They call it news stories. We call it life.

“I am a student also that’s why bal-an ko ang kinanglan sang mga estudyante. (I am a student also that’s why I know what these students need.)” Joefer Tacardon, an incoming senior majoring in Broadcast Communication finally took over Leslie Lim as the College of Arts and Sciences Student Council Chairperson for the school year 2008-2009.

The former Student Councils met on March 10, 2008 at the Common Dining Hall in UPV Miagao with the new set of Councils to orient them on the things that they would be doing when they already start their terms.

 “I am very happy, excited and of course pressured since it is the centennial year of the University,” said Tacardon when asked what he feels as this year’s CAS Student Council Chairperson.

            Tacardon is hoping that this year would be productive and they would be able to carry out the accomplishments and activities that the former council had done. “Siyempre tani damu gid ma-accomplish with the help sang mga estudyante (Of course, I hope that we will be able to accomplish these activities with the help of the students.)”

            Asked what his plans are for this school year, “Continue the traditional activities. We want of course to come up with new activities but we have to consider the centennial calendar in case it would create a conflict.”

            “Tani upod ang mga students, we will work on this together to a stronger and more progressive CAS. Go team CAS!” he finally added.   

UPV Miagao—John Paul Nanit, Broadcast Communication major from the Division of Humanities won the search for the Most Outstanding Graduating Student (MOGS) of the College of Arts and Sciences this year.

“Well actually it’s a dream come true. I have been so accustomed to the mechanics of the search since I was a freshman,” Nanit said when asked what was his reaction when he found out that he won the search.

For the record, John Paul Nanit is the fourth recipient of the said award and three years back, he also facilitated the nomination of the past awardees, Rhoda Garzon, Donel Transporto, and John Ryan Recabar, all of whom including Nanit are from the Division of Humanities and the organization, Kaka.

“It takes an almost super-student amount of zealousness, industry, and resilience to be a nominee in the said search. I guess all of the nominees had that.”

Nanit recalls the long hours of researching and writing papers, the many days of reviewing notes and reading books, the endless nights of accomplishing projects and reports, the tons of caffeine he drank, and the almost forgone opportunities of rest, leisure, and sleep. “Indeed, not a lot of students survive or even manage to live that kind of lifestyle and still excel in school,” he gleefully added.

Asked for a message to his fellow graduates, “We are seeking inspiring leadership. But we need not look far. I’ve always believe excellence inspires. Now is the perfect time that we begin to inspire ourselves and each other. Mabuhay ang mga dakilang pag-asa ng bayan.”

“Gina-pili naton ang most empowered woman…” Ebonia Seraspe, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, opened the final pageant of Ang Pagtukib sa Babaeng Busalian on Ferbruary 27^th at the Miagao Cultural Hall.

She said that a woman has four roles in the society, the so-called four B’s—Balay, Bata, Bana, and Banig but she further said that an empowered woman has far greater role, that is, to develop her being as a woman and fully participate in preserving the environment.

She also welcomed the visitors, students, members of the faculty for supporting the CAS Foundation event and thanked the sponsors for making it possible.

“So enjoy it and please reflect the real essence of holding a beauty contest such as this,” she finally said.

Vicnel Ann Napolereyes and Rainier Factuar both senior Broadcast Communication majors from the Division of Humanities of the College of Arts and Sciences talked about the social and political realities reflected in Hiligaynon Komiks at the Student Paper Presentation on 18th February 2008 at the Interactive Learning Center of UPV Miagao.

Their study focuses on the two-page Hiligaynon Komiks found in Hiligaynon Magazine from the year 1998 to 2000. It aims to identify the social and political realities reflected in their selections, determine the prevalent social and political realities, discuss the realities found in the komiks, and know the relationship of the komiks depicted to its contemporary time.

It tells how the media, specifically the komiks, reflect social reality in its contemporary society. Napolereyes’s and Factuar’s research showed that social realities such as poverty, crime, and values, as well as themes on political realities such as graft and corruption and Constitutional changes are reflected in the selections. Almost 90 percent of the stories have themes on values, including stories on family relations, social ideas and morals, and love.

The Office of the Dean of the College of Arts and Science, University of the Philippines Miagao, has issued the designation of the Electoral Board members for the coming Student Council Election which is set to happen on January 29, 2008

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By the Reference No.MemoEBS2008-06, approved by Professor Jonathan Jurilla, Officer in Charge of the Dean’s Office, the following students are approved to be the official members of the Electoral Board—Skimmers:  Ester Joy Evasco BA Broad Comm III, Kristine Soldevilla BA Broad Comm III, Ethel Fatima Sia BA Broad Comm II.

Furthermore for the Redbolts: Christine Sarito BA History III, Zyra Lentija BA Psychology III, Zyrian Castañares BS Economics III; Elektrons: Zaire Castañares BS Chemistry III, Ahava Rubihid BS Computer Science II, Juan Miguel Taan BS Statistics III; Clovers: Edman Escosia BS Public Health III, Roma Misanes BS Public Health II, Stacey Kate Vasquez BS Public Health II.

The members were chosen by their academic governors.

CAS Searches for MOGS

The search for the Most Outstanding Graduating Student of the College of Arts and Sciences of the University of the Philippines Visayas, Miagao has already begun.

Headed by the Student Council Vice Chairperson Joce Sta. Maria, the search for MOGS is yet another highlight included in one of the CAS foundation programs, “Ang Pagtukib sa Babaeng Busalian” on the 26^th of February at the Miagao Cultural Hall.

Being a student leader, having no failing marks and a bona fide CAS senior, are just some of the requirements of the search.

Not only should the nominated graduating student a leader but he or she must also have a personal statement and had participated in activities that have helped promote the school. Student Council members are not allowed to be nominated except the academic group Governors.

Every student organization in the university is given the chance to nominate two graduating students of their choice until the 4^th of February.

The nominees are also required to pass an essay to the Vice Chairperson of the Student Council on February 8th.

“They surf everyday”—this was the staggering yet not actually so surprising a result that came out from a small scale survey conducted by Regine Marie Escalona and Charmie Saligumba, both from the Broadcast Commnication Degree Program, on the internet use of the students from the College of Arts and Sciences of the University of the Philippines Visayas, Miagao.  

Using the Systematic Random Sampling, one hundred percent out of the fifty respondents, coming from different year levels and academic organizations (Clovers: 10, Elektrons: 15, Redbolts: 15, and Skimmers: 10), that were asked whether they make use of the internet said yes.

“I go online almost everyday since we make use of the computer laboratory for our classes,” Mariane Salmasan, a Computer Science Junior said.

Ranging from 2 hours minimum to 6 hours maximum use of the internet, two of the main reasons why they go online are for academic and leisure purposes. Asked what takes up most of their time when they go online, the students go more for leisure rather than academic but with a margin of only four percent (Academic: 49%; Leisure: 53%), meaning their time is divided as soon as they go online.

The top sites that they visit when it comes to school work and researches are Wikipedia, Yahoo, and Google. On the other hand, Friendster, which all of the respondents say they are a member of, Multiply, and YouTube are the top three sites they go to for leisure.

“With the advent of technology, especially the world wide web, it is not quite surprising for students to resort to the internet,” Angelica Rojas, one of the respondents from the Redbolts, said.  

UPV Joins the Streets

Professor Jocelyn Pacheco chairs “Bayle sa Kalye”, an activity on which both University of the Philippines’ Iloilo City and Miagao campuses are going to join for Iloilo City’s celebrated festival. Co-chaired by Professor Vinnie Tan, they have planned out exciting activities for the university’s participation in the coming Dinagyang on the 26th of January.

“This happens only once in your stay in UP. I hope everybody will make this event successful,” said Pacheco.  

On January 16, Wednesday, Professor Pacheco and Professor Tan, together with the heads of the steering committee for the Bayle sa Kalye as well as the governors of each academic group and their representatives, met at the City Campus Tea Room to tackle about the university’s participation since this will highlight its Centennial Celebration.

The parade serves as an opportunity for the university to let the people know its 100 years as a university in the country.

The parade which will start at 2 o'clock in the afternoon is an exclusive parade devoted to the university’s centennial celebration.

CAS Celebrates Foundation Month

Every year the College of Arts and Sciences has never failed to accomplish its long month foundation activities. This year proves to be another challenge for the College since the university is celebrating its 100 years of existence.

“Kaalam Ipaiwag, Sa Kadalam-an Igahalad (Let knowledge shine and let it be shared with the massess)” is going to be the theme of the coming Foundation Celebration that is, of course, to be sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences.

The Foundation Celebration will run from the 12^th of February to the 26^th of the same month. The Secretary’s Office has given out a tentative schedule for the celebration so as to prepare the student council and other sponsoring divisions and organizations. Starting with its opening program in the CFOS-AVR, “Ang pagtukib sa Babaeng-Busalian sang CAS 2008”, is going to serve as an introduction to the candidates participating. A Salo-Salo, Suman, Puto KIBP activity  precedes then a special lecture at the ILC which is to be sponsored by the Bio-Sci Department.

Main sponsoring units are the CAS, Bio-Sci, CAS-SC, Humanities, Social Sciences and the Computer Science organization. 

A Forum on How to Apply for Scholarships Abroad and Prepare for Job Interviews by the Humanities Division is one of the highlights of the said event.

“Ang Pagtukib sa Babaeng-Busalian sang CAS 2008” finals ends the foundation celebration.