November-December Issue 2013

FILIPINO

November-December 2013

Vol. XVII No. 5

THROUGH THE LENS

TAMBIDAS

www.feuadvocate.org

LITERARY

Sampaloc, Manila

Tams mobilize relief efforts

Several academic service offices, student councils and organizations pooled cash and in-kind donations for super-typhoon Yolanda survivors.

According to Far Eastern University (FEU) Faculty Association Board Member Olive Paraiso, staff and administration collected together an estimate amount of 1 . 5 m i l l i o n p e s o s f r o m faculty members and employees’ salaries.

“There are bracket of donations that professors can ask the alumni to deduct for you on which its proceeds will go to Yolanda [survivors],” she said.

Paraiso added that the amounts gathered from the salaries will be doubled by the administration and that another 500,000 pesos will be donated as a product of a “tempered Christmas party.”

“May Christmas party kami pero hindi kasing-garbo n’ung dati (We will have a Christmas party, but it will not be as extravagant as the previous ones). We will have savings because of a very tempered party. Another half million is also to be taken in there so most probably... all in all, it is

FEU textbooks go digital

By Leonard I. Agustin

To make learning more convenient for students, Far Eastern University (FEU) administration has recently installed the new My eBooks feature in the FEU Student Portal.

The new feature enables students to view and avail of electronic books (eBooks) in their accounts in the FEU Student Portal that can be accessed at http://www.feu. edu.ph. It is found along with My Grades and My Account tabs, among others.

“I think it will make learning more convenient. New generation is very much attached to their phones... I think it is easier.

It is less to carry,” FEU Bookstore Manager Jose Cabaltera said.

“It will be easier for students, especially for those whose courses demand great money and effort on books,” AB Mass Communication junior Clarissa Alimot said.

Cabaltera also said that this was done to be at par with countries that use eBooks as their sources for learning.

“Textbooks going digital

Helping hands. FEU community reaches out to the super-typhoon ‘Yolanda’ survivors by collecting cash and inkind donations. (Photo by Jocas D. Lozada)

1.5 million [pesos],” Paraiso remarked.

Meanwhile, as of the latest update of the Student D e v e l o p m e n t (S D ev) l ast November 21, the University had already garnered 163,894.15peso cash donation, aside from in-kind donations from students and alumni.

FEU Central Student Organization (FEUCSO) and Tamaraw Volunteers (TamVol),

in coordination with student councils, also launched a project to contribute to the relief efforts of FEU. The said student groups spearheaded TAMBayani: OPLAN TUBIG which collected from students bottled water for the survivors of Yolanda.

“For the survivors of typhoon Yolanda, we conducted a relief operation wherein we collected bottled waters kasi

New dean vows to raise Law’s standards

marami nang nagdo-donate ng mga foods, clothes, pero napapabayaan ‘yung water (because there are already lots of food and clothing being donated, but not much water),” FEUCSO Auditor Hurjae Lubag explained.

“We have plotted another idea to make it more convenient to everyone. We even suggested calling it TAMBayani, since it is the student-initiated flagship project of FEU that aims to respond to the needs of our countrymen when disasters happen,” TamVol President Cristeta Ventura said.

She added that they sent student volunteers around the campus to collect bottled water.

In addition, SDev initiated “Skip a Meal, Save a Life” campaign which encouraged students to skip meals so they can donate money through coin banks placed in academic service offices.

Student Discipline,

Digital learning. A student accesses her account to view ‘eBooks’, the newest feature of the FEU student portal. (Photo by Lyka R. Cabungcag)

Continue to page 13...

New man on post. Dean Melencio Sta. Maria is looking forward to the betterment of the Institute of Law. (Photo

by Marione Paul G. Infantado)

Newly appointed Institute of Law (IL) Dean Melencio Sta. Maria eyes the consolidation of the University’s law program into one Juris Doctor program as well as the improvement of the Institute’s moot court system.

“The FEU has a inquire improvement.

Sta. Maria graduated very, very rich tradition. It has “Everybody should with Bachelor of Laws at the produced a chief justice of the contribute to the development, Ateneo de Manila School Supreme Court. We have to especially the professors, of Law and Master of Laws maintain it,” he said. especially the students, especially Degree in Banking Law at the Sta. Maria and the the administration, and especially Morin Center for Banking Law Board of Trustees are planning the members of the Board of Studies at Boston University to consolidate the Bachelor Trustees because they hold the School of Law. of Laws program offered at key,” he said.

Law Professor Fretti FEU and the Juris Doctor The new dean added, Ganzon said she hopes IL and Master of Business “They must give full time support would be able to increase Administration dual-degree course to the Institute of Law.” its passing rate with the new offered jointly by FEU and De According to Sta. Maria, administration.

La Salle University-Graduate the administration does not need “Even before the School of Business into one much improvement because it is new dean was appointed, Juris Doctor program. functioning well and efficiently. the school was already really “We will streamline He also said that he trying hard to increase the to a Juris Doctor where there plans to improve the moot court passing rate [in the bar] but, will be electives by the time system at IL by extending the of course, it is not a simple one reaches second semester number of hours students devote endeavor... It is not an easy of the third year, a lot more in debate. task,” she said. electives of fourth year, and a “We have to give thesis requirement for all law students an atmosphere where students,” he explained. they could feel in themselves that -Mary Grace B. Claveria Sta. Maria said he they are improving. If not, we have With reports from has seen certain things that failed as an institution,” he said.

Norelyn M. Villaruel

is just a way with the future. Like South Korea, everybody has their tablet and they have their books on their tablet, even in the US (United States),” he explained.

Though the eBooks will be more convenient to use, it has the same price as the printed ones.

“Textbooks in the Philippines are very low compared to the international standards.

We found that publishers can’t go lower. And there’s a fee for protecting the files. So that’s the technology fee that goes on top,” Cabaltera furthered.

FEU Bookstore, together with some publishers, put up free eBooks to “attract” students.

“We have free books in the e-books store portal I’ve asked them to put those free books to try the system out, to see how it works and to see how they like it,” Cabaltera said.

FEU aligns 87 full-time profs based on degrees

By Janice C. Rodriguez and Jastine Joshua G. Reyes

Two institutes at Far Eastern University (FEU) have started “aligning” professors based on their respective postgraduate degrees to comply with a Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) memorandum.

Eighty-seven regular full-time professors at Institute of Arts and Sciences (IAS) were already transferred to Institute of Education (IE) this semester as their respective degrees were more fit on the latter institute.

Alignment of professors is already based on the professors’ highest educational degree. This is based on CHEd Memorandum Order No. 40, series of 2010 which states that the minimum requirement to be a college professor is a master’s degree.

“Whatever the master’s degree is, you need to be there in that particular institute. In my case, I am an education graduate and my [master’s degree] is also in

education and my doctorate is also in education so I need to be there in the Institute of Education not in the [Institute of] Arts and Sciences,” FEU Faculty Association President Roberto Remotin Jr., one of the IAS professors who were transferred to IE, said.

E R R AT U M In the September-October issue, the article “FEUFA: ‘Cadetship’ may be violating CHEd manual” on page 1 misstated Mr. Ricardo Villas Jr.’s position.

Mr. Villas was an associate in University Research Center, not Associate Director.

Our apologies.

-EIC

Forty-eight professors from Departments of Biology, Chemistry and Math and Physics were moved to IE, while 39 professors from Departments of Communication, English Language, Filipino, International Studies, Literature and Humanities and Political Science were also transffered to IE, according to data from IE Administration.

According to Remotin, faculty alignment is a good tool especially if a university aims to improve its quality of education.

“Now here in FEU, the management found out that there are some teachers who are not aligned,” Remotin said.

Continue to page 12...

2 November-December 2013 B E AT S Tam stude among top BPI expat children BS Nursing senior Christine Joyce Agapito bagged ‘Ibang Klaseng Community Leader’ award in the Bank of the Philippine Islands’ (BPI) Search for Top 10 Outstanding Anak Expat 2013.

The search, introduced in 2007, has 10 winning students in four categories, seven students for the Ibang Klaseng Talino Award and one each for the Ibang Klaseng Community Leader Award, Ibang Klaseng Entrepreneur Award, and Ibang Klaseng Artist/Athlete Award.

To be chosen as a winner, nominees must have a remarkable achievement in accordance with the standards set by the Board of Judges, along with other qualifications and requirements.

“T h i s a w a r d c a n serve as an inspiration to many OFW’s sons and daughters to excel in whatever field they wish to pursue despite the physical absence of their parents,” said Agapito who is also a former FEU Advocate sports writer.

BPI Anak Expat Ako seeks to honor exceptional Filipino students whose parents are working overseas.

Last year, BA Communication sophomore Mark Anthony Lacsinto was also among the top 10 BPI expat children.

MassComm alum wins in nat’l film fest Mass Communication alumnus and independent filmmaker Jet Leyco takes the center stage as his film bagged major awards in the Cinema One Originals 2013 Film Festival.

His entry titled “Bukas Na Lang Sapagkat Gabi Na” won Best Picture and Best Screenplay awards.

The movie is part of the Currents Category in which each filmmaker was given one million-peso grant to produce his film. Ten films competed in the said category. “’Bukas’ is a film about four interconnected stories during the height of the Martial Law crackdown against rebels. The palpable aura of fear leaves Filipinos in a state of paralysis, unable or unwilling to move until the dark cloud of history passes over,” Leyco shared.

The said film was also awarded the Script Development Grant from Hubert Bals Fund from the International Film Festival-Rotterdam.

NEWS

News Editor

Institutes endure overpopulation

By Justin Royce Z. Baluyot and Lovely Joy Calisterio

Temporary classroom. Some PE students attend their PE classes at the Atrium of Nursing Building during the renovation of the Science Building. (Photo by Marione Paul G.Infantado)

Eight buildings for 26,964 students.

Though Far Eastern University’s (FEU) enrollment count of 26, 748 this semester has decreased from last school year’s second semester’s 27,462 enrollees, the limited classrooms, laboratories and equipments available on campus still seem inadequate to accommodate students who have enrolled in the University this semester, several institute

deans have expressed.

Despite the slight decrease in FEU’s total enrollment count, some deans still expressed concerns on “overpopulation” on campus.

“I think it is a problem not only here in our institute. I think also in the other institutes, we go beyond that 1:40 teacher-student ratio,” Institute of Architecture and Fine Arts (IARFA) Dean Lorelei De Viana said.

FEU hosts Global Entrepreneurship Week

By Norelyn M. Villaruel

Notable businessmen discussed about social entrepreneurship before students from different schools during the Global Entrepreneurship Week and Social Entrepreneurship Forum at the Mini Auditorium last November 25.

Corazon Dayro Ong, something, do something. founder of CDO Foodsphere, Students should create an idea Inc., talked about trends and make things happen,” he and positive effects of social said. entrepreneurship in the In addition, Tulba said Philippines. that the little innovations students

“Entrepreneurs can can make can contribute to provide a lot of opportunities our country’s development, and if you provide many jobs especially in overcoming the then that can also help aleviate devastations that Philippines poverty and help our country,” had just experienced. she said.

Meanwhile, Vice

In addition, Ong, a President for Academic BS Food and Nutrition alumna Services Miguel Carpio stated of the University, said that that forums like the Social social entrepreneurs should Entrepreneurship Forum inspire people to contribute in provide an avenue for students the development of the society. to be inspired to venture into

“This [forum] is entrepreneurship. an opportunity for me to “It gives students share my experience to the an avenue for being able to students especially those be inspired, get motivated... aspiring to be entrepreneurs. especially if we have our Entrepreneurship is really alumni speak then that would becoming not only well-known, be something that would make but plays a very important role them really feel how important in our society,” she remarked. it is to first become socially

On the other hand, inspired with what is happening Adrenaline Alley Director and then become a part contributor Vice Chairman Phil Tulba to the development of the emphasized that students country,” Carpio explained. should be inspired in order to The program was be effective entrepreneurs. spearheaded by Alumni

“I think it is important Relations Placement Services to be inspired so hopefully in collaboration with Go people who are getting idea of Negosyo, the business enterprises in the internet would resources site of Philippine be inspired and then create Center Entrepreneurship.

“We do not have enough rooms. The ratio is 1:45 or 1:40,” she added.

Meanwhile, Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (ITHM) Dean Melinda Torres claimed that the reduction in the number of classrooms for ITHM students was because some of the classrooms in the fifth floor of Alfredo Reyes Hall, the building occupied mostly by ITHM students, were converted to faculty rooms.

“If you notice, on the fifth floor, there is a very big faculty room there, unlike before [that the] faculty room [of] ITHM [is at] NRH (Nicanor Reyes Hall),” she said.

“However, because of the reduction of rooms… some of the rooms of Tourism ay na sa NB (Nursing Building) at tsaka SB (Science Building), so kalat-kalat (some of the rooms of Tourism are at NB and SB,

“If you would notice, population growth is fast in every direction, except for one place, that is, Makati. Why? Because of the transfer of primary business district from other parts of Manila [going to] Makati,” Corpuz explained.

The architect added that growth had comparatively increased in the south in 2000 to 2010. “[Because] after the World War II, developed na ‘yung provinces east of Manila like Bulacan, Pampanga and Bataan. Of course, because of that, developers and entrepreneurs eyed south...

Alabang and now Laguna have

‘Quality over quantity’ Admissions and Financial Assistance Director Albert Cabasada III said that the decrease of student population is was intended by the administration and has been going on for almost five years.

He also claimed that they intend to manage the

number of students admitted to FEU based on the University’s resources.

“As far as we are concerned, what we would like to happen is really for the admission strategy of FEU to capture students that we would really like to have,” he added.

Cabasada added that FEU will further acquire facilities based on students’ needs.

“Whether there is an increase or decrease in enrollment, I do not think it would matter in terms of the number of classrooms and equipment. Bottomline is we are continuously improving. We would definitely build facilities that the students would be able to use especially for research,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Facilities and Technical Services Office-Civil Engineering and Architectural Design Department Head Marcial Edillon claimed that classrooms in the campus are enough to accommodate all students.

“I think we have reached the limit already. I mean, we have enough students, we have enough classrooms. If we have more students now then that is when we will be facing problems,” he said.

“We cannot accept so many students every now and Continue to page 12...

By Jesserene D. Miranda

Fututre plans. CHEd’s Technical Committee for Journalism Chairman Ben Domingo Jr. speaks before FEU Advocate members about possible implication of K-12 in tertiary education. (Photo by John Armen T. Bongao)

Aside from tertiary schools’ enrollment statistics and professors’ teaching loads, among others, student publications of higher education institutions (HEIs) will also be affected by the kindergartento-12 basic education reform program.

By School Year (SY) 2016-2017, no freshman will enroll at any tertiary school due to K-12 basic education reform program, resulting in possible difficulties of student publications in maintaining their operations.

The implementation of K-12, a new set of curriculum for primary and secondary education that adds two years to the old 10-

By Janice C. Rodriguez

Metro Manila is the sixth largest urban area in the world, has about 12 million population (approximately 20,000 people per square kilometer) and occupies two-tenths of the country’s land area.

He said that one of the factors Metro Manila grew in terms of population is because of its size as well as the job opportunities it offers. “[Population] growth rates are slow in the center but very fast in the periphery, although in the past decade, it already slowed down,” he said.

Corpuz also described the trend of business in the last 20 years.

so they are scattered),” Torres added.

FEU is situated in a 4.9-hectare lot with one administration building and 10 academic buildings; seven are occupied by FEU-Manila while the remaining three are for the use of FEU-East Asia College.

FEU-Makati, meanwhile, only has one academic building situated in Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati.

FEU Advocate also requested for interviews with other deans but they have yet to respond.

Institute of Arts and Sciences remains to be the biggest institute with 7,803 students, followed by Institute of Accounts, Business and Finance with 7,332 and ITHM with 5,268.

Institutes of Architecture and Fine Arts, Education and Nursing posted 2,802, 747 and 663 enrollees, respectively.

Institute of Law (IL) has 345 students while FEU Makati has 1,788.

K-12 to affect operations of stude publications

Economy causes Manila population growth Resettlement because of job opportunities is the leading cause of population growth in Metro Manila, one of the country’s “prime architects” said.

Ayala Land, Inc. Vice President Arturo Corpuz discussed Metro Manila’s growth and its implication to government’s policy in the past decade during his lecture in the 44th Nicanor Reyes Memorial Lecture Series at University Conference Center last November 14.

Speaking before Institute of Architecture and Fine Arts students, Corpuz said that

Justin Royce Z. Baluyot

many business districts, too,” he furthered.

Moreover, Corpuz discussed the actions being taken by the government to equalize growth both by economy and population.

One of these actions is to disperse the big number of population to give way to business venture. But according to Corpuz, this strategy is moot and should be retooled.

“The government should not push dispersal [of population] but it should maximize opportunities and minimize negative impacts. They should embrace hierarchy of settlement,” Corpuz added.

year basic education system, will result to a two-year departure of first and second year students in the tertiary level from 2016 to 2018.

The “normalization period” will occur only in SY 2021-2022, when there would be enrollees in all year levels in college again.

Commission on Higher Education-Technical Committee for Journalism Chairman Ben Domingo Jr. discussed what can happen in SY 2018-2019, when there would be no second and third year enrollees.

“Kapag grumadweyt na ‘yung fourth year, batang-bata, hilaw na hilaw ‘yung first year. So basically, ‘yun ang problema: na ang papasok na senior editors ay batang-bata (When fourth year students in SY 2018-2019 graduate, first year students are still undeveloped. So that is the problem: those who will become senior editors are too young),” he said.

However, he pointed out that it is not the skills that cause the foreseen situation but the management of the publication.

“May sapat na bang

kaalaman sa mga isyung panlipunan ‘yung first year at second year na magha-handle ng inyong dyaryo by the time that they get into key position?

(Will those first year and second year students who will handle the newspaper already possess the knowledge of social issues?),” asked.

“Second year [student na] magiging editor-in-chief, matured na ba siya politically (When a second year student becomes the editor-in-chief, is he politically matured enough) in handling political, social and economic issues?” Domingo added.

Alternatives for maintenance

Domingo provided options regarding the actions that student publications’ editorial board members can undertake to maintain the quality and operations of their respective publications.

“Ang isang nakikita kong possibility ay i-consider ninyo ang mga post-bachelor students na para bang guest Continue to page 12...

NEWS

November-December 2013

3

Admin bares new scholarship rules

By Jesserene D. Miranda and Lovely Joy Calisterio

Scholarship grants in the University are undergoing “radical changes” to ensure that financial assistance is given only to those who are “deserving.”

“For the University to recruit better talents, we need to offer better scholarship packages,” Admissions and Financial Assistance (AFA) Director Albert Cabasada III said.

He admitted that policies and procedures on entrance scholarship are being overhauled to attract top candidates.

In the old policies, an applicant must either get an above-average score in the Far Eastern University College Admission Test (FEUCAT) or must be a high school graduate with honors.

In the new policies, however, an applicant must have both qualifications to be considered for the entrance scholarship.

The revised policies will give full discount on tuition and book allowance good for one year to students who can maintain a grade of at least 3.00 or B each semester.

There will already be limited slots in the entrance scholarship, unlike before when

Tamaraw hopefuls. Fourth year high school line up for the FEU College Admissions Test in hoping to be part of the Green-and-Gold community. (Photo by Anjanette T. Dee)

all those who met either of the qualifications were admitted as entrance scholars.

As for academic scholars, Cabasada said that there will be no maintaining grade anymore because of the new “ranking system.”

In the old grading system, getting a grade of 1.00 to 1.25 would grant the student a full discount on tuition for the next semester while a grade of 1.26 or 1.50 would entitle him to a partial discount.

In line with the changing of the grading system, students admitted in 2013 already have to get a grade point average (GPA)

of 3.50 or higher to qualify for academic scholarship.

Not all students who get a GPA of 3.50 or higher will enjoy the grant by default. Students whose grades qualified for academic scholarship will then be ranked based on other factors like good conduct.

Just like entrance scholarships, slots in the academic scholarship will now also be limited already.

Therefore, not all students who would get a GPA of 3.50 or higher will enjoy the grant.

Financial grants Needs-based

Amid ‘word war’ between Santiago, Enrile

Lawmakers call for Senate committee o n e t h i c s

By Justin Royce Z. Baluyot and Mike Raymond F. Halili

Source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

The bickering between Senators Miriam Defensor Santiago and Juan Ponce Enrile continued with personal attacks against each other in their recent privilege speeches, triggering fellow lawmakers to call for the creation of a committee on ethics in the Senate. in using

Senators Sergio surely, ‘yung ‘sinungaling,’ Lim-Napoles nongovernment Osmeña III and Vicente ‘yung ‘bobo,’ ‘yung mga fake Sotto III said that there ganu’ng salita (words like organizations to siphon are plans in the Senate to ‘liar’ and ‘idiot’) which are senators’ funds.

He stated that strike Santiago and Enrile’s value judgments cannot be parliamentary Santiago has no evidence to recent privilege speeches considered off the Senate records as in any part of the world,” back up her accusations and even called her “grandmama these might hurt the image Escudero said.

Meanwhile, Senate of all falsehood fabricators.” of the Upper House.

Senate Leader Alan The

“That is too Majority personal… That is not the Cayetano said that there minority leader also hurled business of the Senate. should be a code of ethics personal attacks against Otherwise, more than half of in Senate to prevent such Santiago as he said that words she almost flunked the bar the Senate would be in jail if unparliamentary examinations and that she you bring out these things,” during Senate sessions.

“Kung hindi ay was under the care of a Osmeña was quoted in an http:///www.mb.com. tiyak na mangayayari ulit ito psychiatrist.

Enrile stated the ph news article posted last dahil umiiba na naman ang December 6, referring to lenggwahe, umiiba na naman he really did not know why Santiago’s December 4 ang style para mapansin Santiago has been mad at privilege speech where she ng media (Or else this will him but concluded that her said that Enrile was having happen again because the outrage towards him arose an affair with his chief of language and style are from two past events.

“One was when I changing again so they will staff.

There is no be noticed by the media),” he opposed her confirmation as Secretary of Agrarian committee on ethics in added.

Reform during the the Senate yet; thus it is administration of President hard to discipline senators Word war Enrile on his Corazon C. Aquino and these days, Senator 27 privilege another was when I refused Francis Escudero said in an November interview in ABS-CBN News speech defended himself to include her in the from Santiago’s accusations majority block when I was Channel last December 5.

He added that that he is the mastermind of elected Senate president in senators should not use the multi-billion peso scandal November 2008 and, again, Priority Development in July 2010,” he said. “unparliamentary” words on Assistance Fund (PDAF), M e a n w h i l e , particularly in the Senate.

“ W h a t also known as lawmakers’ Santiago stressed during ‘unparliamentary’ means pork barrel, which involves her privilege speech last has been established by not less than five senators, December 4 that Enrile was congressmen and tradition in Congresses 23 Continue to page 13...

Janet all over the world. And businesswoman

scholarship, intended for diligent yet financially challenged students, is now classified into two: LongTerm Educational Assistance

Program (LEAP) and Financial Assistance Fund.

LEAP comes in limited slots, with only 12 slots last school year, and is usually for students who do not have means to finance their education.

“Ito ‘yung para sa mga estudyanteng mahihirap o biglang naghirap (This is for those who are financially challenged),” Cabasada said.

Upon admission, the grantee will be given full discount on tuition, miscellaneous and other identified subject-specific fee subsidies, monthly stipends, and allowances on books, uniforms and housing.

The grantee, however, must comply with retention rules which include a GPA

of 2.0 or C, no failing grades, dropped courses and major disciplinary offenses.

Financial Assistance Fund, on the other hand, is applied for by regular students in need of financial aid every semester.

There are fixed amounts in three tiers: Level 1 (10 thousand-peso grant), Level 2 (15 thousandpeso grant) and Level 3 (20 thousand-peso grant) to be credited on their accounts.

An estimate of 150 to 200 students who have financial difficulties will benefit from the program.

“The University will set aside a budget per school year. It is a grant, not a loan, so

Continue to page 13...

FEU posts lower scores in CPA, LET

Far Eastern University’s (FEU) lower passing scores in the October 2013 Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Board Examination and September 2013 Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) were caused by poor performance of repeaters, government data revealed.

“Ang dahilan sa to contact students after

FEU’s passing rate in the latest CPA board has pagbaba natin ay na sa repeaters, they graduate. dropped to 61.22 percent hindi sa first-time takers. Kung Meanwhile, FEU’s from last year’s 69.44-percent titignan natin ang repeaters, sa overall passing rate in the 17, apat lang ang pumasa kaya S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 3 L E Tpassing score.

The University posted nahatak pababa (We got a lower elementary level has also a 23.53-percent passing rate for passing score is because of the dropped to 61.90 percent from repeaters; four out of 17 aced repeaters and not of the first-time last year’s 74.36 percent; 26 the test, and a 66.15-percent takers. Of the 17 repeaters, only out of 42 passed. passing mark for first-time four passed so our overall score On the other hand, was pulled down),” Baldres said. the University’s overall passing takers; 86 out of 150 passed.

Graduates are given score in the LET-secondary

Ninety out of 147 takers from FEU passed the free review lectures by FEU to level has also slid to 48.15 prepare them for the test. latest CPA licensure exam. percent from last year’s 52.68 “Although graduate na percent; only 78 out of 162 Alumnus Jerwin Norte Marqueses was one of sila, mayroong mga topic na hindi exam takers passed the test. the five to land in ninth place tinatalakay sa undergraduate FEU’s overall in the list of topnotchers program (There are review performance in LET was also after obtaining a grade of lectures given to help our pulled down by repeaters as graduates. We call the graduates only one out of 15 passed 91.29 percent in the test.

Internal Auditing when we find a special lecturer for the LET-elementary level and Program Coordinator Ramil the review),” Baldres said. only 10 out of 54 aced the He added that there LET-secondary level.

Baldres said that the overall performance of FEU was dragged are no review programs for repeaters since it is hard down because of repeaters.

- Jastine Joshua G. Reyes

FTSO to continue retrofitting NB in Christmas break

New waiting area. Visitors queue up at the newly constructed visitors’ lounge located at the ground level of Nursing Building. (Photo by Caroline B. Castro)

Facilities and Technical Services Office (FTSO) will resume in retrofitting Nursing Building (NB) this Christmas break as operations were temporarily halted this semester to avoid inconvenience in classes.

FTSO-Civil Engineering and Architectural Design Department Head Marcial Edillon said that the retrofitting should have been completed last summer. However, the enrollment period for last semester prompted to bring the operations to a halt as most of the computer laboratories used for enrollment was located at NB. Structural retrofitting is mainly focused on reinforcing and strengthening the columns and beams for structural safety. “[NB] is an old building already. I think it is built in the 1960s so it is old. When you go inside the Nursing Building, the layout, the

flooring, the tiles, everything, they have already gone through all these years,” Edillon said.

Retrofitting NB is also part of the administration’s plan to “standardize” all academic buildings on campus considering that Law Building, Education Building and Nicanor Reyes Hall had already undergone through the same operation in the previous semesters.

Edillon also said that after FTSO went through all the initial investigations, they found the need to retrofit the building for structural stability.

To respond to the report, the administration is replacing NB’s columns’ cover to fiber polymer or glass fibers, a subset of man-made fibers which are based on synthetic chemicals, to add strength to the existing columns.

The other goal of retrofitting is to maximize the

building for the use of non-Institute of Nursing students.

“Now that the population of Nursing has gone down, [NB] has so many classrooms which are not really being used by Nursing students… So the plan is to have enough rooms for the Nursing students and enough rooms for other students,” Edillon added.

Alongside the retrofitting was the construction of a visitors’ lounge at the ground level of NB which has an entrance in Nicanor Reyes, Sr. street.

After the said retrofitting of NB, the administration is also planning to renovate the building once they are through with retrofitting. “The renovation is tentatively set next summer break,” Edillon said.

-Emalhyne Grace A. Makinano With reports from Jesserene D. Miranda

4 November-December 2013 FEATURES

Shereen Nicole B. Rivera Features Editor

By Katrina C. Surla

JAM

With threats just around every corner of the University Belt, it is the primary obligation of every college or university to provide a well-secured ‘second’ home for its students.

And for that matter, Far Eastern University (FEU) brings out its magnifying glass to take a closer look at uniform rules, policies and penalties to students in the form of tighter security codes.

“Para [ito] hindi na makasakit ng ibang tao. For me mas ok narin ‘yung ganung patakaran to ensure the safety of the students narin (This is for no one to be harmed. For me, it’s better to implement these rules to ensure the safety of the students),” he said.

Furthermore, Joshua Inciso, also a sophomore BA in Communication student, Nit-pickings expressed his approval of the system. “FEU’s security system has made it impervious.

In the early months of the first semester of Academic Year 2013-2014, students noticed The school has a machine that only identify students’ ID which makes the security of that there have been up-to-date rules with regard to who and what can cross the scrutinizing eyes the school more impressive. They target a safer campus and far from danger. And the of the security guards at FEU gates. security guards are strict and they are doing a very good job of not letting students pass However, the full awareness of the students seem to have not reached its peak yet without inspection.” because of the lack of proper dissemination to the green and gold community.

Despite the criticisms and disapprovals, the Safety and Security Office has “Hindi ako agree kasi minsan malalaman mo na lang ‘pag nagka-offense kana or yung proved something in the eyes of these students that although FEU is not totally harm-free, kakilala mo na nagka-offense na, walang nagu-update kaya parang ‘di narin na the system somehow reduces the occurence of danger in the campus. iimplement ng maayos [‘yung rule], says Liezl S. Macarage, a second year Meanwhile, another technology advancement is the flashing of AB in Communication student.

Identification Cards (ID) in a 32-inched flat screen

Taking into consideration the 2012-2013 edition of television in front of the gates. It seems evident that FEU’s student handbook, the “not wearing of proper uniform” FEU is pulling strings together for a danger-free rule is clearly stated under Article VIII, Section 2 of page 61 university grounds. as a minor offense; thus, it is necessary to type the ten-digit “Maganda, kasi hindi basta-basta student’s number to enter the school premises. makapapasok ang kung sino man sa loob ng Violating the rule gives you the displeasure of being University at mas madali na rin makita kung sino sent directly to the Student Discipline’s office to have your offense ‘yung mga nanghihiram lang ng ID (It’s nice cleared and fixed. However, the implementation of the new policy because no one can just enter the University and gave birth to confusion and annoyance to some students. it’s easier to identify students presenting borrowed “’Di ba sabi nila (Didn’t they say that) only the first years IDs),” says Micaela Labalan, a second year BS Hotel are allowed to wear the uniform and that they are not allowed and Restaurant Management student, who realized to also wear the old ones? Bakit ang dami kong nakikitang - Col. Buenaventura Plantado, Jr the optimistic side of flashing students’ faces on wide freshies na may uniform katulad natin? ‘Diba part na rin ‘yun Head, Safety and Security and Safety Office screen televisions. ng violation? Wala bang alam mga guards regarding that? (Why do I see a lot of freshmen who use the older students’ uniform? Isn’t Lacking answers that a violation? Don’t the guards know anything about that?),” fourth year BS

None of these would have been possible without Tourism Management student, Liezel Marie Lee stressed. presence, accordance and

Speaking in behalf of the Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Lee guidance of the heads and departments involving mentioned that the institute requires the most number of uniforms (Chef’s uniform, Food and such matters to attend to the school’s core values: fortitude, Beverage Services Procedure uniform, Housekeeping uniform and corporate attires). excellence and uprightness.

“Being part of the ITHM, lagi tayo nagsusuot ng ‘corpo’ during our reports, defense, Atty. Rosalie Dela Cruz-Cada, director of seminars etc. Ang hindi ko lang kasi maintindihan eh bakit kailangan pa silang [guards] Student Discipline, is the one who ensures that the maka-receive ng memo from our institute para lang hindi tayo mag key-in (We always student code of conduct is strictly followed while Head of wear corporate attire. What I don’t understand is why do they [security guards] need a Security Department Col. Buenaventura M. Plantado, memo from our institute just for us to be spared from keying-in)?”

J., mandates the execution of safety procedures in the In addition, the confiscation of acrylic paint, scissors, nail-cutters, University. dissecting kits, etc. compound the students’ dissatisfaction.

However, when the director was asked to Sarah Saberola, third year BS Medical Technology student argues, comment about the current student-related rules and “Requirement naman ‘yan ng mga professors. Kaya kapag kinuha ng mga policies, she refused to give any explanations. guards, ikaw pa ang magkakaroon ng problema. Tapos ang hirap pang Nonetheless, in an interview granted by i-explain kung para saan ‘yun. Kaya hindi ko ma-gets kung bakit pa nila FEU Chief Security Officer Verlando Miguel to kailangan kunin (Those[things confiscated by guards such as paints, the FEU Advocate, he justified confiscation of scissors, and cutters and the like] are academic requirements scissors, cutters, dissecting kits, etc. “Hindi na so when they confiscate them, students are burdened sinosoli ang mga cutter. Iniipon nila [guards] ‘yon by the explanation they have to make in order to at dino-donate sa IARFA [Institute of Architecture repossess. It is hard to explain what those are for and Fine Arts] kaya kapag nangangailan na ng so I don’t understand why they [the guards] have estudyante, ‘yun nalang ang gagamitin to do that).” nila para hindi na nila kailangan magpasok sa school ng cutter.

Silver lining Gan’on din sa scissors at mga Students ought to realize the purpose of these pointed objects,” (The cutters are not rules. They should appreciate FEU’s effort to look after returned to the students. The guards their safety and welfare. collect the items and donate them to

Pauline Villespin, second year BA in Communication IARFA so that when the students need student still has the rule’s bright side to hold on them, they may use the confiscated to. items; hence, there will be no need for

“There is no infinite trouble barrier. Kahit anong higpit mo, somehow, makalulusot sila kasi mag-iimbento sila ng paraan kung paano makapasok.”

Continue to page ...13

“All Hallow’s Eve” then evolved into “All Hallow’s Even,” and by the 18th century it was commonly referred to as “Hallowe’en.”

The first Jack O’Lanterns were made from turnips and potatoes, not pumpkins. According to Irish legend, it was named after Jack tricked the devil and in turn, was forbidden from entering both heaven and hell.

- Latin Times

Samhainophobia is an intense and persistent fear of Halloween that can cause panic attacks in sufferers. Other relevant phobias for this time of year: wiccaphobia (fear of witches), phasmophobia (fear of ghosts), and coimetrophobia (fear of cemeteries).

- Hufftington Post

- Latin Times

A full moon on Halloween is extremely rare. Though a common trope in horror movies and Halloween decorations with witches flying across the full moon, the next full moon on Halloween won’t occur until 2020.

The most recent Halloween full moon was back in 2001, and before that it was in 1955.

- Urban Legends Reference Pages

Trick-or-treating has been around for a long time. Versions of trick-or-treating have existed since medieval times. In the past, it was known as “guising” where children and poor adults went around in costumes during Hallowmas begging for food and money in exchange for songs or prayers.

It was also called “souling.”

- Business Insider

Coca-Cola created the modern Mr. Claus. The modern image of Santa Claus as the jolly man in the red suit was seared into American pop culture in 1931, when artist Haddon Sundblom illustrated him that way for a widely-circulated campaign for Coca-Cola.

- Urban Legends Reference Pages

The Viking god Odin is one precursor to the modern Santa Claus. According to myth, Odin rode his flying horse, Sleipnir (a precursor to Santa’s reindeer), who had eight legs. In the winter, Odin gave out both gifts and punishments, and children would fill their boots or stockings with treats for Sleipnir.

- Christmas Curiosities -Researched and Compiled by Angelica R. Porciuncula

Photos by Marione Paul G. Infantado Layout by Johanna Alexandra Marie G. de Jesus; Illustrations by Gwendell G. Aranda

Andrezell U. Lee

Andrezell U. Lee

Patnugot ng Filipino

FILIPINO

November-December 2013

5

Sadyang nagliliwanag ang kalungkutang dala ng gabi sa tuwing sasapit ang pagkislap ng mga makukulay na ilaw at parol. Ang pagsayaw ng mga ito sa ritmo ay musikang nagpapalamig sa simoy ng hangin at nagpapaalala ng sayang dulot ng kapaskuhan.

Mahirap takasan ang maraming matang sumusuri sa iba’t ibang aspeto kabilang na ang katayuan sa buhay. Modernong panahon, salapi at karangyaan na nga ba ang batayan ng diwa ng Pasko?

maginhawang buhay. “‘Pag Pasko ang nagagastos namin more or less 10 to 15 thousand o kaya mas malaki pa du’n pero wala ‘yun kasi masaya kami... kasi as a student mag-isa lang ako rito sa Manila. It’s coming back Maralitang mundo to where I come from, enjoying Christmas break with my family and Nilikha ang tao na may sariling katangian o kakayahan, ito spending time with them,” paglalahad nito. man ay sa pisikal na kaanyuan, o maging sa estado ng buhay. Simple Pangarap ng bawat isa ang maging mayaman dahil sa kung maituturing ang pamamaraan ng mga mahihirap na tao kumpara maginhawang buhay na maranasan subalit may mga pagkakataon na sa nakagiginhawa sa buhay. Kung kaya’t maging sa pagdiriwang ng kahit mayaman ay sadyang may kulang pa rin.

Pasko ay magkaiba rin ang kanilang paraan ng pagsasaya.

Para kay Jelli, kasalukuyang nasa ikalawang taon sa kursong Isa sa mga nagbahagi ng kanyang kwento ay si Noel, 38 taong BS in Architecture, hindi naibibigay lahat ng materyal na bagay ang gulang at tindero ng barbecue. “Sa pamilya namin, ang ginagawa namin kasiyahan. Ayon sa kanya, hindi naman mapapantayan ng mga materyal kapag araw ng Pasko ay nagsisimba kami na gamit o mga regalo ang pagkawalay tapos pa-bonding-bonding. Mamamasyal niya sa kanyang mga magulang sa ibang kami. Hindi pare-pareho minsan sa bansa.

Luneta. Basta kung saan ang gusto ng “Ang buhay namin ay masaya kasi mga anak ko at ‘saka walang bayad ang lahat ng gusto naming damit, sapatos, at "Kapag Pasko pumupunta kami sa pupuntahan.” kung anu-ano ay nabibili namin. Kapag Limitado ang kanilang nagagawa Pasko pumupunta kami sa ibang bansa ibang bansa pero hanggang ‘dun lang tuwing Kapaskuhan hindi dahil nais pero hanggang ‘dun lang ‘yun kasi hindi niyang magtipid, ngunit dahil wala lang naman namin kasama ang mga magulang ‘yun kasi hindi naman namin kasama talagang mailabas na salapi para sa isang namin...,” pagbabahagi niya. “marangyang” Pasko. Gustuhin man ay ang mga magulang namin...” sadyang ipinagkakait ng kakayahang Sa Mata ng Pantas pinansyal ang mga bagay na sa mga Nakatatak na sa isipan ng mga ganitong okasyon sana dapat nararanasan.

Pilipino ang pagkakaroon ng mala-piyestang -Jelli, BS Architecture “’Pag Noche Buena naghahanda rin pagdiriwang bilang pinakamahabang kami ng pagkain pero sapat lang, tapos tradisyon tuwing sasapit ang buwan ng kinabukasan ‘yun ‘yung pagkain namin.

Disyembre. Bawat isa ay may kanya-kanyang At ‘saka ‘unti lang ang ginagastos namin, disposisyon sa pagbibigay kahulugan ng sa bagong taon naman ‘yung iba para may pagsasalu-saluhan naman Kapaskuhan mula sa mga kasiyahan at kapighatian magkaiba man ang ulit kami,” pagbabahagi ni Noel. buhay na nararanasan.

Ngunit kung ang iba ay sapat lang ang kasiyahan na natatamasa, Ngunit ayon kay James Grasparil, isang propesor ng Sikolohiya may iba rin naman na nagagalak dahil ito ang pagkakataon upang sa FEU, “Para sa akin, kung pag-uusapan natin ang Pasko, wala namang makapag-ipon at makaraos sa buhay. pinagkaiba ‘yung konsepto ng mayaman sa mahirap... Kapanganakan Para sa 10 taong gulang na si Frank, isang batang lansangan, ‘to ng Manunubos na dapat ipagdiwang. Siguro ang pagkakaiba is isang oportunidad ang Pasko upang makalipon siya ng pera sa ‘yung paraan ng pag-celebrate.” maiksing panahon.

Tila namulat na sa modernisasyon ang karamihan sa mga “Masaya po ako kapag Pasko kasi marami pong nagbibigay sa Pilipino. Ang dating simpleng kainan sa hapagkainan ay nauuwi akin kapag ‘nanonobre’ (pagbibigay ng sobre) ako sa jeep. Marami po sa pag-a-upload ng mga pangyayari o di kaya’y kagamitan. Dahil akong nakukuha, mga limang daan, mga isang libo,” saad niya. dito, nauso ang pagbabahagi ng mga bagay na kung anong meron Sa halip na nag-aaral, mas pinipili ni Frank ang kumayod sa ka ang siyang magdidikta ng estado mo sa buhay. buhay nang may magamit para sa sarili at sa darating na Kapaskuhan “Para sa akin, oo, nagiging big deal ang konspeto ng ang kanilang pamilya. mayaman at mahirap kasi very commercialize na ang Pasko ngayon “‘Yung naiipon po ay binibigay ko po sa magulang ko, bumibili kaya ganun, especially sa mga Pilipino kung saan pinapahalagahan sila ng panghanda, ‘yung Spaghetti at ‘saka manok. Masarap po kasi ang tradisyon na ito. Kapag wala kang pera sa Pasko parang awangkumain, bihira lang kami kumain eh,” pagbabahagi pa nito. awa ka sa sarili mo… pero paano mo magagawa ito kung ikaw ay salat… dahil dito naiiba ang kahulugan ng Pasko, paglalahad pa Dikta ng tadhana niya.

Sa lipunan na ginagalawan ng bawat indibidwal ay may mga Ayon pa rin kay Grasparil, ang Pasko ay kapanganakan ng taong biniyayaan ng sagana at mas nakagiginhawang buhay. Tulad Panginoon na siyang tunay nitong diwa at hindi lamang batay sa na lamang ni Mark Christian Arcenas, mag-aaral ng BS in Psychology, mga materyal na bagay bagkus may kinalaman sa pagmamahal sa sa Far Eastern University (FEU). Masaya siya dahil binibigyan siya ng kapwa at ang tradisyon natin na pagbibigayan. pagkakataong ipagdiwang ang mga okasyon nang masagana.

“Tandaan natin sino ba ang unang nagbigay, ang Diyos.

“Umuuwi ako sa province ‘pag Christmas para makasama ko Binigay niya ang kanyang bugtong na anak para iligtas tayo sa ang family ko. Typical Filipino family na naghahanda ng pagkain ating mga kasalanan”, pagpapaliwanag ni Grasparil. tuwing Noche Buena, nagsisimba tuwing gabi, may bonding kami Sa likod ng mga parol at ilaw sa tuwing Kapaskuhan tapos sabay-sabay kumakain kasi hindi naman kami magkakasama naisasantabi ang malalim nitong kahulugan. Ang kasiyahan ng palagi,” tugon niya. bawat isa sa atin ang siyang tunay na diwa ng Pasko at ang mga Dahil sa ‘swerte’ na mas naging mapalad ang estado ng buhay ngiting kailanman ay hindi maipagbibili ng anumang halaga. ng kanyang pamilya ay madaling nakukuha ang mga ninanais. Sila ay nabibigyan ng oportunidad upang gugulin ang oras sa isang -Daniel V. Miaga

Mga kuha nina Angelica Fernando at Marione Paul G. Infantado Latag ni Aicel Marie V. De Guzman; Mga dibuho nina Ralph Michael M. Nochete at Gwendell G. Aranda

6 November-December 2013 OPINION E D I T O R I A L Second the motion

More than their leaders’ pretty faces being flaunted on posters, the students need voices that will represent them in fighting for their interest and welfare. This, we believe, is the greatest responsibility of a true student leader.

Since the opening of first semester 2013-2014, the FEU community has witnessed drastic changes that spans from the organizational restructuring of different academic and student service offices to the newly applied grading system.

New rules and policies were also laid down and imposed, some of which are the implementation of stricter uniform violation rules and the Activity Period, a one-and-half-hour suspension of classes to give way for extra-curricular activities.

Furthermore, on-site renovations and improvements were also made this year specifically the widening and integration of the FEU Library and the construction of fully-equipped laboratory classrooms in the Science Building.

However, while we understand that all of these steps are made by the FEU Administration to ensure that they provide a more transformative learning experience, we cannot deny that the students themselves play an important part for its further improvement. Thus, feedbacks should always be welcomed and sought for.

In the light of this, an open letter from the Institute of Law Student Council was sent to the FEU Advocate last November. The statement is about the student council and law students’ stand on campus security, library policies and other student services.

One of the issues deals with the frisking and inspection of bags in the campus exits. According to the letter, the security protocol wrongfully presumes that the students are “thieves or …have the strong inclination to steal,” which should not be the case because of the legal assumption of “good faith.”

Moreover, it also questioned why the administrators (and presumably the faculty and school personnel as well) are not being inspected?

“Is it only the students who are capable of stealing?” The letter probed.

On the other hand, it also addressed the library policy of not allowing students to carry their bags inside the premises. The same are to be deposited in baggage counters and is only renewable for two hours.

Again, this rule has been made on the presumption that the students have strong urges to commit theft. This time, however, not even the newly-bought detectors and manual bag inspections can control it.

Concerns about reservation of venues and availing of student services being “lengthy, taxing, confusing and very complicated,” were also stressed in the letter. Thus, “simplification and streamlining of procedures” are requested on the basis that they “severely distract and supress the creativity and academic excellence of the student leaders” due to the great deal of time that one has to devote to accomplish it.

The Student Publication supports the above claims and would want to emphasize them for the rest of the FEU student body to know. We likewise join in the hope that these issues will be heard and addressed by the administration.

Also, we would like to acknowledge the student council for making a definitive stand on these issues, which brings us to the question: “How about the other student leaders?”

We believe that the letter also reached the offices of FEUCSO and institute student councils. Have they already made a stand on these issues? Or have the students’ voices gone regrettably silent?

In the spirit of practicing good faith, we assume otherwise.

I was five when he visited the Philippines to meet with Former President Fidel Ramos. I have no memory of that day.

My mind then was probably occupied with thoughts about watching Power Rangers or Voltes V or how can I avoid the ever-loathed siesta time with Nanay—none about apartheid or South Africa or even Nelson Mandela.

In high school, I would often hear his name along with Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. and Mother Teresa. This led me to thinking that he must truly be a great man, but I never really cared knowing about who he was and what he did. I had no time; I told myself.

Now that I’m in college, my mind is already fed up with academic overloads, graduation and student publication matters.

Admittedly, I was waddling in the rough waters of what they call “young adult crisis” when I learned that he was critically-ill and, months after, had passed away.

“A great light has gone out of the world,” UK Prime Minister David Cameron said.

Certainly, the whole world has stopped for the esteemed leader as everyone moves to examine the life he had lived and

The truth, aside from being hard to hear, always hurts.

By the time you read this, I hope that the victims of super typhoon Yolanda have somehow managed to settle in places that resemble a home for Christmas and that they have already been able to smile in spite of the trauma they’ve survived.

This year, the nation has been bombarded with political drama ranging from the pork barrel scam to the still on-going word war between two “respectable” politicians.

And as if that was not enough, it seems as though bad luck refuses to leave our side ‘cause on top of everything else, super typhoons and floods decided to plague us even more.

Of course, there is no one to blame for this, but that does not mean we are not still, guilty.

Haven’t our abuse and misuse of Mother Nature contributed to the severity of the changes in nature we are experiencing now?

It’s no secret that it’s getting hotter by the day, even on seasons that are supposed to be equivalent to ‘winter’ in Western areas, that Summer used to be bearable, and that flash floods, which were then not part of our daily lives, are now expected after every little rain fall.

What’s sad is, time and again, experts have unfailingly warned us, including those in power to do some-

We are ‘Madiba’

the lessons he had learned.

My Inang was probably in her teenage years selling her specialty kakanin, when Mandela spent his days in prison on Robben Island, four miles away from the shores of Cape Town, South Africa.

Charged of sabotage and sedition by the racist government, he labored the next 27 years digging and breaking rocks under the heat of the African sun. Report says that this is where he got Tuberculosis, the virus that weakened him in the succeeding years.

I realized that while Inang would have finally found a way towards my Tatang’s heart over a slice of her biko and a cup of hot tsaa, a ‘diamond’ is already in the rough on the other side of the Earth. And it won’t be too long until that man would be

admired by the rest of the world.

And so came Mandela’s (and the world’s) fateful day. He was elected as president, the first one to become such after serving in jail.

However daunting were the tasks at hand, his presidency is the one responsible for tearing down apartheid, or the social discrimination of one’s skin color in South Africa.

He fought for equality, valued teamwork and upheld the value of nobility and courage.

Also, Madiba, as what he is often referred to by people around him, highly regarded forgiveness (but not forgetting) and good will in the innate nature of man. He promoted hope and optimism even at the darkest and cruellest of times.

But the “great light of

The Green Party

thing about such, but we never listened ‘cause it’s not one of the “more pressing matters” and addressing such would not get any person elected to a government post.

In a study done by Yale University, politics in the United States show that Democrats pay more attention to environmental issues than Republicans, but only by very little in the sense that it comes in the 50th rank.

In the Philippines, from the State-of-the-Nation addresses I’ve reviewed, no president has ever mentioned ‘Nature Care’ in their platforms.

For some reason, we’ve managed to concoct party representatives for every minority, unions, and senseless groups except Mother Earth.

I’m not going to bore you to death or waste my time explaining the Ecological principles or the biological levels and organizational processes occurring in the environment to maintain itself ‘cause unless you’re

truly knowledgeable about the matter, you wouldn’t get it.

But what I can tell you is that Earth, or to put it in perspective, Gaea is truly living, an organism that has life. And we, soulless, ungrateful inhabitants called “humans,” have been killing her.

For every natural cycle, namely: carbon, hydrological, oxygen, nitrogen, and more, Gaea undergoes to replenish herself and continue to be an accommodating host to us, mortal guests, we somehow managed to develop human intrusions for each which has led to her slow death.

For instance, the clearing of mountains and forests as an expense of industrialization, urbanization, and livelihood (land for farmers), has led to the desecration of habitats and ecosystems.

Just as mothers become barren, such also happens to the lands when used up since the minerals in the soil in such areas are not meant for holding up houses or sustain-

the world” has already consumed its last dying flame. And in this fleeting time, the world joined in combined sorrow and joy because of his passing. Just as what US President Barrack Obama said, “He no longer belongs to us. He belongs to the ages.”

However, I believe, this doesn’t mean that the world has to live in darkness or in chaos once more because, surely, the life of Madiba had sparked and rekindled other flames in the lives which he had touched. It is up to them now to continue the “light” he had started.

It is true that the world will never have another Nelson Mandela anymore but his life lessons and teachings will continue to live on for those who believe in him.

Once, Madiba said, “Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great.” I say, we can be that great generation he is hoping for.

I am 21 when the great Nelson Mandela left this world to meet his Creator. This time I’ll make sure that I will remember not only the day, but more importantly the person and his legacy.

Let’s remember the gift that was Nelson Mandela. Show your appreciation at jeromes. deguzman@gmail.com.

ing plant crops. Once they’re consumed, the land is left unfruitful – useless and dead.

And as with ripple effects, once the land is doomed, the cycle of water, weather, and whatnot is also disturbed and takes eons to mend.

Having said this, to all irrational and illogical homo sapiens out there who claim that Global Warming is just something Al Gore made up to win a Tony’s, wake up, would you, please?

I don’t mean to belittle what typhoon or earthquake survivors have gone through or blame them for the tragedies they experienced, nor do I wish to prevent them from getting the help they so earnestly deserve.

Instead, I implore everyone to look beyond the obvious and also see the bigger picture, the more pressing problem that needs to be taken care of and will be solved only with a universal effort, much greater than what we’ve witnessed during the annual Run for Ilog Pasig, Yolanda and Hurricane Katrina: Saving the environment.

As Krebs stated, “Just as we humans are constrained by the laws of physics when we build airplanes and bridges, we should also be constrained by the principles of ecology when we alter the environment.”

I betcha, if I run for any political office with a ‘Save the Mother Earth campaign,’ I’d lose. Prove me wrong and be my campaign managers at cue_kcfc@ymail.com.

OPINION You, my fellow Filipino youth, come and take a walk with me.

The devastating situation in Visayas and other nearby regions caused by super-typhoon Yolanda has made the Philippine government look like a grim joke in the news, but contiuously blaming them will not put Band Aid in the wounds.

When President Aquino walked out of a conference following Yolanda’s deadly wrath out of his disappointment in the disorganization of local government units’ death toll tallies in Leyte, did he assist the concerned offices to come up with an accurate number of casualties?

He may have looked like a diva, but no, he certainly did not help.

But when you consistently ranted in the internet about the seemingly slow and inadequate relief efforts of Malacañang Palace and local government units, did you think it helped improve the situation?

No, it certainly did not.

And when you constantly followed the news on television, radio and internet while tweeting “Nakakaawa na ang Tacloban, ang Ormoc... Nasaan ang tulong ng gobyerno?” or “Mabuti pa ang mga ibang bansa, ang bilis tumulong sa mga nasalanta ni Yolanda.

Eh ang gobyerno ng Pilipinas?” while sitting on a comfy couch with hot coffee on your table, did you think you could translate your rage to clothes, food or water,

On our way home, sitting beside me in the cab was my brother who was unfathomably and surprisingly contemplating as we pass by lines and lines of buildings. Until came his question to me...”Sa tingin mo, umuunlad ba talaga ‘tong Pilipinas?”

I answered him frankly, “What you see is just an illusion of progress.”

What a strange misapprehension it is to suppose that physical beauty is goodness.

Allow me to be your angel who shall whisper this to you: “The nation is a slave to contrasts.”

November 2013 has been one of the most devastating months for us Filipinos, yet. From the countless rising controversies concerning the country’s Pork Barrel, to the steaming word war debate of the senators Defensor-Santiago and Enrile Sr. , to the ill-equipped government in the midst of the earthquake and super typhoon Haiyan despite the forecasts, and everything in between.

Let us take into account the recent calamity that slammed our country. Yolanda woke the wits of the government officials to turn their heads to those in need and see what help they could extend to each of the victims. This is a test to witness how the government would respond to this catastrophe.

The government has Modernity comes with a price even the repetition of history in disguise.

In this technologicallybased era, an individual has the perception of an ultramodern societal standard. Therefore, with that type of upbringing, many perceive that we have learned from our ancestor’s ‘mistakes’.

The question is, have we?

Idolatry, mostly known or comprehended as paganism, have long been back-lashed, ridiculed, and thrown in what might be known as a fiery pit of no return especially with the passionate vendetta of past Christians. Yet, have we actually stopped worshipping idols, inanimate figures and objects, and famous persons? The answer: definitely not.

We have not discontinued this mentality; it exists verily in the heart of its critiques. Most and varied religions have put this type of worship and practice as their establishments’ dwellings and holy objects. For example, the oldest religion in the world, Hinduism, has used idolatry centuries before there was a condemnation of it in other beliefs.

And, as of now, it never had and, possibly, never will cease.

Nevertheless, idolatry

To you, Little Noynoy

among others, for the survivors of Yolanda’s wrath?

No, you certainly did not.

I am not a member of the Aquino administration’s cheering squad but I believe the blame cannot entirely be on his administration.

You may care to realize that you always hated Aquino every time he would whip on his predecessors involved in scandals or irregularities. But do you realize that you are just like Aquino? There is an Aquino in you every time you blame the government, as though you are saint-like who is spared from the blaming game.

Knock knock, my fellow Filipino youth, you are no different from Aquino and all like him.

You are the country’s Little Noynoy.

Remember that when you point your index finger to someone, your four other fingers are pointing back to

you, so if you really blame the government for presumably not helping Yolanda survivors (no matter what your definition of “helping” may be), blame yourself, too, for doing nothing but continuously ranting about Aquino and his allies in the government.

Tweeting and posting a status update about the loopholes you have observed in the government may have made you look like a socially conscious and involved citizen, yet that does not change the fact that you are doing nothing good that would protect the now homeless Yolanda survivors from the cold.

Super typhoon Yolanda did not just flatten the central Philippines but it also raised more issues—from petty matters such as Jamich’s 1,000-pesos-for-Yolandasurvivors-for-every-10,000-views campaign, to media concerns such as ABS-CBN newsreader Korina

Illusions

failed the people as it always has since time immemorial. The President of the Republic and his minions have let down the nation.

The truth of the matter is the government and the concerned agencies and their personnel tasked to take the imminent responsibilities of the moment were unprepared, disconcerted, inept, and indecisive.

In spite of the donations, contributions, and relief efforts from the fortunate Filipinos and from other countries, our government still managed to surprise us by exposing their failure instead of handing efforts to help affected communities recover from the ravages of the said disaster.

In retrospect, the world has witnessed how the incompetent government of a showbiz-designed president bungled and compounded the misery and agony of a nation

that has suffered decades, even generations, from tragedies -man-made and natural-- and has continued to endure.

What else could we expect from the power-wielders of this ill-fated nation, where tragedies are common place and unsolved crimes are routinely ignored and set aside? Who holds the magic wand that might prick the conscience of these power-hungry plunderers of the people’s money when the reality is that greed and corruption have already eaten up what little remained of what could have been the only factor to define their humanity?

Still, the common denominator of these politicians is their insatiable hunger for money, and the people’s attitude to it which is widespread and rampant, from the high positions in the government down to the lowest pedestrian in the

Modern Idolaters

is not merely of religion(s). In this time period, it involves the products of the modernized paradigm shift and the offers it has invented—gadgets, high-priced merchandises, even celebrities. ­ Take for instance, the hold of famed individuals in an international scale. The famous figures of glam Hollywood individuals, K-pop groups, and athletes are no longer considered ordinary. When one of these distinct people appear before you, most particularly your ‘idol’, won’t you scream in gushes of overwhelmed emotions, fan-girl, or at least mildly hyperventilate? This type of modern idolatry is often labeled synonymous with “pop culture.”

However, at times, the predicament of idolatry baffles me. Observe. The importance

of many waver; the value of the statue of Buddha equates to a CD of 1Direction or an Iphone 5S, or Paul Walker’s death equivalents the tragedy of Yolanda victims in the eyes of the public.

Maybe, that’s what modern idolatry or even too much exposure and publicity does?

Maybe. Nonetheless, if that is the case, does it mean that publicity or mass media is the root of evil? Of course not. Indeed, media’s being coupled with the devious conspiracies does not make it malevolent nor wicked even. Publicity paved the way for modern idolatry and idolaters, but it also gave justice to those who have no voices like the silent abuses no one hears and the promotion of camaraderie of countries and its broadcasts.

November-December 2013

Sanchez’s slamming of CNN broadcast journalist Anderson Cooper, and even to religous organizations’ issues such as the alleged refusal of Iglesia Ni Cristo in central Philippine districts to accept non-Iglesia members to evacuate in their houses of worship.

Every trivial and serious issue has raised the eyebrows of most netizens, thus having more bases for their endless rants as though these would aid Yolanda survivors.

If you really would want to help the people in the Visayas, care to assess what they really need. Certainly, they do not need your rants and babbles; they might even be the last persons to give a damn on your tirades.

Instead of chilling in the comforts of your bedroom while lazily browsing through Facebook or Twitter, looking for new sources of your rants, why don’t you get up and do something for the country? This may sound something that would merit me to have a monument erected in my honour, but this is the act the Philippines needs from each of us, particularly from the youth.

And when every Filipino youth gets their lazy butts off their comforts, Little Noynoys will already be big heroes.

That would help the Yolanda survivors.

Little Noynoys, come and take a walk with me at jujubaluyot@ gmail.com

street. Most people totally feel indifferent to corruption, as if it had been a normal and accepted way of life.

Our rulers, on the other hand, do not provide long term solutions to these predicaments.

They are selfish for they do not think of their own country’s prosper, but rather their own sake. Corruption is prevailing and our government has no dedication.

Such is the extent of the political and moral sickness in this country. No wonder the economy never improves.

Unless every Filipino unlearns this practice on corruption, there’s no chance for the Philippines to advance.

As the end of 2013 nears, we continue to witness another year full of illusions of progress.

Yes, more highways have been paved; high rise structures have been erected, and even Manila is being groomed to be a Wi-Fi city.

But these are just attempts to make us turn a blind eye to the stark contrast between our own terrible conditions and the government’s press releases of economic development.

Oh please, illusions can no longer deceive the nation.

I won’t invoke my right against self-incrimination in regards to your uncertainty at thenikkyrivera@ymail.com.

That certainly cannot be deemed as consequences if they bring about little steps of improvement. Therefore, if the root is no evil, why would its product be?

The inquiry lies in whom or what are these modern idolaters? If it is like that of modern technology that seeks the connection and breaking the barriers of the sources of conflicts, where is the harm in that?

In the proceedings of being a modern idolater and you achieve satisfaction, whereas needing not to crawl in a wormhole of no tomorrows to sustain it, there is no reason to cut ties with your preferred idolatry.

As of now, people are already given the freedom to their rights, understanding, and beliefs.

We know that and when our actions and motives hold darken wrong views.

Therefore, if being a modern idolater suits the ingenuity of your persona, it is no more a perceived mistake, rather, a choice one should prompt not to refuse.

How do you view modern idolaters?

Voice these predicaments at maryhicellerenacido1314@ gmail.com

7

Pag-aaral ≠ Pag-ibig

Lahat tayo ay nakararanas na malugmok, madapa, magmahal at masaktan. Ngunit sa mga pagsubok na ito ay tila may mangilan-ngilan na piniling tumira na lamang sa nakalipas at hayaan ang hinaharap sa mapaglarong tadhana nang hindi lumalaban. Nakakatawa lang siguro paminsang isipin na ang pagibig na parte lamang ng kabuuan, ay ang ginagawang mismong buhay ng iilan.

Academic grades at emotional stability. Ang mga ito ay ilan sa mga bagay na sadyang madaling maapektuhan pagdating sa usapang pag-ibig. Dito na halos umiikot ang mundo bagaman samu’t saring problema ngang mayroon sa buhay ng bawat isa.

May mga hindi pa sigurado sa kakainin sa buong araw ngunit sa kabila nito ay ang mga taong mas binibigyang pansin ay ang hindi pag-text ng kanilang boyfriend.

Minsang sinabi sa akin ng isang kaibigang lalaki matapos nilang maghiwalay ng tatlong taong kasintahan, hindi na raw siya papasok dahil wala nang dahilan para makipagtiisan pa sa mga propesor araw-araw kung hindi naman niya makasasama ang kanyang girlfriend.

Ginusto ko siyang iuntog sa pader at magbakasakaling kulang lang talaga siya ng tulog.

“Hindi ko na alam gagawin sa buhay ko ‘pag wala siya...” Ito ang binitiwan niyang mga kataga.

“50 years old ka na ba para mag-alala kung makapapangasawa ka o hindi?” agad kong isinagot.

Marahil maraming kokontra rito sapagkat sa kabila ng kabi-kabilang relasyon ng mga kabataan ay siyang pinagkukunang inspirasyon ng mga ito upang taasan ang mga grado sa bawat asignatura. Ngunit sa dami ng pwedeng pagkunan ng inspirasyong ito, hindi ba marapat na una sa listahan ang mga taong bumuhay, nag-aruga at naghulma ng ating pagkatao?

Naniniwala ako na hindi nagbanat ng buto ang ating mga magulang para maghanap ng makakasabay kumain tuwing tanghalian, taga-text tuwing umaga ng “Good morning babe” at lalong hindi ng makakasama habambuhay sa panahong kasing-aga ng kamalayan ng kabataan sa mapusok na pag-ibig.

Bagkus, ito ay upang mabigyan tayo ng mas nakagiginhawang kinabukasan lalo na sa mga panahong sila ay wala na.

Hindi ko lang talaga gaanong makuha ang dahilan ng ilan na halos halughugin na ang buong university, makita lang ang kanyang “ideal someone” o makipag one-to-sawang kwentuhan sa mga kaibigan. Ilang pursyento nga bang estudyante ang pumapasok para magbigay ng hustisya sa ipinambabayad ng matrikulang ating mga magulang? Hindi pa ba sapat na maging inspirasyon ang inilalabas na pawis at paghihirap ng mga taong bumuhay sa atin upang suklian ng maayos at matiwasay na pag-aaral?

Gusto ko lamang talagang ipunto na hindi sa pag-ibig umiikot ang mundo. Hindi katumbas ng kahit sinong lalake o babae ang buhay na mayroon ka, sampu, dalawampu o higit pang taon mula ngayon sa oras na magtapos ka ng kolehiyo. Maaaring makakikilala ng mga taong magiging parte ng kilig o hampasan dahil sa kilig, ngunit dapat tandaan na ang kakayahang umibig at makisama ay isa lamang sa bonus na nakuha natin upang ipagpatuloy pa ang mga magagandang plano ng Diyos sa atin.

Ika nga ng manunulat at propesor na si Ramon Bautista, “There’s more to life than love.”

Pag-ibig o pag-aaral? Ipahiwatig ang nararamdaman sa azellelee@gmail.com.

8 November-December 2013

THROUGH THE LENS

Photos by John Armen T. Bongao, Marione Paul G. Infantado, Kevin Victor J. Torres, Jocas D. Lozada, Darlene S. Padilla and Angelica C. Fernandez Layout by Darlene S. Padilla and Angelica C. Fernandez

John Armen T. Bongao Chief Photographer

Aaron Cedrick S. Manaloto Art Director

TAMARTS

November-December 2013

9

Illustrations by Aaron Cedrick S. Manaloto, Ralph Michael R. Nochete, Heinz C. Laban, Mhar Melvin I. Choi and Gwendell G. Aranda Colored by Aaron Cedrick S. Manaloto, Ralph Michael R. Nochete and Heinz C. Laban; Layout by Aicel Marie V. De Guzman

10 November-December 2013 LITERARY

I

Mary Hicelle B. Renacido Literary Editor

By Marra Yoshabel B. Mien

either dead or crying. There are survivors like me but their eyes can hear the waves hitting the shore. are as dead as the corpses around us. Hopeless, devastated and Just like it used to. I can feel the sand on grieving. I don’t want to be like them. I won’t be like them. my skin as I lay on my back. Just like

Another hour passed yet there weren’t any trace of my it used to be. I can smell the familiar loved ones. Right now, I wanna see them. Dead or alive. I begin seaside scent. But this time, it’s not the way it used to to feel fatigue so I decide to stop for awhile as I pass by what’s be. It smells different. I smell death. left of our parish church.

I open my eyes and the heavy gray clouds loom

To describe it to be in ruins is an understatement. Only above me. The last time I heard the news, there was a two things survived the wrath of the typhoon – the tabernacle typhoon coming. What was its name again? Uganda? Anaand the altar’s crucifix. The typhoon may be the strongest in the conda? Oh, right. Yolanda. Why am I lying here, sunbathworld but my God is the strongest in the universe. ing when there’s a storm coming? I’m having this internal

I drop down on my knees and start to cry. No, howl. argument with myself when reality struck me.

I don’t know what came over me but for the first time in my

I sit up. What I see right now make my stomach life, I turn my anguish to God. I feel ashamed but it feels churn. Bile started to rise to my throat and is about to come good to blame someone else. That there is someone reup if not for my stronger urge to act and think rationally. I sponsible for the bad things that are happening other than pick myself up. I manage to stand but I’m shaking unconourselves. trollably. You would if you were me.

“Why did it have to be us? Why did it have to be here? Are

The shoreline where I grew up is littered with everywe that bad? There are worse people than us but why did thing and anything you can imagine. Coconut trees, sofas, we suffer like this?” pans, boats, diapers, roofs, pillows and dead bodies. Lots

“Why not?” A voice answered back. and lots of dead bodies.

I turn to the direction of the voice. Father Iggy is

I’m on a daze until a shimmer catch my eye. I focus standing with his right hand holdon the shining object and deduce his left arm. Both are soaked in that it’s a diamond ring. A beau“As cliche as it sounds, everything ing blood. tiful diamond ring just like my mom’s wedding band. Just like happens for a reason. We may not “Tell me your answers to my questions as I treat your wounds, my mom’s wedding ring? Can understand it today but we will, Father,” I approach him as I tear it be? sleeves.

I dart to the hand that eventually. When you look around my “God won’t give you a mountain bears the ring. From where I stand, it seems to be a you, you think of death. But when you can’t climb, son. Ouch. Wait.

That hurts. There, a little better. few meters away but as I look around, I think of life...”

Going back. As cliche as it sounds, I run to it, it feels like it’s everything happens for a reason. on the other side of the We may not understand it today world. I ran so fast that I but we will, eventually. When you look around, you think don’t mind what I’m stepping on. I actually trip of death. But when I look around, I think of life. Of our and land on a dead body. It’s Jay, our family driver. people finally meeting our Father. They didn’t die meanWas, actually. I let out a blood curdling scream. I look ingless for the people they left will live in their memory, around. No one is coming to the rescue. I’m the only with love and inspiration. soul here. Literally. The diamond shimmers again. Back to

“The Lord has plans greater than the ones we work. make. He will wreck your plans if He sees that your plans

I’m running again but more careful now. Yeah right. will wreck you. Maybe we’re on the wrong track. That As if the dead bodies would be hurt. But still, they deserve instead of living for Him and for others, we’re starting to respect. I stop in front of the hand. Our Last Supper painting live for earthly things and desires. He is not punishing us. covers the forearm and my mom’s body. But there’s something He’s redirecting us towards Him. Three things, son. Three wrong. The painting’s too small – things. Faith, hope and love,” Father finishes as I wrap up I drop the painting that I just lifted seconds ago. It covered his improvised bandage. the forearm up to the biceps. Just there. For what was left of my

“I apologize for what I said Father,” a hint of mom was just there. The rest of her body is somewhere. Noshame is evident in my voice. where. I stare at her hand. Her favorite electric blue polish lost its

“God has forgiven you before you asked for it,” the gleam. I never knew colors could mourn too. priest said with his signature smile. “Any plans, son?”

My view starts to blur. Tears fall down endlessly, easily. The

“I will look for my twin brother, dad and girlfriend. person who carried me in her womb for nine months, who I can’t lose hope. Especially not now that I’m assured God is was always there for me for 20 years and who loved me backing me up,” I finally said confidently. since I was a mere zygote is now dead. I remove her dia“He always backs us up. It’s up to us if we will allow Him mond ring and put it on my pocket. I feel like a thief but or not. Anyway, before you go and forget it, I think you it’s comforting to have something your deceased loved dropped something.” one used to own. Used to. Past tenses. They’re starting

I follow his index finger to where it is pointing. The to hurt like hell. comforting flicker of mom’s ring seems to be agreeing with I start walking. To where or how far, I don’t know the priest. but I need to start walking. I still have a twin brother,

“It’s my mom’s,” I tell him after picking it up. a father and a girlfriend to look for. I don’t know how

“Why not wear it? You might drop it again,” he suggested.

I survived the storm nor how I will survive but I have

“It’s very feminine, father. Besides, I intend to give this hope. Hope, it’s enough to keep us alive. to my girlfriend once I find her,” I smile foolishly and longing Judging from the faint sunlight above my head, it ly at the thought of her. Man, how I miss her. A sigh escaped must be noon already. Judging from my weariness, from me. it must be three hours of non-stop walking. My

Before I start my quest, I ask Father Iggy, “If I find friend, wherever you are, be thankful. Just the her, will you be kind enough to wed us, Father?” fact that you’re safe in the hands of your fam “I do,” he said happily. ily, be thankful. Bacause I’d give everything

“I do,” a female’s voice said calmly.

I have – what remains of my damaged

As I turn to my right, Kaye is standing a few feet piecces, that is – just to be where you are from me. She may be covered with mud but it isn’t enough right now.

I take the path from our beach house to cover her beautiful face. It wasn’t enough to take my heart away from her. to my high school. Our exclusive

I do, too. To faith, hope and love, I say “I do.” subdivision became an open dumpsite and cemetery. Familiar faces were

Illustrations by Erika Nicole L. Bernardino Layout by Rose Jasmin M. Gayeta

LITERARY

The Words Sung, And the Words

Written Down

“Here we are,” you sung Whatever that meant, whatever that implied I could never forget the voice that you used The voice that haunted me The voice that meandered towards me The voice I did not want The voice you used in order to get to me To confuse me, to twirl me In your fingers “Nonsense poem,” you’d probably say Whatever I mean, whatever I imply You’ll never understand whatever message I’m trying to hide In my insinuations For the song you sung, and the poem I wrote Just now, have no meanings Unless we both untangle the words The words sung, and the words written down The mouth and the hand, both have the same power But the heart and mind, is stronger, for they Can confuse, can obscure Can control and can limit Whatever the other Could only comprehend In the songs the mouth sings And the poems the hand writes

-Riza Camille F. Talan

November-December 2013 11

White Rose [Prologue] To the ground, I fell Now wither’d, dead, no shell Under my greater, I’m now a scavenger Yet still, I shall not falter [Act 1] The ragg’d Earth shall soon consume me But my color can commit, still, felony To instill death and contagion against your eyes Yet still, I shall not rise [Act 2] Rebellion, my color is The difference of time, I not miss The days of yore that hiss My morrows now gone, now bliss [Act 3] In solemnity, I die A somber harmony of the skies The silence and joy of air Uplifts my heart from despair [Act 4] In Petrichor’s cry I bask My body so fragile like Flask’s The date of yore, hast arriv’d I fell, I’m no more, I die [Act 5] Oh, flower of beauty Your color superior to mine I heed the air’s intimacy Now, it hast brought I to thee [Act 6] But here I lie, wet by tears Weeping the waters of Petrichor’s scream Unable to touch your majesty’s gleam Devoid’d by hope, but nature’s hymn [Act 7] My want now came in vain Yet I feel no anguish, no hatred, no regrets Her beauty is all I yearn’d But pain was what I learn’d

CAPTIVE OF THE ROUT Numerous pointed tattle Ripping ruthlessly the weak One of the victims of a pestilent battle Loud, nonsense buzzes cover his shriek Dark, freezing place—the home of needed warmth Too tiny, too immaterial to forge existence Poltroon to shout bravely his heart Enslaved by the cold-blooded shadows in every sense To a crystal-clear mirror he courageously faced A ghastly monster reflected as a surprise An ear-splitting evil laugh broke the silence Their biases have fixed his due price His only wish is to be free Disentangled from those opinions which kills silently Sparing his precious life leads to an impossible flee The chains of a subjugated will bind his soul eternally -Sarah Christine H. Barbado

[Act 8] And now Earth tears me apart My body severing against itself Yet I am happy to die For my death’s your life, an eternity’s smile [Act 9] Soon, I shall be with thee Unnoticed, but I adore thee Yes, sacrific’d not for naught For here I am, on your lot [Act 10] Oh beauty, pick I not To love and protect your heart I shall ‘til the fall of the dark My love shall be your ark [Epilogue] My death is not the end To guard, and I shall defend To keep the beauty that mustn’t bend Oh White Rose, never shall I be absent!

-Patrick Hakeem A. Rones

Illustrations by Heinz B. Laban and Ann Nicole B. Niangar Layout by Michaela V. Constantino

12 November-December 2013 LITERARY

Book: The Shack Author: William P. Young Published: 2007 Published by: Windblown Media

Christmas – the alluring vibrant lights, various sizes and colors of decorative trees, and expected numerous gifts are merely a portion of how one would view the impeccable season holiday. Then again, the ever religious would be reliving the faith and relationship they have with the Savior and would emerge for them as the most Christian-perfect merriment and the most awaited event in the human calendar.

Behind the book

William Paul Young’s The Shack was not really intended for profit or fame. He wrote this book as a gift to his six children. In connection with the theme of his work, forgiveness, he wrote this book to recount how he healed from the suffering he stumbled upon via renewing his relationship with God.

According to the New York Times, the author had used the shack as a metaphor for “the house you build out of your pain.” The book vividly portrays how God’s intangible love profusely assisted William to be the ever fighting soldier. It had also emphasized its points on forgiving others and keeping both the hope and faith alive. In ter ms of good values, this piece definitely earns five stars.

However, even though The Shack has garnered numerous fans over its moving content, Young failed to polish the flaws in his theological views in his work.

One might concur that such a fascinating yet controversial novel would be written by someone with plenty of experience and possesses a definite expertise on the subject-matter. However, who would have predicted that

Institutes endure...from page 3

hindi dapat bayaran (it does not need to be paid),” Cabasada clarified.

These programs, however, are only applicable to students who will be admitted in 2014 onwards.

Skills-based scholarships

Service scholarships, Institutes endure...from page 2

then… We have limited, specific number of classrooms… There is a certain limit of students that we could accept so when we reach that, we have to stop,” Edillon added.

Asked when the University is exceeding the required 1:40 classroomstudents ratio by Commission on Higher Education, he said, “We are not exceeding that, I think… We only allow 40 seats per classroom.”

Edillon added that the administration always makes sure that classrooms, equipment and facilities are functioning well.

“Nire-repair ang chairs kapag repairable (We repair the broken chairs that are still repairable). All of these are inspected every end of the semester,” he added.

Need for equipments, facilities

FEU Central Student Organization Vice President Aira Mae Yatco, a BFA Advertising

a previous hotel clerk could have produced such a brooding masterpiece of inquiry. Not only that, the book was merely just supposed to be a gift for the author’s children. This might be evidentiary that natural talent can spring from the most unexpected of individuals.

F lipping the pages

After the dreadful supposed murder of his daughter, Missy, by a serial killer, the protagonist, Mackenzie Allen Phillips, had fallen to the dark abyss of “The Great Sadness”.

This sadness was the epitome of the black surround that embodied an individual who has lost everything. Imagine your youngest daughter kidnapped and dead without any clue of the body except a blood-stained dress on the floor of an abandoned shack.

The family, most especially, Mack, had succumbed to depression. Being emotionally torn and broken, he blew a fuse of anger at God regarding to the abandonment of his faith. In the middle this ‘Great Sadness’, Mack unexpectedly received a letter with God being the suspected sender.

With that letter, life for Mack and even unexpected readers would experience a pulling void of emotions. The events thereon prove that maybe all those intertwined affinities would make sense or make no sense. You’ll just have to flip the pages and decide for yourself.

Tall tales

God is neither rendered a gender of man nor a woman. Nevertheless, in Young’s account, he presented God in a for m of a beaming African-American woman, Papa, which goes against what the Bible is teaching us. Lord in The Shack is indeed far from the image of the God that is instilled in our minds.

Young wrote God as less authoritative as portrayed through the character’s equal rank actions. Even though we are free in expressing our faith in any way we want, creating another and diverse image of God to fit our life’s cultural impression would be an absolute big no-no to our religious practice.

All humans are candidates for second chances. In order to attain salvation, we must repent and surrender ourselves to the highest authority. Despite that, it goes the other way around to what Young has written in his novel.

The God in his novel was portrayed by stating these lines. “I’m not some bully, not some self-centered, demanding,

meanwhile, will be given to students who represent FEU in off-campus competitions and other performances.

It is classified into three: athletics, cultural and student leadership scholarships.

The revised athletics scholarships would give athletes and cheerdancers full discount on tuition, miscellaneous fees and other allowances such as housing.

Cultural scholarships, meanwhile, will entitle recipients full discount on tuition and miscellaneous-fee subsidies for four years.

Cultural scholarships will be determined by AFA in coordination with President’s Committee on Culture (PCC).

Student organizations under PCC include FEU Bamboo Band, FEU Chorale,

Arts senior, raised concerns on classrooms and facilities available at Law Building (LB) which houses IARFA and IL. “Aircon na sira then may tumutulong tubig… Laptops na hindi upgraded and most of them ay may virus … Projectors na hindi gumagana or mahirap gamitin... Even the speakers.

If they are working well, sabog naman ‘yung napo-produce na sound (Some air-conditioning units are broken; some laptops are not upgraded and most of them have virus; some projectors are not functioning or are hard to use… Some speakers are either not working or are producing noise),” she said.

De Viana defended that the administration prioritized installation of audio visual equipment in lecture rooms.

“Halos lahat naman dito (Almost all classrooms here at LB) are equipped with basic facilities except for a few… Not all would have kasi ‘yung iba ay studios naman; sa studio naman ay mag-sculpt ka, painting, so hindi na muna namin ni-prioritize (Not all

would have because some are studios; you only sculpt and paint in studios so we did not prioritize them),” she said.

“But at the moment, we are thinking of requesting again to have all those rooms not yet equipped [with certain facilities] to be equipped,” De Viana retorted.

Torres also admitted that they lacked equipment and facilities in the previous semesters.

“One of the clamors of the students and faculty is the number of equipment and utensils not enough for the number of students,” she said.

However, she added that the administration has already responded to their request for the purchases of more equipment and facilities, saying, “We were able by the help of the CFO (Chief Finance Officer Juan Miguel Montinola) to purchase more than five millionpeso worth of equipment.”

She said that the equipment and facilities ITHM has now may not yet be complete but those are already enough for the use of all students in the Institute.

FEU Dance Company, FEU Drum and Bugle Corps and FEU Theater Guild.

A fixed number of slots is also set. A GPA of at least 2.50 (C+) and no records of disciplinary cases are among the requirements.

Student leadership scholarships are to be given to the elected officers of FEU Central Student Organization and institute student councils.

Grantees must maintain a GPA of at least 2.50 or C+.

Fixed amount of tiers are to be credited on their accounts.

Policies on entrance, financial assistance fund, athletics, cultural and student leadership scholarships have already been implemented this school year while guidelines on academic and needsbased scholarships will be implemented next school year.

University aligns...from page 3

Possible solutions One of the problems that have been observed in the said program is the distribution of units or courses to be taught by professors who were transferred to IE. Remotin said that courses taught in IE will “not be enough” for professors who were transferred.

Remotin added that to solve initial flaws of the said program, general education courses will be transferred by IE. “I think the management should clear that problem. There should be what we call an implementing

little deity insisting on my own way” and “Even though you call me Lord and King, I have never acted in that capacity or forced you to do anything.” These indeed contradict what was written in the Scriptures and taught by religious men through the years.

God is considered the King because He acts as one.

The author might be trying to communicate other meaning by these lines pertaining to the kingly issue. His supposed position is to show that He is the ruler who will guide us to pave the right way for His people.

The author was ‘brave’ enough to include punitive words intended for the institutional church. It was stated there that the church appears to be interested only in power and control. The church is built to be the supposed sanctuary of holiness. It was inferred to be the Christian shack.

This is where the good values from Scriptures be broken down into pieces for the feeding of the soul. This is not founded to dominate whatever the society is in. Rather, it is founded to guide each soul that gets lost in its journey. Invalidating the church goes beyond the borderline.

Despite the Christmas season serving of readers’ souls with a garnished meal about forgiveness and second chances, rather than the normal celebrations’ plot, the religious-inclined and conscious might find it spiritually unhealthy with the distortion of the Scriptures. Yet, it is still you that decides your pathway of fate, faith, and belief.

-Sarah Christine H. Barbado

Tams regain...from page 16

Lower expectations

Considered as a powerhouse for years, FEU has the most number of titles in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Men’s Volleyball Tournament with 25 championships. For the past five years, the Tamaraws made it to the finals of the tournament.

For two years, less than a title was considered an upset for the team. However, this year, the FEU Spikers can only target a final four appearance and hope the game plan will work from that point on.

Head Coach George Pascua said, “S’yempre ‘yung expectations hindi gan’un kataas guideline but until now there is no IRR (implementing rules and regulations) even how to implement the program,” he furthered.

Professors who were affected by the said program said the faculty alignment is a “good way” to improve the quality of teaching in the University.

“Kaya naman ito ginagawa ng FEU dahil gustong ma-retain ang status ng University. Kasi you have to follow CHEd’s memo… na ang dapat nagtuturo ng major subjects ay ‘yung mga may MA in that certain field.

Tama ‘yun kasi kahit sa ibang universities like UP (University of the Philippines), inaapply ‘yan (The reason why FEU is implementing this is because they want to retain the university status. You

pero ‘yung level ng skills nila, kahit baguhan sila, siguro ‘yun ‘yung advantage namin sa kalaban (Of course the expectations are not that high but the level of their skills, even though they are rookies, I think that is their advantage over our opponents).”

“Hindi lang isang buwan o tatlong buwan ‘to, taon na tinraining namin ‘yan para sa competition (It’s not just one month or three months, we trained them for years for the competition),” he said regarding his players.

However, with goto-guys Dela Calzada and Faytaren, also super-rookies Gacutan and Dolor, it seems that a Final Four appearance is not far from their reach.

have to follow CHEd’s memo which states that professors must hold a master’s degree in particular field to be able to teach in that course),” a former professor of Department of Math and Physics who has been transferred to IE this semester said, but requested for anonymity.

However, he also said that faculty alignment somehow “demoralizes” them.

“Nakaka-demoralize ng isang professor lalo na ‘pag ang professor ay matagal nang nagtuturo tapos biglang ililipat ka sa ibang institute (The program demoralizes a professor most especially when he is already teaching in a particular institute for a long time),” he said.

-With reports from Leonard I. Agustin

November-December 201313 Tams mobilize...from page 1

Winning streak. Men’s Track and Field Team secured their fourth title last December 8 at DLSU-Dasmarinas.

(Photo by Marione Paul G. Infantado) Tracksters extend...from page 16

Del Rio in the 4x100-meter relay (48.93 seconds).

“Minsan hindi ko nilalagay sa isip ko pero at this point sabi ko napakahirap gawin ng 10 pero ‘di ko akalain na magagawa namin. So I’m very happy and willing na magtrabaho para magsimula ulit as winner (Sometimes, I really do not want to think about [championship title] but at this point, getting 10 [titles] it is hard and I can’t believe we did it. I’m very happy and I am willing to have a fresh start to be winners again),” declared jubilant Women’s Head Coach Roselyn Jamero.

Unexpected

With three of their main men not warranted to give their all due to injury and prior commitments to the National Team for the upcoming South East Asian Games (SEAG), Coach Dario De Rosas already conceded to FEU Advocate a month before the tournament that they may lose the title to either the Tigers or the Archers which got most of the possible top rookies from Palarong Pambansa.

But call it determination, guts, fighting spirit or even sheer luck: FEU still paved their way for the golden seat in the podium without much challenge.

“Maganda ‘yung level of competition ngayon.

Talagang everybody prepared.

Medyo ninerbiyos din pero ayun, champion tayo (The level of competition now is good because everybody prepared.

We just felt nervous [because of the status of some players], but still, we’re the champion),” De Rosas mentioned.

Returning player Mark Ian Delos Santos made his opponents eat dust and rule the decathlon with 5641 points.

UP’s Christian Quezada (5159) place second and UST’s Marvin K-12 to affect...from page 2

staffers (A possible solution is to consider post-bachelor students as guest staffers),” he said.

Alumni of publications could also assist their respective publications. “‘Yung [alumni na] na sa first three years nila after graduation, sila ‘yung nandoon pa ‘yung hangover nung pagiging staffer kaya pwede pa silang pabalikin, patulungin, kahit mga weekends (Those alumni who just graduated in the past three years still have the hangover of being a staffer. They can be asked to come back for help even during the weekends),” he suggested.

The last option Domingo provided was the “intensive recruitment system” that editorial board members should think of.

“Siguro ang isang paraan ay kung hindi man scholarship [ay] mag-isip [ang editorial board members] ng ibang intensive [way of recruitment] sa panahong iyon para ma-encourage sila (Maybe another way is to think of intensive way to recruit students if it cannot offer scholarship by

Lupinario followed.

Though nursing a hamstring injury, Janry Ubas still gave his hundred percent for the team and soar the highest in pole vault (4.20-meter) and high (1.95-meter) and long jump (6.99-meter).

National-caliber rookie import Clinton Kingsley Bautista teamed up with Jerwen Ebcas, Delos Santos and SEAG-bound veteran Isidro Del Prado to storm away the top spot in the 4x100-meter relay (42.35 s); then modestly settled for silver in 100-meter hurdles (14.6.54 s) and 400-meter dash (49.06 s); and place third in high jump (1.85-m), and 100-meter (11.2.20) and 200-meter dash (22.25 s).

When asked about the performance of the rookies, De Rosas said: “Masayangmasaya ako. ‘Di ko expected na magpe-perform sila ng maganda ngayon, akala ko matatalo kami. Pero ayun nagdeliver naman sila (I’m very happy. I did not expect [that the rookies will play well] and we will lose but they delivered for the team.)”

Christopher Ulboc first displayed his brilliance in the 800-meter run (1:55.18) and 1500-meter run (4:04.84) before also raising the Philippine Flag in Myanmar.

Together with Del Prado who copped gold in 200-meter dash (21.88 seconds), their events were reduced so they can also prepare for the SEA Games.

Kenny Gonzales sported finesse and struck the peak prize in javelin throw (59.54-meter). Mark Robert Lozada grabbed the silver in discus throw (36.00-meter) while Delos Santos and Jomar Angus both twirled in third in 400-meter hurdles (55.47-meter) and 3000-meter steeplechase (9:38.59 sconds).

Meanwhile, after ruling and almost abreaking a UAAP record in last year’s lengthy events, Rafael Poliquit, who is that time),” he advised.

Preparedness of freshmen However, Domingo said that freshmen could still be ready enough to handle the student publication.

“Dahil may Grades 11 and 12 na sila, technically, three years na rin sila.

Ang mahirap kasi sa atin ngayon ay binibilang natin ang kanilang kahandaan doon sa unang sampa nila sa kolehiyo. Pero ‘yung huling dalawang taon nila sa high school, at kung sila ay editors sa kanilang high school, iyon na ang nagbigay sa kanila ng kahandaan at kahit unang taon pa lang nila sa kolehiyo ay relatively prepared na sila (Because of Grades 11 and 12, first-year students that time will be like the today’s third year students. The problem with us is we base their preparations on their college year level alone. If they were editors in high school, the experience may have already prepared them even though they are in their first year),” he explained.

- With reports from Janice C. Rodriguez

simultaneously preparing for a marathon event, yield to UE’s Richard Salano in the battle of strength and stamina over the 5,000- and 10,000- meter runs.

Good individual but more solid as a group, the quartet of Del Prado, Ulboc, Jhonrey Bardos and William Galceran started and ended a fiery run to punctuate another episode of Tamaraw domination in the 4x400meter relay (3:20.88.) DLSU and UST trailed FEU in both the men’s relay events.

According to De Rosas, FEU will remain a powerhouse next year since, “Tama lang ‘yung transition natin kasi hindi naman lahat ga-graduate eh. Meron tayong bago at ga-graduate (The transition of the team is good.

There will be graduating players and there are also rookies [who can step up next season].”

End of an era?

Compared to last season’s results, the Lady Tams advantage over their runner up showed a significant cutback. From their 223-point lead in Season 75 over UE, FEU was just ahead by 57 points this time over their España counterpart.

“Even na ang daming grumaduate, actually maraming malalakas na grumaduate last school year, nakabangon pa rin kami. Hinabol namin ‘yung time table (Many strong players graduated last year but we recovered from that.

We pursued the time table),” Jamero said.

Next year, to maintain their winning streak will be a challenge they have to face, Jamero admitted, especially with five players―Bermudo, Carmen, Palabrica, Penepona and Josie Malacad―on her lineup graduating.

“So next year, kailangan ko talagang magrecruit ng magagaling pa kasi lima ‘yung gagraduate ngayon na talagang nagbigay ng mga points (Next year, I really have to recruit outstanding athletes because the graduating players really contributed when it comes to points,)” she added.

And if 11-peat happens, winning the next UAAP tournaments will just be continuous again.

Lawmakers call....from page 3

the real mastermind and “brains” of the pork barrel scam.

S a n t i a g o called Enrile “the icon of shameless lying,” “the prince of darkness” and “the drama king of corrupt politics,” among many others. She also labeled him “psychopathic hypersexualized serial womanizer,” as he said that Enrile was having affairs with his maids, cooks and assistants.

She also stated Enrile’s “seven sins” which include his supposed role in the Zamboanga attack that began last September 9, revealing that Enrile financed Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) leader Nur Misuari 40 million

meanwhile, requested students who have committed violations to contribute inkind donations like toiletries.

Every donation corresponds to a deduction in the number of hours that the donor is supposed to render as community service.

Alumni Relations and Placement Services also collected donations from alumni outside the country.

All cash donations were sent to FEU’s Bank of the Philippine Islands and Banco de Oro bank accounts and were transferred to official donation accounts.

In-kind donations were sent directly to the affected provinces while some were brought to ABSCBN’s drop-off points.

“Manila Helicopters, and I think Philippine Army if I’m not mistaken, helped us to deploy the goods [in Tacloban]; whereas in TAMBayani: OPLAN TUBIG, our contact there is ABSC B N S agi p-K apam ilya, ” Ventura added.

Meanwhile, FEU men’s and women’s volleyball teams played against alumni of the mentioned squads during Spike Relief, a sporting event held at FEU Gymnasium last November 26 in which Athletics Department collected bottles of water from students who watched the game. Both games were won by alumni squads.

Gate entrance...from page 4

the students to bring to school cutters, scissors or any pointed objects inside the school).

IARFA Dean Lorelei DC De Viana agrees with Miguel with regard to confiscation.

“That’s correct. Dinadala nila [guards] dito [scissors, cutters and carving tools]. Basta lahat ng confiscated [items] from IARFA students, nilalagay sa IARFA office para hindi na sila nagdadala anywhere.

Kapag kailangan nalang, ditto nalang kukunin. Ang teacher na ang nanghihiram. Hindi [na] ako [nagpapakuha sa] estudyante kasi ba walang ang bata na nagdadala. Hihiramin ng teacher tapos teacher din ang magbabalik dito,” (The guards bring the confiscated items from the IARFA office so that they won’t bring them anywhere. When they are needed, the teacher will get them here and return them here as well).

When the FEU Advocate approached the concerned offices and other institute deans once more to inquire about the whereabouts of other confiscated items like pesos to the rebellion by the MNLF in Zamboanga to divert public’s attention from the accusations of plunder against him.

Enrile is also running a smuggling empire in Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA), according to Santiago, for which Enrile insisted on an appropriation of 80 million pesos in the 2014 national budget, and a gambling empire in CEZA by promoting a so-called “interactive gaming.”

Santiago added that Enrile also ran an illegal logging empire during the martial law era, when he obtained the largest logging concession covering 95,770 hectares from former President Ferdinand Marcos.

Solons’ calls are ‘ironic’ Department

of

On the other hand, Hotel and Restaurant Management Society (HRMSoc) conducted “Operation Outreach with a Sandwich,” a fundraising project, which donated to typhoon Yolanda survivors 100 percent of the sales.

The project was sponsored by Gardenia Philippines.

HRMSoc sold Macaroons Ocaba and Shawarma Sandwich all of which were prepared by HRM students themselves.

Macaroons Ocaba was the first runner-up dish presented by two FEU students during the Gardenia’s Next Big Sandwich Hit last October.

Yo l a n d a , a l s o known as super-typhoon Haiyan, flattened the central Philippines, particularly, Leyte and nearby cities and provinces last November 8. As of December 13, the official death count already stood at 6,009 according to National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

Psychological aid

Providing more than in-kind and cash donations, Department of Psychology also recruited volunteers to assist in giving “psychological first aid” (PFA) to the Yolanda survivors relocated in Villamor Airbase in Pasay City.

PFA is a disasterresponse assistance recommended by United Nations, World Health Organization and Red Cross that aims to respond to victims’ practical needs, to give

information on support and referral systems and to help victims on how to responds and cope with trauma.

As a response, Psychological Association of the Philippines (PAP) organized “Psychological First Aid for Villamor Airbase” which gathers psychology graduates to be volunteers and PFA counselors, and psychology students to be runners, Department of Psychology Program Head Hector Perez said.

On November 26, a seminar hosted by Department of Psychology was held at Education Building Room 605 to advocate the said disasterresponse aid and was attended by guidance counselors from University Counseling and Career Office and undergraduate and graduate FEU psychology students.

As of the present, the department is still taking charge of the signing-up process as there are still evacuees in Villamor Air Base as of this time. Moreover, guidance counselor Jomelyn Lopez said that National Service Training Program students of FEU are undergoing immersion at Villamor Airbase.

“Proud ako sa ating FEU students… Nakikita mo pa na sila ‘yung naghuhugas ng paa noong mga bata na may putik (I am proud of our students.

You can even see them washing the mud away from the children’s feet),” she shared.

- Norelyn M. Villaruel and Jesserene D. Miranda

dissecting kits, they all declined to be interviewed.

When asked about the “tusok-tusok syndrome,” as some students call it, Miguel made the table clean by clarifying the security system’s standard operations. ‘Yung inconsistency na sinasabi nila, I doubt. Pero kung meron man, hindi natino-tolerate ‘yan. Actually ‘yung sinasabi nilang patusok-tusok, ang dami ko nang natanggal d’yan e, tina-transfer ko sila ng ibang pwesto,” (The alleged inconsistency, I doubt. But if there is, we don’t tolerate that.

The tusok-tusok that they say, I have fired a number [of guards] and transferred some of them to other places of assignment.

Moreover, Miguel made clear that the following are highly-prohibited inside the school premises: deadly weapons, drugs, liquor, and acrylic paint (but the paint needs approval from the dean’s office in order for a student to bring it inside the school), pornographic materials, etc.

With these items banned in the campus ,there are, and there will be students

who will do the wisest “ninja moves” in their favor. Col. Plantado has this response: “There is no infinite trouble barrier. Kahit anong higpit mo, somehow, makalulusot sila kasi mag-iimbento sila ng paraan kung paano makapasok e.” (No matter how is the security, somehow, they [students] can find ways on how to get inside.)

Although some, particularly students, find the rules questionable there is no way they can get away with it forever for one of the school’s core values is uprightness and FEU will steadfastly adhere to a set of principles and a code of conduct integrated in the curriculum, academic and management policies.

Since every institution has a set of bylaws evident in FEU’s case through the handbook and other written constitutions, inspite of reservations and contentions, every person belonging to the Green-andGold community must comply for rules are rules and unlike promises, they are never meant to be broken.

Political Science Professor Roland Talento said that senators’ calls for the creation of a committee on ethics is ironic.

“Ironic in a sense that, well, that is how democracy works.

Ironic in a sense that, on a positive note, it shows that democracy is indeed living in this country.

Nobody is immune from criticism [irrespective[ of your position at the hierarchy of power. Nobody seems to be untouchable,” Talento said, adding that there is no such thing as “zero-corruption country.”

“The down side of it is, of course, the so-called ethics.

Ethics has been breached and because of this feud, they are not doing their jobs anymore. They are supposed to make laws for the benefit

the entire country but due to the personal vendetta for each other, nothing has been performed,” the professor said.

Talento pointed out that the Senate has already been an “expensive debating club” as it has already witnessed several debates used on privilege speeches.

“Hundreds and millions are spent but, seemingly, nothing has happened very much except for legislative inquiries which have not produced any law at all… So nonetheless, I see the Senate controversy or the current fiasco in the Senate between Santiago and Enrile something worthwhile yet hindi natin itinatanggi na mayroon siyang negative side (we cannot deny that it has a negative side),” he added.

14 November-December 2013 SPORTS New season, new start

Volleybelles trounce Lady Maroons

By Robert Jon L. Garcia

Easy play. Bernadette Pons performs a drop as she outsmarts the two Lady Maroons during their third match of the season. (Photo by Caroline B. Castro)

After seven months of preparation, with seven veterans and seven rookies in their lineup, the revamped Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws were tested under the bright lights and the crowd of the big league.

The Lady Tamaraws, in their first three games in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 76 Women’s Volleyball Tournament, attained a 2-1 win-loss record. FEU first demolished University of the East (UE) Lady Warriors, 25-14, 25-15 and 25-11, then fought hard but fell short against the Alyssa Valdez-led Ateneo De Manila University (ADMU) Lady Eagles, 25-19, 25-23 and 25-18.

R e g a i n i n g composure in the third game, FEU Volleybelles responded with a win over the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons in straight sets, 25-19, 25-18 and 25-17, last December 12 at FilOil-Flying V Arena, San Juan City.

Leaning on talent

Mary Remy Palma started the third and last set with two quick points to put FEU on the lead, 4-0.

Moments later, UP tied the game at five after middle blocker Alyssa Layug got two straight blocks.

When the set was tied at 11, Toni Basas and Palma joined forces to register a 6-2 run and grab the lead back, 17-13.

The green-and-gold squad closed the set with five

straight points to win, 25-17.

In the second set, the green-and-maroon squad was up early after a cross-court spike from Angelie Pauline Araneta, 0-3. The Lady Maroons maintained their threepoint advantage by blocking rookie Geneveve Casugod.

FEU answered with six straight points to take a 10-7 cushion.

The lead increased to six points, 15-9, after open spiker Bernadette Pons scored off-theblock. FEU kept their cool throughout the set as they won by seven points, 25-18.

Lady Tams started the first set with backto-back aces from Team Captain Gyzelle Sy. The lead of FEU bulked to four points after an error by UP’s Araneta. But, the Dilimanbased squad was able to tie the game at seven apiece via powertip from Katherine Bersola.

FEU responded with a 6-1 run, with four points coming from Palma, to take the lead back, 138. With momentum on their side, FEU’s lead increased by seven points, 20-13, following a spike from Samantha Dawson. The set ended with a six point advantage by FEU, 25-19.

Second year middle blocker Palma paced the Lady Tams with 15 points from 11 spikes, three blocks and an ace.

Super-rookie Pons found her game back with 14 points, 12 coming off from attacks, after being constantly blocked by the Ateneo wall defense last game.

Araneta had 10 points in eight spikes for the Lady Maroons, while

Katherine Bersola added eight points in six spikes and two blocks.

Still learning

After the team lost to Ateneo last December 8, when Valdez dominated the court with 23 huge points, the coaching staff pointed one thing about the team: immaturity.

Coaches explained that having seven rookies and a fourth year setter to lead the team is not an easy task to unite the team.

Yet the team managed to demolish UE on their first outing, had a close fight against ADMU and swept UP just like before.

Recently-appointed Head Coach Cesael ‘Shaq’ Delos Santos said after the first loss: “Siguro lumabas ‘yung pagiging ‘di pa mature, especially ‘yung mga crowd, ‘yung venue, siguro na-pressure din (I think their immaturity showed, especially [with] the crowd, and the venue. I think they were also pressured).”

On the other hand, players also felt the lack of

‘gel’ as a team in terms of playing together.

“Lahat naman okay eh, pantay-pantay naman.

Lahat naman kami nakakapasa at nakaka-receive, communication lang talaga ‘yung kulang [namin] (I think everything is okay, it’s on its right balance. All of us were able to pass and receive, we just lacked communication),” rookie Casugod expressed.

While rookies are still adjusting to the level of competition in UAAP, the team is leaning behind players like Libero Chistine Agno, who just came back with the team months before, middle blocker Palma, open spiker Dawson and setter Sy. Meanwhile, utility player Mayjorie Roxas is currently unavailable until the end of the first round.

Roxas sustained a knee injury, the same injury she had back in Season 74, and is only expected to rejoin the team in the second round of the tournament.

Pointing swords to triumph

Captains lead title redemption season Both of them came from worlds apart, along with them are contrasing stories, but despite their distinctness, they still have something in common: their dream of being successful in their chosen field.

It is rare to find someone who has passion for a sport which literally involves attacking your opponent with a sword. But, for these Tamaraws, it is through practice that they found a life upon themselves.

And they are going to do it repeatedly until they turn their dreams into reality.

Solar Boy

Neil Jason Asuncion started in Far Eastern University (FEU) as one of those students who comes to class and goes home afterwards. As a pasttime, the Laguna-native used to play basketball back when he was a young Tamaraw.

Their group would play basketball at the quad court of FEU even at the peak of the sun, thus, the creation of the group informally known as the ‘Solar Boys’.

Little did he know that it would eventually lead him to the life he is currently enjoying. After months of playing basketball together, their group decided to try a new sport—fencing.

Even though the sport is new for him, getting a medal in his first tourney is one reason to love fencing.

“Sa una, siyempre parang trip-trip lang. Pero n’ung nag-a-achieve na, nakakareceive na ‘ko ng medal...

Ang sarap sa feeling, (At first, of course I wasn’t serious about it but when I started achieving, receiving medals… It felt good.)”

Asked what his motivations are, Asuncion retorted, “Parents ko siyempre; kasi scholarship din ‘yun e. Parang tulong ko na rin. Wala silang babayaran; may boarding ka pa dito sa dorm (Of course, my parents, because of the scholarships. It’s my form of help. They don’t have to pay anything, plus, you have free boarding).”

Most members of

Charging fencers. Team Captains Darlene Drio and Neil Jason Asuncion aims to lead their team victory this UAAP Season 76. (Photos by Marione Paul G. Infantado and Angelica C. Fernandez)

the original Solar Boys triedout for the Men’s Fencing Team but only few were accepted.

At present, two of Asuncion’s teammates were also his good friends in his former group, namely: James Raymundo and Gino Albert Lintag.

The team captain also mentioned that this year will be his last playing year. Originally, the Team Foil athlete cannot play for the team this year due to ineligibility after his graduation.

But the 21-yearold graduate of Christian School International took BS Psychology as his second course to represent FEU for the final time.

When Asuncion has played-out his years in UAAP, he explained that he might still help the team as an assistant coach.

“Tutulong pa rin ako dito sa team (I will still help the team).”

Asuncion had the choice of getting a job upon his first graduation. But he chose otherwise for two reasons: the opportunity to study again and the chance to lead his team to finally getting the golden hardware.

Loyalty to royalty

Rarely do you see a fencing athlete introduced to the sport at a young age.

FEU Women’s Fencing team captain, Darlene Drio, is one of those fencers. The 4th year BS in Hotel and Restaurant Management student walks around the green-and-gold

community everyday dreaming of one thing: don the national team colors.

Drio started playing fencing at the age of 12 when she tried-out for the fencing team of Masambong Elementary School out of curiosity. In the end, this curiosity, turned into passion.

“Iba talaga siya sa ibang sports na kunyari basketball… Eto kasi parang ‘di ko alam, pero n’ung nalaman ko, ang sarap din laruin (It’s very different from other sport like basketball…This one isn’t famillar to me but when I learned it, I felt good playing),” Drio expressed.

While most athletes have the freewill to choose their path to greatness by deciding which university to attend, the Sergio Osmeña High School graduate did not have that freedom. “Sa totoo lang hindi kasi namin pinipili ‘yung school e. ‘Yung mismong coach namin sa QC [Quezon City] ‘yung nagbibigay ng school sa’min.

(The truth is, we don’t get to choose the school. Our coach from Quezon City is the one who chooses our school us),” Drio stated.

Nevertheless, Drio did express her love for FEU by stressing her willingness to play for the Morayta-based school, if given the chance to pick a school.

“Kasi dito masaya tiyaka mababait ‘yung mga coach. Okay sila dito, sobrang palakaibigan lahat kami dito (Because here it’s fun and all

the coaches are kind. They are okay here;we are all friendly here),” the 19-yearold Bicol native said.

Last UAAP season, Drio attained two bronze medals for FEU after winning in the Individual Foil Event and the Team Foil Event.

This UAAP season, as the team looks forward to climbing the podium once again, she emphasized that discipline will be the key.

“Disiplina lang sa training tiyaka sa sarili nila.

Kasi ayun ‘yung kulang namin talaga e, disiplina namin sa sarili namin (Discipline in our training and ourselves because that is what we lack: discipline in ourselves),” Drio mentioned.

While the team is expecting to bag sack of medals this season, Drio is focused on improving her game not just for FEU, but to also for the realization of her dreams.

Drio pointed out that she should have been in the national team today, but as her rankings declined, so did her dreams of making the team. However, as she said, “Kailangan lakas lang ng loob (You just need willpower).”

Dreams can be achieved in many ways and for Asuncion and Drio, sword is their greatest tool. And as they near the end of their college careers, expect that the upcoming UAAP Fencing will lead to their path to success.

-RJLG

SPORTS

November-December 2013 15

Finals slot in tatters

Tamaraws fall prey to Cobras

By Eryl Justine L. Bacnis

Great vigor. Anthony Hargrove muscles his way into the basket as they battle against SWU Cobras.

(Photo by Darlene S. Padilla)

Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws could not contain the attacks of the Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras as they lost with a huge margin, 86-71, on December 12, in the semifinals of the 2013 Philippine Collegiate Championship League (PCCL) at the FilOil Flying V Arena, San Juan City.

Coming into the convert their charities. final frame behind by 15, The Cebu-based squad 65-50, the green-and-gold converted six out of nine cagers unfurled a 9-2 run, free throws in their five capped by a runner courtesy trips to the line, building of guard Mike Tolomia to an insurmountable lead, make it 67-59 with less than 86-69, with 26 ticks left. seven minutes remaining.

The third quarter

T h e C o b r a s , started with the Tamaraws however, answered with five behind, 43-27. But in straight points via a lay-up the 7:03 mark, Tolomia and a three-ball from team sparked a 9-0 run, capped captain Monbert Arong, by a triple from guard Achie which pushed SWU’s lead Inigo, to trim SWU’s lead back to double-digits, 72- to just 10, 50-40, with 4:34 59, 4:15 left. on the clock.

Approaching the However, there was final minute of the game no stopping SWU, when with FEU behind by 13, they unleashed a 10-4 to 80-67, the Tamaraws gave establish another huge lead, intentional fouls in every 60-44, with 2:25 left. The Cobras’ possession to stop Cobras posted another huge the clock and hoped that lead, 65-48, through a lay-up SWU will miss at the line. by former Green Archer Mark But their hopes Tallo with 33 seconds left. dwindled little by little as The second quarter the Cobras were able to was the frame where the

Belo joins SEA Games-bound squad FEU Tamaraws’ Mark Belo will don the national team colors in the international arena after being included in the Philippines’ basketball squad that will play in the 2013 Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar from December 8 to 16.

The six-foot-three forward is joined by Kiefer Ravena, Bobby Ray Parks, Kevin Alas, Jake Pascual, Garvo Lanete, Ronald Pascual, Kevin Ferrer, Jericho Cruz, Prince Caperal, Matt Rosser Ganuelas and Marcus Douthit to strengthen the country’s bid to defend the gold medal. Roi Sumang and Fil-American Richard Smith were also tapped as reserves of the team.

Belo’s former teammates RR Garcia and reigning UAAP Most Valuable Player Terrence Romeo were initially tapped in the national team, but they decided to elevate their games and join the pro ranks.

In the recently concluded University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 76 Men’s Basketball Tournament, the second year player from North Cotabato averaged 8.8 points per game and 7.1 rebounds per game.

-EJLB

Tamaraws lost control of the game. With a 16-14 lead entering the quarter, FEU’s

defense went a bit rusty, which made SWU pull off a 10-4 run to lead at 24-20, with 6:59 on the clock.

FEU started the game with the upper hand in the first quarter, posting their biggest lead, 15-6, through a lay-up by Anthony Hargrove. But the Cobras crawled back and had their very first offensive run of the game, 8-1, to close within two, 16-14, at the end of the quarter.

Mendoza led the Tamaraws with 16 points (4/8 triples), 7 rebounds, and 6 assists in his probable last game in an FEU jersey.

Forward Carl Cruz and Tolomia chipped in 15 and 14 markers, respectively.

“We deserved to lose,” stressed by Assistant Coach Eric Gonzales, who temporarily took over as head coach in place of Head Coach Nash Racela, who is currently with the Sinag Pilipinas Basketball National Team competing in the 2013 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Myanmar. “It’s because we didn’t play by heart. We didn’t hustle. We deserve it [the loss],” he added.

Strong campaign cut short

FEU was actually on a roll since its very first game of the tourney, scoring a ten-point win over National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) bronze medalists San Sebastian College-Recoletos (SSC-R) Golden Stags, 83-73, with forward Mark Belo leading the way with 19 points and 14 boards.

After a win over the Golden Stags, FEU cruise past newfound UAAP rivals National University (NU) Bulldogs, 88-70, behind a stellar showing from Anthony Hargrove, posting 28 and 13.

In the Finals of the Metro Manila-Luzon leg, University of Santo Tomas (UST) demolished the Tamaraws’ 21-point lead to inch within striking distance.

But the Morayta-based Cagers still outlasted UST, posting a tight 71-68 victory, claiming the last slot of the Final Four.

The green-and-gold squad’s first assignment in the single round-robin format semis was the reigning NCAA champs San Beda College (SBC) Red Lions. Despite entering the Final Four

without top forward Mark Belo due to his tour of duty with Sinag Pilipinas, the Tamaraws posted a 62-56 victory over the Red Lions, led by Tolomia’s 23 points.

But things went into a stride prior to their next two games in the Final Four. FEU lost by 20 against reigning University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) champions De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers, 80-60. Coming next was the Tamaraws’ recent loss against the SWU Cobras, 86-71.

Asked how their PCCL campaign turned out, Coach Eric Gonzalez said “The intensity is there, but the consistency? Wala.

(None).”

Despite the turnaround, Coach Gonzalez remains opstimistic as he sees what the team should work on for next year’s UAAP cage fest, “Depensa (defense). Ayun ‘yung kailangan naming trabahuhin pa for UAAP next year (that’s what we need to work on for next year’s UAAP).”

Lady Booters out-hustle UP, settle for a 1-1 draw

By Rogie S. Sabado

A duel with diminishing number of players between Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Booters and the University of the Philippines (UP) Lady Maroons ended in an unlikely 1-1 draw last December 7 at FEU-Diliman pitch, Quezon City.

The Lady Booters now occupies the second spot in the elimination round of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Women’s Football Tournament with a 1-1 windraw slate, equivalent to four points, as of press time.

University of Santo Tomas (UST) is atop the standing with seven points (2-1) while De La Salle University (DLSU) is at third with the same four points from a win, a draw and two losses, but has a -4 goal difference compared to FEU’s +4.

Hold-off

After thrashing their last year’s bridesmaid DLSU Lady Booters in their virtual

first game last December 1, 4-0, FEU started aggressively, but it was the towering rookiestriker of UP Kali Alexandra Navea-Huff who drew their first blood, four minutes in the regulation.

With the pressure going their way, the Moraytabased squad quickly countered for an attack then ultimately regained their composure with a Mae Sullano’s equalizer in the ninth minute.

However, the momentum came to a sudden halt after Jessa Marie Sumagpao received a red card for striking an opponent in the 17th minute.

“Unang-una nakakadown ‘yung nangyari dahil sa red card na ‘yun so out na kami ng one player and then tinadtad kami ng yellow card kaya medyo naging shaky ‘yung team pero lumalaban pa rin (First of all, the red card dampened [the spirit of the team]. We’re playing with one less player then we were strafed with yellow cards

[Jenelyn Amita, 26’; Sullano, 31’]. The team became shaky but they still fought),” shared FEU Head Coach Marnelli Dimzon.

Without its one playmaker on the field, FEU still dominated the attack. The green-and-gold team had a chance to score but Alesa Dolino’s two consecutive free kicks off UP fouls did not get in.

Dolino had another opportunity in the 21st minute but the ball hit the crossbar, rebounded, and was easily collected by UP’s goalie.

In the 57th minute, UP was able to penetrate the penalty box of FEU and almost converted it twice but their play was immediately cleared by Dolino, both via header.

The number of player stood at 10-10 in the 62nd minute, and was then further reduced to 10-9, nine minutes after, in favor of FEU. UP’s Mary Rose Obra received her second yellow card translating to a red card and ejection in the game. Obra, together with

Equal match. An FEU Lady Booter chases the ball against a UP Lady Maroon at the newly-developed FEU-Diliman football field. (Photo by Angelica C. Fernandez)

Sumagpao, will serve a twogame suspension.

Even with the numbers on their side, FEU still failed to capitalize and was unable to create a play in the latter half of the second period.

Since the Dilimanbased squad relied mostly on direct passes from the middle to the FEU side, the Lady Booters exhausted all their effort to contain the attack of UP and due to cramps and injuries, were not able to orchestrate a smooth transition from defense to offense.

Adjustments

Familiarity with the field remains the advantage of the Morayta-based squad but as the season progress, Dimzon revealed that they have to work on a very vital position: keeper.

“With regard sa attacking and defending wala naman akong masyadong masasabi (I don’t have any problem with it). Siguro ‘yung sa goal keeping lang kasi mostly ang goals sa amin is nanggagaling lang sa error ng keeper since ang goalkeeper ko eh second keeper lang siya so kulang pa sa experience (We have to work with our goal keeping because, most goals scored against us are coming from the errors of our keeper since she is only a second [stringer] keeper, thus, lacking in experience),” said Dimzon.

“Galing siya [Sullano] sa operation, so nagre-recover pa. Sa kamay kasi ‘yung operation niya so nagrerecover pa kaya ginagamit ko siya sa field ([Sullano] just came off from an operation and is still recovering. She underwent surgery in her hand so I’m utilizing her in the field),” Dimzon added of her main keeper Sullano who only checked-in as a keeper in the last 10 minutes of the game after playing full press defense.

Tracksters extend dynasty Women’s seal 10-peat; Men’s secure 4th straight

They came; they fought; and without mercy—they conquered.

In another show of might and power, Far Eastern University (FEU) Men’s and Women’s Track and Field teams flexed their muscles to deliver the first two championships of the Tamaraw horde this season.

FEU played the main cast and shoved everyone else in the background of the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Track and Field Tournament held last December 5 to 8 at De La Salle University-Dasmariñas.

Lady Tracksters stomped their class to accomplish another unparalleled feat―10th straight title―with a 10-10-5 gold-silverbronze medal haul and a total of 451 points. The University of Santo Tomas (UST), which even led FEU, 120-119, after the first day, placed second with 394 markers while the 233 point-output of the University of the East (UE) rounded up the

medal group.

Shorthanded yet unmatched, FEU Men’s Athletics Team made sure their reign will not end after a 10-4-5 medal harvest and convincingly amassed 378.5 point for a fourin-a-row crown and their eighth title in the last nine years.

UST and University of the Philippines (UP) trailed the 21-time champion with 299 and 242 points, respectively.

Ten and counting

Jenysmille Mabunga and former Most Valuable Player (MVP) Dalyn Carmen shone the brightest for the green-and-gold squad in four long-distance events: 1500-meter, 5000-and 10000-meter runs and 3000-meter steeplechase, for gold and silver medal finishes, respectively.

Mabunga made history with a record-breaking performance in the 3000-meter steeplechase. She clocked 11:26.60 seconds to upend the 11:28.54-s record of UST’s

Decade of dominance. Lady Tracksters triumph as they bag their10th straight title last December 8. (Photo by Marione Paul G. Infantado)

Jean Palenci set in 2009 then collected an additional silver medal in the 800-m run (2:24.411 s) to covet this year’s MVP plum.

“Masaya po, kasi last year po kung hindi ako naggold sa 5-k, MVP po si Dalyn

Tams regain strength over Blue Eagles

Drop dead. Team captain Karl Ian Dela Calzada drops the ball against an AdU falcon during the first match of the season. (Photo by Marione Paul G. Infantado)

Upon exit of key players like open spiker Arvin Avila, ace setter Pitrus Paolo Deocampo and middle blocker Ronald Tonquin, Far Eastern University (FEU) Men’s Volleyball Team looks poised to do something they did when these players were only greenhorns: enter the finals with a rookie-laden team.

After their season the Tamaraws with 12 points in opening loss to Adamson 10 spikes. Rookie Jeric Gacutan University (AdU) Soaring added 11 points in nine spikes, Falcons, FEU bounced-back by and co-rookie Gregorio Dolor and beating the Ateneo De Manila Alexis Faytaren had nine each.

Open spiker Marck University (ADMU) Blue Eagles, 28-26, 25-21 and 28-26 last Espejo tallied 17 markers for the December 7 at FilOil-Flying V Blue Eagles in 12 spikes and three service aces while Ricci Gonzales Arena, San Juan City.

Team Captain Karl Ian had 12 points in 11 spikes.

FEU was up in the Dela Calzada led the charge for

third set early, 8-1, punctuated by a service ace from Faytaren.

ADMU responded with five straight points to cut the deficit to only two points, 8-6.

The Blue Eagles tied the game at 13-all as Ateneo’s Team Captain Ysrael Wilson Marasigan scored off a service ace. Then, a short-rally by ADMU gave them a two-point advantage, 16-18.

The set went down-thewire with over two deuces. After the Katipunan-based squad got in front, 25-26, the Morayta-based spikers unleashed a massive three straight points to steal the set, 28-26.

In the second set, FEU was only up by two points, 9-7, as Ateneo registered six errors of the nine FEU points. Midway through the set, the Tams had their biggest lead of seven points, 19-13, after a service ace by Dolor. ADMU could not find a run in the set and went down, 25-21.

In the opening set, moving ahead of each other was the struggle as both teams could not find a run. The set was tied at seven apiece after a service error from Ateneo.

The blue-and-white squad was the first team to find the second gear as the green-andgold squad went down by as much as six points, 12-18. However, Tams tied the game at 22 courtesy of their 10-4 run. The set needed two deuces before FEU finally won the first set, 28-26.

Carmen, ‘yung back-to-back MVP po. Sabi ko po, kung ako ‘yung naging dahilan kung bakit nawala ‘yung MVP sa FEU, sana po ako din po ‘yung dahilan para ibalik (I’m very happy. If I did not win the gold medal for the 5000-m event last year, Dalyn Carmen could have defended her back-to-back MVP title. So since I was the reason why the MVP did not came from FEU last year, I told myself that I should also be the

reason for [the MVP title] to be back),” said Mabunga.

“Kaya masaya po ako na naibalik ko siya (That’s why I’m glad that I was able to reclaim the title,)” she quipped with tears moisting in her eyes.

Greatness never ends for the Lady Tracksters as Joean Bermudo soared the highest in high jump (1.60-meter).

Bermudo continued her solid performance in the long (5.43-meter) and triple jump

(12.13-meter). Angelica Janda and UP’s Mariane Audrey grab the silver and bronze medals, respectively, in high jump with the same finish as Bermudo.

Meanwhile, Avegail Marie Dizon nabbed the silver medal in triple jump (11.99-meter) and placed third in 100-meter dash (12.6 seconds).

In other field events, FEU’s Evalyn Palabrica (36.53-meter) locked her horn to successfully target the first spot in Javelin Throw while compatriot Jennefer Penepona (38.62-meter) placed second.

Sarah Sunga caught the gold medal with a 36.53-meter throw of discus as Palabrica (33.60-meter) settled for bronze. Lei Ann Tan clawed the second and third spot in shotput (10.77-meter) and hammer throw (30.17-meter), respectively.

Rounding up FEU’s 23rd overall title is Jennyrose Omena’s runner-up finish in pole vault (2.65-meter), Marylyn Avila’s bronze medal in 100-meter hurdles (16.25-meter), and the third place finish of Dizon, Avila, Marimar Amara and Christine Continue to page 13...

Booters grab top spot Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws Men’s Football Team sneaked past the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors, 1-0, last December 6, in the early stages of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 76 Football Tournament held at the FEU-FERN Football Field in Diliman, Quezon City.

The match was evidently tight right at the kickoff with UE fully displaying their defensive prowess against the Tamaraws who experienced a hard time finding the right positioning to set plays.

However, the greenand-gold Booters tried their best to hit goals by attacking UE’s defensive wall through powerful kicks. FEU had few but brief chances in making goals, but to no avail. The first half ended in a 0-all affair.

The huge turnaround for the Red Warriors came in the 15th minute of the match, when striker Fitch Arboleda sustained a hamstring injury which caused him to miss the second half.

Arboleda is the league’s leading scorer with five goals in four matches, beating FEU’s Jesus Melliza,

the reigning best striker of UAAP, with four goals in four matches.

In the second half, Tams found their groove back with their offensive and defensive plays in full display. The Morayta-based team discovered a solution to organize plays against the Recto-based squad’s tight D with crisp passes and more fluid ball.

With six seconds before hitting the 50th minute of the match, Tamaraw Booter Paolo Bugas had a good look of the goal, but it just became a mere attempt after UE goalie Lendon Clores sent the ball away from the goal.

In the 55th minute of the match, FEU’s Chy Villasenor was hard-pressed to send the match into 1-nil in favor of the Tamaraws when he kicked the ball from afar towards the goal.

But, then again, the Red Warriors’ goalkeeper Clores just prevented the ball from touching.

FEU rookie Harold Alcoresa, in the 63rd minute, tried to scorch the ball in the net, but his shot went off, with just a mere few inches from the top of the goal.

The turnaround for the Tams was in the 67 th

minute, when UE’s Michael Tulio accidentally gave a headbutt to FEU striker Melliza free kick.

Angelou Val Jurao did not waste the prized free kick privilege as his shot evaded a brickwall of UE defenders and caught the goalkeeper’s defense sleeping and scorched the net to send them ahead, 1-0, in the 69th minute of the match. “’Yung goal na ‘yon, unexpected ko ‘yon eh, kasi mahina ‘yung pagkakasipa ko (That goal was unexpected, because my kick was kind of weak),” said Jurao, about his thoughts with the goal that propelled them to victory.

“Pero pumasok pa rin, at nag-papasalamat ako doon (But it still went in and I’m thankful for that).”

Despite UE’s physical play on FEU, the Booters proved to be the more aggressive squad with a whopping 21 goal attempts.

As of press time, the Male Booters ranked first in the tourney, with 12 points and a 4-0-0 win-draw-loss slate. The UE Red Warriors, meanwhile, dropped to second, sporting a 3-1-1 windraw-loss slate.

-Eryl Justine L. Bacnis

Continue to page 13...

FEU cops gold medals in Unigames Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws once again made its presence felt in the national stage after claiming three championship titles in the 18th Philippine University Games (UniGames) held at University of St. La Salle (USLS), Bacolod City.

Perennial University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) champions Far Eastern University’s (FEU) Track and Field Teams showed another dominant performance

in the annual meet, finishing atop De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde and Jose Rizal University in the men’s division, and over University of Santo Tomas (UST) and USLS in the distaff side.

Conceding only two goals, the FEU Lady Booters jump-start their UAAP title retention bid with an impressive 4-1 win-draw card to claim the crown. FEU blanked University of the Philippines (3-0), Ateneo de Manila University (3-0), and University of San Carlos (8-0);

edged De La Salle University (2-1) then settled for a draw against UST (1-1).

FEU Lady Tamaraws made an impact after pounding the three-time UAAP champion DLSU Lady Archers in the semi-finals in straight sets, 2523, 25-22, 25-23. But they fell to the UST Golden Tigresses in the finals, 25-13, 10-25, 14-25, 25-14, 15-8.

-RRS

Face off. An FEU booter tries to control the ball as he plays one-on-one against a UE Red Warrior. (Photo by Marione Paul G. Infantado)