Vol. XIX Issue nO. 1
JUNE - OCTOBER 2015
News 4 Save Lives, Give Blood HTC implements “No Plastic Policy” HTC spawns 3 New CPAs 5 Buwan ng Wikang Filipino, Ipinagdiwang! HTC congratulates New Professional Teachers and Criminologists Quillians invade ADDU 6 Teachers’ Day 2015 Held The Quill conducts JST
News Feature 7 English Fest 2K15 Massive Food Poisoning
Column 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Prosti-tuition Teenagers: Pornstars Be Not Sino Ang Dapat Sisihin? Editorial Borderline of Cyber Freedom Choose to Vote; Vote to Choose He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Blamed Justice or Just-tiis?
16 SOSA 2015
Sports 18 Intramural Days 2015
Feature 20 HTC-ENACTUS brings home National title 21 Photo Essay
Entertainment 22 Movie and Book Reviews 28 Comics
Culture 24 Graffio 26 Graffio 2.0 30 About the Cover
YOUR BLOOD IS OUR INK.
NEWS Holy Trinity College implements “No Plastic Policy” By Adznier Waya and Avegay Cabel
Blood donors from the Rotary Club of Dadiangas.
Save Lives, Give Blood By Andrea Juanatas and Avegay Cabel
A bloodletting activity was conducted at Holy Trinity College open ground and Pharmacy – Nursing Laboratory on September 14, 2015 from 8:00 A.M. – 12:00 Noon. This said activity was initiated by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, General Santos City chapter, in collaboration with HTC - Red Cross and the Rotary Club of Metro Dadiangas. The activity registered 70 blood donors composing mainly of students from the College of Criminal Justice Education, the military, and other walk-in volunteers. A total of 70 blood bags were donated. The bloodletting activity was in line with RA 7719 or the National Voluntary Blood Services Act which aimed to promote affordable and equitable blood product for the indigent community. Aside from being able to help patients who need blood transfusion, regular blood donations also regenerate the donors’ own blood. Today, in the developed world, most blood donors are unpaid volunteers who donate blood for a community supply. In poorer countries, established supplies are limited and donors usually give blood when family or friends need a transfusion (directed donation). Many donors donate as an act of charity, but in countries that allow paid donation, some donors are paid, and in some cases, there are incentives other than money such as paid time off from work. Donors can also have blood drawn for their own future use (autologous donation).
Holy Trinity College of General Santos City has just recently implemented the “No Plastic Policy” that simply restricts the use of plastics inside the school premises effective June 29, 2015 . The policy is enforced on Tuesdays and Thursdays which forbids plastics inside the school. Moreover, the said policy aims to lessen plastic wastes and support and strengthen the world’s environmental concerns. In addition, this move is reinforced by the entire HTC community. Though the policy exasperated every Trinitarian on its first week of implementation, it gradually became a routine for every one not long after it was enforced.
For more information, see the table below for the proper disposal of your trash:
BIODEGRADABLE
NON-BIODEGRADABLE
Cattle dung compost animal bones leather tea leaves wool paper wheat
aluminum cans glasses bottles plastic products metal scraps grocery bags plastic bags Styrofoam computer hardware
HTC Spawns 3 New CPAs By Andrea Juanatas
Holy Trinity College of General Santos City produced three (3) passers in the Certified Public Accountant board examination namely Jomar T. Agui, John Mark G. Cadua, and Ronnel Cauayan. The passers are among the first Bachelor of Science in Accountancy graduates. Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Licensure Examination is considered as one of the most difficult licensure examinations in the country. The 2015 CPA Board exam was given in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Iloilo and Legazpi on May, 2015. The Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) announced that only 959 out of 2,132 successfully passed the board. Eunice Millicent Ong Li of Chiang Kai Shek College topped the CPA Licensure Examination carrying a score of 92.29%. HTC passers, on the other hand, got the highest passing percentage in the entire region. Bachelor of Science in Accountancy is one of the new programs this institution is offering. As a course that started 5 years ago, HTC has yielded its first batch of graduates on March, 2014.
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(L-R)Jomar T. Agui, John Mark G. Cadua, and Ronnel Cauayan are the passers among the first BS Accountancy graduates.
NEWS Buwan ng Wikang Filipino, Ipinagdiwang! By Sajir Rasmei Pangansayan and Jelica Llego
“Ang wika ay siyang kaluluwa ng bawat bansa kung kaya’t atin itong mahalin at pagyamanin.” Ito ang diwang nais ipabatid ng Trinitarians sa kanilang pagdiriwang ng buwan ng wika noong ika-26 ng Agosto ganap na 3:30 ng hapon na may temang “FILIPINO: Wika ng Pambansang Kaunlaran”. Ipinamalas ng Kulintayaw Dance Troupe ang kanilang angking galing sa pagsasayaw ng mga katutubong sayaw na sinundan ng iba’t ibang awiting bayan na labis na nagpasaya sa mga manunood ng programa. Ang nasabing pagdiriwang ay higit ding naging makulay dahil sa iba’t-ibang paligsahan na inihanda na nagpapakita ng dunong, talento, husay at pagka Pilipino ng bawat mag aaral sa HTC. Idinaos ang unang bahagi ng pagdiriwang noong ika-14 ng Agosto na kung saan ginanap ang mga paligsahang katulad ng tagisan ng talino at talento sa pagguhit o poster making contest. Nagkaroon din ng paligsahan sa sayawan, kantahan at pagiging makata. Labis na galak ang nadama ng mga kalahok sa mga paligsahan katulad na lamang ni John Paulo Quiamco na nakuha ang unang gantimpala sa tagisan ng talino, sinundan ni Beverly Allas at ni Sister Emelyn Varon na nasa ikalawa at ikatlong mga pwesto. Iginawad naman ang unang
gantimpala kay Dianna Rose Londres para sa poster making contest, ikalawa si Emerson Orbesido at Sheenalyn Dollente na nagkamit ng ikatlong gantimpala. Nanguna naman si Rosel Cabales bilang Makata ng Taon na sinundan ni Mary Claire Bombales. Sina Romel Samano, Jenny Babe Autor at Leah Ann Ahyeng naman ang mga pinalad na magwagi ng una, ikalawa at ikatlong gantimpala para sa hiyaw ng Pilipino. Ang pagdiriwang na ito ay nagnanais na mapagyaman ng bawat mamamayang Pilipino ang paggamit ng Filipino bilang mabisang pamamaraan na magbubunsod sa pangangalaga ng kulturang Pilipino at pagyabong ng diwang nasyonalismo bilang isang lahi. Layunin din ng pagdiriwang na mapaigting ang paggamit ng wikang Filipino sa matuwid at mabisang pagpapahayag at komunikasyon tungo sa kaunlaran at pagkakaisa. Sa pangunguna ng Samahan ng mga Mag-aaral sa Filipino katuwang ang kanilang masigasig na tagapayo sa katauhan ni Ginang Melodena Brazil, tunay ngang naging masaya, matagumpay at makahulugan ang paggunita sa atting Buwan ng wikang pambansa, ang wikang Filipino.
HTC Congratulates New Professional Quillians invade ADDU By Norabhel Otañes and Julian Loyd Libasa Teachers and Criminologists By Allynna Marie Buca
The College of Teacher Education (CTE) and College of Criminal Justice Education (CCJE) of Holy Trinity College of General Santos City continue to deliver quality education and training as manifested in the recent results of the board exams. The Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) and Criminology Board Examination (CBE) were both conducted in Davao City on March and April, 2015 respectively. Below are the successful examinees. ELEMENTARY EDUCATION Arnoza, Febe R. Balandan, Wowie B. Bantilan, Arlee Hazel Gay T. Bantolo, Evangeline P. Barotas, Marechel G. Barrios, Irish S. Bolhano, Junie Yvone T. Cailing, Mary Ann R. Combatir, John Archie G. Estafia, Reden G. Faocbit, Apple Joy O. Flores, Grecel T. Mallo, Manilyn A. Mariano, Geymarie M. Masalon, Generose C. Peralta, Marjory R. Quezon, Florimil A. Repolido, Jelieca H. Reotutar, Karen P. Ressurection, Mercy R. Solas, Rose Anne E. Vistal, Adones M.
CRIMINOLOGISTS Adlaon, Joey Almanon, Wilson Aminola, Mohammad Ali Ballena, Apple Ver Barnes, Albert Barretto, Alex Borinaga, Eman Cadeliña, Jobejean Deramas, Angel Bert Galleto, Jachel Mae Genete, Irene Joy Infante, Joey Albert Lik, Montaser Llido, Crisanto Monte, Nacinsino Pabico, Edwin Patron, Manuelito Ramizo, Ozimar Ricahuerta, Jessie Rulete, Pretty Love
“To write is already to choose” To broaden the journalism skills of students, Pluma 2.0 was conducted at Ateneo de Davao University on August 8, 2015 with the theme: “Pluma 2k15: Comprehensive Journalism skills Training”. The seminar-workshop was participated by the different publications from different places in Region XII. The Quill, the official student publication of Holy Trinity College of General Santos City was one of the participants in the said training. Pluma 2.0 offered various lectures about the many facets of journalism that aimed to enhance the participants’ expertise with their craft. Apart from the journalistic skills that the student press had gained, the camaraderie that each of the publications experienced was more notable.
SECONDARY EDUCATION Alcala, Cristimarie C. Bellosa, Reah S. Burces, Jessa A. Cagande, Maricris P.
Cantero, Donald Sajol Cortez, April Ivory Joy F. Seterra, Roselyn F. Subiera, Steffie
The participants of Pluma 2.0 from the different universities
and colleges in Mindanao.
JUNE - OCTOBER 2015
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NEWS Teachers’ Day 2015 Held By Andrea Juanatas and Christian Jay Laurea
Holy Trinity College celebrated World Teachers’ Day on October 2, 2015 at the college open ground. A holy Mass was held in the morning at the OLPGV Church and the culmination of the said affair followed after. World Teachers’ Day is celebrated every year to acknowledge all the teachers and express everyone’s appreciation for the important contributions and the greatest impact they make in the lives of many people, especially the students. Teachers are the backbone of any nation; they are the second parents who mold the learners further to become the best they can be. Alexander the Great once exclaimed, “I am indebted to my parents for living, but to my teacher, for living well.” Undoubtedly, teachers are the lamp bearers of enlightenment, knowledge and prosperity. They serve as the light when the way is unclear. They are the nation builders for without them, civilizations will remain barbaric. The World owes them for advancement and development. Because of these, a great gesture of thank was dedicated to all the teachers in the world. The celebration aimed to give back appreciation to the hardworking and understanding mentors who never fail to do their duties of molding the nation’s future professionals. Flowers, gifts, letters, and more, were given to all the teachers to show them that they are loved, valued, and respected. The Supreme Student Council, headed by its President, Edson Alcaria, organized a program which entertained everyone present during the event. A comical parody of the hilarious “Kalyeserye”, departmental dances, songs, the SSC version of the Pinoy Henyo, and the messages given by the president of each department, were amusing. Teachers were treated to a sumptuous lunch after the program and each of
them was given a gift certificate to complete the celebration. Kudos to all the Teachers! They truly affect eternity and nobody can tell where their influence stops. It is true that there are many geniuses with brains; but a teacher is a genius with a heart.
Faculty, staff, and students gather during the World Teachers Day celebration showcasing their talents and love to their teachers.
The Quill conducts JST By Jonyx Div Diaz and James Albert Quimosing
The Quill conducted its very own Journalism Skills Training with the theme: “Journalism: Skillful mind; fearless heart.” to develop and enhance the skills of the aspiring writers at Holy Trinity College of General Santos City on September 5, 2015. 16 participants, mostly coming from the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and the College of Teacher Education (CTE) participated in the JST at the Trinitarian Center-Room 4. Also present during the seminar were a former newscaster, Ms. Beverly Anne Santos and the moderator of the publication, Priscilla A. Marayag, Ph. D. The workshop began with the talk of The Quill Feature Editor, Jenny Rose Lantin. She spoke about the basics of Feature Writing followed by the Associate Editor, Freshel Arra Acut, who also shared her knowledge about Editorial Writing. Christine Pareñas, the news editor, discussed the concepts of News Writing. Before the morning activities concluded, Ms. Beverly Anne Santos gave her personal insights in giving interviews and finding good news stories. The afternoon activities began with the Senior Cartoonist, Sheenalyn Dollente, as she lectured about Editorial Cartooning. Julian Libasa, the Sports
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Top: Participants together with the former newscaster, Ms. Beverly Anne Santos; Left-Below: Dr. Priscilla A. Marayag, discussing about the basics of journalism; Right: Participants during an activity in the workshop.
Editor, gave a talk about Photojournalism. Finally, the Editor-in-Chief, Benj Marlowe Cordero, discussed his know-hows in poetry and short story writing.
NEWS English Fest 2K15: Sharpening Language Skills for Global Gompetitiveness By Hannah Lea Carmela Ureta
The English Educators’ Club of the College of Teacher Education organized its 1st ever English Festival on September 28, 2015 at 3:30 – 5:30 P.M at the college open ground with the theme “Sharpening language skills for global competence”. The week-long celebration of the language festival had demonstrated the significance and the value of English language in the world. Professor Mary Anne C. Laraya, the EEC adviser and a Grammarist, said the festival promotes cultural awareness among the Trinitarian community by exposing them to different opportunities to put their language skills to practice in real life situations. Oliver Weldell Holmes’ famous statement “Language is the blood of the soul into which thoughts run and out of which they grow.” is a manifestation that language is indeed a man’s potent tool for communication and without it, the success of the people’s daily activities would be near impossible. The holding up of English Fest was, without a doubt , indispensable as it paved a way to dredge up the students’ abilities . More than anything else, after a decade of waiting, the time had finally come and the dream of holding up an affair such as this became a reality. Despite some stumbling blocks among the participants, the fest was successful and received acclaims from the Trinitarians. Diverse categories for the contests include spelling bee, poetry slam, quiz bowl, and extemporaneous speaking. Monday, the first day of the competition, was exciting as it taught the participants to wrestle with the complexity of expressing one’s self through writing. They exercised their capacity to improve their ability to conceptualize the world around them and communicate these through poetry. Martsu Ladia, from the College of Arts and Sciences, won the 1st place. The spelling bee contestants, on the other hand, were whittled down to just only 1 left standing. Grant Babor, a 3rd year student taking up BSED major in English, won. This competition is deemed
necessary too as this promotes literacy and improves comprehension and study skills John Paolo Quiamco was proclaimed the Quiz Bowl champion when the Quiz Bowl competition was held on the 2nd day. Truly, this competition does not merely involve rote learning of words. It involves a thorough preparation to gain competency and increase confidence level. The students’ speaking ability were tested on the 3rd day. Extemporaneous speaking was held to hone the speakers’ ability to focus on their speech construction and to deliver their speeches fluently. Marvin Sedilla, a first year BSED student, was declared winner. On the culmination day, the highlight of the English Festival was the Poetry Slam and it was held at the College Ground together with the giving of awards and certificates to the winners and participants. The event then ended successfully through the collaborative efforts of the officers and members of the English Educators’ Club.
The English Educators’ Club members together with their club adviser Prof. Mary Anne Laraya during the culmination day.
Massive Food Poisoning: A Walking Disaster By Christian Jay Laurea
Food is one of the basic human needs in order to survive, but what if it becomes a cause of tragic disaster due to irresponsibility and incautiousness? “Prevention is better than cure”, they say. A medical quote we always hear; but what does it really stand for? People make mistakes. It’s constant. But a repetition of these mistakes is another story called “Recklessness”. One of the most hot-button food poisoning cases was the Ergo Cha Milk Tea poisoning which took the lives of its customer Suzaine Dagohoy and the owner William Abrigo caused by the accidental mixing of a bleaching substance called Oxalic Acid assuming it was sugar. These chemicals were allegedly imported to the store by the owner’s son Lloyd Abrigo and was charged with murder and frustrated murder for the implicated allegations against him. Next was the Durian Candy which brought almost 2000 (mostly children) to numerous hospitals after experiencing headaches, stomach cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea from consumption. According to examinations conducted on the samples, a positive result for staphylococcus bacteria was determined, a bacteria commonly found on human skin and sweaty armpits. “This could be because they (candy makers) did not wash their hands, or their sweat dripped into the candy, or the candy touched their armpits, or they didn’t wash up after going to the bathroom,” Garin said.
The Department of Health and other Local Government Units expressed dismay towards these incidents that is why DOH is calling out for better hygiene standards. DOH Secretary Janette Garin admitted that the government is having a tough time in implementing these food safety regulations particularly on small towns that produce their food products only in their home kitchens and backyards. “These backyard industries are not regulated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration),” she said. As well as the Eco Waste Coalition Coordinator Aileen Lucero urged the officials of DOH and LGUs to intensify public awareness on proper food sanitation. Lucero also asked school authorities to put in place measures to prevent food poisoning. With this massive food poisoning incidents on the first half of the year, people are now blamelessly more attentive on what they eat and more careful to whom to entrust their safety standards in taking these foods. According to studies most of these food poisoning occurred because of human errors. Mostly, a lesson for each and everyone of us, specially to the food manufacturers and distributors to observe proper hygiene in deploying these foods to the consumers and for the consumers to be more cautious and observant on what they fill their stomachs lest putting their lives at risk. The bottom line is, hygiene and cleanliness are often overlooked.
JUNE - OCTOBER 2015
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Prosti-tuition It is not strange to society that there are students who engage themselves in sex work to make ends meet. It is saddening to know that some of the students in our country are prisoners to this way of living; by selling their flesh to survive. Brutal comments are excessively thrown towards these alleged student prostitutes in our community. Some of the comments are posted on social media sites, others are being gossiped by other people and a few are even written on the walls. These kinds of comments are mostly just jokes, but do we know the effects that these make in our society? We have the guts to give these comments because of the “opinionated-truth” that each of us possesses, and it seems as though everyone knows the story of these alleged sex workers. We spit out random comments about these alleged student prostitutes or “Pokpok Scholars”, as others prefer to call them, but do we know their story? Do we know the reason why they became the way they are now? Do we even know what our words do to their lives and how they affect them? These kinds of words can kill a person’s way of life, way of thinking, and their perceptions of themselves. I remember a statement that fascinated me. It was a statement from an old friend who was also a student prostitute once told me, “They call me a poor whore, but I call myself an optimistic survivor, because I was willing to do everything to reach my dreams of graduating.” Everyone has dreams, and if your dream is to graduate, then wouldn’t you go beyond the limits to achieve it? But if you would, is your virginity, your dignity, and your freedom worth it? Are you willing to sacrifice everything? We all know that education is one of the key ornaments of success, but as of now, is it even attainable by maintaining immaculacy? Being a student, the thought of knowing about fellow students who sell their flesh to survive school is not foreign to us. When we say sex workers, most instantly think women, but in reality, there are also men who are still willing to become the frog in hopes of becoming a prince in the end. We cannot deny the fact that there are some who are willing to go beyond the odds to get through the hardships of being a student. It is disappointing to know that the reason for them to sell their flesh is the same reason why they are experiencing the hardships that they are facing. Being called a ‘whore’ a ‘prostitute’ and a ‘pig’ should be enough to make any sane man quit, but we can see that those kinds of words are not effective anymore for those kinds of people are determined to do what they want to achieve their goals.
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By Sheenalyn Dollente
Those who are blessed to be given the chance and freedom to finish their studies are wasting their chance, and committing inadequate acts, while those who would want nothing but to gain knowledge and education are out in the world trying to surpass the filth that covers their body. I remember the saying “The youth is the future of our country.” It is ironic to see that there are future leaders of our country who are walking with a tag around their neck looking for customers to feast on their body in exchange for money. They say education can straighten one’s outlook in life and lead them to paradise. We can clearly see that the education of these alleged pokpok scholars is not enough to pull them away from the life that they have. Is the educational system of today’s generation worth what they are sacrificing? Like us, these student prostitutes are also facing the same crisis that we are facing in school, and the same questions are being asked: Are we getting the exact privileges that we should get based on the amount of money that our schools make us pay? Are the schools providing their promised education and facilities? We all know by experience that one of the biggest problems of being a student, especially a college student, is more of a monetary nature. One of the number one reasons for financial problems is the continuous increase of fees without the students’ or the parents’ consents. In reality, the tuition fees increase, but the students seldom know where their money end up, or rather, they are too focused on paying it on time rather than have time to actually analyze the destination of the amount that they are paying. It is infuriating to know, that if you are in the shoes of the prostitute students, you are continually giving the money you earned with your blood, tears and dignity without even knowing where your money goes. The reality is that, these “pokpoks” are not just mere toys for pleasure or entertainment, they are like us; they are people, students, and Filipinos. Picture yourself in their shoes, and imagine how it feels like to try and live a normal life, while constantly shifting personalities in order to live in a completely different life just for the sake of education. Doesn’t it leave a question in your mind? A question like: If you were them, do you think that sacrificing everything to the point of being numb is worth the education that you are getting?
Teenagers: pornStarS Be Not By Jenny Rose Lantin
“Ang kabataan ay ang pag-asa ng bayan”, once quoted in the poem entitled, ”To My Fellow Youth”. Quite a cliché, right? The youth are expected to be at school enjoying the privilege of education, to be with their friends laughing their lungs out, to be in their homes building their family-oriented lives, to be everywhere making friends not enemies, and to be in the church praying, asking, and thanking the Man from above for the wholesome borrowed lives. What if the norm we believe in is ironically different from the things we see, the words we hear, and the emotions we feel? The worse, and even the worst, scenarios that I could ever imagine that I thought would never be possible are simply bothering me now from my thoughts down to the very tip of my conscience. How could it be? I am living my life as simple as it could be. You are making your life as comfortable as it could be. We are striving to make the most out of our lives. And yet, there are still those who are lost, broken, twisted, and hated. Pitiful, aren’t they? The increasing recognition of children in need of special protection and attention is enough for us to be bothered. In our modern and complex world, problems concerning the protection of children are becoming more complex and challenging. Because of the availability of advanced communication technology, children are easily subjected to pornography. Yes, child pornography. What is child pornography then? We might have encountered pornographic images, and yet we don’t know exactly its possible effects to the society. When these images involve any person below the age of 18, it is considered child pornography. Child pornography is considered and treated illegal. It is quite impossible to be stopped since boundless opportunities exist to distribute and propagate these materials in any form. Innovations in technology made the whole process easier and faster. The production, reproduction and dissemination of pornographic images of children can be done in the simplest way. It might be simple to carry out but, take note, it is hard to be de-
tected and prevented. Internet pornography sites, chat rooms, dating apps, digital cameras, smart phones, and many other means of spreading pornography are very accessible. No doubt, this immoral world of child objectification exists. “Several factors make children in the Philippines easy prey for those who produce and use child pornography—widespread poverty, public tolerance of prostitution and pornography, sex tourism, availability of advanced communication technology, a lack of stringent laws against child pornography, and inefficient prosecution of those who perpetrate it.” This has been a serious problem in the country for a long period of time and yet the battle against this act is not yet done. The exploitation of children through pornography is such a sensitive problem that needs extra attention and action. The government, the parents, and any other private sectors should urgently attend this issue. Let us not wait to see the unexpected and unstoppable effect of this issue to the youth in school, to the out-of-school youth, and to the future youth of the upcoming generation. What can we say when this hellish treatment of children continues? It is therefore right for society to protect, not disrespect, children from the scandal of child pornography. You can simply help by saying no to watching porn. Is it okay with you taking pleasure in the ignorance of others? Will you really enjoy watching such pornographies wherein the dignity of the other is being degraded? Think, reflect, and react wisely. “Ang kabataan ay ang pag-asa ng bayan”. Can you still see the beauty of this quotation? If not, it’s time for action. Start it with yourself, my fellow youth. Be part of the change you want to see. Every child is a treasure worth the efforts. Every child is not just the future of our country. They are not just needed in the future. We need them in the present. So we must help them quick and fast, not tomorrow, but today.
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Sino ang Dapat Sisihin? By Christine Pareñas
Kahirapan. Krimen. Korapsyon. Sino nga ba ang salarin sa mga pangyayaring ito? Mga pinili nating lider ng ating bansa o mismong tayo na pumili sa kanila? Kahirapan. Ito ay pinagdaraanan ngayon ng karamihan. Kahit saan ka lumingon, mababakas ang larawan nito: mga batang palaboy sa lansangan, walang maayos na damit, walang halos makain, walang matirhan. Idagdag pa sa mga ito ang mga manlilimos, mga batang nagpupunas ng nakaparadang sasakyan, at kung anu-ano pa magkaroon lamang ng kaunting barya para magkalaman ang kumakalam na sikmura. Makikita rin ang mag-anak na magkaka tabing natutulog sa bangketa na may isa, dalawa o higit pa na anak. Ang masaklap pa rito, kalimitan, ang bunso ay sanggol pa lamang. Sa kalagayang ito, ang kadalasang sinisisi ay ang ating gobyerno. Krimen. Talamak ito ngayon sa buong bansa. Arawaraw may isinisilang, ngunit araw-araw ding may namamatay – worst, may pinapatay. Sa panahon ngayon, ang kriminal ay walang pinipili: matanda, bata, lalaki o babae man, lahat ay pwedeng maging biktima ng rape, salvage, hold-up, kidnapping, riding in tandem, droga, at iba pa. Ang mga ito ay mga nakakarimarim na katotohanang ang buhay ng tao ngayon ay hindi na iginagalang at hindi na pinangangalagaan. Katwiran ng mga kriminal, “walang trabaho, kumakalam ang sikmura” at tahasan pang sinabi, “ayos lang makulong, at least buhay naman at nakakakain pa”. Hindi kaaya- aya sa pandinig ngunit ito ang realidad. Sigaw ng iba, ibalik ang “Death Penalty”. Kung maibabalik kaya ang batas na ito, may pag-asa pa bang maresolba o mabawasan man lang ang krimen sa lipunan? Ito nga ba ang tamang solusyon para lipunan ay magkaroon ng pansamantalang kapayapaan? Ang mga usaping patungkol sa mga minamahal nating mga OFW na lumabas ng bansa upang mag-
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trabaho - mga ina na nag-aalaga ng anak ng iba - ay mga biktima rin ng pang aabuso. Sila man ay sinasaktan din at ang pinakamasaklap, uuwi ng bansa na isa nang malamig na bangkay. Sa mga Pilipinong nastranded, di makauwi dahil sa mga kasong ‘di agad natutugunan o nasosolusyunan, iilan lang ba sa kanila ang nakauwi na at kapiling na ang mga mahal nila sa buhay. Sabi nga nila, “bahala na magdildil ng asin, kapiling lang ang mahal sa buhay”. Ang Pilipinong sangkot sa gulo sa ibang bansa, kulong or death penalty ang kakaharapin samantalang ang mga banyagang nagkasala sa ating bansa, pinakamabigat na ang deportation. Hindi makatarungan ito, ‘di ba? Nasaan ang hustisya? Sa kalagayang ito, kadalasang sinisisi ay ang gobyerno. Korapsyon. Sikat na sikat din ito sa buong Pilipinas. Naging kultura na ito sa halos lahat ng mga pulitiko sa bansa. “Buti pa ang snatcher, magnanakaw muna bago tumakbo, eh ang pulitiko? Tatakbo muna bago magnakaw”. Usapang kalye ngunit sa buhay natin ngayon, ito ang totoo. “Iboto nyo ako at ako’ng bahala sa inyo.” ‘Yan ang karaniwang pangako ng ating mga lider ngunit kapag naluklok na sa pwesto, ayun, napapako na ang mga pangako. Mula noon hanggang ngayon, paulit-ulit na lang ang larawan ng kasakiman. Dapat sana’y lahat tayo ang nakikinabang sa kaban ng bayan ngunit napupunta lang ito sa iilan lang. Muli, sa kalagayang ito, kadalasang sinisisi ay ang gobyerno. Sa mga pangyayaring ito, minsan ba naisip nating may kasalanan din tayo? Gumising na tayo sa bangungot ng kahapon dahil wala rin tayong mapapala. Nangyayari ito dahil rin sa mga maling desisyon natin. Kung sa palagay mo’y gobyerno ang may kasalanan, aba’y maging matalino na sa pagpili ng lider sa susunod na halalan. Anuman ang mga nangyayari ngayon sa ating lipunan, ikaw, ako, sila, tayong lahat ang may pananagutan.
EDITORIAL
K-12: A Must? Education, they say, is the key to a better life. We, Filipinos, have put so much attention to Education because we believe it is our only chance of getting equal opportunities and finally get rid of the downward gaze of those who think we are not any good. In the many years that the Philippines have supposedly been independent, we have seen progress in all forms. Some are necessary evils we have to live by to achieve a sliver - just one tiny silver - of “kaginhawaan”. Some are long overdue that we argue whether to support its sudden implementation or to halt its furtherance because of its drawbacks. The educational system in the country is not at par with our neighboring nations. We are the only country in Asia which has a 10-year basic education cycle. Now, with the implementation of the K-12, this has been changed. This makes us better and makes us of equal academic level with our neighboring Asian countries. If this is so, then, it is high time we support it. But, how do we address its possible drawbacks? With the growing problem of unemployment and the additional expenses due to the extended time for studying, is it worth it? If we see education as the gate to greener pastures, why are the issues in this sector not addressed? It has been noticed that every year, our public schools often fall short of textbooks, qualified teachers, classrooms and more. In order to deal with these matters, the government believes that implementing the K-12 relieves us from all these predicaments. Furthermore, talented Filipinos don’t get as much academic opportunities as the other nationalities. For so long, we deem it necessary to be implemented and now, it has come to our threshold. However, there are still problems that
persist because we are not ready yet. Because we rushed into adopting it, we did not see the repercussions it entails. If Education is important, why are we still wobbling in many areas? The measly salary of our public school teachers is more than enough to have them fly onto better opportunities abroad. God knows where the allocated funds go. By looking into the whopping amount of P367.1 billion, we could not help but wonder why our schools still lack classrooms, textbooks and a higher pay to compensate the hard work our teachers make. Now that the K-12 is at its peak, school fees get more expensive and it is more difficult for parents to deal with. “Are our public schools in the city K-12 ready?” asked by a student. Few public schools here in General Santos City are K-12 Ready? Not all, not most, but a few. How could that help our locals? The unemployment rate of our teachers and would be graduates shoots up to astronomical figures. Those who want to study but do not have the means to have it gets cut off. Tuition fees increase drastically and almost every year! With K-12 hanging by our necks, we could not imagine the money it would cost the parents and those who still dream of grasping that diploma. Education has become a luxury! We need K-12. This much is true. But we are not ready for this. Not yet. Not until we see that the government is true to its promises and its plans to help every Filipino have a successful career and have a good life and not until every Filipino gets quality, accessible and relevant education. We must remember that the government exists to serve us, not the other way around. Tayo nga ang boss, diba?
JUNE - OCTOBER 2015
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borderline of Cyber freedom By Freshel Arra Acut
A Filipino citizen who carries a spirit of love to his fellowmen or being maka-tao and who has been given freedom and rights, doesn’t need a policy to be imposed in order to provoke appropriate relations towards other people. Today, we have the recent rule made by the government in the world of Social Media, the Cyber Crime Law. Facebook, Twitter and other means of communication like phone messaging is a person’s privacy and a venue for people to express things freely. We post what we want, we share what we know, we upload what we think is good. It’s our freedom to express what we want. In the launching of social media, I am free to take part as you are free to take yours. We are free to be included! We have the freedom to comment and sign-up for online accounts which support the interacting systems. However, as years go by, it cannot be denied that some of us now, are unable to think of the ethical use of these social networking apps. Social media networks are already being converted into a tool for threatening or destroying people. Because of these, the inappropriate usage of the websites turns out to be a universal alarm. As I notice in the Facebook, the posts on my newsfeed, if not about relationships and personal happenings, are “hugot lines” and “patama posts” which can possibly offend other individuals. These are posted by people of varying ages, even those who call themselves professionals. I can’t deny the fact that once or twice in my life, it happened to me also, posting something I thought was good without considering the fact that it’s depraving in the eyes of those who read it. But I learned something good from it. I should not post anything that ruins my privacy as a person. It might result to bad impressions. If you think you’re not afraid to express, don’t use networking sites as your foundation. Confront the person not through Facebook posting and settle the issue at once. Even in our institution, the aforementioned problems occur. Late after the celebration of the Students’ Day and Acquaintance Party, cases of misunderstandings amid student-leaders, departmental clubs and organizations were posted online. This appeared to be a tricky challenge during the first semester of the academic year. Through the means of social media, some Trinitarians and HTC-Alumni airmailed their criticisms, complaints, and sentiments because of disappointments and dissatisfaction during and after the event. Well, it may be the truth and they say, the truth hurts but I think, nobody could blame us if we express what is inside us. Offensive Facebook posts, belittling comments, and even libelous shout-outs against the leading organization and to some of its officers and students were rampant. Students and even some instructors were involved which alerted the administration to request the persons concerned for a dialogue. Three of us from The Quill were also asked to be present. Through unbiased conference, clarifications and solutions to
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the issue were conveyed. As stated in the student handbook, any student found guilty of libelous remarks on facebook will be confronted with corresponding sanctions such as scholarship removal, suspension, or expulsion, depending on the extent of the damage made. Posting shout-outs about an occurrence which may not damage anyone’s dignity will never be a big deal. We are still free to express what we feel but we must always think through of the ethical issues before posting. Some feel that something is biased and couldn’t do anything against the people of higher position and social media is the only place where they can express their feelings and opinions. With the existence of the new law and the school policy on social media, they opted to keep silent and just keep within themselves their viewpoints. In Journalism, some are controlling the writer’s freedom to write when publishing something controversial. There are also killings against online writers even campus journalists or red-tagging because they are assumed to be activists. Some also receive threats when broadcasting something right against the big ones. Where is free press now? Where is liberty? Sharing of violent communication and documents online, posting of offensive tags, and opposing judgments towards others and the misuse of Social Media is a risk and will just give harmful results. It must be understood that destroying and mortifying the image, self-worth and freedom of other people are brutal actions which are needed to be amended as soon as possible. As stated in the Philippine Constitution, Bill of Rights, we have the Freedom of Speech and Expression. Indeed! But this doesn’t mean that we will take this kind of freedom as an excuse to do everything that we want. Remember that our rights end when the rights of others begin. It is not an option but a necessity for us to learn to be more sensible, wise, careful and thoughtful in cascading information especially in the wide-ranging domain of social media. Through these, we can professionally teach, inspire and give impact to our fellow students, educators, young individuals and adults in becoming more thoughtful and sensitive before broadcasting information online since sometimes we’re becoming so ignorant in the actions that we do in these social media networks that we almost forget to be conscious about the posts that we are sharing in public. The things we share might already be well beyond our online freedom and are just tangible forms of social media exploitations therefore, checking before clicking is a must. We have the freedom to be a member of these though and our freedom should not be dictated by other people. We should always put in our minds that with the use of every single word or with every expression that comes from us and with the actions that we choose to do, we give a picture of our real moralities and principles in life.
; e t o v o t e s o o h c
vote to choose
By Allynna Marie Buca
“Suffrage may be exercised by all citizens of the Philippines, not otherwise disqualified by law, who are at least eighteen years of age, and who shall have resided in the Philippines for at least one year and in the place wherein they propose to vote, for at least six months immediately preceding the election. No literacy, property, or other substantive requirement shall be imposed on the exercise of suffrage.” This excerpt from the Article 5, Section 1 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution clearly states the right that most Filipino people, especially teenagers, neglect nowadays. What is suffrage? Suffrage, in its simplest definition, means the right to vote in political elections. It is our way of choosing the leaders that suit the political positions available. It is how our voice on who to vote is heard. Our forefathers literally shed blood, sweat, and tears just to achieve the freedom we are enjoying right now. And with democracy, come the perks we gain from it. One of which is the freedom to elect the people we want to lead our nation. But today, it seems that we are taking this freedom for granted. It seems that the Filipinos today do not understand the impact and importance of making their votes count. It only requires a qualified applicant’s personal appearance in a local Commission on Elections (COMELEC) office, an accomplished registration form, and 2 valid IDs with the applicant’s photograph, address, and name, to become an official voter in the Philippines. If we come to think of it, the requirements can be easily processed. However, there are those who tend to submit to the bahala na system and delay the registration until such time that they encounter the inconvenient process of the last minute registration. But the most alarming option that people take into consideration is to postpone the registration and wait until the next elections, which would take another three years. Statistics, conducted by the COMELEC office for the 2013 National Election, showed that out of 52,014,648 registered voters here in the Philippines, only 40,214,324 voters actually voted. Although a failure of election did not happen, this 77.31% Voters’ Turnout is still very disturbing. On a smaller scale, suffrage is also practiced here in HTC through the annual Supreme Student Council Elections. Trinitarians feel an authentic election experience through roomto-room campaigns, Miting de
Avance, and finally, a 2-day automated election. However, despite all the promotions and preparations conducted, some voters still decide not to participate. Through the quest of finding the reasons, I diagnosed some factors. First, the students have to wait impatiently in line due to the unwarranted malfunctioning of computers. Second, they quickly lose interest in the voting process, and the extremely troubling reason is that, students would rather pay the Php 50.00 penalty than practice their right to vote. If we are to compare and analyze the situations, we would notice they share common problems. In the national elections, a number PCOS machines fail during elections just like how we experience technology inconveniences when computers malfunction during the election period in school. Both in national and campus-wide elections, some people just lose the interest and motivation to exercise their right, may be because they show no interest of the candidates or the unseen progress in the student administration. This is alarming because many students just shrug their shoulders and ignore the penalties. If addressed accordingly, we will experience a smooth-sailing election. Computers and election paraphernalia must be checked and prepared ahead of time. Awareness and an interesting and friendly competition between deserving leaders will surely excite the voters. And, paying the penalty should not be an option. Let this be an eye-opener to everyone. Voting is a right. We are given the freedom to choose and be heard. Let us not waste this opportunity that was once taken away from our ancestors. If qualified, we still have the time to register for the May 9, 2016 National Elections. Let us re-ignite our interest in practicing suffrage because a single vote can make a difference. Choose, vote, and be counted.
JUNE - OCTOBER 2015
// 13
He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Blamed By Benj Marlowe Cordero
After writing a feminist article last year, I told myself that it would be the first and the last that I would do such piece of writing. I thought maybe, the people who read the columns would soak up the things I passionately wrote about. But boy, I was wrong. Now it has occurred to me how the battle for equal opportunities and equal treatment is so unacknowledged and ignored despite the valiant efforts to make it known. Imagine this! A pretty woman who happened to like wearing short pencil skirts walking past some men gets whistled at. “I love you miss!”, “Hubaga oy”, “Pwede makuha imong number?” Now imagine your sister or your mom or your girlfriend treated the same way. Are you still liking the picture? Normally, a woman who experiences street harassment reacts negatively to “compliments” because she feels disrespected or badmouthed. If she retaliates, the men will just simply tell her to “LEARN TO TAKE THE COMPLIMENT.” Hold up a second. How exactly was your catcall a compliment? How was making a woman uncomfortable a fun pastime? Unwanted comments are a form of street harassment. I hear that men do this in front of their friends to appear macho. This is such a fragile masculinity. Women get treated this way for countless times in just a single day. Some opt to ignore and still hold their heads high. But most are not brave enough to tell their catcallers to back off. Women fall victim to street harassment and no one bats an eye. No one cares. It’s the norm. It’s how we were brought up. Girls should act like Maria Clara not like Lady Gaga. Girls should dress appropriately so boys would not stare at their behinds like salivating dogs. Girls should aspire to marriage and motherhood as it is their sole purpose. Even some girls believe that the truest essence of being a woman is to bear children. I might provoke the ire of those who think that way, but what the hell! Women are wrongfully suppressed and this makes society the loser. It is a little insensitive because there are women who cannot bear children because of abnormal medical conditions. Does it mean they cannot be called true women? I am so done. And, those who challenge this norm gets shamed or called a deviant or branded as overly liberated. Girls, listen. When a man comes up to you and flirts with you, you don’t have to laugh at his jokes. You don’t have to let him take advantage of your supposed vulnerability. You don’t have to fall prey to his intrusive advances. You don’t exist to please anybody. You can dress however you like. You can choose not to get married. You can be whoever you are. You are not objects to be used; you are human and you deserve to be treated as such. The Philippines we know now is not the same Philippines 500 years ago. I am all up for progress and things of the future but the backward mindsets of my generation really gets to me. Before we were colonized, we had our own sense of identity, our own societal values. Women have equal standing as men. Women can have their own properties. Women can be chiefs of their tribes. The colonizers wiped them all off and gave us a new culture. One that taught us of male supremacy. Women were belittled and sent to their homes and wait to be married off to wealthy men. Education was snatched from them and instead, they were taught the arts of being a good housewife. They were taught to not talk back to men but rather to obey the patriarchy. But it’s 2015. We have come a long way since escaping the vice grip of our colonizers.
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Jose Rizal was aware of this. He depicted the societal views of women in his works and he was never one to mince his words. He wrote how women were sexually, socially, and culturally oppressed by the patriarchal society, though he missed something. In his essay “Letter to the Young Women of Malolos”, it seemed that he believed the ultimate purpose of a woman is motherhood. “Let us be reasonable and open our eyes, especially you, women, because you are the first to influence the consciousness of man,” Rizal wrote. We were led to think that what the children will become, it is the mother who is to blame. The doctor was a feminist though not entirely. It appears as if we could not escape sexism considering that even the National Hero unknowingly succumbed to the notions established by a misogynist system. Another example for the displeasure of misogynists is when society imposes that it is alright for men to forever remain bachelors but it is simply humiliating for women to do the same. What do we always think when we hear about some single 40-year-old woman? “She must be lesbian.” “No one must be good enough for her.” “No one must think she’s good enough.” “She must love her family so much that she couldn’t leave them.” “She’s such a strong independent woman.” I could go on for an eternity and the sexist judgments would not be any less painful! Please tell me that you now see how messed up we are! No one can be blamed if this is how we deal with these things. Being held by the vicious hands of foreign powers for how many years made us the way we are today: a bunch of xenocentric, ignorant puppets riding the crab-and-colonial mentality train who believe that misogyny is the way, and killing each other is the game. What a time to be alive. Wake up and stay awake! It’s high time that we see things from a perspective that has long since been robbed from us.
justice or jusT-tiis? By Sajir Rasmei Pangansayan My intention of writing this column is not to cause damage to anyone but to air out some concerns that need to be addressed. “Nasa Holy ang pagsisisi.” – this is what I usually hear upon talking to several students. Though some may refer to this as a joke, some exclaim this out of disappointments while others utter this for the sake of pakikiuso. I don’t actually conform to this “quote”, unlike some other Trinitarians because I still believe that our institution is capable of producing holistically developed individuals and globally competitive graduates. But, I also believe there is a need to address the issues that interfere with the advancement of our school. As a self-proclaimed student journalist, I really need to be observant. Just to validate my argument, I will state these few issues my school mates and I noticed. QUALITY EDUCATION REQUIRES COMPETENT TEACHERS Quality education takes time and consequently, it also requires competent teachers. Competent teachers are those who are not just properly trained by different seminars and trainings and have high credentials such as a Master’s or Doctor’s degree under their belts but as well as those who are really dedicated and committed to their call, the teaching profession. A few years ago, when I was still choosing which school I will take my college degree, I only had one institution in mind, Holy Trinity College. Why? I believe that HTC is the best school that can mold me, hone my potentials and help me unleash my skills and showcase my passion. I believe it will provide opportunities for me to experience and ingest the taste of the elusive quality education. Now, I am not saying that my school has proved me wrong. My point is, some teachers should bear in mind that teaching is very crucial since it is defined as the application of knowledge, skills and attributes designed to provide unique services to meet the educational needs of the individual and of the society. Indeed, it needs expertise, compassion and altruistic service. In my almost four years in this institution, I encountered some teachers who, I can say, possess a very unique way of facilitating learning and of transferring knowledge. Some may be effective while others need to be forgotten, like forever. Some teachers really do their best in inculcating ideas, knowledge and wisdom while others simply go in the classroom, scan their phones, sit for almost an hour, do a reporting method which is very ineffective if I may say, and conduct a lesson which is very irrelevant to our topic and course description. The possible result of this is the inaccurate calculation of grades. With these types of facilitators, I don’t think quality education is attainable. As a future educator myself, I really look up to my teachers as my role models in my chosen field. KNOCK, KNOCK REGISTRAR I have much respect and salute to the registrar office and to the employees as well as the working students because I know that they are really doing their job in the best way possible. In this context, I believe that there are three sides of the story, the registrar’s side, students’ and the truth. I interviewed some students and I can relate to them and can’t help myself but share same sentiments with them. Yes, I understand that the registrar has a bunch of work to do, has a lot of deadlines to follow and requirements to finish, but, we students are really looking up to the registrar regarding updates of our grades, evaluation forms and other pertinent papers that will inform us
of our standing as students, whether we are on the right track in terms of our enrolled subjects, and whether we passed the subjects prerequisite to our currently enrolled subjects. I suggest that the registrar should have some sort of calendar of activities and should follow and stick to it no matter what. We students could not afford a delay and a patience to wait like without end. We need you to release grades and other important papers on time because as what I know, that is your responsibility and we thank you for that. We also consider your reasons such as the teachers are very delayed in handing over the grades that is why it takes so much time for you to process our requests. No worries, we Trinitarians are open minded, and what are we asking is a little progress and a little quicker move in doing your job. SSC MATTERS According to the student handbook, SSC should serve as the voice of the studentry, being the supreme organization in our institution. SSC is expected to protect the rights of the students. I really salute the officers, staff as well as the well-organized supervision of their adviser. SSC for the past few years provided us with different events that are really entertaining and meaningful as well. They provide great avenues for the Trinitarians to show what they’ve got, what would it be to be a Wildcat. But, what troubles me a lot is how they imposed too much fines among the students - fines which range from 25Php up to 50Php. This is really expensive if not for all, majority of the students. Of course, we understand that we are really required to attend the school’s programs and activities as part of the HTC community. We really are obliged to comply and submit ourselves to attend the activities. Yes, we know that with attendance means no fines, but is it really necessary to impose fines that big? Can we not consider those who belong to the “below average income family”? Will you be generous enough to lower down the fines? I understand that the funds you collect are well-spent and that, it helps you in your other events, but what about the membership fee? Do the amount we pay every time you require us to pay our contribution not enough? Do we need to trouble the students with these costly penalties? Students also need to think of their other finances such as tuitions, miscellaneous, books, allowance, projects and other fees that might burden their parents. I am fully aware that your answer might be “Pang attend mo eh para dili mo magka fines ug dako!” They have their reasons and responsibilities that’s what I can guarantee you. But then, we just hope for a transparent and honest SSC in terms of your financial statements. I didn’t write this article to degrade nor discriminate the people involved or the institution I am enrolled at. Still I am proud that I am a Trinitarian, that I am a Wildcat. The issues I did mention above are just the things that need attention and actions from the administrators. HTC still provides great experience. It continues to produce professionals who are globally competitive. We have great teachers who are very supportive to learning. With all these, I should say, I am a Wildcat and I move forward to spread the goodness of a Trinitarian.
JUNE - OCTOBER 2015
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SOSA 2015 “With your dedication, support, loyalty and commitment, we are going to persist – and we are going to reach even higher and farther” -Prof. Rey T. Albano The School President of Holy Trinity College, Prof. Rey T. Albano, delivered the State of the School Address (SOSA) at the Basic Education Department ground on August 20, 2015. The SOSA is the school president’s annual progress report to the entire HTC community and this event is considered to be one of the most significant affairs of the institution. The occasion was witnessed by the Trinitarians, specifically the members of the Board of Trustees headed by its Chairman, Atty. Josemar T. Albano, visitors, parents, and other friends of Holy Trinity College. In his speech, the school president cited the 4 academic indicators which are Quality and Excellence, Relevance and Responsiveness, Efficiency and Effectiveness and Access and Equity. It is really something to be proud of knowing that the institution continues to progress academically, physically, and socially. This was how he articulated the school’s many achievements. On Quality and Excellence, the President acknowledged the 2014 Youth Achiever Awardee in the individual category, Adelin G. Mendoza and her adviser Prof. Ma. Annabelle Linobo. He also recognized the winner in the 2014 Junior City Councilor of General Santos, Roy Reniel S. Gacal, a 4th Year High School student, and the HTC-ENACTUS Team represented by Theo San Pedro, Carmille Faith Cajipo, Lesther Salazar, Hannah Untal, James Berhnardt Perpetua, Kevin Dave Pitogo and their adviser Prof. Annabelle Linobo. The members of the ENACTUS Team won the National Championship in the 2015 ENACTUS National Business Exposition in Manila and they will represent the Philippines in Johannesburg, South Africa. Moreover, the 2015 CPA Board passers, Jomar Agui, John Mark Cadua, and Ronnel Cauayan were also acknowledged as it is indeed a great achievement to note that the school’s CPA Board passing rate is the highest percentage rate in the region. The passers are among the first BS-Accountancy graduates of Holy Trinity College. What is more to be proud about as he went along with his speech is the fact that HTC was awarded by the DOLE-TESDA on August 28, 2014 as the 2014 Kabalikat Awardee in Region XII. More than that, the unmatched victory of HTC in the 2014 Local PRISAA was also well spoken of. With great pride, Holy Trinity College remains the Overall Champion for 10 consecutive years, a perfect manifestation of the HTC goal’s “A decade of Greatness and Excellence in Sports.” This feat continues up to the Regional and National PRISAA. The President acknowledged the regional and the national champions together with the 2015 National PRISAA Best coaches. Likewise, the National Gold medalists during the 2015
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THE QUILL
Palarong Pambansa held in Tagum City were also acknowledged. On top of them all, the undefeated HTC Hoopsters, headed by Sir Pol Torrijos, received a great admiration as they remain the Mindanao Champion in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) for 3 consecutive years. Moving on to Relevance and Responsiveness, the President marked many accomplishments. HTC is the only educational institution in Region 12 that is featured twice in the Philippine Daily Inquirer or PDI’s Education segment. It was announced too that on December 2015 HTC will host the GenSan PRISAA Meet and the school is hoping to get the 11th consecutive over-all championship not only in Sports but in Socio-Academic competitions as well. Moreover, the hosting of HTC during the 13th Yaman GenSan, the Inter-School Athletic Meet-PSBEA, and the Green Marathon, which was organized by the school were also given recognition. In the conduct of Community Extension Programs, the school also intensified its liberal thrust for the development of its partner community. “HTC’s sharing of its existence has been prominent with the community as we continue to strengthen our efforts toward corporate social responsibility programs to etch an indelible mark in the lives of many,” the president further intoned. The “No Plastic Policy”, the newly implemented school policy, will also be something that the Trinitarians must be aware of. This is an expression of support to our school’s environmental programs and to the world’s emergent concerns on global warming. In addition, the Book Lovers’ Club of HTCGrade School Department, donated books to other schools. It was also worth mentioning the big changes and improvements of the institution like the newly renovated facilities in the Criminology Laboratory and the former office of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes. What awed everyone was the announcement of the new program offerings. As it was mentioned, the school will soon offer the Master of Science in Criminal Justice, the ETEEAP Program for the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Major in Financial Management, and the Bachelor of Forensic Science Program. The school had applied for Government Permit to operate these new courses. HTC is now a certified K+12-Ready. The President stated that there will be new buildings for the Senior High School which will be located near the Wildcat’s Gymnasium. More about K+12, he said that the school will deal on the different offered courses from the following programs: Academic Track, Tech-Voc Track and the Sports Track. To strengthen the Tech-Voc Track of K+12, the training programs were improved. Since HTC is also a TESDA specialized school, which offers different TESDA programs,
Green HTC, Reach Farther…
higher!
the president proudly confirmed that the National TVET Competency Assessment and Certification is free and anyone may come to enroll in our institution on a first come, first serve basis, giving the opportunity for the students to compete and keep in touch with the world of industries. Some of the offered training programs were upgraded and these are the Computer Hardware Servicing to Computer System Servicing NCII, from Consumer Electronics NCII to Electronics Products Assembly and Servicing NCII (EPAS), making HTC the first private school all over Region 12 that offers this kind of training program. Proving that HTC is a fast growing institution and firming the TESDA programs, the number of assessment centers were increased from 5 to 12 assessment centers, making HTC having the most number of Assessment Centers in General Santos City. The programs that are still in the waiting list to be approved by the TESDA are the Security Services NCI and NCII, Front Desk NCII, Tour Guiding NCII, Food & Beverage NCII, Cookery, Bread & Pastries, Gas Metal Arch Welding, and Refrigeration & Airconditioning. These became a reality through the initiative of Prof. Leonila Juanatas, MIT, the dean of the College of Engineering and Technology Education. She will be designing new 2-year diploma programs for Tech-Voc education. In the area of research, Prof. Fraulein Oclarit, the school’s Research Director, conducted the research proposal presentation and organized the research council. This research initiated and supported the student and faculty research presentations in the local, national, and international levels. In his talk about Efficiency and Effectiveness, the president was quoted saying, “Effectiveness often dictates an institution’s reputation and efficiency increases productivity; we can simply imply that, effectiveness and efficiency is about doing the right thing and getting the best results.” Here, he introduced the new deans and heads from the different colleges, departments and offices. He likewise included some personnel who had strengthened their educational qualifications by finishing their Graduate studies or by engaging in trainings related to their profession. Further, he mentioned the accreditation progress of HTC. In the school year 2014-2015, the ACSCU-AAI reaccredited the College of Criminal Justice Education to a Level-II Status, the Business Administration Program of CBMA to a Level-II Re-accredited Status, Hotel and Restaurant Management into an Applicant Status. The College of Teacher Educa-
tion has maintained the Level-II Re-accredited Status for both the BEEd and BSEd programs while the Graduate School Program has been accredited to Level-I. Our preschool program is now Level0II Accredited Status – the only level two accredited program in the city. On the same note, six (6) HTC administrators attended the ACSCU-AAI national yearly convention in Tagaytay on May 2015 . In relation to the Access and Equity, the President stated that for the last 8 years, the school’s population is increasing in almost all the departments. In the Pre-school and Elementary departments, a 3.7% increase was reported while the High school department, including the Sunday High school, a remarkable 5.1% increase was noted. Additionally, a 4.4% increase in the college and the continually increasing number of population in the Tech-Voc training program were also notable. HTC in overall summary 0f enrollment, from 5,947 it increased to 6,300 this school year, a 5.9% increase. Two (2) of this year’s AFS students namely John Gabriel Deborshe from Germany and Alfrodis R. Acosta from Panama were also introduced during the occasion. Lastly, the President proudly presented the school year’s theme: “Green HTC, Reach Farther… Higher!” He strongly emphasized that S.Y 2015-2016 “…will be a year of action.” The President ended the program with a statement he believes will define the school year: “We know where we are, we specif-
ically understand what we need, and we know where we are heading to and definitely we know how to get there.”
JUNE - OCTOBER 2015
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INTRAMURAL DAYS 2K15: “Keeping the Flame of HTC’s Winning Tradition”
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Another year of camaraderie and sportsmanship inspired every Trinitarian during the conduct of the 3-day Intramural festivities that took place at Trinidad Complex, San Isidro, Purok Malakas, General Santos City on September 9-11, 2015 with the theme: “Keeping the Flame of HTC’s Winning Tradition”. Five colleges competed for the most sought-after Over-all Championship. Everyone in the Trinidad Complex was edgy and excited as they waited for the final moment to come to see if the College of Criminal Justice Education (CCJE) could defend their title as the over-all champion for the last three (3) consecutive years or if one of the 4 colleges namely, the College of Teacher Education (CTE), College Of Business Management and Accountancy (CBMA), College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), or the College of Engineering and Technology Education (CETE) could finally take away the title from the strongest challengers, the Black Knights. On the last day, one college rose to claim the championship award. After the smoke of the battlefield subsided, the gallant Black Knights remained standing after they had successfully defended their championship crown and bagged the cash prize worth Php 30,000.00. Moreover, the College of Teacher Education, the Blue Legion, tried all their might to change the annals of winnings in the intramural festivities of Holy Trinity College but fell short in some areas where their opponents showed themselves to be stronger. In the end, defeated yet unbowed, and for whatever it is worth, the Blue Legion can hold their heads up especially that they remained professional all throughout aside from the apparent powerful and enthusiastic support they received from everyone in the department. The College of Business Management and Accountancy, the Golden Pirates, on the other hand, was also a force to reckon with. They were undoubtedly a team that could crash a mighty knight, topple down a legion, tame a red dragon, or destroy a cybertronic wildlife. Furthermore, the smallest kingdom rose to power because of its intellectual abilities. The College of Arts and Sciences, the Red Dragons, raised the bar of academic excellence to set themselves a new record in the history of HTC intramural events. Lastly, the strong claws of the Wolves by the Windows scared all their opponents during the fights. The College of Engineering and Technology Education, the Cybercats, sharply defined their goals to win the championship crown. In the end, like most of those who didn’t make it to the top, the Cybercats accepted their defeat and said “another year is yet to come”. Undoubtedly, the winning culture of HTC was articulated in every game and in every player. In the end, the College of Teacher Education, the College of Business Management and Accountancy, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the College of Computer Engineering and Technology Education were 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th runners-up respectively and received a cash prize of Php 15,000.00, Php 10,000, and Php 5,000.00. By Julian Loyd Libasa JUNE - OCTOBER 2015
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#enactus worldcup HTC-ENACTUS Brings Home National Title By Jenny Rose Lantin and Amormia Moreno
The ENACTUS (Entrepreneurial Action Us) Philippine National Champion title was brought back in Mindanao after almost a decade through the collaborative efforts and commitment displayed by the presenters of Holy Trinity College-ENACTUS. The HTC-ENACTUS team spearheaded by Mr. Theo Nacionales San Pedro (Team Leader), together with Professor Ma. Annabelle Linobo (Team Adviser), brought the pride and honor of the Generals as they ventured in the city of Manila at the SMX Convention Center on July 10-11, 2015 to represent General Santos City in the annual ENACTUS National Finals. The ENACTUS Finals is a showcase of how students transform lives and enable progress through entrepreneurial efforts. The event calls for innovation and passion to cop the championship title. The competing schools and universities were judged based on “the team with the most empowered people in need by applying business and economic concepts and an entrepreneurial approach to improve their quality of life and standard of living� by business leaders. Sixteen (16) colleges and universities all over the Philippines were defeated by the HTC team during the ENACTUS Philippines National Business Exposition. Among the final contenders were the University of the Philippines-Visayas, Bohol Island State University and the University of Antique who bagged the 1st, 2nd and 3rd runners-up respectively.
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In addition, Theo Nacionales San Pedro also won as the Best Team Leader and Prof. Annabelle A. Linobo as the Best Adviser. Other presenters from the team were Carmille Faith Cajipo as the Project Leader, Lesther B. Salazar as the Finance Leader, James Bernhardt P. Perpetua as the Operation Leader and Hannah T. Untal as the Marketing Leader together with their I.T. Support, Kevin Dave M. Pitogo. HTC-ENACTUS has indeed displayed how their efforts impacted local communities. Their projects empowered people to create opportunities that lead to real sustainable progress. They were individuals who formed a part of a greater whole. The competition seemed to be an uphill battle for the team yet they showed once and for all their aspiration to succeed making them the pride of our very own country. Moreover, the members of the HTC-GSC ENACTUS team who won the prestigious title were commended and congratulated during the 99th Regular Session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod of General Santos City on July 15, 2015. This achievement will lead the team on their way to represent the Philippines in the upcoming ENACTUS World Cup to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa.
PHOTO ESSAY
homeless romantics
By Norabhel Otañes
How does our city fare in Tourism, Education, Business, Health, and Social Services? Funds get allocated to sectors of the utmost significance in a city’s progress and development and quite obviously priorities are established. But how does our city fare in any of these? Do we get the most out of them? What of the homeless children frolicking with reckless abandon along the otherwise clean streets? How about the children too young to be selling rags to teenagers who eat from silver spoons? What do we make of these? Instead of looking farther away and starting to blame the government’s negligence in areas all too many but all too important to cover, how about getting outside the confines of our air-conditioned rooms to witness by ourselves the city’s state as it is? See that privilege does not always breed potential and realize how important it is to begin shifting perspectives and to know who we really are as citizens of the same nation and as creatures of the same race.
JUNE - OCTOBER 2015
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movie book
heneral luna
Director: Jerrold Tarog Starring: John Arcilla, Arron Villaflor, Mon Confiado
In each of our History classes, we have been taught how the mighty acts of our heroes changed the fate of our motherland. Some of said acts were left forgotten or worse, embellished. I never found history a tad interesting because the heroes were always depicted as righteous and true. It was a surprise, however, when I decided to watch the critically-acclaimed Heneral Luna because I was treated with almost truths and graphic details that left me with more questions than answers. And, as much as Philippine history is concerned, I would take whatever degree of reality that is served on my plate. The film spoke volumes about the internal conflict among the Filipinos themselves that caused a series of events that led to another colonization. Despite the stalwart efforts of the titular character, Heneral Antonio Luna, the Philippines was in such chaos that even his Artikulo Uno did not prevent his eventual assassination. (Whoops. Spoiler alert for those who slept in their history classes.) What unfolded before my eyes was truly a bittersweet picture. The general was not a saint, that much is true and the
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film did not stray away from this. In fact, his flawed humanity was even emphasized: his violent temper, his unmatched arrogance, his steely stubbornness, his twisted but otherwise well-meaning sense of discipline; they were all displayed for the audience’s viewing pleasure. I was treated with a rather bloody and painful experience and for that, I am truly thankful. Though creative liberties were used to improve the movie’s potential to instill a sad truth, it was nonetheless an honest depiction of the evils that plague our nation up to this very day. The veiled lies were slowly uncovered and hearts were crushed. Mine was no exception. To see the state of our nation resemble that of when Aguinaldo conspired to assassinate Heneral Luna, it’s such a shame to still be blind and deaf to the call of being truly Filipino. I left the cinema with tears threatening to fall. The script and acting was too damn good. You should have not missed it. Book and movie reviews by Benj Marlowe Cordero
Miguel Syjuco’s Ilustrado is a gem. Even before its publication, it has already earned prestigious accolades that serve as a clear indication of its writer’s masterful writing. The novel begins with Miguel’s discovery of his teacher’s battered corpse in the Hudson River. Crispin Salvador was his name and he lived in obscurity and in exile from Philippine literature so he could be free to write his final book The Bridges Ablaze, one that would expose the crimes of the Filipino elites and one that was lost and missing. Miguel, eager to purge his mentor’s name of a tarnished reputation, flies home to the Philippines to seek answers. As I leafed through the pages, I was brimming with anticipation. Miguel, as real as he was, gave life to himself and to the dead Crispin Salvador. They danced and pounced on the paper and ink like a lion and his cub trapped in a maddening cycle of intrigue and revelations. It’s truly bold and incredibly captivating. It’s one of the many things Filipinos should aspire to create and love. Go ahead, look for it and fall into a paradoxical state of hunger and satisfaction.
Ilustrado
Author: Miguel Syjuco
Notable Awards Received: -Palanca Award -Man Asian Literary Prize -QWF Paragraphe Hugh MacLennan Prize for Fiction
Recommended Books:
“My name is Magnus Chase. I’m sixteen years old. This is the story of how my life went downhill after I got myself killed.”
TRIVIA The first same-sex marriage in the Philippines was between two NPA members. “LINGGO” (Sunday) is the only day of a week in the Philippines that is not a Spanish acquisition. There’s a prison in Palawan where inmates are allowed to work in rice fields and act as tour guides without the need of walls or hundreds of prison guards. Among the more than 35 million cell phone subscribers in the Philippines in 2006, there are about 350 to 400 million sms (short message service) being sent daily. This is more than the total daily text messages that the US and Europe sent. Cory Aquino’s favorite color was RED, not YELLOW.
The Baclayon Church in Bohol was built using coral stones and egg white! Texas, U.S.A. was once referred to as “Nuevas Filipinas” or “New Philippines”. There are 175 individual languages in the Philippines, 171 of which are living languages while the 4 others no longer have any known speakers. The three stars represent Luzon, Panay, and Mindanao — not Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Panay was part of what the Proclamation of Independence in Kawit, Cavite referred to as “the archipelago’s three principal islands.” Philippines is the only country in the world whose flag is hoisted upside down when the country is at war. JUNE - OCTOBER 2015
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about the cover
revised branding
bare filipina For so long, Philippines has been a slave to different whips. We were fed and dressed up to whatever image our current colonizer deems beneficial. Though we wouldn’t be the Philippines we know today if it weren’t for the things they taught us, like religion and education among other things, but losing our identity is entirely another thing. If we remove every trace drawn on our dignity by foreign forces, do we still know what we truly look like?
As stated in Article 1, Section 2 of the 2015 Revised Constitution and By-laws of The Quill Publication, the official logo of The Quill is designed to let the readers be informed of the general perspectives of the student publication: • The quill is the universal and ultimate symbol for wri ters and, as student journalists, The Quill aims to be an exemplar of excellent writing and effective journalism; • The claws symbolize The Quill’s identity and loyalty as a true Trinitarian and they also stand for the five departments of the school as well as the Supreme Student Council, preserving The Quill’s purpose of being the voice of the entire Trinitarian student community; • The color dark blue represents integrity, knowledge and power. This serves as The Quill’s statement and declaration to always deliver a quality and powerful paper. Photo by Norabhel Otañes Model: Marjolyn Villoria
These symbolize what it really means to be a student journalist. It is our honor to declare your blood is our ink!
errata 1. In the article, HTC-ROTC Conducts Tactical Inspection, on page 4 of the second issue of The Quill Magazine AY 20142015, the title of the ROTC Commander Vince Ron Cartera is CADET LIEUTENANT COLONEL not Lieutenant Colonel. 2. In the article, HTC-ENACTUS qualifies TAYO 2014, the President’s correct name is THEO SAN PEDRO not Theo Nacionales. 3. In the article, The Amazing Papal Experience, the correct spelling of one participant’s name is ALLYNNA MARIE BUCA. 4. Lastly, in the section of Photo Essay on page 38 SEPARABLE was misspelled into SEPERABLE. 5. We apologize to Cdt Lt Col Vince Ron Cartera, Mr. Theo San Pedro, Ms. Allynna Marie Buca and to the entire Trinitarian community for these errors found in the second issue of The Quill Magazine AY 2014-2015.
THE QUILL, the official student publication of Holy Trinity College of General Santos City, publish magazines once in every semester. Opinions and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and contributors do not necessarily reflect those of the editors, staff and management of THE QUILL. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. For more information or comments please contact: The Quill Office Holy Trinity College Daproza Avenue, General Santos City
the quill
editorial board A.Y. 2015-2016 Editor-in-Chief Associate Editor Managing Editors News Editor Sports Editor Feature Editor Literary Editor Senior Cartoonist Honorary Editor Layout Artist
Benj Marlowe C. Cordero Freshel Arra R. Acut Allynna Marie I. Buca Norabhel A. Ota単es Christine G. Pare単as Julian Loyd B. Libasa Jenny Rose L. Lantin Sajir Rasmei B. Pangansayan Sheenalyn J. Dollente Ysa Lou S. Agawa Anthon Bartz C. Delizo
JUNIOR STAFF Avegay Cabel Christian Jay Laurea Amormia Moreno Adznier Waya Andrea Juanatas Hannah Lea Carmela Ureta James Albert Quimosing Jonyx Div Diaz Jelica Llego ADVISER Priscilla Acosta-Marayag, Ph. D.
To God be the glory.