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Artists lobbied their disapproval of the Marcos-Duterte tandem in the upcoming 2022 national elections. (Wika ni Andie Boqueo/Kuha ni Lisa Marie David)

The Flare

ARTISTS, CULTURAL WORKERS SAY NO TO MARCOS-DUTERTE

Ang Opisyal na Pahayagan ng mga Mag-aaral ng Cavite State University- Imus Campus Bolyum 2 Isyu Blg. 1| Setyembre 2021- Enero 2022

BALITA RESPONSIBILITY, NOT PRIVILEGE

EDITORYAL

BALIK-ESKWELA IN CVSU BY 2022?

LATHALAIN

STYRO BOX

PANITIKAN

02 BALITA Group to defy tyranny

Artists, cultural workers say no to Marcos-Duterte (Larawan mula Bureau of the Treasury Facebook page)

By Klaeford Crispin

n the face of persistent efforts to distort history, artists and cultural workers forged a nationwide alliance last Dec. 14 to reclaim new avenues for the truth and prevent a “resurgence of tyranny” under a potential MarcosDuterte administration in 2022. The coalition named “Artists against the Resurgence of Tyranny (ART)” is the most recent group to oppose the Marcos and Duterte tandem in the upcoming 2022 national elections. Among them are visual artists, filmmakers, songwriters, writers, performing artists, art educators, and cartoonists. Award-winning writer and Martial Law survivor Bonifacio Ilagan said that ART intends to unite artists and cultural workers to “fight the rebirth of dictatorship as symbolized in the

candidacies of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. And Sara Duterte.” Artists behind the ART also stated during the launch that Marcos is not an “underdog.” As a result, they emphasized the importance of grassroots education initiatives through creating avenues for truth in various media. On Dec. 16, the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) and its official publication, The National Guilder (TNG), joined numerous artist groups in expressing their support for the goal of ending the Marcos-Duterte tyranny. Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte, Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter, officially declared on Nov. 16 that they will be running together in the forthcoming elections, ending months of uncertainty.

Educ studs hold research making webinar By Carl Andrei Alquero

spiring teachers held a webinar to gauge themselves in the research field as a partial requirement for their Educational Field Study (EDFS 1 & 2) course. Third and fourth-year Bachelor of Science in Education (BSEd) students conducted an online seminar with the theme “Bridging the Gaps: Establishing and Enriching the Ability in Conducting Action Research for Teaching Amidst the New Normal," last Oct. 15, 2021, via Zoom. Guest speaker Ruie Lorenz Reyes, Master Teacher 1 from the Department of Education (DepEd) Bacoor City Division, tackled how to accomplish a

proposal draft and the fundamentals in research paper making. Furthermore, the professor, who currently works in Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology, also elaborated the importance of why students should do research through simple experimentations. “In doing research, there are two ways, walang ibang options, The easy way or the hard way. Just like the way of pointing our nose based on research.” Reyes said. Teacher's Education Department (TED) professors Elisa Pardines, Lyka Peñalosa, and Alicia Llanillo were present at the event.

PH debt stretches to near 12 trillion in October By Marie Claire Pagasartonga

n October 2021, the national government’s outstanding debt reached a new high of 11.97 trillion pesos, due to the continuous domestic and foreign borrowings and the peso’s low value. According to the Bureau of Treasury, the outstanding debt at the end of Oct. increased by 0.5 percent from 11.92 trillion pesos in Sep. and skyrocketed from 9.80 trillion pesos in 2020. The government attempted to mitigate these foreign exchange risks by borrowing the majority of its funding needs from the local debt market, which remained awash in cash despite the COVID-19 pandemic’s longer duration. Lower revenues required the government to borrow more through concessional loans from multilateral banks and bilateral development partners, coupled with bond issuances in local and offshore commercial debt markets, caused by the pandemic-induced

economic depression. Meanwhile, the government still intends to borrow another 7.5 percent of the growth domestic product (GDP) in 2022 to fund public spending amid the lack of data about 2021’s final figures. Trade, finance, and economic development expert in Southeast Asia James Guild explained that the country’s policymakers are not afraid of capital markets—punishing them for excessive borrowing. They believe that counter -cyclical public spending is more vital at this moment to stimulate the economy, Guild said. “But for now, the key point is that in 2022 this government is going to try to spend its way out of any lingering economic headwinds from the pandemic, and it is not afraid to run deficits and take on debt to do so. This newfound tolerance for debt might fade pretty fast if the current account flips back to deficit and borrowing costs go up.

BALITA 03 CHED: college classes to begin by January 2022 By Angela Advincula

olleges and universities in places under Alert Level 3 may start their limited face-to-face classes by the end of January, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) announced on Jan. 11, 2022. The announcements came from the recommendation of the Department of Health’s public health service team after the sudden surge of COVID cases in the said areas. On the other hand, CHED said that tertiary institutions at areas in Alert Level 2, may start anytime. The commission also reminded the universities in the said regions to ensure safety among students while getting the approval of their communities first before returning to physical classes. Furthermore, colleges and

universities planning to reopen should only allow 30 percent indoor capacity and 50 percent outdoor for fully vaccinated individuals while the unvaccinated will not be allowed to attend the traditional classes and shall continue their studies through distance learning. “For those unvaccinated or students who can’t participate in limited face-to-face classes, they shall continue to be governed by our guidelines on flexible learning – online and offline modes,” said CHED Exec. Dir. Cinderella Benitez-Jaro. As of writing, Cavite State University (CvSU) has yet to release plans regarding the resumption of in-person classes in its campuses. Cavite is now placed under Alert Level 2 from Feb. 1-15, 2022.

ACT, nanawagan; teacher demands, ibinoses Ni April Ann Florano

asabay nang pagdiriwang ng Pandaigdigang Araw ng mga Guro noong Martes, Oktubre 5, ang kilosprotesta sa Mendiola, Manila sa pangunguna ng Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines upang manawagan sa administrasyong Duterte ukol sa kinakaharap na krisis ng sektor ng edukasyon. Dalawang taon na rin ang nakalipas nang magsimula ang distance learning dahil sa pandemya, ngunit may mga suliranin pa rin ang kaguruan at mga mag-aaral, partikular na ang kakulangan sa kagamitan at internet access.

Ayon sa ACT, nagsagawa ng pagkilos ang mga guro dahil sa isyu sa sahod, higit sa oras na pagtatrabaho at kakulangan ng suporta sa edukasyon. Bukod pa rito, isinagawa rin ang protesta upang maiparinig ang Five World Teachers Day (WTD) Demands na kinabibilangan ng mga sumusunod: salary upgrading; overtime compensation; laptop at 1,500 internet allowance kada buwan ng mga guro; 10,000 financial pandemic aid para sa mga mag-aaral; 3,000 inflation adjustment allowance at 10, 000 taxexempt election service honorarium.

SC marks two ATL parts unlawful By April Ann Florano

he Supreme Court (SC) deemed the two provisions of the controversial Republic Act 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Law (ATL) as unconstitutional, per the advisory issued by the Court’s Public Information Office (PIO), Dec. 9, 2021. The SC highlighted that Sec. 4 and 25 are violations of human rights, as both give the Anti-Terrorism (ATC) the power to declare or treat an individual or organization as a terrorist. According to the Court, Sec. 4, stating that “…which are not intended to cause death or serious physical harm to a person, to endanger a person’s life, or to create a serious risk to public safety,” is overboard and will violate the freedom of expression. On the other hand, Sec. 25 read: “request for designations by other jurisdictions or supranational jurisdictions may be adopted by the ATC after determination that the proposed designee meets the criteria for designation of UNSCR No. 1373.” The said ATL’s provision will allow ATC, appointed by the president, to accept requests from other entities, including private and international organizations, to tag individuals or groups as terrorists. The High Court is yet to release its final decision for the law but human rights groups already see it as a threat to civil rights. “The law will open the door to arbitrary arrests and long prison sentences for people or representatives of organizations that have displeased the president.” said Phil Robertson, Deputy Director of Human Rights Watch Asia Division. Pres. Rodrigo Duterte signed the ‘draconian’ bill into law on July 3, 2020, and went to effect 15 days later.

Several groups held a protest against the passing of the Anti-Terror Law on June 3, 2020, in Quezon City. (Wika ni Wayne Gerodias/Kuha ni Jire Carreon/Rappler)

04 EDITORYAL

Responsibility, not privilege

n today’s generation, the youth has become more engaged with politics. Social media posts from people aged 18 years old and above expressing their opinions and perspective regarding politics went viral. Even political-related comedic images or videos, referred to as “memes," took the Internet by storm. Nowadays, more young people are discussing societal issues and the like. For some, these pictures seem unusual. However, it is not. In reality, they come naturally. Politics is in our blood, regardless of age. In the youth's case, it is inevitable and we should allow them to practice healthy political debates and discourses as this sector would become our democratic society's stewards in the future. On May 9, 2022, the Philippines would be holding its 17th presidential election. Whether you are a first-time voter or not, your vote is crucial. Not for oneself but for everyone. Your vote as part of the collective youth is essential as it is our position about who to lead us next. Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Dir. James Jimenez mentioned that the Filipino youth comprised 52 percent of the total

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registered voters for the 2022 poll as of Sep. 11. The amount raises the obvious note for aspiring political leaders that if they get a huge percentage of the youth's vote, then winning is possible. The magnitude of young voters in our society can be the catalyst of change in the upcoming elections. The advent of digital spaces opens us to a vast network of opportunities to research and understand. Never settle for less. Look for the aspirant's background. Know and learn to scrutinize. Such is fundamental in electing the next democratic leader. Intellectual voters are the fearsome force that can tame any beasts in greedy, corrupt, and abusive politicians. Our votes are precious as gold. However, voting is not a privilege. It is our responsibility. We, the youth, must (not should) cast our vote. Choosing a responsible and earnest leader should come from a peoplecentered perspective. Objective, rather than subjective. The future lies in our hands. Let's use the pen and our voice to select the candidates who value respect, patriotism, nationalism, and unity. Ink our finger for an individual who can kneel to the masses and say sorry, yet never surrenders.

The Flare Editorial Board 2021-2022

IGNITING THE HEARTS OF PEOPLE ON TRUTH.

”

OPINYON 05 The Observer

The Converyor

CVSUEÑO, BUMOTO KA!

DANGAL NG BANSA, TRATUHIN NANG TAMA!

Ni Rodolfo Dacleson II

Ni Rickie Cathleen Javier

ng paghahalal sa mga susunod na pinuno ay isang demokratikong proseso na nagbibigay kapangyarihan sa bawat isa na pumili ng kanilang napupusuang kandidato. Gayunpaman, sa paglipas ng panahon, tila nakakalimutan na natin ang kahalagahan nito. Hindi lamang ang halalang nangyayari kada tatlo o anim na taon ang aking tinutukoy dito, kundi pati na rin ang eleksyon para sa mga liderestudyante ng ating unibersidad. Nairaos man ang taunang eleksyon sa Cavite State UniversityImus Campus, hindi maipagkakaila ang mga suliraning kinaharap nito. Malaking bahagdan ng populasyon noong unang semestre ng Taong Panuruan 2020-2021 ang hindi nakaboto o ‘di naman kaya’y pinawalang-bisa ang boto dahil hindi nakasunod sa mga panuntunan ng Commission on Elections (COMELEC). Ayon sa datos ng COMELEC, sa 4,681 mag-aaral ng CvSU-Imus, 3,215 lamang ang nakaboto. Sa numerong ito, 295 pa ang naitalang inbalidong boto.

apakaraming tama dito sa atin, ngunit bakit tila walang natira." Mga linya mula sa pamosong kanta ni Gloc-9 na sumasalamin sa reyalidad na kinahaharap ng mga Pilipinong pinipiling iwagayway ang bandila sa kabila nang mga tinik na humahadlang sa kanilang tagumpay.

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Lubhang nakababahala rin na hindi lang mga Pilipinong atleta ang nakararanas ng bulok na sistema, gayundin ang

Ayon kay Princes Joy Ordonez, dating pangulo ng Honor Society na namahala sa halalan, isa sa mga pangunahing dahilan ng mababang voter’s turnout ay mga estudyanteng naaabutan ng cut-off dahil sa kanilang trabaho. Ibinahagi rin niyang naantala ang paganunsyo ng mga nagsipagwagi dahil may ilang organisasyong hindi umabot sa voting quota. Batay sa inilabas na sistema ng COMELEC, maliban sa pangunguna sa bilangan ng balota, kailangang makakuha ng isang kandidato ng nasa 50 porsyento ng boto upang ideklarang panalo.

mga doktor, nars at iba

Nagbago man ang moda ng pagboto at sumabay ito sa ating abalang iskedyul, huwag nating kalilimutang nakasalalay ang kapalaran ng kaestudyantehan sa kamay ng namumuno rito. Sa nalalapit na halalan, CvSUeño, kailangan ng kapwa kamag-aral mo ang iyong boto. Bunsod ng patuloy na banta ng COVID-19 sa bansa at kakulangan ng suporta ng pamahalaan sa sektor ng edukasyon, higit nating kinakailangan ngayon ang tunay na representasyon sa pinakamataas na konseho ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan. Mga indibidwal na kayang ipaglaban at iboses ang kolektibong tinig ng mga magaaral. Bukod pa rito, alam ang kahulugan ng salitang “sakripisyo” at kayang isantabi ang personal na Higit sa popularidad at interes. Higit sa lahat, hindi “trapo” kahusayan sa loob ng dahil tumutupad sa pangako.

pagsasakripisyo. Kung

Huwag papasilaw sa mabubulaklak na salita. Gayundin sa kredibilidad na ipinagmamalaki ng mga tumatakbo pagka-pangulo at sa iba pang posisyon sa Central Student Government (CSG) at iba pang organisasyon.

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silid-aralan, bumoto ng tapat, piliin ang nararapat—isang paalalang huwag kalilimutan sa oras ng halalan.

pang propesyonal na tila pasan man ang daigdig, hindi naman natatanggap ang nararapat na pagkilala sa kanilang

Umalingawngaw noong Nobyembre ang sigalot sa pagitan ng Philippine Athletics Track and Field. Association (PATAFA) at ni Ernest John Obiena, isa sa pinakamahusay na pole vaulter sa buong mundo. Sa ulat ng Esquire, nag-umpisa ang isyu nang kumalat sa ilang media outlets ang sulat ng PATAFA para kay Obiena. Ayon sa liham, ipinapabalik ng tanggapan sa atleta ang halos 4.8 milyong piso dahil sa mga dalawang alegasyon: “falsified liquidations” at hindi pagbabayad ng kaukulang coaching fee sa kanyang Ukrainian mentor Vitaly Petrov.

Sa kanyang Facebook page, dinepensahan ni Obiena ang sarili. Sinegundahan naman ito maituturing, bakit hindi ni Petrov na nagsabing pinakikinggan ang bagaman may mga pagkakataong nahuhuli ang kanilang mga hinaing? atleta sa pagbabayad sa kanya, wala siyang personal na isyu rito, at ni minsan ay hindi siya nagreklamo.

modernong bayani silang

Pruweba ang ganitong sitwasyon sa kalunos-lunos na kalagayan ng mga Pilipinong manlalaro sa kamay ng pabayang awtoridad. Hindi nabibigyan ng tamang pagkilala ang mga tulad nila at madalas, sila pa ang lumalabas na masama at may pagkukulang. Idagdag pa ang kawalan ng suporta ng pamahalaan para sa kanila. Nawala sa poder ng bansa ang isang diyamanteng gaya ni Wesley So na hindi pinahalagahan at piniling umalis upang irepresenta ang Estados Unidos. Bangungot din ang natamo ni weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz bago maging kauna-unahang Pilipinong nakapag-uwi ng gintong medalya mula Olympics. Pinagbintangan ang tubong Zamboanga na bahagi ‘di umano ng ouster matrix kontra kay Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte, dahilan upang i-red-tag siya ng ilang indibidwal.

06 LATHALAIN A possible return to face-to-face classes is within the hands of Cavite State University and other state universities and colleges (SUC). (Wika ni Andie Boqueo/Larawan mula The Post)

B LIK-ESKWELA IN CVSU BY 2022?

By Teresa May Sarzata

fter two years of bearing the online classes, CvSUeños saw a glimpse of hope—the possible resumption of face-to-face classes. This is after the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs (OVPAA) confirmed the possibility of reopening Cavite State University's door to students in the next semester. In response to an open letter sent by Partido ng Kabsuhenyong Mag-aaral (PARKAM) — a student political party in CvSU-Main, the OVPAA replied: "the University is waiting for the approval of Commission of Higher Education (CHED) on their application for face-to-face classes," last Dec. 13, 2021.

Earlier in Nov. 2021, Pres. Rodrigo Duterte approved the pilot run of limited physical classes in selected schools in the Philippines. In CvSU-Imus, the campus administration tried to reach out to students through surveys regarding their vaccination status and opinions about the return of traditional classes. "Personally, kahit may pag-aalinlangan, dahil 'di ko alam kung sapat na ba ang natutunan ko sa online class na 'to para maisabak muli sa face-to-face, pero gayunpaman mas gugustuhin ko pa rin talaga ang face-to-face. Kasi doon raw at authentic lahat. Bilang isang magiging guro sa hinaharap,

Iba kapag hands-on ka sa kurso mo." said Ivy Gesseth Evangelista, a Bachelor of Science in Education (BSEd) student, in an interview. The country is the last nation in the world that reopened its schools all over the world, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). However, things remain uncertain as COVID-19 remains a threat to the safety of every school stakeholder. On Dec. 15, the Department of Health (DOH) announced the presence of the Omicron variant in the country, classified as a "variant of concern" by WHO.

LATHALAIN 07

RETURN TO NORMAL: PH'S

C VID

RISK DOWNGRADES AT MINIMUM By Jaylla Perez

ave you ever asked yourself when wearing face masks and being scared of the virus will come to an end? Does it come to your mind when we would stop hearing the news of the catastrophe brought by COVID-19? After being stuck in the cave of uncertainty for nearly two years, we are finally beholding a glimpse of light, especially for those who suffered financial difficulty, emotional instability, and mental health issues as they yearned for social connections and grieved from losing their loved ones.

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Nationally we remain at minimal risk case classification with a negative two-week growth rate at -57% and a low-risk average daily attack rate at 0.67 cases for every 100,000 individuals.

On Dec. 10, the Philippines finally heard encouraging news as it is now in the minimal risk case classification. It implies that the country is doing better than the times prior. Before, hospitalization's capacity was at full percent. Some lost their lives outside the hospitals waiting for beds to become available as a grieving result. Currently, hospitals' capacity for COVID-19 patients has lowered to 20 percent utilization. Looking at the digits alone, it is also notable that the number of cases plummeted by the start of Dec. 2021, bringing relief to the nation and its citizens. Health experts stated that increased immunization of citizens and strict regulations resulted in the Philippines' minimal risk case classification. The Department of Health (DOH) encourages inhabitants to get booster jabs for more protection.

way. Economists are optimistic about the gradual reopening of the economy by next year. However, the authority reminded citizens, especially unvaccinated individuals, to not let their guards down against the more transmissible COVID-19 variants. Moreover, amid reports citing the Omicron variant's milder symptoms, everyone must continue following minimum public health standards for safety and assurance over this looming threat. Every cloud has a silver lining. In these uncertain times when we can't see the enemy, staying vigilant is imperative for ending the war triumphantly. As the new year unfolds, Filipinos must never forget the lurking danger brought by the COVID crisis.

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In 2022, reopening of establishments, expansion of limited face-to-face classes, and resurgence of onsite work are already on the

-DOH Usec. Maria Rosario Vergeire

A civilian putting away his mask as COVID risk downgrades at a minimum in the Philippines. (Wika ni Nastassja Braceros/ Kuha ni Milton Packer MD)

08 PANITIKAN PAGSALUBONG SA MANIGONG

BAGONG TAON Ni Julienne Eunice Irinco Sa huling araw ng Disyembre, Ang mag-anak ay nagsasama-sama para sa media noche. May pera man o wala, Tayo ay naghahanda. Hindi man mapuno ang mesa ng masasarap na pagkain, Dapat ay may labintatlong bilog na prutas at malalagkit na kakanin. Hindi rin dapat mawala ang pansit na pampahaba ng buhay, At ang ‘di nakakaumay na lumpiang shanghai. Ang pagsalubong sa Bagong Taon ng mga Pilipino ay masaya at mapamahiin, Isa na rito ang paniniwala na ang polka dots na damit ay swerte sa’tin. Bukod sa mga pagkain na nagsisimbolo ng pagpapatatag ng pamilya, Masuwerte rin ang paglalagay ng mga barya sa bulsa. Guhit ni Aldrian Barias

STYRO BOX

Ni Karina Tesaluna

maga pa lang ng bisperas ng Pasko ay inihanda na ni Tessy ang mga damit na susuotin niya at ng kanyang tatlong nakababatang kapatid. Inisip niya na mas maganda kung lahat sila ay magsusuot ng kulay pula sa kapaskuhan.

Saan naman kaya sila ipapasyal ng kanilang mama at papa ngayong taon? Noong nagdaang Pasko ay ipinasyal sila ng mga ito sa Mall of Asia. Kahit pagod, sobra nila itong na-enjoy lalo na ang kanilang bunso na aliw na aliw sa mga pailaw at rides, kung kaya't ganoon na lamang ang pagkasabik ni Tessy ngayong taon. Sa kanilang kusina ay hinihugasan na ng kanyang papa ang styro box na dadalhin nila bukas sa pamamasyal. Hindi na rin mapirmi sa upuan ang kanyang mama sa paghahanda ng mga rekado para sa lulutuing spaghetti, salad at pansit. Umorder din ito ng lechon paksiw sa tinderang si Ate Alona. Nagpatugtog pa ang kanyang papa ng mga tugtuging pampasko na siyang lalong nagpasaya sa paligid. Isa na sanang napakagandang araw kung hindi lamang siya ginising ng kanyang papa dahil alas-syete na pala ng umaga. Hawak niya ang styro box na maaga niyang nilinisan. Kasabay ng pagmulat ni Tessy ng kanyang mata ay ang mahinang tanong ng kanyang papa kung darating ba ang kanyang mama o ito ba ay magpapasko sa bago niyang pamilya.

Pagsapit ng hatinggabi, Inaabangan ng lahat ang fireworks display. Mga bata'y pinapatalon, Sabay sigaw ng "Maligayang Bagong Taon!" Bago ang pandemya, nakagawian nating mag-ingay sa kalsada. Mga paputok, torotot at mga kotse na panay busina. Ngunit ngayon, may ilang bagay na nabago, Para protektahan ang mga tao. Ngunit sa kabila ng mga limitasyon, Tuloy pa rin ang selebrasyon. Taon-taon pinapanatiling buhay ang ating tradisyon. Ganito natin salubungin ang Bagong Taon.

ISPORTS 09 Yulo tops vault tilt for second world crown By Rodolfo Dacleson II

ITAKYUSHU, Japan — Carlos Yulo brought pride and glory for the Philippines once again after a medal-less 2020 Olympics stint.

Yet, this time, not in his favorite apparatus. The Filipino gymnast topped the vault and notched silver in the parallel bars to cap his 50th FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships campaign last Oct. 24, 2021, at the Kitakyushu General Gymnasium. This came after Yulo fell fifth in the floor exercise, which he won last 2019, by getting the point deductions off a penalty while performing his routine. Adjusting to the unfamiliar territory of vault didn’t give the now two-time world champion a headache.

Way back in Tokyo 2020, the 21-yearold had already shown brilliance in the said event but came short of bagging a medal of any color. With his pair of near-perfect deliveries,

Yulo took complete control of the vault from the get-go en route, averaging 14.916 total points. The Manila-born Olympian wasted no time to impress by scoring 14.800—5.600 in difficulty and 9.200 in execution—in his first try after delivering a Kasamatsu double full, yet Yulo saved the best for last.

Carlos Yulo impressed commentators and viewers during the 50th FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships held at Kitakyushu, Japan. (Wika ni Nastassja Braceros/Kuha ni Philip Fong)

For his second and last attempt, Yulo wowed the judges by executing a Dragulescu worth 15.033 points, courtesy of 5.600 difficulty and 9.433 execution, which sealed the comeback victory of the country’s lone representative in the sevenday competition. Japan’s Hidenobu Yonekura collected a 14.866 tally to secure silver, while Israel’s Andrev Medvedev racked up a 14.649 output for third place. In the parallel bars finale, it’s almost a two-crown ending for Yulo but not quite as he landed second behind eventual winner Hu Xuwei of China, who scored 15.466 points—0.16 higher than the former’s erstwhile leading score. Meanwhile, Hu’s fellow countrymen Shi Cong submitted 15.066 to capture bronze.

Journeyman: EJ Obiena’s Hot to Trot Post-Olympic Triumph By Karina Tesaluna

Ernest John "EJ" Obiena represented the Philippines in the Tokyo Olympics' men's pole vault finals last August 3, 2021. (Wika ni Howard Christian Marquez/Kuha ni Ben Stansall/AFP)

oming from a family of athletes, Ernest John “EJ” Obiena, the 26year-old Filipino pole vaulter, showed that he’s all geared up to withanyone. The highly-ranked Philippine-based sports star made remarkable feats and huge leaps in his field of expertise after his dismal 11th place finish in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Athletissima

In his first post-Olympic competition, Obiena settled for the fifth spot among 10 competitors in the Athletissima- Wanda Diamond League in Lausanne, Switzerland. United States of America’s Christopher Nilsen ruled the event after clearing 5.82 meters, winning by countback over fellow American Sam Kendricks. Timur Morgunov of Russia placed third with 5.72 while Olympic champion and world record holder Armand Duplantis suffered a rare defeat, finishing fourth (5.62m). Obiena easily cleared 5.42 and 5.52, but got eliminated after missing the 5.62-meter mark last August 27, 2020. Paris Diamond League Obiena broke the Philippine record anew in the outdoor pole vault in the Paris Diamond League to bring home the silver on August 28, 2020. EJ successfully cleared 5.91m to reset his once previously held 5.87 records for a new personal best. He also attempted to clear 5.96 twice and 6.01 once but did not succeed.

Diamond League Final The Tondo, Manila-born Olympian fell short of making it to the podium in the Wanda Diamond League Final staged in Zurich, Switzerland on Sep. 10, 2021 (Philippine time). Obiena cleared 5.83m alongside the other five pole vaulters to qualify for the final. But failed to surpass 5.93m in three attempts to crash out of medal contention. Obiena bagged 4,000 dollars in the event won by the Swedish Duplantis as he registered a record-breaking 6.06 meters in the meet. Golden Roof Challenge Aside from bagging the gold medal, Obiena also smashed the almost quartercentury-old record of Kazakhstan’s Igor Potapovich during the 17th International Golden Roof Challenge in Innsbruck, Austria. He now had the best Asian record in the said athletic’s event in pulling off a 5.93 jump last Sep. 12, 2021 (Manila time) to break Potapovich’s 5.92m leap in 1998.

The Flare

Yulo tops vault tilt for second world crown

PAHINA 09

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Journeyman: EJ Obiena’s Hot to Trot Post-Olympic Triumph

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PAHINA 09

Blacklist International shut Onic PH and claimed the M3 World Championships title via a convincing 4-0 win. (Wika ni Howard Christian Marquez/Larawan mula UP Station Media).

A RISE STORY: Blacklist’s journey to M3’s top spot By April Ann Florano

n its third staging, a Filipino Mobile Legends Bang Bang (MLBB) team once again conquered the M3 World Championship held in the Suntec Singapore International Convention from Dec. 6-19, 2021.

upper bracket quarterfinal showdown, which placed them in the lower bracket of the 16-team competition organized by Moonton. Reaching the finals seemed a rough road to overcome for the squad. Yet, they beat everyone along the way.

Blacklist International, comprised of head coach Kristoffer “BON CHAN” Ricaplaza, Dexstar “Dex Star” Louise Cruz Alaba, Edward “EDWARD” Jay Dapadap, Mark Jayson “ESON” Gerardo, Salic “Hadji” Alauya Imam, Kiel “OHEB’” Calvin Soriano, Johnmar “OhMyV33NUS” Villaluna, and Danerie “Wise” James Del Rosario, claimed the crown at the expense of falling to the lower bracket and followed the footstep of BREN Esports that brought home the M2 tilt in the Philippines.

BLCK started their fierce titular run in besting Indonesia’s ONIC Esports, 2-1, followed by eliminating Brazil’s KEYD Stars via a dominant 3-0 win. The back-to-back MPL Philippines champion during Season 7 and 8 continued their onslaught through ripping another Indonesian squad in RRQ Hoshi, 3-0. They barged in the lower bracket finale in thrashing Singapore’s EVOS Esports with a 3-0 demolition.

Before defending the code, Blacklist suffered a nail-biting 3-2 defeat against North America’s BloodThirstyKings (BTK) in their

For the second time around, BLCK and BTK faced each other again but now, for the last seat in the championship round. Blacklist took a 2-0 lead courtesy of the MVP

performance by OhMyV33NUS in Game 1 and strong early to late game execution in Game 2. BTK bounced back in the third game by asserting dominance since the get-go en route to victory. However, their gallant stand was not enough to tame the Filipino side that choked them in the entire Game 4. Blacklist versus ONIC PH. It is an allFilipino face-off in M3’s last phase. A rematch of ages between the MPL PH Season 8 titlist and runner-up. Fighting toe-to-toe, BLCK had the last laugh—tight clash per game but clobbering overall. The eventual champion swept ONIC to bag the 300,000 dollar grand prize, while the latter settled with 120,000 dollars. OHEB, also known as the “Filipino Sniper,” was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) given the 17-year -old gold laner’s massive contribution in their finals’ triumph.