The GUIDON - July 2014

T HE OFFICI A L S T UDEN T P UBLIC AT ION OF T HE AT ENEO DE M A NIL A UNI V ER SI T Y theguidon.com

VOLUME LXXXV, NO. 2 · JULY 2014

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The GUIDON

CHED memorandum met with backlash from Ateneo faculty

By Katrina M. Bonillo and Vince M. Estrada

Grade 12 students graduate,” or earlier than 2018.

Displacement

THE COMMISSION on Higher Education (CHED) Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 20, series of 2013, which mandates a restructuring of the current General Education Curriculum (GEC), has been met with criticisms by the faculty members of the Loyola Schools (LS).

In compliance with the Kindergarten to Grade 12 (K-12) program, the CMO has called for a reduction of units from the current GEC of universities.

The original 63 units for humanities and social sciences courses, and 51 units for mathematics, science and engineering courses, has now been reduced to 36 required units for all majors.

The new GEC has also called for the demotion of basic remedial courses to the senior high school level in order to introduce interdisciplinary courses into the revised GEC. Under the Ateneo curriculum, this means that subjects such as Communication in English 1 (En 11) and Sining ng Pakikipagtalastasan sa Filipino 1 (Fil 11) will instead be taught at either Grade 11 or 12.

According to Appendix F of the CMO, the GEC will take effect “when the first batch of

The possible relocation of college professors to the senior high school level, as well as the dismissal of faculty brought about by the new GEC, has been a major concern of the various affected departments in the Ateneo.

In an interview with The GUIDON, Vice President for the LS John Paul Vergara, PhD, clarified that discussions are still ongoing between the LS and the Ateneo Senior High School on how best to handle the changes in the core curriculum.

He mentioned the possibility that “[the faculty’s load of classes] will be [split] between the college and the high school.”

Vergara said the Ateneo is currently undergoing a core curriculum review, where adjustments are being made “not just [regarding] the K-12, but incorporating the new CHED curriculum as well.”

In addition, Vergara has clarified that despite the changes that the new GEC brings, no departments will be abolished or downsized. “[Other universities] might be planning [to abolish departA DISCOURAGE ON LANGUAGE. Members of the Ateneo community discuss the possible repercussions of the new General Education Curriculum.

CHED memorandum ›› 5

MORE INSIDE

SLB discusses Apeco in national situationer forum

By Joff D. Bantayan and Katrina M. Bonillo The Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan (SLB) focused on the plight of the farmers affected by the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport (Apeco) for its Kwentuhang Bayan 2014: A National Political Forum held at the Manuel V. Pangilinan Center for Student Leadership Roof Deck on July 18.

The SLB is a church-based, Jesuit-led organization that involves itself in the current sociopolitical and economic affairs of the country. Its main office is located at the Loyola House of Studies.

The Apeco is a commercial, financial and recreational center,

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Comelec, Sanggunian prepare for special elections

ROTC displaced by NSTP-Plus pre-enlistment

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Ateneans top region and worldwide BAT

as well as a residential area, that promises to attract both local and foreign investments in Casiguran, Aurora.

It was established by authority of Republic Act (RA) Number 9490, otherwise known as the Aurora Special Economic Zone Act of 2007.

It was amended in 2010 by RA Number 10083 and renamed to Apeco.

The said law seeks to convert 12,923 hectares of land in Casiguran into commercial hotspots. It becomes a threat to the farmers, fishermen and indigenous people of Casiguran, whose primary sources of livelihood depend on these lands.

The Kwentuhang Bayan,

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The silence of the constitution? news, 3

SAP to investigate failure of elections news, 4

Translating heritage opinion, 6

Laban lupa, laban buhay! opinion, 6

The dominant underdog SLB discusses ›› 5

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By Katrina M. Bonillo and Ennah A. Tolentino

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The Reserved Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) was faced with a smaller pool of potential recruits this school year as 34 courses were pre-enlisted for the discipline-based National Service and Training Program-Preparatory Leadership Undertaking for Sophomores (NSTP-Plus).

Headquarters and Headquarters Company Commander (HQHQ) Timothy Racho said that it was difficult for the ROTC program to gain cadets because more students were already assigned to NSTP-Plus.

“ROTC isn’t really a popular choice to begin with, and already, there are [students enrolled in] 34 courses who think that they are forced to stay in [NSTP-Plus],” he said.

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He explained that there is a negative stigma attached to ROTC because of the misconceptions on military training.

Racho said some students think, “I’m not buff enough” or “May power-tripping ‘yan (There’s power-tripping in ROTC).”

Racho added that pre-enlisted students would either think filing for load revision out of a discipline-based NSTP-Plus is not an option or find manual registration “a hassle.”

During the initial online enlistment and manual registration, only five students opted for ROTC. In an interview with The GUIDON, the ROTC officer also brought up the concern that the NSTP-Plus pre-enlistment overrules the NSTP Act of 2001, which states that students have the right to choose which NSTP component to take.

The NSTP Act of 2001 or

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Republic Act No. 9163 mandates that tertiary students undergo any of the three NSTP components for one school year: Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS), Literary Training Service (LTS) and ROTC. The first two components constit ute NSTP-Plus a nd is implemented under t he Office of Social Concern and Involvement (OSCI).

ROTC, on the other hand, receives instructions from both the Philippine Air Force Air Reserve Center and the school administration.

ROTC was moved from under the supervision of the Office of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs to the Office of the Associate Dean for Student Affairs (ADSA) this school year.

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On disciplines

More courses were pre-enlisted for NSTP-Plus this school year due to the emphasis placed on its discipline-based aspect.

Discipline-based NSTP-Plus aligns its activities with the students’ respective degree programs, said Program Coordinator for NSTP and Junior Engagement Program Ophalle Alzona-Pornela.

Pornela said that the Integrated Non-Academic Formation (INAF) team is working on the premise that students, based on a consultation done with the Sanggunian in 2012, want formation programs that are related to their disciplines.

The INAF team handles the INAF program which aims to develop the personal, academic, socio-cultural and spiritual dimensions of each student.

The INAF program itself is overseen by the Office of the ADSA and involves OSCI, the Office of Campus Ministry, the Office of Guidance and Counseling, the Office of Placement and Career Services, and the Office of Student Activities.

She said that a goal of discipline-based formation is to make activities become more relevant for students.

ADSA Rene San Andres said that a discipline-based approach is in line with the university’s thrust on nation-building, which aims to bridge the academic world with Philippine reality.

Displacement

According to HQHQ Commander Racho, ROTC was not “administratively” represented during the talks between OSCI and the INAF team regarding the pre-enlistment system.

He mentioned that ROTC Coordinator Richard Gialogo was only appointed to position last June, during which time the preenlistment was already underway.

Pornela said since ROTC was only moved under the ADSA’s wing this summer, the departments “weren’t as conscious with the effects of the [NSTPPlus] pre-enlistment [on ROTC].”

While there is a trend in preenlisting courses for NSTPPlus, ROTC has never been pre-enlisted for students. “[ROTC is not pre-enlisted] because they have been left out of the picture. That’s the most simple reason,” said San Andres.

He explained that if you look

ENLISTMENT. Several courses were pre-enlisted for the discipline-based NSTP-Plus. However, the effects of the pre-enlistment system on ROTC was not fully considered.

PHOTO BY ALEXANDRA L. HUANG

at the core of the NSTP Act of 2001, it compels universities to expose their students to a program that helps develop a sense of service and patriotism.

San Andres noted that long before “NSTP became NSTP,” there have already been social formation programs in the Ateneo similar to the CWTS and LTS components.

He said that when the NSTP law was mandated, the Ateneo “decided not to get rid of ROTC because it performs a function [in formation].”

He said that being on the reserved force allows a student to respond to the call to fight and die for one’s country—one of the highest forms of service.

However, San Andres stressed that ROTC, along with the Physical Education program, delivers the physical component for student formation, which is not under the INAF program.

Addressing concerns

San Andres explained that NSTP-Plus pre-enlistment does not hinder the freedom of students to choose which com-

ponent of NSTP to take.

He said that students who have been pre-enlisted in NSTP-Plus could always opt to file for load revision if they want to take ROTC. However, students find the load revision process quite tedious. After securing a load revision form which entails lining up at the Cashier to pay the required Php 15, students also have to obtain the signatures of various school administrators.

San Andres said his office assisted the ROTC officers with enlistment by extending the load revision deadline from June 21 to July 5 for students who wished to transfer from NSTP-Plus to ROTC. The load revision fee was also lifted.

The ROTC officers initiated an information drive to ensure that the sophomores are aware of the load revision option.

At present, 40 cadets have been enlisted in ROTC. According to Racho, the ROTC officers are now discussing plans with the administration to iron out enlistment systems for next year.

MILITARY TRAINING. San Andres said that ROTC offers the physical development option that the INAF Program lacks.

PHOTO BY ALEXANDRA L. HUANG

Comelec, Sanggunian prepare for special elections

By Katrina M. Bonillo and Vince M. Estrada AFTER LAST February’s failure of elections, the Ateneo Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Sanggunian are each working on improving operations and voter awareness for the upcoming Sanggunian Freshmen and Special Elections on August 11 to 14.

The school-wide failure of the General Elections last school year left the student government without 28 of its Top 44 officers.

Comelec Chief Commissioner Denise Olondriz has instructed her team to maximize all avenues where the Freshmen and Special Elections could be better promoted, such as posting more banners and disseminating information through electronic mail.

“From the start of the Filing of Candidacy [period, Comelec has] been posting promotional materials online almost everyday, and we plan to continue this until the end of the elec-

tions,” she said.

On the other hand, Central Board (CB) Liaison Ga-el Mendoza said that the Sanggunian’s efforts are aimed towards raising the students’ awareness of the special elections.

“Rough plans have been done such as tapping the INAF (Integrated Non-Academic Formation) [Program]—where it will be easy to reach the students— to help in the awareness of the elections,” he said.

The elections is in compliance with Article XV, Section 4(a) of the 2005 Constitution of the Undergraduate Students of the Ateneo, which states, “Vacancies that occur in the CB and School Boards (SB) before the induction of the new Sanggunian, with the exception of the positions of Sanggunian President and School Board Chairpersons, shall be filled via a special election to be held simultaneously with the Freshman Year Officers Election.”

In accordance with the same

provision, the seat of the president and the SB chairpersons for t he School of Hu ma n it ies, t he School of Science a nd Engineering, and the School of Social Sciences will remain vacant for the school year.

Preparations

Olondriz said that the Comelec has undertaken measures to ensure that the all possible voting processes are tested before election proper takes place.

She mentioned that Comelec has changed the programmers for the electronic poll system and will be adding an additional poll station at the Colayco Pavilion during elections proper.

Olondriz added that the Comelec has allowed more lenient rules for the campaign period so that the candidates could also play a role in promoting the elections.

She mentioned that, unlike last year, candidates can now create promotional videos for their campaigns, and candidates

running for the Top 4 positions can now run under their respective coalitions.

While Comelec is expecting operations to run smoothly, Olondriz said that her team is preparing contingency plans for possible worst case scenarios, such as the bomb hoax that disrupted elections operations last February.

She added that Comelec is also trying to think of nontraditional ways of promoting, such as using roving promotions during the elections.

Olondriz emphasized that all preparation efforts exerted by the Comelec is done to ensure that the “voice of the student body is properly heard.”

More over, CB Lia son Mendoza mentioned that the Sanggunian has conducted meetings with the Comelec, the Ateneo Student Judicial Court a nd t he O f f ice of St udent Activities to plan how they will mobilize for the election period.

He added that the Sanggunian Department of Public Relations

has also communicated with the Ateneo Collegiate Society of Advertising (COSA) to establish a “more efficient branding” of the Sanggunian.

COSA is an advertising organization that caters to clients both inside and outside the Ateneo.

At stake

According to Mendoza, Ateneo has much to lose should the Sanggunian suffer another failure of elections.

“In its Mission-Vision, the Ateneo, as a Filipino University, seeks to enrich the Philippine culture. If the elections fail once again, then Ateneo fails its Mission-Vision of enriching the Philippine culture through being silent and not having a voice,” he said.

“Ateneo students are supposed to be the future leaders of this country, and if they continue to be immersed in a culture where they are not governed and represented, then how will they learn how to manifest the values the

Ateneo has instilled in them to enrich the Philippine culture?”

Mendoza added.

For The Ateneo Assembly President Pauline Carillo, it is crucial that the special elections run successfully this year, as another failure may diminish the “already little trust and confidence” that the students have for the Sanggunian.

The Ateneo Assembly is the home organization of political science majors.

“Prolonging its current state of vacancies may reinforce an impression that Atenean student life can proceed without a student government,” she said.

She further added that stronger political party dynamics could also be taken into account.

She said that a “defined identity and party discipline” could form better candidates that could generate more active campus debates towards student services and national socio-political affairs.

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The GUIDON July 2014

Ateneans top region and worldwide BAT

By Joff D. Bantayan FIVE Ateneans earned spots in the 2014 Bloomberg Institute Hall of Fame after garnering ratings included in the regionwide top five and worldwide top three scores of the Bloomberg Aptitude Test (BAT) last March and May, respectively.

Conducted monthly by the Bloomberg Institute, the BAT is designed to immerse students in the global finance industry and to allow them to put the theories they have learned into actual practice.

Top performers of the BAT for a particular month are featured in the Bloomberg Institute Hall of Fame, a detailed list of participants who managed to achieve the worldwide top three and regionwide top five scores.

In the BAT conducted last May, management engineering senior James Tieng placed 1st in the Asia Pacific Region and second in the worldwide rankings, where he

tied with a student from Pomona College of the United States.

Moreover, applied mathematical finance (AMF) and economicshonors supersenior Len Patrick Garces placed fifth last March in the Asia Pacific Region along with an unnamed Atenean.

The two shared the spot with four students from Finders University in Australia, Indian I n st it ute of Ma na g ement , National University of Singapore and Singapore Management University (SMU), respectively.

In the same month, the two other Ateneans who chose to remain anonymous were tied at fourth place in the region, along with a student from the Chinese University of Hong Kong and a student from SMU. According to the results sheet published in the official Bloomberg Institute website, Tieng and Garces garnered an overall score of 700 and 650, respectively, placing them both in the 99th percentile globally.

Prior to taking the test, participants are granted the option

of anonymity once the results are posted online.

Among the Ateneans who topped the test, only Tieng and Garces chose to disclose their names. The other three students were only identified through their universities.

Testing

In an email interview with The GUIDON, Tieng noted that taking the test felt like being in a “pressure cooker” due to the limited amount of time allotted for each part of the test.

"The questions don’t really require any very deep or extensive finance knowledge, so you don’t actually need to memorize formulas or definitions,” he said.

In a separate interview, Garces share similar sentiments on the test’s time limit.

He added that the difficulty level was also increased because most items in the test were analytic in nature and were not “textbook questions.”

Garces also noted that not much preparation was actually

needed for the test since the goal of the BAT was to measure aptitude or how much a student has learned and understood about finance and investment so far.

“What was important during the test was the ability to absorb information and make sensible conclusions fast,” he said.

The BAT is a two-hour examination containing 100 multiple choice questions designed to assess knowledge and proficiency in skills relevant to the finance industry.

Subject areas that comprise the test include the following: News Analysis, Economics, Math Skills, Analytical Reasoning, Financial Statements Analysis, Investment Banking, Global Markets, and Chart and Graph Analysis.

Participants may take the BAT either online, during which they will have to be monitored live via webcam, or in accredited testing sites in the country such as the Manila Bloomberg Office and select university campuses.

Well-rounded formation

Tieng and Garces said that their Ateneo education was a competitive advantage in their respective performances in the BAT. “I felt that my classes in Ateneo gave me the analytical edge that helped me do better in the test despite how foreign some of the topics in the BAT seemed to be,” Tieng said.

“It’s not about what you know but what you do with what you know, and Ateneo really gave me the foundation to do the latter more effectively through its core curriculum,” he added.

Garces said that the test allowed him to practice his research and analyses skills, which he believes are the biggest skills the Ateneo has helped him develop.

Tieng is currently the local committee vice president for Information Management of the Ateneo chapter of the Association Internationale des Étudiants en Sciences Économ iques et Commerciales (Aiesec).

Aiesec Local Committee

Vice President for Incoming Exchange Global Internship Programme Elise Apilado noted Tieng's prowess in his areas in the organization.

She ment ioned t hat t he Information Ma nagement Department of Aiesec was a brainchild of Tieng.

"He has created, together with his team, new ways to innovate our internal systems and trackers," Apilado added.

On the other hand, Garces was involved in handling projects in the Ateneo Mathematics Society (AMS), where he served as executive vice president last year.

Elly Reser va, a current classmate of his in the AMF Master’s Program, describes him as “reliable and wellorganized” when it comes to work in the organization.

Last March, Garces graduated cum laude with a 3.61 Cumulative Quality Point Index. He is currently pursuing his master’s degree in AMF and is teaching in the Mathematics Department as a part-time lecturer.

The silence of the constitution?

By Nicolo A. Fortuna and Ennah A. Tolentino IN RESPONSE to the Ateneo Student Judicial Court’s (SJC) declaratory relief, the Ateneo Commission on Elections (Comelec) issued a memorandum on July 8 stating that a separate special elections for the Sanggunian president and chairpersons will not be held.

The SJC declaration, promulgated on July 6, “conditionally allowed” the election of the president and the School Board (SB) chairpersons for the School of Humanities, the School of Science and Engineering, and the School of Social Sciences.

The said positions, along with 24 others in the Sanggunian Top 44, did not reach their respective quotas in the Sanggunian General Elections last February and have since been vacant.

According to the memorandum, the Comelec has decided that while filling up the empty positions is a priority of the Sanggunian, it “sees no critical need” to conduct a separate special elections.

This decision was made in consultation with the Office of Student Activities, the SJC and the Sanggunian itself.

The memorandum also stated that delays or shifts in the elections schedule, should there be two special elections, could not be accommodated by the deadlines for elections that are set in the constitution.

Based on the decision, a second set of special elections would not only be costly and impractical, it could also cause “voter fatigue and confusion.”

Construing clauses

While the 2005 Constitution of the Undergraduate Students of the Ateneo states how to address the vacant positions in the Sanggunian, the exemption for the seats of the president and chairpersons still remains a gray area.

According to Article XV, Section 4(a), “vacancies that occur in the Central Board and SB before the election of the Freshman Officers, with the exception of the positions of the Sanggunian President and School Board Chairpersons, shall be filled via special

elections to be held simultaneously with the Freshman Year Officer Elections.”

The SJC was prompted to issue an interpretation of the said provision after John Gokongwei School of Management Chair Alex Tanjangco filed a petition on June 29 asking for a declaratory relief.

“If there was a chance to have a president and [SB chairpersons], why not take it?” asked Tanjangco in an interview with The GUIDON. “There’s nothing to lose. That’s the only reason I [filed the petition] in the first place.”

Tanjangco explained that she brought up the idea of reviewing the constitution, particularly Article XV, Section 4(a), during a joint session with the CB, SB and all other Sanggunian sectors on June 27.

The SJC said that a review would not be possible without a formal request for a declaratory relief. Tanjangco then drafted a petition which offered three explanations for the said provision.

First, that “the positions of president and chairperson are not allowed to run during the special elections.”

Second, that “the positions of president and chairperson are not required to be included in the special elections, however are allowed to be included.”

Third, that “the positions of president and chairperson are not allowed to take part in the special elections, however are allowed to take part in a separate election held on the same dates.”

The court allowed special elections to be held for the said positions, but with the following conditions: It should be set on a date separate from the 2014 Sanggunian Freshmen and Special Elections, and it should be held before the 2015 Sanggunian General Elections.

According to the SJC declaration, the court viewed the “silence of the constitution” on the course of action to take for the vacant positions of the president and the chairpersons as an intention to respect the electoral mandate of the student body.

However, the SJC believes that the mandate “would not be breached” if the said positions were opened once again for elections.

The spirit of the law

“Dangerous” is how Christian Union for Socialist and Democratic Advancement (Crusada) Premier Abbo Hernandez described Tanjangco’s petition.

Instead of being a proper request for a declaratory relief, the petition was an argument that the constitution was vague and ought to be interpreted according to a certain agenda, according to Hernandez.

“If a petitioner submits three random, three very different interpretations, then it means it’s not really a justifiable interpretation because you’re just trying to give them options: ‘If you can’t interpret it this way to favor me, there’s another way to favor me.

If you still can’t interpret it that way, there’s another way to favor me also,’” Hernandez said.

“To put it blatantly, these are loopholes,” said Ignatian Initiative for Transformative Empowerment (Ignite) President Luigi Del Rosario. “For me, these are over-interpretations. The first interpretation is what we have always used [in past cases].

Yearly, in special elections, we don’t allow the voting of president and chairperson.”

“A special election, in spirit, is supposed to be an election other than the general election,” Hernandez explained. “So basically what the SJC just said is, you can’t put this in the special election with the freshmen, but you can have [another round of] special elections right before the [original] special elections, which is still a special election to begin with.”

The SJC consistently refused to comment on these criticisms when approached by The GUIDON. Instead, they claimed that the document of their decision already spoke for itself and that they are constitutionally not allowed to disclose minutes of their deliberations.

Tanjangco said she heard about the negative feedback on the petition, specifically on the interpretations she listed down.

“I gave my own opinions on the possible interpretations because I thought it would be better to be as specific as possible. However, I didn’t think [the SJC] would come up with a result with those limited options. I assumed they would add their own,” she said.

Despite the criticism, she

said she stands by her petition, as she submitted it with “good intentions.”

The case against

The Loyola Schools community has not favored the court’s ruling.

Del Rosario said that he did not like how impractical the decision was. “[The decision gives] us another campaign season to prepare for which we did not see coming beforehand,” he said. He even believes that the election would have failed because of voter fatigue.

In terms of finance, Del Rosario thinks the money to be spent on another election would be better used by student organizations or for other Sanggunian projects.

Steps have also been taken by members of the community to work against the court’s decision.

Crusada, the only accredited political party in the Ateneo, filed a motion for reconsideration on the evening of July 8.

The attempt was spearheaded

by Crusada Solicitor General Miko Alazas.

The party’s arguments come in two parts. The first is a legal argument about how the petition was not a legitimate request for a declaratory relief. The second part of the argument, which Alazas considers the heart of it, is that the constitution is not actually as vague as Tanjangco claimed, and has an intention opposed to what the court had ruled.

For the first part, he explained that a declaratory relief is not some request to interpret a constitution that anyone can just ask for.

Instead, a court grants declaratory relief when between two parties in conflict, rights are in breach. To petition for a declaratory relief, the petitioner must be able to point to a specific right in breach in order for the court to grant one.

The second part of the argument cited verba legis–“plainmeaning rule” in English, meaning that the most direct interpretation is the intended one.

The way the principle applies to this situation, Alazas argued, is that the explicit exception it makes should be considered to hold across time. Therefore, it should not be justifiable to try to go around the exception by

saying that it no longer applies at some different date.

In a decision released on July 15, the SJC dismissed the motion for reconsideration because of a 3-3 voting deadlock among the magistrates. Opinions of the magistrates who were split in accepting or rejecting the motion for reconsideration were published with the decision.

The court, however, unanimously ruled for Crusada’s first argument to be disregarded on the grounds that the court’s definition of a declaratory relief differed from the Supreme Court of the Philippines’ cited as precedence by Crusada. The court cites the SJC Rules of Court 2014, which reads, “Anyone interested under any act or policy of a Sanggunian official or entity, or whose rights are effected [sic] by a resolution or policy may [petition for declaratory relief].”

In response to Crusada’s second argument, the SJC emphasized that the declaration was not meant to be precedent in any case of failure of elections.

It is only the “extraordinary nature” of last February’s failure of elections—which left the Sanggunian’s Top Four positions vacant— that led to the SJC’s decision. It is only in that specific context wherein the ruling to allow a special elections for the president and chairpersons takes precedence.

It was only in these extraordinary circumstances where the ruling to allow the Comelec discretion to set new special elections takes precedence.

It is also on Crusada’s second argument that the court’s magistrates have contesting opinions.

The three against the motion are Chief Magistrate Lorenzo Pepito, and Magistrates Magdalena Pineda and Cristine Villaruel.

They argue that the writers of the constitution were unable to provide for the present situation and relied on mitigating controls that no longer applied. “Returning to the current context of the Sanggunian, circumstances have it that these mitigating controls...are inoperative provided the recent vacancies of both the highest position and the secondhighest position in both the Central Board and the School Boards.”

Furthermore, they state that “the Court welcomed the con-

trols that allow for the filing of the vacant President and Chairperson positions through the holding of another Special Elections under the discretion of COMELEC.” On the other hand, the three Magistrates in favor of the motion were Danielle Gaite, Paolo Sta. Isabel and Aldwin Segismundo.

Their opinion begins, however, with an argument against a part of Crusada’s petition.

They state that the provisions of Article XV, Section 4(a) are not automatically subjected to the plain-meaning rule and that Crusada’s own understanding of the article is itself an interpretation, deserving no more specially accorded consideration than Tanjangco’s.

The three agree, however, that “the silence of the constitution calls one to err on the side of caution” and that “it would be best to interpret all controversies in a manner that is closest to the spirit of the law.”

They explain that “the writers of the Constitution indeed considered [the present circumstances] by embedding succession responsibilities [in an acting capacity] in the officers who are next in line, namely, the vice president and the secretarytreasurer [sic].”

The three emphasize that while the Sanggunian is struggling with vacancies in the top positions, “it is in no way permanently incapacitated” as it is empowered by the constitution to create units that will carry out its functions.

The three magistrates then conclude that “while the plainmeaning rule is not the only interpretation that exists for the provision,” it is also the closest to the spirit of the constitution.

The leadership dilemma

The driving force behind all these events has been the need to fill vacant positions at the top of the Sanggunian. But what exactly does this situation mean for the student government and its ability to function?

According to Del Rosario, the Sanggunian was off to a rocky start this summer, but they have “started to gain ground already… I can’t deny the fact that [it’s working]...

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SAP to investigate failure of elections

By Vince M. Estrada IN ORDER to study the reasons behind the failure of the 2014 Sanggunian General Elections, the student government has approved a resolution initiating the Sanggunian Assessment Project (SAP).

The school-wide failure of elections last February left the Sanggunian with 28 empty seats out of its Top 44.

The “Resolution to Initiate the Sanggunian Assessment Project for SY 2014-2015” was submitted by the Sanggunian’s Committee on Constitutional Review (CCR) Head Miguel Hamoy, and was approved during a Central Board (CB) meeting held on June 27.

In an interview with The GUIDON, Hamoy pinpointed the three requirements of the resolution: Gathering data, writing an academic paper and presenting the results to the public.

While the SAP is under the CCR, Hamoy himself will be compiling the information and writing the academic paper.

According to Sanggunian CB Liaison Ga-el Mendoza, the idea of creating this resolution stemmed from the meetings of the elected Sanggunian officers during their planning seminar.

Mendoza believes that the 2005 Sanggunian Constitution of the Undergraduate Students of the Ateneo de Manila Loyola Schools was created “from a particular culture that the past Sanggunian observed through their term.”

He explained that the culture has now changed and, thus, he now wants to observe this change transformation through the SAP. Mendoza hopes that the Sanggunian will then be able to “tailor fit the new constitution to the current culture.”

“By the end of SAP, [the] ideal outcome is to have a constitution that enables the Sanggunian to serve the student body better,” said Mendoza.

In addition, Mendoza he expressed his optimism that this research would reveal “the deeper reasons why a lot of people didn’t vote [during the elections].”

Process

Hamoy said that most of the collected data would come from interviews with Ateneo professors who were former Ateneo students, because they have experienced a Sanggunian that is different from the student government the Ateneo has now.

He added that he plans to use these consultations to gauge what the possible explanations for the failure of elections are and the possible methods “for finding out why they happened.”

“Since [the SAP] is a research effort, the result will be an academic paper. I’ll be using psychological statistics [and the discipline of ] political science to create a theory, since there’s no theory to explain [the failure of elections],” he elaborated.

The resolution then requires the CCR to release the “unaltered” findings of the investigation to the public upon its completion.

“I’ll be releasing all the results to the information dissemination arms of Sanggunian, basically [compressing] all the findings, all the [methods

of ] action, into bite-sized information for the students,” Hamoy said.

In a separate interview with The GUIDON, Hamoy explained that he would release the results to the CB first. The CB is then free to disseminate as they wish.

Hamoy indicated that the CCR would most likely utilize the Sanggunian Department of Public Relations as a primary mode of dissemination.

Progress

According to Hamoy, he has already conducted interviews with several professors in the Political Science, Sociolog y and Anthropology, Psychology a nd Development St udies Departments.

“Those were the fields that I thought were most relevant [to this project],” he said.

In an email interview with The GUIDON, Political Science Department Lecturer Gino Trinidad discussed what he and Hamoy talked about during their interview.

According to Trinidad, the issue concerning the Sanggunian’s failure of elections can be traced

TALLY OF VACANT AND OCCUPIED SANGGUNIAN POSITIONS INFOGRAPHIC BY Paulina L. Almira and Jan-Daniel S. Belmonte SOURCE: Sanggunian ng mga Paaralang Loyola ng Ateneo de Manila

back to the “failure to ask and to address the question concerning the power of the Sanggunian as a student government.”

“I told [Hamoy] that I think that there is too much fuss about the function of the Sanggunian to the extent that the question of what really can the Sanggunian do as a student government— which, I believe, is more a question about power rather than function—is not given due attention,” he explained.

As of press time, Hamoy said that he is not at liberty to discuss further details of the project.

However, he added that he hopes to have compiled his research by the end of the first semester.

“The deadline for compiling the research paper would be by the end of the semestral break, so that as soon as the second semester starts, I can begin to look at the potential changes, and start implementing whatever the data tells us to implement,” he said.

Into the future

With only until the start of the second semester to accomplish the objectives of the resolution,

the predictions for the outcome of this project have been mixed.

Trinidad admitted that from his experience as a student in the Ateneo, apathy for student politics has been an issue that has long plagued the Sanggunian.

“I am keeping my expectations modest: I just hope that the project becomes a springboard for more discussions not only concerning the Sanggunian, but also—and perhaps more importantly—that which concerns politics in Ateneo in general,” Trinidad said.

However, he added, “I think, though, that the project is indeed necessary and long overdue, considering that political participation has really been problematic in Ateneo, at least for the last decade.”

For Hamoy, he hopes that the Ateneo community sees this as an opportunity to help the student government.

He said, “I just want people to know that this is—as much as [this project] might seem like a hassle—integral to making sure that the Sanggunian can continue to serve [the students].”

The Central Board Committee on Constitutional Review has initiated a resolution to lend the Sanggunian Assessment Project as a means to understand the circumstances that led to the failure of elections. 28 positions were left vacant in the Top 44 after the 2014 Sanggunian General Elections. The results are as follows:

POSITIONS THAT REACHED QUOTA

VACANT POSITIONS

Sophomore Central Board Representative and Sophomore Executive Officer

Top 4

School of Humanities Votes Cast: 123 Quota: 120 out of 239

John Gokongwei School of Management Votes Cast: 445 Quota: 389 out of 777

President Votes Cast: 3113 Quota: 3226 out of 6451

Vice President Votes Cast: 3113 Quota: 3226 out of 6451

School of Science and Engineering Votes Cast: 327 Quota: 259 out of 517

School of Social Sciences Votes Cast: 345 Quota: 340 out of 679

Secretary General Votes Cast: 3113 Quota: 3226 out of 6451

Finance Officer Votes Cast: 3113 Quota: 3226 out of 6451

Junior Central Board Representative and Junior Executive Officer

Chairperson and Secretary Treasurer

OCCUPIED

School of Humanities Votes Cast: 129 Quota: 112 out of 223

John Gokongwei School of Management Votes Cast: 405 Quota: 393 out of 785

School of Humanities Votes Cast: 322 Quota: 338 out of 675

John Gokongwei School of Management Votes Cast: 1237 Quota: 1169 out of 2337

School of Science and Engineering Votes Cast: 278 Quota: 245 out of 489

School of Social Sciences Votes Cast: 280 Quota: 275 out of 549

School of Science and Engineering Votes Cast: 791 Quota: 815 out of 1629

School of Social Sciences Votes Cast: 763 Quota: 909 out of 1017

Senior Executive Officer

Senior Central Board Representative

NO CANDIDATES

School of Management Votes Cast: 387 Quota: 387 out of 773 Chairperson and Secretary Treasurer

John Gokongwei School of Management Votes Cast: 1237 Quota: 1169 out of 2337

SOH, SOSS, SOSE Votes Cast: N/A Quota: N/A

NO CANDIDATE

OCCUPIED

School of Humanities Votes Cast: N/A Quota: N/A

John Gokongwei School of Management Votes Cast: 387 Quota: 387 out of 773

School of Science and Engineering Votes Cast: 186 Quota: 249 out of 497

School of Social Sciences Votes Cast: 138 Quota: 296 out of 591

Senior Central Board Representative

John Gokongwei School of Management Votes Cast: 387 Quota: 387 out of 773

News

The GUIDON July 2014

55

LS launches Interdepartmental Conversations

By Pam T. Musni THE LOYOLA Schools (LS) has initiated a conference series titled “Interdepa r t menta l Conversations” to further address its thrust for interdisciplinarity and comply with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 20, series of 2013.

The said CMO requires higher education institutions to implement a new General Education Curriculum (GEC), which includes subjects that “apply an inter- or cross-disciplinary objective” and “draw material, cases or examples from Philippine realities or experiences.”

According to Vice President for the LS John Paul Vergara, PhD, the conference series will serve as an avenue for LS departments to discuss possible academic collaborations, such as interdisciplinary courses.

He noted that while there had been previous efforts to strengthen academic ties among departments, the efforts were mostly informal.

According to Vergara, Interdepartmental Conversations is an avenue to “catalyze interaction” between departments and discipline. The output of the

conference series will be incorporated into the new curriculum of the Ateneo.

The conference series will be held regularly throughout the school year, with each meeting assembling faculty members from selected LS departments.

Two sessions have already been held in March and in May. The conference series is headed by Vergara, LS Coordinator for Faculty Development Karina Fernandez, PhD, LS Coordinator for the Teacher Formation Institute and Faculty Spiritual Formation Olivia Habana, PhD and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Josefina Hofileña, PhD. Discussions

Habana said that the meetings have not yet yielded concrete output but have sparked ideas about interdisciplinary collaborations.

She explained that, during the meetings, professors are separated into groups with professors from other departments to “essentially come up with ideas—just ideas—for interdepartmental cooperation, for courses, for service learning [and the like].”

“The important thing is that the ice has been broken and people are more open to not just the [prospect

of interdisciplinary] classes… but the administrative aspect,” she said.

According to Habana, the sessions are intended to be “freeflowing” to facilitate discussion.

Before each session, the organizing committee chooses the departments that will convene during that particular meeting.

Habana said that they had grouped together up to three departments in previous sessions.

For t he f irst meet ing, Habana said the committee gathered facult y members from the Psychology, Fine Arts, and Information Systems and Computer Science Departments.

Information Systems and Computer Science Department Associate Chairperson Guillermo Paolo Agloro Jr., one of the attendees, noted that the sessions were kept light to allow for brainstorming among the faculties.

Agloro shared that one of the ideas that his group came up with was to create a course that would involve designing userfriendly programs. “[For our courses in Information Technology], we can program, but we don’t know how to design a good user experience, right? And to [create] a good user experience, somehow, there’s also cognitive stuff. So [we con-

CHED memorandum... ‹‹ 1

ments], but I certainly don’t [have any plans to do that]. We value the languages here [in the Ateneo],” he said.

According to Filipino Department Chair Joseph Salazar, PhD, members of the Filipino Department have expressed their desire to stay within the university system.

“Though there are jobs waiting in senior high school, the CHED seems unmindful of how the organizational and administrative structure [in the university] will become detrimental for former university teachers whose academic lives are attuned towards research and not teaching alone,” he said.

Salazar added, “The abandonment or even suspension of research activities of university faculty is counter-productive not only to the intellectualization of Filipino, but to intellectualization itself.”

Salazar emphasized that the skills and training that members of his department possess are different from those required for teaching senior high school.

In an interview with The GUIDON, University President Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ said that the Ateneo has no intentions to layoff its tenured faculty, who will be prioritized once the revised GEC takes effect.

“If there will be [dismissals], it will be on part-time or contractual faculty assignments,” Villarin explained.

Removal of subjects

Among the 36 units included in the revised GEC, none have been dedicated for the Filipino subject.

However, Article I, Section 3 of the CMO states that “the general education courses may be taught in English or Filipino.”

The Filipino Department has expressed its disdain over the removal of units dedicated for Filipino subjects.

“Hindi lamang midyum ng pagtuturo ang Filipino. Isa itong disiplina. Lumilikha ito ng sariling larangan ng karunungan na nagtatampok sa pagka-Filipino sa anumang usapin sa loob at

labas ng akademya (Filipino is not just a medium of instruction.

It is a discipline. It creates its own field of learning that features Filipino in any discourse inside and outside academics),” read a statement released June 21 on the department’s official Facebook page.

The statement also emphasized Filipino as an integral component in education, and that it must be continued at the university and graduate level.

In addition, Salazar noted that the CMO identifies Filipino as “just another language.”

“This revised version of the curriculum does not take into consideration the history of Filipino and its unrealized role in the development of nationalism, local knowledge and the perpetuation of power of the ingglesero (English-speaker),” he said.

He added that the reduction of Filipino into a medium of instruction would only make it difficult for scholars of Filipino dialects and languages to justify the legitimacy of their academic disciplines.

“If the [new] CHED curriculum is implemented in Ateneo, we will only be contributing to the development of a more arrogant and out-of-touch middle class. The removal of Filipino as a subject will only aggravate the alienation of our students from the localities in which their power is situated,” said Salazar.

Lack of direction

The CHED memo states that universities have the prerogative to teach the new courses in either English or Filipino.

However, in the same statement released on June 23, CHED said that public consultations will be held regarding the recommendation of requiring at least nine units of the new GEC to be taught in Filipino.

The recommendation came from a CHED technical panel.

CHED said the panel must present its findings to the commission once public consultations are completed.

According to Salazar, this move by CHED illustrates

ceptualized] a course that can somehow combine the three together,” he said.

In a separate interview, Vergara said that the organizing committee is planning to open each session for other faculty members aside from those who belong to the primarily invited departments.

He added that, by the end of the school year, all departments are guaranteed to have been invited to the conference series.

The silence...

Outside the box

‹‹ 3

I don’t see the need of electing chairpersons. However, I see the need of electing someone who will take charge.”

Asked about how the student body might elect someone who could assume leadership, he is in favor of electing a vice president to take care of presidential responsibilities, especially in spearheading projects.

Hernandez shared the same sentiments. “When the [positions in question] are gone, they don’t really harm the representation of students assuming you elect everyone else.” He argued that these elected students, especially those in the higher positions, then, have the responsibility of representing the students and spearheading the

projects instead.

According to Hernandez, the Sanggunian members should have been ready to function without the top positions in the first place. “[Those that managed to get elected] should have come in with a very real fear that a [top level position] may not get elected...It might be really hard, but people should have been ready to take on that responsibility.”

In a sepa rate inter v iew, Tanjangco said that it is more difficult for the Sanggunian to work without someone to take charge, make key decisions, and set the direction for the specific schools and the Sanggunian in general.

“The Sanggunian can function without [the president and the chairpersons], but it will function a lot better with them,” she said.

Contracts (CSCs).

The CSCs entitle Casiguran farmers to rights to their respective lands.

With the interference of RA 9490, however, the renewal process eventually came to a full stop.

"Magpasahanggang ngayon, pangako pa rin ang aming natatanggap [mula sa pangulo] (Until now, all that we are getting from the president are promises),” Convicto said.

According to a media release published on May 9 by the Task Force Anti-Apeco, the promises made to the Casiguran farmers

by Aquino in a dialogue at the Ateneo on December 11, 2012 “has been thrown into jeopardy.”

Task Force Anti-Apeco is a group primarily composed of fishermen, farmers and indigenous people of Casiguran.

Furthermore, Convicto expressed hopes that, with the help of concerned citizens, students and the religious sector, the government will hear their plea, “Sana po matulungan niyo kami sa pagpapaabot muli sa pangulo na mapatupad ang pangakong kanyang binitawan sa amin (I hope you can help us raise our concern to the president that he may stay true to what he has promised us all),”Convicto said.

sa isang kontrobersyal na isyu (The advocacy of our organization is to campaign for bottomup budgeting as an advocacy, wherein there will be legitimate consultations between citizens and communities and the local government regarding controversial issues),” she said.

Carillo emphasized that concerned parties should also do their part by acting upon the budgeting issue in any way they can.

“Huwag nating basta-basta sisihin ‘yung gobyerno na ganun-ganun na lang. Kailangang umaksyon din tayo bilang mamamayan (Let us not always put the blame on the government.

We need to act upon it as citizens),” she said.

Moreover, Hernandez cited simple ways on how the youth can participate in social issues.

He said that the youth should study the issue firsthand before getting involved in the issue, in order for them to clearly articulate their advocacies.

“When you speak about an advocacy, it’s not enough to say that it’s bad, that some people stole a lot of land, but it also needs to be explained well,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.

He explained that being part of a university automatically gives students the power to voice out their opinions. He said that this power should be utilized properly lest it goes to waste.

To end the program, Alpasa called for more public discourse on social issues. He said that while netizens loudly voice out their opinions on social media, there are only few face-to-face discussions on the matter.

“Sana pagkatapos ng pagpapahayag [ng opinyon] sa social media, puwede pang magkaroon ng diskurso (I hope that after communicating opinions on social media, we could also have discourse),” he said.

Vergara noted that an interdisciplinary approach to learning is important.

“When you start being disciplinal, [students] only [focus] on their own schools [of thought], on their own schools’ teaching, their own math and communication—which [does happen]—and when you start doing that, you start becoming a little myopic, too focused on your own,” he said.

Vergara said that there is a higher likelihood for students in the Ateneo to interact with other students in the university because of the core curriculum. This also holds true for the faculties of different departments, he added. “[As] a college of liberal arts and sciences, we come together, and it’s just natural for us to just

come together and talk—[students] have an experience in their education, they talk [about it]—so that’s an example of interdisciplinarity,” he said.

However, Vergara warned that there is a risk of becoming too interdisciplinary, as collaborations among departments might water down the

individual disciplines.

He added that one must be mature in his or her respective discipline for collaboration with other disciplines to be effective.

“If you’re very well-rounded in your discipline, you know what would ma ke sense [and] what’s the right mix in between,” Vergara said.

SLB discusses... a lack of direction in transitioning to the new curriculum, which results to a number of problems, such as the fund for training professors to teach interdisciplinary courses.

He added that the Ateneo should be mindful of other universities that can only comply with the CMO because they do not have the flexibility that the Ateneo has.

“The nationwide implementation of the curriculum should be backed by a more prescriptive plan that lays out contingencies that takes into account the finances, resources and capabilities of each and every university and college in the country,” he explained.

For English Department Associate Chair Danilo Reyes, his concern over the new curriculum proposed by CHED is the lack of clarity during the transition from a disciplinary to an interdisciplinary approach.

“The problems have translated to the massive retrenchment of teachers, closure of certain academic departments, the lack of teacher training, need for funds, the possible bankruptcy of schools and colleges,” he said.

Reyes, however, said that many teachers are still interested to follow a comprehensive plan for transition.

“The interest has something to do with concrete steps on how to carry it out, with well-defined principles, clear targets, phases, specific strategies and ample resources,” he explained.

In addition, Vergara said that the Ateneo is willing to extend a hand to other universities who have difficulty transitioning to the new curriculum, but that it will be a complicated process.

“I’m pretty sure we will find a fair solution that is workable for our departments. [The new GEC] is workable for Ateneo.

I understand how it might not be workable for other universities… As much as I’d like to help in that regard, it’s really a more complicated question, and I’d like to participate in that as much as possible,” he said.

‹‹ 1

held semi-annually, provides an opportunity for both religious and non-religious sectors to express their views on the country’s current controversial issues.

Special guests who were invited to speak in the forum include the following: Agta tribe Chieftains Vita Banayad and Jabar Tullio, The Ateneo Assembly President Pauline Carillo, Pinag-isang Lakas sa Casiguran President Vicente Convicto, Ateneans for Agrarian Reform Movement Chair Ace Dela Cruz, and Christian Union for Socialist and Democratic Advancement (Crusada) Premier Abbo Hernandez.

Present as well in the event were farmers from Casiguran who are rallying against the implementation of Apeco.

SLB President Fr. Xavier Alpasa, SJ describes the event as an opportunity for those who are gravely affected in a certain issue to speak up and be heard.

“Tama na muna ang diskurso doon lang sa involved. Hayaan din naman natin magkaroon ng diskurso doon sa mga naapektuhan [ng isyu] katulad [ng mga magsasakang Casiguran] (Enough discourse about only those who are involved. Let us allow discourse to happen about those who are affected by the issue, just like the farmers of Casiguran),” Alpasa said.

A forlorn promise

Spea king on beha lf of t he fa r mers a nd f isher folk of Ca sig ura n, Convicto aired his sentiments about the Apeco. “[Ang dulot] nga ba [ng Apeco] ay kaunlaran? Kaunlaran para kanino (Will Apeco really yield progress?

Progress for whom)?”

He mentioned that President Benigno Aquino III had made promises to the farmers, one of which was the renewal of Certificate of Stewardship

Getting involved

Following the talks on Apeco, student leaders expressed how citizens’ involvement in such issues could lead to change and development.

Carillo cited The Ateneo Assembly’s request for a more transparent and accountable allocation of the national budget.

“Ang adbokasiya po ng aming organisasyon ay ikampanya ang bottom-up budgeting bilang advocacy, kung saan mayroon po talagang lehitimong konsultasyon ang mga mamamayan at komunidad at ang lokal na pamahalaan

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6

Opinion

VOLUME LXXXV, NO. 2 JULY 2014

The GUIDON Founded 1929 by Rev. Frank O‘Hara, SJ First Editor-in-Chief, Manuel C. Colayco, AB ‘30 PURPOSE To serve as a record of Ateneo history in the making; to serve as an organ of journalistic expression; to serve God and country.

Mara Alyssabel D. Cepeda, AB COM ‘15 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Vernise Allison L. Tantuco, BS CTM ‘15 ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Katherine Mary E. Pearson, AB SOS ‘15

EDITORIAL CARTOON BY GM A. ESPELETA

MANAGING EDITOR

Jan-Daniel S. Belmonte, BFA ID ‘15 DESIGN EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Ennah Faye A. Tolentino, AB PSY ‘16 NEWS EDITOR

Translating heritage

Ignacio Gregorio C. Razon, AB PSY ‘15 SPORTS EDITOR

Roxanna May Y. Ramirez, AB COM ‘16 BEYOND LOYOLA EDITOR

Pia Josefina H. Posadas, BS CTM ‘15 FEATURES EDITOR

Lyssa Minette A. Marquez, AB POS ‘17 INQUIRY EDITOR

Santiago Jose J. Arnaiz, BS LM ‘16 VANTAGE EDITOR

Ryan Paul Y. Racca, AB IS ‘15 PHOTOS EDITOR

Catherine Margaret C. Quintos, BFA ID ‘15 GRAPHIC DESIGN EDITOR

Arthur Jarred D. Tan, BFA ID ‘16 MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

Karen Therese Romina G. Sison, AB HI ‘16 TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Julie Diane T. Lim, BS ME ‘15 EXTERNALS MANAGER

Ma. Josephine C. Unas, AB COM ‘15 ONLINE MEDIA MANAGER

NEWS Vince M. Estrada; Editorial Assistant, Joff D. Bantayan, Katrina M. Bonillo, Christian D. Cejalvo, Pam T. Musni SPORTS Beatrice T. Go; Editorial Assistant, Lorenzo C. Aycardo, Raizza P. Bello, Faith R. Decangchon, Gian Y. Go, Noelle M. Recio BEYOND LOYOLA JC A. Beltran; Editorial Assistant, Regine D. Cabato, Kyle N. Mitschiener, Chynna A. Santos, Frances P. Sayson, Aaron M. Tanyag FEATURES Jasmine P. Ting; Editorial Assistant, Marguerite R. Andrews, Ishbelle L. Bongato, Isabel A. Rodrigo INQUIRY Eugene G. Ong; Editorial Assistant, Nicolo A. Fortuna, Uriel N. Galace, Mivan V. Ong VANTAGE Belle O. Mapa; Editorial Assistant, Paul G. Alcantara, Rissa A. Coronel, , Matthew K. Olivares PHOTOS Alexis A. Casas; Editorial Assistant, Arielle A. Acosta, Francine A. Bharwani, Joshua E. Cabalinan, RJ Dimla, Alexandra L. Huang, Pia R. Nicolas, Chi D. Punzalan GRAPHIC DESIGN Nikki G. Solinap; Editorial Assistant, Paulina L. Almira, GM A. Espeleta, Ellan T. Estrologo, Joey D. Ochoa, Tommi G. Principe MULTIMEDIA Jillian C. Subido; Editorial Assistant, Miguel Feria, Sam F. Ganzon, Angelo M. Mendoza, Arianna Z. Mercado, Thurees Obenza, Nikki C. Vesagas TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT Andrea G. Guevarra; Managerial Assistant, Mariel A. Arboleda, Enrique G. Lopez, Ven G. Tan EXTERNALS Mika O. Reyes; Managerial Assistant, Patrick L. Balisong, Sabina Co, Kristi de Asis, Isabella Naguiat, Jelena Tiu ONLINE MEDIA Gayle G. Carabeo; Managerial Assistant, Kian L. Paras COPY EDITORS Regine D. Cabato, Jasmine P. Ting

Ruel S. De Vera MODERATOR

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Drive the discussion.

In the Loyola Schools (LS), Sining ng Pakikipagtalastasan sa Filipino I and II (Fil 11 and 12), and Panitikan ng Pilipinas (Fil 14) are known for the insight on Filipino culture that students gain from their professors’ anecdotes.

The Filipino word “ay,” for example, is not a direct translation of the linking verb “is.”

The Filipino nursery rhyme “Leron Leron Sinta” is a song about losing virginity. Under a lineup of acclaimed professors, students are expected to discover Filipino beyond the conventions of grammar and syntax. Moreover, the department is a Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Center of Development.

The value of the LS’ beloved Filipino subjects, then, is this: They are not only classes about language—they are also classes about culture.

However, there will come a year when freshmen will no longer experience the amazement of a Filipino professor correcting certain misconceptions they may have had about Filipino culture.

Late last year, CHED issued a revised General Education Curriculum (GEC) in light of the Kindergarten to Grade 12 program. Aside from reducing all college programs to 36 units, CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) 20, series of 2013 mandates that “remedial” courses, like Filipino, will be moved to Grades 11 and 12.

CHED has recently received backlash from nationalists, who slammed the new GEC as an attack against the national language.

Defenders of the CMO argue, however, that the GEC is not primarily about language instruction; rather, it is focused

on the holistic development of the student. The GEC is envisioned to “lay the groundwork for the development of a professionally competent, humane and moral person.”

Perhaps the issue here is that CHED does not consider the study of the Filipino language part of being a “professionally competent” person when the study of Filipino is a formal discipline.

Those against the CMO argue that the non-inclusion of Filipino classes is detrimental to the intellectualization of the language.

It reduces the Filipino language to an option for a medium of instruction. The CMO does not recognize that, like English, Filipino is also a language worth studying and it has unique things to contribute to the academe.

How do we study the experience of being Filipino if we do not study Filipino?

The CMO is also receiving flak as it will likely call for the retrenchment of thousands of Filipino teachers nationwide. In the Ateneo, University President Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ said that only the part-time or contractual faculty members of the Filipino Department would be affected.

Does this mean that they will lose their jobs? Not necessarily.

They may be displaced to teach Grades 11 and 12 students. Some also suggest that the removal of Filipino language classes in the college curriculum makes room for more nuanced lessons on Filipino culture.

Introducing classes about Filipino art, aesthetics and psycholog y, among others, still upholds a part of what Fil 11, 12 and 14 wanted to instill in students: An appreciation for Filipino culture.

However, this introduction may mean that Filipino pro-

BLUE JEANS

fessors will have to change their concentration and that their degrees in Filipino may be of less value.

Even this is a simplification of what Fil 11, 12 and 14 aim to do. Apart from gearing lessons toward a sense of nationalism, Filipino professors often challenge their students to go beyond nationalist rhetoric.

They encourage criticism of the Filipino culture, which fosters criticism of Filipino society.

In the end, classes about Filipino culture may be counterproductive without classes about the Filipino language. As students learn in their Filipino classes, it is the language that informs the culture.

A misunderstanding of the language and an inability to criticize the culture, then, poses the threat of rendering us incapable of solving societal problems.

Guest Column

Laban lupa, laban buhay!

By Ace Dela Cruz Two years after the hype of the anti-Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport advocacy in the Ateneo community, a bigger and a more alarming issue started making rounds in the university. This time, it involved not just the community of Casiguran, Aurora, but an entire nation: The impending expiration of the land acquisition and distribution (LAD) component under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (Carper) Law. Now that the LAD component of Carper has already expired, there remains a great land redistribution backlog of around 32,000 hectares. More than 78,000 hectares of private land still lack Notices of Coverage and are yet to be put under the agrarian reform program.

Further worsening our country’s 26-year old land reform program are unresolved cases of land grabbing and the escalation of agrarian reform-related killings that have prematurely ended the lives of numerous farmer-leaders.

Up to the present, strong landowner resistance has per-

sisted, as land continues to be the most strategic and profitable commodity in the Philippine political economy. Aside from landowners, corporate-driven institutions and real estate firms have increasingly used an entire array of tactics to stymie the implementation of Carper–ranging from legal manipulation, deception of farmers, to corruption and human rights violations–to prevent the program from gaining traction on the local level.

Despite all these things, we in the Ateneans for Agrarian Reform Movement (Afarm), together with our partner organizations, remain hopeful about the future of land reform in the country.

Afarm, a student-led task force in the Ateneo community, is now at the forefront of advocating and lobbying for the continuous and substantial implementation of the country’s land reform program. Initiated by some members of the Christian Union for Socialist and Democratic Advancement last February, Afarm is currently one of, if not the biggest, youth-led or-

ganizations in the country for agrarian reform. It currently has partners and local task forces in five Ateneo universities: Ateneo de Davao, Ateneo de Naga, Ateneo de Manila, Ateneo de Zamboanga and Xavier UniversityAteneo de Cagayan. With the overarching issues of land reform that have been neglected over the years, we are continuously bringing these issues back to the public consciousness of the greater Ateneo community in the country.

More than land distribution, we in Afarm also consider the provision of support services as one of the key components to the successful implementation of land reform. With women-friendly provisions, this support service package includes access to socialized credit and initial capitalization in the form of cash or farm implements.

According to Professors Toby Monsod and Sharon Faye Piza of the University of the Philippines School of Economics in their most recent study on land reform, communities

with support service boast the following: Higher productivity yields than the national average, decreased poverty incidence rates, higher average household incomes and returns per hectare of land, and greater cost-efficiency in reducing poverty compared to other poverty reduction measures such as cash grants.

More importantly, former National Economic Development Authority Director Cielito Habito can attest to the success of Carper based on a nationwide survey of beneficiaries. He reported that 81% of the CARP beneficiaries stated that despite the difficulties they experienced (lack of credit, support services, infrastructure), they are better off now than they were before CARP. The evidence shows that Carper, when effectively and decisively implemented, has changed the landscape of property relations in the countryside in favor of small farmers, and has increased the productivity of agricultural areas. It is for these reasons that, despite its inadequacies, we remain steadfast in supporting land

reform and advocating for the rights of our small farmers.

Ateneo is not new to the land reform issue of the country.

We were there when Carper was passed into law. We were there when the Sumilao and Casiguran farmers marched to Manila for land reform. Now, the call of Afarm is more than just land reform; along with it is our advocacy to stop land grabbing, and investigate the cases of human rights violations and serial killings of our farmer-leaders.

At this point, I’d like to thank everyone, especially Buklod Atenista, which is composed of the five Ateneo university student governments who are leading the advocacy in their respective schools. With more than 6,000 Ateneans and 64 student groups in the Philippines who became signatories of our youth manifesto on agrarian reform, we believe that our farmers will never be alone.

Let’s fight for their lands, let us fight for their lives!

Ace Dela Cruz is a senior political science student and the chairperson of Afarm.

The GUIDON July 2014

Per Se Kimmy E. Pearson kpearson@theguidon.com

What to do I treated my first two years of college as if it were a checklist, and I just had to tick all the boxes before it was over.

I wanted to get in on the Atenean experience that was repeatedly mentioned during the Ateneo Freshmen Orientation Seminar and the Introduction to Ateneo Culture and Traditions classes.

Caffeine Patch Jan-Daniel S. Belmonte jbelmonte@theguidon.com

The aesthetic standard Insofar as I’ve stayed in the Loyola Schools (LS) as a student, I’ve witnessed (quite intently) the development of graphic design through the promotional materials created by student organizations based in the Ateneo.

The wide range of organizations

Exposing Explosiveness Chino C. Razon crazon@theguidon.com

All aboard the bandwagon One is called a bandwagon fan if one only cheers and supports a team, player or sport in times of fame and success.

Bandwagon fans have been heavily hated because of their lack of trust and loyalty to a team. They don’t stay in times of struggle.

The Stone Santiago J. Arnaiz sarnaiz@theguidon.com

In memoriam I would’ve very much liked to share an anecdote or two about my grandfather—some snippet about how I got to know him and how that has helped me grow as a man. But as is customary in a family as big as mine, most of the things I learn about people come from the stories of others. For the

Wanderlust Ryan Y. Racca rracca@theguidon.com

Philippine Himalayas The breathtaking sea of clouds seen from Mount Pulag’s peak and the intense cold attracts veteran and novice mountaineers alike. Being the highest peak in Luzon and a popular destination for adventure seekers,

I wanted to become an org leader, find friends that would last forever, and create memories of a college life well spent. There were so many things I wanted to do and be.

Now that I’m a senior and my main focus is deciding what path to take, I see that the problem with sticking to the checklist is that even after crossing things off, you could still find yourself floating between boxes until something else comes up. Yes, I may have been able to join an org and take classes that inspired me, but do I know what I want to do after graduation?

This is partly due to the fact that graduation has always been too close for comfort; the thought of it has been at the back of my mind. But it’s mostly because having the opportunity to witness the

brilliant minds of professors and students alike has made me realize how behind I am in terms of figuring out how to proceed with life—especially after leaving such a structured environment as the Ateneo.

The aimlessness I feel is only reinforced by the recurring family dinner conversation about why I’m majoring in social sciences and what I can do with this degree after college. Of course, once in a while, I meet professors like Czarina Medina, who encourages social development work, and Liza Lim and Butch Zialcita, who are so passionate about their fields, and my faith is renewed. But we all know that this kind of faith does not last. No matter how much I love the course I am in, I still don’t know if it is a field I would like to

pursue, or if I will be able to do well in it if I decided to.

Thankfully, college is designed to provide an avenue where we can establish our values and our person.

Although sometimes it makes us question ourselves more, I find that through all my classes and experiences, I have slowly been crafting my own definition of success.

Despite not knowing what field I will find it in, the Ateneo has shown me how important it is to find your passion and be brave enough to stick with it, even if that means making countless mistakes and hearing everyone else’s doubts about your choices once in a while.

Internally, we are being prepared to face what our parents call “the real world,” but we are also being given

the opportunity to make the most of this time by dabbling in various fields and meeting all kinds of people. In the four or five years that we basically live in school, we decide what we like, what we’ll tolerate, what we hate, and most of all, who we are, because of all the graded, emotional and physical tests we’re put through. It may not always be an eye-opening, lifechanging experience, but we must make of it what we will—at least we can make our mistakes and (hopefully) learn and grow past them.

At the end of the day, the real challenge is to go into the real world with a brave face on and pursue our passions, not exactly without a doubt in mind, but with the assurance that we deserve to be where we are and go where we will.

makes for a healthy and competitive playing field when it comes to design.

On one side, there are the creative people who want to improve their craft and perhaps build a competent portfolio, while on the other end are the organizations that need to promote their events and advocacies.

The demand for both players from both ends is constant, and the notion may be true that not a day passes by without one promotional poster being released, whether in print or online media.

As more creatives join organizations and more organizations churn out paraphernalia, visual attention decreases and the chances of being noticed by the target audience lessens. As in any case of advertising, the need to get noticed on campus has gotten higher in the past three years—and what other way

to solve this problem than by improving and raising the aesthetic standard.

In my freshman year, only a select number of organizations really caught my attention in terms of visual quality.

Without bias, and as far as I remember, I could say that they were the Ateneo Junior Marketing Association, the Collegiate Society of Advertising, the Computer Society of the Ateneo and the Loyola Film Circle, to name a few.

However, the case has changed in today’s landscape. More organizations have found their own comfortable design styles, mostly involving a lot of illustration work.

Take for example the Ateneo Lingua Ars Cultura’s (ALAC) promotional materials for the Council of Organizations of the Ateneo Recruitment Week (COA Recweek). The distinct theme that

they chose, made stronger by vibrant colors and sound spatial composition, grabbed the attention that they needed in order to be noticed.

This improvement in design has helped them increase their number of applicants by 24%. ALAC President Polo Guillermo says that a lot of the applicants stated that they became interested because of the organization’s promotional materials. He adds that it was indeed an advantage that helped them break their org’s record, leaving them with the most number of applicants they’ve had since the org’s conception.

Grids Internal Creatives Coordinator and information design senior Janine dela Cuesta agrees and says that ALAC’s deviation from the current flat design trend was “a breath of fresh air that made their org stand out.” She says

that it caught her attention because it was quite unique compared to what other organizations had released during COA Recweek.

It is interesting how competition has cultivated a higher aesthetic standard in the Ateneo. Quite arguably, graphic design in the LS is blooming, and more people, organizations and even food stalls are recognizing it as a smart advantage.

If more students would strive to unleash their potential and develop their artistic skills to meet this increasing standard, then perhaps doing so would be beneficial to our school’s unique culture of volunteerism.

The future of graphic design is bright in the Ateneo, and we are privileged to witness this revolution. Sit back, relax and enjoy the show.

Instead, they skip the difficult part and go straight to the fun: Winning streaks, milestones, highlight reels and championships.

Being a bandwagon fan is an issue of loyalty to a team or sport. That’s why the people who jump on the bandwagon easily get the faithful fans angry. But what these faithful fans sometimes fail to recognize is that they confuse loyalty with an unhealthy case of fanaticism. The problem with being overzealous is that it can sometimes bring out one’s arrogance.

Let’s take the recent National Basketball Association Playoffs, for example. The San Antonio Spurs cruised their way through the post-season and captured their fifth world championship. Some of those who showed support towards the Spurs only in the finals were quickly branded as bandwagon fans.

That is an unfair statement to make, since there were only two teams competing at that time. There are other fans who just want to enjoy the highest quality of professional basketball. If you’ve been an avid follower of a certain team that reached a championship series, then that’s good for you. But one has to remember that there are people out there who enjoy the sport for what it is. One can’t dictate who others are allowed to cheer for in a situation where the options are very limited.

This mindset is alarming because this isn’t only evident in basketball, the Philippines’ most popular sport. In fact, its presence is rampant in all the other sports our country isn’t obsessed with.

Other examples of taking fanaticism too far are evident in tennis grand slam tournaments, the Super Bowl

of the National Football League and different sporting events. Every year, there are people who tweet and rant using their social media accounts on how annoyed they are with the amount of people watching only during the championship round.

This attitude towards these fans is arrogant and condescending. A person can’t blame another for watching a major sporting event because the television coverage increases during these times. In addition, people watch these events because they’re entertaining and serve as an opportunity to learn more about the sport. These are the times when people are giving the sport much-needed attention. The fanatics should be thankful, instead of spiteful, that support is going around.

Being passionate is good, but if

you’re going to belittle people for the petty reason of not supporting a team with the same intensity as you do, then you become inconsiderate.

We constantly complain about how basketball is the main sport of the Filipino, and we could only wish for other sports to be as well-recognized and loved.

But if we can’t get rid of the mentality of quickly labelling people as bandwagon fans, then we can’t really expect much growth in these other sports.

One should welcome those who are eager to learn more because this is how the communities grow and build a deeper sense of camaraderie. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been a keen follower of a team or sport. Sports should be enjoyed by everyone, and nobody has the right to deny that from anyone.

past 20 years, I’ve been hearing all these fantastic tales of all the truly inspiring, amazing things Buddy Joaquin did in his lifetime. And I realize I never really knew him the way other people in my family knew him. I never met the Blue Eagle back in his schoolboy years. I never met the brilliant entrepreneur who could make a fortune out of nothing. I never met the indomitable ladies’ man that is said to have lived on in his son and grandsons—which I sort of deny.

The point I’m making is that I think everyone who knew the man knew a different Buddy Joaquin, because that’s just the kind of guy he was. He could’ve saved the lives of a hundred people and we never would’ve heard a word of it from his mouth. He took

on so many roles for so many people and he never made a big deal out of it.

His grandchildren—myself included— only came in at the tail-end of that genuinely kickass story.

The Buddy Joaquin I knew, I called Lolo, and I, along with his 11 other grandchildren, saw him as largerthan-life—and we still do. He was quite literally a mountain of a man, big in everything he did. I might not have met the young tycoon, but I did know the patriarch very well—the head of a family that went far beyond the bonds of blood: Children, grandchildren, cousins, distant cousins, friends and employees. Everyone was family to him, and family meant everything to him. He made being a Joaquin feel like being a Kennedy, or a Corleone,

depending on how you saw it. He was a proud man and a wise man and a man’s man, the likes of which I may never meet again in my lifetime.

On the last day of Lolo’s wake, each of my family members stood in front of a crowd of nearly a hundred and spoke of the Buddy Joaquin they knew.

When my father finished sharing, he took a seat beside me and whispered his disappointment in having missed out on a few things that he needed to say—things that he needed his fatherin-law to know. I told him that the kind words, the eulogies we shared that night weren’t for Buddy; they were for us. We shared the little shards of peace we’ve found—these fragmented images of a man—hoping to piece them together and move forward.

That’s how we are as people, I suppose. We find solace in coming together. We are each born alone and raised with unique lenses, perspectives that warp and crack. With the images we take, we try to pull together a sense of reality we can plaster up against the incomprehensible world we face. Each of us escapes the impermanence of “I” by living with and through each other. And so, together, we keep Buddy Joaquin alive. Every single version of him.

Lolo will always be missed, and his passing will always be a cause for mourning. But as with most passings, death is often a great reminder to celebrate lives lived and the lives we’re living. Thanks to him, we all have a lot to celebrate.

Mount Pulag may be the Mount Everest of Philippines, albeit significantly less icy and deadly.

Notwithstanding the intense altitudes of the two mountains, people flock to them in masses. Mountaineers camping in Mount Pulag fill the space up. From afar, the campsites look like a hodgepodge of tents. Mount Everest shares the same problem. Its thin trails and the sheer number of mountaineers are notorious for creating bottlenecks, which render them susceptible to accidents.

Mount Pulag and Mount Everest, like other mountains, have become points of interest for wealthy individuals who can afford the climbing costs. Admittedly, Mount Everest is significantly more expensive, with

costs reaching $100,000. Aff luent people rush to climb the mountains without undergoing proper training.

Climbing takes discipline, and not all the people climbing either mountain have gone through Basic Mountaineering Courses (BMCs), where established mountaineering organizations instruct their members about the climb. The mountaineering organization of the Ateneo, Loyola Mountaineers, hosts three BMCs. One of the main lessons emphasized in the BMCs is the Leave No Trace (LNT) principle—bring down whatever you bring up the mountain. That said, a number of climbers do not adhere to the LNT principle. The trails and campsites of Mount Pulag are littered with a lot of garbage.

Likewise, Mount Everest is littered with trash. It is comprised of frozen human excrement, abandoned equipment as well as frozen corpses.

Granted, cleaning Mount Everest is dangerous, but the LNT principle still stands. There are groups that have participated in Eco Everest Expeditions to rid the mountain off of garbage it does not own.

Cleanup efforts have been done in the Philippines as well. Gideon Lasco, owner of the blog Pinoy Mountaineer, spearheaded the “National Mountain Clean-up Day” last May 10. Climbing enthusiasts in the Philippines went up mountains to bring down garbage.

Among its goals was to awaken the age-old LNT principle in mountaineers, as Mount Pulag is rich with biodiversity

and the mountain serves as the main water source for neighboring provinces.

A drastic solution to this messy problem is to close off Mount Pulag from mountaineers. However, this will do more harm than good: The garbage will remain on the mountain and the porters who earn a living from guiding mountaineers will lose their livelihood. On the other side of Asia, applying this band-aid solution to Mount Everest will also affect the livelihood of the Sherpas, Himalayan people renowned for their skill in mountaineering.

Lax observance of mountaineering practices is harmful for the mountains. The polluted trails and campsites show that the mountains now need help and a breather.

8

News

Atenean Voice "Do you agree with CHED Memorandum No. 20, series of 2013, which will remove Filipino from the General Education Curriculum before 2018? Why or why not?"

Christopher Mitch Cerda Filipino Department Instructor

“Naniniwala ako na kailangang ituro ang Filipino, at hindi lang ang Filipino as a language; naniniwala ako na ang Filipino ay isang larangan. Malabo ang usapin ng Filipino [sa ibinibigay na General Education courses]— napaka-generic at napaka-broad. Ang posisyon ng [Kagawaran ng Filipino ay] naniniwala kami na kailangang ituro ang Filipino as a discipline, hindi lang as a medium of instruction. Marami pang kailangang gawin para i-emancipate ang mga Pilipino dito sa very colonial at very Westernized na educational system. Ituro ang disiplinang Filipino.”

Dyan Francisco Matanglawin Editor-in-Chief

“Personally, I [oppose] CHED’s memo regarding the removal of Filipino subjects in college. [First], the memo in itself is a legitimate affirmation of the marginalization of a national language, ironically, in its own country.

What country does this? We have long fought for our independence and this definitely is a blatant presentation of a regression from that. It is truly sad to see that our own government is questionable on its patriotism when, in the first place, it should be the champion for nationalism and love of country. [Second], it’s a given fact that yes, [the Philippines is] for globalization. But is this the right path toward it? A neglect for a large part of our culture? It’s bad enough that we can’t agree on a certain identity for ourselves as a nation, but wouldn’t this aggravate the current situation of the Philippines? In my heart, I am hoping that this [won’t] pull through. I know that the government is trying to fix the country’s educational system, but I believe there is another way.”

Kjerrimyr Andres III AB-MA POS

“Sapagkat naniniwala ako na mahaba pa ang babaybayin ng Filipino tungo sa inaasam-asam nitong intelektuwalisasyon, dapat manatili ang pagtuturo ng Filipino sa kolehiyo. Mga isyu gaya ng post-kolonyalismo, feminismo, LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) [at] marami pang iba ang nabibigyang-laya at lalim sa kolehiyo, hindi tulad sa hayskul.

Aywan ko sa ibang paaralan, ngunit ang naranasan ko sa tatlong core subjects sa ilalim ng Kagawaran ng Filipino ay nakapagbigay sa akin ng iba-ibang perspektibong malapit sa kamalayang Filipino, mga ideyang labis na nakatutulong sa aking pagdadalubhasa sa agham pampolitika.”

Kyle Nathan Fazonela I BS MIS

“I might prefer to speak in English most of the time, but I am still a Filipino who would still like to speak in Filipino every now and then. Not that CHED Memorandum No. 20, [series of 2013] takes that away from me. Marunong pa naman ako mag-Tagalog; it’s just that I could learn more. My stance, however, is to agree on this. You were already taught enough Filipino in both elementary and high school; I think maybe it’s time you focus on your specialization and leave the advanced Filipino lessons to those who will really benefit from it after they graduate. My opinion might still change though. Since I came into the Ateneo, Filipino has been an increasingly interesting subject.”

Kimberly Maris II BS MGT-H

Lea Bolante IV AB IS

Sandra Grace Duenas II BS MGT

Alexa Grace Fontanilla II AB DS

Alexander Sison II BFA CW

“I don't [agree], and this is based on what I've learned from the three Filipino subjects that I took [here in the Ateneo]. I can say that these classes helped me see Filipino–and our culture in general–from a different perspective. It somehow opened my eyes to the potential that our language has.”

“I guess the Filipino subjects could be placed into high school. I think it’s a better option—[because] Filipino is one of the basic skills that students need to learn before actually entering college. And with the presence of Filipino before in high school than during college, students will be more equipped [for] subjects that are taught in [the Filipino] medium. Once they are prepared with the basics, they get to appreciate the Filipino language and the Filipino culture on a deeper basis.”

“I really hated Filipino back in high school. I often told myself, ‘Pilipino naman ako, alam ko na paano gamitin ang Filipino.’ But as I went through [Sining ng Pakikipagtalastasan sa Filipino I and II (Fil 11 and 12)] in my freshman year as an Atenean, I realized that I still [have] ways to go and that there is so much to learn in the Filipino language and literature. I believe that Filipino is essential in the holistic development of an individual in his or her college years. I believe that learning Filipino is an ongoing process that should be taught not only in the early years of a student’s life but also in the later years. What makes me sad is that some are rejoicing over this memorandum. But for me, it makes me sad that the future college students may not be able to learn Filipino in a manner different from grade school and high school education.”

“In the university level of learning Filipino, based on my experience here in the Ateneo, there is a more in-depth understanding of our national language in terms of its historical and cultural context. A relatively heavier use of critical thinking is involved as discourses delve into areas such as social analysis and popular culture, as compared to high school level Filipino. This is why I strongly disagree with the said CHED memo. I see Filipino as a unifying aspect of our society, and it is deeply ingrained in our culture. I share the sentiments of my English professor, Sir Louie Sanchez: ‘Ang pag-aaral ng wika ang batayan ng pagkamakabansa ng mamamayan.’”

“No, I do not [agree]. I was in disbelief when I first heard about this resolution. Removing Filipino from our education would be one of the most severe acts that will help take away what connects the next generation of Filipinos to our culture and heritage. It will be an insult to our heroes who fought for independence, if we allow the language that has helped define our unique culture to become largely exclusive to the past generations alone.”

Glimpses SOSE faculty members receive Outstanding Scientific Paper award Four current and one former School of Science and Engineering (SOSE) faculty members were recognized by the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) during the 36th NAST Annual Scientific Meeting on July 10. Mathematics Department Professor Ma. Louise Antonette De Las Peñas, PhD and Instructor Enrico Paolo Bugarin were given an Outstanding Scientific Paper award for their research entitled “On Bravais Colorings associated with Periodic and Non-periodic Crystals.” Likewise, Chemistry Department Associate Professor Erwin Enriquez, PhD, Assistant Professor Gilbert Yu, EngD and former Chemistry Department Instructor Jerry Dy were also given an Outstanding Scientific Paper award for their study called “Opacity of P(MMA-MMA)-PMMA Composite Latex System with Varying MAA Concentration.” According to NAST, the Outstanding Scientific Paper award is given to research papers based on “the quality of their content, contribution to science and technology, clarity of presentation and thoroughness of documentation.”

Vince M. Estrada

SOSS dean bags Outstanding Book Award for Maalwang Buhay School of Social Sciences (SOSS) Dean Filomeno Aguilar Jr., who has a doctorate in development sociology, was lauded with an Outstanding Book Award for 2014 in the 36th National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) Annual Scientific Meeting held on July 10. Titled Maalwang Buhay: Family, Overseas Migration and Cultures of Relatedness in Barangay Paraiso, his book presented how overseas migration affected the dynamics of family life, culture and kinship relations in Barangay Paraiso, an upland village in the province of Batangas. Published in 2009, the book is the culmination of an ethnographic study headed by Aguilar that was commissioned by former University President Bienvenido Nebres, SJ in 2007. The NAST meeting gathered scholars throughout the country for the presentation of scientific research works and to come up with policy recommendations for both the government and the private sector. Joff D. Bantayan

Ateneo takes part in first ever Philippine University Investment Club The Ateneo hosted the launching of the first Philippine University Investment Club (PUIC) on June 14 at the Ching Tan Hall of the John Gokongwei School of Management building. The PUIC is a foreign exchange trade and investment training program spearheaded by online trading company MetisEtrade. The training was attended by representatives from the student organizations of the five top universities in the Philippines—the Ateneo’s Junior Fellowship for Financial Literacy, De La Salle University-Manila’s Economics Organization, San Beda College-Mendiola’s Junior Financial Management Association, University of Asia and the Pacific’s Business Economics Association and Enterprise Management Association, and the University of the Philippines-Diliman’s Economics Student Council. The program tapped these universities with the objective of finding and training possible future fund managers in the industry of foreign exchange, precious metals and commodities fund management. The investment club will conduct weekly training sessions until the first week of August, with other participating universities taking turns in hosting the program each week.

Christian D. Cejalvo

Community Calendar Too Smart to Start: A Drug Awareness Forum July 22 and 29, November 19 and December 3, 4:30 to 6:00 PM Ricardo and Dr. Rosita Leong Hall Auditorium

Mass in honor of St. Ignatius of Loyola July 30, 10:45 AM Church of the Gesù

Ignatian Festival Closing July 30, 5:00 to 7:00 PM Church of the Gesù and Cervini Field This year’s Ignatian Festival culminates with the launch of “Contemplatio,” an interactive art installation that illustrates St. Ignatius of Loyola’s prescribed spiritual exercises. There will also be a mini concert.

Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola, university holiday July 31

Quezon City Day, special non-working holiday August 19

For comments, suggestions and contributions, email

desk@theguidon.com

Be the voice.

Sports

The GUIDON July 2014

TESTING THE WATERS. The Ateneo Rowing Team's recent international competition stint set the benchmark for their future performances.

9

PHOTO BY ALEXIS A. CASAS

TEAM FEATURE

Racing to victory

Varsity Boat Race has been the annual main competition of the Ateneo Rowing team. This year’s tournament will be held in Malaysia on October.

By Beatrice T. Go

Revamped training

A FTER R EACHING the finals in one of their events in the Malaysian Varsity Boat Race 2013, the Ateneo Men’s Rowing team is now back on their track to victory.

Eight delegates from the Ateneo Row ing tea m set the momentum of success.

They were sent to compete i n t he Sout hea st A sia n Rowing Federation (SEARF) Championship 2014 held in Singapore on June 16 to 22.

These veteran delegates fared well in the international meet, landing in podium finishes in all of their events.

Setting the benchmark

Carlos Piano raced to second place in the Men’s Single Scull.

Rowers Jeho Fajardo and David Teotico joined the Men’s Double Scull, garnering bronze.

Two pairs—composed of Ivan Lee and Mark Martinez, and Mark Schallenberg and Rafael Garcia—were entered in the Men’s Pairs, bagging bronze and silver, respectively. Lastly, veterans Schallenberg, Lee, Martinez and Paulo Pecson placed second in the Men’s Coxless Four event.

The team was entered originally in the University division of the aforementioned meet. But due to the division age bracket, the delegates were transferred to the Interclub division, enabling them to go up against different clubs

from Singapore and Malaysia.

The team tested their skills against their international competitors despite their lack of competitions locally. Unexpectedly, they found themselves to be at par with them, boosting their confidence for the next competitions.

“We always question the system: Does it work, does it match the other teams around the world or around Asia?” says Team Captain Rafael Garcia.

“In Singapore, we saw what we did and we can go up against them on a good level.”

Not only did the SEARF Championships serve as a new experience for them, it was also a preparatory meet for the Varsity Boat Race. The

The team is preparing for the upcoming meet through the training of their new coach, Nick Jasmin. They are now undergoing a rigorous program comprised of both land and boat training. Their previous training sessions, facilitated by their previous coach, James Dee, was more boat-focused. But with an addition of a new rowing-centered training system, the team is now more consistent with their improvement than ever before.

In order to fully prepare for the Varsity Boat Race 2014, the team is currently shifting their training to an endurance program due to the nature of the events of the meet.

“In Singapore, it was a thou-

suming basketball practices about two weeks after the end of the UAAP season. However, Perasol argues that the actual preparation for the upcoming season did not officially begin until they were able to complete the team. The roster was finalized only in the middle of the summer.

While waiting for their rookies to join the team, Ateneo played in the annual Unigames held in Bacolod and in two pocket tournaments in Iloilo. Once the team was complete, the entire Blue Eagles team flew to Las Vegas in the United States and underwent a rigorous two-week camp in Impact Basketball, a facility known for training future National Basketball Association draft prospects. This was immediately followed by a one-week tournament in Tokyo, Japan and a trip to Korea. Sandwiched in between these trips abroad were grueling practices and a clinic from South Korean coaches.

The Blue Eagles opted not to play in any offseason tournaments this year, even if it had been an integral part of

their preparation in the past.

This move was greeted with mix reviews from the alumni, student body, the players themselves and Coach Bo. “Part of the reason [we did not join] was that we really did not have a team,” Coach Bo recalls. He adds that the team would have joined the different summer tournaments if the UAAP roster was filled up much earlier. “The exposure of the players playing together should have been very important. In fact, that’s our struggle at this point,” he says.

However, both Elorde and Newsome feel that this time away from competitive basketball games allowed the team to bond and let the rookies learn the system. “I feel good [about sitting out], because if you get put into offseason games too soon, then it could damage your bonding as a team, because you’re expecting those rookies to come in and produce right away.

You’re expected to know something right away but that’s not usually the case,” Newsome says.

sand-meter competition and it was more of a sprint, that’s why most of our trainings were sprint-based,” says Garcia in a mix of English and Filipino. “For the Varsity Boat racing, it’s different. It’s more of muscle endurance; keeping a strong pace for a long period of time.”

The new additions

This year’s rowing team will be joined by a bevy of rookies, who will be aiding the team in the upcoming Varsity Boat Race.

Recr uits include Nico Tanuecoz, Miguel Ayson, John Empig, JB Domingo, Noel Hernandez and Carl Tabora.

All of these recruits will be competing for the first time in the Varsity Boat Race this October. They are currently gearing up for the meet by undergoing the same program as the veterans.

“The only difference is that we have experience,” says Garcia.

“They will be winning medals for the team in the near future.”

Staying focused

Having the opportunity to compete internationally is a great asset to the improvement of the Men’s Rowing team. But with the expectations set to a higher level, they also have to meet the demands that go with it.

With their rigorous training schedules, the team becomes more encouraged to stay committed through their camaraderie.

When asked on how he keeps his team motivated, Garcia emphasized proper communication with one another. He adds that knowing everyone’s streng ths and weaknesses brings them together as a more cohesive unit. With a strong sense of teamwork coupled with additional experience and confidence, the Ateneo Men’s Rowing team is more than ready to attain their goals.

Drive after... ‹‹ 12

School, and John Apacible and Clint Dolig uez, bot h from Hope Christian High School. After serving a year of residency under Team Glory Be, college transferee and former De La Salle Green Archer Ponso Gotladera will also be suiting up for the Blue and White.

In spite of the impressive recruitment, the Blue Eagles will be missing the services of UAAP Juniors Finals MVP Hubert Cani of National University as he is set to serve a two-year residency.

Former RP Youth U-16 and U-18 mainstay Isaac Go, a six foot seven center from Xavier School, will also miss the year due to a seasonending shoulder surgery.

This batch of rookies draws comparisons to that of Ryan Buenafe, Nico Salva, Justin Chua and Vince Burke, with the first three playing instrumental roles in the Ateneo’s five-year run as champions. A lot of expectations are on the shoulders of the freshmen, and Coach Bo is fairly aware of that.

“I expect that they will strug-

gle,” Perasol shares. However, he also hopes his freshmen deliver immediately, as they play key roles in the Blue Eagles’ hunt back to the Final Four. He also hopes that his players will be able to quickly adjust to the level of college basketball.

As the only graduating players of the team, both Elorde and Newsome agree with their coach’s sentiments. “As early as now, the veterans are trying to push the rookies so they know what to expect come the UAAP season,” Elorde says, when asked how they are adjusting to having a rookie-laden team.

Newsome adds that this year’s crop of rookies is full of potential. “Ability and skill, they are right there—it’s just polishing up their mental aspect of the game and getting them to understand what they need to do and when they need to do it and why.”

Offseason preparations

After failing to secure the sixpeat and missing the Final Four for the first time in 15 years, Elorde recalls the Blue Eagles re-

As early as now, the veterans are trying to push the rookies so they know what to expect come the UAAP season.

— NICO ELORDE Starting guard, Ateneo Blue Eagles

While Elorde agrees with Newsome, he feels that the lack of a UAAP-type of atmosphere will hinder the team’s progress.

But whatever happens, the team is driven to move forward this

season as they put the past behind them. The future, as Perasol mentions, is in good hands. The Blue Eagles are ready to write their own history and soar back to relevance.

10

Sports

The GUIDON July 2014

MAKING IT LOOK EASY. The lack of resources did not stop Meggie Ochoa from gaining World Champion status.

PHOTO BY ALEXIS A. CASAS

SPORTS FEATURE

A dominant underdog

By Noelle M. Recio BEHIND EVERY athlete who has reached the pinnacle of his or her sport is a story littered with the many triumphs, frustrations and sacrifices that years’ worth of preparation has wrought.

This was the case for former Lady Trackster and current Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) World Champion Meggie Ochoa (BS MGT ‘12). Her lifetime’s worth of athletic experience has most recently bagged her the gold medal in the BJJ World Championships held last May 30 in Long Beach, California. But unlike most athletes, her road to gold wasn’t as clear-cut as most people would expect it to be.

How it all began

Ochoa only truly began to get into martial arts after graduating from the Ateneo last 2012.

The management alumna initially wanted to try and compete in the field of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), but the failure to find opponents that fit and match her build was what eventually led her to Jiu Jitsu.

“I had trouble finding opponents in my weight class,” says Ochoa. “I just wanted to be able to compete but opponents would just back out left and right. It was frustrating. MMA left me heartbroken.”

Shortly after that, Ochoa chose to shift from MMA to Jiu Jitsu after joining Atos Philippines, a BJJ organization that cultivates homegrown talent. With a walking weight of about 105 pounds, Ochoa

learned that it would be much easier for her to find opponents to compete with in Jiu Jitsu.

True enough, she participated in her first match not long after she began training and never really looked back.

“A month into training, I already got to compete. Ever since then, I just kept competing. It grew into an addiction I couldn’t stop,” said Ochoa.

earlier during the year when she joined the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu International Competition held sometime last February in the Philippines.

“Somehow, when I competed in that competition, I just felt ready,” said Ochoa. “I couldn’t completely determine how, but I just felt ready.”

funding to Ochoa.

Crowd funding, to put simply, is the use of the Internet to gather all necessary resources that will be needed to achieve a specific cause or advocacy with the help of random netizens. Though hesitant at first, Ochoa decided to give it a shot after seeing that the website,

Gaining momentum

As she progressed into training and won matches left and right, Ochoa doesn’t deny that the desire to compete in the World Championships was an idea that was slowly forming at the back of her mind. “It has always been a dream to join, because it’s the World Championships. It is the most prestigious championship [in the sport],” says Ochoa.

Unlike other major athletic competitions such as the Olympics and the World Cup, however, the Jiu Jitsu World Championships is not an invitational tournament— meaning that it remains open to everyone. Therefore, much more is demanded from hopeful contenders. Aspiring athletes need to have the confidence and capacity to compete at such a high level, but more importantly, they had to have resources to fund the necessary preparations that will be needed to participate in the contest.

As simple and trivial as these two may seem, they are things that not all athletes are fortunate enough to have at the same time during their careers. Ochoa, however, seemed pre-destined to be the exception.

She gained the first of the two

It's really a shared journey with me and everyone else who supported; everyone that believes in what I believe in. It makes you want to win more.

— MEGGIE OCHOA Brazilian Jiu Jitsu World Champion

The road to the latter, on the other hand, was something not even a lifetime’s worth of training and competition could have prepared her for.

Completing the formula

The moment she realized and was certain that she was ready to chase after her dream of becoming a world champion at all costs, she turned to current teammate and the Lady Judokas’ team captain, Dany Ty, for help.

It was Ty who then brought up and suggested the idea of crowd

makeachamp.com, has been known to send past Olympians to the Olympics.

Much to her surprise, Ochoa had already attracted enough attention to raise $USD1,000 (around P43,470) within just 24 hours of launching her campaign.

Although she did not reach her goal of $USD 4,380 (around P190,399), the majority of the donations that were given to her in person were enough to bring her to the World Championships.

According to Ochoa, it was the incredible response to her advo-

cacy that pushed her to become a much better fighter than she already was. After all, the journey to gold was no longer all hers, as it had already become the journey of everyone who has shown her support through donations or a simple message online.

“That experience, like I always say in my posts [on Facebook], made it a shared journey,” said Ochoa. “It’s really a shared journey with me and everyone else who supported; everyone that believes in what I believe in.

It makes you want to win more.”

She further adds, “Lalo kang nagutom na manalo kasi alam mo na hindi lang para sa‘yo ‘yung laban (It makes you hungrier to win because you know the fight isn’t just for you).”

Starting a new chapter

After months of rigorous preparation that required her to train at least two to three times a day, approximately $USD4,300 (around P186,921) and only about a week’s worth of international training, Ochoa’s journey was worth it.

Together with the thousands of hearts she has captured, she secured the gold medal for the Female White Belt Rooster cate-

gory in the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu World Championships.

She dominated both of her matches and was crowned a World Champion with the lopsided scores of 7-0 and 10-0, respectively.

“Feeling the support of everyone just made me feel confident,” said Ochoa. “I had no reason to doubt when I was there.”

Looking back at it all, Ochoa still finds the entire experience so surreal. Now that she is back on the daily grind, she does not plan to put to waste the respect and inf luence she knows she now carries.

Also a budding entrepreneur, she has taken a step back into training and is now focusing on embarking in a new tour guide campaign, prooPH inc. She describes her business as the “microcawesome”—finding what is awesome in the micro. Through prooPH inc., Ochoa hopes to spread awareness on the unrecognized and overlooked areas of the country and, hopefully, help bring its social, environmental and economic needs to light.

Ochoa, a true champion, is now set to make waves beyond that of the mat.

ERR ATUM

•

In the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 77 Sports Primer for the first semester of The GUIDON, Ralph Aligada, coach of the Blue Babble Battalion, was quoted, “They’re definitely out there to prove that the 8th place finish was not a fluke.” It should have been, “They’re definitely out to prove that the 8th place finish was merely a fluke.” The GUIDON apologizes for the oversight.

Sports

The GUIDON July 2014

11

GALLERY OF EAGLES

Thirdy Ravena

By Faith R. Decangchon ANOTHER RAVENA is set to pioneer a new phase in collegiate basketball. Thirdy Ravena, son of Philippine Basketball Association legend Bong Ravena and younger brother of Ateneo star Kiefer Ravena, is the subject of high expectations. He takes his place in the seniors division of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) basketball tournament this season.

The highly sought after Ateneo de Manila High School standout will continue to don the blue and white as he joins his brother in the task of redeeming the Ateneo from last year’s season. This year marks the first time that the brothers will play for the same team. The communications technology management freshman expresses both excitement and pressure to live up to his brother’s reputation.

Late bloomer

While many may think that a seasoned player such as Ravena started playing the sport intensively at a young age, he admits that he never considered playing basketball competitively until his sophomore year in high school. “To me, playing the sport was always just for fun

until I reached my second year in high school, unlike my brother, Kiefer, who knew that he wanted to play competitively from the age of four,” he shares.

His participation in early tournaments is a testament to this statement. Although Ravena took part in several podium finishes in his elementary level competitions, these, to him, were mere products of his enjoyment of the sport.

However, he took on a different outlook after seeing his brother dominate the courts upon his entrance to the juniors division. He knew he needed to take his ball game up a notch if he was to follow in his brother’s tracks and keep up with his more experienced teammates.

The six foot two standout was quickly able to forge his way to the top of the ranks in only a few years. In his senior year, he earned the Most Valuable Player award in both the UAAP Season 76 Juniors division and the 2013 Filipino-Chinese Basketball League. He was also included in the UAAP Mythical Five, the top players of the season, for two straight years, which made him a highly touted athlete among prospective recruiters.

Atenean loyalty

Despite the many offers from other universities, Ravena chose

A NAME FOR HIMSELF. Thirdy Ravena is ready to prove that he's more than just the younger Ravena brother.

to stay with his alma mater simply because he wanted nothing more than to earn an Ateneo diploma. “My decision was not just about basketball.

I thought about how I could pursue what I liked outside of basketball, and I knew that an Ateneo education would open many opportunities for me in the future,” he says.

With his mind set on playing

for the Ateneo, Ravena is now focusing on helping his team recuperate from the injuryfilled Season 76 by giving it his all during training sessions. In order to keep himself going, he follows a simple mantra of providing energy for the team and doing what the coach tells him to do in order to keep him going. These are, for him, the most important things he can

contribute as a new member of a rebuilding team.

Ravena also keeps in mind his motivations to help him succeed in the new chapter of his career.

He remembers to always play well to represent the school, the Ateneo community and God. He is dead set on helping the team secure the championship trophy, which he prioritizes more than any other recognition, despite

PHOTO BY RYAN Y. RACCA

being a contender for the Rookie of the Year award.

With his collegiate debut this season, he is confident that he is ready to rally the court alongside veteran collegiate competitors and fight his way to the top of the ranks. He is out, with a conscious effort, to prove this season that he is not just Bong Ravena’s son or Kiefer Ravena’s brother, but Thirdy Ravena himself.

Arvin Tolentino

By Raizza P. Bello UNLIKE OTHER athletes who learned their sport when they were kids, the six foot five Blue Eagle rookie Arvin Tolentino only held a basketball when he was 12 years old.

Although he was a fan of the National Basketball Association, he never intended to play the sport until his father’s friend, Alan Mayemban, offered to train him the summer before going to high school.

Mayemban was a former player of the Trinity University of Asia (formerly Trinity College of Quezon City) and a coach at Tolentino’s school, Holy Deliverance Integrated Christian School. Without hesitation, Tolentino, together with his family, decided he would take the opportunity to enter competitive basketball.

For three months, Tolentino tirelessly trained, from the basic drills to the more complex techniques. He eventually became part of his high school’s varsity— doubling his practice time, which contributed to his fast-paced growth as an athlete.

However, things weren’t easy and smooth for Tolentino. Amidst the difficult and abrupt lifestyle change brought about the sport, there came a point when he wanted to give up. Tolentino then put forth his main motivation to counter the negativity.

“My number one inspiration is my family because we’re not rich. My scholarship was a big help to my family. They were also the ones that pushed me to continue during the time I didn’t want to play anymore,” Tolentino admits in a mix of English and Filipino.

Not long after, Tolentino played for Team Antipolo in the Seaoil National Basketball Training Center. This basketball stint earned him offers from different high schools, which led him to play for the San Beda Red Cubs. In his stay and two years of being the team captain, Tolentino bagged three straight National College Athletic Association championships— marking the fifth consecutive for the Red Cubs.

Last January 18, nearing the end of his penultimate year in San Beda, the multi-awarded recruit then formally announced his decision to don the blue and white on Twitter.

When asked about his strengths and contributions to the team as a rookie, he swiftly answered, “Play smart.”

For him, hard work is nothing without thinking. An integral attitude with his mind set is his being a team player.

Tolentino adds in a mix of English and Filipino, “I don’t care if I score two, four [points], as long as we’re ahead or we’re winning. I don’t care for myself.

I just want the team to win.”

ALL EYES ON HIM. The noise Arvin Tolentino made in high school division set high expectations for the rookie.

However, coming from an offensive-dominant team in high school, Tolentino admits that he has to improve his defensive skills. He believes that the team with the best defense is the best team.

More importantly, for the young power player, no lucky charms or rituals are needed to improve his performance; he only needs focus and sheer faith, and a personal prayer before every game.

Tolentino also sees to it that he makes time to not only bond with his family and friends but also with his teammates.

“Minsan, naiingit din kami sa normal students, ‘Uy, lumalabas sila’ (Sometimes, we get jealous of the normal students and think, ‘Hey, they get to go out’)”, says Tolentino, “Pero masaya na kami na sama-sama kami [ng mga] teammates ko (But my teammates and I get

are happy that we get to stay together).”

Just beginnings his first year as a Blue Eagle, Tolentino is already looking forward to all the challenges that may come—hoping to notch at least two or three championships with the team in his run in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.

Tolentino further wishes for a basketball career in the future, hoping to accomplish

PHOTO BY RYAN Y. RACCA

his three ultimate goals: Play in the Philippine Basketball Association, play for the Philippine Team in the Olympics and bring glory to his country.

For this rising star, basketball is not just a sport: It was and is his ticket to getting a good education, helping his family and helping him achieve his dreams.

A s Tolent i no put s it , “Minahal ko ang basketball, minahal din ako nito.”

Editor: Chino C. Razon · Editorial Assistant: Beatrice T. Go · Layout Artist: Meg C. Quintos

10

Sports

DOMINANT UNDERDOG Meggie Ochoa, the crowdsupported champion.

A GAME AT A TIME. It's a new slate for the Blue Eagles as they're looking to bounce back in Season 77.

PHOTO BY RYAN Y. RACCA

Drive after five

By Gian Y. Go THE MORO Lorenzo Gym remains the same even after its recent renovation. The paint is fresh but the memories of grueling practices remain. Behind one of the baskets hangs a large tarpaulin with the words Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam—For the Greater Glory of God. There are no championship banners hanging in the rafters of the gym, no reminder of the team’s past and recent success.

It only offers an opportunity for the players to write their own history—how they want to be remembered. Another tarpaulin on the opposite end of the scoreboard reads, “Defense Wins Championships,” which reminds the players of the kind of effort demanded from them in their drive after five.

With last year’s humbling experience coupled with a revamped roster currently in play, the Blue Eagles enter Season 77 as an unpredictable team.

Reassessing last season

Incoming second year Head Coach Bo Perasol was quick to downplay the team’s apparent disappointing season. “From what happened—from the injuries to the transition period of the team—I think we really did well.”

For fifth year point guard Nico Elorde, the team was just a victim of bad breaks throughout the season. For one, the Blue Eagles played majority of the season hobbled and undermanned, with injuries to Kiefer Ravena, JP Erram and Gboy

Blue Eagles’ history: Championship and glory WRITTEN BY Lorenzo C. Aycardo ILLUSTRATION BY Meg C. Quintos

CHAMPIONSHIPS AND the Ateneo Blue Eagles are usually mentioned in the same breath in this present era.

With the recently concluded fivepeat run spanning from Seasons 70 to 75, the Katipunan-based squad was able to cement its legacy in the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UA AP) with five straight basketball crowns.

However, the dominance of the Blue Eagles is not only limited to its current league, as Ateneo was once a part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Philippines prior to the Ateneo’s

shift to the UAAP. From 1928 to 1976, the Blue Eagles secured the NCAA championship 14 times.

Since the decision to join the UAAP, the Blue and White has been able to hoist the basketball championship banner eight times behind the Far Eastern University Tamaraws (19), the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers (18) and the University of the East Red Warriors (18).

With a revamped roster and a faithful community behind them, the Blue Eagles are out to reclaim lost school glory and establish basketball supremacy once again come Season 77.

Babilonia affecting the team throughout the entire season.

Another drawback was that top high school recruit and two-time University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Juniors Most Valuable Player (MVP) Jerie Pingoy was not able to suit up for the Blue and White. Pingoy was required to serve a two-year residency imposed on high school graduates transferring to a different UAAP-partnered school for college.

These setbacks forced Coach

Bo and his coaching staff to adjust quickly. They resorted to playing at a faster pace because of the lack of a solid low-post threat, and experimented with a variety of different lineups to see which combinations worked.

Starting guard Chris Newsome recalls that the team struggled in terms of their cohesiveness.

“Our chemistry wasn’t there fully, like it should have been or could have been,” he says.

Incoming rookies and personnel

of freshmen as they added a mix of rookies composed of multiple MVPs and national team standouts.

The team is bannered by National Collegiate Athletic Association Juniors Finals MVP Arvin Tolentino, widely regarded as the best player in this year’s class, and UAAP Juniors MVP Thirdy Ravena.

The other rookies of the Blue Eagles include Jay Javelosa from Reedley International

This year’s Ateneo Blue Eagles feature a talented crop

Drive after ›› 9

Editor: Roxie Y. Ramirez · Editorial Assistant: JC A. Beltran · Layout Artist: Tommi G. Principe

Beyond Loyola

02 BRAZIL'S WORLD CUP STRUGGLES Brazil's hosting of the FIFA World Cup did not only bring them prestige but also controversy.

ILLUSTRATION BY PAULINA L. ALMIRA

Providence in prison

By Regine D. Cabato and Roxie Y. Ramirez

M

ARK REYES* has lived in New Bilibid P r i s o n ’s ( N B P) Maximum Security for 20 years.

He rises at 7:00 AM, speaks about the Gospel at 8:00 AM and proceeds to the Board of Discipline by 9:00 AM. Here, he assists the Bureau of Corrections (Bucor) in handling cases of inmates caught in the possession of cell phones, drugs and deadly weapons. He is a jolly, pious man, who holds a position of office at the facility’s parish.

“Wala ka nang tatakbuhan kundi bagong buhay dito sa loob (You have nothing else to turn to but a new life here),” he says, his head kept low not in shame, but in humility.

One would not have guessed Reyes is convicted of murder. It was in 2001, after a death sentence, an attempted escape from prison and the abolishment of the death penalty, when Reyes

came into acquaintance with the Philippine Jesuit Prison Service (PJPS). He was putting his daughter through school, and PJPS granted her a scholarship.

PJPS came out of Fr. Vic Labao, SJ’s apostolate work at the NBP, an effort the Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus recognized in 1993. The group returned as a registered non-government organization a year later—the same year Reyes would first arrive at the prison.

His daughter is now on her way to earning a college degree.

“Malaki talaga ang tulong ng PJPS sa akin (PJPS has really been a huge help to me),” Reyes says.

Prison programs

Since its inception in 1995, the PJPS scholarship program has helped a total of 101 students earn college degrees. This year, 105 children are part of the program, with 37 of them in grade school, 36 in high school and 32 in college.

“One of our goals is to prevent and minimize the cycle of poverty and criminality,” says Fr. Eli Lumba, SJ, PJPS executive director. “So when the children graduate and have good jobs, the family is very happy.”

“Education breaks the cycle,” adds Purisima Miranda, PJPS Programs and Scholarships coordinator.

To Labao, the decision to provide scholarships came on a whim; he noticed children in the camp during weekday Mass and had subsequently ended the ceremony with: “Tomorrow, we’ll be accepting applications for the scholarship program of PJPS.” When asked where they would get the money, Labao replied, “God will provide.”

For the five-man staff running PJPS, work runs regularly at the NBP, the country’s most notorious jail which houses 22,000 inmates.

Men who are in for life get sent to the maximum facility, which houses 14,000 and resembles a barangay.

There are sari-sari stores a nd carinderias, a tennis court, a bakeshop, a park, and a hospital. Like their children, inmates also go to school here.

The facility has an elementary school, high school, college and even a vocational school.

“It’s a microcosm of the world outside,” Lumba explains.

At the time of the visit, there was only one doctor at the hospital, which can accommodate approximately 300 inmates. It is a whitewashed structure, with yero for the roof. The inmates have a song for this place, which Reyes readily samples: “You lie there / And you die there.”

Here, PJPS’ socio-medical program is targeted toward inmates confined in the intensive care unit, surgery and psychiatric wards. The program also provides inmates with legal aid.

They also provide sacramental services to the inmates, and their advocacy program teams up with the Ateneo’s Office for

Social Concern and Involvement, as well as Jesuit schools abroad, in order to send students on immersions to the NBP. “Different organizations, schools and parishes [come in], and they stay for a week, sometimes [a] month. They stay with us just to immerse themselves and see for themselves the real situation,” says Miranda.

PJ PS’ most impor ta nt program, however, is formation, which Lumba says “keeps everything together.”

“There is really a need for formation when it comes to the scholars,” he says in a mix of English and Filipino. “We realized it’s not just a matter of sending these children to school, given their special context.

They’re children of inmates,” Lumba explains. “They have to deal with stigma, the absence of a father or mother.”

It is a hard world for inmates and their families. “Ganoon din kalupit ‘yung society minsan (Society is

harsh sometimes),” says Miranda, recalling how a volunteer got fired from her company after trying to help a former inmate find a job there. “So the advocacy for prison ministry is very important because a lot of people still do not understand what’s going on,” she adds in a mix of English and Filipino.

Within the walls

PJPS has also taken stands in issues regarding the inmates’ rights. During the years 1998 and 2000, PJPS co-founded the Coalition Against Death Penalty and took an active part in the campaign. “If it’s lives on the line, we will take a stand,” says Lumba in a mix of English and Filipino.

PJPS also played a role in the passage of the Juvenile Justice Welfare Act (RA 9344).

The act, which was passed in 2006, states that those below 15 years of age are exempt from Providence in ›› 4

WEF-EA: Inclusive growth and integration agenda in 2014

By Aaron M. Tanyag SEVERAL OF the world’s highranking government officials, business executives and civil society leaders gathered in Makati Shangri-La for the 23rd World Economic Forum on East Asia (WEF-EA) on May 21 to 23.

For the first time, the Ph i l ippi nes hosted t he international event, attended by more than 600 delegates from around 30 countries.

According to its website, WEF is an international institution that engages various leaders “to shape global, regional and industry agendas.”

Under the theme “Leveraging Growth for Equitable Progress,” the forum focused on the en-

visioned Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) Economic Community (AEC) and on encouraging inclusion in the region.

PH showcase gains

In his keynote speech, President Benigno Aquino III mentioned the widespread reforms and sound management principles initiated by his administration. He took pride in the government’s successes in addressing corruption, pursuing structural reforms, and investing in education and healthcare.

“We have always said that good governance is good economics, and the results of our reforms on the economic end are proving us right,” he said.

Aquino added that the

Philippine economy has been undergoing a “dramatic turnaround” in recent years. Citing the population projections of the United Nations, he said the country would be hitting a “demographic sweet spot” in 2015, when majority of the population would be in the workforce. Countries in such conditions, he explained, attain an average yearly growth of 7.3% over the next 10 years. Last year, the Philippines posted a 7.2% growth rate despite the devastations caused by Super Typhoon Yolanda.

The president also attributed the progress to the Filipino people, calling them the country’s “greatest resource.”

WEF-EA: Inclusive ›› 3

MEETING OF THE MINDS. Over 600 delegates from 30 countries gathered at the Makati Shangri-La for the 23rd World Economic Forum on East Asia last May. .

PHOTO FROM GLOBAL INSIGHTS ASIA

Beyond Loyola

2

Beneath Brazil's World Cup struggles

By JC A. Beltran and Kyle N. Mitschiener BRAZIL NOT only hosted the 2014 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup; it also stirred a myriad of controversy. Ever since the country won the bid in 2007, many questioned whether or not a developing country should host one of the largest international sporting events.

At the time of selection, Brazil’s economy was expanding at a rate of 4.5% due to generous foreign investment in anticipation of the games. But after the Global Financial Crisis of 2008 to 2009, much of the investment was gone.

This, along with the massive spending—conservative estimates go as high as $11.7 billion—on the World Cup, has led to several instances of Brazilians taking the streets in protest. Subway workers fronted such rallies, demanding for a wage hike.

As to whether or not the investment will pay off is yet to be seen, as all of the smoke has yet to clear. Though there has been positive reaction from football fans across the globe, there is very little indication that the Brazil World Cup will be more controversial than any other.

“You already had this kind of thinking way back [in] June 2013. Here, we are hosting an event. We are trying to refurbish stadia to meet FIFA's standards, and these are very costly standards,” Trinidad says.

Department of Sociology and Anthropology Professor Fernando Zialcita, who has a doctorate in anthropology and is an expert in Latin American studies, sums the World Cup situation as “a classic dilemma on long-term gains versus short-term gains.”

“I understand Brazil wants to project itself to the world as a nation that has finally arrived.

[As] a member of Brics [Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa], it's one of the largest economies now,” he adds. Brics is a rising group of developing

are] complaining about the poor transport sector [and] the slums,” says Zialcita. He adds that poor public infrastructures should be resolved first before building new stadiums.

Rousseff's fate

After Brazil won against Croatia in the opening match of the World Cup, part of the crowd sang crude chants against Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff. But despite the backlash, she was dubbed a frontrunner in public polls for the upcoming elections this October.

According to the New York Times, Rousseff was criticized for shelving projects on water pipes and sewage lines for the construction of a lavish stadium.

In the article, she defended

We are trying to refurbish stadia to meet FIFA's standards, and these are very costly standards.

— GINO TRINIDAD Instructor, Political Science Department

Citizens’ call

Gino Trinidad, an instructor from the Political Science Department, finds the development to be hardly surprising. He stresses that the situation must be analyzed from the context of last year, when Brazilians in São Paulo rallied against the 50-cent increase in bus fares.

In a Huffington Post article

by Flávio Dino, head of the Brazilian Tourism Board, previous street protests in Brazil against fare increase has prompted authorities to reduce the prices. He asserts that citizen activism in Brazil has reaped viable solutions from the “debate on a referendum for political reform” to improved health care via the More Doctors program.

countries with rapidly growing economies.

However, the Brazil economy grew sluggishly by 0.2% in the first quarter of 2014. Trinidad traces this back to the 2008 crisis that not only yielded higher wages but also higher inflation.

“In real terms, there's no purchasing power. The real wage scales are very stagnant, let's say, at the least,” he adds.

According to a 2014 survey from the Pew Research Center, 61% of Brazilia n citizens believe that the government should prioritize its spending on health care, education and public transportation rather than the World Cup. “There is still a large mass of Brazilians that are poor. [Citizens

herself against critics about using loans from state banks in funding the new stadiums.

But Trinidad argues that spending through banks and loans is prone to corruption. As he points out, the worst-case scenario is that the government siphons off its funds for construction. “[The] problem [is, there] was too much consumption without investment. If you can summarize what happened, the Rousseff government prioritized consumption economics rather than investment economics,” says Trinidad.

Trinidad sees an inconsistency on economic policies vis-à-vis the reign of former President Luiz Inácio Lula da

Silva. “You have positive fruits from the [past] regime. It's just that the negatives have been amplified because of the prioritization of the infrastructure and government spending for FIFA," he says.

Amid cynical remarks over the Games, Rousseff shrugged these off in the closing ceremony, declaring the World Cup a success. The succeeding events, as Trinidad points out, can affect how Rousseff’s party crafts their campaign strategy.

Pride of the game

Football fans around the world made sure to let everyone know who they were rooting for, with tweets and status updates about the games dominating social media. Fans also mentioned the hosting of Brazil and how welcoming they were to fans from around the world.

Thousands of miles away, Ateneans are also cheering for their own team, as “[it] is one of the more feared schools in Philippine football, and it’s because [of ] determination and school spirit,” says Enrique Ortiz, a freshman who plays for the Ateneo Mens’ Football team.

This spirit means that football is one of the Ateneo sports that usually garners a large crowd in games. “Improvements had been very apparent with regard to the popularity of the sport,” says Margen Ariel, Physical Education instructor and former Philippine Team player in Women’s Football and Futsal, lauding the growth of local football institutions.

Trinidad commends the nature of the game as “its own animal.” Ortiz agrees with this sentiment, adding, “The World Cup is one of the oldest sporting events in history. I think what makes the World Cup so much bigger is the prestige that it carries with it.”

As the world continues to hail Brazil for its hosting stint, the outcome has pressured the country to plan ahead in time for another major sporting event — the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Brazilian artist Paulo Ito talks on his mobile phone next to graffiti he painted referencing the 2014 World Cup, on the door of a public schoolhouse in Sao Paulo.

PHOTO BY NACHO DOCE, REUTERS

A policeman patrols the Rocinha Slum during an operation to find a man, who killed a policeman during a shootout at one of the slum's alleys in Rio de Janeiro on April 4, 2012.

PHOTO BY RICARDO MORAES, REUTERS

A history of Olympic controversy RESEARCH BY JC A. Beltran and Kyle N. Mitschiener ILLUSTRATIONS BY Meg C. Quintos

The 2014 Fédération Internationale de Football Association World Cup is not the only controversial sporting event. The Olympics have had its own share of problems, ranging from financial mismanagement and corruption to safety issues.

2000 Sydney Summer Olympics

2004 Athens Summer Olympics

The Millennium Olympic Games is infamous for a number of its participants being stripped of their medals. Romanian Andreea Raducan became the first Olympic gymnast to be stripped of a gold medal after testing positive for prohibited substances.

Raducan’s case was just the first of several, which led to more stringent drug testing in the Games.

The 2004 Summer Olympics was an event far bigger than Greece could afford. This would become more apparent in later years, when Greece’s issues of financial mismanagement would manifest itself in the Eurozone Crisis. In addition to overspending on facilities, the event itself suffered from poor officiating. Yang Tae-young of South Korea was incorrectly given a start value of 9.9 instead of 10.0 by judges in the parallel bars portion of the all-around gymnastic event final. The 0.1-point was a large enough discrepancy to have possibly given Yang the gold.

The GUIDON July 2014

3

WEF-EA: Inclusive... ‹‹ 1

“Ultimately, it is our countrymen who give us the confidence to continue blazing the path of reform,” he said.

only benefits a portion of a population.” She said, “It’s important that the different sectors of our country, including the poorest of our countrymen, are included in the growth.”

Inclusive growth

Furthermore, Aquino mentioned that the country’s economic gains would go to waste if not felt by its own people. “[Inclusive growth] is the yardstick by which we measure any government undertaking,” he said.

He discussed various programs which his administration is using to realize inclusive growth. These include the Conditional Cash Transfer Program, which currently provides assistance to 4.3 million families, the Kindergarten to Grade 12 scheme, which aligns the country’s education system with international standards, and the Pera ng Bayan (The People’s Money) website, which allows citizens to see how the government is spending the taxpayers’ money.

“There is a simple idea behind these initiatives,” he said. “Our people are the be-all and end-all of this government, and we are not content with waiting for the benefits of growth to just trickle down the social pyramid.”

Ateneo Economics Association President Margarita De Chavez agrees with the president, saying, “Growth in itself

Asean integration

Aside from encouraging inclusion, the forum also centered on the upcoming AEC in 2015.

The AEC aims to create a single and competitive market for Asean countries. It involves the liberalization of trades in goods, services, labor and capital.

In a Business Mirror opinion piece, Jose Ferdinand Reyes III wrote that the AEC “will transform the region into an economic bloc that can attract investments that, in turn, will lead to the creation of jobs and an increase in incomes.”

However, there have been doubts as to whether the Philippines is fully prepared for the AEC. “There are still other sectors that are still unprepared,” said Economics Department Professor Fernando Aldaba, who has a doctorate in economics. He mentioned that the agricultural sector will be “one of the most vulnerable when imports come in.”

In an article by Rappler, foreign affairs analysts Julio Amador III and Joycee Teodoro noted the poor state of infrastructure in the region. They said this “hinders

investment and slows the implementation of AEC commitments.”

Despite this, Aldaba mentioned that there are other sectors in the Philippines that could benefit. “In terms of the movement of skilled laborers, [we have] an advantage because we have lots of them already in [the] Asean,” he said.

According to the National Economic and Development Authority, moreover, local businesses will also benefit as it will allow them to “engage more in intra-regional trade, increase market access, and expand production capacities.”

But despite the showcase of impressive economic performances, there were those who criticized the Aquino administration for its “hypocrisy.” Former Bayan Muna Representative Teddy Casiño accused the government of “window-dressing the economy… to hide the fact that poverty has worsened and corruption is as rampant as ever.”

Nevertheless, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo told the Philippine News Agency that the hosting of the WEF-EA “will change a lot of negative perceptions about the Philippines.”“A lot of delegates have never been to the Philippines. Many of them have been here long ago.

They were surprised–positively surprised on what they saw here,” he observed.

A man walks past by graffiti painted on the a wall in reference to the 2014 World Cup in Rio de Janeiro.

PHOTO BY SERGIO MORAES, REUTERS

GOOD GOVERNANCE, GOOD ECONOMICS. President Aquino praised his administration's successes in addressing issues such as corruption.

PHOTO FROM FORBES.COM

PHOTO BY HUFFINGTON POST

2008 Beijing Summer Olympics

2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics

2014 Sochi Winter Olympics

Choosing Beijing as a host city was deemed controversial in the midst of China's horrific human rights records. To pave way for construction, 1.25 million Chinese citizens were evicted from their homes as reported by the Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions. Security was tightened to combat against the terrorist attacks from Xinjiang separatists and protests from pro-Tibetan independence groups. During the Games, a major scandal erupted when four female Chinese gymnastic gold medalists from the women’s artistic team all-around category were accused of being under 16. Although they were eventually cleared of charges, the scandal resurfaced when Dong Fangxiao, who lied about being 17 in the 2000 Summer Olympics, was proven guilty. Fangxiao’s team’s bronze was surrendered to the International Olympic Committee.

The 2010 Winter Olympics was met with many safety issues.

It began with the death of Nodar Kumaritashvili of Georgia, who fell off his sledge and hit a steel pillar while training for the luge event. In a report published by the International Luge Federation (IFL), the sled used by the victim had met ILF standards but the track was found to be faster than calculated.

ILF still found the speed to be manageable but they did not expect Kumaritashvili’s fatal blow to happen. They pledged to reassess the sled design and track technology to avoid similar accidents. Meanwhile, other cases of injury followed, starting with Anja Pärson of Sweden who was badly bruised following a jump prior to the finish line in Women’s Downhill. Similarly, her injury was blamed on the extreme difficulty of the courses.

Prior to Sochi 2014, President Vladimir Putin approved a law that banned spreading “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations” to minors. The law attracted global backlash as it potentially undermines Russian lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights. As protest, 40 human rights organizations vowed to use their presence to protect the seven openly LGBT athletes in the Olympics from homophobia. Aside from LGBT concerns, the Russian government also faced accusations of corruption from cost inflation for construction to cronyism. Sochi 2014 became the most expensive sports event in history with a massive budget of $51 billion, surpassing the $40 B budget spent in Beijing 2008.

4

Beyond Loyola

The GUIDON July 2014

Post-Yolanda declaration highlights disaster risk and reduction

By Roxie Y. Ramirez, Frances P. Sayson and Chynna A. Santos THE CITY of Manila hosted the Asia-Europe Meeting’s (ASEM) Disaster Risk and Reduction Management (DRRM) conference on June 4 to 6. Around 280 government officials, academics, scientists and members of various organizations were present during the two-day conference.

The meeting culminated with the signing of the Tacloban Declaration, a document that aims to introduce “new elements to global discourse and [fill] in the gaps left by other DRRM platforms.” It contains new concepts and guidelines for DRRM that will be followed by the 36 participating countries.

The declaration is named after the city that was hit hardest by Super Typhoon Yolanda, known internationally as Haiyan. More than 6,000 died in the storm’s wake and over 1,000 people remain missing.

The Tacloban Declaration is set to replace the 2005 Hyogo Framework Action (HFA), which is set to expire next year, as the ASEM paradigm on DRRM. The HFA, organized by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, is a 10-year scheme on mitigating disaster risks.

Support structures

In one of its points, the Tacloban Declaration discusses the central role of national governments during large-scale disasters, but takes into account the role of local government units as first responders. It “[bears] in mind that resilience building starts at the local level” and highlights the importance of coordination bet ween governments and private sectors.

The document also tackles the role of women in disaster preparedness. In her speech during the conference’s plenary session, Senator Loren Legarda said, “We

need to capacitate women not only as primary caregivers in times of disaster and economic distress, but also as part of the overall strategy on disaster risk reduction and management. To empower women is to reduce their vulnerability to disasters.”

She pointed out that among the first responders in the aftermath of Yolanda were Filipino women doctors, paramedics and civilian volunteers. “Countless Filipino women responded with almost total disregard of their own safety, operating in what was traditionally viewed as the province of man,” Legarda added.

Another prominent point of the Tacloban Declaration was the affirmation of “the need to build back better during the recovery and reconstruction phases of disasters.”

Slow and incomplete progress

More than eight months since the disaster, post-Yolanda rehabilitation remains slow and incomplete.

“Distribution of relief is poor and slow, lacking coordination across all levels of involved players. There is a lack of clear direction and overall plan,” says Mara Gallmann, vice president for Environmental Affairs of the Ateneo Environmental Science Society. She adds that “the shelter sector seems to be the most problematic for all.”

More than 2.6 million survivors “remain at risk and without durable shelter,” according to a joint report by the government and Shelter Cluster, a global committee that coordinates shelter assistance.

With several limitations including no-build zones, hazard vulnerability and unclear land ownership, government officials project that it would take years for complete permanent relocation.

Public schools, particularly in the Eastern Visayas, are also at a disarray, with the latest report from the Department of Education spelling out the need

for 2,313 new classrooms, while 17,757 are in need of repairs.

Continued external help

Despite the flaws in recovery coordination, help has been pouring in. Property developer Ayala Land, for one, has turned over 150 housing units and 300 rehabilitated fishing boats for survivors in Iloilo.

Under the Joint Task Force Pacific Partnership 2014, the armed forces of the Philippines, United States, Japan, Malaysia and South Korea have committed to the construction of buildings for two elementary schools and a hospital in Leyte.

In addition, the United Nations has made a cheaper and more durable boat for fishermen in the affected areas and will deploy trained builders to assist in the project.

The Ateneo, through its Disaster Relief and Management (Dream) Team, continues to take part in rebuilding efforts and risk reduction. With the Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan, the social justice arm of the Philippine Jesuits, the Dream Team is building multi-purpose halls that can alternate as evacuation centers in Palawan.

PHOTO BY ROSLYN ARAYATA

Starting at the local level

The need for external help, as well as alarming statistics of prevailing damage, have spelled out the need for DRRM. Gallmann says “typhoons are natural destructive occurrences which we can’t prevent from happening. However, whether we will let such natural disasters create intensified damage will depend on how involved, prepared, informed and responsive communities are.”

Days after the declaration was written up, Legarda ended a keynote address in Beijing by saying, “I wish to [reiterate] our roles as builders, not just of communities of today, but communities of the future.”

She added, “We must not rebuild the risks. We must rebuild stronger and wiser.”

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT. The newly signed Tacloban Declaration highlights the roles of national and local government units during natural disasters.

PHOTO FROM LORENLEGARDA.COM.PH

Providence in... ‹‹ 1

criminal liability.

The act also states that those who are 15 up to below 18 years old are exempt unless they act with discernment, or the capacity to understand what is right from wrong. PJPS continues to advocate for the welfare of juvenile delinquents. They are currently a member of the Philippine Action for Youth Offenders.

Today, slow justice is a problem. Inmates may spend as long as 10 years on appeal, just to be acquitted. Sometimes, they overstay because no one follows up on their cases; inmates remain active on file despite the expiry of their sentence.

Bureaucracy aside, the administration’s troubles may boil down to congestion. The maximum facility was built to accommodate 5,000. At the medium facility, more than 6,000 inmates squeeze into a space meant for 3,000. In minimum, there are 300 extra inmates. To accommodate the increasing population, sleeping quarters are partitioned into bunks—kubol—that inmates have to crawl into.

“May lalaya na 10, ang papasok 200 (Ten inmates will go free, but 200 enter),” Lumba says. “Maybe if the numbers were maintained, we could say that the programs are effective.

Maybe that’s the one difficulty that the good men and women in [the Bucor] want to change, but it’s hard,” he continues in a mix of English and Filipino.

In efforts responding to congestion, the Department

Bucor wa s g ra nted a P1,797,591 budget for 2014. Each inmate is allotted P50 a day for meals and P3 for medicine.

“Baboy at baka,” Reyes smirks when asked to describe their food. “Baboy ang pagkaluto,

It's a ministry that you cannot just give up.

— FR. ELI LUMBA, SJ Executive director, PJPS

of Justice plans to move the NBP from Muntinlupa City to Nueva Ecija, according to a report from InterAksyon.

The pla n ha s act ua lly been hearsay for roughly 10 years. The same report said that a feasibilit y study is set to be completed by 2015.

The back-up plan in case the transfer does not continue is simple: Stay in Muntinlupa, and keep sending inmates to penal colonies.

baka hindi mo makain.”

In this set-up, it is not uncommon for inmates to still go hungry. More fortunate inmates, who can afford their own food, may sell their meals. Others still resort to drugs. Water is still not readily available, and the only toiletry provided to inmates is a monthly bar of laundry soap.

While the ideal ratio of guards to inmates is 1:5, the NBP’s ratio is pegged at 1:62. Guard salary is pegged at P12,000 a month.

“There is really so much to do,” says Lumba, “but we can only do so much.”

Uncaged spirit

It cannot be said that inmates do not help themselves. Some have taken initiatives to begin their own businesses inside the NBP. They also landscaped and painted the prison buildings in beautification projects. “‘Yun ‘yung maganda rin sa loob, may sense of community (That’s what’s great about it inside, there’s a sense of community),” says Lumba. “[The atmosphere is not] ‘what's mine is mine.’”

Lumba and Miranda also believe that Philippine prisons are more humane; wives and children are allowed to stay overnight with the inmates. Lumba and Miranda believe that granting visitation rights eases riots, which cause visitation rights to be stripped. “‘When they see the improvement of their children, and when their spouse and loved ones come to visit, it really changes their attitude [from] violence and [toward] peace,” Lumba says in mixed English and Filipino.

He recalls the story of one of the volunteers, who told Lumba he came to share his blessings.

Lumba narrates, “Paglabas [sa] debriefing, sabi niya, ‘Father, hindi ko na alam ngayon kung sino ang

blessed. Sila sa loob, o kami (When he came out of the debriefing, he said, ‘Father, I do not know who is blessed. The inmates, or us).’”

“May kanta sila sa loob ng ‘Bilanggong Walang Rehas.’ Sila, nahuli na, ‘di ba? (The inmates have a song called ‘Prisoners without Bars.’ They’ve been caught, right?)” says Lumba.

“They have accepted their time...

Sabi nila, lahat naman tayo bilanggong walang rehas (They say, we are all prisoners, just not behind bars).”

There have been changes in the NBP over 20 years: Employee training, due to the Modernization Act of 2013 (RA 10575), which aims to strengthen and restructure Bucor, has improved.

Recruitment of correctional officers has gone up. Bucor is beginning to place their files in a centralized database.

There are also good men and women in Bucor. “They’ve

recognized and realized [that] PJPS is a dependable partner in reformation,” says Lumba.

“When you get to know them, they really show their appreciation,” adds Miranda in mixed English and Filipino. “Nakikita nila ‘yung ginagawa namin (They really see what we do).”

With over 200 volunteers, PJPS continues its projects. It is set to host a fun run called Prison Break on August 17 and a fundraising concert with Bukas Palad on September 20.

All proceeds of the events will go their causes.

“It’s a ministry that you cannot just give up,” says Lumba. The mantra, “God provides,” repeats constantly. And of the inmates: “We give them hope, and they give us hope at the same time.”

Editor’s Note: Name has been changed to protect the inmate’s identity.

ERRATUM •

In the June 2014 issue of The GUIDON, Beyond Loyola’s banner article stated, “The deadline for the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (Carper) Law is set for June 30.” We would like to clarify that only the land acquisition and distribution component of Carper have expired on this date. The GUIDON apologizes for this oversight.

Editor: Pia H. Posadas · Editorial Assistant: Jasmine P. Ting · Layout Artist: Meg C. Quintos

Features

02 UP FOR RANSOM indie folk band The Ransom Collective hits all the right notes.

Drink where you dine With its distinct mix of craft beers and flavorful menus, the gastropub is spicing up the local restaurant scene.

By Isabel A. Rodrigo and Jasmine P. Ting

D

im lights illuminate the dark wood walls. Wine glasses and beer mugs dangle from above. People sit in cozy booths, laughing and enjoying each other’s company. Casual and relaxed, the ambience of the gastropub can make anyone feel right at home.

Numerous foreign food trends have overwhelmed the Filipino food scene recently, with cronut cafés and ramen noodle houses cropping up on every corner.

The gastropub is yet another addition to the diverse culinary landscape of the city, introducing our taste buds to a unique gastronomic experience.

As more restaurants like The Hungry Hound, The Tipsy Pig and Draft dot the Metro, gourmet dishes and craft beer are now served with ease and comfort. As opposed to the formal and stiff atmosphere of fine dining restaurants, the gastropub offers a refreshing change of scene.

Heussaff and the Hound

The gastropub began in the United Kingdom, where it naturally evolved from the traditional British pub. However, Erwan Heussaff, restaurateur and owner of The Hungry Hound in Bonifacio Global City, is quick to point out that the concept of the gastropub isn’t exclusive to the British. “In France, [the equivalent of] the pub was the brasserie, and then there was an evolution from the brasserie to what we call the bistro, which has smaller plates, while still being based on the same style of comfort food,” he explains.

Unlike regular pubs, which capitalized on comfort, the first gastropubs aspired to go a step above by catering to a market characterized by more refined tastes. More thought was placed into the creation of the dishes, which typically came with a bigger price tag than those served at traditional pubs.

Liquor is essential to both, although the gastropub placed more importance on how it paired with food.

The gastropub, Heussaff

admits, is a term often misunderstood, especially in the local restaurant scene. “You have every other restaurant opening and calling themselves gastropubs, then what they usually do is that they put fish and chips and some sort of pie on the menu, and they think that they fit the realms of the concept.”

While these dishes are the hallmark of the gastropub, The Hungry Hound has its own unique take on such classics. For instance, battered fish soaked in Chimay beer and duck fat fries coated in sweet paprika stand in for the usual fish and chips. Slivers of puff pastry and medium-well hanger steak, with a purée of peas and Chimay au jus, make up a deconstructed steak and ale pie.

He credits this lack of depth to the industry’s heavy dependence on foreign trends. “People seem to tailgate each other in terms of concept,” he says, “but you can’t just see something on the Internet, try it once, and say, ‘Okay, let’s bring it here.’” To avoid this, Heussaff patterns The Hungry Hound after the original British gastropub, which was meant to appeal to the everyman while still maintaining a flavor of elegance.

With its high ceiling, modern wooden interiors and subtle lighting, elegant is a good way to describe the vibe of The Hungry Hound, which can be found in the Globe Tower. The brainchild of the building owners and a team of restaurateurs, it is meant to appeal to all Globe employees, from the lower to the higher management. Filipinos generally have no qualms about mixing business and pleasure, especially when eating out, but Heussaff notes that “it’s also very ironic that people don’t want to go out and drink where they eat.”

He believes that when Filipinos dine and drink, they prefer to go to places that are laidback and don’t require them to dress to impress. “That’s why you have places like Opus that never did well,” he adds, mentioning the supper club that closed earlier this year. In contrast, the gastropub just might be the perfect fit for the cosmopolitan Filipino, as it makes going out “a casual yet trendy affair.”

Food for thought

The advantage of the gastropub lies in its specific niche: While it is meant to appeal to the casual diner, its elevation from the original pub allows the chef to be more ambitious. For instance, The Hungry Hound’s chef, Mikko Reyes, creates and executes an artisanal gastropub menu every week.

“The gastropub concept allows you to do things that are a bit more cerebral, things that wouldn’t really fit with other casual eateries,” says Heussaff.

Their artisanal menu is crafted depending on what’s fresh, what’s on the market, what’s seasonal and what goes well with alcohol. Different techniques like sous vide—a method of cooking food sealed in plastic bags and submerged in boiling water—are also used from time to time.

Another important aspect Philippine gastropubs consider is the local beer. Other than the standard San Miguel beers,

EAT YOUR HEART OUT. Old Fashioned Cheeseburger, Duck Fat Fries, and Braised Pork Belly and Scallop are just some of the delicious dishes served at The Hungry Hound.

PHOTOS BY FRANCINE A. BHARWANI

some gastropubs also have local craft beers on tap, such as Katipunan Craft Ale and Fat Pauly’s. JJ Yulo, a contributing editor at Rogue and the founder of Pinoy Eats World, a catering company geared towards local food culture, thinks that this is necessary. “Everyone’s like, ‘Oh! I’ve tried this Dutch beer.’ There’s nothing wrong with that, but give props to the local guys, because there are some really good beers coming along,” he says.

The Perfect Pint, a gastropub that opened just this year, does just this by offering local ales.

In a Pepper article, Managing Editor Mikka Wee also attests to its perfect pairs, which consist of combinations of home-brewed craft beers and gourmet food designed by chef Gene Gonzales.

“They also know what they’re talking about, explaining why this beer goes with that dish, so you won’t have to blindly guess why they go together,” Wee writes.

The Perfect Pint’s menu includes items like freshly baked caramel brownie s’mores with rum raisin ice cream. Gonzales recommends customers eat them with a cold glass of Fat Pauly’s Amapola, a local brewery’s take on the dark chocolate ale, or a Czech beer like Pivo Dark Pilsner. Another excellent pairing is the Stinky 5 Cheese pizza, coupled with the foamy and light Pivo Weizen.

Legen—wait for it—dary

The gastropub concept allows you to do things that are a bit more cerebral, things that wouldn't really fit with other casual eateries.

— ERWAN HEUSSAFF Owner, The Hungry Hound

With its traditional Irish pub concept, wide drink selection, conventional pub food and cozy booths, MacLaren’s was Ted and the gang’s favorite haunt. Even after the final episode, the image of the How I Met Your Mother (HIMYM) cast hanging out at this pub remains iconic. Although it may not have strictly been a gastropub, it did succeed in presenting the environment that gastropubs aspire to create: A casual place where great food

and drinks are served and lasting memories are made.

Before gastropubs made their way to Manila, traditional pubs like the San Mig Pub in Alabang Town Center were already drawing crowds in as early as the '80s. Similar to HIMYM’s MacLaren’s, the young and the old made a lot of great memories in places like these. “There’s a legacy, and people love it. Now, I guess, there’s nothing like that anymore,” says Yulo.

But when asked about whether gastropubs could possibly become a mainstay, Yulo answers in the affirmative.

“Absolutely, as long as they care about it,” he says. “It’s just a matter of caring about putting out the food consistently, understanding your customers and what [they] want.”

Heussaff adds to this, saying, “The difference I see in restaurants that go further and survive better is that, instead of good service, I would say [they have] good personality.” Beyond the services that trained busboys and waitresses offer, the restaurant itself comes to life.

This personality is breathed into the restaurant by the architecture, the menu, the restaurateur and, most importantly, by the people that come over.

Filipinos, according to Heussaff, are also very social eaters in contrast to Westerners. Even if the food and drinks are great, the meal never seems to be complete without great company.

Whether or not this trend will make it big and last for generations to come, it certainly has the attention of Filipino restaurateurs looking to set up shop right now. Gastropubs are definitely making their presence felt by shaking up the Manila food scene. They not only offer something different to tingle taste buds, but also a sense of familiarity that keeps customers coming back.

2

Features

Up for Ransom Whether it's at Under the Stars 2014 or the Wanderland Music & Arts Festival, indie folk band The Ransom Collective is bringing a fresh sound to our musical landscape.

SINGING TO A DIFFERENT TUNE. Listeners are often surprised to discover that The Ransom Collective is a local band; its unique sound has drawn comparisons to artists like The Lumineers and Arcade Fire.

PHOTOS BY ARIELLE A. ACOSTA

By Marguerite R. Andrews and Pia H. Posadas

A

t 5:30 in the afternoon, Jerms is the first to arrive. Upon entering, she asks the waitress to prepare a special dessert—today is Lily’s birthday, and she loves chocolate. Mu, Redd, Kian and Leah follow shortly after and the five are soon lost in conversation, as if they haven’t seen in each other in days. Suddenly, Lily arrives; the waitress brings out a chocolate crepe, illuminated by novelty beer mug-shaped candles, and they all sing “Happy Birthday.”

This group of six may look like any regular barkada, but they are actually indie folk band The Ransom Collective. With Jerms Peck on percussion, Lily Gonzales on keyboard, Mu Gonzales on violin, Redd Claudio on drums, Kian Ransom on lead vocals and guitar, and Leah Halili on bass guitar, the group fuses together smooth vocal harmonies, foottapping country beats, acoustic guitar riffs and the classic rhythm of the violin.

The band is best known for winning Karpos Multimedia’s first ever Wanderband competition, allowing them to perform at the Wanderland Music & Arts Festival. But they’re also slowly pushing the local music industry to accept more eclectic styles of music, such as those made popular by international artists like The Lumineers, Arcade Fire and Mumford & Sons. Their sound is out to surprise—and surprise, they do.

Accidental beginnings

Although they all had mutual friends, a chance encounter in the University of the Philippines-Diliman campus,

where the band is based, is what brought them together. “[Kian (Ransom) and I] were walking in FA (College of Fine Arts, Bartlett Hall), and I was like, ‘I know these sisters, one plays violin and the other plays keyboard,’” Peck recalls. “And then, Lily just suddenly pops out and I was like, ‘That’s her!’”

This is how Peck and the Gonzales sisters ended up practicing with Ransom, who had just returned from Los Angeles, and Hunny Lee, the band’s first drummer, that weekend. Halili, Peck’s course mate, was invited too. “At first, we were just doing a one-time thing,” shares Ransom.

“But it worked out really well.

We were all having so much fun making music that we eventually became a permanent thing.”

The band was eponymously named after its lead singer before renaming itself as The Ransom Collective, which aptly embodied the shift from Ransom being a solo act to becoming part of a group effort. The lineup was modified too, when Lee returned to South Korea to fulfill his military service duties. After holding auditions, he was replaced by Claudio, a friend of Halili’s brother.

Each member plays a different role in the band, both formally and informally. “Mu’s the mom,” Halili quips. Ransom, the songwriter of the group, is quick to point out that everyone brings something unique to the table.

Their infectious first single, “Fools,” is particularly memorable as it was the first song that the band truly collaborated on.

For now, the band is self-managed by choice, dividing tasks such as social media, logistics and finance among themselves. Rain Hizola, a member of the Artist Management Department of the

Ateneo Musicians’ Pool (AMP), observes that while having a professional manager brings more opportunities, it has a downside too. “[You might be] forced to ‘sell out,’ like playing in events just because of the money and not because you genuinely want to,” he observes.

This arrangement also gives the band space to figure things out at its own pace. “Right now, we’re growing as a band and it’s easier that whatever we do, it’s all within and amongst us,” Mu Gonzales explains.

they entered, they had all these weird instruments and they super looked hipster. When they started playing, it was steady, and then when Kian started singing, I super gasped! It was really embarrassing,” she laughs.

The UTS audience reacted similarly, even clamoring for an encore. “They’re a very crowd-friendly band,” observes She’s Only Sixteen guitarist Andrew Panopio. “Their sound is unique because of their taste and proper use of

At first, we were just doing a onetime thing, but it worked out really well. We were all having so much fun making music that we eventually became a permanent thing.

least enjoyable. Due to a delayed sound check the day before and a faulty sound system, their 30minute set was reduced to a mere 15 minutes.

Other bands had technical difficulties too, much to everyone’s chagrin. “[The bands] would come onstage, everyone would cheer, and then you’d see that they’re frustrated because something wasn’t working.

They’d walk off stage and have to wait, and the guys who were trying to fix [the sound system] would come back out again,” Ransom complains.

Their first post-Wanderland show and so-called “redemption gig” was at the bar Route 196; Halili says they felt the need to prove themselves after their flawed performance. Still, the nightmarish experience was not without its highlights: Aside from changing the course of their careers for the better, how many bands can claim to have played beer pong with The Royal Concept and hung out with The Paper Kites?

Breaking free

— KIAN RANSOM Lead vocalist, The Ransom Collective

Sound bites

From Alabang Town Center to Tiendesitas, The Ransom Collective has played all over the Metro since its inception.

In fact, many Ateneans first encountered them at the Loyola Film Circle’s annual Under the Stars (UTS) film screening and variety show in February 2014.

Former UTS Project Head Paola Betita (BS CTM ‘14) vividly recalls just how unexpected their audition was. “It was actually funny because when

groove. [It’s] very dynamic and gets the people moving.”

To this day, it is still one of Ransom’s favorite gigs. “That was the first time that we really got to play for the type of crowd that we think would like our music. And seeing what people were saying afterwards on Twitter and Facebook, and kind of seeing it buzz around Ateneo a little bit, it was really cool.”

In contrast, while Wanderland may be the band’s biggest event to date, it was surprisingly their

The Local Natives, Of Monsters and Men, and Fleet Foxes—these are just some of the indie darlings that influence The Ransom Collective. While their music is similar, Panopio believes they still need to solidify their sound. “Some things may still feel derived with them, but maybe it’s only because we don’t know too much of the rest of their repertoire.”

While the band is flattered by comparisons to such acts, it seems they are tired of being told that they do not sound Filipino.

Mu Gonzales feels that perhaps some people just aren’t exposed to many Filipino bands, so they’re “not accustomed to the

sound.” Ransom follows this up with his own theory: Because his accent is distinctly American, listeners make the mistake of assuming that the band is foreign.

Even the term Orig inal Pilipino Music (OPM) is problematic. According to Niki Colet, an Atenean solo artist and AMP member, “people tend to look at a few very famous artists in the Filipino music industry and just generalize that that is what all local Filipino artists sound like, rather than looking at the diverse array of other also very talented Filipino bands and musicians who may not be as popular as the ones who ‘define’ OPM.” It looks like The Ransom Collective will be redefining the genre, especially since it will be launching its first extended play later this year. Their dream of going on an international tour may well be a very real possibility in the long run; the band recently placed second in the Young Guns online contest hosted by Deezer, the international web-based streaming service, and now has fans in places like Brazil and Egypt.

“It’s not like we’re huge in any of those countries but it’s [kind of ] cool to know that there’s a couple dozen people in Colombia who listen to us,” Ransom adds.

Someday, The Ransom Collective will be a force to be reckoned with; their penchant for disproving misconceptions and playing by their own rules all but ensures this. For now, however, they are content with the way things are going. As Claudio says, “[We want] to polish the sets, hopefully make more songs, play more gigs and just see what comes our way. Hopefully it gets big, but if not, at least we’re happy with what we’re doing.”

The GUIDON July 2014

3

The young and the restless

By Marguerite R. Andrews and Isabel A. Rodrigo

Y

outh culture–the term is a contentious one. For some, it is nothing more than a marketing term meant to pander to the under-20 set. For others, it represents a real movement where rites of passage, such as experiencing heartbreak for the first time or losing one’s virginity, can be discussed openly and with empathy.

Despite this disagreement, it cannot be denied that the youth are a force to be reckoned with.

Just last May, Leloy Claudio, an assistant professor from the Political Science Department, wrote an opinion piece for GMA News Online; in it, he talks about how the Philippine Daily Inquirer must be open to new blood if it wishes to keep up with the times. Truly, the divide between the young and old is never more visible than in a culture where a premium is placed on seniority.

The youth culture publication, as a result, exists as a mirror for the underground and undiscovered. As long as there are things transpiring beneath the surface, there will always be an interest in the up-and-coming.

photographer from the University of the Philippines who had already shot for publications like The New York Times, The Guardian and Time. “I was thinking those are the kids you want to look up to,” he says. “Because when I was a kid, I remember feeling as if [I wasn’t] part of the culture when I would look at these [magazines] and see all of these good-looking models. What was I to get from that, that you have to be born good-looking?”

Youth culture publications exist for a reason; at its core, the medium seeks to lend a voice to those who deserve it. For Young Star, this meant focusing on actual merit over high society privilege.

For Maine Manalansan, the founding editor-in-chief of the online Stache Magazine, it meant responding to a frustration with the way things were.

“I remember seeing works by Rob Cham or Kitkat Pecson [that would get] only 150 likes [on Tumblr],” she explains, contrasting them with the selfies of the

True grit

The secret to success in this industry is best summarized by a maxim that Subijano lives by: “Hard work trumps talent.” A certain fearlessness may also be a prerequisite: “A lot of young people want to get into creative industries like publishing, but a lot of the time, they hesitate to submit their work because they’re too intimidated by institutions,” notes Subijano.

To come up with something noteworthy, one has to be ready for everything that this entails.

Ma keshif t shoots, missed deadlines and odd hours— these are just some of the challenges publications deal with on a regular basis.

YOUNG BLOOD. Raymond Ang, Maine Manalansan and Cai Subijano are at the helm of publications that give you a voice to the creative youth.

PHOTOS FROM JOSEPH S. ANGAN, MAINE MANALANSAN AND CAI SUBIJANO

When we first put up Stache, it was like a dream come true for most of us. We were running our own publication without the actual rules of the publishing industry.

Different strokes

The newly legal Young Star, which celebrated its 18th anniversary last May, began when Lifestyle Editor Millet Mananquil discovered her children weren’t reading the newspaper because they found nothing in there for them. Since then, the Philippine Star’s youth culture section has passed through the hands of notable writers like Jessica Zafra and Celine Lopez.

Raymond Ang (AB IS ‘10), its current editor, was brought in for a reboot in the section’s 15th year. In the beginning, readers were confused as to why it was featuring talented yet relatively unknown achievers. “[Critics] would say, ‘But they’re not goodlooking, they’re not from this family, they’re not the child of this artista,’” he recalls.

However, these comments didn’t deter Ang from featuring people like Hannah Reyes, then a 20-year-old student and

Rookie. “Tavi and her band of writers just have a way of taking a personal life experiences and extracting wisdom and truth in a way that is both comforting and illuminating,” Subijano continues. “I thought, ‘What about my generation?’ We didn’t have anything close to that.”

— MAINE MANALANSAN Founding editor-in-chief, Stache Magazine

“Tumblr-famous” that would receive likes by the thousands.

After discovering that many of her friends shared the common goal of working for a magazine, she and her band of creatives set out to build Stache from scratch.

As for Cai Subijano, editor-inchief of the recently launched Scout, a publication under the Philippine Daily Inquirer, she was drawn to Tavi Gevinson’s American online magazine,

There are also eccentric interviews, for instance, like the ones for mysterious Filipino author Bob Ong, who masks his true identity with a pseudonym.

When Stache profiled him for its Literary Issue, Manalansan had to conduct the interview solely through Facebook; while it was only supposed to last for two hours, it ended up extending well beyond this timeframe due to his faulty Internet connection.

On a more serious note, Manalansan recalls the time when Stache almost didn’t have a cover story because the assigned writer failed to send the article in on time. “I remember following up on her article an hour before the release but she wasn’t replying, so we had to come up with something on the spot,” she adds. “It was terrible.”

Although working on an independent publication like Stache comes with a great deal of artistic freedom, communication senior MV Isip believes that this model has a downside too.

“There really isn’t much money from ads,” she explains, adding that having a limited budget can, to an extent, dictate the output of a publication.

Another thing that publications—both print and digital—have to contend with is the ever-changing tastes of the youth. “When I became the editor, I was 22 or 23 [years old], and when you’re that age, you know exactly what youth culture is. You know what’s cool, you know who’s cool. It was so easy,” Ang shares. Now that he’s

older and no longer consumes the same culture as most Young Star readers do, he approaches different people from various fields to stay on trend.

Born to be wild

As they say, all good things must come to an end. Unfortunately for Stache, this came sooner than expected.

It signed off with its 20th and final issue last April, a move that surprised many of its loyal followers.

“When we first put up Stache, it was like a dream come true for most of us. We were running our own publication without the actual rules of the publishing industry,” Manalansan explains.

“But as time passed, some of us started to feel like… the creative and editorial direction was mismatched from our original one, so we figured that [it would be] better to end it now and start fresh than to see it crumble to pieces.”

While this was a loss for both readers and writers, it certainly does not signal the decline of youth culture publications.

“[Youth culture publications are] all the more important as an avenue of expression because such publications open the floor for collaboration,” says Isip.

If anything, the void Stache has left behind is an open call for fearless young people who want to be the voice of their generation. According to Manalansan, youth culture publications tend to be braver than the older ones: “They’re not bound by the rules because they create their own.”

Subijano echoes this sentiment, adding that she sees the current local youth culture as “raw, uninhibited and defiant.” Now more than ever, young people are raring to showcase their talents to the world. “I started Scout knowing that one day, I would age out of it, and knowing that young people are so eager and brimming with talent makes me feel optimistic about the magazine’s future.”

Only time will tell what the future holds for these publications, but for now, one thing is certain: The young and the restless are smart, talented and in it for the long haul.

For the youth, by the youth RESEARCH BY Ishbelle L. Bongato

These issues prove that when it comes to defining the lifestyle of our generation, youth culture publications from around the world have done a stellar job thus far.

Status

Paper

Acne Paper

Dazed & Confused

Manila, June 2012

New York, September 2012

Stockholm, Spring 2013

London, February 2014

Status draws inspiration from the urban culture of cosmopolitan cities like Seoul, Paris and New York. In its Green Issue, Status highlights Australian supermodel Miranda Kerr’s eco-friendly lifestyle.

It also introduces innovative environmental groups, such as the Manila-based A Liter of Light, which brings plastic bottle lights to communities living without electricity.

If New York were a magazine, it would be Paper: A whirlwind of fashion, art and nightlife. Not many magazines dare to defy conventional fashion norms, but Paper isn’t afraid to experiment in this Fall Fashion Mind Benders special. The centerpiece of this issue is a photo spread of Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) actor Ezra Miller dressed in drag, complete with red lipstick and high heels.

Acne Paper is a biannual magazine published by luxury Swedish fashion house Acne Studios; every issue explores a chosen theme through poetry, prose, photos and illustrations. Its 13th issue, The Body, traces the evolution of our perception of beauty over time and contains in-depth interviews with great visual artists like Lillian Bassman and Gillian Wearing.

Dazed & Confused is a British magazine known for its eclectic mix of music, fi lm, politics and fashion. 12 Years A Slave (2013) star Lupita Nyong’o graces the cover of its Girls Rule the World Issue, which tackles the subject of modern feminism head on. Its pages are filled with discussions on topics ranging from pornography to sexual dominance.

4

Features

The GUIDON July 2014

Bringing the genre home

By Ishbelle L. Bongato and Jasmine P. Ting

F

ans around the world went hysterical over the recent film adaptation of John Green’s best-selling young adult novel The Fault in Our Stars (TFIOS) (2012).

But according to Time writer Jack Linshi, the country most obsessed with Green’s starcrossed lovers is actually none other than the Philippines.

Long before the TFIOS craze began, books like Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (1997), Twilight (2005) and The Hunger Games (2008) were already capturing our attention. With fans flocking to the Manila book signings of writers like Neil Gaiman, Mitch Albom, Nicholas Sparks, Ransom Riggs, Tahereh Mafi and Veronica Rossi, it seems foreign young adult works have made an impression on Filipinos.

Sadly, the same cannot be said of their local counterparts.

For instance, the anthology Growing Up Filipino: Stories for Young Adults (2003) edited by Cecilia Brainard rarely rings a bell. Tagalog romance novel She’s Dating the Gangster (2013) by Bianca Bernardino is often treated as a joke. But all is not lost—thanks to the efforts of various writers, publishers and enthusiasts, the future of the genre is starting to look much brighter.

Genres within the genre

The first challenge that the young adult genre faces is defining itself—even young adults themselves don’t know what they want. “I’m not entirely sure what topics intrig ue young adults nowadays since tastes are so subjective and adolescents can be a fickle bunch,” says Michelle Paterno, a lecturer from the English Department who specializes in children’s literature.

At its core, young adult fiction reflects the struggles of the youth, especially as they enter adulthood. Whether it’s the 1960s or the 1990s, “teenage romance and adventure stories such as The Hardy Boys and Sweet Dreams series have always been part of the rite of reading passage of most teenagers,” explains Paterno. “Today, it is still pretty much the same thing with a few vampires and zombies thrown into the mix.”

With all these genres coexisting under the term “young

adult,” there are varying opinions as to what constitutes a real young adult piece. Edgar Samar, an assistant professor from the Filipino Department and author of the recently released Si Janus Silang at ang Tiyanak ng Tabon (2014), believes that the genre fills the gap between children’s literature and “mature” literature. “There are many crossovers in terms of age,” he says in a mix of English and Filipino, adding that this ranges from children as young as seven years old up to adults in their forties.

On the other hand, Leanna Labrador, a junior literature (English) major, views it differently. “Young adult isn’t so much about the age of the audience but the age of the main characters,” she says. “Young adult fiction doesn't mean fiction for young adults, but fiction about them.”

Paperback and glossies

Although fewer young adult titles have been published locally compared to their Western equivalents, Paterno remains optimistic: “The field is quite young in the Philippines and so there is always so much potential for growth and exploration.”

Mythspace, a comic series featuring a young Filipino searching for his family in a galaxy filled with aliens inspired by Philippine folk monsters, was first published in 2012. In the same year, Summit Media launched Kwentillion, the first magazine catering to the same audience through comics and short stories, many of which were inspired by Philippine myths.

Un for t u n ately, de spite Kwentillion being an exciting and experimental concept and an alternative to the traditional book format, only one issue was ever published. “While the magazine was a creative success, it was released as a magazine and held up against the standards of other magazines Summit was publishing,” says Paolo Chikiamco, co-editor of Kwentillion and the author of Mythspace.

Even without it, Summit Media still addresses the needs of young readers through Pop Fiction, one of the publishing arms of Summit Books. It takes the most popular stories of Filipino authors from Wattpad, a worldwide online community for writers and readers, and prints them. Some of its most popular titles include She’s Dating the Gangster, The Bet (2013) and The Despicable Guy (2013).

The field [of young adult fiction] is quite young in the Philippines and so there is always so much potential for growth and exploration.

— MICHELLE PATERNO Lecturer, English Department

ILLUSTRATIONS BY MEG C. QUINTOS

Samar’s Si Janus Silang at ang Tiyanak ng Tabon is also a recently released title and the first in a trilogy. It follows the adventures of 13-yearold Janus as he unlocks the mystery of the deaths caused by an online role-playing game and discovers what links him to the myth of the tiyanak.

“Gusto ko talaga i-revisit 'yung ating mga mito at alamat, at i-construct para mas maging relatable sa kabataan ngayon (I wanted to revisit myths and legends, and to reconstruct them in such a way that would make them more relatable to today’s youth),” shares Samar.

Is West best?

Still, despite the efforts of many of our local authors, a number of readers still prefer to gush about Hazel Grace and Augustus over Athena and Kenji from She’s Dating the Gangster.

(The best-selling romance novel, which was adapted into a movie

starring Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, revolves around their plan to spite Kenji’s exgirlfriend by pretending that they are in a relationship.) “[Philippine young adult fiction] can be easily overlooked and therefore, often times, misjudged and taken for granted,” says Paterno. A lot of this has to do with a combination of colonial mentality and the bandwagon effect. Many of us have a preference for foreign labels and brands, a mindset that manifests itself when we are quick to call local works “baduy” or “jeje.”

Part of the blame also falls squarely on the shoulders of writers who end up adapting Western ideas, thinking that they will sell because there is already an established demand for them. “But if readers continue to just read the same kinds of stories over and over again, that will be a problem as storylines become tired repetitions of old formulas,” explains Paterno.

These tropes leave something

more to be desired, such as in The Despicable Guy, where yet another romantic relationship somehow blooms out of a mutual hatred. Its author, Leng de Chavez, admits that perhaps something is still lacking in these stories: “I really want to improve the content of the story to make it more relatable to the older audience.”

The flip side

While local young adult fiction may have this reputation, Samar doesn’t think that rash judgments should be made. “Ang main agenda ay entertainment, ‘di ba? Wala ka namang regard kung maganda ‘yan o hindi. Maganda ‘yun hangga’t nag-eenjoy sila (If its main agenda is to entertain, then it doesn’t matter if it’s good or not; it’s good for as long as readers enjoy reading these things),” he says.

Likewise, Samar believes that websites like Wattpad

are also good for building social networks and providing avenues for people to write more. Labrador attests to this, adding, “[We need] more writers. More media exposure. More distinction by genre. More diversity. Having [more] young adult book series would help as well.”

Although local young adult fiction may still have a long way to go, it has definitely come further than where it was before. “Say like five years ago, you [couldn’t] see any Filipino [young adult fiction] in any bookstore. Now, try to check bookstores and you’ll be surprised to see tons of [young adult] books written by young Filipino authors,” says de Chavez.

Spaces on shelves and cinemas are opening up for the local genre, and hopefully Filipino young adults will be more welcoming to local titles as well. For the genre to be more significant to today’s young adults, Paterno suggests covering grittier topics, but “in a careful and unpretentious manner.”

“Such themes will mean taking bigger risks on all sides—readers, writers, and publishers, not to mention irate parents and more conservative institutions. So the question is, are Filipinos ready for that?”

Editor: Mint A. Marquez · Editorial Assistant: Eugene G. Ong · Layout Artist: Nikki G. Solinap

Inquiry

03 TOP-TIER What is the Ateneo Junior Summer Seminar?

Money, money, money In addition to academics, organization work keeps the Atenean busy. But what funds this thriving life?

By Eugene G. Ong

I

t is no secret that the student organization life is a definitive part of the Ateneo experience.

Because of his or her orgs, the Atenean has more friends from more diverse backgrounds.

Memories are richer and greater in abundance. More pragmatically, the org life has become a great source of experience in last-minute marketing calls and volunteer recruitment.

Many fixtures of Atenean life owe themselves to orgs: The boisterous floors of the Manuel V. Pangilinan Center for Student Leadership, the ever-present jargon like “GD,” “short forms” and “long forms.” The org life has produced massive events like Loyola Film Circle’s Under the Stars and the Ateneo Junior Marketing Association’s Shindig— events that have, for many Ateneans, become a definitive part of their stay in the university.

This vibrant life, however, needs money to be sustained; thus the existence of the bake sale and the human auction.

For the 52 accredited organizations of the Ateneo, a part of the money—sometimes a substantial part—is derived from the Student Activities Fund (SAF), which is drawn from the Student Activities Fee paid by each student every semester.

While being guaranteed money sounds like a great thing, however, the picture is neither as simple nor as rosy as it seems.

Though orgs are generally responsible and honest in their financial dealings, the issue of financial transparency still remains.

Doing an org event in the Ateneo infamously involves navigating a maze of endless paperwork and red tape—all for safety and accountability.

Everything from reserving rooms to serving food is governed by its own bureaucratic intricacies—rules for whether

you pay for venues or not, whether you need a Food Quality Assurance Form or not.

For the budding finance officer, a labyrinth of papers and office visits await.

Budgets, subsidies and grants

Each accredited Council of Organizations of the Ateneo (COA) org is given P15,000 per semester and is free to spend as much or as little of it as it wants to, without having to return the remainder.

This P15,000 is deposited in what is called a Debit Credit Balance account. A lot of an org’s financial transactions— the receipt of ticket fees and registration fees, the expenses for plays and summits—is carried out through this account.

Another P31,500 is reserved for each org during the semester to subsidize seminars. The rest goes into other project subsidies and grants. Subsidies are given by the Office of Student Activities (OSA) and the COA. Applying for a subsidy under COA’s Project Subsidy System— which also gets its money from the SAF—requires a bit of paperwork: An itemized budget proposal and a copy of the OSAapproved project proposal. Also needed are a recommendation letter, endorsed by the org’s moderator and the OSA formator-in-charge of the respective org; an explanation for why the subsidy is needed; and the budget of the entire org for the semester. It is made clear, however, that the subsidies will most likely not cover all of a project’s expenses. The assumption is that projects can still be implemented in some form without any help.

According to Christopher Castillo, the director of the OSA, subsidies are granted from OSA on a case-to-case basis.

“We look at [how faithful the project is to an org’s purpose and how badly the org needs the money]—not in a very strict,

rubric manner per se,” he says.

The OSA may, at its discretion, completely subsidize projects.

Bot h subsidy systems supplement parceling out money through grants. Grants are given based more on how well-thought out project proposals are. They are also designed to encourage quality in project-making. Thus, unlike subsidies, financial need is not a factor in awarding grants. COA, OSA and, on occasion, the Sangguanian give org project grants.

The OSA may also provide for a certain portion of an org’s budget when it submits its budget proposal at the beginning of the school year. An org may also apply for loans.

These all apply to COA orgs.

The funding system for the members of the Confederation of Publications (COP) differs sl ig ht ly. The GU I D ON, Matanglawin and Heights are given budgets based on proposals. They draw funding mostly from the Publication Fees. However, a part of the SAF also goes into the COP. Waiting for it

The plethora of funding options available keeps many orgs’ monetary needs satisfied.

The Ateneo Consultants for Organization Development and Empowerment (CODE), for example, managed to secure P100,000 from COA to fund the leadership seminar “OD on Overdrive,” their yearly flagship project.

Nevertheless, the system does have its fair share of problems. Angelica Manza, vice president for Finance of the Ateneo Association of Communication Majors (Acomm), says that the fact that it takes two to three weeks to secure the release of money from OSA makes taking out an advance check more difficult. She explains that many orgs are only able to accurately estimate how much

they need a few days before the event itself, as sponsors usually only confirm by then.

Reimbursements arrive from OSA similarly. Amounts smaller than P2,000 are reimbursed in around two weeks; amounts larger than that are reimbursed in around three. In this case, the speed of the process depends on the receipts submitted, according to Maria Sofia Bautista, CODE’s Finance and Logistics head. In both cases, the paperwork has to be passed through the Central Accounting Office (CAO).

Even then, they understand that the wait is a natural part of the process. “I do think that OSA’s movement—two weeks—is okay. I understand the processing really takes long,” says Manza in a mix of English and Filipino.

Another issue is the disparity that exists between the financing systems for COA orgs and those for the Sanggunian. “In terms of the supply of money, [the Sanggunian] is more liquid compared to COA orgs,” claims Ana Bettina Caronongan, vice president for Finance of the Development Society of Ateneo.

This has to do in part with how the Sanggunian is funded.

“The practice over the past two years is that the [Sanggunian] gets to propose a variable budget per year,” says Castillo. This is in contrast to the fixed initial amount received by accredited orgs at the beginning of the year.

Transparency

Two years ago, the student political party Christian Union for Socialist and Democratic Advancement attempted to pass the Ateneo’s very own Freedom of Information Bill. The bill would have forced the Sanggunian to investigate and disclose how much was in the SAF. The issue t hen wa s transparency, and it is as relevant now as it was before.

At present, orgs have full legal Money, money 2 ››

P ILLUSTRATION BY ELLAN T. ESTROLOGO

2

Inquiry Money, money... ‹‹ 1

rights to financial secrecy. Multiple org s out right turned down requests to see their financial records in the course of writing this article. “[It] would be against our org’s interests to disclose our financial documents,” reads one response.

“What do they care about us?” asks Manza, referring to non-members of Acomm. She points out that it is enough that the org disclose its finances to its members—its stakeholders.

“If they want to know, they can approach us. But showing it and putting out there—there's no need for that.” Currently, Acomm discloses its finances to its project team members.

“We cannot divulge everything, because it poses security problems,” argues Castillo.

“But, at the same time, should you be so secretive about it or protective about it?”

He goes on: “If you look at a bigger context, our country, that is precisely the problem: Lack of transparency.”

Despite his support for more

P

P

transparency, however, he is unwilling to require any degree of it. Mandated transparency, he maintains, still needs “a lot of reflection and assessment.”

He further claims that it is a “cultural matter” and cannot be addressed by policy changes.

Staying alive

Despite the presence of a financial support system in the form of these subsidies and grants, orgs are still expected to be able to sustain themselves.

“Financial management and financial sustainability [are] innately part of any org, any endeavor,” insists Castillo. As such, he expects orgs to be able to raise funds not just to cover the expenses for the year but also to leave some money for the next. Even the subsidies themselves say as much.

This status quo has forced some orgs to pour copious resources into money-making projects in order to fund flagship ones or to cover expenses for other important initiatives.

The Ateneo Debate Society, for

example, hosts a number of nationwide tournaments both to fulfill its commitment to debate education and to raise money to help contingents to competitions abroad pay for expenses.

Not all orgs in need have found a niche project, though. As such, the expectation to earn weighs more heavily for some than others. “It's not our strength to raise money,” says Caronongan, who needs the funds for projects such as the Philippine Development Youth Congress.

“What else? What's your alternative [to those activities]?

Ano ‘yan? Puro bake sale na lang kami nang bake sale? (What? Are we just going to have bake sales again and again?)” she asks.

Another finance officer, who declined to be named, pointed out how the bureaucracy may be counterintuitive for orgs whose nature and current needs are very different from those of others.

A helping hand

For all of these potential issues, however, many of the officers interviewed feel satisfied

with the way things are. Much of this satisfaction comes from the support they have received from the OSA staff.

“I haven't really experienced problems and they've been more than helpful, especially with subsidies,” relates Bautista.

Despite the pressure to earn more money to support their no-charge engagements with the public sector, she feels that their purpose is still what takes precedence. “It's not like a business,” she continues. “It's really for the advocacy of the org.”

Manza, for her part, feels comfortable raising issues with the office. She tells of how Cristina Cabudsan, the CAO clerk assigned to OSA, makes it a point to know all the finance officers.

Even Caronongan is positive about her experiences with office, though she comments that the staff often look stressed all the time. “Nevertheless, they get things done.”

It may be seen that something is being done right. The challenge, then, is to make sure no org is without money in their coffers.

P 00DGET 0 , 3 B U RG P6 N A R CH O

P3 0,0 00

BA F O SIC R E BU A C D GE HO T RG

MI E A SE OR F

Breaking down the SAF WRITTEN BY Eugene G. Ong ILLUSTRATION BY Ellan T. Estrologo

P30,000 is given to all accredited orgs every year, regardless of cluster or financial status. This figure is disbursed into two P15,000 lump sum payments at the beginning of each semester. In the past, this amount was strictly limited to sustaining operational expenses.

Whatever was left at the end of the year had to be returned to the Student Activities

STUDENT ACTIVITIES FEE PER STUDENT Summer SY 2014-2015 P485.55

1st semester SY 2014-2015 P514.65

Fund. Today, these restrictions no longer apply and the money now serves as an org’s basic budget.

P63,000 is earmarked for seminars every year for each org, without exceptions. Like the basic allocation, half the amount is made available each semester.

PUBLICATION FEE PER STUDENT Summer SY 2014-2015 P0.00

1st semester SY 2014-2015 P256.05

The GUIDON July 2014

3

Top-tier

By Uriel N. Galace

O

riginally, Lorenzo Quigoue was deciding between two different options on how to spend his summer.

Throughout his junior year in high school, he had been looking forward to attending the International Math Olympiad (IMO). It had been his dream to represent the Philippines in this prestigious international mathematics competition, so participating in this event was his top priority. However, he also had a backup plan in case that didn’t pan out—to attend the Ateneo Junior Summer Seminar (AJSS).

In order to get into IMO, he would have to do well in the Philippine Math Olympiad (PMO) first. Unfortunately, he fell ill with a high fever and found himself extremely sick and weak the day before the PMO. “I was completely and utterly exhausted, running on fumes and Tylenols,” he says.

It was with a heavy heart, then, that he took the news that he had failed to qualify for the PMO nationals. “When I found out that I didn’t get in–that’s when I really began to seriously set my sights on AJSS, even though I considered it a second choice.

Since I didn’t get into the training pool [for IMO], I would have to settle for AJSS instead,” he says.

For most Ateneans, however, who have never even heard of the program, the question stands—what is the AJSS? Although AJSS is no secret, the Office of Admissions and Aid (OAA) does not blatantly advertise it. Consequently, AJSS ends up being relatively obscure in the Loyola Schools (LS), to the extent that it is known only by its invitees and their peers.

The elite

“[AJSS] is a one of a kind program in the country facilitated by the [OAA] of the Loyola Schools,” says Kamille Tabalan, the staff member of the OAA who handles this program.

According to Tabalan, AJSS, which has been operating for 47 years now, brings together select high school students from various private, public and parochial high schools from all over the country. These students are given the chance to attend classes in the LS free-of-charge during the summer before their last year in high school.

AJSS is an exclusive and highly selective event because only a handful of students are even invited to the program, much less admitted. The Ateneo asks the principals of various high schools across the country to recommend their top five incoming seniors to participate.

The application process for AJSS is similar to the one most undergraduates are familiar with. Each student who decides to apply gets an envelope with an Ateneo application form, an AJSS brochure, and other pertinent forms and papers.

These elite students then write an essay and take the Ateneo College Entrance Test (ACET) as incoming high school seniors some time in January, along with the transferees, student-athletes and other late exam takers.

“Approximately 70 students are chosen based on their performance in the [ACET], high school grades, recommendation forms and co-curricular and extra-curricular activities,” Tabalan says.

Admissions decisions come out in late February. Some students are offered a place in the waitlist, while many other applicants do not make the cut, despite being top-tier students in their respective high schools.

The fact that AJSS regularly turns down future valedictorians and salutatorians—applicants who would almost certainly get accepted into the Ateneo during the regular admissions process—is a testament to how selective this program is.

Successful AJSS applicants also gain the option of taking the ACET a second time during the regular admissions process.

“If you were accepted into AJSS, you don’t have to take the entrance test for seniors anymore.

Though a lot of us aiming for higher scores still chose to, so we’d have more opportunities to get scholarships,” says Miko Alazas, a political science junior and alumnus of AJSS Batch 44.

This course of action poses a risk, however, as AJSS applicants who opt to take the ACET a second time essentially waive their first score, so the second score takes precedence. Failing the ACET the second time they take it, then, means that they cannot enroll in the LS. It must be stressed that academic performance is not the sole criterion for gaining admission.

“If you’re given the opportunity to apply for AJSS, you probably have high grades. But you need to find something that will make you stand out, something uniquely your own,” Alazas says.

What this “something” is, according to Nenette Zabala, the assistant to the Director of the OAA, consist in having a “leadership role in extra and cocurricular activities in the school, parish and community” and possessing “a genuine desire to [affect] social change and render service to God, man and country.”

Special activities

According to Alazas, the summer seminar is largely analogous to the experience of most freshmen in the LS, albeit

CREAM OF THE CROP. The best incoming fourth year high school students spend a summer in the Loyola Schools, learning the Ateneo way.

PHOTO BY ALEXANDRA L. HUANG

Philosophy classes—subjects usually taken by undergraduates in higher school years.

These classes a re held simultaneously with the LS’ reg ular summer semester, though AJSS students take cla s ses sepa rately f rom undergraduates. According to Tabalan, AJSS is designed so that the “esteemed Loyola Schools faculty” handle these classes. This at tribute of AJSS, in particular, was made evident to Alazas, who lauded the opportunity to interact with some of the school's

But you need to find something that will make you stand out, something uniquely your own.

— MIKO ALAZAS, III - AB/MA Political Science

compressed into six weeks.

“Officially, we spent most of our time in the classroom, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. In our classes, we pretty much did what freshmen in Ateneo do,” he says.

“Pretty much [doing] what freshmen in Ateneo do,” in this case, largely consists of taking modified mathematics, English, physical education (PE), and both lecture and laboratory components of natural science classes. “We had to make a play for our English class… [had] PE sessions at the Covered Courts, lunches at Gonzaga and [the Junior Student Enterprise Center], [made] ice cream for Chemistry class,” Alazas says.

However, unlike most first year students, many AJSS participants also get to take Psychology and

most respected academics.

“The professors who taught us were mostly senior professors, so it was a great learning experience,” he says.

Still, taking these classes during AJSS does not prevent its participants from having to take them again once they reach college, if they opt to enroll in the Ateneo. As a result, these students get to take the same classes twice, giving them an advantage over most freshmen, who will only be taking these classes for the first time.

Besides this, AJSS students also take part in a number of other activities that go beyond what many freshmen experience. “There’s so much more to be said about AJSS than the academic side of it,” Alazas says.

These activities include, among others, a sports fest (which features many of the school’s celebrity athletes, such as Kiefer Ravena and Alyssa Valdez), a night of stargazing in the Manila Observatory for Physics class, a series of camps hosted by different school departments and various group dynamics activities.

However, the most highly anticipated event is AJSS Night, which happens towards the end of the summer program. This is akin to a high school prom, albeit with other AJSS students.

What makes AJSS Night particularly memorable is a tradition that Ateneo alumni are very familiar with—the giving of the Blue Rose.

The event was particularly memorable for Quiogue, who ended up doing something he previously would have thought himself incapable of. “AJSS changed me in so many ways, and that’s why I found myself in front of the microphone, making a speech on why I would give the rose to that particular person.”

At the end of six weeks, AJSS students graduate from the program, wherein a class valedictorian and salutatorian are selected, and academic distinction awards are given to the top performers in particular subjects.

A more subdued reason

For all the resources the school expends to give 70 or so incoming high school seniors free classes in the Ateneo (complete with dorms for students from the provinces)— in addition to funding a number of extravagant events—it is worth wondering why the college hosts this costly summer seminar in the first place.

“The AJSS aims to introduce the talented and vibrant students to college campus life, particularly college-level courses, professors, facilities and activities. It is a special opportunity for them to have a glimpse of the Ateneo Way,” says Tabalan.

Besides this, she also cites how AJSS allows the Ateneo’s faculty to get to know the top high school students in the Philippines. “The interaction with these young students is a good chance to know things that they like as well as their needs,” she says.

It is widely believed among AJSS participants, however, that there is a more subdued reason as to why the university chooses to hold AJSS. Ultimately, it wants to persuade the best of the best high school students in the country to attend the Ateneo when they graduate.

“They really went out of their way to catch us—in fact, our Ateneo application forms were free and delivered to our high schools,” Quiogue says. Alazas echoes a similar sentiment: “The teachers didn’t really [make things difficult for us], ‘cause they also wanted us to end up studying there.”

By doing this, the school can recruit the top students in the country to attend the Ateneo, thereby preserving the university’s academic reputation. Moreover, having elite students for classmates will serve to augment classroom discussions and motivate the rest of the student body to push its academic boundaries.

Quiogue, who eventually graduated valedictorian of Ateneo de Manila High School Class of 2013, had initially committed to attend the LS for college, largely because of AJSS. However, he ultimately chose to attend Princeton University in the United States, as he found the lure of an Ivy League education

to be too tantalizing to pass up.

Alazas, on the other hand, who was ranked second in his graduating class in PAREF Springdale School in Cebu, chose to attend the Ateneo over other elite colleges like the University of the Philippines (UP), in part because of his experiences in AJSS. “When I was deciding between UP and Ateneo, there were definitely key factors that AJSS brought into the picture,” he says. “By the end of AJSS, you’re already kind of brainwashed into the whole magis, Blue Eagle culture, so most people who actually wanted to go to UP were really torn. Lastly, I also think the program does a great job in making you feel special, as if Ateneo really wants you.

I think those are how AJSS unconsciously affected my decision.”

When reminiscing about the end of his AJSS experience, Quiogue is so moved by the memories that he ends up waxing poetic. He recalls singing with his AJSS batch during their graduation–it was a heartfelt and emotional moment. “I finally left the hall, disappointed that my experience was finally over, yet extremely thankful that I got the chance to do it,” he says.

In the end, AJSS did not end up being a bad “second choice” after all. Somewhere in Princeton, there is a student who is glad he spent his summer in the Ateneo.

For Alazas and the many other AJSS graduates who had opted to stay in the LS, the Ateneo experience had just begun.

ERRATUM •

In the June 2014 issue of The GUIDON, Inquiry’s banner article “Indexing the quality point” said that the graph accompanying the article is “skewed to the right.” It is actually skewed to the left. The GUIDON apologizes for this inaccurate analysis.

4

Inquiry

The GUIDON July 2014

Crunching the numbers

Numbers of the core RESEARCH BY Nicolo A. Fortuna and Mivan V. Ong ILLUSTRATIONS BY Ellan T. Estrologo

By Nicolo A. Fortuna and Mivan V. Ong

U

pon entering the university as freshmen, students are required to take up subjects similar to those they had taken up in high school: English and literature, Filipino, science and mathematics.

Of these, no subject comes close to inducing headaches and consternation in students like math can. Though some students may have entered their degree programs expecting to get away from the terror of numbers, all students, to their disdain, are required to take up a minimum of six units of math.

For most School of Humanities (SOH) and School of Social Sciences (SOSS) majors this generally means taking up Modern Mathematics I and II (Ma 11 and Ma 12). For School of Science and Engineering, and John Gokongwei School of Management (JGSOM) majors who do need math more, the math subjects taken get more complicated.

Being a part of the core curriculum, math never fails to make an impact on a student’s stay in the university—no matter what his or her degree program is.

Management engineering junior Bryan Ang, for instance, recalls the first time he felt intimidated by math. According to him, it started in high school when he was chosen to be part of an advanced math class.

However, he notes that his appreciation for the subject grew over time. “I guess fear is still there, but it’s only a matter of translating that fear into love.”

For others, like applied mathematics in finance sophomore Jayvee Angala, math is a source of beauty. He gives the example of being able to graph heart shapes and infinity symbols using polar coordinates. He still does find the subject difficult and he does not necessarily like working with math.

On the other hand, Natalie Ann Unson, a European studies sophomore, says that she can handle other subjects such as history,

In the “real world”

Cataloging relevance

Asked about what math actually offers to students, Flordeliza Francisco, who has a doctorate in mathematics and is an assistant professor in the Mathematics Department, says that the math classes in the core curriculum actually have two main purposes. To prepare students for the mathematical demands of their respective degree programs and careers is only the first.

The second purpose is to develop and help a student reach a certain level of mathematical literacy. According to Francisco, mathematical literacy is “partly number sense and partly some kind of logical reasoning.”

Number sense, she says, is being able to comprehend different number sizes and values, and doing basic mathematical operations.

Students study functions, for example, to understand how different quantities affect each other. “If this amount is doubled, what happens to this one?” she demonstrates. “If my income increases this much, what will be the effect on my tax?”

Francisco also relates math to logical reasoning through the ability math gives to validate different assertions and arguments. “[Math is] a skills course. It’s not something that you read and you get it. It is something that you practice by doing other tasks, then [the skill] develops,” she says. “‘P200 a day [spent] commuting? Buy that person a car!’” she says in a mix of English and Filipino, recalling a billboard she saw along the street once.

She then went on to explain that evaluating that statement would entail comparing the monthly cost of a car loan, and all associated ownership expenses such as gas and parking, to the monthly cost of a commute.

Taking a deeper look at the applications of math in the “real world,” Queena Lee-Chua, who has a doctorate in clinical psychology and is a full-time professor of the Mathematics Department, wrote about math’s roles in different fields in her books Eureka!: Thoughts on

Since both the field of math and each course are so diverse, a certain level of nuance is needed in talking about relevance. The university strives to ensure relevant math programs for each degree program as much as it is able to. To do this, it adjusts variables such as the focus, the examples and the rigor of each class.

For example, Francisco notes that most of the disciplines in SOH and SOSS are not heavily

And [the Economics Department] specifically said, 'Just teach calculus, we’ll do the applications.'

— FLORDELIZA FRANCISCO Assistant professor, Mathematics Department

literature and biology without any problems. However, when it comes to learning math, she ends up having a much more difficult time. She says, “It’s just a subject that doesn’t come naturally to me.” Others may find that her experience is similar to their own.

Many frustrated students wonder when they would ever need math in real life. Unson thought that she could escape math because it had nothing to do with her major. Math, however, is a core subject that the school deems necessary for and relevant to all students– similar to how the school treats philosophy and theology.

The question is: Why?

Math (1995) and Why Be Afraid of Math? And Other Intellectual Adventures (1991). In the former, she discusses the application of math in cracking codes and securing information through different frequency counts. In the latter, she focuses on how math can aid different branches of science.

According to Lee-Chua, math can help the social sciences conduct their studies through various statistical techniques and programming tools. Some math concepts also help some sciences in developing the framework of their own theories. For example, combinatorics helped develop the hereditary theory.

Mathematics I and Principles of Modern Mathematics II (Ma 18a and Ma 18b) series of subjects. These classes are worth six units in total, as opposed to the three units of Ma 11.

Preparatory Course to Algebra I and II (Ma 1.1 and Ma 1.2) • For: Students on their bridge year and those who score low on the Ateneo College Entrance Test’s (ACET) mathematics component.

• Description: This series covers pre-algebra topics deemed necessary for a student to effectively learn college level algebra.

• Units: 0

Adjusting the pace

While most students take Ma 11 as their first math class, others take up Introduction to College Algebra I (Ma 1) beforehand. In some special cases, Preparatory Course to College Algebra I and

%

MA 1.1

According to [Mathematics Department Assistant Professor Flordeliza] Francisco, mathematical literacy is ‘partly number sense and partly some kind of logical reasoning.’

dependent on math, so the focus of their math classes leans towards the general mathematical literacy mentioned above.

While Ma 11 is there to teach collegiate level algebra, Ma 12 is there to develop practical skills, so it includes topics such as statistics and probability in its syllabus. In order to be more relevant to other programs, the last two chapters in Ma 12 are changed depending on the program the students belong in, according to Francisco.

Both Francisco and Lee-Chua also share that students from political science are given lessons on logic. Similarly, those in information design are given geometry to help with their own discipline.

Math classes that concentrate on calculus are even more tailored to the degree programs of those taking them, to the point that they are listed as separate classes. Most JGSOM students take Applied Calculus for Business (Ma 19), which focuses on calculus and topics such as calculating marginal costs and optimizing profit.

Much like Ma 19, courses such as Calculus for Economists (Ma 20) and Applied Calculus for Life Sciences (Ma 20.3a) are given to economics and life sciences majors, respectively. “[Calculus is] specifically requested by the Economics Department,” Francisco shares.

“They tell us, ‘This is the kind of calculus our students need.’

And they specifically said, ‘Just teach calculus, we’ll do the applications.’”

The department does make sure to vary the examples and word problems it uses across different classes for the same concepts with a mind towards eventual application. Where a management student might get examples dealing with breakeven points in a business, a life sciences student might get examples dealing with blood pressure in a patient instead.

Another variable at play is rigor and depth. For certain courses where higher math will eventually be faced, even the pre-calculus classes are made more rigorous and difficult to better ready the students.

In these cases, students no longer take Ma 11 but instead take the Principles of Modern

II (Ma 1.1 and Ma 1.2) are taken before Ma 1 when a student’s pre-algebra education needs reinforcing as well.

To further assess the math skills of those in Ma 1, students have the opportunity to advance to Ma 11 by taking a diagnostic test. However, the converse of this is that those in Ma 11 also take a diagnostic test to see if they can continue on the regular track or if they have to take Ma 1 first.

Talking about these preparatory courses, Francisco mentions that some students who are required to take Ma 18a and Ma 18b in the same semester are placed on the basic track.

She says, “You’re supposed to take [Ma 18a and Ma 18b in the same semester], but after the first month, some students— not because they’re weak, but [because their] background in high school has not sufficiently prepared [them] for Ma 18— [have to take] a slower track.”

Taking the “slower track” means taking Ma 18 separately: Ma 18a in one semester and Ma 18b in the next. However, some degree programs officially require their students to take Ma 18 separately.

The goal of the basic track and preparatory courses is to fill gaps in mathematical proficiency for students. They ensure that the students can put up with what their degree programs—and their careers— will later demand of them.

These adjustments in pace and relevance for the math classes prove to be useful to students.

“Five years from now, I’m probably going to forget everything I learned in Ma 11 and Ma 12, but I probably won’t forget how to analyze or think critically—skills that math is supposed to help you develop,” says Unson.

Despite not being everyone’s favorite subject, math continues to play a very important and irreplaceable role in the university’s core curriculum. According to Francisco, math develops a student’s analytical, practical and critical skills to help them function in the real world.

Lee-Chua says that math makes students think. More than just honing analytical skills, perhaps the value of math is how it instills in students the discipline of thought.

>= MA 1.2

Introduction to College Algebra (Ma 1)

• For: Students who score low on the ACET, those who do not fare well on the Ma 11 diagnostic test and those who complete Ma 1.2.

• Description: Ma 1 is designed to further develop students’ skills in algebra in preparation for Ma 11.

• Units: 0 Modern Mathematics I (Ma 11)

MA 1

x MA 11

P(A B) MA 12

MA 19

MA 20

MA 20.2

MA 20.3

MA 18A

• For: All non-School of Science and Engineering (SOSE) majors and management of information systems (MIS) majors (except management engineering (ME), economics-honors (Eco-H) and information technology entrepreneurship (ITE) majors).

• Description: The coverage of Ma 11 includes collegiate-level algebra and linear and quadratic functions. Ma 11 serves as a pre-calculus course.

• Units: 3 Modern Mathematics II (Ma 12) • For: All School of Humanities and School of Social Sciences students (except economics majors).

• Description: The course teaches the practical applications of mathematics through basic finance, statistics and probability. The last topics covered change based on the degree programs of the class being taught to be better suited to them.

• Units: 3 Applied Calculus for Business (Ma 19) Calculus for Economists (Ma 20) Applied Calculus for Computer Sciences (Ma 20.2) Calculus for Life Sciences (Ma 20.3a)

• For: School of Management majors except ME, and ITE majors; economics majors; MIS, ITE and computer science (CS) majors; and life sciences (LfSc), health sciences (HSc), biology and environmental science (ES) majors, respectively.

• Description: This Ma 20 group of courses tackles calculus as preparation for the subjects its students are expected to face. While dealing with similar subjects, the focus of the course draws heavily from the particular degree programs of the students.

• Units: 6 for Ma 19, Ma 20 and Ma 20.2, 3 for Ma 20.3a Principles of Modern Mathematics I and II (Ma 18a and Ma 18b)

P r

O

0

MA 18B

MA 21

MA 22

• For: All SOSE majors (except MIS majors), Eco-H, ITE and ME majors; LfSc, HSc, ES and biology majors take only Ma 18a.

• Description: The Ma 18 series of subjects presents a more rigorous take on precalculus algebra topics for students who are expected to need a stronger base in mathematics for their degree programs. The classes tackle a higher level of mathematics and cover topics not taken in Ma 11, such as trigonometric functions.

• Units: 3 each Mathematical Analysis I and II (Ma 21 and Ma 22) • For: Students who take Ma 18a and Ma 18b (except CS majors).

• Description: The Mathematical Analysis series of courses, which includes the noncore Mathematical Analysis III (Ma 101) course, provides an intensive program of calculus similar to what Math 18a and 18b provide for algebra. Ma 21 and Ma 22 also take up application, but they emphasize the deriving of theorems.

• Units: 6 for Ma 21, 3 for Ma 22