“Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.” –John Dewey
Iloilo City Tourism Officer Junel Ann Divinagracia assured Filipino-American communities, businessmen, students, and potential investors in Iloilo City the city is home to some of the best colleges and universities in the Philippines. She was joined by University of the Philippines Visayas (UP-Visayas) Vice Chancellor Mary Ann Gumban and West Visayas State University (WVSU) College of Mass Communications dean, Dr. Carmencita ‘Menchie’ Robles, on a panel, where they discussed the quality of learning in Iloilo City and encouraged people to study in the city.
“Ilonggo students are always among the top examinees in national board examinations,” Divinagracia said.
One of the primary goals of the Iloilo Trade Mission and Investment Forum was to promote Iloilo City schools as part of the theme, “Invest, Work, Create, Study, Retire, Live, and Grow.”
Quality
She went on to attribute student successes to “the quality of programs and education” in Iloilo City, calling it the educational hub in Western Visayas.
The city is home to 28 public and private colleges and universities.
Robles noted, WVSU, formerly known as Iloilo Normal School, is a center of excellence (COE) in educating teachers and a center of development (COD) in the field of nursing.”
She noted, the 1999 Diamond Jubilee was preceded by the introduction of new academic programs, including a cooperatives management bachelor’s degree program in 1997, an information management bachelor’s degree program in 1998, and an information technology bachelor’s degree program in 1998.
“Some of the best Filipino nurses in the United States today are graduates of the WVSU College of Nursing,” Robles said.
Gumban pointed out, UP-Visayas offers bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and certificate programs; noting, the school’s College of Management and College of Arts and Sciences-Division of Professional Education are the two degree-granting institutions on the Iloilo City campus.
Strategies
UP High School in Iloilo (UPHSI) is an experimental laboratory for innovate teaching strategies designed to provide academic training for underprivileged students in order to prepare them for tertiary education at UP.
The panel emphasized, Iloilo City is where the Philippines’ “topnotchers” are found.
They highlighted Central Philippine University, calling it a COE in agriculture and business administration and a COD in chemical engineering, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering.
They also referred to the University of San Agustin as a COD in educating teachers.
The Commission on Higher Education subsidizes COE and COD programs.
Meanwhile, Iloilo City Mayor Jose Espinosa III pointed out, UP-Visayas is the only school in the country that houses a jail./WDJ