The English Press Volume 1, Issue 2 "MOMENTUM"

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Editor's Note

SUSTAINING THE MOMENTUM

Every new day is the continuous momentum of the days past. And with that momentum, new things arise, things that invoke wonder, truth, and wisdom above all. It’s all but necessary to continue the momentum to keep the cycle of creation going for days to come.

The arising theme of the second issue of “The English Press” has a lot to do with momentum, as being the second of things means to continue a started tradition. Some traditions die, but most endure the test of time, and it is our job to sustain the continuity.

The continuation of the magazine line embodies the idea that sustaining the momentum presents to us new horizons and ideas in the field of writing, whether it be in the field fiction or nonfiction. The magazine has been pioneered by those who have recently left the academe with flying colors, and now the mantle has been passed onto us, the new breed of writers from different backgrounds with a mission of keeping student journalism interesting and at a constant motion.

As for the context of this magazine, we continued the journalistic and creative legacy of our predecessors while adding new “colored crayons” of our own to the never-ending canvas. The magazine embodies remembering the valuable contributions of those who moved to their next voyage in life, while creating creative and innovative ideas to be shared with you, the reader for your information and entertainment.

To sustain the momentum and to showcase a new breed of journalism and creativity, I, the new Editor in Chief, on behalf of the new Editorial Board, proudly to present to you the second issue of “The English Press” magazine.

JOHN CARLO VILLARIN Editor in Chief

Table of Contents

USM ascends to highest Webometrics ranking in 5 yearsWRWU

BAEL-USM bags int’l awards in 3rd Global Cultural Exchange

9 THE SILENT TRAGEDY OF EMPTY CLASSROOMS: Adapting to a Virtual Learning Environment in the New Normal 10 DREAMS AND DERIVATIONS: Unfolding the Significations of Woven T’nalak Costumes of T’boli at Lake Sebu, South Cotabato

EDITORIAL BOARD

First Semester, SY 2022-2023

Editor in Chief JOHN CARLO VILLARIN

Associate Editor RAHEEMA UNDONG

Managing Editor LEIGH MINIANO

Feature Editor FRIA MECCA PAJEL

News Editor JHENMARK JOSE

Literary Editor JONALYN CADIZ

Art Editor LOVELY JANE BALONDA

Circulation Manager RAHIMA CABUNTO

Writers

NORA JANNAH AKMAD; MONICA AMBANE; ARIELYN ANOLGA; RAHEMA AKMAD; LEA MAE ARCEO; ALEAH ALILAYA; NASSER BALAH; JESSIECA ALMOJUELA; EUNICAH BALIBAO; GARYN BANALAN; JOLHAIDA ANGGAY; KAREN BANAWAN; RHEA MAY ANTIGO; HAIRONESSA BATUA; MOHANIE AYUNAN; JESSA BENTING; GAIL BACAOCO; SHERLENE CACANANTA; DARLENE MAE CADIAO; MELISSA CALDENA; ASHLIE JOYCE DELA CRUZ; GLEANDELOU CASAMA; RUHANA ENDIL; CARLO DIVINAGRACIA; CHRISTINE GABIA; KIENTH MARK DUGHO; RIZA MAE GUMABONG; SITTIE NORJANA HAMID; JANE DESIREE DUGUIL; FARINA KAMID; ASRA MAE GAPOR; NORAIN LAGUIAB; KHATE DHONNELEY GARCIA; ALAIKA MAKINA; WAHEDAH MANALANG; FEONY LOVE GAVELO; VANESSA MET; ZHAMICA GONSANG; ABDULHAMID PASANDALAN; ROHAIDA PATACPAN; KATE LAMAN; ANGELA MAY PIO; MICCA MANGAY-AYAM; SAMANTHA POLITICO; MARY ANN PUNSAY; MARK NESTY MICATOR; RAHILA ROBERTO; MICHELLE JOY RUEDAS; REYNA JANE NASIBOG; PAULINE JANE SALEM; JEHAN SALIBAT; SANDRAH SAUDAGAL; CHRISTINE RAY SINSUAT; AIKEYA DAWN NIMER; ESNAIRA TALUSAN; FERRILYN PABIA; MA. ELENA PALAG; DIANNE JANE VICENTE; KRISTINE TORENO Adviser

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LOOK AND LISTEN: A Student’s Ethics Toaward Information

12 KALUMAD 13 SCARCITY 15

DREAM OF ONE WHO ARE YOU DEMON?

PROF. LLOYD ANTON VON M.COLITA Consultants

DR. DONNIE M. TULUD, DR. MIRASOL O. VERONA, PROF. ESTELLA B. BARBOSA, PROF. ELANGBAI K. BALAWAG

Overall Consultant

DR. ORFELINA M. AJERO

DISCLAIMER:

Opinions expressed in this biannual magazine are solely those of the writers and do not represent the Department, the College, and the University.

HOW TO REACH US

Department of English Language and Literature, College of Arts and Social Sciences,

DELL faculty researchers win Best Paper, Poster in 42nd USM RDE In-House Review

Associate Professors April Rose T. Butalid, Elangbai B. Dimasingkil, and Estella B. Barbosa from the Department of English Language and Literature (DELL) secured backto-back wins — Best Paper and Best Poster in Social Research Category — during the 42nd USM Year-End InHouse Review held on December 1-2, 2022 at the USM Commercial Building.

Their winning paper entitled: “Integrating Gender and Development (GAD) Concepts Across Mandated Language, Literature, and Social Science Courses” identified gender-based strategies and practices by integrating GAD into the syllabi and classrooms.

“Thank you to USM for including our research paper for 2022 funding, most especially to Dr. Edward Barlaan, Dr. Teodora Cabasan, Prof. Lydia Pascual, Dr. Debbie Versoza, and our dear President Dr. Francisco Gil Garcia,” expressed Prof. Butalid. “Our win was truly unexpected. The fact that we decided to compete last minute but our research still won, it is truly a miracle and a blessing,” she added.

Sitting as evaluators for research papers under the Development and Social Research category were Dr. Mervin G. Gascon, Dr. Ariel Roy L. Reyes, and Dr. Lorna G. Valdez.

Dr. Gascon is concurrently the director of

the Extension Division of the University of Southeaster Philippines (USEP). He took his PhD in Social Sciences at Finders University under the Australia Development Awards.

Dr. Reyes is a faculty of the College of Information and Computing, USEP. He obtained his degree in Doctor in Information Technology at the Technological Institute of the Philippines, Quezon City.

Dr. Valdez is a retired professor from the College of Business Development Economics and Management, USM. She finished her Doctor of Education in Educational Management.

“We are elated to have been given a space to share our GAD research findings. It was a bonus we won. Many thanks to our brilliant evaluators,” shared Prof. Dimasingkil.

A total of eight teams presented their papers under the Development and Social Research category.

“It’s really high time for us to zero in on GAD especially in our research agenda, and we are extremely happy that the evaluators find our paper outstanding,” said Prof. Barbosa who also serves as the research coordinator of the College of Arts and Social Sciences.

A former DELL faculty and now Campus Head of USM PALMA Dr. Jacinta Pueyo

clinched the 2nd Best Paper for her paper entitled: “Intersectionalizing K-12 Graduates’ Competencies: a Baseline for Tertiary Instruction, and Materials Development,” a research she shared with USM PALMA faculty Karizza Pejaner, Jemima Atok, and Kevin Abesamis.

Rounding off the winners list is the research paper presented by DELL faculty members Dr. Glyn G. Magbanua, Dr. Lawrence Anthony Dollente, and Prof. Anamarie Uyangurin. Their research entitled: “Research Into Practice: Practical Applications of English for Specific Purposes (ESP) in the Workplace” bagged the 3rd Best Paper.

For the Poster Category, Professors Nerissa G. Dela Vina, Deinmark L. Antes, Frederick John B. Navarro, Leila S. Moscoso, RayHannah Makakena, and Dr. Abubakar A. Murray took home the 2nd Place for their research poster entitled: “Unravelling Generation X and Y Consumption Behavior for Halal Food Products.”

With the theme: “Advancing Research and Innovations Towards Sustainable Development,” the 42nd edition of USM Research, Development, and Extension (RDE) Agency In-House Review aimed to exchange knowledge, products generated, and extension strategies relevant to the University’s vision, mission, and objectives.

Lloyd Anton Von M. Colita

USM ascends to highest Webometrics ranking in 5 years — WRWU

The University of Southern Mindanao (USM) registered its highest ranking in 5 years by placing at Rank 16 among 366 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the Philippines according to the Webometrics Ranking of World Universities (WRWU) July 2022 edition.

USM in 2018 was at Rank 91. In 2019, it leaped 47 notches higher at Rank 44. However, it slipped 14 spots in 2020 at Rank 60. In 2021, USM climbed 34 steps up at Rank 26. And now 2022, it advanced 10 steps higher at Rank 16--the highest ranking USM garnered in 5 years.

Webometrics placed USM at Rank 16 in the Philippines and Rank 5353 in the world. For the Impact, USM is ranked at 7829 (Rank 21). While for the Openness, USM is at 5726 (Rank 27) and for the Excellence, USM is at 5776 (Rank 28).

What is Webometrics?

Webometrics is the largest academic ranking of HEIs. The ranking is built from publicly available web data, combining the variables into a composite indicator, and with a true global coverage.

According to its website (www. webometrics.info), WRWU is an initiative of the Cybermetrics Lab, a research group belonging to the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC), the largest public research body in Spain among the first basic research organizations in Europe.

The Cybermetrics Lab, part of the CSIC, is devoted to the quantitative analysis of the Internet and Web contents specially those related to the processes of generation and scholarly communication of scientific knowledge. This is a new emerging discipline that has been called Cybermetrics or Webometrics.

What indicators does Webometrics use?

The ranking is “based on a composite indicator that assesses a website’s

visibility and activity. Visibility is evaluated through a count of the external links that a university web domain receives from third parties. These data indicate the university’s “conventional prestige, academic performance, the value of information, and usefulness of services.”

There are three indicators Webometrics looks into: 1) Visibility, 2) Transparency or Openness, and 4) Excellence or Scholar.

Impact Indicator accounts for 50% of the consideration taken. This refers to the web contents impact and the number of external networks linking to the institution’s webpages. Transparency Indicator (or openness) constitutes 10% which refers to top cited researchers and number of citations from Google Scholar profiles. Lastly, the Excellence Indicator (or excellence) comprises 40% which refers to the top cited papers and number of papers among the top 10% most cited in each one of 27 disciplines of the full database.

Mindanao SUCs Ranked

USM is the fourth university from Mindanao to enter the Top 20 next to MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology (Rank 5), MSU-Marawi (Rank 9), and Central Mindanao University (Rank 10).

5 MSU-Iligan Instittute of Technology

9 MSU-Marawi

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111 Surigao State College of Technology

117 Liceo de Cagayan University

128 Bukidnon State University

150 Davao del Norte State College

161 Misamis University

163 MSU-Naawan

167 Capitol University

168 Holy Cross of Davao College

171 La Salle University Ozamiz

175 Jose Rizal Memorial State University

178 Davao Medical School Foundation

179 Notre Dame of Marbel University

181 Surigao del Sur State University

189 Jose Maria College

191 Notre Dame of Dadiangas University

197 Davao Doctors College

199 Cotabato Foundation College of Science and Technology

205 Father Saturnino Urios University

213 Mountain View College Philippines

223 St. Paul University Surigao

231 Sultan Kudarat State University

235 Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology

238 Mindanao State University

242 Brokenshire College

262 Notre Dame University Cotabato

266 Iligan Computer Institute

280 Southern Philippines Agri Business and Marine and Aquatic School of Technology

289 Iligan Medical Center College

299 Dipolog Medical Center College Foundation

302 Agusan Del Sur College

305 Notre Dame of Kidapawan College

312 MSU-Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography

321 Basilan State College

323 DMMA College of Southern Philippines

332 Davao del Sur State College

361 Holy Child Colleges of Butuan

363 Zamboanga Peninsula Polytechnic State University

365 Gingoog City Colleges

This recent ranking mirrors the collective efforts by the USM Administration, faculty, and staff in improving the research capabilities and online presence of the university.

BAEL-USM bags int’l awards in 3rd Global Cultural Exchange

Ten students from the Bachelor of Arts in English Language (BAEL) program took home three recognitions from the 3rd Online Global Cultural Exchange (OGCE) 2022 organized by the Universitas Islam Sultan Agung (UNISSULA), Indonesia on October 24-28, 2022.

Philip John Tabada and Zulpikar Sawa won 2nd Best Paper for the Collaborative Group Project while Bonetta Undalayan and Daryl Mae Sauquillo clinched the 3rd Best Paper also from the same category.

Moreover, BAEL-USM was also awarded 2nd Place for the Best Cultural Exhibition which aimed to showcase the culture of Mindanao through an audio-visual presentation.

“We’re so grateful to be part of this program. To represent USM and the Department of English Language and Literature (DELL) in this event is definitely a proud moment for us. We will be bringing

with us the lessons we learned from OGCE 2022,” Jonalyn Cadiz said in an interview.

BAEL-USM delegation was composed of ten AB English Language students from the College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS), namely: Samantha Kaye Politico, Jonalyn Cadiz, Kyla Calibadan, Franz Castro, Zulpikar Sawa, Philip John Tabada, Daryl Mae Sauquillo, Bonetta Undalayan, Raheema Undong, and Madzna Ampat. The team was mentored by Prof. Lloyd Anton Von Colita.

DELL Chair Dr. Orfelina Ajero thanked CASS Dean Prof. Marcos Monderin for tapping the BAEL students for this event. “We thank our active CASS Dean Prof. Monderin for believing in our AB English Language students. If it were not for him, our students would have not experienced this and won awards for CASS and USM,” said Dr. Ajero.

The event which was conducted via Zoom

conferencing is the cultural exchange program organized by UNISSULA for international university students. This program is intended to give opportunities for students to exchange their culture, collaborate with people with different backgrounds, and build a better understanding of how they see people from different cultures. OGCE program will lead the students to have a broader perspective how they see the world and treat people from other cultures.

A total of 91 college students from 9 international universities participated in the said event: Universiti Teknologi Mara, University College ATAI, Superior University, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Daffodil International University, Biliran Province State University, University of Southern Mindanao, and the host Universitas Islam Sultan Agung.

Verona ends term; Ajero elected as new DELL chair

The faculty members of Department of English Language and Literature (DELL) elected Dr. Orfelina M. Ajero as its new chair, succeeding Dr. Mirasol O. Verona.

Dr. Verona served as the DELL chair for two terms from 2018 to 2022. Under her leadership, DELL submitted its program offering AB English Language to Level 3 Phases 1 and 2 Accreditation of the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges in the Philippines, Inc (AACCUP) and ISO recertification audits.

After productive terms as chair, Verona is set to slow down a bit but work contiunes for her as she takes on the role of DELL’s 7S coordinator.

Ajero whose prior designation was as the guidance coordinator of the College expressed her disbelief after the Department gave her an overwhelming win.

“This came really as a surprise because I never thought I’d be a chair to begin with. Shocked but definitely thankful for the votes of support,” Ajero shared to The English Press

Orfelina Manalo-Ajero, or Ping to friends and colleagues, finished her Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Linguistics from University of Mindanao, Davao City on November 27, 2019.

She finished her Masters of Arts in English from Notre Dame of Kidapawan College and AB Mass Communication from Colegio De Kidapawan in 1997.

With its continued quest for quality education, DELL aims to raise the bar by providing timely and relevant programs and activities for its AB English Language (BAEL) students through instruction, research, and extension projects.

For its future plans, DELL is currently eyeing for the upcoming ISO recertification external audit. On top of its plan is to intensify the delivery of services to its clientele most especially the members of the BAEL community.

Lloyd Anton Von M. Colita

CASS Orientation held for 505 freshmen, transferees

Atotal of 505 freshmen and transferees from the College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS) attended the orientation program held on August 5, 2022 at the USM Commercial Building.

The face-to-face college-based orientation was a whole day activity which saw for the first time a gathering of a freshmen and transferees since the pandemic. Although face-to-face, the organizers ensured everyone’s safety by adhering to health protocols.

“Na-amaze po talaga ako how the orientation was organized. Nakakabilib po na-naobserve ang house protocols, na may nagche-check ng temperature at

meron pong alcohol all around the area. Nagandahan po ako na bawat department may assigned venue na hindi sya crowded at nasunod ang social distancing,” explained Chejann Espartero from 1 AB Psychology.

The Counseling and Career Department (CCD) through its head Prof. Khristine Garcia made sure the program would give the new students of CASS a chance to get to know more the university, its key officials, and the department heads and faculty.

An informative video presentation courtesy of the University Public Relation and Information Office headed by Prof. Vilma Santos was shown which featured USM founder Hadja Bai Fatima Matabay

Plang’s biography and achievements.

Faculty members from the six departments under CASS were also introduced by their respective chairpersons through audio-visual presentations.

“The program felt refreshing, nostalgic, and helpful. Refreshing because we haven’t experienced face-to-face [activities] in a couple of years,” said Cassandra Gamlanga of 1ABEnglish-A.

The afternoon session walked through the participants on university policies, academic guidelines, and other student services.

Lloyd Anton Von M. Colita

Lifesaver in Banana Leaves

Jhenmark G. Jose

Can ten pesos save your life?

Sixty-eight years ago, when the Mindanao Institute of Technology (MIT), now the University of Southern Mindanao (USM), was established, the Patil was already present. It has been the students’ backbone of success.

Patil is a Muslim-Maguindanaon delicacy present across the island of Mindanao and other parts of the country. It is made up of steamed rice, mostly yellow rice, wrapped with banana leaves to provide aroma, then topped with shredded dry chicken, beef, or fish. Its topping is known by its name, as kagikit. Patil, the life-saving food, costs only ten pesos. In some areas, they called it patel, patir, or pater in Maranao, and paster for Iranun.

Patil is not just a mere food sold in terminals and other restaurants; rather, it mirrors the richness of Muslim culture. It is considered their signature dish. This affordable meal offered to USMian saves them from hunger. It is the students’ on-the-go meal.

made my stomach grumble. I bow down, then I see my talking shoes situation. If this can throw complain, surely it does. I neglect the sudden call of temptation. Holding my twentypeso bill, I walked towards Bong’s eatery. I have planned to eat Patil for dinner. My stomach has been grumbling since the golden hour. I have to save money for future academic purposes. Studying while surviving the aftermath of the pandemic is not easy at all. It provides me with an impoverished life.

After buying Patil, I stand beside the stall, waiting for the rain to stop. With their screaming laughter, a bunch of fourth year students are on their way to the eatery. They caught my attention. I thought they would sit there and eat, but they also bought some Patil.

The life of a college student is indeed a rollercoaster. We often feel frightened, pressured, and disappointed, yet we continue riding to free ourselves from the unbreakable chain of reality.

It is a Friday afternoon in December. The freezing touch of the air enveloped my whole body. The students are chattering, the tricycle drivers are roaring their vehicles, and the food stall vendors are busy selling street foods. The clouds become grayer and darker. There is heavy rain again. At some parts, the striking lightning made them scream in surprise. People run to the pathway to prevent themselves from soaking.

Friday at USM is students’ rest day. A way of respecting the Hutbaah of our Muslim brothers and sisters. Hutbaah is a Muslim mass conducted every Friday to praise and worship Allah. Sadly, the final term examination is quite approaching. The beautiful facade established by students is now gone. Dark circles below their eyes indicate tiredness and a lack of sleep. It looks like they just got back from a great battle. An alluring aroma of barbecue brought me back to reality. It

“Mag Patil lang ta, kay wala pa kapadala ug kwarta si Mama,” the student said.

“Daghan pa gyud kaayog bayrunon,” seconded by his friend. From their conversation, I have come to the conclusion that Pastil is a good choice of comfort. The life of a college student is indeed a rollercoaster. We often feel frightened, pressured, and disappointed, yet we continue riding to free ourselves from the unbreakable chain of reality. Some were physically tired, emotionally exhausted, economically drowning, and mentally unstable. But people tend to choose to remain strong and fearless.

Jack Denver B. Gemoya, a graduate of USM batch 2022, said that, “Patil is a college student’s staple food.” In his four years of stay in Kabacan, he can’t deny the fact that it has saved him from many aspects of life.

Despite the diversity of students inside the university, the openness of our hearts and acceptance of culture are nurtured in our blood. Muslim ancestors would be proud and honored as we continue to cherish the beautiful upbringing of Patil.

The Ocean Before Bed

John Carlo P. Villarin

Have you ever found yourself unable to sleep in the middle of the night due to a surge of intrusive thoughts? Though concrete evidence and valid studies are yet to be found to explain this occurrence, a multitude of different people from different backgrounds would testify that this happens to them whether it be rarely or frequently. In simpler terms, this phenomenon can be called overthinking, and it proves just how active and complex the human mind really is.

Overthinking in particular is driven by our desire and our regrets, and creates an image in the water of what we wish to achieve, and what unfinished business needs to be looked into. Combined with our experience on a day to day basis, we often check up on the progress we made with ourselves. Unfortunately, not every memory is a happy one, and that is when our regret sinks us deeper into thought.

Overthinking before bed tends to be a bittersweet experience. Sometimes, happy thoughts intrude your mind, such as excitement before a vacation to the beach, or imagining yourself having a picnic with someone special. But often times, we can’t help but drown ourselves with the bitter thoughts, such as an unfinished assignment or even past regrets that remain unfulfilled to this day. In some rare instances, overthinking feels like a waking dream, where it sails you to where your imagination runs wild. You know you’re still awake, yet it feels good to swim and be battered by the waves of memories and desires. But alas, it’s just a mere illusory image created by our mind to amuse us before we clock out.

The way this works is that our mind creates thoughts from our daily experiences, as human experience is a coral reef of information. Overthinking in particular is driven by our desire and our

regrets, and creates an image in the water of what we wish to achieve, and what unfinished business needs to be looked into. Combined with our experience on a day to day basis, we often check up on the progress we made with ourselves. Unfortunately, not every memory is a happy one, and that is when our regret sinks us deeper into thought. In overthinking, we tend to relive the past and imagine what could have been if we had done something better or had prevented something bad from happening. The past however, is still the past and nothing can change that.

Though it feels bittersweet to think these thoughts before we sleep, drowning in it becomes unhealthy, especially to our sleep cycle. Humans on average require 7-9 hours of sleep after all. Some believe that thinking more of more positive thoughts and meditating before bed helps one drift smoothly into sleep, but I believe that prevention is always better than cure.

Our sleeplessness is commonly driven by our past regret and imagining what could have been. Therefore, all you need to do is to start believing in yourself while shooting every shot you can. Stop anchoring yourself to the past, for it will only sink you deeper and deeper into the ocean of thoughts. Break the chains and swim upward. Instead of letting these thoughts drown you, use them to propel yourself to your own “promised land.”

THE COMMUTER CHRONICLES

Leigh T. Miniano

The methods of transportation have far surpassed those 20 years before. Due to the availability of public transport, society has been given an expanse of opportunities. People are no longer bound to their locale due to convenience. Thanks to modern-day transport accommodations, people get to travel farther than ever before. In the case of students, they are given the opportunity to enroll themselves farther from their homes without the need for a house accommodation since they have the option to commute. Personally, I am also a student commuter, and I have been one for three years, which could have already been five years if not for quarantine. Being a student commuter has its ups and downs, and many people can relate to this blessing and burden.

Travel Log: En route

The farther a student is the earlier they have to wake up, and the earlier they need to leave school. It feels like starting the day when yesterday’s evening is still not finished. Along the highway, I wait for the van that I hope do not stop a few meters away to wait for other passengers to board. I have been fooled more times the amount of fingers in my hand by van drivers telling me that they are leaving soon. People ask that student commuters arrive sooner, but these instances that are out of our control that make us tardier than anticipated. No matter how much we want to rush to get to our destination, we have no power in regards to how the people choose to use their vehicle.

Travel Log: Departure

The journey during the commute is a variety of experiences. I either got motion sickness because I was studying, or I was catching up with rest, even for a small amount of time. On the way to school gets tiring at times, but when it is the commute going home, it gets draining. School makes students tired, but when paired with travel, it gets even tiring. It is an oxymoron of some sort, a tiring rest. We may simply be sitting in a chair, but it seems like its engineered to suck the life out of the already tired passengers. For the travel to school, it’s quite amusing because you get to see people waking up, taking baths, and preparing themselves to go to school while you have already done that an hour before them. On the other hand, it’s fun to watch the scenery on the way home. Especially when the commute is perfectly timed to see the sun set and turn the sky into a flamingo’s pink paradise, or a sea of white and orange koi.

Travel Log: Arrival

When my departures get delayed, it is no mystery that I’ll be rushing to get to my class because I am already late. When I arrive to my hometown late, I still rush. There’s a consistency when it comes to a commuter’s arrival. Either you’re rushing or relieved that you’ve finally arrived. When I arrive home late, I rush because I finally get the comfort of being home. One benefit of being a commuter is getting to your house feeling like you’re home. For people who stay in dormitories and boarding houses, they say that nothing feels better than being at home. This is the reason that a lot of people get home sick, while commuters do not.

Being a student commuter has its struggles and gifts. Long travels create not just a moment, but an experience. Besides travelling daily, there has never been a commute that felt the same. I always get to see different occurrences each time I travel. One day you see a middle-aged man in his blue underwear take a bath, the next you see your dreams since you’ve slept from the exhaustive day you’ve had. Commuting is a journey, it is not a journey seen, but a journey experienced. The only thing to disclaim is how taxing commutes can be.

LOOK AND LISTEN: A Student’s Ethics Towards Information

Raheema M. Undong

We are bombarded with multiple pieces of information everyday. Hence, we end up drowning in tens of thousands of pieces of information. Thus, leaving us feeling more insane instead of being sane. Now, how can we select the information we only need?

Consider this context, your professor gives you a task about globalization and you as a student whose only source of information is from the internet, is confused as to which information you will be going to include in your task. How can you assess yourself? Are you capable of including all the information about globalization? Ranging from politics to well-being? Is it appropriate to cover these entire discourses?

Look for the important points that bring out the best of your task— look for the specific information that contains only the scope of your task. Listen to the information that correlates to your task— listen for the specific information that will only add up

to the validity and authenticity of your task. Do not bring everything to the table.

We are lost in the contemporary world because we do not exactly know where we should look and listen, are we? We are deprived of certainty because we face multiple blocks of information, are we? Much worse, what we look at and listen to are primarily based on our biases, are we?

We tend to hide our hypocrisy through jumping in the information that we ought to look and listen to, but underneath, we tailor the information in accordance with our biases. How can we fix this cherry picking of information? Debunk your own biases and begin to synthesize the valid information that contributes to your tasks.

Socrates once said ‘’know thyself’’. Is it still relevant in modern times? Knowing that the person who said this notable passage lived thousand years ago. Knowing ourselves means knowing what to look at and listen to. If you are aware

that you are so bad at technical writing, what should you look and listen for?

Those articles pertaining to how to improve yourself in technical writing? Or those articles pertaining to how to improve your creative writing? If you know yourself that you will thrive in developing your creative writing, then you will most likely follow the latter, but if you are aware that you most need technical writing, you will most likely opt to choose the former.

Given the pressure of the information age, the ability to specify the information is significant as it serves as a compass of where we are heading to. Do not bang your head with too much information that does not matter in your everyday tasks.

We need to fill our minds with great care of fundamental information. Our survival in this complex world is learning where to look, and listen to the information that brings the best for our well-being.

KALUMAD

A Lumad who found inspiration in reggae music and channeled that inspiration into his artwork, tattoos, and community found the will to restore his people’s culture.

Growing up in Davao, Eduard Duterte, known as “Digong,” was the director of interpretative performances, including music, dance, and other forms of indigenous expression. Also, as a mountaineer, this was the start of his interest in other types of art.

He dedicated his energy to street art, where he displays and sells his craft. Additionally, he organized a contest for tattoo artists. He described tattoos as a cultural heritage from our forefathers, despite the fact that many people saw them as deviants and felons. Nonetheless, similar to Wang-od of the Cordillera, traditional tattooing is still carried out in Mindanao with a bamboo needle. He grasped the consistency of that practice, but it was not well received.

“Bob Marley,” which has come to symbolize drugs like marijuana and other vices. Now, people would ask, “way Idana?” The majority of their songs were sung in Bisaya. One of his closest friends, Jayson of Jayson in Town, had a string of hit albums with millions of YouTube views. He is overjoyed that reggae music has allowed them to dominate the industry.

He influenced the name “North Cotabato” in the reggae scene. For the Kidapaweños, he hopes to unveil this long-lost artistic expression. He is a role model for the future generation, which will follow in his footsteps. So, he educated them and provided chances, and that is a huge improvement over the previous approach of having to beg the event’s organizer to let them perform. Although their perspectives are reversed, he is concerned about the youth because he doesn’t want their potential wasted on things like gangs, riots, and drugs.

Kalumad music developed as an oppressive kind of ethno-tribal music. As more people found the more popular styles of reggae to be enjoyable, they adopted them.

As he lost his eldest child, Digong’s desire has now come to pass. As he wandered from other places, his love for Kidapawan City grew, and he decided to settle there. Accordingly, he spent years creating art as a kind of therapy, and he pioneered the Kidapawan art movement by forming Kalumad. Kalumad means people and the origin of the land where you were born. It is more than a band; it’s also a kind of art, craft, tribal, tattoo, theater, and reggae music.

Instead of beginning as reggae, Kalumad music developed as an oppressive kind of ethno-tribal music. As more people found the more popular styles of reggae to be enjoyable, they adopted them.

Previously, reggae music was considered an underground genre. They start performing at these events, where their music is met with hatred. They were even given the name

One of the most striking aspects of my first encounters with Kalumad was how often I was addressed as “ma’am.” I was always at the event because they thought of me as “migo or bai,” meaning brethren. As I danced to their music with welcoming locals while the night was still young, I felt thoroughly immersed in our culture. They made me feel that I belonged here, in Kidapawan.

Despite the fact that their music has a positive influence, all they want is acceptance from the place they call home. Like Jayson in Town of Bukidnon, Cuerdas in Gensan, and Nairud sa Wabad in Davao, Digong is pleased to introduce Kalumad of Kidapawan, a Lumad of the City of Fruits and Highland Springs. He said, “Fame comes with money, but discipline acts as the brethren’s cornerstone since it speaks of love, respect, and peace.” So, live your life and enjoy it with your family.

Lovely Jane Balonda

It was the 12th day of September, a day when I felt like nature abhorred me. I arrived at our dormitory around 6:00 pm due to multiple academic tasks I need to accomplish. My only uniform was soaked by the rain. I was so anxious knowing the fact that I still have remaining 7:00 am the next day.

“Dai, pwede maki-gamit ng electric fan mo? Ipatuyo ko lang sana tong blouse ko. Nabasa kasi ng ulan ang blouse ko. Wala akong masusuot bukas.” I begged. She agreed.

I quickly took off my uniform and hang it immediately in front of her electric fan with embarrassment. She was our new roommate and we are not close yet. Suddenly, she asked,

“Ilan pala ate ang uniform mo?” I was so shy to respond to her question but I still answered ‘I only have one’. And then she further added, “kung ganun? Paano mo napagkakasya sa limang araw na klase and blouse mo?”

”Sa Wednesday 10:00 am ang start ng klase ko , kaya gabi pa lang nilalabhan ko na ang blouse ko para madali nalang matuyo pag ka umaga. Natutuyo siya bago mag 9:30 am sa Wednesday. Pag bagong laba, dalawang beses kong sinusuot.” I explained.

The moment I said it to her, she always looking at me pitifully. I honestly don’t mind what others think of me. I grew up in poverty and it wasn’t new for me having one uniform every semester.

I lay down on my bed for a while and think of all coming deadlines of my school works. I fell asleep without me knowing. I guess my body is worn out that day. After 1 hour of sleep, I woke up with the vibration of my phone. I checked it and I saw 10 missed calls and 1 message. I unlock it instantly and it is my father who called. He was asking if I already eat dinner. I replied to his message with ‘uway’ (‘yes’) with a happy emoticon. It’s always how I talked with my parents. I fake everything just for them not to worry. The morning came , gladly my uniform got dry. I have to attend my class. I just hike going to my department tho it’s a little bit far. I’d rather spend my 10 pesos with my other important needs. While walking, someone were calling my name. It is my classmate. “Sakay kana! Malalate ka nyan.

SCARCITY

Raheema Cabunto

Ako lang mag bayad sayo.” She shouted. “No its fine” I replied with uncomfortable face. She left me with disappointment on her face. I really wanted to accept her offer, but I don’t want to be burden to anybody else.

After class I went back to our dormitory. When I arrived, I could hear the conversation of my roommate outside of our door. “Unsay sud-anon nato?” —It is probably the endless question I constantly hear when meal time is near. “Mag itlog nalang kaya ako para makatipid., I uttered to myself.

What’s really on my mind is to survive my academic and it never sinks in me to eat expensive food. I wanted to go home with no worries about academics at the same time I wanted to bring good news to my parents.

They were elated every time I’m informing them my General Weighted Average (GWA) belong on the list of scholars. I saved the money I got from it and used it as my allowance instead. Once I got the money, I instantly relayed the good news to my mother and tell them that I already have an allowance and she doesn’t have to worry anymore. It always makes her happy.

I cooked the egg with no one is around in the kitchen. However, there is a girl who became a friend of mine who always ask why egg is always my viand every day. I find her question uncomfortable but I don’t mind it. While eating, I saw others were having lunch with special viands. I was shy and finish my lunch immediately.

I go back to our department for my afternoon class after. While walking I was thinking. What if the mode of learning still online, for sure my parents are not facing difficulties looking for money for our expenses at school. For sure, I could eat much better food than egg at home.

For sure, the money I spent with my dormitory fee, fare and groceries will be saved and my parents could use it instead for their medication. For sure, I don’t have to sacrifice with one uniform.

However, will I learn? Will I grew if learning is through online? For sure answer is no.

And I keep on walking. When I arrived at pedestrian lane, there was a guy in front of me. His shoes are so dirty, it is old and flat already. Maybe because he also hikes. I looked at my sandal and it is much better than his. We keep on walking while I am behind him. Suddenly, someone called him. He said “Hello, mama.” So it is her mother. “Uway, nekakan ako rn. (Yes, I already eat.)”. That’s the last conversation I heard and we separated.

When I arrived at the College of Science and Mathematics (CSM) Park. I saw students taking their lunch. There’s one girl who caught my attention. She’s alone while eating. Her Tupperware is covered with yellow cellophane and her water is inside coca cola bottle.

Suddenly, my heart was broke when I saw her viand is also egg. It made me realize there were a lot of students who are facing so much struggle in this face-to-face class and it is not just me who is challenged by poverty. In fact, they are in a much worse situation than me. It made me think while looking at my professor discussing— “in face-to-face learning, there are sacrifices. It is not just the academic that students have to survive but also poverty.

Poverty according to others is not a hindrance to success. Students who study independently are surely against this perspective. When you do not have enough money, you cannot pay your bills, your school expenses, your fare, and your debt. And the very sad thing is, those students who students cannot buy their proper uniform, the books they wanted, and the school supplies they needed. In simple words, there are a lot of struggles and circumstances that every student going to face to become better in the future and it is poverty making them strong but at the same time pulling them down.

However, I surely believed that “Success is not an accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all love of what you are doing or learning to do.”

Being a student is tough but together with other student like me, we will succeed in life not immediately but definitely!

TALES FROM A BUS STOP ON A RAINY DAY

John Carlo P. Villarin

It was a rainy Monday dusk. Nightfall was fast approaching but the gloomy sky made it seem like the sun had already set. With panted breaths, I hurried to the shade of the bus stop, hoping to catch an early bus ride home, but to no avail. The bus had just left, and now I had to wait for the 7 P.M. bus to arrive.

The bus stop was rather empty, other than the old man in the seat next to me. It seemed that he noticed the disappointment written all over my face and pulled out a Skyflakes cracker from his left pocket and handed it to me. “Here you go, young man. It would take a long time before the 7 P.M. bus arrives, so why don’t you take a seat?” he said. Of course, it was hard to refuse an offer from a nice old man, so I accepted the cracker and took a seat.

We exchanged pleasantries, and he introduced himself as Ramon Agbayani. Mr. Agbayani dressed and looked eccentric, yet I can feel the honesty and kindness in him by the way he speaks. He was also a knowledgeable old man, as he told me stories about his life and adventures when he was about my age. He was a retired military man after all, who has been on many missions during the prime of his life.

Mr. Agbayani told me a few stories about the missions and assignments he had been through. He told me about being included in a mission on storming a major terrorist holdout in deep in the mountains. He described the bitter memories of flying bullets and death during that encounter in full detail. I know it’s hard for him to talk about his comrades getting wounded or killed in that encounter, but I could also see the relief in his face when he said “I thank God every day, that I survived that encounter and was able to return home safe and sound”.

As Mr. Agbayani concluded his story, so too did the rain subside. But he had something else to share about that encounter, about how he met a young boy in the terrorist holdout. The boy had assisted the terrorists in fending of the military. Seeing that the boy was a minor, he was sent to the Department of Social Welfare and Development for rehabilitation and education. “But my story with that boy had not ended there” he said.

When I asked what happened next, the 7pm bus had pulled up in front of us. Mr. Agbayani looked at the bus then back at me and smiled. “Let’s save this story for another day, young man” he said. “I’ll always be here, the same time.” When I took a seat on the bus, I could see him waving back at me as the bus drove off.

When I finished work the next day, I went back to the bus stop at the same time. As usual it was raining again, but luckily Mr. Agbayani would already be there, sitting at the bus stop. As I approached the stop, I could make out a figure from a distance. It was him, and it seemed he saw me first. Just like last time, he pulled out a Skyflakes cracker from his left pocket and handed it to me. “Now where was I with the story again?” he asked. I told him about where we had last left off. As the rain grew stronger, he immediately he returned to storytelling.

After the boy’s capture, Mr. Agbayani described him as very hostile. In fact he disliked people from the military as he believed they were all cruel. Despite this, Mr. Agbayani never gave up on him. When he was assigned to a post near to where the boy now lived, He would hand him Skyflakes crackers and tell him stories if he had the chance. Time went by, and eventually the boy grew to trust him.

Mr. Agbayani, a well off military man at that time offered to pay for the boy’s

education. He treated the boy as if he were his own child. During the boy’s graduation from University, it was Mr. Agbayani who bestowed him his medals. The boy revered his kindness, to the point that he would write to him every month.

I told Mr. Agbayani that his actions would make his family proud of him. In that statement I got curious and asked him about his family. The gleeful expression he always wears in his face suddenly turned upside down. “Oh, I’m sorry. Forget I asked that.” I said with regret. “No, It’s okay. I just remembered what happened during that tragic day” he replied.

In his reply, the rain subsided once again. Mr. Agbayani then told me that his wife and child perished in a bus during an explosion caused by an IED. And that’s the reason he waits in that bus station without actually riding a bus. Mr. Agbayani also told me that the IED belonged to the same terrorists that they fought in the holdout.

With the tragic turn of events, I asked Mr. Agbayani on why he would even treat the boy who once sided with the terrorists with so much kindness. He looked to the side and back at me. “Because the boy knew nothing before” he said. “I’ll tell you more tomorrow, young man. Good night.” he added, as he saw the bus slowly pull up by the bus station.

The next day after work, I was out early. As the rain persisted, I thought about what I said to Mr. Agbayani the other night, and went to the grocery store to buy him some chocolate. Afterwards, I proceeded to the bus station only to find that to my surprise, he wasn’t there. I waited all afternoon, and as each raindrop fell to the earth, I felt the time moving forward. It was already 7 P.M, still raining and no sign of Mr. Agbayani. It was there and then that I had to give up and return home.

Two days have passed; it was already weekend, and I had no work that day. While I was eating breakfast, I heard the doorbell ring. I assumed it was the mailman and that my bills for the month had arrived. To my surprise, other than my monthly bills, I received a letter with no information on the sender. I opened it and it read:

Dear Gio Morales,

By the time you are reading this I have already passed on. I hate to tell you this, but I have already been told by my doctor that I only had until Wednesday to live. That Monday, before I met you, I was dead set on ending it all. I would be dead anyway, so why prolong the agony? I thought.

And then I met you. The short time I had left is a time I enjoyed, with you listening to my tales of old. I’d hate to leave you on read, so now I’m telling you why I treated the boy as my own.

The boy used to be a member of the terrorist group, but then again, he was still a child who knew little of the great world around him; a child who deserved a better future ahead of him. My wife and child would’ve wanted this, and it turns out to be the right thing to do.

When he grew up and graduated from university, he became the best intelligence officer I ever knew. Because of him many terror attacks were prevented, and the lives of thousands of

innocents were given another chance to live.

Speaking of which, I never told you the boy’s name. His name was Gerald Morales and you are the spitting image of him. Thank you, for making me feel like I wasn’t alone again. As thanks, I’ll be leaving to you my property near the beach. It’s just near the bus stop where we used to talk.

Goodbye Gio, I’ll be joining him, my wife, and my child soon…

Sincerely yours,

Ramon Agbayani

DREAM OF ONE

Last Night, A little one dreamed. It’s about the future She wanted to achieve.

She walked trough it

With her courage and beliefs

But forgot the guts

That rocky would come up.

Oh little dream, she failed and have been pained She fights for you as she knows your’e worth it. Oh little dream just hang in there

Cause I will make it through to hold you.

WHO ARE YOU DEMON?

Mary Ann Punsay

Flooded with too much thoughts, My mind swallowed by the demon I can’t fight, Hand tremors like how an earthquake shakes, Frightening causing trembling knees.

Creating an imaginary thing, Seeing sinking in a deep water, Tear flows like water falls, Feels an emotional roller coaster.

This demon stopping me to be strong, Possessed me in my mind that all things wrong. Praying to leave me alone

And being his victim is like a lifeless meaning.

Why are you destroying my silence, Swallowing my inner peace, Sinking me deeper, Shaking my hands and trembling my knees?

Who are you demon?

“I am you.”

Who are you demon?

“I am depression.”

Fria Mecca C. Pajel