THE LPU INDEPENDENT SENTINEL 2015-2016 FIRST NEWSLETTER ISSUE

MAY - july 2015

vol. xxxIII No. 1

Lycean, awarded as one of the Ten Outstanding Students in PH

By Myrtle Joyce I. Bautista

TOWARDS SPORTS EXCELLENCE. NCAA Season 91 Opening Ceremony’s much-awaited production number presented by this season’s host, MAPUA, with the giant-sized mascots representing each participating university. Photo Courtesy of Kaimer Given T. Tubio

CON, COE clarify temporary suspension of program

By Jessica Jane I. Sy and Austin Bradley S. Magsino COLLEGE OF NURSING clarified that their college will not be dissolved after having not accepted enrollees this academic year.

CON Dean Leonora Reyes said that due to the low demand of the programs, they temporarily stopped having new students. Currently, the college has the last batch of eight graduating students. She added that they have not accepted enrollees for the past three years.

For the College of Engineering, Dean Leonardo Medina Jr. also said that their programs are not in the trend this year. He said COE has 30 students in the Computer Engineering (CPE) course, a total of 40 students for Electronic Communication Engineering (ECE), and approximately 50 students for Electrical Engineering (EE).

The colleges, however, assured they will open soon when there is a high demand for nursing and engineering programs.

“Science and technology is needed [in our country], even nursing, ‘di madi-dissolve yan,” Medina stressed.

Continued on page 2

LPU getting ready for K+12

By Nicole L. Manano

TO CONFORM with the international standards, all campuses of the Lyceum of the Philippines University will start accepting enrollees for grades 11 and 12 next school year 2016-2017.

This is in line with the K+12 program which covers 12 years of basic education – six years in the elementary level, four years in junior high school, and two years in senior high school.

LPU is one of the first universities to apply for a Senior High School (SHS) program in the country, Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) Dr. Conrado Iñigo Jr. said.

He explained that LPU did not implement the

program this school year because only few students will enroll for grade 11.

No First Year College

With the implementation of K+12, the Department of Education announced that starting next school year, there will be no freshmen in 2016 and sophomores in 2017 because of the senior high school program. Due to this, college professors will serve as their teachers which will avoid jobless faculty members, according to VPAA.

“We will train our full-time teachers in LPU as early as this year. They are already qualified to handle grade 11,” VPAA confirmed.

Pertaining to the curriculum, VPAA said

they have prepared a different ladderized curriculum for SHS. He explained that they will offer all the Applied Track subjects, namely Technical, Vocational, Livelihood; Arts and Design; Sports; and Academic Tracks.

However, he explained that academic tracks will be offered only for students who will pursue college after senior high school. As a benefit, the course subjects under the academic tracks will be credited if the student will pursue college in LPU.

Meanwhile, for the three other tracks, VPAA said it will be offered to students who intend to work after senior high school.

Just like in other universities, senior high

school students are required to take an entrance examination. However, if the students will pursue college in LPU, they will be exempted in taking another entrance examination.

Preparations for the Next Academic Year

Aside from the announcement of the senior high school offering, VPAA said the university is improving the quality of teaching in the university.

“We will not stop improving,” he said. VPAA added that the university wants all the students to be locally and globally competitive.

Unlike other schools, the LPU senior high school students will not use tablets as replace-

ment for books. Though the university is already prepared for a platform before, they stopped it because the tablet is too expensive for the students.

VPAA said that the senior high school program is part of the 2023 vision of LPU which is to become the leading university in the Asia-Pacific region.

“We need to offer this senior high school to be able to achieve our vision statement,” he said.

But as of now, VPAA is looking forward to a fruitful academic year 2016-2017.

“It will be an exciting new educational set up in our country and LPU, in particular,” he ended.

LPU participates in the Metro-wide Earthquake Drill

By Shantal Roz G. Lopez THE Lyceum of the Philippines University-Manila participated in the Metro-wide earthquake drill on July 30, 2015 at 10:30 am.

LPU’s participation in the drill was only limited to the evacuation of the

students from the school premises to the temporary assembly areas.

The student handbook indicated the different alarms, procedures, exit, and assembly points during evacuation. The exit points are the gates 1, 2, and 3. If you exit through gate 1, the

advisable assembly point is at the walls; through gate 2, walk towards Colegio de San Juan de Letran; and through gate 3, walk towards the ladies’ dormitory.

The assembly points are assigned so that the fire truck and responders will be able to arrive on

time.

Physical Plants and Facilities Management Director, Dr. Samuel Chua pointed out the Student Quality Circles (SQCs), also known as the “barkada system”, plays a very big role in locating each member in times of disasters.

How Safe is LPU?

Chua said the university hired a structural engineer consulting firm, RFM Associates, to do a study and reassess the building in 2014. The assessment revealed the university’s building...

Continued on page 9

WHAT'S INSIDE?

7 8 www.facebook.com/ TheLPUIndependentSentinel

A LYCEAN raised the flag of LPU-Manila after he was recently named as one of the Ten Outstanding Students in the Philippines (TOSP) last May 2015.

Jefferson Dave Guimpayan is the first Lycean to make it to the TOSP-NCR. He is a recent graduate of BS Business Administration Major in Accountancy. Guimpayan, along with other young Filipinos were recognized for their academic excellence, strong leadership qualities, and passion for making a difference in their respective fields and communities.

Guimpayan, a Kanegae-Ifugao scholar, who graduated as cum laude had been an active...

Special REPORT

High number of student violations: who to blame?

11 12

17

green page

features

filipino

sports

how prepared are you Special Report for 'the big one'?

sentinel staffers: continuing the legacy

kalayaan sa makabagong panahon

what's next: ncaa 91, road to excellence

2 | THE LPU INDEPENDENT SENTINEL from page 1...

Guimpayan

student leader during his stay in LPU. Prior to becoming a TOSPian, he was the first Vice President for Communications of the Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (JPIA) in the College of Business Administration (CBA).

Eventually, he was elected as the VP for Operations – the highest position any BS Accountancy major could have in their college.

Aside from these, Guimpayan was also awarded as the 5S Student Leader last March 2015.

He also became the first Lycean to be part of the National Federation Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (NFJPIA) where he was the National Vice President for Communications and was chosen as NFJPIA’s Most National Outstanding Executive Officer.

But just like any regular students, things

were not always easy for Guimpayan. He admitted that journalism is his first choice, not accountancy.

However, due to his parents’ fear of the Maguindanao Massacre, which happened a year before his high school graduation, he was advised to take a different course.

Qualifying for the TOSP requires a student’s excellence in handling academics and extracurricular activities. To be a TOSPian, one needs to have great academic performance. It also requires an applicant to have great leadership-related positions and social responsibility. Guimpayan explained that all in all, “you have to be great in these aspects to be able to make it to the TOSP”.

Despite these challenges, he was still able to prove that “Lyceans have the potential to be TOSPians.

They just need to develop

NEWS it, be able to prove themselves and try to find ways wherein they can try to be outstanding and do things differently”.

However, Guimpayan said only graduating students are recognized by the university for the prestigious award. “I think it is also very nice to be able to recognize outstanding students even if they’re freshmen. It’s like we could actually have a search for the outstanding freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors, just as the other schools are doing, because we could actually find students who have the potential to be the next TOSPian.

And I know, if LPU would be able to have this one, it would not be impossible that LPU would be producing a number of TOSPians in the near future.”

The awardees and finalists have gone through a long and rigorous screening process from the regional finals up to the national finals before finally being named as the top students in the Philippines.

Being awarded as one of the top students in the country does not stop there. According to Guimpayan, as a TOSPian, the students’ role in the society is to help their country.

“We are trying to create this notion in the TOSP that we need to do something for the society or do our part as students rather as future professionals,” Guimpayan stressed.

LPU population drops by 5.73%

By Marie Jojina S. Serrano

LPU-Manila’s population dropped by at least 5.73 per cent this academic year from 0.27 per cent last year, according to University Registrar Jennifer Tucpi.

Tucpi explained that from 14,063 enrollees last school year, the number of students has dropped to 13,257, with a difference of 816, reflecting a 5.73 per cent decrease, as of June 29, 2015.

College of Nursing (CON) had the highest percentage decline in the student population. CON, from 28, only had 8 students this academic year resulting to a 71.43 per cent decline. It was followed by the College of Engineering (COE), which decreased from 336 to 262

students or 22.02 per cent.

College of Computer Studies (CCS), meanwhile, dropped from 689 to 633 students with a difference of 58 or 8.13 perc ent; followed by the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), which slipped from 1,451 to 1,334 students or 8.06 per cent.

On the other hand, the College of International Tourism and Hospitality Management (CITHM) posted a 5.84 per cent drop in population with 8,268 students at present, compared to its 8,781 population last year.

College of International Relations (CIR) also decreased from 623 to 585 with a difference of 38 or 6.10 per cent.

The College of Business Administration

(CBA) is the only college that had a negligible increase of two students, from 2,208 to 2,210 enrollees or 0.09 per cent growth.

When asked whether the selective retention policy could be the cause of the huge drop in the population, Tucpi said the retention policy is not the cause of it, for it hasn’t taken effect yet.

“We have not yet implemented the retention policy because the system was not yet ready,” Tucpi explained.

According to her, the retention policy is still being processed by its developer, the Academic Information Management System (AIMS) Pinnacle, which may be implemented this second semester.

LYCESGO President elected as SMEC Secretary

By Alexandra B. Zaide

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES Student Council and LYCESGO President Khyle De Leon was elected Secretary of Southern Manila Educational Consortium (SMEC) in June 2015.

SMEC, formerly known as Southern Manila Inter-Institutional Consortium is a group of 12 higher educational institutions located in Southern Manila.

Aside from LPU, the other members are Adamson

University, College of St. Benilde, De La Salle University, Emilio Aguinaldo College, Philippine Christian University, Philippine Normal University, Philippine Women’s University, St. Paul University-Manila, Sta. Isabel College, St. Scholastica’s College, and University of the Philippines-Manila.

De Leon was thankful for the opportunity because through SMEC, she can hear and get leadership ideas from the participating

universities. She added that with the cooperation of her fellow student leaders, they can overcome the problems that they might encounter.

SMEC is an organization which aims to collaborate universities in Southern Manila to affect social transformation by promoting education. One of its strategies to achieve this goal is by conducting seminars for students.

SMEC is now preparing a seminar for the national elections in 2016.

By Kim Oliver M. Maniscan

LYCEUM CENTRAL STUDENT GOVERNMENT (LYCESGO) President Khyle Zybille De Leon called for cooperation among all student leaders present in the Induction of Officers last June 25.

In her acceptance speech, De Leon encouraged her co­-student leaders “to be equal” and asked for fairness and cooperation of other student leaders despite their political party differences.

De Leon also said that being a LYCESGO president is a big challenge for her. “There are times that I lose focus and end up feeling so frustrated that I wasn’t able to reach my plans, times I want to give up. But I’m thankful of having God, my CAS Student Government, LYCESGO,

Dean Jayz (SAO), for telling me not to.”

LYCESGO’s Plans

As the new head of LYCESGO, De Leon’s plan for this academic year is to empower the information dissemination and unity among students.

“In our year, we have Students’ Rights and Welfare, Voter’s Education Right, 5S Week, Information Dissemination Empowerment, Junior Leaders’ Leadership Training 2, Paskuhang Pirata, Grievance and Action Desk.” These plans will hopefully be conducted every month, says De Leon.

De Leon, however, admitted the activities may not push through as planned. “Baka rin kasi may ma-move dahil sa venue and time constraints.”

According to De Leon, LYCESGO is currently working on the implementation of the Information Dissemination Empowerment, wherein LYCESGO will create their branches and committees to further enhance information dissemination. She explains that they are still planning a whole term project to have a LYCESGO representative in every college. The purpose is to help the PRO in information dissemination, De Leon said.

As to the incoming 2016 National Elections, De Leon discussed that they will conduct a Voter’s Education Right seminar wherein they will discuss the role of students in the next election.

For the Junior Leaders’ Leadership Training 2, De Leon discussed that this is the sec-

ond part of the junior leaders’ training last May 25.

In this training, De Leon said the student leaders can acquire new knowledge and experiences to further shape their leadership styles.

Meanwhile, the Grievance and Action Desk, which will begin this July, is a monthly activity of LYCESGO, wherein they will put up a booth and hear out the students’ concerns.

De Leon wants to keep their plans for the Paskuhang Pirata secret as of now because they want to surprise the students regarding this event.

Furthermore, she said the projects will involve the student body with the LYCESGO for the continuous improvement of LPU. “We’re not closing our doors. The

Photo Courtesy of Ralph Lorenze N. Domingo

De Leon calls for cooperation among student leaders

PLEDGE OF COMMITMENT. LYCESGO President Khyle De Leon in her Acceptance Speech during the Induction of Officers last June 25, 2015.

LPU Community can suggest more projects that they think can improve LPU.” New Leaders

LYCESGO’s officers for academic year 2015­-2016 include President Khyle Zybille De Leon (CAS), Vice President Vincent Petines (CITHM), Secretary Hasmine Adriano (CON),

Treasurer Keith Salazar (CBA), Auditor Eugene Paulo Marasigan (CCS), Business Manager Jun Christopher Formanes (COE), and Public Relations Officer James Ian Nagallo (CIR).

The new set of officers was chosen from the pool of Presidents in their respective college student councils.

NEWS

THE LPU INDEPENDENT SENTINEL |

3

Fee increase, what has been done so far?

By Trixiana D. Gile

LPU implemented an increase by four per cent on tuition fee and other school fees for academic year 2015-2016. This is not the first time that such increase was posted because LPU increases its tuition fee yearly. The question is, out of all the yearly increase, what has been done so far?

Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) Dr. Conrado Iñigo Jr. explained the increase in the tuition fee will go to the increase of salary for professors as mandated by the law.

“We need to increase because we have to increase the salary of the teachers. The students should understand that because there is a law that if there is a tuition fee increase, 70 per cent of the increase coming from tuition fee should go to the increase in the salary of the teachers,” Iñigo said.

Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Memorandum Order No. 8 Series of 2012 Article 3 Section 7.2.2. states that for intended increase of tuition fee, 70 per cent of the incremental proceeds shall be used for the benefit of the teaching and non-teaching personnel and other staff, except those who are prin-

cipal stockholders of the higher education institution.

According to Iñigo, 70 per cent of the increase goes to the salary of the faculty and non-teaching personnel, 20 per cent goes to the improvement of the facilities, and 10 per cent goes to the Revenue of the Institution (ROI).

Lyceum Faculty Association (LFA) President Dr. Shirley Banzuela said that the increase in October 2014 is P50.00 per hour for all the faculty who are members of the “UNION” or LFA, while a P25.00 increase will be given in October 2016.

The increase was discussed in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the school and the union. CBA is the negotiation between the management and the union members wherein increases, benefits, and other employee conditions are discussed. Banzuela also stated that the benefits from CBA are extended to non-faculty personnel such as the 50 per cent subsidy in uniforms.

Facility Improvements

Relative to the increase on tuition fee is the improvement of the university facilities. At the start of this academic year, renova-

tions of different facilities are visible. One is the renovation of the college offices.

Also, the LPU gym is currently under construction for improvement.

However, VPAA admitted he is uncertain on when it will be available for students.

“Next year, they might start demolishing the old engineering building to give way for the new library,” VPAA added.

Technology

Aside from the facilities, VPAA said that the wi-fi connection has also improved and students can access it easier than before, when the internet only had a limited access in the campus. He said they will continue to improve the facilities for the benefit of the students.

On the other hand, VPAA also included the acquisition of reference books as part of the improvements. Iñigo said he is requesting the Deans of the colleges to utilize the budget appropriated for the addition of books but not all colleges have recommended for it.

Attaining LPU’s vision

During the consultation meeting on the proposed tuition fee increase

LPU strategic plan aims at improving KRAs

By Nicole L. Manano

LPU is aiming to improve its Key Result Areas (KRAs), according to Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) Dr. Conrado Iñigo Jr., as discussed in its annual strategic planning held in Bayleaf last May.

Key result areas or KRAs are the priorities of an institution to achieve a certain goal. VPAA stated there are six KRAs, namely leadership; governance and management; quality of teaching and learning; support for students and other stakeholders; resource management, linkages and measurement analysis; and knowledge management.

“We always inject improvement in all the key result areas and key performance indicators of the plan,” VPAA said.

Iñigo added that they can see the improve-

ment in the university every semester. “There is no such thing as status quo because we believe in the continuous improvement of LPU in all aspects, and we’re doing it for the benefit of our primary stakeholders – the students.”

VPAA stressed that the linkages of the university is essential in achieving the vision statement of LPU, which is to be the leading university in the Asia-Pacific region. According to him, each college is required to have more than one partnership with foreign universities every year, particularly with those that are from the ASEAN nations.

“Kapag sinabi mong link with the international, the activities include student exchange, faculty exchange, research collaboration. ‘Yan ang mga linkages,” VPAA discussed.

VPAA also added that the university already has 52 university partners and most of the universities are from Korea. The reason there are many Koreans in the campus is due to the student exchange program.

Recently, the LPU partnered with Nagasaki University in Japan.

Aside from the KRAs, the senior high school program and the aim for international accreditation are also part of the university’s strategic plan.

VPAA explained one must always aim for 100 per cent excellence. “You should aim for 100 per cent and if you don’t achieve it, try again and learn from whatever mistakes, until you achieve excellence through quality service to our stakeholders.” (With reports from Joanna Belle Z. Deala)

for academic year 20152016 last February 26, Iñigo discussed that the rationale for the increase is the sustainability and viability, considering the challenges of the K+12 program and the ASEAN integration.

VPAA also stated that a significant reason for the increase is for LPU to attain its vision to become the leading university in the Asia-Pacific region.

Increase on Tuition Fee this A.Y.

The tuition fee and other school fees for this academic year posted a four per cent increase.

The additional payment depends on the year that a student enrolled and that is indicated in their student number.

LPU is among the list of universities approved

by CHED as of May 18, 2015 with P49.48 increase on tuition fee and P21.35 on other school fees.

However, fees on student publication, student council, International English Assessment, yearbook, computer and speech lab, MATLAB, SAP, SAP kit, and practicum guide remain the same, regardless of the year that a student enrolled.

(With reports from Nicole L. Manano)

Periodical Tuition Fee Increase per Subject Unit

Graphical Presentation of the Miscellaneous Fee Increase per Year

Infographics by Camille Bernadette G. Santiago

LPU revises qualifications for Latin Honors

By Kim Oliver M. Maniscan

STARTING this academic year, a graduating student may now qualify for cum laude if he or she will obtain a general point average (GPA) of at least 1.75 with only one grade of 2.25 in any subject and a passing grade in National Service Training Program (NSTP).

University Registrar Jennifer Tucpi explained the changes in the Latin honor qualifications is in consideration of students who have qualified for the new requirement grade.

”If you’re going to see the statistics for Latin honors this year compared to last year, mas marami this year. Nagluwag na,” Tucpi said. In the old student handbook, a student must not have a grade

below 2.00 to qualify for cum laude.

On the other hand, to qualify for honorable mention, a student must obtain a GPA of at least 1.75 with no failing grade in any subject.

Aside from the Latin honors, Tucpi said that the qualifications for dean’s list had also changed. Students who will obtain a GPA of at least 1.75 with only one grade of 2.25 in any subject are now qualified for dean’s list.

Tucpi clarified that a dean’s list award is different from a merit scholarship. To qualify for a full scholarship, students should obtain a GPA of 1.50 and no final grade lower than 1.75 in all subjects; and for the partial

scholarship, a student must have a GPA of 1.75 and no final grade lower than 2.0.

She said these qualifications to acquire a scholarship have not changed.

These changes in the Latin honors and dean’s list qualifications can be seen in the new student handbook and are effective for academic year 2015-2016.

Meanwhile, the Student Affairs Office (SAO) released copies of the student handbook that are available only to freshman students.

SAO Assistant Dean Noemi Villarante explained that students who did not receive the revised handbook can access by downloading it from LPU’s official website (www.manila.lpu.edu.ph).

4

OPINION

| THE LPU INDEPENDENT SENTINEL

Illustration by Roduel A. Zamora

EDITORIAL

LPU MANILA ACCEPTS THE CHALLENGE to conform to the international standards as it opens senior high school in S.Y. 2016-2017.

K+12 is a program of students for work-readiness, but it the Department of Education seems to provide knowledge and (DepEd) which aims to create a trainings only for the skill-related basic education system that will fields rather than office-related or produce globally competent stu- corporate jobs. dents equipped with the essential Graduates of techniknowledge and skills for learning cal-vocational courses are in deand employment. mand in the international job mar Nonetheless, what as- ket. Moreover, most of the migrant surance will the K+12 program Filipino workers are applying and guarantee that the fresh graduates are hired for the jobs described of LPU will certainly be competi- under the said courses. Does this tive in the global job market? reflect that the Philippines is too

The subjects consist- fixated to change its image as laing the curriculum presented by bor exporters of skill-related jobs? the K+12 program will have a Based on the situation, significant contribution to a stu- the Philippines will not be globdent’s scope of knowledge and ally competitive enough because flexibility in the track that the stu- our country sticks to the condents will choose. However, prac- ventional mindset and practice ticality-wise, some of the subjects of giving more opportunities for that a student will take are appar- skill-related jobs. But, the global ent excesses and irrelevant to the market does not only demand field they plan to pursue in the fu- for these kinds of job. Thus, our ture. country should invest more on

The said program of- producing workers that are infers Applied Track Subjects that clined to fields connected to busiinclude Academic, Technical-Vo- ness and management, science cational, Sports, and Design and and technology, and health and Arts Tracks. All the said tracks research. will be offered by LPU. However, LPU’s conformity to VPAA said students can select the international standards only which track subject best suits proves its commitment to achieve their capabilities, skills, and in- its goal to become the leading uniterests. versity in the Asia-Pacific region.

Furthermore, VPAA LPU’s undertaking on offering explained the academic track will both subject fields to the students be offered only to students who will make the students competiwill still pursue college after se- tive not only in skill-related fields nior high school; while the three but also in corporate and research remaining tracks will be offered careers. for students who will immedi- As long as LPU strive ately work after graduation. for these improvements in the

These subject tracks, educational system, the graduates specifically the Technical-Voca- will definitely be actors in leveltional subject may prepare the ing the international playing field.

EDITORIAL BOARD A.Y. 2015-2016 Jennifer R. Anzano Editor-in-Chief Ma. Elizabeth F. Dagala Associate Editor Zyren M. Duazo Jarren Hill S. Repedro Managing Editor 2 Managing Editor 1 News Editor: Nicole L. Manano Features Editor: Rholynda Chryse E. Gonzalo Literary Editor: Trixiana D. Gile Green Page Editor: Shantal Roz G. Lopez Filipino Editor: Steven L. Daseco Sports Editor: Lauren Ian Marie G. Magtira Assistant Section Editors: Kim Oliver M. Maniscan (News), Angela Grace T. Matulac (Features) Eden F. Erispe (Literary), Ellah D. Pama (Green Page) Ayshea B. Perucho (Filipino), James Patrick V. De Jesus (Sports) Reporters: Kristine Faye V. Anajao, Myrtle Joyce I. Bautista, Jillian Shayne L. Dancel, Joanna Belle Z. Deala, Mariztela Alyssa R. Domasian, Timothy Gerard P. Gucilatar, James Bernard S. Herrera, Austin Bradley S. Magsino, Bea Patricia M. Pelayo, John Poliquit, Jessica Jane I. Sy, Alexandra Nicole B. Zaide Chief Artist: Kaimer Given T. Tubio Chief Photographer: Ralph Lorenze N. Domingo Chief Illustrator: Roduel A. Zamora Chief Graphics & Layout Artist: Martin Jan S. Buenaobra Asst. Chief Graphics & Layout Artist: Abegail Ann M. Montecalvo Photographers: Shawn Michael V. Lorenzo, John Christian R. Alvariño, Joses Theodore G. Rosales Graphics & Layout Artists: Camille Ann G. Santiago, Mohamed N. Al Garosha, Ma. Paula Angela Q. Dela Cruz Illustrator: Almirah Maniri Contributors: Hygeian R. Español, Jaenelle M. Ilagan, Jeffrey Jokko B. Manahan Business Manager: Venny Lou G. Posada Asst. Business Manager: Marie Jojina S. Serrano Circulation Manager: Ankrizel V. Santos Dr. Ronald M. Henson Copy Adviser Mr. Guillermo H.A. Santos Ms. Renalyn J. Valdez Technical Adviser Technical Adviser THE LPU INDEPENDENT SENTINEL IS A PROUD MEMBER OF THE COLLEGE EDITORS GUILD OF THE PHILIPPINES (CEGP).

K+12

Meeting the Global Demands

Our aim should be one and the same inquisitive Jennifer R. Anzano jennifer.sentinel@gmail.com

What do grades represent?

One’s intelligence? Or the capability to handle all the student responsibilities? Do grades really define a person’s ability or just merely tell whether you’ve been a good student or not?

There are two kinds of students – those who strive so hard to get excellent, if not, good grades and those who just ride-on the whole college-life journey and don’t care whatever grades they get.

These two types can no longer co-exist in LPU. Now that there is a retention policy, only one type of student can and should exist.

Last academic year, Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Conrado Iñigo Jr. announced that the retention policy would take effect. However, majority of the students seemed to be unaware of such policy.

Though the Sentinel featured it in its first issue last year, it turned out only few students are knowledgeable about the retention policy.

This was evident especially when the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) made an announcement last June 30.

CAS announced that for students who failed to meet a GPA of 2.25 (for non-board courses) and 2.00 (for board courses) last year, they need to enlist for a retention program. This resulted to a negative reaction from students saying that “it was unfair”.

Some students said they are not aware that the retention policy would take effect last academic year, while others expected the policy would take effect only this semester. These are basically the reasons why CAS students think the retention program is unfair.

Yes, it is unfair in a way that a policy cannot take

effect retroactively. One cannot simply put the effectivity of a policy as of a date prior to enactment. It is against the law and unreasonable.

However, CAS Dean Rizalina Cruz clarified that the enlistment is for data gathering purposes only. She said the college wants to know the number of students who failed to meet the required GPA.

Also, Chairperson Renalyn Valdez from the Department of Mass Communication, Journalism, and Multimedia Arts explained that the announcement was made for the college to monitor the students’ academic standings and

versity perspective. There was no proper announcement made about the retention policy. If my memory serves me right, only the article in the first issue of the Sentinel introduced the policy to the students. We didn’t hear it from our college; we didn’t see it in our handbook. There was not a single student dialogue made to explain what the policy is all about.

Also, what is confusing is that each college and program seems to have different retention policy from that of VPAA. One example is that from CAS. It requires a 2.25 and 2.00 GPA while according to VPAA, 2.75 is the required

to plan for programs that can help improve their standings.

There is no intention for removal of students who failed to meet the required GPA.

The retention program mainly gives the students the chance to improve their standing and in return, for the college to monitor the performance and progress of the students who would apply for the program.

So what is wrong then? Where are we lacking?

Obviously, we lack in information dissemination.

Though CAS had its initial orientation for the retention program, not all students from the college were oriented as it was only for the Journalism and Mass Communication students, in line with the Center of Development accreditation.

Same goes in the uni-

GPA.

The policy is actually a good instrument for the university to continuously improve. But for this to be effective, there should be a proper flow of information from the administration, to the colleges, and down to the students. Remember that policies are best exercised when fully understood.

The best way, I can see, this policy would be streamed down to students is by holding a consultation or a student dialogue. Since it appears that the retention program varies per program, the consultation should be done per college, or better if per year. In this way, the guidelines of the retention policy would be explained thoroughly to the students, which would make them better understand what the policy is for.

“Why settle for just a ‘passing grade’ when you know you can always do better?”

Once this is set, my dear fellow students, don’t take this for granted. Attend and ask questions. Take the opportunity to be fed with the proper information you eagerly aim for.

At present, there is still no clear announcement on when this retention policy would officially take effect.

But as to the students, take your part as well in making this policy effective. Don’t wait for the policy to become official. Start changing your study habits now. As part of this institution, we also have the responsibility to follow whatever policy there is.

As a student, what’s more important is your responsibility to study hard and always aim for excellence.

Though grades do not define a person, they reflect how responsible you are. And that is the most important characteristic an employer is looking for in a potential employee.

Attaining good grades reflects the student’s sense of responsibility. It shows how a student handles all his responsibilities both for academic and co-curricular, without sacrificing one for the other.

Why settle for just a “passing grade” when you know you can always do better?

Let this retention policy not scare you but motivate you to strive harder; to excel; and to eventually succeed in your plans.

After all, the aim of the administration and the students should be one and the same – for LPU to become the leading university in the Asia Pacific region. That would only be achieved if the administration and students simultaneously do their part in turning this vision into reality.

OPINION

find it questionable and embarrassing of what to make of the observation that the shared efforts of LPU Manila’s student government and administration burrow for strategic plans that are extensive and farreaching, while there are simpler but recurrent difficulties that affect the services catered to the students.

The students’ fivemonth struggle to strive for the necessary standards to keep a scholarship is extended to another day-long weariness just to get a remark on their unofficial EAFs, which certifies the sweet fruit of their labor. In worse scenarios, the long hours of anticipation ended with false hopes; they have no choice but come back the next days.

One first hits the Student Affairs Office (SAO) to pass the application form for a scholarship on or before the deadline for the clearance of violations.

One would then be requested to claim the form from the said office after a day or two, depending on how early or how late he submitted.

Finally, one would pass the application form to the Registrar’s Office for the validation of grades and the processing of the scholarship.

The application for a scholarship is a semestral hitch for every qualified student. Throughout the enrollment days of the colleges, the students are either flocking inside the Registrar’s Office or hanging around outside its windows, as they eagerly wait for their names to be called.

Nevertheless, the enrollment routine for this semester has improved.

Good riddance of the long queues that zigzag along the cashiers, and the Mabini Hall is noticeably emptied.

That’s plus points for the online enrollment and the convenience of paying the tuition fee through BDO or BPI.

Owing to their lost faith in the information given to them, the students persist on following-up the staff of their scholarships. They cannot be blamed for being in hurry due to a regulation stating that one is only al-

lowed to enroll within five working days after the date he plotted his subjects. One’s failure to comply means the forfeit of his schedule.

This situation is a dismay because the scholars, despite their academic achievement, are confronted with a waste of time, energy and money.

A similar continuing hassle in the university is the reservation of the venues. The student organizations are the clients who

Marie Elizabeth F. Dagala eli.sentinel@gmail.com

The SAO and the organizing officer each secures an original copy of the CVF, while the Material Resource Support Services, the Buildings and Grounds Department, and the Security Office should be each given a duplicate copy of the CVF in order to borrow skirting designs, to request for tables and chairs and to authorize the entry of invited speakers or participants, respectively.

Just thinking about

“The concern boils down to maintaining a minimal and practical process.” frequently need this service to accommodate their fellow students’ interests through projects.

The reservation of a venue requires filling out two copies of the Campus Venue Form (CVF) provided by the SAO. The CVFs should be signed by the organizing officer, the student council president or the LYCESGO president, the adviser, the dean of the college and the dean of the SAO.

the number of offices that one has to attend to is tiresome and absurd. I cannot comprehend why the students have to face demanding and time-consuming procedures to accomplish one transaction. In a nutshell, the students can undergo the legal process and be held liable of the damages even without exerting a tedious effort.

The concern boils down to maintaining a mini-

Taking the Lines

Over

the years, students have been complaining on waiting in long lines for their transactions with LPU.

But as time passes by and technology upgrades, LPU has invested into innovations to take away the long lines of students during enrolment and payment periods, making it hassle-free for them.

Since last academic year, LPU launched the Pinnacle website wherein students can access their grades and enroll their subjects from anywhere as long as they have internet access.

However, the information on launching such was not

properly disseminated and caused longer lines and more hassle to students at its first attempt.

Second semester of last academic year, Pinnacle was finally able to serve its purpose of making en-

minutes.

Aside from Pinnacle, LPU also made it easy for students to pay their tuition fees as it ties up with more banks and payment centers like M Lhuillier.

Before, students

have to wait in long lines to the cashier, now they can just pay anywhere and show the receipt to the accounting office.

Last preliminary exam, LPU tried a new system wherein students don’t have to show their printed

Affairs Office, there were a total of 45 student organizations in LPU Manila last academic year 2014-2015.

The overall accomplishment percentage by these organizations for the past year was 83%, which is impressive, but not enough.

Why? It is because this accomplishment percentage is mainly based from their submitted strategic plans but does not include the impact of them to the students and/or to what extent have they affected the Lyceans in relation to their objectives as an organization.

Strategic plans are made as guidelines and basis of what a student organization should be doing for a certain term. The completion of such has been the basis of how successful an organization is in LPU.

For the past academic year, several organi-

zations have accomplished 100% of their strategic plan submitted to SAO, while for some, just almost. Do these organizations really served the students righteously enough by just doing all their planned projects?

If so, are they really hitting their goals?

By basing it on the quality of each project and its effect to the students, we can also assess if a student organization is really successful, not just mainly on their accomplished written plans. Yes, the impact of each project is immeasurable by numbers, yet, the opinions and the apparent effects of each project to the students are obtainable through surveys and interviews.

A lot of student organizations have surprisingly executed some projects that technically, should not be in their priorities.

Pageants have been the cen-

be taken to the next level of computer technology.

LPU Manila’s collaboration must not allow our institution to mirror the larger society. The Filipinos’ very own culture of procrastination hampers the progress of the Philippines.

The listlessness in our national government’s course of action explains why the Philippine economy misses out the entry and boom of a good deal of businesses and investments.

The government officials’ slow and ineffective implementation of policies garners passive changes in the country’s system, hence leading to more room for graft and corruption.

Prioritizing the settlement of these campuswide problems means a good start to eliminate the statelevel blunders. These nation al issues cannot be countered one-time big-time, but the key to a transformation is to excellently nurture the students, employees, faci lities, and services within the walls of our university.

hard line

Jarren Hill S. Repedro jarren.sentinel@gmail.com permits as the professor will have a list of students who are already paid for their fees. It translated to less hassle for the students

as they don’t have to fall in line twice just to secure their examination permits.

As LPU improves in terms of making transactions hassle-free, one area they can look into is the practicum discount tagging.

When I was about

Hit that Bulls-Eye

According to the Students

mal and practical process.

How obvious the inconvenience is how basic the solution is.

A single station for every purpose should be established. This is troublefree for the students for there is only one location where they can submit, process or claim their documents. A ‘one-stop shop’ approach prevents the students from roaming around the campus and visiting different offices to get a transaction done.

The addition of personnel makes the operation efficient and well-organized.

Every member of the staff must be equally assigned with smaller tasks. The entirety of the work moves smoothly if one of the personnel is not burdened with many responsibilities to handle.

A paperless system is an acceptable recommendation as well. With the online enrollment taking a better shot on its usefulness to the students, the application for scholarships and the reservation of venues may also

to get my practicum discount tagging, I and a lot of students waited for an hour to an hour and a half just for an “ok” written in our unof-

“As LPU improves in terms of making transactions hassle-free, one area they can look into is the practicum discount tagging.” rollment easier and moreconvenient to the students.

If before, students need to camp outside of the school a night before the enrollment, now it’s different, if you want to enroll directly at the school, you can get the work done in less than 5

5

pragmatism

A One-Stop Shop I

THE LPU INDEPENDENT SENTINEL |

ficial assessment forms.

In the first place, if students will receive an adjustment in their practicum fees, it should just be adjusted in the Pinnacle rather than to make the students wait for a long time just to get a note that says “ok”.

It will also serve as a protection for the school from students who might use this to get a discount in their practicum fees.

As far as long lines are concerned, LPU has made a big step in getting rid of it to promote convenience to students when they are making their transactions, which can be a part of the continuous developments being done in the institution. These developments just only prove that LPU is living on its tag line “Taking the Lead”.

top view

Zyren M. Duazo zyren.sentinel@gmail.com

ter of attraction in LPU for the past years, making almost every university-wide organization interested in doing such. Some would say that these genres of events are their solution to the apathy of the students.

But you should be aware that there are other ways to catch the attention of the

their responsibility of being an academic-related organization engaged on this trend.

This just calls for the school officials to have a more intensive supervision, evaluation, and assessment

students and not just merely engaging into projects that actually have no long-term and definite effects to the students. I don’t even see the winners of these pageants frequently doing what they are supposed to be working on; after all, their goal and their responsibility as a victor of the pageant is even pretty much vague.

Even those who should be focusing more on

of the student organizations as if they are really doing their jobs and look after the quality and the objectives of each project that they are going to implement.

Listing down projects and completing all of those can be easy, thus, if we will only base the success of the organizations to their completion rate but not looking after their effectiveness and impact to

“The main objective of being a student organization is to serve the students based on their needs and make the most out of their membership fees.”

students, it will lead to un desirable results. Let us always remember that these organizations are using the money of the students as their funds. Nonetheless, the welfare of its members should always be their number one priority.

Focus and invest more on workshops, symposia, fora, examination reviews and just even smallgroup activities which can directly have an impact on the knowledge and skills of your members in relation to their field of interests. Some organizations are already focusing on these kinds of events, which certainly made them the best, so why not follow the trail? Refrain from doing such extravagant and attention-seeking events which is actually not important or beneficial to students.

This year, some o-

ther new organizations have been added to the list, and this should serve as a reminder to everyone that as a student organization, you should always prioritize your members’ welfare more than anyone else, even yourselves.

The main objective of being a student organization is to serve the students based on their needs and make the most out of their membership fees. Let them benefit more from their interest of joining the organization more than anyone else.

So stick to your objectives, aim for what is best for all the students, do what you can to help them improve and eventually all of you, as student leaders.

Thus, it will make you even successful more than just having a 100% accomplishment rate.

6

| THE LPU INDEPENDENT SENTINEL

STUDENTS’ PAGE

NATIONAL ISSUE Should same-sex marriage be legalized in the Philippines? Why or why not?

“No, because our country is conservative. Besides, marriage should be composed of men and women alone; it’s holy.”

- Arbey Torculas (E-551, BS Computer Engineering) “Para sa akin dapat siyang ma-legalize. Kung puwede sana ma-legalize siya sa Philippines kasi dumadami na yung mga member ng LGBT dito sa Pilipinas. Tao din naman sila, may karapatan din silang lumigaya, kaya kung ayun yung makakapagpasaya sa kanila, bakit hindi natin ibigay sa kanila. Tutal, yung ibang bansa naman legal na sa kanila.”

- Kimberly M. del Rosario (4th year, BS BA – Management Accounting)

UNIVERSITY-WIDE ISSUE How do you find the online enrollment for this school year? Did you experience any improvements with the system?

“I ended up having a messy schedule. It’s very hectic for slots are only available for a short period of time.”

- Vincent Gelbolingo (2nd year, BS Hotel & Restaurant Administration) “The online enrollment is easy to use unless you have deficiencies or inquiries (i.e., pre-requisites, overloading of subjects) in which you have to personally go to the university to settle them.”

- Raphael John Alcantara (4th year, AB Multimedia Arts)

What is the importance of being a member of a college-based or university-wide organization?

What can you say about the professors requiring students to be members of a particular organization?

“I think that being a member of an organization is important because it allows you to have fun while simultaneously learning. In my opinion, however, I dislike the thought of a professor giving an uno or a high grade to a student just because he signed up for a particular organization. It’s like paying for grades.”

- Spiro Grape (1st year, AB FS – Diplomacy) “As a student leader, joining an organization helped me to become a better leader. It also helped me to manage my time wisely and also, I became more friendly. As for the professors requiring the students to be a member of a particular organization, I don’t approve it because students should still have a free will on what organization they want to join.”

- Ron Abigail Anog (4th year, BS Psychology)

Lycean junior chefs win at HOFEX culinary tilt LPU LES JEUNES CHEF (LJC) won several awards in the Hong Kong Food Expo’s (HOFEX) 17th International Exhibition of Food and Drink, Hotel, Restaurant and Food Service Equipment, Supplies and Services held at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre last May 2015.

LJC, an organization from the College of International Tourism and Hospitality Management, competed against other

Asian countries, including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, and South Korea, in various categories.

They trained since early February to prepare for the said competition.

Gyle Gicana, Jolina Dela Cruz, and Paul Lyndon Fornoles bagged silver medals in the individual categories namely the Wedding Cake, Sustainable Fish–Grouper, and Plated Desserts, respectively. Meanwhile, Angelique Chua won bronze medal for the Beef Short Ribs Category.

Moreover, Jireh Diamante Rodriguez, student from LPU-Laguna, bagged the gold medal in the Wedding Cake Category.

The team was also composed of chefs from the LPU Culinary Institute, namely Chefs Clyden San Pedro, Danilo Basilio, Joel Tan Jimenez, Vincent Patron, and Raymond Mendoza.

Chef Jonathan Jota won bronze medal for Beef Short Ribs category and silver medal for Sustainable Fish–Grouper category, while Chefs Kazzie Sy

and Winnie Wong bagged bronze medals for the High Tea–Live Category.

The team shared its secret to many achievements, saying, “Confident po kami and we have faith in God. Dapat focused lang. Kapag nandun ka, yung goal mo lang ay kung ano ‘yung ginagawa mo ‘pag nagtra-training kayo”.

The LJC of the LPU Culinary Institute is recognized for winning international awards in several competitions, including HOFEX, since 2011.

Photos Courtesy of Gyle Gicana

By John Poliquit

THE MASTER CHEFS. Lycean Junior Chefs with their medals and certificates after winning in the HOFEX 2015 in Hong Kong last May 2015.

LPU Chorale performs for Independence Day

By Venny-Lou G. Posada

IN commemoration of the 444th Independence Day, LPU Chorale was chosen by the Singapore Airlines to serenade passengers waiting at NAIA Terminal 3 on June 12, 2015.

LPU Arts and Cultural Affairs Department (ACAD) Director Robert Hayden Jr. said the university was requested to perform for the same event for the second time. It was the LPU Dance Troupe who performed before.

Meanwhile, LPU Chorale President Ryan Viado said the group was given a two-week preparation for the event.

Viado added that the chorale sung Tagalog songs for it was requested by the airline.“Independence Day kasi, kaya naghanda kami ng Tagalog songs. Karamihan din ay ethnic songs.”

Kailangan Kita, Kundiman, and Dalaga’t Binata are some of the songs LPU Chorale performed in the said event.

NEWS

THE LPU INDEPENDENT SENTINEL |

7

Special Report

High Number of Violations: Who to Blame?

Illustration by Roduel A. Zamora

By Nicole L. Manano and Kim Oliver M. Maniscan

VIOLATIONS in the campus have always been the problem of students and the administration every school year. Students say they are not aware of the rules but the school personnel argue they did not fail in reminding students about the regulations. If this is the case, then who should be blamed on the high number of violations per year?

Ignorance of the school rules is an unacceptable excuse, LPU Student Affairs Office (SAO) Assistant Dean Ms. Noemi Villarante said. In fact,since 2010, the most number of violations was recorded in A.Y. 2013-2014.

Villarante said that SAO is maintaining a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) of 1% decrease in violations every school year.

For school year 2013-2014, the College of International Tourism and Hospitality Management received the most number of violations.

On the following school year, students from CITHM still had the highest number of violations (7.07 per cent). It was followed by the College of Arts and Sciences (5.79 per cent), College of International Relations (5.37 per cent), and the College of Engineering (5.28 per cent).

Meanwhile, the College of Business Administration (5.15 per cent), College of Computer Studies (4.88 percent), and the College of Nursing (1 per cent) were declared as the three most disciplined colleges in LPU.

When it comes to rules, Villarante said the most common violations

that students commit are the improper wearing of uniform and the losing or failure to wear IDs.

Regarding the hair color, Villarante explained they had already addressed this problem before. After taking some considerations, SAO modified which hair colors are allowed in the campus. Dark hair colors are accepted while bright colors will be a ground for violation, Villarante said.

According to Security and Desk Officer Frederick Dimarucot, among the other colleges, CITHM has the highest number of violations due to hair color and the variations of uniforms for each course.

Dimarucot explained that CITHM students have different guidelines on the uniform which is stated in their separate pamphlet.

He also said they can’t give any violations to CBA students yet, who had just replaced their uniform this school year.

Information Dissemination

Villarante explained that they were always conducting an orientation regarding school policies for students to be aware of all the rules. However, not all students are attending the orientation which causes the high number of violations, Villarante said.

Due to this, it prompted SAO to offer the Leadership Involvement, Formation and Empowerment (LIFE) program in CCS, a course patterned from De La Salle University wherein students are trained about leadership and are

oriented about their responsibilities.

“But of course, we don’t discuss only the responsibilities. It’s a must that students know their rights,” Villarante emphasized.

Who to Blame?

Villarante said the students are responsible for their actions. She explained that they had provided the handbook for students to read and know the policies and school rules. Also, a softcopy of the handbook was also uploaded on LPU’s website for the students to access and download it easily.

On the other hand, some students admitted that they should be blamed for their violations. “Hindi naman sila mabibigyan ng violation kung wala silang na-violate. Bago tayo pumasok dito, binibigyan naman tayo ng orientation about sa regulations,” said Diana Ross Galve, a 3rd year Cruise Line Operations in Hotel Services (CLOHS) student.

For Security Officer and Detachment Commander Manuel Demalata Jr., he said there is no one to blame for there is still room for improvement for both the security personnel and the students. He added that students should know the consequences of their actions.

Villarante advised all students to just simply abide by the rules. In this way, students can avoid disciplinary actions and high number of violations would gradually decrease.

CAS introduces Digital Animation specialization

By Jillian Shayne L. Dancel

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES (CAS) launched a new course, the AB Multimedia Arts Specialization in Digital Animation.

CAS Dean Rizalina Cruz said the high demand for the course prompted the college to open the course. “It’s the requirement of the industry. Students are more visual, very techie, and we don’t just open a course just because

we would like to offer it.”

Cruz stressed that the college first checked on the infrastructure, facilities, and different softwares needed before it considered opening the course.

At present, there are a total of 591 students in Multimedia Media Arts, and 64 of the population are enrolled in the Digital Animation course.

“Hopefully, in the fu-

ture, we will be able to offer more specialization in Multimedia Arts. There are many specializations that we can offer in Multimedia Arts,” Cruz added.

Meanwhile, Cruz mentioned a possible partnership between LPU and Tokyo University that also offers Multimedia Arts courses, opening a possibility for student-faculty exchange programs between the two universities.

CBA implements new uniform for students COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (CBA) introduced a new business-themed uniform this academic year.

The design was proposed two years ago by the CBA Student Council and was approved by the Vice President for Finance, Sarah Laurel-Lopez.

On its pioneering year, CBA Dean Maria Victoria Ac-Ac said the college received positive feedbacks from the students regarding the new uniform.

The freshman students are required to wear the uniform Mondays and Thursdays, while it is optional for the upperclass-

men to buy it.

“They [freshmen] are the walking advertisements of LPU, so they will see the business culture and atmosphere with the uniform,” Dean Ac-Ac stressed.

(With reports from Hygeian R. Español)

INNOVATION. Some CBA students wearing their new uniform.

CAS hailed as LPU’s top performing college

By Timothy P. Gucilatar

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES (CAS) was recognized once again as the top performing college in LPU for academic year 2014-2015.

CAS Dean Rizalina Cruz said, “I’m more than happy about it. We are able to deliver all these expectations, based on our duties and functions as stated in our job descriptions”.

This year’s recognition of CAS as the top performing college is its 13th time to receive the award.

“No matter how successful you are, but once you get to the top, you keep on aiming for more,” Cruz said. She added that winning this award followed a set of criteria before they were chosen.

Cruz explained the

LPU senior leaders’ works are anchored on the university’s vision.

She also said the improvement of LPU is because of the quality of education it offers.

Furthermore, Cruz admitted they still have to do more to attain LPU’s vision as a leading university in the Asia-Pacific region.

GREEN PAGE

8 | THE LPU INDEPENDENT SENTINEL

HOW PREPARED ARE YOU FOR THE

"BIG ONE"?

BY ELLAH D. PAMA

Infographics Courtesy of CNN Philippines THE WEST VALLEY FAULT has moved four times with 400 years interval in the last 1,400 years. The last major earthquake from the fault happened in 1658, which was 357 years ago.

Due to this, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHILVOLCS) warns that the West Valley Fault is now ready to move again.

PHILVOLCS warned that a possible movement of the West Valley Fault may occur, which would possibly generate a magnitude 7.2 earthquake in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces.

In its atlas, PHILVOLCS identified the cities of Quezon, Marikina, Pasig, Makati, Taguig, and Muntinlupa in Metro Manila and parts of the provinces of Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, and Cavite which lie directly above the 100-kilometer long fault line system.

The public can download the Atlas from the PHILVOLCS’s website (www.phivolcs.dost.gov. ph) to check whether their houses lie along an active earthquake fault line.

In a study entitled “Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study (MMEIRS)”, conducted

by PHILVOLCS, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), an estimate of 33,500 fatalities will occur once a 7.2 earthquake hits Metro Manila.

The study also showed an additional 18,000 people could perish from fire break-outs due to damaged electrical wirings, while 113,600 will be injured, and 3.15 million people will be displaced.

Hospitals will be incapacitated due to power supply and will be overwhelmed by the numbers of patients pouring in.

According to the study, the probable total economic loss is at P2.5 trillion with 11 million square meters of floor area severely damaged. Due to all of these estimates, PHILVOCS regarded the possible 7.2 earthquake as the “Big One”.

Government Preparations

The national government headed by the MMDA, PHILVOLCS, and Local Government Units (LGUs) urged Filipinos to participate in activities which will raise awareness and will help save lives in case an earthquake hits Metro Manila.

The MMDA started earthquake preparation activities such as the Rescue Olympics which tested the capabilities of local rescue units to respond in times of disaster.

Aside from the Rescue Olympics, the MMDA also practiced its “OPLAN: Metro Yakal” earthquake contingency plan. The plan identified four sites, namely the Veteran’s golf course in Quezon City, the Villamor golf course in Pasay City, the WackWack golf course in Mandaluyong City and the Intramuros golf course in Manila, which will serve as evacuation sites and command centers for rescue operations.

The MMDA held a Metro-wide earthquake drill on July 30 at 10:30 am wherein schools, offices and different establishments took part in the one-hour simulation.

On the other hand, PHILVOLCS conducted an activity called “Walk the Fault” to mark structures and areas where the fault line lies.

PHILVOLCS also reminded the construction industry to strictly follow the building code to ensure the building’s structural integrity in times of earthquake.

PHILVOLCS Director

Renato Solidum advised families to prepare by letting its members know the safest areas in their houses and in their neighborhood and to participate in earthquake drills in schools, offices, and barangays.

Knowing where the hazards are is not enough. One must learn what can be done to reduce potential casualties in case of an earthquake.

Now that the government headed by the MMDA, PHILVOLCS, and LGUs had laid down all the possible measures to help save lives in case an earthquake hits Metro Manila, this leaves us to one question, how prepared are we for the ‘big one’?

How to protect yourself when the ‘Big One’ hits

To keep you and your family away from harm caused by disasters, the best way is to be prepared. Families should have an earthquake readiness plan; locate a place where you can go to in case of an earthquake. Make sure that it is a spot where nothing is likely to fall.

Also, there should be a supply of canned food, first aid kit, gallons of water, dust masks and goggles, and a working battery-op-

erated radio and flashlights.

During the earthquake, drop down and take cover under a strong table away from bookshelves and furniture. Stay indoors until the shaking stops. If you are outdoors, find a clear spot away from buildings and trees.

After the earthquake, check for injuries and provide first aid for those who are in need. Also, don’t forget to check water, gas, and electric lines for damage. If there are damages, leave the place and report it immediately to authorities.

Be careful around broken glass and debris when going outdoors. Wear boots or sturdy shoes to avoid injuries.

It is also important to listen to the radio to be updated on the situation. Aftershocks should also be expected that’s why it is necessary to stay in a safe place for more hours.

Preparing as early as now can help a lot on preventing large number of casualties. Unlike typhoons, earthquakes cannot be detected when it will happen. It is better to keep ourselves safe and always ready by following the guidelines and precautionary measures when “The Big One” occurs.

GREEN PAGE

THE LPU INDEPENDENT SENTINEL |

9

'BATTLING AGAINST A DEADLY VIRUS'

PHL CONFIRMS

FIRST CASE OF MERS THE Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) continues to spread from Middle East to countries in the East and Southeast Asian regions. As this disease keeps on spreading, how can you protect your loved ones from contracting a virus?

As of July 6, a 36-year-old male foreigner from the Middle East tested positive for the virus. According to the Department of Health, the patient was referred to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) for treatment.

The department is monitoring eight people who had close contact with the patient. One of them, who was coughing, is also confined at the RITM, while the rest are quarantined at home.

This is not the first time the country reported a case of MERS, on February of this year, a 32-year-old nurse showed symptoms of the disease after coming home from Saudi Arabia.

The patient quickly undergone quarantine procedure at the RITM but a series of tests showed she had overcome the virus.

Since 2012, when the disease was first identified in Saudi Arabia, it has spread around the world, due to the increasing trend of travelling.

At present, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed 1,334 laboratory cases of MERSCoV, including at least 471 related deaths. Approximately 3 to 4 in every 10 peoplewith the disease have died.

Though most of

By Myrtle Joyce I. Bautista

the MERS cases were from the Middle East, the disease first reached Southeast Asia in April 2014, when a Malaysian man came home from his pilgrimage trip in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

During the trip, the victim visited a camel farm. Camels are hosts for the virus.

On May 20, the virus entered South Korea when a 68-year-old man who traveled to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain, came home. Now, its health ministry declared a MERS outbreak with 181 cases and 31 deaths.

Thailand also confirmed its first MERS victim on June 19.The victim traveled in Thailand after coming from a Middle Eastern country.

As the virus keeps on spreading throughout

the region, the Department of Health (DOH) assured the public that the Philippines is one step ahead in monitoring the disease. The Department placed thermal scanners in the airports to monitor if passengers have the symptoms for MERS.

MERS is a disease which came from the Coronaviruses – a large family of viruses that can infect both humans and animals and may cause illnesses in humans and animals, ranging from the common cold to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

Symptoms of MERS are fever, cough, and shortness of breath leading to severe cases of respiratory failure. Most patients contracted pneumonia, while some exhibited gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea.

Until now, no vaccine or cure has been developed for MERS.There are no specific treatments for patients who become ill with MERS-CoV infection.

A study from Purdue University, however, showed a way of disabling a part of the virus that allows it to hide from the immune system. This finding may lead to the development of a vaccine against the disease.

But generally, now that there is no clearer picture on how to fight this illness, going back to the basics won’t hurt. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people should wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds.

If soap and water are not available, one can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Covering the nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing is also a way to prevent MERS from spreading. One must not forget to throw the tissue in the trash immediately.

The CDC also advises everyone to avoid close contact with sick people through kissing, sharing cups, or utensils.

With the number of new viruses assailing our immune system, it may be a good practice to be more conscious with our personal hygiene and health etiquette. It may not be the concrete solution to the problem but as the saying goes, “prevention is better than cure”. In this case, get all the weapons you can get to battle this enigma before the virus win us over.

from page 1...

Metro-wide earthquake drill... is structurally sound despite its age.

Though there were sightings of some minor cracks due to movement, the study showed it is normal.

The engineers did stress testing in 1,600 random points in the building.

Emergency Responders

Chua assured the students that the university is prepared to respond in any situations.

As for the immediate responders, Chua said the clinic personnel and the security guards will serve as first responders.

To ensure the guards are fit to be responders in times of emergency, the LPU required the security agency to secure a certification of training in emergency response.

Aside from that, the university also required the agency to acquire an emergency communications, in which the central communication radio is in the PFM’s operation.

“We course it through our security group. We require them to have this certain skill sets if they want to work with LPU. It gives us an assurance na at any given

time, we have responders intact,” Chua said.

At present, there are a total of 19 guards in the LPU’s security pool.

Chua reminds students to always participate in the drills and to take it seriously because once the procedures in the drill become mechanical to the stakeholders, the evacuation will be faster, easier, and more efficient.

“If we can do that in the near future, that’s already an indicator that we are very prepared for emergencies kasi ang bilis yung na-execute natin siya agad-agad,” Chua said.

Infographics by Abegail Anne M. Montecalvo

10

FEATU

| THE LPU INDEPENDENT SENTINEL

t

2015

3 decades of guarding the Lycean community.

2006

TIMELINE

The Sentinel gained its official logo.

2004

The battle cry “Bringing news that matter” was officially added under the name of the paper.

December 9, 1985

The administration finally gave in.

2012

Omega comes out as the “year-ender special”.

November 24 to 29, 1985

Days of barricaded gates and suspended classes.

!

1997 Imaginaccion, the Sentinel’s literary maga-

zine kicked in due to the numerous literary pieces that the 1997 batch of Sentinel kept on receiving.

February 26, 1985,

LYCESGO President Ferdinand Gaite and other student leaders brought the issue to the attention of the administration.

THE MAKING OF A WATCHDOG

By Rholynda Chryse E. Gonzalo THE MEDIA is called the fourth estate as it is the watchdog of society. It embodies the right of freedom of expression in its duty to deliver timely and significant news.

Thirty years ago, Lyceum of the Philippines, then still a college, witnessed the making of its very own watchdog after a series of unfortunate events.

Lyceans had to go through several failed attempts to have a medium of expression that will give them the right to seek, receive, and impart information and to represent their own opinions.

On February 26, 1985, then president of the Lyceum Central Student Government (LYCESGO) Ferdinand Gaite and other student leaders brought the issue to the attention of the administration; addressing then school president Sotero H. Laurel about unbinding The Lyceum from its tri-sectoral nature to an independent student publication.

Unfortunately, Laurel was steadfast in keeping The Lyceum as it is because of its sentimental value to the school. At that time, The Lyceum was the only magazine-publication circulated to the administration, faculty, and students of the university.

But the fight for freedom of expression didn’t end there.

Gaite and the other student leaders proposed the idea of having another publication that would represent the students to which Laurel agreed in the condition that both mediums will have a 50-50

sharing of the publication funds.

Though uncertain at first, Gaite and company agreed...believing that it’s a good start.

The Task Force Independent Paper (TFIP) was created as its proposed charter (a 12-page draft consisting of 14 Articles) was unanimously approved.

Gaite’s term came to an end after the 1985 LYCESGO elections coincided with a plebiscite asking the students if they would agree in having an independent student paper. A total of 6,721 voted ‘yes’ and only 316 voted ‘no’, while 573 abstained.

Hence, the establishment of the paper took a big leap with the plebiscite’s legal effect.

But everything backfired when the administration made its own version of the charter that was different from what the TFIP constructed; wherein, all ways go against the independence of the paper.

LYCESGO and TFIP led 6 days of protests. November 2429, 1985 were days of barricaded gates and suspended classes. Both sides continued negotiations until December 9, where the administration finally gave in.

One year after the 6-day protest, LYCESGO President Marivic Banico created an ad hoc committee and arranged the editorial board examination for the pioneer batch on April 1986. The results came out two weeks later having Eduardo Marfori as the first Editor-in-Chief.

Marfori, along with his

staff, and other members of the TFIP voted on the official name of the paper; baptizing it as “The Lyceum Independent Sentinel”.

Sentinel, which name means guard, became the fourth estate of Lyceum which has become the guardian of Lyceans in the Manila campus.

Through the years, Sentinel carved itself on the foundations of Lyceum. It lived up to the name “Independent Sentinel” no matter how many challenges and changes it underwent.

In 2004, the battle cry “Bringing news that matter” was officially added under the name of the paper. The phrase expresses the paper’s duty for the students and the academic community, as much as its reason for existence.

The term “watchdog” was coined from the purpose of dogs being kept to guard premises and property. Dogs were trained to serve as guardians or protectors against waste, loss, or crime. The media gained the name because it performs functions analogous to that of a watchdog – monitors and publicizes the actions of individuals, corporations, and the government.

It was in the year 2006 when the Sentinel gained its official logo which had an emblem of a watchdog standing guard in the center with “Veritas et Patria” which means “Truth and Country” written above its head and is surrounded by laurel leaves.

The battle cry and the

logo continued to be the trademark of the Sentinel until present.

To showcase Lyceum as a university, the name of the paper was changed to “The LPU Independent Sentinel”.

Other Publications

Aside from the newsletters, the Sentinel also publishes special issues.

Imaginaccion, the Sentinel’s literary magazine kicked in due to the numerous literary pieces that the 1997 batch of Sentinel kept on receiving. Through the Imaginaccion, selected students’creative works – may it be a poem, essay, short story, or even visuals – were published for all the Lyceans to see.

The first volume was released back in 1997 and eventually became an official publication of the Sentinel. Since then, students submit their literary pieces and artworks, which at present, became not just an annual folio but as a contest as well.

Three years back, the Sentinel introduced another publication with the aim of compiling all the significant events in and outside the university through a magazine.

Omega, the Sentinel’s features magazine comes out as the “year-ender special”. Omega premiered on 2012 and has continued to be the annual features project of the Sentinel.

During the month of February, the university is filled with four colors that signify the differ-

ent parties aiming for positions in the student council. It was during that time that the Sentinel decided to come up with an Election issue.

The Sentinel, being the watchdog of the university, does its role of monitoring the parties and candidates from campaign to election proper.

When you need to lighten up after all the serious issues, the Lampoon issue can do the trick as it brings you news you can laugh at. This issue presents the comical sides of serious issues. It is satirical in nature as it points out and criticizes flaws of society or the university despite being funny.

This started publication in 2008.

The latest addition to the Sentinel publications is no other than the sports magazine – Powerplay. It premiered last year in line with the 90th season of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

It features the different sports teams in the university as it sails to battle in the NCAA and other competitions. Viva! Viva! Pirata!

All of these publications are meant for the LPU community. The Sentinel encourages Lyceans to practice their right of freedom of expression and information through every release.

The LPU Independent Sentinel accepted the test of time and is still standing firm for exactly three decades now, as the watchdog of the university. It tackles not only the good news but also give insights on the bad news... as long as it is news that matters.

URES

THE LPU INDEPENDENT SENTINEL |

11

sentinel staffers:

continuing the legacy By: Angela grace T. Matulac FOR many years, the LPU Independent Sentinel has been delivering news that matter inside the university. It has been improved, innovated, and developed after various changes and editorial boards.

Now on its 30th year, walk down the memory lane and know some of the Sentinel staffers who made their mark in the industry.

A Pioneer’s Pride

You know he is in the field of broadcasting once he opens his mouth and talk.

A graduate of Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism at LPUManila and now the Station Manager of Philippine Broadcasting Service’s flagship station, DZRB Radyo ng Bayan, Allan Allanigue was part of the initial batch of Sentinel. He was at that time, a third year student.

The following year, as many would expect, he became the second Editor-in-Chief of Sentinel. He finds his experience in Sentinel fun, tiring, and fulfilling.

“Siyempre, may feeling of fulfilment every time lalabas ‘yung issue niyo. Ina-anticipate ng staff, ina-anticipate din ng mga estudyante. Andyan yung mga positive comments, meron ding negative comments, ganoon naman talaga eh. But I find it very fulfilling,” Allanigue said.

Many might be wondering why he ended up in the field of broadcasting instead of print.

According to him, he wanted to widen his horizon that’s why he tried applying for DZXL for his internship. When he realized that he enjoyed being in the radio than in print, he decided to work for radio. According to him, what makes radio more exciting than print is its capability of delivering news as it actually happens.

As a radio broadcaster, the training he had in LPU and in Sentinel has developed his passion for writing and dedication to work, which helped him a lot in his career.

“I find it very basic na you

have to be able to write correctly and you have to be able to write depending on the medium you’re going to use. Naging very particular ako sa tamang pagsusulat.

Hanggang ngayon ay dala-dala ko pa rin ‘yun, yung pagiging metikuloso ko,” Allanigue admitted.

Aside from being a radio broadcaster, Allanigue is also a professor in LPU’s College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), teaching Mass Communication subjects.

As a professor for almost 14 years, he has become an inspiration for students. But what others don’t know is that he also gets inspiration from his teaching profession.

“Teaching is actually very fulfilling. Teaching is not a profession, it is more of a vocation. Teaching is fulfilling when students are appreciative of what you teach to them,” he said.

Allanigue is the kind of man who does not teach just to get paid. He teaches because he has his own advocacy.

And that is to contribute to the future craft of practitioners.

As a former Sentinel staffer, Allanigue expects that Sentinel will continue for more than thirty years.

“Tatlong dekada na, hanggang ngayon ay buhay na buhay pa at patuloy na yumayabong, ika nga. Kahit na unti-unting nagbabago ang panahon, The Sentinel, kumbaga, withstood the test of time,” Allanigue expressed.

He added, “Later on, I would like to believe na lahat ng nanggaling sa Lyceum Independent Sentinel can look back with pride at sasabihing, ‘Ay, dahil sa Sentinel, marami akong natutunan, nakatulong ng malaki ‘yan kung saan ako naroroon ngayon.”

Love for Literary

Her love for literary gave birth to a noteworthy folio, which became her most important contribution as a Sentinel staffer.

Merzenaida Donovan, former Literary Editor of Sentinel and now a Special Projects and

Reports Manager of the Supervision and Examination Sector of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, established Sentinel’s literary folio, Imaginaccion.

During her time, Donovan saw the excess of literary pieces sent by the students.

“There was a huge surplus of good literary articles every time we publish the Sentinel when I was the editor, which to my mind, reflect the vivid imagination and creative rumblings of Lyceans.”

Facing a lot of struggles during the start of Imaginaccion, she said, “Key challenges were selecting good literary articles that would be a voice of every Lycean and budget for the folio. Since we are always on a string short budget, given that we are handling the collection for the Sentinel, I need to be quite forthcoming, if not persuasive, with my needs for the folio so it gets to press as scheduled”.

As the pioneer Editor-in-Chief of Imaginaccion, Donovan said like our imagination, there are no literary boundaries except good taste and conventions of writing.

“It is truly an honor to see the Imaginaccion legacy lives on and I am always excited to receive recent editions. It provides a glimpse [on] how the Lycean creative imagination and literary culture have evolved throughout the years”.

Donovan, after earning a double major degree in Journalism and Broadcasting was able to work from radio, to television, and to print media.

She worked as a production assistant at ABS-CBN. She also worked as a segment producer at DWS and as a staffer at the Daily Sun, Philippine Daily Inquirer, and Business World.

Being able to excel in the different forms of media, Donovan believes that we can be the best person we can be. In this profession, there’s always rejection, prejudice, and hardship but “it’s up to you on how you will manage it; the important thing is that

you’re going to improve yourself”.

She advises the future handlers of Imaginaccion to stay attuned to the creative aspirations and dreams of every Lycean and to come up with a folio that reflects their voice and spirit. Donovan encourages future writers and contributors to be brave and true to themselves in finding and telling their voice.

The former Literary Editor exclaimed, “People will be surprised on how many lives you can change with a simple poem”.

Going International

He proved that Sentinel and LPU’s products are worldclass.

A graduate of AB Journalism and product of the Sentinel, Jeff Dimaano brought pride and uprightness as he is now working at the well-known international news agency, Thomson Reuters.

His job at Thomson Reuters entails handling laws and helping the legal system perform better.

“These are very sensitive data. I only ever really understood integrity when I started writing columns for the school paper and noticed that I can help shape the opinions of the students. Same with my current job, it entails a lot of ethics and principles to remain honest, not to tamper with data, and maintain a good reputation that when I handle the work, no one could question it.”

He entered Sentinel on his third year in college and became the Managing Editor 2.

“It was challenging because on that year, 2010, 70% to 80% of the editorial board were rookies or mere contributors and have no idea how to run the school press yet. But what we lacked for experience, we made up with passion,” Dimaano said.

Aside from beating deadlines, he also mentioned other lessons he learned from Sentinel that helped him through his career.

One is dealing with people.

“There are two kinds of

Sentinel animals: 1) those who are articulate and can really express themselves well; and 2) those who are introverts who work well when they’re alone. Those extremes taught me well how to deal with different types of colleagues.”

Dimaano, being successful in entering the international news agency was awarded as an Outstanding Alumni for Journalism Program during the 2015 UmalohokJUAN Awards. He was the first to receive such award.

Being in the Sentinel for two years, one of the most important lessons it gave him was “to stand by the truth, even if the bosses, 90% of the school’s population, or social media says otherwise”.

Dimaano said it’s refreshing how the Sentinel can now deliver news with the use of hand phones. “As students of our future careers, we are allowed to make mistakes, but with 24/7 accessibility to our content also 24/7 opportunities for others to criticize our content. We were lucky we didn’t have to deal with those before. The game has been changed.

You are not just student writers anymore. You can reach more audiences outside LPU Manila’s population.”

Sentinel, on its third decade does not only celebrate its success on surpassing challenges and being able to stand the test of time. On its thirtieth year, it also celebrates the many lives it changed, not just to the readers, but more importantly, to the people behind all those incredible publications.

Through the years, the LPU Independent Sentinel has been a center of campus journalism excellence and an acknowledged training ground for budding writers, journalists, artists, and photographers. Allanigue, Donovan, and Dimaano are only a few of the products the Sentinel has shaped. (With reports from Alexandra Nicole B. Zaide)

12

FILIPINO

| THE LPU INDEPENDENT SENTINEL

Kalayaan sa Makabagong Panahon ISANG DAAN AT LABIMPITONG TAON matapos ipaglaban nina Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Aguinaldo, at marami pang bayani ang kalayaang tinatamasa natin ngayon. Marami na ang nagtangkang magtanong, “Tayo nga ba’y ganap na malaya?” Sa paanong paraan natin maipakikita ang damdaming nasyonalismo?

“Ang kalayaan ay isang karapatan na dapat matamo ng bawat responsableng tao, sapagkat ang kalayaan ay nangangahulugan ng paglaya mula sa pabigat sa iyong konsensya,” ani Gng. Norma Mendoza, Tagapangulo ng Kagawaran ng Filipino.

Binigyang-diin ni Gng. Mendoza ang kalayaan ayon sa perspektibo ng katayuan sa lipunan.

Ayon sa kanya, hindi pa rin ganap ang kalayaan kung hindi natatamo ng bawat mamamayan ang maayos, tahimik, at makatarungang paraan ng pamumuhay sa isang bansa.

Katulad ni Mendoza, naniniwala rin si Hen. Cesar Fortuno, propesor ng International Political Economy na ang kahulugan ng kalayaan ay nakadepende kung paano ito titingnan ng bawat indibidwal.

“Maaaring para saiyo, ikaw

ay malaya dahil kuntento ka sa buhay mo ngunit para sa iba, hindi sila malaya sapagkat hindi natutugunanang kanilang pangangailangan.”

Nabanggit din niya na maipapakita ang kalayaan sa pamamagitan ng pagbabago para sa mas ikabubuti ng ating mga sarili.

Ang kalayaan sa makabagong panahon ay hindi na lamang nangangahulugan ng pagiging malaya ng ating bansa sa mga mananakop. Sapagkat sa panahong ito, sinasalamin na rin ng pagiging malaya ang kalayaan na magdesisyon para sa sarili na kaakibat ng pagiging responsable sa bawat desisyong gagawin.

Ngayon, malaya ang bawat isa sa atin na mamili ng anumang nais nating gawin, o maging mga tugtugin na nais nating pakinggan, pati na rin ang mga kasuotan at pagkain na nais nating tangkilikin, dito na papasok ang usaping nasyonalismo.

Ayon kay Hen. Fortuno, ang nasyonalismo ay pagmamahal sa bansa hindi lamang sa salita kundi pati rin sa gawa.

Turan ni Hen. Fortuno, naipakikita ang nasyonalismo sa pagbayad ng buwis, pagmamalaki sa ating bayan, at pagtangkilik ng mga produktong sa-

riling atin. Dagdag pa niya, ang pagsasakripisyo para sa bayan ang pinakamataas na halimbawa ng pagkakaroon ng nasyonalismo.

Ang pagpapanatili naman ng mga kaisipan at magagandang ugaling Pilipino, ayon kay Gng. Mendoza, ay paraan upang maipakita ang nasyonalismo.

Pinayuhan niya ang mga magulang na tutukan ang kabataan upang mapanatili ang mga kaisipan at magagandang ugaling Pilipino katulad ng pagbabayanihan, pagmamalasakit, at pagkamasiyahin dahil ito’y tatak ng nasyonalismo.

Tayong mga Pilipino ay may matinding damdaming nasyonalismo, may matinding pagmamahal sa bansa, subalit taliwas naman ito sa mga nangyayari sa ating bayan.

Kahit saan tayo tumingin ay makakakita tayo ng mga produkto at ugaling banyaga. Panahon na upang bigyang-pansin ang mga gawang Pinoy bago ang mga “branded” na nagpapayaman lamang sa ibang bansa.

Ayon sa mga magaaral ng LPU na sina Collette Odal, Noemi Sotto, at Jannah Gedang, maipapakita raw ng kabataan ang nasyonalismo sa pagpapanatili ng mga bagay na

Illustration By Hygeian R. Espanol

Nina Ayshea B. Perucho at James Bernard S. Herrera

nagpapalawig dito.

Dagdag pa nila, “Bilang kabataan, kami ang inaasahan na magpatuloy ng naiwan ng mga nakatatanda sa ating bansa”.

Ika nga ni Gat Jose Rizal, “Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan”.

Ngunit kung sa mga sim-pleng paraan katulad ng pagsasalita ng wikang Filipino at pagtangkilik sa mga produktong sariling atin ay ‘di na natin maga-

wa, paano pa tayo makatutulong sa sariling bayan?

Paano pa natin mapapalaya ang bayang patuloy na yumayakap sa impluwensya ng mga dayuhan?

Sabi nga ni Gng. Mendoza, “Mas pahalagahan ang pambayan kaysa alin mang lahi. Mamamayan muna bago ang ibang bayan”.

Ikaw na bahagi ng kabataan, tunay ka nga bang malaya? Naipakikita mo ba

ang iyong damdaming nasyonalismo para sa ating bansa?

Hindi sapat na ikaw ay may damdaming nasyonalismo. Kailangan mo rin itong isabuhay sapagkat sa ganitong paraan mo lamang masasabi na ikaw ay ganap na Pilipino. Bukod dito, maipapakita mo rin ang pagmamahal sa bayang siyang naging dahilan kung ano ka man sa makabagong panahon.

BALARILA: GAMITIN NANG TAMA NI TIMOTHY GERARD P. GUCILATAR

Araw-araw nating binibigkas ang wikang Filipino, ngunit tunay ba natin itong ginagamit nang tama?

Ang mga sumusunod ay mga halimbawa ng mga balarilang sa tuwina ay nakaliligtaan natin o wala sa ating kabatiran ang tamang paggamit.

Maluwag at Maluwang

Ang salitang maluwag ay ginagamit sa pagsasalarawan ng isang bagay. Ang salitang maluwang ay ginagamit sa pagsasalarawan ng isang pook o lugar.

Angkop na paggamit sa mga salita: -Maluwag ang sapatos na aking suot.

-Ang hardin sa likod ng bahay ay maluwang.

Kaganapan at Pangyayari

-Ang salitang kaganapan ay ginagamit kapag may naganap na pagtupad sa mga hangaring personal o pangkalahatan. Ang salitang pangyayari ay ginagamit kapag may mga pagdiriwang sa isang lugar katulad ng mga kapistahan at iba pang mga kasiyahan.

Angkop na paggamit sa mga salita: -Ipinagdiriwang ngayong araw ang kaganapan ng pagluklok ng bagong Presidente ng bansa.

-Ikinalulungkot ang pangyayari sa Mamasapano na kumitil ng buhay ng mga sundalong Pilipino.

Doon at Roon

-Ang salitang doon ay kaakibat ng mga salittang nagtatapos sa katinig maliban sa /w/ at /y/. Ang salitang roon ay kaakibat ng mga salitang nagtatapos sa patinig Angkop na paggamit sa mga salita: -Hintayin mo ang aking ipinadala roon.

-Si Steven ay nagsulat doon sa dingding.

Bukod at Maliban

-Ang salitang bukod ay nangangahulugan na ang susunod na mga salita ay kaakibat ng unang nabanggit na salita. Ang salitang maliban ay nangangahulugan na ang susunod na salita ay hindi kaakibat ng unang nabanggit na salita.

Angkop na paggamit sa mga salita: -Bukod sa maganda ako, matangkad pa ako.

-Wala nang mas maganda sa akin maliban kay Anne Curtis.

Aspekto at Imahen

Ang dalawang salita na salin sa wikang Espanyol na madalas na binabaybay bilang aspeto at imahe ay mali. Ang tamang palatitikan nito ay aspekto at imahen.

Sunog at Apoy

-Ang sunog ay nagaganap na paglagablab ng isang bagay o lugar. Ang apoy ay isang reaksyong kemikal na nagbibigay ng init at liwanag.

Angkop na paggamit sa mga salita: -May sunog na tumutupok sa mga tahanan sa isang barangay.

-Ang kandila ay umiilaw dahil sa apoy.

Nila at Nina

-Ang salitang nila ay ginagamit bilang isang panghalip panao na siya namang inihahalili o ipinapalit sa pangalan ng isa o maraming tao. Ang salitang nina ay ginagamit bilang isang pantukoy panao na sinusundan ng pangalan ng tao.

Katatapos, hindi Kakatapos

Ang unang pantig ng salitang-ugat ang inuulit, hindi ang pantig ng buong salita sapagkat ang binibigyang pansin ay ang ugat ng salita.

Diyaryo, hindi Dyaryo

Ang diptonggo ay patinig na may kaakibat na malapatinig tulad ng /y/ at /w/ sa loob ng isang pantig.

Angkop na paggamit sa mga salita: -Ang mga libro nila ay nakakalat sa sahig.

-Kinalat nina Kris at Felipe ang mga libro sa sahig.

Ang salitang kelan ay mali sapagkat ang tama ay kailan, gayundin ang salitang mayroon na ginagawang meron, ang salitang huwag na pinalitan ng wag, pati na rin ang salitang dyan na dapat ay diyan.

Pinto at Pintuan

.......

Ang salitang pinto ay tumutukoy sa harang na nakadikit sa pintuan upang hindi ito madaanan. Ang salitang pintuan ay ang malaking bitak sa dingding na maaaring daanan.

Angkop na paggamit sa mga salita: - Nagdikit ako ng salamin sa aming pinto.

- Inayos ni Felipe ang pintuan upang magkasiya ang bagong bili na pinto.

Isa’t isa, hindi Isa’t-isa

Ang mga salita na ginamitan na ng pandugtong na at ay hindi na kailangan pang dugtungan ng gitling.

Ang wika ang siyang salamin kung ano tayo sa lipunan at sino tayo sa mundo. Ang wika rin ang ating pagkakakilanlan kahit kanino, kahit saan. Marapat lang na bago natin alamin ang wika ng iba, kilalanin muna natin ang sariling atin. Ang tamang paggamit ng ating mga salita ay isang pagpapakita ng nasyonalismong Pilipino. Kaya sa araw-araw nating pananalita at pakikipag-usap, ating isaisip ang wastong paggamit ng ating wika.

KULTURA

THE LPU INDEPENDENT SENTINEL |

13

Martir ng Sambayanan: Kuwento ng Isang Makabayang Lycean Ni Steven L. Daseco

Sa kasagsagan ng First Quarter Storm (FQS) noong dekada ‘70, kasabay ang libu-libong Pilipinong sumigaw ng paglaya mula sa kamay ng diktaturyang Marcos at imperyalismo ng Estados Unidos, sumulpot ang isang makabayang Charlie Del Rosario, produkto ng Lyceum of the Philippines University – Manila.

Nagtapos ng Bachelor of Arts Major in Political Science, si Del Rosario ay naging aktibo sa mga gawaing pulitikal sa kabila ng kanyang pag-aaral. Siya ay naging Ikalawang Pangulo ng Konseho ng mga Magaaral sa LPU at Tagapangulo ng delegasyon ng Pilipinas para sa International Conference for the Liquidation of Foreign Military Bases

na ginanap sa Jakarta, Indonesia noong 1965. Isa rin si Del Rosario sa mga tagapagtatag ng Kabataang Makabayan (KM) noong ika-30 ng Nobyembre 1964. Ang KM ay isang komprehensibong organisasyong bumubuklod sa mga hanay ng mga kabataan mula sa iba’t ibang sektor ng lipunan.

Nagsilbi si Del Rosario bilang ikalawang Tagapangulo, Punong Kalihim, Ingat-yaman, at Tagapayo ng Pambansang Konseho ng Kabataang Makabayan.

Pinangunahan ng KM ang malalaking kilos-protesta ng mga mag-aaral at manggagawa sa Kamaynilaan upang tutulan ang katiwalian ng rehimeng Marcos at pakikisangkot ng Estados Unidos sa mga desisyon at pamamalakad sa ating bansa. Naging malaki ang saklaw ng organisasyon hindi lamang sa mga mag-

aaral, kundi pati na rin sa mga kabataang magsasaka at manggagawa.

Isa sa mga nangungunang patriyotiko si Del Rosario ng kanyang panahon sa pagmamandila sa buong bansa ng malakas na panawagan ng kabataan para sa tunay na pagbabago.

Professor Charlie Nang magtapos si Charlie noong 1966 sa LPU, hindi niya itinigil ang paghahangad ng tunay na pagbabago para sa bansa.

Nagturo siya sa Philippine College of Commerce (ngayon ay Polytechnic University of the Philippines o PUP). Naging tanyag si Del Rosario sa nasabing pamantasan. Hinangaan ang kanyang mga pananaw, matapang na pakikiharap sa iba’t ibang isyung panlipunan, pati na ang kanyang mabuting

ugali, at higit sa lahat, ang kanyang pagmamahal sa bayan.

Ang mga lansangan na pinagdarausan ng pakikibaka ng mamamayan ang kanyang naging silid-aralan.

Desaparecidos Ika-19 ng Marso ng taong 1971, sa Philippine College of Commerce, Lepanto, Maynila, ang isa sa mga tanyag na tagapamandila para sa tunay na kalayaan ng bansa ay hindi na muling nakita.

Si Del Rosario ang unang biktima ng sapilitang pagkawala sa Pilipinas o ng Desaparecido. Ginagamit ang salitang “Desaparecido” kapag ang itinuturong salarin ng pagkawala ng isang tao ay ang estado.

Ang kanyang pagkakadakip ay naganap bago suspendihin ang writ of

habeas corpus at ang pagdedeklara ng Martial Law o Batas Militar ng rehimeng Marcos.

Sa edad na dalawampu’t pito, si Del Rosario ay hindi na muli pang natagpuan.

Sa kanyang pagkakadakip, umusbong ang libu-libong Pilipinong makabayan at nagsunud-sunod ang mga protesta para sa pagbabago.

Ang Kabataaang Makabayan ay idineklarang ilegal ng gobyernong Marcos alinsunod sa Batas Militar.

Simula noon, ang KM ay tumangan ng baril para sa paglaban.

Martir ng Sambayanan Ngayon, ang pangalang Charlie Del Rosario ay nakaukit na sa radikal nakasaysayan ng Pilipinas.

Noong ika-29 ng Nobyembre ng taong 2001, kinilala bilang martir si Del Rosario ng Bantayog ng mga

Bayani Foundation. Ang pangalan din niya ay tanyag ngayon sa PUP Sta. Mesa bilang isang bulwagan.

Ang Charlie Del Rosario Hall ay bulwagan para sa mga mag-aaral, kung saan matatagpuan din ang opisyal na publikasyon ng kanilang pamantasan at ang konseho ng mga mag-aaral.

Apatnapu’t apat na taon na ang nakalipas mula noong siya ay dinakip. Sa ngalan ng alaala ni Del Rosario sa bawat sulok ng LPU, sa kahabaan ng mga lansangan ng lungsod, sa tugatog ng kaalamang ibinahagi niya sa PUP bilang guro, ang kasaysayan ay may itinuturong hamon sa mga kabataan:

Sa paanong paraan natin mapaglilingkuran ang sambayanang Pilipino?

Masining na Panawagan Para sa Pagbabago Nina Joanna Belle Z. Deala at Austin Bradley S. Magsino

Photo from naquem.blogspot.com

Sa gitna ng magulo

at maingay na siyudad, makatatagpo ng mga makukulay na imaheng pupukaw sa iyong pansin mula sa mga karaniwang kulay-abo na pader ng mga kabahayan, paaralan, at iba pang gusali.

Ito ay ang mga progresibong miyural na walang bibig upang magsalita ngunit mayroong mensaheng inilalathala. Bakit nga ba ito tinawag na progresibong sining?

Masasabing progresibo ang isang likha kung ang nais nitong ipabatid ay pagbabago o pag-unlad ng isang bagay dulot ng mga pag-aaral ng tao.

Ang ilang halimbawa ng mga sining na ito ay matatagpuan sa likod ng tanghalan ng Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) at sa gusali ng College of Fine Arts ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas (UP) – Diliman.

Sa PUP matatagpuan ang miyural na likha ng

University Center for Culture and the Arts (UCCA) na may panawagang “Edukasyon Para Sa Lahat”. Makikita dito ang iba’t ibang ideya mula sa mga piling organisasyon katulad ng League of Filipino Students, Kabataan Partylist, at Anakbayan.

Ito ay nananawagan na ang edukasyon ay hindi pribilehiyo, kundi isang karapatan ng bawat mamamayang Pilipino. Ang makapag-aral nang libre habang may suporta mula sa gobyerno ay tunay na makatutulong sa

pag-unlad ng kaisipan at pagkatao ng mga kabataan at maging sa pagsulong ng ekonomiya ng bansa.

Sa kabilang dako, sa UP College of Fine Arts, mayroong miyural na nagpapabatid ng mensaheng “Makiusisa, Makibaka, Makilahok”. Makiusisa at hindi magsawalang bahala sa mga kaganapan sa ating bansa; makibaka para sa paninindigan sa iyong mga adhikain at paniniwala; at makilahok o kumilos tungo sa ikauunlad ng bansa tulad

ng pagsama sa mga iba’t ibang organisayon na makatutulong sa’yo upang maging isang mas responsableng mamamayan.

Makikita sa mga miyural ang paglalathala ng mga usaping lipunan. Katulad ng maiimpluwensyang tao sa pulitika, mga nagbibigay karangalan sa ating bansa, mga kontrobersiyang pinag-uusapan, at mga pangyayaring nagmarka sa ating mga Pilipino.

Ang mga sining na iginuhit ng mga malilikhaing kamay ng mga mamama-

yan ay tunay na nagbibigay ng kaalaman at nagmumulat sa realidad ng buhay.

Naiimpluwensiyahan ng mga ito ang paraan ng pagtingin, pagtanggap, at pagtugon ng mga Pilipino sa mga mahahalagang usapin na mayroong kinalaman sa kapakanan ng nakararami.

Ang mga ito ay ilan sa mga likhang maaaring magdulot ng kaunlaran sa kasulukuyang lipunan...sa ngalan ng pagbuti ng mga susunod pang henerasyon.

14

LITERARY

| THE LPU INDEPENDENT SENTINEL

Poem

HERO

by Carla Shane Atim

Poem

MAPANGAHAS AKO

By Eunice Mallari / Alumni/ AB Journalism

Kapag sinabing Superhero, iba't iba ang papasok sa isip natin.

Superman, Batman, Wonderwoman.

Illustration by: Almirah G. Maniri Ever since I am a baby, my paps is not around me My moms' keep telling me that she is busy, I don't understand why he's not around Till I realized that he's doing it for all of us

Ngunit pwede ka naman matawag na superhero kahit hindi ka naka-costume o wala kang superpowers.

Mga magulang nga natin, pwedeng maging superheroes, ‘di ba?

Pero ako, mapangahas ako, gusto kong maging superhero ng puso mo.

My paps, he's a hero, Sacrificing his own happiness just to give us better lives He leaves the country; he served abroad, for our own needs And not to mention he spent more than 10 years Sacrificing loneliness in other country For family's welfare is considered as heroes by Filipinos Living abroad is not just easy Adapting to the environment is a long way People say OFWs have a lot of money But they don't know the burden they carry My paps is one of those heroes, a hero not only of our family but for the whole country Overseas Filipino Workers are the best, All time Hero for Filipinos

Poem

TALAAN NG MGA MARTIR

By Mira Liao/ AB Journalism/ 3rd Year Namatay si Rizal Gamit ang panulat Ang bayan niyang mahal Sa katotohana’y iminulat.

Namatay si Bonifacio Hawak ang rebolber at bolo Pilipinas na mahal ay tinangka Na palayain mula sa Kastila.

Namatay si Gandhi Para sa kalayaan at kapayapaan Pagmamahal niya’y matindi Para sa mga kababayan.

Namatay si Lincoln Mula sa tama ng bala Mahal niyang baya’y pinalaya Sa pang-aaliping mapansamantala.

Sila lamang ay ilan sa lumaban Para sa pag-ibig na nadarama Kailangan ko rin bang mamatay Para malaman mong mahal kita?

Poem

FALLEN

By Ian Garcia Luminario

based on Lt. Roger Flores Story (top 1 most outstanding student of 2009) Yes sir!!! Yes sir!!! The commander is out.

Yes sir!!! Yes sir!!!

His comrades are down.

Long before they're heroes, they are plain, simple men.

Out with their families, out with their friends, Out with their loved ones, lurking in their dens.

Doing chores in their house, because their wives are busy carrying their babies.

Doing some usual get-together, holding a glass full of ice, Enjoying the fizz of the newly poured wine.

Just like the usual, like ours.

They have their dreams, their goals in life.

Visions of tomorrow like stars in the sky.

Yet they have been called for a duty.

A call well sounded.

It has echoed in their soul A part of which becomes their goal.

To serve and to protect To shoot and not to retreat There lies the life of a young honorable man.

With his lovely fiancé bearing a child.

He is out to command a troop.

He is out in the battle to strategize.

Their troops in the woods heard noises in the field.

Guns clacking, heavy breathing, There they snuggle in bushes And with their surprise there is nothing.

From the back there they saw their camp beaten by fire.

The golden marshes of flames turn their poles into ebony dark coals.

Alongside with it are ear-wrecking explosions and gun shots.

My attorney, My love, we are being engaged A message stamped with a sad emoticon, gives a stun from the receiver of it.

Then there, the young honorable commander, that in five-month time will be a father, in exchange of that message, a heart stunning message received a bullet of a mortar from behind, detaching his arms making him down.

At that moment, his dreams have turned into ashes.

LITERARY

THE LPU INDEPENDENT SENTINEL |

ESSAY

YOU SAVED ME, THROUGH YOUR SILENCE By: Christine Rhea Lectura /AB Journalism

Poem

BAYANING MAY IBA’T-IBANG MUKHA

By Lorenz Covacha Maraming bayani sa ating bansa hindi lang natin tuwirang nakikita may mga bantog at hindi kilala isang patunay ng ating pagiging dakila May mga bayaning pinalaya tayo pinagtanggol ang bansa sa mga mananakop nito binuwis ang buhay at sariling dugo pinakita ang tapang ng pagiging Pilipino May mga tinatawag na bayaning nangingibang bansa nakikipagsapalaran para sa kanilang pamilya bukod sa tulong sa pamilya sila’y nagpapaunlad din ng ating bansa May mga bayani ring nagbibigay karangalan sa bawat sulok ng mundo sila’y nakikipagtagisan ang lakas at galing ay kanilang puhunan Tagumpay ng atletang Pilipino ay hindi matatawaran Sa makabagong panahon, bayani ay dumarami Ito’y ating makikita sa “social media” at “TV” may mga Pilipino pa ring gumagawa ng mabuti patunay na walang pinipiling tao ang pagiging bayani maski ikaw na nagbabasa, mayroon ding magagawa maging parte ng bayaning may ibat-ibang mukha anuman ang katayuan , simple man o kilala may malaki kang magagawa sa ating bansa

I was wearing a blue blouse with a white line, and logo of Mama Mary plus, a below the knee blue skirt, when I decided to call her in to the office to tell stories about my classmates, who made me cry, or sad. I like telling it to her, even though I knew that we will see each other in two hours, and she would just get pissed about my stories. She would tell me, “Pupuntahan ko na yung mga maldita mong classmates,” but then I'm glad that she never did.

It was the time that I found a "superhero”, or simply, just a “hero" in the real world. She never got my ideal powers of a hero, which are wind and water, back when I was watching anime during childhood. I am envied, because she knows the art of listening to people. She would listen to my rants about how my brothers annoy me most of the time.

She would stand in the middle of my father and brother to stop an argument between them. She would talk to my brother in my room, because I guess, it's the "safest place" for him, especially when my father scolds him for going home at three in the morning. If only she knew the comfort that she brings to us, when we need a heart that listens, rather than a lip that talks too much.

I like to believe that my brothers and I are not the "source of happiness" in our family, but it's her, who deserves to be called that way. She always saves us, from the sadness, or nervousness that we felt. I am sure that I will lose my count in her heroic deeds, but I will never forget the support that she gave me when I'm pursuing my dreams. I admit that I disappoint her at times, but she is still supporting me on my aspirations in life. She taught me that I should succeed, for myself first, then for the people around me, like her.

There's a saying that "Mother knows best", but as far as I can remember, I never heard this by word from her. She would always say to us that we need to learn to decide on our own.

Poem

THE SHADOW

By Madelaine Morales / ABMC-Broadcasting/4th Year

I was walking on the darkest path Nothing on hand and didn't know where to go At the end of the road there was light I didn’t believe but they said "don’t feel low" Darker side of life was waiting for me.

Everything covered me up and I was losing hope.

All I had to do was to hold on to my journey.

The life without a shed of light.

I distanced myself from everybody and kept walking.

There I noticed a shadow following my footsteps.

I was ashamed to look back for I didn't know who was he.

Minutes have passed and it didn't vanish.

It was not my shadow for I walked and it didn't move.

My body was shaking and I felt nothing but fear.

That shadow made me afraid to step on.

I rolled my eyes and still, there was no light.

Wondering where that shadow came from.

In the midst of the night where there was no light.

I stopped from walking but still afraid to turn back.

The shadow was on my mind, looked like staring behind.

I wanted to scream out loud but no voice was coming out.

I wanted to run as fast as I could but nothing happened.

That shadow was really mysterious. So I decided to face my fear and turn my back.

As I looked back, the shadow disappeared and I saw the light.

I found myself on the aisle, facing the altar.

“You are more than a superhero to me, because you always see the goodness of your most annoying family. If there's one quality that I would like to acquire from you, that is on how you give time and how you listen from people around you. I am glad that I don't have to go too far, so that I could find my hero, for you will be found in our home, Mom.”

15

16

KOMIKO SATIRIKO

| THE LPU INDEPENDENT SENTINEL

Late Huy! Anak ng pagong ang KUPAD KUPAD mo late na late na tayo.

By Jeffrey Jokko Manahan

Sino nga ba?

CLASS SINO NGA BA SI JOSE P. LAUREL?

SENTI WORD HUNT

Bulag KABA? SLOW DOWN NGA DAW OH!

All About LPU

By Jeffrey Jokko Manahan MAAM, MUKHANG WALA DITO.BAKA NASA IBANG SECTION NAKAENROLL...

LRT Feels ANO MANG SAKIT HANDANG TIISIN

By Hygeian R. Espanol KAHIT ANONG MANGYARI HINDI AKO BIBITAW

MAKAUWI LANG KAHIT PALIT DIGNIDAD..

Senior

By Hygeian R. Espanol

PFFFT! MGA FRESHIES HAAAYYY...

It’s good to be back mga pabebe! Nagbabaliiiiiiiiiik ang pinakamagandang nilalang sa balat ng Sentinel! Nanditey nanaman akis para iisplukelya ang mga chikaness na need niyo ma-knows para naman informed kayo at di nawiwindang sa mga nangyayaring kaeklatan sa inyong paligid.

Kemehen na natin ng straight to the punto por punto ang issue na ihahatid ko sa inyo.

Pansin na pansin at sagap na sagap ng rainbowcoloured kong radar ang amoy ng helleksyon ngayon sa campus kahit napakaaga pa. Helleksyon? Yes mga pabebe, ‘yan na nga, hindi ba dapat sa Buwan ng #MayForever pa yan?

Wit mo pansin? Ang mga nagkalat na kabikabilaang pagpaparamdam ng mga jutawiwing nagpapasabog agad-agad sa Facebook at Twitter?! Wit mo

WORDS TO FIND: veritas fortitudo laurel potato corner jpl hall muralla pirates waffle time

Pusong Sentimental

pa din ba gets? Mas ramdam ko kagad ang pulitika sa Lyceum ngayon kesa sa multo sa Senti office!

Nito lang nakaraang 117th Day of Independence, flumaylalu ang iba’t-ibang post sa FB ng mga jutawiwing may dugong pinkish!

Kaloka?! Pinush talaga ang paggamit sa NAPAKAHALAGANG ARAW na ‘yon para mai-segway ang party party niyo? Ilang taon niyo nang ginagawa yan!

For my beauty’s sake! May alumnus pa nga akis na na-sight na ganun din ang post! ‘Di maka-move on ‘teh? ‘Di pa dyan nagtapos ang Ateng mo na itago natin sa juneymsung na Lea Salonga, pati sa Twitter may bonggang pag-endorse pa sa kanyangna-heart-heartan na bek-bek para mag-fun run sa Pebrero!

Grabe ang pag-soar high ng mga kalapating itey!

Pero papatalo ba naman

ang kabila? Wear your red shirtday sa Pep Rally, naisegway agad nitong mga sa pula, ayon sa kanila “Isang patunay, PULA ang kulay ng LPU”. Kakabaliw ha, di ba pwedeng sadyang ‘yun ang university shirt color?

-_- Bida-bida na rin ang mga jutaws na ito lalo na sa Twitter at in fairness! Kumakabog din sa pagi-ging aktibo sa Facebookelya itey! Kabilang na nga dyan si gurlalu na itago natin sa juneymsung na Ara BidaBida. Magmula kasi noong Pebrero sa kampanya at kahit naluklok na, super proud pa rin si Ateng sa kanyang Partidey?! PLoves pa more siya sa mga posts niya!

Ka-bother a, focus muna sa studies at trabaho mo gurl!

Wit pa dyan nagtatapos tey! Kelan lang laganapang napakaagang CLASH OF COLORS sa Facebukelya!

Red vis a vis Pink, sinongmas angat, sinong mas si-

kat? O diba nakakaloka ang aga aga pa warla na sila!

Hanggang sa jeep nga na nasakyan ko pa-Monumento usap-usapan na ang tungkol sa Shomana. Kalokaret na be!

Idagdag mo pa nga dyan ang pinaka-nakakalurkey sa lahat! Kabi-kabilaang jutawsung na ang nakasuot ng LANYARDS ng kani-kanilang mga Party Rock Anthem ngayon! Teka mga pabebe? Bawal ho ‘yan ayon sa SAO! Sa panahon ng kampanya pa dapat‘yan!

Pinapainit niyo ang berde kong dugo!

O diba naman kasi?

Kanya-kanyang paraan sila para maghasik ng kamalayan sa estudyante. As early as now? Hindi ba dapat trabaho muna at pagsisilbi sa kapwa Lycean ang inaatupag? Higit pa dun, mag-aral muna kayo mga pabebe kasi hindi kayo papakainin habambuhay ng mga ipina-

glalaban niyong Party Party na ‘yan kung as early as now ay ‘yan na ang inaatupag niyo imbes na ang inyong mga assignments at projects?! Okay?!

Masyado pang maaga para pukawin agad nitong mga jutawiwing ito ang fresh na fresh na jutaks nitongmga bagets. Hayaan niyo muna silang ma-enjoy ang mga panahong wala pa silang muwang sa mga kafamewhorean ng ilang mga pulitiko ng Lyceum at kabikabilaang issue at alitan ng mga nagmamala-Clash of Clans na Partey Partey. Aral muna mga pabebe. Higit sa lahat, kailangang magkaisa ang lahat sa Lyceum, kalimutan na ang pagkawatakwatak dahil sa Partidey, para happy ang lahat at magPartyParty together na lang. Dapat lahat magkaisa para sa ikagaganda ng ating Lyceum na mahal. Merla Soriano ka man, Ombre

Chikaombre, Biyolina Magdangal ka man o Apo ni Don Tiburcio o Transiana Mirasol, we are all in one school, kaya love love dapat!

Kaya kayong mga masyadong atat dyan sa Helleksyon at sa mga Party Rock Anthem niyo, ayusin niyo muna ang mga grades ha? Kung ayaw nyong masampal ng mala-dyosang tunay kong kamay. Sana kahit pano naliwanagan ang mga jutaksung ninyo.

Kundi pa rin, wit na kong ma-say, haha. Osha! Kbye!

Nagmamahal,

SPORTS

THE LPU INDEPENDENT SENTINEL |

17

What’s Next: NCAA 91, Road to Excellence

By Eden F. Erispe

BETTER performance, better games, better standing, and more passionate competition – these are what Lyceans should expect in all LPU teams this National Collegiate Athletics Association Season 91 tournaments.

After three years of being on probation and one year as guest team in the oldest collegiate league in the Philippines, LPU is now a full-pledged regular member of the NCAA.

LPU Athletics Director Hercules Callanta said that for this season, the athletics department is aiming for a champion team.

“We also want our basketball to enter the final four. We have a new coach and system for them to win games, especially among the favored, stronger, and more seasoned teams. In the other sports, we want to bring our performance at least a rank higher. If possible, not to have any team slide down,” Callanta said.

Last season, the Chess team came in second to Arellano University while the Football team came in next to the perennial champion, San Beda College. Even with that, Callanta believes that last year was a very productive year for LPU.

The regularization of the university in the NCAA opened many opportunities and privileges such as being part of the NCAA logo, voting rights, and media exposures.

But what LPU is anticipating is its privilege to host its first event in the NCAA.

Photos By: Ralph Lorenze N. Domingo

Kaimer Given T. Tubio Collage By: Abegail Ann M. Montecalvo

Pep Rally 2015: Strengthening the Lycean spirit

By Jessica Jane I. Sy and Kristine Faye V. Anajao

PIRATES in red and gray filled the LPU Quadrangle with campus spirit for the annual send-off program, known as the Pep Rally on June 23, 2015.

Now that LPU is a regular member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, students, athletes, and the administration boosted the event with cheers, excitement, and performances to show support and gratitude to each other.

The Pep Rally is one of the most awaited events in LPU because through this, students can interact with the athletes, athletes can reach their fellow Lyceans, and the administration is able to show their support for the athletes and encourage them to bring LPU to the top.

Thus, uniting in one goal and that is to sail towards athletic

achievements.

LPU President Roberto Laurel expressed the administration’s support in his speech, “I’m giving my presidential permission to our teams and athletes [to] not hold back, talunin niyo lahat ng eskwela para maging champion ang LPU dahil hindi na tayo pwedeng tanggalin sa NCAA dahil regular na tayo. All the best to our athletes and teams.

Good luck to the coaches.

And most of all, carry the LPU flag way [to] the top,” Laurel said.

Meanwhile, LYCESGO President Khyle De Leon encouraged her fellow students to support not only a specific team but all of the LPU teams on their NCAA 91 journey . “Masaya ang laban kapag may sumusuporta. So please, support not

just your favorite sport,” De Leon stressed.

As part of the event, athletes unleashed their skills other than sports. The Taekwondo team kicked a breathtaking exhibition, while the Men’s Basketball team leveled up the Pirates’ spirit with their dance number.

As a sign of a unified athletic program, selected athletes from different teams collaborated in a very energetic dance performance. LPU Drum Squad, LPU Pep Squad, and LPU Dance Troupe continued the hype with their thrilling closing performance.

The new assistant coach of the Men’s Basketball team, Gary “El Granada” David also expressed his excitement for NCAA and gratitude towards LPU.

“Do your best. Unang-una, isipin niyo muna kung anoang nakasulat sa unahan ng uniporme niyo ― ‘yung Lyceum, bago niyo isipin kung ano man ang nasa likod niyo.

Kung hindi dahil sa Lyceum, wala ako sa PBA ngayon,” David said.

In a separate interview by the Sentinel, Assistant to the President Paolo Laurel wished all the athletes a good luck. He said, “It’s our first time to be an official member. We are all so proud of you. The president is so proud of you. I’m so proud of you. So do your best this season and we love you all”.

Through this event, the athletes will carry with them the support and prayers of the whole LPU Community as they sail to success in the 91st Season of NCAA.

Now that we’re on the dawn of a new season, part of the innovations is the introduction of new coaching staff. In the basketball team, former San Sebastian Stags coach, Topex Robinson will now work hand-in-hand with his assistant coach, Gary “El Granada” David. As the new heads of the basketball team, it is hoped that the team would perform better in the whole season of NCAA.

The athletics department is also pursuing their strength and conditioning program not only in basketball but also in the other teams.

In addition, Callanta said the renovation of the offices and gym is ongoing so the athletes can train easier and better. Additional training equipment can also be expected.

Topping the tournament is not the only goal of the whole administration this season. Callanta also envisions the athletes to do good not only in the games but also in their academic duties.“We are also looking forward [to] augment our tutorial and mentoring program in the different teams, hoping that we can get some excellent students to mentor some of our athletes especially those who are struggling,” he added.

More than that, they are still looking on the possibility of extending more privileges to the athletes pertaining to their basic needs such as dormitory and food.

However, the Athletics Director does not believe in monetary motivation given to the athletes. “I don’t want to have that impression that the students are only with us because of whatever we give monetarily. We want them to stick with us because of the education that we offer as well as the program that we have for athletics,” he explained.

In his speech during the Pep Rally, LPU President Roberto Laurel gave his “presidential permission” to the athletes to do their best to defeat other teams.

In a separate interview, Laurel expects that as a regular member, the athletes will do their best and will not be in fear of the other universities competing in the NCAA.

Now that LPU is officially a regular member of the NCAA, it is hoped that the athletes would do their best and strive for sports excellence.

The entire LPU community expects that the LPU’s heroes will draw history in the NCAA Season 91.

LPU to host NCAA 91 swimming competition

By John Christian R. Alvariño

AS A REGULAR MEMBER of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, Lyceum of the Philippines University is set to embrace one of its privileges by becoming the host of the swimming tournament for this season.

LPU Athletics Director Hercules Callanta shared the preparations of the Athletics Department for the said tournament.

According to Callanta, they are currently coordinating with the Philippine Sports Commission

(PSC) in order to provide a venue and to use the facilities of PSC during the event.

On the other hand, Callanta admits the school is not really known for this sport after landing in the 9th and 5th place for men’s and women’s division, respectively. Yet, he believes in the preparation and training of the LPU swimming team.

“As host, we want to do better,” Callanta expressed.

18

SPORTS

| THE LPU INDEPENDENT SENTINEL

Fortifying the Campus Spirit

SOUTHPAW

By Joses Theodore G. Rosales

Lauren Ian Marie G. Magtira ian.sentinel@gmail.com

Have you ever wondered

why you’re seating on the bleachers and watching a game you don’t even understand? Suddenly, the crowd burst into cheers.

Then, unconsciously, you find yourself rooting for the school team as well.

The next thing you know, you look forward in exposing yourself on how exciting it is to watch the varsity players battle against the adversary; on how exciting it is to overpower the cheers of the opposing team during a game.

You may have bothered watching a game or two or flashed the gray and red colors as a sign of support to our athletes. But the real question is, how far do we go in supporting our athletes?

School spirit is more than just wearing an LPU shirt or lanyard. It’s more of being present and one with the whole LPU community as we sail in achieving the goals of the athletic program.

For starters, we have the Pep Rally, which aims to uplift school spirit and to support the athletic program of our university.

Here’s the time when athletes are introduced, routines are presented, chants are memorized, drums are banged, and the school colors are boasted.

These fuel the spirit of the athletes. A part of the community loses when the school spirit is not vi-

sible.

They’re not just athletes, they’re studentathletes and our schoolmates. In a battle facing the adversary, the whole community is supposed to be behind you.

LPU Athletics Director Hercules Callanta said school spirit is something intangible. It has to be developed, and the only way to develop it is to feel for our school and what represents our school.

seen loitering around the school grounds in their shorts, shirts, slippers and not even wearing a school ID. Granted, they have trainings, but following the rules and regulations is a sign of discipline. How can the students connect to them when they feel that athletes are completely different people?

“Excellence doesn’t necessarily mean winning. Excellence can also be based [on] how

“A part of the community loses when the school spirit is not visible.”

Such support provides a sense of unity, which our university is promoting as one of its core values.

It’s a two-way system, one cannot exist without the other. Students have the responsibility to support the athletes. On the other hand, athletes need to improve their performance.

Even though they are representing the school by doing extra work, this wouldn’t be partly possible if it weren’t for the support of their fellow students. It is difficult to stay in a community where support is lacking.

However, the athletes’ behaviour is also a key factor in developing school spirit. To all athletes, are you still practicing the things that a student is supposed to follow?

For one, some athletes are

they conduct themselves, how they outperform themselves, how they break their personal records,” Callanta pointed out.

To once again address the athletes, are you being truthful to yourself that the reason behind why you’re still playing for LPU is not just because of the scholarship, but also because of the quality education and the athletic program?

As for the audience, do you even know other players aside from the members of the basketball team? Yes, basketball is a focal point. Let’s admit, it’s the most exhilarating for the majority. Yet, we need to change the paradigm of students towards other sports. Let’s not forget that LPU’s regularization in the NCAA is a collective effort by all teams. More than

that, it is a powerful effort by the whole LPU community.

It’s not only the audience who are supposed to connect. Are the athletes trying to reach out to the students who supported during competitions? As much as a congratulatory remark is valuable to you, a word of thanks is appreciated on the other hand.

We’re not yet a winning team. It’s the habit of winning that we need to fortify. This is what the students are looking for.

Even if we have a strong pool of athletes, but aren’t supported, the team will not perform well.

This support, however, must not only be highlighted during the Pep Rally. This should continue even after the season ends.

Just like when the real action happens when an athlete is being tested during a game, the real appreciation of sports is enhanced when you get the students to watch the games and remember the experience.

Every single Lycean has a role to play, the ball is ours to take. The solution is simple – the LPU community can help vigorously by attending the events and being supporters of our teams. It is by presence where school spirit is built, strengthened, and becomes tangible.

Engineering sports excellence in NCAA Season 91

By Lauren Ian Marie G. Magtira

A CLASH of school spirit and cheers echoed inside the MOA Arena signaling the official start of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 91 on June 27, 2015.

Living this year’s theme, “Engineered for Sports Excellence in the New Decade”, participating schools of the oldest collegiate sports league in the country marched in the arena, bannering their campus emblems, and showing pride, glory, honor, and triumph.

S i g n i f i c a n t l y, NCAA announced its two additional official members, namely Lyceum of the Philippines University and Emilio Aguinaldo College.

NCAA Policy

Board President Dr. Reynaldo B. Vea said NCAA aims to develop a sense of community in the athletic world.

“NCAA is not just about competition but also about celebration,” he added.

It is through the love of sports that the student-athletes are able to celebrate the sense of sportsmanship and camaraderie.

Because of this, there will be closer ties among the schools, which can contribute to the national pool of athletes.

At the start of the 10th decade of the league, the board is eagerly looking forward for innovations throughout the year.

Former MIT Cardinals athlete Alvin Patrimonio shared his thoughts,

having first-hand experience in playing for the league.

“Great talent plus bad attitude equals an average team and great talent plus an average attitude, you get a good team. But great talent plus good attitude will result to a great team,” Patrimonio said.

The two-time NCAA MVP and four-time PBA MVP also expressed his hope that NCAA will continue to be the avenue of young athletes to discover and develop talents by continuously being on the lookout in their respective schools.

On the other hand, Josan Nimes of the MIT Cardinals led the oath taking which reminded his

Landing the Pirate’s kick in the 2015 SEA Games

fellow athletes to never sacrifice sportsmanship for personal purposes.

As a sign of a unified athletic association, an innovation-inspired dance number participated by some members of LPU’s Pep Squad, Dance Troupe, and Wildstyle Dance Crew was presented, accompanied by motion graphics and gigantic mascots symbolizing each participating school.

The event did not only signify the opening of NCAA Season 91. It is also to welcome the new season with the hope of producing sports heroes.

As the season begins, the whole collegiate community shall witness the birth of future NCAA legends.

ARMED with a 6-foot high kick, strong will, and a heart of a Lycean Pirate, Levita Ronna Ilao claimed a Taekwondo bronze medal at the 2015 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games held last June 5 to 6 in Singapore.

Lifting the Pirate pride, she is the only Lycean to take part in the national team, as she was recruited together with the other 50 representatives from different colleges and universities around the country.

Ilao is a fearless flyweight under the Women’s 49-kg Division in the Philippine National Team.

She made it through the semifinals but was defeated by Thailand’s Chanatip Sonkham in their clash posting 11-4. Despite her loss to the neighboring country, she is still a winner for all the Lyceans.

During the span of her successful kicking career, she earned several medals from International Taekwondo competitions such as Asia Pacific Games, Asian Games, and as mentioned, the SEA Games.

Here at LPU, she was declared as the Most Valuable Player among all the athletes for the Academic Year 2014-2015.

But for Ilao, there’s more to than just bagging medals. Humble beginnings paved way for her numerous achievements.

Ilao started her career in Taekwondo at the age of 13. As a young girl, Ilao referred to herself as a ‘school-bahay-type’ of kid, not until her father enrolled her in Milo’s Taekwondo Workshop.

“Hindi talaga ako pala-kaibigan noong bata ako, kaya noong may nakita si Daddy na tarpaulin ng Milo Workshop para sa Taekwondo, in-enroll niya agad ako,” she remembered.

At 16, Ilao rapidly progressed as a blackbelter and competed in interscholastic meets, city meets, provincial meets, and regional meets. Young Ilao won numerous medals during her high school years, to the point that she could not remember how many medals she has.

Her journey as a young athlete continued when she stepped foot on LPU. As a sophomore, Ilao was recruited by LPU’s Taekwondo team. From that moment, her performance in NCAA kept on improving. However, like most athletes would go through, she encountered an ill-fated game in NCAA Season 89 back in 2013.

Ilao had a good start on the game, winning her two fights of the season. Unfortunately, on her third fight, she was defeated by a San Beda player.

A stronger Levita Ilao rose from one of her most significant defeats.

This led her to compete in one of the most prestigious taekwondo competitions in the Philippines – the Carlos Palanca Junior Championship (CPJ). Ilao won a gold medal in the CPJ which qualified her to be part of the national team and compete internationally.

Her training for the SEA Games was not easy.

She regarded it as ‘patayan’ since she trained for whole day, thrice a week, with sprints, squats, technique efficiency training, and weight-lifting.

“Grabe talaga yung training, patayan talaga, parang ayaw mo na mag-training uli. Masagi ka lang ng konti, sobrang sakit na. Kahit pagbaba ng hagdan, ‘di namin magawa.

Kaya yung bond na nabuo sa amin ng teammates ko is ‘pag heavy training, umiiyak nalang kami,” Ilao shared.

Yet, the 21 year-old athlete doesn’t forget her responsibilities as a student and managed to be a Dean’s Lister on her sophomore year up to her senior year, maintaining a GPA of 1.75.

“Never give up lang, no matter what. Kahit minsan sobrang down ka na, parang ‘di ka nananalo, kahit minsan sobra na yung training mo, kahit sobra-sobra pa sa dapat, na halos i-offer mo na yung buong oras at yung sarili mo at halos lahat na ng pwede mo i-offer sa training at sa game binibigay mo, remember that there will always come a time na God will grant everything, and everything you do will pay off eventually. Win or lose, mag-thank you lang and always pray before, during, and after every game,” she emphasized.

Now that she’s a Cruiseline Operations in Culinary Arts and a graduating student on her 5th year, her hard works showed visible results. It’s clear that this Lycean surpassed obstacles that she faced along her way, and one of them, significantly, is the SEA Games 2015.

Like a real pirate, Ilao continues to seek islands for discoveries; and even the highest waves could not ever stop a brave and relentless Pirata from turning her dreams into reality.

Photo Courtesy of Kaimer Given T. Tubio

SPORTS

THE LPU INDEPENDENT SENTINEL |

‘

PIRATES’ STRUGGLES . Team Captain Guy Mbida as he tries to breach the Altas’ strong offense.

Failing the first two attempts

By Bea Patricia Pelayo and James Patrick De Jesus

A SINGLE-DIGIT DEFICIT– this is how the first two games of LPU Pirates against UPHSD Altas and Arellano Chiefs ended.

In this new decade of sports excellence, much is expected from the crew as it is now navigating as one of the main contenders battling against the seasonal teams of the league.

However, Pirates’ first two games in the round one basketball games of the 91st Season of NCAA had a complete turnout of events.

All set to sail with a 15man crew, the Pirates’ ship failed to reach their desired destination.

Pirates, now under their new coach Topex Robinson and captain ball Guy Mbida, faced the equally competitive UPHSD Altas last June 30, as the latter endured a hard-earned victory in the first game of NCAA Season 91 that took place in FilOil Flying V Arena.

The smooth sailing start of the Pirates in the first quarter was cut short as the Altas’ new Nigerian reinforcement Prince Eze took the chance to show some skills that turned the lead of the game towards them.

While the Altas are eager to see the Pirates shipwrecked, LPU’s reliable shooting guard Wilson Baltazar proved he always has guns ready to fire at every game counterattacked through two consecutive three point baskets, intensifying the cheers of the LPU crowd. The score continued to switch between two teams until the reigning MVP Scottie Thompson of the Altas displayed his confidence on court, sealing the first tie of the game at 35.

Alternate leads and ties dominated the game in the third quarter. Pirates’ six footer tandem, Jebb Bulawan and Jean Nguidjol, heightened the heat of the game through effortless successful points but the Altas matched the building intensity, not allowing the Pirates to advance.

This was then matched

by Eze’s shooting skills combined with point guard Cris Elopre’s rebounds and assists, which contributed to the success of the Altas.

Shaquille Alanes, whose presence came as a surprise after

a quiet performance last season, lifted up the spirits of the Lyceans by shooting successful three pointers in the fourth quarter. Guy Mbida, still on adjustment stage on his current assigned position as captain, seems to have been caught under pressure as his run for points came late in the last two quarters.

Paul Soliman and Jeremiah Taladua, now on their third and fourth playing years respectively, didn’t deliver much than what is expected, considering their previous season experiences, and only executed five points in total.

LPU’s Joemari Lacaste Santos’ playing spirit has gone missing as his entrance on court didn’t had much effect together with Richmon Sunga, Allyn Malabanan, Mer Ayaay, and Noah Lugo.

The close game between two teams had the LPU Pirates fall short for the last remaining minutes, concluding the game’s final score to 61-70 in favor of the UPHSD Altas. Eze, Thompson, and Gabriel Dagangon are the top three scorers of the Altas.

Time run out and the Pirates failed to raise their flag to victory.

On their second game, LPU Men’s Basketball Team hoped to redeem themselves from their loss against the UPHSD Altas.

But there was a big obstacle on their sail for their next attempt as they have to earn it against the mighty Arellano Chiefs.

The first quarter of the game was dictated by the Chiefs, showing their supremacy on both ends of the floor, especially on defense as they force the Pirates to commit many turnovers which resulted to easy fast break buckets

by Arellano guard Jiovani Jalalon.

The Pirates’ struggles continued in the second quarter as they can’t find a way to beat the Chief’s hot-shooting, especially from Zach Nichols who buried five triples in the game.

The lead of Arellano Chiefs was once ballooned to 19 points before the end of the half, but the Pirates got some source of firepower from center Joseph Gabayni, forward Shaquille Alanes

and rookie power guard Noah Lugo to answer the Chief’s run, ending the first half with the score of 51-35.

The Pirates turned the waves in the second half as they showed some signs of life, scoring in fast breaks and connecting from long distance range and forcing the Chiefs to commit turnovers.

The Pirates once again relied on Alanes’ incredible shooting in the season, as he had another big outing finishing with 20 markers. Alanes also hit some crucial three pointers to close the game before the end of the 3rd quarter.

Gabayni, who had a double performance finishing with 20 points and 18 rebounds, also made a big contribution in the game, making his presence felt in the defensive end.

The Pirates’ defense in the 4th quarter became tighter, forcing the Chiefs to commit many errors especially in the latter part of the game.

The Pirates trimmed the lead to just two points and had an opportunity to force the game into overtime, or even lead the game with only three seconds remaining, but Gabayni loses the ball on his way up, in which the Arellano Chiefs survived LPU’s fight back, 80-78.

The LPU Pirates dropped their record to 0-2, still winless for their first two games.

The Arellano Chiefs capitalized on their defense, guarding the passing lanes and disrupting every LPU play. The Chiefs also outran the Pirates in fast break which resulted to their early lead, but the Pirates made their own run in the second half, relying on their outside shooting and solid plays inside. They also got some big stops towards the end game, pressuring the Chiefs in both ends of the floor and protecting the paint.

Arellano University answered LPU’s challenge, hitting crucial baskets that they got from their star Jiovani Jalalon, which gave them more advantage against LPU.

Yet, it is still an equally impressive play for the Pirates as they faced two teams that landed on the final four last season.

19

SPORTS

SHAQ ATTACK. Shaquille Alanes keeps his strong guard as he leads the Pirates towards its victory against the CSB Blazers. Photo Courtesy of Kaimer Given T. Tubio.

VOL. XXXIII NO. 1

MAY-JULY 2015

Poster by Abegail Anne M. Montecalvo

20 | THE LPU INDEPENDENT SENTINEL

Pirates fights back, stuns Blazers to get first win BLAZERS tried to save their play in their last ball possession yet it was a turnover that sealed the deal for the Pirates’ first win, 72-69, at its third game in the NCAA Season 91 last July 16.

Striking as it is, CSB’s Jonathan Grey stunned the crowd when he delivered a heart-stopping triple during the last 40 seconds of the fourth quarter. Shattering Benilde’s hopes, LPU’s Shaquille Alanes fired a crucial trey and nailed last two free throws that turned the game around.

For this game, Pirates showed a collective play resulting to usual leads over the Blazers.

Rookie Noah Lugo proved to be vital as the 5’7 player matched taller Blaz-

ers with swift lay-ups that fooled Blazers’ defense on the first two periods.

CSB’s Grey, Center Jeffrey Ongteco, and Rookie Christian Fajarito contributed free throws and rebounds to trim LPU’s lead.

To break Benilde’s tightening defense, Paul Soliman showed excellent baskets assisted by Mer Ayaay’s lay-ups.

Pirates sealed the second period with a 30-29, led by senior players Joemari Lacastesantos and Jeremiah Taladua.

In the third quarter, Pirates took advantage of CSB’s fouls as Gabayni continued to smack Blazers down with free throws and monstrous rebounds pushing Benilde to build a strict defense around LPU’s center.

Blazers ended the

third quarter with four points courtesy of rookie Fajarito and Jose Saavedra’s first two points but the Pirates answered the run with Gabayni’s lay-up and two free throws to close the quarter, 44-38.

Fourth quarter heated up as Pirates’ Wilson Baltazar hit back-to-back treys.

Gabayni pierced CSB’s defense before Saavedra continued to outmatch the Pirates with a lay-up.

Near the end of the fourth period, CSB delivered three pointers with Ongteco’s lay-up but Jeb Bulawan scored a single free throw to keep distance against CSB, 65-64.

Alanes ended the game by firing up a crucial three-point marker and nailing his last two free throws resulting to LPU’s first victory of the season.

Poster by Mohammed N. Al Garosha

By Timothy P. Gucilatar