President Leyco extended his appreciation to CHED for its approval, further stating how this decision will allow PLM to do its part in reinforcing the health care frontlines and ensure that the future doctors and health professionals produced by the institution will be equipped with proper training as they join our country’s health workforce. In line with PLM’s plan to reopen limited face-to-face classes, the university assured that utmost care and protection would be given to students who will return to faceto-face learning. Moreover, those who will fulfill rotation duty at the Ospital ng Maynila will be provided with RT-PCR tests and COVID-19 vaccine prioritization.
ART CEDRICK ROMERO
STEFANIE SANTILLA On August 14, 2021, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) virtually sent off 433 graduates from the Class of 2021 through the airing of the 53rd Commencement Exercises on its official Facebook page and website. In contrast to the 1033 graduates of batch 2020, the University only recognized 129 undergraduate students this year and accorded 304 master’s and doctorate diplomas. The PLM Board of Regents officially conferred the graduates their respective degrees on July 21. Among batch 2021, seven finished cum laude, namely, Bernadette Canapit from the PLM Business School, Karla Badong, Philip Lee, and Jenny Karunungan from the PLM College of Medicine, John Ardiente from the College of Engineering and Technology, and Gulienne Zamora and Raven Ferry from the College of Architecture and Urban Planning.Inhis opening remarks, PLM President Emmanuel A. Leyco delivered his message of inspiration that emphasized how the PLM community adapted to the challenges brought by the pandemic. He highlighted the importance of education and the efforts done by both professors and students despite facing numerous challenges, including internet connectivity and the lack of “Tayodevices.ngayon ay punongpuno ng kagalakan at pasasalamat dahil sa kabila ng pandemyang ito –– na iginupo ang ating kabuhayan at ang kalusugan ng ating mga mamamayan –– patuloy tayong nakatindig at magsisipagtapos,” he said, recognizing the many difficulties encountered by students over the past year of distance learning. Also addressing the trials and triumphs amidst the pandemic was Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, who discussed how the City of Manila responded to the current situation. In his speech, he also extended his gratitude to PLM students and alumni who have served as medical front liners for the city over the past year. Despite the many hardships brought on by the coronavirus outbreak, the Mayor stressed the importance of the support of family and community, as well as an undying faith in God. In parting, he reminded the graduates of the value of being just.
Ang Pamantasan Issues can be viewed on Issuu. Scan this QR code to check out Ang Pamantasan’s digital contents. KNOWBEINTHE READ MORE AT PAGE 2 PAGE 9 Poppies, Dinner Tables, and Graveyards Photo from Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Facebook Page
433 GRADUATES RECOGNIZED IN 53RD COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES
The Official Student Publication of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila ANG PAMANTASAN Volume 41, Issue 5 • May - August 2021 4 5 9toOn-the-waytheBroken Promise PAGE 4 PH records first local cases of Delta variant: What does this mean? PAGE 5
In a recent post, CHED stated that the conduct of limited face-to-face classes came from the need for students to achieve key learning outcomes on specialized laboratory courses and hospital-based clinical clerkship/ internship/practicum. In early 2020, plans on allowing higher education institutions (HEIs) were discussed with the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), and in January 2021, President Duterte approved the proposal.
PLM receives approval from CHED to resume limited face-to-face classes for medical courses
“From those that started early, like UP College Manila, [Our Lady of] Fatima, UERM [University of the
East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center] we have some preliminary data already,” said CHED Commissioner Prospero De Vera III in an online briefing where he discussed that no increase in transmission was recorded on institutions where limited face-to-face classes were preliminarilyFollowingconducted.itsapproval on PLM, students may now proceed with their hands-on medical clerkship, a requirement for graduation from the College of Medicine. Additionally, the College of Nursing and College of Physical Therapy are also finalizing their plans on which laboratory courses will be offered during the setup.
The Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM), on May 4, confirmed the approval of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on their proposed plan to reopen limited faceto-face classes for allied health-related programs such as Nursing, Physical Therapy, and Medicine. Following the announcements of other universities’ plans to reopen limited face-to-face classes, PLM’s preparation for the setup was initiated in February with online consultations including students, faculty, parents, and practicing doctors at the Ospital ng Maynila. In April, CHED officials visited the PLM campus, assessing the university based on the CHED-DOH guidelines set for higher-education institutions. The authority to conduct limited face-to-face classes is said to last until the first semester of the academic year 2021-2022.
The council also aims to establish a Student Union comprising of student councils, organizations, and block representatives for regular consultation and planning.
The council prepared programs that are responsive to the challenges of the current online modalities of learning. Through Academic Assistance Desk, struggling students will be assisted with the accessible learning materials. They also aim to establish the Students’ Online Education Committee to identify other problems and recommend policies. A coordinating body, Iskolar’s Rights Watch (IRW) Board, will also be created to institutionalize the “Magna Carta of Pamatasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Students.”
Photo from Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Facebook Page
The chosen scholars will constitute the second batch of freshmen who will set off their college journey under flexible learning arrangements due to the prolonged government restrictions on face-to-face classes amid the Covid-19Twentypandemic.eight percent of the admitted students will be greeted by the PLM Business School, followed by the College of Engineering and Technology, accommodating 23% of freshmen students.Almost half a thousand will be accepted under BA Communication, making it the most in-demand program among applicants. It is followed by Accounting, Civil Engineering, Nursing, and Psychology, with each admitting 360 students. The Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila opened its doors for applications through PLM’s online portal last February 1 and received more than 35,000 applications after the two-month-long application process. Aside from the admission test, an initial screening was conducted through a comprehensive evaluation of the applicant’s high school grades as part of the modified freshmen admissions system. Pamantasan: SSC unveils plans for the continuation of term
SAPAT: SOCIAL AMELIORATION PROGRAM
The GPOA also goes digital on its proposal to create an application called Haribon App that will consist of services and information that will guide PLMayers with the processes of the university and in the promotion of transparency.
Currently, only the PLM students residing in Manila receive the SAP.
The council will also be having a load subsidy initiative for the students called Langkay Agapay. Tulong Iskolar, the council’s long-standing donation drive, will continue to help students affected by crises or financially challenged.
PLM welcomes more than 6,000 new PLMayers
A midst the pandemic, The Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) has proved to be a university for every Filipino, as it opens its gates to thousands of applicants from all over the country.
Even with the pandemic, students who will still compete outside the University will be financially supported through Haribon Competition Fund. Various activities were also presented in the GPOA like the podcast #ThankCHAW It’s Friday that is centered on students’ wellness, the Project: Digital Discourse that discusses timely issues, PreMed Summit for aspiring medical doctors, State of the Nation Art (SONA), and the Series of Education Discussion (SEED).
433 recognized...graduatesFROMPAGE1
It will spearhead the drafting of the Magna Carta for policy recommendation and its finalization.
PAMANTASANANGThe Official Student Publication of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Volume 41, Issue 5 • May - August 2021news02 Nagkakaisang
As a publicly funded academic institution, PLM recognizes the right of Filipinos to access quality education and help them realize their dreams to become professionals and leaders in their chosen fields,” PLM President Emmanuel Leyco said.
PARA SA LAHAT SSC will also continue its call for the inclusion of all PLM students in the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) of the City Government of Manila. They will be coordinating with the university administration and the local government.
The exact number of freshmen students – 6,924 – was admitted last school term despite being at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Constantly upholding every student’s right to free tertiary quality education, more than a third of these academic year’s passers hail from different regions while the remaining are residents of Manila.“PLMis taking yet another bold step of accepting a high number of students despite the pandemic.
PRIORITIZING STUDENTS’ WELFARE DURING THE PANDEMIC
ESTELLE THERESA GULAY
JOHN COBY CABUHAT
“Kapag ikaw ay makatuwiran, hindi ka na maliligaw. Maaaring hindi ka tama, pero maaari ka ring hindi mali. Pero mas mabilis iinog, iikot, ang buhay mo tungo sa tagumpay na inaasam mo sa buhay,” Mayor Isko said. “Mabuhay at ating paglingkuran ang sambayanang Pilipino. Congratulations, Class of 2021,” he added.MissAna Patricia Non, the pioneer of the Maginhawa Community Pantry and commencement speaker for the event, imparted her appreciation to the graduates and their parents who worked hard to finish their studies. Sharing personal anecdotes from when she was still in school, she encouraged the graduates to love themselves and the community, as well as to believe in their dreams in hopes of helping the country. “Minsan maliit na hakbang lang ang kailangan para marating natin ang ating mga pangarap. Sa kaso ng community pantries, samasamang maliliit na hakbang ito ng mga pumipila, organizers, volunteers patungo sa food security,” she said. “Bilang kabataan katulad ninyo, sana may nakakapagsabi rin sa inyo na ang totoo, ang buhay ay mahirap pero kakayanin niyo ‘yan,” Non added. On behalf of the batch, undergraduate class valedictorian and cum laude graduate Bernadette Canapit from the PLM Business School thanked the PLM community for its extended support to the student“Hinubogbody. tayo ng ating Pamantasang mahal para magsilbi ng tapat sa publiko at magbigay ng serbisyo sa pamamagitan ng pagtulong sa kapwa. Nawa’y isama natin ito sa ating mga tatahaking karera,” Canapit Representingsaid.the master’s and doctorate degree graduates, Jenny Lynn Karunungan, another cum laude graduate and valedictorian of the PLM College of Medicine, sought to reassure her fellow aspiring doctors after spending their final year of schooling under remote learning modalities. “Alam ko na ang ating batch ang pinakamaraming agam-agam sa ating kakayahan,” she added. Karunungan also said, “Kung ano mang mangyari sa ating hinaharap, lalo na sa panahong ito, gusto kong lagi niyong matandaan na huwag kayong matakot gawin kung ano ang sa tingin niyong tama dahil siguradong magiging maayos ang kahahantungan nito.” The new batch of graduates joins thousands of PLM alumni who have enjoyed quality and accessible education since the university’s inception in 1965 – a tradition enabled by the sustained support of the Manila City Government, the national government, and members of the PLM Community. The second virtual graduation ceremony was filmed for over a week in PLM’s University Activity Center while adhering to strict preventive measures implemented by the government and prior to the declaration of the enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila from August 6 to 20. The commencement video was previously planned to premiere on July 28 but was deferred to August 14 due to an unforeseen delay in production.
Last July 14, PLM released its final list of qualifiers, representing a total of more than 6,000 out of the 13,500 students who took the virtual PLM Admission Test (PLMAT) last May 7.
On May 3, the Supreme Student Council (SSC) has presented its General Plan of Action (GPOA) for the continuation of their term that emphasizes student welfare and the development and progress of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM). SSC focuses on the key issues of safe return to face-to-face classes and the accessibility and effectiveness of online classes. There will also be activities and programs on academic, research, and education; students’ rights and welfare; student representation; student services; gender development; and health and wellness anchored to the SSC committees.
The country also bagged two Olympic silver medals from Nesthy Petecio for boxing, women’s featherweight category and Carlo Paalam for boxing, men’s flyweight category; and one Olympic bronze medal from Eumir Marcial for boxing, men’s middleweight category, garnering a total of four Olympic medals, putting the Philippines in the 50th spot in the Olympic medal stand. Diaz’s final performance was definitely breathtaking as she has said that she was eyeing for the Philippines’ first gold. After lifting those humongous weights, executing a perfect stance, Hidilyn instantly drops the weights and bursts into tears, coming into the realization of winning the Olympic event, and the crowd, as well as television spectators, went wild seeing this historic moment. Standing in the highest podium, tearyeyed Diaz witnessed the raising of the Philippine flag, singing the national anthem with pride, indeed. Apparently, Diaz made a new record in Olympic weightlifting history with 97 kilograms for snatch and 127 kilograms for clean and jerk, with a total of 224 kilograms.“Hindiako makapaniwala… Nasorpresa ako na nagawa ko yun.” still-emotional Olympic gold medalist Diaz said in an interview right after the raising of the national flag. She then thanks all of her prayer warriors and supporters back in the Philippines for showing their overwhelming love to her and Team HD (Hidilyn Diaz). “Thank you so much for believing in me. When the times na hindi ko na alam, gusto ko nang sumuko dahil sa dami ng pagsubok na pinagdaanan. Nakaya natin. Nakaya nating mga Pilipino,” she continued to exclaim with pride. This triumph is not only for the Philippines, but it embarks on a new milestone for Hidilyn Diaz, the newest multi-medaled Filipino Olympian, with her Tokyo 2020 and Rio 2016 win, following the multi-medaled swimmer Teofilo Yldefonso.
After almost 97 years of attempt, Team Philippines performed best in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics held from July 23 to August 8, finally taking home the country’s first-ever Olympic gold medal through weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz who competed in the women’s 55-kilogram category.
Photo from Noynoy Aquino
The untimely death of former president Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III from renal disease secondary to diabetes last June 24, 2021, prompted the reminiscence of his legacy on various social media platforms. Posts under the topic “RIP PNoy” that trended early morning on Twitter after the news broke included both the highlights of the presidency as well as criticism. Filipinos eulogized Aquino by accentuating his efforts that resulted in the Philippines’ win against China on the arbitration ruling case over the South China Sea. Also frequently mentioned was the rise of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) at an annual rate of 6.2% on average during his term. Others noted how the former president placed several prominent political faces behind bars, how he exemplified diplomacy when addressing criticism, and how he allowed the citizens’ and journalists’ freedom of expression to flourish. Some Filipinos underscored that his term was not without flaws and that remembering Aquino’s legacy inextricably encompasses his shortcomings as a president.
Philippines makes history in the 2020 OlympicsTokyo LACAMBRA SANTILLA
Commonly referenced among them include the Quirino Grandstand hostagetaking crisis that resulted in the death of nine people, the government’s “slow response” to victims of Typhoon Yolanda, and the former president’s absence during the memorial ceremony for the 44 members of the Special Action Force (SAF) unit.
The country was entitled as the bestperforming Southeast Asian country to set foot in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) sent off Team Philippines with 19 athlete representatives. In an interview, POC President Rep. Abraham Tolentino emphasized that this is yet the best Olympics for the Philippines and the best team they have sent to compete, as the 2020 Tokyo Olympics concluded on August 8. The Olympic event pulled off its comeback at the newly-renovated Tokyo National Stadium after its year-long postponement due to COVID-19.
The resolved structure was then reviewed by the PLM-SCC, and approved suggestions were made; to add a Secretariat Committee that will be led by a SecretaryGeneral, to rename the positions of “members” collectively to “Review Board” and individually as “board member” together with the posts from Students’ Committee on Student Manual Revision to be “committee member.” These suggestions are currently ongoing as of this writing; the review process is still at the hands of the committee to ensure that such revisions will be contingent with the policies and processes within the PLM concerning the studentry in pursuing their practice of rights and procurement of welfare as guided by the Student Manual.
TOKYO
reminisceFilipinos former president Noynoy Aquino’s legacy
he Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Supreme Student Council (PLM-SSC) released a resolution establishing the Students’ Committee on Manual Revision through a post last July 27, 2021. The adoption of the PLM SSC Resolution No. 7, series of 2021, was presided by; Mr. Edwin Karl Basa, the PLM-SSC President and Chairperson, and concurred with Ms. Katrina Mikaella Villarin, the Vice-Chairperson, the Chairpersons and the Co-Chairs from Subcommittee, and Secretary-General. The announcement also included the Review Board and members of the Secretariat Committee.Inthe meeting convened last July 19, 2021, under the PLM-SSC Memorandum No. 2021-0714-01, the structures for a Students’ Committee on Manual Revision were objectively enlisted, and the occupancy of positions for the revision’s structure was assigned accordingly into their respective role Aplacements.nomination was also conducted for the election of the Students’ Committee on Student Manual Revision officials, whereas Erika Mae S.J. Sumulong, Hanna Carmina C. Aran, and Catrina N. Costosa ranked the highest positions among the candidates.
ANGPAMANTASAN The Official Student Publication of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Volume 41, Issue 5 • May - August 2021 news 03 ManualonCommitteeforreleasesPLM-SSCresolutiontheStudents’StudentRevision
Under the PLMSSC Memorandum No. 2021-0714-01, the structures for a Students’ Committee on Manual Revision were objectively enlisted, and the occupancy of positions for the revision’s structure was assigned accordingly into their respective role placements.
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On June 25, a funeral mass was officiated by Archbishop Socrates Villegas at the Church of The Gesu at Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), Aquino’s alma mater. He was laid to rest beside his parents, former President Corazon Aquino and former senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., at the Manila Memorial Park in Sucat, Parañaque, on June 26. Aquino first entered politics as congressional representative of the second district of Tarlac. After serving a maximum of three consecutive terms from 1998 to 2007, he then served as senator from 2007 to 2010.
CALVIN KRISTAN AGUSTIN
Following a public clamor after the death of his mother in August 2009, he was sworn to office as the Philippines’ 15th – and its first bachelor – president in 2010.
Amidst the flurry of posts, several Filipinos stressed that Aquino’s death should not be met with gloating nor disrespect. Hours after the news, incumbent President Rodrigo Duterte signed Proclamation No. 116 that declared a 10-day period of national mourning. From June 24 to July 3, the national flag was flown at half-mast in accordance with the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines.
ROMMEL
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Moreover, Team Philippines also set new records in sports during the event, mirroring the future of Philippine sports. EJ Obenia and Cris Nievarez both reached new milestones, being the first Filipino to reach the finals in their fields. Despite not securing medals in their respective disciplines, athletes Carlos Yulo, Luke Gebbie, and Margielyn Didal showed the Filipino spirit of sportsmanship. Filipino athletes were also part of the event’s eye candies, capturing the hearts of Olympic fans and netizens across social media not only for their performances but their personalities highlighted in the Olympic event. Skateboarder Didal became one of the talks on social media, following her picture being gullible in a tweet from @Tokyo2020 with the caption, “This will be known as the Margielyn Didal seal approval.”
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A broken vow is replaced by another empty uncertain promise driven by inaccurate and inconsistent governance. As the pandemic in the Philippines became more of a humanizing statistic, the government’s response remains ironic as though lives are not at stake and several sectors are not affected. Indeed, it is hard to recognize such an invisible tool that is used to fight a much stronger opponent, especially when there is really no tool used.
JOHN COBY CABUHAT
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PAMANTASANANGThe Official Student Publication of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Volume 41, Issue 5 • May - August 2021editorial04 On-the-waytotheBrokenPromise 2023 Back-to-Normal:
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Seventeen months of battle with the invisible enemy and no rays of light that indicate improvement and hope have yet come to the pearl of the orient sea. With other countries starting to go back to normal where physical gatherings are already allowed and wearing of masks is not anymore required, the Philippines, on the other hand, must heighten its COVID-19 response as plague cases to breach into 2 million counts anytime in August 2021. Different variants of COVID-19 (e.g. alpha, lambda, and delta) continue to emerge and become a threat. These variants are considered more deadly and contagious than the original strain. Wide-spread immediate transmission of these variants was observed right after it was detected within the country, presuming that this is one of the reasons why August 2021 connotes the greatest number of COVID-19 cases recorded since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. Due to the above said, it is not surprising that the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed last Tuesday, August 31, that Delta is the most dominant variant in the Philippines. During this surge, what could be the invisible tool of government to fight the much stronger unseen opponent? Failure to acknowledge the effect and the possibility of wide community transmission brought by Delta variant when it was detected within the country is one of the numerous incompetence of the Philippine government in the light of COVID-19 pandemic. Inadequate response and poor planning summarize the Philippine COVID-19 response – this reason navigates the fact that the Philippines is among few countries that have not begun to bounce back since its fall brought by the pandemic. Withal, the COVID-19 situation in this country became a rotating ball with a repetitive cycle of insufficient action from the government pivoted by lastminute implementation of various restrictions when widespread cases come into picture. In the event where the greatest number of COVID-19 cases was recorded, the country’s condition was no different to the pioneering months of the pandemic outbreak where again almost ten million Filipinos are back to enhance lockdown, where the only difference is that the latter is driven by the deadly Delta variant. Thus, this unchanged cycle has inflicted sufferings on the Filipinos, including the education, economy, and healthcare sector. To openly embrace the risk of the COVID-19 virus along with various sacrifices weighs the responsibility of being a frontline defense to the pandemic, and this initiative is no doubt worthy of recognition. Among various sectors in the Philippines, the healthcare sector is the one that is greatly affected by this pandemic as they hand in hand fight the invisible enemy. However, starting when they enter the battlefield with COVID-19 as their rival, they haven’t received any rightful benefit yet. Hence, this depicts the indifference of the administration to the healthcare workers. Not getting the advantage for their hard work while there are millions of unused funds for the Department of Health (DOH) is a great ridicule. Poor planning while taking advantage of the situation was also observed as exquisite corruption amid pandemic has occurred based on the Commission on Audit’s report on deficiencies in the DOH’s PHP 67.32 billion allocations for the Covid-19 pandemic response. With the terrible COVID-19 response, the pandemic situation in our country would remain constant without any potential improvement, which will bring extended inconvenience to our dear healthcare workers. Thereafter, as the cases continue to an uproar, not only the healthcare worker will be affected as the whole healthcare system would possibly collapse. According to the COVID-19 vaccination game plan facilitated by the Department of Health (DOH), the estimated population needed to be vaccinated is at least 2/3 or 67% to attain herd immunity. Based on the data from the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 as of August 12, 2021, there is a total of 12,182,006 Filipinos who are already fully inoculated, while more than 14 million for the first dose. The generated statistic from the above data is 17.19% which is far halfway to the 67% targeted Filipinos to have herd immunity. Amidst these statistics, the Philippine government became too complacent and unaware of the actual danger brought by their deficiencies in enforcing effective techniques throughout the pandemic. It is where the irony began, to which, despite 6-month long vaccination, COVID-19 cases failed to decline; thus, it continues to escalate. Moreover, along with the cycle of nending rapid acceleration of COVID-19 cases is the flawed implication of various community restrictions from the government, which was immoderately observed and followed by the citizens as proper instruction was not explicitly facilitated and only leads to confusion within the Filipinos. This vague community restriction that includes but is not limited to ECQ, GCQ, MECQ, MGCQ, total lockdown, granular lockdown, bubble lockdown, and alert levels implication is the one that is being executed following the number of COVID-19 cases within the place. However, with the unclear distinction of these community restrictions, people became disoriented and bewildered to conform to its corresponding protocols. These mobility restrictions vividly affected the spurge of cases and the recovery of the Philippine economy, as lockdown repeatedly resumed and businesses consequently opened and closed, therefore derailing the economic recovery with the economy backtracking by 1.3% in this year’s second quarter. Filipinos have a continuous call for appropriate action and enhanced planning to alleviate the rise of COVID-19 cases in the country. Among these are youths and aspiring students who have a burning passion for learning and being innovative citizens of the country someday despite the pandemic. With the situation that the entire world is facing right now, it has been recognized that producing successful and competent individuals would bring the world a breakthrough of advancement and convenience. However, as the pandemic progresses, the education sector in the Philippines is the one that is greatly affected, as with other countries already allowing physical classes which brought field and indepth experiences to its students, the Philippine education has still proceeded to its distance learning modality this academic year as unsafe implementation of faceto-face classes due to the rise of COVID-19 cases is being considered. During this time that the greatest number of COVID-19 cases has been recorded, the government and the Department of Education (DepEd) have not yet shown any hint for physical classes resumption, making the Philippines among five nations yet to resume physical classes since the pandemic hit. The Philippines stumbled not just to the pandemic but also to the trillions of debts that will take decades to be paid; questions arise as to where the proceeds of these funds go while the country ventures from worse to worst pandemic response. In 2020, it is notable that President Duterte stated these lines: “I promise you, by the grace of God, I hope by December, we would be back to normal,” although it never happened, on February 28, 2021, he declared that he sees the Philippines going back to normal by 2023 as the country received its first batch of COVID-19 vaccines from China.
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For two years, countries continue to combat the deadly Coronavirus or widely known as the COVID-19. As the pandemic continued, numerous variants of the coronavirus disease started to circulate from across the globe due to the virus’ fast mutation. One of which is the B.1.617.2.1, commonly referred to as the Delta variant, named by the World Health Organization (WHO) and originating from India. The said variant is worrisome for its higher and quicker infection rate as a highly transmissible variant of COVID-19. The variant exhibits common flu symptoms, such as fever, continuous cough, loss of smell, and taste. In May 2021, the country recorded its first-ever Delta cases from returning overseas Filipinos from the United Arab Emirates and Oman. Two months later, the Philippines recorded the first locally acquired case of the Delta Variant. It immediately forced the people in power to regulate stricter policies to prevent the further spread of the virus. As of July 16, The Department of Health (DOH) confirmed that there are a total of sixteen cases of Delta Variant in the country. It includes five individuals who have just returned from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, and Britain between April and June.
Photo courtesy: Mike Alquinto from The Manila Times (Left), Eloisa Lopez from REUTERS Ph (Right)
PH records first local cases of Delta variant: What does this mean? ALESSANDRA FRIANELA
The other 11 cases, on the other hand, are local transmissions, including five people in the Southern city of Cotabato, where one fatality was reported. An expert from the Philippine Genome Center, Cynthia Saloma, even stated that the mutation must result from foreign travels. The government then decided to ban travelers from countries with Delta cases like India, Indonesia, UAE, and five others. However, the authorities failed to encapsulate the people despite implementing border controls because other aspects have been loosened. Gatherings were allowed as long as it is only limited and the most controversial of all is when they allowed children ages five and above to go outside.
PAMANTASAN ANG The Official Student Publication of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Volume 41, Issue 5 • May - August 2021 features 05
This year’s theme is “Together we are #unstoppable,” which aims to recognize the commitment of the members of the Red Cross Society and the Red Crescent Movement in battling typhoons, earthquakes, fires, road crashes, blood requests, and health crises amid the pandemic. With this, the PRC Society has been unstoppable in providing immediate response and hope to the people whose lives were deranged by the disaster.Aday after the Mt. Taal eruption in January 2020, the PRC immediately responded with their humanitarian response caravan under Chairman Gordon’s leadership. It consisted of an ambulance, rescue trucks, hot meal vans, a water tanker, nonfood items and provided services such as psychological first aid (especially to children), contact tracing, and restoration of family links.At the dawn of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the PRC sourced and distributed masks, personal protective equipment (PPE), and cadaver bags to the health sector and at-risk populations. They also procured the first molecular laboratory, test kits. They provided appropriate training for PRC medical technologists to increase the testing capacities of laboratories and meet the rapid rise of cases. With the partnership of the University of the Philippines and the University of Illinois, the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests were introduced and developed for less invasive, economical, and effective testing throughout the country. By May 2021, more than a million Filipinos have been tested.The PRC also built the first emergency field hospital (EFH) in the Lung Center of the Philippines in response to the loaded healthcare system. It serves as a step-down facility for those recovering from COVID-19 to make available beds for more severe cases. Isolation facilities were also constructed in partnership with the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), University of the Philippines (UP), De La Salle College of Saint Benilde (DLSUCSB), and Adamson University (AdU) to contain asymptomatic spreaders in multi-generational households.Despitethe ongoing response to the pandemic, the PRC continued its vaccination drives against Measles-Rubella and Poliomyelitis. They also assisted in the relief and clearing operations, establishing communication lines in Catanduanes that allowed the PRC to assess and immediately respond to the needs of the Bicolanos during Typhoon Rolly. During the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses, the PRC was also quick to provide rescue and relief efforts to the people of Cagayan and Isabela.The Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Red Cross Youth Council (PLM-RCYC) also delved into action prior to the transition to online learning. The PLM-RCYC, under the PRC Manila Chapter and in partnership with the PLM National Service Training Program, conducted a bloodletting program in 2020 to replenish the blood bank supply and first aid training classes taught to first years. Additionally, the PIKO Outreach Program was organized for relief operations, with talks about proper handwashing and Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation (RICE) treatment. Former Head of the PLM-RCYC Community Health Services Committee and current PRC Manila Chapter volunteer Angelo Amiel Ico shared that the PRC provides COVID-19 vaccination howrequestedthatcommunitiestohaveaid.Regardingpresent humanitarian activities will be carried out due to the limitations of virtual meetings, PLM-RCYC President Crisson Fermalino shared some programs that await us this year. Such programs include a blood donation orientation, mental health awareness and activities, basic first aid and life support webinars, and disaster management drills. Their latest General Assembly featured “Buddy BakunaKnows,” a webinar aimed at non-vaccinated students tackling the process and importance of getting vaccinated. Joining the PLM-RCYC entails humanitarian services, synergy from members with the same philanthropic interests, and self-fulfillment. The PLM-RCYC President added that "We'd like everyone to join for the sake of experiencing organization activities that will kindle their spirit for volunteerism as well as have that feeling of having a supportive family throughout their stay at the university.” The cry of the people was answered by their fellow masses. Social media trends ‒using hashtags to pinpoint the locations of victims during a typhoon, collecting food and non-food necessities in an area, and donating to those who need immediate care ‒ are simple acts of kindness that students like us have done to aid others. These humanitarian acts that show kusang-loob, malasakit, at kapwa tao embody the principles and collectivity of Filipinos in helping others. “Mula sa Tao, Para sa Tao, Kasama ang Tao”: you do not have to be a Red Cross member to help other people, but if you have extra time, joining the PLMRCYC would be a good start.
The Philippines was later tagged with the second-highest number of infections and deaths in Southeast Asia, with at least 1.49 million cases and 26,314 deaths reported. Following this context, Dr. Anna Lisa OngLim, a technical adviser for the health ministry, advised that any forms of mass gathering must be avoided to prevent the risk of a super-spreaderSince the pandemic started in late 2019, many have become doubtful regarding the government’s honesty about the actual number of cases reported daily.
The possibility of underreported cases is at a high level for numerous reasons. Even though the DOH and Philippine Genome Center have already detected
“Kusang-loob, malasakit, at kapwa tao” ‒ this was how Dick Gordon, Chairman and CEO of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), defined humanitarianism. Every May 8th, we celebrate volunteers, members, and staff in World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day for their upstanding principles and efforts that bring them to the forefront of alleviating human suffering.
several cases in the country, not all samples tested and collected daily get to be sequenced. The government has only a limited capacity for sequencing, which limits the whole process of genomeAbovesequencing.all,thedifficulty in contract tracing is still abundant, and access to affordable testing also poses limits. There is no doubt that vaccines indeed shield us against the disease that killed millions of individuals from around the globe. The main aim of vaccines is to defend our immune system by creating antibodies mimicking the actual situation when exposed to the disease. Given the current state of supplies of vaccines in the country, access to safe and effective vaccines is still critical up to this point in time. The Philippines could only fully immunize 3.9% of its total population (approximately 110 million) to prove a point. Despite this fact, herd immunity should still be promoted worldwide. However, completing the required vaccine doses does not mean letting loose and eventually putting ourselves and others at risk. Even though an individual is fully vaccinated, the continuous use of masks, alcohols, washing of hands, sanitation, and physical distancing must still be Thispracticed.pandemic is far from over. As we live in a situation where there is no guarantee whether things will be brighter anytime soon, everyone must take preventive measures to protect themselves. As the common saying states, “prevention is better than cure” - one of which is protection via vaccination. Above all, following the policies, regulations, and safety protocols being ruled out by experts should be our topmost priority.
ALEXANDRA SARMIENTO
vaccines carefully. Moreover, the researchers were also quick to share this information with the world, making it easier for different researchers from all over the world to collaborate with them.In the Philippines, one common misconception about the vaccine is that the vaccine contains microchips and magnets that would track every Filipinos’ movement. Some people are said to be hesitant to get vaccinated due to apprehension that the vaccine would coagulate inside the body and form a microchip. They have gone to the extent of proving it by taking pictures of the vaccination site, the arm, with a spoon that was allegedly being magnetized by the so-called microchip in vaccines‒ there is no truth behind this. What vaccines do, however, is that it stimulates the immune system of the body and helps develop immunity against its target disease. Also, the notion that the vaccine will alter a person’s DNA is rampant in some parts of the world. The health sector and its experts remain firm that these vaccines stimulate the immune system and not alter DNA. These myths have caused a delay in
PATRICIA GABRIELLE MARQUEZ VAXX STATUS: GOING FAST OR SLOW?
KENDRICK DIONISIO Photo Panlasangcourtesy:Pinoy
Currently, there are ten (10) approved vaccines in the country: Pfizer/BioNTech BNT162b2, Moderna mRNA-1273, Gamaleya Sputnik Light, Gamaleya Sputnik V, Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) Ad26.COV2.S, Oxford/AstraZeneca AZD1222, Bharat Biotech Covaxin, Sinopharm (Beijing) BBIBP-CorV ( Vero Cells), Sinopharm (Wuhan) Inactivated (Vero Cells), and Sinovac Coronavac. Even though there are ten available vaccines, the country is still ranked as one of the slowest countries to vaccinate its people fully. According to the WHO, in the Philippines, as of April 13, 2021, only 1,093,651 individuals have received their 1st dose of vaccine out of over a hundred million Filipinos. Progress is slow, given that there are already newer variants of the virus found in neighboring countries. With the slow process and vaccination rate, the Philippines is in no way near attaining herd immunity. Based on the current rate of vaccine rollout in the country, with an average of 437,742 doses administered per day. This data assumes that at least 75% of the population will only be fully vaccinated in about two (2) more years. Currently, the Philippines ranks third to the last among the ten (10) Southeast Asian countries in terms of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered per 100 people based on the University of Oxford’s Our World in Data in contrast to the data coming from Singapore, Cambodia, and Malaysia which are ranked first to third,Therespectively.datashows the slow vaccination rate of the Philippines, which undeniably equates to poor pandemic handling. Thus, it is a must for everyone to urge the government to move faster and do better for the country to get back on track to help people get out of their homes and feel free as they were before.
However, the news was met with backlash and criticism from Filipino netizens, with even #HandsOffMyAdobo trending online. They expressed how differences in taste ‒ occurring in both regional and household differences ‒ must be respected. Concerns about the department having a lot on their plate yet lacking focus on more essential issues during the stillongoing COVID-19 pandemic were also raised. There were even comments on how higher standards shouldn’t be applied to Filipino dishes but the Philippine government handling national issues. Thus, the ill-timing of the standardization ultimately left a bitter taste in netizens’ mouths. Of course, DTI was quick to calm down the outrage. A press statement clarified that such standards are not mandatory for international marketing purposes, assuring that there is nothing to worry about as “this is just among the many groundworks to develop more creative industry exports.” Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez also stressed that “Consultation lang po ’yun at saka hindi po ito standard, hindi po ito mandatory. We encourage creativity, innovation, kahit milyun-milyon na ang recipe nyan, we all thethat.”welcomeAdditionally,establishmentof PNS protects Filipino cuisine as intellectual property, specifically through geographical indications (GIs). Therefore, GIs can prevent third parties from using a product aside from its applicable standards with the backing of laws and treaties globally.The country’s archipelagic state has placed Filipinos culturally divided, which also applies to food. As different regions take pride in their unique recipes, our culture’s affinity for creativity makes eating Filipino food an exciting experience. The richness of Filipino culture can be seen in the variety of ingredients and methods that can be used just for adobo: soy sauce, vinegar, pepper, laurel leaves, coconut milk, and atsuete, with methods like braising and stewing, amongst others. Having a guideline for Philippine adobo’s cooking technique can aid in the country’s preservation efforts on cultural identity. It can help preserve the country’s cultural identity despite the variations made to it. “Adobo is not a recipe. It is a cooking clarifiestechnique,”Chef Raoul Roberto Goco. Food has shaped the way of how we live as Filipinos. With every dish, its preparation doesn’t just need the ingredients and kitchen equipment, but “cooking with love” is added in its efforts. Its flavors and texture make Filipino dishes stand out; its aroma from various spices, herbs, oils, and vegetables are enough to make one drool even before the actual tasting. At every mealtime, one can expect a lot of memories and stories to be imparted with the people you share them with. The call for authenticity or standardization can help promote it as a comfort palate considered a world-renowned dish. In a nutshell, ingredients may differ, and standards may be questioned. Exploring food is also an exploration of culture that goes beyond merely as a source of sustenance. Ultimately, an authentic Filipino dish delivers the warmth of Filipinos directed not only to the stomach but also to the heart. After all, the homemade adobo ‒ the adobo that was cooked just the way one likes it ‒ is the best in the world. Years have passed, dreams were put on hold, and the normalcy that people used to feel has halted. Isolation and staying at home became the new trend; virtual meetings have skyrocketed. It felt like the people were in cages - locked inside the four corners of their homes and trying to protect themselves against this unseen enemy. In hopes of getting back to the norm, where masks are not mandated, and hugs aren’t prohibited, scientists have found a brilliant solution: vaccines. Last December 2019, the first COVID-19 case was recorded in China; by March of 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 as a global pandemic due to its alarming levels of spread and severity. Thousands of people, especially those older ones, were on the cliff of great danger— they were the most vulnerable. Lives were lost, and it felt like the world had shutThedown.first day of March 2021 marked the first day of vaccine distribution in the Philippines. Many have raised their eyebrows and questioned the efficacy of these newly developed vaccines. Nevertheless, the health sector was staunch in proving that developments in science are the best and most effective ways of surviving. Despite all this, people have made different speculations and comments regarding the effects of vaccines on the human body.One leading myth stated that the vaccine development was rushed, causing a strain on its trustworthiness and efficacy. If you think about it, there is just a short amount of time between when the virus was detected and the release date of these vaccines. Within a year, they have already developed these immunizing agents. However, what the public doesn’t know is that the method of developing these vaccines had already been previously studied, making it easier for the companies to create and produce them. In an interview with Medical News Today, Dr. Eric J. Yager, a microbiology associate professor at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Albany, New York, revealed that the coronaviruses studies have been circulating for not less than 50 years now. The information gathered for over half a century made it easier for researchers to develop effective
KEITH
PAMANTASAN ANGThe Official Student Publication of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Volume 41, Issue 5 • May - August 2021features06
and comments from BPS/TCPNSaddition,stakeholders.concernedInoncetheforadoboisset,92willproceed to sinigang, lechon, and sisig.
Adobo for Every Juan: Benchmarking PH Dishes for The Global Market
having herd immunity - a term used to describe the immunity of a large population to a specific disease. These myths made people hesitant to get inoculated, so the hopes of achieving herd immunity are a little bit far from now. Although hesitancy does play a massive role in the slow vaccination process, it is not the main reason for the low rates of vaccination in the country: slow rollout and delayed procurement of vaccines takes first place.
From birthdays to food trips in-between vacant periods, as late-night snacks to accompany our allnighters, or even for celebrating one’s success, food is a staple occurrence that cannot be excluded from the occasion. Specifically, Filipino cuisine, often tagged as “the next big thing” for slowly making its way up in the global culinary scene, combines indigenous and foreign flavors, traditions, and eating practices that allow for a memorable and unique experience. Most importantly, Filipino dishes connect people, bridge their differences, and play a part in our cultural heritage. Of course, when we think about a staple Filipino dish, adobo often comes to our mind first. Derived from the Spanish word “adobar” which means “marinade or seasoning,” its savory flavors can be made of pork, chicken, or even fish. The Philippines may not have an official national dish, but adobo’s popularity makes it considered as such.Although a dish may have foreign influences and variations between regions in the country, making it as authentic as possible has allowed for the diversity of its recipe. That is why last July 9, 2021, the Department of Trade and Industry’s Bureau of Philippine Standards (DTI-BPS) established BPS/TC 92, a technical committee that aims to standardize Filipino dishes. As early as May this year, the said committee began setting the standards for cooking adobo and used “Kulinarya: A Guidebook to Philippine Cuisine” as theirFilipinoguide.dishes have become enriched with Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, American, Malay, and Pacific Islander flavors. According to BPS/TC 92 Vice-Chairperson Chef Myrna Segismundo, “there will be different approaches and opinions [on cooking Philippine adobo]. As long as I have, say one to three steps, it’s this recipe.” Philippine National Standards (PNS) refers to standards “developed/adopted and published by a National Standards Body and made available to the public” with the BPS in charge of publishing for public consumption. It is in line with the International andshallmadeidentity“preservetechniquedenominator”toformedthatdegreeachievementandproblems,withasthat(ISO/IEC)ElectrotechnicalOrganization/InternationalStandardizationCommissionGuide2,whichstates“standardizationisdefinedtheactivityofestablishing,regardtoactualorpotentialprovisionsforcommonrepeateduse,aimedattheoftheoptimumoforderinagivencontext.”Inthiscontext,DTIexplainsthePNSdraftforadobobytheBPS/TC92“aimsdeterminethecommonforthecookingofadobo,helpingtothecountry’sculturaldespitethevariationstoit.”Whenfinalized,itbecirculatednationwidemadeavailableforreview
Marahil sa pagsisimula ng bawat termino ay iisa lamang ang pampangkatang bilang ng ating kabuuang desisyon sa bawat pagpupunan ng balota, huwag mong iisipin na ang iyong iisang boto ay walang halaga. Ikaw ay may kalayaan, anuman ang nangingibabaw na partido at kandidato - piliin ang sa tingin mo’y tama at natatangi. Kahit iisa lamang ang iyong boto, ito pa rin ang s’yang bubuo at kukumpleto sa boses ng kabataan bilang pag-asa ng bayan.
Itigil na rin natin ang siklo ng pagkiling sa utang na loob, sapagkat wala tayong kahit na anong utang na loob sa kandidato - ang kanilang panunungkulan at pagtulong ay hindi pabor para sa kanilang pinamumunuan kundi isang responsibilidad na atin din namang binabayaran. Suriin ang mga kandidatong nais kang tumingin sa naitulong nila sa iyo, kahit pa ito’y bahagi lamang ng kanilang pagbabango - dahil kapatid, uulitin ko, wala kang utang sa kanila.
Lumalaban Ni Francesca Gonzales
AngNagmamahal,iyongkapwa iskolar at kapwa Pilipino
Nangungulila
KUMUSTA?
Aminado ako na malaking tulong ang makabagong teknolohiya para sa komunikasyon, ngunit ramdam ko rin na hindi ito sapat.
Sa limang inilista ko, may iisang palaisipang litaw: Gusto ng mga tao ng tao. Gusto natin ng presensya. Hindi tayo natutuwa sa mga monitor sa harap natin. Gusto nating makita sila nang harapan. Ayaw natin sa walang katapusang pagtitipa sa keyboard. Gusto natin ng koneksyon, dahil higit na mas madaling magturo at matuto kapag Ngunitganoon.ang mas nakalulungkot ay iyong pakiramdam na nagkulang ka. Sana mas kinabisado ko pa ang tanawin sa paborito kong pwesto sa loob ng Pamantasan. Sana mas nakinig pa ako sa aking professor. Sana tinapik ko rin sa likod iyong nakiramay sa akin noong bumagsak ako. Sana mas nakipag-kaibigan pa ako. Sana hindi ko sinayang iyong mga araw na “malaya” ako, tayo. Marahil kaya ako, tayo, nangungulila sa physical classes dahil may kulang. Marahil ay inisip natin na palagi lang nariyan ang mga tao at bagay kaya’t hindi natin pinahalagahan. Kaya ngayong ikaw na lang, nangungulila ka sa maraming bagay. Miss mo na ang buhay. Miss mo nang Ikawmabuhay.ba?
Miss qou na face2face classes. Marami sigurong magsasabi na mababaw lang ito, na mas marami pang dapat na isulat sa espasyong ito ng pahayagan kaysa sa “pangungulila” ko sa face to face classes. Pero sabi nga, kahit na maliit ay may halaga pa rin. At sigurado akong maiintindihan ninyo ako. Kaya, heto, inilista ko mga dahilan ng aking pangungulila. Una, kung naalala niyo pa ang UTMT (siyempre, kailangan niyo talagang maalala), iyon, miss ko nang umupo doon habang naghihintay ng oras para pumanhik sa klasrum, o di naman kaya’y kumain ng baong tanghalian kasama ng mga kaibigan lalo na kung punuan ang mga gazebo. Pakiramdam ko, ibang mundo ng Pamantasan ang UTMT. May peace of mind. Baka dahil sa puno ng mangga? Baka dahil sa chappel sa tapat? Oo, marahil. Pangalawa, miss ko nang bumagsak sa pagsusulit. Tama, miss ko nang bumagsak sa pagsusulit, nang may kasama. Iyong bang tatapikin ang likod mo sabay sasabihing, “Okay lang ‘yan. Kumain na lang tayo.” Iba ang pakiramdam ng may kasama. Kasi ngayon, lalo na kung hindi ka naman nagkukwento sa pamilya, mahirap sabihin na bumagsak ka sa pagsusulit. Walang tapik sa likod. Walang pakikiramay. Higit sa lahat, hindi ka makapagdrama nang todo, may plato ka pang huhugasan.
Ni Elecyl Cabalquinto
Palaging tandaan na ang iyong boto, ang halaga ng iyong dignidad na siya ring magdidikta sa kinabukasan ng ating bayan, ay hindi matutumbasan ng kaunting salapi na patagong ibinulsa rin naman mula sa kaban ng ating bayan. Huwag kang magpabulag sa mga nakangisi, sa mga umaalingawngaw na jingle, at sa mga mag-aabot ng sobre, dahil sa huli, silang naglabas ng malaking halaga ay silang kukuha ng triple mula sa kaban ng bayan. Huwag kang papayag, kapatid. Mag-isip ka. Huwag kang magpapaloko.
Sa mga panahong tulad nito, namumutawi ang ngiti sa ating mga labi kapag may taong lalapit, magtatanong, at magpaparamdam na may paki-elam siya sa’yo. Ikaw? Nagtanong ka na ba? Kung hindi pa, gawin mo na. Panigurado akong may naghihintay niyan. Pero kung ayaw mo pa rin, heto ang dalawa sa maaaring nilang isagot sa'yo.
Isang Liham Para sa ngnaTunayMgaPag-asaBayan Filipino
Ang paparating na eleksyon ay isang bakbakan kung saan tayo rin ang magsusulat sa ating hinaharap. Kung tunay kang pag-asa ng bayan, kumilos at mag-isip ng naaayon sa dapat. Walang puwang ang sino mang pipiliing magpabulag at maging panatiko. Tumindig ka, iskolar. Huwag kang magpapatinag, huwag kang magpapatalo. Sapagkat kung ang hindi nararapat ang mananalo at siyang uupo sa pwesto, tayo rin ang tunay na talo sa dulo.
Pangatlo, miss ko na ang mga reaksyon. Sa loob ng klasrum, dahil nakaharap sa’yo ang lahat kapag nagsasalita ka, kita mo ang facial expressions nila. Madali mong malalaman kung maayos ba ang sinasabi mo o kung lumilipad na. Kasi ngayon, ang linya na natin ay Am I audible? Na matagal pang masagot kaya nagpapanic ka na kung gumagana ba ang mic mo.
PAMANTASAN ANG The Official Student Publication of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Volume 41, Issue 5 07
Lakbay Hiraya Simula noong pagdating ng pandaigdigang sakuna, tila napahinto ang mga proseso at laban na umiiral saanman. Ang bagal ng takbo ng kaunlaran sa bansa’y patuloy na sumasalungat sa bilis ng paglipas ng oras sa ibang bahagi ng mundo. Kaakibat ng pagbabago ang pag-aangkop upang makasabay sa daloy ng buhay. At sa gitna ng mga kaganapang dala ng kapalaran, animo’y nagkaroon din ng panibagong lagusan para sa iba’t ibang mga laban - mga laban para sa buhay, para sa pangarap, at para sa progreso at Ngayo’ypagsulong.humarap ka sa salamin at maghinuha. Di ba’t parang kailan lang, ikaw lamang ang nakaka hinuha sa larawan na iyong ngayo’y Parangnakikita?kailan lamang, mag-isa ka lamang sa laban na naglalayong kumawala sa kandado ng panuntunan at pamantayang ipinipilit ng lipunan. Ang pagtatanggol para sa iyong kalayaan at kasarinlan ay nagbabago rin sa patuloy na pagdating ng iba’t ibang hamon at harang na iyong dinadaanan. Ngunit ngayo’y hindi ka na mag-isa. Sa kabila ng iisang taon na ang lahat ay nakakulong sa likod ng mga device at camera, marami ang naglimbag ng daan at plataporma upang makagawa ng daan at bilang pakikiisa sa mahabang laban ng marikit na komunidad. Maliban sa mga indibidwal o mag-aaral, iba’t ibang organisasyon at maging mga unibersidad ang lumilikha ng sariling entablado upang maipahayag ng mga kaanib, at mga sumusuporta sa kaanib ng komunidad, na kahit magkalayo man mula sa isa’t isa, ang laban at ang mithiin ay hindi magkahiwalay o masisira. Patuloy na hinahamon ng panahon ang iyong kalooban. Ngunit hindi ka nagpatinag - marami ang hindi nagpapatinag. Marami ang kumakampi at sumasali sa pakikibaka, bilang tugon at paalala na tayo’y pantay pantay at magkakatumbas ang halaga, bagamat pisikal na magkakalayo mula sa isa’t isa. Kahit marami ang humahamon at naiiwan sa tradisyon at mga pansariling kagustuhan, mas marami ang nakatutuklas sa kanilang boses at nakalilikha ng sariling sining at paraan, lalo na sa social media, upang maipahayag ang kanilang pakikipaglaban, kahit maraming bumabatikos at naiiwan sa nakasanayan at nakaraan. Kaya sumulong ka, kapatid. Hindi natatapos ang mga hamon, ngunit marami ang nasa likod mo, patuloy na sumusuporta para sa laban na ito. Hindi madali ang pakikibaka at kilusan, ngunit marami ang kaunlaran at pagbabagong nabuo mula rito. Lumakad ng diretso, taas noo. Napakaganda ng inilatag nilang daan, nakakabighani ang mga kulay na tumingkad dahil sa inyong laban. Ituloy mo lamang ang iyong paglalakbay, kapatid, hanggang sa ang hiraya ng bahaghari para sa lahat ay maging isang tagumpay.
Sa darating na eleksyon, iskolar, hangad kong nakapagparehistro ka na - maging isang ganap na botante at responsableng mamamayan ng bansa. Ngayon pa lang ay umalintabay, magbasa ng mga artikulo, suriin ang kasaysayan, at higit sa lahat, kilalanin ang mga kandidato. Nagkaroon na tayo ng demokrasya upang ihalal ang nararapat kaya’t nararapat lamang din na suriin natin ang karapat-dapat na pag-pasahan ng upuan.
Puputulin ko na sa panglima, sawang-sawa na ako sa Miss you. Miss na rin kita. See you soon! na hindi pa rin natutupad hanggang ngayon.
Pang-apat, para sa katulad kong hindi sa Manila nakatira, miss ko na ang biyahe, iyong bang maglalakad ako nang mahaba lalo na kapag punuan ang jeep na may karatulang Mabini at wala akong pamimilian kung ‘di bumaba sa may city hall, habang inaalala ang mga turo ng professor ko dahil may pagsusulit, kasabay ng pagtawag at pagsusumamo sa nasa itaas na huwag sanang mahuli sa klase.
Huwag na sana tayong maakit sa mga huwad, sa mga pangakong binibitiwan sa oras ng kampanya na tila palaging nakalilimutan sa oras na makamit na ang posisyon, animo’y mga pabango lamang sa damit na naglalaho kapag ipinakita ang tunay at hubad na pagkatao. Huwag na nating bigyan pa ng pagkakataon ang mga kandidatong itinatanggi ang kasalanan kahit pa ito’y ganap na napatunayan.
Sa mga nagdaang taon, hindi maikakaila ninuman ang pagod - pagod mula sa mga responsibilidad, pagod mula sa mga bayarin at tustusin, at pagod mula sa paulit-ulit at walang saysay na siklo ng buhay. Ang kaliwa’t kanang pagtapak sa karapatang pantao at walang habas na paglustay sa yaman ng bayan - talagang sawa na tayo. Kaya naman, nararapat lamang na ibigay natin sa ating sarili ang karapatan bilang isang mamamayang Pilipino, maging ang kaakibat nitong tungkulin: magparehistro at iboto ang kandidatong may pagtingin sa kabutihan ng mamamayan.
“Okay na hindi. Walangmasyadong ginagawa peropagod pa rin. Pag maraminamang dapat gawin,wala akong inspirasyonat motibasyon paragumawa kahit gustokong gawin. Hindi satinatamad ako, yan kasiyung laging sinasabingdahilan ng iba sakin kayaraw di ako makagawa,pero kahit humarap akosa screen, parang emptylang utak ko at wala akongmailagay na mga sagot.Andaming nagbago sakin nangmagsimula tong pandemya.Nahihirapan na ako magingmasaya. May mga oras na pagtaposkong tumawa, maaalala at mararamdamankong malungkot ako, kaya babalik ako sapag-iyak. I wish I was better, na ako ulit ‘yungdating masayahin and achiever na kilala ng mgatao, pero nandito na ko. I am trying to heal myselfpero minsan natritrigger din ng mga bagay-bagay sabahay. Nakakapagod lang. I even thought of goinginto therapy kaso kasi wala rin akong private spacesa bahay para sa mga sessions. Trinay ko rin mag-open up sa family ko kaso kasi di nila magets yungnararamdaman ko, na imbis na makinig sila, end up nanag-aadvice sila, or papagalitan ako, kaya nahihirapan nako sa kanila mag-open up hahah. I have this friend, we callevery week, sa kaniya ko nalang naibubuhos lahat, we are eachother’s shoulder to cry on and I recommend this calls to everyonewho is hurting and suffering. Open up to people to lessen theburden and not handle things that we all know that’s hard to bear.Ang haba na hahah sorry, pero last na, siguro dahil sa loss of myown personal space, I liked and dreamed of going out, travelling,which is something I’ve never thought before. Gusto ko lang namakalaya sa bahay na magkasama kong pinoproblema sarili ko,yung bahay, family ko, mga gawain sa bahay, at mga gawain saschool. Gusto kong mag-f2f kaso mahirap din kasi byahe kayaskeptical din ako. Hayst, problematic lang talaga ako hahah.I wish you, who are reading this, and others too, a better life,now and in the future, and not go through feelings of emptiness,sadness, torment, and other negative feelings that many people,including me, are still fighting against today. I don’t know who youare, but you deserve love and care, happiness and appreciation.You are doing so much, you just don’t notice it, pero nagsurviveka until today so congrats. Sorry, ang haba hahahah, sana di konaubos oras mo.” yellow, BS Psychology 2-4
The Official Student Publication of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Volume 41, Issue 5 ISKUMUSTAHANISKO,KUMUSTAKA? "MALUNGKOT " ” -A , BSPT 4-1 pa“Magandarinkahitpagodnapagodna” - Ganda, BS Nursing 4-3 MALUNGKOTKASIMATAGALKONAHINDINAKIKITAMGAFRIENDSKO,TASMENTALLYPAGOD.LEI,BSPSYCHOLOGY2-6eto,buhaypa,sanamayroonakongorasparasalahatngbagayngunithindinamanganuneh.siguronasasaatinkungpaanonatinhahawakanangatingoraskayanamannararapatlangnasabihinnatinsamgamahalnatinsabuhaykunggaanonatinsilakamahalatdahilnasagitnatayongpandemya,dapatlamangnahabaannatinangatingpasensyaatmasmagingmaintindihinatmabaitsalahat.stayhydratedmgalodicakes!!!!”-ChristvinzDavidLagmay,BSBA-FM4-2
MAHIRAP,NAKAKAPAGODKASO,ANDITONAAKO,HNGAYONPABAAKOSUSUSKO?-BETELGUESE,CET “pagod na ko LEGIT parang ayoko na Gumawa ng kahit ano.” -Nikki, BS PYSCHOLOGY MALUNGKOTkendall,CollegeofEduc din.koAnotheryearnaonlineclass,kayasiguromedyonakakayananatnakakapag-adjustnarin.Peroassomeonenaescapeangschool,gustonamag-facetoface,kasoparangmahirapAnonakayangmangyayarisaatin?MakakatapakpakayatayosaPamantasanbagogrumadweyt?-hehehehe,BAC3-1 -R,namanperoMalungkot,kinakayapoBAC “tambak,stressed,perowalangchoicesokakayanin.fightinglang<333”stef,BSPsychology2–6 Filipino "MALUNGKOT " -A , 4-1
Literary
By: Mary Jillian Cristobal
The past and the future are illusions to keep you a slave Time is not your ally, and presence is the sole holy grail As dawn brings you more shadows than light, love is remedy When you can no longer find clarity in the twilight’s bliss, Know that forgiving oneself and others is a promising odyssey If dusk’s only gift is numbing cold, seek warmth in what is
I never liked the heat of summer days Especially when it rises to my cheeks, But not when the sun’s warmth shines on your face And I witness the pair of shadows fall from behind. You’d always fumble for the strings of the brown guitar As you sing the topline of my favorite song, You only see the corners of my lips extend to my ears But I was screaming at the back of my head. On our way home, the raindrops alight on our shoulders And the shared umbrella draws us closer together; You watch me toss seeds on the roads we walked on As I hoped for flowers to bloom down the fiery street.
It was a long road laid between us, Like the gaps between when our fingers intertwine. And as you drifted from the world to chase your dreams, You have lost the grip of your hands holding mine. When was the last time we looked at each other’s eyes?
Some nights, when melancholy dawns on me Like wildfire turning forests into ashes, You’d light up your matches And we’d dance by the burning fireplace.
Nothing keeps you grounded like the sight of your own grave Life flashes before your eyes illuminating an unfinished tale
Repatriation
The last dried autumn leaf landed on force, Leaving the branches bare and free, And this little secret will turn into metaphors Only known to the bark of a dead oak tree.
Poppies,GraveyardsTables,Dinnerand
While indifference wilts gardens along with fleeting hours Fear then chases us upon the demise of red poppies at full bloom As grief knocks at death’s door, unwithered love remains ours After all, humility only lays in the countenance of one’s tomb What scourging agony it is that time waits for no one Sorrow is engraved in regrets upon a missed supper Dwelling on a painful allegory of what was and what could have been How beautiful the banquet could have been that I now must suffer Counsel that is good and wise is never a treacherous fear For it is a labyrinth of what will be and not of what is PIanting itself within us, it creeps like an unwelcome peer Resembling grief, this traitor remains and never leaves Be reminded that grief is neither a twin nor a brother To which indifference and fear prevailed, but an aftermath Grief is a consequence of love and less of anything bitter It greets you in empty dinner tables and a lonesome path
By: Nicole Anne Mendoza
PAMANTASAN ANG The Official Student Publication of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Volume 41, Issue 5 09
Wonderwall
The stars are witness to this cradled feeling And how I always get lost in the gravity of your gaze Because you also hold the galaxies in your eyes; It’s just that the stars can tell but you won’t. Whenever I’d hold sight of your back, I’d always whisper to the moon To guide you home safe and sound And maybe someday—lead you to me. You are my wonderwall. And though I’d rather not tell you, Of all the things that you make me feel, Happiness is by far my most favorite.
I want to tell you how desperate I am to hear your laugh once Thoughagain. months have passed since the last time I can remember your Knowface,that you still have a place here under the sun. You can shelter yourself underneath my skin; Or bask in the light of normal days and deeper sighs.
By: Anne Nicole Carig
How long will I stay here on the other side of the road— Longing for you as you lead the life that you desire to have? And I ponder as you wander away, succeeding to greater heights, Will you still be someone who will greet me again with a smile?
Slowly, glittery ribbons wrap around me like the bright future you nurture with tender care; Evenly, crinkled paper is smoothed to perfection like the tears and mistakes desperately covered; Reverently, you only pray for all good things like the wishes and dreams you ardently implore.
Future comes and quickly pulls you awayWhy promptly face a new dawn And overlook the beauty of today? I am here, with you, waiting for action!
The past is a brooding ghost that hauntingly follow, casting doubt into your eyes that wander, falter; Nostalgia rushes in every step you take into morrow always minding the regrets you cannot alter.
On days I find myself lying on the floor, I have these songs lay beside me. The melodies seem to resonate with the ineffable feelings that left me stranded after months being locked in. Deprived of emotions, the symphony puts a beat in my chest. And like in every note, a reminder that as hope fades, another one will come up next. As each day passes, my skin shivers with excitement and desperation; enthralled in the prevailing aspiration that these emotions will someday be expressed in person. But today, we will just keep all our long-awaited “someday” sit next to us, and tuck our feelings in the corners of our playlists.
Once Loved Loved Ones
Once, donuts from work were just mere desserts until they no longer serve butternut doughs; The delight of a child is now a misery of an adult because treats were sweeter when long awaited.
Literary PAMANTASAN ANG
The Gift of Now
By: Anne Nicole Carig
Once, these little day-to-days were ignored until they flashed in fragments on a hospital bed as you watch the person holding these memories suffer in pain—frail and almost breathless. And then you start bargaining everything in lieu of a taken for granted life.
Yours to behold, to tip the scales of fate: The things that were are to be reminisced with zeal, and The things that are should be basked in and cherished, and The things that are to be shall be your glorious infinities. Please don’t discard me as yesterday’s history‒the threads of past cannot be chained for it has spun; The future is elusive, but embrace its blurry mystery‒For what shall come, then thy will be done. Whether big or small, grand or obscure place me in your arms and fulfill my oath; The beauty of today with its exquisite allure your beginning and end, I shall readily be both.
An impossible task, seemingly given to me for you, stuck in a labyrinth of unbearable wanting: Surprising with care and great value, that I must be, sharing joy and sorrow from anything daunting.
And just as the music begins, all my memories fade in. A recollection of acquaintances we used to know, they appear as old blurry films. In every note, in every frame, I remember each touch of skin: like a friend’s embrace in a somber night, like a mother’s laughter in every new beginning. And every song reminds me of familiar names and a commonplace scenery that brings me back in time. I experience every ordinary day as this: I feel sensations that leave more questions than answers. I wonder when these memories will turn into reality once again. When will each embrace be more than just the ones we always held onto at night? I wonder when will the shadows at the back of my mind end playing movie scenes of “what-ifs” and “what-could-be”?
Suddenly, nothing else matters more when a loved one—s death is by the door.
The Official Student Publication of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Volume 41, Issue 510
Synesthesia
By: Mary Jillian Y. Cristobal
Once, watching K-dramas was enjoyed in solitude until tears and giggles were shared in a slice of life; A reward after a tiring day waits by the couch, eventually turning into memories of ordinaries.
By: Patricia Gabrielle L. Marquez
Once, the taste of coffee was odd to my palate until morning chats over a cup became familiar; The tongue started to recognize the bitter flavor and the body began to remember the sweet feeling.
Once, weekend trips were for Instagram to see until our footsteps marked in confined spaces; High expectations are set for the destination that we miss the thrill of the journey to get there.
DAPHNE SAGUN
The Filipino Athletes' Hidden Obstacle
So while pledges for establishing better sports training centers have surfaced recently, feelings of ambivalence in these promises prevail in athletes and common citizens because it is challenging to disregard the reality that there are promised facilities that never in our country came to life.
The unimpressive cash incentives they receive after winning. Being a national athlete requires different forms of limitations and responsibilities; from having strict diets, full schedules, as well as maintaining oneself to be physically and mentally healthy amidst any circumstances, to training allyear-round and being away from home for most of those training sessions. Thus, the government should not only provide athletes with a sufficient allowance before and in participating in a competition but also a generous amount of cash incentives after bagging a medal in that meet--because athletes get to do extraordinary tasks. The Philippine laws, however, do not reward the victories and efforts of these athletes that much compared to other countries. For example, according to Republic Act 10699, also known as the Benefits“Sportsand one million pesos, five hundred thousand pesos, and two hundred thousand pesos are respectively awarded to gold, silver, and bronze medalists of world-level competitions, not to mention that it must be held at least every two years with at least forty-five countries participating. Furthermore, while the incentives for Olympic medalists are given a much more considerable amount, they are still significantly lower compared to fellow Southeast Asian countries such as Singapore and Indonesia. What’s even more tragic in our country is that many times, the government failed to hand these incentives to winning athletes; just like what happened to 1996 Olympic boxer silver medalist Onyok Velasco who, until now, has not yet received the 2.5 million pesos the 1996 House of Representatives promised him and the transfer of certificate title given to him when he won. The same melancholic fate was suffered by then-Filipino chess player and grandmaster Wesley So, who was deprived of the promised one million peso incentive for winning Gold in the 2012 Summer Universiade held in Kazan, Russia. This unappreciation for So’s triumph is one of the relevant forces that led him to stop playing for the Philippines and represent the US instead two years after.
PAMANTASAN ANG The Official Student Publication of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Volume 41, Issue 5 • May-August 2021 sports 11
Lack of high-end sports facilities
. Every athlete probably lives by the idiom “practice makes perfect,” Filipino athletes are hindered from efficient practice because our country lacks sports infrastructures such as skateparks and public golf courses. Although we have some functional facilities, they are rusty, overused, and outdated; far from having world-class qualities. For instance, both the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex and PhilSports Complex (Ultra), even in their renovated forms, only have a maximum seating capacity of about 30,000. This cannot be compared to the sports complexes of our neighboring countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Singapore, and Vietnam that can accommodate up to 50,00085,000 people. The facilities that never achieved completion due to questionable reasons, the Butuan Polysports Complex being one of them, makes the sports situation in the country more frustrating.
It cannot be stressed further that the triumphs of our athletes are our nation’s collective triumphs. This is why the government should financially support them more and implement laws for their betterment. It took ninetyseven years of participation for the country to achieve its first Olympic gold. This near-century of wait alone speaks for how long the Philippines has overlooked the importance of sports and how long our athletes needed to endure until they finally developed the resilience to surpass this barrier in the form of limited support. No mind can fathom how Filipino athletes can go when the government finally decides to be their needed aid
When a country acknowledges the importance of sports, it wins in numerous ways. Through sports, our sense of nationalism is fortified. In every meet our national athletes compete in, they carry with them the burden of winning on our behalf while we express our support for them. It is also through sports that we are able to intensify our international relations. Participating in international sports events is an opportunity to engage with other countries and convey our shared interest of promoting peace, cooperation, and development. Additionally, host countries can express their hospitality, and in turn, hosting benefits their economy, especially in the aspects of tourism. Most significantly, it is through sports that we are able to unveil the character of our nation through our athletes. This is why various countries unendingly seek to improve their sports programs and invest in their athletes’ talents to let the world know that they are persevering, astonishing, and the greatest. Unfortunately, our country is not one of the countries that appreciate these advantages. The Philippine government has unbelievably low regard for sports, and it manifests in many tangible ways.
Conflicting perspectives of politicians. Everything we do is political. What quality of life we live, how much things have to cost, and what laws we must abide by are solely based on how to do anything with sports; doesn't an athlete’s victory rely only on their grit to be on the podium? From a more practical point of view, the qualities of sports programs, sports infrastructures, and athletes rely primarily on the budget allocated to them by the government. Like what prevails today, a lack of support for sports-related projects occurs because the politicians who want to give importance to sports are overpowered by those who see sports as an unnecessary expense. In a non-financial way, politics affect sports in a way that the laws they make can define the limit athletes can only enjoy. For example, before, skateboarding was banned in most towns in the Philippines. If such a law was not made so, the country could have produced more amazing skaters by now like Margielyn Didal.
Invalidation of athletes’ plea for help. The timeless neglect of the Philippine government for sports is also translated through their continuous invalidation of the athletes’ plea for help. When Hidilyn posted about her financial difficulty, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), instead of addressing the athlete’s concern, publicly responded with the emphasis that she obtains one of the highest allowances in the national pool and that she receives support from the PSC, the Philippine Air Force, as well as from private companies among all her other support Diaz benefits from. In the case of other athletes, sports officials also tend to counter their appeals for aid for the wait and by constantly reminding athletes to note the equipment the government purchased for them. As much as these forms of aid and purchases can be true, the government should note these do not equate to being sufficient. Moreover, they should discourage athletes from being content with the bare minimum of assistance they receive. Athletes should have the opportunity to freely express their needs so the government can help them perform at their best.
Inadequate financial assistance. When a country’s national athletes resort to personally finding ways to afford their training and preparations for competitions, it shows how inadequate their government athletes have to endure because of the meager allowance they receive. Through their social media accounts, they sought donations and sponsorships from private companies as they had a difficult time financially. Similar initiatives were also done by Filipino figure skater Michael Martinez as he journeys towards the 2022 Winter Olympics. On the other hand, Olympic boxing qualifier Irish Magno disclosed that the delayed distribution of allowances she, as well as other national athletes, had experienced had made her worry and had affected her training performances. These are only a few of the multiple accounts proving how our representatives in sports are given insufficient financial aid, affecting their momentum in preparation for their events.
A fter its one-year postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Philippine team made records at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics after winning its firstever gold medal and biggest medal snitch in the history of the much-anticipated games. The Philippine delegation pulled away with four elusive medals with Hidilyn Diaz, the woman responsible for ending the 20-year Olympic medal drought by bagging silver in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Weightlifting Women’s 53kg also got the country’s long-coveted gold medal in the same sport, 55kg event. Also, her clean 127 kg lift and her 224 kg total set new Olympic records. In a virtual sports convention, along with her fellow medalist, she urged young aspirants to pursue dreams amid the pandemic.
Volume 41, Issue 5 May - August 2021 FIRST TIME EVER!
The Student Publication of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
Filipino weightlifter Hidylyn Diaz fulfilled the longawaited Philippine dream of having a gold medal with their belts on July 26, 2021. She set a new standard in the 55kg Olympic weightlifting for women, lifting a total of 224 kilograms. The new record overtook top-contender Liao Quiyun of the People’s Republic of China by only 1kg, which was done in the competition’s clean and jerk category. The Olympian’s emotions welled out as she completed a clean lift of the 217kg weighted barbell, bursting into tears as soon as she realized she had finally conquered the top spot. Her head coach and boyfriend Julius Naranjo quickly hugged Diaz, realizing the victory that Hidilyn had earned together with her team. She proudly clutched the gold medal, and heartfully sang the Philippine anthem while pointing at the flag in the competition’s rewards ceremony.Diaz’sprior attempt at winning in Olympics only landed her a silver model at the London 2016 Games, which drove her to go for the gold in the Tokyo 2021 Olympics. The restrictions eventually disrupted her training for the current Olympics that COVID-19 has brought into the world, but that didn’t stop her motivation of clinching the gold medal she aspired for. Most of Hidilyn’s training was done in Malaysia, in which she was stranded at the height of global border constraints. She improvised with the meager equipment provided to her by a foster family, which took care of Diaz and her team during their months of tenancy in the country. Moments after her gold medal performance, the Presidential Palace of the Philippines was quick to congratulate the athlete, saying: "The Palace congratulates Hidilyn Diaz for bringing pride and glory to the Philippines for winning the country’s firstever Olympic gold medal. Congratulations, Hidilyn. The entire Filipino nation is proud of you.Millions" upon millions worth of reward money and price incentives await Hidilyn as she returns to the country with the Olympic gold medal in hand. House and lot units, luxury cars, brand endorsement deals, and many others; her efforts indeed paid off as she transforms from a simple athlete to the Philippines’ golden girl.
Hidilyn Diaz snatches first medalOlympicPhilippinegold
JEAN CARLOS DELDOC
“Gusto ko lang pong sabihin sa lahat ng mga estudyante na alam kong mahirap, mahirap ang pinagdadaanan natin. Learn to adopt. Estudyante rin po ako [ngayon], at nahihirapan din po ako pero ako kasi hindi ako sumuko [sa mga pagsubok] kasi gusto kong magkaroon ng degree,” Diaz said. Diaz advised the younger Filipino athletes to “dream high” and be persistent with what they are doing to achieve their desires. The 30-year-old medalist placed herself as an example by overhauling the struggles presented by the health crisis during her training days. She shared the difficulty of being locked down in Malaysia, far from her family, and without proper training equipment. Adding feathers to the cap are the three medalists from the boxing team: Nesthy Petecio, silver, Women’s featherweight; Carlo Paalam, silver, Men’s flyweight; and Eumir Marcial, bronze, Men’s middleweight.
PH makes duple history: Gold, quad-medal victory KENJO DE PAULA
“
The team, too were not excused with the adversaries caused by the pandemic. Late last year, Petecio mourned ith the passing of her best friend, while the same thing goes with Marcial’s grievance over the sudden death of his brother in October. Instead of being stalled and drawn back by their emotions, the boxers used it as a lift to further train hard, which paid off with their Olympic bacon. Likewise, Nesthy Petecio expressed her bittersweet victory as an honor to her late friend.“Sobrang blessed po na binigyan ako ni Lord ng pagkakataon na ipakita sa lahat na kung ano ang kaya kong gawain, [at] kung ano 'yong kaya kong patunayan hindi lang sa sarili ko kundi sa lahat ng tao kaya sobrang saya ko po at proud po ako [na i-represent ang Pilipinas],” Petecio said. The 32nd Olympics was indeed a monumental milestone for Philippine sports after a glorious podium finishes resounding the Philippine National Anthem in the Olympics for the first time and is deemed as the best finish our country has ever made after being the Top Performing Southeast Asian nation finishing 50th place overall.The stories of struggles and success of the Filipino athletes during this pandemic only prove that any dream is possible with perseverance, determination, and hard work any dream is possible! To all the Filipino athletes, the whole nation is proud of you!
Official
THETHEPHILIPPINES,WAITISOVER!GOLDISYOURS!
