Tahip Newsletter - August Issue

02|EDITORIAL

Tahip

In St. Duque’s Falsity

As he continued to be bashed with criticisms, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III urged to proclaim the adjustments of the Department of Health’s “Oplan Recovery”, wherein asymptomatic patients and those who are discharged after a 14-day recovery without further testing are marked as “recovered.” This false assumption of DOH shows how the government literally play with its people while dog-tiring the Philippines’ society.

In contrast to the alarming active cases of novel coronavirus which causes COVID-19, people around the country throw their doubts on this questionable report of DOH to the

mass recovery which causes 40,397 new recoveries as of August 16, with the total of 112,586 reported recoveries. Others, however, showed their discontent by tagging this deplorable reclassification of cases as dishonest and manipulative.

Days before the issue of DOH, it was reported that Duque publicize that our fight against COVID-19 is not a sprint but a marathon. It is a real farce to come up with this mass recovery which people assumed to be deceitful.

In a yet downright insult to Duque, netizens ensure a trend apropos to this undeniably comical statistics of DOH, naming the secretary as “St. Duque.” This is to burst the frustrations of Filipino

netizens to the ludicrous attempt of the health institution to supervene other country’s response to the pandemic. The ridicule alias of Duque refers to the false patron saint of mass healing and recovery which is a complete bash to the secretary.

Philhealth also faces multiple allegations with regards to corruption other than their comical statistics. A whistleblower talks about a possibility of a fifteen billion pesos going straight to the pockets of some executives scheme inside the organization. The money was allegedly embezzled through the program Interim Reimbursement Mechanism (IRM), a special privilege for the provision of substantial aid to an eligible Health Care Institutions directly hit by fortuitous event with clear and apparent intent to continuously operate and/ or rebuild the HCI in order to provide continuous health care services to adversely affected Filipinos.

Philhealth, allegedly has fabricated the crediting of premiums payments to Accenture Inc. in the Treasury and Membership Databases of PhilHealth. Philhealth was also claimed to have paid for medical expenses of ghost patients. Other deceitful acts of the organization were starting to unravel as well.

Despite of the concrete indications that Duque is not that efficient for his post, the President himself still believe for what Duque is capable of. Indeed, supporting one’s kind, given the fact that Philippines is the leading country in Southeast Asia having the most active cases of COVID. The economy of our country foresees a meager future due to the debts of the government that will soon be passed to its people.

Philippines is no more than a country ruled by a number of clowns. As the world is engulfed into a tract of this deadly virus, Philippine government continues to show its idiocy by beguiling its countrymen, leading the nation into a sluggish action response to COVID-19.

THE SOIL TILLER THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF BULACAN AGRICULTURAL STATE COLLEGE

EDITORIAL BOARD AND STAFF 2020-2021 Bianca Gail D.C. Gonzales Editor-in-Chief/ News Editor Lanch Lenard C. Delos Santos Associate Editor/ Sports Editor Raphael G. Policarpio Managing Editor for Administration/ Layout Editor Melanie N. Hizon Managing Editor for Finance/ Literary Editor Lloydd Dafydd R. San Pedro Managing Editor for Circulations/ Head Photojournalist Elijah Mangulabnan Ashley P. Pangilinan Features Editors Rand Cristian S. Hagad Princes Josephine B. Latuja DevComm Editor Alexis S. Caadan Literary Editor Reynaldo A. Gumabon Sports Editor Carol P. Baguisa Graphics Editor Jayson A. Ocampo Joshua N. Castillo John Marf C. Gumafelix Senior Staff Aileen S. Masong Angelo A. Dela Cruz Dean Daniel A. Mempin Jocelle Lyn Bernabe Mark Joshua D.S. Sunga Nathaniel B. Hizon Junior Staff Viverly E. Mata, Ph.D. Adviser

NEWS|03

Tahip

Pres Tan to students: “Huwag mag-alala at ginagawan na ng paraan.”

BIANCA GAIL D.C. GONZALES & RAND CRISTIAN S. HAGAD THE college is already finding a way to help the students with regards to the problem with the new modes of learning, said Bulacan Agricultural State College SUC President III.

Dr. Jameson H. Tan said that the college has already traced the names and the sections of the students who were not able to cope up with the transition of the mode of learning. “Kailangan lang munang malaman ang pangalan ng mga students at sections [at] year nila.”

During the first week of classes, official list of enrollees, schedules and announcements were posted on the pages of each institute, however, the institutions’ guidelines on modular and online classes are still on process.

Answers on the S-pulse gathered by The Soil Tiller, the Official Student Publication of BASC, showed that most students experienced difficulty during the first week of classes. Majority of the interviewed students said that their main problem was communication with their professors and finding their respective sections, especially those students from the new course program offered by the College of Agriculture.

“I know that it would be harder for us especially that I’m a freshman. We’ve made a group chat for every course and still waiting for our instructors to accommodate us. Unfortunately we’re not used to it. I can say our first day was totally stressful but we’re still adjusting,” Ms. Erlie Dawn B. Latuja, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine said.

Students also voiced out their concerns with the uncertainty of their meetings with their professors.

“Pagdating naman sa oras ay masasabi ko na maluwag kumpara sa normal na klase noon, ang problema nga lang ay may mga pagkakataon na ang oras na inilaan namin para sa klase ay nasasayang dahil sa mga ‘di inaasahang kanselasyon ng

ilang mga klase dahil sa pagiging abala ng mga guro,” Arvhic San Diego, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) 3A said.

Students tried reaching out their concerns with schedule and their subjects to the official facebook page of the Office of the Registrar, but weren’t able to contact the page due to inability of the messaging tab.

Institute Student Councils served as the receivers of the students complaints for the past week. Governor Sherina Jem C. San Mateo along with her officers managed to disseminate the information needed by the students of the Institute of Education.

San Mateo said that it has been hard for the Student Councils to answer all of the queries of the students having the inability to communicate with the registrar. “Pero sa mga nagdaang araw, nasasagot naman namin kahit papano ang mga katanungan pero nahirapan lang kami para sa mga freshies dahil naging pasalin-salin kung saan sila dapat at pwedeng magtanong” San Mateo added.

Moreover, students

were not the only the ones who experienced difficulties during the pioneer week.

Ms. Grace Alison M. Manglallan, Instructor I from the Institute of Education said that it was difficult for her to watch video tutorials and send files due to the poor internet connection in their area. She added that she has to wait until 11 pm just to have good connection.

“Hindi kasi ako “Techie”, so nag research pa ako at nanood ng mga tutorial sa YouTube kung papaano ang mga mabisang paraan to deliver online lectures,” Ms. Manglallan said.

According to Dr. Tan, he admitted that there were lapses for the first week of the opening of classes due to the new normal set-up, but he instructed his faculty members to reach out and contact all the students they are handling to make sure that the students received their modules.

“May kahirapan ang pag-alam ng mga students na may kapasidad at wala at ‘yon ang kasalukuyan nilang ginagawa

noong first week pa,” Dr. Tan said. “It’s not really perfect but I believe kaya namang solusyunan,” he added.

Dr. Tan is requesting everyone to be with him and help him make the college better and become a university.

Meanwhile, prior to the opening of classes, the Supreme Student Council were already prepared to help the students of the college.

“We have been conducting series of meetings via zoom since April about the different possibilities amidst pandemic. We also had a meeting about our plans that are applicable for the new normal for the whole academic year,” Mr. Christian Jay D.G. Porciuncula, Interim President of SSC, said.

According to Porciuncula, it was easier to move as a council before, but now their actions are limited but they are still doing their best to find ways.

The SSC opened the Students’ Concern Hotline.

Questions and concerns can be raised through the hotline 09 and will be answered by asking the involved offices in our college.

GRAPHICS | RAPHAEL POLICARPIO

04|NEWS

Tahip

REPD leads virtual 18th In-House Review amidst pandemic MELANIE N. HIZON

another one for external funding, hoping to be approved.

Meanwhile, six research papers were presented in the category Technical/Agricultural Research while seven were exhibited in Social Research category.

The following were announced as the Best Papers in each category: Technical/Agricultural Research Category

BREAKING BARRIERS. The REPD continued searching for innovations and presenting BASC’s facilities’ papers through the utilization of the “new normal” mode of communication. Photo by Evelyn Alera.

BREAKING the barriers to communication spawned by the pandemic, Bulacan Agricultural State College’s Research, Extension, Production and Development Office steered its first virtual and 18th annual Agency In-House Review of Completed Research Projects in coordination with Central Luzon Agriculture, Research and Development Consorium via Zoom Cloud Meeting App, August 27.

The main goal of conducting this annual program is to present the researches of BASC faculty for new innovations that will be beneficial to the college and community and also to improve their papers.

“Research should not end whether there is a pandemic or not,” said Dr. Jameson H. Tan, BASC SUC President III. He attested that no medical dilemma can create a boarder to future researches.

The research entitled “Standardization of Lapan Jerky Processing through Fermentation Phase 1” which was presented

by Joy Christine V. Sta. Cruz with her two other co-researchers namely, Noime J. Mallari and Marielle D. Gamboa, was hailed as the Best Paper in the Technical/ Agricultural Research Category.

Ms. Sta. Cruz’ other

presented research with Ms. Gamboa entitled “Sensory Evaluation of Fermented Lapan Jerky Phase 2”, snatched the third Best Paper in the same category.

She mentioned that the college will benefit from these researches since rabbit is one of the research thrusts of the school; second, it will benefit the people who are involved in rabbit raising and production, because they are not just developing product from rabbit but also promoting the consumption of rabbit which would mean profit to those people.

While, the research exhibited by Nikki Ann V. Macabontoc with her co-researcher Norelline S. Gabas, entitled “Social Media Competitiveness of BASC Student Leaders and Campus Advisers through Media Literacy”, overshadowed the other research papers in the Social Research Category.

According to Ms. Macabontoc, ecstatic would be an understatement because she never expected to bag the Best Paper award in the said category.

She mentioned that there will be a second part of their research because they have to amend and revise some parts of their research paper. She also said that they are working on a new research proposal for internal funding, and

1st Place: “Standardization of Lapan Jerky Processing through Fermentation Phase 1” Researchers: Joy Christine V. Sta. Cruz, Noime J. Mallari and Marielle D. Gamboa 2nd Place: “Utilization of Rabbit Meat in the Preparation of Dumplings (Ramplings)” Researchers: Sonny E. Dela Cruz

and Eleonora V. Uy 3rd Place: “Sensory Evaluation of Fermented Lapan Jerky Phase 2” Researchers: Joy Christine V. Sta. Cruz, Marielle D. Gamboa Social Research Category 1st Place: “Social Media Competitiveness of BASC Student Leaders and Campus Advisers through Media Literacy” Researchers: Nikki Ann V. Macabontoc and Norelline S. Gabas 2nd Place: “Development and PreUse Evaluation of Instructional Materials in Animal Science” Researcher: Honeylet J. Nicolas 3rd Place: “Implementation of Guidance Services to Psychological Well-being of College Students” Researcher: Christine Grimaldo**

IEAT-SC connects freshies; stirs ‘Webity’ MARK JOSHUA D.S. SUNGA TO create connection and pave the way for Institute of Engineering and Applied Technology’s (IEAT) freshmen to adapt to the new normal mode of education, IEATStudent Council (SC) organized a “Webity” via Zoom application, August 25.

The said activity was made to ensure the connectivity of every freshmen partaker in coping up with the new mode of learning during the pandemic as part of the new normal scheme.

Board member on Cultural Affairs Effie Delos Reyes said that this activity was planned by the IEAT-SC officers to help lessen the awkwardness of the students. “Ang layunin ng activity na ito ay upang makilala ng mga estudyante ang kanilang mga kaklase,” she added.

“Mula ng gabi na maisip ito (Agosto 24, 2020 -5:50 pm) ay kaagad nagdesisyon ang

ISC na ipagpatuloy ito at gawing Activity para sa mga 1st year students since wala pa silang gagawin kinabukasan,” Rose Ann Ramon, IEAT-SC Governor said.

The Webity consisted of series of session between the IEAT-SC and each section of the Institute’s freshmen which started 9:00 in the morning and supposed to end by 3:00 in the afternoon.

However, Ramon said that an hour was added to accommodate the students who could not access the Zoom application.

“Nagsuggest sila na sa Google Meet so lahat ng student na hindi naka connect during their respective time ay binigyan ng pagkakataon ng 3:00pm to 4:00 pm,” she said.

Meanwhile, five winners from every course who participated in the game were awarded with 50 peso load prepared by IEAT-SC officers. Ramon said that the games were prepared to >> pg. 05

NEWS|05

Tahip

SSC, Samahang Panitik: Kapangyarihan ng wikang katutubo MELANIE N. HIZON pinag-ibayo sa kabila ng pandemya SA pakikipagkapit-bisig ng Supreme Student Council (SSC) sa Samahang Panitik at sa pinagtibay na lakas ng makabagong teknolohiya, hindi nahadlangan ng pandemya ang paggunita sa kapangyarihan ng wikang katutubo sa gitna ng sakuna sa pamamagitan ng paglulunsad ng patimpalak, Agosto 24-31.

Naisakatuparan ang naturang patimpalak sa pamamagitan ng Facebook bilang platform ng pagdaraos sa temang “Wika ng Kasaysayan, Kasaysayan ng Wika: Ang mga Katutubong Wika sa MakaFilipinong Bayanihan Kontra Pandemya”, na layong mapagbuklod ang mga Pilipino sa pamamagitan ng kolektibong paggamit sa mga wikang katutubo.

“Para maisakatuparan ang pagdiriwang na ito, nagkaroon kami ng serye ng pagtitipon sa pamamagitan ng Zoom. Kami ay nakipag-ugnayan from IEAT-SC connects freshies...

help the students loosen up and be comfortable and the prizes were sponsored by the advisers of the Student Council.

“Masaya ‘yong activity, sa prize, ayos naman magagamit worth it lalo na sa mga nanalo na kailangan na kailangan ng load araw araw,”said Jennen Sesnorio, freshmen from (BSIT)-1B.

The activity was divided into four parts; introduction of the Supreme Student Council and the Institute Student Council, explanation on how to use Zoom app, brief explanation of their respective courses, and the game.

Freshmen from Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (BSABEn), Bachelor of Science in Food Technology (BSFT), Bachelor of Science in Geodetic Engineering (BSGE) and BSIT joined the said Webity.

NAKAKULONG NGUNIT HINDI PIPI. Sa kabila ng pananatili sa loob ng bahay ay ginamit ni Clarisse Asuncion mula sa Instituto ng Edukasyon ang kanyang boses upang bigyang-diin ang kahalagahan ng Wikang Katutubo sa gitna ng pandemya.

sa Samahang Panitik upang sila ay maging katuwang namin sa pagdaos nitong aktibidad. Doon ay nabuo ang mga plano at amin itong isinakatuparan,” ani Christian Jay Porciuncula, pansamantalang Pangulo ng Supreme Student Council. Ayon kay Porciuncula, malaki ang kaibahan ng pagsasagawa nito ng pisikal at birtwal, sapagkat hindi lubos na maipakikita ang diwa ng pagdiriwang dahil sa mga limitasyon ngunit sinikap pa rin nila itong mairaos nang matiwasay.

Ang pagdiriwang na ito ng Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa 2020 ay nagsilbi ring paraan sa pagpapakita ng mga natatanging abilidad ng mag-aaral ng dalubhasaan sa paggawa ng slogan, paggawa ng digital poster, pagkuha ng larawan, spoken word poetry, pagbigkas ng tula at pagsulat ng sanaysay.

Ayon kay Clarisse Ann Asuncion, BSEd 3A, nagkamit ng unang parangal sa Spoken Poetry at Pagbigkas ng Tula, nangibabaw ang kanyang pagkahilig at pagmamahal sa pagsulat at pagbigkas ng tula kaya hindi siya nagdalawang isip na lumahok.

“Gusto kong maipabatid ang kahalagahan ng wika bilang tulay sa bayanihan sa pamamagitan ng aking mga piyesa,” saad ni Asuncion.

Sa kabilang banda, nanaig naman ang hilig ni Yvyrhon B. Reyes, BSIT 1A, sa

pagkuha ng larawan.

“Yung flag po ay simbolo ng bayanihan at yung syringe po at water drop ay yung gamot sa pandemya. Kung makikita po, ‘yung repleksyon po ng flag ay nasa water drop, so it means po na ang gamot sa kinahaharap natin ngayon ay bayanihan ng masang Pilipino po,” pagpapaliwanag ni Reyes sa konsepto ng kanyang larawan.

Ibinahagi naman ni Rodney Darren Dela Cruz, Pangulo ng Samahang Panitik, ang kanyang saloobin sa tuluyang pagtanggal ng Filipino bilang asignatura sa kolehiyo. “Last year palang po nakalulungkot na, paano pa po kaya ngayon na tuluyan nang nawala ang Filipino at Panitikan sa kolehiyo? Bilang isang kabataan, isang malaking pangamba ang hatid nito para sa akin,” pagbabahagi ni Dela Cruz.

Sa kabila ng kalungkutan, tiniyak niya pa rin na mananatili ang sigaw para sa wika at bayan sa kanilang mga panghinaharap na plano.

Ang mga sumusunod ay ang tala ng mga nanalo sa bawat kategorya sa nasabing patimpalak: Paggawa ng Islogan Unang Pwesto - Pearly Jane A. Abillanoza (IM) Ikalawang Pwesto - Katherine C. Aquino (IEd) Ikatlong Pwesto - Jaynell I. Bautista (IEd)

Paggawa ng Digital Poster Unang Pwesto - Raphael G. Policarpio (IEAT) Ikalawang Pwesto - Eliseo G. Dela Cruz (IM) Ikatlong Pwesto - Ian Edrey I. Cruz (IEd) at Angelo Dela Cruz (IM) Pagkuha ng Larawan Unang Parangal - Yvyrhon B. Reyes (IEAT) Ikalawang Parangal - Mark Vincent A. Gamboa (IEd) at Jessa F. Roy (CA) Ikatlong Parangal - Glorine C. Camo (CA) Spoken Word Poetry Unang Parangal - Clarisse Ann A. Asuncion (IEd) Ikalawang Parangal - Shane Angela D. Serrano (LHS) Ikatlong Parangal - Michael Angelo T. Victoria (LHS) Pagbigkas ng Tula Unang Parangal - Clarisse Ann A. Asuncion (IEd) Ikalawang Parangal - Jazz Kyla I. De Castro (IM) Ikatlong Parangal - Sandria B. Carrasco (IEd) Pagsulat ng Sanaysay Unang Parangal - Victoria Cura (IEAT) Ikalawang Parangal - Melanie N. Hizon (IEd) Ikatlong Parangal - Christian M. Gonzales (IEd) Pinakaaktibong Instituto - IEd Pangkabuuang Kampyon - IEd Ikalawang Parangal - IEAT Ikatlong Parangal - IM Ikaapat na Parangal - CA at LHS.**

06|LITERARY

Last Hope LATUJA, Princes Josephine

Five long months has passed. I wasn’t sick, but I am now; not because of the disease but because of the isolation and the messed up system we have in our country. I am away from my family and friends, but I’m always with my co-medical workers and the patients we take care of.

I heaved a deep breath as I looked at the white uniform that I had to disinfect every time I wore it off. My mind spaced out, thinking when to escape the reality of today; when will the world be free from the threat of the contagious disease of COVID-19?

My phone rang and I immediately took the call. “Hi Mommy! I miss you! When are you coming home?” The small voice of my three-year-old son came from the phone. I see to it to see and hear him through calls or video calls for months.

“Hi, baby!” I greeted him with my lively voice; covering how physically tired I was from work and emotionally exhausted I was from the blame we received from the body which supposed to be helping us. “I miss you so much! Mommy will be home soon,” I convince him again, for the nth time.

“You already told me that many times!” My son wailed, started to have his tantrums again.

“I miss you so much, but you’re still not home and that ‘soon’ is really long!” I heard the stomping of his feet as he started to cry.

Tahip

Sa wakas natapos na...

Laban lang, Ate Luz

Sa pagbaba ko ng mga paninda galing sa sasakyan nila Ate Nila, agad ko na ring pinunasan ang mga ga-munggo kong pawis.

Inabot na rin sa akin ang upa ko para sa araw na iyon.

Ulap na siyang sagisag ng kalinisan, iwinawagayway ang puri’t karangalan.

Karagatang ‘sing rikit ng kalangitan, hatid ay dalisay na kapayapaan.

HIZON, Nathaniel

“Uuwi na po ako Ate Nila, sa susunod po ulit. Maraming salamat po!” Medyo hingal kong sambit.

“Pasensya ka na, boy, sayo pa natapat ang pagdating ng mga de-lata kong paninda ngayong araw,” tugon ni Ate Nila sa akin.

“Oo nga po, ate Nila, ‘di ko na rin maitatanggi mukhang halata naman po sa itsura ko at boses,” pahingal ko pa ring tugon.

Nang ako ay naglalakad na, ‘di pa ako nakalalayo ay narinig ko ang sigaw ni Ate Nila...

“Boy!” Agad naman akong napalingon.

Akala ko ay dadagdagan niya ang upa ko, biro ko sa aking sarili.

“Anong baitang mo na nga pala ngayong pasukan?”

“Grade 2 po.”

To hear my son crying did not help me; the lump in my throat gave me a very difficult time to breathe, and it caused pain in my chest for longing to caress his face, to brush his soft hair, to carry him in my arms and to hug him as tight as I can. I badly wanted to be with him again. “I promise, I will be home soon...”

GRAPHICS | DEAN DANIEL MEMPIN

PANGILINAN, Ashley

Subalit sa isang iglap dugo’y kumalat.

Katapangan kung saan tao’y namulagat, ngayo’y isang salot sa paglaganap.

Dumadaluyong sa milyong pangarap.

Sa paghupa ng alon ay pagsilip ni Haring Araw.

Sa pagkapit-bisig, tagumpay ay maaagaw.

Mula sa pitong libong pulo ng perlas ng silangan, si Luzviminda ay patuloy na lalaban.

Want Over Not GONZALES, Bianca Gail Stomach is grumbling in the middle of the night.

Body is shaking due to the chilling breeze; but with hands clasp together tightly.

Hopes never leave your sight.

When it floods, you built a raft.

When mountains block your way, you hike.

When you fall into the depths, you climb.

You keep turning the pages, not because it’s easy, but because you wanted to.

LITERARY|07

Tahip

You Forgot to Tell me How DE JESUS, Jocelle

Drastic changes occur faster than lightnings at one moment we were together. Suddenly, you are nowhere to be found.

Thunderstorms, shouted at my ears louder than ever. Deafening sounds are digging as if it is right inside of me.

Clouds weeping harder than it carries. The same weigh of your last breath in my arms, as if it took mine and I knew at that

moment, I went with you too.

You comforted me an hour before on your hospital bed, holding my hands tightly. Smiling so breathtakingly, your words linger clearly to me, saying that, “Everything is going to be fine, you have to live—oh no! Promise me, you’ll live happily instead.”

Loosing from your grip, I just remembered and whispered, “Exactly, how?”

Scintilla of Opulence

MASONG, Aileen

I am not home yet, ‘cause I earn nothing.

I doze on streets; my persistent abode.

Furnish my paunch with alms, and board nowhere by feet.

Nobody to express living; spent days in blurred face.

Until I ignored my immunity, accosted in scarce.

My firmest spirit, is positively negative.

Resiliency HIZON, Melanie each day is a little more heavy now; what makes it lighter is a perfectly brewed coffee on the table, and a good book to fill the mind; an ideal mixture of hope and faith for a good mindset, and above all, love. set aside worries on the cliff of the table, let it hang there for a minute or two, and when you gather the courage to continue, live the life you left hanging, for living this life is resiliency; sometimes, we are bended, but we learn to stand up unswerving, for we are the most massive characters sealed with scars.

GRAPHICS | DEAN DANIEL MEMPIN

08|LITERARY

Tahip

My Mother’s Passage SUNGA, Mark Joshua

We will come to a point in our lives where we have to choose between two things, and I have gone through this.

Riding Solo HAGAD, Rand Cristian Life is more likely similar to a bumper car; we can never tell when and what car will bump on us.

Little did we know, everyday is a ride in the carrousel; something that enlightens us and make it go ‘round.

Being in a ferris wheel takes a lot of time.

All we need is to be patient, life has ups and downs.

Going in an extreme ride is testing our prowess; Aware when going up, but does not know when to fall.

Our world is the biggest amusement park.

Having different rides and each has its own challenge.

By means of having a strong faith can make us stronger.

Be brave, life is full of surprises.

Kalasag Semicolon Little Bullet HIZON, Melanie my weapon in life isn’t sword, spell, gun nor blade —smile: my bullet.

HIZON, Melanie The near end of the road is visible from here. I walked slower than usual. Strange from the normal days I used to feel the adrenaline rush to finish the unfinish. Slower than slower, I walk counting little steps. I don’t want to see the terminal yet; maybe tomorrow.

GRAPHICS | RAPHAEL POLICARPIO

CASTILLO, Joshua Nagliyab ang hardin na dalisay.

Humagulgol ng iyak ang kanlungan.

Niyanig ng ‘di magkasundong paa ang lupa.

Tumubo ang nakasasawing sumpa, kasabay ng isang malawakang pagsabog, ngunit hindi ako nagpadaig.

Tangan ko pa rin ang pananalig, na siyang nakatulos sa aking dibdib.

My mother had an unlikely complication of breathing. She also began to weaken because of this pandemic. I suspect that my mother’s illness is like this deadly disease. Like the speculations, there is no cure, so I decided to just let my mother take her own treatment. However, it constantly gets worse. It has also become the wick of her life.

I grew up with a space in my heart but it was able to show what I should hold on to. Now my heart is enveloped in gold. It is not the power of burning emotions which became my foundation, because even before it came out, something shone inside me.

I saw it. I saw that light as big as the sun. It determines the strength of my mind and the power of my spirit and will prove that in any challenge of life, there is a dedicated little chance of power that will save my dark hope.

Until I realized, those were the last words of my mom before she died.

Little Wildflower SAN PEDRO, Lloydd Dafydd Look at you, facing into a problem queue.

Are you in charge of your blue?

Even you wish to click the undo, problems are going here and going through.

People judge you, hilarity will ensue; But still loving anyone even they think you’re a jew.

Rebuild your laugh like in a revue.

Finding your biggest coup, trying to build a life anew.

Then look at you.

LITERARY|09

Tahip

Ang Hindi Nakikita, Nahahawakan, Naaamoy at Naririnig OCAMPO, Jayson Kaibuturan ng gabi, nakahilata at nakikipagtitigan sa kisame.

Pilit inaagaw ng bagabag ang saglitang paghimbing— Ang payapang paglalakbay patungo sa magandang panaginip.

Dilat-matang binabangungot.

Buhol-buhol ang isip.

Lulan ng dibdib ang mga kabang naipon, sa ilang araw nang pagkakabilanggo sa tahanan at pagdistansya sa kapwa na magpapatuloy hangga’t nasa paligid ang panganib, ng pandemyang unti-unting nilulupig ang sangkatauhan.

Umuulan ng mga katanungan sa kaloob-looban ko bunsod ng takot: Sapat na ba ang maskarang pansala ng hininga, at ang likidong pamatay-bakterya upang magarantiya ang ating kaligtasan?

Gaano ba kahirap labanan ang hindi kayang sugpuin ng bala, lalo na’t hindi ito nakikita,

nahahawakan, naaamoy, at naririnig?

Matatapos pa ba ito, o ito na ang ating katapusan?

Kaibuturan pa rin ng gabi.

Habang nalulunod ako sa takot, nagsilbing salbabida ang pag-asa, at itinaboy ang bawat pangamba at bagabag.

Ako ay pinaidlip nito nang panatag, at payapang pinaglakbay patungo sa magandang panaginip, upang makapagpahinga’t ihanda ang sarili, dahil kailangan ko pang gumising sa bawat bukas.

Hindi bibitawan ang paniniwalang, gigising sa isang umagang maayos na ang lahat— ‘Pagkat kung nagagawang matakot sa pandemya, magagawa ring kumapit at manalig sa tunay na magliligtas sa atin sa kalbaryong ito.

Kahit hindi rin Siya nakikita, nahahawakan, naaamoy, at naririnig.

What Do You Have There?

CAADAN, Alexis We once had a Wonderland where Alice visits everytime.

It is a sphere of surprises, marvels and dazzling rays of sunshine.

But try to look at the theater today, the show varies.

It turned to a Disney-like world where witches and royalties co-exist.

“Let the corona spread.”

A sorcerer casted a spell.

Gracious and pacific realm went chaotic, harmony fell.

Our king fights for vigor and quiescency, will you help him?

A large number of mankind is a bet, let us be a team.

Who would like to risk a life to sail in the stormy ocean?

Who would wish to speak with an angry tornado face to face?

Who would love to see people being eating by a crucial disease?

No one wanted to, but can you survive these?

My country has gone through it all, what do you have there?

GRAPHICS | RAPHAEL POLICARPIO

10|FEATURES

Tahip

ELIJAH MANGULABNAN

GRAPHICS & PAGE DESIGN | RAPHAEL POLICARPIO

FEATURES|11

Tahip

Just when we started shutting ourselves on the four corners of our home, the earth started to breath.

The number of viral infected people already inflated in most voluminous level causing the continuous extension of quarantine. With only few people allowed to go outside, the streets that used to bustle with noise of people passing by, are now peaceful and quiet. Vehicles which used to be stuck in the heavy traffic jam in EDSA are now silently parked in the comfort of their garage. The earth seemed to be unwinding in the middle of this pandemic.

The changes happening around us might be small and seem negligible, but it is there.

One of the benefits of quarantine is the noticeable drop of airpollution level.

With a span of one week after the government suspended the public transportation and non-essential related businesses, photographs of a clear skyline of Metro Manila with the breathtaking view of the Sierra Madre and the sunset flooded the internet. The implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) drastically affects the state of the country’s

environment. The emission of carbon dioxide dramatically declines, and levels of harmful pollutants which are unsubstantial constituents of the atmosphere have plummeted. On 2016, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) recorded that 80 % of the air pollution in the country came from the motor vehicles while the rest came from factories and open burning.

NASA’s Earth Observatories, the satellite monitoring pollution detected a drastic decrease of the said pollutants after the global shutdown. Thus, having less air pollution does not only affect nature, but our health as well.

Based from a news from Mongabay.com, it was said that cancer causing pollutants decreased during the first 6 weeks of the ECQ.

A study from the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed that one of the Philippines’ greatest health emergencies is air pollution which already recorded a total of 45.3 deaths for every 100,000 people on 2018.

In China, where the first case of virus was reported, it is shown that the air pollutants in the country have decreased ever since the lockdown. Similar case of falling of pollutants level happened in Manila during week long period of lockdown.

Before the lockdown, the Philippines ranked 57th out of 98 countries in IQAir AirVisual’s list of the world’s most polluted countries in 2019 and according to Greenpeace study, 11,000 and 27,000 deaths has been linked to Manila’s air pollution in 2018 alone, affecting 98% of the capital

region’s 12.8 million people.

However, CREA Analysis of IQ Air monitoring data showed that almost 50% of Philippine pollution has toned down for the month of April.

Our presence affects the nature greatly. We are the reasons why our environment is polluted to begin with. We do not throw our trash in proper place; instead, we throw them at roads, lakes, or ponds. Our vehicles also produce mass dark smokes because we are not taking care of them properly. We also do not plant trees back and just greedily cut them.

But of course, the changes during the pandemic might only be felt this time if we don’t make the changes ourselves.

An Article by the Greenpeace Philippines which was

...the changes during the pandemic might only be felt this time if we don’t make the changes ourselves.”

published June 3, 2020 indicated that, “The Special Report on Managing Air Quality Beyond COVID-19 reveals that pollution levels in Metro Manila have been steadily increasing since the beginning of May, as industries restart and cities that have major connecting highways reportedly began seeing more vehicles on the road.”

Once the pandemic ends, pollution and the acts of harmful things that we do to our nature would most likely rise again, and the good changes that happened during the pandemic would be gone, eventually. We shouldn’t be thankful that the Earth healed for only sometime because of the pandemic, we should change ourselves to let nature heal and we should be able to heal nature ourselves.

12|OPINION

Tahip “THE UNDERPRIVILEGED WILL BE LEFT BEHIND!” Catapult

Bianca Gail D.C. Gonzales Editor-in-Chief BSEd Science 3 biancagailgonzales5@gmail.com

ABANDONED: The educational sector of the Philippines planned to continue the academic year with the goal to leave no student behind. But with the Department of Education’s blended learning approach, I am certain that many Filipino students will be sold down to the river.

Going back to the second semester of the Academic Year 2019-2020, we could remember that face-to-face classes were put in a halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This gave way for the said “new normal” to emerge. Alternative modes of learning, basically an online-based learning, catered the students until the end of the semester. With a span of three months dwelling with the alternative modes of learning, students already expressed their disapproval and cried their concerns.

For the incoming academic year, it seemed to me that the cries of the struggling Filipino students were not loud enough for the deaf ears to be heard. The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) with the approval of the President of our country will push through the coming academic year using the new normal method which includes online class, modular learning and the like. This is another direct hit to the stability of our struggling Filipino fellowmen in this time of pandemic. Struggle to keep living everyday and to at least serve a decent meal once a day became harder as the new normal in education requires more than determination.

On June 16, a 19-year-old boy hanged himself due to worrying that buying electronic equipment for online learning would cause additional burden for his family to bear.

Earlier this year, during the first usage of the alternative mode of learning, two 20-year-old students both died; one due to a motorcycle accident on her way home and the other after climbing a mountain. Both of them were searching for signal to submit the academic requirements given to them.

If this method will continuously be forced to our underprivileged fellowmen, their everyday life will be even harder. The small earning they accumulate each day, which is now smaller due to the pandemic, and supposedly allotted

for food will turn to money allocation for online class. The digital divide being faced by the students nowadays will worsen. Let us admit that not all Filipino families are capable of providing their child with needs for the upcoming online class.

Another modality is the use of modules to reduce the expenses for internet connection. It will somehow be an alternative only if modules will be delivered to the house of the students. Not all students are living nearby school or have their own vehicles to collect the modules from the school. With our situation with the pandemic, public transportation has been limited and if there are few, fare is somehow higher.

Learning through modules can also give hard times for the students and their family members; saying that a student from an underprivileged family most often has a mother or a father who only attained high school or worst have never attended any formal schooling. How could they possibly

For the incoming academic year, it seemed to me that the cries of the struggling Filipino students were not loud enough for the deaf ears to be heard.”

assist their children at home when they do not even know how to explain the lesson by themselves?

Other than the students, let us also consider the situation of the educators. Upon the implementation of the alternative mode of learning, they will have to utilize the limited grounds where they can teach the lesson. Teachers who have been in the profession for decades are much adept to the traditional teaching method and are not expert with the new technology. Thus, it gives the teachers insufficient resources to bring out the best educational potential of the students.

With the alternative modes of learning, teaching will be teacher-centered and only the cognitive aspect of the students can be developed. Holistic learning will be put aside. Courses such as BS Agriculture, Animal Science, Nursing and Medicine needed more involvement of the students and actual lesson to gain full learning of the lesson. Online class will not be suitable for them.

Filipino families, especially those who are underprivileged, still struggle to survive amidst this pandemic, and academic freeze could be the best option for the educational sector. To have an academic freeze just until a vaccine is discovered will both save the teachers, the students and the quality of education to be provided.

This will lessen the worry of the students as well as the worries of their families. With this, no student will be left behind. The digital divide will not worsen and students as well as the teachers’ mental health will be addressed.

Education is the key to success, but pushing education this way with a system that is not ready, will be meaningless. To say that educational sectors push this academic year through despite the pandemic when students will suffer mental health and financial problems on the process, is not an achievement.

S-PULSE|13

Tahip Mga Karanasan ng mga Estudyante ng BASC sa Pagbubukas ng Akademikong Taon 2020-2021 sa Gitna ng Pandemya “Ang aking karanasan sa unang linggo ng pagbubukas ng klase ay may halong kaba at pagkalito dahil nga bago na ang ating ginagalawan.

Hindi ko gamay at maaaring lahat ay hindi gamay ang paraan ng pagkatuto ngayong may pandemya.

May pagkalito sa mga applications katulad ng google classroom, google meet, at zoom. Ngunit bilang estudyante ng ating dalubhasaan, kakayanin natin at makikisabay tayo sa kung ano man ang nararapat upang maituloy at makasama sa bagong daloy ng edukasyon.”

—Jabo, BSHM 2B

“Una siyempre hindi stable na internet connection lalo na at data lang ang gamit ko at hindi wifi.

Madalas nadidisconnect ako kapag nag-oonline meeting thru zoom and google meet.”

—Angelica Infermo, BSEd Science 3A

“Ayon nakakapanibago siya, as in, kasi malayong malayo sa nakasanayan nating klase. Medyo hirap din mag-antay sa mga chat ng prof natin if may klase na ba o wala.

Pare-parehas naman nag-aadjust pero kung tutuusin mahirap talaga lalo na sa mga walang pirmis na access sa internet at walang makabagong teknolohiya. Looking forward na lang sana na maging effective kahit papaano para ‘di rin masayang effort nating lahat.”

—Rachelle V. Hipolito, BSABEN 2

“Para sa akin, maganda ang naging karanasan ko sa unang linggo ng pagbubukas ng klase. Kahit na medyo mahirap din ang pagsabay sa makabagong paraang ito, masasabi kong magsisilbi itong ‘challenge’ sa kung paano ito masosolusyunan ng bawat isa.”

—Tweety Bird, DVM 1A

“Hindi ko masyadong naramdaman ang kahandaan ng dalubhasaan sa pagbubukas nito. Nahihirapan ako sa maraming bagay sa ngayon na iniisip ko palang ito.”

—Batman

“Nakakapanibago at hirap sa pag-intindi kung papaano ang magiging takbo ng pag-aaral sa taong ito. Nangangamba na baka hindi makasabay dahil sa hirap ng internet sa aming lugar at kawalan sa pinansyal na pangangailangan.”

—Marlon, BSA AnSci 2C

“Sa unang linggo ng klase ay wala pa kaming mga balita sa mga mangyayari patungkol sa magiging concept ng klase namin, dahil hindi pa kami handa mentally, emotionally at financially...para sa akin mahirap mag-aral sa panahon ng pandemic na ito dahil maraming distraction sa paligid natin.”

—Alyssa Colipat, BSAM 3A

“Sa pagbubukas ng unang linggo sa panibagong semestre, masasabi ko na mahirap para sa tulad ko na estudyante na mas natututo kapag ang instructor ay kaharap at nagpapaliwanag katulad ng nakasanayan. Mas naiintindihan ko ang lessons lalo na ang ibang subject na mahirap aralin at intindihin mag-isa. Ngunit sa sistema natin ngayon ay tila nagiging mahirap at nagiging self-learning na ang set-up dahil sa pandemya at paraan ng ating pag-aaral sa pamamagitan nitong online class.”

—Kryztin Trinidad, BSIT-2A

“Naguluhan lang kasi ‘di namin halos kilala mga prof, kung paano magri-reach out sa kanila at paano sisimulan ang klase.”

—Luna

Mga Problemang Kinaharap ng mga Estudyante ng BASC sa Unang Linggo ng Klase at Rekomendasyong nais nilang Imungkahi sa Administrasyon “Wala akong kinaharap na problema bilang estudyante, pero bilang lider-estudyante. Kagaya ng hindi pagbubukas ng “messaging tab” ng Registrar ay naging mahirap para sa amin dahil kahit saan ay hindi sila sumasagot para matugunan ang mga katanungan ng mga bagong estudyante na papasok sa kolehiyo na sila lamang ang nakaaalam at makasasagot sa mga katanungan na iyon. Naging pasalin-salin ang mga katanungan dahil walang makasagot nito.

Rekomendasyon: Kailangang i-balanse ng kolehiyo ang mga aktibidad na kahaharapin at ginagawa nila ngayon upang hindi lalong mahirapan ang mga estudyante, maging ang mga guro.

Ang lahat ay may pag-aadjust na nangyayari pero kung hindi pala handa, sana hindi muna nagbukas at ipinagpaliban muna ngayong buwan.

Wala ring malinaw na panuntunan sa pagpili ng “online” at “modular” distance learning.”

—Sherina Jem C. San Mateo, BEEd 3A

“Paghahanap ng iba pa naming kaklase. Siguro po dapat may mga naka-assign na tutulong sa paghahanap sa iba’t-ibang estudyante sa bawat courses na dapat sila naman talaga yung nag aasikaso non at hindi kami.

‘Yong iba kumpleto na sa instructors pero kami nagdaan ang isang linggo dalawa pa lang nakapag-orient, maaaring bago lang kami na course pero kung sa kagustuhan ninyong mag bukas agad ang paaralan na ito sa tamang panahon sana inihanda niyo na lahat ng mga profs namin before pa mag-start ang online class. All you need to do is to be ready and open enough to listen to the student’s supplications here in BASC.” —Early Dawn B. Latuja, DVM 1A

“Tungkol sa akin ay wala naman gaanong problema dahil sa nakakasagap naman ako ng sapat na internet connection na magagamit para sa bagong gawi ng klase, pero pagdating sa karanasan ko sa sistema ay napansin ko ang kakulangan sa kahandaan. May mga oras na nasasayang dahil sa pagiging abala ng mga guro. Nagsimula ang klase ng walang kasiguraduhan ang schedule. Ang pagkakaiba-iba ng paraan ng mga guro ay nakadagdag rin sa kalituhan. Ang iba’t-ibang aplikasyon na kinakailangan ay nagiging sanhi ng pagbagal ng phone dahil naookupa nito ang natitirang espasyo ng cellphone.

Upang matugunan ang mga problema o mga kakulangang ito ay dapat mas paghandaan sa mga susunod na pagkakataon at huwang madaliin.

Bigyan din sana ang mga guro ng sapat na panahon para mas makapaghanda. Pagdating naman sa mga aplikasyon ay limitahan na lang ang mga aplikasyong ipagagamit ng sa gayo’y ‘di magdulot ng pagbagal ng mga cellphone at makabawas na rin sa kalituhan.”

—Arvhic San Diego, BSBA 3A

“Internet access at full storage sa cp dahil sa apps na kailangan sa klase at PDF na kilangan mo i-download.”

—Sharmaine Labitag, BSABEn 3A

“Nahirapan ako sa unang gamit ng mga online platforms para sa online class. Sana ay nagbigay man lang ng simple guidelines ang administration ng BASC sa mga students dahil hindi naman lahat ay may kaalaman sa mga online platform or applications.”

—L

”Minsan problema para sakin ‘yong pagchachat ng prof sa ‘di nila time sched kasi nagkakaron ng confusion sa dami ng subjects. Tapos

‘di pa rin gaanong

malinaw kung paano mangyayari sa e-learning

at modular learning. Hindi

pa gaanong nakakapag adjust ‘yong mismong

school sa new normal.

Huli sa lahat, siguradong sigurado ako na mas mahirap

matuto ngayon kumpara sa

face to face learning.”

—Uhm

Ang malintog na butil ng ani’y natatabunan ng mga dumi’t ipang nagkukubli sa tunay nitong hiyas; katulad ng maruming sistemang humahadlang sa pagkakita ng tunay na pagsulong, pagbabago’t pag-unlad.

Ang bawat marahang pagtahip ng palay ay katumbas ng banayad na pagkapuro nito.

Ang dumi’t ipa’y humihiwalay sa tunay na ani. Bilang mamamayang Pilipino ng papaunlad pa lamang na bansa, magsimulang maging kritikal. Ilihis ang sistemang tiwali at hindi mapagkakatiwalaan sa mabisang pamamalakad, upang mabigyang katuparan ang masidhing pagnanais na maging pinakamainam na anyo ng sarili, at ng bansa.