Communitas 2010.indd - University of San Agustin

The Offi cial Bulletin of the University of San Agustin
5000 Iloilo City, Philippines
Vol XVIII No.2 http://www.usa.edu.ph/communitas October 2009

University of San Agustin
OUR VISION
A community of one mind and heart affi rming its position as an excellent center
of humanistic, Christian-Augustinian education, committed to promote the
common good and the transformation of the person and society.
OUR MISSION
The University of San Agustin is a Catholic Augustinian educational institution that
aims to propagate the Gospel of Christ and the ideals of St. Augustine to the youth
and the people of the Western Visayas region, the Filipino nation, and the world. It
is committed to:
1. provide research-based, innovative, and fulfi lling education;
2. enhance the diversity and vitality of its research and extension initiatives;
3. build partnerships and promote effective governance;
4. provide a wholesome atmosphere for an excellent teaching and learning
experience in its campuses; and
5. enhance the competency and welfare of its human resource.
EDITORIAL BOARD
Editorial Board
Jigger S. Latoza
Executive Editor
Mona V. Pico
Editor
Carmen G. Dureza
Associate Editor/Circulation Manager
Ma. Eden O. Yap-Aguirra Ronelia C. Lacson
Teresita Silma S. Balgos Nancy F. Latumbo
Marjorie S. Carisma
Arne S. Lubasan
Chito J. Colonia
Ameprosa C. Natividad
Gladys T. Confesor
Nelida T. Orquinaza
Rojane U. Deleña
Jazzie Jane C. Pama
Carmen G. Dureza
James V. Pedregosa
Lucio T. Encio
Antonia M. Perales
Asuncion A. Faro
Lorena B. Salazar
Judith M. Fresnido
Maribuen G. Salmorin
Ma. Alma S. Hermo
Elsed S. Togonon
Aurora P. Julito
Demosthenes T. Toledo
Information Coordinators/Contributors
Noel G. de Leon
Staff Photographer
Fr. Raul M. Marchan, O.S.A.
Editorial Consultant
Communitas is published by the University of San
Agustin, Iloilo City, through its Coordinating Center for
Research and Publications.
Address all communications to:
USA Coordinating Center for Research and Publications
5 th Level Fray Luis de Leon Building
University of San Agustin
General Luna St.
5000 Iloilo City, Philippines
Tel. Nos. (033) 337-7716 and (033) 337-4841
to 44 loc. 242
Fax. No. (033) 337-4403
E-mail: usa.research@yahoo.com.ph
IN THIS ISSUE:
NEWS ..............................................................................................page 02
✫ Augustinian places 3rd in Med Tech board exam ✫ GS student
ranks 10th in guidance counselors exam ✫ USA is 7th best law
school in RP ✫ Tilipunan volunteer cited as nat’l fi nalist for
Bayaning Filipino ✫ Ched endorses new CoEd program ✫ BS
Arch graduate among TOSP 6 awardees ✫ Augustinians win
Rizal leadership contests ✫ Conservatory conducts music training
for teachers ✫ US-based nurse-educator talks on test writing ✫
Augustinian is teacher-volunteer to South America ✫ USA hosts
forum, exhibit on German pol system ✫ Chem chair, faculty in 1st
Asia Pacifi c confab on chem education ✫ GS lecturer attends int’l
seminar in China ✫
ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT.......................................... page 08
✫ Libraries/IMC gets 200K grant from Ched ✫ USA confers
“Professor” title on Rabuco ✫ HRD conducts summer ‘09 seminar
series ✫ Agbayan 2 boosts up Augustinian student leaders ✫
USAFAPA elects new set of leaders ✫
RESEARCH AND PUBLICATIONS.............................................page 10
✫ Research director conducts study on MIGEDC ✫ UCRP holds
7th St. Augustine lecture ✫ Former AS dean conducts research on
folk utterances ✫ Study shows students’ lab experiences relate with
grades ✫
OFF-THE-PRESS............................................................................page 11
PARTNERSHIPS AND EXTENSION...........................................page 12
✫ City mayor names Latoza multisectoral coalition head ✫ CSC
scholars get annual school supplies ✫ Deans engaged in Agustino
para sa Tao ✫ CSC volunteers empower brgy police and leaders ✫
Former law prof is Ford int’l fellow ✫ Tilipunan Tiyangge opens in
Ginomoy ✫
CULTURE AND ARTS....................................................................page 15
✫ USA to host IloPRISAA ‘09 ✫ 7th San Agustin writing
fellowship held ✫ University reaps awards in 33rd Milo marathon
✫ Troubadours tops NAMCYA ‘09 regional tilt ✫ Augustinians in
Cinema One indie ✫ USA hosts Sarah G concert ✫
AT-A-GLANCE ................................................................................page 17
ANNOUNCEMENTS.......................................................................page 24
FEATURE ..........................................................................................page 25
✫ Pag-ulikid sang Tilipunan sa Suba Aganan ✫
ALUMNI UPDATES........................................................................page 27
✫ On Alumni Leadership ✫ Execom for CAS diamond jubilee set
up ✫ CEA alumnus bags int’l refrigeration award ✫ USAAA holds
gen assembly, induction ceremony ✫
ON THE COVER
Herrera Hall Lobby. On the cover is the newly-renovated lobby of
the Herrera Hall, facing the quadrangle bordered by the Dolse Garcia
Hall. The picture also shows the improved footwalk, connecting Paseo
de Iloilo and Paseo de Negros.

october 2009 FROM THE PRESIDENT
Communitas 1
Augustinian Educational Centers: Venue for Evangelization
Introduction
On so many occasions, I had a chance
to be asked what indeed are the peculiar
characteristics our University possesses that
she can be so distinctly distinguished from
other schools, especially from those, who like
us, profess the very same Catholic faith. This
question surely has been persistently asked
to the Augustinian friars, especially to those
assigned in schools of the Order. I remember,
sometime in the 80’s, it was a common
question asked to the different religious
congregations administering schools while
they were in search for their own identity
in the fi eld of education brought about by
educational assessment and accreditation.
Even at this time, the question is still
relevant. And it needs a clear answer. This
means that there are still some, if not many,
who would be interested to have the question
answered. I suppose, this question of school
identity will be often asked as it is closely
connected to the work of evangelization of
the Order.
The Mission to Evangelize
In the past, the word evangelization
was applied in a very limited sense. It
exclusively refers to the missionary works
of priests and religious to preach the
Gospel for the fi rst time to faraway places.
Nowadays, evangelization connotes a more
comprehensive meaning: as a dynamic process
that embraces all the actions of the Church
and even includes the various complimentary
elements that are mutually enriching, such
as: 1) to announce to the whole world the
Good News of the Reign of God; 2) to witness
among men a new way of being and living
that the reign of God requires; 3) to educate
in the faith all those who are converted
to Him; 4) to celebrate in the community
of believers, by means of the liturgy and
sacraments, of the presence of the risen Lord
and the gift of His Spirit; and 5) to renew
humanity, pervading and transforming
with the strength of the Gospel the criteria,
values, structures and models of life which
are contrary to the reign of God. Aware of
this etymological evolution and practice of
evangelization, the Order acknowledges this
holistic view of evangelization.
As previously published in another issue
of this paper, the Augustinian Order has
Rev. Fr. Raul M. Marchan, O.S.A.
a keen and great interest on the role of her
educational institutions in their work of
evangelization. Since her foundation in
1244, the Order has already been committed
to the life of study. Augustine of Ancona,
a great Augustinian theologian of the
fourteenth century, says that the primary
motive of the Church in fostering the orders
of apostolic fraternity was “that the brothers,
through their dedication to the study of the
sacred sciences, might enlighten others with
true doctrine.” (Rano, 96) This means,
therefore, that this obligation of the friars
to devote themselves to study was to share
to others the benefi ts of their efforts. This is
what evangelization means for the Order.
To make her educational apostolate
more relevant, the Order has always been
guided by several pontifi cal documents.
One of these is the declaration on Christian
education, proclaimed by Pope Paul VI in
1965, commonly known as Gravissimum
Educationis. It has considered with care how
extremely important education is in the life
of man and how its infl uence ever grows in
the social progress of this age. It declares that
Catholic educational centers are privileged
places of evangelization.
It affi rms that “the vocation of all those
who aid parents in fulfi lling their duties and
who …undertake the task of education in
schools is a beautiful and truly solemn one.”
Cognizant of this Church’s document, the
Order acknowledges her greatest esteem for
the educational apostolate and considers it as
one of her special duties giving fl esh to what
St. Augustine says,”… so that we teach the
truth with love.” (Homilies on the Gospel of
John 7)
Ten years after, the same Pope issued
Evangelii Nuntiandi, an apostolic
exhortation on evangelization in the modern
world. The document points out that
evangelization must touch life… to educate
people in the Faith. The document says “The
Church is an evangelizer, but she begins by
being evangelized herself… this means that
she has a constant need of being evangelized,
if she wishes to retain freshness, vigor and
strength in order to proclaim the Gospel.”
(Evangelii Nuntiandi, 15).
Consistent with the Church’s directives,
should the Order, through its educational
centers, wish to evangelize in an Augustinian
way, she should relentlessly aspire to be
evangelized. This she can do by going
back to her Augustinian roots, the saint’s
voluminous writings, the Order’s history, her
culture and tradition. This was precisely the
personal admonition of the author of these
two very important Church’s documents
when he visited the Augustinians in Rome
on the occasion of the inauguration of the
Institutum Patristicum Augustinianum, a
very famous institute for patristic studies run
by the Order.
To address these important concerns we
face in our school apostolate, let us recall
the General Chapter in 1989. During this
signifi cant event in the life of the Order,
the participants to this Chapter laid out
comprehensive programs of governance to
make herself relevant in the service of the
Church. The said initiatives were followed
up in many gatherings of the Order in
different places. For example, the Order has
to examine the present times as a means of
re-strengthening the work of evangelization.
The Order is convinced that as part of
the Church, she shares the same world to
evangelize. Thus, should the Church need
to dialogue and commune with the present
realities, so does the Order. By doing so, the
Order, side by side the Church, can look for
common references, essential as they are, that
would lead her to a renewed understanding
of the various changes that are taking place
in our present world.
☞ page 7

2
Communitas
FRESH graduate Raymund Joseph
Sorgon placed 3 rd in the most recently
held licensure examination for medical
technologists, as per results released in 10
September 2009.
Sorgon earned an 87% passing score,
only .50 and .10 away from the national
fi rst placer and second placer, respectively.
He is the 80 th medical technology
topnotcher from the University of San
Agustin.
Joining Sorgon are thirty other board
passers that graduated in 2009. This
ANA Bellusa M. Pellejo,
a Ph.D. in Psychology
candidate at the USA
Graduate School, ranked
10 th in the August 2009
licensure examination
for Guidance Counselors
based on the offi cial result
released by the Professional
Regulation Commission.
The examination was
given by the Board of
Guidance Counseling at
the Monson Hall, Manuel
NEWS
L. Quezon University,
Quiapo, Manila on 27-28
August 2009. Seventyeight
out of the 108
examinees passed the
licensure exam.
Pellejo is presently fi nishing
her dissertation proposal for
a Ph.D. in Psychology. She
manages her self-owned Clinic
of Our Lady of Good Counsel
in Bacolod City. While serving
as guidance counselor and
psychologist for local seminaries
october 2009
registered for the University a 100%
passing score for the BS Med. Tech.
2009 graduates alone. It is worthy to
note here, that in the last two board
exams – March 2008 and September
2008 – 100% of the fresh graduates had
also successfully passed.
This year’s topnotcher hails from
Arevalo, Iloilo City. He is born to proud
parents Godofredo N. Sorgon, Jr. and
Gemma A. Sorgon. Mr. Sorgon works as a
maintenance personnel in the University,
assigned at the Father’s Residence.
GS student ranks 10th in guidance counselors exam
Pellejo
ACCORDING to the Supreme Court
statistical data, the University of San
Agustin (USA) College of Law ranked
seventh among the 108 law schools in
the country, and is fi rst in the Visayas
region, in terms of performance in the
Bar examinations.
In the September 2008 Bar exams,
the college had twenty-fi ve successful
examinees, registering a passing score
of 49.02% -- 50% for fi rst-time takers
and 47.37% for repeaters.
In the same examination, Ateneo
de Manila University (ADMU)
Augustinian places 3rd
in Med Tech board exam
Sorgon
USA is 7 th best law school in RP
ranked fi rst after earning a passing
average of 85.63%. The other topten
performing schools are: San
Beda College (77.60%), Far Eastern
University (77.42%), University of
the Philippines (75.32%), Ateneo de
Davao University (58.23%), University
of Sto. Tomas ((51.81%), University
of Cebu (47.06%) University of San
Carlos (43.22%), and Palawan State
University (37.50%).
The USA College of Law credits
its good performance to its organized
reviews for Bar exam takers. The
like the Sto. Niño Seminary
in Numancia, Aklan and
Sancta Maria Mater et Regina
Seminarium (major seminary)
in Cagay, Roxas City, she also
serves as visiting counselor and
psychologist at the Vincentian
Pre-Internal Seminary in 221
Tandang Sora, Quezon City.
Another Ph.D. student
from the University who
passed the examination is
Dorothy S. Tarol. (A.M.
Perales)
college has also been implementing the
“Quality Admission, Quality Retention
Policy.” Furthermore, it has been
administering written comprehensive
examinations to prepare its students
for the Bar. These activities were
conducted through the guidance of
Atty. Juana Judita P. Nafarrete, dean of
the college.
Out of the 6,364 Bar examinees
in September 2008, only 1,310
passed, pegging the national passing
percentage at 20.58% only. (R. Lacson/
The Augustinian)

october 2009 NEWS
Communitas 3
Tilipunan volunteer cited as nat’l fi nalist
for Bayaning Filipino
DR. Lilia S. Teves was one of the fi ve
fi nalists in the 2009 Gawad Genny Lopez
Jr. Bayaning Filipino Awards of the
ABS-CBN and Ugat Foundation. The
recognition program was held in the
Dolphy Studio at the ABS-CBN Complex
in Quezon City last 5 June 2009.
The search for the awardees was
conducted through an extensive
organizational network covering each
of the country’s 16 regions and various
areas in the United States and Japan. A
national screening committee was tasked
to observe the nominees and determine
the regional fi nalists. The process
involved ocular visits, conducting
interviews, securing testimonials, video
documentation, and other verifi cation
procedures to ensure the integrity of the
nominees.
Abner Mercado of the ABS-CBN, one
of the hosts of The Correspondents, visited
the Tilipunan communities in Oton and
Ched endorses new
CoEd program
UNDER the deanship of Dr. Alex B. Facinabao,
the Commission on Higher Education (Ched)
RO-VI, through its OIC Director Dr. Rex
C. Casiple, endorses the Teacher Certifi cate
Program of the College of Education effective the
Academic Year 2009-2010. The endorsement,
dated 14 July 2009, entails that the University
can now enroll college graduate students
who wish to have certifi cates in teaching and
eventually become professional teachers.
This new program replaces the Diploma in
Teaching, previously offered at the University.
The revised curriculum is a two-year program
which requires students to earn 39 units to
complete the whole program. College graduate
students with at least 18 units of the program can
be qualifi ed to take the Licensure Examination
for Professional Teachers given by the Philippine
Regulation Commission. (J.V. Pedregosa)
Alimodian for the national nomination of
the Tilipunan volunteer.
Teves was commended for dedicating
almost half of her life in helping her
fellowmen, especially those who are in
need. Teves believes in the saying that “it
is better to teach men how to fi sh rather
than just give them fi sh.” She initiated
programs to alleviate poverty in the
community through livelihood projects.
She also believes in the power of education
and she made it a personal commitment to
provide young children the opportunity to
go to school.
Through the years of her life, Teves
achieved more than what most of us could
only wish to do in a life time – living a
simple life while achieving meaningful
goals by constantly pounding on having
intentions coupled with actions.
Teves is Tilipunan’s volunteer teacher
for 29 years and currently the head of
the Hotel & Restaurant Management,
Teves
Culinary Arts and the Nutrition
Department of the College of Education
of the University of San Agustin. (M.E.O.
Yap-Aguirra)
BS Arch graduate among
TOSP 6 awardees
REY John Lorca, BS
Architecture 2009 graduate,
brought honor to the University
of San Agustin when he landed
as one of the Ten Outstanding
Students of the Philippines
(TOSP) for Region VI. The
awarding ceremony was held at
the Governor’s Hall, Provincial
Capitol in Bacolod City on 24
April 2009.
Lorca, a consistent dean’s lister
and active student leader, emerged
as one of the top ten among
thirty-one contenders from all
throughout the region. The
award is one of the projects of
RFM Foundation, meant to give
due recognition to outstanding
students in the Philippines.
(M.A.S. Hermo)
Lorca

Communitas 4 NEWS
Augustinians win Rizal leadership contests
AUGUSTINIAN social science students
won awards in Rizal leadership contests
recently conducted at Punta Villa, Arevalo,
Iloilo City.
Patrick Daniel O. Ladrido emerged
second in Extemporaneous Speaking, and
Marzz Halley Capanang placed second
in the Painting/Poster Making Contest.
Both students represented KAPARIZ
(Kabataang Pangarap ni Rizal) of the
university’s Social Science Department.
The competition was part of the
Second Joint 8th Visayas and 9th
Mindanao Rizal Youth Leadership
Institute (RYLI) Conference and Contest
held on 25-28 October 2009. It was
sponsored and launched by the Order of
the Knights of Rizal.
The theme of this year’s conference is
“My Future, My Responsibility: Rizal is
My President.” Its main focus was to bring
excellence and virtue in leadership as put
forward by Dr. Jose Rizal: “Only love can
work wonders, only virtue can redeem.” It
was attended by around 200 students and
faculty delegates from different prestigious
institutions all over Visayas and Mindanao.
THE Conservatory Of Music held a threeday
music training for elementary teachers
on 2-4 September 2009. The training was
participated in by 118 teachers from the
divisions of Iloilo Province, Iloilo City and
Passi City, from some private schools, as well
as by MAPEH majors and music students
from the University of San Agustin.
The seminar aimed at expanding
knowledge on music fundamentals
and methodologies for teaching music,
developing musical skills in group
performance and instrument playing, and
The delegates were welcomed by
the Deputy Supreme Commander and
Chair of the RYLI, Sir Pablo S. Trillana
III, KGOR. The Keynote Speaker was
Archbishop Angel N. Lagdameo, President
of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the
Philippines.
For almost two years now, the
University representatives through
KAPARIZ-USA have consistently won
in these contests in the regional and
national levels. In 2007, a KAPARIZ-
USA representative emerged as Regional
Champion in Essay Writing, and, another
as National Champion in the Rizal Quiz.
Ladrido is a 2nd Year BS
Management Accounting student from
the College of Business Administration
and Accountancy. Capanang is a 4th Year
BS Fine Arts student from the College
of Engineering and Architecture. Both
students were generously supported by
their respective colleges and the Social
Science Department. Professors Joven
Soubiron, Yannie Rose Noble, and
Teresita Balgos served as their advisers.
(T.S.S. Balgos)
enhancing students’ competency-based
music experience. The workshop consisted
of four areas: Basic Musicianship,
Instructional Materials, Teaching
Strategies, and Performance (classroom
singing and beginning choral instruction).
The invited resource speakers for the
activity were offi cers and members of the
Philippine Society for Music Education,
led by the President, Dr. Leticia del Valle;
Dr. Mauricia Borromeo, former Dean of
the College of Music of UP Diliman; Mr.
Armin Comon, Music Instructor of the
Capanang
october 2009
Conservatory conducts music training for teachers
BM students get tips from Dr. Borromeo. Participants perform in the culminating program.
Ladrido
College of Music and Performing Arts of the
University of St. Paul-Manila; Mr. Arwin
Tan, professor of Music at the College of
Music, UP Diliman, and, the conductor of
Novo Concertante Manila.
Funded in part by the National
Commission for Culture and the Arts, the
training was the Conservatory’s attempt
to respond to the training needs of music
teachers in Iloilo, most of whom obtained
only 3 to 6 units of music or humanities
in the BSEd or BEEd curriculum. (A.S.
Lubasan)
Mr. Comon conducts the fi nale number.

october 2009 NEWS
Communitas 5
US-based nurse-educator talks on test writing
THROUGH its Faculty
Development Committee, the
College of Nursing organized
a seminar on ‘Test Making
Strategies’ for its Clinical
Instructors last 27 June 2009
at the USA Conference
Room. This one-day event
was designed to help teachers
formulate test questions
that would stimulate critical
thinking skills among the
students.
The resource person was
Judith Miller, RN, MSN, a
nurse-educator for 35 years
in the United States. She has
been handling review classes
in various parts of the globe
such as United States, India,
Singapore, England, Ireland,
and in Philippines. For a couple
of years now, Miller has been
conducting talks on developing
critical thinking abilities
and test taking methods for
Augustinian nursing graduates
who were about to take the
licensure examinations.
The seminar gave useful
insights to the faculty members
on how to write an evaluation
tool that utilizes the student’s
knowledge and judgment of
a certain nursing concept. In
addition, the speaker provided
a kit with a step-by-step
procedure on how to create and
phrase questions in each of the
phases of the nursing process--
assessment, diagnosis, planning,
implementation and evaluation.
In the latter part of the seminar,
a brief workshop was conducted,
wherein participants were
grouped according to subjects
taught and were required to
construct test questions of high
cognitive level. The questions
were analyzed and reviewed by
Miller; improvements were then
made.
This event has truly
provided additional
USA hosts forum, exhibit
on German pol system
knowledge and skills to the
members of the nursing
faculty. (J.J.C. Pama)
Augustinian is teacher-volunteer to South America
PROF. Ma. Rosario Juanita E. Erazo left
for Guyana, South America last 20 May
2009 for the education program of the
Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO). Her
academic qualifi cations, skills, experience
and commitment in teaching have given
her an advantage to be chosen as teacher
volunteer in the areas of education for two
years.
The Voluntary Service Overseas is a
human development agency which works
through volunteers. It is an independent,
non-sectarian international organization,
committed to fi ghting global poverty
and assisting communities to achieve
their development aims in six goal areas:
education, HIV, disability, livelihoods,
governance, and health and social well-
THE university, through the Arts and
Sciences (AS) Student Council, in
partnership with the Friedrich Ebert
Stiftung-Philippines, held a forum and
exhibit on the “Modern Political Systems
and Social Democracy in Germany.”
The exhibit, held at the Urdaneta
Hall, opened on 28 September and ran
until 01 October. Gracing the ribbon
cutting ceremony were Rev. Fr. Pederito
being. VSO is a registered charity in the
United Kingdom, funded by a grant
from the Department for International
Development (DFID) and donations from
the public.
Erazo’s volunteer assignment with
the VSO is at the Ministry of Education
of Mahdia (Region 8), Guyana, South
America, involving the training of
Guyanese teachers, as well as introducing
new ideas and practices, and new methods
of teaching to strengthen the curriculum
and institutions, local organizations and
individuals.
Prof. Erazo is a graduate of MA in
Education-Biology at the University of the
Philippines-Visayas, Monbusho Scholar,
and former Chair of the Department of
A. Aparece, O.S.A., Prefect of Students;
Dr. Wolf Preuss, former member of the
German Ministry of Development and
Cooperation; Mr. Percival Cendana,
chair of the AKBAYAN Citizen’s Action
Party of the Philippines; and, Atty. Benjie
Gengos, representative from the Liberal
Party of the Philippines.
The forum on the “Role of Political
Parties in Modern Political Systems”
Miller
Biological Sciences of the University of
San Agustin. (T.S.S. Balgos)
Erazo
followed at the President’s Conference
Room, immediately after the opening
of the exhibit. Forum speakers included
Preuss, Cendana and Gengos.
The University of San Agustin
was the sixth school in the Philippines
that hosted the project. The project
was supported by twelve other student
organizations in the university. (The
Augustinian)

Communitas 6 NEWS
Chem chair, faculty in 1 st Asia Pacifi c confab
on chem education
PROF. Aneline P. Tolones, acting chair of the Department of
Chemistry, together with Prof. Marjorie S. Carisma, faculty
member, attended the 1 st Asia-Pacifi c Conference on Chemical
Education and the 24 th Philippine Chemistry Congress last 14-
16 April 2009 at the Bohol Tropics Resort in Tagbilaran City,
Bohol. The theme of the congress was “Chemistry Education: A
Way to Safeguard Man, Society and the Environment”.
The conference was organized by the Philippine Association
of Chemistry Teachers, Inc. in cooperation with the Philippine
Federation of Chemistry Societies. Various scientifi c programs in
Analytical Science, Biochemistry, Organic Chemistry, Chemical
Education, Environmental Science and Materials Science were
discussed in the conference. Also included in the program were
a discussion on updates on Chemistry Law, and a dialogue with
the Professional Regulation Commission Board of Examiners.
(M.S. Carisma)
ATTY. Raul S. Anlocotan, lecturer at the
USA Graduate School, attended a seminar
on “Small and Medium-size Enterprises
Development” in Beijing, People’s
Republic of China, from June 1-21,
2009. The trip was fully sponsored by the
Ministry of Commerce, People’s Republic
of China.
Twenty nine participants from thirteen
countries attended the seminar. It was
primarily aimed to introduce the small
and medium-enterprises (SMEs) in the
People’s Republic of China, focusing on
their products, markets and the use of
information technology in the production
processes.
The seminar was composed of three
parts: intensive lectures, fi eld trips and
country presentations. The lectures
were focused on the experience of China
in promoting SMEs, policy changes
introduced over time, government
mechanism to assist the SMEs, the
bureaucratic framework under a Socialist
System vis-à-vis a free market economy
where the SMEs thrive, among others. The
seminar employed classroom-type lectures
conducted mostly in the Chinese language
with interpreter.
The fi eld trips provided the
Tolones (extreme L) and Carisma (extreme R) with workshop facilitators
GS lecturer attends int’l seminar in China
Atty. Anlocotan with other participants during a welcome dinner in Ningbo City
october 2009
participants an opportunity to learn new
production processes and to appreciate
application of information technology
in all aspects of business operations. It
also showcased China’s thrust to improve
quality standards of its products to
make them more competitive in the
world market. The participants visited
an industrial economic zone in Beijing
City, the silk museum in Hangzhou City
and the industrial parks of Ningbo City.
They also attended an international
exhibition in Ningbo City, in the
southeastern part of China, showcasing
the latest technological products of the
country.
In the country presentations, Atty.
Anlocotan discussed the geographic,
historical, political, social and economic
profi le of the Philippines, including the
current policy framework concerning the
SMEs and the thrusts of the Philippine
Development Plan on SMEs.
The seminar also provided the
participants an opportunity to
appreciate the rich cultural heritage
of China such as the Great Wall, the
Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven
and the Summer Palace. A visit to the
Olympic stadiums (Bird’s Nest and
Water Cube) was included. They also
toured the West Lake in Hangzhou
City and an ancient library in Ningbo
City. (A.M.Perales)

october 2009 FROM THE PRESIDENT
Communitas 7
Augustinian... from page 1
The Commission on Education
Few years back the Order, through the
Commission on Education, evaluated her
educational centers where she is present. The
Order has more than one hundred (100)
schools and educational centers that are
owned or that are associated with the Order
from various parts of the world to carry out
her tasks. The members of the Commission,
at one point, ask themselves seriously if their
educational centers responsibly assume their
commitment to evangelization. Further,
they discussed if these are indeed on the right
track to the works of evangelization. The
Commission is convinced that St. Augustine
has much to offer through these centers.
St. Augustine has been exposed to a
kind of pedagogy that provided students
with so much help or information that they
do not need to think for themselves. This
type of learning, opines the saint, left the
students passive and dependent. In one of
his sermons, he compares a human person
to a seed who has the capacity to develop
on its own, “because God was determined
to plant in every single soul the seeds
of understanding, the basic elements of
wisdom” (Sermon 117, 11). And he speaks
of the duties of an exterior teacher (parents,
teachers, etc.) whose function is to let students
fi nd their way to free their hidden potentials.
Accordingly, it was through this way of
thinking that St. Augustine experienced
intimacy with his various feelings, the
restlessness and search which at the end
brought him to the encounter with God.
As evangelizers through the school
apostolate, the Augustinians are mindful
that education as a term and idea covers
the whole person and involves the whole
educative community. Since it covers
the whole person and involves the whole
community, it does not only communicate
Palsario
••• ERRATUM •••
Pano
culture but needs the support of faith; thus, it
awakens social responsibility. And to present
a clear Augustinian alternative to the world
of education, it demands a life and energy of
a community to produce and discharge our
spirit. It is in this manner that our educational
alternative differs from others because it is an
offshoot of a community act that professes and
proclaims certain concrete values.
The University of San Agustin
In the Philippines, refl ective of the
Church’s gospel imperative, Catholic schools
are undoubtedly very important in the
continuous work of evangelization and
re-evangelization of the country. In fact,
in 1941, a national association of Catholic
schools, known as the Catholic Educational
Association of the Philippines (CEAP) was
formed to advance and promote the teaching
function of the Church.
The missionary works of the Augustinian
Order in organizing basic ecclesial
communities, building churches and parish
rectories were accompanied by setting up
basic education for children. In this part
of the country, she put up a school at the
beginning of the 20th century that later
evolved into a University. The presence of the
University of San Agustin then, represents the
Church’s original contribution to the cultural
dialogue and even appears as an educational
alternative within a pluralistic society.
The University is an instrument of the
Church where faith and reason, rather than
adversaries, complement each other. This is
to be faithful to St. Augustine’s thought that
faith and secular culture come together, and
so, in any educative process. Thus, even the
Constitutions of the Order would affi rm
that service to culture is one of her important
missions, a culture that has to be carved in
an Augustinian way.
As the biggest school of the Order in
the country, the University is responsible
In the April 2009 (Vol. XVIII,
No.1) issue of Communitas, an
article about 2 PAMET scholars,
Marvie Pano and Michelle
Palsario, was included. On
page 20, where their pictures
appear, their names were
inadvertently interchanged.
Our apologies.
- The Editorial Staff
to spearhead the initiative to promote
whatever identity she claims derived from
St. Augustine in the fi eld of education. But
it requires enrichment through fraternal
interchange of human resources, material
and facilities among members of the Order. If
this is properly attended to, then the Order’s
evangelization works become clear to our
school’s clientele.
As the fi rst in Western Visayas, the
University is an active member of several
associations of Catholic schools such as the
Association of Catholic Universities in the
Philippines (ACUP), the Association of
Southeast and East Asian Catholic Colleges and
Universities (ASEACCU), the International
Federation of Catholic Universities (IFCU)
and the CEAP. In fact, as a leading Catholic
institution, she has in several occasions served
the CEAP in many and different capacities,
including that of a regional head. In spite of
these affi liations, still the University has certain
uniqueness to offer her clientele.
It is clear then, that as an Augustinian
educational center, the University is not
only an evangelizer who shares common
grounds with the rest of the Catholic
schools but possesses other qualities that she
can consider uniquely her own. These are
offshoots of gospel values, but then become
Augustinian, on the basis of what refl ective
faith-experience and meaning St. Augustine
attached to them.
Following the cultural and educative
tradition of the Church and our Patron, it
is imperative that as Augustinian educators,
whether in and outside the classrooms,
and as professionals, we have to present
the characteristics belonging exclusively to
an Augustinian educational institution,
its inspiration and pedagogy. It is about
stating clearly what indeed an Augustinian
educational identity is. Thus, they become
educational alternatives to our contemporary
society. (R.M. Marchan, O.S.A.)
Former law prof... from page 14
University of Nottingham, U.K.)
COHORT 2009: Estomo, Rene (M.A. of Mathematics
Education, Univ. of Georgia, U.S.A.); Fresnido, Ma. Zaida (Master
of Laws, Univ. of Washingtom, USA); Flores, Ma. Felicia (Master
of Curriculum Studies, Univ. of Hawaii-Manoa, USA); Genodepa,
Martin (Master of Fine Arts, Sculpture), UP-Diliman; and Lorica,
Renee (Master of Conservation Biology, Univ. of Minnesota-Twin
Cities).
COHORT 2010: Guillen, Jose Edmund (Master of Laws) and
Oberio, Zennifer (Master of Science Education). (UCRP)

8
Communitas
THE USA Libraries and IMC received a
grant of two hundred thousand pesos from
the Commission on Higher Education
(Ched) in line with the latter’s mandate
to promote quality and relevant higher
education in the Philippines.
The grant given to the University
of San Agustin, included in the third
batch to receive fi nancial assistance,
was by virtue of Memorandum
Order No. 23, Series of 2006. The
memorandum recognizes the need to
provide funding assistance to higher
education institutions applying for
voluntary accreditation in the form of
Ched Preliminary Survey Assistance
for Accreditation (PSAA) and/or Ched
THE University of San
Agustin conferred the rank and
academic title “Professor” on
Dr. Amorita C. Rabuco last 20
October in simple ceremonies
at the Iloilo Doctor’s Hospital,
where she has been confi ned for
treatment. Rabuco is a former
dean of the USA College of
Arts and Sciences and is on the
faculty of the same college and
the Graduate School.
On a plaque signed by
Fr. Eusebio Berdon, O.S.A.,
chair of the Board of Trustees,
the University cited Rabuco’s
“outstanding contribution to
liberal education in her capacity
as dean and mentor and her
solid contributions to literary
research and scholarship.”
The conferment rite was led
by Fr. Raul Marchan, O.S.A.,
university president. Also
present were Fr. Edgardo Lazo,
O.S.A., vice-president for
administration and fi nance,
deans, academic chairs and
directors, and some of Rabuco’s
family members and friends.
Rabuco is just the third
faculty member to obtain
the highest academic rank
in the history of the 105-
ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Libraries/IMC gets 200K grant from Ched
Institutional Development Assistance for
Accreditation (IDAA).
After the Memorandum of Agreement
between the Commission on Higher
Education and the University of San
Agustin was signed, the University
received the amount which, in turn, was
allocated for the purchase of six units of
october 2009
computer and one unit network printer
to improve library facilities and services.
This improvement is in line with the
recommendation of the 2004 and 2008
accrediting teams of the Philippine
Accrediting Association of Schools,
Colleges and Universities.
As of this writing, the Libraries and
IMC is processing the creation of an
on-line database which may be accessed
at the Periodical Section of the library.
It has asked Proquest Online Database
and HW Wilson Online Database for a
trial run of their respective databases so
that faculty members and students can
evaluate the contents and usefulness of
these facilities. (A. C. Natividad)
USA confers “Professor” title on Rabuco
year-old University of San
Agustin, where the power
to grant the title belongs to
the Board of Trustees, on
the recommendation of the
University President who,
in turn, bases his action on
the fi ndings of the Board
for Personnel Tenure and
Promotion. To qualify
as Professor, a concerned
faculty member with a
doctorate degree should have
demonstrated leadership in
scholarly endeavors through
research and publications, on
top of signifi cant achievements
in teaching, service to the
university, and service to the
community. The fi rst to be
granted the title was the late
Dr. Josefa Castro, former dean
of the Teachers College, and
the second was Dr. Felicisima
Campos, also a former dean of
the Teachers College.
Rabuco, 59, holds a Ph.D.
in Development Education,
meritissiumus, from the
University of Santo Tomas,
Manila, where she studied as
a scholar of the Association
of Catholic Universities of
the Philippines and as a
Computers for online database
fellow of UST’s Institute of
Development Education and
Volkswagen Foundation.
She is also an alumna of the
University of San Agustin,
where she had earned her
A.B. in Political Science
and History, magna cum
laude, and subsequently her
M.A. in English Literature,
benemeritus.
She was Dean of the
College of Liberal Arts (later
College of Arts and Sciences)
from 1995 through 2004. She
had also served the University
of San Agustin in various
other capacities: Chair of the
Department of Social Sciences;
Chair of the Department
of Humanities; Training
Coordinator of the Regional
Center for Public Management;
and Director of the Planning
and Development offi ce. Aside
from her administrative posts,
she has been teaching Literature
and Research Methods
subjects at the graduate and
undergraduate levels.
Rabuco has published
three books: In Green Ink
(2000); Folk Poetry: The Loa
(University of San Agustin
Rabuco
Publishing House, 2003);
and Hiligaynon Mythological
Stories and Folktales: Analysis
and Translation (University of
San Agustin Publishing House,
2006), which was cited as a
Finalist in the 2007 National
Book Awards. She has held the
Saint Augustine Professorial
Chair twice. She had also
been named “Expert Teacher”
by the Commission on Higher
Education, and had been given
the Saint Antoninus of Florence
Award by the University of Santo
Tomas Graduate School Alumni
Foundation. (UCRP)
N.B. Rabuco passed away on
30 October 2009.

october 2009 ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Communitas 9
THIS year’s Agbayan
Annual Gathering for
Building Augustinian Youth
Networking) was held last
24-26 July 2009 at the
Colegio San Agustin–Bacolod
(CSA-B) Retreat House, Don
Salvador Benedicto, Negros
Occidental.
Agbayan was started in
December 2008 by the Prefect
of Students. The activity aims
to develop the student’s skills
and abilities to be effective,
productive and responsible
leaders, not only of their
organizations in the University,
but also of the society.
Agbayan 2 twists to a
different and enhanced
Leadership Training, with
CSA-B as counterpart. With
the theme: “A Community
of Friends United towards
Nation-Building,” it endeavors
HRD conducts summer ’09 seminar series
IN line with the thrust of the University
to continually enhance and upgrade the
competence of its personnel, the Human
Resource Department (HRD) conducted
a series of seminars in summer 2009.
This year’s seminars and corresponding
resource persons were as follows: “Stress
and Stress Management” by Dr. Daisy
Daquilanea, a Psychiatrist from the
Science of Identity Foundation, on 16-17
March 2009; “Boosting Communication
Effectiveness” by Prof. Leila de la Llana,
faculty member from the West Visayas
to strengthen the interpersonal
relationships of the
participants, helping them
realize the true essence of
camaraderie as one of the
foundations in shaping our
country’s progression towards
success.
The 3-day workshop
was participated in by more
than a hundred offi cers of
student organizations from
the University of San Agustin
(USA) in Iloilo City and
Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod.
The resource persons were
Niel Sullesta on ‘Leadership
Protocol,’ May Anne
Montaño on ‘Citizenship of
Conscience.’ Other speakers
were Fr. Noel Cogasa, O.S.A.
on ‘Augustinian Spirituality,’
Gereon Cabarles, Ph.D. on
Vision and Mission, Bernadette
Navarro, MAEd on “Outreach
Program of CSA-Bacolod,’ Fr.
Danilo Carido, O.S.A. on the
‘Outreach Program of USA-
USAFAPA elects new set of leaders
THE University of San Agustin Faculty and Administrative
Personnel Association (USAFAPA), Inc. elected its set of leaders
for Academic Year 2009-2010 during a General Assembly held
in the afternoon of 07 August 2009.
Among others, the Assembly included the election of
the thirteen members of the Board of Trustees (BOT). In
a BOT meeting that immediately followed the assembly,
the members of the board elected the following offi cers
from among themselves: Lilia S. Teves, President; Judith M.
Fresnido, Vice-president; Lerma D. Paris, Secretary; Ma.
Luisa Q. Golez, Assistant Secretary; Hazel D. Hidrosollo,
Treasurer; Imelda A. Pelaez, Assistant Treasurer; Josephine
C. Gellecanao, Auditor; Mary Jeanne L. Servigon, Assistant
Auditor; Abraham Pinuela, Business Manager; Edwin C.
State University (WVSU), on 19-20
March 2009; “Developing Appropriate
Instructional Materials” by Dr. Bibiana
Espina, also a faculty member from the
WVSU, on 23-24 March 2009; “The
ABCs of Research” by Drs. Alejo Biton
and Remedios Somcio, Graduate
School professor and CEIR director,
respectively, on 18-19 May 2009;
“Augustinian Values in the Academic
Setting” by Augustinian Fathers Eusebio
Berdon and Raul Marchan, Prior of the
Augustinian Province of Sto. Niño de
Cebu and President of the University
of San Agustin, respectively, on 13-14
May 2009; and, “Working with a Team
Effectively” by Mr. Joel Adrias, VP for
Operations of Mang Inasal-Philippines,
on 25-26 May 2009.
All these capacity building activities
were facilitated by the Training and
Development Committee, chaired by
HRD Director Carmen N. Hernandez,
DM. The seminar series formed part of
the Personnel Development Program of
the University.
Agbayan 2 boosts up Augustinian student leaders
Participants from USA and CSA
Iloilo,’ and, Manuel Radislao,
MATL on ‘Service and
Christ-Centered Leadership.’
The team building activities
were facilitated by TOSP (Ten
Outstanding Students of the
Philippines)-Western Visayas
awardees, led by USA alumnus
Rey John Lorca.
“This (Agbayan 2) will
be the start of enhancing
student leaders into becoming
more responsible Augustinian
models,” stressed by Fr.
Pederito Aparece, O.S.A, USA
Prefect of Students.
The activity was supported
by the University of San
Agustin and the Colegio
San Agustin-Bacolod
administrations, headed by
the respective presidents, Fr.
Raul Marchan, O.S.A. and Fr.
Frederick Comendador, O.S.A.
(The Augustinian)
Samis, Assistant Business Manager; and, Ramonita V. Pico,
Public Relations Offi cer. The other two members of the
BOT are Corazon Buenvenida and Ramilyn Somollo.
Primarily a welfare organization, USAFAPA tries to assuage the
economic concerns of its members through its programs. Through
the Mutual Aid Program, members in good standing may avail of
death aid as well as retirement/separation benefi ts. The association
also extends loans to its members, fi guring at a maximum of
PhP5000 per person. These, and the other activities of the
USAFAPA, are implemented through the guidance of its Spiritual
Adviser, Rev. Fr. Jonas M. Mejares, O.S.A.
Held annually, this year’s assembly was attended by nearly
fi ve hundred Augustinian faculty and administrative personnel.
(USAFAPA)

10
Communitas
RESEARCH & PUBLICATIONS
Research director conducts study on MIGEDC
UCRP Director Jigger S. Latoza was
engaged as Research Consultant by the
Canadian Urban Institute (CUI), through
its Urban Partnerships Program–Philippines
(UPPP), to conduct an assessment of
the Metro Iloilo–Guimaras Economic
Development Council (MIGEDC).
MIGEDC comprises the chartered city
of Iloilo, the province of Guimaras, and
the municipalities of Oton, San Miguel,
THE USA Coordinating
Center for Research and
Publications (UCRP)
conducted the 7 th St.
Augustine Lecture on 27
August 2009 at the USA
Training Center, in line with
the University Patron Saint’s
Day celebration.
The resource speaker was
Dr. Henry Funtecha, Director
of the Center for West
Visayan Studies at UP in the
Visayas. Dr. Funtecha gave
a talk on “Cultural Programs
and Sports Development
in the University of San
Agustin,” excerpts from his
forthcoming book titled
“Universidad de San Agustin
Pavia, Leganes and Sta. Barbara.
The organizational diagnosis was
aimed at, among others, identifying the
strengths and weaknesses of MIGEDC
that will feed into the human resource
development program being crafted for
its organizational improvement. Using
document analysis, a quick survey,
key informant interviews and a focus
group discussion, the study looked
UCRP holds 7th St. Augustine lecture
in 100 Years (1904-2004): A
Historical Review.”
Dr. Funtecha is a full
professor of History at the
College of Arts and Sciences,
University of the Philippines
Visayas (UPV) in Miag-ao,
Iloilo. He has served UPV
in various capacities, i.e., as
Chairperson of the Division
of Social Sciences, Director
of the Center for West
Visayan Studies, Coordinator
of the College of Arts and
Sciences Research and
Extension Program, and
Coordinator of the Visayan
Studies Program.
The resource person
was a recipient of an Asian
october 2009
into MIGEDC’s leadership, purposes,
structure, relationships, rewards and
helpful mechanisms.
The diagnosis was viewed as necessary
for the attainment of CUI-UPPP’s thrust
to support the strengthening of MIGEDC
so that it becomes a partnership model for
inter-LGU alliance in regional governance,
urban sustainability and economic
development. (UCRP)
Foundation Grant on
Historical Studies in the
Philippines and of a British
Council Grant on Local
Studies in Great Britain.
In 1996, Dr. Funtecha
was chosen as UPV’s Most
Outstanding Faculty for
the period 1991-1996. He
is a prolifi c researcher and
writer, having published nine
books on history and culture,
and about four dozens
scholarly articles in journals,
conference proceeding
and other periodicals. He
is a graduate of Ph.D.
in Education from the
University of San Agustin,
Iloilo City. (UCRP) Funtecha
Former AS dean conducts research on folk utterances
DOCTOR Amorita C. Rabuco, former
dean and current faculty member at
College of Arts and Sciences of the
university, made her third study on
Hiligaynon culture, entitled “Hiligaynon
Folk Utterances: Interjections and
Proverbs.” In Rabuco’s study, folk
utterances included brief verbal
expressions that are commonly uttered
by the folks, which covered interjections
(salambiton) and proverbs (hurobaton).
The objective of the study was to
analyze Hiligaynon folk utterances, such
as interjections and proverbs. Specifi cally,
the study examined these folk utterances
as signs in a socio-cultural context, taking
into consideration their sign vehicles or
forms, their senses or meanings, and their
referent/object or symbols.
The folk utterances included in the
study were taken from the collection of
Hiligaynon folk utterances which were
gathered during the later part of 1983 and
early part of 1984. There were a total of
48 informants aged 17-81 years—most of
them were females, housewives, and have
only reached the elementary level for their
schooling.
Rabuco’s study, among others,
concluded that the salambiton or
interjections mirror the Ilonggos’ resiliency
in terms of language -- they reveal that
Ilonggos are intense and very passionate
in the expressions and communication
of their emotions. Furthermore, that the
proverbs -- uttered in situations that elders
fi nd opportunity to advice young people
-- record the Ilonggos’ deep wisdom
gleaned from learning and varied practical
experiences. The same serve as a legacy
from the older Ilonggo generation.
Rabuco believes that Hiligaynon
verbal tradition is a vanishing genre and
that younger people seem to have limited
knowledge of its existence. The study was
conducted so that this may live as part of
the memory of the soon to be vanishing
generation. (A. P. Julito)

october 2009 RESEARCH & PUBLICATIONS Communitas 11
Study shows students’ lab experiences relate with grades
THE laboratory experiences of the college
students of the University of San Agustin
are related to their grades in their General
Education (GE) science subjects, a study
revealed.
The Center for Educational and
Institutional Research (CEIR) with its
director, Dr. Remedios S. Somcio, and the
Offi ce of the VP for Research Planning and
Development in the university conducted
a study on “Laboratory Classes: A Theory
to Practice Learning”. The study aimed to
know from the students themselves their
experiences in their laboratory classes and to
what extent these experiences contributed
to their GE science class. It involved 369
college students enrolled in Biology (149),
Chemistry (114) and Physics (106), during
the fi rst semester of AY 2008-2009.
The study revealed that the students
perceived their laboratory performance
in the experiments and other activities as
high or more than expected. Regardless of
OFF-THE-PRESS
the subject, the respondents had similar
perception of their laboratory performance.
Students enrolled in Physics perceived
the extent of satisfactoriness of laboratory
classes as high. The perception of those
in Biology and Chemistry was average.
With regard to laboratory facilities and
equipment, the overall rating was average.
The extent of satisfactoriness of
the assistance rendered by laboratory
personnel/staff was high, as perceived by
the participants as a whole and specifi cally
by Physics and Chemistry respondents.
Biology students perceived laboratory
assistance to be average.
All groups claimed that their lab
experience contributed much to their
achievement/grade in their respective GE
science subjects, but they signifi cantly
differed in their perception as to the extent
to which lab experience had contributed to
their grades. Chemistry students perceived
their lab class had a signifi cant contribution
Augustinian: The Social Sciences and Humanities Journal of the University of
San Agustin. This January 2009 issue includes the following six papers: “Antonio
Gramci’s Theory of National-Popular and National-Democratic Transformation in
the Philippines” by E. San Juan, Jr.; “KALAHI-CIDSS Institutional Mapping in
Concepcion, Iloilo: Salient Findings” by Jigger S. Latoza; “The Linguistic Cotexts of
Women Voices in Philippine Soaps “ by Ma. Cecilia D. Alimen, Ph.D.; “Hiligaynon
Folk Utterances: Interjections and Proverbs” by Amorita C. Rabuco, Ph.D.;
“Pagbababoy sa Sarili: Ang Sariling Likhang-Akda Bilang Gamit sa Pagtuturo” by John
Iremil E. Teodoro; and “Retired but Still Working” by Muriel M. Jover.
to their grade; Biology students did not.
The students attributed the quality
of their performance in lab activities/
experiments to a number of factors.The
top three are: laboratory procedures and
guidelines, supplies and equipment, and the
laboratory room itself.
The mean grades in GE science subjects
ranged from 81.49 (Biology) to 83.31
(Chemistry). The grades in Chemistry
are signifi cantly higher than those in
Physics. According to a Physics teacher
and a Biology teacher, performing Physics
lab activities is like playing with things to
make them move or do something; but the
underlying matter and energy principles
are diffi cult for the students to grasp
because of their abstract nature. The case
of Chemistry, however, demonstrates the
convergence of theory in the lecture class
and the practical aspect in the laboratory
class – theory-practice-theory cyclic learning
phenomenon. (N.T. Orquinasa)
Sanag 7: The Literary Journal of the University of San Agustin. This issue of
Sanag publishes two plays—a full-length play by Glenn Sevilla Mas titled “Games
People Play” and by Lorenzo Fuentes Templonuevo titled “Hula: Higit Pa sa mga
Tala.” “Games People Play” won second prize in the 2007 Carlos Palanca Memorial
Awards for Literature. It was presented in a staged reading during the Tanghalang
Pilipino’s 2001 Virgin Labfest in the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino at the Cultural
Center of the Philippines. “Hula” is a screenplay inspired by Templonuevo’s work
as a technical writer in the German Agency for Technical Cooperation and by his
travels to more than 20 countries.

12
Communitas
PARTNERSHIPS & EXTENSION
october 2009
City mayor names Latoza mutisectoral coalition head
IN Executive Order No. 30, Series of
2009, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas
appointed Jigger S. Latoza as Head of the
Multisectoral Coalition for Iloilo City
(MusCIC). By virtue of the appointment,
Latoza serves as Co-Chair of the City
Mayor in the city’s thrust towards
institutionalizing the Public Governance
System (PGS), under the auspices of the
Institute for Solidarity in Asia (ISA).
The PGS is an adoption in the public
realm of Harvard’s David Norton and
Robert Kaplan’s Balanced Scorecard
System which, in brief, is a revolutionary
performance measurement system that
enables organizations to quantify critical
intangibles such as people, information
and culture. It was initiated in the
country by Dr. Jesus Estanislao, former
Finance Secretary, through ISA, a nonprofi
t organization that seeks to raise the
standards of public governance through
active citizens’ participation.
Iloilo City was one of the fi rst cities
in the country to pioneer the adoption of
PGS in 2004. After a series of workshops
involving representatives from the various
sectors, the city produced in 2005 a PGS
Roadmap, with twelve objectives, that
leads to the vision of making Iloilo City
a “Premier City by 2015.” The City was
formally initiated to the PGS in 2006,
was found to be PGS-compliant in the
same year, and subsequently gauged by
ISA as PGS-profi cient. After an audit
done by the ISA Team in July and August
2009, that included consultations with
the members of MusCIC, the City was
recommended for Institutionalization, the
highest stage in the PGS Pathway.
Latoza is currently the director of the
University of San Agustin Coordinating
Center for Research and Publications.
Earlier, Treñas also appointed Latoza as
member of the Iloilo City Anti–Drug
Abuse Council, Task Force ADAMS
APPLE, and Task Force Calle Real.
(UCRP)
CSC scholars get annual school supplies
THE scholars of the Tilipunan
Community Service Center (CSC)
received their annual supplies of uniforms,
bags and other school supplies last 01
August 2009 in Ginomoy, Alimodian,
Iloilo. The distribution was led by the
CSC Executive Director, Rev. Fr. Danilo
M. Carido, O.S.A., the College of
Education Dean, Dr. Alex Facinabao,
faculty coordinator for community service,
Dr. Lilia S. Teves, and teacher volunteers
from the university, Profs. Josephine
Ismael and Dominico Laude.
For Schoolyear 2009-2010
Tilipunan Educational Assistance
Project has 194 scholars in Alimodian,
Iloilo. Of the total number, 125
are elementary schoolchildren, 39
are high school students and 50 are
pre-schoolers. The elementary school
children and the high school students
were given school bags with supplies
and uniforms; while the 50 pre-school
children in Ginomoy and Piandaan
Sur are covered by the Tilipunan
Integrated Pre-School Program
(TIPP) covering the Early Childhood
Development and Pre-School
Curricula. They avail of free school
supplies and workbooks while enrolled
in the Tilipunan Kiddie Center.
The distribution was one of the
Community scholars receive school supplies and uniforms.
highlights of the Agustino Para Sa Tao
Volunteers Training where nineteen
students from the College of Education
went on immersion and service delivery in
the Tilipunan community.
The educational assistance extended
to the community children of Ginomoy,
Dalid and Pianda-an Sur was made
possible because of the USA-CSC’s
partnership with the Educational
Research and Development Assistance
(ERDA) Foundation, Inc. Tilipunan’s
linkage with ERDA has a track record
of seventeen years of development
partnership for the Balik Paaralan
Program. (M. E. O. Yap-Aguirra)

october 2009 PARTNERSHIPS AND EXTENSION
Communitas 13
Deans engaged in Agustino para sa Tao
PART of the conviction to involve everyone
in the university in community service, the
Community Service Center facilitated the
Tilipunan Update Conference for deans and
faculty coordinators for community service
last 16 July 2009 at the USA President’s
Conference Room. The update was
spearheaded by the Executive Director of the
Community Service Center, Rev. Fr. Danilo
M. Carido, O.S.A. All deans were present
during the conference namely, Dr. Isidoro
Cruz (CAS), Engr. Reynaldo Asuncion
(CEA), Dr. Alex Facinabao (CoEd), Ms.
Victoria Sustento (PMT), Ms. Sofi a Cossette
Monteblanco (College of Nursing), Fr. Jonas
Mijares, O.S.A. (Theology Department),
and Dr. Lucio Encio (CBAA).
It was the aim of the conference to
update the deans on the status of the
university’s community service; to look
into the college/department voluntary and
curriculum-related community service
activities; to discuss guidelines in the
delivery of community service; and to
work on the improvement of participation
of students and faculty members in the
community service.
The conference spread on the following
activities: We Glorify the Best Community
Worker…God (Prayer), Getting Inspired
On Community Service (A Message of
Service), I came for Tilipunan Because
I am An Augustinian (Introduction
of the Participants) and Our Ticklers
in Community Service (Guidelines in
Community Service Delivery). These were
facilitated by the Executive Director.
Our Reason for Coming (The Update
Rationale), Our Reason for Becoming (The
USA-CSC Programs and Services and the
Augustino Para Sa Tao Program) and the
Little Big Things (Accomplishments of
Tilipunan in Alimodian) were shared to the
group by Ma. Eden O. Yap-Aguirra, CSC
Training Offi cer.
Furthermore, Our Hope (The
University-wide Community Service
Priorities and the Departmental
Priorities) were discussed to the
group by Ms. Annie V. Pedregosa
(CSC Program Director), and faculty
coordinators Irene Grace Galon
(CAS), Engr. Elmer Tolosa (CEA),
Dr. Lilia S. Teves (CoEd), Rizalin
Gubatanga (BED), Mary Anne
Corpus (PMT), Rachel Luis (College
of Nursing) and Emily Dumalag
(CBAA). The Executive Director,
in addition, presented a brief on a
potential Tilipunan community in
Sitio Panos-on, Barangay Nabitasan,
Leganes, Iloilo. The Training Offi cer
likewise discussed with the group
the PAASCU concerns particularly on
documentation and claims.
The conference ended with the freedom
hour to solicit feedbacks and opinions on
how to improve the participation of faculty
members and students in the community
service programs and services. (M. E. O.
Yap-Aguirra)
CSC volunteers empower brgy police and leaders
BARANGAY Offi cials and police of
Barangay Ginomoy underwent karatedo
training last 01 August 2009. CSC
volunteer and USA Karatedo Club
president Joel Balandra shared his skills to
nine barangay leaders and seven barangay
police. He was assisted by two fellow
student volunteers Jezrelle Lim (CAS) and
Ruben Ryan Camina (CBAA).
The group was taught about the history
of karatedo, and the basic principles and
values of martial arts. There was also a
demonstration and a return-demonstration
on the basic moves on karatedo. The group
will be attending seven more sessions on
karatedo in the next three months.
Also, as an Augustinian way to thank
Deans and faculty coordinators during the Tilipunan Update Conference
the Ginomoy police and offi cials in
securing the place for the past years during
the series of Agustino Para Sa Tao Student
Volunteers immersion, Fr. Danilo M.
Carido, O.S.A., distributed sweat shirts to
the participants for their duty uniforms.
(M. E. O. Yap-Aguirra)
USA Karatedo Club members show the trainees the basic moves on karatedo.

14
Communitas
ATTY. Jose Edmund E. Guillen,
former professor and a graduate
of the USA College of Law,
has been recently qualifi ed as
fellow of the Ford Foundation
International Fellowships
Program (IFP). As fellow, he
may enroll in any of the IFP
partner-universities anywhere
in the world, including the
Philippines, in an academic
discipline that falls within Ford
Foundation’s program areas.
Atty. Guillen is an Assistant
Regional Public Attorney at the
Public Attorney’s Offi ce (PAO) in
the Iloilo province. Located at the
Hall of Justice, PAO provides free
legal assistance to indigent persons
in criminal, civil, administrative
and labor cases.
The Ford Foundation-
IFP awards graduate
fellowships to candidates who
have demonstrated social
commitment, leadership and
academic achievement. The
IFP reaches out to a new
generation of potential leaders
from groups and communities
that have traditionally lacked
access to higher education and
know at fi rst hand the problems
facing their countries and
PARTNERSHIPS AND EXTENSION
Former law prof is Ford int’l fellow
communities.
The IFP is being administered
by the Philippine Social Science
Council (PSSC), an independent
organization of social science
association, research centers and
institutions in the country. In
Western Visayas, the University of
San Agustin Coordinating Center
for Research and Publications
serves as the IFP regional offi ce
with Prof. Jigger S. Latoza, UCRP
Director, as the regional partner
representative.
Atty. Guillen plans to pursue
a master’s degree in social justice
and human rights. He is one
of the two applicants from
Western Visayas to qualify to
the national level. The other
fellow is Ms. Zennifer L. Oberio
of the Research Program of the
Philippine Social Science High
School Western Visayas in Iloilo
City. The two were from among
the ten fi nalists chosen from the
twenty six applicants from all
over Western Visayas.
The University of San
Agustin Coordinating Center
for Research and Publications
(UCRP) has been the regional
partner of the Philippine
Social Science Council and
the Ford Foundation since
2005 in the implementation of
the International Fellowships
Program. To date, the Ford
Foundation IFP has granted
the scholarship to the following
fellows from Western Visayas:
COHORT 2007: Amigo,
Ronald (Master of Public
Administration, Australian
National University, Australia);
Infantado, Angelie Arlene
(Master of Arts in Deaf
Education, Gallaudet University,
U.S.A.); Linan, Efren (Master
of Engineering, Asian Institute
of Technology, Thailand);
Luces, Genalyn (Master of
Arts in Teaching English as
a Second Language, School
of International Training,
U.S.A.); Satana, Leo (Master of
Arts in Sociology of the Law,
University of South Hampton,
U.K.); Traspadillo, John Marlon
(Ph.D. in Development Studies,
Institute of Social Studies,
Netherland); Villa, Hazel
(Master of Arts in Journalism,
Bond University, Australia).
COHORT 2008: Arcedas,
Lucille (Master of Arts in
Sciences, Cornell University,
U.S.A.); Divinagracia,
Tilipunan Tiyangge opens in Ginomoy
THE Tilipunan Tiyangge has been
in operation in the University of
San Agustin campuses since 2006,
where the agricultural products of
the community members are sold
during big celebrations and during
the community re-building after the
typhoon Frank. With the community’s
determination to become self-reliant,
the Tilipunan Tiyangge group opened
its operations in Barangay Ginomoy
last 11 July 2009.
Basic commodities were sold at very
low prices to Tiyangge members and
residents of Ginomoy. The seed capital
for the Tilipunan Tiyangge operations
was from the Piso sa Puso funds which
were raised from Augustinians and
Tilipunan Tiyangge members sell to Augustinians.
community members after typhoon
Frank.
The opening of the Tiyangge was in time
for the Agustino Para Sa Tao Volunteers’
Training of the College of Business
october 2009
Guillen
Eric (Master of Arts in Arts
Management, Eastern Michigan
University, U.S.A.); Jesena,
Karen Marie Thelma (Master of
Special Education Inclusion and
Early Intervention, University
of Melbourne, Australia);
Labiste, Diosa (Ph.D. in Critical
Media Studies, University of
Birmingham, U.K.); Limoso,
Liby Norman (Master of Fine
Arts (Sculpture), University of
Pennsylvania, U.S.A.); Nuñez,
Ma. Aleta (Master of Laws,
Columbia University, U.S.A.);
Valenzuela, Danny (Master of
Laws, Georgetown University,
U.S.A.); Villareal, Mary Obeta
(Master of Literary Linguistics,
☞ page 7
Administration and Accountancy. Also,
during the day, offi cers of the USA Kilusang
Bayan for Credit, Inc. namely, Dr. Marivis
Gangoso and Dean Flora Salas came to
Ginomoy to share the best practices of the
mentioned cooperative to the Tiyangge
members.
Moreover, the Agustino Para Sa Tao
volunteer trainees had the two-in one activity
that is Recycling and Saving for A Toy. The
volunteers collected empty plastic bottles to
serve as coin banks for the pre-schoolers of
the Tilipunan Kiddie Center. This was one
attempt to teach the children at the very
early age the value of money and financial
independence. The saved amount of the kids
will be for their toys on December 2009. (M. E.
O. Yap-Aguirra)

october 2009 CULTURE AND ARTS
Communitas 15
THE University of San Agustin will host the
Iloilo Private Schools Athletic Association
(IloPRISAA) Meet in November 2009.
With the theme “Youth Empowerment
through Education, Culture and Sports,”
the literary and sports competitions will be
participated in by contenders from the forty
private member-schools in the elementary,
secondary and tertiary levels.
The university committee tasked to
THE USA Coordinating
Center for Research and
Publications (UCRP)
facilitated the conduct of
the 7th San Agustin Writers
Workshop on 4-9 May 2009
at the Casa Santo Agostino,
Villa de Arevalo, Iloilo City.
The activity was attended
by eleven students and
professionals coming from
all over the Western Visayas
region. They were Novabelle
Belila, Ethen Bermudes,
Mary Leslie Eregia, Early Sol
Gadong, Jesus Insilada, Noel
de Leon, Emmanule Obligar,
Lorenzo Templonuevo and
Fr. Reynaldo Villanoy. Of the
attendees, two were studentobservers
from the University
of San Agustin High School
Department. They were
Deanne Mitzi Somollo and
Demiangelo Toledo.
USA to host IloPRISAA ‘09
prepare for the meet has already come up
with the schedule of the various events.
For the elementary and high school
levels, the University Conference Room
will be the venue for the Spelling Bee; the
Library will be for the Mathematics Quiz
Bee; the Nursing Review Center will be
used for the Current Events.
The University Auditorium will be
the venue for the contests in declamation,
vocal solo, vocal duet, oration, binalaybay,
extemporaneous speaking, and guitar solo.
The Philippine Folk Dance
Contemporary dance, Dance Sports, and
Mutya at Ginoo ng PRISAA will be held at
the University Gymnasium.
Fr. Raul M. Marchan, OSA, University
President, was elected Chairman of the
IloPRISAA Board for AY 2009-2010. (D.
T. Toledo/The Augustinian)
7th San Agustin writing fellowship held
The fi rst day of the
fellowship opened with inputs
on ‘The Art of Creative
Non-Fiction’ by John Iremil
Teodoro, former Coordinator
of the UCRP-Fray Luis
de Leon Creative Writing
Institute. The activities on the
next days included critiquing
sessions involving the
previously submitted works
of the fellows. These were
facilitated by award-winning
writers Genevieve Asenjo,
Isidoro M. Cruz and Teodoro.
In the evening there were
fi lm-showing episodes which
also doubled as inputs for the
Creative Non-fi ction Writing
Contest that capped the 4-day
gathering.
This annual activity is
geared towards sharpening
and enhancing the writing
skills of young and promising
The writeshop fellows with resource persons and facilitator.
writers in the region. This
year’s focus was on the
rudiments of the craft of
creative non-fi ction i.e.,
autobiography, biography,
memoir, travel essay, personal
essay, written in Aklanon,
Hiligaynon, Kinaray-a,
Filipino, or English.
The fellowship was
co-sponsored by the USA
Humanities Department
and the USA Publications.
(UCRP)
University reaps awards in 33 rd Milo Marathon
THE University of San Agustin garnered
two major awards in the 33 rd Milo
Marathon Regional Eliminations held last
23 August 2009.
Endorsed by the Physical Education
Department, the marathon was
participated in by PE 101 students from
the University. Of the 1,432 runners, 863
made it to the fi nish line in the allotted
time. This won for the University the
Biggest School Delegation Award, and,
a fi rst-runner up slot in the Inter-School
Team Running Competition. On behalf
of the university, PE Department Chair
Eva Zaldivar received the trophies and the
cash prize of PhP10,000.
More than 7,000 runners in Iloilo
took part in the event. Major streets
of the city were closed to traffi c to
facilitate the event that took off at the
Freedom Grand Stand. Aside from the
running competition, other schools
also participated in the cheer-dance
competition. The West Visayas State
University and the Iloilo Central
Commercial High School bagged the
championship award in the college and
secondary level, respectively.
Started in 1974, the Milo Marathon
is the longest running event in the
country. It was then spearheaded by
Milo executives and supported by the
Department of Education. It was meant
to promote a healthy lifestyle and to
involve more people in sports. (The
Augustinian)

16
Communitas
ONCE again, the USA
Troubadours won fi rst place in
the NAMCYA regional choral
contest, setting a record of
topping the tilt for more than
10 years now. This year, the
competition was held on the
29th of August at the Division
of Iloilo City Social Hall.
Composed of twenty
four singers and performing
under the baton of Mr.
Arne Lubasan, the USA
Troubadours emerged
victorious over other groups
CULTURE AND ARTS
Troubadours tops NAMCYA ‘09 regional tilt
AUGUSTINIAN thespians were chosen
to play major roles with actress Rosanna
Roces in an independent Hiligaynon
fi lm, Wanted: Border. The fi lm was
written and directed by Ray Defante-
Gibraltar, an award-winning Ilonggo
fi lm-maker.
The cast, which also includes
freelance actors and actresses in the
region, was selected after an audition and
screen test done in July. Spearheaded by
Cinema One, the audition also involved
IN line with this year’s Patron
Saint’s Day celebration, the
University of San Agustin
hosted the concert of Sarah
Geronimo on 21 August 2009.
Dubbed “The Next One,” the
show was part of a nationwide
concert tour.
As host, the university
earned a 10% share from
the concert’s total sales—in
addition to the PhP100,000
rental fee of the gymnasium.
The purpose of the concert,
however, was not necessarily
to gain profi t, as emphasized
from Western Visayas.
The choral group sang Ilay
Gandangan, arranged by
Delarmente; The Battle
of Jericho, arranged by M.
Hogan; and, Jubilate Deo,
arranged by Mendelssohn.
In the national fi nals, it will
be singing Cloudburst by
Eric Whitacre, Cordero de
Dios by Jerry Dadap, Jr. and
Pambansang Dalangin by
Lutgardo Abad.
The Troubadours’ fi rst
successful stint at the national
level NAMCYA was in 1996,
when the group won 3rd
place, and in 2002 and 2005,
when it made it as runner –up.
NAMCYA or the National
Music Competitions for
Young Artists was founded
in 1973 through Presidential
Proclamation No. 1173,
declaring the period 26
November to 12 December
every year as National Week
for Young Artists. It aims to
encourage young artists to
excel in music composition
Augustinians in Cinema One indie
Gibraltar and Oscar Ruben Nava, faculty
member of the Mass Communications
Program in the university.
The selected Augustinians are: Peter
Paul Deocos, Edward Divinagracia
Kristoffer Rhyss Grabato, Mona Pico
Edrelita Sebio, Christopher Tan and
Sunshine Teodoro. Divinagracia is
director of the USA Little Theater (LT).
Pico is Research and Advocacy Associate
at the USA Coordinating Center for
Research and Publications. The rest are
members/alumni of the USALT.
USA hosts Sarah G concert
by John Paul Petrola, Cocurricular
Offi ce Coordinator.
It was primarily meant to
provide entertainment and
enjoyment to the fans of
Geronimo.
Other than Geronimo,
the concert also featured Mark
Bautista, Simon Wood, Mark
Herras, Jimmy Marquez, and
the G-force dancers. (The
Augustinian)
october 2009
and performance, as well as to
preserve, develop and promote
Philippine music as an art
and as a handmade of cultural
development.
With the theme “Creating
an Environment of the Spirit
and the World through
Music and Arts,” the regional
choral group contest was
co-sponsored by the National
Commission for Culture and
the Arts and the Cultural
Center of the Philippines. (The
Augustinian)
The script for the fi lm is one of the
fi ve fi nalists in, and is recipient of a grant
from, the 2009 Cinema One Originals
Digital Movie Festival. The story focuses
on a group of people seeking refuge in a
boarding house but ended up in horrible
situations—revealing society’s dark
ironies and bitter realities.
The fi lm festival is organized
annually by Cinema One, with the
aim of diversifying and promoting
imaginative showing in Philippine
cinema. (UCRP/The Augustinian)
PHOTO BY: PIXIE DUST PHOTOGRAPHY
Sarah G and the other guests perform for the
Augustinian community.

october 2009 AT-A-GLANCE
Communitas 17
Graduate School
GS conducts 1 st research colloquium
AS part of the Patron Saint’s Day activities, the Graduate School
(GS) conducted its 1 st Research Colloquium last 29 August 2009.
The activity was organized to recognize the researches of AY
2008-2009 graduates and as a venue for research dissemination.
The four research presenters represented the GS academic
programs, and each was chosen by the respective program
advisers. The presenters and their papers are the following:
Danebeth T. Glomo, Ph.D. in Educational Management,
on “Communication Climate: Its Relation to Institutional
Productivity;” Jocelyn S. Pajutagana, Master of Arts in Nursing,
on “Health Care Practices and Prevalence of Bronchial
Asthma among Paramedical and Non-Paramedical Students
of the University of San Agustin, AY 2008-2009;” Elsa F.
Juanillo, Master of Science in Medical Technology, on the
“Hematopoietic Effects of Lentinula Edodes (Shiitaki Mushroom)
on 5–Fluorouracil Induced Pancytopenia in Albino Rats;” and
Herbert M. Navarro, Master in Business Administration, on
“Strategic Plan for Iloilo Integrated Arrastre Services Corporation
(ILASCO).”
The guests were welcomed by Dr. Ruby D. Catalan, acting
dean of the Graduate School. Rev. Fr. Raul M. Marchan, O.S.A.,
university president, gave the inspirational message. Fr. President
stressed the need for and the importance of research, especially in
graduate education. (A.M Perales)
College of Law
CoL sponsors forum with Chiz
THE College of Law, in coordination with the 2009 Bar
Operations, Portia Club and Samahan ng Bagong Kabataan
(SABAKA), sponsored a student forum with Senator Francis
Joseph “Chiz” Escudero on 03 July 2009.
Sen. Escudero with the forum organizers
The 39-year old senator stressed, among others, his opposition
to the government’s move toward charter change. He said “charter
change is only pushed (for) and discussed every time election
period nears because many politicians… want to extend their stay
in power.” He explained that the idea fi rst surfaced in 1997, when
the term of former President Ramos was about to end.
Regarding the worsening state of the country, Escudero said
that cases of corruption are still rampant. To curb corruption, he
furthered three solutions: increasing the salaries of government
offi cials, putting to jail any person caught practicing corruption,
and, identifying areas of discretion and eliminating them.
Escudero emphasized that to better the situation of the
country there must be change—and change must come from each
of us.
The dialogue was well attended by students and some
members of the faculty and non-academic personnel as the venue
was jam-packed. Held at the Ground Floor of the Urdaneta Hall,
it involved a very lively exchange between Senator Chiz Escudero
and the audience. (R.C. Lacson/The Augustinian)
College of Engineering and Architecture
Arch faculty reelected UAP-Hamili prexy
ARCH. Ma. Regina P. Falconite, faculty member of the
Architecture Department was re-elected as president of the
United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) Hamili chapter, for
2009-2010.
Falconite, who had been elected to the same offi ce last year, is
an advocate for the preservation of Ilonggo architectural heritage.
She had been responsible for spearheading a painting competition
sponsored by her chapter, showcasing historical churches in the
province of Iloilo. She also holds the position of treasurer for
UAP District C2 for 2009-2010. (M.A.S. Hermo)
CEA faculty in national conventions
TRUE to being at the forefront of change, architects Jocelyn
Cham, Ma. Regina Falconite, Corina Moleta and Wilfredo Sy,
Jr., faculty members of the Department of Architecture, attended
the 35 th UAP National Convention on 23-25 April 2009 at the
SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. The convention’s theme,
“The Power of Architecture: Dream. Create. Transform,” sums up
the processes undertaken by architects in their effort to affect and
change lives through their creative and imaginative minds.
On the other hand, Dean Reynaldo Asuncion attended the
2009 National Midyear Convention of the Philippine Institute of
Civil Engineers (PICE) at the Bacolod Pavillion Resort Hotel in
Bacolod City on 25-27 June 2009. In attendance together with
the college dean were Engr. Eryl Lazarte and Engr. Makev Eric
Yturralde. This year’s PICE convention, attended by practicing
civil engineers throughout the country, had the theme “Civil
Engineers: Sustaining Infrastructure Development Amidst Global
Economic Crisis”. (M.A.S. Hermo)
Seminar in Arch Ed fundamentals held
RELENTLESS in its pursuit for quality education, the
Architecture Department invited architects from the Mapua
Institute of Technology to conduct a two-day seminar workshop
on Architecture Education Fundamentals at the USA Training
Center last 16-17 April 2009.
Experts on their specialized fi elds, architects Junar Tablan

18
Communitas
AT-A-GLANCE
and Carlos Sauco, tackled topics like Philippine Architecture
Education, Education and the Law, Architectural Design and the
Design Process, and, Thesis Class Management, to name a few.
The seminar, intended to upgrade the quality of teaching
Architecture, was attended by participants from different schools
offering architecture in Region VI and by practicing architects in
Iloilo City. (M.A.S. Hermo)
Tekno daubs community story on walls
AGUSTINO Para Sa Tao volunteers from the college painted
Barangay Ginomoy’s story on the stage walls of the community
last 4-5 July 2009. The activity was witnessed by Fr. Danilo
M. Carido, O.S.A., CSC executive director; Engr. Reynaldo
Asuncion, college dean, and Engr. Elmer Tolosa, faculty
coordinator for community service.
Tekno volunteers paint community story on walls
The Ginomoy leaders and volunteers were gathered way back
in 2007 by the TilipunanTraining Offi cer through a workshop,
Istorya Sang Amon Barangay (Our Community Story). This
story was refl ected in the mural, including the importance of
the Aganan River and the intervention of the University of San
Agustin through Tilipunan. Ginomoy’s material and non-material
culture is well daubed in the walls. Even the people’s hopes and
dreams for their children are expressed in shades and shapes.
The painting activity was one of the big events during the
Agustino Para sa Tao Volunteers Training held last 3-5 July
2009. The painting job was done by the artist-students of the
college; other students were into the renovation of the Tilipunan
community seedling nursery, the operations of which is an
important component of the Pag-ulikid Sang Tilipunan Aganan.
Previous batch of CEA volunteers were able to prepare
the Ginomoy barangay seal which was turned-over by the
Community Service Center to the community during the 5 th
Tilipunan Kiddie Center Moving Up Program last 4 April 2009.
(M.E.O. Yap-Aguirra)
College of Education
College of Ed gets high LET scores for fi rst takers
THE College of Education recorded high scores for fi rst-takers
in the April 2009 Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET),
as per result offi cially released by the Professional Regulation
Commission recently. The scores were 73.68% and 73.08% for
october 2009
the Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEEd) and Bachelor of
Secondary Education (BSEd) graduates, respectively.
Due to the poor performance of repeaters, however, the
college recorded a low passing percentage for each level. The
BEEd graduates posted an over-all passing percentage of 43.55%,
only because of the 30.23% passing percentage of repeaters. On
the other hand, the BSEd graduates registered a 38.67% score,
brought about by the 20.41% passing percentage of repeaters
in the category. The University’s institutional scores, however,
are still higher than the National Passing Percentage fi guring at
27.86% and 24.68% for the elementary and secondary levels,
respectively.
During a faculty meeting last July 28, 2009, Dean Alex
B. Facinabao appealed to all education teachers to enhance
instruction and curriculum and help students achieve a high
level of competency in their chosen degrees. Through these,
the college hopes to reach its goal to increase the number of
board passers, in line with the University’s pursuit of excellent
education. (J.V. Pedregosa)
CoEd echoes passion for cooking
THE College of Education conducted the Tilipunan Food
Processing Training to the Tilipunan Tiyangge group of 24
community volunteers last 01 August 2009 in Ginomoy,
Alimodian, Iloilo. The team of facilitators was led by the HRM,
Culinary Arts and Nutrition and Dietetics Department Head,
Dr. Lilia S. Teves. She was accompanied by nutritionist-dietitian
Josephine Ismael and student volunteer John Rico Pedregosa. Dr.
Alex Facinabao, dean of the college, was also present during the
training.
The training hoped to develop skills of members for the
Tiyangge production. The group was taught how to cook pancit
molo, varied lumpia fi lling and wrapper and banana cake.
The training products formed part of the dishes for the
Tilipunan banquet which was graced by CSC Executive Director
Danilo M. Carido, OSA, who also celebrated the Tilipunan
thanksgiving mass. (M.E.O. Yap-Aguirra)
Free nutrition counseling given to personnel
Golez (2nd from L) and Chavez (3rd from L) do counseling.
THE HRM, Culinary Arts and Nutrition & Dietetics Department
gave free nutrition counseling to all academic and non-academic
personnel at the Alumni Student Center last 30-31 July 2009. This

october 2009 AT-A-GLANCE
Communitas 19
was to celebrate the National Nutrition Month with the theme:
“Wastong Nutrition Kailangan, Lifestyle Disease Iwasan.”
Alumni Building ground fl oor, venue of the counseling
Necaster Yao, a fourth year student and president of the
Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics class, initiated
the conduct of free counseling with the support of all registered
nutritionists of the University, Class Adviser Josephine V. Ismael,
Department Chair Lilia S. Teves, and Dean Alex B. Facinabao.
The activity’s main goals were: to disseminate information on
proper nutrition, and, to convince people to observe a healthy
lifestyle to avoid diseases. A big number of University personnel
came to benefi t from said activity.
During a brief interview, Prof. Ma. Luisa Q. Golez, RND
– one of the nutritionists in the University – she said: “Bad eating
lifestyle can lead to many diseases. This is what we need to avoid,
to be healthy.” (J.V. Pedregosa)
CoEd spearheads NCBTS training
THE College of Education held a summer training on the New
National Competency Based Teacher Standards (NCBTS) last
16-17 May 2009 at Racso’s Woodland Resort in Guimbal, Iloilo.
Spearheaded by then OIC Dean Pilar Arguelles, the activity
was done in coordination with the Commission on Higher
education (Ched)-Region VI. The speakers were Dr. Nenie M.
Galedo, from the Ched-VI Regional Program Supervision for
Education, and Dr. Ofelia Posecion, Dean of the College of Arts
and Sciences, Colegio de San Agustin Bacolod. Topics taken
were the Rationale and Structure of NCBTS; Validation and
Integration/Consolidation of the NCBTS-Based Assessment Tools
& Techniques for Students’ Learning. (J.V. Pedregosa)
Participants to the NCBTS training
Participants to the NCBTS training
College of Business Administration & Accountancy
Faculty, students attend business summit
PROFESSORS Doris Lauron and Teresa Tan, together with select
students from the college, participated in a two-day Business
Summit organized by the Iloilo Business Club in partnership with
the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) held on 14-15 July
2009 at the Amigo Terrace Hotel, Iloilo City.
The event was the fi rst of its kind in Iloilo where small
businesses were equally given the opportunity to improve
their operations and express their concerns before important
industry players. The summit brought together owners of small
businesses, key government offi cials, advisers, experts, private
sector stakeholders and decision-makers to share information on
the status of SME operations in the country and experiences on
the different sectors of Iloilo’s local economy. Among others, it
aimed to: strengthen contacts between various practitioners of
modern technology and sources of industry updates to enhance
the productivity of small businesses; encourage interaction among
the stakeholders in identifying sectoral issues and concerns;
provide a venue for small business to be empowered on skills
and capability; and, adopt a common declaration on sustainable
business operations.
Secretary Peter Favilla of the DTI was invited as the keynote
speaker. Sen. Mar Roxas, on the other hand, was among the
invited guests who gave his response. Dr. Jose Navarro, Jr. of the
University of Asia and the Pacifi c served as the moderator. (L.T.
Encio)
Augustinians elected to prof orgs
THE dean and some faculty members of the college were recently
elected as offi cers of the Philippine Institute of Certifi ed Public
Accountants (PICPA)-Iloilo Chapter. Together with the other
offi cers of PICPA-Iloilo, they were inducted into offi ce last 4 July
2009 at the Iloilo Grand Hotel, during the regional oath taking
ceremonies of new Certifi ed Public Accountants.
The inducted Augustinian offi cers were the following:
Prof. Hazel Sabio, Treasurer; Prof. Gregoria Dalman, Chair
of the Committee on Ethics; Prof. Dinisio M. Villeta, Chair
of the Committee on Finance; and Dr. Lucio T. Encio, Chair
on Students’ Participation. Dr. Encio was also inducted as the
Executive Vice-President of the Association of Certifi ed Public

20
Communitas
Accountants in Education (ACPAE)-Iloilo Chapter, together
with Prof. Christine Gamba, who was elected as member of
the ACPAE Board of Directors. The inducting offi cer was Dr.
Antonio P. Tecson, National President of the Philippine Institute
of Certifi ed Public Accountants. (L.T. Encio)
Dr. Tecson (extreme L) inducts PICPA-Iloilo offi cers.
Augustinian CPAs join 17th teachers’ conference
AT-A-GLANCE
SIX accounting educators crossed the seas en route to Bacolod City
to take part in the 17 th Accounting Teachers’ Conference (ACT)
last April 28-30.
Bearing the distinctive colors of red and gold to participate in
the three-day affair were Professors Francisco Gangoso, Fatima
Peralta, Gregoria Dalman, Dionisio Villeta and Chito John
Colonia, and, Dr. Marivis Gangoso. They were joined by several
hundreds more coming from different parts of the country.
Adhering to the theme INNOVATE, which stands for
“Initiate a New and Novel Order of Valor to Accounting Teachers’
Expertise,” this year’s gathering provided an avenue for discussing
landmark changes for CPAs in the academe, foremost of which
were the Board of Accountancy Updates, the Accounting Standards
Updates and the highly-controversial Accounting Teachers
Accreditation Updates. The affair culminated with the election of a
new set of Board of Directors for the Association of Certifi ed Public
Accountants in Education (ACPAE). (C.J. Colonia)
Biology Department
Department sponsors symposia, exhibits
THE Department of Biological Sciences – chaired by Prof.
Ma. Delsa P. Gange – together with the Environmental Science
classes and in coordination with the College of Arts and Sciences,
sponsored a symposium and exhibits on “The Impact of Oil Spill
in Guimaras” last 14 September 2009 at the USA Training Center.
In the symposium, Dr. Resurreccion B. Sadaba, Program
Manager of the Oil Spill Response Program, UP in the
Visayas, updated the audience on the monitoring and
evaluation conducted by his team for the past three years
since the sinking of M/V Solar 1 in August of 2006. He
zeroed in on the need for scientific basis in going about
clearing up the oil spill and not giving in to mere media
hype and politicians hankering for media mileage. He also
october 2009
stressed the need for further monitoring since some long
term effects have been manifested like mutation albinism
on mangrove propagules which were not observed even a
year after the oil spill.
The exhibits included scientifi c posters displayed at the USA
Main Library from 14-18 September 2009.
Another symposium on “Proper Garbage Disposal” was
held on 16 September 2009 at the USA Conference Room,
Blanco Hall, with Juliet F. Salubre, Solid Waste Management
Offi cer of DENR-EMB Region VI, as the resource speaker.
(N.F. Latumbo)
Bio teachers plant trees
Prof. Emily Cataluña instructs students on where to plant fruit tree seedlings.
UNITED in the belief that we are stewards of God’s creation and
in pursuance of the university’s community outreach program,
the faculty members of the Department of Biological Sciences
and several students of both environmental and natural sciences
conducted a tree planting activity at Bgy. Ginomoy, Alimodian,
Iloilo, last 12 September 2009.
Led by the community outreach coordinator of the
department, Prof. Emily Cataluña, the faculty members who
trekked to the riverside were Professors Mary Lou C. Arabaca,
Loveline S. Jucaban, Nancy F. Latumbo, Evelyn H. Sorianosos,
Edda Brenda S. Yerro, and Christine A. Villanueva. (N.F.
Latumbo)
Bio faculty attends BIOTA nat’l convention
TWO faculty members from the department, Prof. Juanita Erazo
and Prof. Teresita Balgos, represented the Biology Department
and the Research Management Group of the College of Arts and
Sciences, respectively, at the 44 th BIOTA National Convention
and Scientifi c Sessions last 2-4 April 2009 at the University of
Makati, Makati City.
The national convention was attended by about 300
professors, teachers, biologists, chemists and physicists
nationwide. The theme for the 44th national convention
was: ‘Biologists in Bioresource Exploration and
Conservation.’ The main focus of the convention was on
the effect of global warming to the normal flora and fauna
of the Philippines and how Filipinos can conserve them.
(T.S.S. Balgos)

october 2009 AT-A-GLANCE
Communitas 21
Chemistry Department
Dept hosts workshop on micro-scale chemistry
The Department of Chemistry hosted a workshop on Microscale
Chemistry in 22-24 October 2009 at the USA Mendel Hall. The
workshop was organized by the Commission on Higher Education
(Ched) in cooperation with the Science Education Institute (SEI) of
the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Kapisanang
Kimika ng Pilipinas (KKP), the University of Sto. Tomas and the
University of San Agustin.
Microscale chemistry is an innovation in the teaching of
chemistry laboratory courses which involves downscaling of the
experiments, using reduced quantities of chemical substances and
improvised low-cost set-ups. The International Union of Pure and
Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) and the United Nations Educational,
Scientifi c and Cultural Organization are promoting the adoption of
this teaching approach in order to enhance the learning of chemistry
through more hands-on activities.
Prof. Jorge Ibanez of the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico
City was the resource person. He is the founder of the Mexican
Microscale Chemistry Conference, which initiated its activities
in 1990. He is actively involved in international conferences and
seminars on Microscale Chemistry. (M.S. Carisma)
Chem dept conducts series of seminars-workshops
THE Department of Chemistry, under Acting Chair Aneline
P. Tolones, conducted a series of seminar-workshops for all its
faculty members and laboratory personnel in the duration of
summer until July 2009.
The workshops conducted in summer were: Seminar-workshop
on Improving Multiple Choice Test Items through Item Analysis,
facilitated by Lourdes Morano, Ed.D., of the West Visayas State
University; Echo Seminar in Quantum Chemistry and 24 th PCC
& CHED-IUPAC Conference, given by Profs. Aneline Tolones
and Marjorie Carisma at Sol Y Mar Family Beach Resort in
Tigbauan, Iloilo; Seminar-workshop on Preventive Maintenance
and Calibration of Laboratory Equipment, held at the Chemistry
Multipurpose Room, with Prof. Regina Aileen May V. Vergara as
facilitator; and, Workshop on Microscope conducted by Marianita
Pasamonte, Sales Manager of Pharmedic Corporation.
Chinprahat gives a lecture on laboratory safety.
The Seminar and Demonstration on Laboratory Safety
was held last 31 July 2009 at the Mendel Hall. Prof. Lorena L.
Chinprahat gave a lecture on laboratory safety. (M.S. Carisma)
Chem profs attend seminars
MEMBERS of the faculty of the department recently attended
various seminars. Profs. Lorena L. Chinprahat and Sunny Lasala
attended a “Forum on Genetic Engineering and its Effects on
Health, Environment, Agriculture and Food Security last 21 July
2009 at the Iloilo Grand Hotel. The sponsoring organizations were
the Third World Network (TWN), Magsasaka at Siyentipiko Para
sa Pag-unlad ng Agrikultura (Masipag), Organic Farming Field
Experimental and Resource Station-Panay (Offers-Panay), Institute
for Good Governance and People Empowerment (IGGPE) and the
Central Philippine University-College of Agricultural Resources &
Environmental Sciences (CPU-Cares).
On the other hand, Prof. Marjorie S. Carisma participated in a
twelve-day Intensive Training Workshop in Quantum Chemistry
last 23 March-4 April 2009 at the School of Labor and Industrial
Relations, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City. The
workshop was sponsored by the Commission on Higher Education
in cooperation with the Institute of Chemistry, UP-Diliman. This
workshop is the second in the series of faculty upgrading in quantum
chemistry for schools or universities offering the BS Chemistry
program. The lecturer was Prof. Cynthia J. Jameson, professor
emeritus of the University of Chicago in Illinois, who has been
teaching Physical Chemistry and Quantum Chemistry for over forty
years. (M.S.Carisma)
Carisma with Dr. Jameson
Languages Department
Department goes on tour, undertakes research
TO combine learning and traveling for a fantastic summer, the
Department of Languages conducted an educational tour on
25-29 May 2009, as part of its faculty development program.
The department explored Siliman University and the different
parts of Dumaguete and Siquijor and visited some of their famous
landmarks. The trip helped the language teachers fi nd exciting ways
to bring the knowledge which they have gained from their trip into
the classroom.
On the other hand, the department is conducting a study on
“English 101: Its Implication on the General Academic Performance
of CAS First Year Students at the University of San Agustin.” The
result of the study will eventually help the department improve
language instruction so as to enhance the students’ communication
skills. Also, the study will serve as an aid for the department in its

Communitas 22 AT-A-GLANCE
revision of the English 101 Skillbook. Its purpose is to address the
raging concern about the deterioration of English profi ciency among
college students in the University. The study is spearheaded by Prof.
Nenelyn de la Fuente, chair of the Languages Department, and Prof.
James Pedregosa, faculty member. (E.S. Togonon)
Math and Physics Department
Math profs participate in national confab
AUGUSTINIAN math professors attended the annual
convention of the Mathematical Society of the Philippines (MSP)
held at the Pearlmont Inn, Limketkai Drive, Cagayan de Oro
City on 21-22 May 2009. They were Dr. Alex B. Facinabao,
Dean of the College of Education; Prof. Pilar G. Arguelles,
Chair of the Math & Physics Department, and Prof. Rhodora A.
Cartegana, OIC of the USA Statistical Center.
The annual convention of the MSP is usually held as a forum for
math researchers and educators to interact and share their work towards
the promotion of math education and research in the country.
The 2009 MSP Convention was jointly hosted by the
Department of Mathematical Sciences of the Mindanao University of
Science and Technology (MUST) and the Mathematics Department
of the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology
(MSU-IIT). It was endorsed by the Commission on Higher
Education and the Department of Education.
Math educators and researchers from the Philippines and
abroad who are working in pure and applied mathematics,
mathematics education, computing, statistics and other
related areas contributed for oral presentations during the said
convention. The keynote speaker was Fr. Jett Villarin, SJ,
President of Xavier University. (R.U. Deleña)
Arguelles, Facinabao and Cartagena at the MSP
Social Science Department
Soc Sci profs join training, seminar
SOCIAL Science Department professors, Lorena B. Salazar and
Edwin Samis, participated in a training on the New National
Competency Based Teacher Standards (NCBTS) held at RACSO’s
Woodland Resort in Guimbal, Iloilo last 16-17 May 2009.
Said summer training was spearheaded by the University
College of Education in coordination with the Commission on
Higher Education (Ched) Region VI. The speakers were Dr.
Nenie M. Galedo from Ched Regional Offi ce VI, and Dr. Ofelia
october 2009
Posecion from Colegio de San Agustin Bacolod.
Samis was also participant to a seminar on “Relevant Strategies
and Approaches in Effective Teaching and Learning in the Social
Sciences” held in the last quarter of 2008 at the University of
St. La Salle, Bacolod City. The activity was initiated by the
Association of Social Sciences Educators, Researches and Trainers,
Inc. or ASSERT. (L.B. Salazar)
History prof presents paper in conferences
PROF. James Mozart Amsua, professor of History at the department,
attended the 19 th Regional Conference on History and Culture for
West Visayan Studies last 12-13 November 2008 at the Uniersity of
the Philippines Visayas-Iloilo City campus. He presented his paper
on “Pottery & Pot Hunting: The Case of Isla de Gigantes.”
Amsua was also invited as paper reader on “ICT Bilang
Pamamaraan sa Pagpresirba ng Kulturang Lokal: Ang Paghahabi
ng Patadyong sa Bayan ng Miag-ao, Iloilo,” during the ADHIKA
National Conference in Vigan, Ilocos Sur last 28-30 November
2008. (L.B. Salazar)
Basic Education Department
BED Tilipunan brotherhood kicks off
THE Basic Education Department (BED) Agustino Para Sa
Tao Volunteers, together with Rizalin Gubatanga and Corazon
Buenvenida, faculty coordinators for community service, started
the school year with the operations of the Tilipunan Brotherhood
Project. It is the dream of the project to instill the values of
brotherhood, friendship and service among BED students. The
project is also an avenue for everyone in the department to give
her/his share in the University’s Community Service Center.
BED volunteers with the community kids
To enhance the capability of the department for service
delivery, twenty three of its student volunteers underwent the
Agustino para sa Tao Volunteers Training last 3-5 June 2009.
Having seen the community needs after their immersion, the
volunteers went back to the community to turn over their
collected reading materials—gathered from their fellow students
through a campaign. The same group of volunteers cleaned up
the Tilipunan Reading Center in Ginomoy, Alimodian.
In addition, the students were able to convince their parents on
the value of community service; thus, they were able to involve the
parents in the community tree planting held last 20 June 2009.

october 2009 AT-A-GLANCE
Communitas 23
The BED volunteers with their teachers and staff also
facilitated the Hot Soup Day last 24 July 2009 at the USA
Extension Campus. The activity was more than just a feeding
day because Augustinian students were able to interact with
the Tilipunan Kiddie Center pre-schoolers, shared their talents
during the program and had storytelling with them during the
circle time. (M.E.O.Yap-Aguirra)
Basic Ed admin, faculty on summer tour
TAKING a much-deserved break from school, the administrators and
faculty members of the Basic Education Department (BED) went on
a summer tour of the Bicol region and Metro Manila on 13-20 April
2009. The group went to Legaspi City, the birthplace of BED Principal,
Fr. Dante O. Juloc, O.S.A. They visited the Cagsawa Ruins, the Daraga
Cathedral, and the Immaculate Conception Shrine situated about a
quarter of the way up from the base of the world-famous Mt. Mayon, in
Tabaco, Albay. They partook of authentic Bicolano dishes prepared by
the family of Fr. Juloc in Legaspi City and Fr. Raul Marchan, O.S.A., the
USA president, in Sorsogon. Then, they shopped for pili nut goodies and
abaca-made products in the Legaspi City markets.
After the bucolic Bicol experience, the group went to Manila.
They had a special guided tour of the Manila Water Facilities
in Balara and Diliman, Quezon City. The Ayala-owned Manila
Water provides water to all areas in the eastern part of Metro
Manila while its counterpart, Maynilad, which is Lopez-owned,
serves the western part.
The group was allowed entry to the La Mesa Dam facility
which is normally off-limits to everyone. The group learned how
water is processed from source, how it is distributed, and how
quality is maintained. From the dam they went for a relaxing day
at the Balara swimming pools in Quezon City.
To cap the trip, half of the group had a tour of the ABS-CBN
television studios and watched two live shows, ASAP ’09 and The
Buzz, while the other group went on an LRT/MRT adventure that
culminated in a shopping spree at some of Manila’s biggest malls.
Notwithstanding the long road trip and the discomfort of RORO
traveling, the BED faculty and administrators all agreed that the
summer trip was indeed worth every hunger pang, leg cramp, stiff
joint, and bloated bladder that they had. (G.T. Confesor)
Libraries and IMC
Library Book Fair 2009 held
IN connection with the Patron Saint’s Day celebration, the
University Library facilitated a three-day Book Fair on 24-26
August 2009. The fair was held at the main library reading hall.
The invited book jobbers included the following: Forefront,
F and J, Linar, Great books, Edca, Goodwill, C & E, Anvil,
Megatext, D’Tops, Global International Link, Library Journals
Services Corporation, DD Knowledge Seller, A-Z Marketing,
Super Pages and CD Books. The USA Coordinating Center for
Research and Publications also displayed its Libro Agustino titles,
journals, monographs and primers.
The Book Fair was visited by the deans, chairs, faculty
members and students who selected materials for their respective
programs and/or subjects. (A. C. Natividad)
IMC moves to new location
THE offi ce of the Instructional Media Center (IMC) has
been transferred to the ground fl oor of the Urdaneta Building
(Auditorium) recently.
The area vacated by the IMC is now occupied by the Library
Technical Services. The other half of the area has been converted into
the IMC second viewing room. The provision of two viewing rooms
was conceived to accommodate the growing needs of the Augustinian
students. Reservation for the use of the second viewing room is still
under the offi ce of the IMC. (A. C. Natividad)
New Library Technical Section, Fray Luis de leon Building
CEIR
Humanities Dep’t, CEIR conduct seminar on
research-based education
THE Humanities Department in collaboration with the Center
for Educational and Institutional Research (CEIR) conducted a
Seminar on Research-Based Education last June 3, 2009 at the
USA training Center.
Department faculty members enjoy inquiry-based learning activity.
The seminar emphasized the integration of research in
classroom setting especially on the use of relevant and effective
teaching and learning activities for the welfare of students.
This activity was initiated by Dr. Remedios Somcio, CEIR
Director and supported by Prof. Abraham B. Pinuela, Chair of
the Humanities Dept. and Dr. Isidoro M. Cruz, Dean of the
College of Arts and Sciences. Speakers during this seminar were,
Dr. Elvira L. Arellano and Dr. Lourdes N. Morano of the West
Visayas State University. (J. M. Fresnido)

Communitas 24 ANNOUNCEMENTS
Board Passers
Medical Technologists
(September 2009)
Abelita, Kathrine May M.
Amara, Kristine Marie A.
Barcelon, Maricar Joy G.
Cancan, Fritz Adrian F.
Chan, Mary Grace E.
Clamor, Ryan G.
Dilla, Blessing D.
Elisterio, Darlene-Mae D.
Fernandez, Krystle Shayne L.
Gallego, Shanalyn C.
Garingalao, Christine G.
Gela, Xz G.
Genona, Loreen S.
Labos, Chad May G.
Lagoc, Roderick Jetrone II P.
Lim, Jessa C.
Luceño, Neldie M.
Montehermoso, Vicenta G.
Palmares, Patrick U.
Perillo, Ronald B.
Poblacion, Rodely A.
Rivas, Razhel Anne A.
Saavedra, Syra Ross A.
Santacera, Ma. Kristina Josefa S.
Sibonga, Ma. Caressa N.
Sulleza, Daryll M.
Surmieda, Thessa Mae S.
Tolosa, Jo Ann M.
New Augustinian Professionals
TOPNOTCHERS
RAYMUND JOSEPH A. SORGON
3rd place, September 2009 Board Exam for Med Tech
ANA BELLUSA M. PELLEJO
10th place, August 2009 Board Exam for Guidance Counselors
Villaruz, Harry A. E.
Vio, Roxanne R.
Chemists
(September 2006 & 2007)
Lopez, Ellen
Villaluna, John Paul
Teachers (Elementary)
(April 2009)
Abangan, Kristine Clark M.
Abrot, Angelyn V.
Angelitud, Jean C.
Cameros, Andrea D.
Capada, Ma. Socia Rey A.
Casaña, Vena Marie V.
Demandante, Khristine Marie E.
Eluzo, Jennirose E.
Espinosa, Lynnie Rose B.
Espura, Anelen V.
Esteves, Mary Grace E.
Estopido, James T.
Faca, Vivian S.
Fantonalgo, Aireen N.
Francisco, Amy. G.
Gaje, Ma. Michelle C.
Ituriaga, Kristyl Joy C.
Jawod, Cecile B.
Juagpao, Victorie Ann G.
Lalantacon, Quennie C.
Lopez, May L.
Augustinian Awardee
HON. MARIE YVETTE DEDEL-GO
Don Antonio P. Madrigal Awardee
For Outstanding Municipal Trial Court Judge
September 2009
Pineda, Angel P.
Robles, Julie Anne B.
Salvador, Evangeline D.
Tagamtam, Eden Ross B.
To-os, Anges P.
Vilonero, Rodelyn S.
Teachers (High School)
(April 2009)
Almira, Aries V.
Arias, Jan Andreo L.
Balgos, Ma. Teresa S.
Baron, Analou D.
Calimlim, Susan P.
Capapas, Iryn S.
De los Reyes, Carvic Dawn D.
Diaz, Christie Anne M.
Duero, Nelinda V.
Dumol, Ma. Kathleen G.
october 2009
Eleco, Anna Karishia B.
Enano, Ma. Rowena B.
Escaner, Wilson John Q.
Fariñas, Mayleen Joy V.
Feo, Myra H.
Gallego, Elnora C.
Jaca, Carlo Ralph R.
Jover, Alexis M.
Monsale, Jessie N.
Ortuoste, Michelle L.
Paut, Merlinda T.
Pelipaga, Melody C.
Perizuelo, Maria Josefa B.
Saba, Rhoel Rae T.
Sarmiento, Ma. Aurora O.
Silverio, Sherwin M.
Tanangonan, Lezel Star E.
Villanueva, Joan T.
Zabate, Jee-Ann W.
Augustinians in Government
Service
PSSUPT. RENATO AMADOR GUMBAN
Law IV
Appointed as Provincial Director, Iloilo Provincial Police Offi ce
ATTY. RYSTY ANN ESPINOSA-BORJA
College of Law, Class 2003
Promoted as Prosecutor 1, City of Iloilo
HON. EDWIN SORONGON
College of Law, Class 1979
Appointed as Justice, Court of appeals

october 2009 Feature
Communitas 25
Pag-ulikid sang Tilipunan
sa Suba Aganan
Development is people’s business
and concern. To involve the people
is to foster ownership of the project;
thus, project ownership among
members will ensure sustainability.
It is a community subculture that a
thing, which one owns is constantly
well-loved and cared of.
This is where the Pag-ulikid sang
Tilipunan sa Suba Aganan Project
is founded. Who else will care for
the Aganan River but the people whose
survival and living depend on it?
The farmlands in Barangays Piandaan
Sur, Dalid and Ginomoy rely on the
Aganan River. If Aganan will not be welltaken
care of, the mentioned communities
will suffer a 5-month long insuffi cient
food supply, especially during non-harvest
season from May to September every year.
Various problems crop up because of this,
such as those related to health and the
environment. The problems were simply
documented but no specifi c action was
taken to solve these concerns. There was
so much to be done with so little to start
off with. Thus, the University of San
Agustin (USA) through the Community
Service Center (CSC) conceptualized the
project, having known the importance of
Aganan River to everyone in the Tilipunan
communities.
By Ma. Eden Yap-Aguirra
The name of
the project was coined by Ma.
Eden O. Yap-Aguirra, Training Offi cer of
the USA-CSC. The name of the project
is in Hiligaynon to create a sense of
identifi cation on the ownership of the
project on the part of the community.
The project was launched in 2005 having
the theme – Aganan: Kabuhi kag Pag-
Asa sang Pamilya Kag Komunidad, Aton
Nagakadapat nga Amligan. During the
project kick-off, Augustinian students
together with the community members
had river clean-up, tree planting, fun
games, put up of the community seedling
nursery and the literary and musical
contests on Aganan River.
The project is focused on self and
social responsibility of every individual for
the glory of God. It is also founded on the
Augustinian conviction to “feed” and take
care of the earth that will provide people
with food and other sources of living.
The project teaches everyone
the value of stewardship
of the world God has
granted people. This
undertaking is concerted
on the rehabilitation and
protection of the natural
and indigenous resources of
the community covering greening
and sanitation of the surroundings.
This environmental project is one of
the important thrusts of the Basic Social
Services of the Tilipunan Community
Development Program implemented in
Alimodian, Iloilo. In the implementation
of the project it follows a development
process in community building, called
the Community Organizing-Participatory
Action Research (CO-PAR), that is, TO
INFORM (to educate), TO FORM (to
organize people and resources), and TO
TRANSFORM (to effect an improved
Christian community and development
facilitators).
It is the hope of the project to form
at least one volunteer group to help out
in the implementation of the project
priorities. Initially, it aims to take up
at least two initiatives in promoting
the rehabilitation and protection of
the important natural and indigenous
resources necessary for survival and living.

Communitas 26 FEATURE
Pag -ulikid sang Tilipunan sa Aganan
Project is an effort to protect and
conserve the resources of Aganan River in
Alimodian, Iloilo and to make Aganan as
an eco-tourism site.
The project activities for the
INFORMATION component include
lectures on proper waste segregation
and management, and importance of
rivers and trees. Piknik and Pahampang
sa Suba is also facilitated every summer
and Tilipunan Day celebration where
laro ng lahi (native games) are played and
participated in by family members to
create awareness on the value of Aganan
River as a recreation site. The USA-CSC
together with the community volunteers
hold the Search for Aganan Lakambini,
a beauty pageant, to empower womenparents
and to instill the lessons on the
protection of the river. All costumes and
accessories used in the pageant were made
from recycled materials, and those from
the Aganan River.
Furthermore, awareness raising on the
importance of health and protection of the
environment were done through contests
like komposo, binalaybay, and poster and
slogan-making. These were participated in
by all members of the Tilipunan families.
Signages in the strategic locations of the
community were also put up to remind
everyone of their social and environmental
responsibilities. Tilipunan believes that
when people are informed, they get to
decide on what to do with the issue or
concern.
The FORMATION component
focuses on the collaboration with the
Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR), Department of
Agriculture (DA), the local government
of Alimodian, and the people of Brgys.
Ginomoy, Dalid and Pianda-an Sur, in
Various acivities related to the project, Pag-ulikid sang Tilipunan sa Suba Aganan
the operations of the project. Also, this
component requires the formation of the
Tilipunan Bantay Aganan, with sector
representations from children, youth,
men and women. The group undergoes
refresher course on disaster management
with the Philippine National Red Cross.
To make the project viable and sustainable,
it forwards the construction of the
community seedling and vegetable nursery,
seeds and seedlings campaign both in the
community and in the university, as well
as road and river clean-up.
Most important of all, is the
TRANSFORMATION aspect. It
comprises very simple activities which
were formerly taken for granted, but
with the operations of the project in the
communities, the Tilipunan families
and the Augustinians have found means
to be most creative-- all for the love
of Aganan River. This component is
primarily concerned with inculcating
the value of stewardship through
training on family life skills, particularly
on relationship with God, others,
family and one’s self; re-parenting and
responsible parenthood; and training
for leader-volunteers, specifi cally on
development-oriented values, team
building, community organizing and
development, community service toolbox
such as participatory needs assessment,
planning, implementation, monitoring
and evaluation, strategic planning and
faith sharing facilitators’ workshop.
During the Tilipunan community
banquet, simat (banana-leaf plate) is used
as plate as an expression of concern to the
environment.
Tree planting is done in the Aganan
River bank and in landslide-prone areas in
the barangays through the Handumanan
activities (birthdays, letting-go activities
october 2009
and immersion of Agustino Para Sa Tao
volunteers). During Christmas season,
the Tilipunan communities have the
Paskwa kag Paghigugma sa Aganan as the
theme for the annual Christmas tree and
parol contests. All materials used for the
Christmas symbols were from the Aganan
River and recycled materials. To make
the celebration more fun, everyone in the
Tilipunan communities join the Parada
Sang Parol (lantern parade). The parade
is also done to open the Tilipunan Day
celebration in the community.
Every March for the past four years,
the Tilipunan Kiddie Center opens the
children’s art exhibit entitled – Salamat
Tilipunan, Salamat Aganan. Art works
were made out of things found in the river.
The activity serves as the children’s voice
in challenging adults to become more
responsible for the Aganan River and the
environment.
The project led by the Tilipunan
Bantay Aganan had the Panghawan (road
and trail clean-up). Male and female
volunteers in the community together
with the Agustino para Sa Tao Volunteers
gather to see to it that roads and trails in
the communities are well-kept.
Having the project had helped the
communities a lot in strategizing for
the relief, rehabilitation and eventual
rebuilding of the communities when
typhoon Frank struck Alimodian hard-- all
these because the love for Aganan has been
implanted in the hearts of everyone in the
community.
Tilipunan hopes to implant the
same love for the environment among
Augustinians. Everyone in the University
could take up the initiative in joining the
year-round Serbisyo Agustino: Seeds and
Seedlings Campaign and tree planting
during Handumanan activities.

october 2009 ALUMNI UPDATES
Communitas 27
NOW that the USA Alumni Association
has elected its new set of leaders, it
could be timely that I should describe
and feature something about alumni
leadership.
Allow me to start with this quote
by Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery,
and gradually bring out to you the
qualities of a good leader, especially
for an organization like the alumni
association. “The leader must have
infectious optimism… The fi nal test of a
leader is the feeling you have when you
leave his presence after a conference. Have
you a feeling of upliftment and confi dence?”
If we list all the successful leaders
of well known companies, businesses,
industries, organizations, schools, etc.,
we can conclude that “all business is
show business.” All leadership is show
business. All management is show
business; but not that kind of show
business as tap dancing or drama or
acting. It means the shaping of values,
symbolizing attention, and is the
opposite of “administration”, especially,
“professional management”.
When talking about leadership,
we must remember that leadership
is a force that selects our dreams and
sets our goals. It is also the force that
propels our endeavors to success. There
are so many things that leaders must
not give up or surrender in order to
successfully take control of and manage
the problems s/he encounters in an
organization. Take for instance the case
of the alumni association. Before the
leader makes a decision, s/he has to take
into consideration so many so-called
outside forces that may affect her/his
decision – this is one of the principles of
dynamic leadership. Many leaders are
unaware of these principles. Before we
know it, we lose control and are defeated
by problems we may have been able to
manage successfully.
There are many things we cannot
control. We cannot control our
fellow leaders. We cannot control our
friends; however, we can control our
ideas and what we do with them. In
an organization, leadership and ideas
On Alumni Leadership
By Dr. Asuncion L. Faro
USAAA President
must go hand and hand. Our fellow
offi cers don’t have the same ideas as ours.
The success of our leadership and our
organization may depend on how we put
our ideas and of others into use.
What are the qualities of a good
leader? One quality of a good leader is
her/his ability to inspire her/his fellow
members with her/his cheerful attitude—
though some of the times, it may be
quite diffi cult. Allow me to focus on
leadership in the alumni association.
What are the things we should not
surrender regarding leadership? What
ideas should we never reject in order
to call our leadership successful? What
factors shall be our guide to take chances,
to take charge, and to take control of
the organization that we lead? Taking
a chance by itself is a reckless risk,
but when we take charge, we manage
the risk. When we take control we
manage the problems encountered in
the course of our leadership. We should
never surrender our leadership to any
outside forces like criticisms of the nonperformance
of our duties, uncooperative
members, and other factors that may
cause us to loss control. There is always a
way to overcome those problems.
One other factor in leadership is
not to surrender it to limiting concepts
that we may allow to infl uence our goals
and dreams. Because of these concepts,
we throw away our ideas and dreams
that we are sure we’ll never be able to
realize. They also cause us to leave our
goals, with the result that we strive for
and achieve far less than our capabilities.
These limiting concepts are also known
as negative self-image perception, i.e., we
may feel that we don’t belong to the right
group of people or organization, or that
we are outsiders and the other group are
insiders. This also can lead us to a sort of
“locked-in thinking”, which is thinking
that what we may be doing is not the
same as how it was done before so ‘why
should it be done right now?’ Nobody
is more guilty of locked-in thinking than
the trained, educated professionals, like
most of our alumni. They have been
so disciplined, so trained that as they
develop a discipline and expertise, they
also develop locked-in thinking.
A good alumni leader should be
one who doesn’t surrender leadership
to fears. S/he is one who makes a
commitment and sticks her/his neck out.
S/he knows -- and maybe sure about it
– that s/he can be criticized and probably
misinterpreted and distorted, but s/he is
not afraid to try to reach the top. S/he
may or may not reach the top, but s/he
has defi nitely conquered her/his fear of
trying. In doing so s/he won his biggest
battle.
Finally, a good alumni leader
is a “possibility thinker”. S/he is
one who looks at every idea to see
if it has possibilities. If it does, s/he
takes an option out of the idea.
Possibility thinking focuses, not on the
management of time, money, energy,
or persons, but on the management
of ideas. Almost every great idea is
impossible at fi rst, and today the greatest
ideas are yet impossible, but possibility
thinkers take great ideas and turn
impossibilities into possibilities. That’s
progress!
To my fellow Augustinian alumni
leaders, please refl ect with me on the
following quotation to be successful as a
leader:
“When faced with a mountain, I
will not quit! I will keep on striving until
I climb over, fi nd a pass-through tunnel
underneath, or simply stay and turn the
mountain into a gold mine, with God’s
help!

Communitas 28 ALUMNI UPDATES
Execom for CAS diamond jubilee set up
THE College of Arts and Sciences
(CAS) Diamond Jubilee is set on
December 2010. In preparation for the
celebration of its 75 th anniversary, an
Executive Committee has been formed,
and it was decided in its meeting last
March 2009 that each member of the
Executive Committee should oversee a
sub-committee.
The following committees were
formed with the corresponding
chairs: Program Committee – Dr.
Asuncion Faro; Logistics & Finance
Committee – Atty. Grace Estrella;
Publicity & Promotions Committee
- Dr. Isidoro Cruz; Invitation &
Reception Committee - Dr Nora
Legaspi and Mrs. Judith Fresnido; and
Documentation Committee - Atty.
Julius Elvas.
The following were the subcommittee
chairs and members:
Program Committee: Chair - Nelson
Sarmiento, Co-Chair - Mark Borres,
Members - Dr. Amorita Rabuco and
Dr. Romeo Magallanes; Logistics
& Finance Committee: Chair - Mr.
Mike Plana, Co-Chair - Dr. Ma.
october 2009
Felisol Salmon Villaruel, Members
- Mrs. Lorena Salazar and Miss
Teresita Silma Balgos; Publicity &
Promotions Committee: Chair - Jigger
Latoza, Co-Chair - Sedfrey Cabaluna,
Member - Mona Pico; Invitation &
Reception Committee: Chair - Ms.
Ronelia Lacson, Co-Chair - Corazon
Aportadera-Jardiolin, Member - Judge
Daniela Ladrido; Documentation
Committee: Chair - Ms. Marianne
Kaw, Co-Chair - Ms. Mia Faye Legaspi,
Members - Ms. Arlene Moscaya and
Mr. Leo Satana. (A. P. Julito)
CEA alumnus bags int’l refrigeration award
THE College of Engineering and
Architecture (CEA) marked another
milestone in Philippine technological
innovation when its alumnus won an
international refrigeration award at the
recent gathering of engineers in the
United States.
Cesar Luis de Leon-Lim,
Mechanical Engineering batch 1975
graduate from the then College of
Technology of the University of
San Agustin, received the Milton
W. Garland Commemorative
Refrigeration Award at the annual
Refrigerating and Airconditioning
Engineers Meeting held at Louisville,
Kentucky on 20 June 2009. The
meeting was attended by engineers
from around the world.
De Leon-Lim’s entry to the
event was the conversion of the
cylindro-conical (fermenting and
storage) tanks from ammonia jacket
cooling to laser welded cooling
panel. This project is located at
San Miguel Corporation’s brewery
plant in San Fernando, Pampanga
where the Augustinian alumnus
works as consulant. The invention
was submitted to the competition
for three consecutive years before
it won.
This Augustinian achiever enrolled
for his graduate studies at De La Salle
University in Manila. He was sent
by the San Miguel Corporation to
Northwest Kent College of Technology
to study refrigeration in 1993. (The
Augustinian)
USAAA holds gen assembly, induction ceremony
THE University of San Agustin Alumni
Association (USAAA) held its General
Assembly and Elections on 30 August
2009 at the USA Training Center. On
12 September, the new set of offi cers was
inducted into offi ce during a dinnerceremony
held after a 5:00 o’clock
Eucharistic Celebration at the USA Main
Chapel.
The assembly included a report on
the performance and the fi nancial status
of the association in the last two years,
by out-going President Vivian Lou
Inayan and out-going Treasurer Jane
Manila, respectively.
In an election that followed, the
following were chosen as members of
the Board of Trustees: Reynaldo M.
Asuncion, Alvin Cabochan, Lester Joseph
G. Cardenas, Tisha Y. Dahay, Rodrigo
V. Delmoro, Efrain Francis G. Encanto,
Johnny A. Esmilla, Jr., Asuncion L. Faro,
Judith M. Fresnido, Hazel D. Hidrosollo,
Lorna R. Jardiolin, Doris P. Lauron, Belen
L. Limbaga, Catalino H. Madayag, Malvie
M. Melocoton, Ma. Eva Candelaria
Montaño, Rizalde F. Monserate, Ramonita
V. Pico, Gorgonia L. Siscar, and Lilia S.
Teves. As immediate past president, Inayan
automatically became a member of the
board.
In a board meeting that was
immediately held after the assembly,
the following were elected as officers
of the association: Faro as President,
Encanto as 1 st Vice-president,
Teves as 2 nd Vice-president, Pico
as Secretary, Fresnido as Assistant
Secretary, Hidrosollo as Treasurer,
Lauron as Assistant Treasurer, Jardiolin
as Auditor, Montaño as Business
Manager, Cabochan as Assistant
Business Manager, and Asuncion as
Public Relations Officer.
The assembly was graced by Alumni
Relations Coordinator Father Pederito A.
Aparece, O.S.A. and Father President Raul
M. Marchan, O.S.A. (USAAA)

PADILLA, HANNAH LEE A.
8 th Placer
November 2008 Licensure Examination for
NURSES
TEORIMA, DAPHYNIE G.
5 th Placer
February 2007 Licensure Examination for
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGISTS
SANGRADOR, ARCHIBALD G.
4th Placer
January 2005 Licensure Examination for
ARCHITECTS
SENDELBACH, MARANI M.
1st Placer
September 2005 Licensure Examination for
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGISTS
SEGOCIO, DONNIE JAN L.
13th Placer
September 2005 Licensure Examination for
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGISTS
DE LA CRUZ, MICHAEL MARK O.
8th Placer
January 2004 Licensure Examination for
ARCHITECTS
University of San Agustin
Iloilo City
BBOARD O A R D TOPNOTCHERS
T O P N O T C H E R S
LACANARIA, DAPHNE B.
5th Placer
March 2006 Licensure Examination for
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGISTS
IGLESIAS, MA. LUCIA G.
4th Placer
December 2006 Licensure Examination for
NURSES
RIVERO, JAMES ARTHUR P.
4th Placer
December 2005 Licensure Examination for
NURSES
CHANG, PETERSON P.
3 rd Placer
September 2008 Licensure Examination for
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGISTS
RAMIREZ, EMELI MARIE CHRISTY G.
9 th Placer
February 2007 Licensure Examination for
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGISTS
DEQUILLA, RICHARD S.
4th Placer
March 2005 Licensure Examination for
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGISTS
UY, ERIC JONES L.
4th Placer
September 2005 Licensure Examination for
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGISTS
ROLLE, REYNAN P.
17th Placer
September 2005 Licensure Examination for
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGISTS
DIPUS, RENE C.
3rd Place
March 2004 Licensure Examination for
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGISTS
22004-2008 0 0 4 - 2 0 0 8
2 0 0 8
ESMILLA, JOHNNY JR. A.
5 th Placer
September 2008 Licensure Examination for
TEACHERS
2 0 0 7
CALZADO, CATHERINE E.
6 th Placer
September 2007 Licensure Examination for
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGISTS
2 0 0 6
CASTOR, ROMY M.
6th Placer
March 2006 Licensure Examination for
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGISTS
DAZA, MARIA JEANETTE C.
8th Placer
December 2006 Licensure Examination for
NURSES
2 0 0 5
BARINOS, MA. SHIENA L.
8th Placer
December 2005 Licensure Examination for
NURSES
2 0 0 4
NG, JAN PATRICK O.
10 th Placer
March 2008 Licensure Examination for
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGISTS
SANCHEZ, GERMAINE LOU T.
9 th Placer
December 2007 Licensure Examination for
NURSES
ROSADA, BELEN U.
5th Placer
March 2005 Licensure Examination for
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGISTS
CHANG, BENISON C.
5th Placer
September 2005 Licensure Examination for
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGISTS
NAGALLO, MITCHEL GWENN L.
18th Placer
September 2005 Licensure Examination for
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGISTS
NOGA, NATALIE F.
7th Placer
March 2004 Licensure Examination for
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGISTS
BARTE, AGUSTIN B.
7th Placer
March 2006 Licensure Examination for
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGISTS
NUFABLE, JOHN LEO N.
7 th Placer
March 2008 Licensure Examination for
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGISTS
BALDEVIESO, RONALD J.
10th Placer
December 2006 Licensure Examination for
CEMBRANO, KATRINA SOCORRO L.
10 th Placer
December 2007 Licensure Examination for
NURSES
BOLAÑOS, SAMARA VALERIE M.
10th Placer
March 2005 Licensure Examination for
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGISTS
... and hundreds more before them. VIVA SAN AGUSTIN!
NURSES
PRESAS, RYAN VINCENT M.
9th Place
December 2005 Licensure Examination for
NURSES
GOLIFARDO, FRANZINI M.
6th Placer
September 2005 Licensure Examination for
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGISTS
NAVA, ROWELL T.
4th Placer
December 2005 Licensure Examination for
NURSES
SANTILLAN, NOEL J.
6th Placer
September 2004 Licensure Examination for
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGISTS

The First University in Western Visayas
Granted Autonomous Status by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)
GRADUATE SCHOOL
• Doctor of Philosophy in Education*
(Educational Management, Psychology and Guidance)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology
• Doctor of Business Management
• Master of Arts in Education*
(Catechetics, Chemistry, Educational Management, English, Filipino, Mathematics,
Natural Science, Pastoral Ministry, Physics, Pre-School, Religious Education, Social
Science, Special Education)
• Master of Arts in Guidance and Counseling
• Master of Arts in Literature
• Master of Arts in Nursing
• Master of Arts in Philosophy (Augustine)
• Master of Arts in Psychology
• Master of Arts in Religious Studies
• Master of Arts in Teaching Augustine
• Master of Business Administration*
• Master in Public Administration
• Master of Science in Economics
• Master of Management in Human Resource Management
• Master of Science in Medical Technology
• Master in Nursing
*PAASCU Accredited
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
(PAASCU Accredited)
• Bachelor of Elementary Education
(General Curriculum, Pre-School Education, Special Education)
• Bachelor of Secondary Education
(English, Filipino, Mathematics, Physical Education, Health, Music and Arts
(PEHMA), Social Studies, Values Education)
• Bachelor of Library and Information Science
• Bachelor in Educational Management
• Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management
• Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics
• Certifi cate in Culinary Arts
• Diploma in Teaching
COLLEGE OF LAW
(PAASCU Accredited)
• Bachelor of Laws
CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC
• Bachelor of Music
(Music Education, Music Science, Voice, Piano)
• Associate in Music
• Certifi cate in Music Specialization
ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND ACCOUNTANCY
• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration*
(Management Accounting, Marketing Management, Financial Management,
Operations Management, Business Economics, Human Resource Development Management)
• Bachelor of Science in Accountancy
*PAASCU Accredited
Member: International Federation of Catholic Universities (IFCU), Association
of Southeast and East Asian Catholic Colleges and Universities (ASEACCU),
Association of Catholic Universities of the Philippines(ACUP),
Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP)
For more information, contact:
THE REGISTRAR
University of San Agustin
General Luna St., Iloilo City 5000, Philippines
Tel.: (63-33) 337-4841 to 44 Fax: (63-33) 337-4403
Email: info@usa.edu.ph or registrar@usa.edu.ph
Website: www.usa.edu.ph
Excellent Education for the Common Good
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
(PAASCU Accredited)
• Bachelor of Arts
(Literature, Mass Communication, Philosophy, Political Science)
• Bachelor of Science in Biology
• Bachelor of Science in Psychology
• Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
• Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
• Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service
• Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
• Bachelor of Science in Tourism
• Bachelor of Science in Criminology
COLLEGE OF NURSING
(PAASCU Accredited)
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing
COLLEGE OF PHARMACY AND MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY
• Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science (Medical Technology)*
• Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy*
• Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy Major in Clinical Pharmacy
• Certifi cate as Pharmacy Technician
*PAASCU Accredited
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE
• Bachelor of Science in Architecture
• Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering*
• Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering*
• Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering
• Bachelor of Science in Electronics & Communications Engineering
• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering*
• Bachelor of Fine Arts (Painting)
• Bachelor of Science in Interior Design
*PAASCU Accredited
BASIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
• Secondary Program*
• Elementary Program*
*PAASCU Accredited
EXTENSION CENTER/CONSORTIA
USA-St. Thomas of Villanova Institute of Philosophy, Quezon City
USA-St. Monica Institute of Religious Studies, Cebu City
USA Graduate School Offshore Extension Program, CSA-Bacolod City
USA-MPC Learning Center, Mati, Davao Oriental
USA-SAC Learning Center, San Jose, Antique
USA-ACC Learning Center, Kalibo, Aklan
OTHER SERVICE CENTERS AND OFFICES
Institute for Augustinian Studies
Villanova Institute for Social Science Research and Cultural Studies
Fray Luis de Leon Creative Writing Institute
Institute for Panayana and Cross-Cultural Studies
Mendel Institute for Science and Technology Research
Institute for Social Development Issues and Initiatives
Martin de Rada Human Rights Bureau
Center for Alternative Law
Augustinian Center for Continuing Education and Special Studies
Institute for Foreign Languages
USA Psychological Testing Center
USA Museum and Archives
Center for Culture and the Arts
Tilipunan Community Service Center
Statistical Analysis Center
USA Clinical Laboratory
Center for Research and Publications
Center for Educational & Institutional Research
Resource Center for Public Management and Governance
Campus Ministry