October - November 2018

OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2018

VOL. XXII NO.1

www.issuu.com/feuadvocate

SAMPALOC,MANILA

FEU implements changes, prepares K-12 graduates

By Aliesha Rae J. Johnson and Kenneth Adrian S. Alabado

Following the drought of freshmen for the past two years, Far Eastern University (FEU) sets the new academic year with major changes to cater K-12 graduates.

transferees are compliant to the CMOs that [were] released

by CHED,” Dr. Villar explained.

Aside from the new set of curriculum, one of the major changes that FEU implemented is found in the GE courses.

There was a low number of freshmen in the University following the government’s implementation of K-12 curriculum which added two years of high school to the basic four years of secondary education.

According to Dr. Gerald L. Villar, University Registrar, the average number of freshmen enrollees and transferees every year before the K-12 was implemented ranges from 6000 to 7000. However, this year recorded 7500 freshmen and transferees combined for FEU Manila and Makati campuses.

“Maybe this is historically one of the big numbers of the students that we had. Despite of that, we really do not know the impact of Senior High in the coming years because this is just the first year,” Dr. Villar said.

“During the drought season wherein there is a limited number of graduate, FEU is actually doing its part

According to Dr. Villar, the reason for the major changes in the GE courses is due to its integration in the K-12 curriculum. However, there are still GE courses in the tertiary education that were not taken by the K-12 graduates.

One of the major changes in GE courses for freshmen is the number of units.

Fresh Start. FEU welcomes the first batch of K-12 graduates. (Photo by Alexzhis Mark G. Belga) in [increasing the] number [of] freshmen, so this is actually ‘yung (that) 7500 is [the fruits] of our hardship and labor that was made by our division group in support to the academic and non-academic units,” he furthered.

Aside from the effort of the university’s administration to gather as many enrollees as possible, major changes from the old system were also

FEU prof receives Ulirang Guro sa Filipino 2018 award Far Eastern University (FEU) faculty member Dr. Emmanuel Gonzales was distinguished as one of the Ulirang Guro sa Filipino 2018 honorees by the Commission on the Filipino Language.

As a result of his threeyear preparation to qualify for the said award, Gonzales contributed to the field of the Filipino language with his immersion in various studies and activities in relation to the establishment and cultivation on the academic use of Filipino.

“Actually, aim ko ‘yon [to win the Ulirang Guro]. Kaya ang ginawa ko nag-ipon ako talaga ng mga research, tapos [I worked on my] advocacy para mag-qualify ako. Tapos nagparecommend ako sa chair ng Filipino Department, [I told them] na gusto kong sumali.

Kasi kailangan meron kang hihingin na recommendations.

(Actually, it was my goal.

That is why I invested on my research works and then I invested on my advocacy to qualify. After that, I asked the Filipino Department for a recommendation, [I told them] that I want to join. Because one of the requirements is to ask for recommendations),” Gonzales stated.

According to Gonzales, his edge among the 158 applicants was his research works and practice of teaching foreign students the Filipino language.

The modules and textbooks he authored (Special Filipino Program for FEU Foreign Students) are utilized in FEU for the integration of Filipino language to foreign students.

One of his successful studies presented to the Ulirang Guro 2018 is his research on the use of Filipino language in the field of Marketing.

Gonzales also fronts as the chairperson of Pampelikulang

Samahan ng mga Dalubguro.

The program evaluates and recognizes Filipino actors and promotes nominated Filipino films as educational materials and effective medium in flourishing the Filipino culture. “‘Yung nag-pokus ng research ko, tungkol [ito] sa espasyo ng Wikang Filipino sa pelikulang Filipino. ‘Yung ibig sabihin, mabigyan siya ng puwang, ‘yung space, na magamit ang Wikang Filipino sa talakayan, sa pelikula.

Kasi kapag sinabing Filipino, hindi lang Tagalog o ano.

‘Yung iba ring lengguwahe sa Pilipinas tulad ng Ilocano, Kapampangan (The focus of my research is about the space of the Filipino language on Filipino films. It means that it is giving the capacity, the space, to utilize Filipino language during discussions, [and] in films. When we say Filipino, it does not pertain to Tagalog alone. There are also other languages like Ilocano and Kapampangan),” Gonzales explained.

Moreover, with his outstanding dedication to the academe, FEU entrusted Gonzales with the position of Program Head of the Language and Literature Department under the Institute of Arts and Sciences (IAS) this academic year 2018-2019.

Ulirang Guro sa Filipino Award is given to distinguished educators with outstanding contribution to the Filipino language, inclusive of the different disciplines such as culture and identity, regardless of their region of origin.

The awarding ceremony steered last October 1 at the College of Education, University of Santo Tomas.

-Shane Vallery A. Beduya

planned and executed in line with the changes brought about by the implementation of K-12 program.

The major changes executed were: (1) new curriculum - with the new set of General Education (GE) courses, and program majors in third year, (2) classroom setting, (3) grading system, (4) student evaluation, (5) teaching paradigm -Student

Centered Learning (SCL)- and (6) Wellness and Recreation Program (WRP) which is used to be known as Physical Education (PE).

Curriculum Education

and

General

This year marked conclusion of the first batch of K-12 program of the Department of Education.

Part of the preparations of the university for the

implementation of programs to cater K-12 graduates is to comply with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Memorandum Order (CMO) with regards to the new set of curricula proposed by the university for its different programs.

“So we were able to comply with that [CMO] so basically those programs that we are offering to our freshmen and

CLAYGO advocacy gains support

Far Eastern University (FEU) supports the implementation of the clean as you go (CLAYGO) policy inside the campus.

Waste Management FEU started the school year with an extensive number of enrollees which bolstered problems on impending heaps of improper waste disposal and imperils campus sanitary state.

According to the Office of the Registrar, FEU welcomed an estimated 7,500 new enrollees for academic year 2018-2019 for both Makati and Manila campuses in addition to the retaining students, resulting to greater volume of waste disposal.

Facilities and Technical Services (FTS) Supervisor of Diars Inc. Francis Mendoza

admitted to a shortage of manpower due to loads of major activities [such as events and concerts] which resulted into impending loads of wastes.

He addressed this concern as a matter to focus on within their department.

Despite the absence of events, trash bins are seen filled to the brim. In defense, FTS denied the matter, and insisted that trash stagnation will never happen due to active staff coordination and stable cleaning process.

“Inside our campus, trash stagnation will never be visible due to active and observant housekeeping staff and maintenance we coordinate to each other whether there is a possibility of the said issue,” Mendoza claimed.

On the contrary, interviews

with sermans (maintenance staff) and routine personnel revealed not much coordinance and no apparent knowledge as to which department they belonged, countering their supervisor’s claims.

The current number of serving personnel in FEU for cleaning and maintenance falls short in 90 compared to the almost 13,000 old and new students, exclusive of the faculty and staff.

Interdisciplinary Studies student Marjay Patdu affirmed that with the increasing rate of enrollees, it is already expected for the rubbish to grow in higher volume. However, he asserted that despite the number, it boils down to the students’ discipline in complying with imposed CLAYGO policy.

READ SANITATION | PAGE 3

Threat of Growing Garbage. The amount of trash in the campus continues to multiply as number of students increases. (Photo by Martina Audrey L. Vicencio)

“The rigorous preparations in relation to the courses came full swing in 2016. A total of 15 committees worked on the development of the 15 new GE courses, making sure they are aligned with FEU’s academic directions. The same numbers of committees were organized to review the [syllabus],” GE Director Joventina Madriaga explained.

The change in GE did not only cover the curriculum but also the setting of classroom discussion with SCL. READ K-12 | PAGE 3

5 FEU Grads top Medtech boards Five Far Eastern University (FEU) alumni topped the September 2018 licensure exams for medical technologist.

Ericson Lim Cua led the FEU examinees with a rating of 91.50%, placing him fourth among the top highest scorers.

“Honestly, I did not [expect it], especially after the first day of the exam, specifically the subject microbiology and parasitology. The exam questions were not the usual or common knowledge that we have.

To be honest, [it] requires one to have read even the most unlikely and rare organisms that may or may not be significant,” said Cua. Following Cua, Christine Joy Magkasi De Leon claimed the fifth place with a rating of 91.00%. Listed in sixth place is Jarina Alery Deocampo Benguan who got 90.80% in the exams.

Kenneth Panaligan Generoso and Loren Martinez Deduyo shared the ninth place, after scoring 89.80%.

READ MEDTECH | PAGE 3

B E A T S FEU alumnus tops October CPA boards

Far Eastern University (FEU) graduate Lanz Adrian Martin Cruz ranked fifth in the October 2018 Certified Public Accountant Licensure Exam (CPALE).

Cruz garnered a 90.17% rating in the examination.

FEU registers 90 accountants out of 125 takers, with a performance rate of 72%, higher than the 66.67% record last May 2018. First takers scored an overall performance rate of 76.32%.

The national passing rate dropped to 25.18% or 3,616 out of 14,358 examinees, from the 28.92% or a total of 2,843 passers out of 9830 examinees last May 2018.

The results were released by the Professional Regulatory Commission last October 23.

FEU hosts Maningning Miclat Art Awards To honor young artists and the life of late trilingual poet and painter, Maningning Miclat, Far Eastern University (FEU) hosted the eighth biennial Art Awards of the Maningning Miclat Art Foundation Inc. (MMAFI) last September 26, at the FEU Auditorium.

In cooperation with FEU President’s Committee on Culture (PCC), MMAFI once again celebrated art, hailing Pangasinan State University’s Jessica Lopez with her oil on canvas painting, ‘Motion O’ Life’, among 18 semifinalists from different universities.

The winner was awarded with a Julie LLuch sculpture trophy, 28,000-peso check, Miclat book collection and solo exhibit at District Hall.

Maningning Miclat Art Awards is a biennial arts competition held every even-numbered year since 2004 and upholds a vision of recognizing, nurturing and promoting talented young artists through art awards and encouraging creativity in the process.

PRC accredits IE as CPD provider Institute of Education (IE) has beenaccreditedbythePhilippine Regulatory Commission (PRC) to offer Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programs.

“Not many institutions are approved by PRC. We’re just really lucky,” Dr. Elisa S. Mañalac, dean of IE, said.

The institute, a Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Center of Excellence in Teacher Education, was granted to conduct seminars with CPD units. Dr. Mañalac explained that the institute submitted all the required documents for the accreditation with the help of Center for Teaching, Learning & Continuing Education.

“The topics that we submitted are really the topics that are needed by the professional teachers for their development,” Dr. Mañalac stated.

Among the topics they have presented were Managing the 21st Century Classrooms, Stress Management for Teachers, and the Philippine Professional Standards for Teachers. According to Dr. Mañalac, the topics are in the National Research Agenda for Teacher Education.

READ “PRC” | PAGE 3

FEU improves campus safety and security Financial Assistance, Registrar, and the Alumni Relations Offices. A new Student Lounge complete with a game room and meeting rooms will be provided at the ground floor of the Education Building, and a modern University Health Services will be located at the ground floor of Architecture and Fine Arts Building.

The Facilities and Technical Services (FTS) mentioned that have always been vigilant and well prepared for the internal premises.

In conducting maintenance, facilities with high usage such as comfort rooms, elevators, kitchens, and laboratories are checked every week while the fire-fighting equipments are checked every month. FEU’s major electrical equipment follows strict maintenance schedule.

“If there is something broken, it is fixed immediately to avoid inconvenience for users,” Engr. Edward Kilakiga vice president of FTS said.

To further enforce security, strict implementation of measures were observed inside and outside the campus.

According to FTS, FEU Security inspects anyone who enters the university premises whether they are pedestrians or in a vehicle. It is mandatory for employees to wear their Identification Cards (IDs), students must be in proper uniform, and visitors have to be confirmed by departments they have appointments with.

Moreover, they always check what is brought in and out, and expensive gadgets or items are required to be declared for issuing of gate pass.

FTS also has a direct line of communication with the University Belt Area Police Community Precinct (UBA PCP), and Bureau of Fire Protection that facilitates FEU’s fire and safety drills. The office intended to conduct regular drills to enhance the disaster preparedness of the community.

In maintaining order in the facilities, features such as Fire Detection and Alarm System (FDAS), turnstiles,

closed-circuit television (CCTV), and electrical systems are all checked on a regular basis. The CCTV cameras were positioned in strategic areas and roving guards are present. The Discipline Office and respective department concerned are bound to provide corresponding action to students, employees, concessioners, contractors, and visitors who will commit any offense in the facilities.

Meanwhile, FTS planned to install accelerograph inside the campus. The accelerograph will measure vibrations and detect ground movement.

All departments have been oriented about proper safety measures using the FEU emergency preparedness manual.

Engr.

Kilakiga further disclosed plans for renovating several buildings by the opening of academic year 2019-2020. The Admissions Building will be the new home of the Admissions and

New tapping system The old turnstile machines in gate three were replaced with new turnstile flap barriers.

According to the office of Marketing and Communication, the old turnstiles were replaced because of model and technology upgrade and disaster improvement measure.

Dr. Rowena C. Reyes, manager of Marketing and Communication, said that the old turnstiles are no longer being produced or are too expensive to repair, operate and maintain.

She also mentioned that the machine’s ability to account the people who have not exited the school grounds (by tapping out) improves the disaster measure of the university.

Likewise, the head and consultant of Safety and Security Office (SSO), Col. Buenaventura M. Plantado disclosed that the new turnstile flap barrier aids in strengthening the security of the community as it can account for people who are still inside the campus.

“Maganda ‘yang features na iyan nakakadagdag sa security ng campus, biruin mo na-a-account natin kung sinong estudyante ang nasa loob pa (It has good features that add to the security of the campus. We can account those students who are still inside [the campus]),” Plantado stated.

The use of the machines in gate three was executed

“K-12” | PAGE 1 In addition, Madriaga breaks the misconception of SCL. According to her, SCL being a new teaching paradigm does not regard the teacher as the “higher source of knowledge” and the students as passive listeners.

She further emphasized that instead of delivering lectures, the teachers should create situations for the students to be involved in the discussion.

“Let me also say, SCL [as a] teaching practice does not unburden the teacher. It does not reduce the teacher to just being a listener, not making a point in class. The teacher coconstructs knowledge with her students, by way of asking the right questions that will steer the class towards clear and deep appreciation of the topic at hand,” Madriaga clarified.

Faculty Preparation During the commencement of senior high school, some faculty members did not teach due to the lack of enrolled students in college. However, Dr. Villar clarified that during that span of two years, FEU was “generous enough” to offer the teachers training. He also added that there were teachers who decided to leave the University and FEU was “generous enough” to offer something to those who retired.

“So first option was training, retooling, faculty development and then there [were] also some who wants to avail retirement so FEU is generous to approve that options,” Dr. Villar said.

As part of the FEU’s Aspiration 2020 which is to be among the top five universities in the country, Madriaga mentioned that this

aspiration can be achieved through the students’ development of three major skills: Digital Literacy, Effective Communication, and Critical Thinking (DLECCT).

Madriaga further added that the professors went to trainings to be knowledgeable with the aforementioned skills.

“Towards this end, the University launched the DLECCT program, a training program that groomed the faculty for the DLECCT and SCL teaching paradigm.

DLECCT was conducted for 139 faculties, in six batches, with each batch running for one semester.”

She further discussed, “With DLECCT, another fourpart GE Faculty Assembly Series and eight Study Circles were held to engage the faculty in the teaching of specific courses,” Madriaga shared.

In addition, Renato L. Serapio, vice president of Human Resource Development said that there are 32 Teaching Assistants that were hired for this semester, most of whom are fresh graduates.

“Teaching Assistants serving as facilitators in Blended Learning Courses similarly underwent fast tracked DLECCT and SCL training,” Madriaga said.

Classroom Setting Classroom scenarios are also affected by the changes in the university, with each types of classroom settings designed to complement the subjects with the number of students and integration of Canvas.

First of the modifications is the Blended learning Courses

(BLCs) which includes the subject courses like GED0104 (Science technology & Society), GED0110 (Understanding the Self), GED0113 (The Filipino in the Contemporary World) and Applied Ethics (GED0114) which are conducted 50% online - via Canvas, and 50% face-to-face discussion.

“One key feature of the BLCs is the Public Intellectual Lectures (PILS) by invited lecturers who have earned distinction in their area of specialization. Students meet with Teaching Assistants in discussion sessions once a week, but they have to watch the PILS, then work on enrichment and assessment activities on Canvas,” Madriaga explained.

The next one is the Skill Building Courses (SBCs) where it is composed of small classes with 20-25 students per class and it is used in subject courses like College Academic Skills in English (GED0101), Speech Communication (GED0109), Purposive Communication (GED0111), and Scholarly Inquiry (GED0110).

“SBCs are conducted in small rooms designed for discussions. These courses are intended to hone students’ reading, writing, speaking and [presentation] skills as well as research skills, all necessary for their survival in the major subjects,” Madriaga stated.

Last is the Regular Courses where classes are composed of 40-45 students per class which is the usual setting of classrooms before.

In addition to the aforementioned changes in classroom setting, one notable modification in classes is the innovation of PE to WRP. According to Dr. Villar, the

WRP provides the students freedom to choose the kind of program they intend to attend during the entire semester.

He further added that unlike the PE program which only lasts for the first two years of a student’s program, the WRP will last for the entire program.

“So in the case of a student who enroll for a four-year program, expect that the students will enjoy this WRP for the entire four years,” Dr. Villar said.

Student Evaluation In order to achieve a “quality and meaningful education”, Ariel T. Capati, Office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs (SVPAA) coordinator, stated that the University had to look back on its philosophy and curriculum in order to “make sure that both are responsive, appropriate, and relevant to the contexts of its stakeholders.”

“With this in mind, revamping of the curriculum from performance-based to outcomes-based, changing of teaching methodology from instructional paradigm to learning paradigm, and modifying assessment and evaluation from misaligned to aligned curricular element were done in light of studentcentered ideology. The latter underscored the crafting and implementation of policies that truly measures students’ learning, achievement, and is transparent, and just,” Capati explained.

The student evaluation has been divided into two formative assessments (FA) and summative assessments (SA).

“Formative assessments (FA) should refer to specific

More than Accessories. The installation of new turnstiles in gate three is part of the imposed safety and security measures of the university. (Photo by Martina Audrey L. Vicencio)

The Far Eastern University (FEU) community continues to experience improvements on safety and security as different departments imposed several safety and security measures.

by the SSO under the implementation of FTS. Unlike the old machines, the turnstile flap barriers feature a lighting system.

Security strengthens as the sensor, lights, and barrier of the machine is “quick” in recognizing identity of the personnel entering the campus. Chief Security Officer Velandro O. Miguel stated the similarity of the colors seen in the tapping system to the road traffic lights.

Prior to the flap or the glass barrier and lights, it has advance precaution by means of colors: red, green, and blue, and the yellow line.

The color red means stop, when the identification card (ID) was not detected properly by the machine. Green means go, when upon tapping the ID and it was distinguished by the machine, the student can then enter. The blue color signifies standby. The yellow line serves as the distance from the machine, where the students must stand on as they tap their ID. In addition, the machines can record the time in and time out of the students and requires them to tap their ID upon exiting the campus.

As of this school year, the turnstile flap barrier machines will be used in gate three only.

“FEU strives to make continuous improvements to its facilities and systems. The improvement in the turnstiles is part of the overall program,” Dr. Reyes disclosed.

The replacement of all the old units into the new machines are still in progress. FTS stated that due to the expensiveness of each machine, it will take time for them to install it in the rest of the gates and have a full functioning system.

-Aldaia Danelle B. Auman and Kaye Angelique S. Baeza

or smaller parts of the course intended in building micro knowledges and skills that are translated in preparing and achieving better opportunities for summative assessments.

The more formative assessments, the better and higher the chance of learning.

Summative assessments (SA) evaluate student learning, knowledge, skill, proficiency, or success at the conclusion of an instructional period like a unit, course, or program. In FEU, summative assessments are always graded,” he furthered.

Grading System In addition to the changes, the grading system in different course subject is also affected and will have two separate categories: for General Education courses, 70% of the grade should be formative and 30% should be summative and for Professional Courses (except review classes and On The Job Training [OJT]), 50% of the grade should be formative and 50% should be summative.

Moreover, the university passing rate to all course subjects is lowered to 50%.

“The rationales behind the 50% passing rate are the following: it can be as tough as 75%, it depends on the construction of test; it caters all types of learners, specifically the slow learners; it is reasonable and gives gauge on student progress; it is statistically accepted (e.g. median); and is based on the ideology of student-centered learning,” Capati explained.

He added that “The university assessment and evaluation policies are congruent to the intended and taught curricula.”

FEU film “Fat You” to compete in Austria

Enormous Talent. Fat You, a film made by Communication Arts student Ronnel Rivera III wins Manila Student Film Festival top size.

(Photo courtesy by Ronnel Rivera III) Far Eastern University (FEU) student short film “Fat You” is set to compete in the International Youth Media Festival YOUKI in Upper Wels, Austria on November 20 to 24.

The FEU short film, written and directed by senior communication student Ronnel Rivera III, is among the films selected from about 500 entries for the YOUKI festival.

“Fat You” is a short film that follows a story of a girl who is afraid to attend her school reunion because of

being bullied in the past due to her physical appearance.

These acts towards overweight people have been a staple in almost every culture which result to more cases of bullying and other sorts of mockery.

Based on a body-positivity survey conducted by Yahoo!

Lifestyle in 2016, with respondents of 2,000 people between the ages of 13 and 64, it is discovered that 94% of female teens and 64% of male teens have experienced body shaming.

As the main topic of the

survey, it is analysed that 70% of men are more positive to their body or body neutral, but 66% of teenage girls are either body negative or body ambivalent. But as women grow older, they tend to be more positive with their bodies as opposed to men who tend to be more body conscious.

Rivera’s inspiration to write and direct such a film came from his desire to represent the plus-size community.

“At first, I thought it’s going to be about my past experiences only, but when I started to

interview other fat people, I realized na (that) I should make a film that will not just represent myself, but others as well,” he stated. He then continued that he became more inspired to do the film after hearing from different confessions.

“From various confessions, mas lalo talaga akong naganahan gawin ‘yung film kasi naging normal na ‘yung paghu-humiliate ng tao sa aming matataba. Ang hindi nila alam na simple phrases like ‘uy tumaba ka’ or ‘napag-iwanan sa kusina’

“PRC” | FROM PAGE 2

by Republic Act 10912 or the Continuing Professional Development Act of 2016.

takeaways and convenient location. However, its fame induced an eminent volume of wastes left by students.

Reports on garbage concerns circulated online regarding Tayuman’s supposed current state slammed by growing scale of wastes. These alarmed the studentry, pointing to freshmen as main perpetrators.

However, Famela Arienda, first year AB Political Science student, angled her sentiments towards irresponsible and undisciplined students who throw their trash anywhere.

“FEU somehow maintain cleanliness around the campus, but it cannot be helped that, at times, there are students who does not know how to throw their trashes and even segregate their wastes,” Arienda said.

Call for Action Addressing these concerns, Far Eastern University Central Student Organization (FEUCSO) President Reuben Jade Sobrevilla believes that the concern on improper

waste disposal appeals for an environmental campaign, aside from the CLAYGO policy, which is inclusive of cohesive initiatives, mainly with the sudden increase of enrollees.

“For the enforcement of this drive, I think there is a necessity because as you can see, the number of student increased in the university but our space is just the same. So what we need to do is to be responsible.

As student[s], we need to be responsible on our own trash, on how we can help the DIARS and the administration in maintaining the cleanliness inside our university,” Sobrevilla said.

However, Sobrevilla was vague in expressing their side on the delayed action on the impending issues on the trash stagnation within the campus.

“We have these in mind.

[Things] one [can] trust on my administration would be a cleaner and environment responsive organization. Maybe it was expedite because of the

The program is available for all professional teachers with license but IE also offers it to students who want to increase their knowledge in the field they will be taking.

In coordination with the Center for Teaching, Learning & Continuing Education, IE had conducted their first twoday CPD seminar-workshop equivalent to 14 CPD units entitled Enrichment Program for 21st Century Teachers last September.

Moreover, IE plans to execute the program outside the university. The institute plans to hold a CPD seminar in November in the University of San Carlos in Cebu.

“A teacher should not be stagnant. A teacher should have a professional development,” Dr. Mañalac concluded.

CPD is a requirement for professionals for the renewal of their licenses and is covered

-Aldaia Danelle B. Auman With reports from Shane Vallery A. Beduya

“SANITATION” | FROM PAGE 1 “The problem really here is the [discipline of] students.

Usually, we should not rely on the ‘jammas’ (maintenance personnel) in throwing their trashes. We are in a beautiful university, they [students] need to throw their trashes [food, plastic, etc.] in the proper places or trash bins,” Patdu posited.

‘When in Tayuman’ The campus has five canteens – the tayuman, the FEU food court, and the cafeterias in Accounts, Business and Finance Building (ABFB), Nursing Building, and Nicanor Reyes Hall (NRH) – around the campus.

Tayuman, beside Science Building, caters a large number of students for its affordable

kill our confidence (From various confessions, I was even more inspired to do this film because it has been a norm for people to humiliate us, fat people. What they do not know is that simple phrases like ‘hey you got fat’ or ‘you were left in the kitchen’ kill our confidence),” added Rivera.

With the success of “Fat You”, Rivera stated that he has no plans to make a new film at the moment. He shared that he realized that it is better to make a film if it is from the heart and if you make it because you want to make one, not just to enter to film competitions.

“So now, naghahanap pa ako ng push, naghahanap ako ng mag-ti-trigger sa akin para gumawa ng pelikula. Pero for sure, hindi mawawala ang matataba sa mga future projects na gagawin namin (So now, I am still searching for a push, I am looking for something that will trigger me to do films.

But for sure, fat people will not be missing in the future films that we will do),” he added.

The film won Amazing by Choice Award in Sine Kabataan 2017, Audience Choice Award in Short+Sweet Film Manila 2017, and this year, the top prize at the Manila Student Film Festival under the 19 to 21 age group held last January 16.

YOUKI festival is Austria’s “biggest up-and-coming media festival with an international focus,” which screens about 70 films from every continent from directors aged 10 to 26.

The festival which has been running for 17 years started as a part of the KINOVA film festival in 1999 and was then called YOUNG KINOVA (YOUKI).

-Shandy Ira S. Vasquez

urgency to have one”, Sobrevilla stated.

On the other hand, repercussions for guilty offenders of CLAYGO are still in motion for FEU Congress’ approval over the proposed penalties due to the ‘campaign’ state of the program.

Volunteers for the campaign rounded up to 70 students as of September 10, targeting to advance on the last week of month. The movement plans to mobilize officers to make rounds in the campus during peak hours, making students aware of their responsibility to the environment.

The campaign marks a year-long round of advocating for a cleaner and greener campus environment. It is of the organizer’s expectations for duly-noted movements, in accordance with the campaign, to be launched towards the end of the year.

-Shane Vallery A. Beduya and Trisha Angelika C. Ignacio

“MEDTECH” | FROM PAGE 1

Out of 251 examinees from FEU Manila, 241 passed, while three retakers failed. On the other hand, FEU Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation (NRMF) listed 85 out of 91 examinees as successful takers.

Fifth placer De Leon believes that the best preparation she made was during her college years.

According to her, she already conditioned herself to study well not only for the sake of getting good grades but also in preparation for the boards.

“I also reviewed for around four months after I graduated,” she furthered.

The overall performance rating of FEU Manila dropped from 97.48% in March 2018 exams to 94.88% this September.

On the other hand, FEU NRMF garnered an overall performance rating of 93.41%.

For ninth placer Deduyo, her family served as her motivation when she took the boards. As a way to repay them, she encouraged herself to do her best in the exam in order to pass.

“Ang motivation ko po ay ang pamilya ko. Bago magexam lagi ko pong sinasabi sa sarili ko na pagbubutihan ko sa exam para makapasa at kahit sa ganoong paraan mabayaran ko lahat ng paghihirap ng magulang at kapatid ko para lang mapagaral ako sa Maynila, sa isang prestihiyosong paaralan ng FEU (My motivation is my family. Before the exam, I always tell myself that I will do my best in the exam to pass so even in that way, I could repay the hardships of my parents and my sibling just to let me study in Manila),” Deduyo shared.

On the other hand, sixth placer Benguan advised to the next exam takers, that if their aim is to top the exam, they should start their foundation firm in school.

“Better start your foundation firm and that happens in school - that is, if you are aiming to be at the top. Getting into review centers are just reinforcements but sometimes people do better during the board exams than getting honors in school. To the next board exam takers, always do better than the last time you gave your best shot. Your biggest enemy is complacency and always think [of] others as better than you. In that way, you leave yourself no reason to be mediocre,” Benguan said.

According to the results released by Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) last 26th of September, 4,718 exam takers out of 6,070 aspirants passed the exam.

-Shandy Ira S. Vasquez

NATIONAL Inflation soars at 6.7%, bears global consequence PROBE As of October 2018, report for inflation or price increase on goods released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) for the month of September hit high mark from the past nine years with 6.7% tops and takes toll on local commodities. Soaring figures unveil consequences in both local market and the country’s appeal in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) market.

Inflation rate has been the talk of the town as it opened the year with 4.0%, accelerated as much from December 2017’s 3.3 percentage mark.

The constant increase drove through the charts as the year embarks.

PSA has announced the latest figures last October 5, and explicit a steady surge from last August’s percentage (6.4%) to 6.7%, as said in the latest report. Annual indices increase was revealed on food and nonalcoholic beverages (8.5%), alcoholic beverages/tobacco (21.8%), household furnishing, equipment and routinely maintenance (3.6%), health

Philippine peso slumps at ₱54.31, weakest in ASEAN

Surging Inflation. The price hikes for local goods in the Philippines over the past few months re non-stop.

(Photo courtesy by Martina Audrey L. Vicencio)

and restaurant miscellaneous goods and services (4.1%) and recreation and culture (3%).

According to PSA, the uptrend was predominantly due to the higher increment on the goods imported from the global market, such as oil and raw materials which are used on a regular and infrastructural basis.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. accredited the boost to the untimely convergence of costs factors and oil price hike which

contributed greatly to the increase in transport and power fares.

“Much of it has to do with food supply shocks, rice in particular. These warrant more decisive non-monetary measures to fully address,” Espenilla stated in a Rappler article last September 5.

Meanwhile, surging inflation bears ramification on commodities that comprises the basket of basic goods of typical Filipinos that are usually bought in local wet markets and creates uproar among

residents.

According to reports from ABS-CBN News last September 10, the average costs of vegetables in a local market reaches peaks due to cascading inflation and implementation of tax reforms.

Meanwhile, the onslaught of Typhoon Ompong during the second week of September fuels the rummaging inflation affecting both goods in local stores and wet market, damaging crops such as rice granaries, in most parts of Northern Luzon.

As of September charts, the Philippine peso continues to weaken at ₱54.31 to $1, the weakest level in an almost 13 year-scale as it closes to ₱54.15 of December 2005.

According to an article

by CNN Philippines last September 5, Banco De Oro (BDO) Chief Market Strategist Jonathan Ravelas said the peso continues to slump against the stronger facet of United States dollar.

“We’re seeing the dollar getting stronger and towards the end of the month we’re expecting the U.S. fed to raise interest rates, continuing to push the peso weaker as a result,” Ravelas stated in the article.

A chart presented by Rappler in an article last June 18, explicit the country’s currency state in comparison with other ASEAN countries.

The chart disclosed peso’s strongest state against the US dollar over neighboring countries, a time before President Rodrigo Duterte’s

election in post.

However, latest reports revealed the currency frailty surges after the start of the current president’s administration and now, the weakest in ASEAN. In the article, constant importation of infrastructure materials for the Build, Build, Build program spearheaded by the President contributes in the widening trade gap as the percentage of imported goods rises.

The Philippine peso is expected to slide to ₱58 against the dollar by the end of the year, said by Londonbased Capital Economics in a report. However, budget secretary Benjamin Diokno greatly opposed and regarded the result as ‘unfounded’ in a media briefing last September 18.

Currency state is revealed as a contributory factor to the worsening case of inflation in the country, aggravating growth and is expected to blaze the rate until the end of the year.

-Trisha Angelika C. Ignacio

EDITORIAL Lame Blame October shook the safety and sanity of 18 academic institutions in Metro Manila including Far Eastern University (FEU) following the red-tagging of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

A military official spilled “unfounded” accusations identifying the universities as communist training grounds to unseat the incumbent President Rodrigo Duterte through the infamous “Red October”.

Deputy chief of staff of the AFP Brigadier General Antonio Parlade Jr. mentioned that communist rebels are spreading videos to project Duterte as the new dictator.

A timely plot in the mid of events of corruption and incompetence, this imprudent move on the part of the Administration and the AFP did not only shift the eyes of the country away from the current situation, it also dragged the students from these universities to immense threat and risk to their security.

With the lack of legal procedures and verified bases, this lame blame co-authored by the AFP and the admin manifests an immensely irresponsible move, an epitome of the repressive response of the government to its active critics.

We condemn this military red-tagging of FEU, an open and accepting avenue to students from different academic standings, financial capacity, and ethnic origin. For almost a century, it serves as a home with an atmosphere of freedom. Thus, Tamaraws have been open to critical and healthy movements and discourse. But freedom has always been observed with discipline and limitation, valuing the essence of law and morale. The institution does not promote government destabilization and impingement on the rights to speech and expression.

The country has become more skeptic about the government as years go by, but these critical condemnations of certain unjust and unlawful political moves do not necessarily square to government attacks and destabilizations.

In contrast to the circulated propaganda, the youth including the students from the tagged universities showed impassive outlook towards the governance and the stake of the country.

Student movements play a significant role in national development. Advocating against short-term employment, increase in poverty rate, international dispute, human rights violation, and other events that exude injustice, these movements give voice to the silenced members of the community.

Mobilization of the youth demonstrates its inability to stand down when something is not right rather than being complacent, and accepting things as they are.

FEU stated in its official statement that it is “fullycommitted to nation-building” and it is “not promoting or condoning any on-campus movement to destabilize the government.”

We challenge the current admin and its armed forces to follow the rule of law and to prove their accusations before shamelessly pointing fingers to any institution of this nation.

And in the face of the current political climate, we urge the citizens of this country to abide by the fundamental doctrine and to accept nothing less than what is just and constitutional.

Freedom of expression is one of strongest pillars of our liberty, and in today’s political climate, staying neutral could be fatal in the long run to the morale and democracy of our nation.

Whenever I casually scroll down on the social media feed, I could not resist the urge to read unsolicited, and tasteless comments on controversies. There were times I found the remark funny and exaggerated beyond persuasion. Yet, there were also some instances where I want to compose a full-length argument to feud against a lie well-cloaked as a truth.

As if we are not already burdened with the difficulty to distinguish truth from fake news, sometimes these attempts of deception are official statements of political figures who bear power and influence.

But holding a position in a publication, I keep myself conscious in staying neutral and unbiased.

I bet I am not the only one facing this dilemma.

As someone who grew up “I am the GOAT – the Greatest of All Time.”

This line is most commonly used in the area of sports, in which a player is considered to be the top of the game – the greatest. Now, it has been used in different areas wherein a person who is considered a GOAT, is the best in the field.

So, if there is a time in life we can consider to be the GOAT, we are living the GOAT-est years of our life these days. We are experiencing theGOAT. The Philippines is at its finest moments, a golden age, if you will. With the rising inflation rate, false information spreading like wildfire and the ever-present corruption, not just in the government but in other industries as well, we truly are experiencing the GOAT. These reasons are not the ones I mainly considered in saying that our time is at its greatest, but it is about the lack of literacy and the ability

On truth and neutrality

that they seek, staying silent and being neutral is a moral betrayal.

It is a denial of truth.

With the deepest sorrow of injustice and tragedies unfolding, it will be a sin to put my pen down.

Social realities demand exposure. It is a high time to mobilize the naked truth, to stand for what is right.

in the province, it was a rule of thumb not to talk back to the elders even when I ought to speak the truth. It was considered disrespectful.

Thus, it was not tolerated in our home.

Another common flaw in our norm, people are encouraged not to meddle in someone else’s battle.

Many of my fellow youth are raised on a mindset of conflict avoidance, to remain silent and let the adults do the talking. As if the rationale of the youth is always ungrounded and illogical, the same scenario is happening on state matters.

Those who hold positions in the government suggested on several

occasions that students and the youth should remain inside the classrooms instead of “wasting” their time voicing out their sentiments on the streets. It even went worse when the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the administration named 18 universities as training grounds for communist insurgency. These irresponsible acts of the AFP are implications of the repression of voices.

But how can we shut our lips when our eyes are opened to the unforgivable?

When bodies are lying on the lonely stretch of roads, when the minorities are deprived of their rights, and when the common people are denied of the justice

G.O.A.T.

to think critically of some of our fellow Filipinos.

These are our people who see ‘news’ on social media and immediately share and give comments without knowing the full story or not even knowing if the source is real. These are the people who choose to believe in influencers and providers of false information rather than real media entities about social issues.

We cannot blame some of them. Most of these people did not have the chance to study and are not able to critically think for themselves because

in our country, education is not a right but a privilege.

But for those who have broken the wall and are privileged enough, it is a different story. And at this point, the idea of true greatness begins.

If education is served to you on a silver platter, then you can already consider yourself lucky or privileged enough. These people are given a chance to critically think for themselves.

But still, with all these, we can still proudly stand, be apathetic and be easily persuaded by our “heroes” – G.O.A.T. heroes.

We cannot simply remain as neutral observants. We must summon the courage to stand for the truth.

Awareness is the first leap to change and what we know as truth matters.

“I believe we must stop banalizing the truth,” CNN chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour said in her speech at the 2016 International Press Freedom Awards.

One cannot achieve justice and freedom with neutrality. We must tirelessly pursue them.

Do you want to take a stand for the truth? Share your thoughts at castromarissaa@ gmail.com.

When our country experiences heroism – banning media so people cannot know the truth, disregarding the importance of checks and balances, announcements of re-candidacy of heroes who were proven to be using pork meat – we should do what we do best, not care until the barrel is literally staring at our faces.

So just sit back, relax, and turn off the TV while on news so that you can focus on what favorite color your beloved influencer chooses to have, scroll pass down articles about national issues because below them are hilarious videos about famous actresses who sang a song with wrong lyrics.

We can never be late to bash, right?

Our time and generation?

A G.O.A.T. indeed.

When sarcasm hits you in the face, you should be aware. Ask how at gregoryjingco@gmail. com.

“As long as there are many beautiful women, there will be more rape cases,” President Rodrigo Duterte jestingly said in Cebuano language during his speech last August 30 in Mandaue.

With this, President Duterte has added yet another controversial rape joke to his growing list and compilation of statements that demean women.

One would notice that whenever the president makes a public statement, he makes sure that he incorporates a joke or two. Sadly, he is rather insensitive when it comes to picking his topic, with rape, often times than not, being at the forefront of his punchlines.

The thing about rape, though, is it is a very sensitive topic; to the victims of the crime, to their families, to women’s rights group, to almost every Filipino who knows that rape causes no happiness, just pure sorrow – the very irony in what the president has been doing.

When news spread about the President’s outrageous decision, chaos ensued, some protested while other supported the act. However, for a battle that involves the country’s lawmakers, just and fairness seem to be left out of the equation.

While a new and powerful storm was bound to arrive, we had our own typhoon causing mayhem within our political forerunners.

The disaster started when the President ordered the withdrawal of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s amnesty.

The act of amnesty gives certain people who have done the country wrong a second chance to redeem themselves, to seek a new purpose in life.

More importantly, a new set of requirements to fight seems to have rose.

One should merely be rich and powerful to win the war;

As I scroll habitually on my timeline, pictures of drinks with a metal straw would often show up. And I, as a frequent Facebook user, noticed that metal straws have pierced its way into the market—invading social groups like our very own FEU marketplace and a swarm “hm?” flooded the comment section.

When I was an outsider to this movement, I exceedingly took interest with what entails to this change of lifestyle. I wondered if it was really necessary to buy all these things to show how much we care for the environment or was it just a business ploy disguised as a concern for our nature.

There are still many ways to show that you care for the environment and going zero waste should not give you the need to constantly spend your money on metal straws. Part of this lifestyle is minimizing your consumption of resources and

Not Funny

Rape is “not” tolerated in this nation. That is why in order to apprehend rape crime offenders, Republic Act 8353, also known as Anti-rape law of 1997 has been passed into our constitution. However, a punishment against people who constantly stigmatize rape, blame its victims, and invalidate the feelings of being raped is yet to be created nor implemented.

Moreover, as if adding salt to injury, whenever President Rodrigo cracks a rape joke, the audience subsequently breaks out a chain of laughter, showing as if there is nothing wrong with

his insensitive jest.

Social stigmatization and victim blaming is one of the causes on why rape is still prevalent in the country because there are people who despite having enough knowledge on why such crime happens, still choose to make fun of it rather than educate the majority on why it exists.

Aside from victim blaming, another horror that these sexually abused women face is the mental and emotional trauma that they may carry in their entire lives. Imagine living everyday, trying to build back

Unleveled Battlefield

in this country’s hierarchical organization the king always reigns victorious.

With the withdrawal of the said amnesty, the President has once again proven his powerful stature in the country.

Signifying that prominence and significance lay worthless when the President’s resounding voice booms throughout the whole nation.

Even with connection at the tips of his fingers and money spilling past his wallet, Sen. Trillanes still struggles

to defend himself against the onslaught of accusations.

However, without the said resources he would already have been rotting in jail.

For a normal everyday citizen making ends meet, the battle for freedom would have been over before news outlets got the chance to cover the scoop. Citizens who continuously work just to provide for their respective families are powerless against the government, no matter what accusation is thrown

Trash-Talk

utilizing what you already have.

Sure, metal straws, bamboo straws, and whatnot provide an eco-friendly alternative, but does our concern for the environment really revolve around things that we think we “need”?

Instead of buying yourself new things to include in your mess kit, you should ask yourself if straws are really necessary tools for drinking; and instead of buying new utensils, just bring with you the ones you already have at home.

Apart from that, we also need to make sure that

instead of leaving disposables and lunch waste on tables, let us be considerate enough to segregate them before throwing our trash away. These are just a few of many efforts in making our campus more environment-friendly and it only takes a few minutes and minimal effort to do your part.

If you are already practicing the zero waste lifestyle, let this exude into the things you do even on the campus. Do not let the lifestyle be just on the surface by using the starter kits you buy online— to put it simply, you have to

the broken pieces that were shattered and then suddenly you hear the President used the crime committed to you as a joke and even blamed you for getting raped.

Would you laugh?

Sadly, even the highest official in the country who is fully aware of the crime rate of rape and its damage to the victims does not consider the impact of his rape jokes to rape victims and women in general.

No matter what his intention may be, whether it is to make people laugh or lighten the mood, this serious crime should never be used to provide laughter to the audience, knowing that this form of sexual abuse causes an irreparable trauma to the victims. Being insensitive may hurt a lot of people and in this case, the president hurt the feelings of many.

Do you think there are better things to say than a rape “joke”? Share it with me at aliesharaejohnson@gmail.com.

at them they will fall to their knees.

It is frightening to think that any moment now, you could be the target just because you ticked off the government wrongly. The government’s act of dominance invokes fear and paranoia within the people, fueling the doubt residing in each sane person’s mind.

It sends a clear message that the justice system lies on a battlefield ignited by wealth and power, ensuring that no one is safe from being pierced by the king’s spear, but a few coins and tricks can be helpful to defend an individual from the onslaught bound to happen. That is, if you have any coins to spare in the first place.

You do not need to spare some coins to share your own ideals for the country. Drop them off at ariellyanneb@gmail.com.

walk the talk.

Also, the concern for the environment should not be used as a business ploy. In fact, nature does not demand that you spend every dime on it and it surely does not ask you to keep up with the trend, but what it needs is genuine regard and courage to act.

So far, reasonable efforts are conducted in our university to encourage students to lead a sustainable lifestyle as some of our cafeterias already provide stainless steel utensils along with administering a Clean As You Go (CLAYGo) policy. I hope that as students who walk among the green and the gold of our campus, we steer away from greenwashing and lead the charge towards zero waste and sustainability amidst the marketing trends.

Are you interested in learning more about the zero waste lifestyle? Let us have a trashtalk at argruelos@gmail.com.

Nakikinig ka ba?

May kakayahan tayong iparating ang ating saloobin at intensyon sa ibang tao gamit ang boses na ibiniyaya sa atin. Ngunit may ibang tao rin na hindi pinalad marinig ang mga tinig na nais makarating sa kanilang mga tainga.

Maswerte na ang marami sa atin sapagkat hindi na natin kailangan pang problemahin ang anumang kakulangan sa ating katawan. Sa kabila nito, tila may mga taong hindi kontento rito at kailangan pang gawing katatawan ang mga taong wala ng mga bagay na mayroon sila.

Marahil ay alam niyo na kung sino ang mga tinutukoy ko. Noong kasagsagan ng bagyong Ompong, habang tayo ay nag-aalala sa kalagayan ng ating bansa, may dalawang taong na nagdesisyong patawanin ang bayan sa maling paraan.

Makikita sa video na may isang lalaki na nag-sa-sign language habang tumatawa sila ng kanyang kasama.

Ipinapakita nito na tila ginagawang katatawanan ang mga miyembro ng deaf community.

Hindi ko na babanggitin ang kanilang mga pangalan pero kilala sila sa isa pa nilang video ukol sa PepeDede-Ralismo. Hindi halata na inspirasyon nila ang katawan ng mga tao upang maiparating ang kanilang nais sabihin.

Katulad ng nauna nilang post, umani ito ng iba’t ibang reaksyon sa social media. Ngunit ang pinakatumatak sa akin ay ang mga komento na nagsasabing insulto ito sa mga taong may kapansanan o Persons with Disability (PWD). Nakuha rin nito ang atensyon ng mga senador at ang mismong grupo ng mga PWD. Naaayon sa Republic Act 9442 o Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities ang pagbabawal sa pangungutya sa mga PWD. Dahil dito, may naisampang kaso laban sa dalawang gumawa ng naturang video mula sa grupo para sa deaf community.

Marahil ay madaling gawing katatawanan ang mga taong may kapansanan dahil sa kanilang sitwasyon.

Ngunit may pagkakaiba nga ba ang kalagayan ng gobyerno natin sa kasalukuyan? Bulag sa tunay na mga nangyayari sa bansa. Pipi sa mga isyu na kailangan tugunan. Bingi sa mga paghihirap at hinaing ng mga mamamayan. Pilay ang sistemang nararapat sanang umaagapay sa mga Pilipino.

Mahirap na nga mabuhay sa bansang mahirap, mas pinahihirap pa ang sitwasyon ng mga isinilang na mayroong kapansanan. Ang katotohanang ito ang nagpapalungkot sa akin sa tuwing nakakakita ako ng miyembro ng PWD na pinipilit mamuhay nang normal sa lipunang puno ng mga mapanghusgang mata.

Bukod pa rito, limitado rin ang mga pagkakataong ibinibigay sa kanila upang matulungan man lang ang kanilang mga sarili. Bagamat may nakalaang eskwelahan at diskwento para sa kanila, tila kulang pa rin ang ginagawa ng gobyerno upang mabigyan ng kauluhan ang kanilang mga pagsisikap.

Ang karapatan nila ang isa sa mga bagay na dapat nating isaalang-alang sa pagbabagong nais natin makuha sa hinaharap. Ang sitwasyon nila ang nais ko na makitang na umangat para sa kinabukasan.

May gusto ka bang sabihin? Ipadala lamang sa parrenaslj@gmail.com at makikinig ako.

Resembling the renowned Theory of Evolution popularized by Charles Darwin, the education system in the Philippines evolved through time, progressing by leaps and bounding to impart better education for young Filipinos.

Recently, a new educational innovation shook Far Eastern University (FEU), garnering handfuls of feedback, from complete approval to absolute contempt.

Fresh Tamaraws were greeted by a newly implemented teaching paradigm—dubbed Student-Centered Learning (SCL). This latest shift caused a ripple effect within FEU when the center-stage was passed unto the students, inducing a classroom-role dysphoria.

A Vehicle of Learning As education shifts unto a new paradigm, SCL replaces the Teacher-Centered Learning (TCL), prompting FEU to gear its didactic system alongside the fast-paced progress and demands of the 21st century.

Prior to the paradigm shift, the University has been applying the TCL to impart lessons and facilitate learning in the classroom.

“The teacher-centric... for [this] model to succeed, the teacher needs to be lecturing, students need to listen to whatever the teacher is saying, and then whatever the teacher taught the students, that is what will appear in the test,” Harold Culala, Lead Facilitator of the Digital Literacy, Effective Communication and Critical Thinking (DLECCT) program, explained.

However, with the metaphorical passing of the discovery torch, SCL reverses the traditional teacher-centric model of a classroom and transforms it into a freeway of information between all members of a class.

Transitioning into uncharted methods, however, was not a decision made after only a few meetings. Almost four years ago, the FEU administration began to mull over the skills they aspired future FEU graduates to possess—digital literacy, effective communication, and critical thinking.

Eyeing these skills as basic foundations that must be laid in the first couple of years in college, the admin recognized that the teacher-centric approach inhibits this goal.

“If that [TCL] is the kind of method you do in the class, how can effective communication be developed? If students are just listening and waiting for the teacher to give them the information or the knowledge, how can critical thinking be developed,” Culala asked.

In the student-centered paradigm, students are encouraged to step out of their comfort zones—to become the harbinger of informed insights through advance research and brainstorming. This is where the professor’s role becomes that of a motivator; a “guide-on-the-side”, empowering Tams to participate in the discourse.

“We are diffusing the traditional way of teaching wherein the teacher is not just the sole authority of the learning. Well in fact, we co-construct meanings with our students,” Culala said.

With this rationale, the University sought to achieve their mission of producing competent graduates with the basic foundation skills through proactive learning, deeming the SCL as a suitable vehicle.

Not only has the student-centered paradigm become a form of instruction that caters to a student’s proliferation of knowledge, it has also guided honing of soft skills. These are fundamentally essential to become leaders in their respective fields, especially in the years to come.

Breaking New Ground Monumentally transforming the educational process, crucial changes had to be made to achieve the desired outcome and achieve the vision that FEU desires.

In this process, the traditional cornerstones were dug and reassessed to ground reinforced elements for the Tamaraws.

Nathan Sison, lecturer of General Education courses, agreed to the concept of change that the new teaching paradigm has to offer. “We really need to change the culture and how students learn because the things that we are teaching you now [are] not only teaching you the content, rather, teaching you guys the skills, teaching FEU students the skills [that they need] to develop for the twenty-first century demands,” he stated.

Other than the change of scenery inside the classroom, SCL also reconditioned the grueling examinations. The infamous Prelims, Midterms and Finals were fused into only two Summative Assessments for the General Education courses.

These Summative Assessments, in comparison to former examinations, can be anything but a pen-and-paper

objective test.

Professors will choose what type of assessment to give to the students, be it a research paper, a presentation, essay writing, a short film, or any output they see fit for their subject.

As SCL strives to develop higher-order thinking skills like analyzing, synthesizing and evaluating, exam types that are mostly limited to memorization—a lower-order thinking skill—were revamped.

After all, solving practical questions applied to real life problems requires more critical thinking than defining and knowing terms.

In view of this, the grading system for the new Tams was also reprogrammed; the former seventy-five percent passing mark targeted by the students was reduced to a refreshing fifty percent.

“Students will say, ‘ang saya (it is fun), [the] passing mark [is] fifty’ but it is not about the passing mark; it is about the kind of assessment we give to you,” Culala mused.

On the other hand, the reduction of major examinations and the cutback of the passing grade give way to an additional student requirement, the Quality Point Average (QPA). With QPA, having a passing grade will not guarantee an advancement to the next year level.

Particular courses have their own QPA requirement—which steadily increases per year level—that needs to be met for promotion and retention.

Among these turnarounds, the most significant aspect is still the shift of the university’s goal. The times when students were spoon-fed with trivial information is on its way to abolishment as FEU aspires to cultivate the life-long skills Tamaraws will need in their life after they leave the green-and-gold oasis.

Educational Renaissance Banking on the first strains of its emergence, the student-centric model remains on the receiving end of both positive and negative notes. Despite the increased attention to the unanticipated implementation of SCL, Tamaraw students and professors alike adapted to the erudite revolution.

Transitioning from its didactic predecessor leaves much to unlearn especially on the part of the students, such as the increased number of activities and readings.

Tricia Jayme, a Political Science freshman, confessed, “Nasanay kasi ako sa teacher-[centric model]... [kung saan] magdadagdag lang [ng information] ‘yung students pero gets mo (I was used to the teacher-[centric model]... where students just contribute [information] but they would still understand).”

Still, there are students that uphold the other side of the argument— one of which is Hanah Abdein, a Fine Arts freshman who shared that SCL boosts her interpersonal dexterity.

“Mas gusto ko [ang SCL] kaysa sa [teacher-centric model] kasi... nasasanay ako na mag-salita sa harapan [ng klase] kahit minsan parang mahirap i-explain pero... tinutulungan rin naman [ako] ng mga professor (I like [SCL] better than the [teachercentric model] because... I get trained to speak in front [of the class] even when it is hard to explain but... the professors help [me]),” Abdein said.

Branching opinions towards the paradigm shift inevitably comes about especially during the first few months of implementing SCL. While so, the previous ‘sages-onthe-stage’ also needed time to accommodate into their new roles while retaining their determination to conduct class the SCL way.

“I had to do a lot [of adjustment because I was used to the lecture type of engagement, but upon seeing the results, the participation of students [is boosted by] their interest—renewed interest [in the classroom],’’ intoned Marko Da Silva, lecturer of Life and Works of Rizal.

FEU adopted the SCL with higher hopes for its next generation of Tamaraws to be critical thinking professionals whose journey in the real world is laced with the University’s core values.

“We expect our students to become active not just only passive. We expect FEU graduates batch 2022 to become a person who can actually question a dominant paradigm,” Culala voiced. The shifting of the educational framework, from a teacher-centric to a student-centered model may have brought about varying levels of adjustment but the greenand-gold community’s intention to nurture fortitude, excellence and uprightness in students remains constant.

Veering away from the pedagogical norm poses challenges that even today’s dominant Theory of Evolution by Charles Darwin faced upon its emergence. Suchlike, SCL and the modifications that come along will have its place among the FEU community— continuing the university legacy of ensuring that the Tamaraws are better equipped to face the next step of evolution.

-Angelic Mizpah Chaste C. Bulanhagui and Mikaela Anne A. Laxa

Illustration by: Shaina Mariz Saga and Justine Marie Baro Layout by: Joshua Robert B. Capili

TAMARAW FIASCO IN VIRTUAL BATTLEFIELD Despite the lack of face-to-face interaction that the Internet presents, its impact on an individual is just as devastating and deadly if used negatively.

While the Internet has equipped the human race with the power of boundless communication, on the other side of the spectrum lies the more prevalent power given to hurt others behind the screen through means of media – cyberbullying.

Tamaraw Fiasco There has been an unspoken tension between the new bred Tamaraws and the “OG” ones , constraining their interaction with one another. Born out of their difference in experience and educational attainment, the gap between the two sides continues to widen, creating turmoil within the green and gold community.

Since the beginning of the school year, countless issues aimed at the newly minted Tamaraws have surfaced online; calling them out for several improper campus behavior. However, the dispute took a whole new turn when a video of scattered freshmen students allegedly waiting for their examination in the fourth floor hallway of the Science Building was posted online alongside an offensive caption by an upperclassman.

Online users flocked to the post, sharing their sentiments about the matter which varied from being understanding and concerned to rage-filled and callous.

Though deleted sometime after it was posted, the result was catastrophic as the post was able to catch the attention of some in the Tamaraw community. This signaled the start of another war between the two packs; this time hitting much closer to home than one would like.

Words were thrown, violent reactions displayed, and insensitive comments laid out, each negative action fueled the undying fire of hostility. Unknowingly or not, what transpired was bullying; cyberbullying, specifically.

Any means of harm done through the online platform that may or may not tarnish one’s reputation can be deemed as cyberbullying.

Name-calling, unsolicited filming and capturing of pictures, and sending of hate messages online are considered forms of cyberbullying, all of which can be used to target a specific crowd, which fits a recent case that occurred between a Tamaraw upperclassman and a group of freshmen students.

Considered as a direct violation of Art. 2176 of Civil Code of the Philippines (The Civil Code on Damages), cyberbullying can lead to “disciplinary administrative actions” being taken by the university administration, if the perpetrators are proven guilty.

Although there are some who are willing to defeat this online agenda, act of cyberbullying are still present. It may be hard to notice at first yet this type of bullying harms one’s emotional and mental status, just a bit differently and gradually compared to the normal type of bullying.

Though the issue might get buried beneath thousands of digital codes, the rift between the bonds of the Tamaraw has appeared, breaking the peace and stillness within the green and gold community.

Two Sides of a Coin As a discourse filled to the brim of harsh replies, snarky comments, and sarcastic notes from fellow Tamaraws littered one’s timeline, the conflict seems to be far from being solved. Students conveyed their dismay, anger and annoyance at one another, continuing to ignite the fire between the freshmen and seniors.

Faith Ramos, a BS Medical Technology freshman affected by the issue, voiced her reaction upon seeing the post, “Nainis in a way na natawa kasi ang immature nung move niya – for my age ‘di ko kaya gawin ‘yun (I was irked but I laughed [at the situation] because it was an immature move – for my age, I cannot do that).”

The incident has caused internal grief and guilt within those affected, some voicing out their thoughts in anger or in pain due to the lack of representations from both sides involved. “S’yempre, gumamit siya [the one who posted the video] ng foul words nang hindi niya alam ‘yung totoong story, hindi niya alam na galing kaming iyak [referring to their Chemistry Laboratory midterm examination] (Of course, they used foul words without even knowing the entire story, they do not know that we just cried),” Ramos added.

Although the incident did cause a stir and drew a line between the higher years and the younger students, not everyone has changed their perspective toward the lowerclassmen.

Marcus Moog, a third year BS Medical Technology student who has heard of the incident, expressed, “Medyo na-disappoint ako sa batch mates ko kasi parang ganon din naman kami ‘nung first year kami, kumbaga naranasan din namin ‘yung ganyan, (I was a bit disappointed with my batch mates because we were like that too [during our first year]. You can say that we also experienced something similar).”

Though the first shot has been fired, some Tamaraws still choose to reach their hands out by understanding and empathizing with those affected by the issue.

In hopes of still resolving the situation, understanding and patience must shine through to give way and listen to one another’s side. Knowing both sides of the story first before judging can shine a light upon the problem, avoiding such conflict and misunderstanding.

“Sana kinausap na lang. Kung may problema mga higher years sa lower years sana kausapin na lang nila personally tapos pag-usapan na lang nila kung ano ‘yung kailangan nilang gawin or dapat gawin para hindi na nagkakagulo (They should have just talked it out. If the higher years have a problem with the lower years, they should just personally talk to them and discuss what must be done to fix the problem),” Moog suggested.

However, burning down each other’s bridges may have been quicker than reaching a hand out for truce. As such, resolving the conflict between the upperclassmen and freshmen is no easy feat and must require cooperation from all parties involved.

READ CYBER | PAGE 13

As the mind ages its thirst for knowledge becomes unquenchable, urging the individual to seek the finest of education that one can achieve, overcoming any struggles that block their path.

With the start of the new school year comes freshmen students seeking to make a mark for themselves within Far Eastern University (FEU). Leonard Sia is one of those individuals.

At first glance, Sia may seem like a normal everyday student but beneath that look of awe and innocence is a fierce determination to conquer his own nemesis; both internally and externally. Known to be a bearer of the infamous Tourette syndrome (TS), he often experiences struggles that chains him down from achieving the education he desires.

Though most commonly known as Taylor Swift in the music industry, in the medical world, TS refers to a neurological disorder wherein individuals unconditionally act out abrupt movements, Tourette syndrome is difficult to counteract. According to the National Institute of Naurological Disorders and Stroke, even aT young age one can already be diagnosed with this heavy burden, acting as a heavy chains thwarting them from truly experiencing the freedom of childhood.

While others are busy trying to sing their hearts out in the showers to a hit song, children with TS are off trying to cope with their newfound involuntary body movements.

A furious blinking of the eye, a sudden snapping of the wrist and even the jerking of the shoulders are movements one can accustom to tics, a term used to refer to the sudden movements of one with TS. These tics are the main blockage for students like Sia to truly grasp the information they wish to attain; it hinders them from focusing and gaining a grip on the knowledge they seek. A thorn on their side when reading a chapter of their book and the buzzing bee when they listen during a lecture, these so-called tics will never be a permanent stop sign for them to achieve their goals.

With the issue of TS out of mind and out of sight, Sia aims to be a master in solving equations and numbers; opting to enroll in Far Eastern University to do so. “I chose FEU as my school because it offers Mathematical strand and Mathematics program because that was my wish,” he stated.

A freshman taking up Bachelor of Science in Mathematics in FEU, Sia aims to use his newfound opportunity to attain the education he desires. And with

every step forward, education becomes an aiding partner that urges him to the finish line. Education opens up doors for students to sojourn into, giving them the ability to choose and expand their knowledge of the world around them.

Mathematics, pushes individuals to go beyond the boundary of just solving numerical equations.

Instead it urges thescholars to find solutions through numbers. And though it may not be a fan favorite program, Sia opts to be a success in his chosen path.

“I plan to be the best in Mathematics if I can,” Sia expressed.

Behind Sia’s reason for selecting his aforementioned program is a dream to be something more than just a graduate of FEU. For him, numbers and equations will carry him towards the dream of becoming a businessman. “My goal is to work in mathematics, to be a businessman,” he shared.

His inspiration comes in the form of successful businessmen who have forged their way to success but his down to Earth attitude came from the support of the people around him.

“My inspirations are Lucio Tan, a lot of entrepreneurs, my classmates, teachers and parents,” Sia shared.

However, with the ever-rising internal demons that college students have come to adapt to, acquiring such success is never an easy way out. Aside from these everyday battles, Sia’s nemesis rises along with the sun but never seems to disappear when the moon comes out; his tics are a part of his daily routine.

Still, Sia continues to push ahead to the end goal while befriending people, both classmates and professors, along the way. His ever strong support system such as his parents and close friends continue to guide him on his educational journey.

Though Sia may have just started his travel towards his destination, he explores the uncharted territory of FEU with his head held high and his tics on display; showcasing how his disability will never hinder him from striving for a life of success and excellence. In turn, FEU continues to embrace individuals such as Sia; further proving that diversity and individuality are welcomed within the green and gold community.

With the desire of achieving newfound learnings and a hefty amount of experience in one’s passion, jumping over a hurdle that life has planned out can become as easy as skipping over a tiny puddle but only if the student is determined to face the trials; head held high and mind ready to grasp the information the university throws at them.

Photos by Samantha Elizabeth Buyco. Illustration by Jeinar Reece T. Sulam Layout by Riva Louise L. Vicente and Joshua Robert B. Capili

Saliw ng Cha-Cha:

handa na ba tayo sa Ika-6 na Wangis ng Republika?

Nina Lawrence John O. Parrenas at Clarisse Kaye Sanchez

Batas ang nagsisilbing patnubay sa galaw ng mga mamamayan para sa isang maayos na lipunan. Bawat kilos, tama o mali, ay may kaakibat na husga mula sa mga mata ng Konstitusyon at ng sambayanan.

Isa sa mga matunog sa ritmo ng pagbabagong ipinapanukala ng kasalukuyang administrasyon ay ang pagsusog sa ilang probisyon sa Saligang Batas ng ating bansa. Mananatili na lamang ba itong panukala o sasabay na ang mga Pilipino sa mosyon patungo sa bagong Konstitusyon?

Tangkang Pagbabago Mula pa man a mga nakaraang pamunuan, hindi nawaglit sa usapin ng mga kinauukulan ang isyu ng Charter Change o mas kilala sa tawag na Cha-Cha. Uusisa at babago sa kasulatang matagal nang nagsilbi sa bayan, ito ang itinuturong mabisang paraan na mas naaayon sa pagbabagong hangad ng estado.

Malinaw na binalikan ni Solon S. Sison, propesor sa Agham Politika ng Far Eastern University (FEU) at University of Sto. Tomas (UST), ang mga naging tangkang hakbang ng mga dating administrasyon para sa tuluyang pagbabago ng konstitusyon.

Gayunpaman, itinaob ng Korte Suprema ang Republic Act (RA) 6735 na ang pokus ay ang boses ng mga mamamayan bilang basehan sa pagbabago ng mga nasusulat na batas. “[Mayroong] pirma movement noong panahon ni Fidel V. Ramos, kaso walang nangyari. Tapos mayroon din nung panahon ni Gloria, the last solid attempt [for] the cha-cha movement in the early 2000, but the Supreme Court put its foot and basically stopped the attempt to change the constitution and there were also some plans, but it did not materialized upon ‘til now,” saad ni Sison.

Dagdag pa rito, pinalawig din ni Sison ang kahulugan ng mga pamamaraan ng pagreporma sa nasabing Saligang Batas. Una, ang Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass) kung saan ang mga nakaupong mambabatas ang maghahain ng mga pagbabagong tingin nila ay kapaki-pakinabang para sa bansa.

Samantala, sa Constitutional Convention (Con-Con) naman, ang mga mamamayang Pilipino na mismo ang magluluklok ng mga delegadong maghihimay at magbabago sa Saligang Batas. Subalit, kaakibat nito ang mas malaking gastusin ng pamahalaan, kasabay ang matagal na pagsasagawa nito.

“The third one is very very actually innovative cause you’re going to use people’s initiative, the idea was the people can actually ask for a constitutional change kasi dati isa lang Con-Ass, Con-Con ngayon ‘yung sa ’87, merong people’s initiative. Kaso nung panahon ni FDR, hindi naging matagumpay ‘yun [kasi] kinulang sila ng mga requirements,” paliwanag ni Sison.

Bukod pa sa mga paraang nabanggit, sa ibang istilo naman nais na maisakatuparan ni G. Helen Flores, mamamahayag mula sa Philippine Star, ang pagbabagong-laman ng konstituyon.

“Ako, mas gusto ko ‘yung consulted ‘yung people, people’s initiative. Mayroon kasing side ng tao, mayroong kapag kinuha mo ‘yung opinyon ng tao on that, mas magiging effective siya kasi they’re the ones affected kung mabago ‘yung konstituyon. Masalimuot din kasing topic ‘yung charter change. I’ll look at the significance of this provision na sina-suggest nila kung bakit we have to change the provisions na ‘to, sino ‘yung makikinabang and gaano kalaking portion ng population ‘yung mag-be-benefit. Kasi kung kaunti lang, then we should re-think kung dapat ba nating i-amend pa siya at gagastos pa ‘yung gobyerno para [sa] people’s initiative kung meron man,” lahad ni Flores.

Pagsusog ng mga probisyon Bagamat hindi nagtagumpay ang mga nakaraang tangka upang palitan ang batayang tuntunin ng ating bayan, tila determinado naman ang kasalukuyang gobyerno na maisakatuparan ang mga panukalang pagbabago. Mula sa mga binitiwang salita ng Pangulo hanggang sa kilos ng Solon ay hindi maikakaila na malaking pagbabago ang tila nais nilang matamo.

Bago pa man mahalal sa puwesto, isa sa mga adbokasiya ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ay ang pagsulong sa pederalismo bilang bagong sistema ng gobyerno.

Para kay Sison, nais umano ng Pangulo na mailipat ang kapangyarihan mula sa kabisera patungo sa mga lalawigan upang wakasan ang pagdomina ng Maynila sa aspeto ng politika, ekonomiya at lipunan.

“Well, ang sinasabi ni Duterte dati ay dahil nga doon sa kalagayan na merong imperial Manila, masyadong malakas ang impluwensiya ng Maynila.

Kaya ‘yung layunin nila ngayon magkaroon ng horizontal relationship, ibig sabihin ‘pag nag-federal ka, ‘yung national government mo o ‘yung federal government mo ang focus niya ay nakatuon na lang doon sa mga issues tulad ng economics, foreign relations, [at] taxation,” wika ni Sison.

Bilang unang hakbang, iniutos ng Pangulo ang paggawa ng Consultative Committee o ConCom upang balangkasin ang panukalang Saligang Batas na ipepresenta sa Kongreso. Pinamunuan ito ng dating Punong Mahistrado ng Korte Suprema na si Renato Puno at binubuo ng mga miyembro tulad ni dating Pinuno ng Senado na si Aquilino Pimentel at mga dating Mahistrado ng Korte Suprema na sina Antonio Nachura at Bienvendo Reyes.

Patunay sa layuning maibigay nang pantay-pantay na kapangyarihan sa bawat lalawigan ng bansa, ang nakikitang tugon ng ConCom ay ang pagiiba ng paraan ng pagbibigay ng pondo sa pamamagitan ng Internal Revenue Allocation (IRA). Ayon sa artikulong isinulat sa Manila Bulletin ni Atty.

Melencio Sta. Maria, dean ng Institute of Law ng FEU, mula sa kasalukuyan na 60-40 na hatian o 60 porsyento ng kita ng gobyerno ay mapupunta sa pambansang kaban habang ang matitira ay paghahatian ng mga lokal na gobyerno, mas magiging malaki ang hati ng mga bungang federal

regions sa pondo ng bayan base sa panukalang pagbabago.

“Under the proposed constitution, although the IRA share of the federal regions or the states is increased to “at least 50%” of the taxes, it has no specification as to how much of the 50% will go to the provinces, cities, and municipalities composing them. The whole 50% will go to the federal region or the particular state government,” saad sa artikulo ni Atty. Sta. Maria na “More reasons to reject Charter change” na inilathala sa Manila Bulletin noong Agosto 3, 2018.

Ngunit higit pa sa sistema ng gobyerno ang maaaring mabago sa planong pagsusog ng Konstitusyon. Kabilang na rito ang paghalal sa Presidente at kanyang bise bilang isang “team” o mula sa parehas na partido, paglimita sa tila mailap na impormasyon tungkol sa gobyerno, at pagpapalawig ng pagmamatyag sa mga mamamayan ukol sa kahinahinalang kilos.

“The right to information is ‘subject to such limitation as may be provided by law. The right is non-existent until legislation is made. Do you think legislators will pass laws that will expose them? The draft-constitution makes it easy for officials to frustrate legitimate inquiry into their shenanigans, enhancing an environment of impunity,” saad naman ni Atty.

Sta. Maria sa “Saving democracy by rejecting the proposed constitution” noong Hulyo 20, 2018.

Iba’t ibang bersyon man ang lumabas at ilang artikulo ang nais baguhin, makikita ang pagnanais ng kasalukuyang administrasyon p a r a maisakatuparan ang kanilang plano para sa Saligang Batas. Anuman ang kahihinatnan nito, bilang mamamayan ng Pilipinas, lahat ay sasailalim sa mga panibagong probisyong ipapataw sa pundamental na batas ng bayan.

Sagot sa kakulangan?

Hindi na dayuhan sa ating pandinig ang salitang pagbabago sa iba’t ibang anggulo ng pamumuhay tuwing magpapalit ng kulay ang pamunuan. Ngunit ang pagbabagong-laman ng konstituyon nga ba ang higit na kinakailangan ng bansa upang maiwaksi ang tila hindi matapos-tapos na mga suliranin ng Lupang Sinilangan?

Para kay Dan San Andres, deputy chairperson ng Karapatang Bicol, mas maaari pang palalalain umano ng transisyon sa pederalismo ang problema sa mga dinastiya ng mga pamilya sa mga lokal na pamahalaan . Sapat na rin umano ang mga probisyon sa kasalukuyang Saligang Batas upang paglingkuran ang mga Pilipino.

“Mas lalong lalala ‘yung problema ng… political dynasty [na] magkokontrol sa mga lugar kasi hahati-hatiin nga.

Kontra tayo do’n sa tinatawag na cha-cha o charter change. Tutulan natin ‘yon.

‘Yon ang mga pangunahing solusyon at ang mas malalim pang solusyon ay itaguyod talaga natin ang sinasabi ng Konstitusyon,” panukala ni San Andres.

READ CHA CHA | PAGE 13

Pang-araw-araw na hilakbot: Sa likod ng mga matang repleksyon ang determinasyon at pagsusumikap ay ang numinipis na pag-asa na kanilang kinakapitan. Patuloy itong nagmamasid at naghihintay lamang masaksihan ng iba ang realidad ng buhay na sinasapit ng iilan.

Sa kabila ng patuloy na pagkayod ng lahat ay hindi maitatanggi na nag-iiwan pa rin ito ng puwang sa pag-unlad para sa karamihan. Ang pagkakataong ibinabahagi sana ay tila hindi naaabot ng mga tunay na nangangailangan nito.

Hampas ng alon Ang bawat pagsikat ng araw ay hudyat ng panibagong simula ng paglalayag sa gitna ng karagatan daladala ang pag-asa upang mairaos ang buhay. Ito ang gulong ng buhay ng marami sa mga mangingisda na tila hindi iniinda ang malalaking alon maitawid lang ang pangangailangan ng pamilya.

Para sa bawat mangingisda, hindi balakid ang panganib na maaaring maranasan sa gitna ng napakalawak na tubig para lamang sa ipinagkakaloob nitong kabuhayan. Isa sa mga patuloy na sumusuong dito ay si Renato Tuazon, 43 taong gulang a t

walong t a o n nang dala dala ang karanasang ito mula sa Taal, Batangas. Ayon sa kanya, hinaharap niya ang mga banta sakay ng kaniyang bangka may maiain lamang sa mesa ng kanilang

pagmulat sa katotohanan ng buhay

tahanan.

“Mahirap ang buhay sa ngayon dahil sunudsunod na ang bagyo sa ‘tin. Ang hirap naman ding humanap ng kita pagkaganun at may pamilya ka pa na inaasikaso. Minsan isang buong araw ka na sa pangingisda pero kakaunti lang ang nakukuha mo pero magaling na ng mayroon kesa nama’y umuwi ka sa wala,” kwento ni Tuazon.

Bagamat may tulong na nagmumula sa gobyerno sa pamamagitan ng Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program o mas kilala sa tawag na 4Ps, tila hindi pa rin ito sapat para sa kanilang pangangailangan. Ang pagtitipid na lamang umano ang isa sa mga nakikita nilang solusyon upang makaraos sa hirap ng buhay.

“Member kami ng 4Ps. Oo, s’yempre may nakukuha kaming tulong pero sa pamilya ko na [marami] kami, kulang ‘yon kung ika’y aasa lang doon. Kaya kailangan mo [rin] maghanap-buhay kahit papaano,” wika niya.

Hiling na lamang ni Tuazon na mabigyan ng pansin sa lipunan ang kanilang dinaranas sapagkat sila ay parte rin ng pundasyon ng ekonomiya ng ating bansa.

Ang kanilang paglalayag sa gitna ng karagatan ay ‘di lamang kapaki-pakinabang para sa kanilang sariling pamilya kundi para sa lahat.

“Mahirap din trabaho namin na mga mangingisda, sana mapansin nila ‘yun dahil kaya kami nagtatrabaho nang ganito para sa aming pamilya, pangtustos sa araw-araw na gastos. [Kung] walang maibebentang isda sa palengke, walang makakakain ng isda. At s’yempre malaking tulong din kami dahil madami ding bansa ang umaangkat ng mga isda sa atin,” habilin ni Tuazon.

Tunay na hindi biro ang kalbaryong hinaharap ng bawat mangingisda sa bansa. Sa muling paglubog ng araw, isang kwento ng paglalakbay ang nagtatapos kalakip ang sakripsiyong baon nila malampasan lamang ang mga pagsubok na inihaharap sa kanila.

Patuloy ang kanilang pakikipagsapalaran sa alon ng dagat at ng buhay mahuli lamang ang inaasam na kaginhawaan at kasiyahan.

Kalye ng kabuhayan Ang buhay sa labas ng tahanan ay maituturing na isang laro na maaaring magbigay ng kasiyahan o kalungkutan sa mga kalahok nito. Ang lahat ay nakikipagpatintero nagbabasakaling maitawid ang pagkakataong ibinigay sa bawat isa.

Isa sa mga patuloy na sumusugal dito ay si Peela Esponilla, 69 na taong gulang. Sa kabila ng mga nagbabadyang sintomas ng katandaan ay hindi ito naging hadlang upang patuloy na makipagsapalaran sa lansangan. Para sa kanya, kahit naging hulog ng langit ang tinaguriang hepa lane sa kahabaan ng R. Papa ay tila may kalakip na sumpa ito mula noong ito ay ipasara.

Bagamat halos isang taon na ang nakakalipas mula noong magsara ito, tila parang kahapon lamang ito nangyari para sa kaniya. Aniya, kahit may bagong pinagmumulan na siya ng pagkakakitaan ay bakas pa rin ang pangungulila ng kaniyang mga apo sa kaginhawahan.

“Minsan ‘pag suswertehin kikita kami ng limang daan sa isang araw pero kulang pa rin iyon lalo na at sobra kaming naapektuhan ng pagtaas ng mga bilihin. Minsan ‘yung kakainin ko ibibigay ko na lang sa mga apo ko,” saad pa ni Esponilla.

Sa tila mapanlinlang na ikot ng kapalaran, hindi alam ng karamihan kung kailan sila makakaahon sa paulit-ulit na sirkulasyon ng kabiguan at senaryo ng kahirapan. Ngunit ang pagkapit sa kabila ng mga pagsubok, ay tanda ng katatagang hindi matitibag kailanman.

Butil ng Pawis Hindi dayuhan sa ating pandinig na ang magtanim ay ‘di biro, at sa maghapong pagyuko ay may mga taong tila hindi iniinda ang pintas ng matinding sikat ng araw hanggang sa tuluyang magbunga ang kanilang itinanim. Kung ang masaganang ani ay pundasyon ng isang hapag-kainan, paano kung ito ay mistulang isang aparisyon na lamang para sa pamilya ng mga itinuturing nating tagpangalaga ng kabukiran?

Patuloy na tumatahak sa landas na ito si Rogelio Gonzales na mahigit tatlong dekada nang nagsasaka sa Komunal, Oriental Mindoro. Malungkot nitong binalikan ang mga naging karanasang humubog sa kaniyang pagkakakilanlan na naging kanyang determinasyon upang mabigyan ng maayos na pamumuhay ang kaniyang pamilya.

“Natatawa na lamang ako kapag naiisip ko na kami itong nag-aani ng palay kami pa ang walang makain.

Hindi totoo ang sinasabi ng iba na kapag mahal ang bigas eh malaki na rin ang porsyentong napupunta sa amin,” saad ni Gonzales.

Dagdag pa niya, hindi lamang ang kapaligiran ang nagdudulot ng kabog sa kanyang dibdib kundi ang takot nitong maaaring bumigay na ang kaniyang pangagatawan. Hindi pa umano sapat ang kaniyang kinikita upang matustusan ang pangangailangan ng mga anak kaya’t kapag araw ng pahinga’y tumatanggap ito ng ibang pagkakakitaan tulad na lamang ng paglalako ng tindang gulay sa bayan.

Hindi maitatangging mayaman ang ating bansa sa biyaya ng lupa. Ngunit sa kabila ng kasaganahan ng yaman-likas ay ang mga taong nagbubungkal nito na pilit pa ring inaani ang kanilang pag-asa upang matakasan ang kasalatang pinagdadaanan.

Bangungot ng harurot Naging saksi ang kasaysayan sa pagtakbo ng mga jeepney na naging kaagapay na ng masa.

Sinasalubong ng mga pasaherong handang makipagbunuan makuha lamang ang mga limitadong upuan sa binansagang hari ng daan.

Mula sa unang pag-andar ng natatangi nitong katawan matapos ang Ikalawang Digmaang Pandaigdigan hanggang sa paglakbay nito sa panahon ng modernisasyon ay masasabing umani ito ng pagtangkilik mula sa madla. Ngunit ang pagdikta ng nakaraan ay kabaliktaran sa sinasapit ni Pedro Tanguilan, 19 na taon nang namamasada. “[Noong] 1990s mas malaki ang kita. Pasahero ang naghahanap ng sasakyan. Laging puno. Ngayon, kami ang nahihirapang maghahagilap ng mga pasahero [lalo] ‘pag patay na oras,” turan ni Tanguilan.

Naaapektuhan ang kasapatan ng kita ng mga namamasada sa araw-araw kung kaya’t kinakailangan ay makahanap pa ng ibang pagkakakitaan.

Masasabing ang bigat na dinadala ng mga drayber na katulad ni Tanguilan ay gagaan lamang sana na kung, ayon sa kanya, dumampi sa kamay nila ang ibinigay na tulong ng gobyerno. Ngunit dahil sa dinaranas nila, tila isa lamang itong kathang-isip na nabuo sa mga ninanais nilang tugon mula sa mga nakaluklok.

Ang kulang ay kailanman hindi magiging sapat sa mga taong binihag ng kahirapan at banta ng kalikasan. Sa bawat pribelehiyong tinatamasa ay hindi maitatago ang katotohananang may mga taong isinakripisyo ang pansariling kapakanan para sa pangkalahatang kaginhawaan.

Ang pagmulat sa tunay na buhay ay sinasabing isa sa mga pinakamataas na klase ng kaalaman. Saang dako man tumingin ay maaaring mabunyag ang mga nakakubling katotohanan na magpapaalala ng pangaraw-araw na hilakbot na kinakharap ng pundasyon ng ating lipunan.

- Lois Lane A. De Claro, Grace Roscia O. Estuesta, at Mary Evangeline Q. Valenton

MGA DIBUHO NINA SHAINA MARIZ SAGA, DAN ACEDILLO & ANN NIANGAR LATAG NINA ANTONIO A. IMPERIAL & PATRISZIA MAE G. RUNAS

A Dark Utopia

BY JAMILOU JOYMIE N. RAMIREZ

In the clamour from the penurious streets, a deafening silence grows.

A sight of tragedy, as if pain and terror have materialized before me.

Blood painting his body, my son lies in an eternal repose.

Loud sirens drowned my weeping and a gun silenced my innocent child.

Blow the smoke off your guns and lay your blasphemous cardboards on your victims.

Cock that pistol and shoot, for life is just an ephemeral memento and your justice is absolute.

Obscure the truth and smear your atrocities with lies, as your next prey quietly awaits.

An era of a new plague had befallen since the man sat on his throne Poverty became a reason to validate unjust termination.

How many more innocent lives are needed to be sacrificed for your ideal society?

As I bring my son’s body to mine, his blood runs on my hands and fingers, Tainting my hand with the color of misery and the shade of sorrow.

Their Land, Our Future

BY ALIANA REBECAH G. RUELOS

Their minds are filled with ambition for tomorrow As they starve for progress, for modernization.

And I, the future, await the forthcoming Of the happiness I would bestow To Earth’s children.

I am the inevitable, All that they yearn for.

I rest atop the will of mankind And their sacrifices--my price For I bring happiness that no nature can yield.

Seize their lands, Take their culture; It matters not, for I am the future.

I can bring everything anew as gifts of recent.

Your lands, your culture, I will rebuild as my kingdom.

e c i t s u J d n a Blood, Lies, She knew that she will be fine, even when she held her father’s hand one last time.

She knew that he was doing everything until a gunshot took away his life.

She used to forgive people but how can she forgive them if they’ve also taken lives?

At nine, she was hurt by the old man she met on the streets.

She saw him again at fifteen, taken by the men in blue suits.

At eighteen, she lost her identity followed by an academic catastrophe.

Tables have turned; she’s living with the love of her life at twenty.

Her husband was sweet but later on, a random guy took away his life.

She no longer feels that she will be fine.

Once is enough, twice is a sin and one’s life isn’t yours to kill.

She looks up where she believes, she cries and whispers “enough is enough.”

She believes in peace, but they deserve justice.

-Mary Angeli Faith Guisinga

Ancestral Land

A forest raining with the songs of chirping birds, Making an entrance to the warmth of the fiery sun.

Our arrows kissed the thread of our arrows Ready for the morning hunt.

And when the sun no longer shines in the sky, We sing worship to the stars.

The bonfire embraces us as we dance to get the attention of the gods.

This ancient land watered by the blood of our ancestors Are the domains that make us who we are.

We see the promise of a young tomorrow without betraying

yesterday.

The roots of the trees are firm in these ancestral lands, So are we.

-Henry Syjongtian

Wi l l i t b e M a n ’ s Downfall?

Liberty of Man “Change!" they yelled, a top of their lungs, Amplifying voices, their weapons their tongues.

“Independence!" they marched, pounding their feet, Hearts on their hands, blood on their sleeves.

BY SIR LUDWIG ALEKSANDR GABIOSA CAYABYAB

Liberatio, hear the agitated cries for absolute freedom Struggling against oppression, the epitome of desperation Driven by atavistic stirrings from a primordial core Determined to eradicate restraints once more

“Freedom!” they cried, tears blurring their eyes, Remembering their dead, all their loss, the goodbyes.

"Democracy!" they roared, walking with purpose, Emotions on high, boiling to surface.

Hear the rumblings of Chaos beneath the stampede As the riots of the multitude begin to sow Destruction's seed Are these pleas for true liberation and peace?

Or do they masquerade for the sake of impulse and release?

The torch for the people passed on and on, Through centuries, generation’s flames keep holding it strong.

Dissenting oppression--a rock against the flowing river, keeping itself rooted against all adversaries.

Though Man is a creature of Virtue as it is a slave of Vice Leaving one unbound by Discipline cannot suffIce For the absence of control follows regression Along with proliferating violence and selfdestruction.

-Rea Ronna Payongayong

UNTIL DEATH DO US PART

BY ALIANA REBECAH G. RUELOS

“Until death do us part,” now bound by vows of eternal love, my lips curved into a smile as I watched a future in my spouse’s eyes.

I could see a blur of my wife’s pointed finger as she continued to yell. The sound of her voice echoed as it bounced against the empty walls. Shards of glass still scattered on the floor and my right eye was still bleeding from the earlier commotion. Awakened, our children cried for their mother to stop and I had to soothe their worries--tell them that Mama loves Papa.

It happened four or five times before that my body would be covered with bruises and wounds. It was just one of my wife’s quirks. She had always loved me fiercely that she never failed to show it--kisses would turn purple and green, and her songs would pierce through a man’s shield. My love for her would sometimes meet exhaustion. But what law can break a vow made to heaven just to stop dark purple kisses from reaching my skin?

The sound of the hands on the clock racing their way to midnight resonated in the empty room.

My fingers trembled against the table as I watched the night passing. The debit card from my ex-husband lay torn and useless on the ground.

My children now in bed, with stomachs still not fed and minds filled with longing of their Papa’s return. I shut my eyes and said a prayer, wishing that rage and hunger can be washed away with what broke this marriage.

The laws of men had broken the vows made to heaven. I wondered that since my ex-husband kept failing to feed my children, can the law that broke our marriage can?

ILLUSTRATIONS BY SHAINA MARIZ SAGA & DAN ACEDILLO LAYOUT BY PATRISZIA MAE G. RUNAS

“CHA-CHA” | FROM PAGE 8

Parehas naman ang sintemyento ni Mark Dave Astrolavio, chairperson ng League of Filipino Students ng Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP).

Dagdag pa niya, ang mga tunay na problemang dapat kaharapin ay ang mula sa mga mababang sektor ng lipunan tulad ng magsasaka, mangingisda, at manggagawa.

“Kumbaga sa sistema kasi ngayon, walang tunay na reporma, [halimbawa, walang] tunay na reporma sa lupa. Walang lupa ‘yung mga magsasaka, kahit na agricultural country tayo.

Nag-i-import tayo ng bigas, nag-i-import tayo ng galunggong, at kung anoano pa,” saad ni Astrolavio.

Paliwanag naman ni Sison, puwedeng maging matagumpay ang iminumungkahi ng pamahalaang pagbibigay ng mas malawig na kapangyarihan sa mga lalawigan kung maipapatupad ito nang maayos at naayon sa plano.

Malaking salik din ang mga taong nais magsulong nito.

“Well, [there is] nothing wrong with that as long

as [it is] supposed to [bring] change [to] the country and [it] will strengthen the current constitution that we have kasi the truth [is], the political institutions that the country has [is] primarily still a captured state and [it is] not autonomous. Its power somewhat [is] lighted by the non-state factors so if that constitutional change would lead to a more autonomous government, a more competent one, I’m for it,” pahayag ni Sison.

Mahalaga rin umano na hindi lamang bigyan ng kaalaman tungkol sa panukala kundi palawakin din ang pagkakaintindi ng mga mamamayan dito.

Aniya “Let’s assume na yes [alam nila], but there’s another question, do they understand? Kasi ako, I talk to students and to fellow professors and most of them understand the charter change but the problem is the regular people. ‘Yun sana ang magandang gawin ng mga pamantasan o mga unibersidad kasi sila ang may pinakamagandang magbigay ng balanseng perspektibo sa pagbabagong ‘yun kaso

wala naman masyadong kongkretong ginagawa ‘yung mga ibang unibersidad.”

Sa huli, ipinunto naman ni Flores na mahalaga rin ang pagpapatuloy ng mga polisiya at pamamalakad sa bansa. Hindi rin dapat umano mawaglit sa isipan ng mga namamahala ang mga tunay nilang layunin para sa bayan.

“Siguro ‘yung pamamahala sa atin kasi sa Philippines, walang continuation, dahil nagcha-change ‘yung admin, napapalitan ‘yung mga policies ,napapalitan ‘yung klase ng systems na ginagawa natin. So, kung may constituency, kahit nagpalit ka ng mga leaders, matutuloy pa rin ‘yung pamamahala.

So, importante ‘yung pamamahala than ‘yung tao o ‘yung people na governing the country,” saad ni Flores.

Sa huli, anumang pagbabago ang kahihinatnan ng ating Konstitusyon, ang lahat ay kinakailangang magkapit-

bisig hindi lamang sa tawag ng pag-amyenda nito kung hindi pati na rin sa pag-abot ng tunay nitong kasagutan para mga pangangailangan ng bansa.

Pinatunayan ng mga naunang tangkang pagsusog sa Saligang Batas na kinakailangan ang masusing pagpaplano ng bawat indak sa saliw ng Cha-Cha. Ang pagbabago sa ilang probinsyon ng batayang tuntunin ay hindi simpleng hakbangin kundi isang napakahalagang kandirit na magpapalit-anyo sa wangis ng Republika.

In the last match, the 19-year-old towering rookie, Angcos, sealed the triumph for FEU and demolished the Falcons’ team captain Vlademir Rarama in a straightset win, 11-9, 13-11, 11-7.

“Actually sa ngayon, worth it po lahat ng mga pinaghirapan namin. Wala kami dapat pagsisihan (Actually right now, what we worked hard for [this season] were all worth it. We should not have any regrets),” Santiago said about their

season 81 performance.

However, NU reclaimed their championship appearance after outlasting the Tams in the stepladder semifinals, with a 0-3 result.

The men’s tourney concluded last October 15 after the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Tiger Paddlers swept the Bulldogs in game two of UAAP Finals at 3-0.

On his last playing year, the fourth-year business student Santiago shared some of his

- May mga ulat mula kina Mary Evangeline Valenton at Grace Estuesta

“CYBER” | FROM PAGE 7 Fixing Severed Ties Accounts of cyberbullying may seem trivial, that it can be laughed at or even ignored by some; thinking it is none of their business or inconsequential to their own lives – but if it escalates and continues to be unheeded, not only will it strain the relationship between the new herd of Tamaraws and the upperclassmen but permanently damage their state of wellbeing.

Russel Batoy, the president of Far Eastern University (FEU) Peers who is also aware of the incident, gave his input on the matter, “What happened might become a traumatic experience for those students involved, especially the ones whose faces were seen in the video. On the other hand, the senior student who took the video with offensive remarks could be bullied too.”

Bullying comes in all forms and sizes. It is never a laughing matter and has always been a traumatizing experience that can and will leave scars for as long as it is not dealt with.

“This incident should be taken as a learning lesson for everybody. Each of us is under different circumstances so it will be better if we all learn to be more considerate and understanding about the things around us,” Batoy said.

If one has felt a surge of low

self-esteem because of other people, then one must not hesitate to ask for help for the sooner that the pain of ridicule is taken out, the sooner the healing can take its rightful place in the heart.

“If in case we think there is a need to raise a certain issue that concerns the students, we should go to the proper authority, such as program departments and/ or discipline office,” Batoy advised. “This is to avoid further misunderstandings and conflicts,” he added.

Take away the program, the age and even all the physical attributes of an individual presiding in our campus – it will not change the truth that deep inside everyone has the Tamaraw blood in them and is united underneath one-greenand-gold flag. As esteemed students of the university – regardless of age, year and program – one must always embody the core values that FEU proudly showcases inside and outside.

Cyberbullying is an issue that has already wrecked so much bloodshed, and the best way to tackle it is by forgiveness and an attitude of open-mindedness towards making things better; one cannot think of a better place to start than here.

-Ana Paula Sazon, Agustine Ann G. Avalon and Christine Mei C. Ignacio

“PADDLERS” | FROM PAGE 16 After a kick-off loss from Josime Siachua, captain Santiago bounced back for the team against AdU’s Isaac Eneria with a bucket of 11-1, 11-9, 7-11, and 11-9.

Knowing that team is composed of rookies – including Arvin Dave Morales, John Rey Sombilon, Hensford Ceasar Sidayon, King Lara, Drazevik Angcos, and Sia-Chua, FEU’s coaching staff is beyond grateful to the team for showcasing their braveness.

“Very happy kaming coaching staff dahil nga majority sa men’s team eh rookie pero nakita naman natin na talagang ginawa nila ‘yung best nila. Tinalo natin ang AdU na kino-consider na malakas na team (We, the coaching staff were very happy because majority of the men’s team are rookies, but we saw that they did their best [against veteran players].

We defeated AdU team considered as a strong one),” Gonzales said.

gained wisdom throughout his stay at the green-andgold squad along with the thing he adapted from coach Gonzales.

“Kailangan talaga dapat meron ‘yung tapang sa bawat laro at tiwala sa laro mo. Kay coach Noel naman ‘yung pagiging positive thinker niya. Ang sarap kasi sa feeling kapag ‘yung coach mo may tiwala sa’yo (There must be courage and confidence in every game. When it comes to coach Noel, it is his positive

thinking [characteristic]. It is a nice feeling when your coach trusts you),” he ended.

With this improvement on the nine grueling days of combat, the Tamaraw Paddlers are now expected to perform better and hungrier next year with a stronger heart as they seek to fulfill another season’s promise after successfully making a huge UAAP 81 comeback.

To claim your prize, you may proceed to the FEU Advocate office located at Room 408 of the Accounts, Business and Finance Building or you may simply send a photo of your answers to our official Facebook page - FEU Advocate.

Surgical. FEU chess team captain Jasper Laxamana surveys the battlefield and formulates a decisive plan against an Adamson woodpusher.

(Photo by Precious Diamond J. Farro)

FEU Male Woodpushers outclass Adamson, sweep first round

BY GIO CARLO D. CASTRO

*

Lack of cohesion culminates to winless season for FEU Taekwondo Fielded with a young core of Jins, the Far Eastern University (FEU) men’s taekwondo team were unable to land in the podium as they end their stint as the last seed in the 81st season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Taekwondo tournament last November 9 at the Blue Eagles Gym. In the last day of the three-day tournament, the Morayta-based squad opened their match against the gritty Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) Jins which ended with a 5-2 score in favor of the Blue Eagles. With their last match against University of the East (UE), the FEU Jins ended their stint with another defeat with an identical match score of 5-2 in favor of the Red Warriors. “’Yung ine-expect namin na result is hindi nangyari but we did our best naman (Our expected result did not happen but we did our best),” Tamaraws team captain Kristian Tagarao stated.

“Nag-struggle talaga sa training at team intact [chemistry] so sana next year ma-develop nila ‘yun (We really struggled in training and [chemistry] so, I hope that they will develop that next year),” Tagarao added.

The FEU Jins dropped to a 0-6 win-loss record by the end of the tourney, unable to improve their 3-3 finish last season.

Persistency Amid Defeat. Tamaraws fail to redeem their first victory as the fighting maroons reign victorious in the UAAP Taekwondo competition last November 9 at the Ateneo Blue Eagles Gym. (Photo by Joshua Zablan) On the other hand, the FEU Lady Jins came up short as they have been defeated by the De La Salle University (DLSU) women’s taekwondo team with the final score of 5-2, in favor of the Taft-based squad.

The Lady Tams’ newest coach stated that the team were not deprived in preparing for the tournament but the chemistry of the coaches to the players proved to be their major shortcoming.

“Nahirapan siguro talaga kami five months pa lang akong coach nila tsaka malaking epekto kasi ‘yung pagsasama ng mga player sa coaches (I think one of the main cause of our losses would have to be the my mentorship since I have only been mentoring them for five

months),” FEU Lady Tams head coach Gervin Astrologio stated.

The Lady Jins team captain Clouie Bolanas, meanwhile, has a trifling discernment with regards to the performance of her teammates.

As she put it, “Nagkulang talaga sila sa attitude, tapang and ‘yung communication siguro with the coach kasi hindi pa ganoon din ka-intact ‘yung pagsasamahan namin eh (One of the factors that we have been lacking were the attitude while playing, their bravery and the communication between our coach and the player maybe because our bond is not yet that intact as a team).”

- MARK STEVEN V. DONQUE AND HILLARY DANA ESTACIO

*

BREAKTHROUGH | PAGE 15

Though her Asiad stint may have only lasted for seven days or so in total, her battle for supremacy started years before her continental breakthrough.

Groundwork Crisostomo, the 22-year-old Nueva Vizcayan, has been pouring sweat in her chosen discipline, all the while confronting innumerable adversaries at competition grounds since the age of 10. In fact, she has been a delegate of the country in overseas competitions way before she entered the fields of the Tamaraws.

“Every time na may National Championship dito sa Maynila, pumupunta po kami dito. Tapos may nag-i-i-scout po na National team coaches [kaya] nauna po ako sa National team (Every time there is a National Championship here in Manila, we always travel here. And there are National team coaches scouting during that time, that is why I got into the National team first),” the soft-spoken Crisostomo admitted, as she carried the flag and country in her back at a young age of 16.

Moreover, she has proven herself worthy as a mainstay in the Philippine Taekwondo team, as her decorated resume – which includes a gold medal and a Most Valuable Player plum in the 2016 Asian Championships, and a bevy of bronze medals from the 2017 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG), and the recentlyconcluded 2018 Asian Champs – speaks volumes of her natural

The Far Eastern University (FEU) Male Woodpushers edged out the Adamson University (AdU), 3-1, to remain undefeated after seven rounds in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) season 81 Men’s Chess Tournament last October 6, held at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Quadricentennial Pavilion.

Missing the presence of head coach Grand Master (GM) Jayson Gonzales, the third board seated, team captain John Jasper Laxamana and fourth board seated Romy Fagon both bagged wins after outsmarting their respective opponents to send the team to at 2-0 lead.

“May konting apekto syempre dahil wala ‘yung presence niya. Pero bago siya umalis binigay naman niya lahat ng mga kailangan naming malaman (There’s a little effect of course because his of absence. But before he left, he gave all the things that we need to know),” Laxamana shared.

FEU’s International Masters (IM) John Marvin Miciano and Jeth Romy Electa settled for a tiebreaker board match against AdU’s Jayson Tapia and Kyle Arellano, respectively at 0.5 each.

On the other hand, assistant coaches Alexander Milagrosa and Luffe Magdalaga admitted talent, passion for her discipline, and devotion to her craft.

Still, despite her vast experience, she was still in awe for having the golden opportunity to represent the Philippines in the Asian Games. Furthermore, she and the Philippine Taekwondo team were filled with exhilaration the moment they heard that the 18th edition of the continental meet will feature a poomsae event – a first in its kind ever since the competition was created way back 1951.

“Nagulat po ako noong napili ako kasi first time po na magkaroon ng poomsae event [sa Asiad] kaya it is an honor and nakaka-proud kasi iilan lang din ‘yung nakakasali dito (I was surprised when they picked me for the first poomsae event in the Asiad, it is an honor because not everyone can join to this competition),” she shared.

Upon hearing this, Crisostomo and her team immediately cleared the decks to be well strengthened for the inaugural competition.

“Nag-start kaming magpractice ng bagong poomsae nung February tsaka nagkaroon kami ng poomsae seminar sa South Korea (We had our practice for the new poomsae last February and we had a seminar in South Korea),” said the Lady Tamaraw, who is entering her final playing year in the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP).

Having represented the country in stride and achieving the tall order of bringing home a medal from the so-called “Olympics of Asia”, Crisostomo cannot help but dwell upon her rudimental years, heartily admitting that despite being at the

to FEU Advocate that coming in to the next round robin, the Tamaraw woodpushers will miss the presence of IM Miciano for four games due to a private matter.

“Malaking disadvantage kapag nawala si Marvin, pero sa kasalukuyan kasi nasa atin ‘yung advantage. Malaki pa rin ang chance natin na makuha ‘yung championship (It is a big disadvantage without Marvin, but as of now, we have the advantage. There is still a big chance that we can get the championship),” revealed Milagrosa.

Magdalaga then concluded, “Hindi naman siguro siya magiging negative [for the second round robin]. ‘Yung mga reserved players naman natin syempre may mga motivation din sila (I think it will not have a negative effect [for the second round robin].

Of course our reserved players also have their motivations [to win]).”

The determined Green-andGold woodpushers garnered a total of 21.5 points in the league after seven rounds followed by AdU with 17.5 points and the defending champions National University (NU) with 16 points.

With their dedication, passion, and wit in every game, the FEU Men’s Chess team will continue in leading the charge as they seek to bring back the glory to the gates of Morayta. mountaintop of success, her roots will always be at where her budding love for poomsae flourished and blossomed – her humble beginnings, her divine inspiration, and most especially, her family. “‘Yung [unang] coach ko po kasi sa province, Iranian po. Doon po talaga kami natutong ng poomsae (My first coach in the province was an Iranian. That is where I started learning poomsae),” she recalled.

She then chimes in on the other underlying forces that keeps her driven all throughout her young yet bemedaled career, “Siyempre [dine-dedicate ko], unang una po sa family, si God, at ‘yung mga taong sumusuporta sa amin– sa pag-su-support po ng family ko sa akin. Sa teammates ko po, we pull each other up (Of course, I dedicate this foremost to my family, to God, and all the people who supported us – my family who always had my back, and my teammates, we pull each other up).”

As embellished as her career is, Crisostomo’s journey is yet far from over. Even in her 12th year in the poomsae discipline, and sixth year in the international scene, her drive to be the best is still as strong as ever.

And with a myriad of tourneys lined up waiting to be conquered – which includes the 81st season of the UAAP, and the 2019 SEA Games among others – Crisostomo remains steadfast in representing not just the gleaming tri-colors of the country, but also the greenand-gold community in her bid of further solidifying her name in the annals of sports history.

ARTS Excel beyond the lair. FEU taekwondo’s Juvenile Faye Crisostomo emerges victorious in the 2018 Asian Games held at Jakarta Indonesia, bringing a bronze medal to her green and gold home.

(Photo by Alexzhis Mark G. Belga)

In the A s i a n Games, a continental meet where national flag bearers gather once in four years to celebrate sports, a woman, who bleeds greenand-gold, was clad in the tri-colors of the country, as she carved her name in the annals of sports history.

Far Eastern University (FEU) Poomsae Lady Jin Juvenile Faye Crisostomo flew to Jakarta, Indonesia last August 16 for the 2018 Asiad, and she went home a week later with not just valuable experiences and learnings along her, but also a shimmering bronze medal around her neck.

Of Breakthroughs and Beginnings: Juvenile Faye Crisostomo, Asiad Bronze medalist

BY OHMER R. BAUTISTA AND HILLARY DANA D. ESTACIO

Continental breakthrough The Philippine triumvirate of Lady Tamaraws Crisostomo, Rinna Babanto, and Janna Oliva finished as third best in the Taekwondo women’s team poomsae tournament. The Filipinas outperformed Hong Kong, 8.00-7.49, in the round of 16, before stunning host country Indonesia who were backstopped by a raucous crowd in the Quarterfinals via a close-shave 8.070-8.040 decision. “‘Yung totoo po, hindi po namin in-expect na makukuha po namin ‘yung bronze kasi noong Quarterfinals, ang nakalaban po [kasi] namin ‘yung host country, ‘yung Indonesia. Bale kung sino mananalo doon, bronze. So, nagulat po kami nung nanalo kami sa kanila (The

truth is we did not expect that we will capture bronze during the Quarterfinals, since we were pitted against host country Indonesia. And whoever comes out victorious will be assured of at least a bronze medal. So, we were surprised when we won against them),” Crisostomo, a product of Solano, Nueva Vizcaya shared.

She also recalled how the mammoth Indonesian crowd momentarily got into their heads after just seeing them commit a small-scale error, saying: “‘Yung kasama ko nga po parang na-out balance lang, parang may ‘whoo!’ may gumanun. Tapos habang nagpe-perform kami, napatanong kami na ‘ba’t may sumisigaw’.

Tapos nung tiningnan namin ‘yung video, ‘yung isang kasama pala namin, na-off (I remember my teammate, after being out of balance, we suddenly heard the crowd cheer.

And it got into our heads during the performance, as we were left to wonder why they were shouting. Then when we checked the video, one of my teammates committed an error).”

Still, the battle-tested troika remained unfazed, citing that they have always been prepared for these back-tothe-wall situations, all the while wholeheartedly relishing these

pressure-packed experiences.

“Sa’kin po hindi [na kami na-i-intimidate] kasi sanay na kami…mas exciting ‘pag sa ibang bansa kasi, nakakapressure din siya po, pero iba pa rin po ‘yung experience ‘pag sa ibang bansa ka lumalaban (Personally, we do not get intimidated anymore since we were used to it…it just feels more exciting when competing overseas, there is pressure, but the experience competing internationally is unlike any other),” Crisostomo, an AB in Interdisciplinary Studies student, shared.

On August 19, the Filipina trio had the chance to enter the championship round, but they succumbed to eventual silver medalists South Korea, 7.110-8.020, in the semi-finals.

For Crisostomo, no matter what the outcome of their stint may have been, being one of the selected few to represent one’s homeland is already a milestone. As she puts it: “Representing our country is such an honor, kasi iilan lang po ‘yung nakakasali sa Asian Games, so proud din po (Representing our country is such an honor, since only a countless few are allowed to participate in Asian Games, so I’m really proud).”

READ BREAKTHROUGH | PAGE 14

FEUCS returns to podium, captures silver anew

By Gio Carlo D. Castro

Two seasons ago, the Morayta-based squad hoisted the silver plaque after finishing as the first-runner up, before relinquishing their seat in the podium and settling for fourth last season. With renewed vigor to redeem their lost glory, the Far Eastern University (FEU) Cheering Squad emerged as the first-runner up anew in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 81 Cheerdance Competition last November 17, rocking the Mall of Asia Arena with their 70’s inspired routine.

“It’s sweeter when you get it again,” FEU Head Coach Randell San Gregorio beamed moments after duplicating their feat two seasons prior.

Slated to perform and to center stage at the seventh

Beat It

position out of eight competing universities, the FEU Cheering Squad leveled up their cheer elements, showcasing clean tosses, unique pyramids, a string of synchronized tumbling and powerful stunts. However, minor misses made their performance blemished. Still, despite their setbacks in the aforementioned categories, the one jaw-dropping part of their routine which proved to be the highlight of their stint is their dance – an element that garnered 347 points.

“I’m very proud of what they’ve accomplished, talagang from day one, dinurog ko talaga sila para linisin and lagyan ng importansya ang pagsasayaw (From day one, I pushed them to refine and put an importance in dancing),” coach Marla Rivera, the dance coach of FEU cheering Squad, added.

Overall, the green-andgold squad accumulated a total of 655.5 points, enough to make a bridesmaid finish.

Meanwhile, the defending champions Adamson Pep Squad settled for bronze with 638.5 markers. The resurgent National University Pep Squad then took home the crown with 711 points. Moreover, the FEU Cheering squad took home 30,000 pesos as cash prize and emerged as first-runner up in the group stunts category.

With their funky performance, they were able to get the crowd grooving to the beat, establishing themselves as one of the title favorites in the one-day event.

“I’m happy kasi (because) in my ten-plus years of coaching in UAAP, I’ve never experienced a crowd like that na sumayaw sila (they danced together) with

the team,” expressed coach San Gregorio, referring to the highly-charged Tamaraw crowd.

However, behind their gleaming smile during and after the show, the journey back to the podium had never been easy for the Tamaraw squad as they suffered from injuries prior to the event that hurt them in their preparation.

“We started early but injury held us back and swerte pa rin kami na nagkaroon kami ng ample time to finish the routine (we are still lucky that we were able to have ample time to finish the routine),” coach San Gregorio shared.

“Well it was a great run but it wasn’t our best but we’re still happy nonetheless,” he ended.

-Mark Steven V. Donque

Funk Is Back. The FEU community and cheering squad rejoice as they claim the first-runner up title in the UAAP Season 81 Cheerdance Competition last November 17. (Photo by Martina Audrey L. Vicencio)

“Two Bass One Snare” – four words were all it took to shake the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) down to its very core and disrupt the heartbeat of school spirit as the number of drums per school bands were reduced, again.

With this, the drummers, the loudest contingent of the age-old tourney aside from its fans, have gone down yet another notch in their once voluminous sound meter.

Moreover, when taken into perspective, from a 6:4 Bass-Snare ratio which plummeted to as low as a 2:1 ratio two weeks prior Season 81, there emerges a glaring pattern– UAAP is slowly trying to relegate the drummers to almost a state of inaudibility.

Though the UAAP board revoked the initial decision and implemented the ‘Four Bass Two Snare’ policy after receiving social media clamor, I still can’t help but envision an absurd yet striking future: one in which all drums used in the collegiate games will be ruled out of the UAAP experience in the next three to five years from now. This then would ultimately mark the demise of a couple of things that we currently – and for the past years – consider as the norm.

First, chants would not exude the same flare it emits when incorporated with percussions. School spirit is most evident during games when fans cheer their hearts out, which establishes the animated atmosphere in the arenas. For the Tamaraws, our bread and butter in terms of rallying calls has always been the ‘Let’s Go Tamaraws’ chant, and this battle cry of ours – along with the other extant cheers – would not be as effective of an incantation if without the help of the drummers.

Just picture yourself shouting your lungs out with the “RECCA SUMMA FEU” chant, all the while not hearing any drum beat during pauses. Feels awkward, right? Lackadaisical and impassionate at times, too.

Furthermore, here in FEU, drummers, just like student-athletes, are granted with scholarships. If you take away the drums, or even limit the drumming duties to two to three persons, just imagine all the students who will lose the opportunity to experience quality education that FEU provides.

In addition, condensing their reverberation is like condemning the life of a university drummer which entails a tight-rope, juggling act similar to athletes wherein they had to go through a cycle of studying, training, and thumping the beats on a day-to-day basis.

We must remember that drums have long since etched itself in the UAAP tradition, and its longevity in the collegiate scene is a testament on why it is an integral part of the overall experience.

Moreover, the drummers have always been as loud as possible whenever we needed them, but now that they are the ones being silenced, it is up to us to amplify their voices and support their stand in keeping the heartbeat of school spirit alive.

So, will you just let the silencing of the drummers fall on deaf ears? Let me hear it at ohmerbautista@gmail.com.

“SPIKERS” | FROM PAGE 16 One Last Charge The Green-and-Gold sand spikers had a rough start by being down by as much as five points early in the match, forcing Richard Solis to replace Hadlocon.

“Medyo nahirapan lang din ako mag-adjust nung pinalitan ko si Kevin kasi first time ko maglaro sa finals kaya ‘yung adjustment namin ni Jude naging mahirap (I struggled a bit to adjust when I replaced Kevin since this is my first time playing in the finals so our adjustments with Jude became hard),” graduating senior Solis admitted.

The Espanya-based duo continued their dominance by maintaining their momentum and executing a smart offense – including the match point play of Arbasto in the second frame, 18-20. The match went down to a tight deuce until unstoppable Garcia had a consecutive groundbreaking hit, 24-22, resulting into a deciding set.

The remaining frame of the series was a back-and-forth affair for the rival teams. Solis had an excellent assault to

spare FEU from a match point, yet Requinton demonstrated the authority as he rebuffed the ball down-the-line to reclaim the championship title for UST. As the season concluded already, the Morayta-based spikers still proved and lived by the characteristics of a champion and showcased the Tamaraw spirit on a full display.

According to head coach Diaz, this year will provide lessons and experience for the team as they lead the charge again next season.

“I’m pretty sure babawi ‘yan [Garcia, Hadlocon, and Solis]. Dadalhin nila ‘yan as an experience (I’m pretty sure they will bounce back. They will bring it as an experience),” Diaz ended his statement.

Known as one of the top contenders and favorites to conquer the sands every season, the Tamaraw Spikers remained as the second-best team in the tournament with three championship titles, while the National University (NU) and UST both tied as the winningest team with four titles.

FEU gores shorthanded Adamson, forges knockout match against DLSU

BY GIO CARLO D. CASTRO

The Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws kept their Final Four hopes alive after taming the second-seeded Adamson University (AdU) Soaring Falcons, 82-56, in the final game of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 81 Men’s Basketball Tournament elimination round last November 18 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

“Malaking bagay ‘tong game na ito because buhay pa kami (This game is huge because we are still alive),” FEU head coach Olsen Racela sighed.

To prevail in a win-or-go home scenario, FEU took advantage of the absence of Adamson’s key players Jerrick Ahanmisi and Sean Manganti who both have incurred an injury prior to the contest.

“Well, we’re finally getting the breaks.

Malaking bagay sa game na ito (The biggest factor of the game was) with them missing Ahanmisi and

Hopes Up. L-Jay Gonzales drives through the Falcons’ defense to keep the team’s final four spot secured. (Photo by Chanel P. Santos)

Manganti,” coach Racela expressed.

The victory then formally set the Tamaraws in an 8-6 win-loss record, tied with the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers and

University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons.

However, due to UAAP’s point quotient which hinges on the win total among the three teams, the Fighting Maroons secured the third-

seed of the Final Four, while the Archers and the Tamaraws will slug it out on a do-or-die match on November 21.

“Now, we have an opportunity.

We have

one more game to play at nabigyan kami ng biyaya (and we were given a blessing),” coach Racela furthered.

Wendellino Comboy led the charge for the Tams with 11 points, four rebounds and two assists, while Arvin Tolentino accumulated a total of 10 points with five rebounds.

Hubert Cani also chipped 10 markers. Moreover, all but one Tamaraw logged in a point for FEU – much to the delight of coach Racela.

“Importante sa amin ito dahil (This is important to us because) we were able to play everyone,” he beamed.

The Morayta-based squad opened their crucial match with a strong campaign after scoring a 21-8 lead in the first canto against an undermanned Falcons side. Tams ended the first half with a 24-point advantage, 46-22.

FEU maintained its momentum in the ensuing frames, abridging to the third canto wherein the Tamaraws dialed in several

three-point shots behind Cani’s exploits. Axel Inigo then led the way for the Tams to post a 28-point lead right after he knocked down a shot that came from a loose ball, 60-32.

With only 53 seconds remaining in the third canto, the dominance went as high as 34 points, 70-38, after RJ Ramirez swished up the eleventh three-point shot for the Tams. Adamson’s Jonathan Espeleta managed to beat the third frame buzzer with a floater, 70-40.

In the final quarter, however, the green-andgold cagers completely clamped on the Soaring Falcons to secure the morale-boosting, playoffdeciding victory.

The Morayta-based squad will now look to upend the DLSU Green Archers in a knockout playoff match and formalize their position as the last spot in the Final Four. It will take place on November 21 at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

Tamaraw Spikers fall to rival UST Golden Spikers, settle for silver

By GIO CARLO D. CASTRO

“Manalo o matalo, dapat wala tayong pagsisisihan sa dulo kasi ginawa natin lahat ng best natin (Win or lose, there should not be any regrets in the end because we all did our best),” Far Eastern University (FEU) head coach Reynaldo Diaz Jr. remarked.

After dominating the elimination round of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) season 81 men’s beach volleyball tournament with a sweep record, the FEU Tamaraw Spikers fell short in outmuscling t h e University of Santo Tomas (UST) Ti g e r Spikers for

a

championship title, 13-21, 2422, 10-15 in Game Two of the best-of-three championship series last October 6 at the SM Sands by the Bay in Pasay City.

Rebirth of Rivalry It was in the 79th season of the league when FEU’s Jude Garcia and Jeremiah Barrica ended their season campaign with a silver finish against the three-time first place finishers UST under the tandem of Kris Roy Guzman and Anthony Arbasto.

Two years later, a sense of familiarity came out as this season’s power duo of Jude Garcia and Kevin Hadlocon made a huge comeback in bracing the golden sands over the UST tandem of Krung Arbasto and Jaron Requinton.

After destroying the Ateneo De Manila University (ADMU) to seal the rebirth of rivalry in the

said tourney, the triumvirate of Garcia, Hadlocon, and Richard Solis secured an outright Finals berth after their bronze finish during the 80th season.

“Siyempre nakaka-pressure din kasi ang daming expectation sa amin na nakaabang (Of course, we feel pressure since there is a lot of expectations),” Garcia, the third-year captain, shared right after demolishing the Katipunan-based squad.

He then added, “Sobrang hunger para maibalik ang

korona sa FEU kasi dream namin eh. Kaya kailangan ngayon, abot-kamay na namin ‘yung goal namin kaya dapat all out pa rin kami (We are feeling immense hunger to brink the crown to FEU since it is our dream. Now that our goal is within our reach, it is a must to give our all out).”

However, the third-year captain Garcia with his partner Hadlocon suffered their first defeat in Finals series opener at 14-21, 16-21.

“Nag-collapse ‘yung defense natin dahil ‘yung set ng UST gumagalaw, saka naging strength nila ‘yung height doon sila lamang (Our defense collapsed because the sets of UST are moving and their height came to their advantage),” Diaz told the FEU Advocate.

For FEU sands skipper Garcia, unsynchronized movements of their team broke their game pattern, giving a way for the Tigers to put them as a prey.

“Parang ano, hindi talaga para sa amin ‘yung [Game One] na ‘yun. Unang-una ‘yung pattern naman nabasag tapos parang ‘yung movement namin hindi naging synchronized (It seems like Game One was not meant for us. In the first place, our pattern got shattered then our movements did not synchronize well),” Garcia, season 80 bronze medalist, revealed.

READ SPIKERS | PAGE 15

Locked in. FEU team captain Jude Garcia locks his target and soars from the service lane to propel FEU to second-best. (Photo by Chanel P. Santos)

Laser focus. FEU’s Joshua Siachua winds up for an underhand hit against an Adamson Paddler as his teammates spectate. (Photo by Arvin M. Gahunia)

After placing seventh last year,

Tamaraw Paddlers improve season with Bronze finish

BY GIO CARLO D. CASTRO

“‘Yung sinasabing ‘Braver Today’ ng university natin, talagang isinapuso ng men’s team (The ‘Braver Today’ [season campaign] of our university, the men’s team engraved it in their hearts),” Far Eastern University (FEU) head coach Noel Gonzales remarked.

With a roster comprised mostly of rookies joined with a few tested veterans, some collegiate teams would take time in rebuilding their low ranking, but for the FEU men’s table tennis team, it is a different story.

Coming from seventh place last season, the Tamaraw Paddlers finally redeemed their heartbreak with a second runner-up finish in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) season 81 men’s table tennis tournament last September 22 to 29 and October 1 to 15 at the University of the Philippines-College of Human Kinetics (UP-CHK) Gym in Quezon City.

Underdogs No More

After placing seventh in the first round and sporting a 2-5 win-loss card, the Paddlers charged past the second round and reversed their previous card with a shocking 5-2 record behind their ‘Braver Today’ Tamaraw spirit to chop away the stereotype of being a consistent underdog in the league.

M o r e o v e r, FEU team captain John Erickson Santiago told FEU Advocate that the learning they gained from their respective errors served as a mindset for the team to keep the fire burning in winning the remaining games.

“Siguro po ‘yung learning namin [came from] our mistakes kasi po marami kaming nasayang na laro sa first round. Overall, kaya naman po namin. Sadyang ‘yun nga, bilog pa rin ang bola [I guess the learning [came from] our mistakes because we misspent several games during the first round. We can

do it overall. But then, the ball is still round),” expressed Santiago on their mentality.

He then humbly added, “Last year, galing po kami sa seventh place, then last last year po sa sixth place, then fourth place po.

Ginawan po talaga namin ng paraan para makabawi kami at magkaroon ng chance para sa third (We came from seventh place last year, then two years ago on sixth place, then fourth place. We really made a way to recover and still have a chance for the third [place]).”

One Last Charge

In the knockout round of the UAAP Final Four stepladder sequence, the Morayta-based paddlers stood victorious against the Adamson University (AdU) Soaring Falcons with a final score of 3-1 to face the twiceto-beat advantage of the defending champion, National University (NU) Bulldogs.

READ PADDLERS | PAGE 13