The Pillar Volume 54 Issue 03

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2021 VOLUME 54 | ISSUE 03

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VOLUME 54 | ISSUE NO. 03 NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2021

NEWS

UEP LMS Student Portal in ID Production Transactions, accessible thru website article by

ANDREW MONTEJO & CHARELLE CATUNHAY

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he Office of University President released Memorandum Order No. 216, Series of 2021, on November 10, 2021, informing all the officially enrolled students an alternative way to request for their Identification Card as one of their requirements in claiming their scholarship subsidy. This is the quick response of the University regarding the issues circulating in the production and release of the said Identification Cards.

As a precautionary measure against violations of the health safety protocols, students can now navigate and visit this website: ueplms.net/studentportal/index.php in ease and convenience.

In this student portal, students are hereby required to follow these procedures to successfully request for ID production

UEP Congratulates 2021 UEPians Board Exam Passers article by

transactions, after logging in to the above-stated portal using username which is the student’s ID number and their birthday as password with the format of mm/dd/ yyyy, upload a scanned copy of a.) student’s 2x2 ID and b.) student’s signature written on a white background, and to claim the ID cards during the set appointment, student must a.) present an authenticated copy of the Certificate of Registration to the ID Printing Office and b.) pay the ID card fee at the Cashier’s Office. P

SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 Three (3) Veterinarians

ANDREW MONTEJO & CHARELLE CATUNHAY SEPTEMBER 16, 2021

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he University of Eastern Philippines rejoiced triumphantly with the new board passers in the College of Engineering, College of Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, and College of Education.

September 8, 2021 - three new Veterinarians namely Dr. Analie L. Balanquit, Dr. Ma. Rhodessa A. Delamide and Dr. Joey Gel D. Pajac passed the Veterinarian Licensure Examination held last August.

September 16, 2021 - the Electrical Engineer Licensure Examination Results was out, fourteen Registered Electrical Engineers from the University earned the title Engineer- Engr.

Shan Ryck Largo who bagged the fifth place as a topnotcher, Engr. Mark Lawrence Capoquian, Engr. Leonil De Guia, Engr.

Charlie Morillo, Engr. Helbert Pajanustan, Engr. Juelrick Rodriguez, Engr. Nelsa Tejano, Engr. Jerome Colocado, Engr.

Ranie Delim, Engr. Nheel Laguitan, Engr. Clyde Obieta, Engr.

Ermon Joseph Petalvo, and Engr. Reinboy Roncales.

November 5, 2021 - one Registered Chemist-Carlo B. Montano and three Registered Chemical TechniciansPrinces Mhajal M. Leonor, Susie M. Orias, and Sem A. Valera made it to Licensure Examinations for Chemists and Chemical Technicians last held in October.

November 26, 2021 - ten new Civil Engineers passed the November Civil Engineer Licensure Examination namely Engr. Donald Entico Abalon, Engr. Jessa Gallardo Charita, Engr. Naome Ortinez Espina, Engr. Aries Unay Poche, Engr.

John Fersal Aleria Sabalza, Engr. Michael James Turla Banawis II, Engr. Aljun Dave Balena Longcop, Engr. Kimberly Loberiano Recare, and Engr. Dorie Joy Opena Somoray.

November 29, 2021 - the College of Education warmly congratulates the new Licensed Professional Teachers last held in September. P

Fourteen (14) Registered Electrical Engineers NOVEMBER 5, 2021 One (1) Chemist and Three (3) Chemical Technicians NOVEMBER 26, 2021 Ten (10) Civil Engineers

NOVEMBER 29, 2021 One hundred (100) Licensed Professional Teachers

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VOLUME 54 | ISSUE NO. 03 NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2021

NEWS

School Campuses Celebrate National Students’ Day

UEP Supports National COVID-19 Vaccination Days

article by

article by ANDREW MONTEJO & CHARELLE CATUNHAY photo taken by ANDREW MONTEJO

ANDREW MONTEJO & CHARELLE CATUNHAY

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ducational institutions celebrated the National Students’ Day or Republic Act No. 11369 last November 17. The Department of Education (DepEd), in coordination with the National Youth Commission (NYC), celebrated this special event to honor the countless and painstaking sacrifices of the students in their meaningful contribution in nation-building. National Students’ Day is conducted through various activities centered in demonstrating the four core values: Maka-Diyos, Maka-tao, Makakalikasan at Makabansa

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n November 29 to December 1, 2021, the University launched the Bayanihan Bakunahan Program as part of the National COVID-19 Vaccination Days held at the UEP Gymnasium that started at 8:00 in the morning.

The University of Eastern Philippines issued Memorandum Order No. 227, Series of 2021 on November 26 directing all the concerned UEP employees, students, and stakeholders to duly accomplish the form for the vaccination roll-out as spearheaded by the Provincial Government of Northern Samar. The available vaccines are Pfizer for the student’s age ranging 12-17 years old and Astrazeneca for 17 years old above.

Furthermore, here are the suggested activities in each core value to be conducted whole day to make it a weeklong celebration: Religious Verse-Sharing Campaign and Religious Gathering under the Maka-Diyos, Solidarity Campaign for Pandemic Frontliners and Oratorical Competition under Maka-Tao, Youth Tambayan Session and Speed Talks about Stories of Passion and Advocacy under Maka-bansa, and Home Gardening and Recycled DIY Crafts Contests under Makakalikasan core value to mention a few.

Meanwhile, all bonafide students can participate in these interactive activities via zoom. P

Furthermore, the said vaccination drive aims to increase the number of vaccinated students, staff and the citizens to protect their safety and well-being against the deadly virus.

Another schedule of vaccination is set in December 15-17, 2021 at the same venue but the update is soon to be given due to the onslaught of Typhoon Odette. P

USC President Addresses

CHED conducts Gawad Parangal 2021 article by

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Letter of re-ID Production to President Ultra

ANDREW MONTEJO & CHARELLE CATUNHAY

article by

ommission on Higher Education (CHED) conducted Gawad Parangal 2021 last December 3, at the Visayas State University, Baybay City, Leyte.

ANDREW MONTEJO & CHARELLE CATUNHAY

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n November 10, 2021, the University of Eastern Philippines Federation of Student Councils (UEP FSC) under the Student Regent and USC Main Campus President Seary Anne Ballicud wrote a letter to the President of the University Cherry Ultra about the issue faced by the students in requesting their identification card.

CHED recognized the considerable and excellent academic feat of the SUCs Board Topnotchers and Unifast TES Grantees with Latin Honors. The UEP Board Topnotchers, Mr. Marc Caesar B. Rosales, who landed 5th place in the 2019 CPA licensure examination and Engr. Shan Ryck L. Largo, who placed 5th place in the Electrical Engineer Examinations received Certificate of Recognition. Moreover, Mr. Marlo Capate Capacio, a TES grantee from UEP Laoang Campus was also given recognition as an epitome of academic excellence, and delivered a heartwarming testimonial on behalf of the Unifast TES Grantees with Latin Honors in Eastern Visayas. P

The Student Regent demanded for a safe implementation of an improved system of the ID production and release as an action-response regarding the circulating reports of the UEPians students risking their health and safety in their desperate pursuit to apply and claim for their identification cards to be used in claiming their scholarship subsidy.

Moreover, the Student Regent emphasized the urgency of speeding-up the ID production transactions of the students while ensuring their safety and their welfare. Afterall, the students are the largest stakeholders of the University and thus, despite the adjustments in this new normal set-up, they all deserve to be treated equally. P Source: University Student Council - UEP Main Campus Facebook Page

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VOLUME 54 | ISSUE NO. 03 NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2021

NEWS FEATURE

UEP eyes F2F classes

article by

TRISHA MAE DOCIL

Source: Northern Samar Provincial Information Office Facebook Page

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ew hope was felt when President Rodrigo Roa Duterte approved the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) request for the expansion of limited face-to-face classes to other degree programs that require hands-on experience in higher education institutions (HEIs) under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).

Prior to this, the Philippines was one of the last two countries in the world that had yet to reopen schools since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the pandemic in March 2020.

The urgent need for hands-on experience and the safety of the students taking up medicine and allied health courses, who were permitted by the national government to conduct limited face-to-face classes since January 2021, is the key for CHED to recommend the expansion proposal.

The Philippine government has been criticized for its pandemic responses, with critics saying that

the school closure in the country reflects misplaced priorities and failed management of the health crisis. For two pandemic school openings, students have been kept at home to study under a largescale distance learning system that has been criticized for its poor implementation.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdia on September 21,2021 issued authority for face-toface activities in the areas of Engineering and Technology programs, Hospitality/ Hotel and Restaurant Management, Tourism / Travel Management, Marine Engineering, and Marine Transportation.

“The Commission thanks President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for the approval of limited face-to-face classes for the said programs in order to contribute to the efforts to boost the economic recovery of the country, as this will directly affect human resource development,” said CHED Chairman Popoy De Vera.

Of the close to 2,000 universities

and colleges, about almost half have already opened the school year while the University of Eastern Philippines will soon start limited face-to-face classes in its College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences programs, including those with laboratory and onthe-job training on the second semester of the present school year, in January 2022. UEP’s proposal to open limited faceto-face classes was approved by the Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force for COVID-19 (PIATF) in its joint meeting with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) on December 14, 2021.

UEP President Dr. Cherry Ultra proposed to the PIATF that UEP be allowed to conduct limited faceto-face classes in January 2022, blended with modular and online class sessions.

“This is necessary to increase the students’ level of knowledge in their chosen fields of endeavor and for an unhampered flow of academic learning,” President Ultra explained.

However, the said proposal gained both positive and negative reactions from the students.

Patrick Mac Dela Pena, 4th year Bachelor of Arts in Literature student, described his experiences on virtual learning as stressful especially that the internet connection in his place is unstable. However, he thinks that conducting a face-to-face at the moment can only harm the safety and health of both students and teachers.

“As a graduating student who had my teaching internship, honestly speaking, I believe conducting faceto-face classes will be an effective way to fulfill the intellectual needs of the students. The re-opening of face-to-face classes will surely equip the students with the necessary learning competencies and intellectual needs. I witnessed some of my students commit to academic crimes such as cheating and plagiarism. Thus, a manifestation that they rely too much on the internet or even abandon their academic duties and virtues. These actions should

not be tolerated and must be addressed even if we are in a virtual setup. On the other hand, we are still in the pandemic and we cannot discount its effects to the health of the students. Even though the reopening of face-to-face classes will cater intellectual needs, what’s the use if the students are distressed, terrified, and frightened every time they go to school? Or worse infected? Given the fact that there are increasing number of cases here in our province,” Dela Pena explained.

Since the pandemic broke out, Northern Samar has already recorded 4,165 confirmed cases, including 3,890 recoveries, and 99 deaths. As of January 14 2022, the province has 17 active cases.

Currently, UEP is implementing a flexible management learning system to sustain the academic needs of the students wherein it includes conducting online classes and distributing module academic materials.

Hannah Ros A. Quitorio, 4th year Bachelor of Science in Nursing

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VOLUME 54 | ISSUE NO. 03 NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2021

NEWS FEATURE

For two pandemic school openings, students have been kept at home to study under a large-scale distance learning system that has been criticized for its poor implementation.

student, said that the distance learning is challenging for her but it taught her to become independent and to have her own eureka moments upon learning and understanding new things.

“It is very challenging, in the sense that you have to maximize the available resources such as the availability of strong internet connection, functional gadgets at home and the financial budget for the Wi-Fi load and mobile data.

However, this new mode of learning provided opportunity to become agile amidst this pandemic. Change causes uncertainty that can make everyone feel anxious but the best compensatory mechanism for me is by facing it instead of running away from it,” she added.

In an advisory dated January 10, 2022 signed by CHED chair Prospero De Vera III, CHED announced that the limited faceto-face classes for all programs in areas under Alert Level 3 will start on Jan. 31, 2022.

To Michaela P. Candole, a 4th year Bachelor of Science in Business Administration student, her journey in fulfilling her academic responsibilities during the new mode of learning is rocky and unsteady.

“Everything was difficult at first because I was still on my adjustment stage. But as time went by, I just learned how to live with it. All I can do right now is to survive and still give my best on my studies even if sometimes it is mentally draining already. I just kept telling myself

to work hard and remain strong because no matter how bad the situation is, life goes on,” Candole added.

Amidst the continuous attack of the pandemic, UEP is still ensuring that students are still learning by implementing new normal mode of learning rules such as, establishing municipal links wherein students who live far away from the university can still pass their requirements even without traveling. Moreover, the university has various Facebook pages that give legitimate information to the students regarding the plans of the institution.

real life situations,” Prof. Esmena explained.

However, according to Prof. Jianne Ricci Galit, with the surge in COVID-19 cases again, it is not safe to resume face-to-face classes.

“I don’t think it’s okay to resume face-to-face classes.

While undoubtedly face-to-face classes are the more effective way to teach and to learn, the welfare of everyone should be put first. Considering how difficult and expensive it is to treat illnesses in our country, no amount of learning at schools

could outweigh the possible costs, financial and physical, of being sick should we contract a serious case of COVID-19. I think the possibility of face-to-face classes should only be revisited once cases go down again, and hopefully even then the administration would still ensure a safe space for all the staff and students, ensure that health protocols will be strictly observed and that science-backed approaches, like proper ventilation, will be followed,” Prof. Galit added.

As of now, students are still waiting for the concrete plan

Educator like Prof. Ferdinand Esmena, believes that his students still learn from him despite the new mode of delivering education but he still thinks that face-to-face classes should be implemented despite the pandemic but the institution should make sure that all the safety protocols are being observed always.

“I mean, it may not all of them but I believe that 85% of them learned well not only based on the learning activity sheets but because of the answers that they had whenever we have recitations through google meet. What I have done was I always give some additional input like videos to be sent to them to aid with the learning materials that they need. I message them if they have problem or questions about the topic. I am making myself available whenever they have questions through chat. And I made sure that they can apply our topic in

Source: Northern Samar Provincial Information Office Facebook Page

of the university regarding the proper implementation of the said proposal.

Governor Edwin Marino C. Ongchuan pledged support to the Ligtas Balik Eskwela initiative of UEP, leading others in signing the Pledge of Commitment and Support. Mayors Galahad Vicencio, Don Abalon, Edito Saladuga, Gerardo Miranda and Leo Jarito also gave their support, along with the provincial health officer Dr. Nimfa Kam, and DOH provincial officer Rommel Francisco. P

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VOLUME 54 | ISSUE NO. 03 NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2021

KULTURA

Trigger Warning: Depression, Suicide

Rosaryo at Dugo article by

EMMANUEL CAYOCYOC

dibuho ni

CYRIL ROBIATO

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angingilid ang mga luha ni Noel at nangangatal sa bawat pagsambit ng Aba Ginoong Maria.

Napupuno nang paghingi ng kapatawaran ang kaniyang mga dalangin habang nakatingala sa imahen ng Immaculada Concepcion sa loob ng Katedral. Mahigit ilang buwan niya na itong ginagawa. Sa bawat linggo ninanais niyang ilaan ang oras sa pagdarasal hindi upang magdebosyon kundi para palipasin ang oras.

Mga debotong Katoliko ang pamilya ni Noel. Tindera ng gulay sa palengke ang kanyang ina at isang pedicab driver naman ang kanyang ama. Pilit na ipinagkakasya ang kakarampot na kita upang buhayin siya at anim pang nakababatang kapatid. Subalit sa likod ng masadlak na pamumuhay, iminulat sila ng kanilang mga magulang na patatagin ang kanilang pananampalataya.

Nagbago ang takbo ng mundo dahil sa pandemyang dulot ng Covid 19. Sa loob ng tatlong taon, laman pa rin ng balita

ang mabagal na usad ng pamahalaan upang pangalagaan ang mga mahihirap na tulad ni Noel. Tumumal ang kita ng kanyang ina sa palengke at tumigil sa pamamasada ng pedicab ang kanyang ama magmula noong nagpositibo ito sa Covid.

Naging mahirap ang takbo ng edukasyon ni Noel at ng kanyang mga mas nakababatang kapatid. Upang makatulong sa araw-araw na gastusin, kumuha ng mga sideline si Noel habang nag-aaral ng kolehiyo. Nagsusumikap siya na makapag-sumite ng kaniyang academic requirements at makakuha ng mataas na marka sa mga pagsusulit. May mga panahon rin na nahuhuli siya sa mga aralin dahil sa kinakailangan niyang mag-overtime sa kanyang trabaho.

Ngunit sa kabila ng lahat, tangan niya ang panalangin na makakaraos siya at makakapagtapos ng kolehiyo ngayong taon.

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VOLUME 54 | ISSUE NO. 03 NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2021

Mananatiling mabagal ang usad ng lipunan kung hindi bibigyan ng karapatan ang mga mag-aaral na pagyabungin ang kanilang kritikal na pananaw at pagtibayin ang kanilang mga paninindigan.

Misteryo ng Tuwa Magmula noong nagsimula ang buwan ng Disyembre, nagpaalam si Noel sa kanyang mga magulang na hindi na muna siya makakauwi dahil kasagsagan na naman ng holiday season. Sayang naman raw ang kikitain sa bawat overtime. Abala din siya sa mga requirement at exam ng kanilang unibersidad kahit kasagsagan na ng Christmas Break. Pakiwari ng kanyang ina na umuwi sa Pasko upang magkasalo sa Noche Buena ngunit hindi kayang ipangako ni Noel dahil sa pangamba na mas magiging mahigpit ang protocol ng kanilang bayan.

Makikita mula sa siwang ng bintana nila Noel ang makukulay na parol sa bawat tahanan. Maliwanag ang lansangan hindi dahil sa mga palamuting Christmas Lights kundi dahil sa ilaw ng mga rumorondang sasakyan ng mga pulis. Habang nanunood ng Banal na Misa sa telebisyon, hindi maiwasan ng kaniyang ina na dumungaw sa pintuan upang siya ay salubungin. Sumapit ang hatinggabi at ni anino ni Noel ay hindi nasilayan.

Sa muling pagdungaw ng ina ni Noel, tumambad sa kanya ang tatlong lalaki na bumaba mula sa tricycle na may nakasulat na Gabriel. Ang dalawa sa kanila ay may dalang kahon at ang isa naman ay mga bag ng kaniyang anak.

Bago pa man magsalita ang ginang, bumati ng maligayang ang isang lalaki at sinabing “huwag ho kayong matakot sa sasabihin ko, may dala ho kaming balita.”

Sa sandaling iyon, tanging ang hagulgol ng ina ni Noel ang nangibabaw sa gitna ng tahimik na gabi.

Misteryo ng Hapis Laman ng social media ang pagpapatiwakal ng isang working student. Depresyon na nag-ugat sa kahirapan ng buhay ang itinuturong dahilan ngunit mariin itong

KULTURA

pinapabulaanan ng pamilya ni Noel dahil alam nila na matibay ang pananampalataya nito sa Panginoon.

Mananatiling misteryo ang kamatayan kung hindi lilitaw ang katotohanan.

post sa kanilang social media account ang mga pangakong dayalogo sa pagitan ng university administration at faculty ngunit magpasa-hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin natutuldukan.

Lumipas ang ilang araw, may mga screenshot ng pag-uusap ni Noel at ng kaniyang propesor ang kumalat sa social media.

Napag-alaman na hindi pinayagan si Noel na magsumite ng kaniyang requirements kahit nahuli lamang ito ng ilang minuto. Sa kabila ng kaniyang pakiusap, binantaan pa itong hindi makakapagtapos ngayong taon.

Kung mananatiling pasibo, atrasado, at duwag ang mga student council ng bawat pamantasan, sino ang unang magtatanggol sa mga estudyanteng pinangakuan nila ng boses at proteksyon noong halalan?

Misteryo ng Luwalhati Kilala ang propesor na ito sa pagiging terror pagdating sa mga mag-aaral. Sa tuwing late, singko. Kung wala kang laptop o malakas na internet connection, mag-drop ka.

Maraming estudyante ang tikom ang bibig dahil sa takot na ibagsak sila sa kanilang klase.

Kalbaryo kung ituring ng mga estudyante’t guro ang mahinang internet connection sa bansa. Ayon sa sa Speedtest Global Index noong Nobyembre 2021, may 18.68 mbps lamang ang Pilipinas pagdating sa mobile broadband at 46.44 mbps naman sa fixed broadband. Ang internet speed ng bansa ay nahuhuli pa rin sa mga karatig bansa nito sa Southeast Asia tulad ng Thailand, Vietnam at Singapore.

Ayon rin sa pananaliksik na isinagawa ng Social Weather Stations (SWS) noong Nobyembre 2020, 58 percent ng mga mag-aaral na may edad 5 hanggang 20 ang gumagamit ng gadget tulad ng smartphone at laptop samantalang 42 percent naman ang hindi.

Sa mga bilang na ito, hindi pa ba sapat ang awa at konsiderasyon para sa mga estudyante na kabilang sa mababang bahagdan gaya ni Noel? Kailangan bang may buhay na mawala para makita ang katotohanang ito?

Nakasulat sa Bibliya, sa Gawa 2:1-4, na isang dilang apoy ang nagpahinga sa ulo ng mga apostol at sila’y pinagkalooban ng kakayahan na makapagsalita ng iba’t ibang wika at maka panggamot ng mga may sakit. Magmula noon, nagtungo sila sa iba’t ibang panig ng mundo upang ipalaganap ang Mabuting Balita.

Lumipas ang ilang libong taon, hindi man tayo pinagkalooban ng kakayahan tulad ng mga apostol, may kapangyarihan pa rin tayong tumindig at lumaban para sa pambansang minorya. Katuwang ng teknolohiya at social media, maari tayong maging tagapagpalaganap ng katotohanan at kabutihan. Ngunit salungat ito sa kasalukuyang sitwasyon.

Ang kamatayan ni Noel ay nabaon na sa limot gaya ng kanyang mga pangarap na binuo sa kandili ng kaniyang ina. Hindi na pinag-uusapan sa social media ang trahedya.

Napalitan ito ng mga usong sayaw sa Tiktok, bagong memes, at mga diskusyon sa pagitan ng mga estudyanteng nag-aagawan ng jowa.

Wala na ring balita mula sa unibersidad ni Noel. Ang student council naman, nabubuhay lang kung panahon ng enrolment o kung may mga panibagong achievement ang pamantasan.

May mga estudyante pa rin na dumadaing sa sistema ng edukasyon sa panahon ng pandemya.

Misteryo ng Liwanag Walang gabi na hindi nakatitig ang ina ni Noel sa kanilang maliit na altar. Sinasabayan ng kanyang tingin ang bawat galaw ng apoy ng kandila habang pautal-utal na sinasambit ang Ama Namin. Matapos manalangin ay pupunasan ang larawan ng anak at itatabi ito sa piling ng mga santo sa kanilang payak na altar.

Mahigit isang buwan na rin magmula noong namayapa si Noel. Marahil inaagnas na sa lupa ang kanyang katawan ngunit sariwa pa rin para sa kanyang ina ang mga sugat ni Noel sa kanyang pulso.

Mananatiling mabagal ang usad ng lipunan kung hindi bibigyan ng karapatan ang mga mag-aaral na pagyabungin ang kanilang kritikal na pananaw at pagtibayin ang kanilang mga paninindigan. Sa katunayan, malaking tagumpay ng isang pamantasan ang magsilang ng isang supling na kayang gamitin ang kanyang kaalaman sa mga diskusyong panlipunan. Ang pagbusal sa bibig ng mga mag-aaral ang magiging dahilan upang dumami ang bilang ng mga gaya ni Noel.

Salve Regina!

Kahit kinitil ni Noel ang sariling buhay, naniniwala ang kaniyang ina na ang maling sistema ng unibersidad ang pumatay sa kanyang anak. Ngunit matapos ang ilang pormal na reklamong kanyang inihain sa pamantasan, hindi pa rin ito umuusad.

Hindi sapat na manatiling maluwalhati ang katatagan ng mga Pilipino sa gitna ng unos kung wala man lang hakbang na inilalatag ang pamahalaan na tulong. Ginagamit nilang kasangkapan ang pananampalataya ng isang tao upang pagsilbihan ang kanilang sariling interes.

Maliban sa kanyang ina, idinulog rin ng mga estudyante sa kanilang Student Council ang suliraning kinakaharap sa mga abusadong propesor. Karamihan sa mga ito ay mga reklamo patungkol sa hindi makatuwiran na pagbigay ng marka, at pagiging manhid sa daing ng mga mag-aaral.

Ngunit sa kabila ng mga hinaing, walang konkretong tugon ang kanilang Student Council. Mababasa sa kanilang mga

Ang kuwento ni Noel ay isa lamang sa mga kuwento ng bawat Pilipinong mahihirap na pinagkaitan ng pagkakataon na mangarap dahil sa mapaniil at mapagmalabis na sistema.

Makailang ulit man tayo sa pagdarasal ng Santo Rosaryo o mamanata sa mga santo’t santa, kung hindi man lang natin kayang tumindig para sa mga gaya ni Noel, tayo mismo ang naglalagay ng dugo sa sarili nating mga kamay. P

8-9 FEATURE

2022 article by

ANGELICA PAJARES

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urprises.

Political striptease. Substitutions.

These had dominated the topsy-turvy days of the filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) and certificates of nomination and acceptance (CONA) for the 2022 national elections. Sudden changes along with expected political moves bombarded the daily news during that period - an electoral drama that could pass as those cliché soap operas. With all the twists and turns, the aspirants gunning for the country’s top positions showed that the element of surprise is no longer the sideshow, it’s the main event.

Let us have a recap of the happenings during the filing of COCs and CONAs for the muchawaited 2022 elections. *grabs popcorn

Changes due to COVID The pandemic was taken into utmost consideration in the implementation of rules and guidelines of COC filing this year.

The Commission on Elections had set up a tent outside Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Pasay City to provide more space for the event as compared to the Comelec headquarters in Manila. To avoid overcrowding, the following rules were implemented: • Those running for president, vice president, and senator were allowed to have three companions.

• One official and a companion, who is not the nominee, were allowed to file for a partylist group.

illustration by CYRIL ROBIATO

• Candidates for local posts were allowed to be accompanied by two people when they file their COC in local Comelec offices.

Aside from these, rules were laid out in consonance to health protocols and safety standards which include: • Aspirants for the positions of president, vice president, and senator were required to present a negative RT-PCR test or antigen test result. The test must be taken within the last 24 hours prior to the filing of COC or CONA. • A negative RT-PCR or antigen test result was also required from authorized representatives of the candidates, Comelec personnel, security forces from the police and military as well as media covering the event.

• All persons were required to wear face masks and face shields while inside the Comelec premises.

• Comelec also required temperature checks and health declaration forms.

• All candidates and authorized representatives were also asked to bring their own pen.

Rematch?

The whole nation went abuzz as another Marcos-Robredo face-off is about to happen for the 2022 election upon their filing of COCs vying for the presidency. It can be recalled that Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. lost his bid for the vice presidency against Leni Robredo in 2016 making the latter dubbed by analysts as a political

VOLUME 54 | ISSUE NO. 03 NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2021

Filings of COC and CONA: A Soap Opera?

Cinderella with her win. The result was ardently challenged by Marcos Jr. and a recount was done, but Robredo’s gap even increased much to his dismay.

Bong-bong filed his certificate of candidacy for president on October 5, 2021. On that same day, an emergency alert SMS which contained the words “BBM sa bansa, BBM sa taong bayan, BBM sa Masa. BBM Pilipinas!!!” was received by several people within the Comelec venue. The National Telecommunications Commission prompted an investigation about this occurrence. The Marcos camp has denied any involvement in the said alert, and the sender’s identity remains unknown.

Meanwhile, Vice President Leni Robredo - after being silent on her plans for the 2022 elections, finally declared and filed her candidacy in October 7 vying for the highest position in the national government. It also came out as a surprise when Robredo announced that she will not run as the standard-bearer of Liberal Party but as an independent candidate.

Robredo donned a pink ribbon on the day she filed her COC, and a pink top when she announced that her running mate is Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan. As a sign of support, various social media sites were flooded with posts using pink highlights and undertones.

Their “rematch” is becoming more heated with petitions for Bongbong Marcos’ COC to be rejected by Comelec over alleged non-disclosure of a material fact regarding his conviction for violating the Internal Revenue

Code. Petitions were citing that Bongbong did not disclose in his COC that he was convicted on all four counts of criminal violations of the Revised Internal Revenue Code when he was Ilocos Norte governor, and with that, he must be disqualified.

Bato, Bato Pick On the last day of filing of COC, Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa filed his COC for president under the banner of Cusi wing PDP-Laban.

People were quick to speculate that Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte might replace Bato as PDP-Laban standard-bearer.

Dela Rosa said, “I will not say anything final. Everything is possible. As long as the process of substitution is legal, I think it should not be questioned. Anything can happen.”

“As I have said, it is hard to pretend but we are still waiting the final decision. If Inday Sara wants to run for president, I am open and willing to give way to her.”

It turns out Sara had her own surprise moves up her sleeves. In the end, Bato withdrew his COC for presidency for good.

Like Father, Like Daughter Presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte had repeatedly denied that she will be running as president. On October 2, she filed for reelection as mayor of Davao City.

“I have been honored with the gift of trust and respect of many of our fellow Filipinos. Thank you to everyone who have expressed their support. Many of you do not know me and yet you carry me over your shoulders.”, she said regarding calls for her to run as president.

However, the winds changed when she withdrew her COC for mayor: a move deemed by many as The Duterte Game in politics. In 2015, Rodrigo Duterte filed his COC for president and replaced Martin Diño, the initial standard-bearer of PDP-Laban. Inday Sara became silent about her plans after her withdrawal which made the people wondering as to what will be her next move. She then replaced Lyle Uy for vice president on November 13.

The Go-Duterte Show Christopher “Bong” Go initially filed a COC for vice president but he withdrew when the president urged him to do so after Sara announced that she will be running as a vice-presidential candidate. Then, he entered as a substitute candidate for president on November 13 under Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS), a faction of PDP-Laban. Meanwhile, Rodrigo Duterte originally accepted the nomination of Cusi wing as PDP-Laban’s vice-presidential candidate. On the second day of COC filing, he announced that he was withdrawing his acceptance.

On November 15, he replaced Liezl Vizorde for senator. His daughter, Sara, expressed her support for his candidacy. She named him

at the top of a list of presidential aspirants whom she will endorse in her team-up with Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. Yet, the twists and turns were not yet over. President Rodrigo Duterte and Bong Go have withdrawn their candidacy on November 15 and November 13 as senator and president, respectively. Go told the reporters that his heart and mind are resisting running for president. According to acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles, Duterte had withdrawn his candidacy to focus on the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The president believes that withdrawing from the senate race will allow him to better focus on managing our pandemic response in order to sustain the progress we have made in the country and in safely reopening the country,” he stated.

The schedule for the substitution period varies per election season.

For the 2022 elections, if a candidate withdraws, dies, or is disqualified by final judgment, a substitute candidate can file their COC by November 15, 2021. This COC will reflect the name of the substitute. November 15 is also the last day for substituting of party-list nominees who withdraw.

After November 15, substitution is allowed only if: • The candidate dies.

• The candidate is disqualified.

The substitute cvad seen this film before. For 2022, are we going to have the same ending? P

Nograles also said that the president “plans to retire from government to spend more time with his family when his term ends in June 2022.”

A Surge of Substitutions According to Rappler, under Comelec rules, political parties and coalitions that field a candidate can choose to substitute that candidate if one of three things happen after COC filing: • The candidate dies.

• The candidate withdraws.

• The candidate is disqualified by the Comelec.

The Filipino people had seen this film before.

For 2022, are we going to have the same ending?

10

VOLUME 54 | ISSUE NO. 03 NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2021

KULTURA

M

ay iba’t ibang uri ng opresyon—may lantaran at may patago. Relasyon ng aba at ng mga makapangyarihan—magsasaka at panginoong may lupa, trabahante’t amo, manggagawa’t kapitalista, estudyante’t guro.

Ikatlong taon na ni Iska sa kolehiyo, pangalawang semestre. Kaunting kembot na lang at malapit na n’yang matapos ang mga kalbaryo ng pagkaestudyante.

Tahimik, kimi, walang pakialam sa nakakastress na kompetisyon sa akademiko, ngunit consistent dean’s lister. Isa lang naman ang hangad niya—makapagtapos nang may latin na karangalan, para sa special eligibility, malinis na track record, at kaaya-ayang TOR. Mas madali kang tanggapin sa trabaho kapag nakapagtapos kang meron ang lahat ng ito. Kung kaya’t hindi sapat sa kaniya ang pasado, kailangang mataas at pasok sa requirement ng pagiging academic scholar ang lahat ng kaniyang grado. Sa kabila nito’y may isang bagay din siyang lihim na ipinagmamalaki—labas siya sa sistema ng akademikong prostitusyon, ni minsa’y hindi siya humalik sa p’wetan ng mga propesor para sa mataas na grado.

Kagaya nga ng naunang sabi, may iba’t ibang uri ng opresyon.

Nararanasan ito sa lahat ng institusyon mula sa tahanan, unibersidad, trabaho, miski sa loob ng templo ng panginoon.

Isang linggo bago magtapos ang ikalawang semestre, binulaga si Iska ng tumatagingting na 2.25 sa kaniyang report of grades, mula sa isang minor subject na ni hindi nga nila naramdaman ang presensya ng nakaatas na propesor. 2.25, lahat sila. Higit dalawampung estudyante, pare-parehong grado.

Matunog na ang pangalan ng nasabing propesor sa kaparehong isyu. Ngunit sabi naman ng adviser nila, “tingali man nagbag-o na,” at kung magkaproblema raw ay nariyan naman siya upang tulungan sila. Ito naman ang pinanghawakan ni Iska. Hindi naman niya akalaing ganoon kalala ang saltik ng nasabing propesor. Kung susumahin, mas maayos pa ang mga sagot niya sa

walong simpleng mga tanong mula sa dalawang modyul na ibinahagi sa kanila para sa asignatura, kaysa sa mga sagot niya sa mga asignaturang matataas tuloy ang grado niya. Higit din ang sikap na inilaan niya upang personal na maipasa ang mga sagot niya sa bahay ng nasabing propesor sa kabila ng inilabas na memo ng unibersidad na nagbabawal sa pisikal na pagpapapasa ng mga academic requirements dahil sa panganib na dala ng pandemya.

Sinubukang makiusap ng klase kay propesor, pakumbabang itinanong kung ano ang maaaring gawin upang mabago ang kanilang mga grado. Sagot ay “Wara. Waray gad sa ak makakauno.” Na sa pananaw ni Iska, at marahil ng buong klase, ay insulto sa lahat ng pagsusumikap nila upang maging mabuting mga estudyante.

Maliban sa iniisip niyang makahahatak ito sa GWA niya, hindi niya sukat isiping lantaran silang pagdidiskitahan ng sana’y tagapaghatid ng de-kalidad na edukasyon.

Kahit dama na ng masa ang opresyon, madalas ay wala silang kibo. Iilan lang ang may lakas ng loob upang isatinig ang kanilang mga hinaing at interes—iyong may hawak din gaano man katiting na kapangyarihan na rerepresenta sa kanila.

Sinubukan ni Iska na humingi ng tulong sa isa pa nilang propesor.

Humingi ng payo sa kung ano ang maaari nilang gawin. Maaari raw silang sumulat ng reklamo, ng petisyon, kung nanaisin. Subalit kaakibat nitong payo ay ang pagdidiskumpiyansa sa kaniyang gawin ang nasabing suhestiyon.

Hayaan na lang daw. Mahahatak naman daw ng iba pa niyang grado ang nag-iisang 2.25 na iyon. Hindi lang iyon ang isyu. Sa isip-isip niya. Ang isyu ay ang hindi niya pagiging patas, ang pagdidiskita niya sa mga studyanteng alam niyang hindi iimik dahil hawak niya sa leeg.

mabahaw ang isyu. Parang mga trapong politikong gumagalaw hindi para sa masa kung hindi’y para sa mga pansariling interes.

Mga bahag ang buntot kapag ang kapakanan na ng nasasakupan ang pinag-uusapan.

Ilang linggo pa ang lumipas, nabago ang kanilang mga grado.

Napatanga si Iska sa lista ng bago nilang mga grado. Halatadong dinoktor, marahil dahil PhD nga naman ang propesor.

Matunog na ang pangalan ng nasabing propesor sa kaparehong isyu, kung kaya’t nakapagtataka kung bakit hindi pa ito nabibigyan ng kaukulang parusa. Isip-isip ni Iska. Marahil ay may kasalanan din siya. Hindi na dapat siya naghintay pang iba ang kumilos.

Ngayo’y ilang estudyante pa kaya ang magkakanda baliw sa kaiisip kung paano sosolusyunan ang kaparehong isyu sa hinaharap dahil sa pagpapabaya niya. P

“Kadaramo talaga san mga palingki nga propesor didi sa UEP,” bulalas niya.

Ang huli nilang alas ay ang mga opisyal ng kanilang klase—mga piling estudyanteng ang layon ay dinggin ang mga hinaing at isakatuparan ang interes ng kanilang mga kamag-aral. Ito ang pinanghawakan ni Iska.

Ang ideyang may magsasalita para sa kanila sa kabila ng pambubusal ng mga taong sana’y kanilang kakampi. Ngunit ang kahuli-hulihang pag-asang ito’y nauwi lamang sa wala.

Walang umimik sa tinaguriang class representatives. Hinayaang

Siraulo artikulo by

WINDEL JOY CLERIGO

dibuho ni

WENDY LYNNE SORIO

11

VOLUME 54 | ISSUE NO. 03 NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2021

KULTURA

article by

NIÑO ANTHONY PETALBO

dibuho ni

JIMBERT DULAY

P

ulang-pula ang mga pisngi at labi na para bang pinagpiyestahan

nakasanayan, sinimulan niya ang

-mga sintomas na noon ay akala

man niya ay maikling palda at

kanyang pagbebenta ng laman.

kanyang trabaho; nanghagilap ng

niyang epekto lang ng pagod

hapit na hapit na blouse, hindi pa

Ngunit kahit gaano man niya isipin

mga dumadaang uhaw sa laman.

hanggang sa makita niya ang

rin maipagkakaila na ang hubog

ng mga bubuyog ang kanyang

ang posibleng kalbaryo sa sarili at

Sabik. Mga tigreng sa isang tapik

patalastas sa telebisyong tumpak

katawan niya ay matigas at di

mukha.

malalago

sa iba, hinding-hindi niya mabura

o himas lang tiyak na kakagat. Sa

na naikumpara ang kanyang mga

malumanay. Ito ay mamasel masel

ang mga pilikmata na para bang

kaganapang ito, hindi ang sakit at

karamdaman

ng

at di perpektong malambot. Kaya

ang katotohanang siya lang ang

dinapuan ng mga gagamba. Buhok

pagod na iniinda ang tumutukoy

HIV. “Ang HIV ay nagpapahina sa

sa kanyang pagpasok sa health

niya’y para bagang umaalon sa

ng oras sa pag uwi. Kumita lang ng

resistensya ng tao sa pamamagitan

center, binulaga siya ng mga

haba at kintab. Ito ang kadalasang

saradong anim na libo, sapat na.

ng pag atake sa mga cells na

taong ang mga mata’y nagbabaga

lumalaban

antigens.

sa pandidiri. Papalapit pa lamang

nito

Maiitim

at

hitsura niya sa tuwing dadalo ng

sa

sa

sintomas

mga

pageant sa kanilang barangay.

Naghihilab at namamaga. Pagod

Kadalasang

ay

siya sa HIV testing area, tinawag

Kinakailangan niya ang perang

at

na

lagnat, sakit ng ulo, skin rashes,

na siya ng nurse, “Sir! Sir! Sir!

mapapanalunan.

naman. Sa pag uwi, may sayang

at sore throat. Sa kasalukuyan,

Magpapatest ho ba kayo?” At iyon

dinadala dahil alam niyang sa

siyamnapu’t-anim

ang huling pagkakataong umapak

isa

Kinakailangan

niyang rumampa at “rumaket.”

durog.

na

porsyento

pagkakataon,

(96%) ng mga nagpositibo ay lalake

may maihahain siyang pagkain

at tatlong porsyento (3%) sa kanila

pangunahing hakbang lamang sa

sa harap ng kanyang ina at

ay tinuturing ang sarili bilang babae

Noong nalaman niyang positibo

kabuuan niyang pinagkakakitaan.

apat na mga kapatid na walang

(transgender

siya

Natapos na ang patimpalak. Dala

ibang inaasahan kundi siya lang.

tatandaan na bukas ang mga health

magbabago na ang reyalidad ng

ang titulo at ang tatlong libong

Sa istoryang ito, tahanan ang

centers para sa libreng HIV tests

kanyang buhay. Tinawagan siya

pisong

ang

pageant

napanalunan.

Best

namang

sanay

ay

Ngunit,

na

Subalit

sintomas

women).

Laging

si Stacey sa sentro.

sa

HIV,

niyang

in

pahinga, subalit tahanan din ang

at ‘wag kalilimutan na sa labang

ng pinagtratrabahuang cafeteria

Evening Gown. Face of the Night. ‘Di

imbakan ng sikretong limang taon

ito, karamay mo kami,” ika ng

kinabukasan.

nga lang nagcrown. Tagaktak ang

nang tinatago ng transwoman na si

tagapagpahayag sa TV.

manager, “May mga taong hindi

pawis. Napawi na ang mamula-

Stacey.

mulang kolorete. Natutunaw na

at mga nakababatang kapatid.

Kung ang kapalit lamang ng pagbuhay niya sa kanyang pamilya ay ang kawalan ng kasiguraduhan ng sarili niyang buhay, handanghanda siyang kumapit sa patalim lalo

pa’t

natanto

niyang

sa

mga katulad niya, ang butas ng karayom na lamang ang laki ng

natiyak

Ika

kinakapitan ng kanyang magulang

ng

kanilang

makakaintindi sa sitwasyon mo Sa kaba at takot, dumako siya sa

kaya mas maigi nalang na ipull-

oportunidad ng isang normal at masaganang buhay.

Kung

hanggang

kailan

siya

mananatiling malakas at matatag, iyan ang tanong na kailanma’y di masasagot ni Stacey. Ang alam lang niya ay mahalagang may napakain, may napaaral, at may nabuhay siya. Kung hindi na

ang maskara. Ayos lang at alam

Limang taon nang positive sa

kanilang health center nang puno

out kita. Mabuti na rin ito nang sa

niyang sa madilim na eskinitang

Human Immunodeficiency Virus

ng pag-asa sapagkat iyon ang

gayon ay makapagpahinga ka. May

niya masilayan ang pag-asang

kanya

(HIV) si Stacey. Saksi ang kanyang

nais ipabatid sa mga anunsiyo ng

mga papeles kang pepermahan

mamuhay nang malaya at masaya,

ngayong

dinadaanan, at

mga unan at dingding sa kwarto

ahensiyang pangkalusugan. Ika

bukas.” Sa mga pagkakataong

hindi

ng

sa mga panghihina, pamamaga,

ng mga ito, hindi dapat matakot,

iyon, tinanong niya sa kanyang

din ang maranasan ng kanyang

karisma at diskarte. At katulad ng

at lagnat na patago niyang ininda-

may kaagapay ang lahat. Suot

sarili kung itutuloy pa ba niya ang

pamilya. P

hindi

labanan

pagrampa.

ng

Labanan

ganda ito

* hindi niya tunay na pangalan

niya

hahayaang

ganoon

12

VOLUME 54 | ISSUE NO. 03 NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2021

OPINION

The Cards in the Game Called Toxic Instruction article by

NIÑO ANTHONY PETALBO

A

recurring metaphor of tertiary educators’ role is to guide the students to the fountain of knowledge so that the latter can decide if they are going to take a sip or take a drink from it. Although this nobly aims for development, it does not always manifest in reality. This is because instead of guiding the students to the fountain, some teachers lead them to loss. And in this venture, such teachers pack in their bags a set of alibis they use to romanticize and deny their incompetence.

It’s-Your-Future-Not-Ours Card

I-Have-600-Students-to-Assist Card

It has been said many times. In college, teachers neither babysit students nor present themselves as best friends.

Here, learners are trained to be independent and disciplined because it is their own future that is at stake. This manifests whenever instructors include items in examinations that were not given in activities and examples or whenever they mark dishonest students zero on their tests. Such initiatives push learners beyond their boundaries so they do not settle on what is easy and fast because in reality, the world will try to extract every motivation and resource from everyone, so it is pivotal that they are taught of resourcefulness, honesty, and maturity.

We all know that one of the struggles of teachers is that they attend to students from many sections or colleges.

They may have difficulty especially when classes are done on social media where technical aberrations abound.

Other than this, having many loads at once means having many outputs to check and having as many questions to entertain. The good thing is that this problem is not new to them anymore. They know that they are destined to encounter this battle. Thus, using this as a reason for dysfunction reflects lack of dynamism. Unfortunately, this is exactly what occurred recently. Students receive little to no constructive feedback on a plethora of outputs they are required to create. Corrections and scores for tests are rarely distributed. Students acquire ratings only when it is already for their final grades. Then, it is too late for improvement.

While this belief is proven to provide benefits, it is not always used in good ways. Education amidst the new normal has exposed many instructors who take this for granted. Just by scrutinizing their modules, we can infer the lack of eagerness to present understandable and relatable ideas. They copy their materials from the internet without contextualization thereby promoting information and scenarios coming from other countries or cultures. On top of such ineffective learning resources is the lack of innovative strategies. The reality is that many teachers only appear in class group chats either for attendance or to send modules.

No discussion of topics happens and there is no allotted time for vindicating queries. If this is their means of instilling independence, then it is not working. Just because it is the loss of the students if they do not learn does not mean that teachers are to stay idle and wait for the miracle that someday, all students will have one learning style to meet the curriculum objectives by themselves.

In the midst of this scenario, it cannot be denied that hiring more teachers may help however, while it is still being realized, it would be effective for teachers to limit the number of requirements they give to students. Through this, they can fortify quality over quantity and focus on what actually matters—giving students the corrections and criticisms they need to grow.

You’re-Still-a-Student-Card Humility is fundamental. That is one of the things the university aims to prove. It seems that grounding a student at their core is important so they see where they are and how much effort they still need to exert to arrive at their life destinations. On that note, teachers constantly tell learners that they are far from their goals and for them to be successful, they have to start from their worst.

Reminding students of their current placement in the academe is instrumental in molding lifelong individuals had it not been for some instructors who, instead of instilling humility, are going over the line by invalidating student sufferance and emotions. What if instead of showing learners the endless opportunities and challenges for them to conquer, their position is used against their freedom to speak up and be heard?

For teachers, one means to reflect would be asking themselves how many students they witnessed saying no in front of them. If there is few to none that they can remember, then there must be an existing problem. The school must not be likened to a circus where animals are trained to perform out of fear. A school must be a breeding ground of healthy relationships where everyone, regardless of their position and achievements, feel comfortable enough to be vocal. It must be a place where emotions and sentiments are recognized just as much as inevitable flaws. After all, there is so much more to the institution than cognitive triumph.

By acknowledging the existence and value of students, we keep emotional and social health alive to fuel personal development.

Overall, there is no denying of the ill effects of poor instruction. It is an issue in dire need of treatment for even the smallest number of detriments begets tremendous impact. A life and future of a student devastated under poor instruction must never be deemed irrelevant simply because of its inclusion in the minority. Likewise, the persistence of excuses disables educators to see their fellows who push personal limitations and uphold an open mind to raise the banner of university integrity. Sometimes, these undesirable phenomena are proof that behind the image of excellence the school promotes are many internal lapses that are only covered and not solved. P

13

VOLUME 54 | ISSUE NO. 03 NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2021

OPINION

Blended Learning Amid Blended Struggles:

A CALL FOR A CHANGE T

he “New Normal” caused varied trigger points that affected the lives of people around the world, especially those who belong to the field of education. Passive individuals view its causes as simple phenomena, but for students, such factors are an arduous challenge to deal with.

Considering that college life requires extra effort and enough quality time, we differ in terms of learning curves, strategies, creativity, mental, and emotional strength, and other factors we need to work on to meet our longterm goals. These things demand serious consideration and deep understanding for our needs, especially during this pandemic, to be addressed.

Despite the onset of challenges that we experience, it is disappointing to know that the academe fails to provide us sufficient aid and guidance, but rather additional mental and emotional agony. Hence, this is an opportune time to highlight the issues of this “new normal’’ learning setup.

Unforeseeable hindrances to learning that are beyond our control are the top challenges that may disturb our school performances.

Part of this is the

article by

IAN KERVI BALASE

limited or minimal access to learning tools, especially when we live in far-flung places where lots of students do not have enough privilege to be in areas with good reception; and financially incapability of those whose parents barely even make ends meet. The students are not to blame for the aforementioned circumstances.

Despite all the struggles, we still get to understand the most dismaying encounter that we experienced with some teachers who would seem to be not passionate with their profession as their presence is not often observed. Their “no-show” days are actually more compared to their students’ absences. Some have not even conducted even a single discussion in the entire semester, more so a meet-andgreet session.

A blended learning setup includes online discussions. However, in some instances, teachers just check attendance through a

illustration by

ALJAN BAUTISTA

Messenger poll. Other students exploit such practice to their own convenience. This practice, however, is detrimental to the students’ learning. Active classroom interaction is essential in the process of knowledge acquisition.

Direct studentteacher engagement allows the latter to take it as an opportunity to raise concerns and clarifications as regards the discussed subject.

Though a self-paced learning style is of great use and help, students also need guidance and mentorship to develop holistically.

Blended learning setup has been happening for almost two academic years already, so it certainly builds a thick and high wall between students and teachers. And it is not cool when most students still hesitate to

colored by

VAL JOHN GRAJO

approach their teachers given that there was no connection that was established in the first place. What they would do instead is to reach out to their classmates since they were able to create a bond already through the magic touch of a Messenger group chat that serves as a safe space for them to know each other which results in them having easy and comfortable communication.

If teachers do not want to be bothered by their students via personal social media or messaging accounts, they could have created another account for academic purposes. In this way, it would open doors for the students to raise their sentiments regarding their school works, parked clarifications from their modules

and even personal stuff that might be possibly affecting or hindering them from performing in the class.

Hence, students wonder if they really do it as part of their calling or just for the sake of survival intent. Teachers must not just exist to earn or receive their wage.

They are there to teach and guide the students. Moreover, they must also need to connect to the learners not because the students are the reasons why they have jobs but because they need them as our compass for our wandering minds towards our dreams in life.

Our academic community has one of the greatest goals to attain and that is to become a worldclass university. Turning it into a reality may sound ambitious but it could be within our reach.

Hence, it should not solely focus on exemplary accreditation performances, astounding structures, competitive accomplishments, and highend resources but most of all, it should put their students’, faculties’, and stakeholders’ welfare and well-being as their paramount priority. P

14

VOLUME 54 | ISSUE NO. 03 NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2021

OPINION

Municipal Link Bridge or Barrier? article by

MARWIN TACO

T

here is a plethora of struggle in the continuing battle for learning, especially now, in the sudden shift of face-to-face classes to online and modular set-up brought about by the pandemic. This, one’s inefficiency is forgiveable but should not be a subject of tolerance, as this may cause a lasting effect, directly or indirectly in the field. However, as this is already given, here lies the additional insult to this injury, the inefficiencies of the municipal links.

It is always absurd to think when those people who seek to help us, are the ones causing the problem and giving us the burden instead of helping. And this narrative is not new to us, as we have experienced this, in one way or another. The question here now is, do municipal links really help the students in their venture for success, or are they giving them the hurt in the butt instead?

The building blocks It is significant to say how municipal links play a crucial part in the current set-up of education.

They are bound to be the link of the students in submitting their requirements to the designated department. As such, they are also tasked to submit the output, and

give the students the assurance that their requirements are submitted to where they should be. And in such regard, if they are able to do so, they are rewarded with integrity and honesty.

On the other hand, things do not always turn out the way we expect them to be. And as this statement implies, the cliché, ‘expect the unexpected’ coincides.

With this, narratives of complaint on municipal links occurred. First, is that of a student who did pass her requirements in her PE 3 subject to the municipal link and received a low grade at the end of the semester, as her teacher told her that she did not receive any of her outputs. “Si ‘A’ kasi dati, nagpasa portfolio sa municipal link, tapos end of the sem, mababa yung naging grade niya sa physical ed bc sabi ni instructor, she didn’t receive any portfolio from ‘A’ naman daw”, her friend narrated.

Second, is that of a student who submitted his outputs containing drawings and essays to the municipal link as well, and later after a month, his teacher announced that he did not submit any requirement. “Nagpasa siya sa iya tanan na requirements sa usa sa iya subject thru municipal link tapos one month after nag-announce iya teacher na wara pa siya pagpapasa, gisugad niya na nagpasa na siya pero wara man daw kuno kareceive

sa iya teacher an iya outputs…”, the friend described.

Last, but not the least, is that of a hardworking student, who submitted his output in their midterm examination through their municipal link, who travelled in a boat and rode a motorcycle without slippers because of time constraint in their exam just to reach there. Months later his teacher announced that his midterm didn’t reach him, and that he waited for the output if he really submitted any.

These narratives are but bits of the many complaints, about the municipal link inefficiencies.

Others stayed quiet and did nothing about the issue, they may have experienced this firsthand, or they may have heard a story about it—just to stay silent and prevent fuelling the fire. In light of these, students started to doubt what incapacities municipal links possess, and trust becomes an issue as well, saying, “kaya paminsan, nakakatakot magpasa sa municipal link.”

ak mga activities naabot didto saak prof, 1 week or 4 days ak napasa antis sa gisugad saam na deadline, pero naabot didto late la gihapon, di naabot sa deadline kay gititinambak duon, gihuhulat sa iba na college para sarabay mapasa kaso diri sarabay deadline”, one of my friends narrated, stating her frustration over the lack of urgency and coordination among the municipal links. Add on to that, teachers often do not get the portfolios and outputs in the main link immediately, neither of where these outputs have been put, as they wait for their own desired time on when they would get such. As a result of these negligence, teachers themselves do not receive any of the submitted outputs, as these may have been misplaced, disorganized and placed somewhere else.

In significance, this kind of circumstances implies that there really is something wrong, and students are not the ones to blame.

A simple valuing and practice of coordination, and having the sense of immediacy among teachers and municipal link themselves, would be a big help.

Cemented incoordination The story doesn’t end on the complaints of the students, as this behooves to underlying factors, contributing to the students’ sentiments. “Late danay

Reworking the flourished In all of these plights, students are bound to still be responsible and responsive to their roles.

That in the face of irresponsibility and carelessness, they have no choice but to do their tasks. Doing all the tasks and resubmitting them because the teacher has not received any, are the things they do amidst their doubt.

Needless to say, this implies redundancy of the efforts of the students. This means as well the loss of importance in their works, and teachers having no empathy.

As such, efforts and sleepless nights are gone to waste, and the students have no choice but to accomplish the task again or receive no grade in the end. That’s basically the deal.

As we clamor for fairness of duties and responsibilities, some aspects are left disregarded, and worse, really neglected. There may be solutions, but all were façade and mismanagement. Because the root issue is not tackled and addressed, it sprouts and grows like the flowers, but rotten in their core. This is the real situation happening among our municipal links, and among some of the teachers. There seems to be no solutions to these inefficiencies, as this has seemed to be the culture in the first place. And this, we ask, “Are we really being helped?”. P

15

VOLUME 54 | ISSUE NO. 03 NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2021

EDITORYAL

Pagbabago, nasaan na?

T

ila kahapon lamang nang maihalal si Rodrigo Roa Duterte bilang ikalabing-anim na pangulo ng bansa gamit ang katagang binubuo ng tatlong mapanlinlang na mga salita: “Change is coming.”

Ngunit, matapos ang humigitkumulang na lima at kalahating taong paninilbihan, ano nga ba talaga ang nagbago?

MGA PATNUGOT AT MGA KAWANI 2021-2022 GEORGE JOSEPH BANDA PUNONG PATNUGOT WINDEL JOY CLERIGO KAPATNUGOT DAVE JUBASAN TAGAPAMAHALANG PATNUGOT

Matatandaang noong taong 2016 ay nasigurado ni Duterte ang pagkapanalo bilang presidente dahil sa pagiging populist nito.

Katunayan, 39% ng mga botante ang nagdesisyong iboto siya sa kagustuhang makamit ang mga pagbabagong matagal na nating hinahangad.

Ang administrasyong Duterte ay hindi maaaring mabuo kung wala ang laban kontra droga – isang madugo at di-makataong giyera. Ayon sa ulat ng Human Rights Watch, higit 12,000 mga indibidwal ang pinatay nang hindi sumasailalim sa due process, isang prosesong tumitiyak na matatamasa ng isang tao ang karapatang depensahan ang sarili bago hatulan ng nararapat na kaparusahan. Sa matagal na panahon ay tila naging normal na lamang ang ganitong mga patayan. Kung kaya ay minabuting imbestigahan ng International Criminal Court (ICC) ang “war on drugs” na labis na tinututulan ng pamahalaan at taong 2019 nga nang tuluyang tumiwalag ang Pilipinas sa ICC. Naging layunin din ng administrasyong ito ang tuluyang pagwawakas sa banta ng komunismo resulta upang matatag ang kontrobersyal na National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTFELCAC). Subalit ang kinahinatnan ay taliwas sa intensyong nitong kapayapaan at pag-unlad.

Paanong ang pakikibaka upang protektahan ang kalikasan at ancestral lands ay nagdulot sa pagkamatay ng 116 na land defenders ayon sa Global Witness.

Ayon sa parehong grupo, ang Pilipinas ay nanatiling “deadliest

ANDREW MONTEJO PATNUGOT SA BALITA ANGELICA PAJARES PATNUGOT SA LATHALAIN

country for environmental defenders” sa buong Asya sa loob ng walong magkakasunod na taon.

Batay naman sa datos ng Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG), 61 na mga abogado, tagausig at hukom ang pinatay sa ilalim ng kasalukuyang rehimen, ganap na mas marami sa naitalang parehong pag-atake sa nakalipas na 50 taon. Hindi rin nakaligtas ang sektor ng pamamahayag sa parehong panggigipit at pagpatay.

Nitong Disyembre lamang ay may pinatay na namang mamamahayag, ang ikalabingdalawa simula nang mailuklok si Duterte. Ang gampanin ng malayang pamamahayag bilang ikaapat na sangay ng lipunan ay sinuklian ng marahas na pakikitungo ng estado. Pinasara ang ABS-CBN Network at pinagmalupitan si Maria Ressa at ang buong Rappler. Gayumpanan, lumakas ang pwersa ng mga nagkakalat ng fake news na siyang nagdulot ng malawakang misinformation sa mamamayang Pilipino. Naging bunga ito upang mailagay sa ika-130 ng Reporters Without Borders 2021 World Press Freedom Index at ika-pito naman ng Committee to Protect Journalists 2021 Global Impunity Index ang

Pilipinas na nangangahulugang sa ngayon ay isa ang bansa sa mga mapanganib na lugar para sa mga mamamahayag. Kaugnay nito at dahil na rin sa nalalapit na 2022 elections, piliin nating mas maging mapanuri at kritikal sa posisyon ng mga kumakandidato pagdating sa kanilang hangaring ipagpatuloy ang iilang programa ng rehimeng Duterte. Kabilang na dito ang nabanggit na NTFELCAC na matapos tapyasan ng pondo ay isinusulong din ang defunding. Dahil ito sa lantaran at walang basehang pag-aakusa sa mga kritiko ng pamahalaan bilang mga terorista sa pamamagitan ng redtagging na maaaring mas palalain pa dulot ng pagsasabatas ng Anti-Terror Law. Patunay lamang ito sa maling kasagutan ng pamahalaan sa mga problema ng bayan.

Lahat ng mga nabanggit na numero at datos ay maaaring pabalat pa lamang sa naging at patuloy na kalagayan ng bansa lalung-lalo na sa usapin ng karapatang pantao.

Nakababahala ngunit ito ang katotohanan. Ang katotohanang ito ay hindi mapagtatakpan ng anumang proyektong pangimprasktruktura ng pamahalaan

na siyang ipinagmamalaki ng administrasyong Duterte. Ilan mang haba ng tulay o kalye at mga naglalakihang gusali ay hindi papantay sa nawalang buhay ng mga inosenteng Pilipino na sana ay pinangangalagaan ng estado. Sa katunayan, nararapat lamang at hindi nakamamangha ang ganitong mga proyekto lalo na at kasabay din nito ang paglaki ng pambansang utang na mas pinalala pa ng pandemya at umabot na sa 11.9-T. Idagdag pa ang mga kontrobersiyang nangyari habang may krisis ng COVID-19 tulad ng 15-B PhilHealth corruption at Pharmally scandal.

Hangad ng bawat mamamayang Pilipino ang isang makatao at makabansang uri ng pamamahala.

Sa napakatagal na panahon ay nasasadlak tayong maranasan ito sapagkat sa napakarami ring pagkakataon ay pawang mga pangako lamang ang ating natatamasa. Bilang isang sambayanang Pilipino ay may kakayahan tayong kolektibong kumilos at magagawa lamang natin ito kung nasa panig tayo ng katotohanan. P

IAN KERVI BALASE CHARELLE CATUNHAY TRISHA MAE DOCIL MARY JANE MAUNIO NIÑO ANTHONY PETALBO MARWIN TACO EMMANAUEL CAYOCYOC MGA KAWANI AYESSA MAE ESQUILLO VAL JOHN GRAJO TYRONE GUINANAO MARL ANTHONY LUCBAN MGA TAGALAPAT JOSHUA GARCIA PAUL MELBERT GALLANO BEVELENE MARIE MELENDRES JUSTINE MONTAÑEZ ALLEN JAMES TANCINCO MGA LITRATISTA ALJAN BAUTISTA JIMBERT DULAY MITZ VINCENT GORGONIA WENDY LYNNE SORIO CYRIL ROBIATO MGA DIBUHISTA SOPHIA SANDRA GALLANO TAGAPAMAGALA SA PINANSYA DANICA MIRANDA KATUWANG NA TAGAPAMAHALANG PINANSIYAL MICHAEL PECAYO TAGAPAYONG TEKNIKAL LLYOD ADAM BAYLON TAGAPAYO SA PINANSYA

Critical. Fearless. Unapologetic.