TheSPARK Volume XLI, No. 1

TheSPARK T R U T H

NEWSLETTER | VOLUME XLI | NO. 1

K N O W S

N O

L I M I T S

THE OFFICIAL STUDENT-COMMUNITY PUBLICATION OF CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES | AUGUST-DECEMBER 2021

EDITORIAL

BLIND IDOLATRY The term “fanatic” is often used negatively, considering that anything exceeding the normal is bad. Support is okay, as long as it is rooted in rationality, critical-thinking, and the urge to provide positive changes.

A lot of people, especially teenagers, can relate to the movie Fan Girl by Antoinette Jadaone. The story revolves around Jane, an infatuated fan who finds a way to meet her celebrity crush, Paulo Avelino (as a fictional version of himself). In Fan Girl, Jane eventually realizes that his idol isn’t quite the perfect man she made him out to be when nobody’s watching. The film is a vicious wolf in sheep’s clothing, starting off as a pleasurable descent into the whims of an impressionable teenager before evolving into the dangerous expositions of blind idolatry.

Read on page 31

DEVCOM Pagbibigay-kabuhayan sa mga Baaoeño \ 08

FEATURES Behind the Bars \ 20

SPORTS

OPINION

Incapabilities to Capabilities \ 25

A Chance to Step Forward \ 28

Contact and reach us through:

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@thesparkpub

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50.73% of CSPCeans Oks Council’s new CBL; plebiscite logs 54.05% voter turnout STORY BY CHRISTELLE ONG

The plebiscite for the revised Constitution and By-Laws (CBL) of the Central Student Council, soon-to-be Supreme Student Council, recorded 54.05 percent voter turnout, or 5,440 of the 10,065 total number of undergraduate students in CSPC, constituting the 50.73 percent or 5,106 of CSPCeans who signified approval to the revision.

A CALL FOR A NEW CHALLENGE.

On October 22, 2021, the Camarines Polytechnic Colleges held the 2021 CBL Plebiscite and Student General Assembly, which was attended via Zoom for student leaders. Other students, however, participated via a streamed Facebook Live posted unto the official FB page of the student government, headed by the CSPC-Central Student Council’s President Nick Namoro, soon to be known as CSPC-Supreme Student Council (CSPC-SSC).

-JAMELA HAZEL TRANQUILO

Of the total number of students, 49.95 percent or 4,625 did not vote in the plebiscite, while 3.32 percent or 334 are not in favor of the revised CBL. As the poll was able to garner a total of 5,106 votes of approval, meeting the plebiscite criteria of

CSPC clinches 1st place in a nat’l bridge building competition

a majority vote (i.e., 50 percent of the student population plus one vote, or 5,033 votes of approval), the revised CBL proposed by the Council therefore suggests the new student governance charter of the Academe by virtue of the student body’s support to its adoption.

The revised CBL will be presented to the College Board of Trustees (BOT) at the 96th CSPC BOT Meeting for its ratification.

The voting period for the plebiscite of the Council’s new CBL started on October 22, and it was officially closed on October 25. The votes were counted and cleared on October 26, and the Council announced the results on October 27 through their official Facebook page.

GRAND SLAM.

Fourth-year BS Civil Engineering students Jomer Peones, Christian Goronal, and Joshua Cedilla bags first place in the Bridge Building Competition 2021 of the National Civil Engineering Summit (NCES) organized by the UP Association of Civil Engineering Students on September 25, 2021 via Zoom.

-JAMELA HAZEL TRANQUILO

STORY BY HADJIE BAZAR

The CSPC Blue Stallions composed of fourth year BS Civil Engineering students Jomer Peñones, Christian Goronal, and Joshua Cedilla, secured the first place in the Bridge Building Competition 2021 of the National Civil Engineering Summit (NCES) spearheaded by the UP Association of Civil Engineering Students.

Their entry of Bulsong Bridge bested 24 other bridge outputs designed by teams from different state universities and colleges all over the country.

Peñones was ecstatic after knowing that they have outsmarted other competitors across the nation.

The culmination and awarding for the said competition were held

September 25, via Zoom.

“Saktong-sakto ‘yung duration ng contest kasi nag-take na kami ng principles of steel design kaya nagamit namin yung mga natutuhan namin ‘dun,” said Cedilla when asked about their preparations during the competition. Moreover, he highlighted the value of delegating tasks in clinching the first spot of the said

competition.

The NCES this year has the theme “Innovation without Limits,” and it encouraged its participants to think, work, and act like professional civil engineers, emulating the very essence of what it takes to be among the country’s future nation builders.

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CSPCeans reap awards in nat’l tourism tilt STORY BY HADJIE BAZAR

Six CSPCeans won awards in the PISTA-gisan 2021: The PATTS Inter-Collegiate Meetings, Incentives, Convention and Exhibitions (MICE) Skills Competition, held on November 29 to December 3 via Zoom.

STUDENT TRIUMPHS.

Mary Marjorie Gamboa and Lawrence Ortiola in the midst of their MICE Destination Proposal during the PISTA-gisan 2021: The PATTS Inter-Collegiate Meetings, Incentives, Convention and Exhibitions (MICE) Skills Competition, which was held via Zoom from November 29 to December 3.

-JAMELA HAZEL TRANQUILO

Mary Marjorie Gamboa and Lawrence Ortiola have dominated the MICE Destination Proposal Campaign Competition after a topclinching performance alongside a striking 1st and 2nd Place distinction of awards for Daniela Nierva Alba and Nick Raphael Sasaluya, respectively, in Festival Makeup and Costume Competition.

Concurrently, Ms. Jessa Brioso has also carried the school’s pride in the competition leading her to a resounding 1st-placed victory in

the That’s My Prof competition, where Mr. Russel Bañaria has consequently ranked 4th amongst competitors across the nation.

The first placers will receive a cash prize, an e-certificate, and a trophy, while the succeeding placers will receive a cash prize and an e-certificate.

PISTA-gisan 2021 is a national event that featured webinars as well as knowledge- and skillsbased competitions that allowed contestants to showcase their creativity, analytical skills, and critical thinking strategies, spearheaded by the Philippine Air Transport and Training Services (PATTS) College of Aeronautics, in Parañaque, Metro Manila.

The event was participated by the state universities and colleges across the country.

BS Entrep student clinches 1st place, 2 other awards in spoken word poetry tilt by DOH-CSTRC STORY BY HADJIE BAZAR

Christian Cantor, a third year Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship student, secured first place with his piece “Bidyo” in the Spoken Word Poetry Competition (Adult Category) spearheaded by the Department of Health - Camarines Sur Treatment and Rehabilitation Center for the event “Bigkas at Parangal,” in celebration of this year’s Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Week.

Aside from bagging the championship, he was also recognized as the Resident’s Choice and claimed the Best in Composition Award during the event’s awarding ceremony held on November 20 at Villa Caceres Hotel, Naga City.

According to Cantor, the event provided a platform to deliver the hope that envisions the collective withdrawal from the socio-psychological aspects that motivate illegal drug consumption while becoming more open to conversations that tackle its related concerns.

“For me, it is my way na rin talaga on how we [can] stop the stigma... ‘Yong hindi sana natin hanapin sa mga gano’ng bagay (illegal drugs) ‘yong kasiyahan o gawin siyang escape to all of our problems... Sana [na-]enlighten ko sila sa part na ‘yon, lalo ngayon na major issue ‘yong mental health,” he said.

His spoken word piece “Bidyo” highlighted the scenes of reality in drug abuse and on how illegal drugs can be suppressed in civic unity, fair implementation efforts, and established opportunities.

Meanwhile, Cantor sees the competition and its alike undertakings as an avenue towards actively taking part on significant endeavors that can contribute to discovering the greater potentials of oneself. “... The important thing naman is we always surpass our limits, kasi sobrang fulfilling kapag nalalagpasan mo ‘yong best mo,” he stated, as he also acknowledged the difficulty in balancing academic responsibilities alongside other goals that hold similar importance in their pursuit.

THE POET’S FOCUS.

Christian E. Cantor, a BS Entrepreneurship student from the Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges delivers his “Bidyo” spoken word poetry entry in a competition sponsored by the DOHCamarines Sur Treatment and Rehabilitation Center.

-MICHAEL WILLIAM RONCO

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CSPCean bags silver in the Philippine National Skills Competition

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RESOUNDING VICTORY.

Third-year BS Electrical Engineering student, Elmar Umali, of Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges (CSPC), along with his expert, Engr. Eddie L. Cabaltera, won a silver medal in Electrical Installation at the 2021 Philippine National Skills Competition (PNSC), in Taguig City, Metro Manila, which occurred from December 13 to 16.

-JAMELA HAZEL TRANQUILO

STORY BY JOHN REYNOLD BRIOSO

Elmar Umali, a 3rd Year BS Electrical Engineering student of the Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges (CSPC) bags silver medal in Electrical Installation during the 2021 Philippine National Skills Competition (PNSC) held last December 13 to 16, in Taguig City, Metro Manila.

“Preparation ko before laban, nag-training muna po ako sa school tapos nagsimba, nag-pray na sana kayanin ko kasi 18 hours kong gagawin ‘yng test project,” said Umali when asked what his preparations during the contest are.

Umali outsmarted 10 other contenders coming from the

different regions of the country.

Aside from the medal, Umali also received a check worth Php 20,000.

Contenders from Region 4A-CALABARZON and Region XIIICaraga bagged the gold and bronze medals respectively.

Sponsored by the Technical

Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the event aimed at further developing the skills of Filipino students across the country.

Umali was coached by expert Engr. Eddie Cabaltera.

Team Marketing Magics clinches 2nd place in a national business case tilt STORY BY JOHN REYNOLD BRIOSO

The team Marketing Magics, comprised of the College of Business Management students Baby Cloe Joy R. Ronan (BS Tourism Management), Gerhard Vince Ibaretta (BS Entrepreneurship), and Shiela Mae C. Parco (BS Tourism Management) clinches 2nd place in the first Northwestern University (NWU) Business Case Competition held last December 10, 2021.

THE TEAM OF WITS AND TALENTS.

Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges’ College of Business Management students, Baby Cloe Joy R. Ronan (BS Tourism Management, left), Gerhard Vince Ibaretta (BS Entrepreneurship, center), and Shiela Mae C. Parco (BS Tourism Management, right), placed second in the first Northwestern University (NWU) Business Case Competition held on December 10, 2021.

-JAMELA HAZEL TRANQUILO

Out of the ten competing teams across the country in the preliminary rounds, the Marketing Magics emerged as among the top three teams included for the finals. “‘Di namin ini-expect kasi national contest ‘yun tapos iba’t ibang schools ang nag-compete. First time rin namin sumama sa ganitong klaseng event kaya medyo nakakapanibago talaga,” said Parco when asked how she felt after knowing they made it to the top three.

She further said that she was

undeniably happy knowing that the team shall be representing the school and at the same time the province of Camarines Sur in a national tilt.

The team, having been announced as the 2nd placer, will be receiving a certificate of recognition and a cash prize.

Ibarreta was surprised when he learned that the team landed as the 2nd placer for this year’s NWU business case competition. As for him, winning the contest is “surreal”.

“I have spent a considerable amount of time on reading business-related cases so that I’ll be familiar with a variety of solutions na pwedeng maka-help sa’min when we solve case problems, lalo pa’t in case competitions, alternative solutions ang pinaka-highlight,” stated Ronan when asked what the team’s preparations for the event are.

More so, she articulated that the team is “intrinsically motivated” knowing that such competition would showcase TEAM MARKETING MAGICS ON PAGE 6

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CSPCeans clinch multiple awards in 2021 ASEAN Festival; Int’l feat for the academe STORY BY HADJIE BAZAR AND JOHN REYNOLD BRIOSO

Students from the Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges (CSPC) emerged victorious in the awarding ceremony of this year’s celebration of Inter-institutional Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Festival, November 26, Friday.

Several competing schools all over and outside the nation have participated in this cultural enrichment program amidst pandemic challenges.

The school has received several distinctions and awards from five (5) different competitions sponsored by the organizing committee, Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU) Office of External Linkages and International Affairs.

Among these honoraries are: 1st Place, ASEAN National Creative Costume represented

by Zaira Shaine J. Barcela; 2nd Place, ASEAN Dances; 2nd Place; ASEAN Cuisine represented

by Eric John B. Namoro and Samer S. Pelecia; 5th place, ASEAN Essay Writing represented

by John Reynold C. Brioso; Consolation, ASEAN Video Production represented by Jade Lester C.

Ballester and Christian E. Cantor.

For instance, the team who participated in the ASEAN Dances were represented by the following students: Sisley Pamela Matubis, Andrew Sasaluya, Zin Kim Roland Vargas, Lyn Christian Serdinio, Alvin Vargas, Jomari Bermeo Matubis, Dannielle Briones Sasaluya, and Hannielyn Mae Barcela.

In an interview, Barcela said she was ecstatic after knowing she made it to the top spot. “I am incredibly amazed, like ‘wow’.”

“This is my last year na as a student, I didn’t realize that I could still represent this Colleges in an international arena,” Barcela added.

Meanwhile, Namoro who is one of the winning pair of the ASEAN Cuisine competition, was motivated by the fact that CSPCeans performed beyond mediocrities.

From the preparations up to the end of the competition, I and my partner were relentlessly guided and mentored by our coach, sir Chef Gerald Panghulan. The motivations that we’ve

felt from him by means also of the support of our humble Institution, my ever-loving family and friends made us beyond blessed,” Namoro added.

Awarding ceremony was conducted through Zoom Meeting App and streamed via Facebook live.

Additionally, Barcela was coached by Dr. Jay L. Luzon, Namoro, and Palecia was coached

by Chef Gerald Panghulan, Brioso was coached

by Ms. Gigi Severo, while Ballester and Cantor was coached by Mr. Vencel Sanglay. Meanwhile the team who participated in the ASEAN Dances competition was coached by Ms. Gilma Veras and choreographed by Mr. Rodrigo C. Salando Jr.

THE ORIENT.Jade Lester Ballester (BS Information Technology) TRIBAL. The Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges dancers

performed “Rinampo ‘’ for the ASEAN Cultural Dance Competition on October 18, 2021 via zoom and streamed Facebook live during the Internalization and Inter-institutional Association of SouthEast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Festival.

and Christian Cantor (BS Entrepreneurship) video entry for the ASEAN Video Production Contest that won a consolation prize during the Internalization and Inter-institutional Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Festival.

BICOLANO’S TASTE. Eric John

B. Namoro and Samer S. Palecia, both BS Hospitality Management Students at Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges, with their “Beef Kare-Kare in Creamy Pili Nut Sauce’’ recipe for the ASEAN Festival 2021, Asean Cuisine Contest.

PLAY-WRITE. John

Reynold Brioso, a BS Civil Engineering student at Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges, participated in the ASEAN Essay Writing Contest on October 22, 2021, at the Internalization and Inter-institutional Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Festival 2021.

MAGAYON. Zairah Shaine J. Barcela, an AB English student at Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges, represents the Bicol Region in the ASEAN National Creative Costume competition during the Inter-institutional Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Festival, which took from August to November 2021. captions by - JAMELA HAZEL TRANQUILO

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In memory of Maguindanao Massacre

CEGP-Cam Sur spearheads rally, candle lighting; campus journ orgs across Bicol join STORY BY JOHN REYNOLD BRIOSO

A PURSUIT FOR JOURNALISTS.

Student publication organizations, which include TheSPARK, participates in the street protests and candle lighting ceremony to commemorate the Maguindanao Massacre, having the theme “Katanudan: A Remembrance and Call to Justice,” on November 23, 2021, at Plaza Quince Martires in Naga City, organized by the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP).

-JAMELA HAZEL TRANQUILO

Around forty-five student journalists, including TheSPARK editors, joined the protest action and candle lighting activity in remembrance of the Maguindanao Massacre, with the theme “Katanudan: A Remembrance and Call to Justice,” today, November 23, at Plaza Quince Martires, Naga City.

The event was organized by the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) Camarines Sur and was participated by student publication organizations with TheSPARK, The DEMOCRAT, Budyong Online, ThePILLARS Publication, The Naga Collegian, and Naguenian to name a few, alongside progressive youth groups such as Anakbayan Naga City and Jovenes Anakbayan.

INFORGRAPHICS FOR 50.73% OF CSPCEANS...

FROM PAGE 2

“Nandito po kami, nakiisa, upang ipanawagan na magkaroon na ng hustisya. Dahil sa 58 [na biktima ng Maguindanao Massacre] … hindi pa lahat ng 80 na mga suspek ay nakukulong o nahahatulan,” said Abby Bilan, the regional coordinator of CEGP-Bicol.

She further pointed out that media closure and repression should not persist, hence enjoining the need to heed the call for justice.

“Bilang ang Ampatuan (Maguindanao) Massacre ay ang pinakamalalang election-related killings sa history ng Pilipinas... at maging sa buong mundo, nananawagan kami na sa nalalapit na 2022 elections ay hindi na maulit ito, na hindi na magkaroon nang patuloy na panggigipit lalonglalo na sa ilalim ng administrasyong Duterte,” Bilan added.

Social distancing and health protocols were observed during the conduct of the event.

Team Marketing Magics...

FROM PAGE 4 their “creativeness and personality” as business management students at the College.

Meanwhile, teams from Don Mariano Marcos State University and the University of Saint Louis Tuguegarao clinched the first and third places, respectively.

Additionally, the EntrepWiz team composed of BS Entrepreneurship students Mark Andrian Pontanal, Christian Cantor, and Charina Namoro, made it to the top 5.

The competition’s mechanics include the analysis of a case study from where each team is entitled to craft an executive summary and to defend it.

Anchored to the theme “Together Towards Tomorrow”, the competition is designed to develop the critical and analytical thinking of the students. The competition is also designed to acquaint the participants with the current business milieu.

The group was coached by Dr. Maria Joy C. Iglesia-Idian.

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Rappler CEO Maria Ressa wins 2021 Nobel Peace Prize

TheSPARK

HEART OF VALOR.

Rappler co-founder and CEO Maria Ressa delivers her speech at the Nobel Peace Prize awarding ceremony. She was awarded the Prize at Oslo City Hall in Oslo, Norway, December 10, 2021, “for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression”, in the face of authoritarian governments.

-JAMELA HAZEL TRANQUILO

STORY BY CHRISTELLE ONG

The Nobel Peace Prize for this year is awarded to Rappler co-founder and CEO Maria Ressa and Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee, as the award-giving body of the prestigious recognition, awarded Ressa and Muratov “for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression.”

Moreover, both were acknowledged for being the representatives of all journalists fighting for this ideal “in a world in which democracy and freedom of the press face increasingly adverse conditions.”

Ressa is known as a fearless defender of freedom of expression and for her efforts to expose the abuse of power and violence as well as the growing authoritarianism in the country, through investigative journalism.

She has been involved to several legal battles and has been targeted of attacks in recent years due to Rapplerʼs critical reports on the present administration and its fight against the deliberate spread of fake news and manipulative public discourse.

Meanwhile, Muratov “has, for decades, defended freedom of speech in Russia under increasingly challenging conditions,” and co-

founded the most independent newspaper in Russia today.

The award of the Nobel Peace Prize to Ressa and Muratov intends to highlight the importance of protecting and defending freedom of expression and freedom of information, as these

are fundamental rights that help in ensuring an informed public and are crucial preconditions for the all-inclusive attainment of democracy as well as harmonious relations.

Ressa is the first Filipino to be awarded of the esteemed prize.

PH records a 7.7% unemployment rate in June 2021: PSA latest labor force survey shows STORY BY HADJIE BAZAR

The global health crisis, COVID-19 Pandemic, has put many governments to their knees, both in the aspects of health security and economy, paralyzing social connections that extend to all scopes of the society.

However, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) has shown recently that jobless Filipinos may have nearly-crossed the silver lining amidst this disfunction.

In June 2021, a labor force survey from PSA revealed a 7.7 percent national unemployment rate as of the said month.

This is a near-stagnant developmental rate from the logged data a month earlier with 3.76 million Filipinos, aged 15 and over, being unemployed versus the 3.73 million counts in May. However, this is lower than the unemployment rate in April (8.7%),

February (8.8%), and January (8.7%) of the same year, but higher than the 7.1 percent rate reported in March.

Consequently, the agency recorded that the employment rate in June remains unchanged at 92.3 percent from the preceding month.

Thus, in terms of magnitude, this percentage accounts for a 45.08 million out of 48.84 million employed Filipinos in the labor force.

This employment rate is higher than the rates reported in April (91.3%), February (91.2%), and January (91.3%), but lower by -0.6 percentage point from the March estimate.

Among the heavily affected community sub-sectors are: A. Other Service Activities (-241 thousand); B. Accommodation and Food Service Activities (-143 thousand); C. Public Administration and Defense, Compulsory Social

Security (-98 thousand); D. Transportation and Storage (-76 thousand); E. Financial and Insurance Activities (-71 thousand) The Fragile Youth Employability amidst Pandemic While many are all lamenting from inclusive pain, one group is suffering in suffocating silence: young workers.

For the youth sector, its labor force participation rate was observed to place itself at 39.8 percent in June, while the youth employment rate remained at 85.5 percent in June.

Youth unemployment rate remained unchanged at 14.5 percent in June. On the other hand, youth underemployment rate increased to 13.5 percent in the same month, from 10.0 percent a month ago.

Globally, one in six young people have stopped working since the onset of the COVID-19

INFORGRAPHICS BY ALESSANDRO BERNALES

crisis, the International Labor Organization reported.

These figures were accounted from the month-to-month changes in the first half of 2021 and were published on August 3 by PSA.

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Pagbibigay-kabuhayan sa mga Baaoeño Pagpapayabong sa tradisyonal na sining ng Baao:

KWENTO NI HERMINIA VASQUEZ LARAWAN NI LUIGI SAN JOAQUIN

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a kasuluksulukang bahagi ng bansa, kung saan malaki ang agwat ng sibilisasyon kumpara sa mga naglalakihang siyudad, nananahanan ang labis na kakulangang nagpapabagal sa pagsulong ng ekonomiya at nagpapahirap sa mga dati nang naghihirap—kasuluksulukang nababalot ng pangamba kung paano maisasalba ang pamilya mula sa gutom at nakatatakot na banta ng kawalan ng hanapbuhay.

Ngunit sa kasuluksulukang bahagi ring ito matatagpuan ang natatanging ganda ng sining na naghihintay lamang ng kalinangan at oportunidad na siyang mag-aahon mula pagkakasadlak sa kasalatan.

Sa Camarines Sur matatagpuan ang isang lugar sa Rinconada na kung tawagin ay Baao. Kumpara sa mga karatigbaryo at kilalang destinasyon sa buong probinsya, payak lamang ang pamumuhay ng mga tao rito na mababatid mula sa limitadong pamilihang matatagpuan sa kasentrohan hanggang sa mga pasilidad, makalumang kabahayan, mga punong nakahilera sa kalsada, at kaunting bilang ng transportasyon. Bilang salamin sa kalagayan ng lugar, bagaman pagsasaka ng palay at niyog ang pangunahing kabuhayan dito, isa lamang itong 3rd class municipality ng probinsya. Ngunit sa gitna ng mabagal na sibilisasyon, namumukadkad naman ang mayamang sining at obra ng mga kababaihan at magsasaka na hindi lamang nagbibigay-hanapbuhay sa mga Baaoeño, kung hindi nagbibigay-sibol din sa sining ng gawaing-kamay tulad ng tradisyonal na pagsasaka, pananahi, at pagbuburda.

Halos lahat ng ito ay isinasagawa sa

makalumang bahay sa barangay San Juan na kilala bilang Bidibidi Enterprise. Kung makikita sa labas, hindi mo aakalain na ito ay isa ring café, tindahan, art studio, at pagawaan ng handicrafts. Kung inyong mamamasdan ang loob ng ika ngang anscestral house, ito ay puno ng makukulay na palamuti, pinta, ginantsilyo, hinabi at binurdang bag, diyaket, at mask, at maging mga muwebles na nababalot ng bulaklaking disenyo. Ngunit kung mas may gaganda pa sa makukulay na produktong matatagpuan sa loob ng Bidibidi, ito ay ang saya at pag-asang mababakas sa mukha ng bawat manggagawang nabiyayaan ng pagkakataong makapaghanapbuhay lalo na sa kasagsagan ng pandemya.

Ang adbokasiyang makapagbigay ng trabaho sa pamamagitan ng pagsasanay sa tradisyonal na kakayahan ng mga Baaoeño ay sinimulan ng isang premyadong alagad ng sining, environmentalista, at social entrepreneur na kilala hindi lamang sa Pilipinas kung hindi maging sa ibang bansa; siya ay si Bernadette delos Santos o mas tanyag sa tawag na “Bidibidi”.

Pagbabalik-tanaw Nasa murang gulang pa lamang nang magsimulang maengganyo sa pagguhit at pagpinta si Bidibidi. Katunayan dito ay ang mga naipanalo niyang kontes tulad ng on-the-spot painting noong sya’y nasa elementarya. Ngunit dahil sa paniniwala ng mga magulang na walang sapat na perang makukuha sa pagpipinta, hindi na niya ipinagpilitan ang pagkuha ng kursong fine arts sa kolehiyo, bagkus ay

idinirekta niya na lamang ang interes sa pag-aaral ng business management. Nang matapos sa kolehiyo, iginugol niya ang kanyang maraming taon sa paninirahan at pagtatrabaho sa iba’t ibang bansa.

Matapos ang ilang taong pamamalagi sa US, taong 2004, ang inaakalang maikling bakasyon ay nauwi sa permanenteng pamamalagi sa kinalakihang bayan; ito ay nang mawala ang kanyang ina.

Bidibidi Enterprise: Isang social enterprise Dahil sa lupang ipinamana ng kan’yang ina at likas na hilig sa pagtatanim, naitayo ni Bidibidi ang kan’yang farm na kung tawagin ay La Huerta de Rosario. Ito ay isang agritourism farm kung saan purong organic na mga gulay at prutas, maging palay ang kanilang pinalalago.

Tumatanggap din sila ng mga turistang nais tumuloy doon dahil sa kanilang La Casita de Teresa, isang pasilidad na puno ng makukulay na palamuti, pinta at muwebles na animo’y mala-retro ang tema. Maaaari ring mamitas at bumili ang mga bisita kung panahon ng anihan. Ito rin ay ginagawang venue tuwing may okasyon at bukas para sa mga estudyanteng nag-aaral ng agrikultura.

Maging ang pagkain na kanilang inihahanda sa mga bisita ay ang mismong mga ani sa farm, katulad na lang ng kanilang menu sa Bidibidi café.

Ito ang unang hanapbuhay na naibigay niya sa mga kapwa-Baaoeño. Bukod sa trabaho ay nagturo rin siya ng maayos na paraan ng pagtatanim nang sa gayon ay magamit ng mga magsasaka ang kanilang

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natutuhan sa sariling pananim. Kung kaya naman noong 2008, pinarangalan si Bidibidi bilang Most Outstanding Rural Woman ng Department of Agriculture.

“Nakita ko sa pagfa-farm na from the time na magtanim ka hanggang sa time na mag-harvest ka, wala kang masyadong ginagawa, kaya pala kako ang farmers, medyo kinakapos sa budget kasi wala silang ibang skills, so it was my realization na mag-start akong mag-suggest sa DA, DTI [Department of Trade and Industry],

DEVCOM

at kung anong government agencies na magturo ako ng pagbuburda.”

Dito nagsimula ang F.A.R.M. by Bidibidi na nangangahulugang Fabulously and Absolutely Rural-Made—isang social enterprise na naglalayong solusyonan ang kakulangan sa kita ng bawat pamilya gamit ang pagbuburda, habang isinasaalangalang ang kapakanan ng kalikasan sa pamamagitan ng pagreresiklo at paggamit ng mga natural na materyales.

Taong 2015 nang unang naimbitahan si Bidibidi ng kanilang lokal na gobyerno

TheSPARK

na magturo ng hand embroidery sa labinlimang kababaihan sa Baao. Nasundan ito noong 2017 nang magkaroon ang DSWD ng livelihood program para sa mga 4Ps beneficiaries. Ngayon, ang kaniyang mga naturuan na tinatawag niyang Bidibidi women ang siya na ring nagbuburda para sa kanyang brand; bukod pa rito ang ibang manggagawa na hindi na sumailalim sa kanyang training, ngunit mayroon nang likas na kaalaman sa hand embroidery.

Tuwing Sabado, pumupunta ang mga naka-work from home na mambuburda sa kaniyang shop upang ihatid ang mga natapos na patchwork. “Sa ngayon kahit na ‘yong nagtitinda sa palengke, habang nagbabantay sila ng gulay na tinitinda nila, nagbuburda sila. ‘Yong power na nakuha nila na mayroon silang maiaambag na pera sa budget ng pamilya para sa pagkain at savings para sa pag-aaral ng mga bata, ‘yon ang nakita kong very positive effect ng pagbuburda. Nakita ko ‘yong selfconfidence na naibigay ng additional skill na ito sa mga kababaihan na naturuan ko, so in a way, I can also claim na naka-improve ‘yon sa pamumuhay nila,” nakangiting saad niya.

Ang mga patchwork na iyon na ang kadalasang disenyo ay mukukulay na mukha ng babae at mga bulaklak ay gagamitin naman bilang palamuti ng kanilang bag na yari sa sawali at mga telang nabili sa ukayukay. Ang iba naman ay nakalaan para sa mga diyaket at mask na yari sa hinabing tela ng mga Boenon kung kaya bukod sa pagbuburda, pananahi rin ang kanilang pinagkakaabalahan.

Gumagawa rin sila ng mga fashion accessories tulad na lamang ng pulseras,

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DEVCOM

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isinusulong na adbokasiya

kwintas, singsing na yari sa mga butones na nakolekta mula sa mga tinastas na damit; dagdag na rin ang kubrekama na binuo sa pinagtagpi-tagping tela. Hindi na nakapagtataka kung bakit dinarayo ang Bidibidi Enterprise ng mga turista para lamang personal na makabili ng kahit alinman sa mga obrang nakauray, lalo na ang mga bag na tinatangkilik ng kilalang mga artista.

“Yong pagkakadugtong-dugtong ng aking mga ginagawa—sa pagpapa-farm, ‘yong mga asawa ng mga farmer natuto, ‘yong gulay na gino-grow namin do’n siniserve din sa café. At the same time, ‘yong tinuturuan kong mga wives ng farmers nagkaroon kami ng brand. Lahat ng ‘yon nagtutulong-tulungan. Example: Bagyuhin ka, wala ka namang gulay na makukuha, ‘di ba? Pero pwede kaming magburda. Ito ang goal ko—to have them work for me and give them additional income. Ako naman, ‘yong passion ko into design, ma-implement ko. Win-win. Nagkaroon ka ng trabaho, ako nagkaroon ng produkto.”

Isa lamang sa mga Baaoeño na natulungang magkaroon ng regular na trabaho ay si Nanay Marilyn Herrera, 39 taong gulang. Halos 21 taon na ang kan’yang iginugol sa pagtatrabaho sa Bidibidi Enterprise na hanggang sa ngayon ay patuloy na bumubuhay sa kan’yang pamilya. Sa kasalukuyan, siya ay may lima nang anak at ang tatlo ay puros nakapagtapos na ng pag-aaral sa kolehiyo, habang ang dalawa naman ay iniraraos nilang mag-asawa sa pag-aaral.

Hindi pa man nagsisimulang magturo ng hand embroidery si Bidibidi ay nagtatrabaho na si Nanay Marilyn bilang isang caterer sa farm at mananahi sa shop. Ang tinatahi niya noon ay puros seminar bag na ipinapagawa ng Department of Agriculture, habang ang kaniyang asawa ay isa namang manananim sa La Huerta. Bagaman kapos ang kita nilang mag-asawa, magkatuwang nilang binuhay ang kanilang mga anak na noo’y iisa pa lamang.

Nang simulan ang muling pagbuhay sa yaman ng pagbuburda sa lugar, naging katuwang na s’ya ni Delos Santos sa

pagsasagawa ng mga training. Isa siya sa mga nagtuturo sa kababaihan noon at hanggang sa ngayon ay nagtatahi at nagbuburda pa rin dala ang brand na kanilang ginawa at ipinakilala sa masa.

Maging ang kanyang anak na babae ay isinasama niya sa araw-araw na paghahanapbuhay kahit na ito ay bata pa lamang noon at isa na rin ngayon sa mga tinaguriang Bidibidi women ng Baao.

“Ito naman ang pinagkalakihan naming trabaho kayang hanggang ngayon dito na kami. Dito nakukuha ko ‘yong panggastos ng mga anak araw-araw. Mayroon pa kaming incentives—‘yong savings na tinatapatan, libreng bigas sa perfect attendance at may good performance monthly. Maraming incentives ang ibinibigay sa’min na talagang nakakatulong lalo na ngayong pandemic kasi walang masyadong trabaho, dito sa Bidibidi tuloytuloy ang trabaho,” saad ni Nanay Marilyn.

Patuloy na pagpapalawak sa

Sa kabila ng patuloy na pag-aangat sa antas ng ekonomiya, nananatili pa ring nakasadsad sa laylayan ng lipunan ang sektor ng mga Pilipinong naninirahan sa rural na bahagi ng bansa. Ilan lamang sa patunay nito ay ang mabilis na paglaki ng urbanisasyon noong 2000-2010 kung saan tumaas ng 3.3 porsiyento ang annual na kubuuan ng urban na populasyon at kinonsidera ang Pilipinas bilang isa sa mga bansang may mabilis na urbanisasyon sa Asya-Pasipiko. Ayon sa datos na inilabas ng World Bank taong 2017, sa nakaraang 50 taon ang urban na populasyon ay tumaas ng humigit sa 50 milyon, at sa 2050 naman ay inaasahang 102 milyong tao o 65% ng total na populasyon ang maninirahan sa mga siyudad.

Ilan lamang sa mga kadahilanan nito ay ang kawalan ng hanapbuhay at sapat na kita, at napakalimitadong oportunidad sa pagkakaroon ng tuloytuloy na trabaho. Dagdag na rin ang kakulangan sa makinarya, mababang input sa produksyon, salat na akses sa merkado, mapanirang bagyo at ibang kalamidad; hindi na nakapagtataka kung bakit napakalaki ng bilang ng mga Pilipinong nakikipagsapalaran sa malalaking siyudad upang doo’y maghanapbuhay.

Sa paglaganap ng pandemya sa bansa, bagaman marami ang nagsiuwian sa mga probinsya hindi ito nangangahuluhagan ng magandang simulain, bagkus banta sa mas komplikadong sitwasyon kung saan mas lalong maghihirap ang mga naghihirap dahil sa kawalan ng hanapbuhay at pagaagawan sa limitadong oportunidad. Sa ngayon, mas kinakailangang paigtingin ang pagtutulungan sa pagitan ng gobyerno at mga proyektong itinataguyod ng mga lokal na entidad katulad na lamang sa Baao.

Hanggang ngayon, katuwang ni delos Santos ang lokal at nasyonal na gobyerno sa adbokasiya ng kaniyang social enterprise; kabilang na rito ang Kagawaran ng Kalakalan at Industriya (DTI), Kagawaran ng Agrikultura (DA), Kagawaran ng Kagalingan at Pagpapaunlad Panlipunan (DSWD), Great women project

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(Gender Responsive Economic Actions for the Transformation of Women), Philippine Commission on Women, at Rural Improvement Clubs Philippines; kung kaya naman noong 2008 ay pinarangalan siya bilang Regional Outstanding Rural Woman at nasungkit ang ikalawang-puwesto sa National Outstanding Rural Woman. Noong 2017 naman ay napanalunan niya sa Vietnam ang prestihiyosong parangal ng Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) bilang Best Green Economy Project Awardee nang ilathala niya ang pagkakadugtonggudtong ng kanyang mga negosyo.

Hindi lamang kilala ang kan’yang mga produkto sa Baao, kung hindi maging sa buong Pilipinas at ibang bansa. Katunayan dito ay ang mga sikat na personalidad na tumatangkilik sa kaniyang bag, kabilang sina Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, Miss Universe Philippines Beatrice Luigi Gomez, Miss Universe Vietnam H'Hen Niê, Jolina Magdangal, Karla Estrada, at maging

“

Habang buhay ang yaman ng sining, magagandang adhikain para sa kapwa, at masisigasig na mga kamay at bisig, mananatili ring buhay ang pag-asa sa bawat taong nagsusumikap na makapaghanapbuhay at maisalba ang pamilya mula sa araw-araw na mapanghamong dulot ng kahirapan, lalo na sa gitna ng pandemya.

DEVCOM ni Bise-presidente Leni Robredo. Mayroon din s’yang mga tindahan sa SM stores kung saan aktuwal na nakapupunta ang kaniyang mga kostumer upang mamili. Kahit malayo ang Baao sa malalaking siyudad at may banta ng COVID-19, hindi pinalalampas ng kaniyang mga kostumer ang oportunidad na dumayo sa mismong art studio niya upang doon ay personal na bumili ng mga produkto maliban sa bag.

Sa ngayon, patuloy na isinusulong ni Bidibidi ang pagbibigay-hanapbuhay sa mga kababaihan at magsasaka sa kanilang lugar. Napakalaking tulong ng pagtaas ng demand ng kaniyang mga produkto kahit pa lumaganap ang pandemya dahil mas dumarami rin

TheSPARK ang taong kan’yang nabibigyan ng pagkakakitaan.

“Hindi na ‘ko nagugulat, I believe na kapag maganda ang ginagawa mo, maganda rin ang babalik sa’yo, it’s the law of attraction na nagtatrabaho, di ba?”

Noong nakaraang taon, namigay din siya ng 7,000 bilang ng face mask na yari sa hinabing tela ng Buhi. Maging ang pamimigay ng libreng yero at bigas sa mga trabahador na nasalanta ng bagyo ay kaniya ring ginawa. Mayroon din s’yang mga iskolar na pinag-aaral sa mga agricultural university. Ngayon, siya ay patuloy pa rin sa pagtanggap at pagsasagawa ng training para sa mga kababaihang nais matuto ng pagtatahi, paggagantsilyo, at pagbuburda. Namimigay din siya ng mga libreng kit nang sa gayon ay mas matuto sila at makapagsimula ng sariling negosyo o kaya’y makapagtrabaho sa kan’yang enterprise kung kanilang nanaisin. *** Si Bidibidi at ang kaniyang kababaihan at magsasaka, at ay patunay lamang na habang buhay ang yaman ng sining, magagandang adhikain para sa kapwa, at masisigasig na mga kamay at bisig, mananatili ring buhay ang pag-asa sa bawat taong nagsusumikap na makapaghanapbuhay at maisalba ang pamilya mula sa arawaraw na mapanghamong dulot ng kahirapan, lalo na sa gitna ng pandemya.

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Ingrown NI ARJAY ROMANO

“Ikaw ‘yung tipo ng tao na kapag tinatanggal sa buhay ko, masakit.”

Sampung taon na ang nakalipas mula nang lisanin ko ang lugar na ito. Sa dinami-raming nagbago sa buhay ko, tila ba ito lang ang nanatili sa kung ano ang kinagisnan ko. Naroon pa rin ang mga laruan kong gulong, nakasalansan sa gilid ng sopa kasama ng mga patpat na alam kong wala nang lakas.

Nakasabit pa rin ang pinakaunang dibuhong ginawa ko. Nakakatawang bilib na bilib ako sa sarili ko noon kahit na hindi kagandahan ang pagkakagawa ko.

Tumayo ako’t naglakad. Pumanhik sa kahoy na hagdan papunta sa kwarto ko. Pagpasok ko’y tila lumakad ang oras pabalik kung saan kumpleto pa ako, maingay pa ang tahanang nagkanlong sa akin, isang dekada na ang nakalilipas.

“SINO NA NAMANG NAKABASAG NG PINGGAN!” Bulyaw sa amin ni inay. “AT SINONG MAY SABING GALAWIN NINYO IYONG MGA BABASAGIN NA NAKALAGAY SA ESTANTE? ALAM NIYO NAMANG PARA LAMANG IYON KUNG MAY BISITA TAYO!”

Sa Pagitan ng Aking Hita NI ARJAY ROMANO

Iba’t ibang tawag ang pinupukol sa aking dala-dala.

Madalas talong ang bansag, iba’y junior ang tawag.

Siya’y nagmamalaki, tumitingkayad pataas.

Tunay na malakas, pagka’t habang tumatagal, lalong tumitigas.

Nabubuhay, tumitiklop, at nanghihigop, pero minsa’y nagpapahigop.

Umaaklas.

Lumalaban.

Sa giyera’y tumatapang.

Ngunit kapag napunta sa rurok at glorya, Siya’y mawawalan ng lakas— ng buhay, Ngunit patuloy na tatayo’t lalaban ng buong husay.

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LITERARY

...

“Si Arnold po ang nagsabing iyon po ang gamitin.” Maluha-luhang anas ng kapatid ko. “May amoy na raw po kasi iyong mga plato nating plastik.”

“Arnold.” Ang salitang iyon ang nagpatakbo sa akin palabas ng bahay.

Pupunta sa kaibigan kong si Lukas at doon magpapalipas ng galit ni inay.

— “Gumising na kayo mga prinsipe. Nakahanda na po ang kakainin niyo sa hapag, kamahalan. Jusmiyo kayong mga bata kayo, daig pa namin ang katulong ah. Kami na tagahanap ng pagkain, kami pa tagaluto? Kami pa naglalaba ng mga damit ninyo. Ultimong brip—” ani inay sabay tingin sa akin. “Bakit ako na naman? Paano naman yung brip ni Arvin?”

— “Linggo ngayon. Ayokong uminit ang ulo ko mga anak. Mag-ayos na kayo at pupunta tayong simbahan. Ikaw Arnold, hawakan mo iyang si Arvin dahil alam mong gala yan. Kebata-bata pa eh, kung saan na nakakalipad.”

“Umagang-umaga galit na misis ko.” Nakangising sabi ni itay habang hinahalikan ang pisngi niya. “Ikaw naman Ernesto, pagsabihan mo nga mga lalaki mo. Kung hindi lang talaga ako nagtitimpi, matagal nang may mga pasa iyan sa katawan, sinasabi ko.”

— “May libreng tuli daw sa may center. Ipinalista ko na kayong dalawa.”

Masayang sabi ni inay. “Ayoko ma.” Umiiyak na anas ni Arvin. “Eh anong gusto mo?” Litaniya ni inay. “Doon sa pangunguyain ka ng bayabas? Yung walang anesthesia? Bahala ka sa buhay mo. Halika na Arnold, bahala iyang tuksuhin ng kaeskwela niya.”

At ang nangyari, pareho kaming nakapalda noong araw na iyon.

— “Ma, alis na po ako.” Nakangiti kong sambit sa inay ko. “Huwag kang magpapagutom doon. Yung mga bilin ko. Subukan mo talagang magloko at susugurin kita doon.” Pagbabanta nito. “Inay naman, pati ba naman dito pinapagalitan mo ko?”

“Aba dapat lang. Hindi ka na bata para dumede sa’kin.

Ayusin mo buhay mo anak dahil para sa’yo rin iyan, kung ano man ang marating mo, para sa’yo yan.

Walang ibang makakahanap ng tagumpay mo kundi ikaw. Kami’y nasa likod mo lang, susuporta sa kung ano man ang magiging bunga ng pagsisikap mo.”

Niyakap ko siya ng mahigpit. Ramdam ko ang mainit na patak ng luha nito sa balikat ko. Tinapik ako ng itay ko sa aking balikat, hudyat na ng pag-alis ko.

— Sampung taon ngunit sariwa pa ang mga ala-ala’t, tagubilin mo sa akin inay. Bago ko man pihitin ang seradura ng dati naming kuwarto’y nakita ko siya. Nakangiting kumakaway sa akin.

Kinawayan ko siya pabalik, habang dahan-dahang umagos ang mga luha sa aking mga mata. Kasabay nito’y unti-unti siyang nilamon ng namumula-mulang liwanag na nanggagaling sa palubog na araw.

“Bakit hindi mo man lang hinintay na makauwi ako, ‘nay?”

TheSPARK

13

Spare Parts

BY ABEGAIL GARAIS

It was a Saturday morning, the air cold yet comforting. Hearing the birds chirp from the distant tree, Liel can’t help but gaze upon the window beside her bed, only that she can’t bask at the scenery it offers. Like any other day, the world is still beautiful, yet for the girl everything is dark without the orbs that reflect its shadow. She missed playing outside, relish upon the warmth of the sun, laugh again, be happy and experience the Earth again, but this time without the weight of its gravity. Soon, like what everyone around her hopes for, just a little bit more…

“Theresa! Come down already, you’re late for school, oh… goodness’ sake! Your father is leaving!” Thelma yelled upon their only daughter. The pride and joy of their humble home. A happy pill for the married couple.

“Yes mother! Just a minute.” The lady huffed as she descends the stair. She smiled on her mother and kissed her cheeks before heading towards the door where her father awaits.

“Really…, Theresa?” The girl just grinned and hopped on his father’s motorcycle. This is their usual routine, good mornings, bread for breakfast and a little bit of yelling before heading to school and his father, to work.

Thelma, who is often left at home decided to take a job at the Forester Mansion. The job is simple, take charge of the needs of the youngest daughter in the family, the rest are unnecessary. For the few weeks she has been working in the family, she grew close to the girl. She’s sweet and gentle, gifted at singing and most often than not reminds her of her own child, very busy to stay with her at home.

At the other end, the white van has been patrolling the park.

With its hidden crew inside, they have been patiently waiting for the next victim to arrive. Last week, their efforts were put in vain as the kidnapped girl provides one organ short. A damaged good, profit was less though it is sold. Its already afternoon and soon kids would flock upon the site, that would be the perfect time to strike.

A phone ringed, it is the wife, strictly reminded not to call him unless important. The man picked up the line, the first to be heard is the wife’s sob. “Theresa is gone.”

“Liel? The doctor is here.” The servant called her attention. She nods her head, waited patiently until everything is over.

Meanwhile, the man with defeated shoulders nods his head.

Though angry, he must give courtesy to his employer. It is his last day at work, they have finally achieved their purpose.

“Slowly open your eyes.” The doctor commands.

A sob escapes Thelma’s mouth, the man crumpling the money he received in exchange of her daughter’s life. The payment was done.

Theresa’s eyes are someone else’s now.

Magkano ang Atay?

NI ZIRAH MAE GUADALUPE

“Magkano po sa atay?” Tanong ni Jeffrey sa tindera.

Sa wakas, makakakain na rin ang kanyang mga nakakabatang kapatid ng paborito nilang ulam. ‘Di bale nang matagal pa ang hilom ng tahi sa kanyang tagiliran.

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LITERARY

TheSPARK

Brain with a Mouth

BY ABEGAIL GARAIS

‘While it is better to tell your story with your mouth shut, Thoughts left without an opening will crystalize and hurt the mind.’

There are a lot of times, A lot of thoughts in my mind, I wanted to shout, make a fit but My mind doesn’t have a mouth.

Since a bud had start, I wondered and asked, Travelled far, For the cure to the endless questions of why, Why me…, Of all the people, why me, Why am I the eldest, Why do I have different mindset than the rest?

People my age go all out to have fun, Party with their friends, seek shelter from afar, While I, am different, I can only cry by myself, shout on myself, suffer… by myself.

I feel like no one understands me, I want to cry, everything is heavy, But I can’t, I shouldn’t, Tears that belong to someone else.

I am hurting, Every day is filled with sorrow, Loading, Slowly withering.

Right now, I have a lot of thoughts, I feel like I can’t contain them anymore, Its noisy out here, I want to scream but surely no one will listen.

Can someone lend me an ear?

It’s tiring, I want someone to be here, If only brains have their mouths I don’t have to silently suffer, be at the bottom of the well.

Lumpong Paa NI ZIRAH MAE GUADALUPE

Naalala ko, ang aming sayaw.

Mga indak na may buhay, Isang sipa.

Dalawang ikot.

Tatlong hakbang.

Sumasabay sa musika.

Naliliyo sa mahika.

Mabilis ang pagtibok ng puso at paghinga.

Ngunit wala na.

Wala nang maisasayaw.

Batid naming kami’y mga lumpo.

Hindi dahil sa mahinang mga paa, kundi dahil sa sambit nila.

Pangarap mo may mas mahalaga.

TRUTH KNOWS NO LIMITS

AUGUST-DECEMBER 2021 | VOLUME XLI | NO. 1

ATAY

BY ABEGAIL GARAIS

May never be the greatest nor the first, The primary reason of existence, In its own field it excels, Defeat with its purpose the mightiest.

Filters the unwanted, The harmful and the excess, Supply only what’s needed, Stores the rest.

Hidden within the shadows, Like skeletons in our closet, Offers the world, When no one cares of its existence.

Salty and sweet, Cuts and crease, Smoke and alcohol, And it ceases to exist.

If only given extra care, Care would also be given, Provide a clear head, Resurrection to the dead.

Clinging to what’s unneeded, Develop what’s unwanted, Further harm to oneself, Type II diabetes.

Divide and share when someone needs it, Give half and it can heal by itself, Tolerant to abuse, something to be stretched, Take it to the extremes, comes The Oldest Fate, The life of a liver is like a roller coaster, Maintaining is moving, forgetting is dying, A soul full of anxiety, Hepatic encephalopathy.

LITERARY

TRUTH KNOWS NO LIMITS

AUGUST-DECEMBER 2021 | VOLUME XLI | NO. 1

Hindi ako Baliw.

BY SHIELA MAE PARCO

Hindi ako manhid.

“Anong ulam?” tanong niya sakin at pagkatapos ay tiningnan niya na ulit ang kaniyang telepono at pangiti-ngiting nagpipindot. Ni hindi na niya ako muling sinulyapan at umupo na ito sa sala na para bang naglaho na lamang ako sa ere.

Matagal ko nang nararamdaman ang daga sa ‘king dibdib ngunit mas pinili kong magkibit-balikat na lamang at huwag maniwala sa haka-haka na ito. Bawat kilos, reaksiyon, o salita niya ay nagpapahiwatig sakin na may nag-iba na nga.

Hindi ako bingi.

“Alam mo ba, noong isang araw ay nahuli ko itong ka-biyak dibdib mo na mayroong inuwing mestizang dilag sa bahay niyo habang wala ka?

At alam mo rin ban a pangatlong beses na niya iyong ginawa at…” Hindi matapos-tapos na pagbubunganga ni Marites sa’kin— ang aming makating-dila na kapitbahay.

Isang hapon, lumiban ako sa aking trabaho para makumpirma kung totoo nga ba ang balita.

Nagtago ako sa aparador ng aming kwarto at paglipas ng ilang mga sandal, narinig ko ang pagbukas at pagsara ng pinto. Napagtanto ko ang kakaibang tunog ng sapatos at hindi lamang dalawa kundi apat.

“Mukhang ang sarap ng katawan mo, Dolores. Matamis ang iyong mga labi at nakakagutom ang iyong amoy. Gusto kitang kainin ngayon din.”

Matagal ko nang naririnig ang chismis, na may iba nang kinakasama ang aking sinisintang

si Hulyo. Nagmistula na itong sirang plaka sa halos paulit-ulit at sobrang nakakarindi na. Subalit sa puntong ito, sinampal ako ng realidad.

Hindi ako bulag.

Isang manlilinlang at isang balik-harapis.

Kitang-kita ng aking dalawang bilugang mga mata na ang kinikilala kong matalik na kaibigan at ang lalaking pinakasalan ko ay nasa iisang lugar at nagpapalitan ng diwa at pinagpipiyestahan ang isa’t isa.

Makalipas ang ilang linggo…

“Sarap ng amoy, anong ulam?” tanong na nakasanayan na niya tuwing umuuwi o di kaya’y bagong gising. Gaya ng isang ordinaryong araw, kinakalikot na naman niya ang kaniyang telepono at pinagmamasdan ko lamang siya na mukhang naguguluhan.

“Masarap, tiyak na magugustuhan mo.” Sagot ko na walang emosyon at inihanda ang pagkain sa lamesa.

“Dinuguan, paborito ko ‘to ah.”

Kumuha siya ng plato at nagsimula na siyang kumain. Maya’t-maya ay nakarinig ako ng sigaw. “AAAARGH!! MAY LABI!!”

Matagal siyang nagsusuka sa banyo.

Ngumiti ako sabay sabi, “Ano masarap ba ang katawan ni Dolores?” Ilang gabi akong balisa at parang nasiraan na ako ng utak.

Hindi ako baliw.

Talukap NI NOEMI VALENZUELA

Sakin ay ‘yong mababatid, mensaheng nais ihatid: na hindi masama ang magpahinga.

Ipikit ang mata, huminto muna.

Isip ay hayaan na mapreskuhan muna.

Hayaan ang talukap na dalhin ka sa alapaap.

Matakpan man ng mga ulap, ginhawa ay mabibigyang sulyap.

Alam kong sagad na.

Tama na!

Pumikit ka muna sinta.

Samahan ng buntong hininga.

Lahat ay itangis na— Ibuhos ang mabigat na dinadala.

At sa pagbuklat ng talukap, panibagong hangin ang langhap.

Bagong pag-asa para sa hinaharap, atin nang malalasap.

ARTWORK BY: RAFAEL ANGELO MORALES

TheSPARK

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AUGUST-DECEMBER 2021 | VOLUME XLI | NO. 1

Lubos na pasasalamat pa rin sa mga prof namin Isang semester na naman ang nakalipas, Nawa’y sa susunod, tayo muli’y makaligtas.

Hirap sa pag-aaral online ay bakas pa rin.

Halina’t ang mga ito ay ating talakayin.

Estudyante ay nahihirapan sa pagkatuto, Ngunit ano pa nga ba ang bago?

Halos dalawang taon na nang online class ay simulan, Wala pa ring matinong plano sa kasalukuyan.

Kaliwa’t kanan ang bulung-bulungan Na face-to-face classes ay gagawan ng paraan.

Lalong-lalo na sa mga maunawain.

Nawa’y sa pag-intindi kayo’y ‘di magsawa, Dahil sa mga ito, kami rin ay walang magawa.

Kung may mga prof na mapagpakumbaba, Ang kabaliktaran ay hindi mawawala.

Nariyan ang walang konsiderasyon, Isabay mo pa ang di nagtuturo ng leksiyon.

Tila ba wala kaming ibang asignatura, Kung sa gawain sila ay makadikta.

Ayos lang sana kahit tambak ang gawain, ‘Wag lang hulaan ang grades namin.

Shoutout sa prof namin sa Fundamentals!

Araw, linggo, at buwan ang lumipas na.

Siguro nga kami’y may

Ito’y hanggang pang-

pagka-judgmental.

arap na lang ba?

Ngayong Enero sana,

muntik na!

Kung hindi nag-Alert

Level 3 ang

probinsiya.

Ngunit angkop ba

sa iyong propesyon

Tulad ng usad ng pagbabagong positibo, Problema ng estudyante ay hindi nababago.

Mabagal na wi-fi at mobile data Mga hassle sa pag-aaral ay siyang-siya.

Walang magawa kundi maghintay nang labis At magpa-excuse sa klaseng namiss.

Ang hindi pagtalakay ng mga leksiyon?

Buong sem, ni hindi nag-synchronous class Panay bigay lamang ng quizzes at tasks.

Papasok daw next week upang magturo Tunay ngang pangako ay napapako.

Isang beses pa’y sa test kami’y ni-rush.

Isa pang hindi namin kontrolado Serbisyong bulok ng Casureco.

Nagmimistulang Pasko, gabi at araw, Dahil patay-sindi ang mga ilaw.

Bigla na lamang hihina ang signal ng wi-fi At estudyante ay maiiwang naghihintay.

Maya-maya sa group chat, siya ay na-bash.

Test ay aming sineryoso, malamang, Ngunit ito’y isang prank niya lamang.

LITERARY

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AUGUST-DECEMBER 2021 | VOLUME XLI | NO. 1

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Ngunit kung sa tingin mo’y instructors lamang Ang hindi hands-on at walang paramdam, Sige na’t mag-isip kang muli Dahil sa sagot ng estudyante sila rin ay nagbabakasakali.

Mapa-face-to-face man o online setup, Masiglang klase ay isang pangarap!

“Is that

understood?” tanong ng guro,

Kapalit

ay silensyo ng estudyanteng

tuliro.

Minsan nga’y tuwing tinatawag for reciting, Sila’y biglang nagli-leave sa meeting.

Basta tatak-CSPC, talagang talentado.

Mga kalahok sa samu’t saring patimpalak, inuwi ang panalo.

Mapa-research, case-study, skills competition lahat ay bibo.

Talagang lahat mapapahanga sa angk-

Shout out sa

ing galing niyo.

instructors d’yan last sem, Naka-input na ba lahat

Magdiwang! CSPC ay PQA approved na.

ng grades sa system?

Kudos sa mga estudyante at faculty na dedikado at sumuporta.

Nakikiusap po kaming ibigay niyo ang marka sa tamang oras, At baka requirements for

Worth it ang lahat na pagod at naranasan kaba.

Commitment to Quality Management ay ating nakamtan na.

scholarship namin ay makalampas.

Sa entrance, halina’t ating pagmasdan.

Sa mga prof na hinihingian ng computation,

Safety protocols ay ‘wag nating iiwasan.

Sana’y wag magalit at bigyan kami ng kaunting

Binigay na contact-tracing slip, ibalik sa huhulugan,

konsiderasyon.

Iwasang itapon at huwag kalimutang sulatan.

Isa ring paalala mula sa ating mga guwardiya,

CSPCeans na bakunado na, ating bigyan ng pansin.

Gawing baggage counter ay huwag naman sana.

Saludo! Tiyak na alam niyo ang inyong gampanin.

Sa mga hindi pa natuturukan at takot lagnatin,

Sa ating mga 4th year ates at kuyas, kumusta!

Halina’t atin na silang hikayatin.

Mga thesis niyo, successfully defended na ba?

Omicron variant ay nandirito na, Nangangamoy online OJT pa nga.

Isang hiling lamang para sa pagtatapos na masaya: Minimithing graduation, face to face na sana.

ARTWORK BY: JOANNA ERIKA PUZON & JENNY TALAMOR

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LITERARY

TRUTH KNOWS NO LIMITS

AUGUST-DECEMBER 2021 | VOLUME XLI | NO. 1

TRUTH KNOWS NO LIMITS

AUGUST-DECEMBER 2021 | VOLUME XLI | NO. 1

LITERARY

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FEATURES

Behind the Bars STORY BY JOHN REYNOLD BRIOSO

A lawyer once said: “There is still hope and inspiration even in the loneliest, darkest, and seemingly hopeless corners of a detention facility.”

True enough, there is.

The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology- Iriga City District Jail (BJMP-ICDJ) is among the groups of BJMPgoverned jails scattered across the Philippines. For instance, this penal detention facility houses more than four hundred persons deprived of liberty (PDL) coming from all walks of life.

While some have stayed in the place not more than a day, some have been detained for nearly a decade or two.

In a place like BJMP-ICDJ, less than an hour's travel from the City’s heart, varying emotions can be traced. Varying contemplations and activities can be observed. While police officers are preoccupied with their security and jail duties, PDL are engaged in works aimed at empowering or motivating themselves. Oftentimes, they perform mundane tasks like waking up early, head-counting, performing different functions, and sleeping, while some other time, they study the Bible and pray for enlightenment.

Sometimes, during weekends, they dance “zumba”.

There has also been an observed difference of tasks between men and women PDL, contrasting views among individuals in the facility,

TRUTH KNOWS NO LIMITS

AUGUST-DECEMBER 2021 | VOLUME XLI | NO. 1

yet one common theme appears to be compellingly evident in their eyes: All of them hope to embrace, with all due warmth, their long-lost loved ones.

PDL “Marissa”, “Marietta”, and “Popoy” are not an exemption.

Marissa, 51 years old, a former teacher in a renowned college in Bicol region, refused to share her message to her family claiming that she might end up “emotional” during the interview. Nevertheless, one can see in her eyes the desire to be with her family, especially with her son and daughter, whom she has adopted.

While Marissa refuses to give her message to her family, Marietta on the other hand, burst in tears as she delivers her substantial address to her family: “Sabi ngani, kapit lang.

Matatagalan man adi. Meron ding pagkakataon, sa takdang panahon, sa tabang ni Amang Dios, migkabayad-bayaran man; migkairiban-iribanan pa man, basta san sana a faith ki Amang Dios. ‘Wag lang bibitaw a kada usad.”

Popoy, in his dynamic personality, having been in a detention facility for roughly seven years, uttered rather a hopeful perspective message to his children: “Sana po maging maray sira… Sana po magtultol sana sira.”

While trying not to cry, he muttered almost inaudibly, “Narumruman ko lugod su mga igin ko.”

These three

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interviewed PDL are not given a verdict yet by judiciary courts— that is, their cases are still pending. Their time spent inside the BJMP-ICDJ, however, is hard to imagine: two years for Marietta, roughly seven years for Popoy, and for Marissa, almost one year.

While they have been charged of violating certain Republic Act (RA) which proved to be an evident societal concern in the Philippines, over long decades, processing legal verdicts in the country is an increasingly ominous issue. One factor of this can be attributed to the lack of judges in courts. In August 2019, Lian Buan reported that there are still vacancies for judge positions in courts— 742 vacant seats, to be exact.

Concocting to this is the nearly 12000 “open positions” for low court personnels. Perhaps, this might be a repercussion of an increased slaughter of lawyers in the country. These vacant seats in high and low courts, alongside increased death of the judicial body, do not only cripple the progress of giving final say to detained PDL in BJMP, but also the justice system of the country, in general.

Earnestly, painstakingly waiting on the justice to be delivered, Popoy, Marissa, and Marietta sufficiently lived life free from all sorts of movement constrictions. Marissa spent her time as a teacher. She used to be an editor in a well-known school publication in Bicol.

Marietta is a loving mother and a caring wife. Popoy, on the other hand, a former baker, treasured his beloved son and daughter. He was left as the sole support for his children after being left behind by his live-in partner. During this time, their movements weren’t constricted yet. Eventually, these do not remain as it is as traces of actions from them found to be in conflict to pre-existing laws.

Police officers found drug paraphernalia in Marietta’s and her husband’s items, hence have been both charged with illicit drug possession. Concurrently, they entered the jail. Marissa, on the other hand, was found possessing and distributing drugs, while Popoy has been accused of rape. In court jargons, Popoy is facing a case of violating RA 8353, also known as the Anti-Rape Law of 1997, whereas Marietta and Marissa are both charge for breaching the provisions of RA 9165, also known as Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

With the government’s

FEATURES heightened campaign against war on drugs, incarcerated or penalized individuals due to narcotic-related cases have also increased. As per the data from the BJMP-ICJD, about 60% of the total 420 PDL in the district jail were confined due to drugrelated charges. The Commission on Audit, in their 2016 year-end report, pinpointed that there has been a staggering half a thousand fold of increase in the number of inmates since Duterte took into the Palace.

This increased flux of narcoticcharged PDL in jail, alongside relatively slow court rulings among other factors, have resulted in the congestion in detention cells. In the meantime, the BJMP-ICDJ has thirteen rooms, eleven are reserved for males, while the remaining rooms are reserved for females.

By a quick math, a one detention room houses approximately 33 PDL. This “classroom setting” inside detention cells is crucial in today's milieu. Since the onslaught of COVID-19, the authority has to gear up in order to suppress the virus from entering the walls of the jail, otherwise, there could be a community transmission which might compromise the inmates’ health. In lieu of the present dilemma, in-person visits inside the detention cells have been halted. This initiative placed an equally heavy burden on PDL as they cannot even see or hear their families and loved ones at a little distance. Nevertheless, the bureau has devised a clever way for the PDL to still get in touch with their loved ones— the “Paabot'' and “E-Dalaw”.

The “Paabot”, a Filipino term which could mean “kindly give” or “a present”, is a program anchored to the idea of scheduled visitation and giving of necessary items to the PDL from their loved ones. The jail is closed for all walk-ins, however, during weekends, it opens its windows and receives the items from the hopeful relatives of PDL. The “E-Dalaw”, an abridged word for electronic dalaw or “electronic visit” is a program usually aided by video conferencing platforms like Google Meet and Messenger aimed at reconnecting the PDL to their family. With this novel approach of virtually communicating to other people which has become popular since the onset of the Pandemic proved to be essential towards battling mental and emotional stresses alongside stay in detention facilities.

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In the reports of the United States Department of Justice year 2017, around 37% PDLs in the country have mental health issues. Of these 37%, more than 20% were diagnosed with major depressive disorder, while more than 10% were diagnosed either with bipolar personality or posttraumatic stress disorder. This, in retrospect, is in the US alone.

Perhaps much grave data can be observed statistically in the corners of Philippine detention facilities with relatively languid mental health

“

Dawa naluog sadi, buko pong ibig sabiyun na pagika nakulong, uda nay ka, patapon nayka, kasusupgan nayka ka society.

initiatives, especially in the PDL populace.

With the concussion of various retrospective issues arising inside the detention cells, starting from the lack of funds, up until issues on mental health, overcrowding, and risks brought by the COVID-19, one may find it hard to glaze a speck of light in this seemingly “dark” corners of detention cells.

Marietta, however, attested that “speck of light” exists in detention facilities. Her words alone can prove it.

“Sadi ko po naturan na buko palan na ngamin na panahon na iniloog ika sadi, uda na pagasa sa buway. Minsan palan sa buway ta, su pag-una ta inilubong kita, ‘di man talaga kita inilubong. Ibinutang ako sadi faciliting adi para mag-grow pa, para magtalubo pa bilang usad na tawo. Kadakol kanna paagi para ipagpatuloy a buway. Dawa naluog sadi, buko pong ibig sabiyun na pag-ika nakulong, uda nay ka, patapon nayka, kasusupgan nayka ka society.

Bilang isad na PDL, ika anna migguibo kana choice mo, kin ika migtalubo pa bilang usad na tawo o migpabaya na sanayka ka buway mo.”

Additionally, therapeutic modality programs also exist inside the jail, as well as behavior

shaping programs.

Livelihood training is also present, which not only occupied the minds of PDL but also provided an avenue for them to boost their morale.

“Araw-araw, agku po kami mga activity na pinagaatindiran.

Pag-regular days, Monday to Friday, nag-aatend po kami sa morning meetings kung sari pinag-uusipan po ana concern kana PDL sa loog kana dorm tsaka sa loog man ka facilities.

Kung interesado po kami sa pagluluto, sa rag-making, crochet-wallet making, [doon po kayo ipapasok]. Su mga tattao pong magguibo sa parol, nguwan, in season man, nagguiguibo sira sa parol.

Nguwan po, for the past two years, nag-training na po kaya ako sa bread and pastry [making kaya] nakaiba po ako sa bakeshop, nagguiguibo sa tinapay.”

Getting in jail is not the end of the tunnel. The stories of Marietta, Popoy, and Marissa proved that there is still hope and inspiration even in the loneliest, darkest, and seemingly hopeless corners of a detention facility.

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FEATURES

TRUTH KNOWS NO LIMITS

AUGUST-DECEMBER 2021 | VOLUME XLI | NO. 1

Ang PILOSOPO TASYO

ng Rinconada KWENTO NI JOHN REYNOLD BRIOSO LARAWAN NILA JAMELA HAZEL TRANQUILO AT JHONEL LUHAN

Sa nobela ni Rizal, doon nga inilarawan si Don Anastacio— maalam na mamamayan ng San Diego, mas kilala sa tawag na Pilosopo Tasyo. Hitik siya ng mga talinghagang hindi lubos malimi ng mga mangmang, kaya kung minsa’y napagkakamalang buang.

Isinulat ni Rizal ang Noli Me Tangere bago pa man dumating ang ika-20 siglo, gayonman, kamangha-mangha kung iisipin na ang buhay ng piksyonal na karakter na Anastacio ay tila masasalamin sa buhay ng lalaking taga-Rinconadang itago natin sa pangalang “Mario”.

Sa magulong mundo ng palengke, doon namin siya nakapanayam. Maaaninag sa kaniyang mukha ang mga bakas ng karanasan at realidad na kaniyang kinaharap sa buhay. Ang pinahabang kulay abong buhok, na kung susukati’y maaring higit isang talampakan, ay tanda ng pagsikhay at pagsusunog ng kilay.

Marami na siyang nabasang libro, ani niya, at kung libro lang naman ang pag-uusapan, hilig niyang pagtuunan ng pansin ang mga akdang may ugnayan sa kasaysayan at politika.

Halos araw-araw, sa loob ng higit labinlimang taon, lagi’t lagi nang binibisita ni "Mario" ang pampublikong silid-aklatan sa Iriga.

Dito, iginugugol niya ang kaniyang oras, una, sa pagbasa ng diyaryo o libro, at pangalawa, sa pakikipagdiskurso sa mga laybraryan tungkol sa isyung kultural, historikal, o politikal.

“Sa history, bilib ako sa kaniya dahil alam na alam niya,” wika ng babaeng guwardiya sa Iriga City Public Library na tumangging magpakilala.

Anu’t ano pa man, ani niya, nakapagtapos ng kolehiyo si "Mario" sa programang Batsilyer ng Arte sa Kasaysayan.

MGA PANANAW Katulad ni Pilosopo Tasyo sa Noli, may ilang

nagsasabing nawala na nga sa katinuan si "Mario", sabay diin sa kakaiba nitong kilos at pananalita.

Gayonman, nanindigan si Richard Balang, tindero ng halos tatlong metrong kuwadradong tindahan sa Iriga City Public Market, na nasa maayos na pag-iisip si "Mario". “‘Yung hindi ko sa kaniya makalimutan, nung pinahiram niya sa akin ‘yung company book ng Shell, ‘yung ganito ka kapal. Alam mo kung ano sinabi sa akin? ‘You read and dream.’ P*ta kako, kung baliw ‘to hindi ‘to sa akin magsasabi ng ganyan,” paliwanang ni Richard.

Inusal niya ng buong pagyayabang na nasa maayos na kompusyor si "Mario" at hindi bayolente, gayong kung minsa’y, pansin niya kung paano ito mairita sa ingay ng mga mamimili sa palengke habang nagbabasa.

MGA ILUSYON, INSTITUTUSYON, AT IBA PA Walang sikiyatrang sinabi si "Mario". Hindi rin niya nakuwentong sumailalim siya sa diagnosis ng mga propesyunal kaya naroroon pa rin ang manipis na duda kung siya nga’y may problema sa pag-iisip o sadyang ganoon lamang talaga ang kaniyang personalidad.

Kung sakali man ngang may iniindang sikolohikal na karamdaman si "Mario", mukhang mahihirapan siyang pasukin ang pasilidad pang-sikiyatro dahil sa Pilipinas, sa bawat 100 000 indibidwal, iisa lamang na higaan sa mga general hospital ang nakalaan para sa mga may karamdamang mental, samantalang lilima lamang na higaan sa mga sikiyatrikong ospital. Para naman sa mga malulubhang kaso, dadalawa lamang na pasilidad ang taglay ng bansa: National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) sa Mandaluyong, at Mariveles Mental Hospital, sa Bataan.

Ayon sa pagtatayang ginawa nina John Lally, John Tully, at Rene Samaniego noong 2019, samantalang may 12 satellite facilities ang NCMH na nakakalat sa arkipelago, punuan, siksikan, kulang sa pondo, at hindi naman maayos na napapangasiwaan ang mga ito.

Sa Bikol naman, iisa lamang ang

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Kung ikokompara ang Pilipinas sa mga karatig bansa, ‘di hamak na nahuhuli na nga tayo pagdating sa serbisyong mental health.

nagsisilbing institusyong mental.

Ito ang Bicol Medical CenterDepartment of Psychiatry, sa Cadlan, sa Camarines Sur na may 200 na higaan. Kulang na kulang ito sa tumataas na kaso ng mental illness sa rehiyon.

Ayon sa Bicol Mail noong 2019, nangangalaga na ang institusyon ng 248 na pasyente, higit ito nang halos 50 sa kapasidad ng naturang Departamento.

Sa bilang naman ng mga psychiatrist sa Pilipinas, halos naglalaro lamang sila sa 500 ayon sa datus ng World Health Organization (WHO).

Samakat’wid, hindi rin sapat ang bilang ng mga sikiyatra kung ilalapat ito sa kabuong populasyon— dalawa hanggang tatlong sikiyatra sa bawat 100 000 na indibidwal. Mababa ito sa sampung sikiyatra kada 100 000 na itinalagang standard ng WHO. Kung ikokompara ang Pilipinas sa mga karatig bansa, ‘di hamak na nahuhuli na nga tayo pagdating sa serbisyong mental health. Dagdag parusa pa ang mataas na gastusin sa ospital kung magpapacheck-up, ang mataas na maintenance ng mga gamot, at ang mga ‘di matuldukang korapsiyon sa loob ng Kagawaran Pangkalusugan ng bansa.

MGA KARANASAN Doon sa maliit na kuwarto, hugis parihaba, doon natutulog si "Mario". Matapos ang buong araw na pakikipagpatintero sa lungsod at masinop na pagbabasa ng magasin, bahagyang ititiklop niya ang mga binti’t likod upang kumasya sa kuwartong tila hindi akmang tir’han dahil sa dimensiyong iregular— higit na mas maikli ang lapad kaysa sa haba. Kung ipapalagay maaaring ‘di hihigit sa isang metro ang lapad.

Ganito kung mailalarawan ang pamamalagi ni "Mario" sa kuwadradong silid na iyon— walang kapamilyang kasama, at wala ring kinakasama. Sa edad na 49, natuto siyang mamuhay mag-isa, matulog at kumain nang mag-isa. Pakatapos ang mahimbing na pamamahinga, gigising nang maaga upang

punuin ang kumakalam na sikmura. Bitbit ang isang galon ng tubig at piling papeles, pupuntahan ang kaibigang si Richard, iinom ng mainit na kape, kapagdaka’y magbabayad.

Naging mailap ang pagbibigay impormasyon ni "Mario" tungkol sa kaniyang pamilya at mga kamag-anak sanhi upang manatiling bukas na libro ang kaniyang sarili.

Gayonman, kalauna’y ipinagtapat niyang matagal nang namaalam ang kaniyang mga magulang sanhi na rin nang pagtanda.

MGA KAISIPAN Gamit ang wikang Ingles, malayang naipapahayag ni "Mario" ang kaniyang kurokuro tungkol sa isang isyu. Sa katunayan, nakabuo na siya ng isang panukala para sa mga mag-aaral at mga investor sa kasalukuyang pandemya na pinost niya sa kaniyang Facebook account.

Ani niya, “Pupils , students and college in [the] era of COVID-19 new educational set up learning [e]nvironment studying in any educational institutional brands (local or international) must […] have private diaries while they complete their educational studies.

Investors must invest in innovated design textures of different model type diaries (papers or smartphone app/online storage software operating systems). Return of investments are high once they follow this proposal.”

Baka nga. Baka nga narinig niya ang alingawngaw ng kabataang nahihirapan sa kasalukuyang sistema ng edukasyon sa bansa. Baka nga natulig ang kaniyang nalilibang na isipan dahil sa nabasang balitang mas lalong tumataas ang kaso ng depresyon at pagpapatiwakal sa Pilipinas.

Kaya, tangan-tangan ang mga kaalamang nakasilid sa kaniyang ulo, buong tapang na iminungkahi ang “private

diaries” para sa mga mag-aaral.

Nauunawaan ni "Mario" ang benepisyong dulot ng pagsusulat— ang taglay nitong kakayahang palayain ang mga damdaming nahihirapan at mga isipang nagugulumihanan. Sa inilabas na artikulo ng University of Rochester Medical Center, sinabi dito na sa pagtatalaarawan, mas nabibigyan ang manunulat ng kakayahang makontrol ang kaniyang emosyon at mas pinatatatag ang estado ng kaniyang kalusugang mental. Kaya naman, iminumungkahi ito ng pamantasan bilang mainam na gawaing mental.

Matalino nga si "Mario". Ang kaniyang lunggati sa pagbabasa ang nagbunsod upang taglayin ang dunong na angkop at kinakailangan sa kasalukuyang panahon.

Patuloy ang

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pakikibaka niya sa realidad ng buhay. Dala-dala ang isang galon ng tubig at libro, patuloy na naglalakad sa kahabaan ng daan— nagbabakasakaling sa kaniyang paglalakbay, patuloy na madadagdagan ang dunong na kaniyang taglay, sa kabila ng mga mapanghusgang matang sa kaniya’y nakaantabay. Siya si Mario, kasasalaminan ng buhay at mga karanasan ni Don Anastacio.

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Delatado scoops silver in APAC 2021 3000m Steeplechase

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AUGUST-DECEMBER 2021 | VOLUME XLI | NO. 1

GOING LIKE LIGHTNING.

Former CSPcean, Daniel Deletado, takes a silver medal in the 3000m Steeplechase at the AYALA Philippine Athletic Championship 2021 held in Baguio Athletic Bowl, Baguio City last December 16-17.

-JAMELA HAZEL TRANQUILO

STORY BY DANICA ANGEL REVILLA

Daniel Delatado, a former CSPCean and a representative of Bicol Region, bagged silver medal in the recent 2021 Ayala Philippine Athletic Championship. The 25 year-old Nabueno clocked in 10:50.77 to claim the second spot in the twoday competition that was held in Baguio Athletic Bowl, Baguio City last December 16-17.

“Sobrang happy ko po, kase nagbunga lahat ng trainings ko since day one ng pandemic”, says Delatado.

His desire to win on the day of the tournament was fueled by his aspirations and dear ones.

“Yung mga inspirasyon ko habang tumatakbo, pinangungunahan ng family ko, tsaka mga pangarap ko, at mga taong sumusuporta sa akin”, he added.

Delatado began his athletic journey at the age of 10. He participated in various competitions as a child, including the Milo Marathon in the 3 kilometer category. In the years 2018-2021, he is a varsity player of Camarines Sur Polytechnic College competing in regional and national level.

Wenifredo Joseph Madrinian, a CSPC track and field coach, honed and guided Delatado during his training. Delatado’s silver winning in 3000m National Open Steeplechase lead a chance

to qualify him and be part of Philippine Athletics Team. He is now undergoing an intense training as a preparation for the upcoming Philippine National Games.

“For now po, on process palang yung pagiging PH team ko. Bali, step 1 palang po yung pagkapanalo

ko sa AYALA National Competition [APAC]. Ngayon po, I am preparing po for Philippine National Games this coming February to be qualified in South East Asian Games.”

For final results, Junel Gobotia secured gold, carving out a time of 9:33.17 while Fernando Reyes took bronze ticking 11:05.80 time result.

MALAYA

DANICA ANGEL REVILLA

Let the Ball Slams the Barangay Once Again: A Yes or a No?

S

ports have been stifled and halted for months after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Major sporting events such as the Tokyo Olympics and the NBA season 2020 have been suspended. The Philippine Basketball Association and the Premier Volleyball League 2020 Season have been dropped and cancelled as well. The postponements of many sports events bring dismay and a major turn-off to all sports fans in the world. Sports will never be the same as before. COVID-19, indeed, fetched changes on the sports field, among players, and among fans.

After almost two years, the Philippines is still battling the pandemic. Fortunately, the slope of positive cases is in decline, and the entire country is now placed on Alert Level 2. With a more relaxed and low level of restrictions, is this now the green light to play sports in the streets once again?

In the Guidelines of IATF under Alert Level 2, stated in Section 5 that contact sports must be approved by the LGUs. It was also reiterated

by MMDA Chairperson Benhur Abalos that any unorganized events, such as Barangay Basketball and Volleyball Competitions should notify the LGUs and provide requirements for their request to be

granted. Due to the vagueness of the IATF’s new guidelines, organized basketball events, such as the Philippine Basketball Association and Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 are the only ones given clearance by IATF. Although some mayors in the NCR have requested that basketball be allowed on the streets, the IATF has made no statements in support of the request.

“ The incompetency of the government in COVID-19 response and social protection is one of the factors why contact sports should constraint to the extent feasible.

Basketball, a full-body sport is intense and requires physical contact. It is impossible and uncomfortable to wear protective face masks as players consume a lot of oxygen. Even with players who are fully vaccinated, the risks are incalculable—they can still contract COVID-19. NBA players who are fully vaccinated and monitored regularly, some still recorded positive for COVID-19, including

famous players Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, Damion Lee, Derick Rose, and many others. Some PBA players tested positive as well, resulting in game postponement.

What more if the barangays held their competitions?

The Philippines is one of the Southeast Asian nations that has gained the slowest headway in fighting COVID-19. The government struggled to protect public health and flatten the curve of COVID-19 cases. As of December, DOH recorded 43 million fully vaccinated Filipinos out of 111, 639, 683 population of the Philippines. The statistics clearly show that many are still vulnerable in acquiring the virus and the Philippines is incapable for sports reopening especially in streets where protective garments and health personnel are limited.

In addition, not all barangays or municipalities have fully equipped and spacious courts.

This meagreness can incur risks to viewers and players as the surge of new variants of COVID-19 is more contagious—Delta and Omicron.

Although the number of cases in the Philippines is subsiding, we are still not in full recovery.

The government made loans that have yet to be fully repaid. The Philippines is financially struggling, we are incapable to acquire money

once again as of the billions of dollars that were already lend by other countries just to combat COVID-19. The incompetency of the government in COVID-19 response and social protection is one of the factors why contact sports should constraint to the extent feasible. There is a likelihood of rapid transmission and the number of cases will resurge once street hoops reopened. Another, there is a limited fund given for sports that even athletes can testify due to government’s lack of support in international competitions.

Our country is fragile and slowly drowning in poverty in a long state of health crisis. The government cannot stand another wave of COVID-19 for our resources reached its shortage. The Philippines is governed by despairing leaders, sadly, their ineptitude grounds serious economic setbacks and the loss of thousands of lives.

The future is unknowable, we do not know what the future holds.

It is best to prevent events that might lead to unsightly aftermath.

We must consider all of the possible outcomes as individuals and as part of the community. After all, all these things occurring around us is just temporary.

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SPORTS FEATURE

INCAPABILITIES TO CAPABILITIES

STORY BY MARY MARJORIE GAMBOA In life, they say that it’ll be hard to find a silver lining when you hit the rock-bottom of your life. On the other hand, some people just optimistically continue the journey – hoping that there’s an array of light at the end.

However, only few are dauntless to turn their misfortunes into blessings!

Gary Adoraror Bejino, a Bicolano Paralympic swimmer is one of them.

At an early age, Gary is living a simple yet contented life in an island of Malilipot, Albay. Just like the other kids who lives by the coast, he grew up with a burnt skin color and just genuinely enjoys every waves of the sea. The sultriness of the waters was his playground until he was about eleven years old, when Father Monti Foundation in Novaliches, Quezon City, a foundation that helps People with Disability (PWD) finish their education, took and supported him.

Gary became orthopedic handicapped at the age of seven when an adversity in his life came. He lost his right hand and left limb in an electric accident. The affected limbs got burnt which prompted the doctor to amputate it. Despite this, Gary auspiciously lived his life as a normal kid and even attended a regular school. Being able to play with others also reinforced the idea that he wasn’t disabled. Gary was fortunate that he was not bullied – in fact, his peers were kind and caring to him. His family, as one of his greatest support system didn’t also treat him different or disabled, helping him to adapt quickly.

The process of being an athlete were a bit different from the usual for Gary. Unlike

most athletes, he did not have to fight his way up to the ladder to compete for the Palarong Pambansa for Persons with Disabilities. Going back when he was around 3rd to 4th year highschool, the inexperienced yet courageous Gary volunteered to be part of his first ever swimming competition when a P.E. teacher in his school happened to look for someone who would want to join the said competition, hosted by the Department of Education. Although he stood up to join the competition, Gary didn’t have any prior formal experience. At the back of his mind, his only knowledge of swimming was drifting through the tides, such like in his hometown.

Despite lacking ample experience when he joined the Palarong Pambansa for PWD, still his results reached the Philippine Sports Association for Differently Abled (PHILSPADA) and Tony Ong, the National Para swimming coach of the Philippines, which prompted them to choose him to be part of the team and line up to compete for various competitions.

Since Gary already faced a near death situation, other challenges such as his trainings as a newbie seemed to be nothing for him. His labor became fruitful when he remarkably bagged a silver and a bronze in Asean Youth Para Games in Malaysia, his first international para swimming competition. He once again made the country proud as he won a bronze and a pair of silver medals after winning numerous events in the 2014 Asean Para Games held at Myanmar. A year after, Gary clinched his first-ever gold in the 400m freestyle event of the 2015 Asean Para Games held at Singapore. He successfully defended his throne when

“

“Discrimination between parathletes and the regular atlethes were undeniably present.”

he once again won a gold of the said event in 2016 where he also won a pair of bronze medal in a relay event.

In 2018 Asian Para Games, Gary snatched another silver and a bronze medal. Because of his undeniably commendable performance, Gary qualified to compete for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic. By finishing last in his 3 out of 4 events; 400m freestyle, 100m backstroke, and 200m individual medley, he was unsuccessful to qualify for the medal round. His campaign to the paralympic completely came to an end when he placed 14th out of 16 para swimmers in his last event, 50m butterfly. In spite of not winning any medal, he said that he’s still grateful for the opportunities he had been receiving.

Discrimination between them, para atlethes, and the regular atlethes were undeniably present in the scenario, Gary said. Even though trainings were relevantly the same, sacrifices and labor made, and even the pride and honor that they’re bringing for the Philippines after winning their competitions, cash incentives weren’t similar comparing on what they’re receiving.

He exemplified that if a regular atlethe receives a three hundred thousand for bagging a gold, them, para atlethes would be receiving only a half of it.

Nevertheless, Gary tried to focus more on enhancing his skills through trainings instead of taking account of the impartiality that was in the area since he said that other supports such as monthly allowances are more than enough for them.

Gary claimed that he owe his life to swimming. His flourishing career paved the way for him to be the breadwinner of his family. Aside from being an amputee, skimpy food being put on their table had also became a challenge for their family. Being with his other 5 siblings, his mother, Evelyn Bejino, a housewife and his father,

Demitrio Bejino Jr., a construction worker, whom their only provider at that time. The tables started to turn when Gary entered the world of para swimming.

Gary, as the living example of someone who despite of his disability became courageous in facing life’s challenges, wants to serve as an inspiration especially to his fellow PWD to always make most of every opportunity that comes. He gave emphasis on putting God above everything else which has become his greatest source of strength on his downfall episodes.

Due to the challenge of the pandemic, where mobility are restricted, Gary and the rest of his team aren’t having their formal trainings. At present, they are utilizing zoom trainings and work outs and is living separately from each other as their dormitory was used as a quarantine facility of the government.

Currently, Gary stays in Cainta, Rizal and is preparing for next year’s Asean Para Games to be held in China and other qualifying games for the next paralympic. His usual daily routines and preparations for his upcoming events starts in Monday, from 5pm to 8pm. From Tuesday to Friday, he would be spending his whole day for his intense trainings. While his Saturday trainings would only be spent half, from 5am to 8am. His usual drills include basic work outs and swimming races with his fellow para swimmers and colleagues.

Gary proved that not every loss are always a deficiency. Sometimes, it’s just a way for a greater purpose ahead. Just like the waves of the sea in his hometown, he certainly ruled the turbulences of his life. Indeed, Gary, a pride of Bicol exercised hope, courage and resiliency, characteristics of a true “Oragon”. He doubtlessly turned his incapabilities to capabilities.

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The Pawn’sMarch to

SUCCESS STORY BY DANICA ANGEL REVILLA

Keep moving FORWARD! A pawn is known as the weakest and is worth only one point among chess pieces. However, it has also the biggest potential among them as it can turn into a powerful queen when it reaches the opposite end. By the same token, Ronald Canino characterizes himself as a pawn marching his way towards greatness.

Canino, who is eighteen years old, was born and raised in Cagayan De Oro City. He was a student athlete since he was a child, exhibiting his great talent and potential in chess at a very young age. He is recognized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) as National Master (NM) and is currently ranked 161st out of 626 players in Mens Overall Standing.

The Opening The very first time Canino set up his chessboard and placed the pieces into their respective roles and purposes, was the point he knew that he wanted to be a great chess grandmaster.

As his hands swiftly moves his pawn, a courageous move marked the beginning of his journey. One by one, piece by piece, white to black, he defended the attacks not only in-game but also the challenges in life.

Ronald Canino was raised and surrounded by talented chess players; his entire family, from his parents to his siblings, was a chess player. He then started playing the game when he was six years old. His interest in chess began to blossom through the influence of his brother, Romeo Canino – his first coach.

He witnessed his brother, playing an unusual board game with rare black and white pieces moving in different places side to side and back and forth. "I was watching my older brother playing chess... he [my brother] used to teach me when I was

younger." As a child, he was fascinated by the art of the game and was captivated by the various shapes and forms of chess pieces, "I asked my older brother to teach me how to play chess...and I enjoyed it...”.

At a young age, he began to compete in local competitions in various parts of Cagayan De Oro, and the real game begins.

He was a recipient of numerous awards and trophies both locally and internationally. All of those experiences aided him in honing his expertise as he prepared for bigger competitions with the help of his coach, Mr. Roel Abelgas. "My first tournaments were just local, dito lang sa Cagayan de Oro," he explained. "Fortunately, nanalo naman... kaya nag-improve nang nag-improve."

Nationally, he participated in barangay chess tournaments at every town fiesta, as well as any sponsored chess competitions, such as the 25th Shell National Youth Active Chess Championship, the 23rd Shell National Youth Active Chess Championship, and university chess tournament, NCAA Chess Championship as such.

In 2012, he competed in his first international competition, the 13th ASEAN Age+Group Chess Championship. He won two silver medals and one bronze medal in the tournament, which was held in Vietnam.

It was notable because he defeated his Singaporean opponent in just four moves.

In 2018, he participated in the 19th ASEAN Age+Group Chess Championship, which was one of his best competitions. He won two gold medals in the Open Chess under 16 years old category of the competition, which was held in Davao. Canino also competed in the 14th ASEAN +Age Group Chess Championship 2013 in Thailand, where he won two silver and one bronze medals. He also contested in the 16th ASEAN +Age Group Chess Championship 2015, which was held in Singapore, and earned two silver and one bronze medals. He was named Top Junior in the 13th GOLDIS Malaysia Chess Challenge 2018, which took place in Cititel, Midvalley, Kuala Lumpur. In 2018, he also finished fourth in the 15th Malaysian Chess Festival.

In 2019, he represented the Philippines in the Thailand Pattaya Amateur Open Chess Championship, finishing first runner-up. His most recent engagement was the Eastern Asia Youth Chess Championship 2021, boys under 18, which took place last October 2021. He has a record of 74 wins, 46 losses, and 35 draws in international competition, with 2 gold, 6 silver, and 3 bronze medals. He was named and entitled as a National Master by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines.

Being a member of the Philippine Chess Team competing internationally is both a fantastic opportunity and an overwhelmingly positive experience for him, "...masaya ako noon kasi bata pa ako that time, eight years old tapos nasali na ako internationally sa Indonesia, China, [at] Singapore...sobrang saya [ko] noon that time."

Blunder He, the pawn, unveiling a great strength, mistakenly reached his isolated position, got captured, and lost by his own downfall.

Canino was once challenged in his own life tactics and strategy. He came to a point

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in choosing between setting up the board or closing it for good. A decision he never expected to come in spite of his passion.

Canino suffered numerous losses and like any other athlete, he had doubts about himself which led to a loss of interest in playing and a decision to step down. “Nung age of 12 to 14 medyo nag-stop ako sa paglalaro ng chess, na-discourage…”. He had grown tired of the system's repetition and cycle. He feels the need to escape and discover new things. "Naabot ako sa point na na-bored na ako, napagod na sa pag-aaral at ayon medyo nag stop ako dun,“ he explained.

Despite his shortfalls, Canino praises the art of losing. "Pag natalo ka, pag aralan mo na lang ulit kung san ka nagkamali para di mo na magawa sa sunod," Canino said. He perceives defeat as a training experience that will help him avoid future same errors. He was able to rekindle his passion and even get enthusiastic about his future tournaments.

“I manage naman na makabalik sa Philippine team nung nag-aral ako ulit ng chess” Canino added. He paused and rest in a short time, then continue to recover and resumed.

Much like in a game, there is still a chance to reestablished what has been lost, a game over is a cue to play a new game, perhaps, a chance for new adventures.

Castling Nothing compares to a family's love and support. Canino got into the field reflecting the influence of his family. They saw potential in him and believed in his talent. His family was there for him every step of the way during his competitions. "... when I was eight years old, I traveled to Indonesia with my father for an ASEAN tournament."

When he was in doubt and lost, his family was the one who supported him. They allowed him to rest for a while and put no pressure on him. As a result, he was able to reawaken his desire to play. “Nag-encourage sa akin is yung parents ko, brother ko, at sister ko. Naglalaro na din sila that time eh”. His brothers and sisters are also chess players who have won international awards in different countries as well. He decided to pursue and continue playing chess because he saw the joy and love that it brought to his family. He became motivated and decided to start over. Fortunately, he was able to return and compete in a number of international games.

Aside from his family, one of the people he looked up to was Wesley So. Grand Master (GM) So is the current World Fischer Random Chess Champion with Filipino descent, having defeated Grand Masters and well-known chess players such as Magnus Carslen and Fabio Caruana. Canino used to see So and watch him play when he was still a member of the Philippine Chess Team. He was awestruck

by So's talent and regards him as a role model in the field. “I saw him already played and I was so amazed with him playing…”

Ronald is contented in his career. He looks forward for more international and national engagements. He has no intention of becoming Wesley, due to the fact that his age is a little late for the record. When asked

“

He does not associate success with things that provide temporary happiness, such as medals, trophies, and certificates. For him, success is the means by which he has been able to assist his parents.

if he has any plans to follow the footsteps of his idol, he replied, “Oo pwede, pero at the age [ko] kasi ngayon medyo malabo na tapos ngayon pa BS engineering pa kinuha ko kaya mahihirapan akong makamit yun”.

The people we surround ourselves with have a significant influence on our personalities. Canino was fortunate to be surrounded by people who appreciate and respect his decisions. They provide him with unwavering support and love. As a result, he was able to overcome and triumph over his own setback. Instead of allowing his emotions to drown him, he chose to confront and conquer his flaws and defeats in order to improve himself.

Checkmate King has been checkmated, a point welcoming an endgame. Happenings in any game and sport is always unpredictable but one thing is certain, there will always be a finale. Medals, trophies, awards, certificates, and honors received are treasured by all athletes, whether they win or lose.

Importantly, they value the life lessons they have learned as a result of their fruitful journey, which is the true essence of victory.

Canino defines success in a very different way. He does not associate success with things that provide temporary happiness, such as medals, trophies, and certificates. For him, success is the means by which he has been able to assist his parents. He became a student athlete through the tournaments and competitions he participated in, which made him a scholar since elementary and that is

enough for him to consider it a success. He is already thankful for his small victories.

Chess, according to Canino, is a beneficial game since it improves a person's analytical ability and critical thinking, which can be applied in real-life decision making and applications. In his more than ten years of chess experience, he believes that studying should be continuous. The three characteristics that made him today in the chess field are confidence, hard work, and sportsmanship, "kailangan mo talaga maging sports, pag natalo…no hard feelings, be hardworking sa pag-aaral. At pag naglalaro ka confident talaga para matakot din yung kalaban mo sayo," he said.

Canino reminded his fellow aspirants to become a great chess prodigy someday, “Be confident sa lahat ng moves mo, tapos wag ka matakot [tumira sa kalaban] at magdadasal palagi bago maglaro”. In similarity to a Pawn, Canino keeps on moving forward and trying different things in order to achieve his dreams, taking a step one at a time. No hesitations left on him, if ever, the least hesitation is not trying at all. He believes, it is better to take risk than staying on the same block and not be able to see the bigger and better picture of life. “…pag gusto nyo talaga maglaro ng chess, laro lang kayo ng laro. Kahit walang naniniwala sainyo mag-laro lang kayo. Mag-aral [about sa chess] para mag improve ka palagi…take opportunities, walang mangyayari kung di susubukan. Keep moving forward lang talaga sa lahat ng problema mo at wag kang susuko sa buhay.”

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SILENT DAMSEL ALYSSA FRANZ UVERO

Internship Turned In-Torn-Ship

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ince the COVID-19 pandemic began, final year students, among all other levels, suffered from the lack of physicality in education. This is due to the absence of interaction needed for kinaesthetic learning, conducting research, and internship opportunities.

After a while, some alternatives came out such as virtual on-thejob training (OJT). This is also termed virtual internship or remote internship where a student could work and represent an institution from home. Virtual OJTs have emerged long before the current pandemic, when the progress in technology has made it possible to limit physical worksites and create virtual opportunities in organizations where it never existed before.

On June 2021, before the start of the current academic year, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has stated that OJTs can

push through online at the start of the coming semester, and then gradually shift to limited face-toface sessions. This means the parts that can be done online. Those that are not skill-based and do not call for limited face-to-face classes can be done at the start of the academic year. And then, those that require limited face-to-face classes can be done by the end or the latter part of the semester. This plan was likely to happen at that time when COVID-19 infection rates were going down.

However, with the current struggle

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While the shift to e-learning seems to be slowly accepted and less and less people are bothered by its ineffectiveness, the educational sector should not ignore the concurrent shift of internships to virtual mode.

of the country with the emerging new variants, face-to-face activities are once again a blurry flicker at the far end of a tunnel.

While the shift to e-learning seems to be slowly accepted and less and less people are bothered by its ineffectiveness, the educational sector should not ignore the concurrent shift of internships to virtual mode. The pandemic has had a negative impact on the world of internships, at large. There have been complaints surfacing regarding the difficulty that college students face in seeking for OJT opportunities.

Most students struggle in some fashion, whether it’s about finances, mental health, physical health, and other unprecedented problems connected to virtual internships such as insufficient internet access, old equipment, communication problems with supervisors, and more. Virtual OJTs deserve further study beyond this emergency calculation.

While interns will be able to accomplish tasks assigned to them due to them being designed for the virtual experience, there is something to be said for the loss of “in-person” interaction. So much of what makes up a workplace culture is found in the small moments dealing with co-interns, chatting in the lunchroom, or even socializing at the end of an exhausting workday.

The physicality of internships is a vital component of the overall intern experience.

Like e-learning, virtual OJTs mean remote work as well. The thing about remote work is that it is easy to work around the clock.

Since interns never physically enter or exit the office, they may clock many more hours than agreed upon initially. This may work the other way around in that the employer may overburden the interns due to the ease of off-loading projects to an CONTINUE ON PAGE 30

TO THE FORE MICHAEL WILLIAM RONCO

A Chance to Step Forward

F

ace-to-face classes have been suspended in the country for nearly two years amid the COVID-19 pandemic. After years of waiting, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) gives the green light to all higher education institutions (HEIs) to implement limited face-to-face classes.

With the pandemic still in the midst, will colleges open up their campuses now when they are given the option?

The CHED has given the go signal to HEIs to start their limited face-to-face classes for all programs in areas under Alert Level 3 on January 31. Those in areas under Alert Level 2 may, however, start limited face-to-face classes anytime.

This is the commission’s response to the resolution of the IATF approving

the phased implementation of limited face-to-face classes.

With these, regulations are now not a hindrance to the conduct of in-classroom classes. It is now a matter of deciding if HEIs intend to implement such modes of instruction to their campuses.

School closures have resulted in the adoption of distance learning. In this setup, many schools preferred instructions through the internet.

Hurdles such as slow internet connectivity, power interruptions, conflict with home responsibilities, and financial-related problems present some of the challenges students face.

These result in students not being able to attend classes, also, many are reported to retain less of the information being taught.

The setup could have significant

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While the shift to e-learning seems to be slowly accepted and less and less people are bothered by its ineffectiveness, the educational sector should not ignore the concurrent shift of internships to virtual mode. detrimental effects on student learning and performance which can affect how they stand along their peers.

Lectures done in a classroom set-up are the most ideal, both in terms of knowledge absorption and retention. It is also more accessible for all. In an SWS survey last March 2021, it says 89 percent of respondents say the blended learning system is more difficult

than face-to-face learning. For this reason, many prefer in-person setup and are calling on the government to allow it.

Studies have shown that positive school experiences are a predictor of a student’s future social and educational outcomes. In faceto-face instruction, this is better achieved. However, when students are left behind in learning, they most often lag behind their peers for the remaining time they spend in school. The gap further widens over the years which exacerbates their chances of getting opportunities in life.

This is unfortunate because many Filipino students are, in fact, being left behind. Most students, even those having sufficient CONTINUE ON PAGE 30

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TheSPARK

OLLIE

JOHN ROBERT OÑEDO

A Much-Needed Talk

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ince the passing of the Republic Act 10354: The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012, its implementation has been slow, in fact the age of teen mothers is now as young as 10 years old.

This may have something to do with the poor way sex education is being taught in schools and how it is understood by most people.

Little effort has been made into incorporating comprehensive and informative sex education in the current school curriculum.

In addition to comprehensive and informative sex education the government my also prioritize access to quality sex education.

According to an article by Cheedala et al. year 2020 from John Hopkins University , sex education is defined as the means of educating people on the following: how to say no to sex, contraception (where to get them and how to use them), and sexually transmitted diseases

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Sex education as it stands has room for necessary and much-needed improvements, starting from how it is taught to how it is perceived by the majority.

(STDs). However, for most schools here in the Philippines, the extent that sex education is currently being taught is usually limited to the anatomy and the process of pregnancy. It rarely touches on the subject of contraceptives and STDs, even when it is brought up.

It has become uncommon for many schools to incorporate these subjects mainly due to conservative and Christian beliefs getting in the way. This makes it difficult for subjects such as access to contraceptives and how to get them, sexual consent, and STDs to be taught properly.

Despite these setbacks and the gradually slow progress of RA 10354, there has been some progress since it was passed. As stated

by Lolito Tacardon, the Deputy Executive Director of the Population Commission, there has been a slight decrease in the number of teenage pregnancies from 10% to 8.7% in 2017. However this progress seemed insignificant as Tacardon mentioned in the same interview that in 2019 there was a 9% rise in teenage pregnancies. It was also declared that some of these girls were victims of sexual abuse.

This suggests that the inception of the Republic Act may have had an initial effect; though it still needs work in order to be effective in the long run, as implied by the previously mentioned John Hopkins study. The responsibility of making sure that sex education is being taught properly is mainly on our government. We can also evoke this process by educating ourselves

and others, as well as by removing the negative stigma surrounding sex education and correcting the many misconceptions that plague it.

“Parents also have a responsibility to teach their children about these subjects to prevent judgment and any discriminatory attitude toward sex education” as stated by Director Jocylen Andaya of the Department of Education’s Bureau of Curriculum Development.

Sex education as it stands has room for necessary and muchneeded improvements, starting from how it is taught to how it is perceived by the majority. The involvement of the individual and the parents of young adolescents have major role in educating others and removing the stigma around sex education. They do not have to go in blind and be at the risk of unwanted pregnancies, STDs or be forced into sexual situation they want no part of.

BROAD SPECTRUM NATHANIEL DE JESUS

The Marcoses’ Playbook

M

emoirs that transcend time typically lose their core and devolve into booming meaningless words. Are the levels we know exposed to the truth or are they susceptible to overwhelming lies that we are clueless of?

Forty-eight years have gone since “that” dictator decided to impose Martial Law on the entire country with promising change platforms and in rebuttal to “communist threats,” sparking an almost 10year nightmare in which the entire constitution is restricted, civil law and civil rights are impeded, and the entire country is being played in the palm of one man: he.

Several people recall the terrible days as a tragic chapter in Philippine history, a period of degradation, extrajudicial murders,

abuse, monopoly, and tyranny; a period when calls for help, mercy, and hope were muted; a chapter that a small group of people who call themselves loyalists wish to rewrite. These are the same people that portray the Marcos government as the Golden Age of the Philippines, which the charts show to be untrue and illogical. Historical revisionism is being promoted and expanded in order to portray the government as matchless and unrivaled in terms of economic status, “world-renowned programs,” and the style of life of its people.

The “Best President Ever” idea being propagated by multiple organizations is not based on ignorance. It’s part of a far wider covert plan to re-establish the Marcoses in political power. When the late dictator’s son, Ferdinand

“Bong Bong” Marcos Jr., almost won the vice presidency, we were on the verge of having a Marcos in a high post. Imee Marcos, a member of the Marcos family, excels in the Senate.

Historical revisionism is not only call for people to move on, but rather turns a blind eye to the country’s dark chapter during the Marcos era.

Loyalists argue that the economy underwent a boom during the Marcos era, one of the highest in Southeast Asia - their pillar for the “greatest president” assertion.

Its entire worth, expressed as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), reflects a country’s economy in creating products and services in its local economy. GDP growth reached a record 8.92 percent in 1973 and 8.81 percent in 1976. However, during this period, we had the greatest

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The currency of the day was fear and terror, not discipline or compliance.

People were terrified. People were walking on a thin sheet of ice.

recession in the country’s history in terms of GDP. In 1984 during the final years of the authoritarian dictatorship, the GDP fell by a record 7.3 percent. As the then-global oil crisis entered the scene, inflation rates skyrocketed. Because of the cheap interest rates, the Philippine government embarked on a borrowing spree. Unfortunately, it has resulted in the country’s debt CONTINUE ON PAGE 30

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unseen intern. Remote work entails more time spent on your computer with an Internet connection. Without carefully-crafted discipline, one might fall into the temptation of browsing unnecessary websites.

Interning from home has many distractions that can affect work productivity.

Many internships are unpaid and simply offer college credit. The ones that do pay are often fulltime for minimum wage or less.

This is the price paid for being able to add real-world experience to your resume before actually being qualified to do so. With the lack of physicality, employers can easily cheat off interns from getting paid for the work they turn in.

Employers and, to a certain degree, colleges need to think about designing their interns’ projects with the same care and attention that a college professor designs their courses. It’s not just bringing in an

intern and throwing them whatever project is in the queue. They need to be intentional about the nature of the task, how the intern can be integrated in a substantive fashion, how much autonomy they have, how the supervisor is trained, and the tools and resources that are available to the intern.

For final year college students, the concern next to graduating with flying colors is finding a job. Most students think that it will be difficult

for them to get a desired job in the COVID-19 situation because a lot of institutions have already reduced their offer of new employees and also cut off some percentage of salaries for the COVID-19 situation.

With the decreased valuable experience provided by virtual OJTs, the possibility of getting a job for fresh grads becomes even smaller.

Virtual internships deserve support both as an alternative to the outright cancellation of programs during the current public health emergency.

Dropout rates are also rising.

According to a London-based child aid agency, Save the Children, 2.3 million more students have not enrolled in 2020. This is in addition to the 1.3 million students who remained out of school in 2019.

The sharp drop in enrollment for the current school year was due to the restrictions on face-to-face education, in addition to other reasons for not attending school.

With the present set-up, many students are having difficulty learning and some even opt to not go to school. Opening schools can help reduce the hurdles that students face and reverse many of the negative impacts which resulted from this arrangement.

With the new directive that the CHED has rolled out, HEIs now have the freedom to implement in-person classes which provide students the mode of instruction that is the most ideal and accessible. However, the decision lies on HEIs if they open up

their campuses. The major reason for not opening up is the fear that doing so might cause outbreaks.

In countries like Taiwan, they have effectively minimized the spread of COVID-19 with effective policies. With this, they have opened schools and mandated temporary school closures only when local infection rates rise. With low cases and stringent implementation of inschool health and safety measures, schools can be opened.

There are areas in the country where cases remain low. HEIs in these areas have the right conditions to open their schools. The Rinconada District, in particular, has a modest number of cases. With higher vaccination rates, cases can be reduced further until herd immunity is reached and local transmission can be prevented effectively.

In-person classes can also be reserved for subjects that require hands-on training. However, schools can be more lenient in allowing

lecture classes if conditions allow.

HEIs can strategize the scheduling of whom to take the in-person classes.

Schools are in a difficult situation. However, it is now clear that the present setup is not effective in educating students and in giving equal access. There is a need to return to in-person classes. If necessary precautions and mechanisms to prevent outbreaks are in place, if cases are low in the area, and vaccination rates are high, the conditions are ideal to open up schools.

The closure of schools has sweeping effects on students, teachers, and society. Its opening can significantly help reverse these effects, which can immediately show results. The silver lining is that more HEIs are now keen on opening their campuses—realizing the benefits could outweigh the risks. As long as the risks are reduced and swift decisions can be made when needed, schools are ready to open.

favored. It was more of a borrowing frenzy for infrastructure while leaving the country in debt. As a result, succeeding administrations will be short of greens, making the Marcos administration appear to be the most well-off, developed government that made significant contributions. In reality, it’s comparable to asking to buy a shirt and ended going home with a whole clothing line on credit. The notion of a golden age economy is bogus, and the charts prove to be so.

On the other perspective, the oppressive regime was put under the watchful eye of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, with its commander in chief, Ferdinand Marcos, having the authority to quash any act of resistance. Breathing in contempt for the tyrannical leadership is deemed subversion, which is punishable by inconceivable horrors. During the dark era, torture, unlawful arrests, confinement of opposition members, and silence were common. An alleged startling 3,275 extra-judicial deaths, tortured 35,000, and incarcerated 70,000 for any little “infraction” are recorded in the almost 10-year one-

person dictatorship. Victims were purposely rescued from roadside ditches, beaten and harmed. They were brutal reminders from an repressive dictatorship to anybody who tried to speak up or deviate from the rules.

It is still an absolute travesty that the Philippines has a shambolic justice system, since it has deteriorated over time. The majority of it is left behind from the Marcos dictatorship, which flourished over time. The fact that the whole constitution is suspended and the rule of law revolves on one individual has caused a rippling effect in the court system. Marcos essentially owned all of the judges in the Philippines, which cascaded down to the attorneys at the time. Those with connections to the judge who has connections to the palace were the easiest ones to go with since it was a definite win. It resulted in many networks. Even after the tyrant was deposed, these networks remained hidden. It thrived until now, and it is like a parasite in a system.

People argue that during the Martial Law era, Filipinos were the

most disciplined and obedient. The currency of the day was fear and terror, not discipline or compliance.

People were terrified. People were walking on a thin sheet of ice. The individuals were living under the threat of a gun. We’re on the edge of individuals urgently attempting to invent facts and mold the people’s sad period. The protests should not be forgotten simply by “moving on” and altering history. To spread the falsehoods, social media accounts and “influencers” are being used.

They are increasing in number as this is written. Second, according to Duterte, the Marcoses have the most social media accounts supporting and assisting them in regaining power since Bong Bong campaigned for Vice President. This aspect of history, as well as how we are being corrupted, should be taught in schools. The elections are almost around the corner. These propagandists are supposed to generate noise and distort information. Some people go on, but we don’t. Those who recall the heinous chapter bear the obligation of amplifying the screams of those who perished.

A CHANCE TO STEP FORWARD FROM 28

resources to continue their education, find it hard to learn in the present set-up. The disadvantages are more disproportionate for underprivileged students who tend to have fewer educational opportunities beyond school. Many students are already lagging behind their peers. Worse, the majority of Filipino students could also lag behind the world.

This could present a widespread problem in the future—creating graduates who lack enough knowledge to prepare them for their careers. This could have a detrimental effect to the country’s overall economy. If half-baked graduates are produced, we wasted an opportunity to have a workforce with maximum possible productivity. The country is in a sweet spot of having a favorable demographic dividend. It need to not waste the opportunity to equip those who can be trained with adequate knowledge and skills.

THE MARCOSES’ PLAYBOOK FROM 28

increasing to $20 billion. The GDP per capita, or income per person, likewise fell precipitously, the most substantial loss in Philippine history, from which we barely recovered 21 years later, in the early 2000s. We are wide-eyed about the trillions of dollars in debt that our nation has accumulated during the Duterte administration, yet a significant portion of this can be traced back to the tyrannical era. We were facing a full-fledged debt crisis as a result of the Marcos regime’s borrowing haul, in which the “one of the finest economies in SEA” had $16 billion in its account in less than five years.

Borrowing is not as bad as it sounds, but when it became unsustainable, everything went downhill in a short period.

The administration did begin on infrastructure and massive projects, but these “achievements” are debt-driven growth for which we are now paying. As a result, instead of having monies set aside for future undertakings, we are tethered to debts that our country has owed since its inception. It is exactly for this reason that the Marcos rule is

EDITORIAL

TRUTH KNOWS NO LIMITS

AUGUST-DECEMBER 2021 | VOLUME XLI | NO. 1

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EDITORIAL BOARD & STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF John Reynold Brioso ASSOCIATE EDITORS Christine Astibe Alyssa Franz Uvero MANAGING EDITORS Michael William Ronco John Robert Oñedo ART EDITOR Rafael Angelo Morales LAYOUT EDITOR Charis Joy Luna NEWS EDITOR Christelle Ong FEATURES EDITOR Herminia Vasquez LITERARY EDITOR Shiela Mae Parco SPORTS EDITOR Felimon Gozun Jr.

BLIND IDOLATRY The term “fanatic” is often used negatively, considering that anything exceeding the normal is bad. Support is okay, as long as it is rooted in rationality, criticalthinking, and the urge to provide positive changes.

A lot of people, especially teenagers, can relate to the movie

“

It is indeed a mystery: how one glorifies another on a makeshift altar. At worst, fanaticism is an enemy of humanity.

Fan Girl by Antoinette Jadaone.

The story revolves around Jane, an infatuated fan who finds a way to meet her celebrity crush, Paulo Avelino (as a fictional version of himself). In Fan Girl, Jane eventually realizes that his idol isn’t quite the perfect man she made him out to be when nobody’s watching. The film is a vicious wolf in sheep’s clothing, starting off as a pleasurable descent into the whims of an impressionable teenager before evolving into the dangerous expositions of blind idolatry.

Good for Jane, realization struck her judgment which had long been clouded by admiration. But this is not the case for many. The likes of Jane’s blind idolatry continue to exist in the society – but Paulo Avelino now comes in different forms.

It is indeed a mystery: how one glorifies another on a makeshift

altar. At worst, fanaticism is an enemy of humanity. For example, religion – which is the strongest form of fanaticism – has fuelled the most monstrous and violent crimes in history, turning people against each other by inciting wars.

However, despite religion being a root of serious conflicts, believers continue to worship and devote themselves to their belief systems.

Filipinos have always been passionate and led by the heart.

Never wanting to be late on trends, Filipinos are easily swayed by the latest gimmicks in prosperity, romance, and beauty. This sheds light on the consumer behaviour in the country where despite having a poverty rate of 20%, people still work their bodies off to afford the latest iPhone. In a place where a single bottle of shampoo almost costs as much as the minimum wage, urban areas are plastered FOLLOW ON PAGE 32

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with billboards of whitening products, designer clothing ads, and cosmetic surgery promotions. Filipinos long to buy these products despite being out of their financial reach. Why? Because they fanaticize the good idea of being able to ride the waves of trends.

Filipinos’ love for a good idea is never as evident during election time as it is during shopping. In its alarming and timely form, fanaticism is played out when people idolize a political leader to the extent that nothing he says or does can be wrong. President Duterte once said: “Do not hesitate to attack me, criticize me, if I do wrong in my job.”

This is the atmosphere in traditional media. However, this is not what’s taking place in social media, where netizens bend over backward to swoop up their idol’s faults, revealing the interesting side of the Filipino psyche.

If there is one thing Filipinos are famous for when it comes to politics, it is their propensity to self-sabotage.

When

an unqualified candidate wins, it is because he told the best story. Filipinos love the rags-to-riches plot, the Golden Age narrative, and the save-the-poor promise.

Politicians regularly take advantage of Filipino fanaticism by employing celebrities to aid in their campaigns. The level of publicity surrounding a celebrity can increase a politician’s closeness to the masses. Although political fanaticism has always been a part of the political climate, it has been at its peak since 2016. This fanatical attitude towards public servants continues to become an impediment to the development and democracy in the country.

Political fanaticism in the Philippines will probably end in either of these: the citizens grow weary of shock value and demand actual leadership, or become witnesses to the crumbling of the nation to its knees. Whether they’re leaders or followers, fanatics are humanity’s greatest scourge. They indulge in an intoxicating, heady, know-it-all confidence that they have unique access to absolute truths – so perfect that they feel the need to impose them on everyone. They drive through life like alcoholics who think they’re perfectly fine driving. It’s hard to cut off drug if sobriety means admitting that you are wrong through and through. No one is exempt from this disease. It certainly is not your fault, but it is your responsibility to sober up.

“

Whether they’re leaders or followers, fanatics are humanity’s greatest scourge. They indulge in an intoxicating, heady, know-it-all confidence that they have unique access to absolute truths – so perfect that they feel the need to impose them on everyone.

FEATURES Ang Pilosopo Tasyo ng Rinconada | 22

OPINION A much-needed talk | 29

SPORTS The Pawn's March to Success | 26