Tahilan Celebrates Family Day 2010 with Cirque de la Vie

Tahilan is our Circus of Life, or Cirque de la vie as we put it, where we come together and learn how to overcome our frustrations and mistakes as we develop our capabilities and aim for greater heights. Through all this, we rest on the support of a bond stronger than ordinary ties of friendship that we have come to forge with each other. In the Family Day celebration last October 3, we sought to convey this message with a single story that binds all of ours together.

The afternoon started with a get-together for parents with Dr. Esther Esteban about Parenting Values. Meanwhile, other guests were toured around the Residence and shown the exhibit. The celebration of the Holy Mass followed, and then the program begun. A potluck merienda cena capped the joyous occasion.

Part of the exhibit featured the 80th Anniversary of the Women in Opus Dei

A ringmaster, a fortune-teller, and a jester served as emcees for the program

Dance numbers followed the mood of the story, and ranged from playful to energetic

The magicians wowed the audience with their tricks and antics

A medley of Korean, English, and Tagalog songs was a certified hit

All smiles at the photo booth

What’s In Your Portfolio?

Welcome to your college education, where Chemistry majors take up Philosophy and Business majors labor under Physics. Have you ever wondered why in the world you have to take subjects that seem totally unrelated to your course? The answer is Liberal Education. According to the Association of American Colleges and Universities, Liberal Education is an approach to learning that exposes us students to a wider spectrum but enables us to have an in-depth study in a specific area of interest as well. We have to admit that when it’s time to face the real world, it isn’t going to be all about our favorite subject. Sometimes we need to work with other skills and talents.

This is what multi-awarded screenwriter Ms. Vanessa Valdez emphasized during the first Student’s Portfolio for the school year. Student’s Portfolio is a monthly talk for university students given by professionals from diverse fields who share their insights and experiences on what it takes to succeed in the world of work.

Ms. Valdez related how her background in Liberal Arts and her training as a teacher gives her a unique perspective in her work. She is convinced that learning doesn’t just happen inside the classroom. That’s why she considers it her task not just to entertain the movie-going public but to get them to ponder and arrive at a deeper understanding of truths about life and living.

The second Students’ Portfolio held last September 18 tackled Psychology. Dr. Melissa Reyes of the Psychology Department of De La Salle University shared her expertise in this field of mixed science and art. According to Dr. Reyes, “Psychology tries to gain an understanding of how the human person grows and develops.”

One of the subtopics Dr. Reyes emphasized was the context of development—the immediate environment where the person grows. For this, she used the story of Richard Feynman, a Nobel Prize winner for Physics. Feynman’s childhood is composed of the little adventures he has with his dad. These encounters triggered Feynman’s inquisitive nature, hence prodding him in the scientific path. Overall, Dr. Reyes expressed that Psychology’s deep interest is in the life stories of people. “Psychology’s wisdom arises from a proper recognition of who a person is.”

Coming up next is a talk on working in the Banking and Finance Industry with Mrs. Joyvalerie Gatdula on October 16, Saturday at 5:30 pm.

By Ginnie Santos, Reprinted from Tahilan Trails October 2010

Opus Dei Regional Vicar Visits Tahilan

The Regional Vicar of Opus Dei in the Philippines, Rev. Fr. Carlos Vicente G. Estrada, JCD, paid a visit to Tahilan Residence and Study Center last September 19 for a talk with university students about various aspects of spirituality applied to daily living.

The Sunday afternoon session comprised of a series of questions-and-answers interspersed with memorable anecdotes from Fr. Estrada. He was accompanied by Fr. Raul Marino M. Sagles, former chaplain of Tahilan.

Fr. Estrada, being a Mechanical Engineering graduate of De La Salle University, started off by saying a few words about technology. He tackled how it improves the lives of people, making concrete comparisons with technology available during his college years. At the same time, he cautioned that technological developments like the Internet can also be detrimental in some cases. Fr. Estrada also commented on how fortunate the university students are to be able to receive means of formation offered in Tahilan.

One of the questions asked was about dealing with people who have a different set of values. The Vicar challenged those present to stand their ground while maintaining cordial relations with others. Those people who have different values will eventually come to their sense and respect the ones who remained true to their convictions.

Probably one of Fr. Estrada’s treasured stories was about his college friend whom he never invited to go to the Center because it did not seem that he would appreciate it. Several years later, they were able to reconnect with one another. Sometime after that encounter, his friend came to join Opus Dei as a Supernumerary. This was how Fr. Estrada stressed the importance of not giving up on people no matter how uninterested they may seem.

Time is always short when you’re having a good time and this was no exception. No one even noticed that an hour had already passed. It was over all too soon as Father Estrada had to leave for another appointment. His words though will surely continue to echo in the minds and hearts of all those present.

By Audrey Fatima Virgula, Reprinted from Tahilan Trails October 2010

Tahilan Receives Accreditation From DLSU

Tahilan Residence and Study Center received a four-star rating from the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) of De La Salle University (DLSU) after the accreditation that took place during the third term of Academic Year 2009-2010.

Basic amenities and off-campus residences were rated by a multi-sectoral “visiting accreditation team” established by DLSU’s Academics and Administration Coordination Committee. The team is composed of one administration representative, one faculty representative, two student representatives and two parent representatives.

Points for the basic amenities total up to 60 and the off-campus housing facility must acquire a grade of at least 45 to be accredited. Accreditation levels are also set to sort the dormitories according to the number of points they received.

Other accredited dormitories include Anne Francis Condominium, Cara Celine Dormtel, Mervin Terraces Condominium, and Homelike Ladies Dormitory with three stars; Residencia de Dios and @ Home Dormtel with two stars and Viverde Lofts with one star.

According to Dean of Student Affairs Fritzie de Vera, security was the number one priority the committee looked into during the accreditation, proof of which appears in the majority of the evaluation given solely to assess safety and security.

The roster can be found at http://www.dlsu.edu.ph/students/international/survival, particularly making it convenient for international students who may not be able to visit the campus before enrollment.

By Audrey Fatima Virgula, Reprinted from Tahilan Trails 2010; Photo from The LaSallian 19 July 2010 issue