September 2020 - January 2021 | Vol. XXVIII Issue No. 1
Big help comes in small things. Relief goods, fresh fish, and vegetables were given to the residents of different barangays in Dagupan City in accordance with PHINMA UPang Helping Hands for the Sasamahan Kita Covid Response Operation. Photo by Mr. Jairus Sibayan
Student billing and transactions, now in electronic methods › Kristine Joy S. Nool
The cases of Covid-19 in Dagupan, Pangasinan has been going up and down for the past 5 months, and traveling to school is utterly unsafe and costs a lot for the fare. That’s why PHINMA University of Pangasinan (UPang) brought the payments and enrollment closer to students by encouraging them to transact online. Students of UPang can now pay their school fees through banks, Mastercard, kiosk machines, or remittances for a hassle-free transaction. Although the teller section inside the campus still entertains walk-in payments, these new modes are more practical to use if you are away from the university; no need to wait in long lines, no course schedule, and away from the crowd.
› Number of enrolled learners for A.Y. 20-21 hits its target enrollment rate Micah Theresa C. Pidlaoan PHINMA-University of Pangasinan (UPang) reached its target enrollment rate for first semester of the school year 2020-2021- HIGHER than the all-out number of enrolled students last year. It was expecting a possible decrease and eyed for a lower enrollment rate this school year amid the coronavirus pandemic citing the effects of the prevailing health crisis, but numbers of enrolled students turned out to still be very extra. There are more than 11,000 tertiary enrolled learners for both Dagupan and Urdaneta campus this first semester of S.Y 2020-2021 and over 9,000 learners were enrolled last S.Y 2019-2020. Ms. Liberty M. Soriano, Head of Registrar’s Office, said that before this pandemic, original enrollment targets were higher, but they adjusted to consider pandemic’s possible effects like projecting a lower number of enrollees this school year compared last year, as the pandemic lingers. She stated that with the collaboration and cooperation among departments, the number of learners is beyond their target enrollment rate for 2020-2021 was higher than they expected. Ms. Soriano uttered that the mo-
tivation to continue despite the pandemic is high at the tertiary level. “Students have shown that their dreams and plans need not be on-hold. There may be some slowing down a bit but not giving-up or stopping." Even it was higher than last year’s number, there were accounts of some students not enrolling this school year as
Upang implements FLEX, and RAD learning as an alternative to face-to-face classes. A combination of printed modules provided by the school and online classes held at google classroom for discussion and follow-ups about lessons. Limited face-to-face classes are still on a test evaluation and discussion with the given guidelines
Safety comes in barriers. The teller section was moved to the Basic Education (BE) Building and installed dividers for faster and safer transactions of walk-in payments. Photo by Kristine Joy S. Nool
families continue to deal with the economic burnt of the coronavirus pandemic. Some cannot enroll due to some reasons - the inability of the parents to facilitate their learning area at home, internet connectivity problems, lack of gadgets, and not attending their online classes due to the health crisis and others. To avoid exposure to 2019 coronavirus disease,
of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), due to the new variant of covid-19 it is possible that lecture-based courses will still conduct on online classes. As the second semester is nearly approaching, Mrs. Soriano stresses out the modernization of transactions from physical to virtual. “The enrollment has been carried out significantly through on-
line means—students register online and pay online. On-site enrollment is recommended only when necessary to meet advisers.” The campus is still conducting a face-to-face enrollment process, mostly to the gymnasium, but students are encouraged to take their online registration for safe and less hassle transaction. Enrollment for the second semester S.Y 2020-2021 is still ongoing, and school administrations are expecting and hoping that they will have a consistent number of enrollees for this second semester. Various assistance is provided by the school such as the student loan, tuition fee installment plan, scholarships, and others. Students can reach out by contacting these emails/ numbers (REGISTRAR) registrar@up.phinma.edu.ph /09169212125/ 09617537369. Landline; local 113 075 522 5635. RAD hotline: 09683160545. (CSDL) uopcsdl@up.phinma.edu.ph (FINANCE DEPARTMENT) upang.main.finance@phinma.edu.ph /09770518444. (MARKETING OFFICE) marketing-office@up.phinma.edu.ph. UPang Hotline: 09486107263/09353778109.
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2 EDITORIAL
Ang dibisyon sa pagbasa at pag-intindi Kamakailan lamang ay umalingawngaw ang balitang nasa laylayan ang bansang Pilipinas sa reading comprehension o pag-intindi sa pagbasa ng 80% ng mga estudyanteng labinlimang taong gulang. Base 'yan sa Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), na naglalayong suriin ang sistemang pang-edukasyon sa higit 90 na bansa, nang nagsagawa sila ng pagtatasa noong 2018 at lumabas ang resulta noong sumunod na taon. Eh anong koneksyon ng mga estudyanteng edad 15 sa mga nasa kolehiyo na? Maaari ngang mahubog pa ang kaalaman ng isang tao habang tumatanda sa pamamagitan ng mga karanasan sa buhay, pero napakalaki ring salik and edukasyong nakukuha mula pagkabata. At kapag sinanay natin ang mga sarili natin na 'di marunong umintindi, kalauna'y magiging ugali natin ito hanggang pagtanda. • ANTAS NG LITERASIYA SA BANSA Ayon sa 2019 Functional Literacy, Education, and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS) ng Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) ay 91.6% ang literacy rate ng ating bansa sa nasabing taon na nangangahulugang sa bawat 100 na Pilipino ay may 94 na marunong bumasa at sumulat. Pero aminin na natin-- ang totoong buhay ay hindi lamang basta umiikot sa dalawang ito. Hindi natin maikakaila na ang sistema ng edukasyon sa Pilipinas ay napakahirap- dulot na rin ng estado sa pamumuhay, kakulangan sa serbisyo ng gobyerno, at mahinang kalidad ng pagtuturo ng ibang guro. May mga nagiging iskolar nga dahil lang sa koneksiyon, samantalang napakaraming estudyante ang may potensiyal na 'di nabibigyan ng pagkakataong makapag-aral at mapalawig pa ang kaalaman. O tipong quiz-quiz na lang kahit 'di gaanong nagdiscuss si prof! O kaya chika minute na lang basta naisulat na ang notes sa pisara. Hindi rin naman lahat ng estudyante may kakayahang magself study-- may nadadalian, may nahihirapan. Kadalasan wala ring reflective teaching; basta nadiscuss, 'yun na. • SENTIDO KOMUN Hindi laging full package ang handog ng paaralan. Prayoridad nga nila ang disiplinahin, pangaralan, at gawing responsable ang mga mag-aaral-- pero hindi naman epektibo ang common sense. Tuwing quiz nga, ultimong "Write TRUE if the statement is correct and write the correct answer if the statement is FALSE." na nakaBold na, iniiyakan pa ng estudyante pag checking dahil "FALSE" 'yung isinulat. At heto, ang pinakasikat na "Okay, class. Bring out 1/4 sheet of paper," ang sagot ba naman, "Ay, 1/4, mam? Hindi po 1/2?" Baka naman talagang kailangan na natin ng major subject para sa critical thinking? Isa pang halimbawa ay ang isang opisina sa
PHINMA University of Pangasinan (UPang) na may napakalaki na ngang signage sa pintuan na "Pull", ipuPush pa rin. O kaya may announcement sa Facebook ang department, kumpleto na nga ang detalye, may magcocomment pa ng "Sir, what time po?" Partida, magaling umintindi ng memes pero instructions, hindi. • AYAW SA KONSTUKTIBONG KRITISISMO "Eh di ikaw na magaling!", "Pabibo," "Oo na, bob* na ako!" Ilan lamang 'yan sa mga maririnig natin kapag itinatama natin ang mali nila o sinusubukang ipaintindi sa kanila ang mga bagay-bagay. Nakakalungkot, pero totoo. Balat-sibuyas ang karamihan sa Pilipino ngayon sa konsepto ng "criticism for self-improvement." • PAGKAWALANG-INTERES Madalas, kapag nakabasa o nakarinig na tayo ng isang opinyon ay pakiramdam natin ay tama na. Ang emosyong bumabalot sa ating basta-bastang paghatol sa mga bagay o pangyayari ang pumipigil sa pag-intindi natin sa makatwirang pag-iisip.
• TALAMAK ANG FAKE NEWS Malaki ang kontribusyon ng social media sa pagkalat ng fake news. Ukol sa Social Weather Stations (SWS), 76% ng mga kolehiyo sa Pilipinas ay naniniwalang ang fake news ay mas lalo pang dumarami sa panahon ngayon. Nasanay na rin ang karamihan sa mas mabilis na pagshare kaysa pagcheck muna ng facts, at panay lamang pagbase sa headline nang hindi binabasa ang content. Ito ay tinatawag na Illusory Truth Effect. Ilan sa mga paraan ng pag-unawa sa mga binabasa ay ulitin sa isipan ang talata. Kung hindi kuntento sa impormasyong nakalap, mangyaring magresearch. At kung hindi pa rin naintindihan ay wala namang masama kung tayo's magtanung-tanong at humingi ng tulong sa iba. Sa paraang ito ay masasanay natin ang ating sarili na malayong may dibisyon sa pagbasa at pag-intindi. Magsasagawang muli ng pagtatasa ang PISA sa 2022 na magpopokus naman sa Creative Thinking.
Kristine Joy S. Nool
Jovileen G. Pidlaoan
Editor-in-Chief
Photojournalist
Trixie Ann C. Bautista
Jasmine Bernadette R. Bembo John Karlo B. Laparan Monica B. Gabaleno
Associate Editor
Artists
Karrie Anne C. Langit
Managing Editor Christian R. Hulipas Rose Andrei V. Sanchez Micah Theresa C. Pidlaoan Kisly Moira R. Pera Roxan C. Resuello Nadine Margaret S. Alejo
Writers
Dr. Joseph V. Jovellanos
PUBLICATION OBJECTIVE To empower the university dissemination of information with high-quality paractice of campus journalism through learning-by-doing under the principle of ethical press release.
Technical Adviser
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September 2020 - January 2021 | Vol. XXVIII Issue No. 1
Reshaping the usual. Students and employees comply with the rules as the university implements thermal scanning, hand sanitation, foot bath, checking of face masks, and filling out health checklist before entering the campus as a part of new normal. Photo by Kristine Joy S. Nool
“It would NOT be best to open classes earlier than August” says UPang › Rose Andrei V. Sanchez Last March 16, 2020,Philippines have been under Extended Community Quarantine due to the unstoppable spread of Corona Virus. This pandemic resulted to closing of schools and universities nationwide. ECQ should have lasted only for a month but due to increasing number of positive cases especially in Luzon, quarantine is still applied affecting the economical development of the country, hunger of Filipinos under poverty and the academical continuation of students. President Rodrigo Duterte stated that face to face classes will not resume unless there’s a vaccine for the said virus, contradicting with the Department of Education’s ear-
lier announcement that face to face classes are safe to resume on August 24 in areas with eased quarantine protocols. As a response to this, PHINMA University of Pangasinan released an official statement last 25th of May in regards to the continuation of classes for the academic year 2020-2021 indicating “We agree with many experts that it would NOT be best to open classes earlier than August”. Online classes won’t be applied as UPang recognizes that not all students are equipped for this. However, according to Sir Adele Traspe, the director of CSDL, Upang sees the delay of classes as an opportunity to develop a learning sys-
tem considering the factor of social distancing and to sanitize the campus to ensure the safety of students when classes start. UPang’s response to the crisis are highly appreciated by the students, parents and staffs. As they consider the safety and the capability of everyone especially on the financial aspect. Staffs and educators are also readying themselves with a curriculum that would match the “new normal” education during coronavirus pandemic. The current statements of our President and DepEd, however, left many teachers, students and also parents confused on what to follow. Arguments on whether it
is safe to resume face to face classes on August are everywhere and even students especially college are debating that if they didn’t attend classes due to their safety, their subjects and units will have to be delayed. They are torn between their safety and their will to graduate. UPang understands this crisis and ensures that they will reorganize the classes to maximize the time to remain safely at home, maintain safe physical distancing in school and still prepare everyone for their chosen profession. As a part of the “new normal” curriculum, added hygiene equipments are seen once you enter the campus, guards and staffs are also following the precaution-
ary safety gears like face masks, face shields and gloves. Students upon enter will have to undergo a series of safety measures. Health Assessment Questionnaire will also be answered by every student. There will be face to face classes for students but will only last for four days in 2 weeks following a 4-10 curriculum whereas, four days face to face and 10 days school work at home. This will help in observing if a student has symptoms of the COVID-19 virus. Social distancing will also be observed in every classroom with a maximum of 25 students per room. Facilities like Student Plaza and Registrar will also have social distancing factor.
Distance learning: a new normal obstacle? Christian R. Hulipas
Bayanihan sa brigada. Makikita ang isang iClean personnel na bahagi ng Brigada Eskwela ng SSC kasama ang LSCs. Photo by Kristine Joy S. Nool
Student councils on keeping to their platforms amid Covid-19 pandemic Kristine Joy S. Nool
Headed by the PHINMA University of Pangasinan (UPang) Appointments, Performance Evaluation, and Electoral Commission (APEC), the Flames General Elections 2020 was conducted last March 9 to March 14 at PTC 304 and 306 where Wesley Halili won as the Supreme Student Council (SSC) president and Christine Queñano as the vice president. Few days after the turnover, the new officers renovated and repainted the SSC office, which is located at the back of Center for Student Development and Leadership (CSDL), to look more orderly and accommodating to students who need assistance when classes reopen. According to Halili, they will
stick to their platforms stated during the campaign period and will try their best to administer their projects for the university and student body even though this global crisis endures. Some of the proposed projects of the newly-elected SSC: “finding ways to make the enrollment easier, standardization of school events, community service, bridging program, and leadership and training program.” Meanwhile, the Local Student Council (LSC) fulfilled the Internal Brigada Eskwela last August 3-4, 2020. At the end of the semester, the SSC was able to provide 7 lavatory and handwashing sinks and alcohol dispensers around the campus.
During the first semester of 2020-2021, some of the students from the University of Pangasinan (UPang) encountered various difficulties with modular learning, a distance learning modality. The first few weeks of this newly established mode of learning was well-accepted at the university, but some students encountered a lot of difficulties. A lot of the students’ concerns were their internet connection, which is the pinnacle of modular and online learning. According to Claire Dioquino, a third-year BSED student, “Our situation is not fully modular, we still have online meetings with our professors, so what I’ve observed is not everyone can really pull this off. Some just can’t learn independently, some have no gadgets, signals, and/ or internet connection at all; some do not have a learning-conducive environment at home.” Several students did not enroll this semester because they decided to pursue their dreams in another way; some just wanted to be safe. Since some students have weak internet connections, they would have to pass their modules late and some teachers do understand the situation now, but some do not. The other concern is the submittal time of the modules being answered. One student from the bachelor of secondary education students pointed out that “Modular learning is not just about self-learning and acquiring knowledge from our teachers. It teaches us how to be disciplined and manage our time.” In accordance with Mr. Justine Troi Castillo from the Center for Student Development and Leadership (CSDL), “Learning must continue, and no student must be left behind. The employment of the teachers might be terminated and because they have families. Not all are in favor of academic freeze. UPang considered academic freeze, but because of the of ‘Kamustahan’ project, an avenue for students to stay connected, the school adjusted to modular learning.” He was also part of the module distribution team along with the GSD, and finance department. There are a lot of downsides about this new mode of learning– distance, time-consuming, and money. “Maraming kulang sa modules and students won’t have the time to check it because UPang staff won’t allow students to stay long inside the campus to limit the people and prevent the spread of Covid-19. Our staffs have difficulties too.” UPang also partnered with the LGUs and more than 20
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September 2020 - January 2021 | Vol. XXVIII Issue No. 1
Flames lead R1, CAR in accounting; bags regional OASP award
CITE to be the only DSC unit recognized by Google Kristine Joy S. Nool
Roxan C. Resuello
The College of Information Technology Education (CITE) department partnered with an international organization called Developer Student Club (DSC), lead by Jeofferson Dela Peña, which aims to collaborate with students who are interested in Google developer technologies and build their mobile and web development skills. DSC is powered by Google and is a university-based community. Graduate and undergraduate, novice to advanced developers, or students with a different academic background, as long as they are enrolled to PHINMA University of Pangasinan (UPang), are welcome to this club. They offer hands-on workshops, tech talks,
Designed to recognize and determine students with exemplary performance in accountancy, the 22nd Search for Outstanding Accounting Student in the Philippines (SOASP) conducted on January 9, 2021 concluded with PHINMA University of Pangasinan securing a spot in the top 4. Third-year accountancy student, Keith Alison Arellano rises in the regional eliminations as she bested against her Region 1 and CAR competitors. Arellano, along with 3 other top participants will move forward to the Qualifying Exam scheduled on February 20, 2021. Their regional feat would allow them to take their chances and sweep through the Top 25 nationwide. Less than two months before the SOASP event, CHED Regional Office 1 Educational Supervisor II, Dr. Juan Primitivo P. Petrola joins a CMASC-led webinar to empower the students and give a talk regarding test-taking skills. The webinar emphasized tips and strategies before, during, and after taking an exam, among many others. Commendable points and insights from the 3-hour discussion are deemed essential to sustain knowledge needed for an endeavor such as Arellano’s triumph.
PCAP lauds Gatdula’s academic excellence Roxan C. Resuello
Professional Criminologist Association of the Philippines (PCAP) conferred PHINMA UPang’s Tactical Commander, Marc Laurence
Gatdula an Outstanding Criminology Student award during the 2020 PCAP Search on the Outstanding Criminologists and Criminology Students held via
Facebook Live, December 18, 2020. Anchored on three categories including leadership, academic excellence, and social responsibility, qualification for the award is reviewed by the board of committee upon commendation for nomination by the Criminology department head of each participating university. In an interview, Gatdula stated that it is his first time to receive such merit. “I’m happy and honored because of the trust that has been given by the Criminology instructors especially department
information sessions, study jams, and hackathons. CITE also uplifts its students to join the more than 1,250 DSC chapters worldwide to the Solution Challenge which is an annual contest presented by DSC to resolve local community problems using Google platforms. By joining the club, students grow their knowledge in a peer-to-peer learning environment and set solutions for businesses and the community. To become a part, fill up their official membership application page on this link: bit.ly/ DSCPHINMAUPangMembership DSC UPang is the only university-wide organization in Pangasinan that is officially acknowledged by Google.
head, Dr. Raymond S. Cabanban.” he said. The Outstanding Criminology Student award is limited to 3rd year to 4th year students who bear excellent academic, co-, and extra-curricular performance under the BS Criminology program. Gatdula, referring to other criminology students, said he believes “All are qualified to be nominated on this award. We should just work harder and be disciplined because nothing is impossible especially when you exert effort in something that you want to
achieve.” 33 other criminology students from different regions across the country were awarded such merit; six of which hails from Region 1 including Joshua Manipud from PHINMA-University of Pangasinan (UPang) Urdaneta campus. The event took place on an hour-long live stream at the Mindanao Daily News Facebook page. Other awards presented include Excellence Service Award, Outstanding Educator, Outstanding Dean, and Outstanding Criminologists.
No face-to-face graduation ceremony; UPang not saying NO on bonding virtual and future graduates Kristine Joy S. Nool
The PHINMA University of Pangasinan (UPang) was met by inquisitive graduating students hoping to have their dream graduation ceremony set up-- even in the middle of the Covid-19 crisis. Unfortunately, the management still does not see any possibility of conducting a commencement in person. Thus, virtual graduation is regulated for batches September 2020 and January 2021. Tertiary graduates of AY. 2019-2020 second semester was finally considered graduates of September 2020. They were supposed to do their rites last summer but because of the pandemic, the date was moved. Although virtual graduation is obviously the best thing to do for the batch of January 2021,
PHINMA launched “PHINMA Reaches Out: Our Community Collaboration Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic” or known as the PRO 2020 and has mobilized at least P25 million worth of resources for the medical frontline workers and to the community who are affected by the pandemic. According to the PHINMA President and Chief Executive Officer Ramon del Rosario in an inquirer.net interview, PRO
all PHINMA Education schools will still deliberate the final plan tentatively by March 2021 and see how things progress. Ms. Liberty Soriano, Registrar, indicated that hardcopy documents that are submitted before will be reprocessed. Otherwise, it should still candidly be passed by the student, by also following the safety protocols, for the office to prepare certain records for special directives. The graduation fee also disregards the venue cost. "There is no face-to-face ceremony, but the portion of the fee is as is," the Registrar pointed out. The Flames are very much excited to see their names in the final list of degree holders. She also added, "The frus-
tration about not walking on the red carpet is just a natural reaction. Sa pictorial pa nga lang, excited na magpamakeup, graduation pa kaya. I believe it's more of a ceremonial excitement and emphasis of achievements when you get physically-conducted graduation. Nevertheless, the current situation is not something that we can control." The management said that they are not saying no to join future graduates and virtual graduates in one physical ceremony when the Covid-19 is gone, but they still have to modulate the number of attendees to accommodate them in the venue. "We'll try to adjust. We'll find a way." But for now, they believe that the safety of attendees should be the priority.
PHINMA Reaches Out 2020 launched in response to Covid-19 pandemic Trixie Ann C. Bautista
2020 prioritized their extended family members who were contractual and are considered as one of the affected laborers of the pandemic, and also reaches out the frontline health professionals and workers who need assistance. “We were fanning the flames of hope. And we still are,” said del Rosario.
The P25 million donation consists of the following: -P5 million to support the joint PBSP (Philippine Business for Social Progress) -P8 million in the form of assistance to health workers at the front lines with Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE), food, lodging, and transportation, to help establish supplementary health care facilities, and/or provide food and other assistance to vulnerable groups through the Alumni Association of Xavier School, CRIBS Foundation, De La Salle Brothers, Got Heart Foundation/Katinko Group, International Association for Hu-
man Values Foundation Phils., Office of the Vice President and the Kaya Natin Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership, RockEd Philippines, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lingayen Dagupan, Tanging Yaman Foundation and UP Medical Foundation -P3.75 million to 1,500 PHINMA group contractual staff and workers’ assistance fund -P7 million for the supported communities of PHINMA.
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September 2020 - January 2021 | Vol. XXVIII Issue No. 1
Lamparaan 2020 shines virtually with a blast Trixie Ann C. Bautista
PHINMA University of Pangasinan (UPang), together with the Supreme Student Council (SSC), transformed the traditional celebration of Lamparaan into Virtual Lamparaan, a two-day event on December 13-14, 2020 with the theme “Burn Bright: Lighting People’s Lives with Christmas Spirit.” The competitions conducted by the council are – Poster making, Parol making, and virtual carol competition highlighted the event receiving thousands of reactions and amazement of the fellow Flames as students from the different departments of the university showcased their talents not only through their singing,
crafting, and poster-making skills, but also kudos to the students behind these virtual events like the editors of the carol entries, and photographers of Parol making and poster making contests. The Poster Making Competition winners are – First Place: Justine Mari M. Dalisay (Entry No.12) of I – BS Accountancy with Php. 3,000; Second Place: Ahden Ganaganag (Entry No. 4) of I – BS Architect with Php. 2,000; and Third Place: Junelyn C. Lamsen (Entry No. 1) of I – BS Nursing with Php. 1,500. On Parol Making Competition, the winners are – First Place: Maureen Ysabel F. Enrique (Entry No. 12), III – BSA of Junior Philippine Institute
of Accountants (JPIA) with Php. 5,000, Second Place: A-Jay Q. Mejia (Entry No.8), V – BSARC of United Architects of the Philippines Student Auxiliary (UAPSA) with Php. 3,000, and Third Place: Christian Chloe L. Castro (Entry No. 5), Grade 11 – ABM of Senior High Athletes Association with Php. 2,500. Lastly, the Virtual Carol Competition has participated by all the departments and the winners are – First Place: College of Management and Accountancy (CMA) with Php. 10,000, Second Place: College of Social Sciences (CSS) with Php. 7,000, and Thrid Place: College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) with Php. 5,000. Lamparaan is an annual
Dimming the blues Dr. Cherry Calaunan, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of UPang, talks about how serving as a light to students especially during the pandemic makes a big difference. Photo source: CSDL official Facebook page
celebration, particularly every December at the PHINMA-UPang Avenue. This year, conducting a traditional Lamparaan is a big challenge to everyone in the university especially to the student council. A successful
virtual event like this is one of the legacies that the university will always commemorate.
CSS RSO rolls out Fun-demya: a virtual charity concert Karrie Anne C. Langit
From January 4C-6 Mass Communication (Mas comm) students from 1st year to 3rd year came together to create Fun-demya, a virtual charity concert that aims to spread hope and joy amidst the pandemic, via Facebook Live. In preparation for the event, several meetings were held at Zoom to make sure that everyone understood the ground rules and how the program would work. Most of the performers recorded their content through video and voice recordings which are sent to the editing team. Although various scenes were shot outdoors, the cast and crew made sure to follow the safety guidelines. The program kicks off at 6:30 PM with a family played by Acer Kingdom, Alain Zarate, and Mea Terado with a choreographed dance routine provided by select members of Mass Comm students. This is then followed by a short video montage staring Gem Langit and Danilo Boquiren called “I just
fall in love again”, a comedy skit show entitled “The Nell and Danilo Show, and fun games, funny jokes, wacky stories, and an inspirational interview with a special guest Ms. Sheina May Mislang, Mass Comm professor. On the second day, the students were shown an animated film, created by Jan Benedickt Zarcilla and produced by Camille Batalliones, that chronicles the story of two brothers trying to survive in the streets due to poverty plus COVID-19. On a lighter note, they are greeted to an uplifting variety show called “The 10 Commandments” hosted by Kristine Joy Flores and Alec Luigi Rallustian. It showcases all the amazing talents of each Mass Comm student and highlights what they have been up to since the start of the pandemic such as making TikTok videos, gardening in their backyards, online selling and shopping, playing online games, studying online, and vlogging. On the last day, the students were greeted with a testimonial video of SN2 Salvador Eden Jr. where he recounted his
experiences contracting the virus and how he is dealing with it even to this day. It all ended with the release of an original song called “Sky Felt”, written, and composed by Vince Rodriguez, which encapsulates the resilience that we all must keep moving forward despite the tragedy around us and never lose hope. Up to this point, the Fun-demya charity concert was able to gain a total of P47,235 from ticket sales and sponsorships. The department’s Registered Student Organization (RSO) will use the money to help other Mass Comm students with financial difficulties. They even paid the final balance of a beneficiary and they were able to help a Mass Comm student with his scholarship. According to the program coordinator Irish Caoile, they are in the process of establishing a foundation exclusively for Mass Comm students, but it is yet to be formally announced. Thanks to technology, this program was able to push through despite the growing concerns of the pandemic.
College departments successfully contrived virtual festivals Nadine Margaret S. Alejo The college departments of PHINMA University of Pangasinan (UPang) Dagupan campus conducted their annual festival activities with different themes through the use of social media platforms during their respective department month despite the challenges brought by the pandemic. The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) prepared various activities last November that made the students feel relaxed, yet gained knowledge at the same time such as sketching, poster making, English and Filipino spoken poetry, board games, photo contest, Mobile Legends, Sasamahan Kita creative video and dance contest. The College of Information and Technology Education (CITE) was able to push through with their four events in two days last September for their Technolympics 2020 which included the E-sports such as the League of Legends,
Mobile Legends, and Call of Duty Mobile; the Komsayahan that showcased the students’ talent in dressing up as their favorite anime character; the Character Design that unleashed the students’ talent in animation; and the last event was the annual coding competition which was the Green Bowl for freshmen and Homebrew for the sophomores. The College of Management and Accountancy (CMA) celebrated their CMA Palakasan 2020 last December which was inspired by the theme: The Battle of Zodiacs that led to stimulating activities such as the CMA Icon, Unity Dance, Lipsync Battle, Jingle Making Contest and Spoken Word Poetry while the other activities were the ISHTM The Picture Looks Familiar, JFINEX Factnancial or Bluff JMA, JMA Product Advertising Challenge and the JPIA Hugot Accounting. The College of Social Sciences (CSS) came up
with the theme: A Boat of New Normal: Festival of Unity and Diversity through Knowledge, Talent, and Skills last December wherein students automatically got prizes upon participation in their different, yet meaningful activities such as the What’s In The Box,? Mobile Legends, Video Making Contest, Creative Modeling, Quiz Bee, and Charades. The College of Health Sciences (CHS) focused on activities last September such as the Tiktok Challenge, Cartooning, Slogan Art Making and Photography as a tribute to all frontliners with the theme: Displaying Positive Awareness despite the Current Pandemic while the other activities were the Best Meme Competition, Tiktok Dance Competition, MAsKE-UP Challenge, ML Tournament and QuaranThings. The College of Engineering and Architecture (CEA) had the theme: The New Normal last December which included
several fun activities such as the Mobile Legends Tournament, Tiktok Contest, CEA Logo Making, Spoken Poetry, Sing Along Contest and the Next Top Model. The virtual activities and events of all departments were successful as the student officers teamed up with Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) and were assisted by their respective advisers and faculty members in the preparation and conduct of various activities that offered the students fun and learning despite the technical difficulties that were encountered. The annual event of the departments are usually held at the University Gymnasium with physical interaction among the participants and students during the program and contest proper, and this is expected to be brought back by the time it is safe again to conduct mass gatherings.
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Distance learning... | p3
towns to distribute modules from different parts of Pangasinan. According to Antonette Caburian, president of the University of Pangasinan Student Teachers Organization (UPSTO), “For me, modular learning is a lot easier compared to the traditional learning. Instead of traveling to school, I got to do some chores and help around the house. Secondly, I was able to save some money. And lastly, I do not have to iron my uniform and save electric consumptions and I get to spend time with my family. But to be not burdened by modular learning, time management is the most important element of all.” Flames are looking forward to the end of the Covid-19 pandemic to be able to see their friends at school and have face-to-face classes again– no need to wait in a long line for modules, cope with the lessons and deadlines without a chappy internet connection, and be able to socially connect to protect the mental health.
Matapos maranasan ng Flames ang “new normal education system, pinulsuhan namin sila kung “Kumusta ba ang first semester mo?”
“My first semester was surprisingly okay. Really didn’t learn much in our online classes, at that time I guess online classes aren’t meant for me. I was comfortable while I finished my schoolwork since we got to stay at home due to the pandemic. I stayed positive most of the time with the exception of me stressing over our capstone project. I didn’t have much of a problem with remote learning aside from some of my modules being unorganized. Having the necessary resources definitely helps in regard to online learning, I imagine it’s more difficult for those who don’t have these things available. It all just depends on the circumstances, and how you approach the situation I guess.” - Marc Llarenas, CITE “My 1st semester was a slap in the face, it was a time wherein I had to ad-
just everything. While it was still like summer break and other schools were already having their classes, my perception was to be always on top of my work, like being quick in doing my homeworks and understanding lessons, but then the classes started to happen and I was lost; it was harder than what I expected it to be. It was like a reality check. Seeing my other classmates doing good in class while I was doubling my efforts and my grades are still lower than them. My first semester wasn’t a happy experience, the only thing that I’m happy about is that it’s about to end. Being mentally strong was really the way to be able to overcome those problems, with the help of friends like I’m still having a hard time but I am surviving.” - Miguel Karlo Coquia, CAS “As much as other students have struggled with this new mode of learning, at first, I also had a hard time. One of
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the struggles I had to face was to maintain my focus during the class. I could not understand why after all my classes, I felt exhausted when I was just sitting in front of my device. Learning is as not as easy, as usual. I did not expect that it will be physically and mentally tiring. Bur I learned a lot. Modular and online classes are indeed a good combination. It was good that we were able to reach our instructors, who are considerate of their students’ situation, in cases where there were points we could not understand in the modules. The printed lessons also helped a lot. It was not easy and far from perfect, but my first semester went as good beyond what I expected.” - Lianne Ruth Pagaduan, CSS “My experience in our current setup is quite easy and convenient. But some factors also make it hard sometimes. First is the internet connectivity issue.
Not all students have the privilege to avail fast internet promos so other rely on prepaid loads. Second is the power connection, which is unstablesometimes. We dont know when or what time our electricity provider will cut the power. Everyone encounters it for sure. Third is the annoying noise coming from outside. For example birthday parties, pets, and vehicles passing through. Overall, it was a nice setup even though we have those issues mentioned above. But for me I still prefer coming to school.” - Dale De Guzman, CITE “Adjusting to the setup was harder than I expected it to be and I think it is not as productive specially when doing group projects. But given the circumstances, I think it is the safest way but then I still prefer the traditional learning or the face-to-face classes.”
Sakit na ‘di bago Kung sinong takbuhan natin kung sakaling tamaan ng Covid, sila pa ‘yung agrabyado. Naiintindihan ko naman na hindi maiwasang mailang kapag may nakasalamuhang doktor sa daan o nakasakayan sa jeep na nurse dahil natatakot tayong magkaroon ng kontak sa kanila. Ngunit hindi naman required na pandirian at sabihan sila ng masasakit na salita, ‘di ba? Hindi nalalayo riyan ang karanasan ng ilan sa ating PHINMA University of Pangasinan (UPang) alumni na ngayon ay med-
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malaki ang tyansa ng “infection control” kaysa gumala pa paglabas. Ayon naman kay Jen Ferrer, na isa ring alumna ng PHINMA UPang na nagtratrabaho na ngayon sa Asian Hospital and Medical Center (AHMC), ibang-iba ang karanasan at pakiramdam ng pagiging isang medical frontliner ngayon at noon bago pa magkaroon ng pandemya. Kung noon ay mas madali ang daloy ng trabaho, ngayon ay mas mabigat na sa rami ng pasyente na nagdudulot na rin sa kanila ng pagod sa pisikal, emo-
Ngunit may kurot pa rin sa puso na sa mahigit isang taon ay halos wala silang sapat na pahinga, proteksyon, at pisikal na kalinga ng pamilya samantalang ang ibang pasaway ay nagpapakasasa sa paglabas ng bahay dahil lang sawa na raw silang makulong sa bahay. Lalabas nga nang may mask pero nakababa o nakasabit lang sa tenga, ayaw sundin ang physical distancing, tuloy ang “happy happy” with friends. Wow! Ang lalakas naman pala ng guardian angels!
ical frontliners na. Bago pumasok si Carlo Bernardino para sa kanyang night duty sa isang ospital sa Alaminos, Pangasinan ay bumili muna siya ng hapunan sa isang fast food chain, suot ang kanyang scrub suit. Aniya, napakasakit tumingin g ibang tao, para bang nais siyang paalisin sa lugar na ‘yun. Dagdag pa niya ay mas mainam nang bumili ng makakain bago pumasok ng ospital dahil mas
“Para sakin naging mahirap kasi mas nasanay akong face to face ang klase at may natututunan talaga. Though I’m not saying na wala akong natutunan because of online class na, meron pa rin pero hindi ganun sa gusto kong way of learning talaga. In short naging mahirap sakin pero kinaya. Habang lumilipas ang araw narerealize ko na hindi masaya yung ganitong klaseng set up sa pag aaral. At nakikita ko na marami sa kapwa ko studyante na nawawalan ng gana magaral Lalo ang mga studyanteng walang magamit pang online class Mabagal din ang internet connection during online discussion. Minsan hindi ko maintindihan kung ano ang dinidiscuss ng instructor. Madalas, self study na lang.” - Marian Joy Urbano, CMA
VIEWS
September 2020 - January 2021 | Vol. XXVIII Issue No. 1
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uong akala ng marami ay parehas pa rin ang magiging buhay natin ngayong taon- papasok nang maaga sa eskwela, overtime sa trabaho, inuman sa kanto; lahat ‘yan ay nabago sa isang iglap. Ang Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) ay ang pangalang ibinigay sa bagong sangay ng Novel Corona Virus. Covid 19 naman ang tawag sa sakit na nauugnay sa nasabing virus na nagsimulang kumalat noong December 31, 2019 sa Wuhan, China bilang isang outbreak, at idineklarang Public Health Emergency of International Concern ng World Hearlth Oragnization (WHO) noong January 30, 2020. Ayon sa ulat ng Medical News Today, may apat na lebel ng Covid 19: Una ang Asymptomatic, o ‘yung kapag carrier na pala ang isang tao ng virus ngunit hindi nagpapakita ng sintomas. Pangalawa ang Mild to moderate symptoms, na ibig sabihing ang pasyente ay nakararanas na ng lagnat, matinding pagod, at ubo. Pangatlo ang Severe cases, ‘yun ay kapag ang pasyente ay may mataas na lagnat na at hirap sa paghinga. Panghuli naman ang Critical cases na nagdudulot ng sepsis, respiratory failure, at organ failure na maaaring ikamatay ng pasyente. Alin man sa mga ito ay nakakatakot na maranasan, hindi lamang ng pasyente, ngunit pati na rin ng ating frontliners na direkta ang kontak sa virus. Nakakamangha na sila ang may trabaho ng pag-asikaso at paggamot sa mga tinamaan ng Covid. Modern heroes pa nga kung ating tawagin. Ngunit may kurot pa rin sa puso na sa mahigit isang taon ay halos wala silang sapat na pahinga, proteksyon, at pisikal na kalinga ng pamilya samantalang ang ibang pasaway ay nagpapakasasa sa paglabas dahil lang sawa na raw silang makulong sa bahay. Lalabas nga nang may mask pero nakababa o nakasabit lang sa tenga, ayaw sundin ang physical distancing, tuloy ang “happy happy” with friends. Wow! Ang lalakas naman pala ng guardian angels! Kung tutuusin, malilit lamang iyon na bagay na pwede nating gawin hindi lang para sa sarili ngunit para na rin makatulong sa mga frontliners na nagpapakahirap iahon ang bansa natin mula sa krisis na ito. Pero hindi eh. Mas lalo lang nating pinapabigat ang trabaho nila. Alam niyo pa ang mas masakit?
- Romel Pidlaoan, CITE
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syonal, at sikolohikal na aspeto. Kailangan na ring full gear ang pagsuot ng Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) upang malimitahan ang exposure sa virus at iba pang mapanganib na salik. Naranasan na rin niya ang diskriminasyon sa loob mismo ng ospital gaya ng paglayo ng ibang tao sa kanya habang nasa elevator, o kaya nama’y pagkatakot at tuluyan nang ‘wag sumabay.
Alam niyo bang hindi lang mga doktor, nurse, medical technologists, pharmacists, at police at military officers ang dapat ituring na frontliners? Sa likod ng mga face mask ay nandiyan ang janitors, waste and garbage collectors, utility and maintenance workers, bank tellers, security guards, food and parcel couriers, morticians, barangay officials, at transportation operators upang tumulong sa paghahatid ng pangagailangan ng marami ngayong wala tayong kakayahan gawin ang mga normal na mga lakad natin. Ngunit marami rin sa kanila ang biktima ng pangmamaliit, diskriminasyon, at panloloko. Eh alam niyo rin ba na may karampatang parusa ‘yan? Ang house bill 6817 ay inaprubahan noong June 2, 2020 na nagsasaad ng karampatang kaparusahan sa mga gagawa nito sa frontliners; mula healthcare and essential service workers hanggang sa responders at volunteers. Kapag napatunayang nangharass o nanakit nang pisikal, makukulong ka lang naman ng isa (1) hanggang sampung (10) taon o multang dalawang daang libong Piso (P 200,000) hanggang isang milyong Piso (P 1,000,000). Kapag napatunayan namang nangdiskrimina at tumanggi ka na parangalan ang wasto at umiiral na mga kontrata ay pwede kang makulong ng anim (6) na buwan hanggang limang (5) taon o multang limampung libong Piso (P 50,000) hanggang limang daang libong Piso (P 500,000) Ang mas mainam na gawin ngayon ay tulungan na natin silang mapagaan ang kanilang pasanin tutal makikinabang naman tayong lahat. Sabi nga nila, “Prevention is better than cure” kaya laging isuot ang face mask/ shield, maghugas ng kamay sa loob ng dalawampung (20) segundo, palakasin ang resistensya, at higit sa lahat ay ‘wag itatanggi sa otoridad ang pagkakaroon ng sintomas. Ang mga pag-uugaling ito ay nakakapit na nang mahigpit sa budhi ng tao noon pa man. Palaisipan nga kung kailan kaya tayo gagaling? Cut the stigma. Walang karapat-dapat sa diskriminasyon, lalung-lalo na sa panahon ng krisis. Hindi kailanman magiging sapat na dahilan ang pagiging isang frontliner upang malayo ang loob natin sa isa’t isa at pagmulan ng pagtatangi at pagkakahati ng pagtingin sa kapwa.
OPINION
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September 2020 - January 2021 | Vol. XXVIII Issue No. 1
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t has been 4 months since the academic year 2020-2021 began with the innovation of online learning, and yet we are still facing a lot of adjustments to comply with our rights to quality education– gadgets to use, internet source, home-learning area, and a lot of financial matters. But we are not considering one matter here – the best app to use in our e-learning. Zoom and Google Meet are the common apps used in video conferencing in our university’s Flex and RAD Learning. We know that in a certain class, about 50/50 students are in the division when it comes to who depends on WiFi and who depends on Data loads. PHINMA University of Pangasinan (UPang) provided a Smart 5 GB Ready Sim to their students – a sim card loaded PHP 300 for a subscription to GIGASTUDY 299 for 4 GB daily amount of data for 30 days and an additional load of PHP 150 for LEARN 150 subscription, providing you 10 GB for Office 365 and Google Suite for 30 days. Considering what apps are mostly used in video conferences: Zoom consumes 810 MB, which is 2.4 GB per hour, and Meet consumes 1.4 vGB per hour. Think of how many hours you spend in your classes as a student or as a teacher. It is indeed impractical. Denberg Mejia, a 3rd Year Political Science Student, explains that online classes were easy until activities pile up. He also struggles a lot with his internet connection due to the weak signal in their area. Data-dependent users cannot rely 100% on the provided sim card loads because setting will be another issue of internet connectivity. Whatever data amount provided in the load subscription, area
It’s APP to you and location is still an issue hard to resolve. fers will never be perfect and suitable to Also, aside from this common issue of poor us users, but we have a lot of options that internet connection, not all students afford the are not being discovered when it comes new normal of learning. Mylene C. Empuerto, to the best apps to be used that are daa College Instructor at PHINMA-UPang, says ta-friendly, and also privately secured. either the internet connection or being a work Going back to what the school proing student is the main obstacle to why the stuvides, Microsoft Teams is the perfectly practidents are not able to pass their SAS and outputs cal app to be used for it only consumes 225 MB on time and comply with online classes. It is a – 450 MB per hour, no time pressure, no data problematic world of 2020 has given us since scarcity. MS Teams is part of Office 365 which the beginning of this year. So many problems, is common in the corporate world and is popb u t ular to also busis o nessData offers will never be perfect and suitable to us users, many es, but but we have a lot of options that are not being discovpracthat’s tical not it. ered when it comes to the best apps to be used that are soluM S data-friendly, and also privately secured. tions. Teams Data c a n o f also
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istress amidst this Coronavirus pandemic has increased nationwide alongside the increase of positive cases per day. Just last May 29, recorded the most number of new cases a day totaling 1,040. However, as we welcome the month of June, the government announces the lifting up of Extended Community Quarantine (ECQ) to General Community Quarantine (GCQ) wherein rules and restrictions are lighter even though our country has not yet undergone mass testing. Without mass testing, the Coronavirus pandemic will keep spreading, and lifting ECQ to GCQ will not help. Sure, this is applied to places where the risk and cases of the virus are low, but still, there are cases. Coronavirus spreads much faster than we think and even if we think that the virus in a certain place is contained, we are not 100% sure. Mass testing has helped many countries like South Korea, Vietnam, China, Germany, United Kingdom, Iceland, and Italy in containing the virus. These countries that test thousands of people per day have slowed the outbreak and now they’re almost back to normal. Why almost? For exam-
If not now, then when? ple, South Korea can freely roam around their streets, shoot variety shows and even dramas but with cau-
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If you think that Philippines can survive without mass testing, you better think twice.
tion for their hygiene such as wearing masks and sanitization, and application of social distancing. However, our Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque stated that the Philippine government cannot
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conduct mass testing like these countries that caused an uproar among the citizens. He said that they will leave
it to private businesses to foot the bill if they want to check their asymptomatic workers and they will only target one to two percent of the population for COVID-19 testing, or 10 percent in the case of the
be used in the school’s video conferencing, calling, content collaboration with the power of Microsoft 365 applications. It also ensures safety and security for you need to use your school’s provided e-mail accounts so rest assured that there will be no to minimal encounters of online hi-jacking. What to do is comply with your adviser to provide the following steps in activating your UPang Gmail account and let’s go from Meet to Teams! Ms. Empuerto also considered using Canvas Meeting, an app that allows students to access their courses and groups, but she doesn’t know how to operate it yet. Guess what? Canvas app is suitable not only for students and teachers but also available for parents’ monitoring of their child’s access. Yes, we are already at a college-level, you might probably think that it’s too dramatic to have your parents monitor your progress in school, but isn’t better to let them have an assurance that you are safe, and learning in school? Online education with the best online apps is the new definition of quality education. Options are everywhere in the online world. The 4 GB daily data provided in our load subscriptions are perfect for the new options we have when it comes to video conferencing, and security is ensured when it comes to accesses provided for teachers and parents’ supervision of their student’s school progress. Be open to something new, and never say yes because it’s the common opinion of the majority. Quality education is now in the hands of us – the younger generation with the oldest exposure to the internet. It is all APP to you if we demand a larger expense or a practical device to use.
epicenters of an outbreak such as Metro Manila. If this is the case, UPang’s opening of classes later in August is still risky. Even considering the sanitization and new school system considering social distancing, the spread of the virus among students is possible. How? Students of UPang don’t just reside around Pangasinan, some students are from La Union, Baguio, Ilocos, Nueva Ecija, and Tarlac. Without Mass Testing, we’ll not know if they are a carrier of the virus considering that it can be asymptomatic. Students now are seeking online or faceto-face enrollment for the academic year 20202021 1st semester and with the usual number of students at the start of classes ranging within thousands, social distancing will surely be defied. GCQ may help increase our economic growth due to the opening of businesses and stores but lack of preparedness among citizens and the irresponsibility of some people may lead to more risk. If you think that the Philippines can survive without mass testing, you better think twice.
DEVC
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September 2020 - January 20
Love and Compassion:
The Roots of Succor Kristine Joy S. Nool
"Empathy is about standing in someone else's shoes, feeling with his or her heart, seeing with his or her eyes. Not only is empathy hard to outsource and automate, but it makes the world a better place." - Daniel H. Pink, American author and 1995 chief speechwriter for vice president Al Gore
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very year, the Philippines faces difficulties and different challenges – typhoons, volcanic eruptions, and last year, the Covid-19 pandemic. But Filipinos are known for always paving the way to happiness, resiliency, and generosity-- even in terms of crisis. Alongside the Local Government Unit (LGU), different organizations gather and enlist some assistance to the affected communities and their residents. But assistance is not limited to those who are in the higher powers. The PHINMA University of Pangasinan (UPang) established a program that aims to help its students, nearby towns, and even victims in terms of tragedies and natural catastrophes from different regions, which is called UPang Helping Hands, particularly administered by the Center for Students’ Development and Leadership (CSDL). When it started The UPang Helping Hands opened its doors in 2009 by aiding the victims of Typhoon Peping in Northern Luzon. In Pangasinan alone, over 25,000 families were evacuated from 295 barangays. With the cooperation and efforts of the employees, about 1,500 gallons of water and 4,951 packs of relief goods were disseminated to the affected families in 16 barangays. The UPang campus also served as a temporary home to over a thousand evacuees. Over the years, it expanded its room for assistance as it engages in annual outreach programs for nature, which is called UPang Goes Green, and Brigada Eskwela. Portions of its heart Every time a major calamity hits, #OperationBayanihan is being activated. Bayanihan is a Filipino tradition wherein Filipinos lend their hand to those who need to be rescued and help the community to rise again. With #OperationBayanihan's #CallForDonations, both cash and in kind donations such as usable clothes, blankets, hygiene kits, food packs, and medicines are accepted. During Operation Taal, which intends to reach out to the victims of the January 2020 Taal Volcano eruption in Batangas, CSDL has received PHP 5,490.00 worth of cash donations, 333 pieces of usable clothes, 118 kilos of rice, and different canned foods which are turned over to Misa Caritas Lingayen-Dagupan, a religious organization for livelihood and health projects, to be redirected to the victims.
The historic Covid-19 pandemic recorded its first Person Under Investigation (PUI) record in Dagupan City on February 4, 2020, which shook the locality. The crisis aftermath led the
country to a lockdown, causing some students of UPang to be stranded in their boarding houses. Sentiments intensified as these Flames cannot return to their hometowns yet. As a response, UPang accommodated the stranded Flames with some health kits and food packs. 9 students also won PHP 300.00 worth of load for a TikTok challenge carried through by CSDL to ease the pressure this quarantine season. Started from an approved 1-week budget, UPang Helping Hands' #OperationCovid19 continued as the lockdown period extended. Fifty (50) "Thank You" packed lunches were allowed to Covid-accommodating hospitals during Thursdays. Bread and breakfasts were allocated to the Brgy. Tanods of Pantal, Dagupan City and sanitation equipment to Pangasinan Provincial Hospital in San Carlos City, Region I Medical Center (R1MC), and The Medical City. They have also distributed approximately 290 essential kits to Brgy. Pantal health workers, families, TODAs, sidewalk vendors, public safety officers, garbage collectors, Sitio Aliguas Community, iClean personnel, and security guards by mid-March to mid-April 2020. Food packs consist of 3 kilos of rice and various vegetables, and hygiene kits were also given out to Dagupan City Police Station with the help of the UPang Criminology Department. Santo Tomas, Isabela is one of the most devastated towns in Cagayan Region hit by typhoon Ulysses. #ProjectIlalo, a Pangasinan word for "Hope", in partnership with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) of Cagayan, garnered PHP 133, 150.00, rice, bottled water, canned goods, coffee, and biscuits donations as well as preloved clothes.
1 0 0 f a m ilies were a l s o given f o o d
packs, basic hygiene kits, pails, and banig. A total of 500 individuals benefited from the program. A note for the pillars With the same mission as the whole PHINMA Education, UPang Helping Hands has built its credibility among students and communities, especially Brgy. Pantal, Dagupan City which is consistently being assisted by the university being one of the closest areas in the neighborhood. "Maraming salamat sa walang hanggang pagbibigay ayuda sa ating garbage collectors. Malaking bagay po ito sa kanilang pamilya. Mabuhay po kayo," Ms. Julita Perez, Brgy. Captain of Pantal, posted on her Facebook wall together with a photo of all the newly packed donations from UPang. The Flames also find the CSDL Facebook page as a way to ask for help during the past adversities, as well as the pandemic and succeeding disasters. With their motto “Sasamahan Kita”, this program still extends its hands not only to the student body, but also to anyone who appeals; not just with the help of the university’s employees, but also with the students and volunteers who have compassion for others. Photo sources: PHINMA UPang CSDL Official Page; Mr. Adele Traspe
COMM
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021 | Vol. XXVIII Issue No. 1
The year 2020 greeted us with a shock of
events – breakups of our favorite loveteams, death of some legendary artists, natural calamities, and the Covid-19 pandemic. At some point, the year is considered to be a depressing point for our economy, for social events, and for other goals, we plan to achieve. But on the contrary, 2020 is also the beginning of something new and something good, even in this problematic year. Tourists’ spots You can imagine how our tourist spots like our famous beaches and cities were dumped during our normal era. According to Rappler and CNN Philippines, Boracay was already reopened to Western Visayas tourists on June 16. Bohol and Baguio City are also the same as Boracay’s situation. Let’s get nearer. Tondaligan beach at Bonuan Gueset Dagupan City is no longer a slum for this pandemic may be sad, it helped the environment to heal and to be cleaner. Tourist spots are ready to mingle with the people of the Philippines as we wait for the end of this pandemic. It may be our lonely year for limited outings and travel with friends, it is a year for environmental healing. The Rising Artists of PHINMA-UPang
2020 is the year of the students like Anthony Fernandez and as they lighted up their flames on social media. Anthony Fernandez is a 3rd Year Bachelor of Science in Information and Technology student, also a singer-songwriter, who just released his singles “Hangin” on November 4, 2020, and “Dolor” recently, January 8, 2021. The year of struggle is a year of determination, like what Anthony shares during the interview, “So bale mahirap sa una ang magpursue kasi aminado ako na I'm not a good singer, many people find my voice common, I'm not also a singer na puwede mong ipanglaban sa contest. I started pursuing it dahil nakakamiss tumugtog dahil part ako ng Life's Sound Society (LSS) and I'm just a guitarist. So last August 2019, triny kong magsulat
You will encounter a lot of successful stories, and the key for you to be one is to just simply do it. Check out his singles on all music platforms! Rose Salucio is a 3rd Year Political Science Student, who is now a rising TikTok star, and a YouTuber, who also started posting her videos and contents online in May 2020, all because of her love for her passion. “It is a dream of mine to become an actress or perform but as I grew older singing, acting and dancing just became a habit and not a career. It’s because I wasn’t given the privilege to pursue these things. I stopped practicing and just focused on another goal. But then everything changed. The platform gave me a chance to share my talent and thoughts with other people. Because of this, I started practicing again and it gave me hope. My family, friends, and the people who are continuously supporting me are my inspiration. I once thought of quitting, but they gave me hope. To be honest, it’s really hard to film and think of content because of the pandemic. At first, I wanted to film travel vlogs or funny vlogs with my friends but this became impossible because of the situation. But instead of focusing on the things that I cannot do, I came up with content that can be done at home. I shared my life experiences and the things that I do to cope with the pandemic. Because of YouTube, I was able to practice my speaking and boost my confidence.” Rose shared her experiences on how she started to pursue her passion in singing, dancing, and acting by posting her content on social media platforms. “Start now. Don’t aim for perfection because each day we’ll get better. The quote that inspired me the most is “The key to creating success is partly the willingness to be bad at something.” Again, start NOW and have a growth mindset. YOU CAN DO IT. " You can check out her Youtube Channel at Rose Salucio. Aim high, dream big. Learn from our rising stars to take advantage of every situation we face. The world may not be in a better place now, but who
It’s hard to think of ways on how to learn and continue the education of the youth because inside the four corners of the classroom are academics, friendships, bonds, and life lessons. This is very hard for a lot of people especially those people who are not used to independent learning. But thanks to technology and modernization that we manage to adapt to during the normal times, it became our instrument to learning a lot of things. On the other side, not all people are luxurious to afford the necessities in online learning, they do have some quiet time to read their books and to use their creativity to do some kinds of stuff through arts and crafts. Dear people, learning will never die. Learning new ways on how to learn during these problematic times is a milestone level of learning. Trends A lot of trends were scattered on social media like Tiktok, Dalgona Coffee, and Plantsman (person who loves plants) to divert their interest that was lost because of the pandemic. Partying, road trips, swimming, going to malls and cafes are some of the things that were lost because of the safety measures that were set to avoid the spread of the virus. But as this pandemic strikes and new trends hit on social media, talents were discovered, creativity is glamour, and nature is loved. Indoor plants are everywhere on social media that contribute to the betterment of your environment. Take note that your little steps to your beautiful surroundings are a steppingstone to the bigger, cleaner, and greener nature. Family Bonds We face the fact that Filipinos have an unideal set of a family but we value our family members biologically or otherwise. You can see how parents bond with their children on social media like daily vlogs on YouTube, how they dance on TikTok, how they celebrate birthdays posted on Facebook. At this moment of the year, children talk to their parents, and parents trust their children more. Let the pessimism be outshined by optimism. Evaluate your relationships with people who are real to you and spend more time with them. Politically Inclined Citizens
knows that your pas-
and then itinuluy-tuloy ko lang dahil why not? Baka may mangyari and gusto kong may mapatunayan.” And he proved it! He was also invited to Bombo Radyo Dagupan on November 19, 2020, and featured by Mendira.net. “My message to people who are pursuing their dreams: Don't let yourself fooled by others' decisions, love what you do, and enjoy it. Be proud of what you do, and most importantly, learn to accept your flaws and be humble!”
sion might j u s t turn into your career as we adapt to the transition of the virtual world! Alternative Learning Modernized Learning
Since we have a lot of time in our homes, we tend to know everything that is happening to Philippine Politics. One bad thing is how we project ourselves on social media as we express our political opinions. Our political participation will never be as perfect as our fictional world says but one participation awakens the participation of others. We lost our apathy and we became wiser. We have our strong beliefs with regards to our Filipino Politicians’ actions, especially towards this covid-19 pandemic. When 2022 comes, Filipinos are now wiser and will never believe the magic of the envelope and the power of noodles anymore. Political participation is important and it is a good thing that we are more participative than ever. If you are to make a portrait of the year 2020, it might be an abstract mixture of dark colors, but as you try to take a moment staring at it, it’s mesmerizing seeing successful stories that are not hindered by time, and situation we have right now. Be encourage and never stick to thoughts of discouragement. Photo sources: Facebook; Twitter
to
2020, contrary on the
Trixie Ann C. Bautista
FEAT
10
Karrie Anne C. Langit
Dear Journal, we since were all unIt has been 6 weeks ever in our Quarantine or ECQ, stuck der Enhanced Community The d. hea my in many emotions homes and I still have so ire ent my r ove xiety have taken fear, uncertainty, and an d an ax rel to me it diffcult for system antd it has made t bes the ng doi family.We are all enjoy the company of my are s ng thi if n se of normalcy eve that we can to have a sen to COVID-19. done a bit differently due
I would also participate in our daily Zumba exercise routine every which lasts about 1 hour or 30 minutes. Let me tell you, I would be sweating like buckets more than I have ever done since it has been so long. It’s probably one of the most intense activities that I have ever done during the quarantine period.
Of course, ities for me to sleep there are more opportun is always a plus. longer than usual which
No matter what we are doing right now, we are all doing our part to flatten the curve by just staying at home, practice social distancing, and most importantly wash your hands with soap and water as much as possible. I know and believe that if we all follow these guidelines we would be able to reach our goal of flattening the curve and possibly save more lives. I’m doing my part and I hope that you can do the same for your family, friends, countrymen, and the world.
Whenever we run out of food, water, and any other essential items, my parents would do take a bath, wash their hands and wear their face masks to protect themselves from the virus when they leave the house. I would always be told by both my parents to clean the house as much as possible from top to bottom.We mostly do these procedures not just to make our hose clean but it can help us in killing the germs that spread the virus.
I even started adding and creating new to do pages for my bullet journal. It feels so refreshing times many so off ng putti been something that you have colorful because you come in with new ideas that are so you when about think ally norm t and fun that you don’ . plate have so much on your
Learning new recipes like Dalgona coffee wh ich requires few ingredients and it’s surprisingly ea sy to make plus it tastes de licious.
Nothing d than sitting down in makes me feel more relaxe g some of my favorite a comfy chair and readin ting off for so long. books that I have been put suddenly coming to You can imagine the story of anticipation as you life and you feel a sense That’s the beauty of turn to the next page. reading books.
and entertained g to keep myself busy hin yt er ev ing do m soul and it finds a But even if I’ ges to linger into my na ma ill st at th r of fea m one of the lucky there is that sense air. I know that I’ sp de of pit at th o int forget that there way to bring me down d live in. We often an ep sle t, ea to me a ho to and they just ones that still have a family to go back or me ho a ve ha en t ev d by the virus. are people who don’ nger of being infecte da e th of e ar aw un reets, e help they need. roam around the st out and give them th go t n’ uld co I at y th is unfortunate and It makes me feel guilt s the world’s fate plu n ow kn un e th of fear spread and yet we That along with the closed to hinder the e ar s nt me sh bli ta es her s because the virus real. Schools and ot go outside our home to fe sa s it’ t no or r ed to do is to, Pray are all unsure whethe nt things that we ne rta po im st mo o tw e is still out there. Th . and Hope
There’s nothing else that we can all hang on to other than to our Creator. To pray that more people would get the care they need, more people would be healed, our front liners would be strong amid this pandemic, console us in our darkest moments, motivate us to never lose hope, stay positive for everyone, and to once and for all kill this virus. These are seriously extraordinary times that we are all living in at this moment in time but we can do is to stand strong and do our part in helping our front liners by staying at home because, like many waves of typhoons that we have faced in our own lives, this too shall pass.
TURE
11
Heroes, when you hear the word “hero” we think of the
Marvel Universe or DC comics. When you hear the words “hero” and “heroine” we think of Iron Man, Spider-man or Wonder Woman, or even Peter Griffin, and our very own Jose Rizal. But the real heroes of today are the front liners. Because of the deadly attacks of the Covid-19, doctors and nurses are risking their lives to find a cure for this pandemic. They are sacrificing their lives to save millions and they couldn’t spend time with their families. Even the soldiers, policemen, and barangay officials are considered front liners
Christian R. Hulipas because they must ensure security among the barangays and people. Though people tend to be stubborn and impatient, they still do their duty even if it means having a lot of bashers from the people. These people deserve respect and praise because they are doing the best they can to protect us from the dreaded Corona Virus. They need the people to stay home to prevent the spread of this disease and they are asking them to at least listen to them even if it means staying home for at least 3
months. These people who’re risking their lives instead of being with their family members deserve respect and must be supported by the nation just by staying home to make their job, but it’s easier said than done. The front liners are the one’s risking everything and yet people still do not listen to their request to stay home. These people must be apprehended by the police to make the front liners’ job easier to accomplish and to do so, they must listen to what they have to say and give them the help they need to finish the job.
Since the start of the pandemic, most of us rely on our lifestyle (entertainment, communication, shopping) online. There has been a number of online applications that have to emerge and we find useful since then. Messenger, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter? No, let’s talk about those that are yet talked about on papers.
Jovileen G. Pidlaoan
Games and Entertainment
An online or local wifi mobile and pc game, played by 4-10 players, the players are called the crewmates but beware because there are 1-3 impostors among the players. The crewmates should finish all the assigned tasks while also predicting who is the impostor among the players. The impostor’s job is to sabotage the map, sneak through vents while framing, deceiving, and killing the crewmates in order to win the game. If fortunately, the crewmates found out who the impostor is, it is obviously a victory for them. If you’re looking for a chill but mentally challenging game, you should try Among Us with your friends.
Communication
It is a free online, cross-platform, role-playing game, this game will satisfy your magical and surreal fantasies since it is an open-world environment with vast maps that you can freely explore. You can monetize the game in order to buy weapons, characters, and other resources. If you and your friends are looking for a game that will please your desire for theories and charms, Genshin Impact will gladly take you to their irresistible adventures.
Telegram
A group chatting, video, and audio conference platform was originally built for gamers to communicate well with their teams, but later on, it is used by many to build all sorts of communities, ranging from writers, singers, to k-pop and k-drama fans. This app should be explored to be used well since it is divided into servers with their corresponding members, rules, roles, and channels. If you want to talk about your interests with other people or within a community, Discord has all these sorts of servers for you. You might want to try.
It is like any other messaging apps but it gives you more benefit than others. As a messaging app, it is simple and you can navigate through messages easily, private since all your messages are encrypted and there are options of self-destructing, provides no limit on your messages and media making it powerful and reliable, it is extensive and social for you can make a group chat consisting of 200,000 members, and last but not the least customization of the app and your messages are possible. Telegram offers difference and reliability.
Shopping Due to the quarantine, shopping is one of the usual chores that were prohibited by the government for safety protocols, so here come online shopping apps that have been useful for everyone’s shopping needs. These two apps are the most popular for our citizens than all other apps of their kind, these two are both from a Singaporean multinational technology company. Their focus is on e-commerce, which means providing goods for the public through the internet. With just a few clicks (add to cart, check-out) and few days, the products you need will arrive at your door conveniently. Lazada and Shopee at your service.
A reminder that, even with the comfort, enjoyment, and easiness that these kinds of applications can provide. Let us not forget the people around us and to still live in the moment.
did not know about today. You're standing on one's tod with fewer regrets. You knew being romantically in love is not the only door to satisfaction; that settling for lesss is not ot what you deserve, that your standards matter. You have learned how to appreciate the smallest details and convert criticisms into character development. 3 years ago, you didn't know that putting yourself first is okay. That letting go is okay. That failing is okay. That being imperfect is okay.
Kristine Joy S. Nool
3 years ago, you didn't know about today. The business you wanted to be in calls you for an interview. They want your talent, your dedication, and your ideas. You've got an honor from the company you took an internship at. Your friends were proud of you. Your family has had set a small party for the celebration. Your relatives pay for another congratulatory tarpaulin.
I t ' s completely fine that your original block mates were 2 years ahead of you outside the academics. You just realized that school is a journey and not a race. Your art page is slowly getting known and owners of small businesses trust you
for advertising their products and even recommend you to their acquaintances. All your long-lost passions started blooming again. Fermata shifted to Allegro; cutaways recast. The plants in your garden blossomed, and bees stick around to each petal. 3 years ago, you
You
didn't
know...
Because 3 years ago, you were busy mourning things that still exist. You believed that you have to be strong all the time. You steered clear of favors just because you weren't a fan of gratitude. Saving everyone mattered. Putting excessive effort weighed more until self-love collapsed. You thought that not graduating on time would make the sun stop shining. Scars confabulated with your demons. You've planned a picture-perfect future and only
cared about the beautiful things in life and expected the heavens to be always in your favor. You strived for a "good enough" relationship. You expected people to save you from your traumas and chew over them as a getaway. 3 years ago, everything was at six and sevens. People belittled you. You've always stood at the end of the line sinking in the disapproval of the society. No one wanted your art, your music, or your pieces. You wished you were the best, but you sucked. 3 years ago, you believed that taking your own life was the only escape from these how-do-you-dos. 3 years ago, you didn't know about today...
Because if you knew...
you?
Would
you
still
be
Karrie Anne C. Langit
It seems pretty hard to feel positive nowadays without feeling the constant dread of COVID 19 lurking around. These days it's easy to get lost in this tornado filled with darkness due to the fear of being infected and of the unknown in general. You feel like there is no place to go. We all have our way of distancing ourselves from reality now and then. Some would paint, draw, play sports, read books, cook or even bingewatch their favorite TV shows on Netflix. Others would go out of their way and write music and that's what 3rd-year PolSci student turned Indi Popstar Denj decided to do during the quarantine. Music for her started when she was about six years old but it hit her during her high school days. Back then, she was the type of person that doesn't share her feelings with others that often and would rather keep them to herself. To her, music was the language for which she could express herself more fluently and with ease. “Music became my best friend in a way that helped process my emotions and it became my coping mechanism, especially when I have problems.” She was able to capture every heartbreak, hear, happy memory with a stroke of her pen and through her delicate soft, and endearing voice. “ My interest in writing a song began ever since I was a child. I just write songs to process my emotions. As she was nestled in her home listening to the likes of Yeng Constantino, Keiko Necessario, Janine Tenoso, and The Carpenters, a burst of creativity started floating in her head which motivated her to write some songs while in quarantine. So she started releasing songs under the label Indie TV management namely: “Sandali”, “Dumb”, “Perfect”, and her most recent song called “Alisto''. She said that the song was based on her experiences with her first boyfriend. She said: “I tried to take a risk since we are LDR (Long Distance Relationship). Like, yung feeling ikaw na yung andyan but sa ex pa rin niya siya.'' Within a few months, she debuted her latest single “Alisto” and it was warmly accepted by her legions of fans across the country making it her most well-known hit to this day. Soon she started appearing in TV interviews
and guest appearances. One of her most good appearances was on Showtime's Online U. She started gaining more followers on her social media accounts and more fans by the day. Before she was this little shy girl who couldn't express herself but now, she has blossomed into a true artist and after all of the fame and notoriety she has received within the past few months, she is still very humbled and grateful by this entire experience despite the pandemic. “Up until now, I still can't comprehend that this is happening. The blessings, the opportunity, the love, and the support everyone has given me, I'm really beyond grateful.” Who would have thought that amidst the pandemic you could experience breakthroughs like this? The quarantine period has given us a ton of aspiring artists the opportunity to spread their wings creatively and help vent out all of what they are feeling due to the pandemic. Most of them might be going through a ton of troubles within the family or might be experiencing anxiety, depression, or feel like they might not be able to make their dreams come true. So Denj’s advice to those aspiring artists that want to follow in her footsteps: “ Don't be scared to get out of your comfort zone and do
everything with a burning passion. You might be unmotivated sometimes, it happens through but doesn't give up! Just pause take a rest and try again.”
13
LITERARY
All lives matter Micah
Micah Theresa C. Pidlaoan
Pillars of truth
Blind Equity John Karlo B. Laparan
“Officer I can’t breathe” “I don’t have a gun, stop shooting” “What are you following me for?” A black man last words before he died Because of a pitch-black skin “My life matters,” they said.
Kisly Moira R. Pera
They write the right, But voices out with the wrong Pearl of the east is living in fright, Where unjust and immoral legislators are strong
They say, black is darkness, dirty, and sorrow White is light, clean, and peace How can color make a man criminal, enemy, violent? Killing for color Aren’t we all just human? How long this will be on repeat? When will a black stop beg? About the continuity of his existence The world is now covered with violence and brutality Aren’t you tired to hear screams on the streets?
Truth holds dominance Lies, evident in an instance My voice was made for me after all It is not something you can control
Let me take you to this country-A place where law enforcement is biased Providing little to no care as your entry, Pointing out guns to the innocent and helpless Denying investigations, manipulating situations, Denouncing facts and deceiving the public; Formulating and giving lousy decisions, Treating the community like a comic. Upholding the truth is their duty The right should be with them Yet they still manipulate it, Indeed, a sub-par system
A journalist writing with no fear Opinion of the crowd, persevere Rising, upholding democracy Never nor once please the autocracy Freedom I hold to suggest and criticize If i or not wish to get politicized You may have the power to shut the mouths But it won’t be as easy as it sounds
Why is peace nowhere to be found? Do their lives mean nothing? Due to their black skin? Every life has meaning. Loving each other is worth being All lives matter Everyone should be treated equally We are all privileged I am not black, but I stand for them Black lives matter!
Duhagi Micah G. Pidlaoan Jovileen Sunod sunod na pagpatay Dahop ay nakahimlay Alingawngaw ng punlo Maski walang patunay
Cries in hues
Nagtatasaang bilihin, Kakulangan sa kikitain Hukag na sikmura Huyong ay tiisin
Karrie Anne C. Langit Is this all a dream? The dream where our children could go to school without fear just because of the color of their skin The dream that we can show genuine humility and comfort to one another in times of tragedy. The dream where people are screaming, shouting, and crying out “Do you even see me?” “I still exist.
Mga kontraktwal na kawani Walang saysay na dugo’t pagal Yaring hindi panayan Lubhang walang palagian Walang wakas na pag-giba Ng mga tahanang inaasam Hindi matapos na demolisyon Ng mga hidhid na kampon
It seems like there is no escape But I tell you this, we can wake up from this nightmare. But what can we do? Listen to the cries of those who lost their voices? Understand what it means to be in their shoes? Empathize with their pain and Make them feel like they matter?
Sambunton sa lansangan Ulyaw ng pauumyak Pamahalaa’y ‘di alumana Dadakpin ang lumalaban
Hugas-kamay Jovileen G. Pidlaoan
We must not just dare to dream-we must dare to hope. Together we can make a change, Collaborate with our neighbors and do whatever it takes to make people feel accepted and valued regardless of the color of our skin. The dream is within our reach. We just have to grab it and work together.
Hanggang kalian ba tayo tututulan sa
tuwing tayo’y magsasalita? Ilang beses pa ba nila aatakihin ang kalayaan nating makapagpahayag ng nais nating iparating lalo na sa gobyerno? Ano bang gusto niyo? Tikom at tango na lang ba? Tikom at tango. Ito ang gusto ng mga nakaupo dala ng ang gulo-gulo na nga ng mundo dala ng pandemic na ito. Reklamo rito, reklamo roon. Ang daming hinahanap, lalo na yang mass testing na yan. Kaya siguro nagpapasa sila ng bill para naman manahimik nalang tayo. Sino bang hindi matatakot, kung mabagsakan ka ng bukong inuuod? Nagpa-mass gathering sa panahon ng pandemya, at may debutanteng nagpa-tarp? Talagang sisigaw ka na ng mass
The people shall know with no barrier The beautiful truth, let people carry her Nevertheless, some may stop her Pillars of truth, not once you can cove
Sino ang may kasalanan sa mga dugo sa lansangan? Sino ang may gawa sa mga kumakalam na sikmura? Sino ang rason ba’t may pandemya hanggang ngayon? Sino ang may dulot ba’t ang mga paglaban ay naudlot? Sino ang may sala?
Asaan ang hustisya sa bansa? Ito ba’y kasalanan mo, dahil pasaway ka, Pilipino? Isipin mo. Kasalanan ng ordinaryong tao O ng mga namamahala sa bansa mo?
Tikom at tango lang ang gusto Trixie Ann C. Bautista testing. Kaso, gan’un talaga, Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, para sa kapakanan ng lahat. Kalusugan rin naman namin, kapakanan din naman ng lahat ‘yun hindi ba? Tikom at tango. Minsan personal akong nagtataka dala ng mga nagsilitawang “dummy accounts” na nakapangalan sa akin at sa iba pang kapangalan ko. Para saan ba ang mga ito? Para ba sa paninira dahil kasama na ang Facebook posting sa maaaring sakupin ng bill na ‘to? Ilan sa mga rason ay pwedeng “sikat”, pwedeng kilalang hindi pabor sa ilan sa
mga galaw ng mga pulitiko, pwede ring nakisali sa online petition na #JunkTerrorBill, o pwede ring gawa-gawa lamang dahil uso? Ang daming rason pero isa lang ang gusto. Sa bawat galaw, itikom mo lang ang iyong bibig, at ika’y tumango. Tikom at tango. Para sa selebrasyon ng Araw Ng Kalayaan, nagkaroon ng protesta ang ilan sa mga taong gigil na gigil i-junk ang bill na ito, ang grand mananita. Iba nga lang ito sa mananita nung nakaraan, may social distancing kasi dito, doon wala. Sa panahon
Sa haluyhoy ay bingi-bingihan Umid ang pangasiwaan Pinagsasawalang bahala Gapok na pamamahala Mga laying sinakatuparan Burgis lamang ang nakikinabang Dukha’y pinahihirapan Huwad na kaunlaran Progreso nga bang matatawag Kung mga dahop ay Lalo lamang naghihirap? Estadong ‘di adelantado Nangunguna’y tarantado.
ngayon nag-iiba na ang depinisyon ng terorista o terorismo. Kung noon ito yung mga armadong nagpapaulan ng mga baril at bomba, ngayon kasama na rin ang mga gumagambala sa . Bakit ka nga ba kasi mag-iingay ngayon kung nananahimik ka lang noon? Ika-nga nila. Hindi nakakatakot ang salita ng sinuman, dahil mas nakakatakot ang katotohanan ng kasalukuyang maaaring magmulto sa ating kinabukasan. Kung kaya’t bakit ka titikom at tatango sa maling gawa ng nakaupo sa pwesto? Natural ang paglalahad ng opinyon sa masa. Natural din naman ang sumang-ayon o sumalungat. Ang hindi natural, yung selective application ng batas.
14 Tatsulok Kisly Moira R. Pera Truth holds dominance Lies, evident in an instance My voice was made for me after all It is not something you can control A journalist writing with no fear The opinion of the crowd, persevere Rising, upholding democracy Never nor once please the autocracy The freedom I hold to suggest and criticize If I or not wish to get politicized You may have the power to shut the mouths But it won't be as easy as it sounds The people shall know with no barrier The beautiful truth, let people carry her Nevertheless, some may stop her Pillars of truth, not once you can cove
14
Black person's plea Rose Andrei V. Sanchez
Horrified looks, disgusted faces I receive them as I pace I wonder, "Is there something wrong with my face?" Then I knew, it's about my race My darker skin, my looks, and my beliefs I'm treated differently because of these An outsider in my country If not here, where will I be? I love myself but I can't help but wonder "Will everything be greater if I was whiter?" "Will I be treated as an individual, with rights and opportunities, an equal?" Love and respect, for I am human too With feelings and emotions just like you I ask for this, a simple favor For we are all united with different colors
August 2020 September 2020- January - January2021 2021| Vol. | Vol.MMXX XXVIIIIssue IssueNo.1 No. 1
The Vaccine Monica B. Gabaleno A substance developed from laboratories, That stimulates the production of antibodies To help the body increase its immunity, Injected to fight against disease-causing killings Virus solution to this pandemic, To save many lives and economic Claimed efficiency for its mass testing, Would it finally stop the virus from spreading? Fake news within still disperse Especially, with the fainting nurse Trust issues float as well, Waiting for the finish of this situation of hell.
ENTERTAINMENT
eHE eHEh K.J.S.N.
UGGHH
Concept by Monica B. Gabaleno Illustration by Jasmine Bernadette R. Bembo
OPINION
15
September 2020 - January 2021 | Vol. XXVIII Issue No. 1
Claiming of modules: an onerous chore
P
HINMA University of Pangasinan (UPang) implements Flex Learning and Remote and Distance (RAD) Learning this academic year that there will be no faceto-face classes due to the outbreaking cases of Covid-19 virus. This semester, students were given modules for each subject as a basis for studying lessons and answering activities. General Services Department (GSD) is responsible for the allocation of the modules, wherein a restricted claiming schedule was posted on the Center for Student Development and Leadership (CSDL)’s page. The first distribution was held at the campus last August. Module distribution and health declaration forms were submitted upon entering the school and they encouraged the parents or guardians of students below 21 to come. “Sobrang gulo [at] hindi organized yung distribution”, “Sinayang lang yung time at effort namin, hindi kumpleto 'yung mga modules na binigay”,”Mag-start na ang klase hindi parin naiideliver yung mga modules”; these are some lines from disappoint-
ed students and parents who ran out of patience while claiming incomplete modules. The outcome of distribution led many to post their complaints on social media and question the university on why did they start posting schedules knowing that it is not yet completed,
‘‘
GSD, together with the help of school guards and iClean staff, are the people behind the packing of modules for students. Sleepless nights of organiz-
The main issue was not the manpower, but the time and preparation rather.
knowing that they have numerous students, which means that they should have produced and printed enough copies. Most of the parents complained that if they were obligated to pay tuition fees online, might as well the school administration do their part to give the modules on time so they just go to the school at once and consider the parents' time, effort, transportation, and fares.
‘‘
ing the modules for more or less than 10,000 enrolled students. In an interview with Mr. Justine Troi Castillo,
Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Student Development Unit of Center for Student Development and Leadership (CSDL), he said that the main target for this distribution is to give a complete module to each student. They are receiving many complaints about this matter, but all they can do is to apologize to all students and parents who encountered problems in claiming the modules. It was mainly because of the work overload of the supplier.
CSDL has partnerships with LGU’s of almost 20 towns around Pangasinan for the students who live far from the school. They have set schedules for drop-offs and contact the students to claim modules from their municipality. Mr. Castillo mentioned that they are planning to continue the town-to-town module drop off method next semester if there are still no face-to-face classes. Hearing both sides, I think that the main issue was not the manpower, but the time and preparation rather. Staff worked until night just to pack, but overnight wasn't enough to finish it all, considering the number of students in the university. We could have avoided that since we had lots of time to prepare. It is a big responsibility for both parents/students and school administration to do their duties. We are facing a new normal due to the pandemic, and everyone is just starting to adjust and cope up. Patience, understanding, and readiness are all we need to lessen this kind of incident.
NEWS ›
Student billing... | p1
As claimed by a GCash user, Caroline Pant from College of Engineering and Architecture (CEA), "Satisfactory naman po since mas safe siya and then makikita mo agad na pagka transact mo sa GCash, agad agad paid ka na [at] bawas agad sa portal." She also added her experience back when she waits in the queue in the teller. "Before po, pag pumipila talaga mahirap kasi sobrang haba, sayang ang oras, mainit, tapos may cut off pa. Unlike ngayon, mas convenient talaga kasi you can pay anytime." Just as Caroline, Jericho Santos of the College of Management and Accountancy (CMA) said that online banking is much feasible, especially this pandemic. "Very accessible compared sa pipila ka nang matagal which is very tiring and hassle. No need para bumyahe sa school [para] magbayad." However, they also attest that they do not receive their permits via email after
paying and filling up the form. With that, professors consider the receipt as proof and allow the students to take the tests during exam week. Following are the payment options in settling the school fees: For 7 Eleven branches, go to the Cliqq
kiosk machine, select Pay Bills, and type "PHINMA EDUCATION" as the biller. Fill out student name, student number/ID, and the amount to pay. Get the slip from the machine and pay at the counter. For remittance centers such as RD Pawnshop Money Changer, write "PHINMA Education" as the receiver, and fill out the payment slip with your name, student number/ID, and amount to pay. Present the payment slip to the cashier and pay. For GCash, select Pay Bills, then click Schools. Search and select "PHINMA Education", then fill out the required details. For over-the-counter, you can deposit at Chinabank - 3690102713, or RCBC - 9005208703, with "University of Pangasinan, Inc." as the biller. For student numbers NOT starting with 03-, add 03-. After your payment, fill up this form for confirmation: https://bit.ly/UPPaymentForm Convenience fees may apply.
Click to pay. A CAS student operating the Cliqq machine on 7 Eleven to pay for the tuition fee while following the safety protocols. Photo source: Kristine Joy S. Nool
FEATURE
September 2020 - January 2021 Vol. XXVIII Issue No. 1
Avatars in uniform
Kristine Joy S. Nool
Armed with mobile. A Political Science Student playing Mobile Legends (ML) during the ML Tournament of the CSS Month Celebration. Photo by Jovileen G. Pidlaoan
I
f you believe that video games have been crazily ruling the world just recently, well, you might have to think twice. Back in 1952, a computer game named TicTac-Toe, also known as "OXO," which was developed by British computer scientist Sandy Douglas already cropped up the machines- and it's not a no-brainer. This video game is considered a "solved-game" due to well-programmed strategies. 6 years later,
a new multiplayer video game was invented, which is called Tennis for Two, where players control the ball over the net using a joystick. More multiplayer, digital computer games were developed subsequently just like Spacewar! where two players with one spaceship battle against each other but it was once limited to universities as these had technical qualifications. Thenceforth, esport was born.
Online defence. Winners of the 1st Governor Amado I. Espino online chess tournament holding the cash and certificates awarded to them by the Provincial Government of Pangasinan on December 8, 2020 at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC) Admin Building. Photo source: Province of Pangasinan (Official) Facebook Page
Pangasinan woodpushers join online Chess tournament Micah Theresa C. Pidlaoan
The first online Chess tournament, a project of Governor Amado I. Espino lll , was held via Zoom from November 27, 2021 and concluded on December 20, 2021 at 7 in the evening, in partnership with the Pangasinan Chess League (PCL). The tournament was played with free online chess server, Lichess website. About 300 non-titled players, also known as wood pushers, from Pangasinan aged 15 years old and up took part. Top five winners for the Traditional Category includes: Eivan Jacob Cruz (Lingayen),1st place , Marlon Mortel (Bolinao),2nd place, Antonio lll Almodal (Villasis), 3rd place, Charles Casipit (Dagupan City), 4th place, Brylle Gever Vinluan (San Fabian), 5th place. For the Chess360 Catego-
ry, Eivan Jacob Cruz from Lingayen also grabbed the 1st place followed by Brylle Gever Vinluan(San Fabian), 2nd place, Allan Frianeza (Dagupan City), 3rd place, Rodney Palamig (Urdaneta City), 4th place, Ormilito Ordizo (Alaminos City), 5th place. Cash and certificates were awarded on December 28 to the top winners of the event. The awarding ceremony was held at Narciso Ramos Sports Civic Center (NRSCC) Admin Building. “This activity aims to enhance the skills of young Chess players in the province in the new normal while observing safety protocols against COVID-19.” The event was sponsored by the Provincial Government of Pangasinan.
As today's generation competitively steps up the technology for a more accessible gaming experience, the online gaming debate hasn't cooled down yet. Is electronic sport considered sports? Back in October 2017, the International Olympic Committee agreed that "esports could be considered as a sporting activity but it must not infringe on the Olympic values." Rakuten Insights Philippines attests that as of March 2020, 75% of Filipinos age 16 and up were highly engaged in online gaming. One reason is esport is more inclusive than traditional sports that even unrelated individuals are able to play on the same team which develops social experiences. Schools are starting to embrace the beauty of esports as their students are now showing skills and captivation to a wider applied science ecosystem. It can also be a key for growing career opportunities-- may be access to advanced cognitive skills, a door to scholarship, an entryway to being a star in the multimillion industry; or just simply a portal to escape the reality. In September 2020, the campus esports program called AcadArena joined forces with Globe Telecommunications Inc. to announce their first esports scholarship for esports student organizations among different universities and colleges, due to the lack of co-curricular activities of the students during the pandemic. According to Ariane Lim, director of Student Programs at AcadArena, they want to lend a scholarship relevant to a student's
lifestyle. This scholarship has three types: 1.) The Competitive Merit Scholarship covers 25-100% of the tuition of any active student from the role of an alliance student organization. 2.) The Leadership Merit Scholarship covers 25-100% of the tuition of any support staff of the alliance member schools. 3.) The Family Good Game Grant is a PHP 25,000 to PHP 50,000 grant for families of players with good character who qualifies in any official tournament of the AcadArena. The PHINMA University of Pangasinan (UPang) Supreme Student Council (SSC) hosted a Mobile Legends (ML) tournament as a part of the first week hi for the first semester academic year 2020-2021. The College of Social Sciences (CSS), College of Health Sciences (CHS), College of Engineering and Architecture (CEA), and College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) as well played the corresponding game as a part of their college festival celebrations. Meanwhile, the College of Information Technology Education (CITE) did not only call the shots for ML but also managed additional game tournaments such as League of Legends (LoL) and Call of Duty (CoD) Mobile. The winning teams received their respective incentives after the contests. The electronic sports fever continues to persuade the competitiveness of Filipinos, where the majority are students. Hence, we can say that they are the real-life avatars and school uniform is the next big skin.
Philippines’s 1st Athletic League team up with the most watched channel in the country Christian R. Hulipas
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) aims to team up with GMA News in order to broadcast the league’s centennial season in 2024 until 2026 which is composed of basketball, volleyball, swimming, and athletic competitions nationwide and will be shown through GMA News TV and its various websites. This allowed the students to gain more enthusiasm when it comes to sports which were expressed by the Letran Rector Rev. Fr. Clarence V. Marquez, O.P. GMA Network was honoured to be collaborating with NCAA which is the oldest athletic association in the Philippines. GMA Network Chairman and CEO Felipe L. Gozon said that they were excited that GMA Network is the new home of the NCAA. At the same time and at the same time grateful to the NCAA board for putting their trust in GMA to serve as a platform in showcasing the talented Filipino student athletes.” The NCAA is said to be broadcasted on GMA, but won’t be the first time for the network to host a sporting event. The plan to encourage student-athletes to look forward and move towards to becoming the next champions who will bring honour and pride for the country as their motto say: “Kaisa sa pagkakaiba”, which encourages student athletes to show sportsmanship despite the fact we are facing the pandemic which prevents them to participate out of fear, but fear will not keep them down, for honour and pride.