SALA ay a MIN in

Habang patuloy ang pagniningas ng mga usap-usapan sa pagkatanggal ng lisensya ni Lorenzo ‘Larry’ Gadon bilang abogado dahil sa kaniyang lantarang pagmumura sa mamamahayag na si Raissa Robles, isang kritiko ng kasalukuyang pangulo, ay siya namang pagtuligsa ng ilan sa pagputong ng kapangyarihan kay Gadon bilang tagapayo ng pangulo sa isyung pangkahirapan. Dapat ang nasa posisyon ay magsisilbing ehemplo ng kaniyang nasasakupan, kaya naman isang malaking katanungan ang pagtalaga sa mga sekretarya ng ating pamahalaan.

Kung ating babalangkasin ang desisyon ng Korte Suprema sa pag-alis ng pagkakakilanlang propesyonal ni Gadon masasabing sapat ang naging 15-0 na boto ng mga husgado. Noong nakaraang 2022 ay umapela si Robles ng kasong libelo at paglabag sa Safe Space Act laban kay Gadon dahil sa paninirang puri nito sa kaniya. Ang pinagmulan ng sigalot ay ang sanaysay ni Robles patungkol sa kakulangan ni Marcos sa pagsalansan ng kaniyang dokumento para sa buwis na siyang nagbunsod ng patong-patong na kasong magdidiskwalipika sa kaniya upang tumakbo sa pagkapangulo. Nakakadismaya na mula pa sa dapat kagalang-galang na propesyonal nanggaling ang mga baluktot na pananalita na siyang lumuray ng pansariling dignidad, at nagsilbi ring pang-aalipusta sa dangal ng mga kababaihan. Kung kaya pinuna ni Senadora Risa Hontiveros ang pangulo sa paghirang kay Gadon sa kaniyang posisyon, hindi lamang sa pagkaalis ng kaniyang lisensya bagkus sa naging kinalabasan din ng pagpapasiya, na para kay Hontiveros ay hindi nakakapaghikayat ng tiwala sa gabinete. Para sa pangulo, sana ay bigyangdiin ang hustong pagtatalaga ng mga opisiyales sapagkat larawan ng kaniyang bawat desisyon ang magiging mukha ng kaniyang pamumuno na kasalukuyang pinuputakti ng anomalya at alegasyon.

Sa kabilang banda, inilabas naman ni Gadon ang kaniyang saloobin na aniya ay, “The word ‘secretary’ is sweeter than ‘attorney’,” sa isang pagpupulong, Hunyo 28. Dagdag pa rito na siya ay maghahain ng motion for reconsideration hinggil sa pagtiwalag ng Korte Suprema sa kaniya bilang abogado. Ngunit, kung ating titimbangin ang pagkatanggal niya sa propesyon, ito ay mas malaking krus na kaniyang papasanin kaysa umupo bilang isang sekretarya sapagkat ito ay repleksiyon ng kaniyang pagkatao at higit sa lahat naging maalam siya sa batas, na siya rin mismo ang lumabag. Sambit pa ni Hontiveros na ang pagpapatuloy ng desisyon kay Gadon na italaga sa tungkulin ay makakasira lamang ng burukrasya na kahit ang Korte iniluwa siya. Bibig lamang ng presidente ang makakapagsabi ng pasya, kaya naman ang malapit sa sandok ay nakasisigurong papasok.

Gayunpaman, naisin man nating siyasatin muna ng mga nasa itaas ang bawat hakbang na kanilang tatahakin, hindi natin maikakaila na hindi ang publiko ang may hatol dito, kundi ang iilan na ating binoto. Mahirap ang sitwasyon ng gobyerno kung lalaganap ang kapasiyahang salat sa katwiran dahil mauuwi lamang ito sa kakulangan. Ang Pilipinas ay nababahiran pa rin ng mga isyung pamumulitika— iregularidad sa pamamahala, kapos na serbisyo, at paulit-ulit na katiwalian.

Kung ang salamin ng pangulo ang kaniyang mga tagapamahala, ang mukhang kaniyang nakikita ay hindi kaaya-aya.

Entering college was fast paced for most students. With the existence of the pandemic, it was a sudden transition, especially for batches 2020-2021 and 2021-2022. It hindered the students from experiencing easy college academic development.

With college being the last four years of academics for most courses, students tend to aim for serious engagement and achieve a passing grade. However, although helpful and thankful for the option and opportunity of alternative learning, peak personal development is achieved slower than before.

Nevertheless, as of year 2022, everyone was once again given the opportunity to learn in a face-to-face environment. What does that mean for students?

A graduation redemption.

Here in Mindanao State University –General Santos City, on June 14, 2022, held its 43rd Commencement Exercises at the MSU Quadrangle. There, 3,111 students –graduating classes of 2020, 2021, and 2022, marched towards commencement. Despite the unfavorable weather, the graduates received their diplomas with drenched togas, but most importantly, with heavy smiles.

A year later and it’s another batch of graduates, from class 2022-2023. The 44th Commencement Exercises, with the theme, “The MSU General Santos: Celebrating Golden Years of Pursuing Academic Excellence, Creating Champions of Peace and Development,” is to be celebrated on July 20, 2023, at the university Quadrangle. With graduates graced with the opportunity to learn one last year face to face, what will they look back the most from their bumpy academic journey?

Several interviews were conducted before the respective pre-commencement exercises of the colleges. The graduating students were asked how eventful their college life was, what they will miss the most from the university, and what to look forward to after graduating as a MSUan survivor.

“Oneofthememorablemomentsfor meduringmytimeonthecampusisthe Intramurals2022,theIntramuralsafter thepandemic,”exclaimed a senior of the Marketing Management course, under the College of Business Administration and Accountancy. What made it magical, according to him, was everyone’s excitement through screams and cheers of their respective college chants. He mentioned the event’s highlights: the cheer dance competition, the torch lighting, and the beauty and flair of both the fireworks and music that played alongside.

“Formeandmypeers,itwasthelast intramurals.”Headded.“Tothisday,itgave megoosebumps,makingmeproudthatI wasanMSUan.”

A fourth-year student from the College of Social Sciences and Humanities under the History department, said that the Intramurals during their freshman year was the most memorable too. For them, it was the grandest and most awaited event as an enrollee of MSU. “Aside from friends, I will surely miss the overrated pastils, tornadoes of dust, our kiosk, the heatwave, and the unending events.”

Another graduating student from the same course and college answered that he will miss the students. He emphasized that the university stands out from other Mindanao schools because of the distinct culture of the students enrolled in MSU-GSC. He answered similarly to his fellow graduate, about what he will miss the most: “the unexpected gatherings in the field, mini sandstorms, the famous and affordable pastil in the woods –will always hold a special place in my heart.”

As an MSUan, one was molded to fight in order to survive. With that in mind, when asked what to look forward to after the transition, answers of all were synonymous to one word: grateful.

“Ilookforwardtothedoorsofopportunities andbeingabletoovercomeanychallenges orobstaclesbecauseIamaMSUSurvivor.I considermyselffortunate–whenIleave theuniversity,IwilltaketheknowledgeI gainedwithme.Ican’twaittotellmyfuture studentsaboutmyexperiencesasaformer MSUan.”

All students of MSU have encountered different challenges – which then led to their academic development. One may say that it is, and will be, a hard journey, especially under a well-known university, yet the University has produced graduates of exemplary nature every year. With seniors now entering a new chapter, they wonder too about the developments the next generations are to achieve.

A senior high school graduate of the same year acknowledged the upcoming changes, specifically the friendships and the people surrounding them. They stated an advice from a senior, “She told me to brace myself, because college is literally survival of the fittest.”

A classmate of theirs exclaimed his excitement and anxiousness for the transition, saying, “I am looking forward to the new people that I will be surrounding myself with.” They also mentioned advice from a faculty teacher. “College is a pool of various experiences. Know that you are not alone and would meet people who are willing to help you every step of the way.”

Bit by bit, one may realize it’s not just for the goal of “finishing,” but appreciating the hardships – acknowledging the fact of survival, embracing the new environment and knowing which real roads to take – that college will be both slow yet short, fast yet bumpy, and even tiring yet rewarding.

Regardless, to the university’s Iskolar ng Bayan, take your time. Take it day by day. You’ll be surprised, as one day, you’ll be the one looking back – hoping for a one last reminisce, yet ecstatic for the future.

GRACE JIMENEZ

JOHN ZHIDRIK GALON