UBAT RETURNS AFTER PURE ONLINE CLASSES

BY: HANNAH YOCHABEL F. SUDE

The University of Batangas (UB) reinstates the UB Admission Test (UBAT) with the return of face-to-face classes after being waived for two school years due to health and safety protocols amidst COVID-19.

During the online distance learning mode when COVID-19 was spreading like wildfire worldwide, students at that time entered the university through online enrollment which doesn’t require them to take the UBAT since during the past online semesters, UBAT was still waived.

“So we suspended or we waived the UBAT for I think two years, two school years because of the pandemic, because of the safety of our enrollees, we try na isaalangalang pa rin yung kanilang safety but during this school year we decided to get it back, maibalik yung UBAT,”

Giselle Anne E. Manansala, a registered psychometrician and the University of Batangas Junior High School Assistant Guidance Counselor said.

University of Batangas (UB) is welcoming new students this school year 2022-2023 and the university is ready for their new journey with the new students who want to enjoy their school life with the UB family.

For the JHS students, UBAT is held usually at 9 a.m. on Thursdays and Fridays at the Counselling and Psychological Wellness Center, Room G-202, Catapang Hall, University of Batangas Main Campus, Batangas City.

Meanwhile, Senior High School admission tests are conducted every Friday at the UB Millenium Campus.

According to Giselle Manansala, the

According to the Department of Energy (DOE), net price adjustments for this year have resulted in an increase of 5.70 pesos per liter for gasoline, a reduction of 0.90 pesos per liter for diesel, and a decrease of 1.05 pesos per liter for kerosene.

DOE Director Rodela Romero confirmed the probable oil price hike because of Russia’s plan to deepen oil production cuts. She added that it could be also “due to a sign of a strong economic rebound of top crude importer, China; and easing worries of aggressive US interest rate increases.” Meanwhile, students prepare their pockets for the worst outcome.

Chevron Philippines Inc. (Caltex), Flying V, Petron Corp., Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., and Seaoil Philippines Ltd. all said in separate advisories that they will increase gasoline prices per liter by P1.00 while lowering those for diesel and kerosene by P0.10 and P0.60, respectively.

Except for kerosene which they do not carry, Cleanfuel, Petro Gazz, Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc., and Unioil Petroleum Philippines Inc. adopted the same modifications.

The changes took effect at 6 a.m. except for Caltex, which altered prices at 12:01 a.m., and Cleanfuel, which did so at 4:01 p.m. on the same day; Tuesday, March 14, 2023. For the week, no similar announcements have yet been made by other businesses.

As of March 7, 2023, the most recent data from DOE show net increases of P5.70 per liter for gasoline and net declines of P0.90 and P1.05 per liter for diesel and kerosene, respectively. Businesses raised the cost of gasoline, diesel, and kerosene by P0.40, P1.50, and P1.25, respectively.

“Nakakapanibago na tumaas na yung multa sa jeep. Noon kasi mga eight to 15 pesos lang, tapos ngayon ay 10 pesos na ang minimum kaya malaki rin nababawas nito sa baon namin. Medyo mahirap na ngayong pagkasiyahin lalo na para sa mga katulad naming estudyante. Syempre pagtaas ng oil, tumataas din yung pamasahe kaya naaapektuhan din budget namin. Pero personally, I don’t mind kung piso yung itataas since nakakaawa rin yung drivers na naghahanapbuhay at gustong kumita nang malaki,” Angel Brent Noble, a grade 10 student said regarding the issue.

Even though the oil price hike undeniably burdens the students financially, Angel added that, like other students, her heart goes to the public transport drivers considering that they are in the process of recovery after COVID-19.

Moreover, a grade 9 student and a daughter of a jeepney driver, Sofia Gonzales, also shared her sentiments their financial difficulties; “Sa pagtaas ng gasolina tumataas na rin ang mga bilihin. Malaki ang epekto ng pagtaas ng gasolina sa pamilya namin, sa aking sarili at lalong-lalo pati na rin sa aking father, since siya ay isang jeepney driver.” ongoing return of the UBAT is going well with more than 10 examinees in the number of examinees in the Junior High School department.

“So basically, the admission test is a school ability test which aims to measure all the cognitive and verbal, non-verbal abilities of a child, of a pupil if fitted siya dun sa academic environment na meron ang UB,” she added.

After the online classes ended, Manansala together with the admission office initiated a proposal on how to make the UBAT online application smoother, seamless, and user-friendly in anticipation of the return of the admission tests.

With this achievement, the school started a more standardized campaign in order for the students to read more books and pass more quizzes, the school encouraged its students to do these during their homeroom period, specifically in places with stable internet connections like the computer laboratory and Learning Resource Center (LRC) which the school administrators referred to as Dear and Share.

“Aside from their free time at home, they still have the chance to read books and answer the Lit Pro quizzes even inside the campus,” Mrs. Jeanelin M. Punzalan, the head of the English department said.

Every student is required to read and pass the quiz of at least 20 books for the second quarter, 25 for the third quarter, and 40 for the last quarter respectively, summing up to 85 books read and quizzes passed for every student for the entire school year since this is also part of their grade in English subject.

“I think, if the struggling students will just use and manage their time wisely, they will surely have ample time to read and answer the book quizzes in as much and the book quizzes are available and accessible online, anytime and anywhere,” Mrs. Punzalan added.

Last 2021, the class of Fr. Vicente Catapang had the highest total of books read and quizzes passed which summed up to 4,337, with an average of 106 per student.