Today’s research confirms what we’ve always known here in Emilio Aguinaldo College. Students need to use both sides of their brain to tackle challenging problems. Knowledge from different disciplines needs to be synthesized, because one discipline informs another.
At EAC, we offer a challenging academic program, we care for the emotional health of our students, we teach to the whole student and we create lifelong learners. Here at EAC, learning doesn’t happen in segments and pieces. It is an evolving process in which students’ gain true understanding as a result of their active role in the experience.
In accordance with this, we are proud to have been given the opportunity to have a cultural exchange program with Chang Jung Christian University of Taiwan. Through the hard work and perseverance of the Vice president of Academic Affairs, Dr. Ellen Salac, this collaboration came into fruition. Last August 31, seven Taiwanese students with their amiable professor, Dr. Powei Tsai, visited EAC to join in a Cultural Exchange Program.
As it is primarily a cultural exchange, the students visited Fort Santiago, the Manila Cathedral, and San Agustin Church on the first day of the cultural program. In Fort Santiago they learned very important information about our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal and had a chance to compare him with Dr. Sun Yat Sen, a heroic figure in their own country. For some of them, it was the first time to enter a catholic church and they were astonished with the beauty and solemnity of the two churches they visited.
Later in the afternoon they went to Manila Ocean Park and they were amazed at the collection of fish and other marine life they saw there. The following day the students had a very educational and informative tour of the manufacturing site of UniLab Pharmaceutical Company. This visit to Unilab was made possible through the kind assistance of Dr. Jose Paulo Campos, president of Emilio Aguinaldo College. Dean Romeo C. Ongpoy assisted the students and assigned one of the faculty members of the School of Pharmacy, Mr. Aaron Guanlao to guide the students in their Unilab tour.
On the third day of the Cultural Exchange Program; the students attended a lecture in Philippine History and Culture. This was facilitated by Prof. Annabelle M. Guzman, head of the Cultural Affairs in EAC. As a recap to the lecture on Philippine Culture, the students were serenaded by the EAC Chorale who rendered beautiful Filipino songs.
The next day, September 6, the students were taken on a trip to Tagaytay and Laguna. In Tagaytay, they experienced a boat ride around Taal Lake. And in Laguna they explored the famous Hot Springs.
On their last day in EAC, the students requested that we take them to Bonifacio Global City as they want to see this well known place and experience the beauty of the replica of the famous gondola Of Venice.
Dr. Powei Tsai has made a commitment to Dr. Salac that he will continue to bring more students from his university, a school renowned for their students’ accomplishments in science. This will further solidify their partnership with Emilio Aguinaldo College.