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VOL. LXXIII NO. 1

THE OFFICIAL UNIVERSITY STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF WEST VISAYAS STATE UNIVERSITY, LA PAZ, ILOILO CITY

JUNE-OCTOBER 2012

Montaño honored by Metrobank Foundation

Daan Patungo sa Kabanalan ni San Pedro Calungsod

Peace on Shaky Grounds

NEWS Page 2

LATHALAIN Pahina B6

OPINION Page B6

University receives P93M gov’t aid

Krezyl Joyce V. Pugna

INFRASTRUCTURE BOOM. Set to be completed on February 25, 2013, the construction of the new Nursing Building started two years ago with the budget taken from the Capital Outlay fund of the University and the Related Learning Experience fees paid by the Nursing students. The first phase of the project, which was completed on February 15, 2010, had an estimated P7.63 million budget while its second stage has P2.53 million. In time the new Nursing Building becomes functional, Lopez Jaena Hall, which presently houses the West Visayas State University College of Nursing, will be utilized as the new University library.

P2.96M spent on Centennial Park

Traversing an off beaten path

By Jesther Rose Rojas

RUTHELL A. MORENO took in each of her steps as she claimed her award as one of the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines held in a ceremony at the Malacañan Palace on August 2.

It may be expected from her as a Summa Cum Laude graduate, but having Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and putting up a regional support group for SLE is an extraordinary feat. to page 8

By Sheila Mae H. Toreno

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The performances of schools in the June 2012 NLE were monitored by virtue of the Republic Act of 8981 otherwise known as the Philippine Regulation Commission Act (PRC) of 2000.

The PRC disclosed the official list of NLE passers this year that was given by the Board of Nursing.

The examinations were held in Manila, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Dagupan, Davao, Iloilo, Laoag, Legazpi, Lucena, Nueva Ecija, Pagadian, Pampanga, Tacloban, Tuguegarao and Zamboanga.

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WEST VISAYAS STATE University (WVSU) has again proved its academic competence when five of her nursing graduates landed in the top 10 of the June 2012 Nursing Licensure Examination (NLE).

Wyne Steven Zamora ranked 3rd in the exam with an 85.20 percent rating while Joner Bangero came 5th with 84.80 percent.

Junie Obariano landed at the 6th place with 84.60 percent, followed by Jane Therese Dorilag at 9th spot with 84 percent, and Carl Jason Canete secured the 10th

place with 83.80 percent.

WVSU College of Nursing was also named as the second best Nursing School in the country with a passing rate of 99.36 percent, after 155 out of its 156 takers passed the exam.

Sixty thousand eight hundred ninety five examinees took the NLE this year and only 27,823 or 45.69 percent of which passed.

In July last year, four WVSU nursing graduates were included in the top ten and the College posted a 100 percent passing rate in PNLE. This year’s board passers took oath at the Iloilo Grand Hotel, September 13.

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By Jenny Pearl A. Infante

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Five nursing graduates top NLE

WITH THE THEME “Keeping Ablaze WVSU’s Passion for Excellence @110 and Beyond”, the West Visayas State University (WVSU) had celebrated her founding anniversary, June 14 to 16.

The celebration began with a morning mass officiated by Fr. Joel Eslabra, followed by a foot parade organized by the University Student Council and Laro ng Lahi by the College of PESCAR. The academic, p h o t o and agricaultural exhibits which were participated by all

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WITH P2.96 MILLION, West Visayas State University Campus Physical Planning Office (WVSU CPPO) initiated the “Improvement of Diamond Jubilee to Centennial Park”.

The five month long renovation included the development of a parking area, installation of walkways and extension of the stage of the Jubilee Park.

The Jubilee Park, which is situated in front of the administration building, is the inaugural monument of the 1999 Diamond Jubilee of WVSU and thus now Centennial Park.

“We anchor the planning and implementation of our projects with the vision of the University,” said Engr. Gina Pañares, head of the WVSU Physical Planning Office.

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WVSU celebrates 110th foundation day

The funding for the project is attributed to the WVSU’s Capital Outlay which comes from the University’s income.

This in turn, is appropriated for equipment and infrastructure development.

“By mid-October, the Centennial Park would have been completed and functional to the WVSU community.” said Pañares.

The Centennial Park, now called ‘Westplanade’ by the students, is utilized every Friday afternoon for wellness activities organized by the faculty and is open to everyone at WVSU. Other projects of the CPPO include several road improvement projects which include that in front of the administration building and the Cooperative canteen.

Development of the Student Center is also projected to be initiated.

By Jandi M. Nietes

state universities and colleges was recognized as one of the leading State Universities in the Philippines based on quality and relevance of instruction, research, extension and production.

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HITTING TWO BIRDS with one stone, West Visayas State University (WVSU) surged for being chosen by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) as one of the leading State Universities in the Philippines and thus received CHED’s Disbursement Acceleration Plan based on Excellence.

Along with 13 other State Universities in the Philippines, WVSU was selected by CHED as among the best in providing quality education in the country and thus gained financial support.

“Our University is a performing university as shown by the results of our licensure examinations in teacher Education, Medicine and Nursing.

With the financial support from CHED, WVSU will be able to elevate quality of education and achieve excellence,” said WVSU President, Dr. Pablo E. Subong Jr. With an estimated sum of P93.9 Million awarded to WVSU, the national government has specifically allocated P58M for the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE), P18.9M for infrastructure and facilities development, P17M for Green Technology

Business Incubation Facility (GTBIF) for WVSU. “The disbursement acceleration plan will be implemented by CHED at WVSU until the University can attain ‘stability’ and would be able to stand up on its own,” said Subong.

Furthermore, with a budget of 31 Million, WVSU was the only State University in the region identified by CHED to provide priority degree programs to 246 Students Grants - In - Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (SGPPA) beneficiaries from Aklan, Antique, Negros and Guimaras.

After being chosen by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the chosen beneficiaries were enrolled in CHED priority programs at WVSU. SGPPA program provides a 100% scholarship grant to recipient students, inclusive of school fees, housing and a monthly stipend.

“The Office of Student Affairs (OSA) is directly responsible for the supervision of our scholars and the implementation of the SGPPA program and has been regularly monitored by CHED and DSWD,” said Prof. Lea Mae C. Cabalfin, Dean of OSA. WVSU, along with other

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By Jandi M. Nietes

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June-October 2012

Montaño bags Metrobank Outstanding Teacher Award

By Alexa Gianne L. Morga and Edelaine Ellenson Queen G. Encarguez

Bayer Philippines for The Forum

DR. HILDA C. MONTAÑO, Associate Dean of the College of Education, was awarded as one of the 2012 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Teachers in the Tertiary Level in a ceremony held at the Metrobank Plaza, Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City, July 18 to 20.

Joining the 306 teachers honored by the foundation since 1985, Montaño is one of the ten national champions this year and one of the two coming from Western Visayas.

“Metrobank looks for a teacher who is a total package, in other words, they look into your educational qualifications, accomplishments as a teacher, the innovations that you have done, your extension

Julie Ann Faye Palma from the College of Nursing presents her project before the panel of the Search for the 2012 Bayer Young Environmental Envoy.

WVSU rep qualifies for Bayer search dengue and maintain a clean and healthy environment.

“Aside from the informative lectures, my volunteers and I also did a storytelling caravan about the environment to further capture the interest of the children. My project culminated with a trash bin making contest among participating barangays, the winners of which received cash prizes intended to support the community’s waste management projects,” said Palma.

In partnership with the local government unit of Iloilo City through Councilor David Jamora, Palma’s initiative was able to significantly reduce the dengue cases in her target barangays as evaluated by the City Health Office.

To ensure the sustainability of the project, WVSU College of Arts and Sciences adopted Palma’s green idea as the department’s flagship extension program, made official by the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement between the two parties.

The BYEE 2012 awarding ceremony was held at Dusit Thani Manila Hotel last August 23, where the top four envoys who will undergo a study trip to Germany were hailed namely Ruiz Joy Escolar and Marylour Avila both from the University of Iloilo, Jezreel Ezer Archival from the University of CebuBanilad and Michael Garlan from Western Visayas College of Science and Technology.

KNOWN FOR ITS administrative competence and track record in research, West Visayas State University (WVSU) is now the new base agency of the Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (WESVARRDEC).

The Consortium was forged through a Memorandum of Agreement signed by Dr. Elaine F. Lanting of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources

Rocill Jhen G. Caspillo for The Forum

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the promotion of its advocacies – Newborn Screening, Folic Acid Supplementation, and Orphan Disorders.

VYLH-Philippines is part of an international effort to establish the Global Network for Maternal and Infant Health participated by youth counterparts in China, Brazil, and Lebanon linked by volunteerism and public service.

Dr. Carmencita David-Padilla, VYLH National Program Adviser, talks about Preconceptual Health.

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THREE WEST VISAYAS State University students attended the Second Volunteer Youth Leaders for Health (VYLH)-Philippines National Leadership Congress held at Island Cove Hotel and Leisure Park in Kawit, Cavite, June 2 to 4 this year.

Camilie R. Potato from the College of Medicine’s Order of Asclepius and Rocill Jhen G. Caspillo and Steven Carl B. Alayon from the College of Arts and Sciences’ MICROBIA were among the seven participants from Iloilo, with delegates from the University of the Philippines Visayas, St. Paul’s University Iloilo, and the Alliance of Young Nurse Leaders Advocates – Iloilo Chapter.

Among the speakers who

gave talks were former Health Secretary Dr. Jaime GalvezTan and Dr. Carmencita David-Padilla, Chair of the Department of Pediatrics of UP Philippine General Hospital and Director of the Newborn Screening Reference Center and Philippine Genome Center.

Participated by around 150 volunteers from all over the country, the congress highlighted

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By Rocill Jhen G. Caspillo

increase in the overall national passing,” said Villaruz.

The University of the Philippines-Manila topped the exam with a 99.35 percent passing, followed by the University of Santo Tomas with 98.71, Ateneo de Manila University with 98.39, Cebu Institute of Medicine with 98.28, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila with 97.65 and University of the East with 96.67.

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AFTER MARKING A 95.45 percent passing for the August 2012 Physician Licensure Examination (PLE), West Visayas State University (WVSU) College of Medicine (COM) increased its passing rate by 2.45 percent for the last three PLEs. From the 93 percent passing garnered by the University on August 2010

PLE, it increased to 95.31 percent on August 2011.

“We have been consistent for the last three years,” said Dr. Joselito F. Villaruz, COM Dean.

Despite the percentage increase for this year, the University only ranked as 7th top performing medical school in the recent PLE – two ranks lower than last year where WVSU ranked 5th.

“The rankings this year for WVSU differed due to the

Noeni Nepomuceno.

Nepomuceno also added that a new framework will be drafted that will be more responsive to the regional research needs and agenda of Western Visayas as well as global challenges like climate change impact.

W E S VA R R D E C ’ s urgent research agenda aims to alleviate poverty, improve food production, and promote science and technology throughout the region through Research and Development Management, Research and Development Activities, Technology Management/

Student volunteers attend nat’l health leadership training

COM increases passing rate in last three PLEs

By Ian Lorenz R. Gomez

Research and Development (PCAARRD), Dr. Joel P. Limson of the Regional Research Development Coordinating Council, Chancellor Rommel A. Espinosa of the University of the Philippines in the Visayas, and President Dr. Pablo E. Subong Jr. of WVSU. “It is our hope that through the presence of WESVARRDEC in the University, more faculty and students will be interested to undertake research and development studies that are based on agriculture, forestry, and natural resources priorities,” said the new Consortium director Dr.

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WEST VISAYAS STATE Univeristy (WVSU) reigned supreme over 10 other state colleges and universities in the region during the 2012 Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) VI-Cultural and Academic Contests held at the University of Antique, August 23 to 25.

Topping the over-all medal tally, the University garnered 70 points followed by Capiz State University, Carlos Hilado Memorial State College, University of Antique, Aklan State University, Western Visayas College of Science and Technology, Negros State College of Agriculture, Northern Iloilo Polytechnic

State College, Northern Negros State College of Science and Technology, Guimaras State College, and Iloilo State College of Fisheries.

For the group categories, WVSU choral singing and folk dance groups clinched the top spot in their respective competitions.

Meanwhile, GL John Haro from the College of Education won in the Pagkukwento category, Crizcel Jan Pelaez from the College of Nursing topped the Solo Guitar contest, Rod Mayordomo of the College of PESCAR grabbed the championship in the Indigenous Dance competition and Jesseite Amerila from the College of Education won in the Poetry Interpretation contest.

By Raimer Gel G. Caspillo

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By Katrina Mae O. Sencil

University is new regional research, development center

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WVSU dominates PASUC VI cultural, academic contests

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AS WEST VISAYAS STATE University’s (WVSU) sole contender, junior Nursing student Julie Ann Faye Palma took on a four-day seminar and eco-camp sponsored

by Bayer Philippines after qualifying in the Bayer Young Environmental Envoy (BYEE) National Finals this year.

The two-day seminar took place at Sulu Riviera Hotel in Makati followed by an ecocamp at Puerto Del Sol Resort in Pangasinan, August 17 to 20.

Palma’s project, “Talking Trashbins: Innovative Receptacles for Solid Waste Management” succeeded in educating 20 dengue-prone barangays in Iloilo City about proper garbage disposals as an effective move to combat

search, trimmed down to 40 regional finalists after series of interviews and teaching demonstrations before the judges, and further reduced to 20 national finalists.

The board of judges were Sen. Ralph Recto, Deputy Speaker and Zamboanga City Rep. Maria Isabelle Climaco, Secretary of Socio-Economic planning and NEDA director general Arsenio Balisacan, Indonesian ambassador Yohanes Kristiarto Soeryo Legowo, Aboitiz Equity Ventures Chairman Jon Ramon Aboitiz, De La Salle University President and Chancellor Br.

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By Mary Jade P. Gabanes

activities, community service and your characters and values that are worth emulating,” said Montaño as she discussed the benchmarks for probable winners.

Montaño received a gold medal, plaque and cash prize amounting to P350,000.

“It is always possible to be a winner. Because if you do your work well, if you are willing to go the extra mile and make hard work, commitment and excellence a habit, then definitely you can really become an awardee, too,” Montaño added.

A total of 284 teachers were nominated for this year’s

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HANDA

justice, historical-cultural memories, Ethnoscientific knowledge, and Responsible citizenship through Volunteerism and Education.

“Service learning is an added dimension in learning a specific class or subject in the university.

There is what we call a service dimension to learning. This means that a component of a course will be devoted to serving certain sectors in our country with the hope that while students serve with them, they learn something relevant to the subject they are taking,” Handa said.

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FOR HER EFFORTS TO provide extension services to farmers, Dr. Greta Gabinete received the 2012 IFA Norman Borlaug Award during the opening session of the IFA Annual Conference in Doha, Qatar, May 22.

Gabinete and another winner of the same award, Mr. Rikin Gandhi of India, were both nominated by Atlas Fertilizer Corporation and the International Plant Nutrition Institute.

“Just be committed in your work as a research and extension officer,” Gabinete

demos and lectures.

From 2010 until 2011, 2000 farmers were further oriented and trained about the said technology, thus their yields increased, raising the farmers’ net incomes by the target level of 100 US dollars per hectare every season.

The IFA Norman Borlaug Award is given to individuals who have excelled in research that has led to significant improvements in productivity, profitability, fertilizer use efficiency, environmental sustainability, food quality and human health and rural life.

IN AN ATTEMPT TO promote service learning, Dr. Vicente M. Handa, Associate Professor of Science Education of the College of Education (COE), with his team of exchange program alumni of the US Department of State, gained recognition when his project proposal was chosen by the Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) as one of the 50 winning proposals worldwide.

According to Dr. Handa, his team’s proposal entitled S.E.R.V.E.: A Service Learning Project attempts to create opportunities and hands-on experiences for pre-service teachers and teacher educators to serve and work with the marginalized sectors of society through the integration of service learning using the S.E.R.V.E. paradigm.

The S.E.R.V.E. paradigm stands for Social-ecological

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said. rice production in the Province Each awardee received a of Iloilo. cash prize of 10,000 Euros As early as 2006, she and got the chance to attend had been using systematic an international approaches in conference with the validation of 5,000 Euros the SSNM-based as budget that technology for is valid until rice production December 2013. and had played As the first an important role Filipino to win the in establishing award, Gabinete guidelines derived was also the from SSNM GABINETE second woman to principles. grab the prize and was a key In 2009, a total of 4000 in the development of Site- farmers in the Province were Specific Nutrient Management reached out by the training (SSNM)-based technology for through various programs,

By Alexa Gianne L. Morga

By Mark Anthony J. Sicad and Connie C. Durana

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COE professor gains global recognition

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importance of competitions as motivation for artistic excellence and teach emotional fitness through teamwork.

The competition also included other events such as ballet, contemporary, ballroom and hip-hop which was brought by NCCA to celebrate International Dance Day and National Dance Week.

Palawan State University Dance Troupe and Makawiwili Dance Troupe of Philippine Normal University, Cadiz City garnered the second and third slots, respectively.

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Farparan, Shane Marie Propetiado, Eden Grace Socuelan, Jose Michael Angelo Cabarles, Kirth Teodosio, Ryan Puljanan, Jemuel Garcia and Mark Jerome Montaño.

Prior to the contest, they also bagged the championship trophy during the Visayas leg of the said competition held at Ayala Complex, Cebu City on March 11.

Organized by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts-National Dance Committee (NCCA - NDC) headed by Shirly Halili-Cruz, this showcase of talents aimed to stress the

Pasig City wherein the qualified youth teams learned strategies from the marketing experts on how to effectively implement their project proposals.

Mr. Tony Meloto, Gawad Kalinga (GK) founder, had shared significant points to the youths and toured them to the GK Farm in Bulacan.

“We learned that in order to change a community, a team needs to get involved in the community first and to understand their way of living.

We were given some tips on how to win their trust and support for the project,” said dela Peña.

Currently, the project of the Team WAYA is on its project implementation phase.

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Irong-Irong Dance Company dancers render their winning number during the Sayaw Pinoy Competition.

TEAM WOMEN AND MEN of Achievements and Youth Advocates (WAYA) had successfully defended their “Tahong for Life” project and had gained the trust of the Unilab panel judges to be one of the 12 youth teams nationwide to receive P100, 000 as budget for the transformation of their chosen communities.

The Team WAYA is made up of five senior Nursing students, namely, Michael dela Peña (leader), Alfred Dicto, Rexell Jhontino Ela, Hanna Joy Dolduco and Charibel de Pedro whose project proposal passed both the regional and national screening of the Unilab Ideas Positive.

Supervised by Mr. Rodulfo Guillergan, a College of Nursing faculty member, the team’s project was chosen as one of the 29 finalists out of 83 entries from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao during the regional screening.

The number of finalists was then trimmed down to 12 after three batches of national screening.

Six teams from VisMin battled in the last day of national screening last May 18 held at Hotel del Rio, Iloilo City.

Unilab Ideas Positive Head, Mr. Barry Belmonte said, “We are inviting more youth teams from VisMin to join next year for we are really impressed by the quality of entries from this region. In their entries, it seemed that they (youth teams) understand their communities well.”

The top 12 was announced through a social media on May 23 wherein Team WAYA qualified together with Team Katipuneros (Iloilo City) and Team Green Label (Davao City) who also defended their projects on the last day of national screening.

A three-day Social Marketing Program booth camp followed on June 21 to 23 at Unilab Bayanihan Center,

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AMONG HUNDREDS OF participants, the Irong-Irong Dance Company of the College of Physical Education Sports, Culture, Arts and Recreation (PESCAR) emerged as champion during the Sayaw Pinoy: The NCCA National Dance CompetitionFolk Dance Category held at the SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City, April 23.

According to Prof. Liberty R. Porras, though they had been winning other national events, this achievement served as another exposure to higher level of competency especially that the group is not only comprised of the alumni but also of the undergraduates.

Porras also expressed that despite the deficiency of time for rehearsals, the group still made it to the top.

With their winning piece La Jota Sevillana, the Dance Company was comprised of Joan Mary Sablon, Johan

By Sheila Mae H. Toreno

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‘Tahong for Life’ project receives Unilab support

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Irong-Irong Dance Company tops nat’l Sayaw Pinoy Competition

The Team WAYA conducted community diagnosis at Sitio Pang-pang of Brgy. Lacturan, Dumangas, Iloilo and identified hazardous handling of Tahong shells and organized disposal of its remnants as the prime problems.

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IN ITS PURSUIT TO BRING development in the different aspects of life, West Visayas State University had gathered 160 advocates and academicians to the 2012 International Research Conference for Globalization and Sustainability on August 14 to 16 held at the Sarabia Manor Hotel and Convention Center, Iloilo City.

Local and foreign research presenters gathered in this three-day event to disseminate, share, and discuss research findings that address the challenges of globalization and sustainability and strengthen partnerships among researches for sustained sharing of knowledge, experiences and best practices.

at the University of Georgia, Athens, and Mr. Pierangelo B. Alejo, Head of the Flexible Learning Solutions Unit – SEAMEO INNOTECH, Philippines.

The other plenary speakers were Mr. Antonio “Tony” P. Meloto, Chair and Founding President of Gawad Kalinga, Philippines, Dr. Lourdes M. Ferrer, Professor of the School of Education of the University of Guam, and Jesse Raglmar, Chairman of the Committee on Government, Health and Welfare, Colonia Yap, Federal States of Micronesia.

The event was also spearheaded by the WVSU Center for Research and Innovations in Science and Mathematics Education, College of Education, WVSU Center for Teaching Excellence, and Gawad Kalinga Builders Institute.

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Adapting the Sustainable Compass of Asia as guideposts, the conference strands were categorized into Nature, Economy, Wellbeing, and Society (N. E. W. S.) to share empirical results and best practices.

Commission on Higher Education Chairman Dr. Patricia B. Licuanan and University of Guam Assistant Vice President for Graduate Studies, Research and Sponsored Programs Dr. John A. Peterson served as the keynote speakers for the event.

Among the plenary speakers were Robert Steele, Founder and Director of Sustainability Asia Senior Associate of Atkisson Group of Companies, Dr. Deborah Tippins and Dr. Norman F. Thomson, both Professors at the Faculty of Education

By Raimer Gel G. Caspillo

Team WAYA for The Forum

160 studies presented in Int’l Research confab

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Prof. Cabalfin is the new OIC Dean of Students PROF. LEAH MAE C. Cabalfin has been appointed as the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Dean of Students of the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) effective January 23.

For her priorities as the new OIC OSA Dean, Cabalfin opts for more equitable distribution of opportunities in West Visayas State University (WVSU).

“I wish to share WVSU to other people especially to the poor, to the less fortunate.

WVSU’s good reputation maybe commendable, but it is better if WVSU could cater for those who have less in life,” she said.

Cabalfin aims to lead the office towards the realization

of its goal of providing a coordinated, studentcentered office focused on student advocacy that will improve overall coordination, accessibility and delivery of key services to the campus community.

She also assures the student body that as the OIC Dean of Students, she will continue the office’s commitment to offering programs and services that are consistent with the core values, mission and vision of the university to promote and enhance student success.

“I was once a student leader myself. I believe that when you love what you are working on, it is not work anymore. I love the vigor and idealism of young people. Now that I get to be part of student activities,

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Krezyl Joyce V. Pugna

By Katrina Mae O. Sencil

Prof. Leah Mae C. Cabalfin while at work in her office as the new OIC Dean of Students.

I get to know the common Taga-West better and develop a certain intimacy with them.

It’s a chance for me to love the children of others, the youth of today, the future of tomorrow, the whole student population – even though that means I am a mother to 5000,” Cabalfin

expressed.

A BSE Social Science and Bachelor of Law graduate, Cabalfin brings to the University over 28 years of teaching and administrative experience, most recently as the University Secretary from 2010 until 2012.

Taga-West march against SONA

By Ian Leoj M. Gumban

STUDENTS FROM different colleges of the University joined the State of

Two WVSU seniors attend US study on new media

the People’s Address which countered Pres. Benigno Simeon Aquino III’s State of the Nation Address, July 23.

Progressive groups and

students organizations met in front of the Quezon Hall to speak their minds about the President’s address and their analyses on the

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promises and acts of the Aquino administration, with mobilization as their tool for self-expression.

Marching the streets of Iloilo City, the students demanded that budget cuts from the education sector must be dissolved and that more budgets must be allotted to the State Universities and Colleges (SUCs).

Added with the recent implementation of the K-12 curriculum, the education sector is said to be doomed if

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TWO FOURTH YEAR students of West Visayas State University College of Mass Communications had attended an all-expense paid study on new media at Ball State University, June 24 to July 29.

Jester Paul Bacabac, a Bachelor of Science in Development Communication student, and Keziah Huelar, a Bachelor in Journalism student and the Vice Chairperson of the University Student Council, were the delegates to the Study of the United States Summer Institute (SUSI).

“I am honored to represent the country in that international short-term study grant. I was really eager to learn more about New Media in America because I know that I will be able to use this in my practice of Development Communication in the Philippines,” said Bacabac.

The SUSI 2012 program included topics on New Media, Social Entrepreneurship, Women Empowerment, Leadership, American Politics and Government, Photography, Video Story Telling, Audio Reporting, Information Graphics and Mass Media Law and Ethics.

After four weeks of studying New Media at the Ball State University, they had visited Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, Ohio, Maryland and Washington DC as part of their tour.

Twenty other delegates from the Southeast Asian Countries, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines

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participated in the said program.

Under the New Media category, six student leaders from the country joined in the SUSI 2012, who were from WVSU, the Adventist University of the Philippines, St. Paul University Dumaguete, Xavier University Cagayan and University of Asia and the Pacific.

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Pag-iririmaw highlights PH festivals

By Edelaine Ellenson Queen G. Encarguez

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Krezyl Joyce V. Pugna

Seth Jason C. Tan

Beforehand, the team conducted community diagnosis at Sitio Pang-Pang of Brgy. Lacturan, Dumangas, Iloilo and identified that the

unsanitary and hazardous handling of tahong shells and its remnants as the foremost problem.

The community’s lack of sanitation practice caused diarrheal diseases among

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‘Tahong for Life’ …

Kwensi Academia from the College of Mass Communications introduces herself during the university acquaintance party where she was named Ms. Pag-iririmaw 2012.

residents.

To aid the problem, the team conducted a formal teaching to adults and a mass education to children such as story-telling acts, film showing and play and tours.

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Dr. Bobby Gerardo was then a grantee.

Gerardo joined Subong in the MOU signing last July.

Recently, there were 10 students from Truman University in Australia who underwent related-learning experience in Nursing for a month.

Meanwhile, the University had also sealed partnership with Jeju University in Korea for Information Technology program.

In August last year, seven students and a faculty stayed in the University for a month and trained Institute of Information and Communications Technology students in Android programming and IT-related activities.

This year, four students and a faculty continued the same program in the University.

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AS ONE OF THE University’s approaches in achieving its mission, the international partnership programs are now being strengthened by the administration.

Dr. Pablo E. Subong, President of the West Visayas State University (WVSU), had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Dr. Jeong-Ryong Chae, President of the Kunsan National University (KNU) in Korea for the expansion of the exchange program of both parties.

The two universities had developed partnership since 2002 and this was renewed on July 23 this year.

Part of the amendments made is the expansion on nursing program of the University wherein the

WVSU College of Nursing will be accepting fourth year Nursing students of KNU in the next academic year to have their actual hospital management training and community immersions.

“The Nursing facilities of the college are at par excellence plus the college accredited status and performance in annual Nursing Licensure Exams, thus inviting foreign students to study here,” said Subong.

Furthermore, courses in Master in Nursing Management and Master of Arts in Nursing will soon to be offered by the University.

For 10 years of partnership, several faculty and students had availed the scholarship grants for masters and doctoral studies in the said sister school in Korea.

WVSU Vice President for Administration and Finance

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By Sheila Mae H. Toreno

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WVSU upgrades internationalization programs

Solinap of the College of PESCAR and Kwensi Academia of the College of Mass Communications bested other contenders as they claimed the title as Mr. and Ms. Pag-iririmaw 2012.

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WVSU Students march in protest for more state budget subsidy, coinciding with the State of the Nation Address of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III.

The Pa-ilis marked the second part of the event wherein female contenders from the different colleges wore costumes made of indigenous materials.

Meanwhile, Nikola

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WITH THE THEME “Choose Philippines: It’s More Fun at West”, West Visayas State University celebrated Pag-iririmaw 2012 – the annual university acquaintance party held July 6.

Students from the different colleges dressed themselves with national festival costumes as the event kicked off with a parade.

The College of PESCAR for the festival of Cebu; the Institute of Information and Communications Technology for Cagayan de Oro; the College of Business and Management for Baguio City; the College of Education presented Zambales festival; the College of Arts and Sciences embodying Camarines Sur; the College of Nursing honored Bacolod City; the Integrated Laboratory School for Palawan and the College of Mass Communications for Aklan.

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SPECIAL REPORT

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June-October 2012

Were you bracketed rightly?

Assessing the STFAP Evaluation Text by Raimer Gel G. Caspillo; Illustration by Rother Johann R. Dadivas

Research and Development Results Utilization and Capability Building and Governance.

M e a n w h i l e , WESVARRDEC’s banner program Techno Gabay Program provides farmers and researchers fast access to information and technology while Applied Communications strengthens technology transfer and mass

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Double Jeopardy Seeing the advantages of STFAP at WVSU, Cabalfin hopes to extend these privileges to those who are not just financially but also intellectually challenged. “Akon gid handum nga hatagan man chance bisan indi gid alam ka eskwela sa West. Actually, the not so intelligent are more marginalized. Indi ka na alam, imol ka na, indi ka pa ka eskwela. It is like double jeopardy,” the Dean said.

Other than being a University’s response to the mandates of the Constitution, STFAP had aided some to realize their almost impossible dream of getting a bachelor’s degree. It opened the door to a lot who may not have had their tertiary education without STFAP. After more than a decade, it continues to help students attain more meaningful lives for themselves and those persons whom they love.

join, and help the foundation’s organization, the Network of Outstanding Teachers and Educators in its campaign for more nominees through their convention in Manila on September 27 to 29.

Since 1987, the awardees have gone to Malacañan to meet the President who personally give them their medals as symbols of gratitude for their work as educators.

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the bracketing process. They are willing to pay eventhough they will be classified to bracket nine.

They do not have the patience to gather all the documents because they already know that they will fall under bracket nine. Perhaps, they still pay less compared to the private schools according to her. “Diin ka makakita sang eskwelahan nga sa for some belonging to lower brackets isa lang ka libo ang tuition fee man?” she said. Not all students undergo assessments. This means that they will be automatically categorized to bracket nine. This is true especially to some incoming first year students. “May mga first year nga wala kabalo completely about STFAP so they failed to submit themselves to bracketing.

Kanugon tani. They then have to wait for their re-evaluation when they enter their third year. Bisan ika pila mo na sila gin hambalan, wala sila naka pa bracket. Amo na mag second year na sila,” Cabalfin cited.

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Student Aff airs

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production of appropriate media materials which can best serve farmers and researchers in the Region.

Management Information System is also a component of WESVARRDEC’s function to aid in the packaging, dissemination of Research and Development results and technologies.

Founded in May 4, 1988, WESVARRDEC

is an organization of 27 consortium member agencies and partner member agencies in the region that aims to harness the individual talents, assets, and resources of the member agencies in order to reap effective, efficient, relevant and significant contributions in agriculture and natural resources towards development in Western Visayas.

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University is new…

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Fig. 2 Distribution of Junior Students in different income brackets for AY 2012-2013.

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Ricardo Laguda, FSC, and GMA7 broadcast journalist Vicky Morales-Reyno.

Metrobank expects the awardees to continue being role models at school, encourage other teachers to

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leading SUCs will be able to finance around 50 percent of their total budgetary requirement. At present, the government finances around 70 percent of the total internal operating budget of SUCs. Under such plan, we can conclude that the government is not sincere in increasing the budget for SUCs in succeeding years, and even plans to again reduce subsidies to SUCs that are able to generate their own income in the years to come.

These are just some of the reasons that KP sees as fit grounds for greater subsidy for SUCs. KP will continue to fight for students’ rights in service to the people.

Montaño…

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To illustrate, in the proposed 2013 budget for CO, leading SUCs are set to receive P15 million to P1.4 million to fund infrastructure projects, while Tier 1 SUCs will only receive around P7 million each. Tier 2 SUCs, meanwhile, will only receive P4 million and below for CO next year.

8. Under RPHER, CHED targets to revise the Normative Funding Formula (NFF) this year, for it to be applid on 100 percent of SUCs MOOE and also on some part of the PS, with the end target of applying the NFF to both components fully by 2016.

This means that the performance

All Students are Scholars Even if students are classified under brackets five to nine, the fees that the university is charging are always low compared to that of other universities. “Every WVSU student receives some form of government subsidy. They are also iskolars ng bayan,” Cabalfin relayed. Sometimes, children of doctos, lawyers and some professionals no longer undergo

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of SUCs, including enrolment and passing rates, would not only affect MOOE, but will now also affect staffing and salary components (i.e. loss of teaching items, retrenchment).

9. Under RPHER, CHED targets to implement “generic socialized tuition fee scheme,” similar to UP’s STFAP, for SUCs by 2013, to be piloted in 10 SUCs by 2014. This is despite the fact that UP’s STFAP scheme still has flaws and was initially seen as a “smokescreen” to tuition increases and with the fact that 10. Under RPHER, CHED also expects that by 2016, 22

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mabal-an ang real status sang family nila. Parents would come to me and explain nga ang gin hambal sang bata nila indi na amo,” Cabalfin said. As the OIC Dean of Students, Cabalfin also pointed out that her office is willing to accommodate students and parents who would inquire for their income brackets. “Damo man nga hibi-anay kon kis-a, damo lang appeals,” Cabalfin asserted. However, according to her, OSA is always open to look into the pleas that they receive on case to case basis.

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Reasons…

U Office of

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soon as possible.

“Any WVSU student can avail the program as long as the college dean identified and recommended him to the President’s office, then the president will endorse him/her to the International Agency Office of foreign universities,” said Subong.

Source: WVS

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Every after the training period, the Korean volunteers donate their equipment such as camera and computer to the Institute.

As agreed, two out of 10 Korean students will be exempted to pay for their tuition fees per semester equivalent to two WVSU

Brackets 6-9

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exchange scholars who will be granted the same privileges.

Gerardo, also the Coordinator for International Affairs Office of WVSU, is finalizing the necessary documents for the expanded exchange program so that the complete advisory on the matter will be announced as

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teachers and the students,” stressed Dr. Subong.

Dr. Subong eyes further improvement on Quality and Excellence in the University by employing new degree programs aligned with the mandated and priority programs of CHED.

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Brackets 1-4

Fig. 1 Distribution of Freshmen Students in different income brackets for AY 2012-2013.

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WVSU…

a Regional Higher Education Research Center and the base agency of Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium.

“Collaborative leadership is what we need. We need the cooperation of the faculty,

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According to Dr. Subong, WVSU is the only level IV state university in Region 6 based on quality and relevance of instruction, research, extension, and production; a center of excellence and most of its programs are level 3 and level 4 accredited status, and

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University receives…

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Objectivity of the Evaluation “We usually do the bracketing at least a month before the enrollment for incoming freshmen and also for bracketing re-evaluation of the

Sanctions In the event that a student falsifies his STFAP documents, he will be subjected to the sanctions stated in the rules and regulations of the University handbook. “Waay man kami may na encounter. Siguro may mga inconsistencies lang. May ara lang nga kon kis-a nahuya

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percent. According to Cabalfin, the rising number of tuition fee subsidized students does not threaten the finances of WVSU. She said that as a top performing state university, WVSU had been granted a significant budget increase especially in 2013.

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Every WVSU Student is a Scholar

incoming juniors . The teachers who are doing the bracketing are experienced. Most of them are guidance counselors or have been with STFAP bracketing since 2001,” Cabalfin said while belying the claims of biases in the evaluation. According to her, the bracketing is done in one room and the students are accommodated in a first come, first served basis. Thus, they will not be able to choose their assessors. The evaluation is based on the documents presented by the students. The data reflected in these papers are clarified through the interviews. Students’ responses must coincide with what the documents contain. In a way, their demeanors and attires also matter. However, there are occasions when a specific college would ask that they will do the bracketing in their own colleges because of peculiarities of their scheduling.

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university provides tuition fee subsidies to 55 percent of the freshmen enrolled this year.

Meanwhile, 26 percent among the said students pay more as they belong to brackets six to nine.

Only 19 percent pay the standard rate. The same idea applies for the re-evaluation where 52 percent of the juniors fall under subsidized brackets one to four. In the rear side, students from brackets five and brackets six to nine each make up the remaining 24

EEDING THE principle “to whom much is given, much is required”, West Visayas State University (WVSU) adopted the Socialized Tuition Fee and Assistance Program (STFAP) on November 29, 2001 by virtue of the Board of Regents Resolution No. 81, s. 2001. This program aims to extend equal opportunities and make education accessible to all students through socialized tuition fees and student assistantships. For socialized tuition, WVSU grants tuition fee subsidies based on the students’ family income and other socio-economic indicators.

In effect, students with higher family income are required to pay more while those who come from economically challenged families will pay less. “By having this program, the University has been very responsive to the mandate of the constitution to provide a more equitable access to education particularly in the tertiary level,” thus said Prof.

Leah Mae C. Cabalfin, OIC Dean of the Office of Student Affairs (OSA).

As a leading state university in Western Visayas, WVSU has given the financially and economically challenged access to tertiary education. The

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OPINION

6

June-October 2012

Peace on Shaky Grounds

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HE PEACE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE MORO ISLAMIC LIBERATION Front (MILF) and the Philippine Government stands as the hope in ending four decades of insurgence that took 120,000 lives. Under the Framework Agreement signed between the two parties on October 15, a Transition Commission will write the Basic Law which will create a new autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao, the Bangsamoro.

The pact is a step towards change that, as President Benigno Simeon Aquino III said, can finally bring genuine and lasting peace in Mindanao. As one of the few treaties since the Ramos Administration that gained the nods and approvals from the Muslims, the Bangsamoro Basic Law could be the missing term in the equation for peace. “Peace-is-at-hand” messages can be seen almost everywhere but when the nation gets a multiverse of dismemberment, is the assurance of peace really possible?

Ferdie Dasion of the Nationalist Philippines Against Foreign Intervention said that the agreement facilitated the separation of the “Bangsamoro” from the Republic; saying that the word connotes a separate state similar to what happened in Yugoslavia. The new state will have its own defined territory and people, own armed forces, constitution, and state institutions. The Framework Agreement is the first mile in the roadmap towards the division of the Republic of the Philippines. If separation of powers is the only possible way to attain peace, then the conviction stands on shaky grounds.

When you put two dogs in the same kennel and throw in a single bone, conflict is inevitable. Although the MILF admits that the deal is inclusive, the spectrum of powers of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the MILF still converge within common spheres. MNLF leader Nur Misuari dubbed the peace agreement as irrelevant, claiming that the agreement was cloned by the Administration in association with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak. With the two power factions in Sulu having different lines of agreement, the status of attaining peace is on fragile condition.

Furthermore, Misuari threatens to question the said agreement in the International Court of Justice since the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) was created as part of the peace pact between the MNLF and the Ramos Administration in 1996. When the Basic Law gets approved, the ARMM will be abolished. If, by one way or another, the new peace treaty does not harmonize with the 1996 pact, tensions between the MILF and the MNLF and even with the government will continue to aggravate.

The policy of the government with respect to the Bangsamoro is convergence. But with the dismemberment of the nation into different states, and the hounds of power contradicting each step, the assurance and sustainability of peace is questionable.

The signing of the Framework Agreement is the easy part. As the real work on the details begins, the government and those involved should not overlook the tensions between the MILF and the MNLF. Although there is amity between the Philippine Government and the MILF, if there are still issues with the third party, the pursuit for peace might still tread a rocky path as skirmishes might still arise in regard of the MNLF and the MILF. The government’s pursuit to ensure lasting peace in Southwestern Mindanao will inevitably be barred by the existing conflict between MILF and MNLF. The move to seal the pact should have been multilateral, having the government consult both Moro groups.

Without MNLF’s participation, the Framework Agreement between the government and the MILF will be inefficient. It will even lead to more disagreements as the former feels ignored and undermined.

Given that the peace agreement gives the government a limited jurisdiction over the Bangsamoro, the new automous region will be secluded. This framework will only invite other extremists to call for state autonomy, thus dividing the Philippines into self- governing component regions. Other than its unconstitutionality, the move will show the weakness of the government in upholding peace and unity over its jurisdiction.

Long- term peace in Mindanao will only be attained through holistic approaches, and the recent move of the Aquino Administration does not conform with it. The standing agreement may end the decade long conflict between the MILF and the government, but it will begin a new conflict with the MNLF and other Muslim rebel groups. It’s like stacking blocks on a shaky ground.

Editorial

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Tel: (033) 320 0870 loc 162 Fax: +63-33-3200879 Email: fd@wvsu.edu.ph Facebook: Forum-Dimensions Twitter: @WvsuFD

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Forum-Dimensions Quezon Hall Rm. 108 West Visayas State University Luna Street, La Paz, Iloilo City

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The Forum is published by Forum-Dimensions, the official University student publication of West Visayas State University. Comments, suggestions and contributions are welcome. Letters to the Editor, with the writer’s name and address, may be mailed to:

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Forum Dimension_6

Dr. Pablo E. Subong Jr. University President

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Prof. Leah Mae C. Cabalfin Dean, Office of Student Affairs

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Dr. Bonna S. Palma Publication Adviser

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Mr. Jemuel B. Garcia Publication Co-Adviser

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Connie C. Durana, Edelaine Ellenson Queen G. Encarguez, Ian Lorenz R. Gomez, Alexa Gianne L. Morga, Mark Anthony J. Sicad, and Seth Jason C. Tan Editorial Assistants

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Rother Johann R. Dadivas and Mark Andrew P. Ituriaga, Cartoonists

mugged us. The lumps on my mom’s right breast turned out to be malignant tumors – Cancer, Stage 2.

From then on, everything changed from our lifestyle to our eating and spending habits. I would say that now is a tragic time for our family but it isn’t.

Everything actually turned out well, relationship-wise.

My Papa started becoming more of a father and a husband than just an icon.

Somehow, my siblings and I became more conscious with our expenses. We had more family gatherings simply to celebrate life. We came to appreciate the little things like eating meals and hearing mass together.

Expectations.

Opportunities. Choices.

They'll always be part of our lives. And as certain as the sun coming out, they will define who we are and the path our life would take. Expect nothing but hope for the best. Choose the opportunities you grab.

And most of all, make choices not because they're right or good but because they make you happy.

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Sheila Mae H. Toreno, News and Special Reports Editor Ian Leoj M. Gumban, Feature Editor and Creative Director Jenny Pearl A. Infante, Sports Editor; Jeline N. Encarnacion, Literary Editor Krezyl Joyce V. Pugna, Photography and Filipino Editor Jesther Rose L. Rojas, Circulation and Exchange Manager

fairer, younger and more radiant skin as what’s said in the lotion bottle or soap box; that in two weeks, we could be slim and fit without proper diet or exercise - just the magic capsule. And if we don’t get what we want, what do we do? We give up. We lose trust and we swear never to buy that product again. We expect and we get disappointed.

That has always been the cycle. Well, I say we should blame the movies, romantic novels and bluff commercials for tricking us into believing that perfection does exist.

My junior year at WVSU was among my glory days. 2011 was undoubtedly my year.

Countless memories and opportunities came my way and everything was too good to be true.

Then came my final year.

Everyone expected me to take on something even bigger. More awards.

More competitions. More titles. Nga ubuson ko intrahan ang wala ko pa naintrahan. But I didn’t.

Not a single contest. I chose to lay back and simply enjoy my last year as a student. And I'm in high spirits with that decision. I may have disappointed my mentors but this is my life. I get to choose what truly makes me happy.

When opportunity knocks, grab it. It might never come again.

Somehow, I never regretted the opportunities I did not seize. To console myself, I simply put it this way: Someone deserves it better than I do and if there’s no next time, then, it’s not for me.

Everything was going perfect. I had my life at the palm of my hands; the world at the tip of my fingers. But the dreambreaker calendar marked my glory days’ end by 30th of December. 2012 came and shocking news

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Raimer Gel G. Caspillo and Mary Jade P. Gabanes, Editors in Chief Katrina Mae O. Sencil, Associate Editor; Jandi M. Nietes, Managing Editor

Life is Indeed What We Make It

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EDITORIAL BOARD A.Y. 2012-2013

commendations towards the country is not only limited on its economy.

It goes with the public officials who continue to work for its sustained growth.

However, these facets of progress would be insignificant if not felt by the masses or by the majority of the Filipinos.

Developments must not be limited to the oligarchs. This calls for the Administration to strengthen the programs that can significantly benefit the people in the society. Specifically, the marginalized sectors.

Only then we can say that progress truly exists in this country.

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OFFICIAL UNIVERSITY STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE WEST VISAYAS STATE UNIVERSITY LA PAZ, ILOILO CITY

performer” in terms of its economic leap in the global rankings in the next decades. Helped by demographics and rising education standards, the Filipino nation is forecasted to leapfrog 27 places from its present ranking, thus becoming the 16th largest economy by 2050. The country presently settles as the 45th largest economy in terms of nominal gross domestic product. In a

different study, Goldman Sachs investment bank and economist Jim O’Neill have cited that the Philippines will be one of The Next Elevens.

These nations have great potentialities of becoming the world’s largest economies in the 21st century.

Furthermore, the growing international confidence towards the Philippines is not only manifested in figures.

Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima was named as the world’s best finance minister for 2012 by the banking and finance publication Euromoney. Perhaps, the

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HEY SAY OUR choices define who we are; that our decisions give away our character. Would it mean that a single, honest mistake could entirely change how people perceive us? That with one childish, carefree move, the reputation we’ve worked so hard to build could just crumble?

For someone who’s got everybody’s expectations soaring, the answer is a resounding yes.

Someone once told me that I should never expect; only hope. She said expectations always disappoint us because we anticipate no other outcome than the one we have already stipulated.

But when we hope, we are open to possibilities and therefore, we can better cope with the upshots.

That’s the problem with people. I, myself, not spared. We always expect.

We expect our boyfriends to be like Edward Cullen or Christian Grey and our girlfriends to be like Barbie dolls. We expect happyever-afters like Disney endings. We expect that in seven days, we would have

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HE WORLD IS eyeing on the Philippines.

Despite the deepening crisis in the Euro Zone, the Filipino nation’s economy still marked a fast-paced growth in the previous quarters. As its domestic economy surged 5.9 percent for April to June this year, it became one of the fastest growing economies in Asia.

This has been attributed to the inflow of remittances from the overseas workers and the growing confidence of investors on the Aquino Administration.

Meanwhile, the international bank HSBC said that the Philippines would become a “star

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OPINION

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Well, first off, it doesn’t even look like a school ID strap. More like an employee’s ID strap uniform in a theme park or burger joint. It’s weird, the colors are wrong. It’s like you spilled a rainbow in there and it’s not even funny.

They could have done a way better job, one that students can wear with utmost pride. It’s not worth the money.

Waffles, CAS Infrastructure boom is a sign of progress. West Visayas State University built the Centennial Park which also serves as additional parking space. Talks and Voices asked students about their views on this 2.96 million peso project.

Nga-a man daw kadugay gid matapos ang parking lot (Centennial Park) kung amo man lang na ang hitsura niya? Kung wala pa nag abot ang accreditors wala pa gin hingagaw nga tapuson. Daw sobra pa sa Nursing Building nga daw matuigan gid ang pagkay-o. Ano lang gid bala ang gina lagas? Ang budget?

Norie, CAS All I can say about parking space is why? About the Centennial Park another why. It’s a total lack of money.

I don’t see any lack of parking space in our school. I see some broken electric fans and chairs and why can’t they give us that instead? Parking space for what? For the admin employees? Wow. And the centennial park, who would hang out there? Especially if it’s in front of the admin building. Why can’t they just improve the mini forest instead? The canteen round tables? Why didn’t they ask the students what they want, I’m sure if they did, the centennial park wouldn’t be on the students’ list.

Patrick, CAS Daw indi ta gid man masyado kinanglan. Tani bala gin himo nalang siya classroom or something nga mapuslan gid bala tani sang students kag indi sya nga daw parking lot lang.

Gwapa, COE

Forum Dimension_7

The centennial park is okay because it beautifies the school but it could have been best if the money allocated to it was put to the Students’ Center at the Hometel instead. But for me, it’s ok because it’s beautiful and conducive for practice especially when it has something to do with P.E. activities and it could be a good parking lot.

Honeelee Arevalo, USC Councilor

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Dens, COE

Okay man siya tani galing tam-an naman ka colorful na ka informal na tulukon. Mas nami pa na tani kung gin pasimplihan na lang para daw ka estudiyante gid tulukon sang mga nagasuksok. Indi pa gid bagay sa uniform nga puti labi na gid sa iya ka CAS, Nursing kag Education.

Layo pa lang kita-on ka na gid sa ID mo. Kag nga-a man daw kalapad gid? Tani gin pa gamay-gamayan man para estudiyante gid bla.

Chuckie, CAS

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Sin-o nag design ni man? Napakajejemon.

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too strong to resist. With the vast selection of things to do online, the main purpose of using the internet for study and research is easily displaced and ultimately forgotten.

Facebook-ing. Like any ordinary evening, I always make it a point to see what’s new in the world. However the plan of ‘just checking’ would usually last for hours.

Chatting, stalking, nagging, bashing and vandalizing someone’s wall are among the things we are all guilty of in one point or another and these are very miniscule fractions of the things you can do. What was simply

meant to be a breather has become a reason for logging in religiously. Who would’ve thought that a game as simple as tetris could be so much interactive and addictive?

9gag-ing. An innocent break may immediately turn into a long and underserved slacking once you get hooked on to 9gag. With memes, jokes, insults, sarcasm, irony and life lessons that will make you cry out of laughter, scrolling down until your internet connection is interrupted or your mouse and keyboard malfunctions.

It could take you minutes to hours just browsing through the 9gag contents.

Movie Marathons.

Nothing compares with cutting time through a good movie, but nothing compares more with how irresponsible you could be for setting your

notes aside for a 2- hour film. With buffering barely a problem and with the countless websites available for free short clip or movie streaming, the hazard of draining your time is only multiplied.

Summing it all adds up to wasted time. You jolt back to reality, sleep, wake up, cram in going to school, fail a quiz and feel bad for yourself and finally come to a realization where you made bad choices. Then you do the cycle all over again.

Elation and sheer enjoyment may never be comparable to reading thick books with minute font sizes and scribbled notes. The difference though is that with the latter, though you may feel bad now, you’ll end up feeling great or would you rather enjoy now and end up feeling bad in the long run?

Ang lanyard daw ka informal. Indi bagay sa uniform.

Mas bagay pa siya pang lagaw. Na OA sa colors. Islan na gid lang nila kalaw-ay pa.

Geraldine, COE

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Digital Sins

LAPTOP, COUPLED with an unlimited WiFi connection is among the most indispensible unit a college student needs in order to survive a grueling week. Not only does the World Wide Web host a seemingly unlimited stream of virtual data and information, but it also serves as a venue of leisure, relaxation and entertainment.

The only limitation that bounds us within its confines would be dependent on our ingenuity and persistence in searching.

When utilized for learning, you may even end up on top of your class given you keep your focus, understand what you are reading or watching and most importantly make use of a reliable source.

The demands of college are great that the use of the internet is becoming a staple.

However, the temptation of not going online is a force

Very colorful. Kalaw-ay ang pattern sang colors. Daw color sang banner sang pulitiko. Nami man siya kung sa layo. Tani before gin bag-o ang design sang lanyard, gin pakita anay ang design kay gina bayaran man na namon mo.

Jessa, CAS

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related to the contrasting notions in life.

It is a collective view that love propels us to be better and learned as we grow. However, love at times shatters our life and disposition. Idealism in love is no longer a prerequisite since there lots of blissful lovers who seem not to be a good match at first glance. What I am bothered of is on why people of my age make erroneous choices and deal with its cost. Engagement in pre-marital affairs for instance is one wrong choice made by misguided folks who forget to be rational at times.

Love, instead of motivating people positively, sometimes

causes peoples’ brokenness and despair.

Many of us are guilty of the sin of cramming. Procrastination delays productivity and much worse, it causes trouble and imperfections. We always stick with the notion that we could finish tasks faster and better if we are conscious of time, thus we always resort to cramming.

We could have done better quality outputs and saved money and efforts if we began the task earlier. We could have won in the tilt if we prepared all the necessities. We could have avoided arguing someone if we are not disgraced by time pressures. I could have dodged from flu if I started our magazine and film production earlier and not endured working like zombies a night before the deadline. Life is so stressful if we can’t let go of the art of procrastination.

When a student steps out of his University, it is always his pride to show off the identity that goes with his institution – may it be his uniform or even the humble ID cord or lanyard on his neck. This year, WVSU adopted a new ID lanyard for her freshmen students. The release has caused varied reactions among students, both old and new.

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Most of us are firmed with our life goal that is why we do all the cunning and spending for all our academic demands yet ends up in a workplace we never dreamed to be in.

Filipinos were so proud when the Hollywood film Bourne Legacy was shot here in the Philippines only to realize that only scenes of slum areas were shown in the film.

What good does it bring to our country?

Despite the evident scarcity, many people would still try their lucks in the lottery. It’s ironic to see a street vendor, a pedicab driver or carpenters, who have minimum daily income, continue to buy lottery tickets and trust all the chances of hitting the right number combinations.

I admit I am prejudiced but in every failed premise I make, I got to learn that ‘contrasts’ are essential in understanding the various pursuits in life.

Compiled by Connie C. Durana, Ian Lorenz R. Gomez, and Mark Anthony J. Sicad

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Contrasts and Life

N ANY ASPECT, THERE are always contravening equations whether the decision and the judgment we make on things sounds right or improper. Our first intuition on matters is sometimes the opposite of certainty, the reason why we end up filled with mess. Sometimes, our wrong impressions cause us anguish and a lifetime self-ridicule.

A year ago, I had gained months of trauma after riding the anchors away. While I’m still waiting for my turn, I quipped looking at the unfathomable terror in the faces of those who tried the ride. At first, I had really thought that I would love the ride not until I learned how dreadful the ride is. With fervor, I took a sit in the rear part of the boat and gasped my breath for a terrible 40-second ride. Then, I promised myself never to give in to wrong hunch. Though that incident was insignificant, it caused me to ponder on things

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Talks Voices

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for human rights, I am with you. If you are fighting for women’s rights, then I am with you. Because they are human rights.

I really despise the connotations and the stereotypes that comes with being a feminist. I don’t want to belong to a sexist political movement. I don’t want to be associated with the people who have defined feminism as a shrill puritanical manhating sect. Feminism is not and shouldn't be anti-men.

Feminism should be positive.

But what’s happening? Most of the time, I see antagonistic radical women ranting and nagging about extremist

nonsense encouraging female bigotry. The so-called feminists abuse statistics of any social ideology in the most dreadful way. They fail to be open-minded most of the time and, in contrast, entertain malice regularly.

Oftentimes, they use dishonesty and exaggeration to convert women. Feminism tends to be authoritarian and puritanical, just like old patriarchs, it is determined to manage women's lives.

Ironic, isn’t it?

I think people have forgotten what it actually means to be a feminist.

Sometimes I just think that feminism is a horde of separate interest groups who can make no concerted impact on society. They rant about abuse, prostitution and rape when in the first place, these are not just alarming towards women. In fact,

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everyone, every human being who is thinking and possesses some sort of feeling is against all these crimes. It’s just not about women, it's about everyone. Yet they go on and rant that its men’s fault. At the end, it seems to me that these extremist feminists, generally, place more importance on hating men than on having equal rights.

I don’t want to join a certain feminist group because they seem prescriptive. With this, I must say that I am not a feminist, I am a humanist.

I believe in human rights, for all humans. I will fight for women’s rights, because women are humans. I will fight for gay rights, because gay people are humans. I will fight for children’s rights, because children are humans.

I will fight for the rights of any race, religion, creed, sexual orientation or age, because they are all human.

You get the picture.

June-October 2012

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I am not a ‘feminist’

USED TO BE A SELFconfessed feminist.

I remember the days spent trolling on forums that demean women in any way. I would pore on semi-political gender-related Tumblr posts and reblog them to my gusto.

Even my undergraduate thesis is about feminist ideals and the concept of a woman. But what seemed to be a steadfast inclination to declare myself a feminist stifled swiftly upon the sight of women whose brand of feminism is into bra-burning, sit-ins, and the indiscriminate animosity against men.

Now, I am one of those women who cannot entirely admit themselves to the conviction of feminism.

Let me just say that I am a woman and as a woman I want equal rights and equal opportunities regardless of sex, status, or race. I despise the degradation of any human right. If you are fighting

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OPINION can be made masters of our own selves, authors of our own stories.

I came to realize that by all its power, the human race have been in pursuit of the most effective methods and resources to live life better. If you could take a look at the world now with all its advances in lifestyle, you’d laugh at the thought of how beasts and carriages used to be our means of transportation or how students used to spend days, weeks, even months secluded in between towering shelves of books in the school library just to finish their thesis. Gone are those days thanks to human toil. I can’t even comprehend how those folks in the past get to live

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How Far Can I Go For WVSU?

WVSU...

WVSU’s campuses came after the opening program at the Cultural Center. Meanwhile, the College of Medicine initiated the Jose B. Ledesma Memorial Lecture as the last activity on the first day.

On the second day, a “Convocation: A Moment with the Angaras” was organized by the College of Arts and Sciences, a medical mission by the College of Medicine, invitational

Traversing…

games by the Vice President for Administration and Finance and the UNPO and the Hinirugyaw by the Office of Student Affairs.

A motorcade, “Fiesta sa WVSU” with San Juan City Lone District Rep. Joseph Victor G. Ejercito and the Cultural Show of the Panayana culminated the University’s founding anniversary celebration.

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“There are days where I could barely open the door,” Moreno said while sharing the difficulties that she has to endure because of her illness.

The symptoms of her sickness started with a butterfly rash on her face. She consulted a number of doctors in October 2006 and after a series of tests, it was confirmed that she has SLE, an autoimmune disease where one’s immune system cannot recognize a foreign entity and instead attacks one’s own healthy cells.

As a Nursing student that time, Moreno was encouraged to pursue another degree because her body could not bear the requirements of her Nursing education. She shifted to Special Education after meeting an American missionary who shared her story of how she was able to change a life of a nonverbal

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support. You have been there always to support me with my endeavors.

To the Political Science Student’s Organization and A.B. Political Science 4-a thank you for your support and guidance. You have inspired me too aim for true leadership and clean governance.

To USC batch 2012-2013, you’ve been my second family. Let us continue to serve the students and leave a legacy worth remembering.

As for our advisers, Prof. Leah Mae Cabalfin and Prof. Jonathan Glorial, you’re the best advisers a council can ever have. You’re the guiding light of the council. A light that illuminates the council in the darkest times.

We also commend the support of the different college councils in our events.

We must continue to organize activities for students’ development and we must always uphold the ideals and aspirations of our university. Let us aim for true service, harmony and excellence.

We are the change that we seek.

In our hands lies the answer to all our concerns and problems. Each of us must learn to move forward and give our own contribution for the progress of our institution. After which we can proudly give a response to the question “How Far Can I Go for WVSU?”.

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child in Ethiopia who acts and eats like a dog.

Moreno formed the Lupus Support Group of Panay (LSGP) which aims to inform persons with lupus and their families on how to cope with it through quarterly meetings where physicians or professionals share their knowledge/expertise for free.

Her initiative to form the group, academic excellence, leadership skills and faith in God paved her way to the TOSP, a program that annually recognizes exceptional youths.

“Through these awards, I may be able to inspire other people to never give up.That no matter what challenges we face and no matter how different or special we are, as long as we have faith in God and the courage to fight, we can always succeed. What I am is God’s gift to me and what I will be is my own gift to God,” Moreno added.

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Forum Dimension_8

to increase by almost P1 billion, to P14 billion from the current P13.1 billion. Part of the projected increase will be coming from an almost P500 million increase in the income from tuition, to P6.76 billion from the current P6.26 billion. Also, DBM projects that the income from other fees would increase by almost P200 million, to P3.2 billion from the current P3 billion.

6. According to the President’s 2013 Budget Message, CHED is set to receive P900 million for the projects Private Education Student Financial Assistance (PESFA) and the Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP), which aims to aid 97,821 students studying in private higher education institutions and taking up courses associated with tourism, business process outsourcing, semiconductor and electronics and agrifisheries. The said budget is, in effect, direct fund transfer to private schools, very much alike to the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) in basic education. This means that the government is transferring funds from government coffers to increase profit of private institutions.

For 2013, CHED was allocated P2 million for study grants under the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) program of the national government. According to the NEP, the amount appropriated for PAMANA Program shall be “used exclusively to implement projects in conflict-afflicted areas” identified by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP). CHED was also tasked to submit quarterly reports to OPAPP on the status of implementation of the PAMANA Program, meaning the government is utilizing scholarships and other education facilities for the dreaded Oplan Bayanihan.

7. Under CHED’s Roadmap for Public Higher Education Reform (RPHER), SUCs are clustered “based on excellence” as follows – 19 SUCs fall under the group “leading SUCs,” including UP, Philippine Normal University, and Mindanao State University; 37 SUCs are part of “Tier 1 developing SUCs,” a notch lower than the first group and includes such state schools as PUP, Technological University of the Philippines and Rizal Technological University; and 51 SUCs under “Tier 2 developing SUCs,” which is the lowest rank.

Such clustering is flawed in the sense that SUCs that are already considered as “leading” receive more funding (especially in the MOOE and CO components) than those in the lower tiers, leaving those with poor to average performance with even lower government subsidies.

for WVSU?’. It is impossible if you won’t bother yourselves to figure out answers to this question. In my case, it didn’t take a long time to figure out the right response.

The University Student Council existed for a very long time mainly to serve and lead the students. Has it proved worthy of its purpose? For the past years the council has practiced genuine leadership which in return bears fruit to positive results and feedbacks.

On the day that I was elected as the chairperson of the USC, several questions bothered me, will I be able to handle the task burdened by the USC chair? But I know that I together with the rest of the USC officers will carry the task burdened upon us, it is our Choice to lead, and so be it.

For the past semester, numerous activities has transpired. Our vision to have a council that LEADS; Listens, Empowers, Advocates, Develops and

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The P37.1 Billion budget proposed by the DBM is still insufficient.

Serves has been met in one way or the other.

I must also admit the imperfections of the council. I know we sometimes commit mistakes in our decisions and information dissemination may sometimes be late and we may not grant certain requests or give resolution to certain concerns. I sincerely apologize for this.

Your feedbacks and kind words give life to the council. It makes us forget all the physical, emotional and psychological stress that we deal with. Thank you for your fervent support and trust. I have several people to thank to who have exerted much effort to guide the council in its right path. Thank you very much to USC batch 2011-2012. You’re one of the sole reasons why I keep moving forward, why I am motivated to render quality service to the students.

To my SUMAMA family, Carl Myson Dulla the former USC chairperson, Andrea Nicole Gonzaga; ASSC chairperson, Dian Abolucion, Isidro Villa, Gabriel Felix Umadhay, Brian Banico, Dioscoro Celis III, Al Avon Francisco, Nong Mael, and the rest of the Family, thank you very much for your

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HE TRUE MEANING OF leadership is to sacrifice, to set aside your own personal interest and to think about the welfare or the common good.

As the elected chairperson, several sacrifices are made and there is a need to master the art of time management in order for us to balance academics, extra- curricular and personal life. Aside from several office works and event organizing, we also have to deal with several student concerns. We also have to make sure that we render the best service and hold activities gearing towards excellence and further productivity of the students. Not to mention several feedbacks and criticism that are thrown upon the council that we have to bear, but in the end it is about making sacrifices and aiming for true and genuine leadership. It is service without expecting something in return. It is about sacrificing your own personal interest in exchange of serving those who are in need.

We as a council shall do our task and the students as well should do their obligation as vital members of the Council. After all, you pay 50 pesos for your membership fee, you should know how to make a good use of it. But the real question at hand is, ‘How far can you go

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S THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES deliberated the proposed budget of state universities and colleges (SUCs) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in the plenary session last September 11, several students stood up from the gallery and shouted familiar chants. The public may be wondering, “SUCs will receive a higher budget next year, why still protest?” Here are ten reasons why we should not only continue our call for greater state subsidy, but intensify the struggle of the youth sector: 1. The Aquino administration is saying that it increased the budget for state universities and colleges (SUCs) by almost 44 percent or P11.3 billion, to P37.1 billion from the current P25.8 billion. However, only P32.7 billion is directly allotted for SUCs, as the remaining P4.3 billion is allotted for (1) Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund (MPBF), and (2) Retirement and Life Insurance Premiums (RLIP).

2. While there is a significant increase in the budget of SUCs, the P37.1 billion budget proposed by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is still grossly insufficient if we consider the total proposal of SUCs for 2013, which adds up to P54.6 billion.

3. The increase for personal services (PS) only corresponds to the automatic adjustment for the implementation of the fourth tranche of the Salary Standardization Law III. There are no additional teaching items, which mean that the proposed budget for next year will not reduce the staggering student-teacher ratio in state schools.

4. P37.1 billion SUCs budget for 2013 is only 0.31 percent of the projected GDP of the Philippines for next year. This is low compared to the 16.8 percent of the GDP that will go to debt servicing.

5. According to the 2013 Budget of Expenditures and Sources of Financing, DBM expects the internal income of SUCs

without technology. *** When I was reading 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey, I came across a certain section in the novel about a German concentration camp prisoner. The prisoner stressed that no matter what the Nazis did to him, they could not take away his dignity, his humanity.

Even behind bars with limited food and purposeless living and with anxiety taking its toll, he chose to remain unchanged, sane and positive.

He chose to stay human and not turn into a mindless slave of war. The best part is: he lived to tell the tale.

Choice–such a word of variety; and yet, not quite so. The thought initially got me excited but wariness also took its toll later on. It’s true that you can choose your actions but you cannot choose the consequences that follow. But as perilous as it may be, I still came to cherish it quite

immensely. The possible outcomes that may one day ensue, the many alternative personas I can become; how it fills me with so great a joy. I mean, how can you live with yourself knowing you could have reached your fondest dream but let it slip away out of spite? Personally, I’d die inside.

As I deeply pondered on the story of that German camp prisoner, it gave me a firmer grip with reality. Being able to choose; how it rejuvenates my passion to continue and live. With that I made a manifesto unto myself: “As self-proclaimed master and author of my own life, I choose to live as one ought–to choose to pursue my dreams by exhausting all means and learning all skills required. I choose to honor the people around me by love and compassion. I choose to go for that unprecedented paradigm shift if the situation so declares. When everything I have still does not quite suffice, then I’ll choose to change! Change for the better, change for the best!”

And when all is said and done, it would be so great an honor to be able to declare that I have chosen to choose and not be idle; that I chose to be… human.

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Reasons to Intensify the Fight for Greater State Subsidy: Part 1

Remembering our Humanity: The Choice to Change

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By Kabataan Partylist -WVSU

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T WAS NEVER EASY FOR ME to accept it every time I would give my baby pictures a look. I was so fat then. You would have had a hard time trying to locate my chin among the seemingly-endless layers of skin and fat. And to think someone with a physical stature such as that, protruding lard-filled sacks and all, could actually grow to be the manboy I am today. I changed.

Not only did I notice the physical difference in me, there too was a change in my personality. And even at the very moment, it surprised me even more judging how totally different I was back then. I can actually “talk” to people now. I couldn’t have been more proud of myself to have earned and developed the self confidence that I thought I’d never possess.

That’s how it is with us humans: we change. How we dress, how we talk, our bodies, our way of life, our ideals, our norms; all these are more or less subject to change in due time.

And why do we change? Well, that’s because we can! Apart from the many other changing entities upon this earth, we humans can actually direct our path accordingly. By choice, we

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This column shows what the young taga-West thinks about the things affecting their lives.

Contributions from students are welcome.

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June-October 2012

Educators honored in Teachers’ Day 2012

to entertain the teachers.

Teachers from the College of Business and Management gained the first championship title in the newly introduced Teacher Henyo.

Dr. Editha Y. Silloriquez and Prof. Ignacio Tibajares, Jr. were both awarded as Best in Bearing while Ms. Jean Castigador and Romeo Y. Espedion were both given the Star Award.

Furthermore, Dexter Cendana was named as stunningly handsome while Dr. Leila de la Llana was awarded as Drop Dead Gorgeous.

that I think both the teachers and the students enjoyed,” said Beau Shinehah Orleans, Committee Chair of the said event.

As the teachers were called to be on stage, a banner bearing “We Love You” scrolled down from the ceiling of the Cultural Center.

A number of games and presentations were also held

Forum stresses love, chastity

By Seth Jason C. Tan

IN LINE WITH “Foreign Language Connection: Bridge to Globalization”, West Visayas State University’s Center for Foreign Languages (CFL) spearheaded the City-wide Language Festival 2012, September 3 to 7.

The event was co-hosted by the Arts and Sciences Society of English Majors (ASSEM).

In the prayer rally against the Reproductive Health Bill held at Iloilo Sports Complex last August 4, the Archdiocese of Jaro stressed their aim of gathering youths and families for a series of talk on chastity.

Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo asked for the support of the parishes and schools for the conduct of the Love Quest 2012.

CFL had invited two foreign speakers, Dr. Heinz Wolf, a Swiss professor on language, history and philosophy and Katwy Heru, founding-owner of Creative Ventures and Joint Opportunities, Inc., a USbased company for business development.

Wolf talked on the different dimensions of learning foreign language while Heru related his expertise on Global Communications and Information Technology.

COINCIDING WITH THE 120th anniversary of the founding of Andres Bonifacio’s Katipunan, Kabataan Partylist (KP) held its Panay and Guimaras All-Youth Convention with more than 400 youth leaders from Panay and Guimaras last July 7.

With the theme, “Advancing the Role of the Youth as Catalysts of Social Change,” three speakers discussed the current situation of schools and households with the recent implementation of the K-12 curriculum and of the continued negligence of the state towards subsidy for State Universities and Colleges (SUCs).

Karlo Mikhail Mongaya, Panay coordinator and 4th nominee of KP, presented the negative effects of K-12 and shared the reality of classroom shortages and low income of Filipino households which is the main reason for the young generation to stop in their studies.

“We the youth will inherit this society. As early as now, let us help in the movement for change. Not just any superficial change. Let’s change society. Change the world,” he added.

Forum Dimension_9

Krezyl Joyce V. Pugna

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By Ian Leoj M. Gumban

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KP organizes youth confab

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IN THIS YEAR’S Green Week Celebration, the University Student Council (USC) promoted environmental awareness among the students of the West Visayas State University (WVSU) through the Clean as You Go (Claygo) and the Best Green Project advocacies.

The USC initiated the advocacies during the Green Week launching at the College of Agriculture and Forestry last August 17 and culminated at the WVSU Cultural Center on August 24.

The Student Council also hosted the Best Green Project wherein colleges prepared project proposals to be conducted in the school year where the best project will be awarded during the Search for the Outstanding

Student Council.

The College of Mass Communications (CMC) placed first with the project Paperfect while the College of Agriculture and Forestry won the second place with the project entitled Utilization of agricultural wastes in CAF through Vermicomposting Meanwhile, the College of Arts and Science (CAS) placed third in promoting the project ‘A Greener Revolution for a Better CAS and a Better Society’.

Various contests were also held during the culminating activity at the WVSU Cultural Center such as the Theatrical Modern Dance wherein the College of Physical Education, Sports, Culture, Arts and Recreation placed first, while CMC’s design garnered the top spot in the Fashion-Goes-Wild Competition.

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billion to P23.4 billion yet is still far below the United Nations recommended six percent from the Gross Domestic Product.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is set to submit their budget proposal for this year and student groups urges them to heed the need of the people and allocate the recommended budget for SUCs.

By Jeline N. Encarnacion

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the state will not do necessary precautions to protect the interest of the students and families according to Charmaine Chin, spokesperson for Kabataan Partylist-Iloilo.

Last year, WVSU students successfully contributed to the adjustment of the budget for SUCs which was threatened by the budget cut proposed by the administration from P21.89

‘Green Advocacies’ launched in Green Week

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Models in the Fashion-Goes-Wild Competition

KABATAAN PARTYLIST (KP) and the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) organized the Iloilo Education Summit 2012 to tackle on the effects of the newly-implemented K-12 curriculum and the Mother Tongue-Based (MTB) teaching at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol, May 31.

Disadvantages of the K-12 curriculum including classroom shortages and tuition and other fee hikes were presented by KP-Panay spokesperson and fourth nominee Karlo Mikhail Mongaya.

“The government should rather allocate more budget on State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and stop budget cuts,” he added.

Mongaya asserted that K-12 is not the solution to the education crises and that this may even worsen the problem of student dropouts in public schools nationwide.

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Youth, teachers hold conference on education

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THREE FORUMDimensions staffers bagged five awards in the Philippine Information Agency-VI Campus Journalism SeminarWorkshop which was held at Iloilo Grand Hotel, July 25 - 27.

With the theme “Convergence Journalism”, the said seminar-workshop had 243 contestants coming from different universities in Iloilo, Antique and Bacolod.

Alexa Gianne Morga, a 1st year BS Nursing student, won as Most Promising Column Writer (English), Promising Editorial Writer (English), and Promising Feature Writer (English); Seth Jason Tan, a 2nd year BS Journalism student, won as Most Promising

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Editorial Writer (English), Edelaine Encarguez, a 1st year BS Journalism student, won as Promising Editorial Writer (Filipino) and ForumDimensions staffers were awarded as the Most Promising in Copyreading (English).

To provide skills and knowledge in journalism for college editors and student writers, the Philippine Information Agency holds this seminar-workshop every year for students from different schools in Region VI. The three day seminarworkshop includes news writing, feature writing, editorial writing, column writing, sports writing, photojournalism, headline writing, copyreading and page layouting.

dance competition, and Quiz Bee(in Spanish, Japanese, Korean, German, French).

The aforementioned events were opened by the CFL to other universities, colleges and secondary schools in the city.

By Ian Leoj M. Gumban

Forum-Dimensions staff reap awards in PIA-VI seminar

By Seth Jason C. Tan

The event was also highlighted by featuring a series of award-winning films.

Other activities included a CosPlay event, a hashi or chopstick game, storytelling in Japanese , the Shodo or the Japanese calligraphy, Spanish

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By Connie C. Durana

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Rother Johann R. Dadivas

Language festival focuses on globalization

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IN COLLABORATION with the Archdiocese of Jaro Commission on Life, Daguiao Foundation, PAREFWestbridge School for Boys, University of Asia and the Pacific and West Visayas State University (WVSU), the Love Quest 2012 Forum was held at WVSU Cultural Center, August 29.

Chris Stefanick, coauthor of Jason Evert’s book “Raising Pure Teens” and Leah Darrow, America’s Next Top Model’s third season finalist, were the speakers in the said forum.

A youth forum and family event, the forum tackled issues on love, chastity and relations among Filipino youth.

Integrated Laboratory School students flaunt their “Happy Feet” costumes during the University English Day Celebration Parade.

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WITH THE THEME “Teachers: Our Star-makers”, West Visayas State University (WVSU) held this year’s Teachers Day celebration at the WVSU Cultural Center, October 3.

“Last year, it was more on students’ and video presentations. This year, we focused more on the teachers. There were games

Krezyl Joyce V. Pugna

By Jeline N. Encarnacion and Krezyl Joyce V. Pugna

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June-October 2012

CAS nakamit ang ikaapat na panalo sa Banggi-anay Unibersidad nakiisa sa Buwan ng Wika Nina Katrina Mae O. Sencil at Edelaine Ellenson Queen G. Encarguez

Myrell P. Hechanova para sa The Forum

ay nasungkit naman ng Kolehiyo ng Edukasyon ang panalo laban sa Pinagsanib na Mataas na Paaralang Laboratoryo sa proposisyong “The House believes that classrooms are needed more than roads”.

Si Mark Arvill Villareal ang tinanghal na Best Debater tungo sa kampyonato ng Kolehiyo ng Sining at Agham sa huling tunggalian.

“Nagagalak ako na ang Banggi-anay IV ang tinagurian bilang pinakamatagumpay na Banggi-anay at dahil sa lubos itong nakapagbigay lugod sa mga manonood. Naging malungkot lang para akin dahil hindi na ako na nabigyan pa ng pagkakataon na muling irepresenta ang Kolehiyo ng Sining at Agham pero bilang mag-aaral ng nasabing kolehiyo, masayangmasaya ako sa kanilang pagkapanalo,” ani ni Honelee Arevalo, Committee Chair ng nasabing patimpalak.

Ang mga kalahok sa final round ng debate ay natukoy matapos ang isang elimination round na naganap noong ika13 ng Setyembre sa PESCAR gym.

Nagbubunyi ang mga mag-aaral ng Kolehiyo ng Sining at Agham matapos inanunsiyo ang pagkapanalo ng kanilang kinatawan sa Banggi-anay IV: Hot Issue.

breed intellectual dishonesty” na naganap noong ika-17 ng Setyembre sa Cultural Center ng Pamantasang Estado ng Kanlurang Bisaya.

Ang mga kinatawan ng nanalong grupo ay sina Mark Arvil Villareal, Chloe Gaban at Lee Daven Lacson.

Tingog Ilonggo nagpasanyog sang pangrehiyon nga turismo

Pamana ni Dr. Jose Rizal ginunita

Tumutulong ang mga mag-aaral ng Pamantasang Estado ng Kanlurang Bisaya sa paglinis ng Dungon Creek.

Mga mag-aaral, guro nakilahok sa paglinis ng estero

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SA PANGALAWANG pagkakataon ay nakilahok ang Pamantasang Estado ng Kanlurang Bisaya sa taunang International Coastal Clean-up na ginaganap noong ika-22 ng Setyembre.

Sa pamumuno ni Prof. Hilda C. Lorilla ng Kolehiyo ng Sining at Agham, nakipagtulungan ang Unibersidad kay Konsehal David C. Jamora ng Lungsod ng Iloilo at sa Kagawaran ng Kapaligiran at Likas na Yaman sa paglilinis ng Dungon Creek.

Nakilahok ang mga magaaral at guro mula sa iba’t-ibang organisasyon, student councils, at seksyon upang maibsan

ibang grupo upang pasimunoan ang paglinis sa bawat lugar na kanilang pinuntahan.

Maliban sa clean-up drive, ang pagdaraos ng Coastal Clean-up ay nagsilbi ring information drive kung saan pinaalalahanan at tinuruan ng mga mag-aaral ang mga tumitira sa tabi ng estero ng tamang pagtapon ng basura at paglinis ng kanilang mga bakuran upang maibsan ang dulot na pagkasira ng estero at ng pagkakasakit sa pamayanan.

Ang Forum-Dimensions ay nakilahok din sa nasabing proyekto upang mapangalagaan ang estero at mga naninirahan malapit dito.

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ang labis na dumi at kalat sa kabuuan ng Dungon Creek na sinasakop ng Barangay Magsaysay, Barangay Our Lady of Lourdes, Barangay Bolilao, Barangay Bakhaw, Barangay San Vicente, at Barangay Desamparados.

Kahit na nahihirapan ay di magkamayaw sa tuwa ang mga mag-aaral sa pagpulot ng mga plastik at iba’t-ibang uri ng basura na patuloy na sumisira sa kagandahan ng lugar at kabuhayan ng mga tumitira malapit sa estero.

Nadagdagan pa ang tuwa ng mga mag-aaral dahil nakasama nila sa paglinis ang kani-kanilang mga guro.

Sila ay hinati sa iba’t-

Ni Ian Leoj M. Gumban

IDINAOS NG SOCIAL Sciences Department ng Kolehiyo ng Sining at Agham ang Rizaliana 2012 na may temang, “Rizal’s Legacies: Education and Enlightenment” sa WVSU Cultural Center, ika-21 ng Setyembre.

Ang programa na isinabay sa ika-apatnapung annibersaryo ng pag proklama ng Batas Militar ay kinabilangan ng mga paligsahan sa Oration, Character Impersonation, Extemporaneous Speaking, Verse Choir, Poetry in Motion, Drama, Song Composition, at Rizal-look-Alike Contest.

Buong lakas na ipinakita ng mga mag-aaral sa third year at fourth year ang kanikanilang mga presentasyon na kanilang ibinatay sa buhay, mga gawa, at mga sulatin ni Dr. Jose Rizal.

Bago magsimula ang mga paligsahan ay inanunsyo ni Prop. Ma. Elfleda R. Ecube na ang nasabing programa na ang magsisilbing Huling Eksaminasyon ng mga mag-aaral na kasalukuyang kumukuha ng kursong Life and Works of Rizal.

Naging matagumpay ang mga paghahanda ng mga mag-aaral lalo na ang mga nanggaling sa Kolehiyo ng Pangmasang Komunikasyon na humakot ng karamihan sa mga papremyo.

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Rudiver Jungco, Jr. para sa The Forum

Ni Ian Leoj M. Gumban

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BILANG PANAKOP NGA hiliwaton sang mga estudyante sa Kolehiyo sang Pangmasa nga Komunikasyon nga nagakuha sang Hiligaynon I, Hiligaynon II kag Journalism for Filipinos, ginsaulog ang Tingog Ilonggo 2012 sa Rehearsal Room, sang Oktubre 1.

Sa tema nga “Hiligaynon Gamit sa Pagpasanyog sang Turismo sa Nakatundang Bisayas” nagpaindis-indis ang mga nagkalainlain nga seksyon sa pagsulat sang Binalaybay, Pamulongpulong, Hiligaynon Quiz Bee, Radio Drama, TV Newscasting, Interpretasyon sang karakter, Pagbadbad sang Ambahanon kag Dululungan nga Paghambal.

Nanguna sa pagsulat sang binalaybay si Raimer Gel Caspillo sang Bachelor in Journalism (BJ) 4A kag gin sundan naman ni Reggie Barada sang Bahelor in Broadcasting (BB) 3A. Nangin madinalag-on man ang mga tiglawas sang BJ2A sa Hiligaynon Quiz Bee. “Nahibaluan ko guid nga mga mabudlay nga tinaga ang pamangkuton sa amon kag sa ulihi, gin bagay ko nalang ang sabat sa mga gina pa pili-an nga sabat,” hambal ni Seth Jason Tan, isa sa mga pumalasakop sa nasambit nga hiliwaton.

Sa Pamulong-pulong, nagkampyon si Trixia

Montes sang BB3B kag nagapangaduha si Hyacinth Bangero sang BB3A nga ginasundan ni Christy Palma sang BJ2A. Nangin balantayan ang Radio Drama kung sa diin gin kilala nga kampyon ang “Bulkan Man ay May Kasakit” sang Bachelor of Science in Development Communication (BSDC) 2A nga gin sundan sang BB2A kag BB3A. Wala man nag pa ulihi ang mga kabahin sa TV Newscasting kung sa diin nanguna ang tiglawas sang BB2A nga si Zeny Quilantang kag nag pangaduha si Quennie Macalalag sang BB3B kag nagpangatlo si Joren Paul Japitana sang BB3A. Ginlingaw naman ni Micah Gonzales (BSDC2A) ang mga tumalan-aw sang ginsunod niya si Kimmy sa pelikula nga Kimmy Dora kag siya nagdaog sa nasambit nga kategorya.

Nagpangaduha si Joanah Ysabel Escopel bilang si Emily Rose kag ginsundan ni Charlene Panes bilang si Kampanerang Kuba.

BB3A ang nangin madinalag-on sa Song Translation nga gin sundan naman sang BJ2A kag BB2A. Nangin maka halawathawat sa nasambit nga aktibidad ang Dululungan nga Paghambal kung sa diin nangin kampyon ang BB3A kag gin sundan sang BSDC2A kag BB3B.

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Ni Krezyl Joyce V. Pugna

ng Tula, Jovenhel Cuello ng Kolehiyo ng Narsing sa Paggawa ng Slogan at John Frederic Bugayong ng Kolehiyo ng Edukasyon sa Paggawa ng Poster.

Itinanghal bilang kampeon si Prulyn Angelo Provido ng Kolehiyo ng Agham at Sining sa larangan ng Dagliang Pagbigkas, ang kolehiyo ng Narsing sa Sayawit at sina Antonio Locsin III at Kim Bronda ng Pinagsanib ng Mataas na Paaralang Laboratoryo sa West Henyo.

Si Dr. Francisca T. Borja, puno ng Kagawaran ng Filipino ang naging panauhing pandangal ng programa.

Nilahukan ng mga mag-aaral ang nasabing pagdiriwang sa pakikipagtulungan ng Samahan ng Mag-aaral ng Filipino, Kapisanang Diwa at Panitik at pinatnubayan ng mga guro ng Kagawaran ng Filipino at Panrehiyong Sentro sa Wikang Filipino.

Taun-taong itinatampok ang selebrasyon ng Buwan ng Wika upang mapalaganap ang adhikaing mapaunlad ang kasanayan sa wikang Filipino sa paaralan man o komunidad.

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Sa unang patimpalak, nagtagisan ng talino ang mga kinatawan ng Kolehiyo ng Sining at Agham at Kolehiyo ng Pangmasang Komunikasyon sa proposisyong “The House wants to ban cross-dressing” na ipinanalo naman ng una at si Ian Lurence Aguirre ang itinanghal na Best Debater sa pagkakataong ito.

Sa pangalawang pagdebate

SA TEMANG, “TATAG ng Wikang Filipino, Lakas ng Pagka Pilipino,” idinaos ng Pamantasang Estado sa Kanlurang Bisayas ang taunang selebrasyon ng Buwan ng Wika, Agosto 31 sa Cultural Center.

Isinagawa ang isang parada upang simulan ang pagdiriwang na sinundan naman ng pagproklama sa bagong Lakan at Lakambini, Patimpalak sa Bigkasan, Sayaw at Awit at ang bagong kompetisyon sa tagisan ng talino, ang West Henyo.

Kinilala ang kalahok ng Kolehiyo ng Edukasyon na si Esperval Cezhar Cadiao at si Joann Kate Tabuada ng Kolehiyo ng Sining at Agham bilang Lakan at Lakambini 2012.

Ginanap din ang mga paligsahan sa Pagsulat ng Sanaysay, Pagsulat ng Tula, Paggawa ng Slogan at Paggawa ng Poster, Agosto 24 sa Quezon Hall.

Nakuha ni Karen Gaye Salvilla ng Kolehiyo ng Narsing ang unang gantimpala sa Pagsulat ng Sanaysay, Heartlyn Anas ng Kolehiyo ng Pangkabuhayan at Pangangasiwa sa Pagsulat

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BILANG KANILANG ikaapat na titulo, nakamit ng Kolehiyo ng Sining at Agham ang kampyonato sa Banggi-anay IV Hot Issue matapos nilang talunin ang Kolehiyo ng Edukasyon sa proposisyong “The House believes that term papers

Nina Edelaine Ellenson Queen G. Encarguez at Mark Anthony J. Sicad

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SPORTS

CBM seniors hailed for four-point play in college Hinampang

Freshmen-Sophomore rivalry heats up the basketball eliminations in College of Business and Management Hinampang.

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Krezyl Joyce V. Pugna

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The 2012 London Olympics delegation of the Philippines is by far the least in number over the past years. The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) allotted P30 million for the training and participation of the athletes but Richie Garcia, the PSC chair, designated that only half of the amount be spent and the rest would be for the renovation of the athletes’ dormitories and other facilities located inside the Philsports complex in Pasig City, in PSC-operated training facilities at Teacher’s Camp in Baguio City and at Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. The PSC was given P400 million in 2011 though budget proposals alone reached P600 million. This is already more than twice the 2010 budget amounting to P154 million. And yet, they consider this amount as insufficient.

P400 million is a large value and it could feed thousands of empty stomachs. Why squander government funds on matters that do not pay off? Shouldn’t we be more focused to the current status of livelihood and economy of the country? If for example, we do win in the next Olympics, what would the Philippines gain? Pride, Prestige? Could it feed a thousand men? In fact, the government will be giving away P5 million for gold medalists, P2.5 million to silver medalists and P1 million to bronze medalist.

I am not against sending contingents to the Olympics, what I’m concerned of is the allocation of the country’s budget. If the Philippines continue to send delegations abroad and again spend millions of pesos, would the majority benefit from this decision? Should the government focus on one man alone and disregard the rest. In the same manner, should the Philippines develop sports alone and overlook other issues that they could have focused more on?

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with practical physical exertion. The routines he had developed enclose the potential to prepare the mind and body with speed and power. Plus, the punching and kicking movements may also serve as tactics for self-defense.

Tae Bo, particularly named and defined, aspires to be a contemporary stance of mind and body training of this generation.

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the late 1970s. This exercise routine originated in his basement and his popularity grew by word of mouth. In 1998, when Tae Bo became all the rage, he then released his first four-part video package. Blanks is a world champion expert in karate and holds black belts in six martial arts.

On the other hand, Blanks fabricated Tae Bo with a notion that in order to maintain optimal health, one must communicate with his or her body and integrate self-awareness

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served as the venue for lifestyle improvement of those who aspire to be reasonably fit and healthy.

Students gaining extra pounds by munching over ‘chichirias’ while preparing for an upcoming exam, a faculty who’d like to loose a pound or two just to stay slim and sexy and not to mention the administrative staff who aspire to burn those flab deposits after a tiring day at work or anybody for that matter is invited to join.

A fat-burning and muscle-toning workout, Tae Bo generates energy and rhythm that improves coordination while increasing heart rate when combined with high intensity dance moves.

It develops endurance, strength, mental focus and technique.

One of the exercises adopted from the trend popularized by America derived from old techniques of aerobics was the routine invented by Billy Blanks in

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THE PORTMANTEAU of tae kwon do and boxing invaded West Visayas State University (WVSU) grounds.

A wellness exercise, Tae Bo is a form of aerobics apposite to martial arts that combines boxing, karate and a panoply of fitness movements merged into one and animated by musical choreograph the new fab to the students, faculty and staff of WVSU. The 2.96 Million Centennial Park Project, dubbed as ‘westplanade’ by most taga- West, is now the apparent mainstay of the University’s fitness program.

Through the joint efforts of the Office of Culture and Sports, the College of PESCAR and the WVSU Administration, the fitness program was organized.

A significant development of WVSU and an outward proof of a fulfillment of the administration’s duty to the students, ‘westplanade’

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By: Jenny Pearl A. Infante; Illustration by Rother Johann R. Dadivas

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Groove to the Rhythm of Tae Bo

Filipinos always had the passion for sports and never lacked the talent and potential to compete against other nations.

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of the College of Mass Communications (CMC)

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OPENING A HUGE WAVE for victory, the seniors

division.

They also captured first place after nosing out the sophomores, 4-11 in the softball bout for the men's championship.

After 2 days of fast-paced battle and frazzling matches, the seniors finally emerged victorious.

They were seconded by the freshmen, trailing are the sophomores and the team of the juniors landed last.

The event was spearheaded by the College of Mass Communications Student Council (CMCSC) aided by the respective curriculum officers of each year level.

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The students of the College of Mass Communications during the Hinampang 2012 eliminations.

armed with their outstanding showmanship and escalating prowess in sports bested other levels as they clinched this year’s championship title in the CMC Hinampang at West Visayas State University, October 15-16.

The seniors kicked their way through as they immerse themselves in a tightly-knit football battle against the freshmen winning 1-0 in the men’s division.

Hoops got even hotter while generating barrage of shots in the exciting basketball match-up defeating both the freshmen, 46-35 in the men’s division and 15-11 in the women’s

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By Edelaine Ellenson Queen G. Encarguez

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Seniors clutch top spot in CMC Hinampang

OR FOUR STRAIGHT OLYMPIADS, Philippines never failed to go home empty-handed.

The last time that the Philippines garnered a medal in an Olympics was way back 1996 when Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco won a silver in boxing in Atlanta. In fact, by tracing the history of Philippine sports it was only in 1932 during the Los Angeles Olympics did our country earn more than a single medal. All of which were bronze medals in three different sports- athletics, boxing and swimming. To date, in over 20 Olympic Games that the Philippines had competed since 1924, it only won a bleak amount of medals- two silvers and seven bronzes. This value is just a number higher than Thailand’s 8-medal record in just one Olympics.

For nine decades, only the LA Olympics by far, was the most victorious event encountered. Does this show a deteriorating status of sports in the Philippines?

Undeniably, Filipinos love sports. The support that Pinoys demonstrate every time Manny Pacquiao steps inside the ring of a boxing arena is a definite example.

When the Azkals came along, they adored football, not only because of the handsome Phil-Am players but also because of the excitement and thrill this sport has to offer. And of course, there will always be basketball that Filipinos never fail to sign up. Basketball courts in almost every barangay nationwide prove this fervor.

Filipinos always had the passion for sports and never lacked the talent and potential to compete against other nations. But what seems to hinder our chances to move forward?

In the Southeast Asian Games of 2005, the country was at its best triumphing over 10 of its neighboring countries, achieving 281 medals. But by 2011 the athletes bagged only 169 medals in total, placing Philippines 6th of 11.

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women teams in Basketball landed first while men Football got second place and women first place for their respective events.

The curriculum also ranked high in events such as Volleyball, Badminton, Sepak Takraw, Laro ng Lahi, and Dance Showdown.

They also garnered first place in the Panapton and Dance Showdown contributing to the total points giving them the highest number to be the overall champion this year.

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AFTER WINNING THE overall ranking of the College of Business and Management Hinampang for three straight years, CBM Batch 2013, this year's Seniors, completed their drive by topping the recently concluded sports event.

Beginning their trend as frosh, they subsequently became victors of the Hinampang, beating other batches while creating a record for the college as the first curriculum to do so.

This year, both men and

June-October 2012

Seth Jason C. Tan

By Ian Leoj M. Gumban and Ian Lorenz R. Gomez

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June-October 2012

Beating the Odds JUNE-OCTOBER 2012

THE SPORTS SECTION OF THE FORUM

Krezyl Joyce V. Pugna

CBM, COE studes reign supreme in PE day

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outshined others as they were proclaimed the champion with BSBA falling short by grabbing silver and BPE 1-A winning bronze.

Defeating others, AB 2-B’s banner emerged as the winner thwarting AB 2-A and BSED 2-B by seizing silver and bronze, respectively.

Declared as champions, the mascots of BPE 1-A and AB English sophomores reigned over the mascots of BPE 1-B and BSBA/CBM sophomores with winning silver and BSN freshmen and BSED sophomores grabbing bronze.

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given awards namely Best in Performance, Best in Choreography, and Best in Production Design and Costume.

During the street dance competition, the BSED freshies outperformed the others as they climbed their way to the top by winning first place with BSBA and BEED winning second and third respectively.

In the sophomore category, BSN prevailed over as they danced their way to bagging gold while BSED and the BSBS/BSAM tandem winning second and third respectively.

BSN 1-A’s banner

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AS THE FLAME OF the competition was set ablaze once again, the West Visayas State University freshmen and sophies battled in a series of contests in the anuual PE Day, September 27.

With the theme “Think Global, Go Local”, the PE Day was aimed to be an avenue to apply concepts on practical situations and be the final outputs of PE101 and PE103 students.

For the competition among freshmen, BSBA seized the gold in the mass dance competition with their

Mexican dance, followed by BSPED claiming the silver with their Russian dance and BSED grabbing the bronze with their Americanthemed dance.

The Sua-Ko-Sua dance of the joined forces of BEED and BSPED reigned supreme in the sophomore mass dance competition, with the tandem of BSBA/ BCM falling short and clinching silver with the Kinakulangan dance and the merged team of BSBS and BSAM bagging the bronze with their Kini-Kini dance.

BSBA freshies and the BSPED/BEED sophies also dominated the three

By Connie C. Durana

BARELY OUTMANEUVERING defeat inches against the yellow male goalers, the blue male strikers managed to secure the gold via Cinderella victory in the football championship game during the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Hinampang, thus concluding as the overall champion with a minute margin of 0.745 lead against the Sophomores.

Gridlocked on a 0-0 game with no time remaining, this was the Juniors’ last chance of securing the overall championship cup against the advancing sophomores.

Fortunately for the Juniors, uniors, the blue strikers managed to secure two free kick points where the yellow goalers, failed to score a goal.

Scoring 17.125 points over – all, the Juniors nabbed the highest merit with a slim edge of 0.745 points from the first runner – up, the sophomores, who garnered a total of 16.375. The Seniors and the Freshmen ranked second and third runners – up respectively.

During the Hinampang, the Juniors out-powered the other year levels by winning in basketball (men), table tennis (men and women),

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By Seth Jason C. Tan

batch of Filipino Olympians; he proves that he still has sufficient gas to push himself to the finish line. This 33-year old man made history in the world of sports having the largest ovation, by far in his career, all for finishing last.

Juniors nab 11th hour win

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Sophomores unleashing their talents in the Folk Dance Competition during the Physical Education Day 2012, September 27.

Lacuna and Jasmine Alkhladi.

These slots are given to countries that were not able to achieve the Olympic qualifying marks for athletics and swimming.

He may be the oldest competitor among the present

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the history of Southeast Asia in 2004.

In the recently concluded 2012 London Olympics, he timed 14:44:11. Although he was unable to qualify and advance at heats to the finals, he surpassed his personal best time. During his last competition in the Hong Kong Intercity Athletics Championship held May this year, he finished the 5000 meter-run with a time of 15:01:26 settling for 2nd place behind the delegate of South Korea, Mun Jeong-Ki. This 3000 meter steeplechase expert was drawn from the tap when made to run for 5,000 meters because he was an automatic entry in the event and therefore untitled to do otherwise.

Herrera was a mandatory entry for the Philippines together with Marestella Torres also in athletics and swimmers Jessie Khing

swimming (men and women), sepak takraw, chess (women) and dance sports (Latin and modern standard).

The Seniors triumphed in volleyball (men), football (men), softball (men and women), and badminton (men and women). Next in line were the Sophomores who took home victory in basketball, volleyball, and football (all women) while the Freshmen garnered the top spot on chess (men).

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The Man Behind the Dream Rene Gamarcha Herrera is a Filipino who was born in Jordan, Guimaras 24th of July, 1979 and raised by an establishment janitor and a

Mohammed Farah of Great Britain congratulates Philippine delegate Rene Herrera after finishing the 5,000 meter-run in the 2012 London Olympics.

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The Track-Record He may be a nobody when ranged against the track superstars in the Olympic Games but in Southeast Asia he is referred to as the undisputed king of steeplechase. During the 3000 meter Steeplechase competition held in Bangkok, Thailand, he held the Philippine track-record of 8:49:39, which makes him the fastest distance runner in

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his feet, he felt a pat on his back. His face was filled with awe when he saw that it was his idol Mohammed Farah of Great Britain congratulating him for finishing the race with enthusiasm. That event fulfilled his Olympic dream.

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former housekeeper. During intramurals in his high school times, he joined running events more often. But before he had the passion for running, he embarked upon amateur boxing competitions when he was 17 but eventually stopped after 20 fights. His first win in the annual Milo marathon paved the way for frequent victories in running advancing to national competitions.

Rene is a Philippine Navy seaman at 2nd class by occupation but a runner competing for Southeast Asian, Asian and Olympic Games by heart.

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ENE WAS 700 METERS behind. Keeping up with the pace, he stayed with the pack for two of the 12-and-a-half laps around the 400-meter track before dropping off. Although he lagged 50 meters behind the pack, he never stopped.

The Olympic stadium was jampacked and spectators cheered for their own bets. The front runners had finished the race 500 meters ahead of him but he was determined to finish the race. He lured the attention of nearly 80,000 people and as the gap widened, the crowd grew wilder. Unwaveringly, he jogged the way front-runners did while waving at the crowd though he was at tail end. He loped the final 400 meters as if it was his victory lap and when the announcer called out his name and country, he sprinted to the finish with a big smile. He immediately made a sign of the cross and kneeled to kiss

the track. He finished the race after 14 minutes and 44.11 seconds, placing himself 42nd and in last place, but he had the loudest cheer, as if he won the race. That was his unforgettable 14 minutes of fame.

He was panting while knelt down the track. Just when he was about to rise from

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