78th Birthday of Atty. Ronald R. Yap and 44th Wedding Anniversary of Atty. and Mrs. Yap held at The Peninsula Manila

Atty. Ronald R. Yap, President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Fisher Valley College in Taguig City, celebrated his 78th year at The Peninsula Manila (popularly known as Manila Pen) in Makati City on February 28, 2015. His family, colleagues and friends also celebrated the 44th Wedding Anniversary of Atty. Yap and his wife, Mrs. Rebecca M. Yap. 

In attendance were members of Gideons International and Light of the World Christian Center of which the couple are also active members. Gideons International is "an Association of Christian business and professional men and their wives dedicated to telling people about Jesus through sharing personally and by providing Bibles and New Testaments." Light of the World, as it is more commonly known in the Philippines, is an evangelical church with thousands of churches situated all throughout the country. Incumbent Congressman Rufus B. Rodriguez, former Mayor of Cagayan de Oro City and former Congressman Constantino Jaraula, and former Mayor of CDO and former governor of Misamis Oriental Pedro Baculio also graced the occasion. Pilar U. Pilapil, a Filipina actress, producer, and author who represented the country in Miss Universe beauty pageant in 1967, also attended the event. The Acting College Director, Department Heads, and other staff of TFVC likewise joined in the occasion. 

The Peninsula Manila (Image courtesy of the hotel's website)

At age 78, Atty. Yap is still an energetic man. During his speech, he recalled how God is so good to him and his entire family and shared a Bible verse in Psalms 90:10 which says that "The span of our life is seventy years, or if we are strong, eighty.." and mentioned afterwards that if God willing, he might live until 88 years old or so. He further said that the Bible says "Old men have wisdom, and a long life gives knowledge" which can be found in Job 12:12. 

The couple's son Fritzgerald, the Vice President for External Affairs, who flew from Cagayan de Oro, described his father as a disciplinarian and a loving father. The California-based daughter Rowena Yap-Castro, the Vice-President for Academic Affairs, also shared her inspiring message and recalled how she earned the title 'RRY Junior'. Naomi, the youngest of the three, who is in Spain, also gave her greetings. Dr. Marvin C. Castro, the College Director of TFVC and husband of Ma'am Weng (Rowena), Ms. Neth (Sir Fritz' wife) and the celebrants' grandchildren also sent their video greetings.

It was truly a remarkable and momentous occasion for Atty. and Mrs. Ronald R. Yap. My prayers include long and happy married life for both of them. The couple's 44th wedding anniversary and Atty. Yap's 78th birthday were truly a success. Their strong bond is a testament of God's faithfulness in their lives. May the good Lord bless them more!

Below are some of the pictures during the occasion. 

Mrs. Rebecca M. Yap (3rd from the left)

    

5th CBAA Academic Excellence Awards for 1st Semester, A.Y. 2014-2015

Every semester, the College of Business Administration and Accountancy of The Fisher Valley College recognizes the hard work of our students. This is the very reason why the coveted CBAA Academic Excellence Awards are given every semester. 

The 5th CBAA Recognition Day will be held on March 14, 2015, Saturday from 1:00 to 3:00 in the afternoon at The TFVC Quadrangle. The event will be attended by CBAA Faculty, the awardees and their parents.

The number of awardees for 1st Semester, A.Y. 2014-2015 is 63% higher than the previous semester (2nd Semester, A.Y. 2013-2014). This means the prestigious award encourages more students to do better in their academic endeavors, hence, the program must be continued by the next department heads and/or college deans in the future years.

Below is the final list of Academic Excellence Awardees.   

Aside from Academic Excellence Awards, Student Leadership Awards and Best in Thesis Award will likewise be given to deserving students.  

The CBAA Recognition Day started since Prof. Marlon B. Raquel was appointed as the new Department Head of CBAA on June 2012.

Kudos to all students! Congratulations and keep up the good work! God bless!

Donations for Typhoon Yolanda

God's Plan for You: A Future of Success Filled with Hope

3^rd MONTHLY STUDENTS’ FELLOWSHIP

The Fisher Valley College

C5 Annex Campus

Taguig City

22 August 2011 (Monday)

10:00am-12:00nn

SPEAKER: Marlon B. Raquel, Faculty Member

TOPIC: GOD’S PLAN FOR YOU: A FUTURE OF SUCCESS FILLED WITH HOPE

VERSE:  Jeremiah 29:11

“For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” -NIV

“I will bless you with a future filled with hope – a future of success, not of suffering.” –CEV

“Ako lamang ang nakaaalam ng mga panukalang inihahanda ko para sa ikabubuti ninyo, at para dulutan kayo ng pag-asa sa hinaharap.” –TPV

MAIN POINTS:

1. There is a presence of relationship between God and you.

When we talk of relationship, we always think of two persons understanding each other. You cannot share sensitive things to a person unless he or she is your friend, a trusted friend. Likewise, parents of our friends cannot make plans for our future. It is only our parents who think and plan for our success in the future. So when God tells you that He has plans for you, be joyful! It means that God considers you as His son or daughter. Are there times you feel like no one cares for you? Are there times when you realize that no one understands you as you go to bed? And as you leave your home, you always think that your life is going nowhere? My friend, you are one of the most privileged individuals in the world. God is speaking to you right now. He talks to you because you are important to Him. God is fully aware that there is a relationship that exists between you and Him, therefore, you must also realize that this relationship entitles you to confide to God your deepest secrets, your happy moments with your friends, your frustrations with your mother who always nags at you, or your frustrations with your studies.   Your relationship with the Lord is the most important thing you can have in this ephemeral world.

      

2. God prepares plans for you. He thinks of your future.

                God is the Lord not just in the ancient times, not just today, but of the future as well. Being his child entitles you of many benefits. It is Him Who plans for your future. God designs the blueprint to which we must follow. A captain of a ship has a compass which guides him as his ship sails in the seas. A tourist has a map which shows directions of different places. Likewise, God’s plan is your roadmap to success. No matter how you exert all your efforts doing everything to achieve success in life, if you put God aside, that would be meaningless. It is comforting to know that there is someone who is thinking of your future.

I remember few years ago when I was in my fourth year in high school, my father told me that I wouldn’t be able to enter college because of financial difficulties. I could not accept what I heard from him. I knew from my heart that my father wanted me to get a college degree but he couldn’t help me. That was the time when I started to attend Bible studies conducted in my boarding house and I started to hear the word of the Lord for the first time in my life. So I said, “Lord, if you really exist and that you really know the needs of my family, you will not forget me. You will let me enter college and get a college degree.” Alas, God heard my prayers! I had encountered a lot of trials and problems as a student but that did not hinder me from achieving my dreams. There were countless school days when I attended my classes without taking breakfasts. I deliberately skipped lunch meals just to save several pesos which I would eventually use for photocopies of my readings. It was a sacrifice but I constantly held on to the promise of God that “He will never leave me nor forsake me.” You can do the same. Why should you believe? Because God says so, and when He says a promise, I am confident that He will going to fulfil that in your life. God thinks of your future and makes plans for it. It is up to you to materialize it. It is true that God thinks and plans for our future but He needs your cooperation. Would you willing to help God fulfil His promises in your life?         

3. God’s plans are made to prosper you and give you hope in life.

                When a child asks for bread, would a parent give him a snake? No. There is no parent in this world that would do that unless the parent is crazy enough. Your parent’s plans for you are for your own good. They are designed for your success. If you question your parents, come to think of this: Why are you here in the first place? It is because your parents think of your future, plan for your future, and give you a chance to experience the goodness of life. This is exactly what God does for us. His plans are made for your prosperity, not to harm you. By making sacrifices in your studies in this institution, you are making your parents happy. Make your mama and your papa proud.    

CONCLUSION:

               

                Life is not easy in this world, no matter how we relate well with our friends and neighbours. What God promised is that every time we feel the burden and it seems that we cannot hold it any longer, He is there to carry that burden and yes, even us, He can carry. Remember the story of the footsteps in the sand.

We are who we are today because of the choices we have made in the past. We will become who will be in the future because of the choices we will make today. If we are clear with ourselves that we are students of God, then there is nothing to worry. Just as we are able to confidently share our happy moments and frustrations with our best friends without condemnation, we can share to God whatever we would like to tell Him. He has magnificent plans for our lives. These plans are made to prosper us. He is thinking for our future – the very hope of our lives.

Let us help ourselves realize these plans. If you enjoy being absent in classes or you always cut classes, stop that. Do not give your parents and your professors a headache. If you feel the urge to cheat during quizzes and exams, you better straighten yourself up. It’s better to get zero with a clear conscience than getting a perfect score by using evil means. If you see yourself as a useless man or woman, common, get your mirror and look at the reflection in the mirror. Tell yourself this way, “I am a precious creation of the perfect hands of the Lord. God is preparing for my bright future filled with hope. I will survive. I can overcome whatever onslaughts this life may bring. With God, I will soar above my dreams and expectations.”

               

And soon, we will realize how sweet it is to live.

--http://kingsrebel.blogspot.com--

3rd Monthly Students' Fellowship Photos

Date: August 22, 2011 (Monday)
Time: 10:00-12:00
Venue: Rooms 101-102, The Fisher Valley College C5 Annex Campus
Coordinator: Pastor Larry Tomines


Speaker: Marlon B. Raquel, Faculty Member
Topic: God's Plan for You: A Future of Success Filled with Hope


Main Points:
1. There is a presence of relationship between God and us.
2. God prepares plans for us. He thinks of our future.
3. God's plans are made to prosper us and give us hope in life.

To read the entire text, please click here.

Ang Kaugnayan ng Wikang Pambansa Sa Pagkakakilanlan Bilang Isang Pilipino

ANG KAUGNAYAN NG WIKANG PAMBANSA

SA PAGKAKAKILANLAN BILANG ISANG PILIPINO*

Ni Marlon B. Raquel**

Kung nais mong malaman ang iyong pagkakakilanlan, kailangan mong balikan ang iyong nakaraan at pag-aralan ang kasaysayan. Ito ang pinagsusumikapang gawin ng mga Pilipinong may pagmamahal sa sariling kultura. Ang Pilipinas ngayon ay malayo sa lipunang kinalakhan ng ating mga ninuno 3,000 taon na ang nakararaan. Tayo ay may sistema na ng pamamahala bago pa man dumating si Ferdinand Magellan noong 1521, isang Portuguese na nagtrabaho sa ilalim ng Kaharian ng Espanya. Napagtanto ko na hindi angkop gamitin ang salitang 'natuklasan' o ‘discovery’ tulad sa mga nakasulat sa mga libro sa kadahilanang hindi natuklasan ni Magellan ang arkipelago ng Pilipinas. Bagkus ay nagkaroon lamang ng pagkikita ng dalawang kultura - ang silangan at ang kanluran. Ang tinatawag na 'pagkatuklas ng Pilipinas' ay isang konseptong banyaga o Kanluranin. Sinumang manunulat na banyaga ay maaaring magsulat sa mga pahina ng ating kasaysayan para samantalahin nito ang ating kainosentehan. Hindi na dapat tayo magtaka kung ang isang Amerikanong sumusulat ng kasaysayan ay luluwalhatiin ang sarili nitong bansa at mamaliitin ang isang bansa. Ang isang Espanyol tulad ni Pigafetta ay maaaring ipagkalandakan na si Magellan ang unang nakatuklas sa mga isla ng Samar at Leyte. Marahil ang salitang 'Pilipinas' ay hindi gagamitin ngayon kung hindi tayo nalupig ng mga Kastila. Ang arkipelago ay ipinangalan sa karangalan ni Haring Felipe II ng Espanya. Samakatuwid, ang Pilipinas ay nangangailangan ng mga  Pilipinong nagsasalaysay at sumusulat ng ating kasaysayan base sa sarili nating perspektibo tulad nina Renato Constantino at Teodoro Agoncillo.

Ilang siglo na tayong nakatayo sa mga sanga-sangang daan. Patuloy tayong naghahanap sa isang tunay na pagkakakilanlan bilang mga Pilipino. Meron nga ba tayong sariling pagkakakilanlan? Ang ating lahi ay parang isang tasang kape. Iba’t ibang timpla ng dugong Malayo, Espanyol, Amerikano, Hapon, at Intsik ang nananalaytay sa atin. Dahil sa impluwensyang banyaga, maraming mga Pilipino ang mas pinipili na maging westernized. Ilan sa atin ang mga taong nagsasalita ng mga wikang banyaga at iniiwasan ang paggamit ng mga salitang bernakular hanggat maaari. Ang ilan sa atin ay nakakaramdam ng pagkahiya sa bawat okasyon na naririnig natin na ginagamit ang kanyang sariling wika o diyalekto. Matigas ang punto niya. Bisaya kasi sabi nila. Maraming mga Pilipino din sa ibang bansa ang nagpupumilit na itago ang kanilang pagka-Pilipino kahit na mas maliwanag pa sa sikat ng araw ang mga pisikal na deskripsiyon na magpapatunay na sila ay galing sa Perlas ng Silanganan. Ito ay isang mabalasik at nakalulungkot na katotohanan na kailangang malagpasan at baguhin ng isang Pilipino.  

Dahil sa pagtindi ng globalisasyon sa mundo, ang isang bansa ay kailangang marunong umangkop sa mga pagbabago upang mabuhay. Si Pangulong Aquino ay hindi kailanman gagamit ng wikang Tagalog kapag siya ay nakipag-usap sa pinakamakapangyarihang tao sa mundo, si Barack Obama. Ngunit may mapapansin ba tayo sa panahon ng mga summits o kumperensya ng iba't ibang mga ministro o ng mga presidente sa buong mundo? Marami sa kanila ay hindi gumagamit ng Ingles. Narining mo na ba ang Hari ng Saudi Arabia na nagsasalita sa Ingles sa panahon ng mga pulong? Ang punong ministro ng Hapon? Ang presidente ng Tsina? Ang chancellor ng Alemanya? Ang presidente ng South Korea? Hindi, silang lahat ay gumagamit ng sari-sariling wika bilang pangunahing daluyan ng komunikasyon. Sila ay may mga tagapagsalin o interpreters! Ngunit tingnan natin ang mga bansang ito: sila ay kabilang sa mga mayayamang bansa sa buong mundo. Kahit na sa panahon ng mga international pageants, ang mga contestants mula sa ibang bansa ay karaniwang gumagamit ng sarili nilang wika. Hindi lingid sa ating kaalaman na ang mga ito ay may salapi upang matustusan ang pag-aaral sa wikang Ingles ngunit mas pinipili nila na magsalita sa kani-kanilang wika. Sa mga bansa kung saan ang nasyonalismo ay malakas tulad ng sa Hapon, ang Ingles ay hindi ang pangunahing midyum ng pagtuturo sa mga paaralan kundi Nihongo o Niponggo sa halos lahat ng mga asignatura kahit sa matematika. Alam ng mga kulturang ito ang kahalagahan ng wikang pambansa para sa ikauunlad ng bansa. Ito ang kanilang paraan ng pakikipag-usap sa isa’t isa upang sila ay lubusang magkaisa. Wika ang nagbubuklod sa isang lipunan.

Nagkaroon ng ilang mga pagtatangka mula sa iba't ibang grupo na bigyan ng halaga ang edukasyon ng mga Pilipino tungkol sa kahalagahan ng paggamit ng ating pambansang wika sa iba't ibang aspeto. Ang Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, ang pambansang unibersidad ng bansa, ay isa sa mga aktibong institusyon sa mga inisyatibong ito. Si Propesor Virgilio Almario ng Kolehiyo ng Arte at Literatura ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas sa Diliman, isa sa mga Pambansang Alagad ng Sining sa Larangan ng Literatura, ay naglimbag ng isang talasalitaan na kung tawagin ay UP Diksiyunaryong Pilipino kung saan ang mga salitang Filipino at iba pang wika ay may katumbas sa Ingles maging ang mga salitang teknikal. Ang iba’t ibang departamento at kolehiyo sa UP ay may mga katumbas sa wikang Filipino. Halimbawa, ang Colllege of Social Sciences and Philosophy ay naging Kolehiyo ng Agham Panlipunan at Pilosopiya.

Ang Pilipinas ang tinaguriang pangatlo sa mundo sa dami ng mga taong nagsasalita ng wikang Ingles ngunit malayo tayo sa ibang mga bansa sa Asya pagdating sa paglago ng ekonomiya. Walang mali sa paggamit ng wikang Ingles sa tamang lugar, oras, at okasyon ngunit isang 'kasalanan' ang tanggihan ang anumang bagay (kabilang na rito ang wikang Filipino) na may koneksyon sa ating pagkakakilanlan bilang isang natatanging bansa.

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* Isinalin at in-edit mula sa orihinal nitong artikulo sa wikang Ingles na pinamagatang “The Search for a Filipino Identity viz-a-viz The National Language”. Binasa ngayong ika-17 ng Marso, 2011 sa The Fisher Valley College, Lungsod ng Taguig, sa isang seminar na may temang “Ang Wikang Filipino: Kalagayan, Mga Isyu, at Hamon sa Ika-21 Siglo.”

** Nagtuturo sa The Fisher Valley College, Lungsod ng Taguig at sa Wesleyan College of Manila, Lungsod ng Pasay at kasalukuyang tinatapos ang kanyang thesis para sa masterado sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas Diliman, Lungsod ng Quezon.

Medical-Dental Mission and Feeding Program Photos