HEALTH Shades of

BY: NICOLE ANGELENE M. PANALIGAN

it screams shame and even regrets.

The cycle never ends. The law did not stop the suffering, because many escaped from its watch, but there is no escape once you enter its premises. Some fraternities involved threats toward the members, which left them with bothered minds and disturbed souls. Some may have made their own choices, but regret chased them at the end. Choices can be a danger to one’s tomorrow, as they can backfire with bullets of consequences.

Cases after cases, cries after cries. Families of the victims of hazing were left unanswered for the way their children have suffered. How can a blow of a paddle instill discipline if it paralyzes almost half of the body of the person it was directed to? How can pain strengthen brotherhood if it weakens the emotional stability of members?

Every second that victims were able to endure is beyond excruciating. The actual reason for the conduct of the crime is still a mystery, but the impact is evident up to this day forward. Respect will never be gained, rather, fear will arise and superiority will run the group, therefore, equality will just be a myth. the pandemic, the festival also is the start of a brand new semester.

Loyalty and discipline can be instilled in various ways, without incorporating violence into people. If fraternities and sororities genuinely aim to help their members gain benefits and support from the group to strengthen their brotherhood or sisterhood, they should not find satisfaction with screams of pain and shame from their members, for it is already cruelty and evilness. Hazing is a manifestation of violence, not a validation of superiority, nor is it a light to loyalty and discipline, for it is a prison of pain and a shadow towards death.

From February 6 to 10, a week-long festival labeled “Org Fest” was held at the University of Batangas Millennium Campus dedicated to Senior High School students.

According to Stephanie Arteza, Vice President of the Senior High School Supreme Student Council, “We believe that a well-rounded education is not just about academic excellence but also encompasses a student’s overall development. Therefore, hosting an Organization Fest was an excellent way to encourage students to explore their interests, passions, and hobbies outside the classroom,” proper health protocols by requiring all participating contestants to wear personal protective equipment such as apron, hand gloves, hairnet, and face masks.”

This week-long event serves as the opener after the semestraSpearl break, providing students time to adjust and set their minds before officially attending class and learning through in-person discussions.

“By taking a break from academic work and participating in extracurricular activities, students are better able to manage their stress levels, improve their mental health, and develop critical life skills such as teamwork, leadership, and communication,” Arteza added.

Not only did the organizations arrange contests regarding their respective fields, but also booths providing foods and beverages, games, karaoke, and shout-outs to give a dynamic and entertaining environment, as well as ensure that every student could enjoy.

On the other hand, as COVID-19 wreaked havoc, strict safety, and health precautions were implemented and should be observed. As a result, large-scale celebrations and parties are prohibited, particularly for those who are not practicing physical distancing and undergoing swab testing.

However, as the number of cases continues to decline and more people receive vaccines and become resistant to the virus, the Philippine setting is gradually returning to normal.

Healthy Proportions

When it comes to living a healthy lifestyle, healthy foods have a crucial function. As an organization that encourages healthy living, MEDISINA launched a plating contest entitled “OlymPlates: My Plate Guide Competition”.

As teenagers nowadays choose to consume junk foods and fast foods, MEDISINA aims to develop every student’s mindset of choosing to be healthy, especially amidst the pandemic.

Additionally, Ornales claimed, “Food is not only meant to be delicious and to be healthy but can also be a form of art. This plating contest involves healthy factors and creativity. A balanced mindset for students to have.”

The contest’s criterion comprises appeal, nutritional value, creativity, and time. Similar to “Pinggang Pinoy,” a visual tool that helps Filipinos develop good eating habits, the output plate must have calculated amounts of starch or carbohydrate source, meat or protein source, vegetable, fruit, and beverage or vitamins and mineral source to represent a healthy balanced meal.

KPOP Wave in Your Area

Moreover, among Filipinos, Korean culture is indisputably prevalent and highly regarded. Thus, its effect is widely evident, relevant, and appealing among Filipino youth.

Towards A Better Jeepney Journey

BY: BRET MICHAEL R. DIMATATAC

Vividly seen in the years when humanity has tried to remold the planet into its much more efficient, technological, and advanced form, not everything is about the glitz and glamor it provides, but also the concerning issue of people being left behind in terms of modernization. What floats on the same boat is the program that sparked attention of the general public – the Public Utility Modernization Program (PUVMP), which may really sound promising, at least for some.

Jeepneys have long been a symbol of ingenuity of the Filipino people, and everyone knows pretty well that the fourwheeled wonder is already embedded in the culture, deep enough that no one could get it off the road no matter how old-fashioned it already is. But with the desperate need to step up the game and enhance the travel experience with avant-garde wheels, jeepney drivers are trapped in a dilemma in which so far the only solution they are left with is acceptance.

Dethroning the King

Like any of the kings and queens of the most popular fairy tales, traditional jeepneys have their own tale to tell, as they have once been dubbed as the “Undisputed King of the Road” in the context of Philippine History. With its clearly distinguishable feature of a bulky box embellished with vibrant designs, there’s no doubt that every Filipino has embraced it as part of their daily living, satisfying their needs for transportation.

However, after decades of service in the busiest roads of both cities and rural areas, it is obvious that the time has come for traditional jeepneys to step down from the throne and be replaced with a modernized copy of its own, as they are already lagging behind in terms of safety and being environmentally-friendly.

Facing the Roadblocks

All of the organizations of the different strands including the Supreme Student Council, AESA of STEM-Engineering, Medisina of STEM-Allied Health, FEAC of ABM, HUMSS Republic of HUMSS, TECHS of TVL, The Art Guild of AAD and GAS, as well as clubs like Arts & Camera Club, Sports Club, ACES, and TAHAS collaborated to put this event into triumph. Every organization has a position to fill in the festival, offering events and contests linked to their areas of expertise.

Semester Opener

While this event is the first time in UBSHS since

It is a huge challenge, especially for the SHS department organizations to conduct an event that every student will be able to participate in and enjoy without putting their health at risk.

In an interview, MEDISINA Organization Vice President Hanz Ornales stated that there is a major shift; nonetheless, he assured that the said organization adequately informed the participants about the health protocols in the contest area as well as what to expect from the contests.

Niña Flores, an ABM student who participated in one of the contests of the said organization supported this claim stating “MEDISINA observed

BY: BRET MICHAEL R. DIMATATAC

In an effort to foster safety among humanity, CEO Denis Reyes spearheaded the creation of the ‘Bring-Me-Home’ wristband, a silicone bracelet aimed at lowering the number of missing people and help locate lost loved ones.

Considering that students, as well as the elderly and disabled people are most vulnerable to getting lost, the said wristband which features NFC (near-field communication) and offers a user-focused device with mobile application was created to track missing loved ones conveniently and give an undertaking that they will return to their own respective homes.

Due to its immense popularity and demand, MEDISINA took advantage of this and started “Dreamers Got The Beat” - a K-pop dance competition with the said organization’s goal of developing and showcasing students’ skills, talents, and capabilities.

“Kpop has always been my interest — and upon hearing the cover competition spearheaded by MEDISINA, it sparked my inner K-pop fangirl and I joined out of enjoyment.” Shania Gamara, one of the ABM students who were hailed champions of the competition said.

Consequently, the competition not only improves physical health but also enables students to become mentally motivated to build connections through teamwork and dedication.

BY: CASSANDRA ALEXIE C. LOPEZ

To further boost the effectiveness of antibiotics, a team of Filipino scientists is currently working on a potential beta-lactamase inhibitor using marine bacteria to block potential issues of antibiotic-resistance.

“Ang beta-lactamase inhibitor na nadiskubri ni Dr. Julius Adam Lopez ay ginagamit sa pagtimpla ng antibiotics upang masiguro na hindi mababawasan ang pagiging epektibo sa iinom nito. (The beta-lactamase inhibitor discovered by Dr. Julius Adam Lopez will be used in the antibiotics mixture to ensure that its effectiveness will not decrease),” said DOST Undersecretary Leah Buendia.

Following the nationwide transport strike which was spearheaded by different transport groups in the country such as Manibela and PISTON, it was on March 6 to 7, 2023 when sentiments and cries of protest from thousands of drivers echoed along roadsides of the Metropolitan Manila. Needless to say, jeepney drivers weren’t screaming their lungs out to invalidate the attempts of the government in producing newer jeepneys that could curb the problem of pollution due to the amount of smoke belched into the air and the poor maintenance that remains as an inconvenience to passengers, but instead, they were bringing social justice into the picture as the real roadblocks, considering that majority of jeepney drivers can’t afford to invest in modernization that the country opts to push through. As for them, the initiative is anti-poor, considering the situations that drivers went through after a long period of lockdowns which was the root cause of continual recession.

Better Travels Ahead

Denigrating jeepney drivers would do no good, and what should be done instead is leaning towards feasible solutions that would not leave anyone’s future at stake. An example would be the Association of Committed Transport Organizations Nationwide Corp. ‘s (Actona) prototype of a modern jeepney alternative which sustains the traditional look and is roughly 1.1 m cheaper than what the government planned to deploy.

In scenes of crafting solutions for sustainable development, no one should ever be left behind. While it is true that modernization holds nothing but an opportunity for a drastic change, it should be reachable enough for people of diversified backgrounds. The attempt for modernization can’t be achieved in a snap of a finger, and the government can’t just coerce jeepney drivers into scrapping off the usual and eventually acquiring the new ones without the proper resources needed. Indeed, going to such lengths in order to embrace advancements in public transportation should begin with empathy for the people behind the wheels.