The DWCC Gazette Newsletter (January - May 2022)

Gazette The DWCC

The Official Student Publication of Divine Word College of Calapan

1 ADVOCATE OF TRUTH, JUSTICE AND EQUALITY

Volume 23 Issue No. 1 January to May 2022

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Gazette The DWCC

NEWS

ADVOCATE OF TRUTH, JUSTICE AND EQUALITY

The Official Student Publication of Divine Word College of Calapan

Founded with faith and excellence,

DWCC grad tops CPA Licensure Examination for the first-time

by Mark Deo B. Aboboto

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his year marks another milestone for the Divine Word College of Calapan as School of Accountancy’s Lester Antoni Gibo De Guzman ranked fifth among the 4,442 examinees who took the May 2022 Certified Public Accountant Licensure Examination (CPALE). Geared with faith and wit, he aced with a 87.33 rating marking Divinista history as first-time top notcher in the institution.

“I prayed that I would be among the top 10 examinees. At first, it seemed impossible because of brilliant students from prestigious universities across the country but I did, we did,” he said.

Prior to the examination, De Guzman gained exemplary awards that reflect his excellence in the profession. He graduated Cum Laude and consistently top-notched the mock boards conducted not just in one but various review centers.

With his full determination to pass and snatch a spot as a topnotcher, he took advantage of his time after graduation.

De Guzman entered more than two review centers that helped him nurture

his understanding of his undergraduate studies.

Just like any Filipino board-taker, De Guzman does not just rely on his bag of knowledge. He also followed the common rituals in taking every pre-board examination, such as putting a one-peso coin on the shoe, wearing red undies, stepping on the right foot first in entering the examination room, and donating the materials he used after the exam.

Luck did not do all of the work as De Guzman also mentioned the undergrad foundation that he received from the Divine Word College of Calapan (DWCC) was a big help for his quest to the top.

He claimed that taking the examination is like taking a trip back to the institution.

Readying himself to answer surprise questions over a limited amount of time was all thanks to his past student days at DWCC. His notes during his four-year study in the institution have assisted him in familiarizing the key concepts of every topic needed in taking the examination.

True to its mission, DWCC School of Accountancy (SOA) inculcates to the life of every accountancy student the integrity and excellence exercised by professors persistent in providing comprehensive class discussion and examinations that challenge the proficiency of the students in the courses they take in every semester. Moreover, they do not forget to inspire the aspiring Certified Public Accountants (CPA) by motivating them through their personal stories that one day the students themselves could eventually continue with their own.

“Every step that you will take, walk with Him” - the Divinista top-notcher’s advice to all the future CPALE takers.

“To DWCC SOA students, I know that most of you struggled with the online class set-up and I feel you because I am a product of online review.

Your attitude in understanding the details of each topic is the critical factor for you to succeed in the examination. I have done it and you can also do it. Keep dreaming, believe in yourself, aim higher, have a compassionate heart for others, and for every step that you will take, walk with Him.” expressed De Guzman, when asked for advice for his juniors in the DWCC. Igniting the core goal to provide quality education, DWCC indeed shapes students into the best they can be: licensed professionals and board-notchers alike.

His legacy is marked in the history of DWCC. More than breaking the drought of the DWCC SOA in topping the licensure examination, De Guzman has given a huge motivation to the students to keep on persevering to make impossibles possible. His story is a true testament to how far a Divinista can go.

DWCC Extends Face-to-face Classes Implementation

by Jamaica Barangas

DWCC medical staff check the temperature of the students in accordance to the COVID-19 health protocols.

Volume 23 Issue No. 1 January to May 2022

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long with other universities and colleges in the country, Divine Word College of Calapan widened the implementation of the modified face-to-face classes, as more courses are about to be conducted under such mode during the summer class of 2022.

Starting from June 16, aside from minor subjects, all major courses will be taken in the limited face-to-face mode during the term.

However, it is not the first time after the pandemic that the school will conduct the said implementation because it was already attended by limited courses those that have Laboratory and OJT internships, such as BS Architecture, BS Civil Engineering, BS Computer Engineering, BS Electronics Engineering, BS Information Technology, BS Hospitality Management, and BS Criminology, last semester.

To secure the safety of the students and faculties that participate in the said activity, the school conducted a simulation beforehand on February 23, 2022, in which they experience the screening, detection, and isolation process.

School premises were also checked up to the standards needed as part of safety protocols.

Moreover, notarized parent consent must be submitted as a requirement upon enrollment to ensure that all students are allowed by their guardians to participate in the said mode of classes.

With regards to this, enrollment for the summer class will be held face-to-face on June 14-15 at the campus gymnasium.

Gazette The DWCC

NEWS

The Official Student Publication of Divine Word College of Calapan

DWCC Architecture Students represent Philippines as Arcasia 2021 Finalists

by Reizelle Belleza

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ith self-designed projects appealing to the Architects Regional Council Asia (Arcasia) 2021, architecture students from Divine Word College of Calapan (DWCC) gained online recognition after securing finalist spots in three categories last August 20.

“Vantage Point: Public Space in 15-Minute Life Circle”, produced by a team of four: Emmuel Jack Torreliza, Dinky Rose Dimaculangan, Zandra Mañeje, and Dianna May Dela Cruz, was selected as one of the three finalists under Arcasia Student Architectural Design Competition 2021.

Two recent graduates, Genial Kimberly L. Adeva (with Sultada Arena: A Proposed National Cockpit Arena) and Sean C. Walsh (with Nexus Scapes: An Urban Environment Waterfront Hub), dominated the slots for Arcasia Thesis of the Year Awards 2021.

Queen Jessa Mai Silang, another notable competitor, was acknowledged for Design Entry Arcasia Architect Barry Will Award 2021.

Contest proper dated back to April 1, catering to online submissions of digital works that align with the themes the organization listed on April 15.

Ar. Kirby Mercado, a figure of support and their design coach, saw this as an opportunity to let their architectural skills be known and apply what they have

learned as he quoted Martin Luther King Jr.: “Education has a twofold function to perform in the life of man and in society: the one is utility and the other is culture. Education must enable a man to become more efficient, to achieve with increasing facility the legitimate goals of his life.”

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midst the still war against Covid-19 pandemic crisis, College Days took place exhibiting knowledge, skills and talents of Divine Word College of Calapan’s (DWCC) students for the first time after years of waiting, anchored with the theme “Luntiang Daigdig: Buhay ang Hatid,” DWCC Campus, April 7-8, 2022.

SOE studes present researches

by Donalyn N. Dasalla

n cooperation with the Divine Word College of Calapan (DWCC), Provincial Government of Mindoro pilots Sulyap-Kultura 2022: A Cultural Research Colloquium in the newly opened Oriental Mindoro Heritage Museum through the Cultural Affairs Section of its Tourism Development Promotions Division on March 31 to April 1.

The DWCC English major students of Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSEd) partake in the cultural research colloquium activity in showcasing the discussion of papers, studies, and research on cultures and traditions of Oriental Mindoro under the supervision of Miss Quennie Bandalaria, LPT, MA. The third year Divinistas, Lynette Lyle A. De Leon and co-author Jerrie

DWCC relaunches College Days 2022 after 2-Year Pandemic Halt

by Avegail Ascan

DWCC, PGORM pilots First Sulyap-Kultura

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Mae M. Vicente introduced their study Trilingualism and Academic Performance in Purposive Communication of IP English Learners in Divine Word College of Calapan Kunay Igpe and Meajoy B. Busaw, also in their third year, presented the Speaking Difficulties in English Language of the IP Students in Divine Word College of Calapan.

Danielle Marie N.

Students from the DWCC SOE BSED English students presented their research studies which are in relation to the cultures and traditions of the Mangyans of Mindoro.

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ADVOCATE OF TRUTH, JUSTICE AND EQUALITY

Montoya and Jedlyn Mae C. Ora, English major fourth year students, discussed their research entitled The Pronunciation Development of Indigenous Students in Target Language through International Phonetic Alphabet of Selected Colleges in Calapan City.

Another set of presenters from fourth year, Loning M. Insik and Jobelisa G. Ingayan, exhibited their expertise on their paper called The Phonological Features of the Native Language and the English Language Learning of the IP Students of Divine Word College of Calapan.

The Sulyap-Kultura gives opportunities for local people, academic institutions, and local government units to gain an in-depth and a research-based understanding of local history, tradition, and culture in relation to its effects on modern society and the means of appreciation and preservation of heritage in time being.

Through the efforts and work done by the School Administration, Student Affairs, Student Council, and all the organizations involved, the long-waited activity has transpired in celebration of the 74th DWCC Founding Anniversary even though the pandemic crisis still continues.

Following the Guidelines On the Nationwide Implementation of Alert Level System for Covid-19 Response of February 27, 2022 and the Medical and Dental Clinic recommendations, limited number of students were allowed to enter the campus and be part of the prepared Academic, Culture and Arts, and Sports activities of the Student Council provided that they had complied with the requirements.

In line, documents necessary to enter the campus include Guardian’s Consent Form, Vaccination card/ certificate and Philhealth (or any insurance covering COVID-19 insurance) and Stay Safe Application which was used upon entry of students. On the other hand, live coverage

was also prepared for those students who chose to participate virtually.

Furthermore, College Days activities started with MISS DWCC 2022 conducted April 6, 6:00pm.

Subsequently, Day 1: April 7 activities include Save the Earth Rally, 9:00AM, RadioTalk, 1:00 PM, Campus Hearts Club, 3:00 PM and Online Tambayan 7:00 PM. Afterwards, Day 2: April 8 activities include Larong Divinista, 9:00 AM, Radiotalk,1:00 PM and concluded with the Tunog ng Kabataan Concert, 6:00 PM. Every department also offered various booths that further enhanced the college days’ experience of Divinistas. Food and Beverage are also made available in Campus Canteen and food stalls of College Days’ 2022 sponsors such as Infinitea and Geruz.

All in all, “It was a very successful College days so we had Academic competition, culture and arts activities, as well as sports activities that only means that we are ensuring the holistic development of our students. Magagaling ang Divinista! Tatak Divinista, Tatak Mahusay!” said Students Affair Office Director Michelle B. Luzon, MBA.

Volume 23 Issue No. 1 January to May 2022

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Gazette The DWCC

NEWS

ADVOCATE OF TRUTH, JUSTICE AND EQUALITY

Botante Divinista, handa na sa Eleksyon ni Ashera Lenette J. Sanchez

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pang magkaroon ng mataas na kamalayan ang mga estudyante ng Divine Word College of Calapan partikular ang mga mag-aaral sa senior high school at kolehiyo ay ginanap ang Hiraya sa Halalan| ComElect: Guide to the 2022 National Elections webinar series, ika-2 ng Abril.

Sa pakikipagtulungan ng pamunuan ng Divine Word College of Calapan, DWCC Student Affairs Office, DWCC Student Council at ng Commission of Election ng lalawigan ng Oriental Mindoro sa pangunguna nina Bb. Marika Uriel Revaño, Bb. Khyla Ellaine Tubola at ng mga panauhing tagapagsalita na sina Atty. Angela De Guiño-Royandoyan, Provincial Election Supervisor ng Commission of Election ng lalawigan ng Oriental Mindoro at Bb. Abegail De Lara, Computer Maintenance Technologist ng Commission of Election ng lalawigan ng Oriental Mindoro ay naisagawa ang pagbibigay kaalaman sa mga botanteng Divinista ng mga pangunahing kaalaman ukol sa darating na eleksyon.

“Introducing what is Hiraya sa Halalan which aims to build awareness for vital subject matter that is really relevant for this coming election” ayon kay Revaño.

Inilahad ni Atty. De Guiño-Royandoyan ang anim na puntos na kailangan malaman ng isang botante tulad ng: (1) Ano ang halalan o pagboto?, (2) Paano ako makakaboto?, (3) Bakit ako boboto?, (4) Kailan at saan ako makakaboto?, (5) Anu-anong posisyon ang aking iboboto? (6) Paano ko pipiliin ang aking iboboto?

Ayon din kay Atty. De Guiño-Royandoyan, merong kabuoang 65, 721, 240 230 milyong botante ang bansa para sa national and local elections ngayon ika-9 ng Mayo. Ang datos naman ng overseas voters ay nasa humigit kumulang 1.7 milyon kung kaya’t kung susumahin ay nasa kulangkulang 67 milyon ang kabuuan nito.

Para sa buong lalawigan ng Oriental Mindoro, merong 564, 128 na botante ang rehistrado para sa nasabing halalan. Ang unang distrito ay mayroong 312, 393 at mayroon naman 251, 735 ang ikalawang distrito.

Matapos na makapagbahagi ang unang tagapagsalita ay sumunod naman si Bb. De Lara.

Ibinahagi niya ang mga technical part ng eleksyon tulad ng mga kagamitan na gagamitin sa eleksyon, kung paano gumagana ang smarmatic o mas kilala sa tawag na PCOS Machine na syang ginagamit ngayon sa pagbibilang ng boto. Ipinaliwanag din niya ang VVPAT o Voters Verifiable Paper Audit Trail kung saan nakapaloob ang mga binoto ng isang botante at ito’y tila isang resibo.

Ayon din kay De Lara, may mga importanteng petsa na kailangang tandaan tulad ng FTS of ang final Testing and Sealing na magaganap maalin sa petsa simula Mayo 2 hanggang 7.

Binigyang diin din niya ang araw ng botohan, sa ika-9 ng Mayo na maguumpisa simula alasais ng umaga at matatapos sa ika-7 ng hapon.

“Para saan yung QR-Code sa receipt?”, tanong na itinaas ng isang estudyanteng kalahok na agad sinagot ni De Lara ng “For tracing if may problem. If may reklamo, pinipermahan ang likod ng VVPAT at after ng eleksyon ay naghahain ng pormal na imbestigasyon at hearing at ang QR-Code ang isa sa madaling paraan upang masolusyonan ito.”

“Go out and vote!”, pahabol na huling bilin ng Provincial Election Supervisor ng Commission of Election ng lalawigan ng Oriental Mindoro na si Atty. De Guiño-Royandoyan.

Volume 23 Issue No. 1 January to May 2022

The Official Student Publication of Divine Word College of Calapan

BBM is PH’s new Prexy,

Robredo wins in DWCC Mock Election

by Karl Bryan Chavez

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ice President and Presidential Aspirant Leni Gerona Robredo won the hearts of the DWCC Community in the Boto Divinistas Mock Election last March 2, however, dictator’s son Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. won as the 17th President of the Republic of the Philippines after the Congress declared him the winner of the Eleksyon 2022 Presidential Race.

Robredo, and her running mate Senator Kiko Pangilinan took the lead in the survey initiated by The DWCC gazette, the official studentpublication of DWCC from February 21-25.

With the total responses of 813 votes, 529 (65.1%) favors VP Robredo giving a 38.8% margin to ex-Sen Bongbong Marcos who accumulated 214 (26.3%). Manila Mayor Isko Domogoso garnered 24 votes (3%) while Sen. Ping Lacson only got 19 votes (2.3%).

Pangilinan has 467 votes (57.4) advancing a 31.1% margin to Marcos’ running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte who has 214 votes (26.3%).

Lacson’s running mate Senator Tito Sotto got 52 votes (6.4%) and Domagoso’s running mate Doc Willie Ong earned 40 votes (4.9%).

Meanwhile, the National Board of Canvassers officially tallied 31,629,783 votes favoring Marcos who ran under the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas and who constantly campaigned on a platform of unity, far from Robredo’s 15, 035, 773 votes.

Marcos’ running mate, President Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter Davao City Mayor Sara

Duterte amassed 32, 208, 417 votes over the second placer Pangalinan’s 9,329,207.

On the other hand, only seven (7) among the 12 top picks of divinistas for senatorial race made it to the magic 12. Included on the winning senators are Chiz Escudero, Loren Legarda, Risa

Hontiveros, Alan Peter Cayetano, Win Gatchalian, Migz Zubiri, and Joel Villanueva.

Robin Padilla, Raffy Tulfo, Mark VIllar, JV Ejercito, and Jinggot Estrada also made it the top 12 while other Divinista pick, Chel Diokno, Antonio Trillanes, Lila Delima, Neri Colmenares, and Dick Gordon failed to make it.

Sa ICpEP R4B CpE Challenge

DWCC CpE Students, kampeon sa iba’t ibang kategorya ni Diether Gozum

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AGI sa apat na kategorya ang mga mag-aaral mula sa Computer Engineering kung saan sila ang itinanghal na kampeyon sa ginanap na ICpEP R4B CpE Challenge noong Nobyembre 26, 2021 via Zoom.

Naiuwi nina Renze Arlo Carasco, Christian Kail Valenzuela, Francis Lambert Malabanan, Erlmantroy King, Carl Marion Manlapaz, at Yve Adalia ang unang pwesto sa Mobile Legends Tournament.

Pumangalawa ang Marinduque State College (Culicibus Slayers) at Mindoro State University Team 2 naman sa ikatlong lebel ng kompetisyon.

“Wala talaga kaming formal preparation, siguro laro laro lang kami tuwing gabi, tapos yong tiwala sa sarili, teamwork, communication at disiplina yong dala dala namin,” sambit ni Malabanan, 2nd year student.

Di rin nagpaawat ang mga kalahok sa Quiz Bowl na sina Kean Jourvy Corona, Angelika Ting at Angelica Acha. Umangat ang kanilang grupo kontra Marinduque State College Team B na nakakuha ng ikalawang pwesto, Team A naman nila sa ikatlong pwesto at Mindoro State University sa ikaapat.

Nakapagtala ang DWCC ng 355 na puntos, malayo ang agwat nito sa MSC B at MSC A na may 215 at 200 na tala, MINSU na may 195 na iskor.

“We just study and study till midnight and we told ourselves that no matter the outcome it would be alright.

The support from our coach and from other students are enough to boost our willingness to study hard and win this competition,” saad ni Ting, 3rd year student.

Hataw rin sina Ernest Jehu Ej Elcoba at Gabrielle Sorensen para sa programming Competition na kapwa naiuwi ang gintong medalya para sa phyton at java categories, Clarence Madrigal sa C programming (MSC) at Crystel Jazamae Aguinaldo (MINSU) sa C++ category.

Ang mga mag-aaral ay mula sa paggabay nina Sir Michael Pedrasa, Sir Reynel Albo at Sir Reynante Mayoralgo. Sasabak muli sila sa National ICpEP na gaganapin sa Marso 19.

Gazette The DWCC

NEWS

The Official Student Publication of Divine Word College of Calapan

In the ASEAN Sustainable Leader Case Competition

SOA bags multiple national, international awards

by Mark Deo Aboboto

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ivine Word College of Calapan (DWCC) School of Accountancy students won recognition and garnered awards in various national and international competitions as they bested their competitors in ASEAN Future Sustainable Leader Case Competition and during the 1st Accounting Research Festival.

DWCC’s TEAM PASIBOL Mark Deo Aboboto, Lorie Ann Diamante, Marjorie Pagsinuhin, and Shiekairrah Jasmen Velasco bagged the 1st Runner-Up title in the ASEAN Future Sustainable Leaders (AFSL21) Competition Philippine Elimination (College Category).

The team, composed of students from the School of Accountancy, prevailed against the 11 finalists from different colleges and universities all over the country.

Making it to the Top 3 in the eliminations, TEAM PASIBOL together with the University of San Carlos (Champion) and the Holy Angel University (2nd Runner-Up) will represent the

country in the international arena to be hosted by Malaysia.

They received a PHP. 10,000 cash prize and the OVERALL BEST VIDEO special award.

“It still feels surreal, being part of such an amazing and ingenuous team, where our small ideas came to life through strategic synergy, driven by a noble purpose, so winning is just a bonus.” Marjorie Pagsinuhin, Team Pasibol member, said.

After securing a spot in the Final 3 in the eliminations, Pasibol Team members were grouped with other college students from Indonesia and Malaysia.

Meanwhile in the international level, Mark Deo

B. Aboboto and Lorie Ann M. Diamante earned places as both of their teams were hailed 1st runner up and 2nd runner up respectively last December 22.

Both teams were composed of four college students from different countries, Aboboto’s team GreeNXT was composed of Hazel Miranda of the Philippines, Jihan Hanifah of Indonesia, and Rhaakhesh Omantaram of Malaysia; whereas Diamante’s team Metamorphosis is with Muhammad Ariff Bin Haidar and Clarence Caitlin of Malaysia, and Maria Sophia Beatrice M. Ariola of the Philippines Both teams were able to brave their ways from the eight international senior

Divinistas get hold of ArhciNEXT’s Magic 32

by Mark Deo Aboboto

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or this year’s entry to ArchiNEXT HCG Young Designers’ Competition, the Divine Word College of Calapan’s participants - Jen Aubrey Quinzon, Dominique Marie Rodriguez, and Melhanie Gean Bacay – takes over 151 entries and become part of the Magic 32 on March 15, after a month-long online voting period beginning March 10.

After years since ArchiNEXT has been hosting the competition, the School of Engineering and Architecture was able to turn over to the next level of the competition

where the Top 10 finalists will be chosen during the Final Screening.

With the tagline “Today’s Visionary.

Tomorrow’s Icon.”, ArchiNEXT

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ADVOCATE OF TRUTH, JUSTICE AND EQUALITY

HCG Young Designers’ Competition is envisioned to test the creativity of junior and senior architecture students in designing sound but sustainable masterpieces while recognizing potential in contributing to their profession’s growth and to nation building.

The three participants representing DWCC are still stunned and thankful for the opportunity to join the contest and for being part of the Magic 32, expressing their endless gratitude to their advisers and to the never-ending support of their seniors, families, friends and of the Divinistas as well as their excitement for the next level of the competition so as to the coming days of being Architecture students.

“It is a one way ticket to confidence and experience.’’ said Rodriguez.

groups who competed with their respective projects in achieving the goal of Sustainable Development.

GreeNXT’s project titled Environx Quadrant Minimart focuses on the goal of Responsible Consumption and Production, while Metamorphosis aims to achieve Decent Work and Economic Growth, Responsible Consumption and Production, Climate Action, Life Below Water and Life on Land.

With this, GreeNXT was rewarded with a total of $550 after also being awarded as Overall Senior Best Video, and Metamorphosis was given $300. The latter was guided

by their AFSL mentor Assistant Professor 1, Mr. Agustin P. Baquereza, Jr., while GreeNXT was mentored by Dr. Thea Suaco.

“The world stops for a while, I cannot process everything in a heartbeat and I cannot even name all of my emotions but one thing is so sure of me, I am proud of what I have pursued on the international arena” Lorie Ann M. Diamante, one of the members of Metamorphosis, said.

The participants from the DWCC-SOA were primarily coached by Mr. Hans Jansen Dimaala and Mr. Jon Christian M. Miranda.

ATF favors Oriental Mindoro, Alert Level Status to Level 1

by Lance Kevin Sarmiento

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arch 31, 2022 — The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) officially approves that the Province of Oriental Mindoro is to be placed down to Alert Level 1 of the nationwide Alert Level System for COVID-19 response. The alert level status will span starting on April 1 – April 15, 2022.

The province was put on Alert Level 1 due to the decline in the number of cases of COVID-19 in the past few months. Based on the data from the Public Health Office (PHO) of Oriental Mindoro, as of March 2022, there were 88 total positive cases in the province with 118 reported total recoveries, a huge decrease from 1,547 total positive cases in January 2022. Based also from the January – March 2022 Vaccination Status Summary Data by PHO, a total of 138,520 fully vaccinated individuals were administered in the province, 102,292 of these were from Calapan City which successfully reached the target population by 100.24%.

Under Alert Level 1, Intrazonal and Interzonal travel will be allowed in the province regardless of their age and comorbidities, which means that the province would no longer require the travelers to show their Safe, Swift, and Smart Passage (S-PaSS) but would still request to present their Vaccination Card, as Provincial Information Office Guidelines.

All of establishments and citizens will also be allowed to operate their businesses or conduct their activities in and outside of the community in their maximum capacity with minimum public health standards.

As of April 15, 2022, IATF extends this resolution in the province until the end of the month— April 30, 2022, due to the fact that the province has met all the requirements needed to stay in the current alert level system which includes low case numbers, low hospitalization rate, and a higher vaccination rate.

Volume 23 Issue No. 1 January to May 2022

Gazette The DWCC

6 EDITORIAL ADVOCATE OF TRUTH, JUSTICE AND EQUALITY

The Official Student Publication of Divine Word College of Calapan

EDITORIAL

CULPRIT OF DEMOCRACY

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The Rise of Marites, Misinformation and Disinformation in the PH

hat started off as a joke among Filipinos, the plague of Mariteses poses a deadly challenge to the democracy of the

country.

In one of his public addresses, President Rodrigo Duterte bantered about the Philippines being a “republic of Marites” (republic of gossipers). Marites, a famous nickname taken from a specific social media trend, literally means “Mare, ito ang latest.” In short, it is used for people who love to gossip about anything and anyone.

As of writing, it has evolved into a diversity of variants, a group that has slowly become a representation of the different toxic Filipino traits and an avenue for misinformation, perpetuating disinformation. Both act as a deadly weapon against the nation’s democracy – killing it with a thousand cuts.

This trend of shameless gossiping goes past the start of the global pandemic. Especially in a country filled with envious people like the Philippines, the act of putting your nose where it does not belong is not something new. However, the pandemic exacerbated this. As Filipinos became too absorbed in social media, the arena for gossip worsened that it has come to the point of no turning back.

While the terms seem similar, both are different from one another. Misinformation is the type of information that is misleading and incorrect. It is one that is altered and fake and is spread with or without the intention to misconstrue people. On the other hand, disinformation is more dangerous. Disinformation means the deliberate creation and spread of false information. It is conducted to influence public information and is usually used as a tactic in politics. This proliferation has caused multiple incidents of lies in various aspects. Most importantly, it endangers the Philippine political systems and elections from its roots – democracy.

In 2018, the country was labeled by Facebook executive Katie Harbath as patient zero in what was called an “infodemic” which, in essence, is cropped from the words information pandemic. However, four years and one real pandemic later, the Filipinos did not learn anything.

In fact, they even gave birth to the devious and

Karl Bryan Chavez Sipat at Dalumat

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isclaimer: Ang mga susunod na pahayag ay pawang pang kalahatang ideya. Hindi kialanman magiging mali ang magsabi ng katotohanan at kapag namulat ka sa katotohanan, kasalanan na ang pumikit.

Marami sa atin ang inaangkla na ang sarili sa kung ano ang uso at kung ano ang sigaw na nakakarami. Nakakaawa. Pilit bang nililimitahan ang sarili na tuklasin pa ang pinagmulan at pilit na binibigyang buhay ang makabagong kaparaan. Sa panahon ngayon, parang nagiging kalaban ang mga aklat at kasaysayan. Binabago ang timpla upang paboran ang mga kilalang pangalan.

Dahil narin siguro sa pagiging kilala ng iba’t ibang social media platform, napakadali

Volume 23 Issue No. 1 January to May 2022

angry Mariteses of misinformation and disinformation.

The Mariteses whose hobbies are to spread misleading information are the ones who are passionate and eager to dig up and keep an eye on every single issue, rumor, and/or bizarre. But what differs them from true news fans is that instead of looking at the credibility of the issue, they focused on spreading it to all corners of the street. Their goal, ultimately, is not to verify the information they received, but to brand it as the truth when and only when it satisfies and benefits their personal lives. (Truthfully, even some only participate in this act of Marites-ing to gain a source of entertainment or to simply meddle into other people’s

Hindi Bulag si Juan na para kay Juan ang maniwala. Isang click lamang, madadala na siya sa mundo ng panlilinlang. Karumaldumal ang sinapit ni Juan sa sistemang ninanakaw ang kanyang mga karapatan at pinapahina ang kanyang kakayahan. At kapag ang mga kaisipan ni Juan ay patuloy ng nilinlang, mahirap na sa kanya ang masilip ang katotohanan.

Sinusubok na tayo ng kasalukuyang administrasyon (at higit pang susubukin ng susunod). Kahit lantaran ng ang panloloko, nahihirapan na si Juan na makita pa ang mga ito. May mga pahayag pa ang pangulo, gabenete nito, at iba pa niyang alalay na talagang makakapagpaalma sa damdaming pilipino, pero si Juan na nalunod na sa sistema ng pagiging panitiko, ay ipinagtatanggol pa rin ang mga pahayag na ito.

Bakit ba hirap na hirap maunawaan ng ilan na ang kasaysayan ay walang kulay. Hindi pula o dilaw.

Hindi Marcos o Aquino. Hindi naman nangangahulugang sa pagitan ng mga ito, isa ang tama at isa ang mabuti dahil maaraming parehas ay mabuti o dili naman kaya ay parehas mali. Napakahalgang maunawaan ang halaga ng kasaysayan. Madadala tayo nito sa isang mekanismong maguudyok sa ating tingnan ang bawat bahagi ng lipunan ano ang mga nagawa na at ano ang dapat pang gawin.

Sa katunayan, ang higit na kalaban ng bansa ay

businesses. Not really with an ulterior motive.)

In relation to its negative effects on democracy, the interests of the victims of misinformation, once seeped into the “rule of the majority,” are often disregarded. Concepts such as consensus taking are ignored and issues initially faced with conflicting views are forced into taking the road that many take.

However, is it really the voice of the majority when it is rooted and influenced by false information?

Another type of modern-day Maritesing is coupling the deception of people with information that is filled with anger and hate.

Their envious objectives drive these Mariteses into a menacing scenario that continues to malign the truth and alter the reality. The efforts and forces they exert are dedicated not on verifying the source, nor the facts, but on recreating and perpetuating information aimed at running one’s image. To date, this kind of disinformation bombarded different social media platforms and it is always mostly seen during campaign eras when most candidates, and their supporters, invest time and money in using the impeccable fake news card against their opponents. This challenges democracy in a way that the basic human right of having the right to information is trampled over. The right to information, aside from it highlighting the access to all information on matters of public concern, justifies that the information the FIlipinos have access to must be true and verified. Therefore, the victims of disinformation are, without a better word for it, robbed of their right.

Ask yourselves: Is it true democracy when a simple human right, such as that of the right to information, is abused?

To stop beating about the bush, imagine a group of daster-dressed middle-aged women with hairs up in curlers and toes red with fresh cheap nail polish. They have their weaponized mis- and disinformation aimed at the woman that is democracy. They are envious because democracy, like the beauty that she is, oozes with power. They need to take that power.

Are you willing to give it to them?

hindi ang kahirapan, kundi ang mga pulitikong ganid at kurap mga buwaya sa kapangyarihan at uhaw sa kayamanan. Napakarami.

Marami tayong kilala pero may busal ng takot (o pera) ang ating mga bibig. At kung wala mang takip ang ating mga labi, pagiging panatiko naman ang ating taglay.

Lahat tayo ay nag aasam na maging maayos ang bansa.

Lahat tayo ay uhaw sa isang sistemang mag aangat sa buhay nating lahat. Pero bakit pinipilit parin na ibang manindigan sa balukot sa sistema at tuluyang pangunahan ang higit na katotohanan.

Maraming naging historyador sa panahon ng eleksyon, mga political analysts sa mga diskusyon, at ang kawawa at kahindikhindik, mga tanga kapag nilalatagan ng KATOTOHANAN. Ito ay isang panawagan sa lahat na maging kritikal sa lahat ng mga panahon at pagkakataon. Ang pagiging seryoso at kritikal sa paraan ng

pagtingin natin sa sistema ay kinakailangan natin upang maging bukas ang pag-iisip. Hindi natin dapat tanggalin ang piring na nakalagay sa ating mga mata.

Ang tunay na haltak ay mga taong nakasuot ng terno at kurbata, tumatanggap ng suweldo mula sa buwis ng mga tao.

Naniniwala pa rin ako na may pag-asa pa ang bayang sinilangan. Malaki ang hamon sa ating henerasyon. Kailangan nating iangkla ang ating mga sarili sa ating mga prinsipyo at halaga. Wag papaloko sa kung ano ang sinasabi ng nakararami, pinapaikot at nililing nito si Juan.

Lumaban. Manindigan.

Para sa bayan, para kay Inang Pilipinas.

Ngayong alam mo na ang pangkalahating ideya, kayanin mo sanang ilapat ito sa tunay na buhay. Kung hindi, kabilang ka pa rin sa mga Juang nilulunod ng sistema at ganagawang bulag ang mundo.

Gazette The DWCC

OPINION

The Official Student Publication of Divine Word College of Calapan

Giulianne Alessandra A. Logmao

FEARLESS AND UNRELENTING

Progressivum fidei

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The Catholic Church and Philippine politics

o the alien unfamiliar with the influence of the church and religion in the country, Philippine politics should serve as the roadmap.

In a story published by World Atlas last April, Philippines rank #4 in the list of the most religious countries in the world with a notable rating of 96%. The same resource also reported that the country is influenced by the most popular Christianity sect, Catholicism. With the Filipino population having a palpable estimate of 80% Catholics, there is no question that its Church is very influential in the state. Its leaders and believers play a huge role in nation-building through its incessant campaign for truth, goodness, justice and peace.

Correspondingly, the Church upholds the importance of its conscientious task of acting as moral beacons in guiding the faithful; thus, it is not wont in its involvement in Philippine politics. Despite the Vatican’s consistent reminders for neutrality since the first time the Church bravely expressed its opposition against corrupt and unfit politicians, it justifies its involvement as a way of addressing prevalent social inequalities. It defends that it is especially needed in a country known for its decadent and fraudulent elections.

In line with its duty

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ADVOCATE OF TRUTH, JUSTICE AND EQUALITY

in such, the Catholic Church observes one primal rule: bishops and priests have the moral duty to speak, but partisan politics should be left to the laity. This is what exactly transpired in the 2004 Elections when a broad advocacy group called the Patriots was initiated.

Composed of bishops, priests, and lay people, the Patriots, claiming to be independent poll watchdogs, champion for what it dubs as a “people’s platform of governance.” With gritted teeth, the Patriots, along with other progressive church-based groups, rattled the streets with their calls, nay screams, against massive fraud and violence during the elections. They said their presence in these protests prove that there is a problem with the traditional politics, going as far as saying that these mark the “politicization” of what is originally the apolitical Church.

But in spite of this involvement being an untainted light to its believers, a lot of whom are from the other side clamor and question the Church’s intention: Do they rally in the streets dressed in cassocks with opportunistic reasons?

Do they enjoin their believers

to fight against what they deem as wrong to gain political leverage and concessions? And lastly, did they forget about the inviolable separation of the Church and state? While all questions are valid due to the history of unscrupulous tendencies of many institutional churches, the idea of the Church risking its reputation and prestige in a conservative state such as the Philippines mirror that it is not merely for gaining the upper hand. It is the Church standing and living by its role as prophets.

The Church is tenacious in taking a stand in the Philippine elections because it recognizes its responsibility of strengthening the faith of both its believers and non-believers’ faith in fighting for what is right. It knows the big role it can play in leading its flock towards a future that follows the will of God which will ultimately bring a brighter future to the nation – “para sa Diyos at Kaniyang bayan.” In the recent 2022 Elections, it showed its courage in organizing walks, vigils, and rallies with its new generation of Patriots composed of a much unafraid and diversified group of youth and faithfuls who translate the Church’s progressive visions into action. It demands, and when it is not heard, it uses the united voices of its millions of followers.

In sum and through pondering, the Catholic Church, along with the other Christian sects, and its involvement in things that are not “church-related” like politics will always be a controversial issue; it will always

either gain glistening eyes or a side eye. The Church, through its brave and blatant renunciation of an oppressive and unjust government, only proves it is willing to take on as many side eyes just for it to fight for the true essence of the mission its Lord gave. And if that isn’t fearless, what is?

To the alien unfamiliar with how it can use its power and influence for a progressive social action, the Catholic Church should be used as the roadmap.

Sheesh-tory: The Past greets the Future

s a Filipino, do you value the history of your country?

Filipinos were known to be resilient, hospitable, joyful, family and God-loving, brave, and patriotic people. Throughout the time, though we developed these traits individually different from each other, we still possessed the very foundation of these characteristics. However, with the current trend and ever-changing attitude of the newer generations, do we see the future as resilient, as hospitable, as joyful, as family and God-loving, as brave, and as patriotic as today?

Let’s look at one of the traits that Filipinos have, patriotism. As a patriot, knowing at least the basic history first is just one of the ways of value manifestation.

Knowing such history allows valuing to happen. How could you value something you basically do not know? It is very easy to say we value such things though you really don’t. And if it still happens that we fake value this patriotism, we arrive with sarcastic and lightjoking steering ideas to still fit within the community and not lose our pride.

Take for example the #MAJOHA issue of PBB that was televised across the country. The housemates were asked to answer a trivia quiz challenging their knowledge of Philippine History. The series of questions was asked and facilitated by the

PBB host Robi Domingo such as “Si Dr. Jose Rizal ay kilala sa kaniyang palayaw na?” at “Sa anong bansag mas kilala ang Filipino General na si Gregorio Del Pilar. The PBB online page captioned this uploaded video as “exclusive pampa-goodvibes” as housemate Kai and Gabb renamed the three martyred priests, GomBurZa. Another one to look out for is the alias of Dr. Jose Rizal, one answered “J.Rizal” linking to the trend of conyo youths these days instead of “Pepe”.

It gained mixed reactions from the viewers and/or netizens. Some blamed the educational system, others called out that it is the player’s fault, while the rest looked at the ways this should be addressed. Fortunately, it finally became a major awakening for the rest of the Filipino citizens to look at their knowledge and value the country’s historical personalities and history.

“Thanks to that episode of ‘PBB’ kasi na-highlight, napag-uusapan ito. At baka naman by this revelation, maisip na uli ng DepEd na ibalik na ito,” said Benjo Basas, Teachers’ Dignity Coalition Chairperson.

Now comes the role of the DepEd in this issue with Education Undersecretary Diosdado San Antonio saying that the youth

Jonh Marc Martinez Pellucid

may have been taught GomBurZa, which is the correct answer over MaJoHa, and the country’s history, but they just forgot about it. The existence of the dedicated subject for Philippine history in high school was abolished in 2014.

While it can be true that even a third-grader or fourth-grader can answer that as it was taught in grade school, the fact is that learning is not solely the responsibility of DepEd and teachers, the learners themselves have the biggest role and influence on their own learning. Triggering the higher order of thinking and achieving the high affective outcomes can effectively go well for the students. Patriotism is one’s devotion to the country and a value we wish the future generations should still embody. For the time that GVs (good vibes) and memes are prevalent, when committing a mistake ends up coated with jokes, we may entertain it but best if we change our attitudes as some things are meant to be taken seriously. We can be wittily and creatively funny and history-valuing at the same time. If someday those three martyred priests or our national hero Dr. Jose Rizal knew this issue and greeted you, how would you react? Or better, if you are one of them, how would you feel? “Sheesh!”

Sheesh is a word used to express disappointment, annoyance, or surprise, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. In this case, sheesh!

– for disappointment.

Volume 23 Issue No. 1 January to May 2022

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Gazette The DWCC

OPINION

ADVOCATE OF TRUTH, JUSTICE AND EQUALITY

The Official Student Publication of Divine Word College of Calapan

Mikhaela Seechung

Clandestine

Mandatory ROTC: A Nursery for Abuse

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he push for Mandatory Reserved Officers Training Corps long stretches back to November 2018 as the provocative President Rodrigo Duterte suggested, and [yet again] became a matter of discussion among the public when his daughter Vice President-Elect Sara Duterte openly advocates for its revival-- should this even shock the public? Both Dutertes advocate for discipline, yet [ironically] the father and daughter tandem indulges violence [and obvious anger management issues] among their policies all under the glare of sharp-eyed media. It is said that ROTC helps the young Filipinos build values such as patriotism and character-building, however, satirically-- young R. Duterte admitted to have cheated medical documents to purposely [and supposedly rightfully] skip ROTC classes in college.

It is stated in the Republic Act No. 9163 that ROTC shall instill patriotism, love of country, moral and spiritual values, and respect for human rights and adherence to the Constitution.

Did [does] the president show an ounce of respect for human rights through his outright violent war on drugs that has reached a death toll over 12,000-- of which includes children and innocent persons. This administration has been nothing but abusive and murderous. Let us not forget [a highly prestigious Catholic school] University of Santo Thomas Cadet Mark Welson Chua whose death quietly, but not peacefully, passed by and marks 21st anniversary.

More than twenty years ago, the Thomasian cadet was found lifeless and face down in Pasig River. This sadistic incident was believed to be linked to him whistle-blowing on the alleged corruption happening in the institution. Along with fellow cadet Romulo Yumul, Chua exposed practices of corruption, bribery, and extortion in their

ROTC unit. To put more details, he had filed a complaint to the Department of National Defense which relieved the [by then] commandant Maj. Demy Tejares of his duty. In the investigation, there was a particularly questionable collection of two hundred fifty pesos (250 php) for “army patches” upon enrollment.

This is apart from the P300 ROTC fee. Other than these collection, cadets are charged P10 every preliminary and final examinations. Of course, there is also a cheat card-- pay to be exempted from the course. This ranges to a standard price of P1,500 per semester.

The following month, Chua went missing. His father then received that the son had been kidnapped, and the caller urges for a P3 million ransom.

Not having sufficient money for ransom-- Mark’s body was found hopelessly decomposing stuffed within a rolled carpet, and was fished out of Pasig River. His hands and feet were

Reizelle Mae S. Belleza

Blueprint

Concrete Cracks

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rchitecture –the course, the practice, the profession should not be belittled. Labeling it as being an added “luxury” rather than a “necessity” –an accessory to engineering rather than its partner- is becoming greatly apparent in the current house bill. It’s time to reevaluate the definition of “elevating” a certain profession outside of the familiar scope of medicine, engineering, and law in a developing country like ours.

House Bill No. 10234 or “The Philippine Architecture Act of 2022”, forwarded by Rep. Christopher De Venecia, is drafted for elevating the regulation and practice of architecture in the Philippines. It stands to retract the previous Republic Act 9266.

In hindsight, it is a good effort for the profession; however, it is not thoroughly studied. Cracks here and there are proving to be detrimental to its well-intentioned goal.

The first has everything to do with narrowing the dream door to more Filipino licensed architects by propagating the notion that to be excellently competent is to succeed Volume 23 Issue No. 1 January to May 2022

immediately. Article III, Section 23, Rating in the Licensure Examination, explicitly states that one must pass the exam in no more than three tries with a required general weighted average of 75% (past: 70%) and with the grade requirement for any subject at 65% (past: 60%). Failure to pass after three tries revokes the chance to take the exam again.

Architecture is a 5-year course with “Architectural Design” as the focus. Failing a design subject means taking another year to catch up. With it, subjects are served at a variety, catering to manual skills, adjustment to technology, laws and regulations, engineering mathematics, history,

tied, and his face was shut with silver duct tape.

Chua was one of the bravest cadets that stood.

Who knows how many countless cadets were threatened and blackmailed for when if they dared speak? How many unwilling cadets were abused and extorted simply because they had no choice?

Because it’s mandatory? Face it: the mandatory ROTC is a breeding ground for corruption, bribery, and abuse.

The revival of this does nothing but disrespect the very basic foundation of human rights-- consent.

If this continues to push, this shall only prove that the administration does not bother to look back on its atrocities and take accountability for an innocent civilian’s death. This is not a matter of instilling discipline among the youth, as there are multiple ways to educate our children about discipline-- this is a violent [and unnecessary] military tactic. Patriotism can not be simply taught by having students march on the ground with well-pat posture carrying a heavy rifle. Patriotism can only be inspired, not forcefully

instilled, if we let the youth learn about the truth.

There may be timely military conflicts happening in a global scale, but the larger issue at hand-- the Filipinos is not in need of strong arms and iron fists. The Filipinos is in desperate need of a far better educational system. Patriotism can not simply be instilled, if the youth does not clearly recognize our history. To love the country, the youth must recognize its hardships and agony under the regime of the Spaniards, Americans, Japanese, and of even the Marcoses. And, the first lesson of patriotism should be determining who we are truly against. We are against deception. Ignorance.

Yet, the elected administration for the next term built their campaign on revisionism. How do you advocate for patriotism in an administration

flooding of nepotism and corruption? How do you love your own country when your own country buries the next five generation [to be born yet] in millions of debt? Mandatory ROTC is a waste of resources and time in the Congress. There are far more important things to discuss than to breed another generation in corruption and bribery. Instead, we must breed a generation of youth that knows how to determine the truth-- like someone who would stand for the oppressed. This may not be a generation of fully Catholic pledged youth that religiously believes in the teachings, but we still have the chance to raise children with values of a good Christian-- compassionate, respectful, truthful, and shall always seek justice for those who can’t. May the truth live on forever.

theory, and more. Two years of internship closely follows after.

Clearly, well-versed architects are born from solid education and field experience.

Unfair is right. Reaching architectural ambitions isn’t easy.

Take the pandemic which has caused financial and opportune troubles from limiting movement and taking online classes that were meant to delivered in person (such as surveying) to increasing prices of recommended gadgets and thereby, decreasing the people that could afford it.

Delaying also requires more money -thus, the comments of this being “elitist”.

The second is on taking away architects from smaller lots and subsequently, letting illegal practitioners take over in Article IV, Section 35. Despite listing out the prohibited building types, it should not excuse people from consulting architects for the job they are meant to do. Architecture covers efficient management of space on the budget given with the purpose of designing suited for the laws, climate, family routine, family interest, safety, sanitation, and aesthetic.

Leave everything to the architects. 100 sq.m is better utilized by a true expert than a fake. If almost all of it is stolen by

non-architects, it leaves little to nothing for starting architects.

Article IV, Section 35-B limits the jurisdiction of the Board of Architecture as it states that they “may not conduct any administrative or disciplinary proceeding against any person who is not a registered architect” –an awaited loophole for non-architects to do as they please without consequence. It is counterproductive to the goal.

Those who pose threats to the practice should be examined and given punishment. It’s hindering that Article III. Section 21 advocates for allowing non-architects to guide aspiring architects. Letting non-architects to instruct is letting a dog teach a bird how to fly. A better alternative is editing this part to include rightful penalties.

The third, but not the last, revolves around the trust in the holistic management of architecture by architects themselves. Article II, Section 4 calls for the reformation of the Professional Regulatory Board of Architecture wherein the nine members should include 7 registered and licensed architects, 1 registered and licensed civil engineer, and 1 registered and licensed interior designer. This breeds up conflict of interest

and work. The intrusion of the two other fields: engineering and interior design will not really make the board “for architects”.

John Benedict Castillo, from the United Architects of the Philippines Student Auxiliary (UAPSA) PUP Chapter’s note that “including other professions, unless they have a dual degree and one is Architecture, will degrade the Board, lose its sanctity, and proper authority in the field,” is agreeable. It’s a glass of water with a spoon of salt and sugar disguised as normal. Architects have studied subjects that interior designers and engineers aren’t programmed to take. Let architects handle their own board as this was what they are meant for.

Architecture suffers because the Philippines seem to not trust its architects enough.

This leads to failure in suggesting for what can truly up its quality.

Amendments and bills like these should go for more consultation especially with its target people (branching through official architectural organizations, sampling through universities with architectural courses, urging in-depth comparisons with the architecture community) to fix holes that slowly wear down the promised “development”.

Gazette The DWCC

OPINION

The Official Student Publication of Divine Word College of Calapan

Auwen Febelle B. Robles Futile

Webinars or Weh?binars?

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ental health is one of the vital aspect of well-being. Educational institutions offer programs and initiatives that tackle self-understanding, awareness, communicating needs, empathy, coping mechanisms, resilience, and building a healthy support system. As part of the overall health profile, it is expected to be subject to a regular discussion.

Does it still serve its purpose? The contextual structure of mental health webinars depends on the specific topic that the advocates chose to be addressed. One example of this is stress management which is another major topic but still under the umbrella of mental health. Increasing participant knowledge is a highlighted objective and it is more often than not achieved by the webinar itself. It is at best if the webinar showcase experts and people of interest in order to give solicited opinions and knowledgeable testimonies about the certain topic. Thereafter, may be little to no flaws to be detected on the aspect of context. However, what defeats its own purpose is the design or method of delivery.

The presence of participants, particularly students, does not guarantee the absorption of message. In the software used such as Zoom Cloud or Google Meet, display of camera and presence is on the participant’s discretion which leads to lack of monitoring and control on the receiving end. A student may attend the webinar about stress management and still be stressing on other papers due on that same day. Others can also attend another webinar which is about building a healthy support system and still be scolded by their parents for always being on their phones or laptops. These events can happen and still be overlooked up to the evaluation forms.

What is the initial response of students?

“Required ba ‘yan?”

“Hala, may gagawin pa ako!”

“Pwede bang matulog

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ADVOCATE OF TRUTH, JUSTICE AND EQUALITY

nalang?”

“Webinar nanaman?”

The narrative of mental health and its importance should not be viewed in this way, but how the students respond to announcements is beyond genuine and truthful to be ignored. Getting tired of listening to important information is certainly concerning specially if the main test to ace is awareness. The success of these webinars is a two-way street, and if the other street is closed and still under construction, it causes traffic. The students’ interest in these valuable discussions must be prioritized and won over in order to establish a productive program. Consider the time, place, and their availability. Let us be honest, no one can bare listening for one to two hours worth of speech especially just after waking up, after a heavy lunch, after a taxing class, and after a long test. Even listening to the same speech while laying on a relaxing bed is hard. If you cannot still tell what this is about, maybe the word “schedule” can help.

Is it a good trade off for a free time? Still in line with the previous point, would a student choose to attend a webinar over a well-deserved break?

Mental health requires tons of rest to. Webinars can be costly but being able to relax is free.

Again, webinars are as important but what the student sacrifice in order to comply with the required attendance must also be

accounted for. Yes, students are still in the comfort of their homes while doing

this but what if one’s home is not as comfortable as others?

A schedule for a webinar can be a student’s only time to take a breath after taking care of their sibling or their sibling’s son or daughter. Not to mention the amount of working students whose shifts are not disclosed and their hardships others know nothing about.

What are the alternatives? Webinars can still be upheld but should not be a requirement. It is more compelling to the purpose if advocates consider the participants’ time, availability, and attention span. More so, the institution may focus more on the accessibility of guidance counselling for every student because it is still one of the most effective ways to address individual and adverse issues faced by its beneficiaries. It is also at best to start the action from the roots of stigma rather than the students’ behavior and practice by doing research. An example of this is knowing the causes of stress, the contribution of the institution to their current mental state, spotting potential tensions within the offices, and other specific measures.

Thereafter, formulating more research-based activities that suits the needs of each and everyone.

In general, we can always start from the bare minimum by being simply kind and considerate. To accompany individual practices and discipline, online delivery can always be optimized with other interactive projects starting from establishing a studentfriendly support system. After all, nothing beats building a healthy and welcoming community in strengthening students’ mental health and overall well-being.

Editorial Board

Donalyn N. Dasalla

Nexus

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Ties and Knots

he surge of the global pandemic plus the pressure on national elections has challenged the beliefs and relationships of the people. Supporting different candidates, there are people who eventually sever ties with their friends and family who have the hearts and choice for another aspirant. In more than a decade, there is less focus on this issue other than how it has currently become the very content of news.

We, Filipinos, are known to be one of the nations that is infamous for being family oriented. We treasure and choose our family more than anyone else but these days, throughout the time of campaign and the aftermath of the election, it looks like it is turning the other way around. Is it really necessary to disregard your companion just because their beliefs do not agree with your terms and personal bet? As people of different views and perspectives connected in the smallest unit of the society, will Sir Walter Scott’s words The blood is thicker than water matters in the course of tolerating political parties? Well, we can just respect others’ opinions and preferences and, if not, do not mind those at all. After all, the closeness we all build with someone and family relationship are more important than that.

In the course of crusade rallies of the aspirants particularly in the national government position, the cancel culture, bashing, and unfriending has been happening just like Mrs. Celestine “Toni” GonzagaSoriano, the campaign host of the UniTeam, experienced leading her to personally end terms with the reality program Pinoy Big Brother.

The worst thing that happened is the separation and cutting ties of family members and even relatives. Let us take the statement of Senator Loren Legarda’s son, Lorenzo Legarda Leviste as an example. He had written an open letter addressed to his mother after Sen. Legarda’s decision to run under the slate led by Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. and Sara Duterte.

“I am in utter grief. F*** my mother for abetting this. Their crimes are her crimes now. Make her defend them.”

I truly aclnowledge those members of families with varying choices of candidate but still in good terms from the start of campaign period up to now. From Lorenzo’s remark, all I think of is how can a child disown his own mother just because of that action she had done. Where did he get that kind of courage and where is he coming from?

Of course, It is truly a heartache for a mother to learn these words and swear from her own blood and flesh who is very dear to her. A lot of people express complete disapproval towards Sen. Legarda’s son’s behaviour which is just.

Some may say that he has the right to negate, it is his own opinion, and that is how he feels. He could be but it is unnecessary to break relations just to prove your point and promote your candidate.

We all fight and hope for the betterment of our own country and, so, we must contemplate and consider borders that we cross. We are not entitled and we do not have the right to hurt people with different credence especially our family.

Conflicting views are acceptable, however, destroying something irreversible like family relationship is unamenable. There will always be times that we can disagree but we should know our principles and values as well as areas of which are amenable to bend. We must keep in mind to respect other’s opinions and belief just like how we want other to regard us. Furthermore, as the election has ended, we must never forget to honor other people and our loved ones. After all, they are all we got.

Gazette The DWCC

Editor-in-chief: Karl Bryan A. Chavez The Official Student Publication Managing Editor: Giulianne Alessandra A. Logmao of Divine Word College of Calapan Associate Editor: Jonh Marc Martinez News Editors: Donalyn N. Dasalla, Mark Deo B. Aboboto Features Editor: Reizelle Mae S. Belleza, Mikhaela Seechubg DevComm Editors: Shiekairrah Jasmen A. Velasco, Auwen Febelle B. Robles Literary Editors: Lance Kevin T. Sarmiento, Jamaica A. Barangas Senior Cartoonist:Trunx Cortez, Jaynhar D. Dela Cruz Digital Artists: Aera Lyn Bajo, Melhanie Gean S. Bacay Writers: Lyneth Joy De Vela, Ashera Lenneth Sanchez, Jean Mary Chavez, Cielo Mae Decillo, Althea Andrei Vargas, Christian Angelo Aguilar, Avegail Ascan, Kimberly Cabral, April Joy De Claro, John Patrick De Torres, Diether Gozum, Angelou Magboo, Zechriah Tolentino, Joshua Valenzuela, and Jose Cris Daniel Bernados Moderator: Hans Jansen Dimaala

Volume 23 Issue No. 1 January to May 2022

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Gazette The DWCC

OPINION

ADVOCATE OF TRUTH, JUSTICE AND EQUALITY

The Official Student Publication of Divine Word College of Calapan

Youth Power: Igniting Change Mark Deo B. Aboboto Lumen

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ighting up the fire for a desired change became one of the goals of the Filipinos, especially the youth, who became one of the biggest, most vocal and ardent supporters of the candidate who seeks to cleanse the filth of the current government. People yearned for good governance and a new face. This has been what they were voicing out months before the national election result was announced. This year’s election is the most controversial yet the most inspiring, as everyone witnessed the strength of the younger generation, proving Dr. Jose Rizal’s claim that the youth is the hope of the nation.

Millions of young people banded together for a sole purpose: to demolish the unscrupulous individuals who were dubiously elected despite their backgrounds, tainting the history of the country. There were two huge and well-known names who successfully brainwashed

the majority: Marcos and Duterte.

Different generations of these names, but both violated the human rights and snatched the funds of the Filipino people.

In spite of the provided facts, most of the people chose to disregard the truth. This might be because of the promises of their candidates that are way too good to be true. Even with concrete evidence, no one can persuade a person to look if he chooses to keep his eyes shut. Still, the youth stood up and used their voices to fight for what the country deserves to have and for what is the right thing to do: to stop the journey of these two big names.

Many of them are first-time voters; however, the numbers that they contributed were not enough to put the deserving people in their right positions who are willing to make a difference. Many people may be disappointed by the outcome, but the positive aspect

Volume 23 Issue No. 1 January to May 2022

of the youth’s actions is that they continue to do what they started, refusing to be silenced or blinded.

There was no bribery arising in this circle. Money has no value when it comes to the integrity of this generation who conducts a thorough study about what kind of government the country needs. The youth initiatives for the different grand rallies in different areas demonstrate how volunteerism radiates to everyone of them.

The spirit of the 70s resurrected and took over the young ones, not forgetting the viciousness and dreadful cycle of life in the past. The movement that the youth started is meant to address the evil roots that our country suffered from for years already.

It is meant to cut the tangles in the government and call out those who have mistaken politics for family business.

Furthermore, despite being the only woman among the other candidates, VP Leni’s attempt to run for the presidency somehow empowered women.

She proved that women can thrive in a male-dominated field. It also exposed the misogyny of many who questioned her capabilities in leading the country. During the campaign, camaraderie was also strengthened. Diverse individuals with the same vision and points of view came together to achieve a common goal. No matter the social status, gender, age, ethnicity, and the like, as long as they stand for the country, they are already part of the family.

Contrary to what older people believe, that the younger generation is a hopeless case, these young people are hopeful.

They hope for a reform and revision, not in history but in the government. They hope for the best not only for themselves but for all the Filipino people. They are wiser and a ticking bomb that will explode once they notice a fault in the administration. All the efforts will never be in vain as she made the youth realize their power — the power to make a change and be the catalyst of change.

Jamaica Barangas Sigaw ng Kalikasan

Talo ng Malaki ang Marami

S

a kabila ng matagal nang daing at tahasang pakikipaglaban ng mga siyentipiko para sa ekolohiya, nanatili paring bingi at hindi sapat ang ingay na ito upang ang malalaking establisyemento at gobyerno ay magising sa mas malaking krisis na kinahaharap ng mundo.

Noong Abril, nagtrending sa iba’t ibang social media platform ang #LetTheEarthBreath matapos ang isinagawang protesta ng mahigit 1,000 siyentipiko mula sa ibat ibang panig ng mundo, sa pangunguna ng grupong “Scientist Rebellion”.

Kasabay nito noong ika-6 ng nasabing buwan, apat na siyentipiko ang walang pag-aalinlangang inaresto ng kapulisan sa Berlin, Germany matapos nilang igapos ang sarili sa pintuan ng gusaling Chase Bank – pinaniniwalaang naglalaan ng malaking halaga sa pagkasira ng fossil fuels, bilang pakikiisa sa nasabing gawain.

Isa sa mga dinakip ay mismong mula sa NASA, kasama ang iba pang tatlong siyentipiko.

Ang protesta ay isinagawa matapos ilabas ng Scientist Rebellion ang “Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change”, kung saan binanggit dito ang posibilidad na magkaroon ng mas malalaking sakuna kung sakaling hindi mapigil ang pagtaas ng greenhouse gasses sa susunod na limang taon.

Ang isyu hinggil sa ating kapaligiran ay matagal ng usapin at suliranin. Palagi itong kabilang sa mga programa ng ibat ibang institusyon ngunit hanggang sa kasalukuyan ay patuloy parin itong nagnganganib. Maaring may naitutulong nga ang mga maliliit na gawa, kagaya ng paggamit ng bisekleta, pagbubura ng mga sulatronikó (email), pagtitipid ng kuryente at iba pa. Subalit ang lahat ng ito ay kayang kayang tabunan ng isang higit na mas malaking negatibong aksyon na kalimitang nagmumula sa malalaking planta.

Tunay ngang ang mga gusaling ito ay simbolo ng paglago ng ekonomiya ng isang bansa, ngunit batid ng lahat na nararapat lamang higit na pagtuunang pansin ang kalagayan ng kalikasan kung saaan

nagmumula ang lahat ng pangangailangan. Mula sa papel na ginagamit upang gumawa ng pera, hanggang sa hangin na kinakailangan para huminga.

Bagaman ang katotohanan ay nakahain na, ito ay pawang hindi naman nagpagtutuunan ng tamang pansin.

Hindi sapat ang maliliit na aksyon ng nakararami kung ang mga may kapangyarihan at malalaki ay patuloy na pinagsasawalang bahala at patuloy na nagbibigay kontribusyon sa problema.

Halimbawa, 39 bilyong sulatroniko ang kinakailangang burahin para lamang matumbasan ang kulang dalawang araw na uling na nasusunog sa buong mundo.

Ang suliranin na kinahaharap ay hindi lamang basta-basta. Hindi dekada kundi taon na lamang ang binibigay na palugit ng mga dalubhasa; hindi isa bagkus lahat ng may buhay ay mapipinsala. Kung kaya’t ang mga may alam ay hindi dapat pinatatahimik, at ang mga nanglalapastangan ay hindi na dapat pinalalampas. Hindi kayang matutumbasan ng anumang pag-angat sa ekonomiya, ang masamang dulot ng pagbagsak ng ekolohiya.

Maraming kayang gawin ang indibidwal, ang maliliit na aksyon kung pagsasamasamahin ay magiging malaki, ngunit sa kalagayan na mayroon ngayon, ang pagiging marami ay hindi sapat at ang pagtulong ng malalaki ang solusyon upang mas mapabilis ang pagsasaaayos at pagbabawas ng suliraning pangkalikasan.

Gaano man karami ang tweet o posts na may #LetTheEarthBreath, kung walang sapat na aksyon sa susunod na mga taon, hindi malabo na ang nagbibigay sa atin ng hininga ay tuluyan na ding magpahinga. Gaano man kasimple ang dapat gawin, kung oras ang kalaban - hindi naititigil at hindi kayang kalabanin, sa huli, ay talo ng malaki ang marami.

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The Official Student Publication of Divine Word College of Calapan

Student Leaders IN THE PANDEMIC ERA

ADVOCATE OF TRUTH, JUSTICE AND EQUALITY

“

It is with high salute to realize how student leaders were able to the conclude the scholastic year full of trust and respect.

by Karl Bryan A. Chavez

S

tudent leadership is always viewed as a tiring job especially when loaded with academic work. During high school years, this kind of leadership is quite simple knowing that advisers and mentors are always there from the planning to the implementation of projects and activities. However, these years did not only train the leaders to do their jobs, but it also sparked the true essence of leadership within them.

In college, joining an organization is beneficial because it creates circles and groups through various trails and endeavors. But in reality, joining a group is something one must think of for a couple of times. The usual saying which goes, “College is not easy, and you have to focus on your academics in preparation for future work,” only supports the idea that tertiary education is difficult to handle because surely you will be facing tons of academic duties. The question now would be how the student leaders are, who voluntarily surrendered themselves and bravely, able to carry the extra tons of work brough about by being both a student and a leader.

Many have this thought that organizations are meant only for those who could communicate well both through words and action, in papers and presentations. But most of the students don’t know that what lies on the coordinated efforts are the hearts willing to serve and the minds ready to face multiple challenges.

Academic Years 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 have been like no other – facing multiple challenges, adopting to the new normal, making sure that transition is smooth-sailing, and solving problems that did not previously exist. It has been unexpectedly and dramatically changed by the Covid-19 crisis. No doubts that these years are filled with stress and apprehension one could not imagine as the burden carries by student leaders has been loaded even more Leadership strategies take a big leap in addressing different issues. There was a deafening outcry from the students undergoing online learning. And now, the job of leading from the corners of the laptop screen is on the top of the list.

Who can imagine that meetings now were done at past 10 pm as most of these leaders are free on that time? Who can also imagine of answering inquiries from an unknown people?

Those whose identities are hidden from the rest of the school through their anime or animal profile pictures. These are just few of the common scenario they faced. But the core of all of these is how they managed their time regardless of all the pending academic load they must do also.

COUNTLESS EFFORTS The first months of the academic year are the months for the screening and scrutinizing of the aspiring student leaders’ backgrounds, ways of leading, and qualities that are fitted in the institution. These months are the months of paper works telling how these leaders will rule, what their platforms are, and why they should be chosen or qualified. Meanwhile, there is another student organization who brings on the table the necessary procedure that should be taken to pick the best student organization to lead - another set of student leaders, the Student Electoral Board.

From planning the project and activities for their constituents, to campaigning and reaching out, to a day of either appointment or election, a bright light that sees these people initial effort surely will tell how these aspirants could have work in their next steps as leaders.

It is always the ‘how to ace the event’ and ‘how to conclude programs with flying colors’ for these young folks.

Student leaders of the pandemic era are the ones bringing the A’s when you ask for effort.

the mark of a leader who considers how their people will react to a single action. Their compassion is shown in their accountability.

Their first step has been to consult with the student body to ensure that the plans and programs are based on the majority. First and foremost, these student leaders run for office recognizing that their services are better laid to the community rather than for personal benefit.

DEDICATION Setting departmental meetings over personal concerns and family gathering dates exemplifies how these young people maintain a higher level of commitment than ever before. Imagine if instead of taking a break and breathing in some fresh air, they maintain their schedule tight by scheduling their organizational meeting on days when most of their peers are free. They’re the ones who put in whatever time and effort is required to complete the task at hand – the ones who will use up their battery until it runs out. However, the recharging of their energy bars does not begin after rest time; it will begin once the initial duties are done, and they will be assigned another one.

Given the time frame imposed by the online learning environment, the new challenge is to produce a comprehensive accomplishment report at the end of the semester, ensure that action plans are properly evaluated, and respond to ongoing complaints from their constituents. If this is not the definition of the dedication we are talking about, we don’t know that it is.

These are what we saw within the DWCC community student leaders. They will not halt until their final work was stamped done. The total effort bestowed by them may be a total picture of the constancy and loyalty to the institution. They have acknowledged that this scholarly year is challenged by numerous issues – the power interruption, the internet connectivity, the gadgets failures, the diverse environment, and a lot more. But it is continuously their heart that are on front them. It is with high salute to realize how student leaders were able to the conclude the scholastic year full of trust and respect. It is with appreciation as students to see what understudy pioneers have brought on us.

COMPASSION It is their brave voice that speaks up for its constituents, the students. Making any single decision that would have a negative impact on everyone required more work. It is

Volume 23 Issue No. 1 January to May 2022

12

ADVOCATE OF TRUTH, JUSTICE AND EQUALITY

Post-Quarantakes: How

by Lyneth Joy I. De Vela & Reizelle Mae Belleza

W

hen Covid-19 rained on our unsuspecting sunny days, life was then split into the three: the beloved before, the distressing during, and the awaited after. We’re at the almost after. Face shields are missing, empty spaces are buzzing, wide streets are crowding— it’s a going back to the before with the lingering during.

No longer the hot talk of the town, the virus (though still present) was overshadowed by discussions of problems put on hold. It’s less of chatting about running out of masks and more on running with our tasks. Slowly but surely (fingers crossed on eventually), we are shifting from the normal to the new normal to the even newer normal.

Pandemic era is a longer version of riding a jeep when the driver pulls a sudden break and you are jolted forward, then backward. Regaining the balance on our feet that we once had is no easy feat. Recovering what was stolen from us and living with what we have left is easier said than done. Lives were lost, opportunities were gone, and battles are ongoing both in and out of our selves. To all that are left standing, trying, fighting, this is our battle plan for our awaited after.

MOVE

Cages were mental so we got wasted like our potential. CoVid froze us in fear. It trapped us within our walls and halted our plans. With death being the virus’s one-call-away friend, we lost our touch with reality. Anything and everything were done through rectangular screens.

We became innocent prisoners locked in isolation, crying for the moment we are set free.

With the things you can do numbered and the things you wanted to do prohibited, energy fades and depression comes barreling in waves of numbness, self-doubt, and exhaustion.

When you are alone to deal with world, you try to control it all. Such mindset is the prologue to spiraling anxiety. Intrusive thoughts come one after another, screaming how everything is now pointless. While some may work their way around the restrictions and take a placebo (convincing that themselves that they’re strong against the enemy), burnout from taking too much, doing too much, being too much, will eventually catch up on them.

Paranoid of coughs, sniffles, and sneezes, everyone became wary. The safest option was to lie in wait. Stay in bed. Attend online. Never leave. Never go. Stay put. Lock yourself in. That’s the destructive during.

As vaccines spread and cases are reduced daily, we can breathe easy. In this in-between of during and after, our patience rewarded us with the option we weren’t readily given before: to move. Like how the body that used to lift

Volume 23 Issue No. 1 January to May 2022

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FEATURES

The Official Student Publication of Divine Word College of Calapan

to Now

weights had grown weak by pausing the routine, we need to act. We aren’t anymore confined in our beds.

We can now climb stairs up buildings for our work.

From very passive to slowly active is the way to go. Walk around. Stretch. Go outside. Do what you weren’t able to do but keep your mask on and alcohol with you. Feeling vaguely nothing from ticking off an online appointment, interacting with the offline world will surely remind you of more reasons to keep going.

EAT OUT Tired of the “ayuda” menu, it’s time to crave for something different simply because you now can.

Noodles and canned goods can now take a backseat.

Opt for the flavors you’ve missed and flavors you’ve yet to try with the amount of food spots opening up.

As health is now the priority, food is now (more than ever) a necessity. If money allows, ditch the processed goods for the natural fish, meat, fruits, and vegetables. These will provide your body the energy and immunity needed to fight your everyday battles in this almost after. Dabbling more offline than online, it’s about to get a lot physical. The added bonus of helping revitalize your brain will be a tremendous aid in fighting your mental struggles.

Your days doesn’t have to be bland. There’s also an option of taking yourself out to eat rather than having a take out delivered. As Filipinos bond over meals, this is another way to relive the fun hangouts you once had. Take this as a chance to eat with a friend and spill your problems. Consider this as a way to escape the constricting walls and be free with your family. Ponder on using this as an opportunity for exploring the outside treats yourself.

It doesn’t have to be the latest Korean barbecue house not the fanciest Western restaurant on the corner. Sometimes, it could be taking a walk and plucking a fresh banana or mango from a tree (with permission from the owner, of course). You don’t have to keep eating cold meals alone.

NURTURE WITH NATURE Dive in to the sea, not your sheets. Feel the warm light on a sunny morning instead of the cold flash of your cellphone. The chains binding you inside your house have loosened so take this as a sign to go outside.

To rise up from a slump is to refresh and what better way to do so than with the gift of nature. Give a moment for a walk where you might run into a friend or a neighbor you haven’t seen in a long time. Cool off with the waves and let your body and mind drift afloat.

Staying in your room with only your thoughts for a long time is enough to drive a sane man insane. At least, with the wonders the trees, the

mountains, and the skies can give, it becomes apparent that there is a lot more to life we can appreciate. It turns your attention away from catastrophizing and grounds you with the five senses: something you can see (the red santans, the fluffy clouds, the green leaves), something you can hear (the rustles of leaves, the crashes of waves, the song of birds), something you can smell (the salty aroma of the sea, the fragrant mangoes, the sweet jasmines), something you can taste (the sea breeze, the bitter leaves, the sweet nectar) and, something you can touch (the rough rocks, the soft petals, the cold water). In a time when our heads can fly way up and we can lose ourselves, a moment from the outside is the gravity that will pull us back into our place.

Vitamin D from sunlight, cooling from fresh waters, and exercise from the sloping trail are just some of the things we missed when we were in lockdown. Now, it all comes down to pulling ourselves off the bed and feeling the air with a renewed sense of healing, hope and, happiness.

TURN YOUR SCREEN OFF Clicking the power button off during the locked up days meant missing messages, ignored notifications, unopened alerts, and loosing touch. As everything went virtual, our screen time increased exponentially. Our phones became everything: communication, entertainment, requirement, education, and so on.

Now, we can afford to turn it off for the time being. Being in front of the screen helps in being up to date with the latest issues and trends but never on being up to date with time itself. The mindless scrolling makes us lose track of the many minutes of our days. Before, we had no other choice as we couldn’t play nor go out. With the virus ceasing, it’s time to give our phones a rest.

Lessen your screen time with the tasks that you can now do offline. If it’s to shop for clothes, try visiting the nearby thrift shop. If it’s to appease your appetite, put on your shoes and run to the nearest food

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FEATURES 13

The Official Student Publication of Divine Word College of Calapan

place. If it’s to connect with friends, make plans to safely meet and see each other in person. The more you try adding offline activities in your daily to-dos, the easier it will be to face this newer normal.

Read your e-books and watch your series after a walk under the trees. Relive playing UNO or having truth-or-dares instead of only conquering your mobile games. Cook a meal together with friends or family after months of FoodPanda and Hatid. Stray away from the online drama and find peace in the outdoor scene. More offline, less online. Don’t get trapped in your screen too much especially when you can finally avoid migraines and eye strains by leaving it off for a while.

ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THINGS HAVE CHANGED Like meeting a best friend you have lost contact with, things won’t be the same even if we wish to go back in time. Being able to adjust requires a sense of awareness. It’s looking left and right before crossing roads.

There are rants on whether or not online classes will be worthwhile, if their businesses will last, and if they can still live life fully. Pandemic brought this surprise and the uproar has yet to calm down. One way to look at it is that whether we can ease in the transition for the newer normal or not depends whether we can accept that the next moments won’t be like the past we had. It’s less now on being able to be off-cam for meetings but more on being able to arrive to the job on-time now that traffic’s on full force. It’s living with the choices you made in pandemic time and seeing where it goes rather than mulling over the prepandemic daydreams.

It’s knowing that you wouldn’t be able to see some people again but

ADVOCATE OF TRUTH, JUSTICE AND EQUALITY

knowing you need to prioritize your health more. It’s entering social events and still being fine with the temperature check. It’s finding more parcels and delivery people on your scroll. It’s accepting that the earlier years of your school life was online and that face-to-face doesn’t automatically mean more hugs and high fives.

Going with the flow may work with some but to be able to stand with the changes is difficult. Read the guidelines and restrictions still. Bring your sanitizing kit.

Have your vaccine card ready. Take medicine. Work with what you have got. It may not be like before, but see it as a period of being cautious but experimental.

LIVE WHILE BELIEVING IN THE UNKNOWN We are too young to know it gets better, but somehow, too old to believe in the power of wishing wells and shooting stars in prayer.

A common denominator to all treacherous thoughts is the fear of the unknown. Forego fear; forward with faith. While we are too busy fretting over how everything will possibly go wrong, we seem to forget that there is still a chance that everything will be alright.

If the distressing during was filled with fear and doubt, the awaited after should account for hope.

We may be the ones too overwhelmed with planning, predicting, and processing but the simple truth that there is so much to know and so much we don’t know should tell us that we can let loose. Trust in what you know and don’t know. If what gives you strength was knowing God is there, continue with your prayers and let Him take care of you. Never waver, because soon, it’ll get better.

24 hours is too short to spend it all on worrying and regretting the what could be’s. Live slowly and adjust with what you can for the time being. If there’s anything this pandemic made us understand for the better, it’s that humans have limitations and our wellbeing can’t be traded for anything else (even the glimmering gold or the newest iPhone).

Rest, recuperate, and run. You can never be ready for all the curve balls the world throws at you, but you can always be ready to stand up and dust off your shirt after falling from the ground.

As school and work is reverting back to its offline state, we may become pressured to go back to the way we managed during our beloved before. Going from the before to the during was tough and going now from the during to the after isn’t as simple as a costume change. Still, our battles will continue and we’ll head to the awaited after in baby steps (silent, tumbling, but trying and moving).

Volume 23 Issue No. 1 January to May 2022

Gazette The DWCC

14 FEATURES ADVOCATE OF TRUTH, JUSTICE AND EQUALITY

The Official Student Publication of Divine Word College of Calapan

by Shiekkairah Jasmen Velasco

O

ur closets become personal mirrors, reflecting personalities that scream “me”. When we go to a boutique to fill the space up, being adventurous in what we choose excites us, and we will always have a go-to store where almost every style is offered. From your mother’s neon jazzercising outfits to your sister’s trendy and aesthetic outfits, they got it all in the bag.

u: The llows Yo o etter F rm o F l Trend-S a u s a C s Busines As a business casual trend-setter, your style should be centred on looking smart and comfy without being overly formal. Ms. Erika Joy Gutierrez has found her comfortable workplace vibe as she launches her “Sew in Style ‘’ business out of a love for fashion. She has a huge desire for clothes, which she channels into something that will undoubtedly benefit her in becoming an independent young woman who can manage her finances and provide for her family.

Entrepreneurs will face a dilemma at the start of the business process and Ms. Erica was no exception. Starting from the ground up, everything is unknown, including success, because you don’t know if people will appreciate your product and support you on your business path. Ms. Erika is fortunate to have a supportive family that has become her anchor as she begins her business, and as a result, Sew in Style officially launched last July 22, 2020. Sew in Style is known for its quality as Ms. Erika is meticulous in everything she does. Applying it to her business, she’s always after the quality of her products and will not compromise on it ¬–which defines her and her company from others.

It’s not easy balancing a young entrepreneur-student life, yet Ms. Erika managed to become a Dean’s Lister.

There is no doubt that it is physically, emotionally, and mentally draining for her to maintain her Dean’s List status while running her brand, but her determination and perseverance are far stronger than any of that. Now that she has enough money to make ends meet, she is paying for her own tuition and monthly expenses, as well as financially supporting her family. She has become a business casual trend-setter as a result of her impeccable style of managing her stocks and her life.

Volume 23 Issue No. 1 January to May 2022

True Style Never Dies: The Vintage Lover As a Vintage Lover, you primarily shop secondhand vintage pieces and pair them with modern pieces. Ms. Rhea Ann Lanto didn’t wear vintage clothing to be fashionable; instead, she used it to support herself and her mother financially.

Some of us consider thrifted clothing to be rubbish, but for this young entrepreneur, every thrifted item is gold. Ms. Rhea’s two cousins, one of whom is a thrift cloth supplier, were able to persuade her to pursue the business world. Thus, “Felicia” was born.

Ms. Rhea witnessed her mother’s difficulties as she grew up to provide her with the life she deserved after her father died while she was in Grade 9. She has witnessed all of her mother’s sacrifices and yearned to alleviate her mother’s burden. However, beginning a business is tough for her because she has no money and no means of promoting her items to start with. However, this did not deter her from continuing her trade. Her two cousins assisted her in starting the business by supplying her with thrift clothing to sell, despite the fact that she does not have money to pay them for it before receiving the products. Eventually, Ms. Rhea also found ways to publicise her wares,

and Felicia formally debuted on May 18, 2020. Felicia is known for its high quality since Ms. Rhea ensures that every product is as fine as new. She is also a risk taker with the ability to turn rubbish into gold, which identifies her and her brand.

As a Vintage Lover, your style is quite adaptable, and it’s a perfect place to start if you’re interested in sustainable fashion options or prefer to customise. Ms. Rhea has thus become adaptable as a student and a young entrepreneur. Every student, including Ms. Rhea, finds the transition from faceto-face to online classes difficult. She finds it difficult to adjust, but with the help of her mother and boyfriend, she is able to remain adaptable and continue her business. Now she can express with a smile on her face that her business placed them at ease, especially during the pandemic when her mother lost her job. She was able to pay for her education and help her mother financially.

Indeed, true style, like her love of vintage, never goes out of style.

“

Fashion flairs that we choose to display grow and change by experience. We can be like Ms. Diane, a Fashionista, Ms. Ericka, a Business Casual Trend Setter, or Ms. Rhea, a Vintage Lover. Like them, you have the choice to walk fashionably or turn your closet into cash –an opportunity to spend life in style.

Classy Fro

m Head to T The Fashio oe: nista

You are a fashionista if you are not scared to adopt new trends and break new ground of fashion.

Ms. Diane Aguilucho is the type of individual who isn’t particularly business savvy. She is the type of person that enjoys making purchases online and in- person, particularly garments. However, she enters the realm of entrepreneurship in the same way that the style Fashionista does. She decided to start a clothing business called “Hermana’s Clothing” after realising she was spending too much money on garments and not wearing them all. She also wants to make a profit for her allowance and financially support her family.

It’s not simple to start a business, especially if you don’t have any money to begin with. Ms. Diane began by selling baked macaroni cooked from scratch, and she then utilised the proceeds to market a wider range of foods. As soon as she has enough money to start the business she wants, she finally goes out and buys clothing in bulk. She also raised money by selling unused clothing from a family member.

Hermana’s Clothing was formally launched in March 2020, after she gained confidence and took a major risk. Hermana’s Clothing is renowned for its highquality while being affordable. Ms. Diane believes that the consumers’ experience with her product is more essential than the profit she will make, which differentiates her and her business from the others.

Just like a fashionista who must adapt to the latest trends and feel at ease wearing over-thetop statement pieces, Ms. Diane should adjust in order to run her business as a student. She does have a hard time balancing being a student and an entrepreneur, leading to moments when she was not able to pass her activities and release her stocks on schedule. To ease this distress, she chose to concentrate on her studies and only work at Hermana’s Clothing when she has spare time. If she feels her finances are getting short, she will grab her phone and begin live selling, especially since limited face-to-face classes are an option. Now, she can confidently assert that she pays for her tuition, that she can now afford her wants and needs, and that she was able to pay her family back. Truly, she is a Fashionista with forward goals on her head and style by the toe.

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The Official Student Publication of Divine Word College of Calapan

ADVOCATE OF TRUTH, JUSTICE AND EQUALITY

YOU GOT A

FRIEND

by Mikha Seechung

W

IN DWCC

ho else can listen better to a student’s protests than a fellow student?

Ever since the pandemic started, it somehow felt thrice harder to reach out friends and vent out.

Despite the convenience social media offers, the loneliness pushes itself harder. Ironically, we are at an era where we can easily communicate with one another using different platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Telegram, with one flick of a finger—but why do we feel farther away from one another? It is indeed undeniable that social media has caused people to drift away even more so when the pandemic crisis started.

The pandemic and the abrupt stop of social interactions among regular face to face classes have indeed dramatically affected the mental health of the student. But, as asked—who else can better interpret the cry of a student but another student? Self-founded peer supporting groups take initiative to lend a listening hotline. Such project exists in Divine Word College of Calapan with the lead of the officers from School of Liberal Arts and Criminal Justice called “Project Dial-a-Friend.”

With the lead of Rain Rhymes F. Abanador, the PDAF project aims to connect its volunteers with students struggling with problems such as depression, burnouts, self-harming thoughts, and other mental health issues. This may not fully alleviate the mental health problems, but it helps to be listened to. They aim to pose a friendly image so that clients may feel at ease, as if talking to a close friend, and vent out comfortably.

How to connect to PDAF? If you’re interested in this project, here’s how to connect with the volunteers: Step 1. Proceed to the official SLA-SCJ website and find the PDAF section. You may access the website here: https://sites.google.com/.../dwcc.../project-dial-a-friend Step 2. Choose among the platforms and contact details that are provided. Take note that you may contact them anytime of the day! PDAF has over forty volunteers that are willing to take your calls even if it’s early in the morning or late in the evening. Their lines will always be open and are willing to be your friend.

Step 3. Contact the volunteers through your selected platform. The PDAF supports platforms such as local text messages and calls, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Telegram, Discord, Google Meet, and email.

Step 4. Kindly and patiently wait for a volunteer’s response. Sit back and relax.

Not to worry, the conversations made in between clients and volunteers are strictly confidential and are kept for documentation purposes. However, if you are interested to be a volunteer in this project, you may sign up in this form: https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSc0ru8jmu.../viewform...

The PDAF had helped multiple clients through its first six months of operation. This will be continued upon the accession of the next officers of the school for the upcoming academic year 2022 – 2023.

Always remember it’s never bad to ask for help. A friend that is willing to listen is a friend that’s worth keeping. As college students, it is important to mind academic matters, but it does not come close to the relevance of your mental health. No matter what happens, you have to remember what matters the most— your sanity! Keep it up, you’re doing good, friend!

“

A friend that is willing to listen is a friend that’s worth keeping. As college students, it is important to mind academic matters, but it does not come close to the relevance of your mental health.

Volume 23 Issue No. 1 January to May 2022

Gazette The DWCC

16 ADVOCATE OF TRUTH, JUSTICE AND EQUALITY

BEHIND MANY

FACES

by Cielo Decillo

Thousands of cities to where we can flee, Plenty of bloodlines that set us from people we see, In between streets which are wide and free, How can I know if you belong with me?

Endless figures are what I see Walking sideways and passing through me.

Just when I’m about to twitter in secrecy, My eyes caught familiar faces in glee.

Sighted how folks of more than three Changed my worries to positivity.

Now I see it clearly; The perfect picture of camaraderie.

Amidst the road that’s noisy, I see how busier varies from busy.

The endless calls overseas While peddling goods as grabbed opportunity.

How much challenge should test me To thrive as hard as they have shown me?

How much strength and courage should I breed To keep me striving to have gone to this?

Over the clouds if you would see Filipino faces soaked in living opportunity, Taken away from Sunday nights and weekend trips.

Behind many faces, yours is what always captured me.

WHEN UNITY MEETS

DIVERSITY

by Christian Angelo Aguilar

Liquor of hospitality poured everywhere, Daily dose of smiling faces to barter A priceless exchange of niceness that would trigger An outsider to stay; no one can offer.

Temporary anguish to be instantly tied, Cohesive resiliency can’t be set aside On horrible face of typhoons, quakes, or landslide, Aftermath, yet still looking on the good side Divided by islands spread that of thousands, Shared culture screams etymological brands.

Differs in color, religion, and dialect Unified by pride, bravery, and intellect Rare excellence harmonized with humility, That humbleness in spite of integrity, The honor of empathy every tragedy, Distinctive qualities with no ambiguity Simplicity in lifestyle, rich in diligence; Massive kindness overload is just out of fence.

How we kill a job and workload with confidence, Where there’s a Filipino, there’s a difference.

Volume 23 Issue No. 1 January to May 2022

The Official Student Publication of Divine Word College of Calapan

CHOSEN FAMILY

by Lance Sarmiento

a chosen family is made up of people who have been intentionally chosen to embrace, nurture, love, and support each other regardless of blood or marriage - Bahiyyah Maroon their self-loathing borderlines built to stand through furious times the spiking road, walking downtown bypassers’ deafening silence renown you can’t be like this, you should be like that foresight reasoning of a book, who taught you to blend in the dark your parents wicked, my father’s one too if i’ll show you my trauma, would you trade me for two? different bloods running our veins different stories behind our names burdened by own home’s unbridled rage not a mortal cage could ever save take me, break me free like a skylark in an eggshell shed your snakeskin for June is coming hungered warmth, freeing storm, gentlest farewell’s living we are despite what they told us we aren’t and even stronger, take his hand, take her hand, take their hand we’ll move to utopia together, forever for where i came from is not my dynasty, i am.

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ADVOCATE OF TRUTH, JUSTICE AND EQUALITY

Sundays 7PM at

D

by Reizelle Belleza

ining tables and broken chairs — there is something oddly haunting and comforting about them.

On Mondays riddled with schedules to keep up with the clock, it’s littered with papers and ghosts. A mess is what they’d call it. By the time the siren rings for noon, a hand swipes all the clutter to the side to rest a heavy plate. I eat in the company of workloads and to the sound of radio static. For the whole hour, I only see them for a minute or two. My waving hand hangs in the air.

Sunday evenings with nowhere to go are my second favorite (The first, of course, are dinner trips to Jollibee or to a shoreline café). Papa would cut a leaf from the banana tree and Mama would reheat lunch on the gas stove.

I’d come down, donning my pajamas and my sister would follow, wearing hers. The leaf would plate a mix-match display that would leave Ramsay screeching. There’s fish from lunch, vegetables from breakfast, chicken from across the street, mangoes from the trees behind, kutsinta from her late night shift, barbecue from his pocket money, and the rice (never forget the rice). This was the quiet indulgence and treat from the week’s work that Mama has dubbed as a “once/ twice a month tradition” and surely, it was the loudest declaration of love I had seen in this house.

They would debone the fish and save the meatiest parts for me. I can do it by myself, but they would beat me to it and place all of it

on my side of the table. I’d wordlessly pour water on their cups to the brim while my sister pushes the plastic of mangoes (my parents’ favorite) to them. Jabs, here and there, were made.

Flashbacks to them breaking the plastic dining chairs fill the room. Laughter (shrieks, burps, and crunches) rings loud and overpowers the radio static. It was dark out, but it sure was brighter than it was last Monday noon.

(The hopeless romantic in me only used to see love in serenades and ballads. Imagine the slow surprise when it finally sinks in that love sounds like squeaky chairs from its restless occupants, tinkling silverware, fizzy soda, and Sunday night boodle fights from a family of four. It’s a different kind of love but it was never less than the ones Shakespeare wrote. Maybe, it could even be more.)

This table, I reckon, is a place of love in a life where shouting the “three words” was never a family routine.

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The Official Student Publication of Divine Word College of Calapan

Volume 23 Issue No. 1 January to May 2022

Gazette The DWCC

18 ADVOCATE OF TRUTH, JUSTICE AND EQUALITY

The Official Student Publication of Divine Word College of Calapan

LUPIG NG

LUBID ni Jamaica Barangas

Tiningala kita habang ikaw ay nakabitin Hinawakan kita, at lamig ang dumampi sa akin Sa sulyap na iginawad ko sayo Ramdam ko na ang ngalay sa leeg ko Tanda ko pa ang naramdaman kong inggit ng ikaw ay napunta sa iba Ano kayang pakiramdam mangalay ang leeg at madampian ng naglilipat na lamig dahil sa dami ng medalya?

Akala ko ay nasayang na ang pagod na inilaan ko sa eskwela, Ngunit mas sayang pala ang sa kanya, sapagkat mag-isa niyang tinggap ang medalya Ang pakiramdam ng nakabitin patiwarik Upang makita ang halaga ng buhay ay pawang masakit na halik Tagumpay na walang saysay Matikas na tindig ngunit nakahayahay Ang lubid na nagtatali sa mataas na pangarap, Kung yari sa ganid Ay mahirap putulin at kumawala Imposible nang bumaba at ibalik ang tapak sa lupa Ang pagbagsak ay nakakatakot Habang sa paglapag ay aral ang baon Kung ang lubid ay gawa sa pagmamahal Pangarap ay mananatiling abot kamay at pagbitin ay hindi na kailangan Ang lamig ng medalya at karangyaan pala ay nakakaparalisa, Lalo na ng puso na puno ng pagnanasa Ang init ay hindi pala masama Lalo na kung galing sa yakap ng taong sa atin ay sumusuporta Huwag magpalupig sa lubid, Ito’y putulin, dito ay kumawala Leeg ay itungo, at ilingon sa kanan at kaliwa Ang buhay sa mata ng karamihan, ay mas masayang pagmasdan Walang masama sa pag-angat, Kung ito ay para sa lahat Ngunit ang bumitin mag-isa sa karimlan Ay bangunot na hindi natatapos, lalo na’t patuloy nang lumalayo sa karaniwan Kung masyadong mataas, Pagiging isa o pagiging mag-isa Kung masyadong mahigpit, Mag-iinit o manlalamig?

Iligtas ang natitirang pagmamahal Sa pamilya, kapwa at sa buhay Ganda ng buhay ay hindi mo makikita mula sa itaas Ito ay nasa mata mo, at puso ng taong nasa paligid mo

Volume 23 Issue No. 1 January to May 2022

KINAYA ni Jean Mary Chavez

“

Isa, dalawa, tatlo, apat...”

“Pampito, pangwalo, pansiyam, pansampu...”

Kahit ilan pang bisita sa bahay ang dumating. Kakilala man ng magulang o kahit minsan ay hindi pa, alam na alam ang pangunahing kaugalian ng mga Pilipino.

Wala nang mas gaganda pa sa katangian na alam na alam mo, sa mga karakter ng isang tunay na Pilipino. Sa pagpasok ng makabagong panahon, ang buong akala natin ay wala na. Minsan nakakapagod ring magpakatao dahil sa mga nangyayari. Ngunit nananatili at lalong ipinapakita ng mga Pilipino ang totoong kulay at mabuting katangian na meron ang isang Pilipino lalong- lalo na sa panahon ng paghihikahos at kalamidad. Sa ngiti at kahalihalinang diyalekto pa lang, masasabi mong Pilipino ka.

Pilipino ka pa rin. Pilipino tayo.

Pilipino tayo. Sanay tayo na nasasaktan pero nagagawa pa ring tumawa at magpasaya ng mga tao sa paligid natin. Sanay

tayong maging matiisin habang inaabot ang mga pangarap. Kahit ang maiuwing ulam sa hapag sa dapit-hapon ay sardinas at dalawang pirasong itlog para sa anim mong anak, masaya pa rin dahil alam nating maraming umaasa sa atin at palagi tayong nagpapasalamat kahit sa maliliit na bagay sa buhay natin. Pilipino tayo. Matakluban man ng abo galing sa bulkan o ng mataas na lebel ng tubig ang bahay at ari-arian natin, nagagawa pa rin nating tumulong sa ibang mas kailangan nito. Pilipino tayo kasi selfless tayo at matiisin sa buhay.

Pilipino tayo dahil marunong tayong gumalang sa iba’t-ibang kultura ng isa’t-isa.

Malikhain at ginagawan nang

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ADVOCATE OF TRUTH, JUSTICE AND EQUALITY

IKAW

AT ANG DUGONG NANANALAYTAY SA’YO ni April De Claro

Ilaw ng tahanan, dinala ka sa sinapupunan nang siyam na buwan, Buwan pagkatapos niyan, binilhan ka ng laruan, ika’y sinuklayan at binihisan, Binihisan at binuhusan ka ng pangaral, nang ‘di matulad sa batang gamu-gamong napariwara, Napariwara ma’y tatanggapin ka pa rin, maanong mahalin mong wagas, pakinangin ang mga mata.

Sa ilang haliging nasa bahay ninyo’y siya ang pinakamatibay - hindi bato, hindi kahoy, Kahoy nga rin sigurong rumurupok, may paghihirap rin at mga panaghoy, Panaghoy na di alintana, buhayin ang pamilya kapalit ma’y dugo at pawis, Pawisan ka man sana’y palakasin mo ang loob niya at suportahan nang walang kulang o labis. mas makabuluhang bersyon ang buhay dahil Pilipino tayo. Hindi tayo mapanakit. Ang mga Pilipino mas pinipili na magtrabaho sa ibang sulok ng mundo dahil doon tayo magaling— sa pagmamalasakit at pagiging mapagpahalaga sa trabaho at sa kapwa ano man ang lahi at katangian ng kapaligiran.

Ang Pilipino, hindi lamang sa MAPEH magaling kumanta at sumayaw, gumuhit, at makipagkompitensya sa larangan ng sports. Ang katatagan at pagkamalikhain ay nakakaabot saan mang sulok ng mundo. Hindi lang talento ang maipagmamalaki.

Ang buong pusong pagsuporta sa kabayan ay talagang kahangahangang katangian ng isang Pilipino.

Iba ang bugso ng damdamin kapag Pilipino na ang sinusuportahan at sumusuporta.

Higit sa lahat, Pilipino tayo dahil may pinaniniwalaan tayong isang Diyos. Kahit ilang bagyo o pagsubok man ang dumating, ika nga, mapagpasalamat pa rin tayo sa Kanya. Sa kabigatan ng loob, sa kasiyahan, at sa panahong pinakamababa at minamaliit tayo,

Diyos pa rin ang una sa lahat dahil Pilipino tayo.

Isa, dalawa, tatlo, apat... pampito, pangwalo, pansiyam, pansampu... Kahit maubos man ang pansariling kanin at pang-ulam para lang sa mga bisita, kakilala man ng magulang o kahit minsan ay hindi, Pilipino pa rin tayo; Sanay na rumerespeto ng bawat isa kahit iba-iba ang paniniwala sa buhay.

“

Sa kabigatan ng loob, sa kasiyahan, at sa panahong pinakamababa at minamaliit tayo, Diyos pa rin ang una sa lahat dahil Pilipino tayo.

“Mahalin mo ang iyong ama’t ina,” iya’y nakalimbag bilang ika-5 sa 10 utos, Utos nila’y mahalin ang iyong kapatid, ikaw ma’y panganay na madalas nagpaparaya o bunsong pinagbibigyang lubos, Lubos ka mang nagdaramdam sa ilang tampuhang malalim o mababaw, iba’t iba o pare-pareho, Pare-pareho pa rin ang dugong nasa inyong mga ugat, pagmamahal na lang sana’t kompromiso.

At ikaw namang anak at kapatid na nagmamahal, nagbibigay sigla at inspirasyon, Inspirasyon mo rin ang iyong pamilya at sa kanila’y nagmumula ang dahilan mo sa pagbangon, Pagbangon mo sana’y ‘wag mong ipagkait sa iyong sarili ang pagtanggap at pag-ibig na nararapat mong matanggap, Matanggap ka man o hindi ng lahat, gusto kong malaman mong ikaw ay higit pa sa sapat at ‘di mo kailangang magpanggap.

Hindi lingid sa’yo, kumpara sa tubig, ang dugo mong nananalaytay ay mas matimbang at mahalaga, Mahalagang huwag mong sugatan ang sarili, at pamilya mo’y mahalikan o mayakap naman sana, Sana pagdating ng araw at kayo’y magkahiwalay na’t magkaroon ng sari-sariling buhay, Buhay ang inyong koneksyon, babalik at babalik kayo ni Ate at Kuya sa tahanang binuo ni Nanay at Tatay.

Volume 23 Issue No. 1 January to May 2022

Gazette The DWCC

20 LITERARY ADVOCATE OF TRUTH, JUSTICE AND EQUALITY

The Official Student Publication of Divine Word College of Calapan

Mama

ANG LARO ni Angelou Magboo

“

NI

Ako yung batang ayaw masugatan ... . . . Ni Mama” Habang pinapanood ko ang mga kalarong nag-iintay sa labas ng aming bakuran, ako naman ay nilalangisan at sinersermonan ni Mama. At sa dinami– dami niyang sinabi ay hindi pa rin niya akong pinayagang makapaglaro.

Dahil lamang sa isang sugat sa siko, nakasimangot na naman kaming naglalaro ng video games sa loob ng kwarto.

MULAT

by Shiekairrah Velasco

Kalampag ng plato, kutsara’t tinidor Boses na sing lakas ng makina ng motor At isang malakas na hampas sa aparador Ang siyang pumutol sa aking pagiging doktor Gumising ka na! bulyaw niya sa akin Tumulong ka naman sa paghahain ng pagkain!

Napabalikwas kaagad sa takot na mahampas ng tingting Ganyan man si inay masarap naman ang kanyang kakanin Kaagad naman akong dumiretso sa hapag kainan At hain na pagkain ang aking naabutan Kaya naman umupo na ako sa kanyang harapan Salamat kuya at ako’y kanyang nginitian Inay, itay kakain na! ang sambit sa kanila At sabay-sabay naming pinagsaluhan ang nilagang saba Pati na rin ang kakanin na luto ng aking ina Tunay na kay sarap nawa’y meron pa mamaya Diretso kaagad sa labas upang ako’y makapaglaro Ngunit sitsit ni itay ang sa aki’y nagpahinto Bunso tulungan mo naman ako sa aking pag-aararo Kaya kaagad kaming tumakbo papunta sa may kubo Pagsapit ng tanghalian kahit malayo’y amoy Ang niluluto ni inay na sinigang na baboy Halina at kumain na kayo aking tutoy At kaagad naman akong tumalon sa tinutungtongang kahoy Bago pa man makalapit ako’y napahinto Isang malakas na busina ang dahilan ng kanilang paglaho Ng isang masayang pamilya na roon ko lang makakatagpo At pagmulat ng mga mata, nananaginip lang pala ako Busina at usok ang tanging nanggigising sa akin Hindi ang bulyaw ng isang inang ika’y pinaghahain Hindi rin gigising na ang pagkai’y nakahain Sapagkat kailangan pa ito’y sa kalsada’y sunsunin Sana’y magkaroon din ng masayang pamilya Upang maramdaman ang pagmamahal at pag-aaruga Dahil ito ang nararapat na ibigay sa bawat bata At hindi ang paghihirap at pangungulila

Volume 23 Issue No. 1 January to May 2022

“Luksong tinik?”, “Bawal pa rin ba?”, tanong ulit nila.

“Ano iyang naririnig ko!

Kung ayaw niyo sumunod sa akin’y mabuti pa ay magsi-uwi na kayo!”, bulyaw ni Mama. Sa kanilang paglisan, naramdaman kong tila nakapiit pala talaga ako sa sariling kong tahanan.

Isang araw, naisipan kong umalis nang hindi man lang nag-iiwan ng kahit anong bakas o paalam. Ako’y nagdako sa kaibigan at sinamantala ang pagkakataon maging isang tunay na bata.

“Piko…Patintero…Taguan…Tumbang preso …Sipa At…”, “At luksong tinik!”, ang aking pagsigaw.

Kasabay ng pagkain ng pinagbabawal na kornik at softdrinks, pinangako sa sariling huling pagsuway na iyon upang maranasan man lang maging masaya kahit sa isang buong maghapon. Hindi ko man lang namalayang nagalusan na pala ako pero binalewala ko lang ito sapagkat di nito matutumbasan ang kasiyahan na aking nadarama sa pakikipaglaro.

Maya maya pa’y isang boses na pamilyar ang bumungad papalapit sa akin.

“Uy Papa mo”, takot na bulong ng aking kaibigan.

Napatayo na lang ako at nakuha niya ako sa isang titig. Habang binabagtas ang daana’y hindi ko mawari ang sasabihin kay Mama. Isang boses ang namutawi sa harap ng silid.

“Maayos na po ang asawa nyo Sir. Siguro konting pahinga lang para maiwasan ang anxiety attacks. Kaya ikaw totoy, wag mo na uling gagawin yun ha!”, sambit ng doktor.

Habang binubuksan ang pinto’y ramdam ko pa rin ang pagiyak at paghalinghing nito.

Bumungad na lang sa akin ang sari saring larawan sa kwarto na ang ila’y yakap yakap ni Mama. Hindi ko inaasahan ngunit malumanay siyang nagwika: “Siya si Oliver, siya yung kapatid mong nawala 10 years ago. He got stuck in the railway track habang naglalaro. Sana anak kung mawawala ka lang din, hindi tulad nang kung paano ako iniwan ng kapatid mo― walang paalam.”

Niyakap ko si Mama nang kay higpit habang dumadausdos ang aming luha. Sa araw na iyon, tila’y nagbago ang ihip ng hangin at gumaan ang pakiramdam ni Mama. Laking gulat ko na lamang na pinapayagan na rin niya akong lumabas. Sa bawat paglisan ay iisang paninigurado lang ang nasasambit niya: “Enjoy ka ba?”

At sa bawat sagot kong “Opo Mama!” ay may umaaliwalas ang mukha niya.

Mas naramdaman kong ganap akong bata ― nakakapaglaro at malayang subukan ang maraming bagay.

Sa isang pamilya, hindi sa higpit ng kapit masusukat ang pagpapahalaga ng bawat miyembro. Mas mahalaga kung tutuusin ang kalayaang maging masaya at manatiling umiiral bilang kasapi nito.

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ADVOCATE OF TRUTH, JUSTICE AND EQUALITY

Sapatos ni AMA ni Kimberly Cabral Buong pagkamangha kong tinitingnan ang suot na sapatos ng aking kaklase, aniya ay galing daw ito mula sa ibang bansa at padala ng kanyang ama. Hindi ko maalis ang aking paningin sa kanyang sapatos habang napamutawi na lang ako sa katagang sana all. Hindi ko man ninanais pero nilukuban ng inggit ang aking puso sapagkat alam kong ni minsan ay hindi ako makakapagsuot nang ganoong sapatos sapagkat ang aking ama ay isang hamak na drayber lamang, samantalang walang trabaho ang aking ina. Inggit na inggit ako sa kanya, na ‘di kalaunan ay nauwi sa tila pagkamuhi ko sa aking mga magulang, lalo na sa aking ama, sa kadahilanang wala siyang kakayahan na ibili rin ako ng ganoon kagandang pares ng sapatos.

Kinahapunan, mabigat ang mga yabag na lumabas ako sa aming silid-aralan pagkatapos ng huli naming klase para sa araw na iyon. Agad kong inilibot ang aking paningin at pilit hinanap ang aming luma nang motor na kulay pula na aking sasakyan upang makauwi sa aming bahay. Sa gitna ng paghahanap, muli na namang nilukob ako ng inggit sapagkat kaygaganda ng sasakyan na sundo ng mga kaklase ko, karamihan ay mukhang mga bagong kotseng kaylinis tingnan. Napasimangot naman ako nang matanaw ko na ang aming motor na pula na halatang pinaglumaan na ng panahon: kumupas na pintura, kalawanging makina, at upuan na may dalawang maliit na butas.

Sa aming paglalakbay pauwi ng aming bahay ay naiisip ko kung bakit hindi patas ang buhay, lahat ng kaklase ko ay nakakaluwag o ‘di kaya ay mayaman, samantalang ako ay kailangang mag-ipon ng ilang buwan upang makabili ng mumurahing sapatos sa palengke.

Ay sapatos! Naalala ko na naman ang sapatos.

Gustong-gusto ko talaga iyon, ngunit alam kong hindi naman ako magkakaroon nang ganoong sapatos sapagkat sa aming pagkain at bayaring utang pa lamang ay kulang na ang sahod ng aking ama. Alam ko na! Gagamitin ko na lang ang aking ipon upang mapalitan ko na ang dalawang taon ko nang suot na sapatos, kahit hindi iyong maganda at branded, ang mahalaga ay magkaroon ako ng bagong sapatos.

Nang yumuko ako upang tingnan ang aking sapatos ay hindi sinasadyang natuon ang pansin ko sa sapatos ni Ama. Tila ay sinasakal ang aking dibdib sa aking nakita: ang pares ng sapatos ni Ama na dating kulay itim ay naging grey na ang kulay, nakanganga na rin ito at kita na ang swelas, ang dalawang sintas sa magkabilang sapatos ay magkaiba ang kulay. Bigla ay naalala ko ang panahong halos manlumo si Ina nang makitang nginatngat ang sintas ng kabiak ng sapatos ni Ama, wala na raw masusuot si Ama dahil iisang pares lamang ng sapatos ang meron siya. Naroon ako noong halos maglupasay si Ina sa labis na kalungkutan at pag-iisip kung saan siya kukuha ng pera upang bumili ng bago. Naaalala ko na! Naaalala ko na kung paanong pilit na ngumiti si Ama at inalo si Ina, sabay sabing masusuot pa naman ang kanyang sapatos dahil sintas lamang ang wala.

Pumunta siya sa kapitbahay namin at humingi ng isang sintas ng sapatos.

Bagamat magkaibang kulay ang sintas, masaya pa rin si Ama dahil may sapatos pa rin siya. Tanda ko pa noong araw na iyon, bago niya ako ihatid sa eskwelahan ay binilhan pa niya ako ng bagong kamiseta upang may bago raw naman akong gamit na maaari kong ipakita sa aking mga kaklase, ibinigay na rin niya sa akin ang meryendang inihanda sa kanya ni Ina upang may dagdag pagkain ako at hindi ako magutom.

Hindi ko namalayang basang-basa na ang

aking pisngi mula sa mga luhang kumawala sa aking mga mata. Kung kanina ay inggit at pagkamuhi ang aking naramdaman, ngayon ay tila pinipiga ang puso ko sa naging reyalisasyon. Ah, sobrang mahal ako ni Ama! Hindi ko man kailangan ng bagong blusa ay binilhan pa rin niya ako sa halip na ipunin niya ang pera pambili ng kanyang bagong sapatos.

Mahal niya ako dahil kahit gutom at pagod siya sa buong maghapon, ibinigay niya sa akin ang kanyang meryenda upang hindi ako magutom kahit meron na akong baong pera na bigay ni Ina. Pigil ang hikbi na sinabi ko kay Ama na itigil niya ako sa may palengke na sasapitin namin bago makarating sa aming bahay. “Magkano po rito?” tanong ko sa Aleng nagtitinda ng sapatos habang hawak ang isang pares ng sapatos na kulay pula, ito kasi ang paborito ni Ama. Ibinigay ko ang pera sa Ale, kinuha ang sukli at agad ring bumalik sa pwesto kung saan naroon ang aking ama.

Bakas ang pagtataka sa mukha ng aking Ama nang makita niya ang namumula kong mata, ngunit mas nabigla siya nang iniabot ko ang isang kahon sa kanya. Nang buksan niya ang kahon ay halos matumba ako sa nakita kong reaksyon sa kanyang mukha: dalawang patak ng luha habang nakangiti hindi lamang ang kanyang mga labi, gayundin ang kanyang mga mata. Ngayon ko lang siya nakitang umiyak, at kailanman ay nakatatak iyon sa aking isipan.

“

Hindi ko namalayang basang-basa na ang aking pisngi mula sa mga luhang kumawala sa aking mga mata. Kung kanina ay inggit at pagkamuhi ang aking naramdaman, ngayon ay tila pinipiga ang puso ko sa naging reyalisasyon.

Volume 23 Issue No. 1 January to May 2022

Gazette The DWCC

22 SPIRITUALITY ADVOCATE OF TRUTH, JUSTICE AND EQUALITY

The Official Student Publication of Divine Word College of Calapan

From Sensus Fidei to Ad Finem Fidelis

W

Fr. Vicente D. Castro, Jr., SVD

hat does it mean to be a Catholic? As a Catholic priest assigned in a school setting, I feel that the question can be contextualized in the light-or lack of it- of the recent 2022 elections. How do we make sense now that the officially declared results are contrary to the results of the preferred candidates of Catholic schools in their internal mock elections? What is the result telling us now that Catholic faithful have seemingly voted against what their pastors have carefully explained as an election where the question of truth and justice are the larger concerns?

If I dare ask which criteria Catholics use in choosing, for example, their candidates; or even beg to ask if Catholics are even capable of such important discernments, the Catholic concept of sensus fidei -sense of faith- comes to the fore.

Sensus fidei can be defined as the capacity of believers to know and witness to the truth (Sensus Fidei in the Life of the Church, 2014). Pope Francis illustrates this when in his first Angelus address, he quoted the words of a humble, elderly woman he once met: ‘If the Lord did not forgive everything, the world would not exist’; and he commented with admiration: ‘that is the wisdom which the Holy Spirit gives’.

The Theological Commission’s document on the matter further contains this observation: “The woman’s insight is a striking manifestation of the sensus fidei, which, as well as enabling a certain discernment with regard to the things of faith, fosters true wisdom and gives

Volume 23 Issue No. 1 January to May 2022

rise, as here, to proclamation of the truth. It is clear, therefore, that the sensus fidei is a vital resource for the new evangelization to which the Church is strongly committed in our time.”

The above descriptions would then mean to say that if a student of Divine Word College of Calapan can be characterized as a faithful believer, she or he is capable of knowing the truth, of discerning what comes from God -including what doesn’t and thus transforming oneself to become a powerful witness to that truth.

I imagine that when a student enters the portals of our school, one already comes with a certain capacity to discern and make decisions based on elemental truths learned from the nuclear family, from relatives and from the faith community in general. What Catholic schools do is to contribute in furthering that capacity into well-founded and tested criteria, especially those that make them more

adaptive and relevant to their evergrowing life challenges.

DWCC, as in all SVDadministered schools, count on a specific framework that makes a Divinista capable of the truth, and that is, Janssen’s Spirituality. It’s striking that the prayer students learn by heart in the school are the opening invocations of St. Arnold Janssen’s favorite quarter-hour prayer: O God, eternal truth- We believe in you. This framework is so powerful that in one of my Janssen Spirituality classes, one student said: “While I am not a catholic, I can clearly relate with the Catholic sense as expressed in Arnold Janssen’s Spirituality. And I can definitely use it in my studies and in my profession.”

Through the Campus Ministry Office, we are further provided by other concrete programs, such as: LiturgicalBible seminar groups, 4-CD camps, and devotional practices, especially the celebration of the Holy Eucharist in our school chapels. In the BasicEd, Christian Living subjects are provided in all its grade levels. In the College

Department, Religious Education units are offered. The active participation of students and school personnel in several Community Extension Services and Engagements also test and further strengthen these programs. In short, much care and thought are constantly being taken to transform each Divinista into being a better catholic and bearer of the Holy Trinity’s eternal truth.

When a Catholic’s learned convictions and basic faith tenets are challenged, Catholics are at best when embracing a fundamental prophetic message: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I’m your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you. “(Is 41:10) Should the incompatibility of the majority of the school’s preferred candidates to the election results be an indication of a deeper challenge to discernment, “Rage into the night, Divinista!” Be engaged pa more in the Church’s, social and political arenas.

From Sensus Fidei (sense of faith) to Ad finem fidelis (faithful to the end).

Gazette The DWCC

SPIRITUALITY 23

The Official Student Publication of Divine Word College of Calapan

ADVOCATE OF TRUTH, JUSTICE AND EQUALITY

Diocesan Closing of the 500 Years of Christianity: The mission to be faithful and hopeful

T

Giulianne Alessandra A. Logmao

o celebrate the end of the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines, the Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan (AVC) conducted a Diocesan Closing in the Muelle Cultural Heritage Park in Poblacion, Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro with the theme, “Limandaang Taon: Ang Simula ng Mas Maalab na Pananampalataya” on April 22.

Most Rev. Fr. Nestor J. Adalia, AVC’s Apostolic Administrator, led the opening Eucharistic Celebration which officially started the program. The mass, facilitated by over 20 priests and attended by many faithfuls, began after the four Catholic symbols of AVC – the cross, the Bible, the Sto. Niño, and the Hapag ng Pamilyang Mindoreño symbol – docked the port of the venue after a parade on the seas of Puerto Galera.

“This is really amazing. [I felt] non-stop goosebumps. Salamat sa ipinaranas ninyo sa amin,” Lorelie Arguelles, a devotee, shared her sentiments on the opening rites in her Facebook post.

The celebration’s homily highlighted the closing program’s essence of how the end of the pilgrimage marks the start of Catholics’ faith ablazed with new beginnings – an era of answering to our gift to give.

GIFTED TO GIVE Our gift of faith is our gift to the world.

Rooted on the overall theme of the 500 years celebration titled “Gifted to Give’’ taken from Matthew 10:8, the gathering in the Muelle Cultural Heritage Park brought to the fore the renewed role of the Catholics in making the Christian faith known to all. Through its cultural performances and speeches, the Church leaders reiterated the need of the followers to reinvigorate their passion of nurturing and sharing their faith to their neighbors, and ultimately to all.

When asked of the experience, Josh Pypers Macalintal, an active Church youth member said, “Iyong nasaksihan namin [sa selebrasyon na ginanap] ay talagang nakaka-inspire, maaalala mo talaga kung ano ang misyon mo bilang Kristiyano at Katoliko.”

the explorer and conquistador’s arrival in the country started off the 500-year-long history of Christianity in the Philippines.

“Sa loob ng limang daang taon, marami ng pinagdaanan ang ating pananampalataya kung kaya naman ang espesyal na taong ito ay nararapat lamang na magkaroon tayo ng espesyal na pagdidiriwang at pagtatapos,” the official publication materials of the ceremony wrap-up summarizes.

During the 500 years, our faith went through a lot which is why it is only right that this special year is given its own special celebration and ending.

Reverting back to the message of the national memorialization of the Quincentennial Anniversary, Fr. Adalia also reminded the attendees that as members of the global world, Catholics and Christians should give more of themselves through the faith that was handed down from generation to generation.

The Eucharistic Celebration, which was filled with peace, love, and gratitude, was followed by a fireworks display. The display was recalled to be so majestic each bang felt like a representation of the slow restoration and revitalization of the Christian hope.

“Doon sa buong selebrasyon, mula una hanggang huli, ay ginawa talaga para pag-alis namin ay mas hopeful and passionate kami tungkol sa aming paniniwala at pananampalataya,” Macalintal further added.

The whole celebration, from start to finish, really felt like it was created so that when we leave, we leave more hopeful and passionate about our belief and faith.

In sum, while the AVC Diocesan Closing in the Muelle Cultural Heritage Park was aimed to celebrate the culmination of the 500 years, its true essence is to make its patrons realize their mission thereafter.

What we witnessed during the celebration was really inspiring, it would really make you remember your mission as a Christian and as a Catholic.

Additionally, the commemoration of March 15, 1521, the date when Ferdinand Magellan and his fellow voyagers dropped their anchors on the lands of Eastern Samar, was also conducted. Fr. Adalia mentioned that

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DEVCOM

ADVOCATE OF TRUTH, JUSTICE AND EQUALITY

The Official Student Publication of Divine Word College of Calapan

CLIMATE CHANGE 2022: RED CODE ni April Joy C. De Claro

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umang tugtugin na ang usaping ito. Ayon sa mga eksperto at climate scientists, kailangang mapababa ang temperatura ng mundo bago ang taong 2030, sapagkat kung hindi ito mangyayari ay mararanasan natin at hindi na mapipigilan pa ang irreversible effects ng climate change.

Kamakailan lamang, naging laman ng balita sa buong mundo ang pagprotesta ng nasa isang libong scientists sa mahigit 25 na bansa. Laman ng kanilang mga sigaw ang babala ukol sa climate change, matapos sabihin ng United Nations na may tatlong taon na lamang ang sangkatauhan upang maisalba o magawan ng solusyon ang problema ng mundo. Ayon pa sa United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, nararapat na mapanatiling mababa sa 1.5°C (34.7°F) ang global temperature average.

Sinasabi rin sa kanilang ulat na 1.09°C na ang itinaas ng temperatura ng daigdig mula 18502020 dahil sa kagagawan ng tao.

Nangangahulugan ang mga extreme weather events ng matitinding pinsala. Nito lamang 2021, nagkaroon ng matinding wildfire crisis sa Australia, Brazil, at Amazon nang masunog ang ilang milyong ektarya ng kanilang kagubatan. Hanggang ngayon, nakakaranas pa rin ng matinding pag-ulan ng yelo ang Texas, USA. Halos 300 naman ang naitalang patay at isang milyong bahay na nasira sa ilang buwan nang baha sa China.

Hindi naman tumitigil ang pagkatunaw ng glaciers sa West Antarctica na ngayon ay nagpapakita pa rin ng malalaking bitak. Ang mga ito ay ilan lamang sa weather events na kaugnay ng climate change na maaari pang maging mas matindi sa oras na matapos ang 2030 deadline at hindi napababa ang greenhouse gases emissions. Kabilang sa pangmatagalang epekto ng climate change mga irreversible effects ay ang pagbaba ng yelo sa karagatan at pagtaas antas ng tubig sa karagatan, pagkatunaw ng permafrost, mas matinding heat waves at malalakas na pagulan at pagbabago sa pattern nito.

Hanggang sa kasalukuyan ay nasa ilalim ng Paris Agreement na nakaangkla sa 2030 agenda para bigyang direksyon ang climate change sa pamamagitan ng pagbabawas ng greenhouse gases emissions nang 50%, ang nasa 195 na mga bansa.

Upang maging epektibo umano ayon sa mga eksperto ang mga plano kaugnay ng climate change, kailangan magsimula ang aksyon sa mga bansa mismong malaki ang nilalabas na karbon, kabilang ang China, Russia, India, at United States. Hindi man sinuportahan ni Donald Trump ang Paris Agreement sa loob ng taon ng kanyang panunungkulan, nagbabalik naman daw ngayon ang US para labanan ang climate change ayon kay President Joe Biden. Sa kabilang banda, magbabawas naman daw sa coal

Volume 23 Issue No. 1 January to May 2022

consumption ang bansang China.

Kung Pilipinas naman ang pag-uusap kaugnay sa usaping ito, nasa 0.3% ang kontribusyon ng bansa sa kabuuang global emissions. Ayon sa Germanwatch Global Climate Risk Index 2021, pang-apat sa nangungunang sampung bansang lubhang nasalanta ng extreme weather events sa mula 2000 hanggang 2019 dulot ng climate change ang Pilipinas. Sinasabing kahit pa bumagsak sa zero ang kontribusyon ng bansa sa paglalabas ng greenhouse gases, hindi nito magagawang pigilan ang pagtama ng climate change sa ating bansa. Nakadikit naman ang pambansang Action Plan sa kahandaan sa mga epekto ng climate change, ayon sa Climate Change Commission ng Pilipinas. Kabilang sa mga prayoridad ng bansa ay ang seguridad sa pagkain, sapat na tubig, katatagan ng kalikasan at ekonomiya, seguridad ng tao, climate–friendly na industriya at serbisyo, sustainable na enerhiya, at sa pagpapaunlad ng kapasidad at mga kaalaman tungkol sa climate change.

Samantala, noong ika-27 ng Oktubre, taong 2021, kinumpirma ng NASA at NOAA na noong Oktubre 7, naabot na ng ozone hole ang maximum area nito. Nasa rurok na ito na may 9.6 milyong milyong kwadrado (24.8 milyong kilometrong kwadrado) o kasing laki na ng North America, na siyang ika-13 pinakamalaki mula 1979. Noong kaparehas ding araw, nakapagtala ang mga scientists ng total-column ozone concentration na 102 dobson units, na pangwalong pinakamababa naman mula 1986. Bago pa man magkaroon ng ozone hole noong 1970s, sa buwang Setyembre at Oktubre, ang average ozone hole sa taas ng South Pole ay nasa 250 hanggang 350 dobson units.

Bagaman mas malaki ang 2021 ozone hole sa average size, kasabay naman nito ang patuloy na pagbaba ng ozonedepleting substance at ang mas malamig na mga meteorolohikong kondisyon .

Higit na mas malala ang mga naitalang holes mula 1990 hanggang 2010 kaysa sa pinakabagong tala ng mga eksperto sa nakaraang taon, na nagpapakita ng pagrecover ng ozone at ng matagumpay na implementasyon ng Montreal Protocol, pati na rin ng mga kasunod na mga pagsusog na nagbabawal

sa matinding pagpapakawala ng chloroflourocarbons (CFCs) na kadalasang mula sa mga refrigerator at cooling systems, at ng hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), halons, carbon tetrachloride, methyl chloroform at methyl bromide.

Ang pagprotekta sa ozone ay pagprotekta rin sa klima ng mundo. Ang tinatawag na ozone-depleting substances ay siya ring mga greenhouse gases gaya ng carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) at nitrous oxide (N2O), kaya naman gayon na lamang ang kahalagahan ng pagbabawas ng potensyal ng ozone depletion sa mundo dahil parehas nitong maproprotektahan ang ozone at klima. Sa kabila nito, dahil sa pagbabawas ng ozonedepleting substances ay umusbong ang paggamit ng Fluorinated gases (F-gases) tulad ng hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) at sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) bilang substitute. Hindi nga ito nakakasira ng ozone layer, ngunit ang mga ito naman ay greenhouse gases na may higit na epektong umaabot sa 23 thousand na higit na mas matindi kaysa sa tradisyonal na greenhouse gas na carbon dioxide.

Pagsapit naman ng 2050, ang greenhouse gases emission na kaugnay ng polusyon sa paggawa, paggamit at pagtatapon ng plastik ay kakain sa 15% ng pinahihintulutang emissions. Ayon sa World Health Organization, halos isang porsyento na lamang ng mundo ang nakalalanghap ng malinis na hangin at ang natitirang 99% ng populasyon ng mundo ay nakalalanghap ng lampas na sa limitasyon sa kalidad ng hangin na inilabas ng kanilang organisasyon. Bagaman 6000 na siyudad na sa 117 na bansa ang sumusubaybay sa kalidad ng kanilang hangin, nakalalanghap pa rin ang mga tao rito, partikular na ang mga nasa low at middle-income na bansa, ng nitrogen oxide at antas ng fine matter na masama sa katawan ng tao. Sinabi rin ng United Nations na ‘catastrophe in the making’ ang tripleng dulot ng nito sa climate change, pagkasira ng kalikasan at polusyon na may dalang napakalaking kapahamakan sa mundo.

Marapat nang iwasan ang umasa sa carbon-reliant energy, tulad ng fossil fuels (coal, natural gas at oil) na madalas ay nasa industriya ng transportasyon, paggawa ng semento at bakal, at maging sa agrikultura partikular sa paghahayupan, at higit na suportahan ang paggamit ng alternatibong pinagkukunan ng enerhiya tulad ng solar, wind, at hydropower energy. Malaking tulong rin ang tradisyunal na pagtatanim ng puno, pag-iwas sa paggamit ng single-use na plastik. Alinsunod ang Energy Development Plan ng Pilipinas sa paglipat tungo sa paggamit ng renewable energy, at ayon pa sa Department of Energy (DOE), ang tagumpay na pagsasagawa nito hanggang sumapit ang 2030 ay magdudulot ng 45% reduce sa carbon emissions and pagsapit naman ng taong 2040, inaasahang mas magiging malamig ang temperatura ng mundo.

Pumalo na sa pitong porsyento (778 milyong

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The Official Student Publication of Divine Word College of Calapan

tonelada) ang itinaas ng CO2 emission ng power sector noong nakaraang taon, na siyang pinakamataas na naitala mula 2010. Tumaas din ang coal power nang siyam na porsyento, na siyang pinakamataas rin mula 1985 kaya’t ang paggamit ng nito ay dapat na mapababa nang 73% mula 2021 hanggang 2030.

Sa ngayon, ayon sa 2022 Ember Global Electricity Review, ang solar generations ay pumalo sa 23% at wind generation sa 14% noong nakaraang taon, dahilan upang makuha nito ang 10.03% ng global electricity generation ng mundo. Mas mataas nang dalawang porsyento ang generation ng mga “clean electricity sources” (38%) kaysa coal (36%) noong 2021. Sa katunayan pa, ang mga bansang Netherlands, Australia, at Vietnam ay inilipat na ang 8% ng kanilang demand sa elektrisidad sa wind at solar, mula sa fossil fuels, sa loob lamang ng nakalipas na dalawang taon.

Para mapanatili ang temperaturang 1.5°C, kailangang ring mapanatili ng wind at solar ang compound growth rates na 20% kada taon hanggang 2030.

Bagaman tumaas ang solar at wind generation, 29% lamang ng pagtaas sa demand sa elektrisidad ang napunan nito. Tumaas man ang generation ng nuclear, bumaba naman ang hydro; kaya’t ang natitirang demand ay napunan pa rin ng fossil fuels – 59% ay mula sa coal, at 10% naman mula sa gas at oil.

Sa pagsisimula ng 2022, ayon sa isang Global Power and Renewable Team ng S&P Global, kabilang sa inaasahang trends sa global power at renewable markets ang pagtaas ng presyo ng gas, coal at karbon dahil sa kakulangan sa supply ng enerhiya noong 2021, pagtaas ng renewable costs dahil sa pagtaas ng presyo ng materyales para sa wind at solar photovoltaics (PV) na mga teknolohiya, paglago ng renewables sa kabila ng isyu sa supply chain at paglawak ng atensyon sa paggamit ng battery energy storage systems, offshore wind, low-carbon hydrogen, carbon capture at storage (CCS), at nuclear.

Kumpirmado na mismo ng mga eksperto: Code Red na ang nangyayari sa ating planeta. Ang climate change ay isang global emergency; hindi ito isang isyung pangkalikasan lamang. Ayon kay IPCC Working Group II Co-Chair Hans-Otto Portner, “The scientific evidence is unequivocal: climate change is a threat to human wellbeing and the health of the planet. Any further delay in concerted global action will miss a brief and rapidly closing window to secure a livable future,” (“Ang mga siyentipikong ebidensiya ay walang alinlangan: ang climate change ay banta sa kapakanan ng tao at ng planeta.

Anumang pagkakaantala ng pandaigdigang pagkilos ay magsasara sa pagkakataong masiguro ang isang magandang kinabukasan”.) At bagaman marami nang aksyon ang sinimulan at ipinagpapatuloy gawin ng malalaking industriya, malaking kontribusyon pa rin ang maibibigay ng bawat isang indibidwal kung pipiliin nating gawin ang maliliit na hakbang tungo sa mas ligtas at makabuhulubang kinabukasan natin at ng susunod na salinlahi.

ADVOCATE OF TRUTH, JUSTICE AND EQUALITY

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At bagaman marami nang aksyon ang sinimulan at ipinagpapatuloy gawin ng malalaking industriya, malaking kontribusyon pa rin ang maibibigay ng bawat isang indibidwal kung pipiliin nating gawin ang maliliit na hakbang tungo sa mas ligtas at makabuhulubang kinabukasan natin at ng susunod na salinlahi.

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ADVOCATE OF TRUTH, JUSTICE AND EQUALITY

OMHM The Mina de Oro Saga

by Donalyn N. Dasalla and Christian Angelo Aguilar

M

indoro’s archives are restored! Inspired by the streamlined “MAHAL TANA” theme which compresses Mangyan, Halcon, Tamaraw, and Naujan Lake – iconic emblem of Oriental Mindoro – an abandoned Spanish fortress, Cal-kuta, along the old Provincial Capitol is transformed into a new art gallery featuring collection of province’s classics and antiques. The Oriental Mindoro Heritage Museum exhibits some never-before-seen historic relics and invites you to come visit!

CLASSIC YET CLASSY Officially opened on the 71st founding anniversary of the province, OMHM is to uphold a larger and broader tourism approach for locals and foreign centering the prosperous capital, Calapan City. The two-storey 60-million museum, funded through the General Appropriations Act of 2020, offers a free check-in for a worldly indoor tour experience plus a conventional souvenir and coffee shop, aided with stunning visuals leaving you solely mesmerized and reminisced.

FROM BOOKS TO REALITY The project also proposes a more holistic approach to learning our history, not just for students but for all Mindoreños and outsiders as well. Preserving the native legacy, it showcases series of historical documents, cultural artifacts, old possessions of our Mangyan ancestors, the real story behind the separation of Mindoro into Oriental and Occidental, all the public servants of the province and municipalities, and a lot more to unravel right in front of your eyes.

Oriental Mindoro Heritage Museum outlooks heritage, traditions, and arts of the province preserving the beauty and bounty of local culture of Mindoreño ancestors which will be effectual to future generations. It increases people’s sense of well-being, appreciation and awareness of what is kept from the past, aspirations to inspire, initiatives to act, and competence to understand, argue, and give solutions to the problems and issues stored in society. This place promotes knowledge from different collections, reflection to memorable experiences, and pride to people of Mindoro.

The museum located at Barangay Ibaba East, Calapan City welcomes visitors every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, from 10AM to 8PM, who are fully vaccinated and have accomplished the initial online appointment.

The Official Student Publication of Divine Word College of Calapan

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Let the earth breathe”. A call to awaken the spirit of the people to intervene in what is happening in our environment.

Human Persons live and survive because of their social and natural environments. Environment is crucial for all living and non-living things. However, currently the world is experiencing global warming wherein over the past 50 years, the average global temperature has increased at the fastest rate in the recorded history. According to National Aeronautics and Space Administration, “Global warming is the long-term heating of Earth’s climate system observed since the pre-industrial period due to human activities.”

With this, the environment is suffering from its adverse effect. Generally, the most common causes of global warming are burning of fossil fuels to make electricity which is the largest source of heat-trapping pollution as well as the destruction of natural environment such as cutting trees that lessens the absorber of the carbon dioxide.

Hence, it can be seen that the common reason for the destruction of environment are human-induced activities thus humans must be accountable for what they are doing since it is the duty and responsibility of humans to take care of nature. It is their duty to sustain the use of the natural resources to meet the present needs without compromising what the future needed. Humans have environmental rights such as the right to a clean and livable environment thus human must take action to look after the environment in order to exercise their rights.

Thus, in response to this call, kick back April 17, MIndoro Native Tree Growers Association, Inc.(MNaTree), joint forced with Aqua Tierra Agri-Industrial Farms Inc. and the Barangay Council of Sto. Nino, Calapan conducted a soft launching of a sciencebased initiative project called The Sto Nino River Mangrove and Pocket Forest Project.

In accordance with the Corporate Secretary of MNaTree Mike Seechung, the Mangrove Mini-forest project aims to protect and conserve the remaining mangrove forest through sustainable management of resources. He also added that this project is in collaboration with DOST and the office of the Oriental Mindoro Provincial Agriculturist.

“The project aims to revive the biodiversity and improve the quality of life in the community which was anchored on a social profiling and global positioning system which shows the map that entails that the mangrove forest is in the heart of the bustling commercial Center of Calapan City in Barangay Sto. Nino,” said MNaTree Corporate Secretary Seechung.

Furthermore, this science-based project also aims to: Protect the remaining primary native trees by establishing a data bank for future seedling production; Rehabilitate river mangrove forest by assisted natural regeneration(ANR); Convert grassland into integrated forestry; Introduce integrated agro-forestry farming in upland areas; conduct biodiversity studies of flora and fauna and

Volume 23 Issue No. 1 January to May 2022

Initiate, Engage and Growth:

SEEDLINGS OF HOPE

by Avegail V. Ascan and Althea Andrei M. Vargas

recommended conservation measures; Establishment of a community nursery with barangay assistance.

Establish an inter-barangay cooperation through adoption of the project and the formation of a Mangrove Management Council among all the neighboring barangays along Calapan River.

On the other hand, Mr. Seechung also encourage the youth to take part in promoting the wellness of the environment through being part of their organization or any association which advocates the protection of the Mother Earth.

“While you are still a student, you should encourage and create an awareness about our nature, you have the responsibility to disseminate information about the state of our biodiversity. MNaTree is always open for membership, benefactors or donors are always welcome to help develop and to have a more comprehensive plan,” Mr. Seechung stated.

To sum it up, humans have crucial role towards the prevention of environmental damages and protection of the natural environment to attain a sustainable ecological system for human survival. Hence, this initiative is an indication that in order for us humans to live a life of worth, we must act towards fostering environmental care which for the common good, the humanity. We hold the future thus we’re going to turn blind eye to the current state of the Earth probably it is our actions that will destroy the future. Climate change is real so do Global Warming. The fact that there is no other Earth must drive us towards taking step to protect the future through protecting our nature.

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The Official Student Publication of Divine Word College of Calapan

ADVOCATE OF TRUTH, JUSTICE AND EQUALITY

K

nock knock.

According to a random article published in the world wide web, the primary reason to engage in volunteer activities is because it will provide a sense of purpose. It explains that it will allow one to become something greater than themself, something bigger than their initial aspirations – in short, a difference.

In 2007, with its initial vision and basic structure, Keep Hope Alive (KHA) started its dream of inspiring positive impacts in its immediate community in Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro. It primarily targeted the lives of the children, young people and families through advocacies powered by its handful of youth volunteers. In its Crystal Anniversary, KHA grew as the largest and most outstanding youth volunteer organization in the province. It is awarded as one of the 2016 Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) in both the Philippines and the ASEAN along with many national recognitions.

However, despite the years that passed and the amount of awards added to its collection, KHA still goes back to its original goal: to keep the hope alive. Its volunteers are still called HopeKeepers and “Let’s go and make a difference!” is still its tagline.

Now, with its larger resources and greater reach, KHA aims to contribute to sustainable community development whilst fostering inclusive youth empowerment. Its projects and activities are all designed to benefit the community and the individual volunteer by creating opportunities for participation in addressing the issues on education, health, economy, environment, culture, and youth empowerment.

In its most recent progress and accomplishment report for 2020 to 2021, KHA reported to have prioritized five Sustainable Development Goals: Zero Hunger, Good Health and Well-Being, Quality Education, Clean Water and Sanitation, and Partnerships for the Goals. Three of which will be highlighted in this article.

ZERO HUNGER: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture Answering the issue on hunger and nutrition, KHA initiated two main projects throughout the two years: (1) Awati Mindoro and (2) Tribal Mission: Sandugo. Awati Mindoro, or Tulong Mindoro, is a disaster relief and emergency assistance provided to victims of both natural and manmade disasters and calamities.

It is divided into various sub-projects such as the Typhoon Relief Operations for Typhoon Tisoy in Bulalacao, Oriental

Mindoro, the Tulong Taal in Tanauan, Bantangas, and the Farm to Family Initiative in Oriental and Occidental Mindoro.

Featured in a local TV show, the Tribal Mission: Sandugo helped 1,178 families and 476 kids from 21 Mangyan and lowland communities in Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro. The series of outreach operations with the One Hike Mountaineering Club enabled the project’s beneficiaries to receive goods like canned goods, rice, clothes, slippers, and others.

GOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEING: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages To little-by-little meet the needs of health and well-being, Project Bantay Kalusugan (BK) and the KHA Solar-Powered Health Center were created. With a whopping number of 10,000 beneficiaries, Project BK is goaled towards providing access to basic healthcare services in under-served and far-flung communities. It offers free mobile health check-up and monitoring, as well as medical supplies. As of writing, the HopeKeepers, under Project BK, have already conducted a Training of Community Health Workers and Volunteers in Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro.

A Mobile Clinic, which is primarily directed towards contributing to the health wellness and accessibility of indigenous Mangyan communities, has been established too.

The KHA Solar-Powered Health Center, on the other hand, fulfilled the dream of the Mangyan community of having access to basic healthcare services through its establishment. Created to also cater to the traditional and culturally sensitive way of addressing various health-related issues like the use of herbal and traditional medicines, the Solar-Powered Health Center is also an initiative under Project BK. Both projects are after the empowerment and training of community health workers who will serve as front liners in the promotion of health and wellness, and in the management of common simple illnesses in their respective communities.

QUALITY EDUCATION: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all On quality education, KHA organized three main projects: Project Bag-Asa, Project Ugnay, and Balik-Eskwela Caravan.

Relaunched in July of 2020, Project Bag-Asa called for the help of various sectors for the funding of what they dubbed as “bags of hope.” Filled with school supplies and a hygiene kit, the bags were given to the Special Education pupils of Sta. Rita Elementary School in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro.

Meanwhile, Project Ugnay, which is in partnership with Mental Health AWHEREness, is dedicated to its tagline “Helping students get connected to online classes and resources.” In

essence, the project was able to donate 10 units of pocket WIFIs each with 500-peso load to college students all over Oriental Mindoro. It recognizes the critical importance of internet connectivity in accessing learning resources, being connected with classmates and professors, etc., during the online learning set-up.

Lastly, the Balik-Eskwela Caravan was able to annually supply school supplies to over 5,000 indigent and Mangyan school children.

These are only seven of the sixteen projects, not yet including the sub-project each has, Keep Hope Alive was able to conduct over the span of 2020-2021.

Aside from that, a few from late 2021 and early 2022 must also be mentioned, such as the Farmbassadors, which advocates youth for sustainable agriculture and food security, Bayï, a social enterprise ran by indigenouus and local women dedicated to producing Mangyan pakudos merchandises, and KHA’s premiere youth engagement and empowerment advocacy program, the Empower camps. Just this 2022, Empower was able to hold two different camps titled EMPOWER 6.0: Environment and Biodiversity Camp 2022 and EMPOWER 7.0: Youth Leadership Summit and Health Advocacy Camp 2022.

In sum, KHA, through its passion and dedication to alleviate its immediate and adopted communities was and is able to inspire its HopeKeepers to aspire action. All its efforts to help in the development of the community, even as a small-scale Non-Governmental Organization, are mirrored through its years of service to not only the Mindoreños, but to the Filipinos.

And like always, it calls for others to do the same.

Who’s there? Are you?

by Giulianne Alessandra A. Logmao

Volume 23 Issue No. 1 January to May 2022

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Gazette The DWCC

DEVCOM

ADVOCATE OF TRUTH, JUSTICE AND EQUALITY

The Official Student Publication of Divine Word College of Calapan

West Phil. Sea:

A FORSAKEN REWARD Putting Pressure on the Next Leader

by Auwen Febelle B. Robles

G

oing to the sixth year, the arbitral tribunal’s award issued in favor of the Philippines remains unenforced under the Duterte administration. China’s maritime affairs on the territorial domain continue to harvest the supposed life-support of the Filipino citizens, violating the final and binding decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA).

On July 12, 2016, the ruling on the dispute settlement between The Republic of the Philippines and The People’s Republic of China dismantled the claim of the latter on the West Philippine Sea which was solely based on historic rights with the absence of a legal basis. The said claim was supported by a historical map called “Nine-Dash Line” which was submitted to the United Nations in 2009. However, any of the geographic features included on the map does not have legal standing in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) hence cannot be considered.

Aside from the questionable claim, the tribunal court also recognized the breach of sovereign rights which was evidenced by portions of the 15 submissions made by the Philippines.

These submissions opened the discussion on the unlawful invasion of the territorial sea, interference in the enjoyment of rights to both living and non-living

FRIENDLY SIP:

Brewing the Rise of Sustainability

by Cielo Mae Decillo

T

he growing trend of milk tea shops and cafes has come along with the constant development of the number of coffee shops in the city. Approximately eight recognized coffee shops here in Calapan are present in the market, currently

appealing the interests of the Calapenos.

Even though the pandemic is just around the corner, business owners’ will on providing for the people’s coffee cravings and thirst is immovable. These coffee shops include Sinag Coffee Roastery, Coffee & Bar, Café Meow, Add+ Coffee, La Aroma Café, Café Mori, Brew Galaxy, and Medinca Café, from which Sinag Coffee Roastery has been making its mark being a “friendly” coffee shop in the City.

Not only for it being a Christ-centered enterprise, Sinag also considers itself as a provider of high quality coffee drinks since it uses freshly-roasted coffee beans from the handpicks of local farmers in the country.

Volume 23 Issue No. 1 January to May 2022

Aside from these, Sinag’s exception from other coffee shops in Calapan is that it uses edible straws as part of its packaging; the first ever coffee shop in the city to use eco-friendly straws for its coffees.

As formerly known to public by PH Sustainable, which is founded by Adrian Mendoza, the use of edible straws are introduced to the country in the objective of enabling Filipinos to get used to consuming these rather than plastic straws that are harmful to the environment.

Rice flour and tapioca flour being its composition, makes these straws capable of being consumed after sipping either hot or cold coffees. To add, these can also be used in different

kinds of drinks other than coffee.

With the use of edible straws, Sinag upholds to maintain sustainability for it helps minimize the use of other materials that are absolutely not friendly to the environment.

This way, while most of the people in the city are unaware of how simple plastic straws are crucial in the aspect of environmental safety, Sinag Coffee Roastery is friendly enough to prompt each coffee lover to love the environment as well.

Sinag Coffee Roastery resembles how any other business in the same industry can adopt to a more socially responsible business while brewing tasty and quality coffee and drinks for Calapenos. Considering the contemporary state of wastes production in the country, reduction of the use of harmful packaging materials is a great help in helping save the planet from hurting.

resources in the exclusive economic zone, exploitation, dredging, destruction of marine life, and direct threat to the lives of Filipino fishermen. Consequently, the decision of the court resulted in an award given to the Philippines which grants an entitlement to continue its peaceful operations within the jurisdiction of its own territory.

As of now, the recognition and legitimacy of the policy on the West Philippine Sea rely on the clarification of the boundaries and limitations. China also refused to accept the ruling and the regional tension made President Duterte switch his line from “beyond compromise” to “just a piece of paper”.

Because the current administration failed to maximize its network to enforce the award, Professor Victor Andres Manhit of Stratbase-ADRI reminded the next Philippine leader to strengthen alliances with other states to oppose the threats from China. To fill the gap, it must be realized that diplomacy has already made its way through this long overdue conflict and the next step must be done with courage and collective actions to impose deterrence on the aggressor. It is best to adopt a more advanced and specific strategy on international relations and foreign policies in order to perpetuate the ownership.

Compromise is not to be claimed for it will only lessen territorial integrity granted by the PCA. If this award is not prioritized in the long run, the neighboring countries will be encouraged to turn the West Philippine Sea into a milking cow which may, in return, be the downfall of both the economy of the Philippines and the country as a whole.

Gazette The DWCC

DEVCOM 29

The Official Student Publication of Divine Word College of Calapan

ADVOCATE OF TRUTH, JUSTICE AND EQUALITY

Power Plant:

A Harvest of Impotence

by Jamaica A. Barangas

E

nergy is one of the most essential resources that a nation needs, from the smallest unit of the society, the family, up to the largest sector, such is what makes it go. But, is an energy resource quality, reliable and cost-efficient worth more than our future?

A few months before he steps back as the president of the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order No. 164 which adopts the potential use of nuclear power to sustain the country’s need for energy, particularly electricity, On February 28, 2022.

In the executive order, it is stated that the program is expected to help the country achieve its sustainable growth as secure, reliable, quality, and affordable electricity will be supplied. Moreover, it is also believed that adapting the program will not just help the nation economically and politically but will also be beneficial environmentally.

A nuclear power plant is a thermal power station that generates steam from heat water produced. This steam will make the large turbines spin that drives the generators to subsequently provide electricity. Aside from this function, the plant has enough capacity to reuse the steamed water by cooling it in a different structure within, called the cooling tower. Once cooled, this water will be eligible to be reused for producing steam. Same process goes on, hence it is required to be built near coastal areas or any water reservoir.

With such processes, evident advantages can be obviously induced. Although the building of a power plant may

take a lump sum of money, its maintenance and operating costs were relatively low compared to other sources of energy; the very reason is the produced energy in high density. Compared to other resources nuclear fission produces ten million times greater, hence much less nuclear fuel is needed to produce. The reliability of the plant can’t also be questioned; unlike the other, that uses wind or sunlight that might be not available for a certain time on a particular day, the power plant has the capacity to generate electricity continuously without interruption as long as the plant itself is not damaged.

Most importantly, among all of the energy sources, the power plant has zero carbon emissions. Nuclear power reactors do not produce carbon dioxide which is one of the greatest reasons for climate change, which leads to different catastrophes.

With such advantages, it is valid to be confused about why the immediate action proposed took long years for the country to decide. Aside from the large issue that the previous administration has brought on the attempt to make use of the power plant as a source of energy, there are also relative disadvantages needed to be considered.

The power plant has its fair share to also damage our environment because of the

needed mining and the process of water discharge, acts essential for the plant to generate the electricity. The uranium used to produce the energy during fission is needed to be mined - an act that obviously destructs the ecosystem. Aside from the destruction it brings to the environment, it also dangers the health of the people as mining will release arsenic and radon which can be a vital cause to develop lung cancer. Furthermore, with the stated facts, the energy is also non-renewable as uranium is a finite resource.

Although water is conserved through the reuse in the process, its discharge imbalances the ocean and lake where the plant was situated - due to thermal pollution. In the process of cooling the water, its temperature increases up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Having such temperature, it is dumped into the body of water thus making it inhabitable for aquatic species. Also, the operation of the power plant is water-intensive, given the current situation, water has become scarce in a lot more places around the world, some may think that it is implausible to be conducted.

Another environmental impact of the power plant is the hazardous waste it produces, radioactive waste.

If continuously used, the waste will be too much for the waste storage of the plant as it remains hazardous for thousands of years; once exposed may cause different problems within its surroundings.

Besides its environmental and health impact, although very rare, it may also cause accidents to its workforce. It is common in a working

environment, but such accidents within the said industry may not just alter the ability of those inside but also have adverse effects on its surroundings, again including the environment and other innocent people.

Despite all that, it is stated in the EO that “(A) Public Perception Survey on Nuclear Energy in 2019 indicated that almost 79 percent of Filipinos expressed approval or acceptability of the possible use or rehabilitation of an existing nuclear power plant,”.

The project can indeed help the nation improve economically, knowing that it has low cost and is more efficient than the other sources of energy, it is also evident that such favorable consequences are more than our present but also our future; grievous to the environment in the country and the world as a whole. With the current situation of our beloved nature, to strive economically should not be the top priority, because its standing will all be worthless. Once the world is fully damaged by pollution, the worst case comes with it being destroyed.

Careful considerations must be first discussed upon the adaptation of such resources. Given the state of the country, immediate action may lead to our slow growth.

Power plant indeed gives benefits, but its disadvantages must also be a great part of scrutinizing the situation, given that such affects were irreversible. Our future depends on our decision and action, what it is to become energy-rich, if we become environmentally and health-poor.

“

Power plant indeed gives benefits, but its disadvantages must also be a great part of scrutinizing the situation, given that such affects were irreversible. Our future depends on our decision and action, what it is to become energyrich, if we become environmentally and health-poor.

Volume 23 Issue No. 1 January to May 2022

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Gazette The DWCC

SPORTS

ADVOCATE OF TRUTH, JUSTICE AND EQUALITY

The Official Student Publication of Divine Word College of Calapan

Halcons hands 13 golds, 2 silvers, 1 bronze to the overall tally Godlike!

WCC Halcons’ Badminton Varsity players haul golds and top spots after fortifying the best record in the round-robin points-ranking system in the PRISAA 2022 Badminton Regional games at Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, April 26.

D

A MIX OF POWER AND WIT: Not just all smashing and heavy plays, DWCC Halcons duo Diego Castro and Andre Louis See brought down the competing team line ups via surprising drops and placements in the PRISAA Regional Games 2022 Badminton Tournament in Valencia Gymnasium, Naujan, April 26.

After the 2-day battle full of talented and skilled athletes coming from the participating delegates, both men and women singles and duo players in junior and senior divisions ruled almost all the distinctive categories.

“I always believe that triumphs are not obtained in an instant, every win is not just skill and strength, it is my chosen commitment,” said Mackie Martinez, Halcons Badminton Varsity Player.

In the Junior’s Division, Jovie Jireh Busto and John

Forrest Yitzhak Basco with also Christine Joy Busto and Auren Joevel Milanes champed all the way in Doubles Boys and Girls categories respectively.

Furthermore, Basco and Milanes also hailed supreme in Singles Boys and Girls categories.

While in the Senior’s Division, Mackie Martinez and Andre Louis See together with Ayumi Salvani placed 1st in the Singles Men and

Women category leaving co-Halcons Eunice Fesalbon Gaspar in SW 3rd spot.

In addition, both duos of DWCC Halcons in the Men and Mixed Doubles, represented by Diego Castro & Andre Louis See plus Mackie Martinez & Meryl Ayheza Velasco respectively, soared to the top while Meryl Ayheza Velasco & Joana Mari Masongsong placed 2nd in the Doubles Women category.

Halcons Women bests in reg’l each volley, Men’s team connects a silver finish

by Jonh Marc Martinez

M

aintaining a good track to victory, DWCC Halcons Women’s team secured the sweetest spot while Men’s team missed one concluding 1st and 2nd place, respectively, in the PRISAA 2022 Regional Games Beach Volleyball Finals at Naujan seashore sands, April 26.

Starting early at 6 am onwards, all participating teams fought intensely to strike the best win-loss record. The Halcons’ Women trio composed of Jannah Kyla Artuzuela, Jenes Nicole Selosa, and Kristle Rayos came out stellar at 1st place while the Men’s team with Jinggoy Ramos, John Robert Dimayuga, and Paulo Castillo tried to equate it concluding with a silver trophy to home.

“After that game, I realized that I have many things that need to be

improved especially since it’s my first beach volleyball competition and it’s very different from indoor volleyball;” said Ramos in an interview.

“But I know I can do better through the help of my coaches and teammates,” he added.

DWCC Halcons Women’s team registered 2-0s since the initial match-ups over PCST with a 21-12, 21-10 win while Men clutched a 21-19, 22-20 end-or-extend tight game vs AGMA right after their match also with PCST.

STRONG STAMINA AND HEAT RESISTANCE: Under the scorching sun and roasting beach sands, DWCC Halcons Volleyball Varsity Team excelled one-luck-n-good away versus a line up of competing teams in the PRISAA Regional Games 2022 in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, April 26.

Halcons’ saltatores take silver, bronze medals

by Jonh Marc Martinez

W

aiving a way to show a classy attitude and sophisticated moves in the PRISAA 2022 Regional Dancesports competition night, the Latin couples Justine Airone Pangilinan and Jackie Villanueva placed second among other school’s saltatores at Valencia Gymnasium, Naujan, April 25.

The dancesport competition also showcased individual or solo performances which the DWCC’s Meril Mendoza and Katherine Buhali, in respectively Men and Women’s category, grooved for the 3rd place.

“Nung una di ko talaga inexpect na mabibigyan ako ulet ng opportunity na mag represent ng school sa larangan ng dancesports. Kung baga its good to be back. Hindi ko din ineexpect na makukuha namin ang 2nd place (silver medal) kasi kilala ko na yung makakalaban

Volume 23 Issue No. 1 January to May 2022

namin ay malakas talaga sa dancesports, sa katunayan teachers ko sila sa sports na to. At iniaalay namin ang laban na to sa Divine Word College of Calapan, isang malaking karangalang irepresenta ang school na to sa nagdaang REGIONAL PRISAA,” said Pangilinan in an interview after the competition night.

The Latin dance category is performed into three different music classifications namely ChaCha-Cha, Rumba, and Jive.

Gazette The DWCC

SPORTS

The Official Student Publication of Divine Word College of Calapan

DWCC Halcons hauls gold Aldaba, Manalo mark promising matches

by Jonh Marc Martinez

O

RIENTAL MINDORO - Surrounding bellowing crowd witnessed a showcase of veteran brushes and tactics as 1st placer Halcons’ Allan Dave Aldaba clinched the victory in the tight decider match over JPC, 3-2, in the PRISAA 2022 Regional Table Tennis Tournament at AGMA Inc., Naujan, April 26.

While in the women’s category, DWCC Halcons Maribel Artiaga Manalo’s “chole!” echoed the arena and fueled the entertainment of the spectators as she came out strong with the gold among the rest in that round-robin system tournament.

The two athletes were the apple of the eye as witnessed by the rest of the participating teams

flocking the gymnasium.

The rest of the DWCC varsity team tallied high points in the ranking system concluding with Singles Men’s DWCC in 1st place and JPC in 2nd and 3rd place; Singles Women’s DWCC in 1st and 2nd place while JPC in 3rd place; Singles Boys’ EMC in 1st and 2nd place while PCST in 3rd

SPORTS FEATURE

CHOLE!

The Cry of a Rising Table Tennis Icon

A

31

ADVOCATE OF TRUTH, JUSTICE AND EQUALITY

by Giulianne Allesandra Logmao

rguably the most anticipated moment in PRISAA 2022 Regional Games’ Day 2 of 3 is when Maribel Artiaga Manalo steps foot in front of the table. Maribel, of DWCC BSCE 1, is a Halcons table tennis varsity player; and in her first year as a collegiate student-athlete, she thrills the crowd with her iconic and exhilarating screams of “choleee!” whenever she scores a point.

Despite the usual quiet scene in a table tennis match, Maribel, even with her small built, uses her loud voice and entertaining gestures and expressions to cheer herself and intimidate her opponents. “[Yung pag-sigaw ko ay] para mawala yung kaba ko... May nakalaban na rin naman ako before na sinisigawan din ako ‘pag ano... yung ‘pag nakaka-score sila, nagre-react din ng gano’n sa’kin... Syempre parang nakaka... hindi naman sa down, parang normal na lang din yun. So, para... [kapag ganon’n ang reaction]

‘pag naka-score sya, balikan mo lang din.”

During her last bout of the day with PCST, Maribel was challenged with a crowd as loud as her. The opponent’s side roared as she missed points and anyone watching felt the immense pressure on her shoulders.

“Pressured ako do’n, kaya nga yung score ay ano... 9-5, last two na yung kalaban tapos kailangan ko’ng habulin kasi yun nga dadal’wa na lang, panalo na s’ya ta’s isang set pa... Tinime-out [ako] ni Coach [Cyrus], sabi n’ya ‘wag ko raw kalabanin yung mga crowd, focus lang daw ako sa game. Papasukin ko lang daw lahat ng bola.”

In sum, Maribel may not look as feisty as she sounds but her passion shadows any lion in guise of a roar of a bellowing crowd – the embodiment of a Halcon soaring high!

place; and Singles Girls’ DWCC in 1st place, EMC in 2nd place, and JPC in 3rd place.

While in the Doubles and Mixed Doubles categories: Doubles Men’s JPC in 1st place and DWCC in 2nd place; Doubles Boys’ EMC in 1st place, DWCC in 2nd place, GMC in 3rd place; Mixed Doubles Men’s JPC in 1st place, DWCC in 2nd place, and PCST in 3rd place; and Mixed Doubles Boys’ EMC in 1st and DWCC in 2nd place.

VETERANS’ EDGE: Dueled into a skills-and-prowessdetermined domain, Allan Dave Aldaba brought home the bacon once again after a zero-loss match record in the PRISAA Regional Games 2022 in AGMA Inc., Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, April 26.

3x3 Men and Women DWCC team clutches silver, bronze trophies

by Jonh Marc Martinez

S

hort of a coveted championship revenge match-up, DWCC Halcons Men placed 3rd while Women in 2nd after the game’s ranking in the PRISAA 2022 3x3 Men’s Basketball Regional Games at AGMA Inc., Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, April 26.

In the Men’s division, the top two teams dueled for the gold trophy concluding in the favor of JPC rising to the top followed

by GMC. On the other hand, PCST hailed 1st in the round-robin scheduled tournament possessing a clean win-lose record followed

by DWCC then JPC after the recent battlefor-second match-up.

“After nong laban namin sa 3x3 noong PRISAA, kahit na sobrang tagal naming walang training together, basta nandon pa rin yong chemistry and bonding within the team and confidence with each other, we can still win, we have loss but we have a good game because of team work

and trust,” said Gab Matibag, DWCC Hacons Basketball varsity player.

“Addition, we must need to step up more and improve our game para mas buo at solid yong teamwork namin sa mga susunod pang laban,” he added.

To the record, Halcons’ first match, of all PRISAA Regional Games after the opening ceremony, vs PCST ended 7-15 in the 3x3 Women’s Basketball Match marking one loss exacted through revenge in the following match by DWCC Men for a game-high 21-12 score vs the ousted PCST.

PUSHING THROUGH THE DEFENSE: Against the towering defense of JPC, DWCC Halcons 3x3 Basketball Team gambled into juggernauting layups in the PRISAA Regional Games 2022 in AGMA Inc., Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, April 26.

Volume 23 Issue No. 1 January to May 2022

Gazette The DWCC

32 ADVOCATE OF TRUTH, JUSTICE AND EQUALITY

The Official Student Publication of Divine Word College of Calapan

HUSAY DUGONG NANANALAYTAY!

B

angon!

Mahigpit. Mahigit halos dalawang taon din na nahinto ang lahat ng kaganapan sa larangan ng paglalaro dulot ng pandemya. Talento. Purong atletang may tangi at angking galing ang naghintay na muling bumalik ang sigla ng laban. Ang kumakabog na dibdib at tumatagaktak na pawis ang iyong hahanap hanapin. Heto na. Ito na ang patimpalak na tila’y lahat ay naging baguhan gawa ng nahintong mga pagsasanay ngunit umuwing wagi at may mga napulot na kaalaman.

Nitong nakaraang buwan ng Abril, naganap ang Regional Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) Games sa Naujan, Oriental Mindoro na dinaluhan ng iba’t ibang institusyon kabilang ang Divine Word College of Calapan (DWCC).

Muling nagpakitang gilas ang lahat ng atleta sa tila’y panibagong mundo. Nariyan ang hamon ng kawalan ng ekstensibong mga ensayo na noong nakaraang mga taon ay naging parte na ng kanilang mga routine. Dati-rati’y inuubos ng mga pursigidong mga atletang ito ang nakalaang panahon tuwing ensayo matapos ang kani-kanilang mga klase.

Ngalay ngunit malaki ang ngiti sa t’wing palapit na nang palapit ang mga darating na labanan.

Ngayo’y nag-iba na. Nagkaroon ng shift sa mga online games ang karamihan sa mga palaro. Umusbong ang pagkawali at pagkahilig ng iba sa mga laro tulad ng Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Call of Duty Mobile, at iba pa. Naging maganda rin naman ang naidulot nito ngunit para sa ilan ay iba pa rin ang dating nakagawian. Ang makaduelo mo ang hanay ng mga kalaban. Ang maghanda ng ekstensibo sa nalalapit na mga liga at pustahan.

Sa kabila ng lahat ng ito, ang Regional PRISAA Games ay tila naging isang mabuting oportunidad upang makabangon na magmuli ang nahintong patimpalak sa paglalaro. Isang hakbang pasulong! Maigsi man ang naging panahon kumpara sa dating mga paghahanda, mamumutawi’t mamumutawi parin ang husay na dugong nananalaytay sa tunay na mga mahuhusay na manlalaro. Katulad ng mga manlalarong DWCC Halcons na nagsilbing patunay na laging mamamayagpag ang karapat-dapat na maging kampeon. Tila ba naging inspirasyon at naging mas matamis ang kampeonato udyok nitong mga hamon.

Diresto! Sulong!

Volume 23 Issue No. 1 January to May 2022