BREAKING NEWS: UNIVERSITY OF ILOILO IS NOW UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT

It all started from a mere rumor.
 
And it turns out that the rumor is true: The Lopezes no longer own the University of Iloilo.
 
No, it's not Lucio Tan this time.
 
Instead, it's the Philippine Investment Management (PHINMA), Inc--a Makati-based company whose core businesses include construction, financial management, real estate, and oil exploration and processing--that now owns UI.
 
PHINMA--which also owns Araullo University in Nueva Ecija and Cagayan De Oro College in Misamis Oriental--is being headed by Makati Business Club's incumbent chairman and former finance secretary during the time of president Fidel V Ramos, Ramon R Del Rosario Jr.
 
Besides being the top honcho of PHINMA, he also serves on the boards of directors of Ayala Land, Inc; Holcim Philippines, Inc; Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corporation; Asian Institute of Management; De La Salle Philippines; and a host of other big companies and institutions with rich-sounding names.
 
With Mr Del Rosario's impressive track record, the students of UI hope that they'll be in better hands with PHINMA, which has reportedly made unprecedented improvements in the two said schools it now owns.
 
Hopefully, this change in management should also mean better facilities, better instruction, better policies, better graduates, even better board exams ratings, and a better stature altogether for UI.
 
After all, PHINMA's corporate tag line (according to its website) is "Life Can Be Better."
 
Sources say negotiations regarding UI's buyout may have begun as early as 2005. The agreed amount of sale is unknown...yet. Rumors have it though that UI's old owners raked in nearly a billion.
 
In 2003, PHINMA set to build a network of three to five universities and colleges all over the country with a combined student population of 50,000 to 75,000.

Among its investment options were Araullo University in Cabanatuan City, the University of Pangasinan, Computronics College in Dagupan City, the University of Iloilo, and West Negros College in Bacolod City.
 
In April 2004, PHINMA acquired Araullo University, and Cagayan De Oro College in June 2005.
 
UI will be officially taken over by its new owners between March and June 2009.
 
Meanwhile, as of this writing, all UI employees--from members of the board of trustees down to the janitors--are preparing their service records, personal files and things, updated curriculum vitae for most, and retirement applications for some. 


Photo Source: Philippine Business Magazine Website

BREAKING NEWS: UNIVERSITY OF ILOILO IS FOR SALE

What started to be a noble legacy may now end up as an auction piece.

The University of Iloilo--founded by brothers Don Eugenio and Don Fernando Lopez in 1947 with the altruistic intentions of making college education affordable for poor and middle-class Ilonggo families--is now ready to be handed over to its new owner this year.

"UI isn't just for sale; it's actually sold already," said one school employee who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The "winning bidder" is reportedly a group of companies based in Metro Manila.

"It's not Lucio Tan," the UI employee clarified, discounting earlier rumors of an impending takeover by the Tan Group of Companies under the Chinese-Filipino tycoon, who also owns the University of the East.

"We heard though that he was indeed interested at first, but later changed his mind," she said. "It might be that the Lopezes were asking too much for UI."

The true reasons behind the buyout still remain a mystery, however.

According to insider sources, while UI hardly rakes in profits from school fees (it being one of the lesser expensive private schools in Iloilo City), it is very far from bankruptcy, even up to this writing.

With the change of management, a major revamp is naturally expected to affect the incumbent top officials of UI, from the university president down to the college deans and department heads.

Still, the students are the ones who will receive the much bigger impact of the takeover, whether positive or otherwise.

"We still hope it will benefit the students," said the school employee, who hinted that the new management would "import" lecturers from top Metro Manila universities to assist the local faculty by handling some subjects.

Meanwhile, it is still unclear whether or not the school will retain its 40-year-old name (Iloilo City Colleges became University of Iloilo on 17 December 1968), its official logo (which was reportedly designed by Don Eugenio and Don Fernando Lopez themselves), its course offerings, and its current admission requirements, among others.

Whatever the new-generation Lopezes' reasons are for letting an old family legacy go, both employees and students of UI hope they are well-meaning enough and not just because they needed moolah to splurge for trips abroad, parties, wheels, and bling-bling.

UPDATE: The University of Iloilo now has a new owner. Read more about it here.

4TH FILIPINO MARTIAL ARTS FESTIVAL IN BORACAY ISLAND

The Filipino Martial Arts Festival--now on its fourth run this 2008--kicks off today in the beautiful tropical island of Boracay in Aklan province.

Organized by the International Modern Arnis Federation of the Philippines, the five-day event includes a training camp on Modern Arnis and other FMA styles, a seminar on the many different weapons used in FMA, a workshop on Sports Arnis officiating, a Sports Arnis tournament, and a quick tour in the island of Panay including Iloilo City.
 
The 4th FMA Festival will showcase top instructors from IMAFP and other FMA styles that are particularly indigenous to the island of Panay, such as Abaniko Palis, Abaniko Tres Puntas, Tersia, Espada y Daga, and Dumog.

For the complete schedule of activities and contact details, please click here.


Photo Source: Guardian Martial Arts Website
Info Source: International Modern Arnis Federation of the Philippines Website

EXAMS WEEK IS OVER

I didn't expect that our exam in Anatomy and Physiology (Biological Science 2) would be that hard.

I know I'll pass, but I also have a strong ugly feeling that I won't be happy with my score.

As for my two other subjects, I think I did okay.
 
Results will be out either mid or late next week, unless the teachers will sleep on them again--like they always do to our lab manuals and some of our long quizzes.

I miss an ice-cold beer and a full night's sleep.

MANNY "THE DESTROYER" PACQUIAO RUINS CHURCH WEDDING, UNINTENTIONALLY

I'm a big fan of Manny Pacquiao, and I'm glad and thankful that he remembered Iloilo City during its downest moments by donating P1.5 million from his humongous fight purse (Was it $5 million or $3 million?) to help the Ilonggo flood victims, but I won't be amused or remain nonchalant if ever he'd mess up my own (future) church wedding by turning up there unexpectedly and uninvited--like what he did this morning today at the Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral.
 
According to radio reports, the nuptial mass stopped for like half an hour when people (including the couple's relatives and guests) left the pews and--as if forgetting they were in the middle of the holy mass--screamed and cheered for Pacquiao, who, together with his wife, dropped by the church to supposedly hear mass before distributing relief goods to the flood victims.

Despite the disruption of their wedding, the couple was reportedly amused--even flattered--that Pacquiao made their already-memorable day even more unforgettable. (To make it much, much more unforgettable, they might as well name their first-born "Manny" or "Emmanuel" if it's a boy or--God forbid--"Emmanuela" if it's a girl, and invite Pacquiao later to become the kid's godfather or ninong. Manny as ninong could mean lots of money for the kid during birthdays and Christmas.)

Me, I won't be amused or flattered or starstruck. I won't even allow it to happen in the first place--especially now that I realized it's not really impossible to happen (that is, that some big shot would barge into my wedding, steal all my guests' attention, compel the priest to suspend the mass for half an hour, and just ruin all our preparations--unintentionally or otherwise.
 
Weddings are usually planned several months--even years--ahead (unless it's shotgun), and some couples (especially those from well-to-do families) fork out thousands of pesos for professional wedding planners just to ensure that the whole thing will be perfect and also to spare themselves from all the stress brought by the preparations.

I don't think I could afford a professional wedding planner now (unless he/she is a friend who's willing to do it for free), but a celebrity gate-crasher is definitely the last thing I'd want.

EXAMS WEEK BEGINS TODAY

Today is the start of our prelim exams week.
 
Out of my five subjects this semester, only three of them will be having prelim exams. They are:
 
1. Anatomy and Physiology (Biological Science 2);
2. Health Care 1 with Related Learning Experience (Health 1N); and
3. Health Economics with Taxation and Land Reform (Economics 2).
 
The other two subjects are Strategies in Health Education (Health 3) and Art Appreciation with Environmental Beautification and Sanitation (Humanities 1).

My classmates in these two subjects almost jumped for joy after our teachers announced that they won't be giving exams for now because they wanted us focus on our "more challenging subjects."

What I think is--knowing some of the teachers in school--they were probably just too lazy to prepare the test items.

Thanks anyway. At least I'd have extra time to surf and blog and chat a little during the week.

JULY IS BLOOD DONORS' MONTH: OBSERVATIONS OF A NON-DONOR

I've been seeing streamers all over the city that say July is the Blood Donors' Month.

A small red cross usually appears on the left side of each of the streamers so I'd assume the Philippine National Red Cross is spearheading the event. (I really haven't been able to take a closer look as I'm always on a speeding jeepney every time I see these streamers.)

The streamers say likewise that this year's theme is "Once is not enough! Donate blood regularly!" which sounds either too happy or as if trying to force someone.
 
I also think it's funny because the theme neither applies to me nor addresses non-donors like me.
 
I have never donated blood, not even once--although I seriously want to try it some time.


Photo Source: Gems Sty's Blog

NURSING SCHOOLS IN ILOILO CITY: A GUIDE (ESPECIALLY) FOR "SECOND COURSERS" (PART 1)

I hope the comparative list I've presented in the subsequent entries would prove useful especially to those who wish to return to school as "second coursers" in nursing (like myself) or to others who'll soon graduate in high school and, as early as now, are in the process of deciding as to which school they should enroll, in Iloilo City.

Back in mid-2007, when I was already planning to move back to my hometown (I was still working in Metro Manila then) to become a full-time nursing student, I started googling for possible detailed lists of local nursing schools in Iloilo City.

What I just found, however, were a few articles mentioning these schools, their respective histories, and their passing percentage in the Philippine Nurse Licensure Exams.

Neither blogs and even the schools' websites themselves were of help. There wasn't any "second-courser-friendly" information at all for some of the commonest questions like: (1) whether or not this or that nursing school has a program for second coursers; (2) whether or not they have night classes for those who wish to hold down their day jobs; and (3) how much should one expect to fork out for school fees per semester.

In fact, because the schools' websites didn't really provide anything that I needed that time--plus the fact that most of them didn't bother to reply to my emails--I had to ask some friends who were already based in Iloilo City to phone these nursing schools for me (long-distance calls aren't cheap) and to ask particularly about their programs for second coursers, admission requirements, and the like.

Anyway, when I checked again recently, there's still no such list available online. That's why I'm building one myself to spare you guys from all the hassles that I went through.

I've included such information as the schools' complete addresses, contact numbers, email addresses, website URLs, own base hospitals, availability of second courser program, availability of night classes for second coursers, availability of master's degree program, school fees per semester, overall PNLE performance, and a few trivias.
 
So here it is, the comparative (and hopefully much better) list of the more established nursing schools in Iloilo City, for both would-be college students and "second coursers":

1. Central Philippine University
2. Iloilo Doctors' College
3. Saint Pauls' University of Iloilo
4. University of Iloilo
5. University of San Agustin
6. West Visayas State University

Photo Source: Central Philippine University Website

NURSING SCHOOLS IN ILOILO CITY: A GUIDE (ESPECIALLY) FOR "SECOND COURSERS" (PART 2)

CENTRAL PHILIPPINE UNIVERSITY (CPU)
 
Type: Private

Address: Lopez-Jaena Street, Jaro, Iloilo City, Western Visayas, Philippines 5000

Phone Number/s: +63 (33) 329-1971 to 79

Email: registrar@cpu.edu.ph, info@cpu.edu.ph

Website: http://www.cpu.edu.ph

Own Hospital: Iloilo Mission Hospital

Second Courser Program: Yes, but with age limit (not more than 25 years old)

Night Class for Second Coursers: None

Master's Degree Program: Yes (thesis and non-thesis)
 
School Fees per Semester: First Year - P18,000 to P20,000; Second Year - P28,000 to P30,000; Third Year - P35,000 to P37,000; Fourth Year - P33,000 - P35,000.

PNLE Performance: Satisfactory. CPU's College of Nursing is known for its rigid training standards and its impressive overall performance in the PNLE. 

Trivia: While CPU has the most beautifully-landscaped campus among schools in Iloilo City, it's also the most flood-prone. A sister school of Silliman University in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, it was founded in 1905 by missionaries of the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society.


PROCEED TO:

• Part 3 - Iloilo Doctors' College
• Part 4 - Saint Paul's University of Iloilo
• Part 5 - University of Iloilo
• Part 6 - University of San Agustin
• Part 7 - West Visayas State University

RETURN TO:

• Part 1 - Introduction
• Home

NURSING SCHOOLS IN ILOILO CITY: A GUIDE (ESPECIALLY) FOR "SECOND COURSERS" (PART 3)

ILOILO DOCTORS' COLLEGE (IDC)
 
Type: Private

Address: West Avenue, Molo, Iloilo City, Western Visayas, Philippines 5000

Phone Number/s: +63 (33) 337-2921 / 337-0034

Email: ieci_webmaster@yahoo.com

Website: http://www.idc.edu.ph

Own Hospital: Iloilo Doctors' Hospital
 
Second Courser Program: Yes, but with age limit (not more than 30 years old). Unlike the second-courser programs of University of San Agustin, Saint Paul's University of Iloilo, University of Iloilo, and Central Philippine University, IDC's program breaks up second-courser nursing students into two groups: (1) graduates of medical courses (e.g., physical therapy, medical technology, dentistry, medicine) and (2) graduates of non-medical courses (e.g., education, engineering, mass communications, political science). Besides this "segregation scheme," second-coursers from both groups also don't mix with "regular" students (that is, those who haven't obtained a previous degree); they have separate sections.
 
Night Class for Second Coursers: None

Master's Degree Program: None

School Fees per Semester: First Year - P20,000 to P22,000; Second Year - P26,000 to P28,000; Third Year - P36,000 to P38,000; Fourth Year - P40,000 to P42,000.  

PNLE Performance: Average. In recent years, the overall performance of IDC's College of Nursing in the PNLE has been slightly lackluster.

PROCEED TO:

• Part 4 - Saint Paul's University of Iloilo
• Part 5 - University of Iloilo
• Part 6 - University of San Agustin
• Part 7 - West Visayas State University

RETURN TO:

• Part 2 - Central Philippine University
• Part 1 - Introduction
• Home

NURSING SCHOOLS IN ILOILO CITY: A GUIDE (ESPECIALLY) FOR "SECOND COURSERS" (PART 4)

SAINT PAUL'S UNIVERSITY OF ILOILO

Type: Private

Address: General Luna Street, City Proper, Iloilo City, Western Visayas, Philippines 5000

Phone Number/s: +63 (33) 338-3668

Email: None

Website: http://www.spuiloilo.edu.ph

Own Hospital: Saint Paul's Hospital-Iloilo
 
Second Courser Program: None

Night Class for Second Coursers: None

Master's Degree Program: Yes

School Fees per Semester: First Year - P23,000 to P25,000; Second Year - P32,000 to P35,000; Third Year - P44,000 to P46,000; Fourth Year - P45,000 to P47,000.
 
PNLE Performance: Outstanding. SPUI's College of Nursing is famous for being one of the consistent top-five best-performing nursing schools in the whole country.
 
Trivia: Sr Carolina Agravante, dubbed as the first Filipina nursing theorist, is the incumbent dean of SPUI's College of Nursing.


PROCEED TO:

• Part 5 - University of Iloilo
• Part 6 - University of San Agustin
• Part 7 - West Visayas State University

RETURN TO:

• Part 3 - Iloilo Doctors' College
• Part 2 - Central Philippine University
• Part 1 - Introduction
• Home

NURSING SCHOOLS IN ILOILO CITY: A GUIDE (ESPECIALLY) FOR "SECOND COURSERS" (PART 5)

UNIVERSITY OF ILOILO (UI)
 
Type: Private

Address: Rizal Street, City Proper, Iloilo City, Western Visayas, Philippines 5000

Phone Number/s: +63 (33) 338-1071 to 7
 
Website: http://www.ui.phinma.edu.ph

Own Hospital: None

Second Courser Program: Yes
 
Night Class for Second Coursers: None

Master's Degree Program: None

School Fees per Semester: First Year - P14,000 to P16,000; Second Year - P17,000 to P19,000; Third Year - P24,000 to P26,000; Fourth Year - P30,000 to P32,000.  

PNLE Performance: Average. Despite UI's derided reputation as the so-called "dumpsite" of flunkers from the five other schools in this list, its PNLE passing percentage isn't that bad--but not that consistent as well. Recently, UI has produced some national top-ten placers.

Trivia: Founded in 1947, UI is owned by the wealthy Lopez clan that also owns local broadcast giant ABS-CBN, with former Iloilo congressional representative Albertito Lopez as its incumbent president. 

UPDATE: The University of Iloilo now has a new owner. Read more about it here.

PROCEED TO:

• Part 6 - University of San Agustin
• Part 7 - West Visayas State University

RETURN TO:

• Part 4 - Saint Paul's University of Iloilo
• Part 3 - Iloilo Doctors' College
• Part 2 - Central Philippine University
• Part 1 - Introduction
• Home

NURSING SCHOOLS IN ILOILO CITY: A GUIDE (ESPECIALLY) FOR "SECOND COURSERS" (PART 6)

UNIVERSITY OF SAN AGUSTIN (USA)

Type: Private

Address: General Luna Street, City Proper, Iloilo City, Western Visayas, Philippines 5000

Phone Number/s: +63 (33) 337-4841 to 44

Email: registrar@usa.edu.ph / info@usa.edu.ph

Website: http://www.usa.edu.ph

Own Hospital: None
 
Second Courser Program: Yes, but with age limit (not more than 30 years old)

Night Class for Second Coursers: None

Master's Degree Program: Yes (thesis and non-thesis)
 
School Fees per Semester: First Year: P15,000 to P17,000; Second Year - P18,000 to P20,000; Third Year - P28,000 to P30,000; Fourth Year - P34,000 to P36,000.

PNLE Performance: Average. In recent years, the number of PNLE passers of USA's College of Nursing hasn't been very high.
 
Trivia: Founded by Augustinian friars in 1904, USA is the oldest university in Iloilo City.


PROCEED TO:

• Part 7 - West Visayas State University

RETURN TO:

• Part 5 - University of Iloilo
• Part 4 - Saint Paul's University of Iloilo
• Part 3 - Iloilo Doctors' College
• Part 2 - Central Philippine University
• Part 1 - Introduction
• Home