W&B INSIDE
RISE OF THE PHOENIX. School of Engineering and Architecture’s entry, Siklab, triumphs as champion during the Mascot Competition in last year’s Intramurals.The mascot competition will be replaced as schools make room for the Bleacher Cheering Competition. photo by Daryl Pangod
NEWS
SCIS boasts new iMac Laboratory
PHOTO BY IVAN GEDRICK LOPEZ PHOTO BY CHICKLE KATE DELA ROSA
The School of Computing and Information Sciences (SCIS) had fully upgraded their facilities and services in their transfer to the Maryheights campus as part of their preparation... SEE MORE ON PAGE 2
FEATURES
Ketchup is Thicker Than Blood...
ILLUSTRATION BY EMERLEE SY
‘LIGHT OF THE NORTH’ flickers towards ridding lines by Janric
Bayao
and
SPORTS
Uni-wide orgs compete in first...
Zyra Grace Binwag
Long lines still prevailed in Saint Louis University during the enrolment for A.Y. 2018-2019 last July 30 to August 3, earning its name through the years, the “Line of the North”. Several complaints have been raised in the School of Engineering and Architecture (SEA) and the School of Accountancy, Management, Computing, and Information Studies (SAMCIS), at the same time, both encountered the most problems during the enrolment leading to prolonged hours of waiting and lengthy lines. However, in the payment of fees,
almost all enrolees from the different schools in the university suffered the same situation concerning the lengthy lines. In an interview with SAMCIS Dean Reynaldo Bautista, he said that the school administration recognized the concerns raised. Among these was the lack of available subjects which was dealt heavily by the school. In the process of identifying the subjects to be opened, Bautista explained the projection done by the administration. He enumerated the different factors considered such as
the current curriculum, population of students in each year level and course, onseason and prioritized subjects, retention rate of students, classroom availability and faculty availability. “We have not yet perfected the system of coming up with the projection that are near-zero in errors,” Bautista admitted. Bautista also said that with the objective of “allowing the students to finish their courses in the soonest possible time,” the school made some actions in order to reach this objective although
SLU-CEE shifts to Online Application by
There was daylight. The air was thick and our foreheads revealed the day’s work. We bowed our heads in prayer, our voices combined to create one load echo-hopefully enough for them to hear. We held hands as the priest delivered his words. SEE MORE ON PAGE 8
TECHY MILESTONE. SLU reached a milestone by changing its old identification card and installing RFID readers in all campus entrances. photo by Danielle Herman
To ensure stricter security
SLU changes to RFIDs
by
PHOTO BY DANIELLE HERMAN
Presidents from different university-wide organizations collaborate to kick-start that very first Uni-wide Cup from SEE MORE ON PAGE 14 January 14 to 21.
SABM and SCIS merge into SAMCIS SLU creates School of Advanced Studies
by Janric
Zyra Grace Binwag
Graduates of the K to 12 curriculum as of academic year 2018-2019 need not to take the annual Saint Louis University College Entrance Examination (SLUCEE) in order to be accepted at the university; instead, they are required to apply for admission online. It was in the A.Y. 2015-2016 since that the last SLU-CEE was conducted and taken by the last batch of the old academic curriculum. It consisted of three main sets of test - the Numerical Proficiency, Reading Comprehension and Intelligence Tests. The exam was later followed by a Personality Test which was taken by the students held at the university. It was composed of the Study Orientation Survey - Revised (SOS-R) and the Gandeza Scale of Frustration Tolerance (GSFT). Triceayn Marie Prestousa, Associate Dean of the Student Affairs, said that the eradication of the SLU-CEE for the incoming freshmen this year is due to the changes in education requirements which includes the compatibility of the test with the different strands taken by the products of the K to 12 curriculum. “We will have new entrance exams. Incoming freshmen cannot take the same SLU-CEE taken by the previous students, considering that they are older than the previous takers of the exam and they already have certain tracks. It is not fit or appropriate for them to take the same entrance exam,” Prestousa added. In order to be admitted in the university, certain requirements and steps are needed to be accomplished. The applicant must fill in the application form online and download the forms attached which will then be sealed in an envelope and submitted via mail, LBC, or hand carried to SLU. The result of qualified applicants will be posted in the university, in SLU’s website and be likewise e-mailed to the applicants individually together with the requirements relative to the enrollment. As Prestousa said, the new entrance exam is still in process and might take two to three years of procedures to be finalized.
these contributed to the problems faced. One of these actions was the relaxation on the prerequisites of subjects. This allowed students to take a subject and its prerequisite simultaneously. Accountancy Department Head Allan Frank Silva explained, “we relaxed the prerequisites to at least minimize the complaints that the number of units taken by the students are lower than normal.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
Bayao
As A.Y. 2018-2019 started, the School of Accountancy and Business Management (SABM) and the School of Computing and Information Sciences (SCIS) merged into the School of Accountancy, Management, Computing and Information Studies (SAMCIS) as part of the university’s plan of implementing the new curriculum to the freshmen. In an interview with SAMCIS Dean Reynaldo Bautista, the merging of the two schools was the decision of the university administration. This was not the first instance for it also took place with School of Teacher Education (STE) and School of Humanities (SOH) being merged into the School of Teacher Education and Liberal Arts (STELA). “One of the objectives [of this consolidation] is to recognize schools to be big and really be schools. In our case, we became bigger,” Bautista said. SAMCIS will still cater to all courses under SABM and SCIS with 12 programs under nine departments. However, due to the implementation of K to 12, the curriculum of the two previous schools had been integrated with each other, creating “hybrid courses and innovative programs” as Bautista quoted. An example of this would be the specialization in business analytics for the business administration programs of the freshmen. Bautista also explained that the administration had already a plan set for the implementation of this consolidation.
A general assembly, headed by Father President Gilbert Sales, was held last semester in order to orient the two schools and to answer all questions and clarifications. A meeting was also made between the nine departments in order to discuss the internal affairs of SAMCIS. Regarding leadership, Bautista affirmed that it was delegated through appointment in accordance with the plan of the administration. In connection with the merging is the creation of another school, the School of Advanced Studies (SAS). According to Bautista, SAS will cover all graduate programs of all schools such as masteral and doctorate programs. This lessened the courses being offered in SAMCIS and other schools and made SAS a centralized and multidisciplinary entity. With regards to long-term remedies to the problem, Bautista explained “We sought the help of the MIS (Management Information System) to come up with a program for us to let the students initially enlist and to come up with a forecast that the department will analyze.” He also expected that the problem will be lighter in the next semester for there will be the implementation of the pre-enrollment system and in the next year for there will be less students under the old curriculum. “We’re not sitting down in everything we do because if we ever we have these problems, these are also our problems,” Bautista declared.
Alessandra Dalabajan
Saint Louis University reached a milestone by changing its centuryold identification card and adopting Ultra High Frequency (UHF) Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) card. Each RFID card contains a microchip that emits radio waves and stores digital data to the SLU server, this digital data being the students’ attendance. RFID uses electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track tags attached to objects. The tags contain electronically-stored information. According to the memorandum released last April 16, the adaptation of the RFIDs is due to the great volume of students, employees, and stakeholders
entering the SLU campuses in order to fortify campus safety and ensure stricter security protocols. Furthermore, falling in line for stickers for the registration of IDs is no longer necessary since the IDs are automatically validated once the student is enroled. However, some students are not happy with it since they preferred the layout of the previous ID and that the readers do not always detect the RFIDs. Nonetheless, some are glad that SLU started to use more techy equipment with its RFIDs. Students started using RFIDs during the start of short term of AY 2017-2018.
JAM-PACKED. SAMCIS students face lengthy lines for the enrolment last July 30 to August 3, at the Prince Bernhard Gym. photo by Chickle Kate de la Rosa
NEWS
VOL 21 ISSUE 2 OCTOBER 2018
Ban lessens junk; studes snub waste management by
PLASTICS, STYRO BANNED. Security guard at the main gate prohibits a student from bringing plastic products inside the campus. to comply with the city ordinance photo by Kim Angela Santos
Zyra Grace Binwag
“Malaki-laki naman ‘yong nabawas [sa basura] especially ng styro. Siguro kung may nakakalusot, one percent lang ng styro. At hindi lang naman ‘yan university policy kasi citywide,” said Mr. George Tawao, the Janitorial Supervisor of the Special Services Department (SSD), regarding Memorandum No. 9 Series of 2018 which states the Ban on the Use of Styrofoam and Plastic Products in the university six months after its release on February 22. In accordance to the Baguio City Ordinance No. 18 Series of 2016, known as the Environment Code of the City of Baguio, the memo states that the university caterers and canteens are not allowed to use styrofoam and plastic products for packaging and serving food. The same applies to students, employees and visitors who are prohibited to bring anything that has styrofoam and plastic products as packaging or containers. The suppliers of laboratory equipment, glassware, gadgets and the like which use styrofoam and plastic products for padding are required to retrieve the styrofoam and plastic and dispose them as appropriate. Moreover, as stated in the ordinance, primary packaging is not included which refers to products that come directly from the production companies such as the packaging of chips and biscuits. Dr. Gaudelia Reyes, consultant of the Center for Environmental Management and Sustainable Development and the proponent of the memorandum, emphasized the adverse effects of plastic and styrofoam on human health and the environment, believing that with the
memorandum, the university will be able to prevent the risks of associated illnesses and environmental pollution. In order to help the students in conforming to the memo at the same time in adhering to the city ordinance, the SSD, with the help of the administration, was able to make the majority of the establishments near the university to comply with the ban. According to Tawao, when the memo was released, the department had ordered three types of trash bags: black for non-biodegradable, green for biodegradable and yellow for residuals. However, he said that until now, majority of the students still refuse to comply with the proper management and segregation of waste despite all the labels in the trash bins and the color coded trash bags. “Kasi kami ang nag-implement sa memo na ‘yan. Talagang nasunod lahat ‘yan. Pati ‘yong mga garbage bags dahil tatlo-tatlo nga pero hanggang ngayon hindi sinusunod ng mga students, halohalo pa rin ang basura ngayon kahit may label na rin doon, wala pa rin. No’ng napansin na halo halo rin lang., ‘yong iba, ang ginawa kung saan may area na may yellow dun lang linagay. Pero ‘yong green at ‘yong black, strict implementation ‘yon, kasi ‘yong yellow, bibihira lang naman ang gumagamit diyan,” he explained. Since its implementation, many students still insist that they are unaware of the memo despite of uniwide dissemination of information and many are still indifferent to the proper waste segregation and maintenance of cleanliness in and outside the classrooms.
Concerning this, the Janitorial Department seeks for the cooperation of the faculty in reminding their students to observe cleanliness inside their rooms before and after having their classes since they are the immediate ones who interact with the students. Regarding the issue on the removal of trash bins inside the rooms, based on their conducted meetings, it is not good to have it there since it does not develop the sense of responsibility among the students. Aside from that, the Janitorial staff can only collect
the garbage inside the rooms after all classes have been finished, whereas in a duration of 11-12 lecture hours, at the end of the day, the bins will be accumulating piles of garbage. For them, trash bags and bins are sufficient along the corridors so there is no need to have them inside the rooms. However, Architecture rooms are supplied with trash bags inside due to the nature of their course. “Ang isipin sana ng mga students, huwag lang ang sarili nila. Isipin din nila ‘yong susunod na klase sa kanila, kasi kung gano’n ang inisip nila at gano’n din ang nauna sa kanila, siguradong malinis ang classrooms natin. Meron akong nasabihan sa corridor. Sabi ko, ‘Bakit mo naman iiwan ang kalat mo diyan e sa’yo ‘yan. Bakit hindi mo ilagay sa basurahan?’ Alam mo ang sinabi sa akin? ‘E kaya nga may binabayaran na janitor’,” Tawao told a story.
As Louisians, he encouraged the students to imbibe the Louisian spirit among themselves since they have been through a lot of values and moral education by following simple proper waste management, stating that cleanliness is a collaborative process wherein everyone must to help and not solely depend on the janitors. Furthermore, he said that the students will be the representatives of goodwill once they get out of the university. “Kung anong ugali ang ipapakita mo, maire-reflect niya ang SLU. Kaya as much as possible, as young as you are, mas maganda sana kung mapractice na natin ‘yong tama at mga simpleng bagay. Sooner or later, you will be heads of offices and departments. Paano ka mag-iimplement kung ikaw mismo hindi mo alam gawin. Paano mo ipapatupad ‘yon?” he added.
SLU partners with banks for tuition payments, provides more choices by
OLD MEETS NEW. Apple iMAC computers are installed in the computer laboratory to upgrade the facilities of the Maryheights campus. photo by Chickle Kate de la Rosa
SCIS boasts new iMac Laboratory by Janric
Bayao
Topped with 50 state-of-the-art iMac computers featuring the latest design and operating system in the market, the School of Computing and Information Sciences (SCIS) had fully upgraded their facilities and services in their transfer to the Maryheights campus as part of their preparation for the incoming SCIS students of the new curriculum. Aside from the iMac computer laboratory being the “cherry on top of the icing” of their upgrades, SCIS also added more features such as several multimedia laboratories, new furniture for computer terminals, and clutter-free rooms with well-planned electrical design. Several high-speed Wi-Fi connections were also installed for the convenience of the SCIS students in their research and projects and can run at an average of 300 mbps. In an interview with Gerry Paul Genove, the Associate Dean of the SCIS, he said that the iMac laboratory was primarily designed for the SCIS students as a multi-platform training for different operating systems such as Windows, Apple and Linux/Unix. iMac’s capabilities in creating “highfidelity content” in multimedia arts and game technology is also one of the
purpose of having this laboratory as it is part of the new curriculum of Information Technology and Computer Sciences students. For the meantime, the laboratory is still in its set-up phase and will be used first by the fourth year students of school year 2017-2018 for their technical presentations this semester. The laboratory will only be available to the new students in their second year. Regarding the costs in creating the laboratory, Genove said that the total cost was more than five million pesos with wireless keyboard and mouse per unit at five thousand pesos each. The budget plan for this computer laboratory was filed in March 2016 and met various difficulties such as inflation and new models coming out, thus, only 50 units were purchased as compared to the original plan of having 51. According to Genove, the funds that served as the budget came from the laboratory fees collected in the past and were spent only now for the project. “No increase in the fees of the students took place,” he added. The monitoring equipment for the laboratory such as CCTV cameras will come from the funds to be gathered in the upcoming SCIS variety show which
will be an addition to the CCTV camera already present to cover not only the iMac but also the other computer laboratories. With regard to the expansion and future plans for the laboratory, Genove said that the iMac laboratory will only be for educational purposes and that there might not be any second iMac laboratory in the future. Furthermore, the SCIS plans on conducting the test phase of the laboratory on the final term of this semester. Genove also said that they plan to upgrade another laboratory with Linux/ Unix as its operating system through “virtualization” for BSIT and BSCS. They also hope to open other kinds of laboratories for robotics and for switching equipment as well as supporting cloud computing which does not necessitate the use of flash drives. “[We] will not trade anymore what we have here as compared to what we have before,” Genove said regarding all the upgrades caused by their transfer to the Maryheights campus. He said that their transfer had given them an opportunity to properly layout and plan their facilities as evidenced by rooms without visible and bare wires in contrast to the previous status of their laboratories in the main campus.
Alessandra Dalabajan
Saint Louis University collaborated with Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company (Metrobank), Security Bank, United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB), and other banks in processing the system for the payment of students’ tuition fee. Using Quick Campus System, the administration provided students more choices in paying their school bills. The plan for this system started on August 2017. The Finance Office conducted a detailed study of the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and the different banks that they can have partnerships with. “We evaluated options and alternatives and then decided,” Dr. Noel de Leon, Vice President for Finance, stated in an interview. “We cannot move on if we are always afraid to take chances. We could make it better”, he added. Automating the systems has its risks but then safety measures, like firewalls and encryption keys, against hacking are established to counter possible harms. In addition, the university also exercises Republic Act No. 10173 or Data Privacy Act of 2012 which protects an individual’s personal information and communications systems in the government and private sectors. When paying at any Security Bank branch, students should secure their SLU Student ID, Student Ledger or Assessment Form. In UCPB, students should fill out UCPB’s Bills Payment Slip. Students could pay in cash, check or debit from those with UCPB accounts. Students will then be issued a machine-validated payment slip as proof of payment. Paying via Metrobank can either be done Over-the-Counter, MetrobankDirect (Internet), and Metrobank Mobile
Banking. In order to pay Over-theCounter, students should appear personally at any Metrobank branch with their student ID and Assessment Form. They then accomplish a copy of the payment slip, present the payment slip to MBTC tellers together with cash or check, and wait for the validation copy of their payment. Paying through MetrobankDirect requires secure internet connection and metrobank account. Go to your Metrobank branch and enroll in MetrobankDirect. Log in to https://www. metrobankdirect.com and select Pay Bills. Under Special Bill, choose “SLU Baguio” from the dropdown list of billers. Enter your Subscriber Number/Account Number: Student ID Number. Choose Account Number where the payment will be sourced from. Choose the amount you wish to pay. Select Immediate Payment where account is immediately deducted upon approval or Future Dated and click Continue button. Click Confirm button for the system to process your payment. View or print Transaction Acknowledgement Receipt as proof of payment. Paying via Metrobank Mobile Banking requires you to go to your Metrobank branch of account and enroll your Globe or Smart phone in Mobile Banking. Access the Metrobank Mobile Banking applet installed in your mobile phone and select Pay Bill. Select Biller, select Others, and select SLU-Baguio. Select the Account Number from which your payment will be paid from. Enter Subscriber Number: Student ID Number. Enter the Amount you wish to pay then key in your MPIN to confirm the transaction. Wait for the SMS confirmation of the status of your payment and save the message for future reference.
NEWS
White & Blue VOLUME 21 ISSUE 2 OCTOBER 2018
3 Green SONA echoes envi issues, calls for green-heroes
MAKAMUNDONG TALAKAYAN. Green Convergence president, Dr. Angelina Galang, addresses current environmental issues during the Green SONA held last August 20 at Albergo Hotel, Baguio City. photo by Juan Carlo Mateo
by
SEA, STELA petition for new chairs by
Gretchen Cayetano
Otto Hahn and Perfecto Building houses over a hundred of repaired and refurbished armchairs in response to a petition filed by the School of Engineering and Architecture (SEA) and School of Teacher Education and Liberal Arts (STELA) student council. On the first week of the second semester, the SSC SEA Assembly organized a petition for better chairs and facilities in their building. The school assembly also urged students to assert and participate in the plea for the replacement, repair, and refurbishment of chairs and laboratory equipment, and for the installment and maintenance of exhaust fans in comfort rooms in the school through a video posted in social media. The petition was submitted to the office of the Dean last February 8, bearing the signatures of 2,602 students including
the signatures of nine out of the ten Department Heads. The inspection was assessed based on whether there were cuts, cracks, or holes on the arm rest, and damages to the legs. Petition for the change in chairs also took place in STELA. 600 chairs were pulled out from their building for repair and replacement. STELA’s signature campaign for the project lasted for weeks before being lobbied to the administration. The change in chairs commenced during the semestral break to avoid incovenience. As response, the Office of the Dean in SEA ordered for new armchairs along with over 67 stools delivered by the Special Services Department to the Otto Hahn Building on February 8, 9 and 12. Additional drafting tables were procured in the seventh floor last February 26.
Janitorial staff was also instructed to increase the number of armchairs from 50 units to 55 per room. The Special Services Department (SSD) distributed about 500 new and/or newlyrepaired chairs throughout the university at the beginning of the semester and at the end of every semester, an estimate of 100 damaged chairs are pulled out from each school for repair or replacement. Associate Dean Engr. Elaine Rivera asked the studentry to help in maintaining the integrity of school facilities and equipment, explaining that the student and faculty’s role in the standard of procedure (SOP) for the replacement of chairs, tables, light bulbs and other facilities and equipment is to report matters to the checker or directly to the Dean’s office who will then fill out requisition slips that will be sent to the SSD.
Zyra Grace Binwag
and
Gretchen Cayetano
“There are viable, better [environmental] alternatives. It is just that the worst alternatives are now being promoted,” said Dr. Angelina Galang, president of Green Convergence. Aiming to address the status of the current national environmental issues to all environmental institutions and advocates and to call upon the delegates to become eco-heroes to fight and resist against the looming capitalistic adversaries of ecology and the environment and push strongly for ecological, sustainable and safe alternatives, Green Convergence conducted the State of the Nature Assessment (Green SONA) 2018 at Albergo Hotel, Baguio City last August 20. The Green Convergence (GC) for safe food, healthy environment and sustainable economy is a coalition of networks, organizations and individuals working for a development paradigm that addresses the need for social and economic upliftment, while preserving life-supporting water, air and land for generations to come. It envisions a Philippine society enjoying food, healthy environment and equitable economy as the cornerstones of sustainable development as it builds a synergy of the green movement of the country. The State of the Nature Assessment is just one of GC’s main activities every year in which non-governmental organizations within the coalition, with assistance from experts in and out of the government, assess the performance of the government using the lens of sustainable development. With this year’s theme, “Environmental Monsters are Back; Superheroes Needed,” the SONA focused on issues that pose serious risks to the environment and how “green heroes” are able to counter-attack the threats caused by these “monsters”. These include the Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), nuclear power and incineration, large-scale mining, giant dams and climate change. These issues have been fought over by environmentalists starting in the 70s. At present, environmentalists are disturbed by new calls: lifting the ban on incineration which is stipulated in R.A. 9003, the push for the approval of GM Golden Rice, the discussions with Russia and Korea for the construction of a nuclear power plant and the construction
SLU launches 5th TechHub in PH by
Gretchen Cayetano
Envisioned to turn ideas into reality, the Saint Louis University Incubator for Research, Innovation and Business (SIRIB) Center was finally launched last March 6, at the 5th floor of Otto Hahn Building in preparation of the mandated three-unit General Education Elective for the new curriculum of undergraduate degrees in engineering and track electives in Technopreneurship 101 for the succeeding years. The SIRIB Center, also known as Technopreneurship Hub (TechHub), is designed by Arch. Donna Tabangin, the coordinator for the Engineering Urban Planning and Research Laboratory, who had also attended the fall semester at the Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology. SIRIB is one of the five TechHubs established in the Philippines by the Philippine Development Foundation (PhilDev) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) which aims not only to hone ideas but also to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in the country. With the introduction of
D
ear President Duterte,
This is me breaking up with you. We both know that this is our end and this wasn’t going anywhere. I am so tired of all your promises for a bright future, for a new beginning and for a better life. They were nothing but empty talk. They were all lies and you made me believe in those words. I am so tired of all of your plans. You said that it was for a greater purpose but no, it wasn’t. In the end, all I saw was blood and all I heard were muffled cries
Technopreneurship 101, a course to be taken by engineering students in their later years, the TechHub will serve as a platform to bolster and enhance the program by providing a space conducive for technological innovations and bridging these ideas to the proper consultants and possible investors. The TechHub is divided into three areas: the Fabrication Lab which houses relatively new technology such as 3D printers, scanners, and milling machines, laser cutters and CNC routers; the Innovation/ Collaborative space which is an area for lectures, seminars, and research work; and the center occupied by the program managers of SLU TechHub. Dr. Cynthia Posadas, the Dean of SEA, said that the SIRIB Center is free and open not only to SEA students but to all students of SLU. It welcomes students who have project studies and students who want to pitch their inventive ideas. It further functions as a hub for other cohort Higher Education Institutes (HEI’s) and entrepreneurship communities in the regions of Ilocos, Cagayan Valley and the Cordillera.
TECHNOPRENEURSHIP HUB. SLU launches the fifth SIRIB in the PHilippines which serves as a research facility for SLU students, and also as a venue for lectures, seminars, and other events. photo by Marco Ilagan
of the P18.7B Laiba/Kaliwa dam project. Dr. Jorge Emmanuel, president of Environmental and Engineering Research Group in California and a professor at Silliman University, discussed the dangers of nuclear power and incinerators such as nuclear explosions which may cause great fires and high range of radiation levels and exposure which leads to defects and diseases on living organisms. He cited the Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear explosions as precursors to what might happen to the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant should it be revived. As an advocate of clean renewable energy, Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo is proud to have his province as a “First-class Environmental Province.” With his issuance of Executive Order 9 declaring his place as an environmentfriendly and clean-energy province, offices and local government instrumentalities of Negros Oriental are not allowed to issue any permit, authorization, or any expression of support to the development of coal-powered plants in the province. “Their argument is true and simple: coal-fired [power] is cheap. My answer is truer and simpler: Environmental destruction is so expensive. It is never negotiable,” the governor added. Regarding GMOs, Chito Medina of MASIPAG said that DNA repairs, cisgenesis and intragenesis which are all part as tools in creating genetically modified crops are not regulated at the moment in which as a consequence may result to several risks. In relation to GMO, he said that what works for an individual may not work for all and that to live as a community, everyone must work for the common good. “Responsible mining is a myth. There has to be legal definition and measures,” said Jaybee Garganera of Alyansa Tigil Mina on his talk regarding mining and giant dams. He believed that what should be advocated for now is rational mining. He further reported the disasters caused by mining in the country such as the destruction of a wide range of coral reefs, the erosion of lands caused by the Oceana Gold mining company in Nueva Vizcaya, the mine spills of Philex Mines Company in Baguio, Benguet and the wide-range destruction and clearing of the indigenous mountains of the Philippines. Other issues tackled were the status and perspective of the Department of Tourism (DOT) in the region which is emphasized on the large waste of the city due to the large influx of tourists and the issue on waste segregation and disposal especially among hotels and businesses in the city; organic agriculture in the Cordilleras; and the status and programs concerning the forests wherein Atty. Jose Canivel, the executive director of the FFP, said that indigenous peoples must protect their lands against inhumane and too much nature exploitation. Green SONA 2018 was organized by non-profit environmental coalition Green Convergence in cooperation with the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) and the Forest Foundation Philippines (FFP) along with institutional partners Maryknoll Ecological Sanctuary, Saint Louis University and the University of the Cordilleras. Among those who attended the SONA were students from various universities, advocacy groups and representatives of national government agencies such as the Department of Energy (DOE), the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Tourism (DOT) and Climate Change Commission (CCC) who were invited to respond to the assessment on the presented current environmental issues.
A Break-up Letter from innocent people. I only felt grief and I couldn’t be more heartbroken looking at pictures of lifeless, cold bodies victimized by your choices. There’s just too much pain; too much loss. I wonder if you still have the strength to go on knowing you have the blood of your people in your hands. Was there a gun pointed to your head before deciding to kill them? This is me ending things with you. I hate to break it to you but you are just like the others. They fill me with sweet words then leaving me all broken
Crossroad Innocence
Hannah Jane Gutay
and wounded, leaving me to pick up the pieces and put it back together again. People said that we were a match and that I finally found someone who will take good care of me. I believed them,
but I ended up hurt and betrayed because of all the stunts you pulled and all the pointless decisions you made. You have some explaining to do the time you cheated on me. Oh, wait. Is your spokesperson going to do all the talking and say, “You know him. It is just a joke. Nothing personal.”? It wasn’t always the dark days. Honestly, I like to think that we had some good times. You showed your heart to me. You showed me that you care. You made me believe in change and hope again. You
grieved when lives were lost. You were there when I needed you the most but this has to stop because it is doing more damage than good. You were my greatest mistake and I vow not to do the same mistake again. I know that you are not my last but believe me, I know better now to not choose someone like you again. I am so done with you. Nagmamahal, Isang Pilipino.
OPINION
VOL 21 ISSUE 2 OCTOBER 2018
PREVAILING TRUTHS The attacks toward the media and the press continue to escalate with the propagation of fake news and the calculated strikes of an iron-fisted administration. In this administration, killing, shaming and filing cases against journalists are not the only means. Media stations are also being repressed from delivering or operating to do their job. For years, the press have fought and struggled against the assault of misinformation, excessive bureaucracy and traditional politics. The routine of criticism, blackmailing and threats thrown whenever high officials and politicians are involved in critical news is an endless battle fought by journalists, yet the truth always remains victorious. We always succeed in finding a way to shed light on injustices committed by those who believe they are protected by power. The press and the media will continue to protect,defend and assert the right of the mass to their liberties. We will not let any government, institution, person, or oppressor mum and suppress the voice of the press. We remain steadfast and resilient in this ongoing war against persecution and misinformation. We have steel in our bones stronger than violence or any form of oppression. We will not be silenced. They have only succeeded in bruising the body of the truth and the press, but they have not taken nor will they ever be able to take our voices. We are not puppets easily manipulated by any of the threats that assault our liberty to information. We will always set every truth free. No amount of intimidation, coercion, and pressure will make us flinch. This challenge call even the studen press to stand against any form of oppression to silence the truth. We are White & Blue. We are the student press. We shall not fear. The truth is mighty, and it shall prevail.
W&B editorial
Editorial Board 2018 - 2019 working staff for this issue
Editor-in-Chief Internal Associate Editor External Associate Editor Managing Editor Exchange Editor News Editor Features Editor Entertainment Editor Sports Editor Literary Editor Chief Layout Artist Chief Photojournalist Editorial Cartoonist
Jude Thaddeus Damian Diwata Donato Char Bianca Sab-it, Jill Jarata Chickle Kate Dela Rosa Bryan Lorenzo Unico Janric Bayao Franz Claire Del Rosario Felix Daniel Carlos Allan Denise Tadeo Joyce Angella Joves Jastine Christer Kabigting Danielle Herman Nobelio Mataag
Senior Staffwriters Zyra Grace Binwag, Jonas Angelo Catubay, Ralph Jon Wilmer Dollaga, Anisha Myrdell Liwas, Ryanne Aina Unarce, Gretchen Joy Cayetano, Alessandra Dalabajan, John Joseph Dupingay
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was inculcated since childhood to remain respectful and considerate of everyone no matter the circumstances of each person. I was also taught that respect is earned and is not freely given. This column heavily includes a plea for reform and respect for variances. If you are not tolerant of difference and change, there is more reason for you to read and comprehend. We could only reach the understanding of a different culture if we immerse ourselves in that other culture’s circumstances and situation. The Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression (SOGIE) Bill is a proposal promoting the inclusion of the members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Asexual, and Allies (LGBTQIA +) Community and the conclusion of gender discrimination and attacks towards the said community. Clothes and toys deserve to be put inside closets and drawers but never identities and personalities. People deserve the comfort and security to wear their own skin no matter the color, even if it meant that it was plastered with the colors of the rainbow. The society has come far from the ideology that everything should only be black and
Senior Layout Artists Alison Kisha Louriel Tandoc Senior Photojournalists Maricor Andrey Dela Cruz, Margaret Joy Dong-e, Juan Carlo Mateo, Amir Bolinto, Marco Antonio Ilagan, Lance Oneil, Daryl Pangod, Joven Peralta Senior Cartoonists Theo Ardsjiel Astudillo, Khenley Joe Batton, Kyra Eufelle Domingo, Sharmaine Alejo, Jener Lubosen, Cristel Ramos Junior Staff Members Murielle Florendo, Hedymir Fae Astudillo, Meha Shane Damiyay, Ayrton Cris Dizon, Danielle Ivy Ducusin, Jude Michael Gagarin, Grail Lubangas, Krisnna De Mille Mariano, Brian Andrew Milanes, Esther Alethea Munson, Zea May Pascual, Sharine Mae Ramirez, Rhamer David Santiago, Ayra Kaye Tibeb, Jules Phillip Tillay Junior Layout Artists Myrisha Jhen Dela Cruz, Steven Ray Estabillo, Ashly Macoli, Kate Shirley Talipnao Junior Photojournalists Marc Jandel Buccat, Martin Shan Cheung, Lance Anthony Cruz, Sonai Longsiab, Kelly Caezer Molitas, Robe Martin Reyes, Kim Angela Santos, Carl Kayne Valeriano Junior Cartoonists Majed Al-harbi, Stephanie Imingan, Joshua Rillo, Jodel Jr. Soriano, Ma. Emerlee Rosbelee Sy, Jerome Carlo Villanueva Advisers Engr. Jeffrey-Des Binwag, Mr. Miel Albert Laoyan
White & Blue is a member of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines Editorial Office: Rm. 06 Student Center, Saint Louis University, Assumption Rd., Baguio City 2600 Printed by Magicus Junctra Corporation, 1722 Pres. Quirino Avenue, Pandacan, Manila
LED Plasma TV
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Sunday Night Dysphoria Jude Damian
white, man and woman, strong and weak. Even the television has garnered different hues to provide the best service, so, why not also our thinking? Why not recognize the world in its eccentricity and diversity? Why not see the world in its clearest, brightest, and strangest colors? Respect begets respect. This is not a call to radically change your mind on the spot (although there is also an immediate need for reform). This is a call for you to understand that even if other people are wired differently and strangely from what had been socially stereotyped all your life, it does not mean that they are weak, threatening, or too complex for you to reach similar grounds. This is to ask you of the acceptance needed to embrace something that is different and strange but not otherworldly—just like how you first treated alcohol or cigarettes or even Koreanovelas and anime. They were
foreign but not unwelcomed. They were different but you learned to live with them, treat them well, and love them. The LGBTQIA+ are people and humans. Liking the similar sex or having a different and unique sexual preference from what WAS the norm does not make the LGBTQIA+ less human than they already are. If you believe otherwise, return to your rusty, black and white television and educate yourself. This hopefully is an avenue that I could open your eyes to the beauty of any type of positive diversity. This is a nudge for you to understand and learn that change, although frightening, is necessary and constant. This is my message for you that the LGBTQIA+ do not deserve the hate they receive for being who they truly are. They are as valuable as you are. They are as essential as you are. Let us put an end to the LGBTQIA+ discrimination and stigma. Let us help the rainbow to be always out and proud! *** Salutations for now to everyone I loved in this university, especially White & Blue. The continuation of my story remains to be seen. Hit me with your rainbow love @irrelevantjude. Be proud! Spread love!
At a Time of Tyranny
he following contents contain a serious discussion for an apathetic person. Every time, when speaking about the current state of the country, there are seven occurrences reflecting the Philippines’ condition directive of a path leading to an authoritarian, dictatorial or tyrannical government. First, after the extrajudicial killing of thousands Filipinos within the first two years of Duterte’s instalment to power and thousands of those victims considered as casualties and collateral damages, this administration plots to continue their so-called successful War on Drugs, even with the on-going investigation from the international community concerning its attack towards human rights. Second, this country’s discouraged actions to the advancement of its civic form in gender empowerment as proven by the continuous support to the concept of patriarchal system. Try finding for women of power who are not bullied, not threatened to be removed from office, not being charged, or has not already been charged by fallacious accusations. There seem to be none by now. Third, tax reform which claims to be pro-poor but, in reality, will burden
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Diwa Donato
them the most into suffering and poverty due to the prescription of higher prices for basic necessities which are needed either in their occupation or in their daily living. Fourth, thi administration’s betrayal of our sovereignty on the West Philippine Sea and the Philippine Rise, is clearly an act that favors China’s exclusive economic and military use of them. Rather than celebrating our victory in The Hague over our own sovereignty and land, the president is more pro-active in pleasing China. Fifth, with media groups and journalists being harassed and denied access to freedom of the press and freedom of information, the government exhibits blatant disrespect and apathy towards the most important core principles of our democracy. Sixth, the Charter Change if with
the constitutional assembly to ratify, the more reason to dissent this agendum based on what this administration has shown its people. So instead of calling for a charter change of the state, let us call for a character change in the government. And lastly, this administration has already weakened the pillars which makes a government firm – transparency, good governance, rule of law, checks and balances, and accountability and integrity in public service. We hear and read them at the news, classroom lectures and outside discussions. But eventually we eat, we sleep, and forget them for a while. These are bad times, dark times perhaps. The society will tell you to just study. Of course you have to study well, to help yourself, help your family, and help other people in the future. But while studying, go out, engage and learn from the world outside the confines of this university. There you will realize that what you are studying for are more than just your dream. At stake is your country and its people. Ask yourself, what is your role at a time of tyranny? Study well. Speak out. But keep safe. *More at @diwadonato.
OPINION
White & Blue VOLUME 21 ISSUE 2 OCTOBER 2018
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TRAIN Law: Students Onboard
t’s the green light and the train is stirring. Who’s going for a ride?
Year 2018 started with a bang as we not only welcomed the New Year but also the installation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law. Well, for those who made their pledge of losing weight for the last 10 ‘New’ years, this might be the answer. The Philippines is one of the countries that have introduced ‘sugary drink tax’ in an effort to increase revenues and combat obesity. That is, drinks with high fructose corn syrup like ‘coke’ are taxed at P12 per liter and as for drinks using sugar and artificial sweeteners, a P6 per liter increase will be imposed. But don’t worry instant coffee lovers because 3-in-1 will be exempted as well as all kinds of milk, natural fruit juices, vegetable juices and medically-indicated beverages.
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Amnesia Anesthesia
Anisha Myrdell Liwas
Be ready to be asked questions of why you are not okay. Most of all, be ready for the replay of that event inside your head. It can last for hours, weeks or even days. Who knows? But it will soon be over. And you will be okay soon. You have to be. These are the things you tell yourself, right? Then you start programming yourself to forget the things that triggered everything in the first place. Slowly getting into it until you eventually forget
everything. You go on preoccupying yourself with academics, drowning yourself with papers and requirements to divert your attention. You force yourself to forget things because it’s the best thing to do as of the moment. You’d leave everything behind and never try to go back. And no, you cannot forgive. It’s not that you are incapable of forgiving, but as of the moment you just can’t. So the best thing to do is just forget. Obviously, forgetting is a lot easier than forgiving. Especially when the one who did you wrong won’t even acknowledge what he did wrong or he just won’t ask for it. But screw it. Screw them. It’s still best to forgive. But then, take your sweet time. If you really can’t do forgiving now, then do your best forgetting things.
hile we are here trying to uphold and protect press freedom... President Rodrigo once said to press corps: “Just because you’re a journalist, you’re not exempted from assassination if you are a son of a bitch.” The International Federation of Journalists or IFJ reported that the Philippines is the most dangerous country in Southeast Asia for journalists. Globally, the island nation came sixth on the list of most murderous countries. A similar report from the Reporters Without Borders said that here in Philippines, at least 65 journalists were killed in connection to their jobs and it’s an 18% decrease of the population from last year. Syria topped the list as the deadliest country since the year 2012. The list is followed by Mexico where journalists there were killed mostly for covering the country’s notorious drug cartels. Middle Eastern countries like
Fact Sheet
Bryan Lorenzo Unico
social principles. I believe that banning the use of profanity stifles one of the most fundamental human rights - the freedom of expression. Swear words have a different weight to them, and a person doesn’t usually curse in public unless that person really needs to voice out extreme feelings such as disgust, anger or pain. In casual conversations with people you are comfortable with, we use profanity to put across accurately how you felt about something. Bad words have power that socially acceptable words cannot relay. Our all too human emotions of anger, pain and disgust have a purpose. They are signs that a person is afraid, unwell or deprived. Bad words go straight to the root of those emotions to tell others that something is very wrong. It could
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DA HOY!
Natatakot na pong bumalik sa clinic yung kaibigan kong madalas magka-Dysmenorrhea kasi sinabihan siyang ‘di na siya tatanggapin ulit doon para sa sakit na yun. Puwede po bang linawin ho? Clinic kasi ang takbuhan ng mga estudyante kapag may iniinda silang sakit kaya sana di yun true. Sana po iyong mga librong authored ng mga instructors ng SLU na siya ring kadalasang i-require gamitin ay mas taasan pa ang kalidad. Iyong pinabili po sa amin ngayong semester, ang liit ng sulat, mahirap basahin, at madaling matanggal iyong mga pahina kahit gaano kaingat yung gumagamit. May posibilidad po bang babaan ang presyo ng pagkain sa canteen para naman lahat kami makabili at mabusog? Dun po sa mga instructors na nagkamali sa grade na naencode sa portal at nangakong papalitan sa Midterm/Finals, hello po? Mas masakit pa sa break-up ‘yung pagkapanalo ng mga kandidato dahil lang sa kasikatan o kapogihan. Eleksyon pa ba ‘to o pageant/popularity contest? Anyway, sana gampanan ng mga nanalo ‘yung mga tungkulin nila. Iyong mga may sakit na pumupunta sa clinic baka naman puwedeng i-assist niyo po sila sa pagkuha ng yellow form. Salamat ha.
White & Blue values your contributions. We are accepting articles, photos, or letters to the editor from the Louisian community. Articles must be encoded, while photos and illustrations should be provided with descriptions. Include your name, course and year, and contact number. Works with deficient information will not be entertained, but names can be withheld upon request. Submit your entries at the White & Blue office (Student Center, Rm. 06).You can also interact with us via Facebook (White & Blue), Twitter (@whiteandblueslu) and Email (slu.whiteandblue@gmail.com). Submissions are still subject to our screening process.
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Ano ang gusto mong ayusin para sa susunod na E-elections? Sa susunod, dapat ang COMELEC makicoordinate sa mismong SCIS pagdating sa mga ganitong projects. Kasi sa system ngayon wala talagang kinalaman ang SCIS eh. - BSIT 4
Explicit Content
ne of the reasons why we humans continue to live until today is because of our capability for social interaction. We are able to accomplish different feats because of our ability to communicate and cooperate with each other. In connecting with others, language is our primary tool to express our ideas and feelings to others while also being able to understand the thoughts and emotions of others. As the need to understand more concepts grew, people have arbitrarily made new words to convey notions more precisely. In the course of the growth of language came words that would be taboo when spoken or written-bad words, which were derived from things that were repulsive, weird, or obscene for social standards. To utter these expletives will definitely get a listener’s attention due to the vulgar meaning behind the word that was used. Nevertheless, we still speak such rude terms for various reasons, usually out of anger, disgust or annoyance. Some say that the use of explicit language is justifiable, while others would declare that it’s a sign of a person’s disrespect for
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Louis is now beginning to experience the effect of TRAIN law in every grumble of his stomach. Fast food chains just a short walk from school can’t miss the train as it needs to increase the price of their beverages, which stops Louis right on his track and makes him think twice as he calculates his monthly allowance. So, he just went for a ‘budget’ meal which, on the contrary, is not actually budget-friendly. But he had no choice except to regain his energy for the rest of the day. The new TRAIN law is not actually
I Choose to Forget
don’t know. I guess there are things that can neither be forgotten nor forgiven: things too painful to be let pass; things too unbearable to be reminisced. It is understandable when one would opt to forget rather than to forgive after experiencing something unspeakable. When everything comes rushing back in and starts to torture you, forgetting is always the best option. When everything seems to be going well, there will be occasions when these episodes will forcibly play vividly in your mind. A scent, an eerily familiar place, a tune, a face, or even just another touch can tickle the brain down to its own Elm Street of dreams. Then, expect for episodes of you staring out in space or an outburst of emotions. Afterwards, be ready to spring back to reality.
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Divergent
Sheena Mae Bangibang
pro-student as we are not employed, we can’t enjoy the decrease in personal income tax. Yes, we really like going to the grocery when we have the money but better not spend too much on what we want but instead on what we need. For those who want to be healthy and fatfree, better cut down on the unwanted sugar you fuel your body with and just go for something healthy. I’m not saying ‘be a vegan’ but just a simple thought of spending moderately can do no harm for us students. As for those who can have a higher take-home pay, think twice before celebrating because expected higher monthly house bills would just offset their gains. Like its name, a train brings us to the next station but for it to be efficient, it should be capable enough to hold its passengers and reliable enough to carry us to our destination smoothly and hassle-free. So, who’s up for a ride?
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be that someone or something is doing you grave harm or insult. Because of its “taboo-ness”, cursing has a power to catch the listeners’ attention. To forbid the use of expletives is to ignore their usefulness in fear of breaking a phony image of “correctness”. It is vanity to outlaw the use of expletives, and it casts aside the truth that we have used explicit language to vent out our struggles in life. It lessens the chances of an honest conversation about issues that persist every day in our society. It decreases the opportunity to uproot and resolve deeply-seated resentments within every person. It takes away the “push” in dialogues that need to be heard and felt differently. To prohibit the use of curse words is to take away one of the most utilized distress signals employed by almost every one. Bad words are useful, but like all things with power, it can be abused. In analysing the context of the usage of an expletive, it is important to be logical and critical. No matter the reason, if your intention is to hurt and offend others, just remember that what comes around goes around. Curse wisely, or you might just end up cursing yourself.
Okay naman yung mismong system na ginawa, kaso malayo na nga kuhaan ng passwords sa mga voting precints, sa masikip na parte pa nila ini-station. - BSECE 4 Sana magkaraoon ng terminals for kasing dumayo pa ng Hahn. - BS Bio 3
NatSci. Nakakahiya
Wala yung mga folders na sinabi ng COMELEC na pantakip sana sa mga terminals. Nawala na yung sanctity ng mga votes. - BSAc 4 Nagkulang sila sa mga signs and directories and information dissemination. No wonder maraming di nakakaalam na elections nga pala ngayon. - BSED SocSci 4 Sana kung anong oras nila sinabing magsisimula ganong oras talaga nagsimula. Kasi nakakadismaya yung excited ka nang bumoto tapos wala pa palang mga passwords. - BSME 2 Sana mas extensive pa yung pag- room-to-room ng COMELEC. Hindi yung day before elections saka pa lang sila nagdi-disseminate ng info. - BSLS 3 Sana inisip ng COMELEC na may exam ang SOL sa araw ng elections. Reach out din sa mga grad schools minsan mga ading. - LLB 1 Next time sana mas na-orient pa nang maayos yung mga assistant kasi parang ‘di nila alam ginagawa nila. - BSEcon 3
Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken Afghanistan and Iraq followed the suit. While the Philippines enjoys a free and diverse press, the country is also devastated by culture and impunity. The Center for Media and Freedom and Responsibility or CMFR lists 156 Filipino journalists having been killed in instances related to their work since 1986 according to CNN. The figure that shows the number of killed journalists here in the Philippines hit an all-time high with the 2009 Maguindanao massacre which took the lives of 58 individuals and 30 of them worked in the media. On the other side of the coin, female night crawlers or female journalists here in the Philippines are particularly at risk. 60 percent of the women in the Philippines reported having experienced sexual harassment in their everyday lives and female reporters are often the targets of rape, death threats and the misogynistic comments online. But despite the risk, women in the journalism field are still doing most of the
Six Feet Gone
Angella Joves
news coverage in this nation. Maria Ressa from Rappler says that many of the fixers, reporters and photographers who take the graveyard shift - the night crawlers - are also women. They’re out there racing to police crimes in the slum areas in the north of the capital. They are the ones who keep count of the bodies, talk to witness and the families of the victims, attend funerals and wakes, and interview the police. Their goal is to bear witness. Despite the preeminence of women in the newsrooms, women journalists continue to be subjected to harassments, threats and attacks.
Take in to consideration that journalists and women journalists are branded as terrorists here in the Duterte regime. The world may blame all the killings and the people who continue to attack people, but if you look closely around and observe, the Father of our nation, President Rodrigo Duterte made disappointing and unnecessary remarks against the women journalists here in the country. His misogynistic statements against women are not an exception when it comes to harassment. He uttered several jokes about “rape” and went too far as calling on his soldiers as to jokes about “shooting”. As a Communication Arts student, as a student journalist and as a citizen of the Philippines, this catastrophe is very much alarming. We are all affected by the dilemmas and trauma that the country and the people are facing. We are media practitioners who study not only the norms but also the ethics when it comes to truth telling.
People may call it bias - Biased in the sense of a positive meaning. People only knew the connotation of bias for its negative meaning, not the other way around. “To write is already to choose” - the moment you write your article, the moment you deliver your report, the moment you take that photograph, you already pick your side. This is a battle and we also fight the battle for truth, justice and survival. The duty of the journalists to fight for freedom is long overdue rather than calling it duty - but also their heart and mind telling them that “this is what I signed up for”. Across all the field works, media personalities still strive to continue to conquer all these trials they are facing and the country faces. We Filipino people will stand alongside of these truth tellers in upholding the democracy of this country. And to the future journalists and concerned citizen of our country, we shall carry on.
NEWS
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Silang enters rehab; offices move by
Zyra Grace Binwag
and Jonas
VOLUME 21 ISSUE 2 OCTOBER 2018
‘Light of the North’ flickers... from page 1
Angelo Catubay
To offer continuous service, major offices situated in the Diego Silang Building transferred due to its ongoing renovation which is a part of the university’s plans of improving its infrastructures and facilities. OSA’s new home As Silang is being remodelled, the Office of the Student Affairs (OSA) relocated to the 1st floor of the same building last February 2018. Andrew Macalma, Dean of the OSA, said that the transfer started with their files, furniture, and computer sets; however, they were still able to attend to the needs of the students in the old office while the transfer has not yet been fully accomplished. He further said that the new location is beneficial to the students and to the guardians and parents who frequent the office. Towards the quality of service the office is providing, Macalma said that they will continue to improve and that they will do their best to serve the students and the stakeholders as best as they can. Moreover, OSA looks forward to the full functionality of the new office. “Our battle cry every day is to give our best in whatever that is that we do and in every service that we render and in any program that we actually develop for, through, and with the students of Saint Louis University,” Macalma added. Gender-neutral comfort rooms Proposed by Rev. Fr. Gilbert Sales in coordination with the Gender and Development Committee, the first-ever gender-neutral comfort rooms in the
university were incorporated in the Silang building as part of its renovation. The three-year old committee is co-chaired by Atty. Jason Barlis, Vice President for Administration and Triceayn Marie Prestousa, Associate Dean of OSA. Moreover, guidance councilor Jeremy Dela Cruz and his department were able to research on the signage to be used for the restrooms. According to Prestousa, one of the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) requirements is for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to have a focal point system or an office on gender development. Having diverse learners in the university, the construction of the genderneutral comfort rooms aims to adhere to the principles of diversity, inclusivity, and Christian spirit. “It’s best to accommodate everyone by providing needs as simple as a restroom that they will be comfortable, feel safe but that’s not the main reason; it’s more of learning or walking our prayers, our core value on Christian spirit. If the university can provide or maximize opportunities whereby such restrooms can be created, then now is the opportune time ‘cause we are renovating Silang,” Prestousa said. When asked how the new comfort rooms will affect the students who are members of the LGBTQ community, she said, “the basic need to have a safe place for their personal comfort, I think that would be one of the reasons, and at least they would know na there’s a place for them.”
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REGIONAL
NEWS BITS LOCAL
City officials clash on mgmt of Burnham by Janric
White & Blue
Bayao
Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan and Councilor Elmer Datuin expressed their disagreement against Councilor Edgar Avila’s recommendation of returning the management of Burnham Park to the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) and Department of Tourism (DOT), saying that the park should be handled by the local government. Avila, head of the committee on urban planning, lands and housing, earlier made a proposition in a committee report to ask the Office of the President, DOT, and TIEZA to rescind the agreement created from Executive Order 224, which was issued by former President Fidel Ramos in 1995. This order turned over the administration, management, and operation of Burnham Park from the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA), now known as TIEZA, to the local government. “We have to admit at one point that we failed in the management,” Avila said. “They (TIEZA) have the manpower, funds, and means to rehabilitate the park, and this seems to be a response to the cry of stakeholders,” he added. Against the proposition made, Domogan said that he wants the city to retain the management of Burnham Park. He asked Avila to reconsider the plan of returning the park to TIEZA, stating that the city had already fought in the past to gain control over the park. Domogan reminded of the failure of TIEZA and DOT before to deliver funding for the maintenance of the park, which the city had shouldered then. He also added that the same problem will arise with the perception of the city being idle with regards to Burnham Park’s condition. Domogan admitted that the income of the park was not maximized for its own development and management. He said that it was due to the opposition on the creation of a parking facility in the park, which was supposed to boost the park’s revenue and handle its maintenance costs of around P42 million. Datuin, head of the committee on tourism, welcomed the possibility of the national government giving the longneeded subsidy for the development of the city and its infrastructures. However, he expressed disagreement on the committee report.
Cordillera suffers from onslaught of ‘Ompong’ by
Ayra Kaye Leung
Typhoon Ompong, with the international name Mangkhut, passed through the Cordillera Administrative Region at about 1:00 AM on September 14, causing multiple destructions on shelter, infrastructure, and agriculture, reports of blackouts, and numerous casualties. According to the Cordillera Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CRDRRMC), there were a total of 119 landslides and 33 flooding incidents which caused 127 road closures including some of the main entry points into the region, namely: Kennon Road, Naguilian Road, sections of Halsema Highway, and sections of Marcos Highway. Moreover, there were 10,404 families or 38,864 individuals who were relocated in the provinces of Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mt. Province, and the City of Baguio. 328 evacuation centers were used for 7, 683 families or 28, 211 individuals from those who were affected. Reports from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) – CAR as of September 27, 10:00 AM, showed at least 111 people died, 22 were missing, and 82 were injured. The most affected of these places was in Itogon, Benguet with 86 fatalities and 20 missing. The provinces of Benguet, Abra, Kalinga, and the municipality of Mayoyao in Ifugao have declared state of calamity after the typhoon. Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture (DOA) estimated 2 billion pesos worth of damages to agriculture.
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Rappler stripped of COI, pleas for reverse by Janric
Bayao
Although Rappler continues to release news articles and media coverages in their website and other social media platforms, it now cannot function as a business or media organization for its Certificate of Incorporation was nullified. Revoked of its license to operate, the news agency Rappler Inc. and its parent, Rappler Holdings Corporation, were rendered incapable as they continue to appeal the En Banc decision of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). According to Armand Pan, officer-in-charge of the Office of the
The university plans to build more gender-neutral comfort rooms as it is the project’s ideal goal; however, Prestousa clarifies that they have to check the longterm feasibility especially that there are already buildings which have already been renovated. “‘Yong accommodation aaralin pa ‘yan. Hindi natin pwedeng sabihin na bukas meron na or next year meron na. It depends on how this is going to be especially for the plans for renovation,” she explained. Other offices Last July 27, the Accounting Department officially moved to their newly furnished office located at the old Silang Canteen just before the enrolment for A.Y. 2018-2019 started. According to the Department, there were problems encountered during their transfer but besides those, they were glad to have an office with a wider space and better ambiance compared to the previous office but the department said that there are still to improve in terms of their facilities and services. Through the new office, the accounting staff having been strategically positioned, will be able to provide efficient accommodation of their clients. The clinic and the guards have also moved to their new headquarters since their original workplaces were also affected by Silang’s remodelling. The new Security Office can be accessed at the first floor of the same building just beside the OSA while the new clinic can be visited at the ground floor of the Vath Building.
Commission Secretary, Rappler violated the Constitution and the Anti-Dummy Law particularly in the foreign equity restrictions in mass media. He also added that the SEC “just did what it has to do based on its mandate as a corporate securities regulator.” In defense, Rappler chief executive officer Maria Ressa said that the SEC made the move “without due process” and that this was “an attack against press freedom”, banning them from delivering the truth even though it is against the government. In support to Rappler’s cause, local and foreign journalist groups, as well as some senators, condemned the SEC’s decision and affirming that this is a freedom of the press issue. As of the present, the SEC stands firm with their decision while Rappler plans to use any legal means to reverse the order.
INT E RNAT IONAL
Duterte reaffirms PH’s duty on WPS by Janric
Bayao
President Rodrigo Duterte assured the discussion on the disputes in South China Sea as among the annual issues tackled on the 33rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit held at Singapore last November 11 to 15. Duterte was expected to raise this concern as well as the national government’s stance on certain issues with the regional leaders and dialogue partners, such as China, Russia, and the United States, of the international community. “The President will reiterate the Philippines’ principled positions on matters concerning the South China Sea and transnational and transboundary issues such as terrorism, violent extremism, trafficking in persons, illicit drugs, and disaster risk reduction and management,” the Malacañang Palace said. On the territorial disputes over the South China Sea, a scheduled meeting between the Chinese President Li Keqiang and the ASEAN leaders took place last November 14 where parties tried to establish a new code of conduct to ensure peace, security, and stability within these areas. Countries which will be covered by the sea code were: The Philippines, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei Darussalam, and Taiwan. All these nations have overlapping claims in the South China Sea. As to the country’s responsibility, Duterte said that the Philippines “is prepared to do its part” as the country coordinator of ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations until 2021. He also reaffirmed the Philippines’ “commitment to the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.”
Another action done was the permission for students to take advance subjects. Bautista conceded that there was no measure to identify the number of students who wished to advance and that they did not expect that many wanted to take advance subjects, leaving less for those who are supposed to take it in their regular semester. One last action was the relaxation in the number of units allowed to be taken. This was done in accordance with the objective stated by Bautista. Although these actions were done in benefit of the studentry, the school administration did not realize that it will result to an “upsurge in the demand for subjects,” he quoted. “We created our own problem actually for the sake of the students,” Bautista admitted. In order to combat the problem being faced, Bautista emphasized that corrective actions were implemented. One of them was that the school opened more than 60 subjects at the first week of the semester in order to accommodate the great demand of the students. Another was the issuance of special class cards wherein the dean and faculty permitted to have classes with 54 students and even more in practicum subjects, reaching up to 64 students. They also permitted students who wished to crossenroll to other schools and universities in order for them to take the subjects needed. With regards to long-term remedies to the problem, Bautista explained, “we sought the help of the Management Information System (MIS) to come up with a program for us to let the students initially enlist and to come up with a forecast that the department will analyze.” He also expected that the problem will be lighter in the next semester for there will be the implementation of the pre-enrollment system and in the next year for there will be less students under the old curriculum. Enrolment issues have never been new to SEA being, if not second, the largest school in terms of population in the university. Long queue and lack of opened courses were the top reasons for the delayed and prolonged enrolment of SEA students. Dr. Cynthia Posadas, Dean of SEA, said that the increase in the number of students who failed in some of the prerequisite courses this Short Term 2018 was unexpected. “This increase was not factored in the projections for first semester, AY 20182019. The failed courses are off-season courses and therefore are for petition. The department heads concerned accommodated the requests to open petitioned courses; however, opening these courses was not immediate because there were other factors considered. These are the availability of classrooms and faculty,” she explained. Dr. Posadas also refuted the queries regarding the issue that some engineering departments are letting their students transfer to another university due to the unavailability of their subjects. She stressed out that a student who is advised to transfer to another school is premised on his/her academic performance and gross violation of the retention policy of the university. The policy states that unless the student voluntarily transfers to another university, students whose status that may be in one of the following were given the option to shift to the New Curriculum. A student who opts to shift to the New Curriculum is made to understand the back to zero policy and is required to seek parent’s consent. Back to zero means, course/s the student finished under the Old Curriculum and in the case of transferees, from the school where they came from will not be credited in the New Curriculum. Concerning this, a dialogue took place last August 6 at 9:00 AM at H711
among the Architecture students, the Dean, the Architecture Department Head Arch. Joan Colcol and Arch. Daniel Mendoza. The dialogue was an opportunity to listen and address the enrolment concerns of the students in the Architecture Department. The main concern raised is the lack of opened courses, particularly for the third years. “I wish to advice the SEANs with enrolment-related concerns and inquiries to bring these concerns to the attention of their respective department heads in coordination with the Dean’s Office,” the dean said. In relation to this, some departments like the Department of Chemical Engineering had allowed some of its students to have special class cards especially to subjects which were already taken by the last batch of the old curriculum. Still, many students have enroled under load units due to lack of faculty despite publishing vacancy of jobs in the newspapers. To address the enrolment issues and concerns, Dr. Posadas proposes the following for an improved and better SEA enrolment: Coordinate with the MIS Office and come up with a more efficient and effective way of doing projections/ forecasts, implement pre-enrolment after the midterms, and review the projections and subject offerings vis-àvis the final grades of the students and make necessary adjustments in the course offerings, requirement for additional faculty, among others. “SEA is implementing the Student Academic Advising Program as a venue to address student academic-related concerns and issues. Every SEA student is enjoined to avail the student academic advising program,” Dr. Posadas added. Although the payment of fees through banks is now available, several students still prefer to pay their fees in the university. Whether the relocation of the new accounting office or the lack of available windows during the enrolment contribute as factors to the seemingly endless lines in the payment of fees every now and then, the Accounting Office has yet to give their statements regarding the issue. To initiate the first step towards a better enrolment, Dr. Roberto Arguelles, Vice President for Academic Affairs, coordinated with the Management Information System (MIS) Department. Headed by Mr. Rhodyl Ambloza, the database administrator, the department created a subject survey in every student’s portal which aims to help the department heads know how many and what subjects are to be opened for the next semester to avoid facing the problem on lack of opened courses for the next semesters. The survey contains all the prerequisite subjects and subjects that the student must enrol for the next semester considering the student passed all of his or her subjects for the current semester. However, Ambloza clarified that revisions are needed and another survey is to be made after the analysis of prelim and midterm grades should the student fail his or her subject for this semester since the survey does not include the subjects the student is currently enrolled in. According to Ambloza, the subject survey will serve as their basis and the initial step for the pre-enrolment if the turn out will be a success. In addition to this, the department is also planning to coordinate with the Finance Office to make the detailed breakdown of fees be visible in the student’s portal. Nevertheless, the department addressed the problem regarding the facility being used which affects their service to the students. “‘Yong gusto naming i-improve ngayon eh ‘yong servers namin kasi minsan pag nagdagsaan na ang magche-check o log-in sa portal, bumabagal na. Pagka-gano’n irerestart na namin kasi ‘yong mga servers namin luma na. Sana payagan kaming mag-upgrade,” Ambloza said.
guhit
(5)
COMING SOON
White&Blue
Sapat
Features
Lovely Crossroad Aragami Innocence R A U ina Lycayanne Orfiano
BAKIT KA LATE: A THREAD “Late ka na naman. Bagong taon na, wala na bang bago sa ‘yo?” Pagkamulat ng mga mata ko alam ko nang may mali sa akin. Ito lamang ang katotohanan na pinanghahawakan ko: ang pagbilang ko hanggang sampo. Pang-una, hindi mahirap bumangon sa umaga. Nangangagat ang lamig at kailangan maunahang magising ang liwanag ng araw. Pero hindi mahirap iwanan ang init ng kama. Mahirap huminga. Manginginig ka. Mahirap maramdaman ang puso mong tumatakbo at sinasakal ka. Pangalawa, hindi mo sinasadyang ipikit ang iyong mga mata kaya naunahan ka nang bumangon ng araw. Dali-dali kang dumampot ng susuotin, at lumabas ng pinto. Pangatlo, ayaw kong umupo katabi ng bintana pero iyon na lamang ang upuan. Ang boses ko ay tila ilaw na kumukurap: minsan malakas, madalas mahina. Hindi ko na kayang magsalita. Pang-apat, lumilipad and aking utak at napapatingin ako sa mga naglalakad sa baba. Hindi na naman ako makahinga. Nakikita ko ang sarili kong nahuhulog. Tinawag ang pangalan ko ngunit hindi ako tumayo. Pinalabas na lang ako dahil hindi daw ako nakikinig. Sumunod na lang ako. Panlima, mahirap imulat ang mga mata kung ang mga luha mo ang nagtahan sa iyong pagtulog. Napahiya na naman ako. Napakawalang kwenta ko talagang tao. Napakahina ko.
M
ay namatay na naman. May mga biglang may pakialam na naman. Marami ang may pakialam kapag nawala ka na. At susubukan nilang buhayin ang mga iniwan mong salita. Ngunit kailan ba naging sapat ang mga salitang isinusulat mo? Sapat na ba ang mga katagang binigbigkas ng isang bibig na madaling nasasapawan ng mga sigaw? Mga sigaw na nananaig sa mundong binabalot ng lamig, ng ingay. Itong mundong nakakapagod nang pakinggan kada gabi. Mundong ang tanging pinaparinig ay ang katotohanan ng iba. Naririnig mo pa ba ang sarili mo? At narinig mo ba ang sinasabi nila tungkol sa ‘yo? Unti-unti ka nilang tinatanggalan ng pagkatao. Isa ka na lamang ideya. Isang konseptong ikinahon sa makikitid na utak. Isang multong nananahanan sa kanilang alaala. At sa alaala ko na lamang maririnig ang tawa mo. Nakakabingi ang pagkawala ng iyong boses. Wala nang nagsasabi sa ‘yo kung ano ang totoo. Ibubulong nila sa naaagnas mong katawan na naging kaibigan ka raw nila, na naging masaya sila na makasama ka. At ito ako ngayon, humahagikgik, pinapakinggan ang isang bersyon ng storyang nanakit sa ‘yo — ang 8kwentong naningil ng buhay mo. Bilang na lamang ang mga araw natin sa mundong ito, at narito pa sila — nakikidagdag. Sila na ikinulong ka sa kabaong. Ang mga luha nila ay tila bunga ng pagluluksa. ‘Wag ka nang magpapaloko muli. Kailan ba naging sapat ang iyong katahimikan? Nalulungkot ako na natuldukan na ang kwento mo. Hindi ka na makakasulat muli. Kailan ba naging sapat ang mga gabing umiyak tayo hanggang pagtulog? Kailan ba naging sapat ang pusong naghihingalong tumibok? Kailan ba tayo naging sapat?
Ryanne Aina Unarce Guhit ni Theo Ardsjiel Astudillo ni
Pang-anim, wala na akong ganang pumasok, maraming boses ang umuulit sa utak ko. Sana walang pasok ngayon. Kilala na ako ng prof ko. Palagi na lang akong late. Naramdaman ko ang untiunting pagsakal ng puso ko sa lalamunan ko. Pinigilan kong tumulo ang mga luha ko. Pang-pito, papasok pa rin ako. Natatakot akong malaman ng magulang ko. Natatakot akong pumunta sila dito at makikita ang mga sugat ko. Natatakot akong sabihin ang totoo. Ayokong makita silang malungkot. Pang-walo, tatanungin nila kung bakit ka na naman nahuli sa pagpasok ng klase. Kakamustahin ka nila ngayon pero masasanay din sila sayo. Hintayin mo lang at mapapagod din sila sa kakatanong sayo. Pang-siyam, sasabihin mo na natraffic ka, nagtae ka, nagkasakit ka. Lahat na nang maisip mong dahilan para lang hindi mo marinig sa kanila na “tamad ka”, “irresponsable ka”, “hindi pwede ‘yan pag nagkatrabaho ka”. Baka maniwala ka sa kanila. Pang-sampu, matutulog ka ngayong gabi, ipipikit mo ang iyong mga mata. Mananalangin ka sa kung sino man ang makakarinig sayo na sana pagbilang mo ulit ng sampu, wala nang mali sayo.
W&B COMICS
narce
“Ang Kaibigan mong Lagi lang Puri Pero Walang Ambag”
“Most dangerous substances known to man”
“The Snatcher”
“Lapis”
by Theo Ardsjiel Astudillo
“Sa Ilalim ng Puting Ilaw”
by Jodel Soriano
KETCH THIC There was daylight. The air was thick and our foreheads revealed the day’s work. We bowed our heads in prayer, our voices combined to create one loud echo-hopefully enough for them to hear. We held hands as the priest delivered his words. I looked above and saw concrete barriers and unspoken truths. It stood there looking down at the colony we formed, mocking us. We are going nowhere with this. NutriAsia is a mega corporation that has brought us the banana ketchup and adobo essentials we know. Its condiments are always bestsellers in our neighborhood “sari-sari store” and its widespread success is defined by their whooping annual sales of 11 billion pesos. But despite its taste of glory NutriAsia failed to regularize most of its employees. In fact NutriAsia engage in labor-only contracting. It deals with companies that specialize in man power supply like B-Mirk Enterprises Corporation, Alternative Network Resources Multi Purpose Cooperative, and Serbiz Multi-purpose Cooperative. This way NutriAsia is not liable to give salary increase, risk pays and guarantee of a steady job. By entering labor-only contracts, NutriAsia gains the man power it requires without people waiting on its pay roll. Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) already ordered NutriAsia to regularize only 90 employees from B-mirk. This is an attempt to justify the fact that most employees coming from B-mirk have already worked for years under NutriAsia. But up to this day, NutriAsia remains unfazed, they believe that their responsibilities only lie with their regular employees. Not the contract labors that package their product into the variants we buy. Not the people who slave themselves with no 13th month pay. Certainly not the unheard voices that try to fight with card boards and handheld mega phones, only to be minimized to echoes and sobs. Murky soy sauce A gunshot fired from nowhere. I cowered into a corner, my lungs failing. Hell cracks open and divides the fray into two. The oppressors carrying arms on one side. And us, the tangent, carrying nothing but outcries through collapsed veins. They shunt us in a corner. A baton suddenly hits my head and I feel my skull throb and split open. Voices swirl and fill the air. Pain replaces my senses and I feel numb. I have become all too familiar with it: from working hours to get food on the table to being a good mother and a good employee. I am tired. The problem on illegal contractualization does not end with NutriAsia. It is engrained in the fiber of most business moguls like Jollibee food corporation, Dole Philippines Inc., Magnolia Inc., Philippines Airlines PAL Express, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT), and so on. These companies were named in a list issued by DOLE — a list that revealed companies suspected or found to engage in labor-only contracting. In its recent inspection DOLE also found 3,377 companies which engage in illegal contracting; from this, 224,000 employees remain to be contractual workers. This data was uncovered when DOLE inspected 99,526 companies out of the estimated 900,000 establishments in the Philippines. DOLE said that these companies should regularize ten percent of their total workforce yearly. Trade Union Congress of the Philippines also estimated about 25 million contractual workers in the Philippines. Statistics may seem unfavorable, but it is far from reality. In his recent State of the Nation Address (SONA), the president declared that over 125,000 contractual employees were regularized in 2017. This means that 24,875,000 employees are still not regularized, suffering from unjust paychecks and the lack of protection of the law. While protesters demand for answers, the companies involved in the fiasco replies with snippets of truths. In May 30, 2018, Magnolia denied that they engage in labor-only contracting. In June 16, 2018. NutriAsia denied contracting and subcontracting deals with labor firms. In June 29, 2018, Jollibee Food Corporation claimed that contractualization is not true in the Philippines anymore. Lastly, in August 9, 2018, PLDT and NutriAsia said that the ambiguous provisions of the labor code is to blame for the malpractice they have committed. When laws are violated under the noses of those in power, when they are recognized and still not punished—the line that pronounces justice becomes vague and arguable. While it’s true that our government does its best to look for injustice, the follow-up remains to be the problem. There is brevity in calling out the giants. But such brevity is limited. The tug-of-war on illegal contactualization may continue. Something to scare future professionals. Yet another obstacle in the Philippine justice system. Packaged in delightful names I remember the joy I felt when I was hired ten years ago. I told my family that this is the start for us. I worked hard everyday after that, I worked long shifts and barely had time for myself. Ten years later I’m still in that same spot. I asked for a higher position, I told them that I would work harder. But they told me that their hands are tied, that I’m lucky to have a job. For a long time I thought they were right, that I should feel lucky. But my hands shake due to packaging condiments. I have a permanent scar in my leg caused by an accident, because I can’t afford safety gears, even when they told us they would provide them. The hardship has taken a toll on my body. And my mind is accepting the truth. We deserve better. Contractualization is not entirely illegal. In some cases it is necessary to sustain a business. Some companies hire specialized units in order to fulfill certain demands that they cannot power on their own. A good example of this includes security agencies and janitorial services. Through contractualization the companies function without expanding their labor force. This is also true for seasonal employees. In this line of contracting certain businesses only hire people to do jobs on certain parts of the year. For example, during the summer, many resorts employ lifeguards and staff to maintain the amenities they provide. This is also done by farms that produce seasonal crops like rice grains and sugar canes.
TH BLO
A L INSID ILLE CONTR SCH
by Felix Illustration by M
WHEN LAWS UNDER TH THOSE IN THEY ARE RE STILL NOT P LINE THAT JUSTICE BE AND ARGUA
HUP IS CKER
HAN OOD
LOOK DE THE EGAL RACTING HEME
Daniel Carlos Ma. Emerlee Rosbelee Sy
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S ARE VIOLATED HE NOSES OF POWER, WHEN ECOGNIZED AND PUNISHED—THE T PRONOUNCES ECOMES VAGUE ABLE.
Contractualization is also beneficial for some professionals and skilled workers. Through this, people with special training in different lines of work actually gain more, because they are not tied to one company. Hence, they can work on various projects at the same time or in short term periods. Included in this are IT specialists, masons, architects, welders, and mechanics among others. However, it becomes illegal when it violates the guidelines set by DOLE under the provision of the labor code and the Philippine constitution. Illegal contractualization can be classified into two. Firstly, labor-only contracting: Department Order no. 174 (Series of 2017) of the Department of Labor and Employment states that contracting is only legal when the principal does not have a capital of at least 5 million pesos; when the machineries, assets, equipment, supervision to do the work; and lastly, the employees will not perform work which is directly related to the main function of the principal. This type of illegal contracting is favored by many corporations because it is easy to cover up and it is beneficial to them. In labor-only contracting, a company ties up with a specialized company which supplies man power to the former. This becomes illegal when the employees do work which is vital to the survival of the contracting company. This is a burden to laborers because they do not receive benefits equal to the regular employees of the company of which they provide the same role. For instance, NutriAsia hires B-Mirk Enterprise Corporation to support its manufacturing, especially the packaging process. They perform direct labor for NutriAsia but are not registered under the same company. These employees handle NutriAsia goods, they maneuver machineries, they put products into boxes. But because they are under two contracting companies they are not the ones who receive benefits from NutriAsia nor are they provided with due protection against unjust dismissal; and assembling a union to voice out irregularities will not be tolerated. Lastly, Endo/5-5-5: This type of illegal contracting is famous in many companies/corporations, especially in malls and factories. Endo or End of contract is a practice wherein companies terminate employment before the sixth month period. This is done to avoid regularization. According to Article 281 of the labor code “probationary employment shall not exceed six months”. And at the sixth month of tenure the probationary employee shall be regularized-thus he/she shall hold benefits in accordance to the law. The benefits include: PhilHealth, SSS, Pag-IBIG, Home Development and Mutual Fund (HDMF),13th month pay, paid sick leaves, paid vacation leaves, service incentive leave, meal and rest periods, housing and housing plans, expense account, company-sponsored vehicle, and educational assistance. Even though it is illegal, many corporations risk penalty because through Endo. They avert giving benefits. And in some cases their regular employees gain special training from contractual workers. Endo also promises better pocketable income which attracts foreign investors and capitalists. These benefits to the employers, however, are violations to employees. Due to Endo, these people will remain with minimum wages, and they will not experience benefits. After their contract ends, grasping employment is fleeting. Vinegar Awakening Silence followed. Like the settling of dust and the last drop of rain, everything took its place. I was in the middle, waiting for something. Soil collided with ditch water and mud rose. I fell. Then a hand took mine. The hallways of my bones echoed life. I can now see. But the battle is far from over. There is a throng of people like me, marching. We are not machines. We are human. We have rights. We deserve more than this. Labor day 2018, the streets of Mendiola were filled with various groups. The unity was overwhelming as 5,000 individuals join the protest. Their problems were exhibited by their colorful tarpaulins and placards. Everyone walked with purpose. Their voices are filled with anguish, and behind each, is a story often neglected. We are here but who will listen? I have never heard thousands of voices scream in anguish, until now. But screams remain to be sounds, mere noise. What do you make of a protest no one wants to see? What do you make of voices silenced by the people turning their backs? Change is not coming. People still choose to be blind. People still choose to be deaf. The iron fist is only strong when it pushes down the oppressed. Who can help us now? Meanwhile, the Malacañang palace announced that the president signed Executive Order Number 51 (EO 51), which states that illegal contracting and sub contracting is prohibited by law. But protesters and activists pointed out that what was stated in EO 51 is already in DOLE Department Order 174. Besides, an Executive Order can only do so much. The problem lies with the enforcement of Labor Code Article 106 which prohibits illegal contracting, sub contracting, or labor-only contracting. There are also no laws that truly abolish the 5th month rule that many companies use in order to escape the responsibility of providing benefits. The message remains. Many of our fellow Filipinos are being treated as subclass citizens. This happens in our everyday lives and we turn a blind eye to these people. When we patronize these companies, we tolerate their exploitation. The violations are real. The people suffering from these illegalities are real. It’s time that we recognize them and fight alongside them. We have this choice in our hands. It is time we use it wisely.
FEATURES
VOL 21 ISSUE 2 OCTOBER 2018
Paghihikahos at
Pag-alpas
by
Franz Claire Del Rosario & Felix Daniel Carlos Illustration by Nobelio Mataag
“Pawis mula sa noo, luhang sing-alat ng karagatan. Kailan mo malalasahan? Kailan mo pakikinggan?” Ito. Matagal na natin itong nakakasalubong sa bawat paglabas natin mula sa ating mga tahanan. Matagal na nating pinipilit ibaling ang ating tingin ngunit hawak nito ang ating mga mata. Hawak din nito ang mga bibig na sapilitang tinitiklop upang pigilan ang mga salitang nagkakandarapang kumawala. Binibini, pakiusap, pilitin mong kumawala sa hawla.
Ang Henerala “Umahon sa kaililaman ang isang tunog. Gumimbal sa katauhan nilang tulog. Aninong luminaw ng masinagan ng buwan. Magbigay pugay, siya ay pakinggan!” Ito ang bayan kung saan ang kanyang mga mamamayan ay alipin ng mga dayuhan. Kung saan sila’y nakagapos sa gobyernong hindi sila ang pinagsisilbihan. Ang taong 1762 ay isa sa mga panahong nagkaroon ng oportunidad ang mga mamamayan upang maghimagsik laban sa kanilang opresor. Ito ang rebolusyon na pinamunuan ng isang babae pagkatapos mamatay ng kanyang asawa na si Diego Silang. Si Gabriela Silang, kinilala bilang ‘Henerala’ dahil sa kanyang pamumuno sa isang himagsikan upang mabawi ang mga ninakaw ng mga dayuhan. Siya ang nagsilbing lider ng mga inapi at inabuso noon, at siya ang nagsisilbing modelo ng mga kabataang kababaihan na nagrerepresenta sa mga inaapi at inaabuso ngayon.
Ang Pang-aabuso “Minikaniko ni Moniko ang Manikang si Monika. Dahil humupa na ang alab sa kanyang mata. Minikaniko ng mekaniko ang manikang patay na. Dahil kahit buhay wala na siyang hininga. Ito ay Dekada ‘90. Ang kababaihan ay kinokontrol ng mga dekadenteng pananaw ng sistemang panlipunan. Noon ay alila sila sa kanilang mga tahanan, ginagawang tubig upang maibsan ang uhaw dulot ng kahalayan. Sila ang sumasalo ng galit at kamao. Sila ang pinapatay sa ibang bansa. Sila ang nagdurusa dahil sa paglala ng prostitusyon at sekswal na karahasan sa pagawaan at paaralan. Ito ay taong 2013. Pagtungtong mo sa edad na labing-lima ay isa ka sa limang kababaihan na nakaranas ng pisikal na pananakit. Anim na porsyento naman ang nakaranas na ng sekswal na karahasan dahil lamang sa kanyang kasarian. Ayon sa nakagisnan, kapag ika’y nag-asawa ay nararapat lamang na manatili ka sa tahanan at pagsilbihan ang asawa. Sa isang pagsasama trenta porsyento ng kababaihan ang nakararanas ng pisikal at sekswal na pang-aabuso; apat ay nakararanas ng karahasan habang nagbubuntis. Dalawa sa tatlong babae naman ang binubugbog kapag nasa impluwensya ng alak si mister. Isama pa ang walong porsyentong kababaihan na dumanas ng domestikong pang aabuso sa unang dalawang taon ng pagsasama bilang magkatipan. Ito ay taong 2014. Nandito pa rin ang epidemya at ang biktima nito ay ang mga kababaihan na mas bata pa sa labing-walong taon; kung saan 3, 168 ng kababaihan ang na-aabuso at 131 sa kanila ay mga sanggol na hindi hihigit sa 12 na buwang gulang. 1, 149 naman ang inabandona at pinabayan. 1,150 ay pinagsamantalahan, 448 dito ay gawa ng kanilang kamag-anak. At, ang pinakakinatatakutan ng lahat ay ang mga numerong hindi naitala at naisaad sa publiko dahil sa mga kamay na nagtatakip ng mga bibig ng mga kababaihan upang hindi marinig ang kanilang sigaw at hinaing.
Ang Pagkilos “Bumuo ng kastilyo mula sa buto. Alayan ng luha at balde ng pangako. Buhusan ng pataba at subukang ihalo. Anihin kinabukasan ang bungang ginto. Entabladong pinaghirap naghihintay sayo” Oktubre 28, 1983, ang araw kung saan nakilahok sa isang protesta ang 10 000 na kababaihan upang ipaglaban ang kanilang karapatan sa ilalim ng rehime ni Marcos at ng Estados Unidos. Pagsapit ng Marso 10-11, 1984, nabuo ang GABRIELA sa St. Scholastica’s College sa Manila. Ang GABRIELA ay isang pambansang alyansa at malawakang organisasyon ng mga kababaihang Pilipino na itinataguyod ang karapatan ng mga kababaihan. Ang mga miyembro nito ay may aktibong paninindigan sa mga suliranin ukol sa karapatang pantao, kahirapan, globalisasyon, militarismo, karahasan, kalusugan, sex trafficking, at iba pang isyu na nakakaapekto sa mga kababaihan. Isa sa mga inilunsad na kampanya ng GABRIELA ay ang Purple Rose Campaign laban sa sex trafficking ng mga Pilipinong kabataan at kababaihan noong 1999. Dahil dito ay mas napadali ang paglalahad ng impormasyon tungkol sa sex trafficking. Nagsisilbi rin itong channel na kumukonekta sa iba’t ibang chapter ng GABRIELA sa iba’t ibang panig ng mundo upang mabigyan ng tulong ang mga trafficked na kababaihang Pilipino. Ang kampanyang ito rin ay ang dahilan kung bakit naipasa ang Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003. Isa pang tagumpay ay ang pagpasa ng Anti-Violence against Women and Children Act of 2004 na naglalayong protektahan ang mga kababaihan at ang kanilang mga anak. Isa rin itong bunga ng napakaraming malawakang kampanya ng mga kababaihang napagdesisyunang kumilos upang makalasap ng pagbabago.
Ang Kabataan “Hindi pa inaabo ang buhok ngunit nagniningas na ang katauhan” 1992, napagpasyahang ng mga sororities at mga indibidwal sna magsagawa ng isang pangkalahatang pagtitipon-tipon para mabuo ang GABRIELA-Youth. Itinatag ito noong dekada ‘90 hinggil sa lumalalang kalagayan ng karahasan sa kababaihan na tuluyan pa ring tumataas. Unang naitatag ang balangay nito sa Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP)at Unibersidad ng Pilipinas sa Maynila. Pagsapit ng 1995 ay ginawa itong isang pangmasang organisasyon ng kabataang kababaihang Pilipino. Ang mga kabataang kababaihang ito ay naglalayong isulong ang kagalingan at ipaglaban ang karapatan ng kabataang kababaihan na nakaranas ng pagsasamantala at dagdag na pang-aapi ng sistempang panlipunan. Layunin nito ang ipaalam ang mga isyu na konektado at nakakaapekto sa mga kabataan, kababaihan, at ang kanilang mga anak. Tulad ng sekswal na karahasan sa kampus at sex trafficking. Pagkatapos nilang magbigay-alam ay itinipon ang mga interesadong kabataang kababaihan at sila’y kumikilos upang puksain ang pagiging ignorante at pagtitiis sa kasalatan ng karapatan. Ngayon ay naglalayon itong magbuo ng isang sanga sa Saint Louis University (SLU) upang mas mapangasiwaan ang mga isyu sa SLU at maging parte ang mga Louisiano sa pagpuksa ng karahasan sa kababaihan at iba pang baho ng lipunan. Isa pa sa mga layunin nito ang iugnay ang mga Louisiano sa iba pang organisasyong pangkababaihan-kabataan sa ibang mga unibersidad. Sa pamamagitan nito ay malalabanan ng mga kababaihan ang lahat ng porma ng diskriminasyon, karahasan, at iba pang anyo ng pagsasamantala at pang-aapi na ibinabato sa kanila sa loob ng kampus at maitataguyod ang pagsulong ng pagbabago ng lipunan.
Ang Paglaya Punong-puno ang hawla ng hinanakit, ipinagkait na boses, at dumanak na dugo. Marami na ang nag-sakripisyo para makawala sa hawla, para hindi na maranasan ng iba ang pagdurusa. Hindi ka na igagapos ulit, masisilayan mo na ang umagang matagal mo nang inaasam. Sa iyong paggising ay madidinig mo ang kalampag ng nakagapos na pakpak mula sa hawlang kinakalawang na at unti-unti ng nasisira. Maari ka nang umawit muli. Maya-maya ay ang pagaspas ng mga pakpak ang magsisilbing hele sa iyong paghimbing. Ito ang iyong paglaya.
White & Blue VOLUME 21 ISSUE 2 OCTOBER 2018
FEATURES
the TORTOISE,
the HARE, AND
the student by John Joseph
Dupingay & Haezel Rose Carrera Illustration by Nobelio Mataag
The future used to be as simple as a series of steps: go to a good university, graduate on time, get a job, and succeed. However, along the way, fulfilling these steps became more complicated than life let on. You did your best to pass your subjects but your effort wasn’t enough. You pause for a moment to retrace your steps, trying to pinpoint where you went wrong, trying to figure out why your best just didn’t cut it. Whatever the reason is, the truth remains simple: you’re delayed. A Schedule for Success Society views graduation as a culmination and resolution of all the trials and tribulations that a student has gone through in their academic life. It is a moment of joy, a moment of hope for the students themselves and their families, reassured that they’ve taken the right step and are ready to face what comes their way. For this reason, the very thought of missing it can be discouraging. Some would see a delay in graduation as people simply trying to find out what they really want to do in life. Others would say that it is inevitable for those who take schooling for granted. Students have their own reasons for being irregular students: shifting and transferring, physical and mental illness, financial and family problems, having or being a friend with bad influences, etc. Some can joke about being delayed, saying that it’s fun to have another set of friends in different classes, they’re loyal to the university, and they enjoy studying way too much. It cannot be denied, however, that being an irregular student has its downsides. The instructor says to form groups of five and there is no one to group with. Their friends have different schedules or are too busy to hang out with. Perhaps one of the worst difficulties is facing disappointment, especially their parents’, and constant judgment. It cannot be said that every parent will accept—or even understand—their child’s situation, especially if they know that they have done their utmost to help turn the road into a straight line. Plus all existing drawbacks have more drastic effects if money is tight. In such grim circumstances, it can be hard to see that a mere delay will not automatically lead to failure. The Price of Inheritance Expectation is powerful but can render people powerless. The faintest presence of it can change one’s perceptions and perhaps others’ as well. Some college students enroll in an undergraduate program based on what their parents want them to be and then later regret not having a voice on the matter. This may also be one of the reasons they don’t understand the course subjects and why they failed it/them—their hearts are simply not in it. They’re wasting their time engaged to a field they don’t want to marry. Different programs have different levels of difficulty. There are many factors that contribute to the existential crisis students often have regarding the program they chose. As such, it would be unfair to label delayed students as lazy or irresponsible right off the bat. Besides that, financial consciousness also plays a big role in such choices. There are professions that have better pay and more benefits. This is why students whose parents are not as privileged are so hard-pressed to fare better than the previous generation with the limited resources they have, while those who are more well-off a r e still expected to be just as or more successful than their parents. Studies note that families sometimes have high expectations and performance beliefs that do not correlate well with their children’s actual school performance. It is also suggested that the ability of parents to form expectations regarding their children’s performance play a big role in the educational environment of a student, which in turn may affect how said students go about in their academic endeavors. For a supposedly fruitful life post-degree, students struggle to deal with multiple responsibilities and sources of pressure while juggling several subjects at a time. This can cause strain, stress, breakdowns, and in extreme cases, mental illness. Dreaded Deadlines In a society barraged by constant socio-economic and technological changes, competition between aspiring workers can be fierce. Knowing this, students aim to be the best of the best as early as college or perhaps even before that. For many, college has always been the ‘final stage’ in the preparation for adulthood, and finishing it entails rewards, stability, and at least a minimal form of prestige. Diplomas are tickets to opportunities that might lead to high-paying jobs students have dreamed of for years. Furthermore, the enticing idea of independence pressures the youth to attain their degrees as soon as possible. While initially, the presence of a goal is a form of motivation, eventually it also breeds anxiety and an incurable fear of failure. The youth are taught early on that goals must be time-bound and marked with milestones—miss even one deadline and they will fall behind schedule. Even as they are on the verge of reaching those milestones, they realize that independence is becoming less of a perk and more of a responsibility. When they do accomplish something, there is still the ever-dreaded question: What next? Not everyone has the strength to find what they want, or to pursue their dream once it dawns on them just how difficult it’s going to be. In fact, a lot of college students worry about not being fit for the course they chose (or didn’t). Sometimes being unsure about the future makes people not want to face it. However, as important as it is to plan a career path, one must take into account the twists, turns, and bumps along the way. Perfect Pace Generally speaking, people graduating on time are seen as those who did well on their studies. However, it is by no means an absolute guarantee that a delayed graduate is not just as—if not more—well-versed in their field. Graduating late is not everyone’s preference, but it is not an inherently bad thing. It may mean one has to spend more time and money in school, but what are those when compared to the possibilities that one can achieve once they receive their diploma? Failure is just part of the learning process and can be considered as an opportunity to find new alternatives to overcome both old and new challenges. One can look at delays as nothing more than getting accustomed to what you want to do at your own pace. It may be difficult to juggle different priorities and aspects that compose one’s life like family and finances, but striving to do so is the very essence of what it means to grow up. As long as they don’t stop, people will be right where they should be—it just might take a little longer than they expected.
11
ENTERTAINMENT
TSISMIS: by
Ang simula ng lahat. Sa sobrang tahimik ng aking kwarto’y dinig ko ang pagtibok ng aking puso, ang pag-apaw ng tamabakan ng tubig-ulan sa labas, at ang pag-sipol ng aking ilong sa bawat paglabas-pasok ng hangin. Ang tanging ilaw na humihila sakin palayo sa kadiliman ay mula sa aking hatinig -- bukas ang Facebook habang binabasa ang mga nakapaskil. Sa tagal ng pananalagi ko sa dimensyong nilikha ng teknolohiya ay sari-sari ang aking nababasa na sa sobrang dami ng mga naniniwala at ng mga “dokumentong” sumusuporta ay maaari nang tawaging teorya.
1. Ang RH Law ay ginawa ng mga dayuhan para pigilan ang pagdami ng populasyon ng mga Pilipino. Noong ika-21 ng Disyembre 2012 ay nilikha ang RH Law upang masuportahan ang mga programa ng gobyerno tungkol sa pangangalaga sa sarili (reproductive health information and services; sex education) at maiwasan ang pagkalat ng mga sakit na nakukuha sa pakikipagtalik. Ngunit bilang isang lahi ng mga taong mas umiiral ang pagiging malikhain sa gabi’y lumabas na ang nasabing batas ay para kontrolin ang dumadaming populasyon ng mga Pilipino. Ayon kay Senate President Vicente Sotto III, ang batas daw ay pinopondohan ng United States Agency for International Development (USAID) na ang layunin raw ay kontrolin ang bilang ng mga Pilipino gamit ang birth control. Idinagdag pa niya na ang United Nations (UN), tiyakan ang International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) ay binibayaran ang mga mambabatas upang tumulong sa pagtalaga ng nasabing batas upang gawing legal ang pagpapalaglag ng sanggol sa mga bansang ito’y ipinagbabawal. Gayunpaman, totoo man o hindi ang mga sabi-sabi, naging batas pa rin ang RH Bill sa likod ng mga pambabatikos ng mga relihyosong mamamayan ng Pilipinas. Kudos!
2. Dr. Jose Rizal: Ang Pagbabalik “I retract with all my heart whatever in my words, writings, publications, and conduct has been contrary to my character as son of the Catholic Church,” ang laman ng sinasabing liham na isinulat ni Pepe noon Disyembre 189 na natagpuan ni Fr. Manuel Garcia -- ang retraction letter na ‘di pa rin nalalaman kung ito’y totoo o hindi. Bakit nga ba “isinulat” ni Rizal ang liham? Nagsimula ang lahat sa isang babaeng nagngangalang Josephine Bracken. Maraming mga tsismis ang tungkol sa pagkakakilala ng dalawa sa isa’t isa. Pero mas tumatak ay ang kwentong ang dalaga raw ay nakita ni Rizal sa isang inuman sa Hong Kong, nagkaroong interes sa isa’t isa; inuwi sa “perlas ng Silanganan”; at do’n na nagsimula ang mga pekeng ngiting ipinapakita ng inay ng pambansang bayani at ng kanyang mga ate. Pero ayon sa mga libro ay nagkakilala ang dalawa nang mapadpad ang pamilya ni Josephine sa Dapitan upang ipagamot ang lumalalang katarata ni George Taufer, ang umampong itay ng dalaga, na ‘di rin nagamot ng pambansang bayani. Gayumpaman, siguro’y nag-hugis puso ang mga mata ni Josephine at Rizal hanggang sa nagkaroon
VOL 21 ISSUE 2 OCTOBER 2018
sa pagitan ng KATOTOHANAN AT HAKA-HAKA
Ralph Jon Wilmer Dollaga
muli ng tsismis dahil sa kanilang relasyon. Matapos ang ilang buwan ay naisip ng dalawa na magpakasal upang sementuhin ang kanilang pagiibigang magiging kasing gulo ng halos lahat ng relasyon. Malayo sa posibilidad na mangyayari ang kasalan sa kadahilalang ang mga isinulat ni Pepe ay nakakainsulto sa Katolisismo… o sa mga prayleng naging bida sa kanyang mga kwento. At dahil ‘di pa rin matutuloy ang kasalan kahit na magbigay pa sila ng mainit-init na tinola, sinabihan si Rizal na magsulat ng liham ng retraksasyon upang makihingi na ng permiso ang paring si Obach mula sa Obispo ng Cebu kaugnay sa pagpapasakal ng dalawa. E anong nangyari? Maaaring di natanggap ng Obispo ang liham o ‘di ito naipadala ni Pepe. May sabi-sabi rin na ang ibinigay na liham ni Rizal kay Padre Obach ay walang pirma. Tinanong ng prayle kung bakit wala yata ang pirma, ang sagot naman ng ating pambansang bayani ay saka na raw niya pipirmahan kung ang kasalan ay mapapayagan. Kumbaga ang oras na iyong ay parang isang hostage taking, ang kalayaan nilang maikasal ang nadakip at ang pirma ang susi sa pagkalaya ng prenda. Malaking pala-isipan pa rin kung totoo nga ba ang liham -- kung may pirma ba o wala; kung naipadala nga o hindi. Pero ayon nga sa isang mananalaysay, wala nang kwenta ang usap-usapang iyan pagkat binago ni Rizal ang pag-iisip ng mga tao sa paraang nagkaroon tayo ng kagustuhang makalaya sa paniniil ng ibang tao sa ating sariling bansa.
3. Ang kamatayan ni Boy General. Upang magkalinawan tayo, hindi si Heneral Gregorio Del Pilar ang pinakabatang heneral sa mga sundalo ni Aguinaldo, ito’y si Heneral Manuel Tinio, na naging heneral sa edad na 20 taong gulang. Dalawa ang bersyon ng pagkamatay ni Goyo, ang isa ay mula sa kwento ng isang Amerikano at ang isa nama’y kwento ng mga dalawang sundalo kabilang sa tropa ng heneral. Ayon sa naunang bersyon ay habang umaalingawngaw ang mga sigaw ng mga baril at sunadalo’y sumakay si Heneral Goyo sa kanyang puting kabayo at sumugod sa mga kalaban. Maya-maya pa’y ang isang ‘Kanong espiya ay nakaposisyon sa isang bato, itinutok ang kanyang baril sa Heneral, at lumabas ang bala mula sa bariles ng riple. Ang isang bersyon naman ay maaari namang tanggapin na kamatayan ng isang batang sundalo pagkat simple lamang. Habang umaalingawngaw, sa paglipad ng mga bala ng riple at kanyon, nahihirapan ang heneral na makita ang mga kalabang ‘Kano pagkat sagabal ang mga damong cogon. Sa kadahilanang iyon, siya’y sumakay sa kanyang kabayo at bigla-bigla’y tumama sa isang bala sa kaniya batok na siyang ikinamatay -- walang pamamaalam na ibinigkas o mga nakakatunaw-pusong mga salita o kaya’y dramatikong musikang tinutugtog ng mga koro… parang BANG!, patay si Goyo.
4. Ang mga “lizard people” Nilarawan ang mga Reptilians bilang mga mala-taong mga nilalang na kauri raw ng mga butiki, ahas, buwaya na matagal nang kinokontrol ang mga tao noong simula pa ng panahon. May kakayahan silang magbalat-kayo bilang isang tao na tulad ng isang hunyangong nagiiba ng kulay upang I-ayon ang sarili sa kanyang kapaligiran. Ayon
kay David Icke, isang pilisopo at teyoriko, ang mga Reptilian ay mga pinunong katulad nila Queen Elizabeth, George W. Bush, Bill at Hillary Clinton, at sa isang Facebook post ay isinali na rin si Presidente Duterte bilang isa sa mga mala-taong mga butiki. Ang mga katangian raw ng isang Reptilian ay, ayon kay Philip Bump: a) berdeng mga mata b) matalas na paningin at pandinig c) pulang buhok d) nararamdamang siya’y di isang tao o kabilang sa lahi ng mga tao e) di mapaliwanag na mga peklat sa katawan f) mahilig sa malawak na mga lugar g) mababang blood pressure. Kapag nagtataka ka pa rin kung saan nagmula ang mgakatulad nila’y tumingala ka lamang, hanapin ang mga konstelasyong Draco, Sirius, at Orion pagkat iyan ang sabi ng mga teyoriko.
5. Flat Earth Tumingin ka sa kagiliran, may nakikita ka bang kurba? Kasing-tanda na siguro ng panahon ang “Flat Earth Theory”. Ito ay isang “teorya” na sinasabing ang mundo ay hindi raw globo kundi isang malaking lupa na patag. Sari-saring mga katanungan ang umusbong nang lumitaw muli ang nasabing teorya. Kung patag ang mundo, paano hindi natatapon ang tubig? Antarctic Ice Wall. Ayon sa mga teoriko ng Flat Earth ay matatagpuan sa kontinenteng Antartiko. Ito raw ang mga sumusuporta sa tubig ng munod upang di ito matapon o kaya ay mawala, at may taas ng 150 talampakan. Kung ano man ang nasa likod ng mataas na pader na ito’y walang kongkretong sagot ang mga taong tinuturing na eksperto sa disiplinang ito. Totoo ba ang Gravity? Ayon sa teoryang ito’y ang pinakakilalang kontribusyon ni Sir Isaac Newton ay purong kasinungalingang pinaniniwalaan ng mga taong ‘di marunong magtanong. Dahil sa pagkapatag ng mundo’y natural na nahuhulog sa lupa ang mga bagay na ihinahagis sa ere. Sinasabi rin nila kung totoong globo ang mundo ay paano pa ‘di natatapon ang tubig at paano pa nakakapaglakad ang mga tao sa mundong kurbada. Sinusuportahan din nito na ang mga eroplano at mga ulap raw di totoo -- mga bagay na ginawa ng mga gobyerno ng Estados Unidos upang lokohin ang mga tao. Paano ang galaw ng mga planeta at iba pang mga bagay sa kalawakan? Ayon sa Flat Earth Society, hindi totoo ang mga bagay na itinuturo sa atin ng siyensyang kaugnay sa kalawakan. Ito’y mga imaheng ginawa ng National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) sa Photoshop upang utuhin ang mga tao. Ang (hindi) katapusan ng lahat. Ang nakikita ko lamang sa aking mga nababasa ay isang grupo ng taong iisa ang pag-iisip na sa malikhaing paraan ay iniikot ang mga katanungang maaaring nasagot na ng siyensya o kasaysayan. Wala akong balak na atakihin ang mga taong may sariling katanungan ngunit sana’y kung may panahon tayo sa mga pagkukuha ng larawan ng ating pagkain ay maglaan rin tayo ng panahon upang busugin ang ating isipan ng masustansyang katotohan.
Photo
from the Internet
WAITING FOR
D AYB R E A K A
R E V I E W by
O F
“ B U Y
B U S T “
Franz Claire Del Rosario
Upon taking office and promising the Filipino people that the drug problem in the Philippines will be eradicated in 3 to 6 months, President Duterte’s war on drugs is still underway. This war has led to the death of over 12, 000 Filipinos – mostly urban poor. And despite the shift of operations from PNP to PDEA, at least 2, 555 of these killings are attributed to the Philippine National Police. There are a great deal of controversies surrounding this anti-drug campaign, such as: the planting of evidence, the extrajudicial killings, the “Adik ako, wag tularan” carboards on dead bodies, and the unlawful rounding up of people – all of which violate basic human rights. But even in the face of human rights protests, the war on drugs is far from over and it will be as relentless and chilling as the day it began. Borrowing the words regarding the war on drugs from the President himself – relentless and chilling, perfectly describes “Buy Bust” by Erik Matti. Veteran award-winning director Erik Matti is also the brain of the movies Honor Thy Father (2015) and Seklusyon (2016) which were both consequently in the MMFF. Despite the disqualification for Best Picture for Honor Thy Father (2015), Matti bagged the Best Director for the same movie. Adding to the roster of successful movies by Erik Matti is “Buy Bust”, which was chosen as a closing film for New York Asian Film Festival last July 15. It had its Canadian premiere in the Fantasia Festival as well as its Asian premiere in the Buncheon International Fantastic Film Festival last July 19. The movie will also be shown in Middle East, Hong Kong, and Singapore. “Buy Bust” runs for about two hours. It is about a massive drug bust gone south and is told in a span of one night. The drug bust is set in a mazelike, neon-lit slum area in Tondo better known as Gracia ni Maria where the slick drug lord Biggie Chen (Arjo Atayde) is supposed to be hiding. As for the cast, a different side of Anne Curtis is shown as she plays the role of Nina Manigan.
From showbiz glam to action-suspense thriller, she performs her being a lone wolf like a natural despite having “Buy bust” as her first action movie. Moreover, her taking the role serves as representation of the women officers and an inspiration for girls who aspire to be officers. Another person new to the action movie industry is mixed martial arts fighter, Brandon Vera, playing Rico Yatco. Rico Yatco is one of Nina Manigan’s new team members after the slaughter of her last squad. The comradeship between the two strengthens as the movie progresses but abruptly ends, as with all of Manigan’s team members. Erik Matti’s portrayal of crime as a convoluted game where both sides are controlled by a greater power has the people watching hook, line and sinker. The movie’s mission shifts from apprehending a drug lord to simply getting out alive of the slum area. It easily becomes a dance of death as the gunshots, bones cracking, and moans of pain echo throughout the cinema. Relentless. No mercy is shown either by the officers or the drug dealers, even the local residents are adamant in killing. Chilling. Even the children were part of the massacre – both as killers and victims. Everyone is hurling themselves over to another body to debilitate and take a life. To make it more heart-pounding, the music by Erik Romulo and Malek Lopez blends well with the pandemonium and sits underneath one’s skin. The cinematography adds to the tension, driving it up to the roof but makes the non-stop action hard to follow. Soon enough, Gracia ni Maria becomes a place of carnage, of bodies piled on top of each other, bathing with blood and rain. The truth behind the drug bust and Manigan’s last line gives everyone a hard hit in the stomach – Nanlaban ‘yung suspek, she says after five gunshots. The movie ends but the haunting does not. The people in the cinema are back to reality and Manigan’s last statement reminds them of that. Nanlaban ‘yung suspek – the only justification that the police hands over to us to explain the bloodshed. Nanlaban ‘yung suspek, somehow gives them the right to take another person’s life. This is supposed to make us feel at ease until we realize we can all be suspects. We can all be mere collateral damage. The movie and the reality of our country is indeed relentless and chilling. 10/10 would recommend.
Sa Sining ng Pangangailangan ni Jill Jarata
Hindi na matagal simula nang umusbong ang mga pelikula na kung tawagin ay “indie” films o ang mga “independent” films na ginagawa at inilalabas ng mga grupo ng mga indibidwal na hindi parte ng malalaking production companies. Ang mga indibidwal sa likod ng mga ito ay tunay na mga director at film makers. Ang kanilang masining na isipan ay hindi nagagapos ng kaunting badyet. At mula sa simpleng kagamitan, malikhaing linya, at mga maabilidad na karakter, mas nabigyang-buhay ang industriya ng pelikulang Pilipino. Namulat ang mata sa isang pasilip. Bilang pagbibigay-pugay at pagkilala sa mga indie films, isang organisasyon ang nagsimulang magsulong ng patimpalak na kung tawagin ay Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and Competition. Sinimulan ito ng organisasyong Cinemalaya noong taong 2005. Kung iisiping mabuti, dala ng mga panahon kung kailan hindi pa kilala nang husto ang indie films, ang mga pelikulang galing sa malalaking production companies at mga sikat na pangalan ang namamayagpag sa industriya. Ang mga Photo
F
karakter ay pinangungunahan ng mga sikat na artista. Marami ang sumikat dahil dito at ang mga manonood ay nabigyan ng mga pelikulang swak sa panlasa ng masang Pilipino. Ilan sa mga tanyag na local films ng Pilipinas ay ang You Changed My Life ni Cathy Garcia-Molina, pinangungunahan nina John Lloyd Cruz at Sarah Geronimo; When I Met U ni Joel Lamangan, pinangungunahan nina KC Concepcion at Richard Gutierrez; I Love You, Goodbye ni Laurice Guillen, pinangungunahan nina Angelica Panganiban, Derek Ramsay, Kim Chiu, at Gabby Concepcion; at marami pang iba. Hanggang sa nagpalabas ang mga sinehan ng mga indie films kung saan ang mga karakter ay hindi masyadong sikat o kilala maging ang direktor. Ang mga manunuod ay namulat sa mga kakaibang kwento, mga kwentong bago sa panlasa nila. Ito na ang patok ngayon, at kahit bago sa mata ng mga manonood, sinasalamin ng mga pelikulang ito ang mga tunay na pangyayari sa buhay ng isang indibidwal. Ang mga storya ay salamin ng mga kaganapan sa bansa, at ang mga adbokasiyang nais ipaglaban ng mga manlilikha ay tiyak na aantig sa puso’t damdamin ng mga Pilipino.
Ngayong taon, naging mas makulay ang industriya ng pelikulang Pilipino dahil naipakilala ng Cinemalaya ang iba’t-ibang gawa ng mga maabilidad na Pilipinong nais pasukin ang industriyang ito. Ilan sa mga ito ay ang Distance ni Percival Intalan, pinangungunahan ni Iza Calzado; Kung Paano Hinihintay Ang Dapithapon (Waiting for Sunset) ni Carlo Encisco Catu, pinangungunahan nina Perla Bautista, Menggie Cobbarubias, at Dante Rivero; Kuya Wes ni James Robin Mayo, pinangungunahan nina Ogie Alcasid at Ina Raymundo; Liway ni Kip Oebanda, pinangungunahan ni Glaiza de Castro; at marami pang iba. Ilang mga indie films din ang itinampok sa Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino na isinasagawa tuwing buwan ng Agosto para sa pagdiriwang ng Buwan ng Wika. Ang organisasyon sa likod nito ay ang Film Development Council of the Philippines. Ilan sa mga pelikulang ito ay ang Ang Babaeng Allergic sa WiFi ni Jun Robles Lana, Bakwit Boys ni Jason Paul Laxamana, Pinay Beauty ni Jay Abello, Signal Rock ni Chito Roño, at The Day After Valentines ni Jason Paul Laxamana. Marami ang nahumaling sa dala ng pistang ito. Sa ngayon, tila umaapaw pa
ang damdamin ng mga manonood, ang sayang dulot ng pagkamulat ay dadalhin nila sa kanilang mga buhay. Ngunit kasabay din ng damdaming umaapaw ay ang pagsama ng galit at inis ng mga manonood nang hindi ipalabas sa ilang sinehan ang ilan sa mga pelikulang ito. Ang pagtanaw Ayon sa Onscreen Asia, kung ang karamihan ng mga manonood ay hindi nahuhumaling sa mga pelikulang galing sa maliliit na produksyon, ang mga pelikulang ito ay hindi talaga makakakuha ng parehong atensyon na binibigay ng mga manonood sa mga pelikulang galing sa malalaking produksyon. Hindi magiging matagumpay ang isang pelikula kahit gaano ito kaganda, kung ang mga manonood ay mas pipiliing pumila sa takilya para manood ng mas sikat na palabas. Ang pelikula ay negosyo, at sa mga sinehan ito pinapalabas. Maging anuman ang laman ng isang pelikula ay dapat bumenta dahil kung ipapalabas ito at hindi pumatok sa tao, malulugi ang mga sinehan. Ito marahil ang dahilan kung bakit ilan sa mga indie films ay hindi pinapalabas sa mga sinehan. Sa loob ng isang taon
ay maraming pista ang isinasagawa para sa pagkakakilanlan ng mga indie films. Kakaunti ang bumibenta sa mga ito kaya ang iba ay hindi naipapalabas. Malinaw ang dahilan ng pagkadismaya ng mga manonod na gusto pa ng karagdagang araw para ipalabas ang mga pelikulang ito, ngunit ang mas nakakalulungkot ay hindi maaaring maipit ang mga sinehan dahil dito sila kumikita. Ang pagtanggap Marahil nga ay maraming pelikula ang hindi na makikita ng masa dahil lamang sa natural nitong tinatangi, ang pagiging independent film. Ngunit dahil dito nagigising ang pusong uhaw sa bagong karanasan at kaalaman. Sa bawat pelikulang hanggang sa pasilip na lamang makikita, ay ang paglaban ng masa sa karapatan ng bawat indibidwal na maihayag ang kanilang damdamin, mensahe, talento at abilidad upang makilala at makapagpabago. Pagdating ng araw, hindi na pili ang mga pelikulang ipapalabas, makikita ng mga Pilipino ang tunay na importansya ng industriyang pelikula. Isang sining na may kakayahang magpadama. Isang gumagalawaw na letrong nagpapakita ng ibang mukha ng katotohanan.
from the Internet
aith can move mountains, but someone will be strong enough to move volcanoes. Nawawala ka din sa sarili minsan; ‘yung pakiramdam na parang tumatakas ang isipan sa katawan, nakikisabay sa paglipad ng hangin. Minsan, habang nariyan ka sa estadong iyan, ay imbes na mag-isip ka ng mga maaaring solusyon sa iyong mga problema ay tatawanan mo na lang o kaya iiyakan, umaasang sa tunog ng iyong halakhak at lamig ng iyong mga luha ay mawawala ang iyong mga problema. Hindi rin makalilimutan ang pagkawala mo sa isang lugar. Wala ka nang pamilyar na mga gusali at mga taong
Isang Pag-uuyam nakikita. Iba na rin ang mga nakasulat na mga karatulang nakasabit sa jeepney. Iba na ang lahat. Nawawalan ka na ng pagasa kung makakabalik ka pa ba o hindi na. Napunta kahit saan pero bumalik din. Na-uso sa social media ang usapin kung nasaan ba talaga ang Bulkang Mayon o Mayong Bulkan. Sabi ng iba, na maituturing kong mga conspiracy theorists, ay nawala ng saglit ang sikat na bulkan upang magbakasyon muna sa Naga; nagpapagaan ng loob kumbaga. Kaya ang nangyari’y nawalan ng isa sa mga tourist spots ang Albay. Naiwan lamang ang kampanaryo ng simbahang
McArthur
Ralph Jon Wilmer Dollaga
Cagsawa. Ngunit, ayon ulit sa mga teoriko, ang nasabing bulkan ay namataan sa Bicol. Nakita raw itong umuusok pa. Ngunit, ‘di nagtagal ay nakita na muli ang nasabing bulkan sa Albay, ang karapatdapat nitong kinalalagyan. Kung kanino o saan man nagsimula ang balita ng pagkawala ng Bulkang Mayon sa Albay ay wala pa ring masabi
ang gobyerno ng Pilipinas. Sa tingin ng karamiha’y ‘di na nila ilalabas muli ang usaping iyon. At para naman sa mga taong hindi nakita ang isyu na ito bilang nakatutuwa, ang kanilang sinisisi ay ang mga taong responsable sa pagsisimula ng isyung ito, lalo na kung ang taong iyon ay nasa mataas na pwesto. Napunta kahit saan, tuluyang nang nawala. Umaga na; ang babati sa ‘yo ay ‘di ang mga gintong rayso ng araw at mga awit ng ibon, kundi ang masalimuot na lansangan at ang mga papel na nakapaskil sa mga poste at pader na ipinapakita ang na taong nawawala. Maaaring nawala sila dahil sa pagkauhaw ng bago at sa
paghahanap ng hindi ‘dati’; o nawala pagkat may nangyari sa kanilang ‘di kanais-nais na ayaw pag-usapan ng karamihan ng tao. Kung susumatuhin, walang bagay o tao dito sa mundo ang kahit misan ay ‘di nawala. May mga nawala at natagpuan. May mga nawala, ‘di na natagpuan. May mga nawala, natagpuan man ngunit tuluyan nang lumisan. At kung tuluyan ka nang nawala, ‘yung tipong ‘di mo na talaga alam kung saan ka pupunta, maghanap ka na lamang ng tindahan at bumili ng alak. Umupo ka nalang sa gilid -- shot na. #shotna! #saanangmayon? #nawalakayanagpakawala.
SPORTS
VOL 21 ISSUE 2 OCTOBER 2018
THROWBACK: INTRAMURALS 2017-2018
ONE HEART ONE SOUL. SEA Men’s basketball team captured the championship by defeating rivals SABM with a final score of 86-54 during their finals match held at Prince Bernhard Gym on November 29, 2017. photo by Marco Ilagan by
7 VS 7. SEA’s Mabitazan square off against Malanta from SABM during the men’s volleyball championship last November 22, 2017 at the Prince Bernhard Gym. photo by Marco Ilagan
Allan Tadeo
2017 intramural games drew its curtains to a close with the School of Accountancy and Business Management (SABM) dominating the competition, followed by the School of Engineering and Architecture (SEA), and the School of Teacher Education and Liberal Arts (STELA), in the first and second runner-up positionS respectively. SABM secured their victory
with a 37.5-point lead in the overall results against SEA. The two schools have been consistent podium finishers for the previous years. STELA, on the other hand, humbly took the 3rd place finish. SABM and SEA heavily invested in major score sources basketball and volleyball wherein the contending schools fought for the top two positions. SEA successfully defended their throne in the basketball and
KEEPING THE FIRE BURNING. Varsity athlete, Jana Balicdang, bears the torch and ignites the start of Intramurals 2017 during the opening programs held on October 7 at the Prince Bernhard Gym. photo by Daryl Pangod
LAY-UP CHAMPS. SABM bested SCIS in the finals game of the women’s basketball last November 28, 2017 at Prince Bernhard Gym. photo by Daryl Pangod
volleyball men’s division while SABM’s lady athletes claimed the crown for basketball’s and volleyball’s women’s divisions. SCIS, on the other hand, refused to back down versus these power schools and thus clinched their spot as 4th in the ranking. Among the games, they captured the victory over the men’s division in badminton and table tennis, as well as the women’s division in taekwondo. Schools of Natural Sciences,
Medicine, Nursing and Law have garnered the last spots garnering 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th places respectively. Although ranking low overall, SNS lady paddlers still dominated other schools in Table Tennis. SON, SOM, and SOL, however, did not clich any victory in any of the sports. Some schools lacked participants in contact sports Judo and Taekwondo and team sports Sepak Takraw. This garnered big effects on the points and ranking of the schools.
Judo Men
Judo Women
45
5
7.5
10
7.5
45
20
25
35
20
5
15
30
35
30
45
30
45
35
5
25
15
10
20
25
10
30
20
30
5
5
30
8
30
15
30
15
20
15
10
15
5
20
25
7.5
10
25
5
10
15
10
25
7.5
35
45
30
35
15
20
25
25
15
25
25
30
25
30
30
35
45
542.5
45
15
5
5
20
10
272.5
20
45
40
15
45
30
505
25
35
15
30
15
260
10
15
10
10
5
183
15
5
5
20
25
35
235
10
20
10
10
5
20
215
35
30
20
20
15
25
455
5 10
15
20
35
RANK
Chess Women
35
TOTAL POINTS
Chess Men
45
Volleyball Women
Basketball Women
35
Volleyball Men
Basketball Men
45
Taekwando Women
Badminton Women
25
Taekwando Men
Badminton Men
35
Table Tennis Women
Athletics Women
45
Table Tennis Men
Athletics Men
SABM SCIS SEA SNS SOL SOM SON STELA
Sepak Takraw Men
SCHOOL
OFFICIAL RESULTS OF INTRAMURALS 2017-2018
1 4 2 5 8 6 7 3
RFH 8: Louisians Attest to Social Involvement by
EARLY BIRD. Students and locals of Baguio City, participated at the 8th Run For Hope hosted by Saint Louis University last November 26, 2017. photo by Amir Bolinto
Bryan Lorenzo Unico
Students, supporters, and running enthusiasts alike dashed the terrains of Baguio to give hope to orphaned and abused boys last November 26, 2017. Running for their Future The eighth installment of Run for Hope aims to provide better services and facilities for the SLU Sunflower Children’s Center and the Sunflower Centennial Halfway Home for Boys. The proceeds from RFH8 will go to three beneficiaries and projects: Project Daily Bread, Social Development Center, and the transfer of the Halfway Home to Bakakeng. The Project Daily Bread is a program launched by the Guidance Center which provides free meals to college students who suffer from involuntary hunger. The second beneficiary is the Social Development Center under the Office of the City Social Welfare and Development of Baguio City. The SDC is in charge of sheltering juvenile boys who have committed minor offenses against the law. The funds would be used to improve their carpentry workshop. Part of the earnings would go to the proposed transfer of the Halfway Home to a more secure and permanent location in Bakakeng. Reigniting Hope According to Renee Taguibos, representative from the SLU Sunflower Center and one of the primary event
coordinators, Run for Hope 8 was not planned well due to prior news of its cancellation. Fr. Geraldo Costa, director of the Sunflower Children’s Center and the Halfway Home for Boys, also commented via Taguibos that the event was too difficult to organize and was too laborintensive. However, the multiple positive reactions during the announcement of the race’s postponement insisted the organizers and coordinators to continue Run for Hope 8. “It was something the community asked for,” Taguibos said. The RFH8 garnered 2150 registrants in total. The 21k or half marathon category was removed, and in place of it, the 10-miler or the 16 k run was opened. Taguibos explained that the category was established for those who are ready to exceed the 10km-mark, but are unsure or unprepared for the half-marathon. The 16k category surpassed its target of 150 participants to 400. Like in the previous years, the 3k, 5k, 10k, and 42 k runs were also arranged. In this year’s Run for Hope, an influx of volunteers and efforts came from Saint Louis University and the local community. Marketing Mixers, an organization from the School of Accountancy and Business Management (SABM), helped the event coordinators to realize the event by promoting and advertising the race, inviting sponsors, and registering the
participants. The School of Nursing (SON) volunteered manpower for aid stations. The SLU medical clinic, together with the Emergency Medical Services of Baguio and La Trinidad, tended to any injuries during the race. Taguibos recounted that when she conducted an orientation on the volunteers, she emphasized on making sure that the runners’ needs were all accounted for because it was them who made the RFH8 possible. Students enrolled in the National Service Training Program (NSTP) course contributed by setting up the event and marshaling the runners. Texas Instruments (TI) cyclists escorted the runners throughout the race. Students from the Air and Waste Management Association, assisted by the Special Services and Maintenance Department of SLU, offered their help in the post-race cleanup and in the recycling of used bottles. The Physical Education (PE) department and the Athletics Office of the university led the warm-up exercises for the runners. The Guidance Office and Students Affairs Office (SAO) coordinated with event sponsors, Baguio City Police Officers, and the city government to ensure the smooth flow of the event. “The spirit of volunteerism was alive, and that became one of the reasons why it was successful,” Taguibos said when asked for the reason of the event’s success.
SPORTS
White & Blue VOLUME 21 ISSUE 2 OCTOBER 2018
15
Uni-wide orgs compete in first sports cup by Irish Jobelle
Rafael
Presidents from different universitywide organizations collaborate to kick-start the very first Uni-wide Cup from January 14 to 21. Envisioned to showcase sportsmanship and skills in a series of events and competition, the university-wide cup enacts unity in diversity and sports. Bontoc-Ifugao-Benguet-ApayaoKalinga (BIBAK) dominated the scorecards with a championing play on basketball (men), badminton singles (women), badminton doubles (mix), game of the generals (men) and chess (women): a five-out-of-ten win over the events. Players from Tinig Himig (TH) smashed BIBAK and Cordillera Cultural Performing Group (CCPG) in badminton singles (men) with the latter two trailing TH in the ranking for the category. BIBAK and Student Library Assistants of SLU (SLAS) bowed down to the triumphant hymn of TH, allowing the latter to reign as victors. Baguio Association of Government Grantees and Scholars (BAGGS) triumphed in two events as they lash their rivals in scrabble and in a quiz bee on general knowledge and current events. CCPG contenders ousted Tinig Himig (2nd place) and SLAS (3rd place) in the Game of the Generals (women). The Uni-wide Cup is a series of events and competitions for the members of Uni-wide organizations to improve and instill camaraderie and cooperation among them, recognizing their role in providing cultural, social and academic impacts and service to the Louisian
W&B SPORTS EDITORIAL
I
ntramurals 2018 recently drew its curtains into completion and much is to be said about the changes implemented in this year’s competitions. Aside from administrative shifts, venue improvement, schedule and policy reduction, a prevalent instance that surprised spectators and competitors alike is the intensity of fan and game support given to the competitions. The university’s intramurals has always had a reverent and competitive following and support by the different schools. Aside from the school insignias, this intramurals, however, was also colored with expletives, social media battles, and politically-offensive jeers as cases of excessive, insulting, and offensive “support” by schools highlighted the games. A string of curses, below-the-
False Sense of Achievement Chaotic
Equilibrium Bryan Lorenzo Unico
S
HIGH JUMPER. University wide organizations of SLU duked it out in the Uniwide Cup held last January 2018 at the Maryheights campus. photo by Danielle Herman community. “Actually, during the opening ceremonies, I have challenged the junior officers of each organization to continue this legacy, this Uni-wide cup (on a) yearly basis so if ever they’re going to accept the challenge, it’s up to them,” Mr. Efren P. Balag, the Uni-wide Cup project coordinator answered when asked if they have any plans to continue holding the
event. He added that another unified event they’re planning to do is the putting up of promotional booths for the Senior High students in the Navy Base campus to inform them of the Uni-wide organizations’ existence so that they may be aware already especially when they go to college. Ecolodians and Red Cross Youth
(RCY) were not able to participate in the games due to a lacking number of members and non-renewal. The ball games were held at the Devesse courts and the board games were facilitated at the Student Center. Other organizations who were participants of the said events are the Debate Society (DebSoc) and Vinculum.
W&B
Ethos for Supporters belt insults and politically-offensive shades were thrown against players and supporters within the games. During one basketball game, some even acted lewd gestures as a means to annoy the other contending school. Admittedly, this is also a recurring scene during street games, televised matches, other official competitions, and past intramural games although they are treated with much disdain and disgust. It must be repeatedly ingrained to sports fanatics, supporters, and even athletes that competitions and games are not simply avenues to play or to contest in. They are still social events and words said and actions done during these events contain social implications. For example if it is shown that discriminatory jeers are tolerated, it will reflect to a wider spectrum of noninclusivity and discrimination within the university and the different communities.
It should also be highlighted that it is within the Louisian’s character, duty, and responsibility to promote the four core values, inclusivity, and respect towards the different societal identities. The community must not condone any form of discrimination and disrespect towards the different identities. Upon the instance of excessive and offensive jeers, corrective action must be undertaken. The university as a whole must be steadfast in fortifying a community that succeeds in empowering its studentry through every possible measure and curtail instances that demote and weaken the students’ development and growth. This is a firm reminder that even if individuals view their actions and words as jests and jokes, recipients and surrounding people could easily perceive them as words and actions
Sari-saring Laro ni
sa
with a different gravity, meaning, and implication. Support for athletes and schools are wholeheartedly appreciated, however, it must also be the responsibility of the supporter to know when their support becomes inappropriate. Sportsmanship is characterized by maintaining composure and reliving the values of fairness, ethics, respect and sense of fellowship with one’s competitors. It is not only the athletes who are required to emulate such; it is also the responsibility of the supporter to maintain such value. As this year’s theme for Intramurals suggests “One Heart, One Goal: Building a Strong Future through Sports,” the studentry is given an opportunity to prove that our university lives as one Louisian, unmindful of the different possible reasons to be divided and bound to the promise of creating a better future.
Unibersidad
Theo Ardsjiel Astudillo
ituation: You hear your friends won a basketball game against some formidable team. You think to yourself, “So what? It’s not like it’s going to be relevant in a year or two. They’re just wallowing in some false sense of achievement.” Once, twice, or more times than you could count, you’ve repeated this situation with each accomplishment you hear. I’m not here to lambast you, though. I’ve also been in that similar situation. I used to think that all those petty things like winning games or unlocking features in a video game was nothing but a waste of time, only catering to our brains’ so-called ‘reward centers’. I felt like that. I saw no purpose in rewards. That was then. It takes a taste of one’s own medicine to change one’s perspective. Now I see that if something seems worth doing, the accomplishment it brings and the feeling of fulfillment it yields should never be invalidated by anyone. You should recognize that another person’s sacrifices to get that sweet victory are similar to those hardships you’ve made to earn something. Satisfying those ‘reward centers’ build a person’s self-confidence and self-esteem. It builds character, just as failures do. Achievements, no matter how big or small, are fruits of a person giving the most important resource: time. Whether it’s an athlete training for a big event or a student writing his report, all those cost time, a thing we can never take back when exhausted. The satisfaction of feeling that you’ve made seconds of your life count when your efforts finally bear fruit should always empower us. It should make us value the struggles of others to attain that same satisfaction. Should it matter if what you’ve achieved has a practical use in the future? Isn’t the fact that you’ve made the most of your time doing what you think is worthwhile enough? If you know that you’ve poured your best to achieve something, be proud of it. Let’s all try to uplift one another. I want to tell you that all the time, effort, money, blood, sweat, and tears you’ve given to realize your goal is all worth it and nobody should tell you otherwise. I want to tell you: Congratulations, and continue giving your all!
Chickle Kate Dela Rosa Felix Daniel Carlos
words by
photo by