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.