APRIL 2014
ABOUT THE COVER
“Here is a flower that, to others’ eyes, is merely a plant reminiscent of the star that brings light to our world. Here is a flower that, to others’ eyes, is merely an item to snatch for their own. But to a UP graduate, this is not a simple flower, but a symbol of success, of all their triumphs and tribulations, of the tears they’ve shed and the laughs they’ve shared. It is a prize, from the University to all you graduates reading this note as of this moment. What I ask is that you look towards the sun, with this beautiful yellow token in your hands, and stand proud as your sablay hangs on your left shoulder. You’ve made it, Iskolar. Never forget from where you came and who you were before this: small seeds waiting to bloom.” PHOTO BY THERESE ASEOCHE
TABLE OF CONTENTS NVENED 5 C O L L EG E AS S E M B LY CO by Jason Virtucio
6 U P B O R A P P R OV E S ACA D
CA L E N DA R S H I FT; B OA R D E X A M CONCERNS RAISED TO PRC
by Iya Brucal
7 EDITORIAL: THE UP BUSINESS M OS A I C
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VO L L E Y B A L L : T H E N E XT B I G T H I N G I N P H I L I P P I N E S P O RT S
by Mikael Magana
9 THE TRUTH ABOUT LIVING IN A B L AC K H O L E
by John Soriano
10 A LO O K I N S I D E T H E T H O U G H T S OF A UP KID
by Mithi Kapayapaan Zamora
11 # S E N I O R I T I S ,
# G R A D UAT I O N G O G G L E S
by Kyle Abella
12 FAC I N G TO M O R R OW T O DAY by Wes Cortez
14 A B S T E N T I O N by Carmille Romero
15 JA D E D
by Bianca Salamanca
A.Y. 2013-2014 Editor-in-Chief
JASON VIRTUCIO
Associate Editors
CARLO PIO RODA ARVIN LIM
Managing Editor
JAPHET LUISTRO
Business Manager
SAMANTHA ANDALES
Creatives Director
THERESE ASEOCHE
PUBLICATIONS Kyle Abella, Maki Bajit, Erika Buenaventura, Iya Brucal, Angelica Calso, Janelle Carrillo, Debbie Dizon, Maica Fernandez, Caitlin Gregorio, Jose Isaguirre II, Josh Lam, Raphael Layosa, Mikhael Magana, Kenji Muramatsu, Carmille Romero, Pauline Sagayo, Aiko Sagusay, Isaac Tambunting, Alyssa Uy, Patrick Vicente, Mithi Zamora ADMIN Alvin Amil, Patricia Anatalio, Camille Calma, Josel Rivera, Hector Salatan, John Soriano, Renzo Tiangco CREATIVES Daniella Adriano, Ron Cabug, Frances Lee, Carmela Mira, Jadiene Teng, Shei Ruiz CONTRIBUTORS Wes Cortez, Bianca Salamanca
PREVIOUS ISSUE
EDITOR'S NOTE Wor k in Pr ogr ess
A specter was haunting Guilder Institute. Half our members graduated; our website was shut down; and the organization had gone virtual in its operations. The group tasked to take over as Editorial Board for the year was talented but quite young; partly members, partly outsiders; and hailed from different year levels and organizations. Despite our diversity, all of us agreed that Guilder Institute must change for the better. It was not as easy as we thought. As a start, we needed to be more visible. But we were only 15; half were part of the Editorial Board. So, we needed writers, too. But how do you convince students to join a publication that cannot be visible? You open the doors really wide. And we did. Applicants, mostly from sophomores, and freelancers, mostly from graduates, filled the ranks of Guilder Institute. The Editorial Board gave them work by producing distinct, discrete, monthly issues which were published in print or in Issuu – a departure from the semestral print issues and website strategy. Marketing was reintroduced to augment the finances. The organization was slowly gaining its footing. There were downs. The expansion caused some to be idle, while others working too hard. The food sale ban shelved a planned fund-raiser. The increased frequency of output challenged our project-based orientation in publishing and produced more features than news. The slow restructuring of efforts around monthly publications stunted our battle against information asymmetry on key issues such as the name change. But the ups were too strong to keep us down. The perseverance of writers and artists, the increase in reach in our media alternative to print publication, the intensified relations within the organization due to our shift to batch operations, and the many flashes of initiative and sacrifice that the freelancers, applicants, members, and the Editorial Board have displayed were simply too inspiring to behold. Having said all these, I extend my gratitude, admiration, and congratulations to the entire Guilder Institute family, whether they be BA or non-BA, graduate or undergraduate, member or freelancer. You may not know it, but your individual efforts, coordinated by the Editorial Board, has brought about the necessary change in perspective that Guilder Institute needs to better serve the college and its students. I urge everyone to keep your inquisitive, selfless, brave, practical, and resilient character alive. To our dear students, we are committed to fulfill our mandate as a media institution in the college. We hope that you have driven benefit from our run last academic year and that you will walk with us in our journey toward a more informed and critical BA community in the future. We also encourage you to apply for Guilder Institute to experience the dynamic and relevant environment a college publication offers. It is funny how, in the beginning, we wanted the change in Guilder Institute to happen last academic year, but later, it turns out that our strengths, weaknesses, and resources can only bring about so much structural improvement in Guilder Institute. It is a testament to the reality that a sustainably effective advocacy is guided continuous improvement, and that change is an effort of teams yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Happy graduation and cheers to a better future!
Ja son Vi rtu c io E D I TO R - I N - C H I E F
AY 2013.2014
APRIL 2014
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College assembly convened
WORDS BY JASON VIRTUCIO PHOTO BY THERESE ASEOCHE
THE BUSINESS Administration Student Council (BAC) convened the college assembly for the second semester last March 11, 2014. A forum was opened for inquiries to the administration, represented by Prof. Manny Manuel III, on key college issues. Afterwards, the BAC presented their year-end report. ‘Full-blown’ food sales prohibited A BA professor has moved for the ban of food sales around the academic oval. The concern is that food and water stations set up by various organizations are turning the oval into a marketplace. This has been taken into consideration by the Office of the Chancellor, and as of present, the BA administration does not endorse food sales of any BA student organization. This is effective for an indefinite period of time. However, with no cafeteria services available, the administration has allowed organizations to come up with make-to-order and make-tostock food sales within the BA building.
Cafeteria in the hands of the BCO The Business Concessions Office currently has to choose a concessionaire from a shortlist it has come up with. The BA administration recognizes the efforts of the BA student organizations to come up with creative means to address the students’ need for food.
Elevator being tested The elevator was opened during certain periods for the last few months so as to test if it is functioning properly. Idle time causes the elevator to waste away. The administration’s goal is for it to be operational, but not necessarily open to the public at all times.
Academic calendar shift, dean, and name change As of press time, the Board of Regents has decided to push through with the shift of the academic calendar to August, grant Dr. Ben Paul Gutierrez another 3-year term as dean, and uphold its decision to rename the College of Business Administration to the Virata School of Business.
On other college issues As of press time, Guilder Institute has yet to interview the parties concerned for the plans for the Centennial celebration preparations and the suggested organization performance review manual. Prof. Manuel opens the Office of the College Secretary for inquiries on other college issues
Students’ achievements Student achievers in academics, sports, and other extracurricular feats were recognized in a consolidated BA Support roster rundown. The BAC’s accomplishment report shall be released through its newsletter, Spirit of Business.
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FEATURES
UP BOR approves Acad Calendar shift; board exam concerns raised to PRC WORDS BY IYA BRUCAL
SINCE EARLY 2013, proposals to shift the UP academic calendar from June-March to August-May have been raised to the UP Board of Regents (BOR). Debates on this issue have been present since the early 2000s, though UP Vice President for Public Affairs Prospero de Vera III claims that UP President Alfredo Pascual’s proposal to urgently implement the shift was due to the Association of South East Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) 2015 plan to integrate its member nations into an “ASEAN Community.” Pascual also noted in his proposal that the shift was “consistent with the provision of UP’s charter to be a regional and global university and addresses current development in the region and in the world.” Following consultations and discussions, a special University Council (UC) meeting, presided by the Committee on Academic Programs and Policies, was held last December 2. Due to the lack of substance, the University Council did not agree with the proposal. Recognizing their decision, the UP Board of Regents (UP BOR) delayed their decision. Resulting from numerous oppositions, it was announced on February that all UP units from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, excluding UP Diliman will adopt the shift for the next school year. From February 24-26, 2013, a referendum was conducted to consult UP
Diliman’s faculty members on their stand regarding the proposal to shift UPD’s academic calendar. 7 out of 10 (66.77%) respondents voted to shift the academic calendar and 8 out of 10 of these respondents pushed its implementation for the AY 2014-2015. The UP Diliman academic calendar shift was approved by the UP BOR on March 28, 2014. “… a lot of our colleagues… [were] convinced that the personal gains are better”, Prof. Victor Paz from the Archeological Studies department explained. In an interview with Prof. Manuel S. Manuel II, CBA College Secretary, he cited that among the BA faculty members, the vote to approve the academic calendar shift was unanimous among assistant professors and other higher teaching positions while instructors showed a vote less than unanimous but majority nonetheless. “I think this referendum showed a stronger sentiment/decision than that of the UC vote last December. This was communicated back to the Chancellor.” Prof. Manuel said. Regarding June and July, Prof. Manuel explained, “In the idle two months, faculty can do their research. They can look into possible exchanges… staff can work on their backlog and focus on administrative work outside their dealings with students.”
THE BENEFITS Optimal Breaks. The shift will eliminate disruption on the momentum of classes in the second semester because the elongated semestral break will now coincide with the Christmas vacation.
Exchange Program Opportunities. Students may now apply for exchange programs without being hassled by problematic scheduling.
THE CHALLENGES Conflicts with existing schedules. CPA Review School of the Philippines (CPAR) currently holds review sessions from the end of May to the first week of October for the CPA Board Exam on the second week of October. This allows examinees to review for a minimum of 5 months. If the shift will be implemented, CBA’s Business Administration and Accountancy (BAA) graduates may review from June to October (4 months) to get their CPA license or will have to delay career opportunities to take their CPA Board exam next May. Prof. Manuel noted that the delay need not be the case and that scheduling concerns have already been raised by various colleges to the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). Also, the shift is problematic for high school students who will graduate in March and will have to wait longer before starting college.
Lack of Assessment. Critics fear the shift may result to similar problems faced by the education sector when the K+12 program was initially implemented – teachers lacked preparation and short-run disruptions cannot be avoided. Political parties all over the UP system support this argument and are conducting dialogues, mobilizations, etc. to convince the administration to revert their decision to implement the shift in other constituent units because if it does not bring benefits, it would be hard to shift it back to the June-March academic calendar. Brain Drain. National Union of Students-Philippines (NUSP) interprets the move to shift the academic calendar as a force to strengthen the political efforts of ASEAN and other imperialist countries such as the United States of America, but not particularly to benefit the Filipino citizenry. The call for internationalization may shift the minds of UP students from being nation-centered to colonialism.
AY 2013.2014
APRIL 2014
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EDITORIAL
THE UP BUSINESS MOSAIC FACULTY AND administrators use VSB; students use CBA. This is the clearest manifestation of the fragmentation of the BA community. The college is composed of groups organized around functional college occupations such as staff, faculty, and students. Each group has a central authority confident that their own undertakings are well within their powers and functions and not directly harmful or disruptive to other groups and their endeavors. The consultation, approval, and reconsultation processes that brought us to our double identity today is an example of the authorities’ failure to overcome the bureaucracy and hierarchy of the current structure of the college. Most intersections among the groups have been limited to classes, event approvals, and holiday celebrations. This localism seriously impairs our ability to act as a college and, more so, to present a distinct, unified offering to what the University of the Philippines fights for. But there is hope. Special classes for finance and marketing have produced the finest competition for schools in the Philippines. Operations classes organized ways of making the college a more efficient and safe place to live in, such as the emergency map and exits initiative. And many other unsung collaborations have brought more focused, if not greater, impact than its counterparts. The partnerships among functional groups in the college are also more inclusive and relevant in nature. A closer look at these would reveal that they are organized, wittingly or unwittingly, around bodies of knowledge and related key college development areas. Special classes to the frontiers and application of theory; operations projects to college safety;
knowledge to practical use. If only the administration would come down its ivory tower and the constituents actively try to call them down from their tower, harness the untapped synergies, and harmonize their major thrusts, then the college would be a more vibrant and cohesive whole. Even the administration’s goals in collegiate research stand to flourish if a research/thesis assistance program be established and widely promoted to the entire college. The key is identifying commonalities among differences: shared goals among diverse talents, shared talents among diverse educational statuses; and coordinating them into one organization or cooperative. Take the students. Promoting internally-generated council events through granting incentives is an example of managing people around individualistic and localized goals. However, promoting a cohesive recruitment and reaffirmation fair week through collaboration among students organized around shared interests in finance, marketing or advertising, brought about a stronger call and a better attendance rate. I would say that the Business League’s first year is a rudimentary yet promising model of the collaborative culture that the college can adopt. Of course, unifying the college is just the first step. Achieving a united yet self-centered college is similar to the campaign for the VSB renaming – it smacks of sociological blindness. In our opinion, organizing CBA toward nation-building is a worthy path to take. After all, social enterprise and corporate responsibility are not irrelevant in the Philippines these days.
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FEATURES
Volleyball: The Next Big Thing in Philippine Sports WORDS BY MIKHAEL MAGANA ILLUSTRATION BY THERESE ASEOCHE
THE PHILIPPINES has always been known as a basketball nation, and many of us wonder why up to now, it still isn’t the national sport. With popularity as a sole criterion, basketball could easily have been proclaimed national sport decades ago. A testament to the sport’s popularity in the country is the fact that we have the second oldest professional basketball league in the world, the Philippine Basketball Association or PBA, next to the globally popular NBA. But a decade from now, basketball might not be an easy choice to be the national sport anymore. Skyrocketing TV coverage ratings and excessive demand for game tickets are two of many reasons why the next big thing in the Philippine sporting scene is volleyball. The crowd count in large arenas is already comparable to that of basketball games, with a handful of basketball hard court heroes themselves watch the action live. TV coverers bid millions just to have the rights to TV airing rights, just as advertisements of big time brands fill up our screens during commercial breaks. Gone are the days that volleyball was taken for granted. A decade ago, UAAP volleyball games were still played at the CHK Gym, without the hype and excitement that the sport is enjoying in its new era right now. It was also around a decade ago when the first ever commercial league in the country started, where college players stretched their skills out before plunging into action in their school’s mother league.
Just last year, the Philippine Super Liga, a semi-professional volleyball league for both men and women was launched, and has been a promising venture so far. It has attracted large companies in the country to put up their own team for brand exposure and promotions, the very same reason why PBA teams spend millions of pesos each year to compete in Asia’s first ever pay-for-play basketball league. One of the probable reasons for the sudden surge of the previously dormant sport is its spillover into the greatest rivalry in Philippines collegiate sports, the Ateneo-La Salle rivalry. It is interesting to note that in the past three editions of the UAAP women’s volleyball finals, the fierce rivals battled it out. Ironically, the blue spikers lost the first two, as the presence of the famed fab 5 hardly mattered, and were never able to break the wall of the Taft-based squad. But this year, with the heart strong mantra of their Thai coach, Ateneo completed their Cinderella run to their first ever volleyball championship in the UAAP. (Wikipedia says that the UP Women’s Volleyball Team won the maiden UAAP championship before the world war outbreak in S.Y. 1938-1939.) In addition, count in the undeniably strong online following of the current generation’s volleyball stars. The sport is also laden with a plethora of beautiful ladies and handsome gents diving for loose balls and going for the kill in midair. But with more promising stars to come, and with the continuous grassroots development program of the Philippines Volleyball Federation, it wouldn’t be a long wait to finally see volleyball to blossom into becoming a real deal just like what basketball is now, and might as well surpass it in the few years to come.
AY 2013.2014
APRIL 2014
The Truth About Living In A Black Hole WORDS BY JOHN ALEXANDER SORIANO
Feeling down from time to time is a normal part of one’s life. It is typical to mourn over life’s struggles, setbacks, and disappointments, such as a death of a loved one, heartbreak, a serious illness, the loss of a job, rejection in an organization, or even failure in examination. But when hollowness and despair take hold and remain, it may be depression. More than the temporary “blues,” the vile of depression makes it tough to function and enjoy the life like you once did.
Common signs which may bring you to the pitfalls of depression include a dismal and dreary outlook, losing the ability to feel pleasure and bliss, appetite and weight changes, and sleep changes, such as insomnia or oversleeping. A person may also feel agitated or on edge of everything that gets him on his nerves, may feel physically drained, and may harshly criticize himself for perceived faults and mistakes. Left untreated, depression can make its way as a major risk factor for suicide. Thoughts of death are not just a warning taken that the person is thinking about suicide; it’s a cry for help. The key to recovery is to start small. Ask for help and find a support system. Isolation fuels depression, so it would be better to reach out to others. Let the family know what you’re going through and how they can support you. When we’re depressed, things may feel hopeless, but with help and support, we can feel, and definitely get, better. Your sadness and grievances are reserved for the confines in your room; your smiles are for you and the world to see.
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A Look inside the Thoughts of a UP Kid WORDS BY MITHI KAPAYAPAAN ZAMORA PHOTO BY THERESE ASEOCHE
SA’YO UP maraming salamat. Ikaw na aming tahanan. Mula sa aming kamusmusan, hanggang sa aming pagkamulat. 17 years. 3 colleges. 1 university. UP has undoubtedly become an integral part of my life. I was only 2 years old when I first entered the University. I was a preschooler in the Child Development Center (CDC) under the College of Home Economics. I remember back then, I was all in tears when my mother first left me in school. I was so scared of people, literally thinking that they’re going to eat me. When I was 5 years old, I took up the UP Kinder Admission Test and eventually enrolled in the UP Integrated School (UPIS), a laboratory school under the College of Education. I studied in UPIS for 11 years. There, I learned a lot beyond academics. I learned how to deal with different kinds of personalities and relationships. We were exposed to the different situations and relevant issues in the country; we were trained to understand not only the facts but also the reasons behind each. I started dreaming not only for my own future but also for the country. Then I passed UPCAT and now, here I am in the College of Business Administration, working hard to ensure that my aspirations will materialize in the future. Kami’y lumaki sa iyong pag-iingat. Natutong mag-aral, natutong magsaya. Dulot mo’y init tuwing kami’y nagiginaw. Sa lahat ng panahon, bigay mo’y pag-asa. UP has invested so much in me. From being shy, dependent and cry baby, I became stronger and sociable. UP taught me not only how to become better in academics, but also how to help others improve, too. I cannot say that I never felt the pressure of being a UP student; because believe me, even during my elementary days I had felt the demands. My parents and even the school had so much expectations of me. Wherever I go, I carry with me the UP brand and I have to act great accordingly. Being the introvert person, I found it challenging to become someone willing to assert and speak out amidst conformity. Nonetheless, I always feel lucky and thankful for experiencing all of these. UP molded me into the kind of person I am now. In my 17 years in the University, I have mastered all the hymns and cheers of UP, watched a number of Lantern Parades, visited different places in the campus, and ate different “UP foods.” I saw how the University evolved throughout the years. I am even proud that I
was able to witness and participate in the University events during their Centennial year. UP has been my comfort zone ever since. And as I approach my final year in BAA, different thoughts come to mind and it all boils down to one question: Am I ready to leave my comfort zone behind and face the real world? In the next year, I will be leaving this University. I will be facing another chapter of my life. I will meet new people, deal with new challenges, and handle different difficult situations. People say that UP is a microcosm of the real situation of our country, but I am not sure of whether this fact is enough to get me through the real world. I feel like I’ve been living inside my comfort zone for 17 years; I never experienced living in a different environment. I have never experienced culture-shock. I have never tried adapting to drastic changes in my life. I feel stagnant. I am both scared and excited of what’s in store for me in the future. I am scared that I might not be able to portray myself well as I deal with another kind of culture, but I am excited to see how I can apply my learning from UP in the real world. I am scared of commuting and going to places unfamiliar to me since the UP Diliman campus is the only familiar place to me, but I am excited to experience a new kind of adventure. I am excited to see how people can influence me and how I can influence them. I am excited to find out how much more I can learn from the real world. Sa’yo UP maraming salamat. Ang iyong mga aral ang aming gabay. Baon naming ito sa paglalakbay, hanggang mapanaw ang buhay! I still have one year in UP, and a lot can happen in that period of time. I still need to go through a lot of 8+ hours of accounting exams, never ending group works and cases, and infinite number of readings before I can finally declare my freedom from the University. I will still face different challenges and growth opportunities before I graduate. I still have one year to enjoy my college life, to be with friends, and to discover different emotions. In one year, I will become more mature and more equipped to face the real world. One year is a long period. UP has taught me how to be strong and brave. I know that these values that will not be easily worn down. All these uncertainties and fears can be overcome. I just need to have faith and trust. I grew up in UP, and I am a proud UP kid.
SONG: SALAMAT SA IYO, UP BY RYAN CAYABYAB
AY 2013.2014
APRIL 2014
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#Senioritis, #GraduationGoggles WORDS BY AK ABELLA ILLUSTRATION BY THERESE ASEOCHE
THE SUNFLOWERS have been planted. Graduation shoots are already done; the pictures are about to be released. The date has been marked in the calendar. Yes, this is it: college graduation, one of the biggest milestones in the life of a student. It is the culmination of all of a young person’s academic efforts for nearly two decades. And as the event approaches, one cannot help starting to have all these thoughts, even as early as the beginning of the academic year. There is, of course, the sense of accomplishment of finally finishing college education, and some feeling of relief that it’s over. However, along the impending end also comes, for most of us, certain negative emotions. Fear, anxiety, and regret, are some of the most prominent. We are suddenly overcome with an urge to analyze our life so far. We see what we have and haven’t done, who we’ve met and how we’ve treated them over the years, and what we could have done or done better. Guilt, regret, and longing for more time abound. More often than not, this leads to some manner of speculating about the future. “What will I do after graduation?” “Where will I go?” “Am I prepared to face the world out there?” – these are just some of the questions we ask ourselves. And so we go back to our regrets about missed events, and so on and so forth. It can be a vicious unending cycle that really makes one wish for the simpler times back when we were kids. How we might have wished we could return to that life of so few worries. But we just can’t and we’re faced with all these feelings. So what does a graduating student have to do? How exactly can someone cope with something like graduation blues? The answer most arrive at is to wear their graduation goggles. It’s a coping mechanism wherein one tries to escape from reality and see the world in a different perspective. You want to make up for all the lost time and missed opportunities. So you try to make every remaining day count. You want to be able to do all the things you’ve always wanted before graduation. You make bucket lists and start taking more risks just to be able to accomplish the things on the list. A You Only Live Once (YOLO) mentality seems more rational than normal. All these are done under the mindset that now is the optimal time to do these things, because we’re all still young and have the luxury to do so (when in fact this is the time when we students should actually be focusing more on our academics to, you know, graduate). In addition, there’s also a part played by sentimentality in these actions. Since we are aware that everything will undergo a major change soon, we want to savor and enjoy everything because we believe that nothing will ever be the same again. Even the most
mundane things like going home together or eating at a fast food restaurant with friends takes on such importance that we are willing to sacrifice time for them. Now it’s not just a dinner with friends, it becomes “one of the last few dinners with these people who are important to me” and that has a great impact with how you see things. One’s final year is almost always, to some extent, fraught with these instances and experiences. But, as with all things, this phase has an end. At one point, we are going to have to take our graduation goggles off and see reality as it is. They are after all nothing more than a cover we use to perceive the world and our actions as something more acceptable to us, to compensate for all the things that we feel powerless, fearful, or unsure about. This happens as you start to tick off things on your to-do list. With each taken exam, each submitted paper, and each finished requirement the illusion starts to gradually wear off. And all the thoughts and feelings come back in force and we are left with no other choice but to face it head on. We cannot let these interfere during this crunch time on our preparations for the future. Simply put, it’s time to really grow up. What we can do now is to change our outlook and put a more positive spin on it. We have to see this momentous event as a beginning, and not an ending. It’s the start of a new phase in life and this should be met with curiosity and enthusiasm, just like when we first entered college. We aren’t supposed to know all the answers. It just doesn’t work that way – and it’s fine. What we can do is to keep learning and enjoy life as it happens. Once we realize this, we can then act accordingly during the last few (hell) weeks of our college life and graduate with a sense of peace. And we can then look at the sunflowers, the graduation pictures, and the marked calendars with pride and happiness. Cheers and Happy Graduation to everyone! Author’s note: Disclaimer: Everything written is based on the author’s personal experiences, observations, and feelings. He does not claim to be an expert on the subject nor does he claim to have completely mastered his perspective. And with this, I finish my final article for this publication. It was a short but very fulfilling stay as a features writer but I would like to thank The Guilder Institute for giving me the chance to reawaken the writer in me and giving me an outlet for my thoughts and feelings. It has been a pleasure writing for the CBA community.
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FACING TOMORROW TODAY. A CBAer’s Right to Win in the Real World WORDS BY WES CORTEZ ILLUSTRATION BY THERESE ASEOCHE
THE COLLEGE experience comes in full circle as the month of April ends. Seniors and terminals have withstood the final barrage of presentations, exams, and requirements in preparation for the blooming sunflowers of April. Every year, we feel the hype of the commencement exercises as the apex of the four or five (or six, as a matter of fact for this author) years of grueling academic exercise in BA. But what is interesting to know is how can a CBA student – armed with a strong suite of management courses up his or her sleeves, and the consolation of becoming a graduate of the University of the Philippines – fare outside the confines of our brick-lined college and enter the real world? Are we the messianic prophecies we’re told we were on freshmen orientation day? You are the crème de la crème. Professor Emeritus Solita Monsod has bluntly stated this in her stirring last lecture to us during our sophomore year. Ever since the start of my UP journey, I was made to believe that I am one of the select few that make my college and, specifically, my course prestigious. As I greeted high school seniors into UPCBA during last month’s UP Business Camp, to invite prospective students to join our college, I echoed the same honorific to them, saying that they are the lucky few who were able to hurdle UPCAT and get into the top 1 and 3 courses in all of UP Diliman. What I found interesting is that they reacted not with the expected beam and cheers, but with a somber “my goodness, I can’t screw this one” smirk. CBA students are expected, by some rule of imposition (maybe of self-infliction as well), to get by the end of their stay in UP, among other things, the following: (1) a laude, (2) at the very least three job offers, and (3) a resume full of leadership roles and organization experience. And every year, we never fail to produce the most number of laude graduates at the expense of irate colleges in Diliman, and a handful of students who become management trainees in some multinational company based in the Fort. All because we are the crème de la crème.
Let us try to concede our edge on our approach to teaching. Also disregard the intellectual prowess of our students. Throw in as well the prestige of being a graduate of UP. Other things held constant, what makes us more entitled to succeed in the real world? Definitely not because we are the crème de la crème, but, basically, because of our culture as CBA students. Facing the real world four years ahead. For me, the real world would not start after graduation; as a matter of fact, it already did. It started the time I scanned the first problem in my BA 99.1 first long exam. During that time, I was so anxious (and so prepared) to answer my first accounting exam ever in college. But only to find out that the real world is staring back at me under the guise of ABC Company. I was stuck – not knowing what to do in that almost incomprehensible question. The rosecolored glasses of my being “the crème de la crème” shattered instantaneously. Definitely I am no icing in CBA’s cake. But that opened my eyes with the reality of being in CBA and staying in UP. The real world is a competitive jungle, one that is cutthroat, one that adheres to the Darwinian precept of survival of the fittest. In that classroom of 50 people, I felt that I was the one who lagged behind the Homo sapiens in the famous drawings of Darwin’s evolution of man. Exaggeration aside, the real world starts by the time you realize that UP students were not really born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth. UP students were brought up in a dog-eat-dog world that really challenges any notion of survival into a whole new level. We’re brought up in an environment where a professor merely attends class to check attendance and have a monologue with the white board; drawing scribbles of what we comprehend as an equation. We’re brought up in a place where freeloaders thrive in a group research paper due to be submitted by 5 PM today. We’re brought up in a situation where no amount of rainfall or flood can deter you from
AY 2013.2014
attending an 8:30 AM class, on the onset of a potentially catastrophic typhoon. (Author’s note: Thank you Chancellor Saloma!) It is more than us being the select few who entered UPCBA. It is our determination to succeed even at the most dire circumstances that gives us the edge to graduate with a laude, to have three job offers by April, and to have a long list of accomplishments scribed in our resumes. Our culture of excellence, perseverance, and defying the status quo makes us a cut above the rest. Maybe this is the spring where our being the crème de la crème comes from. By no means do I glorify our dire circumstances as a means to make Spartans out of UP students to be ready for the battle of the real world. Rather, what I admire about UP students is that we face the hurdles of tomorrow even prior its onset – we face it in the everyday routine we do in the classroom, in the streets, and even in our dealings with friends and family. Our right to win in the real world rests on our psyche as UP students. Simply put, we are successes not because we’re born one, but because we were made one. We succeed because of our learnings and experiences in UP; it molded us through the highest quality of workmanship to be ready for the “ifs” and “buts” of the real world. We entered UP as a blank slate and we leave as a complete narrative, vividly inscribed in our pages the colors of triumph and defeat. And as we wind down, the narrative turns into a vivid ochre as the sunflowers bloom down through the University Avenue to the amphitheater on a hot April afternoon.
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The Double-edged Sword of Voting WORDS BY CARMILLE ROMERO PHOTO BY THERESE ASEOCHE LATE FEBRUARY and early March are the high times for elections, both at the University and the college level. It’s the time of the academic year when the past administration is revisited, the present situation is evaluated, and the future plans are conceptualized. All these we engage into for a single recurring purpose, to make things better. Every time elections are held, there is always clamor for high voter turnout. While reasons to vote are already given and accepted by majority to be true, less light has been shed to the issue of abstention. Have you ever asked yourself why there is an option to abstain? Some people find it futile or a waste of vote. It’s almost as if you do not vote at all. When you do not vote at all, your vote goes to nobody. If you abstain, still, your vote goes to nobody. But if voting is encouraged, it is counter-intuitive that there is an option to abstain. In effect, the students may opt not to vote altogether. But why does abstention remain an option in the ballot? Two arguments rationalize its existence. In the case when the candidate has no opponent, he/she faces the threat to lose because of the abstain option. Abstention is crucial here because it is synonymous to a “no” vote. Effectively, if the number of abstain votes are larger, the candidate loses (i.e. if the candidate gets 6 votes for him and 8 abstain, he loses). Contrast this with a scenario where you do not vote at all (i.e. if the candidate gets 6 votes for him and the other 8 do not vote, he wins). Hence, abstention is rationalized because it is a powerful tool to express opposition. But in a case when “yes” and “no” votes are not too far (i.e. the candidate gets 6 votes and 4 abstain), abstention means something else. It sends a message of uncertainty as to the capability of the candidate to deliver his/her duties. Another case is when there are two or more candidates for the position. Here, abstention seems to be insignificant because only the votes for the different candidates would be the basis for determining the winner. The “no” vote effect of abstention is lost. Furthermore, it does not merely signify uncertainty as to whom to vote. Abstention here is more of a choice to signal something lacking. To explain this, the concept of the right to vote comes into play. It is our right to vote during elections as is it our way of expressing our political preferences that can directly influence the government. It
is indispensable and unalienable. Deprivation of it entails sanctions by the law and negligence of it is self-defeating. We take a step further and delineate rights and obligations. We have an option whether to exercise a right or not. This means that we also have the right not to vote. Obligations, however, are required of us. Voting is a right but not an obligation. However, if voters do exercise this right, it becomes their obligation to ensure that such votes are deeply thought of, informed, and rational. It should necessarily follow that if such obligation cannot be fulfilled, the right to vote defeats its purpose. Consequently, it is better not to exercise such right to vote for somebody; thus, abstain. Abstention here is also an act of opposition, but not directed to the candidate, but to the system itself. It is a message that something is flawed in the system such that voters prefer not to aggravate that flaw (which may be corruption, political dynasties, etc.). They see no resolution to the flawed system through the action of voting for any candidate. As an expression of distrust, abstain votes should be reflected upon. Too much abstain votes translates into too many people dissatisfied. Abstention, in effect, is an excellent gauge to answer the question: Is the political system still on the right track? All these arguments lead to the conclusion that abstention is not passivity. Rather, it sends more profound and striking meanings. Abstention allows the even the tiniest voice of opposition to be heard; enough to echo disbelief and essentially, aspiration for a better system. Above all, it offers an affirmation of the right to vote and obligation to keep that vote reasonable. Abstention is not a sheer third option; it is a choice and a rational one.
SOURCES: Hanna, Nathan. (n.d.) An Argument for Voting Abstention (draft). Retrieved from: http://www.pages.drexel.edu/~nth34/Nathan_Hanna/Papers_files/ voting.pdf Brennan, Jason (2009). Polluting the Polls: When Citizens Should Not Vote. Australasian Journal of Philosophy. Retrieved from: www.jasonfbrennan.com/ Brennan%20AJP%20final.rtf
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Jaded
WORDS BY BIANCA SALAMANCA PHOTO BY THERESE ASEOCHE
Who said it was possible? When I found the one, in an instant I thought I knew. For true love and kismet, stars sparkled over my head, in awestruck wonder, myself the poster child of blindness to the unromantic truth. I’ve been there before, in that bliss of not knowing, shivering and weak. She sang her heart out in whispers, recalling visions of halcyon days. Cup in hand, I convinced her to bring back to life our restless desires close again as we sat together in our secret spot, finally calming down over the subtle humming of the A/C. Over the subtle humming of the A/C, we sat together in our secret spot, finally calming down our restless desires, close again as I convinced her to bring back to life visions of halcyon days. Cup in hand, shivering and weak, she sang her heart out in whispers, recalling that bliss of not knowing, of blindness to the unromantic truth. I’ve been there before, in over my head in awestruck wonder, myself the poster child for true love and kismet. Stars sparkled in an instant—I thought I knew when I found the one who said it was possible.
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