The Dominican Learning Resource Center (DLRC) is having an expansion and a new makeover to accommodate the increasing number of Dominicans and for the overall benefit of the school community.

According to the Chief Librarian of the DLRC, Ms. Laila R. Ariate, the renovation started during the second week of June and is expected to be finished by the end of August.

Need to know the newest books? Word on any book collections available? How about books related to certain subjects only? The people at our Dominican Learning Resource Center have your back with DORA.

DORA or the “Dominican Online Reference Assistant” is a Facebook page administered by the librarians of the DLRC, where members of the Dominican community can ask any question about the library by chatting them. Riding on the accessibility of the social media network Facebook and its Messenger app, the DLRC hopes that DORA will allow the library to reach even more people in Saint Dominic and help them with their studies and research.

Two members of St. Dominic College of Asia’s “The Gateway Group of Publications” ranked at 4^th place, in the 4^th Extramural 2017 of School Press Adviser’s Movement Inc. (SPAM Inc.) last April 27, in Baguio City.

Out of 25 contestants in the 4^th Extramural 2017 of The School Press Adviser’s Movement Inc. (SPAM), the Gateway members Angelica Carulla and Christian Mendoza were able take home the 4^th place in the Copyreading & Headline writing COLLEGE category (FILIPINO) and Photojournalism COLLEGE category (FILIPINO).

Mr. Jonathan Sta. Ana, the Gateway adviser and the corporate secretary of SPAM, mentioned that when they were introduced to the said organization, they took the opportunity to join the national competition.

The SPAM is a national organization of campus advisers from elementary, high school and college that aims to unite campus journalism educators in the Philippines and offer affordable training (https://spamincsite.wordpress.com/about/).

The said organization also holds annual seminars and workshops open for aspiring campus writers in different schools. Just recently, alongside with the 4^th Extramural 2017 competition, they conducted their training workshop, with the theme “Getting into the Stride of Responsible and Innovative Writing,” one day before the competition. There, the students were able to expand their knowledge about journalism and were taught to be competitive. In fact, Angelica Carulla, sports editor said, “Not just in sports editing, you need to venture other categories to enhance your skills.”

That particular activity significantly contributed not only to the participants but also to SDCA to where they belong.

By: Miyuki C. Yamaguchi

Fourth year students of Information Technology and Computer Science (IT/CS), from St. Dominic College of Asia (SDCA), accompanied by Mr. Noel Sergio (Dean), and professors Mr. Alvin Jason Virata (DASS and ICT Director) and Mr. Angelo Buan, attended the Acer Design Studio Seminar, in Taipei, Taiwan last March 31.

Twenty students of IT/CS went to Taiwan, to attend a seminar at the Acer Headquarters, where they had the opportunity to meet the company’s Team Marketing Heads; Mr. Gibson Lin and Mr. Roger Wu. The experts shared about the plans for Acer and discussed the new product line and innovation of Acer’s computers and mobiles.

The seminar is one of SDCA’s privilege in its partnership with Acer Philippines on October 2016, where it was given a loyalty award with benefits that can be converted to training opportunities.

The students also had the privilege to visit the Acer’s design room, which is a rare opportunity because it’s not open to the public. There, they were able to learn how the company conceptualizes their products and witnessed how the Acer Predator X21 Gaming Notebook was built from scratch.

Aside from the seminar, the students also had the chance to tour around the country. They strolled around the place, including the famous Taipei 101 tower in Xinyi District, the world’s tallest skyscraper. Gian Carlo Medina, one of the IT/CS students, said that “We thought that it’s just a rural country but everything was on high tech. The buildings were old but their foundations were strongly built.”

By: Miyuki C. Yamaguchi

Deans, Program chairs, and faculty members of SDCA can now access the Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) from the Dominican Learning Resource Center (DLRC).

The OPAC is a computerized index of the DLRC’s books and other publications in their possession. Now available in specific computers in all SDCA schools, the OPAC provides SDCA educators ease-of-access in finding specific publications for all education and research needs.

According to the Chief Librarian of the DLRC, Laila Ariate, teachers need only to use the specific computers in their schools to access the OPAC, such as the secretarial computers, Deans’ computers and computers provided to program heads.

By:  Michael M. Abarro Jr.

Need to know the newest books? Word on any book collections available? How about books related to certain subjects only? The people at our Dominican Learning Resource Center have your back with DORA.

DORA or the “Dominican Online Reference Assistant” is a Facebook page administered by the librarians of the DLRC, where members of the Dominican community can ask any question about the library by chatting them. Riding on the accessibility of the social media network Facebook and its Messenger app, the DLRC hopes that DORA will allow the library to reach even more people in Saint Dominic and help them with their studies and research.

With the page just opened in mid-February, the DLRC encourages Dominicans to make use of this free service. Please keep in mind that queries will only be answered during the DLRC’s regular office hours and only DLRC-related questions will be entertained.

Visit their page and like them on Facebook to start asking your scholarly questions!  DORA Facebook Page

By: Michael M. Abarro Jr.

In line with the RMUSIC’s lifelong learning goal, The Gateway Group of Publications together with the Research Development Office (RDO) organized this year’s League of Wizards at the Dona Dominga Andaman Hall (AVR), Nov. 25.

15 organizations sent their representatives to compete in this year’s quiz show: science, mathematics, history and culture, arts and literature, and trivia and current events.

The event started with an opening prayer led by Arbie Joy Talam, followed by the singing of the Philippine national anthem and the SDCA hymn.

Ma. Gelli Anne B. Escober, editor-in-chief of the Gateway Group of Publications, delivered her welcome remarks giving a brief history of the contest, while Jonathan Velustria Sta. Ana, student affairs and services director, presented the contest mechanics.

The contestants were presented by the persons-in-charge in every category: Arbie Joy Talam for science; Samantha Leigh Ocampo, opinion editor for mathematics; Angelica S. Carulla, sports editor, for history and culture; Gemelyn Cruz for arts and literature wizard and Kristine Amna Hazlewood for trivia and current events wizard.

Winners were immediately awarded after each category.

For science, first place, Daniel Diala Geda (biology); second place, Vince Lawrence Garcia (physical therapy); third place, Joshua Natan Serenilla (pharmacy); fourth place, Vianca Angelou Marco (accountancy) and fifth place Gayeheart Gomez (medical laboratory science).

For mathematics, first place, Jan Alexis Caraveo (education); second place, Paul Emsvin Calvario (multimedia arts); third place, Fred Neil Abratique (medical laboratory science); fourth place, Kumater Abah (physical therapy) and fifth place, Jae Ann Mari Jumawan (psychology).

For history and culture, first place, Aurielle Yvette Buendia (psychology); second place, Angeline Tulio (physical therapy); third place, Prences Joy Layco (education); fourth place, Michael Lee (biology) and fifth place, Jeanne Kristine Bautista (pharmacy).

For arts and literature, first place, Sophia Sorelle Solomon (radiologic technology); second place, Dhala Angelica Cadenila (business administration); third place, Veronica Mae Palencia (psychology); fourth place, Render Roei Urap (multimedia arts) and fifth place Kynley Donayre (medical laboratory science).

For trivia and current events, first place, Ohrwyn Philip Bautista (psychology); second place, Acer Kennen Vales (medical laboratory science); third place Ardeson Roz Resari (physical therapy); fourth place, Virginus Okanya (pharmacy) and fifth place, Allen Kristian Cataytay (education).

First place winners gained 50 points for their organization, 40 points for the second place, 30 points for the third place, 20 points for the fourth place and 10 points for the fifth place.

Dr. Jonathan Adanza, Research and Development Officer, served as the quiz master.

By: Elgien Padohinog

(This article was featured in the Gateway Group of Publications broadsheet, second semester, A.Y. 2016 - 2017)

Environmental consultant and Climate Reality Leader Shiela R. Castillo immersed SDCA students in a Climate Change Seminar on Feb. 1, 2017 at the Dominga A. Andaman Hall.

In coordination with the Central College Student Council and the Student Wellness Unit, Ms Castillo gave the seminar to some 150 Dominican student leaders from various courses and year levels “to encourage environmental advocacy in Saint Dominic,” according to Ms. Jasmin Quintans, Student Wellness Unit Coordinator.

In a powerpoint presentation developed by former US Vice President and Nobel Laureate Al Gore, Ms. Castillo discussed the destructive effects of choking the atmosphere with greenhouse gases due to human activities using fossil fuels which resulted to global warming and climate change. She pointed out the different impacts of climate change to the environment, human health, biodiversity, agriculture, and infrastructure.

Ms Castillo also put to light the vulnerability of a country such as the Philippines to global climate change, citing the powerful typhoons in the past years as mild precedent of graver things to come if the current generation does not act. As her personal acts of leadership, she also shared that she is promoting plant-based diet by being vegan and also presented her advocacy to ban the sale of disposable bottles in school canteens. Her online petition can be found in here: https://www.bataris.org.ph/petitions/ban-disposable-bottles-from-school-canteens
She conducted a workshop with the student leaders asking them to discuss and decide on simple climate change solutions they could commit to in their personal capacity, or as student leaders, in their home, school, and community.

Ms Castillo is a development professional with over 15 years of experience in multiple fields dealing with environmental and humanitarian work. She was trained by Al Gore in Jakarta in 2011 and has since presented the updated climate change decks in key cities all over the country, reaching an audience of about 15,000.Catch updates about her advocacy on twitter at https://twitter.com/shiela_rc and her blog at https://shielarcastillo.wordpress.com/ . She is also on linkedin 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/shielarcastillo/