The LASER Broadsheet 2019-2020 Edition(January-July 2020)

LASER The

TRUTH STRIKES IN A LIGHTSPEED

THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY JPLPC-MALVAR

January-July 2020

Local News

Taal Volcano erupts after decades in Rest Batangueno’s 2020 start with fear By: Mark Joseph Francisco After 43 years, Taal Volcano erupted again on Jan.12 causing more than 16,000 Batangueno’s families suffer, over 70, 000 individuals sheltered in 300 evacuation centers.

Taal Volcano released ashes, created incessant earthquakes with rumbling sounds this Sunday afternoon leading people living in the island to be alarmed.

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHILVOCS) raised its alert status to Level 2 in a few minutes after the unexpected spew of ashes and alert Level 3 by 4pm to due to magmatic unrest.

In response to the calamity, residents within the Taal Volcano Island immediately evacuate from their houses.

Seismic activity was recorded at the volcano since 2019, but the sudden steam was unexpected.

The ashes reached 10-15 kilometers mixed with rock fragments column creating ashfall to

CALABARZON and nearby cities and provinces.

PHILVOCS lifted the alert status to Level 4 at 7:30 pm stating that in any moment hazardous eruption might happen and lightning were also seen at the crater of the Volcano Island.

Residents of Talisay and Laurel struggled to evacuate during the eruption due to lack of vehicles as roads were covered with thick mud.

Lava fountain were seen around 2:49 am to 4:28 am and 5-4 magnitude of volcanic earthquakes were reported.

PHILVOCS announced that the people should be prepared for the eminent dangerous eruption that could generate base surge and tsunami as alert level stays in Level 4.

During the eruption, accidents were recorded zero visibility in Talisay and Tagaytay while in the next morning thick mud and ashes was observed in Talisay and Laurel.

Local Government Unit (LGU) ordered some folks trapped during the night of eruption to immediately evacuate as soon as possible.

Lockdown were implemented in Talisay Batangas and other provinces as continuous magma activity was still observe and frequent volcanic earthquakes still indicates that harmful eruption is still possible.

The unremitting activity of the Volcano created caution of the danger it may possibly make that lead to authorities in putting the municipalities of Agoncillo, San Nicolas, Talisay, Laurel and Taal to total lockdown.

PHILVOLCS announced that what happen in the 1977 eruption may well take place as the volcano still emits plumes in its crater.

With the fear of what happened on the previous eruption that kills 1,100 lives and wiped-out the seven Barangays in the Volcano Island, people still choose to go back in their hometown if the time of alert level will go down.

Campus News

Hundreds of Families Stay at BatStateU Malvar due to Taal Eruption By: Monilyn Araja 153 families were catered at Batangas State University JPLPC-Malvar, Poblacion Malvar Batangas due to the Taal Eruption happened on January 12, serves as their evacuation center lasts for 13 days.

The total numbers of evacuees were 757 individuals including 33 4Ps families, residents from Balete, Bilukaw, Bulihan, Magape, San Gregorio and San Isidro, according to the latest statistics.

“Takot na takot kami na baka ang bahay namin ay bumagsak dahil sa sunod sunod na paglindol habang may nagbubunga pa ng maiitim na usok” Marites Belen, resident from Bulihan said in an interview while staying at the evacuation center.

(We are very afraid to lose our house due to the continuous earthquake while seeing the explosion of the smoke.)

Meanwhile, Mrs. Glenda Dimaano, Camp Manager stated that Dr. Tirso A. Ronquillo, University President suggested to open the university as evacuation center so further Incident Command System (ICS) and other concerned people conducted a meeting to take an action.

Connect to us: https://www.facebook.com/OKA.The.LASER publications.malvar@g.batstate-u.edu.ph

The following are the officers and members of ICS assigned to supervise activity: Dr. Expedito V. Acorda, Incident Commander; Dr. Amado C. Gequinto, Deputy Incident Commander; Prof. Conrado DM. Reyes, Public Information Officer; Mr. Rommel Gabat, Liaison Officer; Engr. Joel Cornejo, Safety Officer; Mr. Dennis Eguia, Operation Section; Mr. Daniel Allan Pasia, Search and Rescue; Mr. Kenneth Magpantay, Evacuation; Mr. Tee Jay B. Panganiban, Transportation; Mr. Fidel Jhoe B. Paguigan, Security; Dr.George P. Compasivo, Damage Control; Mr. Glenn A. Caraig, Planning Section; Dr. Romel M. Aceron, Documentation; Mr. Roldan Aguila, Resource Unit; Mr. Wilbert Lumbera, Logistics Section; Mrs. Carla Alvar,

Medical; Asst. Prof Glenda M. Dimaano, Communication; Asst. Prof Teddy Panganiban, Fire Safety and Ms. Madel D. Dela Cruz, Finance Section.

According to Mrs. Dimaano, different classrooms in Elementary Building, old College of Industrial Technology (CIT) Building, Science Building and College of Teacher Education (CTE) Building were opened and used for the victim of the said eruption.

Mrs. Dimaano gladly said that the given relief goods were not just enough to the affected people but instead they are receiving overflowing blessings from the donators and some other goods will be given to those person who are much in need.

During the stay of the evacuees in the university, ABSCBN Sagip Kapamilya led a stress briefing for evacuees aiming to lessen fear and sadness due to the tragedy happened to them.

Faculties and other volunteers in the center comforted the evacuees through providing programs having Bakwit Got Talent, live band and storytelling.

They also manage to communicate with the parent to help them release their feelings and thought about the calamity.

Meanwhile, Camp manager believes that this natural calamity is a wakeup call for everyone in order to be aware with the happenings to our environment Mrs. Dimaano together with Mr. Kenneth Magpantay, Assistant Camp Manager, ICS and other faculties, students and volunteers take charge to support and distribute the supplies for the needs of the evacuees.

January-July 2020 | Truth Strikes in a Lightspeed

LASER The

2 NEWS Local News

The Official Student Publication of Batangas State University JPLPCMalvar

Covid-19 Pandemic

Todays’ New Hero faces hate instead of praise By: Edrian Platon Aiming to protect Filipino people and lessen the case of Covid-19 in the Philippines frontliners sacrificed themselves to face the unseen enemy but still receiving discrimination, March 30.

Nurse from St. Louie in Taklong Sultan Kudarat experienced harm as his eyes being affected due to the bleach poured to him of some men.

According to the nurse, the incident happened on his way home and those suspect are thinking that he has a virus and afraid to get infected.

Medical technologists from Cagayan De Oro City stated that she is experiencing difficulty going to work and returning from work.

Whenever she is riding a public transportation, she got denied since them knowing that the hospital that she is working has a positive case of Covid’19.

Department of Health greatly condemn the wrong doings of people such as threat, harm and discrimination to frontliners who are only prioritizing the health safety of Filipino people.

“Atin pong bigyan ng tamang pagpapahalaga at respeto ang ating health care workers na taos pusong naglilingkod at nagsasakripisyo para proteksyonan ang buhay ng mamamayang Pilipino” DOH USEC. Maria Rosario Vergeire stated.

workers who are wholeheartedly serving and sacrificing to protect the lives of Filipino people.)

DOH rest assured that volunteer health care workers may receive benefits such as package allocated to covid referral hospitals, Covid-19 special risk allowance, hazard pay, transportation allowance, medical expenses to be shouldered by philhealth (P100,000 compensation in case of critical illness, and 1M to be received by family in case of death).

Positive cases of Covid’19 are expected to rise due to improved testing capacity of Research Institute or Tropical Medicine and sub national laboratories.

(Let us give right concern and respect to our health care

COVID-19 situation in the Philippines

International News

Australia bushfires raze peoples’ lives, threaten extinction of animals By: Monilyn Araja SYDNEY – Wildfire in South Eastern Australia killed 29 people and make threats to Australian animals, January 22, flaring started last year.

During the incident, 2,000 houses were torched, hundreds of property losses while thousands of homeless people were evacuated.

Meanwhile, massive fire brought an extinction threat to mountain lizards, leaf-tailed geckos and pear shaped frogs while livestock and domestic pets are also affected.

Environmental groups said the flares could drive many species to extinction because of the huge habitat being destroyed.

University Researchers tell 1Billion mammals, birds and reptiles were killed during the forest fire in Australia.

Due to Australia bushfires, 11.2 million hectares (27.7 million acres) were blazed, equivalent to the half size of the United Kingdom.

According to officials, the said fire have destroyed more than 80% of the unique ecosystems of at least 49 animal and plant species already listed as ‘threatened’.

Meanwhile, on January 11, Saturday, fire-fighters felt relieved as temperature dropped and rain fell.

“Whilst it was a very long and – in parts of New South Wales- difficult night, we’re relieved this morning that no lives have been lost and no substantial property damage,” New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian uttered.

In contrary, the head of a fire fighting “strike team” in the village of Towamba, Nathan Barnden told AFP the rainfall was “fantastic” but “not enough at this stage to put these fires out”.

Local resident Mark Bucke said many people in the area had been struggling to cope through the crisis.

“It would’ve been like when there was a war or something, you couldn’t get what you usually get- just the basics- that was the worst part, he stated.”

In connection to this, on the next day, Friday, heavy rain hits the bushfire for second straight days but the blazes occurred still out of control.

The rain missed Kangaroo Island, the nation’s third biggest of the southern coast of the mainland that is famed for its pristine wilderness.

The government named the rage an ecological disaster, and up to a billion animals are estimated to have died or be at danger after the damage of food supply and refuge.

Connect to us:

Image by: Ninian Reid | Postdam Institute for climate inpact research

https://www.facebook.com/OKA.The.LASER

publications.malvar@g.batstate-u.edu.ph

LASER

January-July 2020 | Truth Strikes in a Lightspeed

The

NEWS 3

The Official Student Publication of Batangas State University JPLPCMalvar

International News

H5N1 terrifies Human as Covid ’19 emerge By: Jay Caguicla During the outbreak of 2019 Corona Virus Disease, H5N1 was recorded in different poultry in China last February 1.

Avid the Corona Virus 2019, China reported the outbreak of the deadly bird flu in Hunan province near to Wuhan where Corona Virus appears.

H5N1 was a type of avian influenza or a bird flu that can infect not just birds but animals and Human if has a closer contact with the carrier.

According to China’s Ministry of Agriculture, the farm has a total of 7, 850 chickens but 4,500 died.

However, there are no recorded human cases of the H5N1 said by the ministry of Agriculture and stated that it was rare for humans to be infected by the said virus.

It was reported that all of the cases associated with H5N1 infecting people were caused by a direct contact with bird dead or alive.

The transmissions to human to human were not yet proven and there is no proof that cooked or raw food made by the infected birds can spread the disease.

Scientist was concerned that some of the factory farming and wildlife markets could transfer the H5N1 bird flu virus to human more easily.

International News

Floyd’s Death awakes Black discrimination and Police Brutality By: Jay Caguicla

Protest has been everywhere subsequent to the death of an African-American that was killed by a police officer in Minneapolis last May 25.

They said ‘Bird Flu are 90 times deadlier than COVID-19 as per said by the Zoologist in their report after the issue in china about the current existing virus.

According to Dr. Butler "The majority of both Zoonoses and antibiotic-resistant diseases are the result of human activity, with factory farming and wild animal markets lying at the heart of the problem. The solution could not be easier – go vegan now!"

COVID-19 slowly taking China and the world are the evidence that Zoonotic diseases may affect two-and-a-half billion of people around the world and could cause million of deaths.

It was recorded that the horrific abuse of animals are growing and that new transmitted disease could affect the whole population as it started to develop.

George Perry Floyd was killed by a white police officer who arrested him for the allegedly counterfeiting a store clerk in Minneapolis.

His death create notion as the Police Officer named Derek Chauvin kneeled down on his neck while he was being take down on the floor.

Meanwhile, according to a report the said knelt on his neck took 8 minutes and 46 seconds that leads to Floyd’s death as it was seen to a recorded footage.

Body cam recording from the police report shows how Floyd begs 20 times uttering he could not breathe as he was being pin down by the said officer.

The said footage went viral and made revolution through social media and protest has seen everywhere in America.

It was not the first time that discrimination against Black happened as they were also previous and similar cases accounted that filled the agony of the people.

Black Live movements provokes racial discrimination around the world The death of Floyd plunders the attention across continents as justice did not serve against discrimination in history and open the issue this May. People demands justice for George Floyd and all the countless Black individuals who have put up with inequity for a long time under the said ‘unworried America’.

Speaking up against Police brutality, the missing Human rights and equality became a trend as news and footage of the said Police brutality against the African-American Floyd leaked around the world.

This issue alarms the Black community as Black and Indigenous people among human race were often the victims of fatal police shootings and injustice according to the recorded previous cases.

Accounting Floyd’s case in the hand of the white American Police Officer made the propaganda of Black Live movements wherein people protest in streets and flooded all social media with Black Lives Matter demanding for rightful act and equality.

Meanwhile, this also opens the issue of racism among Asians as Pandemic occurs due to the Pandemic cause by the Novel Corona Virus Disease of 2019 that originated from Wuhan China.

OFW face discrimination for being Asian amidst Covid ‘19 Filipino employee working in Calgary defended themselves for being accused of bringing Covid ‘19 in the city.

Cargill’s High River Meat processing plant located in Calgary Canada was composed mostly of Filipino workers and it happens that the biggest outbreak in Canada was here.

The said outbreak in Meat Processing plant putted them on spotlight and increased race discrimination in their work and home environment.

According to Marichu Antonio, one of the residents and Executive Director of the organization named Action Dignity, some of them are being asked if they were an employee of Cargill for no reason and most of the time they were turned down to shop at a grocery store even though they were not positive to the virus.

Meanwhile, Citizens like them will eventually go back home without carrying any groceries for they were forbidden to enter those shops.

Regards to this are some cases that Filipinos won’t be allowed to be in banks for people fear that they might be a carrier of the virus, Antonio added to her statement.

“No one can be blamed because this virus is not made by us," one of the Filipino workers said who contracted the virus as he defends their community who was greatly affected by the racism and discrimination.

These were just some of the cases that the Filipino communities abroad were facing as they were labeled Asians and the source of the said virus.

Ms. Antonio, organization head raised funds to help the Filipino employees of the said meat plant and their families through providing them groceries and financial assistance.

"We have the stories of these workers, but we don't have the support, so we've been calling friends and asking them to please donate to Action Dignity and put that it's for Cargill workers,” she added.

Connect to us:

International News

Iran and US release fear of imminent war By: Mark Joseph Francisco Tensions between United States and Iran arised after an airstrike ordered by the US President Donald Trump killed an Iranian General, January 3.

The Death of the General QasemSoleimaniwaked Iranian citizen to go against United States after the strike of their military aircraft.

General Soleimani is the second most powerful and influential person in Iran just after the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameneiand also the person behind the pro-Iranian Military groups.

With these, Iran nationals acted in response by attacking two US citizens based in Iran and led to another conflicts as they strike back with a series of missile attacks on the facilities of the United States in Iraq.

The two countries had no formal diplomatic relations since 1980 due to the acts of Iran as it depends on Russia while U.S to Pakistan but then the relationship came back at the mid-tolate 90’Th century.

After agreement in their relationship, the tensions for the following years remained and unfold after Donald Trump became the President in 2017.

During May 2018, Trump decided to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal, this was consider as an one of the important agreement made between Iran and other powerful countries like UK, China, Russia and Germany.

Trump believed that it’s illegal and it restricts Iran on continuing their nuclear program.

And just after US pulled-out in their deal with Iran some of the strict system were place back in Iran and create major effects on their oil exports.

But the aftermath of this to Iran is no joke as the cost of their living became expensive especially to ordinary people as some of the major countries benefiting in their program lifted restrictions for Iran and made the country struggle.

In the subsequent month a US military surveillance drone was attack

by Iranian forces who believe that it was https://www.facebook.com/OKA.The.LASER

in their territory airspace.

President Donald Trump tweeted that "Iran made a very big mistake!"And that he was only 10 minutes from responding to do an airstrike and withdraw after being told that there will be 150 Iranians that might be killed.

Trump stated that Iran perhaps under attack the US embassy in Baghdad and was planning to hit four US embassies after the US drone strike.

"We will tell you probably it was going to be the embassy in Baghdad," Trump’s message in an interview.

"I can reveal that I believe it would have been four embassies." He added.

Regards to this, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy exclaimed back to Trump's statement about the four US embassies, "Let's be clear - if there was evidence of imminent attacks on four embassies, the Administration would have said so at our Wednesday briefing. They didn't,” he wrote on Twitter.

US articulated that their delegation to Iraq won't be affected and wouldn’t mean to discuss any troop withdrawal.

“Any delegation the US would send to Iraq would not discuss the withdrawal of US troops from the country” the US State Department said as their delegation there was a proper action.

Meanwhile, Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir defends US attack and this express disapproval to Iran.

"We take issue with the violation of Iraq's sovereignty by Iran," as he stated in an interview.

He also deemed that US has its rights to defend itself but also ask for a calm response in the county.

"We believe that there should be a way to avoid escalation because we believe escalation would be damaging to all parties and not just one or the other," followed the statement in his interview.

Al-Jubeiralso mentioned the Iranian nuclear deal saying that this should take consideration as it was defective and should do a process of emendation.

In the meantime, the crisis between the US and Iran is more far from over. publications.malvar@g.batstate-u.edu.ph

January-July 2020 | Truth Strikes in a Lightspeed

LASER The

4 EDITORIAL

The Official Student Publication of Batangas State University JPLPCMalvar

Mass Promotion The LASER finds it irrational to conduct mass promotion in universities.

Due to the irregularities brought about by the CoVid-19 pandemic, the usual system in education is affected. Consequently, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) proposed the implementation of mass promotion to all universities.

“The decisions on completion of requirements and issuance of degrees are academic matters that are within the powers of individual universities, exercised through their board of trustees or board of regents,” CHED chairman J. Prospero De Vera III said on Tuesday, April 14. “These are academic matters that we leave to the universities.”

However, not all universities approve of this suggestion to let students automatically pass since it just lets the students be unable to practice their skills and competencies and grab the chance to learn in their respective courses. Students happened to comply with requirements rather than learn. Some even pass without effort on the activities.

We understand that the CHED’s decision aims to help and consider the students’ situation amid CoVid-19; however, making students pass by plainly complying with paperworks without experience is a direct contradiction of acquiring reliable knowledge.

We suggest not implementing this mass promotion to the university for the students to strive hard to learn despite the pandemic.

Which is more important: paperworks or experience?

“

Taal eruption victims are worried about their sources of income however they cannot easily do what they want because of the order given to them.

Whatever it takes! monilisa

Monilyn Araja | monilynaraja@gmail.com

Total Lock Down! That’s an order!

That’s an order!

Will you still do what you believe is right if ‘’that’s an order” phrase hinders you from doing so?

First priority of everyone is to seek help aiming for the safety of people particularly when it comes to calamity. Yet, government is the first alliance that we may think having concern on how they will response to the victims of a disastrous incident. The governments’ main concern is to guarantee the security of the people in the country. Moreover, the sources of revenue of the people that sustain their needs and make a living are included. It is indeed necessary to think about the life of the people.

Due to Taal eruption, a lot of lives are needed to be saved and eventually numerous needs should be provided as well as the support that sustain the livelihood of the victims. Meanwhile, Taal eruption victims happened to experience immediately and fearfully riding on different transportation vehicle such as ambulance, big trucks, and many more just to escape from the traumatic eruption causing multiple earthquake, combination of explosion of lava and sulphur and lightning coming from the volcano. Resulting to twined nervousness, not all necessities are brought during the evacuation. While looking for a safe place to evacuate noticeable traffic observed, accident occurred and panic grows strongly. However, expecting that within two to three days, evacuees can come back to their home but sadly the situation cannot cooperate and continue on alarming.

Until the government ordered a ‘Total Lock Down’ to secure that the victims cannot come back in their houses and prevent from any harm.

Victims of the eruption unwillingly left their resources at their home and evacuated to different places. Some did not bring their belongings due to panic brought by the tragedy. Some did not figure out the things that have been planned and that is also because of the calamity. One of the problems that kept on entering their mind is what the situation of their livelihood is. Is it still okay? Their mind is still upsetting having the possibility of losing their sources of living even if finally they are far from the tremendous effect of eruption. Their life is safe but their source of living is suffering. In this situation, what must be done?

Taal eruption victims are worried about their sources of income however they cannot easily do what they want because of the order given to them. They kept on thinking what will happen to their livestock. So, we cannot blame taal eruption victims if one of them did not follow the rules and regulations of the government during incident. They have to sustain the healthy condition of their livelihood such as piggery, poultry, fisheries and other resources that make them a living. In connection to this, some evacuees bravely face and tried to persuade officer-in-charge to let them pass through in order to feed their animals but it’s not goes smoothly as evacuees are hoping. It so happened that the officials provided passes and made it to a point that the evacuees will come back right after doing stuff.

However, it is given and very important to consider the safety of the Taal eruption victims. Thanks to the government and volunteers from different places and country. They strictly manage to assist and lend a hand to many evacuees. Despite of the unexpected happening, many evacuees are being helped and supported through providing them relief goods and emergency kits that may sustain their needs while staying at the evacuation center.

Government happened to order total lockdown obviously to avoid affected residents to the continuous eruption of Taal volcano. In this case, we cannot also put the government into blame if they have to stop people trying to return at their home. Aside from the command that have been told to them, they are also responsible to serve the public no matter what the situation is. It may sound heroic but it is the reality. To secure ones wellbeing is also rooted from the execution of orders.

Therefore, implementing orders or not, human itself are responsible as always on the act that he has been conducted and he will be doing, whatever it takes.

Connect to us:

LASER The

The Official Student Publication of Batangas State University JPLPC-Malvar

EDITORIAL BOARD A.Y. 2019-2020

Editor-in-Chief: Monilyn M. Araja Associate Editor: Miguel Edward A. Rosal Managing Editor: Vernalyn Montero Circulation Manager: Rizza Reanzares, Marie Dominique Oña News Editor: Mark Joseph Francisco Opinion Editor: Paul John De Leon Features Editor: Angel Grace Armea DevCom Editor: John Carlo T. De Ocamp Literary Editor: Shyra Regodon Sports Editor: Jay C. Caguicla Chief Artist: John Carlo De Torres Chief Photographer: Marc Aron Aala Chief Layout Artist: Val Juniel Biscocho Photographers: Alexia Cano, Jayvee N. Linga, Mark Arvin M. Gonzales Artists: John Lloyd Arriola, Venessa Mendoza, Harvey M. De Guzman, Jomer Manalo, Marielle Amo Layout Artist: Miguel Edward A. Rosal Reporters: Maycel Villanueva, Edrian Platon, Nicole Ann Dela Cueva, Gualberto Gimongala Jr. Adviser: Mrs. Liwanag C. Rubico Editorial Consultant: Dr. Richard M. Banez, Dr. Amado C. Gequinto

https://www.facebook.com/OKA.The.LASER

publications.malvar@g.batstate-u.edu.ph

LASER

January-July 2020 | Truth Strikes in a Lightspeed

The

EDITORIAL 5

The Official Student Publication of Batangas State University JPLPCMalvar

“

Students might have to wait more years to experience the joy of having conducive equipment and additional laboratories for learning.

Lab Trouble Migol

Miguel Edward Rosal | miguelrosal12@gmail.com

The College of Informatics and Computing Sciences (CICS) is known for its competitiveness in handling students to make their careers job-ready. But when I stepped in my second year, a lot has changed. We are always experiencing a change in schedule because there is no Laboratory room available and the number of professors seems to be declining as well. There is no denying that the university needs more rooms and laboratory in the demand of the student who wants to build themselves to a State University.

The QS Stars rating system rates the BatStateU three stars. The stars determine the detailed look of the program strength, facilities, graduate employability, social responsibility, inclusiveness, and more. However, in the case of Batangas State University JPLPC-Malvar, it seems the facilities of the university has been left behind, unlike on the main campus.

The Associate Dean of CICS Mrs. Graciela R. Bucad said the university administration is bidding a 40 set of new personal computers and a new set of equipment in the CISCO Lab for the department this year. Some computers will be a substitute for old and slow computers.

Meanwhile, the administration has always said that the university will buy new equipment.

But nothing comes until the end of the semester.

The CICS has three laboratories namely CISCO Lab, Computer Lab, and CAD Lab. All the said laboratories have a sufficient number of computers for a class. However, in the Computer Lab where I spend my freshman year as a Computer Science student, the units are outdated and slow. Meanwhile, the CAD Lab units have good specifications for computers to make programs. But the laboratory has very little space and a towering computer table so it is difficult for professors to have a good lecture.

The CISCO Lab on the other hand has a good setup for teaching. This lab focuses on learning Cisco networking, a student needs to practice on Cisco Routers and switches.

However, the switches and routers are outdated.

“

There is no clarity when the additional units arrive. Students might have to wait more years to experience the joy of having conducive equipment and additional laboratories for learning. The Department and the Admin should coordinate the needs of the new units as the students are searching for the best laboratory experience.

Laboratory Class provides the students with the first-hand experience on what is the real world in their specific programs. It will allow the students to explore and complete their experiences. Lack of resources is not a barrier to stifling knowledge. Practical works help the students to improve their engagement and knowledge. It activates student skills effectiveness, personal learning, and thinking skills.

It seems that this administration is far from doing mass testing but continuously borrows money in the World Bank and even to other countries.

Taympers Vernacles

Vernalyn Montero | vernamontero8@gmail.com

We are yearning for the country's competence and not with its alibi.

Do you still remember "taympers" on your childhood days? It is used to be words that stop you from having fun and breathe for a short time. It's actually happening, but now in a longer period. The world suddenly put into freeze when corona virus from Wuhan, China reached the Philippines last January and escalated on March at this striking year, 2020.

We are now in the battlefield with invisible contender yet the administration shows their indecisiveness against this war. We demand for a mass testing since we are not aware who among the people we encountered are infected.

According to the Department of Health, it is not efficient to test those who do not show symptoms of COVID-19 or those asymptomatic individuals due to limited resources, but from the data of Bureau of Treasury, the government's debts rose to Php 8.6 trillion in April due to COVID-19 response. Were those money aren't enough to conduct testings even per town at a time?

Also, according to Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, mass testing in our country is still cannot be done because we are lack in testing capacity. Yes, we are one of the third world countries and that made our battle against COVID even more complex.

This is not easy for everyone but I think, by giving focus to COVID-19 and utilizing the

Behind the Scenic Act of Kindness Ocamps

John Carlo T. De Ocampo | johncarloocampo10@gmail.com

We humans naturally are kind, yet are also sophisticatedly deceptive beings.

Fame, honorary, idolatry. Almost every person drives themselves crazy just to be praised and be featured on a goody-two-shoes situation, especially, within somewhere that people wouldn't particularly be able to discern their real identity— media platforms, wherein whosoever wants anyone to be, could possibly be. Whosoever they wished they desire to become. Quite intimate, isn't it?

Before you blabber things off about me or this column that is being too harsh on certain people and to those you labeled or referred to as "heroes". Why don't we read first the whole article and be mindful what differs between hypocrisy and genuity?

People came to realize what is good and bad through adaptation and learnings.

Technologies, mainly were everyone's foundation to keep track on it. Trend influenced us to ably choose that that is what we need the most and conclusively, social media forcefully made us, scapegoats of ourselves. Someone who consciously did well to others but subconscious or might also be sane, just denial for the sake of the deed which he believes, is in need of a compensation. Sharp-tongued, aren't I? We've been too inclined to put a leach on other people's mind. Selfishly suggesting that, "I am the one who helped these people, so everyone, I want you all to give me your wholesome attention and praise me for the kindness that I had done to others." Something like that.

And by such means, I could only see hypocrisy on what MOST of those people were doing. They are affiliating themselves as the creditor for their good deeds. Letting people idolize them. Making themselves to be renown by the crowd.

Inarguably, to someone who truly intends to help others. He, in the first place, wouldn't want to be recognized or known. Wouldn't he? His whole identity being publicized wouldn't

money really well, we can combat this virus and mass testing will be possible. This is the most horrifying moment that I've experienced in my entire life so far. I care not only for my life but also for the lives of my countrymen.

It seems that this administration is far from doing mass testing but continuously borrows money in the World Bank and even to other countries. It really saddens me to know that most of those who are in power still have the guts to laugh and put so much attention on other issues attacking other human lives. Maybe their propaganda is to really freeze us on our home and let them enjoy their power.

I'm losing hope and it's terrifying. utterly be a matter for him since he intends to help a person. He wouldn't or rather, he shouldn't even care about what benefits he would acquire from it. A wholehearted help is that something that must have the essence of unconditional way of helping. Like the same concept of "unconditional love".

In a sense, one shouldn't let themselves be acknowledged that he had done something good to others with their names or faces as the facade of their deeds. Such an act of kindness can literally be inferred to as the same thing as when a GREAT politician seek to hook people's votes, people's sympathy. By initially and personally showing that they are grateful to people, that they would do everything for them. Showing empathy, using it to sugarcoat their real purpose for helping. A roly-poly deception to make them inferred to as goodies among fiends on the eyes of the many. Some may infer to it as just for documentations and/ or suchlike. But guess what? It's obviously not.

Nowadays, some people don't even care about how a person would feel if they, themselves, would be taken likely to a lion being forcefully told to jump on a ring of fire in a circus while being filmed, being watched by people, having taken a photo even if they don't really want to but were still being forced for they are more embarrassed of not showing gratitude to those people that helped them. It's not being prideful of the situation they're in or some of us had been in during these past tremors. But howsoever the situation is, a person may also realize just how powerless they are for being the person they were. Being poor, suchlike, may overweigh their situation less than how they had been situated before it happen to them.

This warped society covered by hypocrisy and dressing tables.

To those who were called heroes by giving such blatant way of giving help, by being either opportunists or suchlike.

May we realize or rather, may we not be conceited by the fame nor honorary that we would get from other people's shame. A sophistic, yet fallaciously prescribed ideal of a hero in disguised to set benefits all for himself. Some may be unaware of such an act for it just happened in an instance but truly, they are still responsible even with their careless mindset to be known.

Popularization. This must also be one of those defects that these societies were still running on.

The very definition of the word "hero" had been tainted all the way on it score. They don't wear masks just like those heroes we knew from movies or series' anymore. They're just anywhere, potentially anyone, readily vamped for attention if any opportunity opens.

Connect to us:

https://www.facebook.com/OKA.The.LASER

publications.malvar@g.batstate-u.edu.ph

I would often be told by my uncle, John, a story about a child who lost her parents since the very day she'd been born.

My uncle would always let me sit on a furnished wooden tabletop whenever he'd tell me that exact same scenario that would always make me cry like when I first heard it from him—that was when I was just a 6-year-old kid.

To make story short, a mother lost her life while giving birth on her child. Thereafter, not being able to accept his wife's death, the father decided to entrust their only daughter to his older brother. Days passed by, the father's dead body was found nearby the seashore by a fisherman who just happened to be bailing himself out of the sea for he felt a storm approaching. Bloated, and was reeking of a foul smell that is far worse than just a decomposed rat.

But it wasn't the reason why this story tends to make me really sad, why this would always make me cry for almost every other time I would hear it from uncle John, but because, I could envision myself on the kid who hadn't even saw her parent's face—how she suffered as she grew older, slowly realizing that her parents were actually dead.

Similar to what I had experienced, my uncle once told me that my parents were running an errand somewhere in America. But I haven't yet heard even a single word from them which I've long been waiting for. My uncle said that the last time he saw my parents was when I was just a toddler, but, I just got my 15th birthday then, and still, not even a greeting from any of them. So I halted off to ever believe that they would ever come back and concluded them both, as dead. My longingness to know their existence had perished. Whether they're still alive or not, I wouldn't acknowledge them as my parents any longer. I've lived and been treated as much as what a parent should've done to their child by my uncle and aunt. So they're my parents now.

I am yet to become an adolescent and I'm slowly getting the gist of how adults' works around me. Their habits, their desires, stuffs that makes them go insane, and circumstances that would easily make them be deprived.

But never have I ever thought that everything would end the way I didn't expect it to have gone. On one special occasion, 'twas Sunday night, my uncle was truly in bliss for he got promoted as the manager on where he is working at and decided to invite all his workmates to celebrate in our home for his promotion.

"Anna, would you please have us some ice in the fridge? We're about to run out of it." My uncle told me in a mellow tone, he sounded like he's drunk already. Almost like a slouched cat that miraculously survived after being struck by a man who then made a hundred and twenty degree momentum.

Slowly making my way through our corridor to get the ice which my uncle asked me of, I accidentally eavesdrop and heard his colleagues beside him as they subsequently said, "Was that your nephew?" "She looks kinda familiar, was she Gabriella's?" "Her figure's that of her mother, beautiful and elegant."

Abruptly hearing those words as they were being casted off through the mouth of his friends, I suddenly felt a chilling breeze which warns me to run out and stay away with these people. Uncle, despite his intoxicated mind, promptly spouted, "lower your voices you airheads, she's just a wall away from us. Who knows if she could hear us or not. This room ain't soundproofed. Stop those disgusting thoughts you guys have. She's my nephew after all."

Perplexed whether my uncle were also having the same thought as his friends do, I still felt my knees as it got devitalized to move towards their direction, my body got stiffen and just won't make any sudden motion while quivering, the sweat, though the surrounding's not hot, is running down like I ran passed through a marathon. This tense clasped the hallway where I firmly stand, like something's pulling me off to stay away with everyone. But it all shattered when I heard a voice as it rumbles through the ground, "Anna, where's our ice?!" It was uncle John's superior.

Those forceful words stricken my whole body which made me hastily took the ice in the fridge without any unnecessary thoughts, and hand it over to them. "I hope aunty would come home early this day." I sighed, knowing that no other person would ever assist this uncle of mine if he ever gets into trouble. Regardless to it. I just went back to my room, locked it, calmed myself down, and restricted my mind on overthinking stuffs.

As midnight falls off, despite the restlessness brought by the deafening silence around me which made me feel unwell.

I courageously stood up, wanting to see if uncle's really dozed off, or if he's fine. 'Cause he has this habit of sleeping on the floor or wherever he's comfortable at.

Looking around using my cellular phone's flashlight, I saw him sleeping right on the floor, boozed and was stinking with beer. He really is done for. Uncle John, in spite of being too kind for adopting me as his own child, was also this heavy drinker. As I supported his back to at least lift him up on the couch. He suddenly made an abrupt revocation of the past as he gloomily said while half asleep, "I'm sorry, Gabriella."

I was suddenly taken aback for I felt discomfort with his words.

"Gabriella . . . ?"

I heard it being aforementioned by one of uncle's friend a while back in their session, and according to him. That was the name of my mother. "But why does uncle John wants my mother's forgiveness?"

For a while then, I somehow got the gist of what would make him spill things off of why he wants to be forgiven by my mother as I insistedly asked, "John, why have you done such a thing?"

Shook, as if he really did saw a ghost resting in his front. He gasped, unafraid of what is about to prevail on him.

"Gabriella?!" He surprisingly grabbed my shoulders while his eyes were dimmed with regression. "Is it really you?", he added. He's drunk so he must have thought that he was just dreaming. Staying with the pace of asking him even more, of letting him spill those beans, I continue with my interrogation, "Why have you done such a thing to me, John?!"

My uncle was totally at naught. He was shocked. This was the first time I gave a loud voice to him. He wiped off his soaked face while solemnly looking at me, as he tenderly gasped and said, "Cause I really do love you, Gabriella."

"I've loved you ever since we were on College. You knew that. We've been happy friends that time. We were always together, been good study buddies. Whenever I'll have a personal problem, you'll always be there, would always make me courageous to face all of them head on. I was the same to you. I once told you that I felt more than being just your friend and you just said that it's not yet the time. That we must both become successful first. Months passed by, I decided to go to Japan and made a promise to come back. I'll become a different person for you. I said. A better one. A better fit."

"Ten years later, I came back. I was very excited to surprise you first-hand that I made it. That I became a multi-degree holder and a linguistic advisor. Just like how I promised you—I became one. A better person. A better fit. But the moment were still stuck within my mind that it would never let go of haunting me wherever I go as I saw you, brooding under the sunset with eyes either broken or happy. I'm uncertain. But what made me be on a state of confusion was when I saw you, with my little brother, Frederick, seriously talking about your plans for the child you both were holding, so—" Uncle paused for a moment in his storytell, as his gloom turned into a smirk then he sardonically laughed like a psychotic hobo we'd most likely see on the street as he added, "So, I did what must not, to both of you. I was relieved that night and said that, 'If you wouldn't be mine. Then you're better off dead!' I was the one who set your home ablaze."

After all of what her uncle just confessed. Ana just stared blankly, completely messed up, her eyes were wearily deep like an abyss, her endless sight of grief couldn't be sought. All of her memories in the past were all just nothing, but a grave lie. This man, who's barely moving in front of her for being too drunk, just shown her kindness because of his conscientiousness. He just used her as his redemption for what he'd done to her parents.

The fury which dwells within those insatiable look is vastly composed, Ana could've just stab him, do whatever she could to his uncle to avenge her parent's death. But she did not. She just left her uncle lying on the floor, eyes' still no sign of being compromised and went back straight to her room, awfully not acting as her own self, it was dreadfulness which covers her.

The day passed off and a new morning came to bloom, but the fear from yesterday were still latched within Ana. Police mobiles came to no question. They just arrested John, for he told them himself that he is the one who murdered Ana's parents. He must've realized that he told everything to Ana when he got sobered. But before the mobile where her uncle is, left, John reminded Ana of one other thing. "Please do take care of yourself and your aunty Elizabeth. Be a good woman your parents will be proud of. Good bye, my beloved daughter, and thank you for letting me experience how to be a father."

"I really am sorry for what I've done to your family", he added.

I was left unfazed, not certain whether I must be angered by those words or be pleased by the forgiveness he wants me to give him. The confusion which made me stagnant to ever move onwards. I just got stuck with the thought whether everyone's just lying or telling the truth. I may be alive, but this life, or another life, if there really is, like a tree, I wish I could still bloom after being temporarily dead.

False

Felici By: John Carlo T. De Ocampo

ity

Blissful days had already been conceived From the moment you saw the light To the moment you sprout further Seeming to an insightful tree.

"Breached"

You bear plenty of fruits and flowers on your trunks

Words By: John Carlo T. De Ocampo

You help pleasant joy on your leaves where the memories were engraved, But as time passes by, Some resolute leaves drifted unknowingly A strong wind gushes upon As its roots; And even the tree itself— Had died, dignidyingly.

The morning sun shifted to the way it never used to be The haze that accompanied the darkness— Became as timid as the mourning sea.

The reason why death existed Was that life needs to end, Not just— To start.

Connect to us:

https://www.facebook.com/OKA.The.LASER

publications.malvar@g.batstate-u.edu.ph

January-July 2020 | Truth Strikes in a Lightspeed

LASER The

8 FEATURE

The Official Student Publication of Batangas State University JPLPCMalvar

Laurelians' Unmitigated Bayanihan:

A Hand for Barakos Artcile by: Vernalyn Montero Reporter: Marie Dominique Oña

To see people as they fall in line for some food to eat and water to drink, to suffice their stomach from rumbling and from desiring for some clothes to wear, egoless as they implore for it, made me realize the real face of a crisis. Great fear was drawn on their faces and it was kind of depressing yet, these people who have experienced the disaster only knew that a word would be just an underestimation to what they had actually encountered..

Hold your horses and let us be one Twelfth day of January, year 2020 was not a good start. After 43 years of staying calm and being addressed as a scenical tourists' attraction, Taal volcano which is being admired for its bizarre shape—erupted, with ash falls all over its proximate regions, caused by an inevitable natural process, suddenly changed. But hope truly was just nearby, as the saying goes. With the help of Batangas State University JPLPC-Malvar, its fellow students, instructors, and other staff members led by Dr. Expedito V. Acorda, the somewhat "devastated look"on those affected people's facial expression somehow eased as the university served as the temporary shelter of the evacuees during the Taal eruption.

"Nakapapagod. Exhausting kasi you need to manage people of different attitude and ages pero 'yung feeling na nakatutulong is one thing...hindi mo na rin mararamdaman

The Phenomenal Likeness of Batangueños in every Predicament People with maintenance, senior citizens, newborn babies, persons with disabilities, they are all present in the campus. To think of how they managed to escape the threat of the volcano, with muds all over their body, trembling while praying to God would potentially break anyone's heart.

According to Mrs. Glenda Dimaano, Camp Manager, the University President Dr. Tirso A. Ronquillo is the one who initiated the opening of the university for those affected individuals. The university's ICS took immediate action for every evacuee. BatStateU willingly helped and did let them stay at the campus until further notice that the threat had utterly reposed. The school nurses were on duty. The old CIT and CTE building served as the shelter of every evacuee for 13 days.

You can see how anxious those evacuees, volunteers, and the ICS had been. It was really hard to be apart from the place most of you had been naturally nurtured, what more if you really were not certain on what would happen next and if there would still be a place you can call home after the catastrophe has settled down.

"Natatakot po. Malapit lang kasi kami, kitangkita namin ang pagbulwak ng usok na maitim. Kapag nalindol ramdam na ramdam namin, halos sunodsunod. Kami'y takot na takot na baka 'yung bahay namin giba na,"said Marites Belen, 47 years old, an evacuee from Bulihan, Malvar, Batangas.

Seeing muds—liquidized ashes due to rainfall that day as it keeps on falling, lava—as it overflows aboveground the volcano's crater, subsequent lightning as it struck down and a multitude of earthquakes as it rumbles the ground, I just can't imagine how rapid their heart had dash within their chest. Might be if they were on a 10 km race against their heart, they would have lost to it with a clear difference of 5 km. Imagine how terrified were those people who saw it just a few kilometers away from their houses? How many shouts reverberate through and through? How many bail tears just overflowed on their eyes as they sought help? How many calls to God? How many prayers had been sought? We ourselves knew that it's countless.

"Nagdadasal na lang ako na sana Lord wala nang maapektuhan pa...may mga alaga rin akong aso kaso paano ko pa maisasama?"she added.

It really is hard to gauge and understand the grievance that they had felt thenceforth; for their animals, for their houses, for their sources of income and everything they left behind just to prioritize saving themselves which is a natural response of a person—to save themselves and their loved ones most especially on a do-or-die situation.

ang pagod,"said Dr. Expedito V. Acorda, head of Incident Command System (ICS).

The trauma that was brought to them was unimaginable.

It is like you are reading a book and you are at the doorstep of a climactic setting—while everything's getting intense, strangely, you have been obsessed to see what may happen next. It is not like you are looking forward to something worse to happen but, something that everyone would look forward to—a bountiful future after they seemingly lose their hope.

BatStateU had a total number of 641 evacuees, 15 of them were infants, 31 were senior citizens and 12 were persons with disability.

Laurelians Under Massive Service BatStateU made sure that all of the evacuees will not starve, can comfortably sleep whenever they want, and could make a living despite not being at their houses. In addition, the university also helped them lessen the pain and worries they bear even for a single hour. They truly made some sudden diversion to make everyone smile, not letting them be sad even for a single moment.

By conjoined action of Mr. Kenneth Magpantay, Ms. Rageene Vera Dueñas, BatStateU Music Organization, alumni together

with other volunteers, they conducted storytellings for children, live bands and other activities that truly entertained every evacuee.

Aside from ICS and volunteers, BatStateU also asked for donations since there is a huge number of evacuees for they couldn't afford all the expenses alone. ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya, one of those several benefactors, administered a stress briefing to help evacuees overcome each of every person's solicitude and sorrow.

Various donations keep

on extending until the last number of days of their stay at the campus.

Some donors came from Parañaque and other companies. According to Dr. Acorda, there are alumni who asked their companies to donate so that they could also help their alma mater in the accommodation of the evacuees.

Truly, we may have our own personal burden in life—our very own problems from day after day encounter. But still, let us not forget to lend both our hands wholeheartedly to those people who are in need. Their terrified faces,

those earthquakes and lightnings, these will never be forgotten. This torrential event will undoubtedly mark in history, the frightening experience of every person in Batangas, it will be remembered.

But not entirely something that ruined that of every Batangueños' lives, but of something beyond that...the crisis that lits the forgotten essence of lukewarm heat called humanity and Bayanihan on every Filipino's heart amidst the clutch of despair.

LASER

January-July 2020 | Truth Strikes in a Lightspeed

The

FEATURE 9

The Official Student Publication of Batangas State University JPLPCMalvar

Overcoming Boredom during COVID-19: STABILIZING MENTAL HEALTH WITH HOME-BASED OPTIMAL LEISURE

Is it just me, or have most of you also noticed, “Why do boredom anything but boring?”

A lot of us were stuck in our home in an attempt to slow down or to stop the spread of coronavirus. But that, not doing at all, is what makes us easily be inclined to be bored.

What is Boredom?

Discover new hobby

Initially, boredom signifies that we’re not meaningfully engaged with the world.

Finding easy and meaningful alternatives – bite-sized options that don’t take much effort, but that we find deeply rewarding – can be a challenge.

Subduing it can be difficult, but there are various ways where you can make a dull situation more entertaining. Take advantage of those uninteresting moments by being productive.

Since it is also a trend, I suggest, you may start a garden. A garden can be good for your physical and emotional wellbeing, as it will get you outside and moving around on a regular basis. A herb garden is a good place to start. If you don't have a backyard, many people would tend to keep fruit and vegetable plants on a balcony. You can also grow small potted plants indoors.

And as a social psychologist who studies human nature, specifically boredom. I knew that people don’t always make the best choices when bored. So now, let me give you couple of tips on how to overcome going stir-crazy and experiencing brain-numbing weariness.

Doing new things not only relieves boredom, it would also help someone acquire new skills and knowledge that may relieve boredom in the long run. Evidence shows that embracing new experiences, can help us lead not only a happy or meaningful life, but a psychologically richer one.

Stay focus

Write what’s inside your head

Even meaningful work can be boring if the person performing it finds it too hard or too easy. Once that happens, individuals might tend to struggle or to not stay focus. People generally prefer doing something to doing nothing.

Do creative writing. Try to broaden your mind, intensify your way of imagination. You can also make a silly list without a serious purpose.

A little creative writing can be personally challenging and result in lessening your boredom. Writing will help distract your mind by focusing on what you are writing, rather than thinking about how bored you are.

Like all emotions, boredom is about whatever you’re thinking at the moment.

That means staying at ones home will only feel meaningful when we’re actively thinking about the greater good it does. For instance in life, when you start your day with a positive mindset, it provides transient moments in your day for positive emotion

If you're struggling to start, just do a free write.

Write down anything that comes to mind without filtering yourself. If you enjoy creative writing, start writing that novel, poem, or short story you've always wanted to find the time to write.

In other words, reframing our activity, changes how we feel about it.

Get into pace

Make room for guilty pleasures

Routines' structure our days, and provide a sense of coherence that bolsters our meaning in life. People’s lives feel more meaningful in moments when they’re engaged in daily routines and have a rhythm in doing so.

It’s okay to binge on social media, if that’s all you can handle at the moment.

We sometimes paint ourselves into a box where our most meaningful hobbies are also mentally taxing or effortful. For instance, understanding our government plans and activities may be meaningful, but it doesn’t necessarily come easily.

However, this pandemic made us lose our routines when literally, the world stops as well as our daily activities. This loss of routine can foster feelings of boredom.

Give yourself permission to enjoy your guilty pleasures.

Reframe those moments as much-needed mental refreshment, nourishing and recharging you for a later date but never exceed your limit.

By creating new routines, people can restore a sense of meaning that buffers them from boredom.

Go with the flow

Reconnect

Figuring out what to do when faced by long days unstructured by work or school can be hard. A recent study of people in quarantine in Italy found that boredom was the second most common issue, after loss of freedom.

Luckily one good option is open to us all: connecting with others, whether virtually or for those lucky enough not to be quarantined alone – in-person. Express something positive to a friend or family member. Tell someone you're grateful that they helped you with something for example, or that you admired how they handled a situation.

Scene like a bird spreading its wings for a long time suddenly shut in a cage. This situation can leave people bored and frustrated.

Make time with others. This pandemic gives us time to reconnect with our family to strengthen our relationship with each other. We don’t have to be bored, when we’re all in this together.

Keep in mind that what counts as too challenging, or not challenging enough, will shift throughout the day. Don’t force yourself to keep at it if you need a break.

Boredom itself is neither bad nor good, only our choices about how to counter it make it so.

Connect to us:

https://www.facebook.com/OKA.The.LASER

publications.malvar@g.batstate-u.edu.ph

January-July 2020 | Truth Strikes in a Lightspeed

LASER The

10 DEVCOM

The Official Student Publication of Batangas State University JPLPCMalvar

Campus

New CIT Building finally operational By: Monilyn Araja The College of Industrial Technology (CIT) building is officially ready to use by the students and faculties, right after its blessing and inauguration held at BatStateU JPLPCMalvar Campus, Feb.3, 11 a.m.

It was built and inaugurated in commemoration of the thousands of great men and women who have walked the Batangas State University grounds and have become productive members of the country’s workforce.

University President Dr. Tirso A. Ronquillo and representative of Hon. Cristeta Cuevas, Atty. Rey emphasized the quality standard through the facility and continuation of its vision of being a premiere national university that develops leaders in the global knowledge economy.

It says that this building stands as the University’s enduring symbol of commitment in developing the youth of Batangas who will become the future generation of technologists, technical specialists and industrialists who are responsive to industry needs, and who are active participants in nation building.

The college offers Bachelor of Industrial Technology (BIT) since 2001 which delivers Dual Training System (DTS) providing Vocational, Technical and Technician training program.

The DTS is a special type of vocational training that combines two places of learning: the school and the industry.

The Bachelor of Industrial Technology program comprises of nine (9) areas of specialization such as Automotive Technology, Civil Technology, Computer Technology, Drafting Technology, Electric Technology, Electronics Technology, Food Technology, Mechanical Technology, and Mechatronics Technology.

It aims to successfully practice as Industrial Technologists for the welfare of society and to demonstrate a high-degree of professionalism in the workplace.

Recently, the college was awarded Level III Phase I by the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (AACCUP).

Also, the college is actively producing highly skilled and competent graduates through high passing rate result from Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) assessment.

BakwitFinder: A One-Stop App during Days of Doom Artcile by: Vernalyn Montero I went home and have witnessed how the drivers and passengers exchanged thoughts with frightened facial expression and trembling hands due to frequent earthquakes. The spewing of ashes, lavas, muddy rain, lightning, the eruption of the second most active volcano in the country, Taal Volcano has made everyone so jumpy. My knees are involuntarily shaking and it’s terrifying.

After the bushfire in Australia and war between two powerful countries — Iran and United States, on the 12th day of January, Taal Volcano started to emit ashes, prompting the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) to raise its alert level 4 indicating "hazardous eruption imminent" at 7:30 pm. It is just the beginning of 2020, yet it feels like January was a whole year because of the continuous unexpected and unwanted events that seem like the menace of the nature not only in the Philippines but all over the whole world.

Traumatic Searching The following days are gloomy. My newsfeed is flooded with muds, infants covered with ashes, crying and missing individuals, evacuees asking for donations and those shedding tears while begging for rescuers. It is indeed heartbreaking to see them in despair.

Shout outs and social media posts from relatives and concerned citizens about the residents within the 14-kilometer danger zone is everywhere. I keep on communicating with my classmates who reside at Talisay, Batangas as this phenomenon does not allow me to stay calm although my family and I are not totally affected. They are looking for evacuation centers and as we have observed, there are a lot of schools, covered courts, sports complex and good samaritans who whole-heartedly open their own private properties for the evacuees.

According to Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas, Taal eruption's evacuees reached a million but most of them are staying with their relatives. Near provinces also accept evacuees specifically Cavite, Laguna and Quezon. You can

How to Use the App feel the agony and worries of other evacuees that are apart from their other members of the family since there are a lot of evacuation centers and there are a big number of evacuees, some of them are really searching and keep on checking on their loved ones.

Find Me Here It's really hard to find individuals without connections.

It is also hard for the volunteers and donors to find an evacuation center especially when it's a private residence.

With the eagerness of Batangueños to help others find their families and evacuations, through the use of technology, First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities (FAITH) Colleges in Tanauan, Batangas had come up with this BawitFinder application.

As described on their website, BakwitFinder is a onestop application created by the Computing and Information Technolgy (CCIT) professors, students and FAITH Colleges IT employees to serve as a solution that will allow anyone in the Philippines and even abroad to check out the profiles of the evacuation centers and importantly, establish the whereabouts of their relative-evacuees.

Aside from that, the app helps in searching and collects vital information about the needs and concerns of evacuees as well as other Filipinos affected by disasters is deemed as a major step for relief and disaster preparedness.

Connect to us:

For us to have a public access on BakwitFinder, we can go to their website https://bakwitfinder.bangonbatangas. ph or we can download the application on our phones by scanning the QR Code on their website.

There are buttons within the application: Map, Search Person, Search Evacuation, Register an Evacuee, Privacy Notice and How to Use button. Through the app's "Search Person" option, the searchers can locate in which evacuation center an individual is staying in just by typing their full name on the search bar, while you can find an evacuation centers through typing it on the "Search Evacuation" option.

You can explore more the app through "How to Use" button.

According to the website, BakwitFinder is reliant on data given by the evacuation centers. They are coordinating with the Local Government Units (LGUs) to complete the needed information for the application.

This application is a crucial need in days of disaster. It makes everything easy especially for the donors who will look for evacuation centers and for those who are looking for their relatives.

"The possibility of another major disaster in the Philippines is not a matter of where, but when… by creating a database of these kinds of information, people affected will be given better assistance and evacuees that need more attention can be focused on," FAITH Colleges of Computing and Information Technology (CCIT) Dean Alice Lacorte said in a statement.

In days of doom, it is better to open our hearts and extend our sincere help to others. They made it easy for us to find those who are in need. It's about time to take actions.

https://www.facebook.com/OKA.The.LASER

publications.malvar@g.batstate-u.edu.ph

LASER

January-July 2020 | Truth Strikes in a Lightspeed

The

DEVCOM 11

The Official Student Publication of Batangas State University JPLPCMalvar

ECO-FRIENDLY TRIMARAN, OFF TO SAIL SOON By: Gualberto F. Gimongala Jr

We are not blinded by the fact that our country needs to heal. As the population continuously increases, worse case of pollution is indeed expected. It is very evident that the proper waste disposal is not observed. Smokes from vehicles and factories were scattered. Sadly, some human behaviors are also polluted yet, there are still individuals and organizations who care for the environment — still, there’s a hope for the so-called humanity.

Last February 2020, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) announced that the world's first oceanpowered hybrid trimaran made in the Philippines is expected to sail this year. It is one of the 20 Filipino science and technology innovations that will be available for commercial release this year.

Getting into Shape

ocean-powered trimaran that is operated with the use of wave energy. Therefore, this is a great invention that will help in reducing the usage of fuel if utilized very well because it is environment-friendly, safe and unsinkable. This is currently at Aklan and being built by the Metallica Shipyard.

Ocean waves are among the cleanest renewable source of energy. It is used by devices or machinery that captures the natural movement of the ocean to generate power. The movements in the pump are transformed into electrical energy which can be utilized to provide additional power to the vessel.

"In the whole world, we'll be the first to use wave energy for a trimaran," said Marine Engineer Jonathan Salvador, owner of Metallica Shipyard. This hybrid trimaran is expected to carry around 100 passengers, 4 vans, and 15 motorcycles.

Water-friendly on Board

Trimaran is a yacht with multihull boat that is composed of a main hull with two smaller outrigger hulls which are connected with the main hull with lateral beams. It is used for racing, ferries, cargo and some are warships. Trimaran is originated from the traditional double-outrigger hulls of the Austronesian cultures of Maritime Southeast Asia, particularly in the Philippines and Eastern Indonesia, usually powered by fuels.

According to DOST, the more waves that the vessel encounters, the more power it will produce. This technology is expected to improve the vessel's energy efficiency, making it cost-efficient and also environment-friendly. DOST also says that they are hoping that this Hybrid Trimaran will create a positive change and major impact in the shipping and rollon roll-off (RORO) industry in the Philippines.

We benefit from the natural resources of this planet and we, as human, should help in its preservation. With the support of DOST’s Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERP) as well as The Aklan State University and the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), DOST launched the

In school, we are conducting a lot of activities like different competitions and seminars to other provinces in our country and if not all, there are some who experienced to ride on a ship. This ocean-powered hybrid trimaran will help us to get on our destinations for a shorter period of time since the vessel is fast-sailing while we still pay attention on

our nature since this trimaran will not accumulate a large amount of trash. A short ride will only require passengers to eat a snack instead of a full meal or maybe it depends but it will surely lessen the garbage.

"Our garbage generation is terrible. Everything goes to the sea," Salvador said.

Knowing that Philippines is surrounded by waters, Salvador started the project that can keep the environment clean. He said that some boat operators throw their trash in the sea to avoid paying for the necessary disposal cost if they declare it at the port but in this hybrid trimaran, the empty bottles are also recycled and incorporated in the frame of the vessel.

We may have a big problem on water pollution due to different human practice. However, local government unit and various organizations aimed to protect our ocean and other bodies of water. They are still thinking of different ways and calculations in order to lessen the destruction of seas and water resources.

Salvador is on his plans to have future projects that can help the preservation of seas through excellent inventions empowered by waste. He is already looking forward to his project, a larger vessel powered by garbage. Soon we can witness a better environment with the help of the things we once named as trash.

EDAMAME: Newest Content in Philippine History Artcile by: Vernalyn Montero Everything under the sun has its own functions; we just sometimes turn a blind eye on the things that really need attention like the farmers. They are one of the most admirable workers on Earth and they are indeed the hope for everyone's recipe.

Different sectors in the government are always looking for opportunities for their organizations to grow but it is usually not only for their benefit but also for the people of our country. After observing that the Edamame plant or young soybean is in fast-growing demand in the export market, the Department of Agriculture (DA) encouraged farmers to grab the opportunity to become a local producer and a trader in the foreign market.

Last February, a group of farmers harvested the country’s first ever commercial crop of edamame in Cabanatuan City, another history for the agriculture of the Philippines.

“This [harvest] is historic because this will put Cabanatuan City [on] the global map of trading and will benefit both farmers and businessmen,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar said. He believes that these growing Edamame will put Cabanatuan City to the map of global trading market. He added that this crop that produced in the Philippines is better than those from the other countries who also supply Edamame. It’s crispier and tastier as it is more suited to the soil and weather of our country. Top Shelf and Jelfarm have plans to broaden their export market including South Korea, Australia and the United States.

This is another milestone for the agriculture and especially for our farmers. I hope this Edamame will be a key for great deals ahead of farmers. Other provinces should also start planting Edamame seeds and together, let's help our economy grow. Kudos to our admirable farmers!

Agri, agreed!

Are you familiar with the local chicharo? Edamame is just like that but it has a fewer seed. It serves as a snack, appetizer and sometimes an ingredient in certain dishes. It also can be paired with alcoholic beverages.

Agricultural Trading Company Top Shelf Corporation and the exporter, Jelfarm Fresh Produce Enterprise brought Edamame seeds in the Philippines. They are now working with the farmers of Nueva Ecija to produce tons of Edamame through contract growing.

Our country is capable of growing this Edamame since it is resilience to El Niño conditions because it can also grow in warm and dry season and it doesn't need to have much water. It has more planting cycles than the rice and corn since it can be harvested every after 62 days. This might really a great addition for our economy and a big help for farmers.

According to Jeffrey Fernandez, Executive Assistant of Jelfram, they saw the potential of bringing Edamame here in the Philippines since it is really in demand in Japan and usually imports to Taiwan, Thailand and China.

Farmers Lead the Way Having techniques and a place on market for agricultural products open doors for the farmers to have a chance to shift on high-value crops but of course, this will be possible if the farmers are assisted by the government or different organizations. Before exporting, the Edamame will transfer to Jelfram's factory at Tarlac and will undergo first in cleaning and packed in 100-gram bags after proper selection.

According to Fernandez, farmers could gather up to Php 25 per kilo of Grade A Edamame for export to Japan and a hectare can produce up to 8 tons of Edamame. Imagine how much money the farmers can make out of this young pea or Edamame, it's more than a net price of rice. Since it can bring a high potential income, Edamame was categorized as a “Tier 1 cash crop."

Connect to us:

https://www.facebook.com/OKA.The.LASER

publications.malvar@g.batstate-u.edu.ph

LASER

SPORTS

The

The Official Student Publication of Batangas State University JPLPCMalvar

Basketball League grieves Kobe Bryant’s Death By: Jay Caguicla Basketball fans were put on misery after the death of a legendary basketball player Kobe Bryant in a helicopter crash in California, January 26.

Kobe and his daughter Gianna whose 13 years old were part of the nine passengers that was killed after their aircraft busted in Calabasas California.

This made the basketball fans mourned all over the world for he was a well-known individual in the sports industry and one of the greatest players from LA Lakers.

The helicopter’s passengers also include Gianna’s teammates in Basketball, with some of their relatives and a coach for they were scheduled in a tournament.

It was Sunday when the helicopter was about to take off going to a Basketball tournament as the sudden crash happened with no survivors from its passengers namely Keri Altobelli, John Altobelli, Alyssa Altobelli, Sarah Chester, Payton Chester, Christina Mauser and its pilot Ara Zobayan.

He was known as the Giant for his great skills that lead him as an NBA Champion for five times and was dedicated only to play for his all-time team Lakers which he symbolize as an icon.

The NBA Champion was considered an All-star in 18 of the 20 seasons he has played for the Lakers that usher the team in five championships.

Meanwhile, he was also awarded with the Most Valuable Player in 2007, 2009 and 2010 hence his second highest single-game total points in the NBA season from 2006 with 81 points.

The Giant also competed in the 2006 and 2012 Olympics in the same sports event representing U.S.A wherein he earned gold medals.

Bryant retired after his 20 years in the sports field playing for Lakers last April 2016.

“My Heart can take the pounding, my mind can handle the grind but my body knows it’s time to say goodbye” the message in his poem regards to his retirement.

Being an Athlete is an unstable Career J-Boy

Jay C. Caguicla | jaycaguicla@gmail.com

Tokyo Olympics will not be delayed but possibly cancelled By: Jay Caguicla

Being looked-up as an athlete felt like a deep mark in the heart and boosts those who were inspired by the support that they are receiving, but is it enough for a living?

What does it takes to have a good career in sports? Was it just an artificial opportunity given to those who have trained and sacrificed for years?

Pandemic has been affecting many lives and it resulted in many people losing their jobs and one of those majorly distress was the sports industry.

The life of the athletes is just how a typical person has their own needs, for they also need financial support to sustain their living and to earn money to feed their families yet during these dark times their names cannot be found on a daily sports newspaper as they participate on their respective sports division not even an appearance to television featuring sports.

Sports can be classified as indoor and outdoor activities, and this is the root of an idea of how it can be executed during the outbreak of the Corona Virus, but we cannot leave the reality that mostly of the events required mass gatherings or interaction between athletes which is strongly prohibited as fraction of the COVID ’19 responses.

Due to safeguard that the government has been imploring, a lot of sports event in the region, local, international and major sports events has been postponed and cancelled. This results to cut of jobs for the athletes, sports organization committee and sports journalist whom for years has given people such entertainment.

With these, it is not just how they lose their jobs but how their connections to people are nowhere to be found, preventing them to stand for their careers or worse to stop with their passion that they’ve built in years of being in this field.

The fact that the Pandemic has been affecting everyone won’t hide the truth of how unstable the career of an athlete, for this is not the only circumstances that may lead the sports industry into a forgotten remarkable sports ground.

It’s a shame that people appreciate them for the pride they’ve bring into the teams they’ve represented and that nothing comes-out after all those hardship and investment especially in this hard times that they badly need it not just from their fans but from the government itself.

There have been a lot of changes that those athletes need to find an occupation that can carry on their living, to live a life that lies behind their trainings.

However, there should have been the support all along, for they are just the same with other employees from different fields whom work hard for their very own position.

Sports is not just how you try to perform your skills because it takes more than just the courage and perseverance, it also comes from being patient and applying the knowledge to a given field same goes to those careers that people try to invest with.

When will be the time that sports would be appreciated and acknowledge as a career that can surely support a living? What if by time those children who would have dreamed of becoming one would lose their interest for they cannot live a life that is beyond their reach?

Tokyo 2020 Olympics was put on the potential cancellation if it will not be held next year due to the extent of the COVID ’19 as announce last May 20.

International Olympic committee president Thomas Bach said that if it will not be held next summer, there will be an assurance of cancellation for the Tokyo Olympics.

The said Olympic was postponed from the scheduled opening of the event this June due to the pandemic brought by the Coronavirus disease 2019.

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the International Olympic Committee agreed upon the possible cancelation of the biggest sports event on their phone meeting.

It was said by Mr. Thomas to the interview of the BBC news that next year summer will be the last alternative if the games will still be conducted according to plan and this will be the last set-back of the said competition.

“Considering the current situation in regards to the Tokyo Games, as the host nation in order to ensure that athletes from all over the worlds are able to compete on their best condition, and also in order to ensure the utmost safety for the spectators, I have asked him to consider postponing the games by about a year,” Prime Minister said during his press briefing.

Bach also added that he needs to have a better understanding of this current situation for he cannot persistently employ the 3000 or 5000 affiliate of the organizing committee.

Hidilyn Diaz draws mixed emotions over postponed Tokyo Olympics The delayed for the Tokyo Olympics were announced as COVID ’19 Pandemic arises and it made Hidilyn Diaz felt the disappointment and at the same time relieved.

It was said in an interview that the Filipino Weightlifter Olympian was disappointed but somehow felt relieved as the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and International Olympic Committee finally decided to postpone the Tokyo Olympics and was pushed for summer 2021.

“I can’t deny the fact that I am disappointed with the postponement of Tokyo 2020 and I left everything on hold in preparation for the Olympics. This includes school, family, and friends but right now we are talking about the safety and health of all the athletes, their coaches, and their teams that will be participating in the Olympics.”

She posted on her Instagram account.

She also added that she felt relief as for her trainings “ On the positive note, I’m kinda relief not to worry that I can’t hold the barbell and do heavy weights for the last couple of days because of quarantine and have one more year to prepare for Olympics.

Despite all the hard trainings, she didn’t disregard the danger of the said virus and its cause to athletes and all of those individual that is highly affected by the virus.

“I cannot be selfish thinking of all the sacrifices I have done in the preparation for Olympics without thinking of the Frontliners risking their lives to save people who are affected by the covid ’19 pandemic.”

These factors influenced her to help her hometown by distributing food packages to the most affected areas in Zamboangga City.

The charity was supported by her parents Eduardo and Ermelita Diaz as she can’t be present in the activity since she’s still in a lockdown in Kuala Lumpur where she’s been executing her training since February.

Meanwhile, Diaz was also planning to have an Online Seminar wherein she would be showing her own lifting techniques prior to her experiences and knowledge in the sports field.

Connect to us: https://www.facebook.com/OKA.The.LASER

publications.malvar@g.batstate-u.edu.ph