres of Magsaysay Memorial College, auditor; and directors Dr. Virigina O. del Rosario of WUP, Dr. Nilda Hugo of Mt. Carmel College, Dr. Eduarto R. Cortez of Bataan Peninsula State University, Dr. Arnel T. Sicat of the University of the Assumption, Dr. Francisca Y. Gallego of Dr. Yanga’s Colleges, Inc., Dr. Teresita R. Dumlao of Columban College, Dr. Ramiro Plopino of Baliuag University and the immediate past president, Dr. Aurora C. Gonzales. ###

The College of Arts and Sciences’ Language and Literature Department led the celebration of the Buwan ng Wika last August 26.

The celebration, themed “Sa pangangalaga ng Wika at Kalikasan, Wagas na pagmamahal talagang Kailangan” featured competitions on Dagliang Talumpati, Tulang Pasalaysay, Paggawa ng Poster, Paggawa ng Slogan, Isahang Awit, Dalawahang Awit, Katutubong Sayaw and Interpretibong Sayaw.

The College of Computer Studies (CCS) grabbed the over-all championship after winning four categories. The CCS bagged the trophy in the Interpretatibong Sayaw, while Janine Robles won in the Isahang Awit as well as in the Dalawahang Awit with her partner Melquisedec del Rosario.

Other winners were Kathleen Gonzales (CBA, 1st place), Vanns Payawal (CHRIM, 2nd place) and Abigail Junia (CAS, 3rd place) in Dagliang Talumpati; Rein Parinas (CAS, 1st place), Anna Aurea Ramos (HRIM, 2nd place) and Oscar Angelo Ipurong (CBA, 3rd place) in the Tulang Pasalaysay; Gianne Jordan Gatcho (CBA, 1st place), Myra Gabinay (CoEd, 2nd place), and Julie Ann Luna (CAS, third) in Pagsulat ng Sanaysay; and Christina Yambot (CBA, 1st), Oscar Organia (CoE, 2nd place), and Billinger Graganta (CCS, 3rd place) in Paggawa ng Slogan.

On the other hand, the CoN won the Katutubong Sayaw category followed by CAS and CoEd in 2nd and 3rd places, respectively, while in the Interpretatibong Sayaw CoN ranked second, followed by the College of Engineering.

CAS faculty member Prof. Evangeline Agpoon was the over-all chair of the events, which was also overseen by Language and Literature Coordinator Prof. Marietta V. Reyes and CAS Dean Dr. Virginia O. del Rosario.###

Dr. Clarafe A. Gonzales, University Research director and Prof. Ruth C. Alfonso of the College of Arts and Sciences and adviser of Genre and Telon presented papers during the 7th National Conference sponsored by the Philippine Association of Institutions for Research (PAIR) last August 22-25 in Cagayan de Oro.

Dr. Gonzales’s paper was entitled “Student Assistantship as a Gateway to Professional Development: the Wesleyan Experience,” while Prof. Alfonso’s paper was entitled “T.E.L.O.N. and Wesleyan Performing Groups: A Showcase of Institutional Image and Culture.”

The abstracts of their researches were published in the printed proceedings of the said conference which centered on the theme “Institutional Research and Journal Publications.”

Among the highlights of the said conference was the keynote speech and lecture given by Dr. Daina Paupe Henry, External Relations director of the Association of Institutional Research (AIR), USA of which PAIR is now affiliated with as member.

The national president of PAIR is currently Dr. Genaro V. Japos, research director of the Liceo de Cagayan University.

Wesleyan University – Philippines is an institutional member of PAIR as well as a seat of Region III PAIR-member institutions. ###