USA confers ‘Professor’ title on former dean
The University of San Agustin conferred the rank and academic title “Professor” on Dr. Amorita C. Rabuco last October 20 in simple ceremonies at the Iloilo Doctor’s Hospital, where she has been confined for treatment. Dr. Rabuco is a former dean of the USA College of Arts and Sciences and is on the faculty of the same college and the Graduate School.
On a plaque signed by Fr. Eusebio Berdon, O.S.A., chair of the Board of Trustees, the University cited Rabuco’s “outstanding contribution to liberal education in her capacity as dean and mentor and her solid contributions to literary research and scholarship.” The conferment rite was led by Fr. Raul Marchan, O.S.A., university president. Also present were Fr. Edgardo Lazo, O.S.A., vice-president for administration and finance, deans, academic chairs and directors, and some of Rabuco’s family members and friends.
Rabuco is just the third faculty member to obtain the highest academic rank in the history of the 105-year-old University of San Agustin, where the power to grant the title belongs to the Board of Trustees, on the recommendation of the University President who, in turn, bases his action on the findings of the Board for Personnel Tenure and Promotion. To qualify as Professor, a concerned faculty member with a doctorate degree should have demonstrated leadership in scholarly endeavors through research and publications, on top of significant achievements in teaching, service to the university, and service to the community. The first to be granted the title was the late Dr. Josefa Castro, former dean of the Teachers College, and the second was Dr. Felicisima Campos, also a former dean of the Teachers College.
Rabuco, 59, holds a Ph.D. in Development Education, meritissiumus, from the University of Santo Tomas, Manila, where she studied as a scholar of the Association of Catholic Universities of the Philippines and as a fellow of UST’s Institute of Development Education and Volkswagen Foundation. She is also an alumna of the University of San Agustin, where she had earned her A.B. in Political Science and History, magna cum laude, and subsequently her M.A. in English Literature, benemeritus.
She was Dean of the College of Liberal Arts (later College of Arts and Sciences) from 1995 through 2004. She had also served the University of San Agustin in various other capacities : Chair of the Department of Social Sciences; Chair of the Department of Humanities; Training Coordinator of the Regional Center for Public Management; and Director of the Planning and Development office. Aside from her administrative posts, she has been teaching Literature and Research Methods subjects at the graduate and undergraduate levels.
Rabuco has published three books: In Green Ink (2000), Folk Poetry : The Loa (University of San Agustin Publishing House, 2003), and Hiligaynon Mythological Stories and Folktales : Analysis and Translation ( University of San Agustin Publishing House, 2006), which was cited as a Finalist in the 2007 National Book Awards. She has held the Saint Augustine Professorial Chair twice. She had also been named “Expert Teacher” by the Commission on Higher Education, and had been given the Saint Antoninus of Florence Award by the University of Santo Tomas Graduate School Alumni Foundation. (UCRP/USA)
