CCTV camera system prototype installed in MVP

IN RESPONSE to of a system-wide study commissioned by the Vice President for the Loyola Schools, closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras were installed in critical areas in the MVP building last May to serve as the prototype for possible future installations. Office of Administrative Services Director Marie Joy Salita said that this is in response to some sectors’ recommendations to improve security measures in the Loyola Schools. As of press time, however, the OAS and other partner groups in the Ateneo are still in the process of wiring the system together. Salita said that they will start operating the system and will conduct further study and consultation before the first semester ends. Mara D. Cepeda

Japan confers Order of the Rising Sun decoration on Ateneo prof

POLITICAL SCIENCE Department and Japanese Studies Program Professor Lydia Yu-Jose, PhD was conferred the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon by the Japanese government last April 29, in recognition of her contributions to the advancement of Japanese Studies in the Philippines. The award was given by Japanese Emperor Akihito and Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Toshinao Urabe. Yu-Jose has done collaborative research work on the relationship between the Philippines and Japan. She has been teaching in Ateneo since 1967 and became the Japanese Studies director on three separate occasions. Pauline V. Miranda

Negotiations for SEI still going on

FOLLOWING AN assembly last June 23 regarding the Student Entrepreneurship Initiative (SEI), Council of Organizations of the Ateneo President Gigi de Villa opened further discussion of recommendations and proposals for SEI in the Sanggunian Central Board (CB) meeting last July 13. De Villa presented the perspectives of the administration, organizations and stall and business owners from the John Gokongwei School of Management Student Enterprise Center and the School of Management Business Accelerator so that these may be taken into consideration in creating the recommendations and proposals.

The administration said that the SEI would provide students with opportunities to learn outside the classroom setting. The admin also sees it as a way for students to “learn beyond their field” and to be more creative in exploring “other ways to earn funds.” Student organizations argued, however, that the implementation of the SEI would limit their training and exposure, and that having bazaars with outside concessionaires trains students to be more professional in dealing with external parties and aids in the forging corporate relations. Pauline V. Miranda

Migration center organizes int’l conference

IN CELEBRATION of its 25th anniversary, the Scalabrini Migration Center (SMC) held the international conference “Migration, Religious Experience and Mission with Migrants in Asia,” in cooperation with the Loyola School of Theology.

The conference took place last June 29 to 30 at the Leong Hall Auditorium. The sessions talked about the migrants’ religious experience, the approaches of other Asian religions on migration, a partial overview of a theological reflection, the mission with migrants and perspectives in their pastoral care.

According to its website, SMC “is dedicated to the promotion of the interdisciplinary study of international migration, with a specific focus on migration questions in the Asia-Pacific region.” Henry I. Oh

“Sintang Dalisay” receives praise in Belarus festival

TANGHALANG ATENEO’S (TA) Sintang Dalisay production received a full standing ovation on the last day of the 9th Teatralny Koufar International Student Theater Festival and the IX World Congress of the International University Theater Association (IUTA) held from July 2 to 7 in Minsk, Belarus.

The Belarus show was a condensed version of the original production, as festival rules required that no more than 10 persons per production perform and that the show last no longer than 60 minutes. TA Moderator Ricardo Abad, PhD, worked with TA’s Guelan Varela-Luarca in devising the text used for the show, which was performed by five Atenean actors and three musicians. The cast included Brian Sy, Joe-Nel Garcia, Cindy Lopez, Tasha Tañada and Kalil Almonte. Abad also doubled as a musician, together with Dan Liamco and Jayson Gildore. Meliton Roxas served as lighting director and technical director, John Mark Yap served as stage manager, while Matthew Santamaria took charge of choreography. Mara D. Cepeda