SMCL Updates

A group of volunteers from the Institute of Computer Studies had an introductory session to digital poster graphic design to out-of-school youth in Sitio Balimbing, SMCL's adopted community, on Feb 17. Members of the Computer Science Society delivered a lecture and a workshop on the use of Photoshop in designing posters. They convened at the Milagros L. Limaco Community Center in Balimbing, Barangay San Antonio in Biñan. Volunteers believe that if attendees were given the right tools, they would be able to extend their knowledge or even work part-time in small printing businesses in the district. The session was one of the projects under the College's HEAL Program (Empowerment thru Education and Livelihood Opportunities). Dr. Anna Liza Ramos currently heads the Institute. Photos: A. Ramos

Jazmin Tan, a Michaelean Senior High School student, was given the Young Adult Mentor Award by Felta Multimedia and Lego Philippines during the Philippine leg of First Lego League on Feb. 18. Tan was cited for her evident "support, impact, inspiration, and guidance... in the team’s discussion with the judges." Likewise, the SMCL Robotics Team was recognized for having improvised and overcome a difficult situation while still making a respectable showing - the Against All Odds/Overcoming Adversity/Perseverance award. Held in Quezon City, this year's FLL focused on real-world problems pertaining to animals. "Animal Allies" required students "to build, test, and program an autonomous robot using LEGO MINDSTORMS® technology to solve a set of missions in the Robot Game." The Michaelean Team presented a robot that has an alert system to help in the preservation of turtles. Karla Mirazol Maranan served as the team's coach. Photos: K.

Milo Little Olympics gold medalist Karl Arvyn Aquino led the Angels athletics team in the Regional Sports Competition by breaking the triple jump record, 14.38 m. Aquino snagged three gold medals in triple jump, long jump, and 110m hurdles. He will represent Calabarzon in the upcoming Palarong Pambansa. Likewise, Leonalyn Raterta and Jovianne Calixto were chosen as Philippine representatives in the 12th Southeast Asian Youth Athletics Championships. Raterta was champion in 1500m and 3000m run, while Calixto got gold in 100m and 200m dash. Other Michaelean runners who emerged as top players in the RSC were Lovely Gemeroy, Mica Cabbadu, Tracy Baylon, Aira Polintan, Angelo Felisilda, Francis Gerald Lopez, and John Albert Del Mundo. The athletics team was coached by Henry Chaneco and supervised by Michael Jessie Theodore Sese. Photo credits: RSC, H. Chaneco and V. Barcena

Michaeleans from Junior High School and Senior High School were once again recognized by the jury of the International Competition of Poetry and Theater - Duino Castle in Trieste, Italy for this academic year. The board of judges, composed of poets and literary scholars awarded the title 'Special Mention' to the SMCL entry, "Encrypting Generations, Generating Encryptions." a collection of poems in English tackling the theme "From generation to generation." Poets were Jose Rodrigo Papa, John Carlos Ilagan, Karl Patrick Suyat, Beatrice Valen Peñaflor, Cherrie Mae Azucena, Gail Neriz Shouder, Zerline Mae Porras, Khey Anne Espiritu, Alexis Arielle Maneja, Gerlie Anne Laydia, Jazmin Tan, Gerardo Laydia, Jr., and Francis Aron Riano. Jury members with organizer Gabriela Gruber (Piero Guglielmino) Jurors were Dr. Marji Čuk, Dr. Guido Cupani, Prof. Stefan Damian, Dr. Arben Dedja, Dr. Antonio Della Rocca, Prof. Pietro U. Dini, Prof. Silvia Favaretto, Dr. Ju

    Michaeleans from the Institute of Computer Studies bested contenders in an I.T. research conference sponsored by the University of Asia and the Pacific held at Pearl Ortigas, Feb. 24. The research entitled "iDetek A3: Dimensional Multi view Image Analysis for Face Recognition" was hailed Best Research Paper during the Research Conference on Emerging Technology in Asia and the Pacific 201. Said paper was authored by Maria Nina L. Capunitan, Raphael Karlo A. Entena, Jean Patrick A. Luna, Fatima Michelle B. Demata, and John Carlo C. Teñido. Reynante M. Francia and Dr. Anna Liza A. Ramos advised the team. Theme of the conference was "I.T. Solutions for Business Problems." Photos: A. Ramos

Auditors from Tuv Rheinland Philippines congratulated the administration, faculty, and staff of Saint Michael's College of Laguna for a successful ISO re-certification audit on Feb. 24. The audit focused on ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System across all programs (pre-elementary to college) and services. Tuv Rheinland group was led by Rafael Magsino. Members were Hilario Capili, Jogina Mendiola, and Ramoncito Puyat. During the management briefing at the end of the day, the auditors announced that they decided to recommend the re-certification due to zero non-conformity. SMCL is an ISO-certified higher educational institution since 2014.

Saint Michael's College of Laguna played host to the 2017 Career Information Guidance program of the City of Biñan on February 17 at the College's St. Theodore Hall. One thousand two hundred Grade 10 students from the Jacobo Z. Gonzales Memorial National High School participated in the event sponsored by the city's Public Employment Services Office (PESO). City PESO Officer Romualdo Garcia took charge of the activity.

The Autonomous Status of Saint Michael’s College of Laguna was recognized by the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (PACUCOA) during its 27th Annual General Assembly with the theme, "Impact of Quality Assurance on the Internationalization of Education” on December 2, 2016 at Novotel Araneta Center. The award was conferred by PACUCOA Chairman, Dr. Jaime M. Buzar and Dr. Conrad E. Inigo, Vice-Chairman. The status is effective from April 1, 2016 to May 31, 2019. Also, SMCL bagged the third place in the poster-making contest inspired by PACUCOA’s theme.  In SMCL, the Commission on Higher Education awarded the said status to SMCL in recognition of its quality management and standards.

SMCL has been nominated as one of the HEIs to participate in the International Visiting Leadership Program (IVLP). IVLP is a program initiated by CHED, in partnership with the Education USA and the Embassy of the United States. Dr. Lourdes Almeda-Sese will represent the College. The US visit is scheduled on April 1-9, 2016.

The 42nd week-long celebration was a huge success with 100% of all the events lined-up successfully realized. In celebration of its 42nd College Week, Saint Michael’s College of Laguna (SMCL) in partnership with the College Student Council (CSC) conducted a Youth Empowerment Forum with the theme: #How to Be You on the 25th day of January 2017, Wednesday, 10:00 to12:00 noon at Saint Theodore Hall. The forum’s outcome is an inspired and empowered Filipino youth who are willing to lead and create changes in their community. By listening to the vision of the selected speakers and how they charted their course to be significant figures in their field, the forum hoped to unleash their passion to be servant-leaders. Hon. Mayor Walfredo “Arman” Dimaguila did the keynote address; other invited resource speakers were Dante Ang II, Executive Editor, President and CEO, The Manila Times and Mylene Abiva-Sazon, President/CEO, FELTA Multi-Media Inc. and Zonta D17 PR and Communi