Vanguard Vol. XXXV Issue No. 3

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DA SHARES FARM-TOMARKET ROADS

and

Engineering and

>> sundan sa pahina 7 >> see page

Planting seeds on Future Agricultural and Biosystems Engineers SNIPPETS:

by: Jobelle L. Waje

pinag-utos ng Sandiganbayan na mabawi sa pamilya ng dating Pangulong Ferdinand Mar cos ang humigit kumulang na P24.325 milyong halaga ng paint ings at likhang-sining na kanilang nakulimbat noong panahon ng diktadura.

campus Soriano tackles issues of violating University “laws”

Mahigit 24.3 bilyong halaga ng likhang sining ng Marcos, ipinapasauli

I

NCIP vs Gov. Pineda; Aetas relocation local

S

ACCEPTANCE Romel G. Tiangco gladly from Engr. Romel G. Tiangco)

ac cepts the certificate of recognition after the seminar (Photo

“Why there is no land left for the housing of the Aetas? Why I was the one who bought land for their resettlement site. The NCIP is saying that Aetas have abundant ancestral lands”, says Vice- Gover nor Lilia Pineda as she expressed her disappointment to the Na tional Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) after alleged “snail paced” registration of some Aetas in Porac on the Certificate of An cestral Domain Title (CADT) last November 28, 2019.

by: Angelo D. Tolentino

>> see page 3 v DISCUSSIONFROMBURIEDTHE >> FOLLOW ON PAGE 14 yaman...itagoTagu-taguan,moang >> FOLLOW ON PAGE 19 >> see page 2 Hail the ‘hilots’ and ‘albularyos’... >> FOLLOW ON PAGE 26 PSAU Students Decry Ex-Convicts’ Right to Run In Elections onnationnumbers>> sundan sa pahina 12 Teen pregnancies due to moral -POPCOMdecadence >> follow news on page 13 >> follow feature on page 25 Poems Depressionand >> FOLLOW ON PAGE 24 anguard /TheSinukuanGazetteOfficial@gmail.com /TheSinukuanGazetteOfficial/sinukuangazette

THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSLETTER OF PAMPANGA STATE AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY VOLUME XXXV ISSUE NO. 3 | NOV - DEC 2019

“Nagrereklamo, tamad” pointed by the University President, Dr. Honorio M. Soriano Jr. during the morning ritual on October 14, 2019... 12

students

OF RECOGNITION. DA Representative, Engr.

FeaturesEditorialLiterariesDevcomm

ni: Anton C. Miranda

by: Anton C. Miranda

G.

Ayon sa inilabas na partial summary judgement ng Sandigan bayan First Division, napatunayan ng Presidential Commission on Good Governance (PCGG) na ang halaga ng artworks na nakuha ni Ferdinand Marcos at misis nitong si Imelda Marcos noong Martial Law ay labis na “out of proportion” sa kanilang pinagsamang sweldo.

campus

tressing the benefits of farm-to-market roads (FMRs), a seminar on designing and construction of Farm-to-Market roads, with the BSAE-V (Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering) Engr. Romel Tiangco as speaker, took place on the 17th of October, at the College of Resource Agricultural Mechanization (CREAM) Bldg.

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Moreover, faculty members and non- teach ing personnel recognized the need to conduct such assessment to provide an overview of one’s relative level of wellness.

The seminar was made possi ble through the partnership of the Department of Agriculture (DA), in partnership with Department of Resource Engineer ing and sign,themainlyFMRs.HeadneeringAgriculturalfromhisthe(DREAM).MechanizationAgriculturalTiangcogracingeventinsharingexpertisewastheRegionalEngiDivision,ofRegionIIISaiddiscussionfocusedonvalidation,deandconstruction

Ako personally, nagpapacheck talaga ako every quarter, lalo na ‘yung blood chem para mamonitor yung health status, yung sugar at yung cholesterol. Kasi nasa lahi namin, kaya maganda yung ganitong program, sometimes you can’t prevent pero you can delay,” he added.Furthermore, in compliance to Commission (CSC) Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 13 series of 2017 or the Guidelines for Mandato ry Drug Testing for Public Officials and Em ployees and Other Purposes, the work force of the institution were also required to undergo clinical drug testing for the retention of offi cials and employees in government service.

“Tiangcocalledhungriest.thearefoodtheFarmers,greatestofcontributeinfrastructure,technology,tenure,andtoonethePhilippines’ironies:oneofcountry’smainproducers,alsoamongpoorestandStudentsalsorewhatEngr.reiterated,

The college dean, Dr. Rosani P. Manalastas also reflects that seminars like this with the future agricultural engineers, is just right as he said, “Expertise ng isang agricultural engineer ang farm-to-market road project. Ang farm-to-market roards are important for our farmers, for them to easily transport their agri-harvest to markets.”

therefore come to terms that FMR projects must be prioritized saying, “Kailangan iprioritize yung FMRs kasi agricul tural by nature yung Philippines. Everyday we eat, everyday we consume products, bakit ‘di nila ipaprioritize yung FMRs?”

PSAU Employees undertake Annual Check-up

“Maganda ‘yung nangyaring check up kasi makikita mo kung mayroon kang karamda man, less hassle and more convenient dahil hindi mo na kailangan lumayo, at so far, very accurate ang mga resulta.” said College Librar ian, Sharon Rulloda.

medical examination in comparison to the previousLiwanagyears.also expressed the importance of conducting such activity by reiterating the need to check and monitor the health status of every university personnel.

Because of the lecture, the students had also been acquainted with the specific design con cepts of the FMRs, “Design must be suitable for traffic volume, design speed and type of vehicle. It must be consistent and avoid sur prise changes in alignment, grade and sight distances. Design must be pleasing with road users; must be complete in control devices such as lane markers and road signs. It must be safe for driving and should ensure the con fidence of drivers,” Lusong enumerated. Engr. Tiangco admits of “kulang na bud get” for these projects but this year’s budget for FMRs increased to P12 billion from P5.2 billion last year, according to the DA. However, not everyone is impressed with the budget increase. Groups like the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), Unyon ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA), and the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM) said many rural areas are still lacking FMRs, compromising the livelihood and household food security of farmers.

Employees had to go through various medical examinations including, X-ray, blood chemistry test, urinalysis and electrocardio diagram.According to Dr. Zilpha Florinda Liwanag, Head of Health Services, this year’s said un dertaking was remarked to be more efficient with regards to the process.

Generally, students consider the seminar to be useful and eventful because they learn more about the Philippine Agricultural Engineering Standard (PAES) mainly by the discussion of the FMRs. “May mga bagay kasi kami na hindi naming alam pero alam na namin ngayon,” they said.

Na dapat daw kapag sa‘wagengineermagigingkanakamasisilawmgaibibigay

to your cardiovascular and lipid profile, kasi may ECG doon at Xray malalaman din ‘yung status ng heart at lungs.”

>> from page 1 CAMPUS

Problems in agriculture such as lack of resourc es, land

A

ng contractor, maging professional ka, dapat sumunod ka sa tamang standard.”

Physical Education Instructor, Aljon Samson stated, “Yung benefit noon, you are becoming more aware specially when it comes

iming to ensure the physical well-being of all employees, the PSAU Infirmary lead the Annual Medical Check- Up for both teaching and non-teaching staff at the Farmer’s Training Center Auditorium last October 15 and 16, 2019.

Yung FMR yung nagcoconnect ng major roads sa agricultural production areas,” said Gabriel Lapuz.

by: Ma. Franchescka Yumang

Besides, ”FMRs are important game chang ers for the agriculture sector other than irriga tion, mechanization, better seeds, competent extension workers, etc.,” according to the DA.

NEWS DA shares Farm-to-Market Roads

SOLUTION BEARERS. V-BS Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering students together with DA Region III representative Engr. Romel G. Tiangco posing after the seminar (Photo from Engr. Romel G. Tiangco)

The seminar served as an avenue for the participants, who are the future engineers, to think about the significance of FMRs in general.“

of FMRs which serve as “catalyst” in improving the rural economy according to the DA.

“The recent medical check up had increased number of participants and manpower of the provider, it also had faster results.” Liwanag responded when asked to evaluate the recent

“Yung kahalagahan kasi ng FMR is para mamaintain yung freshness ng agricultural products, like sa mga malalayong probinsya if bibyahe pa sila, may easy access sila sa mismong public markets,” Novelene Lusong added.Thestudents

The PISA also covers Math and Science and the Philippines scored below average, garner ing a score of 353 points in Math and 357 in Science over an average of 489 points in both categories.PISAisa worldwide study or test that evaluates student aging 15 years old in their academic performance and literacy. In 2018, there are 79 participating countries, including

theThePhilippines.Philippines’ involve ment in PISA 2018 targets the globalization of the quality of Philippine basic education as part of the Quality Basic Education Reform Plan.

by: Kimberly S. David

P NEWS anguardv @TheSinukuanGazetteOfficial 3

Now that traffic signages and traffic en forcers were administered on some key spots where traffic is most rampant, considering the construction of new roads, drivers are also expected to submit as means of maintaining the order inside the University.

ursuant to Proclamation No. 1030, declar ing November as the Organic Agriculture (OA) month, the Agriculture Training Institute (ATI) Region III held its first search

Animal Science Society President, Jemalyn Yuzon said “Proud ako bilang President ng Animal Science na nakapasok sila sa top 10. Hindi ganoon kadali ang sumali sa mga ganoo ng patimpalak, lalo na nataong midterm exam at saka nakakabilib sila at sobra akong proud na nag-uwi sila ng karangalan para sa ating Unibersidad.

The Philippines’ first participation in the Pro gramme for International Student Assessment (PISA) of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has been a flop for the country ranked 79th in Reading, lowest among 79 nations.

Five agriculture students represented Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU), Ms. Janice Appleman, fourth year Animal Science student bagged third place while Ms. Angelica Mangalino earned sixth place among 35 vying agriculture students from Aurora State College of Technology (ASCOT), Central Luzon State Universi ty (CLSU), Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU), Pampanga State Agricultural Univer sity (PSAU), and Bulacan Agricultural State College (BASC).

Soriano tackles issues...

PROUD REPRESENT. Ms. Janice Appleman, duly awarded during the search for Kabtaang OA (Photo from Alaina May Lising Gabriel)

PSAU Agriculture studes vie Search for Kabataang OA ng Gitnang Luzon

The activity aimed to promote awareness and academic excellence of participants by expanding their knowledge and understand

by: Anton C. Miranda

for Kabataang OA (Organic Agriculture) ng Gitnang Luzon- San Ramon, Dinalupihan Bataan, October 22, 2019.

“The major problem doesn’t lie in reading itself but with the level of the comprehension which is the essence of reading--to compre hend and to understand what is being read,” he concluded.

English teachers react to PISA 2018 results

The quiz bee covered the following topics: Organic Agriculture Act, Basic Principle of Organic Agriculture, Philippines National Standards, Concoctions and Extracts and Fertilizer Production, Crop Production, Live Stock and Poultry Production and the current events related to Organic Agriculture.

“They [the students] are not listening to their English teachers and not practicing reading at home,” said Mhary Kessel, an English teacher stating her thoughts on why does the Philippines rank lowest in “Theyreading.[DepEd] should add outreach programs where they will teach English to unfortunate teenagers,” she added saying that DepEd should do more extension programs to ensure qualityMeanwhile,education.Erwin Marin, also an English teacher stated that, “It is a wake up call not only for the authorities but also for the stu dents“Havingthemselves.”theresult hitting almost rock bot tom is enough to say that there is something wrong,” Marin added.

....on reminding the students, faculty and the administration about some few announce ments.Dr.Soriano, commenced by reproaching student drivers that do not possess any license in entering the University. He further admon ishes them to get a license before having to drive freely within the University.

Recalling an incident of complaint submitted by a student to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) regarding the singing of the PSAU Hymn as a requirement before being promoted for graduation, Dr. Soriano wishes the students to view singing the hymn not as a hindrance but as a part of being a student in theHeUniversity.continued by exhorting the faculty into extensively honing their students’ attitudes as it is a teacher’s obligation to make learners know the “laws” and live by them. Not only the students but also the faculty and administra tion, should learn to get up early and perform their duties every day, he added.

After numerous announcements laid by the employees and staffs, Soriano ended the morning by asking the students, faculty and staffs to return to their respective classrooms and offices.

>> from page 1

ing on organic agriculture. This is one of ATI’s initiatives to continuously encourage the youth to perceive farming as a profitable business and a rewarding career.

SECOND TO THE LAST: PISA result revealing the Philippines ranking among other countries. (Photo from https://www.oecd.org/pisa/)

The score of the Philippines in reading is 340 against an average of 487, marking the Philippines as lowest despite reading being the focus of PISA 2018.

Mahihirapan ang mga mag-aaral pagdat ing the kolehiyo,” Marin said pointing out the long-term effect of this low scores in reading, math and science.

romoting the significance of reading, the Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU) Library officially started giving Library awards to the students, faculty, and non-teaching staff. The said awards were given monthly, as part of its annual activity.

by: Edlyn C. Venasquez

HISTORY REDEFINER. Louie Aldrin Bartolo, an alumnus of PSAU accepting a certificate of recognition together with the University’s Library staffs, in one of his seminar led by him.

Louie Aldrin Bartolo, an alumnus of PSAU and a Magalang-based historian who is also the creator of the blog “Amlat Magaleño,” has shared his thoughts on how to revitalize the history subject in the Philippine school setting.“

ith hopes that the Philippine History will be revitalized in high school, a local historian from the town of Magalang and a Senior High School student at Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU) spoke about their suggestions on how the said field of study will be revived in secondary institutions in the country.

Maglaqui, a Grade 11 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) stu dent from PSAU, who has interest in studying history, admitted that she feels sad when knowing that history is dying in high school because for her, “Knowing about the past will make you value the present more.”

Aside from the said awards, Alvarado said that they have the plans to have contests for the students in November for the celebration of National Book Week. She also stated that the contests for the students would include es say writing, poster making, scrabble contests, and poetry writing once it was approved by the University President, Dr. Soriano.

“Kaya nawawalan na ng interest ‘yung mga mag-aaral kasi sa family, sa ating Fiipino culture, ‘di natin culture na pagusapan ang past lalo na ang history kasi ‘yung mga family members natin, may hindi magandang ex periences kaya ayaw nilang pagusapan ‘yung ganitong bagay. But if they tell their experi ences, maaamaze ka lalo na kung anong uri ng pamumuhay na meron sila noon,” Bartolo emphasized.Secondnaman is ‘yung school. ‘Yung kas ing DepEd natin, ‘di nilolocalize ang pag-aaral ng Araling Panlipunan lalo na sa elementary. They are still introducing Philippine history in general. Eh dapat nga i-localize natin siya para mas maintindihan ng mga bata ang mga events sa kanilang environment. Tapos eto pa, walang competent teachers na nagtuturo ng history kaya ‘yung mga bata nabobored sila sa klase. Dapat ‘yung pagooffer ng Major sa Educ [Education], dapat bigyan nila ng priority ang magoffer ng Social Studies (SocSci) Major, kasi mas naiitindihan pa ng SocSci Majors ang mga lessons at mas maappreciate ng mga bata,” he added.The Department of Education (DEPED) removed Philippine History as a dedicated course in high school on October 20, 2014 and it has received protests from various groups including Teacher’s Dignity Coalition (TGC), Suspend K-12 Alliance, and Tanggol Kasaysayan to call for the return of the men tioned field of study in high school.

the library. The same goes for the faculty and staff. For each section, the top 3 students from different colleges are chosen for the awards.

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from the College of Arts and Sciences are Ezekiel Espinosa, Desirre Nunag, Shella Mae Nioda, and Kristene Joy Negre. The College of Veterinary Medicine has Juan Paolo S. Galinato, Kasandra M. Cruz, and Rose Ann Encarnacion. The awardees from the College of Agricultural System and Technology are: Noel Garing, Joshua Villy Quino, and John Paul Madayag. Sana Amir Chohan from the College of Education and Jamimah Pasion from the Senior High School, and Engr. Allan Morales from the faculty were also awarded.

alize at i-lo calise ang mga lessons natin sa APAN sapaligidsamgaciatetown,kanilangfamiliarnatinhistoryadoptWesaPanlipunan][Aralinglocallevel.musttotallylocalsaklasekasidahilsilasalocalmaapprenila‘yungnangyayarikanilanglalonanakaraan

” Bartolo uttered in line to the said while,issue.MeanFreya

out byAccordingthemselves.to Bartolo, there are several factors why most high school students are losing their interest in history such as family and peer influence, and their environment.

Librarians Commend Frequent Readers

Ang issugest ko lang is una, i-contextu

“It’s a part of our development plan to increase our utilization and services,” said Cyrene D. Alvarado, the Library & Museum Services head. Approved in November in the previous year, the PSAU library implemented the plan for the current academic year. Stu dents then started to read more that boosted the utilization. It is also a way of promoting the services offered in the library, where one can read different references for a certain lesson. The awards also draw the students’ attention and encourage them to read more in the Thelibrary.awards “Top LibraryBorrower” and “Top LibraryReader” are given to the stu dents who have the most number of log-ins generated by the system, and also the one who have the most number of borrowed books inside the library. The staff also monitor the students if they are really reading books from

The “Top Library Readers” were under 4 sections which are: Circulation/ Reserve, Theses/ Dissertation Section, Filipiniana, and Periodical/Reference Section. The winners

In line with this, she articulated and gave her proposal by stating that, “They take for granted what they have now, not knowing that there are people who shed their own blood just to make this country the country that it is right know. I think the best way to motivate them is to share it to them in a fun way and make them curious for them to find

The “Top LibraryBorrowers” for the month of September under the College of Arts and Sciences are: Cyrus Rafael Cunanan, Aerom Marz Sanchez, and Jericho Rabe. In the College of Education, Anjhella A. Vinuya and Joshua Maninang were awarded, and Daryll Ubera from the College of Resource Engineering Automation and Mechanization as well. The awardees from the faculty and non-teaching staff are Adrian Bantengui and Glenda Marie Maniago. The winners were divided in 2 sections namely: Circulation/Re serve and Filipiniana Section of the Library.

Local Historian, SHS Student Cite Practices to Empower History Subject

by: John Gabriel Dela Torre

W NEWS anguardv 4

As an addition, PSAU delegates who joined the Bio-Environmental Structure Design Contest also emerged as triumphant, securing their championship title.

o promote leadership among student leaders, Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU) conducted a leader ship training in-line with the theme “Continu ing to inspire and making visions a reality” last November 15, 2019 at the Rafael Lazatin Audio-Visual Center.

Student participants of the mentioned team who stepped over the podium were

When asked what did he feel after the entire event, Dungca shared that,” Over whelmed. Aside from the poster making contest, ang overall ranking ng PSAU ay first runner-up. And for a first timer, bringing home the bacon is more than enough.”

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-such beauty pag eants, I felt nervous and, my knees were shaking.”Meanwhile, Luke Alexis Tanhueco managed to clutch a 1st runner-up finish for Miss Beautiful Boy and also repre sented the university for the Quiz Bee Com petition where his team placed at fourth spot.

Inspirations, visions up at Student Leaders’ Training

no Teacher with the cooperation of Supreme Student Council (SSC), the highest collegiate governing student of PSAU and their adviser, Mr. Jacob Anderson C. Sanchez.

Castro also recalled her challenges before the said event, “During our rehearsals before the pageant, I struggled a lot on how to cope up to my fellow candidates because I am not familiar with their language. Whenever they’re talking to each other, I felt like I’m not one of them. But, as time passed by, I’m the one who approach some of them. During the pageant, though, it’s not my first time to join

The seminar formally started with an invocation followed by the singing of National Anthem led by selected Senior High School students. The event coordinator, Ms. Eugene Quito gave her opening remarks

by: Justin M. Mendoza

As mentioned, PSAU secured the second overall finish behind Mindoro State College of Agriculture and Technology (MIN SCAT) that was hailed as the overall champi on, while the third overall title was awarded to Bulacan Agricultural State College (BASC).

The first activity of the leadership training seminar was to form a team accord ing to the color they picked at the entrance of the venue.

PSAU PRIDE:ABENG

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@TheSinukuanGazetteOfficial

Also, the PSAU team clinched the gold medal at the ABE Race Category.

“I made sure that my physical prepara tions are well-balanced like getting enough of sleep, eating nutritious foods and, I also made sure that I’m always hydrated. I also priori tized my mental health that it is safe from any toxicity. And lastly, my spiritual being as I never forget to pray for strength, humility and wisdom,” said Castro when asked about her preparations prior to the mentioned pageant.

by: John Gabriel Dela Torre

>> see page 6

Said event was organized by Ms. Eu gene Quito, PSAU Senior High School Filipi

Among 15 candidates from different in stitutions across Luzon, Lovely Castro, PSAU representative, was crowned as the new Ms. PSABE Luzon 2019 with other minor awards handed over her including Best in Production Number, Best in Indigenous Attire, Best in Filipiniana, Ms. Photogenic, and Ms. R Legit Iphone Seller. The said pageant was one of the highlights of the event.

PSAU has registered the largest delega tion among all the participating universities, comprising of 50 student representatives.

ll cheers for PSAU delegates as they bagged awards and recogni tion during the Philippine Society of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineers Pre-Professional Group (PSABE-PPG) Annual Luzon Convention held at Tarlac Agricultural University, November 13-15.

Shainen Ge gante, Lusong.Manalang,GinoandNovelene

while Mr. Jacob Anderson C. Sanchez and Dr. Arnelio S. Valerio, the Director of Office of Student Affairs and Services delivered their inspirational message to the student leaders present at the seminar.

Lovely Castro crowned as the new Ms. PSABE Luzon 2019 in her different looks during the competiton

Members of the said winning roster were Willie Aguilar, Florence Dizon, Aldrin Nucum, Jayson Mallari, and Russel Rivera.

ABE Studes Seize Awards at ConventionTopConvention,PSABE-PPGClaimPostAnewin

Jacob Dungca grasped a silver medal for the Poster Making Competition while the university placed third for the Banner Making Competition that was showcased during the Grand Unity Parade.

After the program, student leaders were motivated as they give their statements re garding the said seminar.

Inspirations, visions up...

Dr. Calaguas concluded his remarks with another reminder for the future educators, “Nothing will take place unless there are very good teachers, that is why it is necessary for us to give back to all the people who are re sponsible for what is happening in the society right now and that is our teachers.”

name, organization, and an advocacy.

Then, Rocel John Santos, HomIAS repre sentative, was labeled as Mr. Educator 2019 and Jemalyn Nucup, ELG representative for Ms. Educator 2019.

FMO pits COEd students’ wit,beauty on Teachers’ day

me enhance my confidence in performing my duty as a leader. It encouraged me to give my best whenever and whatever the task is.”

Bryan Joseph Pangilinan, the SSC President delivered his closing remarks.

termission number for the teachers and students.

One of the senior high school student leaders, Christian Marquez, the Treasurer of GLEE Club said, “At first, there are lots of frustrations that intimidate me to serve my classmates. But then, this workshop helped

FUTURE MENTOR. Joan E. Manalo, BTLE major serving looks and wit during the Teacher’s day celebration, alongside with Rocel John Santos, Mr. Educator 2019 (Photo by Kerl Joshua Franco)

Moreover, Mr. Vergel Galagar, Vice Presi dent of Agri-Fishery Society said, “The thing that I remembered the most is that a leader is like a lion. It is not the fastest. It is not the tallest. It is not the wisest, but it is the animal that has the courage to stand on itself.”

Jade Harold Delos Santos, FuSE represen tative, and Joan Manalo, HomIAS represen tative, were named 3rd runner up. Leonilo Sabitsana Jr., ELG representative and Melody Trisha Mae Bulaun, 3G representative, were titled as 2nd runner up. John Lloyd Francisco and Crystal Shane Dela Cruz, both EEG rep resentatives won the title 1st runner up.

“The greatest advocacy of a future edu cator is not only to impart knowledge to his students, not only to give flat one on their class cards at the end of the semester. It is all about making difference in our education, it is all about producing students with a pur pose and heart, it is about believing in your students that they’ll succeed,” said Leonilo Sabitsana Jr, English Linguistics Guild (ELG) representative, on his advocacy allowing him to bag the Best in Advocacy award for male category.Onthe other hand, Jemalyn Nucup, also an ELG representative, won the Best in Advo cacy award for female category. “As a future molder of tomorrow’s generation, it is my prime objective to create an impact or a huge difference to foster the society. I will stand as a blazing torch that will illuminate and enlighten young lives and give warmth into young hearts,” said Nucup on her advocacy.

After the intermission, the search for the Mr. & Mrs. Educator continues as the representatives act out an EconomicsGuildGeneration’sEducatorstheEratoEducators(ELG),Englishorganizationsofficersandwithofthemtotoganizationspreparedscenarios.actualizationimpromptuofdifferentSubsequently,videosbytheminororwerepresentedextendtheirgratitudetheteacherswhomoldintothebestversionsthemselves.Alongthevideoweregiftsmessagesfromtheofeachminornamely;theLinguisticsGuildtheFutureScience(FuSE),theEuclidGuild(EEG),MultitudeofVersatile(MoVE),theGeneralist(3G),andtheHomeandIndustrial

After the activity, Dr. Dela Cruz delivered her oral presentation about leadership tips and proper management of time. The event ended by 11:00 in the morning after Mr.

by: Mikaela Faith S. Hinton

>> from page NEWS5 anguardv 6 I

The highlight of the celebration is the Mr. & Ms. Educator, in search of outstanding male and female students who will serve as Future Educator ideals and values. Each of the Minor Organizations chose two represen tatives, male and female. The representatives prepared an introduction that includes their

The program was headed by the Future Mentor’s Organi zation, placecanimportant.teachervatingtogetherstudentstermsogyBilltionopeningformallythecelebrawithaquotebyGates,“Technolisjustatool,inofgettingtheworkingandmotithem,theisthemostNoonereplacetheofateacher.”Dr.GlennM.Calaguas,

During the course of the celebration, selected students from the Multitude of Versatile Educators (MoVE) presented an In

Arts Society (HomIAS) .

the Dean of the College of Education, led the welcoming remarks. He stated that the problem among people is that they perceive the success of teachers as a reflection of their licensure exam passing rate. “No matter how much they worked hard, ang dating pa rin kapag hindi sila pumasa ay parang wala silang ginawa.” With that, Dr. Calaguas reminded the aspir ing future educators to do their best once they take their Licensure Exam in the future.

After the photo-taking of each organiza tions, Mr. Eivan Mark Sigua, FMO adviser, sent his gratitude to all who attended the ceremony and formally closed the program.

n response with the world’s Teach er’s Month, the College of Educa tion (COEd) held a Teacher’s Day celebra tion with the theme “Gurong Filipino: Handa sa Makaba gong Pagbabago” at the Rafael L. lastAudio-VisualLazatinCenterOctober25,2019.

Afterwards is the most awaited part, the announcement of the Mr. & Mrs. Educator 2019. The best in Ramp award goes to Joan Manalo, HomIAS Representative, and Jayson Cabrera, MoVE Representative. Manalo was once again awarded with Best in Teacher’s Attire together with another HomIAS Repre sentative, Rocel John Santos.

...Instructions were given by the resource speaker, Dr. Maria Crisella A. Dela Cruz, the Director of External and Internal Affairs.

ast October 30, Wednesday, Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo stated that the Department of Health (DOH) and World Health Orga nization (WHO) are studying about the possibility of launching taxes on salty products.

T

by: Mikaela Faith S. Hinton

kinatawan o mga taong umaakto para sa kanila.

https://www.philstar.com/pilipino-star-ngayon/bansa/2019/12/19/1978340/ill-gotten-marcoses-inutusang- isuko-ang-2433-m-paintings-likhang-sining >> mula pahina 1

‘Illegally acquitted, pero walang graft conviction? Pareho lang sila ng isang Senador, isasauli ang pera, pero may ac quitted ding magaganap?’ daing naman ng isang netizens.

•At iba pang kahalintulad na likhang sining na maaring makita sa ilalim ng kontrol at pagmamay-ari ng nga ahente, respondents,

Iba’t-ibang reaksyon naman mula sa netizens ang kanilang naramdaman matapos lumbas ang isyu. Saad ng isang netizen ‘because her family is very close to the sitting President’. Puna pa ng isa ‘Sandi ganbayan seems to be either on a flip-flop or just flop.’Matatandaang ilang araw palang

DepEd to push Sex Ed

NEWS anguardv @TheSinukuanGazetteOfficial 7 NATIONAL

...Pinasusuko sa pamilya ang mga sumusu nod na likhang sining:

Mahigit 24.3 bilyong halaga ng likhang sining...

•Mga artworks na nakalista sa PCGG List of Missing Artworks kabilang dito ang likhang sining nina Cezanne, Degas, Monet, Picasso at Van •GrandmaGogh)Moses Paintings

>> follow on page 9

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>> follow on page 9

According to the report of the 2013 National Demographic and Health Surveys (NDHS), one in ten young Filipino women from 15-19 years of age has begun childbearing.

FACING THE ACCUSATIONS. Senator Imee Marcos with her mother, former congresswoman, Imelda Marcos browsing the allegations thrown unto them.

In 2018, the Policy Guidelines was already proclaimed in the implementation of the CSE or the Comprehensible Sexuality Edu cation, the DepEd Order No. 31, series 2018.

by: Kimberly S. David

Due to this social issue, DOH have been urging the Depart ment of Education (DepEd) to implement the Reproductive Health Law that was signed by former President Benigno Aquino III in 2012 that will officially mandates to the Sex Education.

Another contemporary issue that the country faces is the booming of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV cases among minors. In the recent report of the Department of Health (DOH), there is a 56,275 cumulative cases of HIV infection in the Philippines since 1984.

Imposition of tax on salty products, CHEFS students react

A SALINE ENFORCEMENT. Dried fishes as one of the products that are pacified by the taxation on salty foods.

ang nakalipas nang ibasura ng Sandigan bayan Fourth Division ang pagbawi sa P200 bilyong halaga ng yamang diumano’y iligal na kinamkam ng pamilya noong batas mili tar.

https://www.canadianinquirer.net/2019/11/11/no-need- to-tax-salty-food-for-now/

he alarming rate of Teenage Pregnancy is continuing to injure the country. Due to this, many remedies and solutions are being presented by the government. One of the causes of this contemporary issue is the lack of information about sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Cigarette butts choke oceans

by: Kim Jastyne E. Jimenez

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by: Justitn M. Mendoza

NOXIOUS PINNACLE. Cigarette is among the top addictions of teenagers nowadays as research says and had caused thousands of fatalities every year.

NEWS anguardv 8

These filters are “dumped irresponsibly” and a study from BBC states that each year, it is estimat ed 4.5 trillion butts are littered globally wherein 30 to 40 percent of all litters found in coastal and urban litter clean-ups comprises of cigarette butts.

“Chill. Breathe. Tandaan, hindi ka mahahawa.” Supan added.

Relative to the study, it is showed in the statistics of Centers for Dis ease Control and Prevention, children do the least exercise in South Korea where 94.2 percent of children are active for less than one hour a day) while Philippines ranked on the second place having 93.4 percent and Cambodia followed with 91.6 percent.

rette-butts-are-plastic-and-compound-the-nicotine-health-risk- from-smoking

Nakaka-alarm lalo na sa aming mga estudyante na madalas kainin ay mga processed meat since hindi na kami madalas nakakapagluto dahil sa mga kailangang gawin sa school. Though wala siyang effect sa health namin, nakakatakot pa rin kasi baka magcause siya ng stom achache okaya diarrhea.” said Maricar David, Information Technology student.

Future Science mentor Paul Pamintuan says that awareness and education are keys to cigarette filters filling the ocean and garbage problem in general. “Garbage greatly affects our planet’s bio diversity thus leading to the death of lots of ani mals by having them eating plastics that cannot be digested or the worst of all, them being poisoned.”, said“IPamintuan.guessthebest way is to educate everyone about this issue”, Pamintuan stated. “ I guess in my future career, as an educator, I will surely educate my students well. But for the meantime, I’ll just share some videos I find in social media regarding such matter and start good things within me.”, he added.As of today, researchers and environmental groups are finding ways to ban cigarette filters and cigarette itself due to the harm it brings to the environment and to humans.

These filters do not only affect the bodies of water, but also the soil where plants grow. In line with this, a study made by Anglia Ruskin Univer sity found out that discarded cigarette butts reduce the success of germination of plants by 27%, for grass, the germination success reduced by 10% and shoot length of clover by 28%.

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ilipino adolescents are recognized as among the least active in the world, as nine out of 10 young Filipino fail to meet the recommended physical activity in a day.

On the other hand, DOH said that they will continue to monitor all meat products and reminded the public that ASF is not a human health concern.

According to Department of Agriculture in a Press Conference, a set of samples of longganisa and hotdog tested positive for ASF based on an October 25 test by the Regional An imal Disease Diagnostics Laboratory in Central Luzon and was validated by 2 tests conducted by the Bureau of Animal Industry Veterinary Laboratory Division (DA-BAI-VLD).

desh is in the first place having 66.1 percent of children are active for less than one hour a day while Slovakia has 71.5 percent and Ireland has 71.8 percent.AFilipino young Grade 12 student from Systems Plus College Foun dation namely Jerico Rivera responds to this issue stating that, “As an adolescent, I honestly got addicted and almost swallowed by the influence of social media where even taking a single bath in every single day is often being forgotten due to laziness of having whole day in my bed.”

https://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/blog/2018/8/6/ciga

Having the study recently published in medical journal The Lancet, conducted by World Health Organization stated that male Filipino ado lescents top the list of people who are among the least active in the world, with 92.8 percent reporting insufficient physical activity while for the Female Filipino Adolescents, 94.1 percent are found having insufficient physical activity in the year 2016.

In a recent report from NBC News, every year, 5.6 trillion of cigarettes mass-produced worldwide are comprise of filters that is made of cellulose acetate, a type of plastic that can take a decade or more to Cigarettesdecompose.areknown for the effects it causes to human due to the chemicals confined in it, but there is one thing people does not know about its other effect – cigarette litter is one of the largest sources of trash in the water.

She also stated that in order to prevent encountering such products contaminated with ASF, we should buy from reliable sources as per Department of Health (DOH) suggested and be aware of what a healthy meat and unhealthy meat looks like.

Hotdog, Longganisa tested ASF positive

by: Cindy G. Sayat

he Agriculture and Health Officials confirmed that processed meat particularly skinless longganisa and hotdog from Mekeni Food Corp. tested positive in African Swine Fever (ASF).

Therefore, modern generation contributes a great factor for pinoy adolescents being top-listed among least active in the world.

Meanwhile, Mekeni Food Corp. has voluntary recalled pork products on October 26, even before the test results were released and promised “transparency” while waiting for the validation of contamination report.

cience Education students are worrying about cigarette filters piling up in the ocean.

Young Filipinos least active in the world

“Hindi ako takot. First of all, the disease is not transmissible to humans. Second, the disease could be killed in within 72°C in 30 mins. Other than that, wala naman kaming mga alag ang baboy kaya wala rin kaming pagbibigyan ng kaning baboy. At walang chance na maikalat pa namin lalo ung sakit.” said Maureen Khimmery Supan, PSAU Veterinary Medicine student.

“However, it is also the reality that not only young filipinos who are hooked by the digital generation are the ones who belong to least active people in the world but also those adults who use to conquer the gift of modern technology that the manual dexterity that affect our activeness of doing things.” - Jerico added.

Sci Ed student says ‘Education, Awareness’ keyto problem

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Meanwhile, countries do the most exercise top the list where Bangla

Despite its clear advantages, the MA SIPAG declined the marketing and use of GR2E because of its foreseen downfalls. One of which is its long-term side effects among children and women.

“Kase yung iba they engaged in pre-marital sex na hindi sila aware na dapat gagamit sila ng condoms”, Gozum added emphasizing how clueless is a teenager that engages in this kind of sexual activities at a young age.

NEWS anguardv @TheSinukuanGazetteOfficial 9

“Ayaw ko pang sumag ot kkung ready na ako magturo ng sex education since hindi ako product ng curriculum na may sex education, pero I am open to possibilities,” she added.

>> from page 7

‘Justifiable’ — Agriculturist says on Golden Rice amid public disapproval

DepEd to push Sex Ed...

Moreover, the proposal of imposing taxes on salty prod ucts also garnered criticisms on social media referring to it as “anti poor”.Last November 8, 2019, the Department of Finance (DOF) said that they have no intention of seeking to impose taxes on salty products for now.

...Included in the CSE are sev en core topics namely the: hu man body and human devel opment, personhood, healthy relationships, sexuality and sexual behaviours, sexual and reproductive health, personal safety, and gender, culture and human rights.Doctor Eric Tayag, DOH Director of Knowledge Management and Information Technology Service, wishes to put this program as early as when the child reaches its 4th and 5th grade.Meanwhile, Pampan ga State Agricultural Univer sity (PSAU) faculty member Arnold Gozum is strongly patronizing the implemen tation of the program. In an interview, he said that “come to think of it, this sexuality education, it’s about time.”

“Because of the rapid spreading of information in mass media, the access in pornography is very easy for the teenagers”, he added. “So why not somebody in the right place and with authority give these information to them, like teachers,” Gozum con cluded.

...According to the recent report on the prevention and control of non communicable diseas es (NCDs) in the Philippines, although WHO only recom mended 2 grams of sodium a day, Filipinos aged 20 years old and above consume 4.29 grams per day. Moreover, roughly 28% of cardiovascular deaths are due to high sodium student.Paual,mgakapagpanMasngnahingtuyomgakailanganproducts.initiatingtheandHospitality,studentsaftercancer.neyhypertension,highdiseaseschoices.looksaltymentionedMoreover,consumptions.Domingothatifthepricesoffoodsincrease,peoplewillforhealthierandcheaperThiscouldalsopreventthatcouldarisefromsaltconsumptionsuchasheartdisease,kiddisease,andevenstomachOntheotherhand,aninterviewwithfewundertheCollegeofEntrepreneurship,FoodServices(CHEFS),majorityarenotinfavoroftaxonsaltyfoodsand“HindinamannilalagyanngtaxyungsaltyfoodslalonayungatdiliskasiisaitosapangupagkainatpinakaaffordkaramihansamgaPilipino.lalolangnilangpahihiraangbuhayngmgaPilipinonaglagaysilangtaxsapagkaingito,”saidLalaineHospitalityManagement

Hopefully sa mga susunod na taon magbago ang isip ng mga nakatatas at maging isa yung golden rice sa mga pagkain ng mga Pinoy sa hinaharap,” Lumanog added saying that this dissaproval over Golden Rice will have an effect in the future of Filipinos and that Philippines should also be ready with the changes by looking into more thorough studies that.

“We are studying it but it seems like the best way to do is by regulation and promotion of the health aspects, not from the tax,” Finance Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua said on the workshop on tax reforms led by DOF.

Declining the thrust of the Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) products in the Philippines, the Magsasaka at Siyentipiko para sa Pag-unlad ng Agrikultura (MASIPAG) disapproved the proposed Golden Rice in the Market in our country.

Golden Rice or GR2E is a Genetical ly Modified (GM) rice that contains Beta Carotene--a source of Vitamin A found in sweet potatoes and carrots, which means that the GR2E will be rich in Vitamin A that can resist Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD).

from page 7

He finished his inter view by stating that, “You can learn everywhere, but with the teacher around or an authori ty, you can learn properly.”

Gozum also added that the Philippines and the DepEd is already prepared to take this big change in educa tion.

Keylyn Zoe Maniti also disagrees with the imposition of tax on salty foods. Maniti stated that financially unstable Filipi nos rely on these salty products, raising the prices would burden these Filipinos.Furthermore, Abigail Baillo stated, “Kapag nangyar ing nagka-tax yang mga salty foods, may tendency na hindi makayang bilhin yan ng mga tao tapos pwede ring bumaba ang sales ng mga nagtitinda nito.”

MASIPAG Chairman of the Board Elpi dio Paglumotan said that the GR2E will only threaten “the future of rice production and farmers’ control of seeds.” That is, targeting the local farmers and their costs of living.

“Mabuti naman yung layunin nila kaso, sa tingin ko kailangan muna nilang mag focus sa mga problema na present muna sa ating sektor ng agricultura,” he added.

by: Kimberly S. David

>>

Meanwhile, a Bachelor of Science in Ag riculture student Aldrin Lumanog said that, “Sa tingin ko justifiable naman yung action na ginawa nung mga nakakataas about sa Golden Rice.”

“We have a universal health care (law). But we don’t want to waste it treating pre ventable diseases. Why do we spend money treating these non communicable diseases? The idea here is, what can we do to prevent (diseases)? So it is both tax and non-tax,” he added.

Imposition of tax on salt...

“May iba pang mga alternatibong mga pagkain na walang gaanong side effects like mga ibang organic na pagkain na makakat ulong sa vitamin A deficiency,” Lumanog addressed.“Address the problem first, before we make new ones,” He said pointing out that the GR2E will only add to the problems of

the country if not addressed properly.

Hindi pa nga gaanong nasosolusyonan yung issue tungkol sa pagbaba ng presyo ng mga palay ng mga magsasaka tapos ii-intro duce nila yung Golden Rice,” Lumanog said.

On the other hand, Rica Manalang, a Bachelor of Elementary Education student, said in an interview regarding this that “Ayos lang naman na ma-implement ang sex education para ma-open ang kaisipan ng mga students sa mga bagay na hindi nila dapat gawin.”“Yes, it may raise curiousness but with the help of the parents, it will lessen the possibility of engaging in pre-marital sex,” Manalang added.

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Smartphones sway studes’ performance rates

n lieu of the report that Philip pine Senator Cynthia Villar wants Department of Education (DepEd) to disband schools that underperform, an Elementary teacher and Education students took the sides of the afore mentioned underperforming schools. According to Villar, low quality schools with underperform ing students may be disbanded by the DepEd while those considered with high quality education will be given rewards.This is in line with the recently released Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results which showed that the Philippines gained lowest in read ing comprehension and placed the second-lowest in mathematics and science.

by: Mikaela Faith S. Hinton

Several studies have shown that 95% of the students bring their phones every day, and 92% use their phones to text messages during class time. This shows that phones are really a distraction in class.

It may be considered as a societal issue, but students are involved in it. They would be the one getting affected if the results would continue to decrease.“I

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Due to the excessive use of devices like phones, the chance of getting sleep-deprived is high. It will even result into a distracted, and obviously out of focus

Mental health problem among students; Psych majors react

“Bigyanng disincentive yungmahihina para namanmagka roonng wish to excel or challenged to be better”, said However,Villar.DepEd Teacher

“On my own point of view, there are a lot of factors that contrib ute to the poor quality of education. I’m not in favour for the schools found to be underperforming may be disbanded, because we should know first what are those reasons or factors that results to a poor quality of edu cation.” Manalang stated.

think the root of it is the use of devices, but discipline and awareness should be observed because it is our future that is at risk,” Elishah Joyce Bonifacio, an ROTC Officer at PSAU, said.

Guidance Counselors are no dif ferent, wherein the country had already ex pressed severe shortage of Registered Guid ance Counselors (RGCs). As of July2017, there are only 3,220 RGCs nationwide since the first batch of licensure examinees in 2008, which indicates a shortage of 43,739 to a DepEd requirement of 46,959 RPGs.

On the other hand, Lady Thea

ased on the 2013 CDC report on children’s mental health, among 50 million public school students, as many as one in every five shows signs of a mental health disorder. And 80 percent among the nearly five million affected students won’t even receive counsel ing, therapy, or medication.

Some lectures are sent online so the learners often review on their phones. However, it becomes a distraction because of the applications installed in it.

Ms. Maine Claire Manalang shows disapproval upon reading the news.

Underperforming schools; Elem teacher, Educ students plead repair over disband

B >> follow on page 12

People tend to keep what they feel kahit na sobrang bigat

Also,disposition.becauseof spending too much time browsing on their phones, their time to study their lessons is being compromised. The outcome would be they will cram, and they would not be able to review well.“Whenever I review, my hands seem to be looking for my phone always,” Leah Joy Sagao, a student at PSAU, stated. This just shows that smart phones became part of the students’ life.

by: Cindy G. Sayat

“The causes of the worsening quality of education are obvious to us all, some of these are lack of class

School psychologists can be the best people to step in since they have undergo specialized training, however, not all schools are lucky enough to have one itself.

he alarm of the decreasing students’ results in schools spread after the implementation of K-12 when the NAT scores of the Grade 10 students in the year 2016-2017 were graded 44.1%, lower than the 44.7% that was recorded in the school year 2015-2016. The decline in the result was said to be caused by some factors such as sleep-deprivation, distractions, and technological devices like smartphones.

It will even affect the students especially if they are applying for a job. If the transcript of their grades was not satisfying to their employer, there is a chance they would not be employed.

Carpio, another Psychology major from Angeles University Foundation, also shared her insights regarding the reasons as to why a student won’t receive counseling or therapy.

by: Justin M. Mendoza

Psychology major at City College of Angeles (CCA).

rooms, teachers, and textbooks. The DepEd should not pay lip service but instead address these issues by imple menting concrete actions.” She added. Along this insights, college student Camille Pascualagreed with the same point of “Althoughview.Iclearly see the point of the motion, I can’t help but to notice also the discrimination put amongst students with “low” suscep tibility in learning. So maybe, instead of putting all the burden and blame on them, let us look at the root cause of this problem: no enough facilities, amenities and teaching materials,” said Pascual.“Focus on the areas that as sessment stated we lack from and to gether strategize a better curriculum from which every single student can cope up to. This is the best reward we can give to both “top” and “weak” performing schools.” She added.

Education student named Angelique Sese supported these state ments by“Well,concluding;alotof factors may af fect the performance of a school, one of them is that all schools have differ ent resources. If you will compare the schools from urban to remote areas, it will show an evident differences. I think our politicians must see things deeper, and get more in-touch in our country’s problem because I believe school isn’t survival of the fittest, this is a place where we strengthen the weak and empower the strong. No child should never be left behind.”

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Because their supposed time to study their lessons was compromised, they would not be able to study well. Thus, their performances and examina tion results would not be that good enough.

“I think the number one reason why students won’t receive counseling is the lack of financial capabilities. In the Philippines, psychological tests are costly, plus medication and therapy. Lucky are those who were born with golden spoons but sadly, most of the time, the victims of mental disorders are the less fortunate,” shared Lacey Pam Cunanan, a

Kasi hindi lahat ng schools sa Philippines ay may counselors, kung mayroon man, hindi naman sila graduate ng Psych. Another reason sa tingin ko ay dahil takot sil ang majudge. May stigma kasi tayo na kapag napatawag ka ng guidance, ibig sabihin may kasalanan ka. O kaya naman kapag nagpa consult ka sa mga therapist, baliw ka na agad,” said Carpio.“

DevCom Student Condemns PH Journalists Killings

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People who engage in transactional sex are those who pay for sex, regularly accept payment for sex, or do both. Just from January to April, there were 529 cases of people who acquired HIV after engaging in transactional sex.

In addition, according to Dr. Angel Mendoza, Quezon City Public Health Department Medical Officer, the country’s yearly status rise to about 170 percent. As of November 2018, approximately one to two Filipinos are diagnosed as positive in an hour.Onthe meanwhile, according to the data from the HIV/AIDS Registry of the Philippines, it showed that there were 114 new HIV infections recorded in April as a result of “transactional sex.” The Depart ment of Health (DOH) said 36 new HIV infections are recorded daily. Most of the cases belong to 15 to 24 age bracket.

Dr. Mendoza imparted his five ABCs for HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections prevention which are: A- Abstinence (Ayoko muna), B- Be mutually faithful (Basta ikaw at ako lang), C- Correct and consistent condom use (Condom gamitin ng tama), D- Don’t drink alcohol, Don’t use drugs, Don’t share needles (Dapat pag ineksyon lageng bago), E- education, early diagnosis and treatment.

A DOH report also added that in 2019 that there were about 1,200 cases of AIDS-related deaths.Khatelee Del Mundo, 21, who was an alum nus of the university and is now a medical tech nician said when asked about her opinion in the growing number cases of HIV among teenagers, “It’s alarming. Ang hirap kasi may discrimina tion. Tapos ang daming undetected cases. Wrong information din. Tapos ang hirap mag educate as well kasi sa country natin sex is a taboo. Like parang di mo sya madiscuss ng walang tumitingin sayo na parang “why tf r u talking about that publicly?, e sex is a big part of the growing HIV cases kaya ang hirap. Tapos pag makikita mo ang statistics, pabata ng pabata. Di lang HIV ah, STDs. E tapos yung mga matatanda natin ayaw nila pinag uusapan yon pero let’s face it, malibog mga bata ngayon. You cannot stop them, all you can do is educate them nalang. Tapos the stigma ugh. HIV cannot kill you, guys. Pneumonia will.”

The UNAIDS said that this could be halted when “intensified comprehensive prevention, increase HIV testing and coverage, early initia tion of treatment and adherence to treatment” would be applied. If not in just eight year time, Philippines’ HIV cases could reach around 201, 000 infection if the country would continue to rely on its present intervention.

kal na lebel. Pero hindi parin ako nawawalan ng pag- asa na balang araw, masusulusyonan ang lahat ng ito,” she further added.

Kaya para sa akin, para mabawasan ang unsolved media killings, dapat maging mas

REAWAKENING CALL. Student activitists protesting for the rising cases of journalist killings in the Philippines.

Dr. Louie Ocampo, UNAIDS Philip pines country director, said in a talk held at the Manila Doctors Hospital, “We are the country with the fastest growing HIV epidemic in the world, not only in the Asia and the Pacific. In 2018 report, we’re now number 1 in the whole world.”

https://www.dw.com/en/why-hiv-infections-are-rising-in-the-philippines/a-39934683

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Based on the said New York-based group, the Philippines topped the list as the country with the largest number of unsolved journalist killings and fifth overall, while Somalia seized the number one spot.

“The country’s fifth-worst ranking is due in part to the deadly ambush of 58 indi viduals, including 32 journalists and media workers in Ampatuan, Maguindanao, on November 23, 2009,” the CPJ report read.

Hernandez also put emphasis that, “Napakadami ng batas para sa media para maprotektahan sila like freedom of expression, freedom of information and all. Ang kulang natin, aksyon at application. Walang mangya yari kung walang mag-iinitiate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJpYHgP4Nzc

AMIDST THE AGONY. An adult man diagnosed and battling against with his sexually-transmitted disease.

The UN organization said it recorded about 13, 384 new HIV infections by the end of 2018. The number, according to UNAIDS, is 203 percent higher than in fections recorded in 2010, with only about 4,419. They have estimated that there are now around 77, 000 people living with HIV in the country and only 62, 029 has been reported and diagnosed.

NEWS anguardv @TheSinukuanGazetteOfficial 11

PH tops in the growing number of HIV cases- UNAIDS

by: John Gabriel Dela Torre

aware tayo at maging pantay ang tingin natin sa lahat ng issues ng bansa, at maaksyunan ito agad.”

In line with this, Zea Hernandez, a sec ond year Bachelor of Science in Development Communication (BS DevCom) has student shared her insight about the said issue by stating that, “Nakakalungkot na malaman na ang bilang ng mga journalists na pinapatay sa ating bansa ay marami at patuloy na dumara mi. Bilang isang Development Communica tion student, naaalarma ako na nanganganib ang media, ang fourth state ng ating bansa, na siyang katuwang ng gobyerno at ng mga mamamayan sana.”

“If you combine the 15 to 24 and the 25 to 34 age groups, that would comprise 80 percent PLHIV, meaning our epidemic de mographics is getting younger and young er,” Dr. Ocampo said.

Fourteen percent of the newly recorded cases are from transactional case.

“At ang isa pang nakakalungkot ay ang mga kaso tungkol sa pagpatay sa mga journal ists ay hindi nabibigyang pansin lalo na sa lo

or three consecutive years, the Philippines has registered the most “unsolved mur ders of journalists in countries with the worst record for justice” based on the statistics collected by the Global Impunity Index 2019 by the Committe to Project Journalists (CPJ).

by: Maureen Khimmery Supan

he Philippines has been ranked as the country with the fastest growing num ber of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) cases in the world, according to the Joint United Nations Program on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) last October 21.

Pinoys living with HIV acquired through paid sex getting younger

Vice-Governor Pineda warned the NCIP that they should

Nhicole Quinto, the current Supreme Student Council (SSC) Treasurer, uttered that ex-convicts shouldn’t be allowed to run during elections by emphasizing that, “How would you trust someone to run the government that was already convicted for doing something illegal?”

PSAU Students Decry Ex-Convicts’ Right to Run In Elections

ON NUMBERS

WAVE OF UPSET. V-Governor Pineda showing dismay to theslow response of NCIP towards Aetas’ relocation.

by: John Gabriel Dela Torre T

by: Anton C. Miranda page 1

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NCIP vs Gov. Pineda; Aetas relocation

Out of 84 random respondents, above is a graph showing the result on the question, “Ang isang Ex-convict ba ay katanggap-tang gap na humabol sa eleksyon?

work hard to find flat land for the relocation intended for the housing of Aetas specifically the affected by the struck of earthquake last Octo ber or else she questioned them about the alleged ‘snail-pace’. She also added that the Provincial Government has already purchased a three-hectare lot in some Barangay in Porac for the repo sitioning of Aeta that affected due to the recent 6.1 magnitude earth quake.

Mental health problem among students...

na kasi they feel ashamed of it, kahit na they know they really need someone to help them free their minds up,” she added. “I hope na people will start to realize na having mental health dis order is not something to be ashamed of pero it’s something na kailangang maaksyunan agad.” Moreover, both Cunanan and Carpio concluded that the public still lacks the knowl edge and understanding about mental health disorders.“They should be re-briefed that it happens to everyone. The mass should be aware that now, it has became prevalent as this society asks too much sanity from its people especially the students. There are professionals willing to help but we should be willing to help ourselves too,” said Cunanan. They both ended their statements pointing out that the Mental Health of the students should not be the least priority.

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1834009 >> from

>> from page 10

“Another is that, kung siya mismo na may alam na sa mga batas sa kung ano ang dapat at bawal gawin, eh ginawa niya, what more pa sa pagpapalakad ng bansa,” he added.Meanwhile, Angelica Gayola, a second year Bachelor of Science in Biology student, showed her favor in line with the said right by accentuating that, “Lahat naman tayo deserve natin ng second chance. Lahat naman ng tao pwedeng magbago. Pwede niyang i-improve ‘yung sarili niya. ‘Di lang natin dapat tingnan ‘yung maling nagawa niya.”

LOCAL

he pulse of Pampanga State Agriculture University (PSAU) has spoken as 75% of the student respondents showed dis approval regarding the rights of ex-convicts to run in elections or to hold public office.

It can be recalled that Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. was put into controversy when he decided to run during the previ ous senatorial race amidst of his criminal records or the plunder cases that were filed against him.

...In the said forum with former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, joining also former Porac Mayor Condralito Dela Cruz and Board Member Mylyn Pineda-Cayabyab and Fritzie David-Dizon discussed the “snail-paced” approach of the NCIP has resulted in the non-regis tration of titles of thousands of hectares of ancestral domain intended for the benefit of indigenous peoples of Porac.

All of this horror could be avoided if the world would take on bold action to curb carbonLeademissions.authorof the report, Dr. Renee Sallas, an emergency medicine physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and clinical instructor of emergency medicine at Har vard Medical School, said:

ples:A

“A business as usual trajectory will result in a fundamentally altered world. The life of every child born today will be profoundly affected by climate change. Without acceler ated intervention, this new era will come to define the health of people at every stage of their lives.”

Todd Pugatch, an associate professor at Oregon State University, who was not involved with the report, said:

Notcosts.”allwas dread and gloom in the report, however. They do write of reasons to be hopeful. For example, the world’s largest carbon emitter – China – continues to reduce its reliance on coal to generate elec tricity. Also, more people are driving electric vehicles with an increase of 20.6% between 2015 and 2016.

Unfortunately, for now, there has been “inadequate global progress” according to the report. Patz, who has pioneering

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

child born today would no longer use electricity generated by coal by their 6th birthday if the country met its climate goal.

Over 120 experts from 35 agencies and institutions worked on this new report. Everyone involved hopes that it can be used by policymakers to prevent severe threats to public health and further damage from natural disasters brought upon by global warming.

“The public doesn’t fully see this as a human health crisis. Maybe polar bears were our early indicator — the proverbial canary in the coal mine. But when you talk about this crisis, the bear images should be

WORLDWIDE REPORTS REVEAL CLIMATE IS GETTING WORSE

To make this happen, nations need to act more aggressively with the actions required to make this happen. What the world would be like if they do with the following exam

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“As an emergency medicine doctor, the hardest cases for me to help are the ones where don’t have a treatment, but in this case, we have a treatment available.”

According to Hontiveros, “Malalim at may iba’t ibang aspeto at sanhi ang paglobo ng bilang ng teen age pregnancy sa bansa. I caution our public officials against reducing the problem of teenage pregnancy to a single factor or issue. While I acknowledge that so ciety should receive help from all sectors, particularly the home and the Church, we can’t solve complex problems by resorting to crude and dangerous reduc tionism.”Hontiveros, who is Chair of the Senate Commit tee on Women, enumerated some of the main causes of teenage pregnancy, such as 1) lack of information about sexual and reproductive health and rights, 2) sexual violence, 3) child, early and forced marriage and 4) lack of access to reproductive health and sexu al programs. Along with suggesting several measures to address the problem.

Español noted that while the “easiest way” to address the problem is through an executive order from President Duterte declaring teenage pregnancy as a “national emergency,” and it is important to tap the religious sector.

NEWS anguardv @TheSinukuanGazetteOfficial 13

A world much warmer overall would suffer from more famine, disease, an in crease in major mental health problems, and early death from natural disasters such as heatwaves. The most vulnerable would be affected severely – with the poor, the elderly, people with underlying health conditions, and children feigning for their lives. But everyone else will be affected as well.

ccording to a new report that has been published in the medical journal The Lancet, children born today onward could be living on a planet with an average temperature that’s 7.2 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius) warmer by their 71st birth day. That is if the world continues to produce the same amount of carbon emissions. That might not seem like much, a 7.2-degree difference, and it’s not really in terms of one day or season to the next. But, as an average increase in temperature overall, it is a devas tating amount for our health.

He added the religious sector may be able to influence the youth “in terms of values, as one of the factors of increasing teen pregnancy is the moral decadence.”Also,that parents play the most important role in promoting responsible parenthood and reproductive health. This is because only 10 percent of Filipino families tackle adolescent sexuality at home, so the children are forced to get information somewhere else.Español said that PopCom is looking forward to the integration of “comprehensive sexuality educa tion” in four subjects starting in Grade 5 to curb early pregnancy.“Ourmessage is ‘Piliin ang Pangarap, Huwag

Español’s rants was responded by Senator Risa Hontiveros, when she said that teenage pregnancy is a problem that can’t be solved by using only one approach and it has to be tackled on multiple levels before it can be addressed efficiently and responsibly.

Children are suffering from the climate crisis. They are suffering from asthma, diar rheal disease, dengue fever. It is so import ant for the public to understand the climate crisis is absolutely a human health crisis.

By “treatment,” she means the goals laid out in the Paris Climate Agreement – which are: to restrain global heating to 1.5 degrees Celsius by cutting greenhouse gas emissions to at least 45% of 2010 levels by 2030, then getting to net-zero by 2050.

Popcom blames moral decadence for teen pregnancies

Tristan Tolentino, a veterinary medicine student answered when asked about his opinion of what could have caused these teenage pregnancies, “Earlier

na kase na eexpose sa sexuality mga bata since we have the Anotherinternet.”student, Aren Miranda responded, “Teenage pregnancies is indeed one of the common problems our society is facing today. The rate of teenage pregnancies increases every year especially in impoverished areas. But the question is, why? Family. One word. But very meaningful. Education starts at home. It is the place where children are reared to up hold moral values thought by their parents. However, some of which are hampered because of chaos. At one stage, the parents will get separated and the young adults take their decisions by their own without guidance. They will lose interest in developing a love for learning in which at the end of the day, they will loose interest and be blinded by the hardships and criticisms of the society. Society, on the other hand, teaches the ettiquette and manners as well as the limits in terms of interaction, behaviour and relation ships. But if one cross the limits, people consider it unpleasant resulting to decadence. In addition, social media is also one of the greatest factor that influences the youth of today. Explicit materials can be found frequently in social medias resulting in curiosity and eventually, the act. Without supervision and proper guidance, moral decadance will keep on increasing that will lead into several problems into the society like teenage pregnancies.”

ydio Español Jr, Commission on Population (Pop Com) regional director for National Capital Region (NCR), blamed that moral decadence has been causing teenage pregnancies.

A child born today wouldn’t be driving a gas- or diesel-fueled car by their 21st birth day if the country met its climate goal.

by: Jobelle L. Waje

Ipagpalit sa Sandalig Sarap.’ That’s our campaign all over the country. Students are asked what their dreams are,” he added.

He said that the “contribution of religious belief to abstain from premarital sexual activities” has not been maintained over the years as more under aged girls are getting pregnant.

by: Maureen Khimmery Supan

replaced with pictures of children.”

research that shows the health risks of the climate crisis, said:

Dr. Jonathan Patz, a director of the Global Health Institute and professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who wasn’t involved with the report, said:

“The world has yet to see a response from governments that matches the scale of the challenge. Prices for renewable energy sources make them competitive with fossil fuels, yet ironically this report shows too many countries still continue to subsidize fossil fuels. That is very concerning. It is a time of urgency. And the health benefits from clean energy far outweigh the invest ment

“I think raising awareness through rig orous science can only benefit policymakers and the public at large, as it could lead to sound policy that would be feasible from a political standpoint. This report contributes to this important discussion. The more we contribute to this rigorous evidence base of the real threat of the climate crisis, hopeful ly, it will have a policy impact.”

Teen pregnancies due to moral decadence- POPCOM

A hard ₱150 million corn project that might potentially help the ag ricultural sector to increase productivity and prevent infestation is being

DISCUSSIONFROMBURIEDTHE

Research in the Philippines gained popularity considering all the contri butions it brought to the progress of agriculture justified with historical antecedents. Recently, Senator Cynthia Villar, on her remarks on funding research-related projects of the Department of Agriculture (DA), cited lack of provision and understanding to local researches, arguing that sup port should be actually given to farmers. Another way to demand for an action without considering other possible solutions to problems.

looked forward to. Research will pave a way in helping agriculturists from the new threats, climate change is to pose in the coming years, but if not given attention, greater dilemmas are to be expected.

The statement, unminced and bluntly uttered, turned Villar into a clown after gaining so much attention. Many netizens criticized Villar for being a nuisance and having lack of knowledge of what potential lies in corn research, as well as other researches. Meanwhile, others claim that Villar might have been attacking alleged “ghost researches”.

Even Villar knows that supporting the farmers alone will not be enough. But surely, it made a loud noise in calling the nation that there are farmers too whilst the researches are on process.

That story of triumph became a solid reason of what the netizens are clamoring for. The pride and honor it brought to the country spared not only the US Community but the entire world from the possible threat of another corn disease.

Many overlooked the point of a discourse in hearings like this. It is meant to create a dialectic pattern of rejection, acceptance and scruti ny in order to reveal the faults and eventually resolve them. Good re searches cannot be effective unless applied, hence it is to be ensured that researches are strictly implemented so that taxpayers’ money will not be wasted. Farmers as the working force of the agricultural sector are humans as well and they deserve help after all the implementation of various law that suppresses them.

RESEARCH&DEVELOPMENT

Way back in 1961, a Filipino scientist’s research saved the world’s corn industry a decade later. A number of crops in the cornfields of Uni versity of the Philippines Los Baños has been strucked by the disease called Southern corn leaf blight and a study co-authored by National Scientist Dr. Ricardo M. Lantican was conducted.

The limelight led to the cementing of the people’s mind that research is more precious now than ever, which is partly driven by social media. Little they know about the status of the Philippine farmers competing with foreign crops and land conversion.

EDITORIAL

Lantican’s team study became unnoticed until 1970 when corn crops in the US were infected with the same disease caused by the Hel minthospcrium maydis fungus. The said disease destroyed the US’ corn yield that year, and it was only that time that the essentiality of Lantican’s study was realized.

In the budget hearing, Villar slammed DA for appropriating an enormous amount of funding of over ₱150 million out of the ₱1.2 billion proposed budget to research for the corn program, with the statement “Bakit parang lahat ng inyong budget puro research? Baliw na baliw kayo sa research. Aanhin ninyo ba ‘yung research?”

Yet, it is safe to assume that Villar missed the point of crafting re searches. Although it will not directly give anything farmers at hand, research projects are created to provide sustainable solutions that will help local farmers in the long run.

Choosing between hard donations (machineries, seeds, and mon ey) to farmers and research is pointless. Both variables share a vital role in the development of agri- and aquaculture in the country and they should be given equal priorities in the budgeting process.

On another press conferences, Villar clarifies her statement saying “I am not against research [pero] hindi naman pwedeng puro research, walang application of the research…”

ACEF is said to be not enough to support local farmers, which the DA admitted and adding the problem of agricultural land conversion, direct interventions are immediately needed. Villar cannot be blamed if she is irked with the budget plan she read, with the farmers having no place in the budget outline DA proposed.

However, delving into Villar’s statement, Filipino farmers that do not receive the actual help that they need are urgently in need of assistance. After the Rice Tarrification law, a lot of farmers had suffered for pressing down their crop’s price and the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhance ment Fund (ACEF) is used to lend farmers money and show monetary support.Because

university

CORE VALUES

EDITORIAL BOARD AND STAFF 2019-2020

Here is an anecdote, it was a nice af ternoon during the Christmas when my father told out of his drunk state that “you should do better, stop flaunting your ‘gayness’ in front of our relatives (re ferring to my aunt) because it degrades my reputation”. Out of my fury, I made a rebut “Well, what’s your reputation any way?”What I did silenced him for a mo ment and many would argue that he is only drunk at that time; but I am not. Many might see me disrespectful, offen sive or in some way around I might have, snapped. Snapped in a sense that I have no time playing under the rules they are trying to

and

University With A Heart For HUMANE (HUManity, Agriculture, Nature, and Entrepreneurship) Development

GEROME

Enlive their Expectations raven’s hymn

People-centeredness, Accountability,

What do we see once we look at the mirror? See to it carefully that you are not seeing the reflection of other people.

be

Editor

Chief MIKAELA FAITH S. HINTON MAUREEN KHIMMERY B. SUPAN Associate Editor / News Editors KIMBERLY S. DAVID Managing Editors CINDY G. SAYAT ANTON C. MIRANDA Literary and Feature Editors JOHN GABRIEL DELA TORRE Sports Editor KERL JOSHUA P. FRANCO Head Photojournalist KIM JASTYNE E. JIMENEZHead Multimedia Artist RAFAEL CARL G. MANALO Head Lay-out Artist JOBELLE L. WAJE MA. FRANCHESCKA G. YUMANG JUSTIN M. MENDOZA EDLYN C. VENASQUEZ ALDRIN KEL B. CASTILLO RAN KEVIN E. VINO WINSTON G. ESTRADA News Reportorial Staff RAPHAEL B. LORENZO ALVIN A. CANTERO CHRISTINE MAE T. LAPEÑA Photojournalists

Unity

It is absolutely hard to meet the ex pectation of people. Misogyny, bigotry, and homophobia are just few among the most prevalent words used these days. It has slowly become a trend to pierce ha tred on someone just because we feel like its poking our egoistic nature. We want people to act in a way that meets our standards because in that way, our image will not be besmirched.

OPINION anguardv @TheSinukuanGazetteOfficial 15

What we protect is what we become. Is it not worth having a proud moment when you protect your greatest passions in life? Traversing the path, you real ly intend to take without the control of someone taking advantage of your futile yet soon-to-be-greatest dream you will achieve.

The

AVID Q. GARCIA REYCEL E. RONDAIN KELVIN KLEEN M. HERNANDEZ EULA P. CALIWAG JEFF D. DAVIDVisual Artists

just reset after an error. Because one of the many manipulative structures is that we thought that we will live if we please them.One of the many reasons as well why creativity is rolling rock bottom. Deter mining each step with the map crafted by those who has vested agenda over what youAhave.perfect analogy for this is those who blindly support, let’s say the Duterte administration, without carefully scruti nizing the situation. There is a need for them to oppose even if the opposition speaks rationality, because they need to protect the reputation of someone great er, for the money born out their natural tendency to choose to survive.

MISSIONGOAL

Systems Thinking,

and

“Thouimpose.shall obey your parents for THIS is right”, from that it’s made clear that THEY won’t always be right. Where are we headed in this discussion anyway? Am I seeking to influence you to disobey your parents? It’s as simple as, “learn to live your Parentslife”and for those who have stood as our second parents are the Almighty’s instrument to guide us into the right path. The right path isn’t always an easy road; it is treacherous and in fact risky. These authorities that we look forward to honing us, do not hold the softest hands as oppose to what they are expected to do. Many will in fact hurt you, or worse, lead you to desolation.

Angelo D. Tolentino EDITOR IN angelo.tolentino1217@gmail.comCHIEFBSEDSCIENCE

To the premier science agroecological

ANGELO D. TOLENTINO in

ALLEN

and

unlive

To transform PSAU into an effective institution of higher learning through agroecological education and allied fields, impact-driven research, extension, and entrepreneurship uplifting the welfare of people nature.

sinukuan gazetteanguardv

and

ANDREW O. MANALO Tehnical Adviser GLENN M. CALAGUAS Technical Adviser/ Consultant

ave you been chained under the hands of those who expect you to be better? or wait let me correct, “under those who expect you to be bet ter in their own terms?”. Well, many are those who constantly fell for this kind of trap. Some are lucky enough to rise above while others are too unfortunate to let their oppressors strangle them.

DEXTER

Sometimes we need to ask to whom are we living for? What do we see once we look at the mirror? See to it carefully that you are not seeing the reflection of otherYourpeople.little mistake should not be something that defines your worth for them. You are not a robot that they could

HENDRIX C. SUPAN ANGEL JHOS M. SUPAN NORMAN G. PARUNGAO Multi-media Artists

H

Mainstream science and practice of agroecological and industrial technologies through distinctive instruction, research, extension, entrepreneurship for people nature.

VISION

Because it is only then, when we ac cept everything the way it is, can we experience real happiness.

Value siren’s call:

After we graduate, we cannot act as if we are the boss when in fact we are just rookies who still have long ways to go

OPINION anguardv 16

At the end of the day, the key to real happiness is to accept ev erything the way they are, however we feel at the moment. It is because people are not happy with who they are, that’s why they are unhappy. When we experience un pleasant emotions, instead of sup pressing them just because they are unpleasant, we acknowledge them.

The more you try to be happy, the more unhappy you become.

Just like how someone would use make-ups to conceal their imperfections, we try to con ceal our saddest hours with happi ness believing that people have to be happy at all times. And the more we try to be happy, force ourselves to smile, hold back our negative thoughts, sooner or later, we end up being sadder out of the effort of get ting rid of what we are feeling at the moment. Subconsciously, we reject ourselves the way we are.

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ties that we must be ready to deal with because for certain we are not meant to gibe with everyone.

Every best came from a beginner. Every sturdy tree start ed from a seed. We should know where we stand and what our capa bilities are before we demand. And never should we look down on oth ers and treat them with disrespect. Because all of this small things will give us value.Besides as they say, life is a wheel. We cannot be so assured of what the future will behold. Today you might be on top but tomorrow you may fall down your grace. So, know your place.

Real growth happens when we come to face the reality, of what we really are, and not what we want our life to be. That includes accepting what we are feeling at the moment, no matter how harsh they are, and not suppressing them just because we are told that people needed to be happy at all times.

Real growth hapcome to face the reality, of what we really are, and not what we want our life to be.

W

Mikaela Faith S. Hinton ASSOCIATE EDITOR/NEWS EDITOR faith.hinton1226@gmail.comBSEDENGLISH

School is our training ground. We are being taught not only the things related to our field but also about how to act appropri ately. For example, to arrive in time in respect to everyone else’s time that will be wasted. Also, to act with respect, patience and politeness to everyone even if they really irritate you. Or simply, to act as the educat ed person as you are.

away, jobs go away. In the end, all you’re left with is yourself. So, in stead of always concealing negative emotions with temporary happi ness, we should get used to it, grow from it, and move forward. And the main challenge, according to Win ninger is to how achieve joy when we’re not satisfied with the reality of

It is the time that people will realize that the purpose of life isn’t to be happy. It is fine to feel sad, angry, or scared. We should stop creating that conceptual image of what we should be that will re frain us to accept what we truly are.

hen the government re formed the educational system of the country, they have envisioned that senior high graduates will have the chance to get jobs even if they no longer con tinue to tertiary education. How ever, this was proven wrong when companies still preferred individu als with higher degree of education. But what really is the thing they are looking for the most?

It is the time that people should start seeing our emotions as equal. Each of our emotions bears the same importance as of happi ness. Life isn’t all about constant happiness and positive thinking. As to what the psychologist Ram Dass have said, Emotions are like waves. Watch them disappear in the dis tance on the vast calm ocean. In simpler words, Emotions come and go, whatever we feel are the chemi cals in our body reacting to a stim uli, so the time that they arise in our lives, we let Anotherthem.problem is that we try to wrap up ourselves with happiness that is always temporary and changing. We buy happiness by doing and acquiring things we enjoy, we feel happy for a moment and when reality kicks in, the hap piness will dissipate soon enough. The reason why real happiness cannot be acquired from achieving these objects is because they are unsustainable.With Thomas Winninger words, houses go away, cars go

Maureen Khimmery Supan ASSOCIATE EDITOR/NEWS EDITOR maureen.supan@gmail.comDoctorofVeterinaryMedicine

t a young age, we’ve been told that there’s nothing else im portant than happiness. With this, our minds have created a concep tual image that we should be happy at all times. That is why we tend to believe that we consider ourselves a failure when we did not meet that conceptual image and later on, we will feel that we are not good enough.

I’ll tell you a story of my two cousins. Let’s name them Mark and Odon. Mark, despite his par ents forcing him to study college, he never was able to finish any un dergraduate course. Odon, in the meanwhile, was able to finish a four year course in college because he was industrious, they say. Surpris ingly, between the two of them the one with a job is Mark. It may not be a blue collar job but the thing is he has a job. When Odon brags his four year course and does not want to compromise. He never made it to any interviews because when in terviewer starts to asks questions he cannot even utter a single word. This is the problem of our generation. We think that we are of high value and that everyone else should compromise if not bow down to us. A lot of employers say in exasperation that their new em ployees are not performing com petitively and yet are too eager for salary raise. They work and act as if you owe them.Ourgeneration teaches us to value oneself and to not let oth er people look down on us. How ever, there is a case to case basis to everything. After we graduate, we cannot act as if we are the boss when in fact we are the rookies who still have long ways to go. This is a question of one’s attitude like how they teaches us to treat the janitor with the same respect as you treat the CEO. We cannot think that we are high and mighty when it does not equal our capabilities or what we can offer.We should be aware that a

How much for a cup of happiness? translucence:

workplace will be a world different from what we have experience in school and our homes. It will not pamper or comfort us when things started to get out of hand, instead bills will be everywhere to remind us that we can’t stop. And we will be judged 70% based on our attitude and only 30% on our capabilities. We would meet various personali

In addition, professions like

pilot, police, doctor, marine and even the army that serves the country in terms of security and safety are jobs that require a diploma. Teachers that give everyone a brighter future are also products of college.

So when you thought that college is not important, aren’t you just thinking about shortterm goals?

In the midst of our con versation, she suddenly men tioned one of our batchmates. She is our classmate actually. I’ve known her being studious, responsible, religious, and fam ily-oriented. In my surprise, words that I was listening to do not easily processed by my con scious mind.She is pregnant, at a young age. I know, cases like this are not really surprising in our generation specially some of the factors that triggers this kind of situations are evidently present in today’sAccordingtime. to the Com mission on Population (POP COM) there are about 500 teen age girls who give birth in the Philippines every day. 196, 000 females ages between 15 and 19 get pregnant each year.

A degree and its underlying essence and stability patty:

“Nagmahal lang ako. At dahil sa pagmamahal na ‘yon, ibinigay ko ang lahat.” esterday, I have decided to visit my bestfriend way back in highschool. It’s been quite some time since the last time we saw each other. As usual, just like what we used to do during breaktime in school, we talked about random things such as college life, family, new found friends, and love life of course.

A

Kimberly S. kimberlydavid1300@gmail.comMANAGINGDavidEDITORBSEDENGLISH

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Similarly, a 22-year old vlogger can earn millions at this age; or a 22-year old actor or actress can already have his or her house and own a car. This is where the ques tion will start. It that diploma really matters? Young business who doesn’t have a degree in Business and Com merce who just started a small busi ness can be as successful as an entre preneur who finished the course for four years.There are a lot of success ful people nowadays that just start ed their success in building up small businesses like a small carinderia or canteen, sari-sari store, and even having an online clothing shop that as I’ve said a while ago, don’t need a college degree.Inaddition, a lot of courses will obliged you to take up a licensure examination wherein it will take you a lot—money, time, hard work even emotional instability. Examples of these courses are Education, Accoun tancy and Political Science where I fact, you don’t need a license to vlog, do a film, or to start a business. These people are already millionaires and a teacher can never earns millions in the Philippines because of low salary rates.

But a lot of questions are being raised in terms of the debate about having a degree. One can fin ish a course within the span of four years but courses like Engineering and Accountancy take up five years and there are even courses that will take you ten years to graduate like the Medical Technology.Withtheaddition of K-12 in the Philippine Education System, it is clear to see that an average per son who took up the first grade at the age of six will finish a four-year course by 22 years of age.

lot of people will agree with me when I say that a Bachelor’s de gree in college or a diploma is very important. It is a way of showing that you are educated, thus, finished something in life.

Some may get my point wrong. I am not belittling any profes sion or job. I am just trying to explain both sides.I know some are in deep thought right now, thinking that what I’ve said is indeed true. Looking at the practical end, I am sure many will say “nah, college degree is not important.”

when someone is planning to get that degree of being a doctor, it is very inappropriate to downgrade that person and say that he can just start a business and make money. Because if not for that person’s willingness, who will be the doctors in the next 10 to 15 years?Having these kinds of professions are very essential because these our the jobs that will serve the country in a long period of time. These are the jobs that yes, difficult to achieve but it will give the country something in return—service.Itmayhurt you in the very long process but I assure you—that it is something you should be proud of and it is something that is as sweet as a flower’s nectar. Besides, education will always be one of your greatest ac complishments.

In addition, the teen age pregnancy rate in Asia’s lone Catholic-dominate country remains high, as 30 percent of youngsters engaged in premar ital sex. One of the dominant factors stated by POPCOM is that teens are widely exposed on the internet where most of the content are unfiltered, including pornography.Itis undeniable that such kind of situation was high ly criticized by many. However, looking at the other side, there were different stories that can be unfold if we just allow ourselves to choose understanding over criticism.

the most difficult and challeng ing one. Enduring sleepless nights, body pains, and emo tional crisis are something that considerably unquestionable. “Nagmahal lang ako. At dahil sa pagmamahal na ‘yon, ibinigay ko ang lahat.” Yes, cli ché. But this was the reality. I or we are not in position to tell someone when does love be comes right or wrong. But one thing is certain, love comes in different form, and none of each is unacceptable.Inthe end, we are all human beings, mistakes are in evitable. It is innate among us to commit wrong decisions thus chances are absolute. Life is not a manifestation of shortcomings and wrongdoings. Instead, it is reflected on how we took the chances that will enable us to rebuild ourselves as a better in dividual.

quill’s behest: choose criticism.standingunder-over

Cindy G. FEATURE/LITERARYSayat EDITOR cindysayat16@gmail.comBSEDENGLISH

OPINION anguardv @TheSinukuanGazetteOfficial 17

I have been a witnessed of so many instances, class mates, friends, and relatives. And with all honesty, I cannot throw even a single stone unto them for appreciating the fact that facing society’s judgement took a lot of guts and courage,

Some are forgetting the bigger picture here. A college degree is a lot more. It can give you a long-term fi nancial security. Being an actor is not forever; yes you can top the ratings but only for about some months. But, being an accountant, it is until you have retired. Also, those who have a degree can be financially stable. It means that they are able to get money or earn in a regular basis not like a vlogger that earns every time he or

So when you thought that college is not important, aren’t you just thinking about short-term goals? I am not saying that being a million aire without a degree is a mortal sin but I just want to have an equal em phasis in the importance of college as well.So

Bittersweet Corollary

It doesn’t simple ends there, the transition period to being a mother, which I guess

How important is that piece of pa per?

estyudante sa leksyong tinuturo ng isang guro at higit sa lahat ‘dagdag sahod para sa guro’ sa nagdaang LET Results na paunti-unti ang pu mapasa at kumukuha ng kursonhg edukasyon dahil na rin sa baba ng sahod ng mga ito.

But now the work of Filipino scientists is within the reach of all Filipinos. This develop ment is a good step in fostering more science knowledge and education among the Filipino youth and general populace, especially given the woeful condition of science education in the country.TheDepartment of Budget and Manage ment has said it intends for the Philippines to achieve “upper-middle income status” by 2040, and that this will be possible “by invest ing in Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI)—the three crucial drivers in the eco nomic development and social progress of a country.”Yetthe DOST only received a budget of P20.26 billion this 2019. This allocation is nowhere in the top 10 agency budgets for 2019; the Department of Education is still at No. 1 with P665.1 billion, the Department of Social Welfare and Development is fifth with P177.9 billion, and the Bangsamoro Autono mous Region is 10th with P32.3 billion. The 2020 DOST budget includes P1.4 billion for PAGASA, P588.1 million for PHIVOLCS, and P2.6 billion will go to the Philippine Science HighFilipinoSchool. scientists have battled such meager budgets and public apathy for years, but they’re not giving up. Last June 2018, the DOST and the University of the Philippines (UP) System held the first Agham Bayan, a festival celebrating science, technology and innovation, at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay.

OPINION

As important as luring back Filipino sci entists working overseas, however, is develop ing interest in the sciences in this country at a young age. School curricula can be enhanced in this regard. More programs can also be de veloped to encourage high school students to consider pursuing careers related to the sci ences and Sciencemathematics.andtechnology can empower communities, ease poverty and improve the quality of life. The most competitive countries pour resources into scientific and technolog ical innovation. Scientific pursuits deserve more emphasis in national life.

Hindi dapat natin sisihin ang mga gurong nagtuturo, gobyernong nagsusumikap na pagandahin at pataasin ang kalidad sa edukasyon ngunit, hindi rin natin masisisi ang ating sarili sapagkat tayo rin ang gagawa ng paraan. Sa katunayan, kung patuloy na pagsisi ay patuloy din ang pagbagsak sa putik ng ka hirapan.

Enough isnot enough lines and letters

sang-ayunan ng karamihan’ Budget. Ang pagpapatayo ng mga infrastraktura, pagdagdag ng mga tekstong babasahin at pag-ayu da sa ‘dagdag sweldo ng guro’ ay dapat talagang gawin. Sapagkat, maraming mga paaralang kulang ang pasilidad para sa mga batang gustong matuto at makapagtapos.

anguardv 18

Anton C. FEATURE/LITERARYMiranda EDITOR

ast June 2018, the Department of Sci ence and Technology (DOST) made a welcome announcement on Facebook: The Philippine Journal of Science has been made an open-access journal, meaning anyone can read and download the journal’s articles for free.

Advancedprojects. economies invest heavily in scientific and technological pursuits, aware that innovation is the key to survival and suc cess in a globalized environment. In contrast, interest in the Philippines in the sciences and, relatedly, mathematics, still leaves much to be

It’s time to provide more than lip service to the idea of S&T lifting up Filipinos. Surely these projects deserve more funding and support.

Wake-up Call. Tila isang pan tapal sa nagdurugong sugat sa edukasyon ang nangyaring resulta.

rafaelcarl28@gmail.comARTISTBSEDSCIENCE

Hirap o yaman. Dagdagan mo ng ‘ma’ magiging ‘mahirap’ at ‘mayaman’ marahil isa ito sa mga dahilan kung bakit ang educa tionbal system sa ating bansa ay bumababa. Sapagkat ang estadong pang-ekonomiko ng isang magaaral may kaugnayan sa kanyang husay sa pag-aaral. Mas mahirap ka, mas mababa ang reading scores mo. Pero, karamihan sa mga mahi hirap na nagtatapos ay may kaaki bat na ‘suma, magna at cum’ ngunit sa iba kung mahirap ka mas lalong kumkitid ang libro para sa pag-an gat sa Pekelipunan.saTotoo. Marahil narir inig natin ang salitang “fake news”. Nagiuging dahilan din ito ng pag kababa ng ating puntos sa isyung PISA. Hindi marahil lalaganap ang isang ‘disinformation’ kung marunong tayong umintindi at su muri ng artikulo o isyung maging balita na ating nababasa sa inter net. Marahil ito ang magiging susi upang maputol ang buntot ng mga taong nasa likod ng pagkalat ng maling impormasyon na ‘nililike, shine-share at ioopinyunan at sina

in 2016 by adopting the high-tech initiative credited with saving millions of lives through accurate and timely weather and flood fore casting, after the government funding for the program ran out.

The government has a “Balik-Scientist” program that offers incentives to Filipino scientists working overseas to work in their own country. Relevant agencies have reported some success in the program.

desired. Education Secretary Leonor Briones has also cited the lack of science and mathe matics professors as a problem in the public education system.

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Yan ang naging mainit na usa pan matapos ang isang nakapanlu lumong resulta ng Programme for International Student Assessmsnt (PISA) na nilahukan ng 79 na bansa kabilang na ang Pilipinas at panghuli tayong mga Pinoy sa pag bababsa. Mababa din ang naging is kor ng bansa sa science at math na nakapuntos ng 78. Ito ang naging unang pagkakataon na lumahok nsa PISA. Sa katunayan, kulelat tayo sa listahan. Ngunit kaakibat nito’y matinding pangamba lalo na sa mga guro sa Pilipinas. Isang ban gungot para sa kanila.

Kaakibat na sa dagdag sild-asralan ay dagdag na kagamitan upang mapadali at maging tutok ang mga

antonmiranda101@gmail.com BS DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION

UP essentially saved Project Noah (Na tionwide Operational Assessment of Hazards)

AksyonInstitusyon,Pagbasa,Siyensa, stratagem: Ang pinasang-awa.tinatawagsahanngunitedukasyonkarami-ayumaasa‘awa’–itoangna

Highlighting 44 examples of ground breaking research, Agham Bayan showed how S&T could be applied to everyday problems. Among the projects featured is a census of fish in the ocean, a device that warns of possible landslides in real time, technology that creates a hazard map for floods, a compact lab that can prevent dengue, and protein-rich copra that can become animal feed.

Ang sagot diyan, depende. Depende sa kalidad ng edukasyon na natamo mo.

PISA:

Rafael Carl G. Manalo HEAD LAY-OUT

Like much of the world, Filipinos are fa miliar with the space exploration projects of NASA. A decade of collaboration between the US and Philippines is contributing to height ened interest in the country, especially among the youth, in scientific pursuits and innova tion

This is a significant first, because the Phil ippine Journal of Science, founded in 1906, is the oldest scientific peer-reviewed publication in the country, featuring articles on the nat ural sciences, engineering, mathematics and socialUsually,sciences.only university libraries sub scribe to top academic journals, but that ac cess is only available to the school’s students and faculty. If one wants access to the same journals, he or she will have to pay for it.

Agham Bayan also focused attention on the yeoman’s work that Filipino scientists have been doing despite budgetary setbacks. In 2016, for instance, two of the scientists who worked on the visionary microsatellite Di awata-1 said they worked on the project from 2014 to 2016 without proper compensation, as they were classified as “students” instead of engineers.“Wewere working, not studying. Yet we did not quit—not because of the imaginary contract, but because this is hope for the Fil ipino people and for the country,” Diwata-1 engineer Julian Marvick Fua Oliveros said.

Many Filipino scientists are forced to go abroad because of such lack of local support. The DOST has allocated millions to entice them to return to the country through its “Balik Scientist Program.”

“Beyond free education, we also need quality education” adalas natiing isipin at sam bitin ng mga mag-aaral ang salitang “Makakapagtapos ako para maiahon ko sa hirap ang pamilya ko.” Sa ating Pi noy, likas na iyan na ang edukasyon ang solusyon ngunit karamihan ay umaasa sa ‘awa’ – ito ang tinatawag na pinasang-awa. Hindi baleng ma hirap basta magkadiploma? Tama ba?

It’s time to provide more than lip service to the idea of S&T lifting up Filipinos. Surely these projects deserve more funding and sup port. At the same time, increasing the public’s access to Filipino scientific research through steps such as opening access to the Philippine Journal of Science allows science and techno logical education for younger Filipinos to take a stepTheforward.achievements and successes of homegrown scientists also need to be widely told, to encourage more Filipinos to follow in their path.

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Ganda ng eskwela mo, ganda ng trabaho mo. Minsan pinangarap kong makapag-aral at makapag tapos sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, Ateneo, o DLSU na naging dahilan sapagkat karamihan sa mga nagta pos sa paaralang ito’y sureball na sa magandang trabaho kapag ikaw ay gradweyt sa institusyong iyon. Bias kung baga ang nagiging ugali na ng mga opisina sa Pilipinas.

Maging sa pagwawakas ng kwentong ito ay nawa’y maibalik na ang dapat ibalik upang mga nars, domestic helper at pati na guro’y hindi na mag babalak na mangibang bansa upang maghangad ng magandang trabaho at sapat na sweldong bubuhay at tutustos sa kanilangMagingpamumuhay.sapagwakas ng kwento ay wala na sanang mahihirap na gustong makatikim ng ginhawa, makalanghap ng sariwaa at masarap na panglaman tiyan.

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Maging sa wakas, tumayo sa upuan at tumaas din ang kumpiyansa na mag-aral dahil sa libre at dami ng pas ilidad pati na ang kalidad mula upuan hanggang kagamitan ng sa PISA’y hindi matawag na mangmang At maging sa pagbalik ng kaban ng bayan ay wala nang tiwaling mama hala na ang karakutang magaganap ay maiiwaksi at malinis na gobyer no upang ang bangungot na sinapit ay hindi na maulit.

At bakit hanggang ngayon ay pahirapan pa rin ang pagkuha o pagbawi ng Pilipinas ang yaman na kanilang iti nangay? Bakit tila palpak ang pagsusuri at pagtalakay kung paano ito maiibaba lik?

Dumaan na ang ilang taon, wala ni isang katiting na tinatayang dolyares ang naibalik na sa PCGG maaring sa mga nagdaang taon ay walang mali naw na istratehiya upang makuha ang mga yamang tutulong sa bansa, walang malinaw na plataporma sapagkat ipa pabasa ang kaso at ibibinbin na lamang at walang sapat na alituntunin kung bakit ang usad pagong na pagbawi ay lalong bumabagal at pababa ng paba ba upang malimutan ng sambayan na yaman ay dapat pak ganinaban

Tagu-taguan, Itago mo ang yaman, na hindi alam ng mamamayan

ng Perlas ng Silanganan.

likhang sining ng mga Marcos na naka lista sa PCGG List of Missing Artworks (kabilang dito ang mga likhang sining ni Cezanne, Degas, Monet, Picasso at Van Gogh) pati na ang Gtandma Moses Paintings na nagkakahalaga ng P24.325 milyon

FEATURES anguardv NATIONAL

Maging sa pagwakas nito’y wala nang mga taong namamatay dahil sa sakit na hindi kayang lunusan dahil pera ang pantapal ng mga hospital na huhuthutan at hindi ka pagagalingan.

Bakit parang isang serye ng laro ang pagbawi sa mga nakaw na yaman ng mga ito. ‘Tagu-taguan, Itago mo ang yaman, na hindi alam ng mamamayan.’

SA PANULAT NI ANTON C MIRANDA

ay ikukwento akong isang istory ang kapuna-puna, kakilakilabot at kapana-panabik na isang nobelang puno ng katiwalian, nakawan, patayan at traydoran. Isang kwentong pang masa, kwentong Pilipinas, isang Perlas ng Silanganan na ito’y kinamkam. Mahigit tatlumpung taon na ang nakalipas mula nang mapalayas sa pwesto ang dating Pangulong si Ferdi nand Marcos sa kanilang pamumuno. Nakilala ang mga Marcoses bilang mga hari’t reyna ng Pilipinas dahil sa ma rangyang“Imeldific”pamumuhay.naging bahagi ng isang diksyunaryo ang hinangong pangalan ng dating Ginang na si Imelda Marcos nangangahulugan na “osten tiously extravagant” dahil sa magarbo nilang pamumuhay.Ayonsareport ng Philippine Commission on Good Governance (PCGG) maraming mga tago at na kaw na yaman tulad ng P1,687 million bank deposits sa Security Bank and Trust Company; Traders Royal Bank. Mahigit kumulang ding P51 million na residential at agricultural land sa bayan ng Leyte. Mga shares sa stocks sa PLDT na nagkakahalaga ng P1.6 billion, samantalang umabot ng US$292 million foreign bank deposits at US$98 million financial houses and industrial mining investments na real properties sa United States at United Kingdom.Dagdag pa rito mayroong 177 paintings, 42 crates ng alahas na nagkakahalaga ng mahigit US$ 8.9 million Kasama. sa mga nakulimbat na

“Kayo po na nakaupo’ Subukan niyo namang tumayo, At baka matanaw ninyo Ang tunay na kalagayan ko”

has started. It might be the reason why some of us have ventured our frustrations on even in nocent chinese nationals. It is already coming out as discrimination and judgment towards them. We keep on reading at one side of the pages only that we never really see how much the discriminations they’ve received have im pacted them.

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China has become the heart of the epidem ic. Just in the morning of February 4, 2020, there are already 20,438 confirmed cases of the NCoV, which includes a 1-month old baby from the southwestern Guizhou province. The death toll is 425, with an increase of 65 in just a span of three days, if this isn’t quite alarming enough. There are two death cases outside the Chinese territory, and unfortunately, the first out of that two death cases happened in the Philippines, which of course, have raised fears and worries from the Filipino citizens.

Or maybe the chinese is already tired of being discriminated, and fearing to be discriminated again out of sneezing, there’s no other choice but to say sorry, and a promise for reassurance.

THE antagonistREAL

s the conflict of the Novel Coronavirus (NCoV) arises, the Chinese nationals are now being viewed as the villains of the story. They are perceived to as the source of the said virus, and therefore the ones who are respon sible for the inevitable spread of the NCoV. But as we continue to stigmatize the Chinese nationals, unbeknowst to us, we are revealing ourselves to be the real villains in here.

These emotions have caused us to stigmatize the Chinese nationals that are currently resid ing in the country. One example is that if we have seen a chinese national on the street, we will automatically perceive the person as in fected without considering the context that the person might have already been residing in the country even before the virus break-out, or in stead of spreading viruses, their prime purpose of moving in to another country is that they are just victims like us, and are just running away from the fact that if they will keep themselves close, they might get infected with the virus. It’s just matter of human instinct. You’ll keep your self as far as possible to anything that may bring you harm.

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The plague is first detected at Wuhan, China, theorizing that it has been an animal-to-hu man spread. However, the growing number of infected patients are reportedly not exposed to animal market, which basically means that what is occuring is a human-to-human spread.

In times of this epidemic, instead of pulling one feet down, we should always lift each and every one up. It is also the time that we eradicate the stigma that just because the virus started from china, it doesn’t mean that every Chinese na tionals is infected. We never realized that we are already crossing the line and sometimes what comes out from our mouth are just judgment and discrimination. Let’s still aim for respect. And to always remember to read each pages and leave nothing out, only then we will realize that in this story, there’s no need of a villain but just protagonists helping each other out.

HEALTH

One example, is that testimony of a customer and the chinese behind at a fast food chain. Wherein the chinese had to sneeze and after wards, have said the words, “Sorry. I’m no sick. Promise,” He had used two of the most powerful words; Sorry and Promise. However, what was he sorry for? For sneezing? Is sorry the most suitable term you will use after you sneeze?

words by MIKAELA S FAITH HINTON graphics by ANGELO D TOLENTINO

It is really evident, especially in the powerful social media, how outrageous we are about get ting involved in a problem that another country

Another example is a message of a Chinese stu dent to its Filipino teacher. “Teacher, I am glad you and your country is safe from the virus. I am praying for you and for your country,” the note says. Because we love generalizing, what we see in the majority is what we believe as the representaion of a whole. And it’s heartbreak ing how we treated the Chinese nationals in disgust, but then, there are those innocent vic tims who would even pray for our safety.

The real enemy is the virus, not the people.

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Doubt... Panic... and Fear. Should there always be an exemption to theherule?whole

FEATURES anguardv @TheSinukuanGazetteOfficial 21

Stigmatization in health seems to spread faster than the infection itself and it surely is not helping to contain the coronavirus. With the advent of all the panic and fear, what should be instilled in the minds of the Filipinos is not to be limiting but to be more aware and educated. Access to accurate information is always a necessity especially now that we are slowly being blinded by our own doubts.

Must we really sacrifice the public health in the name of hospi Filipinotality?

world has been appalled by the horrors brought by the infectious novel corona virus (2019-nCoV ARD) and by the end of January; the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the emergence of it as a public health emer gency of international concern (PHEIC).

Panic: Are we letting fear turn into discrimination?

Beyond the viral infection lies a bigger issue that challenges not only the health of many but also the perception of the majority of Filipinos with regards to how the government is addressing the occurrence saying that the administration has so much care for what other countries have to say instead putting the safety of its people on top of the priority list.

hospitality is no doubt, one of the most promising traits that the country has been renowned for all over the globe. We are hailed for being so welcoming and warm towards other nationalities. However, the fear of the recent viral outbreak suggests the other way around.

The worries of the general public from being infected can be immensely rooted from the problematic healthcare that the nation has been facing for decades. Even though the government is optimistic that the Philippines can handle and restrain the outbreak, concerns over the nation’s resources are being raised from time to time.

The idea of continuously accepting people who can possibly car ry the virus and transfer them to other individuals freely in the country is alarming for most of the Filipinos amid the coughing dilemma of 2019 nCoV.

words by MA FRANCHESCKA G YUMANG

Is it the right time to be welcoming? UNTIMELY HOSPITALITY:

Moreover, the spread of fake news that fuels up the panic of the people serves as a barrier that hinders them to accept the pieces of information that are verified and credible. People are demand ing to expand the temporary ban into a stricter and more rigid enactment to minimize or to completely stop people from China to enter the country. Thus reflecting the view of the populace; that now, is not the right time to be welcoming.

Doubt: The Question on Filipino Hospitality

Netizens called out the government for refusing to ban the trav els from Mainland China (where 2019 nCoV originated) even after the confirmation of the Philippines’ first case of the said epidemic. As an answer to the rage of the public, the government gave emphasis on how China may question the exclusivity of the decision because we are not imposing the same policy on other countries that also have reported cases of the novel corona vi rus.

MAPAGSAMANTALA SA PANAHON NG SAKUNA

asa unang pahina pa lamang tayo ng bagong taon ay hindi na magkamayaw ang mga kalamidad na bumisita sa ating bansa. Sa mga ganitong pagkakataon na ang mga tao’y mahina ang laban, sadyang hindi maiiwasan ang mga taong mapagsamantala, walang iniisip na iba kung hindi ang kanilang sa rili lamang, lalong-lalo na ang mga ibang negosyante na imbis na makaramdam ng awa para sa ating mga kapwa at sasamantalahin ang pagkakataon upang kumita. Sa mga ganitong kalamidad at sakuna ay nagsis ilabasan ang mga iyan na ang interes lamang ay para makalikom ng pera at sadyang nakakalimutan nilang sila ay Pilipino. Sadyang totoo nga yata ang kasabihang, “Money is the root of all evil.” Narito ang mga sitwasyon kung saan ang mga mapagsamantalang pilipino ay nagsipaglitawan sa mga panahon ng sakuna at kalamidad.

sa panulat ni by MIKAELA S FAITH HINTON

SI JUAN

Ayonestablisiyemento.saWorldRisk Report 2018, ang Pilipinas ang ikatlong may pinakamataas na panganib pagdating sa mga sakuna at ka lamidad. Dahil ang bansa’y napaliligiran ng tubig, madalas tay ong bisitahin ng mga bagyong kumikitil ng mga pangkabuhayan, at dahil tayo’y nakapwesto sa Pacific Ring of Fire, ang bansa’y maraming natatagong bulkan na bagama’t maganda sa kanilang panlabas na postura at may mga kulong tinatago sa kanilang loob na kayang bumura ng mga lugar sa mapa.

Sa kasalukuyan, humaharap naman ang mundo sa isang virus na kumitil na ng 361 na buhay, ang Coro navirus. Sa pilipinas, tinatayang isa ang kumpir madong infected na ng nasabing virus at isa ang namatay na dahil dito. Bagama’t parehong du gong tsino ang mga biktima sa pilipinas, ito ay nagdulot ng kaba at takot sa mga pilipino, sapagkat ang virus ay maaring kumalat ka hit sa simpleng paghawak lamang ng mga bagay na nahawakan ng mga infected. Sa kasamaang palad, sa patuloy na paglaga nap ng nito. Hindi lamang ang mga piling lugar ng Luzon ang nagkakaroon ng ka kulangan sa mga face masks, kung hin di pati na rin ang buong bansa. Sa mga panahong ganito, papasok na naman ang mga mukhang perang negosyante, nari yan ang mga pilipinong nagho-hoard ing (papakyaw ng napakarami) saka ipagbibili ang mga face masks sa hindi makatarungang halaga. Samantala, ang Philippine National Police (PNP) ay tutu long naman sa Department of Trade and In dustry (DTI) pagdating sa pagsusubaybay sa mga naitalang mga nagho-hoarding.

Sumabay sa paputok ng bagong taon ay ang pagputok ng bul kang Taal noong lamang Enero 12. Ang pagsabog nito’y nagdu lot upang yakapin ang Batangas ng mga abo at maapektuhan din ang iba pang parte ng Luzon at mga karatig probinsya ng Batan gas. Ang mga abo’y may masasamang dulot sa ating kalusugan; halimbawa ang pagkakaroon ng problema sa respiratory system, problema sa mga mata, at maari ring maging iritable sa ating mga balat. Inabisuhan ang lahat ng mga apektado na magsuot ng N95 mask na poprotekta sa iyo upang hindi maapektuhan ng 95% na mga abo. Dahil dito’y dumami ang benta ng mga facemask at dumating sa puntong nagkakaubusan na rin, kaya naman ang ibang mga nagtitinda’y ipinagbili ito sa mas malaki pang halaga. Ayon sa bise alkalde ng Maynila na si Honey Lacuna—Pangan, nakatanggap sya ng mga reklamo ukol sa mga N95 mask na bine benta na sa humigit kumulang 200php, na dati lamang umaabot sa presyong 25php hanggang 30php. Sapagkat ang presyo’y hindi makatarungan, inaksyunan naman itong agad ng awtoridad sa pamamagitan ng pag-iinspeksiyon sa mga tindahang hindi nam emresyo ng patas.

talang pilipino ay nagsipaglitawan sa mga panahon ng sakuna at kalamidad.

pagbabawal sa mga pagpapataas ng presyo ng mga bilihin. Nagiwan ng babala ang DTI sa mga nagtitinda na kung sino man ang mahuhuling lalabag sa batas ay papatawan ng kaukulang paru sa. Ang parusa’y maaring umabot sa pagbabayad ng humigit ku mulang 1 milyong piso depende sa kung gaano kalaki ang kanil ang

Huwag nating ituro ang ating daliri sa iisang tao lamang ka pag tayo’y natanong kung bakit makupad ang progreso ng bansa. Tignan ang saliri at isipin kung tayo ba ay may nagawa na bilang isang mamamayan. Imbis na magsalita lamang ng magsalita at ibigay ang sisi sa mga nakatataas, tayo’y kumilos upang buhayin muli ang bayanihan kung saan tayo nakilala. Dahil sa mga pana hon ng sakuna at kalamidad na sadyang hindi maiiwasan, ang kailangan ng bawat isa ay kalinga at mga kamay na han dang magbigay ng tulong, at hindi mga hudas na sarili lamang ang iniisip. Huwag nating hayaang dumat ing sa puntong may buhay na mai sakripisyo dahil sa lamang sa pansaril

Facemasks sa Taal at NCoV

Isa siya sa mga naghayag kung paano naiaakma ang pagkamalikhain pagdating sa larangan ng pagluluto. Sino ba namang mag-aakala na ang simpleng putahe na pangpawi lamang ng pagsusuka at pagkahilo ay magiging isang imahen ng lungsod.

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putaheng ito ay mabisang panugpo ng pagsusuka at pagkahilo. Ito rin ay madalas na kinakain ng mga buntis dahil sa paglilihi nila sa kaasiman ng sinaunang sisig.

ilalang-kilala na ang mga Kapam pangan pagdating sa larangan ng pagluto, kaya naman naturingan ang Pampanga bilang Culinary Capital of the Philippines. Isa sa pinagmamal aking putahe ng Pampanga ay ang tinatawag na Sisig, pinagpira-pirasong ulo ng baboy o atay ng manok na sinangkapan ng kalamansi, sibuyas, at sili.

FLAVORS

Tumalab sa panlasa ng mga tao ang kalutungan ng mga karne na iyong mararamdaman sa bawat kagat, isa pa ang asim na dulot ng kalamansi, at ang anghang na dulot naman ng sili. Hindi lamang siya ang klase ng putahe na nababagay lamang ipares sa kanin, ngunit ito ay isang katanggap-tanggap na pulutan na makakapares sa inuman. Nakakapanabik malanghap ang aroma ng bagong lutong sisig sa kanyang ku mukulong platito. Kaya’t kapag narir inig na ang pagkulo ng paparating na bagong lutong sisig, ay sasabay na ang pagtakam ng mga labi at pagkalam ng inyong mgaNgunittiyan.alam niyo ba na ang sisig ay kauna-unahang nasilayan sa diksyunaryo ng mga Kapampangan na inilista ng prayleng si Diego Bergaño noong pang ika-labimpitong siglo. Ang pangalang sisig ay nagmula sa salitang Tagalog na sisigan na ang ibig sabihin ay paasiman. Inihambing ng prayle ang sisig na isang salad ng luntiang papaya o bayabas na binudburan ng asin, paminta, bawang at suka. Ang

Sa layo ng inabot ng implu wensiya ng sisig ay nagkaroon ito ng iba’t ibang uri tulad ng sisig ala piz zailo, green mussels or bilat, mixed seafood, ostrich sisig, crocodile sisig, spicy python, frog sisig, tokwa’t baboy, at iba pa. Ilan din sa mga sisig ngayon ay dinagdagan na rin ng itlog, chich aron at mayonnaise ang kanilang mga sangkap. Bukod sa ulo ng baboy at atay ng manok, ginagamit na rin ang pusit, tuna, at tofu bilang pangunahing sangkap ng Ngunitsisig.kahit ilan pa ring bersyon ng sisig ang umusbong, wala pa ring tatalo sa sisig babi ng Angeles City, Pampanga. Ito ang nagbukas ng pinto sa iba’t ibang bersyon ng sisig na nausbong at ito rin ang nagpatibay na ang mga kapampangan ay mapagka katiwalaan pagdating sa larangan ng pagluluto.

Ngunit kung ang pinakaunang sisig ay nakilala dahil sa angkin nitong kaasiman, ang sisig ni Aling Lucing ay kinilala dahil sa kanyang istratehiya na

Sisig Babi ning Angeles

Sa paglipas ng panahon, nagkaroon ito ng ibang bersyon nang minsang ang mga US Air Force na nakatungtong sa Clark Base, Angeles City, Pampanga ay nagtatapon ng mga hindi nagamit na ulo ng baboy kapag sila ay naghahanda ng pagkain. Upang hindi masayang ang mga ulo ng baboy, ito ay pinagpira-piraso at ginamit na isa sa mga sangkap ng sisig, at ito ang naging isa sa pundasyon ng kinikilala nating sisig sa Ngunitkasalukuyan.angdapatna bigyang pugay sa sisig na ating kinilala sa kasalukuyan ay si Lucia Cunanan, o mas kilala bilang Aling Lucing, na mas binigyang kulay ang sisig kaya’t ito’y pumatok sa panlasa ng mga tao. Nauna niya itong naipamalas sa kanyang pagpapatayo ng kanyang restawran sa Angeles City noong taong 1974, ang Aling Lucing’s. Hindi lamang nito naantig ang panlasa ng mga taga-An geles, ngunit pati narin ang panlasa ng buong Pilipinas. Dinayo ang Aling Lucing’s at naturingan ang Angeles City bilang Sisig Capital of the Philip pines.

pag-iihaw ng mga sangkap na karne bago ito isalang bilang sisig, dahil dito mas nabigyang diin ang pagkalutong ng mga karne sa bawat kagat. Kanya ring inihahain ang mga sisig sa isang kumukulong platito upang hindi kaagad mapawi ang init.

sa panulat ni MIKAELA S FAITH HINTON

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With the 200,000 cases of teenage pregnancy a year, Ellie is just one of those teenage girls who had early and un planned pregnancy. Dreams have been shattered, and many family relationships were ruined because of this. In parents’ point of view, when they find out that their daughter, at the age of 15 for that matter, is pregnant out of wedlock, they would start questioning themselves. Their heads will be filled with endless questions of why and how, or what went wrong that it had to come to this.As for Ellie, it was the same. Endless tears and screams of mixed anger and grief resonat ed in their house when she told her mother about it.“I have always reminded you, Ellie! Why? Why did you still do it?

Ellie’s case may be very typical, but it shows that everything just boils down to one’s decisions. Even though parents do not fail to educate their children, if they wanted it especially when they have a deeper reason for that, they would still do it. May it be moral decadence, unprotected intercourse, lack of information about sex education, all of these would not be considered as the root if the child really wanted it.

WORDS BY EDLYN C VENASQUEZ

TwoRed nesofLifeli

Just how many times do I have to tell you that temporary pleasure is not even half of the awaiting hardships you would encounter if you would have a child?!” Ellie silently wept. She knew that. Her mom never failed to remind her of how life could be so hard of an unplanned child, especially if you haven’t finished studying yet. Their family belongs to the 10 percent of the Filipino families who tackle adolescent sexuality at home, but she still got pregnant. She knew no one is to be blamed but her. She loved her boyfriend so much that she was willing to

entsparHer

“Positive,” Ellie whispered before tears started streaming down her face, clutching the pregnancy kit that showed the two red lines. Tears could mean two things: happi ness or pain, and unfortunately for her, it was the latter. She’s just 15, how is she supposed to be a mother?

Of course, when the news about her getting pregnant spread, she had heard hurtful words from their neighbors. What, moral decadence? No, she was not that shallow. Other girls might have that reason, but not her. She knew of the mo rality but she just decided to shut that voice inside her head that time. As much as she hates to say it, they were poor.

AWARENESS

ARTWORK BY ANGELO D TOLENTINO

do not have waspregnantmotherwork,stableandheralsogotwhensheinCollege,soshe was not able to graduate, reason why she always reminded Ellie about the consequences of it. However, she was stubborn. She still followed her instincts, thinking she would be free from the chains of poverty. She wanted a better life, and when she met her boy friend, the happiness of being with him made her think that maybe, if they build their own family, she would finally be free. No, she is not uneducated to not know the consequences of her actions, but she knew that deep inside her, she wanted it.What people do not know is that sometimes, teenage girls who also get preg nant like her really wanted it to happen. It may appear unplanned to others, but those girls know that it was not, for they wanted it.Ellie wanted everything that happened, and even though there was a little pang of guilt inside her, she would not regret her decision.

PHOTOS FROM INDU FACEBOOK PAGE

TRAVELING BACK IN TIME

very own writing system, known in the early ages as the “Writing of the Kingdom of Luzon”, Pampanga’sKulitan flourished to be one of the most unique indigenous scripts in the country for it is the only native system of writing in the Philippines that is written vertically from top to bottom and from right to left.

WEARING A PIECE OF CULTURE

THE PRIDE OF OUR KAPAM PANGAN ROOTS

Because of our eagerness to adapt throughout the centuries, our native scripts almost faced death, burying our culture alongside, but we have pursued to promote their resurrection. We are living in an era where innovative thinking is a medium to influence, and “Indu”, a Kapampangan Clothing Line makes use of such creativity to infuse fashion and culture to remind us of our heritage in a manner that is relatable to the youth of this millenium.

kulitan:

The Philippine Baybayin widely used in the archipelago prior to Spanish conquest in the 15th century up until 1668 when the script forms were removed from official Doctrina Christiana publications (the first book that was published in the Philippines using the Tagalog Originallylanguage).itwasreally called “Bâybayin”, with the literal meaning of “baybay” or “to spell” in Filipino. The term “Alibata” that was often used to refer to the traditional Filipino writing system was a term coined by Professor Paul Versoza from the University of Manila with Arabic origin. The use of Baybayin was first noted by the Spanish priests 1604, it was said that rather than using the said writing system in communicative and social purposes, it was focused mainly for personal uses such as writing poetry and short literary pieces. This reflects the love of our ancient ancestors with use of words in artistic expressions even before the foreign countries has imparted their influences our history.

We are the living proof of the collected culture that has been bestowed to us. Indeed, these indig enous scripts are one of the strongest foundations that reflect our identity as a nation that has been blessed by the bits and pieces of colors coming from different places around the country that makes us whole. Given that ,our culture together with our exceptional customs act as uniting forces for us to achieve solidarity despite of our diversity. It is our job-- the present and future generations to strive in reviving what has been lost and to preserve the treasures that still exist.

W

However during the Spanish regime, due to modifications were made by the Spaniards to conform to the need of muting the “a” sound of the syllable and make the script more read able. Just like the sea, Baybayin made itself versatile in taking the shape of what the society required it to be.The sign used was a cross “+” under the character to indicate that it is a stand-alone consonant. It also made the writing system flexible when it comes to writing complex words.When it comes to punctu ating, words written in Baybayin continuously flow like water; the only form of marks used were the sin gle vertical line (|), often compared to the purpose of a comma, or a pair of vertical lines (||) that plays the role of a period to end the passages.

HOW IT WAS WRITTEN

Such local brands want us to look back to where we came from and consider our traditions as not just something that shaped our past and history but also a channel for us to nurture the remains of it that we have in the present, and to be able to pass the rich heritage of our country to the future generation.

“o-u” sound).

Fashion is a mode expression and it demands a strong statement to create change. Another shirt model introduces the Kulitan characters for the word “Lugud” and embodies it as a symbol for passion, affection, and compassion that urges us to develop our higher values in life and establish our love and sympathy for other people.

Baybayin contradicts to the Latin writing system that we are currently using because it makes use of a combination of a consonant and vowel sound as its basic unit. It was comprised of 17 char acters from which 14 are from them are consonantss and the remaining 3 are vowels. Due to its syllabic property, diacritic symbols are needed to produce the sound necessary for the word that is going to be used in the Totext.change the vowel and sound (or the ‘a’ sound), one needs to put a mark on top of the character (for the “e-i” sound) or bottom (for the

From being the capital of the coun try’s outstanding cuisine and the cradle of col orful festivals up to glistening giant parols and blissful Christmas celebrations, Kapampan gans have never failed to represent their rich tradition throughout the years of Philippines being the home of cultural diversity. With their

eaved by the rich customs and tradition, the Philippines has already established cultural identity even before the foreign ourFilipinosgreatestgraphicsofCommunicationcolonization.bymeansarbitratrysymbolsandisoneofhumanity’sachievement,andwe,neverfailedtoinscribeownwriting.Traversingtotherediscovery of Baybayin and other Filipino traditional scripts is more than just gaining familiarity of what it looks like or how it was written. It lies far beyond being aware and acquiring basic information. It is about recognizing our traditional scripts as a vital part of ourselves being Filipinos and our endeavor to keep these native writings alive.

As a local brand that aims to revive the Kapam pangan spirit through clothes and numerous merchandise, Indu incorporates the characters of Kulitan as the main design of the shirts for their “Sicluban” (which means Universe) collection. One of the most popular design features the statement “Ing Buri Ku” (translated in English as “What I Want”) written in the province’s indigenous script, proving that we can wear a piece of our culture and still follow the trend.

FEATURES anguardv 26 ARTS & BUSINESS

words by ANTON C MIRANDA

eants, Mother’s, Tuxedo/Suits and Barong. OWN and RENT. Their prices vary from the clothes that choose, they found at Unit 35, Second Floo, Plaridel Square, Plaridel St., Sto. Rosario, Angeles City, 2009. Their opening hours are from Monday- Friday at 08:30 am to 07:00 pm.

For those who came from Manila, there are many bus companies that serves the Manila – Angeles route. You’ll ride a Victory Liner bus that is located on Pasay station from Manila to Dau which takes 2.5- 3 hours because of 85 km total distance. Then, once you arrived at Dau Bus Terminal you will need to take a jeepney ride going to Angeles City and drop by the intersection. Walk straight going to the left and ask for the Magalang Terminal which will give you a hint to turn right, and bwala! just a brisk walk you’ll see a building with a Plaridel sign on it.

Casa Moda is a wholly owned Filipino garment business specializing, designing and manufacturing wedding attires and wardrobes for special occasions, providing diverse and comprehensive range of products and services. With youthful vigor and innovative and classic styles, since 2009 Casa Moda by Mich Viray established a stable business that prudently utilizes its resources to the full satisfaction of its clients and customers. Located at Lot 80-81 V. Pla za Bldg. Sto. Rosario St. Barangay San Jose, Angeles City, Pampanga (In front of Villa Gloria Subdivion).

27

David Bridal Gown

Nothing says if a man and women like wearing a good, sassy and classic dresses they reflect on what personality they have.

PLACES

shopping a little easier, here are a coiuple of botique where you can get a Filipiniana, from classic styles to mod ern designs that youy can wear and re-wear. In Plaridel, where the gowns and clothing apperalsls are just in. Here just a simple but elegant gowns that you found on Plaridel:

A custom-made dresses for specific occasions. Their speciality are wedding and bridal gowns, entourage gowns, debutante gowns, prom dresses, cocktail and wvwning dresses, groom and formal suits for men and women as well as barong suits fro men. They are made to order andf rental. Opens at Monday to Saturday at 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.

There are many more stores and botiques of gowns and other cloth apperals collection that be found on Plaridel Street Angeles City such Jelens Bridal Gown, Dress Marias, and Yshopcam Angeles.

@TheSinukuanGazetteOfficial

Elegant doesn’t have to be ex pensive. David Bridal Gown is a one stop shhop for wedding, debut and other special occasions at Plaridel Street, Brgy. Sto. Ro sario, Angeles, City and they are opened at Monday to Sunday at 08:00 am to 07:00 pm.

F 52.7kmlessthan1hourtravelfromDaubusTerminal

Casa Moda (It’s more than just awedding gown, it’s just your persona)

Amira Gowns

Grace Gowns and Collection

How to get there:

Amira Gownscreates their unique gown or choosing from their affordable designer’s collection of wedding gowns and also they provide you with a range of options. All kinds of different colors, latest designs, up to date cutting and labels to select from. They are located at Unit 8 PSQ Bldg., Plaridel Square, Angeles City opens every Monday to Saturday at 9:30 am to 6:30 pm.

A Home of Sassy and Classy Rental Clothes Plaridel:

FEATURES anguardv

inding a place where classy and sassy dress can slay and wear for a special occasion can sometimes be a stress ful task—what more you’re are attending a Filipino-themed ( wedding, debuts or office function) when you’re advised to come in waering a terno, dresses and many more. Chances Toare.make

The VEIL Wediing Gallery is a botique carrying RTW and MTO Wedding Gowns, Bridesmaids, Prom, Cocktail, Pag

VEIL Wedding Gallery

Flowing,Moist,TearsWarmPouring,Streaming

KIMBERLYBY:DAVID

CINDYBY:SAYAT LITERARIES POEMS AND DEPRESSION

The history of this kind of poem is just four decades ago, 1969. It was first created in schools in America pioneered by an American poet named McClellan Tiedt. Tiedt started this as his own style but then became popular due to its uniqueness.

MIKAELABY:FAITHHINTON KHIMMERYMAUREENBY:SUPAN

BRIEF HISTORY

A diamante poem is composed of 7 lines that are shaped in a diamond-like arrangement. The pattern in a diamante poem is 1-2-3-4-3-2-1 words per lines. The first line must be a noun, followed by the second line--two adjectives that describe the first line. The third line are verbs ending in -ing that is connected in the first line as well. The line four consists of four nouns, the first two are associated with the first line and the last two with the seventh line. The fifth line are three verbs ending in -ing describing the seventh line. The sixth line are two adjectives that also signifies the seventh line. The seventh line must be a noun.

Diamante Poem

BY: JOHNDELAGABRIELTORRE

An antonym diamante is a form of a diamante poem that is-- the first line and seventh line must be opposite in meaning.

Euphoria,Hoping,Roseate,SunriseEcstaticAscending,ImaginingEnergy,Paranoia,MiseryWeeping,Drowning,BewilderingHavoc,MelancholicTwilight. Flowers,Decorating,Colorful,PolychromeLivelyColoring,BeautifyingRainbows,Cyclones,ChainsSaddening,Grieving,DiscouragingBoring,DullMonochrome Black,Drowning,Dark,Lonelinessquietcrying,longingcrows,sunshine,butterfliesFlying,soaring,laughingBright,joyfulAcceptance

DEVCOMM PREPAREDNESS anguardv

Over the past decades, Filipinos have flocked to risky, low-lying areas, havens for cheap and crammed housing. Officials here say the Philippines must also improve emergen cy training for distant local governments, enforce building codes and make sure that money earmarked for infrastructure ends up helping those whose homes are the most vulnerable.“Weareimproving,” said Eduardo del Rosario, head of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. “In the next few years, we’ll be able to say that we are competent enough and we are prepared.”

Years of disasters — some capturing global attention, most not — have pushed the Philippines into an unfortunate category: that of an undeveloped country where lives can disappear en masse, sometimes in preventable ways. If that image is to be broken, the Philippines must first contend with a set of problems common for a country pushing to develop its economy, everything from the haphazard layout of towns to the denuding of hillsides to make way for industry.

In the Philippines, natural disasters are common; ways to reduce their impacts aren’t. Of an average 18-20 tropical cyclones visiting the Philippine Area of Responsibility and the archipelago of over 7,000 islands located at the Pacific Ring of Fire, are we calamity-ready?

The impact of climate change isn’t spread equally, with the burden heaviest for countries close to the equator and lacking the “economic, institutional, sci entific, and technical capacity to cope and adapt,” according to the World Bank.

Over the past two decades, the Philippines had experienced more than 300 disasters — everything from landslides to floods to volcanic eruptions. And Filipino officials say the disasters are becoming more severe, in part because of climate change. Four of this country’s 10 deadliest disasters have come in the past 10 years. The National Statistics Board says typhoons —18-20 per year on average — have grown in power since the 1970s.

The combination of geography and poverty leaves those in the Philippines at almost unequalled risk of calamity, a vulnerability that ranks among this nation’s most pressing and confounding chal lenges. For three straight years, typhoons here have killed more than 1,000 people, despite major gov ernment initiatives to reduce disaster risk. Typhoon Haiyan, which ripped through the central Philip pine islands Nov. 8, killed more than 3,600 and displaced 2 million.

Located on the Ring of Fire and in a main alleyway for typhoons, the Philippines will never be disaster-proof, experts say. But it can cut the risk. If cyclones of identical intensity were to strike Japan and the Philippines, the Philippines would have 17 times the death toll, according to the Gene va-based Internal Displacement Monitoring Center. Even in 2011, the year of Japan’s mega-quake and nuclear emergency, disasters forced three times the number of people from their homes in the Philippines.

Setting Alarms and Approaches for Philippine Disasters

In one of the world’s most naturally deadly countries, catastrophes can originate almost anywhere. Flash floods race down mountainsides. A zigzag of tectonic plates collides below. Typhoons build in warm ocean waters and then tear west ward. And when disasters do strike, they strike hard, ravaging the Philippines’ shabby infrastructure and often leaving scores dead, injured or without homes.

And the Philippines is struggling to keep up.

THE ALARMS OVER THE YEARS

WORDSBYJOBELLE L.WAJE|PHOTOSFROMGOOGLE

forPREPARATIONtheCONTAGION

Research suggests that a warmer world will lead to stronger storms. Although most scientists balk at connecting any one event with climate change, the Phil ippines’ representative at a climate summit in Warsaw said recently that “hell storms” like Typhoon Haiyan could become the “new norm.”

What is now critical for us is the response time. Past accounts and reports on virulent viruses like MERS and SARS must have revealed some lessons worth remem bering like prompt reporting and transparency to make a difference. Information sharing is also critical among countries to enhance response preparedness. Screening processes at airports for early detection, isolation and quarantine rooms, awareness of symptoms, and pub

In theory, a major disaster opens the way to improvements. Cit ies can be rebuilt using more concrete. Certain areas can be marked off-limits, based on scientific hazard mapping.

While a restive Taal Volcano continues to preoccupy us, con stantly reminding us of an imminent explosion that may or may not happen, a new type of disaster known as the 2019-nCov[nov el Coronavirus] threatens to overwhelm health authorities if they fail to be responsive enough. The World Health Organi zation reported last January 9 that Chinese authorities had identified the said virus as the cause of pneumonia outbreak in Wuhan in the province of Hubei. Since then, cases have been also recorded to neighbourhood countries such as Ja pan, Thailand, and South Korea with people diagnosed and even faceth death.

lic awareness and communication about precautionary measures are just some of the keys in preparing for this contagion.

Let us wake each other up. Let us not see these as dreams for this is the reality of our country, we are at risk and we shall be pre pared. With our voices altogether let us wake up all the concerned and not, wake up DOST-PHIVOLCS and NDRRMC to keep us in formed and updated; wake up DepEd, CHED, and DOLE for the safety of the students and the employees, let us wake up the govern ment and all the governing bodies for we will not let ourselves, and our Phil ippines be knocked down by these disasters. Only if we wake up, then will we have good and peaceful sleeps.

In the Philippines, the report said, “decisions are based on elec toral considerations rather than on evidence or technical assess ments.”When disasters happen, Filipinos have little recourse. Only a fraction has insurance or any claim to property ownership. Many of the buildings damaged by Haiyan, for instance, were informal set tlements made of lightweight materials — bamboo and wood, with corrugated metal roofs.

Since 2000, according to the United Nations, the Philippines had experienced a financing gap. In other words, the government doesn’t have the means necessary for rebuilding. Manila has dou bled its “calamity fund” — covering aid and relief — since 2009, but this year the fund ran dry even before Haiyan hit. Whatever is needed for Haiyan that isn’t covered by international aid will have to be borrowed or come from cutting other programs.

Other issues like profiteering, lack of face masks supply, and even spread of fake news from across the country is added to the chaos. Again, we must recognize these as alarms for us to be pre pared for the unknown, we will set ourselves[with our screams] to awaken the government, to call for an action of the responsible.

OF THE FILIPINO VALUES

As for this year, we welcomed 2020 with noise not due to fire works but of the noise of people screaming for help as they face the strikes of the Taal Volcano of Batangas, recognizing their selves as generally “unprepared”. Not only humans, but also animals, agricul ture, and infrastructures ask for the reach of widely-opened hands.

Pinatubo eruption which caused major losses and devastation of both life and infrastructures should have set as an alarm for us and the government to be awakened and prepared for the risks of the unknown, for a country majorly exposed to threats, it is not of where’s and who’s but a matter when and how much.

We will not let anyone, even ourselves, be snoozes to keep the country asleep. We will help and make solutions in every possible way. For with our Filipino values, we can be prepared and we can bloom again after being withered away by such calamities.

For as problematic as climate change is, poor planning — cut ting forests, ignoring building codes — is many times deadlier, said Jerry Velasquez, the United Nations’ head of disaster risk in South east ALARMSAsia.

DEVCOMM anguardv @TheSinukuanGazetteOfficial 31

Philippines is one of the top high-risked countries when it comes to disasters and its most active volcanoes are known as Taal, Mayon, and Bulusan which are monitored and assessed by DOST-PHIVOLCS as Alert Level 4 from 12th of January this year, Alert Level 2 since March 2018, and Alert Level 1 since May 2019 respectively.The1991

“Mas malakas pa ang pagputok ng tulong kaysa sa pagputok ng bulkan,” said Lucas Garcia, a resident and a volunteer.

“The national government resources are stretched as is,” said Lucille Sering, secretary of the Philippine Climate Change Com mission, “and even before we could recover from one disaster, here is another one.”

OF THE NEW DECADE

Mang Melvin of Batangas, a retired company employee suf fering from panic disorder and anxiety with his asthmatic child had managed to help the calamity victims simply by giving free face masks to those in need of it. “Laki kasi ako sa hirap kaya ‘pag alam mong may mga nahihirapan na nangangailangan ng tulong, needless to say, ibibigay mo nalang yung kailangan nila,” he said. His condition and his shortcomings he did not see as barriers for helping and being a compassionate kababayan. If a man underpriv ileged like Mang Melvin can, how can ‘those men’ most privileged and of great wealth cannot?

Ranked as 79th in reading, the country gained an average of 340 as opposed to the OECD’s average of 487. Meanwhile, Filipino students also submerged at the bottom in mathematics and science, with 353 points and 357 points respectively as opposed to 489 OECD average for both categories.

DEVCOMM anguardv 32 EDUCATION

WORDSBYANGELOD.TOLENTINO|PHOTOSFROMGOOGLE

t was more than quantifying the poor quality of education in the Philippines. The Programme for Inter national Student Assessment (PISA) slaps the country into realizing that the desperate move to improve quality education by silently imposing “mass promotion”, unnecessary workloads of teachers, socio-eco nomic gap among learners, are continually dragging us to some extent where the “quality” of education has beenThecompromised.PISAresult

done by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) ex posed the country’s rank at the bottom 70s among 79 countries across the world, which aims to test the reading comprehension, mathematical and scientific ability of a child. Followed by a report that recommends interventions that are to be “targeted at socio-economically disadvantaged students and/or schools”.

PISA RESULT: REFLECTION OF EDUCATIONPhROBLEMATICSYSTEM

I

Mercy is letting a non-reader hold a certificate of completion in the elementary level. “Mass promotion and retention” in public schools has been an inner working that compels teachers to pro mote and retain students from Grades 1-10 despite the incompli ance and incompetence of a child in a particular learning area. All of which is “indirectly” stipulated in the DepEd Order 73, s. 2012, DepEd Order No. 8, s. 2015 at DepEd Order No. 13, s. 2018.

PH EDUCATION SYSTEM: POORLY TREATED KEY PLAYERS

PH EDUCATION SYSTEM: PROLETARIANS GAME

Teachers play a major role in the capacity of a child to improve and learn but it is a factor that keeps getting neglected these days.

Forms are necessary, but let us not get the point of education – teaching and learning. How can we improve children’s ability in simple arithmetic, and scientific ability if facilitators are already exhausted and distracted? A call for lightening educators’ bur den should be considered as of this moment.

Yet, the heart of the PISA report lies in exposing the socio-economically driven educational system in the country. The report is very simple, richer kids tend to perform well than poorer students.

The dismal results from PISA shows that the goal of K+12 curric ulum which is, “Give every student an opportunity to receive qual ity education that is globally competitive based on a pedagogically sound curriculum that is at par with international standards” is not met as it seems that we are still not at par with other countries if we speak of the results. There is still a long run to take before meeting international standards. Besides, DepEd takes this as a measure to track the progress of education in the Philippines.

DEVCOMM anguardv @TheSinukuanGazetteOfficial 33

PH EDUCATION SYSTEM: AUTOMATIC LADDER

countries.Overtime,

At this point we would rather choke and spit fault rather than swallow the truth, the result presented us. It’s hard to compare our country with OECD countries at some portions of the report considering our economic level, but it is imperative to note that 5 of our Southeast Asian neighbors (only CLMV or Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam were excluded) joined too.

Growing for how many years, the Duterte administra tion has promised an “increase” in the salary of the teach ers around the country. They’ve been luring them by give extra bonuses and other allowances, but by far, salary in crease is still a promise.

A side narrative in the existing problem are the poorly treated teachers. The role of the teachers is vital in levelling up the knowl edge and competencies of a child. “Learning” should be their pri mary concern, but with the advent of having a “paperless system”, teachers are forced to perform extra miles in creating a hardcopy and ecopy of their forms.

students are becoming more and more reliant with the fact that they are safe no matter what they do in school. A phe nomenon that leaves teachers perplexed as to how they should treat these children.

Notwithstanding the order declaring 55 lumad schools be per manently closed. This and other indigenous schools do not only provide hope for the children by teaching them how to read and write but it is a form of letting them exercise their right to edu cation. The numbers provided by PISA blatantly highlights that education do exist even in those poverty-stricken area, which the government should keenly prioritize.

The lion share is still given to the education sector although a budget cut is expect ed to affect some of its opera tion this year. Mobilizing the budget by opening doors to poor for greater access to ed ucation as suggest ed by the result is of utmost import ant at hand.

Capturing indicators on specific dimensions, the new multidi mensional poverty index (MPI) created by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in the year 2018 showed that education by specific indicator, Filipinos were found to be most lacking in educational attainment as it had the highest incidence of deprivation among Filipino families at 59.3 percent in 2016 and 49.4 percent in 2017.

This is only a fraction of the big chunk from the problem. This kind of attitude is deemed to somehow fuel the fire as students tend to lose responsibility over their academic responsibilities, where according to an additional report provided by PISA, 72% of our students (versus 56% in OECD) said that when they fail “they worry about what others think of them.” Moreover, Only 31% of our students supposedly hold a “growth mindset” – meaning stu dents think they can improve their intelligence through hard work, which is a small percentage versus 63% of students from OECD

I

n the hierarchy of healers and specialists in Philippine folk medicine, the hilots and albularyos may be referred to as the “general practitioner,” knowledgeable in most of the folkloric modalities, usually especially versed in the use of medicinal herbs. Most of these healers consider their healing craft as God-given, a calling from a supernatural being, and consequently, their healing practices are profusely infused with prayers and religious rituals, performed through mediation with the Holy Spirit. Usually rural-based, they are also present in the urban and suburban communities, al beit in small scattered niches, serving out of pocket alternative needs, the impoverished or the urban-transplanted rural folk.

The Hilots and The Albularyos Services are “free-of-charge”, fearing that set fees will lessen the hilot’s healing powers and abilities. Voluntary donations are usually given and accepted: P10 - 100 or in kind - cigarettes, snacks, etc.

Doctors have largely replaced the manghihilots (traditional healers) as the face of health in the Philippines. Although traditional medicine is still widely-prac ticed in the country, particularly in the rural areas, doctors are the standard of care.But

health must be seen as a continu um, a function in terms of a country’s cul tural history. If you compare and contrast between Western medicine and traditional healers today, Western medicine has the upper hand. But in the historical context, they must be seen as successors of these healers, and as fillers of their shoes they must know that these hilots and albulary os, however they may be belittled today, have set the standards of healing in the country. Anything that falls short of this standard might lead to disappointment in the part of the public to whom doctors

cater.Thus

anguardv 34 HEALTH

WORDSBYJOBELLE L.WAJE

Present time contrast

Healing in the Philippines through the ages Hail the ‘hilots’ and ‘albularyos’: Healing in the Philippines through the ages

doctors must know how medi

DEVCOMM

Mythological landscapes being pop ulated by dwarfs, nunos, lamang lupas, tikbalangs and kapres - creatures that often complicate the enigma of patho physiology.Thediagnostic rituals (tawas, luop) and treatment modalities (tapal, lunas, kudlit, pang-kontra, bulong, orasyon) are affected by the belief in these creatures and to the maladies or illness they cause: “na-nuno”, “na-dwende”, “na-lamang-lu pa.”

Although most are available for daily consultations, some practice their craft only on Tuesdays and Fridays, days of the week coinciding with the feast of the Sto. Niño and the feast of the Black Nazarene, when they believe their healing powers to

Kabihug leader Kuya Terry had al ways been willing to share their tribe’s stories to those who wish to learn.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DEXTER ANDREW O. MANALO

The act of “hilot” is essentially realigning the flow of the life force. Yet more than this, the act of hilot establishes the physical and emotional connection between the patient and the healer. That in itself is therapeutic. If achieved, this connection is what makes patients say, “Makita ko lang si doc, parang gumagaling na ako!”

That is why in the public hospital, when patients complain about the doctors they’ve consulted, their most common complaint is not the lack of knowledge of a doctor but rather the doctor’s lack of concern. Specifically, one of the most common complaints is “Hindi man lamang ako hinawakan.” His body may ache for antibiotics to help it fight the pathogenic bacteria, but his mind is aching for comfort and ease, a need that the healers of the past understood. They made use of the power of touch. Faced with the unfamiliarity of the illness experience, at least the patient had the familiar and comforting presence of the old community healer that has been there in the community since he was born.

DEVCOMM anguardv @TheSinukuanGazetteOfficial 35

The stethoscope, then, is part of the rite. It is a magic wand. Doctors, hold it close to your patient’s heart. Touch his body with hands that not only examine, but empathize. Listen well to his story. You are an inheritor to healing process that has been started through the ages. Let your patient be awed by the ritual of healing that you unfold before him, and for him. You will then gain his trust and he will go home vowing to do what you have ordered. You have not let him down, he will not let you down.

This site is an infant’s grave marker. The practice of the Kabihug is that they bury their dead on the ground where they built their house. After mourning, the family members leave the place and never come back.

How does a doctor fill the shoes of a traditional healer then? Will he rely on the proven ability of his laboratories to diagnose and medicines to cure disease? Yes, but that is not enough. To be a heal er in the Filipino sense of the word, to be a manggagamot and not just a doktor, he must meet the expectations of the patients. When he enters the clinic, the doctor with his white coat, fine clothes, and stethoscope is like the traditional healer with his beaded necklace and wizened garb.

COMMUNITY

Also, the children admitted that even inside the center, the training helped them, saying “malaking tulong po talaga sa amin ito lalo na kapag kukuha kami ng trabaho”. The designated social workers inside the center testified that the training brought by COED contributed a lot not only in the lives of the children but also in the center as a whole. Because of the training they were now able to make some minor repairs over electrical circuits within the center.

HEAVEN FOR ONCE LOST SOULS

C

Mr. Larry H. Ocampo, the Center Head of the DSWD Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth at Ayala Magalang, Pampanga sharing stories of success from the center.

hildren are angels without wings. While some angels play and have fun, some are led off track; some are continuously plunged into curi osity of unravelling the sometimes-unfathomable world and some journeyed life in search for home. Angels like them will most likely be found on streets but others can be found in Region 3 Reha bilitation Center for the Youth (RRCY) located at Magalang Pampanga, which offers them not only redirection but also a bright future.

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PHOTO FROM RRCY 3 FACEBOOK

bilitation center was indeed helpful as it equipped the youth not only during but also after their stay in the center. They weren’t only taught of the knowledge but also the skills in order to prepare them once they leave the center. Since most of them stopped going to school early, the training will help them find job and get employed easily. Somehow, it will end the stigma that they are children who are lost with no future.

Most of the children are convicted legally to pay for the mistakes they have committed. The second chance the law bestowed them draws different respond from the children – some wanted to escape while some chose to stay. This reaction is mainly driven by their desire to dodge the condemning gaze of the society which roots out from a culture filled with lack of compassion to understand those that were badly influenced. But beyond these, the RRCY remained faithful with their mission to give the children new home where they can start anew.

As means of remolding the children, the governing body inside RRCY are guided by the acronym SHEPERD which stands for a variety of services they offer the CICLs during their stay inside the center. Social, Homelife, Educational, Psychological, Health, Economic Programs and Services in Rehabilitation Center, Recreational, Devel opmental, Socio-Cultural Programs are said to be the type of services that aims to tap the welfare of the children holistically.

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They are innocent and the world took advantage of their gullible ness, but as the saying goes, “the children are the hope of humanity” for they will inherit what we have cultivated today. But just because they have sinned doesn’t make them any less of a child. Yes, they are teenag ers too – a brother and a son who yearned for family and a society that will accept them.

They have sinned but they weren’t treated as prisoners that were kept behind bars instead, they are carefully re-sculpted inside the “haven” to correct their wrongdoings before they even entered the sanctuary. These angels were referred as “children-in-conflict-with the law” or CICL who have pending cases from the court, who will have to serve for a couple of months in order to improve their behavior.

WORDSBYANGELOD.TOLENTINO

But the (rather convenient) truth is that the climate crisis is already affecting most of us right here and right now. From the second we wake up in the morning, to the minute we doze off at night. And we have to do something about

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As our globe warms, glaciers melt and ocean water expands, leading seas to rise about 7 to 8 inches on average since 1900-- about 3 inches of that since 1993. The added volume of water creeping up coastlines slowly swallow lands and homes and and fuels more flooding inland.

In some towns, even residents that live far away from the beach could be forced to relocate. Lower-income and immigrants could lose their homes to wealthy residents who want to move away from the coast and into neighbor hoods safe from the water, driving property values and rents up and out-ofreach of regular people.

Weit. all know that global temperatures are rising-- and we know why.

By trapping heat into our planet, carbon emissions also damage the human body and mind in other ways. We’ve all heard about the risks of heat strokes. But

That is why we should train everyday, people like you and me, to make a difference and together make our leaders act on climate change.

Climatephysiology.change

We’re already seeing the first impacts of this crisis. But here’s the good news-- we still have time to turn things around.

And these are three means that climate change is already affecting people’s lives:

Here’s the problem. The same dirty fossil fuel emissions that contribute to the greenhouse effect can lead to respiratory diseases, such as asthma, in children and adults. And they can be quite dangerous. Air pollution kills an estimated 7 million people worldwide every year, according to the World Health Organization.

We’ve known for decades about the damage all that extra heat is doing to the Earth. Now, a recent report on climate change highlights just how danger ous that process has been. The planet has already warmed 1 degree Celsius and temperatures could rise even more-- significantly changing life as we know it.

Health

The same CO2 accumulating in our atmosphere thanks to fossil fuels is actually changing the composition of fruits and vegetables that we eat, making them less nutritious. Extra CO2 is speeding up photosynthesis and causing plants to grow with more sugar and less calcium, protein, zinc, and important vitamins.According

You’re not alone. If you’re like most people, you may imagine your grand childen or event great-grandchildren having to deal with recorded heat waves or people far away struggling in the face of rising seas.

C

No two people in this world are exactly the same. But there’s something that we all do, regardless of our culture, language, and personality. We all eat. So it’s hard to ignore the impacts of climate change on food.

WORDSBYJOBELLE L.WAJE

THE LIFE-AND-DEATH EFFECTS OF CLIMATIC CHANGES

For centuries, humans have been burning fossil fuels to power their lives. This process releases additional greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, trap ping heat that would escape into space otherwise.

did you know that warm temperatures are linked to a 2% increase in mental health issues such as stress, anxiety, and even PSTD or Post-traumatic stress disorder?

Food

to Harvard researchers, if we don’t reduce carbon emissions right now, this could spell big problem to our diets. By the middle of the century, about 175 million more people could develop a zinc deficiency and 122 million people could become protein deficient as a result of these changes to plant

limate change is not only hitting close to home-- it’s knocking on our front door and demanding to come in. But we’re not going to let that

There’s really no place like home. But for many living in coastal communi ties, sea-level rise could lead to an unwanted(and sudden) move.

Climate action is just what the doctor ordered. And we mean that quite lit erally. Medical professionals have increasingly been sounding the alarm about the risks and consequences of continually burning fossil fuels.

We’rehappen.going to make an educated guess here. When we talk about who climate change affects, we’re guessing your first thought isn’t me. Or your friends and family today.

ENVIRONMENT

Home

is not only hitting close to home-- it’s knocking on the front door and demanding to come in. But we’re not going to let that happen. We know a lot about the climate crisis which make us know more about how to fix it-- may be by switching to cleaner energy sources and by carbon emissions reduction.

We can say that technology is giving us this kind of opportunities and we need to adapt but it is also a need to see first what are the effects of this, not just with us consumers, but also with producers, and its long-term punch in the entire society.

GOLDEN RICE:

cience and Technology have been part of our lives since their advancement and products are the tools that we use in our everyday lives. One of the protruding changes science and technology had contributed in our society is the development of the Genetically Modified Organism or GMO.AGMO is an organism that has its DNA being modi fied or altered through genetic engineering. Today, GMO is highly used in Agriculture especially with crops. The rise in the use of this results in a more effective yields and har vests for our farmers. Basically, the use of GMO targets the reduction of insects’ attacks among their crops.

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PHOTO FROM THE GUARDIAN.COM

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THE LUSTRY AND RUSTY SIDE OF THE SOLUTION

do not need to take another step in development by allowing Golden Rice in our country though it can battle with VAD. As for the fight for VAD, we may go to alternative solutions such as in taking food rich in Vitamin A like car rots, sweet potatoes, eggs, liver and leafy vegetables.

ciency since 2008 and 2013 when the percentage of chil dren who has Vitamin A deficiency increased from 15.2% to 20.4%.TheGR2E had two genes added to its own namely the maize and soil bacterium. The direct effect on this is that it has beta carotene, the Vitamin A forerunner of carrots and sweetCurrently,potatoes.there has been a loud issue about this and this being sold in our local market. Advocates say that this is just the same rice with the white rice we are familiar with, except that it contains beta carotene.

As a consumer, it is only a must that we open our eyes to this kinds of issues in our country. The nearer the GR2E is in our market, the faster it would substitute our white rice. The risk of allowing GR2E in our country is very evident and the MASIPAG or the Magsasaka at Siyentipiko para sa Pag-unlad ng Agrikultura had already seen it. According to MASIPAG, there are health risks and issues alongside the Golden Rice. It may also have long-term effects on children andWhilewomen.they market Golden Rice marking it as “healthier rice,” many of us specially mothers will tend to buy it rather than our white rice even though it has higher price. What we need to see are those underlying effects of this once we bought this GM rice. It may be the door or the window for many GMO products to come in our country. Aside from the health risks, it will also contribute to the low salary of farmers since no one will buy regular rice when GR2E sub stitute it and even when other GMOs replaced our regular crops.We

In the Philippines, this GM (Genetically Modified) rice has been taking its place and it is named as Golden Rice or GR2E. The Golden Rice will primarily focus on target ing the Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD) that is very common among children in our country. In fact, according to WHO or the World Health Organization, it already killed 250,000 children world wide and advocates of the GR2E say that this will combat the lose of children due to Vitamin hadpinesdeficienAcy.ThePhilipalsoitsshareintheriseofthisdefi

Listed below are not just famous, but have a great contribution and impact in basketball, either local or international. Let’s begin!

“Ing kayabangan tamu iyang asset tamu”

Calvin Abueva

Another PBA player from Pam panga is the Purefood Star’s center Ian Sanggalang. He was drafted in the league in 2013 and contributed big time in the team’s Grand Slam in the 2013-2014 sea son. He was born in Lubao, Pampanga. His collegiate years were in San Sebastian College - Recoletos de Manila where he teamed up with Calvin Abueva and Ronald Pascual and they were coined as the “Pinatubo Trio.”

A Kapampangan’s heart is indeed very strong and in every sport, having a heart and pride are one of the greatest factors that contribute to release an athlete’s drive and his A-game. Bringing our name in the lime light, it is only true to scream in glory and pride and be proud that I am from Pampanga, a province in the core of Luzon that is popular not just of its colorful lanterns and mouthwatering cuisine but has produced the finest and most competent bastketball players in the Philippines.

japeth aguilar

arwind santos

We have “The Eagle” Japeth Aguilar in our next countdown. Aguilar took half of his college career in the United States with the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers in the Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. He was once a kid in the streets of Sasmuan, Pampanga.

Jayson Castro

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words by Kimberly David and John Gabriel Dela Torre | PHOTOS FROM GOOGLE.COM

his line has been the mantra of every Kapampangan. This means that “our arrogance or boastfulness is our asset” which is true. We never want to lose. We have this sense of “pride” that runs in our blood that in every aspect of life, we want to have our name. This story is the same when it comes to sports. We have been raising our names as a Kapampangan, with the Kapampangan athletes that have been remarkable, especially in basketball. We have a lot to serve if ever we will be asked who the famous Kapampangan basketball players are.

First in line is Calvin Abueva who is known as “The Beast” of the Philippine Bas ketball Association (PBA). Abueva is born and raised in Angeles, Pampanga and the Bayani han Park in Clark has been his first court. He was known for in his collegiate career with the San Sebastian College, Reco letos Stags for being the first player in a collegiate basketball history to top points, rebounds, and assists.

TIMPUKANbASKETBOLISTANGKAPAMPANGANNINGPILIPINAS

Just recently, Abueva graced the Pampanga State Agri cultural University (PSAU) as the guest speaker for the State Colleges and Universities Faculty Association (SCUFAR) Region III Olympics on behalf of Pampanga Governor Dennis Pineda. Loud cheers and camera shots have sur rounded him even before he started delivering his speech to the exhilarated and stunned audience.

In his professional career in the PBA, he was drafted with the Air21 in 2006 and was included in the all-rookie team along with LA Tenorio. His Inter national career started in 2009 as Coach Yeng Guiao included him in the Powerade Team Pilipinas for the 2009 FIBA Asia Champion ship.

Jason William Castro may be the famous Kapampangan basketball player in town for he was dubbed as the “Best Point Guard in Asia.” In local basketball, he was known for being fast and was coined as “The Blur.” Castro is a resident in Guagua, Pampanga.In his college years, he became notable because he joined the mythical 5 of the 2006 season of the NCAA with the PCU Dolphins. In the PBA, he was selected as the third overall pick of the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters and in the 2010-2011 Commision er’s Cup with the same team, he brought the team in the ring light and was the MVP of that season.Internationally, he was the first Filipino to sign in the National Basketball

League with the Singapore Slingers. However, about a month before the tip-off, the Slingers withdrew out of the league. Nonetheless, he was still coined as the best point guard in Asia and continues to make a name in the PBA.

Dubbed as the Philippines’ own “Spider man,” Santos also has a great share of pride and glory in terms of being a Kapampangan. He was born in and raised in Bacolor, Pampanga. In his college years, he was well-known for he became the rookie of the year honors in 2002 with the Far Eastern University Tamaraws.

Ian Sangalang

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Alongside with Abueva, Santos was also sent by Governor Pineda during the recent SCUFAR III to give his message to all partic ipating delegates. He was warmly greeted by everyone and people couldn’t stop staring and taking selfies with him as the Spider man of the hardcourt made his step in PSAU.

Aguilar also served the country as being part of the country’s national team, Gilas Pilipinas. Currently, he is teamed up with Greg Slaughter in the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and known as “The Twin Towers.”

His PBA journey is not far for what he achieved in his college career. He was drafted in the league in 2012 with the Alaska Aces and contributed sharply in the team’s championship in 2013. Abueva became the sec ond rookie to achieve the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award after the veteran Benjie Paras. Currently, he was playing with the Phoenix Fuel Masters.

Basketball

Swimming

THE SCIENCE BEHIND

According to Ryan Murphy, the winner of the 100-meter and 200-meter backstroke and in the 4x100-meter medley relay last Rio Olympics, he con

Athletics players need a 4 kcal/gram carbohydrate, 4 kcal/gram protein, 7 kcal/gram Alcohol and 9 kcal/ gram of fats. Carbohydrates supply the source of energy and power. Healthy carbohydrate food sources include fruits, vegetables, whole-grain cereals, breads and pas tas. Protein include dairy products, eggs and lean meat. While fats include nuts, nut butters, avocados, olive and coconut oils. It is also advisable to avoid vegetable oils.

WELLNESS

Another aspect of their diet is Protein. The rec ommendation for daily protein intake for basketball players is 1.4–1.7 grams or kilograms of body mass. This can be get from lean meat, fish, eggs, milk, beans and cheese. The last aspect is Fats. The recommended fat are the mono-unsaturated and omega 3-fats that can be acquired from salmon, olive oil and avocado.

Health is wealth. It is only important for every athlete to stay focus on their physical health. This will help in preventing possible injuries and health prob lems. Following a proper diet in a specific kind of sport will help a lot in developing your career as an athlete.

Athletics

Their dryland exercise must also include Flutter kicks, Planks, Squats, Jump rope, Huddle Up, and Med icine Ball. All of these work-outs target the abdominal muscle which every swimmers need.

Being an athlete takes a lot of sacrifices. One of these is taking care of your health. And being an athlete does not always focus on physical health, it also sees different aspects of health like emotional, mental, social and even spiritual. Right now, we can say that a physically condi tioned athlete is the best way to start a sports career so let us see every athletes’ physical diet and exercise.

We Filipinos are very familiar of this kind of sport and we also know that this sport is very high mainte nance. It is also a high-intensity sport that needs agility, speed, strength and coordination. The best diet for a basketball player is a high-carbohydrate diet though their weight loss is one of the important aspects of their health, their muscle needs calories to supply proper resistance. Their diet must include 55% of carbohydrate from fruits, pasta, vegetable, bread and rice.

Athleticsdiet

words by Kimberly s. David

Exercising is also one of the features of a healthy basketball player. Their exercise must include a test of strength, power and quickness. Examples of their workout are Front Squats, Clean High Pull, Chin-Up, Power Lunge, Towel Rack Rows, Dumbbell Jump Squat, Push Jerk, Close-Grip, and Bench Press.

sumes eggs, spinach, some fruit, usually some oatmeal, maybe some Greek yogurt with granola and fruit.

Exercises of athletics need a high-intensity run to develop power of legs, agility and strength. This must includes Deadlifts, Box Squats, Rows, Side Lunges, Dumbbells inclines and Snatch Grip deadlift.

players need a 4 kcal/gram carbohydrate, 4 kcal/gram protein, 7 kcal/ gram Alcohol and 9 kcal/ gram of fats.

The recommendation for dai ly protein intake for basketball players is 1.4–1.7 grams or kilograms of body mass.

But according to dietitians, swimmers are re quired to be properly hydrated and so is their diet. They also need a high-carbohydrate diet, fluids and food low in fibre and fat to avoid stomach discomfort. Examples of a complete swimmer meal are wholegrain breakfast cereal with milk and fruit, fruit salad with yogurt and nuts, English muffin with jam or cheese, sandwich or roll with salad and lean meat or cheese, and porridge with banana and cinnamon.

Swimmers are required to be properly hydrated and so is their

'Piyalungan deng Kayanakan'’ KAPAMPANGAN

SYATUNG. The tools of the syatung are two bamboo sticks, one at least a foot long, and the other, shorter by a third. The players take turn at hitting the shorter stick with the long stick, placed in a crevice on the ground. This causes it to somersault, which then is hit again in mid-air by the long stick. The object of the game is to land the shorter stick at a farther distance, which is measured by the same stick. The losing player has to run this distance while shouting “syatuuuuuuuung”, until he reaches the game’s starting point—the crevice on the ground. Variations of the name: syatu, shoktung.

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TAMBUBUNG/ SETSET. Known as “patintero” in the Tagalog region, it is the most widely-played native game in the country. A playing field is drawn on the ground—3 sections, divided by a line in the middle. There are 5 players in each of the 2 competing teams. The object of tambubung is to get pass the lines, which are guarded by players of the opposite team; one guard can traverse the middle line. Team loses when all its player gets tagged by a guard, and are eliminated. The team then exchange places. “Tambobong” means a barn, or a granary. It is also the old name of

BUKINGKINGAN. The local name of “pitik-bulag”. Player A covers his eyes with one hand. Player B, his opponent, flicks the covering hand of Player A, while he holds up his other hand with a number of fingers. Player A releases his hand cover and quickly holds the other hand up. The number of fingers he holds up must match that of Player B. If they match, Player B will snatch the turn.

HOLEN. Games involving marbles include rolling them in sequence into holes dug on the ground; or putting a number of marbles inside a drawn box or circle—the objective of which is to dislodge the opponent’s marble from the circle, by hitting it with another marble at an angle(“bol jak”), which oftentimes cause pockmarks on the marble. Or sometimes, if the opponent’s marble is near to you, you must hit it to lose his turn and plays.

Before the age of computer and technology that brought us Tetris, Counterstrike, Super Mario, Dota, Angry Birds and many more, it took very little for chil dren to have great fun during their leisure hours There were a lot of folk games to choose from, that did not require batteries, charger and complex gadgetry — sometimes it would just take a hole on the ground, two bamboo sticks, drawing line on the ground or even stones and shells to amuse one’s self. Here’s a look-back at some of the old time games that Kapampangan kids played in their neighborhood:

This is the Kapampangan name of the game popularly called “agawan base” (stealing bases) by Tagalogs. Two groups try to protect their bases, and each base has an assigned guard. Members try to penetrate each other’s base so it can be stolen by tagging it, but when the mem bers themselves are “tagged” by their opponents, they become prisoners, who are lined up front as bait. A prisoner can only be “saved” and released by a fellow group member by tagging him, allowing him to return to his base.

LUKSUNG BABI. Literally means “jumping over a pig”, or piggyback jumping. Participants try to jump over the bent back of a player (the back of the “pig”) . If everyone succeeds, the “pig” increases the height of his back, by raising himself up. The jumper who fails to clear he distance becomes the next “pig’s back”. Tagalogs call their version “luksong baka” and it has an another version that is known as “luksong tinik”.

LABAN BABAGWA. Also known as “saputan babagwa,” this is a spider game fight conducted on a“tingting” stick or broom stick. Positioned on the opposite sides of the stick, the spiders approach each other and attempt to enwrap each other with their web. Game ends when one spider gets fully enveloped with the web (“saput”) or even when the first spider fall. Spiders are often kept in empty posporo boxes,fedwith “chili leaves or lara” for them to make them aggressive.

words by ANTON C. MIRANDA | ARTWORKS BY GEROME AVID Q. GARCIA

SUNGKA. Sungká is an ancient strategy board game that has versions all over the world—from Africa, North America to Asia—where it is known by names like mancala, chongka, congkak, bao, and oware. The board is played on a sungkahan, a carved length of wood with seven pits and two larger pits at both ends designated as “bale” (house). The game involves distributing the shells or pebbles around the pits, by dropping them into the holes one by one, including putting one in his “bale”. The objective is to empty all seven pits on one side and the player with the greatest number of shells in his “bale” wins. Old sungkahans, often carved with designs, are seen more in antique shops than in homes today.

MARO/ MORO-MORO.

TILTIL-BAGUK. This hand game with a fanciful name (“Dip in baguk” or salty shrimp relish)”is played by two children. One player holds his palm up in front of his opponent, and the other player “dips” his pointing finger in the middle of the open palm. The player then chants “tiltil…..baguk,” after which he closes his palm in an attempt to entrap the opponent’s finger.

Advancement in technology in recent yearsconverted even children’s games into mechanicaland battery operated ones. Computer games, remote-controlled toys, hand-held video games andonline games evidently replaced the physical streetgames that children used to enjoy. Perhaps, we mustnot forget our Kapampangan cultures as well as thepast time during our leisure. Let us treasure ourroots, value our own identity, and where we started.

PIKU. The local “hopscotch”. A playing court is first drawn on the ground, consisting of squares and a home base—a pit stops where one can rest both feet. The game involves transporting a “batu” gamepiece--which may be a flat stone or pebble , a pottery shard—from one square to another, until the course is finished. This must be done by hopping, skipping or tripping the “batu”, forcing it to move to the next square without touching the drawn lines. Variations: pikung baru, palda, bale.

The Showcase of Cheers for SUC III Delegates

“We’ve been training in the uplands and we’re going to give you a good fight. We are Team PSAU - the Soaring Eagles of Mt. Arayat, descendants of the mythical Haring Sinukuan. Watch for us.

CLSUFIREFOXGREEN

TSU

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words by JOHN GABRIEL S. DELA TORRE

“C-L-S-U. Come, look and see our university. The center for love, solidarity and unity where differ ence is created. Once again, the CLSU Green Co bras. Go, Cobras! Go!”

PSAU SOARING EAGLES

While athletes were marching on the running track with so much pride and glory, they were got thrilled not just by the cheering crowd, but also of the voices that were dynamic and exhilirating at the same time. Here are some of the most notable lines articulated by representatives from participating institutions during this year’s SUC III Olympics:

COBRAS

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“Calling themselves as Gold Gears, they are devoted to retain the title in some more years. With much prayer, dance of hardwork and ounce of luck, the BULSU is still the champion in Tarlac. Cheers for Bulacan State University! “ BULSU GOLD GEARS

s this year’s most anticipated State Universities and Colleges (SUC) III Olympics jumpstarted at the new heart of Philippine sports in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac, it was not just the world-class venue that left the spectators stunned. Beyond the remarkable parade of colors of every particapating group of delegations that delighted the visage of the audience, and before the contest proper, a blazing clash had started inside the Athletic Stadium under the scorching heat of the sun — the introductory speeches for every institution that were also filled with passion, power, and promise.

VOICES OF VIGOR

“TSU is the home of the brave, the mighty, and the fearless. They are here to fight, to survive, to conquer. They may win or they may lose but they will never fal ter. TSU will never surrender. The Firefox of Central Luzon, Tarlac State University. “

BASC REAPERS

TAU CARABAOS

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“Hindi lamang kami magagaling sa la rangan ng edukasyon, sa palakasan, hindi namin kayo uurungan. Mabuhay ang mga atleta ng BASC! Mabuhay ang Bulacan Agricultural State College! “

“They do not just notably excel in academ ics but they also show intelligence and mastery in sports. Perseverance, passion, and prayer are their weapons in this com petition. Once again, the President Ramon Magsaysay University Jaguars! Ramonians, we are one!”

There you have it. With the display of university sport uniforms with polychromatic color schemes corresponds the exposition of enthralling descriptions that made the atmosphere more lively and ac tion-packed. As everyone is aspiring and striving to be hailed as champion, SUC III Olympics will surely be a huge battle among the best of the bests. Howbeit, in spite of the adrenaline rush and rising tension to outclass each other, there is only one thing to agree and make them united — Region 3 is the best, and they are going to prove that in the national level slated in Bicol Region.

ASCOT DOLPHINS

NEUST PHOENIX

PRMSU JAGUARSBLUE

“This 200 strong delegation ise set to prove to all of us the saying, the heart of a champion beats in every Honorian. Hail Maroon and Gold Honorians. Hail DHV SU! DHVSU, make some noise!”

“Sa bantayog nito’y ang tatag at sipag, tibay at husay, lakas at tiyaga. Kami ngayon ay naririto upang ipamalas ang natatangi naming galing sa larangan ng palakasan. T-A-U, nandito na, T-A-U, laban na, T-A-U, tayo na!”

BPSU STALLIONS

“Bubuo ng mga matatapang na lahi na kailan ma’y hindi pagagapi. Mga atletang sinanay, hindi paaapi. Peninsulares, ang siyang tunay na magwawagi. Mula sa dambana ng Kagitin gan, ang Bataan Peninsula State University!”

“Just like a phoenix, it continues to soar high and to blaze in sports. We are ready to fly and soar higher this SCUAA III Olym pics. Let’s go, NEUST! Let’s go!”

DHVSU WILDCATS

“Ang Aurora State College of Technology ay binubuo ng mga mag-aaral na magigit ing, masisipag, malalakas, at kagila-gilalas upang mailabas at magbigay ng karan galan sa mahal nating paaralan. Arangka da, ASCOT!”

Having a bittersweet effect for Filipinos who know the reason why he plays for US nowadays, they are still proud of what So has achieved. One lesson that it taught the government is that, it’s a matter of shape up or shiftPresumably,out. the country is not going to endure the lament if it will lose an another top-caliber athlete; a king that was crowned outside of his home-soil and now, admired by the world. While it’s too late to convince So to raise the Philippine flag again as he decided to play on the hymn of the Star-Spangled Banner, the country still has the time to foster the future of the Philippine sports.

As one of the least-receiving support and attention, and most un derrated sports in the country, chess has been constantly overshadowed by huge and more popular sports in the Philippines like basketball. It is no wonder that while So is transferring to the USA, the government itself was numb to take actions because the country was busy natural izing NBA players for their and spending more than just million but beyond that Nonetheless,numbers.itis his right to transfer wherever he wants to go. It does not have sense to stay if an athlete is not appreciated on his homesoil. He has already brought pride and honor to the country, and it was the nation’s responsibility to compensate him.

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According to Spin.ph, tracing back in 2013, after So successfully claimed his gold medal from the World Universiade Games in Kazan, Russia, like in the middle of a game, his expectations and adrenaline were so high about the possibility of raising a seven-digit incentive which will be provided by the government. In his dismay, he got none which he should not have stumbled upon since he made his part in rep resenting the nation and the nation should reciprocate him in return.

Bull’s eye! He’s not representing the Philippines. He is just a guy who happens to be a Filipino.

editorial

It is the duty of the government to provide support to its athletes like chess players who demand accountability from the Chess Confed eration of the Philippines or ask other sectors to support chess. Also, an another perceived solution is the amendment of the Incentive Act or whatever law needed to provide financial support to deserving athletes, or much better to every country’s representative who is either win or lose.

It’s about time to divert funds to create an avenue of eyeing po tential sport heroes and the government must focus on other sports where the athletes are comfortable based on ability, physique, and con dition. It’s time to shift the attention to other fields where the country has greater chances.

can feel that he is valued and be given the incentives that he deserves. The problem is that the Philippines in general is too focused mostly on ball games or team sports with bigger budget for such athletes. On the other hand, sports like billiard, boxing, weightlifting and especially chess wherein mostly are individual games but are likely as sources of gold medals or championship titles, yet given no, or least support. There must be some adjustment or change of policy for such discrimination.

Checkmate: The King Has Been Stolen

In just less than a month, shortly after the successful medal-gold campaign of Carlos Yulo and Nesthy Petecio in their respective compe titions, another news has conquered the Philippine sports and rapidly circulated across the country, as Filipino-born Wesley So was crowned as the inaugural Fischer Random Chess Champion, upsetting former World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen on his home turf in Norway.

However, the victory of So, which happened to be on the behalf of the United States, brought to light to the consequence of the Philippine government’s lack of support to its athletes.

Pertaining to the denial of a whopping Php 1 million bonanza for So, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) released a statement ex plaining that the said competition captured by the latter wasn’t included on the list of those international events where gold medalists are guar anteed monetary incentives from the government, in accordance to the old RA No. 9644, otherwise known as the Athletes’ Incentives Act.

It is good to be nationalistic but in some case, it doesn’t put food on someone’s table. So was just practical and nothing is wrong about that. If the governing body in chess in the Philippines doesn’t want to recog nize all his achievements, then he might go to somewhere else where he

There is no argument that Filipinos excel in motorcycle racing because they are light and dauntless. They also outshine in dragon boat racing because of their ability to effectively work as a team, and in chess because of their competency to solve problems. Meanwhile, basketball was dominated by the taller races so the country should focus on sports that the nation is really good at.

With Juan Dela Cruz’s loss, it’s a gain for Uncle Sam.

Looking at the other side of the box, we can say that some trainers choose a student represen tative based on referral since they don’t have much time to filter every candidate. Knowing the fact that trainers are mostly also teachers, a prompt choice would be the best al ternative since it won’t hinder them that much. Howbeit, they should not forget to provide equal oppor tunities for all, as every student as pires and want to inspire.

John Gabriel S. Dela Torre SPORTS gabrieldelatorre12231999@gmail.comEDITORBSEDENGLISH

school to varied competitions, this might be a big deal at all since they might feel that they are ignored and left behind.Ihave to admit it. I am a com petitive person and joining contests is my game, though I do not always go home as triumphant, as every competition says. There was an in stance where I wanted to vie for a chance to be our school’s represen tative to a contest that I overheard. However, without any hesitancy, they chose the top student in our class and that made me a little bit upset. I understood that my class mate was the best in our class but nonetheless, they should have giv en us, the other students, to prove ourselves that we can do better and possibly, we can be best in repre senting the school too.

the cartographer:

It was a fortune for those stu dents who were chosen to represent the school for various competitions. Some have sucessfully hurdled the obstacles and penetrated on the eye of a needle. They have put extreme effort just to secure their spot. But, some were presumably luckier to be chosen just because of their fame and compliments told by other peo ple, who are most likely to be their colleagues, or they are just heavy fa vorites sinceProbably,then. it is not new to our ears to hear those student rep resentatives who were chosen just because someone recommended them. Maybe because they are pop ular or the person who refers that particular student has a close link to the Possibly,latter. this scenario has no sense to some students but for those who are explicitly working hard and have the eagerness to represent the

Amidst of their busy sched ules, trainers or coaches should establish their own criteria for the selection of student participants to promote the conduct of fairness and objectivity. In return, every stu dents should be responsible enough and display their utmost effort once they are picked to represent the in stitution.Ihave high hopes that popu larity or worse, favoritism won’t be the standard of preference partic ulary to the highlighted situation. At the end of the day, it’s the inner blazing flame and not the blurring name that matters the most and will last long.

J

The Randomizer’sGame

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ust because you are popular, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you areThequalified.semester is almost over but this point is just a starting line of a more intense, igniting battle against state college and universities, or even to the secondary and primary educational levels.

As the row of various intercol legiate competitions are just around the corner either for the culture and the arts, sports, or even journalism, the flame is heating up where an array of talents will be showcased, the clash between wit and strategies will be witnessed, and the skills of every student participant will be highlighted.Much like the ceaseless rival ry of Ateneo De Manila University (ADMU) and De La Salle Univer sity (DLSU), universities across the country have shown extreme com petetiveness to outclass other op ponents and to rise on top; to prove they are the best among the best.

Howbeit, they should not forget to provide wantdentall,opportunitiesequalforaseverystu-aspiresandtoinspire. opinion

weather condition, the opening program which marked the start of the said regional event took flight through the parade of colors comprising student athletes, train ers, and administration officials, where they marched from the entrance of the stadium, on the running track, and to the open field of the said venue.

13 SUCs to battle in PH sports capt’l

by: John Gabriel S. Dela Torre

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Said event was participated in by 13 SUCs across the region: Aurora State College of Technology (ASCOT), Bataan Peninsu la State University (BPSU), Bulacan State University (BULSU), Central Luzon State University (CLSU), Don Honorio Ventura State University (DHVSU), Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology (NEUST), Pampanga State Agricultural Univer sity (PSAU), Philippine Marine Merchant Academy (PMMA), Philippine Science College of Aeronautics (PHILSCA), President Ramon Magsaysay State University (PRMSU), Tarlac Agricul

During the said program, on behalf of Tarlac Province Governor Susan Yap, Hon. Christian Yap, the mayor of the municipality of Victoria, delivered his welcoming remarks by accentuating that, “This is not confined to the concept of com petition, but rather the acquisition of additional learning from actual experiences.”

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ith more than just a month after its inaugural use during the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, another history has made as the New Clark City Athletic Stadium staged the opening ceremony of the State Colleges and Universities (SUCs) III Olympics in Capas, Tarlac, February 2, anchored with a theme, “Trust, Strength, and Unity.”

New Clark City welcomes SUC III Olympics delegates

tural University (TAU), and the host instituition, Tarlac State UniversityUnder(TSU).favorable

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Afterwards, Dr. Myrna Mallari, TSU president, acknowl edged the presence of her fellow SUC presidents across the region, and formally introduced the guest speaker for the men tioned program in the person of Mr. Vivencio Dizon where he was hopeful to utter that, “To our athletes, to our SUCs pres idents, to our officials, please enjoy the next three days as you compete fearlessly here in New Clark City.”

After a series of ceremonies, Dr. Mallari formally declared the opening of the annual sports event followed by the closing re marks of Dr. Max Guillermo, TAU president and the silent drills performed by the Training and Doctrine Command.

ALL PREPPED. PSAU Soaring Eagles delegates during the State Colleges and Universities(SUCs) III Olympics held at Capas Tarlac

Amateurism.Tolight

Meanwhile, the Oath of Sportsmanship was supervised by Elimar Sidoro, a gold medalist in Archery during the 2018 SCUAA III Olympics, while Lorenzo Bautista, also a gold med alist in basketball at 2018 SCUAA III Olympics led the Oath of

It was followed by the ceremonial raising of institutional flags headed by SUC Presidents and Sports Directors, and the torch relay led by Janel Patricia Manalo, a gold medalist during the 2018 SCUAA III Beach Volleyball Competition, accompa nied by top-caliber athletes from other participating institutions.

up the atmosphere, the TSU Cheering Squad and Hip hop Dance Troupe also executed their stunts and dance moves in front of the exhilirated crowd.

SUC III Olympics opening program was also partaken by other public officials: Dr. Ronald Adamat, Commission on High er Education (CHED) Commissioner, Hon. Carlos Cojuangco, Representative of the 1st District of Tarlac, Hon. Victor Yap, Rep resentative of the 2nd District of Tarlac, and Hon. Noel Villanue va, Representative of the 3rd District of the said province.

Subsequently, a speech was articulated by Hon. Reynal do Catacutan, mayor of the town of Capas, where he said that they will ensure that the convenience of the participants will be observed during their stay in the said municipality to which the athletic stadium is situated.

On the other hand, Erico Magsino who is supervised by his coach, Mr. Anthony Lumanlan, is the lone player for the category of lawn tennis.

“Always enjoy every game.” This is what Coach Cuyugan always says to his players to keep them motivated, always grind and to always work harder.Meanwhile, lawn tennis player Magsino said he will never again miss gold this year and he is continuously improving his solid services, firm blow and a couple of back-hand strokes so that he can secure and smash the gold medals.

During their trainings, they undergo a sense of physical exercises beginning with stretching, drills, and warm-ups. Then, they proceed with performing a suicide where the players run across the court.

Umaasa ang mga koponan ng PSAU na mag-uuwi sila ng meda lya at mahigitan ang kanilang performance sa SCUAA na ginanap noong nakaraang taon.

The tennis team has high hopes to represent the university well in the said annual sports event and also aspire to secure medals for PSAU.

Men’s at Women’s Volleyball Varsity players,puspusan ang trainingby:Anton

Tuloy-tuloy ang ensayo ng mga bagong manlalaro ng men’s at women’s volleyball kasama ang mga manlalaro na may karanasan na sa SCUAA at sa iba pang mga laro sa labas ng unibersidad.

Sa pahayag ni Rose Anne Marie David na isa sa mga bagong manlalaro ng women’s volleyball team, sinabi niya na “Ayun, paiba-iba mga ginagawa namin sa training at tapos kapag ‘di maulan nagd’drills kami tulad ng spiking at receiving, at minsan ay nagp’play kami.”

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In addition, there is no acceptable reason to miss a day of train ing and the need for handwork everyday specifically on improving their services for them to execute an ace, a kill and to generate points as the main strategies that they need to practice.

ng Agosto ngayong taon, kinailangan nang mag-ensayo ang mga manlalaro ng Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU) para sa kanilang laban sa State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association (SCUAA) Regional Olympics sa Tarlac State Univer sity (TSU) sa darating na Pebrero.

Sa pangunguna nina Mr. Gerald Magtoto na coach ng women’s volleyball at Sir. Raven Estoque ng men’s volleyball, kadalasang nagsi simula ang kanilang puspusang ensayo mula 5:30 ng hapon hanggang 7:00 ng gabi.

“Yung expectation namin is malaki at malalakas ang mga kala ban compare sa mga nasalihan na naming competition noong high school pa but for that, we look forward to win and to have an expe rience as well to add another feather to our university this SCUAA 2019,” one of PSAU’s tennis players said.

Paddlers and smashers ready to smash on Bachelor of Science in Geodetic Engineers freshmen students are the main key-players of Coach Odinnel Cuyugan.

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Comprising the team are: Carmina Limpin, Francis Dela Cruz, Kristen Torres and Sam Vasquez while there is still vacant position to complete the line-up for table tennis.

Aside from that, they also do scrimmage where they play against their teammates or against to their coaches while they haven’t played against other players for a tune-up game. Their usual set games are conducted inside the PSAU Gymnasium, from 5 pm to 7 pm on a regular daily basis.

Coach Odinnel always instructs the table tennis players to practice and maintain agility, coordination and speed that are very important in playing the said sport event.

Tinuturuan sila bawat araw ng mga skills gaya ng spiking, receiv ing, at blocking upang mas mapalakas ang kanilang palo at matutunan ang fast play. May sinusunod din silang workout program sa bawat araw ng kanilang ensayo at bagong mga techniques sa paglalaro para mapalakas ang kanilang depensa kontra sa kanilang mga makakala ban.

Nakikipag tune-up din ang koponan ng PSAU sa ibang mga ekwelahan at lumalahok sa mga liga sa upang mas mahasa pa ang kanilang kakayahan at mas maging handa sa papalapit na SCUAA.

Tennis team trues to snatch medals at SCUAA 2020

NGITI NG PAGPUPUNYAGI. Malaki ang pag-asa ng PSAU Men’s Volleyball Varsity Team na makapaguuwi sila ng medalya sa darating na SCUAA 2020. (Larawang mula kay Joshua Nabong)

ith the State Colleges and Universities Athletics Association (SCUAA) Regional Olympics is just around the corner, the Soaring Eagle Tennis Players both for the events of table tennis and lawn tennis are preparing for an intense battle of aces, paddlers, and smashers at Tarlac State University, February 2020.

Wagpatak

Kinailangang magpatry-out mga coaches sa mga iba pang mga estudyante na nais maging isang varsity player ng PSAU kahit marami pang mga seniors ang naglalaro. Sa bilang ng mga sumubok na maging bagong atleta ng volleyball, iilan lamang sa mga lumahok sa nasabing try-out ang napili at naging parte ng koponan.

ni: Aldrin Kel Castillo

C. Miranda

“Actually, inaasahan na namin na mananalo kami kasi dati na namin silang nakatunggali nung mga una pang laro namin sa iba pang school pero nung una, kinakabahan kami kasi lumamang sila ng mga apat o limang puntos sa first set pero nung nakuha na namin yung laro na ‘pinakita nila sa amin, doon advantage sa amin ‘yon kasi alam na namin ‘yung mga moves nila,” saad ni Gatus nang tanungin kung inaasahan niya na sila ang magwawagi sa kanilang laro.

Maliban kina Briones at Gatus na kabilang sa 41-50 age bracket, nakalusot din sa elimination round ang iba pang mga manlalaro ng PSAU sa mga badminton events na kanilang nilahukan kabilang na sa kategoryang Women’s Doubles 31-40 at Men’s Doubles 31-40.

inomina ng Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU) Cagers ang Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology (NEUST) sa State Col leges and Universities Faculty Association of Region III (SCUFAR III) sa Under 41 Men’s Basketball Category, Disyembre 17, 50-47.

Sa una at ikalawang kwarter ng laro, gitgitan ang iskor na naitatala ng parehong koponan ngunit sa pagpapakawala nang maliliksing three-point kill shoots at lay-up shoots nina Ysraeiljan Villanueva at Rodel Lorenzo, mabilis nilang natambakan ang kanil ang mga kalaban.

PSAU dribblers, bumuslo ng panalokontra NEUST

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ni: John Gabriel Dela Torre

Briones, Gatus, Pinataob ang BASC sa Badminton Men’s Doubles Elimination Round

Kargado ng kanilang mithiin na tapusin na ang laban, hindi na

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ni: Anton C. Miranda >> mula pahina 39

Sa simula ng unang set ay nahirapang makaabante ang PSAU nang magsunod-sunod ang kanilang service error at violations sa kanilang mga atake, dahilan upang makaungos ang BASC ng ilang puntos.Agad din namang binawi ng home team ang kanilang mga palya nang magpaulan ang pinagsanib na pwersa nina Joanarch Briones at Ferlito Gatus ng matatalim na ismash kontra sa tandem nina Vladimir Sempio at Gilberto Villacorte ng BASC.

Dahil sa suporta na nanggagaling mula sa madla, mas nabu hayan ang mga kinatawan ng PSAU at ipinagpatuloy ang maganda nilang laro hanggang sa selyuhan nila ang unang set sa iskor na 21-15.

inatuyan ng mga kinatawan ng Pampanga State Agricultural Uni versity (PSAU) na sila ang hari sa kanilang teritoryo nang pakainin nila ng alikabok ang Bulacan Agricultural State College (BASC) sa kanilang Preliminary Match ng Badminton Men’s Doubles sa katata pos na State Colleges and Universities Faculty Association of Region 3 (SCUFAR III) Sports and Cultural Festival sa Jose S. Lapid Gymnasium, Disyembre 16.

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nakaungos pa ang BASC sa muling pagpapamalas nina Briones at Ga tus ng kanilang bagsik nang padapain nila ang kanilang mg katunggali sa mga walang patid nilang ismash at kagila-gilalas na istratehiya sa ikalawa at huling set ng laro, 21-14 pabor sa PSAU.

LIKSI AT DISKARTE. Sa pinagsanib na pwersa nina Briones atGatus, matagumpay nilang naungusan ang mga katunggali sa elimination round ng Men’s Badminton Doubles. (Larawang kuha ni Kerl Joshua P. Franco)

“Nung unang set, nung lumamang na kami, ‘yon mas lalo kam ing nagkaroon ng tiwala sa sarili na tatalunin namin sila,” dagdag pa niya.

The battle for the sports events initially kicked off after the short program and lasted until the final day of the regional gath ering, and it also featured other competitions such SCUFAR Got Talent and Dance Competition slated on the second day of the event.During the last day of the festival, Anthony Lumanlan, PSAU Faculty Union President, steered the announcement of winners trailed by the acceptance speech of Dr. Max Guillermo, SUC President IV of TAU, as the host institution for 2020 SCUFAR III, and the closing remarks of Dr. Honorio Soriano Jr., SUC President IV of PSAU.

it was followed by the hoisting of institution’s banners by faculty union presidents along with the lighting of the Olympic torch by SUC Sports Coordinators led by Jeronie Baltazar, the host institution’s Socio-cultural and Sports Direc tor, and the conveyance of the Pledge of Sportmanship.

...Arwind Santos and Calvin Abueva, who were born and raised in the said province, graced the PSAU as keynote speakers for the said Consequently,event.

he home team did not dismay the crowd as Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU) Men’s Volley ball team gave no mercy to the players of Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology (NEUST) on their first game at Juanita L. Nepomuceno Stadium Field, during the State Colleges and Universities Faculty Association of Region (SCUFAR III) Sports and Cultural Festival, Decem ber 16.

After a one-set loss, players from NEUST were deter mined to make the home crowd shut as they fought neck-

NEUST started to blaze its momentum and gave PSAU a good game through the action-packed rallies, in closed scores throughout the duration of the game until they landed on a nerve-racking 24-24 deadlock score.

REG’L SPORTS, CULTURAL FEST COMMENCES

to-neck against the PSAU team by enhancing their game plan for the second set.

After the ceremonial release of balloons by SUC presidents, SCUFAR III President Ramon Sabacan highlighted that, “What’s important is how we play the game,” and fornally declared the opening of the mentioned festival.

When asked about their strategy for the game, Estoque answered that, “Bago pa sila magspike, inaassess na namin sila, kung sinong kalaban ‘yung dapat naming bantayan. Tapos, since matagal na kaming magkakasama, iniinstruct ko talaga sila kapag naglalaro kami kung sinong baban tayan, saan sila pupuwesto kaya naging easy sa amin ‘yung labanHe.” also added that they already expected to win the match because of the positive vibe that they always have during a game plus their familiarity to the venue. by: John Gabriel Dela Torre

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WORTH THE VISIT. PBA Player Calvin Abueva delivers his speech in front of the exhilarated audience during the SCUFAR III Olympics.

Soaring Eagles Surmount NEUST in

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Men’s Volleyball First Game

A strong start was showcased by the home team led by its ace player, the head coach of the university’s men’s volleyball varsity team and the so-called “Black Widow,” Raven Estoque, who flaunted his heavy-loaded attacks both on the frontrow and on the backrow of the court that were forceful enough to counterfeit by the players of the visitingNEUSTteam.failed to narrow the gap as the tandem of Estoque and the veteran setter Gerald Magtoto became unstoppable to seize the 10 straight points of PSAU along with the solid blocks and sucessful reception exhibited by their team mates, ending the first set with a bang, 11-25.

>> mula sa pahina 40

SET ON THE FOOTHILLS OF MT. ARAYAT

Their strategy went effective since as they were able to calculate the blistering spikes of Estoque with accuracy by putting more blockers on the front row and refinining their reception of the ball.

However, proving their might and vigor in their homecourt, the collective effort of PSAU players has paved off and sealed the match with a final score of 25-27.

Naisakdal sa iskor na 50-47 ang nasabing laro pabor sa PSAU Cagers upang umabante ang nasabing koponan sa susunod na round.

PSAU dribblers, bumuslo ng panalo...

>> mula pahina 37

ust an hour after their huge win against Bulacan Agricultural State College (BASC), the rejoice of Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU) was cut short as Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology (NEUST) overwhelmed the home team at the Juanita L. Nepomuceno Memorial Stadi um Field or PSAU Grandstand, December 17.

In the middle of the game, the PSAU team improved their game by strengthening its defense with Danica Marcelo and Rench Dungo guarded the power tandem of BASC to stop their firing of shots toward the hoop.Less than a minute remaining, BASC was still ahead with 2 points, 1-3, when one of BASC’s power tandem committed a technical foul, handed a chance to the home team for two free throws.

As round as the ball, things got changed when Maribel Bravo of PSAU, which also stood as the coach of the women’s basketball team of the College of Resource, Engineering, Automation, and Mechanization (CREAM) that emerged as champion during the Intramurals, escaped the loaded defense of BASC, and registered the first point of PSAU with her jawdropping lay-up.

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Dagdag pa nito, “Actually alam namin na may konting chance kaya ‘yun siguro ang edge namin. Alam namin na may training kami at homecourt na rin siguro.”

With eagerness in his eyes to prolong the game, Bravo did not miss the opportunity given to them as she swept the free throw line with her two successful shots and eventually, tied the game with a score of 3-3, bringing cheers and excitement to the home crowd.

Sa tulong ng mga kasama ko, natupad yung game plan namin kaya nanalo kami,” she further added after their big win against BASC.

NEUST Dispatches PSAU at Basketball Women’s 3x3

namin for this SCUFAR,” saad ni Villanueva matapos itanong kung ano ang paghahanda na ginawa nila bago ang event.

by: John Gabriel Dela Torre

During the halfway part of the game, Bravo showed consistency in both offense and defense amidst of fatigue and registered two points to narrow the gap against NEUST.

On the first part of the game, both teams have showcased massive effort to outclass each other with their defense strategies and offensive attacks.

During the start of the game, the PSAU team struggled to make a point due to the tight defense showcased by the tandem of Donato and Villacorte of BecauseBASC.ofthe latter’s physique and enormous force, they man aged to steal the possession of the ball multiple times and exhibited a strong offensive play against the home team, making an early advantage as they garnered the first three points of the game.

oud cheers from the home turf invaded the hardcourt as Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU) women’s 3x3 basketball team narrowly edged out Bulacan Agricultural State College (BASC) Score in the elimination round of their bracket at the Juanita L. Nepomuceno Memorial Stadium or PSAU Grandstand, December 17, with a final score of 4-3.

During the last seven seconds of the game, PSAU was an inch in winning the game while the ball was in their possession until Bravo steeled the triumph as he fired his shot and beat the buzzer with a win ning point, closing the game with a one-point victory, 4-3.

The trio of Mariano, Payawal, and Santos of NEUST have triggered the combination of Bravo, Dungon, and Marcelo to maximize their defense against the bigger and taller players of the visiting team.

PSAU Women’s 3x3 Basketball Team Upsets BASC; Defeats in a Buzzer-Beater Point

EYES ON THE BALL. Danica Marcelo tries to make a ball posession on their match-up against BASC at Women’s 3x3 Basketball Competition. (Photo by John Gabriel S. Dela Torre)

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“Nung una, nawawalan na ako ng pag-asa eh pero syempre, dahil gusto naming manalo, nagkaroon kami ng favor na makashoot kami ng dalawa, ginrab ko ‘yon kaya nagtime-out ako and luckily, nashoot ko yung dalawa and sa last seven seconds na natitira, ayun, nashoot kaya masaya,” Bravo answered when asked what did she feel during and after the game.“

With a aim for a back-to-back championship, the latter team’s collective efforts lead by Payawal with her fast moves and accurate shots brought her team to a wide margin against the home team.

...Sinubukan pang humabol ng NEUST sa ikaapat na kwarter kung saan naging dikit pa ang iskor ng magkabilang koponan, ngunit nanaig pa rin ang lakas at bilis ng home team upang maiusad ang pagkapanalo.“Usually nagtatraining kami with the varsity athletes, kung baga ‘one stone in two birds’ kami. Na-train namin sila for the preparation sa competition nila this SCUAA Meet, at the same time training din

PSAU then suffered to catch up to NEUST as the visiting team sur mounted its momentum and grasped consecutive points, concluding the match with a score of 2-8.

@TheSinukuanGazetteOfficial

by: John Gabriel Dela Torre

8.) Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) 9.) President Ramon Magsaysay State University (PRMSU) Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU); and 11.) Tarlac State University (TSU)

5.) Don

Jeronie Baltazar, PSAU’s Socio-Cultural and SportsDirector, lit the Olympic torchas part of the SCUFAR III opening program.I

An opening program which jumpstarted the regional event took flight through a parade of colors starting from the PSAU Facade to the Juanita L. Nepomuceno Memorial Stadium.

6.) Nueva

Set on the foothills of mt. Arayat

Central Luzon State University (CLSU) and Philippine State College of Aeronautics (PhilSCA) failed to make it this year for the said event.

2.)

3.) Bulacan

7.) Pampanga

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PSAU Women’s 3x3 Basketball Team... Men’s at Women’s Volleyball Varsity... bASKETBOLISTANGKAPAMPANGAN... >> follow on page >> sundan sa pahina >> sundan sa pahina

n spite of the clammy weather, delegates from member institutions of the State Colleges and Universities Faculty Association of Region 3 (SCUFAR III) set the flame ablaze as the three-day Sports and Cultural Festival 2019 commenced at Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU) on the north western foothills, Magalang town, December 16-18.

Said regional event themed “41 Years of Unity and Resil ience through ‘Sportural’ Festival” was joined in by 11 State Universities and Colleges (SUCs): Aurora State College of Technology (ASCOT) Bataan Peninsula State University (BPSU) Agricultural State College (BASC) State Agricultural University (BulSU) Honorio Ventura State University (DHVSU) Ecija University of Science and Technology (NEUST) State Agricultural University (PSAU)

During the said program, Dr. Myrna Lorenzo, PSAU Vice President for Business and Finance, conducted the roll call for every participating institution, and even put emphasis that, “Ito lang po ang opportunity na magme-meet o magga-gather tayo.”

On behalf of Pampanga Governor Dennis Pineda, Philip pine Basketball Association (PBA) players... >> follow on page

IGNITING SPORTSMANSHIP.

1.)

/TheSinukuanGazetteOfficial@gmail.com /TheSinukuanGazetteOfficial/sinukuangazette

10.)

by: John Gabriel Dela Torre

REG’L SPORTS, CULTURAL FEST COMMENCEs sports

4.) Bulacan

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