Atenews April 2023 Issue Vol. 68 No. 2

End the Silence of the Gagged!

New Normal: AdDU implements calendar shift, F2F+

With the recent announcements on the university academic calendar shift, the Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) aims for a transition in this “new normal” setup through the introduction of the new Ateneo F2F+ program implementation.

The Hybrid Implementation Strategy of Flexible (HISFlex) blended learning was introduced in the academic year (A.Y.) 2022-2023, as an alternative school setting to provide both online and faceto-face modalities, as well as ‘futureproof education’ for all students.

In a Facebook post on the university’s official page, the new “F2F+” was highlighted with “in person education enhanced by technology”, with the aim of still combining the power of hybrid learning for more dynamic, flexible and accessible learning experience for students, similar with the HISFlex modality.

The Office of Student Affairs (OSA) Director Ma’am Theresa Salaver-Eliab and Assistant Director Atty. Ira Calatrava-Valenzuela told Atenews that it is expected that the learning modality will still be blended in the next A.Y., but a big percentage of classes will now be taken onsite.

“It will really not be full normal, parang nag move na rin kasi si Ateneo eh, na yun na ang trajectory niya na meron talaga siyang blended na online as we try to promote internationalization, so we need to have that kind of mechanism,” Eliab said.

Relevant changes and additions are also expected in the upcoming semester in terms of student affairs, such as the use of uniforms, opening of student offices, revamping of more onsite student activities, and the planning of the proposed Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system.

Atenews also reached out to the Office of the Academic Vice-President (OAVP) for more insights about the F2F+ implementation, but no response was received yet.

On student activities

“We are trying to normalize school activities for now, umabot na tayo sa point na halos normal na ang school activities. Meron pa ring restrictions na ini-impose in accordance to the university and CHED guidelines,” Atty. Valenzuela said.

The OSA also aims to provide more programs and platforms for students from different sectors, highlighting the culture and arts, gender, student discipline cluster, as well as the reformatted Sui Generis Leadership Summit and other services provided by the OSA.

Samahan ng mga Mag-aaral ng Ateneo de Davao (SAMAHAN) President-elect, Chyna Legaspina shared with Atenews the perspective of the student council with regards to the upcoming transitions in the university.

“For the upcoming A.Y., since the university is more leaning for face-to-face classes, more face-to-face activities are expected to come.”

Legaspina also stressed that due to the calendar shift, major events, such as the Ateneo Fiesta and Intramurals, are expected to be moved to a later date.

On student concerns, affairs, and regulations

According to OSA, the use of uniforms was relaxed this A.Y., considering that most classes are still taken online, but highlighted that the usual policy of wearing uniform and civilian clothes will be brought back this A.Y. 2023-2024.

The OSA Administrators also shared the ongoing year-long planning of the proposed RFID, in the attempt to increase safety and security in the university, automate ID validation and payment of school services and consumables.

“Nasa pipeline pa siya, kasi kailangan pa namin ang consultation with the students. The survey questionnaires are expected to be released soon,” Eliab added.

The SAMAHAN President-elect also addressed that student concerns will be taken with the help of the council’s Research and Development department.

“Surveys really work in giving SAMAHAN insights on how students are doing with their stay in the university, and once we gather all of the concerns and all of their are consolidated, we will be having a dialogue with our administrators, with representations from other offices in the university,” Legaspina shared. Legaspina also highlighted that the SAMAHAN plans to provide a followthrough with the future regulations to be released, ensuring that these will be followed properly.

In addition, a recent memorandum was released on the Tuition and Other School Fee Increase (TOSFI) for the upcoming academic year – a seven percent (7%) increase in tuition and six percent (6%) increase in miscellaneous fees. The fee increase aims to keep up with the country’s increasing inflation rate,

allocating tuition increase to the salaries and benefits of the university personnel. Classes for the A.Y. 2023-2024 will begin in August 2023 instead of July.

MEMBER OF THE COLLEGE EDITORS GUILD OF THE PHILIPPINES

◘ Ma. Alyza Rovyn De Guzman

◘ Photo by Jerachris Megaela Rosal

REFLECTIONS OF THE NEW NORMAL. The pandemic has striked the campus life into an online modality, to a HISflex modality. Over time, new guidelines and restrictions were followed to ensure safety and protection of everyone.

Atenews 2022-2023

Disengaging with justice

Cherisha Nneka Gargaran, Joseph Lance Hilaga, Rianne Calsa

Clein John Dumaran, Julianne Kaye Cortez

Jeni Anne Rosario, Leah Genny Altizo

Kaye Semilla

Anne Dominique Fabian, James Walter Abao, Lezlee Rodriguez, Tricia Janelle Oasan

Danniela Jane Opsima, Giancarlo Rafael Tabios, Jaecian Onoh Cesar

Jana Buagas, Mauriz Pagangpang, Nolan Inso, Valerie Villegas

Daniel Gallego, Earl Geibriel Dicipulo, Stephanie Alexa Ang, Vian Solinap

& Graphic Artists

Aika Khent Zainab Rosete, Ma. Alyza Rovyn De Guzman, Felia Ross Sichon, Joie Noreen Garces

News Writers

Denyz Zaira Persigas, Jerachris Megaela Rosal, Ryan Nathaniel Balleza, Yvonne Baco

Junior Photojournalists

Donne Alreick Ayop

Junior Social Media Staff

Toni Anne Albarico

Junior Web Designer & Developer

Dr. Cheryl Baldric Moderator

Daniel Gallego, Mariz Aylah Cenojas

Tabloid Design

With President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s recent decision for the Philippines to disengage with the International Criminal Court (ICC), it is becoming more evident that the horrors of the war on drugs and the unjust killings during its implementation are being ignored by those who should be working on getting justice.

Recently, the ICC rejected the plea of the Philippine government to suspend their ongoing investigation on the human rights violations that occurred during the war on drugs program implemented by thenpresident Rodrigo Duterte. With this, Marcos Jr. declared that the country will be fully disengaging from the court and will not be cooperating with the ICC’s investigation. In 2018, the Philippines left the ICC when it initiated the investigation on Duterte’s war on drugs.

Duterte’s decision to leave the ICC is a terrible decision to begin with. It stands on problematic grounds as there is no domestic mechanism that addresses the lapses pointed out by the ICC. The Philippines is the second country to withdraw from the said court after Burundi, who accused the ICC of focusing too much on African countries for prosecution. While the country’s withdrawal from

ICC does not directly affect the local investigations within the country, the main problem is that the country itself has no action done to at least acknowledge the lapses and killings during the war on drugs. Instead, each case of extrajudicial killings is being treated like an isolated case, and the victims are usually being blamed for “fighting back when being arrested.”

Now that the Philippines is under a new administration, this should have been a gleam of hope for the families of the victims of extrajudicial killings. But with Marcos’s refusal to engage with the ICC regarding the matter, the road towards justice will be longer and much more difficult to reach. This move is not so surprising considering that he has expressed his agreement with Duterte’s decision since 2021, but the action still stirred controversy especially to human rights activists and families of victims. In hindsight, his response gives a reflection on his background as someone who has contributed to disinformation regarding his father’s regime. While some cases of these unjust killings during the drug war were given attention, such as the case of the grade 11 student Kian Delos Santos, a lot more of the victims were ignored and never given the justice they deserve. His case is only one of the thousands of cases that should be addressed regarding the war on drugs. The country’s cooperation with the ICC’s investigation could have been the answer to the prayers of the victims’ families, but with the country’s disengagement, their hopes will once again be crushed.

Some senators argue that the ICC’s investigation is a disrespect to the Philippines’s sovereignty. Marcos even calls it a “threat” to sovereignty and an “intrusion to our internal matters.” It seems like the ICC thinks that the country is not capable of handling its own investigations, in which Marcos disagrees because the country has a “good justice system” according to him. However, ICC never claims to be above the law of the nation, but instead aims to try individuals who have committed serious human rights violations of international concern. The Philippines can still conduct their own investigations without the interference of the ICC. However, the gaps presented by the country in upholding human rights have incentivized the international court to steer in these lapses.

If the country does not plan on reviving its membership in the ICC, the least it could do to prove that the country indeed has a “good justice system” is to conduct its own investigation on the injustices that has occurred during Duterte’s war on drugs and to acknowledge that it was indeed a time of violence and impunity. While no internal investigation occurs within the country, the disengagement from the ICC will remain to be a burdening decision that will leave a mark on the country’s justice system. Disengaging from the ICC is disengaging from the path towards justice. The victims and their families do not deserve to be shoved aside just because their leaders refuse to accept the failures of their own program.

◘ Illustration by James Walter Abao

Member of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines

G/F Arrupe Hall, Martin Building, Ateneo de Davao University E. Jacinto St., 8016 Davao City

Menstrual rights can be ignored, but will always be there

Oasis

The Menstruation Leave Act was submitted to Congress to grant women two days of paid leave per month during their monthly periods. It was, however, considered economically inconvenient by the opposition, including former Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson. Despite women ‘seemingly’ doing well without this measure, it still does not rub out the plight of women and their right to acquire benefits for these circumstances.

Congresswoman Samantha Taliño Santos cited in the bill’s explanatory note that, “In a research by the British United Provident Association Limited, it was revealed that 23% of women have taken time off work because of their period in the last 6 months, with a following 36 percent not telling the truth why they were unable to work.”

Candide

In my junior high school, when being queer was still not as accepted as it is today, I found joy and entertainment in watching RuPaul’s Drag Race, which has now found its way into mainstream media. It introduced me to the concept of making your own body as a canvas to express gender, break stereotypes, and perform art – in short, doing drag. The premise of the show was so novel and mind-boggling to me. It’s like Project Runway, Next Top Model, and all those MAPEH performance tasks crammed into one show.

It allowed me to see self-expression in an entirely new light. It is also a delight to see its break in mainstream media, especially in our predominantly Catholic country, the Philippines. Last year’s first season of the Philippine franchise of Drag Race celebrated drag as an art form to be enjoyed by those who watch it. It also celebrated creativity and gender.

This 2023, numerous senate bills passed in the United States wherein adultoriented performances, especially those who crossdress or express themselves as someone not associated with their assigned gender at birth, to be made illegal. This art form is now threatened. In the great tradition of Paris Is Burning, the library is open, but drag artists’ space may soon close its doors.

The bills passed emphasize that drag or “any transvestite and/or transgender exposure, performances or display” should be kept away from minors or children. The conservatives passing the bills reason that drag performers are a danger to children and may indoctrinate values that do not align with them. Also, the notion that drag performers are groomers, coming from them, would be a lengthy topic in itself. Currently, numerous efforts have been made to counter the passing of the bills. There

This data proves a point that the conversation on menstrual leaves, or even menstruation in general, has been considered taboo, especially in the Philippines. When talking about menstruation, the usual thought would be that it is part of the natural biological process of women, as well as the hormonal and physiological burdens that come with it. The sad reality is even if women complain about how much it disrupts their natural flow of activities, it will be subdued to an inherent pain that women are born with.

As opposed to the agony women experience in their periods, the opposition sees this initiative as “too much” despite the relative success of Spain, South Korea, and Indonesia in upholding their menstrual leave acts. With the status quo revolving in a capitalist society, let alone a developing state like the Philippines, productivity holds the utmost importance.

Former Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson stated that, “an additional 24 days a year of leave with pay on top of the 105 days of maternity leave, 7 days of paternity leave, 5 days of sick leave, including the 13-18 days of vacation leave every year (convertible to cash if

unused)” could lead to layoffs and closure of companies. Furthermore, the Employers Confederation of the Philippines rejected the bill with President Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. stating that it would be burdensome for micro and small businesses. The opposition essentially implies that at this point, assuming that the bill will be passed into law, it will be a disadvantage to hire women.

However, menstrual pain occurs monthly, making the sick leave insufficient for their concerns. The sick leaves that cover these concerns can only provide employees with five days of paid sick leave every year, according to the Labor Code of the Philippines. Women’s productivity has been long jeopardized by these concerns but is left untackled without consideration of the immense and longstanding threat it will produce to women’s health. So far, we have yet to see a solution and rebuttal that focuses on the conditions of women as the responses have prioritized the economic factors

Thus, it is crucial to see this issue through the lens of women, rather than the economy as a case in isolation or even men. This case is considered “too much” because society circulates on a patriarchal system that equality

for women can immediately imply less equality for others. Equality is not exactly a pie, where one takes more, and the other takes less. This measure is more a matter of equity, where women are given privileges because of their circumstances. In hindsight, it is not our choice, to begin with, that we must suffer with these period pains and even more.

Fundamentally, we have to remember that while the economic concerns are valid in consideration of the economic climate of the country, the plight of women in dealing with the effects of menstruation will always be there. Even if the government shrugs it off in the name of economic stability, the data presented by Congresswoman Santos will remain relevant and a cause of concern, enough to be part of the dialogue on women’s rights. In fact, Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr has also advocated a similar period of leave, as well as the Gabriela Women’s Party. These initiatives are just some of the more to come as the fight for women’s rights in the Philippines continues, even beyond the forms of championing menstrual leave.

Painted in a bad light

have been protests, media campaigns, drag performers attending senate hearings, etc. RuPaul’s Drag Race, being at the forefront, has also been very vocal in its opposition, allotting an entire episode in its latest season to a musical themed on the banning of drag. Drag advocates point out that children are not their primary audience when performing. Although some drag queens do perform for children, they present and dress themselves in a family-friendly manner.

Those who appreciate drag see it as an avenue that brings out the part of yourself that may be kept inside. It is seen as an avenue to explore the boundaries of your gender expression, to be hyper-feminine or hyper-masculine as you like. It explores the limits of human aesthetics, pushes the expectations for beauty, and also breaks them. Drag is an art form; like any form of art, it caters to different audiences. Prohibiting its exercise entirely prohibits the expression of those artists. In this case, the trans community is also in danger.

Drag is commonly defined as an art form involving those individuals who display themselves as someone not of their assigned gender at birth. Here, the drag performers may be able to navigate around its criminalization, but our trans fellows have to deal with this every day. The vague definition of drag could lead to the criminalization of the public display of gender nonconformity. This broad criminalization will likely lead to powertripping, wherein the ordinary everyday people would take most of the brunt.

Aside from its effect on the LGBTQIA+ community, people in a community similar to drag may also be affected. Cosplayers or costume players, comedy skits, and plays that involve crossdressing may suffer from this. Business owners or school officials may have to exclude those who do “drag” in their spaces to keep their permits or to avoid legal actions. It will now become a problem beyond the drag industry.

The passing of such legislation would unsurprisingly cause a shift in the drag and queer space in our country. Again, as a predominantly Catholic country, drag may find its way back into the unconventional media. Attacks on the rights and freedom of the LGBTQIA+ community are not new in the country. Numerous efforts have been made to do so, such as the proposed

Heterosexual Act of 2022; not to mention the over two-decade continuing struggle to pass the SOGIE Bill. These attacks on drag are attacks on the freedom of selfexpression and identity, which has been what activists are fighting for decades. Now that drag has been getting its share of the spotlight, I hope it will continue to be seen in a creative light for people,

Calculators are essential tools for students to solve complex math problems, but they haven’t always been welcome in classrooms. In the early 70s, calculators became cheaper and easier to get, yet many schools banned them. They feared students would rely on them too much and lose their math skills.

This is a very similar situation to what is happening today with the rise of AI technology. AI chatbots are artificial intelligence programs that are capable of talking to humans. ChatGPT, an AI chatbot, was released to the world for free on November 30, 2022 and stirred headlines when it aced exams like the bar, the Wharton MBA and the US Medical Licensing Exam. Soon after, there were students who started using it to cheat on their school work. Schools banned ChatGPT to stop the incidents of cheating. Does this mean we need to restrict the use of AI chatbots, or rethink the educational system altogether?

Looking back at the calculator, it was once resisted but later embraced by the education sector when it proved to enhance learning. For instance, a physics student can focus more on understanding concepts than on tedious calculations with a calculator. Similarly, the education sector should recognize the value of AI chatbots and find ways to incorporate them into the classroom.

First, chatbots can transform the curriculum into a more engaging and meaningful learning experience. By enabling students to access relevant information for their research and project based tasks, chatbots can foster their creativity and critical thinking skills. Chatbots can also help students to develop their own questions and hypotheses, and guide them to find the best sources and evidence for their

not just for queers, but for everyone, as I had seen it back then. Someone fully expressing themselves safely does not reduce or endanger your self-expression or freedom. Art should be free, and we should keep it that way.

Blue Blood

ChatGPT or CheatGPT?

◘ Ace Canacan

arguments. They can empower students to become independent and confident learners who can explore their own interests and passions.

Second, chatbots can enhance the role of teachers by taking care of some mundane tasks such as grading student work, generating personalized lesson plans, and resolving student queries. The chatbot can save time and energy for teachers to focus on more impactful tasks such as small group or individual sessions with students. The chatbot can also support teachers to monitor student progress, provide feedback, and adjust their teaching strategies accordingly.

Lastly, chatbots can be a powerful force for democratizing education. They can provide access to quality education for students who face barriers such as poverty, distance, disability or discrimination. Chatbots can also act as mentors and coaches for students who need guidance and support. They can communicate with students in a natural and empathetic way, and tailor their responses to their needs and goals. Chatbots can inspire students to pursue their dreams and achieve their potential. Technology can change so fast that society struggles to keep up and embrace it. But overcoming this challenge can bring rewards for everyone. AI chatbots have the potential to transform education, but we need to recognize and harness it. The fate of AI in society depends on our choices: will it harm us, help us, or be irrelevant?

◘ Heart Haezel Gacayan

◘ Jake Salvaleon

Inflation dips to 7.6%, to cut down further – PSA

Recording the lowest since September 2022, the Philippine inflation rate eased to 7.6% in March from 8.6% in February 2023, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages drove the downtrend of overall inflation, followed by transport and costs in housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels.

National food inflation dropped to 9.5% from 11.1%, retaining the lower annual growth in the index of some vegetables, meat, and sugar.

While overall inflation observed a dip, core inflation, which excludes selected food and energy items, increased to 8% from 7.8% in February 2023.

Inflation in the National Capital Region (NCR) dropped, while all regions outside NCR posted lower inflation rates except Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Moreover, inflation in the bottom 30% income households slowed from 9.7% to 8.8%.

“The direction is going down, but of course, we want to bring down the inflation of the bottom 30% to a lower level,” PSA Undersecretary Dennis Mapa said, as the recorded rate is still higher than 4.2% in March 2022.

“It’s now going down,… ang challenge dito is that we want to bring it down further.”

Mapa explained that the only way to bring inflation down for the most impacted households is to make sure that food items, which consume most of their baskets, have low inflation.

Overall inflation in March 2023 corresponds with the forecast of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). Despite the ease, BSP warned that “weaker-than-expected global economic recovery” remains the primary concern to curb inflation in the country.

‘Paminawon pud tung gagmay’

Quiling Alibango, a 67 year old local farmer from Calinan, Davao City said, “Dapat ibaba ang mga presyo kay luoy kayo atong mga gagmay nga mag-uuma.”

Alibango is a producer of rice, fruits, vegetables, and livestock. In an interview with Atenews, she revealed the impact of inflation on small farmers in the city.

“Apektado gyud mi kung naa sa palengke namo dalhon.”

Alibango, along with other farmers in Rizal Park, continues to sell and decide the prices of harvested goods in the market. For livestock such as chicken and pig, she revealed that prices are too low when brought to the market.

“Pero dili pud na mumahal,” she said.

“Luoy man pud kayo tung mga gagmay nga mag-uuma, tung walang-wala intawon na nagapuyo diha sa siyudad, unsaon nalang nila pagkaon?”

Alibango asked the government to provide support for farmers hit by inflation. “Tabang lang suporta

pinansyal, mga gamit among gamiton sa uma, labi na sa gardening,” she said.

Exposing the disparity in government assistance provided to farmers, Alibango said that those occupying big areas are more likely to get support than small farmers who need help acquiring materials for farming.

For her, it’s difficult to understand the lack of support towards small farmers. “Ug naa may gali tabang, mga pinisik nalang. Di gyud pareha kadtong mga dagkong corporation… buhos tanan ang mga tabang.”

She further explained that farmers protest due to the government

not listening to their needs and requests. “Maghugpong jud ang mga mag-uuma pasibaw sa ilang mga gidahom.”

“Paminawon pud tung gagmay, ug paminawon pud ang dagko, para patas gani,” Alibango requested.

Gov’t measure to ‘fight high inflation’

Subsequent to recent developments on the economy, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno announced the creation of the Interagency Committee on Inflation and Market Outlook (IAC-IMO) as a “proactive measure to fight high inflation.”

In a press conference held April 4, Diokno said the IAC-IMO serves as an advisory body to the Economic Development Group (EDG) on measures that would keep inflation within the government’s targets.

“In the past, the reaction of the government [to inflation] has been ad hoc… Now, we are introducing more systematic methodology,” he said. The IAC-IMO is co-chaired by the Department of Finance (DOF), with the National Economic and Development Authority as chairperson and the Department of Budget and Management as vicechairperson.

Committee members include the Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy, Department of Science and Technology, and Department of Trade and Industry.

“What we need is information… so that appropriate interventions or policy responses can be undertaken proactively,” DOF Undersecretary Zeno Abenoja explained.

“The Interagency Committee will look at all these drivers of inflation. We will also tap into research institutions,… so that both supply and demand conditions will be analyzed during the course of the year.”

Abenoja bid that more hard data would aid in identifying possible disruptions in the supply chain of commodities.

“That’s how we think the IAC will improve the way we respond to policy pressures.”

◘ Joie Noreen Garces

Inflation in the bottom 30% income households slowed from 9.7% to 8.8%”

The Interagency Committee will look at all these drivers of inflation. We will also tap into research institutions,… so that both supply and demand conditions will be analyzed during the course of the year.”

COVID-19 threat impends amidst loosening of mitigation mandates

A

s the voluntary wearing of face masks in public spaces and the lessening of COVID-19 mitigation mandates are implemented, the virus continues to surge in multiple places in the country, garnering a 19-33 percent range increase in cases from the previous weeks, pre-2023.

The Department of Health (DOH) filed 1,721 new COVID-19 cases from March 2023 alone. Based on DOH’s coronavirus tracker, as of early January, the country’s COVID-19 death toll of 65,475 heightened with 78 more fatalities.

However, the DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire stated in an interview that the Philippines’ COVID-19 situation is manageable.

“Generally, our situation is manageable. The positivity rate has also decreased in most of the areas of the country as well as nationally.”

As news of decreasing trends of COVID-19 is released, average daily cases climbed to 246 from 167, recorded weeks before March 20. The country’s caseload since 2020 totaled 4,081,818, with 59 additional active cases in two months—indicating an alarming uptrend for April.

In preparation for the Holy Week, Davao Center for Health Development (DCHD) announced the possibility of a ‘surge’ in Advisory No. 2, Series 2023, as there is a notable increase in COVID-19 cases in Davao City.

“There’s actually a steady increase in the cases of COVID-19 ngayon. To the point that SPMC has actually opened a new

wing for COVID-19 patients…sa ibang hospitals also, I have seen marami na namang cases ng COVID-19,” Doctor-onduty in Ateneo de Davao (AdDU) college clinic Dr. Nina Custodio said. She debunked the ‘no more COVID’ belief, stating that the struggle with COVID-19 is ‘far’ from over.

“It’s still there. We’re still actually monitoring new strings of the virus. The only difference is, hindi niyo lang siya masyadong nakikita ngayon in the news. But that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist anymore.”

At the start of 2023, the Davao region, in particular, had the second highest number of cases with 371, Manila being first with 846, then Northern Mindanao (364), Calabarzon (270), and Soccsksargen (168) followed.

“Currently, hand washing, use of masks, and social distancing are still advised but not enforced. Vaccination is the main prevention, targeting 95 percent immunization to reach herd immunity.” Balete, Batangas Municipal Health Officer Dr. Czar Quinto told Atenews these as primary initiatives.

Dr. Custodio also reminded us to instill the fundamental protocols and follow simple preventive measures.

“For those who haven’t had their boosters or their immunizations yet, maybe you’d want to second think of actually getting them completed because World Health Organization’s definition of a fully vaccinated individual has the first 2 vaccines plus at least one booster.”

As of January 2023, the population of vaccinated Filipinos reached 94.48 percent, with more than 78.4 million

people immunized, and 23.8 million of those only got booster shots. Despite almost reaching the 95 percent target, Dr. Quinto reminded us to “not be complacent” and to remain vigilant.

“To be complacent is for those who never learn. I do hope that this pandemic makes us realize that we need to be vigilant. We need to let go of our basta na and or bahala na mentality. We need to be ready all the time... so that history will not repeat itself.”

On the other hand, restrictions imposed by other nations on China in response to COVID-19 emerged; Vergeire continued to state that there is ‘no need’ for DOH to intensify monitoring of incoming individuals outbound from China at all ports of entry.

“We don’t see the need to close our border or impose stricter restrictions specific to this country,” Vergeire stated in a press briefing.

In December 2022, DOH declared the issuance of Department Memorandum No. 2023-0578 or the Reiteration of Heightened Alert for COVID-19 Arrival from China.

Studies on safety

Dissertations emerged as President Ferdinand Marcos released executive orders on the country’s liberalization of face mask mandates.

Institute of Clinical Epidemiology at the University of the Philippines Manila Director Dr. Marissa M. Alejandria still urged to continue mask-wearing despite the mandate.

“Wearing your mask is an informed choice. Since it’s now voluntary, you need to

empower yourself to assess the risk for every activity you’re going to do and every place you’re going to visit,” she said.

With the university transitioning to onsite classes, third-year AdDU Medical Biology student Louie Tulipas mentioned feeling relatively safe without wearing masks nowadays.

“However, I still do wear masks in school or in public transportation just as an extra precaution, and bring an extra mask as well.”

Third-year Chemical engineering student Ysa Gil and fourth-year Nursing student Mary Capricho expressed the same sentiments, noting feeling safer because of the vaccinations but still wary of acquiring the virus.

“However, I prefer to still wear facemasks outside to protect myself from air pollution, dust, and the likes, since I commute daily,” Capricho said.

Nonetheless, Dr. Custodio still urged the mandatory wearing of masks inside the campus.

“Any company or institution has the right to actually choose the protocol that they want to adapt. If Ateneo feels that kailangan mandatory ‘yung mask inside the campus, then I think it should be followed.”

She also added current mitigation protocols instilled by AdDU regarding COVID-19.

“Practically, ang protocol ng Ateneo hasn’t really changed from the beginning. I think it’s warranted maybe because of the fact na may face-to-face na…pretty much ‘yung protocols that have been adopted by Ateneo based on the City Health Office and

Protocols remain the same.”

Government Health

G/F Arrupe Hall, Martin Building, Ateneo de Davao University E. Jacinto St., 8016 Davao City

◘ Felia Ross Sichon

◘

Photo by Ryan Nathaniel Balleza

THE NEVER-ENDING THREAT.

DOH OIC Maria Veregerie says that the increase in COVID cases following the new mandate is still manageable. Nevertheless, experts remind the public not to be complacent, but to be vigilant, citing COVID-19 as “far” from over.

Red-tagging on IPs & killings worsen, SABOKHAN leaders call for action

The heightening attacks and human rights violations in the Lumad community led SABOKAHAN (Unity of Lumad Women) Youth Officer Tin Olado and Youth Chairperson Lala Empong to be uncertain of the future of the indigenous peoples (IPs) in Mindanao under the Marcos-Duterte administration.

Panaghiusa, a broad Philippine network of IP groups, revealed that the cases of extrajudicial killings of leaders and members of indigenous communities reached up to 126 from 2016 to 2021.

“All of those indigenous leaders and civilians or their groups experienced redtagging at least at one point,” Panaghiusa National Coordinator Prince Turtugo stated.

The Global Witness’s Decade of Defiance report also disclosed that over 40 percent (114) of murdered land and environmental defenders were IPs. The organization stated that these individuals were “campaigning to protect their land and the environment, with nearly 80 percent of attacks against indigenous defenders taking place on the island of Mindanao.”

SOBOKAHAN officers also shared that their collective living and tribe are being eradicated and divided by the military.

“Dahil ginagamit ng militar yung kapwa namin para armasan at ipagsasabong kami. Nagbunga rin ito ng marami sa mga kabataang lumad na umalis sa komunidad at magpunta sa syudad para maging katulong.”

Other Lumad youths also cannot continue their education, causing them to get wedded at a young age.

According to Olado and Empong, the disrespect to the Lumad’s culture worsened as Vice President Sara Duterte wore the IPs’ traditional attire during the State of the Nation Addresses of President Bongbong Marcos in July 2022.

“Noong mayor pa siya sa Davao, siya mismo ang nagpasara sa 54 na lumad school sa Talaingod. Niredtag niya ang aming mga titser at ang mga tumutulong sa amin,” Olado and Empong emphasized.

Sara Duterte released a statement in 2022 stating that the schools were managed by teacher volunteers associated with the terrorist group New People’s Army, the Communist Party of the Philippines, and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines. Refuting the claims of the vice president, the House of Representatives Makabayan block said that the schools were shut down “through a combination of sheer intimidation, state terror and denial of due process.”

“Today, not a single Lumad school out of the more than 200 is operating in the aftermath of the violent attacks and denial of procedural recourse – denying over a thousand Lumad kids their right to education.”

With this, Sandugo Movement of Moro and Indigenous Peoples for Self-Determination spokesperson Eufemia Cullamata believed that the incumbent vice president wearing the Bagobo tribal dress to the SONA was meaningless and only for show.

In 2021, the Deputy Asia Director of Human Rights Watch (HRW) Phil Robertson said , “The Philippine officials’ red-tagging of Indigenous leaders and activists has often proven deadly and put their communities at risk.”

He further stated that these communities must not fear violence or death as it is their right to express their views and protect their land and cultural heritage.

HRW called the Marcos Jr. administration to “urgently issue a clear directive to all government officials to stop red-tagging and take appropriate action against those responsible.

The SABOKAHAN youth leaders also emphasized the power of social media in allowing the youth to internalize the crucial situation of the IP and fight the oppression of the state.

“Sa kapwa kabataan, huwag limitahan ang sarili sa kung saan tayo komportable at kung ano yung mga balita na napapakinggan natin. Maging mapanuri, at gamitin natin yung oportunidad na makakapagsalita tayo para sa mga pinagkaitan ng karapatang magsalita.”

Dahil ginagamit ng militar yung kapwa namin para armasan at ipagsasabong kami. Nagbunga rin ito ng marami sa mga kabataang lumad na umalis sa komunidad at magpunta sa syudad para maging katulong. ”

SABOKHAN continues to urge the dismissal of the fabricated cases filed against their teachers and classmates, expulsion of the military from communities, and end of mining.

◘ Julianne Kaye Cortez

◘ Illustration by Sean Anthony Penn Lacorte

WTE incineration to cause more problems than aid, says local envi groups

Opposing the local government’s wasteto-energy (WTE) project to address Davao City’s waste problem, various environmental groups underscored it would cause more harm than good to the environment and public health.

The WTE incineration facility is a P6 billion project of the city council intended to reduce the waste dumped at the sanitary landfill by burning and converting it to energy. This initiative is in response to the city’s landfill in Barangay New Carmen, Tugbok, currently operating beyond capacity.

Executive director of Davao City-based Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability Atty. Mark Peñalver said the project would not ‘effectively’ address the problem but generate health risks from burning solid waste.

“Burning wastes produces highly hazardous chemicals such as dioxins and furans. These toxic chemicals are known (to be) carcinogenic, impacts neurological development of children, causes respiratory diseases, and pollute our water and air,” Peñalver told Atenews.

The facility is planned to be constructed within a 10-hectare agricultural property in Biao Escuela, Tugbok District.

If pushed through, the project’s harmful residues would affect the residents of 20 nearby barangays, namely, Mintal, Santo Niño, Catalunan Grande, Langub, Waan, Callawa, Riverside, Balengaeng, Tacunan, Biao Guianga, Angalan, Los Amigos, Talandang, New Valencia, New Carmen, Matina Biao, Tagakpan, Ula, Tugbok, and Biao Escuela.

He also emphasized that the incineration would exacerbate the effects of climate change as it incites the city to produce more wastes to keep the facility running. It would even result in the importation of waste from other provinces or regions just to meet the minimum requirements.

The inputs for the incinerators are also made of fossil fuels, generating more greenhouse gasses and toxic emissions.

“Our policy- and decision-makers are fond of quick-fix solutions without looking at the sustainability and practicality of their proposed measures. Solving one problem should not generate one or more problems that are far worst,” he said.

The project requires significant costs for constructing the facility, operation, and maintenance equipment, which Peñalver said is an impractical move because it burdens taxpayers to shoulder the investment that would only affect them in the future.

Environmentalists have expressed strong opposition to the project due to its violation of environmental laws such as the Clean Air Act, which prohibits incineration, and the Ecological Solid Waste

Management Act, which promotes more environmentally sound waste management solutions. Moreover, the project is seen to threaten the informal sector and recycling business. According to the Sustainable Davao Movement, the materials burned in incinerators are often the same materials that sustain recycling, such as paper and plastics.

“With a WTE facility in place, numerous jobs would be destroyed in the informal and formal sectors, including waste pickers, recyclers, and haulers, as well as from the numerous companies and groups who up-cycle, recycle and compost,” they said in a statement.

Opting for zerowaste solutions than incineration

The data from the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) show that around 600 to 800 tons of waste are generated daily in the city, causing the overload of landfill in New Carmen.

Yet, the report on Davao City’s infrastructure development states that the increasing waste generated is a mixed waste of nearly 80 percent biodegradable and recyclable waste and 20 percent residuals.

In 2022, there were only 358.18 tons of residual waste recorded per day compared to biodegradable and recyclable waste at 606.91 and 223.15 tons, respectively.

Ecoteneo Director Mylai Santos said it calls for proper implementation of waste segregation and recycling rather than incinerating residual waste. “The problem is we’re not handling it effectively as what is in the law. Yun nakalagay doon, you reduce, you

SEGREGATION VS INCINERATION.

Executive director of Davao City-based Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) Atty. Mark Peñalver highlights that the WTE incineration facility might be a health risk due to burning. Environmental advocates instead push for more environmentally sound waste management solutions.

segregate, you recover the material. Kung ano ang natitira do’n, yung residuals, ‘yan nalang dapat ang naha-handle ng landfill. But if you put everything in the landfill, which is what’s happening, diyan talaga tayo nagkakaproblema,” Santos told Atenews.

Instead of resorting to WTE incineration, environmental groups No Burn Philippines urged the city government to invest in ‘genuine zero waste solutions’ as the former causes health and environmental problems to nearby communities.

One of the solutions recommended is the strict implementation of the single-use plastic (SUP) ban ordinance that will minimize the city’s residual waste volume.

Aside from the regulation mentioned, the suggestions include establishing barangays’ capacity and bolstering waste workers in upholding the specific provisions under the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (RA 9003), such as composting and recycling, and aiding businesses to set up their own accessible and cost-effective refill, reuse, and return-deposit systems.

In a statement, Sustainable Davao Movement (SDM) said they are pushing for ‘Zero Waste’ by reducing and diverting 90 percent of the waste away from the landfill.

“Putting eco-waste in place in accordance with RA 9003 will support job creation and value addition in the up-cycling, recycling, and composting, thereby breaking the cycle of extraction-destruction that has led to the current climate crisis,” SDM said.

SDM also calls on businesses to exercise Extended Producers’ Responsibility (EPR), where it encourages responsible handling of their products’ packaging design and recovery system without passing the burden to the consumers.

Meanwhile, Santos suggests the local government should establish an improved recycling industry that is inclusive of the city’s informal waste workers.

“We do not promote the poor working conditions of scavengers, but what we’re saying is you set up maayos na recycling system in which doon sila mag work sa mga MRF, sa mga recycling facilities kung hindi sa materials recovery. Na mas maprofessionalize yung kanilang ginagawa,” Santos said.

“Sayang na energy, resources, livelihood or employment opportunities. We can elevate it. Professionalize it. I-include talaga sila kasi as a sector, they are a sector,” she added.

Encouraging individuals to be true to the spirit of ecological solid waste management, the environmental director emphasized the need to ‘generate the least waste that will be disposed of or that needs disposal.’

“Kunyari pupunta ka sa market or wherever you wanna go, why don’t you program yourself na bring your ecobag or tumbler or whatever it is. Bakit kailangang what is convenient for you, but it’s really inconvenient for the planet and for communities who first feel the environmental effects,” Santos said.

Currently, the WTE project is still pending approval by the National Economic Development Authority Investment Coordination Committee due to the lack of funds for construction.

Meanwhile, an online campaign was created by No Burn Davao demanding the Davao City Council and Mayor Sebastian Duterte to dismiss WTE incineration and invest in genuine zerowaste solutions. The petition received 2,932 signatures as of writing, and they urge the public to join the campaign as a fight for the environment and the city’s future.

◘ Clein John Dumaran

◘

Photo by Jeni Anne Rosario

Ateneans ‘not in favor’ of mandatory ROTC – SAMAHAN R&D

With the talks of reviving the mandatory Reserved Officers Training Corps (ROTC) in the Marcos administration, the SAMAHAN Research and Development (R&D) unveiled through a survey conducted that most Ateneans are against the program’s reinstatement.

Out of 378 respondents, 267 (70.6 percent) students were not in favor, 73 (19.3 percent) were in favor, and 38 (10.1 percent) claimed that they were not affected by the implementation.

According to the report, the reasons behind the students’ opposition to mandatory ROTC include “concerns related to health, its impact on the quality of education, and the safety and purpose of the training.

On the other hand, the students who were for the implementation cited “character and discipline building, promotion of nationalism and patriotism, and its benefits for the mental and physical aspects of a student” as reasons for their support.

The students who voted that they were not affected by the implementation were wary of “implementation, safety, and security but brought up characterbuilding and nationalism.”

Contrary to the university results, the Pulse Asia Survey commissioned by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian revealed that 78 percent of Filipinos agree with reinstating the mandatory Reserved Officers Training Corps (ROTC), with respondents from Mindanao having the highest supporters at 92 percent. The survey also showed that only 13

percent of respondents disagreed, 8 percent were undecided, and the rest had insufficient knowledge regarding the issue.

Outgoing University President Fr. Joel Tabora, S.J. also previously expressed his dissent towards ROTC, as reported in a 2019 Atenews article, stating that it is not the “discipline we need.” Similarly, he challenged the program’s necessity amidst other pressing issues in his opening speech on the 2023 Oath Taking and Awarding of Certificates of Election Ceremony. If implemented, a budget of P61.2 billion will be allotted to the program. Lawmakers such as Robin Padilla, Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, and Francis Tolentino were for the program, stating patriotism and nation-building as the reasons. However, rights groups have actively protested against the

implementation, noting that it “adds burden to students.”

ROTC is one of the current components of Republic Act No. 9163, also known as the “National Service Training Program (NSTP) Act of 2001,” along with the Literacy Training Service and Civic Welfare Training Service. The program remains an option for universities and colleges to follow.

This initiative was “designed to provide military training to tertiary level students in order to motivate, train, organize and mobilize them for national defense preparedness,” according to Section 3b of the law. However, the mandatory implementation of the initiative was abolished after the death of Mark Chua, who exposed the corruption behind his university’s mandatory ROTC program.

◘ Heart Haezel Gacayan

After 12 years in office, Fr. Joel Tabora, SJ, bids goodbye to Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) as the new university president will take over office in September 2023.

In an exclusive interview with Atenews, Fr. Tabora expressed that ‘much has been accomplished’ during his stay and responsibility as the AdDU President.

“When I came here 12 years ago, it was not so clear whether the Jesuits could stay here. Ateneo de Davao was, at that time, was plagued with internal conflicts because of our unions. I was told to give it our best shot and if it doesn’t work then we [would have to] pull out,” Tabora said during the interview.

Tabora added that his determination to work on better college operations made Ateneo de Davao stronger over the years he worked as the university president.

Tabora also shared that during his term, the university established a strong identity that was not only limited to being a teaching university but a ‘Catholic, Jesuit, and Filipino University’, tied to the AdDU’s mission and vision. He highlighted that his legacy in AdDU is achieving a certain clarity about the university’s mission and vision.

“The idea of university was something we have to clarify among our people because university implies not only instruction but it implies research, it implies looking for new truth, it implies being able to contribute to the world of knowledge. The mission is not only to teach but to research and

term

all are also mission to serve the community,” Tabora said.

Throughout Tabora’s career at AdDU, he put a premium on a Catholic, Jesuit, and Filipino University, especially the commitment to serving Mindanao.

“So Filipino [in Filipino University] has a distinct Mindanao thrust, a Mindanao finality. Just like our internationalization program, it’s an internationalization program for Mindanao. So I think that became clearer even as our mission statement, our mission activities became clearer,” Tabora said, explaining the reason behind the university’s updated mission and vision statement.

The mission and vision statement was updated five years ago to give specificity to the university’s vision as a Catholic, Jesuit, and Filipino University to contribute to the development and peace-building in Mindanao, according to Tabora.

In the course of his term, the integration of the K-12 Program and the adaptation of remote classes due to the COVID-19 pandemic were some of the leaps that the education system had to pass.

Tabora noted that building AdDU Senior High School’s 5-hectare location was a major decision to make as it is a preparation for a bigger intake of the student population.

“More important than just the physical [location] was rethinking the whole academic program from the beginning of grade school all the way up. We have to redesign the program so that it was vertically or horizontally articulated. Each step had to be able to contribute to one another based on the mission and vision,” he added.

The outgoing university president also said that the pandemic challenged

the university’s standing on finances, sharing that AdDU could only survive on a 2-month salary for its employees. This led to the university being the first in the country to transition to full-force online classes in June 2020.

“I asked our treasurer with the financial resources that we have, how many months salary did we have. He said we can survive for two months. Thinking of our employers and employees, etcetera, I just told people we have to transition to online. We have to convince the students that we can teach it and we have to take on the online instruction and we have to convince our students that this is the way to go.”

“As we progressed, we had to learn. And as we progressed, we had to understand the problems of the students. As we understand the problems of the students, we had to help improve the teaching of the teachers. That became the order of the day. We have to change different policies based on our dialogues with the SAMAHAN,” Tabora said during the interview.

Amid student petitions, the university administration has not followed the postponement of the starting of classes in August 2020. However, after 2 years, AdDU has officially moved its school calendar, where courses start in August.

AdDU’s new president

Fr. Karel San Juan, SJ, the outgoing President of Ateneo de Zamboanga University, will assume the presidency beginning September 14, 2023.

Tabora described the incoming president as an ‘excellent, professional leader with difficult administrative experience.’

“He’ll be able to work with different groups very easily. I think he’ll be a consensus leader, he will be consultative. He understands quality assurance. He knows what to extract, what to expect from different groups and he’ll hold the groups accountable.”

Consequently, it can be recalled in 2020 that Tabora’s rejection of the new school calendar starting in August resulted in numerous student petitions, arguing on the issues of “financial difficulties of their students and their families.”

Fr. Karel San Juan is currently part of the AdDU’s Board of Trustees and will assume the presidency for a 3-year term.

◘ Aika Khent Zainab Rosete

‘Much has been done’: Fr. Tabora reflects on his 12-year office

◘ Photos by Jerachris Megaela Rosal

The mission is not only to teach but to research and all are also mission to serve the community.”

A DECADE AND TWO.

After 12 years as the University President, Fr. Joel Tabora of the Ateneo de Davao University will be taken over by a new president in September 2023.

Palihog Ko: The Woes of Commuters in Davao City

Onething about the life of a commuter is that you never really know what you’re getting.

Sometimes you’ll be left standing inside a bus with the overhead compartments acting as handrails. When it’s time for you to pay the fare, the bus slams hard on the brakes because a car suddenly swerves in your lane without signaling, making you lose balance which, to many, would be embarrassing.

Sometimes you’ll be left paying hundreds of pesos for a taxi ride because the driver acts like a tour guide and has to take you to the Top 10 tourist attractions in Davao City, making the most popular excuse: “Ay, dili traffic diri dapita.”

Sometimes you’ll be left re-enacting the movie 127 Hours inside a jeepney because the driver keeps hollering for more passengers that there’s still enough space when one-half of your buttock is holding on for dear life, the other half just gave up on life in general.

Of course, it’s not all depressing.

While peacefully crossing the pedestrian lane, a motorcycle suddenly speeds up and is about to hit you. Luckily, a cute guy grabs your arm and pulls you back just enough to save you. You would look awkwardly each other in the eye, maybe even feel a spark, and the rest is history.

But, nope; we’re talking about the possibilities of street life. So instead, he snatches your wallet and flees.

In a nutshell, the commuter life is a rollercoaster of experiences, and when it comes to addressing and solving this issue, it has been a void of nothingness.

“Full speed ahead,” Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) in the assurance of improving the transportation sector a priority. However, what’s speeding ahead instead is the hours lost in traffic, ambiguous pickup and drop-off locations, and a lack of pedestrian support on the highways, all contributing to Filipinos having one of the worst commuting experiences in the world.

In the context of Davao City, according to a city-wide social survey made by the Ateneo de Davao University, 23.7% of the respondents stated that traffic is one of the primary issues in Davao City, ranking second. Additionally, according to a survey among commuters in Davao City made by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), congestion is the leading traffic situation that has been exacerbated over the years, and increased car use is the principal cause of congestion.

Currently, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has been contracted to evaluate the current traffic issue and offer recommendations to the city for a successful traffic management system; they will gather information between February 20-25, 2023 through traffic counts, road inventories, visual inspections of existing traffic signal facilities, and focus group discussions to create a capacity-building training course that they will propose to the local government by March. However, the team stated in their initial observation that some locations are highly congested, especially in signal-light intersections.

Commuting is indeed one of the most hellish experiences in our country, especially in Davao City, and we’re all speeding ahead on a highway to hell.

Gone too far(e)

Inflation rates worldwide are high, particularly in the Philippines, where the annual inflation as of February 2023 is 8.6%, just a 0.1% difference from last month.

As a result, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Davao Region (LTFRB-Davao) implemented a fare hike on October 3, 2022, for traditional public utility jeepneys (TPUJ) and modern public utility jeepneys (MPUJ), raising the minimum fare for TPUJ to PHP12 and MPUJ to PHP14.

Meanwhile, the standard city PUB’s base fare has increased from PHP11 to PHP13.

Taxi flag-down rates have also increased from PHP40 to PHP45.

Although the 20% discount for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and students will continue, this is a significant development, especially since LTFRBDavao recently announced three months prior that on July 1, 2022, the minimum fare for jeepneys has increased to PHP11 from PHP10 due to the same reason that gas prices are getting higher.

For this reason, who knows, with the growing inflation rate, what if there is another fare

hike for this month or the next? That 20% discount will not be enough to shoulder everyday expenses for our commuters, especially those living in far-flung areas and with the onslaught of abusive drivers.

According to Ms. Daphne, a 2nd-year BS Nursing student, as somebody with limited allowance and who lives very far outside of Davao City, she has to find ways to save some money, and that was through negotiating with drivers to lower their fares.

Moreover, there were times when tricycle drivers would overcharge her even if her

destination’s near, and sometimes she had no choice but to accept their deal as she was running late for school.

“Sometimes, they would ask for high prices like PHP20, even if it was declared that PHP15 is the new standard fare for a tricycle. So, a lot of bargaining is happening: “Kuya, pwede 15 na lang?” Sometimes, they wouldn’t agree with that, and they’ll say, “Ma’am, bente na lang na, ma’am.” And since I don’t have any other choice because I’m in a hurry, I would grab the 20.”

◘ Giancarlo Rafael Tabios

◘

Photo by Denyz Zaira Persigas

With the increasing fare prices and worsening traffic conditions in Davao City, commuters continue to suffer in the struggles of public transportation in the city.

HIT THE ROAD. Commuters wait patiently as others race towards every incoming PUV in hopes of securing a ride towards their destination.

G/F Arrupe Hall, Martin Building, Ateneo de Davao University

E. Jacinto St., 8016 Davao City

Congestion service

In addition to the rise in fares, there’s also a rise in stranded commuters due to the insufficient presence of public utility jeepneys (PUJs) during rush hours. With this lack of anticipation from the city government of Davao, many people, especially students, pregnant women, and senior citizens, bear the inconvenience of not getting a ride right away, from enduring the scorching heat to evading the frigid rainfall.

To alleviate this, the City Government of Davao implemented the Peak Hours Augmentation Bus Service (PHABS), where additional buses will be dispatched during peak hours. As of January 2023, the City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) has partnered with bus companies to create a more developed monitoring system that makes it simple to

dispatch buses once there are reports of passengers being stranded on the streets. This system includes additional ground monitors, inspectors, and buses. However, this does not seem to be enough to provide a solution. According to Ms. Daphne, some commuters still struggle to catch a ride home. When the additional buses arrive, it’s usually already congested with many standing passengers.

“Whenever I’m at Buhangin, the seats of the buses are already occupied with standing as the only option, and as somebody who easily gets sore feet, I wouldn’t usually go for it, especially since it takes about 2 hours from where I live. However, as somebody with a curfew, sometimes I don’t have a choice but to take it.” She also added that “it’s particularly

tough for passengers who live in far-flung areas to catch a ride home since only a limited number of buses cater to their destination, so they have no other choice but to take a bus that will merely pass by their location.”

According to Ms. Julianne, an employee who commutes to and from work, there are also times when buses wouldn’t allow passengers to stand, so your waiting time will be longer, leading to you being late for work.

One thing is clear: there is a lack of consistency. With many stranded commuters congested on sidewalks to standing

commuters congested in buses, it has led to people opting to buy their modes of transportation to avoid the hustle and bustle, which leads to congested traffic. Ultimately, it makes mass transportation not serve the masses sufficiently.

catch

since only a limited number of buses cater to their destination, so they have no other choice but to take a bus that will merely pass by their location.”

High uncertainty system

Nevertheless, city officials have highlighted that the present bus supplementation through the PHABS is merely a temporary solution to the absence of public transportation in some locations during peak hours. The permanent answer is the High Priority Bus System (HPBS), a transportation modernization project in Davao City that addresses commuters’ safety concerns while promoting a security culture for a better public transportation experience through accommodating revamped buses. Although, this would phase out the local area’s jeepney network.

According to a report by MindaNews, only 15-year-old jeepneys and those no longer roadworthy would be scrapped. Yet, that’s the majority of the city’s jeepneys. Furthermore, the drivers of the scrapped jeepneys will be given preference when hiring by the operators of the HPBS buses. They will first need to complete training with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to gain the necessary skills before becoming bus drivers.

However, according to a report by AlterMidya, only 45 jeepney drivers had completed TESDA’s training. In short, the project lacks certainty, and

the commuters interviewed seem to agree. Ms. Daphne said that phasing out jeepneys is a tremendous leap forward, especially with its underlying implications.

“For me, jeepneys are a lifesaver because they’re so budget-friendly, and I can save a lot of money in a day, and if the government plans to pursue this implementation, I’m not sure if this will be budget-friendly as well because, at the end of the day, it is still a business.”

She also added that as somebody who has done fieldwork in a poor, rural community, she resonated with the jeepney drivers and how not everyone has that source of income in adapting to this new system, especially if it’s their only income.

“I understand the need for change in our

transportation system, but just because it will help the majority does not mean we should forget the minority affected.” Ms. Julianne also shares the same sentiment.

“I think it won’t be implemented as it should be because of the ongoing dispute between the government and the drivers, which ultimately will affect commuters in the long run. I hope they will instead consider fair, equitable modernization where no one gets left behind.”

Fortunately, the Senate encouraged the LTFRB to delay its intention to phase out conventional jeepneys countrywide by June 30 while they examined the project. It was later exte nded until December 31, 2023, so they could ensure the modernization program addressed the concerns raised by transport groups. Nonetheless, all remain uncertain.

Such is the commuting life

allowances, so they lower their fare a little, even if it gets them in trouble to fellow passengers giving their seats to the most vulnerable, even if they paid for their seats, those little things help tremendously in alleviating the nuisance of commuting life. It’s nice to know that no matter what happens, we can always lean on the people around us to take our bayad and give back our change.”

One thing is clear: we may have different experiences, but we commuters share the same ride, and that means something.

With all these inconsistencies and uncertainties in Davao City’s public transportation system, we may never know what we’re getting.

Of course, it’s not all depressing, for real, this time.

Ms. Daphne said that “what remains consistent and certain, however, is that commuters and drivers share the same predicament: we’re all just trying to get to our destination.”

“It’s nice to know that despite the plight that we commuters face daily, there are traces of kindness from strangers. From drivers who can sympathize with students with limited

Although public commuting in Davao City, or the Philippines in general, is so demanding that it has been called dehumanizing. Nonetheless, even with long wait times for rides and traffic jams, what endures and remains humanizing is our welcoming,

inclusive, and caring commuter culture, from giving someone a seat or showing someone how to get to their destination. Even though we may not have the authority to pass laws or have a say in the government’s initiatives, no matter what occurs, we, commuters, have the power to establish a culture of care in our public transportation.

Member of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines

I understand the need for change in our transportation system, but just because it will help the majority does not mean we should forget the minority affected.”

What remains consistent and certain, however, is that commuters and drivers share the same predicament: we’re all just trying to get to our destination.”

It’s particularly tough for passengers who live in farflung areas to

a ride home

It’s nice to know that despite the plight that we commuters face daily, there are traces of kindness from strangers.”

Of

neglected campaigns and misplaced priorities: The steep road back to #LigtasNaBalikEskwela

To a few students, the long journey back to the classrooms culminated with a heart-pounding drumbeat and exhilarating school chants. To some, it may simply be just sitting still in front of a laptop and being marooned inside the confines of their homes. Again.

Such was the case on September 5, 2022, when the Iskolars ng Bayan finally breathed life anew into the desolate two-year campus of UP Mindanao. Despite the limited faceto-face setup, the halls teemed with freshmen and upperclassmen eager to experience the typical first-day vibe on campus—something that Iskos had been deprived of for quite some time.

Nowhere near the first-day festivities on campus, however, was Zee Lobrino, a third-year BS Food Technology student, who was 300 kilometers away from Butuan City on that day. She began her first day the way she usually has for the past two years: she woke up to her alarm, checked her phone for academic-related emails and messages, and opened her laptop to attend their class online. It’s a routine that Zee and most Filipino college students have come to absorb for the past two years.

For the rest of the semester, the bitter reality of not having to commute to school with her friends or see to it that she has all her laboratory reports neatly answered and printed out were scenarios that Zee had a hard time grappling with. For the longest time, all the small, mundane things about university life were laid out in her mind clear as day, like spending extended hours in their college laboratory or walking past the greenery of her campus.

But there was no use for that on that fateful September 5. At least until then, she was stuck at home despite the availability of opting towards a face-to-face setup.

“Travel was the most difficult part for me. It eats up a lot of my time and money, which hurts me in many ways,” Zee laments. “I cannot afford to go on-campus for only a few inperson classes.”

Although Zee is already back in Davao City for the entirety of the second semester (and the rest of the succeeding terms), she admits that looking back at her plight as a student in an online setup is like rubbing salt on fresh wounds. To her, it’s as if everything she learned during remote learning went down the drain, addressing that the learning gaps of being in an online setup for quite a long time proved a little challenging to bridge during the actual, in-person classes they currently have.

“I still think [online class] is bad. I definitely do not learn as much, and I struggle a lot with tests. I’m in my third year and have not practiced laboratory skills in years. If I am to conduct my thesis study, I will need these skills. Otherwise, I won’t be able to finish it and graduate. That’s my biggest worry,” she added.

For students like Zee, the shift back to in-person classes was a welcome development to their otherwise crisis-ridden college education experience. Yet, as her scenario illustrates, the transition back to face-to-face classes is not smooth sailing, never mind “safe,” in the context of the everlooming presence of COVID and the socioeconomic crisis plaguing the country today.

For those in the hybrid or blended modes of learning, their quality of education is diminished in the face of not having the full opportunity to socialize with their classmates who cannot yet afford to go back to school or simply being able to participate in the many on-site extracurricular activities, and most importantly, to make use of the facilities needed for their chosen degree programs.

There might even be some students who haven’t stepped a single foot in the face-to-face classes despite being in a hybrid learning environment.

Hannah Bogay, a senior AB Psychology student at Ateneo de Davao University, has been going to the campus from the beginning of the school year until her very last exams for her college life. Since the implementation of HISFLEX, Hannah was usually in the Arrupe Hall or the gazebo area, prowling for available seats to attend classes in Google Meet. Albeit always in the school premises, Hannah is yet to (or might never even) experience the HISFLEX classrooms in AdDU as she is expected to graduate this summer term.

“It’s a bit frustrating because I already spent the first few years of college online. Last sem, we only had one subject that required us to go in-campus, but it was a minor subject, and [we] met around 3 or 4 times,” Hannah told Atenews.

Hailing from North Cotabato, Hannah literally went the extra mile to go to Davao City, hoping she, too, could benefit from the HISFLEX mode of learning that AdDU robustly promotes.

Yet, much to her dismay, she spent the entire first semester of her final year in college online. In the succeeding semester, she could not attend classes in the HISFLEX classrooms for most, if not all, of her professional subjects as she was deployed elsewhere for her internship program.

For Hannah, the inconvenience of being on campus despite not having in-person classes is a small price she’s willing to pay to salvage whatever’s left of her once vibrant student life.

A muffled #LigtasNaBalikEskwela campaign?

Indeed, Zee and Hannah are mere faces of the multifaceted struggle millions of Filipino students confront today. While the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) finally took a step towards going back to the pre-pandemic mode of education— thanks to its memorandum last November 2022, which prohibited total distance learning education—its recent announcement last February 2023 is a stark reminder of the inconsistencies of their policies, which for some concerned groups, is not only harming the academic community, but other sectors in the country as well.

Since February 14, CHED retracted its initial memorandum by saying that higher education institutions could still continue delivering “flexible learning” as schools must apply for whatever modality they deem fit based on their capacity to provide. Such a back and forth policy change captures not only the current state of educational governance in the Philippines but also reveals the massive gaps many Filipino students and teachers are compelled to carry on with, eulogized by the quintessential Filipino mark of resiliency. As usual, there has been no shortage of Filipino resilience manifested by how teachers and students have gone the extra mile to adjust and make the most of their sorry situation.

But, resilience can only get the Philippines so far. The Philippines is one of the last countries in the world to reopen schools, leading to massive learning poverty among Filipino schoolchildren, according to a joint 2022 study by the World Bank, UNESCO, and UNICEF.

Aiming to address and lobby solutions is the #LigtasNaBalikEskwela campaign, a broad nationwide movement spearheaded by advocates for education. Initially led by Rise for Education, a student-led coalition that calls for free, accessible, and quality education programs, the campaign has since been adopted and co-opted by many institutions and organizations in rebuilding the battered state of the Philippine educational system.

Primarily mobilized in social media, the main agenda of the campaign comes from disparate sectors; hence the diverse nature of grievances and calls for solutions. Yet, they all share common ground in their appeal to a “safe” return to classes. For example, members of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) and the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) launched online and on-ground protests anchored on the hashtag to demand authorities for better and more concrete plans for the safe reopening of schools.

The protests have come to highlight the plight of teachers and staff who bear the brunt of the swift pace of the sudden shift from online to face-to-face and now to the new hybrid and flexible learning setup that CHED and the Department of Education (DepEd) promotes. Most importantly, the campaign aimed to spotlight disenfranchised students and parents who are also left to wrestle the difficulty of transitioning back to school with the crippling effects of an ailing economy.

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◘ Jaecian Onoh Cesar

I still think [online class] is bad. I definitely do not learn as much, and I struggle a lot with tests. I’m in my third year and have not practiced laboratory skills in years. If I am to conduct my thesis study, I will need these skills. Otherwise, I won’t be able to finish it and graduate. That’s my biggest worry,”

The environment [on campus] is just different. Seeing students having their classes, cramming their outputs, and talking with their friends slowly brought back the pre-pandemic school atmosphere. It definitely helped in my productivity.”

As we finally return to campus for classes, some students share their sentiments on their blended learning experience, reflecting on the call to a safer return to schools.

The campaign seeks more than just the literal meaning of the “safe” reopening of schools by solely focusing on the democratized access to vaccines. Instead, it pursues better education governance from the administration to bolster the economic and social safety nets among stakeholders who were hit hardest by the crisis. It is anchored on the appeal that the administration must prioritize the overall welfare of students and teachers to fully integrate them into the new learning paradigm.

While the campaign has gained a lot of traction, finding concrete proof of its success is stymied by the aforementioned inconsistent policies by the current administration, coupled with the inadequate resources and lack of foresight to the extensive problems hounding the education sector. If anything, the current administration may have only paid lip service in heeding the call towards the genuine, safe return to reopen schools.

Vingeelou Omar Aton, lead convenor for Rise for Education-Davao and a student-leader at the Ateneo de Davao University, laments that there is “a lack of support from the government” in terms of passing legislation that would ensure the safe resumption of classes.

“[The] Ligtas na Balik-Eskwela is not a priority of this administration, even by our lawmakers. That alone is a massive roadblock to concretizing the campaign,” Aton states. “Perhaps we can also question the priorities of lawmakers now. It’s definitely not centered around education.”

“Misplaced Priorities” and the Future of postpandemic education

For many constituents in the education sector, the advent of the new hybrid setup remains rife with the ever-pressing burden of poor internet connectivity and the lack of sufficient resources and facilities that will simultaneously cater to both face-to-face and online formats. Also, CHED’s recent 2.2% or at least 2 billion-peso annual budget cut for 2023 is injurious, no less than to the public schools, but most especially hospitals and health institutions that are allied to universities, like the Philippine General Hospital, the country’s largest and “premier” public hospital that served as the main frontline center during the height of the pandemic.

By emphasizing that the education sector still receives the lion’s share of the annual national budget, the Department of Budget and Management deflects some concerned groups’ allegations that the budget cut reflects the administration’s “misplaced priorities.” Yet, by looking at the recent controversies from DepEd and CHED, with their debacles on confidential funds and ghost scholars, respectively, one can never really blame those who cry for justice.

Interestingly, the financial scandals come at a time when the education

secretary herself has pledged support to reinstate ROTC into the fold—indeed, advocating for a different brand of safety and security for Filipino students. Many higher education campuses, supposedly beacons of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, have faced increased hostility and militarization from state forces.

Such a militarized approach may have blurred the real essence of the #LigtasNaBalikEskwela campaign, neglecting simple calls of marginalized students, like those under the SPED and Indigenous Peoples (IP) curricula, who are yet to literally step inside hybrid learning-ready classrooms since the get-go of the return to campus mandates last year.

Lastly, the safe return back to school cannot be divorced from the equally important causes that have since been made more salient in the past years: mental health and efficient transportation.

The rising suicide, self-harm, and other mental healthrelated concerns during and in the aftermath of the pandemic have prompted youth sectors in Congress to urgently pass bills that strengthen access to mental health services. Meanwhile, the recent jeepney transport strike elicited yet another “word war” between the administration and progressive groups, burying the real issue that a problematic transportation system also affects our education system. The road back to safe and equitable education is literally and figuratively crisis-ridden, too.

In one of the press conferences of CHED last year, a senior official boldly claimed that there is no turning back to the old educational paradigm; we are now in the era of flexible learning. The claim is laudable, to say the least. It recognizes that the best way to navigate the new normal’s turbulent waters is to embrace innovation.

Yet, such a pronouncement requires authentic action that is deeply attuned to the realities on the ground. Because for the likes of Zee and Hannah and the other Filipino teachers and students who excruciatingly juggle part or full-time jobs, work overtime, and have unconducive working environments, CHED and DepEd’s policies seem out of touch with their plight. The fast-paced impulse towards educational innovations risks the danger of leaving behind those who actually need it most.

The fate of the #LigtasNaBalikEskwela rests not on mere hollow words and misguided concerns; it ultimately stems from a genuine drive to give what Filipino students and teachers genuinely deserve. Otherwise, we may well be on our road back to being stuck in an endless cycle of hashtags that leave no lasting change in real life other than creating more echo chambers in a virtual space that has done nothing but tear Filipinos apart.

G/F Arrupe Hall, Martin Building, Ateneo de Davao University E. Jacinto St., 8016 Davao City

LIGTAS NA BALIK-ESKWELA. Every student’s long-awaited wish is a safe return to campus. However, challenges still remain for students as they navigate the transition back to in-person classes amidst the ongoing pandemic and socioeconomic crisis.

MONTAGE

by Raphael Eddmon Tiu

The spaces we create in dump accounts

With social media platforms easily available at our fingertips, we are able to expose fragments of our lives that make many of our stories whole. We virtually create social spheres, making spaces to allow the world into the narrative. We start letting people in through doors and not just hold them outside as they peek through our windows.

However, the spaces within our personal structures are still indefinite and boundaries are yet to be drawn.

Ironically, the extensive world of social media has been and continues to be constricting for many. And with the freedom to create countless spare accounts, the internet has been no stranger to people having multiple accounts at once.

These spare accounts have been around long enough and have gone by different names. We had them by finstas (or fake Instagrams) in 2015 where people would just post their wackiest pictures that do not ideally go well in their “real” accounts. The familiar stan accounts that serve as the stronghold of local and international fan bases. We have what we call backup accounts in case we forgot about our passwords. There’s also the less reputable dummy accounts that are more troublesome in nature: the ones used for fake identities, scamming, waging keyboard wars, and even helping with the like count of candidates for the coveted Social Media’s Choice Awards.

But beyond these many “forms” as we might call them, there is also the kind that is more personal, private, and sentimental: dump accounts.

Dump accounts for starters

By nature, dump accounts tend to be uncanny, setting them apart from its other variants. From unique and often witty names that are not easily recognizable, the small number of friends and followers, to the long rants that are unbeknownst to the general public.

As if the custom viewers for Facebook posts, close friends for Instagram, and Twitter circles aren’t enough, users have taken it upon themselves to start creating these specifically confined spaces to actually be seen as they appear, heard as they sound, and felt as they are.

Even among Ateneans, the creation of dump accounts has been a common phenomenon. According to Justine Kaye Lu, an AB Communications major, “dump accounts are [created] for personal reasons that lean closely onto the idea of the level of intimacy we share with the followers we allow into that account, and a space to freely express ourselves in the most unhinged way possible.” She also said how dump accounts are similar to academic accounts where the contents published are only specific to maintain a certain “image” about which most Gen Z people are conscious.

For Fice Aguilar, an incoming 3rd year AB Psychology student, “dump accounts are there for people to have a safe space to dump what happens in their life with the people they trust the most, and it’s one way of choosing their audience.”

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Illustration

◘ Arch Sealtiel Ventura

“Dump accounts are platforms where you can share photos and videos without hesitation, knowing that your audiences are closely-knitted to you and are less likely to judge you.”

Christian Ruz Pendon, a 3rd year Business Management major, adds.

With the numerous dump accounts that exist in social media, many are the reasons why people create such spaces.

For Fice, it was only supposed to be for memories—photos, videos, and the like. But along the lines of capturing moments and posting memories, she eventually used it as a safe space to vent out her earnest sentiments.

Similarly, Christian shared how he can freely and intimately express

himself. “I can show my randomness, quirkiness, and other sides of me that most people don’t usually see without the anxiousness from the public’s unsolicited remarks and judgment,” he added.

Just as these statements suggest, the experiences within dump accounts are also comparably the same with many users. Within these spaces we create, we can foretell stories in vivid detail, become unfeigned in sharing experiences, and deliver meaning through the thoughts that we turn into ardent expressions. Simply put, we can claim a sense of inner peace in knowing that we can freely express but need not explain.

But while these hold their respective truths, there are still drawbacks in using dump accounts.

Despite the sense of freedom and privacy that come with managing these accounts, it is still possible for us to share too much without realizing the effects they have on our audiences. There could be times when we’re too complacent in posting that we have unconsciously shared problematic and offensive content. There could be times when we weren’t able to grasp how insensitive our posts have been. As the list goes on, in these contents, the genuine intention of creating safe spaces within these accounts could lose its sense.

The things we don’t say out loud

In dump accounts, we create our more intimate spaces; and within each space is a spectrum of stories that tell a multitude of things.

On one end are the mundane things like the cups of coffee we just bought or made, the all-nighters we try to pull as we hustle through our responsibilities, the “deserve ko to” moments of spoiling oneself after doing the bare minimum on tasks or even nothing at all, the stray animals that make us pause along pavements, and of course, those picture perfect dusks and dawns that majestically paint the sky.

On the opposite side, we speak of our momentous life achievements and how we managed to get there. We persuade audiences through lengthy posts arguing social issues and our perceived truths. We share our insights on things about which we don’t usually talk. We teem with promise as we share idealistic life lessons that touch hearts, spark action, and inspire lives.

And who would forget what sits right in the middle of the spectrum— the constant, unlimited supply of completely random internet memes and reels.

As we breathe life into a parallel world, we pour ourselves within its exclusive spaces. With the millions of things we have in our minds, it’s comforting to know that we have a place where we can simply let and leave things as they are; not as people who have roles to play, but

as people who can be more of our genuine selves.

Though honest as they may be, dump accounts existing doesn’t mean that everything else is fake in the larger scales of public accounts.

The content we share in our main accounts still hold their relevance. We still share those random life updates that no one asks for, post our cups of coffees and talk about our small wins, or be brutally honest about social issues and lived experiences.

But like how those clichéd words go, a glass can only contain too much water before it overflows. Similarly, we can only carry so much of the world before things start tipping out of balance. And when things get overwhelming, we commonly bottle up those emotions, thoughts, and sentiments, which then become the things we don’t say out loud.

Many are those who have cast aside parts of themselves simply as the things they don’t say out loud. In the bigger world of our main accounts, there are steps never brought to pavement, ideas that remain on the shelf, sentiments that stay unspoken, and opportunities that remain unhatched. We fear judgment. We feign affection. We become cynical towards how the world sees us.

But within the premises of dump accounts, everything has a chance.

Within these ‘safe spaces,’ we can share how we brought the steps to pavement by walking the long roads and taking the ones less traveled. As we turn our back against the persuasive mediocrity, we face our actual truths and create our own trail rather than follow the footsteps of those that have come before us.

We can actualize our ideas as we speak of the unspoken, turning the faint whispers into confident echoes, the little things into grand. We embrace the pain, discouragement, and judgment. We fuel ourselves with drive, energy, and passion and march onwards with our ingenuity as the grand things become bizarre, and as the bizarre becomes our own.

We lead our opportunities into fruition by grabbing the keys and opening doors that have remained closed for periods of time. We head for horizons—the never-ending pursuit of fearlessly chasing one goal after another, without holding back for what the world has to say about the journey.

Outside, people only see the product and not the process, and they start blabbering about our actions as if the choices were theirs to make. But within these spaces, we realize how we don’t need a big crowd and the world’s deafening applause after accomplishing our feats. Here, we take the relevant part of the world with us and let them witness from front row seats as we start to shine through.

Raindrops, ripples, and the roles we play

The relative encounters we share with the world connect us with each other. In the same way, the world relates to us through the windows of our experiences. But there is always a limit as to what people can see from these windows. Within these windows and structured walls are our own stories, like the ones that we hold close and let loose.

And whatever we choose to do with these stories are up to us: we can either keep it to ourselves or share it with the world.

By nature, dump accounts are created to liberate ourselves from the exhaustions of the world. And for all we know, these spaces await with open arms those who are willing and deserving to witness what it brims.

As we stride back and forth from the bigger outside world to the smaller secured spaces we’ve created, it remains important that we stay grounded with reality. We still dedicate ourselves in pursuing the roles we need to play, the standards by which we live, and continue to show up when needed. The difference now is that when we drift back to our comfort zones, we know which stories we want to hold close and let loose.

However, it does not simply stop at that.

In the spaces we create, we must also maintain a clear sense of responsibility in handling the freedom of expressing what’s actually on our minds. We make sure that the things we want to say out loud do not deafen what truths also exist outside of ourselves. After all, dump accounts are still public accounts that only hold a relatively small number of audiences, and it would defeat its purpose if we do not become responsible for our actions.

We’re no strangers to the analogy about how the raindrops that fall towards the Earth create ripples, showing how something so small could still have a broad impact. Those raindrops are the same ones that fill up the lakes, flow through the rivers, and flood into the ocean.

In the same way, we are like the clouds that bear these constant raindrops. The raindrops signify the

thoughts and sentiments we share, and the ripples are the impacts they create. With the world being an infinite ocean of knowledge and information, how we contribute to its waters define us.

In the vast ocean of social media, we are merely ripples.

But this does not mean that we are anything less than the impact we leave. Everything we put out there has its own, significant effect on those that it reaches. What lies upon us now is what we want these ripples to create.

The world is and will always be unfolding as it should. With both its big and small spaces, we take on the world with one meme at a time, one coffee post, one insight, one ripple— one story at a time.

G/F Arrupe Hall, Martin Building, Ateneo de Davao University E. Jacinto St., 8016 Davao City

In the vast ocean of social media, we are merely ripples.”

DIVERSIONS

Baryo Tinyo ◘ Tricia Janelle Oasan

Member of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines

G/F Arrupe Hall, Martin Building, Ateneo de Davao University E. Jacinto St., 8016 Davao City

Grades Reveal ◘ Lezlee Rodriguez

Na-traffic ako bai ◘ Anne Dominique Fabian

Beyond News

◘ Illustration by Mariz Aylah Cenojas