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Number 3 November 2013
President’s Message This is the 3rd issue of our newsletter, the
2nd this year. We are so grateful and take immense pride to a number of alumni who have made this issue possible. This includes contributors for this issue, who felt honoured
when invited to share something in the form of short articles. Others have promised to contribute to the ensuing issues of our newsletter. We are indeed delighted and blessed to have fellows like them, who think only of what they can contribute to our ever growing Association – not the other way around. They feel now it’s their time to give back to our Alma Mater, for they won’t be where they are now without the Adamson education. This goes to say that the wings of every GeoFalcon have become stronger over the years, now willing to help out and share their expertise and experience. And we will continue to soar high and reach many pinnacles in life – whether in career, business, academe, social, family, etc. We can do more by believing in ourselves that we can do it, by making our dreams a reality, by working togeth‐er as a team, One GeoFalcon!
A new alumni chapter – the Adamson University Alumni Asso‐ciation of Baguio City (AdUAA‐Baguio Chapter) – was founded recently when 12 alumni met on September 8, 2013 in Baguio City. Mines and Geociences‐CAR Director Fay Apil (AdU, BS Geo 1980) was elected on October 19, 2013, as the founding presi‐dent. All AdU graduates residing in Baguio City and adjacent provinces, may apply for membership of this new alumni chap‐ter. Its first project is the alumni reunion that will take place on November 30, 2013. In this event, AdU president Fr. Gregg Bañaga, Jr., C.M. will induct to office the recently elected Officers and Board of Directors. Its establishment would not have hap‐pened without the help of Fr. Gregg, OIA Director Eva Dulay, former AUAAI president Reggie Ditangco, Fay Apil, myself, and a few others. Congratulations and kudos to the first set of execu‐tive officers and BODs. We wish you the best and success in all your endeavours.
In collaboration with the AUMEGA, our flagship Lecture Series went well. It was, held in the Physics Hall, OZ Building last August 14, 2013. The distinguished lecturers were Engr. Rolando Y. Reyes, who lectured on “Application of Radioactivity to Geologi‐cal Sciences”, and Rene I. Gonzales, who lectured on “Coal Geol‐ogy and Exploration.” It was well attended by about 60 senior students from the MGC Department. After the technical presen‐tations, AUMEGA president Marie Aguda and AdUGAA president Jerome presented the two lecturers with certificates of apprecia‐tion and small tokens from the AdU‐OIA Office.
This news should have been included in the June issue of our Newsletter. Alumnus Dr. Ariel Malicse gave a presentation in UP‐NIGS last January 14, 2013, on the occasion of the anniversary of the UP Cwm Zena’na. The title of his lecture was “Unconvention‐al Shale Resource: An Energy Source Game‐Changer.” Dr. Malicse obtained his BS Geology in 1981 from Adamson and his PhD in 1993 from Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas, USA. In 1991, he was recipient of the “Promising Young Geoscientist Award” from the Society of Sedimentary Geology. Dr. Malicse is
presently the senior regional geologist/stratigrapher of Shell International Exploration and Production, based in Houston, Tex‐as. We are immensely proud of you Dr. Ariel Malicse.
It’s heartwarming to note that some of our young graduates, after no less than a year of practicing their profession in the gov‐ernment or private sectors, are back again to school – this time pursuing their Master’s degree in UP‐Diliman. Three are now enrolled: Jerali Rodrigo, Mel Casulla, and JM Guotana. At least two more young graduates will also be enrolling in the graduate program in 2014 and the next. One of my classmates is even con‐templating of pursuing his graduate studies. I’m sure there will be more. Many, if not all, will take up their PhDs overseas on scholarship grants, sooner or later. I’m certain some will teach full‐time in Adamson after earning their PhDs. Erstwhile council member and 2002 cum laude Richelle Awid‐Pascual is now in her 2nd year scholarship grant as PhD student in the University of Tasmania, Australia. Perhaps their mentors and partly the sup‐port that they are getting from AdUGAA and alumni have in‐spired the young minds to take on this new academic challenge. We won’t be surprised when one day, we will meet or come to know them as celebrated professors, researchers, scientists, poli‐ticians, leaders, agents of positive change in universities, compa‐nies, communities of their choice, either here or overseas.
Apart from Richelle Awid‐Pascual, who also topped the geolo‐gist licensure exam in the same year she graduated, the MGC Department also produced another honors graduate in the past. She is Clarita Matanguihan who graduated magna cum laude in 1965. There maybe more alumni who graduated from the MGC Department with honors that we need to find out. Overall, I be‐lieve that some current MGC students are aiming to obtain their diplomas with honors, just as Richelle and Clarita did.
It’s no surprise when the results of the August 2013 board ex‐am for geologists were released. Adamson University recorded a high passing rate and even exceeded the national passing mark. Two even landed in the top ten: Vyron Leal and Marie Thess Quilalang. For this reason, representatives from AdUGAA attend‐ed the event to show strong support and to stand as witnesses. Days later, the new graduates thanked AdUGAA through our egroup for its unwavering support to them and the Alma Mater. A short article on this can be found in the succeeding pages.
Contents President’s Message ............................................................. 1
AdUGAA Concerns ................................................................ 2
Notes from the Editor ........................................................... 2
My inimitable field gear: No. 2 ............................................. 2
AdU President’s Message ..................................................... 4
Oath Taking of Young, Budding GeoFalcons ........................ 5
AUGAA Community Service to Flood Victims in Samal, Bataan ................................................................................... 5
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM ............................................ 7
Page 2 GEOFALCON NEWSLETTER Number 3
Last September 1, 2013, the AdUGAA also participated in the
relief operation and distribution of relief goods in Samal, Bataan. This appears to be a prelude that AdUGAA is envisioning, to ac‐tively engage in outreach program in the years to come. A short article on this can be found in the succeeding pages. Finally, be‐low are a few unfinished and upcoming programs of the AdUGAA: the annual strategic planning session (November 9, 2013), lecture series for the 2nd semester (November 27, 2013), alumni reunion and induction of officers (December 4, 2013), and Distinguished Lecture/Tribute to Mentors (January 6, 2014).
Have a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year everyone.
Jerome Corpus (President)
AdUGAA Concerns The first Annual GeoFalcons Alumni Reunion
will be held on December 04, 2013, at Tiara Oriental Hotel, 7248 Malugay St. corner Talisay St., San Antonio Village, Makati City.
The reunion shall seek to bring together Geology graduates from the different batches ever since it was recognized as a bac‐calaureate degree course of the University.
To make this reunion more meaningful, fun and memorable for the alumni, we have lined up as part of the activities, awards of recognition, games and door prizes.
The registration is a modest fee of Php 1,000.00 and opens on the day at 5:00PM for a 6:00PM start.
Again, this is "OUR FIRST EVER GEOFALCONS REUNION"....we encourage all members to register and participate in this event.
Thank you.
Benjie Sucgang (Secretary)
Notes from the Editor The aim of our Newsletter is to inform
members about the operations of our Associ‐ation and developments in the field of geolo‐gy. We hope to feature information on any of
the following:
official notices/announcements/calls for nominations etc. latest news about the preceding or next AdUGAA meeting or other conferences
awards or honors from Adamson University and other organi‐zations
news about geosciences in our country (or others that you know about)
news about people (yourself and others), especially GeoFalcons (or AdUGAA members)
interesting books or data sources worthwhile meetings coming up reports on meetings that you have attended pictures (pref. digital) from meetings or other occasions memorabilia/notes on activities of AdUGAA concerns
letters to the editor etc. The list above is tentative, of course, and any interesting contri‐bution is certainly welcome. Contributions should be submitted in any digital format that allows me to copy‐and‐paste‐and‐edit the contents. Photos/figures (colour or black‐and‐white) should be submitted separately as high resolution (preferably at least 300 dpi) jpeg or tiff files. All contributions shall be reviewed by the editorial board and will be edited for clarity and brevity. Please send your contributions to our Newsletter to my email address: [email protected].
John Carranza (Editor‐in‐Chief, GeoFalcon Newsletter)
My inimitable field gear: No. 2 One of my favourite quotes, I used three
decades ago in my opening for Speech Project No 4 at a Toastmasters Club, goes like this, “A stupendous creation surrounds us, with infinite form, infinite variety and infinite beauty. The more intense our awareness of this vast complexity, the more alive we are.”
We geologists are indeed very lucky, as it is in our education and professional practice to see a world in a grain of sand. How do we appreciate this? By using of a good hand lens.
While common folk step on, or kick a piece of rock, we geologists use hand lens to see the minerals that form them, the unique crystal system that identifies them, and think of the complicated processes that created them. There is so much to see and discover in a small piece of rock specimen, like the various textures, crystal shapes, and the play of light that gives brilliant colours. Helen Keller was once asked of what she thought was the worst calamity that could befall a person, she replied, “To have eyes and fail to see.”
Speaking of finding a world in a grain of sand, imagine the millions of people who've been to the beach many times, yet fail to see that every wet grain of beach sand is thinly coated with water and does not actually touch each other. This is the reason why beach sand is never ground to powder, no matter how much they are pounded by waves. “To be a geologist and fail to see? Nah… it never happens, we are equipped with a hand lens.”
The hand lens has many names, like pocket lens/glass, magnifying glass, loupe, lens or 10X. Whatever called, its purpose is to aid our naked eyes to see things that are beyond our normal vision. With the many names, come the various types, styles, brand and prices. So what is the best lens for geologists? There is no one answer, but here are a few technical specifications I have used that proved to make a good choice. I may be biased, but one lens that has travelled and grown old with me is my 10X and 20X Hastings Triplet, made by Bausch and Lomb (see photo).
GEOFALCON NEWSLETTER Number 3 Page 3
Here are the things to look for: First, construction. The Hastings
Triplet is built from three separate high quality lenses bounded together to form a compound lens. This compound lens provides very distinct image that is highly corrected for spherical aberrations. Second, lens quality. The lens should be of high quality material and polish, specially coated and corrected for chromatic distortion to give true colours. Third, magnification. This commonly comes in 7X, 10X, 14X and 20X. I prefer 10X as my prime all around lens as it gives me just the right detail and good field of view. Should there be a need to see finer crystal forms, then 20X comes in handy. Fourth, body construction. Should be
rust proof or hard plastic. It is also best that the triplet lens is waterproof. Water should not get in between the lenses.
One more thing, when carrying your hand lens around your neck, the choice of lanyard is very important. For safety reasons, choose a lanyard that is breakable, not one so strong that when it gets caught will choke or even hang you to death. “No, I am not speaking through experience here, and don’t have the rope burn marks around my neck to prove it.”
James Llorca
Page 4 GEOFALCON NEWSLETTER Number 3
AdU President’s Message It is with joy that I greet all the officers and
members of the Adamson University Geology Alumni Association through the GEOFALCON Newsletter.
I am very much pleased to learn that you have decided to es‐tablish the Geology Alumni Association. It is always good news to hear about the forming of a new alumni association because this is a “sign” of maturity; a sign that a group of alumni has come of age. It means that you are now able to stand on your own and have become contributing members of society. In fact, you have been doing that for a long time already. The only difference is that your Alma Mater did not know it. Now you have come out openly to let us know about what you have been doing. Reading from your newsletter I learned that many of you have made your mark in your professional career and that you have earned the respect and even admiration of your peers. Most if not all are gainfully employed; you have even become “pillars” of the indus‐try in their own modest way.
What do I expect from members of an alumni association? Firstly, I expect you to support the vision, mission and core values of your Alma Mater. Adamson University is the source of your education and professional career and it is but proper that you would support it so that its vision and mission continues and expands. How do you do that? You can assist your department in updating its course offerings and in the promotion of quality graduates. Check with your department chair and dean and ask how you can be of help to them. Sometimes, they contact their graduates whenever they want to review and revise their curricu‐la or update their syllabi. You are in the best position to be of help because you are in the industry. Or you might offer to teach a course or assist in the board review classes. Or you might vol‐unteer to deliver some lectures to the students or just share some words of inspiration to the graduating class. Keep in close contact with your department and ask them how you can be of help. They will be more than happy to welcome your gesture.
Another way you can be of help in promoting the vision and mission of the University is to provide scholarships for economi‐cally challenged students particularly in geology and mining. Ad‐
amson’s vision is to provide quality Catholic and Vincentian edu‐cation especially to the socially disadvantaged. This is the best way to pay it forward—to help others become professionals themselves. I am sure there are students who would be encour‐aged by financial assistance of any kind but especially in tuition fees. And there are many more who are looking for financial as‐sistance to enter our institution.
Secondly, I expect you to help each other. Your being together is already a powerful professional network. Keep in contact with each other. Have your own meetings and gatherings as an associ‐ation. Use the social media and regular meetings to stay in touch. Everyone is busy but do make time for this important dimension of your life. Your college buddies and friends are for life. But more than social reasons, get together to help each other and even collaborate on a project together. You can be a powerful force for good if you keep close to each other. A good project to work on is to have fun while raising money for scholarships.
Thirdly, I expect you to renew and deepen your ties with your Alma Mater. Graduation is a time to send you off—not an oppor‐tunity to release you. In a real sense, the university is like a par‐ent. When the children become mature and lead their own lives, the parents are left behind. But they are supposed to be remem‐bered and visited regularly. Visit the university. I will be more than happy to welcome you in my office and give you a tour of the university. Come to homecomings, particularly the Grand Alumni Homecoming usually held on the second Saturday of Feb‐ruary. Every two years we hold the Global Alumni Reunion. Next July 18‐20, 2014, it will be held at the Westin Prince Hotel in To‐ronto, Canada. You are invited to join us. Check also the website of the University especially the Alumni section for news and in‐formation about Adamson. Once a Falcon, always a Falcon. And a Falcon knows where home is.
Once again, congratulations for forming your own alumni asso‐ciation and more power to you. See you around.
Sincerely,
Fr. Gregg Banaga, Jr., CM
President, Adamson University
GEOFALCON NEWSLETTER Number 3 Page 5
Oath Taking of Young, Budding GeoFalcons The AdUGAA Council sent two repre‐
sentatives (Henry Salvado and myself) to attend the GSP’s oath taking and induction ceremony of the new geologists, who passed the August 2013 licensure (board) exam. It was held in Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati City last September 3, 2013.
We attended the ceremony in high spirits and with bragging rights in our hearts because the batch of AdU graduates who took the recent board exam made another remarkable mile‐stone. Of the six schools offering geology program in the country, only AdU and UP‐Diliman surpassed the national passing rate.
The first‐time exam takers from AdU demonstrated 90.00% (9/10) passing rate, whereas all exam takers from AdU made an 85.71% (12/14) overall performance against the 57.95% (113/195) national passing rate.
Two AdU graduates were among the top‐10 passers with high‐est marks: Vyron Leal (5th place) and Marie Thess Quilalang (9th place). The other passers from AdU are: Salee Coloma, Aeron Elvin dela Cruz, Xavier Gil Garcia, Godfrey Gemal, Danica Guinto, Juan Miguel Guotana, Archie Peña, Ernie Reomales, Michael Pe‐ter Sanchez, and Byron Mitchell Suratos.
Congratulations to all.
Jerome Corpus
The new GeoFalcon geologists are all showing big smiles during their oath taking ceremony held in Dusit Thani Hotel, Makati City. From left to right: A dela Cruz, H Salvado, J Corpus, D Guinto, V Leal (5th place), M Sanchez, A Peña, B Suratos, T Quilalang (9th place), JM Guotana, and G Gemal. Not in photo were E Reomales, X Garcia, and S Coloma).
Page 6 GEOFALCON NEWSLETTER Number 3
AUGAA Community Service to Flood Victims in Samal, Bataan
The combined forces of the southwest monsoon and tropical storm "Maring" last August 18 to 22, 2013 inundated several provinces of Central Luzon. Bataan was the hardest hit by flood. Last September 1, 2013 our association participated in the relief operation for flood victims in Samal, Bataan after Mayor Gene de la Fuente of Samal, an alumnus called Adamson alumni office for help. The activity was spearheaded by Adamson University’s Integrated Community Extension Services (ICES) office. One
truckload of relief goods donated by several alumni associations, students and faculty was delivered to Samal and Orani, Bataan. Our association donated five thousand pesos and some Geofalcons also sent individual donations. Alumni and student volunteers including our AUGAA President and Vice President helped in the distribution of goods in Samal. This is the start of our association’s outreach program to communities guided by the missionary spirit of St. Vincent de Paul, our patron saint.
Rene Gonzales (Director, OREMET Corp)
Mayor Gene de la Fuente of Samal welcomed the ICES volunteers and gratefully received the relief goods from Adamson University
AdUGAA joined AdU’s ICES social works in Samal, Bataan. Distributing the goods at Samal town’s covered court.
Unloading the relief goods from the 10‐wheeler truck in Samal, Bataan
GEOFALCON NEWSLETTER Number 3 Page 7
Adamson University Geology Alumni Association, Inc.
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM*
MEMBERSHIP CATEGORY (see Article IV of our Bylaws):
Fellow New Application
Member Renewal
Honorary Member
Student Member
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Ms./Mr./Dr. ______________________________________ , ____________________________________ ________________________
Last Name First Name Middle Name
Nickname: ________________________________________ Date of Birth __________________________
Month Day Year
Home Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Home Phone Number: ______________________________ Mobile Number(s): ________________________________________
Email Address: ____________________________________ Alternate Email Address: ___________________________________
Company/Institution: ______________________________________________________________________________________________
Company/Institution Address: _______________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Affiliation(s):
__________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________
EDUCATION
University and Location Years Degree
Highest Degree: ____________________________________ From _______ to _______ _______________________________
Other Degrees: ____________________________________ From _______ to _______ _______________________________
____________________________________ From _______ to _______ _______________________________
____________________________________ From _______ to _______ _______________________________
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Period Position Company
From ________ to _Present ______________________________ _______________________________________________________
From ________ to ________ ______________________________ _______________________________________________________
From ________ to ________ ______________________________ _______________________________________________________
From ________ to ________ ______________________________ _______________________________________________________
From ________ to ________ ______________________________ _______________________________________________________
From ________ to ________ ______________________________ _______________________________________________________
From ________ to ________ ______________________________ _______________________________________________________
From ________ to ________ ______________________________ _______________________________________________________
Specialization: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Signature: ________________________________________
*Send a scanned copy of your completed application form to Ms. Gemselle Nagrama ([email protected]).
1.5” x 1.5 “ Photo
