A quarterly news bulletin for the visitors of the University of Makati written, compiled and layout by the Website Management Team and Corporate Communications Center.

1. UniversityOfMakati1 @UMak_Official @OFFICIAL_UMAK google.com/+UniversityofMakati1
OFFICE OF THE UNIVERSITY SECRETARYOFFICE OF THE UNIVERSITY SECRETARYOFFICE OF THE UNIVERSITY SECRETARY
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A quarterly newsletter for the visitors of the University of Makati OCTOBER—DECEMBER 2015 • ISSUE NO. 5 • VOLUME 2
DEPED SEC. LUISTRO THANKS
UMAK’S “COURAGE AND KIND-
NESS” IN BELIEVING IN THE K
TO 12 PROGRAM WHEN
“NOBODY BELIEVED”
“Kindness is about going to the
periphery.” This was among the
many memorable statements of
Department of Education
(DepEd) Secretary Brother Ar-
min Luistro, SFC, as he in-
spired teachers, administrators,
and other personnel when he
graced the annual year-end con-
vocation of the University of
Makati (UMak) on December
17, 2015 at the UMak Mini
Theater.
With the theme “UMak at its
Best: Spreading Kindness and
Compassion,” Secretary Luistro
narrated 10 different stories of
educators who went beyond
their comfort zones to spread
kindness and compassion.
These included the story of two
teachers who went to far-flung
places to teach children and
help the community tap drink-
ing water and generate power
supply, a fresh graduate from
an elite private school who opt-
ed to teach in a public elemen-
tary school to mold her pupils
and give them better chances to
enter bigger and more competi-
tive secondary schools, another
teacher with a seemingly peren-
nial smile and was always kind
even as she chose to teach the
more difficult-to-teach stu-
dents, a female teacher who
received a citation from the
Pangasinan Provincial Police
Office for overcoming a dis-
traught gunman with compas-
sion to save the lives of her
innocent students, and other
outstanding teachers who went
beyond their calls of duty, sepa-
rated from their families and
loved ones, risking their lives to
help their countrymen during
calamities and tragedies.
The highlight of his keynote
address was when he expressed
gratitude for the positive recep-
tion of UMak to the K to 12
program. He deemed it as one
kind deed for the education
system of the country and it
stood out because it was kind-
ness from the whole institu-
tion: “Gusto ko lang po buma-
lik para magpasalamat sa inyo
dahil parang si Maria at si Jose
na naghahanap ng lugar para
sila ay bigyan ng bubong,
noong panahon pong iyon na
hindi pa uso ang K to 12, at
lahat po ay bumabatikos sa
amin at wala pong pumapansin
sa DepEd na
mga universities, isa lang na-
man po ang nagbukas ng pinto
sa DepEd. At totoo po
iyon, alam po niyo yan
sa inyong kasaysa-
yan … not even the top
universities believed in
the reform. UMak was
the first when it was not
yet in fashion. When I
go around the Philip-
pines today, I see all of
these private universi-
ties, HEIs, other
SUCs, nakalagay po sa
kanila „K to 12
Ready.‟ Ngayon na po
iyan, five years af-
ter. But I come back
today to thank you sin-
cerely for opening the
doors of the University
of Makati to a reform that at
that time nobody believed in
and in my mind, that is an act
of courage and kind-
ness. Maligayang Pasko po sa
inyong lahat.”
The education secretary also
acknowledged that the Higher
School ng UMak (HSU), UMa-
k‟s senior high school program,
is the biggest producer of sen-
ior high school graduates in the
country. Today, almost four
years after the launch of HSU,
UMak has been visited by hun-
dreds of schools all over the
country to benchmark their
senior high school pro-
gram. DepEd Secretary Luistro
invited UMak in late 2011 to
pilot the K to 12 Basic Educa-
tion Curriculum Reform Pro-
gram by offering grades 11 and
12. He was in UMak as one of
the major signatories during the
formal launch and tripartite
memorandum of agreement
signing of UMak‟s senior high
school modeling program in
2012.
Also present in the year-end
convocation were UMak OIC
Ramila Cruzado, Vice Presi-
dent for Academic Affairs Da-
lisay Brawner, and Vice Presi-
dent for Administration and
Finance Aurora Serrano, Uni-
versity Secretary Elyxzur Ra-
mos, deans, directors, depart-
ment heads, faculty members
and administrative employees
of the university. This event is
held annually to remember,
celebrate, and be thankful for
all the success and triumphs of
UMak in the past year.
“Compassion is a big term, and sometimes people are afraid of big terms. Thank you for putting that big
term in a small word – kindness.” DepEd Secretary Luistro shares the simplicity of kindness through the
story of Teacher Randy, a Ramon Magsaysay Awardee, and Teacher William who traveled miles to teach
the indigenous children of Davao.
DepEd Secretary Luistro with the Manage-
ment Committee. (From left) University
Secretary Elyxzur Ramos, VP for Admin-
istration and Finance Aurora Serrano, De-
pEd Secretary Armin Luistro and VP for
Academic Affairs Dalisay Brawner.

2. UniversityOfMakati1 @UMak_Official @OFFICIAL_UMAK google.com/+UniversityofMakati1
Page 2 OCTOBER—DECEMBER 2015 • ISSUE NO. 5 • VOLUME 2
Visitors (October — December 2015)
SHS BENCHMARKING
1 October 2015
Diocesan Schools of Dumaguete
Dumaguete, Negros Oriental
SHS BENCHMARKING
12 October 2015
Glad Padidu National High School
Glan, Sarangani
SHS BENCHMARKING
5 November 015
DepEd Region V Iriga
Iriga, Camarines Sur
SHS BENCHMARKING
24 November 2015
League of Cities of the Philippines
Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat
SHS BENCHMARKING
4 December 2015
Notre Dame Sienna School of Marbel
Koronadal, South Cotabato
SHS BENCHMARKING
9 December 2015
DepEd CAR
La Trinidad, Benguet
Rookie UMak-COP Team Wins 2
out of 3 Titles in National Pharmacy
Week
THE WINNING ROOKIE TEAM. UMak-COP students and their coaches beam with
pride as they bring home twin championships for the University, inspite of being first
timers in the recent National Pharmacy Week competitions.
Nine students from the College of Allied Health
Studies (COAHS)-Center of Pharmacy (COP)
proved that they were globally competitive as they
bested 29 other Pharmacy schools in the country,
despite being first time participants, in the National
Pharmacy Week celebrations held December 8 at
the Manila Central University.
University of Makati (UMak) Officer-in-Charge
Ramila Cruzado led the UMak officials in congratu-
lating these bright and promising students as they
bagged the championship in both the National De-
bacle and Patient Counselling Contests—a concrete
manifestation of knowledge, innovation and devel-
opment as UMak moves forward in building an in-
novative nationwide agenda for the youth.
The tandem of Jasmin Kae Sistoso and Abdel Rauff
Baharan, both Level 3 Pharmacy students, topped
the National Debacle Contest, overcoming Univer-
sity of Perpetual Help System JONELTA (Biñan)
and Adamson University.
Moreover, KC Rolainne Gabriel, level 3 Pharmacy
student, and Joanah Angelica Villaruz, level 4
Pharmacy student, outclassed six other finalists in
the final round of the Patient Counselling Contest to
bring home the perpetual championship trophy. In
second place was Centro Escolar University-
Malolos, while National University was third.
The Quiz Bee Team was composed of Kristelle
Kylah Cabuso, Princess Lukrizia Crystal, Pearl Cal-
pito, Cristina Ching, Level 3 Pharmacy students,
and Danielle Louise Ramos, Level 4 Pharmacy stu-
dent.
The two championship awards won by UMak-COP
entitles them to be the host of next year‟s National
Debacle Contest and Patient Counselling Contest of
the National Pharmacy Week. This year‟s National
Pharmacy Week was spearheaded by the Federation
of Junior Chapters of the Philippine Pharmacists‟
Association and carries the theme, “Philippine Prac-
tice Standards for Pharmacists: Moving towards
Global Competitiveness.”
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