PCCR @ 63: Celebrating, Remembering and LEADING

More than 2,000 students and employees paraded the streets of Sta. Cruz and Quiapo last February 16, 2017 to kick off the 63^rd Anniversary Celebration of the Philippine College of Criminology with the theme” “PCCR@63: Celebrating, Remembering and Leading”. The parade, which is said to be one of the longest parades in the history of PCCR, was participated in by students from the high school and college departments, student organizations, and teaching and non-teaching staff.

The Arrival of Honors for the President in front of PCCR Building immediately followed thereafter, where PCCR community gathered to give honors to Dr. Ma. Cecilia Lim for her 6 years of dedicated leadership to the Institution. A thanksgiving mass led by none other than Rev. Msgr. Vicente D. Bauson at the JFAB Multipurpose Hall was attended by hundreds of students, faculty and School officials. It was followed by the Anniversary Lunch for school officials and guests at the Educator’s Building.

At the JFAB lobby, school clubs and organizations showed their creative and fun side by hosting various exciting booths that added festivities to the celebration. Among the notable booths were ‘Chief Oink’ by the Rotaract Club; ‘Minute To Win It’ by the Honors Society; ‘Marriage Booth’ and ‘Combat Shooting Mo To’ by the Combat Shooting Club, ‘Tutok Mo Putok Mo’ and ‘Wire Game’ by the Martial Arts Association and the ‘Shoot Mo Premyo Mo To’ by the Filipino Club. A special award was given to Chief Oink as the Highest Earner Booth while Shoot Mo Premyo Mo To was judged as the Best Booth for this year.

The day one celebration became more festive through the free mini concert of the PCCR Chorale and Band at the EJB Parking. It was made even more special by the appearance of alumnus and power belter, Ms. Rachel Ann Clemente. Sales Street was overwhelmed with loud cheers and friendly banter as students participated in the traditional Tug of War competition. Indeed, in unity there is strength, as the beefy and dominant players from the PCCR Riders Club defended their title and emerged again as champions over its perennial rival, the Martial Arts Association.

A total of 138 student gun enthusiasts engaged in a friendly shootfest conducted by the Combat Shooting Club at the PCCR Firing Range. Now on its 11th year, this tournament is one of the most anticipated events every year. Leading the list of winners of men’s division are James Grejalvo and followed by Nino Niel Obien and Rham Alcantara who placed 2nd and 3rd respectively. Vanessa Santiago, meanwhile, conquered the ladies’ division with Famela Jean Abapo and Hazel Kate placing 2nd and 3rd, respectively.

Later in the afternoon, the “silent but deadly” team of future criminologists emerged as champions as they consistently lead and bested six other teams in 4 rounds of the annual criminology quiz bee organized by the Honors Society at the JFAB Multipurpose Hall. The team was composed of Kirvie Miniao, Nicole Samson, Julia Mae Sheen Javilla, and Eric John Dizon. The quiz bee revolved mainly around questions on all subjects in Criminology from 1st year to 4th year.

Other winners were the Team of Maria Romina Jesussa Gutlay, Kimberly Cruz, Jovelyn Torres, and Johnzenth Go who came from behind in the first three categories but managed to place 2nd after giving their best in the last round. The team of Nico Caducio, Abdulghani Cawang, Johnrich Koh and Mark Alvarez, on the other hand, placed third. The Champion team received P4,000 cash, medals, certificates, and PCCR hoodies, while the runners up received P2,0000 and P1,000 in cash and certificates of recognition.

The challenging questions were prepared by Dr. Reynaldo Castillo, Prof. Bryan Guerrero and Prof. JM Tulliao who were also the judges during the competition. hile, board topnotcher and Professor Chervin Navilla served as the quiz master.

The Manila Law College (MLC) also celebrated its 118th Foundation Day with the theme: "Empowering Students Through Legal Education: Current Trends and Issues in the 21st Century.” The event was held at the Police Seminar Hall in the PCCR campus at 6:00 PM with Dr. Ma. Cecilia Bautista Lim giving the welcome remarks. Atty. Emerson Aquende, Chairman, Legal Education Board (LEB) was the guest speaker and discussed the plans and programs of the LEB to improve the quality of law graduates in the country. Among the programs are 1) The implementation of the Philippine Law School Admission Test (PHILSAT) to those who would like to pursue Law; 2) Upgrade of library for all Law Schools; and 3) Masters of Law Requirement to all professor. But, professors of law having been in academe for 10 years will be exempted from having to take Master of Laws and RTC Judges who have been in practice for 10 years will be likewise be exempted. After his speech, the Plaque of Appreciation was presented to Atty. Aquende by President Lim, Atty. Felipe Fragante of the Manila Law College and Dr. Marilyn Cano of PCCR’s Human Resource Development division.

During the second part of the activities, students showed their serious and fun sides through the debate and retro musical song and dance presentation. The three-member team of first year students on the affirmative side outwitted the second year class on the topic: “Legalization of Marijuana”. The winning team brought home P5,000 in cash while the losing team settled for P1,500. Ms. Katherine Joy Moran, 1st year, was declared the Best Speaker and was awarded P3,000.

Who would have thought that law students can sing and dance too? MLC students proved that they are talented as they showcased their singing and dancing skills though a retro musical song and dance presentation. In the end, the very energetic and funny 4th year class was declared champion for the year and brought home P5,000 in cash. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th places went to the 1st year, 2nd year and 3rd year classes who received P3,500, P2,500 and P1,500 in cash respectively. The Board of Judges were: Atty. Victor T. Tulalian, Dr. Sonia Dela Cruz, and Mr. June Canares.

Day 2

Day 2 of the Foundation Celebration started with one of the most anticipated events this year. Four teams of 3rd and 4th year Criminology students put their investigative knowledge and skills to solve different crime scenarios for the cash pot of P16,000, individual medals, certificates and hoodies in PCCR’s Mock Crime Scene Investigation (CSI). Each team was given one (1) hour to process the crime scene and an additional two (2) hours to complete their analyses and reports. Teams were judged on the correct procedures used to process the crime scene and their submitted analyses and reports. Each team is composed of the following: a) Team Leader 1 - Investigator; b) Assistant Investigator; c) Team Leader 2 - SOCO; d) Photographer; e) sketcher; f) evidence Collector; g) Recorder; and h) Technician.

Team Homiecide, composed of Abdulghani Cawang, Edrian Orio, Carl Angelo Quijalvo, Joseph Paul Bravo, Jerwin Gala, Eldrick Espinosa, John Christian Pedrosa and Marynel Barber, inched Team Sherlock, composed of Carmela Endaya, Romina Gutlay, Donalyn Aquino, Laica Rance, Lorraine Pido, Iris Mohamitano, Joelay Coquilla and Jasper Esoto, by a mere .02%. Team Homiecide was declared champion after a long deliberation from the panel of judges composed of Professors, Investigators and SOCO experts including Professors Mar Villanueva, Rizadel Tayabas, Celestine Bilan and Rodolfo Suquina. The The 2017 PCCR Mock CSI was spearheaded by VP for Administration Chiara L. Datu with Professors Jamilla Asalan, Alan Ballarta, Jose Bagkus, Chervin Navilla, JM Tulliao, Honesto Flores, Richelle Corral, Ramona Dela Cruz and Orland Badiango as members. Team Sherlock went home with P8,000 cash, individual medals and certificates.

Day 3

It was a fun fun sporty Saturday as Basketball and Martial Arts Competitions highlighted the 3rd day of the Foundation Celebrations. Team Lola G toppled the Security Guard Dominated Team 102 in the heart-pounding match with the score of 83-81 and was declared Champion for this year and Team Easy Lang clinched the 3rd place. The Mythical Five of the tournament are John Erick Buzeta, Alladin Francisco, Heart Mendoza, Andrew Rocero and Renz Lee Teodoro, while John Erick Buzeta is the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

Later in the afternoon, PCCR proved anew that it is a home to Martial Arts Champions as PCCR students and alumni dominated the Invitational Battle of the Black Belts, Colored Belts and Arnis Labanan. The said tournament was attended by different Karate-Do and Arnis clubs or organizations from different parts of the country such as: PCCR Martial Arts Association; Punch Shorin Ryu of Malabon; Calamba Shotokan of Calamba, Laguna; Falcon Luneta Chapter; Phickaju of Las Pinas; AACCMAOP INC; KSS of Caloocan; and P.A.K.O. of Sinag Pandacan, Manila.

Six (6) teams from all over the country joined this one-day tournament sponsored by the PCCR Martial Arts Association. Leading the winners are: Michael Tesoro for the Karate Male Kumite Senior Blackbelt, Aerica Viloria for the Karate Female Kumite Blackbelt and Yassin Radia for the Karate Male Kumite Junior Blackbelts. Meanwhile, it was a breathtaking bout for Labanang Arnis sa Lalaki Championship round as PCCR’s Abdulghani Cawang fought against a seasoned fighter named Ninolito Cultura. With the combined skills of Cawang and the all-out support of the home crowd, Cawang managed to bring home the bacon.

The complete list of winners of the tournament are as follows:

Immediately after the Martial Arts Championship, winners from the 3-day competitions gathered to receive their respective awards in the Interaction Day activity held at the JFAB Multipurpose Hall. VP for Administration, Prof. Chiara L. Datu and Athletics Director Idelfonso Datu led the handed over prizes consisting of cash, medals, trophies, certificates, and limited edition PCCR hoodies to the winners.

Day 4

The 63rd Foundation Celebration would not be complete without the Testimonial Parade and Review at the Camp Crame grounds. Fortunately, the rain subsided just as the event started with the ceremonial arrival of the President in Camp Crame Grandstand where she was greeted with a lei given by her grandson, Isaiah Datu, and the VP for Administration Chiara L. Datu. It was immediately followed by the Parade and Review headed by the PNP Band and the PCCR NSTP students.

The welcome remarks were delivered by P/SSupt. Luisito C. Bolivar of the PNP PCRG. This was followed by the Introduction of the Honoree by VP Datu. President Lim, the honoree, stressed in her speech the development of discipline that can result in character formation. She also emphasized that for 63 years as an institution, PCCR has remained true to its mission: to train aspiring law enforcers to help the government in the implementation of the law and the pursuit of justice. After her message, a plaque and a limited edition PCCR hoodie was presented to President Lim by VP Amante, VP Datu, Dean Aldaba, Dean Lira, Director Datu and P/SSupt. Bolivar. The PNP Band and the PCCR Honor guards then gave honor to the President in the Pass in Review. To cap off the day’s celebration, a lunch was hosted by PCCR for the school officials, PNP Officials, and guests at the Barrio Fiesta restaurant in Greenhills.

Indeed, the 63^rd Foundation Anniversary was a festivity where the PCCR community celebrated to remember each and everyone who contributed to its success as the Pioneer School and the Leader in the field of Criminology Education.