2022 Commencement Exercises | Sept. 19-21, 2022

SAN PABLO CITY CAMPUS After two consecutive years of holding it online due to the pandemic, the Laguna State Polytechnic University (LSPU) returned to a face-to-face (F2F) graduation ceremony,Sept.20–21.

Themed “One in Purpose: LSPU Graduates Breaking Through Limitations, Leading the Way to Excellence of PostPandemic Futures,” a total of 2,006 undergraduate students from eight collegedepartmentsmarched in the gymnasium to receivetheirdiploma.

Dr. Mario R. Briones, University President, stressed in his message that the pandemic has become an eye-opener in ensuring that learning should be uninterrupted, dynamic, and responsive tothecallofthefuture.

“The real exciting future begins when you leave the portals of your beloved university. Do not doubt; instead, be courageous that your perseverance and courage stayed while conquering the last couple of years of your respective degrees,” added.

FEATURE

The Road a Bus Vendor has Taken

EDITORIAL

Job Security and Availability

Speaking on behalf of Laguna 3rd District Representative Loreto“Amben”Amante,Chief of Staff, Atty. Dennis Co deliveredthecommencementexercisesaddressedatthis

CBAA leads graduating pop

With a total of 477 students, College of Business Administration and Accountancy (CBAA)toppedthepopulation of Laguna State Polytechnic University – San Pablo City Campus’ Commencement Exercises2022.

Aftertwoyearsofvirtual graduation rites, the universi-

ty held its first in-person graduation with a total of 2,026 graduates and 23.54% of them were from CBAA department.

Numbers from CBAA are summedupfromtheBachelor of Science in Accountancy, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Major in Financial

Dr. Rosemarie Sabado, the Vice President of Academic Affairs of Laguna University, congratulated the graduates from the College of Criminal Justice Education (CCJE), College of Business 03

ViceGovernorofLagunaProvince,Atty.Katherine‘Karen’C. Agapay,servedasthekeynote speaker and guest of honor at the Commencement Exercises of College of Engineering (COE)andCollegeof

THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF LAGUNA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY - SAN PABLO CITY CAMPUS

MACE-BEARER. Mr. Greg R. Reyes, Director of Admission and Registrarship, leads the graduation procession with the university mace. // photo by: Aeron John Remorin

2021-22 bachelor's program graduates.

PRIME. CBAA rules the student population on A.Y. 2021 2022

2022 Graduates attends in-person Baccalaureate Mass

University Ampitheater

–Representativesfromeach section of the graduating class of 2022 engaged in the Baccalaureate Mass, September19.

ReflectingontheHoly GospelfromSt.Lukeabout theparableofthelampFr. Ciar told students that their degree was worthless if it would not be shared to the world and that we are all in a constantformationprocess.

“Ang buhay natin is a lifelongcommitmentanda lifelong formation,” he said.

The Baccalaureate Masswasconductedaday before the graduating ceremony Graduation academic hoods of each college were blessed during thepost-communionrite.

Fr. Ciar then stressed the importance of thanksgiving in the holy ceremony.

“Bago tumanggap ng degree bukas, marapat langnapasalamatanmuna ang Panginoon,” Fr. Ciar added.

Fr. Ciar finished his homily by singing few lines of the song “You’ll Never Walk Alone” and left the students with a reminder as they enter newchaptersoftheirlives.

“Attheendoftheday, angPanginoongDiyos[ay] patuloy na maniniwala sa atin,”heconcluded.

The face-to-face commencement rites will be held on September 2021, 2022 at the University Gymnasium.***

Cong. Amante

From page 01 year’s graduation rites, on September20.

“To all graduating students, before anything else, please thank the Lord for His willingnessforyoutobeable to walk on the aisle today as

formallystartedhisspeech.

Heurgedthestudentsto express their gratitude to their parents, who not only gave them guidance and advice but likewise exerted much effort even to the extent of their “pawis” and “dugo” for the sheer purpose of helping them achieve their

“While to some extent some of you were pressured or dictated to complete your bachelor degrees, but do not forget that your education will remain yours until your lastbreath,”hecontinued.

He also mentioned that thestudentsshouldthankthe professors,teachingstaff,and other administrative officials and employees – saying that they are the ones who molded them into what they are now.

“Again, I personally thank you for achieving your goals since it is within you that our government gets a worthwhile hope for capable and efficient citizenry, the crucialkeytoachieveagenuine and meaningful and enduring national development.”Hesaid.

Atty. Co,

encourages the graduates to

be

as

Congressman Amante could not attend the Commencement Exercises as the ceremony coincided with the plenary sponsorship and floor deliberation of the nationalbudget.***

PRESSURE OFF.

Chief of Staff of Hon. Loreto Amante,

he

take ease on their next chapter and

honored as their education is a lifetime gift and their parents’ legacy. // photo by: John Kirby Dinglasan

–

Teacher Education (CTE) batch 2022 at Laguna State Polytechnic University – San Pablo City Campus, September21.

“After the virtual ceremonies conducted in the previous years, I am deeply hon-

Hence, I prepared a speech that will be worthy of your trust and of your time,” Atty. Agapay said as she opened herspeech.

The Vice Governor of Laguna’s speech revolved

family.

“Nomatterhowharditis for you and your family, do yourbest,”AttyAgapayurged graduates to exert efforts despitedifficulties.

She also reminisced her

tyofthePhilippinesDiliman.

“As a student and at the same time a public servant, it tooka lotofmy timeinsocial life”, said Atty. Agapay as she retold her college life struggles.

Moreover, Atty. Agapay highlighted in her speech the three things she wants the new graduates to remember: (1) Education is important; (2)Loveyourfamily,especially your parents, and; (3) Believe in God and His destiny foryou.

“Education is important. No matter how hard it is for you and your family, do your best. Education can take you places and will enable you to meetpeople,”shestated.

She also said that for everychallenge,theoneswho will truly care for them are their family, especially their parents.

“Neverstoplearningand preparingforyourself,sothat when opportunity knocks at your door,you will be ready,” Atty.Agapayconcluded.***

WISDOM. Atty. Agapay, Vice-Governor of Laguna, pass on an inspiring speech to the graduates to value education, love the family, and believe in God, during commencement exercises of the CTE and COE department. / photo by: John Kirby Dinglasan

State Polytechnic University –San Pablo City Campus, September20.

Dr. Mario Briones, University President, stressed in his message that the pandemic became an eye-opener in ensuring that learning was uninterrupted, dynamic, and responsive to the call of the future.

“The real exciting part begins when you leave the portals of your beloved uni-

Students from the College of Industrial Technology (CIT), College of Computer Studies (CCS), and College of Hospitality and Management Tourism (CHMT) were the first students who officially graduated bestowed by the UniversityPresident.

Congressman Loreto “Amben”Amante,represented bytheChiefofStaff,Atty.Dennis Co, as he could not attend the Commencement Exercises

theVicePresidentofAcademic Affairs of Laguna University, represents Laguna Governor Ramil Hernandez and congratulates the graduates from the College of Criminal Justice Education (CCJE), College of Business AdministrationandAccountancy(CBAA), and College of Arts and Sciences(CAS).

Four (4) graduates with latin honors from Bachelor of

Batch 3

Vice Governor, Atty. Katherine “Karen” Agapay encouraged the graduates from the College of Engineering (COE) and College of Teacher Education (CTE) as sheservedastheguestspeakerforthethirdbatch.

CTE recorded the most numberofstudentswhograduated with latin honors, as 35 out of 63 students with latin

MAPA. LSPU-SPCC gymnasium filled with mixed emotions as the batch 2022 graduates perform their heartfelt graduation song during the 2022 Commencement Exercises. // photo by: John Kirby Dinglasan

THE GRADUATES. LSPU-SPCC graduates gathered at the university gymnasium during their commencement exercise. // photo by: John Kirby Dinglasan

HEADS UP. Graduates of LSPU-SPCC show pride and confidence as they turn their tassels for their graduation rites. // photo by: Aeron John Remorin

long question still stands: will K-12 graduates make them equippedinthestruggleofjob securityandavailability?

Republic Act 10533, or The Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013, was enacted under the administration of former President Benigno Aquino III in the pursuit of “enhancing the Philippine basic education system by strengthening its curriculum and increasing the number of years for basic education.” Since itsfirst implementation, the program has received countless tirades from parents, students, and even teachers.Butafteralongwait,

aeron.gloriane

What?

now is the right time to properlystartscrutinizingthe

In the present administration, the thought of abolishing the K-12 program has resurfaced but the grounds for the claim remained the same: ineffective planning, faulty execution, and misallocated focus. While these concernsarevalid,thethoughtof abolishing the program should now be discarded given that the results are now in openair.

Firstly, let’s look at the real-timeresults.Accordingto Prof. Michelle Flores, the program coordinator of BS Biology of LSPU-SPCC, 1 out of 5 bio graduates already have job prior to their graduation. It was supported by Mark JhonAbela,abiofreshgrad.“I

ty is nasa quality Assurance Analyst and Lab analyst,” he said.HealsointerjectedthatK -12 helped them be prepared in looking for the right job. “For me we are ready to face therealworld,”headded.

Secondly, what we have rightnowinourcurriculumis not a petty choice by the previous administration. Prior to the implementation of the K12program,weareoneofthe only three countries in the world with a 10-year basic education program (the other two being Angola and Djibouti). This implies that we are already way behind in the global qualification of education and dismantling this programwilldousnobenefit.

Lastly, the industry is moving. Requirements are getting more demanding as we speak. And every jobseeker will agree if I say that it is easier to eat a flaming ball thantofindajobifyoudonot have an undergraduate degree yet. This increasing demand is a phenomenon that we cannot simply avoid, but

providing a quality education program to help students be prepared in finding, securing, andfulfillingajob.

Atthispointforward,we should now look into the better issue: job availability and security in the industry. What is the essence now of having industry-prepared students if there’snojobsintheindustry to begin with? Fresh graduates are in no doubt wellequipped to battle the industry of work, but the real flawed aspect now here is the industry itself. Instead of experimenting the students even further, the government and industry leaders should nowcreatemorejobs.

Though the execution is still inadequate, the program itself is now a necessity. And with graduates now entering the picture, solid evidences of the program’s “experiment” nowsolidifiesthegoalofhaving globally-prepared Filipinos.Wearenowpreparedbut the big bosses at the top are not.

AERON B. GLORIANE Glass Breaker Now

The Road a Bus Vendor has Taken

kailangan naming tumakbo para lang makasakay at para bumaba naman ay kailangan naming tumalon. Patawid-tawid [kami]sakalsada.Kabilaananang[biyahe].”Thebumpyroadis a playground to Grutas as he catches a moving bus and jumps off from it just to sell toasted siopao and rice cakes at sunrise untilsunset.Sometimes,heextendsevenwhendarknessfalls.

Inhisfirstyearincollege,hisfatherlosthisjobandgot hospitalized.Hewenttoschoolwithonly100pesosinhispocket;40pesoswereallottedfortransportation,andtheremaining moneywasdividedtopayforphotocopiesandlunch.Hestruggled in budgeting, but left with no choice, he kept going. His motherevenaskedhimtostopforawhile,butherefusedtodo so,ashewasdeterminedtoearnadegree.

“Marami ang nagduda sa course ko, even my family. Ang alam nilaaypang-mayperalangangcourseko.Kahitmgakapitbahay namin, [natatawa na lang] sa pinili kong course. S’yempre, nalungkotako,”hesaidabouthisenrollment.

“Lumapitlangsa’kinnoon‘yongkapitbahay[ko;]tryko raw mag-bus vendor. Malaki ang kita; mabilis ang pera. Sinabi rin sa’kin ng mga bus driver, [‘B]akit ka mahihiyang [magtinda?] [H]indi ka naman nagnanakaw [...] [H]indi ka naman nanlilimos ng pera.” He inspires other students to not be afraid and ashamed of working, for it is a clean way to earn a living.

Poverty slapped him hard when his teacher confirmed thedateoftheirtour.SinceGrutascouldnotjoin,hisclassmates created a Messenger group chat and offered a portion of their allowance,ofwhichtheyaccumulatedatotalof6,000pesos.

“Tuwing walang pasok, lagi akong niyayaya ng aking mgaclassmateattropanagumalaatkumainsalabas.Peromas pinipili kong magtrabaho kaysa sumama sa kanila. Masaya ako kasinauunawaan naman nila angakingsitwasyon.” His friends

According to him, bata pa [lang,] pangarap ko nang magingisang[p]iloto.”However,duetofinancialdifficulties,he wasn’t able to pursue his dream course. He was in high school whenherealizedthathisfamilydoesn’thaveenoughcapability tosupporthim.Afterworkinginafoodfactory,hethoughtthat heshouldstudytomakehislifealittlebetter.

“Niminsan hindiakonagtamposa mga magulang[ko.] Mas masakit sa [mga] magulang na makita tayong nahihirapan sa pag-aaral at [pagtatrabaho] na dapat sila ang gumagawa.” Eventhoughheisamunicipalscholar,itwasn’tenoughtosupporthisstudy.Hisparents(hisfather,acarpenterandhismother, a land agent) also find it hard to raise seven of them, from whichGrutasisthefifth.

“Nakakatabalangngpuso.Nakakatuwakasisilangmga datingtumatawaat[nagdududa,]ngayonayisanasamgataong napapahanga raw sa kasipagan ko,” Grutas commented as his teachers,classmates,andneighborsshowsupportafterhisphotocirculatedonFacebook.

“Kung hindi pa available ang work na ‘ yon para sa’kin, doon muna sa ibibigay ni Lord,” he said, looking forward to working in Manila, to gain experience before going abroad or entering the cruise ship industry. As he graduated, Grutas is now ready to travel into a bumpier road, where he wishes to meetallotherhardworkingstudentsinthenextstationoftheir dreams.

Indeed,weallhavebeenonbusesfordifferentreasons, and those who take buses regularly understand what it means to be in one of them hot, bumpy, crowded, irritating, tiring, and too noisy. That sometimes, we want to get off but we just can’t. Just like Grutas, not everyone likes bus rides, but people have their reasons why they bear with it, as some are still a hundredblocksawayfromtheirdestination theirgoals.***

JC Mitra

To those who did not get their hassles to the tassels

Hi!

Theseasonofgraduationhascome aseasonofcelebration, happy tears, and starting a new life beyond the walls of theuniversity.

Well, for most.

To those who are marching to get their diplomas, congratulations are in order. To those who will not, let me share somethingIlearnedaboutnothavingthesameseasonasothersdo.

WhenIgraduated,Ihadacleargoalinmind topassmy licensure examination. I spent my whole college life looking forward to that moment. After receiving my diploma, getting my license became everything to me. But, alas, when the opportunitycame,Ididn’tgrabit.Takingtheexaminationfeltoff to me somehow so I didn’t. Add the fact that I knew I wasn’t prepared,andIwouldnotmeetthemeasures.

Whenmy friendsandformerclassmatespassedtheir exam,Iwallowedinself-pityandself-doubt.Ikeptaskingmyself questionsthatIdidn’thavetheanswersto.

Ididn’t know what I wasthinking, but when theapplication opened again, I stood on my feet, and I went through the hassleofpassingrequirementssoIcouldfinallytaketheexam.

Butthen,thepandemichappened.

2.5,

Universityisnodifferentfromacemetery. Theybothhaveatragicunforgettablestories. Thekillermurderedthestudentinbuildingthree. Case2.5,thisisthebackstory.

Thestudentaimstofinishherdegree. Auniversitygrad,walkingsoproudly. Shewasknownashersection’sbookrat. Shehopesforagoldenfuturetolookat.

Clothedinblack,speakinginfrontofmany. NolongerinlinebeforeNoID,Noentry.

Marchestowardstheexitofthelobby. Applaudedbystudentsofthesameuniversity.

Yetthepodiumshefinallystandsnervously, didn'tmaketotellthestoriesthatshewishedtobe. Theplatforminsteadbuildsfrompersonalregret, madeoutofexpectationsthatshefailedtomeet.

Thefoundationshecreatedthepreviousyears, wasdestroyedslowlylikewhatshefeared.

Onthebigday,shewalkstothegate, doallherdreamsfade?

Universityisnodifferentfromthecemetery, LayingarethedreamsofthosealmostaLaude. Themurdererthatkilledherhopes, Wereothers,orperhapsherself,nooneknows.

Two years into it and I knew I wasn’t in my best shape. The exam kept on getting postponed, and in every postponement,Ifeltmyself-doubtgrowingbutIdidn’tstopstudying.I kept on reading everychanceIgot.I keptonlearning thingsI didn’tlearnbefore.

MychancecamelastJanuary.EventhoughIwasnervous andunsure,IknewthatIhadtotaketherisk.Iremembersteppinginsidetheexaminationroom trembling,headhunglow, andafraidtomeettheeyesofourproctor.Ikeptonfidgeting, butbeinginsidethatroomfeltright.ItfeltlikeIwasmeantto besittingonthatbrownchair. It felt like it was my season.

Indeeditwasbecauseaftertwoyears,Isawmynameon thatlonglist.

Next year, you will too. Time will come and your name willbewrittenalongwithotherpeoplewhowillbesharingthe same stage as you. And when that time comes, your success willnotbeanylessthanotherpeople’ssuccesses.

Therewereobstaclestomydream,butIconqueredthem bynotgiving upand bylearning how tostop puttinglimitsto myself.Thesameshouldgoforyou,too.

Tellyourselfthatyou’renotlessthananyonejustbecause youdidn’tgettomarchthisyear.Youmayhavestumbled,but it doesn’t mark the end. Humans stumble, humans fail. It’s in ournaturetodoso.What’simportantisthatyoudon’tgiveup. Letalltheexperiencesyoulearnedfromthepastandwilllearn inthecomingyearsflowwithinyou,andletyourdoubtsgo.

Try again. Most of the time, all it takes is a small brave step for you to be able to do things that you couldn’t do on your first try. I can’t say that it will be easy the second time around but is something ever easy? Carry on, brave soldier. Breathe. It will be your season someday, and people will be cheeringyouonasyouturnyourhassleintothattassel.***

Case

who is the killer?

Julie

D. Panoy, PhD

Eden C. Callo, EdD