Thomasian Engineer Newsletter Volume 7 Issue No. 2 - A.Y. 2021-2022

THOMASIAN ENGINEER Volume VII, Issue No. 2 • FEBRUARY to JUNE 2022

THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION

OF THE FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS

B E U P D AT E D W I T H T H E L AT E S T N E W S

NEWS p.3 NEWS p.3 UST Eng’g UST Former Dean Eng’g Former Dean Prof. Marcelo becomes Prof.

MarceloPRC becomes PRC 2021 Outstanding Professional 2021 Outstanding Professional in Chemical Eng’g in Chemical Eng’g

TECHNICAL p.12 p.12 TECHNICAL

FEATURES p.10 p.10 FEATURES

FEATURES

Sigua presents CNN CNN Sigua presents To thedevelopment generations development thesis thesis onwhoon say Gen Z is too angry PHL Virtual NAST NAST PHL Virtual and pa-woke Paper Presentation Paper Presentation PAGE 11

UST UST Through Through the Eyesthe of Eyes of a Promdi a Promdi

TECHNICAL THE GREEN NEW DEAL How Cities Can Turn 100% Renewable PAGE 13

UST CONDUCTS FIRST

BACCALAUREATE MASS & SOLEMN INVESTITURE AFTER TWO YEARS

LITERARY

LAYOUT BY : Reinehard Aytona

I am Fresh

PHOTOS BY : Jeremy Edera, Aubrey Mae Maula, and Szarina dela Paz

PAGE 8

UST FACULTY OF ENGINEERING SOLEMN INVESTITURE UST FACULTY OF ENGINEERING WRITTEN BY : Justine Keith Moises, Mark Rafael Santos, Doroteo Prudenciano II

AGEARS GEARS FOR LIMITED UPUP FOR LIMITED FACE-TO-FACE CLASSES FACE-TO-FACE CLASSES T T

fter two years of the pandemic, the University of Santo “The challenge for us is how we hold on to these values. How Tomas (UST) hosted a two-day face-to-face baccalaureate The long wait was over for the Thomasian graduates to can we remain incorruptible and driven by goodness? How can mass, welcoming graduates from Batch 2020, Batch 2021, march in the Quadricentennial Pavilion after the university ad- we push back when we see popularity being chosen over qualifiand Batch 2022, last June 3-4, 2022, at the UST Grandstand, also ministered a two-day face-to-face Solemn Investiture last June cations, blatant lies being paraded as the truth, and the erasure broadcast via Facebook Live.

6 and 7, for Batches 2020 and 2021, and Batch 2022, respectively. of goodness altogether?” Aldave mentioned.

PHOTO BY: toA prayer opened the celebration, followed by the introducOn the second day, two Summa Cum Laudes graduated The first day of the solemn investiture catered 965 graduates MUNGCAL tion of Academic Units with flag bearers along with the Philip- from Batch 2020 and 76 graduates from Batch 2021. gether with 834 students from BatchCHRISTIAN 2022.

PHOTO BY: pine Flag and the UST Flag.

Rank two of UST Engineering Batch 2022 and Chemical EnEngr. Aerol Cedrick Z. Treyes, Magna Cum Laude from the CHRISTIAN MUNGCAL Very Rev. Fr. Filemon I. dela Jr., OP,DELA Vice-Chancellor, Civil Engineering department, delivered the Address of Petition, gineering sole Summa Cum Laude, Leanna D. Bautista, delivered WRITTEN BY:Cruz, SZARINA PAZ University of Santo Tomas and Prior Provincial of the Dominican emphasizing the vitality of the university’s 3 C’s: competence, the Address of Petition followed by 2nd the Address of Concession led sosurvey was sent out to to 4th year CE students WRITTEN SZARINA DELA over PAZthe mass on the first commitment, and compassion. liciting their opinions and other concerns regarding the Province of theBY: Philippines, presided by Academician Professor Maribel G. Nonato, Ph.D.. he UST Faculty of Engineering intends to imple- for non-medicine programs, including engineering,survey follow-was sent out to 2nd to 4th year CE students soplanned implementation. day for the Classes of 2020 ment and 2021, while Very Rev. Fr. Richard “Graduating Batch 2022, you are very special.

You have a lot “Let us thank our past for we turn out to be strong and interclasses their opinions and other concerns regarding the limited face-to-face classes by the first quar- ing the successful execution of limited face-to-faceliciting Department Chair Engr. Edison A. Roxas, PhD, PECE, he UST Faculty ofUniversity Engineering intends implefor non-medicine programs, including engineering, followG. Ang, OP, Ph.D., Rector of the of Santo Tomas, led the of first. You ECE are the first cohort of Senior High School graduates esting people. Let our happiness be a function of contentment, ter of 2022 after nearly twotoyears of virtual learnfor medicine programs. planned implementation. narrated that the department released a survey reporting limited face-to-face classes by the first quaring the successful execution of limited face-to-face classes mass on thement second day for the Class of 2022. from the implementation of the K to 12 in the country…

You are let us continue to search for answers, and be open for what may ing. Each of the faculty’s departments have prepared plans “Consultative meetings with students and academic ECEthe Department Chair Engr.

Edison Roxas,education PhD, PECE, thecohort health and wellness of theA.academic staff, support ter of 2022 nearly of two virtual learn- lie forahead medicine The blessing and imposition theyears Thomasian Mission also first under the outcomes-based curric-staff, of us,”programs.

Treyes for after the implementation ofoflimited face-to-face classes: staff arestated. continuously done by each departmentnarrated and by that department released survey reporting ECEthe students their families.

Thisthe survey Cross theofrecital of the Thomasian pledge of Civil loyalty were fa- (CE),“Consultative ulum aligned with K to and 12. And the first agroup, first was timeupdated the ing.and Each the faculty’s departments have prepared plans meetings with students and academic Awarding the of Faculty academic medals, loyalty medals, and the both Chemical Engineering (ChE), Engineering Electriof Engineering in general, given constantly the health and wellness of the academic staff, support staff, to include questions about their vaccination status and cilitated following the Holy Eucharist. university resumed face-to-face graduation,” Nonato said. for the implementation of limited face-to-face classes: staff are continuously done by each department and by individual group awards were also followed UST Faccal Engineering (EE), Electronics Engineering (ECE), Indus-andchanging policies from theadministered National Government,” ECE students and their This survey wastoupdated comments (including possible face-toLumina Pandit, the Engineering Ceremony of(IE), Light, the singing of by The conferment offamilies. degreestheir andwillingness) presentation of academic Chemical Engineering (ChE), Civil Engineering (CE), Electrithe Faculty ofulty Engineering in general, constantly the reciting of the pledge, led bythe Engr.

Giorgio trial andand Mechanical Engineering (ME). of Thomasian Engineering Actinggiven Dean, Prof.

Angelo ArR. dela Cruz, includeloyalty questions about their vaccination face classes upon incoming the Engineering UST Hymn were done afterward. medals, andthe individual orterm. groupstatus specialand awards cal (EE), Electronics Engineering Indus- onmand changing policies from the National Government,” UST Laude.

Fac- tomedals, B. EdRobel, BS Civil Engineering graduate, Magna Cum This is in accordance with the(ECE), Commission Higher PhD, PECE, stated. comments (including their willingness) to possible face-toThe event concluded with the recessional walk were also administered. trial Engineering (IE), and Mechanical Engineering (ME). ulty of Engineering Acting Dean, Prof.

Angelo R. dela Cruz, ucation (CHED)’s memorandum that gave a go signalConcluding to edAs for department’s plans, CE Department Chair the firsteach day was the Address of Thanks

by UST face classes the incoming term. Lindsay FACE-TO-FACE → PAGE 4 For theupon individual special awards, Odyssey L. Timbre through the Arch of the This is in accordance with the Centuries.

Commission Higher Ed- Engineering PhD,classes PECE, stated. ucational institutions to hold on limited face-to-face Engr.2020 Rajiv Valedictorian Eldon E. Abdullah, MEngg, 2021 said that Batch and October Che-an online A total of 10, 480 candidates for to graducation (CHED)’s memorandum that gave a go signal ed- mical As Engineering for each department’s plans, CE Joshua Department Chair Boards top eight, Engr.

S. Aldave, Mag- (B.S. Chemical Engineering), Kryzha Lei P. Aguilar (B.S. ElectronFACE-TO-FACE → PAGE 4 ics Engineering), Krizia Mile Joy B. Yu (B.S. Industrial Engineerattended celebration.classes na ucational institutionsuation to hold limitedthe face-to-face Engr.

Eldon E. Abdullah, MEngg, said that an online CumRajiv Laude. ing) were the recipients of the Quezon Leadership Award (College Level) in recognition of their ability to lead and organize activities which have substantially contributed to the welfare of the university.

On the other hand, the UST Engineering Student Council (UST ESC), UST Chemical Engineering Society (UST ChES), UST Industrial Engineering Circle (UST IEC), and WRITTEN BY: CARL TRISTAN GILE Operations Research Society of the Philippines - UST rofessors and alumni researchers from the Faculty of team’s adviser, Assoc. Prof. Carlos Ignacio P. Lugay, Jr, PhD, PIE, Chapter (ORSP UST) were conferred with Saint DomiWRITTEN BY: CARL TRISTAN GILE nic De Guzman Award (College Level).

ASEAN Eng., presented said research.

Engineering were recognized in the Nagoya City University WRITTEN BY : Doroteo Prudenciano II and Yitzhak Osei the Bumanlag (NCU) Contact Points in Asia Symposium held virtually last Meanwhile, the study, entitled “Establishing a Procurement Prof. Carlos Ignacio P. Lugay, Jr, PhD, PIE, rofessors and alumni researchers the Faculty of team’s adviser, Assoc.

August 25 to 26, 2021. by from onferred the Commission on ASEAN The twelve otherinprograms included in the list ofCenters COEs are: Model Philippine Barangay Health using Integer Eng., presented the said research.

Engineering were recognized in the Nagoya City University Linear Programming” by IE alumni Glenn Gerald Castañeda, The symposium, with the theme “Think about SDGs Designing Higher Education (CHED), UniversiBiology (College of Science), Nursing (College of Nursing), Chem(NCU) Contact Points in Asia Symposium held virtually last Meanwhile, the study, entitled “Establishing a Management Procurement Marella Cueto,and Clara Franchesca Mendoza, and Angeline Healthy showcased topics istry (CollegeKeziah of Science), Hotel Restaurant ty of Work SantoEnvironment,” Tomas (UST) was awardedvarious Qualityresearch WRITTEN BY: DOROTEO PRUDENCIANO II August 25 to 26, 2021.

Model Barangay Centers using Integer Nicoleand Regalado, wasHealth presented by their adviser, Engr. Gabriel C. related to the “Hub for Work Environment NCU.inof Philippine (College Tourism Hospitality Management), Medical TechExcellence for Chemical Engineering,Design” as wellof the AND JUSTINE KEITH MOISES IE and alumni Gerald The symposium, with the theme “Think about SDGs - Designing Linear Programming” Bucu, CIE,byAAE, won Glenn fourth place forCastañeda, the Excellence Poster nology two (Faculty of Pharmacy), Medicine (Faculty of Medicine as twelve otherEngineering programs from facultiesexhibited The Industrial (IE) other Department Cueto, Clara Franchesca Mendoza, and Angeline Healthy Work Environment,” showcased various research topics Keziah MarellaAward.

WRITTEN BY: DOROTEO PRUDENCIANO II studies incolleges the event. in the university, and Surgery), Music of Music), Pharmacy Regalado, was (Conservatory presented their adviser, Gabriel C.Engineering related to the “Hub forand Work Environment Design” ofdesignated the NCU. as Nicole he JUSTINE annual Engineering Recruitment Fair once again AND KEITH MOISES Engr.

Angelito A.by Silverio, PhD of Engr. the Electronics Centers of Excellence (COEs) on May 18, 2022.

(Faculty of Pharmacy), Philosophy (Faculty of Arts and Winning the Excellence Poster Award (Audience Choice) kicked off as different organizations from the Faculty Bucu, CIE, AAE, andDepartment, won fourth also placeparticipated for the Excellence Postersession and (ECE) in the poster The Industrialis Engineering exhibited twoon the Letters), Psychology (College of Science), Teacher EdAs per(IE) the Department notification letter addressed the research, entitled “A Comparative Study Human of Engineering highlighted the one-week fair with their Award. garnered second place the Best(ColPoster Award. studies in the event. to theand UST Chancellor, Very Rev.Mung Fr. Bean ucation (College of Education), and in Tourism preference theGrand Nutritional Value between Chips promotional videos and posters Fair fromonce September he annual Engineering Recruitment again 23 to 30, Engr.

Angelitoand A. Silverio, PhD of the Electronics Engineering Common Commercial Snack Food” bySThLIE alumni Adonis Gerard Francisco P. Timoner III, O.P., lege of Tourism Hospitality Management).

2021.

Winning the and Excellence Poster Award (Audience Choice) kicked off as different organizations from the Faculty ASIAin SYMPOSIUM AWARDS→ (ECE) Department, participated the poster session and PAGE 4 David Lorenz Dometita, Fredric Ericson The led by also is the research, Clet, entitled Comparative Study on Go, theand Human MA,“A the award was given to the programs for Niones.

CHED, Chairman J. Prospero de of Engineering the one-week fair Engineering with their Student Thehighlighted fair was organized by the UST garnered second place in the Best Poster Award. preference and the Nutritional Value between Mung Bean Chips their “valuable contributions in uplifting Vera IV, gave the award to nine Philippine promotional videos(UST-ESC) and posters September to 30, program Council andfrom started with an 23 opening and Common Commercial Snack

by IEquality alumni 2021. and Food” sustaining andAdonis excel- Higher Education ASIA Institutions.

In the presenting the 16 interest and mother organizations in the SYMPOSIUM AWARDS→ PAGE 4 Clet, David Lorenz Dometita, Fredric and Ericson Niones.

The lenceGo, in higher education in their country, UST placed third among uniFaculty of Engineering, andEngineering their respective presidents last The fair was organized by the UST Student Filipinos are known September 23,started via Facebook Live.

EDITORIAL p.5 with the highest number of respective programs, disciplines, versities Council (UST-ESC) and with an opening program fanatics. Be it in the and areas of responsibility.” programs identified as Centers of Association of Civil Engineering presenting theUST 16 interest and mother organizations in the Students context of popular artCHED Executive Director IV Excellence.

(ACES), USTand Chemical Engineering Society last (ChES), UST Faculty of Engineering, their respective presidents ists,known musicians, or even September Mechanical Filipinos are Atty. Cinderella Filipina S. On p.5 behalf of UST, Engineering Club (MEC), UST Electrical 23, via Facebook Live.

EDITORIAL groups; we surely have Engineering Circuit (EEC), UST Industrial Engineering fanatics. Be it in the Benitez-Jaro signed the Vice-Rector for Academic UST Association Civil Engineering Students a fair share Circle (IEC),ofUST Network of Electronics Engineering context of popular art- of admira- (ACES), UST Affairs Cheryl R. Peralletter.

Chemical Engineering Society (ChES), UST Chorale tion for something or Students (NECES), UST One Voice Engineering ists, musicians, or even ta, DrPH, and SecreEngineering (MEC), someone deeply rooted Mechanical(OV), Thomasian Club Engineer (TE), UST Electrical tary-General Fr. Lougroups; we surely have in Pinoy culture. Engineering Circuit (EEC), UST Industrial Engineering ie R. Coronel, O.P., a fair share of admiraCircle (IEC), UST Network of Electronics Engineering REC WEEK→ PAGE 4 EHL, received tion for something or Students (NECES), UST One Voice Engineering Chorale the recognisomeone deeply rooted (OV), Thomasian Engineer (TE), tion. in Pinoy culture.

REC WEEK→ PAGE 4

Thomasian Engineer Researchers Thomasian Engineer Researchers Bag Awards in Asia Symposium Bag Awards in Asia Symposium P

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Engineering Engineering Recruitment Fair Recruitment Fair Opens, Seeks New Opens, Seeks New Members Members T

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Fanaticism: The cyclical root Fanaticism: of regression The cyclical root of regression

UST CONDUCTS FIRST BACCALAUREATE MASS & SOLEMN INVESTITURE AFTER TWO YEARS WRITTEN BY : Justine Keith Moises, Mark Rafael Santos, Doroteo Prudenciano II

▶▶

FROM PAGE 1

Uraina Uriah F. Tabago, BS ChE, Magna Cum Laude, rank three of UST Eng’g Batch ‘22 led the Thomasian pledge, while the Engineering Batch Valedictorian, Engr. Jerwin Clyde G. Alvarez (BS ME, Summa Cum Laude) gave his Address of Thanks.

“It is an honor to speak in front of you as we celebrate the fruits of our efforts and hard work during our entire stay here at the university as Thomasian Engineering students,” Alvarez said.

“Consequently, we are again about to close one chapter of our lives and open a new one bringing us back again to the starting position where we shall work our way up in the industry as future engineers. With this, I wish to remind you that you make your own choices, and choose what will make you happy and fulfilled…And as they say, welcome to the real world,” he concluded.

Both two days of the Solemn Investiture followed this arrangement of the procession: the candidates with their parents, from Civil Engineering (CE), Chemical Engineering (ChE), Mechanical Engineering (ME), Electrical Engineering (EE), Electronics Engineering (ECE), Industrial Engineering (IE), candidates with Latin Honors and Loyalty Medal Awards, the Top 3 of the batch, Members of the Support Staff, Members of the Faculty, Program Chairs, Former Deans, Members of the Faculty Council, UST President of the Engineering Alumni Association Incorporated (UST EAAI) Engr. Jason L. Ong, and the Presiding Official, Academician Professor Maribel G. Nonato, Ph.D. For all the batches, Academician Professor Maribel G. Nonato, Ph.D., conferred the degrees to all the candidates through the Address of Concession, while, Acting Dean Prof.

Angelo R. Dela Cruz Ph.D. presented all the graduates.

An induction of graduates to the UST Engineering Alumni Association, Inc. was also conducted, headed by Engr. Jason L. Ong, UST EAAI President.

PHOTO BY : Jeremy Edera and Aubrey Mae Maula

PHOTO BY : Jayvee Fulgencio [LEFT] PHOTO COURTESY OF : UST ChE Dept. Fb page [RIGHT]

Limited Face-to-Face Audit Classes for the Graduating Class of 2022 WRITTEN BY : Mary Andrew Dalogdog and Carl Christian Calderon Five departments from the Faculty of Engineering conducted their limited face-to-face audit classes, from the end of May to July 2022, as supplementary learning to the online setup mode implemented by the university for the past two years.

Following the memorandum (ME34) issued last April 11, 2022, and approved by the faculty’s Acting Dean Prof. Angelo R. dela Cruz, Ph.D., PECE, classes were scheduled after the final examinations of graduating students. Dates varied depending on the respective programs: May 25 to 30 for Industrial Engineering (IE), May 26 to June 1 for Electronics Engineering (ECE), May 30 to July 2 for Civil Engineering (CE), May 25 to June 2 for Chemical Engineering (ChE), and July 6 to July 14 for Mechanical Engineering (ME).

Various courses were implemented through actual experimentation during scheduled laboratory classes for the aforementioned departments: Industrial Engineering Design Project (IE25213); ECE Seminars, Colloquia, and Integration (ECE21136); Civil Engineering Project 3 (CE2230); Chemical Engineering Integration Course (CHE2139); and Mechanical Engineering Laboratory 3 (ME2634).

Additional courses were also included depending on the own discretion of each department. To ensure safe face-to-face classes and maximize learning for the students, selected faculty members supervised and facilitated these courses.

Asst. Prof. Nelson M. Pasamonte, PME, MS, ASEAN Engr, FPSME, chairperson of the Mechanical Engineering department, included Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory, and Mechanical Engineering Laboratory 2 to give students a chance to perform actual experimentation.

Guided by the requirements of limited face-to-face classes provided by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), several preparations were made by the faculty members and academic staff of each department, such as the accomplishment of the Self Assessment Checklists (SAC).

For the Electronics Engineering department, the implementation of the actual audit classes was held in HyFlex mode (Hybrid-Flexible) wherein students had the freedom to either attend or not. With the said mode, the final standing of students in ECE21136 who were unable to attend was not affected by these

UST Faculty of Engineering Improves Course Inclusion of Limited Face-to-Face Classes

UST RECEIVES

SAFETY SEAL FROM CHED

WRITTEN BY : Szarina dela Paz Following the limited face-to-face audit classes implemented by the UST Faculty of Engineering in the second term of A.Y. 20212022, the faculty intends to conduct limited face-to-face classes for the upcoming academic year. All engineering departments, including Chemical Engineering (ChE), Civil Engineering (CE), Electrical Engineering (EE), Electronics Engineering (ECE), Industrial Engineering (IE), and Mechanical Engineering (ME), have developed plans in preparation for in-person classes.

Strategies that were carried out last academic year for limited face-to-face classes, such as retrofitting of laboratory rooms and the Roque Ruaño Building, foot traffic, zonal division, signage, installation of stanchions, proper ventilation, and cyclical cohorting, will be continuously implemented.

A part of the minimum requirements of the university’s Office of the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs (OVRAA) is proper class size and cohorting schedule, which allow easy contact tracing in case of infections. The Local Crisis Management Committee (LCMC), an engineering-wide committee composed of administration members and support staff, made sure that the minimum health standards are implemented.

As for the courses that will hold in-person classes, all departments will prioritize the courses listed in the Commission of Higher Education (CHED) Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 19 series of 2021 as per Prof. Angelo R. dela Cruz, PhD, PECE, UST Faculty of Engineering Acting Dean. Additionally, the learning outcomes of the course will determine the need to conduct in-person classes. If the learning outcome can be achieved through Enriched Virtual Mode (EVM), then it will be held online.

This incoming academic year, “although lecture classes will be done through EVM, to guarantee the integrity of assessments, prelim and final exams will most likely have in-person proctored

laboratory classes, as per the department’s chairperson, Asst. Prof.

Edison A. Roxas, PhD, PECE. Though these courses were provided as non-compulsory, graduate students of Batch 2022 felt relieved and excited with the approval of audit classes.

“Labs and even some lectures in the online setting are incomparable to the actual experience,” Leanna Bautista, a graduate of the Chemical Engineering department, said in an interview with Thomasian Engineer.

“Upon hearing it, I felt really excited because, after a long time of just sitting in front of our own laptops at home, we can finally experience what it’s like to be more engaged with our professors, classmates, schoolmates, and friends,” Marie Bacani, a graduate of the Industrial Engineering department, also added.

Students like Winchester Baluyot, a graduate of the Electronics Engineering department, may have had the same sentiments of adjusting to face-to-face classes as it was unfamiliar compared with online classes.

Nevertheless, may it be with their fellow classmates, their faculty supervisors, or with the experience gained during experiments, each student surely made memories in the short period allotted for the lab courses.

“One memory that sticks out was when my lab-mates and I accidentally let the packed column flood to the point that water was coming out of the top. We were a mess of laughter and stress all at once,” Ms. Bautista expressed.

Valerie Lee, a graduate of the Mechanical Engineering department, also had her share of experience during the last week of classes where they were given the chance to operate any choice of laboratory equipment under the supervision of their instructors.

Mikael Alfonso, a graduate of the Civil Engineering department, were beyond thankful for the efforts and preparations made by the department, as she described each day of audit classes as a “memory to be treasured.”

Face-to-face classes, however, were postponed to a later date of July 25 to 28, 2022 for the Electrical Engineering department, as told by their chairperson, Engr. Carlito M. Gutierrez, MSc, as initial survey results on the willingness of students showed that “the majority opted not to proceed due to various factors.”

examinations,” Prof. dela Cruz stated. This will be applicable to all year levels, whereas core engineering lecture courses will be prioritized.

Engr. Edison A. Roxas, PhD, PECE, ECE Department Chair, said that an ECE toolkit for every student in the higher years has been issued, but there is always a need to practice the students’ psychomotor skills and exposure to advanced laboratory equipment. In addition, Engr. Roxas stated that the department is continuously evaluating the needs and safety of all ECE students concerned and is prioritizing holding in-person classes for laboratory courses.

As for the CE department, Engr. Rajiv Eldon E. Abdullah, MEngg, respective chairperson, stated that all CE courses with experimental laboratories will be offering limited face-to-face classes. While ME department chair, Asst. Prof. Nelson M. Pasamonte, PME, ASEAN Eng., said that the department plans to implement mandatory hybrid classes for specific 2nd to 4th-year experimental courses by the first term of A.Y. 2022-2023. The ME department is currently awaiting the grant of their safety seal.

Engr. Cristina E. Tiangco, Ph.D., ChE Department chair, said that their department will hold limited face-to-face classes in September. Said classes for 4th years will be implemented through hybrid mode while 2nd and 3rd years will be held through Hybrid-flexible (HyFlex).

For long-term plans, gradual resumption of face-to-face classes was taken into account, but skill-based courses such as laboratory courses will be prioritized. The faculty aims to implement the HyFlex modality by the first half of 2023, which will allow students to have the option to attend either online or in-person classes that are held synchronously.

WRITTEN BY : Justine Keith R. Moises The University of Santo Tomas (UST) was awarded the Safety Seal by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on June 30, 2022, in recognition of its efforts in adhering to the COVID-19 minimum health standards as stated in CHED Memorandum Order No. 4, "Guidelines on the Safety Seal Certification Program for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).”

The certification presently applies to Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, and Electronics Engineering under the UST Faculty of Engineering (FoE). Additionally, 42 programs under 12 other academic units also received the Safety Seal.

The university continuously submits applications for the CHED Safety Seal for other tertiary programs. Meanwhile, academic programs intending to facilitate faceto-face classes were advised to comply with CHED-DOH Joint Memorandum Circular 2021-004, “Guidelines on the Implementation of Limited Face-to-Face Classes for All Programs of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Areas under Alert Level System for COVID-19 Response.”

FoE faculty members join the Asia Scientist and University Rankings 2022 WRITTEN BY : Justine Keith R. Moises Five faculty members from the Faculty of Engineering landed in the Asia Scientist and University Rankings 2022, along with 32 other Thomasian scientists, on January 29, 2022.

The acknowledged faculty members were Engr. Lyn Marie D. Corpuz, Ph.D., from the Chemical Engineering Department, Prof. Angelo R. dela Cruz, Ph.D., PECE, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Engr. Lorico D.S. Lapitan, Jr., Ph.D., Faculty of Engineering Chemistry Laboratory Supervisor, Prof. Maria Natalia R. Dimaano, Ph.D., from the Chemical Engineering Department, and Prof. Marilyn C. Mabini, Ph.D., ASEAN Engr. from the Industrial Engineering Department, ranking 22nd, 25th, 28th, 33rd, and 35th respectively.

The Asia Scientist and University Rankings is under the Alper-Doger (AD) Scientific Index spearheaded by Prof. Dr. Murat Alper (MD) and Associate Prof. Dr. Cihan Doger (MD) to rank and assess scientists from 14,120 universities and 215 countries based on their h-index, i10 index, g-index, m-index, the Erdös number, tori index, riq index, read-10 index, and citations in Google Scholar.

PHOTO BY : Aldea Mendoza

DOST budgets P3.2 million for iSULAT,

a university-headed project

Nearly Finished Dr. Tony Tan Caktiong Innovation Center WRITTEN BY : Yitzhak Osei Bumanlag

PHOTO COURTESY OF : FMO Director Fr. Dexter Austria, O.P.

After almost a year and a half of construction, the UST-Dr. Tony Tan Caktiong Innovation Center at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Santa Rosa, Laguna campus is about to be put into completion around June this year.

The Innovation Center, named after UST Chemical Engineering alumnus and founder of the fast-food chain Jollibee, Dr. Tony Tan Caktiong, is the first building on the university’s Laguna branch.

According to the Facilities Management Office (FMO) Director Fr. Dexter Austria, O.P, the building is around 97% completed. It had delays in its construction due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the safety and health protocols imposed. It is estimated to reach more than P100 million in terms of its construction cost, as mentioned by FMO Asst. Director Albert Surla.

The innovation hub will be the extension of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) - TomasINNO center, a Technology Business Incubator (TBI) that was launched at the UST Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, O.P. Building on November 15, 2019

ICCEE 2022 recognizes Samuel Tiongson as Best Presenter for SAR Paper on Masbate Earthquake WRITTEN BY : Szarina dela Paz Samuel Francisco A. Tiongson, a Thomasian 4th year Civil Engineering (CE) student, was recognized as “Best Presenter” in the 2nd International Conference on Civil and Environmental Engineering (ICCEE) 2022 held last January 6-7, 2022 in Malaysia via Zoom.

The paper entitled, “Mapping of Ground Surface Deformations and Associated Damage using SAR Interferometry: A Case Study of the 2020 Masbate Earthquake,” penned by Tiongson along with Engr. Ryan A. Ramirez, MSc, UST CE department faculty, revolved around the 6.6 magnitude earthquake that hit Masbate back in August 2020 and its substantial damage to the municipality. The Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology’s (DOST-PHIVOLCS) field survey in the area, which mapped the intensity of the earthquake, served as a baseline for the paper, validating its findings.

Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) is a technique that maps ground deformation through satellite images obtained from satellites orbiting the Earth. Specifically, in this study, data from the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), a satellite-based radar device mounted on the Sentinel-1 satellite conducted by the European Space Agency (ESA), was used. The data of said satellite is made available to the public via the open access hub found online.

“Using the data acquired from ESA’s satellite, using software and processing techniques—through processing that data, we

WRITTEN BY : Jose Miguel Ballecer and Doroteo Prudenciano II UST Electronics Engineering (ECE) Department, in collaboration with the UST Research Center for Natural and Applied Sciences, and UST College of Rehabilitation Sciences developed iSULAT (Intelligent Stroke Utilization, Learning, Assessment and Testing), a project that received 3.2 million Php funding from the Department of Science and Technology- Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD).

The handwriting tool project was headed by Engr. Edison A. Roxas, the UST ECE department chair.

In an interview, Engr. Roxas stated that the project idea was conceptualized even before the pandemic. When asked about what i-SULAT aims to be, he said that “The iSULAT envisions itself as the future standard in handwriting evaluation for the Filipino children.”

He also mentioned that the project’s main target is to assess developing schoolchildren’s handwriting skills.

According to DOST Secretary Fortunato “Boy” de la Peña in a recorded report, the project aims to solve problems of inter-tool scoring variations, inconsistency, incongruence, and assessment time. He added that the number of handwriting problems in developing children reached an approximated 5 to 25 percent range.

“Handwriting is still the most immediate form of graphic communication. [F]ailure to attain handwriting competency during the school-age year results in far-reaching negative effects on both academic success and self-esteem,” de la Peña said.

Furthermore, DOST-PCHRD mentioned that the project can be used to examine the handwriting of people suffering from various medical, neurological, and psychological vvillnesses, including stroke, Parkinson’s disease, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, and even early-onset depression.

The project will run from April 1, 2022 through June 31, 2024.

Eng’g students receive recognitions in Student Awards Day 2022 WRITTEN BY : Justine Keith R. Moises PHOTO COURTESY OF : Engr. Ryan A. Ramirez, MSc

were able to isolate the changes between two images that are from different dates. Looking at the changes of that area from throughout a specific time period, further isolating and [data] processing we can map the damaged areas,” Tiongson elaborated on the paper’s topic.

Engr. Ramirez, who was Tiongson’s former thesis adviser, reached out to him, pitching the topic of the paper. According to Tiongson, the plan was to submit the paper to a journal or a conference. In effect, when ICCEE, with the theme: Earthquake and Geotechnical Engineering, opened for submissions, they submitted theirs, seeing that it was a good platform to share the study.

Upon hearing the news of the study’s acceptance into the conference, Tiongson was in shock and disbelief to be one of the participants since most of the participants were masteral and doctoral candidates. During the presentation, he said that he was less nervous than he thought he would be. He was excited to share the research since their study’s topic was unique, considering that the topic is a really good procedure that is useful for monitoring natural disasters.

They are eyeing submitting it to a research journal in the future to reach a wider audience. As for local applications, satellite-based remote sensing techniques will be significant for disaster risk reduction management (i.e., mapping damaged areas) as the Philippines is exposed to natural hazards.

PHOTO FROM : UST Facebook Live Seven students from the Faculty of Engineering (UST FoE) bagged recognition on Student Awards Day 2022, held May 31, 2022, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion, broadcast via Facebook Live.

Stefhanie Kate S. Bautista and Frances Algeevia A. Guimbangunan, from the Departments of Chemical and Mechanical Engineering, respectively, received the Quezon Leadership Award. Bautista co-organized the 15th and 16th National Chemical Engineering Week with the Philippine Institute of Chemical Engineers (PIChE), other PIChE Chapters, and Chemical Engineers, while Guimbangunan was elected as the chairperson of the 11th Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers (PSME) National Mechanical Engineering Students’ Conference.

STUDENT AWARDS 2022 PAGE 5

UST Performance on the 2022 Engineering Licensure Exams WRITTEN BY : Carl Christian D. Calderon The University of Santo Tomas produced a new set of licensed engineers, with three top-notchers, in the 2022 Engineering Licensure Examinations conducted by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) in the first half of this year.

Engr. Ericcson Luy led the 34 Thomasian examinees in the February 2022 Master Plumber Licensure Examinations, which took place from February 15 to 16, as he ranked ninth overall with a score of 82.80-percent. UST managed to get an overall passing rate of 94.12-percent, as 32 out of 34 takers passed.

On February 27 and 28, the February 2022 Mechanical Engineering Licensure Examinations took place, wherein the university tallied an overall passing rate of 63.89-percent (69 out of 108).

The university garnered a 55.00-percent overall passing rate on the April 2022 Electronics Engineering (ECE) Licensure Examinations held from April 20 to 21, in which 55.00-percent (22 out of 40) of examinees from the university passed. A day after the ECE Boards, the April Electronics Technician Licensure Examination was conducted, wherein all the 31 takers from UST made it to the cut.

Moreover, April 2022 Electrical Engineering Board Exam was held from April 26 to 27, wherein UST recorded an overall passing rate of 78.57-percent (55 out of 70). Registered Master Electrician (RME) Examination followed on April 28. All four Thomasian takers passed including Engr. Denzelle Salvan Langit, who ranked seventh on the boards with a rating of 88.50-percent.

Thomasian alumnus Engr. Carl Daniel Fabian ranked third overall with a score of 93.25-percent on the May 2022 Civil Engineering Licensure Examinations conducted on May 1 and 2, 2022, in which the University ranked fourth among the top-performing schools tallying an overall passing rate of 85.94-percent (165 out of 192).

The last engineering licensure exam in the first half of 2022 was the Chemical Engineering Board held from May 17 to May 19. The University recorded an overall passing rate of 47.17-percent (25 out of 53).

OPINIONS

pages 6 and 7

PH Education: Moving forward or going round in circles? by Mary Angela Aquino “Pag ka tayo tinitignan ng Asia, yung literacy rate, yung pagsalita ng english, pati sa science, sa math, mataas tayo noon eh.

Kailangan natin balikan yan.”

Days before his inauguration, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recalled the “glory days” of the Philippine education sector in a press conference. Yet, with the declining skills and proficiency of students plus the rampant spread of misinformation and disinformation in the middle of a pandemic, it is still a long way for the Philippines to get to the top.

Philippine education has been on the rocks even before the pandemic hit the country. In 2019, the World Bank (WB) released that the current learning poverty rate is 69.5. As of August 2021, it reached as high as 90 percent. The WB also released a report regarding the three international education assessments conducted by different countries, including the Philippines. The country ranked last in reading and second to last in science and mathematics in the Program for International Student Assessment, last in science and mathematics in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, and belonged to the bottom half of the six participants in the Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics.

As WB states, “more than 80 percent of children do not know what they should know [in school].” Filipino students fell below the minimum level of proficiency expected for their respective grades.

In this digital age, information has become more accessible than ever. As most Filipinos are now present in digital spaces, the government should take advantage of it to help address the declining aptitude of students. But on the contrary, instead of using online platforms to educate, it has become a means to spread distorted truths and misinform—the same information that Filipino students are feeding themselves.

In 2020, the Oxford Internet Institute stated in their Computational Propaganda Research Project that government agencies, politicians, political parties, civil society organizations, private contractors, influencers, and even ordinary citizens participate in digital manipulation. Fake bots and human accounts are created and utilized to spread false information. During the campaign period of the 2022 elections, social media was widely used to distort the truth, rebrand names, and red tag rivals. Troll farms were hired to lure Filipinos into believing political propaganda. With their large following and active presence on social media, they easily manipulated facts and spread misinformation.

Yvonne T. Chua, an associate professor of journalism at the University of the Philippines, wrote in the 2022 Digital News Report of the Philippines. She said that social media platforms, such as Facebook and Tiktok, are frequently used by netizens for news consumption. Despite the presence of known radio and media networks on the said platforms, it is unavoidable that some individuals use social media to distort the truth and misinform netizens. They use appealing and empathetic articles rather than the traditional news media to capture the hearts of Filipinos and make them believe their lies. They know that Filipinos tend to believe in engaging and relatable posts, despite their coming from unreliable sources. They continuously spread lies until it became the truth for most Filipino netizens.

From the Digital 2022 Report released by Hootsuite and We Are Social, it was reported that Filipino social media users aged 1664 have the second highest average time spent using social media, with 4 hours and 6 minutes. This data shows

CONTINUE READING ON PAGE 7

SIX CANDIDATES

Partake in MDA for ESC Special Elections WRITTEN BY : Mark Rafael Santos and Aldous Dale Caballero Six candidates for May 2022 Engineering Student Council (ESC) Special Elections presented their plans on Miting De Avance organized by the Engineering COMELEC, in coordination with Thomasian Engineer, which was launched last May 21, 2022, via Zoom and Facebook Live.

The candidates for the different positions opened the event through their self-introduction accompanied by their plans, affiliations, and academic background.

Pauline Zian Suyat, Internal Vice President (IVP) candidate, pushed for an advocacy-driven service as she believed that this would cause a ‘domino effect’ toward positive change through her influence. Sophia Mauricia A. Villanueva, Assistant Secretary candidate, also advocated for students’ welfare through her platforms, focusing on mental health.

Alyssa Larraine M. Cunanan, running for the secretary position, shared her advocacy geared towards diversified service and a student-centered student council to promote platforms that will empower the academic aspects of students, through actions such as the release of reviewers and providing a source for the borrowing of educational materials.

Joemille Brent R. Galera, candidate for the position of Treasurer, campaigned for transparency and aimed for efficiency in his duties during his term if he were to win. He mentioned that his platform will inspire financial literacy and competitiveness to assist the student body in handling their finances.

Progress, development, quality, and excellence are the values Lourd Albert T. Bañaga, Assistant Treasurer candidate, mentioned, together with his credentials as an officer in different organizations. He proposed an annual job fair and an industry symposium to enable his plans for engineering students.

Claudelle L. Fajardo who ran for Public Relations Officer (PRO) advocated her proposed program entitled “Ang Tamang Chismis” which aims to combat disinformation for students’ protection online.

Questions from the UST Engineering community were answered by the candidates in a span of two minutes, for the first segment of the event entitled “Thomasians’ Voice.”

With his two-year experience in ESC Team Marketing, Bañaga discussed how reaching more sponsors will be beneficial in raising more funds, specifically through email and other

Cindy Cruz-Cabrera

online platforms—as he was asked on how he could help process fund allocations more efficiently.

Sufficient proof and documentation is what will combat the misappropriation of funds and that proper steps are essential before funds are released, explained Galera, answering the inquiry on how he would deal with the misuse of funds.

When asked about how they will efficiently serve the student body with their limited members—Villanueva responded, “quality over quantity,” stating that all the candidates are capable of serving and that they can provide the best for the Faculty of Engineering.

A recorded video from Suyat expressed her readiness to succeed in the position of President, which was left vacant.

She also stated that the imminent transition towards face-toface will lead her to push in-person counseling and leadership training.

After a short break, the second segment was kicked off, wherein the candidates were given three minutes to answer a question from each panelist.

To begin this segment, Cunanan explained, “It’s just about communication, we won’t be insisting, but instead we would be showing them the benefits of what their help would (be) able to reach if they would allow us to give some time for the engineering community” when asked how she would get researchers and professors for her Thesis Assistance platform.

Galera assured that he will draw the line between transparency and confidentiality with regard to publicizing documents when personal information and privacy might be violated.

Lastly, Villanueva was asked regarding her “Comforting One Another” platform and its similarities with the existing guidance counseling center of UST, to which she responded with her point-of-view regarding the guidance counseling center’s bias, while adding that “Professionals must always keep in mind that they are for the students and not always for the university.”

Afterward, the candidates were given a minute to advise their fellow Thomasian engineers to aspire to be student leaders.

The candidates then delivered their closing statements, followed by the closing remarks from the UST Engineering Commission on Elections Vice-Chairperson, Mr. Yves Caballes.

Latrell Felix

Justin Castro Bionat

UST-CNAG hosts webinar on gender identity and expression for Thomasians WRITTEN & PHOTO BY : Caster John Tabora

Babae ka lang; kalalaki mong tao, umiiyak ka.

April 26, 2022 – In efforts to shatter the stigma and discrimination on gender identity, the UST Cisco Networking Academy Gateway Engineering (UST-CNAG) spearheaded the webinar entitled Breaking the Stigma: A Webinar on Gender Identity and Gender Expression, last April 23, 2022, via Zoom Meeting.

Asst. Prof. Amante R. Garcia, MS, the UST-CNAG adviser, gave his opening remarks as the event commenced. This was followed by the introduction of the event’s first speaker, Cindy Cruz-Cabrera, the Gender and Development Officer of the University of the Philippines Diliman Gender Office.

“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and human rights,” Ms. Cabrera uttered as she expressed that human rights are an important perspective in tackling gender. She then proceeded to define the common terms and discuss what gender means in people’s lifestyles.

Cindy Cruz-Cabrera also tackled stigma and discrimination in depth. To end her talk, she reminded everyone that “Gender equality and women’s empowerment [are] good for everyone, so we should champion this, and we should live it in our everyday actions and everyday lives.”

Afterward, Justin Castro Bionat, the Executive Director of Youth Voices Count, Inc. and a board member of the International

Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOT) Committee, stressed the importance of intersectionality in our society.

“The solution to [a] social problem is not just your issue but [the] issue of the whole community, the whole society, together,” Bionat said. He believes that if institutions transitioned to an inclusive environment, they could be instrumental in creating safe spaces for LGBTIQ people.

The last speaker of the event, Latrell Felix, the Co-Convenor of UP Kalipunan Para sa Kasarian (UP KASARIAN), Gender Councilor of the UP Diliman University Student Council, and the Chairperson of Bahaghari UP Diliman, talked about how patriarchy and sexism are prevalent in today’s society.

Latrell also emphasized how critical voting for the right candidates is, to hear the call of the women and LGBTQIA+ of protecting them. She also stressed that “While we break the stigma, we should also collectively struggle to break the system that is the root cause of the oppression of women, LGBTQIA+ and other gender minorities.”

An open forum was conducted after the guest speakers shared their thoughts and advocacies. This was followed by the awarding of certificates for the guest speakers and was formally concluded through the closing remarks of Alyssa Ragodon, the project head of the event and the Internal Vice President of UST-CNAG.

Two-day expo event features UST ChE Batch 2023’s product innovations

Chemical Eng’g Dept Bags Back-to-Back Championship at 115th Engineering Week WRITTEN BY : Mark Rafael Santos and Doroteo Prudenciano II

WRITTEN BY : Doroteo Prudenciano II and Yitzhak Osei Bumanlag

Engineering Week’s defending overall champion, Chemical Engineering (ChE) department, secured their title for the second consecutive year with a total score of 77.51% after beating the ElecMoreover, UST Chemical Engineering Society (UST ChES) retronics Engineering (EE) department and Industrial Engineering (IE) department, which placed 2nd and 3rd place, respectively, ceived the St. Martin de Porres Community Development Award during the week-long 115th Celebration of the Faculty of Engineer- for their active involvement in the community through their projects that applied basic engineering concepts; one of these is Projing Founding Anniversary.

WRITTEN BY: MARK SANTOS AND YITZHAK OSEI BUMANLAG The criteria set to determine the overall winners for this ect Sapling.

The Operations Research Society of the Philippines-UST year’s Engineering Week were 10% for webinar attendance, Vlog he UST Eco Tigers bagged awards in the Shell Eco-Marathon “It was fun and overwhelming, we won an event when we Fest, Photo Contest, and E-Race, 15% for the Student Research Col- Chapter (ORSP-UST) also secured the St. Aloysius Gonzaga Award Quiz (SEMA) 2022 for its first event, SEMA Quiz 2022, with least expected it. However, it is still too early to call it an actual loquium and E-Games, and 30% for the Faculty Showdown—the for the fourth consecutive year. They were recognized for the setheir teams Proto and Urban, placing 1st and 4th in the Philip- victory since there will be more events we’re hoping to participate ven events they held this year, their presentation at the Bartolome biggest percentage in the whole criteria. pines, 4th and 12th in Asia, and 10th and 34th in the global rank- in as well as hold our lead in the global leaderboards,” he stated.

With a score of 86.39%, the ChE department grabbed the De Las Casas Conference 2022, and for having the most recruits ing, respectively.

Currently, they are much more focused on the possible onchampionship, winning a cash prize worth 15,000 Php for their during Engineering Recruitment Week 2021.

The 12th batch of the Eco Tigers featured students from the track events they are accustomed to. They plan to get the team tothis year’s Most Outstanding Professor, the recipients performance “Sa Wakas,” which featured songs by Proto, Sugar- getherFor UST Faculty ofentitled Engineering consisted of two groups—Team to work on refining their designs if granted permission by were Asst. Prof. Maria Victoria C. Viray, MME, MA (CE), Engr. John free and Ebe Dancel in this year’s Faculty Showdown at PAGHIled by 4th Year Mechanical Engineering Student and Thomasian their department and team advisers.

Carl Joel S. Marquez, MS (ECE), Engr. Aldrin Lorrenz A. Chan, MSc, MAYA: The Engineering last focuses March 5on viacreating Facebook Setbacks only arose during the group preparation for online Engineer Literary Editor, Jukebox Jhon Neil2022 Barrun, a MES (ChE), Engr. Don O. Maltu, MBA (ME), Asst. Prof. Manolo P. Live. that can travel the furthest with only a liter of fuel, while setup as it made delegation of tasks difficult, especially to the vehicle Binuya, MEngg (EE), Assoc. Prof. Maria Theresa L. Roque, PhD forYear the Mechanical event are theEngineering ElectronicsStudent Engineering TeamOther Urban,winners led by 4th Kim newcomers who lacked experience compared to the old members (IE), and Engr. Ma. Madecheen S. Pangaliman, MS (Engineerdepartment runner-up with comparable their piece “Tama Limuel Dolor,(ECE) aims placing to createfirst a functional vehicle to an who are adept at the hands-on activities SEMA has. ing Pre-Major Year Collaborative Program). The winners of such na ‘yan, Tugtugan na!: The Musical” featuring songs by Parokya ni As the event is still in its run, the team hopes to participate actual commercial vehicle. awards were determined through a series of online surveys conEdgar, and the Industrial Engineering department placing second According to Team Leader Barrun, the team did not prepare in SEMA Pitch the Future, the off-track and on-track events to win ducted by the Engineering Studentthe Council (ESC). runner-up forvirtual their performance con- more much for the league since entitled it would“IE be Musikal their firstnAPO” time paraccolades that will represent country together with the taining songs by APO Hiking Society. ticipating in the whole Shell Eco-Marathon but reviewed the nec- university as a top team before it officially concludes in June 2022. alsoQuiz. graced the event: Illumina from OTHER RECOGNITIONS essaryDifferent materialsperformers for the SEMA the CE department, Young Cocoa, UST Engineering Dance Troupe, and OPM artist Syd Hartha, who also held a meet-and-greet for Participants who won for different activities in the 115th Ensome of her chosen Thomasian fans. gineering Week were also given recognition during the event.

UST Eco Tigers Bags International Acclaim in Shell Eco-Marathon Quiz

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UST Eng’g Former Dean Prof.TheMarcelo becomes winners of the Vlog Fest 2022: A CoursePRC Back in Time were the following, arranged from first to third place, respectively: SILVER GEAR AWARDS 2022 Why I Wake Up

by Kyle Chua and Kyla Eng’g Salonga (ECE Depart2021 Outstanding Professional inLateChemical Students, engineering organizations, and professors were ac- ment), A Day in My Life by Sophia Ann Lacson and Angelo Gonza-

les (IE Department), and Engg Galing! by Sebastian Andre David knowledged in the Silver Gear Awards 2022. WRITTEN BY: JEFFREY ALFONSO Lindsay Odyssey L. Timbre received the Fr. Roque Ruaño (ChE Department) which also won the People’s Choice Award.

For the photo contest entitled “Kaibuturan: Buhay ng Isang Leadership Award for her exceptional leadership. She was the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program in the United States, is speaker for the Central Board of Student Auxiliary UST Faculty Nag-iiging Tomasinong Inhinyero, Sa Mata ng Isang munting among the recipients of the said award. of Engineering and Executive Coordinator to the Secretary UST Inhinyero,” Jeremy Edera (ChE Department) won the People’s According to PRC, the annual prestigious Outstanding ProfesChoice Award and was also declared the winner. Seeking Solace Chemical Engineering Society. sional of the Year award is the highest recognition given to an inThe second award, the St. Albertus Magnus Award, was pre- by Marvin John Uy (CE Department) placed first runner-up while dividual who excelled and has significantly contributed to society sented to Samuel Francsico A. Tiongson of the CE department for pandemINHINYERO by Frankie Jr. Alviar (ChE Department) in their respective field. earning the “Best Presenter” award at the second International ranked second runner-up.

The fields of expertise in which the awardees were divided into The ChE Department, composed of Lindsay Odyssey Timbre, Conference on Civil and Environmental Engineering. His paper are the following clusters: Business, Education, and Social Work was entitled “Mapping of Ground Surface Deformations and Its Cristelle Dianne Diaz, and Miyami Tamaki, was the Best Paper and Cluster; Engineering Cluster; Health and Allied Cluster; and TechAssociated damage using SAR Interferometry: A Case Study of the Best Presenter recipient during the Student Research Colloquium. nology Cluster.

Prof. Lola Domnina Pestaño, PhD was their research adviser.

2020 Masbate Earthquake.”

Prof. Marcelo is the sixth Thomasian to receive this award by PHOTO BY: JAYVEE FULGENCIO PRC, joining Academician Prof. Maribel G. Nonato, Ph.D. (2020, in Chemistry), Asst. Prof. Donald G. Manlapaz, Ph.D. (2020, in Physiormer Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Prof. Philipina A. cal Therapy), Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy Prof. Aleth Therese Marcelo, Ph.D., was honored by the Professional Regulation L. Dacanay, Ph.D. (2018 in Pharmacy), Prof. Cheryl R. Peralta, DrPH Commission (PRC) as the Outstanding Professional of the Year in (2010, in Physical Therapy), and the late Asst. Prof. Jacinta B. Cruz Chemical Engineering.

(2009, in Medical Technology).

PRC Commissioner Hon. Yolanda Reyes has confirmed through The conferment of the award was said to be scheduled for Noa letter that Prof. Marcelo, who is currently on leave to pursue her vember 12, 2021.

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UST ECE secures spots in IECEP-MSC’s first Online Academic Festival

STUDENT AWARDS 2022 ▶▶

Second Wave of Toolkit Distribution for Industrial Engineering Lab Courses

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Chemical Engineering Team Participate Thomasians Dominates GIQC Comeback in 2021 Engineering

Chemical Engineering Team was hailed as the champion in the return of the long-awaited annual General Information Quiz Contest (GIQC), hosted by the Thomasian Engineer, garnering a total score of 76 points.

The contest proper featured three rounds of varying difficulty.

The easy round merits three points for each correct answer with a 30-second time allotment for each question. Participants were given one minute in the average round, and five points if the question is answered correctly. Finally, the difficult round merits nine points per correct answer with a three-minute time allotment per question.

WRITTEN BY: JUSTINE KEITH MOISES Chemical Engineering (ChE) Department and the Electronics Engineering (ECE) Department were tied for the top spot with 15 points each during the easy round. While at the conclusion of the average en UST Electronics Engineering (ECE) students particiround, the ChE Department passed their competitor and took over the pated in the academic festival entitled “The ECEptionleaderboards gaining a total of 25 points. als: Showdown of the Minds” via Zoom and Facebook live on The Electronics Engineering team garnered a finale-worthy 45 October 17, 2021. points in the difficult level, the highest number of points in the round.

The event was initiated by the Institute of Electronics All of the teams used their lifeline in the last round of the competition, Engineers in the Philippines - Manila Students Chapter wherein they were given the chance to seek help from their faculty (IECEP-MSC), in partnership with Makarius Smart Learncoach via Discord. ing and Cauld & Clark Information Technology Solutions Moreover, the faculty representative from each department went FROM PAGE 3 to produce more quality Filipino developers through free head-to-head in the quiz competition, wherein the same mechanics, training and collaborations. stages, and points awarded were used.

S. Diaz, Miyami B. Tamaki, and LindTheCristelle festival Diane had two segments: a programming comThe easy round ended with Engr. Paul Marion Demapelis of the say Odyssey L. Timbre, fromquiz theshow.

Department Chemical petition and an interscholastic For the of programCivil Engineering Department and Engr.

RaymondMUNGCAL Serafica of the ElecPHOTO BY: CHRISTIAN ming competition, six universities participated DerecEngineering, earned the St. Albertus Magnusnamely: Award in tronics Engineering Department at the lead, both scoring six points.

La Salle University-Manila (DLSU),Design Far Eastern University of ognition of their study, “Process of the Production With a total of 10 points, Engr. Demapelis took the top spot in the averInstitute Technology (FEUusing Tech), Pamantasan ng Lung-Oil Brillante, Anton Jude Seki Reburiano, John Villa, finVirgin of Coconut Oil (VCO) Combined Low-Pressure age round.

In the difficult round, Engr.and John CarloPatrick Perion of Electrical sodExtraction ng MaynilaMethod (PLM), and Technological Institute of the Philippines - ishedEngineering fifth in thescored ranking of thetaking interscholastic show.alone.

Modified Kitchen Method.”

18 points, the lead forquiz the round Manila (TIP), of the Philippines - Manila USTThe Team B, composed of Leighla Louisse Sto. year’s Tomas, John awarding of the top three winners of this GIQC folJustinTechnological Mark S. Agno,University from the Department of Mechani(TUP), and University of Santo (UST).Paul II Outstanding Earl lowed Patrick Sandoval, androunds.

Luke Eleazar Paner also right after theJamie studentValdon, and faculty cal Engineering, received theTomas Pope John Meanwhile, Award the interscholastic quiz show hosted univer- competedFor inthe thestudent same segment.

Both teams Engineering are under the guidcategory, the Chemical team, comAchievement for earning bronze in the 202212Asean sities: Asia Pacific CollegeTaekwondo (APC), Bulacan State University (BSU), anceposed of Raymond Paolo de Castro, Franc Lorenz Gian Miranda, Kyle of Engr.

Serafica, of the ECECacal, department.

Taekwondo Federation Championships.

DLSU, FEU Tech, MAPUA University (MU), National UniversiEunice Anisco, and their coachinAsst.

Basil James Santos, took Engr. Serafica mentioned an Prof. interview with S.Thomasian Lastly, Jerwin Clyde G. Alvarez, from the Department of first place 76 points.

The Electrical Engineering ty-Manila (NU), PLM, Polytechnic University of the Philippines Engineer thatwith it was challenging to train students team in ancomprised online Mechanical Engineering, was given the Rector’s Academic of Ken P. Calomot, Gilbert Andre D. Pascual, Justine Kylie and Zagu- Taguig (PUP), TIP, TUP, Unibersidad de Manila (UDM), and UST. set-up as itIsaac hinders the profound formation of camaraderie Award to acknowledge his consistent academic excellence. irre, Paul Joshua Delos Santos, their coach Engr. John Carlo Perion UST’s programming team, composed of Luke Eleazar Pan- understanding among the teamand members. other awardsand given at the event were theclinched Pope Leothe came in 2ndone with a total of 72 ‘yong points.internet They were followed closely er, AkiraThe Ryodji Tagura, Mark Jasper Gutierrez, “Number issue talaga connectivity kayaby XIII Community Development Award, Pope John PaulMadeII Kiel Ethan John Earl Patrick Sandoval, Nicole Brillanfourth spot in the programming competition. Engr. Ma. na-delay ‘yongLanzanas, quiz show...Syempre hindi lahat Aliah ng students may Outstanding Achievement Award,member St. Dominic deECE Guzman te, Marc Michael Nitro,internet and theirconnectivity”, coach Engr. Raymond Serafica of the cheen S. Pangaliman, MS, a faculty of the depart- access sa magandang he added when Award, St. Thomas Electronics Engineering teamchallenges finished with a total of 71experienced points. ment, trained the teamAquinas as theirAward, coach. and the Tradition of Exasked about the significant they have Engr.

Paul Marion J. Demapelis, a Civil Engineering faculty memcellence Award.

UST Team A consisted of Marc Michael Nitro, Aliah Nicole during the competition.

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PHOTOthe BY:innovative CARLOS and JOAQUIN CAMPOS To showcase sustainable products developed by the third-year Chemical Engineering (ChE) students, the Class of 2023 officially kicked off the two-day expo event titled “Beyond the ChEckpoint: Venturing into New Borders of Sustainability through Product Development” last May 13-14 2022, via Zoom.

Asst. Prof. Cristina E. Tiangco, PhD, Chemical Engineering Department Chair, formally introduced the event with her opening remarks.

On the first day, third-year ChE students presented their products, which include hygiene-healthcare, household cosWRITTEN BY: MARY ANDREW M. DALOGDOG metics, and food technology.

Each group was given a maximum of 20 minutes to present he their output. The presentations divided into 19 groups Industrial Engineering (IE) were Department started disaccording to its thefirst three categories.

They were judged byProChef tributing wave of “Industrial Materials and Jeremiah Cuya, Ms. Angelica Chongco, Thomasian alumni, cesses Laboratory (IE252)” and second and wave of “Ergonomics Souichi Takahama, Engr.toRebecca Carmela Cruz, Ma. 1 Engr.

Laboratory (IE2536)” toolkits their second year andMs. third Patricia dela Cruz, and Engr.

S. 28, Aldave. year students, respectively lastJoshua October 2021. winning innovations

by Philipina UST Chemical Engineering TheThe project was initiated

by Dr. A. Marcelo, PhD, (ChE) Batch 2023 wereformer highlighted thespearheaded last day of the twoFaculty of Engineering dean, on and

by Dr. day event.K. Ngo, PIE, ASEAN Eng, department chair; and Engr.

Joehanna Mr. Gascon, University of the of Philippines Visayas Gabriel C. Grand Bucu, CIE, laboratory supervisor the department. fourth-year ChE student and as North State proactive University As per Dr. Ngo, this will serve the Carolina “department’s exchangetostudent developing cultural competence delivered response providein quality education through skills-based achis talk wherein shared an overview of his previous pitchtivities during the he Enhanced Virtual Mode.” esEach which are for thesecond “In-house - WindofSystem using toolkit yearAlternator students consists 29 compoMagnetic Induction” and “More Light, MorePliers, Yield”Long (Light Manents including the following: Combination Nose nipulation to Improve Plant Tape Growth).

He also presented some Pliers, Diagonal Pliers, Steel Measure, Screwdriver Set, research ideasWire and gave tips for Lumber Wood, Stripper, andgenerating Solid Wire.pitches. ceremony followed afterward.

“Reefermaya,” On An theawarding other hand, each toolkit for third year students cona product innovatedcomponents:

by Aaron Agawin, Mikki Larracas, Karsists of the following Steel Tape Measure, Digital la Ninobla, Leila Remedios, Sabile, and Raynor Watan, Automatic Arm Blood PressureDale Monitor, Mini-LCD AnemomwonWind BestSpeed Presentation Overall andDigital Best Presentation for the eter Air Velocity, 2-in-1 Meter Angle, IncliHousehold andDigital Cosmetics Category. nometer Angle, Ruler, Electronic Goniometer Protrac“Papel de Coco” won Best Commercial, “Little tor Angle Finder, Plastic Storage Box, Battery followed Charger, by Battery Poni” which won Battery, Best Poster. the Best Presentation for the AAA Rechargeable and For Battery CR2032. remaining categories, “Biopers”towon theaddresses Hygiene-HealthThe toolkits were “delivered the for local of our care category, while “Choco-Mato” for the Food Technology students taking up Ergonomics 1 and Industrial materials and Processes,” category. Engr. Bucu added.

All of theseperformer, were madePadlocked, possible byhad the an collaborative effort of Guest intermission numthe andthree the university’s adminberdepartment’s followed by afaculty raffle members draw where UST Growling Tiger istrators andone offices: Fr. Roberto Luanzon, Jr., OP, STHD, Office shirts and UST varsity jacket were given away. of theUST ViceChE Rector for Finance and Faculty Prof. AnDepartment faculty member,Regent; Engr. Maria Jorigelo R.Bondoc, Dela Cruz, PhD,concluded PECE, Acting Dean;with Asst.her Prof.

Antho-reza C. MEng the event closing ny James C. Bautista, DT, PME, Acting Asst. Dean; Asst. Prof. marks.

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Written By: Aldous Dale Caballero and Jose Miguel Ballecer

Board Exams

ber, earned the top spot in the faculty category with an overall score of 25 points. He was followed closely by Electrical Engineering faculty, Engr. John Carlo Perion, with an overall score of 24 points. Chemical Engineering faculty, Asst. Prof. Basil James S. Santos, MS, with a total WRITTEN BY: ALDOUS DALE G. CABALLERO score of 14 points, came in 3rd place.

The coverage for the quiz competition includes the history of the niversity of Santo engineering alumni took a university, the history of theTomas faculty (UST) of engineering, philippine history, currentleap events, mathematics includingexaminations algebra, calculus, in and thetopics 2021 in engineering licensure deplane trigonometry, plane geometry,pandemic, solid geometry, analyticone geomespite the ongoing COVID-19 producing huntry,dred and physics.

Questions used in the quiz competition were formueight (108) licensed engineers with four (4) topnotchers. lated UST by professors from different departments within the university. ranked second, with an 83.13-percent (5 out of 6) passing For its 41st installment, the questions were put together by Prof. rate, among the top-performing schools in the 2021 MechanMarily C. Mabini, Ph.D., PIE, ASEAN Eng, former dean of the Faculty of ical Engineering boardanexam held Engineering on August 15 and 16, 2021.

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96.15% passing rate for the exam, including retakers.

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by Half the Thomasian takers from UST were able to pass, recording a passing the UST Faculty of Engineering official student publication, andrate was of 50-percent, while for retakers. the Inunisponsored this year by 28.57-percent the UST Engineering AlumniOverall, Association versity managed get a‘97.

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Tim Patrick Bayudan Nieves, UST alumnus, was able to land 9th in Electronics Engineering board exam and 3rd in Electronics Technician licensure exams, which were held last October 24 to 26. The university recorded an overall 65.38-percent passing rate, with 73.68-percent (14 out of 19) and 42.86-percent (3 out of 7) for first time takers and retakers, respectively.

The Civil Engineering licensure exam was conducted last November 14 and 15 in which Rod Michael Dacanay, UST alumnus, placed 9th. UST recorded an overall passing rate of 77.19-percent. 84.78-percent (39 out of 48) for first time takers and 45.45-percent (5 out of 11) for retakers.

The abovementioned engineering boards were postponed several times, since the surge of COVID-19 started in the country, before the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) pushed it this year.

The Far-fetched Tale of P20/kilo Rice

EDITORIAL

Blatant Agenda For the next six years or more, Filipinos may be found fetching information in a sea of facts mixed with inauthentic details out of misapprehended data purposely built with underlying motives. Nothing is scarier than having this phenomenon infiltrate a democratic country—a venomous one that could distort the people’s stand on social issues and adversely affect their standards in choosing their national leaders.

Undeniably, social media has blown up in the past few years, and it has now covered an enormous scope, being utilized by media outlets, entertainment companies, schools, businesses, and even government offices for different purposes.

Online influencers like vloggers, which basically means “video bloggers,” mostly dominate the online space as they drive several engagements with their audience through their various content. Despite the huge amount of support they receive from online users who watch their videos, many people still wrangled over social media after Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles mentioned her plan to accredit the vloggers to attend press conferences in the Malacañang Palace on June 1, 2022.

While most vloggers have a strong fanbase, netizens quickly questioned the plan: are vloggers credible enough to take the place, if not perform the role of journalists?

In fact, many were quick to react. A famous social media personality, Janina Vela, posted insights on her TikTok account, bringing up some questions, including the credibility of the vloggers to cover palace briefings and how biases would be avoided.

“Dahil ang pagiging vlogger ay freelance, kadalasan wala kang team or supervisors. So pwedeng mangyari, walang masusunod na code of ethics o mga mekanismo para sa accountability na meron ang journalists,” she said.

In addition to that, in briefings, rightful questions should be asked which is somehow a tricky job for inexperienced ones.

Unlike other professionals working in other fields, be it in or outside the communication industry, journalists have expertise in crafting questions and are concise and sharp in interviewing, especially when covering national and international conferences or events.

The need for accountability in reporting is what Vergel Santos, a veteran journalist, also stressed in an interview with ANC News, urging the media organizations to withstand the possible accreditation of vloggers at Malacañang conferences.

For Vergel, there is a stark difference between blogging and journalism, emphasizing that journalists' work undergoes a system of checks to ensure that all disseminated information is “truthful, well-contextualized, and not malicious.”

It is true. Despite journalism falling under the scope of “communication,” its purpose and values are still different from those of others in the media universe. It provides verified information to the people and has a systematic process of verification, not just on facts but also on finding the truth on those facts.

Furthermore, journalists work in accordance with the knowledge they acquire from years of learning and practice.

Their ability is molded from their experiences in the field, which include lifetimes of rigorous training. According to an article published by Maryville University, journalists craft stories from the information they obtain or based on their investigation of happenings. Aside from their adept writing skills, they have thorough research skills and make sure that every article they release is “based on factual evidence” as their reputation depends on it and they gain continuous trust from people through it.

To be fair, we can all agree that vloggers have a wide reach and interact through the influence earned from the various content they release. These create engagement from the viewers, which is one of the reasons why the PCOO secretary wants to push to include these creators in palace media briefings.

They are like the new stars of the online generation.

“We’re also looking at things like opening up discourse and looking at issues of disinformation that seem to be a hot-button topic nowadays,” PCOO secretary Cruz-Angeles stated.

Engagement-wise, discourses are already evident as most of the users are very vocal with their opinions through the comment section in posts on social media platforms. However, due to disinformation and wanting to absorb only good news about their political idols, which most do not actually have, many people choose to settle for fake news and conspiracy theories online. This makes political fanatics and content creators famous nowadays, and they find more ways to spread false information using their platforms.

These content creators are not just famous to online users but also very relevant to politicians who want to alter people’s political views and turn their favor on them. Isn’t it obvious?

The vloggers are just pieces of machinery for the higher-ups to

WRITTEN BY : Patricia Nikole Valdecañas As approximately 54.9 million Filipinos or roughly 64 percent of the population suffer from food insecurity, the food crisis in the country is worsening day by day. Poverty itself is already a major contributor to the worsening crisis—what more with the effect of the continuous rise of the country’s inflation rate? With these numbers alone, it can be quite difficult to raise the country’s food security given that more than half of the population is currently insecure. Thus, government officials are starting to come up with projects and solutions to this crisis, one of which is the promised “P20 per kilo of rice” project of the newly elected president Ferdinand (Bongbong) Marcos Jr. (PBBM), which is nothing but a far-fetched tale continuously told to the Filipino people.

Recalling the agendas mentioned by PBBM during the 2022 election period, he brought up the lowering of the price of rice to 20 pesos per kilo. This is to solve the country’s issue of hunger, especially for the unprivileged. Many people, including senators and experts, were baffled by his claim, saying that it was rather difficult to implement and questioned its sustainability. But the question is, will this really be sufficient to battle the country’s food crisis? Will the program benefit the less fortunate, or will it just pose more disadvantages?

Shortly after the president gained his position, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) revealed that the country’s inflation rate accelerated to 6.4 percent in June, which is fractionally higher than the previous month’s (6.1 percent), resulting in a 4.7-percent average inflation rate this year to date. And these figures pose a significant threat not only to consumers but also to the country’s food security. Meanwhile, former Agriculture Secretary William Dar projected that the country’s food crisis would be most apparent in the fourth quarter. This is due to the global disruption of food shipments caused by the standstill between Ukraine and Russia.

manipulate the minds of the people and even purely distort the truth.

The supporters or fanatics of these politicians will always do everything to support their bets. As a perfect example, pro-Marcos vloggers even formed their group with their code of ethics to gain access in Malacañang, promising they won’t be “biased” - coming from a fandom known as peddlers of fake news. During the national election campaign period, several supporters of the now-elected President of the Republic of the Philippines, Ferdinand “Bongbong” E. Marcos Jr. went beyond the line by laying out information that has been checked and labeled by experts as a hoax.

On May 6, 2022, three days before the national elections, The New York Times released an article tackling the flourishing of the political lie ecosystem in the Philippines, and it mentioned pro-Marcos influencers who spread false information on their platform. The “gold story” was made by a Filipino YouTuber and a self-proclaimed “alternative media”, Arnel Agravante, in October 2021, wherein he told his subscribers that the Marcos family's money was not stolen from the government as their wealth came from a secretive royal family in the country who granted Marcos tons of gold. Multiple fact-checkers, including President Marcos Jr. himself, debunked the story.

YouTuber Sangkay Janjan TV, whose actual name is John Anthony Jaboya, dauntlessly uploaded on his YouTube channel conspiracy theories about Marcos's family. He even attacked in his videos the 2022 Presidential election rival of Bongbong Marcos, the Philippines’ former Vice President Leni Robredo.

The aforementioned vlogger, with a thriving channel with over 980,000 subscribers, has been spreading lies on his platform even before the national elections, including COVID-19 harmful claims and targeting whoever is critical of Duterte’s administration.

To counter this, the leading digital media company in the Philippines, Rappler, has reviewed Jaboya’s posted videos on his channel and found that there are videos “promoting lies and conspiracy theories, and demonizing individuals and groups.” It is perilous to think that numerous people are exposed to misinformation and disinformation because a vlogger, with a high reach on his platform, keeps on spreading false narratives online. True enough, it is rather disappointing to know that videos that spread false claims are not automatically turned down by YouTube, let alone allowed to be published without thorough checking. To be fair, though, YouTube policies only lie in the removal of videos that contain “hate speech” or “harassment.”

Many Filipinos are known to be gullible, believing in claims made in videos or posts without fact-checking. As per the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey conducted in December 2021, 51 percent of Filipinos are having a hard time spotting fake news. Undoubtedly, that number infers that the majority of Filipinos are easy targets for disinformation or propaganda due to the unstoppable spread of fake news online. It is just a child’s play for the higher-ups to get away with their lies and rebrand themselves.

If the claims that paid trolls exist are not true, then they are lucky enough that they do not need to spend money because they already have fooled die-hard supporters who voluntarily do their job to spread lies for them without any compensation.

Allowing vloggers to attend Malacaang press conferences under an administration with a leader who infrequently showed up to legitimate press conferences during the national elections paints a display of an underlying motive.

But regardless of whether there is any or none, journalists should now be more resourceful for reliable information and be vigilant about the spread of fake news by combating it with the truth. Disinformation is everywhere and ought to be stopped soon before it tyrannizes this democratic country.

Given these current situations, the food crisis in the country will continue to be a major issue that the current government must address effectively, and the president’s P20 per kilogram of rice agenda is difficult to attain at this certain point in time.

Likewise, officials should utilize a series of sustainable actions in light of the current circumstances to prevent the nation’s food production and consumption insecurity from getting any worse. The country’s food insecurity cannot be overcome by simply lowering rice prices. For a while, it might benefit the populace, particularly the less fortunate, but it puts the nation’s small-scale farmers at a severe disadvantage.

Other than this, no additional details were given by the president regarding how this “P20 per kilo” will be implemented and maintained, which makes the program much more questionable.

As per the rule of thumb, the farmgate price of unmilled palay is half that of milled rice at retail. Due to this, Cielito Habito, a former director-general of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), explained that lowering the price of milled rice to P20 per kilo would necessitate a farmgate price of palay of P10 per kilo, which is considerably less than that of the current P12 to P17. This statement makes the program complicated given that the current farmgate price of unmilled rice is already high and implies a retail price of about a minimum of P25 per kilo. This will only result in the local farmers’ having little to no profit and a mountain of debt.

Also, as mentioned, the country is currently under a high inflation rate, which implies a higher cost of inputs, resulting in a higher price of milled rice. Therefore, a minimum of P25 per kilo may not even be enough to cover all production costs and labor, and still produce a profit. This suggests that the said program is aimed only at satisfying the cries of the people without following a logical process of research and consulting.

On the contrary, the price of rice can be lowered, according to former agriculture secretary William Dar, if production costs are reduced and the National Food Authority’s (NFA) budget is increased from its current P7 billion annual budget to P30 billion. He also suggested selling the P20 rice only to Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries and providing concessional loans to the top 20 rice-producing provinces in the nation. Dar added that the only way the implementation could be sped up was for the government to provide subsidies. However, a larger budget of P125 billion per year will be needed.

Although it may sound feasible, the drawbacks weigh greater than the actual benefits. The matter here is that the country is not in a great financial position to allocate a higher budget for the NFA to subsidize rice. This, as well as reduced production costs, isn’t practical considering that farm input prices and fuel costs are on a hike.

If the government decides to continue this agenda through subsidies, they will be left with no choice but to borrow money from other countries, leaving the country with more piled up debt than it has as of the moment, which will evidently show their incompetency.

Moreover, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) also expressed their disapproval. KMP Chairperson Danilo Ramos mentioned that the “only sustainable way to make rice affordable is by increasing its local production.” He also mentioned the Kadiwa Program that the former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr., the late father of the current president, implemented during his regime. According to Ramos, the Kadiwa program, which was launched in 1980, aimed to offer inexpensive access to basic goods that the government has purchased in large quantities. Kadiwa, which cost the government P18 million in less than two years, was notable for hoarding, raids, and, by 1983, empty rice shelves. By May to November 1984, rice prices increased by 25.9% to P5.35 per kilogram, devouring a third of the P16 daily minimum wage at the time.

Looking back, the former president, Ferdinand Marcos Sr., also implemented the Masagana 99 program. It is an agricultural initiative that was started in 1973 with the goal of raising the nation’s rice production. Dr. Edgardo Quisumbing, a former deputy implementer of the program, explained that Masagana 99 was an emergency program designed to address the shortage of rice brought on by pests and natural disasters. Although everything was going well, the program eventually hit a wall. Former Agriculture Secretary Domingo Panganiban claimed that the program’s implementation, which led to its decline, involved replacing farmers with non-agriculturalists-technicians. On the other hand, Dr. Orlando Sacay, a former secretary-general of the National Anti-Poverty Commission, stated that while the program’s main goal was laudable, it was not sustained, and its credit program was worrying and problematic.

In light of the foregoing, President Bongbong Marcos’ aspirations were strikingly similar to those of Masagana 99 and the Kadiwa program. Therefore, it will not exactly be a surprise if the “P20 per kilo of rice” agenda resorts to hoarding, lack of production and supply, and low quality of rice. Especially now that worsening impacts of climate change have been observed in the country—drought, super typhoons, and hurricanes—it can be expected that rice production will be inconsistent and more agricultural damage will be evident. Consequently, when rice prices are reduced to as low as P20 per kilo in these instances, a rice shortage will occur, leading to a bigger food crisis than today. Thus, this promised program is short on consistency and standards to be considered feasible.

Also, considering that technology nowadays is immensely advanced compared to the late 1970’s, using these technologies to speed up the production of rice to fulfill a higher demand would require a much higher production cost. As much as the program is aimed towards a positive light, it still lacks the foundation to be considered a program that will benefit the populace in the long run.

Furthermore, there are a lot of factors to take into account before milled rice prices are completely reduced. This includes the local and global situation; the environmental crisis; the cost and quality of seeds; the cost of production; and the condition of small-scale farmers—lack of capital and post-harvest facilities; labor issues; a subpar irrigation system, and poor market access.

In accordance with what Economist and Albay Representative Joey Salceda said, “You can bring it down to P20, but you will kill 3.4 million rice farmers.”

When proposing a program for the entire country, one should consider not only what his mind says, but also consult with, observe, and comprehend the people who will be directly impacted by it, for they will experience firsthand any potential threats that it might present. Considering whether it benefits the underprivileged or the system requires weighing the potential effects. Hence, officials should learn to listen to experts, to their people, and to the nation’s farmers; for their opinions, together with the government’s support, are the foundation of an attainable, sustainable, and effective program for all.

After all, it is high time for the government to leave far-fetched tales behind and start proposing actual and realistic solutions to the most pressing issues facing the country.

Misogyny: A Ludicrous Deterrent to Progressive Politics WRITTEN BY : Jamie Franchesca Lopez One can track down the origins of patriarchy to as old as 12 000 years ago, long enough for multiple generations to view it as the status quo. Starting with patrilocal residence and male ownership, a patriarchal society brought about other forms of female oppression through male privilege, belittling of women, violence against women, and sexual objectification. (Chaudhury et al., 2017). Naturally, misogyny has infiltrated and navigated the majority of society’s mechanisms, so much so that even women unknowingly contribute to their own oppression through the internalization of these values.

In July 1848, representatives from the National Woman Suffrage Association advocated for women’s right to vote—the first movement that changed the way society viewed women and a major catalyst that slowly opened them to a world of free choice. It has been over a century ever since, but the female population continuously struggles to find their place in male-dominated fields, especially government and politics. Women remain under-represented due to the prejudice expressed by their colleagues and the voter population. While men are put on a pedestal, female politicians are impeded by double standards and gender-based allegations.

Such traces of misogyny are prominent even in fields supposedly composed of highly-educated individuals; sectors that are generally assumed to be progressive and unconservative. There is a query constantly presented to female leaders all over the world—that is, begging to question their ability to simultaneously handle the responsibilities of being a parental figure and a politician.

In fact, it is a statement received by all career women, cutting across nations and professions. Modern society expects that the successful embodiment of one role translates to the complete neglect of the other. In truth, this reasoning is nothing but a mere opinion fueled by sexism, as men have never been criticized under this narrative. (Woerner, 2020).

Moreover, the digital age works against the empowerment of women, locking them up behind gender-based accusations and creating a clamor that ridicules them, altogether. With the help of social media platforms and the internet, misinformation is given an arena to flourish and dominate. (Xiao et al., 2021). According to the Democratic Unionist Party Leader Arlene Foster, anonymous online mobs are made to systematically target and harass women about their relationship status, their children, their partner, and their appearance. The spread of gendered disinformation and its impact seems uncontainable with these conditions, and Sen. Leila de Lima is living proof of this abuse.

(Kelpie, 2021).

Currently, De Lima is locked up in a special cell for high-ranking officials as an aftermath of her persistent request to investigate the New Bilibid Prison.

After being repeatedly rejected, Pres. Rodrigo Duterte accused her of collecting drug money to fund her campaign. Simply put, it was a power play. While

these are the facts of the case, the focus of the trial was overshadowed by netizens poking fun at De Lima’s unproven affair. As mere observers, we were manipulated to see the trial as a laughingstock—creating memes that overpowered the voice of De Lima—leading up to her unjust detainment. Unknowingly, we contributed to this sexist attack.

Furthermore, the widespread acceptance and normalization of male superiority led to the immovable integration of sexism into people’s beliefs. This goes to show how misogyny is heavily internalized by the general population. Now, people have come to expect that women must bow down to male power, which is seen in the Manila Peninsula Press Conference led by Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Damagoso, Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, and former Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales.

The initial objective of this conference was to debunk rumors circulating their withdrawal of candidacy. As the convention went on, the presidentiables started targeting the former Vice President. Leni Robredo, saying that she should withdraw, instead. They believe that she has no power to win over survey-topper Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., and that her supporters must opt for another candidate. Considering the statistics, even if Robredo decides to withdraw, none of these presidential bets would be able to reach Marcos’s 56% voting population with their measly one-digit percentages.

On the receiving end of democracy, the voter population is not exempted from this conservative notion, either. Shifting to a more general perspective, sexism is exhibited by ordinary citizens and people in non-political professions, alike. According to the seventh round of the World Values Survey, more than half of Filipino voters believe that men make better political leaders than women. In fact, voters associate the candidate’s gender with a certain strength; placing them behind stereotypes, saying that men are better at tackling crime management and foreign affairs, while women are recommended for handling gender rights and issues of poverty. (Sanbonmatsu, 2002).

Considering the extreme cases, voters have also participated in multiple instances of Violence Against Women in Politics (VAWP). During the 2022 campaign period, netizens refused to acknowledge Robredo’s accomplishments, subjecting her to discrimination by branding her incapable for the simple fact that she is a woman. Though an ironic contradiction is displayed by the victory of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, she is not excused from the judging eyes of the public.

As political leadership is perceived to be masculine, both of these parties have to face the possibility of losing votes because of their ‘too feminine’ or ‘too masculine’ image—an issue seldom encountered by a male candidate. (Encinas-Francoe, 2021).

Even with all the instances put forward, we are only scratching the surface of misogyny in politics. There are systemic issues that are too established—too deeply rooted to detach from. However, we must proactively act against this sexism to completely break free from the shackles created by a patriarchal society. In a contemporary world, one’s sex should not be a determinant of an individual’s capability. As we exercise our right to vote in this democratic country, we must learn to critically assess our candidates’ credentials and qualifications moving forward.

Philippine politics is and must be treated as a meritocracy; we judge based on expertise, not one’s sex.

Somewhere Over The Rainbow

WRITTEN BY : Doroteo D. Prudenciano II

The Month of Pride celebrated every June exhibits the alive and colorful celebration of the LGBTQ+ community that highlights their story about their freedom, history, struggles, and progress all over the years. As they say, the event isn’t just a celebration, it’s a protest and a movement. While they march on their parades wearing their rainbow-themed outfits, the dark and gloomy days were still remembered that amidst the glitters and sparkles, total acceptance seemed to be an unreachable goal as continuous battle against discrimination and inequality occur.

Through the years, the growing body gradually moves forward as they make progress with the milestones they’ve established. These milestones are already huge wins to the community as these serve as a boost to push for the equality they longing to have. Yes, we should celebrate these wins but the fight for gender equality is far from over.

According to a Pew Research Survey conducted between 2013 and 2019, the acceptance rate of homosexuality in the Philippines hasn’t changed with a consistent 73% acceptance rate with over 38,000 people across 34 countries involved in the said study. The Philippines is the only participating country that hasn’t changed its insight from the said timeline. The numbers may have been considered to be high but reality says otherwise.

The lives of LGBTQ individuals, particularly transgender people in the Philippines who endure daily threats and numerous defamations from the public, are still threatened and dangerous. According to an article published in collaboration with Tatler Philippines and The Fuller Project, at least 50 transgender or gender nonbinary people have died in the country since 2010, although the actual number is almost certainly considerably higher. What was mentioned was only a part of why the community continuously fights for equal treatment and why they insist that tolerance isn’t enough and is different from acceptance.

There were times when the community gleamed and dazzled despite the harsh treatment, ongoing prejudice, and killings throughout the nation. Every storm, they say, has a rainbow waiting to shine. The graduation season has brought with it a variety of stories to share over the past few months. These highlighted moments were already considered as a win for the said community.

One Thomasian graduate stood out and made national headlines at the University of Santo Tomas’ recent on-site Baccalaureate Mass and Graduation ceremony last June. Marnella Sofia Ferro, a 25-year-old behavioral science graduate, proudly displayed the trans flag while also donning the appropriate female uniform in a photo she uploaded on Facebook. The message received a lot of love and support, and it was covered by the mainstream media.

Meanwhile, University of the Philippines-Cebu announced that they would let their graduating students to wear whatever suits their identity and expression during their 83rd commencement ceremony, provided that they stick to the color scheme and lengths. The UP Cebu student council also called the administration to let them know what names and titles the graduates desired for the commencement celebration.

Lastly, four graduating transwomen weren’t able to attend their graduating rites due to the breaking of dress codes and haircuts. The Department of Education (DepEd) was notified of the incident and made a statement that schools should respect students’ expression and allow them to wear what they want at their graduation ceremonies. Based on the three stories, total acceptance isn’t really there thus far. The previous stories were already a major step towards the main goal but the battle for equity, equality, and acceptance has just started and the journey ahead of them is still miles away.

How do we achieve the end goal? It may not be simple but it needs not only an individual but needs the cooperation of all. You don’t have to be a member just to pay respect. Try to understand and be sensitive to what others feel. To put up in a larger perspective, if the country wants to show their support and understanding, supporting bills like Anti-discrimination bill and the SOGIE Bill are some of the ways.

June may have ended, but that doesn’t mean it’s also time to forget the purpose of the celebration. The true definition of acceptance means supporting them all throughout the year because all people deserve to have the same amount of treatment no matter who you are and no matter what color you represent.

Again, tolerance isn’t completely enough and this isn’t what the community desires to have. What they need is full acceptance not just from their family and friends but from the whole society. After all, we all have our own hues. if we all shine together as one, we illuminate the same light visible to the naked eye.

Behind the spectrum, every single drop of rainbow is relevant. If people could only see what every member of the community sees in themselves, they will definitely see that there is so much more than the rainbow. There is a pot of gold waiting in its end – gold symbolizing victory not just for the LGBTQ+ community, but to all gender identities out there.

PH Education: Moving for ward or going round in circles?

WRITTEN BY : Mary Angela Aquino

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FROM PAGE 4

how long Filipinos indulge themselves on social media, and within that time, they are most likely to see fake news in their feeds. Additionally, 51.4% of Filipino social media users follow influencers on social media, ranking first worldwide. With more than half of social media users population, this gives influencers an edge in easily affecting the views or perceptions of Filipinos. Lastly, 36.7% use social media for work-related networking or research activities. The Philippines ranked second in this field, which shows that even with the rampant spread of fake information across social media, Filipinos still rely on it for their research activities.

Ironically, we are after a globally competent education sector yet continuously indulge in the spread of chismis instead of contributing to addressing the actual education crisis we are facing. Ranking low in international assessments does not mean that Filipinos are incompetent; it just shows the cracks in the system.

Solving the PH education crisis means going to the deep roots of the problem

to resolve it. The root causes have been manifesting for years: poor infrastructure, lack of school facilities and materials, scarcity of public school teachers, and so on. Along with the roots are the branches that lie in the rampant spread of misinformation in our country. If the government has been addressing these issues, how come we continue going through the same scenarios? They should stop with the band-aid fixes and start with effective long-term plans. If politicians are after the progress of our country, they should prioritize the education sector as it holds the future generation, the hope of our country.

Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte-Carpio moved the full face-to-face classes to November while implementing hybrid classes for August to October. It is her response to the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition’s call for more time to prepare. Addressing online classes is one thing, but it should not stop there. Going back to 100% face-to-face also means resolving the lack of schools, facilities, and teaching materials, among others. Before the face-to-face in November, there should be concrete plans regarding these issues. Without adequate resources, educators will still have a hard time teaching students while students will still struggle to learn. Transitioning to face-to-face will just turn to waste; everyone will risk their health but will not get the results they are aiming for.

Promoting digital literacy should also be prioritized. As learning expands through the vastness of social media, the responsibility lies with both Filipinos and the government.

One should be mindful of the information that they are feeding themselves.

Not all news-like written articles are truthful; others make it seem like one to lure people to believe. Netizens should take time researching before trusting reports and stories they see online. It is better to practice by following credible sources only.

At the same time, policymakers should also start addressing this issue.

Whether they like it or not, fake accounts and trolls will always be present without government intervention. It is in their hands to help suppress the spread of misinformation and disinformation. They hold power for a reason. There is a responsibility to take action and have concrete plans when needed. The welfare of the Filipino people should be in their best interest, and we do not want Filipinos fed up with false information. That is for sure.

Safe digital spaces for learners are vital. It could either mold their skills and proficiency or taint them. Hence, misinformation must also be handled if we want to address the education crisis. As stated by Ecker et. al in The Psychological Drivers of Misinformation Belief and Its Resistance to Correction, “Not only can belief in misinformation lead to poor judgments and decision-making, it also exerts a lingering influence on people’s reasoning after it has been corrected — an effect known as the continued influence effect.”

It is good that President Bongbong Marcos has thought of bringing back the glory days of the education sector even before he took his oath. Yet, there is a big difference between wanting the best things in life and making them happen in reality. Instead of focusing on rebranding their family image and twisting history, he should lead the government in building Filipino students’ dreams by providing quality education for them. The golden age of Philippine education is a long way to go. As he is now seated as the 17th president of the Philippines, the future of the education sector is up to him.

If we aim for excellent students, then it must be reflected in our education system. It is impossible to aim for the top with mediocre action. Globally competitive students need more than just promises and aspirations.

I am Fresh by: Charles Khao

Words cannot describe how terrified and excited I was to start my sophomore year. I guess it was the independence that made me feel uncertain. It is surreal that my elementary and high school days were just yesterday. I still can't face the faa that I am finally a freshie, four years away from graduating.

With no sugarcoating, my oh-so-exciting sophomore year turned out harder than I expeeed. I thought I had the time to chill. I was greeted with a heeic schedule, tons of workload, and the need to meet new people. It was harder to meet new people on an online setup - challenging at most Freshies like me would panic during the hell-week, specifically the week before the preliminary and finals exam. I skipped meals and slept at 3 am to finish tasks.

Maybe my poor time management skills caused this, but I swear I improved a lot compared to my first days!

During the preliminary exams, reality told me that I was just an average student. I thought I was a decent student back in the days, and I had slightly above-average grades. There is still a mountain for improvement, especially in my writing skills. However, this is where the sacrifices began. I wanted to improve my grades and class standing, which sadly caused me to neglee myself.

A note to self: taking a break is necessary for your sanity and body. It does not mean abandoning all your duties at home or drinking and partying; de-stress.

What made me excited for my sophomore year was the school organizations. I joined clubs like the UST Eco Tigers and the UST Scarlet Central. It was fun because I met new people with the same interests - a little spice to top the college experience.

The challenges students experience will not stop. Each level we take, we encounter new problems we need to overcome. It may be frustrating and depressing, but hey! It is a step closer to your dreams!

If I am to say a word or two - do not give up. Have space and time for growth and rest. Everything that comes your way is to make you stronger. This is the start of my years in college, and I will make the most out of it.

Earth-616 by: Raya Sophia Casas

There would be times when I would attempt to trace back the exaa point which led me to significant milestones in my life, such as this one—finally leaving my title as a ‘student’ to the fancier, more renowned label as officially ‘unemployed.’ If there were multiverses and other Earths, there could be a parallel version of me - rich and unbothered on an island not writing this article. Instead, using extensive self-assessment and hours of existential crisis as my research methods, here I am deduuing the probable instigators of my causality theory.

As part of the infamous Class of 2022 who went through everything from a global epidemic to a series of political and civil confliis, I know that there is an unspeakable bond among us because of the best human experience which brings people together—shared trauma. In contrast to lockdown and social distancing restriiions, I truly felt that we were conneeed more than ever. It could be due to colleeive dysfunnional body clocks working on problem sets until 3:00 A.M. with our pandemic-induced insomnia, but it’s still a heartwarming experience.

Even though our physical world has shrunk to the walkable space between the laptop and the fridge, our virtual world adapted quickly. Instead of the UST campus Lovers’ Lane, we have Discord dates, and replacing the UAAP cheer dance competitions are TikTok’s green screen ones! The things we took for granted all became a distant memory of when we could properly see each other’s faces. It all passed by in the blink of an eye, and when we met each other again on graduation, everyone was grown up and not the doe-eyed sophomores we once remembered.

Among the millions of multiverses, what are the odds that I am a part of this unusual camaraderie? What are the odds that the gravity of the Earth is just right that we were able to walk towards the podium and finally get that diploma? I still haven’t got a clue which moment in time was the source, but I know that there will always be the choice that guided me here, and that is the one I make every day—to always show up for myself. In the famous words of a drag queen I watched on TV, “She already done had herses!”

J

ART & WRITTEN BY : Keith Portia Andres

Comfort

ART BY : Yuan Flores

As the chaos lies within you Comfort seems to be so far Peace seems to be so vague But all lies in the mind of rage Of thoughts like an endless lake

JUSTITIA Judge fairly and make sure no one suffers unjustly. - Seo Byung-Ju, Law School (2021)

ART BY : Toby Orduña

SCAN ME

TWO WEEKS BECAME TWO YEARS.

WOMEN'S MONTH

place to another. Hence, Enlightenment thinkers replaced it with a more rational, friendly version in a decimal system called the SI units. The adoption of this new system eradicated the manipulation of local units by opportunists to collect more rents and taxes. See? English units are even rigged.

Oh, how I hate the English units WRITTEN BY: Jejomar Laab

Over the world, only US, Liberia, and Myanmar are the remaining countries that still practice Imperial units. Like, come on guys, don’t burden yourself with BTU/hr while the rest of the world uses sensible, easy-to-use words. Even the British empire, the folks who started it, has shifted to SI units.

PHOTO BY: Ray-B Alunen

It’s instant frown lines and angry brows whenever I come across a quantity expressed in BTU or lbs in a word problem. And its conversion is literally causing real-world problems. Dude, I could rant about English units for hours. This rage is beyond any scale of measurement. So, to whoever came up with the system, hear me out.

In elementary schools, we are taught that there are 100 centimeters in a meter and 1000 meters in a kilometer. Pretty simple, right? Just move the decimals when converting, easy-peasy. The Metric system also simplifies the freezing point and boiling point of water to 0°C and 100°C. It’s a no-brainer.

Simply put, this system of units is uniform, precise, and logical.

Here’s where everything gets so messed up.

In English (also Imperial) units, we convert a mile to 5280 feet and 12 inches to a foot. A pound is equivalent to 16 ounces, and a cup means 8 fluid ounces. There is also such thing as a furlong. A pint.

A quart. It seems like someone assigned random objects as units and called it a day.

You see, I have a memory of a fly—my mind can’t store all of that. Please tell me you did not think for one second that a fly is an actual unit of measurement.

All jokes aside, what does a slug get to do with a mass of a substance? Who needs a meter when you can express a length to a palm or an area the size of a football field? And seriously, what does a kip even mean? Since we’re making up words here,

we might as well use a capybara per alamano. Now, that’s some deep etymology!

Imperial units made sense a century ago, but it’s about time that we move forward. Oh, fun fact! We have a pound-force and a pound-mass because the pound existed before Newton discovered gravity. The system is as old as time. Unless we want to live like we are in an episode of Peaky Blinders or some Shakespearean play, we should completely standardize our units.

Have I mentioned that a Mars climate orbiter crashed just because engineers failed to make a simple conversion from English to Metric? Yes, you read it right! All research, resources, and a 125-million dollars craft down the drain. Hurray! We’re not the only ones who commit conversion mistakes. Even the brightest scientists and engineers embarrass themselves.

That’s not even as bad as it gets. A simple miscalculation of units could literally kill a person.

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that 3000 to 4000 children are brought to the emergency room each year because of a drug overdose resulting from conversion errors.

Sure, we have computers now at our fingertips to convert for us. I can only imagine the confusion and chaos back then. I hate to bore you with some history, but here goes nothing. The Metric system emerged from the French Revolution for one reason: it was impractical for trade. Units, such as the length of a hand or the amount of a cup, vary from one

Just have a look at the Philippines. Filipinos are so confused that we use kilograms for weight, feet for height, inches for body measurements, and Celsius for temperature. And ever wonder why there are US, UK, and European sizes for clothes? It’s pretty much because the system is all over the place.

I guess what I am trying to say is the world is already complicated to begin with. We can’t even comprehend each other’s native languages and come to terms with the diversity of our society.

Can we, for once, settle on one language for math?

Let’s spare our engineers and mathematicians the painstaking conversion.

I suppose this is also an appreciation of the Metric system as it is a vehement condemnation of the traditional units. Historically, it banished inequalities in the olden times. On top of that, it is a logical system with a standard naming convention, a real GOAT. By this time, you get where I am coming from. For sure, every engineering student, or mathematician for that matter, is just as peeved as I am. I mean, how can something as simple as a unit miscalculation waste that many resources and even cause casualties (your test scores included)?

Jeez, did I just roast the English units with a truckload of facts and paragraphs? I guess this is me, an engineering student, being casually cruel in the name of clearing out unit conversion errors during exams.

The Philippines’ Response to the Climate Change Crisis WRITTEN BY: Patricia Nikole Valdecañas “We’re gonna lose everything. And we’re not joking.

We’re not lying. We’re not exaggerating.”

These were the alarming words made by a NASA climate scientist, Peter Kalmus, during a protest urging the general public to pay attention to scientists and to take action to address climate change.

The issue of climate change has existed for some time already. Out of all the different causes, human activities are considered to be the main root of it, specifically the burning of fossil fuels that emit greenhouse gasses.

These gasses trap the sun’s heat causing the rise in temperature which the United Nations refers to as the “long-term shifts in temperature and weather patterns.”

Last February 2022, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released an assessment report on this issue. In the report, it states that climate change change has caused irreversible impacts in the world’s ecosystem—high risks of biodiversity loss, widespread deterioration of ecosystem structure and function, resilience and natural adaptive capacity, and shifts in seasonal timing. Adverse effects on food and water security were also mentioned. Roughly half of the world’s population is experiencing severe water scarcity and acute food insecurity with significant effects in Africa, Asia, Central and South America, Small Islands, and the Arctic. Even extreme weather conditions have affected agricultural crops and fisheries worldwide.

To further elaborate these effects, the author of the book “Nowhere Left to Go: How Climate Change is Driving Species to the Ends o f the

LAYOUT BY: Jayvee Fulgencio

Earth,” Benjamin von Backel, explained that when species cannot migrate to a new location, the tendency is that they will most likely become extinct. On the other hand, the introduction of new species can endanger human health—take for example, the Asian tiger mosquito, which can disperse viruses like the dengue virus. This particular impact has been observed in the Philippines as of January to May 2022. In fact, the Department of Health has recorded 34,938 local dengue cases which is 23% higher than that of the previous year.

Meanwhile, the country’s security adviser, Clarita Carlos, asserted that climate change is the real threat to the country as environmental crises have a major impact on food and human security. It can also be recalled that in December 2021, Super Typhoon Odette hit the country with a death toll of over 300 and P10.8 billion damage to the agriculture sector. Although the Philippines is not significantly a major contributor to climate change, we are one of the countries mostly impacted by it.

The one “good” thing here is that Filipinos seem to pay more attention to the ongoing crisis than in the past years. An online poll by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism (RISJ) and the University of Oxford about people’s interest in news regarding climate change and belief that the media should take a stand on these kinds of issues had 52% of its Asia-Pacific respondents as Filipinos.

Take for example Mr. Jonjon Sarmiento, also known as ‘Farmer Jon’, who is a volunteer manager of the SALIKA Farmers Cooperative. He was alarmed by the worsening situation of climate change that he decided to embark on a journey even in the middle of a pandemic. His advocacy, Padyak Touro, started in November 2020 wherein he bicycled throughout his province of Oriental Mindoro and spoke with residents and lawmakers on the significance of addressing the climate crisis. As a result, he was able to deliver lectures and promote the formation of the Provincial Council and Ecological Food System in several municipalities throughout their province which was established in April 2021.

Aside from this, many more advocacies and organizations in the country were initiated to help address and lessen the impacts of climate change. One of them is the Youth

Advocates for Climate Action Philippines (YACAP) which was established in 2019. In 2021, YACAP launched a podcast series entitled Klimalam: The Podcast Series.

The podcast has a total of 3 episodes and aims to address the climate crisis and suggest ways on what the FIlipino youth can contribute to mitigate its effects. In one of the episodes of the podcast, Leon Dulce, the National Coordinator of the Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment, talked about a “climate apartheid” where he defined it as a situation where only the poor suffer the consequences of bad practices while the rich continue to thrive on their unhealthy business practices. He also mentioned that during these times of climate apartheid, we can only rely on the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), for this can be “an avenue where you could fight for small and meaningful reforms and changes.”

During this year, they have also presented their Youth Climate Agenda: (1) to push for people- and planetcentered adaptation, (2) to pursue more mitigation pathways, (3) to champion climate justice locally and globally, (4) to defend the country’s environment defenders, and (5) to empower the youth and the Filipino people. This agenda also serves as a challenge with the new administration.

NASA scientist Peter Kalmus gives emphasis on this global environmental concern and to encourage people to combat the crisis with their statement, “If you can make this not about yourself and just make it about the Earth, and just see yourself as kind of a vessel for this message which you know so deeply is correct. To stand up for life on this Earth and to stop what’s happening right now to the planet.”

As much as we want to altogether halt climate change, it is inevitable and its effects are irreversible. Although it is quite difficult as an individual, climate change can be slowed down and its effects can be minimized by collective cooperation and strategies from individuals, businesses, and the government. What we can do as youth and individuals is to stay informed, be aware of our actions, and as much as we can, switch to a more sustainable lifestyle.

To the generations who say Gen Z is too angry and pa-woke WRITTEN BY: Jejomar Laab Ours is a generation of “bad-tempered brats” with an eight-second attention span, casually yelling in all caps on social media. But trust me, on this side of the fence, our anger comes from a bottomless pit of dismay and distress.

Too often, the above generations have stamped on our foreheads the adjectives—distracted, entitled, oversensitive, impatient, too political, and basically just conjured up in a negative light. But the narrative must not end here.

Of course, we are DISTRACTED. We have incompetent and self-serving leaders for a government. It’s a political circus out there, and we’re all invited to a front seat to humorless clownery, mental gymnastics, and bloated crocodiles devouring all there is to swallow.

In the past years, you’ve placed the worst public servants and con artists in positions of power because, in your words, “pare-pareho lang naman ang mga pulitiko,” a depressing reminder of how low the bar we set for our leaders is.

You’ll be leaving us with a suffocated planet. We are also going to inherit a society that is moving in the opposite direction of progress. And since the internet gave everyone a megaphone, it seems like people talk more and listen less. These problems appear to be nearly insurmountable. Where will we start?

You say we’re ENTITLED youngbloods with no realworld experience, for whatever that means.

The youth has been constantly reminded that we had it easy or that we aren’t as tough as your generation. But isn’t life supposed to be less and less hard as we inch forward?

Paychecks never come close to the rate of rent and

PHOTO BY: Jan Ulrich Nacino

the price of commodities. Here, we work to live while some countries live to work. Decent healthcare is only for people with deep pockets. Meanwhile, education has become a privilege more than a right.

So, yeah, we will remain unapologetic for asking for what we deserve.

“Gen Zs are OVERSENSITIVE cry-babies.”

This is coming from people who shrug off mental health and shoo away reassurance of feelings. Mind you, it’s okay to be sensitive and vulnerable. We’re humans; as so, we feel human emotions. Should we apologize for acknowledging what we feel and skewing out what we deem to be stressors?

On the other end, you can’t speak up indiscriminately online without stepping on somebody’s toes. Living in a social media landscape, words cut deeper than any blades. And we all have taken a bite of that poisonous apple that the virtual world has served on a platter.

Why are we so ANGRY and POLITICAL? We have grown IMPATIENT because the triggers are all over the place. One scroll on Facebook, and you’ll lay your eyes on social injustices and tragic history repeating itself. Just outside the window is the looming pollution and plight of the poor. And the instant a person opens his mouth, there’s an immediate red-tagging.

All generations have advocated for social change, but this generation has never been angrier. We’re not a group that cowers down in fear while the outside is falling into pieces. Without a shadow of a doubt, Gen Z leads a movement for representation, animal rights, environmental justice, and social transformation, even by merely a 280-character tweet.

The youth is not brainwashed but radicalized by the vicious cycle of handing down the same problems,

grating the nation’s hopes to shred and beating the courage out of us.

With social media, now more than ever, we can see events and information from different times, occurring many miles away. But it’s also a double-edged sword, considering the upsurge of disinformation to which your generation unknowingly sinks into the pitfalls.

There is no denying that our predecessors have sowed the seeds of the problems we hardly weed out today. In the same way, the current youth might unwittingly obstruct the trajectory of the next in line. What do I know? Maybe we’re also part of the problem. It’s just either we become an example or a walking red flag.

This open letter is not to invalidate what the previous generations have braved before us. We were born with civil rights, women’s rights, LGBT rights, liberty, and democracy, to name a few. It got us where we are today, and we thank you for that. But it is also the generation that roamed before us who got it all wrong so many times, causing an uproar we witness today.

Our society has always placed the word “anger” on the negative side of the spectrum. And that it’s wrong to feel that much rage. But anger can act as fuel in sparking up authentic social change. We do not have to extinguish that raging fire. Instead, we could muster that anger and channel it to turn “it is what it is” into “enough is enough.”

Gen Z is angry because you have turned a blind eye to the youth before. And from where I’m standing, you’re still looking the other way today. Don’t you owe us a little apology?

Materialism: A Mute Assassin Ally of Stress WRITTEN BY: Erwin Keith Foronda

Have you ever been upset and stressed that you’ve found yourself thinking about the items you’ve been eyeing for in your shopping cart—thinking about the comfort of extravagance on the things you desire?

“I deserve this,” “Minsan lang naman,” these are the words usually uttered when someone’s about to click checkout on their mobile phones.

Today, a life without money would have been quite difficult as society has become increasingly demanding.

Our society has become more materialistic as people continue to think about their wants and desires and buy luxurious things for their short-term satisfaction.

Materialism is defined as a preoccupation with, or stress on a material, an item, rather than intellectual or spiritual things. It is a tendency when people choose material and physical things to possess rather than acquiring values. Sometimes we find ourselves at quite an unconscious point where we cannot realize the things we are doing—either browsing online stores or mindlessly adding to our cart for checking out— little do we know, we might be slaves to materialism already.

I know of someone who made a new friend when the pandemic just started. This new friend never left his side; this friend had a very strong grip with him. When he was on the verge of succumbing to despair and gloom, this friend was his only comfort. He would give everything that his friend wanted, and they would find solace—only for a short while. He fed on his friend’s greed, allowing him to have every single thing in his cart bought and delivered right to his doorstep.

Until the pandemic lasted for quite a while, things rapidly changed. This friend became more demanding and asked a lot more than he could provide. This friend ended up comparing his life with others who seemed to have a luxurious life.

People like this friend, who has been used to mindlessly and unhealthily adding to their carts and buying unnecessary things, have had quite numerous effects on their mental health. They would usually end up becoming more demanding, more ungrateful, and more jealous of others who have things they do not own. People with the materialistic construct were found to be more socially anxious, self-conscious, and conforming (Schroeder, J. E., & Dugal, S. S., 1995).

The person I know of was usually persuaded by his friend to get the same things that he saw from other people––may it be clothes, books, gadgets, or the latest trendy thing––he would go aggressively mad when he doesn’t get the satisfaction he wants. This friend of mine ended up going beyond his means just to get that short-term comfort of saying, “I finally bought it.”

There is a danger in being stuck in a situation where the comfort of luxury and extravagance is tolerated, especially to the point where they go beyond their means to have and own physical things. This toxic habit can be socially destructive in a sense that people who suffer from materialism would be less self-sufficient, stressed and socially unaware in a society. People like them have their worldly materials and possessions tied to their self-worth which can be seemingly selfdestructive.

This has always been his way of living since the pandemic started. This way of living is toxic—being stressed, adding to cart, checking out, and spending beyond means. Until now, he gets pressured by this friend to spend on things that catch his eye, no matter how expensive it can be. Materialism makes you instantly gratified or satisfied, but it will never make you content. Victims to materialism make it seem like nothing would ever make them satisfied; they would

end up seeking for more and more.

A study conducted by Michigan State University revealed that materialistic people had much higher levels of post-traumatic stress than those who were less materialistic. This pattern can be evident with victims of materialism––where they are pushed to compare themselves to others—those who have and those who do not have. Materialism can be both displayed and fueled by society’s standards of consumerism. The cycle goes on, it never stops.

This is the terrible mindset he has—thinking that living a life of luxury consuming everything that catches his eye could increase his self-worth. Worldly ambition and envy can be root causes of his stress and frustration. At some point, he realized that materialism had pushed him to the brink of despair, slowly eating out his confidence in himself. He has realized that excessive consumerism have ruined his ability to process negative and traumatic events in his life, since he has found ways of coping from them through “materialistic mechanisms,” said Aric Rindfleisch, a marketing professor of the University of Illinois’ College of Business and a researcher for a study, “When bad gets worse: the amplifying effect of materialism on traumatic stress and maladaptive consumption”.

Maybe you’re wondering who that person is and why I’m familiar with his situation. I am the person who has suffered so much from my friend, materialism, the ally of the stress I’m faced with. I’m still in the process of understanding that ‘retail therapy’ cannot buy me the relief of my stress and struggles. Perhaps it’s time for me to contemplate on the things I’ve bought and owned, and ask if it truly did make me genuinely content.

A FEATHER IN THE CAP: WRITTEN CONVERSATIONS WITH A SUMMA CUM LAUDE WRITTEN BY : Julienne Ramano

LAYOUT BY : Reinehard Aytona

In today’s world, society has been facing a lot of challenges to survival – from the COVID-19 pandemic, economic crisis, lack of access to education, social inequality, and the like. Many of us have suffered physically, emotionally and mentally—especially when the COVID-19 pandemic brought surging waves to our respective lives. Being an engineering student surviving online lectures is no joke. It was a struggle to keep up with the adjustments and to tolerate the unhealthy screen time—let’s face it—online class will make you question your sanity.

Being the pioneer batch of the K-12 curriculum and the first batch to graduate from two years of full-time online class, there must have been a lot of pressure, frustration, and adjustments on this batch’s end. But here they are, conquering the battles they have faced and finishing strong to finally enjoy the fruits of their labor.

To celebrate this success, let’s hear from the overall highest-ranking student of the UST Faculty of Engineering Batch 2021 about his experiences and realizations during his four-year stay in the university.

Jerwin Clyde G. Alvarez, a fresh graduate from the Mechanical Engineering Department, is hailed as the overall Rank 1 among the graduates of UST Faculty of Engineering Batch 2021. He finished his journey as Summa Cum Laude, with a general weighted average of 1.075. He was also awarded as the Rector’s Academic Awardee (Faculty of Engineering) in the recently concluded Student Awards Day 2022.

Upon asking who or what was his inspiration in pursuing engineering and in finishing the degree with Latin honors, he answered: “My first inspiration in pursuing engineering is my uncle, who is currently an electrical engineer. I thought it would have been easy since he seemed to have a lot of time as he always checked up on us and all that. My mother clarified that he was just being the thoughtful uncle that he was. What inspired me in choosing ME was primarily due to the subjects in senior high school that were greatly related to it, which were difficult yet fulfilling to study. Moreover, what further cemented my decision to take this course was when I found out that my late grandfather took up mechanical engineering as well, but he was one semester short of getting the degree, which became an added inspiration for me to finish what he started.“ He wasn’t only inspired to finish the degree; he found his family to become an inspiration to finish it with flying colors. It never came to his mind to finish the degree with Latin honors, except when his professor opened up about a scholarship opportunity that required him to maintain his academic standing. He didn’t want to bring extra financial concern to his family, so he was persistent in maintaining his standing.

For the majority, it might be a headwork on how he was able to juggle his responsibilities—including his personal and social needs. When asked about the struggle of balancing academic

load to personal life, Jerwin stated that time was easier to manage during the face-to-face mode of classes because some academic responsibilities were not intertwined to his personal life, and thus fulfilling one task will result in also fulfilling one of the other aspects. He never forgets to allot some time for socializing with friends as a stress buster, like playing video games, being part of food trips, or watching live sports events.

“I can say that these were still difficult to manage, but I succeeded in managing them by setting my priorities straight and aligning my responsibilities according to those priorities so that I can better manage my time throughout the day.”

For Jerwin, time management was an essential part of college life. He only does leisure activities during his free time. Along the way, sacrifices had to be made. Knowing and setting priorities straight was vital in order to manage his time and responsibilities easily, and being decisive on the “sacrifices” will perhaps mostly define the path you will continue to take - for the better or for the worse.

“At the end of the day, even though there were fun activities to do with my blockmates, I still had to prioritize my studies so that I can celebrate later and not regret my actions after. I did give up one thing over another for a while due to the priorities I have set, but I think that it was worth the sacrifice because I thought that I could still find time doing the things that I set aside when I’ve done my work.”

Jerwin did have his highest points, but he did also have his lows. His group had to change their thesis topic not once, but twice. It was already the month of October 2021, the month after the preliminary examinations, that they decided to pursue another topic. They had a maximum of two months to accomplish three chapters for the new topic and prepare for the title defense. The pressure from time and workload kept piling up for him, since failing to defend their topic before the semester ended automatically means an incomplete grade for the course—which also means the termination of his academic scholarship. For Jerwin, it was at that point that either they could either make it or break it.

Rigorous planning, sacrifices, and taking chances were the key elements for the group to manage to survive revisions after revisions of their thesis. They were motivated to sacrifice their free times to catch up with the rest of the batch.

“We did not just accept our fate that we can no longer defend our thesis topic due to time constraints. Instead, we tried to make something out of the time that was left to possibly finish and defend our topic. We discussed that no matter what happens in the end we will not have any regrets because we did our best to still finish the requirement on time regardless of all the obstacles we faced; and that we’ll face the consequences at the end of all of it.”

Their group was able to finish all pending tasks and push through the title defense one to two weeks earlier than the planned time frame by the department. For Jerwin, it was one of the defining moments of his Thomasian engineering life.

The Thomasian engineering student life is indeed difficult, but it will all be worth it in the end. Just keep going. However, don’t forget to rest from time to time because there’s still more to life than just finishing your engineering degree.

Whenever Jerwin feels exhausted in life, he always asks himself to “go back to what made him decide to pursue engineering” in order to keep going. If someone changed courses along the way, think about the progress made. And even though the way is still long, a lot of progress has been already made—that should suffice to keep going until each goal is being achieved.

When asked what his secret was to graduate with Latin Honors, he said: “Ito ay ang pagiging disiplinado sa pa-aaral. Kasi kahit na gaano pa katalino [ang isang tao], hindi rin ang mare-reach ang pinaka-potential kung wala namang disiplina o sipag sa pag-aaral.

Kapag may disiplina sa pag-aaral, lalo na kung gustong-gusto mo ang inaaral mo, maa-absorb mo ang mga learnings na kailangan at magagamit mo in the future in you chosen field. In reality, kanya-kanya pa rin naman iyan. ‘Yung effective sa aking “formula” ay maaaring hindi effective sa iba. But what I am sure of is that all of those who aspire to graduate with Latin honors are all capable of doing it as long as they stick to their good study habits and any other activities that help them in their academics.”

Jerwin stated further that anyone can graduate with Latin honors. However, achieving it is not the sole basis of measuring one’s performance in the university. With or without Latin honors, one can still call a student finishing a four or five-year course in an acclaimed university an achievement—as long as the learnings from the faculty are instilled. He also added that there are times that graduating with Latin honors is an added pressure because it felt like they had to prove how they deserved the award given to them.

If Jerwin has to impart leanings to his fellow engineering students out there, here is what he would say: “The Thomasian engineering life will be full of surprises. It may not favor you all the time, but just keep pushing through because it is better to give your very best in every situation than regret it later. Carefully choose the people who you are going to spend most of your Thomasian engineering life with, because surrounding yourself with the right people will help you grow for the better. Lastly, don’t be afraid to speak up because speaking up for yourself or for your batchmates is better than keeping all of it to yourself, since you may actually change a possible undesirable situation you or your batchmates are in.

The Thomasian engineering student life is indeed difficult, but it will all be worth it in the end. Just keep going. However, don’t forget to rest from time to time because there’s still more to life than just finishing your engineering degree.“ Jerwin, with a goal-oriented indomitable spirit, was able to battle his way in becoming a Thomasian mechanical engineer.

Let’s live by his motto and take it as our motivation to keep going, “Take things one day at a time. You don’t have to completely know everything in one go because it is a lifelong process and there are no shortcuts to it.”

BBB: On Mismatched Solutions to Ragged Routes WRITTEN BY : Jamie Franchesca Lopez As President Rodrigo Duterte’s term comes to a close, the state of Philippine infrastructure remains a predicament, even after being the target of one of the administration’s cornerstone platforms. The “Build! Build! Build!” (BBB) Program was made to cure the country’s Achilles’ heel, allocating approximately P8 to P9 trillion from the national budget—the highest in Philippine history to date. Six years, several bridges, and a few railway extensions later, ordinary residents still struggle with the unaddressed issues that have existed long before the implementation of this project.

To provide some background, the BBB program was executed as a means to prioritize the “often-neglected” development of infrastructures in the country. In its implementation, the government presumed that it would set forth a stable growth in the economy by producing jobs and improving the citizens’ overall convenience. Upon assessment, the World Bank (WB) estimated a growth in the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 6.8% in 2020. At the launch of this project, the Philippines was able to divert from its mediocre and flattening economy, becoming one of the fastest growing nations in Southeast Asia, as stated in a Forbes Magazine article by academic and columnist Richard Javad Heydarian.

According to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary, Mark Villar, the program has provided over six million jobs to Filipinos in more than four years of its implementation. Based on a January 2022 report by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the number of unemployed workers jumped from 3.5M in October 2021 to 3.16M in November of the same year. Even during the spike of the COVID-19 pandemic, the BBB project was treated by officials as the single string of hope saving the country from its ultimate economic downfall.

Besides its perceivable impact on employment rates, the BBB program is marketed as a potential solution to poverty in the country. While it is true that the integration of proper urban planning and high-grade infrastructures is a competent approach to

LAYOUT BY : Reinehard Aytona opening better opportunities for all members of the nation, poor management and disreputable transactions will harm the country’s poor more than anything else.

Based on The ASEAN Post’s article in 2020, more than four years since its implementation, the BBB program has successfully constructed 121 airport projects, 369 seaports, 23 657 kilometers of road, 4 959 bridges, and 71 803 classrooms. Other concluded projects include 4 536 flood mitigation structures and 82 evacuation centers across the country, while six railway arrangements are still underway. Duterte’s administration also reached a 7% increase in the country’s GDP. Given these statistics, the government was able to carry out its objectives for this project—to an extent.

One of Duterte’s primary causes for kicking off this project was to minimize Manila traffic, which is notorious for its congested roads and chaotic law enforcement. A budget of P149.9B was allotted to the DPWH for funding all road projects, mainly road widening and construction of new routes; however, traffic cannot be solved by building more roads. In reality, this is a band-aid solution, proved to be incapable by the economic concept of induced demand. While the traffic may be temporarily mitigated, it will only engage people to utilize more vehicles. Overtime, there will be a resurgence of road congestion, and ultimately, the Philippines will be P149.9B poorer with no progress in sight.

In addition, there are other issues being raised on the effects of these constructions to the environment. For example, the New Manila International Airport (NMIA) set to be built on the coastal areas of Bulacan would inflict serious damage on the ecosystem affecting both marine life and the livelihood of fisherfolk in the vicinity. The possible detrimental effects of this construction will stretch throughout the whole country—a consequence that was not disclosed to the public.

Moreover, in a survey conducted by the Research, Education, and Institutional Development (REID) Foundation on the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) construction commission, 15%

to 35% of the project’s expenses went to “other costs of doing business” or under-the-table facilitation fees. In another instance, the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) disclosed a list of contractors that continue to receive deals for BBB projects despite having traces of fraudulent activity and being blacklisted by the DPWH. Even in coordinating with international bodies, Chinese contractors indulge in such deals, going as far as placing high interest rates and manipulating feasibility studies.

Putting forth these pieces of evidence, it is likely that a significant number of corrupt transactions exist within the BBB program. As an effect, there are frequent delays on the construction of poor-grade infrastructures from the use of substandard materials.

There is also a rising issue of maltreatment as workers’ are not granted their corresponding salaries. With the presence of uncompensated workers and stolen tax money, do Filipinos really benefit from the BBB program’s so-called ability to improve the country’s economy in the form of a higher GDP? In fact, the working poor still continue to suffer even with a 6.4% GDP growth because the majority of the program’s profits fall into the pockets of contractors, real-estate agencies, and government officials. In simple terms, the rich will get richer, while the poor will remain poor, or worse—get poorer. A fitting solution to make the program’s positive impacts inclusive to the general public is to increase the workers’ wages and benefits—decreasing both poverty and economic inequality.

Even with these existing issues, President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. still plans to continue this project. While it is true that good infrastructure is the backbone of a good economy, in a world where a corrupt government indulges in the exploitation of company giants, development becomes strictly exclusive to the rich. In this new administration, this ‘double-edged sword’ of a program requires an adjustment of priorities, an intervention in execution, and a new face of transparency to become a real cause for growth and universal progress.

BODY CLOCK WRITTEN BY : Lance Kasel Lasam LAYOUT BY : Regine Jeza Enclona

DATA

ENGINEERING WRITTEN BY : Luis Raphael Daoang LAYOUT BY : John Patrick Villa Introduction to Data Engineering Generally, data engineers collect and validate quality data for data scientists to use. Data engineering is a broad field that involves data processing, data cleaning, and preparing ready-to-use data for analytics, data science, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) implementation. In addition, this type of engineer employs different modules and data steps, such as data infrastructure, data mining, data crunching, data acquisition, data modeling, and data management.

The path to data engineering is a hectic one, especially if you have a little background in said field. Thus, here is everything you need to know about data engineering.

Data Engineering vs. Data Scientist Many people often confuse data engineering with data science. After all, they both overlap in the required knowledge, skills, and education. Still, they have different roles although they work hand-in-hand.

On the surface, it is pretty simple to internalize what a “body clock” is - it is simply the way our body tells us when to sleep and wake up. In fact, it gets thrown around a lot whenever we talk about our struggle to stay awake and sleep at certain times due to the workload given to us on a certain day or week.

circadian rhythm responds to light and darkness - when we see any amount of light, it tells the brain to stop producing the hormone that makes us sleepy, thus essentially making us awake. Therefore, waiting to be sleepy by scrolling or watching through your phone or TV is not ideal, as it essentially delays your sleep further.

However, there are certain things that one may consider in order to optimize their own day-to-day rhythm. It is not strictly limited to just one form of sleep schedule that everyone has to abide by. What matters, however, is that we actually feel energized when we are up and tired before going to bed, not the other way around.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO OUR BODY CLOCK?

WHAT IS OUR BODY CLOCK? Everyone has their own biological clocks which regulate their circadian rhythm, which refers to the natural processes that occur every 24 hours. These changes mainly respond to light and darkness in their environment (we’ll keep that in mind). They can influence important bodily functions like hormone release, eating habits, and body temperature, however, the most apparent effect is on our sleeping patterns.

As we age and work, we need less or more sleep over time. We may also develop patterns that make us feel more awake and energized in the morning (the early birds) or at night (the night owls).

That is the first thing that needs to be noted - most of us have fairly typical sleep schedules, however as we have our own rhythms, it is fine if we deviate from the norm so long as we still keep our own regular sleep schedule. As college students, we generally need 7-9 hours of sleep every night, however, the optimal amount depends on the person.

Changes in our body and environment can, of course, change our circadian rhythms and make them out-of-sync, so to speak, such as gene mutations, illnesses, drugs and alcohol, jet lag, extra sleep, work shifts, and light. When we pass through time zones, continue to sleep for longer periods of time, or work at night, our sleep schedule changes and our body has to adjust to it, which can result in dreariness.

Light, however, maybe the most important factor to consider here. It does not just include sunlight, but the light coming from our screens and phones and other gadgets. As stated before, our

What are the Necessary Skills to learn in Data Engineering?

MEGA

The aforementioned skills are just the tip of the iceberg. You will have to learn more and adapt to the changes and challenges you might face as a data engineer.

How to be a Data Engineer?

You might be interested to know if your current career coincides with data engineering. Well, the best majors include software engineering, computer science, and information technology. Other alternative undergraduate degrees for data engineering are engineering degrees. Regardless, make sure to take courses in software design, computer programming, data architecture, data structures, and database management.

Also, since data engineering focuses more on skills rather than textbook knowledge, you can technically become a data engineer without a BSc degree. However, most companies require formal education in the position they are offering. So, it is better to have completed a degree relating to data engineering to secure a spot in a competitive environment.

Data engineering is a career that is not meant for everyone. It is a complicated and highly technical field that requires patience and dedication in learning all the basic skills. Still, the future is stable for data engineers.

With real-time data pipelines and processing systems becoming more popular, data engineers will be sought out more to build and evolve data warehouses– which easily makes data engineering the fastest-growing job in technology.

We can also utilize other techniques that can optimize not only our continuous sleep but naps as well. We can exploit the sleep cycle, which posits that multiple 90 minutes of sleep can result in a good rest, use the 4-7-8 breathing method to help you unwind, which involves cycles of exhaling, holding your breath, then exhaling again for 4, 7, and 8 seconds respectively, or do yoga and meditation.

When it comes to light, it is best to have a dark, cool, and quiet bedroom, then situate the lights in a way that sunlight greets you when you wake up. Bright lights, especially coming from gadgets, are not needed before going to bed. Other things to be avoided before sleeping also include large meals, alcohol, cigarettes, caffeine, and rigorous exercise, as it can cause difficulty sleeping.

All of these things are, for the most part, suggestions. However, they are and can be helpful in syncing your sleep schedule. We do not want to be drowsy in the morning, even if we may feel energetic at night. Sleep is integral to our bodily functions, and it is best to protect it from destruction, lest we struggle to do even the most basic tasks while we are supposedly awake and full of energy.

WRITTEN BY : Luis Raphael Daoang LAYOUT BY : Aubrey Mae Maula

Graduating from college opens up a whole new chapter in life, but forces you to leave a few benefits your school gave you as you walk towards the outside world. One of the things you leave is the perks you have while studying. For instance, being a student meant having access to limitless cloud storage for free. Losing that benefit will certainly hurt. However, there are other alternative options for cloud storage you could use. And they are for free, which is perfect for people who would prefer saving over spending.

Next is learning the more specific skill sets such as ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) tools, data APIs, data warehousing solutions, and distributed systems. Other notable skills to learn include Networking and Security, complying with Privacy laws, and understanding Cloud Computing.

When we are awake, we can plan out our activities for the day - on what activities or requirements to do, even outing with family or friends. This is in order to prevent cramming or becoming stressed out to the point that it affects our sleep schedule, as we have to be relaxed before going to bed.

Cost-Free Online Storage For Thrifty People

Data scientists conduct complex analyses on the data warehouse, framework, and pipelines set up by data engineers. Simply put, data engineers use the data gathered by software/backend engineers to design a data warehouse. The data scientists will then use the data from the warehouse to derive accurate insights or predictions.

Data engineering requires many skills that are commonly in line with programming and information technology (IT). To start with, you need to learn and master the foundation of data engineering: (1) programming languages like Python, the standard for all data, or Scala, and (2) the handling of databases using the language of data, Structured Query Language (SQL).

There are some activities to do in order to improve our body clock, however, all of these also depend on our work and lifestyle.

For one, we must allow enough time to sleep, not only that but also give room to set for earlier bedtimes. This sleep must also be consistent every day, ideally regardless of your work schedule. It must be prioritized and protected as well - you can have your friends or relatives checking you if you’re in bed or not.

MEGA gives out cloud storage of 20 GB for free. Moreover, it has an intriguing feature in its sharing of links, wherein the recipients can only decrypt the information if they have the second part of the given URL. MEGA can be used through a browser, desktop, and mobile app, while running on various platforms like Android, iOS, Windows, and the like.

Degoo This online storage in particular provides a whopping 100 GB for free upon creating an account. In fact, Degoo has no upper limit to how much free storage you can get as you get 5 GB for every person that makes an account using your referral. Degoo can be used using the web or the mobile app for iPad, iPhone, and Android.

MediaFire A MediaFire user can get an immediate 10 GB of free storage

space, which can increase up to 50 GB through friend referrals and application downloads. This storage service allows large file uploads with zero bandwidth limitations. The file uploads can be as large as 4 GB with filtering features to limit the kind of files shown.

Box 10 GB of free space is what Box gives you upon making an account. Box users can share either whole folders of files or only choose individual ones for other users. However, free users have a file upload limit of 250 MB. You can get Box for Android, iOS, macOS, or Windows. pCloud pCloud offers a free space of 10 GB. It allows file uploads without a speed or size limit and can support file sharing with non-users. Furthermore, your pCloud can back up the photos from your social media accounts like Facebook and Instagram. This app can run on Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, Linux, and more.

Whichever of these you choose, you are guaranteed a great, free cloud storage service. What you choose just boils down to the system UI, the features included, and the limitations. Still, how you use your accounts and manage the important files will ultimately decide whether your free storage will last or not. Keep in mind that life after college is even harsher, and if you cannot spend lavishly on cloud storage, then it is better to save money and be thrifty.

THE GREEN NEW DEAL

How Cities Can Turn 100% Renewable WRITTEN BY : Lance Kasel Lasam LAYOUT BY : Aubrey Mae Maula

As more governments take action on climate change and more people become acutely aware of its consequences, more towns and cities continue to invest more in renewable energy sources.

Many smaller towns in places from Texas to Iceland, from China to Sydney, now have or plan to have renewable energy as their main source.

However, for a city to completely turn to renewable energy for its needs involves transforming everything in its landscape, from its buildings to businesses to transportation systems to power supplies. Even if we are still far from achieving the ideal scenario of renewable energy being the main source of power everywhere, these cities have stepped in the right direction.

There are several frameworks and guidelines for cities to adapt for when they plan on going 100% renewable, starting with recognizing the ever-growing problem of climate change and being sober from it. The first thing cities can do is to have comprehensive energy audits to determine where the energy flows across their respective area.

Then, they can engage in ambitious retrofitting projects and invest in renewable energy projects that are suitable to their location and potential. Cities that have tropical to temperate climates can mainly benefit from solar energy, like Lisbon or even Cagayan de Oro. Places from Iceland to Laguna can utilize geothermal power due to their underground heat or specialized power plants. Any city can be renewable as long as they utilize the resources around them.

With these projects comes a lot of technological investment.

Energy transitions can benefit greatly from technologies that can

achieve these goals in an efficient and effective way. These should be applied in such a way that an ordinary person can use them as well since they are the ones who mainly use this energy. It must come to a point where not only it can be an option to use renewable energy, but it should be the option.

Even then, these projects wouldn’t be enough if there isn’t a system to transfer that energy to its citizens. A council doesn’t and shouldn’t just build something and leave it as is. This change of source involves a change in grids and other systems, which follows through to a change in business, behaviors, and lifestyles. Many people and companies are willing to contribute positive change to their community, especially if they can see the benefits directly.

As long as everything works in a system, it can sustain itself for a long time.

Also, this transition takes a lot of time and political capital. City and national governments together can set a timeframe for the achievement of this transition, like promising that the entire city or country will run on renewables by 2030 or 2035. And with good negotiations and investments, they can partner and work with both partisan allies and opponents, NGOs and LGUs, and private citizens as well in order to set up these projects and complete their ambitious goals.

For a city to become completely renewable, it takes a lot of time, effort, and money. However, it will all be worth it if it means we all get to live healthier and safer lives in the future without being continuously ravaged by nature’s ills. Many towns and cities have taken the initiative, and it is high time for others across the world to adopt the new green deal.

BEST IDEA-INDUCING WEBSITES FOR THESIS WRITTEN BY : Luis Raphael Daoang

As future engineers from the University of Santo Tomas (UST), you will face a fair share of research studies long before graduation. You are expected to constantly identify problems, form thesis statements, come up with titles, and the like. But all of the things you need to begin a study just boil down to one word: ideas.

PUTIN DID WHAT HE NEEDED TO DO WRITTEN BY : Lance Kasel Lasam LAYOUT BY : Miriam Ruano Disclaimer: This is not a manifesto for war. Don’t be a killjoy and report to the police. This is meant for satire, we are not condoning all-out nuclear war. That’s for Putin to decide, not me, or anyone I know. Don’t bring me into something I said I don’t intend to do.

Vladimir Putin is once again misunderstood in his ‘(y)eg(o)’ noble endeavors. Despite the mainstream media gnashing their teeth with their “lies” and “propaganda” and painting him as the ultimate villain, his actions are indeed an ambitious attempt to further Western progress in a way reminiscent of the better half of the 20th century before bringing them into liberal order not seen since. The mainstream media once again just doesn’t want to listen, however, and is gnashing their teeth with their “lies” and “propaganda” against our Lord and Savior.

Putin must end the madness caused by peasants and donkeys and bring upon “a world without Nazism”. He wishes to reintroduce the renewed glory of Mother Russia and to birth an Iron Curtain that is more fitting for a Gigachad against the virgin Western Stacies. Having already consummated diplomacy with Belarus and Central Asian “friends”, the only missing piece is their prodigal child Ukraine.

His Chad plan is coming to fruition, too. Russia and Belarus have made an impassable white sheet. Ukrainian right-wingers actively clash against Russian right-wingers. Wee nobodies are arming up and calling God to strike them down. The Stacies realize their girl powers and sanction them from the lunch table along with perking up Ukraine for the talent show. Even the quiet one, Switzerland, is joining on the fun. And last but definitely not the least, he gave the biggest possibility of fulfilling Einstein’s prophecy by escalating the threat of nuclear annihilation!

This level of excitement has not been seen since the Cuban crisis of 1962, when white is starting to lose fashion and we nostalgic people are three years from first getting to know what unity tastes like.

Isn’t it fun to one-up the West at the possible expense of the people who run the East? People are holding arms and arms in defending their lines against one another. Here’s where you are Marty, and you’re not allowed to come near Alex and the crew.

I’m glad that we live in a world where we can scream at our interviewers when they ask where we think we are in 5 years’ time. I’m glad that people are finally waking up and taking sides. I’m glad that corporations specializing in military-grade weaponry are having a field day - no, a field year supplying arms to people who just knew how to handle it 5 months ago. And it’s refreshing that right-wing politicians from the West openly support Putin - that will stop them from keeping their opponents from winning elections.

Putin did what he needed to do. He wants to spearhead another revolution with his fast and loose approach to life and politics, and he did so with style. It’s a shame that some politicians do not share this enthusiasm, calling for no humiliation, no fueling of the arms race, no this, no that. They do not understand the simple logic behind all of this. He managed to unite a fragile continent, hack off a lot of people, and see who is right and who is really right (which is wrong). He is the true savior of this world. God bless America.

To even begin a thesis, you have to come up with ideas which could be through conducting background research, brainstorming, and acquiring relevant information. Coming up with fresher and more unique research ideas, however, is not a simple task, especially with the millions of studies existing worldwide. So, here are the best sites to fill your engineering minds with more ideas than you can use.

ResearchGate ResearchGate | Find and share research One way to form research ideas is to be inspired by the works of others, which ResearchGate can provide. This website gives a user access to over 135 million up-to-date publication pages.

Using the search function, type keywords to limit the results to your topic of choice or choose a branch of Science from the Topic Pages section. Using these functions, studies from all over the globe will be accessed. All in all, ResearchGate is a solid website for gathering ideas using the works of different experts.

DOST Website www.dost.gov.ph - News What better way is there to gather relevant information on Science and Technology than to visit the website of the Philippines’s Department of Science and Technology? Filled with up-to-date information and news regarding Sci-Tech, the DOST website provides information that is crucial in forming new and unique ideas to study and explore. Moreover, DOST focuses more on national studies and information, which easily allows local factors to be included in forming research ideas.

Library of Congress (LOC) Home | Library of Congress (loc.gov)

The Library of Congress is home to a variety of e-Books and pdf files on any and all topics you could ever think of. This

LAYOUT BY : Keith Andres Portia

website has different sections such as the Library Catalog, Digital Collections, Researchers, Blogs, and the like. It also allows users to receive aid from an actual librarian if needed. Also, like ResearchGate, it has a keyword search function if you opt to do the searching yourself. Books are the storage for knowledge and information, making LOC a good place to look for research ideas.

Issues in Science & Technology Issues in Science and Technology

One way to come up with fresh research ideas is to identify an existing and relevant problem. Issues in Science and Technology highlight many issues in Sci-Tech that are only waiting to be solved. Also, It has a selection of the branches and categories you may want to focus on. This website is truly a splendid platform for gathering information and inspiration. After all, one reason why we conduct research is to improve the quality of life.

R Discovery Academic Research Reading: Personalised Research Discovery - R Discovery (researcher.life) Much like ResearchGate, R Discovery allows for easy access and searches for different research worldwide. However, it has a few unique features like having an Artificial Intelligence (AI) engine that keeps track of your reading interests and finds relevant topics that otherwise are easy to miss out on. Furthermore, it has notifications and email alerts to update you on the recently published research. Aside from being a website, R Discovery can also be downloaded on mobile devices, allowing you to conduct your idea-inducing activity whenever and wherever you want.

Regardless of which site you use to kick-start your brain, one can never truly run out of research ideas. The world has tons of problems that need resolving and a variety of concepts we have yet to fully explore– which essentially make research an important and endless activity for the advancement of many communities. All things considered, a flexible, observant, and creative mind is necessary for the creation of new ideas to study, for the betterment of our daily lives and the future.

JUST TO GET THAT EDGE WRITTEN BY : Lance Kasel Lasam

People like convenience. We crave them. Whenever we decide on something, we usually pick the most convenient option, either monetarily or timewise. Nowadays especially, as our needs change at an ever faster rate, businesses and fellow individuals have devised numerous methods to increase our ease of transaction, be it through technology or through understanding human behavior.

Convenience can come in different forms and applications from appliances to communications to services to even stores and queues. However what matters is that users can enjoy a hassle-free experience whenever they interact with products and services. The right information must be delivered to the right person at the right time, at the right platform, as Caitlin Burgess of TopMark Marketing wrote.

Smart technology is one common way of increasing convenience, especially in appliances. Installing sensors, detectors, and hubs, and utilizing the Internet of Things can lead to consumers just pushing a button or simply going inside a room to activate an appliance. Anything that can decrease the hassle of a consumer, no matter how small it is, increases convenience.

Another common technique manifests whenever we use apps on our gadgets. The layout and design of an app can improve the user experience, thus increasing convenience as well. A good user interface enables consumers to quickly understand the features of an app, and thus easily transact, browse, and do

LAYOUT BY : John Patrick Villa

whatever they wish to do. People must be allowed to maximize the capability of a product with ease, that includes the seemingly trivial.

Large and small businesses are increasingly using e-commerce, either with websites like Shopee, Lazada, and Facebook Marketplace, or mobile payments like Gcash and Maya, since it enables people to shop from wherever they are, a more convenient choice than going to a physical store and looking for what they want. In a person’s perspective, any choice that can get them somewhere faster is the better choice.

We are much more inclined to choose something that can get us somewhere faster. This isn’t just present in business transactions, but also in lines, food, and shipping. These include Fast Passes that speeds up customer access to Disney rides and introducing the concept of virtual queues, the Speedee Service System that founded McDonald’s reputation for fast food, and logistics companies making sure that your stuff gets to you the same day that you bought it.

What matters in convenience is that the person gets what they want as quickly and as seamlessly as possible. There are many angles in which this can be achieved - what is mentioned here are just a speck in the grand scheme of things. Anything to get that edge and save a couple of seconds of everybody’s time may not be much, but practically, it’s worth it.

OCEAN CLEAN-UP: BEST TECHNOLOGIES TO UTILIZE WRITTEN BY : Luis Raphael Daoang

Marine life is the main source of the oxygen we breathe, the seafood we enjoy, and our fighting chance against cancer, arthritis, and other diseases. They impact our lives in so many ways and yet we live oblivious to the benefits they provide. That is why preserving our oceans is important and a “win-win” situation. To get rid of the trash in oceans, innovation is needed, and once innovation occurs, aquatic life is saved– a win on both technology and nature fronts.

SYSTEM 001 Proposed and created by Boyan Slat (CEO of The Ocean Cleanup), System 001 is a62mile-long barrier that targets visible plastic debris, ghost nets, and microplastics without interfering with marine life. It cleans the gyre at the heart of the North Pacific Ocean known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. This design roughly cleans up 80 000 tons of garbage located between Hawaii and California.

System 001 uses a U-shaped boom-and-skirt array that floats with the currents to collect and contain various plastic waste.

This floating net has a passive and slow-moving design to keep marine life from harm. Upon reaching the maximum load of waste, a vessel will remove the collected plastics much like a garbage truck.

MR. TRASH WHEEL Mr. Trash Wheel is a water wheel developed by Clearwater Mills, LLC that captures plastic debris and oil slicks in the rivers, streams, and harbors of Baltimore. It cleans up 38 000 lbs of trash a day. So far, it has

ILLUSTRATED BY : Miriam Ruano

captured and prevented 1.6 million lbs of the debris before it could reaching the Atlantic ocean.

The water wheel is placed at the end of a river or stream, where trash is funneled into the interceptor by the river’s currents.

Mr. Trash Wheel has a solar-powered conveyor belt that collects the trash and delivers it to a contained floating barge. In addition, the trash collected in the barge is incinerated and converted into electricity.

WATERSHARK Developed by scientists at RanMarine Technology, WaterShark is a design inspired by a whale shark. It is a water drone that aims to collect floating debris like plastic and bio-waste before they are carried out by winds, tides, and currents into the ocean. It cleans along the coastal waterways of the United Kingdom (UK). WaterShark cleans up an approximate amount of 15.6 tons of plastic a year.

This aqua drone is designed to be a unique filterfeeding whale that consumes waste through a long, wide mouth.

WaterShark can be controlled manually through steering or via a pre-plotted GPS map, lasting for up to 16 hours and collecting up to 200 liters of trash in a single trip. Furthermore, it can also collect and send data regarding the water’s pH levels, salinity, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, and other water qualities.

FRED The Clear Blue Sea organization has partnered with student interns from a variety of San Diego Universities to create the prototype Floating Robot Eliminating Debris, or FRED in short.

It focuses on capturing large plastic debris in bays, rivers, and oceans before it could turn into microplastics. As of the moment, FRED is in the second phase of a 4-phase project set to be completed in 2023.

FRED is designed to have flaps in front of the machine that collects debris and transports it to a collection bin via a conveyor belt. The machine is steered using a remote control and powered by solar panels. Moreover, FRED has sensors to keep marine animals away and moves at a glacial pace so animals can easily swim away.

MAGNETIC COILS A study conducted by the scientist Xiaoguang Duag resulted in a solution to tackle the global plastic issue using a new type of nanotechnology. Duag, along with his team, created tiny magnetic nano-coils that can break down microplastics in the ocean through a chemical reaction.

Even though it needs more testing, these magnetic coils are projected to clear 100% of microplastics in oceans.

Magnetic coils are coated with nitrogen and manganese.

The coating reacts with the oxygen molecules present in water, which will attack microplastics. With the help of this chemical reaction, microplastics will turn into environmentally-friendly salt compounds, water, and carbon dioxide.

CONCLUSION Ocean clean-up is useless if improper disposal still prevails.

We each have to do our part in cleaning the oceans by preventing plastics from infecting the deep through proper plastic disposal and less usage. If we choose to ignore the severity of this issue, we will only face a bigger and much more threatening consequence that we have yet to face.

PHOTO FROM : UST Growling Tigers FB Page

PHOTO FROM : @theflightph

UAAP: Long-awaited Comeback, Jerseys Stay on Track ▶▶ FROM PAGE 16 WRITTEN BY : John Carlo Urbano UAAP Season 83 was supposed to be held last year, but it was canceled due to the country’s COVID-19 crisis, which intensified after the holiday season.

Fully Alive, Champions for Life Last March 26, 2022 the long-awaited return of the UAAP took place in the Mall of Asia Arena after an unprecedented two-year pause since Season 83 was halted by the COVID-19 outbreak.

Men’s basketball, men and women’s 3x3 basketball, women’s indoor volleyball, men’s beach volleyball, men and women’s chess, poomsae, and cheerdance competition are the only sports that the UAAP staged this season.

After a long pause, the heart and soul of the UAAP basketball and volleyball started beating again and returned to action. Trying to get back to the usual habit and adapting to the new normal to bring back the grind in the arena.

You can never go wrong when your father is your basketball and life inspiration. Started playing basketball at the age of ten, Miguel Pangilinan, a fourth-year Civil Engineering student, was excited to be back on the court and clashed with different schools with that kind of high-level competition after two years of no tournament.

“I was determined to prove and make a name for myself before I graduated. Overall, being able to play was the most exciting part of my experience,” Pangilinan said.

Also Influenced by his father at the age of ten, Renzel Yongco, a fifth-year Industrial Engineering student, felt blessed to go back to the basketball court and play in the UAAP in order to represent UST. “I was actually from DLSU and I transferred to UST last 2018 so I sat out for one year. I got injured for another year, and I waited two more years in order to play because of the pandemic,” Yongco mentioned One key to balancing her life as an athlete and student is time management and discipline. Janna Elizabeth Torres, a third-year Mechanical Engineering student, began playing volleyball in seventh grade.

“The support of the UST community gave me excitement and energized me to cheer my teammates on the return of the UAAP,” Torres emphasized.

Playing in the UAAP is really a dream come true and an achievement for every athlete. Volleyball, basketball, and even other UAAP sports were all on the line in an epic and tough game between the rival schools.

Preparation is the Best Strategy Athletes have the heart to compete, and provide ample time to develop physical skills and the proper nurturing to boost their academic performance to be ready for the ultimate challenge. The way to success and ultimate victory is to get to know your teammates well, improve your skills, come up with plans, and most importantly, work as a team.

The six-foot-one Yongco is not used to leaving his family for basketball. “Actually, leaving the house and my family is actually the biggest challenge for me. Because in 2019, I won’t stay in the dorm. I usually go back and forth after every practice, and then I go home.”

“Well, during the bubble practice, I had to be away from them for three months, which left me homesick. Being able to roam around in the province at that time was also limited since I had to be isolated at UST during practices,” Pangilinan mentioned “The training is not new to us. It seems like we are just going back to training like when we were in pre-pandemic. In terms of preparation, heavy training and mindset to achieve the team’s goal of becoming a champion is what we are focusing on,” Torres added Before the bubble, athletes had to move to Manila for on-call training. Pangilinan mentioned that their team maximizes all the time

LAYOUT BY : Reinehard Aytona

they have for this season to prepare.

“The most challenging part for me is the psychological part because I’m away from my family and we’re in a bubble, but thankfully my teammates are very welcoming and we really mingled, so the chemistry was there,” Yongco highlighted.

Blood, Sweat, and Tears It requires effort and commitment, blood, sweat, and tears, as well as sacrifice, to achieve the ultimate goal of becoming champions. Sports are defined and characterized by a svtrong sense of determination, dedication, and drive. Fans are inspired by players’ passion for their games, will to win, and determination to outperform the greatest in the world. This is what makes sporting events so engaging.

The middle blocker, Torres, highlighted that in every game you must focus on the main goal and do your best to achieve it.

“We always remind each other that what is being trained is also what will come out of the game. You should give your best in training to get used to it and apply it to the actual game,” the bulakenya Tigress said.

The six-foot-two Pangilinan recalled their game with Ateneo and considered it a very tough moment, and the 50 point gap left them in a tough spot.

“The team lacked chemistry, especially with practicing with a time constraint of three months. Second is, each individual in our time was lacking improvement and skill wise,” 22-year-old Pangilinan mentioned.

“I think the bond needs to improve. Although we have fastened the track of bonding because of the bubble, there are a lot of rookies in the team. That’s why we’re not known or we haven’t mingled that much. You’d know. Just that four-month period. So I think moving forward, the best way to build this team is to be in relation to each other,” Yongco added.

Having no foreign student-athlete was one of the most difficult challenges that the UST men’s basketball team faced during the UAAP, but the game against Adamson was the team’s proudest moment. In this game, they were able to prove that even without an import player, they can still show their best and win the game. During the Adamson game, everyone on the team was able to contribute and show their best efforts with no regrets.

“Well, every moment was memorable and will be memorable, especially our fans, because no matter what game they were there to support us, no matter the score, no matter the weather, no matter the circumstances, they were there to support us,” Yongco said.

Keeping Hope Alive Small Forward Pangilinan believes that communication was the team’s way of boosting morale. Even though some of them were having a hard time keeping their morale high, the whole team remained supportive of one another and continued to speak about their feelings.

“To train as if you are after the championship title and always remember to stay motivated, because for Pangs, being motivated is the most important behavior for an athlete to have as they pursue their sport,” Pangilinan shared.

Senior Point Guard Yongco emphasized that in an analytical way, it’s more of just giving advice on how to work hard and how to translate the frustration into the things that need to be done in order to prove oneself. But in terms of a psychological way, one just has to give space first.

“You just have to give them room to breathe. Because if someone is frustrated and then you keep on pounding them, there would be two results. The first one, it would be like pounding rock and making a diamond. But the other one, they would soften up and then they would just give up,” 24-year-old Yongco added.

ELECTRIFYING JOURNEY: ▶▶ SOAR HIGH, OBIENA! WRITTEN BY : JC Urbano FROM PAGE 16

Ernest Obiena had a strong start to his eight-meet stretch after defeating the world number two, Christopher Nilsen, in the 26th Internationales Stabhochsprung-meeting in Jockgrim, Germany, last August 23. Obiena captured a gold medal after clearing 5.81m in his third attempt. Two days after his first competition for the second outdoor season, Obiena fell short and only took home bronze at the Athletissima in Lausanne, Switzerland.

After failing to bring home the gold in Athletissima, Obiena stepped up to capture the gold at the True Athletes Classic in Leverkusen, Germany, last August 28. On his second attempt, Obiena was able to reach 5.81 meters, which was sufficient to claim the victory against Rutgar Koppelaar of the Netherlands and Kurtis Marschall of Australia.

Last August 31, the gold streak continues as Obiena ruled the competition in the Wendel City Jump in Germany. Obiena won the gold medal with an outstanding 5.86-meter clearance, beating off Menno Vloon of the Netherlands and Anthony Ammirati of France, who both managed 5.81 meters.

Filipino pole vault star Obiena bagged his third consecutive gold medal after he bested world number one, Armand Duplantis, at the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) Diamond League Memorial Van Damme athletics meeting in Brussels, Belgium, last September 2. Obiena cleared the 5.91-meter mark on his third attempt, while Duplantis failed to clear the same height in three tries. Following

his recent victory, Obiena’s gold run broke after he claimed silver at the 2022 Internationales Stadionfest (ISTAF) Berlin meet at the Olympic Stadium in Germany, on September 4, 2022.

Last September 11, Obiena climbed back to the top with another golden triumph in the 2022 Golden Fly Series in Schaan, Liechtenstein.

He cleared 5.71m which he succeeded on his second attempt. American pole vaulter Olen Tray Oates and Austria’s Riccardo Klotz settled for silver and bronze, respectively. Obiena made one final jump to cap off his second outdoor season as he added another gold to his collection at the Gala dei Castelli tournament in the Bellinzona Municipal Stadium in Ticino, Switzerland.

Obiena had a stellar performance over the past three weeks, bagging podium finishes with five gold medals, one silver, and one bronze in his past eight tournaments.

It’s been a long journey for Obiena. He studied Electronic Engineering and has an interest in and appreciation for the digital and technical advancements that are fostering growth, innovation, and improvement in his field. It is absolutely all about the scientific and cutting-edge strategies that may help him flourish in his sport and become the greatest that he can be. As the Filipino pole vaulter star has shown throughout the course of the season, he is still ready and hungry for more cookies to compete with the best of the best on the biggest stage in sports.

ONCE YOU HOP, YOU JUST CAN’T STOP WRITTEN BY : Ady Advincula “With endless creativity, Jump rope is not just a sport, it is an art” Because of the pandemic, our lives became stagnant. We were locked in our four corner rooms and met people through our screens.

With this, our physical health and social life has spiraled down. But for Engineering students, Stephanie Sy and Martin Bonilla, jump rope has changed their lives.

For Sy, she invested in jump rope because she finds it fun, and as time went by she wanted to continue improving. While for Bonilla, Jump rope was introduced to him by his brother and since then he deliberately chose to be engaged in jump rope. He was interested in the jump rope community especially during the pandemic. Because of the efficiency of jump rope during this time, Bonilla realized that jump rope is something different.

The Engineering students found jump rope interesting because for them, there is more to it. Jump rope is not just a sport that helps you maintain your physical fitness, it comes in a package! It is not just beneficial for your body, but also for your overall self while having fun.

The moment one invests in jump rope, the community comes along with it, they wouldn’t be able to explore the creativity of jump rope and get to know more about their capabilities with jump tricks without the support and guidance of the jump rope community. Compared to other fitness activities including sports, jump rope comes in clutch with how everyone at every age and gender can enjoy and participate When both athletes were asked “How does jump rope help you in this challenging time?” Sy mentioned that Jump rope has been a big help for her, mentally. With the amount of stress she experienced with her course and the online class setting, jump rope became her outlet. Bonilla then answered that Jump rope not only helped him in his physical fitness but also in his social life. Because of the heartwarming support from the jump rope community, he continues to pursue jump rope for them, to give them motivation and hype. It uplifts his mood and confidence when his skills are recognized abroad.

Bonilla is known for performing in the single rope individual freestyle category that showcases his creativity and strength while performing tricks in 60 seconds while Sy participates in the single rope individual speed steps category that involves her speed and endurance in 30 seconds. The two athletes are registered to try out in the national team for Asia Competitions.

But jump rope is not all “fun and games’’, there were times where Bonilla and Sy had their ropes tangled. The jump rope athletes shared that the most complicated jump rope sequence they had done is the “leg cross” while the hardest sequence is the “power” skills like handstands and push ups.

According to Sy, her struggle was gaining confidence and overcoming doubts, especially when she performed in the freestyle category of her last competition. For the female jumper, comparing herself to others was also her problem, but then she reminds herself that we all have our own timeline and that every jumper is different.

For Bonilla, his struggle was having creative rot. Since the freestyle category requires sequences of tricks, there are times where Bonilla thinks of an idea but struggles to put it in action and this will then go on a loop until he gives up and rests.

Behind every trip, you just have to keep jumping. As Bonilla said “you win or learn, never lose”. With the help of their very supporting teammates, they lift each other up and continue to learn and bounce back from their losses and mistakes.

Sy mentioned that having a supportive and less pressuring relationship with the team is what helped her improve more on sequences that she needs to work on. As a team player, Sy also supports and trusts her team with what all she has because she believes that it could really help the team jump to the next level. And for Bonilla, there is no reason to feel pressure because their team does not see their performances as a challenge, but as an instrument to support.

His aim was always to give a good performance that everyone will enjoy and winning is just a bonus.

There will always be comments about your performance, negative or positive. But for Sy, She would always listen to the comments given to her and use this to her advantage. Bonilla then mentioned that he accepts comments with open arms, but if ever people will bad mouth his performance he would then try to brush it off and focus on improving himself. ‘ As Sy said “mahirap magstay sa isang bagay kung di ka masaya”.

She believes that finding an activity you enjoy doing could really help you improve and comparing your progress to others will not get you far. For Bonilla, trusting the process is important. He mentioned that “the first step in every activity is always the biggest step” and that whatever you do today, is already better than what you did yesterday.

And as athletes, discipline and motivation should always be present in everything you do in order to move forward.

Bonilla and Sy were both athletes during their highschool years and because of that, balancing their academic and sports life were not so much of a problem. According to the players, time management is something one should remember if they want to pursue being a student athlete, along with the strive to have passion for the things you do and remembering that, it is not a matter of doing things at the same time but taking things slowly but surely.

For athletes like Bonilla and Sy, “hindi siya jump rope ‘lang’, it’s jump rope.”It is truly an inspiration to see Bonilla and Sy do what they love, while making history and serving as the pioneers of jump rope for the next generations, at the same time.

ONCE YOU HOP, YOU JUST CAN'T STOP “With endless creativity, Jump rope is not just a sport, PAGE 15 it is an art”

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ILLUSTRATED BY : Jean Louise Orme PHOTOS TAKEN FROM : pinoyfitness.com / infobae.com

ELECTRIFYING JOURNEY: SOAR HIGH,

OBIENA! WRITTEN BY : John Carlo Urbano LAYOUT BY : Reinehard Aytona

I

n every tournament, every athlete has a game plan. Each and every facet of this strategy is essential in order for them to be successful in the future.

The strategy, which has been the topic of planning for years, has made them more focused and determined. It has also helped them see their field of vision and the situation as a whole.

With multiple achievements and accolades in his pocket, Filipino Pole Vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena has made a name for himself in pole vaulting over the last few years. He was able to take advantage of numerous opportunities to represent the Philippines in the pole vaulting arena.

EJ Obiena has pushed back his season debut and withdrew from the Init Indoor Meeting in Karlsruhe, Germany last January 28 as he had recently undergone knee surgery to treat a small meniscus tear in his left knee.

Just a month after his successful knee surgery, Obiena cleared 5.70m and finished his first tournament of the year with a fourth-place victory via countback rule at the Internationales Stadionfest Berlin 2022 in Germany last February 4. Armand Duplantis, a Swedish-American athlete, emerged victorious with a meet record of 6.03 meters. Five days after his first tournament of the year, he also cleared the 5.70-meter mark and settled for eighth place in the Beijer Pole Vault Gala in Uppsala, Sweden.

After struggling in his first two events of the year, the 26-yearold vaulter regained his groove and scored gold at the 2022 Orlen Cup in Lodz, Poland, last February 11 after reaching 5.81m in just one attempt. The 2016 Olympic Gold Medalist, Thiago Braz, and hometown bet, Piotr Lisek, placed second and third, respectively.

Last February 17, the Tondo-native received his lowest ranking this season and again missed out on a podium as he landed 10th at the Meeting Hauts-De-France, Lievin, France. American athlete Chris Nielsen bagged the title, while Thiago Braz of Brazil and Menno Vloon of the Netherlands settled for silver and bronze, respectively.

Flying back to Poland, Obiena scored his second gold medal in the 2022 Orlen Copernicus Cup last February 22 in Arena Toru, Poland, and bounced back to a 5.81-meter mark after a subpar performance a week ago.

Aiming to continue his momentum from his recent triumph, Obiena surpassed national indoor records with a 5.91-meter mark to capture silver in the Perche Elite Tour in Rouen, France, last March 5. Christopher Nilsen, the Tokyo Olympic silver medalist, finished his second French meet of the season with a personal best and new American record of 6.05 meters,

while Thiago Braz settled for third. ippine AthLast March 30, Obiena and the Philletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) finally settled their misunderstandings over the alleged misuse of funds, according to the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), “It is with much joy that we announce that both parties have agreed to a settlement and the proceedings have ended successfully,” the PSC said, adding that an agreement was also achieved in the final mediation session that took place earlier that day.

There has been an understanding obtained between the two parties that the endorsement of Obiena for participation in other tournaments would be bound by the same PATAFA rules and regulations that govern the participation of all national athletes.

PATAFA decided to support Obiena for the Southeast Asian Games and the World Outdoor Athletics Championships as part of the agreement.

Filipino pole vaulter sensation Obiena was honored and proud to get the opportunity to carry the Philippine flag at the opening ceremony of the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam. He also maintained his Southeast Asian Games men’s pole vault title by effortlessly setting a new meet record of 5.46m at the My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi. Fellow Thomasian Hokett delos Santos won silver with a clearance of 5m, sealing a 1-2 finish for the Philippines. Alwi Iskandar of Indonesia completed the podium with a 4.80-meter mark.

Last May 29, the Asian record holder, Obiena, returned to European competition with a 5.85-meter performance in front of the Basilica di Santa Maria di Collemaggio at the Federazione Italiana Di Atletica Leggera-International meet in L’Aquila, Italy. Huang Bokai of China and American Austin Miller settled for second and third, respectively.

Obiena’s momentum has been wrecked by COVID-19. In the footsteps of a golden performance in Italy, Obiena announced last June 14 that he would miss two tournaments, Oslo and Paris Diamond League due to a positive test for the coronavirus.

After recuperating from COVID-19, Obiena snapped back with a gold medal after registering a 5.92-meter mark, on June 28, at the Taby Stavhoppsgala in Taby, Sweden. Obiena continued to strive to surpass his Asian record of 5.93 meters but failed to reach 6.01 meters in three attempts.

Two days later, he finished in sixth place in the Stockholm Diamond League in Sweden clearing only 5.73 meters, far off from his golden performance in Taby, Sweden. Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis dominated the competition with a new record 6.16-meter mark.

After placing sixth in Sweden, Obiena reigned supreme in the Jump and Fly Meet after recording a performance of 5.80m in Hechinger, Germany last July 2. Huang Bokai of China claimed silver with 5.50m, topping hometown contender Vincent Hobbie with a 5.10m performance.

EJ Obiena was astounded upon his arrival in Los Angeles from Italy last July 7 after being detained by US Department of Homeland Security agents for more than 12 hours on suspicion of fleeing felony charges in the Philippines.

Based on the report, the basis for his detention was the suspicion of being a fugitive. An unidentified source may have provided US authorities with information about Obiena “with the intent to disrupt” his US entry and impede his hopes and aspirations to win and step on the podium.

While incarcerated, Obiena convinced US authorities that he was innocent, and he was later released with an apology from the US Immigration authorities.

PATAFA’s case on Obiena’s alleged embezzlement of funds and falsification of public records in the liquidation of advances from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has been received by US authorities. PATAFA is now led by the organization’s new president, Terry Capistrano, and is ready to support Obiena in his pole vault journey.

It has been reported by the Commission on Audit (COA) that Obiena has used the P10 million worth of government assistance handed to him to support his preparation for international tournaments, such as the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

COA claimed in order to ensure Obiena has adequate financial assistance for his training, PSC has released P10.3 million out of the P12.3 million straight to Obiena, a move that is against the rules of the COA. Allegations and misunderstandings between PATAFA and Obiena were eventually cleared up and settled in March 2022.

With all the circumstances and challenges that have happened recently, Obiena reached 5.75m in the 2022 World Athletics Championships men’s pole vault qualifiers last July 23, securing him a spot in the finals.

The top Asian pole vaulter becomes the first Filipino to grab a medal in the World Championships after setting an Asian Record of 5.94m at the World Athletics Championships 2022 in Eugene, Oregon, last July 25 (Philippine time). World Champion Mondo Duplantis sets a new world and championship record at 6.21 meters, eclipsing his outdoor record of 6.16m and indoor record of 6.20m. Obiena cleared the 5.94m mark in two attempts to settle for the bronze as the Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Chris Nilsen required a single attempt at the same height. After Obiena’s historic pod-ium finish at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, Obiena proved he is still the best in Asia and jumped three places to a new career-high No.3.

As a result of Obiena’s recent accomplishments on the field, the new Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) president, Terry Capistrano, officially notified the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) of the association’s intention to reinstate Obiena. Later on August 17, 2022, world number three pole vaulter Obiena has been officially reinstated to the national track and field team.

Earning the country’s first bronze medal at the 2022 World Athletics Championships, Obiena continued his winning run after snagging the bronze medal at the Silesia Diamond League last August 5 in the Śląski Stadion in Chorzów, Poland. World number one, Armand Duplantis of Sweden, led the competition after setting a new meet record at 6.10m, while Sondre Guttormsen of Norway snatched the silver via a countback rule.

CONTINUE READING ON PAGE 15

UAAP: Long-awaited Comeback, Jerseys Stay on Track

WRITTEN BY : JC Urbano

Even as the pandemic continues to decimate the world, you might assume that sports would be the least vital aspect of life to rebuild a sense of normality. At this point, sports-related issues appear trivial in comparison to more pressing issues such as area lockdowns, poverty, public health issues, etc.

When dealing with the social isolation brought on by the pandemic, keeping up with sports may be comforting. Even if you call it a coping mechanism, streaming and social media platforms such as Netflix, TikTok, and YouTube are providing the same thing as we struggle with the dullness of our restricted lifestyles.

Melancholic Sentiments Recall that the second week of March of 2020 was the first lockdown implemented. On that note, season 82 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) was officially canceled on April 7, 2020 by UAAP authorities due to the implementation of quarantine measures in several areas of the country to prevent the spread of the virus.

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