Thursday, March 28, 2024

Tag: News Briefs

UST among top passers in chem eng’g boards

THE UNIVERSITY posted better results in the November 2014 licensure examinations for chemical engineers, with three Thomasians landing in the top 10.

The University recorded a higher passing rate of 69.12-percent (94 passers out of 136 examinees) compared with last year’s 58.97 percent (69 out of 117 examinees), results from the Professional Regulation Commission showed.

Leading the new batch of Thomasian chemical engineers is second-placer Joseph John Liwanagan with a score of 83.40 percent, followed by Francis Jessy Liggayu at seventh place (82.80 percent), and William Macasero Jr. at ninth place (82.50 percent).

Hazel Dorothy Cesar of the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman finished first place with a score of 85.40 percent.

UST proposes alternative uniforms for scorching summer

THOMASIANS may have to purchase two different types of uniforms due to the adjustment of the academic calendar starting July.

The University has proposed another uniform to be worn by students during the scorching months of April and May.

According to a memorandum released Secretary General Fr. Winston Cabading, O.P., a complementary school uniform, called the “Type B” uniform, would be a T-shirt or a light-material top, and pants or walking shorts.

Each faculty or college and their respective student councils are encouraged to present a design for their respective Type B uniforms, which will be then submitted to the Office of the Secretary General. These designs will be presented to the Council of Regents for approval.

Summer classes now need petition

THE UNIVERSITY now requires a petition from students before offering summer classes for back subjects.

Under Article 9 Section 7 of the new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) signed by the University administration and the UST Faculty Union, summer courses due to student deficiencies will only be offered if students file a petition.

Also, a faculty member will not be allowed to teach a summer petition class if majority of the students failed the course under him or her in the last two semesters.

Starting next academic year, the summer term will be known as the third term, as a result of the shift in academic calendar that moved the summer term to June to July.

UST archivist named outstanding Manileño

UNIVERSITY Archivist Regalado Trota-Jose received last June 21 the Manila city government’s Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan award for his work in historical conservation.

Other awardees included Jonas Roces (sculpture), Guy Rafael Custodio (visual arts), Pedro Cruz Reyes, Jr. (literature) and Leonilo Doloricon (painting).

Psychology attains center of development status

THE UNIVERSITY’S Psychology program was declared a Center of Development (COD) by the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) last Dec. 20, following a rigorous review process.

“CODs serve as potent catalysts for world class scholarships, best practices, innovative curriculum, research and extension and professional development,” CHEd said in a memorandum.

The psychology program of UST is the lone COD, while the programs of University of the Philippines-Diliman, Ateneo de Manila University, and De La Salle University were named Centers of Excellence (COE).

The criteria for COE and COD are Instructional Quality (45 percent), Research Publications (30 percent), Extension and Linkages (20 percent), and Institutional Qualifications (five percent).

Pacucoa grants Level 3 accreditation to Tourism

THE TOURISM program of UST has been granted a Level 3 accreditation status—a step closer to becoming a Center of Development.

The Hotel and Restaurant Management program, meanwhile, received Level 2 re-accreditation from the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (PACUCOA).

“UST is being looked upon and sought after as a premier tourism and hospitality Management learning institution,” said Tourism and Hospitality Management Dean Maria Cecilia Tio Cuison, citing the college’s increasing enrollment rate and leadership of the students’ and faculty members in professional organizations.

Veteran envoy appointed consul-general in US

THE PHILIPPINE Ambasador to Myanmar will take the helm as consul general of Los Angeles, California, with the task of implementing Philippine laws and regulations in the United States concerning citizenship, immigration, trade, navigation and commerce.

Hellen Barber-de la Vega, who finished cum laude in Asian Studies in 1982, will assume office on Sept. 30.

De la Vega, the second woman consul in Los Angeles since the Philippine Consulate’s establishment in 1947, also served as consul general at the Philippine Embassy in China from September 2008 to August 2009.

Alumnus’ indie film to represent PH in Oscars

A THOMASIAN filmmaker’s award-winning independent film will represent the country in the 2013 Academy Awards.

The 2012 Cinemalaya Film Festival Director’s Showcase entry, Bwakaw, written and directed by Communication Arts alumnus Jun Lana, will banner the Philippines next year in the Oscars' Best Foreign Language Film Category.

Bwakaw, which also won the Audience Choice Award, is a drama-comedy indie film starring Eddie Garcia, who plays an aging homosexual man with a pet dog as his only companion.

The film is also the country’s entry to the Toronto Film Festival and the New York Film Festival this year.

Filmmaker bags award in Venice Int’l Film Fest

THOMASIAN filmmaker Brillante Mendoza won multiple awards in the 69th Venice International Film Festival for his film Thy Womb.

Mendoza received La Navicella Venezia Cinema award, a collateral prize given by a group of Italian film criticc.

Mendoza also received the Premio della Fondazione Entedello Spettacolo e della Rivista del Cinematografo and the P. Nazareno Taddei (special mention) award in the film festival.

Thy Womb, starring veteran actress Nora Aunor, tells the story of a Badjao midwife suffering from infertility. This is the second film by Mendoza to compete in Venice, after his 2009 film Lola.

Former ‘V’ editor tops poetry category in Palanca

TWO THOMASIANS received awards in the poetry and one-act play categories of the 62nd Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature last Sept. 1 at The Peninsula Manila in Makati City.

Former Varsitarian associate editor Carlomar Arcangel Daoana won the grand prize for English poetry with his collection, The Elegant Ghost, while Patrick John Valencia won third prize in the one-act play category for In Bed With My Mother.

This year, 59 winning works were selected from 1,077 entries in 20 categories. Twenty-nine authors were first-time winners. Daphne J. Magturo

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