Keeping Up with the Korean Wave

By Frances Danielle Sabulao

It seems that the Koreans are the newest gods and goddesses to be worshipped these days. K-pop culture or simply K-pop has rapidly invaded the Filipino television and music industry. The Korean wave has been the newest trend these days that even rival networks would air Koreanovelas on the same timeslots in the hopes of getting better ratings. Boys and girls of all ages are hooked to them. Why is everyone so fascinated by them? What is so enchanting with these chinky-eyed porcelain-skinned Korean dolls?

Rewind

Let's freshen up our memories and rewind everything to eight years ago. It all started with Endless Love: Autumn in my Heart in 2003. Who could forget the heart-wrenching story of Jenny and Johnny? If you’re a true blue Korean fan, you’d surely know them. Their story started when Johnny, as a child, mistakenly exchanged the nametags of two infants. One of which was actually his sister, while the other child was his would-be love interest. Along came Full House, Kim Sam Soon, Lovers in Paris and Princess Hours. The list of Koreanovelas is never-ending.

It was not until the drama Boys over Flowers (BOF) when the dawn of Koreanovelas was at its peak. It was all about an ordinary girl whose life turned a full 360° when she met the F4 composed of four young Adonises whose goal in life was to enjoy life to the fullest while they still can. It's a story of finding yourself, fighting for your belief, love and friendship. Every Filipino, young and old alike, grew fond over them. Everywhere you go, you'd see their faces, from the desktop wallpapers in the computers to mobile phones. Just look at the posters sold along the sidewalk. Most definitely, you'd see Korean faces smiling back at you. It took quite some time before the BOF mania went down. Even after the end of the Boys Over Flowers series and even after several rewinds of it, the Korean wave fever did not diminish.

Evolution

With the internet and MTV as resources, the hoi polloi eventually found a new craze in the form of K-pop – DBSK, Rain, Lee Min Ho from BOF, Big Bang, 2NE1, Girls Generation, Wondergirls and Super Junior. Just recently also, the soap My Girlfriend is a Gumiho truly captured the Pinoy hearts. Even Korean restaurants are getting popular especially with Thomasians like Santorini in P. Noval and Hanayo in Dapitan (Antonio St. to be exact). Like an epidemic, the K-pop culture surged upward dramatically; accumulating hordes of avid fanatics everywhere. Slowly but surely, they made their way into the Pinoy music industry and the Filipino community embraced them like wildfire. You'll hear people in trains singing to the tune of "Fire" or little children on the streets dancing to the beat of "Nobody" which are songs by 2NE1 and Wondergirls respectively; both are popular K-pop girl groups. It doesn't matter whether the Pinoys can’t understand their language. They can always learn how to speak Korean and learn hanggeul with the aid of the internet.

Their popularity is so infectious that even countries like the USA, Taiwan, Japan, China and other Southeast Asian countries are catching the fever. Thanks to the internet, these countries can get their daily dose of K-pop and Koreanovelas. Fans are so passionate that they have their own blogs, fan clubs, forums, and networking sites. Articles in the internet even tell of a number of Pinoy fans who even go to South Korea just to watch their concerts. No wonder their tourism is booming!

Why Korea?

So, really, why do Filipinos love the Korean wave? One big factor could be their versatility. Before these Korean pop stars became that big, they underwent a very rigid training which lasts for 4-6 years. Until then, they cannot debut as an idol. For this span of time, they are trained how to dance, sing, act, model, rap and even speak different languages so that they could become what we call the “complete package”. Of course, their looks are just bonuses.

Another factor is their appearances; not only do they have white and smooth skin like porcelain dolls but they have this mysterious charisma about them. They are able to capture their fans’ hearts effortlessly.

Another thing is the variety of what they do. There’s a whole new concept with every album and concert. They never fail to keep their fans wanting for more.

Lastly, the fact that they are very different to what the everyday Filipino is used to is probably the greatest factor. With their uniqueness and energy, it’s no surprise that the fans are head-over-heels for them.

Challenges

However, there’s no denying that along with the Korean wave fans are the haters. They go hand-in-hand, like the two sides of a coin. Some people get sick with the over-the-top cuteness and outrageous fashion sense. This is understandable since we all have different tastes and one just can’t please everybody.

Whichever side you’re in or whether you’re neutral or you’re apathetic about the whole issue, music is still music. As long as you’re still entertained with the drama you’re watching or the music you’re listening to, it does not matter. The fact that the Filipinos appreciate the diversity of other people's culture means that they understand how different we are from them. However, with this entire craze and fondness for other cultures, the challenge is to be able to retain their self-identity and the Pinoy culture.

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Ang Babae sa Septik Tank: Pangangapa sa Dilim

ni Elmer C. Hibek

Ang Istorya.

Dalawang magkaibigang lalaki na kapwa mahilig sa pagsusulat at pagdidirihe ang nagkasundong gumawa ng isang pelikula na umiinog sa buhay ng isang ina na may pitong anak at nakatira sa isang lugar ng iskwater. “Walang-wala” ang pamagat ng gagawing pelikula. Sa pag-ikot ng kuwento, sumentro ang pelikula sa kahirapan ng buhay ni Mila (ang bidang babae) at ng kanyang pamilya na nagbunsod sa kanya upang ibugaw ang mga anak sa mga banyagang hayok sa laman ng mga kabataan.

Naging mapili ang direktor ng pelikula sa pagkuha ng artistang gaganap sa papel na Mila at sa wakas ito’y naiatang kay Eugene Domingo. Nakaharap ng magkaibigan si Eugene sa magara nitong mansyon at nagkasundo sa mga bagay-bagay na may kinalaman sa pelikula. Matapos ito’y inatupag ng magkaibigan na puntahan ang lugar kung saan ang shooting ang shooting ng pelikula. Isang lugar na iskwater na napaliligiran ng bundok ng mga basura ang napili ng magkaibigan. Habang sila’y abala sa paggalugad sa lugar, natiyempuhan nila ang panloloob ng mga kalalakihan sa nakaparada nilang kotse. Agad nilang inireport sa presinto ang insidente. Sa kabila nito’y natuloy ang shooting.

Naghahanda na ang lahat sa kukunang eksena sa septik tank nang biglang mahulog si Eugene sa tangke gayong hindi pa gumigiling ang kamera. Yamang siya’y nasa loob na ng septic tank, minabuti na ng direktor na ituloy ang eksena ni Eugene sa loob ng tangke.

Ang Tema.

Pangunahing tema ng pelikula ang kahirapan sa ating bansa. Pangalawa rito’y ang ambisyon ng taong makilala sa lipunang kanyang ginagalawan. Palasak na ang mga temang nabanggit at hindi ito nabigyan ng bagong pagpapakahulugan sa pelikula ni tinalakay sa isang maayos at makahulugang pamamaraan. Malinaw na ginamit lamang ang mga isyung ito upang makagawa ng isang palabas na manlilibang lang sa manonood.

Walang bahid ng pagtatangka ang pelikula upang itaas ang panlipunang kamalayan ng manonood nang sa gayon ay gumanyak ito sa isang kolektibong pagkilos upang harapin at lunasan ang problema. Sa kabila ng paglalahad ng isyu ukol sa kahirapan, tumatawag ng pansin ang makasariling pangarap/ambisyon ng magkaibigan upang maging bantog sa kanilang larangan nang hindi alintana ang paggamit sa buhay, dangal at kalagayan ng mga taong sangkot sa kuwento.

Ang Simbolismo.

Ano ang ginagawa ng babae sa septik tank? Bakit siya naroon? Ang septik tank ang pinakamahalagang aytem sa pelikula na may kakabit na kahulugan. Bilang simbolo, ito’y kumakatawan sa ating bulok na lipunan na isang malaking imbakan ng lahat ng uri ng kabulukang moral, sosyal, ispiritwal, politikal at pangkabuhayan. Ang babae sa septik tank ay sumasagisag sa lahat ng klase ng tao sa ating lipunan na nagtataglay ng kanya-kanyang “baho,” “dumi,” “yagit” at “basura” na nakakapit sa pagkatao, umaalingasaw, nakapandidiri’t kahindik-hindik kahit ito’y nakakubli.

Ang pagkahulog ni Mila sa septik tank ay mabisang pagpapakita ng patuloy na “pagkahulog” ng laksa-laksang mga maralita sa ating bansa sa mga patibong ng paghihikahos, gutom, sakit, kamangmangan, eksploytasyon, atbp. Ano mang talim ng patalim, kakapit at kakapit upang “mabuhay” at sa “pagbitaw” sa patalim, saan pupulutin? Sa septik tank na karimarimarim!

Pangangapa sa Dilim.

Sa halos dalawang oras na pagtakbo ng pelikula, walang malinaw na direksyon na tinumbok ito. Liban sa ilang eksenang nakatatawa, umikot na lang ang palabas sa mga eksenang ibig mangyari ng direktor sa kanyang obrang nais tapusin. Sa hindi inaasahang pagkahulog ni Mila sa nakabukas na septik tank nagwakas ang pelikula.

Mababaw ang pelikula sa maraming aspeto. Isa itong tipikal na pelikulang indie na ang tanging hangarin ay mang-aliw lamang. Ang pamagat ng pelikula lamang ang tanging pantawag pansin.

Nakapanghihinayang isipin na sa kabila ng matapang na paglalahad ng ilang usaping panlipunan, hindi binigyang pansin at pagpapahalaga sa pelikula ang pagtatangka ng mga taong gaya ni Mila na umahon sa lusak sa kabila ng mga balakid sa buhay sa paraang makapagpaparangal sa dignidad ng tao, makagaganyak sa pagbubuo ng mga positibong atityud at pananaw, at makapagtataas sa antas ng kamulatan ng tao na siya’y nilikhang kawangis ng Maykapal na marapat maluklok sa maringal na luklukan at hindi makulong sa loob ng nakapandidiring septik tank.

Malupit ang pelika sa paglalantad ng mga kahinaan ng tao subalit nangangapa ito sa dilim sa paghahanap ng liwanag sa makipot na lagusan.




Poster source: “Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank” movie trailer and poster released! June 19, 2011

http://www.noypitayo.com/2011/06/19/ang-babae-sa-septic-tank-movie-trailer-and-poster-released/

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UST Nursing Chorale Stages Comeback in Himig Tomasino

By: Hazel Vera Tan

After three years of being away from the limelight, the UST Nursing Chorale (UST-NC) participated in this year’s Himig Tomasino, an annual intercollegiate competition organized by the Student Organization Coordinating Council's (SOCC), held last February 19 at the Medicine Auditorium.

Though they still had some conflicts with their schedules in lecture classes and duties, they were able to resolve the problems and challenges that they previously met. “In every organization, there are problems and challenges,” UST-NC President Charlene Tabora said, “I guess some of the reasons why we only joined now was due to financial constraints and lack of preparation because as nursing students, it really is very difficult to budget our time and balance extracurricular activities with the curricular ones.”

But with much perseverance and lessons learned from the previous year, the Nursing Chorale has staged its much-awaited comeback. “Once the team for Himig Tomasino was already formed, we already started with our practices,” she said. Also vital to their participation was the support and encouragement received from their adviser, Ms. Estelle Rose M. Lerma, RN, MAN and their new conductress, Ms. Victoria Ro. M. Katigbak.

Though their efforts were valiant, the Nursing Chorale fell short and the UST High School Glee Club emerged as the champions followed by the runners-up, UST Chorus of arts and Letters, and the UST One Voice Engineering Chorale.

Although, UST-NC was not fortunate enough to place in this year’s competition, their spirits were not dampened and they had smiles fixated all over their faces as friends, families and fellow students greeted them in the holding room after the show.

“We aimed to place in the 2011 Himig Tomasino and each of us gave our best very best. In the end, we just lifted everything to God. We’re all thankful and proud that we were able to compete again and represent our organization, alumni, and most especially out college in front of our families, supporters and opponents.”
True enough, although they did not bring home the bacon, they fought well. Good job UST-NC!

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Senior student Shines in Nursing Idol Valentine’s Day Edition

By: Diannesa April F. Golosinda

In line with the 65th anniversary celebration of the University of Santo Tomas College of Nursing (UST CON), the Nursing Central Board of Students sought to unleash the singing prowess of the Thomasian student nurses in this year’s special edition of the Nursing Idol last February 14 at the Medicine Auditorium.
Hosted by Dane Gustilo, NCBS Vice President and Raiza Wan-Wan Chua, NCBS Assistant Secretary, the competition had eight contenders from different levels who gave their best rendition of different love songs.

Six respected personalities formed the panel of judges in this year’s competition: Ms. Sundee-Pearl Arroco and Ms. Estelle Rose Lerma, UST-CoN faculty members; Mr. Paulo Azul, member of the UST Singers; Mr. Ken Lizardo, member of Coro Tomasino and a three-time judge of the contest; Ms. Armarie Cruz, one of the top 12 finalists in the Philippine Idol and Mr. Danny Javier, a member of the music icon Apo Hiking Society, who graced the stage once again after the group’s retirement on May 29 last year and performed the songs Awit ng Barkada and ‘Di Na Natuto.

Donna Mae Sison (IV-9) brought home the bacon as she serenaded the crowd with her own adaptation of Shania Twain’s You’re Still the One. The second and third places were bagged by Julius Alvendia (II-1) with his version of Erik Santos’ I’ll Never Go and Jacob Solis (II-9) who sang Bryan Adam’s Heaven, respectively.

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Dream after dream: Illustrating Nursing issues centerstage

by Jenika Gracia P. Simbillo

            Who would have thought that our professors, clinical instructors and co-students would really prove that Nursing is art?

Once a year, the faculty members of the University of Santo Tomas – College of Nursing strip off from their corporate attires and light yellow lab coats and get into theater garments for the Nursing Week’s most anticipated college play held at the San Martin de Porres Cinematorium.

            Last semestral break, Jeanne Iris Agcaoili, the director of this year’s play entitled, Ang Ika-pitong Panaginip ni Adela, lead the selection of the most talented cast, including chosen students from our college. Her background from Teatro Tomasino would make her perfect for the job, with Kennrick Glenn Magdangal as the inventive scriptwriter.

In Agcaoili’s introduction, she stressed out that unlike the first two faculty plays namely, From-D and From-D2, the presentation would be serious and symbolical rather than comical. Based on the rape incident of a nurse in Mindanao, the story revolved around psychiatric cases and social awareness. The said nurse was mobilized by the Nurses Assigned in Rural Service (NARS) Project which was launched by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in line with the pump priming strategies to mitigate the impact of the global financial crisis. The play opened with a rally portrayed by students, holding banners and shouting integrity for nurses such as “Katarungan sa mga nars na pinaglaruan ng kanilang mga pinagsilbihan.”

Pitong Panaginip

            Mrs. La Arnie Lazalita, depicts the role of a resident psychiatrist who was interviewed by Miss Morales (Sarah Arabejo), a freelance writer who wanted to author a book about Adela Ramirez (Jayme Jalandoni), a former Public Health nurse and a rape victim confined in a mental health institution. Adela, diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), was observed to have dreams and flashbacks of different proverbial episodes.

The first dream was the breakfast with her father (Mr. Elmer Hibek) who discourages her to push through her volunteering in Sarangani for three months. He advises that she should have three things beside her while sleeping: a telephone, a Bible and a rosary. He trivially adds that she should always have a large syringe for the “pigs”.

            Ron (John Carlo Martin), Adela’s admirer, came into the picture in the second dream. Adela passed by while Ron and three other drunken men (Mr. Dan Carlo Buenaventura, Jan Joel Simpauco and Paul Vincent Labajosa), were having a videoke session. The small gang then made her sing Gulong ng Palad in place of the drink he refused. The narrating psychiatrist told Miss Morales that Adela was mentally and physically traumatized after that, thus the analysis. Adela manifested avoidance, emotional instability, flashbacks and nightmares.

Mrs. Maria Corazon Olayres portrayed the role of Aling Isyang, a sari-sari­ store owner. Rallyists, as the story was recounted, cried out, “Parusahan ang mga demonyong baboy!” The Philippine Nurses Association officer (Mrs. Zenaida Famorca) and a superintendent (Mr. Richmond Loa) were interviewed by reporters during the rally, rendered by Thea Marcelo, Mrs. Ethelyn Maglanque-Perlas, Mrs. Yvette Montecillo, Mrs. Maria Cherry Tanodra, Ms. Daizele Gabriel, Ms. July Tongol, and Mr. Gian Carlo Torres.

            The third reverie comprised of a comfort woman (Marxanndra Magalona of IV-6) being crucified. Mrs. Elizabeth Cortez blindfolded the victim, and Ms. Brenda Luy wiped the lady’s face, recreating the act of Veronica in Jesus’ way to the Calvary. A signboard which says “Ginahasa ako” was set around the woman’s neck, but was replaced with “Nagpagahasa ako” by common people. She then spoke one of the last seven words of Christ: “Ama, patawarin mo ang lipunan sapagkat hindi nila alam ang kanilang ginagawa.”

            Kennrick Glenn Magdangal stole the scene, portraying as a devil flexibly twisting on the floor and around the priest’s (Mr. Earl Francis Sumile) legs during a homily in the fourth nightmare. A Muslim dance was the fifth dream, wherein an indigenous woman (Mrs. Eden Beltran) told Adela that she must be named “Afifa”, meaning pure and chaste. What she said was imprinted on Adela’s mind at the time she became mentally ill, stating, “Ako si Afifa.”

The sixth dream was the day of the antagonist’s rape incident, ingeniously painted with symbolical emblems, such as goats and pigs, trying to put the puzzle pieces together from all of Adela’s dreams. Mrs. Evelyn Tan-Matienzo played the role of Adela’s mother who died when she was six years old. A special participation from the adorable Janet Jurado, daughter of Mrs. Ma. Elizabeth Jurado, gave justice to her character as the young Adela.

            Finally, the psychiatrist reported that Adela is still in her seventh and probably last dream. After which, the touched writer made a momentous speech on the story of should-be Afifa.

            The cast and crew were gratefully applauded by the Nursing community and other audiences, giving positive feedbacks from the acting to the directing. A very unique staging, the presentation would surely be awaited for its encore.

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WANTED: College Level Fast Food Crew

By: Riza Lorraine DG. Aunzo

Job signages like these are commonly seen posted in any fast food restaurant and it’s pretty normal that we hardly notice them. Aside from the educational level, the requirements include height, pleasing personality and/or good character.

Now, when basic skills are needed for the said job, a question comes into the mind:

Why do they need to hire college level people?

Why Now?
One of the reasons why the Philippine government wants to add two more years of basic education in the country is to uplift the employment capabilities of its citizens. The Philippines has the least number of basic education years in Asia – 10 years, which is comprised of six elementary levels and four high school levels. The high school graduates’ average age is 16 years. The Department of Education (DepEd) says that the years of basic education is not enough to equip the graduates with proper knowledge that will help them land onto a stable, fitting job after graduation. In these past few years, the Philippines has become one of those countries in Asia whose students got the lowest scores in the Math, Science and English evaluation exams. More than that, other countries have been becoming more proficient in the English language than the Philippines, considering the fact that we have been dubbed as the English Capital of Asia.

The Drawbacks
In the recent system, as the years of education progress, the number of dropouts and out-of-school youth also increases, leading to lesser graduates. One of the reasons of these dropouts are financial problems. Though public education is relatively cheap, if not free, the family still has to provide the average student the costs of food, transportation, school supplies and others (aside from the usual household bills). Many Filipino families are earning less than the minimum wage and do not even have enough for food, which makes sending their children to school a costly burden.

In addition to the country’s insufficiencies, DepEd sees the need to allot budget to sustain two more years of basic education. Moreover, the budget would be utilized to construct classrooms, to pay teachers, and to provide students with books and other materials. Most public schools, especially in Metro Manila, have to handle two rounds of classes per day, while some even have three rounds just to maximize their capacity to accommodate their students. Teachers are overworked; classrooms have to be occupied by two different classes at the same time. Some of the students may luckily have a complete set of books, while the others need to share with their classmates who have their own books. Some teachers are handling subjects that they do not have specialization on since there is a need to maximize labor amidst the shortage of teachers in schools, public and private ones alike.

The Resolution
Two more years of basic education may help the students learn more. It may help them prepare for job applications, which will help them support their families even if they are unable to pursue or finish a college degree. But in reality, what the country needs more is the improvement of the education’s quality rather than its quantity and this should be prioritized.

By the time when the country is able to improve the 10-year basic education system, the government would have been able to decide on adding the extra two years in basic education. A goal can be achieved through forward steps—yet these steps should be taken one-by-one to prevent the Filipino student from falling down and seeing himself or herself back at square one.

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The Black and White on Health: Bridging the Gap with Senator Loren Legarda

By: Marielle Siy

The anticipating audience inside UST Hospitals’s Benavides Cancer Institute Auditorium slowly came to a hush as guest speaker Senator Loren Legarda entered the spacious room. The seminar, entitled N’Rich: Boost Your Potentials, is part of the Nursing Week celebration held last November 19, 2010. It tackled contemporary health issues, including those involved in the field of healthcare.

After professing her awe and respect for the University of Santo Tomas as the oldest university in Asia, Sen. Legarda began by outlining the healthcare initiatives that she has proposed along with her colleagues in the senate with the intention of addressing the multifaceted concerns of the citizens and health sectors alike. Among these are the expansion of the coverage of health insurance, increase in the salary grade of health workers, and furthering the involvement of health maintenance organizations (HMO) in promoting the private sector’s participation in healthcare. Despite such measures, she lamented the lack of funds directed towards healthcare, further adding that “the core of any government […] should be meeting the health needs of our people.”

Having graduated as a mass communications student at the University of Manila during Marcos’ era, Sen. Legarda has since then proved her mettle as a journalist, an environmentalist, a political and civic leader, and a legislator. She has co-authored health-related laws like R.A. No. 9502 (Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008) and R.A. No. 9709 (Universal Newborn Hearing Screening and Intervention Act of 2009).

The senator encouraged the College of Nursing to participate in helping to lobby for the passage of proposed bills that are primarily centered on providing quality healthcare for marginalized Filipino children and families. She continues to point out the salience of being involved both as a patient and as an environmental advocate in saying: “In trying to fill in the gap between caring for the environment, providing an adequate healthcare program for the Filipino people, and improving the state of our nursing profession in our country, I endear with you […] to bridge the gap between legislation and policy and actual themes of the Nursing profession in the country today.” Legarda stated that Nursing students have “a big role to play in trying to realize the dream of having a healthy, robust population” as future health care professionals.

By inculcating the value of service as the core of providing quality healthcare, she went on underscoring the importance of selfless commitment and compassion that Nursing graduates should keep in heart. “The task to ensure that all Filipinos have access to universal healthcare is not the duty of the government alone. As future nurses, bear in mind that you have a noble task at hand. Know what you can do best, and seek ways to be of service to your fellowmen,” Legarda said.

During the Question & Answer portion, many issues were raised by the audience apropos to issues like uncompensated nurse-volunteers working under a contractual basis, high monetary demands of affiliated government hospitals, and the overflow of unemployed Nursing graduates. On facing the current situation of job shortages that graduating seniors are confronted with today, the senator said, “Don’t be discouraged by the hurdles that you would encounter along the way. Use that instead to boost your potential in always trying to be the best at your craft. No great man, or woman, ever made history by being mediocre.” With these conclusive words, she graciously thanked her audience and, after a brief moment for picture taking with Dean Glenda Vargas, left as swiftly as she had come.

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Say No to Flab-ulous Holidays

By: Alexandra Mae H. Espinosa

The air is noticeably cooler, and everywhere we look is a view of trees and buildings adorned with thousands of sparkling lights. The most awaited of all holidays is definitely near! Another year is almost over, and every member of the UST College of Nursing is ready to go home for a long vacation to be spent with his/her family.

Surely, any family celebration would never be complete without the platters of scrumptious food laid on the table, as it has been a common practice among Filipinos to prepare large servings of delicacies days before Christmas Eve to readily serve visiting friends and relatives. To a student who had endured months of sleepless nights, and of persistent studying and intense clinical training, the dining table is no lesser than a luxurious feast to the starve-stricken eye.

However, what follows may be a least-friendly digit or two, waiting to be uncovered under the feet – on the weighing scale after New Year. As a solution, these additional pounds can be kept off the scale with the help of a few simple tips to keep in mind.

‘Eat a little of what you want’
Remember that the ideal calorie intake per day is 1400-1500 calories, according to the World Health Organization (although, a more accurate and individualized suggested calorie intake can be computed manually or via mypyramid.gov). Devouring those delightful slices of frosted chocolate chiffon cake all at once may not be the healthiest option. However, it is a vacation, and abstinence is not mandatory. It is needless to be too strict about this. “Do not avoid holiday meals or treats”, says Jodie Lynn, an online health website columnist. “If you try to avoid them, you will regret it. Eat a little of what you want. This is always a good rule of thumb. Eat healthily for six days, and then eat one or two items, holiday snacks or desserts on the seventh”, she added.

Go carolling!
If nibbling impulses are getting hard to resist, another way to achieve a healthy balance between calorie intake and expenditure is to burn extra calories in physical exercise. An example of such would be helping with easy household chores like sweeping, and dishwashing. However, do anything simple enough to get you out of that couch. According to Paul Bright of ehow.com, a person of normal built who walks at normal pace for an hour burns about 136 calories. That’s just like a carolling roundtrip throughout the neighborhood, plus the fun and money!


Get some rest
People feel very preoccupied this time of year because of the reunion celebrations, gift-shopping sprees and kitchen duties that they have to attend to. Stress is definitely not too far away from this scenario. It is important to bear in mind that stress increases secretion of the glucocorticoid, cortisol, which results into more weight gain.

Eating may be our guilty pleasure, a coping mechanism during stressful times. However, it can also be harmful for our health. When we experience toxicity and depression at its finest, our best friend is that ice cream sundae, chocolate bar, creamy iced tea or coffee. Obviously, more sugar or fat intake means more weight gain – unless you put into play a little extra exercise. Take a minute to breathe too, and try to enjoy the occasions as much as you can. That’s what this holiday is all about in the first place.

Splurging into too much food this season is virtually undeniable, if not impossible. So staying away from it is definitely challenging. Every decision counts when it comes to maintaining a healthy diet this coming holiday. Everybody who’s not brave enough to welcome a few pounds on the start of classes better start it right. Happy holidays, Nursing!

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Features: BIPOLAR hits the College of Nursing

After a year of being dormant, the Nursing Chorale (NC) – the official and only chorale ensemble of the UST College of Nursing, once again faced the limelight and hit center stage as they brought to you ‘BIPOLAR: Clash of the Extremes’- the 2009 Nursing Battle of the Acoustic Bands and Nursing Chorale songfest.

Last November 20, 2009, seven qualified bands composed of students from all year levels competed for the championship title at the St. Martin de Porres Cinematorium where they were judged according to originality, creativity, and musicality. But before hitting the stage, the different bands had to go through a rigid screening process under the Nursing Chorale choirmaster, Mr. Emerson Hernandez.

Bipolarity

Bipolar disorder is actually a mental disease characterized by episodes of mania, depression or mixed moods. “The bipolar theme was really from life experiences, I think everybody has experienced a time wherein one moment they feel like they’re in cloud 9 then feel like 6ft. under the ground… I think that’s what the bipolar theme is all about: Showing both sides of the equation, experiencing the extremes”, said Nursing Chorale (NC) President, Micah Danao.

From the very first battle of the bands, the chorale included in its songfest mechanics a “No amplifiers nor any electronic musical instrument allowed” item, producing only plain and simple acoustic music. According to NC Auditor and senior member, Jeremiah Chua (IV-3), “This was to separate it from the NCBS Battle of the Bands who used to have a full band competition”.

Originality speaks

The participating bands were asked to make their own rendition of songs, turning an originally upbeat song to one with a slower tempo and vice versa. Once again, innovative ideas were showcased by the bands coming up with their own version of songs such as Blank Static Screen, Lovedrunk, and PapaPoker (a slower acoustic mix of Lady Gaga’s Paparazzi and Pokerface). The panel of judges was composed of Paolo Villanueva, Angelica Eslava, and Lester Delgado, all hailing from the UST Conservatory of Music.

Overall, the event was a success. Attendance was quite satisfactory. “Actually, the show started with less people than expected but that didn't affect the performance of the chorale. Still, the opening numbers are presented of what was planned: funny, crazy and with class”, says Geneva Langurayan, a junior student. 

The awarding of the event was held in the Big Night. 6 Strings emerged as the champion of the competition while Unprepared and Paracousia were the 1st and 2nd runners-up, respectively. Another band, Tagum, was recognized wuith the People’s Choice Award.

By: Raymond John Naguit

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Features: Fresh from the Chronicles of the Classics: The Search for the Mr. and Ms. Ideal Thomasian Nursing Personality 2009 Takes a Leaf from Literature

It’s the time of the year where beauty and brains meet in one grand affair—the Search for the Ideal Thomasian Nursing Personality 2009 proved itself to be one of the most spectacular events of the recently culminated Nursing Week last November 20.

It was one magnificent evening—a parade of splendor, beauty, grace, wit and charm. During the pre-finals, the original candidates were handpicked through a pre-pageant screening where they displayed their inexplicable charisma and wits before a scrutinizing panel. The long list of twenty-four pageant hopefuls consisted of a cornucopia of freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors. These finalists competed in a battle of presence and intellect as they vied for this year’s most-coveted title of Mr. and Ms. Ideal Thomasian Nursing Personality.

The night was pumped-up with thrill as the spectators gazed once more at the then reigning Mr. & Ms. Ideal Thomasian Nursing Personality 2009—Mr. Vincent Emmanuel Santos (III-9) and Ms. Charmaine Vanessa Chamberlin (IV-3). Both were majestically adorned with classic royal ensemble, escorted each by a dancer carousing in trance-like revelry as they made their entrance. The night was even made more festive by the Nursing Dance Troupe with their interpretative routine, which ended with the emergence of the twenty-four pageant finalists, all dressed-up and in-persona of the literary character that they were to portray with justice. Pageant finalists sashayed across the stage, flawlessly clad in elaborate costumes posing as literary couples paying homage to this year’s theme: Literature.

The program was hosted upstage by Mr. Al Idian of De La Salle University and our very own Ms. Patricia Casas of IV-2. Roving hosts Eunice Abad (III-1) and Issa Perez De Tagle (IV-8) added a cool twist to the program through their conversational spiels with the audience. Gracing the event were pageant winners from the past years, distinguished alumni, and representatives from the various sponsors John Robert Powers, Piso Print, Analog Soul and The Face Shop.

Justin Cagulada (I-4) bagged the award of Best in Talent for his unique and spontaneous dance number during the Talent Night, which was held prior to the coronation night. 

The awards for Best in Theme Wear were won by John Michael Mendoza (III-7), who portrayed Fitzwilliam Darcy of Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”; and Mary Margaret Felix (IV-4), who donned the enchantments of elf-princess Arwen from J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings”. The same pair won the Best in Casual Wear award, sponsored by Analog Soul, and Best in Formal Wear, wherein they both exhibited utter elegance and style in their crisp coat and avant-garde gown. 

Not left behind were Paulo Banzon (III-2) and Jeraika Tio (III-10), winners of the Best in Uniform Award, who exuded the most appeal in their college uniforms. The titles of Mr. and Ms. Congeniality were granted to Gil Joson (I-1)and Ina Kristina Pangan (III-7) for their exemplary amiability towards the other finalists.

Zaphiel Capuno (III-2) and Ina Kristina Pangan (III-7) won the titles of Mr. & Ms. Community Development, for their remarkable participation in the community extension service programs that took place in Marilao, Bulacan days before the event. Pictorial standouts Paulo Banzon (III-2) and Mary Margaret Felix (IV-4) were dubbed as Mr. and Ms. Red Images for delivering their fierce and striking shots during the pictorial hosted by the Red Images, Inc.

Truly, it’s not just fine looks that come to play in the pageant but the brains as well, as a casual question-and-answer segment ensued before the narrowing of the finalists into a chosen few. The finalists were asked to randomly pick a literary character and relate it to themselves. After the top ten finalists were announced, each of the finalists was asked another set of nerve-wracking and challenging questions, which they all answered with grace and substance and on which only a few made their mark. JT Salmon, Zaphiel Capuno, Kim Martin, John Michael Mendoza and Justin Cagulada comprised the Top 5 for the guys, while Jeraika Tio, Ina Kristina Pangan, Marxxandra Magalona, Mary Margaret Felix and Cornelia Joyce Morelos completed the magic list of five for the girls.

During the final question-and-answer portion, each of the finalists was asked to answer a single but wit-provoking question—that is, as to how literature is able to influence both the Nursing profession and the society. All of them were able to answer with poise, elegance and substance, yet certain people answered a cut above the rest.

The final verdict:

2nd Runner-up: Justin Cagulada (I-4) and Marxxandra Magalona (III-6)

1st Runner-up: John Michael Mendoza (III-7) and Mary Margaret Felix (IV-4)

Mr. and Ms. Ideal Thomasian Nursing Personality 2009: Zaphiel Capuno

(III-2) and Cornelia Joyce Morelos (III-7)

Conversely, every contestant proved to be a winner in their own right. The audience attested to that as the entire venue was filled with earsplitting cheers and applauses of students who were tirelessly supporting their favorite candidates.

Truly, this year’s pageant has turned out to be a fruitful endeavor by the Nursing Central Board of Students. Furthermore, it was a soulful reflection of how hard the contestants worked and practiced to make such a successful pageant endearingly possible. It was certainly not a typical Nursing week occurrence; it was a festivity, and of course, a celebration of the Nursing family that was surely something to look forward to next year. 

_____________________________________________________

Here’s a short interview with the newly-crowned Mr. and Ms. Ideal Thomasian Nursing Personalities of 2009, Mr. Zaphiel “Zaph” Capuno and Ms. Cornelia “Lia” Joyce Morelos.

NJ: How does it feel to win the title of Mr. / Ms. Ideal Thomasian Nursing Personality?

Zaph Capuno (ZC): “Medyo pressured kasi parang you need to fit the standard. I didn’t really expect to win the title, akala ko si Jomi (Mendoza) yung mananalo. And nung after kong sumagot, parang pagod na ‘yung crowd, na wala nang nag-rereact. Ganun. But I felt blessed because I wasn’t expecting that I would win. After all, everyone else was at his/her best that night. Being crowned as the Mr. Ideal Thomasian Nursing Personality did not really sink into me, until I realized in the long run that it was both an honor and a challenge, which entails a lot of responsibilities. Yes, I am glad that I won, but really…just the whole experience of preparing and the actual pageant made it already unforgettable.”

Cornelia Morelos (CM): “At first, I was really, really shocked. If you actually saw my expression, you could really see the raw emotions—winning was really THAT unexpected. Being one of the so-called underdogs of the competition, I knew I wasn’t the crowd favorite. I didn’t get any special awards and I wasn’t the most popular person in the group. In fact, I saw myself as an audience than a participant. *laughs* Kidding aside, I feel very blessed. This title has an honor in its bearing that gave me such confidence in myself that I can do so much in my own unique ways, and it felt so rewarding.”

NJ: What do you think is your edge over the other finalists?

ZC: “I think what made me stand out was the fact that I was able to maintain my composure, in a very calm and collected way, even if I was under pressure then. But I believe it was just a small part of that Zaphiel who went onstage. It was really my friends who helped me prepare and get through the whole thing. Without them, I wouldn’t have earned the title at all.”

CM: “Maybe the one thing that’s striking with me was my height, because I am the tallest among the group. Sabi ko, sige…’yung iba sila yung favorite, ‘yung iba they have something unique’. *sigh* But I realized then that what made me stand out amongst the other contestants was the fact that I had a different outlook when it comes to the pageant. I’m not the typical pageant girl. I don’t know anything about pageants. This is the first time that I joined such contest. So I think ‘yung spontaneity ko, in a way na hindi ako rehearsed, was my advantage.”

NJ: Who do you think deserve to win other than yourself and why?

ZC: “For me, lahat naman talaga deserving manalo and nakapag-prepare naman nang maayos for the pageant. I really expected na si Jomi (Mendoza) ang mananalo kasi siya yung parang crowd favorite ‘nun. I think he deserved to win because he was very prepared then. He also carried himself really well onstage.”

CM: “Actually, I believed that everyone in the pageant had ample chances of winning the crown, but I’ve always thought that the one who deserved it was Ate MM Felix. She’s friendly, and the way she projects herself both on stage and during the pictorials and practices showed the true stance of a winner. She was also the crowd-favorite during the coronation night.”

NJ: How did you prepare for the whole pageant? Were there special people involved, or were there some funny moments while you were on the process?

ZC: “My friends helped me prepare for all the stages of the pageant. Some of them helped me choreograph my dance and taught me how to sing properly. Some of them lent me their clothes for my costume and formal wear. I even borrowed Ma’am Libut’s suspenders because mine were too short. Ma’am Gascon and Ma’am Kara also became my makeup artists during the talent night.”

CM: “I remember that before the pageant (coronation) night, while I was so nervous, my mom said to me that I should have fun and just forget the weight of the expenses that we’ve spent for the pageant. ‘Never mind the gastos’, she says. Kasi this event can only be experienced by a selected few—or the so-called chosen ones. *laughs* She told me to just go along with it and enjoy. And what I liked most about the preparations were those gown-fitting sessions—which always made me feel like there’s something special that’s going to happen then—and the practices, as I gained new friends and learned new things too.”

NJ: Have you encountered any difficulties during the pageant?

ZC: “It wasn’t easy preparing for the pageant because of the busy schedule that we had. We are always going home late and had less time to rest. It stressed me out especially since it was my 1st time to join a pageant.”

CM: “I can say that I’m not that graceful as compared to the other participants. I had difficulties in walking and maintaining my poise. Kasi in everyday life, I just walk for the very sake of walking. I didn’t know that there’s an art in walking pala. I also have a lot of nerves because like what I said before, I’m used to being an audience and not the participant.”

NJ: How was it being with the other finalists?

ZC: “Okay naman, masaya to be with other people. It was fun because we had different personalities that seemed to have jived with one other. It was like there wasn’t any competition at all because we were helping each other all the while.”

CM: “Being with the other finalists, I felt no pressure in a way that I saw them as my friends—not as my fellow contenders. During the practices, we developed a kind of closeness that we could compare to that of our relationships with our friends.”

NJ: Now that you’re the reigning Mr. / Ms. Ideal Thomasian Nursing Personality, what could you offer and how would you prepare for the Search for the Thomasian Personality?

ZC: “Right now, I’m updating myself on the different events happening inside and outside of the country. *laughs* Kidding aside, I’m just really taking this time to relax in order to prepare myself for the upcoming pageant.”

CM: “I don’t know what’s going to happen but my friends are extending their help in practicing me with the question and answer portions already. *laughs* I also think that the gift certificate from John Robert Powers would really help me and Zaph with boosting our confidence for the upcoming pageant. I believe that I would be a versatile person then, and this versatility is what I could offer. They could see more of “me”, compared to other participants. Kasi ‘yung iba, they think that you need to fit a certain mold to be a pageant contestant, and I think it should be the opposite.”

By: Demi Molinos, Giselle Cruz and James Manabat

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Features: Of VIBES and VIRTUES: Volunteers Involved in Barangay Empowerment Services

Being part of the Thomasian Nursing Community takes more than just carrying the seal of par excellence in the fields of academics, sports, arts and professional performance. Beyond the UST College of Nursing’s colorful streak of distinctions lie the members’ zeal and heart for community service, mentors and students alike.

Last June 2008, a team of community advocates, well-represented by the student body, faculty, non-faculty and administration members, conceptualized and pioneered a movement that aspired to rekindle the spirit of community service and altruism in the College. The team was headed by newly-appointed Community Service Coordinator Mr. Earl Francis Sumile RN, MAN. It brought about the commencement of the illustrious V.I.B.E.S Tayo! or Volunteers Involved in Barangay Empowerment Services. Together with Mr. Sumile were Mr. Gian Carlo Torres RN, MAN, Ms. Brenda Luy RN, Mr. Ritzmond Loa RN, Mrs. Ma. Victoria Bongar RN, Ms. Selenne Santiago, Ms. Melanie Turingan MA, Mrs. Eleanore Lerma RN, MAN, Mr. Irish Arvin Garcia RN, Mr. Robel Dabandan RN, and Ms. Maila Relos.

VIBES Tayo! is the official community development movement of the UST College of Nursing. This movement aims to mobilize the members of the College to become part of the VIBES team and a participant in the different community development programs organized by the core group. “We want to mobilize Thomasian Nursing students, faculty and even the non-faculty members to get involved in community development programs and to be able to practice charity in theology and carry out compassion as taught in Nursing”, Mr. Sumile said. 

VIBES membership doesn’t require a tedious process. It only takes one’s effort, time and heart for volunteerism to get qualified in this movement. The students, faculty and non-faculty volunteers commit in this movement to bring about changes in the college’s partner-communities in Marilao, Bulacan, namely Brgy. Santa Rosa Dos, Tibagan and Brgy. 4B Northville, Lambakin, by implementing different programs that would generate independence among the people and assist in providing sustainable development.

During its 1st year, VIBES was able to successfully execute a multitude of programs for the College’s partner-communities. A few of these programs are “Pulong-Tulong sa Pagsulong”, “Kape at Pandasal”, Barangay Health Workers’ Training Recollection and the memorable “Binyagan sa Barangay”.

After 17 months since its foundation in the College, VIBES has truly gone far-off as expected. A list of programs was successfully pulled off during the 1st half of the academic year. VIBES opened the year with SYNERGIZE, a program that brought the leaders of both community and the College of Nursing student organizations together to develop a matrix of programs, inclined to address the immediate needs of the community. After SYNERGIZE, the VIBES team in collaboration with PAX ROMANA-Nursing Unit and the Faculty of Philosophy Student Council opened the Block Rosary that aimed to strengthen the spirituality of the members of the community. 

After a flourishing start for our partner communities came a tragic ricochet caused by typhoon Ondoy. The “9-26 incident” literally hit not only the Metro by storm, but also nearby provinces around the area. After seeing the need for more relief for our brothers and sisters living in different Ondoy hotspots, the VIBES team, in cooperation with the Nursing Central Board of Students (NCBS), organized a relief operation for Barangay 4B Northville, Lambakin, Marilao, Bulacan and for our co-Thomasians as well. VIBES was able to deliver a total of 1,700 relief goods to the families of Brgy. Lambakin.

Besides the mission to imbibe the spirit of charity among its members, VIBES spearheaded two medical missions for the different communities in Bulacan. The first one was in cooperation with the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery Student Council (FMS-SC) while the latter tagged Prophylaxis: A Call to Health Awareness. The said project was a joint effort of the NCBS, the VIBES team and the volunteer doctors namely Dr. Jude Guiang, Dr. Charito Malong-Francisco, Dr. Jesus Lerma, Dr. Kirby Navarete, and Dr. Voltaire Garcia. 

Joining the VIBES core group this academic year (2009-2010) are Prof. Elmer Hibek Ph.D, Mr. John Vincent Ignacio MA, NCBS Asst. Treasurer Royce Jasper Ong, and NCBS Socio-Civic Committee Head. Francis Cervantes.

Our journey as a Nursing community towards excellent health care delivery is never bound within the limits of the quality of education, research and facilities we have. We hold on to our ideals and continue to serve as springboards of change, of charity, of Christianity and of good “VIBES”—not just for ourselves or for the University, but also for the betterment of the community. 

By Nielson Dane D. Gustilo

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Features: LTC: student leaders transcend expectations

For the past years, leadership training seminars were held annually in the UST College of Nursing. For the AY 2009-2010, the Nursing Central Board of Students (NCBS) prepared a more challenging and more motivating series of events for this year’s 3-day Leadership Training Camp (LTC) entitled “Transcend: Going Above and Beyond the Call of Duty”.

Last August 7, 2009, the NCBS gathered all the participants for the seminar in the Nursing Auditorium and gave them a taste of what’s in store for them in the next few days as they were given a rundown of the activities and the speakers that will hopefully inspire them to be better leaders. To ensure an orderly and fruitful occasion, rules and agendas for the camp activities were also presented that afternoon. At the same time, the participants were already randomly divided into twelve teams with a team color assigned to each.

On the day of the departure, the student leaders gathered as early as 5 AM and arrived at Caliraya, Laguna by 10 AM. After everyone has settled down, Mr. Michael Angelo Malicsi, Executive Secretary to the Rector of the University of Santo Tomas, began the seminar with a speech on “Acceptance” wherein he focused on acceptance in love, death, failure and identity. According to him, everything begins with acceptance, especially before we begin to “believe”. Acceptance is the most important in love, death, failure and identity. He further added that we must refuse to measure ourselves to other people’s expectations in order for us to accept ourselves.

This was then followed by the lecture about “Believing” presented by Mr. John Vincent Ignacio, Chief Executive Officer of Alchemists, Inc., a group that aims to empower students through self-awareness by delivering an inspirational talk. Mr. Ignacio mentioned that since we can’t control our environment, it is important for us to assess our own behavior (which is the easiest to change since it only involves ourselves), attitudes and beliefs, which will eventually lead us to change ourselves.

After the talk, the Amazing Race took place. Focused on a moral about leadership, each station prepared for the participants had tasks to be carried out. They used the point system, wherein merits and demerits were given according to how well the tasks were performed. This was used to determine the winning team of the race and of the other camp activities.

According to Mr. Gian Carlo Sy Torres, RN, MAN, the adviser of the NCBS, teamwork was established throughout the activities. The proof, he said, was seen when the participants were grouped randomly. Most of them didn’t know one another; however, they bonded and they became very supportive of one another in every task they performed. He also emphasized that “every moment is a choice”, and this was the focus of the race because decision-making is an important skill that every student leader needs to develop.

Thereafter, a socialization party followed

A socialization party, where each team was given a chance to perform, capturing everyone’s attention, then took place that same night.

The following day, Mr. Torres discussed the significance of every station in the Amazing Race and how it represented the participants’ decision-making as a team and as leaders. Afterwards, a video presentation in honor of the late President Corazon Aquino was shown, followed by a moment of silence and prayer.

Assoc. Prof. Glenda Vargas, RN, MAN, the Dean of the UST College of Nursing, graced the event for the “Dialogue with the Dean,” where she had a forum with the well-represented student leaders to hear out their concerns. As student advocates, the student leaders of the UST College of Nursing were able to raise a number of subject matters, which Dean Vargas assured to evaluate and take action. One of these concerns was regarding the loyalty of the nursing students to the university. Mr. Torres commented that although they may launch projects to instill loyalty unto the students, the rest is still up to their willingness, dedication, passion and support.

Upon arriving at UST, the participants attended the Sunday mass at the Santissimo Rosario Parish.

But the activities didn’t end there. The last guest speaker was not able to attend the series of events in Laguna; however, it was arranged that on the afternoon of August 10, 2009, the third and last address will be presented. The Assistant to the Rector for Student Affairs, Assoc. Prof. Cristina Castro-Cabral, Ph.D., delivered an inspirational talk to the LTC participants who gathered at the Nursing Auditorium. She presented a lecture on the subject of “Dare”.  According to Dr. Cabral, we should dare to love because leadership is about life and molding it—and in life, we obtain wounds and these show that we love. “Mad generosity is what leaders must exemplify in order to express true love to those whom leaders serve,” says Dr. Cabral. She reminded us that since we are substantially vulnerable, then we can be courageous. Also, Dr. Cabral pointed out that Thomasians should be proud of their university; and, she observed that this is manifested in the UAAP games wherein whether win or lose, Thomasians stay until the end of the game to sing the university song.

At the end of the seminar, the Yellow team, composed of Jeremiah Chua, Kathleen Cruz, Lara Jane Ferrer, Paula Evangelista, Kiam Tadle, Philias Sajor, Joshua Nocom, Michael Cruz and Joseph Steven Macaraig, emerged as the overall champion.

As the LTC finally came to a close, a great credit was given to the NCBS, who had been very resourceful and flexible in delivering a successful event. It ended with a hope that all the students would put to heart the theme of the event: lead on and serve going above and beyond the call of duty.

Accept. Believe. Choose. Dare.

By: Zanria Harilen J. Cabreros

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Features: InTENsified Counseling: The Ma’am TEN Way

The science of human psyche and behavior goes hand-in-hand with academic performance – all the time.

As nurses-in-the-making, we feel the need to create a balance between a busy mind and a positive mentality to function well as a healthy person. Given the hectic schedule nursing students have, not to mention the sometimes grueling school work, there arises a need for someone who can help us pull through with our problems.

We are talking about no other than our new guidance counselor, Ms. Christine Garinganao. A licensed guidance counselor and a full-pledged Thomasian herself, she completed her high school education at the UST High School and finished B.S. Psychology at the UST-College of Science. She is currently taking up her Masteral of Arts in Psychology at the UST Graduate School. Both the juniors and seniors, whom she now handles, could reach her at her office in Room 408, while the freshmen and the sophomores are still under the supervision of Ma’am Nette Cervantes.

Ma’am Ten, as she prefers to be called, didn’t really have Psychology as her first choice when she enrolled for college here in the University of Santo Tomas. Being a graduate of UST High School, she garnered a GPA that allowed her to choose from a roster of study programs. Ma’am Ten narrates, “At first, I chose to go for Engineering since I really idolize my father who is an engineer. But when I saw the subjects that I’m going to take, I told myself, ‘Puro Math! Baka hindi ko ito kayanin!’ So I had a discussion with my parents and they wanted me to take Medicine. They suggested that I should take Psychology because according to them, if ever I won’t be a successful doctor; I will still have a fallback as a Psychology degree-holder. I could work at a human resources department or as a guidance counselor in a school”. So I took their advice and enrolled at the College of Science, keeping in mind that I’ll pursue Medicine. When I was on my last year in college, parang ayaw ko nang mag-Med, so when I graduated I applied here in the university and I was hired as a guidance counselor”. She had been the guidance counselor of the College of Education, and of the College of Rehabilitation Sciences before she landed a spot here in the College of Nursing.

When asked about her first impression of the students in the College of Nursing, she said that she thought that the nursing students do not have time for activities other than academic activities. But the moment she took on the job, she could not prove herself any more wrong. In fact, she has seen how active the students are in their extra-curricular engagements during the organization fair – right on her very first day of work. Happy about what she found out, she became even more eager to work with the students and thus, has now began devising her plans and goals for this school year.

She hopes to reach out to as many students as possible and to invest time on getting to know more about the college. Moreover, the Guidance and Counseling Department has quite a number of special programs for every student’s counseling concerns. Among them are: Empowerment Program for STAR (Students at Risk), Life Enrichment Program for Children of Single Parent Families (including Migrant Parents – OFW), The Achiever’s Program (UST-TAP), Freshmen Academic Competence Enhancement (F.A.C.E.), Leadership Workshop, Career Seminar Series (CarSem) and Roadmap to Self-Discovery.

She relates: “As agreed upon, our office will focus on the Peer Facilitators Training Program and the Career Seminar Series. Of course, this will only be successful if there would be active participation from our students. Some of the services that we also hope to work on are the testing and research. As of this time, we have already conducted our testing program and we intend to give it to all year levels.”

With regards to the Peer Facilitators Training Program, Ma’am Ten would like to invite the students to be, as the program suggests, peer facilitators. The program is geared towards developing student facilitators through various seminars and sessions and referring students who are in need of assistance for counseling. The premise is that, since these student facilitators are close to their peers or to the students per se, they would be able to foster a sense of guidance and serve as a helping hand to the student body. As the extension arm of the guidance and counseling department, the peer facilitators would help in the promotion of the said department’s services, such as the taking personality tests that cater most especially to students who wants to know themselves more. Ma’am Ten said that her department plans to gather the different peer facilitators from various colleges so that they may interact with each other and share their experiences and gain more insight.

Ma’am Ten’s personal goals for her inception as a guidance counselor in the College of Nursing are focused on providing the different services to the third year and fourth year students. She said that she is still in the adjustment stage, testing the waters, and that the appraisal tests will help her start the provision of guidance services to the students.

Other than being a guidance counselor, Ma’am Ten hasn’t tried other jobs in line with her field. She says, “I won’t stay in this career for so long if I’m not happy with it. My profession is a helping profession - just like nursing. Iba ‘yung fulfillment that you are able to help others. The reward is not tangible but it is something that you can bring with you as you nurture your life as a person”.

Though she has just spent a few months in our college, Ms. Garinganao already has something to say about its students. She said that the students, faculty, administration and support staff show respect and concern for each other, emitting positive vibes that produce a warm atmosphere within the institution.

“We have intelligent and diligent students who remain humble despite their achievements. I believe that it’s a meaningful value that our students here possess” remarked Ms. Garinganao.

Looking forward to know the Thomasian Nursing Community and ever glad to be of assistance, Ms. Garinganao is encouraging students to visit their offices and to avail the different programs and services that are being provided. She is indeed excited to finally commence on implementing the programs their department has planned on. She said that she is happy to be with people whom she deems easy and pleasurable to work with. As much as you are happy to work in our college, we, the Thomasian Nursing students feel lucky and equally happy to welcome you to the College of Nursing Community as our new guidance counselor!

***Fun Facts

“I studied Spanish and German at Goethe Institut though I’m not fluent with it”.

“I have a dog named Ashley who is a mix of a shih tzu and a terrier”

“I’ve already climbed Mt. Pulag with my co-guidance counselors”

“The different college week intermissions numbers are one of the most unforgettable moments in my career as a guidance counselor”

By: Giselle Cruz and James Manabat

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