Heraldo Filipino Vol. 31 Issue 1

AUGUST - OCTOBER 2016 | PAGE 1

VOLUME 31 ISSUE 1

THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY-DASMARIñAS AUGUST - OCTOBER 2016

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VOLUME 31 ISSUE 1

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TEST OF TRUTH. Senator Leila de Lima listens to the witness account of SPO3 Arthur Lascanas, the alleged leader of the Davao Death Squad, as part of the panel investigating the rampant extrajudicial killings and war on drugs in the Philippines held on October 3, 2016 at the Session Hall of the Senate of the Philippines, Pasay City.

Photo by Camille Trinidad

DLSU-D freshman enrollees drop from 3,478 to 105 this AY No major subjects for freshmen this sem, says admin

by Jazmine Estorninos From approximately 3,478 freshman enrollees in academic year (AY) 2015-2016, only a total of 105 freshmen enrolled this AY 2016-2017’s first semester due to the K to 12 program implementation, as confirmed by University Registrar Marialita Esberto.

“Sila (freshman enrollees) ‘yong mga nag-stop [sa pagaaral] at hindi nakapag-enroll noon. Naghahabol sila ngayon dahil may campaign ang DepEd (Department of Education) at CHEd (Commission on Higher Education) na kapag ‘di sila nag-enroll ngayong AY, hindi na sila puwede mag-enroll sa college kasi ga-graduate na ang [students from] K to 12,” Esberto said.

No major subjects According to Esberto, the 105 freshman enrollees are combined into two classes despite the differences in courses taken.

“General education o ‘yong tinatawag ng students na ‘minor subjects’ lang ang kinukuha ng legitimate freshman (sic) enrollees this semester dahil kakaunti lang talaga sila,” she said.

As of press time, Esberto said the administration will still conduct their meeting on December regarding the freshmen’s schedule in enrolling for their major subjects.

Meanwhile, she added that there are 228 transferees this semester. However, they are considered irregular students and not freshmen.

“Ina-allow din naming mag-tutorial classes ang transferees para maging regular students sila,” said Esberto.

She furthered that the drop in enrollment will last until AY 2021-2022, wherein the University student population is expected to normalize again.

Admin clarifies: STARS voluntary, not required 7, 584 STARS tickets from AY 2015 -2016 still unreturned

by Jazmine Estorninos Due to “misinformation” among the DLSU-D students, the administration clarified that the Share The Animo Raffle Surprise (STARS) Grand Draw payment is a voluntary project—not required.

University Advancement Office Director Marco Polo said the University gave each student a STARS booklet to encourage everyone to join. However, many of the students thought they were obligated to pay for it.

“It’s not for them to buy all the tickets themselves but if they choose to, that’s alright. But if you believe in that project and it’s worth supporting, whether it’s required or not, you’ll still find a way to support it,” Polo explained.

As of press time, the University is at 40% of reaching the P10 million target of returned tickets.

Scholarship fund tops list As one of the STARS’ priority programs, the University will

K to 12 AFTERMATH. AY 2016-2017 marks the year DLSU-D Senior High School students are first welcomed into the campus as a result of K-12 implementation.

Photo by Jose Mari Martinada

See STARS | page 2

News feature

features

Literary

sports

‘Solution’ for collision

Breaking down orthodox walls

Biscuit

Ameer Sanchez Ahid

page 4

page 11

page 13

page 14

NEWS

AUGUST - OCTOBER 2016 | PAGE 2

VOLUME 31 ISSUE 1

STARS from page 1 mainly prioritize the scholarships and financial assistantships’ funds.

With the effects brought by K to 12 program implementation, the reduction of freshmen has a “really big” impact on the overall operations of the University, as per Polo.

“And one of the units to be affected is the scholarship program, so the reduction in the funds that the school generates from tuition fee will have an adverse effect on its ability to sustain its scholarship programs,” said Polo.

He added that the administration is striving to raise money from external sources since the University is still driven by the internal funds of the school.

The STARS’ priority program includes training and research, advocacies and formation, and relief and rehabilitation.

Apart from the scholarships and financial assistantships, Polo said the relief and rehabilitation is “second on the list.”

“These are the two main beneficiaries (scholarships and rehabilitation) actually of STARS. We wanted to allocate additional funds for other programs (training and research, and advocacies and formation) but that will depend

on the final amount raised (if the target is not reached),” said Polo.

According to him, the amount raised will be given to the One La Salle Scholarship Endowment Fund and the other portion to the relief and rehabilitation fund of the Lasallian Community Development Center.

However, he clarified that the interest income of the total amount raised will be used to fund the said priority programs for its future use.

“It’s because if we deplete our endowment fund, then we’ll not have anything to use in the future. It’s a sustainable long term way to support our diff programs,” he added.

Appeal for support Since the portion of DLSU-D students who graduated in academic year (AY) 2015-2016 failed to return a total of 7,584 raffle tickets and currently enrolled DLSU-D students reportedly lost 150 raffle tickets, the University now appeals to the students to give stronger support for the said voluntary project.

“That’s the sad part. Yet, there are those who supported and there are those who did not.

The sadder part is there are even scholars who benefited from the scholarship programs of the school but did not support the project itself. That’s very lamentable, because they’re the beneficiaries and their fellow scholars who’ll benefit and that’s really very sad,” Polo expressed.

He mentioned that the STARS Grand Draw project hopes to inspire people and contribute for larger benefit of the University. “We want our school to be accessible to the poor and to those who don’t have the means to study here. We can only do that if we have a stable scholarship program,” he said.

Polo added that the K to 12 program implementation’s transition years will also be a challenging six years since the student population is expected to decrease and might affect the University’s overall financial state.

“With that said, the school is preparing for it and we want to help [the Lasallian community] so we conducted this project (STARS) as well,” Polo mentioned.

The STARS draw will be held on December 16 at Ugnayang La Salle during the Institutional Christmas Party.

CHANGE OF PLANS. Instead of selling the yacht, President Rodrigo Duterte has redrafted his plan as he aims to convert the presidential yacht BRP Ang Pangulo into a floating hospital. Currently, the yacht is undergoing its annual repair.

Photo by Camille Trinidad

DLSU-D new energy supplier up on 2017 ‘Environmentally preferable’energy source to be used

by Jazmine Estorninos

Scholarship budget still P25-M despite K-12 implication

by Jazmine Estorninos DLSU-D maintained the P25 million scholarship budget despite the implications brought by the K to 12 program implementation, resulting in fewer freshman enrollees this academic year (AY) 2016-2017.

“We still stick sa ating goal na mabigyan at paglingkuran ang students who aim to apply for scholarship,” Student Scholarship Office Coordinator Julius Tibayan said.

According to him, the University has already allotted a fixed P25 million budget for this AY’s scholarship funds as discussed and approved by the administration. “[Ang kailangang] gawin na lang

[ng University] is to maximize [the scholarship budget] and thoroughly plan ‘yong paggastos kasi kahit may available budget scale, hindi ito unlimited,” Tibayan said.

He added that the K to 12 program implementation only affected the number of scholarship grants this AY rather than the scholarship budget.

“Nagkaroon ng decrease [sa scholarship grants] only because wala tayong

freshmen student enrollees. Pero ‘yong old grants natin [from last AY], mayroon pa rin hanggang ngayon,” he added.

Tibayan mentioned that they plan to seek assistance from external donors and increase partnerships outside the University to increase scholarship grants next semester.

As of press time, the University has acquired P23 million for the AY’s scholarship budget.

DLSU-D will shift from using electrical power distributor Manila Electric Company (Meralco) to an “environmentally preferable” energy source starting January 2017, as mandated by the Republic Act No. 9163 Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) of 2001, according to Environmental Resource Management Center (ERMAC) Director Marlon Pareja.

With the aim of developing indigenous resources and reducing electricity costs, the EPIRA of 2001 orders different companies around the country that utilize large amounts of energy to officially secure a signed contract with the “most environmental[ly] friendly” chosen retail energy supplier before the end of December.

“Ayon sa EPIRA, may companies or institutions called ‘contestable areas’ na gumagamit ng more than one megawatt of electricity per hour [at] malalaki ‘yong kino-consume nilang kuryente. Ngayon, under the law, puwede na silang mamili ng kanilang

retail energy supplier at isa tayo roon (contestable areas),” Pareja confirmed.

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Finance Belinda Narvaez also mentioned that the University will have to remake the proposal for the target supplier by the end of October, which is the University’s target date to choose a retail energy supplier for 2017.

“Siyempre, bidding muna and then kapag nakapag-submit na lahat ng [retail energy suppliers ng] proposals, pipili ang DLSU-D at gagawa na ng contract with them,” Pareja added.

He said various retail energy suppliers are now submitting proposals to the University such as Energy

Development Center, M-Power, and AboitizPower, which utilize energy sources such as hydropower, geothermal and wind, and coal, respectively.

Pareja furthered that nonrenewable energy sourced from coal currently has the lowest market cost among the three proposed retail energy suppliers. However, he said the University did not prefer coal as it comes from a “dirty energy” which could negatively affect the environment.

“Kaya doon ngayon papasok kung paano mapag-aaralan ng University ang tamang pag-consume sa kuryente at tamang pagpili ng supplier

With a report from Yna Marisse Sodoy

See ENERGY SUPPLIER | page 3

R e ac t With President Rodrigo Duterte’s aim to instill discipline in the Filipino youth, Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) may soon be required for all college students, including females. Here are some of the Lasallians’ opinions about Duterte’s plan: I have to agree on the mandate. However, I think only males should be required to take the ROTC because they are more capable in doing those kinds of things [than females].

I agree on the sanctioning of mandatory ROTC because it helps build character to the students, and it instills discipline to the people. It would also be of great help especially during national crisis.

Pabor po ako na gawing (sic) mandatory ang ROTC dahil, halimbawa, ilagay natin ang sarili na natin kung sakaling magkaroon ng giyera, kapag walang background ang mamamayan, puwede silang mag-panic sa panahon na ‘yon at mas magkakagulo dahil hindi nila alam ang gagawin.

Ivan Medina Second Year Broadcast Journalism

Dominique Polvito Second Year Human Biology

Klinth Angcao First Year Criminology

Hindi ako agree dahil ‘yong mga may gusto lang na mag-ROTC ang dapat na sumali. Hindi dapat sapilitan o mandated dahil it still depends on the students’ choice and decision.

Yes, I agree because the ROTC would be of great help if ever the government is in need of military forces for the country.

not be mandatory for students and must depend on their decisions and choices.

Roulette Lois Tarlit Third Year Hospitality and Restaurant Management

Angel Esteta Third Year Office Administration

Maxine Reneé Arroyo Third Year Broadcast Journalism

As a student who took the ROTC, I think it’s okay to make ROTC mandatory, especially for females. It teaches us things we do not learn in the classroom, and it builds relationships among students.

Favor ako at mas OK na rin ‘yon dahil may advantage naman na maibibigay ang pag-aaral ng ROTC like self-defense especially sa kababaihan.

I am in favor of having ROTC mandatory for college students, including females, as it will help improve, not only the military, but also voluntary missions including search and rescue capabilities of every citizen in times of national disaster or crisis.

Marielle Cruz Third Year Communication

Cassandra Perey Fourth Year Business Operations Management

Matthew Joseph Riego de Dios Fourth Year Electronics Engineering

I have to disagree with it because ROTC must

NEWS

AUGUST - OCTOBER 2016 | PAGE 3

CEAT temporary drafting room now events venue

by April Ciaralei Cenedoza

In response to event venue shortages and reservation issues in the University, the College of Engineering, Architecture, and Technology Student Council (CEATSC) opened the CEAT “temporary drafting room” located near the Mariano Trias Hall for all DLSU-D students this academic year (AY) 2016-2017, as per CEATSC President Patricia Dequito.

“Kulang talaga sa event places ‘yong DLSU-D … kasi bawat PC (program councils) maraming events. Tapos, usually nagkakaagawan sa venues kaya in-open na lang namin [‘yong temporary drafting room] for events,” Dequito said.

In an article in the H eraldo F ilipino Vol. 29 Issue 4, the CEAT Multipurpose Hall, originally a collaborative project of the CEAT administrators and the CEATSC 2014-2015 officers, was exclusively built for the CEAT students as a free venue for their events.

‘Temporary drafting room’ Dequito said the CEAT “temporary drafting room,” a collapsible tent, is now called the CEAT Multipurpose Hall B. “Dalawa kasi ‘yong Multipurpose Hall ng CEAT (Hall A and Hall B). Before, isa lang ‘yong pinapagamit na

[tent] sa event kasi drafting room ‘yong isa,” she added.

According to Dequito, CEAT Dean Engr. Jose Rizaldy De Armas approved when she asked him to use the Hall B as the students’ events venue during their meeting with the CEATSC officers held on the last week of May. Dequito explained that Hall B was turned into a temporary drafting room for at least one year and a half to be used as classrooms for the CEAT students.

“Kaya hindi na talaga [gagamitin na classroom] ‘yong temporary drafting room kasi ibibigay na namin ‘yon for program councils, CEATSC (sic) for their events,” Dequito explained.

According to her, CEAT Facilities and Building Maintenance Head Edgardo Alasco said drafting tables from Hall B were moved to Candido Tirona Hall’s second

floor during the second week of June.

“The Hall B can be occupied by approximately 100 standing students, pero kapag nakaupo na, kalahati na lang,” Dequito said.

Dequito furthered that the CEATSC is planning to install a sound system inside Hall B, similar to the equipment used in Hall A. She added that the council also considered the issuance of rental payments in the CEAT kubo near the CEAT Multipurpose Hall since it will be used as a meeting hall for all students.

Meanwhile, Alasco said the CEAT kubo will be free of charge to the CEAT students interested in reserving the venue.

As of press time, the CEATSC is yet to release the payment guidelines and other policies for non-CEAT students who plan to rent the venue for events.

USC to install speakers for campus radio next sem Council eyes collaboration with Green FM

by April Ciaralei Cenedoza

In response to issues on information dissemination and students’ lack of awareness of the campus radio station, the University Student Council (USC) plans to install speakers for DWSU 95.9 Green FM next semester as confirmed by USC 2016-2017 Public Relations Officer Bryan Ellis Castillo.

“For the past years, the University radio station is not given much attention and most of the students do not even know it exists,” Castillo argued.

DWSU 95.9 Green FM, also called as La Salle Radio, is the University radio station operated by the Communication and Journalism Department under the College of Liberal Arts and Communication.

According to Castillo and USC 2016-2017 Secretary Jessone Purificacion, the USC plans to install speakers at the University Food Square, Gregoria Montoya Hall Building, and Julian Felipe Hall Kubo.

They proposed the said plan to emphasize the importance of having a University radio station especially in information dissemination.

“This is the time to have a comprehensive promotion of Green FM so the Lasallian community will be able to maximize its use,” said Castillo.

Castillo, who is also a third year Broadcast Journalism student, said students could improve their knowledge and awareness on the pressing issues in the country by listening to the news and public affairs programs of Green FM through

the installation of speakers in the University.

Meanwhile, Green FM Station Manager Maria Aurora Balibay expressed gratitude for including the University radio station in one of the USC’s plans this academic year (AY) 20162017.

“Green FM actually welcomes the initiative of the USC. We are very thankful,” said Balibay.

Source of funds Balibay admitted that the Green FM management does not have enough resources to fund the installation of speakers in all college buildings.

Meanwhile, Castillo mentioned that the budget for the speakers will come from the USC’s fund-raising projects.

Since the speaker installation plan will be solely funded by the USC, the Green FM management team could help the council to promote their fund-raising project through the radio station itself, Balibay explained.

Balibay said she wishes the USC to consider all the college buildings in the installation of the speakers. Castillo said the USC is yet to determine the date of installation of the speakers and its budget allocation.

“USC must first ensure that everything is well-planned to ensure there are enough funds to purchase quality equipment and we are hoping that if we cannot make it (speaker installation) by December, the speakers will be operational at least by second semester,” he said.

He added that the USC held an initial meeting with Green FM but did not yet disclose the full details of their plan.

As of press time, the USC is still drafting the process of the project.

USC, Green FM collaboration Castillo said the USC is looking forward to collaborate with the Green FM management team especially in information dissemination and promotions.

The Green FM team has given USC a timeslot to air their announcements, upcoming projects, and other important activities of all college student councils, which will air every day from 12:30 PM to 1 PM called Campus Connect.

According to Balibay, their collaboration with the USC could help the radio station increase its awareness and listenership level.

VOLUME 31 ISSUE 1

ENERGY SUPPLIER from page 2 dahil hindi rin dapat basta-basta mamimili,” said Pareja.

Now on contract Since the University will commit to a contract agreement with the chosen supplier on December, law of obligations and jurisdictions regarding the electricity usage will be applied.

“Dati ‘di ba Meralco ang nagdidistribute [ng kuryente sa University] kaya siya ang naniningil sa atin [depende sa electricity consumption]?

So kahit gaano katagal natin gamitin [ang] kuryente, OK lang. Babayaran naman kasi natin, e. Ngayon sa bagong energy source, may kontrata na,” Parejas explained.

He said the chosen retail energy supplier may apply additional charges to the University’s electricity costs once the power of kilowatt per hour exceeds the limit written in the contract.

Change in costs Pareja mentioned that the University’s electricity bill with electricity distributor Meralco ranges from P4 to 4.6 million per year.

On the other hand, University Controller Deodoro Abiog clarified that the University’s electricity bill in AY 2015-2016 was P15 million.

However, Pareja said that the University’s electricity bill still costs less than other De La Salle schools’ despite

having a large student population. He added that the increase or decrease in the University’s payments and the students’ tuition will still depend on which retail energy supplier will be chosen.

Narvaez also said the decision will be discussed at the end of the AY during the multi-sectoral meeting.

“OK ang renewable [energy source] kung 24 hours ang operation ng school dahil magagamit ‘yon the entire day. But since tayo ay tuwing peak hours lang [nag-o-operate], doon nahihirapan ang eskwelahan (use of renewable energy source), kaya dapat mapag-usapang mabuti ito,” Pareja added.

CSO to amend Consti, By-laws SAO handles CSO trust fund this AY

by Yna Marisse Sodoy The Council of Student Organizations (CSO) and Recognized Student Organizations (RSO) proposed to amend the CSO Constitution and By-laws to align its provisions with the academic year (AY) 2014-2018 Student Handbook.

Since the new Student Handbook AY 2014-2018 allows only one faculty adviser per organization, former CSO President Rhina Padilla said they planned to amend Article 5 of the CSO Constitution and By-laws.

RSOs will now be able appoint only one adviser who can either be a full-time or part-time professor, unlike before, when they could have two advisers who were fulltime professors.

Padilla added that they aim to modify the offenses and sanctions stated under Article 10.1 of the CSO Constitution and By-laws since some of those, such as tardiness in meetings without justifiable reason, were not implemented effectively.

“Kasi iniisip din namin, parang ang hirap nga talaga siyang (offenses and sanctions committed

by CSO and RSOs) i-monitor. Kasi halimbawa, ‘di lang naka-attend ng meeting, may sanction na agad,” she said.

Padilla mentioned that they also proposed to amend Article 11.7, which states that only the non-graduating CSO Executive Board and the current officers of any RSO are qualified candidates for the CSO election.

She said they have decided to allow the CSO committee members to run for a CSO officer position since a CSO committee is not required every semester, depending upon the CSO’s need.

According to Padilla, the proposed amendments to the CSO

Constitution and By-laws are yet to be discussed with the Student Development and Activities Office (SDAO) and Office of Student Services (OSS) before implementation.

Padilla pointed out that they started the CSO Constitution and By-laws amendment on May 4. However, the CSO Executive Board AY 2016-2017 will continue the ratification since her Padilla’s term has already ended.

As of press time, OSS Dean Don Malabanan is yet to approve the amended CSO Constitution and By-laws submitted on the first week of July.

RSO policy revision As per Article 4.2 of the CSO Constitution and By-laws, Padilla said the RSO’s days of reaccreditation, which covers the submission of requirements every academic semester, will be changed from 10 days to 15 days before the start of classes.

Under Article 9 of the CSO Constitution and By-laws, Padilla said they proposed to move the clearance signing for RSOs, which is an evaluation conducted for re-accreditation next semester, a week after the final examinations since the requirements should be completed during the week before final examinations.

Meanwhile, CSO President 2016-2017 Margarita Adrias said the amended CSO Constitution and By-laws will clarify which documents the RSOs should

submit in hard and soft copies as a requirement, such as accomplishment reports and registration sheets.

She furthered the clarification of the documents will provide more accessibility and convenience for both CSO and RSOs. CSO trust fund The Student Activities Office (SAO) now handles the CSO trust fund composed of the P10 fee paid by students every academic semester this AY 2016-2017, Padilla said.

She added that the CSO’s main role for this AY is to regulate and monitor the RSO’s activities.

“Kaya kailangan kapag gumawa sila (RSO) ng activity [ay] ‘yung mako-convince nila ‘yong SAO … na itong activity na ‘to ay sustainable … kung hindi, wala silang makukuhang budget [for their event],” she said.

In an article in The Heraldo Filipino Vol. 28 Issue 1, the multi-sectoral committee decided to decrease the P30 fee collected from each student for the CSO’s trust fund to P10 effective AY 2013-2014.

However, Article 6.1 of the previous CSO Constitution and By-laws still states that the CSO fee included in each student’s tuition is P30. “… nasa Constitution namin na 30 pesos [ang kinokolekta sa mga estudyante for our] trust fund e ‘di ba ngayon, 10 pesos na lang? So ‘yon, iibahin talaga siya [kasi binago na ang Constitution],” Padilla said.

THEN AND NOW. For the past five academic years (AYs), University records show the student population has been decreasing at an averate rate of 3.28 percent during the second semesters compared to the first semesters of AYs 2011-2016.

Infographic by Mikaela Torres

N E W S F E AT U R E

AUGUST - OCTOBER 2016 | PAGE 4

VOLUME 31 ISSUE 1

‘Solution’ for collision A look into the Dasmariñas road center islands

by April Ciaralei Cenedoza and Yna Marisse Sodoy In 2015, a total of 95,615 traffic and road accidents in National Capital Region were recorded based on the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s report. Each year, approximately 1.2 million people are killed in road crashes, while an estimated 50 million are injured all over the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the second biggest chunk of road user deaths are pedestrians with 19 percent, followed by drivers of four-wheeled vehicles at 14 percent, and their passengers at 11 percent.

The rate of road accidents in the country continues to increase. But in the City of Dasmariñas, road mishaps are now being lessened after the wellknown road center island was built along Emilio Aguinaldo Highway, as per Dasmariñas City Mayor Elpidio “Pidi” Barzaga.

Road center islands Since 2001, Barzaga said the road center islands were constructed in order to prevent head-on collisions, avoid accidents in taking left and U-turn, and minimize cases of deaths along the streets, especially during night time.

Personally experiencing road mishaps around the city, Barzaga said he was the one who decided to construct the road center island in Dasmariñas “Aside from that, alam niyo naman, overpopulated na ang Dasmariñas. Napakaraming areas … na dahil nga napakaraming sasakyan, kapag tatawid ka, you will stop at the center. Kaya most of the time, tumitigil sila roon sa gitna at nabubunggo sila lalo kapag gabi na at walang ilaw,” Barzaga explained.

Before the road center islands came into the Dasmariñas City, side by side road accidents were recorded mostly at Bukal Road Intersection, Vel Maris School, and Philippine Christian University.

Since there were no center islands to regulate them, car drivers freely took left-turns and U-turns.

On the other hand, some pedestrians fail to notice fast-driving cars coming behind them, which eventually leads to an accident. “… diyan (Vel Maris School) naman, mayroon diyang mga night spot. Pagdating ng gabi, medyo nakakainom ng kaunti (pedestrian) [kaya kapag] tatawid, namamatay [dahil nasasagasaan],” Barzaga opined.

He indicated that the car drivers who fall asleep, mostly at night, will hit the road center islands instead of causing head-on collisions with the cars opposite the road.

Barzaga added that the road center island is designed with lamp posts to ensure the safety of pedestrians and motorists during night time. Trees were also planted on the road center island to “send the message to Dasmarineños about the importance of planting.”

He said a well-lit place also avoids risks and commission of crimes. “It was the product of what is happening in Dasmariñas at kung ano talaga ang kinakailangan para sa safety, of course lalagyan natin ng ilaw ‘yong ating center island para maliwanag sa mga motorist [at pedestrian],” he said.

When asked about the expenses, Barzaga said the road center island costs approximately P2,000 per lineal meter, excluding the costs for lamp posts. He said two LED lamps cost approximately P50,000 and P15,000 per lamp post.

The Dasmariñas City Government acquired the fund for the road center islands construction through real estate taxes, business permits, other regulatory fees, and the internal revenue allotment from the national government, said Barzaga.

Dasmarineños and motorists It was December 2015 when the road center island construction reached the DLSU-D Magdalo Gate (Gate 1) and stirred reactions among Lasallians. Similarly, a large number of Dasmarineños also complained due to the traffic jam caused by different road island construction sites.

However, Barzaga said the road center island is not the cause of the traffic as traffic jams will still occur whether a construction takes place or not.

“Nagdudulot daw ng subtle traffic [ang road center island], ngunit nalilimutan nila (Dasmarineños and motorists)

CENTER ISLANDS. In order to provide a safer road environment for pedestrians and drivers, the City of Dasmariñas’ on-going road center island construction along Walter Mart until Robinson’s Vineyard will conclude around the end of September.

Photo by Camille Trinidad na kung may center island ay maiiwasan ang head-on collision.

Kahit naman sa Bacoor, paglampas mo ng Imus, walang center island, ma-traffic ba o hindi? O, ma-traffic pa rin,” Barzaga added.

He said that the road center island is proven to provide convenience to Dasmarineños, mostly commuters, by giving them a chance to stop at the road center island’s 100-meter platform after crossing the dangerous highway of Aguinaldo.

As confirmed by Barzaga, no pedestrian has been hit by a car yet ever since the road center island was built in Dasmariñas.

“Wala na ring head-on collision na nangyayari. That’s a fact. Kasi ang binubunggo ng motorists [ay ang

center island]. Bagsak [lang] ‘yong center island pero walang head-on collision kasi do’n sila bumunggo,” he said.

Despite the Dasmarineños’ and motorists’ complaints, Barzaga said it is not necessary to make a decision that will be satisfactory to everyone.

“We are living in a democracy.

You cannot expect that there will be unanimity. There will be always opposition,” he said.

In the making Barzaga furthered that they will start building road center islands across from Metrogate Dasmariñas and Washington Place after the completion of the road center island construction at Robinsons Vineyard.

“The entire Aguinaldo Highway road ay nagiging daanan kapag wala kang [road] center island. It causes traffic, it causes accident,” said Barzaga.

However, Barzaga said they are constructing the road center islands “little by little.”

“Hindi namin kayang pondohan ito (construction) nang bigla. It will entail a lot of expenses, kaya pauntiunti [naming ginagawa],” he said.

Barzaga disclosed that as long as they open new roads and there are sufficient funds to allot, the road center islands construction will continue “one step at a time.”

“It’s very basic na kapag may kalye, kinakailangan i-rehabilitate mo, alisin [mo] ‘yong lubak. Gano’n lang ‘yon e,” he shared.

Distorted reality

“Estudyante, nag-ala superman sa school, patay” When a student from our University committed suicide in January, philstar.com’s offensive headline, together with the gruesome photo of the student who died, splashed a wave of controversy not just within the University but with majority of netizens—including me.

Several days after it triggered anger and hatred in most of the readers, it was taken down. But even months after that incident, it still bothers me—a lot.

Because as unfortunate and insensitive as it might be, a number of unethical media practitioners encourage the growth of this news reporting with a twist—sensationalism— regardless of the damage it does, to journalism and to the people, in the process. *** As a student journalist for almost nine years, I was taught to live by the Journalist’s Code of Ethics. I was trained not to simply do my duty in balancing factual information, but to impartially report and interpret the news to avoid suppressing essential facts and

embellishing the truth—something that all media practitioners must relentlessly do. Yet, instead of living by journalists’ ethics, the sensationalized media continue to subdue and distort accuracy to revive journalism from becoming irrelevant; a prospect rooted in the effects brought by modern technology where most millennials—known for their eight-second attention span—lose interest in anything that isn’t trending or provoking.

While this horrifying method threatens us with journalism’s death a few years or even months from now, it actually urged me to be the voice of the sensationalized issues and to take part in mending the sensationalized media.

Undeniably, sensationalism grows day by day— like a cancer that invades our society. But contrary to how people endlessly fight against cancer, the public helps sensationalism swell and proliferate by continuously patronizing the distorted accuracy it represents. Little do we know, sensationalism affects both those who receive it (the public) and who report it (the media).

By definition, sensationalizing news is the use of shocking details and terms related to sex, gore, horror, or drama to cause an upsurge of excitement and interest among the public.

It’s intended to provoke public interest at the expense of accuracy to increase viewership, readership, and ratings as long as the issue

is controversial and appealing enough to the lowest and shallowest instincts of human beings.

Nowadays, most sensationalized news is covered by the media because it’s exciting, not because it’s important. When such issues trend online, it’s immediately broadcasted and published in all parts of the country, resulting

Seriously speaking, I’d rather tell you the truth (and be boring) than essentially lie just because that’s what you want to hear. in a week straight of constant reporting of issues such as Baron Geisler and Kiko Matos’ “most awaited” URCC Fight, President Rodrigo Duterte’s bad jokes and his “mansion” that turned out to be someone else’s house, and by far the worst, Bimby Aquino’s “accident” after stepping on the wet floor.

Whether we admit it or not, everything about the Philippine president is sensational, big personalities getting into cat fights are sensational, celebrity couples’ breakups or third parties are sensational, but poor farmers

*** With over 600,000 residents, completely preventing road accidents and traffic jams in the city is wishful thinking. However, the solution proposed by the City Government won’t be possible and effective if the people aren’t willing to sacrifice a little. In their own way, they can simply follow road signs, empathize with traffic workers, and most importantly, utilize the use of the road center islands. With the help of the road center islands, plus pedestrians and driver discipline on the road, the safety of Dasmarineños may be ensured throughout the years.

With a report from Jazmine Estorninos

getting killed after protesting their grievances is not sensational—at all. It seems like majority of us no longer care about reality if it’s not on the radio, television, newspaper, or internet because we’re already used to being fooled and spoon-fed by the media to dictate to us what’s important and what’s not.

So when sensationalism introduces a new substandard mentality of plainly accepting what’s given to us by the media made worse by sensationalism, I see many Filipinos become naïve and ignorant of the harsh reality that our country actually faces today. As a result, the media deprives the people of their due and tramples on the Journalist’s Code of Ethics as if it’s merely trash, thereby deceiving society and damaging families.

Knowing that millennials have a shorter attention span than a gold fish’s, this column might be boring for you so I guess you’ve had enough of me discussing sensationalism. But, seriously speaking, I’d rather tell you the truth (and be boring) than essentially lie just because that’s what you want to hear.

Let me get this straight—the raw truth definitely hurts; but it is better than entertaining exaggeration.

I’m pretty sure journalism is not yet, and will never be, dead—if we only begin upholding the truth rather than settling for sensationalism just because people find it more entertaining.

AUGUST - OCTOBER 2016 | PAGE 6

OPINION

VOLUME 31 ISSUE 1

EDITORIAL

No winners in war “Go ahead and kill them.”

Terror is being raised in the name of “change” as headlines of vigilantes and “inhuman” drug users dominate the news. Dead set on eradicating these pushers to cleanse the country, Duterte is in full force initiating this brutal war on drugs as people are being found dead on the streets left and right. In this bloodbath that has consumed us all, we will all eventually realize the reality that there are no winners in war.

Imposing fear in Filipino drug dealers and users, Duterte’s mission has skyrocketed the number of extrajudicial killings after he gave consent to the police, barangay officials, and even civilians to use violence against drug users.

Tracking the numbers, Philippine National Police (PNP) confirmed that there have already been more than 3,441 killed in the war on drugs as of October in which 1,375 were executed by police officials and 2,066 deaths are still under investigation, including those who were found dead and covered in tape .

This isn’t unexpected. At his oath taking in Malacañang last June, Duterte told the people to do their part in eradicating drug users by saying, “Please feel free to call us, the police, or do it yourself if you have the gun—you have my support ... If you know of any (drug) addicts, go ahead and kill them.” Shortly after the speech, the news was filled with reports of extrajudicial killings of alleged drug pushers around the country—and the scenario was always the same: corpses covered in tape and labeled with phrases like “Pusher ako, ‘wag tularan.” These were the same words that appeared next to the now-iconic Pieta-like photo of a weeping woman holding her dead husband in her arms.

The same thing happened to college student, Rowena Tiamson, who was gunned down by vigilantes for being an alleged drug user. She was not.

Sentiments of opposition go unheeded by the people already under Duterte’s spell. In the words of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Archbishop Socrates Villegas, “are we providing our children a safe haven, by teaching them by our tolerance of murders? From a generation of drug addicts shall we become a generation of street murderers?” Adding fuel to the fire, Deputy Director in Asia for the US-based Human Rights Watch Phelim Kine said “as long as President Duterte turns a blind eye to—or implicitly or explicitly encourages—summary killings, the fundamental right to life of all Filipinos is at risk from potentially random extrajudicial violence.”

Even in our own community, President of De La Salle Philippines Brother Jose Mari Jimenez, FSC, stood his ground to reverberate his call to action to the entire Lasallian community as this state of society has made “the young and the poor become vulnerable to the machinations of corrupt and criminal elements.”

With a moving letter condemning the extrajudicial killings as a result of this war, Brother Jimenez reminds us that for us Filipinos, this warfare is a choice—a choice of whether we are willing to give up our morality and dignity as payment for this battle we’ll never win. Whether all the drug pushers are dead or not by the end of this war, it’ll end in the same way—a lose-lose scenario that’ll kill our humanity as well if we decide to carry on with this culture of death. *** Although many have spoken, few have taken action—change starts with words and is completed with deeds. As Lasallians, as humans, we made a contract—a promise—with ourselves and the universe to do everything we could to make our country a place of peace, free of unnecessary brutality.

That’s why you can’t really fault Duterte. He vowed that “change is coming.” We’ve seen that change is here, and it’s been just as bloody as he said it would be. He kept his promise.

Now let’s keep ours.

Why I write One day, I woke up and my favorite author (and person) in the world had died.

A Holocaust survivor, Nobel Laureate, writer for peace and tolerance, foe of hatred and bigotry— he left the world better than he found it when he died last June. Most people in my age bracket have never even heard of his name, but his words still linger on the world’s conscience and in mine. *** For fellow bookworms out there, I’m sure you can relate to the feeling of reading so many novels that you tend to lose track of the stories as they fade into the background of your mental library. But there will always be a few books that’ll stay at the forefront of your memory even months after putting it down. For me, that book is Night

by Elie Wiesel whose words shook the world—and that’s an understatement.

It was Wiesel who taught me that there is power in the words that form the quiet voice in your mind to silence the deafening noise of the world beyond. But few answer the calling to pick up the pen, or more accurately, open Microsoft Word.

Most are disillusioned into thinking that writing is reserved for writers—as if their voices will only be drowned out by billions of others. What most don’t realize is that we write for the same reason we read: to hear what others have to say, because our voices are not the only ones that demand to be heard—or the only ones that matter.

Some people write to be famous, or worse, to discover their inner genius and all that crap. In my case, I write to put thoughts into words for those who can’t do so for themselves, to put their voice before my own; and as long as there are still hard questions to ask and truth to fight for, I’ll keep at it.

Yet I often wonder why the hell I write in the first place when there’s no glory in a penniless profession with a dwindling readership, an abundance of allnighters, indignity from harsh edits, and thankless efforts. As Ernest Hemingway sarcastically put it, “There’s nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.”

It’s never about what we write, but why we write in the first place But whenever I question the path I chose, I recall another quote from another epic writer, Anton Chekov, who once said that “A writer is a man who signed a contract with his conscience and his sense of duty.”

When crafted as Wiesel had, words fight to keep memories alive in the world’s collective memory so we may never forget joy or suffering.

Yet, we’re never the heroes; we only follow the people who are the real heroes in this story. In some ways, we help the heroes fight back against indifference with words that reverberate across the silence.

As a student journalist, I’ve been bombarded with mandates to be objective. Yet the more I learn, the more I realize that objectivity is dead—and it’s

been dead for a while. To be objective would in fact conflict with our very purpose—to serve the people.

By default, we are biased not to a person or a party but to the social aspirations of the people. As Wiesel once put it, “We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”

Whether from between the pages of a hardback or scrolling down an article on your phone, the words we write and read bear witness for those who can’t. Just as Wiesel’s words stirred the writer in me, they move some to better themselves and others to leave the world a better place than they found it. And the best words teach us that it’s never about what we write, but why we write in the first place. *** What’s worse than not believing that your voice matters is withholding it to begin with; “for silence and indifference are the root of injustice,” as Wiesel once said. Regardless of your occupation or interests, messengers come in all shapes and forms, and the best ones are at the grassroots, experiencing what the masses and marginalized do, to share stories in the most authentic way possible.

It’s probably cliché for a writer to write about writing for their column, but I do it with the hope that someone reading this might identify as a kindred soul—a fellow writer underneath the wretched uniform, seeking to join our ranks, and find the stories yet to be told.

So to those bored enough to find themselves reading my column, I dare you to grease the wheels of the universe, make things happen, and leave a mark—and words—that matter.

Wake up The Official Student Publication of De La Salle University-Dasmariñas Founded: June 1985 Member, College Editors Guild of the Philippines Editorial Board AY 2016-2017 Anri Ichimura, Editor in Chief Fernan Patrick R. Flores, Associate Editor Ricardo Martin O. Cabale, Managing Director Naomi Lane T. Tiburcio, In charge, Copy editing Kristine Mae H. Rebote, Office Supervisor Jazmine N. Estorninos, News Editor Ma. Bianca Isabelle C. Lariosa, Features Editor Rochelle G. Rivera, In charge, Literary Ezekiel A. Coronacion, In charge, Sports Lynoelle Kyle E. Arayata, Art Coordinator Kathelyn Ann M. Bravo, Chief Photographer Camille Joy D. Gallardo, Graphics and Layout Director Christian F. Mateo, In charge, Web SENIOR STAFF Queenee Manaog, Alphonse Leonard Topacio, Nishtha Nigam JUNIOR STAFF Rose Kristine Amarillo, Marco Belarmino, Chandler Belaro, Lexzene Dela Cruz, Jeff Treat Dimaano, John Harold Dizon, Jose Mari Martinada, John Chesleigh Nofiel, John Zedrick Simeon, Mikaela Torres, Camille Trinidad Mr. Mark A. Ignacio, Adviser The HERALDO FILIPINO has its editorial office at Room 213, Gregoria Montoya Hall (Administration Building) De La Salle University-Dasmariñas, Cavite, Philippines 4115.

Telephone: +63 2 8447832, +63 46 416 4531 local 3063 Email: officialheraldofilipino@gmail.com Website: www.heraldofilipino.com Contributions, comments, suggestions, and signed letters should be addressed to the Editor in Chief.

The renovation of the former storage area Vito Belarmino Hall has allowed it to be used for CEAT classrooms this AY.

“I won’t be late,” a friend would say. Thirty minutes after the call time, that friend would still be on his way—or worse—barely out of bed. We’re all familiar with this kind of scenario as it reminds us of a usual mindset when it comes to time, especially for the everyday Filipino.

Filipinos are known for the stereotype of “Filipino time” that brands us of usually arriving an hour or more late than the call time—yet still the first one to make it. It’s awful how our time culture has established a negative identity and as time goes by, it disappoints me that we’ve gradually embraced this Filipino attitude. *** As my school life progresses, I can barely survive 7 AM classes or beat frustrating deadlines because of sleep deprivation, thanks to nonstop academic requirements and projects. Honestly, pressing the snooze button has become an addiction for me. But as the nth snooze wakes me up, the morning nightmare officially starts. Getting out of bed, rushing to the bathroom, skipping breakfast, chasing after Ikot La Salle, and sneaking into the classroom with all eyes on me should be the wakeup call to learn from my constant tardiness—yet I never learn.

But looking at the bigger picture, being late doesn’t just ruin your schedule, but also your reputation. For instance, we’ve all encountered that free loader who never meets the deadline in group

projects. Knowing that free loaders are a burden, no one will initiate to recruit them into the group; so, unfortunately, they end up in the lazy squad, or luckily, in the hard-working group that has no choice but to accept them. In the end, no one will ever trust you and your skills again—not unless they see improvements in your effort to be on time.

In fact, punctuality shows how you value a person’s time as much as how much you respect them as a person, according to American writer and educator Dustin Wax. It’s better to be ahead

There’s still time to fix your clock minutes before the scheduled time instead of arriving exactly on time, because in the end, it’s not about being on time but about showing respect.

After all, being “busy” is no excuse because no one is ever too busy to respect others.

However, the real consequence here is that if you can’t respect others, then you can’t even respect yourself. Yes, the fact that you can’t even adjust to your own issues makes the situation complicated.

Yet you still make it worse and set a trap at your own risk if you don’t take time to think of who the real enemy is—yourself. Like a lazy students’ usual complaint in their classes, we tend to protest that professors didn’t even discuss the topics in your exam—knowing full well that they did discuss the topics, only we were too late to catch the lecture I know that it’s hard to leave your bed early and prepare for your 7 AM class, but being early influences others to be early as well—and the same

Overcrowding and disorder of senior high and college students at the University Library has made it hard for students to concentrate in the supposed “tranquil” place.

thing goes with being late. According to writer Bill Reynolds of The Advantages of Being on Time vs. Being Late to School, if being late for classes or meetings becomes a habit, the notion that tardiness becomes tolerable in the minds of others. This is because we build the idea “Basta may karamay,” which somehow remedies your anxiety as you know that you’ll not suffer alone but together with your squad.

Honestly, I’ve grown blind and deaf to the lame excuses I make every time tardiness hits me.

“Guess what? I’m stuck in traffic—again!” This just shows the unwillingness of a person to set priorities as they become unstoppable when it comes to being late. If your tardiness continues, no one else will value the importance of time as tardiness taints the Filipino identity.

Even if it took me a while to realize how I’m ruining my own value every time I arrive late, at least I’ve finally managed to make an effort to be punctual. Knowing the consequences of tardiness, everyone has a chance to wake up to face the reality while putting in effort to manage the same mistakes from the past for a progressive future. *** “Sorry, I’m late,” he said with an irritating smile. Good grief! It’s alarming how punctuality loses its value nowadays as we unfortunately welcome it as a part of the Filipino culture. Being tardy just once isn’t a big deal, but if it happens again and again? Then that’s a serious problem. Time is running out and yet several let that pass—wasting the opportunity to be one step ahead. There’s still time to fix your clock but maximize every second— because it’s not better to be late than never.

Quick reconstruction of the collapsed portion of Acacia Road near CTH took place after the path paved in when a dump truck passed by it on August 26.

OPINION

AUGUST - OCTOBER 2016 | PAGE 7

A noble fight I have always found journalism’s mission noble in relentlessly serving the people as a bridge between the state and the people—that’s why I took up Broadcast Journalism. With this fearless drive to be like some invincible comic book superhero in spandex, I believed that journalists ought to be righteous advocates fighting for the good of the nation. But since then, I’ve been overrun with concerns about my wellbeing, as if being a journalist was a highway to hell—I can’t blame them, of course. I was, after all, playing with fire in the second most dangerous country for journalists.

See, I grew up and realized that I was fantasizing the frontage of journalism without actually understanding its flawed context in our country to begin with.

Before President Rodrigo Duterte’s inauguration, netizens created a hurricane of contradicting convictions about the president’s statement that corrupt journalists deserve to be killed. Aware of Duterte’s scandalous and unfiltered statements, I was alarmed; but giving our president the benefit of the doubt, I chose to stay on the fence. Truth be told, denying journalists’ corruption is as futile as denying politicians’ corruption in our country. The people’s supposedly collective voice in the media tends to be lost and replaced by one voice that’s bribed to tell the story as the buyer pleases.

Regretfully, the messed-up plight of journalists today is far from the mission of the fearless revolutionary writers of a century ago. Looking back to the age when Filipino writers fought with their pens against the tyranny of the Spanish, I can’t help but be amazed by how they

enthused citizens to stand with them despite the relatively unrecognized freedom of the press during that time. As history has taught us, if the government has the power to irrationally control the people, the citizens can look to journalism as their weapon. Through time, however, the weapon for the destruction of the corrupt became the corrupts’ weapon for mass destruction. And it continues to

There is nothing wrong with journalism, but there is something wrong with journalists proliferate until today.

Media insiders reckon that about 85 percent of Filipino journalist are corrupt, according to a Rappler article. This number haunts Filipinos as veteran investigative journalist Raissa Robles admitted in her blog raissarobles.com that she was bribed a huge amount of money almost four times in her career by government officials.

Transforming journalists into campaign puppets, politicians have found sneaky ways to market themselves: journalist and author of News for Sale, Chay FlorentinoHofileña disclosed that a large amount of campaign budgets before elections were paid off to journalists to add a little (bias) fictional touch to campaign-related news articles and columns.

Without the intention of generalizing, there is nothing wrong with journalism, but there is something wrong with journalists. The way I see it, some journalists take advantage of their freedom of press, making way for corrupt practices and personal gain, and eventually destroying the spirit of journalism. Now, I can’t put the president at fault for being

brutally honest, because we can’t rebuff that journalism has its own slipups.

There is undeniable power in words as playwright Tom Stoppard believed journalism can be an immediate weapon to change the world; but it’s also the same power that makes media corruption rampant. So if the media—being the fourth pillar of democracy—buries its ethics, then the nation’s integrity will be buried with it as well. As what fictional photojournalist-turned-superhero Peter Parker said, “With great power, comes great responsibility,” and professional journalists as well as citizen journalists have a great duty in making sure that a balance exists between both. *** I’ve had so much doubt in my writing that there are still times I submerge myself into thinking I’m not good enough to be studying journalism. But looking at the bigger picture, mastery in technicalities won’t matter much without a journalist’s heart for service and integrity—just like the way journalists Kent Clark and Peter Parker served humanity as my favorite superheroes Superman and Spiderman.

As English writer George Orwell once put it, “In a time of universal deceit—telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” The whole idea of being a journalist isn’t solely about fighting to get the latest stories: it’s about fighting to expose the truth that is long deprived from people— an obviously risky task today, but that’s what makes them noble. As citizen journalists, every word and information we let out plays a part in every battle of our nation. So we need to realize that journalism has an immense power to drive change, and as long as we write with deep-seated honor and nobility, neither money nor opinion can ever replace the truth, nor kill the spirit of journalism.

Bugang liwayway Sa panahon ngayon, patuloy na lumalaganap ang attitude problems o ang masasabing hindi matinong ugali ng isang tao sa tuwing hindi nila nakukuha ang kanilang gusto, kahit pa noong panahon ng mga lolo’t lola natin dahil maaaring ito ay parte na ng pagkatao natin.

Kabilang dito ang mga taong madaling mapikon, mahirap pakisamahan, matigas ang ulo, at kung ano pang kaartehan sa katawan. Ang hindi ko lang lubos na maunawaan ay ang walang katapusang siklo ng pagkaignorante ng mga tao na umabot na hanggang sa dekadang ito at patuloy pang lumalala katulad na lang ng hindi kalugod-lugod na mukha ng vape culture. *** Madalas akong magpalipas ng oras sa tapat ng Gate 1, tulad lamang ng ibang mga estudyante sa La Salle. At sa tuwing nagmumunimuni ako, hindi ko mapigilang mapansin ang mga tao sa paligid na humihithit ng e-cigarette o vape.

Sa totoo lang, personal kong nasubukang gumamit ng vape at tunay na may kakaibang ligaya ang paggamit nito sapagkat walang kapantay ang pakiramdam nang pagbuga ng isang malaking ulap. Bagamat hindi rin nagtagal ang paggamit ko nito dahil hindi ko naman siya masiyadong nahiligan at maaari pa itong makaapekto sa aking kalusugan.

Mayroong pangyayari kung saan may magbubuga ng napakalaking ulap

ng usok (long drag, ika nga nila) kasabay ng mabangong amoy na mayroong iba’t ibang flavor. Halata sa mga mukha nila na may pinaglalaban ang pinalaya nilang usok na tila sila na ang pinaka-astig sa mga sandaling iyon. Ang hindi nila alam, nagmukha lang silang arrogante dahil may mga umiiwas sa usok na dinulot nila.

Hindi naman praktikal kung bibigyan mo pa ng “Manual on How Vape Really Works” ang kada taong mabubugahan mo sa mukha. Oo, walang nakakapinsalang chemical sa e-juice na ginagamit sa vape, pero hindi lahat ng tao ay lubos na

Kung ang indibidwal na namumuno ay may hibla ng kahambogan, tiyak na mamamana ng mga tagapagsunod ang hambog na asal ng kanilang pinuno. nakakaintindi sa konseptong ito dahil naiisip pa rin ng iba na parehas ito ng epekto sa sigarilyo. Imbes na matakasan nila ang kanilang bisyo sa pagbuga nila ng mababangong ulap, tanging arroganteng kilos lang nila ang umiiral sa kanilang katauhan.

Bilang college students, ang pagiging arrogante ay may malaking ambag sa ating pansamantalang buhay sa kolehiyo,

A four-day water shortage from August 29 to August 31 due to the water pipe maintenance of the University left the restrooms covered in stench.

partikular dito ang pakikipagkaibigan natin sa ibang tao o di kaya’y ang kontribusyon natin sa group projects o thesis. Sa isang grupo, hindi mawawala ang isang miyembro na bibo o ang sinasabi ng iba na bida-bida dahil puro opinyon na lang niya ang dapat sundin.

Hindi naman tama na isang opinyon lamang ang masusunod sa group projects dahil bakit pa tinawag na group projects kung indibidwal na ideya lamang ang pakikinggan.

Ang pagiging arrogante ay isa rin sa dapat kong iwasan, lalo na ang mga student leaders na may matataas na posisyon. “We lead by example” sabi nga nila, pero kung ang indibidwal na namumuno ay may hibla ng kahambogan, tiyak na mamamana ng mga tagapagsunod ang hambog na asal ng kanilang pinuno.

Hindi ito isinulat upang ituwid ang kilos ng iba dahil sa kanila mismo magsisimula ang kagustuhan nilang pagbabago para sa kanilang sariling kaayusan. Hindi natin mapipigilan ang epidemyang ito sa pamamagitan ng pagbago ng mga indibidwal. Maaaring makibagay sa kanilang kilos at ugali, o kaya’y umiwas sa pagmana ng kanilang pakikitungo sa madla. Huwag sana tayo maging bulak na napapaluputan ng rolyo ng metal na pwede na lang masunog bigla. Maaari tayong gumamit ng vape sa ating kagustuhan, iwasan lang sana natin maging arrogante sa hithit nito. Marami sa atin ang nais makapagtapos ng pagaaral hindi para maging alipin sa arroganteng lipunan, ngunit sa kagustuhang makabuo ng isang kakaibang bersyon ng ating sarili para sa tinatahak nating hangarin sa buhay.

The Mariano Trias Hall, Paolo Campos Hall, and other buildings underwent renovations that improved the worn floorings and defective air conditioning units.

VOLUME 31 ISSUE 1

WITBREAD

Ignorance is bliss

by Jose Alfonso Sacdalan

PAK! The fact that I can get your attention with just a simple word proves that we are all so deeply sedated by indifference that only the shallowest depths of pop culture can wake us up.

GANERN! I mean, we are the new age generation; we’re all tired, unique, and special snowflakes. Poverty, agriculture, economy—these things are none of our concern. What concerns us are The Chainsmokers’ new single, the Jenners’ latest selfie, and cheesy teenage-romance telenovelas.

We’re like mindless walking moneybags revived only by anything amusing or terrifying. We need memes to communicate political awareness and comic strips to express our thoughts. We are sloppy, feeble, sensitive, and we embrace it.

And no matter how hasty and sweeping this generalization is, you have to admit the fact that you are the only one who is actually reading this fine little print of words. Not your cool friends with their latest iPhones, or your brightwitted classmates who keep acing their subjects. It’s just you, and everyone else is stuck in their own minds of self-preservation and entertainment.

Look, maybe Brangelina’s breakup is indeed a very interesting topic to research, but won’t you rather be reading about Duterte’s case against De Lima? Does it not involve a more complex love story and a more controversial plot involving drug lords in prisons rather than the same celebrity-centric drama?

TAG MO TROPA MONG KINAIN NA NG FACEBOOK. With information being copied, pasted, and shared from different sites to the top of your social media newsfeed, we choose to dwell on the dumbest and most obvious things.

Why are you even reading this?

And to emphasize: every single bit of news stories is voluntarily delivered free, summarized, simplified, and oversimplified. And if you think we are not being spoon-fed enough, then check out the other websites with the same oversimplified and overexaggerated content.

The only decision left to make is whether to read it or not. So, should we know more details about Philippine economy and how society works, or would we rather read some more One Direction fanfiction? Should we prefer to be politically enlightened or should we stay a noisy casual ignorant like everyone else?

As the overused catchy cliché proverb says, ignorance is bliss.

We are way more comfortable hiding behind our comfort zones, comfortable with the idea that nothing outside our knowledge can affect us.

A placebo effect of a false sense of security.

No one can blame us—it wasn’t our fault. We are the new age generation; we were raised as tired, unique, and special snowflakes, threatened to conform to pop culture that we willingly shape ourselves into it.

Mass murders, hypermasculinity, rape culture—these things are none of our concern. What concerns us are Netflix TV shows and debunking the concept of “forever.” Our greatest dilemma is being byproducts of massexaggeration and cultural oppression. We worship depression and suicide as an art, and condemn intelligence as elitist propaganda.

So, who wouldn’t like to be an over-glorified, broken teenager?

And who would like to be a smartass killjoy?

NAGMAHAL. NASAKTAN. NAG-RANT. It must be bad feeling so bored that you’re actually reading text written in a newspaper. Don’t you have anything else to do? Doesn’t life have more meaning than just this useless print of opinion-based political rant? Why are you even reading this? Why waste your time? Was it plain curiosity? Do you feel superior for obtaining information? Or don’t you just like information resources inside your brain?

Maybe it is as the author Donny Miller said, “In the age of information, ignorance is a choice.”

It remains our decision; our decision to read or not to read. Be politically enlightened or stay a noisy casual ignorant like everyone else. After all, ignorance is still bliss and that is the truth.

This is not a mind-opener. This is not a weekend retreat. Simple little words won’t make you crave to know more than you already know. People still go around with their daily living never bothering a single thought. And you’re still here, reading.

Because in the end, this is just an article about ignorance in a paper an ignorant ignores.

The Heraldo Filipino is accepting contributions for Witbread.

Contribution is open to all students, faculty, University staff, and everyone in the DLSU-D community.

Send them by email to officialheraldofilipino@gmail.com Contributions are subject to selection and editing of the editorial board and should not have been previously published in any way.

The slow process of class petitions during the first week of school caused inconvenience for irregular students trying to catch up with their curriculum.

AUGUST - OCTOBER 2016 | PAGE 8

VOLUME 31 ISSUE 1

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VOLUME 31 ISSUE 1

F E AT U R E S

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VOLUME 31 ISSUE 1

In light of invalid verdicts Filling the gap of religious stigmas

by Christian Ralf Dugan

Illustration by John Chesleigh Nofiel

Today’s church aims to stick with the status quo, especially in dire times of radical changes happening throughout the world. And as negativity constantly rules above optimism nowadays, religiously-rooted judgements and stereotypes only feed the gullibility of most people and the ensuing skepticism of our own faith.

Being the species with the highest and most critical way of thinking, we entrust society’s fate to our own verdict, and so does the most influential institution: religion. Unfortunately, there’s a difference between what we think is right and what is actually morally right, and that’s exactly what we need to fill in—the gaps in our stigmas.

Blood over silence Violence is universal—from the vicious killing of innocents to hate crimes perversely lurking over the horizon, our own judgments irrationally consume us to the extent that we wrongly link such happenings to a particular religion. In the context of self-evilness as a sheer cause of violence, political analyst Marwan Bishara insists in his Huffington Post blog titled Violence has no religion: New rules for Bill Maher on Islam that “no single religion has a monopoly over violence.”

Debates defending Islam from being generalized completely as jihadist terrorism extensively occupy different media platforms. Deciphering the situation of those who kill in the name of religion, Karen Armstong’s The Guardian article The Myth of Religious Violence affirms that “once combatants are convinced that God is on their side, compromise becomes impossible and cruelty no bounds.” No one kills without reason, and just like vicious terrorists murmuring religious verses while executing people, some religious people shamelessly disseminate violence as a compliance in their belief about God’s orders.

Considering morality, nothing can defend violence—not even God. All these deceptive excuses by terrorists about violence are only their scapegoat; but reality exposes their own depravity as the prime source of bloodiness. As long as we prevent hypocrisy from consuming our gullible minds, then as the saying goes: the truth will always prevail.

Departure from the sacred Religion is foggy and broad, but rejecting religiosity is entirely different from dissociating our divine beliefs from political affiliates through secularism. Today’s generation constantly interchanges secularism and atheism as the two are gaining publicity among political and scholarly discourse, as Georgetown University professor Jacques Berlinerblau manifests in

his book How to Be Secular: A Call to Arms for Religious Freedom.

As a matter of fact, atheism deals with the non-existence of gods, which is evidently different from secularism’s separation of the “entanglement between government and religion” as quoted from Berlinerblau’s Huffington Post article Secularism is not Atheism. With society’s projection of secularism as a toxic substance, Berlinerblau insists that secularism and atheism must be separated in our perspective as the former endorses freedom from the idea of religion and the latter shows total rejection of religion.

In these critical times of clashes between the government and religion about the massive extrajudicial killings, it is imperative to understand the essence of separation of church and state. Secularists and atheists, excluding the context of interchanging them, are both entitled to have their own humanity, even in the absence of their divine beliefs.

Truth beyond belief Sometimes people hypocritically equate having a religion to being religious. This is the common problem for those that believe going to church every week or having a genuine religion is enough to say that they are “religious.” Truth is, it is highly imperative to consider being more faithful to your god and deeds than your religion per se. In times of war within the society, perhaps it’s time to redirect ourselves for a greater change—and prioritize faith over religion.

As writer Martha Woodroof insists in her blog Can we talk about faith, not religion?, in order to fathom the existence of God, we need to withdraw its meaning from human conception—our own understanding and stance that God will do everything for us. We need to detach ourselves, at times, from the mere existence of religion and focus more in our own subjective reflections in life.

Perhaps living with religion is a far cry from living in your own faith; and faith deserves more limelight than the former. There’s nothing wrong about being proud of your religion, but we need to consider how diverse the world is, and in order to connect ourselves with each other, we don’t need to look at ourselves from the side, front, or back—but only from the top.

Rainbows and cross Despite the raising flag of LGBT rights throughout the world, the cold war between religion and homosexuality still exists in silence. Unlike our country of deep-seated conservatism, some LGBT communities in other parts of the world are liberated and mostly atheists, but it doesn’t mean that all gays are atheist anti-Christs or that it’s impossible for religious people to be gay.

Truth be told, religious people can be gay and gays can pray and live out their own divine beliefs; this is a fundamental right of anyone to choose or utilize his or her life based on their existence. However, as writer Hartley Dean articulated in his The Guardian letter, The Orlando terror attack, anti-gay prejudice and religion, “religion is not the sole cause” of hatred to homosexuals, although it “undoubtedly and powerfully reinforces guilt and anti-gay prejudice.” Though some religions inhibit homosexuality, homosexuals shouldn’t be hindered from their free choice of engaging in religiosity and its activities.

On the bright side, according Brandon Ambrosino in his Time article This Is the Time to Move Past the God vs. Gays Debate about the recent approval of same sex marriage in the US, Christians are often the ones—without obliging or stereotyping them— who understand the obligation to invite anyone for reconciliation and forgiveness.

Despite the barrier between gays and religious people, Ambrosino softly asserts that Christians have to offer their hands for their neighbors and their victories, showing respect to law and mankind. Regardless of their ideologies or beliefs, humanity must still indeed prevail above any prejudice.

Rifting shadow of judgments According to the World Economic Forum, the fourth fastest growing religion is “the unaffiliated,” which consists of atheists and agnostics. You might find them literally everywhere; but as we meet them—whether we admit it or not—some of us usually judge them based on society’s religious convictions.

As atheists openly expose themselves to society, people easily envision their evilness without any basis of moral judgment—as though atheism is associated with Satanism or immorality. This is the common case, but based on Amanda Marcotte in her 10 Myths Many Religious People Hold About Atheists, Debunked article on alternet.org, “if religiosity were the measure of morality, terrorists who murder in the name of God would be more moral than atheists who pay their taxes and give to charity.” We tend to focus too much on the “supposed” dark secrets of atheists that we overlook the reality of those who kill in the name of religion.

The truth is, “there is no morally good atheist, because there really is no objective morality,” according to Pastor Rick Henderson in his article Why There Is No Such Thing as a Good Atheist in Huffington Post. Being immoral is based on subjective desires and not on beliefs. Atheists can either be immoral or moral, and it varies with the choices they make, just like everyone else. *** Mistakes are everywhere—and we grow by learning from them. It’s been centuries of spawning hate culture, and we can’t deny the fact that religion is one of the biggest players in this game of life. We are in the great realm of unacceptable judgments and prejudices, but these must not be a hindrance to our solidarity. After all, religion emerges to connect people, and not to divide us all, or worse—to kill each other’s humanity.

The hf radar MOVIE

by Bianca Isabelle Lariosa and Glazel Ricci Noceda

The Remaining (2014)

Director: Casey La Scala Starring: Alexa Vega and Bryan Dechart Watch if you enjoyed: The Lazarus Effect and non-gore horror movies More often than not, spiritual films carry the impression of being faith-centered, inspirational, and over-sentimental, or worse, utterly cheesy; yet an independent film released in 2014 seeks to break off from the stigma of sappy portrayals and delve into Christianity’s darker side. Showcasing heart-stopping and apocalyptic events from the Rapture, The Remaining captivates viewers’ eyes to the screen as they discover the fate of those left behind.

The film begins with the joyous wedding of couple Skylar (Alexa Vega) and Dan (Bryan Dechart), only to be disrupted by the biblical Rapture that suddenly arises on the same day and saves the souls of the believers—leaving non-believers scrambling for safety. The Rapture wipes out the earthly characters with winged demons and other living nightmares from hell. As the characters brutally suffer from the apocalypse, the same thing goes for the neighborhood after ceaseless earthquakes break the ground in half, leaving nothing but a milieu of destruction. The Remaining incorporates a powerful adaptation of the Book of Revelation chapters 8 and 9, gradually unfolding the phenomenon of Judgment Day. In contrast to conventional horror movies featuring macabre zombies or dreadful vampires, Director Casey La Scala skillfully achieves impressive visual effects that spawn suspense when the sky opens up for our nightmares to ruthlessly swallow the people. As the characters seek to find shelter, it takes a while for some of them to accept that they have no other option than to turn back to God after a redemptory survival. At its core, the main idea of the film is quite unnerving as The Remaining discloses the terrifying reality of believing; how faith can sometimes use fear to forcibly pull in non-believers—a painful factor of misconstrued faith.

TV SHOW

BOOK

The Course of Love (2016) Author: Alain de Botton Read if you enjoyed: Essays in Love and casual philosophy bits

“We seem to know far too much about how love starts, and recklessly little about how it might continue.”

Boy meets girl, girl meets boy, sparks fly, and the story is over. For most books, endings usually trek after the cliché long-awaited wedding kiss; the pages are finished and the book is set aside. Readers are usually comforted, if not unmoved with the experience.

The Course of Love challenges this very idea, letting readers take a peek—or rather a complete view—into the relationship of Rabih and Kirsten, an interracial couple of Middle Eastern and Irish descent, with their arsenal of universal flaws and imperfections. Readers follow the two from the initial courting stage to their eventual—and expected—hardships under the iron clasp of love.

With love already being an overused concept both for books and movies, author and acclaimed philosopher Alain de Botton presents his novel in an utterly fresh perspective, standing out from other novels of the same genre. The book is sprinkled with philosophical insights with each chapter, curving through each bump in the relationship road Rabih and Kirsten encounter—making the novel feel like an old friend reaching beyond the pages, conversing and contemplating about lessons learned.

It’s easy to showcase the bigger picture of life and relationships— like unforgettable moments, they play like a slideshow in our minds, easy enough to display to the world. In contrast—as cliché as it may sound— it’s the tiny moments similar to those showcased in the book that bond relationships together. The Course of Love not so much gives importance to the start of romance, but to the hard work that keeps love—and people’s sanities—intact. Charming, clever, and deeply moving, The Course of Love does what is expected of great books—serving as a mirror for readers to see themselves in a clearer way.

American Crime Story: The People Vs. OJ Simpson (2016)

Starring: Cuba Gooding Jr., John Travolta, David Schwimmer, and Sarah Paulson Watch if you enjoyed: How to Get Away with Murder, Scandal, and true crime TV shows

Much has been said about the legal system in the United States, and not a good chunk of it has been positive. Whether or not you’re aware of the infamous OJ Simpson murder trial of the gruesome killings of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and friend Ronald Goldman in the early 90’s, viewers can still get caught hook, line, and sinker over the true crime genre series centered on the so-called “Trial of the Century.”

The 10-episode miniseries plunged viewers deep into several dramatic layers encompassing the two-year trial. If you love How to Get Away with Murder and other crime shows, you’ll find yourself binge-watching this deliciously dark series.

Following the action-packed trial from start to finish, viewers are given an in-depth look of the names and faces etched in infamy, such as OJ Simpson (Cuba Gooding Jr.), lawyer Robert Kardashian (David Schwimmer), Prosecutor Marcia Clark (Sarah Paulson) and other famous names involved in the trial. An important facet included in the show is the humanity portrayed by shedding light on both the characters’ professional and personal life circulating the trial, giving viewers a sneak peek beyond what the media portrays.

With the numerous angles portrayed in the series, viewers are given the enticing chance to be their own witness, judge, and defender of the trial until the very end of this four-time Emmy award-winning series that proudly showcases the vitality and beauty of raw representation.

AUGUST - OCTOBER 2016 | PAGE 11

F E AT U R E S

VOLUME 31 ISSUE 1

Breaking down orthodox walls Hailing in the new Catholic

by Casvel Teresa Lopez Photo by Jose Mari Martinada

When it comes to faith, there are no limits, conditions, nor classifications defining anyone’s connection with God. Older believers showcase their identity by being firmly devoted, making the shaky faith of millennials look pale in comparison. Although the youth nowadays may be judged for turning away from the Catholic faith, in reality, we might just be looking for a reasonable stance of religion that keeps pace with millennial changes and redefine our spiritual beliefs.

Authentic stewards Our Y.O.L.O front often leads us to giving into our guilty pleasures and letting our humanistic behavior overrule—and thus, our spiritual selves wither. A 2015 survey from Pew Research Center confirmed that millennials have become less attached to old-conforming religions because of our yearning for more spiritual—and authentic—deeds rather than what our elders taught us.

In our own University, REED Professor Dave Gregory Antenor-Cruz shared that when he sometimes asks his Catholic students, “how many of you here do not attend mass regularly?

—they don’t.”

Whether the reasons stem from hectic schedules and laziness to the online influence of secularism beliefs, the traditional religiosity doesn’t seem to appeal with millennials anymore.

Having a fast-paced and technologydependent lifestyle, the traditional way of teaching the word of God has often been set aside as it can no longer persuade the “modern Christians” to revive their dimming faith. However, passivity on religious matters can be transformed into activeness as American writer Justino Valdez stated that millennials seek involvement and communication towards the community that reflects God’s existence, rather than confining themselves to the corners of their comfort zone.

Parochial programs meant to reach out to the less fortunate such as feeding programs and Catechism education at early ages are more appealing to the youth due to the attribute of personal service compared to simply attending masses. This way,

young people fill empty stomachs as well as their own thirsty souls, all while offering voluntary help and serving others beyond just the church.

The ability to retrigger our leap of faith is already in our hands. Though we’re already in the process of accepting the newly oriented approach, there is still a long way to go before we realize there’s more to religion than what meets the eye.

Affirming advocates Looking beyond the negative stereotype of the youth, millennials are promoting morallyupright lifestyles not only to ourselves, but also to our community. The authentic personality elates our religious affinity to become open in welcoming the changes transformed by the unstoppable transition of generations.

Our modified lifestyle has redefined “shameful” practices into phenomena, defying the church that denounces such acts that go against their moral beliefs. In an article on The Age website written by Barney Zwartz, there are indeed accepting Catholics who are part of a flourishing community trend implementing ‘’illicit’’ masses. These new forms of masses have been deemed a sacred place for neglected groups of the church––LGBT, former priests, abuse victims, and vulnerable women alike. Presently, the practice has been known to be facilitated at Melbourne, Australia where they unbox Catholic faith from isolation and rid prejudice when it comes to welcoming faithful yet unorthodox believers.

Generation Y’s energy for societal involvement turns their spiritual desires into

action. Yet, the existing online distractions and passivity to faith become barriers that limit us in expounding theology to the world. Despite all of this, “Catholic millennials today are trying their best to live their faith life despite of the challenges in living Catholic faith,” AntenorCruz said. Beyond our REED classes, religious youth organizations like the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) and Youth for Christ (YFC) focus on captivating the youth’s interest with a touch of preaching, personal and biblical sharing, and worshipping—aiding in empowering a unique sense of wisdom and faith that makes us fight for a sound environment amid the violence happening today.

Redefining religion in the 21st century was achieved as the unwanted response for the rest of the world by the youth to give religion a muchneeded reality check. This new generation of faith is an open door welcoming ideas and individuals that have long been viewed as outsiders by the orthodox.

Fearless disciples Perceived to be the era of resilient and daring intellectuals, it’s no mystery that Generation Y is at the frontlines of crushing certain spiritual stigmas despite older generations bound by the age-old custom of condemning actions based on the viewpoint of the Bible.

Considering the changes made by millennials, an online journal entitled The Views of Catholic Millennials on the Catholic Church and Social Issues mentioned that young Catholics have strong beliefs about fairness and individual freedom in favoring greater equality in school and society. They also conducted a survey in 2015 to gather millennial Catholics’ impressions regarding the connection of the church with its people. As we all know, Pope Francis has been a major influencer to the youth as he immediately caught their attention and regained their trust in

the Catholic faith. Although he boosts youth’s enthusiasm to spirituality, they somehow have contrary views on general church practices like rejection of divorce and reluctance to support secularism.

Changes in Catholic practices presents the transition of youth interests. Professor AntenorCruz suggested that one way of attracting youth to rebound with the church is to ask them about areas of their interest that will somehow and hopefully inspire them to be active members of the parishes and of their communities. Another aspect of living our faith is by being knowledgeable about the Holy Bible. As stated by David Kinnaman, best-selling Christian author, millennials are more interested in only some parts of the doctrine and its teachings on life, death, marriage, and money, rather than the comeback of Jesus and on winning the battle over evil. To some, the Bible serves as life’s manual to relive the teachings and firm connection with God. It may not be as romantic as the Secret Files stories found on Facebook or page-turning bestselling novels, but the message of God’s lessons is about finding our way in life when we’re lost in the woods as risky experiences are beyond our control yet there will be a clear way out waiting for us.

In all honesty, millennials see beyond the Bible and the tall churches—they don’t see religion just as merely contact with God and way for salvation, but as a healing power to mend the wounds of violence and break through prejudiced barricades to unite different religions as one accepting, welcoming, and progressive society. *** Our life is a competition through innovation; we cannot complete the race unless we are able to keep on track with the pace of living. The Catholic faith may experience a downturn in this generation, but it can be revived by bringing in the boldest and strongest devotees of all to ensure its purpose won’t be disregarded—with millennials taking the lead.

The divine divide

When the conversation at the family table changes to one about the Philippine government, I admit I often hide behind the stoic face mastered by all apathetic teenagers. Don’t get me wrong, there have been numerous times where I’ve wanted to spar with the sentiments on the table, but the ever-widening gap between our beliefs has become a chasm too risky to plunge into. In an instant, the discussion has become eerily similar to the hellish saying “Abandon all hope, ye who dare enter.” I know I’m not the only one to feel this way, as young people like me have become more eager to discover fresh perspectives and take new stands— daring to leave outdated ones behind. *** I initially didn’t know much about secularism, yet the idea fascinated me mostly because I could deeply relate to the definition. Defined as the belief that religion should not be involved with the political activities of a country, it wasn’t a difficult idea to process. A society based on the virtues and needs of the people and not on the commands of the predominant religion sounds like a pipe dream, yet that’s what secularism is aiming for—and in retrospect, so are we. In the end, however, I

find myself clinging to the hope that our country would begin practicing secularism rather than merely preaching it to the choir.

Truly, the beliefs we’ve grown accustomed to have become heavily outdated from the principles of today— especially in issues rooted deeply with our Catholic faith. It wouldn’t take a rocket scientist to see the division between the Catholic youth’s stand and the stand of the Church.

Yet there is a vital twist in the type of secularism practiced—and desired—by many. We tend to tread softly in the waters of secularism without diving deep into the very nature of it, and subtly trying to avoid waves of prejudice from crashing into us. Whether we admit it or not, there is a certain casual air in the way we approach secularism: it’s the elephant in the room and the jammed words at the back of our throats. And so far, I find nothing wrong with secularism being shrouded in the shadows, just as long as it doesn’t stay there forever. When the ground finally cracks and the raging tsunami of our suppressed ideas and visions spill over the Pearl of the Orient, I wouldn’t hesitate to be on the frontlines.

Unfortunately, giving the Catholic Church an omnipresent role in our lawmaking has become the pattern, especially with the substantial 80 percent of the country being of Catholic faith. However, a survey conducted by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ Episcopal Commission Youth found that Filipino youth hold a very strong ground in terms of faith, but have different views on how the Church should behave

on secular matters such as the Reproductive Health Law, marriage equality, and legalizing divorce in the Philippines.

As luck would have it, the Duterte administration seeks to execute (pun intended) changes that are open to the idea of secularism, with President Duterte even going as far as saying that the Catholic church is “the most hypocritical institution” in the country and stating in his

We tend to tread softly in the waters of secularism without diving deep, subtly trying to avoid waves of prejudice from crashing into us. first State of the Nation Address (SONA) the importance of separating church and state, but not God and the state, like what most Filipino youths believe in.

The biggest problem with casual secularism, however, is the nonchalance we have when it comes to other people making the country’s decision for us.

Take for example on the other side of the world, the UK’s UE Referendum, or commonly known as Brexit, that shook the world last June. Majority of the voters were those who won’t even be alive to see the effects of their choices. It’s the youth of the United Kingdom—the

very same ones who weren’t allowed to vote on such matters—who will be affected for the rest of their lives.

In the same way, the future of the Filipino youth is being controlled by people who claim to know better; as it’s no secret that Filipinos generally tend to avoid questioning the separation of church and state, completely ignoring the Philippine Constitution that defines us as a secular country in law but not in practice.

The Filipino youth who are feeling the shy tug of secularism have the power to crush this chain of casual defiance they’ve long had by performing the most innocent yet powerful act there is—questioning everything. Only from questioning the church’s involvement in our government can we find the answers to our prevalent questions about the future. After all, it would be the greatest loss for the curious and strongwilled millennials to one day reluctantly settle for the country already molded for us along with the beliefs we no longer have faith in. *** While we’re all mostly past the days when we look to our parents for guidance in the caliber of virtue, there’s still a long way to go before we can fully let go of the invisible thread woven by religion. From the words of Martin Luther King Jr., “You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” Maybe next time another political debate rises up from the dinner table, I’ll finally look up from my plate and question the ideas I’ve been having trouble believing in.

LITERARY

AUGUST - OCTOBER 2016 2016||PAGE PAGE12 12

VOLUME 31 ISSUE 1

A world without surprise

By Rochelle Rivera

In the end of time, when people forecast more than weather, they spend lots of money buying timelines and plotting their own fates.

The most renowned Noble Prize awardee of his time, Francisco Serre, invented a device to calculate and identify when calamities would hit the country, as well as other tragedies to save the people.

But the same invention provided a way to accurately tell what is about to happen to anyone. Francisco Serre didn’t want people to abuse the Invention, but after he died, his own son John Serre took advantage of it.

John became the richest man in the world since he built and formed the The To-do List Inc., a company that sells people’s timelines. With these timelines, people can identify the events that will happen to them, making them capable of plotting specific actions beforehand, like a simple to-do list on a piece of paper. The price is extremely high even though the timeline only sees and reports tomorrow.

It could not report a week, a month or a

year, because people’s fates change within 24 hours. So John acknowledged this as an opportunity. The more frequent people buy timelines, the more money he’ll earn, he thought. And for a human who has an average of 70 years to live, it means 70 zillion times more money for him to hoard.

Many want to steal the Invention or just Francisco Serre’s blueprint on how he made it. But because John was able to tell of every mission involving it, and all the betrayals of his own partners and employees, no one ever got a hold of the device.

And so with the ability to avoid and prevent bad things from happening, even war, the world has become such a good place and life—a really boring one—for the rich.

One bright morning while John reviewed his daily timelines compiled in a thick book, some sense came to him.

He shut his eyes closed and massaged his temples. He knew every single detail to look forward to, and there wasn’t a

fear of the unknown anymore, but still, something felt wrong. For once, he thought about sitting in a movie theater, waiting for the film to start, even though he already knew exactly what would happen. “What’s the point?” he asked.

After drinking almost five cups of tea, John shoved the book right into the trash. He stopped looking at his timeline to see what will happen next.

And this was what happened next: A garbage man, having the best mood, was strolling along the High Street where the rich people live. As he picked up the trash, he thought why everyone would want to spoil their lives with those timelines. “People nowadays are no fun at all! If that’s the only thing they want, then it’s better be poor like me. I can predict my day without buying my timeline. In the morning, I’ll wake up, see no food on my table. I’ll prepare warm water as my breakfast and bath.

I’ll walk house to house on every street, pick up their garbage and find something to eat. In the afternoon, I’ll sort out the

things I can sell. Oh, this is the life of a garbage man,” he sing-sang.

In the afternoon, he indeed sorted out the things he could sell, but to his surprise, one of them was John’s timeline book. “Damn, if this is real, I can exchange it for a big bill!” he exclaimed.

But after flipping through John’s past timelines, the garbage man just decided to return it back the next day.

Because of the tight security in John’s office, the garbage man remained at the gates, calling out for him. Good thing, John was at the garden and he noticed the commotion. When he saw the garbage man, he said, “At last! A surprise visit!” He commanded the guards to open the gates and let the man inside.

“Why did you choose to return this to me when you can sell it and earn big money from those people who want to get a hold of the Invention?” John asked, after pouring hot tea into the man’s cup.

“Forgive me, but I looked through the book and found a life so boring that I pitied you. You just spend days here in

your room, trying to foresee betrayals to protect that Invention,” the man said, making a weird face after tasting the tea.

“I thought the richest man in the world spends his time traveling to good places, eating the most delicious meals, and buying clothes every hour. But man, you just sit here and drink this bitter water.”

John must have felt insulted, but he felt sorry for himself more than anything.

Still, he was grateful for the surprise visit, so he invited the garbage man to dinner and offered him a great amount of cash, a big house, and a car.

They had some drinks that night before bidding goodbye. The garbage man, who will no longer be a garbage man, went to his new home with a wide smile.

Meanwhile, John drank more beer to his heart’s content. So when unknown armed men who didn’t give up on stealing the Invention came in armored cars and helicopters, John—drunk and wasted— just laughed to himself and said, “Oh, I didn’t see this coming.”

Time frame

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I am a timekeeper— with glasses filled with grains of sand, infinitely turned upside down, alternately filling two far ends.

And though the rounded glasses are connected, shaping the curves of my body, they break me into particles and I keep pouring though empty.

The narrow passage in between suffocates me, like the constricted airway in my throat.

The grains charged their way into my lungs, stealing my breath.

Despair pulls like gravity, taking a part of me, in every second, grain by grain.

I am half-full of misery and the other half abandoned by the draining fragments of hope.

And soon, the grains trickling down will leave a hollowed space while they sink to the bottom, taking their sweet time.

For a while, my mind overflows with the thought of losing these grains— to break the glass.

Specks of sadness and agony will spill and my delicate existence will take its last breath, left with shards that can be fixed no more.

Misery loves company but I’ll finally bid this old friend goodbye as the last rough grain of hope escapes.

Infinite hours will end with me.

Time of death.

Just this one time

You went home from school early with your night already planned out. You thought of just curling up into your bed with your favorite TV series on and some chips to munch. But then your best friend called you, inviting you to a mutual friend’s birthday party. You said you’ll pass for now but she insisted. She said, just this one time. Please come. She begged, putting your friendship on the line.

Because you’re a good friend, you said, okay just this one time.

And you instantly regretted your decision as you see the street, the colorful lights, and the loud music.

The birthday celebration was at a local club, and your best friend begged you so much to go because she wanted to experience partying and drinking alcohol just once in your college lives.

The alcohol made you want to throw up at first, but because everyone was doing it, you forced yourself as well. You were afraid to be laughed at. You were afraid of not fitting in. So you gulped one shot after another—not minding that it made your eyes blur and your knees weak. You even congratulated yourself,

thinking it was something to be proud of. And just when you thought that was enough to be cool, they made you swallow a pink tablet. Sort of like candy or ordinary medicine to cure headache. Without thinking, you took it and that’s when they told you what it really was. Drugs. Illegal drugs. Ecstasy.

You laughed with them.

The night stretched into long hours of crazy dancing and hilarious dares. You smoked cigarettes, kissed a total stranger, and chugged down more alcohol. You were having so much fun until you felt unfamiliar hands crawling their way up your skirt.

You saw a grinning, but obscured face. He whispered something in your ear with his warm breath. Just this one time. You didn’t understand what was he asking for just that one time. But before you could even confirm, the alcohol found its way through your head and you fainted right in his arms.

The next morning you woke up in your room.

You couldn’t remember how you got home. Your head was aching terribly, and your body was completely sore and numb. You tried to move, but aside from your head, you felt something else that was aching so bad. You went to the bathroom, took off your underwear, and saw the blood on it. It was still too early for you to have your period. You just had it a week ago. Then you shut your eyes closed and sat on the floor. Cold crept into you, and you couldn’t help but cry. Something else happened last

night. You cried, wanting to scream, but tried your hardest not to make a sound because you were afraid someone might hear and ask you what was wrong.

Those arms that held you last night—you might not know his face, his name. You might not remember the things you talked about, or if you ever talked.

You might be strolling in some place and meet him halfway, but you won’t recognize him at all. And in

It might go well for others, but you will never know who reality is going to choose as an example in order to teach everyone a lesson. some other timeline, it might not be important—but right now, as you scratch your nails on the bathroom floor, you realize how that one time changed you in an instant.

Because while you let your guard down, someone had been inside you. *** Sometimes, we risk ourselves in order to fit in.

We try things we clearly know isn’t right—things we

could have lived without. But still, we comfort our conscience with convincing words like “just this one time.” Just so you could say that you have lived your life to the fullest and you didn’t miss out on anything while you were still young.

It might go well for others, but you will never know who reality is going to choose as an example in order to teach everyone a lesson.

Being in the crucial stage of youth, we are caught between having fun and forcing maturity in.

The notion that we only have our teenage years to have fun lingers above our curious, fragile heads.

It leads us to think that we have the power and freedom to do anything because we’re still young.

Youth became more than a name for our age. Youth became our excuse to do reckless things. And youth became a negative title given by those people who know better now.

As far as Philippine history is concerned, youth in Rizal’s time meant the hope of the nation. We could swim and drown down to the ocean floor trying to find where that essence went. Nevertheless, the struggles of being young—fitting in, having fun, and figuring out what to do for the rest of our lives—are never easy, and the possibility of doing it the right way is slim. We may have enough years ahead of us—to mess up and to learn—but just this one time, let’s not lose ourselves while trying to find where to go.

AUGUST --OCTOBER OCTOBER2016 2016||PAGE PAGE13 13

LITERARY

VOLUME 31 ISSUE 1

The Gift

By Nishtha Nigam

He lies on the hospital bed, his chest cut open.

His lips are as red as a traffic light signaling ‘Stop.’

She lies on the hospital bed, her chest cut open.

Her lips are a shade of blue as cold as death.

His soul hangs on the edge of life, every beating pulse trapping him further in a body whose mind operates no more.

Her soul hangs on the edge of life, every fainting heartbeat loosening her grip on the frail body whose heart operates no more.

And time moves in fast forward, seconds hurriedly merging into one another.

His soul hangs on the edge of life, every beating pulse trapping him further in a body whose mind operates no more.

One by one, each cord is plugged, connected to the sockets of his heart that now belongs to her.

Time moves in slow motion, each second longer than the one before, as the waves on the screen recede into the final ripples before they go into eternal calm.

His heart has sent its last shudder.

till the lifeless line displayed on the screen violently awakens.

Her heart resets her life into motion.

Time pauses and in that moment every second, every minute, every hour of his remaining life are now hers.

His lips are as blue as the calm, clear sky.

Her lips flush red as warm as the life ahead.

Biscuit

By Jose Alfonso Sacdalan

Time always felt like fabricated clockwork, hands ticking back and forth in the same seconds—no past, present, or future—just stuck in a single moment and never really moving on.

“How old are you?”

“Seven.”

I’ve always been seven years old. Sitting on the sofa of our old home, my eyes wandered over the baby toys covered in dust as ash scattered across the living room. My feet were barely touching the floor, my hands holding a biscuit.

Father played his favorite music as time ticked away. He didn’t look like himself after mother left. He kept tapping his foot on and off, and on and off the floor. His gaze was constantly fixed at the door, smoke puffing between a stick and his lips.

“Kailan po uuwi si Mama?” I asked.

“Malapit na. Lumabas lang siya saglit.”

Father’s mouth spoke in a chorus where each syllable of the same word rang in my ear like an orchestra. “Saglit lang. Saglit na lang,” he answered.

He sounded so much like he was trying to believe it himself. He couldn’t stop worrying since mother left.

Time kept ticking, and each second matched with another drop of sweat on his forehead.

Then my baby brother started to cry. Maybe Emar wanted milk. Maybe he wanted mother’s presence. Maybe he wanted the snack resting between my fingers. He let out a long, high-pitched cry, a noise so loud you simply couldn’t block it out.

But father didn’t seem to hear. He was too busy trying to keep the end of his cigarette burning, too busy drumming his fingers against his knee, staring at the entrance of the house—waiting.

It didn’t bother me either.

The only thing I cared about was taking bites out of my biscuit. It tasted better than normal biscuits because I put ketchup on it. Never mind Emar’s wails.

Never mind father’s smoke.

Then there was a knock on the door.

It must’ve been mother, because I could see father’s face lighting up. His eyebrows stopped being buried too deep between his eyes, and there was a smile slowly curving onto his lips with every single step he took towards the knob.

But it wasn’t my mother.

It was a shotgun pointed at his face, held by a man who wore a soldier’s uniform. I could remember every single detail as the bullet made its way through my father’s head.

It sounded like a sledgehammer crushing a stack of mirrors with a single stroke. Father fell to the floor as blood and flesh splattered among the dust and ashes.

I just sat there, very still.

Time slowed to the briefest of halts.

Sounds went silent. Reality vanished. The world disappeared in that single moment.

I stared at Emar’s favorite Teddy bear, resting beside father. Half of its body was now painted red. I wondered if he’d still like it. He always loved the color blue, but I think it would be okay since now it matched the ribbon.

Emar let out an ear-splitting screech as time ticked away. The soldier started dragging father’s body outside the house.

I took a bite from my biscuit.

All I could hear was Emar’s cries, ringing inside my ears.

All I could see was father’s head, blown to bits and pieces of crimson.

Time always felt like broken clockwork, hands ticking back and forth in the same seconds—no past, present, or future—just stuck in a single moment and never really moving on.

“How old are you?”

“Seven.”

“You are fifty-three years old,” said a man wearing a white coat.

“Pauwi na si Mama,” I told him. “Sabi niya saglit lang siya.”

“We’ve been through this over and over,” he declared. “Your parents died during Martial Law.” I sighed.

“You-are-fifty-three-years-old,” he insisted, mouthing each word slowly. “Let’s try again.

How old are you?”

“Seven,” I said.

I’ve always been seven years old. Sitting on the sofa of our old home, my eyes wandered over the baby toys covered in dust as ash scattered across the living room. My feet were barely touching the floor, my hands holding a biscuit.

SPORTS

AUGUST - OCTOBER 2016 | PAGE 14

VOLUME 31 ISSUE 1

Ameer Sanchez Ahid: Surpassing the summit

by Djoanna Nikole Javier Photo by Camille Trinidad We each face challenges every day, but when things get tough and we’re pushed to our limits, the easy answer is to run away. But for Ameer Sanchez Ahid, facing and surpassing those problems brought him to the top of the summit while inspiring people along the way. Refusing to succumb to his condition, the 20-year-old student-mountaineer Ameer continued his quest for success despite the disease that took away his lower right leg in order to make the most of his prime as a hiker—without any fear, limits, or excuses.

Redeem and return During his adolescence, Ameer was active in playing sports as well as regularly jogging with his father around their hometown in Molino, Bacoor, Cavite. But due to the unexpected turn of events, he was diagnosed with bone cancer at the tender age of 13. He underwent chemotherapy for two years, which halted his active lifestyle as well as his schooling.

Even though Ameer remained hopeful, he was faced with a decision too serious for his young years: to choose between whether to have his bone replaced with steel and risk gaining back the cancer cells or to cut off his leg—and live. Ameer chose the latter.

After considering the possible outcomes, Ameer decided to amputate his lower right leg since the expensive steel bone replacement would only make the financial troubles chemotherapy created for him and his family worse. Following the surgery, he decided to quicken rehabilitation and overcome the depression of seeing people run and play sports, refusing to live on excuses or place blame on anyone for what happened to him.

Two years after Ameer recovered from the surgery and the ensuing financial troubles, he continued studying and is currently a third year architecture student in the University. Even after recovering from the surgery, the battle of being an amputee continues as there are times he shared that he would feel different from his schoolmates for taking on special projects instead of the regular activities given his condition.

But after gaining enough confidence and overcoming self-doubts, Ameer and his friends decided to pursue their passion for hiking despite the demands from his academic works and physical limitations and eventually found it as the remedy for his halted active lifestyle.

The student-mountaineer’s campaign Due to his desire to finally get back on track and pursue mountaineering, Ameer and his friends revived the Lasallian Mountaineering Society in 2015, now renamed the De La Salle University - Dasmarinas Moutaineering Society (DMS). After climbing their first mountain, Mount Talamitam in Nasugbu, Batangas, they officially founded LMS with the help of Professor Tony Guiterrez, a former mountaineer of the DLSU-D Mountaineering Society. Launching a campaign to inspire the students to make the most of their youth despite the circumstances, they assigned Ameer as the president.

A year after climbing Talamitam, Ameer and his org mates continued to conquer several mountains, namely Pico de Loro in Nasugbu, Batangas; Mt. Makiling in Los Baños, Laguna; Mt. Makulot in Cuenca, Batangas; and Mt. Ulap in Tuba, Benguet.

On inspiring his fellow Lasallians by promoting DMS, “Plan namin na-encourage ‘yong buong Lasallian community na maging part no’ng advocacy ng LMS which is ‘yong care for our nature [and] magiging inspiration mo ‘yong nature para maging physically fit at para maging hobby rin nila ‘yong outdoor recreation at para ma-appreciate din nila ‘yong nature.”

To be able to achieve their goals, the persistent Ameer proposed open hikes to encourage his fellow Lasallians to join their group because he believes that step by step, students may experience the fulfilment that mountaineering brought him.

After accomplishing the once impossible idea, whenever Ameer reaches the top of the mountain, he said he always feels pure bliss as he

witnesses the fruit of those tiring long climbs—the stunning sights.

“Parang kaya mo gawin lahat pagkatapos no’ng hirap [kasi] sobrang ganda no’ng makikita mo [at] parang mawawala lahat ng pagod mo,” Ameer shared.

On his own campaign, Ameer shared that he learned the value of acceptance amid the challenges and breakthroughs in his life. In the end, he accepted his condition and didn’t let it hinder him from pursuing what he wanted.

Shaping up to the top Before climbing steep mountains, Ameer shared that he needs to accomplish a specific physical training regimen consisting of cardio and core-strengthening exercises, which is required to join mountaineering trips.

On the side note, he still engages himself in upper body exercises to maintain his physique whether he’s training for mountain climbing or not.

Meanwhile, for the nutritive regimen, Ameer said that he usually consumes food rich in potassium and electrolytes to avoid muscle cramps while staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water. This way, Ameer can still stay fit and exceed the limits, high enough to arrive at the pinnacle of success while overcoming the limitations. *** It was not and still isn’t a smooth ride for Ameer but with courage and ambition, he surpassed his obstacles to rise to the top. For students who aspire to overcome setbacks, to know your limitations is to defy them. With his hard work, Ameer is an inspiration in overcoming obstacles and living proof that everything is possible, since as the saying goes—the sky is always the limit.

Mas mabigat pa sa barbell

Matapos ang dalawang dekadang tagtuyot sa medalya, muling naiwagayway ang bandila ng Pilipinas sa pagwawagi ng nag-iisang Pilipina silver medalist na si Hidlyn Diaz sa 2016 Rio Summer Olympics sa Rio de Janeiro, Brazil sa paligsahan ng weightlifting noong August 24. Ngunit sa kabila ng pagbubunyi natin sa kahanga-hangang tagumpay na nakamit ng ating atleta ay lingid sa kaalaman ng marami ang sitwasyon ng sports development ng bansa na masasabi kong nakakadismaya dahil sa hindi sapat na pag-aalalay ng gobyerno sa mga atleta.

Nakakagulat kung iisipin na kung ikukumpara sa badyet ng ibang bansa ang badyet ng ating Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) noong isang taon na P926 milyon ayon sa ulat ni Marisse Panaligan sa GMA News Network ay di hamak na napagiiwanan ang Pilipinas.

Katumbas ng P14.37 bilyon ang badyet ng Thailand at sa Singapore naman ay may humigit-kumulang P7.2 bilyon ang nakalaan sa kalinangan ng isports na labing apat na beses na mas malaki kaysa sa badyet ng Pilipinas. Hindi lamang iyon, nagpasaring din ang taga-payo ni Diaz na si coach Alfonsito Aldanete patungkol sa pagbabawas ng allowance kay Hidilyn mula sa gobyerno noong administrasyon ni dating pangulong Benigno Aquino III na mula sa buwanang

P40,000 na sustento ay naging P9,600 kada buwan na lamang.

Bago umapak sa entablado ng Rio, humina na ang kumpiyansa ni Diaz at nagbalak na lamang magtrabaho bilang fitness instructor sa Estados Unidos dahil na rin sa pagbaba ng allowance at sunud-sunod na pagkatalo ng Pilipinas sa mga nakaraang Olympic games. Dito pa lamang, mawawari na natin ang kakulangan ng kaunlaran sa sektor ng isports sa ating bansa.

Ngayon sa pagsisimula ng administrasyong Rodrigo Duterte, nangako ang ating presidente kasama ang PSC Chairman Butch Ramirez na do-doblehin ang budget allocation para sa mga atleta upang maiangat ang kalinangan ng isports sa bansa. Bilang unang hakbang ni Duterte para sa kalinangan ng isports, dinagdagan niya ang sustento ng Pilipinong Olympians patungong Rio na mula P40,000 ay naging P140,000 na siyang inilahad ni Duterte noong Hulyo 22, dalawang linggo bago ang 2016 Rio Olympics. Napabuti man ang sustento ng bawat atleta, marami pa ring dapat isaayos ang PSC patungkol sa development ng isports tulad ng kakulangan sa pasilidad, korupsyon sa PSC, at ang kakulangan ng budget allocation ng administrasyon.

Samantala, ang nag-iisang imprastraktura na nakalaan para sa pag-e-ensayo ng mga atleta ay ang Rizal Memorial Sports Complex sa Malate, Maynila na itinayo noon pang 1934 at pinagdausan ng mahahalagang tournaments gaya ng Southeast Asian (SEA) Games at Palarong Pambansa. Kailanma’y hindi pa na-renovate ang complex simula nang mawasak ito noong World War II at ngayo’y marupok na ang mga pader nito at hindi na rin

maaaring magpatuloy bilang training grounds ng mga atleta dahil sa kalumaan nito. Dahil sa sitwasyon, minabuti ng ibang atleta na mag-ensayo sa mga pribadong gym o ‘di kaya’y sa kani-kanilang unibersidad kung saan higit na mas maganda ang mga kagamitan at pasilidad kaysa sa Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Hindi lamang sa imprastraktura, ang sektor ng isports ay nasintensiyahan din ng korupsyon dahilan

Sa pag-usbong ng bagong administrasyon, kasabay din sana nito ang katuparan ng mga pinlanong plataporma ng gobyerno upang magkaroon ng mga pending na kaso sa Office of the Ombudsman si dati at ngayong kasalukuyang PSC Chairman Ramirez dahil sa maling paggamit ng P30 milyong pondo para sa PSC noong 2013. Sa pag-usbong ng bagong administrasyon, kasabay din sana nito ang katuparan ng mga pinlanong plataporma ng gobyerno para mapaghusay ang kasanayan ng bawat atleta.

Bilang mga bayani na nagdadala ng karangalan sa bansa, pinuna ng United Nations na ang isports ay nag-aambag din sa pagpapalaganap ng kahalagahan

ng kalusugan, kapayapaan sa pagitan ng mga bansa, at komunikasyon sa bawat nasyon. Kaya’t hindi makatarungan ang pagtrato ng gobyerno sa mga pambansang manlalaro sapagkat kahit ibinigay na ng kasalukuyang presidente ang inaasam-asam ng mga atleta na sustento, huli pa rin ang kanilang ginawang aksiyon at nagmukha lamang na mga pulubi na nakikusap para sa suporta ng pamahalaan ang mga atleta. Ang pagkapanalo ni Diaz ay hindi rin maipagmamalaki ng administrasyon dahil sa simula’t sapul ay hindi rin naman nila lubusang natulungan ang Pilipina sa kaniyang paglago bilang atleta at pagwawagi sa 2016 Rio Olympics bagkus ay nakita natin ang determinasyon ni Diaz sa kabila ng mga kakulangan ng suporta mula sa gobyerno na kanyang pinasan. *** Sa pagpasan ng barbell ni Hidilyn para sa karangalan ng Pilipinas, pasanin din ng gobyerno ang bigat ng kakulangan ng sports development ng Pilipinas. Bagama’t hindi ganap ang suporta ng pamahalaan, nakakagaan ng loob na nagpatuloy pa rin ang mga Olympians para sa karangalan ng kanilang bayan. Sa pagwawagi ni Diaz, kaugnay nito ay ang pangarap ng mga atleta sa paglago ng kalinangan ng isports at ang inaaasam na kaayusan ng sports development ng bansa. Ang susi sa pagtupad ng mga pangarap ng bawat atleta ng bansa ay ang gobyerno na magsisilbing gabay tungo sa tagumpay na ating ninanais. Sa kabila ng mga suliranin ng isports sa Pilipinas, hindi magiging ganap ang tunay na pagpupunyagi kung walang malilinang na mga Pilipinong atleta dahil sa kawalan ng suporta ng gobyerno at bansa.

SPORTS

AUGUST - OCTOBER 2016 | PAGE 15

VOLUME 31 ISSUE 1

NEWS BRIEFS

SDO cuts varsity scholarship, turns minor teams to clubs

by Rose Kristine Amarillo Sports Development Office (SDO) Director Fidel Rojales confirmed his plans to cut the scholarship budget for the varsity players this academic year (AY) 2016-2017 due to the K to 12 implementation budget cut caused by fewer freshman enrollees.

Patriots unite. A sum of 109 athletes comprises the green-and-white varsity teams in the First Semester of Academic Year (AY) 2016-2017, with College of Criminal Justice Education having the highest number of players with 34 patriots.

Infographic by Camille Joy Gallardo

CAGEBELLES from page 16 the green-and-white squad after going 4 for 5 beyond the arc and scoring from the paint to tally 14 points in the quarter.

As the second canto commenced, the green-and-white side’s hot-andcold execution of plays sparked the opponent’s momentum, allowing the Vanguards to accomplish a 12-4 run.

Providing for their team’s compelling chase down, Lady Vanguards bounced back through Ranoco’s quarter-opener layup, Jinelle Ponce’s put backs and charity shot, and Tiny Palomillo’s two-pointers that trimmed down their deficit to five, 25-20. Fueled to end the first half on a positive note, EAC-C’s Loremia and Ranoco pitched in with two consecutive layups, 28-24.

Unstable finale Coming back on track, Patriot cagebelle Marigold Limpangong kicked off the third set with an easy layup and two consecutive fast breaks alongside Azarcon’s downtown shot, 41-34. Despite EAC-C’s Ranoco

and Ponce’s combined effort, the Patriots slowly found their rhythm to crawl back into the game and to lead in double digits through Mariel Campasa’s two consecutive layups and defensive player Diane Reyes’ jump shot, 47-37.

With a minute and a half left before the last quarter, Patriot Maryll Caberoy attempted to lengthen their advantage as she converted points with a board shot, but Lady Vanguard Loremia and Ponce’s fast break layups drew the scores near, 49-44.

Extending their run on the last quadrant, Lady Vanguards Valenzuela and Queenie Guevarra immediately produced points before stellar shooter Campasa exhibited a trey, 52-48.

Despite DLSU-D’s attempt to stop the bleeding, red-and-white’s Valenzuela, Gueverra, and Palomillo continued to hit the mark that locked the scores at 56, forcing DLSU-D assistant coach Andres Canlas to call for a timeout to halt the momentum.

Trying to pull away from the opponent, Patriot Azarcon quickly released a dagger three-pointer after the timeout to wreck the deadlock, however, Lady Vanguard Valenzuela instantly launched two easy buckets while Patriot Limpangong found her way to the rim, 61-60. Determined to end the dry spell, Lady Vanguard Ponce’s foul-counted layup and Ranaco’s layup gave a breather for their team, 61-65.

Finding themselves in a 61-67 hole after Lady Vanguard Ponce’s crucial charity shots, Patriot cagebelle Azarcon completed 2 out of 2 free throws to chop the opponent’s lead to four with only 36 seconds in the clock, 63-67. Maintaining her composure during the dying seconds, Patriot gunner Reyes successfully tallied a layup with only 10 seconds remaining, 65-67. Hustling for the crucial stretch, Reyes struggled to escape the opponent’s defense and obtain another shot but the expired shot clock shackled the green-and-white squad.

Alcantara came up with four markers including a buzzer-beating jumper, 36-all.

The nosed-out match continued in the start of the third quadrant as the Dasmariñas-based squad responded every time the Lycans tried to lunge the game-winning tempo with their dynamic onslaught. Advancing to the second half, LCBA opened a 9-3 rundown, 45-39, but DLSU-D brought back the deadlock after building a run of their own, 45-45. After helming the comeback run, Mojica suffered a minor concussion during the tangled scores.

The Lycans consumed the Patriots’ momentum at 47-all anew, after consecutive layups that ravaged their foe with a 12-2 run, 58-49.

Trimming the buffer, DLSU-D fired five points that concluded the third quarter, 54-60.

As injured Patriot Mojica backtracked on the court, DLSU-D’s airtight defense equaled LCBA’s as the teams produced only eight points in the first five minutes of the endgame,

two trifectas from the Patriots and one lay-in from the Lycans, 60-62.

Trying to bury the Patriots once more, LCBA tore DLSU-D with a 9-3 run capped by K. Alcantara at 4:42, 63-71. Vindicating their composure, DLSU-D returned the favor with a 7-0 run, uprising from Patriots Kim Imperial, Loor, and Janari Reyes, 70-71. Despite turning the tables in clutch, DLSU-D failed to complete the comeback after star player Cantimbuhan missed a layup for an overtime opportunity and the championship quest, 70-72.

“Itong PRISAA, medyo nasala ko na ‘yong lineup namin ... ‘Yon ‘yong lagi kong sinasabi sa kanila, ayoko sa team na magkaroon ng player na gumi-give up. Mayroon na akong tinanggal diyan pero bumalik sa akin kasi nakitaan ko na gustong maglaro ulit. Ngayon, ang gusto ko sa lineup ko is lahat talaga gustong maglaro— gustong manalo. ‘Yan ‘yong magiging edge namin pagdating sa PRISAA.” Coach Oliveros’ statement on what to expect in PRISAA Provincials.

PATRIOTS from page 16 period on a high note for them, 12-20.

Bringing in the first offensive goods after several minutes, Patriot Loor lifted the action with a threepointer in the second quarter, 1520. DLSU-D’s Cantimbuhan and fleet-footed Paulo Rait continued the capturing scheme as they assaulted the Lycans with two consecutive layups, 19-22.

Unveiling the first deadlock, Patriot Rait grabbed a trip to the charity stripe and dropped one freebie, 26-all. Lycan John Lester Maurillo and Kim Lorenz Alcantara immediately unknotted the scores with their team’s first rainbow shot and a foul-counted layup, 26-31. Responding to the Laguna-based squad, the Patriots garnered five points from Jonas De Vera’s trifecta and Cantimbuhan’s point in the paint, 31-32.

Exploding in the canto’s last minute, the two teams responded bit by bit, producing two deadlocks until the final tick, 34-all. Spearheading the Patriots, Cantimbuhan banked in five points while Lycan Mark Jhoven

SPORTS COMICS

In order to keep up with the scholarship budget cut, Rojales explained that the SDO will lessen three scholarship grantees every academic year. “Before, sa basketball, 15 ang scholars, [pero ngayon] ginawa nalang naming 12. Every year magka-cut kami [ng scholarship grants and] next year, gagawin naming nine, pabawas ng pabawas,” Rojales explained.

In relation to the effects of the varsity scholarship reduction, Rojales said the sports program in our University will backslide.

“Kung wala tayong money to support [para] sa scholarship ng mga bata (athletes), hindi tayo makakapag-recruit ng mga bata (athletes).”

Minor teams into clubs Due to the budget cut, some varsity teams will be turned into sports clubs in order to lessen expenses shouldered by SDO. Rojales explained that all of the minor teams, such as badminton, table tennis, taekwondo, swimming, and chess, will be turned into clubs. Meanwhile, the athletics team and major teams, such as basketball and volleyball, will remain part of the Patriots varsity lineup.

He clarified that the sports clubs can join off-campus competitions, but the members of the clubs will not acquire scholarships and will

be required to shoulder their own expenses and equipment needed to support the club.

Varsity open to SHS Considering the recent announcement of the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) allowing senior high school students to join college varsity teams, Rojales clarified that it’s still the coaches’ decision whether to let senior high students join the college varsity teams.

Rojales clarified that senior high school varsity players who choose to play two years in the senior high level will only have three playing years left if they proceed to play in the college varsity level.

“Kung sila ay player ng senior high, puwede silang maglaro sa college. If the senior high school [athletes] will continue to proceed [to college level], the playing years ay maka-cut hanggang five years lang. Ibig sabihin, ‘pag naglaro siya sa SHS (Senior High School) ng two years, pagdating niya ng college, three years na lang. Transferable ‘yon kung tawagin,” he explained.

As of press time, SDO seeks to find more sponsors outside the school for the varsity teams as they will not have the budget to support more student athletes.

Several varsity coaches replaced for AY ‘16-‘17

by Ezekiel Coronacion Due to the K to 12 implementation, conflicts in schedule, and concerns raised by athletes, certain DLSU-D varsity team coaches were replaced this academic year (AY) according to Sports Development Office (SDO) Director Fidel Rojales.

Rojales said that some table tennis varsity players complained about their former coach Celjun Ortalla as he violated training rules. “Sa table tennis napapabayaan ‘yong mga bata … ‘yong training ay naging twice a week… [imbes na] three times a week. So nagpunta sa akin ‘yong ibang players, and doon ko lang nalaman ‘yong mga reklamo sa coach nila,” Rojales shared.

Ortalla, who served as the paddlers’ mentor for three years, was replaced by Table Tennis Association of the Philippines member and former DLSU-D paddler, Alvin Villasis.

Due to their commitments outside DLSU-D, other coaches were also replaced, namely Raymund Ramirez, former Patriots volleyball women head coach and current head coach of De La Salle Health Sciences Institute (DLS-HSI) and De La Salle University Dasmariñas – High School volleyball women teams; Joel Villanueva former Patriots volleyball women assistant coach and assistant coordinator of DLS-HSI Sports Office; and Philip Paulo Belen, former Patriots

basketball women assistant coach and current Sports Coordinator of DLS-HSI. Their replacements include former volleyball men head coach Joven Racelis who replaced Ramirez, former Adamson University volleyball player Vicente Carranza who replaced Villanueva, and former DLSU-D basketball men member Andy Canlas who replaced Belen.

Rojales mentioned that several veteran coaches were replaced by younger peers in order to introduce new strategies to the varsity teams.

In line with this, the basketball men varsity team coaches and trainer were reassigned by Rojales as former head coach Rodel Mercado now acts as assistant coach while Arnold Oliveros was promoted from team trainer to head coach and former trainer Angelito Cani coach serves as the team trainer.

Meanwhile, the new coaches appointed this AY include former volleyball men player and assistant coach Al-frazin Abdulwahab who was promoted to head coach with former teammate Alnakran Abdilla as assistant coach.

With a report from John Harold Dizon

AUGUST - OCTOBER 2016 | PAGE 16

AUGUST - OCTOBER 2016

VOLUME 31 ISSUE 1

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VOLUME 31 ISSUE 1

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NEWS BRIEF SDO cuts varsity scholarships page 15

SPORTS COMICS Patriots vs. Archers page 15

Sports Feature Ameer Sanchez Ahid page 14 ALMOST GOLD. Patriot cagebelle Mariel Campasa attempts to take back the lead from EAC-C as they reach 56-all during the final quarter of the UCCL Championship Match.

The game ended with a frustrating loss at 65-67.

Photo by Camille Trinidad

DLSU-D cagebelles step down from UCCL throne Lady Vanguards nose out Lady Patriots, 67-65

by Djoanna Nikole Javier Without the presence of their head coach during the game, the DLSU-D cagebelles fell short to retain the crown in their second appearance in the United CALABARZON Collegiate League women’s basketball championship after their defense failed to overcome the late scare of archrival Emilio Aguinaldo College–Cavite (EAC-C) Lady Vanguards, 65-67, at the First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities (FAITH) Gymnasium, Tanauan, Batangas, September 3.

Regardless of missing the cagebelle’s head coach Tito Reyes game, Patriot cagebelle head coach was hailed as one of the best coaches Reyes shared that they prepared a Eliminations game scores game plan since he wasn’t able to be First Asia Institute of present for the actual game. “Nawala Technology and Humanities 91-58 (FAITH) BRAVEHEARTS ‘yong depensa namin no’ng fourth quarter … ‘di ba leading kami all DE LA SALLE LIPA (DLSL) 79-39 throughout ng game. Tapos nawala GREEN CHEVRONS ‘yong composure nila no’ng huli.

EMILIO AGUINALDO No’ng nakahabol na ‘yong kalaban, kami 67-57 COLLEGE-CAVITE (EAC-C) ‘yong na-rattle, kami ‘yong na-pressure.

LADY VANGUARDS ‘Di namin na-sustain ‘yong lamang FAITH BRAVEHEARTS 96-38 namin,” Reyes said.

Despite the setback, Patriot EAC-C LADY VANGUARDS cagebelle Agatha Azarcon grabbed 87-78 a spot in the mythical five after her outstanding performance that brought the team to their finale after leading the team to book a game.

Meanwhile, DLSU-D championship ticket.

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Hotshot takeoff Launching their championship campaign, the Patriot cagebelles took advantage of EAC-C’s slow start to register easy baskets for their team and display an aggressive 11-0 start.

Ending their drought, Lady Vanguard Jade Valenzuela unleashed a layup and charity shot, however, Patriot veteran and team captain Jannie Well Rodriguez quickly answered with a trey, 14-3. Trying to boost their morale, Lady Vanguard Rosanelle Ranoco added points via put back, but Rodriguez responded again with another rainbow shot to close the first canto, 21-8.

Slicing past the opponent’s fullcourt press, Rodriguez spearheaded See CAGEBELLES | page 15

Number of rookies per college

New Blood. Compared to last year’s number of newbies, the statistics of rookies decreased from 33 to 19 this First Semester of Academic Year (AY) 2016-2017.

Infographic by Mikaela Torres

Patriots fade in UCCL scene against Lycans LCBA edges DLSU-D, 72-70

by John Zedrick Simeon Closing the door to the golden trophy behind them, the DLSU-D cagers wrapped up their rookie-stocked Cinderella run after the Laguna College of Business and Arts (LCBA) Lycans chomped their opportunity in a neck-and-neck game, 70-72, in the eliminations round of the United CALABARZON Collegiate League men’s division at the FAITH Gymnasium, Tanauan, Batangas, August 25.

DLSU-D held on with the Eliminations game scores combined labor of Patriot guards Olivares 56-76 College Sea Lions John Cantimbuhan and Pacholo Loor who both had 15 markers.

San Pablo Meanwhile, six-foot-three forward 87-81 College Ravens Egie Boy Mojica also contributed 12 points in the tight loss.

Systems Technology 65-42 Institute “Since na-appoint ako as head coach, ‘yong players talaga namin ay may Philippine Christian University Dolphins tendency mag-relax. … ‘yon ang mga 99-59 binabago ko ngayon … [‘Yong] nangyari San Pedro College of sa amin no’ng UCCL naging lesson Business Administration Default Tigers sa akin ‘yon. Lesson sa akin, lesson sa

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backslide. DLSU-D cager John Cantimbuhan tries to clinch the hindmost hope of their game against LCBA on the 10th UCCL men’s division held at the FAITH Gymnasium, Tanauan, Batangas, August 25.

Photo by Jose Mari Martinada

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team.” Coach Arnold Oliveros on the team’s loss.

Trapped in the Lycans’ woods Serving as the curtain-raiser, the Patriots fired two treys from stellar player Cantimbuhan and deadly shooter Loor to cap an 8-4 run. However, gaining the lead, the Lycans sharpened their claws amid the miscommunicated plays of the Patriots and countered the offensive punch with a 16-4 tear, ending the See PATRIOTS | page 15