The 6-week English Language Course (Batch 18) of Holy Angel University and Namseoul University, which started on 22 June, finally came to a close. Fittingly enough, a closing ceremony was held on 5 August 2009 at the ININ Training Room, Don Juan D. Nepomuceno Bldg., Holy Angel University at 3:00 P.M. The ceremony started with an invocation given by Ms. Sangmi Song, ELC student. This was followed by the singing of the National Anthems of the Philippines and Korea. Dr. Arlyn Sicangco-Villanueva, the President of Holy Angel University not only graced the occasion but also delivered an inspirational message. Ms. Edna Marriza C. Santos, Director of External Affairs and Institutional Communications was likewise in attendance together with Mr. Chun Ho Kim, NSU Coordinator.

Immediately after the distribution of certificates, a PowerPoint presentation about the students and their experiences in the Philippines was shown. This highlighted the impact of the English program beyond the four walls of the classroom which the students enjoyed very much.

The ceremony culminated with the students singing their Graduation Song, Farewell.

Mrs. Cristina G. Manio, ELC Faculty emceed the closing ceremony.

Immediately after the closing ceremony, a reception followed at the Café Juan.

An, Sun Young (Hailey)
6-Week English Language Course (Batch 18)
August 6, 2009

VALEDICTORY ADDRESS

Good afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen. It is a great pleasure for me to speak here. Before I came here, I was not sure whether to go to the Philippines or not, because I am a senior in my university. So I have something to prepare for, like looking for a good job but I thought it will be good chance to improve my English. Actually, I am afraid of foreigners. Whenever I speak English to them, I feel really nervous. I need to have confidence, so I finally decided to come here.

Also, some of my friends who came here recommended it to be a good experience. When I got here in the Philippines, my first impression was not so good, because of the hot weather. I really do not like hot weather. At that time, I was concerned about how my life in the Philippines would be like. However, as time went by I got used to living here. Holy Angel University is greater than I thought, especially because it has good teachers and students. My teacher, Cristina, is very nice. She always smiles when she teaches us.

She explains many examples, so I could understand her lessons well. Above all, it was really a great time to meet buddies. All of the students are really smart and friendly that is why I learned something very useful from them. Also, we shared our cultures with each other. During talking time with them, I felt comfortable, so I think I am getting better. It was really good for me. Even though I will go back to Korea, I can communicate with my buddies. We promised to send each other e-mail to help me improve my writing skills. Absolutely, I will keep contact with them.

They are really good friends. I am very happy to meet them and I will not forget them. Actually, I did not expect too much because it is only six weeks, but I got something valuable from teachers and friends. I would like to thank some people. To my teachers Cristina and Mar thank you for teaching us, and Ate Wheng, thank you for taking care of our needs in school. I really appreciate Pastor Kim who took care of us in the dormitory. I would also like to thank my lovely classmates. I enjoyed my time here in the Philippines because of you guys. I will really miss my teachers and friends. Namseoul University and Holy Angel University gave me a lot of good lessons in my life. I will always remember my life in the Philippines. Thank you very much.

Kwang-Woon Lee
6-Week English Language Course (Batch 18)
August 6, 2009

VALEDICTORY ADDRESS

Dr. Arlyn S. Villanueva, President, Holy Angel University; Ms. Edna Marriza C. Santos, Director, Office of External Affairs and Institutional Communications; Mr. Jesus D. Panlilio, University Registrar; Mr. Chun Ho Kim, Namseoul University Coordinator; HAU Academic Scholars; fellow Students; beloved teachers, a very pleasant good afternoon to all of you. I must say that I am mighty proud and very happy to be part of this English Program between Holy Angel University and Namseoul University.

The truth of the matter is that I have been in the Philippines for quite some time now. The first time I came here was in December 2008. I was with Batch 16. It was the first time I met Teacher Cristina and Ate Wheng. At that time, I could hardly speak English. I was very shy. But after the course was finished, I got strong confidence and I improved my English.

At the end of the Batch 16, I went back to Korea but briefly only because I came back to Holy Angel University with Batch 17. This batch started on March 1 until June 11. This time, I have more confidence and I can speak English a little bit more.

I am really happy because I can speak English with other students. Now I can understand them and they understand me.

After graduation, all my Korean friends went back to Korea but I stayed in the Philippines because I found studying English at Holy Angel University a pleasant experience. So I chose to stay and study English with the 18th batch of students.

I met Teacher Cristina again. She is still beautiful. She really has done a lot to improve my English. I also met a new teacher. His name is Mr. Torres. Actually, I already know about him because my best friend “May” told me about him. Teacher Mar taught me Basic English and Conversational English. His teaching style was slowly and exactly. I like his teaching style. I learned many expressions of English and basic conversation because of him. He gave me many chances for us to speak English. He also gave us a lot of tests, but it was helpful to us. He was doing his best everyday. He is really a nice gentleman. Everyday he is calm and not fast. He is really a good teacher and we appreciate that.

Teacher Cristina is also a good teacher. She is my special teacher because we have met and worked with each other for three times. Teacher Cristina gave me strong confidence. As a result, this time I can speak, read and write in English. This is why I believe this English program is very useful and helpful. If someone wants to learn English I will recommend this program. Another thing I like about the program is that it is not all classroom activities. For instance, we had an educational trip to Rizal Park, Fort Santiago, Ayala Museum and Mall of Asia.

At the Ayala Museum, I saw and learned about the history of the Philippines. I noticed that the history of the Philippines is similar to that of Korea’s. Rizal Park was large and beautiful. At Fort Santiago, we saw Spanish castles and dungeons. We also saw memoirs of Dr. Jose Rizal, the Philippine National Hero.

I also had the opportunity to see beautiful places outside Metro Manila like Vigan and Baguio. In Vigan, I saw Spanish roads and old houses. I also saw the hidden garden and many churches. Baguio is also a nice place. The weather is cool.

I really enjoyed my stay in the Philippines. Not only did I learn English but also saw many beautiful places and met many other people including tricycle drivers who were kind and honest to me and I respect them.

I appreciate the Lord because He gave me this chance. And I do appreciate HAU school administrators, Teacher Cristina, Teacher Mar and Ate Wheng. I really had a good and fantastic experience. Lastly, rest assured I will never forget HAU, our teachers, the students especially our buddies.

Thank you very much and good afternoon.

June 22, 2009 marked the beginning of the 6-Week English Language Course for the 18th batch of students from Namseoul University here at Holy Angel University.

The course started with a simple programme held at the ININ Training Room, Don Juan Building. It began with an Invocation, followed by the singing of the national anthems of the Philippines and Korea. Thereafter, Ms. Edna Marriza Santos, EAIC Director acknowledged the guests from NSU, while Rev. Hyun Tae Kim, NSU Foreign Adviser, gave an inspirational message. Then, Mrs. Cristina G. Manio, ELC Faculty presented the NSU students to Dr. Arlyn S. Villanueva, the President of Holy Angel University.

Mrs. Gina M. Diaz, HAU Student Activities Coordinator, guided the students to a campus tour. In the afternoon, a general orientation was conducted for the students by ELC Faculty, Mrs. Cristina G. Manio and Mr. Marcelino L. Torres.

The English Program includes some special features that aim to open more opportunities for the students to use English in authentic communication situations. One of these features is the Buddy System where each Korean student enrolled in this program is paired with a Filipino student, usually a scholar who will be his/her partner in activities that call for the practice of conversational English. Another feature is the Consultation Hour. This is conducted every Friday after the regular class, specifically at 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Students who feel the need for extra help to improve their English proficiency are obliged to make appointment with their ELC teachers. The last added feature of the program is the Educational Tour to historical places like the Fort Santiago, Intramuros, Rizal Park and Ayala Museum.

It is hope these added features will go a long way in improving the proficiency of the students in conversational English.

The 17th Batch of Korean students had their Closing Ceremony last June 11, 2009 at the ININ Training Room. The Graduation started at 2:00 PM and ended at 3:30 PM. It was attended by Dr. Arlyn Sicangco-Villanueva, HAU President; Ms. Edna Marriza C. Santos, Assistant to the President and Director for External Affairs and Institutional Communications; Dr. Joan C. Reyes, former OIA Head; Ms. Angelita G. Ayson, HRD Head; Mr. Jesus D. Panlilio, University Registrar; and Rev. Hyun Tae Kim, Namseoul University Foreign Adviser to the Philippines.

The program started with the invocation led by one of the graduates, Mr. Wook Hur. Dr. Villanueva and Dr. Hyun Tae Kim delivered their inspirational message. One most outstanding and four outstanding graduates received their awards of recognition for their academic performance. Ms. Hanul Choi, the Most Outstanding Student and Class Valedictorian delivered a very long and emotional speech. Then, all the 35 students were awarded the Certificate of Completion by the HAU President, OIA Head and Namseoul Representative. This was followed by a PowerPoint presentation of the graduates’ life and experiences in the country, and finally followed by the rendition of the graduation song – Farewell. Everybody then proceeded to the Café Juan for the reception.

Ms. Hanul Choi (Sky)
Closing Ceremony
June 11, 2009

VALEDICTORY ADDRESS

There is a Korean saying “A picture is worth a thousand words”. It means that “experiencing something once is much better than hearing it many times from others”.

I want to tell the people who have a plan to visit the Philippines that if they want to know it well, they should come here and experience how it feels to be in this country.

Before I left for the Philippines, I thought it was a dirty and poor country. Moreover, I heard that there are dreadful insects causing diseases like Malaria and Dengue. I also thought it is an uncomfortable place to live in because of the hot weather.

I expected so much about seeing Philippine Sea because I heard that Philippine Sea especially Boracay or Subic is very beautiful and words are not enough to describe them. I went to Boracay and I saw the clean and green seawater and the white sand. It was a grand sight.

On the other hand, I had some expectations about the Philippines. I thought if I come here I could always speak English in everyday life because English is the second language.

However, whenever I go everywhere, I could hear more Tagalog than English. Also, not all people can speak English fluently, so I was disappointed. I found out, too, that the prices of goods were very cheap, so I had a plan to shop for clothes, bags, and shoes. However, there is no significant difference in prices; I couldn’t buy many things as planned.

The weather was not as uncomfortable, but good. Frankly, during the day, it was hard to do anything because of the hot weather. It made me exhausted, but at night, it was cool, so I could feel different temperatures in a day. Therefore, I was satisfied.

Most of my thoughts about the Philippines were so negative. However, when I arrived here, I knew that it’s just prejudice. The Philippines is cleaner and richer than I thought. It’s almost similar with Korea.

I think there are no distinct differences between Korea and Philippines, so it was cozy and comfortable to stay here. Now I think the Philippines is a wonderful country.

There are many special things in the Philippines. First, there are the delicious fruits and breads. Second, Filipinos are very kind and accommodating. They always answer me when I ask them something so I gained confidence when I speak English. Some people even spoke Korean to us and I think that is their way of helping us feel at home. When I hear them speak Korean I feel proud of my country. Then, there is the very beautiful, clear, and blue Philippines sky. Therefore, whenever I feel blue, I just look at the sky while listening to music, and then I start to feel good. I will miss the sky here. I also like the jeepneys and the tricycles because of the cheap and convenient transportation. At first, I was surprised to see tricycle drivers wearing scarves to cover their faces. I thought they are terrorists. It was really funny to find out what the real reason why they use scarves. I still laugh until now whenever I remember it.

I also like massage shops here. They offer cheap and very good service that I became a regular customer. I will always remember all these special things

When I go back to Korea, I will keep taking TOEIC and TOEFL tests until I get the highest grades because these days, qualifications are essential in applying for any job. In order not to forget my English skills, I will try to work at an American Military Base, and make American friends there until I shall have graduated from my university.

And then I will be one good stewardess. I also want to be a respectable English professor. I will not only teach English, but touch students’ lives. I think studying is a continuous process and the most comfortable and happiest work in the world is studying. In my case, when I do something that I love, I feel happy. Whenever I speak English, I feel alive that’s why all my dreams are related with English. I know it will be difficult to achieve my goals, but I am sure that I can achieve them because there is God, who always supports me. Whenever I am frustrated, I will think of my motto, that is, I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.

Finally, I’d like to thank a lot of people for without them I wouldn’t be here today.

But first I’d like to thank God for always supporting me and being with me.

I’d like to thank my parents and my boyfriend, Andy, for their support, trust and prayers.

My teachers, Cristina and Cesar, for always teaching us English passionately and for taking care of us with their love.

Ate Wheng for taking care of our needs in school.

My lovely roommates for sharing their joy and sadness.

My tutors, Danne and Tere, for teaching me English efficiently and for being my friends

Professors Kim Hyun Tae and Kim Chun Ho for always taking care of us just like our fathers.

Our helpers for always making delicious food, cleaning rooms, doing laundry, and driving for us.

Finally, I’d like to thank Namseoul University and Holy Angel University for making it possible for us to come here and learn English.

Thank you very much

Mr. Jaemyung Hwang (Bob)
Closing Ceremony
6-Week English Language Course (Batch 16)
February 6, 2009

VALEDICTORY ADDRESS

Good afternoon, Mrs. Jocelyn M. Aniceto, AVP for Finance & Resources Management Services, Mrs. Angelita Ayson, Head, Personnel Department, Dr. Joan Reyes, Head, Office of International Affairs, Rev. Hyun-Tae Kim, Professor Chun-Ho Kim, ladies and gentlemen.

I have heard stories about the Philippines from people I know in Korea before I came here, and I used to look for any information about the Philippines in the internet. I was told many negative things like it is poor, dangerous and dirty. I also heard that people's pronunciation is bad. So, I was afraid to come here. But when I arrived here and saw the country and the people, I realized that it was just prejudice, talking with Filipinos and having many experiences changed how I think of the Philippines

Now I think that the Philippines might be more advanced than Korea because it is really better than what I heard. Above all, Filipinos are relaxed and seems so happy. Moreover, I'm really satisfied with my life here, living in the dormitory with my friends, studying in school and seeing different places. I really had a wonderful time. I've made good friends with my fellow Namseoul University students.

The lecture that we have received in HAU during our two months stay expanded my narrow and shallow knowledge. It improved my grammar skills well, picking up basic points that normally we overlook.

Part of the program allowed us to go out of the classroom to interact and communicate with Filipino students and I think it was a very important aspect of the program because it gave us lots of opportunity to practice our English language skills. I was glad to talk with HAU students

Everything that I saw, heard, felt, and learned here is a new and exciting experience. The jeepney and tricycle rides are a novelty. These rides are very different from our public transportation system back home. I enjoyed taking the jeepney everyday, Also, the street boys kept bugging us whenever we were out walking. I was surprised the first time I encountered them but later I got used to it.

My out of town trips to Subic, Baguio, Vigan, and Boracay with my friends are one of my most memorable experiences. These memories will remain in my heart forever, All in all my experiences here have made me a better person. From now on I will exert more effort in my studies so that I will become successful.

In the future I hope I can come back in the Philippines because I'd like to experience these feelings again.

In conclusion, I’d like to thank my parents who gave me the opportunity to come here , for without them I wouldn’t be here today, Professor Kim who took care of us in the dormitory, our teacher, Miss Cristina who taught us English, Ate Wheng who worked hard to assist us. I would also like to thank HAU President, Dr. Joan Reyes and administrators who made this program possible.

Lastly, I’m very grateful to all my friends who have been very helpful and supportive throughout my stay here.

Thank you very much!

Ms. Seohyun Ahn (Rachel)
Closing Ceremony
4-Month English Language Course (Batch 15)
December 10, 2008

VALEDICTORY ADDRESS

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. It’s my honor to speak in front of you in behalf of my classmates. Originally, I didn’t have a plan to come here in the Philippines, but I heard from people who came here before that they learned many things and they had developed confidence, so I decided to come here. Before I came here my friends advised me to be careful, because it’s dangerous. I think they have wrong ideas about the Philippines. I have a good impression about the Philippines. Filipinos are very hospitable and kind. They smile at me, so they make me happy and they treat me warmly.

I have met some Filipinos during my stay here in the Philippines. I’m really glad to have my Filipino friends. Whenever I felt lonely without my family, I was encouraged by their advice and kindness.

Holy Angel University has good teachers, good staff, and good students, including teacher Cristina and Ate Wheng. Teacher Cristina is a smiley teacher. I learned not only about the lessons but also about character from her. I also gathered courage from her. I thank Ate Wheng for her care and encouragement. She believed that I can accomplish something when I was doubtful of my ability. Filipino friends who I took classes with helped me. They explained the lessons that I couldn’t understand.

And I learned many things through this program. All materials that we studied are very useful. I discovered my weakness in English. When I go back to Korea, I’ll focus on these skills. I have more confidence than before. I can talk to foreigners from any country without fear of committing mistakes.

My life here in the Philippines is an unforgettable experience. It means everything to me. I feel sorry because my stay was a short time. I want to learn more and more. I’m afraid I’ll forget the skills that I learned from here. I’m sorry too that English is not spoken in my country, although I’m proud of my mother tongue.

I’ll always remember your kindness to me. We can be friends forever.

Thank you very much!

Ms. JungEun Kim (Rina)
Closing Ceremony
3-Week English Language Course (Batch 14)
Namseoul University, Republic of Korea
August 8, 2008

VALEDICTORY ADDRESS

Dr. Joan C. Reyes, Head, Office of International Affairs, Mr. Jesus Panlilio, University Registrar, Mrs. Angelita G. Ayson, Head, Personnel Office, Mr. Kim Choon Ho, Namseoul University Representative, my teacher, friends, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon.

First I want to say thank you to everyone and thank you to all instructors especially our teacher Maam Cristina. Before I came here I was a little worried about the Philippines because I heard that it is not a safe place. But I was wrong and I have changed my impression because when we arrived we saw security guards at the school gates and also at our dormitory.

When a few of my classmates got sick at class, Holy Angel University personnel took care of them. People outside of HAU were kind too. When we asked about transportation and anything we want to know, they always answered from the heart. One thing I want to tell you when I have eye contact with Filipinos, they always smile at me.

I learned two very important things in my 3 weeks of stay here. First, I got more confidence when I talk. Second, I can speak English freely without thinking that other people might make fun of me. When I go back to Korea, I will try to study harder so I will become fluent in speaking English. I will encourage my friends to speak English and share with them what I have learned here.

My classmates and I have gained wonderful experiences here in the Philippines and unforgetable memories which we will treasure forever. On behalf of my classmates I want to thank Dr. Joan Reyes and Ate Wheng who gave their best to care for us everyday and ofcourse our teacher Maam Cristina, for her patience.

Thank you for everything. Thank you to HOLY ANGEL UNIVERSITY.

Mr. Taeheon Lee (Jim)
Closing Ceremony
3-Week English Language Course (Batch 13)
July 18, 2008

VALEDICTORY ADDRESS

First of all, as a representative of other students, I would like to appreciate all who have given us an amazing experience in the Philippines.

When we first came to the Philippines, we found that the weather was hot and humid. Our first impression of the Holy Angel University was so great. Teachers and students alike were kind and polite.

During class time, we have learned so many things from our teachers. The way they taught us was fun and enjoyable. After school, we all gathered around Nepo Mall and enjoyed shopping.