Saturday photo

 

Friendship assures, laughter heals... love begets love.  God is good!

It's been a while since I last saw these kids, given the pandemic.  And, although I often talk to them via online communication platforms - almost everyday with others, it's been a while since I last spoke with them altogether.  So, it was a real treat to meet all of them, albeit only virtually via Zoom meet.  

My kids all looked good.  They sounded happy despite the pandemic, and seemed very excited to talk to one another altogether, too.  Given the week-long high stress level at my (virtual) workplace, and the nerve-racking first two weeks of classes just waiting for emotional explosions here and there due to the challenging situation of holding classes online, given the pandemic and the very limited connectivity of most students, I was so ready for the weekend!  It finally came... and it started with a "Fridate" with these kids.  

It was a very long catching up session. There were a lot of happy pieces of news that everyone shared, and a little not-so-happy news, too.  But there was enough stories to laugh about with all our hearts, and there was enough good things to hinge our high hopes on for better things in the coming days. There was a lot of reminiscing, too.  I didn't realize we have made so much memories together over the short period of time that we became a family.  That sort of warmed our hearts... and it felt very nice.  I was happiest for the longest time, thanks to these kids!  And, thanks be to God for these kids!    

***

Saturday photo

"...when workers are pushed to their limits through no fault of their own."

In times of crises, no matter how hard we try, there will always be that possibility of unintentionally neglecting one group of stakeholders in our organization.  In this time of pandemic, in the education sector, that group of stakeholders is the teaching staff.  The natural focus of attention are the students, as they and their needs are perceived to be the most 'vulnerable' to neglect and to poor quality of service.  The members of support staff, especially those whose employment are not protected by permanence, are usually the next focus as they are perceived to provide the assistance that are crucial in maintaining the continuous provision of services to satisfy the needs of everyone in the Institution.  

The teaching staff are perceived to be the provider of the very reason why a learning institution exists - the generation and transmission of knowledge... education.  The quality of the service depends on how committed they are, and how brilliant they are in their fields to sufficiently provide the education that the students enrolled for in the learning institution, in the first place.  Therefore, much is expected of the faculty members; they have to show expertise, efficiency and effectiveness in teaching at all times - regardless of circumstances, (COVID-19) pandemic notwithstanding.  Even when the world was turned to a 'deer in headlights', everyone still expects the faculty members to be in control, efficient and unperturbed by the pandemic, even when they themselves are vulnerable to the deadly effects of the pandemic.  Unfair?  Aren't educators so used to being subject to injustice in this world?  Aren't we the most maligned people - accused of incompetence when a student cannot or refuses to learn because of factors that are not even within the educator's sphere of influence, and therefore, the reason of that student's failure?  We are the most convenient excuse for failed parenthood and failed national and societal leadership; and we are rarely remembered in the success stories of students, and in their moments of triumph.  Sad?  Of course, it is!  But we are used to it.

So, yesterday, I received daggers of complaints from a parent on two of our faculty members - not so much on the quality of their teaching but on the technicalities of delivering instruction online.  Apparently, we are supposed to turn to experts on full online teaching and learning overnight, and that we are solely responsible if students are unable to adjust and fail to do so satisfactorily.  My knee-jerk reaction was to send an email to my colleagues, and let them know about it... with some gentle jabs.  But I turned the page of my daily spiritual readings yesterday, and I found a lovely message that was so apt to the situation.  I thought I'd share the message in today's featured photo because I felt like I was 'scolded' by the Lord yesterday... and it was quite sobering.

***

Wednesday happy pill...

...unexpected but understandable.
====================================================================
by PAM

Myung-soo (center): 

"What did you just say?

What did you guys do in my workroom?

What happened after the hugging?"

I cannot look at these photos, blurred as they are, without laughing uncontrollably.  It works everytime! 😂 

This 'happy pill' is from "The Heirs" (a.k.a. "The Inheritors")... and, yeah, it's a Korean TV Drama, and, uhm... I soooo love it! It is my all-time fave, and I can spend a whole day just watching and re-watching it. I laugh and cry... get mad, get agitated... and then laugh and cry again, and then fall in love over and over again just watching the 20 episodes. I cannot get enough of it. This much I admit, uhm... without shame! 😅

This 2013 KDrama starred that beautiful man, Lee Min-ho, who was at his most beautiful phase in life playing the beautiful young man in the series, Kim Tan, and the A+ Korean actress, Park Shin-hye, who played Cha Eun-sang. Together, they made such a cute young couple in a Cinderella story that makes one fall in love. Never mind that Tan can be that typical spoiled conglomerate son sometimes, and Eun-sang can be that annoying damsel-in-distress who can't make up her mind and fight for herself most of the time. They portrayed 18-year-olds from opposite backgrounds whose entwined environments prevent them from enjoying young love, so what do you expect? But when they're being cute, they are so naturally adorable together, they just make you smile whatever your circumstance. Tan is so funny and adorable when asserting his feelings and trying to win Eun-sang's affection, and being hilariously possessive when he tries to be protective of her. Lee Min-ho became Kim Tan, truly 😍; and Park Shin-hye quickly became my fave KDrama actress, of course. 👍😊 

The series also starred a host of wonderful actors and actresses who were all great in their roles and whose on-screen chemistry was so spot-on that I felt... they were my second family. 😌😊 I did have a 'love-hate relationship' with Choi Yeong-do (played by Kim Woo-bin), but it's leaning more towards 'love' just because he was usually very funny. 😄 But, yeah, there were so many heartwarming moments, and this scene from Episode 13 was one of my favorites - totally hilarious! The adorable Jo Myung-soo, who was Kim Tan's and Choi Yeong-do's friend and played by Park Hyung-sik, was very funny in the scene pictured above. His chemistry with Kim Tan was at its best in the said scene. It didn't feel like they were acting in a KDrama at all. At this point, it being the 13th episode, it felt like watching your own friends engaged in a banter, and you can't help but be proud of being their friend. 😎😊

When I'm having a tough time, I just rummage through the episodes of this KDrama, especially episodes 2,3, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18 and 19... and it gets me through the tough time with a smile. Just like Eun-sang, Kim Tan has become my, uhm... silver lining. ❤😊

***

QOTD

QOTD #27: Ah... what we preach, and what we do.
===================================================================
by PAM

"There can be an imperfect happiness (felicitas) attainable in this lifetime, in proportion to the exercise of Reason (contemplation of Truth) and the exercise of virtue."  

  - St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Contra Gentiles (paraphrased)

I've always believed that, if we were motivated by the right outcome in what we do, life is itself 'the pursuit of happiness', or more correctly, the pursuit of perfect happiness. 

In his book Summa Theologiae, I gathered that St.Thomas Aquinas defined 'perfect happiness', or beatitudo, as that mystical vision of God, which can only be possible in the afterlife.  It is in consonance with the belief of St. Augustine who said, "our heart is restless, until it rests in you," in his adoration of God. Unlike St. Augustine, however, St. Thomas Aquinas believed that we can still achieve 'imperfect happiness', or felicitas, in our lifetime.  This can be achieved in contemplation of the truth.  And the happiness we

St. Thomas Aquinas
Source: Encyclopedia Britannica

achieved in the actualization of our natural faculties is "in proportion to the level of truth accessible to Reason".  

Therefore, our own rationalization of our actions, in which we exercise our mental faculty in aligning our actions with the contemplated truth, can help us achieve felicitas. That imperfect happiness that we feel in all that we do can give peace of mind and joy.  This enables us to realize the truth more clearly in our continued contemplation, helping us to see with clarity the higher purpose of the life we live.  The more often we exercise contemplation, the sharper our vision becomes, and we become more receptive, too, to God's revelation of the truth - in answering our prayers.      

This is why, in our workplaces, shared vision is very important.  When everyone understands the leadership's vision, and it is clear to everyone how the actions that our Institution or Organization are pursuing are in harmony with the vision through clear rationalization, then it is easy for everyone to happily play his or her role.  Note that playing one's role though involves personal contemplation, and therefore, putting one's mental faculty to use, and acting accordingly.  When one is deprived of actualizing his or her own natural faculties in playing his/her role accordingly, and is forced to merely follow instruction without contemplation, then felicitas cannot be achieved.  I imagine that this is why there are many people who are unhappy in their workplaces, or who become unhappy when new leadership comes to be, and new policies are crafted and implemented without mutual respect and without regard to everyone's natural right to actualize natural faculties.  

In view of the above, I imagine, too, how it is impossible to be happy in a country ruled by a dictator, especially if that country knows what democracy is and has thrived in democratic environment before where actualization of natural faculties is supported, and in fact, encouraged.         

***

Birthday wish...

...in the time of pandemic.
==================================================================
by PAM

A birthday wish... in hope and faith.

Birthdays are supposed to be happy occasions - a break from one's usual daily grind; a day to make a special wish, and experiencing the fortifying solemnity of faith that that wish shall be granted.  

Birthday can be that 'one fine day' of quiet contemplation and reflection, a soulful thanksgiving, or simply just being lazy and being left alone to enjoy some quality "me time"... with a good book and a good music playing in the background, or a day of leisure writing or re-watching a fave movie or TV mini series, or old music videos... or just being surrounded by good vibes all around.  It can also be a gathering of loved ones, some fun sharing of anecdotes, or sharing some moments of warm togetherness, or an opportunity to laugh loudly and happily, making fun of each other to disguise deep affection, the expression of which on ordinary days can otherwise make everyone feel awkward and uncomfortable, or playing fun games with the aim of just being foolish and crazy-happy... with good home-cooked food passed around to keep feeding that appetite that grows with the feeling of happiness and satisfaction.  Or, it can be a combination of both... a day of remembrance that, in all that we do, we take a step closer to the fulfillment of our fate - God's plan, and a step closer to finally seeing His face... a moment of pure love when there is nothing else to feel but joy.

With the "new normal" in this world that was taken over by COVID-19, I found that birthdays are still happy occasions, in a more laid-back way.  There is that simple joy while being physically remote than usual from most of the celebrator's usual crowd. Strangely enough, it wasn't all that bad, especially when we allow ourselves to be treated

My simple birthday plate this year. The simplicity
does not diminish how special the day is.

by life with that most precious gift of time.  Time for contemplation and reflection... time for devotion, time for God... time with God. 

This year, I get to spend my birthday 'quietly'. I made time for myself... I insisted to make time for myself. I refuse to remain a slave of one's, or a few people's, refusal to see why God might be allowing this hideous COVID-19 to take over our lives, which is for us to re-discover the path towards Him... for us to abandon the paths that we invented and built in our foolish belief that we have become so great that we can build a better 'highway' towards a kingdom of the same grandeur as His.  I refuse to be a pawn to one person's obsessive desire to own excellence... by pushing everyone around that person to sprint exhaustively to reach the numbers that, to that person, define excellence.  It is painful to watch that person's fierce push, believing that excellence in time of pandemic can be measured by numbers rather than the real feeling of joy for having collectively accomplished something of impact on people's lives from shared vision. Too bad that we are missing the golden opportunity to re-discover God... and each other; to make a real difference in people's lives so that they, too, can re-discover God.  And, it is sad that that person is taking all the pawns in a direction that spells peril, frustration and disappointment through the emptiness of mere compliance.

Pardon me if that sounded like arrogance and judgment on my part.  I admit that I am not in the position nor do I have the moral ascendancy to make that person see how mistaken that person is.  And yet, that person might be right.  After all, it is possible to be right and foolish at the same time, isn't it?  Ah, but this birthday is not about such foolishness, and I have a few more minutes to continue celebrating it.  Therefore, I leave a mark of this special day here... while I continue rediscovering the path towards my fate, while I pray fervently for strength, wisdom and love in my heart to resist foolishness without having to push back and risk hurting others... and shepherd my own flock to where true happiness can be found.  

I rest my weary heart and troubled mind in God, and I hope that He grants me my wish on this special day. Amen.

***
Photo credit:  I own the photos.  The first was taken in my front yard, and the second was taken on my birthday dinner.

*** 

Not a fan of K-Drama...

...but I am making exceptions.
===============================================================
by PAM

I've always been clear, and annoyingly so for some probably... and sorry, I'm not sorry: I am not a fan of Korean Drama or Korean Telenovela, or simply "K-Drama".  I know that I probably should.... Uhm, nah, I know there is no 'should', not even when paired with 'probably', and that it is okay that I am not trying to be a fan. I really dislike the "tutti-frutti" appeal, and all things cutesy and dreamy... and heavily made-up faces of men that confuse the eye because they are prettier than their female counterparts that it's not fair, and I cannot stand it. And there's very few girls/women in K-Drama that can match the

Capt. Ri Jeong Hyeok who got me, oh, so hooked!

beauty of their male counterparts, and it's annoying.  I know, I am such a snub, I feel like smacking myself... but, whatever!  I am not a fan. Period.

And then along came Hyun Bin... the 2017 and up version of Hyun Bin, that is.  All of a sudden, K-Drama is happening in my boring and bored... life, or, uhm, non-life. 😯

I first saw him in Crash Landing On You (CLOY) last March as this stoic and man-of-few-words Captain in the North Korean Special Police Force, Capt. Ri Jeong Hyeok. His usually calm aura, easy gentleman stance and expressionless face were the things that got me curious in CLOY, especially because of those to-die-for dimples that lights up his face without even trying. Hoy! 😍😅 He made me pay attention. And, before I knew it, I was actually paying attention... to the story, and the interesting characters in the drama, especially Capt. Ri, needless to say! 🙊😁  And then, I got hooked... and then, I got so, so hooked! 😅😊 And then, I got desperately hooked, whipped... hopeless, helpless... aargh! 😂  And you know what, I did not resist it... I gave in to the pull, and enjoyed, uhm... the heck of it!

*To be continued... hyperventilating, whew!*

***

Photo credit:  The photo is not mine, but grabbed in the internet - thanks to the owner.

***

Praying...

...for those affected by the Taal volcano eruption. May they stay safe, calm and hopeful for better situation to unfold. We pray for the Philippines. May God bless us all! 

Because He answers prayers...

...in ways most beautiful.
=================================================================
by PAM

Not too long ago, I embarked on a pilgrimage with 'my kids' who were reviewing for the chemical engineers licensure examination then.  They thought it was a good idea to start their review process by seeking the mercy of God, the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the assurance of good outcomes from conscious sacrifices as mankind's salvation through Christ's sacrifices, and the intercession of the Blessed Mother who cradles the baby Jesus in her loving arms. I supported their plan as I imagined them putting order in their psyche to enhance reception to knowledge through spiritual renewal.  In spite of the five grueling

Visiting the Pink Sisters Convent - to offer

prayers and to seek the Sisters' assistance as their

prayer warriors. 

years of topnotch education in chemical engineering, they are humble enough to let their faith lead them in their quest to obtain professional license - the crowning glory of their education.  That cause, I believe, is worth investing time on, not to mention getting an opportunity to enjoy their company that always inspires good vibes.    

And so, we traveled south to Tagaytay to the Adoration Convent of the Divine Mercy, more commonly known to devotees in the Philippines as the Convent of the Pink Sisters.  It is managed by the Sister-Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration, or the "Pink Sisters".  The small convent is nestled among luscious trees and colorful flowers that the hills of Tagaytay are known for.  But, more than the peaceful surrounding that spells serenity, the beautiful sound of the sisters' soft singing in adoration and prayer was the most distinctive attribute of this place of worship that draws faithfuls to it.  And so, we set out early morning of a Sunday to visit the Convent.  The kids offered their prayers, and they wrote their petitions on small sheets of paper to seek the assistance of the sisters in praying for their fruition.  It was the first time for most of them to visit the convent, and so, like adorable little children, they excitedly made their wishes and hoped from the bottom of their hearts for the wishes to come true.

From the Convent of the Pink Sisters, we stopped to eat lunch in a local Tagaytay favorite - Green ATS, where we ate with relish some of the best of Tagaytay's cuisine, such as

Stopping for food and a little sightseeing.

bulalo and the tasty tawilis - deep fried to perfect crunchiness, served on a bed of vegetable garnish and a mildly spicy dip of fermented coconut water.  It was a very satisfying lunch, eaten in a hut on a hill amid the luscious green vegetation of Tagaytay, overlooking Taal Lake and the Taal Volcano.  More than the food and the surrounding, we were happy to enjoy each other's company.  We enjoyed the calm and assurance from visiting the Pink Sisters Convent as we did some catching up, talked about their plans, and exchanged many jokes.  Ah, it was amazing how a simple meal can be worth a king's banquet when eaten in celebration of spiritual renewal!  

After lunch, we drove farther south to Nasugbu, Batangas to visit the Caleruega Church, where their friends happened to be holding their Retreat.  The beautiful little church stands atop a hill, overlooking the beautiful mountains of Tagaytay and the nearby

Praying for God's mercy with friends.

Batangas towns.  The climb to the hill was some work out... but not without a satisfying feast for the eyes - from the lovely Spanish-style villas whose mossy outer walls were covered with luscious vines, the lamp posts with dim lights encased in multi-colored glass casings that add to the dramatic serenity of the place, and the beautifully manicured gardens that invite one to pause, breathe, and take the whole place in from one's nostrils straight to one's soul.  So beautiful!  

The kids enjoyed the company of their friends as they lift their bare souls in prayer, invoking the Holy Spirit to give them the much-needed clarity of mind and thought process... asking the Lord to bless their plans and dreams, praying for direction that is inspired by love and faith.  More than the beautiful surroundings, it was heart-warming to see them lift their plans and dreams as an offering to God.  

Less than a couple of weeks before their licensure examination, they decided to visit the Shrine of our Lady of Manaoag in Manaoag, Pangasinan.  While they poured all their

Traveling to lay eyes on the face of
the Blessed Mother of God and seek
her kindest intercession.

efforts in reviewing for the examination, they wanted to pray for more reassurance, and have their examination materials, including the clothes they plan to wear, be blessed.  It was a beautiful gesture of doing their very best, and leaving the rest to God.  Notwithstanding the limited time they had for their review, they allocated substantial time and effort to take the three-hour trip to Manaoag to lay their eyes upon the gentle face of the image of the Blessed Mother of God, to seek her intercession in continuously praying for God's mercy, and to lay their dreams and aspiration upon the feet of God - for His blessings.  

And so, armed with their examination materials and gears, we cramped ourselves in my wagon one early Sunday morning - off to Manaoag!  We heard the Mass, they squeezed themselves through the thick crowd of worshippers to be blessed in front of the altar; joined the throng of faithful to have their materials and gears blessed; and joined the long queue of devotees to climb the altar to touch the edges of Our Lady of Manaoag's garments while they whispered their petitions to her, including the petitions of the whole UST Chemical Engineering Class of 2019 that were entrusted to them.

I walked with them in silent admiration.  In this day and age of instant gratification and entitlement, they are full of patience and humility, prostrating in full trust to God, surrendering their hopes and aspirations to His kindest mercy and love.  I prayed for nothing but for God's granting of their prayers.

***
Photo credits:  While I only took one of the photos, I own all of them.

*** 

Life is good...

...indeed, it is!
===================================================================
by PAM

No, it isn't perfect... but, yes, life is good! And that is so much better!  

The blessings received and lessons learned in the past two weeks had been another huge testaments of how good life is - no matter what!  It can be very challenging and extremely harsh, too, sometimes especially when a blessing is on its way and cleansing is needed to make a room for the blessing, or when a lesson is to be learned - as a source of wisdom to draw confidence from when an important event is about to unfold. The important thing is to hang in there... to cling steadfastly to our faith while hoping for the very best outcome... believing that the best outcome, under the circumstances, shall come our way. 

I know, I know... how dare I 'preach' when I get frustrated so often from all the trying circumstances that come from trying to achieve the 'impossible'.  I get physically tired... I complain, er, vent, a lot, I admit!  I guess that that is alright - I become alright after ridding my system of the urge to scream.  It is the easiest way for me to cope with the pressure, deal with frustration.  But thank goodness that there is enough love around me... to help me through the day, no matter how hard. I have enough. With God, and the gifts of family and true friends that He gave me, I have enough.  And with God's grace, we are bathed in optimism.  Our sorrows are drowned in a flood of blessings.  The cheerful fingers of sun's rays find us, even in the darkest and farthest corner of despair.  And the sun shines, no matter what - even only on TV...

🎶 "I reached inside myself and found

nothing there to ease the pressure off my ever worrying mind...

Touch me. How can it be? Believe me, the sun always shines on TV..." 🎶

What a blessing to have lived in an era of very good music - classic in quality and message, they never get old... and they see you through the hardest of times - to bring a smile to your lips. It's a bonus that the singers/musicians get more beautiful with age... such as this Norwegian band, A-ha - one of my favorite bands in the '80s. When they play, they remind you how good life is... rather than singing melancholy songs or upbeat ones with nonchalant lyrics that underscores emptiness, pushing one farther down the consuming abyss of despair.  

Thank goodness for good music!  Thanks be to God for everything that makes life worth living for.

***

Video credit:  Thanks, YouTube, for the beautiful music.

***

When it rains...

...it pours - in sweeping deluge.
=================================================================
by PAM


Indeed, when it rains, it does pour!  And this week is one for the books for us in the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) as blessings poured in, making a complete deluge of joy.  Our hearts were full... and it felt incredible.  Thanks be to God!  

***
Quality... in action, and in effect

This week, our university was visited by the ASEAN University Network - Quality Assurance (AUN-QA) for Institutional Assessment (IA).  It was a week-long onsite visit to verify what we submitted in a Self-Assessment Report (SAR), showing how we are satisfying the twenty-five (25) criteria of AUN-QA on Strategic QA, Systemic QA, Functional QA and the Results.  Ours is just the 8th university in the ASEAN region, and only the second university in the Philippines, to undergo IA by the AUN-QA.  

The whole week was a grueling five days of showing evidences that, indeed, we satisfactorily comply with the criteria, and that, as a university that spouses excellence, we even exceed the expectations that define 'quality' in the four areas of criteria

mentioned above.  The Faculty of Engineering - the college that I lead, was chosen by the AUN-QA Visiting Team to be the six (6) out of the 16 colleges/faculties (19, including the Ecclesiastical Faculties) in the university to be visited on the third day of the Team's onsite visit. Therefore, the preparations made our schedule extremely hectic for the past three weeks as we juggle AUN-QA and the on-going online preliminary accreditation process of our six Programs by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), and all our already brimming cup of daily tasks.  And yet, the Faculty of Engineering went on 'business as usual' in spite the fact that the officials have been sleeping less and less over the past month, myself included... maybe, myself... uhm,  mostly?  But God is good... and He took care of us over the past week, and the weeks before that.  Hence, we are still standing! #UnendingGrace

Today, in the morning, we heard very positive review by the AUN-QA IA Visiting Team as they issued their Exit Meeting with us, discussing the result of their assessment.  And so, we were all overjoyed... all the challenges of the past how many weeks that culminated to this day were worth all our combined efforts, and we are very grateful.

***
Receiving 'a gift'

Our Mechanical Engineering (ME) Class of 2019 did very well in the Mechanical Engineers Licensure Examination, administered by the Professional Regulatory Board (PRB) of ME for the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) of the Philippine government last August 2019.  This afternoon, the Licensure Exam passers all over the country took their Oath as

Receiving an exquisite 'gift'... what a joy!

mechanical engineers, which is again administered by the ME PRB at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).  

As our ME Class of 2019 afforded us the recognition as the fourth Top Performing School in the said Licensure Examination, we received the Plaque and the Certificate of Recognition.  It was their 'gift' to the Faculty of Engineering and to UST... and, to receive it on behalf of the Faculty and the University, it was, indeed, an incredible joy!  Words are not enough to express how proud we are of them... and how happy we are for them and their parents.  

It's moments like this that make us, 'soldiers' of the teaching profession, feel emboldened to keep pursuing excellence, and showing our students the way to the starting point of their own journey of pursuing excellence and happiness... in joyful service of others and of God.  It's too beautiful for words... and it makes us hopeful that, perhaps, our offerings to God, He does appreciate.  And, He shows His appreciation by answering our collective prayer. 

***
Another answered prayer

Just when our hearts have become so stout of pure happiness, we received these wonderful pieces of good news just before the work day ended...

Defining excellence... the UST Electronics Engineering way!

...and the Roque Ruaño Building was swept in a massive deluge of indescribable joy!  I was speechless for a few seconds... until I got back down to earth from 'Cloud 9'.  Still, it was impossible to express happiness in words, so the tears made their way out in an attempt for eloquence.  Indeed, they expressed the happiness that was impossible to articulate albeit quite embarrassing!

We are, indeed, very proud of our Department of Electronics Engineering (ECE) and our ECE Class of 2019 for this incredible achievement!  We salute the topnotchers, #1 Neil Kenneth T. Mendoza (ECE Class of 2019, magna cum laude) and #10 Jay Patrick M. Nieles (ECE Class of 2019, magna cum laude).  I will not forget this incredible year for these kids and for our ECE Department.  As Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, and a true believer of our faculty members and students' excellence, I am amazed beyond words and truly humbled... and I thank God with all the gratefulness that I am capable of for another answered prayer.  These are all for His greater glory!

***