One Dream, One Citi : WCC's Acquaintance Party

PNP Multi-Purpose Center, Camp Crame, Quezon City

         One Dream, One Citi, was the theme of WCC’s Acquaintance Party last August 10, 2011, held at the PNP Multi-Purpose Center at Camp Crame. The past AP was held at the school gymnasium, but since there are more than five hundred freshmen students this semester, the school administration decided to scout for a bigger venue that will accommodate all of them. It had to be bigger, since students from upper year levels were also invited to attend. I was impressed with the venue I must say – bright lights, decent stage, towering ceiling, spacious area, and spotless surroundings. What more can you ask for?

CAS Faculty in a rare dance number

         The event was a welcome and much needed respite for me, since during that week I was in the middle of thick preparations for my external audit which took place last August 12. Time to relax and unwind! I was able to set aside the stress and anxiety brought about by that audit, even for just a couple of hours. Savor the moment as the old adage says.

Ma'am Precie with two HRM freshies

 It was an evening of high-heels, dresses, gowns, coats, and ties. All the students were dressed to the nines, showcasing their flare for fashion. Can the faculty and officials be far behind? For my part, I attended the event in my usual everyday get-up, plus a blazer which I bought on sale the night before the occasion. I have been eyeing that blazer for several months, and had a good reason to buy it that time. Call that last minute effort. I guess gone are the days when I would pressure myself to look exceptional ha ha!

        It was an evening of simple pleasures. Catered food by Vieren, production numbers by students and faculty, a dance competition, camaraderie among faculty and school officials, bonding among students, the works. And of course, the students had a grand time hitting the dance floor. Everybody had fun! Except perhaps for one student who had an asthma attack and forgot to bring her spray with her. I did not know that too much excitement could trigger an asthma attack! But she was calm and collected all throughout her ordeal and became fine later. Good for her.

Archie "the Hitman" Zapanta, BSN Batch 2010 with SIHM dancers (dance competition first placer)

             

        The event was emceed by the Hitman, Archie Zapanta no less. It had to be Archie I told the management since he knows the school by heart. He is an alumnus of WCC after all, and emceed last year’s AP and other past major events in school. Archie’s booming voice filled not just the stage but the entire venue as well. Watching Archie is like receiving a ray of sunshine, effortless and breezy. Very articulate and charming, it really had to be Archie.

charming couple, King and Queen of the Night, and equally charming chandeliers of the venue

        
        The most applauded announcement that evening was the suspension of classes the following day, Thursday. Music to students’ ears! But for the faculty, business as usual since there was a faculty development seminar scheduled the following day. We could have partied until dawn but the event commenced by eleven o’clock in the evening.

Ms. Precie and Ma'am Babes

        Kudos to Ms. Precie Tapero (DSA Coordinator) and Ms. Babes Gonzales (Campus Executive Director) for staging this event. The success of the AP would not have been possible if not for their concerted efforts. I heard that next year it will be held at the Araneta Coliseum!

See you all there! 

(photos courtesy of Ms. Tapero and Dr. Planes)

A Back To Back Tribute

        Whether we like it or not, our teachers become part of our lives. As time passes by we may forget the lessons they have taught us, but we do not forget them, most especially those who were nice and kind to us. What about the “terror” ones? Well, they are the most unforgettable because they taught us the value of discipline and how to behave well. Nice or not, like them or not, it is very hard not to remember them!

        Our teachers are our second parents. I mentioned in one blog entry that students spend more time with their teachers than with their parents. I bet you have never thought of this! They are our guardians inside the school. Teachers do not only teach us theories and formulas, but they teach us great lessons about life as well. It is already a given that our teachers are intelligent, but what we appreciate more is their wisdom.  Teachers create so much impact in our lives, to such an extent that many students would also want to become teachers themselves someday.
 

         
        What measures the success of a teacher? A student passing a major exam? A student graduating after four or five years?  Yes and yes. But what students have become after they have graduated, is what measures the real success of a teacher. After graduation, they are all on their own since their teachers are no longer by their side to teach and guide them. The real world is that which is beyond the four walls of a classroom. Some would even say that it is a jungle out there. Thus, either the graduates will survive or not. On hindsight, the bond between a teacher and his or her students does not diminish after graduation, for teachers are usually sought as character references by their former students in applying for a job. Who else knows us better?

        In my almost nine years of teaching, I know that I have already “produced” graduates who are successful in their respective fields and endeavors. It is a nice feeling to know that directly or indirectly, I am a part of their success (as well as all their other teachers). Like last 2009 when Dad was confined at the National Kidney Institute, two of the nurses who attended to him were WCC graduates, Kattleya Aumentado and Edgar Amago. Many of my students are also thriving well in foreign shores. How do I know? It is my office that answers verification documents that their employers send to our school and I am the official signatory in such documents!

        In connection to this and as a parting shot, I congratulate sincerely our students who have passed the Nursing Licensure Exam last July 2011. Your alma mater is proud of you! Special mentions are seven of them who joined this bog. Congratulations!

On the first thing they did after learning that they passed the board exam:

"I shouted out loud, then I browsed the site all over again just to make sure that my name is listed, coz in my mind it could be gone in a blink. I downloaded it and took a picture of it to have a copy. I admit I became OC that time. I thought it was a dream but was real."

                          - Suzette Bueno,RN

"I shouted WOOOOOOO and then I wanted to do flips and tumbles but refrained from doing so for fear of hurting myself. Plus my heart was beating so fast and hard that it felt like it wanted to get out of my chest and do some dancing of its own! I was teary eyed while thanking my Maker so much last night up until now. I still get chills whenever I remember it."

                          - Hermann Weber,RN

"You won't believe it. I was in the middle of an event at the Diamond Hotel along Roxas Boulevard, when Miles Magbanua gave me a call. I bursted into tears when she said congratulations Arch, RN ka na. Then the celebrant and people were wondering what happened to me. When I told them about the news, the celebrant gave me a hug. After the incident, happy hormones drowned my brain. The celebrant had a blast!"

                          - Archie Zapanta,RN

YOUR SUCCESS IS OUR SUCCESS TOO!

Congratulations also to Ms. Michelle L. Ballesteros!

photos by Sir Val Fabregas (Students' Choice Awards) 
and Mr. Javes Consul (board passers)

"Colle"

        What is a collage? According to Wikipedia, a collage is a work of formal art, primarily in the visual arts, made from an assemblage of different forms, thus creating a new whole. In layman’s language, a collage is simply a collection of objects glued to a medium such as paper or canvass. Collage was derived from the French word “colle” which means “glue”. Allow me to share with you some very interesting collages that I have made, which kept boredom at bay.

Thank you to those who provided me with the pictures. 

You know who you are. =)

Art or Junk? by JTF Solivar

        The right to be free is one of our three natural rights, the other two being the right to life and property. Natural means innate or inherent. Following this line, the individual is born already in possession of the aforementioned rights. I am writing this blog entry amidst the controversy hounding Mideo Cruz’s art exhibit at the CCP. In my Political Science and Ethics classes, one of the most interesting topics that I discuss is the concept of freedom. I remind my students though, that this concept must not be interpreted too literally. Being free means the ability to do the things that we desire to do. The question is  are we practicing this right rightly? Was it right for Cruz to have mounted an exhibited which defaced religious (Catholic) images? CCP officials barked about artistic freedom. Are they hiding behind this cloak to justify such exhibit?

        I am not claiming to be a very religious or devout Catholic. But Cruz’s exhibit somehow made me raise an eyebrow and ask myself what got into his head. Our Spanish conquistadores of before introduced to the natives religious images, as their way of introducing Christianity to the islands. They were even used as presents to rajas or datus. On a personal perspective, such images should not be venerated since they are just symbols – they are not our actual “God”. But nonetheless, such objects should be accorded the respect due them as symbols of faith. They should not be tampered with.

         Religious tolerance is a long forgotten virtue. History tells us that religious intolerance paved the way for conflicts and wars between countries. Pakistan used to be a part of the Indian subcontinent, until the people on the Pakistan side who were Muslims clamored to be separated from India which was dominated by Hindus. Read in between the lines and you will figure out what caused this separation. Religious tolerance should be revived in order for people to respect each other’s faith. Cruz’s exhibit clearly did not show any respect to the religion which was the object of his so called “artistic freedom”. Art is supposed to exalt, and not to insult or mock something. Philippine society is still a conservative and traditional one. Hence, Cruz’s exhibit will not thrive and prosper in this societal configuration. This is not to mention the interweaving of church and governmental authority, despite the constitution’s emphasis on the separation of church and state.

        The freedom to do things ends when we are already stepping on other people’s toes. The practice of our rights ends when we are already infringing on the rights of others. I emphasize to my students that our freedom is not total or absolute, for freedom has limitations. Art is not bounded by strict rules, I believe,  for it is used as an avenue for self-expression. But in the absence of strict rules, we have our moral compass which will remind us of what is good and what is not. The concept of freedom cannot justify all our actions. Artistic freedom cannot justify Cruz’s “Kulo” exhibit, for it trampled on the religious sentiments of many Filipinos. Let us not forget that the Philippines is predominantly Christian, something that the CCP officials failed to chew on and digest cerebrally.

         Art is subjective. It is a matter of taste. For Cruz and the CCP, the exhibit is an art. The others do not think so unfortunately. Art is supposed to give us aesthetic pleasure. It is supposed to enlighten us visually and stir our emotions positively. Thus, anything that disturbs the core of our being us is not art, but junk.

Asong Kalye by JTF Solivar

        It cannot be doubted that the popularity of team Azkals has grown by leaps and bounds in the recent months. Thanks to its good-looking players, who have somehow put a “face” on football, which is not a popular sport in our islands. We have to give it to them for making football popular in our country, but not in the same breath though, as one would mention boxing and basketball. Maybe football is on its way there. But for how long can the Azkals sustain the popularity of the sport, which I believe, has become co-terminus with the popularity of the Azkals themselves?

        The question is, which between their looks and talents have made their way to the hearts of many a Filipino? Mention “Azkals” and I am pretty sure that you will associate it more with the foreign-looking players than with the barrio-looking ones. Is this indicative of our penchant for anything that is foreign? It is not entirely our fault if colonial mentality is still in the crevices of our consciousness. The Spaniards and Americans showed to the Filipinos of before the other side of the world, and have inculcated into their minds that Western ideas and goods are more superior to what the natives had. And this has been passed on from one generation to the next. Many Filipinos savor anything that is foreign as this translates to sophistication, and thus, elevates their status in the social ladder. Pringles instead of Chippy?

        Is it their looks or their talents? Either way, the Azkals have made football popular in our country. It has even inspired a TV network to produce a telenovela about a bunch of kids developing a liking for football and eventually excelling in it. Right futbolilits? Is football here to stay, or is it just a craze generated by all the hype that surrounds the players? Clearly, the players whether consciously or unconsciously, have become instant celebrities who have barked their way to TV commercials, endorsements, and billboards. Angel Locsin is also a factor to the equation that has made the popularity of the team grow exponentially. And Amanda Coling? Well, I am not very sure.

        Clearly, it is not the fault of the Younghusbands and company if they are blessed not just with great legs but with great looks as well. With their Caucasian features, they have made the sport more appealing and more exciting. But I am very sure that they want to be recognized for their talent, and not for what they have in the Department of Looks. It is their talent to start with, that qualified them for the team and not their fine features. But if you can have both, why not?

  

[Askal is an impromptu abbreviation for “asong kalye”.  This mutt of a dog has never looked this better.]

Ano Ang Pinagkaiba? (Vol.II)

nadurog : broken into pieces

napisat : na-flat

napisa : nag-burst, pumutok

napulbos : nadurog tas’ naging 

           pino

hiwa : cut

laslas : cut na mahaba

uka : cut na malalim

tawa : laugh

halakhak : matinding tawa, tunog baga (lungs 

           tange!) na may tubig

kiskis : ni-rub

kaskas : ni-rub rub rub, madiin

inamoy : inilapit ang ilong

nilanghap : si-navor ang amoy, nasarapan

sininghot : shabu na ang tinira, go!

umusli : umextend

lumawit : puwede ng 

          paglambitinan

          (yun oh!)

itnok : itlog + manok, getz? ('ala kayo t.v.?)

itlog : puwede isang dosena

betlog : kapag dalawang piraso lamang ng itlog,

         o isang pares (tamaaaaa!)

bitlog : ‘pag si Aling Dionisia ang magsabi 

         

tink yu biri mats!!!