Cool summer courses

CEBU, Philippines - Put the cool back in school with three new summer workshop courses at the University of the Visayas New School of Art and Design, Cebu’s first proper art and design school.

Modern approach to transmitting learning led to the development of workshop on production design, basic cinematography, and comic book illustration at the UVNS led by its school director Genesis Raña.

Since contemporary global standards on how to work is already skills-based, and lesser of the diploma-based, thereby opening the portals to radical thinking, UVNS designs three exciting short-term courses aligned to the vision of UV Executive Vice President/VP-Finance Dr. Jose “Dodong” R. Gullas: “shaping character and culture through the arts.”

There are 20 slots available for those interested in Production Design, from April 22 to May 3 (morning and afternoon sessions/@ P3,000), to be mentored by Kaloy Uypuanco. The lessons one can learn in four years via traditional method (lateral thinking) can be learned in four days; the remaining two days would be spent for pre-production for photo shoot (full day).

In his 13 years in the field of Visual Design, Uypuanco partly owns a production company called Above-The-Line Productions which specializes not only in audio-visual productions, but live event productions and TV productions, as well. In a nutshell, anything that needs “production,” his team can make it happen. His work on “Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria” (Cebuano indie film) was nominated as Best Production Design at the Gawad Urian 2010. After which, he got involved in the filming of “Bourne Legacy” in the national scene.

Basic Cinematography (covering the basics on visual structure, standard coverage, continuity, 180-degree line, screen direction, montage, lens choice, lighting, and camera package) is up at P3,000 for a two-day session from 10 am to 4 pm. Filmmaker Don Gerardo Frasco, trained in the art and craft of cinematography, will be the class’ mentor. His skills derive from his initial education as a Still Photographer at the International Academy of Film and Television in 2006, and as a Director at the New York Film Academy in 2009. His cinematography is described to be “deeply influenced by the emotions of the characters, which makes his work subjective, unique, and powerful.”

As for Comic Book Illustration (May 24-26, 10 am-5pm), techniques in illustrating dimensions under point perspective for background location scenery is an essential in topic coverage, together with human anatomy (difference between the human form and the superhero form, basic bones and muscles); influence and inspiration, background on the process of comic illustration, splash page as against cover page, and action and costume difference between superheroes and villains. Harvey Tolibao will mentor. Prior to breaking into comics, this Bukidnon-born but Cebu Institute of Technology-educated artist was first a furniture designer, cartoonist, graphic artist, illustrator, web designer, tattoo artist, and messenger. He was initially inspired by the art of both Jim Lee and local Filipino comics. He received his big break in 2007 from Marvel Comics with an Ironman Annual. Since then, he has worked on Ultimate X-Men, War of Kings, Silver Surfer, Avengers the Initiative, Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic, among others.

Tolibao has been involved in DC Comic’s New 52 relaunch, working initially on Green Lantern New Guardians and the Green Arrow series. Seminar rate: P5,000 inclusive of kit (sketch pad – Canson 9x12; mechanical pencil, eraser (pentel), HMT comic board, and HMT sketchbook).

Contact: (032) 511-1163. E-mail: uvnewschool@gmail.com. FB: uvnewschool Campus location: 4th Floor, UV College of Nursing, Gullas Medical Center, Banilad.

Cebu Sacred Heart College

Location: Lawa-an, Talisay City

Cebu Sacred Heart College president/school administrator Dee San T. Magdadaro takes pride in a Bureau of Immigration accreditation being granted to CSHC to accept alien students, noted by Mr. Casimiro P. Madarang III, alien control officer of the Cebu District Office.

He said that this will boost the population of students taking up AB Foreign Service major in Diplomacy, its newest offering. The course attracts students because of its promise for employment in almost any area involving multinational companies, in airlines, in export processing zones, aside from working for embassies. The course also boasts of prominent graduates of the Mindanao State University and the Lyceum of the Philippines, as well as a renowned protocol officer, for instructors/mentors. Tuition is also affordable @ P600 per unit. CSHC is a sister school of Mt. Moriah College (formerly Camotes Visayan Institute). Aside from extensions in Bulacan and Carcar City, CSHC will open in Bohol by 2016. Contact Registrar’s Office: 272-4347/272-4438.

University of San Carlos

The Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies of the University of San Carlos Talamban Campus will teach an intensive course on “Ludwig Wittgenstein and Analytic Philosophy” from May 2 to 17.

This summer graduate course is open to students for three-unit credit, and faculty development. Speaker would be Fr. Raymun Festin of the Society of the Divine Word who obtained his Doctorate in Philosophy from the University of Leuven, Belgium. Contact Trunkline: 2300100.

Meanwhile, the USC Language Academy is ready to entertain inquiries and accept non-English speaking students for English language learning and other foreign languages. The Academy is at the downtown Campus. It was formally opened on April 8 with 28 primary and secondary school teachers from 15 schools in Thailand, under the Saint Gabriel Foundation of Bangkok, as pioneering enrollees.

It is a four-week language course and a four-week practice teaching and classroom observation in cooperation with the USC Science and Mathematics Education Department led by its director Dr. Nelson Rosaroso. Contact Trunkline: 2531000.

Benedicto College

Location: A.S. Fortuna Street, Mandaue City

Benedicto College strongly promotes its Study Now, Pay Later Plan and promises No Tuition Fee increase. It takes pride in its upgraded Wi-Fi connection to keep technology-savvy students at pace and in tune with the times. Courses offered: BS Information Technology, BS Accountancy, BS Business Administration, BA Communication, and BS Hospitality Management; as well as tech-voc courses like the TESDA-accredited Plumbing National Certification II (162 hours); Computer Hardware Servicing (356H), Commercial Cooking (436H), Food and Beverage Services (336H), Bartending (286H), Housekeeping (436H), Shielded Metal Arc Welding (NC I and NC II), Automotive Servicing (288H and 524H). Contact BC-Main Campus College: 345-6873/345-5790; 345-6874/422-2777; and 422-2700. BC-Technical Vocational: (032) 344-9320.

Asian College of Technology

International Educational Foundation

Location: Corner Leon Kilat and P. del Rosario Streets, Cebu City

Mr. Edwin Salanatin and Mr. Whisky Alda of the College of Computer Studies, coaches to three technical assistants who emerged champion in the February 2013 Battle of IT Schools, informed that choosing to study in ACT is the biggest investment a student would make to ensure a brighter future in technology-driven pursuits. While its flagship program – Bachelor of Science in Information Technology - has been established since 1988, it continues to expand specializations to meet needs in IT opportunities both here and abroad. Specializations include Network Technology, Animation and Game Development, Mobile Applications, Databases and Applications, Software Engineering, Web Technology, Media Design and Graphics.

“The course is not new but the topics will always be. Topics on Android applications, multimedia, animation and game and development form part of the elective subjects,” they disclosed.

Program cost for a Freshman: P16,000 ++ for tuition alone. Call (32) 238 2380; 2382381, 2382383.

Meanwhile, the Universityof San Jose-Recoletos has already split its AB Mass Communication program into two: the AB in Communication and AB in Journalism beginning first semester of 2012-2013. For inquiries, call 2537900.