Heraldo Filipino Volume 36 Double Issue 1

SEPTEMBER 2021 - FEBRUARY 2022 | PAGE 1

VOLUME 36 DOUBLE ISSUE 1

THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY-DASMARIÑAS SEPTEMBER 2021 - FEBRUARY 2022

facebook.com/heraldofilipino

instagram.com/heraldofilipino

twitter.com/heraldofilipino

officialheraldofilipino@gmail.com

heraldofilipino.com

NEVER AGAIN. Activists from different mass organizations chanted “Never again to Martial Law” as they marched together in commemoration of the 36th Anniversary of EDSA revolution that ended the Marcos regime.

VOLUME 36 DOUBLE ISSUE 1

Photo by Miguel Luis Abenales

DLSU-D allows campus facility use for students for the first time in two years

by Patricia Recaña After two years of facility closure for academic purposes, DLSU-D is set to open its campus facilities for students’ use starting the second semester of academic year (AY) 2021-2022 on February 28.

In an interview with The HERALDO FILIPINO, Vice Chancellor for Academics and Research (VCAR) Dr. Marco Saez shared that the seven colleges, Office of Student Services (OSS), Office of the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Services (OAVCAS), and high school

department will manage the operations of identified facilities to function for the next semester.

When it comes to college facilities, students will be allowed to utilize department laboratories for academic use, as well as spaces that have been restricted since the nationwide lockdown in March 2020.

Facilities like computer rooms for the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology (CEAT), crime laboratory for College of Criminal Justice Education (CCJE), kitchen and bar room for College of Tourism and Hospitality Management (CTHM), communication, languages, and

Internally-funded scholarships adjusted for AY 2021-2022

psychology laboratories for College of Liberal Arts and Communication (CLAC), and science and math laboratories for College of Science and Computer Studies (CSCS) were cited open for use.

Meanwhile, classrooms under the College of Business Administration and Accountancy (CBAA) and College of Education (CoEd) may be reserved for examinations, thesis defense, and consultation matters.

See FACILITY USE | page 2

by Patricia Recaña

by Lance Mejico As the University faces financial challenges with the effects of the coronavirus disease (2019) pandemic, internally-funded scholars expressed their stance on the adjustments made to their scholarship grants for the academic year (AY) 2021-2022. From changes in student financial assistant grants (SFAG) for some grantees to suspension of academic scholarship, current and old scholars shared how these sudden measures affected them in different ways. percent for the current semester.

“I prioritized working because I have to save a very huge amount of money. I have to pay my tuition fee, since graduating na ako this year and I want to graduate already. [...] . One of my brothers had to stop from school to give way for me,” Mascardo shared

The specific guidelines may set a shorter period to allow an alternating set up that provide access to as many students and teachers as much as possible,” the general guidelines on facility use indicated.

Aside from opening college laboratories, the Aklatang Emilio Aguinaldo (AEA) library will also be open for students to be managed

USEC confirms failure of primary election for three consecutive years

Scholars ‘burdened’ after change on grants

For Circle of Student Assistants (CoSa) President Rod Mascardo, the reduction in his scholarship grant forced him to juggle work and studies so he could save money for his tuition fee.

From the 50 percent grant in academic year (AY) 2020-2021, Mascardo’s tuition fee discount was lowered to 25

On the other hand, open spaces like the Botanical Garden and DLSU-D Lake will be managed by CSCS “to accommodate field activity and sampling by faculty, undergraduate and graduate researchers, and organized activity/event by the University”.

“Maximum of 4 hours (nonrenewable) throughout the day for the same facility with a gap of one hour in between for cleaning/ disinfection (must be observed).

in an interview with The HERALDO FILIPINO. The CoSa President added that the 25 percent reduction in his tuition fee amplified the financial burdens brought by the pandemic, sharing that many student assistants See SCHOLARS | page 3

Despite extending the filing of candidacies to gain more applicants, the University Student Election Commission (USEC) declared the failure of the 2021 primary elections due to the lack of presidential candidates in the student polls – marking this as the third consecutive failure of primary elections.

USEC Chairperson Yosu commission may consider the filing from November 17 to 27, Retuta confirmed this in an lack of presidential aspirants from only one candidacy was filed even interview with The HERALDO each college a valid ground to after the given time frame.

FILIPINO in January 2022, declare failure of elections. For the “... But since the allotted as the commission failed to primary elections to push through, date in the calendar of activities announce and declare the election all seven colleges need to have an has been prolonged, it has come failure in December. official candidate to run for the up to the decision of failure. By As per Article III, Section presidential position. then, the commission agreed on 12 of the Implementing Rules However, despite the not continuing the elections after and Regulations (IRR) of the extension of the deadline for the giving it an extension and a careful 2021 primary elections, the certificate of candidacy (COC) jurisdiction,” Retuta noted.

See PRIMARY ELECTIONS | page 2

SPECIAL REPORT

FEATURES

LITERARY

SPORTS

PAG faces budget cuts page 7-8

Navigating through conversations page 15

The view from up here page 16

Athletes at the helm page 19

SEPTEMBER 2021 - FEBRUARY 2022 | PAGE 2

NEWS

VOLUME 36 DOUBLE ISSUE 1

OSS records low turnout of student vaccination drive NEWS BRIEFS

by Kimberly Joie Diamante

Office of the Student Services (OSS) recorded a low turnout of its student vaccination drive on November 30, as only 5 percent of the surveyed students showed up during the scheduled vaccination day.

In an interview with The HERALDO FILIPINO, OSS Dean Domingo Reblora Jr. explained the reasons behind the low vaccination turnout, saying that only few students responded to the survey released by the office.

“Maybe there was also a problem with the way we put up the questions, baka lang ang naging mentality nila ay para lang ‘to dun sa mga hindi pa vaccinated,” Reblora stated.

According to the OSS Dean, only 25 percent of the student community answered the vaccination poll released on October 20, with only 150 students signing up to avail the vaccine offer.

Among the 150 registrants, only 5 percent attended the one day vaccination schedule.

“I, myself and the OSS secretary Ms. Mellany Alvaran emailed one by one each of those students who said they are willing to be vaccinated,” said Reblora, ensuring that all who responded to the poll were informed about the inoculation schedule.

In the same survey, students were given two options for the vaccination drive, which include sponsored vaccines from the Dasmariñas local government unit (LGU) or the self-pay Moderna vaccine bought by the De La Salle Philippines (DLSP) that costs P350.00 per dose. However, since the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) prohibits the selling of vaccines among students, Reblora clarified that the University decided not to give out the Moderna vaccines to students, and rather use it as a booster shot for the faculty and staff.

During the vaccination day, students who availed the LGUsponsored vaccine received doses of Pfizer shots.Regardless of the student’s address, they were allowed to take the vaccine offer as long as their names were included in the list provided by the OSS. Meanwhile, given the low turnout of its vaccination poll, the office had also opened the free vaccine offer to one of the registered students’ parents if they have not yet been vaccinated. “We were even given another privilege, […] sabi ng doktor, ‘sir kapag po isa sa parents nila ay wala pang vaccine they can bring their parents, we will also give them Pfizer’,” Reblora shared.

Future vaccination plans As the turnout of college students for the vaccination day only reached 5

FACILITY USE from page 1 by the OAVAS. On the other hand, organizations under OSS such as the Council for Student Organization (CSO), Recognized Student Organizations (RSO), University Student Government (USG), and college student governments (CSGs) will also be permitted to maximize facilities in their offices, according to OSS Dean Domingo Reblora Jr. Regulations for facility use To ensure that safety standards will still be in place inside the campus, VCAR said that the University will be implementing the reservation system for facility usage.

In the general guidelines released to The HERALDO FILIPINO, the measure specified that booking and reservation for facilities are to be handled by the designated offices and colleges.

However, students may only avail reservation under official businesses such as utilization of laboratories, thesis consultations and defense, and examination taking.

To obtain a reservation, the student will contact the college secretary regarding the facility’s availability. Once the schedule is available, the secretary would also inform the student on the forms needed to be submitted and the capacity of the venue reserved.

After signing up and printing the confirmation notice, the student may enter the campus by presenting their vaccination card and the mentioned

TAKING THE SHOT. Students queue in the Ugnayang La Salle (ULS) for the University’s student vaccination program on November 30.

percent, the doctor-in-charge at ULS assured Reblora that they can still reschedule if they choose to do so.

With this, the OSS plans to release another vaccination survey that would require and convince students to answer, under the condition that some features of their personal student portals would be inaccessible should the survey

Photo by Miguel Luis Abenales

remain unanswered. As of press time, the OSS is yet to release the second wave of the vaccination poll.

“I hope that in our next survey, we’ll get a much bigger percentage of our population who would answer our survey. Seryosohin kasi may mga sagot na minsan nakakalito,” Reblora raised.

Under the CHED memorandum, only fully-vaccinated students will be allowed to enter the campus for approved onsite activities and/or limited face-face classes. In DLSU-D, the University will begin opening its campus facilities for student’s use starting the second semester of academic year (AY) 2021-2022 on February 28.

observed that more students were willing to run for electoral positions back then compared to the remote setup.

“We think the reason why most students decline the position or don’t have the willingness to run is because of the heavy workload and the (online) only setup,” he added.

inadequate number of applicants in the primary elections, the commission has not also received any applicants for political party accreditation for the first semester of AY 2021-2022. According to Retuta, even strong political parties like SINAG and SENTRO from previous AY did not file for reaccreditation, even though they were allowed to reapply this AY.

PRIMARY ELECTIONS from page 1 notice. Directional signages, session duration, and specific safety protocols should be observed by the student once they enter the University.

Violation of any procedure or guideline would result in both the student and professor a warning for the first offense, a suspension of other reservation made for 14 days for the second offense, and a suspension of reservations for the rest of the semester for the third offense.

Overall, students are required to be fully vaccinated, a dependent of an individual with medical insurance with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) coverage or own personal insurance, and must be able to present parental consent to be able to use campus facilities.

“The Administration reserves the right to cancel the reservation at any time when the situation, upon its assessment, will compromise the health and safety of all involved,” the guidelines added.

Learning Continuity Plan While campus facilities will be open for the second semester, the University has also finalized its learning continuity plan for the following AY – a chart designed to identify the mode of learning under any alert level system imposed by the national government. The plan was approved by the academic council on February 22, which is expected to be implemented by the AY 2022-2023.

As per the learning chart from the OVCAR, onsite supplemental

activities such as lectures, laboratory works, field work, practicum, consultations, and exams will be allowed under Alert Level One – the lowest quarantine classification in the country. Meanwhile, the allowance of onsite activities varies depending on the alert level imposed in the province.

This is in line with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Department of Health (DOH) Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2021 - 004, which addressed that face-to-face classes must remain optional, but within the discretion of the higher education institution (HEI).

“Onsite (whatever activity it may be) remains to be supplemental (i.e. only those who would like on top of the online set up), in great consideration of the individual preferences and comfort level of students and parents,” Saez said.

The joint memorandum also listed two documents to be accomplished for the approval of supplemental face-to-face classes, which are the self-assessment tool for university retrofitness and the affidavit of undertaking.

As of February 23, Saez shared that these documents were prepared and submitted to CHED by the OVCAR and the University Crisis Management Team, headed by Buildings and Facilities Maintenance Office (BFMO) Director Engr. Jose Rizaldy De Armas.

No official declaration While there were no candidacies filed after the extension, USEC has not officially declared an election failure – similar to what happened in the 2020 primary elections.

In academic year (AY) 20202021, the University Student Government (USG) High Court probed the commission on the alleged unconstitutionality of the 2021 General Elections, which violated the Article IV Section 6 of the USG Constitution that requires the primary election to be held before the general election.

When asked why there was no official declaration of election failure like in the previous AY, the USEC chairperson raised that the commission was delayed as the resolution was not signed due to an internal conflict.

“We need to have our advisor’s signature to formally announce the failure of the election but we didn’t have a formal or official adviser back then, hence the overdue announcement,” said USEC. With the third consecutive failure of primary elections, the chairperson also admitted that “the commission has been lacking a lot like its capacity to perform well and had a hard time in coping (with) the new normal setup”.

Talking about the state of elections, Retuta also expressed how prior elections were more successful than the student polls held amid the pandemic, as he

State of the general elections, political parties As the Omnibus Election Code mandates that the top two aspirants from the primary elections would be the final candidates for the presidential positions in the general elections, Retuta said it is now under the Senate’s hands if they will be allowed to hold the elections for executive positions this AY 2021-2022.

“The general elections will commence again like last year; students will answer the forms as a ballot. As per USEC, we will still announced (sic) it via school book and social media platforms […] It is upon the senate if they will grant us to continue the [general elections with] executive [positions] but probably [with only] two parties involved ... since there is (sic) no top two candidates.” Retuta further explained.

On the other hand, the USEC Chairperson shared that the general elections for collegiate positions will continue since only the executive positions rely on the results of primary elections.

Meanwhile, aside from the

USEC on student passivity As USEC sees the lack of willingness from students to run and participate in the elections as a prevailing challenge during the online setup, the commission plans to disseminate more information on candidacy filing and work with department heads in finding college representatives.

When asked for a more specific course of action on addressing student passivity, USEC has not issued any further response to clarifications raised by The HERALDO FILIPINO. Meanwhile, in hopes of ensuring a clean run for the upcoming general elections, the commission wishes to obtain support from the High Court in explaining the constitution to new students like freshmen. “... We are planning to disseminate the information for filing candidacy more and work with the department heads to further search for a successful candidate,” Retuta said.

NEWS BRIEFS

CMO’s Christmas program Enrollment turnout sees sparks help to retrenched 23.75% increase for first semester of AY 2021-2022 University employees

by Adriel Jerome Toledo

by Shekynah Angelene Samadan

DLSU-D recorded a 23.75% increase in enrollees from the second semester of academic year (AY) 2020-2021 to the first semester of AY 2021-2022, according to data from the University Registrar.

As part of the University’s Christmas initiatives, the Campus Ministry Office (CMO), in partnership with the Lasallian Community Development Center (LCDC), launched the “Light a Dream” program, a solidarity project that sought to assist relieved agency employees from DLSU-D by providing livelihood, educational, and other means of support.

In the enrollment data released to The HERALDO FILIPINO, the Office of Registrar confirmed 8,405 enrollees in undergraduate programs for the first semester of the current AY. Meanwhile, 1,492 students are currently enrolled in graduate programs, while the night college has logged 170 enrollees.

On the other hand, the number of students enrolled in the first semester of AY 2021-2022 is also higher than the total 8,668 enrollees of the first semester of AY 2020-2021 with a 16.14% difference. .

Comparing the statistics of the first semester of the current AY to the previous semester, the number of enrollees in the undergraduate programs has seen a 29.87% difference. On the other hand, the number of enrollees in the graduate programs decreased by 2.03% while night college enrollees recorded a 34.92% increase.

Due to the challenges brought by the pandemic, 53 out of 100 utility and ground workers from the University were released from duty, with many struggling to make ends meet for their family. With this, CMO and LCDC identified 7 main beneficiaries, which were given direct assistance on some of their most ‘pressing needs’ like livelihood, medical aid, and scholarship.

“This is a very important way of saying that our Christmas celebration can truly become meaningful only if we make sure that we have gestures of solidarity,” said Vice Chancellor for Mission and Formation Ritche Bongcaron as he shared the reasons behind the initiative.

As of December 17, the “Light a Dream” program was already able to reach out to two former employees affected by the pandemic.

SEPTEMBER 2021 - FEBRUARY 2022 | PAGE 3

NEWS

VOLUME 36 DOUBLE ISSUE 1

Students, parents push for issuance of school ID amid distance learning

by Kimberly Joie Diamante With the absence of school identification cards (IDs) for two consecutive academic years (AY), parents and students have called upon the University administration to issue official school IDs for freshmen and sophomores even amid the distance learning mode.

Since the start of the pandemic, the University has stopped releasing school IDs to new students, following the shift from the face-to-face learning setup to the online learning mode. However, both parents and students have expressed their concerns about the absence of student ID, with reasons ranging from transaction purposes to their identification as official Lasallian students.

Concerns from parents In an interview with The HERALDO FILIPINO, members of the Parents Organization of La Salle Cavite (POLCA) have raised their sentiments regarding the lack

of valid ID for students, citing their experiences when helping their children on government, bank, and other essential transactions.

“Yes sana po may school ID kasi may mga government/bank transactions po (na) acceptable din ang school ID. Like last time po, nag-apply kami nung national ID, ayaw tanggapin passport ng anak ko kasi expired na, aside from birth certificate gusto nila ng school ID pa eh wala kaming school ID,” a Lasallian parent raised.

Meanwhile, other parents also shared that students should have access to their IDs for their official identification as students, saying that it should be issued upon enrollment “to determine

who should have access to certain areas in (sic) the campus”.

“Dapat po may ID pa rin kasi same pa din po naman ang tuition na binabayaran ng parents. Para naman po may identification yung student,” a Lasallian parent expressed.

Student’s struggles On the other hand, freshmen and sophomores also expressed a similar plight with some parents, as they shared the effects of having no school ID since they got enrolled.

In an interview with The HERALDO FILIPINO, Electronics and Communication Engineering student, Al Rayyan Lerio (ECE11) shared his struggles on the absence of student ID when applying for licenses

and discounts, as this needs to be presented when availing these services.

Meanwhile, psychology student, Neil Endriga (BSY21) mentioned that although he understands the situation and the circumstances faced by the administration during the online setup, he still can’t help but feel dismayed at the lack of response on the school ID for freshmen and sophomores.

“I am a bit dismayed that the University still hasn’t given us an update regarding the ID situation.

I can’t help but think that I’m about to reach my junior year but still don’t have an ID,” Endriga shared.

Given the restrictions of the pandemic, architecture student Jason Cosino (ARC13) asked the administration to maximize alternative ways in issuing school ID to freshmen and sophomores, like requiring students to send a

1x1 photo for their ID picture.

This is similar to POLCA’s recommendation who suggested that the University registrar may require students to submit their scanned photo to the administration for their official ID photo. The association then recommended that the finished ID may be delivered to each student through a courier.

Plans on ID rollout Following the concerns from both parents and students, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academics and Research (AVCAR) Dr. Sonia Gementiza shared that photoshoot for school IDs for freshmen and sophomores is now underway.

Based on the schedule released to The HERALDO FILIPINO, students with student numbers starting in 2020 or

second year students will have their school ID picture taken on the second semester of the AY 2021-2022. Meanwhile, freshmen students or those with student numbers beginning in 2021 will be scheduled on the special term of the current AY. According to Gementiza, the Office of the University Registrar (OUR) will also release an announcement of the student’s scheduled picture taking per program at the Ayuntamiento building, but no specific date was given.

On the other hand, The HERALDO FILIPINO tried to reach out thrice to the AVCAR to clarify the needed requirements and distribution process for the ID rollout, but the chancellor has not responded as of press time.

Admin initiates voluntary waiving of salary benefits among employees

by Jacinth Banite Due to the financial limitations brought by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to University operations, DLSU-D has opened initiatives for voluntary waiving of salary benefits among school employees, implemented for the academic year (AY) 2021-2022.

Dubbed as a “Solidarity Act Waiver,” school administrators, faculty, and staff members are provided with options whether to waive portions of their honorarium, leave credits, bonuses, cash awards, and allowances. Pledges may vary depending on the personal preference of an employee, which they may course through an online form that provides the percentage choices for the voluntary waiving. These choices range from 20 up to 100 percent for each category.

Meanwhile, employees who are interested in giving voluntary contributions are entitled to choose the timeline of effectivity for the waiving of their benefits within the period of September 2021 to July 2022.

A short-term solution In an email interview with The HERALDO FILIPINO, DLSU-D Chancellor Br. Francisco “Sockie” Dela Rosa FSC called this a solidarity campaign, which for him is a short-term and immediate solution for the school’s financial health. As a short-term solution, the Chancellor said the voluntary

waiving is only expected to last until the end of the academic year (AY) 2021-2022.

“This act was intended to promote a spirit of solidarity among members of the academic community towards ensuring the financial health of the university.

It is a short-term, immediate, and one of the temporary solutions,” De La Rosa said.

But seeing how the employees responded to the initiative, the Chancellor shared that the campaign has become a projection of commitment more than an act to lessen the school’s expenditures.

Citing the active participation from the side of the employees, he mentioned that some administrators even waived 100 percent of their honoraria, which was the same for other faculty and staff members who waived 25 up to 100 percent of their salary benefits.

“Today, there is more to this act than just ensuring financial health. It has also become like an act and a commitment that reflects how much we care for each other and how much we value our

community,” the chancellor said.

office maintains the 50 percent tuition fee discount as the highest scholarship percentage for the current AY. Meanwhile, Ebron also added that there is a 14 percent increase in the number of grantees for AY 20212022, compared to the slots given in AY 2020-2021.

“Approximately 60% of the applicants were given financial assistance. [...] The current SFA grantees are not required to render/ complete any duty hours,” said Ebron as he noted the difference of scholarship duties this AY from previous semesters.

In a data released to The HERALDO FILIPINO, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Finance (AVF) Belinda Narvaez admitted that “there is a slight reduction in the financial assistance program” for AY 2021-

2022 compared to the previous AY. According to Narvaez, there has been a 6 percent decrease in the scholarship budget for scholarship financial assistance, which is 1.5 million lower than the allocated funds in AY 2020-2021.

School’s financial health While the solidarity act bears good intentions for the Lasallian community, De La Rosa clarified that its implementation does not entirely solve the current financial challenges of the University during the pandemic.

“It’s a call for solidarity, a voluntary act of generosity. It hopes to simply reduce some of the expenditures of the University. Financial stability is another matter that needs longterm planning and solution,” De La Rosa stated.

Talking further on the longterm and alternative plans of the University with regards to its financial stability, the Chancellor shared that the situation of the school’s financial health would require more sustainable planning, stating that “this will come soon.”

However, De La Rosa has not expounded any further details on the school’s sustainability plans as to how they are planning to secure the University’s financial status in the coming years.

WAVE OF HOPE. Presidential aspirant and Vice President Leni Robredo waved at her supporters in Dasmariñas City, Cavite during her visit in the province on November 25.

Photo by Miguel Luis Abenales

DLSU-D welcomes new appointments, offices as new AY begins

by Kimberly Joie Diamante

Following the streamlining and dissolution of offices in the previous academic year (AY), the University launched new appointments and offices at the beginning of AY 2021-2022.

Among these are the appointments of new University Chancellor Br. Francisco “Sockie” V. De La Rosa VI FSC, and Jose Ritche Bongcaron who now heads the newly established Office of the Vice Chancellor for Mission and Formation (OVCMF).

Office of the Chancellor In an interview with The HERALDO FILIPINO, De La Rosa shared that the establishment of the Office of the Chancellor can be seen as a devolution of the Chief Operating Officer (COO) function of the President. Although the new Chancellor considers the current AY a

transition year, he already has a vision of what will be the central focus of the office under his leadership: vitality and viability, streamlining, and shared mission. In line with their triple focus, the Chancellor intends to conduct an intensive

“It was saddening because having the chance to at least help my father in paying a discounted tuition is a big help especially in the time of the pandemic. And now that chance is gone. As much as how good we do academically, I am somehow left with no choice but to live with the current decision to suspend the academic scholarship,” Pablo shared in an interview.

Moreover, she also described previous academic scholarships as more “gracious” and “thoughtful” as it provided more chances to students who have no grade less than 3.25. Since AY 2020-2021, the University ranks all students based on their grade point average (GPA) and selects the Top 30 students who are qualified for the academic scholarship. Slots for

academic scholarships were also higher compared to pre-pandemic semesters, providing at least 40 slots for aspiring scholars.

When asked about the reason behind the sudden suspension of academic scholarship, Ebron only said that this was “due to financial limitations’’ of the University. The director, on the other hand, is hopeful to offer it again in AY 2022-2023.

“We are currently reviewing scholarship partnership agreements with external agencies to see if we can channel the funds we allocate for them to the scholarship programs that are completely overseen by the scholarship guidelines of the University. In that way, we can be sure that the recipients fall under our target profile,” Saez shared in an interview.

The vice chancellor added that they are currently reviewing possible changes on the scholarship guidelines, especially on the policy that prohibits scholars from enjoying 2 scholarship grants at the same time.

“We also realize that it is also time to transition from internal to relying more on externally funded scholarships. We have the advancement and external relations office to help us with that,” Saez added.

See NEW APPOINTMENTS | page 4

SCHOLARS from page 1 like him felt frustrated when their grants were reduced to 10 to 25 percent from the 50 to 100 percent scholarship offer in previous AYs. “I know students who immediately looked and applied for work to save money pambayad ng tuition fee. These students naman even before the pandemic happened ay financially challenged na talaga.

Dumagdag pa sa burden nila itong pandemic at pagbaba ng scholarship grants,” said Mascardo.

Scholarship allocations In an interview with The HERALDO FILIPINO, Center for Admissions and Scholarships (CAS) Director Romano Angelico Ebron clarified that there was no reduction in tuition fee percentage for SFAG in AY 2021-2022. The director noted that the

Suspension of academic scholarship While CAS maintains the 50 percent scholarship percentage for some student assistants, the office, on the other hand, suspended the academic scholarship for the second semester of AY 2021-2022.

For a three-time academic scholar Agatha Pablo, the sudden suspension of the scholarship felt “saddening” as the chance to acquire tuition fee discounts from academic performance is now temporarily gone.

Alternative solutions As both the administration and internally-funded scholars are forced to make ends meet during the pandemic, Vice Chancellor for Academics and Research (VCAR) Dr. Marco Saez said they are taking on the possibility of offering more externallyfunded scholarships next AY.

NEWS

SEPTEMBER 2021 - FEBRUARY 2022 | PAGE 4

VOLUME 36 DOUBLE ISSUE 1

DLSU-D records significant drops, leaps in various licensure tests in 2021

by Lance Mejico

BY THE NUMBERS. Comparison of DLSU-D’s performance on various licensure examinations from 2019 to 2021.

DLSU-D recorded significant drops and leaps from its performance in different licensure examinations in 2021 as compared to the school’s licensure rates in previous years. This came after the return of most board examinations last year, following its postponement in 2020 due to the threats of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Rise in licensure rates In terms of the notable jumps in licensure exams, the College of Business Administration and Accountancy (CBAA) achieved the highest rise through its performance in the 2021 Certified Public Accountant Licensure Exam (CPALE), receiving a 55.56 percent passing rate – a 26 percent leap from its 2019 rating of 29.27 percent.

In a statement released to The HERALDO FILIPINO, CBAA Dean Dr. Mary Felidora Amparao commended the University’s Accountancy Department in ensuring a “high-level board performance” despite the challenges brought by the pandemic. The HERALDO FILIPINO tried reaching out to the department thrice

to ask for a statement, but they have not responded as of press time.

Meanwhile, the University also recorded a slight jump in the Electronic Engineering Exams (ECE), rising one percent higher from 60.34 percent to 61.90 percent in the 2021 exams.

Hannah Mhei San Jose, a graduate from the College of Engineering and Architecture (CEAT) alumna also joined the list of topnotchers and landed at the 10th spot, after recording 87.70 percent in the licensure test.

In a separate engineering boards, another CEAT alumnus named Isaac Noah Enriquez emerged to be in the topnotcher’s list, securing the third spot in the Electronics

Technician (ECT) Examination.

“Overall, Engineering and Architecture performed well in various licensure examinations. The DLSU-D passing rates are higher than the national passing rates,” CEAT Dean Engr. Ma. Estrella Natalie Pineda shared when asked about the performance of CEAT students in licensure exams.

Pineda added that testimonial dinners were held to honor the board passers from the college, while incentives were given to licensure topnotchers.

Decline in school performance While there have been significant leaps in various licensure tests, DLSU-D, on the other hand, recorded big drops in other board examinations.

In the Architecture Licensure Exam (ALE), DLSU-D scored a 77.27 percent passing rate, 18 percent lower than its 95.45 percent rating in 2020.

However, this was still 15 percent higher than the national passing rate of 62.13 percent.

In the same interview, Pineda said CEAT is still figuring out the reasons behind the 18 percent decline in its ALE performance. For the meantime, the college dean said the department plans to give extra review classes and materials for retakers of the licensure test.

Meanwhile in the Criminologist Licensure Examination (CLE), the University recorded a 17 percent drop from 73.53 percent to 56.52 percent in the 2021 boards. However, compared to CLE’s national passing rate, the school still managed to rise above by 22 percent from the nationwide rating of 34.16 percent.

Despite the decline, College

Boquer FSC, EdD, who sat as the University Chancellor years before his appointment.

Aside from his duties and functions as the University Chancellor, De La Rosa was also appointed as the Officerin-Charge (OIC) of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administrative Services (OVCFAS). This came after former Vice Chancellor Deodoro Abiog II retired from his post.

However, as of February 8, De La Rosa said he is stepping down as the OIC of the office and will be looking for a replacement to fill in the position.

Office of the Vice Chancellor for Mission and Formation (OVCMF) While the Chancellor focuses more on the administrative operations of the University, the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Mission and Formation (OVCMF), on the other hand, centralizes its goal to strengthen the Lasallian identity of DLSU-D. According to newly appointed Vice Chancellor Jose Ritche Bongcaron, the office emphasizes that formation for mission is an essential component of a Lasallian institution to remain faithful to the ideals of its founder, St. John Baptiste De La Salle.

Units such as the Lasallian Mission Office (LMO), Campus

Ministry Office (CMO), Lasallian Community Development Center (LCDC), University Lasallian Family Office (ULFO), University Chaplain, and the Coordinator of the De La Salle Brothers Vocation are now under OVCMF. These functions will be responsible for the delivery of programs related to mission and formation, as well as the advancement of Lasallian vocations.

Meanwhile as the pandemic continues to push forward, Bongcaron shared that the office also needs to adapt to the current situation by making use of the available suitable platforms to live out their mission despite the circumstances of the remote setup.

Infographic by Alyanna Nicole Tiaga

of Criminal Justice Education (CCJE) Dean Alrien Dausan believes that the school’s performance in the 2021 CLE is still a good result amid the hurdles and limitations brought by the pandemic when it comes to exam preparations.

“I am proud of them even though they encountered different challenges that (affected) their momentum due to the cancellation of CLE last June, December 2020, and even July 2021, no face-toface review, availability of gadget and good internet connections and personal struggles in their family life,” said Dausan.

“We can only look forward to strengthening what we are offering as a division to the rest of the community not just to compliment what academics offers but to provide a clear roadmap towards living out our collective ministry as a Lasallian education institution,” said Bongcaron.

Programs for future examinees Following the results and performance of the University in various licensure tests, the college deans shared their respective plans in preparing DLSU-D graduates

for future board examinations.

For CEAT, Engr. Pineda said they will continue to perform interventions in helping examinees by facilitating practice exams and mentoring systems, and inviting practitionerlecturers who teach in review centers. The college is also eyeing to participate in public hearings sponsored by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) to acquire the latest Table of Specifications (TOS) for licensure exam.

Meanwhile, CCJE also plans to review its current curriculum for criminology students and use Safety Exam Browser (SEB) in their examinations to improve the school’s performance in the licensure test – an intervention they have been gradually implementing since the pandemic.

NEW APPOINTMENTS from page 3 leadership training program among administrative members throughout his appointment to create a “future proof” University.

“My office has a triple focus: A. Vitality and viability: How do we thrive in the future? B. Streamlining: How do we make correct and timely operational decisions? C. Shared Mission: How do we dream together and make our dream come through?,” De La Rosa further explained.

Meanwhile, when asked about his personal goals, the Chancellor hopes to preserve the fourteen-year legacy of DLSU-D President Br. Gus L.

Office reshuffling While the administration launched the two new offices for AY 2021-2022, some functions, on the other hand, have been reshuffled and restructured to other offices.

Offices under the now dissolved Office of the Vice

Chancellor for Mission, External Affairs, and Advancement (OVCMEAA) were transferred to other offices at the beginning of the current AY, including OVCMF. However, Bongcaron clarified that his office did not in any way replace OVCMEAA. For this AY, the Lasallian Mission Office was transferred to the OVCMF. Meanwhile, the University’s Marketing Communications Office (MCO) was moved to the Chancellor’s Office, while the Advancement and External Relations, formerly known as the University Advancement Office (UAO) was relocated to the Office of the President.

#Halalan2022 by the numbers

The 2022 national and local elections will be held on May 9, 2022. Official campaign period for national posts began on February 8, which will last until May 7.

There are 10 presidential aspirants and 9 vice presidential candidates seeking the highest positions in the May 2022 polls. Meanwhile, 64 aspirants are vying for 12 open seats in the Senate.

SEPTEMBER 2021 - FEBRUARY 2022 | PAGE 5

N E W S F E AT U R E

VOLUME 36 DOUBLE ISSUE 1

Their face sounds familiar

by Lance Mejico and Patricia Recaña

Revisiting stories of food concessionaire employees after two years

EMPTY SEATS. Chairs are lifted and tables remain unoccupied in the University Food Square (UFS) two years after its closure since the lockdown in March 2020.

From the staple food stalls inside the University to the resident diners outside, Lasallians have come to love and support these familiar sights not just for its bestsellers, but with the warm service of the Nanays, Ates, and Kuyas who were serving the community years before we came. However, as no one was exempt from suffering drawbacks and losses amid the pandemic, many employees from the University’s food concessionaires were left with no choice but to take the brunt of the crisis, following the closure of school food stalls as soon as year-long lockdowns were imposed in the country. Two years after their last grind on campus, The HERALDO FILIPINO talked to some of the most well-loved Ates from our most favorite staples, as they shared how they coped and crawled for survival, and how they are moving forward from the life they have used to live and love for many years.

The crawl for survival As the pandemic left businesses hanging on a cliff, many diners and canteens were forced to close down or suspend their operations, especially at the beginning of unprecedented lockdowns in March 2020. With the restrictions brought by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to food concessionaires inside the campus, one employee from Ovenmaid – a staple diner located at the University Food Square (UFS), shared how the closure of the school caused her to lose her primary source of income.

“Nung magsimula magsara ang school (noong) March 15, wala akong trabaho. Buti na lang nag-sideline ako sa kaibigan ko na umabot ng 10 days. Para may panggastos din ako, pinapadalhan din ako ng boss ko (ng) panggastos dahil na-stuck ako sa boarding house hanggang June (2020),” she expressed.

The Ovenmaid vendor, who asked The HERALDO FILIPINO not to be named, also mentioned how the pandemic made her move to her home province in Iloilo for seven months, but eventually decided to return to the city because of the struggles brought by the health crisis.

“Umuwi ako sa aming probinsiya (at) umabot ako ng 7 months bago nakabalik dahil nasa isip ko lang lagi eh lungkot at pagod na lang, pero dahil nga hirap din ang buhay sa probinsiya nagpasya akong bumalik,” she added.

Meanwhile, an employee from Mila’s Diner – another staple located at the University’s East Campus, shared a similar plight, citing her struggles after the unprecedented lockdowns in the country. For someone who has been working in the diner for 11 years, it was

difficult for Zyra Abelanio not to feel anxious during the pandemic because of her fear of two things: getting infected by the virus and losing her job at the height of the most challenging time in years.

“As an employee, syempre sobrang laki ng kawalan at dami din talagang nawalan ng work. For me naman it’s normal to feel anxious during this COVID-19 pandemic kasi hindi tayo makalabas, limited yung galaw natin,” the employee shared. As a mother of two children, the closure of Mila’s Diner in the campus was then a huge loss for Abelanio, who had to look for another job to finance the needs of her family.

However, despite losing her job in the diner, the former Mila’s employee has nothing but kind words to her previous bosses who provided them financial aid after the closure of food stalls inside the University.

“Thankful naman kami sa owner ng Mila’s Diner. Sila Sir Francis and Sir Ian, hindi naman po kami pinabayaan na empleyado nila, talagang binigyan kami ng financial support,” a grateful Alebanio responded.

In an interview with The HERALDO FILIPINO, General Services Office (GSO) Director Dr. Nathaniel Golla said there was no monetary support given to employees of closed-down food stalls from the University as they are under the management of third party providers like Ovenmaid and Mila’s Diner This means that the owners of food concessionaires are solely responsible for the aid, benefits, and welfare of their employees during the year-long closure of food stalls inside the campus.

But as the University sympathizes with the loss of many employees who have also been a huge part of the Lasallian community for years and decades, GSO tried aiding them with

healthcare support by helping them get vaccinated during its inoculation drive for the school’s staff, faculty, and administrative employees.

“We have the employees of our concessionaires, not only the concessionaires but also all third-party providers like security personnel and housekeepers, to have them vaccinated so we asked informally the city to accommodate them in the vaccination site,” Golla added.

Missing the grind While the pandemic has stripped off job security for many food stalls vendors like our Ates in Milas and Ovenmaid, it has also taken away those moments of normalcy for most of them, as the whole world moved to an entirely different setup when the pandemic hit. Aside from the effects of the crisis on their jobs, both employees shared how they miss the grind of pre-pandemic years when everything seemed just normal and familiar for many.

For Abelenaio who’s commonly known as Ate “Zy” in the campus, it was the daily routine of coming to work, talking to her resident customers, and seeing students that she misses the most in her 11-year stint as a food stall vendor in school. With the closure of food concessionaires for two years now, these are the moments she hopes to experience again when things get back to normal.

“Sobrang nakakamiss yung daily routine na pagpasok mo sa school since I’ve been working for Mila’s (for) 11 years na…

Nakakalungkot kasi mamimiss mo yung mga ginagawa mo, yung mga students and lahat talaga […] Talagang bahagi ng buhay ko

yung Mila’s Diner and school,” a sentimental Abelanio expressed.

The employee from Ovenmaid also shared a similar sentiment, who has been a familiar face for many students, teachers, and staff in the campus when onsite classes were still allowed.

“Ang pinakanamimiss ko sa school ay yung makita mga friends ko.

Di sa pagmamayabang, madami akong

Photo by Miguel Luis Abenales

coordinate again with the owners of campus food stalls if they would be willing to operate in the next academic year (AY) 2022-2023.

Initially, the office asked the food concessionaires to return to campus during the second year of the pandemic when community quarantine permitted operations for canteens and food services, but only one responded to their request. However, as the country experienced another surge of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in late December to January 2021, operations for food stalls inside the University were once again suspended.

“We allowed those who are willing to open up but unfortunately,

CLOSED DOORS. Rolling shutters of Ovenmaid continue to be covered as the University Food Square remains closed since the pandemic began.

friends na staff ng school, students, staff ng concessionaires, teachers, at guards. Namimiss kong ikutin ang mga offices, namimiss ko makipagtawanan sa kanila, namimiss ko lahat,” she said.

Plans on possible return When asked about the possible return of food concessionaires in the University, Golla said GSO will

only one signified consent to open their canteens. Ito yung Darlynn’s”. Due to the re-implementation of Alert Level 3 in Cavite by January, Darlynn’s then closed and opted not to operate.

For the meantime, Golla revealed that the University Food Square (UFS) will be converted to a meeting space for school employees for the second semester of the current AY. While they are hopeful that food

concessionaires will be able to fully return inside the campus under normal operations, the director noted that GSO will adjust based on conditions in the upcoming months. *** While most students and teachers struggled to make ends meet during the pandemic, it is the same for food concessionaire employees who were forced to let go of everything that’s familiar, and live through the situation as it happens. Just like what many of us experienced, moving forward has not become an option for our

Photo by Miguel Luis Abenales well-loved Ates in the campus: it was an excruciating reality that they had to bear for them to live and survive. As we remain hopeful that the odds will finally turn into their favor, it is also in our hopes that their decade-long service and commitment will not be taken for granted and for nothing when we finally get through the normal and familiar times.

SEPTEMBER 2021 - FEBRUARY 2022 | PAGE 6

N E W S F E AT U R E S

VOLUME 36 DOUBLE ISSUE 1

The Cost of Storytelling

by Adriel Jerome Toledo

Holding the line has been the mantra of many news organizations in the past couple of years with the crackdown on dissent ceaselessly haunting journalists. For Nobel Peace Prize recipient and Rappler CEO Maria Ressa, this keeps them from moving forward in courageously telling stories amid the uphill battle of protecting press freedom and safeguarding the truth. However, the cost of storytelling does not happen to Rappler and similar outlets alone – from regional media to community and campus publications, the cost of being a watchdog could bring so many losses that go beyond the count.

By the numbers In Reporters Without Borders (RSF) 2021 World Press Freedom Index, the Philippines ranks 138 out of 180 countries. The Philippines has seen a decline in ranking from 136 in 2020 as RSF attributed the rank based on redtagging, legal battles of Ressa and ABS-CBN franchise denial.

However, despite the slight drop from last year’s ranking, these numbers give us a picture of the same haunting reality: the country still has a long way to go in fighting for a free and safe press.

This reality is further exacerbated by the dangers weathered by many journalists on a day-to-day basis – from red-tagging, ban on coverage, harassment, and even deaths.

Leaving a spine-chilling blood trail, 22 reported journalists and media workers have been killed under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte as of December 8, 2021. Most of the slain workers come from regional and community outlets, proving that attacks on journalists have gone beyond the familiar news sites we see on television screens or online.

But even before the Duterte regime, the country has recorded a total of 190 journalist killings – a grim reminder that the nation has been suffering the brunt of storytelling for the longest time.

While many watchdogs continue to suffer in bloodshed, some journalists face costs that are also financially taxing,

especially coming from an industry that does not pay well.

By the figures, the legal battle of Ressa for fraud, cyber libel, and tax evasion accusations, costs of each case play around more than $8000 or approximately P410,000. Meanwhile, on the side of ordinary media workers, thousands have been displaced and retrenched amid the pandemic, following the shutdown of ABS-CBN in 2020 – the country’s biggest media giant and job provider. These numbers tell us that beyond the impact on journalism safety, there’s also a lot on the line in surviving the financial cost of telling stories.

Beyond the numbers With the rising numbers of impunity and quantifiable hurdles to journalists, there are costs that go beyond the numbers. As the attacks put journalism on thin ice, the chilling effect of these assaults comes in two different forms: to be silenced and to be distrusted.

Needless to say, media organizations and critical press that are not on the same page with the administration end up being silenced — harassment, death threats, and even network franchise denial are only a few examples.

However, unquantifiable costs also result in huge public distrust not only in some news organizations but in the media in general. In Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2021 10th Edition, results showed a decrease in some Filipinos

Graphic Art by Hannah Bercasio

trusting news in social media, slipping from 22% to 20% — which is below the global average of 44%.

Looking from a wider perspective, the accusation against the profession of journalism of being “biased” uncovered one of the chilling effects of where people distrust credible sources in the information ecosystem. When someone reports stories that do not satisfy the matters of the state or interests of those in power, there’s always the attempt to shut down journalists and label them as “bayaran” as if storytelling pays well in a country like the Philippines. Ressa, ABS-CBN, community press, campus publications, and many more have experienced this distrust one way or another, begging an important question to a government that claims to pay high regard to democracy: are we only willing to listen to stories that do not disturb our beliefs and values?

Leaving us wondering where they are coming from, several trolls or fake accounts have been mass-produced to deliberately deliver false or misleading information. As the highly-anticipated national election looms closer, the dynamics of campaigning have witnessed a shift as social media platforms have been utilized — but the tactics of misleading the public remain the same with the infestation of trolls before in 2016 national elections.

With false information disguised as facts, trolls working twice as hard as fact-checking journalists amplify the statefavored journalism. Journalists are expected to fulfill the role of being watchdogs, from uncovering political wrongdoings to holding the leaders accountable.

Denouncing the false actions of our leaders intently is one of the components of a democratic society and it challenges people in power to meet the responsibilities and obligations bestowed upon them.

What really counts The dark days are far from over as the odds continue to stack against journalists and the relentless attacks against dissent persist. But then again, this has always been the cost of bringing the truth to light –- to tirelessly hold the line and keep afloat amid all the hurdles.

This courage is seen in Ressa’s win of the Nobel Peace Prize in December 2021, becoming the first-ever Filipino to receive the award in history. Known for her persistent works in Rappler since 2012 – from exposing corruption controversies to fighting Duterte’s war on drugs campaign, the Filipina journalist continues to inspire more breed of writers to know what really counts amid all the attack— behind the glory and prestige: to keep the courage burning, or as they say it in Rappler, #CourageON. Maria Ressa is only one of the many journalists that hold the line today. More than skills and knowledge, the journey of storytelling requires tenacity and unyielding values— something that many professionals, student journalists, and aspiring storytellers continue to uphold. Despite discovering the existing threats in the field of journalism, choosing to continue is by far the greatest act of courage–and a costly one, too—but still a battle worth fighting for. *** Seeing brave journalists like Ressa and organizations that continue to hold the line amid the uphill battle of safeguarding the truth makes us, young breed of watchdogs, stay true to the very core of journalism: to uphold the truth through storytelling by all means. By holding the line and going against the current, courage proves that no cost can stop a journalist from their priceless pursuit of truth.

The Arrival Fallacy

Happiness is often associated with success and we see it as an endpoint of one’s journey or career. Success has also been a way to fill one’s void, as we think that we need to have a purpose in this world. The tear-jerking moments of victory fulfill our hearts as we recall the uphill climb, yet these spectacular moments are temporary. A false assumption exists that reaching our goals or success brings everlasting happiness. Harvard psychologist Tal Ben-Shahar calls this false belief, the “Arrival Fallacy.”

As the world moves at a fast pace and demands grow each day, we push ourselves to our limits for highly regarded accomplishments and meet the expectations of the world. The journey towards success is not one smooth sail with the sacrifices and tireless efforts we have made along the way. Once we reach the peak of success, it feels

like we are over the moon, but sometimes we get lost with the question: what comes after it?

Reaching the peak is a difficult quest but staying at the top is dreadful as we feel the immense pressure on our chest. When the world watches you intently at the peak of success, failing seems to be not in our options.

The steps we make along the journey must be free from errors or else we will disappoint everyone watching us.

No matter how much effort we exert in fulfilling our dreams, efforts are not commended as we live in a result-driven society.

Aside from the dreadful pressure that the world puts on our shoulders, sometimes we also get lost in finding a new purpose. Treating success as an endpoint, we are most likely to encounter this existential crisis. As the drive for success remains unextinguished, this could also lead us to the path of self-destruction.

We tend to overextend and sacrifice ourselves in different aspects for fleeting glory, not knowing when is the right time to take a break. In the modern world, time

seems to become more valuable than gold and resting is not on our priority lists. With the fear of not being able to catch up with the fast-paced world, we tend to disregard taking a break for a fresh breath of air. The neglect of our welfare could cost us one day, we may experience burnout in the future and never be able to bounce back again.

Neither dwell in defeat nor victory, always look for new opportunities to continuously learn and grow.

Taking a break does not necessarily equate to throwing the towel or walking away from the responsibilities bestowed upon us, but it enables us

to have a sound mind and shift our focus to significant matters we once neglected like physical health, mental health, or personal relationships.

Neither dwell in defeat nor victory, always look for new opportunities to continuously learn and grow.

As much as we want to stay at the peak of success, we might start again from the point where we started.

Stephen King once said, “Life is like a wheel. Sooner or later, it always comes around to where you started again.” Acknowledging defeat is also a form of victory as we can swallow our pride. Hitting rock bottom is a heart-breaking experience but success does not taste sweeter without it. Life will give us lemons whether we like it or not, but to dwell on failure or make it a learning opportunity is up to us.

There is a bigger picture in moments of success, it is not the destination but our journey of ups and downs. Looking back, we will eventually realize we are continuously growing in different aspects no matter how fast or slow the pace is.

SEPTEMBER 2021 - FEBRUARY 2022 | PAGE 7

SPECIAL REPORT

VOLUME 36 DOUBLE ISSUE 1

From top left to right: Tamonan of VPAPU, Mejico of The HERALDO FILIPINO, Corpuz of Teatro Lasalliana; From bottom left to right: Pedrosa of DLSU-D Chorale, Pacayra of LSFDC, Abug of LPB in an online interview via Zoom.

PAG faces budget, scholarship cuts for AY 2021-2022 Orgs shift to low cost projects after budget cut

by Lance Mejico As the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic brought unprecedented hurdles to the financial state of the University, both the school administration and scholars were trying to make ends meet since the academic year (AY) 2020-2021. However, as the new AY began, making ends meet didn’t seem to be a feasible alternative anymore for some scholars – especially for members of the Performing Arts Group (PAG) who faced drastic cuts in their budget and scholarship funds for AY 2021-2022. With more than half of its P100,000 allocated funds reduced for the current AY, The HERALDO FILIPINO takes a closer look on how this affected their overall operations as internally-funded student organizations, and how making ends meet proved to be much more difficult to bear for some PAG members.

Budget and scholarship cuts In an exclusive interview with The HERALDO FILIPINO, PAG officers revealed the sudden reduction when it comes to their yearly budget – from P100,000 in AY 2020-2021 to P35,000 per PAG organization for the current AY. PAG is composed of seven units, which includes the DLSU-D Chorale, DLSU-D Symphonic Band, La Salle Filipiniana Dance Company (LSFDC), Lasallian Pointes N’ Flexes (PNF), TEATRO Lasalliana, Lasallian Pop Band (LPB), and the Visual and Performing Arts Production Unit (VPAPU).

This means that every PAG organization was deducted by P65,000 from its previous budget – more than half of the P100,000 allocation that was offered in AY 2020-2021 and even during the pre-pandemic years.

Under this P35,000 budget are the funds they will be needing for events and expenses of the organizations per year, in which they are required to host at least three (3) projects per semester. Scholarship budget, on the other hand, does not come from this allocation.

Aside from the budget decrease, the highest scholarship grant offered to PAG members was also reduced to P15,000 from the P20,000 in the previous AY. In AY 2019-2020, the highest scholarship grant for each PAG member is P25,000.

This, however, depends on whether or not they will qualify within the scholarship criteria set by the Cultural Arts Office

(CAO), which includes their attitude, academics, attendance and performance in the organization.

When asked how these organizations learned about the budget reduction, PAG Chairman and VPAPU President Michaela ‘Mikee’ Tamonan said they were informed on the changes by CAO Coordinator Joel Refuerzo on September 11. According to Refuerzo, the school administration cannot sustain the P100,000 budget for each PAG unit for this AY. “Nauna kay dad, kay Sir Joel Refuerzo na nagpameeting siya sa amin regarding the budget so sinabi niya doon lahat, in-explain kung bakit kailangan namin mag-reduce, kailangan naming magbago ng budget for the scholarship, as well as for the events,” Tamonan shared.

Refuerzo confirmed this in a follow-up interview with The HERALDO FILIPINO, where he said that a resolution agreed upon by PAG officers had been passed, thus reducing their yearly funds to P35,000. Office of Student Services (OSS) Dean Domingo Reblora Jr. also affirmed these statements, saying that their office adopted the proposal submitted by the PAG officers.

“As part of the decision-making process, we evaluated the budget performance of each PAG last Academic Year when virtual events and activities started and in effect, lessen the expenses as compared to face-to-face setting where a lot of expenses were taken into consideration such as venue rentals, sounds and lights rentals, transportation, meals etc.

The SDAO Director and the OSS Dean were also consulted

about this matter,” the CAO Coordinator#Halalan2022 said.

Upon the officers’ consultation with Refuerzo,

In the latest data from COMELEC, there are over 65.7 million Filipino voters for the 2022 elections. Of this number, 20.4 million of registered voters come from the youth sector.

Tamonan shared that the reduction in the number of enrollees was one of the factors as to why the University cannot sustain its usual budget allocation for PAG organizations. Both Refuerzo and Reblora also cited

administration as to how much from its P100,000 budget can be reduced. This means that PAG officers, through its organization presidents, have taken it upon themselves on how they will decide the budget,

reasons for the budget reduction, mentioning how the University had around 16,000 enrollees in pre-pandemic years compared to more than P8,000 students in the current AY. In a data released to The HERALDO FILIPINO from the Office of the University Registrar (OUR), DLSU-D has actually recorded a 23.75 percent increase in its enrollment turnout for the first semester of AY 20212022, from 8,135 students in the second semester of AY 2020-2021 to the 10,067 students enrolled for the current semester. However, only 8,405 enrollees were recorded in undergraduate programs.

In separate interviews, CAO, OSS and the Office of Vice Chancellor for Academics and Research (OVCAR) also cited the difficulty in tuition fee payment collection as one of the reasons behind the budget and scholarship reduction for AY 2021-2022.

“Tuition fee collection has been challenging since the pandemic began. This resulted in the university cutting on all its expenses to survive,” VCAR Dr. Marco Saez said in an interview.

When it comes to how the P35,000 annual budget finalized, Tamonan noted that there by thewas numbers was no specified range of choices provided by the

considering the sole condition that the administration cannot sustain its previously allocated fund. Sitting through a series of meetings with each officer and Refuerzo, PAG officers then unanimously voted for the P35,000 allocation.

“Kapag tinaasan pa namin yung (budget for) scholarship, bababa pa lalo ‘yung P35,000, which is magiging very hard na sa amin yun,” said Tamonan as she explained how they came up with the 35,000 budget proposal.

Apart from considering scholarships, PAG officers have also taken account of the event expenses and honorarium given to their advisers. Since the start of the pandemic, PAG advisers were released from contract due to the University’s cost-cutting measures. It was only this AY that they were reinstated as advisers – not as official trainers with annual contracts, but only given with monthly honorarium.

In an interview, Reblora noted that trainers still See PAG SCHOLARS | page 8 receive the same amount of salary from pre-pandemic years, explaining that only official contracts are

Cavite remains to be the second vote-richest province in the country, carrying a total of 2,302,353 voters.

Records also show that Calabarzon continues to be the most vote-rich region with more than 9.1 million voters.

SEPTEMBER 2021 - FEBRUARY 2022 | PAGE 8

SPECIAL REPORT

VOLUME 36 DOUBLE ISSUE 1

PAG SCHOLARS from page 7 removed for the AY 2021-2022.

“It was the best advice to us that we should not reinstate yet the contract, but they will be informed that this is the salary or the stipend they will receive, are they amenable with that? And then we do it by PRF while the situation is still very fluid,” said the OSS Dean, who raised that contracts are delicate matters to venture given the current financial status of the University.

CAO Trust Fund Meanwhile, PAG officers also disclosed that unused budgets left from every AY directly proceeds to the trust fund of the CAO per year. According to them, the trust fund was commonly used for the salary of PAG advisers and as contingency funds of these student organizations. More so, PAG officers stated that they have no access to the financial report of the CAO Trust Fund even before the pandemic.

“Before pandemic, CAO Trust fund was created mainly for PAG Activities such as Workshops, Leadership Training, Team building Activities, Minor and Major Productions, Recruitment, PAG General Assemblies, Outreach Programs, Mid-year workshops, various competitions, seminars and other expenses relative to the mentioned activities like meals, rentals for venue, transportation, representations, sounds and lights, costumes, equipment, musical instruments, props etc,” Refuerzo clarified when asked about the specific purposes of the trust fund.

However, the officers said that the scholarship budget for PAG members now comes from the CAO Trust Fund, which in previous AY is normally credited to the funds of the Student Development and Activities Office (SDAO).

Refuerzo confirmed this in the interview who shared that “major adjustments on the allocation and utilization of the CAO Trust fund happened when we were informed that the Scholarship Grants of our PAG members will be credited to CAO TF instead of SDAO budget (General Funds).”

When asked about the reason behind this change, SDAO Director Eric Vargas admitted that this was also due to the financial limitations of the University during the pandemic.

“Undeniably, the University is not exempted from the negative effects of the pandemic on its financial status. The decline in enrollees, payment collection from students whose parents’ jobs are affected also by the pandemic, and other related reasons forced the University to find creative ways to keep its operations afloat despite the financial challenges,” Vargas raised.

While the SDAO director is hopeful that the

scholarship funds will be credited to their office in AY 2022-2023, Vargas said this still depends on DLSU-D’s financial situation by next AY. Impact on PAG members Given the smaller budget allocation to PAG groups this AY, PAG officers expressed how this has affected most of its members – with some having to leave the organization for either of the two reasons: they cannot enroll for the semester or they need to focus on juggling work and academics.

“Alam naman natin na hindi naman ganoon kalaki ‘yung nabababa sa tuition fee natin.

So ang hassle pa rin kasi ang laki pa rin yung binabayaran ng student. Kaya umabot sa point na hindi na nakakapag-enroll at nababawasan pa ang members,” DLSU-D Symphonic Band President Jane Perez stated as she shared that one of their members wasn’t able to enroll upon knowing the reduced scholarship grant.

This is the same case for some members of LPB and LSDFDC who had to quit the organization to focus on their responsibilities as working students.

Meanwhile, DLSU-D Chorale President Marla Pedrosa admitted how hard it was to inform their members on the status of scholarship grants, causing some losing motivation to continue working for the organization.

“Sobrang bigat nya ibaba (sa members) na shocks ang dami na nating iniisip, tapos bababa pa to. Kasi ito na lang yung isa pinakamalaking help na binibigay sa parents natin tapos bababa pa siya,” said Pedrosa.

Shift to low-cost projects Aside from the effects on its members, PAG officers also noted that they were left with no choice but to adjust the standards of their projects and productions to maximize the P35,000 budget for each organization.

For Teatro Lasalliana who usually holds major theater productions in pre-pandemic years, no big productions have been held since the spike of the pandemic following the restrictions brought by COVID-19. Even though the organization wants to host virtual shows, Teatro Lasalliana President Zachary Mace Corpuz said this would not be possible with PAG’s current yearly budget, considering that expenses for their normal productions cost at least P300,000 before the pandemic.

LPB, DLSU-D Symphonic Band, and PNF shared a similar plight on adjustments, saying that they are sometimes forced to lower the standards

of their projects to consider the organization’s tight budget.

“For instance, if we want to conduct concerts and other events, we can only get voluntary performers who would give their talents for free instead of hiring performers with talent fees. We also resort to asking our members or partnering with other orgs for music edit music and videos,” PNF President Jasmyn Jedd Reyes shared.

“Worst case scenario, minsan kahit gusto mo magkaroon ng magandang event para sa lahat ng students, sige dito na lang within the organization na lang namin para at least mas tipid,” Perez of Symphonic Band also expressed.

This same goes for the La Salle Filipiniana Dance Company (LFSDC) who decided to focus on internal programs for the first semester of AY 2021-2022 to save their funds. However, even internal programs are also affected by the small budget allocation, as the group’s Executive Vice President (EVP) for Internal Affairs Trishia Pacayra raised their experience on proposing a P5,000 budget for their General Assembly (GA) this semester. According to Pacayra, they had to remove portions of their event as their proposed funds were reduced to P3,000.

“Nakaka-frustrate lang na hindi mo maachieve yung initial plans mo kasi ito nga yung factor na kailangan mong i-consider yung budget na minimized na minimized na talaga,” the LFDC representative said.

“With regards kay Sir Joel […] ang tinitingnan niya talaga is yung budget. Since ganoon yung binibigay niyang response sa budget, kami na yung nag-iinterpret noon. More of maging creative pa in creating projects, programs. Or more of practicality talaga, kailangan gawin pang mas maliit yung event para mas maximize talaga to its best yung approved na budget,” Abug of LPB further clarified.

As organizations continue to rely on a limited budget, PAG officers recalled some instances where they had to shoulder the group’s expenses using their own pocket money to push through their plans. For instance in PNF, Reyes had to personally use her own money to purchase a licensed Zoom account for their dance classes due to the long process for budget approval.

On the other hand, LPB’s Abug mentioned that in their organization, a P50 membership fee is collected per semester to at least have contingency funds aside from its P35,000 yearly budget. In VPAPU, Tamonan stated that they had to think of more creative ways on how to hold their major events, such as depending mainly on sponsorships.

Hopes, appeals for next AY Given the current state of PAG budget and scholarships, PAG officers raised a common appeal of calling for transparency from the University regarding the fund allocation for PAG organizations.

“Sana meron maging two-way communication, yun nga yung transparency, and yung aid na need na kinakailangan kasi maraming naapektuhan hindi lang yung organization, pati yung mga members,” Pacayra of LFSDC stressed.

Pedrosa of DLSU-D Chorale then asked the administration if they can secure a copy of the financial report of the CAO Trust Fund, so they know where their funds are fully used.

Apart from transparency concerns, the officers also appealed to the administration if they can be allowed to utilize the campus for their rehearsals and productions next semester and allow them to maximize the organization’s instruments inside the University.

When asked if this would be possible, OSS Dean Reblora mentioned that his office and SDAO have already drafted guidelines to allow student organizations to maximize their facilities next semester under limited conditions.

“Very limited pa rin siya Lance (HF) eh, because we are at the mercy of IATF and GSO [...] tapos we also have to consider the existing offices that they have,” he added.

Encapsulating the appeals of PAG organizations on their current situation, the VPAPU President and PAG Chairman emphasized that demanding these appeals would not only be for their own good as officers, but more so for the welfare of its members.

“Kami kasi yung haharap at haharap sa mga members. So sana ganun (maging transparent) Matagal na siyang problem na ganito, yung transparency.

Alam yan ng COPS (Council of Presidents) at ng ibang members ng PAG kung gaano kami ka-eager for transparency on everything,” Tamonan said. *** While the pandemic continues to bring troubles for everyone, making ends meet seems to be the most viable option to survive. However, it remains undeniable how these adjustments made the unstable situation even more destabilizing and unbearable on the side of some students and scholars – with some having to run twice and more just to get half as far of their needs. Along with the hopes of better days for the school to better serve its students, it is within everyone’s hopes too that PAG members would someday regain the prestige and privileges they once had – for all the prestige they brought and continue to bring in the University for years and beyond.

#Halalan2022 by the numbers Son of former dictator and former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. remains to be the presidential frontrunner, according to the latest Pulse Asia Survey. In the survey conducted from January 19 to 24, 60 percent of the 2,400 respondents favored Marcos Jr., followed by Vice President Leni Robredo with 16 percent, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and Senator Manny Pacquiao with 8 percent each, and Senator Panfilo Lacson with 4 percent.

In the vice presidential race, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte topped the January Pulse Asia survey with 50 percent. She was followed by Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III with 29 percent, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan with 11 percent, Doctor Willie Ong with 5 percent, and House Deputy Speaker Lito Atienza with 1 percent.

OPINION

SEPTEMBER 2021 - FEBRUARY 2022 | PAGE 9

VOLUME 36 DOUBLE ISSUE 1

EDITORIAL

Show’s over: Politics is not a circus In a government surrounded by ridiculous political stunts and clownery governance, there is no room for politicians who would only exacerbate the circus.

As the 2022 election looms closer, we have witnessed a rise of popular personalities and influencers shifting to politics, echoing similar narratives and tactics to gain Filipino’s trust: to extend their service to a greater number of people, and to alleviate the lives of those in need. From national posts to local seats, many television and film stars, former matinee idols, public service program hosts, and even sports legends have steered away from the limelight, making a bold shift of career path – with questionable intentions and fuzzy direction of governance. Their reasons for running always boil down to a single hope of helping their countrymen—as if it’s the only prerequisite to become a leader, and for others, to govern a suffering nation.

In the Philippines, running for a political seat is almost open to anyone, if not, exclusive to the majority. As long as you are a natural-born Filipino who could read and write, the Constitution would allow you to seek a political post—regardless of your educational attainment, track record, and experience in governance. In a democratic country that aims to recognize equal rights and opportunities for each and every Filipino, the policy justifies its reason.

After all, one’s educational background does not reflect one’s capability to lead. In fact, we have seen former human rights lawyers, and even bar exam topnotchers, who were once advocates of the masses’ plight, but now enablers of murderers, and worse, became murderers themselves.

But on the flip side, this opens doors for self-serving personalities who act like saviors of the country, but are villains in reality. They try to frame people as protagonists of their true-tobe-good promises—only to find out that their narratives are only used as lid holes of a politician’s personal gain. These popular personalities turned political figures are everywhere: in the Senate, in Congress, and even in local seats. And as the 2022 polls draw near, the number of celebrities, influencers, and sports legends retiring from their field to try their shot in politics just gets bigger—which

This might beg the question as to why such candidates keep being elected, but the same also goes for other aspirants - where limited opportunities have widened the gap. More than meeting the requirements for filing a certificate of candidacy,

That, in addition to the prominent personality-based politics, only adds to the grim reality of every election within the Philippines: it’s not that we are short of qualified candidates, but rather, full of opportunists who would rather boost themselves. brings more clownery in an already alarming picture of a circus-like governance.

running for any position within the government requires money, and a lot of it, too. The resources

needed to organize and sustain an election campaign, build enough exposure to reach the masses, make connections—all these are unspoken prerequisites that no doubt gives candidates an edge during the campaign season. That, in addition to the prominent personalitybased politics, only adds to the grim reality of every election within the Philippines: it’s not that we are short of qualified candidates, but rather, full of opportunists who would rather boost themselves.

The power to elect officials has always been within the hands of the people. However, as time went by, we are led to believe that we have no choice but to settle for what’s available, may they be a form of lesser evil or a “tried-and-

Lean Jane Pantorilla, Editor in Chief Lance Angelo Mejico, Associate Editor Aprilean Octavo, Finance Coordinator Emmanuel Esmilla, Creative Coordinator Ahmad Mahusay, Office Supervisor Lance Angelo Mejico, In charge, News Adriel Jerome Toledo, In charge, Features Jacinth Banite, In charge, Literary Hedrick Alcantara, Sports Coordinator Alyanna Nicole Tiaga, Graphics and Layout Coordinator Alexandrea Rey, Art Coordinator Miguel Luis Abenales, In charge, Photo William Clarenz Constante, Video Coordinator Lance Angelo Mejico, In charge, Web SENIOR STAFF Kelsey Telo, Stephanie Ann Arreza, Patricia Ann Recaña, Rachelle Ann Calaustro, Christine Marie Romero, Shekynah Angelene Samadan, Maria Victoria Busine JUNIOR STAFF Charles Howard Gaa, Elaine Aznar, Justin Andrei Dabuet

Dr. May L. Mojica, Adviser The HERALDO FILIPINO has its editorial office at Room 120, 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.

choosing the next set of leaders that will determine the course of our history, we must remember: anyone can run for a government position, but not everyone has what it takes to govern. *** Politics should neither be a retirement plan for personalities who lost their fame nor a new venture for influencers and legends who have little to no experience in governance.

With the heightened brunt of the pandemic and challenged economic state, we do not need leaders who would ask for cuts and time out like they would in television and sports: we have enough of them in the current government slate, and gone are the days where we can stomach the same old show.

The End

The Official Student Publication of De La Salle UniversityDasmariñas Founded: June 1985 Member, College Editors Guild of the Philippines EDITORIAL BOARD AY 2021-2022

tested” personality whose heart always seemed to go out to the masses. Years of corruption had long eroded our trust with government-elected positions, and so we take our chances with popular individuals in hopes that they will continue their service after being elected to their post. But the pandemic alone has shown that it takes more than personality to lead our country - it takes experience, skill, and most of all, a solid grasp of responsibility and accountability that each position entails. We cannot simply elect such people and hope that they will do what they always have, or expect them to be able to craft laws, manage crises, and implement changes that will make a slightest dent to decades of systemic corruption. In

“The quarantine is supposed to end today.” *** That was a line from a journal entry I wrote two years ago, dated March 14. Back then, I started a quarantine log in hopes of detailing my experiences and observations during the pandemic, only for the folder to end up with 226 entries and counting. Like everyone else, I thought 2020 would mark the end of the world. But the end lasted for a year, then another year – and it just kept going. No end in sight. The entries just kept on growing.

To say that a lot happened in the past few years would be an understatement. As a student journalist, it was part of our duty and responsibilities to keep up with the latest happenings, to know the ins and outs of every current issue, and ultimately – to be there as we follow the truth wherever it leads. And the truth has taken us into many dark places. Unlike most people who are already living through history as it happens, we have to keep our eyes open even as the lights go out – both literally and figuratively speaking. Whether it’s the pandemic, the country’s biggest broadcasting network shutting down, more cases of red-tagging, impunity, and activist killings – there was no time to rest and process the gravity of the events unfolding.

We have a job to do, and so we report to duty. Come hell or high water.

As a student journalist, all detailed accounts of these events can be found in our website, our publication, and our social media feeds. As a student, I’ve written academic papers discussing the management of COVID-19 pandemic, proposals on how to deal with vaccine hesitancy, and many more requirements. As for myself, however, I only have my quarantine log entries. It hit me then that most of those entries didn’t just record a part of my life I

University Student Election Commission (USEC) confirmed another failure of primary elections, marking this as the third consecutive year to declare election failure. On top of that, USEC has not publicly declared the decision due to internal conflicts.

couldn’t show to anyone else – but rather, provided me a clear view of how everything came together and fell apart.

We live in dangerous times. As a matter of fact, we have reached the point where we can say that being involved can bring us more trouble than it’s worth – especially when we try to take part in bigger discussions, bigger causes, and movements that go

...there was no time to rest and process the gravity of the events unfolding. We have a job to do, and so we report to duty. Come hell or high water. beyond our means. As I write this, our country is about to have another bout of Presidential elections this May 2022 — an election that will determine whether or not we will survive the next six years.

Return to face-to-face classes remain uncertain as new COVID variants keep popping up one after another, while our economy continues to suffer due to the debilitating effects of the lockdown. People are dying, and politicians keep on lying.

This, on top of the pressure of making ends meet and keeping up with the status quo, is almost enough to deter anyone from pushing forward. And it did for me – time and time again. Resiliency and willpower had nothing on the harrowing onslaught of

events, and student journalists, persistent as they were, are only human.

“I did not sign up for this.”

This was written on May 5, 2020 — hours before ABS-CBN announced that they were going offline. A few months down the road, Anti-Terror Bill would be signed into law, multiple activists and journalists would be red-tagged and slain, supertyphoons would hit the country unlike anything it has ever seen before, and multiple cases of corruption would come into light – all waiting to be handed down justice. The odds would stack after one another and keep on stacking.

As I look back into those entries, there was no sense of nostalgia to be felt. Whether I was thrust upon it unwillingly, dragged into it, or whether purposely allowed myself to be caught in the middle of it — there is only the solemn acceptance of having stood in the eye of the storm, and everything that changed with it. Perhaps there’s something to be found in the seemingly thankless pursuit of the truth and how it affects the world around us – merit in being swept away by the storm, to stand against it, or be part of it.

Or perhaps there is no sense to be found at all.

Either way, however the destruction of the past few years had changed us, there is merit in persisting through our hardest times and living to tell the tale.

Although the price it demands is costly, there is merit in rising to the challenge, failing, and trying to get back up again — no matter how long it takes. Like a story that refuses to end, there is merit in outlasting our circumstances. Call it a petty act of stubbornness, an act of revolution, or a cry for help. But even as the world keeps ending, the artists will continue to create, and writers will continue to write.

With or without an end in sight.

Office of the Student Services (OSS) launched its student-vaccination drive on November 30 at the Ugnayang La Salle (ULS). This came after the inoculation initiatives for University employees, faculty, and staff.

OPINION

SEPTEMBER 2021 - FEBRUARY 2022 | PAGE 10

VOLUME 36 DOUBLE ISSUE 1

Why friendship cards couldn’t be used in politics “Uyy friends pa rin tayo kahit si *** sinusuporta—“ This is one of the lines we keep on hearing between friends who share conflicting views when talking about politics. Some would advise not to bring up politics and elections at dinner tables and steer away from political conversations in friendship circles to evade potential conflicts.

Meanwhile, others would use their friendship card in justifying their political stances, even if their definition of respect means enabling dynasties of thieves, families of liars, and clans of convicted officials from then up to now. One might say that friendships should be thicker than anything else like politics. But when you are in a country that has lived through six years of human rights atrocities and decades of systemic abuses, you would come to realize that everything is and must be political— and that does not exempt friendships.

Differences of political views are not as easy to accept and tolerate as others would claim. This is not in any way comparable to having different preferences on which coffee flavor tastes better, which Korean girl group performs best, and which detergent cleans our dirty laundry the most. If only what’s at stake here carries

the same shallow weight as such, then it is right to say that friends should accept and respect one’s personal preference. However, what we put on the line in political

there is no room for tolerance and acceptance for those who blatantly enable narratives of these power-grabbing politicians, including our friends who we deeply treasure matters bears a much larger implication— even bigger than your relationship as friends.

What some people fail to recognize and choose to ignore is the fact that one’s political views reflect who they are as a person. When you enable someone whose family has left a huge stack of debts while their people are suffering in poverty and pain, it tells a lot about the kind of moral ascendancy you hold as a human being. When you support a candidate who has histories of conviction, human rights violation, and moral turpitude, it shows how little you care about the struggles of people in streets and families who are still grieving the sudden loss of their children. Hence, there is no room for tolerance and acceptance for those who blatantly enable narratives of these power-grabbing politicians, including our friends who we deeply treasure.

Sharing years of experiences together is not a gate pass to tolerate problematic views, as this does not only mirror one’s political choice but also their values and morals as a person.

Respect in friendships is not hard to give when it’s earned and when it should be given. But if this comes at the expense of tolerating twisted beliefs on the worst and bloodiest days in history, as well as views that exacerbate sufferings of our people, it becomes an entirely different story.

While it might be right to say that losing friends with problematic political choices is acceptable, efforts to engage them must remain to exist. Sitting through rounds of dialogues in coffee sessions, justifiable confrontations in friendship circles, and sincere intention to engage someone could bring more desirable results than not doing anything at all. Friends who genuinely treasure one another would know when to listen and when to disagree. If there will be no room for tolerance of problematic beliefs, it doesn’t mean that there would be no doors for courageous conversations. Respect may not only come in the form of acceptance and tolerance; it may also be through having the courage to change one’s toxic belief and letting them understand that what they opt to ignore can bring dangers that even them would not be exempt to experience from—because that’s what friends are really for.

“Pulitika lang ‘yan.” Some of our friends would probably say. But just like a popular saying goes, “Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you.” And that’s exactly why even friendship cards could not be used in politics.

Embracing Mediocrity Have you ever been told that you weren’t good enough for one particular thing? Or that you were plain as paper? If not, well, grab a bite and let me tell you what it is to “feel” average, especially in a generation where everyone seemed to have everything figured out.

As far as childhood memories go, we all have that “I want to be [insert dream job or passion here] or the “when I grow up” moment as kids. It’s not unusual that we spend most of our early years wanting to find out what skill we’ll pick up along the way and hone it to perfection, until we’re finally old enough to go professional. But what most people don’t talk about is that only some people are able to do this, while the rest of us are left on the brainstorming process, confused on what we want to be later on.

Growing up, I’ve never been able to fully find out what I’m particularly good at. It made me believe that I acquired no particular skill set to begin with, which made it extremely hard for me. I didn’t know where I’d fit in at life. I see all my friends and schoolmates perform in talent shows like in music, dancing, arts, and other things like competing in athletic events while I’m the person standing in the audience, a bystander looking in. .

I had considered myself an average joe, with no

particular skill set to brag about, no innate talent — just the one guy standing on the side of the stage cosplaying as tree number two because he’s not capable enough to land the main acting roles in the play. This type of thinking, coupled by both sheer lack and sheer amount

Even for most people like me, it felt that it’s not really a matter of fitting in - but rather we fit in too well that we don’t really outshine everyone or even stand out just for a little bit. of experiences I had in various things, led me to a point where I never had a proper set of goals to set my eyes with. My parents never had the opportunity to support me hundred percent in what I did or what I wanted to

do, not that I knew what it was supposed to be anyway.

They could never be there for me all the time due to them being Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and all, prioritizing the basic needs for our family’s survival. Since then, we’re left with our extended family to take care of us, and they were not

Another thing at fault is the current academic framework adapted by the schools here in the Philippines, which insists compliance more than it sparks the thirst for learning. Schools tell you to go try this and that, make you study everything all at once, until the child loses sight of

able to give that kind of support either.

When it comes to talent and skills, a lot of it is influenced by one’s environment. Another crucial factor also lies in the support we get from our parents, may it be financial, morale, or even something as simple as their blessing. Parents are typically the ones to help you or guide you on what you want to be later on in life, whether you want to be a doctor, a musician, computer enthusiast, or anything that intrigues you to want to pursue that field because that’s what parents should be doing. They should be guiding their child to achieve what the child wants and support them no matter what.

It’s not the child’s fault that he lacks a certain amount of passion to do the things that he wants to try or be it the opposite, the urge to try all things at once. No, it is not because the child lacks conviction to firmly grasp whatever skills he can and just master it, but because he needs a guide to help him realize what he can do in life. A pair of eyes to observe him and the things he does so that he knows it suits his preference in doing so.

his dreams because he is too immersed in all the things that “society” wants them to be, making his already vague dream more difficult to grasp.

Situations like these are more often found in our generation rather than previous ones, but not the same can be said for others. Even for most people like me, it felt that it’s not really a matter of fitting in - but rather we fit in too well that we don’t really outshine everyone or even stand out just for a little bit. It’s not that bad to learn all those different kinds of skills and not be excellent at one thing, and yet still be good at all those things.

You can’t simply dictate the one thing you want to be great at, and that’s okay. As the saying goes, a jack of trades is a master of none, but will always be better than a master of one. You’ll find use for yourself one day. We can’t rush ourselves to be masters at certain things as it takes time, so go on and learn what you can. After all, being average might be your one way ticket to finding who you really are.

Last Chapter The graduation date has arrived and I can see the horizon. Soon we will get our diplomas, march to the wide stages of ULS, and step on to the real world with our own feet. To be honest, a lot of questions have been running through my head ever since: Is it going to be amazing? Will the 4 years we spent on college with our degree be useful? Will it be worth it?

Well, even I myself don’t know the answer.

Two years into the pandemic, I cannot help but to be reminiscent and sentimental of the normal and familiar times. I really miss those days where we needed to rush to morning classes, doing live productions, skipping classes at times, eating with classmates, and exploring life as a twenty-something student. These are the moments that the pandemic has taken away from us— days that we will never be able to relive and experience again.

As graduation nears, senior students are now for sure defending their thesis papers, rushing their

assessments, fixing their resumes and portfolios, and finding companies for internships as the last push.

As the graduation season makes us more and more anxious than we already are, many seniors like me are certainly contemplating their decisions—giving ourselves the benefit of the doubt that we can make it until the end.

As for myself, I entered college life with both short and long term goals. These goals are the things that I needed to do after college or in the future as they say. But when the pandemic hit, everything that I envisioned in my freshman year completely shattered. My plans on exploring places in Manila, going to every museum, visiting every media company just to get a glimpse of their daily routine, participating in media conferences but not in remote setup—all of them are gone.

This remote setup of classes made me reflect on what I will do after all this shenanigans. As the state of the journalism field becomes more grim than it already was

Center for Admissions and Scholarship (CAS) suspended the academic scholarship for the second semester of AY 2021-2022 due to financial limitations brought by the pandemic.

before the pandemic, one thing I learned is to always have a room for backup plans. Whenever one plan fails, I must always have a fallback.

Like many college seniors graduating in the face of a pandemic experience, the uncertainty brought by the crisis

The hardest thing for me was seeing them scoring high grades when I’m always in the middle

and graduation made me feel lost to the point that I don’t know what to do next after university. I feel like all of my friends are doing well in our classes, when I get stuck on the railroads of doing bare minimum. The hardest thing for

me was seeing them scoring high grades when I’m always in the middle. I know it’s not a race where I have to rise through the top, but I can’t help to think that I’m always at last. Even though I am part of the student publication that’s supposed to make me feel at an advantage, anxiety and pressure still kicks in—thinking that it will be difficult for me to make my dreams happen in the industry. As of now, looking for internship sites was tougher than I expected it to be—making me more scared and anxious of rejections and thinking that I am not enough.

Being anxious about graduation is completely normal as we don’t know what lies ahead when university life ends. After all, graduation is one of the best experiences our future holds. From being pressured to transition to online classes to getting a job just to pay off a mountain of student debt, it’s not a surprise wherein these changes will also be overwhelming. The last chapter is nearing, but an entirely different and scary one is yet to unfold.

DLSU-D allows campus facility use for academic purposes starting the second semester of AY 2021-2022, two years after its closure since the imposition of lockdowns in March 2020.

OPINION

SEPTEMBER 2021 - FEBRUARY 2022 | PAGE 11

VOLUME 36 DOUBLE ISSUE 1

Pandemic and Existential Crisis Have you ever experienced a certain time when you look at yourself in the mirror, all you see is a body which you can’t recognize as yours and it is just like an empty shell staring at you? The feeling of being dissociated from your own physical existence and the actual space you live in? The questions you ask yourself if this body is really yours, or is this what you really are.

This pandemic has brought us multiple challenges in life including healthcare, education, financial, physical and especially mental. It is a whole package of disasters that affects our life in a holistic manner. First, it locked us up in our houses, then made us overthink what to do next, fed us with so much and overwhelming uncertainties, and alienated us from the usual things which make up our personality. This crisis pushed every one of us to leave everything behind in order for us to properly comply with the existing healthcare protocols on combating this pandemic. It made a clear distinction on how we define and perceive ourselves before and during this pandemic. As a result, many people, including me, had a difficult time grasping this reality— a reality that prohibits each one of us to do the things we usually do. It makes us feel like we are living in a different body or in a different world, which actually makes sense considering everything around us.

It was not just a confusion between the spaces we live in but also our own view and definition of ourselves.

Normally, people define themselves with the things that they usually do, their status, or basically what makes them happy. These things let us feel that we belong in a specific world and we live on it. However, since pandemic alienated us from those things, the systematic definition of our identity collapses and this is characterized as what they called “existential crisis.” In a book Existential Courage written by Arriane Serrafico, she defined existential crisis as “at a turning point— one that can either destroy your or deepen you.” She added that it is also “a point at which change must come.”

We experience this kind of internal crisis as we tread into unknown and uncertain areas of our lives without the usual things that compose us. It could result in the experience in which our own identity is getting blurry for us and in worstcase scenarios, mental health problems.

Depersonalization-derealisationdisorder (DPDR,DPD) is a mental disorder in which a person has recurrent feelings of being disconnected or detached to one’s self. Individuals with the said disorder also report feelings that they are an outside

observer of their own thoughts or body. A study also found that the lockdowns caused by the pandemic heightened the stress and anxiety of every individual from being disrupted from their usual way of life which caused the increased rate of mental health problems including the DPDR. However it is still a fact that access to mental healthcare is still an issue for this country. This prevents many people from being diagnosed and getting the proper and right treatment.

Expressing yourself is a validation that you are still there and you are living in the moment.

I myself have also experienced these kinds of feelings during the first wave of the pandemic last year 2020. Whenever I have time to contemplate about many things I usually question everything, even the things that I actually experience. I tend to ask questions if this is how I really feel at this specific moment or is this how I should react, or is this what I should think. It felt like I was in a simulation in which I am the character and I am also the one who controls the character.

Whenever I look at myself, there are some moments that I wonder if this is what I really looked like all this time, and it seems like I do not know the person I am looking at.

Sometimes I stare at my body parts and I don’t feel like I am the one who’s responsible for its movement. It feels like my body is an empty shell and my mind is somewhere, observing it and having a hard time recognizing it.

The repetitive routines as I am also locked down inside our house heightened my feeling of being in a simulation. A day for me is something determined right after I open my eyes when I wake up until I close it again when it is time to sleep. I find it very difficult to differentiate myself from every individual because I lack the definition itself – the things, routine and hobbies I usually do before the pandemic. My systematic life based on my will and happiness collapsed and transformed into a systematic, limited, and repetitive cycle of routine inside our house. To describe it in a very casual

manner, I felt like a robot and I am also the one who watches it move, controls it, and at the same time doesn’t know it.

The whole experience made me reflect more about myself. As defined by Serrafico, this is a turning point, which can either destroy or deepen us. I have these thoughts that maybe it stems from me, being a Philosophy student which requires a great amount of selfawareness and stuff like these. I read books that could help me understand this existential crisis within me until to the point that I already questioned the truth values of these.

It felt like nothing was real, and I’m still in a faraway land watching everything as they move on their own. I even doubted the whole experience and convinced myself that maybe I was just making all of these. There’s also a time where I cannot process everything and nothing comes to mind. I had to shut myself down for a moment like how every computer rebooted when they were lagging.

This was also the time that ironically, I felt that I understood myself more. Whenever I recover from the feeling of being dissociated and detached, these were the moments where I realize how much I cling to the material version of me. Like I am nothing without those things I usually do and I am just living for those moments. Realizing this felt so depressing given the fact that we can’t go back to those times yet, or maybe forever. I perceived myself as a different person from what I was before the pandemic, which is a person who has yet found his purpose in this setup. My realization doesn’t stop on understanding what is happening within me, but it made me so scared as it could be an early symptom of mental illness, like the DPDR. However, I never wanted to self-diagnose and I want to leave it to the experts, but given the situation we are in, access to mental health is still difficult and thus impossible for me at that time.

This pandemic has brought us this crisis that I will never attempt to romanticize even though it pushed every one of us to have a great amount of self-awareness and understanding. Many people have died and suffer from this including people who fought battles within themselves.

Being detached from this reality is still a privilege thing as the majority of us were pushed right away to accept it.

They have no time to think about these things as they are much occupied by their personal needs. However, we still have our individual battles, and everything we’re going through are all valid.

Recovering from this experience is something I unexpectedly did and I was never aware that I slowly processed it, however I knew from where I started until now where I can fully grasp the reality that surrounds me. First, I attempted to try the things I usually did before the pandemic which can also be done inside our house. It was a difficult process as the tendency to compare won’t leave me, nevertheless it helped me realize that I can still do things. I tried my best to let my emotions flow since generally I am having a difficult time admitting whenever I feel weak or losing. Expressing yourself is a validation that you are still there and you are living in the moment. It also helped me combat the feeling of being numb and getting fully sucked up into the void.

Acceptance is the most vital part of this process.

Accepting the fact that our pre-pandemic and pandemic identity is different and incomparable from each other. We hold ourselves to standards that are not attainable during this crisis. We cling so much into an ideal version of ourselves that is just possible on the times that we can go outside, do everything we want and be with our own circles. Overcoming comes right after acceptance. This was the time that I realized that I’m still here, grounded and still living despite the great amount of uncertainties. Living in the moment requires the will, which can be channelled first through realising it.

Staying grounded is the result of acceptance and overcoming the hard fought battles after our perception of ourselves collapsed. It is something that always reminds me that I do not have the control over what is coming for me, but I have the autonomy to live how I want. I learned to give up on things, and just plainly accept that this already happened, and going back is quite impossible considering the worsening situation of our country. Nevertheless I still kept on looking forward even if it is sometimes too dark and blurry for me.

“One must imagine Sisyphus happy”, a famous quote from Albert Camus, a famous existential philosopher. This was derived from the story, Myth of Sisyphus where Sisyphus was happy not despite his fate of rolling a gigantic boulder uphill that might kill him, but by recognizing and embracing this fate.

We never wished to be in this kind of situation, we know that we could be in a better place if this pandemic was handled in a much better way. However, we should accept the struggles brought by it and live through it in order for us to fully embrace the reality we never chose we still need

Marunong ako mag-drawing pero ayoko maging architect Noong bata pa lang ako, madalas ko nang naririnig sa mga nakatatanda na kapag magaling ka sa pagguhit, tiyak na magiging arkitekto ka paglaki.

Para sa kanila, katumbas ng pagiging arkitekto ang mga salitang tagumpay, yaman, at karangalan.

Nakaapekto ito sa pangarap ko habang lumalaki: simula elementarya hanggang hayskul, ito na ang gusto kong kuning kurso sa kolehiyo dahil ‘yan ang sabi ni Mama at gusto ko rin maging mayaman, sino ba namang hindi? Akala ko sapat na mahusay ka lang gumuhit para maging ganap na arkitekto. Pero tulad ng mga kagaya kong nangarap na maging tanyag na architect maski isang beses sa buhay nila, kailangan din pala ang tiyaga at katalinuhan sa Mathematics sa pag-aaral nito. Pero bilang lumaki akong tamad at ayaw sa lahat ng may kinalaman sa measurements at pagso-solve ng katakot-takot na equations, naging mas malinaw sa akin ang lahat: gusto ko lang gumuhit.

Hindi ako pinilit nila Mama na kunin ang Architecture nang kausapin ko sila dahil hindi ko ito kakayanin. Gayunpaman, hindi rin sila pumayag na tahakin ko ang pinapangarap kong kurso, ang Fine Arts. Isa ang mga magulang ko sa milyong milyong magulang sa mundo na ang tingin pa rin sa sining ay isa lamang hobby o interes na hindi praktikal para

gawing trabaho dahil wala raw pera rito. Ngayon, ikatlong taon ko na sa Multimedia Arts Major in Graphics Design, pero parang nasa gitna lang ako ng ayaw at gusto kong kurso.

Mahirap pasukin ang industriya ng sining, alam ko. Pero maling isipin na walang pera rito, lalo na kung mula ito sa mga taong hindi naman sakop o binibigyang halaga ang art community. Bukod sa problemang pinansyal, nariyan din ang pagtingin ng iilan na ito ang pinakamaliit na prayoridad ng isang tao—na tila ba isa itong bagsakan ng mga walang malinaw na direksyon at plano sa buhay.

Pero sa kabila ng mga ito, hindi nakikita ng marami na kaagapay natin ang sining sa araw-araw— mula sa maliliit na bagay gaya ng disenyo ng iyong paboritong damit, packaging ng bigas, tarpaulin ng 7th birthday ng isang bunsong anak, mga street art na pinagmamasdan bilang pang-aliw sa sarili habang trapik sa siyudad, o kahit ang logo ng Pringles na go-to-snack ng Mama mo.

Sa likod ng lahat ng ito, maliit man at hindi kapansin-pansin ng masa ay mayroong kolektibong artists na nagtutulong-tulong para buhayin ang noon ay isang imahinasyon lamang. Lahat ng ito ay may bayad at pinagtatrabahuhan, puno ng puso

In the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for the care-centered model on September 15, students are “encouraged” and “recommended” to own and purchase laptops for online classes.

at dignidad ng manlilikha gaya ng kahit ano mang trabaho na instant ang kayamanan. Kaya kung tingin mo na walang pera sa industriya ng sining, baka isa ka sa mga taong sagad kung makapanghusga sa mga artist, pero hindi naman marunong magbayad.

Gaya ng proseso ng paglikha, hindi diretso at hindi laging nakukuha ang plano sa umpisa. Isa itong paalala na na sa pagbuo at pagguhit ng ating mga pangarap, hindi laging tuwid ang proseso sa pagkamit nito.

Para sa akin, mas kumita ng pera pero ang ‘makilala’ at magkaroon ng pangalan sa industriya

ang pinakamahirap. Sa panahon ngayon, gamit ang tulong ng teknolohiya, patuloy na nagbubukas ang pinto ng oportunidad sa mga artist— sikat man o nag-uumpisa pa lang para malayang maibahagi at ibenta ang mga likha nila sa malaking halaga gaya na lang ng Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTS), commissions, at zines.

Malaya tayong mangarap pero hindi ito madaling panagutan at tuparin. Isang pribilehiyo ng isang artist na magkaroon ng magulang na suportado sila sa kurso na personal nilang pinili— sa pagbili ng mga kailangan nilang materyales, tulong pinansyal sa pag-aaral, at taos pusong pagsuporta sa kanilang pangarap. Gayunpaman, hindi ko sila masisisi dahil alam at naiintindihan ko ang pinanghuhugutan nila. Hindi naman ito linya lang na madaling ituwid o maaayos sa isang usapan. Gaya ng proseso ng paglikha, hindi diretso at hindi laging nakukuha ang plano sa umpisa. Isa itong paalala na sa pagbuo at pagguhit ng ating mga pangarap, hindi laging tuwid ang proseso sa pagkamit nito.

Naghihintay pa rin ako sa araw na maiintindihan ni Mama ang uri ng aking sining nang walang panghuhusga at pag-aalinlangan—na bagamat marunong man ako mag-drawing, hindi ko gusto maging arkitekto.

In the 2021 State of the University Student Government Address (SUSGA), USG President Niña Ligan demanded for transparency from the school administration on its decision to extend online learning until the end of academic year (AY) 2021-2022.

SEPTEMBER 2021 - FEBRUARY 2022 | PAGE 12

VOLUME 36 DOUBLE ISSUE 1

SEPTEMBER 2021 - FEBRUARY 2022 | PAGE 13

F E AT U R E S

VOLUME 36 DOUBLE ISSUE 1

F E AT U R E S

SEPTEMBER 2021 - FEBRUARY 2022 | PAGE 14

VOLUME 36 DOUBLE ISSUE 1

The road not taken: The dilemma between dreams and practicality

by Elaine Belen

Graphic Art by Juliana Octavio

The idea of chasing our dreams always sounds good on paper, but harder to accomplish in reality. While following one’s dreams is almost always considered the ideal path, most would argue that reality begs us to be practical—if not by force. This brings us into the long-debated dilemma between passion and practicality: where the prospects for graduating college and securing a job begin, and where dreams come to an end.

Finding trails of practicality and passion To choose one over the other has never been an easy feat to survive. When you think of your monthly bills to pay, allowances to provide for your older siblings, and a stack of debts just to make ends meet – all while the economy is in a slump, you get stuck on the railroads of pursuing what you love and what you need in life as it happens. Add the culture of “utang na loob” in most Filipino households to the list, and the weight of choosing between passion and practicality hits harder than it should be.

This reality is never new for many Filipino breadwinners who are often forced to make the tough calls in setting aside their passions to put food on the table, help their siblings finish college, let their parents get daily doses of maintenance medicines, and more. All these that you carry under your back lead the most desired dreams to be put on halt – from dreaming to be an in-demand artist to settling for more financially demanding jobs or being a writer to choosing office works that are way more stable. As sustaining all our finances as breadwinners is not a walk in the park, we tend to settle for what pays well than what fulfills us more.

But with the pandemic’s unprecedented shift from traditional to digital grounds, it allowed some of us to try ventures that mix passion and practicality — from turning art forms to businesses, monetizing video game streaming, to pursuing vlogging as a career path while benefiting from

them at once. These hobbies turned into a much bigger calling for some but there’s this catch: more often than not, our families would tell us to try other socially-recognized paths—something that qualifies more to the society’s standards of jobs we can take pride in. Apparently, passion should not just pay you well: it should also meet their standards of some sort.

Against the current and under pressure Realistically speaking, pursuing our passion seems daunting when our families — the supposed source of our support — become our harshest critic. This happens when our families have a specific path they want us to take – say, wanting us to go to a certain university or college, or pursuing a specific profession no matter what. We are taught from a young age that our families know what’s best for us, but this causes some serious conflicts for those who have their own path to take, and pressure to conform for those who don’t. Being family-oriented, we Filipinos are more likely to succumb to family pressure and give in to what they find acceptable, or burn ourselves out in an attempt to prove a point. This pressure is amplified as our educational system has also faced many adjustments and changes through the years, leading us to consider the expenses more, and be more aware of how much money is being put out to fund our studies.

Moreover, the pressure doesn’t end with family—as society also plays a huge part in directing our career paths.

From current job demands, more socially lauded jobs and professions, to high-income jobs—the pressure to keep up with everyone else, especially our peers, all add to the burden of choosing. This hits harder especially when we see tales of success and failure all over social media, sometimes causing unrealistic expectations due to gaps in resources and privilege.

Furthermore, pursuing our passions also comes with the pressure of performing exceedingly well and delivering promising results just because we are doing the things we “love”—as if passion somehow immediately translates to skill. In the same vein, those who chose the more practical path are perceived to be more rational and rather detached from their jobs—as if doing it for money already means you can never love your job. Whether we choose to go after what we want or do what we have to do in the name of practicality, both choices mean going against the currents of the world.

What it really means to be courageous All things considered, there is still passion in choosing practicality and practical reasons in pursuing our passions.

To choose practicality over the other to help your siblings get through college does not make you in any way less courageous; in fact, it’s the other way around. This goes the same for those who braved the norms and live through life as it happens—proving that there is a bountiful future that lies ahead with being unconventional.

When living in a society filled with expectations, it is a huge leap of courage and risk to follow your dreams and choose practicality. However, as the pandemic brings worse situations to many of us, not everyone rides in the same boat in these trying times to choose a desired career path: some might float so well, but some are closely sinking to survive.

To be courageous does not always need to be surmounting the currents of the world or putting something else at a standstill. There’s always this belief that for one to develop courage, it should always be choosing the hardest or the best. It’s like one has to go through curves, humps, and the highest obstacles to prove their courage. But here’s the untold truth: to simply choose can sometimes be the most courageous thing to do—whether it’s passion that braves the conventional or practicality that puts dreams on the sidelines for unconventional reasons. *** In taking risks as part of our life, it takes more courage to push through this rather than regretting what we could have done. Choosing both passion and practicality requires courage, and choosing one over the other does not make our choices any less courageous. As long as we know where to look, we can find passion in choosing to be practical as much as practicality in choosing what we are passionate about. After all, courage is not just about walking the road not yet taken, but rather, having the courage to walk your own path.

THE HF RADAR BOOK

by Elaine Belen, Azreil Nathanielle Nuestro, and Maria Victoria Busine

Doing it Scared as the antidote to fear Most of the time, fear pushes us to take reroutes and escape plans in scary situations. But there are times dealing with it is the only option left. In these moments, people might say that taking a leap of faith is too reckless or a rash decision to make, but we will never know unless we try — even if we have to do it scared.

New York Times bestselling author Ruth Soukup’s self-help book Do It Scared: Finding the Courage to Face Your Fears, Overcome Adversity, and Create a Life You Love teaches a special lesson on how to do things with fear. Starting as a mantra, Soukup repeats the phrase “Do it scared” whenever she steps on new grounds from being an entrepreneur to becoming a podcast host.

Underscoring biological aspects of a human being, experiencing fear is a natural feeling that bears less harm than not getting scared at all. The absence of fear is actually a presence of harm as it makes you more vulnerable to vain and undesirable choices. Learning to control the things we fear takes time for us to get used to until it can no longer control us.

As the book highlights that fear is a fragment of human instinct, it also explores how to see situations with silver-lining and find inspiration despite being scared. In chapter 15 of the book, Soukup discussed how we claim our target and find our clear sense of direction in life like an airplane with no planned destination. It is hard to imagine hopping into an airplane without a clear idea of where to go but apparently this is the general approach people take in making life decisions. Adapting the principles of courage, we work on changing our mindset and apply these changes in our life . At the end of the day, the only true way to face our fears is by taking the next step and living through life as it happens. One does not need to be completely fearless when doing something scary – because sometimes, doing it scared is enough. *** As an invisible chain, fear teaches us to calculate the course of action we need to take and all the possible consequences it may bring. But constantly dwelling on it will only bring us into stagnant waters – nowhere closer from our target destination. Celebrating small victories along the way lets us realize that we can overcome fear little by little. Although uncertainty is the only certain thing we can find in this lifetime, doing it scared equips us with fresh ideas and a braver spirit.

MOVIE

The Pursuit of Happyness and hitting rock bottom

Directed by Gabriele Muccio, The Pursuit of Happyness is a dramabiographical film based on Chris Gardner, an American businessman and motivational speaker who struggled with making ends meet. Between trying to survive and giving his family everything he has, Gardner’s story gives us a clear perspective on finding courage in each situation and what it means to inspire bravery within others.

From Chris Gardner’s (Will Smith) failure to sell bone-density scanner machines, troubled marriage relationship, to homelessness, this emotional tale of fatherhood, poverty, and happiness underscored how difficult it is to recover from downfalls. However, the immeasurable love that he has for his son Christopher (Jaden Smith) fuels his determination to keep on braving all the odds presented to him.

Despite the series of unfortunate events, he did not allow himself to dwell in failure. His tenacity pushed him forward until he got the job he desired in hopes of escaping poverty and homelessness, primarily caused by insufficient income, lack of affordable housing, and unemployment in the United States.

With his dreams within reach, odds continued to stack against Gardner through his degree-holder competitors and colleagues. At any rate, Gardner still pursued the opportunity despite lacking achievements, choosing to work twice as hard with his head held high and a pocket full of dreams. Gardner’s struggle mirrors the result-driven society, favoring accomplishments as proof of an employee’s worth in the workplace.

As a father figure and a single parent, Gardner showed bravery and strength even when he was always on the verge of breaking down, concealing tears of heartbreak and disappointment as things got more and more difficult by the day. It is truly no joke to carry the role of a father and a mother at the same time since you have to balance both factors for the child to receive financial and emotional support. This aspect of Gardner’s life pays tribute to solo parents who single-handedly shoulder responsibilities for the welfare and future of their family. *** The Pursuit of Happyness is a tear-jerking testimony that victory tastes sweeter after moments of defeat.

Gardner proved that courage is not only present when facing life challenges, but also in acknowledging our failures and learning from them to stand up again and continue.

PODCAST

What it means to be brave: It’s An Adult Thing!

Podcast’s take on courage

Figuring out the uncertainty of adult life beyond the four corners of a classroom is the focal point of Podcast Network Asia’s It’s an Adult Thing! as it gives us a peek at navigating self-development and well-being as adults.

In an episode about courage, host, actor, and stand-up comedian Victor Anastacio narrated how he makes a living by courageously putting himself in front of an audience as a comedian, which he describes as a numbers game dependent on the probability of making someone laugh, like a coin flipped in the air. As easy as it may seem, he noted that being a comedian takes years of experience and huge chunks of confidence, as not everyone would always find his jokes funny.

Viewing setbacks as an opportunity in honing his craft, Anastacio remains certain of one thing despite the uncertainty of what lies ahead: to continue making people happy amid the presence of fear.

“Du’n nga raw nag-g-grow diba? Kapag takot ka pero ginawa mo pa ‘rin,” he noted.

As an adult, navigating through life full of uncertainties can be daunting as the list of responsibilities in front of us seems overwhelming. But just like what we can infer from Anastacio’s story in the It’s an Adult Thing! podcast episode, being brave could also mean doing the things that we fear doing but should be done, even if the outcome does not guarantee desirable results.

Acknowledging the presence of fear and how it can paralyze you to move forward in life takes some dose of self-awareness to fully grasp. It can be challenging to determine if fear is coming from legitimate threats that can bring irreversible harm, or a perceived danger that our own minds have come up with. Anastacio explained that determining where this fear stems from lies in the possible consequences that are at hand in a certain situation.

In the podcast episode, it also shed light on the concept of fear-setting, an exercise that helps confront fear through plotting down possible outcomes in unsettling situations, how to prevent it from happening, and what can be done in case it happens. In fear-setting, you can anticipate the possible consequences of doing things that you fear, and how will guts and courage pay off when we choose to go beyond our personal horrors. Because when it comes to conquering fear, half the battle lies in defining what you fear.

Elizabeth Santiago *** Being courageous in our journey as adults, the podcast It’s An Adult Thing! reminds us that figuring out the world is possible, even by being fearful and courageous at once. It might be an uphill battle full of obstacles to face along the way but once you look back to where you once were, you can see not only what you have lost and gained over time. You also get to realize how overcoming fear has led you to where you find yourself today.

SEPTEMBER 2021 - FEBRUARY 2022 | PAGE 15

F E AT U R E S

VOLUME 36 DOUBLE ISSUE 1

Why we need to talk about this

Navigating through challenging conversations towards progress

by Maria Victoria Busine Graphic Art by Charles Howard Gaa Challenging conversations about politics and other relevant issues usually comes with discomfort, especially with engaging with those who do not share the same beliefs and principles we uphold.

Due to anticipated complexities, we would rather not talk it out and just merely ignore it at all cost.

We may find ourselves in dire straits one way or another in initiating or participating in critical discourse, but it can be a way to address serious issues and face what needs to be changed.

Initiating these conversations head-on is the tough first step that requires one’s brave spirit —and it matters even more when future and progress are on the line.

Breaking through challenging dialogues Dialogues may come in different forms, ranging from small talks to discussion of relevant matters. Engaging in conversations has been a way of understanding more about the world, as well as connecting to people and communities.

Besides this, dialogues can also happen beyond those that are within our reach. In the age of technology where everyone has the freedom to express their thoughts in lengthy posts or 280 character tweets, social media has then become the new battleground for conversations— from the most shallow talks to the more profound ones.

With the vast scope of the internet, we are more likely to cross paths with those who do not share the same values with us on crucial matters, like politics. There are some instances in tough conversations that might not have gone well, leading to heated arguments that are often swept under the rug after it happens.

Such conversations get stuck that we resolve to avoid it altogether instead due to the fear that we associate with conflicts, disagreements, and tangled beliefs. Besides this, the fear of uncalled judgment from others also kicks in, as everything we say would be vulnerable to public scrutiny.

In the article This is Why We Avoid Difficult Conversations, Nicklas Balboa explained that we, humans, see challenging social situations as cognitively costly or mentally draining, which

requires courage and effort that are not too easy to build. As we anticipate that some situations will be much more difficult to handle, turning our backs from conversations instead of facing them at hand becomes a more convenient choice.

In tackling salient issues in a tough discourse, there is also the tendency to put ourselves on the pedestal as we believe that we are morally right and more knowledgeable than anyone else. It might be easier to acknowledge that we are right rather than taking the opportunity to consider both sides of the coin.

As we talk to others about relevant issues, thinking that we are more morally grounded compared to everyone else forfeits the very purpose of initiating conversations.

As dialogues require more than just a will to speak up, holding this belief might not make any difference, which might make us wonder why we cannot hear one another when we both talk so loudly.

Embracing the uncomfortable Other struggles also arise in discourse that we encounter such as dismissive attitudes and the refusal to acknowledge different perspectives. Unfortunately, some even result in personal attacks, ad hominem arguments, and direct threats.

Thinking of another way instead of avoiding it once and for all, it often leads us to ask how it can be easier to do or make it less uncomfortable for us and the person that we want to converse with.

“Understand that feeling uncomfortable results from an underlying belief that what you want to do is wrong,” life coach Pam Bauer wrote in the article Why You Avoid Difficult Conversations. It may seem like disturbing calm waters, which tends to make us believe that

openly sharing our stance on something might lead to cutting ties with someone as they do not agree with the beliefs and principles we justify.

The exchange of ideas is often framed in a bad light, as many perceive that direct confrontation always brings undesirable outcomes. Instead, we resolve to evade it and hold back from communicating our thoughts to other people.

The first step to do in such a situation is getting comfortable with the idea of being uncomfortable.

As Bauer pointed out, recognition and acceptance of discomfort make it less uncomfortable instead of simply running away from it. Confronting the feeling of being uncomfortable can become the starting point to determine the best way to handle the conversation instead of turning away from it.

“You give yourself a foundation to stand up for yourself, your needs, and your values and can allow the other person to express theirs, instead of trying to manage or manipulate their emotions to keep you comfortable,” Bauer shared.

Besides the fear of being in uncomfortable situations, it takes hard work to engage in complicated conversations compared to trivial chatters. We might think that the tensions that come with complicated topics can be a barrier that leads to conflicts, but it is where the possibility for innovation and improvement emerges, as Jason Jay and Gabriel Grant emphasized in their 2017 book Breaking Through Gridlock: The Power of Conversation in a Polarized World Change can begin with conversations “We are all part of a “global conversation” that has been occurring since the dawn of man, and within this large spectrum exists millions of smaller conversations that are just as important,” Sophia Gratas quoted in the article The Importance of Conversation.

Knowing how to navigate through tough discussions with others can bring us a step closer toward transforming perspectives. There is no easy route when it comes to navigating complex individual dialogues, but this can prepare us for engaging in larger discourses that go beyond two or three people—conversations that birth development and progress in our society.

As challenging as it may seem, it pays off to start conversations with those who are closest to us. Conversations play a crucial role in maintaining and developing relationships with our loved ones, and talking about tough matters lets them know how we think about things.

Through discussing matters with someone else, we can also immersively learn more about others’ perspectives whether they align with values we uphold or not.

“You need not get too hung up on where to start practicing. First, you talk to one person, then another person,” Jay and Grant highlighted. *** As we try to navigate through discourse around us, being involved in relevant conversations not only tests our ability to communicate with others but also our tenacity in listening to and receiving opposing views.

Critical discourses can also be a way to explore other people’s beliefs and consider how their perspectives are shaped. Disagreements and conflicts may occur that lead to uncomfortable situations but it is through overcoming these challenges in conversations that can make a difference—not only in how we see the world, but also in how we can transform it into actions that contribute to change.

SEPTEMBER 2021 2021 -- FEBRUARY FEBRUARY 2022 2022 || PAGE PAGE 16 16 SEPTEMBER

LITERARY

VOLUME 36 DOUBLE ISSUE VOLUME 36 DOUBLE ISSUE 1 1

The View From Up Here

By Shekynah Angelene Samadan

Bantay

By Bernard Sta. Ana

“Upo” Sabi ng amo Kumakawag ang buntot Animo’y ‘di mapakali Nakatanghod sa itatapong buto “Tayo” Utos ng amo Tamang abang sa sunod na mando Tuping taingang hindi sigurado Takot bang mapalo o Sabik sa iaabot na pampalubag-loob “Salo” Sabi ng amo

Your veins glow to signify the life you hold, supplying your lungs with needed oxygen as you begin to heave your last breath. As I consume your whole likeness from up here, I could see your once bright hues now turned into deep blues. Decrepit and barely shining. Dear Country, I know you yearn for respite.

The way you lay flat with eyes wide shut. You have kept me from harm’s way for far too long, but I have never earned you so fully. I am but a child who has always found her footsteps back to her mother’s front door, so one day I will face you again. For now, keep still as I patch up your wounds. Heal for the time being as I battle for your perpetual sovereignty. Guide me through your skylines, give me light to proceed so I could fight bravely. Until I shine as bright as the way you once did, like fire I’ll carry the song of our people through flame’s light.

One day, you will see your skin anew, with people that rejoice in the freedom that is overflowing. One day, I will see your face clean from the traces of war, but while we crawl to survive—navigating what is here, what is now, I will find shelter with those of blazing fire, confiding in them as I wish you an ephemeral goodbye.

Kinuha Ibinalik “Salo” Sabi ng amo Kinuha Ibinalik Sa kada salo Pinabalik-balik Ang laruan Bitbit ang kanyang Laruan Pagtakbo’y gumapang Laylay ang dilang hingal “Tahol” Utos ng amo Tuloy sa pagtugon sa mga turong Matagal ng natutunan Hindi namamalayang Sinasanay lang pala sa pagsunod “Tahol” Sabi ng amo “Tahol” Sigaw ng amo Sa sidhi ng angil Umalulong si bantay.

Pula at Berde

By Kayla Nicole De Quiroz

“Sumunod ka” bulong sa tenga nila Pinaharap sa likod Saka piniringan ang mata Pinalakad sa kawalan, Kung saan tutungo, kung saan may pangako Ipinalubog ang mga paa sa putik Ibinaon ang kalahating katawan “Wag kang sisigaw” Pagkahawak sa ulo, sarili’y kusang nilumos “Hahawakan kita, ililigtas!”

Sabay hinila pataas, hawak ang leeg Nanlilisik ang mga matang tumingin sa kanya “Ngunit ako lang ang iyong susundin” Binusalan ang kanyang bibig Sa pagtango ay binigyan ng pulbura Pinangakong magbibingi-bingihan ano man ang marinig Hindi kikibo ano man ang makita Dumagundong ang mga sigaw, tiniis ang ingay Nanatiling nakatindig Sa kanyang paanan Dama ang daloy ng maligamgam na pagsuway Nang matapos ang araw Sinimulan ang paglilitis Tinanggalan ng busal at piring Inutusang pumalakpak kahit paso ang kamay Bakas sa palad mga latay ng katapatan Nakaukit ang karahasan Ang dungis na dulot ng pagiging sunud-sunuran Pumanaw ang sigawan at palakpakan Tapos na!

Ngunit nagsisimula pa lang ang palabas Kamay ng mga bida, sa kanya nakaturo Sa kwento kung saan mistulang siya ang kontrabida Ang totoo’y isa siyang biktima.

LITERARY

SEPTEMBER 2021 2021 -- FEBRUARY FEBRUARY 2022 2022 || PAGE PAGE 17 17 SEPTEMBER

VOLUME DOUBLE ISSUE VOLUME 3636 DOUBLE ISSUE 1 1

Korona

By Glaiza Bernadette Cabilllon

Sa braso niya’y kayakap ang pinakamakikintab na porselas Nakakabit sa balat ang likas niyang dahas—matikas Gusali kung tingalain, Diyos kung ibigin Gintong palalo, niyuyukuan “Ako’y maglilingkod,” Titingala ang lahat sa matatalim niyang pangako Hiyawa’y buhat ng kasinungalingan Kung indakan animo’y tugtog Musika ang mga palakpak Pelikula ang imahe ng bayang Yari niyang “pinagbuklod” “Ako’y maglilingkod,” Sa oras ng pagtangis nila’t hikbi, Makikinis niyang mga palad, sa bulsa nakapirmi Dalawang tainga’y nabibingi Mga mata’y dilat, ngunit sarado ang paningin Ano’ng tinatanaw ng matayog niyang anino?

Pawang nakatingala, ’di makita ang mga nasa baba Sa kinang nakatutok, sa tuktok ng palasyo Ang mga nasa baba...

Patak ng kanilang luha ang dumidilig sa lupa Dikit ang dalawang palad, kinikiskis Para sa butil ng bigas, kapalit sa butil ng pawis Tadtad ng pekas ang balat nilang makakapal Markado ng paso ang mga galos ng pangako Ngayon, sisirit ang sariwang sugat Kasabay ng paggunita sa nagdurugong panata...

“Ako’y maglilingkod,” pero sino ang nakaluhod, Sino ang nagsasalita?

Midnight Worship

By Jacinth Banite

Midnight. Darkness battles with the moonlight—frowning at the crowd in the hinterland as they haunt the wind with their synchronous whispers.

Prayer. “Oh thy great, purify our soul”. Knees are bent before a golden cross, incandescent behind the silhouette of a man so holy and pure.

Fire. Sacred hands light the mountain of twigs. Heat burns through the eyes that never f linch, even with the ashes that pinch.

Blood. A drop of fidelity gives fragrance to the smoke. Meanwhile, that from sinners fuel the coals.

Prayer. “Oh thy great, purify our soul”. Loud as the grinding branches strangled by alluring fumes. Silent as the strides towards the blaring pile of warmth.

Dawn. Darkness has won—smirking at the crowd in the hinterland as they haunt the wind with their synchronous screams.

Acceptance Demands No Condition It was one of those unproductive days during my freshman year when I found myself sitting with a group of students in one of the school’s reading spots. I listened in private while they talked about their previous assessment for the Religious Education course about gender equality. As many circles of friends would do after long hours of classes, they reviewed each other’s responses and arguments on the topic—until I heard familiar phrases that stood out to me the most: “I have no problems with gays and lesbians, but once they get intimate with their fellow men and women…then, it’s a sin” one student argued.

“Right. I don’t support them, but I don’t condemn them either,” the other responded.

These points haunted me even up to these days— not because they were right, but because these have been consistently used to validate imperious and insensitive ideas about the existence of the LGBTQIA+ community.

The problem with our society today is that people often forward and fight for an ideology that questions the real essence of acceptance. When it comes to the discussion of gender equality, there’s always a rampant use of taxing statements such as “I love gays, but…”, “Gender equality is cool, but…” It was never a simple “I accept them” or “They deserve the equal rights I have”. Gays, lesbians, and other members of the third sex have to run twice to get half as far to seek unconditional acceptance and validation. While it is important to open discussions that would encapsulate gender equality, real acceptance will never be attained if we perpetuate narratives full of buts, and set demanding conditions that we never ask and expect from heterosexual individuals.

With the prevalence of these arguments, perhaps we should start asking ourselves that

upon failing to accept the community that has been marginalized for the longest time, doesn’t that make us the very thing we’ve been trying not to become—condemning and faultfinding fellows? No matter how some people

Acceptance is not in any way equated to tolerance — that is something people should learn to understand. try to justify their reasons, failing to support a certain group of people is, in itself, an act

of condemnation—a form of judgment to which none of us is entitled.

As narratives of tolerance remain more prevalent than mere and genuine acceptance, we are traversing far from reaching a more harmonious relationship with one another.

Acceptance is not in any way equated to tolerance—that is something people should learn to understand. In fact, I believe that acceptance is the opposite of tolerance as it only takes us away from understanding, and leads us back to conventional judgment. If we want to achieve real change in our nation’s perception of gender equality, then acceptance should be the primary goal. That, we can only attain by yielding subsequent conditions that impede the basic human rights of every queer kid and adults who have grown and continue to grow in fear, buts, and tolerance.

SEPTEMBER 2021 - FEBRUARY 2022 | PAGE 18

VOLUME 36 DOUBLE ISSUE 1

SPORTS

SEPTEMBER 2021 - FEBRUARY 2022 | PAGE 19

From left to right: Morenos, Cruz, Stephenson

VOLUME 36 DOUBLE ISSUE 1

Athletes at the helm

Photo by Photo by Miguel P. Abenales, Reine Cruz (Contributor), Dereck Stephenson (Contributor)

Cruz, Morenos, and Stephenson on the transition from athletes to leaders

by Maria Victoria Busine and Elaine Aznar Another challenge arises for many student athletes amid academic responsibilities and the unprecedented shift of learning as they find themselves to be deprived of the games they get by. For some feisty players who spent most of their student life inside the court, embracing the odds would be a tall order.

However, the pandemic did not stop some athletes from staying true to the Lasallian mantra by taking on new roles to carry on their purpose in serving the community — student athletes who translated their love for sports to governance, in hopes of leading their fellow students and going through the motions.

Among them are University Student Government (USG) Vice President Reine Cruz, USG Sports and Recreation Secretary Lean James Morenos, and SINAG Vice President Dexter Stephenson, who pierced through the shift by exploring, embracing, and balancing the changes itself – all while holding on to their experiences up to the helm as Lasallian student leaders.

Lean James Morenos: Embracing the odds Flipping through different sports fields, Lean James Morenos’ journey as an athlete is not only confined to the wide game of basketball. His sporty

beginnings found its debut at the netted sport of badminton before braving the hoop court in his teenage years.

However, holding the racket and throwing the ball may look easy for Morenos, but he admits that this is not the same with his venture to governance.

When he stepped up as a student leader, one challenge for him was the huge transition in his environment, as the physically demanding hustle that he was used to on the court is an entirely different game in USG. “Hindi siya ‘yong nakagawian ko, so very new ako sa situation ng pagiging student leader so iba ‘yong pag-schedule (sic), iba ‘yong routine,” he shared.

Morenos specified how he honed his ability to adapt to a dynamic environment as an athlete, which played into how he deals with the challenges in the current setup. “At first, hindi naman ini-expect na magiging ganito, mahirap pero based from (sic) my experience, natuto ako mag-adapt,” the USG secretary added.

Drawing from his experience as

a student athlete, he also underscored how his resiliency and commitment as a player helped him become a budding leader who knows how to help his fellow students.

“Hindi ako half-hearted naging student leader, pero full (sic) committed, full commitment talaga ‘yong binigay ko dito. Kumbaga, all out pa rin siya,” Morenos emphasized.

Reine Cruz: Navigating through the changes For as long as he can remember, Cruz has always been athletic before becoming a beach volleyball player and the proactive vice president of the USG. He was hooked at first with martial arts, tying the karate belt at such a young age. But an injury from the fisticuff sport had pushed him to explore other fields, and eventually discovered volleyball in the process.

As a student athlete, Cruz was trained with the mindset of working hard to achieve one’s goal, or what he dubs as his “never give up” attitude.

He emphasized that even amid the hardships and obstacles, giving up should not be in anyone’s vocabulary.

“Sa paghihirap na ‘yon, dapat habang nahihirapan ka, hindi magiging option ‘yong pagsuko. Kasi ‘pag sumuko kami, hindi namin ma-a-achieve ‘yong gusto namin,” he said.

Besides having years of sports under his back pocket, Cruz is not anymore a newbie on being a student leader, shooting leadership experiences as the governor of the College of Education Student Government (COEDSG) during the academic year (AY) 2020-2021.

While he stated that he may not be one of those starters on the court, his leadership and athletic stints led him to cultivate the value of hard work that became his guiding principle in going through the changes.

Meanwhile, the now USG vice president also shared that never giving up plays into situations when there are daunting challenges along the way, like how he weathered the unexpected shift to the online setup amid the pandemic.

“Tinatak ko sa isipan ko na challenge lang ‘to sa pagiging student leader. Iba lang ‘yong nagiging platform pero student leader pa rin… kahit

sobrang hirap na sa part ko, ang hirap sa academics, ang hirap kasi working din ako, ang hirap pagsabay-sabayin pero sabi ko, magiging worth it ‘yong mga pagsubok, ‘yong mga paghihirap sa setup sa pagiging student leader,” he stated.

Dexter Stephenson: Finding the balance Transitioning into a new role outside the court has not also been easy for cager Dexter Stephenson, but finding balance between his experiences as a student and athlete made him shoot his shot in leadership.

Donning the green and white flag as a shooting guard and a forward, Stephenson marked his early stages as a Patriot to be a novice player with several Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards, turning heads in the collegiate sports scene as well as hoop tournaments of DLSU-D. With Stephenson’s athletic grit, his early wins undoubtedly are a testament of a skillful athlete and an effective lifestyle.

Jumping into the role of being the executive vice president of SINAG, Stephenson found a new way to fit in his qualities such as his discipline and responsible leadership. “The only difference is,

being a student leader requires less from me physically. Overall, being an athlete and a student leader, more or less, share the same set of positive qualities,” he related.

As someone who’s always sealed his love for sports, the cager is also vocal in manifesting his stances about the current state of sports in the University, highlighting the need for more improvements. Amid the obstacles brought by the crisis, Stephenson believes that sports teams should continue holding online training and workouts in order “to maintain team chemistry, camaraderie, and physical health.” *** Off the court, student athletes have more to offer aside from the skills nurtured for years of training and competing. For these Patriots, having new responsibilities is a trace of one’s self-growth, taking the bearer of the duty to new chapters ahead. Cruz, Morenos, and Stephenson’s core purposes might go beyond their usual playing expertise, but by staying on track of the values they hold close also play into another meaningful purpose even outside the court.

SPORTS BRIEFS

SDO from page 22 “I consulted the finance and accounting office relative to that […]

Unfortunately, it was a little delayed than the usual payroll scheme, but all of them are properly given the stipend,” said Reblora, clarifying that the delay was caused by a misunderstanding between the accounting office and the then-SDO director.

“All the while, right after the lockdown, the accounting office thought that the sports activities have stopped as well, not knowing that the [previous] SDO Director (Mr. John Casidsid) enjoined the coaches to continue training our student athletes [online] para [raw] hindi mawala sa kondisyon,” he explained.

Despite this, Reblora disclosed that all the contractual coaches affected by the pandemic and the SDO dissolution were paid until the special term of AY 2019-2020.

Additionally, the OSS dean clarified that the allotted budget for the 2020 Private Schools Athletic Association, which was halted amid the pandemic, was “still intact.”

He furthered that the budget was partially utilized since the studentathletes were still able to compete before the league was canceled.

Meanwhile, he also reported that most of the athletic fees collected from students in the AY 2019-2020 was utilized for maintaining the scholarships of the student-athletes, wherein “a good number” of them still received 100% free tuition during the first semester of AY 2020-2021.

However, with the SDO being dissolved during the second semester of the previous AY, athletes were converted to student-assistant (SA) status who might be given at least 50% scholarship grant without guarantee, as they had to apply for it first and qualify for the same criteria with SA scholars.

“I called a meeting with our student-athletes to announce this sad news. And those who couldn’t pay for the another 50% of the tuition fee decided to take a leave of absence,” he shared.

On athletic fees and University sports ahead Along with plans to reestablish the SDO and appoint its new head, Reblora also aims to coordinate with the University Student Government (USG) and school administrators to begin levying athletic fees from the students in AY 2022-2023, after

suspending the athletic fee collection in the past two academic years.

The OSS dean holds on to this, along with possible donors who might invest in DLSU-D sports programs, and believes that the return of athletic fees will be instrumental for the ‘bright future’ of the University’s sports community.

“I suppose DLSU-D is aware how sports is developing all aspects of being a human—social, emotional, psychological, so on and so forth. So importante na ma-restore talaga ang sports to where it was prior to the pandemic,” he reiterated.

Although he also considers possible hindrances due to the restrictions imposed by the InterAgency Task Force (IATF), Reblora still expressed his positive outlook on the potential results of their plans.

With this, Reblora urged the rest of the sports community to “continue to support the endeavors of our school. It should be a collaboration within and among the administrators, faculty and staff, our students, and our parents’ organization. I’m very positive we will be able to go back soon to where we were prior to the pandemic, sports-wise.”

Patriot trackster ranks 4th in 2021 APAC men’s 100m

by Christine Marie Romero

Sprinting against stalwart track and field cast in the country, Patriot pride Mark Anthony Igusquisa fell only one place behind his competition to land a podium finish in the 2021 Ayala Philippine Athletics Championships (APAC) men’s 100-meter dash held on December 16 to December 17 at the Baguio City Athletic Bowl.

Bannering his home region Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Igusquisa logged a fourth-place mark with 11.47 seconds behind national team mainstay and APAC gold medalist Clinton Bautista who clocked 10.86 seconds, Rocky Feller Ramos with 11.02 seconds, and third-placer Vince Jayson Buhayan with a record of 11.03 seconds.

Spearheaded by the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA), the APAC served as a qualifier for top Filipino tracksters who aspire to represent the country in the 31st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Hanoi, Vietnam from May 12 to May 23 this year.

Team Dasma aces PNVF 2021

by Hedrick Alcantara

Prevailing as kings of volleyball court, the Team Dasmariñas Monarchs shocked the Go for Gold Air Force squad via 19-25, 26-24, 25-18, 25-17 upset, making them the pioneer winners of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) Championship League on December 4 at the Aquamarine Recreational Center in Lipa City, Batangas.

Although the team was made up of unlaced athletes, the Monarchs had finally quenched their individual title thirst with its 3-0 cushion in the PNVF finals, after falling short in competitions such as the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

Following their historical win, the Dasmarineños team earned a ticket as the country’s representatives to the Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship in Urmia, Iran this year.

SEPTEMBER 2021 - FEBRUARY 2022 | PAGE 20

SPORTS

VOLUME 36 DOUBLE ISSUE 1

Sports facilities, other equipment still in good shape—OSS

by Hedrick Alcantara Despite being not regularly used for two consecutive academic years (AY), the DLSU-D sports facilities and other equipment are maintained in good shape and condition, according to Office of Student Services (OSS) Dean Domingo Reblora Jr. While some facilities may be used for students’ use in the second semester of AY 2021-2022, OSS clarified that these will not be ready for competitions and athletic leagues just yet.

Major sports facilities’ status As stated in The HERALDO FILIPINO broadsheet volume 35 issue 2, the Ugnayang La Salle (ULS) – which was previously utilized for indoor sports and recreational games, continues to be used as a vaccination site by the Dasmariñas City local government unit (LGU). The gym was first used as an inoculation site in 2021 after the school signed an agreement with the city government.

But despite being utilized in a non-sport activity, the OSS Dean describes ULS as a space that could still be “perfectly utilized for sports of our students” when in-person classes will finally be allowed.

In an interview with The HERALDO FILIPINO, Reblora said that there was an original plan before the pandemic to rebuild the facility but eventually did not push through. Reblora furthered that the funds for the supposed rebuilding might be used elsewhere, noting that it would be uncertain to see it due to the pandemic.

“There was a plan before the pandemic to, not only retrofit, but to rebuild it, making it much bigger than what it is now [...] I’m not sure if the earlier plan of about the (sic) ULS will still be pushed through given the current condition that we are in,” the dean revealed.

On the other hand, the University’s track oval and the grandstand have been reopened this semester in AY 2021-2022 for faculty entry, under the condition that they

follow the minimum health standards and go inside past their 5:00 PM office hours. Although the dean said that the rubberized track had already formed some lumps amid lockdown that needs fixing, the standardsize oval is ready for use.

Compared to the oval and other sports facilities, the Olympic size pool was much more maintained, according to Reblora. He shared that the swimming pool was regularly cleaned and has protection from falling debris so that the pool may maintain its functional state.

Due to the pandemic, Reblora noted that these major sports facilities were never used for any athletic events as well as any major activities in the last two years. Moreover, its sports usage was successively ‘hampered’ because of the Taal volcano eruption and the implementation of lockdowns in March 2020.

Other sports facilities, equipment When it comes to other sports facilities inside the campus, the OSS Dean also shared that these areas remain well-maintained amid the pandemic. “Within the ULS, mayroon tayong ano doon ‘no, table tennis, mayroon tayong doong malaking space for table tennis on the second floor. And in all that space where table tennis are (sic) situated, we have the body building facility complete with the rest of usual amenities in a body building facility [...] So far ok naman sila,” Reblora said.

Meanwhile, the Mariano Trias Hall (MTH) covered court and the high school sports ground are both secured during the lockdown as well. However, the MTH covered court and high school sports grounds remain off-limits as of the moment.

In terms of the sports materials owned by the University, the OSS assured the Lasallian community that these are still intact and functional. Only a few can be rendered not in good condition as per the OSS due to a long period of being unused. “Pero syempre dahil sa hindi nagagamit especially itong mga table tennis, no, medyo nagkakaroon nga ng k’onting problema. Otherwise, the other equipments are still intact,” Reblora said.

Backtrack on maintenance In terms of keeping the good condition of the major sports facilities in the University for the last two years, Reblora shared that the administration could only do “the most minimal maintenance available” for the campus facilities, noting that their actions are limited due to the restrictions of the health crisis.

The OSS dean furthered that since the University did not levy any athletic fees from the students for two consecutive academic years, there was consequently no allocation for the maintenance coming from students.

“Usually, maintenance of the rest of sports facilities and equipments will come from the payments of students for athletic fees, tapos na-de-divide na ‘yon kung saan-saang mga aspeto [...] technically, walang allocation,” he stated.

As the Sports Development Office (SDO) was dissolved in AY 2020-2021 – the unit who’s originally responsible for maintaining the condition of sports facilities, the dean explained that there are still University

personnel whom they entrust on sustaining the physical condition of the sports facilities. He furthered that the OSS’ movement in terms of doing its responsibilities was limited in entering the school premises due to heavy restrictions imposed.

“As much as possible, if we declare that we will proceed... because if you go to school during the height of the lockdown, you have to specify which offices you will visit. Whatever your declaration is or was, you should only go there. So far, in the last two years, most often, I only proceed to the OSS office to sign important documents, especially TRF,” he added.

Meanwhile, Reblora also disclosed that the Materials Management and Ancillary Services Office (MAMASO) is no longer functional following the dissolution of the SDO. He explained that MAMASO’s former functions are carried out now by sports custodians who get their salaries “from the 70% of the general fund – salaries and benefits of staff and faculty.”

Plans on student use, competitions When asked about the appropriate time as to when the sports facilities will be used again for actual sports and recreational activities, Reblora said OSS cannot provide definite dates and plans for the time being.

However, the dean looks forward to when the students will be permitted to enter the campus premises, and experience sports and recreation inside the facilities retrofitted by the University.

“We are hoping that come the second semester 2021 to 2022, members of the academic community will be allowed to use these facilities but as far as competitions are concerned, right now [and] for the second semester, wala pa tayo,” Reblora noted.

USG open in setting up an official esports team Second esports tourney in the works

by Bernard Sta. Ana DLSU-D University Student Government (USG) Sports and Recreation is considering the possibility of assembling an official esports team amid the online setup depending on the University administration’s support for the online games team-up, according to Secretary Lean James Morenos.

Photo by Jenina Oliveros (contributor) Oliveros from page 22 “Parang makakakuha ng athlete na do’n sila mag-tatryout, do’n nila gugustuhing mag-aral, kasi parang maganda ‘yong pamamalakad, so ta-try nila. Kaya feeling ko ‘yon din ‘yong talagang (sic) … kaya kailangan talaga ibalik na ng La Salle ‘yong mga athlete,” Oliveros urged.

She furthered, “Sana huwag silang tumigil na maging ano pa rin sila – guardian ng mga athlete […] huwag silang tumigil na suportahan ‘yong mga athlete kasi sobrang laking bagay ‘yon sa mga athlete na katulad ko.”

Making dreams happen No doubt that the big opportunities that were once offered by universities have closed with the spike of unprecedented lockdowns. But for someone who’s as eager and passionate as Oliveros, there’s no room for plan B in realizing her dreams.

“Para sa’kin kasi, kahit ‘di ko makuha ‘yong goal na ‘yon, I [still] want to pursue it. Lahat naman is dumadaan sa pagkatalo, na hindi mo makukuha ‘yong gusto mo, pero kapag alam mo na ‘yon talaga ‘yong gusto mo, pagpapatuloy mo ‘yon,” she emphasized.

Moreover, what makes the 22 years old athlete one-and-a-kind is her ambition of opening doors to dreamers the same as her. Like her father who taught her how to play badminton when she was 11 years old, the Patriots shuttler looks forward to coaching neophyte athletes as well, paying forward for what she has attained. For someone who has always wanted to live the athletic dream, Oliveros sees her future self investing in young ones who have potential in sports—especially in badminton—in hopes of turning their dreams into reality. *** Being an athlete who eyes to be a gateway on living other’s dream is something that one can be inspired of. As Oliveros yearns, “Gusto ko i-share ‘yong experience ko as a player na [magiging] coach na ngayon. Do’n ko nakikita ‘yong sarili ko na nagtuturo …

Lahat kami nakakakuha ng tuition fees na libre sa pagaaral … kaya ‘yon, gusto ko rin maging gano’n ako. Kaya kahit huwag na muna makapaglaro ng professional, basta may matulungan ako, ok na sa’kin ‘yon.”

“We will fully support a DLSU-D e-sports team just like how we support our varsity teams […] if the USG together with the administrators have the ability to support a DLSU-D e-sports team, then we will go for it,” the secretary said.

Aside from establishing an Electronic Sports (E-Sports) Commission in 2019, the USG aims to work hand-in-hand with the Office of Student Services (OSS) for a new organization solely concentrated on esports, to further scout e-players through surveys, organize incampus tournaments, and facilitate online tryouts that will potentially represent the Patriots off-campus.

Meanwhile, Morenos also highlighted possible marketing plans such as plugging outside connections with gaming organizations to attract more fellow Patriots in the virtual gaming scene at the campus level.

Among the outside organizations that the Sports and Recreation is eyeing to reach out to is the Youth Esports Program (YEP), a collaborative drive by highpowered Mineski Esports and Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) that advocates responsible gaming and co-curricular esports across the country, and the prominent gaming company AcadArena.

“For it to expand, we will reach out to outside organizations such as the Youth Esports Program (YEP) and AcadArena which provides scholarships for (sic) these e-sports organizations. As of now, we are making guidelines regarding e-sports for future references,” he shared.

Aside from these esports programs, numerous amateur to non-professional esports events are also available within reach for the future esports team of the University, and all aspiring Patriots in the gaming industry who aspire to take part in it.

One of which is the online social media portal GO Philippines who jump-started series of esports events in different disciplines such as the Battle of Binakayan for DotA 2, The Madrigal Cup for League of Legends (LoL), and Liga ng mga Bayani for the latest triple A First Person Shooter (FPS) Valorant.

Additionally, there are other options of nonprofessional gaming outfits such as the FIGHT Esports’ Fight Campus League-Philippines; and the nationwide, local government unit (LGU)-based Philippine National Esports League (PNEL)—all are seasonally open for future Patriot teams to join.

DLSU-D Esports League Despite the distance learning in effect, the E-Sports Commission in academic year (AY) 2020-2021 had successfully carried out the first Esports League for the Lasallians—an event that the current Sports and Recreation eyes to revamp. While the launch dates of these online games are still underway, Morenos already outlined the add-ons for the supposed virtual league.

According to Morenos, several developments will be implemented to make the league ‘more appealing’ in hopes of drawing larger attention from students than before. Moreover, the secretary also emphasized the use of sponsorships, and reaching out to famous esports personalities that will help the USG ramp up the esports event.

“We will also make use of sponsorships not for personal use, but for us to be able to save our money and expenses. It is also our goal to reach out to wellknown shout casters and streamers to make the league more inviting to many. The creation of a committee is also in the works as to (sic) help us influence the participants,” Morenos said.

Breaking the stigma As the USG is open in relaunching an official esports organization on campus, Morenos then reiterated its significance in terms of ‘bringing out the best in students’ in the field of esports.

The secretary furthered that his office envisions to ‘break the stigma’ about esports, shedding light on how video gaming thrusts players in picking up its inherent social, strategical, and cognitive benefits.

Furthermore, as Morenos sets store on esports during the remote learning, he also pushes the Patriots to get on board with the USG in breaking the stigma, embracing its developing industry in the context of DLSU-D. In this regard, the secretary pledged the full support of USG to its fellow Patriots who eye a career path in esports, underscoring the importance of trusting one’s process and believing in oneself.

“I would like to encourage all of you to pursue e-sports as a career because just like physical sports, you will only enjoy the process as you get better in this industry. You all have our full support... together with the University Student Government headed by Ms. Niña Ligan and Mr. Reine Cruz,” he said.

SEPTEMBER 2021 - FEBRUARY 2022 | PAGE 21

VOLUME 36 DOUBLE ISSUE 1

Of lost threads That opportunities lost for hopeful athletes is the resonating truth during this turbulent time of pandemic.

Resounding it may be on a bigger picture but the situation of collegiate athletes in the context of DLSU-D remains the same: bleak and isolated, prolonging the timeout of coaches, players, and the sports community as a whole.

Indeed, the pandemic has brought a multitude of effects on the collegiate sports scene but to have it prolonged is another case in point—that this too long of a disconnect begs the question: where has the University’s premium for sports has strayed?

It is important for all of us to have the vantage point from where we all sit about the situation of sports in the University before we can move forward, so as to understand the effects of the pandemic and the setbacks that were existent even before the layoff.

Case in point, collegiate sports are not immune to the pandemic as school administrations have been forced to remove the athletic fees following the absence of athletic games. In DLSU-D’s case, no athletic fees are levied by the University for two academic years (AY) now. Considering that finances are required in order to bring collegiate sports back up, it would be an entirely different game for the future sports coordinator in picking up where they left off — especially when everything is not as it used to be.

In effect, less and less athletes are given the opportunities and privileges such as the tuition fee scholarships, leaving several athletes to decide whether to stop their study or handle their own expenses. As a result, Patriots who have a great and medal-producing potential are either pushed to be out-of-school or have already enrolled in a much more affordable university who are probably starting their sports programs now.

And since DLSU-D is still not opening tryouts and recruitments, there are no additions to the cast of Patriots in various sports. On top of that, graduating athletes are exiting one by one with no new bloods to live on the campaign, leaving the Patriot barrel to be almost empty.

If this continues to be the case for another two years, the Patriots number will definitely dwindle.

These lost threads of the has-beens and the would-be Patriots are also the story of some coaches who are the core of training our University’s treasured athletes. When the Sports Development Office (SDO) was dissolved, some coaches were displaced to other offices to continue their supplementary services, while some spent a fair amount of time monitoring athletes in the early stages of lockdown remotely. However, since funds were not maintained several coaches were eventually let-go and the athlete-coach’s relationships are either severed or totally dispensed with.

While it is true that no one was exempt from the drawbacks of the pandemic, it is significant to understand that the more time we hold back from premiuming sports, the more chances that our own athletes and coaches would turn elsewhere.

Moreover, there is a bigger picture that lies behind our pressing situation with the downtrend on budget, athlete quantity, coaches’ privileges, and even the

the more time we hold back from premiuming sports, the more chances that our own athletes and coaches would turn elsewhere. school’s declining tournament subscription, going way before the pandemic struck.When the K-12 curriculum was implemented, the DLSU-D suffered from the low enrollees turnout in the college level that kicked-off a domino effect until the AY of 2018-2019. Scholarships were compromised, good-performing minor teams turned into less-supported clubs, national tournaments such as UniGames, Universiade among others were

signed-off with, while coaches were forced to do extra work to maintain their pay. These may not mirror the much more devastating effect of the pandemic but we can all see that the past events have caused DLSU-D sports to destabilize for many years.

To note, I share the high hopes of the sports enthusiasts and most especially of the athletes that they will be back on court soon. Along with the plan on reinstituting the SDO as well as the restoration of athletic fees in AY 2022-2023, this may really be a comeback of the season. Relatively, the face-to-face setup return is a leap that we should take for our sports aspirations to be realized – but let’s cross the bridge when we get there.

Now, rendering collegiate sports as highly imperative is the first step in helping our athletes get the experience and training they need to take their game up to a higher notch. Encouraging our athletes to pursue their training reinforces the importance of sports not just to the pride of the University, but also to the empowerment of our community. To this end, we must acknowledge that the usual attention we give to sports and our athletes is not enough, especially when there’s too much disconnect from our goals and the resources we have. What is needed now is a premium to collegiate sports—the premium it needs and deserves.

SEPTEMBER 2021 - FEBRUARY 2022 | PAGE 22

SEPTEMBER 2021 - FEBRUARY 2022

facebook.com/heraldofilipino

VOLUME 36 DOUBLE ISSUE 1

twitter.com/heraldofilipino

instagram.com/heraldofilipino

officialheraldofilipino@gmail.com

heraldofilipino.com

VOLUME 36 DOUBLE ISSUE 1

SPORTS NEWS Sports Facility page 20

SPORTS COMICS

Abdul Book page 21

SPORTS FEATURE

Athletes at the helm page 19

BLURRED LINES The University Track Oval’s seven-liner tracks are now rubbed out while the eight poles in the field remain functional, two years after being unused since the campus closure in 2020.

Photo by Miguel Luis P. Abenales

OSS to reinstitute SDO; plans to restore athletic fees in AY 2022-2023

by Christine Marie Romero Following the Sports Development Office (SDO) dissolution in the academic year (AY) 2020-2021 due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Office of Student Services (OSS) Dean Domingo Reblora Jr. has confirmed that his office eyes to reestablish the sports office in AY 2022-2023.

In an online interview with The HERALDO FILIPINO, the OSS Dean revealed that Vice Chancellor for Academics and Research (VCAR) Dr. Marco Saez tapped his office on February 16 for the reinstitution of the SDO, the unit responsible for sports and recreation matters in the University.

New SDO coordinator As for the revival of the abolished sports office, the OSS

dean stated that the first step toward its reinstitution is to appoint a sports coordinator who will “study, revise the guidelines at hand, and propose which sports can be restored soon.” He emphasized that the major task of the future coordinator is focused on the roadmap plan for the SDO in the succeeding years, and that the University competitive activities are reliant on the SDO’s outlined proposal.

“It (SDO) used to have a

director and sports coordinator, but this time, I was only asked to come up with a coordinatorship.

After hopefully one semester, when we have a full swing of reinstatement or reinstitution of SDO, we can have by then the director and the sports coordinator who would be helping each other to resurrect where we were prior to the pandemic, sports-wise,” Reblora said.

Although the OSS dean shared that he is already eyeing for

a particular faculty to take the helm, he is still anticipating a short-list endorsement from National Service Training Program-Civic Welfare Training Service (NSTP-CWTS) Coordinator Julius Tibayan.

“I told him to talk to his faculty members who are willing to embrace the task […] And out of the short list, the OSS will choose whom we shall be appointing as the sports coordinator,” he added.

Recruitment process revival Meanwhile, with Philippine sports leagues slowly returning to the scene, Reblora admits that there is a need to revive the tryouts and

recruitment process for future Patriots.

However, the OSS Dean also pointed out that this still depends on the plans to be drafted by the soon to be appointed sports coordinator.

“Basically, we might be recalling if they are still amenable with the terms and conditions, our athletes who are now in their provinces. And I am afraid a good number of them will be graduating this school year 2021-2022, so we have to start the recruitment process,” he explained.

Reblora also mentioned that even the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is having difficulty figuring out how to proceed with the recruitment process as most of the

Senior High School (SHS) students are enrolled in fully online mode of classes, and most probably recruiters are yet to see the promising athletes play.

With these factors at hand, Reblora described the future recruitment process as a “gargantuan task” for the incoming sports coordinator.

On previous SDO matters In line with the SDO reinstitution, the OSS Dean also assured that previous conflicts from the dissolution have been resolved, including the stipend for 17 contractual coaches in 2020.

See SDO | page 19

Beyond closed doors: Jenina Oliveros in sealing her athletic dream

by Hedrick Alcantara To capture a title and to win big is one of the many ambitions of 22 years old Patriot Jenina Marie Oliveros in her remaining years as a college badminton player. But what’s in store for her future athletic life might not be a sure thing yet due to the adversities brought by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic—closing less and less opportunities for hopeful athletes like her to live the athletic dream.

“Ang gusto ko magkaroon muna ako ng title … mas makilala ako, para masabi na ‘ay ito ni-re-represent ko ‘yong La Salle [Dasmariñas] bilang ako as a badminton player’ para naman ahh, sukli ko na rin ‘yon sa La Salle,” Oliveros shared, talking about her aspirations before going beyond collegiate sports. However, this goal would be by no means an easy success to grasp with many obstacles still in place for Oliveros to overcome.

Backslide in badminton career A dynamic Patriot shuttler as she was, Oliveros never skipped a beat in enhancing her racket skills and in-court agility both as a mix and women’s doubles player. She proved this in her

first year of bannering DLSU-D in the Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA)- Nationals with two bronze in her bag. While Oliveros was in the middle of medalling her sophomore year, the pandemic had suddenly stopped her momentum as a student athlete—a moment when all the setbacks in her badminton career started to kick in.

Going through extra challenges, Oliveros was not exempt in suffering the brunt of the athletes’ layoff when the University began to reduce full scholarship grants for the Patriots during the pandemic. Oliveros was one of many athletes in DLSU-D who took a leave of absence (LOA) from studying in the second semester

of the academic year (AY) 20202021. The free dormitory, access to facilities, and other assistance provided by the University were basically cut off. Consequently, she said that due to the gradual deduction of grants, her 100% scholarship was slowly stripped away down to 50%—the remaining chunk of the fees that she can no longer handle.

But these material perks were not the ones that Oliveros misses the most: it is her friends and coaches whom she spent almost two years training with are what made DLSU-D her second home. “Bukod sa financial help, siguro parang sila na kasi ‘yong naging guardian ko na rin eh. Malayo ako sa parents ko, do’n ako nag-stay,

so, ‘yong La Salle ‘yong parang naging bahay ko na. Do’n ako natutulog, do’n ako kumakain, do’n ako nag-e-exercise, do’n ako nag-te-training. Parang ‘yon ’yong big help sa akin ni La Salle, na parang sila na ‘yong tumutok sa’kin,” a sentimental Oliveros said.

After returning back to her hometown in Lucena, Quezon Province, the hurdles for Oliveros continued to pile up as she struggled in adapting to the remote setup, with weak internet signals affecting her to push with online classes. This was coupled by the difficult assignment of adjusting to her younger third year classmates in a batch she ended up with after one semester in break.

But despite all the odds that put

her athletic dream on the sidelines, Oliveros still remains optimistic that everything will subside one way or another. To see this through, she said, “Pinagpapatuloy ko pa rin ‘yong pag-babadminton player ko eh. Kapag alam ko na kasi [na] darating din ‘yong time na babalik din ‘yong laro, kahit na ngayong pandemic. Kaya ‘yon, training ‘pag may time, at syempre, makatapos ng pag-aaral.

‘Yon ‘yong kailangan kong gawin.”

An athlete’s call As she is staunchingly doing her part while in lockdown, the shuttler sees it’s high time for the University to bring back the opportunities that were once given to school athletes, especially to those who need it the most.

The shuttler herself admits that she cannot achieve what she has right now on her own, and that the

University will still be instrumental in putting her badminton dreams into reality. Recounting the days where she got recruited as a Patriot, Oliveros has nothing but kind words to her coach Rod Hinanay who molded her strengths and put her badminton prowess to the test—a relationship between an athlete and a coach that is too good not to retrieve.

When asked about the University’s role in coping with the challenges, Oliveros said that DLSUD’s support did not disappoint, providing them a smooth hiatus that many athletes deserve.

But with the two-year break given to many Patriots like her, the woman shuttler stands with her fellow athletes who leave their fingers crossed for sports to be back on track.

See Oliveros | page 20