Posting the letter of Arellano University CHAIRMAN AND CEO FRANCISCO P.V. CAYCO TO THE EDITOR OF THE PHILIPPINE STAR. This is in line with an article in the Philippine star , November 25, 2009 issue,

“A total of 152 nursing schools face closure for registering poor passing percentages in the nursing licensure examinations over the past five years.

However, Emmanuel Angeles, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chairman, said the 152 nursing schools will be given another chance in next year’s nursing examinations.

Metro Manila has the most number of erring schools among the 152 poor performing schools: Arellano University-Manila, Arellano University-Pasay….. “

CHAIRMAN AND CEO FRANCISCO P.V. CAYCO WRITES A LETTER TO THE EDITOR OF THE PHILIPPINE STAR

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

This has reference to the article in the November 25, 2009 issue of The Philippine Star entitled 152 nursing schools face closure for poor board performance and the subsequent article of November 28, 2009 bannered CHED list of poorly performing nursing schools questioned, both written by Rainier Allan Ronda, which included Arellano University Manila and Pasay in the list. We take strong exceptions to both printed articles for being factually misplaced and inaccurate! Foremost, Arellano University has a long standing legacy of nursing education in the Philippines having an established and recognized nursing program since 1954.

Our College of Nursing in Manila is Level I Formal accredited where it enjoys a deregulated status conferred jointly by CHED and PACUCOA, for having passed the stringent criteria over and above the minimum educational standards required by the government in areas of faculty, instruction, library, physical facilities, laboratories, student personnel services and student assistance program.

Inspite of the plea of CHED and no less than President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the University froze its tuition fees in the last 3 years to enable student to gain access to affordable quality education. With the conviction that quality education should be accorded to all who seeks the same, the University has an open admission policy but maintains its academic standards through selective retention. Our tuitions fees are currently less than Php 700.00 per unit, one of the lowest for private college education in the industry which through efficient and cost effective management still allows us to produce world class nurses.

Since 2008, we produced several nursing graduates who placed in the top 10 in the Nursing Licensure Exams in the persons of Roberto Asuncion (5th place), Paul Fabian Gumabao (9th place), and Michelle Alejandro Barberan (3rd place), plus many more who landed in the top 25 placers. We have as of last known count 11 of our nursing graduates who recently were appointed as deans of various nursing schools in Metro Manila as well as substantial numbers of Chief Nurses in private and government hospitals both here and abroad.

Our record and history speak for itself because we have earned success and respect in the nursing profession. Our worldwide alumni and the accomplishments they have achieved is a testimony to the quality of education we have given them. Our College of Nursing is an institution in the health care industry both here and abroad. We have established a name and reputation which we are proud of and which we will die for because we have earned them through hard work, honesty and integrity.

This is precisely what we are fighting for when you published your November 25, 2009 article which we strongly claim has no factual and legal basis considering the series of CHED pronouncements, contained in a number of issuances including CHED Memo No. 14 dated April 28, 2009 and Resolution No. 378-2009 dated October 2, 2009, where the standards for poor performance are clearly outlined and the parameters defined. Clearly, this does not include Arellano University.

It is regrettable that the rejoinder in your article of November 28, 2009 did not carry the essence and most salient points of the discussions we had with your reporter, Rainier Allan Ronda who presented it out of context.

The distorted and irresponsible report has caused tremendous anxiety among our stakeholders, administrators, faculty members, alumni, students, parents and our entire University community. The implication it created in the minds of the public has caused enormous damage to the University’s reputation and goodwill which could have been averted by the simple act of understanding, verifying and ascertaining the facts prior to printing.

Arellano University remains committed to provide equitable access to quality education as we have always done so in the past and stand firm on the fundamental principles of excellence and high educational standards that the founder of this University has ingrained in all of us as a tradition.

FRANCISCO P.V. CAYCO

Chairman and CEO- Arellano University

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Simbang gabi with a twist, attended the last “simbang gabi” in Kapamgpangan  held at San Guillermo Parish Church in Bacolor, Pampanga with Jeric, and Dianne for the Eden Keso de Gallo. The traditional Misa de Gallo, was highlighted with a featured dish  “Cheesy Squash Puto “ which was served as a treat to the churchgoers after the mass.

San Guillermo Parish, Bacolor, Pampanga

Kraft Eden Cheese aimed to bring back the joy and faith of Filipinos during this festive occasion.  The well-loved cheese brand launched the Keso de Gallo - a nationwide event coinciding with the traditionally celebrated Misa de Gallo (a Catholic Christmas tradition wherein nine dawn masses are held starting December 16, which will culminate on Christmas Eve).

Parallel to the nine-day Simbang Gabi, Eden brought the goodness of Filipino dishes to Pinoys in nine different towns including Bacolod City, Iloilo, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu City, Naga, Butuan City, Laoag and Pampanga.

At least 300 “kabalens” enjoyed the “Cheesy Squash Puto” a recipe done by pupils from the San Matias Elementary School in Pampanga.

Kraft Eden Cheese Squash Puto

Squash Puto (Pampanga)

Ingredients:

2 ¼ cup squash, cooked and mashed

3 ¼ cup all purpose flour, sifted

1 ½ cup washed sugar

4 tbsp baking powder

1 bar Eden Cheese

½ cup margarine, melted

1 ½ cup butter milk

8 pcs. eggs, medium, beaten

1 tbsp. vanilla

2 cups water

Procedure:

1. Combine all dry ingredients together.
2. Make a well at the center and add the liquid ingredients.
3. Blend until smooth.
4. Add smashed squash and grated cheese. Mix well.
5. Pour mixture in a molder.
6. Steam for 45 minutes.

“With Eden cheese, we will explore the wonders of our country’s cuisine while providing an extended feast that will bring joy and delight to as many families as possible,” says Alex Tacderas, Category Marketing Manager for Cheese and Spoonables, Kraft Foods Philippines.

For more recipe with Eden Cheese, visit http://www.sarapngbuhay.com.

P.S

This Christmas I had the chance to connect to the roots of my DAD this Christmas. Attending mass said in  Kapampangan dialect  and reminiscing the culture and traditions of Kapampangan during Christmas. How I wish I were fluent in the dialect.

Thanks to Kraft Eden Cheese, and Keso de Gallo, I felt my Christmas was complete. The Keso de Gallo  in San Guillermo Parish Church in Bacolor Pampanga event will be in our memories for a long time.

The Keso de Gallo experience was our topic during the family gathering we had on Christmas Day.

The Philippine Academy of Dermatologic Foundation Inc., (PADSFI) will hold its 9th Annual Convention on February 11, 12, 2009 at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel, Mandaluyong City , Philippines.

Its theme for this year’s convention is “Masters 101, Cutting Edge in Dermatologic Surgery” and topics covered will be;

o Facial Rejuvenation with Facial aging Agents
o Optimal Non-surgical Combinations for aging gracefully
o Principle of Basic Dematologic Surgery
o Light Energy, lasers and Radio frequency devices
o Phlebology
o Liposuction and Fat transfer

Officers of the The Philippine Academy of Dermatologic Foundation, 9th Annual Convention are Isabel Lopez-Nazal , MD. President, and the Congress President is Maria Lourdes Uyehara-Scher, MD.

To more information, please contact any of the following

Email padsfi@yahoo.com/ padsfi09@yahoo.com
0922-888-1743 / 0926-671-7922 / 0918-268-8988

The College of Nursing in Arellano University in Pasay had their year-end activities such as the Nursing week and Faculty Christmas Party.

The Mr. and Miss Nightingale 2009 Contest highlighted the nursing week celebration, which was participated by students from all year levels. It was a night of fun at the same time a welcome respite from schoolwork for the students. The officers and members of the Arellano University Pasay Nursing society spearheaded in organizing the different activities like the basketball, volleyball, quiz bee and singing contest.

Here are of the photos taken during the Mr and Miss Nightingale 2009 of Arellano University Pasay, College of Nursing.

A week before Christmas the faculty members of the Arellano University Pasay, College of Nursing had their Christmas party. It was a fun filled day, eating the sumptuous lunch, funny games, gift giving and dancing.

The mood at the party venue was so exhilarating. It was indeed a merry, merry Christmas party.

What is in the minds of Filipino children? Are Filipino kids ready to be independent? A simple task  for 100 kids , what are they going to do with 500 pesos on hand?

One hundred school age children were gathered and were made to choose from a makeshift shopping paradise with extensive range of toys, school supplies, and snacks and other options like a charity box where they can donate the money or the alternative for them to save the money they received.

As they were making their choices, their parents were asked the question “ What do you think your child would purchase? “More than 50 % of the mothers expected their kids to buy toys and snacks, with the belief that they were too young for responsible decisions.

The result …. Ninety-nine out of one hundred children saved most of their money. Many donated to charity. Half of them purchased items for school. One child indeed spent all of his money on food and toys – but to give as gifts to his brothers and sisters.

To learn more, watch Tang’s “Do you know kids?” social experiment video by logging on to http://www.knowkids.org.ph/ and share the surprise!

Looking back….

I used to give my kids their “baon” everyday during their school age years. I try to give them more than enough but not to the point of being luxurious. As I looked back and reflect about this experiment, based on my own experience, my kids really learned how to save and prioritize on how they would spend their money. As I would always asked if they would have peso bills to change my 100 or 500 peso bill, they would have the money. There was never a time when their wallets were empty. This proved that they saving money.

Now that they are grown ups, their “baon” is on a weekly basis, again a little over than the usual but not luxurious and outcome is they don’t ask for extra money to spend on other school needs or money for out of school activities. Fairly they have learned to manage their money wisely.

They have applied for their ATM’s and we are experimenting if they will be beneficial for them and me.

Again, know about the Filipino kid independence, log to http://www.knowkids.org.ph/

Anchor butter has been part of our breakfast table since I was a kid. Since I grew up in a family who love to cook and eat, Anchor butter was always there to add flavor to every meal. Anchor butter in pandesal, “ube halaya”, “nilagang mais”, hot cake, “ bibingka”, puto bumbong , and polvoron are some of the food that I used Anchor butter a lot. It was always there in our grocery basket and fridge.

Food Bloggers take center stage in testing their culinary skills in a cook fest  “The Connoisseur Duel: The Grand Food Battle” sponsored by Anchor at the Magsaysay Institute of Hospitality and Culinary Arts (Walter Mart Makati) held last November 26, 2009.

Donning our chef’s hat and apron, we cooked several tasting dishes, our very own cooking masterpiece. Both the yellow and Red teams braced the 50-minute challenge of cooking three kinds of dish using the different Anchor products.

All of these cooking activities were done at Magsaysay Institute of Hospitality and Culinary Arts. MIHCA production kitchen is essentially a “playground” for us bloggers where we unleash our creativity in cooking though no formal training. We had full access to world-class equipment and materials, oven, cooking pans and utensils.

I was lucky to be a member of the Yellow team that prepared “Mum’s sopas”, main dish of fried Dory fish with white sauce, fruit salad and sweetened ladyfingers. We did have a great time, enjoying the whole process cooking and making the food presentable to the panel of judges; Leah Barin, Food Service Manager, Fonterra Brands; Juan Miguel Borja, Senior Chef Instructor at MIHCA ; Dorothy Ferreira, well-respected pastry chef and culinary teacher. The entire dishes used Anchor butter and Anchor Culinary cream.

Anchor shares to us secrets of great cooking; some recipes are passed on from generation to generation, others new creations. Visit http//www. AnchorRecipes.com; for these are recipes that are guaranteed to be delicious as these are made only with ANCHOR BUTTER as well as other Anchor/Fonterra products.

Anchor ….Taste is truly our passion!

It has been the custom of St Mary’s Academy Caloocan my kid’s school to hold their family day affair sponsored by the Family Council. I must admit I am not so much in attending school activities, but come to think of it, it might be one of the last family day affairs that I’ll be attending, since Roxanne, my youngest is in third year high school.

I roam around St Mary’s Academy Caloocan and took pictures of students in their various activities with their parents. I felt quite sad though because I miss those times, when my kids were young. I felt I was not able to capture those years in their life, where I was so busy working singlehandedly in order to provide for them.

On one hand I felt proud, my efforts were rewarded for what they are now.

Want to be a shopaholic for a day? I did for only 2 hours at the World Bazaar Festival 2009 at World Trade Center.

An alternative to malls, no long queue at the cashier, various products in one roof, lots of one of a kind finds, cheaper price, a pinoy atmosphere and you get to see showbiz celebrities.

Part of the proceeds of the World Bazaar 2009 will be donated to the project Kapit Bisig sa Ilog Pasig, which aims to rehabilitate the 17 kilometer Pasig river system.

World Bazaar festival 2009 at World Trade Center was made possible through partnership of Worldbex and ABS-CBN network.

for the schedule of activities and more info click here.