Direction and vigor in student activities

Media

Part of The Carolinian

Title: Direction and vigor in student activities
Creator: Maximo, Gerardo C.
Language: English
Year: 1964
Rights
Fulltext: OUTGOING OFFICERS Sitting, left to right: Samuel Sagario, Auditor; Gerardo C. Maxino, President; Prof. Julian Jumalon, Adviser; Rev. Fr. Luis E. Schonfeld, SVD, Secretary of Student Affairs; Ma. Paz C. Corrales, Treasurer; and, Liduvino Millares, Vice-President. Standing, left to right: Carlos Bandalan, Coordinating Officer and PRO; Cesar Corazo, Jr., Executive Officer; Quirico Castro, Liaison Officer and Vice-Chairman, Committee on Constitution, By-Laws and Regulations; Mamerto Espartero, Chairman, Committee on Constitution, By-Laws and Regulations; Lorenzo Medilo, PRO; and, Roger Penalosa. PRO. Not in the picture: Glen Rodriguez, Secretary; Necito Lim, PRO; Antonio Yabut, Performance Officer; and Prof. Jane Kintanar, Adviser. Not with the glamor of an induction ball but with the urgency of a mission was the Lectio et Discussio Fellowship born. It saw that social affairs hugged a big portion of student activities; it went out to show that academic activities should be the meat and not a mere spice in organizational hub and bustle. It took shape not in a breakfast conference or over a cup of coffee but in a bedroom in the stillness of the night; yet, it came into being with the vigor of idea and eagerness of purpose. These latter two were so electrifying that Gerardo C. Maxino and Carlos Bandalan could not wait for the morrow ; they sought out right in the night Samuel Sagario and Franklin Fernandez and discussed plans of organizing The Fellowship. Then and there The Fellowship was born. Together with Joaquin Ouano, Jr., Casiano Datiles, and Liduvino Millares, they formally organized the society on February 19. 1963. In less than a month, The Fellowship dished out its first activity: a lecture by Engr. Benedicto Supremo on “Electronic Computers.” Since the The Fellowship has grown and bristled with activities; but it has never lost its sense of direction. As embodied in its Constitution, The Fellowship aims to stimulate intellectual growth primarily through lectures and discussions. It is designed to promote general education, unveil hidden talents, provide avenues for selfimprovement, and to generate wholesome camaraderie. A good balance between specializINCOMING OFFICERS Sitting, left to right: Carlos Bandalan, Vice-President; Cesar Corazo, Jr., President; Prof. Julian Jumalon, Adviser; Rev. Fr. Luis E. Schonfeld, SVD, Secretary of Student Affairs; Yolanda Te, Secretary; and, Leticia Lao, Treasurer. Standing, left to right: Mamerto Espartero, Chairman, Committee on Constitution, By-Laws and Regulations; Quirico Castro, Vice-Chairman, Committee on Constitution, By-Laws and Regulations; and, Roger Penalosa, PRO. Not in the picture: Prof. Jane Kintanar, Adviser. Direction And Vigor In Student Activities by GERARDO C. MAXINO ed training and general education must be maintained. Although the former has its advantages in efficiency and greater know-how in a particular field; yet, the danger of intellectual isolation where one is unaware of the progress in other fields and consequently fails to coordinate his work with that of others poses a real problem. One should never be contented with compartmentalized education alone. The Fellowship sees this. As an inter-departmental organization, it has members studying in the different fields of learning. Through THE CAROLINIAN Poge 20 SUMMER ISSUE 1964 lectures and discussions, each member imparts his knowledge to and learns from others. In this way, he improves in his specialized field and he gets a look over the shoulders into the other fields. To this end, The Fellowship has initiated a 5 o’clock Club limited to members who meet almost daily at five o’clock in the afternoon. There the members take turns in giving informal talks. It holds a monthly colloquium or a discussion session on a range of subjects. The organization also invites authorities to give lectures on their chosen field. Thus, the aims of stimulating intellectual growth and promoting general education are brought into fruition. To unveil hidden talents, the members are exposed to a wide range of activities an<t interest. Members are encouraged to participate in varied activities and explore different interests. In this way, avenues for self-improvement are provided for. The Fellowship does not confine itself to books. It also takes interest in the arts, in music, in forensics, and in many others. The organization is not a mere mass of curiosity-seekers flocking together, but it is a brotherhood, a closely-knit society where members mutually give and take. Indeed, it has the atmosphere of true and wholesome fellowship. While it keeps its doors wide open, it resists the temptation of large membership. At present, it has only around thirty active members. What has The Fellowship done in its short span of existence? What it has done may not be colossal and spectacular but certainly worthwhile. It has sponsored lectures. Among them were “Lepidoptera Mosaic” by Prof. Julian Jumalon, President, Lepidoptera Society of the Philippines, and “The Weather” by Prof. Alejandro Tantoco, Head, Cebu Office, Weather Bureau. It has sponsored an annual inter-departmental Quiz-Bowl Contest. It held a recognition ceremony where Certificates of Appreciation were awarded to those who had helped attain its objectives and Certificates of Merit to eleven of its members for scholastic excellence during the two preceding semesters. To be repetitious, it has had the 5 o’clock Club with its almost daily session, and it has initiated a monthly colloquium. All work and no play, they say, makes Jack a dull boy. And so The Fellowship went out in a combined historical tour of Mactan Island and excursion to Marigondon beach. It gathered together too at the Audio-Visual Center (Continued on page 22) THE ART OF SAYING IMU by LOURDES A. HERMIAS NO is but a quaint word in the English language, yet it can inject endless sorrows to the heart more than any other word. It can hurt feelings and create ill-will and indifference. It can break hearts as well as topple castles in the air. You see how a child reacts when his mother gives a firm "No" to his childish whims and caprices. Being unsatisfied, the child makes use of his tactics — from hugs to kisses to his ultimate resort — tears, but to no avail. Watch how a forlorn lover blankly, desperately and longingly gazes at a seemingly murky heaven because he has been denied the most wonderful thing one can never have. And just how would you feel yourself if someone gives your petition the flat brush-off especially when you have reasons to believe that it doesn’t deserve such? Surely, there would be an intolerable sting within you, more often than not followed by a feeling of disgust for the person who deprived you of your desire. These are but a few illustrations of a person's reaction to a "No". However, this is not so astonishing since a person always wants to get what he desires at any cost, by any means. It is a bit comforting that above this desire is a person’s sense of duty to refrain, at least, from hurting his fellow creature and if possible, to lend him a helping hand and please him in one way or the other. One doesn't want to say "No", much less be its recipient. This is, however, impossible since actually, a person cannot have all he desires. A person may say "No" because he deems it right to refuse since the effects may prove detrimental to his well-being as well as to others, or he may say "No" to express his incapability to undertake a task or a favor. In either case, he has to say "No." Nevertheless, something can be done to counteract the painful effect of a "No". What one needs is tact. As yet, you may or may not have developed this tact, this art of saying "No" with or without just a small degree of hurt. It is worthwhile developing. And this is how you may start. As a paratrooper uses a parachute to save himself from a deadly, direct fall, give a person a buffer to cushion the impact of your "No." Do not just bat an eyelash, shake your head and say "No" coldly. Graciously tell him why you have to say "No." Give him not mere reasons but real, logical, convincing reasons, not excuses, for these won't do any good. Use words that express the positive rather than words that are austere and stabbing. Make him feel that you are sincerely sorry and that you don't really mean to hurt him. He will know by your voice and facial expression. Furthermore, offer him any assistance that may compensate for your "No." If there is nothing you can do, then a gracious smile, an assuring pat on the shoulder or a friendly handclasp will do much to soothe the ache. Saying "No" with tact and graciousness will be an asset to your personality. You'll find yourself making real friends more and hurting your fellow men less. THE CAROLINIAN Page 21 SUMMER ISSUE 1964 EXIT A GREAT RECTOR (Continued from page 3) an excursion. And he considered this a wonderful way to relax. These efforts to better the living conditions of his fellowmen, Father Rigney would gladly have done even if had not embraced the priesthood. From first hand experience, he knows full well man’s inhumanity to man, and he would do everything in the world to avert this sad fact. At 63, the outgoing rector is still a vigorous and energetic man. After leaving San Carlos University, he will proceed to England where he will make an extensive research on Vertebrate Paleontology. Perhaps he will stay there from three to six months, after which he will fly to his native Chicago land. During the four years of his rectorship at the University of San Carlos, he has expressed great faith in the capacity of the University to carry out the ideals of Catholic Education in the regions outside of Manila. He said: “This school has a noble tradition to uphold because it is the oldest existing school in the whole Republic.” And he places this task on the Carolinians who have faith in Catholic Education. His desire to foster better education not only in Cebu but throughout the South is indeed one of the marks this man will be remembered for. To achieve this aim, he has looked to the future, to what will happen tomorrow, to the changes and reforms it will bring. In his speech at St. Theresa’s College, Manila, on the occasion of “The Catholic Educational Week, August 18-24, Fr. Rector urged the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines to care not only for the education of today but that of tomorrow. “We are living in an age of unprecedented developments and changes in many fields,” he decclared. “Schools must be aware of these changes and reform their educational patterns to meet them.” He expects Catholic schools all ovei’ the world, including the Philippines, as a large section in the field of education, to play their part in the program. To really show his intense desire to achieve these aims, Fr. Rigney wrote a paper entitled: “Catholic Education of the Philippines Must Gear Itself for Scientific Tomorrow,” the main text of which was published in the March 1964 issue of the Carolinian in which he stated in conclusion: “We hardly can hope to regain this lost leadership, but we should catch up with and join the leaders of the Scientific Age of Tomorrow. We can do this with proper planning and sacrifices, with understanding on the part of the Government, with the help of our friends in industry.” While Fr. Rigney is concerned about the schools, he is also deeply concerned about the students, and especially those of San Carlos University. “Of course, we need more men students.” And the writer queried, “Why?” “Well, haven’t you observed how many the girls are. Don’t you like a holiday?” he had quipped. For a more progressive and intellectually University, he wants the students not only to absorb what is contained in the books, but also to practice better what they learn. And for this he needs “student leaders.” However, he does not qualify the term “student leader” exclusively as the Grand Akan, the Supreme Exemplar of the Delta Eta Phi, the President of the Portia Club or the AB organization. Much less does he mean the President of the Supreme Student Council of the school, or the Editor of the school magazine. “He can be a mere member of an organization who has the capacity to work like a dog, cooperative, one who looks to the future and not back at the past, one who gives a good example in what he says and what he does,” he declared. Like other rectors of the past, Fr. Rigney is friendly and hardworking. To mention all his achievements would be difficult, but worthy of mention here is the fact that his pet project, the San Carlos Center, will still operate under the direction of Reverend Father Mamawal. Before he left he announced to all his consuming desire to come back to this venerable institution and be one of us again. An unmistakable indication, indeed, of his love for USC. To say that the whole Carolinian population knows Father Rigney intimately in the sense of being acquainted with his benevolent acts, would be to stretch a point too far. However, it is not far-fetched to say that to a good number of students and especially to the working students of this University, he has been enshrined in their hearts forever. DIRECTION AND . . . (Continued from page 21J to see educational and cultural films. These activities kept the members busy the whole year round. And all these have not been in vain. The Fellowship takes pride, too, in its members. During the first semester alone, it had no less than eleven university scholars and two NSDB scholars. Three of its members graduated with honors: Miss Glen Rodriguez, Bachelor of Science in Physics, Magna Cum Laude; Miss Ma. Paz Corrales, Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Magna Cum Laude; and Miss Yolanda Te, Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude. A number of its members are officers in various campus organizations. Among tKem are Cesar Corazo, Jr., Most Exalted Brother, K M Tri-E Fraternity (1964-65); Samuel Sagario, President, Civil Engineering Students Association (CESA) (1964-65); Gerardo C. Maxino, President, Mathematics-Physics Society (1st semester, 1963-64); Glen Rodriguez, President, Mathematics-Physics Society (2nd semester, 196’-64); Jennie Kimseng, President, BSE-II Organization (196364); and Sergio Mantiza, Corps Commander, USC ROTC Unit. In The Carolinian, it has Roger Penalosa, the Sport Editor. Within a short time, The Fellowship has gained a firm foot-hold. It has remained true to its purpose and has kept faith with the principles on which it was founded. In itself an assertion that there is joy and pleasure in academic activities, it takes a different orientation, one away from the brumble bush of social affairs. It has met failures as it has gathered laurels. Yet, it has never wavered in the pursuit of its objectives, for it was formed not to gain acclaim and success in the activities it undertakes but rather to point out that there is something to be done: a reorientation of student activities from too many social affairs to a bigger dose of academic ones. In the words of Rev. Fr. Luis E. Schonfeld, SVD, Secretary of Student Affairs, “The Lectio et Dfscussio Fellowship is the best campus organization, so far.” It does not take these as words of judgment but rather as those of encouragement and nothing more. It neither aspires nor claims to be the best; it is content with being vibrant and lifegiving. It is the idea, purposes, and principles which give it life that deserves attention. For as it points out, these we must have: direction and vigor in student activities. THE CAROLINIAN Page 22 SUMMER ISSUE 1964