The Story of the Renovated Library at the 2nd Floor of CDL Building

by Teresa R. Perez

The internet and social media are changing how information is being generated, utilized, and accessed by individuals, with less order and control. In the 21st century, the library has become less of a physical space and more of a relationship between and among the people who access, use, and share information.

In keeping with libraries of the 21st century, our University President, who always champions modernization and the use of technology in CEU, felt that there is a need to renovate our University Library phase by phase, to keep abreast with all the changes in learning resource centers. With her thinking hat on, her enthusiasm became contagious and we began planning. We want our University Library to be a welcoming common space that will further encourage creation, collaboration, exploration and communication between students, teachers, and the entire university community. We want to design a relaxed space as the users continue to explore knowledge and creativity. Our University President’s vision is to bring together the best of physical and digital technology to create learning hubs or learning spaces or learning commons. Incidentally you can see that the arrangement of our furniture is very flexible because we would want this Library to be a true hub of learning with other vision that this learning space will also be venue for mini concerts, debates, poetry reading, twilight reflections, storytelling - digital or otherwise and other related activities.

Hence I can say that the design of our newly renovated library encourages multiple uses and connections. Natural light, openness, a little bit of color here and there and a variety of settings are its integral features.

Our new University Library plays an important role in supporting the success of the teaching and learning of our students. I was particularly impressed with our University Library when pandemic started in 2020. In a month or so, they were able to mobilize and adopt new ways to better serve the students who are all doing online classes. They provided and continue to provide countless of resources, such as educational materials both digital and non-digital. They were able to find a way to ensure that even the hard copies of books were delivered to whoever needed them, as long as they were requested.

Our Library is also a repository of the university’s different publications — documents and materials that have been produced

Continued reading on page 21

Poverty is Such a Cruel Thing

by Janzzel Marie T. De Ocampo

Art

by Elaine Marie M. Salem

How does art make you feel?

I remember sniffing my coffee—white chocolate mocha perhaps; the intricate works hanging in every museum I have ever walked to in different shades of stilettos as I admire each stroke and emotion.

A moment where I stared at a starry night, watching how the stars waved steadily yet always shines, and how every cloud pave its way to see the night sky.

I remember listening to old songs—even modern ones and how I sing and dance to each beat... excitedly jumping at the top of my bed as I hold my imaginary concert. Moments when the days turned chaotic yet my words are always with me as I eagerly pray that they would never leave me, and if they do, I know that they will still find their way back.

I remember the time of waves of laughter, sorrows, confusion—emotions; all arts in different forms, and I am thankful for being able to feel, for being human, for being able to experience life with arts, and oh... there is indeed much more to say.

Since I was young, I’ve already made acquaintances with poverty. I could barely walk when my mother left the country so she could earn us a life of comfort and security;

And she told me that when she came back home for the very first time, she broke down

Because her baby... her own baby didn’t even recognize her.

Still, she does the best she could so that my life could be better than how her was.

The threat of poverty took my parents away from me.

I didn’t get to wake up and have breakfasts and dinners with a complete family,

Nor did I get to share stories of my days and enjoy the weekends with my mother nor my father.

No, they were across the sea, one thousand and three hundred twenty-two kilometers away.

They missed my birthdays, my bad days, and my milestones; And I was jealous of my friends that had their parents right there waiting for them for when they got home.

While I was here waiting day by day for a miracle so that my parents could finally come home… and stay.

A quote from Robert Kiyosaki in 2017 was“ It’s true that money is not the most important thing in life, but money does affect everything that is important to life.”

Poverty is such a cruel thing.

To think that I am even part of the lucky ones.

Because out there, there are people who suffer greater things. There are the ones who starve, ones who are sick, who lack education, and who are homeless.

Let us stop romanticizing Philippine resiliency.

Because a person striving to survive in poverty - it’s not something to be celebrated!

It is something for the government to take responsibility.

To take action, donate, educate, create jobs, and break down inequality. Because all the corruption, crimes, and lack of organization, It kills the dreams of a billion children.