Adventist University of the Philippines (AUP) Academic Emphasis 2015-2016

By Jero Adan

The students are so happy to see the international flags.

Academic Emphasis Day is one of the traditional program of the Adventist University of the Philippines (AUP). Each faculty and staff needs to put on the regalia and show it to the students as one way of encouragement.

On September 11, 2015. Students, faculty and staff are so busy going to PIC--Philippine International Church, to attend the Academic Emphasis Day of this semester 2015-2016, some of the students volunteer themselves as a flag bearer of almost 50 different country flags.

Some of the students volunteer to be a flag bearer! (From left to right: Merick, Jessa, Jun-jun, Jay, Gerlyn)

The program started at exactly 9:00 am by the music of the AUP Orchestra conducted by Mr. Armand Apalat. Followed by the Entrance of the Marshals and the new students in every colleges: 

• College of Arts and Humanities with 126 freshmen students
• College of Business with 420 freshmen students
• College of Dentistry with 75 freshmen students
• College of Education with 111 female freshmen students and 65 male freshmen students
• College of Health with 177 freshmen for Medical Technology program and 65 freshmen students for Nutrition and Dietetics program
• College of Medicine with 15 new students
• College of Nursing with 116 freshmen students
• College of Science and Technology with 85 freshmen students and 
• College of Theology with 1 female new student and 46 male new students.

Dr. Miriam P. Narbarte, Vice President
for Academics march in followed by
other participants.

The undergraduate and graduate students followed the entrance of the new students, then faculty and staff, Department Chair, and then College Dean. After everybody gets inside the PIC and find comfortable sits , Pastor Abel Vergara rendered the Invocation to formally start the program.

Dr. Francisco P. Gayoba--AUP President, open the program by welcoming every body inside the church. After that, he explain a little about the life inside the portal of AUP.

"We welcome you to the life at the university, you came here to develop a spiritual service to the community, to your family and to the church you are in", AUP--President Francisco Gayoba, said.

The Musical Number is rendered by the AUP Faculty Ensemble before the Vice President for Academics--Dr. Miriam P. Narbarte, give updates about the academic achievement of the school. The updates is all about the certification of SGS Quality Management which is all known as ISO Certified university.

The university is also one of the accredited schools who got 29 programs which is in level 4, it is also certified Autonomous Status, and it offers 40 program in undergraduate, 5 in masters degree and 6 doctoral degree. And there are only 7 programs that are still in level 2. The AUP also belong to the 30 classified university out of the 2,374 HEI's (Higher Educational Institution's).

After the Academic Emphasis updates, Dr.Vicky C. Mergal introduce the guest speaker who is the Dean of the College of Science and Technology in the University of the Philippines, Diliman. Having so many experience in teaching and non-teaching work he serves as encouragement of the Academic Emphasis of this academic year 2015-2016. Dr. Megral gladly present Dr. Jose Maria P. Balmaceda as the Honorable speaker of the day.

 

Dr. Jose Maria Balmaceda, encourage the students to study hard and achieved the things that they dream.

Dr. Jose Maria P. Balmaceda, begin his speech in a simple life experience, about how he become a competitive teacher and deans of many colleges in different universities. 

"This university is very special because to day you came as a community and part of this university", Professor and CST Dean Dr. Jose Maria P. Balmaceda, said.

He also share the key factor to success in life. First is, Service! a life of service is a life of meaning you are volunteering to work or simply helping other. Next is, 'Open to changes and adversity', he encourage everyone to be open minded and adopt the change. And the last is, 'Never failed to thank the Creator of our success.He relates his message to the success that he had now. 

"You can learn and achieve more if you could study", Professor Jose Maria P. Balmaceda, said.

In addition, after the message of the guest speaker, every faculty and staff was introduced by their department heads for the new students to be familiar with the person who will help them finished their study in many years to come. At exactly 11:50 am the AUP Academic Emphasis ended up by the music of the AUP orchestra.