Friday night nostalgia...

...out of all the adrenaline pump induced by "LOTR: The Return of the King", thanks to HBO.
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by PAM

I remember growing up listening and singing along with this...

"I'd like to build the world a home and furnish it with love... 
I'd like to see the world for once all standing hand in hand... "

...which was turned by clever advertising into this...

"I'd like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony..."

Later, something for the Christmas season came about, too...

"...that's the song I sing."

More than thirty years later, 'perfect harmony' is still a wish... but we're still singing along anyway!  Life is good. 

Oh, and by the way, Aragorn is the man!  Aw, yeah! :)  Boy, I can't wait to see "The Hobbit"!  Too bad Aragorn won't be there though.  Whatever, I'm sure the cinema would still be a "geek's paradise".  Indeed, life is good! :)

***

Whew! A sigh of relief...

...from the new Thomasian "licensed" Chemical Engineers!
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by PAM

And so, it's finally over... whew!  They worked hard, fought bravely... and they produced two topnotchers in the Chemical Engineer Licensure Examination given by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) of the Philippines.  Yep, two of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Chemical Engineering Department's Batch 2012 'hotshots', Engr. Daryl B. Carillo (7th place) and Engr. Jerome E. Magpayo (8th place), put the University's name back in the Top 10 list of ChemE Licensure Exam passers!  Awww, awesome!!  

It's been a while since the UST ChemE graduates managed to do something like this.  As a group, Batch 2012 managed a 63.39% passing rate, which translates to a total passing rate of 60.50% considering all the exam takers this time. Overall, the performance is better than the national passing rate of 54.8%, and an improvement from last year's performance.  That afforded the University 72 new professional Chemical Engineers - her newest contribution to the country's pool of highly qualified professionals, and the second biggest number in this examination's result.  

Congratulations, UST ChemE Batch 2012!  Thanks very much for fighting bravely out there - good job, guys!  Those who came out "hurt in the battle", victory is sweetest the second time around, you'll see.  So, c'mon, get up... and let's do it again! 

Alright, I guess celebration is in order?  It'd better be! ;)

***

Starting the Christmas Season right...

...with the family, of course!
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by PAM

As always... and as it should be, the reason for Christmas celebration is God.
And one reason for celebrating God is the gift of family...
...it's the Pinoy way - our family's way.

***

And so, we're back...

...on familiar ground. And it's sweet!
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by PAM

The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Civil Engineering (CE) Department posted a passing rate of 87.74% (136 out of 155) in the November 2012 Civil Engineer Licensure Examination, putting UST in second place in the exciting race of top performing schools in the country with 50 or more examinees and at least 80% passing rate. Oh, yeah! The University of the Philippines-Diliman claimed first place with its 83 out 85 passers. 

A total of 2,380 graduates who took the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Civil Engineer examination this November passed, posting a national passing rate of 41.41%.  The UST Faculty of Engineering is proud to have contributed close to 6% of the total number of new licensed Civil Engineers in the country - the biggest number.  

So, yep, our CE graduates are at it again - in their winning form... and we're proud! Congratulations, guys - awesome! :)

Alright, Chemical Engineering Department... your move! :) Go for it!  You can do it!!!


***

This is it...




...go for it, guys!  Woohoo!
All the best, Thomasian ChemE '12!  God bless....

***

 



QOTD

QOTD #8: On the on-going "dynamic" change to effect Educational reforms
in the Philippines (Part 1).
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by PAM

"...And as others' have talked fashionably about the importance of outcomes-based quality assurance with large letters, then outcomes-based quality assurance with small letters, then as competency-based education, we have been content to stay with the simple word "accreditation," knowing that good outputs are possible only on the basis of good inputs, that faculty must be academically qualified to teach well and search for truth freely, that facilities and libraries and laboratories must be in place for any quality results, that administrators must be competent and institutions healthy - and that the eros to go beyond the minimum Policies, Standards and Guidelines of CHED (Commission on Higher Education) is not just a matter of articulating horizontal types and vertical values, but of peers encouraging peers to freely improve, of peers being inspired by the successes of peers, of peers freely taking on the challenges of responding to the need for improved education in the global world.

"...(PAASCU) clearly recognized the right of the government to regulate, but it was motivated by an eros to achieve such quality in education that it did not need regulation.  It was based on the dynamic norms of ongoing voluntary autonomous quality improvement that we imposed on ourselves - in a type of honors' system that didn't need policing.

"This has been and continues to be important because the missions of our schools cannot be compromised by any real or virtual subordination of their finalities to ends that are not our own."  

         - Fr. Joel Tabora, S. J.
           Keynote Address, PAASCU General Assembly
           November 23, 2012, Century Park Hotel


And so, the push for reforms in the Philippine Educational system continues, as the country gears up to confront the ASEAN Integration challenge of 2015, and asserts itself in the global arena with determined vigor and greater purpose.  As change envelopes us, various models are emerging as Educational Institutions plan their strategy for survival, leveraging the call for reforms to re-shape their identity.  Many shape their plans to match job projections proposed by
Gearing up...various market sectors with specific interests. It is expected that some will glow with coats that match the global spotlight more aptly - but not necessarily with true relevance to the Philippine scenario. Some will perish as their thick coats that resisted market influence for a long time finally melt from the unforgiving heat of the global spotlight that promises progress - now - which, I must say, is not necessarily the healthiest of prescription to the Philippine societal physique - for a long-term progress. 

Where to go?  What to do?  It seems that the Academics are not the only ones contemplating these questions, because the Congress passed the K-to-12 Bill only early this week, and it is yet to be debated on in the Senate.  Meanwhile, the K-to-12 wheel started to turn in the DepEd sphere and has been causing a stir in the Higher Education sector as change crawls its way up - a rather disruptive stir, I must add.  While Academics do not resist reforms, in fact, they welcome reforms, they are struggling to assert themselves in a scenario that would potentially turn the hallowed ground of Philippine Education to a market-driven diploma machine, where instructions are based on what the global market needs - now - rather than on the development of robust values and
...for future leadership.skills among our graduates that will allow them to respond to any sort of change - anytime.  Keeping the Philippine Education firmly planted on hallowed ground is, in part, the task of the local accrediting agencies that employ peer evaluation, which espouses collaboration rather than cut-throat competition.    

As various models are designed to cope with the K-to-12 challenge, the government must look to preserve the integrity of the Philippine Education System first and foremost.  While proving ourselves as worthy as our counterparts in the global Education circle by satisfying international standards cannot be overemphasized, allowing the local accreditation agencies to participate in the debates on Education reforms in the country is necessary to keep the integrity of our system. While constant market/industry inputs via mutually beneficial dialogues/partnerships with the education sector are necessary to assure relevance of Instructions in our schools to global market/industry demands that leads to national growth, the government should not allow the Education Sector to be shaped by market/industry needs alone. These needs change so fast as one bubble bursts and another grow to another potentially violent burst, hence not a reliable basis for reforms.  Also, the creativity and drive of the people in the industry/market now are borne by the highly disciplined training they get from an Education System that is centered on values formation and transformational learning experiences - and not on limiting market-driven training centered on the "now culture" that would potentially render our Education System obsolete every three years or so. 

Therefore, accreditation based on a standard that befits our national scenario is still relevant... and necessary in order for us to define our identity in the global arena.  It is a way of being sufficiently independent and maintain self-reliance while we respond to the global challenge, capable of asserting ourselves on equal footing with our global peers rather than merely supplying the global market's needs - now - for adequately trained manpower, and therefore vulnerable to the economic scenarios of the global nations. 

Let's go global, sure thing!  But we must maintain and assert our independence as a nation - by shaping our own Educational System based, for the most part, on our needs and national identity.

***
  

There's no business like busy-ness

You know you have become too busy when...
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by PAM

1. ...you have more than two unread "Daily Gospel" entries in your e-mail inbox over the past 15 days. 

2.  ...you're a card-carrying Trekker but you can only scrape 30 minutes from your "crowded" sked to catch a glimpse of the USS Enterprise crew in a 24-h Star Trek telemarathon on Cinemax - and, on a weekend, too!

3. ...you missed the Grand Centennial Celebration of your Alumni Association, which was announced five months ago, because of a work-related "ambush event". Therefore, you missed invaluable bonding time with good friends in one momentous occasion.  Good thing you went to the Centennial launch two days before the grand celebration, so you're still a part of it all. 

4. ...you're a diehard tennis fan, a huge Roger Federer nutsy, and a Novak Djokovic believer, but you missed the ATP Season Finale with the tennis King and the King-apparent battling it out punto-por-punto in a "killer" match! Then again, you would've died of heart attack had you found the time to watch the match live!

5. ...you're a hopeless football junkie, but you can only manage six football-related "drafts" in the "posts" folder of your blog over the past month or so, all of which remained unpublished. Sorry, dear football blog followers, your writer has become so lame.

6. ...you have missed five episodes in a row - and counting - of your fave teleserye, "Ina, Kapatid, Anak", which airs between 8:00 PM and 9:00 PM because work invaded your evening "me time"... and you surrendered it on work's "gun point"! :(

7. ...you find it relaxing and therapeutic to tidy up your own bedroom, and therefore have been following a weekly cleaning time since way back when, which you skipped last week. And this week, you requested your house help to clean your room for you - for the first time... ever! :(

***

Saturday photo

Uhm-hmm, somebody's making friends....

Our furry sprinter at home has been forging some "odd friendship" these days.  This, while President Barack Obama of the United States of America gets four more years... of uphill climb to achieve "friendly friendship" at the Capitol Hill - yep, that one Hill that's painted in red.  In a race that many described as "too close to call", a few hours before the US took to the polls, Mr. Obama prevailed over Mitt Romney.  And Mr. Obama's task after his almost-unlikely re-election is to figure out a way to prevent the US from running over a "fiscal cliff". Apparently, the Republican-controlled Congress is more inclined to stand their ground opposite President Obama's position on budget and tax cuts than to hum a "compromise tune" with the newly elected Chief Executive. President Obama, for his part, is looking and sounding as deep blue as the Hill is as red as any hill could ever be. And so, hammered by divisive politics, the US is staring at yet another difficult standstill in their economic situation, which clings to a flimsy thread above an abysmal depression.

Well, I hope that the USA - especially that "little part" where policies are made - would be painted in "purple" soon for their economy's sake... and for the world economy's sake, too, actually.  There is more to gain in a friendly compromise than in antagonistic stubbornness, most especially when so much is at stake. And, I believe that that applies in most situations everywhere, not just that between the White House and Capitol Hill.

*** 

November Agenda: 'Breakaway'...

...from what holds us back in fulfilling our possibilities. ==================================================================== 
by PAM

Make a wish, take a chance, make a change... and breakaway!

Nope, I don't know for sure what exactly this "new adventure" has in store for me and my "travel companions".  Even with maps, compass and well-studied books about the challenging trail, none can prepare anyone to the twists and turns along the way - we know that.  Nevertheless, yep, we're spreading our wings and flying away.  

I have been to a few huge "expeditions" before.  They were all difficult and, in fact, some were close to tormenting.  Just the same, every journey has always been exciting... the experience, always rewarding - in new discoveries, new friendships, and strengthened faith in God.  And crossing the finish line always brought incredible feeling of fulfillment - more so, because they were shared by the worthy people and institutions whose interests I held close to my heart while I struggled to complete the journey.  Therefore, even when anxiety and self-doubt unfailingly weighed me down, I always looked forward to the next adventure - with true gusto!  

This next adventure is going to involve big challenges - almost daunting in breadth and depth.  It's going to be a bumpy ride, and I'd fall down many times, that's for sure.  And yet, I'm sure too, that it will also be interesting, exciting and absorbing - in breadth and depth of new things that I am bound to learn together with my companions in the journey, and the changes that will effect the fulfillment of our possibilities.  And, the outcome could be incredibly joyful, too - in many ways that I'm sure are unknown to us now.  Aside from "combat drills" and "battleground experience", I'm bringing a lot of "ammunitions" with me: prayers, good advice from experienced, wise and supportive mentors, and a lot of support and love from family and friends.  Therefore, I'll keep movin' forward no matter the impediments - one little step at a time... ya can count on it, too!

Alright then... bring it!

*** 
Breaking though that Examination Barrier

Speaking of huge challenges, the Chemical Engineer Licensure Examination given by the Professional Regulation Commission of the Philippines is coming very soon.  It is the exam that will give our graduates the license to sign-on as professional engineers... and, therefore, reiterates the excellent training they get in the University.  

I give the same advice to our Chem.E. Batch 2012:  Don't hold back.  Set out to fulfill your possibilities - your many possibilities.  Go for it, guys!  Godspeed....

***
Breaking through the top of the rankings

So, what makes a University the Most Important in the World?  It's Tech Entrepreneurship, that's what.  And, that's according to Chris Vogel, who is banging the gong for the newest #1 University in the World, according to QS: the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or just "MIT" to their many fans.  MIT, considered the hallowed ground of geekiness by the proud, card-carrying S&T geeks, is the University to beat this year.  Ah, finally, a Technology Institute rose to the top!  This only means one thing:  the Technology World is alive and kicking - in a winning way, too!  In 'this World', innovation is the name of the game, and entrepreneurship is the challenge that's waiting to be overcome.  And with all the daunting challenges of this century, the Tech Entrepreneurs have the potential to become the most important human beings in the global economy.  MIT is showing the world how to 'create' these TEs... must we heed, and follow their lead?

***
Breaking through the sporting boundaries

So, Lionel Messi, is the newest father in the football sphere... as of November 2!  We heard that FC Barcelona is ready to offer to sign the two-day old Thiago Messi in La Masia - where Leo was honed to become the living legend that he is now.  Aside from this happy news, the older (feels odd saying that, considering Leo is merely 25 years old) Messi completed his career 300-goal haul in Barca's contest against Rayo Vallecano last week, which they won with a manita, 5-0.  Messi's brace of goals allowed him to break through the 300-goal barrier, reaching 301 - a career high.  So, that's Messi making another case for himself as a worthy recipient of a 4th Ballon d'Or - in a row!  He just won the golden boot, too. Ah, when it rains, it does pour! Barca, on the other hand, remains seated at the top of the La Liga rankings.  Oy, Tito Vilanova, excellent job!

***

Saturday Photo

November Agenda:  God, family and family traditions, 
travel and food with family and/or friends,
...and work - loads of it. 

***