Passing the Licensure Exam for Teachers (LET) in August, 2006 and as released by the Philippine Regulations Commission (PRC) in October, 2006 are the following from the College of Education (COE) with an 80% passing rate for the new graduates of the Elementary Education Dept.: Maricel Balasabas, Sharon Claveria, Cherry Fabregas, Raquel Malustre, Ellen Manguiat, Joel Punay, Elizabeth Rosas, Rosell Sibulangcal, Praxedes Arinaza, May Astrera, Esther Ferreras, Sherill Punay, Engr. Loline Monleon Badlon, Jayzel Quidet, and Crisarrjo Ulap.

Heads of schools, college deans, department heads and students of institutions in Luzon offering courses that require their graduates to pass the exams administered by the Philippine Regulations Commission (PRC) were invited by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to a consultation forum on Executive Order N. 566 which empowers the CHED to regulate review centers in the country. Dr. Robin Saban, President led the 16 delegates from AUP. They include: 8 from the College of Education, 3 from College of Nursing, 2 from the College of Health, and 2 from College of Arts, Sciences, and Technology who attended the sessions to comment on the eight-page MEMORANDUM being drafted by CHED on the implementation of rules and regulations to address the directive. The sessions were held at Rizal Technological University in Manila on October 17 and 18, 2006. The following items in the draft were discussed and debated upon by regions:

Among the issues raised:

According to CHED officials no less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo wanted the implementing rules and regulations by the CHED completed and put in place by December, 2006.

Prof. Amelia Suasi, Chair of the Elementary Education Dept. joined the group of accreditors from the Association of Christian Schools Colleges and Universities- Accrediting Agency Inc.(ACSCU-AAI) in evaluating St. Stephen-s School in Manila . The Evaluation was held on the last week of September, 2006. According to Prof. Suasi, joining accreditation teams not only provides us the opportunity to help other schools but it also gives us ideas on how to improve our own educational system in AUP; at the same time we get the chance to witness about our Seventh-day Adventist faith to professionals.

English teachers of Higher Education Institutions (HEI) from the 7 regions in Luzon went through a one-week intensive training program sponsored by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). The training, entitled English Language Proficiency Training Program-Prospective Trainors Program, Batch I, was held at the Bayview Plaza Hotel in Roxas Blvd. Manila on October 22-28, 2006. The program was conducted in line with the government-s thrust to emphasize the need for effectiveness in teaching the English language in all schools particularly in the college level, as well as to address the alarming decline in English proficiency of teachers in the country.

At least 3-5 college professors from each region were invited to attend the training. As recommended by Prof. Catalina Santiago, Chair of the English Dept. and Dr. Ceazar Idaosos, Dean of the College of Education (COE), Elmie Lynn Lagajino, who recently joined the COE as Chair of the Secondary Education Dept. this June, 2006 and who teaches English for Teacher Education was AUP-s representative to the training program. There were 29 trainees with at least an MA in English from 26 chosen HEIs in Luzon . Elmie says, - Being the only SDA in the group, I was asked several questions about our religion and our school and it was a privilege to share more about AUP and our beliefs to them; tenets such as health and temperance, life after death, Work Education, and the Sabbath.- The new trainers will be deployed to their re spective regions to conduct more training programs for English teachers within the collegiate year. Training Program Batch II will be conducted for the Visayas and Mindanao regions in the next couple of months. Meanwhile AUP is laying out plans of conducting a similar seminar-workshop in the summer of 2007 for all English teachers in SDA schools.

Seminar trainers and resource persons came from the University of the Philippines, Philippine Normal University, and De La Salle University; they were Dr. Mayet Chiu for Language Skills Enhancement; Dr. Cel Arguelles for Speaking, Listening and Sound Discrimination; Dr. Angie Sarile, and Prof. Alice Adeva for Education/ Teaching Related Skills; Dr. Claring Ravina and Dr. Ellen Cutiongco for Reading and Art of Questioning; Dr. Nilda Sunga for Grammar in Context; and Dr. Marlu Vilches and Prof. Cecilia Suarez for Assessment and Evaluation.

The College of Education is assisting AUP Academy in the English classes through tutorials. Seventeen COE students took the challenge in helping the foreign students in the Academy cope with their academic requirements despite their hectic schedules during the first semester. The program simultaneously helps COE students complete 150 hours each of assistance in the laboratory schools (Elementary and Academy) before their internship. Aside from the hours, they are also given remuneration by the parents for their efforts. More applicants for tutorials are expected this second semester.

Due to the alarming decline of English proficiency of teachers in the Philippines, the College of Education, through the leadership of Dr. Ceazar F. Idaosos, COE Dean has devised activities and programs to address this need, not to upstage the English Department but to complement the already existing practices and policies of the latter which has been declared by the CHED as a Center of Excellence in the field.

The following are being practiced in the COE:

The Young Voices composed of 45 AUP Elementary pupils under the direction of Joel Punay (BSE, 2005), choir conductor and trainor presented two outreach concerts in two consecutive weeks. One was in Imus Church, Imus, Cavite, and the other in Adventist International Institute for Advanced Studies (AIIAS) in the month of October.

The Imus Church is an air-conditioned church in the compound of a biscuit factory, owned and operated by a Seventh-day Adventist laymen. Sabbath School , Hour of Worship and AY programs were conducted by the Young Voices singers and their parents. Dr. Eleonor Castulo-Castillo, Chair of the Public Health Masters Program was the Hour of Worship speaker, as husband Pastor Chito Castillo, Dean of the Molave Men-s Dormitory led in the Lesson Review. The Children sang 14 songs throughout the Sabbath Services. The Bosito brothers Renz and Bien provided music on the flute and the violin. Parents who rendered services were: Mrs. Lou Francisco-Bosito, Mission Spotlight; Mr. Jun Belga, promotional talk; and Mr. Ephraim Canoy, opening prayer.

On a Friday Vespers program in the spacious auditorium in AIIAS the choir presented for the third time the play entitled -In Search of a Queen- (The first two presentations were held in AUP) which depicted the various types of church goers represented by 14 princesses. The play highlighted the importance of the Young People in church involvement as represented by the -Princess of the Young People- played by Kea San Diego who eventually became the queen, chosen by the king played by Jan Datoy. The Young Voices sang eleven songs after the play. Musicians were Leian Cordial, pianist; Lexan Cordial and Iris Borromeo, French horn players; and Renz Bosito, flutist. Parents who also took part in the program were Dr. Butch Garcia, narrator; Zif Zuniga-Rivera, Sharon Palmero, Julna Pahilagao-Alcantara and Amie Lim-Cordial, Stage Directors; Joan Tejano, musical director; Elmie Villagomez-Lagajino, emcee; Roque Dano, Rey Gelladuga and Danny Bosito - lights, sound, and video technicians. All parents were supportive in providing, costumes, props, food, documentation, and transportation. Most of the parents are workers and alumni of AUP.