The Official Student Publication of Mindanao State University
SECOND SEMESTER A.Y. 2024-2025
VOLUME 44 ISSUE 07
General Santos
© Leonidas
Separate Politics from Tragic Comedy
Philippines, in its present and one of the most pressing of times, is witnessing a live action of a tragic comedy, starring none other than those atop the summit of its politics: Vice President Sara Duterte, and the son of his namesake, dictator father, President Ferdinand E. Marcos Jr. These two represent all that is fundamentally wrong within our barely liberated country: extra-judicial killings, political dynasticism, historical revisionism, corruption, among so many other crimes against the Filipino people, and the nearly unshakeable power politicians can still achieve despite it all. Fellow countrymen, are you not yet tired and sick of not separating politics from your tragic comedies?
Punishment and consequence for the rich and the powerful is of an exact inverse proportion for the helpless and destitute.
Have more than what you need and take even more than you need--- you get applauded, seated into power, and have as little of a consequence as a feather-light slap on the wrist. The moment you have nothing lining your pockets, and perform even a petty crime? Prison at the least, but death at worst. And sadly, even during her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte’s War on Drugs, and during her time as a mayor in Davao City, the blood of citizens in the name of the politicians’ campaigns have long soaked their miles-long death toll.
Case in point, Vice President Sara Duterte’s long-awaited impeachment trials, after having been filed for about four times by now, with each reason worse and varying from the last. She gets a consequence, yes, rescheduled to July later this year after the President’s fourth State of the Nation Address. Justice delayed is justice
denied, and it is not solely the justice being brought about by her impending impeachment that the Filipino people have long been denied of. We were denied our rights the moment the names of promising youth and elderly alike lined the streets, the moment even being suspected of being a drug addict became synonymous with a death sentence.
Tragedy, left and right, rivers of blood spilled for a cruel, atrocious cause so blindly praised by many for the safety they thought they had. Many fathers, mothers, sons and daughters left their families’ sides, and what happens after the reign of the iron fist is the victory of his daughter. A cruel play of fate into which we played ourselves into.
The next step--- after having let the corrupt political thieves in, the door has been left open. Php 612.5 million in confidential funds (CF)--- that we know of---both from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) during her days serving as a secretary, gone, plundered, drained away to somewhere she so blatantly refuses to disclose. Everyone may laugh at the false names written in the acknowledgement receipts (ARs) for the disbursement of confidential funds, but the last laugh belongs to the one with heavy pockets ripe and lined with public funds.
The four impeachment complaints filed thus far, combined with the charges of previously filed complaints, all paint a picture of betrayed public trust, graft, corruption, bribery, and extra-judicial killings. Sara Duterte has managed to collect the criminal equivalent of being colorfully decorated with achievements, yet there she was, still considering running for president, enabled by a cult-like following that has
all but managed to justify all her crimes against the rights of humanity itself. If all the presented evidence so far still won’t suffice, one has to note how the VP recently had to go on flights in regard to her father, Rodrigo Duterte, and his trial in the International Criminal Court (ICC) to answer to all the deaths and inhumanity on his record as a result of his administration’s War on Drugs. They cry injustice at the first sign of prosecution, yet dodge due process and accountability while drying up all the resources of the country in order to do so.
It is clear to all present in the country that the more complex standards of election into office is close to none, if there are any at all. The unspoken, unwritten standard, however, is another story. Being a murderer, thief, or even actively serving one’s prison sentence, any qualities belonging to a criminal deserving to be cast behind bars are as good as those truly competent, and they all run within the same race to take up governmental seats.
“The world is a comedy to those that think; a tragedy to those that feel,” Horace Walpole, the author of what is generally regarded as the first gothic literary work ‘The Castle of Otranto’, once said. What of those who live inside a tragic comedy unfolding in the process, feeling every single and miniscule political instability and incompetence rippling from above? We cast the actors and actresses as we cast our votes, and we inadvertently suffer injustice in the process of exercising our rights.
Separate politics from tragic comedy, one might say, but the real kicker is how we, the Filipino people, are helplessly part of it as well.
13 million research budget to motivate faculty researchers - MSU-GSC Chancellor
LYNXTER GYBRIEL LEAÑO, JOHN PAUL SIAPEL, DAVE MODINA
GENERAL SANTOS CITY – After years of waiting, Mindanao State University – General Santos City (MSU-GSC) has announced the distribution of Php 13,833,000.00 in research funding, including incentives for faculty members who successfully published research papers since 2020.
This initiative recognizes their dedication and commitment to fostering research excellence across various fields of knowledge and was announced during the Flag Raising Ceremony on February 3.
Through these research incentives, faculty members were encouraged to make efforts in the goal of increasing international rankings by encouraging research publications, such as Scopus-indexed journals.
Chancellor Shidik Zed T. Abantas, shared that the budget was part of Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE), where an estimation of Php 8,000,000.00 was alloted in project for SOCCSKSARGEN research consortium, and the remaining Php 5,000,000.00 was given to pending incentives for faculty since 2020.
Motivation for the hard work
“Para ma-motivate yung faculty natin to do research, kasi every time sinabihan ko sila na we should do research, ang sinasabihan rin
nga kami na babayaran sa incentives eh. So ang ginawa ko is pag-upo ko, pina-inventory ko lahat ng pending na incentive,” Abantas shared when asked in an interview by Bagwis.
Abantas emphasized the importance of increasing research publications in the university, as evidence of improvement and excellence in research and academic fields.
“Ang research is parang 70%, so kung wala kang research, talagang hindi ka mag-rank, and if we are able to publish at least siguro five hundred, half of the one thousand, mapapasok tayo doon sa observer status,” he emphasized.
Moreover, Abantas pointed out the importance of research in the community by having studies related to the tuna and the product industry.
“Tapos yung mga research natin sa tuna, we were able to identify na hindi naman pala nagsunset na yung tuna industry sa Gensan kasi sabi nila wala na daw kasi nahihirapan sila maghuli ng tuna kasi dumarating na sila as far as Indonesia na, pero based on our tuna research, na-found out na may mga larvae pala ng tuna,”
Abantas also believed that there is a need to find ways to ensure the larvae grow and the ecosystem returns to balance
Abantas also cited the essence of the research outputs in the university’s extension programs.
“For example yung sa OPAPRU, which we are doing it helping former MNLF combatants, and ang ginagawa na ang dami nating extension work sa kanila,” he said.
He noted that the tractors, harvesters, and haulers placed there were given to the community in their areas, and with the assistance of the university and the College of Agriculture, they were taught how to farm.
Furthermore, Abantas mandated every extension project to add research aspect to identify strategies and intervention to problems present in the status quo.
“So, I instructed the group to conduct research to assess whether government interventions in the MNLF camps have been successful or not. A new strategy needs to be developed,” he mandated.
He also suggested that they research whether
the children of former MNLF combatants are able to attend school and even reach university, requesting a report on this, as it is something they consider important but not easily measurable.
Redirection of Admission
In addition to providing policy direction, Abantas directs the admissions office to facilitate research, as universities tend to prioritize accepting wealthy students over those who are underprivileged.
“Because free na ngayon ang public tertiary education, so ang nangyari yung mga pobre, the low income families, nagbabayad ng tax para mag-aral ng free ang mga anak ng mga mayayaman. So instead of, parang the poor is paying for the education of the rich people,” he added.
Abantas wanted to know the demographics of the university, prioritizing the increase of accepting low-income families, and to acknowledge the first-generation students.
“Kasi kung hindi sila papasasasase, tapos yan yung background nila, baka we can give them inclusive policies, ara makapasok na lang sila on that basis. For example, graduate ka sa very very rural area and ikaw ang class valedictorian pero ang score mong sasasase 40 or 30, So talaga hindi ka papasok, in which para sa akin, gusto ko pag-aralan pa rin yung profile niya”, he delivered.
He also highlighted the prioritization of those students with single parents, parents that are part of LGBTQIA+ community, and athletes due to inclusive admission.
“This August, this August na, kaya masakit ang ulo ng admissions director natin kasi narami siyang ginagawa. By next week, ata ang magbe-benchmark sila sa MSU-IIT because IIT is doing it,” he highlighted.
What’s the relevance?
With the emergence of support in the research and academic fields of MSU-GSC, programs, activities, and projects will be more inclined in research and development, serving as a guide in implementation and application.
The allotted budget serves as motivation to the faculty members of the university to continue pursuing research and to keep on publishing results to contribute to the academic field of expertise.
MSU-GSC Strengthens Gender Advocacy Through GAD Corner, Expands Women’s Month Initiatives
IAN PAOLO VILLACENCIO, MARIA NICOLE SILVA
In a continued effort to promote gender equality and inclusivity, Mindanao State University-General Santos City (MSU-GSC) has officially launched its Gender and Development (GAD) Corner, reinforcing the university’s commitment to fostering an informed and proactive academic community.
While the initiative is now gaining visibility, Dr. Ruhama L. Gomez, Director of the Center for Women Studies (CWS), clarified that its inception dates back years ago.
“It [did] not happen only this year. Actually, itong decision na ito na gumawa ng GAD Corner happened long time ago, nung kapanahunan pa ni Ma’am Precy Regalado... hindi lang siya namaterialize,”Dr. Gomez stated.
The GAD Corner is designed as more than an aesthetic addition to the campus; it serves as an information hub that provides crucial resources on gender-related concerns.
“We always wanted to be updated with all the things. And besides, peace university tayo, and gender and development is one way to achieve peace,” Dr. Gomez emphasized.
Equipped with a digital screen, the GAD Corner serves as a platform for broadcasting genderrelated information, including content on the Safe Spaces Act, women’s rights, and campaigns against gender-based violence.
MSU-GSC is also expanding the initiative across various university units. Plans are already in motion to establish GAD Corners in the College of Medicine, Graduate School, and Integrated Laboratory School (ILS), as well as in major administrative offices.
“Nasa process na yung papers. Across the university ito, hindi lang dito sa main campus, pero doon sa College of Medicine, sa graduate school, at sa high school natin—they will have their own corner as well,” Dr. Gomez shared.
To ensure the initiative’s sustainability and visibility, MSU-GSC is standardizing the design and purpose of GAD Corners.
“We want it to be sustainable. We want it to be identified. Para pag nakita ito, ay, GAD Corner ito, madaling ma-identify,” she explained.
Strengthening Collaborations for Gender Advocacy
Beyond campus-wide efforts, MSU-GSC is actively working with local government units and organizations to broaden its gender advocacy reach, such as the City Population Management Office (CPMO), NGOs, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to strengthen its programs.
One major initiative under this partnership is Tara Basa, a community outreach program where MSU students actively engage in gender education and livelihood training for marginalized communities.
“Nakiki-collaborate tayo with DSWD for Tarabasa. Pupunta tayo sa mga communities through the DSWD,” Dr. Gomez stated.
Students also play an active role in gender advocacy with student organizations launching a napkin drive last year, distributing essential hygiene products across colleges.
Advocacy in Action
To mark National Women’s Month, MSUGSC has lined up a series of events aimed at promoting gender equality and social awareness.
The lineup includes a Bloodletting Drive on March 11, encouraging students and faculty to donate blood for a noble cause.
Following that, a Livelihood Training session on March 12 will offer hands-on workshops in creating dishwashing liquid, fabric conditioner, and slippers, equipping participants with valuable entrepreneurial skills.
Additionally, the university will host the “Her Story” One-Minute Video Contest, a weekly challenge celebrating women’s empowerment, with cash prizes for the best entries.
Wellness programs will feature free
screenings for thyroid and osteoporosis, as well as legal awareness sessions focusing on Muslim women’s rights.
Culminating the month’s activities, the “Run for Peace and Equality” marathon is scheduled for April 2, serving as a fundraising event to benefit the Home for Girls in Fatima, directly supporting the welfare of young women in need.
“This is going to happen through a run for a cause... Those who will be running on that day know that they will be helping this Home for Girls,” Dr. Gomez highlighted.
A donation drive is also ongoing, with student organizations collecting clothing and essentials for the residents of the home.
While Women’s Month highlights women’s issues, MSU-GSC emphasizes that gender advocacy extends beyond one demographic.
“This one is for everyone. Kasi pag sinabi nating Women’s Month… We are actually pushing for equality of everyone, not just women,” Dr. Gomez noted.
She further underscored the evolving role of women in society, “Women kasi in the past have been considered a weaker sex, na dapat nasa bahay lang kayo. We do not want that. We want women to be equal with men in society, in leadership, in holding an office. And we can see that progress is happening.”
As MSU-GSC continues to expand its gender advocacy efforts, the university reaffirms its role as a progressive institution championing equality, inclusivity, and empowerment.
© Krishtine Rivera
‘Ang hirap mong mahalin, Pilipinas!’ rings far and wide across this country’s islands, and with every echo is the accompaniment of yet another reason to repeat the line. We lie in a can of worms we opened by exercising our right to vote, and the relationship we are in is akin to being with a lover one can’t leave. For the price of loving one’s country, we are paid back with the ever-present hike of basic costs of living… unlike in the so-called ‘Golden Era’. An abundant time long past: abundant with debt and atrocities so painstakingly painted over with a fresh layer of lies.
A Lover You Can’t Leave
Like a love-hate relationship, Filipinos find themselves in a political entanglement they cannot easily escape. The political arena at the moment is conflicting with the initial promise of unity and progress of our elected leaders, for the nation we see today is grappling with political turmoil, a bitter irony against the backdrop of February and Valentine’s Day celebrations.
The recent impeachment proceedings against the nation’s vice president cast a long shadow over the month supposedly filled with evoked images of romance, affection, and togetherness. This stemmed from several accusations, including the misuse of public funds and alleged threats against key figures in government, which in a broader sense are not just political scandals but represent a heartbreak of the very core of trust in the current administration. The relationship between the people and their leaders is susceptible to crumbling, and many Filipinos now find themselves entangled
in a complicated relationship they voted for but are struggling to free themselves from.
Sadly, the act of choosing leaders, often seen as an act of collective hope and faith, has left many Filipinos feeling trapped in an endless predicament, similar to a lover they can’t easily leave.
Price of Love
Going beyond the political drama, the relentless rise in the prices of basic goods and commodities equates to a harsher picture of love’s cost. This makes February not solely about romantic gestures but rather about the daily struggle to make ends meet. In this context, the price of love is measured not in sweet chocolates and flowers but in the bitter choices families must make between feeding their children and paying their bills.
The growing cost of food and other essential commodities makes the simple act of staying alive a daily battle, making the poor even more vulnerable and helpless, leading to a devastating impact of economic hardship on families and relationships. It is a love story in the absence of romance— a harsh reality where the struggle for living overshadows all other forms of affection.
But who really is to blame for this crisis? Is it the powerless, struggling to survive, or those in power, driven by insatiable greed? Because in times where comfort knocks on their door, people easily get swayed, often casting votes that would cost them a harsh and unstable place to live in. The irony is obvious, a tender reflection on the complexities of a nation navigating a chaotic path, where the price of love is far higher than anyone could have imagined.
Gaslighting Lover
Nothing spells romantic more than nationwide gaslighting--distorting reality and history itself to paint a picture of a golden age. Beneath the glamour of abundance lies the rot of national debt that shall devour the next generation.
Beware: tyranny encroaches upon the boundaries its subjects neglect to set. When will we start drawing the line between the excuses of convenience and ‘practicality’, and the point upon which respect for what should have been a lasting revolution is blurred?
Wounds have barely healed from the last declaration of Martial Law, and the time since it was abolished has barely surpassed 39 years. Not even half a century later, our country sets down a carpeted path for the son of the very dictator who once ensnared the land.
What our martyrs once wrote with blood is slowly being washed out with each ‘trivial’ adjustment of the country’s monumental victory--- barely dried, fresh in memory yet so faded in reverence. There is none the wiser, for all who have been have ended up six feet under.
Lovelorn
This so-called ‘love for one’s country’ is a lie— at least, in the case of all that are presently in power. Their words, sweet nothings repeated a thousandfold, just to come to a halted silence the moment that authority and control has reached their grasp. The result? Filipinos, left lovelorn, their support for whom they perceived as hope remaining unmet, a love unrequited. Love and lies, during the month of love… a tragic yet fitting theme.
Music has undeniably become part of our lives, filling the emptied holes in our hearts while completing us despite our brokenness. We turn to songs that mirror our experiences—whether they can make us feel loved or shattered, helping us process the overwhelming burst of emotions that comes with loving and losing.
Love can be about almost anything—it can be about our favored or disliked programs, past-achiever selves, favorite people, romantic partners, college friends, and family. The limitless amount of joy, sadness, hope, and pain that walk along with us are bound to let us go through all sorts of the notes of life. And when we think we are feeling all these emotions given by love alone, there’s Niki, who will sing and be with us as we record each momentous album about our melodic odyssey as an ‘oa’ na iskolar ng bayan.
Niki is a rising star in the music industry, known for her introspective lyrics that capture the complexities of love, loss, and personal growth.
“Well what do you know? Suddenly, you’re older now”
The lyrics from Niki’s song “24” remind us how we keep on growing as a young adult, becoming world-weary, about the subtlety, about life being a relentless blend of pain and joy all at once all the time, about knowing more than we ever have, and yet nothing at all. There will be times that we are confident about something we love, all varieties of it, and still become lost in the rhythm.
Backburner
The subtle complexities of love and self-reflection come through again in Niki’s song ‘Backburner,’ where we confront the challenge of longing for a past love—or even a past version of ourselves.
Before entering the university, we become over the moon or are walking on eggshells about the extreme possibilities that the new chapter would welcome us. We have every single thing that we need as we try to venture into another unfamiliar tone of our academic journey: dream programs that we want to pursue that would keep our heart beating in the rhythm; partners whom we hoped to listen to different genres and sing with us while we pursue our goals. Unfortunately, it is an idealistic ideology to think that we could hum every tune and not settle for an option other than our own established expectations.
As iskolar ng bayan, we inevitably face unfulfilled aspirations—dreams we once cherished but had to set aside due to financial struggles, unforeseen obstacles, or limited opportunities.
Every one of us has our own backburner. Sometimes, no matter how carefully we write our lyrics and harmonize our beats, circumstances will always exist, trying to ruin the soundtrack to our soul. It forces us to set aside people and dreams, often in favor of more pressing opportunities.
I remember people who first came to MSU, dreaming to pursue a specific program they felt passionate about. But like many of us, financial constraints forced them to set those dreams aside. The feeling of being on a ‘backburner’ was something they had to reckon with—and still do.
That’s just it, a wall we can’t break, a bridge we can’t cross, and a melody that we can’t finish. We thought… Lowkey, Before
There’s a subtle connection between Niki’s ‘Lowkey’ and ‘Before’. It is the relatable conflict and complexity of love, longing, and nostalgia for a past relationship—to our lovers or perhaps, to our past-achiever self.
Becoming romantic partners isn’t always the case. However, at some point in our lives, we were able to meet a certain person that we shared our playlist with. Someone that made our hearts skip a beat. Yet for some reason, we keep on hiding in the shadows.
While others’ hands are already full longing about romance, some dry out tears keeping tabs to relive
memories of a past-achiever self. The lyrics prompt us to reminisce about the old times on how we bottle up our eagerness and sacrifices in a worthy exchange—medals, certificates, podium finish, to name a few.
Everything felt right before, then suddenly it wasn’t anymore.
Heirloom pain
There is one thing most MSUans have in common—the burnout fire that is supposed to keep us going on a head start. It feels like we are on a repeated cycle of a single song, that despite the countless renditions over various generations, the burden of the themes is still as heavy to listen to and carry. It really gets exhausting over time, realizing that the family we once loved, who is supposed to give us the unconditional and unbreakable foundation for our growth, is the one who lets us end up in anguish and a compost pit.
The ongoing issues within the family that we once cherished are now deeply affecting us. The financial problems that hinder our productivity and the high expectations placed on us often lead to frustration and burnout. Like there is no progress, or if there is, it is not even an ounce of help. Nevertheless, of the emotional weight and of inherited pain and trauma, we’re doing it anyway. Not solely for the satisfaction of others, but to heal ourselves and break the cycle of unresolved heirloom pain.
Take a chance with me
Our life may be a symphony of dissonance, like a broken chord and a heart out of tune; regardless, MSUans embody resilience and determination that is globally competitive. Take a Chance With Me by Niki motivates us to take a leap of faith in whatever relationship we have and open ourselves to vulnerability. The lyrics reflect a desire for someone to take a chance on love again—to love the program we once hated, to love our past or current relationships, old and new friends, and family, and explore the possibility of a deeper connection, despite uncertainties or fears of getting a muffled drum.
It will be really hard to open our mouths and utter the words that have been trapped for a long time, but if fate permits us to meet the person or things that could give us the courage and confidence to finally say what we feel, perhaps it won’t be as tough as ever before. Maybe we will be able to savor pastil again or endure those dust devils and scorching heat in the hallway not as our old damaged and burnt-out selves, but as new MSUans—valued, cheerful, and competent.
Every Summertime
Just like any other cliché romance story we see on dramas and cringe over, most of us had a life like this too. The cycle of being in love, broken, and in love again is undeniably chaotic and miserable. Though we’ve been lost and stumbled many times, we would always look for ways, for solutions, for places, and for people who can accompany and sing with purpose.
Summertime gives us the warmth of new beginnings; the nostalgic feeling this song offers reflects on a past love, capturing the fleeting and magical moments we have. Like how the memories from our relationships that have been temporary or short-lived remain vivid in the corners of our minds. It is a universal experience of remembering a special connection and how memories can feel distinct when they are tied to a specific time of the year, like summer, like rain.
That is just how life is. It is a crescendo—a continuous process of ups and downs. Just like the music we listen to, the hurdles we encounter are endless, but neither so are the chances for growth. Each note, whether blissful or despairing, builds toward a melody we may not yet fully grasp. But perhaps that’s the beauty of it. As MSUans, we learn to embrace the dissonance because it’s part of the echoes of love we’re creating.
Sa Lilim ng Pulang Ilaw
KNA
Buhol-buhol na wire ang bumungad sa akin nang tumingin ako sa labas, katabi nito ang pulang ilaw ng traffic light. Pansamantalang huminto ang tricycle na sinasakyan namin. Ang drayber, tila aligaga—hindi s’ya mapakali; tingin dito, tingin doon. Nagmamasid, para bang may hinahanap. Maya-maya pa ay nataranta ito, bumalik, at lumiko sa isang kalyeng hindi ko pamilyar. Tahimik ang lahat; anim kaming pasahero, ngunit ni isa sa amin ay walang nagtangkang magtanong. Sa kabila ng kabang nararamdaman ko, wala akong magawa kundi mag-obserba sa kanyang galaw. Nagbago ang direksyon ng ruta ni manong.
“Wala ko’y sapatos,” paliwanag niya.
Batid kong nakita niya ang pagkabigla sa aming mga mata. Hindi ko na rin maitago ang kabog sa aking dibdib. Late na ako, at higit sa lahat, hindi ko kayang tanggapin na takot ang nagmamaneho sa amin. Ang lider na dapat ay nangunguna, nagkasala sa kanyang tungkulin. Wari ko’y papalapit na ang panganib. Pero wala akong magagawa; hawak niya ang manibela.
Bakubakung kalsada ang nag-aabang sa amin sa bawat liko. Si manong, pilit tinatadyakan ang makina ng tricycle. Parang hingal na hingal na ang motor, at kung makapagsalita man, siguro’y nagrereklamo na ang mga gulong na tinutulak nang pilit. Kahit mali, ipinipilit pa rin.
Pero bakit nga ba hindi kami kumibo? Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako, patuloy na tinitingnan ang cellphone, at sabay bulong sa hangin: kailangan kong magtiwala sa kanya, wala akong choice.
“LTO!” sigaw niya nang kami’y makasalubong ang isa niyang kasamahan. Mabuti na lang at naiisip nilang magtulungan. Pero napaisip ako—sino ba ang mali? Ang mga naghahanapbuhay o ang mga nagpapatupad ng batas? Siguro’y walang mali sa alinman, o baka pareho silang may pagkukulang. Pero baka ako ang nagkamali... Pero sandali, hindi ko naman pinili kung sino ang nagmamaneho. Sumakay lang ako dahil kailangan, dahil turno na ni manong.
Sa lilim ng pulang ilaw, naisip kong marahil ang pula ay hindi naman kulay ng pagbabago. Kung sa traffic light pa’y nagpapahiwatig ito ng pansamantalang paghinto. Ngunit paano kung hindi na tayo umusad? Paano kung ang ekonomiyang pilit nating inaahon ay patuloy na malugmok? Paano kung sa susunod na sakay ay ganito pa rin? Baka tayo’y patuloy na maghihirap habang ang mga nagmamaneho ng ating tadhana ay nag-aalangan.
Oras na para bumaba. Binigay ko ang bayad kay manong at nagpasalamat. Saglit lang ako sa aking pinuntahan, pabalik ay sinabi kong sasakay na ako sa nakasapatos. Napuno ang tricycle, nagsimula na ang byahe.
Ngunit bakit malubak pa rin ang dinaanan namin? May nakaligtaan ba ako? Parang kahit anong gawin kong pag-iingat o pagsisikap, hindi ko matakasan ang liko-likong daang ito. Tila ba ako’y iginagapos sa isang bulok na sistemang paulit-ulit akong hinahatak pabalik, pilit akong inilulubog sa parehong pagkakasadlak. Pinupunla nito ang pagdududa, ngunit patuloy kong itinutuon ang sarili sa direksyong alam kong tama.
Sapagkat kahit gaano katagal ang trapiko, sigurado akong hindi habangbuhay na pula ang ilaw ng traffic light.
Who Are We Even Choosing For?
Who are we really choosing for? For the unjust, the corrupt, or the puppets of society?
Funny, isn’t it? That the weary and the worn must choose leaders, yet find only empty names—mere muffled echoes of the past— those who intend to rule and not to serve, in a stage set to ensure their gain.
A ballot for a burden. A ballot for a life.
How many more times must we watch our own history yet again unfold and become twisted from our grasp? How many more times
must we mistake a name for a false vision—a hollow promise for a plan?
Who are we even choosing for? Are we making decisions for the future generations? Or will we once again be chained down by the oncerepeated premonitions?
For the true freedom of the nation, or for the profit of the privileged?
For the justice and truth, or the plays of power?
Who are we really choosing for?
© Jezrah Gamutin
© Chancellor Shidik Zed T. Abantas
MSU-GenSan ignites sports culture as Chancellor’s Cup 2025 heats up
JOHN WYNNE ESCOLANO
Championing physical fitness and sportsmanship, the Chancellor’s Cup 2025 takes center stage as faculty athletes battle for glory in basketball and lawn tennis, with the tournament officially tipping off in the final week of January and running until the last week of February at Mindanao State University - General Santos City (MSU-GSC).
This year’s Chancellor’s Cup highlights enhanced community spirit through diverse participation, as university staff and workers from various departments come together to showcase their unity and dedication to sports, turning the tournament into a platform for strengthening professional relationships beyond the workplace.
Basketball and lawn tennis headline this year’s meeting, while sepak takraw and badminton await approval, fostering camaraderie through sports and challenging participants to elevate their competitive spirit and teamwork in high-level play.
The basketball tournament electrified the Chancellor’s Cup as faculty athletes clashed in intense matchups, displaying sharp execution and relentless determination in every game, with games being played every Wednesday from January 29 to February 27, 2025, at the University Gymnasium.
Building on last year’s success, this year’s basketball tournament returns stronger with a randomized teaming system, through designated team leaders balancing players on strengths and game mentality.
Professor Nerio Ilisan, Tournament Head of Basketball, shared his insights on this year’s tournament, emphasizing that an event of this scale thrives on active participation, which keeps the competition engaging and ensures its success, as every player’s involvement contributes to the tournament’s overall energy and
excitement.
Reiterating the importance of physical fitness among university staff, he also encouraged more employees to join next year’s Cup, hoping for an even larger and more dynamic event in the future, with more teams and stronger competition elevating the level of play.
“All work [with] no play makes a man dull, so it is always [for] the wellness of the faculties and staffs” says Professor Ilisan, encouraging more employees to participate in future tournaments to maintain a healthy balance between work and physical fitness.
While also aiming to increase the prize pool to draw more challengers in the coming years, organizers hope to further strengthen the tournament’s legacy, ensuring that the Chancellor’s Cup Basketball Tournament continues to grow as a premier sporting event for faculty athletes.
As basketball delivered fast-paced action on the court, lawn tennis brought a different brand of intensity and finesse to the Chancellor’s Cup, challenging faculty athletes to showcase their techniques and precision, held on February 8 and 9, 2025, on the University Lawn Tennis Court.
Lawn tennis competition was divided into two classes, with Class B following a round-robin format and Class C adopting a double-elimination setup, pushing participants to step up and showcase their best performances.
“The tournament was held for over 4 years since the previous late Chancellor Atty. Anshari Ali. The Cup has seen better organization, increased participation, and stronger community ties, fueled by a consistent focus on its core values,” Professor Julius Mingoc, President of MSU-Gensan Lawn Tennis Club, shared
as he highlighted the tournament’s history and ongoing improvements.
Prof. Mingoc mentioned his aspirations to expand the tournament in the future by introducing more categories and enhancing community involvement, aiming to create greater opportunities for sports engagement.
With the strong backing of the administration, both tournament heads expressed their gratitude to the leadership of Chancellor Atty. Shidik Abantas, acknowledging his guidance paving the way for the tournament’s smooth execution and continuous growth, ensured that both basketball and lawn tennis received the necessary support to thrive.
Moreover, the Chancellor’s Cup is far from over, with sepak takraw and badminton already underway for approval, opening more opportunities for studentathletes to hone their skills and showcase their talent on a bigger stage.
Professor Christopher Del Sol, Takraw Tournament Head, highlighted that this year’s tournament serves as preparation for next year’s planned revival of MSU-GSC in the MASTS Games, providing student-athletes with a platform to train and refine their skills.
The Chancellor’s Cup 2025 delivered thrilling matchup and a deep sense of camaraderie, reaffirming MSUGSC’s commitment to cultivating a strong and dynamic sports culture within the university.
As faculty and student-athletes continue to embrace the competitive spirit, the tournament’s success set the stage for even bigger and more exciting competitions in the years to come.
SECOND SEMESTER A.Y. 2024-2025 VOLUME 44 ISSUE 07