THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. LA SALLE PRE-MED SOCIETY VOLUME 1
٠ ISSUE 2 ٠ MARCH 2021
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BIOBEAT
facebook.com/biobeatpremed Volume 1
٠ issue 2 | march 2021
EDITOR'S NOTE
Audrey M. Rellos
Editor-in-chief VERMILAH P. DESPI
Associate Editor
Lindsay Padilla
Managing Editor Coleen Dela Peña
Literary Editor Feature Writers Thea Lanes Jennifer Lyra Gestosani Mary Angelique Dator
Evolution has equipped mankind with senses to detect threats, memory to remember the past, and cognition to plan for the future. Despite this, it seems like we have failed to remember and plan ahead for existential threats that loom over us. The ever-worsening condition of our environment, a virus that we have allowed to reach into pandemic proportions, the overconsumption of Earth's finite resources; are just one of the many threats that pose against the survival of not only our species but all life on Earth. Humanity has grown into such massive power that we now possess the capability to destroy ourselves and the world, all by just consuming what we think is solely ours.
rea Shane Yonzon Leinard Monserate Vermilah Despi Salve Gallardo Rhea Billones
Layout and Graphics Artists Carlo Bais Adrian Bendol Audrey Evidente Mary Angelique Dator
We share this planet with millions of living species, each with its own niches and way of life. We are no different, except for the ability to completely transform our planet to suit our needs and wants. No other living organism on this planet has the capability to transform the planet in the magnitude that our species can do. Such power leads to arrogance, and our arrogance leads to complacency. We have slowly started to destroy the very planet we depend on. This anthropocentric view of the world has caused us to suffer greatly. Our destruction of forest covers led to disasters that claimed countless human lives and properties, and our encroachment into animal habitats brought on novel diseases that wreak havoc on our ill-prepared societies.
Shaira Kee Reika ALEXIS Lizada
Publication Moderator MAnuel eduardo DE LA PAZ
BioBeat is the offical publication of the Pre-Med Society of University of St. La Salle Bacolod. All rights reserved. No part of the Biobeat may be reproduced in any form without written consent. All contributions become the BioBeat property and the Editor-in-Chief reserves the right to edit all articles for publication.
Our confusion for environmental destruction as a sign of progress is blurring the lines between safety and total annihilation. We have been complacent for so long; we cannot continue to let this happen. We have crossed so many lines already; it'll be a surprise if we haven't crossed one yet that we can never turn back from.
Audrey M. Rellos
Editor-in-chief
ABOUT THE COVER
Humanity: maker and crosser of lines. Our civilizations have written lines since the dawn of time, some written in sand, others etched in stone, paper, and pavement. We have used lines as guides and markers, directions on where to go — and warnings on where not to cross. Roads, train platforms, maps, and even social distancing markers, lines are as ubiquitous and universal as our species. However, the lines that separate us from disaster are being blurred, whether by ignorance or intention. Warning signs about our environment, our healthcare institutions, our way of life; we continue to remain complacent. Disasters handed by the wrath of nature, amplified by the greed of mankind, we have willfully blinded ourselves and continue to march towards our last red lines. Our magazine, entitled Red Lines, presents the harsh boundaries that we are slowly blurring out. A call to action, a warning against the continued complacency of society. We must remain vigilant, lest we cross the lines that should never be crossed.
The year 2020 has been a devastating and crucial year for everyone on the planet. The entire world became greatly affected by the new coronavirus, COVID-19. Due to its power to quickly infect and spread in a span of days, all we see and hear from our phones, TVs, and even radios are all about the pandemic. Fast forward to months as we gradually adapted to the new normal – the dreadful year does not stop there. 2020 brought a series of unfortunate events following the lockdown; there were beastly typhoons that hit the Philippines, which made it even worse to accept and live life normally. It may be seen as an act of revenge from nature as countless years have passed where we have gradually destroyed her. Thus, perhaps she made it a point to prove that she is the strongest element we can face. In 2020, the Philippines experienced the tropical cyclone Ambo that affected and injured around 80,000 Filipinos. Its winds were more powerful than a typical typhoon, and this damaged buildings, roads, bridges, and agriculture. Heavy rainfall occurred for days and forced some families to be evacuated. The month of saw heavy rains and several typhoons. Heavy rainfall landed in Cebu and flooded river banks which affected over 400 households. Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO) reported at least two deaths and several missing. In late October, the island of Luzon had been affected by the tropical storm Pepito. The NDRRMC reported around 600 people were affected. What made matters worse was that the rain triggered by typhoons caused the water level of Binga Dam in Benguet province to rise, with the danger of overflowing, which prompted authorities to release water from the facility.
May
October
2020 : A SERIES OF
UNFORTUNATE events by Thea Lanes
Still, in October, tropical depression Ofel and the southwest monsoon hit the country. According to the Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC), around 5,000 people were affected, specifically Quezon, and 20,000 in Cebu province. DROMIC reported flash floods in North Cotobato province affecting over 120,000 people. Before October ended, tropical cyclone Quinta landed. Several people were swept away by floodwaters and thought to be dead in Negros Oriental in Central Visayas. NDRRMC said that the typhoon affected a total and an exponential number of over 900,000 people.
November
Typhoon Rolly 2020
ST TN NE EV VE E E ET TA AN NU UT TR RO OF FN NU U F FO O S SE EI IR RE ES S A A ::0 02 20 02 2 S
Then, came with the most powerful and devastating typhoon that shocked the Filipinos and affected the country. The infamous typhoon Rolly, a super typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 255km/h, affected over 1,468,296 people. Winds, heavy rain, and storm surges caused severe damage, interrupting communications, water, and power supply. Filipinos were on the verge of disaster; news reported people stranded on the roofs of their homes for days with no food and all of their belongings swept away by the flood. As Filipinos, it is our nature to help, so even ordinary citizens did their part to help rescue their fellow countrymen. After this disaster came another, and it was the super typhoon Ulysses. Once again, the Bicol region felt the typhoon's impact, along with Calabarzon and the northern and central part of Luzon; over 200,000 people were affected. Severe flooding and landslides were experienced, and low-lying areas were covered with water. The floods were so intense that over 33,000 people in Metro Manila were taking shelter in 187 evacuation camps – it was described as the worst flooding in years. As the flood situation worsened, the aftermath was astounding. By that time, over 1.7 million people were affected across the regions of the country. After the dreadful months of misfortune, in late . , a tropical depression, Vicky arrived. At least eight people were confirmed dead, and thousands were evacuated. In Surigao del Sur, four people died, and 5,200 moved to evacuation camps in the Davao region. Central Visayas, namely Negros Oriental and Cebu, were also greatly affected. In Luzon, the heavy rain prompted authorities to release water from the Magat Dam, increasing river levels downstream. Then the year ended, and we thought we were out of trouble and danger. While many were welcoming the New Year, non-stop rain was experienced in Negros Occidental, which led to the flooding in the Northern Part of the province, namely the cities of Silay, Victorias, Sagay, and Cadiz. Over 38,000 people were affected, and 15,000 families experienced flash floods caused by heavy rains.
December
So far, we have been experiencing distressing events, from a viral outbreak that became a pandemic to a series of devastating typhoons. However, what is the cause of all these floodings? Is it just the typhoons? Or are we also to blame? According to research, flash floods occur after heavy rainfall, a dam or levee failure, or a sudden water release. Most flash flooding is caused by slowmoving thunderstorms over the same area or heavy hurricanes and tropical storms. So, maybe it is just nature being nature, but why were we so affected? The answer to these questions may be on our minds, yet we choose not to shed light on it. Now, let’s talk about our home; we are blessed with natural resources, from the land to the seas. However, we cannot deny the fact that it has been increasingly degraded throughout the years. Our mountains and vast lands have experienced deforestation, which is the permanent removal of trees, agricultural croplands, urbanization, or even mining activities.
Northern Negros Flood
(Photo courtesy of the Office of Councilor Derek Palanca from https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1126882)
(photo from https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1882616/Bacolod/Local-News/ Agro-fishery-damage-due-to-flooding-in-NegOcc-hit-P42M)
Forest covers are not only home to various species, but they also serve as the lungs of the earth. The loss of trees and vegetation can cause soil erosion leading to flooding and increased greenhouse gasses leading to rising temperature – these greatly contribute to climate change, making us the culprits of killing our own home. Yes, development is the goal, and we should strive to innovate and adapt to the changes around us, but the path to success doesn’t have to jeopardize our environment and the future world that is to be inherited by generations after us. The solutions to our problems are within our capacity as individuals; it would have to require changes in our lifestyle. Change doesn’t have to be drastic; to attain progressive change, one must be willing and determined to make gradual improvements. Whatever change you plan to make, it must be aimed toward sustainability wherein wastes are kept at a minimum, and the use of renewable resources are supported. These are but minor changes; however, by educating and making others aware – even just through casual conversations with the people closest to us – sharing this mindset would eventually cause a ripple of change in a community, a city, a province, a nation, and eventually in the world. However, getting the message across to the people in positions of power and influence is also very important to make a more significant impact.
Images taken from https://i.insider.com/5e1c46ea49878c0fe151b7e2?width=1100&format=jpeg&auto=webp https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/14/world/asia/taal-volcano.html
S TN E V E E T A N U T R O F N U F O S E I R E S A : 0 2 0 2
Due to the fact that they have the financial means, their support towards a sustainable lifestyle is genuinely vital. Aside from this, we must accept that most people live on a day-to-day basis, just focusing on what they have to do to survive at the moment. Thus, we must choose not to chastise them but instead to fight ignorance and educate others on the effects of the path we are currently on. Offering solutions is helpful, but to make a long-lasting impact on others' minds, one must be able to give facts and explain things logically, making sure that others would understand. At first, it may be hard to begin the change as we have grown accustomed to a certain way of living – having more than we need without thinking of the negative impact of patronizing that kind of lifestyle. Yet, we must accept that choosing to be blind and deaf to the apparent problems that our world faces will only lead us closer to destruction. As we continue down our current path, it would only take a little time before the damages become irreversible. These floods and other disasters may, in time, wash our race from the face of the Earth. However, life will flourish again, but we will forever be absent. Thus, it is indeed correct to think what we are entirely dependent on nature, and as we go forward, may we choose the decisions that are sustainable and lead to the preservation of the human race along with the other life forms on Earth. A year bringing forth a series of unfortunate events has passed, and we have been victims of the trauma and hardships it has brought. In the end, it is up to us to rise from the rubble with newfound wisdom and choose between change and healing or stagnant ignorance.
Taal Ash Fall 2020
A A A A A
COVID-19 COVID-19 COVID-19 COVID-19 COVID-19
RECAP RECAP RECAP RECAP RECAP
by Jennifer Lyra Gestosani
The year 2020 was a plot twist we wished never happened. Who knew that it made coughing and sneezing much more disrespectful than farting loudly in public? The main culprit: The COVID-19 pandemic. It sounds like a movie, right? We wished it was, and we never thought that those viral outbreaks that we always see in news and movies are happening right now for more than a year. It is still spreading and proliferating, and unfortunately, taking more lives at this very moment. As of writing, there are 113,100,769 positive cases and 2,508,922 lives that had been taken worldwide. The whole world felt its deadly presence, drastically changing people’s lives in all aspects. New protocols are observed, unemployment rates skyrocketing, the economic and tourism crisis is also out of hand, social gatherings and face-to-face interactions were utterly discouraged, if not prohibited. Looking back, how did these come about? Here is a COVID-19 recap for us to recall how did this all happen: As soon as 2020 started, on the 5th of January, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the first Disease Outbreak News regarding a mysterious, SARS-like coronavirusrelated pneumonia in Wuhan, China. At this point, they were still doubting the severity of this virus, but they are starting to consider travel precautions. After four days, the
organization had then proceeded to release a package of technical guidance to all countries on how to detect, test, and manage potential cases based on what is known about the virus at that time. China had also publicly shared the complete genetic sequence of the novel coronavirus on January 10. The virus began to spread in China’s neighboring countries like South Korea and Japan. The first case recorded outside of mainland China is from Thailand on January 13, 2020. Our Philippine Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III ordered the Bureau of Quarantine to strengthen the surveillance of incoming travelers from China, where the first traveler being monitored is a 5year-old Chinese who came from Wuhan on January 21, 2020. Our authorities, however, stopped short of banning incoming flights from China. Near the end of January, Duque was summoned to the House of Representatives on the 29th, where he released a statement that banning flights only from China would be unfair, as other countries also have confirmed cases. At this time, Duque was still having concerns regarding diplomacy, and despite the call for a travel ban, the President was still preoccupied with other matters of state. As if surprises never end, a man under monitoring has died from pneumonia on the same day.
IMAGE CREDIT: FLICKR USER ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK, CREATIVE COMMONS
On January 30, the news broke out that COVID-19 (then called nCoV) has now reached the Philippines. It was a 38-year-old Chinese Woman from Wuhan that traveled here in the country. DOH Secretary Duque reassured the public that DOH is dealing with the worsening situation and then recommends travel restrictions from Mainland China. By January 31, the last day of the month, The World Health Organization issues the coronavirus as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern for the sixth time since 2009. They expressed concern for the potential of the virus to spread in countries that have weaker health care systems. They gave a risk assessment of very high for China and high at the global level. In the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte has imposed a travel ban on Chinese citizens from Hubei Province and other areas of China.
A
February 2, 2020: The DOH reports the first death outside of China due to the virus in the Philippines, wherein a 44-year-old Chinese male died. He was a travel companion of the first confirmed case in the country. The next day, President Duterte has rejected the calls to ban all travelers from Mainland China from entering, as the first time he had spoken about the virus. He said that banning Chinese travelers is an act of xenophobia. In his following statements, he downplayed the seriousness of the coronavirus spread in the Philippines, where he says that it is trivial, questioning why we have to be spiritual instead of going to the hospital. The government is under stress, senators questioning Duque’s capacity to lead due to his shortcomings and the DOH Sec. blaming the DOH Epidemiology Bureau of the mishandling.
On February 5, The Department of Health confirms the third case on coronavirus in PH, a 60-year-old woman from Wuhan. It was a cruise ship member of the Diamond Princess and the first Filipino case that the virus had infected. President Duterte has displayed his want to instill public order on February 10. As he said that should the spread of the coronavirus worsen, the military and police must be ready. For two weeks after that, there were no recorded added cases. The World Health Organization said that the Philippines' COVID-19 containment looked promising. It turned out that this was the calm before the storm for what was in store in March. As soon as March has started, DOH confirms 2 Filipinos contract the virus, breaking the record of no cases of almost a month on March 6, 2020. One of the positive patients was a man who frequented a Muslim Prayer Hall in San Juan. The next day, DOH confirms local transmission of the COVID-19 is loose among the populace. After two days, the President declares Public Health Emergency but still rejects the idea of a lockdown as, upon assessment, it has still not reached the pandemic level.
covid recap Not quite long after, he said that the WHO had characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic on March 11, 2020, considering that they are apprehensive about the alarming levels of spread and severity and by the alarming levels of inaction. On this day, PH records the first local death by COVID-19. It was the wife of the 34th confirmed case who attended the Senate Hearing on March 5. As a result, many of the Senators had been quarantined.
IMAGE SOURCE: Filipinos wearing masks and face shields for protection against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) walk along a street market in Manila, Philippines, December 3, 2020. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez/File Photo
A
This was the start of a series of lockdowns starting with Metro Manila, as it was declared on March 12, 2020. This caused thousands of Filipinos to rush out of NCR. On March 15, the lockdown had started, and other regions followed suit. Even though the regions had been placed in lockdown, there was still difficulty in enforcing physical distancing in public transportation. The lockdown was called “Enhanced Community Quarantine,” or ECQ. The number of COVID-19 cases recorded at that time was 142, a very drastic and rapid spread compared to last month.
covid
On March 17, there were news of the first recorded recovery from the virus in the country, and the implementation of the nationwide lockdown. Public Transport Vehicles were suspended, the transportation vehicles for skeletal workers and front liners are up to the Local Government Units (LGUs). At the end of March, Duterte signs the Bayanihan To Heal As One-Act. After this, the lockdown had been repeatedly extended until May where Luzon was lowered to Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine. The Philippines is known to have the longest strict lockdowns in the entire world, and the first Southeast Asian country with the highest number of cases. During these lockdowns, so much has happened. Duque stepped down, rampant news about police brutality, acts of corruption, defiance of protocols by people in power, unemployment rates skyrocketing, and lastly, the people were slowly starving. By the end of 2020, there were 474,064 recorded cases and 9,244 deaths due to the COVID-19 virus.
Now, many countries had already produced a vaccine at which a first mass vaccination had been conducted during December 2020. By February, 175.3 million vaccine doses had been administered with seven different vaccines, according to the WHO. However, there are new threats to be faced, as there are new viral variants identified from the United Kingdom by late
rec December 2020 and apparently has reached PH shores, where it was announced on January 13, 2020. As of February 21, 2021, we have 62 recorded confirmed cases of the new variant. While we still don’t have the vaccine at hand, each and every one of us has the duty to protect ourselves and, as much as possible, limit and discourage going out. Be vigilant and verify news as an “infodemic,” or the spread of fake news and misinformation are as viral as the virus itself. We will have to brace and protect ourselves and hope that there will be no more worse things to come during this pandemic.
Becoming a Doctor to the Barrio By Lindsay Marie Padilla
A
graduate of the pioneer batch of USLS Medicine, the young Bien Eli Nillos knew since his early high school days that he wanted to become a doctor. For him, this profession was perfect since it combined the two things he loved the most-- science and service. The many involvements he had in different student organizations allowed him to experience serving in the community and learn essential skills along the way. “Being a community medicine practitioner requires a range of skills not only confined to diagnosing and treating diseases. You have to be good in health promotion and communication skills”, he said. When asked how he came to the decision to forego private practice, Dr. Nillos recalls his oath-taking ceremony in Cebu after passing the board exams. The invited guest speaker talked about going into communities where doctors were needed the most. For him, this was like a sign from God. This confirmation, coupled with his direct experience with working in the community as a junior intern during his medical rotation, cemented his desire to take the road less taken- becoming a doctor to the barrio.
However, becoming a doctor to the barrio is often called the “road less taken” for a reason, for it is not without its challenges. Dr. Nillos expresses that the hardest challenge might be being away from your family and the comforts one is used to since you have to spend most of your time in the community. Aside from this, one still has to deal with politics and the changing social and cultural norms. Why then does Dr. Nillos still choose to practice this specialization? At the end of the day, it’s all about the fulfillment in seeing the legacy he has left behind in the community. Despite the hardships and uphill climb, seeing the community improved because of his initiatives is what keeps him going. “In due time, the people will realize that the health programs are for their own good,” Dr. Nillos added. In fact, even after he leaves the area, the programs continued to run and yield better health outcomes because the people have started to own the programs themselves. The fruit of years of his labor indeed comes sweet for our resident doctor in the barrio, for he was awarded the Grand Distinction Award for Most Outstanding Doctor to the Barrio in 2009. Being a BS Biology alumnus himself, Dr. Nillos has this to say to our current doctor aspirants: “Medical school is not for everyone. It is not easy. But if you think this is your “calling,” then you have to put your heart and mind to it.” He also urges students to start now and not wait until medical school to acquire essential leadership skills such as communication skills, altruistic attitude, critical thinking, sense of justice, etc. It is because students will be too busy in medical school learning about science and clinical skills, so they should expose themselves to a lot of opportunities where they can acquire these skills as early as now. Lastly, Dr. Nillos imparts that like a true Lasallian, we should never forget to do all our actions, for the love of God.
BECOMING A DOCTOR TO THE BARRIO
...like a true Lasallian, we should never forget to do all our actions, for the love of God.
a l s n a o i t a l s n am o a i mo t on n a r ng n e g u r t e us t N IIN s el liiq ge qu ng ue An eD yA Da ry ar at to M Ma or y y r b b
From the West and East Coasts of the United States to Japan and Macau of the Orient, students from far and wide make the decision to fly miles from their hometown to study here at the University of St. La Salle Bacolod. You’ve probably seen us walking around the halls and probably wondered why they wanted to study here in the first place! In the midst of a global pandemic, it may be hard to introduce ourselves out of the blue, but I got you covered. No need to mull over the fascinating meet-cute scenarios you've pushed into the deep recesses of your mind, because here lie the inner thoughts of what international students (like me!) think about living in the Philippines and how it changed our global perspectives!
A
Common
Thread:
Heritage
&
Culture
A lot of our international peers share a few threads of commonality, one of which is our inherent Filipino lineage. Like myself, students that arrive here in the Philippines are first generational citizens of their respective countries. A majority of our group contain Americans, who were either native-born in the States or became naturalized citizens at a very young and impressionable age. However, some students are dual citizens of both the Philippines and their own countries, and few come here with no Filipino bloodline at all (our dear Irish and Japanese friends serve as living testimony to that fact). Despite our backgrounds, a lot of our international students share the same excitement of living in a new environment and relishing in the way of the Filipinos. American-raised student Angelo Lopez, from second-year nursing, states that he wanted to “get in touch with his culture more” as a majority of this family are rooted in Bacolod and his birthplace of Iloilo. This interest in learning more about the culture is shared even between students that don’t harbor any roots in the Philippines at all, like Darragh Connolly, a first-year psychology student, who says, “I’ve always had an interest in traveling and learning about other cultures and traditions.” Even as we grow up in different upbringings, our curiosity and eagerness to experience the liveliness of the Philippines bind us to this country, its exotic traditions, and to the University of St. La Salle.
Language Immersion: The Boon and
(Sometimes) Bane
of International Students
Challenges arise when taking on this international journey. The biggest obstacle a lot of foreign students face is the dense language barrier, one that comes as a hit or miss for a lot of us. An interesting and frequent trend that I spotted while interviewing my fellow foreigners was their fear of communicating before they even stepped foot in the country. Learning a language comes with a lot of hidden factors that influence its outcome, including a person’s ability to quickly pick up the snippets of the language, whether they were exposed beforehand, and their personalities as well! Frankly, everyone’s situation is different, because we are all unique. Some students have had the wonderful opportunity to hone their speaking abilities, merely from the exposure they've had as young children while others may not have had the pleasure. In my case, although I had lived in a household that regularly speaks in a tongue other than English, my family had derived from areas in the Philippines where the dialects were on different ends of the language spectrum! Similar experiences were shared with students like Jade and Danielle Jardenil, third-year nursing students from California, who share that they were very anxious about communicating in Ilonggo as they are not quite adept with social interactions. Frankly, international students worry that they won’t be able to reach a deeper or more personal interaction with their fellow batchmates due to a stuttering understanding of the local dialect. Despite our personal reservations, we are adamant about learning the local language. Want to know a secret ingredient in language immersion? Just do it! Aitana Macariola, a polyglot from Macau, is very well-adept in the language department as she speaks Chinese, Hiligaynon, English, and bits of Tagalog! "I was critical at first, but also you only live once," she says as she recounts her experience in learning Chinese and refining her Hiligaynon. Danielle, Jade Jardenil’s sister, also agrees with this advice! "Try not to take it too seriously (when they tease you). Just do it. Don't be afraid to make mistakes.”
Reflecting on Our Experiences: A Foreigners’ Perspective of the Philippines
Our foreign students hold many exciting memories that they will surely hold for years to come, and as people who are new to the country, there are a lot of things to experience. On one side of the tourism spectrum, the unexpected variations of common locations that are found in every major city like the malls, favorite restaurant chains, or mode of public transportation might appeal to people's interest. Jade and Danielle have said that even the Burger King and SM Malls weren’t what they were expecting at all. For Angelo, discovering new places to eat or hang out was always fun with the company of his newfound friends. For others, the natural beauties are true sights to behold. Alberto Benedicto, a graduating engineering student, says that his time in Dumaguete was “quite the experience” as he was able to travel with a diverse group of friends that he never thought he would meet. There were a lot of admiring comments about the beaches in the Philippines. Aitana notes that some of the cooler places she wasn’t expecting to find were the beaches, as the beaches in Macau couldn’t compare. Amazing festivals like Masskara are also a must when coming to the Philippines. I remember my first time attending Masskara as the most intense, vibrant, and lively experience that I would never have gotten back home. Being able to witness the energy of the city through the parades and dancing truly felt like the heartbeat of the city resonated with the people. Additionally, the experiences they had in school were quite memorable and different in the eyes of our foreigners. As a lot of them are affiliated with nursing, some experiences that they wanted to share were the differences in teaching styles compared to their home countries. The aspiring nurse Danielle recalls that “things inside the hospital were the most memorable”. Some of her experiences included catheterization, wound dressing, birthing, and much more. On the other hand, activities outside of academia were imprinted in the minds of freshmen students. Angelo recollects his time in Cheerdance, a vigorous and energizing event that occurs during Animolympics. He states, “The interaction with the people in my course, the hard work that was put into it, that was the unique experience of Animolympics”.
A Letter to the Future: Our Advice to Incoming International Students
Looking back on the wisdom and experience that we have gained since coming here, there are many things that we want to reflect on. A lot of our international experiences have forged us to adapt to things that are way out of our comfort zone. In a lot of cases, it made us realize the weaknesses that we had, but also the strengths within ourselves. For some, it has taught people how to be more patient and understanding as we stand in the shoes of others. It has encouraged us to become more confident with ourselves and in social situations, even with the simple task of communicating. Our minds are exposed to worldviews that wouldn’t have been possible if we had not decided to come here. Our advice to future international students? Prepare for an experience like no other. Make new friends and indulge yourself in the cultures and traditions of a new country. Don’t feel nervous with other people you meet, because most likely, they will want to know you as much as you want to know them. We are all just students trying to chase our dreams and reach our fullest potential. Might as well have some fun along the way.
noitces
yraretil
IN AWE
Coleen May Dela Peña As I opened my eyes, the flaming sunshine touched my bruised skin I slowly walked outside, felt the cold wind rushing from within It is with great pleasure, I get to see these dashing smiles Simple families gathered, sharing joy and delight Captivating sceneries, flashed before my eyes And the green meadows whispered hello, wishing they will never see me go I have never seen, a view so astounding And I am in awe every day, As I shout and sing I would want to give my Creator, the highest of recognition For painting this canvas my eyes have set upon
SWING
Rea Shane Yonzon Umihip ang hanging maingat na dumadampi sakin Marahang dinuduyan ang swing na aking nilululan Tahimik akong nakaupo habang nakatulala Nang ang katabing swing ay biglang umuga nang bahagya Hindi ko 'to pinansin at nanatili saking bula. Pagkaraan kiskisan ng mga metal ang umingay Na parang may mabigat na bagay ditong inilagay Pero ang bagay na siyang pinaka nakapagtataka Ni isang anino ay wala naman akong nakita Pagkat ako'y nakayuko't sa sapatos nakatingin Habang ang araw saking likod ay papalubog na rin. Umihip ulit ang hangin pero ito'y malamig na Nayakap ko ang sarili dahil balahibo ko'y nagsitindigan na. Nang biglang gumalaw ang aking katabing swing nang kusa Na tila ba mayro'ng dumuduyan dito nang bahagya. Ako'y natigilan at unti-unti nang kinabahan Kinukumbinsi ang sariling ito'y hangin lamang. Pero sa 'di inaasahan, ito'y gumalaw nang mabilis Na nagtulak sa akin na dali-dali ring humagibis. Subalit naramdaman kong may humigit sa buhok ko At sapilitang pinabalik sa swing at pinaupo. Napaiyak ako sa sobrang kaba't sakit ng ulo Pero sinubukan ko pa ring lumaban at tumayo. Ngunit naramdaman kong mayro'ng humawak sa kamay ko Ako ay kinilabutan sapagkat malamig ito. Bigla namang may huminga sa gilid ng aking tenga At sa nakakakilabot na boses ito'y nagwika. "Huwag kang umalis", ang boses nito'y parang nasa hukay. Sa sobrang takot, hindi na 'ko nakagawa ng ingay. "Huwag mo akong iwan dito" sambit nitong muli sa akin At bigla, ay dumilim na lamang ang aking paningin.
PINALANGGA
Rea Shane Yonzon Kanami sang iya yuhom sa akon Sang kami duwa ang gapanglakaton. Ang iya tingog daw iya ka anghel Ang iya buhok kulang nalang laurel. Kung upod ko siya, ara ko sa langit Sa tsura ko 'di madula ang ngirit. Ang hamyo niya gasulod sakon ilong Kag kulang nalang nga ako malipong Sa kasadya nga gakabatyagan Sa akon tagipusuon kag dughan. Ang akon nga pangalan gintawag niya Hinali ako nakabatyag sang kulba. Ginkuhit niya ang akon nga abaga Nagyuhom ko kag gin-atubang siya. Pero nakibot ko kay wala na Nagbalikid ko sa tuo kag wala Pero wala ko gid siya ya nakita. Nagtubo na ang kulba sakon dughan Ako bala iya na ginbayaan? Nabatian ko ang iya nga tingog Kag ang ulo ko ya pirti ang libog. Pagtulok ko sa dalom ara to siya Nahulog gali sa kanal ang gwapa.
UNCERTAIN CERTAINTY
Coleen May Dela Peña An exquisite meal I consumed when I was famished, it was You And it was thee who brought the dying flame, back to life I have never fathom that I would feel a warmth, which brought forth growth in the drowning seed, only with you And it is with utmost joy that I am thrilled with the thought of spending every sunset with you So here I am, still wandering through the vast lands, hoping to find you again My heart too, longs for the day when every doubts would vanish, and this imprisoned heart would have the courage to flee from these chains of uncertainty There goes my everything, my all, my love, regret echoes into my soul as I did not make you feel that way, But I do not doubt my actions toward you So here goes, to all the wishes I spent, hoping that whatever it is we share at present will continue to bloom in every setting of the moon, and rising of the sun
And as the sun rises, I too, bid farewell to this unified love we cherish together Although it may seem unpredicted but I say to you, that I love you, even when things go down, or rise up Love, how simple it may seem, wakes up all of my senses I do not wish to hear anything as such, if it will just vanish like the dew at the thrilling dawn Nothing vanishes, except me undyingly bidding farewell to this ever-growing romance we have How do you say goodbye to something that hasn’t even begun yet? Oh, I did think for a second that everything has come to an end Perhaps we could light the fire to this uncertain certainty If love is what you claim for what this is to be, you will never be uncertain Because love, is certain in every way Farewell.
E-studyante
Leinard Monserate ako ay isang mag-aaral at meron akong pangarap na magkaroon ng trabaho mga mahal ko'y di maghirap pero sa panahon ngayon hindi na normal ang buhay may pandemya dito at doon buhay ay nakasalalay pero tuloy pa rin ako kahit hindi 'to madali ako ay hindi susuko matiyaga dapat ang ugali
ENOUGH
Rea Shane Yonzon "Dear, you are more than enough" That is a big lie, because the truth is You are not significant in this world You should never believe that You are someone who is worth loving You are someone worth the tears But you should always bear in mind that You are just nothing and you are full of flaws You don't deserve a place in this planet Some people might even tell you that You are great, perfectly imperfect and priceless But the truth actually is the opposite Some might tell you that you're weak and a fool Well, they are saying the truth Some may say you are great as you already are Don't ever believe that statement Whatever happens, even if you die "Dear, you will never be enough" Read again from bottom to top.
para sa kinabukasan patuloy ang edukasyon kahit ano ang paraan gawin natin itong misyon ang pangalan ko ay Leinard isa akong e-studyante patuloy akong magaaral kahit online man ang klase
TATAK PREMED By Vermilah Ann P. Despi
From greeting some org mates in the hallways of the campus to clicking the ‘wave’ button in Zoom calls online. Going from having one or two group acquaintance parties and gatherings to having none. Coming together monthly to share group updates to being cities apart.
D
ue to the detestable coronavirus pandemic, these are just some of the things that the Pre-med Society student organization has had to brawl within their new school year. The novel virus also brought on novel conditions by which the organization took up as a challenge while having service in mind. Despite the uncertainties of what lies ahead, the organization forged forward as it remained active and strived to bring quality service to its members while at the same time, adapting to the abrupt changes that they had to face. The school year started late. It began in August, which is a bit behind compared to the month of June which most students have been accustomed to for years. Along with that adjustment, on-campus student classes were all suspended which follows the halt of all student activities and events as well. These changes brought restrictions to the movements of various school organizations and limited them to go virtual and utilize the available online platforms in order to continue presenting activities for their members. In the case of the Pre-med Society, its listings for virtual events actually began to trickle in way before this term started. The organization first initiated programs that targeted those who are facing the pandemic head-on --- that mainly include the unfazed frontliners battling the disease.
Well now, going back to the very start of the school year, the Pre-med Society has continued what it have been up to in the past and proceeded to consistently provide its members with activities in which they can actively participate. A number of virtual events during the term were carefully planned and considered despite COVID-19 hardships. These include webinars conducted by esteemed speakers and partner universities/groups, as well as kamustahan and remote learning experience discussions amongst members. Most of these events have also included fundraising events for members who have connectivity problems and for victims of disasters. The virtual online events for the new semester kicked off with the BS Biology Orientation wherein the current students, transferees, and freshmen were introduced to the PMS officers, and to the faculty and staff that handle the BS Biology program. Through this activity, the students were able to meet one another and get familiar with the new methods involved in distance teaching and learning. The fact that the term started way before the new members could meet with the current ones personally was a tall wall for the organization to breakthrough as this means that building relationships was a challenge to
DEMERP KATAT
As of June, the student organization reported having accomplished 10 undertakings, all of which were done virtually. These include the Support Frontliners Donation Drive, Mittere: Message of Hope Appreciation Video as a tribute to frontliners, and the making of “Heal the World” Song Cover dedicated to them. Aside from those, the organization began arranging online symposiums namely the BioSpeaks Webinar Series which covered a wide array of topics which was participated by its members as well as other students from other universities. Its first installment started with the BioSpeaks Webinar Series: Demystifying the Novel Coronavirus that Swept the World, followed by BioSpeaks Webinar Series: The Silent Frontliners: Unknown Battlegrounds of Microbiologists in Health and Environmental Challenges. Additionally, the Pre-med Society also has been hard at work beefing up their social media presence by updating their Facebook page weekly with BioFacts: An Infographics Series Campaign for the Month of the Ocean. Talk about dedication and hard work! The school year hasn’t even started yet the activities had already been overflowing.
DEMERP KATAT
reckon. However, despite being cities or even a province apart, the organization was still able to establish such a relationship by bringing BIOCON: The USLS Pre-Med Society’s Virtual Biology Convention which happened in October. This provided an avenue for the members to get along through a fun competition among the different year levels. As mentioned, the events for webinars and symposiums were also made sure to continue. The organization was able to invite speakers from various fields of the profession to talk about a wide array of topics. The continuation for the new installment of the BioSpeaks Webinar Series happened on the month of September with BioSpeaks: New Secondary Metabolites from Marine Cyanobacteria, and followed by BioSpeaks: Sexual Selection and BioSpeaks: Island Hopping Aliens in a Biodiversity Hotspot Archipelago in November respectively. Pre-Med Society was also able to partner with other universities and groups like the UPLB and Juan’s Park Youth Leaders, to mention some. This allowed its members to participate in their own respective symposiums and causes. The list goes on for the activities done and participated by the Pre-Med Society for this school year. And to mention just one more, we can’t possibly leave out the organization’s Pass it On Initiative where the organization, together with the alumni were able to extend help to struggling BS Biology students. This initiative generated funds that were able to provide load assistance for the 12 beneficiaries of the group. This project embodied the motion that no one should be left behind.
The year 2020 has been a challenge not only to the faculty and students but to all organizations to remain steadfast with their mission and vision. The USLS Pre-Med Society has proven that we can rise above challenges, and we can see potentials in those difficulties. What drives us to push through with all the activities despite the uncertainties is our passion and perseverance. The organization firmly believes that this is a challenge that we choose to respond to with integrity, energy, and vision. The challenge is always to reach out for excellence not just as individuals but as a team, as groups, as a community, and as a family that holds tights to our faith to serve and lead. A lot has happened in this school year, and it has not even ended yet. Despite the hardships, the Pre-Med Society, much like the other hundreds of organizations in the country, has found ways to stick together despite the constraints in distance. We have come a long way, and we can say that we have conquered a number of hurdles that came our way. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg, as we can see that this pandemic is still far from being resolved. In fact, during this time, we can consider that we are still testing the waters. But setting all those aside, you can expect the Pre-Med Society to continue doing whatever they can to stay active, dependable and make a difference even when the situation gets tough, one Zoom call at a time.