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EDITORIAL
cartoon by RHEYMAR CHUA
TOLENTINESTAR
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THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF UNIVERSITY OF NEGROS OCCIDENTAL - RECOLETOS Since 1947
EDITORIAL BOARD
AY 2020-2021
Romchelle Chris Danielle Waminal Editor-in-Chief
Cristopher Villaruel Associate Editor
Jusalanne Matulac Managing Editor DESK EDITORS
Crisha Arroyo News and Sports Editor
Carla Joanne Robles Feature Editor
TECHNICAL EDITORS
Joelle Mariel Paderog Multimedia Editor
Renee Suala Multimedia Associate Leslie Marie Banaban Literary Editor
Krisha Marie Semellano Opinion Editor
Alea Jen Villahermosa Online Content Manager
WRITERS
Trisha Shyne Cabanillas
PHOTOJOURNALIST
Raeverly Elena Ramirez
Kaye Eunice Lamera, RSW Human Resource
LAYOUT ARTIST
Karen Joy Tolosa
VIDEOJOURNALIST
Reinhardt Firmeza
CARTOONISTS
Rheymar Chua Joshua Garita Carl Andro Vallejera
Alyssa Marie Arceño Technical Consultant
editorial
IS THERE A VACCINE FOR INCOMPETENCE?
NEWS FLASH. We are at the end of the year but things haven’t really gotten better. Nine months into this endeavor and yet Filipinos find themselves stuck in the same predicament that has haunted us since the start of the pandemic, inaction, and complacency from our leaders. As every world leader is taking steps in ensuring the safety of his or her citizens given the current situation, Filipinos are constantly met with haphazard and draconian solutions to the pressing calls of health-centric policies. President Rodrigo Duterte drew flak for the late responses against the pandemic despite his call for the people to put their trust in the government in quelling the virus transmission nearly two weeks after the first confirmed novel coronavirus case in the Philippines.
However, it was not just the last-minute lockdown implementation that triggered the flak but also when President Duterte downplayed the threat of COVID-19 by saying “everything is well in the country” and there is “nothing to be scared of that coronavirus thing” in a Feb. 3 media briefing two days after the first novel coronavirus-related death in the country.
Through the months, COVID-19 cases have been skyrocketing despite President Duterte’s assurance that the government is on top of things. In the middle of the world’s longest lockdown and at the height of coronavirus cases, the Filipinos were met with the draconian Anti-Terrorism Law, “shoot them dead” threats from the President himself, declining calls for mass testing while having the controversial VIP testing of politicians, even got called pasaway by the Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque at the height of the COVID-19 cases in April when in fact, data from tech giant Google LLC showed that there was a 90 percent drop of Filipinos visiting retail stores as compared to the numbers recorded pre-pandemic. With the promise of a vaccine, this still does not serve as a silver bullet to combat the rotten political system that affects not only the health system but all facets of this society. On Dec. 16, Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III missed securing 10 million doses of vaccines from Pfizer as early as January 2021 due to an amiss in documents. As Sen. Francis Pangilinan stressed, this botched deal puts millions of Filipino lives on the line.However, despite the availability of vaccines in the market, we still must not forget the lapses the administration shown in dealing with the pandemic in the country that caused mass employment lay-offs, the romanticization of the sacrifices of frontliners, the general power tripping, to top the already existing extrajudicial killings and other human rights issues surrounding the current administration.
Tolentine Star stands with the masses in holding the national government accountable. This is the time to prioritize the people and not lash out at those who call out their haphazard and muddled plans amidst a time of hunger and desperation. We call for a government that sees the ordinary Filipino not as numbers on a chart but as human beings endowed with dignity and worthy of respect, not collateral damage to whatever powerplay is happening behind the curtains. We demand that goverment implement inclusive policies that would seek to solve not only the health crisis but tackle the potluck of problems in the country. Let us never forget the atrocities of the current administration at the height of the health crisis by paying no heed to the call for mass testing and the general downplaying of the pandemic. In this, we must press on and continue to speak against injustices and tell the stories of the victims of an incompetent administration. With this, we hope that, in due time, hopefully not that long, the skies will get clearer and we’ll get through this.
On Behalf of the Young Adults
ERIGENEIA
Leslie Marie Banaban literary editor
banabanlesliemarie@gmail.com
Kumusta ka na?
Time and time again we are lambasted by a series of unfortunate events that manifested effects not only on ourselves but on our whole being. From the global pandemic scare, isolation from people due to lockdowns, calamities, academic workload, and tons of personal obligations, we persistently strive to survive, becoming vulnerable to exhaustion that can lead to the degradation of the body and mind.
According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), 20 percent of over one billion youth in the world in the age group of 14-24 years old experience serious mental illness. It includes include behavioral and mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse, aggressive-disruptive behavior, attention-deficit and hyperactivity problems, and posttraumatic stress disorder that are the leading causes of adjustment problems in adolescents and young people today. “Young people are at the greatest risk of a range of mental health conditions during their transition from childhood to adulthood due, in large part, to the host of physical, psychological and emotional changes which occur during this vulnerable period,” UN DESA stated.
As educational institutions transitioned to distance learning, young adults and students of varying ages were prone to potential heightened psychological stressors. In a study conducted by the Association for Psychological Science published in 2017, adolescents who spent more time online, such as social media, were more likely to report mental health issues. Explaining that students who were more likely to have a higher level of exposure to social media have greater tendencies to commit cyberbullying and experience depressive episodes.
As a 21-year-old college student and a young adult myself, I have seen how students became more vulnerable to mental exhaustion as academic pressure continues to put weight on students’ shoulders. As young adults continue to comply with society’s expectations to become the professionals of the future, the more they feel empty like a kid running around in circles with no specific goal.
In 2004, the reported over 4.5 million cases of depression in the Philippines but that number is likely to be much higher since many of those suffering from depression hesitate to seek help because of the stigma still surrounding mental disorders and the cost of treatment makes it worse.
This data would tell us that we must shorten the gap and open help hotlines to extend help to more diverse people. tReach out and mitigate the harm. May the twisted system be improved and sustainable mental health care
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Learning is gaining knowledge and understanding through experience. Compliance is submitting what is due, with or without learning from it. These two words do not mean the same thing but have confused students during these critical times. Learning can be associated to but should not equate to compliance.
The COVID-19 outbreak brought sudden changes to our lives. There is the strict implementation of health protocols that resulted in reduced mobilization.
With these changes, every sector of society is affected, most especially educational institutions.
According to University Registrar Engr. Christopher Taclobos, MEng the University’s college population dropped by 6.2 percent due to the pandemic during the first semester of the school year.
Adapting to the demands of online learning, the University implemented the phase system where a maximum of five three-unit subjects is allowed per phase, three sessions per subject, and three hours per session, doing away with terms per semester.
This was done to, supposedly, reduce the student load but it seems like its overall implementation is more demanding not only to the students but also to the faculty members. In this set-up, time, more or less, is seen as an opponent in education, which should not be the case.
This time, we need to double or even triple our efforts in learning on our own. Yes, instructors are there to do their jobs and try their best but then, that’s it. There is only so much one can do in a patchedup plan of a system. The rest of our learning seemingly depends on us, students.
“The deadline will be tonight.” One more problem with this system and the new-normal education is that the deadlines could be set at any time of the day, 24/7. In the previous scheduling, students call it a day after, at most, 8:30 p.m. Now, deadlines are to be met even at midnight or during dinner time, a time often spent with family. Students are also
To Learn or to Comply?
ROYAL WIGGLES
Renee Suala multimedia associate
royalwiggles@gmail.com
Students should be able to become more understanding and effective to double their pace in learning and coping with the abrupt changes in the educational set-up.
their parents’ children and being tasked to do chores is not out of the question. Students have their own lives at home and responsilibilities, and it should be also take into consideration.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization estimated that about 70 percent of the total student population worldwide had been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, according to educationdata.org, distance learning is more challenging to the students, especially to those who are not prepared to adapt to the demands of the new educational set-up. “Completion rates for some students can be as much as 22 percent lower than for students in face-to-face courses,” it reported. With the current system, the students could end up prioritizing compliance over actual learning, which is not right in any
Why are We Afraid of Being Different?
USAYITOIDI
Joshua Garita cartoonist
joshuapelaez12@gmail.com
For the lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender, queer, and others (LGBTQ+), coming out of their closets is difficult, especially if they were born in a community made up of the misinformed and disinformed. To give you a reality check, stereotyping, catcalling,
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Re;connect links. . .
students amidst the pandemic. We wanted to give them the chance to learn and to act as an agent of change in the society. So, I can say that we were able to fulfill our desired purpose for this activity,” he said. Rialin Yasay, a first year civil engineering student who won first place in the RE;CONNECT essay writing contest, shared that she learned the essence of communication through the webinar.
“I can say that I am glad that I didn’t choose to neglect this splendid opportunity just because of the blocks of intimidation, ” Yasay said.
“RE;CONNECT: An Advocacy Webinar” was a two-part activity which consisted of a webinar series and an essay writing contest spearheaded by the UNORSSGO in collaboration with the Mass Communication society.
and harassing the LGBTQ+ community members have been normal ever since and sadly, that has not changed until now.
In an article published by Pew Research Center senior editor Bruce Drake in 2013, he said that while there were a lot of LGBTQ+ adults who perceived that society has become more accepting of the said community, there are still others who are receiving continuous discrimination. Drake also stated that 45 percent of Americans think that “engaging in homosexual behavior is a sin,” what more here in a very religious and uptight conservative country.
The Philippines is one of the countries where government officials oppose the legalization of same-sex marriage despite its acceptance in other countries.
Jesus Falcis, a Filipino gay lawyer who filed the petition for same-sex marriage, had fought a long battle to amend the country’s family code. Falcis petitioned to legalize LGBTQ+ civil marriage and said that the current family code is not being fair to the LGBTQ+ members. But, in return, the Supreme Court had junked the appeal and until now we can still hear the outcry and pleas of the LGBTQ+ community members for equal rights and justice.
If raising children and general parenting are presented in an argument, one cannot define good parenting based on sexuality alone. In 2006, a position statement given by Canadian Psychological Association emphasized that same-sex couples are deemed fit and able to raise children as heterosexual parents do. “Their [LGBTQ+ parents’] children are as psychologically healthy and well-adjusted as those reared by heterosexual parents,” the association said. With this in mind, one may ask if the parents, straight or not, are truly practicing or even trying to practice good parenting at home.
Good parenting is based on how you teach life to a child and is not solely for heterosexuals. It’s nonsensical. The capability of raising a family does not only rest on sexuality alone but on raising a child’s well-being.
In an article released by the Human Rights Watch, in the Philippines, students who are LGBTQ+ members suffer from bullying, physical or sexual assault, and lack of access to information about the LGBTQ+ community. Discrimination is, more or less, the most hackneyed issue faced by LGBTQ+ community members and it, ultimately, fires hate and abuse towards its members.
Meanwhile, the appeal for the approval of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity or Expression or SOGIE Bill that was first filed in August 2016 by Senator Risa Hontiveros remains to be a hot issue.
The Bill mainly focuses on anti-discrimination towards members of the LGBTQ+ community but it has many other inclusions as well.
According to DivinaLaw Underbar Associate Ma. Jiandra Deslate, the SOGIE Bill encompasses the protection against discriminatory and unlawful practices of the LGBTQ+ members. These discriminatory and unlawful practices to the LGBTQ+ members include the denial of rights in accessing public services and application for a professional license, among many others. Due to the documented instances of misinformation of the SOGIE Bill, some people often complain and throw hate speech on social media without even reading and understanding the history and struggles of those in the said community.
During a House hearing last Nov. 4, Coalition of Concerned Families of the Philippines lawyer Lyndon Caña showed opposition versus the said Bill and said that the LGBTQ+ community became a “super special elite class”. Caña also said that the SOGIE Bill does not benefit the “straight community” at all. At this rate, the LGBTQ+ community is fighting for the bare minimum things, such as acceptance and protection from bias, discrimination, and violence.
I just hope that the struggles of our LGBTQ+ folk are taken into account before we make rash opinions against them. Like any other person out there, they are still humans who have rights, have emotions, and should not be treated otherwise or less because they are deemed different from society.
The world isn’t a grassy path filled with rose petals where the walk is easy, ideal for some, and sometimes, romantic. There will be thorns that could hurt and wound you. But the fact that you are born and breathing are enough reasons for you to be respected. There is nothing wrong in being different from society’s standards Everyone deserves to be accepted and loved no matter which part of the spectrum you are in. LGBTQ+ rights are also human rights. Let that sink in. Now, we ,as the informed, must do our part in spreading awareness to mitigate the hate our friends in the LGBTQ+ community are receiving, to empower other marginalized members of our society, and to, ultimately, overcome discrimination.
On Behalf of... from page 11
actions shall be implemented. Vulnerable young adults are like ticking time bombs. An immediate counter on this important matter should not be neglected. Not now, not ever.
World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that “It is now crystal clear that mental health needs must be treated as a core element of our response to and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic” and that
To Learn or... from page 11
aspect. Students are supposed to understand and experience their lessons and tasks as a way to be molded rightly as future professionals.
With compliance alone, students would do the job but neglect digging deeper into its purpose. The goal is to learn but it seems like the objective shifted from comprehension to merely passing without truly mastering anything.
This is the very reason why students should be able to become more understanding and effective in doubling their pace in learning and coping with the abrupt
Misa De Gallo...
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Blessed Mother which ends with her giving birth to the Savior of the World on Christmas day,” Fr. Potencio says in gentleness.
While most churchgoers during the simbang gabi would go for the celebration of the birth of Christ, there are others that go to Mass for the sake of granted wishes once all nine nights are completed. Fr. Potencio believes that it can be an expression of faith in God who grants our petition.
“Many, if not all, who attend the simbang gabi must have some petitions they ask from God and believe that their prayers will be more efficacious because it includes the sacrifice of waking up early for nine consecutive days,” he explains, adding that we must also remember that God will only grant our wishes when it is the right time.
More than the outside appearances of Christmas lights, wreaths, and Filipino lanterns, simbang gabi offers more than just the norms of Filipino society. Fr. Potencio adds that some Latin American countries also have their versions of simbang gabi governments should take into account its citizens’ emotional and mental health well-being seriously because it can impact a country’s “long-term social and economic costs.” This is considering the anxieties and what-ifs everyone is facing as an effect of the wide-scale changes the pandemic brought.
I am writing this article to amplify the voices of the many young adults and students seeking help in whatever aspect. Not only
changes in the educational set-up. However, it seems all rainbows and butterflies until one actually gets down to it which is suddenly like getting through the apocalypse. In these challenging times, it may seem as though we are on our own but along with growth comes some pain and heartaches.
However, I hope that the administration listens to our plea. The system is a flawed one. It seems as though the negatives further outweigh the positives in educational delivery.
To begin with, the Philippine educational system is far from
minus the cultural elements of the Philippines.
“What is uniquely Filipino in the simbang gabi would be some cultural elements proper to us like the choice of music in the Mass, Filipino delicacies eaten together after the Mass, and the family tradition of going to the Mass together,” he explains, adding how these elements form the promise to complete the nine-day Masses.
From a theoretical perspective, with COVID-19 cases skyrocketing and with it claiming more lives, mass gatherings would have been strictly banned. This could have meant no basking in the awe-inspiring beauty of cathedrals, no flickering Christmas lights dancing to the beat of the hymns, and no more Mass. Fr. Potencio clarifies that if it would have been the case, simbang gabi Masses would be done online but the feel of it would be entirely different.
“It would never be the same. Not only because virtual presence cannot truly substitute the physical presence of people but also because we cannot is this a cry for help but a call for change. As the world combats the global health crisis, may the young adults continue to resist complete burnout.
Most importantly, help is what we need. Starting from our circle of friends, and families, to institutions, workplaces, and community. May our pleas be heard. Together, let our voices reverberate in volumes until someone hears and, hopefully, acts.
perfect but I hope that action to improve it is being done for the sake of everyone.
Attending classes but not listening and digesting the lectures is not learning. Downloading study materials but not reading and understanding them is not even close to it. Passing requirements without doing them yourself or settling with mediocre work will not help you improve as a student and as a future professional. You may survive but you will never grow. It should not be “basta makapasar” rather “tani may maintsindehan”.
receive the body and blood of Christ,” he elucidates, patiently expounding the what-ifs.
On the first day of September, most of us would start to decorate our homes with attractive wreaths and reflective balls, towering Christmas trees and, in some cases, an innovative tree made from recycled materials, and play Christmas carols in establishments and workplaces. It is through this lens that he views our sense of Christmas as both religious and cultural. It is also a more patent indicator that Christmas celebrations are truly imminent.
“When we begin to hear the ringing of church bells at dawn, we feel that we are to celebrate Christmas in no time,” Fr. Potencio closes in a calm voice.
While the distinct December breeze clings to the air and the sterile smell of face masks are all that can be sniffed, simbang gabi will always be the missing puzzle piece in the Filipino Christmas tradition. The streets kissed with the tiny bright bulbs of white and yellow, the holiday jam and caroling, and the signature Jose Mari Chan songs—all
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Publication nabs ...
despite the limitations the current pandemic has brought,” she stated.
Furthermore, she shared that the publication will not only produce aesthetic outputs but present the rawness of life captured through their works, whether online or in print.
“With a bit of passion and practice, these stories presented through articles or graphics contribute to the overall improvement of the outputs of Tolentine Star,” Waminal closed.
Before COPRE 2020, online campus journalism workshops were held by PIA Region Six from September to November via Zoom Meetings and Facebook Live where Tolentine Star members snagged places in the “promising” categories.
“The current editorial board made sure to make the staff members participate in workshops to improve their craft in their respective fields. Even though we’re miles apart, we still pushed through in holding and attending online journalism workshops and in encouraging the staff members to join one,” she added.
COPRE is an annual event that gathers student journalists around Region Six for on-the-spot writing competitions and to recognize and award publication outputs.
The Carrier of John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation (Bacolod), Inc., the Eagle Publication of Colegio San Agustin - Bacolod, and the Spectrum of the University of St. La Salle were some of the publications that joined this year.
COPRE will return in December 2021 for the On-the-Spot Writing competitions and journalism workshops for campus journalists in the secondary and tertiary level with PIA-Region Six hoping to conduct it face to face.
of what makes Christmas uniquely Filipino would have been all for naught without the celebration of the birth of our Savior.
Christmas is the time of strengthening our faith and personal bond with God through sharing unyielding love with our neighbors. The spirit of Christmas lives in our hearts, and without our faith, it would cease to exist. But above all that, we must remain strong because no pandemic can shake the Filipino spirit of faith and devotion.
READY, SET, GAME RESPONSIBLY
by REINHARDT FIRMEZA
After the smashing popularity of After the smashing popularity of the Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA), Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) sparked the immersion of players in an exhilarating game of teamwork, coordination, and skill through Android and iOs devices thereby amassing almost 500 million downloads and reaching up to 75 million active players since it was released in 2016. With how accessible the game is, with it being available on smartphones, no wonder it became a large contributor in becoming one of the most highly downloaded games of all time.
Aiming to foster a balance between good sportsmanship and good study habits, the three Student Leaders (SLs) Jerril Peñafiel, Dianne Padrigo, and Ken Chan established in September 2020, the Facebook group MLBB Players of UNO-R. This growing community holds events, tournaments, and even giveaways to reward the group members on the purpose of achieving their main objective of finding the calm between games and academics. But with the pandemic disrupting almost every aspect of life, how is this virtual community faring?
WELCOME TO MOBILE LEGENDS
Immersed in the diverse and competitive atmosphere of the Facebook group of gamers, the members of the MLBB Players of UNO-R Bacolod City amassed a total of 290 members as of press time. Amidst these unprecedented times, leading the group with a burning passion for MLBB, Jerril Peñafiel, one of the SLs, continues to persevere to uphold their objective and inform the UNO-Rian community that online games could bring successes in both academics and gaming.
“The group was created [because of the] drive to inform students that online gaming poses no threat or harmful effects to an individual, especially if managed well, [and] that students may flourish both in gaming and academics,” Peñafiel says, clarifying on notions that gaming negatively affects academics.
Although the group remains a public and open-access Facebook group, the SLs make sure that each application is a bona fide UNO-Rian. Clicking on each aspiring member’s profile and ensuring that the applicant is a student of the University, the SLs deliberate their available information to maintain the security of the group. Allowing students outside the University would have disrupted their very identity. After being reviewed, a quick overview of their rules will be shown, including proper conduct and good sportsmanship.
“We wanted our community to grow and with that, it requires
GLORY AND HONOR. MLBB Players of UNO-R converge at a live gameplay of MLBB. photo courtesy of MLBB PLAYERS OF UNO-R FACEBOOK
PAGE.
respect among the student members of the page,” Peñafiel guarantees in a benevolent voice.
Implementing these simple rules are vital for the group’s harmony and unity. While each member promises to abide by these rules, violating a single rule could mean disqualification, the least favorable of all consequences. Despite the consequence of violation, as long as the members continue to balance proper character and good sportsmanship, there is nothing to be feared.
CODE OF MEMBERSHIP
Much like any other groups in the gaming community, the group also holds giveaways and tournaments to hold the members’ attention and ramp up the group activity. On the tournaments it holds, it is also being streamed on their group page. The community also holds raffle draws involving game consumables like diamonds, the currency in MLBB, to give incentives to the group members.
“[We have] raffle draws for students and some events that would drive them to excel and do well academically,” Peñafiel explains, revealing that more than typical tournaments, raffle draws attract students gamers more.
Encouragement to do better in each of their academic endeavors while relishing in the thrill of the game remains to be the leaders’ main goal yet encountering issues that disrupt this positive movement is inevitable. Streaming tournaments require both stable connectivity and good time management to balance academics and other activities, and sometimes, these qualities are tested. “Before we joined and applied as Student Leaders [of the group], we were aware that we must balance our time between our studies and managing the group,” Peñafiel shares, disclosing that what seemed to be an easy task in others’ eyes was a battle for himself and his fellow SLs.
SWEET REWARD OF HARD WORK
The exhausting demands of online classes and of leading a community of student gamers on Facebook may all sound exceedingly difficult, however, Peñafiel divulges that time management has not only helped them get through each hurdle but also improved how they were able to manage the members and the activity within the group over the past semester.
“Time management [helped] us get through these certain challenges. We always allot a portion of our time in managing the group page and in making sure a sound environment is maintained among its members,” assures Peñafiel, adding that academics will always be a priority for them.
While healthy gaming is strongly encouraged and nurtured within the group, they have also encountered unfortunate events. On some inopportune days, the group encounters toxic gaming qualities, such as members using cheats including piloting and the unfair use of third-party programs - a no-no in the group’s rule book.
“What the players and contest participants should never do [are the following] - cheating in any form [including] piloting, unfair use of thirdparty programs, … [and] raising intense conversation on the SLs, other players, [and] other organizers,” the rule book emphasized.
The rules state that any violations that the event attendee or group member may enact will be sanctioned in the form of penalties and disqualifications in events. These rules are enforced to keep a positive and less toxic environment for the members.
Despite the stresses that come with managing an online group, what proved to be more important for the SLs was the fellowship and camaraderie that they, along with the members, attained within the group. What they viewed was merely a small step in the group’s beginnings was now flourishing in the environment they slowly built.
“It is fulfilling to be a part of this group and to manage one. I met new friends and I am able to see friendships grow in tournaments,” Peñafiel reflects, adding how grateful and fulfilling it was to become a part of the group’s growing community.
With the continuing growth in popularity that MLBB has, the future for the group is rising in the right direction. Their mission will never change for them. The goal is to create a balance between good sportsmanship, having fun and developing good study habits.
“We have lots of plans for this group. We want it to grow more. Garnering more members and encouraging students that they can always do well as they play online games and while maintaining good academic performance at the same time,” Peñafiel discloses, concluding that they are looking forward to more active members and tournaments in the future.
Jerril Peñafiel and the other SLs have cultivated the culture of balance between education and gaming. They continue to foster this for the betterment of the MLBB community and the welfare of the UNO-Rians. Gaming will forever be a part of modern culture and the MLBB Players of UNO-R will be a part of the UNO-R gaming culture.
Gaming may be considered as one of the worst hobbies to have for some and parents may be prone to frown upon video games in general. But as long as a balance is created between gaming and practicalities, like pursuing one’s education, it will never harm the player. Like any other habit, it has its ups and downs. But as for many, gaming far outweighs the good from the bad. Things like overcoming stress management problems, proper hand-eye coordination, and fellowship between gamers further overrides the burdens that life and the pandemic brought and may bring along.
Flashback
komiks ni Renee Suala
likha ni Joshua Garita
Kumpletuhin ang crossword puzzle. Isumite ang litrato nitong pahina at maging isa sa limang mananalo ng premyo mula sa Tolentine Star. Isumite lamang ito sa aming Facebook page.
Across:
4.Ang Simbang ____ ay ang idinaraos sa madaling araw sa loob ng siyam na araw bago ang Kapaskuhan. 6. Siya ang itinakdang ipinanganak upang iligtas ang sanlibutan. 7. Dito ang lugar kung saan ipinanganak si Hesus.
8. Ang Noche _____ ay isang salu-salo sa bisperas ng Kapaskuhan. 10. Ito ay karaniwang nasa hugis bituin na isinasabit na naghuhudyat ng pagsisimula ng Kapaskuhan. Down:
1. Ang ______ Tree ay puno na sinasabitan ng mga palamuti at ilaw para pampadagdag ng ganda dito. 2. Si _______ Claus ay iniuugnay sa Pasko na karaniwang kinagigiliwan ng mga bata dahil sa paniniwalang nagbibigay ito ng regalo. 3. Ito ay katawagan sa regalo na binibigay tuwing Pasko, maaring pera o gamit. 5. Ito ay kakanin na matamis at paboritong kainin pagkatapos ng simbang gabi. 9. Ito ang tawag sa imaheng pinapakita ang kaganapan sa kapanganakan ni Hesus.
word Jumble
All about Greek Mythology
by Joshua Garita
Unscramble the jumbled letters to form a word related to the theme. After you unscrambled the letters, arrange the circled letters to reveal the answer.
A mountain in Thessaly that in, Greek mythology, is the abode of the gods.
DORNUDLERW LLOAPO
DUASEADL
DOSNISUY
DAESUM BESRUCRE
RASE
CAUGHT IN ACTION: CAPTURE THE ENERGY, CAPTURE THE DRAMA.
OF GRAPPLES AND FOOTHOLDS. Sunny Diego (middle) displays his gold during the awarding ceremony at the Jiu-Jitsu Pan American Championship 2020. photo courtesy of SUNSTAR-
BACOLOD .
Diego is int’l Jiu-Jitsu champ
by CARLA JOANNE ROBLES
Bacolodnon Sunny Diego dominated the international Jiu-Jitsu stage as he clinched the championship title in the Pan American Championship 2020 Light Featherweight Division held in Silver Spurs Arena Kissimmee, Florida, Oct. 8 to 11.
Making his way to the top as the first Negrense titleholder, his signature triangle choke vindicated Diego as the endgame champion versus competitors Ramiro Morales of Tiburones BJJ Puerto Rico and American Ryan Cramer of Gracie Barra Arizona. In an article published by Digital News Exchange, Diego expressed confidence that he was going to be hailed as tourney victor.
“I knew from the very start I could achieve it [championship title]. My faith was so big. I have put in the work. I somehow knew it was going to come. Every day for six months of training I was telling myself [that] I am the champ,” he added.
With this achievement, Diego admitted that although Jiu-Jitsu may challenge egos and cause injuries, he always commits time and effort to practice this sport.
“It is the best thing that ever happened to me. One may never understand until they are deep into it,” Diego said. Diego is the first Filipino competitor to break through the top spot at the PanAmerican Championship in history who trained under Prof. Omar Salum Jr., one of the best rooster-weight grapplers of all time.
Aside from seizing the championship title, Diego also wants his achievement to be an inspiration to his fellow Filipinos who also want to excel in sports.
“Be driven, disciplined, focused, and work harder than everybody,” he added. He finished his kindergarten, elementary, and tertiary education with a degree in Computer Science at the University.
He is currently the President of Gracie Humaita Jiu-Jitsu Redlands, an academy in California that teaches Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.
Diego plans to participate in the next World Master Championship in December of this year to be held in Florida, USA.
The Pan American Championship is one of the biggest Jiu-Jitsu events in the world and is the largest in North America.
14 SPORTS FEATURE
Needless to say, there is no stopping the rise of virtual communities. UNO-Rians won’t be left behind the dust as they build their very own online home.
