By Cyrus A. Natividad
The CPU TV Studio now offers fresh innovations to cater to the CPU community.
The CPU TV channel studio has undergone remodelling so that it would complement the new programs being filmed and the others that are being planned. The newly refurbished studio is now hosting live programs, such as The President’s Time, Seeds of Faith, Weekly Centralian Link TV, Looking Forward, and Jamming at Central.
The CPUTV Channel studio and office was outfitted with a new backdrop, furniture and equipment. The endeavour was headed by Mr. Dionisio Coronado, CPUTV Personnel, and the rest of the staff and technicians of the CPUTV Channel. On August 23, 2018, Rev. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on, Director, Office of Communications, led his unit and technical staff in dedicating the new office.
The CPUTV studio has long been a laboratory for the CPU Mass Communication students though it mainly served as the University’s means to communicate news and information from the CPU campus to the world.
With all the technological changes of the 21st century, CPUTV Channel and all its programs can now be viewed with one press of a button, even on smart phones. View CPU programs live (and/or on replay) on the CPUTV Facebook Channel, https://www.facebook.com/CentralPhilippineUniversityTV/.
By Cyrus A. Natividad
CPU RAFLU officers during their induction. Some of the officers attended the webinar.
Representatives from the CPU Rank and File (RAFLU-FFW) were invited to join a webinar on capability enhancements for leaders, and young women on Gender Responsive Education and Empowerment. The online seminar via Zoom was held on October 20, 2020 from 1 to 5 PM.
Various mental health concerns and how to contend with certain problems were discussed at the webinar. They talked about how the family, institutions, community, and society could help an individual. The critical situations affecting young people, students, and even employees’ mental health as well as suicide, which is becoming rampant among Filipino families, were also tackled.
The webinar was an opportune time for members of the CPU employees and others from different institutions to be reminded on how to strengthen ourselves amid the depression brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The speakers shared ideas on health and personality development, but largely provided insights on gender sensitivity, defense, and legal issues that call for women empowerment.
The four-hour webinar included lectures, workshops, analysis, discussion, and assessments with about a hundred participants from different institutions nationwide.
The webinar was in collaboration with Education International Lararforbundet and the ASEAN Women’s Network Philippines Affiliates. The benefit of the webinar to the CPU staff was made possible through the efforts of RAFLU’s newly elected officers headed by its President Mrs. Victoria Bellosillo.
The CPU IECEP Team together with their coach Engr. Gelvie Lagos.
Central Philippine University (CPU) emerges as champion once again in the recently concluded 2018 IECEP Regional Interscholastic Quiz Show held at University of Antique, Sibalom Antique last August 18, 2018.
The CPU quiz team comprised of Lysa Dee S. Fabila (BS ECE-5), Renjan L. Solis (BS ECE-5), Vincent Salvador P. Defensor (BS ECE-4), Hector Jaime A. Ledesma (BS ECE-4), Sim Marlou M. Solis (BS ECE-4), and Nellyn Joy C. Valenzuela (BS ECE-4) scored a total of 110 points leaving Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISAT-U) which finished with 85 points, securing the first runner up spot while University of San Agustin followed as the second runner up with a total score of 35 points. Filamer Christian University and University of Antique were runners up.
The said competition was organized by the Institute of Electronics Engineers of the Philippines-Western Visayas Chapter (IECEP-WVC), spearheaded by Engr. Vice N. Mendoza, Governor and Engr. Billy John J. Dimajiva, Vice Governor for Education.
The panel of judges was composed of Engr. Vice N. Mendoza and Engr. Jieward Muaña, PERC DC Review Center Representative. Meanwhile, Engr. Billy John J. Dimajiva was the quiz master of the said event.
Central Philippine University has dominated the competition for four consecutive years now and the CPU quiz team, as coached by Engr. Gelvie C. Lagos and Engr. Mariel G. Mallorca, is yet to begin an intensive review in preparation for the forthcoming national finals at Bahay ng Alumni, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City this November 10, 2018.
By Rusieljs G. Lunasco
College of Theology faculty member Professor Rea Angelica Villeza participated in the Women’s Conference spearheaded by the Association for Theological Education in South East Asia (ATESEA) on October 20-22, 2020.
Some of the topics discussed in the webinar were biblical and theological understanding as well as the psychological and emotional challenges of women in times of crisis.
The conference was attended by more than 70 participants from Southeast Asia.
Prof. Villeza moderated during the 1st day of the conference.
Prof. Villeza served as moderator during the first day of the webinar. She was also a moderator for the ATESEA-sponsored webinar on Distance Education and Flexible Learning held last August 2020. This was the second time for Villeza to participate in the said conference. She was a delegate for the first Women’s Conference in Bangkok, Thailand in 2018.
The Association for Theological Education in South East Asia is an organization of Christian seminaries and other tertiary institutes of theology. It has pioneered in establishing an Asia-wide venture of cooperation among the theological schools in the areas of research, consortium programs for advanced studies, seminar-workshops for lecturers and heads of schools, and other forms of innovative programs.
ATESEA’s main office is at Henry Luce III Library, Central Philippine University.
By Cyrus A. Natividad
Preserving culture through appreciation – Ted Francis Saracanlao Rowan honors Whang-Od through his artwork.
Ted Francis Saracanlao Rowan was cited on Facebook as a “Young Aklanon painter who honored Apo Whang-Od, the oldest mambabatok of the Butbut tribe.” A mambabatok is a traditional Kalinga tattooist.
Rowan painted a portrait of Apo Whang-Od and delivered it personally to her. He had said that it was his dream to meet the oldest living tattooist. He said that Whang-Od was someone that he highly admired. He further explained that she is a living history, embodying Kalinga art and culture.
For his part, Rowan has won different awards in painting competitions. Rowan is a realist painter and a graduate of BS Advertising in 2017. Rowan commented that he valued what he had learned from CPU: to be friendly and God fearing; “to make people happy with my art, to leave a simple, happy and productive life, by believing and trusting God, and taking care of the talent that He gave me.”
By Rusieljs G. Lunasco
(L-R) Jimuel Dalipe, Kianne Francine Duspar and Allester Gallarda with their adviser Prof. Renia Dela Peña.
College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) students Allester John Gallarda, Jimuel Dalipe, and Kianne Francine Duspar represented Region VI in the first virtual National Debate Competition during the Constitutional Reform Youth Summit on October 15, 2020.
Gallarda was declared Best speaker in their match against Region 7.
Gallarda, Duspar, and Dalipe are also members of the College of Arts and Sciences Debating team that placed fourth in last year’s U-Day Debate Competition.
The Constitutional Reform (CORE) Summit is one of the programs spearheaded by the Department of Local and Interior government in its campaign to approve amendments to the 1987 Constitution.
By Keziah G. Huelar
Passion and creativity – Pastor Val Rianne Billiones aims to share his faith through the platform of social media. Photo Credit: Val Rianne Billiones
It was a scenic moment—the waves crashed to and fro at Malamawi White Beach in Isabela City, Basilan. The sea expressed its shalom, a greeting where the rumors of conflict are drowned between the white sandy beach and the clear blue water. And for the man behind the camera capturing the moment, such wonder can only be witnessed through the lens of faith.
Val Rianne Billiones is a 2016 CPU graduate of Bachelor of Science in Advertising. Pursuing his passion in the digital arts, Rianne became a vlogger whose works showcase the beauty of the country and its resilient people. Rianne’s love and appreciation for aesthetics stemmed not only from his academic training; rather, it is the testimony of his faith that convinced him that God has made all things beautiful in their own time and purpose.
With 1,000+ subscribers on YouTube, Rianne talks not only about culture, places and food. He also uses the power of social media to minister to others.
When asked why he chose CPU for his college education, Rianne shares that it was CPU’s dedication to glorify God in an academic setting that convinced him to study there: “CPU has that primary emphasis of Exemplary Christian Education for Life, which really attracted me as a firm believer that Christ should always be in the center of every aspect of our lives. It has produced a lot of leaders and influential people in society today and has the best training and facility that I need for my chosen career path.”
Val Riannes Billiones together with his family and girlfriend during their 2016 graduation.
According to him, he chose to study advertising to create a positive message and ultimately, to share the Word of God in new media platform, “Advertising is a science which deals with methods of how to present a certain message, a cause, a product, or anything tangible for it to be remembered and stay on “top of mind” of the market you intend it to reach with the goal of having them to respond by buying into it or patronizing it, converting it to sales or change of behavior, lifestyle, values, etc. Having this in mind, I chose advertising because I believe I really need to scientifically learn how to broadcast positive messages and messages of hope for this world to hear. Most importantly, I need to learn creative and technically sound ways to spread the answer to man’s ultimate need, and that is Jesus”.
Talking about his stay in CPU, Rianne shares that the university taught him three things: love for God—the ultimate foundation of any human being and excellence in everything you do as you represent Christ in it and the value of people, accepting them, and loving them just as Christ loves them, and leading them to find their true purpose in life: “CPU served as my training ground or a laboratory for the real world. The values I have learned on campus helped me a lot to face the challenges of the real world while the knowledge and skills I have acquired professionally helped me to excel in my field and become an effective communicator.”
Sharing his testimony, Rianne talked about his calling to be a pastor. At the age 17, he felt that God was leading him to serve the Church as a minister but it was until he turned 19 when he pursued God’s mandate for his life. He served as the youth pastor of the Full Gospel Global Community Church while he was a student. After graduating, Rianne answered the call for missions and moved to Zamboanga to pioneer a church.
Leaving behind the comforts of home was no easy task but his love for the Lord overcame his doubts. According to him, there was no greater joy than to fully commit oneself to the Lord and to trust in His perfect plans. Though not perfect, God’s grace covers all imperfection when one does His will. “The vision that God has given me is to reach lives and to spread the message of hope and purpose,” Rianne adds.
Upon arriving in Zamboanga, Rianne experienced homesickness and found difficulty in adjusting to the language and culture. However, after persistent prayer and learning, he was able to cope: “I conquered my homesickness by reminding myself of the purpose and reason that I am in my place of ministry and denying myself and looking forward to the task that God has given me. I strived a little bit harder to fit in and learn the language and culture, immersing myself in the community and loving the people more.”
As for his message to young people, Rianne encourages them to take heart and pursue their calling in the Lord: “Have a deep understanding and realization that God created you for a purpose. Nobody in this world is created by accident and every one of us has a unique talent, skill, or ability that was bestowed unto us by Him. Discover your purpose by linking to the author of life—God. We can only discover our purpose when we link to the one who designed us. He will reveal our own purpose and guide us where to apply it and use it. I believe for every talent, skill, and ability that we have, there is a specific place/person to which/whom we should apply our talent, etc. Live out your purpose and you will slowly see yourself fulfill your destiny. As we have known where we will apply our purpose, we should bloom where we are planted and use it to the fullest. In this way we can find joy and see our destiny slowly being fulfilled.”
Follow Pastor Rianne on his social media accounts:
Twitter: @valrianne13
Instagram: @valrianne13
Facebook: Val Rianne Billones
By Rusieljs G. Lunasco
CPU Library Information Science program faculty member Mr. Stephen Alayon has been named as one of the Outstanding Professionals of the Year 2020 by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).
The PRC announced the list of awardees on Thursday, October 23, 2020.
The award is considered as the highest distinction conferred upon a professional by the PRC.
Alayon is currently the Information Specialist 2 (Head) of the Library and Data Banking Services Section, Training and Information Division, Aquaculture Department, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC/AQD) in Tigbauan, Iloilo (SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department Library).
By Cyrus A. Natividad
The CPUAA Chapter Presidents and CPUAAI Officers discussing their participation in the 2020 Alumni Homecoming.
Only about 17 months more to go before the highly-awaited Worldwide Reunion of Centralians takes place on February 5-7, 2020 at the CPU Campus. Anticipation building, a US-based Centralian mentioned, “We hope this year’s (2018) Alumni Homecoming can provide us already with a partial list of what is to come.” Due to the enthusiasm for the gathering, some Centralian alumni have already started planning for their own batch activities.
For example, the College of Nursing is planning to have its own worldwide reunion on February 3-4 before the grand reunion.
On the other hand, for the High School Batch 1970, the year 2020 would be their 50th year of graduating from the University. The organizers thought it would be an opportune time to celebrate “50 in 20.” Nonong Carvajal, one of the members of the batch, explained that the year 1970 was the height of rock & roll, Elvis Presley, hippie culture, etc., so that they came up with the theme: Rockin’ Back to Memories.
While some seem to already have well-laid plans for how they will be celebrating the Worldwide Reunion with their respective batches, some have just started getting into the spirit of planning. For instance, a Centralian couple who are here on vacation have just started calling Iloilo-based members of their batch to meet and start making plans for the big reunion in 2020.
However each Centralian alumnus/alumna plans to participate in the Worldwide Reunion, be it with their respective batches or with the whole CPU community, 2020 is year that we can all excitedly look forward to.
For more details on the Worldwide Reunion, kindly contact: Mrs. Tina Marie Hortelano, CPUAAI Liaison Officer through tel. nos. (033) 329-1971 to 329-1979 loc. No. 1033 or at cpuaai@gmail.com.
By Edwin C. Laru-an
Mateo was the most bemedalled athlete of the 2019 Iloilo PRISAA Meet.
Our featured athlete for this week comes from the Swimming Secondary Boy’s Team.
Name: Mateo Sion A. Palero
Nickname: Mateo or Sion
Height: 5′ 7”
Grade/year: Grade 7 – Andrew
Team: Swimming Secondary Boys
Coach: Liza Vito
Hometown: Puerto Princesa City, Palawan
Present Home: Jibao-an, Pavia, Iloilo
Achievements:
Grade 5:
• ILOPRISAA 2018 4EVENTS Gold
• Integrated meet 2018 4Events Gold,
• WVRAA 2019, 4Events Bronze Roxas City, Capiz
• Participant PAMBANSA 2019, Davao City
Grade 6:
• ILOPRISAA 2019 7 Events Gold (Most Be-medalled Athlete)
• Integrated Meet 2019 5 Events Gold 2 Events Silver
• VRAA 2020, Kalibo, Aklan Delegate
Principle in Life:
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”
What can you say as a player of CPU Golden Lions?
It is a great privilege to be part of CPU Golden Lions. My coaches help me a lot to improve my swimming skills especially when I first came and joined the team. Most of all, I’m so thankful to God and to the CPU Golden Lions for granting me a full-athlete scholarship.
I will be forever grateful for all the help, training, patience, and time that CPU has given to me as an athlete of CPU Golden Lions. In return, I will give my best and willingly give my time to be trained so that someday I will be a great swimmer.
Why did you Choose CPU?
I chose CPU because of the high standard of education. CPU really supports their Student-Athletes and educate them to be a better person.
By Keziah G. Huelar
CPU President, Dr. Teodoro C. Robles shares his plans, goals and message for the university to Rev. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on, Director, CPU Office of Communications.
The Central Philippine University TV aired its first episode of President’s Time on August 20, 2018. The talk show, hosted by CPU Office of Communications Director, Rev. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on, featured University President, Dr. Teodoro C. Robles.
The goal of President’s Time is to give the university president the opportunity to share his plans, goals as well as to report the achievements of the University. The program also relays the challenges being faced by the university so that Centralians may also take part in its growth and development.
During the interview, Dr. Robles expressed his appreciation to CPUTV for initiating the said program, “I’m glad that you have initiated this opportunity for the president to communicate with our viewers.”
As the University prepares to celebrate its 113th founding anniversary, Dr. Robles recalls his experience as a CPU student: “I was here under three missionary presidents—Dr. [Almus Oliver] Larsen, Dr. [Joseph Turner] Howard and Dr. [Linnea Agnes] Nelson. And of course, the first Filipino president, Dr. [Rex D.] Drilon I was here until his death. But the following year, my wife and I left the country. And we’re happy to be back. What is important is serving CPU and making sure that its mission is accomplished.”
According to Dr. Robles, being a student under the leadership of the American missionaries taught him about the importance of offering one’s professional career unto the Lord, “Those were the days when you think about people serving not because it’s a job for them, but because they are here on a mission. So I consider my tenure as a mission instead of a job. We believe that they came here purposely for evangelism and for our education. They have accomplished that so eventually they transferred all responsibilities to us Filipinos.”
Through the unanimous vote of the Central Philippine University Board of Trustees and with the affirmation of the CPU Corporation during the annual corporation meeting held on April 20, 2018, Dr. Robles will be extending his term of service as University president for another five years. He will have served the university for 15 years come November 1, 2023.
Now on his third term as university president, Dr. Robles shares the improvement in the collection rate of tuition fees which eventually helped finance many renovations and constructions in the campus. “The first term was basically knowing what has to be done and we found out its lack of monetary resources. The major problem was our collection rate of tuition fees, we started in 2008 with about 85% collection rate and during the first term then we will able to discover the problem and now we have reach a point where we have more than 98% collection rate. With that we were able to save enough to renovate many of our buildings.”
In the last three years, the university invested more than 40, 000, 000 million pesos to improve its facilities. “[We were also able] to construct a new building for the Senior High School, combining all the requirements not just the building but [also] the new facilities, transformers, generators and it will cost us more than 270, 000, 000 and all from our savings. We did not borrow any money or obtain grants from big donors, unlike the previous structures that we built.”
It was also under Dr. Robles term where the university strengthened its national and international linkages particularly with other Asian universities namely: ZhengZhou University of Industrial Technology, Korea University of Media Arts, Tongmyong University, Korea and many others.
CPU also accomplished accreditation feats: The Bachelor of Science in Biology and Bachelor of Liberal Arts of the College of Arts and Sciences received a Level IV status with validity from April 2017 to 2022. On the other hand, the Masters in Public Administration program received a Level II status effective December 2016 to 2019 while the Bachelor of Science in Chemistry got a Level III status with validity from April 2017 to 2022. The Masters of Arts in Nursing degree offered by the College of Nursing and Allied Sciences received Level III status effective December 2016 to December 2021. The Bachelor of Science in Accountancy, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, and Masters in Business Administration programs of the College of Business and Accountancy got Level IV status with April 2017 to April 2022 validity.
The university ranked no. 1 in Western Visayas for the most number of academic programs hailed as Centers of Development and Centers of Excellence based on the list of the Commission on Higher Education for Academic Year 2016-2017, as ranked by LocalPulse. CPU is the only university from Western Visayas to make it in the Top 20. The list also showed that Central Philippine University ranked no. 18 all over the Philippines with five points earned from designated four academic programs of Central Philippine University, namely, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering and Teachers Education as Centers of Development and two academic programs, namely, Agriculture and Business Administration of the College of Agriculture Resources and Environmental Sciences and College of Business and Management as Centers of Excellence as announced by CHEDRO VI Memorandum No. 001, Series of 2016.
Dr. Robles also highlighted the importance of ISO Accreditations in maintaining the autonomous status of the University. CPU is the only autonomous university in Iloilo City granted by the Commission in Higher Education.
Emphasizing Christ as the cornerstone of the university, Dr. Robles commended the recently finished Christ Emphasis Week. According to them, the said celebration is a testimony of CPU’s commitment as a missionary school: “It is a very important part of student life in the CPU campus. We need our students to understand more what it means to be a Christian. We profess to be a Christian university, but do we really do that? The life of our faculty and staff are basically a good witness for our students. So if we don’t treat our students properly, then that’s not the Christian way. We need to live a life that can be an example to our students, following the teachings of Christ, so that our students can be role models for other universities to emulate. We should practice what we preach.”
Ending the interview, Dr. Robles expressed his desire to accommodate more international students and construct more facilities and classrooms, and for the university to reach greater heights through cooperation and unity.
President’s Time is aired once a month at the CPU TV Channel Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/CentralPhilippineUniversityTV/.
By Cyrus A. Natividad
CPUR Officials during their first leadership webinar held last September 19, 2020.
The effects of Covid-19 did not bring to a halt plans and implementation of projects and activities of the CPU Republic. Speaking on behalf of CPUR President Ro-Anne Lozada, (2020-2021), Prime Minister John Erland Pudadera, expressed gratitude for the officers who supported and approved of the upcoming projects and activities. The CPUR planning and discussions are done via Zoom.
Among those to be implemented during this semester are “The Feed Me Globe” project. “It is a big steel globe standee where students can put away their empty plastic water bottles and canisters,” Pudadera said. He explained that the standee will help clear away empty bottle trash around the campus, and as much as possible, these empty bottles will be recycled for some University projects.
Another upcoming project is a “Serving Suggestions and Complaint Boxes” to be installed in several locations within the campus” according to the Prime Minister. He added that “A Leadership Training Webinar for Organizations and Fraternities will be held very soon.” In line with good governance, the CPUR Executive, Legislative and Judiciary bodies, have regular and scheduled meetings; this time on virtual platforms like the Zoom”, the CPUR Prime Minister added.
The policies and ordinances approved by the CPUR national bodies are cascaded down to the provincial level for implementation. A CPUR province refers to the College whose student leader is called a Governor.
Central Philippine University Student Republic (CPUR) is the oldest student government in the country.