Heraldo Filipino Vol. 30 Issue 3

SPECIAL REPORT

FEATURES

LITERARY

SPORTS

LCDC proposes University as evacuation area

The Cavite youth’s champion page 10

Nang mapuno ang salop

Paddlers reap 3 medals

page 12

page 14

page 4

JANUARY - APRIL 2016

facebook.com/HeraldoFilipino

twitter.com/HeraldoFilipino

officialheraldofilipino@gmail.com

heraldofilipino.com

VOLUME 30 ISSUE 3

THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY-DASMARIÑAS

LAST WORDS. President Benigno Aquino III talked about the past action and future plans of his administration in his speech on “Daang Matuwid,” the Cavite leg campaign rally of the Liberal Party on March 10 at the Dasmariñas National Highschool-Main. Kathelyn Ann Bravo

125 professors to encounter job displacement next AY 2016-2017 Admin conducts institutional faculty auditing

By Highly Undag Due to the expected decrease in enrollment for the next two academic years (AYs) brought by the K to 12 program implementation, the administration and the Faculty Association (FA) organized an institutional faculty auditing, which could result in the displacement of 125 college professors in AY 2016-2017.

Under the institutional faculty auditing, college professors were ranked in terms of operational needs, performance evaluation, job competency, discipline record, and length of service to determine who the University would retain during the transition period of the K to 12 program.

The Board of Trustees approved the said criteria for the institutional faculty

auditing, which was held on the first week of December 2015.

“Sinabi ni Brother President (University President Br. Augustine Boquer, FSC, EdD) sa amin na conservative number pa ‘yung 125 professors kasi may ibang factors na hindi pa kino-consider. So may possibility pang mabawasan ‘yun (number of professors see JOB DISPLACEMENT page 3

Late enrollment fee to aid University development

By Patricia Anne de Leon

The administration allots the income collected from the surcharge for the University’s capital development to improve teaching facilities and instructional equipment, as confirmed by Assistant Vice Chancellor for Finance (AVCF) Belinda Narvaez.

University Controller Deodoro Abiog II added that revenue from the late enrollment fee forms part of the general fund that would be used to pay the operating expenses of the University.

According to Abiog, the administration implemented the late enrollment fee policy to encourage the

students to pay unsettled accounts on time. Otherwise, they will be charged P100 surcharge at the first day of classes and an additional P20 for succeeding days until the last day for adding and dropping subjects.

COEd proposes increase in practicum fees, ‘other fees’

By Highly Undag The College of Education (COEd) aims to increase the practicum fees, and to add the qualifying exam fee and the Special Topics fee to COEd students’ “Other Fees” next academic year (AY) 2016-2017.

According to COEd Dean Manuel Camarse, the Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEE) and Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSE) practicum fees would

increase from P1,600 to P1, 800, while the Bachelor of Physical Education (BPED) practicum fee will be raised from P1, 200 to P1, 500.

“As much as possible, if there is no need to increase, then we will not increase. But the problem is that there are some fees after our evaluation that appeared to be insufficient. The proposed increase is not for the University to earn from,” Camarse said.

He furthered that the increase in the practicum fees would cover the transportation and communication expenses of the practicum supervisor, and the honorarium for the teachers and administrators from the cooperating school.

Professional Education Department (PFD) Chair Florencio Abanes also suggested to collect a P100 fee for the qualifying exam taken by all first year to third year Education see COED OTHER FEES/ page 2

see LATE ENROLLMENT/ page 2

Dasma Gov’t closes, demolishes establishments at Gate 1

By Patricia Anne de Leon The Dasmariñas City Government ordered the closure and demolition of 61 business establishments located near the Magdalo Gate (Gate 1) for operating without a business permit, certificate of fire inspection, certificate of annual inspection from the City Building

Official, and sanitary permit since 2003.

According to Dasmariñas City Complaints and Action Unit Officer Leo Villanueva, the owners of the business establishments failed to acquire a business permit due to absence of land title, which is a requirement for the business permit application. “Kapag hindi mo nacomply ‘yun (title), hindi ka i-issue-

han [ng permit]. Hindi sila nakapagcomply dahil hindi nga [sa] kanila [‘yung lupa],” he said.

Even if the owners of the affected establishments decide to comply with the requirements, Villanueva said their request will still not be granted since the land is owned by the Dasmariñas City Government. see ESTABLISHMENTS/ page 3

FRAMED MASTERPIECE. Fourth year Bachelor of Science in Graphics Design and Multimedia students featured more than 700 artworks in the second annual trade show exhibit titled PRISM at the Ugnayang La Salle from March 15 to 17. Jose Mari Martinada

NEWS

JANUARY - APRIL 2016 | PAGE 2 COED OTHER FEES from page 1 students every end of the AY. The exam measures the competencies attained by the Education students and determines whether they can continue their course in the college or not.

Camarse said that the qualifying exam fee would be used to pay for the costs of printing and checking the scantron test papers, and the food expenses for the examination proctors.

Representatives from the COEd faculty members, COEd Student Council, and Parents Organization La Salle Cavite (POLCA) have already approved the implementation of the qualifying fee during the consultative meeting held on December 7, 2015.

Camarse mentioned that they plan to adopt the standardized qualifying exam of professional

testing agencies to make their exam more formal.

During the consultative meeting, student representatives also proposed the inclusion of Special Topics fee in the “Other Fees” of Education students who are taking the Special Topics 1, 2, and 3 subjects.

These subjects require the students to organize seminars regarding the current trends and issues in the education industry.

Camarse said they have already approved the collection of P500, P1,000, and P2, 000 from Education students enrolled in Special Topics 1, 2, and 3 subjects, respectively.

The Special Topics fee will be used to pay for the guest speakers, honorarium, certificates, and food of the attendees during the seminar.

LATE ENROLLMENT FEE from page 1 “Announcements were made during the freshman orientation, posted on bulletin boards, and are part of the Student Handbook to inform the students about the surcharge, so I don’t think anyone can claim that they don’t know it,” Abiog said.

As stated in Section 13 (Financial Information) 2.6 of the 2014-2018 Student Handbook, the penalty for late enrollment starts on the first day of classes.

He furthered that students can initially enroll partial units and avail the four percent rebate if they paid in full. “Nasa diskarte ‘yan … if you’re enrolled in three units then bayaran mo in full. Tapos kapag nag-add ka ng six units, bayaran mo ulit in full para covered ka ng rebate and you will not pay the surcharge.”

Narvaez mentioned that professors who fail to post grades on time, causing the late enrollment of students, will also receive a written warning from either the Chair, Dean, or Head.

“The students were finding difficulty in paying their contributions for the Special Topics expenses and they were saying that it should be included on (sic) their tuition fee instead,” Camarse said.

He added that the seminar for the Special Topics 3 course would serve as an enhancement program facilitated by experts from other universities for the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET).

As of press time, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administrative Services (VCFAS) Mary May Eulogio is yet to approve the implementation of the increase in BEE, BSE, and BPED practicum fees and the additional fees for the qualifying exam and Special Topics subjects for next AY.

Payment centers Although three counters are open during enrollment period, Naravez said the limited administration personnel cannot accommodate all the students during peak season. She added that students should pay through bank deposit, SM payment centers, or online payment via credit card to avoid long queues at Counters 14, 15, and 16.

Narvaez said that even if the deposit slip is not immediately submitted, the bank payment will not be considered late. She added that the students are also allowed not to return the deposit slip if they do not need the official receipt (OR).

She furthered that tour payments made through banks and payment centers add up to the process of enrolling. “Nahihirapan din ang administration in consolidating payments kasi they have to sort if payments will be applied for old accounts or new ones, and analyze cases katulad ng incomplete student numbers and blank depositor names ‘yung nakalagay,” she said.

Narvaez mentioned that the administration is still looking for options to quickly handle the bulk transactions of students.

With a report from Mari Angelique Mendoza (Contributor)

USC Overall Performance Survey for AY 2015-2016 1. The USC shall serve as a mediator between the student body and any sector of the Lasallian community in case of differences.

10.0%

75.0%

15.0%

2. The USC, together with the student groups, shall be an active agent in promoting national awareness and consciousness among DLSU-D students.

6.43%

59.29%

34.29%

3. The USC shall foster an atmosphere where critical thinking prevails.

13.57%

58.57%

27.86%

4. The USC shall protect the rights and welfare of the students at all times.

12.86%

51.43%

35.71%

5. The USC, together with the student groups, shall enjoin the students to act as one in advancing their rights and welfare.

12.86%

53.57%

33.57%

6. The USC shall regularly conduct consultation with students to be guided by their sentiments.

17.86%

62.86%

19.29%

7. The USC shall promote the Lasallian identity of spirit of faith, zeal for service and communion in mission.

6.43%

52.86%

40.71%

9.29%

64.29%

26.43%

Poor

Satisfactory

Outstanding

OVERALL PERFORMANCE

BETTER SERVICE. Based on the survey involving 140 students from different colleges, the University Student Council (USC) 2015-2016 received a higher overall performance rating of 26.43 percent compared to the former USC. | Infograph by James Nielnard Mallari

VOLUME 30 ISSUE 3

YOUTH EMPOWERMENT. During the #PHVote on March 15 at the Alumni Auditorium, Challenge Mr. Rupert Ambil II shares the story of Daniel Cabrera, a boy studying under the streetlights of Cebu, whose story went viral after being shared by a student on social media. Camille Trinidad

SCE amends 2008 E-Code anew

By Yna Marisse Sodoy The Student Commission on Election (SCE) amended the 2008 Revised Student Election Code (E-code) this academic year (AY) 2015-2016 to clarify vague provisions on the filing of candidacy, manner of determining winners, vote of confidence, and undue influence of incumbent student council (SC) officers.

One of the major revisions that the SCE made was changing the previous title of the election code to the 2016 Amended Student Election Code of DLSU-D. SCE Chairperson Aaron Lopez said they focused on making flexible provisions in preparation for the academic calendar shift next AY 2016-2017 and for the possible amendment of the University Student Council (USC) Constitution.

“Para kahit anong pagbabago ‘yung mangyari sa academic calendar and rules [sa University] ay mafafollow agad ng E-code kahit na hindi ina-amend,” Lopez added.

As stated in Article VII, Section 4 of the new E-code, the SCE reduced the number of days for the filing of the certificate of candidacy (COC) from 15 working days to five working days since candidates would often wait for the last day of COC submission.

The SCE also decided to use the raw number of votes in determining the winners for the University Student Elections instead of obtaining the percentage votes, as per Article IX, Section 12 of the amended E-code.

Lopez furthered that the vote of confidence will now vary depending on the student population of each college. Article IX, Section 14 states that if there is only one candidate running for a certain position, the candidate should earn the required number of votes in order to be proclaimed as the winner.

“Kunwari, 3, 000 and above ang population ng isang college, dapat 30 percent ang bumoto sa ‘yo.

Basta mas maliit ang population, mas malaki ‘yung kailangan mo [na votes],” he said.

The SCE also amended Article XI, Section 5, paragraph k, undue influence and election bribery, wherein incumbent SC officers can now show their support to political parties by attending authorized partisan activities and by wearing political party shirts until the start of election period.

“Kasi, sinasabi diyan sa provision na ‘yan, ang incumbent [SC officers] puwede niyang suportahan indirectly ‘yung dating partido niya unless it is election period. Dati kasi, sobrang strict na bawal talaga, to the sense na parang you cannot give back to the one who supported you,” Lopez said.

The SCE also removed the College Student Councils (CSCs), various auxiliary student groups, The H ERALDO FILIPINO, and the Performing Arts Group (PAG) from the revision panel because according to Lopez, they are not direct stakeholders of the E-Code, unlike the political parties and student councils.

Meanwhile, Lopez mentioned that the SCE proposed to remove the certificate of good moral character from the list of requirements needed to be qualified for the position of an SCE commissioner, which is stated in Article III, Section 5 of the E-code. However, the proposed amendment was nullified after the SINAG political party argued that the removal of the said requirement would be unfair to the SC candidates. “It’s unfair [sa SC candidates] kasi sabi nila that we are requiring them [a certificate of good moral character] but we don’t require ourselves,” Lopez said.

Amendment process Based on the 2016 Amended Student Election Code of DLSU-D, the SCE must submit a document and a resolution containing the proposed amendments of the provisions to the Office of Student Services (OSS), Student Development and Activities Office (SDAO), USC, CSCs, and SENTRO La Salle, SINAG, and RED Alliance political parties.

According to Lopez, the SCE started to amend the election code on August 2015, wherein they consulted these different student sectors regarding the provisions that would be added or removed.

The SCE has already released a soft copy of the 2016 Amended Student Election Code of DLSU-D on their official Facebook page, while hard copies were given to concerned offices and student organizations. With a report from Mari Angelique Mendoza (Contributor)

REACT An incident involving the suicide of a student near the University Grandstand has stirred talks on whether the administration should increase security inside the campus to prevent cases like this. We asked several DLSU-D students if they approve of increasing campus security to ensure the safety of the students.

I believe that we already have enough security inside the University. Instead, the administration should require every Lasallian to attend seminars, which will promote awareness on how to manage personal problems to prevent suicidal attempts.

Mouftiyah Mishael Candao Second Year Elementary Education

Yes, because there are still some parts in the University that have low [number of] security personnel. I believe that it (security) should be increased to avoid future incidents like this.

Dwight Derick B. Buxahi Fourth Year Psychology

Para sa akin, dapat magtalaga ng mga guards doon sa mga lugar na hindi gaanong pinupuntahan ng mga estudyante dahil hindi sapat ang mga warning signs lang na nakalagay ay “restricted area.” Dapat mayroon ding nagmo-monitor sa mga lugar na ‘yon.

Carl Eric Baybay Third Year Criminology

Yes, more security guards can make sure that no one is roaming around the campus after class hours to prevent incidents like this.

Emmanuel Leandre G. Gerodias Second Year Economics

I think that the security inside the campus should not be increased because it will just be an inconvenience to other students and visitors, especially those who are using the Oval. Instead of focusing on the security, the University should be more concerned on the emotional and spiritual status of the students through counseling to prevent cases like this.

Rogie Balistustos Fifth Year Mechanical Engineering

Hindi, kasi in the first place pa lang, dapat mas mahigpit na ‘yong mga guard sa loob ng campus. Hindi ‘yong kung kailan lang nagka-incident ng ganon, doon lang mag-i-increase ng security.

Naomi Valiola

Third Year Elementary Education

Yes. I think the administration should place CCTV cameras in areas like that so they can manage and be aware of the actions of the students.

Kaye Crespo

Fourth Year Hotel Restaurant Management

No, I think that the security inside the campus is sufficient. These kinds of incidents are unavoidable even if they increase the security.

Olivares Basilio III Third Year Philosophy

It depends on the situation. No, because if the student is really experiencing stressful problems, the security can’t do anything about whether the student wants to commit suicide or not. Yes, because somehow security can prevent those kinds of cases by ensuring that no students get near to accident-prone areas.

Lian Therese Joson Third Year Hotel Restaurant Management

NEWS

JANUARY - APRIL 2016 | PAGE 3

VOLUME 30 ISSUE 3

New BOLT agreement delays DLSZ campus extension for dorm construction senior high to open in Imus NEWS BRIEF

By Katherine Anne Aboy

The construction of the new dormitory located at the Sampaguita Building and the athlete’s dormitory has been postponed this academic year (AY) 2015-2016, in accordance with the new Build, Operate, Lease, Transfer (BOLT) agreement.

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Finance (AVCF) Belinda Narvaez said the administration would no longer fund the dorm construction as the BOLT agreement stipulates that the school should look for a private company who will construct, operate, and maintain the dormitory at their expense for a certain period.

This period will allow the private company to recover the costs of investment and maintenance while trying to gain a higher profit on the project.

“An investor has to come in [because] if not, it would entail a lot of investment from the University, which would mean borrowing and paying interests. Since the construction of the dormitory is not a priority to [the] University, tingin nila na mas advantageous if the dormitory will be constructed by a third party,” she said.

Narvaez clarified that the investor will receive 100 percent of the dormitory income, but they would still pay a monthly rental to the University. After regaining their capital, the investor will transfer the ownership of the building to the University.

Although the investor will determine the design, amenities, facilities, and the new dormitory fee, Narvaez said the administration still has to approve it. The investor will also

decide whether the dormitory will be constructed as a one- or two-storey building depending on their budget.

As of press time, the administration is yet to select an investor and to finalize the plans for the construction of the new dormitory.

Narvaez furthered that De La Salle Health Sciences Institute (DLSHSI) also implemented the same BOLT agreement when they constructed the DLSHSI Dorm Built.

She said the new dormitory would resolve room shortage issues encountered by other dormitories in the campus since it can accommodate more occupants.

Meanwhile, Narvaez said the female athletes who were supposed to be relocated in the Waling-waling building upon the start of the new dormitory construction still remain in the athletes’ dormitory.

The administration would also continue disallowing occupants for the Sampaguita Dormitory because it will stay closed next academic year (AY) 2016-2017.

In an article in the HERALDO FILIPINO Vol. 30 Issue 1, 43 female students formerly residing in Sampaguita Dormitory have already transferred to the Waling-waling building and other dormitories outside the campus this AY 2015-2016.

After Typhoon Glenda damaged the Sampaguita Dormitory in 2014, Dormitory Head Elizabeth Fernandez mentioned that they did not consider renovating the said building since it would cost more than the construction of the new building. With a report from Mari Angelique Mendoza (Contributor)

By Yna Marisse Sodoy The De La Salle - Santiago Zobel School (DLSZ), in partnership with the Ayala Land Inc., will open a new campus extension for senior high school at Vermosa, Imus in academic year (AY) 2017-2018.

“I really wanted to have more facilities for the senior high school and build a campus somewhere else. [Also,] the directors of Ayala Alabang Village Association (AAVA) are saying that we’re causing so much traffic and inconvenience to the residents, and so that can be partly solved if there were less population in the school,” said DLSZ President Br. Bernard Oca, FSC. Br. Oca added that once the construction of the DLSZ - Vermosa Campus is finished, they will transfer the senior high school department to the new campus extension. Meanwhile, students who will enroll in grade 11 next AY 2016-2017 will remain at the DLSZ campus.

As per the implementation of the K to 12 curriculum, DLSZ will offer three different strands under the Academic Track, such as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), ABM (Accountancy, Business and Management), and HUMSS (Humanities and Social Sciences) Strands, and an additional Arts and Design Track for the Senior High School program next AY.

Moreover, Br. Oca said that they estimated at least 400 enrollees for grade 11 next AY, including the 20 available slots for enrollees from different high schools.

Br. Oca said they aim to transfer the junior and senior high school levels to the DLSZ - Vermosa Campus by AY 2017-2018 once the construction of the new campus extension is completed, while the DLSZ campus will remain exclusively for grade school students. He added that although the DLSZ campus will accept enrollees from other schools, the DLSZ junior high school students are already assured that they will obtain an automatic slot for the senior high school next AY. Br. Oca said they plan to allocate more than P400 million in constructing the two buildings for the senior high school, which started on April 4.

He furthered that they plan to build additional facilities inside the new campus, such as a chapel, theater, and sports complex, once the construction of the two buildings is completed.

As the DLSZ - Vermosa Campus, DLSU-D, and DLS-HSI will offer senior high school next AY, Br. Oca clarified, “I know that [DLS-HSI and DLSU-D] already has a junior and senior high school but I think our market will be different because ours is more upscale and therefore [it] will not take away their market.”

BFMO to renovate ULS on May

By Jazmine Estorninos

SPANISH GUIDANCE. H.E. Luis Antonio Calvo Castaño, Ambassador of Spain to the Philippines, talks about the impact of education for the future economy, at the Luis Aguado Viewing Room on March 2. Jose Mari Martinada ESTABLISHMENTS from page 1 “Ang ginawa naman ng mga ‘may-ari’ ay pinaupahan [‘yung mga building na itinayo nila sa lupa ng gobyerno]. Mali ‘yun kasi hindi naman sa kanila ‘to. Nakikinabang ‘yung nagclaim na kanila ‘to… Pero ang totoo, sa gobyerno [‘yan],” he added.

He clarified that some business establishments are located on land that is legally-owned by private individuals.

However, these establishments still committed the violation of having no business permit.

Legally-owned business establishments should also follow the Building Code, wherein a distance of 3 to 5 meters from the highway must be allotted for customer parking spaces, Villanueva said.

He furthered that the Dasmariñas City Government will not give any compensation to the owners of the closed

and demolished business establishments since they are not residents.

“Mga illegal settler na nakatira sa government property at [‘yung mga] walang pera ang binibigyan lang ng [compensation ng] gobyerno. Pero itong mga business establishments, hindi naman sila pinatira diyan,” Villanueva mentioned.

Case dismissal The National Housing Authority (NHA) gave the Dasmariñas City Government the right to own all the roads, public pathways, and Dasmariñas Bagong Bayan park strips on July 13, 1993. But business establishments were constructed in the said areas, causing the Dasmariñas City Government to order the demolition of the infrastructures on October 2002.

Prior to the order of demolition, the Association of Dorm Owners and

Business Establishments (ADOBE) filed a protest against the Dasmariñas City Government on January 29, 2003.

After the ADOBE was granted a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) and a Preliminary Injunction from the Regional Trial Court of Imus–Branch 20, the business establishments continued to operate without any license or business permit from the Dasmariñas local government since 2003.

The Regional Trial Court of Imus–Branch 20 decided to dismiss the case that the ADOBE filed against the Dasmariñas City Government on February 16, 2015, which nullified the TRO and Preliminary Injunction.

The Dasmariñas City Government ordered the business establishment owners a voluntary closure and demolition until January 15, 2016.

REED removes Karakol from syllabus

By Highly Undag In lieu of the annual Karakol Festival, the Religious Education (REED) Department organized a forum on Voters’ Education and on issues regarding the incoming 2016 national elections this academic year (AY) 2015-2016, as per the revised REED 144 syllabus.

REED Department Chair Mariano Ramirez clarified that they did not remove the Karakol in the syllabus due to the University’s limited budget.

Ramirez said they implemented a “thematic approach” to the REED144 syllabus, wherein they integrate current issues in the country to the topics and final outputs included in the syllabus.

“Part of reviewing the syllabus, we came out na baka hindi na relevant ‘yung Karakol ngayon. We have to look for some other themes wherein we could teach our students to become more educated,” he said.

Since most REED 144 students are eligible to vote, Ramirez said they saw the need to educate them in exercising their political rights. The topics on Voters’ Education present political issues that inform students about controversies in politics and guide them in selecting a good leader.

Ramirez said they will also require students to make a video concerning Voters Education as a final requirement for the subject.

He added that the removal of Karakol might not be permanent. “If there will be a call again [that] the only way for us to really express oneness with the Diocese of Imus, then we could return the Karakol to the syllabus anytime.”

The REED Department started the Karakol Festival in 2011 during the time of Bishop Chito Tagle, in celebration of the Great Jubilee Year by the Diocese of Imus.

The Karakol is a religious dance procession held during REED week, simultaneously during the annual Lasallian Festival in the University, wherein students taking the REED 144 subject would parade and dance around campus wearing various costumes as part of the subject’s requirements.

The Buildings and Facilities Maintenance Office (BFMO) plans to conduct a renovation of the Ugnayang La Salle (ULS) on May 2016 due to problems with the roofing, insulation, air conditioning units, and lighting experienced by students and faculty in the previous years.

BFMO Director Dennis Pontanilla said the air conditioning units at the ULS provide low ventilation, while the rusting and increasing number of holes in the roof produce leakage during rainy seasons.

He added that the renovation is expected to finish on July to avoid disrupting any classes when academic year (AY) 2016-2017 starts on August and to not affect any activities that will be held at the ULS this AY 2015-2016 such as graduations, sports competitions, seminars, and summer classes.

According to Pontanilla, the renovation of ULS has been planned since 2014 but was delayed due to preparations made for the budget and the contractors.

Meanwhile, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Finance (AVCF) Belinda Narvaez said a total of P20 million from the University’s internal fund and auxiliary fund is allocated for the renovation.

“We are still having an ongoing meeting as we wait for our seven contractors to send their bid proposals since our allotted budget for the project is not enough,” Narvaez said.

Pontanilla furthered that the contractor who will win the bidding will order the necessary materials and equipment for the renovation.

Since the Physical Education (PE) Department office and the Sports Development Office (SDO)

would be affected by the renovation, Pontanilla said they are considering relocating the departments to a temporary office until the renovation is done.

“There are still possibilities na baka hindi na kami mag-provide ng temporary office [for the PE department and SDO] dahil summer naman that time and there are small chances of raining.

But we have contingencies and other plans if ever na mangyari ‘yung mga hindi inaasahan,” he said.

Pontanilla also said that the renovation will be done through scheduling a number of phases in the ULS in order not to affect all the offices and department at the same time.

“We already talked with the SDO at sabi nila, sila na raw ang bahala sa paghahanap ng malilipatang temporary office sa loob ng ULS kapag scheduled phase na nila ang matatamaan,” he said.

According to SDAO Assistant Jerieca Catibog, the offices and the school administration plan to ban all activities that will be held inside the ULS for the first semester.

“Sabi ng PE Department, plano nilang ang graduation this April na ang magi[gi]ng last activity to be held in the ULS until the end of first semester,” Catibog said.

Pontanilla mentioned that they also plan to improve other facilities inside the campus such as constructing additional structures for the DLSU-D Senior High School once the administration completes the budget allocation for each renovation.

JOB DISPLACEMENT from page 1 to be displaced),” FA President Jose Domingo said.

Domingo said that they expect more professors to be displaced by AY 2017-2018 than in AY 2016-2017 due to the expected decrease in enrollees for both first and second year levels.

Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administrative Services (VCFAS) Mary May Eugolio said they are yet to release the official guidelines on faculty retention since the administration is still discussing the issue.

Domingo said the college professors might be given the options to transfer in senior and junior high school, file leave of absence without pay, or apply for early retirement. He added that the retrenchment of some faculty members is also being considered by the University to address the foreseen decrease in enrollment.

According to Domingo, professors from the Kagawaran ng Filipino at Panitikan, Languages and Literature Department, Physical Sciences Department, and

Religious Education Department will be mostly affected by the displacement as the available teaching loads for General Education subjects would be reduced.

Domingo furthered that some part-time faculty members would still be given teaching loads since some undergraduate programs, such as in engineering and hospitality management, need professors who work in the industry.

The FA also proposed “mapping,” which would enable professors to accept teaching loads from other departments aside their own. “Halimbawa, ako nagtuturo ng Religious Education but I’m also teaching Constitution, baka naman sa Social Science Department, mayroong available sa ‘kin,” Domingo said.

He added that they are currently negotiating their proposed resolutions with the administration regarding the retention of the faculty members.

“Ang general rule namin is to save everyone by looking into possibilities.

If that will not be possible, siguro to

save ‘yung few o kaya to let go ‘yung iba ... Pero we are trying, we’re working so hard na ma-redeem lahat ng aming members,” Domingo said.

Transfer to high school According to Domingo, faculty members who will not be given teaching loads during the transition period of the K to 12 program can transfer to the DLSU-D Junior and Senior High School Department.

Domingo said that the Junior High School requires professors to file a resignation in their respective college departments before they apply. They will also receive less pay due to the incapability of the Junior High School Department to maintain the University’s college salary.

Meanwhile, professors who will transfer in Senior High School can immediately apply for teaching loads without any diminution of salary.

Domingo added that the DLSU-D High School Department needs to increase their marketing campaign to encourage more enrollees and accommodate more faculty members.

SPECIAL REPORT

JANUARY - APRIL 2016 | PAGE 4

VOLUME 30 ISSUE 3

LCDC proposes University as evacuation area Disaster management manual produced this AY

By April Ciaralei Cenedoza | Illustration by Jeff Treat Dimaano Amid talks of an impending massive earthquake triggered by the possible movement along the Marikina Valley Fault Line, the Lasallian Community Development Center (LCDC) proposed the DLSU-D campus as an evacuation area for residents in Dasmariñas City, Cavite when major disasters strike the province.

As part of the city government Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) council, the LCDC is also helping the council in trainings, policy-formulation, and in implementing protocols on disaster preparedness.

Jhelyn Relopez, LCDC DRMM project officer, said the proposed evacuation areas in the campus include the Julian Felipe Hall Parking Lot and the College of Science and Computer Studies Building since these places are near the Magdalo Gate and the highway road.

According to Relopez, they also considered the University Track Oval as one of the proposed evacuation areas, but the administration prohibited them from using the Oval due to its high maintenance costs.

The proposal, which the LCDC submitted last year, still requires further discussion on the usage of facilities during evacuation, the

number of people that can be accommodated

by University, and criteria for evacuation decision-making.

As of press time, Relopez said the proposal is yet to be approved and reviewed by the administration before they can sign a memorandum of agreement with the city government.

In an article on Newsette Vol. 24 No. 8, Relopez said the campus would serve as a last option for evacuation since each barangay in Dasmariñas City has its designated evacuation areas.

Disaster management manual The University’s DRRM Committee, headed by General Services Office (GSO) Director Edwin Bunag, produced the first manual on disaster preparedness and management this academic year (AY) 2015-2016 to ensure the safety and security of the academic community.

The manual, titled Disaster Risk Reduction Management Safety and Security Manual, consolidates all rules and practices that should be observed by the Lasallian community when they encounter potential disasters.

Since the manual conforms to the rules and regulations set by Philippine laws and Dasmariñas City ordinances, all public safety services must be coordinated with the University’s administration and city officials.

The DRRM Committee, comprised of the LCDC, Fire Brigade Team, First Aiders or Medical Team, Media Relations and Communications Team, Evacuation Team, Psychosocial Support Team, Search and Rescue Team, Logistics or Supply Team, Transportation Team, and the Security Team, is the emergency preparedness and response group of the University.

On the other hand, Bunag added that student volunteers from different colleges also formed an Emergency Response Team, led by the Buildings and Facilities Maintenance Office (BFMO).

He furthered that the administration did not use any funds in creating the manual since all the DRMM committee members who assisted in making the manual are volunteers. “We don’t want to print hard copies unless we perfect the manual,” Bunag said as they will upload a soft copy of the Disaster Risk Reduction Management

Safety and Security Manual on the University Portal so they can continuously update its provisions.

He said that they plan to improve the manual by adding guidelines on how to handle situations in unsafe buildings and on food poisoning incidents.

The Operations Council, composed of the Vice Chancellor for Academics and Research, Vice Chancellor for Mission, External Affairs and Advancement, Presidential Management Office, ERMAC, Information and Communications Technology and Center, BFMO, Quality Assurance Office, and GSO, approved the manual during the first semester of AY 2015-2016. As of press time, the launching of the safety and security manual is yet to be confirmed, Bunag said.

Manual policies The Disaster Risk Reduction Management Safety and Security Manual contains risk reduction practices from man-made and natural hazards. Man-made hazards include fire prevention and control, accidents and medical emergencies, psychological crisis, hazardous waste management, issues on information and technology security, and crime prevention such as hostage crisis, bomb threat, and suspicious mails or packages.

Meanwhile, natural hazards include inclement weather and earthquake.

Moreover, the manual consists of safety guidelines on power outage, laboratory safety, ergonomics, and personal protective equipment to ensure the safety and security of the staff, students, and school property.

The manual also includes the contingency plan and evacuation procedure for emergency situations, which will be used when executing various drills in the campus.

Bunag said Marketing Communications Office Director Rosanni Sarile is coordinating with the National Youth Commission in using the DLSU-D Disaster Risk Reduction Management Safety and Security Manual as a benchmark for the disaster preparedness and management policies in all universities in the country.

Meanwhile, the city government already uses the manual’s earthquake regulations as the basis for their earthquake drills and trainings.

Division of powers streets, endless traffic, and increasing pollution. Meanwhile, underdeveloped provinces that receive less attention

“

Believing in federalism may be a gamble, but it is time to place our bets rather than do nothing.

“

Attending seminars are an important part of the college experience that many students tend to take for granted. Even I at one point as there are instances when no amount of complimentary coffee or snack could keep me lucid enough to listen to the speakers except when they start talking about personal anecdotes.

The most memorable story I’ve heard was Clarissa David’s interviews with marginalized people in Nueva Ecija and Tarlac, which she presented during the 53rd Annual Meeting of the Philippine Economic Society on November 15 last year. She asked various poor people regarding their ambitions in life, and it turned out that most of them wanted to create a business as their means for livelihood. However, the lack of urbanization (access to transportation,

communication, and malls in every corner) has prevented them from achieving their aspirations.

I would always recall this story whenever I read or hear Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s argument for adopting a Philippine federal government. Each region’s potential to thrive is curbed by our current centralized form of government since it neglects areas far from the seat of power. Metro Manila, for example, receives almost P1 trillion of the P3trillion worth of national budget, while only 2 to 4 percent of the said budget are allotted for areas outside the National Capital Region.

Naturally, everybody will go to Manila with the false hope of employment and a better state of living because all the resources are concentrated in that particular place.

But whatever sense of wondrous possibility that Manila once held is gradually vanishing due to overcrowded

continue to wallow in poor educational facilities, unemployment, and poverty.

It seems that the only solution for this royal mess is to gear the government system toward federalism, which would

divide the power between a central national government and local state governments. A federal government would help address the needs of a geographically diverse country like ours. Local governments would receive a more equitable financial share of the national budget, which they can use to fund projects that are appropriate for their respective communities instead of letting senators who have never stepped outside the Congress decide for them.

For instance, Cebu and Mindanao could have improved their transport services if they had been allowed to build their own railway transit systems 10 years ago. Local leaders will no longer have any excuse for delays in services or projects that are often blamed on the bureaucracy-choked government in Manila.

Although federalism can cause conflicts between the jurisdictions of national and local governments,

it offers a chance for the public to actively participate in the decisionmaking processes of the state, especially in terms of education, health care, social welfare, and tourism. If implemented incorrectly, a federal government structure can lead to redundancy and confusion in the functions of the national and local officials, which is probably why it’s been receiving negative criticisms lately from politicians.

But compared to other alternatives that aim to fix the current state of our government (vague promises to end corruption and improve the life of the poor not included), the shift to federalism is the only plan that could offer concrete solutions. Our country has been suffering for so long that we deserve a change. Believing in federalism may be a gamble, but if the stakes include a slight glimmer of hope for a better nation, perhaps it is time to place our bets rather than do nothing.

JANUARY - APRIL 2016 | PAGE 6

OPINION

VOLUME 30 ISSUE 3

EDITORIAL

Unspoken, therefore unheard

Stronger than you think stop anyway? The wheel’s push and pull was too strong for its throbbing muscles—it could never overpower the wheel. Yet the longer the hamster ran and the harder its tiny legs pounced, pounced, and pounced, the drunker the wheel got from the thrill.

Eventually, the hamster with its sore muscles would wake up. It would stop the endless pouncing as it

I didn’t really care about the elections. In fact, I didn’t register for the 2016 elections, though casually, I thought I would. But I kept delaying plans until the final registration day had come and gone. It wasn’t until the start of the year that I regretted my carelessness. Watching the news, it’s ridiculous how lawmakers are absent from congress sessions to the point that laws aren’t being passed. Excessive absences during sessions meant there weren’t enough officials (quorum) to legally vote for new laws that could have improved our lives. Instead, these politicians had other priorities—campaigning for the elections.

It appears that these politicians fail to do their job because they are too busy trying to convince others they will improve our country, when their actions tell a treacherous tale. Time and again, news stories have exposed corruption, yet the situation remains the same. Perhaps it is also this cycle that leads most of us to our growing insensitivity to social issues or desensitization as if the boy (media) cried wolf too many times.

Take desensitization from the story of a hamster that ran ferociously on its wheel. The longer the hamster ran, the more it believed the wheel would never stop spinning. And how would the hamster

JUNIOR STAFF Marco Belarmino, Kathelyn Ann Bravo, Lexzene Dela Cruz, Patricia Anne De Leon, John Paul Gonzales, Nishtha Nigam, Roxanne Valerie Rasco, Rochelle Rivera, Wenchie Tacate, and James Fidel Tan Dr. Lakandupil C. Garcia, 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 Fun Run that the USC organized proved to be hectic as it caused long lines at the USC office and disordered distribution of race kits.

Sa nakaraang isyu ng HERALDO FILIPINO, lumabas sa Kampusapusapan ang reklamo tungkol sa isang pari na ‘di umano’y pinilit paluhurin at sinigawan ang mga estudyanteng hindi Katoliko dahil sa hindi pagsunod nito sa mga gawi sa misa.

Maaaring hindi ito nabasa ng iba o naituring itong maliit na bagay, ngunit kung mas lalawakan natin ang pagtingin sa isyung ito, naipakita ang kawalan ng respeto mula sa dalawang panig.

Kung ikaw ang nasa gitna ng isyung ito, hindi ganoong kadaling piliin ang bangkang iyong sasakyan dahil sa kanya-kanyang paniniwala na mayroon tayo. Ngunit, mukhang sumobra naman yata ang pampublikong pamamahiya sa mga estudyanteng kasangkot dito.

Malinaw sa mga waiver na pinirmahan natin noong unang taon natin sa Unibersidad na susundin natin ang mga gawing Katoliko hangga’t nandirito tayo, hindi alintana kung iba-iba man ang ating mga relihiyon. Dahil dito’y naunawaan ko ang puntong, hindi nga ba’t ang estudyante ang unang nambastos sa gawi ng mga Katoliko? Ngunit sa kabilang banda, hindi pa rin mainam na sagutin ng maituturing na pambabastos ang naturang inasal ng mga estudyante.

Kumbaga, dito maaring magsimula ang walang

katapusang siklo ng kawalan ng respeto sa kanikaniyang gawi.

Ayon sa asiasociety.org, 86 porsiyento ng populasyon sa Pilipinas ay Katoliko. Ibig sabihin, ang natitirang 14 porsiyento ay pinaghahati-hatian pa ng iba’t ibang uri ng Kristiyanismo (6 porsiyento), Muslim (4 porsiyento), Protestanteng denominasyon (2 porsiyento), at mga katutubong paniniwala (2 porsiyento). Hindi man dominante ang kanilang bilang kumpara sa ating mga Katoliko, sila pa rin ay parte ng kabuuan at katulad sa ating mga Katoliko, may iba-ibang pamamaraan at paniniwala ang mga

“

maaring magsimula ang walang katapusang siklo ng kawalan ng respeto

“

EDITORIAL BOARD AY 2015-2016

SENIOR STAFF Chandler Belaro, Jeff Treat Dimaano, Camille Joy Gallardo, Sheena Faye Lopez, Patricia Loise Lucero, Enrico Paolo Topacio, and Queenee Manaog

remembers: the hamster’s legs had been controlling the wheel all along. The wheel would stop slowly and with no more legs to push the wheel, it would one day—once and for all—end.

Needless to say, our desensitization will lead to metaphorical sore muscles. Meanwhile, our real world Philippine resources will continue being used by other countries and unjustified construction projects would persist. Like the hamster, it’s easy to feel helpless when the government appears more powerful than us and we’re just students. But that’s the thing, we are the youth and we have a potentially game-changing weapon in this electoral battlefield.

Vote relies on numbers and according to Commission on Elections Chair Andres Bautista, there are roughly 20 million youth voters that comprise

roughly 37 percent of all voters. Our power is so strong that Bautista furthers, if 75 percent of the youth voted for one candidate, that candidate is most likely to win. I am not suggesting that we all vote for one candidate, nor would I be promoting anyone. The figure is merely to demonstrate the impact we can create.

The youth’s powerful role as voters does not end in numbers. Our trait that tends to be stigmatized could actually help: we are the digital-crazed generation y, idealistic, and at the same time, cynical. A speaker from a seminar summarizes my point better: politicians are afraid of you (the youth), because they know you can’t be fooled.

Across social media, I’ve seen people our age scoffing at candidate’s costly television ads and criticizing politicians who pursue petty battles via slap threats and continuously shove dirt to their competition. As I’ve researched youth who are trying to change the world in their own ways, I can attest to our idealistic nature, which the EDSA people power also illustrates. If we maximize that hunger for a better Philippines for our future selves and future family, feelings of helplessness can be conquerable.

In our case, the best we can do is to be vigilant this election. Voting may seem as easy as multiple choice, but this decision is for our nation’s future. With our vast access to information resources, setting our critical minds in motion would help us make informed decisions. The hamster’s muscles have been sore for far too long, but we can wipe its eye crusts and wake it up. Otherwise, if we remain as apathetic as the wheel or if we don’t exert any effort for our country, then maybe we don’t deserve the progressive Philippines we’ve dreamed of, after all.

Hindi na mababawi

The Official Student Publication of De La Salle University-Dasmariñas Founded: June 1985 Member, College Editors Guild of the Philippines

Daniella Shaira T. Cortez, Editor in Chief Krizza Mae M. Bautista, Associate Editor Cerisse C. Madlangbayan, Copy Editor Erika B. Uy, Office Circulations Manager Katherine Anne C. Aboy, News Coordinator Anri Ichimura, Features Editor Danielle Vince D. Capuno, In charge, Literary Fernan Patrick R. Flores, Sports Editor Lynoelle Kyle E. Arayata, Art Director Ricardo Martin O. Cabale, Graphics and Layout Coordinator Jerome S. Quinto, Photo Coordinator Alphonse Leonard G. Topacio, Web Manager

“

we have a potentially game-changing weapon in this electoral battlefield

“

Whenever March begins, the new slate of SINAG and SENTRO party lists appear around the University for the annual student council elections—with new faces representing the same old vague platforms.

You know the student elections are coming up when you encounter friend requests from strangers, when friends change the hues of their profile pictures to either yellow or green, and when candidates stress their names more than they emphasize their platforms. Although we usually see the negative side of candidates, both students and aspiring leaders are responsible in having a progressive University election.

During the 2015 General Elections in De La Salle University (DLSU) - Manila, the school encountered the worst number of voters where only 5, 698 students or 35.9 percent of the undergraduate population voted, according to the DLSU Commission on Elections.

Due to the low turnout, the minimum required vote of 50 percent plus one of the undergraduate student population was not met by the candidates for the Executive Board positions. Considering other factors like failure in filing the certificate of candidacy, DLSU conducted a special election immediately because of risks such as lack of voters due to the colleges’ early end of classes and students’ lack of interest in voting.

Coincidentally, we are now encountering the same scenario as the voters’ turnout in the University continues to decrease. In the recent student elections, some students exercised their right not to vote due to factors likethe incomplete slate of candidates. Some have the notion that other proclaimed candidates have a high probability of winning, when in fact, the candidates should still garner at least 30 percent of votes from the total student population to win.

With the increasing passivity in voting, our heedless actions lead to a bigger problem as we let go of our privilege to vote like candy wrapper on a dusty road. See, when the vote of confidence is not met for college student councils, the college dean, associate dean, outgoing college student council officers, and legislative board will meet after the elections to appoint the next student council officers, according to Article IX, Section 14 of the 2016 Amended Student Election Code (E-code) of DLSU-D. What’s the point in democracy if we give others the voice that the previous generation fought for, while majority participate in Suntukan sa Ace Hardware?

As important as voting is, there is a difference between voting wisely and voting simply to fulfill that long-lectured “duty.” Through various election activities such as the electoral dialogue, we have an opportunity to learn about the candidates outside of rehearsed campaign speeches.

In doing so, we could potentially avoid voting for the less competent.

Tracking the history of the University Student Council (USC), their 22nd year successfully established their plans such as their own website, gazette, as well as the USC scholarship and University-wide general assembly called Euphoria. But behind their accomplishments, the former student council failed to implement an important platform— to show transparency in terms of posting their financial statements every end of the semester—which was promised by former USC President Jerald Sakay’s in the 11th volume of Halalan.

Furthermore, with the alleged loss of Euphoria earnings back in 2014, it was confirmed that some of the previous officers are guilty of a major offense for “conduct of unbecoming of a USC officer due to negligence.” Consequently, it’s all the more important to choose the right candidate, and this begins by intellectually participating in the elections and related activities such as the electoral dialogue. *** We are thirsty for genuine change and a stronger community; recently, several candidates failed to fill their respective positions as the required 30 percent of the students’ votes was not met for some colleges because of a low turnout in this year’s student elections.

Once we’re capable of knowing the right leader or when we start by actually exercising our right to vote, we could help improve the student government’s services. As they say, every vote counts.

nabanggit kong relihiyon na marahil, naging dahilan ng mga estudyanteng kasangkot upang hindi sumunod. Katulad sa mga Saksi ni Jehovah, hindi nila inilalagay sa kanang dibdib ang kanilang kamay tuwing pambansang awit dahil simbolo ito ng debosyon sa watawat, gayong ayon sa kanilang paniniwala at Bibliya, kay Jehovah lang dapat magbigay ng bukod tanging pagsamba at debosyon. Hindi man ito ang eksaktong isyu, gayunpaman, makikita natin kung paano nga talagang nagkaiba ang ating mga gawi at paniniwala.

Broadcast Journalism and Communication Arts students teamed up with the Communication and Journalism Department’s 95.9 Green FM to deliver the Animo Channel, which is now airing all over Cavite.

Sa totoo lang, masyadong maselang pag-usapan ang isyung ito dahil relihiyon na ang nakataya at hindi naman lingid sa aking kaalaman na nasa Katolikong institusyon tayo. Hindi ko binuksan ang isyung ito para sirain ang imahe ng ating mga lider. Isa rin akong Katoliko, bagaman hindi ako perpekto—at wala namang perpekto, alam natin ang pamosong linyang iyan mula pa noong elementarya—ngunit ang pagbibigay ng kaunting unawa para sa mga kapatid nating hindi natin katulad ng relihiyon ay hindi naman siguro dapat ipagkait.

Karugtong na nga rin ng linyang “Nobody’s perfect” ay ang isa pang paborito nating linya na “Everybody makes mistakes.” May mga araw talagang kahit ang pinaka hindi mo inaasahang magkasala ay maaari pa ring magkamali.

Simple lang—dahil lahat tayo ay tao. At ang maganda rito, lahat tayo ay matututo mula sa mga pagkakamaling ito. *** Mariin ko lamang na ipapaalala na ang Kampusapusapan ay mga reklamo ng mga estudyante at bilang boses ng mga Lasalyano, trabaho naming iparating ang mga hinaing na ito sa nakararami upang tayo’y makabangon at umunlad. Para sa partikular na isyung ito, alam kong ang dalawang panig nga ay mayroong pagkakamali. Hindi na natin maaring ibalik ang panahon, at imposible namang maging bulag at bingi tayo sa mga reaksiyong magbubunga mula sa mga salitang binibitiwan natin. Ngunit, palagi naman tayong may makukuhang magandang bagay mula sa mga pagkakamaling ito, at sa nakikita ko, isa itong oportunidad upang mas maging bukas tayo sa pagtanggap sa paniniwala ng iba. Kung sa tingin natin ay mahaba na ang ating mga pisi, siguro’y mas kailangan pa nating doblehin—o kahit triplehin— ang sukat nito.

Thumbs down for the three senatorial candidates out of five who attended the “Bakit Ikaw” electoral forum in the school, instead of the originally intended presidentiables.

OPINION

JANUARY - APRIL 2016 | PAGE 7

VOLUME 30 ISSUE 3

It’s raining meninists people treat men like they’re invisible but then treat women like they’re the only sex that deserves “special treatment and protection.” But instead of saying that they should be treated equally, he said that homeless women do need support “but the needs of homeless men are undoubtedly greater.” MRA Elijah Butler once said that feminism is merely

“

Privilege is like flowers given to me on Valentine’s Day; it’s very hard to see

“

They say if a person throws you rocks, you should throw them a piece of bread. But would chucking them with the same number of stones better promote equality?

If you believe in men’s right activism in a patriarchal society, then I would like to introduce “meninism.” This movement is defined by avoiceformen.com as “a diverse group of men and women … who are bound by an interest in and concern for issues that affect men and boys.”

While it does shed light on important issues like homelessness and the higher rate of suicide on men, it also contorts the meaning of feminism, which is generally about the equality of the sexes.

Unfortunately, some meninists seem to think that feminism focus on women alone when the latter actually do try to deal with many gender issues. Writer

George Gillett said in his Huffington Post article that while women do campaign issues regarding men, they “regularly focus exclusively on the oppression of women.”

When people mention feminism, one of the first few questions people will ask is “But what about the men?” and “If women can hit men, then can men hit women?” As writer Andrew Hernann mentioned on everydayfeminism.com, men have struggles, but it doesn’t equate to being oppressed. He pointed out that while feminism deals with issues that don’t always deal with men, it “does not make it anti-men” and that women being empowered “does not disempower men.” Basically, shutting down patriarchy doesn’t equate to women going wild and placing men underground.

Still, men’s right activists (MRAs) often point out concerns that they feel feminism doesn’t properly address like homelessness; when in actuality, this issue is also burdened by the fact that society favors masculinity over femininity. The author of the book Equality For Men, Glen Poole tackled homelessness and said that charities advocating for homeless

women getting more rights than they already have. But isn’t meninism about men getting more rights that they already have?

Meninism, which seems to cater mostly to straight, white males, is a funny thing—less the ha-ha kind and more of the “it’s ridiculous, please stop” variety.

And stranger still, while there are people who regard it as satire that only makes

fun of feminism, it doesn’t seem like it.

People posting pictures on social media sites wearing shirts with a big stamp of “meninism” on the front doesn’t necessarily hurt anyone physically. But it does promote ideas (masculinity towers over femininity) and perpetuate a negative culture that has long been ingrained in our society. Will you really promote meninism when there are groups that are pro-rape and where the Islamic State (ISIS) apparently has a guideline for female slaves?

Then there are meninists who argue that even men can get raped and that women often cry rape when in fact, it is mentioned on the Men Against Abuse Now (MAAN)’s website that only two percent of sex charges are actually false.

So basically, the whole women crying wolf doesn’t happen too often. Not to mention that false rape accusations can greatly affect boys and men too as many still don’t acknowledge male rape, which is usually committed by other men.

Of course, not all men are rapists, but there are many who are, which is the big concern.

The big hoo-ha about meninism is

that they think feminism victimizes men and that men are the more marginalized group, which is interesting considering we live in a world where patriarchy (male dominance) thrives like a bug you can’t kill. Many still think that being catcalled is as inevitable as a 1D breakup, women have to pay more for the same product (pink tax), and men like mass murderer Elliot Rodger (who thinks he’s entitled to women) exists.

Ultimately, meninism makes room for people who don’t quite get the feminism movement. It doesn’t mean that just because you don’t feel oppression that other people don’t get oppressed.

Instead of pitting genders against each other, we have to respect each other’s rights and acknowledge that we all have certain privileges we benefit from—like being male, white, straight, middle to upper-class, or able-bodied. Because then you’d know that there are people who are at a disadvantage, and that we need to support and help them too. Unfortunately, as shown in the throwing-paper-in-the-thrashbin story, privilege is like flowers given to me on Valentine’s Day; it’s very hard to see, especially when you’re in front.

Ilustrado’s ignominy

“Nagpapa-psychiatrist ka?

‘Di ba, pang baliw lang ‘yun?”

Those are the exact words I’ve received a couple of times when I informed people that I went to see a shrink for the first time in my senior year of high school.

Before, I was actually open about it with my friends. I saw nothing wrong about it, because I know I needed help. But when the stereotypical thinking of most people around me finally struck me, I started keeping it as a secret. Days passed and I started overthinking. It didn’t take long for me to start feeling insecure about myself. Until now, I kept asking myself “Am I crazy?” over and over again. In result, sometimes I wouldn’t feel comfortable talking to strangers, because I’m afraid they would notice something wrong with me and judge me for being so weird. It drives me insane sometimes. Despite the social anxiety kicking in, I have one perk: I have a psychiatrist to talk to.

Every time I would rant about my social anxieties, my shrink would always tell me that treating mental conditions is just like treating diabetes. Just

“

It’s like having this pursuit of intelligence makes you a danger to normality

Hawking instead of participating in any student protest. You can already point out the intellectual shaming here, which becomes a part of our crab mentality as it

still suggests the phrase “if I can’t have it, neither can you.”

Anti-intellectualism may seem new, but the way we pull down others is still the same. Ironically, we mock those who fall short in academics yet we also mock those who think outside the box. It’s like having this pursuit of intelligence makes you a danger to normality. Majority tend to think that we should be part of the whole population and being different makes you an outsider. It also appears that others think that when you’re intelligent, you could be arrogant and snobbish. While they sneer at intellectuals, their actions also backfire at them. When they embarrass someone engaged in an intellectual discussion, the also rob themselves of a learning opportunity.

You see, crabs pulling down those who get to escape the basket is out of instinct; so we should always remind ourselves that we are different from the likes of animals.

And while we can’t do anything about other people’s crab mentality, there are ways of handling it. Uy continued pursuing excellence in her medical school; she set her goals with extreme focus on what matters.

Anti-intellectualism and crab mentality should not stop you from what you are supposed to do. Crab mentality in all of its form is part and parcel of life. So you would have to critically think it through. Just as people shouldn’t stop travelling by airplane for the fear of the plane crashing, people shouldn’t stop achieving their dreams for the fear of criticisms and judgments.

So keep moving, ad infinitum.

Psyched! like any other patients, I drink prescription medicine and attend my regular check-ups. I’m just taking care of myself so I can get better. If a diabetes patient has the right to cure himself from the villains of his own body, I do too. Popping my pills is just like taking in insulin to regulate blood sugar. I, on the other hand, regulate my hormones and other chemicals in my body that may relate to my daily behavior, emotions, and mood.

Nevertheless, I will admit that psychiatric help may cost a lot. The first time I asked for help, my sister and I were the only ones who knew. We didn’t tell my mother, because we were afraid that it would worry her, especially because she is an OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker). We had to borrow money from my sister’s class funds, because an appointment costs a thousand pesos an hour, plus my daily medication. It didn’t take long for us to run out of money and finally tell our mother. She was very understanding in that Skype call, and she has been supportive with me ever since. So despite my medications and long talks with the shrink, my family has

Out of 407 universities in the world, DLSU-D sits at 50 in the UI GreenMetric World University Ranking. Criteria involves education, transportation, water, waste, energy and climate change, and setting and infrastructure.

been my best therapy. They are the ones who understand me the most. Although we have a couple of downward spirals when our money wouldn’t be enough for my medications, they would still find a way—even if it means that we would have budget cuts for the rest of the month.

If I were to admit, I don’t

“

Nagpapapsychiatrist ka? Di ba, pang baliw lang yun?

“

WITBREAD

claiming that she is not really that smart and was just following the teacher’s pet system, doing her normal student routine, and being the female version of Stephen

“

Gratuitous.

That simply means uncalled for. But if you’ve somehow used this word is in one of your conversations, you might receive a wholly gratuitous response.

In the same way, if you mention more English words, the possible reaction you might get would be: “Wow! Ang deep, English!”, “You’re a knowit-all,” or the most used expression, “Nosebleed.” It doesn’t stop there as we sometimes equate scholarly debates as elitist symbols. Meanwhile, Englishproficient conversations sometimes turn

into symbols of status and prestigious education even if topic is not actually intellectual. It’s disappointing that some of us are all guilty with this thing—getting used to the culture of anti-intellectualism.

In the times you’re battling your way to the road of victory in academics and career, you may experience people who depreciate those who are more intellectually capable than them. These people who bully those who perform well in their academic performances is a good example of anti-intellectualism. Take into account University of the PhilippinesDiliman Batch 2014 summa cum laude Tiffany Grace Uy when she earned the highest GPA in the entire University of Philippine history, garnering a startling 1.004. Some people started to bash her,

usually know why I feel suicidal at times. Depression is the shadow of my mental illness.

It’s similar to the shadows that follow me around—its visibility increases in the brightest parts of my life. That’s why I like to hide in the dark, so I can pretend that there’s nothing breathing down my neck, even if I can definitely feel it. I feel its warmth that causes goosebumps

from my neck to my fingertips.

The depression doesn’t really go away, but I have learned a couple of lessons through my ruthless ups and downs in an elevator that doesn’t open. I usually surround myself with the people or things I love in my weakest times, because they remind me of the little things in life that I might leave behind if I ever get bad again.

I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who feels this way. In fact, according to the World Health Organization, there were over 2.4 million cases of depression reported in the Philippines in 2004. That’s why I try to be more sensitive with my friends. I don’t want them to experience what I’m going through. But in some cases that I see some depression symptoms within my friend’s actions, I try to talk to them. At first, I might ask myself, “Who am I in their lives? Is it right for me to invade this kind of personal situation?”

I, sometimes, find time to assess their behaviors discreetly, and then make them feel that they have a friend. I would tell them that I know what they’re going through. They’re not the only

ones who feel like giving up, but it’s not OK to give up. It’s not OK to keep silent and not do anything about it. It’s not OK to ignore feelings, because one day, my friends might feel tired—too tired that they wouldn’t feel a thing anymore.

I suggest them to see a psychiatrist. And if they don’t want to, at least go and visit our school’s Student Wellness Center or SWC. The people in SWC are experts at counseling, advising, and secret keeping; they understand. Besides, it’s free. Well, kind of. It’s already included in our tuition fee. *** So, maybe I am a little bit insane. People barely notice, anyway. Do you know why? It’s because I drink my medication. If I wasn’t going to a psychiatrist, I would be screaming my lungs out, pulling my hair, hurting myself, attempting suicide, or I might even be dead by now. Seeing a psychiatrist probably doesn’t mean I’m crazy. It actually makes me feel more normal. By the way, you’re probably wondering what my case is. Well, I have Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia.

There were limited choices for the elections this year due to unqualified candidates from the SENTRO La Salle political party.

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.

Thumbs up for the ASEAN theme of this academic year’s Lasallian festival, which united and equipped students for the coming ASEAN integration.

F E AT U R E S

JANUARY - APRIL 2016 | PAGE 10

The governor is also proud of the citizen’s positive reception to his reign as he states, “I think that my approval ratings [from the people] are high not only because of how I project myself but also because of the visible work that I do.”

Although there is still a long way to go before achieving completion in the Cavite province, the governor’s vision for a perfect society entails new and improved hospitals, managing traffic, and unlimited internet access for the Caviteños. For the governor, perfection is always a work in progress.

When it comes to his impact toward this generation, Governor Remulla remains humble as he says, “I’m just a passing shift in the light, just a steward of this position.” He hopes that the next person to take over his position will meet the soughtafter expectations of being a leader and continue the legacy of good governance in Cavite.

If Governor Remulla ever returns to provincial government, however, is still uncertain. He shares that “I’ll take personal inventory and see if I’m still up to it or if the people still want me in three years.” The governor may not have long before stepping down as our beloved leader, but he will always be Gov. Pogi in the eyes of Cavite youth.

The Cavite youth’s champion Cavite’s very own “Gov. Pogi”

By Casvel Teresa Lopez and Bianca Isabelle Lariosa Photo by Kathelyn Ann Bravo When talking about well-loved and esteemed politicians in the province of Cavite, a certain name definitely comes to mind. We’ve shared his witty suspension posts and buzzed over his modern contributions to Cavite life; definitely, Governor Jonvic Remulla—or Gov. Pogi as we call him—has become a figurehead for Caviteños and young individuals alike. It’s rare to capture the youth’s attention––much less admiration—but the governor of six years has done just that. Taking some time off from his jam-packed schedule, Governor Remulla was kind enough to answer a few of our questions about his political life and this generation of Caviteños.

The servant’s vow Governor Remulla is no stranger to the political life as he had witnessed his late father, former Cavite Governor Juanito Remulla Sr., oversee political life in an early age. “My motivation for running was really to continue a legacy, which [my father] started,” stated Governor Remulla, who also added that his life’s work is all about bridging inequalities that exist in the province.

While his father had a great legacy, including being awarded as the Most Outstanding Governor of the Year back in 1981, there’s no doubt that Governor Remulla himself has had

VOLUME 30 ISSUE 3

numerous achievements in his six-year reign. Some of the governor’s most notable achievements were increasing the provincial budget from P2.1 billion in 2010 to a whopping P3.6 billion in 2015, and making Cavite the first and only province to be ISO 9001:2008 certified, a feat that no other politician has done before.

When asked which of his accomplishments he was most proud of, the governor shared that his number one achievement was curbing corruption in the capitol, as it had been a pressing issue in the past administrations. Second was fostering a culture of trust from the province.

The static outlook It’s no mystery that the political notation today has taken some hits because of the resounding corruption issues that plague our newsfeed. In the 2015 Philippine Trust Index survey, the government gained 12 percentage of trust rating from the general public and ranked 4th out of 6 institutions.

In the youth’s eyes, the essence of government has been portraying naysay in leadership crux.

“I think, transparency comes with them all … if the people see that their leaders have compassion toward the people and see it as a central key of service, the youth will catch on,” Governor Remulla stated, adding that that if politicians show that they are truly serious and sincere in their work, they will catch the people’s attention.

Leading an example of good governance to empower the youth, Remulla stated, “Hopefully, they see [my administration] as I lead the example.” His programs and initiatives in the capitol include lowering costs of goods in public markets and fees in government transactions. Another is removing the layers of corruption—he filed a case over the former governor for allegedly spending P7.5 million in ghost purchases of 7, 500 sacks of rice in 2005.

With Governor Remulla’s administration, his people—especially the youth—are starting to trust the advancements in the Cavite government, and hopefully, this trust will not wane with his impending absence.

Youth’s reverence When asked about provincial leaders, Gov. Pogi instantly comes to mind, a fond nickname made by the youth as a sign of their admiration for his wit, relatability, and—quite frankly—his good looks.

Governor Remulla also has high regard for Caviteño youth, as he proudly answered that “they’re better informed” when asked about what makes the Caviteño youth unique.

He mentioned that Cavite has the highest rate of internet usage in the entire country as it allows us to be updated on the latest news despite the youth’s idleness toward community involvement, with partial thanks to Governor Remulla’s current projects.

With his remaining time of service, Gov. Pogi rolled out a program named Lingkod Kabitenyo, the first free wireless fidelity (wi-fi) access among other local governments in the Philippines and a milestone of his governance. The project was introduced in December 14, 2015, an outcome of his belief that internet access is a privilege and a means for social information. The free wi-fi throughout the province aims to encourage people’s alert participation in public safety and disaster management in any point of Cavite.

On the more popular side of the Internet, social media wit comes easy for Governor Remulla. He may have gotten admiration from the netizens, but the governor points out the authentic approach should be given to the youth—especially through social media. He stated in connection to other politicians trying the social media approach that, “If you’re not authentic to yourself and true to them, then people will see you through it. And if you try to portray values, which are inimical to the people you serve, then you will get into a lot of trouble.”

He also advised other politicians and aspiring candidates to avoid fake humility, as the Filipino people are wise enough to see right through it and the Filipino youth wants a person with a genuine identity to be their leader. “If you’re not who you are, don’t project yourself otherwise. A person shouldn’t try making himself funny because people will see the opposite.” As to the sort of genuine people we should look up to, he appends that it is our parents who must first mentor us to be more active in the community, “[Role models] shouldn’t just be athletes or actors, but people who do well for the community and for the country.”

As to enlighten the minority, Remulla shared a line from Walt Whitman’s poem “…you may contribute a verse” as his message to the youth. He mentioned that this quotation may guide us to “study hard and contribute” even in simple actions to be involved in community affairs and to build our awareness in political and social affairs. *** It’s no easy feat to win over today’s youth, especially if you’re from the world of politics. It takes authenticity, confidence, and of course, wit to endure in the glow of the youth’s admiration. Governor Remulla’s hugot tweets and relatable Facebook posts might be what caught the youth’s attention, but his outstanding service and genuine love for Cavite is definitely what will make him the unforgettable Gov. Pogi in the eyes of the Caviteños.

Masculine revolution Dawn of the metrosexuals

By Christian Ralf Dugan and Kikuno Nakadai Art by Marco Belarmino

Shopping malls and beauty parlors are known as women’s havens and spotting a man comparing different moisturizers or lining up in a waxing salon may automatically turn on some people’s gay radar.

Seeing them with their fitted peach button-up shirt, designer satchel bag, and on-point eyebrows may seem peculiar. But these modern straight men of the millennium might be in front of you in a queue or sitting beside you in a jeep, rising above the conventional masculinity—the metrosexuals.

Urban Adam Men today struggle to defy society’s restriction on unmanly things like vanity and self-satisfaction. Seeing a man hoarding beauty products or getting a pedicure raised eyebrows back in the day, until journalist Mark Simpson introduced “metrosexuals” in his article in The Independent in 1994. He described metrosexuals as normal, young, and single metropolis citizens enjoying the city’s perks of gyms, clubs, and shops. They commonly don womanish apparels but still revel in masculine undertakings and patriarchal privileges, and it may bother some people who aren’t used to seeing men being vain or using beauty products.

Since the fashion industry and social media set trends in motion— think crop tops and skinny jeans—metrosexuals use these platforms to bravely conquer and break the overrated masculine stereotypes.

According to the study Metrosexual Speaks: Factors Affecting Metrosexual

by Bautista et al from DLSU-D, metrosexuals free themselves from the disturbing labels through the peace and silence they achieve from their supportive peers and flexible environment. Through these factors, metrosexuals gain confidence to face criticism from the genderpolarized community and prevail over the deceptive judgments vested upon them.

Another factor that prompts metrosexuals to raise their flags is the modernized approach of Western culture to men’s urban lifestyle, as explained in a study titled Metrosexual: Its Concept and Phenomenon

from the Yala Rajabaht University. This grandiose lifestyle of men breached the walls of our conservative country from the domination of Western culture to the East.

Though modernization is widely accepted by most nations, Filipino metrosexuals who are haunted by conservatism still search for acceptance in their flamboyant dreams.

Distorting masculinity Metrosexuals will have a life-long battle from prejudice if people continue to mock their existence. They might be criticized because of their feminine lifestyle and vanity that appears inappropriate for men.

Such gender issues still remain sensitive for some of us, with the fact that most Filipinos until now are molded in strict and conservative perspectives. Although metrosexuals are flooded with controversies, they continue to float on the ocean of predominant masculinity and engage with deep explorations of femininity, all without losing their oxygen as genuine male divers.

As men are often associated with sweaty labor and smelly clothes, embracing vanity seems unfit with masculinity. But metrosexuals changed the game by considering their looks to the point they took time purchasing beauty products, according to the study Factors Affecting Consumption Behavior of Metrosexual toward Male Grooming Products by Ting, Ooi, and Cheng from Monash University in Malaysia. Since males are usually inclined to show their supremacy and worth through their physical appearance, they tend to consume enhancement products to get closer to their ideal self-image, according to the study Concept and Phenomenon: A Metrosexual Perspective from I-Shou University in Taiwan. You can observe these approaches in metrosexuals’ lifestyle as you walk along supermarkets where male-related grooming products warmly welcome male consumers. Metrosexuals continue to prove that they can change themselves, and any labels being thrown at them doesn’t define who they really are.

Genuine gentlemen Due to their similar silhouettes, it is inevitable for metrosexuals to be labeled as homosexuals. Metrosexuals’ well-groomed presence may confuse people whether they are gays or not, since most gays today openly show their femininity. Though some homosexuals are usually inclined with feminine gestures and cross-dressing, it doesn’t mean that they embody the whole homosexual community.

The truth is, according to Schuyler Brown, associate director of research at Euro RSCG Worldwide, metrosexuals can change traditional gender boundaries, but it has nothing to do with the assurance of their true sexuality because their main focus is to break the stereotypical judgments people have about them.

On The Future of Men: USA as reported by Euro RSCG Worldwide, metrosexuals do what they want, buy what they want, and enjoy what they want regardless of whether some people might consider these things unmanly. It is something that pleasure dictates, instead of people’s views, as metrosexuals choose their own lifestyle.

Aside from women, gays in the past also typically embraced trendy and feminine styles until such time that a group of men accepted this kind of lifestyle too, as explained by David Colman in his article Gay or Straight?: Hard to Tell. Perhaps, it’s a matter of curiosity and willingness that pushed metrosexuals to get out of their own boxes. And also, the time has already come for men to explore the things beyond society’s standards, and to completely tell the world that men, as much as any other gender, are also unique innovators and explorers. *** Metrosexuals might be different from our old perceptions about men, and it is imminent for them to hear invalid description and discrimination because of their divergence. Despite all of the negative perceptions and rude criticism, metrosexuals still dauntlessly stand for their disposition—and that is the one of the manliest things a person can do.

F E AT U R E S

JANUARY - APRIL 2016 | PAGE 11

When Patriots speak

In a survey conducted among 100 selected students from the various colleges of DLSU-D, the results from the survey are as follows:

What made you decide to study at DLSU-D? 31%

16.4%

12.9% It’s closer to home

It’s “La Salle “ It’s my dream school

It’s my backup school

Does DLSU-D’s eco-friendly campus positively influence your environmental awareness?

47%

No

“

No, because for me, religious education subjects are just another burden for us students. I didn’t find any spiritual transformation happened (sic) to me in my two years of studying this course. Maybe I have learned ideas that enhanced my knowledge (cognitive) but not my spiritual side as a person. Maybe Values Education is the subject that is needed, not religious education. But since DLSU-D is a Catholic school, it is impossible to happen.

No 28%

Other

Has your stay in DLSU-D strengthened/reinforced your faith in God? Why or why not?

A bit

25%

By Naomi Lane Tiburcio and Kristine Mae Rebote

Do you honestly practice CLAYGO inside the campus?

Somehow/Sometimes

Yes

Do you consider yourself religious?

Knitting the Lasallian identity

29.3%

Yes

”

Respondent from COED

On a scale of one to ten (1 being the lowest)...

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

How conservative is the atmosphere of the school?

How conservative is the atmosphere of the student body?

Has DLSU-D’s social climate somehow influenced your conservativeness or liberal-mindedness?

Yes No

90.5% 9.5%

How often are you tagged with these stereotypes by students outside the campus:

Always Sometimes Seldom Never Rich kid/ Mayaman

Conyo

Elitista

Uninvolved

In light of the recent labelling issues, what do you want to tell the people outside the campus who often stereotype its students this way?

“

“

Status in life and the way you speak cannot be determined just because of the university you are attending. Do not make a fallacy of composition.

Iba-ibang personalidad at katayuan sa buhay ang mga nag aaral dito. iba-iba, kaya dapat bawas bawasan nila ang pagiging mapanghusga sa kapwa.

Respondent from CTHM

Are you proud to be a Lasallian?

”

An outsider asked how you interpret the Lasallian core values “faith, zeal, and service,” what would you say?

5%

Yes

95%

”

Respondent from CBAA

No

“

It is exellence, humility and obligation. We Lasallians are taught to give, to respect and to love. Arrogance is not tolerated. We study to serve. We strive to uplift God’s name, and we embody exellence.

Respondent from CLAC

“

” ”

That Lasallian students are both good leader and a follower as well.

Respondent from CSCS

I am from DLSU-D and I am proud and I am not going to waste this opportunity that I was able to study in such a beautiful University.

Respondent from CEAT

DISCLAIMER: The results of this suvey do not represent the official stand of the University’s students.

I was a bossy kid. Growing up an only child with unorthodox parents prompted me to learn how to be on my own without much parental guidance. Using some kind of reverse psychology they probably read in a parenting manual, my parents had a few rules, but a lot of high expectations, which I—being naturally competitive—eagerly took on. Eventually, the bossy little Asian kid grew up to be an equally bossy teenager who got a cold shock of reality when she realized what “leadership” actually meant.

A steadfast worshipper of Queen Bey (aka Beyoncé), I figured that the only way a girl could get ahead in a man’s world was to be the boss. But what Beyoncé music videos didn’t teach me was that being a boss or a manager isn’t the same as being a leader. Somewhere between the threshold of overdoing and underdoing it, leadership is the balance of inspiring others to become who you know they can be while withholding yourself from

ordering them around as though they don’t have the capability to figure things out for themselves.

Whenever we have to speak in front of a crowd, we’re always told that confidence is key, and I suppose the same can be said for leadership. Too little confidence calls into question your self-assurance; and if you can’t believe in yourself, then how can you expect others to believe in you too? Yet too much self-confidence tends to overpower our faith in others; and if you don’t believe in the capability of those you lead, then how could they possibly believe in themselves? A little lesson I learned from my REED144 professor is that public service is founded on the trust of the people—trust that leaders will serve their people and trust that leaders will return that trust to the people without resulting to overlycontrolling ideologies.

But more often than not, that trust is taken and twisted by people in power when they offer their sweet words—words as empty as the wind without the actions to back them up. Let’s take a rewind to last year’s campus campaign period and doublecheck if all the promises from the elected

Inside campus premises, titles like “Lasallian” or “Cavite’s Premiere University” are something we may take for granted. And yet, the moment we step outside the school, we somehow become comparable to a wall vandalized with exhaustingly unwanted and fabricated labels. Dissecting this issue that we all know too well, we asked more than a hundred students from different colleges to define themselves as a Patriot, along with the features that contour our identity.

Lasallian superiority The University has etched its name into the limelight with achievements for being the “greenest university” in the country and as our motto puts forward, for ceaselessly “creating possibilities.” Undoubtedly, a vast majority of students easily call themselves proud Lasallians. But this pride for our school often leads to spawning brazen stereotypes that our students never sought.

Take, for instance, a recent issue that went viral on Facebook about a student from another school labelling DLSU-D students as arrogant and ignorant. The post became the talk of the town, as it encouraged other schools to brush off inferiority against students from our school, contending that Lasallians are solely superior in economic capacity and not to wits. Some of our students quickly threw themselves into the online battlefield and defended our stand as individuals that shouldn’t be judged or generalized for a single person’s deeds. This frenzied matter revealed that while we see school pride as University patriotism, it can often be misinterpreted by outsiders as superiority.

But Patriots aren’t exempted from the burdens of counterfeit superiority. It’s not new to hear our students share a shout of victory for every triumphant Archers game. Although it’s generally encouraged that we support DLSUTaft’s team as One La Salle, this becomes a big deal when the Patriot sports team gets dumped on. While coliseums’ tickets get sold out on games with the Archers as a contender, perhaps, it’s time to spend the time to sit on the courtside of our Patriot’s tournaments and echo the festive beat of our campus’ pride.

Yet for all the menacing rhythms that power unifying roars of “Animo!” there is a fine line between shared pride for the University and an overbearing pride on the verge of an elitist and superior disposition.

Lanyards, car stickers, and affluence hardly define a “Lasallian” or a “Patriot.” Most student respondents believe that the spotlight should instead be focused at what happens after we march and throw our graduation caps. But up until now, people tend to latch our identity on our “capacity” to study in a recognized university. As a student from the College of Education pointed out, “It’s (core values) an ethical and moral way to determine who is a true Lasallian,” because what ultimately determines our affiliation to the Lasallian community is how the core values pull the strings to shape our actions.

Graphic Art by Ricardo Martin Cabale

RK mentality Our campus’ tuition fees and expenses are undeniably meager compared to other well-known Lasallian institutions. Still, Patriots get pointed with the “rich kid (RK)” typecast, making it the biggest splotch in who and what we are. Ironically, it’s a little known fact that Lasallian schools, including DLSU-D, aim to boost the scholar population, accomplishing St. John Baptist De La Salle’s mission to educate the less fortunate. All the same, the moniker “rich kid” tied with “snob” continues to latch onto the students, almost becoming a fixed ingredient of the Lasallian experience.

Supported by survey results, nearly 43 percent claimed they are stereotyped as mayaman from time to time. But seeing this RK identity as something we are not all born with, rather something that we strive to earn, a student from the College of Liberal Arts and Communication asserts, “Not all are [born] equal. Justice isn’t even served right. I can honestly say that my father is crawling his way to get me through college, and I know I’m not the only one. I’m even planning to take up a part-time job just to keep myself here [in DLSU-D], because honestly, I can’t maintain a scholarship. I just want to be here.”

However, nearly all survey respondents described the DLSU-D student body as humble and approachable, contrary to the labels people sew onto our identity patchwork. Attesting how the layers of social class are undivided in the campus, University Student Council president Micah Gonzales shares, “We are a very diverse crowd, but you can see that it is possible to have mutual respects for one another no matter what orientations you come from.”

Liberal-conservative hybrids Forgetting your ID and wearing prohibited clothes might get a buttoned-up person to walk up to you and bring you to the much-talked about disciplinary office. Without a doubt, every student who comes across the Student Welfare and Formation Office (SWAFO) knows its strict and intolerant nature. On that account, our disciplinary policies have continuously kept an eye on things we do, making sure we maintain a clean record in our stay in the University.

Most student respondents expressed that the school is more conservative than the student body itself. It would seem that the disparity exists as there is a gap between what the University intends to instill in the students and how we actually make sense of it. And the toughest problem our school might be facing is building a conservative nature amid the surge of the wayward and liberal millennial culture.

On why these conventional guidelines are both crucial and considerably rewarding for the students, Gonzales clarifies that the people in charge of our school’s orthodox approach are trying their best to settle the discipline and religious lifestyle in the changing times. And it appears that this has been the case for most students, as they identify themselves as standing for and weaved of both beliefs—conservative and liberal.

High hopes

officials in the college and University level were fulfilled. Slight warning, the results might be disappointing. With presidential elections coming up, we ought to consider actions more carefully than words, and true intentions rather than stated accomplishments. See, it doesn’t always matter how actions are executed, but why they’re carried out in the first place—whether that’s for the common good, or for self-serving glory.

“

...leadership is built on responsibility and not excuses.

“

55.2%

VOLUME 30 ISSUE 3

There’s this idea about leadership that says it is founded on three things: passion for a cause, purpose to carry out actions, and people to serve. Passion is given, but purpose tends to be a little trickier, especially when people realize how much hard work it actually entails to make actions speak louder than words. The last item on that list is “people to

serve,” and while people are always present to serve, there seems to be a lack of leaders willing to serve. They always say that power corrupts, but I think the more accurate phrase would be that power reveals. Power reveals hidden facets to a person’s nature, like whether they consider their power as a means to their greed, a tool to control, or a method to serve.

A friend once told me, good followers make good leaders, and she couldn’t be more right. Real talk, the required National Service Training Program (NSTP) class is not the most exciting subject, but one lesson from my NSTP101 professor that I’ve carried ever since is the value of servant leadership. Just as public servants are put in their positions on the basis of trust from the people, they are there not to take strength, but to give strength to the people they serve. Before I became an editor at The HERALDO FILIPINO, I always thought being a leader was based on your own success and skill—it wasn’t until later on that I realized that being a leader is defined by the success and growth of those you lead.

As Lao Tzu once said: “To lead people, walk behind them.” Too often, we’re bombarded

Religious divergence Faith, zeal, and service—consider it the genes of the Patriot spirit: it’s an assemblage of who we are and what we do. But let’s face it, living in a religious country and studying in a religious school located at the center of a strongly religious province might sometimes feel tiring. In the tugof-war between claiming their piousness, students admitted they are religious—but only slightly.

Truth be told, some students only consider religiosity in our compulsory Religious Education class. Moreover, the slightest earshot of the word “religious” brings rings to their ears. A College of Engineering, Architecture, and Technology student even said the school didn’t strengthen their faith in God, further attesting, “Being in college opens up your mind to different possibilities, it makes you gain new perspectives. For me, religion has nothing to do with faith.”

Though the campus pathway is propped with statues of St. La Salle, it continues to stand in its firm mission of unity despite diversity in religion and beliefs. We might not be as religious as the University expects its student body to be, but it doesn’t entail that we’re not as compassionate and involved. What makes our campus different is in the manner of how students acknowledge other people and their diverse beliefs.

Raising green flags In the advocacy race for a better environment among schools, DLSU-D undoubtedly runs with fathomless endurance. The outstanding campus landscape and our distinct “Green Shirt Fridays” aren’t merely a school stunt, but a mark of the University’s involvement and encouragement towards environmentalism.

Though awareness for the environment may not be as evident in the mostly unexpressive youth today, 72 percent of respondents agreed that the school has positively influenced their outlook for a greener society. And contrary to the belief that many no longer strictly observe CLAYGo (Clean as you go), in actuality, over 56 percent of the students shared that they are still practicing CLAYGo even past their frosh year without having to be reminded.

While we may have our own differences in age groups, religion, and upbringing, our campus mission on a greener environment known as the integrated “hidden curriculum,” reminds us that we live in the same Earth and we ought to stand for the same advocacy—to care for the imperative health of our world. *** Stereotyping may have an unfavorable nature but it can be used to specify what we are not, in order to define who we truly are. It is by relentlessly dwelling on our own fabric of a Patriotic identity despite all judgments that we establish our integrity and otherness. While all Lasallian schools are technically one, we are independent, diverse, and most importantly, distinct. As we stitch and put together the threads of our trademarks, we remind ourselves that what binds us as a free and involved community ultimately helps shape an identity of our own.

with the faces of officials plastered all over the campus and country. Personally, I have far more respect for the leaders who support from the back and only move to the front line to take a bullet when needed, like Duterte and Santiago. But usually, it works the other way around in the real world: so-called leaders are quick to find fault rather than remedy, when they should be taking more blame when due and less credit. After all, leadership is built on responsibility and not excuses.

Leaders should be role models at bare minimum, and the best of them lead by example. Perhaps if we take a good look around at the people in our government, administration, councils, and such, we’d realize how very few of them actually deserve the privilege of being considered a legit “leader.”

Of course there’s no perfect recipe for leadership, but with the national elections coming up, I’ll be out looking for those rare people with the right amount of confidence, pride, fidelity, and selflessness to lead, serve, and inspire the people. It seems like a little too much to ask for, but just like my parents, I have high expectations—and just as high hopes.

LITERARY

JANUARY - APRIL 2016 | PAGE 12

VOLUME 30 ISSUE 3

Wyvernblue

By Rochelle Rivera

Wyvernblue Game Overview: The player controls a witch hunter named Dafsas. His objective is to kill the evil witch, Bolun, who cast a hypnosis spell across the land of Wyvernblue to take advantage of the dragons and wreak havoc in the world. Dafsas is accompanied by a friend, Nyterie, who is the only dragon that avoided Bolun’s spell as she spends most of her time under water. She has enormous wings that can create tornadoes and a mouth that can blow balls of ice. With Nyterie’s help, Dafsas must pass through a total of 25 stages, and for every completed stage, they will get new weapons and develop new skills. In those 25 stages, five are called “rivers of flame” where they must defeat Bolun’s “clone” in order to continue the game. The game is completed when the player survives the 5th river, reaches the last stage to break the spell, and defeats the “real” Bolun.

Game Manual Guide 4.1 - How to explore Wyvernblue: Nyterie must freeze dragons with red and black auras. For every damage Dafsas receives from the dragons, the player’s life decreases. The stage ends when Dafsas’ life gets used up, but the player has the option to try again. To complete a stage, Dafsas and Nyterie must survive the dragons’ attacks and counter them until the dragons’ health points (HP) turn zero and they lose their auras—a sign Dafsas has destroyed the hypnosis spell on them.

All rivers of flame are thick with smoke and the player must have to see through it clearly in order to fight Bolun’s clones.

From the Game Map, select Exploration Options > Pathways > Uncover Rivers of Flame. var player_array;

function init() {

d = “right”; //default direction

create_dragon();

create_player();

score = 0; $(document).keydown(function(e) {

var key = e.which;

//

if(key == “37” && d != “right”) d =

else if(key == “38” && d != “down”)

else if(key == “39” && d != “left”)

else if(key == “40” && d != “up”) d

//

Nang mapuno ang salop

By John Paul Gonzales

“left”; d = “up”; d = “right”; = “down”;

You just keep running, chasing, and hiding. From the moment you open your eyes, your hands already hold a crossbow— pointing at the harmless wind and nothingness. You don’t know why, but you always feel unsafe. You live in a world where there are constant threats, repetitive actions, and patterned attacks.

There wasn’t a problem about this way of living before, until you started noticing. You noticed the same actions for exact situations. You noticed all the dragons move in a predictable way, and it has become inevitable to memorize their movements. You noticed how they never change, like they are programmed that way. Programmed. Yes, that makes sense.

And then there was you, who may have been an error in the system. But it can’t be just any error, because you’ve developed something more serious than a glitch—you developed a consciousness.

A development that is more of a torture than a blessing. But you would rather remain conscious than be a lifeless set of codes.

Now, no matter how you would want to move separately and freely from the controller, you know you can’t. Because once someone out there notices, they’d try to fix you. })

Sa paggapang ng alinsangan sa paligid, marahang umiikot ang aking karaniwang gawain.

Hindi nagsasawa sa kaliwa’t kanang paglingong sinasabayan ng pagkumpas ng mga kamay habang nakatigil sa aking kinaroroonan.

Maayos na daloy ng paghinga’y tanging asam para sa taong nag-iinit ang ulo.

Kalauna’y nagsimulang rumurok ang init ng nakapapasong sinag sa batok kong litaw, ngunit ‘di ko iyon inalintana’t higit akong nagpursigi sa ginagawa.

Hanggang labis nang nanuot ang init na ‘di kinaya ng aking ulo. at sa puntong iyo’y huminto ang aking pag-ikot.

Game Manual Guide 16 - How to exit: for(var i = 0; i < array.length; i++) {

if(array[i].x == x && array[i].y == y)

return true; }

return false; You can’t.

}

For Cosnov

By Jose Alfonso Sacdalan

Quadric 28, 204A An immortal—the undying, un-aging being whose physical anatomy was so complex a human doctor could never make any sense of it—bleeding to death in my apartment. It was my friend, Cosnov, his head leaning against my fridge with the rest of his body sprawled all over the floor. Help me, he mouthed the words to my ears as if they were his last.

I turned on the lights and tried to inspect his injuries. His shirt was tattered as if a blade ripped right into his chest, splitting cuts through his skin. He was bleeding over his right shoulder and left knee, missing both an arm and a leg. I thought about the only logical solution and reached for the phone in my pocket.

“Don’t... call... for goddamn... help,” he found some little strength to speak, yet he coughed more blood. The old Greek legends said that ichor or Immortal’s blood was the color of gold.

The truth was, they were deep dark black that’ll make you sick just by smelling it. “If you called them then—” he coughed “—then I’m already dead, Jerry,” He pleaded, laboring each word as he spoke.

“Just … help me.” He spewed blood, slowly shutting off his eyes as his head finally dropped to the floor.

Quadric 29, 204A Our whole lives, we lived on the idea that the immortals were invulnerable. They even viewed us as lesser animals, resulting to their constant greediness and abuse. So without Cosnov around, I was never really sure if I’m safe, so I began avoiding anyone with gray skin. A fine example was the immortal who was picking on a M00Nbucks employee. He was a huge guy in business attire, demanding more cocoa in his Coff-E. The human stammered, “Forgive me, sir, but chocolate is exclusive only t—“ “I said, add chocolate to my Coff-E!” the immortal replied, as he smashed his fist over the counter, destroying it completely along

with all their other products inside. That was when the guards with the same gray skins approached the violent customer. His voice lowered and calmly, he spoke, “No I—, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to, I’ll pay for everything.”

Humans and immortals lived by the same laws and concepts of morality. But when it comes to crimes, injuries, and deaths, both species operate differently. Naturally, most humans never want to cross an immortal. Although humans were clearly smarter, just the knowledge that an immortal could lift a vehicle the same way we could lift a chair would implant the idea of their superiority in your brain.

Quadric 30, 204A Cosnov lied over my dining table. I bandaged his wounds, shoulder, and knee using electrical tapes (I’m an engineer, not a doctor), then I brought him half a drum of immortal blood to drink. Now all I needed to replace was his arm and leg—those weren’t something you could buy in a hardware store. The only solution I have left was to—well, of course I could buy him some prosthetics, what the hell am I even thinking?

I decided I could try and make one. I mean, I didn’t illegally study mechanical engineering—which was only exclusive for immortals—for nothing. So I went to the hardware store to find some parts. I packed them all and was about to pay when I noticed the metallic leg on a shelf behind the cashier, along with some power cores and heat engines. I figured I could maybe use them as a layout for my project. “Hey, how much for that nice prosthetic?”

“That is not a prosthetic,” the cashier responded, with the same immortal’s generic voice. I looked at his eyes, which were made of thick lenses that were undoubtedly observing every inch of my face as if trying to memorize and process it. I shrugged it off and gave him my card, and that’s when I noticed his left hand. It was far too thin for his weight, and far too short for his huge body.

I gazed back at the shelf, examining the detail, color, and shape of this certain metallic leg among the others, and that was when it clicked. Those weren’t prosthetics.

I bought the parts and hastily tinkered with them in my car, my hands getting extra creative for the day. I thought of my best friend lying in my apartment, bleeding to death, while lunatics like this guy were allowed to sit by selling those things. I didn’t make a prosthetic leg. Instead I made a stun gun charged with nuclear battery that I disassembled from my vehicle.

I cut off the shop’s power line, disabling all their security features before heading inside. I saw the cashier as he turned on the emergency lights. My fingers itched; and trembling, I shot him with the stun gun, sending strong currents of electricity through his body. He fell off the floor, paralyzed. I grabbed an axe from his very shop, and let him taste his own goddamn medicine. Extra careful in ripping Cosnov’s left arm away from the bastard’s shoulder, I chopped him off limb from limb. I retrieved Cosnov’s other missing leg from the shelf along with the others, then stored them all to my car’s trunk.

You see, I am just a frail witless human, absolutely harmless against a specie more superior to me. I laughed and checked the rearview mirror. The police would never figure it out.

Pentric 1, 204A Cosnov woke, thanking me for saving his life. I shrugged and told him he already did the same for hanging out with me the past years. I told him I found his limbs lying outside our apartment door. Then he asked if he bled so much that the place reeked of oil.

I told him he did as I stared at the cashier’s severed metallic head, peeking from the slightly opened cabinet under the kitchen sink.

He’s still alive, don’t worry, I could make him alive. And I could make him talk.

You see, the immortals weren’t as invulnerable after all.

LITERARY

JANUARY - APRIL 2016 | PAGE 13

VOLUME 30 ISSUE 3

Yours unconditionally

By Nishtha Nigam

Subject: Ivan M. Age: 13 Censored memory files Day 2279 post-operation 2:22 AM Subject in REM <memory replay> I’m a seven-year-old again. I know that because when I look down, I’m wearing my white, grade school polo with my name badge and blue trousers. Mama is beside me, her hand holding mine as we’re walking to school.

Above us, cars paint the sky in strokes of colors as they speed through a series of magnetic loops that stretch from one horizon to another like an endless skeletal caterpillar.

A Mercedes Aeromobil 9.3! Mama mentioned that it was all the rage back when these flying cars were first introduced. Whoa, what is that?! A blazing white orb of energy crackles as it runs through the loops in the opposite direction and flings the cars off the loops and into the free sky.

Everything seems to move in slow motion after. I stand there in awe as I catch every detail of the cars’ slim, magnificent bodies as they dive toward the earth. Oh my! They are way cooler than the remote-controlled flying car I got on my 6th birthday. A tug on my hand forces me to turn around and Mama’s face suddenly appears in front of mine. Her eyes are wide with shock and her jaw dropped open as if she’s screaming. Only, instead of hearing her voice, I hear a piercing shrill that first shoots into my ear and then hurls me across the cold, rough pavement.

[Epinephrine unstable] Open your eyes, get out of this nightmare! No, I can’t even move a finger. In fact, all I feel is the back of my head against the cold, hard, concrete pavement. Is that ... a leg to the right of my face? The body above the leg is crushed under the debris of a flying car. He’s wearing the same uniform as me. The nametag says I, v, a ... Ivan. My uniform.

And no matter how much I try to disagree with what my eyes show, my mind puts the facts together and screams the truth louder than all the screams of the people that run around. My body is headless. And here I am, the head, a meter away from where it should have been. Even as my eyes shut, I can almost smell the reek of burnt flesh.

Gears

By Marie Joy Sarmiento The wheels inside me, I’ve always felt them running with the flow of ecstatic current and the undying electrical enchantment traveling through the circuits of my veins.

But as negatively charged commands were directed with cold hands, touching my every move, I deciphered the data and came to realize they told me invented letters and words— engaging the bugs and all its stinging bites, spreading destructive codes all over my serenity drive.

Encoded hopes and inserted fiction tangled my wires.

My sensors lost track of my vision on words as cheats and hacks corrupted my core.

I tried fixing it all together, with my spare parts and pieces.

But I could not understand this system, my programmed actions, my determined functions— I, a living machine.

I weep drops of springs, rusting all the screws that held me together for so long.

I have taken more than enough errors and false signs, crashing routes in the chambers of my head and my chest.

2:23 AM Subject awake Another sleepless night today. I need to be with Mama. <Subject relocates 5m away> [Night vision activated] Everything seems so amplified at this hour. Mama’s room is filled with the rhythmic hum of the air conditioner and the tick-tock of the antique clock placed adjacent to the

bed. Somehow, being in her room—in her presence— is so soothing.

She’s asleep on the side of the bed next to her desk. Printouts advertising new technologies catering the needs of cyborgs today clutter her desk. Some even feature me on the cover every time I get an upgrade. After all, I’m one of the seven cyborgs in the world that have had their bodies replaced from the head down by machinery. I am so glad Mama did not give up on me, and that she rushed me to the National Institute of Cybernetics Research Center and signed me up for the experimental approach they had been working on for years. She’s my savior.

Hospitals would definitely have refused to admit me since head reattachments had never worked before.

The moonlight streaming inside casts a soft silver glow on her expressionless face. Wrinkles crawl around her eyes and across her forehead. She looks older than I remember. It isn’t easy to be a single mother of a child who needs to have a new plutonium battery fixed every month or else he dies.

She’s done so much for me and there’s still nothing she wouldn’t do for me. She says I’m the only thing that belongs to her. Maybe it’s these six years of unwavering tension inside that has finally found its way on her skin.

Some still haven’t accepted us. They say it’s unnatural to alter and replace the bodies we were gifted with. They disparaged her and her decision, as is the case of many parents who chose to preserve their child’s life by replacing their human bodies.

They label our decisions as selfish, pathetic, and unethical, as if replacing our bodies would make us less human; when all the while, it is them who degrade their humanity by implying that we shouldn’t have fought to live.

Perhaps a few years after, I’ll forget what it means to get a rush of adrenaline, or to feel my heart beat against my ribs after a game of catch. Perhaps I’ll never be able to munch my favorite chips again because all I can have for a meal is a flavored nutrient tablet that supports the remaining human tissue in my head. Perhaps I’ll never be able to complain about growing pains, cutting my nails, or scratching an itch.

Perhaps nothing would ever be the same.

And that just makes choosing my sole purpose of existence a lot easier: to love her, the way she loved me too much to let me go.

Ang sariling atin

“

Marahil nga ang wikang Filipino ay hinulma at pinanday sa pamamagitan ng pagpapatse-patse nang iba’t iba pang mga wika at diyalekto, ngunit hindi ibig sabihin nito ay pipitsuging armas ang Filipino

“

Kamakailan, kumalat sa Internet at binagyo ng batikos ang tweet ni Teddy Locsin Jr., isang abogado at tagapamahayag, tungkol sa pamimintas n’ya sa wikang Filipino kumpara sa Ingles. Bilang isang manunulat sa midyum na ito, lubos kong isinusuka ang opinyon n’yang dapat hindi na sanayin pa ang wikang kinalakihan at sa halip ay hasain ang talim ng dila sa dayuhang lenggwahe.

Ito ang matagal ko nang hindi matanggap. Sa akademya, lubos na iniiwasan ang paggamit ng Filipino.

Halimbawa, sa simpleng reporting sa classroom ay dapat diretsong Ingles ang pagsasalaysay. Naiintindihan kong Ingles ang midyum ng curriculum ngunit para bang ang pagsasalita sa Filipino upang makapagpaliwanag nang mas maayos ay nagiging isang krimen.

Tanda ko pa noong high school, may batas sa aming buong eskuwelahan na “strictly speak in English only” at krimen talaga ang pagsasalita sa Filipino dahil mumultahan ka ng limang piso. Noon ding mga panahong ‘yon, sa isang pagkakataon ka lang puwedeng makayakap sa sariling wika at malayang dumaldal gamit ito—tuwing Linggo ng Wika. Sa loob ng halos sampung buwan nating pamamalagi sa loob ng silid-aralan, siyam na buwan at tatlong linggo ang nakalaan para sa Ingles at isang linggo lamang para sa Filipino. At tinatawag natin ang lahing ito na Pilipino?

Marahil nga ang wikang Filipino ay hinulma at pinanday sa pamamagitan ng pagpapatse-patse nang iba’t iba pang mga wika at diyalekto, ngunit hindi ibig sabihin nito ay pipitsuging armas ang Filipino, sa debate man o sa pang-araw-araw na pakikipagtalastasan. At kung tatawagin natin ang lahing ito na Pilipino, nararapat lamang natin gamitin ang sandatang ito—ang ating pagkakakilanlan o aydentidad.

Kaya nga dahil dito, sa tingin ko, ang susunod na administrasyon ay dapat maglaan

ng nararapat na atensyon sa sektor ng wikang Filipino. Halimbawa, maaring magtayo ang gobyerno ng bagong departamento na nakabukod sa Department of Education na may layong palawigin ang wikang atin. Sa ilalim ng bagong departmento, magkakaroon ng isang pampublikong publikasyong tatawaging National Publication Center kung saan tatanggap ito ng mga manuskripto, Filipino man o Ingles (ngunit prayoridad ang sariling wika), ng mga gustong mailathala ang kanilang mga katha. Isasalang ang mga manuskripto sa kritisismo at editing ng mga magagaling na alagad ng literatura. Ang mga mapipiling piyesa ay mailalathala nang libre gamit ang nakalaang badyet ng gobyerno para sa departamento.

Isisirkulo ito sa buong bansa para ibenta at ang kikitain ng mga lathala ay hahatiin papunta sa awtor at sa ekonomiya ng bansa.

Ang ikalawang ideya naman, na mas pupunan pa ang naunang ideya, ay ang pagkakaroon ng Creative Writing bilang minor subject sa lahat ng kurso sa kolehiyo o kaya naman ay sa senior high ng K-12 program.

Dapat ay pagbukurin ang Creative Writing sa dalawa pang subject, Creative Writing at Malikhaing Pagsulat para mas matutukan ng mas maigi ang dalawang midyum. Layon ng ideyang ito na palawakin pa ang haraya o imahinasyon ng mga kabataan at mas paigtingin ang malawak nilang pag-iisip o critical thinking. Sa pamamagitan nito, marahil ay masolusyunan ang balbal na pag-uusap ng mga Pilipino sa Internet at magresulta sa mas intelektwal na debatihan at pag-uusap.

Marahil ay pangarap lang ang mga ideyang ito, pero hindi ito imposible. Isipin na lamang natin: isang henerasyong intelektwal.

Isang henerasyon ng mga ideya. Isang henerasyong mahal ang Literatura. Isang henerasyong tulad nina Plato, Aristotle, at Socrates. Isang henerasyong tulad nina Rizal, Del Pilar, Jaena, Luna, at iba pa. Kaya itong gawin ng gobyerno, kung gugustuhin. Isang henerasyon ng mga Pilipino sa bansang Pilipinas na nagmamahal at nagsasalita sa wikang Filipino. O marahil hindi ito mangyayari dahil ito ang kinatatakutan ng gobyerno?

JANUARY - APRIL 2016 | PAGE 14

Cagebelles rise to 2nd in NCRAA ‘23 tourney

SPORTS

VOLUME 30 ISSUE 3

Lady Thunders whitewash Lady Patriots, 53-65

By John Zedrick Simeon Losing four straight games to their finals opponent, DLSU-D surrendered their golden opportunity to the Rizal Technological University (RTU) Lady Thunders, 53-65, in game two of the National Capital Region Athletic Association (NCRAA) Season 23 finals at the RTU Gymnasium, February 22.

Roaring thunder Landing in a height disadvantage, DLSU-D’s mythical power forward Agatha Azarcon lost the opening tipoff to co-mythical five Crislyn Mier for the center position. Grabbing the first defensive shutdown, DLSU-D cagebelles’ starter Mariel Campasa snatched the ball from Nova Santos at 9:52 that fixed up a fast break layup opportunity for Diane Reyes, 2-0.

Despite committing a ton of turnovers, the green-and-white squad balanced up to the errors through their nasty offense that included Reyes’ rainbow shot, 10-2.

Showcasing her handles, Lady Thunder Ira Canales forced her way through the rim as DLSU-D’s Azarcon prevented the field goal with her tight defense. Commencing their defensive poison, RTU greeted DLSU-D with their full-court trap that issued a steal for a layup and an eight-second violation against their opponent.

However, the DLSU-D cagebelles still prevailed in the opening frame as they executed their offense through improved free throws, shooting five of six from the keyhole, 15-6. Striving for a buzzerbeating shot, frontcourt Azarcon made a run to the basket at 1.8 dying seconds but missed the fair chance, ending the first quarter with a nine-point lead, 15-6.

Opening the second canto, the DLSU-D lady dribblers committed an array of fouls, which delivered the Lady Thunders into penalty strikes.

Clustering creative dribbling, RTU’s Canales passed through DLSUD’s Irene Torregosa at 7:27 and laid the ball into the basket with a foul-counted shot, 16-11. Drafting again an and-one for the blue-and-white squad, Jeremiah Yonzon bid a jump shot and made body contact, resulting to a foul as the ball swooshed into the rim, 16-14.

Opening the shootout, Animo squad’s Campasa shot from the perimeter with one ticking second left in the shot clock, snagging the back-and-forth momentum, 20-14.

Pushing the lead down to two, Most Valuable Player Angelica Jaberto fired her artilleries as she launched two consecutive trifectas, 22-20.

Ending the second canto on a high note, the Dasmarinas-based squad composed a 14-10 run capped by Torregosa’s dish to Azarcon for an open shot, 36-30.

Persisting to top the match, Mandaluyong-based squad’s Canales forced her way for a shot and ended, 34-30.

The third canto witnessed the fall of DLSU-D’s offense as they shot only 16.67 percent, two of 12, from all sides of the cylinder. Supplementing the rundown, RTU’s full-court trap overtook DLSU-D’s tempo that caused turnover after turnover for the Animo squad.

“Naging problema no’ng second half … Parang na-pressure ‘yung mga bata.

Umalis kami doon sa mga ginagawa naming [plays] no’ng first half kaya nagkabaliktad ‘yung sitwasyon,” Lady Patriots coach Tito Reyes said.

Countering the trap in the first few minutes of the frame, the green-and-white squad held on with five points, 38-33.

Despite losing their cool, middle defender Josele Jumawan denied Yonzon’s rushing layup.

Bringing the first deadlock at the 5:08 stretch, RTU’s stellar pointguard

Jaberto swiped the ball and shot three insurance freebies in a shooting foul on her pursuit of the three-point line, 38-all.

Rookie Marie Gold Limpangog granted DLSU-D a point from the charity stripe, 39-all. However, DLSUD’s rhythm completely broke down with a missed lay-in and four wasted opportunities from the foul lane.

Boosting their clip, the Lady Thunders composed an 8-0 run with Nova Mantos spearheading the four points, wrapping up the third span, 39-46.

Reyes pulled the trigger off her trey at the opening time 9:20 that reduced the cushion to four, 42-46.

Despite Reyes’ basket, the blueand-white squad, with chants from their home crowd, remained unruffled as they constructed an 11-0 run with Jaberto’s euro step layup at 8:06, capping it off to top the Dasmariñasbased squad, 44-57.

Reyes lifted the Animo spirit as she tackled two shots from the foul lane, 46-57. Following the freebies, Azarcon contributed five points through a shot from beyond the arc and two from the free throw, trimming the lead back to a single digit 49-57.

Retrieving their winning energy, RTU’s Chicky Faraon and Canales disposed two and four points respectively, 51-61.

As the endgame started, the Mandaluyong-based squad mentor Julian Bagares ripped a fresh five as DLSU-D fell in the NCRAA Finals, 53-65.

“Charged on experience (sic) na lang. Most of my players [ay] bago … Siguro ang iwo-workout pa namin ay ‘yung mental preparation nila, para sa pagdating sa mga ganu’ng games ay maging ready sila. Lalo na ngayong pagdating sa nationals,” said Reyes on surging from their weakness.

bout. Completing the men tankers’ medal tally, Christopher Aldequer clinched bronze medal in the 50-meter, 100-meter, and 200-meter breaststroke swims.

The female tankers, meanwhile, accumulated nine gold, nine silver, and one bronze medal, spearheaded

by Patriot Jessica Salazar’s three nationals tickets after finishing first in the 200-meter, 400-meter freestyle, and 200-meter backstroke categories.

Salazar also garnered silver and bronze as she notched the second and third place in the 100-meter backstroke and

50-meter freestyle matches, respectively The women’s swimming team executed a splashing coordination to lead the 200-meter medley and freestyle events and claim two nationals tickets.

Veteran Nicholai Jaafar contributed two gold medals in the 200-meter butterfly and 400-meter individual medley events. Succumbing to a defeat against the Quezon province’s power tanker, Jackelyn Calvadores, Jaafar gathered silver medals in the 50-meter and 100-meter butterfly, and 200-meter individual medley competition.

TANKERS from page 16 200-meter freestyle, 100-meter butterfly and freestyle, and 200-meter individual medley games, respectively.

Jan Vincent Llaguno placed second and third in the 400-meter individual medley and 50-meter breaststroke matches, respectively.

Adding two bronze and one silver, Kevin Pascual placed third in the 200-meter breaststroke and 400-meter freestyle events while he sat on the second spot in the 1500-meter freestyle.

Falling short in the breaststroke races, Angel Villanueva gained silver and bronze in the 200-meter and 50-meter

WITH A SMASH. Patriot Marthy Del Rosario bagged the gold medal for the men single-A division of the PRISAARegionals on February 6-8 at Batangas. Kathelyn Ann Bravo

Cagers exit NCRAA ‘23 stint DLSU-D knelt to RTU, 55-66

By Rose Kristine Amarillo The DLSU-D Patriots dropped the National Capital Region Athletic Association (NCRAA) finals opportunity after losing against the Rizal Technological University (RTU) Thunders, 55-66, at the RTU Gymnasium, Mandaluyong on February 11.

Endless hope Before suffering a loss against RTU, the green-and-white cagers succumbed to a defeat against the Blue Thunders, 56-67, at the RTU Gymnasium, Mandaluyong on February 4.

Hailed as the game’s ace player, Blue Thunder Cyrus Tabi edged other players as he earned 30 points while teammate Marquez Riva gleaned nine points.

Meanwhile, Egie Boy Mojica led DLSU-D with 18 points and Patriots Yancy Arvin Remulla and Jastine Kyle Amponin contributed nine and eight points, respectively.

Tabi started the first quarter enthusiastically as he delivered an early three-pointer, but DLSUD’s Mojica quickly answered with two successful free throw shots, 2-3. RTU widened their gap as Tabi and Riva fired a three-point and a two-point shot, respectively, 2-8.

Adding two points to DLSUD’s scoreboard, Mojica pushed a coast-to-coast shot, 4-8, but Blue Thunder Riva eagerly spawned a layup to bring the lead back to six points, 4-10.

Displaying stronger offenses, DLSU-D bounced back as Patriots Remulla and Paul Rait disclosed a three-point shot, jump shot, and a successful charity stripe that ended the first quarter with a 14-all verdict.

The Patriots maintained their momentum as John Cantimbuhan Jr. and Amponin opened the second period with consecutive layup that gave them the advantage, 18-14.

Thunder Riva marked a fast break shot, 18-16, but Amponin rebutted through his layup, 20-16.

Gaining the upperhand, Tabi unleashed two three-pointers, a layup, and a free throw shot consecutively that settled their score with a five-point gap, 20-25.

Closing the second period, Cantimbuhan released a layup that trimmed DLSU-D’s deficit to four points, 24-28.

The Thunders’ ward continued to sustain their momentum in the third quarter. Freezing green-andwhite team’s score, the Blue Thunders posted a nine-point lead through a three-point shot, and three fast break shots, 24-37.

Amplifying the thrill, the two teams alternately banked in points for their team, but the Blue Thunders facilitated their strong offense and defense carefully, leading with double digits, 17 points, 28-45.

Despite Patriot Mojica’s layup and two successful free throw shots and Patriot Rait’s under-the-rim shot, RTU shut DLSU-D’s attempt to snatch the advantage and finished the third quarter with a huge gap, 34-48.

Even with Patriot Remulla’s three well-calculated free throw shots, Blue Thunder Angelo Monghit’s three-pointer lengthened RTU’s lead, 37-51.

With a rising urge to succeed, the DLSU-D cagers cut their deficit to nine as they posted successful streaks but the RTU Blue Thunders proceeded to control the match, 4956.

Trying to turn the table, Patriot Exequiel de Vera successfully tapped in a three-pointer, 56-64, but Blue Thunders Jonathan Boholano and Tabi finalized the game by releasing three successful free throw shots, 56-67.

Drowning from consecutive losses, cagers head coach Rodel Mercardo expressed his insight about their loss, “Actually, panay bago kasi sila. Dalawa lang ‘yung veteran na natira. Ito lang din ‘yung unang taon ko as head coach.”

Tunay na medalya lahat ng nagnanais na magkakaroon ng magandang transcript of records ay walang intensyong matuto. Puwedeng masabing may tumatatak na aral sa mga

“

Hindi ka nagbayad ng libulibong piso para lang buksan ang student portal.. dahil inilaan mo ang tuition para sa pagkatuto.

“

“Summa Cum Laude Batch 2018”— isa ito sa mga salitang nais kong marinig noong hindi ko pa nararanasan ang buhay sa kolehiyo. Maaaring masyadong ambisyoso ang hangaring ‘to para sa tulad kong engineering student ngunit alam kong karamihan sa atin ay naghahangad na makapagtapos na may ganitong klaseng achievement.

Ngunit sa paglipas ng panahon, napatanuyan kong hindi madali ang pag-aaral sa Unibersidad at hindi medalya ang magpapakita kung magtatagumpay ka sa buhay.

Noong ako ay high school student pa lamang, babad ako sa pag-aaral dahil ninais kong makapasok sa listahan ng honor students. Hindi sa nagmamayabang ako, pero nasanay akong makakuha ng mataas na marka at mapasama sa top students. Pero sa mga unang linggo ko sa Unibersidad, tila nanibago ako sa aking sarili dahil nakakakuha ako ng mga mabababang marka na hindi ko inasahan.

Sa dalawang taong pinagdaanan ko sa kolehiyo, maraming nabuong ideya at inspirasyon sa isip ko bilang mag-aaral at isa na rito ang nabanggit ng isa kong propesor sa isang major subject namin. Tumatak sa isipan ko ang kanyang opinyon sa pagitan ng “estudyanteng may mataas na marka” at “estudyanteng may natutunan.”

Maaaring importante ang makakuha ng mataas na marka dahil nakakadagdag ito ng kumpiyansa sa sarili ngunit hindi naman ito ang magpapatunay kung matalino kang tao. Hindi ko naman sinasabing ‘wag niyo nang hangaring makakuha ng mataas na marka—hindi mo lang talagang kailangan maging magaling sa klase para mapatunayang matalino kang tao. Hindi ka nagbayad ng libu-libong piso para lang buksan ang student portal at i-check ang grades dahil inilaan mo ang tuition para sa pagkatuto.

Maaaring maraming naka-focus sa pagkuha ng matataas na grades kasi nakakataas ito ng self-esteem na nagiging dahilan upang makaligtaan ng ibang mag-aral para matuto at hindi para maging top student. Hindi ko sinasabing

estudyante tuwing naipapasa nila ang mga pagsusulit pero hindi ito patunay na mayroong nadagdag sa kanilang kaalaman mula sa pagre-review na iyon.

Halimbawa, nakabisado mo kaagad ang preamble ngunit hindi mo naman

alam kung ano ang nais iparating no’n. Mahalaga na maintindihan ito ng maigi para mabigyan ng magandang aplikasyon ito sa larangan ng pulitika o konstitusyon. Kung iisipin, itinuturo ang ilang konsepto sa math gaya ng algebra o kaya calculus upang mahasa ang critical thinking ng estudyante ngunit hindi nito tinatalakay kung ano ang tunay na silbi nito sa totoong buhay.

Dahil sa paghahangad na makakuha ng kuwatro sa student portal, umuusbong din ang mga estudyanteng nagpapagalingan sa klase.

Sila ‘yung mga taong maya’t maya kang tatanungin kung ilan ang nakuha mong marka sa mga pagsusulit. Sa totoo lang, isa akong estudyanteng mayroong competitive na personalidad ngunit natutunan kong ilagay ito sa tamang lugar. Binuo ang eskwelahan para payabungin ang kaaalaman ng mga estudyante at hindi para magsimula ng kompetisyon sa grades.

Sa totoo lang, maaaring matinding determinasyon para matuto sa isang bagay ang kinakailangan para magkaroon ng magandang record sa edukasyon. Tulad nga ni Bill

Gates na matagumpay sa larangan ng teknolohiya, kinilala siya bilang “Harvard’s most successful dropout” dahil hindi naging hadlang ang kawalan ng college degree upang maipamalas ang kakayahan at karunugan niya.

Isa sa rason kung bakit dumadaan sa proseso ng kolehiyo ay para makakuha ng accreditation o patunay sa kaalaman na taglay patungkol sa isang field.

Maaaring mas malaki ang pagkakataon ng mayroong diploma sa isang successful na karera, ngunit malaki rin ang oportunidad ng mga taong tutok sa kaalaman. *** Maaaring ang kuwartong puno ng medalya at tropeyo ang maging basehan sa kayamanan ng kaalaman subalit iba pa rin kung alam mo sa sarili mong nagagamit mo sa totoong buhay ang mga pinag-aaralan sa klase.

Hindi man ako aakyat ng stage sa araw ng graduation ko na mayroong medalya, alam ko sa sarili kong ginawa ko ang lahat ng makakaya ko upang makapagtapos ng may natutunan. Sabi nga sa science show na AHA!, “Lamang ang may alam.”

SPORTS

JANUARY - APRIL 2016 | PAGE 15

PRISAA BRIEFS

By Djoanna Nikole Javier

Jins clinch 7 medals The Cavite jins, represented by the Patriots, garnered one gold, five silver, and three bronze medals in the Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) – Regionals at the University of Batangas Gym on February 7.

DLSU-D’s Jhalyne Mae Juanillo finished first in the finweight class, assuring the only nationals bid for Cavite’s taekwondo. Meanwhile, green-and-white jins Mary Jane Alinsunurin and Kaana Mae Bautista finished second and third

in the featherweight and flyweight matches, respectively.

Seizing silver medals for Cavite’s Taekwondo men, DLSU-D’s Aries Abelardo, Mark Voltaire Basco, and Muhammad Sajawal Waheed sat on the second spot in the flyweight, bantamweight, and featherweight divisions, respectively. Meanwhile, in the lightweight and welterweight categories, green-and-white jins Liam Tuazon and Francis Faith Calimpong tallied two bronze each.

Woodpushers harvest 7 medals Despite not bringing home gold medals this year, the Patriot woodpushers secured a nationals ticket after John Eddieson Gerez qualified for board 5, finishing on second place. The Cavite chessers, mainly DLSU-D players, reaped six silver and a bronze medal in the PRISAA – Regionals at the University of Batangas Library, February 7.

In the men’s division, Patriots Gerez, John

Paul Españo, and Genten Lalas bagged silver medals as they placed second in Board 1, 2, and 3 matches.

Garnering three silver medals, lady chessers Christine Hernandez, Lindsay Yomel, and Paula Blanca Manalo settled on second spot in Board 1, 2, and 4 events. Contributing one bronze medal, DLSU-D woodpushers’ Maythan Pangan captured third place in the Board 3 match.

Shuttlers book 4 nat’ls ticket Dominating the regionals badminton showdown, the DLSU-D shuttlers bannered Cavite after stacking four nationals voucher and snagging two silver medals in the PRISAA – Regionals at the Batangas Badminton Center, Batangas City, February 7.

DLSU-D shuttler Jan Pullon and Patriot duo Joseph Closas and John Carlos dominated the men’s singles A and doubles event, respectively.

Clinching ladies singles A championship title, lady shuttler Jenny Lupangco reserved a

nationals ticket along with Patriots duo Gilly Chavez and Dana Enriquez, after outshining their opponents in the ladies doubles match.

Chipping in one silver medal, Janica Amposta finished second place in the ladies singles B category.

Meanwhile, DLSU-D shuttlers’ pair Danica Enriquez and John Michael Navarro gained one silver medal as they slipped at second spot in the mixed doubles division.

Paddlers reap 3 medals Prevailing over Laguna and Batangas paddlers in three events, the Cavite paddlers from DLSU-D collected two gold and one silver medal from the smashers of the PRISAA – Regionals at the University of Batangas, February 7.

Clinching the gold medal, Cavite representative Marthy Del Rosario stunned Laguna representative John Dexter Mechelina as he smashed his way to a championship

victory in men’s single A. In the men’s doubles event, DLSU-D Paddlers’ duo Renz Remigio and John Arthur Martizon contributed one silver medal after settling second, surrendering to the Batangas smashers.

DLSU-D Lady Paddlers Catherine Villafranca and Rosalyn Zapanta acquired another gold medal after winning on a close call against Laguna’s Pamela Jane Balbas and Rebecca Manaig.

However, the Cavite cagebelles pitched a three-point advantage after a fast break layup from Marie Limpangog, seizing a 20-17 lead that ceased the first canto. The Caviteñas protected their edge in the second canto as Jumawan banked two free throw shots to maintain a five-point lead, 24-19.

The black-and-white squad hauled another opportunity to a two-point slate after a foul-counted layup from Kristel Valdez that closed their deficit with 2826 tallies.

Caviteñas’ Mariel Campasa pitched a layup shot with an assist from Irene Torregosa before the shot clock expired to risk a two-point mark, 30-28. The green-and-white squad overrode their advantage to post a 13-0 run after a fast break and a two-point charity, 43-28.

SPIKERS from page 16 unleashed heavy spikes and blocks to push a head-to-head battle, 22-all.

However, Kasim’s two consecutive out-of-the-line spike put them on the brink, 22-24.

Composing their confidence after a timeout, the Cavite spikers shoved their way to a quick two consecutive points with the Batangas spikers’ team error and Kasim’s hit, 24-all deuce.

Amplifying the crowd, both teams racked up a point-after-point dispute. The Caviteños frizzled another three consecutive points through Angelo Benitez’s and Adam’s spikes, and an error from Batangas’ Edward Salagubang, 28-26, lifted their spirits in the succeeding sets.

Keeping their heads up in the fourth canto, the Caviteños stormed

Volleybelles snatch NCRAA crown from Lady Thunders Patriots thrash Lady Thunders, 3-1

By Queenee Manaog Rising from last year’s loss, the DLSU-D volleybelles reclaimed the championship title from the defending champions, Rizal Technological University (RTU) Lady Thunders, after routing them in two championship matches in the women’s volleyball tournament of the 23rd National Capital Region Athletic Association held at the Ugnayang La Salle, February 15.

Thee Lady Patriots outlasted the Lady Thunders in straight sets during the first finals game, 25-17, 25-19, and 25-18 before ending the tourney with the crown back in their hands as they finished the RTU squad in a 14-25, 25-16, 25-21, and 25-14 triumph.

Back to the throne Eager to regain the championship title, the greenand-white squad maintained their digits close with their opponents despite the Lady Thunders early lead, 4-6. Chasing their opponents’ score, captain Iumi Yongco smashed a spike before Myka Tiangco’s service ace, which marked the first deadlock in the first set of the championship game 2, 8-all.

Defending their throne, the RTU lady spikers showered spikes and service aces to their opposite court and stretched their lead to six, 8-14. Although the Lady Patriots gained points from the

Closing the second quarter, the Caviteñas pushed forward to lift a large margin as rookie Maryll Caberoy snatched the ball before passing it to Diane Reyes, who executed a finger roll layup with 3.2 seconds remaining, 45-31.

Unrestrainable collision With LPU–B down by double digits, the Rizal-based cagebelles patched their 15-point deficit as Cuyom banked a jump shot, followed by Angelica De Austria’s rainbow shot to clamor a 51-36 slate.

Returning the favor, Cavite import Dorio assaulted with her tough layup shot to increase their gap to 17, 53-36.

Posterizing an eight-point marker, Azarcon fired consecutive charities, hurling another three-point shot to secure

Batangas’ unstable defense through Adam, Kasim, and Bin’s dynamic trio as they tallied a 25-20 edge to even the game to two sets apiece.

With the momentum drifted to the Caviteños in the fifth canto, Mirano’s drop ball and Dexter Canilang’s blocks picked up a quick 5-0 lead for the Cavite squad.

Continuing to falter, the Batangas squad, unable to refute Adam and Bin’s roaring offense, allowed the Cavite squad to binge a five-point advantage, 13-8. Building up a late glint of drive, The Batangeños then splurged a 5-0 run that boosted the crowd, 13-13.

Stealing the chance to represent the CALABARZON region, Chavez’s service error and Kasim’s ousting off-the-block spike handed the

their advantage, 56-39. Shattering the Batangeñas, the Caviteñas burst a 14-0 run, dominantly finishing the third canto, 70-41.

As the fourth canto commenced, the Caviteñas took the first possession after Caberoy’s long three-pointer to push their gap to a 32 slate, 73-41.

With 8:07 minutes remaining, the black-and-white squad posted an 8-0 run, pinching a 76-48 rate.

Both teams exchanged blow-byblow attacks as Limpangog charged for a coast-to-coast layup shot, 80-52. Slumping to a 26-point downfall, Cuyom posterized an offensive rebound opportunity and a layup to prolong an 80-54 bust.

The Caviteñas sealed the game triumphantly after Dorio’s fast break layup, closing the game with 86-60 domination.

championship points to the Cavite team, 15-13.

A downfall before honor Feeling the pressure after dropping the national’s title last season, the Caviteños kicked off the regional tournament with an upsetting five-set sorrow against the Batangas spikers, 22-25, 25-20, 23-25, 25-23, and 13-15.

Concluding the elimination rounds, the Cavite-based squad bounced back from their opening game loss, posting a back-to-back triumph against the Rizal and Quezon spikers. The Caviteños secured a 25-16, 25-22, and 25-22 clean sweep against the Rizaleños while they maintained a 28-26, 24-26, 25-16, and 25-22 superiority against the Quezon spikers that booked their ticket to the finals.

blue-and-white errors, the Lady Thunders managed to keep their dominance, 11-16.

On the other hand, the Lady Patriots became vulnerable to the RTU spikers’s attacks and fell behind the match, 11-20. The Cavite-based squad committed consecutive errors, which paved way for the Lady Thunders to secure the first set, 1425.

Recovering from the defeat, the DLSU-D squad kicked off the second set with drops and service aces to lead the match with 6-3 tally. However, the Mandaluyongbased spikers quickly grabbed the upperhand as the Lady Patriots committed block errors, 7-9.

The green-and-white squad regained their composure as Yongco threw a spike followed by Cherry Nunag’s rock-hard block, before an RTU error, 10-9. Keeping the DLSU-D fire burning, Sigrid Abalos, together with Lara, hurled a service ace and spike respectively, lifting their advantage, 13-9.

Despite the Lady Thunders’ attempt to retaliate, the Patriots remained on top of the game through RTU’s service errors and outside hits, 17-13.

After acquiring points from the green-and-white lapses, the RTU squad succumbed to the Lady Patriots’ attacks and committed consecutive errors, handing the second set to their opponents, 25-16.

Series of deadlocks poured during the third canto as both teams

executed powerful play to outrun each other, 9-all. Patriot Eunice Castillo finally claimed the lead for DLSU-D after consecutively blocking a spike and securing a service ace, 11-9.

The Cavite-based squad became unstoppable and dragged the RTU spikers behind, 17-14.

Their supremacy intensified through Lara’s quick spikes and service aces, 20-16. The Lady Patriots drafted a 0-4 run that brought them a point away from gaining the set, 24-16.

However, the Lady Thunders came back with 0-5 run but committed a service error, surrendering the third set to the green-and-white squad, 25-21.

During the crucial fourth set, the Lady Patriots started powerless after series of errors and blue-and-white attacks, 4-6. Marking a deadlock, the green-and white spikers executed combination plays and built solid blocks against their opponents to tie the scores, 8-all.

The DLSU-D squad managed to acquire the lead after Yongco and Mara Galicia’s kills and service aces, respectively, 11-9. Dominating the match, the Lady Patriots showcased their prowess through drops, service aces, and blocks to draft a 6-2 run, 17-11.

Surrendering their crown, the defenseless Lady Thunders yielded to their opponents as the Patriots increased their advantage, 23-12. After RTU scored two points, Justine Natividad and Lara concluded the match with kills, recovering the crown for the Patriots, 25-21.

DLSU-D tracksters sweep 28 medals in reg’ls Patriots clinch overall champion title

By Djoanna Nikole Javier

CAGEBELLES from page 16

VOLUME 30 ISSUE 3

Spearheading the Cavite squad, the DLSU-D tracksters bagged 15 gold, 10 silver, and three bronze medals as they ruled the Private Schools Athletic Association – Regionals athletics competition at the DLSU-D Oval on February 14 and 15.

Goldmine Dominating the men’s athletics division, the Patriot tracksters garnered 10 gold medals. Patriot Alvin Valdenarro harvested gold medals after outlasting Batangas’ Jeffrey Buhay and Larry Arpon in the 100 and 200-meter sprint with 10.91 and 22.70 seconds finish, respectively.

Extending their might, Robert Francisco snagged two gold medals in the men’s 110-meter hurdles sprint and javelin throw categories.

Preserving his reign, Patriot Ralph Gesulgon overpowered the contenders in the men’s shot put and discuss throw categories with 14.48 and 35.94 meters records and acquired two gold medals in both events.

Prevailing over their Quezonbased competitors, DLSU-D men tracksters captured another three gold medals courtesy of Patriot Jodiel Mandawe, who topped the long jump, triple jump, and high jump events with 6.18, 12.88, and 1.80 meters records, respectively.

Meanwhile, DLSU-D tracksters Gesulgon, A. Valdenarro, together with Christian Valdenarro and Predirick Valenzuela, topped the 4 x 100-meter relay event after accomplishing a 43.67 seconds record.

Continuing their reign, the lady tracksters, on the other hand, gained five gold medals.

Contributing two gold medals in their tally, Jasmin Martinez wrapped up the 100 and 200-meter sprint with a fast 12.81 and 26.76 seconds records. Meanwhile, Felyn Dolloso led the Lady Patriots in the women’s long jump, triple jump, and high jump categories after concluding a 5.34, 12.40, and 1.39 meters records, respectively.

Completing the tally Contributing two silver medals, C. Valdenarro placed second in both men’s 400-meter sprint and 110-meter hurdles sprint. On

the other hand, Gesulgon chipped another silver medal in the high jump match. Meanwhile, Michael Lim, A. Valdenarro, C. Valdenarro, and Valenzuela clinched four more silver medals in the 4 x 400-meter relay.

For the female counterpart, Marimar Manzano grabbed silver medals after completing the 200 and 400-meter matches with a 26.78 and 1:01:45 seconds markers, while seizing a 1.36 meter for the high jump category. In the 300 and 5000-meter women’s division, Lady Patriot Aira Lim obtained two silver medals after concluding a 13:33.66 and 26:22.56 minutes finish and settle on the second rank in both events.

Lady tracksters Dolloso, Lim, Manzano, and Martinez seized silver medals after ending the 4 x 400-meter relay division with a 56.52 seconds mark.

On the other hand, Lim earned two bronze medals for DLSU-D after tallying a 2:25.09 and 5:04.41 markers in both men’s 800 and 1500-meter races, while Valenzuela contributed one bronze medal after finishing with a 39.22 meter record in the javelin throw event.

two consecutive service aces from the Patriots broke the ice between the squads, 20-18. After a series of alternate attacks and sturdy blocks, Yongco’s through-the-block barrage immediately grabbed the set, tallying a 25-21 triumph.

As the crowd cheered hysterically, both teams launched

the do-or-die set with sweaty palms as they alternated attacks, 3-all. But with Yongco’s relentless aces and Nunag’s extraordinary defense, the Caviteñas hurled eight successive points, 11-4.

Diminishing the Brahmans’ hopes, Tiangco quickly smashed their way to victory, 15-5.

VOLLEYBELLES from page 16 the Caviteñas in the third set, 12-20. Boosting their drive, the Patriots unleashed unstoppable spikes but their insufficient sleight paved way to their defeat, 21-25.

Buckling up their prowess in the fourth canto, the DLSU-D tabulated a stinging 11-all deadlock.

Both teams kept the digits close but

• PRISAA Briefs tracksters sweep 28 • DLSU-D medals in regl’s rise to second • Cagebelles spot in NCRAA ‘23 tourney JANUARY - APRIL 2016

facebook.com/HeraldoFilipino

twitter.com/HeraldoFilipino

officialheraldofilipino@gmail.com

heraldofilipino.com

VOLUME 30 ISSUE 3

Cavite demolishes Batangas 2-peat reign in reg’ls berth DLSU-D reclaims PRISAA nat’ls seat

By Ezekiel Coronacion

KEY GAME. Patriot Eddiemar Kasim avenges the Cavite team in the door-die finals of PRISAA volleyball men. Brandon Ocenar

Emerging from the ashes after a two-year loss, the DLSU-D volleybelles, representing the Cavite team, recovered the nationals ticket after upsetting University of Batangas (UB) Lady Brahmans in a nail-biting five-set match, 25-19, 22-25, 21-25, 25-21, 15-5, in the Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) – Regionals volleyball women showdown at the Arsenio H. Laurel Sports Arena, Lyceum of the Philippines University – Batangas on February 8.

Garnering four seats in the mythical six, Most Valuable Player Iumi Yongco settled as best server and best attacker alongside Myka Tiangco and Cherry Nunag, who secured the best setter and blocker awards, respectively.

Coach Raymund Ramirez expressed his enthusiasm on the team’s comeback victory, “Alam mo ‘yung saya na naramdaman mo [para] sa mga bata na [kahit] twice to beat [ang kalaban], [nagawa] naming mag-step up.”

Faded glory Embarking their journey in the tourney, the Patriot volleybelles nipped the Rizal-based team through diverse smashes and solid walls that paved way to a clean sweep, 25-16, 25-22, and 25-22.

Facing their long-time regionals archrival, the Lady Brahmans successfully snatched an early victory in the neck-and-neck second round of the competition, 25-22, 27-25, 13-25, 18-25, and 7-15.

The green-and-white squad finally reawakened after grabbing an easy game against the Lagunabased team in the semifinals round, tallying 25-11, 25-17, and 25-22 scores.

Defying the odds Despite the twice-to-beat advantage of the Brahmans, Patriots notched the first game through the volleybelles astonishing spikes and sturdy blocks, 17-25, 25-21, 25-19, 2125, 15-10.

Kicking off the final showdown, DLSU-D flaunted their prowess through Yongco’s aces and spikes and Nunag’s tenacious blocks combo that commanded the match’s gameplay, 16-10.

Batangas tried to assault the Caviteñas’ solid walls and took advantage of their blunders, 22-15. Because of out-of-range scores, Batangas left the Patriots nearly unscathed and later collapsed through the green-andwhite rugged offenses, 25-19.

Through back-to-back spikes and barrages, the Cavite and Batangas team kept their scores tight, 21-18. Despite their risky situation, Brahman Kimberly Jamilla sailed six consecutive points after igniting the team’s offense and defense, ceasing the Patriots’ momentum, 22-25.

Batangas players Cyren Montecer and Kimberly Jamilla joined forces to vigorously outrun see VOLLEYBELLES/page 15

Cavite spikers eye PRISAA - nat’ls crown Caviteños nip Batangeños, 3-2

By John Harold Dizon Surviving an edgy clash, the Cavite spikers, spearheaded by the DLSU-D Patriots, extended their dynasty in the Private Schools Athletics Association (PRISAA) – Regionals after enduring the Batangas spikers’ homecourt advantage in a jittering 23-25, 23-25, 28-26, 25-20, and 15-13 five-set victory at the Arsenio H. Laurel Sports Arena, Lyceum of the Philippines University – Batangas on February 8.

Demonstrating remarkable consistency throughout the tournament, DLSU-D veteran Aidam Adam bagged the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, while Bryan Castro and Jerome Mirano completed the mythical six selection.

Streaming with euphoria, MVP Adam shared the key to their success, “Kasi [mayroon kaming] communication.

‘Yon [ang] naiisip namin noong natatalo

na kami, sabi namin (Cavite Spikers) sa buong team tulong-tulong tayo para manalo … kahit lamang ‘yung kalaban, kakayanin namin.

Phenomenal revenge Displaying the green-and-white pride in the championship series, Castro and team captain Aldin Bin combined their blocking and running spikes that led the Caviteños to snatch the first canto, 25-23. On the other hand, the Batangas team fended off Cavite’s attacks using Nelson Olla’s towering blocking skills and notching a 22-25 conquest that evened the game to 1-set all.

Standing with dignity as defending regional’s champions, the Cavite squad eased up on their largest gap against the Batangas squad, tallying a 25-14 dominance in the third canto. Opposing the Cavite spikers’ continuous control, Batangas’ Nikko Ortega and Elmer

Mendoza clogged the Caviteños with their astonishing spikes and floor defense, 22-25, that extended the game to five sets.

Electrifying the crowd to exchange thrills, Mirano laid out excellent sets and drop balls to finally capture a 15-12 elation that pushed a deciding do-or-die game two of the championship series.

Astounding comeback Kicking off the final game of the first canto, the Batangas spikers showered lethal spikes against the Cavite spikers’ shaky defense, with Ortega leading the squad to grab an early 3-9 advantage for the Batangeños.

Tuning in their team harmony, the Caviteños repelled through sophomore Eddiemar Kasim’s and team captain Aldin Bin’s quick set spikes, putting the game to a 23-all deadlock. However, Gabriel Mahiya and E. Mendoza’s combination

Cavite cagebelles seize reg’ls crown Caviteñas bury Rizaleñas, 105-22

By Keith Alvin Martinez

Dominating the regional finals, the Cavite cagebelles thrashed the Rizal cagebelles, executing a 105-22 walkover in the Private School Athletic Association - Regionals (PRISAA) held at the Batangas City Sports Center on February 8.

“Start pa lang ng game [namin sa eliminations round], prinesyur na namin agad [ang LPU-Batangas] para mapagod agad ang mga [player nila] kasi wala silang mga reserbang player,” Coach Tito Reyes recalled their strategy to secure the nationals ticket for the Caviteñas.

After claiming the regionals’

title, Irah Joannah Almariego received the Most Valuable Player title in the final game against the Rizaleñas. The University of Perpetual Help Jonelta – GMA (UPHJ-GMA) import Almariego also sat in the mythical five along with teammates Agatha Azarcon, Shennen Mae Dorio, Josele Jumawan, and Rizal’s Geneva Mae Ortiz – Luis.

Vigorous outset Crossing the void before facing the Rizaleñas, the Cavite team led by the DLSU-D cagebelles launched a strong start and secured the finals slot after terminating Lyceum of the Philippines – Batangas (LPU-B) in

play and Adam’s error let the Batangasbased squad pull off the first set, 23-25.

As the second canto commenced, the green-and-white squad bombarded the Batangas squad with Kasim and Adam’s powerful off-the-block spikes, gaining a three-point lead that forced the Batangeños to call a timeout, 19-16.

Batangas’ Jomar Chavez showcased his swift services that hyped his team to slit four consecutive points, 19-20.

With hopes of tying the match to 1-all, the Cavite squad poured series of spikes that gave them a slim 23-22 advantage. Despite the chants in their home court, the Batangas squad snapped three consecutive points through John Mendoza’s spike and Adam and Bin’s outof-the-line spikes, 23-25.

Down by two sets, the Cavite-based squad remained in shape as they see SPIKERS/page 15

Patriot tankers splash 27 gold in PRISAA – Reg’ls

By Fernan Patrick Flores

the eliminations round on February 7, 86-60.

Down by a two-point tally in the first quarter, Caviteñas Mariel Campasa notched a perimeter shot to keep up against the Batangeñas with an 8-10 shortfall.

Prevailing over the Caviteñas, the black-and-white squad showcased a four-point advantage against the Caviteñas through a foul-counted layup, pinching a 10-14 mark.

Launching a four-point advantage, Batangas’ Cherry Cuyom enacted a rainbow shot, raising the green-and-white squad to a 13-17 mark. see CAGEBELLES/page 15

OVERKILL. DLSU-D volleybelle Cherry Nunag soars high against RTU blockers as the Lady Patriots grabbed the NCRAA ‘23 crown. Jose Mari Martinada

Returning to the regionals stage with double dominance, the DLSU-D tankers lifted the Caviteños spirit as they reigned with 27 gold, 18 silver, and eight bronze medals in the Private School Athletics Association (PRISAA) Regionals swimming tournament in Batangas City from February 6-7.

Bagging four gold and a silver medal, team skipper Adrian Villanueva splashed his superiority in the 50-meter, 100-meter, and 200-meter freestyle, and 100-meter butterfly race with a 26.94, 59.71, 2:15.99, and 1:09.43

time, respectively. In addition, Adrian Villanueva clinched a silver in the 50-meter butterfly event.

Sweeping the nationals tickets in the relay events, the men’s swimming team harvested all of the five gold medals in the 200-meter and 400-meter individual medley, and 200-meter, 400-meter, and 800-meter freestyle categories.

Contributing three gold medals, Gene Paguia topped the 100-meter and 200-meter backstroke, and 200-meter individual medley matches.

Securing a silver medal, Paguia propelled short in the 50-meter backstroke with a 0.18 seconds

deficiency against the first placer Renzo Baja from Batangas.

Dominating the breaststroke events, Reiner Herejias finished first in 50-meter and 100-meter swim. With a strong cardiovascular stamina, Patriot John Paul de Leoz captured additional gold medals in the 400-meter and 1500-meter freestyle categories.

Lacking enough speed for the shortdistance races, de Leoz harvested silver medals in the 50-meter and 200-meter freestyle events.

Kicking off his regionals journey, Patriot greenhorn Kyle Jaafar gathered one gold, two silver, and one bronze medal in the see PADDLERS/page 14