The New Builder - April 2018

Mapúa celebrates 93 rd Foundation Week: Unity in Diversity

By Maurine Claire F. Kim & Kristin Clarisse H. Mateo

Mapúa University embraced its recently-acquired university status and the changes it has brought as the university celebrated its 93rd Foundation Week with the theme: Unity in Diversity.

As Mapúa once again looks forward to another year of greater opportunities, it implores the students and faculty to continue the hard work and passion that has brought the university this far as an educational institution. “All the achievements of the past years would not have been possible without the participation of everyone -- the entire Mapúa community from whom I have always been asking for support. All those, and nothing in the future would be possible without them,” Mapúa CEO and President

Dr. Reynaldo B. Vea imparted.

Celebrating a new chapter

The festivities began with the opening ceremony on January 22.

This was followed by a five-day long celebration that featured events such as the Parade of Excellence, exhibits from the various student orgs, and the much-celebrated Mr. and Ms. Cardinals 2018. The students, faculty members, and personnel engaged in the festivities to usher in another year, carrying the core values of discipline, excellence, commitment, integrity, and relevance, while transitioning from an institute to a university.

The celebrations also exhibited the wit and aptitude of Mapúans through competition. The Math Wizard and Physics Olympics held during the week enabled the students

to apply the fruits of their education in practical situations. Furthermore, seminars such as the Outcomes-Based Education (OBE) best practices and the Foundation of Outstanding Mapúans, Inc. (FOMI) lectures were held to serve as catalysts of further research and development in the University.

“With outcomes-based education, it’s mostly on the initiative of the students to perform outcomes, and that’s the environment we want to provide -- a learning environment,” Vea shared.

The Cardinal Excellence Awards (TCEA) likewise took place, where members of the Mapúan community who have excelled in diverse fields were honored and given special recognition. The Alumni Night, organized by the National Association

of Mapúa Alumni (NAMA), served as a reminder of the long journey which shaped MU into what it is today.

Proving to be one of the most anticipated events of the Foundation Week, the Mapúa Cardinals 2018 crowned a new king and queen for the night on January 26. Each candidate represented his or her respective department in the fight for the title of Mr. and Ms. Cardinals 2018.

The final event took place on January 29, along with the investiture of Dr. Reynaldo B. Vea, CEO and President of Mapúa University. Various professors and administrators witnessed Dr. Vea as he was formally inaugurated as the first president of Mapúa University.

Looking to the future

Along with the activities during

SLHS profs prepare for new GE curriculum

By Nicholle Kim T. Fontanilla

Last January, faculty members of the School of Languages, Humanities and Social Sciences underwent training in preparation for the new General Education (GE) curriculum.

This was done in line with the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) memorandum order number 20, series of 2013, known as the “General Education Curriculum: Holistic Understandings, Intellectual and Civic Competencies”.

The New GE and its benefits

According to Dr. Jonathan V. Macayan, SLHS Dean, the new general education curriculum is “a paradigm shift from the usual

disciplinal general education courses. It has been transformed into multi-disciplinary courses”.

With the new GE curriculum, the subjects will not be redundant with the senior high school curriculum, and these subjects will be taught in a non-disciplinal, multidisciplinary manner. This will allow students to be informed about the contemporary issues that are arising with regard to multiple fields of study. “This is the same direction that other advanced countries are using,” Macayan stated, “They don’t confine discussions about general education in one discipline or in one subject area only.”

Deliverers of higher education

Aside from being one of the participant schools in the said CHED training, Mapúa is also one of the few schools with faculty participants who were certified as COC Trainers after the first round of training. As such, CHED designated the university as one of the Delivering Higher Education Institutions (DHEIs) for all GE courses, namely: Understanding the Self, Contemporary World, Mathematics and the Modern World, Science Technology and Society, Reading in Philippine History, Revised Rizal Course, Purposive Communication, and Ethics.

Being one of the Delivering Higher Education Institutions (DHEIs), SLHS developed a framework for GE training called

“An Outcome-based Digital GE Training for Faculty Members” to allow faculty members coming from different universities to be able to “learn about the contents of GE, while being trained on how to use technology in delivering GE courses.”

The GE Courseware

Apart from being a DHEI, SLHS is likewise working with C&E Publishing to publish a project that is being developed in preparation for the new GE curriculum. The project, called “GE Courseware”, is designed to have a blended teaching and learning approach.

“GE Courseware” will involve dynamic face-to-face interaction

the 93rd foundation week, Mapúa showcased its achievements of the past years, including its university status and 3-star QS Audit. “Mapúa University is still going to be centered around DROID. We will keep on pushing the boundaries of outcomesbased education and harness the technology into its full potential,” Vea stated.

As part of Mapua’s mission to continuously provide solutions to the problems of industries and communities, the university is set on pushing its boundaries once more by encouraging both the students and faculty to increase their research output. “We are going to have an undergraduate research competition next year, and we’re going to award faculty members whose output in research is prolific,” Vea elaborated.

between faculty members and students, as well as online modules, and is projected to start on the first term of the new academic year. “There will be a 3-hour face-to-face encounter with students, and the rest of the time will be devoted to online,” Macayan explained.

In the future, SLHS plans to develop a full online version of the project once they are able to determine the strengths and points of improvement in the “GE Courseware”. “We’re thinking along that line—offering GE in a fullyonline mode,” he emphasized.

Proud Procession. Members of the ROTC unit of Mapua University stand at the helm of the annual school parade as the University opens its 93rd Foundation Week. Photo by Maurine Claire F. Kim

Dr. Vea formally named as first University President

By Maurine Claire F. Kim

I n line with the granting of university status, the President of then Mapúa Institute of Technology, Dr. Reynaldo B. Vea, was officially appointed as the first University President. The formal ceremony took place at the Philippine International Convention Center last January 29.

The investiture started with an academic procession of invited quests and representatives, composed mostly of faculty members, deans, and chairpersons. Likewise invited to the prestigious event was Commission on Higher Education chairperson, Dr. Patricia Licuanan.

In his speech entitled, “Mapúa University: A Philippine Non-Sectarian School in the Global and Digital

Age”, Vea recalled the past events that built Mapúa into what it is today. Additionally, he declared his objective of turning Mapúa University into a “Multiversity”.

According to Dr. Vea, “A university is no ivory tower. The journey to become a university was long and difficult, but amidst all the hardship, Mapúa has all along been inside the fabric of Philippine society. “ Additionally, he stated that research and undergraduate education are the main features of a modern university, and these came to Mapúa in a slow but progressive process with the help of its partners and sister companies.

Although having achieved back-to-back accomplishments, Dr. Vea emphasized that progress

will continue to be evident in Mapúa University, particularly in being digitally driven. “We will keep on pushing the boundaries of outcomes-based education and harness technology into its full potential. Mapúa will continue to see itself as a digital, researchdriven, outcomes-based, and international domain,” he stated.

Lastly, the university president hinted at more ambitious prospects for the university. “If this is what Mapúa has achieved throughout the years, what might the future Mapúa look like?” Vea imparted .

Replika Mapúa clinches Top 5 finish in choral speaking contest

By Jana Rafaela B. Eusebio & Kristin Clarisse H. Mateo

F orty-two (42) Senior High School students represented Mapúa University and competed with twenty-two (22) other schools in the 9th Sigabo Speech Choir Competition with the theme, “Piglas: Karapatang Pantao Ipaglaban, Bakas ng Karahasan Tugunan.”

The elimination round, organized by the Children’s Museum and Library Inc. with the Junior Council-Regional Executive Board National Capital Region (CMLI JC-NCR), was held last September 17 at the Notre Dame of Greater Manila, Caloocan. For their performance, Replika Mapúa gave a rendition of Sa Aking Mga Kamay by Mark Angeles. Their goal in this performance was to promote the Filipinos’ fight for human rights in today’s struggle against injustice.

According to Replika Mapúa leader Kriszel Laranang, their greatest opponent during

the competition was their nervousness and fear. “Pero nung ma-execute namin nang maayos at may damdamin ang aming napaghandaan, feel na namin ang tagumpay,” she said.

Thanks to the positive reaction to their choral piece, they emerged as one of the top five finalists and performed in the Sigabo Finals held at the AFP Theater in Quezon City last October 28.

While Replika Mapúa’s Finals performance was seemingly a bit lacking on the technical aspect, they more than made up for it with their talent on stage. “Kahit wala kami gaanong props, ang mensahe at puso ang aming [mga] naging sandata,” Laranang imparted.

Likewise, she shared that before they came up with the final concept of unity and awareness, they deliberated on every word and every

TMapúans reap 3rd in National CpE Challenge

By Nicholle Kim Fontanilla

wo students from the School of Electrical, Electronics, and Computer Engineering (EECE) emerged as champions of the National CpE Challenge last November 24, 2017 at the Casablanca Hotel, Legaspi City in Albay.

Supporting Jim Gregorie Ilejay and Gabriel Ian Abel were their coaches, Professors Dionis Padilla and Analyn Yumang, both faculty members of Computer Engineering in the School of EECE.

According to Ilejay, there were a total of four questions given during the competition, with the questions being divided into sub-categories: easy, medium, and hard. He likewise added that the topics covered during the competition included “simple binary conversions and programming”, such as C++ and Java.

Prior to the competition, Professor Padilla shared that Ilejay and Abel prepared themselves by taking the time to solve different machine problems that had been given during international programming contests. “We downloaded previous problems of international contests and solved the usual problems found in textbooks,” he imparted.

Leading up to the National

CpE Challenge, Ilejay and Abel secured first place during the 2017 National Capital Region CpE Challenge held last October 7, 2017.

Entering into the competition, Abel elaborated that both experience and confidence are what held them up. Their experience in programming different kinds of softwares, and the confidence that they would be able to solve the problems to be given during the contest, helped them a lot in bringing home the bacon. “Study more than what Mapúa teaches you”, he stated.

Additionally, Professor Padilla recommended that students who wish to join future iterations of the competition must “spend more time coding and reading computer programming books.”

As advice to future contestants, Ilejay shared that the best thing one can do in these contests is to have the patience to methodically solve the problem. “Welcome the problem and face your problem first. Just think about what your prob lem is, then from there you can subdivide it into smaller parts or components and start with the easiest thing that you can do,” he said.

CBMES faculty and students ramp up research output

By Kyrien Jewel Janeena L. Tabucan

verse. They divided the work by grouping themselves, then assigning groups to manage the team’s choreography and props.

Prof. Krizzia Anne Garcia, mentor of Replika Mapúa, stated how she admires the students’ ability to manage and balance their extra-curricular activities with their academics, since being part of the group requires commitment and dedication. “I am a witness to the manifestation of their phenomenal skills and I’m looking forward to more victory with this group,” she said.

Currently, Replika Mapúa is preparing to join the next University of the Philippines Speech Communication Association (UPSPECA) competition. In preparation, they will be organizing workshops for the benefit of their members to further improve their speech skills .

Within six months, the School of Chemistry, Biological, and Materials Engineering & Sciences (CBMES) published and presented a total of 12 papers in three different international platforms. Profs. Menandro C. Marquez, Ruth R. Aquino, and Larry T. Reyes, in cooperation with students from CBMES programs, recently presented their work in conferences in Malaysia, Thailand, and Japan.

In the 2nd International Conference on Materials Engineering and Nanotechnology (ICMEN) held last May 12-14 in Kuala Lumpur, the CBMES professors were able to bag the Best Oral Presentation award in 3 out of 4 sessions. Prof. Marquez won in his session for his paper entitled “Optical and Morphological Characterization of Sonochemically Assisted Europium Doped Copper (I) Oxide Nanostructures”.

Profs. Aquino and Reyes likewise bagged Best Oral Presentation awards in the same conference with their research work entitled “Thermal Treatment Temperature and Time Dependence of Contact Angle of Water on Fluorinated Polystyrene as Hydrophobic Film Coating” and “Biocomposites based on Cellulose

Acetate and 12-Aminolauric Acid Modified Montmorillonite”, respectively.

Aside from the presentations of the CBMES professors, ICMEN also featured the undergraduate thesis of recent Materials Science & Engineering (MSE) graduate Abdul Rahman Mariscal entitled “Evolution of Cobalt Oxide Nanostructures on Glass Substrate via Two Step Solution Route Synthesis”.

After the 2nd ICMEN, Prof. Marquez was able to present two additional research papers at the 2nd International Conference on Advanced Materials Research and Manufacturing Technologies (AMRMT) which was held in Phuket, Thailand last August 2-5.

Similarly, the School of CBMES presented six papers during the 6th International Conference on Nanostructures, Nanomaterials and Nanoengineering (ICNNN) last October 26-29 in Tokyo, Japan. Professors Marquez and Aquino presented two of their research papers alongside two MSE students, Cyron Custodio and Annalou Salut, with the two undergraduates presenting their respective theses.

In Good Hands. Dr. Reynaldo B. Vea holds the symbolic staff to formally accept the responsibilities as President of Mapua University. Photo by Maurine Claire F. Kim

News Bytes

Physics students present research at SPVM

Last October 19-21, students from Mapúa’s BS Physics program presented their research papers in the 19th Samahang Pisika ng Visayas at Mindanao (SPVM) National Physics Conference held at the University of San Carlos –Talamban Campus.

Lemuel John F. Sese presented his paper entitled “Analysis of the Specific Heat of Half-Filled Landau Levels”, where he elaborated on one of the thermodynamic properties of a two-dimensional electron gas (2DES) - the heat capacity. His paper analyzed the simulations of heat capacity near the absolute zero

temperature for 2DES under the influence of magnetic field.

Sese conducted his research with the help of Prof. Rayda Gammag, with the two working together for over a year to complete the paper.

In the scope of Space Science, Merlin M. Mendoza, under the tutelage of Dr. Ernest Macalalad, shared his work on the “Analysis of the Ionospheric Total Electron Content During the 2015 St. Patrick’s Geomagnetic Storm Over the Philippine Sector”. He explained the occurrence and the source of the said geomagnetic storm and how the

Earth’s magnetic field was extremely disturbed by this phenomenon. SPVM, is a nationwide event which serves as a platform for students, professors, and professionals in the field of Physics to present their papers and/or learn new found concepts. Two students from the BS Physics program were able to represent Mapúa and share their work to the SPVM community. This year, the conference was held alongside the 2017 ASEAN conference on Advanced Functional Materials and Nanotechnology (ASEAN-AFMN) and the 5th International Meeting on Complex Systems (IMCS).

YGC in talks with Ayala over potential education merger

By Kristin Clarisse H.

M

apúa University (MU) continues to seek and present to the Filipino youth a wide array of educational and career options. In line with this vision, the university has entered into negotiations with the Ayala Group of Companies for a possible merger to take place in partnership with Malayan Education System, Inc.

“The program offering of the merged entity will be over a broad range. It won’t just be the fields that we are strong in,

such as engineering, sciences, and information technology,” Mapúa President and CEO Dr. Reynaldo B. Vea stated.

The potential merger will offer more programs for the Filipino youth that will not only have a great impact on the students, but will also be beneficial for the two companies involved – Mapúa’s mother company, the Yuchengco Group of Companies (YGC), and the Ayala conglomerate.

“There will be synergies, especially since Ayala also has

numerous branches that offer senior high school and so many branches of their Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) schools,” Vea noted.

With a common goal, the two companies seek to enhance the quality of education at an affordable rate here in the Philippines. Vea however, clarified that as of writing, no finalized plans for the merger have yet been reached between the two companies .

B.S. EMC launches Cardinals Game Initiative

By Inna Mae Joyce A. Lontok

Under the guidance of Prof. Saharkhiz Aresh, students of the program B.S. Entertainment and Multimedia Computing (EMC) founded the organization Cardinals Game Initiative (CGI).

CGI offers a chance for students of Mapúa to either become part of the development team that will produce games every term, or become part of their team of developers that will participate in competitions. This year, CGI secured a place as one of the top 30 finalists during the Game Development Association of the Philippines (GDAP) competition held last October 28-30 at the SMX Convention Center.

According to CGI president Ethan Ruzsik, the group is an opensource organization willing to accept applicants from any program in Mapúa. “We believe everyone is talented in their own way and they can share those talents with us, whatever their program is,” Ruzsik stated.

CGI’s vision for the future is to make Mapúa University known as one of the prestigious game development schools and to not only represent Mapua, but the whole country in future competitions on game development and design.

Mapúa excels in regional Data Science competition

By Inna Mae Joyce A. Lontok

Two Information Technology (IT) students of Mapúa Makati achieved a third-place finish in the ASEAN Data Science Explorers (DSE) national competition held last October 26 at SAP Philippines, Taguig.

“Team D’Papis”, a team of two 3rd year B.S. Information Technology students, Tristan Bal and Jay Mark Butalon, bagged third place with their education-oriented presentation. The two students detailed potential reforms in the K-12 program such as “the introduction of industry promotions through awareness in education and support of the government”. Team D’Papis was supervised by School of Information Technology (SOIT) Professor Grace Diaz Intal.

Bal and Butalon’s proposed reforms hope to solve the problem of a Filipino graduate’s incompatibility in choosing a job after college. The two made their presentation with data from DepEd and the Philippine Statistics Authority, which produced results related to the unemployment and underemployment rate and gap on different industries in the Philippines.

Overall winner of the ASEAN DSE national competition was Team VizziePeople from the University of the Philippines, Diliman. Team VizziePeople was likewise the Philippine representative during the ASEAN DSE Finals held last November 29 in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Aside from being one of the top engineering schools in the Philippines, Mapúa University is likewise known for honing young professionals’ skills for them to be ready in the endeavors they wish to pursue in the media industry.

In line with this, the School of Media Studies’ Student Council (SMS SC) continues to fulfill their duties to help students broaden their knowledge, make a name for themselves in media, and strengthen relationships between SMS students and faculty, as well as their relationships with the other schools and departments.

According to SMS Student Council president Marx Reinhart Fidel, the culture that the School of Media Studies has is something that they want to spread through camaraderie. As such, the SMS SC has made it their mission to continuously advocate Media Studies in and out of the campus.

Given that Mapúa is known for honing engineering professionals all around the

globe, Fidel stressed that they also want the “SMS name to be acknowledged”. To do this, the SMS SC makes it a point to organize events such as the “Linggo ng Likha” to show what SMS students are doing in their everyday lives.

In an interview with The New Builder, Fidel stated that the SMS SC is currently planning an outing with SMS students and faculty members in order to continue a previous tradition. At the same time, they wish to create an artbook showcasing a collection of artwork as a way of celebrating the 10th year anniversary of the School of Media Studies. “So far, nawala na yung connection na matindi sa faculty and the students, and we want to build that up again,” he emphasized.

Furthermore, they also plan to organize an event or activity with other schools in order to build connections with other students pursuing the same course. “We can use those connections para mas maging flawless yung trabaho namin at yung mga magiging projects namin, para basically makilala namin yung isa’t isa,” Fidel noted.

Mateo & Kyrien Jewel Janeena L. Tabucan

Kyrien Jewel Janeena L. Tabucan

By Nicholle Kim T. Fontanilla

Editorial

All aboard the TRAIN wreck

There is a clear benefit that can be reaped from “saying what you mean and meaning what you say”. Yet, behavioral studies dictate that only about 18% of the world’s population deal with conflict head-on. As for the remaining percentage, they tend to shy away and tolerate.

On that note, the Filipino can give President Rodrigo Duterte a pat on the back for his attitude of utter intolerance. Over and over, he and his government have never shied away from trying to address certain situations. This is evident when he addressed the spread of fake news by assigning Mocha Uson as assistant secretary for the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO). And who would forget how he solved poverty, and every other societal dilemma for that matter, by declaring war on drugs. Oh, how he never shies away.

But to make an argument that he belongs to the 18%, to the people who say what they mean and mean what they say, is an injustice. The same can be told about the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law. Republic Act No 10963 or the TRAIN law is the first package of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP) by the Duterte government. It highlights the tax exemptions of people earning up to Php 250,000 annual income, repealing the Php 50,000 of the previous tax scheme.

On the surface, this is very alluring especially for the middle class as they are the primary beneficiaries of such reform. But like a soft-boiled egg, it’s all gooey on the inside. Apparently, TRAIN entails price hikes for petroleum, cigarettes, and automobiles. Not only that, the tax reform also adds a subclause for sugar tax, in which sugar sweetened beverage prices rise by Php 6 per liter and Php 12 per liter for caloric and non-caloric sweeteners, and high fructose corn syrup, respectively.

While this may not sound alarming to the people, the effect of such new taxes will be dire. When prices of these commodities will rise, the tendency of affected companies will be to pass the burden on to the consumers in which prices even without the tax will be exaggerated. In terms of transportation, one can expect more protests from Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) operators if not given the corresponding hike in fares, not to mention the pressure brought about by the modernization program that requires jeepneys to shift to modern, but more expensive, models.

Truly, while the move by the government to reduce the income tax rate is laudable, the poor are likely to suffer the most in the short term. While it can be argued that this is purposed for infrastructure development in the future, who’s to say that this is not just another facade? Would this kind of sacrifice, of marginalizing the poor even more, be worth it for a supposed infrastructure development? Where is Mocha Uson when we need her the most?

After all, the logic in this does not require an economist or tax lawyer to be fully understood. The domino effect on the economy is already starting to kick in, with the ceiling of most product prices at an all-time high. Now that the government is gearing towards adding the next few packages of the CTRP, the Filipino can only hope to cope with the impending doom brought about by this TRAIN wreck.

There is a clear benefit that can be reaped from “saying what you mean and meaning what you say”. President Duterte’s TRAIN law is the perfect example of saying one thing but meaning another, in which, wholeheartedly, no benefit can be reaped at all .

Howironic is it when something which is envisioned to aid, instead delivers havoc and death? Such is the supposed case of the Dengvaxia Mass Immunization Program of the Department of Health under then secretary Janette Garin. The tally as of this writing by the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) revealed that 19 deaths were now reportedly being studied in relation to the Dengvaxia implementation. But more laboratory tests are required to prove that the vaccine indeed was the cause.

The alarm was set off when drug manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur found out in a study that Dengvaxia, their own drug, may cause neurotropism, viscerotropism, or severe dengue when administered to children who have not yet contracted dengue. This came after some 840,000 children were vaccinated under the government program. A probe is now underway to determine if the drug indeed has caused the deaths of the 19 children, and whether Sanofi, together with the former leadership of DOH should be held liable.

But more than the deaths itself, the implications surrounding the Dengaxia fiasco are severely appalling. While the possible adverse effects to the children is the main topic for debate, the issue is more

Dengvaxia debacle: A Calamitous Overtone

Let Your Game Speak

Calvin A. Trilles

than just of health. The 3.5 billion peso national dengue immunization program was reportedly the subject of corruption.

Ex-President Benigno Aquino III was, in fact, invited by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to talk about the hasty purchase of the vaccine in December 2015, while his DOH secretary and former members of the department are continually being hounded for possible connections inside Sanofi.

Aside from the investigation for corruption, the controversy highlights the absence of liability of the parties involved. Understandably, the probe has not yet determined the person or group to point the finger to. But given the current situation of the parents whose children were given the vaccine, it would be morally upright if the groups concerned would reach out and offer help. Except right now, Sanofi has refused to financially support the hospitalized vaccinated children.

...the most alarming effect of this fiascoisthelossoftrustofthepeople in public health services in general.

The French pharmaceutical giant explained ,“As for the indemnification fund, there are no safety or quality concerns about the Dengvaxia vaccine. Should there be any case of injury due to dengue that has been demonstrated by credible scientific evidence to be causally related to vaccination, then we will assume responsibility.”

At the start of this year, Republic Act No. 10912, also known as the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Act, finally took effect for all professionals in the country. This means that to renew one’s license, professionals are now required to undergo a certain number of training units before their license renewal is processed by the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC). The number of units required for renewal varies depending on one’s line of work, from 45 units for engineers and medical professionals, to 120 for accountants.

However, ever since RA 10912 first took effect for certain professions last July, many have lodged complaints regarding the law, and for good reason – despite its good intentions to instill life-long learning, the CPD Act is a money-making scheme in disguise.

In the first place, why must the government force professionals to pay more for a license that they already earned as a reward for years of hard work? After all, a quality college education in the Philippines already costs hundreds of thousands of pesos. Now, with the introduction of RA 10912, the burden of license renewal has been added to the ever-growing list of financial woes experienced by the Filipino working class.

But aside from the company, there is no presence of the previous administration reaching out to the inflicted. Whatever effort was done to reason out and deny allegations should have been used to provide help to some 80,000 children, a tenth of the total vaccinated, who are at risk.

Among all of these however, the most alarming effect of this fiasco is the loss of trust of the people in public health services in general. While there are already less options for the marginalized in terms of health care, they will find it even harder to accept public health services because of this affair. More and more people will have to choose private or semi-private sectors which would hurt financially, given the cost of professional health care. Or worse, people would simply turn to buying overthe-counter drugs when proper prescribed medication is actually needed.

The probe has yet to produce results, hence this Dengvaxia debacle will continue to hound Sanofi Pasteur, the PNoy administration, and the people. It’s a deterrent to the innovative solutions that medical science can provide, and the ability of the government to offer inexpensive and effective healthcare.

Professional exploitation

The CPD Act states that units can be earned either through attending seminars relevant to one’s profession or pursuing an advanced degree. However, each training session costs thousands of pesos, with the number of units that one can earn from these sessions as a participant subject to approval by the CPD Council. As a result, one can spend a lot attending one of these seminars only to receive a measly number of units in return.

This doesn’t even take into consideration the fact that seminar attendees must be able to present a list of participants, otherwise their credited units will be revoked.

As for the pursuit of an advanced degree, unless one is lucky enough to get a scholarship, this method of earning units is expensive, with the price range for a graduate studies program being around 50,000 – 100,000 pesos. Furthermore, an advanced degree is only good for one license renewal. Thus, if you finished a graduate studies program to get the units necessary for your latest renewal, for the renewal after that, you would have to get yet another degree simply to meet the renewal requirements.

In other words, those behind the CPD Act appear to be out of touch with our nation’s economic realities. Life-long learning is a value that any hardworking professional should strive for, lest he be left behind by the progress of society. However, continuing education shouldn’t come with such a heavy financial burden to our country’s workers. Instead, what the government and private companies should be doing is advocating life-long learning without turning it into an avenue for greed and corruption. By doing this, we can give our best and brightest the respect that they deserve without subjecting them to financial exploitation .

From the way the prices and requirements of the CPD Act was devised, those behind RA 10912 seem to believe that Filipino professionals can pay for such exorbitant fees. The reality, however, is more depressing. According to the latest data from PayScale, a salary comparison website, Filipino professionals earn an average of 371,257 pesos annually, which translates to an estimated 31,000 pesos a month. From this data, it should be quite obvious that the average Filipino can ill-afford to spend precious money just to attend random training sessions for license renewal.

Media, as we know it, continious to expand its horizon over the internet and often takes over the minds and lives of people. Stories seen in almost every form of media usually revolve around the personal lives of prominent people. Seldom do we see viral stories about the more alarming concerns about our country’s wellbeing.

Television programs and social networking sites are currently the main sources of stories and news. There are time slots for news programs and most, if not all, news agencies already have their respective social media accounts that enable them to bring stories to people faster. However, the problem lies in the other programs, articles, and posts that the media releases.

Usually, people divert their attention from serious matters and choose instead to entertain themselves with petty television shows that bring them nothing but kilig and superficial drama. There are even special television

Handling public relations at the government level is not an easy task. In the dog-eat-dog world of politics, anything a politician says can and will be used against him; say the wrong words, and he may just as well bid goodbye to his chances of getting re-elected in the near future, or if his position does not allow re-election, he may find his legacy tarnished in the flicker of a light.

As the de facto propaganda and public relations arm of the President, it is the job of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) to convey the former’s thoughts, words, and actions to the greater public. However, when you have a President running around with a loose mouth, it should make sense that they have to double as crisis managers, considering stopping Duterte from hurling invectives and cuss words for good would be a small miracle on its own. The thing is, the PCOO, in its attempt to cushion the fallout of any of the chief executive’s fiery pronouncements., has instead either added more confusion on top of what he has already said, or one-upped him by committing another blunder.

The series of high-profile gaffes during the opening days of the Marawi siege last May, which involved the Philippine News Agency (PNA) using a photo of the Vietnam War and assistant secretary Mocha Uson citing “symbolism” as an excuse for using a picture of Honduran soldiers in one of her posts are just some of the examples in a

Main Course before Dessert

Ephemeral Perpetuity

Sheina Marie I. Borreta

programs whose main purpose is to simply dig out the stories about the personal lives of artistas. This type of social media tends to highlight people, fake news, make fun of serious issues, and all together, stray away from relevant discussions, may it be about politics and the government, or the Philippines as a whole.

However, the media is not the only one who is at fault when it comes to this dilemma. The audience likewise plays a major role since it is the people who decide what content will and will not go viral. Sadly, for Filipinos, chismis and controversies are most likely to be shared and passed on to friends, either through social media or by word of mouth.

There is honestly nothing wrong about entertaining one’s self on whatever the media has to offer. However, one shouldn’t forget about what is more significant. The country is involved with more than a handful of pressing concerns. There is a plethora

“Social media tends to highlight people, fake news, make fun of serious issues, and all together, strayawayfromrelevantdiscussion.”

of issues one should be more focused on. Being aware and well-informed will help one more in the long run.

Perhaps if more people tuned in to the evening news, then they would be more well-informed about how much the price of gasoline has risen, about the transport strike and why there are no jeepneys to ride on their way to work, or about the nationwide smoking ban. The list goes on and on.

Entertainment lightens one’s mood, gives one a break, and sometimes gives one a laugh or two. But we must keep in mind that when we read a newspaper, or turn on the television or radio, scroll through our Facebook or Twitter feed, the main purpose of media is to deliver factual and relevant news. Entertainment should just be the dessert one gets after savoring, finishing, and digesting the main course of our country’s news and current affairs .

Misfiring in the communications department

Extra Muros

Marc Jazer F. Esguerra

...the PCOO, in its attempt to cushion the fallout of anyofthechiefexecutive’sspicypronouncements, has instead either added more confusion on top of what he has already said...”

long list of the communications agency’s blunders committed in the previous year. It was not until late last year that Communications Secretary Martin Andanar assigned Undersecretary Joel Egco to supervise the news agency and formed an editorial board, which fortunately eradicated PNA’s blunders…for now.

It’s not just the PCOO that has had trouble in what it is supposed to do. Duterte and some of his cabinet officials have had a history of contradicting each other, considering the former’s tendency to declare high-impact pronouncements apparently without consulting any of his cabinet secretaries. This was the case with National Economic and Development Authority Directorgeneral Ernesto Pernia suddenly being thrust into the spotlight after the nation’s leader decided to reject European Union aid, and with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana having to constantly tone down his boss’ more scathing remarks towards the country’s most recent colonizer and traditional ally, the US.

The disarray of the communications apparatus isn’t its only challenge, however. Another thing to note is the agency’s heavy reliance on social media, a platform often touted by administration supporters as a key piece in Duterte’s victory in the recent elections. While social media presents much potential as a marketplace of free ideas, it has also served as a backdrop of increasing political polarization, with politically-aligned pages

Bias animosity for the Goliath

Antithesis

Most folks are ecstaticwith initialuprisings ofunderdogs,yet repeatedachievementsaregivenlesserpraiseandimportance.”

It is 2018 already and still, San Beda College continues to dominate the NCAA scene. The Red Lions of Mendiola just earned their tenth championship trophy in 12 consecutive years of Finals appearance. While it is certainly a momentous feat in the league, not everyone appreciates their legacy. It may be because some are fans of other teams, but another human trait can make people devalue their dynasty: bias hate on others’ ongoing success.

mistakes are what are highlighted. They even credited his success to his God-gifted athletic body, his All-Star teammates, and other crazy reasons. But not everyone who has a great physique becomes a four-time MVP. Not everyone who has reliable teammates can earn three rings. In the end, Lebron still rightfully earned all his accolades fair and square.

running the risk of being reduced to echo chambers conforming to the respective biases of their followers.

The proliferation of misinformation in the social media landscape has proved to be another hurdle for the agency, especially with the appointment of the influential, but highly controversial, blogger Mocha Uson as Assistant Secretary in May last year. It also presents another challenge as to how the agency would manage her activities; as the most visible administration supporter in social media, her personal opinions could be easily misconstrued as official positions of the PCOO. It also doesn’t help the agency’s case that her name is practically synonymous with the term “fake news.” In this case, Uson should have at least refrained from posting anything confrontational upon her assumption into office; after all, it reflects badly on the government’s communications apparatus.

Of course, communication problems are among the least of the Duterte administration’s concerns, considering it is also facing a slew of more tangible issues such as allegations of human rights violations in the drug war, and its China-friendly foreign policy, to name a few. Likewise, communicating effectively is not the be-all and end-all of good governance; no amount of spin or mental gymnastics can cover up the shortcomings, perceived or otherwise, of our current administration.

Most folks are ecstatic with initial uprisings of underdogs. Yet, repeated achievements are given lesser praise and importance. In time, the mob will detest the existence of ‘overpowered’ institutions as foul play in the ‘fair’ landscape. As the dominant side continues to rule on top, bitterness will intensify in the hearts of the defeated ones. In some cases, their rivals, instead of looking for ways to rise up, will simply search for means to drag them down. In fact, bashers do not see that the real reason winners continue to be successful is due to consistent hard work and dedication.

The scenario is almost the same for the Red Lions. Their development and improvement in the past decade tilted the balance scales toward themselves, leaving old powerhouses crumbling in the ashes. Casual fans are turning a blind eye on efforts in dominating the NCAA realm. They don’t recognize the sweat and passion exerted by everyone in the team just to uphold their legacy. After all, bearing the Red Lion name alone doesn’t guarantee a championship trophy after each season. It can also be related to the hero and villain status of Lebron James in the NBA community. People actually bash him for being an excellent player. They despise his overall greatness and impact to the league. Instead of his consistent victories, his flopping habits and other

Such underhanded bias is present not just in the world of sports alone, but even in everyday life. Some students think academic achievers are naturally gifted enough to ace college exams. They don’t realize these topnotchers actually worked hard for such recognitions and not because they have, as some would say, highly enlarged brain cells. The common remark “Genius/gifted kasi siya e,” belittles the actual effort performed by these individuals who continue to excel in their respective fields.

The worst part in this mentality is wallowing on personal weakness and self-doubt. Some people will simply settle for mediocrity in the belief that they will never be able to reach the top of the pedestal. Hence, they begin to limit themselves with subpar standards, when actually, it is very much possible for them to achieve greater things in life through passion and perseverance. A warrior doesn’t become strong because of natural abilities alone, but due to the blood and sweat he exerts in training.

In the end, everyone should learn to stop bias animosity on dominating entities, be it in sports or in real life. Learn to admire and appreciate their greatness, and acknowledge the fruits of their labor. After all, if you consistently push yourself to pursue your dreams, you too can become a Goliath .

Norman S. Delos Reyes

Inspiring the next generation

By Jana Rafaela B. Eusebio & Sophia Catherine G. Reyes

“Aim to achieve the impossible – that way you will never be afraid to do even the greatest task that this world can offer.”

In 1990, one of the most respected engineers today set foot into the corporate world. Engr. Antonio L. Mateo is an alumnus of Mapúa Institute of Technology, now Mapúa University. To this day he still recalls the grueling challenges he faced during his stay in Mapúa. Sleepless nights were a constant challenge and requirements seemed to pile up to no end. However, through determination, he was able to graduate and prepare himself for the true challenges in life. Passing the government professional examination was a simple chore for him. His experience in surviving the ever-challenging environment of Mapúa geared him towards an easy life in the world of graduate studies.

Engr. Mateo was able to excel in his field as a licensed Chemical Engineer and Mapúa helped him develop a different outlook about solving various technical dilemmas. It taught him the art of patience and persistence, as he would spend a long amount of time focusing on one problem until a solution was successfully formulated.

His excellence was soon repurposed when he was tasked to share his knowledge and principles on servant-leadership to others who soon joined the legion of Philippine engineers. On this, he imparts, “Discreetly identify the academically challenged students in class, then creatively teach them a difficult engineering principle or technique alongside average or above-average performing classmates. If these inferior ones suddenly ignite or improve in their performance, then somehow that professor has tapped the appropriate voltage or potential for students to learn more and to achieve greater heights in the future.” He remarked that it was truly a blessing to be able to

bring out the best in Mapúans. He added that everyone can learn in innovative ways and bring out the best in themselves.

After serving as a professor in Mapúa, Engr. Mateo was then given the responsibility of being the Vice President for Student Affairs (VPSA), where he trained student leaders from various councils and organizations in Mapúa. In his stint as VPSA, he handled eight different centers, namely, Student Discipline, Student Activities, Scholarships & Financial Assistance, Guidance & Counseling, Student Publications, Career Services, Campus Ministry, and the Student Yearbook. The responsibilities this position placed upon him included working during Sundays, guiding student leaders, and doing community service projects. His time management skills came in handy in such a hectic environment to precisely fulfill all his tasks, both on and off campus. His experience as the VPSA served as an invaluable motivating force in his succeeding career abroad.

For those who aspire to be on the same path as him, he wants to see them live by the Mapúan principles. He shares that failures will be part of the journey and the path will be riddled with challenges, but if one is easily intimidated by these obstacles, then one is not a true Mapúan. For him, a true Mapúan would have to go through the worst of times first before coming into the best.

Encouragingly, he expresses, “I always learned something meaningful from a road less traveled by many people. I don’t learn nor enjoy much from taking easy routes. Remember, our finest moment in life would only happen after we have gone through a painful process of finding a better solution to a complicated problem or a better answer to a difficult question.”.

What does it take to be a teacher?

Prof. Jasmine Nadja J. Pinugu (SLHS Department of Psychology)

I t has always been said that teaching is a noble profession, that it serves humanity and enables societies to become productive and progressive. Educators in the Philippines have always been regarded in high esteem since they are seen to be smart, dedicated, and passionate by the majority of the public. However, not everyone chooses to be a teacher and the teaching profession is often a “by-product” of choice of people who are after security and permanency in their lives. In other countries, people who choose to be teachers often do so because

of the opportunities associated with the profession; lifelong employment, continuous training, and socialization networks; never mind if some people see it as a “menial” vocation enslaved by lifelong learning.

In my experience as an educator, teaching is a difficult lifelong process; oftentimes, there is only a beginning and no end to being a teacher and mentor. We start the profession by review of the knowledge content that was handed down to us by our own mentors. Along the way, we

study the methods, strategies, and approaches that make for effective learning, and toward the end, we empower the younger generation by values orientation and modeling. Being an educator has never been an easy job. Teachers have to be constantly updated with new theories, knowledge frameworks, global and national educational policies, and to be earnest in our honest attempts in reaching out to students and addressing their needs.

To answer the title of this article, I would suggest three simple guidelines to live by:

As a practitioner, we need to be adept in knowledge, research, and ethics. In my opinion, this can be addressed by enrollment to graduate school, where recall is only a minimum skill requirement but moreover, application and analysis of theories, concepts, and frameworks. Graduate students are also exposed to research, where generation of new knowledge and dissemination of such information can be of help to fellow educators and other education stakeholders. Ethics is of utmost importance in the practice; knowledge of right and wrong, our sense of morality, and what laws and ethics say about appropriate behavior dictate the manner by which we practice education.

Challenge and competence.

As I had earlier mentioned, being an educator is a lifelong endeavor. We should not rest on our laurels; what we know from twenty years ago is different from what is the truth in these contemporary times. We should push our boundaries and never settle to be in our comfort zones; we need to open our minds to new concepts and ideas; we must pursue training and other professional development opportunities that would benefit our teaching; and we should constantly re-tool and re-calibrate our skills because we owe it to the teaching profession to do so.

Empathy and Respect.

We need to understand that we are not the main protagonists in the educational process. For one, there are our students who are our clientele and, cliché as it may sound, the future of our country. If we expect the best from them, shouldn’t we also be at our best? If we expect them to come to class on time, then we should also come to class on time. If we expect them to do research, then we should do research as well. We should not have the mindset that “we know everything” and that students are “tabula rasa” (clean slate). Learning is a two-way, give and take relationship; they learn from us and we learn from them. We are their mentors, but to guide them in the best possible manner, we should also be at our best and be ready to listen to what they have to say.

Then we also have the school administrators who develop policies and ensure that implementation of such will

ensure a smooth learning process. As educators, we also need to acknowledge their leadership and follow their example. They too have a stake in our professional development through scholarship grants, training opportunities, and employment incentives. Thus, we are also duty-bound to compromise with them and establish fruitful partnerships that will not only benefit just one side of the relationship.

At the end of the day, I often ask myself “How did I last long in this profession?” I do not claim to be perfect, far from it. I have experienced walking out of the classroom out of sheer frustration, crying out of anger, being the subject of rumors and ill-wishes, getting bashed in social media, and other negative experiences in my 20+ years of teaching. But I guess what has kept me going is that the positive experiences outweigh the negative; students coming up to me and saying thank you, being greeted on special occasions, recognition by peers and students for good effort and achievements, and just being surrounded by people who have always believed in me, even when I was losing faith in myself. What does it take to be a teacher? A mind that is open to new challenges and experiences, and a heart that embraces the profession and fuels the passion to be a better educator in the years to come.

University Voice features article contributions from University administrators, faculty members, and non-teaching personnel. Interested parties may submit their articles for consideration to editor@thenewbuilder.com. Submissions should not exceed 1000 words.

Art enables mankind to grasp the true essence of existence. It gives justice to the abstract, bridging the liberty wrought from creativity, and the discipline that is technicality. But most of all, art is a powerful tool for expression. And in the words of famous author Jerzy Kosinski himself, “The principle of true art is not to portray, but to evoke”.

Being in a technical school, the inclination of most students of Mapúa is to draw in very straight lines, figuratively and literally. We are fed with formulae, of patterns and of convention. But once in a while, the Gods reach out their hands to us and bless us with people who refuse to be typical, who bid farewell to the ordinary, and who put the contours to our very straight lines.

In this rendition of The New Builder’s COED, frolic in the picturesque face of the woman who represents the eccentric and the avant-garde --Beverly Ramos.

REBEL

The girl who stood her ground on her convictions against societal constructs is what Beverly is best known for. A force to reckon with at the tender age of 19, there is more to her than what meets the eye. Oozing with passion and dedication, she started her journey as an artist way back in grade school.

She loved drawing cartoons as a child, which eventually blossomed into filmmaking. Her competitive spirit was ultimately honed during her teenage years in high school. “Every time na may contest sa school, sali ako nang sali until I realized na sobrang saya ko kahit nakakapagod siya. I told myself na, eto na yun, eto yung gusto kong gawin for the rest of my life, dito ako masaya,” Ramos expressed.

As a student, Ramos is evidently responsible and competitive. Persevering to maintain her scholarship grant, she believes that studying in a prestigious school is already a privilege which she owes greatly to her parents. She doesn’t want to let them down. Self-proclaimed to be brave and bold, she doesn’t care what others think of her as nothing can stop her, given that she doesn’t step on anyone’s toes.

TREBLE

Although not short on looks, her works speak more about who she really is. In fact, she has taken her talent in the arts to incredible heights as she ended 2017 by being shortlisted at the London Labour Film Festival for ‘Dory’, as well as taking home the awards for Best Film Poster, Best Film Teaser, and 2nd Best Festival Film for ‘Laya’ in the recently concluded CineMapúa 2017.

The show didn’t stop there. The relentless Ramos started her new year with a bang by getting hold of the Best Documentary Film and Audience Choice awards for ‘Dory’ at the UP Cinema Piling Obra Vidyo.

While she attracts attention readily for her mystique as a person, she likewise expresses her hunger for unravelling the sensitive through filmmaking and photography. She has made waves in the filmmaking industry by incorporating unconventional story-telling with even more unconventional themes. Her brave unravelling of sensitive themes has continued to separate her from the monotony of the filmmaking world.

REVEL

As a filmmaker, Ramos maintains strict leadership. She admits to having inevitable misunderstandings with the production crew, which she doesn’t take personally. At the end of the day, professionalism reigns. With a distinct view and knowledge of the outcome she wants, she has reaped the fruits of her hard work.

In terms of inspiration, she looks up to Director Jun Lana, an 11-time Palanca Award winner for literature. She says that his political stand is what she greatly admires. Furthermore, Ramos implied that passion is key in filmmaking. She believes that through passion, one can evoke deep thoughts and emotions of an entire society.

When asked about her thoughts on filmmaking as a career and the future of Filipino filmmakers, she closed by saying “Filmmaking is really hard, pero kayanin niyo kasi tayo yung future ng film industry ng bansang ito. Tayo yung pag-asa na mas gumanda at lumalim pa ang pagtingin sa pelikulang Filipino. Huwag kayo matakot na mag-offer ng something new sa audience since eto talaga yung hinahanap-hanap nila sa atin. Create films na may pinaglalaban, binabasag ang stereotypes, ine-empower ang minority, at nagpapaintindi ng mga importanteng issues sa audience. Mahirap, pero kakayanin natin, so laban lang!”.

SAVORING CES 2018: TECH-SAVVIES SATISFIED

BY MAURINE CLAIRE F. KIM AND VINCENT ANDRE B. RAMIREZ

Some 170,000 tech geeks and journalists occupied 2.5 million sq. feet of Las Vegas, Nevada last January 9 -12 to witness tech giants showcase their newest creations in the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES). While most Mapúans are certainly tech enthusiasts, the pace of study ensures that there is no time to attend the event held in Sin City. That’s why The New Builder is here to deliver the juiciest concepts and trends presented in the event, so read on and discover how the future will unfold, tech-wise.

COMFORT ROBOTS

Robots are commonly referred to as unfeeling individuals, but Honda and Sproutel aim to remove the connotation with their latest advancements present at CES 2018.

CHILDHOOD FLASHBACK !

Game Boy lovers rejoice! Hyperkin revealed their plan to revive, remake and tweak the Game Boy we all once loved.

Continuing with empathetic bots is Sproutel with its My Special Aflac Duck – envisioned as an interactive toy to serve as a companion to children with illnesses. The duck can listen to children’s feelings and respond, easing their anxieties as they go through therapy. Children are expected to receive their Aflac Ducks at no cost by late 2018 to early 2019.

Honda flaunted its 3E (Empower, Experience, Empathy) Robotics Concept featuring multiple robots designed for different purposes. Model 3E-B18 is a robotic chair while Model 3E-A18 provides a sense of empathy through its glowing face. Model 3E-C18, on the other hand, can take care of storage and transport of materials.

TAKING OVER

Digital assistant Alexa, developed by Amazon, first arrived in the technology scene in November 2014, encased in the company’s smart speakers termed Echo. Fast forward to January 2018, Alexa is seen to transcend its speaker confinement. Today, tech companies are scrambling to incorporate Alexa into most of their products.

Lenovo, HP, Asus, and Acer declared that their new PCs would have Alexa to assist users in

As the world continues to become a fast-paced environment, speed is the key to navigating through everyday life. Technology experts felt it was time for phones to keep up. Thus, Powermat was the first to demo technology that could drastically double wireless charging speeds.

Currently, we’re looking at a maximum of 15watt output to wireless charging pods. Soon, the advancement would enable users to charge phones at a maximum of 40 watts. How? By separately charging over the air. It uses radio frequencies to

controlling smart devices. Jabra unveiled the Elite 65t headphones with one touch away from the digital assistant. LG and Hisense followed Sony in incorporating Alexa into their new TV models.

Ovens and microwaves, fire alarms, bathroom mirrors, cars, baby monitors, and even home theater projectors are ready to evolve with Alexa, and the CES presentations are just a taste of what’s to come.

power up multiple devices in order of your priority, with an app to set the user’s preferences. This means companies are also starting to bring simultaneous over-the-air wireless charging to multiple devices.

Although cordless charging has been around for years, it’s struggled with the acceptance of the public. But now, hindrances to a wireless charging world are breaking down rapidly, and advances to the state of wireless charging are bringing us closer to a wire-free charging life we’ve never experienced before.

The device is still at developmental stage, but look for your old cartridges or buy new ones ASAP! Prepare for the nostalgia trip before the revamped device hits the shelves later this year.

Dubbed as the Ultra Game Boy, the retro gadget will brandish an aluminum casing -- shedding its older plastic casing. A rechargeable 6-hour battery will power the device. Ultra Game Boy will also feature a third dial for adjusting the backlit LCD to join the volume and contrast dials, audio-out connections, and two stereo speakers.

PHONE-NOTEBOOK UNION BLESSED BY PROJECT LINDA

Razer presented a triple-screen gaming laptop last CES, which the tech people thought was impressive enough, but Razer is back on top last year with Project Linda – a dualdisplay notebook powered by a Razer phone. The Razer phone will fit in a gap where the touchpad would usually be, and act as one. It will also serve as a second screen and system speakers. Meanwhile, the notebook component would be more like an accessory with extra 200GB of storage, extra batteries, and a built-in keyboard for the phone.

Over the past few years, automobiles always seem to steal the show for CES. From technology mods to self-driving cars powered by artificial intelligence, it was all on display and out for the world to feast its eyes on.

Overall, the three recurring trends in car tech at CES were driverless cars, cars that connect to pretty much everything, and super-smart new dashboards with entertainment features.

Self-sufficient cars were the biggest fad at the automotive section of CES.

Virtual reality headsets are back at it again, and this time they’re a lot better. HTC showed off its Vive Pro, an upgraded version of its first VR headset, inclusive of a higher-resolution display and wireless adapter. That means users will be able to walk around virtual space with no cables inconveniently dangling.

Not wanting to hold back, Google and Lenovo are releasing a VR headset

Still in the developmental phase, Razer’s Project Linda holds a lot of promises and can revolutionize how people use their handhelds and notebooks.

Several developers, including Ford, Toyota, Mercedes, and more, had prototype versions of autonomous vehicles on display and were even available for demo rides in controlled environments. Related to the autonomous vehicle trend is the very connected car, which intends to establish faster communication with other vehicles as well as smart city transportation, particularly road-related matters like signs, traffic lights, etc.

powered by Google’s Daydream VR platform. The Lenovo Mirage Solo will provide HD-quality virtual reality without requiring you to dangerously stick your smartphone in front of your face. Together with an optional Mirage Camera accessory designed to record 3D content, virtual reality is only a few steps away from being another parallel universe.

BY SPEAKER-TO-ANIMALS UNHEEDED

I savor the night, so bracing and clean. While the moon radiates a silvery sheen. I always feel it that I am simply locked away; There is no escape from this darkness of everyday.

Notice the night, its beautiful smell. I let the moonlight take me over, a hex, a spell.

The single soul I learned to trust, No. It’s forgotten hope for us.

There is no one else to love or hold,

Yet now I wait for her world to unfold. To loved and have lost?

The pain is much of a cost.

I am an eccentric creature, I do not rest. My fragile heart does not beat within my chest. Now I know a feeling of sorrow and sadness, Replaced the thirst for blood and madness.

I am bloodless, but forever in bloodlust. Take my spirit, instinct ensures I must. But she slips away, like all I have needed. I asked, I prayed, I begged, I pleaded.

I still go unheeded.

THE UNIVERSE OF US BY THUNDER

From the first day our eyes met, Or the first day our lives crossed in a far corner of the universe, Rush coursing through like a comet, You wave at me as the sun and moon immerse.

Out of love and effort, I come to you, Under the rays of sunshine and moonlight, My inner peace transforms from blue, You become both my might and kryptonite.

Looming push and pull of asteroids and planets, Over the milky way and galaxies, Viewed as the cosmos in the whole event, Emerging as the great star in the mixes.

Shooting stars last for a moment

As were your lips touching my cheeks

But such is a tender imprint For a while, I was the bright sky

Time marched on and the fire grew weak

BE MACHINE

The wiring’s gone to hell on this machine

Yet, somehow the connections still reach the right ports

The output isn’t pristine

But it gives results of sorts

It just can’t sometimes it doesn’t It fits then it sits stares blankly no one’s looking

Number one two three then there’s two more Who’s into that time you remember?

The machine’s self-repair protocol kicks in: “It doesn’t seem broken,” it chimes to itself. The machine’s denial parameters are going off. “Re-checking for errors”

Terrors that fervor the most delightful shin

Cracking on hardwood floors bones protrude

That’s rude, he said.

Who’s talking? She asked her to tell him.

The machine is not sentient on most days. It just has fleeting moments of self-awareness. These moments leave itself in a daze

Due to the stress of the mess it creates

Select all. Backspace. Print. That’s not right.

Oh, right right.

Oh no, I reforma-

“It reformatted itself this time”

That’s the user talking.

“The user is saying that”

That’s the machine.

It’s time again

Gan! Gan! Gan! Gan! It’s time to be, Machine Be beep be beep be beep!

It’s time to be machine

But first…breakfast.

The passion I swore to burn you with Gone -- extinguished -- replaced by ice I exit, numb to your long cries

You’re the star that brightened my nights Still, I reached for constellations I needed more to show my might It was like you didn’t exist

Made you sob till suffocation With no fire, I’d find new sparks Move and exercise “single” rights That’s why I left you in the dark

HE WAS, I AM BY DISCLOSED PSYCHE

He is that spur-of-the-moment Excitement I’ve been missing out of I was that other passing thought He couldn’t care less of

He is my rose colored spectacles in this dull world of black and white I was his sepia toned forgotten photo In his world, I was always out of sight

He is that shoulder I could never lean on The one person I can never depend on I was there for him when called upon The one person who stayed ‘til dawn

He was the plot twist I’ve been asking for But now I know how my story goes I am the person I should love first

The girl who has left last year’s shadows

I loved him truly for 730 days

And he loved me back

Or that's what he says

To avoid his life being pitch black

He was everything I wanted So I did everything to keep him jubilant

Yet he has taken me for granted

When I believed he was my lifelong confidante

I did everything right with him

At least I thought I did

But he really had to make my life so dim And made loving him so stupid

For 730 days I've made myself a fool

It’s time to stop and look back

Enough is enough with that tool

Because that's 730 days of my life I'll never get back

Under the setting sun, they watched the marmalade hues of the skies fade into the horizon. He was complaining about the unfairness of life, when another fit of her coughs interrupted him.

“Geez, you didn’t take your medication again, did you?” he inquired whilst running soothing gestures over her back.

“And I’m guessing your father showered your little brother with praises again?” His brows furrowed over the brutally honest remark, but truth be told, it’s also one of the things he loves the most about her.

His silence must’ve lasted longer than usual, for she was about to apologize when the words just came out of his mouth.

“Hey... we should definitely get married someday, don’t you agree?” He enclosed her smaller hands with his own, drowning himself in her azure eyes.

She chuckled a little. “Where’s this coming from?”

However, the only answer she got is the sound of the waves crashing against the cliff. She figured that he must’ve meant it when he asked, so she averted her eyes and said,

“Then maybe... maybe when we’re older.”

A decade later, he came back to the same spot. The white veil he held between his fingers fluttered in the wind, much like a forlorn ghost. He placed it over his head, making sure that the faded fabric also draped over the unmarked grave beside him.

Closing his weary eyes, he spoke to her once again, “Hey... let’s get married.”

in PORTRAITS LANDSCAPES

by Keith Marie R. Dela Cruz

by Sophia Lorraine U. Estabaya

by John Ryan S. Sabado

Aureolin lights.

Aureolin

Aureolin Hour.

in aureolin rays, she shined gracefully.

An Ode to Our Varsity Seniors

by Czarrina Hernandez, Sheina Borreta, Jazer Esguerra, Vincent Ramirez

Lady Cardinals: Spiking through life, digging for a better future

After years of playing with Mapúa University, Lady Cardinals Niella Ramilo, Dianne Latayan, and team captain Katrina Racelis have reached the last playing year in their collegiate career.

Truly, there are the highs and lows of each student-athlete, and the team captain shared her greatest challenge as one --“When I need to motivate myself because sometimes I get afraid and nervous. And of course, being a student-athlete is not that easy because you must both play and study,” Racelis imparted.

Racelis shared that giving one’s best brings out one’s success, not just in games but also in life, “I learned that when you give your best in everything you do, you will be happy in the end,” Racelis noted.

And as she bids farewell to the university, the former Ms. Cardinals and Lady Cardinals team captain gives her thanks to Mapúa, and leaves her co-studentathletes with these words, “Give your best in everything you do. You need to be patient that you will be successful in time so don’t give up easily.”

Tankers: Swimming against the tide

Leinel Co, the sole graduating player from the Tankers, recalled the beginnings of his aquatic journey that started way back in 2nd grade, elementary school. After just one year, his swimming form had already reached competitive level. Although Co stopped swimming for several years after that, he propelled himself back into the pool when he reached 1st year high school.

The Civil Engineering graduate swam through the tides during his high school career and followed it with his bold tryouts in Mapúa, which led to an athletic scholarship grant. Gradually, he

regained his form while balancing his studies and his sports. “Yung pinakaimportanteng natutunan ko sa pagiging student athlete ay kung paano mag-manage ng time wisely,” Co shared.

With added pressure outside the pool, Co had to set his priorities between studying and swimming, “Bago ako mag-tryout, sinet ko sa isip ko na study first ako,” he said. “Kung hindi ko kaya pagsabayin ang pag-aaral at athletics, mag-stop ako sa pagiging varsity.”

His shot at redemption – the most memorable event of his collegiate career – arrived when he participated in the 100-meter butterfly event during NCAA 92. The tanker faced his fear and emerged a stronger person than ever before.

Co continued to balance both academics and athletics up to his last year, despite having grueling on-the-job training and thesis writing. He self-practiced at home to compensate for his absence in regular training as it was, according to him, “better than nothing”. His method paid off as he achieved his best time since his 2nd year in high school – 29 seconds in the 50-meter freestyle. “It’s actually somewhat slow, but considering two months of training only, that record is an honor already,” Co said.

During graduation rites last November, the student-athlete left these key words for his remaining comrades. “Kung gaanong kaeffort binubuhos mo sa training, doblehin mo sa pag-aaral,” he imparted. It’s now up to his successors whether or not to heed his advice. What matters to him now is treading towards his dream of being a licensed engineer and managing a construction firm.

Woodpushers: King of his own board

In the game of chess, the tactician’s fate can only end in victory, in defeat, or at some point, in a stalemate. In the case of recent Woodpusher alumnus Paolo Angelo Garcia, he left the black and white board triumphant and ready for another game called life.

Garcia bid farewell to the University and expressed, “Super thankful ako sa mga taong nakilala at nakasama ko sa stay ko sa Mapúa.”

Looking back at all his exploits, Garcia’s first game struck him the most. He remembered the feeling of being a rookie and not wanting to disappoint his coach and teammates. Fortunately, the greenhorn debuted with flying colors as he won against powerhouse San Beda.

As a student-athlete, he never failed to recognize the importance of cooperation. The former team skipper remarked, “Teamwork talaga ang pinaka-importante.” He explained that players should trust one another and be confident in each other’s skills to perform effectively as a unit.

The Woodpusher alumnus deeply expressed how much he will miss his teammates whom he treasures like his very own brothers and sisters. For his fellow studentathletes he imparts, “Kapag exam, exam lang. Kapag training, training lang,” and continued, “Kahit fastpaced ang Mapúa, KALMA lang.”

Garcia expressed how he can easily relate to every Mapúan’s dilemmas. After all, he was once a student who also had his fair share of ups and downs. He reassured everyone though that Mapúa is simply another chess deadlock to be overcome. “Kung kinaya ko, sure akong mas kakayanin nyo.”

After serving many years in the University, Garcia exited the tabletop arena with fellow senior player, Christian Dave Cabida.

Cardinals: Hooping for a better future

After shooting baskets and spending years training in the gym, two of season 93’s heroes, team captain Andrew Estrella and coskipper Hesed Gabo both relayed their parting messages to the redand-gold community.

There’s no denying that the Intramuros-based squad went

through a rocky season, yet they fought against the odds and went home to the Cardinal turf with their heads held high. Through their wins and losses, experience and lessons have always been their prize.

For Gabo, the NCAA homecourt game had the largest impact on him throughout his playing years. “Even though we lost, what really mattered to me was that the Mapúa Community, together with our families, were united in supporting us. It’s not every day that we get to experience that, right?”

Meanwhile, Estrella likewise expressed his thanks to Mapúa. Known for his exhilarating gameplay, Estrella admitted that the greatest challenge throughout his collegiate career was dribbling between academics, family, and training. The clutch point man also shared what he learned most as a student-athlete, stating “I have learned to be more determined and to be a good sport.”

Both seniors extended their gratitude to their teammates, with the unfaltering Gabo having a trip down memory lane on his thankyou list.

“First of all, I would like to thank Coach Atoy Co for giving me the opportunity to play for Mapúa; to coach Ed Cordero who never gave up on teaching us basketball and life lessons; and to the other coaches and staff, coach JB Deang and our PT Julius Magaling who made sure that we were always physically in shape.”

Gabo likewise expressed his deep appreciation to his mentor since high school and Red Robins head coach Randy Alcantara. “Last but definitely not the least, to coach Randy who never fails to bring the team’s energy up, our optimizer and motivation. Thank you for being my mentor since high school.”

As they bid farewell to the red-and-gold community and aim to finish their education in the university, Gabo left a motivational message for the younger players. “Trust the process, always give your 200 percent so that if you

come up short, you still get a hundred. Never give up and continue the bond we started.”

Coming off from a recentlyconcluded training session at the gymnasium, seniors Anjo Pertierra, Samyr Navera, and Raven Evangelista chimed in their thoughts on their last playing year.

The three of them all agree on one thing – their most memorable moments do not hinge on individual accomplishments, but instead rest on the camaraderie, on and off the court, that had become a fixture on their lives. “Kada problema, kada game, kada pag-eenjoy namin, kada pagsasama-sama namin, lahat ng pinag-gagagawa namin dito sa court na ‘to, sa labas, sa NCAA, sa kahit saan pang liga, yun yung di ko makakalimutan dito,” Navera recalled.

“Sacrifices will always pay off,” Pertierra remarked as to the lessons he had learned throughout his Mapúan journey. “One team, one family,” according to him, is and will remain the guiding mantra of the team.

Considering the difficulty of the academic side of things at Mapúa, Evangelista imparted the importance of balance and responsibility as a studentathlete, “Hindi mo alam kung anong mangyayari within the day, but you have to plan,” the departing spiker said then added, “Yung struggles, pinush through ko kahit alam ko yung mga consequences, lalo na sa academics at saka sports.”

Despite showing renewed intensity, the Cardinals ended the season just one notch short of the Final Four for the second consecutive year. While not having reached their goal in their final year, the three are all set to face and fight new challenges beyond the hardcourt.

Men Volleyers: Volleyball beyond the spikes and digs

Tracksters blaze through PATAFA tournament

by Sheina Marie I. Borreta and Marc Jazer F. Esguerra

Before pursuing the route to the 93rd season of NCAA this March, the Mapúa University Tracksters proved themselves in the Philippine Sports CommissionPhilippine Athletics Track and Field Association’s (PSC-PATAFA) Weekly Relay held last July to December at the PhilSports Track Oval in Pasig City and De La Salle University-Dasmariñas.

Hundreds of athletes from schools all over Luzon participated in the 32nd season of the PSC-PATAFA weekly meet. Young gunners also joined the meet through separate schedules allocated to them by the athletics body.

The Intramuros-based runners raised the red-and-gold flag in their respected finishes in the tournament despite PATAFA’s switch from a point-based system to a medal tally. “Yung expectation lang

po is mag-set ng new personal best sa event nila,” Cardinal trackster Wenard Merin said. “Tuluy-tuloy lang po yung training kahit wala si Coach. Kanya-kanya silang trabaho sa part nila,” he continued.

Team captain Merin placed 4th for the Discus Throw and 6th for the Javelin Throw in the men’s senior/elite category. The rest of the Tracksters likewise excelled in their respective categories in which they gained places for the finals.

Divided into three schedules, the following finished in the top three spots in their respective events:

For Schedule A held in the morning of December 9, Rowel Galvero snatched the gold for the 500-metres running, while John Paul Sale and Mark Vincent Ramos obtained respective first and second places for the High Jump in the men’s senior/elite category. Faizal Salasim logged third for the 100-metre sprint

in the boys’ under-18 category. Both Christian Dave Geraldino and John Christian Capasao snatched the gold for the High Jump and Discus Throw, respectively, in the boys’ junior/under-20 category.

For Schedule B held in the afternoon of the same day, Reymond Alferos in the 400-metre race and Rowel Galvero in the 1500-metre race both clinched the top spot in the men’s senior/elite category. Mark Vincent Ramos landed second in the long jump event under the same category, while Faizal Salasim bagged a bronze for the 400-metre race under the boys’ junior/ under-18 category. Finally, France Patrick Ramos finished third for the pole vaulting event in the boys’ junior/under-20 category.

Lastly, for Schedule C held the following morning, Reymond Alferos again bagged another gold, this time for the 200-metre sprint,

MU Tennisers falter in NCAA 93 after preseason success

by Sheina Marie I. Borreta and Vincent Andre B. Ramirez

Despite a successful preseason stint, the Mapúa Tennisers fell short in keeping their momentum and ended with an 8th place finish in their NCAA season 93 tourney held last January 3 to February 9 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Injuries struck key players, while other vets were ruled ineligible to play due to a lack of academic units. These misfortunes forced the team to compete with reserves who had a premature taste of the league. “Pinush ko yung mga reserve players namin na mas galingan pa nila, kaso first time pa lang nila sa NCAA, so expected yung nerbyos,” team captain Janeo Sanchez shared.

Despite swinging their

Depleted

racquets for season 93 with a depleted lineup, Sanchez and his team took the season on a positive note. “Positive pa rin kami, basta tiwala lang at gawin lang yung best para sa team,” Sanchez said.

Sanchez himself was held off through the season with an injury. “Ako na senior nila ang may injury, dapat ako sana ang magbubuhat kasi ako yung inasahan ng coach, kaso di inexpect na ganito pala mangyayari sa akin,” Sanchez explained.

On a positive note though, the red-and-gold team had a preseason filled to the brim with accolades obtained from two international events last August 2017. Their back-to-

back international exposure was certainly a boost to the team’s morale, “Pagdating ng local or national tournaments, di na ganun masyado ka-pressured o kabigat maglaro,” Sanchez stated. “Kaya rin pala namin makipagbakbakan at lumalang sa mga ibang lahi o ibang bansa,” he further noted.

Despite their poor showing in the tourney, the team has sworn to bolster their forces for next season. Sanchez shared that incoming freshmen can help them bounce back towards victory. With a younger squad in sight, Sanchez expects a rejuvenated lineup the next time around. “Mas lalo ko iga-guide ang team as a senior sa kanila. We will come back.”.

Shuttlers slip in NCAA standings

After a Final Four finish last year, the Mapúa Shuttlers were left handicapped due to an incomplete lineup in the badminton league of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) 93rd season last September at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Both the men’s and women’s teams were left with holes as four players were unable to enter the final roster and compete this season. This led the Shuttlers to slide further in the ranking ladder of NCAA tournament.

Jairus Bobi, Kyle Cayanan, Katrina Canon, and women’s team captain Kyle Acosta, found themselves seated out in season 93 due to their eligibility statuses. Bobi was left on the sidelines because of his absence during the first term of the school year. On the other hand, Cayanan, Acosta, and Canon, were unable to represent the Shuttlers due to their failure to comply with the required academic units.

Women’s skipper Acosta explained that an athlete should

by Sheina Marie I. Borreta and Czarrina Dianne L. Hernandez

be able to pass at least 60% of their enrolled units in the eligibility term to be cleared to play for the upcoming NCAA season. Apart from this, the player should be consistently enrolled throughout the whole academic year with eight or more units per term. Failure to comply with the requirements set by the NCAA organizing committee would deem a student-athlete unqualified to play for his alma mater.

“It affects the team’s performance, because there were some players who were trained for a specific game (singles or doubles),” Acosta said on the implications of the Shuttlers’ troubled status, and added, “If you trained for almost the whole year getting ready as a singles player in the upcoming season, then eligibility term came up and some players were not able to play, masisira yung lineup.”

Under the helm of new coach Angel Crisostomo, Acosta bared that they are finally solving the roster puzzle for next year. Coach Crisostomo engaged the Shuttlers

and Chris Paulo Haluber placed third for the shotput under the men’s senior/elite category.

The dismantling of tower lights at the PhilSports Track Oval last September led the athletics governing body to move the venue to De La Salle UniversityDasmariñas. Despite the change of venue, which made it more difficult for the Tracksters to participate in DLSU-Dasmariñas, the team was nevertheless able to regain their momentum and end the tourney with their respectable finishes.

After a series of cancellations within the same month, the weekly relay resumed on November 5 at the PhilSports Track Oval in Pasig City.

PATAFA eventually scrapped the semi-finals schedules and instead chose the top eight for track events with distances of 400 meters and below, and the top 16 for running events 800 meters and longer and for all field events.

“Semi-final schedules are omitted to give way to athletes who have not competed due to venue [issues] and long rescheduled dates of our game (sic),” the athletics body announced through its Facebook page.

Aside from the weekly meets in the relay, the team likewise trained with their counterparts from the Ateneo, which included a tuneup game against the Katipunanbased Blue Tracksters. According to Merin, the red-and-gold Tracksters have been training with them for the past two years.

Determined to chase the gold medal after coming up one notch short for two consecutive seasons, the Tracksters are promising redemption. “We still believe in our motto ‘Be a better you today than yesterday, and to be the best tomorrow’,” Merin concluded.

in more organized training yet without losing focus of their academics. “Our new coach deeply encourages us to pursue our studies, but she also never fails to remind us to regularly attend the practice,“ the team captain stated.

“She told us to focus on our academics first, then after eligibility term, train rigorously“ Acosta bared how their new coach has been supportive of the Shuttlers inside and outside the court. Coach Crisostomo is also scouting for new players to carry on the torch in the coming years.

Having their main problem figured out, the Mapúa Badminton team is all set to avenge themselves in the next season. “We are really sure we are gonna get back if we try hard. Our new coach told us that our attendance in our training and our skills are not the greatest problem,” Acosta vowed to not let their academic qualifications hamper their flight once more in the upcoming competitions.

by Vincent Andre B. Ramirez

After an upsetting loss in game 2, the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (MME) bounced back for an explosive Game 3 finish to cap the gold in the Don Tomas Cup Volleyball Tournament 2017.

The MME Dragons clawed do wn the School of Civil, Environmental and Geological Engineering (SCEGE), 3-0 in the rubber match, to covet the grand trophy last October 20 at the campus gymnasium.

SCEGE began the assault in the decisive game 3, but failed to keep up the momentum as service errors plagued their rallies. MME capitalized on their opponents’ turnovers and displayed better teamwork to snatch the first two sets. SCEGE, on the verge of defeat, stepped up their game in the third set, but their service woes persisted, allowing MME to sweep the match and take home the chip.

MME players relished their hard-earned victory after tasting bitter defeat in the

semifinals for the past three years. “Matagal na naming dream na magchampion,” said Gabriel Joshua Ancheta. “First time naming makapasok sa finals at sakto champion agad,” MME’s outside hitter followed.

Ancheta bared that better team chemistry proved to be the main ingredient of their success this year. Setter Paul Aguilan affirmed the statement and shared, “Hindi lang naman kami inside the court magkakasama. Outside the court kami-kami pa rin magkakasama.” Ancheta added that some of their hangouts consisted of “playing the game” or training while having fun, which became a vital component to their triumph.

After their fiery success this year, the North Buildingbased players are eyeing a back-to-back championship. “Yung 3-peat mahirap sabihin kasi marami na rin kaming mawawala, pero yung backto-back kakayanin namin,” Aguilan boldly announced.

Battle in the Clutch. MME players display their offensive arsenal versus SCEGE in the third and final meeting in the Don Tomas Cup 2018.

Photo by Keith Marie R. Dela Cruz

Tempest in 93: Volleyers stymied in NCAA return

by Marc Jazer F. Esguerra and Vincent Andre B. Ramirez

Both the men’s and women’s teams of the Mapúa University Volleyers made premature exits in the 93rd season of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) as they floundered in the tourney held last January 4 to February 1 at the San Juan Arena.

Despite fighting tooth and nail throughout the season, the Volleyers settled for identical standings with the previous year, with the male spikers logging 5-4 for fifth place and the Lady Cardinals enduring another winless season at tenth place.

Men’s Volleyball: Unfortunate in the clutch

Undeterred by their loss against Arellano’s opening salvo on the first day of the tournament, the men’s volleyball team stood up and routed neighbors Colegio de San Juan de Letran (CSJL) in a clean sweep and Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) three sets to one. However, San Beda University (SBU) later snapped their two-game winning streak in a scrappy match-up, 1-3.

The Cardinals then returned to form by thrashing the hosts, the San Sebastian CollegeRecoletos (SSC-R) Golden Stags, 3-0. In a show of utter dominance, the Volleyers looked like the team to beat as their offensive repertoire went on full display, with Coach Paul Jan Dolorias at the helm.

In their next outing, Mapúa showed might against Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) as rising stalwart Mark Jason Egan netted 10 points, and departing spikers Samyr Navera and team captain Anjo Pertierra contributed 11 points apiece in another clean sweep.

With the Volleyers in high spirits, they handed Jose Rizal University (JRU) a loss before losing to University of Perpetual Help System-DALTA (UPHSD), 1-3. Their 0-3 loss against the College of Saint Benilde (CSB) came two days later, thereby spoiling their Final Four aspirations this year.

Women’s volleyball: Another troubled season

After another winless season, the Lady Cardinals headed back to Intramuros still hoping for a brighter future despite a

lackluster run in NCAA season 93.

Katrina Racelis shared a sad sentiment with fellow athletes Niella Ramilo and Jhan Morano regarding the outcome of the season. “Syempre nalulungkot kami kasi wala nanaman kaming napanalo this season,” referring to their 0-9 record.

The season’s outcomes seemed to stem, not from a lack of talent, but from the mental aspect of the game.

“Hindi naging pareho yung mga mindset and attitude namin throughout the season,” said Ramilo. She added that the team didn’t gel together at times, thus affecting the team chemistry. Cohesion aside, they also pointed to the lack of guts as a factor for their loss. “Sa una, kakabahan ka tapos magtutuloy-tuloy, so dapat sa susunod e lakasan nila yung loob nila at tumapang sila sa loob ng court,” Racelis elaborated, addressing her younger teammates.

“Lagi sa amin sinasabi ni coach na every game ibigay yung 100% namin,” Morano revealed. “Kung di man kami manalo, basta mabigyan namin

ng good game yung kalaban, ok na sa kanya yun.”

Instead of focusing on the losses, the Lady Cardinals are focusing on the silver lining –the lessons for improvement in the future. This year’s finish emphasized the importance of confidence for Ramilo, who stated that confidence is like a domino effect. “Pag confident ka sa sarili mo, makikita ng teammates mo yun and as an effect, magkakaroon sila ng tiwala at confidence din na you’re giving it your all,” she explained.

Seeking Redemption

After another season of coming up one notch short of a Final Four slot, the Volleyers from the men’s team vow to redeem themselves in the following season. “Babawi kami, kasi wala naman ibang way kundi pataas lang,” spiker Sam Damian explained.

On the other hand, women’s team captain Racelis shared the same sentiments and thanked the Mapúan community, especially the Mapúa Drum Corps for their untiring support. “Nagpapasalamat pa rin kami sa support na binigay nila.

Malaking tulong sa amin yun. Nakakatuwa kasi kahit naging ganun yung outcome ng games namin, andun pa rin sila para i-cheer kami,” Racelis said.

With Pertierra, Navera, Raven Evangelista, Pipo Lumaad, Katrina Racelis and Niella Ramilo all playing on their final year, incoming rookies will have big shoes to fill for the following season.

Despite all the shortcomings, the Volleyers acknowledge what Damian describes as a development in their mentality – preferring to fight back even in the face of overwhelming odds. Men’s team captain Anjo Pertierra also cites their intensity on the court as the main factor for their victories. “Nung na-build yung intensity [on the court], na-develop lalo yung character ng team namin,” he remarked during a post-game interview.

With renewed vigor and experience gained, the Cardinals hope to redeem themselves in the next season of the NCAA .

Hampered today. Hopeful tomorrow. The Volleyers rally for one another despite a shaky NCAA Season 93 stint. Photo by Manual U. Ribo Jr.