CSC graduate is 19th Place (continued)

Merlen is the eldest of the three children of Elmer dela Cruz, a barangay official, and Belen Cueva-dela Cruz, a secondary school teacher. Merlen graduated from Bugao Elementary School, Bagamanoc, Catanduanes as valedictorian. She then moved to her relatives in Gordon Heights in Olongapo City and took her secondary education in the Catholic-run St. Anne Academy. She initially tried taking up BS Accountancy for two semesters at Centro Escolar University in 2000 but eventually decided to move back for good to Catanduanes State Colleges in 2001. She recalled almost missing the enrolment deadline at that time and could only thank school officials for their due consideration.

Call it a chronological stroke of luck. During the 11th Mid-Year Regional Convention of the National Federation of Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants Region V last September 24-26, 2004, Merlen won First Place in the Business Law and Taxation Quiz and First Place in the CPA Mock Board Examination. The prize – free tuition fee from the Naga City-based Accounting Review and Training School (ARTS). At first, Merlen was not keen on where she will have her review class and it took the prodding of a classmate to enlist themselves altogether at ARTS. And so their almost four months saga of review sessions took off.

During the review period, Merlen consistently topped the three CPA pre-board examinations conducted by ARTS, keeping other reviewers coming from leading state universities and colleges in Region V only next to her top spot.

She counts no-nonsense preparation and prayers as vital elements in passing the rigorous review, though when asked, she honestly admitted she never stormed the gates of heaven with novenas, only with earnest personal prayers. Merlen likewise counts the five-year program of BS Accountancy at the CSC as an edge with other schools with only 4-year accountancy curriculum. She though considers their final semester at school, which is devoted for arduous review sessions, as even tougher because she says, they have to cope up with the pressure of passing the subjects. But then she considers it a big help for these drills serve as their springboard for the licensure examination.

Asked what she can impart to those who are next in line, Merlen prescribes the tested formula – faith, perseverance and lots of preparation that must out rightly start from the time they take up the course. She also suggests that it would be advantageous to review and take the board examination after graduation in order to avoid gaps in learning exercises and be not left behind by updates in the trade. Incidentally, Merlen’s fellow schoolmate, Arnie T. Panti, also passed the recent CPA board examination.

Merlen sets her sight on yet another test – finding her niche in the corporate world. She wishes to be a part of an accounting and auditing firm and realize her childhood dream job. “Basta kan saday pa ako, pirmi na nasa isip ko, matrabaho ako sa opisina”, she cooed.

But before all that, Merlen looks forward to touching base with her family in their good old hometown. She has been away for almost half a year, and before she packs up again for job hunting, she will give herself a much-needed break. And the cash award that she will receive from her review school, (ARTS) and the CSC is more than enough to tide her for the oncoming holiday season. And it could even more than stretch for her foray in the concrete jungle. (GSR/CSC)

CSC Produces 33 New Nurses (continued)

Surban, Katrina Roselle P., Tabo, Cecille S., Tabor, Renee Rhea C., Tapit, Joan D., Tardecilla, Ma. Cecilla B., Tarnate, Yvette Kristine S., Tarrago, Genelyn T., Teston, Ma. Divinia Victoria R., Teves, Edlyn T., Tiburcio, Joy T.;

Tindugan, Rebecca Yvone D., Torzar, Maricar T., Tumaque, Josette T., Usero, Ma. Nerissa B., and Zuniga, Rosalin Rosette V.

Aware of the strict monitoring and evaluation of the Commission on Higher Education regarding the quality of nursing schools in the country, the CSC College of Nursing and School of Midwifery, led by its Officer-In-Charge, has already drafted even before the start of this school year program interventions to improve the professional board performance of the College of Nursing and School of Midwifery, from SY 2005 to 2008.

An even more rigid selective admission of Level II students (BSN - Associate in Health Science Education-based and pure AHSE) as well as students in Level III (Nursing Proper of the BSN curriculum) is in the pipeline to facilitate a more equitable and effective retention of better quality students in the college.

Conduct of semestral validating examination among Levels III and IV students to evaluate terminal learnings as basis for remedial instructions and assessment of teaching strategies is also on the drawing board as well as conduct of in-house review classes among Level IV students and follow-through consultative sessions among graduates for a more intensive preparation for the professional board and conduct of refresher courses for professional board repeaters.

To optimize student Related Learning Experience (RLE), the College will utilize, in addition to its already well-established linkage with other health care institution, other local health institutions and communities for a wider and more enriching student related learning experience. A maximization of the Summer Affiliation Program to cover other special hospitals and health institutions for a more varied and updated student clinical RLE, enrichment of student RLE to provide continuity and harmony with classroom instruction and limiting of student RLE requirements to the most manageable and helpful levels based on student capacity to comply and the teacher’s ability to evaluate and feedback with quality will also be implemented.

To ensure continuous professional development of its faculty and administration, the following will be implemented: realignment of faculty and student researches to areas that will significantly contribute to the improvement in the nursing education and practice, enhancement in the teaching capabilities of the faculty members through post graduate studies and attendance to relevant trainings and seminars, adoption of more appropriate and updated teaching strategies, adoption of a more facilitative and active faculty monitoring and supervision program to strengthen faculty support services and hiring of additional faculty members to fill-up vacancies and meet the requirements of increasing enrolment.

Almost all of the faculty force of the CSC College of Nursing and School of Midwifery possess the requisite Master of Arts in Nursing degree, and some are on the process of obtaining this required qualification. This is in adherence to CHED and PRC requirement on Nursing Education and Professional Practice, especially on the qualification of the Nursing College Dean and Faculty Members.

The CSC College of Nursing and School of Midwifery attracts one of the highest number of enrollees every school year but it strictly implements its Admission, Selection, and Retention policies consisting of entrance examination, personal interviews and internship examination. It is one of the programs of the CSC that has produced board placers. It remains steadfast to its goal of producing quality graduates, having produced innumerable registered nurses that have landed into gainful employment in the country and in many parts of the world, some of whom are even occupying strategic positions in prestigious health care institutions and leading educational institutions.

During the recent CHED evaluation of nursing programs, the CSC College of Nursing and School of Midwifery even dislodged, in terms of performance, one of the biggest private colleges in the Bicol Region that offers nursing program. (GSR)


http://news.inq7.net/nation/index.php?index=1&story_id=44277

http://news.inq7.net/nation/index.php?index=1&story_id=44278

CSC honors Ruben T. Quintal Jr....(continued)

Quintal, Jr., Bachelor of Civil Engineering Batch 2005, has to skip the graduation ceremonies last March 30, 2005 to attend the refresher course for Civil Engineer Board Examination, the shortest formal review session a Civil Engineer aspirant could get. A Medal of Excellence was set to be awarded to Ruben Quintal Jr., during the commencement Exercises.

In the report of Engr. Charlie B. Hibo, Dean of the CSC College of Engineering, 10 other graduates of the CSC passed the May 2005 Civil Engineer Board Examination. They are: Ronald C. Albaniel, Richard T. Alejandro, Ismael B. Cortuna Jr., Danilo S. Del Barrio III, Melanie M. Manlangit, Evangiline B. Ramos, John Vincent T. Torrecampo, Randy M. Tuplano, Nenita Jane B. Usero, and Israel B. Vasol.

For the record, Ruben is the second Civil Engineer board topnotcher from the Catanduanes State Colleges but by far with the highest rating earned. He duplicated the feat achieved by Edwin T. Ogerio of Caramoran, Catanduanes. Ogerio’s unprecedented achievement as the first CE Board Topnotcher from the CSC auspiciously paved the way for other CSC engineering graduates to set their own records, earning the reputation for the school, and particularly the faculty and staff of the CSC College of Engineering, as the top caliber producer of civil engineering graduates. Despite the dearth of physical resources common in state colleges, the faculty of the CSC College of Engineering are known to provide their students with first-rate lectures, thus priming the students for the eventual rigors of the review and board examination.

A string of board placers ensued after Ogerio’s triumph in 1992. Months after, Manuel Zuniega Jr placed 4th in the 1992 Jr. Geodetic Engineer Board Exam. Barely a year after, Hazel Boragay scored twin victory when she placed 4th in the 1993 Civil Engineer Board Exam and also 4th in the 1993. Jr. Geodetic Engineer Board Exam.

Other CE board placers from CSC are: Carlo Magno Guerrero, 2nd Place 1996 Jr. Geodetic Engineer Board Exam, Richard Tabuzo, 19th Place, 1997 Civil Engineer Board Exam, Aldrin Tapel, 17th Place, Civil Engineer Board Exam, Christopher Yuga, 9th Place, 2001 Civil Engineer Board Exam, Ananias Fernandez Jr., 15th Place, 2001 Civil Engineer Board Examination, Vicente J. Tayam Jr., 19th Place, 2002 Civil Engineer Board Exam and Mary Ann Abundo Traqueña, 11th Place, 2004 Civil Engineer Board Exam.

Ruben, who hails from San Pablo, Virac, Catanduanes, finished his elementary grades at Virac Central Elementary school and his secondary education at the CSC Laboratory High School. He rose to national prominence when he was adjudged champion in 2004 National Civil Engineering Quiz and the 23rd National PICE Civil Engineering Student Quiz, trouncing the best and the brightest competitors from leading universities and colleges in the country. (GSR)