TLRC TeleSKUP VOL. II No. I

TELESKUP VOL. II #1

CONTENTS

03

SPECIALS

TEANOTES

Clemency Amidst COVID

09

05

Where Together Takes Us

TEANOTES

Noel, Noel

06

11

TUTIPS

The Doctor is in... The Frontline

Uptakes in Teaching and Being

13

08

We Are Not Home

TEANOVATION

Making Waves

15 A Tale of a City and Two Provinces

Panggadian

16 A Tale of a City and Two Provinces

ABOUT THE COVER

Mask? Ara!

17 A Tale of a City and Two Provinces

Shelling Out in Capiz

18 UP CLOSE

The Journey with COVID-19

19 UP CLOSE

The Covid-19 Chronicles: Confessions of a “Close Contact”

Ever steadfast and moving forward - these are the makings of an Iskolar ng Bayan. Upon the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, several members of the UP Visayas community answered the resonating needs of the nation - through their academic expertise, dedication and proclivity for community efforts, and knowledge-based actions.

It is through the passion for servitude that the UP community translates “honor and excellence” into tangible solutions. The cover honors the frontliners as the prime catalyst and behind them, we have also witnessed the emergence of unsung champions for flattening the curve. Some are brought by resonating

21 TEABRAIN

Jimble Jumble calls for action and some answer without getting a call. The pandemic also brought several changes and UP adapted accordingly, one of which is new leadership. Amidst all the challenges and changes, there is one thing left to say: Padayon, Iskolars ng Bayan.

01

EDITORIAL

TELESKUP VOL. II #1

FOREWORD The pandemic came. We were never prepared for it. We did not think it would come.

But gloomy as it looks, we are reminded that help should be made available anytime it is needed.

UPV has conducted, still does, and continues to do its share of public service. Apart from teaching and research, UPV performs extension function. Initiatives come in the form of researches, studies, programs, and activities to serve the neighboring community. These are initiatives that make us proud as members of the academe because these researches, studies, and stories have touched the lives of others.

In this issue, we celebrate UPV’s contribution to public service. We hope that a few of the recent studies, stories, and initiatives we have selected to feature can lift up the spirit and empower the mind to think of more ways by which the University can share its expertise with its intended public.

Inspired by what Hellen Keller said, “the University is just one, it cannot do everything, but surely it does not fail to do something.”

PROF. AMY D. TANOY Editor-in-Chief

02

TELESKUP VOL. II #1

TEANOTES

CLEMENCY AMIDST COVID 1/2

Like a thief in the night, he sneaked in to be home again. Like a thief in the night, he unlatched a door to give hope amidst trying times. And like a thief in the night, he walked a tightrope to take on the role as UPV’s 11th Chancellor.

In his words, he said,

“My roots are here… family, friends… life in a very diverse place like Manila only accentuated the Ilonggo in me. I always felt I belonged here, and that I will eventually come home.”

Voracious reader, glib talker, fluid writer, articulate conversationalist, out-and-out teacher, a good-humored and amiable person: these are descriptions close friends would aptly remember him as a student, colleague, and/or friend.

Once a student at UPV, he would walk gleefully along the corridors in the campus.

As he meets friends and classmates pass by, he would exchange pleasantries and, at times, leave them with waggish notes as he flaunts his boyish smile. Those days were not days of mere hard work; those were days of fun that had a lot to do with the vibrant campus life (that for him), made a lot of difference. Such fizzy and bubbly days he wishes to bring back to UPV.

oy

Tan y D. m A . f

ro

by P

Once a mentor of students along the areas of Political Science and History, he would wobble up his tongue with theories and paradigms that sounded like “bizarre incantations” to some students who would then say a prayer: “Lord, I hope I’ll make it to his class.” His classes had been engaging because, just as he would encourage students to take part in arduous discussions, he too would often butt in with riveting questions that leave his students either in awe or in wonderment.

According to him, “professors should always aim at getting students fascinated with ideas. That’s the big picture. If you get that right, the rest are just details.”

Photos from: UPV IPO

03

“Memet” is an endearment that he had been fondly called by close relatives and colleagues in the campus.

Even during his younger years as member of the faculty, he had been pleasantly sociable. For instance, in some cordial occasions at the Cafeteria on the Iloilo City campus, he would chat with a group of yuppies, laugh about their own “glooms and miseries” and spend endless banters with a few “deranged” friends where arguments turn into silly repartees, ending the get-together with his signature laugh, devoid of meanness and malice.

A fun-loving person who loves good company and animated conversations, he said, “I also enjoy working my way through good food and the occasional copious libation.”

He moved out of the University to work as senior faculty member at the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) where he taught courses in social science research and Philippine history and culture. For a time, too, he immersed in life outside of the academe that exposed him to the rudiments of politics. All these made him realize that “those interminable meetings that many U.P. people are so fond of are unnecessary… we can do with far simpler processes.”

Three things he is passionate about: to teach, to cultivate scholarship among young academics, and to run a university.

And as he leads the University in this time of pandemic, he plans to give all-out support to students and members of the UPV community. According to him, “we should not only provide reliable infrastructure. Since we are in uncharted waters, there is also a need to be flexible in our approach. We should be willing to make adjustments in the way we implement remote learning.”

Focused on motivating people, he believes that plans fail if those who make up the organization are demoralized, thus the need to cultivate trust, which is the weft and warp of any good organization.

He believes that, if UPV can build on its strengths, it has so much more to give.

With the pool of experts in the University, he thinks that UPV should also extend help to local authorities by deploying available expertise in areas where these are most needed.

He may not be everything to everyone: he loses patience, he gets bored. But while he loves to interact and talk to people, he just couldn’t keep still all the time.

Does he get stressed? Not when he starts to exercise or occasionally enjoy a beer or two (or three) or watch a movie in Netflix.

He has established residence in Manila with his wife, Ms. Sahlee Carino, who hails from Bolinao, Pangasinan.

She is the former UP Student Regent and a graduate of the U.P. School of Economics who, at present, is an antimoney laundering specialist working as a compliance officer at a multinational bank.

Indeed, his words matter. Call it his branding and presence, he sure knows where and when to put his foot down. One feels the energy when he starts to exude the passion, the urgency and the confidence in decisions that would certainly redound to the best interest of UPV and its neighboring community.

And as he looks in and out to take care of UPV, let us welcome 4C’s: Chancellor Clement C. Camposano, as he starts his term of service as UPV’s leader in the time of COVID.

Photos from: UPV IPO

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TELESKUP VOL. II #1

TEANOTES

by Prof. Amy D. Tanoy

Young looking, but not-so-young, the medals attached to his sleeves outdo what his true age reveals.

And, for one who considers himself a not-so-organized person, his achievements are commendable.

According to him, “I really don’t have a set daily routine. Outside of my classes, I just randomly go around the University, visiting the various offices and projects I work with. It may seem chaotic but the randomness of it keeps me on my toes. Maybe one of the reasons why I get things done is that I make sure to really interact with the people I work with.”

In the early part of the pandemic when Iloilo City was still groping for the best strategy to address the need of the COVID-stricken community, responses came just in the nick of time. And one of those who responded was this Director and his staff at the Philippine Genome Center Visayas (PGC Visayas).

“After our first meeting with the LGU of Iloilo City at the start of the pandemic, it just dawned on us that everyone had to do our part for the community,” he declared.

With the help extended to the local government, this goodlooking tsinito, often clad in shirt and maong, is readily armed with the technical knowledge on the use of the GenAmplify COVID-19 rRT-

PCR detection kits that make him the lead person and a vital source of technical advice on COVID-19 Testing in Western Visayas.

Behind all the merits labelled onto him, however, are some niggling and piddling details that speak of his professional involvements and personal experiences.

For one, many may not have known that he is one of the young entrepreneurs who used to own and manage the “Fish Spa,” one of the spa centers located in one of the big malls in the City.

To this he retorted, “My business partners and I have already moved on from our past entrepreneurial stint with The Fish Spa, not because we couldn’t work with each other anymore, but more because of our growing commitments to our respective institutions.”

Early on, he had no plans of being a teacher: he sees himself plunged seriously into fisheries and aquaculture research. “I probably will never run out of questions to ask when it comes to this field and I would probably bury myself in research just to be able to answer these questions,” he stated. But the motivation and inspiration that came from his mentors encouraged him to join the teaching force.

Significantly, even the idea of studying at UPV was never an easy 05

Photos from: UPV IPO

decision, not because he did not want to study Fisheries but mainly because he then thought moving to Iloilo was tantamount to moving into a place where he had no relatives and friends. Difficult as it seemed, “it was one of the best decisions I had ever made in my life.” he remarked.

At the prime years of his life, he had made a dent, and certainly, he will continue to touch other people’s lives. After all, opportunities abound for this young researcher, teacher, and administrator. He knows what he wants and he certainly takes a few steps at a time. For him, “public service and research, on top of our teaching duties may seem daunting but as long as you are passionate with what you do, the fulfillment will just be as great. With great respect, you will be amazed at how much you can achieve with others.”

And, unmindful of how students would swoon over him, he replied, “Meron bah?” When asked when he plans to have his own family he quipped, “as soon as possible.”

And with help from his friends and colleagues, Dr. Victor Marco Emmanuel “Noel” Ferriols keeps his sanity in place.

Yes, Noel… Noel… what’s the next (public service project) in line?

TUTIPS

TELESKUP VOL. II #1

They say that the sweetest victories come from the most trying of times. It seems easy to preface wins with woes because then the hardest part can easily be justified.

But what of 2020? To whom or what does this monumental tragedy owe itself to?

by Isabella Marie A. Zerrudo

Let’s take a brief walk back to March this year, when the creeping arm of COVID-19 was just beginning in our part of the world. Class suspensions hung like a question, and even when it happened, the consequent responses seemed more like “let’s see.” The uncertainty pervaded our classroom, our curriculum, our pedagogy, and ultimately, our sanity.

To continue teaching and learning amidst these circumstances meant to demand “humanity” out of us. Not that we failed to be ‘human’ before this health crisis, but rather, our circumstances have put ‘being human’ at the forefront.

As a teacher coping with remote teaching during a pandemic, what did that mean?

TEACHER When the unexpected takes a significant turn, the least we can do is swerve hard and fast to safety. Orientations, conferences, and workshops about course packs filled July to September. The preparation was intensive, but there was a collective cautiousness in the air; the only way we’ll know if it was enough is by rolling it out.

For the next four months, teachers were confronted with the worry if anything they do is enough.

The estimates I made for Time on Task were off. I adjusted deadlines, but when student surveys showed how most estimates across different subjects were mostly off, then I knew it wasn’t just my poor math skills.

I owe the discrepancy to the difficulty of remotely gauging the students’ learning pace. It’s easier to monitor progress when you see them in front of you.

A lot about online interactions relied on estimates.

Asynchronous sessions needed course packs to deliver what teachers cannot.

Reflecting on it now, I think there’s a mistake in correlating density of readings with quality of learning. Worse, I have students (who opted for offline mode) inform me that they have not received their packs yet. It’s almost the end of the semester.

Keeping track of their progress sometimes feels like an insurmountable task.

As someone who teaches communication, I used to consider recitations as major progress indicators. It easily supplemented or even replaced what timedelayed written outputs showed. Now, I put all my trust and most of my eye strain into essays.

It is astounding to experience the fluctuations of the learning curve. Even when the University has experience in online and blended learning, implementing this at a systemic level remained a tremendous challenge.

In a tropical country like ours, these hardships become more problematic as they compromise online connectivity, which is, even with offline options, a necessity for remote learning. It’s hard to explain semiotics when you spend more time asking if you’re audible.

06

The entire learning experience is marred with fledgling remote learning skills, weak Internet infrastructure, crashing economies, and compromised health. I am constantly confronted by the demand to effectively teach while quickly learning new pedagogies. It’s frustrating to feel as though these two pull against each other.

WORKAROUNDS I was deeply conflicted by the contrast between compassion and quality. It took me several anxious reflections over which virtue trumped the other. Even as I tried to put myself in the shoes of my students, I was unsure if my few years since after college would warrant an authentic perspective.

But to talk about my experience as a teacher during these times means to take into account the experiences of my students.

I ended up with workarounds, not solutions. It was just me cautiously navigating between what feels right and what is right. Of course, introspection like this takes up its own time and it certainly sidelined me several times. But, I wondered if these moments were necessary for my students also.

STUDENTS It’s bad enough that teachers are still grappling with the ins and outs of remote teaching, but these troubles extend to students. Consequently, their struggles become teacher struggles.

I don’t mean if the students get some time off, but rather, if the conclusions I’ve formed would pave the way forward -- maybe not for this semester, but maybe for future ones. I refuse to lay down best practices because I’m still debating what that means.

I delineated my consultation hours early on, but even as I did, the possibility of either me or my students working beyond them always hung in the air. I think we always knew it was hard to keep to a schedule when the world has lost much of its former structure.

All I can tell for now is that I chose compassion.

I want to take after an assertive academic viewpoint that guarantees this method is the way to quality education.

I am bombarded by constant messages of clarifications.

Even when I feel I’ve exhausted all I can to be clear and precise, there is always room for confusion. It’s quite an epiphany to see how words can be so inadequate without a (physical) environment.

I don’t know, and a no-fail grading policy has certainly eclipsed any (potentially inconclusive) quantitative measurement of it.

And, of course, there is the Internet connection. All the missed deadlines and classes are easily faulted to this.

It’s a shame how the quality of everything is reduced to megabytes per second.

After all the mishaps, miseries, and mistakes, I chose compassion both for myself, as a teacher, and for my students. I chose to work with whatever student outputs may be produced. I chose to let my students struggle for other things (or subjects) and regard mine as merely subsidiary. I chose to work on other aspects of myself that I think would hone me as a mentor. I chose to explore the multifaceted nature of being an educator. Basically, I chose to take the entire semester as the actual lesson.

If teachers are afflicted with anxiety, students are too. If teachers fail to follow up and follow through, students do too. If teachers overlook or overshoot, students will too. This symbiotic relationship has been reduced to codependency.

The failure of one is the failure of all. I’ve yet to completely conclude what advantage there may be to this.

Of course, this does not replace essential skills and concepts needed to hone specializations, but I hope it teaches equally important skills that are essential regardless of specialization. I think, all assessment tools aside, there is a way to measure what has improved with ourselves this semester (teacher or student).

The pandemic was, as expected, wounded further by our archipelago’s natural disposition for disaster (and our government’s disposition for incompetence). Postponements happened. Protests filled digital spaces. Eventually, calls to end the semester challenged the remaining few weeks of classes.

The pre-COVID-19 world was cutthroat competition to be the best in what you do, in your profession, in your projects, in your advocacy, in whatever other element of your identity. I think, now, this semester can be owed purely to looking out for another, to extending care and kindness, to healing and living, and to being a paragon of ‘humanity’.

As a teacher, I was confronted with the probability of throwing away whatever I’ve done for the semester. But, taking my students’ perspective, the welling anxiety and exhaustion would make one hope it would, at least, take an easy exit.

This was a new unnecessary war between delivering quality teaching versus extending compassion to students.

Does compassion have to mean leniency? It takes me back to “humanity.”

If 2020 could be justified by anything, I hope it can be by “humanity.”

07

TEANOVATION

TELESKUP VOL. II #1

She is also a notable name in the local and indie filmmaking community. She has starred in Subli (2019), which eventually became an official selection in the Lift-off UK Film Festival and the 18th Mindanao Film Festival. She won back-to-back the Best Actress Award in a Film Fest by the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) in 2017 and 2018. Over the quarantine period, she also starred in Ilonggo Online Stories, an online local series.

by Czar Ian Angel B. Esquivel

Photo by Mr. Dominique Mediodia Illustration by Mr. Raymund Parcon

“Even in the darkest of times, there is light and hope.” Such a popular saying may sound like a cliche but it has been the foundation of many of the projects of UP Visayas when called upon to respond to the resounding calls of the nation ‘to help’. The College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences came up with its Sagip Pangisdaan program that created Sarda, a symbol of light, and hope.

heroine - all they needed then was a talent for voice-over narration.

Sarda: The Pandemic Fish Cooking Wonder is the brainchild of CFOS. Ms. Byrille Tiara Galon shared that it was a challenge for their team to come up with an infomercial that is both scientific and artistic. The story of Sarda was scripted by Ms. Galon, Sarda was illustrated by Mr. Raymund Parcon, her story setting was sketched by Ms. Karie Mae Tolones, the plot was narrated by Reyna Fe Quilantang, and she was named ‘Sarda” by Dr. Sharon Nuñal, the director of the Institute of Fish Processing Technology. With the partnership from Fishtek Ventures, they were ready to launch their

Ms. Jonalyn Mateo from the Institute of Marine Fisheries and Oceanology came into the picture. She is the voice behind the whispering sound, “CFOSssss” - one of her, needless to say, iconic roles. That is why, when she received a message asking her to become the voice of Sarda, she just had to say yes because according to her, “Namian ko sa mga amo ni nga ubra” Ms. Mateo likens her daily life to a movie. Witty and fun - this is how her friends would describe her. She is a woman that combines science and art to produce one creative tapestry.

Backing her up is a set of accolades under her name. During her undergraduate years, she represented two academic organizations, Clovers (her first degree program was BS Biology) in her first year, and Fisheries in her fourth year, in the annual Hinugyaw mascot competition where she won 1st runner up in the former and Champion in the latter.

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She said that she likes playing kontrabida roles. Prior to the lockdowns, she, along with several other performers, were hailed champions in the Pasundayag 2020 where she played a character named “Vira” - a supposed personification of a pandemic. How did she detach herself from playing the role of a kontrabida into a heroine? Her secret is simply to ‘change voices’.

“Ang voice ni COVID- 19 akin din,” referring to a character in Sarda’s adventures. “As an actress, I just have to play the roles. I have to be well-rounded, I have to internalize one role and do it. Detach from it.

Internalize another role again, do it.

Detach from it again,” she shares.

For Ms. Mateo, Sarda is just like, “any other human being…” “It’s just that gingamit niya iya knowledge, iya skills, para makabulig sa iban.”

When asked if she knows any reallife Sardas, she stated that anyone who helps or gives in his/her own simple way he/she can be one.

Ms. Mateo recognizes the fusion of science and arts in developing educational materials. This way, “mas maappreciate sang intended audience ang mensahe ” she said.

Sharing the knowledge with the people who need it is one of the core values of being a scholar. And like Ms.Mateo who voiced-over for Sarda: The Pandemic Fish Cooking Wonder, the Sagip Pangisdaan program of CFOS, both entertaining and value-laden came to life.

TELESKUP VOL. II #1

SPECIAL

As we shatter the romance of resiliency, we learn to embrace the solidarity in standing and fighting together. The heart of many of the University of the Philippines Visayas’ initiatives lies in a sense of community. In times of tragedy and great hardship, this proves to be always reliable and far-reaching.

We are taken back to September 2018 when Typhoon Mangkut, locally named as Typhoon Ompong, struck the northern part of the Philippines. It brought extensive damage to lives, properties, and livelihood, some to the constituents of the University. To address this, UPV put up a disaster response initiative.

“The University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) launched UP, Magbubunga Tayo! as the main platform of responding to disasters, and it collaborated with the University of the Philippines Visayas Foundation, Inc. (UPFVI) to participate in resource mobilization drives to support UPV’s constituents and partners,” said Prof. Moniq Muyargas, Chair of the UPdanay: UPV Disaster Response Operation for Typhoons Ulysses, Rolly, and Quinta.

Birthed by a typhoon, UP, Magbubunga Tayo! continued to help survivors find a way to regain their lives. It was this practice in disaster response that made it invaluable when COVID-19 affected the University community. From there, the UPdanay: UPV Community Donation Drive was formed.

“The donation drive is specifically meant to help UPV students and UPV workers address concerns on food and other critical supplies as a reaction to COVID-19,” Muyargas explained.

by Isabella Marie A. Zerrudo

LIMITS AND LIMITLESSNESS

Photos from: UPV IPO

DONATION DRIVE BY ANY NAME

UPdanay quickly became a familiar name, but one that was also mired with quick misinterpretation.

“The essence behind the term UPdanay was to anchor on a Hiligaynon term for togetherness, sense of community, and belonging,” Muyargas said.

Truly, it brought the University constituents together as donations coursed in quickly. But also, there were some who confused the term “updanay” (together) with “UP danay” (UP first).

“Any new entity name will always be susceptible to misinterpretation.

That is part of the ‘birthing pains’,” Muyargas pointed out, noting how misinterpretation like this may be owed to several factors.

Nonetheless, the donation drive lived up to its true nature, one that inspires selflessness and altruism. It easily quashed these false impressions by putting the real meaning of the name into action.

At the heart of it all, Muyargas highlights that together means “UPdanay kita sa pag amliganay, pagbinuligay kag pag suporta sa mga gakinahanglan sang bulig sang UP Visayas.”

09

The need for help knows no time, place, or status. It arrives when it will, even when we least expect it.

Fortunately, the motivation to help is spurred by the same conditions, from typhoons to a pandemic and now back to why UPdanay was established.

“The UPdanay Community Donation Drive was first constituted during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown around March 2020,” Muyargas detailed. “Now, because of the recent disasters that happened in Luzon, the UPdanay donation drive was revived, with a revised name of: UPdanay: UPV Disaster Response Operation.” It remains lodged under the UP, Magbubunga Tayo! platform (partnering with UPVFI) even with its new scope.

“The new administration headed by Chancellor Clement C. Camposano deemed it wise to still utilize this platform, particularly the UPdanay Donation Drive platform as it has already gained experience and easy recall from the initial donation efforts,” Muyargas explained, citing that a constituting a new channel for donations would hinder an urgent and immediate response.

While the drive’s continuation remains under the discretion of the Chancellor, all relief efforts since March 2020 are works in progress that improve as they move along.

“This is always UP Visayas’ way of ensuring we continue to help our constituents, partner institutions and organizations and various communities when the time calls for it,” Muyargas said.

TANGIBLE AND WORTHWHILE IMPACT As of November 20, UPdanay has received Php 206,606.35 from key donors like UPV Alumni, IamUPHi, CFOS, UPV fraternities and sororities, students, faculty, administrative staff, private organizations, and entities.

The beneficiaries and recipients of these donation efforts are UPV students who are pre-identified as highly affected/impacted by the recent typhoons; UPV partner institutions/Higher Education Institutions that are located in affected areas and can channel the donations through their respective relief efforts in the most affected communities in the area; and nongovernmental organizations located in affected areas that can channel the donations through the same.

These charitable efforts have been consistent since 2018, and the series of challenges this year puts to light a pressing concern: what happens when we suffer from donation fatigue?

Muyargas acknowledges this reality, but, at the same time, has seen how quickly this was thwarted by the tireless generosity of the University community. “You can count our UPV community (alumni, students, faculty, staff) unique in this regard. I believe that the donation drives spearheaded by UP Visayas appeal very well no matter how often there are donation efforts like these.” She highlights how the UPV alumni “are exemplars of generosity and social justice” who uphold their commitment to public service and outreach. “I would like to believe that UPV’s donation efforts are deemed legitimate and credible by our constituents and private organization/agency partners. They are aware that UPV is able to identify the deserving target recipients of their donations,” she furthered.

Photos from: UPdanay

It is in work like these that we see how people’s resilience is not in their immunity to tragedy. After all, we continue to hold accountable those who are accountable. Rather, the sturdiness of spirit is, in part, a product of our co-existence, of knowing we matter because others do, of being together.

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TELESKUP VOL. II #1

SPECIAL

She is visible. She is onscreen. She is the woman doctor “on duty” during this trying time.

Call her “Marvs,” “Doc Marvs,” “Marovi,” or “Dicdoc;” her name rings a bell when one talks about volunteerism.

“I am a doctor. As a dermatologist I cannot be a frontliner, but, I choose to fight for the frontliners. I have worked hard enough for my business and profession for the past 30 years, and I feel that it is high time for me to serve my city and humanity,” she said.

Challenged by the need of the time and inspired by her deep sense of commitment, “Doc Marvs” has shown what it takes to be a member of IamUPHi, an organization whose projects aim at helping not only the UPHi alumni but also those who needed help coming from various parts of the country. As a UP alumna herself, she is one with the group in pursuing the advocacy of serving fellow alumni and the community as a way of “paying back” and “paying forward”’ to the University for what it has molded them to be who they are now. Grounded in the saying “Give them the fish, they will live for a day; teach them how to fish, they will live forever,” she echoes the sentiment of the group.

Working closely with the officers and members of IamUPHi, she is one of the founding members when the organization was formed in 2017 with its President, Mr. Junie Pama and its Chairman, Mr. Noel Litan, who are both alumni of UPV. Bonded with the passion to serve, she gets her energy from the kind words she receives from people.

And with the support from other active members of UPAA officers known as the UPFight Group that later became her source of laughter and joy, volunteerism has, and will never be, a waste of her time and effort.

This lady doctor became visible in social media, especially at that time when help was not yet easily available for the frontliners of Iloilo City. Together with the officers and members of IamUPHi led by the Iloilo Core Group, Judge Cyril Regalado and herself, she tirelessly helped facilitate the deliveries and transport of personal protective equipment (PPE) from Manila and supervised the distribution of these to hospitals, institutions, municipalities, towns, 11

Photos from: iAmUPHi and Dr. Marovi Celis

by Prof. Amy D. Tanoy

and cities in the entire province of Iloilo. Such effort has likewise been extended to the deliveries of food packs to stranded students at the UPV Iloilo City campus.

Recently, with the implementation of remote learning, together with the other members and officers of IamUPHi and UPAA, she worked hard to look for funds to purchase 175 units of laptops for deserving students of UPHSI (UP High School in Iloilo) to cope with remote learning classes.

According to her, “My house has become the official ‘headquarters’.”

And to balance off her job as medical professional as she performs her tasks as civic volunteer, “I had to do tele-dermatology at home during the first few weeks of ECQ and gradually opened face-to-face consultations

among limited number of patients on a limited number of clinic hours, ” she claimed.

my innate intelligence, and nurtured and shaped what I have become today.”

Undeniably, the job of soliciting funds from UPV alumni, civic organizations, and some anonymous donors has been amazing, given the overwhelming support that the group received. To this, she said. “We are a non-political group with no political ambitions to promote. This could have been one of the factors that explains why we succeeded in our effort to generate resources to help others,” she added.

“When all the elements of the combustion are present, all it needs is just a spark.”

For Doc Marvs, trust and transparency are important ingredients of good public service.

And as she expressed why she loves doing what she has been doing, she remarked, “UP education has given me academic skills , honed 12

Indeed, the spark has been fully ignited during the pandemic.

“Dicdoc,” as what her active comembers in IamUPHI would fondly call her, she has been branded a “dictator doctor” because she has a way of getting things done. Decisive as she is, she uses her charm to win the hearts of many.

Yes… this lady doctor is certainly IN the frontline in this trying time.

TELESKUP VOL. II #1

SPECIAL

by Isabella Marie A. Zerrudo

Students were told to stay home.

They asked, “How do we get home?”

Like much of the initial global response to COVID-19, the answers were vague. The pandemic elicited a surge of “just wait” and “what if” when what it needed was “this is it.”

With no clear direction, students became stranded. University of the Philippines Visayas had to be their home for the next months after the first nationwide lockdown in March.

Dreadful times like these call for the solidarity of Filipino families, and the distress in not being home takes its toll on over 200 students, faculty, and staff. Stuck in dorms and boarding houses, the challenge was how to make a home out of rented space and how to find some assurance that loved ones, despite the distance, will be ok. The answer was not in “just wait” and “what if.”

Photos from: VelCREW

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SEMBLANCE OF HOME For Hannah Labrador, a College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences student, hope started at home. As cases continued to rise in the Philippines around March to April, healthcare workers and other front liners faced a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE). This was a problem easily picked up

by Hannah’s mother, who is a doctor and member of the Philippine College of Physicians - Western Visayas Panay chapter. “The (creation of makeshift) face masks started among hospital residents in Iloilo; they started their own initiative to make makeshift PPEs,” Hannah explained.

bring back masks to be distributed to hospitals. But now, we have so many sponsors from UPV alumni and others because our initiative grew,” Hannah shared way back in March.

Many pitched in to provide lunch and production materials to the volunteers. Production of face shields went on until August. What started as a humble home project grew into a spirited school effort.

“It is amazing how different youth and alumni organizations and individuals started supporting us.

UPV students really have a heart of service,” Hannah remarked.

As a way to support the efforts of the hospital residents, the Labrador household started making more. Soon after, Hannah sought the help and support of other UPV constituents. One of them was Kyle Muñoz, who is taking up his Master’s in the University.

The initiative would go on to help the rest of the world. As production increased, other organizations requested to get an instructional guide on how to make them. Later on, neighboring regions and countries benefited from this.

Without any promise of reward or recognition, Kyle remarked how love for others is what gives us meaning in life. “I really don’t care whether the world will remember my efforts for the people, but what keeps me going is seeing the people that I work with have the same passion to help,” he expressed. “Hopefully, in the near future, they will pass this (passion) to the next generations.” Kyle, along with Adrian Camposagrado who previously sat as the University Student Council Chairperson, coordinated with groups and individuals to help make PPEs. “Thanks to their initiative, we managed to have volunteer sites in many neighboring towns,” Hannah shared.

SPIRIT OF VOLUNTEERISM “I hope this drive never dies because we see how students can make an impact on society,” Hannah remarked on the students’ spirit of volunteerism.

But it’s not the numbers or scope that matters. It’s the face behind every face shield.

“It fills my heart every time frontliners would express how grateful they are and have a look of happiness every time we give them masks,” she added.

While the efforts were small-scale, it inspired others to make their move. If there is anything to celebrate, it is the health worker whose worries are reduced, the checkpoint personnel who feels a bit more confident doing their work, and other frontliners who can safely fulfill their duties.

Two of the sites were in Miagao, particularly in an event center situated above a University favorite cafe, Beans and Bubbles, and another within campus.

HOPE IS HOME They were not trained in factory line work, but somehow a little over 200 UPV folks managed to make over 4,000 face shields for frontliners in Iloilo.

“We students are just doing the bare minimum for now. It makes me wonder how much impact we can make once we graduate and give our full force service for Filipinos,” Hannah said.

As early as 9AM, hands agilely moved through every craft foam and acetate sheet. Rulers and scissors were passed around. Circle tables were occupied by around two to four people. Scrap foam, sheet, tape, and paper were everywhere. All day the snips and snaps of garter and Velcro could be heard. Eventually, they called themselves the “VelCREW.”

This is how stranded students made a home out of rented space. They turned it into a community of compassion and care.

This is how they found assurance that their families are safe. They helped those who make sure we are all protected.

There were also faces behind the initiative whose contributions made more than enough for the lack of physical presence.

Home, they proved, is really found in the people we love. But they also learned that home is about what we do with the love we have for people. This is it.

“At first, the travel from the City to Miagao was easy, so I’d bring materials to the volunteer site and 14

TELESKUP VOL. II #1

SPECIAL

“Pangga” is a Bisaya word of affection that simply means, “someone being cared for.” While it is often used verbally to refer to a person, a group of students from Pagadian City, Zamboanga Del Sur, translated it into action.

by Czar Ian Angel B. Esquivel

The legacy of UP education is beyond what can be held or seen.

It lives within the Iskolars ng Bayan who dedicate themselves to serve the nation. The hallmark of this legacy is seen when UP students and alumni band together for a common cause… to call for action.

As the movie Klaus puts it, “a true, selfless act always sparks another.”

Their story started when one of the medical staff of the Zamboanga Del Sur Medical Center expressed the need to acquire more Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) because COVID-19 struck their city, and several families in the community lacked basic health protection necessities. These reasons drove Allyn June Camache (enrolled in the BA in Communication and Media Studies course), several other UPV students and other youths to organize a newly-formed group they called, the COVID-19 Community Warriors.

Camache said that while all the members of their group have individual advocacies, all of them have the proclivity to do community service.

Though small in number, the COVID-19 Community Warriors worked hard and with passion. Following a system observed in running a fundraising network where people can direct both cash and in-kind assistance to their movement, they have acquired and distributed PPEs and relief goods for their community that reached up to Php 130,000.

Camache further reiterated that the COVID Community Warriors was perhaps one of the earliest groups that was organized and aimed at providing assistance to the people in their community. And true to their mission, they succeeded and the people received such help with utmost gratitude.

With assistance from other partner organizations namely, Tubong Pagadian, a US Government Alumni Association Zamboanga Del Sur and the employees of the DepEd Zamboanga Del Sur Division (that gave them the biggest support) they had proven that they could do something laudable.

Indeed, it is inspiring and moving to know that the world never runs out of youth who take on unknown challenges to step forward when called upon.

And like the COVID-19 Community Warriors eager to clench both the joy and the responsibility of serving the people, the spirit of being an Iskolar ng Bayan is alive in their hearts.

Such altruism, complemented by the vigor and passion to serve, is what drove these volunteers to serve their community. No closer words can encapsulate their efforts except those synonymous with love, care, and volunteerism and perhaps, “pangga” is just the prime candidate for it.

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Photos from: Ms. Allyn June Camache and COVID-19 Community Warriors

Photos from: Mr. Prim Andrei Pacurib and UPV Negrense

Negros Occidental has been known for its festivities. The Masskara Festival is one of the best there is in the Philippines. Festivities like such are ways to build a community of happy citizens. With the ongoing lockdown, however, several festivities have been left uncelebrated. In Negros Occidental, communitybuilding has taken on a new form.

UPV Negrense, headed by President Mr. Prim Andrei Pacurib, a BS in Fisheries alumnus, organized a community project with the immense support of donors. He recalled that at first, the only target beneficiaries were the main hospitals in the Province and the medical frontliners of the members’ respective hometowns. But the calls they received from people who offered help and support for their cause mobilized and inspired them to expand their public service

efforts to the entire Province - from security personnel to rescue workers and banks of every town and city in Negros Occidental. Also, the endless support from their families and donors gave them enough motivation to dedicate themselves to such cause.

Starting with only a few alumni and friends who banded together, the group expanded its partnerships to include TAHUD, an environmental organization based in La Carlota City, and members of the UPV Duces (UPV Delegates of Untainted Commitment to Effectuate Service) and their local LGUs. Upon end of their donation drive, the group had managed to produce more than a thousand face shields, procure medical supplies such as alcohol, disinfectants, lab coats, face masks, gloves, medicines, and give 16

relief goods to their fellow Negrenses who (at that time) were struggling to cope with the difficulties brought about by the imposed lockdowns.

Mr. Pacurib believes that by giving their share, the group can inspire more people to help in the recovery process of the province and join in the nation’s ongoing campaign to solve the COVID-19 crisis.

“Being helpful to one another,” according to him, “is the essence of being a Negrense.” Albeit all the challenges, their organization persists with the end goal of promoting their identity as Negrenses.

And for the members of the group who helped push for such community-based project, was a pleasure for them to see their beneficiaries smile behind the faces covered with masks.

Proactive and province-wide service to the people of Capizthese were the hallmarks of the Bangon Capiz, a COVID-19 relief effort implemented by UP-Capizeños. This project began on March 18, two days after the country was first placed under Enhanced Community Quarantine. By the time Capiz’s first COVID-19 case was revealed, the Project had already gathered a total of Php 15,560.00, ready to be shelled out as a form of community assistance.

The effort paid off. Apart from mobilizing its teams composed of various members located in different municipalities in the province, the Bangon Capiz project brought together aid from different sectors and private individuals as well as the local government units of Dumalag, Mambusao, and Sapi-an including their respective MDRRMO offices.

The organization had provided a total of 2,013 face shields, 794 face masks, 50 containers of 500 mL alcohol, 115 meals, 100 relief packs, multiple PPEs, monetary donation, and other forms of relief assistance to the province of Capiz. While these numbers tell us the exact amount of help the group had shelled out, it doesn’t tell us the depth of care of Capiznon Iskos and Iskas for their province. That, needless to say, is immeasurable.

UP-Capizeños has a long-etched history of doing humanitarian work since its inception in 1992. It had been formally known as the UPV Capizenos until it opened its doors to residents of the Province coming from the different UP Campuses in 2015. It has grown in membership since.

According to its former President Maria Kydylee A. Torato , “We envision rebuilding lives and giving hope to the most vulnerable sectors of our community.” With this is mind, UP-Capizeños has proven that they have a lot more to offer to the people in Capiz through its established communitybased programs and projects that exemplify altruism and service to this progressive provincial village.

Photos from: UPV Capizeños

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UP CLOSE

M. uben R . f ro

by P

TELESKUP VOL. II #1

Food had to be delivered and picked up at the doorstep.

I could hardly bear the heat, even with my own hand-held fan (because electric fans were not allowed). I could hear the hysterics of a young mother talking to her kids on video and the whisper of an anguished asthmatic patient telling his wife, “Mommy, love Manny.” One incident though lingered in my mind: I was talking to the patient on my side one moment, and, after a few minutes, he was gasping for breath. Eventually, he died.

ala

Gam

The situation looked so life-threatening that it made me strengthen my faith in God. At that time, little things mattered to me. For instance, in the hospital, I was thankful for ventilation through a small window that allowed me to see the sunlight, though I was also envious to see people (outside) walking freely as they passed by my sight. At the WVMC quarantine facility, I felt happy when the door would open to deliver supplies and bring out trash so I could expose my back to catch every bit of sunlight.

Above all, I felt blessed with the care given by passionately dedicated health care providers.

Inside the facility, I would lead the praise and worship prayer, make a call for verdict, and play Gospel music and love songs for my fellow patients and me. I could see the smiles in their faces as they raised their thumbs up saying a message in silence, “laban lang”. Significantly, a woman had to borrow my speaker so she could minister to her dying mother.

As a single parent, thoughts came to my mind: my health status, my three children, my pending jobs, and my graduate teaching load. But in this trying time, I derived strength and comfort from friends and family who cheered me up, held prayer chains, offered Holy Masses and held virtual reunions, sent goods and vitamins and supplements, and offered to bring me home when I was discharged on the 17th of September.

Photos from: Prof. Ruben M. Gamala

The scary, “weird”, and horrible episodes of chest pains that I experienced made me think it was “the end of me.” But after I grabbed a piece of paper and did my holographic will, from the retrieval of my remains, to my cremation, and to the settlement of my properties for my children, I heard the Lord speak vividly to me. And in His words in Psalm 116:3-4 He said, “The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the Lord: O Lord save me!” And in verses 12-14 of the same Chapter: “How can I repay the Lord for all His goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of His people.” May God be praised.

“Anxiety is real during this pandemic.”

On the 23rd of August, two hours after I was tested positive for COVID-19, I was sent to a quarantine facility at St. Therese Hospital on board the ICER ambulance.

All I had was a bag with a notebook, cellphone, charger, and my old personal Bible. No one in my household knew where I was until our helper asked. I told her that I was already in the quarantine facility. I was confined in the hospital , at Iloilo City’s quarantine facility, the 4 units within the West Visayas Medical Center (WVMC COVID ER, quarantine unit private room, and the non-COVID surgical ward) for a total of 26 days.

My COVID days are over. But the stress brought by my COVID experience is indeed, REAL. And acknowledging such unpleasant situation and thanking God is the first step in faith.

In all these facilities, I had seen the ugly faces of an unseen enemy called the COVID-19 virus. I likened my life to a life lived by a prisoner under closed-in security.

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TELESKUP VOL. II #1

UP CLOSE

by Sharon G. Nillana with contributions from John Eric Cayona and Michael Anthony Remotin

When news about the COVID-19 viral outbreak in Wuhan broke in December 2019, China became the central focus of both local and international media. The reported unimaginable death toll had made the rest of the world skeptical. The bloated scenario even scared and continue to scare people.

Personally, while I was adamant that the Chinese could contain the outbreak, I was hoping that it will not reach the borders of the Philippine archipelago. But my hope was dampened when the virus caught the off-guarded Italy as they succumbed to the clutches of the virus leaving thousands of death in a single blow.

“What if the virus is here with us without us knowing it?” This thought kept on hovering over my mind even if I tried to brush off the idea.

Not far from reality is the story of two of my colleagues in the office who revealed the travails and difficulties they went through when a member of their family was tested positive for COVID-19. Considered to be “close contacts”, Mr. John Eric Cayona and Mr. Michael Anthony Remotin share their narratives below:

How did you feel when you were informed that one of the members of your household was tested as COVID-19 positive? What were your thoughts that time?

John: It was on the evening of August 8, the day before my mother’s birthday when my sister-in law informed us that she tested positive for COVID-19. I first heard my mother exclaiming “HALA.” I suddenly felt anxious because the news ruined our preparation for my mother’s special day. Then came the fear for me and my family. I became anxious of what’s more to happen the next day. I didn’t get enough sleep that night.

Mike: On our way home from a party, my wife and I were informed that my sister tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. I felt very depressed. Too many “what ifs” came to my mind. I was worried. I feared that the rest of my family and I might get infected too. We have senior citizens and children at home. What will happen to my family if we all get quarantined? Who will bring us food and water for 14 days? What if nobody offers to help? These were the thoughts that bogged my mind.

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How did you manage the household during your quarantine period? What was the hardest challenge that you hurdled during the quarantine?

John: Good thing, we have enough resources at home to sustain my family for a couple of days. But what challenged us the most was our need for drinking water. A neighbor who owns a store did not want to deliver water to us anymore. I was lucky to have an uncle nearby who happens to be a Barangay Tanod. He helped us facilitate what we needed. The problem was, we had to spend for everything we needed because we only got very minimal help from our barangay. Then came the long wait for the swab test. At that time, the laboratory in Iloilo City temporarily stopped receiving samples because a medical technologist had also tested positive. It was a long wait. We were quarantined for almost a month.

Mike: We did what we needed to do during our quarantine period: We monitored our temperature daily, ate healthy and the right amounts of food, took daily vitamins and drank herbal and natural food remedies like the ginger concoction that served as our daily water, and entertained ourselves by watching tv and monitoring news information regarding the pandemic. Fortunately, there were neighbors, relatives, and friends who gave us support that helped us cope with our anxiety and depression.

The greatest challenge was the discrimination that made it hard for us to get our basic needs. But we managed to tap some friends, relatives, and neighbors who helped us facilitate our needs. Thankfully, our test results were negative and none of the family members got infected.

How was it like to be tagged as “close contact”? How did the neighbors react to your family being “suspected COVID-19 patients”?

What were your realizations after the incident?

John: It was very frustrating.

Some people in our area treated us like victims of a plague. Well, we learned not to mind them.

John: Although we are grateful that all of us came out negative of COVID-19, we should not forget to maintain our health, and strengthen our immune system to make our body strong all the time. By this, we protect ourselves from unnecessary illnesses and prevent viruses to infect us.

Mike: We experienced discrimination, especially from our neighbors. You could sense their feeling of nervousness every time they would pass by our house. There were some though, who did not mind at all. Instead, they offered to give us free gallons of water, food, and groceries.

Mike: These are my realizations: we need to boost our immune system always, observe health protocols at all times; get enough sleep and rest; appreciate people who really care and help you in times like this without hesitation or any returns.

I also realized that it is in times like this, you will discover who the “real” people are.

So, who would have thought that the world would be shaken by the virus? However, I understand clearly that anxiety and stress brought about by the pandemic are as deadly as the virus.

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TELESKUP VOL. II #1

TEABRAIN

by Czar Ian Angel B. Esquivel

JIMBLE JUMBLE Solve the crossword puzzle referring to the given clues for “across” and “down”. Then, solve the 6 words below jumbling up the letters coloredand boxes into the appropriate below.

Solve the crossword puzzle by referring to the given cluesinforthe “across” “down”.

Then, solve the 6fields words below by jumbling up the letters in the colored boxes into the appropriate fields below.

1

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ACROSS 1. another virus 2. vocally resonating 3. exhibited a symptom 4. Old English poet 5. to strike 6. to join something to increase 7. you got it in me 8. Chapter II 9. to disallow 10. medium used in October 11. popular name 12. to submit inquiry 13. used to fry 14. threading and needling 15. represented by gray and blue 16. you work this out 17. to utilize 18. a piece of Earth 19. Isko and Iska 20. unfrozen froyo 21. to trail people’s contacts

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DOWN 1. plant genus 9. marking numbers game 15. abruptly drinks 22. to make machines work 23. to confine 24. passes by 25. for everyone to hear 26. a place in the home you can stay in 27. affirmative 28. some kind of working student

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29. not out 30. denotes to something new 31. also, “without a doubt” 32. a big animal sound 33. a cake of distinct shape 34. well know help code 35. masters of compounds, organic or inorganic 36. someone who assists a researcher 37. inputted digitally 38 . something known

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TeleSkUP Official Publication of TLRC Vol. II, No. 1 Published and printed at the University of the Philippines Visayas Teaching and Learning Resource Center December 2020