CO-CURRICULAR

ORGANIZATIONS
THE USA PUBLICATIONS
 The need of a school publication was felt
as early as 1927. amazingly idea to have a
publication came from high school students,
Jose Mijares and Jose Garcia Sanchez. These
students presented their plan to Father Rector
Vidal Yracta, OSA who approved it without
much ado. Jose Mijares was immediately
appointed the first editor-in-chief with Jose
Garcia Sanchez and Eduardo Campos as
associate editors. Father Mariano Sapiena,
O.S.A was its first moderator and adviser.
The first issue came out in August 1929
with only 12 pages in tabloid form. It
evolved later into a magazine form in 1945
containing two sections, Emglish and
Spanish. Because of the unflagging
enthusiasm of the student the Mirror came
out regularly every month.
The golden age of the Mirror was in the
thirties, characterized with great
improvement in terms of equipment and
library building. Jose Garcia Sanchez
gained distinction as the best national
short story writer in a national contest,
and in April 1936, the Augustinian
Mirror was exhibited in the exposition of
Catholic press at the Vatican.
 Another high mark in the Mirrors
history was in 1956 and 1958. it gained
national prominence when it was
adjudged one of the three best edited
school magazines in the national
collegiate press contest.
 The credit for the honors went to
the moderators, Fathers Luis Meriano,
O.S.A and Pedro Galende, O.S.A and
the editors Primo Esleyer and
Leodegario Tabios, respectively. After
World War II, the Mirror changed its
tabloid form to a magazine. This time
there were three sections, English,
Spanish and Filipino.
 In the seventies, the Augustinian
Mirror won major awards, namely
best college magazine, best editorial
and sport pages and second best
literary page. The Augustinian, the
equally excellent sister publication,
was adjudged as the second best
newspaper, with special citations for
layout and news page.
 Throughout the second half of the
seventies to the early part of the
eighties, the USA PUBLICATIONS-
the Augustinian Mirror was given the
Gawad Lopez Jaena, the highest award
given by the Philippine Information
Agency for excellence in campus
journalism.
 The Mirror also get the Antonio
Tagamolia Award for its intelligent
discussion of socio-political issues.
The Augustinian tabloid was cited as
the Most Outstanding Tourism-
Oriented Paper in Region VI by the
Department of Tourism for three
consecutive years.
THE USA CHOIR
 The University of San Agustin choir
started at the offshoot of a small singing
group called The Song Weavers, under the
direction of Father Angel Dullano, O.S.A. the
waves were the pride of the University for
they for they performed creditably, he
transformed the Song Weavers into a bigger
and more versatile group officially called the
University of San Agustin Choir. The choir
became well known all over Western Visayas.
 In 1974, Father Ezcurra found
another special group called The
Trobadours. This group, undoubtedly
the finest in the USA Conservatory of
Music, has been considered the best
and used to perform during special
occasions only.
THE LITTLE THEATER
 Father Eduardo Perez, O.S.A
conceived and brought into reality the
U.S.A. Little Theater. He formed four
committees: production, research, talent
and finance. In a short time, the Little
Theater came out with the first play
Sino Ba Kayo directed by Mr. and Mrs.
Enrique Pio Campos, Sr.
 This play was followed by the
first English play Turn Red the Sea,
directed by Miss- Pilar Zaldarriaga.
Throughout its long years of
existencem the Little Theater has
presented various socially relevant
plays.
KAWILIHAN-USA
 The Kawilihan-USA dance troupe
was formed in July 1960, an offered of
the intensive drive of Father Nicanor
Lana, O.S.A., chairman of co-curricular
activities, and Father Luis Merino,
O.S.A, registrar, to tap and further
home talented students Mrs. Dolores
Ravena was appointed its first
directress.
THE BAND
 Father Dolce Garcia, O.S.A.,
rector of the Colegio de San Agustin,
could aptly be called the Father of the
U.S.A Band. He was responsible for
the organization of the band in 1935
and placed as its first moderator Father
Dario Casado, O.S.A., with Mr. Ignacio
Altura as its first band conductor.
 After 52 years, the University of
San Agustin Band under the baton of
Mr. Nelson Choca has proven itself
as the bastion of Augustinian musical
excellence in the Philippines.
SPORTS
 Mens sana in corpore sano. A
sound mind in a healthy body used to
be the Roman slogan to encourage
people to keep themselves in good
shape at all times. The University of
San Agustin mindful of this slogan
included sports as an integral part of its
educational program to develop in the
students consciousness the importance
of sports.
USA STUDENT COUNCIL
 Campus politics in the University
has always been an exciting part of
student life. The University of San
Agustin Student Council is the official
student government of all college
students of the University Annual
elections to fill, in the posts, from the
president to the peace courtesy officers
are held either in July or August.
 The elections administered by the
Student Commission on Elections
(SCOMELEC), are preceeded by a
room-to-room campaign and a general
rally where candidates from different
political parties present their platform
of government.
OTHER CAMPUS
ORGANIZATIONS
 There have been a number of campus
organizations in the University, some of
them formed during the early years of the
old Colegio de San Agustin. These
organizations could classified into
academic (e.g University English Club,
AIESEC), civic (e.g. Rotaract Club-USA,
USA Junior Jaycees), service oriented
(e.g. USA-College Red Cross Youth and
Junior Red Cross Youth)
 Cultural (e.g. CIRCULO and
PUBUKAD Artist Groups), or regional
(e.g. Katilingban Negrense, Antiqueno
Augustinians), among others.