CNSM returns to spotlight, wins multiple awards bringing weight to HIV awareness in GAD Film Festival
Maria Nicole Silva
The College of Natural Science and Mathematics (CNSM) snagged minor awards for Best Editing, Best Storyline, Best Screenplay, and Best Director at the 2024 Gender and Development (GAD) Film Festival. The awards were announced after the public screening held in the Audio-Visual Room, University Library, on October 11.
With the theme “Kasarian ng Kapayapaan, Kapayapaan ng Kasarian,” several films were showcased, including Sa Lawas ng Kambas (College of Social Sciences and Humanities), Hakbang sa Kalayaan (College of Engineering), Sa Pula Sa Puti (Senior High School), Hiraya (College of Business Administration and Accountancy), Headturner (College of Agriculture), Kapitan (College of Fisheries), MamaCoco (College of Education), and Tara, Fun! (College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics).
Sa Lawas ng Kambas took home awards for Best Poster and Cinematography, Sa Pula Sa Puti won Best Music Design, and Kapitan claimed the GAD Empowerment Film award.
Peace and GAD
Monlouie M. Sorzano, Director of the University Press and Communications Office (UPCO) and Head of the GAD Film Festival, emphasized the festival’s importance in advancing gender and development causes through student filmmakers.
“For the longest time, the GAD Film Festival has gathered student filmmakers from
across colleges. We believe that by using their talent in creating films, they can advance their causes for gender and development. These films, when screened publicly, can open discourses and empower students to engage more with these issues,” Sorzano said.
He also highlighted how the theme for the 2024 intramurals was centered on peace, noting that this year’s GAD Film Festival integrated peace with gender and development.
“These films are not just about gender and development, but also how these issues are closely tied to peace,” Sorzano added.
Breaking the three-year streak
After three years without bagging any awards, CNSM finally gained victory with their entry Tara, Fun! directed by Vince Visiete. His previous entries, Ngano Ka? (2022) and F’nalami Ikto (2023), did not secure wins, but through persistence and learning from past experiences, Visiete led CNSM to victory this year.
Visiete expressed the relevance of their film in addressing the rising HIV and AIDS cases, particularly in General Santos City.
“I think it’s in the matter of very relevant yung problem dito sa landscape ng Gensan kasi yung HIV and AIDS natin dito is tumataas and isa din yan sa, yung naturang kultura mismo, isa din yan sa mga contributing factor, bakit mataas yung cases na yun. So [yun] yung significant ano [factor] niya,
Referrring to the film as one of his platforms din as an HIV advocate, Visiete said that he hopes that this kind of topic, which is considered as a taboo in society, can be discussed earlier.
“With that awards na nakuha namin, it’s a testament na really the public is ready to lend their ears [that] someone will take a lead in discussing relevant issues such as this,” the director said.
“I think to awaken their senses, again, when it comes to their sexual health, that finally, through this film, we were able to create an open discussion related to this matter, that these are the things that we shouldn’t hide, but more of like, be openly discussed in an educated manner, so that all of us, whether you engage on that very culture, like the states of film or not, that you are protected and you are reminded to be responsible, and I think that the film also achieved that kind of end goal that I aim for as a filmmaker,” Visiete added.
CNSM’s victory, following three years of perseverance, not only earned them recognition but also indicated the crucial role of film in promoting awareness on pressing issues like HIV and AIDS.
The major awards for the said event will take place on October 14 at 6 p.m., along with the Literary Night at the University Gymnasium.
MGDS spearheads debate competition with Genshin Impact motif
John Paul Siapel
General Santos City, October 11 – As the stage is set both physically and virtually, the Mindanao State University - General Santos City Debate Society (MGDS) organized the 4th MSU-GSC Parliamentary Debate Championship (PDC) with a Genshin Impact- like adventure, marking the beginning of the preliminary rounds of the competition.
Preparations
In an online interview with Angela Kirtana M. Candole, Tournament Director, she emphasized the importance of giving code names such as Khaenri’ah, Natlan, Liyue, Sumeru, Mondstadt, Fontaine, Inazuma, and Snezhnya from the Land of Teyva, acknowledging the need of fairness and integrity of each group.
“It has always been a mantra of MGDS to be impartial, that’s why we are also hiding the colleges from adjudicators and observers under code names of the various Genshin nations to ensure that there is no bias and fairness is achieved,” she stated.
In addition, Candole shared that MGDS was inspired with Genshin Impact to highlight the thought that debate is not only for formal and exclusive to those intellectual, but also for everyone who wants fun and enjoyment.
“MGDS currently has the goal of making debate as something fun and relatable as opposed to something intimidating and exclusionary, and I think the choice of making the theme for this year’s installment based on Genshin would reflect our pursuit to that goal,” she explained. Preliminaries
Candole stated that the first two rounds
of preliminary competition was exciting, especially with each contender showcasing their wit and grace as they represented the government and the opposition, one of the anticipated moments of the said event.
“To be honest, a lot has happened during the 2 preliminary rounds of debate but if you were to ask me about the highlight for today’s debate rounds, it would be how the tournament ran smoothly and was on schedule. Sure, there were tech difficulties here and there and fortunately, so far, there were no delays which is rare for debate events,” she added.
According to Candole, the event experienced challenges with the platform that they used for online communication, Discord, and some minor technical diffuculties, but it also served as motivation to continue and finish the preliminaries.
“With the competence of the Organizing Committee, we were able to move past these struggles and continued, learning and moving past these problems. Additionally, we are very greatful for the competence of the presence of the Core Adjudicators given that all were of great help in ensuring that the rounds still begun and ended with little delays and choke ups,” she exclaimed.
Moreover, Candole expressed her gratitude to all who contributed to the success of the preliminaries, hoping that it succeeds up until to the final round
“I feel satisfied and grateful that the collective effort of the organizing committee members to facilitate the first day of PDC has paid off. I feel
invigorated for the next rounds; and hopefully we will be able to live up to this success for the remaining two days,” she highlighted.
What’s next?
After the three rounds of preliminaries, the semi and final rounds of PDC will be held live at Y Building at October 13, 2024.
The hype and tension between the debating teams, and the motions to be presented by the chief adjudicators are few of the topics that MSUans can relate to.
MSU Dance Night faces changes due to nationwide SUC budget cut
GENERAL SANTOS CITY, October 11 –Facing constraints due to the nationwide budget cut on state universities, the Committee on Dance of MSU General Santos’ Intramurals noted several changes in the execution of the much anticipated Dance Night.
According to Reymart Canja, the Head of the Committee of Dance, one of the effects of the budget cut is the evident changes in the guidelines, limiting stunts to level one only to avoid accidents.
Level one stunts include cartwheels, roundoffs, forward and backward rolls, front and backwalkovers, knee or waist level single leg stunt, two-footed prep, straight cradles.
“[If something bad were to] happen to them. Yes, you [students] are our priority. So that’s our responsibility as a university,” he said.
Furthermore, he noted that the Dance Night is not only the event that is affected by the budget cut.
Additional judges
The Committee Head also emphasized that despite this problem, he had managed to convince the administration to raise the initial budget intended for the event.
As a result, this year’s dance night noted an increase in the number of judges, jumping from five to nine, according to Canja,
“Judges should be different in every genre. Because what happened last time, so the issues previously in Intrams, that’s what I [told] them. So it’s like, I gave them an assessment. And then it was approved by the administration,” he said.
Canja emphasized that there would be a separate set of judges for each dance category, each assigned to those with their specializations.
Rural only
Canja also pointed out that the genre for the folk dance was completely changed from lowland, which included rural and urban, to purely rural only.
According to him, this change was made
based on the evaluation of participants, judges, and previous organizers of the preceding Intramurals’ dance night.
“Because urban and rural disciplines are different, so what I did now is I changed it into a specific folk dance, so it became urban dance now,” he explained.
On grievances
Aside from the guidelines, Canja also noted that a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was made.
“Since every year, when it comes to [intramurals], dance is the biggest issue. So, we had MOA so that there will be an agreement that these are the guidelines that we need to follow, when it comes to grievances,” he said.
According to him, he hopes that this year’s dance night would be successful and free of complaints. #
GUIA REBOLLIDO
CDP fills guideline loopholes from last year, aims to bring out NSPC-like atmosphere
The Collaborative Desktop Publishing (CDP) contest kicked off last October 11, featuring stricter rules and resolving errors from last year’s version of the said event.
According to the CDP Committee, shorter page content and lesser time duration of making the paper were among the new rules, which were modified from the National Schools Press Conference (NSPC).
Prof. Love Batoon, the Committee Head, explained that they created these changes to fix rifts from the previous year and will give
sanctions to those who’ll exceed the said rules.
“This time, meron nang binago sa guidelines since may mga nilagay talaga tayo na disqualifications sa mga di magsunod doon,” she said.
The committee also ensured the prohibition of online data through turning over of phones by the students before registration and jamming the internet connection from their respective laptops.
“Through CDP, ito yung maging pinaka-showcase kung anong
pwedeng mailatag ng ating mga estudyante tungkol sa journalism and responsible journalism,” Batoon said, when asked how the event will play a role in both intramurals and journalism.
The committee head also justified that the event will continue and is hopeful to consider adding broadcasting in the future.
The results for the desktop publishing event will be announced on the Literary Night on October 14.
IAN PAOLO VILLACENCIO
Against the Current: The Tribals in Motion
FAYROUZ OMAR, CATHYLENE B. BULADO
It takes a strong man whose shield against the fierce winds and turbulent waters is forged through unwavering faith and relentless resilience. It takes a strong heart to stand firm when faced with the storm, to draw courage from the depths of conviction and faith. But in this instance, it is not just a single man; it is the collective spirit of the entire Institute of Islamic, Arabic, and International Studies (IIAIS). As the newest institute at the university, IIAIS faced immense challenges during the 2024 Intramurals, where every step was a test of their resolve and unity.
But as the saying goes, smooth seas never made skilled sailors, and this was a journey where IIAIS had to sail against the current.
To Stay Afloat
“Mahirap talaga, kami ang nag-panday,
nag food committee, cheering, pati na ang props. Kami lahat!” Expressed by Muhammad Farhan Akil, IIAISSO president.
Muhammad Farhan Akil shed light on the immense challenges his institute has faced. The lack of manpower meant that students had to wear multiple hats; managing the construction of their float while simultaneously organizing food and cheering squads. To stay afloat amidst the swirling currents of competition and expectation, they had to be resourceful and resilient. It was a true test of their endurance, especially as the institute was newly formed and lacked the necessities that more established colleges had. However, they say all storms eventually yield to calmer waters.
“Pero, Alhamdulillah, and by the help of
Allah, natapos namin ang float at hapsay ang tanan for the parade,” Akil remarked.
Despite these hurdles, he highlighted the importance of teamwork and faith. The feeling of accomplishment that followed was a reward for their collective efforts. The struggle of balancing multiple roles and responsibilities not only pushed the students beyond their limits but also forged a stronger sense of community, a necessary tool for steering against the current of adversities.
Battling the Tides
Before we battle the harsh waves, we must bottle our determination and tenacity, equipping ourselves for the challenges ahead. In every boat we sail, every journey we embark on, we need a strong foundation to build upon—an identity to guide us
through the challenges ahead. Central to IIAIS’s participation was their float, which was not merely decorative but deeply symbolic. Guinakit, a traditional vessel used by sultans during times of war, served as the focal point of their design.
“The boat symbolizes the ‘Unang paglalayag’ ng Institute namin,” Akil proudly revealed, emphasizing that the institute was embarking on its first major challenge in the university’s Intramural.
This metaphor of the boat navigating through turbulent waters perfectly aligned with the institute’s journey. As a college made up of students from diverse tribal backgrounds, especially Muslim and Lumad communities, the Guinakit also symbolized their unity in diversity. The headdresses worn by the students during the parade reflected the sultans’ leadership, while the wives of the sultans symbolized the
strength and resilience of the women in their communities. Together, these elements expressed the institute’s cultural heritage and their determination to rise above the challenges they faced as a new addition to the university.
Reaching Pacific
“Despite it all, I’m very happy kasi smooth ang lahat. Especially during the parade, kasi may bearing talaga siya, and it represents the institute itself,” Akil said, beaming with satisfaction.
The successful parade became a testament to their efforts and a symbol of their perseverance. Thus, allowing them to have a positive view on their standing in the intramurals despite the adversities at hand.
“We will prove na kaya namin tumayo sa
sarili naming paa,” Akil emphasized. “And mangisog jud ang Tribals!” He added.
It’s not the smooth seas that define a sailor, but how they navigate through the rough waters. For IIAIS, this intramural was just the beginning of a long journey—one where they’ve already proven that they can rise to the challenge, no matter how strong the current.
With much confidence, clear vision, and a deep connection to their cultural roots, the IIAIS tribals are ready to continue sailing against the current, embracing the challenges that come their way because they are warriors of heritage, ready to leave a mark and definitely ready to carve their path.
Isog, Tribals, Isog!
ASTEEGS begin softball title defense with commanding display, anguish Vanguards via 9-3 triumph
BERJAN PAGADATAN
In a commanding display of their championship form, the College of Engineering (COE) ASTEEGS mirrored their last year’s dominance, defeating the College of Social Sciences and Humanities (CSSH) Vanguards with a convincing 9-3 victory, launching their softball title defense in the Intramurals at the University Quadrangle on October 11.
Despite the Vanguards’ early two-point lead, powered by home runs from their second and third hitters, the ASTEEGS held their ground, featuring Sandy Jaye Salili’s opening hit, a left field drive that cracked the scoresheet, which helped shift the momentum, closing the gap to 1-2.
ASTEEGS retained the odds in their favor on the first inning with a barrage of five consecutive home runs, flipping the score in their favor, 6-2, continued by Zyrine Garcia’s second inning’s dominant pitching, neutralizing CSSH’s batting lineup with her fastballs proving too much for Ana Claire Cenon and the Vanguards.
COE held the Vanguards to just two runs by the end of the third inning, which was sustained in the later innings, wherein Salili took over the pitching duties from Garcia and helped extend the ASTEEGS’ lead with three additional runs, securing a comfortable 9-3 victory.
ASTEEGS prodigy Nufable secures first singles win in women’s lawn tennis
BY PRINCESS GRACE TESNADO
Setting sail to stockpile wins, the College of Engineering (COE) ASTEEGS’ bet, Alyssa Victoria Nufable, struts her complete rout after calculating a significant margin with a five-point lead against Ashley Perez from Senior High School (SHS) Legends, 6-1, drubbing the first game of Lawn Tennis Women’s Singles today, October 11, at the University Lawn Tennis Court.
Nufable led a headstart in the opening sets of the game, as she consistently activated her flair to dominate the match with her strategic forehand strokes that demolished the defense of Perez, which orchestrated a comfortable four-to-zero set point situation.
Buoyed by the momentum, the ASTEEGS smasher capitalized on the faults and net
errors of the opponent to continuously stir up points. However, Perez was determined to slash back into action forcing three deadlocks in the fifth set, upturning the favor after the deuce and finally securing her pioneering point, 4-1, taking advantage of her ad in the latter part.
As they exchanged courts once again, both of them were unwilling to slacken the tie, as the trade of offensive attacks was evident after the exhilarating fifth set. But, despite Perez’s eagerness to regain momentum, Nufable flaunted her boldness in capturing the initial victory as she was unstoppable in her offensive attacks, bringing back the surge of the game on her racket and extending the lead by four, 5-1.
SHS’ Perez struggled to keep up with the rhythm towards the tail end of the game, resulting in her unforced errors and net faults, which boosted Nufable’s confidence to not fumble and continuously rack up points that dictated the fate of the game as the COE singles competitor emerged as the victor.
After securing her first win in this year’s competition, Nufable highlighted the importance of building a positive atmosphere and momentum for both herself and her team. She expressed enthusiasm for her intense training and preparation, driven by her goal to step up to the podium and proudly represent the reigning champions, the College of Engineering.
11 SPORTS
Anglers hook a resounding performance against Mentors after launching eight home runs in the opening inning
Displaying remarkable supremacy on the diamond court, the College of Fisheries (COF) Anglers held firm on its offensive prowess, refusing to let the College of Education Mentors break through, ultimately toppling them in a baseball duel with an imposing 15-1 victory, held at the University Baseball Field, October 11.
Starting the game with eight impressive home runs in the first inning, the Anglers proved that last year’s positive wrap-up is still within reach. With their strong defensive prowess, they effectively denied the Mentors any chance to gain ground.
With an effective pitching strategy and exceptional catching prowess, the Anglers silenced the Mentors, allowing no runs in the subsequent innings while unleashing a relentless offensive onslaught with successful base advancements and effortless scoring opportunities, ultimately
winning the game.
Anglers team captain Adrianne Sonsona expressed that their motivation in every game is to step up for their college, emphasizing their commitment to securing victories in the upcoming matches. He also highlighted that their strategy this year is to truly listen to one another, especially to the coaching staff.
Reflecting on their previous year’s silver finish, he noted, “Ang motivation namo is kailangan mag step up for our college [COF], mao gina-aim namo madaog mi sa mga next pa na games”.
On the other hand, last year’s champion, the ASTEEGS from the College of Engineering, are poised to continue their winning streak on the field after edging a 9-1 victory against the Wizards from the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics in their first game.
Anglers dominate Masters with a 2-0 sweep in Sepak Takraw Tourney
VANESS VILLAFUERTE
In a masterful display, the College of Fisheries (COF) Anglers secured a straight-set victory over the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) Masters in the second game of the sepak takraw competition, triumphing with a 2-0 set result at the University Sepak Takraw Court, October 11.
From the onset, the Anglers’ trio, namely Reymon De Pedro, Ronel Yares, and Angelo Delegencia, quickly established control, tallying an early lead of 7-3. They capitalized on their precise teamwork, with De Pedro’s spikes and Yares’ setups becoming a recurring nightmare for the Masters, who struggled to respond effectively.
Riding the wave decisively, COF stretched their lead to six, 11-5, as Yares’ defensive setups enabled
Delegencia to move with agility, and a fierce spike from Delegencia reinforced their dominance, allowing them to comfortably wrap up the first set 21-12.
SGS began the second set with a brief resurgence, taking a 2-0 lead, but the Anglers quickly regrouped as key players Yares and Delegencia once again worked in tandem to regain momentum, pushing the Anglers ahead to a 10-5 advantage.
As the Anglers built a commanding eight-point lead, De Pedro’s towering spikes sealed the Masters’ fate, and although a last-ditch effort briefly narrowed the gap to 16-10, the Anglers maintained their composure, with De Pedro’s final spike securing the victory and clinching the match at 21-14.
JOSEPH CARL ESTRERA
