NEWS / THESPECTRUM
Dengue slays 8 in BCD By Charlene Marie D. Lim and Starlene Joy B. Portillo
As of the first quarter of 2016, a total of 24 deaths in Negros Occidental have been reported due to dengue, eight of which came from Bacolod City. One of the eight fatalities included the death of fourth grader Gian Desales from Brgy. 35 last Aug. 12. His sister Geraldine stated that although Desales has been sick several days prior, he was only sent to the hospital on Aug. 9, after which he was diagnosed with multi-organ failure and in dengue shock. In a statement from ABS-CBN, Desales’ family encouraged people to immediately see a doctor if they are
having an on and off again fever and other dengue symptoms. Due to the sudden influx of dengue cases, the medical staff of Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital Medical Center (CLMMRHMC) is now rationed to one medical personnel for every eight patients, from the previous 1:3 ratio, the hospital being the place of admission for the most number of dengue patients (669). In addition, CLMMRHMC Chief Dr. Julius Drilon confirmed that there has been a 150% increase of admission in the hospital as compared to last year. Majority of the dengue cases as reported by the Provincial Health Office (PHO) belonged to the 11 to
20 year-old age bracket, adding that the cases increased particularly during the months of July and August of this year. Other fatalities came from the cities of La Carlota, San Carlos, Silay and Talisay with two victims each; whereas there were one each in the cities of Bago and Sagay, and the towns of E.B. Magalona, Hinigaran, Hinoba-an, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, and Murcia. Records show that Silay City has the most dengue cases with 339, tailed by Bago City with 281. For this year, a total of 3,431 cases were reported from January 1 to August 27 and records at the PHO showed a rapid increase of 2,273 cases from last year’s record
of 1,158 cases. Meanwhile, in a statement from Rappler, Provincial Health Officer Ernell Tumimbang declared, “We’re not entertaining [the declaration of] a state of calamity because that’s counterproductive. We’re making necessary interventions.” Tumimbang also expressed urgency in the continual fogging and larvicide treatment within areas with the most dengue cases reported. He has also stated that he would be meeting with Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. and the concerned local government units for their next course of action to address the increase of dengue cases in the province.
Project Q to aid BPYC residents By Ian Kristoffer V. Ga
Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (JPIA)-University of St. La Salle (USLS) Chapter launched Project Q, which will benefit 25 Bahay Pag-asa Youth Center (BPYC) residents, as one of its six expositions held August 11 at the ICafe Lobby. Project Q aims to establish a quail livelihood program which will be the first sustainable program for the USLS-BPYC beneficiaries. The background of the project is “to relive once more the animo spirit within the Lasallian community,” thus “the concern of USLS-BPYC and its need for benefactors was made known.” Bro. Daniel Joseph Fenton, FSC, director of USLS-BPYC, graced the unveiling of the project. “This could be a part of the solution. All [BPYC residents] have to do is put [their] heart and soul in it, take care of it, and work with this,” Fenton said. “This is exciting.
EXPO FOR THE YOUTH. Bro. Fenton speaks to the crowd about projects.
Imagine what this could look like in their homes with their families who are living in poverty.” He commended the club for showing to the BPYC residents that the project is not an impossible task, and described it as transformative and tremendous. “Thank you for thinking about us, especially our young residents who need a lot of people to show
Photos by Ma. Henna A. Pilla
them the way and guide them along,” he said. Project Q is expected to be fully materialized sometime in September, but the cages to house the quails were already turned over last August 20. “Äfter years of being in the institution, we feel like the club should go more than creating legacies one after the other. But
*MAQUILANG
rather, it must look back on what it has made in the past and add value unto those things,” JPIA President Rojay Maquilang said. Other expositions unveiled were Paper Bins Project, JPIA Signages, JPIA Services, Wester Blackboard Signages, and JPIA video about the club’s quest for legacy and value which are all part of the 55th anniversary.
Santermo Writer’s Guild holds workshop By Chad Martin Z. Natividad
The Santermo Writer’s Guild Workshop and Lecture series took place last August 5 and 6 at the Drama Hall, located on the third floor of the Artist’s HUB building. “[The workshop] aims to find young promising writers and share with them, collaborate with them, for the glory of Philippine literature,” Santermo Director Jonathan Davila expressed. “Writing is a quiet [and] solitary life, and so to find kindred spirits is help enough to motivate the writer to keep going on,” Davila added. Guest lecturer Wanggo Gallaga, a poet and dramaturg, gave a talk on The Writing Life, followed by an open forum on the first day of the workshop. The fellows for poetry, essay and fiction are as follows: Stefano Ledesma, Chad Martin Natividad, USLS... from page 1
to life. Only He may take it back,” Pajarillo emphasized. “The penalty of the law is if you are caught selling drugs, you stay in prison for life, not for death. In a sense, it shows the beauty of our laws, as there is an official penalty for an offense. Let our civilized rules be in charge. Do not let others handle anybody else’s life,” he added. In behalf of Hector Gloria Jr., Vice Chancellor for Mission and Development, Andre
Roger Joshua Venzal, Lance Juarez, and Gio Eldred Mitre. The participants took part in a workshop on poetry later in the afternoon. The panelists, Davila, Gallaga and Tim Nubla, gave their expert advice to the fellows on how to improve on the craft. Director and choreographer Rene Hinojales presented and performed a lecture on writing life and performance on the second day. This was followed by the short story workshop held later in the afternoon. The panel board consisted of Davila and Gallaga along with playwright Fundador Tipon II. “In the long run, I think the benefit is personal. We want the writer to pass it on,” Davila shares. The workshop concluded with the panelists imparting their final advice to the aspiring fellows, while the latter expressed their thoughts
on their first Santermo workshop experience. Davila’s mentions in his closing remarks how inspiration is so powerful that it should be recorded first and then the technique
can follow. “I was pointing at the process of revision wherein technique comes in. But for inspiration, when it first appears, [it] should be written [and] captured immediately,” he advised.
Tagamolila, Diretor of the Office of the Student Affairs delivered his reflection, stating that the Lasallian community is in obedience with the commandment “Thou shall not kill”, as it applies to both the innocent and the guilty. “We are one in building a La Sallian educational community that reflects the values of truth, justice, freedom, love, equality and peace,” Tagamolila said, adding that La Salle will engage civil authorities as partners in building an inclusive and life-
giving society. University Student Government Exec. Pres. Kathlyn Tiu spoke in behalf of the USLS student body, saying that the rule of law should be upheld by those who enforce it, and that good nations are those erected on the pillars of justice rather than injustice, whose laws favour and serve the weakest in society. “We are entitled to our rights and dignity without any form of discrimination and prejudice,” Tiu stressed.
As a sign of being one Lasallian community in the battle against extrajudicial killings and the advocacy for protection of the dignity of human life, a candlelighting procession from the Chapel to the Marian Grotto at the Handumanan Park was conducted, wherein the lighted candles were placed at the statue’s feet. “There are things worth dying for, but I believe that there are no things worth killing for,” Tagamolila concluded.
*GALLAGA
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Liceo launches own student pub Photo by Nichol Francis T. Anduyan
AUGUST 2016
PIONEERS INTRODUCED. Kapawa Moderator Roma Jane Hechanova introduces the pioneering Editorial Board and Staff of the Kapawa Publication. By Starlene Joy B. Portillo
Kapawa, the official English publication of Liceo de La Salle, was launched last August 4 at the University Forum. Derived from a Hiligaynon term translating to “illumination”, Kapawa aims to produce a monthly newsletter and a bi-annual magazine circulation, in addition to an online page featuring Senior High School (SHS) event updates, feature articles and literary submissions. “In difficulties, we thrive” is the official publication tagline as announced by Kapawa moderator Roma Jane Hechanova during her introduction of the pioneer editors and staff as well as the publication’s Mission-Vision statement. “Despite the fact that we are just beginning, we have anticipated responsibilities that will go along with our commitment—our commitment to deliver the truth in its purest form without filters, our commitment to inspire others,” Hechanova added. Presented on stage were the top editors: Sidrey Mel Flores chosen as the Editor-in-Chief, Enrico Rafael Valencia as the Associate Editor-in-Chief and Disney Espartero as the Managing Editor; and the section editors: Lance Christian Juarez for Feature, Dominique Amisola for Literary and Katrina Sabig for Layout, Graphics and Photos. Additionally, Christian John Camorahan, Menchie Khairuddin, Stefano Rafael Ledesma, Rohan Andrew Orleans, Lindsay Marie Padilla, Martin Benedict Ramos, Adrianne Saplagio and Kyle
Photo by Jowan Dave G. Guides
Official Student Media Corps of the University of St. La Salle - USLS Student Activity Center, La Salle Ave., Bacolod City, Negros Occidental 6100 - August 2016
Anne Villariza have been selected as staff writers while Kate Marie Buencochillo and Font Roevy Junsay were chosen as Cartoonists, Harem Mabugat Jr. as Layout and Graphics Artist, Noegui Parrenas as Photojournalist and Laurenz Leyes as the Editorial Assistant. “May the meaningful learning experience you will achieve from this publication also serve to illuminate others,” stated Dr. Baldomero Defensor, SHS Vice Principal for Academics, during his opening remarks. Furthermore, SHS Principal Mario Lorete extended his congratulations, assuring the publication of his hundredpercent support. As Editor-in-Chief, Flores then shared the publication’s aspirations, which included their sole responsibility to deliver information to the student body and shed light on school issues with utmost honesty and impartiality, their duty to raise awareness of pressing issues concerning not only the school, but also the society and seeing to it that their collective potentials could be put to use through advocating causes significant to the formation of values as Lasallians. “We are still beginning. We are still young. We are still developing. But as a pioneer batch of this publication, we assure you of our dedication and commitment to our passion – the passion to serve, the passion to speak for the silenced and the oppressed, the passion to spark change and the passion to shine,” Flores concluded. A separate and independent Filipino publication, Berdeng Parola, is currently in the works with Filipino teacher Rowena Abacaro as their moderator.