News
Spanish Cooperation in the PH launches exhibit at UST
A photo exhibit titled “Dos Miradas a la cooperación Española” (Two views to Spanish development cooperation), sponsored by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation or AECID in the Philippines, was launched on November 7, 2012 at the Main Building of the University of Santo Tomas.
“This exhibit takes us through the lens of two photographers: Jose Manuel Navia from Spain and Veejay Villafranca from the Philippines,” said Mr. Vicente Sellés, general coordinator of AECID in his message about the exhibit.
The photo exhibit showcases the work and efforts of the Spanish Cooperation in the Philippines. Mr. Sellés said that since the Philippines has become one of its beneficiaries in Asia, the country is part of the programs and projects conducted for about 20 years.
“Despite the crisis in Spain, the Philippines is still a priority country for our cooperation,” added the general coordinator. He also emphasized that the Spanish agency was ranked the 7th leading donor in 2010, believing that “quality is more important than quantity.”
Several partner agencies like DSWD, DILG, DepEd, DOH, and National Commission on Human Rights and Commission on Women work hand-in-hand with the Spanish agency to implement the projects for thousands of Filipinos.
Mr. Sellés said that AECID recognizes people involved in the projects through the exhibit. He said that the beneficiaries are the most important component of the projects. “They are people with concrete names and lives with many, many problems but with many aspirations and, above all, with great potential,” he added.
During the visit of Queen Sofia of Spain in the country last July, the exhibit was opened at the National Museum. The Queen’s visit allowed her to grasp the priority geographic areas of the Spanish cooperation in the Philippines.
The visit of Queen Sofia in UST is very important because she paid recognition for the 400th anniversary of the academic institution. Thus, the Spanish agency thought it necessary for them to begin the tour of the exhibit in UST.
“The Queen and the Spanish people are proud of the past, the present and, above all, the future of your magnificent University,” said Mr. Sellés as he congratulated UST. “I believe that this exhibit will extend knowledge of the ties between the two countries and the importance that the Philippines has always had for the Spanish government,” he added.
Rev. Fr. Isidro C. Abaño, O.P., director of UST Museum said that the University is one of the most important inheritance received from Spain, having granted the title “Royal.” He also said that although UST had undergone several influences and changes, “it continues to promote its noble task to educate and form young people.”
“We have a chance to remember our origin,” Fr. Abaño said, pertaining to the tied activity between the Spanish embassy and the University of Santo Tomas.
“The photographs displayed are not only beautiful but they are very poignant. They invite the viewers to reflect on their thoughts,” Fr. Abaño said. “’Pag tingin niyo ng pictures, malalim ang kahulugan kung may mga bagay na kukurot sa inyong mga damdamin,” he addressed the students.
Finally, Mr. Sellés tried his best to speak in the Filipino language saying, “Ang Unibersidad ay nag-hahanda ng mga mag-aaral para sa kinabukasan. Ito ang layunin ng cooperacion Española sa Pilipinas kaya karapat-dapat gawin ang eksibisyon na ito.”
The ribbon-cutting was done by Mr. Sellés, Fr. Abaño, and Fr. Angel A. Aparicio, OP, prefect of libraries. The launching event attended by UST and Spanish embassy officials along with photography students was concluded after the cocktails held at the UST Civil Law lobby.
The photo exhibit can be visited at the University’s Main Building lobby until November 29, 2012. It would be brought to different parts of the country and would stay particularly in Madrid and Barcelona.
By Marleen Y. Peroz
Photo taken by Charlene Conde
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News
Thomasian innovation bested others in the Metro
A mere escape from summer boredom hailed two Engineering Thomasians victorious in the recent Manila Bay Cleanup competition, launched by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) in April.
A mere escape from summer boredom hailed two Engineering Thomasians victorious in the recent Manila Bay Cleanup competition, launched by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) in April.
Fourth year Electronics Communication Engineering (ECE) students John Beljoe Abao and Ariel Manalaysay had outclassed seven other competing schools with their giant dustpan-like entry, which, according to them is based on simple logic and imagination, and practically out of the boredom during the vacation.
“Nung summer walang magawa, and opportunity din naman ‘yon,” Abao said, referring to the contest.
With the theme “Innovative Engineering Solutions to the Manila Bay Garbage Problem,” the contest encouraged student participants to devise creative contraptions that may eventually be improved and produced by the MMDA.
“It (the prototype) is V-shaped and it has a hole in the middle where a concrete storage is placed,” Abao said.
With big waves in the bay, floating debris and trash will be swept into the chute and into the tank, “just merely collecting the trash into the bin.”
Competition
The Thomasian duo took three days of brainstorming, a day to formulate the concept paper, and only a span of two hours to construct the model. But despite the short amount of time, they were “confident” about their prototype.
“One down, one down,” Abao said when asked what did they feel when they saw other participants’ prototype. According to the duo, the edge of their prototype compared to others’ was the “feasibility to implement because of its simplicity.”
The prototype brought to the defense is made up of only cardboard, masking tape, and illustration board while other participants’ proposals were more technical and even made use of mathematical computations.
The real inspiration behind the innovation, according to Abao, is the fulfillment of seeing his idea being implemented to help improve the Manila Bay.
“Kuha lang ng kuha. When the opportunity comes, grab without hesitation,” Abao and Manalaysay said, advising the Thomasian community to be ready when opportunity knocks.
According to an article in Inquirer, Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH) Assistant Secretary Maria Catalina Cabral said that in choosing the winning design they looked for “innovation and engineering.”
“The concept is doable. We saw there was potential for this to be built and developed. MMDA and DOST will make more studies to develop and make more improvements on this proposal,” Cabral added in the said article.
The duo received P25,000 cash prize along with Certificate of Recognition.
Other participating schools included Ateneo de Manila University, University of the Philippines-Diliman, Manuel L. Quezon University and Mapua Institute of Technology.
By Mia Mallari and Romhelyn Benipayo
Photo courtesy of John Beljoe Abao
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