The Central Echo Tabloid 2022

BY KJETIL JOSTH ACIELO

Stephen P. Parreño, Central Philippine University (CPU) alumnus, was promoted to the rank of Major General by the Commission on Appointments (COA) alongside 28 other Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) officers during a plenary session confirming their recommendations for promotion on June 2, 2021.

Parreño graduated from the University in 1986 and has held the position of Air Force Chief Inspector under the rank of Brigadier General since 2020.

“When you assume the position of higher responsibility in the Philippine Air Force (PAF), it starts within the junior years. When your senior officers see potential in you doing the duties and responsibilities assigned to you, it contributes to your rise.

AT THE FOREFRONT

Monserate among top 3,000 Scientists in PH

BY KALANIE SALDAJENO

Dr. Juvy Monserate, a Centralian researcher, scientist, and chemical engineer, is among the top 3000 scientists in the Philippines according to the Alper-Doger (AD) Scientific Index 2022.

Monserate’s research mainly focus on the field of Science and Nanotechnology particularly biomedicine, food, agriculture, energy, and environment. His inventions include nano-structured alcohol, hand sanitizer, and nano-filter masks with synthesized nanoparticles. These innovations were created to aid frontliners during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The alcohol and sanitizer that we have produced both contains nanoparticles infused with turmeric extract. In a study on the use of zinc oxide nanoparticles as nanomedicine, the mixture could kill the H1N1 influenza and the SARS viruses which are both a family of the coronavirus. Thus, applying such to surfaces could be effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19,” Monserate said.

He also received the 2022 Outstanding Chemical Engineer - Atty. Rosendo & Luz Tansinsin Award for Research and Development during the 83rd Philippine Institute of Chemical Engineers (PIChE) National Convention on September 14, 2022. He is the only Filipino in the Top 12 among 88 competing teams for the Association of the Universities of Asia and the Pacific (AUAP) Research Fund 2021. This multi-awarded researcher is a leading scientist and pioneer of Nanotechnology Research and Development of Central Luzon State University.

“I think my most important skill as a chemical engineer is genuine love of the profession. Evaluate and think objectively, create and incorporate innovatively,” he stated when asked of his career.

He graduated with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering in Central Philippine University in 1987. He holds two Masters degree namely, MAT Physics (NEUST) and Master of Science in Material Science and Engineering from UP Diliman. He is also a Ph.D. holder in Material Science and Engineering from UP Diliman specializing in nanotechnology of  materials.

Monserate said that he is a proud Centralian saying, “I believe CPU started my journey to a very successful  career.”

The AD Scientific Index provided evaluations of journals and universities. It is a ranking and analysis system based on the scientific performance and the added value of the scientific productivity of individual  scientists.

Upang malinang ang kakayahan ng bansa sa paggamit ng kuryente galing sa hangin, pinondohan ng Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) ang pagpapatayo ng kauna-unahang Research, Development and Testing Laboratory sa bansa na binuo at pinaunlad sa Central Philippine University, Mayo 31.

Pinasimula ang pagtatayo ng pasilidad ang inisyatibo na magiging basehan ng mga mambabatas sa mga polisiyang naka angkla sa paggamit ng makabagong enerhiya. Nakikita rin itong makatutulong sa mga local

government units (LGUs) sa pagsuri sa mga komunidad na may potensyal sa pagkuha ng kuryente mula sa hangin sa pamamaraan ng wind turbines.

“Ang CPU, kasama ng Affiliated Renewable Energy Center (AREC), ay responsable sa pagbubuo at pagpapatayo ng mga wind energy systems magmula noon, oras na para bumuo tayo ng research, development,” ayon kay Engr. Jeriel G. Militar, Project Leader at Chairperson ng CPU Mechanical Engineering Department.

BASAHIN SA PAHINA 03, AIR FORCE

L GAD CASTRO

CENTRALIANS’ POWER

CPUR hosts 1st postpandemic election rally

BY LEANDRO SALDAJENO

CPU welcomed the return of face-to-face grand rally for the first time since the pandemic at Rose Memorial Auditorium on June 13.

The campaign rally aimed to provide an avenue for aspiring student leaders of the CPU Republic to introduce themselves and their respective platforms.

“Despite some minor delay, we manage to do our work and delivered a successful and peaceful election,” said Marie Venice Noble, chairperson of CPUR Commission on Election (CPUR Comelec).

Moreover, a question and answer portion, with The Central Echo as the officiating panelists, and a fast-talk segment were prepared for the national government candidates of the aforementioned parties, to assess the stances of the aspiring leaders on various topics.

“We did not expect it to be such a successful election. Despite the setbacks we faced throughout this activity, I was so happy to deliver an election that is free from conflict.Hopefully, the next election will be as peaceful,” Noble added.

Noble was thankful throughout the entire election because it was a big step in welcoming the return of various face-to-face activities in CPU after two years of the online class setup.

“To my fellow commissioners, thank you very much for devoting your time and effort despite your busy schedules. Thank you, Centralians, for the support and by voting in the election. The entire CPUR Comelec felt your support, understanding, and patience. I hope you will continue to support us in the next election, as well as in other face-to-face activities at CPU,” Noble said.

The grand campaign rally was also aired live on CPU’s official Facebook pages. C

10 studs receive Ruth Foundation scholarship grants

BY KALANIE SALDAJENO

Ten new scholars of the Ruth Scholarship Foundation were introduced during a program held at Central Philippine University’s Henry Luce Library on March 21.

According to Atty. Peter Irving C. Corvera, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation, the scholarship grants aim to “give support and resources” to students who are financially challenged to achieve their  goals.

The mission of the foundation is to support students by providing need-based scholarships to enable them to succeed and give back to their communities. The scholars will be granted full scholarship and fees, assistance in board and lodging, internet connectivity, and academic  materials.

“It is not a religious scholarship. It is a scholarship with Christian values. The goal is that its scholars, after graduation, may find proper employment and succeed in their respective careers, whereby they may give back to their families and be of service to their communities,” Corvera  added.

Scholars don’t need to be at the top of their classes in order to qualify for the scholarship. In order to come up with the list of scholars, the foundation partnered with the deans of the colleges to select, interview, and evaluate students who exhibit the potential to give back to their communities in the  future.

The scholars are the following:

Julienne Anne D. Bajon, Bachelor of Science in Accountancy; Florinda

E. Caldito, Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management; Alrey

N. Canicula and Karen Kate P. Liza, Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering; Gad B. Castro, Bachelor of Science in Advertising; Deneilyn P. Gabo, Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering; Reden

V. Gadot and Micah Gail M. Sorioso, Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science; Althea E. Labestre, Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy; Jessa Mae B. Malificiar, Bachelor of Science in Social  Work. Reden Gadot, one of the scholarship recipients, stated that she was “eternally grateful for the oppor tunities, inspiration, and guidance” the foundation has given her. “It is truly an honor to be part of a fam i ly that is selfless and generous,” she  added.

 THE CENTRAL ECHO PLATFORMS. Candidates present their different programs to the CPU student body during the first-post pandemic election rally..

Quimba wins CPUR Presidential elections

BY DANICA MAE HABLADO

Danz Rasheed Reynald Quimba of the Reform Party was elected as the president of the Central Philippine University Republic (CPUR) in the 2022 CPUR Elections held online on June 14.

Quimba secured 5,820 votes, giving him a margin of 1,474 votes against Koalisyon’s Sam David Andrada.

“I have been setting my eyes on becoming the president of CPUR since I discovered about it three months before I transferred to CPU, and it has now become a reality,” said  Quimba.

Quimba, who was Prime Minister of the Republic the previous school year, is set to serve the student body once again as the head of the student republic.

“I am elated, honored, and privileged that my fellow Centralians have promoted me from Prime Minister to President,” he added.

Quimba detailed that he is “very hopeful” to be moving forward with more face-to-face events as health protoWcols are “relaxing” due to the lowering of cases.

“I am excited to take on his new responsibilities in the Republic and to provide our students with the opportunity they have been longing for over the past two years,” he added.

The CPUR election results were released on June 20 by the CPUR Commission on Elections through a series of Facebook  posts.

Kriss Kringle Inge Bancolo, also of Reform, was elected Vice President by a margin of 227 votes over Darynne Osorio of Koalisyon.

Reform won six seats in the Senate, with Ron Xavier Caldito being elected to the highest seat of Prime Minister.

The results also revealed the other elected senators: C-Sar Mart Aguirre, Ingrid Joyce Fajardo, Jellian Precious Ganda, Crystyl Shayne Quintos, Lyndon John Coronado, Mitzi Ruth Delector, and Phoebe Mhay Porras.

Ahead of the elections, the candidates met face-to-face at the Rose Memorial Auditorium for the Grand Rally and Debate, with only a limited number of participants and supporters permitted  inside.

The CPUR elections were held online on June 14 via the learning management system, Canvas. C

AIR FORCE

FROM PAGE 01

Being designated as air chief of staff means integrating and coordinating the efforts of all staff and operations of the armed forces, from logistics, operations, intelligence, etc. The chief of air staff serves as the primary adviser of the commanding general. We ensure that the thrusts and programs of the commanding general are accomplished. All communications from the commanding general to the different units pass through me,” says General Parreño.

Parreño graduated from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in 1991, and spent five years in flying school at the Basilio Fernando Air Base in Lipa City, Batangas, as a second lieutenant.

“When I entered the academy, I did not expect to be assigned to the PAF.

It had been a long-time dream for me to become a pilot. However, pursuing an aeronautical course was expensive then. So, when I graduated from the academy, I was lucky to be assigned to the PAF. I realized that it was not just about flying aircraft. There were many aspects of service we could do for the Filipino nation in the PAF.”

Since entering the PAF 32 years ago, General Parreño comments that the PAF has undergone many changes in professionalizing and integrating improved services to enhance military operations.

“After the Americans left around the 1990s, we had to use air assets to defend and perform missions.

The career path of an officer is now attractive to those who will enter as we modernize, thanks to the dedication of service members.

QUIMBA

Henry Luce III Library gears up for face-toface classes

BY CHRISTIAN JAKE RUIZ

Central Philippine University’s Henry Luce III Library is currently preparing for the gradual reopening of face-to-face classes this coming August. The library’s facilities and services are arranged to comply with the requirements and health protocols accordingly.

Having been closed off to the public due to the pandemic and opting for online services with the introduction of their virtual assistant Bertha, the library now reopens and focuses on devising of facilities to accommodate and welcome students in the new normal.

As the University slowly transitions into its face-to-face modality of learning, it’s library also took the initiative to adapt to the new setup by taking preparations such as rearranging chairs, tables, and other equipment to ensure the safety of the students entering the said establishment.

ANDRADA

In addition to their offline services, the library still continues to offer their online assistance to students such as Online Resources, Scanning Services, Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC), and Chat with Bertha.C

FROM PAGE 01

Iminungkahi rin ng PCIEERD na ang pasilidad and magtatayong lugar para sa mga programang naglalayong magturo sa tamang paggamit ng wind tunnels, wind monitoring systems, at prototyping ng software at hardware. Ito rin ang mangunguna sa aspeto ng pagdidisenyo ng katangian at istilo ng mga wind turbine na magiging gabay para sa pagsusuri ng mapagkukunan ng hangin, at mga polisiya o karaniwang pamamaraan sa pagsuri.

Samantala, ipinahayag ni DOSTPCIEERD Executive Director Dr.

Enrico C. Paringit na kumpiyansa ang kanilang pangkat na ang pasilidad ay higit pang magpapakita ng malawak na potensyal ng bansa sa aspeto ng wind technology sa mga bansang kasapi ng Southeast  Asia.

Dinagdag din niya na ito ang nagbibigay-inspirasyon sa kanila sa DOST-PCIEERD na tulungan ang higit pang mga institusyong magtatag at magpalago pa ng kanilang sariling pasilidad upang pagyamanin ang kanilang mga rehiyon upang magsimula ng mga hakbang sa

The PAF today has branched out to various functions such as radar operations, intelligence, and cybersecurity.”

General Parreño credits much of his success to the CPU core values he has learned, attesting that the military holds similar values.

“Leadership is very much inherent in a military organization. It is demanded of you as an officer from the start. I want to make a difference in dispensing my duties, ensuring that I am just, fair, and rational. I am thankful that I was educated in the Centralian way. Through the core values, I guarantee that objectives are met, motivate my team, and be a good steward of whatever is entrusted to me. We were trained to lead in the academy, but it is much different in real life.” C

NI LEANDRO SALDAJENO

Inilunsad ng Central Philippine University Republic (CPUR) Agalon: Mother Organization, kasama ng CPU Republic (CPUR), ang “Bato Ilonggo! Mural for Morale” sa gate seven ng Central Philippine University (CPU) noong Hunyo 9-15, upang maipakita ang tibay at katatagan ng mga Ilonggo sa gitna ng pandemya.

Sampung organisasyon at mga fraternity ng CPU at isa pang ang boluntaryong organisasyon ang lumahok sa nasabing proyekto sa pangunguna ni CPUR Agalon President, Donjie Laurente at Project Head, Nicholas Danielle Daypuyart.

“Sa suporta at tulong ng CPUR, at ng Unibersidad, ang proyekto ay magsisilbing atraksyon sa mga dumadaan sa gate seven bilang pananda na ang mga organisasyon ay nanatiling aktibo at matulungin sa komunidad sa kabila ng pandemya at sa sari-saring pagsubok na dumaan,” diin ni Daypuyart ukol sa layunin ng proyekto.

pagsasaliksik at pagpapaunlad na makatutulong sa buong bansa.

Ang DOST-PCIEERD, bilang ahensya ng pagpopondo at pagsubaybay ng proyekto sa pamamagitan ng Institution Development Program (IDP), ay panatag at positibo na ang wind turbine development at testing laboratory ng CPU ay magbubukas ng kakayahan ng bansa sa pagbuo ng enerhiya mula sa  hangin. C

Dagdag pa rito, nais iparating ng programa ang mensahe ng tema, “A glance at Ilonggo artists’ view of our battle with this pandemic and Iloilo’s spirit of fighting challenges” sa mga Centralian.

“Ang mga mural sa CPU gate seven ay kumakatawan ng karanasan at pananaw ng mga sari-saring rehistradong organisasyon sa panahong mas laganap pa ang pandemya at mga bagyo...

CENTRAL’S HISTORIC 94TH

CPU holds first in-person graduation after 2 years

BY PAULETTE TORRICO

One thousand and five hundred ninety-six Centralian graduates marched in the 94th Commencement Exercises on the 24th of July 2022 at Rose Memorial Auditorium, with the first batch gathered at 9:00 AM and second batch at 3:00 PM.

This was the first face-to-face graduation rites of the Central Philippine University Colleges after two years of having it virtually due to the restrictions of COVID-19  pandemic.

“This is happening not because of our human strength and skills alone. We recognize that it is because of the grace and goodness of our Lord Almighty through which we are able to celebrate this event today, face-to-face,” Dr. Teodoro C. Robles, CPU President said in his words of welcome.

Dr. Elmer Q. Pedregosa, Chairman –Board of Trustees also delivered his words of greetings and encouragement.

Commencement Speaker, Atty. Salex E. Alibogha, Commissioner, Legal Education Board of the Republic of the Philippines, shared the story of his sufferings and sweet victories as he and his siblings were able to graduate from college despite the fact that their father was a janitor and their mother was a sidewalk vendor. Despite all the life circumstances, he was able to thrive and survive because of God’s faithfulness. Everything he had was determination, hard work, and faith in God.

One of the graduate’s parents, Mrs. Dominga Jasa, said she was moved to tears by Atty. Alibogha’s testimony.

The awarding of degrees to the graduates was headed by CPU President Dr. Teodoro C. Robles, assisted by Mrs. Emerald Joy E. Perucho, Assistant Registrar.

"The feeling that I got to walk on that stage and get my diploma is something I will treasure forever." Said Hannah Faith A. Sejera, Bachelor of Science in Social Work, Summa Cum Laude.

Sejera also commended the efforts of the faculty, graduation committee and council in making the event a successful one. She said,"What the graduation committee and council did was really good. They went beyond [my expectations] actually."

The first batch of conferees were from the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Arts and Sciences, Business and Accountancy. The second batch of graduates who were granted their degrees in the afternoon included the College of Computer Studies, College of Education, College of Hospitality Management, College of Nursing, College of Engineering, Pharmacy, College of Medicine, College of Theology, and School of Graduate Studies.

Pearl Joy L. Sufeciancia, BS Accountancy, Summa Cum Laude, and Wenn I. Ricaforte, BSED-S, Summa Cum Laude, delivered their responses in behalf of the graduates, in the morning and in the afternoon, respectively.

COVID-19 protocols, such as observance of physical distancing, wearing of face masks, and having only one parent inside the Rose Memorial Auditorium, were strictly implemented all throughout the ceremony. C

Central Philippine University (CPU) received a Technology Business Incubator (TBI) grant from the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) during the two-day HEIRIT 2.0 Kick-Off Program held on June 23-24, at the World Palace Hotel, Davao City.

Among the 27 recipient universities, CPU ranked fourth, with De La Salle University- College of St. Benilde for first place, Ateneo de Manila University for second place, Philippine Women’s College of Davao for third place, and University of the Philippines - Baguio for fifth place.

The CPU TBI team will participate in training programs and will receive at least P8 million to P10

million in funding support from the DOST-PCIEERD to address the increasing need for technologybased businesses or startups in the community, especially in Region 6.

"The technology business incubator in the universities will be the focal point in building the next generation of entrepreneurs in the regions. If someone with a good idea that solves a problem in the community needs to get some assistance and support for their funding and ideas, they should approach the nearest technology business incubator that is located in a higher education institution,” said UPGRADE’s project lead,

BY YUSIMAY HABLADO

CPU receives TBI grant from DOST-PCIEERD

THE LONG WAIT IS OVER.

A cetralian graduate receieves

the 94th and first face-to-face commencement execrise of Central Philippine University after two years.

CPU, Griffith University sign MOU

BY PIERRE JHUN SAN PEDRO

 CENTRALIAN LINK

FROM CENTRAL TO THE LAND DOWN  UNDER. Professer Necil Magno with the faculty of Griffith University during her visit to university for the pre-signing of the MOU .

Central Philippine University (CPU) officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Griffith University of Australia on June 1 via digital signing software, Adobe Acrobat Sign.

According to the University, Prof. Sarah Todd, acting Vice President for Global of Griffith University signed the MOU together with Dr. Teodoro C. Robles, President of CPU, through the said software.

“Central Philippine University in the Philippines and Griffith University in Australia recognize the benefits of building healthy collaboration and partnership through international links. This memorandum of understanding reflects both institutions’ commitment to seek mutual benefits and consolidate the professional relationship between Central Philippine University and Griffith University,” states the MOU.

Through this agreement, both universities aim to develop collaboration and cooperation “at an academic and educational level” to encourage interdisciplinary discussions which involve the academic staff and student body.

As stated in the university’s Centralian Link, collaborative projects between both institutions would include advancements in academic areas of mutual interest, with emphasis on equality and reciprocity.

Moreover, both universities are expected to explore possibilities of collaborative research projects, engagement in online guest lectures and symposiums, as well as discussions among experts in their various fields; wherein discussion and collaborations among faculty members, researchers, administrative staff, and various student groups are expected.

Partnership between both universities was reportedly initiated last April 6, 2021, by former Director of the Office of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr. Anna Mae Zerrudo, when CPU and Griffith University conducted collaborative presentations geared on autism, special education, as well as on early childhood education.

Prof. Leilani L. Trompeta then resumed the discussions toward the finalization and formalization of the MOU when she took over the Office of International Relations and  Cooperation.

Talks and discussions of the said partnership were then furtherly strengthened when CPU BPED Coordinator Dr. Necil C. Magno, along with Centralians Mr. Mauro Somodio, Founding President of FilipinoAustralian Foundation of Queensland Inc. (FAFQ Inc.), and Mrs. Cecilia J. Somodio, Current FAFQ Inc. President, during their visit on Griffith University on Queensland, Australia last May 26, where it was reported that a draft of the MOU had already been made. C

ECHO  BITS

GMA Masterclass Series, Madinaugon nga ginhiwat sa CPU

NI RYAN DAVE PORAL

Madinaugon nga ginhiwat ang Masterclass Series sang GMA Network sadtong Pebrero 21 sa Central Philippine University Rose Memorial Auditorium nga gintambungan sang mga estudyante kag manunudlo, faceto-face kag via zoom sang nasambit nga unibersidad.

Lima ka mga manughambal ang naghatag sang mensahe parte sa ila mga eksperyensya sa kabuhi, kaangay kanday Audrey Domasian nga social manager sang GMA, celebrity Chef nga si Jose Sarasola, GMA Regional TV correspondent Darylle Marie Sarmiento, beauty queen kag actress nga si Rabiya Mateo, kag ang batikan nga reporter sang GMA nga si Sandra Aguinaldo. Pagkatapos sang mensahe, ginhatagan naman sang tion ang mga estudyante nga magpamangkot sang mga palamangkotanon parte sa mga topiko nga gin pang diskurso sang mga  speakers.

Suno kay Oliver Victor Amoroso, Vice President sang GMA Network kag Head sang GMA Regional TV kag Synergy, tuyo sang nasambit nga programa ang maka hatag sang chakto nga impormasyon sa kadam-an labi nagid sa mga kabataan.

“Ang goal talaga namin is to make everyone well-informed. Through the masterclass, we are hoping na mamulat ang ating mga kabataan.” Pahayag ni  Amoroso.

Dugang pa niya sa ginpamangkot kung ngaa CPU ang gin pili nga paga hiwatan sang GMA Masterclass, “CPU stood up for its belief that it is an important institution, it plays a very important role dito sa Iloilo, sa Western Visayas. We’ve seen a graduate ng CPU, we’ve seen them grow, so it is a good partnership, because at the end of the day, pare-pareho yung pinaglalaban natin which is the truth and I believe na si CPU at si GMA, talagang hinahanap ang truth na yan.”

“Importante katama ang mga aktibidad kaangay sang GMA masterclass bangod dako gid ini nga bulig para sa amon kurso kag posible obra sa ulihi,” suno kay Kaye Porquez, isa ka Communication student.

“Very helpful gid, bangod we get the chance to listen to their stories kag very inspiring gid! We know what to expect on the field if ever we get the chance to have a job like them,” suno ni Porquez.

“Importante gid ini ang mga muni klase nga event in order to raise awareness on misinformation which is very contagious gid at the present,” dugang ni Porquez.

Kabahin sang panata sang GMA Network ang nasambit nga aktibidad nga maghatag sang serbisyong totoo kag bulig nga mapalapnag ang mga impormasyon nga Dapat Totoo. C

INCUBATOR

Asst. Prof. Miguel Guillermo.

The application of the CPU TBI team was initiated by Engr. Dany Molina, dean of the College of Engineering who is also the team’s consultant/adviser, together with the other members, Prof. Ma. Rhea Rizza Melliza (TBI Manager), Prof. Sharlene Gotico (ITSO Manager), Dr. Aries Roda Romallosa, Engr. Gelvie Lagos, Engr. Yeseil Sacramento (Technical Members), and Prof. Renjo Debil (Entrepreneur-inResidence). C

BATO ILONGGO

ECHO BITS | FROM PAGE 06

FROM PAGE 04  AGUINALDO

upang magsilbing munting kwentong kasaysayan sa mga mag-aaral ng unibersidad, ito rin ay magpapaalala ng mga pagsubok na ating dinanas at kinayang lagpasan. Nagsisimbolo ito na sa kabila ng anumang kaganapan, ay nananatiling buhay ang sining sa ating mga damdaming sumisigaw," saad ni  Daypuyart.

Lubos na nagpasasalamat si Daypuyart dahil naging matagumpay ang proyekto. Ang pakikilahok ng mga kabataan ay nagtaguyod ng positibong pagbabago sa pagpahayag ng "mga ipinintang boses at istorya" sa mga mural. C

her diploma from Dr. Esther Romarate, Vice President for Student Affairs during

AT THE SUMMIT

Ambos bags his 22nd award

BY KJETIL JOSTH ACIELO

Dr. Maredil R. Ambos, Ed.D., D. Hum., FOPd, FREIDr, a professor and Bachelor of Elementary Education programs and professional subjects coordinator from the College of Education, has been awarded 22 awards and fellowships from various international and national organizations, including Asia’s Most Outstanding and Leading Educator of All Time during the 1st Asia’s Golden Icons Awards 2022 on June 28.

A veteran educator of 21 years, Dr. Ambos attests that his achievements gained over the last two years serve as significant milestones in his educational career.

“I am truly overwhelmed by the opportunities given to me to achieve such honorable awards. These shall remind me of the importance of consistency, dedication, diligence, and love for the  profession.”

Dr. Ambos began teaching at the Junior High School (JHS) Department shortly after graduating Cum Laude in Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in Computer Science Education in 2001 as a working student and scholar. In 2013, he earned his Master’s Degree in Teaching, Major in Computer Studies from Southwestern  University.

“I believe being a teacher means being an icon, a gem, a hero. As such, I make my classroom a playground where students enjoy and learn immensely during class interactions. A teacher’s duty is that of a role model and a source of inspiration and admiration to your students,” says Dr. Ambos.

He attained his Doctorate in Education (Ed.D.), Major in Educational Management through the University of Southern Philippines Foundation in 2016, starting his tenure as a professor at the College of Education in the same year. His work towards education, leadership, and knowledge has been recognized countless times throughout his career. Among those conferred to him include Gawad Ybarra, Gawad Maharaja, Outstanding Educator, Outstanding United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Implementer during the 7th National and International Awards of the Maharaja, Paham, and Ybarra Scholar and Fellows last May 28, Outstanding Educator of the Year in the 2nd Instabright International Awards for Educators on May 8, and as a Fellow by the Royal Institute of Educators, Singapore on July 15.

Dr. Ambos credits his successes to his

experiences as a student leader and achiever during his college days. According to him, serving as CPUR senator, council board member, and leader of various clubs and organizations challenged him to become better.

“Consistency, dedication, diligence, and love for work are my success formulas. Success does not happen through the click of a mouse. Rather, you need to start working on it now. These are the things I often tell my education students,” he  attests.

Dr. Ambos is an adviser to several clubs and organizations at the College of Education. He also chairs as a board member for The Boy Scouts of the Philippines, Iloilo (Confessor) Council, and was appointed treasurer for the Philippine Association for Teachers and Educators (PAFTE),  Inc.

“I am thankful, first to God who gives me opportunities, to my family, mentors, and CPU family, and to our university President, Dr. Teodoro C. Robles. To all Centralians, let us keep doing the right things with consistency, dedication, and passion for our work. To God be the Glory.” C

CE wins Best Science Stories in 1st Gawad DALUMAT

BY PRINCE RIC EMMANUEL PACIENTE

The Central Echo garnered two best science stories in the very first Gawad DALUMAT: Best Science-school based/Student-led Publication by the Department of Science and TechnologyTechnology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI), held at Novotel Manila Araneta City, May 13.

The publication won with the articles, “Angkol and the River,” from the 2021 magazine which features the life of a local fisherman in Iloilo River and “A LITERAL BUZZKILL: Why bees are dying out and what’s in it for us,” from the 2021 tabloid that tackles about the endangerment of bees.

Contested with the Central Echo are following school publications, “The Estoile” of the Saint Edward School from General Trias, Cavite, “The Electron” of the Quezon City Science High School, and “Visions and

Missions” of the Holy Child Catholic School from Manila. There were 39 total entries for Gawad DALUMAT.

“It was really unexpected that we would actually win with what we wrote and it’s a rush flying there in such a quick notice to receive the award personally, but I would say it was really worth it. All for Central!” Kathleen Frugalidad, the publication’s Associate Editor and former Editor-in-Chief said.

Frugalidad was accompanied by the current Editor-in-Chief Kalanie Saldajeno, the Layout Editor Prince Ric Emmanuel Paciente and publication adviser Prof. Rea Faulan-Villeza. Gawad DALUMAT, which translates as “deep mental thought” or malalim na pagiisip, aimed to recognize school publications that demonstrate excellent and effective science  storytelling. C

 REA ANGELICA VILLEZA

THE BEST IS HERE. (L to R) The Central Echo adviser Rea Angelica Villeza and staffers Kathleen Frugalidad, Prince Ric Emmanuel Paciente, Kalanie Saldajeno, after receiving the publication’s awards for Best Science Stories, conferred at Novotel Manila Araneta City, May 13.

CPU among QS Ranking for a 3rd Time

BY KALANIE SALDAJENO

entral Philippine University (CPU), for the third consecutive year, is among the best universities in Asia according to the Quacquarelli Symonds’ (QS) Asia University Rankings for 2023, released on November 8.

CPU ranked #701-750 out of 760 universities in Asia. Out of 16 universities in the Philippines, CPU is the only university from Western Visayas.

“I feel extremely proud to be a student at this university. As a college sophomore it is quite fulfilling to know that I have made the right decision in enrolling in this university as my school continuous to be recognized globally while upholding excellence,” says Jirah Songcog, a secomd year Digital Media and Interactive Arts  student.

CPU was founded in 1905 as the Jaro Industrial School by missionaries of the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society. The Commision of Higher Education (CHED) has granted autonomous status to the university since 2001. It is the only university in Iloilo City that has been granted autonomous status as of 2018.

CHED commends the performances of the universities who made it into the ranking.

“As HEIs continue to rise in global university rankings, CHED commits to prioritizing internationalization and setting milestones in nation-building,” the agency stated.

QS is one of the three prestigious world university ranking agencies alongside Times Higher Education (THE) and Academic Ranking

CPU grads nab LET 6th, 10th places

BY KALANIE SALDAJENO

ryan Paul L. Espinosa and Shenry June A. Esparagoza, graduates of Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education in Central Philippine University (CPU) ranked sixth and 10th in the 2021 Licensure Examination for Teachers (Secondary Level), respectively.

Espinosa ranked No. 6 with 92.00% rating, while Esparagosa ranked No. 10 with 91.20% rating. CPU got a passing rate of 84.44% (38 passers out of 45 takers) in the BSED category versus the national passing rate of 57.76%. In the BEED category, CPU got 86.67% (13 passers out of 15 takers) with a national passing rate of 55.96%.

When preparing for the board exams, Espinosa stated that it was a journey enriched with love, hope, and gratitude. “I trusted everything in God’s hands and trusting Him led to this wonderful moment,” he  added.

On the other hand, Esparagoza stated that he was dedicated and he made sure that he “does good” in the LET exam.

Espinosa graduated Magna Cum Laude during the first semester of School Year 2018-2019, while Esparagoza graduated during the first semester of School Year 2019-2020.

In addition, Dean of the College of Education, Dr. Merle L. Junsay shared, “My heart leaps with joy and thanksgiving for the wonderful blessing we received from God in the College of Education: having two topnotchers and having achieved a very high rating in the September 2021 Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET). God indeed has a perfect plan. The result is a testimony that excellence is never an accident. Now, we do not wonder why the LET was cancelled three times. All praise and glory be to our  God!”

The LET that was administered last September had 17,863 examinees for the secondary level licensure. There was 57.76-percent passing rate or 10,318 successful takers. A total of 9,286 teachers were first-time takers of the LET while 1,032 were repeat takers. C

4 Centralians excel in TOSIA 2022

BY ZHARINA MARIE STEPHANIE LUGO

abriel Mico Bondoc and Ro-Anne Lozada from the College of Business and Accountancy; and Zharina Marie Stephanie Lugo and Daryl Lutero from the College of Arts and Sciences, received major and special awards during the search for The Outstanding Students of Iloilo Awards (TOSIA): Salute to Excellence award ceremony held on July 10 at Robinsons Place  Iloilo.

Out of the 10 TOSIA finalists from different universities in Iloilo City and Iloilo Province, the 4 Centralians were able to bring home 14  awards.

Lozada garnered 5 awards namely: TOSIA Top Circle, TOSIA Hall of Fame, TOSIA Scholar, TOSIA Speaker, TOSIA Leader, and The Outstanding Students of Iloilo Award.

Lozada shared that she was awarded for a second time and believed that her greatest challenge was to overcome her “greatest expectations” of herself. “I was never complacent with what I can achieve but rather afraid of failing whenever the luck and odds wouldn’t be at my side,” she said.

Bondoc on the other hand, was awarded as one of the TOSIA Top Circle and The Outstanding Students of Iloilo.

Bondoc said that he always wanted to share his story to his fellow youth, and allowing them to learn from his mistakes and live his successes in the hopes of inspiring them to be their own catalyst of positive

change. “Knowing that TOSIA can provide a bigger platform for my mission to make a difference and make my part of the world a better place is definitely more than enough of a reason to inspire me,” he added.

At the same time, Lugo and Lutero was both awarded with Special awards: TOSIA Artisans, TOSIA Best Advocacy Video and The Outstanding Students of Iloilo.

Lutero shared that the awards he received was an “affirmation” of every pattern, scene, words and episodes of his life works and it “motivated” him to be consistently creative on his own form of craftsmanship.

“To all dreamers, we have our own art of expression and we must remember that we are the scriptwriter of our own storyline; and everyone can be an Artisan, only if we share the spotlight of innovations because Artisans were made to tell stories that inspires and make dreams that transpires,” Lutero  emphasized.

Conferred by Junior Chamber International: Regatta, TOSIA is a yearly award recognizing student leaders who exemplify Academic Excellence, Leadership, Faith, and Community Involvement. The annual search for outstanding is held in partnership with Department of Education Iloilo and Iloilo City Divisions and the Commission on Higher Education Region 6. C

of World Universities (ARWU). It is considered the world’s largest international higher education  network.

The QS Asia University Rankings, which is published annually since 2009, highlights the top universities in Asia based on its 11 indicators listed in its website namely academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty/student ratio, international research network, citations per paper, and papers per faculty.

According to the list, University of the Philippines (UP) remained the country’s best institution of higher learning after being ranked 87th.It was followed by Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) at 134th place; De La Salle University (DLSU) at 171st place; and University of Santo Tomas (UST) at 175th place. C

ESPINOSA ESPARAGOZA

To all dreamers, we have our own art of expression and we must remember that we are the scriptwriter of our own storyline; and everyone can be an Artisan, only if we share the spotlight of innovations because Artisans were made to tell stories that inspires and make dreams that  transpires.”

- Daryl Lutero TOSIA Awardee

TUGON NG KALIKASAN

Bagyong

sa ang siyudad ng Iloilo sa mga lugar na labis na naapektuhan sa hagupit ng bagyong Paeng sa loob ng apat na araw at nagdulot ng matindihing pagbaha.

Iniulat ng bawat Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRMC) sa mga barangay ng Iloilo na mayroong 30 barangay ang nakaranas ng hagupit ng bagyong Paeng. Kabilang na rito ang barangay ng Sto. Niño Sur, Yulo, So-oc, at Sto. Domingo sa Arevalo; Sinikway sa Lapuz; Bonifacio Tanza at Concepcion sa City Proper; Boulevard at Katilingban sa Molo; Pali Benedicto, PHHC Block

17, San Rafael, Hibao-an Norte, Tabucan, Navais, Q. Abeto, Hibao-an Sur, Calahunan, at Oñate de Leon sa Mandurriao; San Isidro, Camalig, Dungon B, Desamparados, Lopez Jaena, Benedicto, Cuartero, Simon Ledesma, Tagbac, at Tabuc Suba sa Jaro; at San Isidro sa La Paz.

As soon as we can declare a state of calamity, will provide financial assistance from our calamity funds of P10,000 to all families with totally damaged houses and P7,000 to all families with partially damaged houses,” sambit ni Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, tagapangulo ng Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CRDRRMC).

Base sa mga ulat ng Iloilo City DRRM Office, may kabuuang 1,593 pamilya na binubuo ng 6,754

indibidwal mula sa 55 barangay sa siyudad ng Iloilo ang naapektuhan sa bagyong  ito.

We have provided temporary shelter and distributed food packs, and hot meals to our evacuees para mapasiguro ang ila seguridad kag kahimtangan sa tion sang kalamidad kag emerhensya. Naghatag man kita sang psychosocial support parehos sang counseling and stress debriefing kaupod ang aton mga CSWDO personnel,” sambit ni Mayor Treñas.

Walang tigil ang matinding weather disturbances na dulot ng Severe Tropical Storm ‘Paeng’ na lumikha ng heavy rainfall at pagtaas ng lebel ng tubig sa iba’t ibang mga lugar sa lalawigan at siyudad ng Iloilo mula noong Oktubre  28.

“We are so grateful of the help extended by the different sectors to the Ilonggos who are greatly affected by Typhoon Paeng. We are all in this together for this battle, ululupod kita sa pag bangon,” dagdag pa ni Treñas.

Bumuhos din ang tulong mula sa mga pribado at pampublikong organisasyon at indibidwal sa pamamagitan ng donasyon para sa mga nasalanta ng bagyo. Kabilang na rito ang paglaan ng tulong pinansyal sa pamumuno ng Uswag IIonggo Partylist at Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). C

Ungka Flyover mananatiling sarado

anlalawigan ang pansamantalang pagsara ng bagong bukas at nagkakahalaga ng PHP 680 million, four-lane flyover sa Barangay Ungka II, bayan ng Pavia simula Setyembre 18, matapos kwestyunin ang pinsalang nakita sa  istruktura nito.

Dahil sa pangyayaring ito, umapela ang Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region VI para sa karagdagang pagunawa sa publiko.

“Ang ginahambal ta nga three weeks, amo na ang temporary shoring while gina-finalize ang recommendation sang pinaka-best nga engineering solution or intervention. So, may ara pa kita nga obrahon,” sambit ni Engineer Jose Al Fruto, DPWH-VI Assistant Regional Director.

Inilarawan ng maraming motorista at mga pasahero na nakararanas sila ng “maalon” na

biyahe o katulad ng pagsakay sa bangka sa dagat kapag dumadaan sa imprastraktura. Ang pangyayaring ito ay nagdulot din ng problema sa publikong dumaraan dito. Naibahagi rin ni Fruto na hindi pa rin matukoy ng DPWH ang dahilan ng vertical displacement sa flyover na  ito.

“We are doing everything nga as soon as possible mapa gamit dayun ang tulay naton (but) paramount ang safety, we do not compromise the safety sang commuters,” dagdag pa ni Fruto.

Ang flyover ay makikita sa intersection ng Sen. Benigno S. Aquino Jr. Avenue o mas kilala sa tawag na Diversion Road at ng President Corazon C. Aquino Avenue o Circumferential Road 1. Isa sa layunin nito ay ang mabawasan ang malubhang trapiko sa lugar at paikliin ang oras ng biyahe patungo sa Iloilo Airport mula Iloilo City. C

Sto. Niño Sur

Yulo, So-oc

Sto. Domingo (Arevalo)

Sinikway (Lapuz)

Bonifacio Tanza (City Proper)

Concepcion (City Proper)

Boulevard (Molo)

Katilingban (Molo)

Pali Benedicto (Molo)

PHHC Block 17 (Mandurriao)

San Rafael (Mandurriao)

Hibao-an Norte (Mandurriao)

Tabucan (Mandurriao)

Navais (Mandurriao)

Q. Abeto (Mandurriao)

Hibao-an Sur (Mandurriao)

Calahunan (Mandurriao)

Oñate de Leon (Mandurriao)

San Isidro (Jaro)

Camalig (Jaro)

Dungon B (Jaro)

Desamparados (Jaro)

Lopez Jaena (Jaro)

Benedicto (Jaro)

Cuartero (Jaro)

Simon Ledesma (Jaro)

Tagbac (Jaro)

Tabuc Suba (Jaro)

San Isidro (La Paz)

 PANAY NEWS PAGTATAPOS AT PAGSISIMULA. Pagkatapos sinalanta ng bagyong Paeng ang Iloilo City, binungad ng wasak at nakahandusay na mga bahay ang Molo Boulevard.

Limang bayan sa Iloilo, tinamaan ng ASF

NI DANICA MAE HABLADO

na baboy ang nahawaan ng ASF mula noong Nobyembre 7, 2022

bayan ang apektado ng ASF

mabot na sa limang bayan sa Iloilo ang may kumpirmadong kaso ng African Swine Fever (ASF), ayon kay Dr. Darel Tabuada, Department Head ng Iloilo Provincial Veterinary Office (IPVO).

Iniulat ng mga opisyal ang unang kaso ng ASF sa Santa Barbara, kung saan hindi bababa sa dalawang baboy mula sa isang backyard farm ang nagpositibo.

Sa Leganes, 82 na baboy na ang nahawaan, kung kaya’t naglabas ng executive order si Mayor Vicente Jaen II na higpitan ang pagsuri ng bebentang mga produktong baboy sa mga tabing kalsada at bangketa.

Ang iba pang bayan na may kaso ng ASF ay Alimodian, Leganes, Oton, at San Miguel. Sa lima, tanging San Miguel, Oton, at Leganes ang nasa red zone habang nanatili sa pink zone ang Sta. Barbara at Alimodian.

Ang mga lugar sa “red zone” ay mayroong checkpoint upang paghigpitan ang transportasyon at pagluwas ng baboy, karne, o iba pang produkto habang ang mga lugar sa pink zone naman ay nagsisilbing buffer, kung saan walang kaso ng ASF ngunit malapit sa isang infected zone.

Ang IPVO ay nagsagawa ng mahigpit na pagbabantay sa loob ng isang kilometro ng mga sakahan na pinaghihinalaang may kaso ng ASF upang masigurado na hindi kumalat pa ang sakit.

Samantala, ang mga baboy sa loob ng 0.5-kilometro ng isang kumpirmadong kaso ay pinapatay upang maiwasan ang pagkalat, alinsunod sa bagong memorandum ng Department of Agriculture (DA).

Nagpatupad ng mga hakbang at istratehiya ang gobyerno upang bawasan ang mga lugar na apektado ng ASF at simulang muli ang pagpaparami ng mga baboy.

Ayon kay Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr., nagsagawa sila ng mabisang programa tulad ng lockdown, monitoring, test and destroy para labanan ang sakit.

Ang African swine fever ay isang nakakahawang sakit na nakakaapekto sa populasyon ng baboy. C

Acute gastroenteritis outbreak idineklara sa Lungsod ng Iloilo

aitalang 727 katao ang may kaso ng acute gastroenteritis o AGE sa Lungsod ng Iloilo, kung saan 13 katao ang idineklarang patay dahil sa kontaminadong pinagmumulan ng tubig at mga sirang pipelines, ayon sa ulat ng City Health Office  (CHO).

Sa inilabas na datos noong Setyembre 28, humigitkumulang 126 barangay ang apektado, kabilang ang Barangay San Juan sa Molo, at Barangay Santo Niño Sur, Arevalo na may naitalang pinakamaraming kaso.

Bilang tugon sa pagkalat ng sakit, inatasan ni Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas na sumailalim sa mandatory water potability testing ang lahat ng water refilling stations sa lungsod, at kumuha ng sanitary permits at health cards para sa kanilang mga empleyado.

Sa ulat ng CHO, anim na water refilling stations ang permanente nang nagsara, habang 31 ang ipinasasara dahil sa paglabag sa regulasyon, at 33 naman ang nagpasyang itigil ang kanilang operasyon.

Ilan pang water refilling stations ang napilitang nagsara dahil sa kakulangan ng mga kinakailangang papeles.

Nauna nang nagdeklara ng state of calamity ang Sangguniang Panglungsod (SP) dahil sa pagkalat ng AGE at cholera.

Upang suportahan ang medical team ng lungsod at makabili ng kagamitan, inaprubahan ng SP ang paglaan ng P12.5 milyong quick response funds bilang  tugon.

Sa isang bidyo, hinikayat ni Mayor Treñas ang mga mamamayan na sumunod sa mga health and sanitation protocols upang maiwasan ang paghawa ng nasabing  sakit.

Nag-rekomenda rin ang CHO na mag-ingat ang bawat indibidwal sa pinagkukunan ng kanilang inumin, at siguraduhing malinis ang kanilang mga lalagyan upang maiwasan ang kontaminasyon. C

KADALASANG SINTOMAS ACUTE GASTROENTERITIS

O PAREHO

NI DANICA MAE HABLADO

MGA BARANGAY NA BINAHA

Iloilo City pinangaralan bilang

‘highly urbanized city’ sa buong Pilipinas

Kinilala ang lungsod ng Iloilo bilang “pinakamahusay” sa mga highly urbanized na lungsod o tinatawag na HUC ng bansa sa katatapos lang na 10th Cities and Municipalities Competitive Summit (CMCS) na inorganisa ng Department of Trade of Industry (DTI).

Ang CMCS ay binuo ng National Competitiveness Council (NCC) sa pamamagitan ng Regional Competitiveness Committees (RCCs). Ang Iloilo City ay patuloy na umaarangkada at sa wakas ay nangunguna sa highly urbanized na mga lungsod sa buong bansa.

“We will work very hard to compete with the NCR (National Capital Region) cities and Davao. We are very happy that we topped the Visayas cities,” masayang ibinahagi ng Iloilo City Mayor, Jerry Treñas.

Nakatulong din sa karangalan nito ang panalo ng lungsod bilang Top 1 sa kahusayan ng pamahalaan. Niyanig nito ang percentile na umabot sa buong potensyal nito sa mga sumusunod na bagay: Social Protection, Presence of Investment Promotion Unit, Compliance with ARTA (Anti-Red Tape Authority), Citizens Charter, Capacity of Health Services, at Getting Business Permits.

“We will continue to serve the community as we build a level-up metropolis for all,” dagdag pa ni Mayor Jerry  Treñas.

Ang bawat LGU ay niraranggo sa bawat isa sa apat na convergent pillars ng CMCI katulad ng Economic Dynamism, Government Efficiency, Infrastructure, at Resiliency. Patuloy na tinatamasa ng Iloilo ang tunay na parangal sa pamamagitan ng pinalakas nitong suporta ng gobyerno sa edukasyon, kalusugan, agrikultura, turismo, at serbisyong panlipunan. C

Cinematheque, Embahada ng Poland inilunsad ang CineEuropa 25 sa Iloilo

Inilunsad ng Cinematheque Centre Iloilo kasama ng Embahada ng Poland sa Pilipinas sa tulong ng Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) ang CineEuropa 25, upang ipagdiwang ang ika-25 na anibersaryo ng pelikulang gawa ng mga bansang bumubuo sa European Union (EU), matapos ang dalawang taong pagkakauspende nito dulot ng COVID-19 pandemic, noong Oktubre 8, 2022, sa B&C Square building, COR Solis, Iznart St., Iloilo  City.

Ang CineEuropa ay ang pinakamahabang flagship film festival sa Pilipinas na nilahukan ng mga bansang bumubuo sa EU (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden) at panauhing bansa, Ukraine.

“Films from the nations of the European

Union always fascinated us with windows into the lives of our siblings from the other side of the world, and we are grateful for these films for how they are expanding our experience of the human condition,” ayon kay Tirso Cruz III, Chairman and CEO of FDCP.

Ang ika-25 na edisyon ng film festival ay binubuo ng 30 na piling mga pelikula.

Ladies and gentlemen, I’m grateful to be here in Iloilo to Celebrate CineEuropa’s 25th Aniversary. I would like to thank the local government, and Cinematheque for giving us the opportunity to enjoy such great artworks in a such historical town,” sabi ni Jaroslaw Szczepankiewicz, Embahador ng Poland sa  Pilipinas.

Ang film festival ay bukas sa lahat ng manunuod sa lahat ng sinehan ng Cinematheque sa Metro Manila, Iloilo, Davao, at Palawan mula sa ika-lima hanggang labinglima ng Oktubre. C

 CINEMATHEQUE ILOILO

PINATIBAY NA SAMAHAN. Ginayak nina Kamahalang, Jarosław Szczepankiewicz (Ambassador of Polan to the Philippines), Daniella Julieta Caro (Cinematheque Unit Manager, Film Development Council of the Philippines), at Anna Krzak-Danel (Minister Counsellor) ang paglunsad ng CineEuropa 25 sa Cinematheque Centre, Solis St., Iloilo City, kung saan itinampok ang iba’t ibang pelikula mula sa mga bansang parte ng Eurupean Union.

NI PAULETTE TORRICO

 PHILLIP MATTHEW DONGUINES BALIK ESKWELA. Ngayong Nobyembre nakatakda na bumalik sa mga paaralan para sa face-to-face na pag-aaral ang mga estudyante.

 RAY ANGELO KAGNA-AN BALIK-TANAW. Inaalala ng dalawang komyuter ang nakaraan ng lungsod ng Iloilo habang naghihintay ng dyip na kanilang masasakyan, Enero 10.

NI GAD CASTRO

I-bike program ng Iloilo City sinungkit ang Galing Pook Award ‘22

Itinanghal ang I-Bike program ng Iloilo City Government bilang pinakamahusay na makabagong programa ng lokal na pamahalaan sa Galing Pook Award 2022, bilang pagkilala sa kontribyuson nito sa pagpapalaganap ng “bikefriendly culture” sa lungsod ng Iloilo.

Ayon sa pahayag ni Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Trenas, ang nasabing parangal ay bunga ng maayos na pamamahala ng mga lideres ng lungsod.

“Galing Pook is about good governance and [the implementation of] projects worthy of emulation by other local government units (LGUs). This caps the awards we have been receiving lately (ang Galing Pook ay tungkol sa maayos na pamamahal at ang pag-implementa ng mga proyekto na

magsisilbing huwaran ng ibang LGU,)” pahayag ni Trenas.

Dagdag pa nito, pagkatapos magkaroon ng 2021 Bike Festival sa lungsod ay dumoble pa umano ang bilang ng mga tao na gumagamit ng bisekleta bilang transportasyon, pang-isports, pangehersisyo, at pampalipas oras.

Mahigit 200 na mga LGU ang sumali sa Galing Pook Award, ngunit 18 lang ang napili bilang finalists.

Ang I-Bike Program ang ikatatlong inisyatibo ng lungsod na nanalo sa Galing Pook Award.

Taong 2021 nanalo rin ang Iloilo city sa Mobility Awards at Bike Lane Awards at taong 2018 inarangalan bilang “Most Bike-Friendly City” ng PhilBike Awards. C

14K puno naitanim mula 2019 sa Iloilo City

Ang inisyatiba ay nagtatanim ng mga endemikong puno at isa sa mga ito ay ang punong Iloilo (Aglaia argentea) ng pamilyang  Meliaceae.

1200m

Ito ay tumutubo sa taas na 1200 metro mula sa antas ng dagat. Karaniwan itong matatagpuang nakapunla sa granito, basalto, sandstone, korales na buhangin, luwad, o limestone.

 PANAY NEWS PARA SA INANG KALIKASAN. Isang boluntaryo na nakibahagi sa pagtatanim ng puno na inoorganisa ng Pamahalaang Lungsod ng Iloilo na naglalayong gawing mas luntian ang Iloilo  City.

umigit-kumulang 14,000 puno ang naitanim ng lokal na pamahalaan sa urbanisadong lungsod ng Iloilo mula 2019 hanggang 2022.

Ayon kay Iloilo City Executive Assistant for Environment Armando Dayrit, na namuno sa malawakang pagtatanim ng mga puno, ang mga ito ay itinanim sa mga barangay, bakanteng lote, at bangketa ng Iloilo City.

“Bukod sa pagpigil sa pagbabago ng klima, pagtulong kapaligiran at pagtataguyod ng turismo, nagtatanim tayo ng mga katutubong puno dahil ito ay sa atin at dapat ipagmalaki sa iba,” pahayag ni  Dayrit.

Binanggit din aniya na nagbabalak silang palaganapin ang Siar species, ito ay ang punong itinanim ni Emilio Aguinaldo nang ideklara niya ang Republika ng Pilipinas at ito ay tinawag na “Independent Tree.”

“Hindi ako masyadong sigurado pero walang lungsod o lugar sa Pilipinas na nakatutok sa pagtatanim ng katutubong puno sa kanilang mga kalsada at parke, maliban sa Iloilo,” dagdag niya.

Dagdag pa rito, nakapagtanim na sila ng mga puno mula Barangay Taft North sa Mandurriao hanggang Ungka District ng Jaro, mula sa Atrium sa City Proper hanggang sa distrito ng Molo, sa paligid ng molecular laboratory din sa Molo, at sa mga bakanteng espasyo sa Plaza Libertad.

“Ang pangarap kong magtayo ng isang progresibong metro ay nakikita na sa ating mga lansangan at mga barangay sa lungsod. Padayon ako nga magasulang sa pag-uswag sang aton ciudad. Level-up Iloilo!” saad ni Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas. C

LTFRB-6 nagtaas ng pamasahe sa PUJs

ahil sa pagtaas ng presyo ng gasolina, inaprubahan ng Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Region VI (LTFRB-6) ang pagtaas ng pamasahe para sa mga public utility jeepneys (PUJs) ng Iloilo City.

Ayon dito, isang piso ang itinaas ng pamasahe para sa mga traditional public utility jeepneys (TPUJ) at modern public utility jeepneys (MPUJ) sa unang apat na kilometro. Ang minimong pamasahe para sa TPUJ ay naging Php 12 at Php 14 para sa MPUJ.

“Higit na apektado rito ay ang mga

estudyante. Para sa akin, hindi ito makatarungan dahil hindi naman nila binababa ang pamasahe kahit na bumaba na ang presyo ng gasolina,” komento ng isang netizen.

Ayon sa ulat ng Department of Energy (DOE) Visayas, ang presyo ng gasolina sa Iloilo City ngayon ay umiikot sa Php 46.25 para sa diesel, Php 55.25 para sa gasolina na may 91 octane rating, at Php 56.20 para sa gasolina na may 95 octane  rating.

Sa kabilang banda, ilang mga driver sa lungsod ang nagpahayag ng tuwa, dahil

30m

Ito ay maaaring tumubo ng hanggang 30 metro ang taas at 18 metro naman kung walang sanga sa puno.

3600

Mayroon higit sa 3600 uri ng mga punong katutubo sa  Pilipinas.

malaking tulong ito sa sunud-sunod na pagtaas ng presyo ng  petrolyo.

“Malaking tulong ito sa aming pamilya. Kahit na piso lang ang naidarag ay sapat na rin itong pandagdag ng pambili ng mga pangangailangan,” saad ni Ronald, tsuper ng Villa-Baybay na dyip.

Binigyang-diin naman ng LTFRB-6 na magiging epektibo pa rin ang 20 porsiyentong diskwento para sa mga senior citizen, persons with disabilities (PWD), at mga estudyante. C

NI LEANDRO SALDAJENO

BATAY

NI LEANDRO SALDAJENO

endemikong ang

Marcos Jr. wins Pres

Elections ‘22

BY KALANIE SALDAJENO

JUAN’S PLIGHT

PH Economy hits 6.9% inflation rate

BY KJETIL JOSTH ACIELO

Philippines’ inflation rate in the last six years

Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has been sworn in as the country’s new president following the National Elections which was held in May.

Marcos amassed a total of 31,629,783 votes or 58.77% of the ballots cast. Meanwhile, his running mate, Davao City Mayor and presidential daughter Sara Duterte was declared new vice president after garnering a total of 208,417 or 61.53% official  votes.

He stated that he wants to “do well” and vowed that his administration will be one that “strives for perfection.” “I ask you all pray for me. Wish me well. I want to do well. Because when a president does well, the country does well. And I want to do well for this country,” he  added.

Marcos is the son and namesake of the Philippines’ late president and dictator, President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos Sr., was sworn in by Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo at the National Museum of the Philippines in the City of Manila on June 30.

In his inaugural address, Marcos vowed to fulfill his mandate to serve and protect fellow Filipinos. “This is a historic moment for us all,” he said.

“You picked me to be your servant to enable changes to benefit all. I fully understand the gravity of the responsibility that you have put on my shoulders. I do not take it lightly, but I am ready for the task,” he emphasized. This year’s elections were filled with controversies, from networks of disinformation influencing the vote to anomalies within precincts and the buildup towards the elections. Marcos Jr. was the top beneficiary of electionrelated disinformation spreading online, while his political rival Vice President Leni Robredo was the top target according to a study of the factchecking initiative Tsek.ph.

Meanwhile, critics levelled accusations that his social media campaign was rife with misinformation and whitewashed atrocities under his father’s rule. He has denied these allegations.

Meanwhile, critics said that his social media campaign was full of false material which covered up the atrocities committed under his father’s rule. He has refuted these charges. C

The Philippine economy has recently hit a 6.9% inflation rate last September 2022, exceeding the Reuters forecast of 6.7% and overshadowing the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) 2-4% target, the highest in four years, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), this averaged the inflation rate from January to September 2022 at 5.1%.

In a statement released by the BSP, increased electricity rates, prices of food and commodities, and peso depreciation to the United States Dollar rate to P59.00 on October 3 raised inflation rates.

“Looking ahead, the BSP will continue closely monitoring emerging price development and enable timely interventions to prevent further broadening of price pressures following the BSPs price stability mandate,” added BSP.

During a briefing, National Statistician Dennis Mapa pointed out that the food and nonalcoholic beverage prices grew by 6.9% in July from 6.0% in June. Fish and other seafood rose to 9.2%. Meats and poultry by 9.9%, and Sugar, Confectionery, and Desserts by 17.6%.

Mapa cited that among the factors that escalated inflation were the soaring costs of fuel – 45.4% for gasoline, 91.3% for diesel, and 7.1% in public transport charges. In addition to commodities and fuel, restaurant and accommodation services were up at 3.4 percent.

Mapa comments that crop damage from Typhoon Karding inflation rates could further hasten in October, consistent with PSA  expectations.

“Inflation will remain high for the rest of the

year unless oil prices come down and offer a reprieve in the second half of the fiscal year. The country imports all its crude oil, whose prices have soared dramatically in recent months,” said Mapa, adding that the crude oil import prices also contributed to the widening trade deficit. On the other hand, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said that the government is doing its “best” to clamp down on the country’s inflation rate by the first quarter of 2022 and that inflation would taper off by the last quarter.

During an annual reception for the banking industry last September, the finance chief noted that with secondary effects addressed, inflation eventually stabilizes. These secondary effects refer to the demand for higher wages in response to higher prices.

“The government has already adjusted the minimum wage for workers to cope with the rising prices. In addition, the government would increase output and import goods if necessary,” according to Diokno.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan assured that the National Economic and Development Authority remains resolute in ensuring food security and affordability and reducing transport and logistics costs to prevent further inflation spikes.

“It is our urgent priority to ease price pressures and preserve the public’s purchasing power through implementing programs that will help Filipinos cope with the effects of a higher inflation rate,” Balisacan  said.C

 CNN

FOR THE WIN. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. greets the crowd of supporters as he during one of his  campaigns.

Angat Buhay leads 3-day Literacy Hub Training to 12 Pilot Sites in PH

BY KARREN JAY ASGAR

The Angat Buhay Foundation with its Chairperson, Atty. Leni Robredo held 3-day learning sessions for its 12 pilot sites across the country at the Hive Hotel located in Quezon City and was held last August 20-22.

The said training was attended by various volunteers from different areas of the previous program of Angat Buhay Community Learning Hub that will be transitioning into 12 literacy hubs and one numeracy hub by CLH-Pasig. By this time, the main purpose of these literacy hubs is to help and teach non-reader kids from grades one to three to learn and love reading at a young age.

“Binubuhay ng bayanihan ang ating Community Learning Hubs. Lubos ang ating pasasalamat sa ating volunteers, sa mga lokal na pamahalaan at mga barangay, at sa iba pang partners na sinisigurong may espasyo sa mga komunidad para sa pagkatuto ng ating mga mag-aaral”, Atty. Leni Robredo’s message during the MOA signing last August 21, 2022 at the Hive Hotel.

The three-day training sessions were spearheaded by some of the University of the Philippines-Diliman professors. They were Dr. Dina Ocampo, former DepEd Undersecretary, Teacher Yvette Alcazar, Teacher Julie Weygan-Aparato, Teacher Maita Salvador, Teacher Hazelle Preclaro-Ongtengco, Teacher Grace, and etc.

“Kung minsan, buhay ang nakikialam sa pag-aaral ng bata. Sana sa Learning Hub natin, nakangiti ang mga bata. Kailangan nating pagaanin ang pagtuturo sa mga bata”, Dr. Ocampo said during her talk about the Literacy Framework for Angat Buha Community Learning Hubs.

Raffy Magno, Angat Buhay Executive Director said that the training was Angat Buhay’s contribution to address the gaps in our education system, especially the learning loss that was brought about and worsened by the pandemic.

“Our young Filipinos deserve better. Edukasyon ang susi sa pag-unlad kaya naman dapat walang maiiwan”, he added.

The training was conceptualized through discussions of important and fundamental topics on how Literacy Hub must undergo pre-assessment and assessment sessions together with the volunteers and beneficiaries. Some of the said discussions are Literacy Learning in the Context of Child Development, Reflection on Individual Hubs, Processing and Gallery Walk, The Story of Iclip, Teaching Decoding using the Marungko Approach, Developing Comprehension through storytelling, workshop on Developing Comprehension, Assessment, and the MOA signing.

As Angat Buhay’s literacy and numeracy centers, the Community Learning Hubs will now focus more intently on closing the education gap. It will concentrate on instructing students of various abilities in reading and mathematics.

“In the new chapter of Angat Buhay, we continue to carry our Community Learning Hub initiative—this time to focus on ensuring that our learners are able to read and comprehend numbers accordingly. We are happy to work with our 12 pilot sites from different parts of the Philippines to realize this goal. This weekend, we formalized our partnerships with them and facilitated their onboarding, where they learned from our partner experts, including those from the University of the Philippines College of Education and Chalkboard PH,” said Robredo. C

Broadcaster Percy Lapid gunned down

BY KJETIL JOSTH ACIELO

Radio Broadcaster Percival Mabasa, professionally known as Percy Lapid, was shot dead last October 3, in Las Piñas City, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Police data revealed that the 63-year-old journalist was murdered at around 8:30 P.M. by unidentified motorcycle-riding assailants along Aria Street in Barangay Talon Dos.

Witnesses reported that Mabasa was inside his vehicle during the shooting. Police added that they recovered two pieces of empty shells from a gun with an unknown caliber.

“A Special Investigation Task Force by the Las Piñas City Station of the National Capital Region Police (NCRPO) will spearhead and coordinate the investigative and prosecutorial efforts of the PNP,” the PNP announced on October 4.

Host of “Lapid Fire” on DWBL 1242, Mabasa’s commentaries were highly critical of the Marcos Jr. and Duterte administrations. A former DWIZ station broadcaster, he had been receiving death threats in response to his commentaries before his death.

His final two videos on his Facebook page discussed Vic Rodriguez and the previous two administrations. Mabasa had previously aired his commentaries on the dangers of red tagging, fake news, the issue of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, and Martial Law on his program.

THE MURDERS CONTINUE

Mabasa is the second journalist to be slain under the Marcos Jr. administration. In a country that is the seventh worst nation for the unsolved killings of journalists, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, he is the 197th journalist slain post-EDSA.

Mabasa’s family released a statement condemning his death following the murder.

“We strongly condemn this deplorable crime. It was committed not only against Percy, his family, and his profession but against our country, his beloved Philippines, and the truth,” Mabasa’s family said. “Percy is beloved by many and highly respected by peers, fans, and foes alike. His bold and sharp commentaries cut through the barrage of fake news over the airwaves and social media. We demand that his cowardly assassins would be brought to justice,” they added.

The broadcaster’s murder sparked calls for justice from journalists, government officials, lawmakers, and various groups.

According to Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Hubert Guevarra, he would meet with the Presidential Task Force on Media Security and the Southern Police District to ensure that the conduct of the investigation proceeds without problems and be reported within the next seven days.

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) highlighted the roles of journalists in upholding democracy and demanding accountability in any society. In a statement, the CHR said that attacks on press freedom threaten the people’s right to the truth and information.

The agency notes that it has started its own motu proprio investigation into Mabasa’s murder. C

The SIM Card Registration Act, Republic Act No. 11934, which aims to mitigate fraudulent activities done through mobile phones, will be pushed through on December 27, says Senator Grace Poe, despite the unsettled privacy issues and whether it would actually be effective.

BY PAULETTE TORRICO

Card Registration Act takes effect on December 27

THE FIFTH ONE. Lapid’s grieving family bids farewell to their father in his funeral.

TRUTH PREVAILS

PH government to shut down Rappler

BY DANICA HABLADO

Two days before Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s inauguration as the 17th President of the Philippines, the government issued an order to shut down the online news website, Rappler, for supposedly violating foreign ownership regulations.

The news site, infamous for its critical reporting of the outgoing President Duterte’s drug war and alleged human rights violations, was co-founded by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa.

In a keynote address at the East-West

Center’s International Media Conference in Honolulu, she said, “We are entitled to appeal this decision and will do so, especially since the proceedings were highly irregular.”

Rappler is one of the few remaining media sites critical of Duterte’s administration and is particularly noted for its probe of the controversial drug war.

In 2018, a lawsuit was filed against Rappler, asserting that the company had sold itself to a foreign corporation, which is forbidden for mass media companies in the Philippines.

Rappler has since rejected the claimed violation and is opposing the ruling.

According to reports, Ressa stated that they “have been harassed” and they “refuse to succumb” to such political tactics.

Rappler claims that their use was approved by the SEC in 2015 and has consistently denied that they are in violation of a constitutional ban on foreign media investment.

The order came during Duterte’s final days as president and before President-elect Bongbong Marcos Jr. was inaugurated. C

PBBM to push through nuclear power plant revival

BY LEANDRO SALDAJENO

The Philippines is exploring possibilities on constructing nuclear power plants with France, South Korea, and China to supplant the country’s needs for energy production, according to the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI).

In the State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last July, he believed now is the right time to reevaluate the nation’s strategy and policy regarding harnessing nuclear energy, stressing that

safety measures have been put in place against any mishaps thanks to advancements in  technology.

“Our demand far exceeds our reliable supply. We must increase production. There is some room but we must build new power plants,” he  proclaimed.

Moreover, Marcos met with executives of NuScale Power, an American energy firm that offers modern nuclear technologies including small modular reactors (SMRs), during his visit to the United States last September.

“We met with senior executives from the US-based companies NuScale Power, WasteFuel, and Boeing to discuss how we could work together to strengthen the aviation and energy sectors in the Philippines,” Marcos  said.

On the contrary, scientists, engineers, and

BY KARREN JAY ASGAR

V  40k

ice President and Education Secretary Sara Z. Duterte announced that in-person modality of learning will push through starting on November  2.

Prior to Department of Education (DepEd) Order 044, signed by Duterte, private schools are signaled to proceed with either five-day face-toface classes, blended learning, or full distance modality starting November 2. This order has also been already approved by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“For August 22 until October 31, options are indicated in our department order. First is the five-day in-person classes. Secondly, the blended modality. This is where [schools may opt to do] three days of in-person [classes] and then two days of remote, or distance learning. And then after, they can shift to four days of in-person classes and one-day distance learning, or they can mix it up,” Duterte said.

However, from November 2 and beyond, all schools must shift to in-person classes with the implementation of “physical distancing” whenever  possible.

While blended learning and online classes will still be allowed as of August to October 2022, DepEd Spokesperson Michael Poa said that all schools nationwide shall transition to face-toface by November 2022.

“To institutionalize blended learning is something that we’re thinking of but for now, the clear provisions of DepEd Order No. 34 are that after October 31, which is November 2, moving forward, in-person classes will be mandatory,” Poa said in a mix of English and Filipino during a press conference on Aug. 10.

Poa emphasized that there has been research on learning loss in other nations aside from the  Philippines.

He pointed out that some of them were compelled to quit attending school during the epidemic because they lacked the funds to purchase technology or pay for an internet connection, which was essential for distance  learning.

“That’s why this administration is pushing for in-person [classes] para yung mga nawalan ng (so that those who have lost the) opportunity during the pandemic, makabalik na (they can go back) to learning,” he added. C

SIM CARD

FROM PAGE 14

science and technology advocates from the non-governmental organization called AghamAdvocates of Science and Technology for the People stated that building power plants cannot solve the country’s power crisis.

“The Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) is already antiquated, faulty, and dangerous and has served as a milking cow for corrupt practices. It will be an additional burden to consumers as all the prerequisite costs to operate the plant, such as nuclear tax, recommissioning, and waste disposal costs, would be passed on charges,” the group  said.

Prior efforts to seek nuclear energy were abandoned due to safety concerns, but the new strategy is based on a proposal to restart BNPP under the new administration. C

On, November 16, Poe defended the proposed P11.322 billion budget of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) for 2023 at the senate plenary session and provided the timeline of the recently passed  law.

This act requires all SIM card users to register their numbers under their names with telco companies using any valid identification documents or government-issued IDs. Registering a SIM card using forged documents or with a fictitious identity will be subject to appropriate legal penalties ranging from a P100,000 to a P3000,000 fine, six months of imprisonment, or both. A minor's registration of SIM shall be in the name of the parent or guardian.

Office of the Press Secretary officer-in-charge Cheloy Garafil stated that this act aims to provide "accountability in the use of SIM cards and aid law enforcers to track perpetrators of crimes committed through  phones."

Before selling SIM cards, Public Telecommunications Entities (PTEs) and their authorized direct distributors shall require their customers to provide valid identification documents stored in their system for references needed by law enforcement agencies to investigate phone-related crimes. People who cannot register their numbers within 180 days of the implementation will be automatically deactivated.

The law also mandates the registration process must be implemented free of charge. Any PTE who refuses or fails to register a SIM without a good reason, even when the end user complies with the requirements, will be penalized in accordance with the law.

Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) will be discussed at a public hearing with DICT and other stakeholders on December 5 and are expected to be completed and publicized by December 12.

This law was signed into law by President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos on October 10, making it the first law he signed as the country’s  president. C

Without truth, you can’t have trust. Without trust, we have no shared reality, no democracy, and it becomes impossible to deal with our world’s existential problems: climate, coronavirus, the battle for truth.”

- Maria Ressa Rappler CEO, Nobel Peace Prize laureate

‘F2F classes to be mandatory for both public and private schools,’ - VP Duterte

Number of classrooms shortage in the Philippines

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S.Y. 2021- 2022

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Food Woes

Imagine going to your local “palengke” and discovering products such as sugar and salt are nowhere to be found and produce such as onions, garlic, and meat have increased prices way beyond your budget. Sadly, this is the current reality for most Filipinos for many are finding it difficult to make ends meet as prices for basic commodities keep rising. The Philippines is an agricultural country with a land area of 30 million hectares, 47% of which is agricultural land. All in all, we have rich land, natural resources, hardworking farmers, and agriresearch institutions. We are blessed with so many resources yet how come we are facing food shortages left and right?

In 2022, the country’s overall agricultural output shrank by an annual 0.3% by value in the first quarter, due to a decline in fisheries, livestock, and crop production. According to the Philippine

tons of beef, 600,000 tons of pork, and 404,000 tons of chicken. Importation may have served as a temporary fix but it is unsustainable.

As proof of the severity of the impending food crisis newly-elected Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. made a surprise announcement and named himself agriculture secretary. Though he clarified that he would only take on the role temporarily, the announcement emphasized the gravity of a continuing food crisis in the Philippines that Marcos called “severe”. However, rather than searching for permanent solutions, he bombarded farm sectors with subsidies—mere bandaid solutions that do not directly tackle the problem at its root. The reality is that our government does not prioritize agriculture— the backbone of our economy.

House Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo

results but for the sake of economic prosperity and the simple health and well-being of the Filipino people, the president should strive to achieve ample food production and food security that is assured no matter what calamities or catastrophes that might befall us.

The future is dire for the country, particularly the poor if food inflation remains high and food insecurity prevails. To close the trade gap, the Philippine government should lead the export of more goods and services. These initiatives could provide new trade agreements in addition to capacity building so that Filipino businesses can manufacture better goods and services. The Philippine government must support and coordinate how agricultural sectors will be prioritized. In this way, it could allocate and create policies for domestic industry, a healthy

Statistics Authority (PSA), the country's rice stock inventory reached 2,220.21 thousand metric tons as of June 2022. The retail price of red onion in Iloilo city has spiked to Php 380 from Php 180 a year ago, yet the Department of Agriculture (DA) refuses to admit that there is a supply shortfall. Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines Inc. halted its operations at four plants due to sugar shortage. The beverage industry needs at least 450,000 tons of premium refined bottler-grade sugar to operate at full capacity for the rest of the year, and imports would prevent companies from laying off workers.

In addition, the Philippines faced backto-back catastrophic events: COVID-19 pandemic, African Swine Fever (ASF), and Avian flu (bird flu). Global farm prices also surged to a record this year on the back of lower world supply caused by drought, heat, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Additionally, export bans and rising prices for energy, oil, fertilizer, wheat, and wheat-derived products continue to put many countries in danger, particularly the Philippines, which depends on these major producing nations to make up for the difference in domestic production.To feed the nation, the Philippines will have to import 2.8 million tons of rice, 750,000 tons of corn, 250,000 tons of sugar, 110,000

Representative Janette Garin recommended promoting “kamote” or sweet potato as an alternative to rice by proposing incentives for food establishments serving "kamote" in some dishes. Meanwhile, Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos suggested that rice farmers shift to dragon fruit production to increase their income and cater to Taiwan’s demand for the said fruit. Although these ideas have some merit, they cannot solve the country’s impending food crisis. It is not entirely feasible for Filipinos to switch food staples in such a short period— abandoning our own culture and century's worth of tradition. As Filipinos, unli-rice simply cannot be replaced with unli-kamote or unli-dragonfruit!

Aside from importation and total diet change suggestions, DA is currently eyeing to secure soft loans to bump up the food security programs from Japan and Indonesia. As a country that is under P13.52 trillion in debt as of September, taking additional loans doesn’t sound like the most financially smart decision. Our country is also a huge exporter of mangoes, bananas, pineapple, tuna, cocoa, and coconut. The irony is that despite being such significant exporters, our own country is facing an impending food crisis. Marcos’s takeover of the Agricultural sector is yet to reveal any

environment, human rights, financing growth, and economic stability. On top of that, the DA should work closely with local governments to support farmers with the right tools and tech to bolster food production instead of looking to importation as a solution to our problems.

Farm tourism is also a great addition to the agri-sector. This can bring value addition to farmers and at the same time generate more jobs. Additionally, there should be less emphasis on exporting and more on local food supply.

Subsidies and importations will not resolve food insecurity issues plaguing our country. This is not a one-stop fix; instead, it should be treated with an eye toward long-term sustainability rather than temporary solutions. We must give food production and the agricultural sector the attention it deserves because it’s not just families impacted by the food shortage – businesses and, by extension, jobs are too. Since we are blessed with such natural resources, we should use them wisely in ways that will benefit us. If we make the necessary investments now, we can restore the nation's once-vibrant agricultural sector to its former glory, feed the hungry mouths of Filipinos, and avoid a full-out food crisis. C

Subsidies and importations will not resolve food insecurity issues plaguing our country. This is not a one-stop fix; instead, it should be treated with an eye toward long-term sustainability rather than temporary  solutions.

My body, My choice

BULL'S EYE

erhaps no medical or therapeutic intervention is much misunderstood than abortion, and social media and search engine companies have been too slow to intervene leading to a spike in misinformation around what is already one of the most politically charged topics.

“Effective po ba yung cortal (aspirin) with coke?” one person asked in a Facebook group for people who need assistance in terminating their pregnancy. It generated unsettling responses, with some agreeing and others offering options such as abortion pills and “private clinics,” which many of those who responded believe to be a more fruitful alternative.

Many of these people are unaware of the consequences of these unsanitary conditions and the use antiquated since they are misguided and are deprived of what should have been appropriate care for this situation and its aftermath. If otherwise, these individuals usually push through it regardless of risks because of personal reasons. This right here mirrors the reality of Filipino women who are confronted with an unintended

adopt measures like the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) Bill and laws legalizing same-sex marriage, divorce, and abortion, among others, have been rejected by the Philippine delegation to the country’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in Geneva, Switzerland.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla stated in his radio program that because the Philippines is primarily a Catholic country, they flatly rejected these recommendations as “not acceptable.” However, he personally supports the legislation of the death penalty which is quite the irony. One can’t be a supporter of death and an opponent of pro-choice advocacies.

What most people also found hilarious is that the country that converted the Philippines to Catholicism has since made abortion, same-sex marriage, divorce, and open access to Hormonal Replacement Therapy (HRT) legal. So, there is no justification for our extreme conservatism and stringent abortion regulations.

Another truth is that many young women and girls from impoverished and large families

people force their repressive religious beliefs on women seeking life-saving abortion care. It is incumbent on the Philippine government to legalize abortion, which is the major impediment to women’s access to safe abortion and even postabortion care.

Decriminalizing abortion will not force people to have abortions that contradict their values; instead, it will give services to countless women who choose to terminate their pregnancies and suffer complications from unsafe abortions.

Rules must also be established to accommodate those who arrive with troubling circumstances that have influenced their decisions. If full decriminalization cannot be pursued, negotiations on exceptions in circumstances of rape, incest, a threat to the health and life of the mother, grave fetal disability incompatible with life outside the uterus, or abortion up to 14 weeks of pregnancy should be opened.

Furthermore, the enactment of the Reproductive Health Law is a watershed moment that will aid in the reduction of maternal mortality

Without access to safe abortion, many of these women and adolescent girls would end their pregnancies in an unsafe manner, endangering their lives and health.

pregnancy yet are unfortunate enough to live in a country where abortion is dangerous, restricted, and stigmatized.

This should not be the case for women. Women should be given the right to self-determination. No woman should experience disability or death because of unsafe abortion complications.

Realities of Abortion

Each year, complications from unsafe abortion are one of the five top causes of maternal death (ranging from 4.7% to 13.2%) and a leading cause of hospitalization in the Philippines. The number of women who die every year because of complications from illegal abortions even exceed the number of persons who die from dengue.

According to a study conducted by the Philippine Safe Abortion Advocacy Network (PINSAN) that was completed in 2020, 1.26 million abortions were performed in the country, “putting the lives and health of Filipina women at risk,” and that figure is anticipated to rise.

The main reason why these women die and if fortunately, intervened are hospitalized, is due to the penalty imposed by the law on women and those assisting them by an archaic colonial Spanish law. The Philippine penal law on abortion is only one of now 2 countries in the world with the most restrictive prohibitions on abortion. Under the law, women found to have aborted their fetuses face prison terms of between two to six years.

The realities of abortion and the need to decriminalize abortion were again discussed when the recommendations for the country to

are sexually exploited/trafficked by their own parents, with some being raped and dehumanized as a result. One of the myriad reasons is the COVID-19 pandemic, which has resulted in higher rates of unexpected and undesired pregnancies due to a lack of contraception access, as well as higher rates of rape, intimate partner abuse, and sexual exploitation. About 2.56 million women are estimated to have unintended pregnancies in 2020—a 42% increase.

Without access to safe abortion, many of these women and adolescent girls would end their pregnancies in an unsafe manner, endangering their lives and health, and may become part of the anticipated 26% rise in maternal mortality by 2020 due to the pandemic’s disruption of access to health services.

Decriminalizing abortion will end the discriminatory, harsh, and inhumane treatment of women seeking abortion care for induced abortion (viable or therapeutic/medical necessity), as well as women in need of emergency post-abortion care for unsafe abortion complications. This is a step toward reducing gender discrimination, sexism, and misogyny.

What now?

We approach this by decriminalizing abortion in the Philippines by passing bills that become laws. Period. Allowing this colonial law to continue to exist in our society will promote animosity and prejudice toward Filipino women who induce abortion. Women would die and suffer disability as a result of complications from unsafe abortion if abortion stays banned in the Philippines and

and the overall health and well-being of Filipino women and their families. With the law fully implemented, Filipino women should have access to reproductive health information and services that will assist them in planning and caring for their families. Better sexual and reproductive health education, as well as access to effective contraception, can reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies, reducing the number of Filipino women who resort to unsafe abortion and suffer the health implications. Investing in women’s health helps not only their status and productivity but also their families and society at large.

Finally, and most importantly, this country must acknowledge that denying women access to safe and legal abortion is a method of controlling their bodies, perpetuating female subordination in which women’s decisions, particularly personal decisions about pregnancy and childbirth, are completely ignored.

Limiting women’s autonomy to decide their own bodies encourages discrimination and inequality in the law, clearly violating women’s rights to equal legal protection and privacy.

Women comprise one-half of the entire global population and for many centuries men have been looking for ways to control their bodies. It is the women getting pregnant and not the men, they should make decisions when it comes to their bodies without letting centuries’ worth of laws get in the way. Let’s not get caught up in society’s patriarchal ideals. Let us build a community where every woman has the freedom to choose what is best for their bodies. C

Kapag patuloy tayo na nagpapalabas ng Korean telenovela, ang hinahangaan ng ating mga kababayan ay itong mga Koreano at nawawalan ng trabaho at kita yung ating mga artistang

Pilipino…Kaya minsan pumapasok sa aking isipan na i-ban na itong mga telenovela ng mga foreigners at dapat ang mga artista nating Pilipino talagang may angking galing sa pagarte ay ‘yun naman dapat ang ipalabas natin sa sariling bansa.”

Ito ang pahayag ni Senator Jinggoy Estrada sa ginanap na budget hearing noong ika-18 ng Oktubre para sa Film Development Council

BY PAULETTE TORRICO READ MORE ON 18, BUWIS BUHAY

of the Philippines (FDCP) na pinamunuan ni Chairman Tirso Cruz III. Ayon kay Estrada, aktor at senador, nawawalan ng kita ang mga artistang Pilipino dahil sa paglagganap at lubos na pagtangkilik ng mga Pinoy sa pandayuhang telenovela katulad ng Korean drama. Umani ng maraming kritisismo at batikus sa Twitter at Facebook ang pahayag na ito at nanatili paring isang mainit na usaping pambansa.

Kung ipagbabawal man ang K-drama at iba pang mga internasyonal na palabas, hindi ba ay mas maraming mawawalan ng trabaho? Paano na ang mga dubbers, translators,

editors at sound engineers ng mga palabas na mula sa ibang bansa idina-dub sa TV?

Kung kakayahan sa pag-arte lang naman ang batayan, hindi rin maipagkakaila na pang world class ang aktingan ng mga Pinoy. Kamakailan lamang ay nakatanggap ng Outstanding Asian Star award si Belle Mariano mula sa Seoul International Drama Awards 2022 at kinilala bilang kauna-unahang Pilipina na nabigyan ng ganitong paralangal.

Buwis Buhay para sa Pelikula

S

Noong 2016, itinanghal din bilang Best Actress si Jaclyn Jose sa Palme d’Or Cannes Film Festival, isang internasyonal na pista ng pelikula na ginaganap sa Cannes, France, bilang pagganap nito sa pelikula ni Brillante Mendoza na “Ma’ Rosa.” Siya rin ang unang Pilipina na nakatanggap ng prestihiyosong kagawaran. Hindi isyu ang galing ng artista kundi ang pagkakagawa ng pelikula. Sawang-sawa na ang sambayanang Pilipino sa kakapanuod ng palabas na tantyang-tantya naman na nila ang wakas. Hindi na bago ang kwento tungkol sa mga kabit, mahirap na bidang anak pala ng mayaman, mga kontrabida na siya ring kamag-anak ng bida, hindi namamatay-matay na bida kahit paulanan ng bala at marami pang iba.Masyadong klise ang

naman magiging problema na tangkilikin din natin ang “maindie” o mga pelikulang ginawa ng mga malayang prodyuser at ipinalabas sa mga malalaking kompanya. Ilan sa mga halimbawa nito ay ang “Ang Babae sa Septic Tank” ni Marlon Rivera, “That Thing Called Tadhana” ni Antoinette Jadaone, at “Ang Babaeng Humayo” ni Lav Diaz.

Malaking bahagi sa paggawa ng dekalidad na palabas ang nakalaang badyet para dito. Hindi kakulangan sa abilidad at oportunidad ang balakid sa atin upang makipagsabayan sa katha ng mga banyaga. Mas lalong hindi rin colonial mentality ang hadlang sa pag-usbong ng industriya.

Ayon kay Tirso Cruz III aabot sa 10 hanggang sa 30 milyong piso ang maaring gastusin upang

mapaigting ang suporta ng mga Pinoy sa lokal na mga palabas at mas lalong hindi nakapagbibigay ng dagdag kita para sa prodyuser.

Kung ipagbabawal ang K-drama ay mas lalala lamang ang pamimirata na siyang pagkalugmok pa lalo ng lokal na industriya ng pelikula. Hindi magiging mainam na solusyon ang pagtakbo kompitesyon imbes na makipagsabayan dito. Mula noon ay magaling lang naman ang gobyerno sa paghahanap ng scapegoat imbes na maghanap ng nararapat na solusyon. Ang mga maggagawa ng peikula, na nais magbigay aliw sa madla, ay sila pa ang palaging nauubosa ng rason para maging masaya sa kahihinatnan ng kanilang katha.

Hindi sapat ang talento, dugo at pawis para

Hindi sapat ang talento, dugo at pawis para magpakain sa pamilya ng production staff at crew members. Hindi mapupunan ng sigasig at determinasyon ang puwang na dapat ay gampanan ng suporta at pondo sa paggawa

mga ipinapalabas sa mga mainstream media platforms tulad ng Star Cinema, Regal Films, Viva Films at GMA Films. Tila nire-recycle lang ang pagbabalangkas ng istorya para lang may mapagkakakitaan. Nakalilibang din naman ngunit wala namang makabuluhang katuturan.

Samantalang ang mga Indie Films naman na siyang tunay na salamin ng tunay nating sitwasyon, sining at aking galing ay siyang hindi nabibigyan ng kaukulang suporta. Nakadidismaya na nananatiling “low-budget” films ang tatak sa mga obra-maestrang ito. Ang kadalasang paksa ng mga Indie films ay maseselan at sensitibo salungat sa nais ng maraming tagapanood na comedy, love story at romantic comedy. Hindi

Cracks in Between

#CULTURED

andwich is one of the most interesting words in English. In almost all cases, a sandwich is a noun that pertains to a vegetable or meat placed between slices of bread. It is not always but also not so uncommon that we use sandwich as a verb to refer to the action of squeezing something between two other things. We also use the term sandwich to collectively put a name to someone, let alone an entire generation, “sandwiched” between responsibilities.

When one should be tossing pennies in the pool in their roaring 20s, things run to a different route for the sandwich generation. In

makagawa ng dekalidad na palabas. At upang may maiuwing kita,dapat na hindi bababa sa 270% ang kabuuang kita ng palabas o halos triple sa pinuhunan ng prodyuser. Ang masakit pa ay kahit hindi naman nakabawi, patong-patong na buwis ang kailangan nitong bayaran. Sampung porsyento para sa amusement tax, 5 % sa distribution fee, at 45% pa ng halaga ng tiket na naibenta ay mapupunta sa may-ari ng sinehan. Sino pa kaya ang may gustong mamumuhunan sa pelikula para lang pambayad sa buwis?

Literal na buwis buhay ang pakikipagsapalaran ng mga Filipino Filmmakers sa industriya dahil sa nakamamatay na buwis. Ang pagbabawal ng K-drama ay hindi makatutulong upang

ng pelikula.

magpakain sa pamilya ng production staff at crew members. Hindi mapupunan ng sigasig at determinasyon ang puwang na dapat ay gampanan ng suporta at pondo sa paggawa ng pelikula.

Mas lalala lang din ang sitwasyon kung ipagbabawal ang K-drama. Imbes na isisi sa iba, mas mainam na magbalangkas na ng solusyon upang masagip ang naghihingalong industriya. Hindi lumulobong buwis ang dapat na isukli sa buwis buhay na pakikipagsapalaran ng mga filmmakers, nararapat lamang na suklian sila ng kaukulang pagkilala at suporta. C

child to repay the favor of being born and raised. “Utang na loob,” on the other hand, is a controversial concept because it is unclear how and when to consider the debt settled.

A handful of people would argue that children must not be obligated to care for their parents in the future, but this perspective is too simplistic and detached from reality. It only considers a one-dimensional viewpoint as if the choices are as straightforward as “should I support my parents or should I not support my parents?” without taking into account all other mitigating circumstances.

Seeing the sandwich generation through

their children, especially in their senior years. We must also consider that not everyone has access to the benefits of a good retirement plan. Consequently, not everyone in the aging population has savings or pensions. It all boils down to how this country can support retirees.

While the majority of us Filipinos opt to take on the role of caring for our parents, it is essential to keep this issue forefront in mind and break away from becoming the sandwich generation. What needs to be done is to uproot and recultivate the system to provide solutions. Breaking this cycle also means

the broadest sense, the sandwich generation is a category for people who are expected to support their parents and care for their children. With this responsibility thrown into their laps, many members of this generation struggle with balancing work and school, family and friends, and often live a life of mediocre success.

The richly complex culture of Filipinos places a strong emphasis on our willingness to extend help to the people we love and care about. Therefore, there is absolutely nothing wrong if we choose to help our parents on a voluntary basis. Filipinos practice “utang na loob,” or “debt of gratitude,” which sees the said responsibility as a moral duty of the

blurry lines as personal rather than societal is a Western attitude that does not work well in the Philippine context. Unlike the Philippines, this mindset is adapted to suit the needs of Western countries because they have progressive healthcare and retirement plans that can accommodate the needs of the elderly. The Philippines, a third-world country drowned in tight fists of corruption, simply has a long way to  go.

The existence of the sandwich generation is only a part of an even larger systemic problem that persists in the country. While it is true that some parents see their children as investments and retirement plans, others do not have other options but to rely solely on

that the government should address housing, healthcare, pensions, and cost of living. More needs to be done by the government to help and open doors.

The word sandwich has its own wonders in bringing a lot of meaning depending on its usage in a sentence. When we use the term sandwich generation, we refer to a group of people “sandwiched” between growing children and aging parents. It is duly noted that breaking from the cycle involves a long list of factors that may be more influential than our personal convictions. With kind, hopeful, and persisting hearts, we continue to struggle under the same system we want to break away from. C

At Wits End

AT LARGE

BY DANICA MAE HABLADO

n 2022, one of the most important presidential elections in the history of the Philippines took place. In a pandemic-stricken nation on the verge of a catastrophic economic collapse, the election turned out to be more crucial than ever. Consequently, people became more interested in the results of the current election than in the previous ones, and campaigning was visibly stronger.

But the election exposed a sobering truth about Filipinos: we are so immersed in our own fight towards change that it is challenging for us to see others’ perspectives and persuade them in a way that does not push them even further. This is evidenced by the deep divide among

become resentful of us. This should prompt us to ponder the questions that have always persisted: Who are we fighting? And who are we fighting for? The real war that needed to be fought on the ground—and its outcome, which would be revealed on election day—was somehow ignored in the struggle for moral victory. Politicians are expected to defend citizens’ rights and in turn, the general populace must collectively fix their eyes on them as watchdogs, to hold those who misuse their authority accountable. Instead, we turned our backs on one another and created conflict among our own ranks.

Many voters, especially those on social

The elections might be over, but the active participation we have shown is not just something that we can easily take off and hide in our closet for the next six years. There is still so much to learn and improve. We may start by acknowledging that a lot of people are also victims of their circumstances, and it would be more advantageous if we focused on our similarities rather than our differences. Real conversations, where ideas are shared and not just spoken by one person, are what we need to have. A convincing argument and an empathetic discussion may happen after we understand where our fellow individuals are coming from. However, we must also be watchful of the

Filipinos throughout the campaign period. Instead of genuinely persuading people to vote for their favored candidate, it somewhat turned into a show of harsh statements and insults. Derogatory terms like “bobo” were often used to strangers who were being communicated with for the first time online. Insults and offenses were thrown from one camp to another, from one staunch supporter to another. There were individuals who labored to stay faithful to their main goal, but it is undeniable that the harsh, even inhuman exasperations of the clashing supporters heavily  dominated. Sadly, there is indeed truth to the condescending and elitist criticisms we usually hear. Rather than winning over voters, our aggressive campaigning lost us votes, and the individuals we hoped to influence instead

Bop or Flop?

#CULTURED

BY DAREN KERN ECULLADA

Whether

you are heartily crying to All Too Well

(10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault), patiently waiting for Jeno Lee’s update on Bubble, fully immersing yourself in the fourth book of the Harry Potter series, or paying your fullest attention to the eighth episode of House of the Dragons, one thing is certain… fans fuel  media.

Fan culture is an important aspect of music, arts, and culture. It enables artists to reach a wider audience and bring out new talent due to the intense global popularity of a given artist’s work. Because of the social media boom and the way fans interact with artists, these artistries have become highly accessible to almost all points around the globe. Consequently, this has also opened up a very long list of pros and cons. Being a fan of someone or something can, in fact, be a source of happiness and motivation. Although it can be heavy on the pocket, buying merchandise and developing collections is a form of appreciation for the things in life that we love, whether it’s a television show, movie, book, influencer, athlete, or musician.

Fan culture can also be empowering. Through

media, started off as mere spectators—as some may say, “soft voters”—rather than active participants. These voters might have changed their minds if spoken to in a more kindly manner, if spoken to as fellow people with their own agency capable of thinking for themselves. Instead, they became repulsive and vowed never to associate with anyone they considered to be part of the “elitist” group. In the heat of frustrated debates and an angry exchange of words, we have forgotten who the real enemy is. Nevertheless, the chaos of warring factions must not distract us from the crucial truth that those who abuse authority are the ones who deserve true aggression and severe punishment. The people must stay vigilant and unified because sowing division will only bring us more losses.

sowing of disinformation, historical denialism, and online trolls who intentionally cause trouble by provoking us. At the end of the day, that Facebook friend who is still hesitant in their beliefs, that lone family member who made a choice because they felt betrayed by the system, and that struggling college student who goes through the daily struggles of life are the very people whom we need to include in our fight towards absolute change.

If we fault our fellow people and not the ones in authority who abuse their power to deceive and corrupt, we blind ourselves from the reality of the world we live in. Ultimately, we share the same burden as the people around us, and our fight for change must not be against them—but for them. C

fandoms, we can find people whom we share the same interests with. For example, if you watch a Kpop group and have been following their story for years, you form an emotional attachment to them. You develop relationships with other fans in your community because there is this idea that they love each other and support each other through thick and thin.

Fandoms are also a great way to give back to the community and make a difference. During

love for a specific artist, but from hatred for others.

times of crisis, various fandoms pool their resources to contribute to different charities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Last April 2021, fans of the K-Pop idol group EXO, often referred to as EXO-L, established a community pantry in Barangay Marsilo, Malabon to help those who were heavily affected by the pandemic.

On the other hand, unfortunately, fan culture breeds a space in which extreme behavior, such as arrogance and harassment, has grown to be normalized. To some fans, their identity and self-esteem are inextricably linked to the achievement of their idol. Fan culture has condoned fan entitlement that stems not from

Fan culture fosters a toxic parasocial relationship between fans and artists, and it is fundamentally abusive. It reinforces a wide gap between fans and artists who are often quite divorced from reality because of their privilege, income, and power. Moreso, in notso-uncommon instances, some fans would cross the line only to defend their idols and justify unjust actions. Of course, not all fans are like this. However, its occurrence is a very good point for understanding why fan culture can be toxic.

Being a fan allows us to feel like a part of the group and our passion makes us feel connected to other fans and their enjoyment. But not all fans are healthy— there are plenty of people who have unhealthy obsessions with things that can have a serious impact on their lives and the lives of others. After everything, it narrows down to choosing whether to succumb to the toxicity of fan culture or to remain a warmhearted fan. The choice is ours. C

We are so immersed in our own fight towards change that it is challenging for us to see others’ perspectives and persuade them in a way that does not push them even  further.

Fan culture can also be empowering. Through fandoms, we can find people whom we share the same interests with.

Nagmumurang Pitaka

MAGNUM OPUS

BY PAULETTE TORRICO

Maraming mukha ang ninanais na makita ng aking kakilala. Pati amoy daw nila ay nais niyang masimot hanggang sa malula. Mga makikinis nilang mga balat ay nais niya muling maramdaman. Simple lamang ang hiling ng aking pitaka, ito ay muling mahagkan ang magtotropang sina Jose Abad Santos, Josefa Llanes Escoda, at Vicente Lim na nakaimprinta sa isang libong papel na pera. Maraming Pilipino ngayon ang umaaray ang mga pitaka sa patuloy na pagtaas ng mga bilihin. Batay sa ulat ng Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), pumapalo na sa 6.9% ang inflation rate sa buwan ng Setyembre at inaasahan na mas tataas pa sa susunod na

iba pang personal na gamit. Hindi ko rin labis maisip na ang mga budget meals na nabibili ko lang sa halagang Php 45 hanggang Php 50 ay nasa Php 60 hanggang Php 75 na ngayon. Tipid na tipid pa ang kanin at maliit ang hiwa ng karne.

Nakabibingi din sa bulsa ang busina ng tumataas na pamasahe sa mga pampublikong transportasyon. Naabutan ko pa noon ang tig-limang pisong halaga ng pamasahe noong 2018. Nasa Php 6.50 ang halaga ng regular na pasahero at may 20% na discount o Php 5.50 naman sa mga estudyante at PWDs. Dulot ng patuloy na pagtaas ng krudo ay Php 12 na ang minimum na pamasahe ngayon. Kung

Para naman sa mga nag-iinvest, mas mababa na rin ang halaga ng return on capital o interes kung ikukumpara sa panahong mas mababa ang inflation rate. Halimbawa, kung ikaw ay nag invest ng 100 na may 4% interes noong nakaraang taon, ang halaga ng interest na makukuha mo ay Php 4 piso. Sa panahon na may mataas na inflation rate, halimbawa ay 6% kailangan na ikaw ay magdagdag pa ng investment nang 6% din upang mapanatili ang halaga ng interes na iyong nakukuha.

Kung nakakapagsalita lang ang ating mga pitaka, siguradong sila ay mapapamura na.

na lamang ang aking karapatan para mahawakan ang isang libong piso.

mga buwan. Ayon naman sa Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, maliban sa palitan ng langis sa pandaigdigang merkado, maaari ring magdulot ng malaking epekto sa implasyon ang pagtaas ng presyo ng asukal, kakulangan ng supply ng isda sa bansa, at patuloy na mga petisyon sa pagtaas ng  pamasahe.

Kahit na kalansing ng barya ngayon ay hindi ko na marinig mula sa aking pitaka. Bilang estudyante na may isang libong allowance sa isang linggo, ramdam ko ang mabilis na pagbaba ng halaga ng piso. Kung noon ay mai-aalot ko pa ang Php500 para pambili ng groceries, ngayon ay tanging mga delata, kape, at asukal na lamang ang aking nabibili. Hindi na ako halos makabili ng sabon, shampoo, at

panay ang aking lakwatsa noon, mas pinipili ko nalang na sagad sagarin ang binabayad ko sa renta ngayon. Hindi na mahalaga ang mental health basta’t may makakain lang hanggang  Biyernes.

Ang patuloy na paghina ng mahalaga ng piso kontra dolyar ay nangangahulugan din na mas magiging mahirap ang pag-iipon. Hindi lamang bigat ng tao ang mababawasan sa sitwasyong ito kundi pati na rin ang timbang ng mga alkansya nating baboy. Mas mababa ang aking naiipon o di kaya ay wala na talagang akong naitatabi mula sa aking allowance sa panahon ngayon. Di hamak na mas malaki pa nga ang aking nagagatos kesa sa aking badyet.

Tila isang segundo na lamang ang aking karapatan para mahawakan ang isang libong piso.

Pagkatapos maibigay ng aking tatay ay sunod sunod na rin ang aking paglustay. Sa katunayan, ang aking hinaing tungkol sa pera ay walang binatbat kung ikukupara sa pamomroblema ng aking mga magulang at iba pang mga breadwinner. Ang mas nakakalungkot pa ay tila wala pa ring konkretong plano ang gobyerno upang matugunan ang lumubong problema sa  bansa. Umaasa na lamang ako na balang araw, lahat ng pamilyang Pilipino ay hindi na salat sa isang  libo. C

Pangalan: Ate/Guro/ Pilipino

maximum volume

BY KAYE GALLO

It didn’t take long to realize that what I wrote on my application essays were easier to put on paper than into practice.

“The teaching of language is the teaching of  culture.”

But the Philippines is an archipelago, a country with more than seven thousand one hundred islands, with people speaking different mother tongues, and with adobo prepared in many, different ways.

My use of “kakatapos” although acceptable, reveal that Tagalog is not my first language. Often, my supervisor, a native Tagalog speaker, had to clarify that a particular way of preparing food, for example, is exclusive in the northern part of the Philippines, while I, from the Visayas, had to recall how my sister or mom cooks a Filipino dish. Once, a student asked me what food I miss most. “There’s this vegetable soup in Iloilo, clear soup with greens and squash, we call it, laswa...” I paused. Realizing it would mean differently to native Tagalog speakers, I looked at my supervisor smiling, all set to explain that “laswa” stressed differently means obscene.

“And while the country is as diverse as the languages we speak, we share deeply rooted values that make us Filipino.”

While we are known for our resiliency and hospitality, the Tagalog language classroom made me understand deeper the Filipinos’ sense of community— our social

circles are our extension of who we are, sometimes, even what we will become. To create a semblance of community for the students, my supervisor is Ate Rhoda, I am Ate Kay. In other universities offering Tagalog/Filipino courses, there’s Tita Pia, Kuya Jason, Ate Irene,at a fellow Filipino FLTA is Kuya  Joseph.

“One automatically becomes a cultural ambassador the moment one steps in a foreign  land.”

I remembered sharing about the different superstitious beliefs in the Philippines - that, although they are regional, there’s always chicken involved and that sweeping the floor or taking a shower can be a blessing or a curse. One time, I explained what a balikbayan box is and why shelves are emptied of Spam when it’s nearing December.

I left the Philippines in August 2021 for the ten-month Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) grant at Northern Illinois University (NIU). It didn’t take long to realize that my program’s over and that I am back home.

At a time when it’s the start of the rainy season and evenings should be cooler, I stepped outside NAIA in the sweltering heat. In the middle of EDSA traffic, I think of my sister’s adobo and the adobo being advertised on the billboard, that I just addressed my driver “Kuya,” and that spam prices have skyrocketed.C

Kung nakakapagsalita lang ang ating mga pitaka, siguradong sila ay mapapamura na. Tila isang segundo

Created for Fellowship: The Need For In-person Interaction

BY PASTOR LLOYD BASCO

Two biblical texts have this to say, 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. –Hebrews 10:24-25

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” – Genesis 2:18

When Covid-19 broke out all over the world and its restrictions reached the Philippines on March 2020, it limited everyone’s interaction most especially those belonging to the young people and elderly age groups. It halted huge gatherings, school attendance and activities, leisure with friends and families, and most especially joining together in corporate worship in church.

In spite of all this, the pandemic was not able to hinder the spread of God’s Word, nor change the heart of God, cease His blessing, or thwart His plans. In history, there were no pandemics, plagues, people, or any events that delayed or obstructed God’s plan for mankind. God remains sovereign. This profound truth is our greatest hope in all ages. God’s movement is never dependent on anything or on anyone.

But it is undeniable that many in the academe were affected emotionally and spiritually. Without a doubt, the online modality of learning is never at par with inperson learning due to the limitations that an online setup has. Stakeholders in institutions most especially the students, parents, and

teachers grumbled about the myriad of problems they encountered in the online setup. Beginning with, connectivity issues, power outages, difficulty in reaching out to students, some cases of dishonesty, rising cases of depression, time management problems, and so forth.

Biblically, we were not made for this. This was never the design or intention of our Creator for us. To be isolated or detached from each other was never His plan. Anything that transpires contrary to His intentions will turn out to be problematic and unharmonious. We were made for fellowship and interaction. In the aforementioned biblical texts, Genesis 2:18 cites that it is not good for anybody to be isolated or lonesome, further implying that we need fellowship with our own kind. Fellowship in Greek is “koinonia” which means having something in common. We do not have something in common with plants and animals because we do not think alike. We only have something in common with our fellow human beings. Genesis records the first marriage in biblical history, but putting this aside and considering God’s act of making another reveals that human design is undoubtedly intended for interaction. Moreover, we see this union carried over up to the present time, and we know it will be handed over in the generations to come. Indeed, we were truly created for fellowship.

In Hebrews 10:24-25, there is a challenge to exemplify good deeds and love to our fellowmen. There is difficulty actualizing this with distance. Still, the

best way to demonstrate love is through one’s presence. There is power in presence. In the words of Gabriel Marcel, he said, “presence is not a skill one learns but it is rather a grace.” We bring encouragement not only with words but most especially through handshakes, hugs, kisses, pats on the back, fist bumps, and simply telling a peer “I got you” or I got your back.

The writer in Hebrews then transitions to the eschatological or to the study of the final things and the destiny of humanity. He points out the value of meeting in person in the preparation for what is to come and that is the Day of the Lord. It implies that it is difficult preparing for the arrival of that day when we are doing it all alone by ourselves. We need the company of others. We need the presence of each other througout this journey.

In application to the school setting, the in-person learning modality truly aids the students in the learning process. Since we were made for fellowship, there is a sense of belongingness as we interact and socialize with one another. Moreover, one of the strengths of in-person learning is that it encourages collaborative learning without any distractions. Students do not only learn from their teachers and mentors but they also learn from the ideas and experiences of their fellow students. Truly, learning is made enjoyable and easier in this setup since we were fashioned in this manner and were created for fellowship. Godspeed!

C

GAD CASTRO & RAY ANGELO JAGNA- AN

diversion C

Centiments

BY KALANIE SALDAJENO

Diin makita ang LDT building? Ano itsura sang Engineering building? Hala kadako gale sang  CPU....

These are just some of the words uttered by every Centralian who just entered the campus for the first time. After two years, Central has finally opened its doors to students—albeit only partially as face-to-face classes are only limited to specific courses.

For two whole years, students have been confined to the four corners of their rooms as they deal with online classes. Finally, students caught a glimpse of the Centralian experience during CPU's four-day face-toface midterm examinations. Midterm exams were hectic but there is also a sense of nostalgia and bittersweetness as the streets and hallways of CPU are filled with students armed with handouts and books striving to cram whatever knowledge they can before their exams start.

One can’t help but miss the old prepandemic days when the campus was alive with the chatter and laughter of their student. Other colleges in Iloilo City are having faceto-face classes at the start of the school year yet Central still hasn’t fully opened its doors to students. Hence, this begs the question, "When will it be CPU's turn to adapt a fully face-to-face set-up?" C

I spy… a pawn, two cassette tapes, an eye, five hearts, a diamond, a pair of glasses, two donuts, a cake, a “3”, four tickets, an avocado, three keys, and a medal.

L PRINCE EMMANUEL PACIENTE

The Colors of Nothingness

BY PIERRE JHUN SAN PEDRO

ster did not understand.

She had her whole life ahead of her; she had dreams, visions of the life she was about to achieve. She had a promising career, a family she had always wanted. All that was left was for her to explore, to reach for the goals she had in mind. Ester did everything she could, but she had finally lost her vision. Slowly, surely, literally—she had lost sight of the world. In August 2005, she started to experience problems with her vision. Diagnosed with glaucoma in one eye, and proliferative diabetic retinopathy in the other, she tried to look for solutions in and outside of the country to no avail. By January 2006, Ester Lagradilla Jara was declared legally blind.

CHANGE AMIDST HARDSHIPS

“I was not born blind. I was a very independent person, having a promising career as an accountant, holding key positions in professional organizations, a frequent traveler,” Ester expressed. “Suddenly everything came to a full stop. It was devastating…terrible would be a more appropriate word. I cried. Around five minutes after, I started discussing with my doctor available options on how to have a better quality of life while being blind.”

According to Ester, however, discrimination and prejudice remain familiar notions among people who suffer from disabilities. Stereotypes that do nothing but hurt and dehumanize those who suffer from a variety of physical hardships continue to persist—a plague that will continue to haunt the very people who need it the least. Despite the countless laws passed to make the lives of marginalized groups such as those of the PWDs (Persons with Disabilities), the lack of understanding and generations of preconceived ideas about the community remain a blockage that prevents them from enjoying what should have been basic human rights. In the words of Ester, what should have been their rights are reduced to “mere privileges.”

HOPE IN BETWEEN CHALLENGES

“What God has given me is a ‘very comfortable’ level of acceptance. Comfortable enough for me to live as normal as possible with my remaining senses, move forward, and continue to make a difference whenever and however I can,” stated Ester.

Currently serving as the Executive Assistant to the Medical Center Chief of the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Regional Hospital, Bacolod City, Ester proves that not all hope is for naught. With her dreams and aspirations, together with her will and perseverance being much stronger than the misfortunes that have come to claim her sight, she continued to hold onto the visions of the future she is able to foresee.

“My usual work day involves coordinating with the offices within the hospital to address or prepare the reportorial and other requirements of the hospital; attending to and resolving external and internal concerns and complaints; reviewing and signing reports, checks, proposals, and other documents; formulation, monitoring, and reporting of management planning and control processes. I also coordinate and prepare the hospital’s entries for healthcare

service quality awards with institutions like the Philippine Hospital Association,” she added.

With the help of modern assistive technology that aids those who have disabilities—such as screen readers and the voiceover features of smartphones and computers—performing tasks on digital devices has grown to become more accessible. For Ester, the use of either “Window-Eyes” or “Job Access With Speech” (JAWS), both popular screen reading programs designed for the visually impaired, has allowed her to do tasks that require the use of a computer. Utilizing the same technology on her phone, the voiceover feature enables her to effectively communicate with people among her different cliques.

BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT

“It is more who I miss seeing. I miss seeing my husband, Rey Jara. When I became blind, Rey made me see the real meaning of our wedding vows ‘in sickness or in health… for better or for worse’. He is my ‘tower of strength,’ ‘the wind beneath my wings.’ We are partners in our unique Ministry of Encouragement. We give strength and support to persons, couples, and families who are undergoing similar challenges,” told Ester.

Even with individuals like Ester who have struggled with various disabilities throughout their lifetime, there remains a vast amount of misconceptions that need to be corrected. Ester herself has faced discrimination due to her visual impairment, and although there are many like her working towards altering negative attitudes towards PWDs, the fight is far from over.

Ester still wishes she understood.

She, however, sees the joy of working with other individuals, foundations, institutions, and fellow PWDs in advocating for the rights they deserve. She sees the blessing of being able to empathize more with the people around her, especially towards those that share her fate and troubles; and be the inspiration they need to continue moving forward. Likewise, she feels the beauty of her ability to envision things in a more positive light—for she has the power to paint her own colors against the dark canvas that had tried to claim her world. For Ester, there is nothing more powerful than being able to “walk by faith, not by sight.”C

What God has given me is a ‘very comfortable’ level of acceptance. Comfortable enough for me to live as normal as possible with my remaining senses, move forward, and continue to make a difference whenever and however I can.”

Imprints of Yesterday’s Legacy

BY PIERRE JHUN SAN PEDRO

With a waft of heavy nostalgia lingering in the air, two of the most powerful leaders of the country have now stepped down and left the homes they have known for the past six years.

A flurry of salutes, chants, and handshakes followed the now former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte as he officially ended his term and bid his goodbyes during his departure honors at the Malacañang Palace, moments before leaving for his hometown, Davao City, last June 30.

Meanwhile, at the Quezon City Reception House which served as the Office of the Vice President during her term for the last six years, Vice President Leni Robredo waved her goodbyes while softly giving her final ‘salamat’ to the people who have served her office, and have lined up to give their final salutes last June  29.

Indeed, the Duterte-Robredo administration had its ups and downs, victories and loses, and many more remarkable moments that have left their imprints to the people and the country — a legacy we would not soon forget.

REIGN OF CONTROVERSIES

“While this may be a closing chapter of a great moment of our nation, Pres. Duterte’s legacy will not only be talked about in the years ahead, but will also be felt by generations to come, “ Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea stated.

Despite, or maybe due to the things that the Duterte administration has done in the past six years — his reign as the President faced a lot of controversies in both the national and international level. His “war on drugs”

campaign which have significantly lessened drug activities in the country faced a lot of backlash from human rights activists all over the world due to the severe violations and repercussions it had on the people, despite its so-called success.

From a different perspective, however, begs the question if the numbers justify the injustices that many sectors and organizations have recorded over the years. Duterte’s war on drugs, according to the government’s unitary report, RealNumberPH, at least 6,252 people have died by the police during anti-illegal drugs operation from July 2016 to May 31, 2022. On the other hand, human rights groups have counted an estimate of 30,000 death tolls which included victims of vigilante-style killings; while Rappler has obtained data from the Philippine National Police (PNP) which already recorded 7,884 deaths from July 1, 2016, to August 31, 2020.

TRIUMPHS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

“The fundamental objective of the Build, Build, Build Program is to invest adequately in infrastructure to sustain and support the country’s growing economic activities represented by its Gross Domestic Product,” voiced DPWH Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain.

President Duterte’s “Build, Build, Build” project initially started with a list of 75 projects in 2017, which ended with a total list of 119

READ MORE ON 25, LEGACY

THOUGHT fOOd fOr

BY KALANIE SALDAJENO

Anursing student quietly sits on her tiny desk as she struggles to understand the contents of her MedicalSurgical textbook. In her tiny dimly lit room, misery is her only company. Beside her is a glass of cooled, cheap coffee that she made around 5 pm. Beside her is a plate of stale rice and adobo she got from the local carinderia. She splurged a little today; she usually survives on hard-boiled eggs and fifty-peso meals as her Finals approaches. She lives alone in a fast-paced city away from her family. In her tiny apartment, she contemplates whether there is a future for her in health care considering the breakout of the COVID-19 pandemic.

She followed her routine religiously for two days, until one day, the University president suspended classes with no assurance of when classes will resume. The young student nurse then packed her bags and rode the bus to her province. She hasn’t seen her family for a while now and she looks forward to finally being reunited with them. Upon taking the three-hour trip back home, she finally arrives at her house. She was greeted with tight hugs and warm smiles from her parents and siblings, and she was welcomed with a homecooked meal in their kitchen. The girl can’t help but tear up at the sight in front of her; she hadn’t had a homecooked meal ever since she started college. The meal in front of her was a far cry from the budget carinderia meals she had near her  campus.

The girl in the story is me, and this is a story of how food was able to make my quarantine experience more bearable. Food has always been the universal love language in my family. We may not say I love you to each other a lot, but we do express our love for one another by cooking together and eating together. When the pandemic started, there was a lot of anxiety, especially in the sleepy town where I come from. I live in the middle of nowhere surrounded by mountains and rivers, and information regarding the COVID-19 virus isn’t as widespread. The villagers do not know

to which only more than a dozen had been completed by the end of his term.

However, such projects are expected to be continued under the new administration, according to various reports. Despite this, the Duterte administration has called the flagship program a success since they have fulfilled their promise of spending at least 5% of the gross domestic product on the country’s infrastructure annually, to double the investments of the previous administrations.

Moreover, according to DOLE, a total of six million Filipinos have been lifted out of poverty by 2018 under the regime of President Duterte. Lower crime rates have also been recorded, with a whopping decrease of 64% in the recorded crime volumes across the country.

RECEIPTS AND MOBILIZATION

“As vice president, although she was not a Cabinet secretary, she showed to us citizens that the vice president, unlike the connotation which others believe, is (not) merely a spare tire. With a limited budget, she was able to undergo small projects from the neglected parts of our country,” stated National Unity Party president Elpidio Barzaga.

According to CNN Philippines, VP Leni Robredo’s renowned Angat Buhay program together with its 373 partner-organizations have managed to help 622,000 Filipinos across 223 cities and municipalities, using more than

P520 million funds that primarily came from the private sector — despite her measly annual budget during her term.

Moreover, in 2021, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) has also received the PRIMEHRM Level II Accreditation for Meritocracy and Excellence in Human Resource Management from the Civil Service Commission as well as the Government Best Practice Recognition for the OVP’s COVID-19 pandemic response. In addition, the OVP has also received the highest audit rating from COA (Commission on Audit) for three consecutive years.

Robredo also led several relief operations all over the country, including the relief operations for those who were devastated by Typhoon Odette, last December 2021. It was also reported that almost 5,000 volunteers have shown up in the relief hub, in which they have worked in shifts around the clock to repack goods and other essentials for distribution.

Truly, the Duterte-Robredo tandem was an administration that had served as a waking call to the Filipino people in a lot of ways. Theirs was a legacy that had left little imprints in each and every citizen of this country that would later lead to the grand realization of the kind of government we truly need and deserve. Imprints of yesterday’s legacy that we would look back to, and review in the coming years — a standard-bearer of the values, morals, and governance we need to both look for, and/ or avoid for us to attain the change that we badly  need. C

FOOD THOUGHTS FROM PAGE 24

much hence they mostly stayed inside their homes. The streets that used to bustle with people are no more and what remained was empty silence.

For the first few months, I laid in bed contemplating, and throughout that duration, food was there to accompany me. My mother would make me arroz caldo, sopas,tinola and many more soups and stews to calm me down. When I got tired of the invasive thoughts that kept running through my head, I got up and decided to help around in the kitchen. I was able to learn multiple recipes throughout this pandemic, especially from my 80-yearold grandmother.

My grandmother had a talent for making kakanin, and for the longest time I wanted to learn the skills from her. However, I just cannot seem to find time because of my studies. The first thing I learned from her was how to make ibus, particularly how to wrap it tightly and perfectly. Ibus is a variety of suman. It is made with glutinous rice mixed with salt and coconut milk. The mixture is poured over pre-made coil containers of young palm leaves called Ibus or Ibos and fixed with the leaf’s central shaft. The learning process was difficult, but I was able to get the hang of it. I also learned other recipes like suman,sapin sapin, biko, bitso-bitso, puto and many more. Learning these recipes took up a majority of my lockdown.

Food is an integral part of our culture, especially where I am from, and particularly in my family. I was at a loss during that break from school and it undoubtedly contributed to my anxiety. It is quite ironic that it took an entire pandemic to help me reconnect with my own culture—but it is what it is. Food is more than just something that sustains your body. For me, food also serves as that one connection you have with your heritage and family that brings comfort to the weary, especially during these trying times.

Food has always been the universal love language in my family, we may not say I love you to each other a lot, but we do express our love for one another by cooking together and eating together.

Theirs was a legacy that had left little imprints in each and every citizen of this country that would later lead to the grand realization of the kind of government we truly need and deserve.

Realms to the Ilonggos’ lives in Technicolor

BY KALANIE SALDAJENO

Have you ever wondered how would it feel to be transmigrated into a whole new world? If yes, look no further for Iloilo City’s myriad of museums will undoubtedly allow you to escape to the past and immerse in the beauty of art through its dazzling architecture, history-rich artifacts, and poignant art  exhibits.

Over the past few years, new museums have been constantly popping up here in Iloilo and it’s fascinating to witness Ilonggos regain their interest in the culture and arts. Like intricately decorated time capsules, Iloilo City’s museums never fail to capture the region’s diversity, art, history, and cultural breadth in the truest sense. Museums are a gateway into the history of humankind. It always has this unspeakable and mystical charm that never fails to spark the imaginations of its visitors. Entering a museum feels like stepping into a whole new world by itself as you are met with centuries-old artifacts, antique objects, ancient textiles, jewelry, sculptures, and furniture, which serve as another medium to further cultural education.

Now as pandemic restrictions have loosened, it is the perfect time to pack your bags, hop into the nearest jeepney, and start exploring the different museums of Iloilo City. Here are a few of our top museum picks that you must absolutely check out:

THE NATIONAL MUSEUM FOR WESTERN VISAYAS

There is probably no other museum in Iloilo City with as rich of a history as The National Museum for Western Visayas. Formerly the Old Iloilo Provincial Jail that was donated to the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) in 2016, this museum is located at the Iloilo Capitol Complex, Bonifacio Drive, Brgy. Danao, Iloilo City. Museum-goers can enjoy two permanent exhibitions at the IRC – the Habol Panay: The Woven Artistry of Western Visayas and the Geology and Paleontology Exhibition. There are also stone sculptures, paintings, gemstones, and so much more! There is no entrance fee required, just make sure to bring your vaccination card with you.

MUSEO ILOILO

If you are heading downtown, you surely wouldn’t miss Museo Iloilo’s unique architecture. This museum is located in Bonifacio Drive, just beside the Iloilo Provincial Capitol and the Department of Tourism Regional Office. It houses an impressive collection of native pottery, fossils, jewelry, burial sites, and Annam and Siam era photos. Aside from that, a British sunken ship, Spanish-era Filipino sculptures, mementos, war relics, and modern art done by Ilonggo artists and craftsmen are being displayed. For only 20 pesos, you will get to experience the beauty Museo Iloilo curates.

ILOILO MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART

If you happen to pass by Megaworld Iloilo you won’t miss the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art (ILOMOCA). ILOMOCA is the first art institution in the region that is devoted exclusively to Filipino and foreign modern and contemporary artists. There are eccentric and provocative paintings, mixed media pieces, and sculptures. You can find unique artworks by Joan Miro at the top floor along with a collection of signed Dali lithographs, and Picasso pencil etchings on the upper floor. ILOMOCA is open from open Friday to Sunday and admission fees range from 100 pesos to 150 pesos for the upper  galleries.

October is celebrated every year as Museum and Galleries Month to promote the country's cultural and natural heritage.

READ MORE ON 27, FOOD THOUGHTS

THE PHILIPPINE MUSEUM OF ECONOMIC HISTORY

Economics may not be everybody’s cup tea however, The Philippine Museum of Economic History is a museum that you can’t miss. Opened in 2019, this institution is located a short distance from City Hall with a majestic old “bahay na bato-style” aesthetic. The two-story museum located along J.M. Basa Street beside the Iloilo City Hall is composed of 13 galleries with hundreds of artifacts, including abaca, pottery, boat-making, body ornaments, ironworks, textile, and other industries. The museum features historical data on how trade and commerce developed in the country and artifacts of companies that thrived within the “Queen City of the South” in its prime. Admission is also free!

Central My Central: Know the

BY KALANIE SALDAJENO & DAREN KERN ECULLADA

most iconic buildings

in CPU

Welcome to Central Philippine University! If you feel a little lost within the 24 hectares of land that our school has, don’t you worry, for the Central Echo is here to give you information on the most notable landmarks in the campus. With our guide, you will surely be able to navigate the campus all by yourself.

Administration Building

As soon as you get your ID checked, you’ll be greeted by one of our guards at the main gate. They’ll check your ID and let you through to the university. And once inside, the first thing you’ll see is the Dr. Rex D. Drillon Hall or the Administration building of CPU—the office of the President and the Vice Presidents! The Central spirit is here to welcome you with open arms!

Old Valentine Hall

If you’re looking for a valentine, we have just the spot for you! A quick jog across Halfmoon Drive would lead you to where the Old Valentine Hall stands. (Its not the valentine that you’d expected, right?) The Old Valentine Hall, now home to all students in the College of Arts and Sciences and College of Education, was named for Rev. Dr. William O. Valentine, who was the first principal of the school.

New Valentine Hall

Right next to the Old Valentine Hall is the New Valentine Hall, which houses the College of Business and Accountancy and the School of Graduate Studies. So if you’re looking for a class in accounting or finance, try taking it in New Valentine Hall. And if you want to take a class in marketing or management? That’s where they’re held too!

Roblee Science Hall

You probably have heard of horror stories involving Roblee Science Hall. Students claim to have experienced paranormal activity while studying in the building. Some say they saw shadows flittering around corners, while others claim to have heard dangling chains around the second floor. Be it true or not, Roblee is a conducive learning environment for the practice of sciences and has classrooms and laboratories to cater to the educational needs of students.

Student Union Building

A short walk past the Roble Science Hall will lead you to the four-storey Dr. Alfonso Uy Student Union Building. The building’s first and second floors are dedicated to a food court, food kiosks, and supplies stores, while the third floor is where you can find the offices of Guidance Services and Student Development and Programs among others. The third floor also nests the Central Echo, the official student media of CPU!

SHS Building

The latest addition to our campus is the Senior High School building, which is the newest and tallest building in the university. Homeground of the Steelhawks, it is a five-storey building that houses numerous classrooms and administrative offices, for Senior High  School students.

BRANDY MUSEUM

If beverages are more your thing, pay a visit to the Brandy Museum. Located at Iloilo Business Park’s Festive Walk Parade within Casa Emperador, this museum will make it’s visitors feel as if they stepped into a wine cellar. The exhibitions tell the history and origin of the liquor and the museum also serves drinks for those who want to sample the different cocktails. There is also a showroom and a bar where one can try their coffee drinks laced with liquor. Additionally, the museum also offers a brandy appreciation lesson to learn more about various brandy from renowned Spanish brewers. Admission to the museum is free and it is open from Monday to Sunday, 10 am to 7 pm C

Engineering Building

The first thing that catches your eye, perhaps, is the large signage containing the text “College of Engineering” in gold print. The Engineering Building prides itself on being one of the largest buildings on campus. Home to the future Centralian engineers, it has all resources needed by all students taking different engineering degrees.

 SOUTHEAST ASIA QUARTERLY & HENRY LUCE LIBRARY III

PIQUE TO THE PAST. Central Philippine University’s campus in the 1960s.

BY KJETIL JOSTH ACIELO * Names witheld for confidentiality

It was an ordinary night for Stephan*, but darkness began falling as books started disappearing. He had grown concerned over the spate of recent news flashing on his social media feed. Gazing to his right, he quivered over the fate of his collection. On May 12, 2022, the Director-General of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), Alex Paul Monteagudo, decried Adarna House’s efforts in selling Martial Law books for children under the #NeverAgain bundle as subversive acts. Ten days later, a bookstore in Quezon City selling progressive political literature was vandalized. The corrugated metal roll-up door was scratched in red streaks, the graffiti spelling out “terrorista.” Stephan determined that he needed to act fast, for the light of knowledge would soon be snuffed out by  censorship. He, however, is not fearful alone. There were others like him who seek solace in pages unfettered by the humdrumness of life. Their only crimes would be to read, and no one would bat an eye, save for a few onlookers beguiled by them resigning to corners with noses stuck in books. Connected by stories and ideas, their desire to read and freedom to think would intimidate the powers that be. It was only a matter of months before the end of every finished chapter worth their time may add years to a sentence sealed. But they will never  yield.

BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU Stephan*, a 20-year-old AB History major and budding author, is like most bookworms. Drawn to reading books that are challenged, banned, or underread, he was taken aback by the news of books being confiscated in droves and barred from libraries. He had long feared a future where information was restricted and the truth kept in the dark, like in his favorite dystopian novel, George Orwell’s “Nineteen Eighty-Four.” The book follows Winston Smith, who works in a records department, erasing and sometimes revising historical documents for the Ministry of Truth. It is one of four government ministries that control the postapocalyptic world of Oceania, where every citizen is surveilled via telescreen.

The world had slowly become the terrifying place Orwell had prophesied. Several months before, the Commission on Higher Education of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CHEDCAR) issued a memo on October 21, 2021, urging higher educational institutions to cull books from their libraries and online platforms deemed to be subversive. The resulting backlash was swift and mounting. Academics, librarians, and students rallied to denounce the order, alluding to the Nazi book burnings. The Book Development Association of the Philippines echoed a similar sentiment, stating that the memo stifles critical thinking and “will raise a future generation that is ignorant and subservient.” Stephan feared that, much like in Oceania, his collection might one day fall from his shelf and into the hands of state censors. His, however, wouldn’t be the only casualty, but every library in the country would meet a similar fate.

“Knowledge today is becoming heavily guarded and suppressed for stupid reasons. The purpose of book bans is to enforce a certain kind of order. It demands unwavering control and influence over everyone, and suppresses

diverse viewpoints in conversations regarding critical social issues,” attests Stephan, who decided to take up reading as a civic duty to counter disinformation and keep discourse alive, which banned books can only ignite.

Incensed and driven by the lessons he had learned while journeying in Smith’s shoes, he joined an organization through a mutual friend during his freshman year. Here, like-minded folks would gather and discuss their devotion to literature, invigorating their collective urgency to read and preserve the books society forbids them  to.

THE GATHERING

Lancelot*, a 23-year-old BS Occupational Therapy alumnus, has an affinity for scifi and queer literature. He had struck up a kinship with Stephan, as they consider Nineteen Eighty-Four a mutual favorite. “It is a commentary on state control, authority, and how much autonomy citizens have over themselves. Any banned book has ideas worth exploring or knowing a bit about,” Lancelot comments.

Another friend, Darko*, a 31-yearold electronics engineer, says that his favorite banned book is Kurt Vonnegut’s “Slaughterhouse Five,” which tells the story of a man who becomes unstuck in time. “The book teaches us the value of free will. It is also a fun novel. It was banned for its profanities and dark humor. Curiosity also made me read it. I read these kinds of books because of the insight I can attain from  them.”

Originally created during the pandemic to while away the hours connecting to fellow bookworms, this banned book club meets monthly to discuss themes and societal implications of their chosen book. Themes such as religion, politics, economics, social commentary, race, discrimination, feminism, and LGBTQI+ rights are often at the heart of many banned books.

In the United States, school boards began banning books that challenge notions of critical social issues en masse. In 2021, the American Library Association recorded about 729 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services, the most since the organization began tracking banning attempts in 2000. Among those recalled from shelves are classics such as: “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Fahrenheit 451,” and “Lord of the Flies,” as well as contemporary works like Angie Thomas’ “The Hate U Give,” a novel about a young black girl who contends with racism and police brutality, Art Spiegelman’s “Maus,” a graphic novel illustrating the experiences of the author’s parents during the Holocaust, or any book that openly discusses LGBTQI+ topics such as Maia Kobabe’s “Gender Queer” and George M. Johnson’s “Not All Boys Are Blue.”

Lancelot says that reading books like these would give people coherent ideas about topics that are ignored or considered taboo in society. “If we have a society of readers and critical thinkers, it would lead to a more informed, discernable public and would lead to social changes in every aspect.”

Readers like them are everywhere and nowhere, under bedsheets poring over words illumed by flashlight or huddled together in spirited conversation animating characters to life. But in an age where the very crucible of human progress is up for the flames or into obscurity, the ideas written will never die when read upon and touched a life.

RESISTANCE

FROM PAGE 28

Onesiforo Berina Jr., a Masters of Divinity student, expresses that people must continue to read, especially those that are becoming banned, because “reading and asking questions leads to freedom, especially from the social, political, and structural ignorance corrupting our humanity.” He foresees a future where systematic changes will commence. Historical negation and societal inequalities will cease when citizens become readers and critical thinkers. According to him, this guarantees progress. His favorite banned books are Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird,” and Paulo Freire’s “Pedagogy of the Oppressed.”

Even with thousands of books shortlisted for censorship, librarians and readers have fought to preserve them by highlighting the books or keeping free copies online. Some were even inspired to form banned book clubs to keep discourse on the books’ message alive. In 2021, the American Library Association, the American Booksellers Organization, and the National Council of Teachers of English sponsored Banned Books Week, an annual celebration safeguarding the freedom to read. The theme centers around the dangers of censorship and the boundary-breaking power of reading, highlighting the significance of stories to unite and transpire change in communities.

When asked how people can be encouraged to start reading banned books, Stephan suggests keeping an open mind. “Engage in active discussion. These books sometimes deal with sensitive matters and will challenge your worldview. Steel your resolve and expect to come out more enlightened. Ponder upon essential questions and throw them out there for the world to ponder along with you.”

“If people would make any conscious effort to read widely and compare sources, then I trust that we will be on the right track—not as subservient sheep, but as freethinkers unafraid to confront those in power with the truth they have hidden from us. As for the lessons, a few of them come to mind—mainly that we should commit to conscious action in a world on the brink of dystopia,” Stephan argues. Readers like them are everywhere and nowhere, under bedsheets poring over words illumed by flashlight or huddled together in spirited conversation animating characters to life. But in an age where the very crucible of human progress is up for the flames or into obscurity, the ideas written will never die when read upon and touched a life. In the face of book bans and threats of censorship, the power of reading becomes an imminent force to be reckoned with, capable of challenging the status quo and bringing forth meaningful change, for it has always been the carrier of civilization and humanity in print. While books that challenge are continually purged from the public consciousness, there will always be those who pick up the pages for reading is resistance, and resistance is duty. C

University Church

It’s a beautiful day at CPU and we’re nearing the University Church (UC); one of the most prominent architectural figures and perhaps the heart of the university. A stand-out in the campus landscape due to it’s unique architecture that seems to emulate the balangay of our malay ancestors. UC is a place of worship for students, faculty, staff and community members alike.

Rose Memorial Auditorium

Judging from the loudest cheers and yells of students across different departments and year levels, you are in front of the Rose Memorial Auditorium. This is where big events in the university are held and a sure popular spot for both students and faculty.

Henry Luce III Library

Looking for the hustle and bustle of library life? We’ve got you. Another short walk from the auditorium is the largest academic library in Western Visayas, Henry Luce III Library. Bragging by its brutalist design, it has always been one of the most remarkable buildings on campus and a beautiful addition to the diversity of buildings in CPU. It’s the library that has it all: the Graduate Studies Section, Theology Library, Law Library, Special Collections, and American Corner.

Loreto D. Tupaz Hall

Located right next door is Loreto D. Tupaz Hall which was named after Iloilo’s very own Florence Nightingale. It hosts all health-related undergraduate and postgraduate students from the College of Nursing, College of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Pharmacy, and College of Medicine. It has a distinctive semi-circle facade that draws you in like a magnet, and once inside, you’ll find the classrooms, seminar halls, laboratories, and other facilities necessary to prime our future Centralian healthcare providers.

Anna V. Johnson Memorial Hall

Following the Acacia Drive, you are to see the Anna V. Johnson Memorial Hall which is the cradle of the Religion and Ethics Department. It is one of the oldest buildings on campus and was built in memory of Anna V. Johnson, whose legacy lives on through this beautiful building that now houses many classrooms and offices for faculty members of the department.

Now that you are armed with the knowledge of the most notable landmarks in our campus, do you still feel lost? Our campus may be wide, and navigating it may seem a little intimidating at first however, it is filled with lively noises, joyous laughter, tearful cries, and cherished memories calls on you saying, “Centralian, you are home!” C

BAGONG ATRAKSYON

Stand-up paddleboarding inilayag sa Iloilo River

NI RAY ANGELO JAGNA-AN

Matapos umani ng atensiyon sa social media, pormal na inilahad ni Coach Gary Benedicto, Head Coach ng Iloilo Stand Up Paddle team, sa opisina ng city mayor ang pananaw at mga plano ng kaniyang grupo para sa pagpapaunlad ng stand up paddleboarding sa lungsod, Hunyo 28.

Sa isang panayam ng GMA Regional TV early edition, ibinahagi ni Benedicto na umpisa pa lang ng pandemya ay binuo at inorganisa niya na ang bagong aktibidad sa Iloilo River.

“Before sang pandemic, mga November sang 2019, ang isport nga stand-up paddle boarding pwede pagahiwaton nga naga-layuanay sa isa kag isa, nakita ni namon nga oportunidad nga i-develop sa Iloilo river biskan may pandemya kay safe ini. From then, daw damo na gid may nanamian mag-paddle (Bago ang pandemya, noong Nobyembre ng taong 2019, ang isport na paddle boarding ay maaaring gawin ng nakalayo sa isa’t isa, nakita namin ang oportunidad na pagyabungin ito. Mula noon, marami na ang nagpapakita ng interes dito,)” sambit ni Benedicto.

Bukod pa rito, ang hangad ng grupo sa pag-organisa ng aktibidad ay ang pagtaguyod ng youth paddle sport development program at environmental awareness.

Dagdag pa ni Benedicto, ang aktibidad na ito ay makatutulong sa pagpapaunlad at pagpapalakas ng buong katawan ng mga paddlers habang hinahasa rin ang kamalayan nila sa pagpapanatili sa kalinisan ng  ilog.

Kasama ang Iloilo City Government at Iloilo Sports Team, inaasam ng grupo na makapagtatag ng national at international stand-up paddle games sa lungsod. C

 INQUIRER.NET MAINIT NA DOMINASYON. Buong-loob na hinarap nina Jovelyn Gonazaga at Dij Rodriguez ang mga kopunan mula sa iba’t ibang bansa sa Beach Volleyball Tour Championship, Brisbane, Australia, March 27.

PH Beach Volley, nagpasikat sa Australia

Nagpakitang-gilas ang PH Beach Volleyball team sa Brisbane nang ito ay mangolekta ng dalawang ginto, isang pilak, 2022 Australia Beach Volleyball Tour Championships, Coolangta Beach, Brisbane, Australia, March  27.

Dominasyon ang ipinakita nina Jovelyn

Gonzaga at Dij Rodriguez nang kanilang lampasuhin ang buong torneyo kung saan hinarap nila ang local favorites na sina Alice

Zeimann at Anna Donlan sa Championship match at matagumpay na naisukbit ang ginto kasabay sa pagreverse–sweep dito, 18-21, 21-19, 15-13, Women’s Challenge Division I.

“Sobrang napakaoverwhelming yung feeling tapos maganda siyang motivation upang maibaon sa darating na SEA Games at sa totoo lang ay maganda siyang simula lalo pa’t kababalik ko lang muli sa Beach Volleyball scene at ngayon ko lang rin makapasama si Diji... at dahil nakakuha kami ng medalya sa Australia nang ‘di inaasahan, nagiging extra push ito sa akin para pagbutihan pa lalo sa SEA Games,” ayon kay Gonzaga sa isang interview ng The Chasedown ng One Esports.

Ginulantang din ng tandem nina Ranran Abdilla at Jaron Requinton ang Men’s

Challenger Division I nang maglista ito ng 5–0 na record sa buong torneyo at hindi na binigyang pagkakataon pa sina Issa Batrane and Frederick Bialokoz sa finals match na makaahon sa pagkalugmok upang maglista ng isa pang karagdagang ginto para sa grupo, 22-20, 21-17.

Kinapos naman ang duo ni Sisi Rondina at Bernadeth Pons sa championship match nang makaharap sina Nikki Laird at Phoebe Bell, 18-21, 12-21, na ihinulog sila sa ikalawang pwesto, Women’s Elite Group habang napagtagumpayan naman nila Nene Bautista at Ges Espalor ang kanilang deciding match kontra Saskia De Haan at Lisa-marie Moegle upang makahabol sa ikatlong pwesto, 21-13, 21-19, Women’s Challenger Division.

Kukumpleto sa listahan ang tanso nila Pemie Bagalay at James Buytrago na inagaw kina Thomas Heptinsdall at Jed Walker, 21-17, 21-12, habang ang samahan ni Jude Garcia at Krung Arbasto ay nakaabot ng quarterfinals, Men’s Challenger Division I.

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Golden Lions humataw sa Bacolod

Nanalasa ang CPU Golden Lions Junior High School Badminton Team sa Bacolod City nang humakot ang mga ito ng tatlong ginto at apat na pilak sa singles at doubles categories, Boost Juniors Badminton Invitational, March 2022.

Winalis ni Emman Ebacuado at Andrei Jaravat ang Boys’ Doubles, 19 under category upang masiguro ang gintong medalya kung saan kanilang pinauwi ang tandem nina Aj Jorada at Christian Ramos ngunit nabigo itong maipagpatuloy ang momentum sa Boys’ Singles, 19 under at Men’s Singles Open Category kung saan siya ay naglista ng karagdagang dalawang pilak.

“Makakaya ko pa sanang makuha ang ginto sa Men’s Open Singles kung nabigyan lang ako ng oras para makapagpahinga sapagkat katatapos ko lang din maglaro,” ayon kay Ebacuado.

Naglista ng dalawang ginto at dalawang pilak si Abbygail Barcelona, ginto sa Girls’ Singles, 17 under habang pilak naman sa 19 under at dagdag pa dito ang nasukbit ni Barcelona kaagapay si Bless Rhianne Sindingan nag into sa Girls’ Doubles, 17 under at pilak sa Women’s Doubles Open Category.

“Sa tingin ko nga nagkaroon ng wrong call sa 19 under Finals sa huling parte ng laro kung saan akala ko ay outside na ang call na magbibigay puntos sa akin para maselyuhan ang laban ngunit inside ang tinawag ng line judge at nabigyan ng momentum ang kalaban, 23-21,” wika ni Barcelona.

Pumapalo din ang mga manlalarong ito sa iba’t –ibang mga palaro sa Rehiyon katulad ng The Riverside Badminton Cup, Dumaguete City, 1st Mayor Juris B. Sucro Badminton Cup, Kalibo, Aklan, Year-End Badminton Tournament, Iloilo City, kung saan sinukbit ni Ebacuado ang unang pwesto sa mga ito.

“Kasabay ng pagkabigo ko sa dalawang Championship match sa Bacolod, napagtanto ko na mas akmang limitahan ko ang mga kategoryang aking sasalihan lalo pa’t hindi din lubusang naihanda ang aking katawan ng mga araw na iyon,” dagdag pa ni  Ebacuado. C

NI JOSHUA JAMES JAVIER

NI JOSHUA JAMES JAVIER

 GENE CABRERA & ILOILO METROPOLITAN TIMES MAKABAGONG LIBANGAN. Tinuturing na bagong atraksiyon at pampalipas oras ang Paddle Boarding sa Iloilo River.

FIFA World Cup: Mishap and Musings

TARGET

BY KATHELEEN FRUGALIDAD

The 2022 FIFA World Cup, which took place from November 20 to December 18, has been marred by safety concerns since it was discovered that immigrant laborers who were working on infrastructure projects in the lead-up to the event had either died or been subjected to abuse.

In the years since the World Cup was granted to Qatar in 2010, hundreds of thousands of young men have left their home countries to work under the scorching heat of the Qatari desert, providing security for the football matches, transporting fans in taxis to the games, greeting them in hotels, and serving them in restaurants as the tournament edges closer. To prepare for the influx of fans, Qatar, a city with a small population, has depended on migrant labor to construct seven new stadiums and other building projects for the event. Under extreme working conditions, Qatar’s intense heat and humidity, and gaps in labor regulations, human rights groups

On the other hand, the International Labour Organization (ILO) says this is an underestimate. Qatar doesn’t count deaths from heart attacks and respiratory failure as work-related, even though these are common symptoms of heatstroke brought on by doing heavy labor in very high temperatures. It has compiled its own figures for World Cup-related incidents, collected from government-run hospitals and ambulance services in Qatar. It says 50 foreign workers died and more than 500 others were seriously injured in 2021 alone, while another 37,600 suffered mild to moderate injuries.

The tragedies tied to this year’s World Cup, like the deaths of thousands of migrant workers building the stadiums in Qatar, created moral dilemmas for those rooting for their teams while standing against these human rights violations. A debate on how the public should have reacted to this has sparked the interest of others who

the World Cup, millions of migrant workers would be needed to build and service it. These problems would not have arisen if they had developed a strategic strategy on how to effectively distribute the work and how to handle potential difficulties like the extreme heat in the workplace and the living and working circumstances of the laborers. This uncovers how irresponsible FIFA has been in addressing issues not just for stadium workers, a minority of the total migrant workforce whose employers are held to higher standards for workplace conditions, but also for workers to build and service projects for tournament preparation and delivery, including transport and accommodations, security, cleaning, and landscaping.

FIFA should use its influence to ensure that rights are respected in a wider range of infrastructure projects necessary for the delivery of the 2022 World Cup in accordance with its own Human Rights

have criticized Qatar’s treatment of foreign workers.

In 2016, Amnesty International accused Qatari companies of using forced labor. It claimed that many employees were forced to live in substandard housing, pay substantial recruitment costs, have their income withheld, and have their passports impounded. In a February 2021 report by Human Rights Watch, an estimated 30,000 workers from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and the Philippines built World Cup infrastructures such as new stadiums, hotels, and highways. Of these workers, 6,500 were reported to have died at the hands of their employers. The Qatari administration, on the other hand, argues that the figure is misleading because not all of the fatalities included people engaged in World Cup-related operations. The government’s accident report indicated that only three of the 37 deaths of workers at World Cup stadium construction sites between 2014 and 2020 were “work- related.”

later joined the discussion, disputing over whether to boycott the World Cup or let things go and move on.

However, the organization that allowed these issues to occur should have been the first to address them. Since FIFA’s approval in 2010, all World Cup nations are accountable by association for what has occurred in Qatar. Voting procedures, deaths, abuse, and human rights breaches were all disregarded. The only proper course of action was a boycott. All the warning signs were given to them well before thousands of lives had been lost, giving them 12 years to put an end to the abuses.

The organization also failed to impose strict conditions to protect workers despite repeated warnings from the workers themselves and civil society groups, and it complacently encouraged the widespread abuse workers endured, including illegal recruitment fees, wage theft, injuries, and  deaths.

FIFA should have recognized that because Qatar lacked the infrastructure for

Policy. This goes beyond simply ensuring that labor rights are respected during the construction of World Cup stadiums, which would encompass significant transportation initiatives, the hospitality industry, and various other areas, such as cooling systems or lodging facilities.

As time runs out, FIFA should aggressively work to persuade the Qatari government to swiftly and fully implement the reforms it has pledged, in order for the protection of all migrant workers in the nation to be a positive legacy of the 2022 World Cup.

Blood, sweat, and tears in the game arena have been regarded as marks of success, but the effort done by the migrant labor force during the construction has been ignored. This speaks volumes about how workplace exploitation, particularly towards those who are in dire need of better opportunities for themselves and their families, is still rampant up to this day. C

AUSTRALIA

FROM PAGE 30

Nasa ilalim ng isang – buwang pageensayo ang PH Beach Volleyball Team sa Brisbane, Australia na naisakatuparan dahil sa suportang ibinigay ng Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) bilang paghahanda sa 31st Southeast Asian Games.

“Hindi naging madali ang paghahanap ng bansang tatanggap sa amin. Ang una naming plano ay sa Japan gaganapin ang training ngunit dahil sa naging biglaang sitwasyon ng Pandemya dito, kailangan naming maghanap ng iba at tinanggap kami ng Australia,” wika ni Tats Suzara, PNVF President.

Sukbit ni Gonzaga ang lahing Ilongga kung saan ito ay nagtapos ng kursong Edukasyon sa Central Philippine University at sa kaniyang pamamalagi dito ay nagsilbi din itong Team Captain ng CPU Golden Lions Volleyball Team bago umusbong ang propesyonal nitong karera. C

Lion’s Highlight

BY THE CENTRAL ECHO

CPU Golden Lions:

I am so grateful that CPU has given me the chance to play and represent the banner of the Golden Lions. Being into sports taught me so many things like how to discipline myself and manage my time in balancing academics and sports.

Why did you choose CPU:

I chose CPU because it is one of the most prestigious schools in the Philippines, not just in academics, but also in its sports program. In addition, the school environment is nice and peaceful. I can say this because I have been studying at CPU ever since I was in first grade. The vast campus and the greenery of the tall trees always fill my eyes and my heart C

For migrant workers such as those who have suffered at the hands of those in power during the construction of the world cup stage, stricter enforcement of fundamental human rights and better working conditions are issues that stakeholders must fervently uphold, now more than ever.

THE PRIDE

Into the Lion’s Den

BY PIERRE JHUN SAN PEDRO & LEANDRO SALDAJENO

With every strike on the ball, with every paddle against the waters, with every sway and thrust on the dance floor, with every jump over hurdles, with every projectile propelled into the air, and with every distance ran over—the Central Philippine University’s very own Golden Lions clawed its way to the top through their unyielding hard work and dedication to their respective sports.

Having their legacies carved through the battle scars they have accumulated by winning and surviving the multitudes of battles they continue to face the Golden Lions’ roars can be heard from miles away.

“Being a Centralian athlete requires not just talents but dedication both to the goal of the sports program of CPU and to be an exemplary Christian student,” stated Engr. Hermel Agriam, Director of the CPU Golden Lions organization.

Trained not only in their physical aspects but also to balance their student-athlete lifestyle, the lions aim to perform their very best even in the harshest of conditions. Given their powerful becoming, their coaches also ensure that they are nourished spiritually and holistically.

“One edge of being a Centralian athlete is being grounded in the Christian faith,” Agriam added.

Like real lions whose heels never truly touch the ground when it prowls, the team is driven by their passion for aiming greater heights; propelled by their undying faith in God. Their faith is a story of flight and ascendance, one that could never be extinguished despite all the obstacles they may find along their journeys, such as when they were forced to transition their training to an online

setting during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It [the pandemic] has made an impact, especially in the physical training of the athletes due to the restrictions brought about by the situation. We had to adapt to the new normal which was very difficult, especially for team sports,” he continued.

Through a firm training regime they religiously follow, combined with their passion and drive to do better, there is nothing that could stop the lions from ensuring that they are at the peak of their game whenever and wherever they might be needed.

“In every training and competition, CPU always strives to motivate us with the Centralian core values. Being a student-athlete gave me the optimistic attitude to have discipline, focus, and determination on fulfilling my aspirations,” explained Danielle Patricia Valenzuela, member of the Golden Lions swimming team.

Instilling faith, character, justice, stewardship, and excellence help in making Centralian athletes further improve their growth process. When faced with circumstances that challenge their beliefs, these core values served as a reminder to rise and conquer amidst difficult situations.

Regardless of the ups and downs, the Golden Lions continue to make Central proud. In a race against the odds, the heralds reign victorious— like lions that rule over their lands. As globally competitive athletes, the Golden Lions stand glorious and majestic, especially when their eyes are set on reaching the goal. C

When faced with circumstances that challenge their beliefs, these core values served as a reminder to rise and conquer amidst difficult situations.

Stand up paddleboarding inilayag sa Iloilo River