The History of the University of Pangasinan

As a member of the Editorial Board of The Green and Gold Leaf, The Official Yearbook of the University of Pangasinan 2008, I edited the write-ups of the students, contributed to the layout design (particularly the front cover and back cover page, the editorial board background, and the University collage), wrote the history of the University and explained why the yearbook is called: The Green and Gold Leaf.

The History of the University of Pangasinan
Written by: Simon Francis Blaise Rayos Vistro
Edited by: Dr. Ofelia C. Rayos

College education for the people in Pangasinan required a tedious trip and temporary migration to Manila or Baguio until the first half of the 20^th century when a new beginning made possible by the virtue of a young man from Pangapisan, Lingayen, Pangasinan dawned in the province.

On October 21, 1925, Blas Fernandez Rayos, together with Dr. Mariano V. delos Santos, Dean Francisco Benitez, Dr. Apolinario G. de los Santos, Dr. Silvestre Pascual, Andres Jacinto, Amado Llamas Ayson (who became a Councilor and Mayor of Dagupan), and Miss Isabel Alisangco pooled their efforts and resources to found the Dagupan Institute which is now known as the University of Pangasinan.

Constituting the Board of Trustees of the institution were Dr. Francisco Benitez (the first Dean of the College of Education/ Director of the School of Education of the University of the Philippines) as chairman of the Board of Directors, Dean Blas F. Rayos (Dean of the College of Education of the University of Manila and co-founder of the National Collegiate Athletic Association) as secretary-treasurer, and Dean Mariano V. de los Santos (Dean of Faculty of the University of Manila and co-founder of Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities), Dr. Apolinario G. de los Santos (President of the University of Manila) and Dr. Silvestre Pascual as members.

Blas F. Rayos became the President of the school and headed it for 45 years until 1975 when he passed away and was succeeded by his son, George O. Rayos, who sat as president of the institution until 1987.

In the words of Blas F. Rayos, the University was founded on a trinity of ideals; Love for service to country, Devotion to the cause of truth and science and Love of God and adherence to the traits and virtues that make a nation or people great. Hence, the school motto: “Patria, Scientia et Virtus.” Further, the school was envisioned to be the agent through which the following core values of the “Old Man” was perpetuated: frugality and simplicity; integrity; unconditional assistance for the uplift of the plight of the poor; persistent pursuit of excellence in academics, sustainable development, and life based on sound principles; and deep reverence for one’s ancestors.

The Dagupan Institute started its regular class in June 1926 with the elementary, high school and vocational departments and with 340 enrolled students. The program offerings were granted recognition in 1927 by the Department of Public Instruction.

In 1933, the school opened a commercial secondary course followed by the opening of the courses in Liberal Arts -Associate of Arts and Bachelor of Arts- in 1937 with President Blas F. Rayos as its first dean.

The name Dagupan Junior Colleges superseded the old name Dagupan Institute in 1941. It was also in this year, just before the outbreak of the Pacific War when the school established the Junior Normal and Education departments in 1941. Twenty nine (29) students were enrolled in the programs in the first years of implementation. President Blas F. Rayos assumed the deanship for seven years; he later turned the position over to Mr. Fortunato de Veyra, a former Division Superintendent of Schools for Pangasinan, then to Mr. Rufino F. Fernandez in 1949.

The growth and smooth operation of the institution were interrupted by the outbreak of World War II in December 1941. Like many schools in the country, it closed it was forced to suspend operations. The days of liberation did not spare any of the buildings of the Dagupan Colleges. However, undaunted by these adverse war effects, President Blas Rayos and Amado Ll. Ayson, the Registrar, who later became the Executive Secretary, rebuilt the school from the ashes and opened its doors once more in 1945.

New programs- secretarial science and business administration - were offered with the resumption of the school’s operation. Two years later, in 1947, the College of Engineering made its maiden bow.

It was also in 1947 – June 25 – when the College of Law started operation with Judge Anatolio C. Manalac as dean and Atty. Porfirio V. Sison as secretary. Atty. Sison, who was the President of the Pangasinan Bar Association, was appointed dean after a year.

In 1950, the school opened the School of Graduate Studies with President Blas Rayos as dean. It was the same year when the school assumed the name Dagupan Colleges (DC). Soon after, new programs were added to the offerings of the school:

- New major in Commerce in 1951;

- New major in Engineering in 1952;

- Review classes in Nursing (GN) in 1954;

- Industrial Education, Journalism, Food and Nutrition, Elementary Education, Master of Arts in Philosophy and Master of Science in Business Administration in 1959;

- Master of Arts in Education major in general education and in guidance in 1960;

- Sanitary Engineering in 1965;

- CPA Review class in 1966;

- Civil Engineering Review Class in 1967;

- Geodetic Engineering, BSN supplemental and Elementary Education in 1968.

The field of educational activities of the institution was not confined within the limits of Dagupan alone. The school through Dr. Blas F. Rayos, has also established or helped established schools in Mangatarem, San Carlos (San Carlos College), Basista, Mapandan (Mapandan Academy in 1948), Bonuan (Bonuan High School), San Jacinto, Anda (Anda Institute of Vocational Education in 1950) and Alaminos (Pangasinan School of Fisheries).

During the economic depression that hit many countries of the globe as an aftermath of the war, the Dagupan Colleges, heeding the invitation of prominent residents in many municipalities in Pangasinan, opened extension schools to accommodate several thousands of students and pupils who could not be admitted in public schools for lack of government funds.

It was July 3, 1968 when the school eventually earned the much coveted university status and assumed the name University of Pangasinan. Other programs were offered thereafter, namely;

MBA 1969;

Doctor of Education, 1973;

Master of Science in Management Engineering, 1975;

MA in Business Education, 1969;

BS Architecture and Associate in Secretarial Administration in 1969;

MAEd major in Teaching English as a Second Language in 1972;

Special courses in Government Accounting and Auditing in 1976;

Medical Technology, 1977 and

MAEd major in Nursing Education in 1977.

The four-year course in Bachelor of Science in Nursing was opened in 1976 to supersede the BSN supplemental course.

The year 1987 witnessed a change of administration of the University. The Board of Trustees was reconstituted with Mr. Cesar T. Duque as Chairman. It was TO Dean Manuel R. Poco then dean of the College of Commerce that the administration of the university was entrusted; he remained Managing Director for one year.

Mr. Cesar T. Duque assumed the presidency in 1988. With him at the helm, the university continued to adhere to its commitment to academic excellence and leadership in different professions. To attain relevance and responsiveness to the changes in the needs of the times, it opened in the '90s the following curricular programs:

Bachelor of Science in Information Management. 1992;

Associate in Computer Technology, 1994;

Medical Assistant Course, 1994

Midwifery Course, 1996

Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy, 1998;

Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, 1999;

Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering, 1999;

Bachelor of Science in Management Accounting, 1999; and

Associate in Computer Office Administration, 1999;

Four new programs were added to the list with the coming of the third millennium, Caregiver Course, 2004; Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Electronics & Communications Engineering, and Bachelor Science in Hotel & Restaurant Management all in 2005.

The University has, likewise, updated its old programs to include other majors like Mass Communications in Bachelor of Arts. All curricular programs in the University now carry at least three (3) units in computer education to prepare the school's graduates to surf the waves of the computer-driven world.

In 2005, Dr. Catalino P. Rivera was appointed president of the University. He and the Chairman, Mr. Cesar T. Duque, are jointly steering the University towards the realization of its transformative mission. Linkages have been established with various professional and service organizations such as the National Network of Quality Assurance Agencies (NNQAA) for which the University serves as identified as center for Research, Training and Consultancy, and the Synergeia for which the University has provided a poll of teacher trainors in English and Mathematics.

The University is one of the seven HEIs in Region I deputized by the Commission on Higher Education in 1999 to offer the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP). Courses offered through the program are BS Nursing, BS Commerce, BS Civil Engineering, Bachelor of Arts, Teacher Education and Midwifery.

As a fitting response to CHED’s thrust on access, the University of Pangasinan officially launched in February 2007 the Alternative Learning Stream (ALS). The program is the University’s way of making “available to all learners broader and expanded access to opportunities to responsive, relevant learning and outcomes…” Aside from the ETEEAP, the University through the Alternative Learning Stream (ALS) also offers Equivalent Credits for Professional Learning Experiences (EC-PLEX), Technology-Based Education Program (TBEP) and Competent Performance Recognition (CPR).

To maintain its place in academic circles, the University has taken an active role in the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities (PACU). It is also a member of the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (PACUCOA) which has recognized its excellence in the following programs: Bachelor of Science in Nursing; Bachelor of Elementary Education; Bachelor of Secondary Education; Bachelor of Science in Commerce major in Management, Banking & Finance and Economics; and Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Mass Communications.

Not a few graduates of the university have brought home great honor to their Alma Mater. The University has a record in licensure examination – particularly in Nursing, Civil Engineering, Architecture, Teacher Education, Medical Technology, Accountancy and Physical Therapy – which is not easy to equal. The Professional Regulation Commission adjudged it to be the 4th Best Performing School in Midwifery in 1988, 5th Best Performing School in Architecture in 2000 and 4th Best Performing School in Architecture in 2006. In the study of Arceo, it was named as the 6th Best Performing School in Teacher Education in 1996, 1997 and 1998.

Now on its 83rd year of existence, the University is exploring novel ways of furthering its services to the nation through the realignment of its vision towards the transformation of people and communities and the strengthening of its commitment to the carrying out of ideas: PATRIA, SCIENCTIA et VIRTUS.

The Green and Gold Leaf Front Cover and Back Cover

As a member of the Editorial Board of The Green and Gold Leaf, The Official Yearbook of the University of Pangasinan 2008, I edited the write-ups of the students, contributed to the layout design (particularly the front cover and back cover page, the editorial board background, and the University collage), wrote the history of the University and explained why the yearbook is called: The Green and Gold Leaf.

The raw .jpg file of the Front cover and Back cover page of the The Gree and Gold Leaf:

Why Green and Gold Leaf?

As a member of the Editorial Board of The Green and Gold Leaf, The Official Yearbook of the University of Pangasinan 2008, I edited the write-ups of the students, contributed to the layout design (particularly the front cover and back cover page, the editorial board background, and the University collage), wrote the history of the University and explained why the yearbook is called: The Green and Gold Leaf.

Why Green and Gold Leaf?

In ancient Greek mythology, the laurel wreath was connected with the god Apollo, but it was also used as a symbol for victory in triumphal processions in the Roman Empire. During the Middle Ages and the renaissance, the laurel wreath symbolized poetry, but it was also associated with scholarship.

In the field of education, the laurel leaf stands for knowledge and learning. It also symbolizes the completion of a bachelor degree. The term "baccalaureate," means laurel berry, and refers to the ancient practice of honoring scholars and poets with garlands from the bay laurel tree.

True to the ideals of the University of Pangasinan, the laurel leaf as a symbol is prominently displayed in the university logo. The two fronds of green and gold Gloria Et Honor Laurel signify the university’s excellence-driven transformative role in molding the students as well as the community.

This has been the inspiration in naming the University of Pangasinan Yearbook; The Green and Gold Leaf. This has been the yearbook’s name since its first publication- an annual chronicle of the illustrious past and rich heritage of the University of Pangasinan and an invigorating glimpse of the vibrant future of the students, the institution and the community.

Green is life. It signifies growth, renewal, health, and environment. It is also a color of harmony and balance. It represents the university’s commitment to sustain, improve and expand high quality, relevant transformative, interactive, collaborative, learning systems guided by responsible scholarship and education.

Gold symbolizes brilliance, excellence and success. It embodies the university’s persistent pursuit of sustainable excellence.

Together, the colors green and gold reinforce the university’s vision as a competent enabler of people and communities' transformation toward achieving prosperity, security and social wellness in dynamically changing and globalizing societies.

Memo from the Humor Resources

While cleaning my one of my email accounts, I found this:

To all Employees:

Effective January 2007

Dress Code

1. It is advised that you come to work dressed according to your salary. If we see you wearing Prada shoes and carrying a Gucci bag, we assume you are doing well financially and therefore do not need a pay raise.

2. If you dress poorly, you need to learn to manage your money better, so that you may buy nicer clothes, and therefore you do not need a pay raise.

3. If you dress just right, you are right where you need to be and therefore you do not need a pay raise.

Sick Days

We will no longer accept a doctor's certificate as proof of sickness. If you are able to go to the doctor, you are able to come to work.

Holiday Days

Each employee will receive 104 personal days a year. They are called Saturday & Sunday.

Compassionate Leave

This is no excuse for missing work. There is nothing you can do for dead friends, relatives or co-workers. Every effort should be made to have non-employees attend to the arrangements. In rare cases where employee involvement is necessary, the funeral should be scheduled in the late afternoon. We will be glad to allow you to work through your lunch hour and subsequently leave one hour early.

Toilet Use

1. Entirely too much time is being spent in the toilet. There is now a strict three-minute time limit in the cubicles.

2. At the end of three minutes, an alarm will sound, the toilet paper roll will retract, the cubicle door will open, and your picture will be taken.

3. After your second offence, your picture will be posted on the company notice board under the "Chronic Offenders" category.

4. Anyone caught smiling in the picture will be sanctioned under the company's mental health policy.

Lunch Break

1. Skinny people get 30 minutes for lunch, as they need to eat more so that they can look healthy.

2. Normal size people get 15 minutes for lunch to get a balanced meal to maintain their average figure.

3. Chubby people get 5 minutes for lunch, because that's all the time needed to drink a Slim-Fast.

Thank you for your loyalty to our company. Remember we are an employer of choice and we are here to provide a positive employment experience.

Therefore, all questions, comments, concerns, complaints, frustrations, irritations, aggravations, insinuations, allegations, accusations, contemplations, consternation and input should be directed elsewhere.

What a memo ha ha...

Join USTe.TV

Calling all fellow Thomasians! 

The University of Santo Tomas (UST) launched its own social networking website known as the USTe.TV last February 17, 2009 at the UST Main Building Lobby. The online community’s name stands for UST Electronic Thomasian Village. USTe.TV is an interactive website to enable Thomasians all over the world to connect with one another in preparation for the 400th  anniversary of the University in 2011.

Let us sign up @ USTe.TV and prepare for the celebration of the quadricentennial of our beloved alma mater.  

 

Stars in the Sky

a star in the heavenly skies

is just a star among meaningless stars

a star stops being just any star

as one pauses and stares at it

to come back every single night

to enjoy its light and shine

and fall in love with its charms

one to share your secrets and wishes to

twinkling to ease a difficult day

twinkles that are actually smiles

and dreams we hate to end as dreams

hoping it would always be night

when one has come to love a star

waiting for its falling to the Earth

to capture the moment in one's arms

some do come as falling stars

to grant a lover's wish true

but some remain as stars in the sky

a star in someone else's sky

and only time and chance can tell...  

Summer Nine Seven

like seeds

living in lonely crevices

thirsty as the arid plain

baked brown and broken

gasping and turning blue

water at the cusp of a hand

stolen by the scorching sun

cannot lament, cannot cry

tears that roll down

carried by the winds of El Nino

would be lost in the mirage

as they lay down motionless

pondering upon the blue sky

looking for hovering gray clouds

and await the first summer rain

to sprout and show its greens

covering the once barren land

color the world with flowers abloom

with each life laughters and smiles

though it is almost June

How to Guy

I just was just informed over at howtodothings.com that my first "How To" article have been published. 

It is all about "how to gear up for basketball." 

I am now a How to Guy... :) 

ULIRANG GURO (Model Teacher)

I will be featured as an ULIRANG GURO for the Pinoy Teachers Network. This is the short write-up which I submitted: 

With much honor and pride, I would like to say that I am a Filipino and a Teacher. I am teaching science subjects at the University of Pangasinan at Dagupan City. It is the oldest private university north of Manila. I also prepare learning modules for the Alternative Learning Stream Department of the University. Before teaching in college, I mentored seminarians at the Mary Help of Christians Minor Seminary, Binmaley, Pangasinan. I also do private tutorials for Primary, Secondary and Tertiary levels.  I have been formally in this noble profession for nine years. But practically, I’ve been teaching and at the same time studying all my life. Because I believe humans are both teachers and students of life.

As a teacher, my greatest accomplishment is seeing my former students do well in their chosen field of work and in their personal life. I see to it that my students are able to accomplish the behavioral objectives- knowledge, skills, abilities, values and dispositions of the course as well as develop critical thinking skills and improve ethical standards which they can use beyond the classroom.

As a teacher leader, I lead by example. I uphold the integrity of teachers with conviction and spearhead activities to improve standards. I also innovate and use different teaching strategies and pave the way for positive educational changes among peers and students. As a teacher learner, I sincerely listen to the students, keenly observe them and animatedly communicate with them with the purpose of learning their idiosyncrasies and their learning behaviors. I also update myself regularly through books and online resources. As a teacher collaborator, I enjoy discussions and exchanging of experiences and ideas with co-teachers. I encourage team teaching wherein I invite topic/subject specialists to my class. I share all my resources and teaching interventions to other teachers without any reservations. After all, we are Filipinos and we are Teachers.

- Simon Francis Blaise R. Vistro

Still on Earth Day: I HEART EARTH

Three years ago, I wrote in my Blackboard about Earth Day. In Earth Day fashion/ passion, I'm recycling it here:

I Heart Earth.

Coincidentally, EARTH is a jumbled form of HEART.  

So Earth = Heart

Today is Earth Day.

Every one of us can show our love and concern for Mother Earth. Not just today but everyday. We do not have a luxury of choice. It’s the only Earth we’ve got! 

What could we do? How can we help save our planet? Or at least slow down its inevitable demise? Read more...

Jobs for OJT Students and Fresh Graduates

Have you heard of OJT (On the Job Training) stories where students end up getting stuck working in a boring company unrelated to their field, or end up with a good company, have the work that's right, but end up making coffee for the bosses or stapling documents for them? Classic, right?

 

Are you a fresh graduate who is looking for his/her first fulltime job? Are you tired of trying different means of job searching and still haven’t found a job? Or maybe you have found a good job but you are deemed inexperienced?

 

Or are you someone looking for a part-time job that would be both interesting and rewarding? Or are you someone who would like a second job to augment your income?

 

You are not alone. Year after year, there are a lot of student applicants and fresh graduates like you who either don’t like their job or worse, don’t have a job. The “inexperienced” has indeed become a class of their own, and they need more exposure and opportunities to make use of their knowledge, skills and abilities.

 

I hope this could help.

 

I received an email by one of the designers/developers of OJT Careers. OJT Careers is an up-and-coming local online recruitment network especially developed with interns and fresh graduates as the target market. OJT Careers caters to young individuals who are looking for their first full-time jobs, or part-time jobs they could involve themselves in. As there are a lot of student applicants and an increasing number of fresh graduates every year, the inexperienced has become a class of their own, and they need more exposure and opportunities to make use of their skills and knowledge.

 

I found their site to be very helpful and easy to navigate. I also like the noble idea of helping out job seekers especially the fresh graduates of our country. The job hunting advices are good: from writing your resume, preparing well for a job interview and improving one’s skills. It’s just a new site and with your help it will become bigger and more comprehensive. I urge companies to post job offerings and students to search for the job they like.

 

But what impressed me most is that this endeavor was spearheaded by students- and for students. They started this off as a small project between 3 friends 3 months ago and it is now a network of 5 schools and over 12 students. They decided to join together and come up with a real resource that would actually benefit students, whether from a private school or a university (after all, the youth is the future of the country!). Kudos to the OJT Careers team!

 

Even if I do not personally know the developers, I agreed to partner up and support their cause. I know that even in this simple way of writing a blog and linking their site, WE are making a difference in building the Filipino youth community. We’re helping give the students of today’s future a fighting chance. 

Ang galing ng Filipino! Mabuhay tayo!

I also wrote a similar post in my Blackboard.

The Moon's Letter to the Earth

to the earth

oh, earth full of life

i ask you for your love

for i am the lonely moon

barren and without my own light

as you turn around

i shall follow you

until the sun will die

until you're safe and sound

let not my phase

affect your tides

i often change

but my love is unerased

see that i'm small

compared to your vastness

different we may seem

still, love conquers all...

from the moon

Celebrate Earth Day!

I'm back...

Literally and figuratively, I'm back. Yes, I am writing again. This is my third blog... and I will maintain this as my most personal among the three. I write on the Blackboard and the PangasinanBlog. See you around...

Video Tribute to Dr. Francisco Sionil Jose

This is a video tribute I made for our National Artist for Literature, Dr. Francisco Sionil Jose. He was conferred with a Degree Doctor of Humanities, Honoris Causa by the University of Pangasinan.



I am proud to be his aide de camp during his visit and conferment. I fetched him at the Star Plaza Hotel where he and his wife stayed. I held his bag and assisted him in walking. He also tasked me to safeguard his eyeglasses and his conferment speech which he eventually gave me after the event.

It's not everyday that one gets to be with a National Artist and a Hero! I'm lucky indeed!