SPU Manila INTER-OFFICE BULLETIN - St. Paul University Manila

`````````SPU Manila INTER-OFFICE BULLETIN
Vol. IV No. 20 7 March 2011
LOOKING BACK …
Following is a feature article published in The Manila Daily Bulletin on Firday, 4 March 2011
about a recent activity of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) and
the South Manila Inter-Institutional Consortium (SMIIC), held in the Fleur-de-lis Theater.
Students stand up for truth
By RACHEL C. BARAWID
March 4, 2011, 9:00am
Students from various schools gather in St. Paul University Manila
to join calls for integrity and honesty in government.
.
MANILA, Philippines--INSTEAD of probing senators and congressmen, truth tellers Heidi
Mendoza and Col. George Rabusa last week faced hundreds of students in a forum that called
for support to their cause, as well for upholding the values of integrity and honesty.
Organized by the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP), the forum
dubbed “Paninindigan sa Katotohanan ng Bagong EDSA: Pagtatalakay sa Isyu ng Korupsyon
at Pagpapaigting ng Integridad ng mga Pilipino,” gave students the chance to hear Mendoza
and Rabusa’s struggles and sacrifices in the course of their decision to expose the anomalies
in the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Held at the Fleur de Lis Theater of St. Paul University
(SPU) in Manila, the forum was also among the highlights of CEAP’s celebration of the 25th
year of the People Power Revolution.
Becoming aware
Many of the students think the truth tellers’ revelations only proved how rampant and
massive corruption has become in government.

“As much as I appreciate their bravery, it is disheartening to learn about their exposes, that
some people will go to such great lengths of deception just for their personal gains,” admits
Guia Francisco, a 19-year-old Psychology student at SPU, Manila.
University of Santo Tomas student Rochelle Anne Obleno says she felt more afraid than ever
at what’s been happening to the country but at the same time, felt a sense of duty to help
solve the problems in government.
“All these revelations about corruption are nothing new. It just confirmed what I know.
Nakakatakot bilang estudyante na ganito ang mamanahin namin, at baka maexpose pa kami
sa mga maling bagay pag kami na ang mga bagong lider ng bansa. Hence, becoming aware
of these issues is important for us young people but it should not end here. We should get
involved and do our share,” says Rochelle, a legal management student.
Another EDSA?
Some people seem to think that a new kind of revolution is emerging through the truth telling
of Mendoza and Rabusa, but Guia and Rochelle believe otherwise.
“Seriously, do we really need another EDSA (Revolution)? What I see is that we remember
dates and events but not the lessons. There is no clamor for another revolution, just the
application of the lessons learned from the past revolutions will suffice,” says Guia.
Rochelle, on the other hand, admits that she doesn’t feel the spirit of EDSA nor its effects on
the country 25 years after.
“Ano nga ba ang epekto ng Edsa? Looks like it didn’t last because it seems we’ve only had
temporary freedom. Now, we still have yet to free ourselves from the freedom from
corruption and politicking.Karamihan ng mga taong nasa gobyerno na walang integridad ay
'yung mga taong lumaban din sa EDSA. Isn’t that supposed to be an insult to those who
sacrificed and gave up their lives for the country? Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin
naisasabuhay ang mga pinaglaban sa EDSA,” stresses Rochelle, the president of Batas
Tomasino in UST.
While Rabusa and Mendoza’s truth telling can be considered a sacrifice for the country as it
puts their lives and their loved ones’ in danger, Rochelle thinks it doesn’t necessarily make
them role models.
“I think Ms. Heidi Mendoza should be emulated for her courage and sacrifice for the country.
But not Col. Rabusa. May kasalanan din siya eh. I admire his courage but after all these
investigations, will he also be coura-geous enough to send himself to jail because he himself
has done something wrong? If he does that, na pag may kasalanan dapat pagbayaran, then
that’s the time I will look up to him as a role model,” she says.
The role of the youth
Reymond Montejo, a business management student of the De La Salle College of Saint
Benilde says more than being aware and spreading the message to their fellow youth, young
people should also be vigilant on the undertakings of government officials. In this way, the
latter would know that even the eyes of the youth are on them and therefore, they must do
things honestly and be accountable for their shortcomings.

But in fulfilling this task, he adds that young people should also strive to become role models
themselves.
Paulinians Christopher Brian Sarto and Chelsea Gatdula identify the simple ways in which
young people can uphold integrity and honesty in their daily lives. “We should not cheat
during exams, fall in line at the canteen, and stop giving bribes to policemen in case of traffic
violations,” they point out.
The students agree that they don’t need to do such a big feat to be a hero.
“Let us not emulate the mistakes made by the older generations. Let's correct their mistakes
and do what is right. We can make a difference first by changing ourselves, and being a light
to others who are still in the dark,” Reymond says.
Teaching values
One of the staunchest advocates of integrity and honesty, CEAP has embarked on a campaign
to promote the cause of truth telling as well as these values. Apart from holding the forum,
CEAP also encouraged its member schools to show support by participating in various
activities such as the hanging of banners and slogans, wearing black shirts and pins every
Friday, engaging in noise barrage, holding film showings, reciting the graduate’s pledge to
integrity and honesty and letter writing to senators, congressmen and other local officials.
However, CEAP admits a simple statement of support nor these activities are enough to
advance the cause.
“This is not just an issue that we can respond to because it’s there. Corruption is a big
problem so efforts to fight it must be continuous. We must not wait for the next whistleblower
or truth teller to address it. We believe it should be institutionalized in school where honesty
and integrity is also a challenge,” explains Rhodora Angela Ferrer, CEAP executive director.
Starting this school year, CEAP member schools will integrate lessons on integrity and
honesty in the various subjects, apart from religion and homeroom classes.
“There will be module development on integrity and honesty. It will be integrated in the
existing curriculum. Values education should permeate all subjects. Even in physics you can
teach values ed through intellectual honesty,” she says.
Meanwhile, schools who are already implementing it are urged to share their good practices
so more institutions can follow.
St. Scholastica’s College, for instance, has been teaching the prayer on good governance to
Grade three students and also involve them in letter writing to government officials
.
“Its important that we respond to it now in educators language because if not students will
have a disconnect by what is being taught in school and what’s really happening. Also,
knowing big words such as good governance, integrity, and social transformation will help
kids become more aware and help them understand better the concepts when they grow up,”
Rhodora says.
Modules on integrity and honesty will also be developed for parents and the community to
make the program more effective and holistic.

APPRECIATION DINNER
It was raining prizes at the Appreciation Dinner tendered by the administration for SPU Manila
faculty, staff, and alumni in appreciation of their contributions to the University Week and
Centennial Celebrations, including the Caritas Christi Centennial Awards, the Blessing and
Soft Opening of the SPU Manila Museum and Archives, and “Handog”-A Tribute to the St. Paul
Sisters. The event was held at 4:30 P.M., 28 February 2011 in the HRM Training Center.
Starting with prizes for the 10 Early Birds, the giving of raffle prizes had everyone in
excited anticipation. Mr. Joseph Vega was an entertaining host who kept the attendees in
stitches. The honorees came for all sectors of the school community—administration, faculty,
non-teaching personnel, alumni. Even the HRM staff were guests so the dinner fare was
outsourced.
Sr. Lilia, Sr. Marivic, Sr. Vianney, Ms. Medina, and some alumni …
UNIVERSITY WEEK GOLDEN HARVEST FOR CBM
Contributed by Atty. Celso D. Benologa, Ph.D.,CPA
Dean, College of Business and Management
The College of Business and Management (CBM) took the overall championship in the athletic
activities during the recently-concluded SPU Manila University Week celebration. The training
and discipline of the CBM athletes paid off in the various events inspite of the stiff
competition.
CBM garnered the championship in 18 events:
1. Badminton - Women
2. Basketball - Men and Women
3. Billiards - Women
4. Bowling -Men and Women
5. Chess - Men and Women
6. Darts - Men
7. Swimming - Women’s Backstroke, Men’s Freestyle, Men’s Backstroke, Men’s
Breast-Stroke, Men’s Butterfly, and 4 x 1 Relay
8. Table Tennis - Mixed
9. Volleyball - Men and Women

Other participants of the college in related athletic activities performed creditably,
mostly achieving runner-up positions, including the Cheer-Dance Competition. Meanwhile,
the Tourism Program garnered First Places in the Cultural Presentation and Cultural Exhibit,
Second Places in Oratorical Competition and Lakan and Lakambini, and Third Place in
Extemporaneous Speech.
* * * * *
A CRY FOR JUSTICE
Mizzielle Jamyka Gutierrez was a 21 year old student of St. Paul University Manila. She was
taking up BS Tourism, supporting herself through part-time jobs in a travel agency and the
CCP, where was an usherette. It was in CCP that she met Kristoffer Von Moraleja, who was
also working part-time there.
They fell in love, and Myka was on top of the world: she would soon finish her studies,
perhaps get a good-paying job and help her family, and had a loving and caring boy friend—
or so she thought.
On 1 February 2011, Myka was at Von’s house to use his laptop for her thesis. What went
wrong, nobody knows. The two younger brothers of Von, aged 14 and 11, saw him stabbing
Myka and ran to the barangay hall where their father was the executive officer. They told
him what their brother was doing to Myka. The father and two barangay tanods ran to the
house where they found Myka, bleeding profusely, and brought her to the Pasay City General
Hospital. She was DOA. When asked by the investigators what had happened, the father
said, “Nasaksak ng anak ko…”
That was a month ago.
On 19 March 2011, Myka’s classmates will be marching down the aisles of the Fleur-de-lis
Theater to get their diplomas and throw their caps into the air. Myka will not be there. There
will be no diploma to get, no cap to throw.
Myka was this close to fulfilling her dreams—for herself and her family—but just when that
dream was almost within her reach, it was brutally, cruelly snatched away from her—by the
boy she thought was loving and caring. “That was the most unkindest cut of all!”
Von Moraleja is still at large. His father had offered to surrender him on 7 February 2001 but
he did not. Myka’s family and schoolmates are pleading for justice.
On her coffin at the wake, a small yellow chick kept pecking at the glass cover. “Para daw po
makonsenya ang gumawa nito sa kanya,” her heart-broken father said sadly.
Poor little chick. Its pecking was in vain.

SPMAFI BOARD MEETS JUBILARIAN REPS
The Board of Trustees of the St. Paul Manila Alumni Foundation, Ionc (SPMAFI) will meet with
the representatives of the jubilarian classes at 12:00 NN, tomorrow, 8 March 2011 in the
Mother Gabriel Meeting Room.
The main matter for discussion will be the SPU Manila Grand Centennial Celebration
and Alumni Homecoming, which is scheduled for 29 January 2012 in the SMX Convention
Center. Of particular concern is the program, whether it will feature the usual numbers from
the jubilarian classes or Paulinian celebrities.
Also to be discussed is the SPU Manila Centennial Swatch Watch, which will be ready
by July 2011. According to Mr. James Locsin, COO of Swatch Philippines, the design will be
submitted for approval to Swatch Switzerland, after which it can be manufactured.
ALUMNI GET-TOGETHERS
As the SPU Manila Centennial draws near, the alumni batches here and abroad have been
getting together to plan their attendance and participation in the Grand Alumni Centennial
Homecoming.

High School 1963
Lunch-Meeting
Banatao Residence
Rizal Condominium, Rockwell
4 March 2011
High School 1965
Lecture on Health and Wellness
by Dr. Jaime Galvez-Tan
January-March Birthday Celebration
Residence of Mely Calma-Sol
Capitol Subdivision
6 March 2011
High School 1962
Mini-Reunion in Los Angeles
From the bottom by the wall :
Mitos Molina-Sjolander, Agnes
Nuval, Daisy Tenorio-Cuenco,
Marinela Maralit-Medel ;
by the railing: Rose Amor-Roy, Alice
Gabriel-McIntosh, Cora Pacificador,
Priscilla Lonzanida-Crisostomo,
Harriet Ruiz, and Carmelita Abarillo-
Sevila
… and in New York
Brenda Sison, Lea Bowie,
Nitz Garrucho-Perlstein