VOL. 1 NO. 3 DECEMBER 2017
F E AT U R E
LITERARY
ni Rogemar Jaraula
by Maria Franchesca Louise P. Fajemolin & Maria Alessandra Talja
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issent ensued in hushed tones among some of the students as the Senior High School Student Government of Xavier University (XU-SHSG) had announced the first XUSHS Aeromarathon, an event requiring every student’s participation through an online announcement. This included a PHP100 fee payment for one’s registration. Earlier, the Parents-Teachers Confederated (PTC) had distributed authorized letters inviting students to join the activity. The catch, however, was when its response form provided readers only one option: to join the XUSHS Aeromarathon for a Cause. A day after the social media announcement and a day before the Aeromarathon, it was clarified that students were free to choose whether to jive along to Zumba choreography scheduled at 6PM at the XU Field on a Saturday. However, at a short-notice, the activity was then cancelled and left many students with the question, “Where is my 100 Pesos?” Survival of the Fittest The mechanics for the Aeromarathon are very simple. The participants take on two hours of dancing to test their physical endurance, or take it as a chance to enjoy a workout with friends and/or family. The activity begins with everyone dancing to routines in a similar format as Zumba dance. Throughout the event, judges would roam around and select the most energetic dancers under male or female categories among three divisions: students, parents, and faculty and staff (including alumni). At the end of the activity, a total of 18 winners will be awarded with medals and cash prizes.
Counting the Cost Each participant’s payment of PHP100 was directed to raising funds for the sports equipment and needs to form an XUSHS Brebeuf Club. Funds for the sports organization were initially to be taken from the University’s allocated budget, however the expenses were inadequate, considering other sports activities that also needed funding. “The sports budget is not enough to address all sports-related concerns,” stated Allan Alcober, PTC Sports Committee and Aeromarathon Chairman. A portion of the raised funds will also be given to the SHS Physical Education (PE) Department for SHS’ own sports equipment. As of October 20, a total of PHP40,000 has been raised and will remain under the PTC until a final date of rescheduling will be released. For the activity proper, expenses included the following: judges’ honorariums, security and medical teams, communication expenses, light and sound system, and food for the committee, judges and instructors. Currently, stage decorations, tarpaulins, 18 medals and 2,500 race bibs have been prepared and are being stored until the event proper. Uninsured Damage As one of the people responsible for realizing the Aeromarathon, PE Department Coordinator Jessica Esparrago speculated it was due to the lack of proper communication and information dissemination within the PTC that the Aeromarathon was cancelled. She added that the PTC had meant well, but since the activity was planned in less than one month, it was not unlikely for it to turn tables. On the other hand, Alcober explained, “The PTC BOD (Parents-Teachers Confederated Board of Directors) as the lead presenter, Designed by Sean Phillipp C. Valencia
through its Vice President and Sports Committee, decided to cancel due [to] some issues beyond our control.” Alcober further noted that the Aeromarathon will only be on temporary hold until a definite date will be agreed upon in their next meeting. Nevertheless, the damage had been done. Several students who opted to stay in the city instead of resting in their hometowns were disappointed come the rescheduled Aeromarathon. The stage and other equipment had been set up at the field, yet it had to be disassembled back to the Physical Plant Office with the PTC still paying for the costs. Esparrago, who had also been assigned to contact the judges and Zumba instructors had to relay the change of plans. “Ulaw sa ako nga part, kay dili basta-basta ang akong gipang invite nga judges,” she remarks. She elaborates on its severity as she had to cancel arrangements with professionals who were in close ties with their department due to the past tertiary Aeromarathons they had been invited in. *** Organizing events brings with it an array of challenges and responsibilities. Trials will barrage the path to a perfect success, but this will only be the first step to strengthening its foundation. The Aeromarathon was created to bring the SHS community closer, not farther apart. Miscommunication and a lack of finality contributes to the widening of this gap. This causes students to become even more reluctant to join these kinds of events where timely, careful preparations and information dissemination pose as the best remedy. However, as a budding institution, we have an advantage. We have room to grow and cultivate potentials. In time, we can turn challenges of the past into opportunities for tomorrow. S
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akakahindik. Nakakapagod. Nakakasakit. Ito ang katotohanang sumasalampak nitong pamantasan. Sa katunayan, ito ang isa sa mga pinakamalaking problemang kinakaharap ng paaralan. Sa bawat pagtatapos ng araw, nakakahindik pagmasdan ang gabundok na basurang aming nakukuha sa bawat silid. Masakit isiping tayo, na mga Atenista, na dapat sana ay ang mga tagapagtaguyod ng kabutihan ay siya pang tagapasimuno ng kasamaan. Ang Senaryo Simula pa lamang ng araw ay abala na ang mga mag-aaral sa kanilang mga gawain. Sa pagsusulat ng mga leksiyon, pag-uulat, at minsan pa ay paggawa ng mga Performance Tasks ibinubuhos ng mga magaaral ang halos walong oras sa loob ng silid. Kasabay ng walang habas na gawaing ito sa araw-araw, wala ring habas ang nalilikhang basura. 4:30 ng hapon. Uwian na. Matapos ang mahabang araw ay sa wakas makakawala na ang mga mag-aaral mula sa pagkakaalipin ng kapaguran. Sa bawat minutong lumalagpas, unti-unting nalalagas ang bilang ng mga mag-aaral na natitira sa loob ng silid-aralan. Sampung minutong lumipas ay wala nang natira kung hindi ang nakakabinging katahimikan sa loob ng silid. Tsaka na kami pumapasok sa loob. Kadalasan, kami ay nagugulat sa aming napagmamasdan, aakalain mong dinaanan talaga ng isang delubyo ang buong silid. Kalat dito, dumi roon. Ganito ang aming nadadatnan sa tuwing kami ay magsisimula na sa aming tungkulin. Resulta ng maghapong pag-aaral ay ang nagsisiksikang mga basura sa loob ng basurahan. Dahil punuan na, yung iba ay nakakalat na lamang kahit saan. Dagdag pa rito ang mga upuang nagkarambola, pisarang napuno ng sulat at mga aklat na pinabayaan na lamang. Sinisimbolo nito ang isa na namang mabigat
na trabaho para sa amin. Gayunpaman, kayodtuko naming nililinis ang bawat silild ng bawat palapag. Mabusising tina-trabaho para kinabukasan, malinis na at kaaya-aya sa inyong paningin.w Aming Pinagdadaanan Kasabay ng pagsikat ng araw ang siya ring pagsisimula ng aming trabaho. Maagang-maaga naming pinapasok ang paaralan araw-araw. Kagaya ninyong mga mag-aaral, kami rin ay abala sa aming mga gawain. Gabundok na problema ang palaging sumasalubong sa amin. Simbolo nito ang sandamakmak na namang trabaho sa buong araw. Dulot nito ay kapaguran at kasakitan na ng aming katawan hindi pa man dumadating ang katanghalian. Halos magkandakuba na kami sa paglilinis nitong napakalawak na institusyon. Hindi naman magaang umidlip kahit ilang sandali man lang para makapagpahinga. Ganito namin mailalarawan ang aming sitwasyon arawaraw. Sabi Naman ng Muntaklat Sa pamamagitan ng gabay-panuntunan na ipinahayag ng departamento ng Senior High School, kayo bilang mga mag-aaral ng paaralang ito ay obligadong sumunod sa mga panuntunan na inimplementa ng paaralan kagaya na lamang ng pagpapatupad ng kalinisan sa buong Unibersidad. Nakasaad sa seksyon IX ng code of discipline mula sa handbook na ang Pamantasan ng Xavier University ay tapat sa kuro-kuro sa pagpapanatili ng kalinisan at kalusugan ng kapaligiran alinsunod sa Republic Act no. 9003 o ang Solid Waste Management Act of 2003. Sinabi rin sa naturang panukala na ang lahat ng mga mag-aaral ay obligadong linisin ang kanilang mga kalat at ilagay ito sa dapat na kinalalagyan. Mariing ipinagbabawal ang pagtatapon ng mga basura sa koridor, klasrum, at iba pang opisina. Masakit isipin na ang patakarang ito ay dapat sana simple lamang at madaling sundin, ngunit bakit sa pananaw ng
Designed by Eric Noel B. Jabagat
mga mag-aaral ay napakakomplikado at mahirap gawin ito? Lahat tayo ang gumagagamit sa institusyong ito kaya responsibilidad nating panitilihin ang kalinisan dito. Aming Hiling Kami ang mga naturingang mga tagapaglinis. Oo, kami nga. Kami ang dapat nagliligpit ng mga kalat, naglilinis ng mga silid, nag-oorganisa ng mga bagay at iba pa. ito naman talaga ang aming trabaho. Ito ang aming mga tungkulin na dapat naming sundin at pangatawanan. Tanging hiling lang namin ay dinggin ninyo ang aming mga hinaing. Sana ay huwag masyadong magkalat at maggulo nang sagayon ay kahit iilang minuto man lang ay mapadali namin ang aming trabaho. Hindi namin hangad na kayo ang gumawa ng aming trabaho, bagkus nais lang naming ipahatid na kayo ay may tungkulin ring dapat gampanan sa pagpapanatili ng kalinisan at kaayusan dahil hindi lang naman kayo ang gumagamit ng mga klasrum kung hindi pati na rin ang mga kuya at ate ninyong nasa kolehiyo. Simple lang naman ang aming hiling. Ito ay ang pagtulungan nating mapanatili ang kalinisan at kaayusan ng ating paaralan. Huwag nating hayaang lamunin tayo ng basura. Tayo ay nasa isang Heswitong paaralan, isang katolikong institusyon at dapat nating isapuso palagi ang matandang katagang, “Cleanliness is next to Godliness.” Patunayan natin na tayo ay mga karapatdapat tawaging mga Atenista sa ating mga gawain. Tayo, mga Atenista ang dapat magpasimuno sa pagpapalawak ng kabutihan. Tayo ang dapat maging halimbawa para sa lahat. Nawa’y naintindihan ninyo ang aming mga panawagan. Hanggang dito na lamang at maraming salamat sa inyong oras. Sa inyo’y gumagalang, Dyan Etor
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