The Carrier E-Newsletter Vol. 4 No. 1 | July - November 2021

“For stories, we sail.

For truth, we deliver.”

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VO LU M E 4 N O. 1 JU LY - N OV E M B E R 2 0 2 1

THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF JOHN B. LACSON COLLEGES FOUNDATION (BACOLOD), INC.

Maritime, HM courses to conduct limited face-to-face classes VINCE DAVE DUQUILLA FACE-TO-FACE READY. School staff rustles up setting arrow mark painting along with the imposition of barriers for the approaching implementation of limited face-to-face classes.

MDPN. ANGELO RYAN GILTENDEZ

As the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) released guidelines for the conduct of laboratory activities, John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation-Bacolod is now gearing up for the resumption of partial face-to-face classes for its Maritime and HM programs.

“The target date for the school to conduct partial face-to-face classes is at the start of the Second Semester of the AY 2021-2022. However, if we could have an earlier approval from CHED, then we would start immediately,” said Engr. Roberto Neal S. Sobrejuanite, School Administrator.

LABORATORY ACTIVITIES ONLY

As per CMO No. 18 and 20, the institution will only cater to the students from Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation (BSMT); Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering (BSMarE); and Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management (BSHM).

The partial face-to-face classes will only

news

Sobrejuanite promotes vax among Lacsonians

read on page 09

be for courses that focus on skills using specialized equipment, tools, machinery, and simulators. Students will only go to school to perform specific laboratories and activities.

Third-year BSMT and BSMarE students of the AY 2020-2021 are said to be prioritized for the partial face-to-face classes, then followed by the current third-year students, then second-year, and lastly, the first-year students.

“CHED does not consider the third-year BSMT and BSMarE students of AY 2020-2021 as having Completed Classroom Instruction because they have not performed the required laboratory activities. As such, they will be prioritized first,” Engr. Sobrejuanite pointed out.

FACE-TO-FACE READY

The institution has begun retrofitting the classrooms, laboratories, libraries, and communal areas, as well as complied with the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) protocols.

“Students will have to wash or disinfect their hands, step on the footbath, take

editorial

feature

Mockery of Democracy

Sail on Maribel’s Journey

read on page 04

read on page 10

their temperatures, and fill out the Health Declaration checklist or their BacTrac-QR Codes scanned,” shared Engr. Sobrejuanite.

Retrofitting includes washstands in designated locations and sanitizers at the entrances of classrooms; floor markings; directional arrows; barriers on corridors; and two isolation rooms, one at the triage at the entrance gate, and another near the exit gate.

VACCINATED LACSONIANS ONLY ALLOWED

Only fully vaccinated students, faculty and staff will be allowed to attend the face-to-face classes. The number of students to be catered will be dependent on the laboratory equipment to be used.

“The primary consideration is that there will be adequate physical distancing between students when they perform their activities.

There will be barriers between students in cases wherein physical distancing is not possible to reduce the possibility of infection due to respiratory droplets,” emphasized Engr. Sobrejuanite.

face to face classes read on page 02

laragway Padayon: Negrenses

Forging Ahead Despite Adversities

read on page 12

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02 news TheCarrier

VOLUM E 4 NO.1 JULY - NOVE M BE R 2021

JBLCF-B research published in int’l conferences

MDPN. RENGIL MANA-AY

Unfurling the flag of John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University, four research papers of faculty and staff from Bacolod campus that address various concerns in the maritime industry, education, and training have been published and presented in international conferences.

JBLCF-B Administrator Engr.

Roberto Neal Sobrejuanite and Research Coordinator Dr. Emeliza T. Estimo virtually presented their paper, “Remote Instruction: Challenges, Initiatives, and Future Directions for Maritime Institutions in a Developing Country” at the 21st International Maritime University Annual General Assembly and Conference (IAMU AGA), held at Alexandria, Egypt on Oct. 27.

Their paper shed light on the challenges faced by the instructors, students, and Maritime Education and Training Institutions (METIs) in implementing remote instruction, METI initiatives to cope with and address these challenges, and future directions for METIs for effective delivery of remote instruction.

With data collected from less

than 1000 respondents, results revealed that most of the challenges experienced during the transition from face-to-face to remote mode of instruction stemmed from the “far-from-advanced” technological resources and difficulty in coping with the sudden shift in METIs’ operations, and the instructors’ and students’ new academic routines that have affected their well-being.

Consequently, initiatives focused on the academic, financial, human, and technological resources were implemented to cope with the sudden change. Future directions in MET are set on Strengthening IT/Technological Infrastructure, Capitalizing on IT and Research and Development, Academic Calibration for a More Relevant and Responsive Maritime Education and Training, Advancing Instructors’ Technical Capacities, Strengthening Parental Engagement, and Building Wider Alliances and External Partnerships.

“My thrust for this university is for research to be able to address, if not all, most of the problems here in the university particularly in our delivery of education and training,” Engr. Sobrejuanite said.

JBLCF-B now accredited TESDA training center MDPN. VINCE DAVE DUQUILLA

John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation-Bacolod has produced its first 20 trainees who have completed their Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) NC 1 under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) through the Special Training for Employment Program (STEP), last Oct. 27.

School administrator, Engr.

Roberto Neal S. Sobrejuanite, is hoping that through this implemented program, the school may be able to help people who were mostly affected by the pandemic.

“You train here and pag assessment dapat pasar ka sa assessment and dapat kabalo gid mag-welding and then pag-graduate mo hatagan ka sang portable nga welding machine at least miski papaano the day after na makakita ka na customer mo kung may

weldingon da,” Sobrejuanite said.

Students who are qualified for the said program include people who are currently unemployed and unenrolled to any program.

Interested applicants may go to the TESDA Office at the school.

“TESDA is looking for trainees through the help of the school meaning diri na gina pa diretso ang mga estudyante kung magpa enroll sila, and then TESDA makes them scholars, so libre na siya ang TESDA. You don’t need to pay anything basta you qualify under the requirements or qualifications,” said Sobrejuanite.

The Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) NC I is a 268hour training which the school is currently catering to only twenty (20) trainees per batch on a first come first serve basis.

The 21st IAMU AGA was hosted by the Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport (AASTMT).

JBLFMU was the first maritime university in the Philippines that had become a member of the IAMU.

Furthermore, three papers authored by seven faculty and staff researchers had been accepted for oral presentation among the list of European researchers in the 9th International Maritime Science Conference (IMSC) held in Varna, Bulgaria on Sept. 9-10.

“Maritime Security in Coastwise Domestic Shipping as Perceived by Cadets” by 2/M Albert O. Grapa, 2/M Edgar T. Lemoncito Jr.; “Impact of

Engine Room Simulator as a Tool for Training and Assessing BSMarE Students’ Performance in Engine Watchkeeping” by 3/E Charles N. Mangga, 3/E Paul B. Tibo-oc, 3/E Ronnie Montaño; and “Addressing Maritime Industry Feedback for Continuous Improvement: A Process Model” by Dr. Emeliza T. Estimo, Geneveve M. Aguilar were published in Pedagogika-Pedagogy, a journal indexed in the Web of Science.

The IMSC 2021 provides an ideal academic platform for researchers to present the latest research findings and describe emerging technologies and directions in Maritime Science and Maritime Education issues.

IAMU AGA 21 participants at the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, Alexandria, Egypt joined by virtual participants via Zoom.

IAMU SECRETARIAT

face to face classes from page 01

The scheduling will not be on a per section basis, but a first-come, first-served basis.

“Students need to register first online and will be informed of their schedule,” .

On the conduct of the partial face-to-face classes, medical personnel shall activate the Transfer and Contract Tracing Protocols.

STUDENTS’ SENTIMENTS

“It is very beneficial for us students, to have a limited face-to-face by 2nd semester, especially when conducting laboratories. This, the limited face-toface [classes] can help us further enhance learning whenever there’s a laboratory to be conducted,” said Carwin Pagunsan, a BSMT student.

Jane Batadhay from BSHM also expressed her excitement for the limited face-to-face classes.

“I’m really happy upon hearing the news about the possible F2F class for the reason that I’d be able to see my classmates and for me, online class is very ineffective. I think we are now ready for it. Students will learn more if experienced first hand.”

Meanwhile, George Lotas III, a junior BSME student from Antique, shared that it would be hard for him to travel back and forth because Bacolod City and Antique have different COVID-19 protocols.

“It would be hard to go back and forth from home to school…

If ever I would rent for a bed space, I don’t know where to find a boarding house because most of them are already closed.”

T H E O F F I C I A L S T U D E N T P U B L I C AT I O N O F J O H N B . L A C S O N C O L L E G E S F O U N D AT I O N ( B A C O L O D ) , I N C .

VINCE DAVE DUQUILLA

TheCarrier

news 03

VOLUME 4 NO.1 | JULY - NOV E M BE R 2 0 2 1

Bacolod intensifies vax drive MDPN. ANGELO RYAN GILTENDEZ

Bacolod City Emergency Operations Center Task Force (EOC-TF), together with the COVID-19 Vaccination Council (CoVac), has increased their vaccination efforts against the COVID-19 virus by reaching remote areas and opening sites 24/7.

EOC-TF Executive Director and CoVac coordinator Em Ang said their vaccination team has been administering jabs to people from the grassroots residing in remote villages and puroks since October as part of the strategy to protect those living in far-flung areas from COVID-19 and to reach out to senior citizens and other eligible adults considering distance and transportation difficulties.

Furthermore, a total of 34 vaccination stations were opened throughout Bacolod as part of the “Grand Vaccination Drive” to accelerate the administration of COVID-19 vaccines to all eligible yet unvaccinated citizens, Sept. 27 and Oct. 1.

The 24-hour vaccination service at Jollibee Gatuslao and Jollibee East, VAX-i mobile vaccination drive, onsite vaccination, graveyard/ night-shift vaccination for Business

Process Outsourcing (BPO) companies, barangay vaccination, mallbased vaccination at 888 Chinatown Square, Ayala Malls Capitol Central, SM City, CityMall Goldenfield, CityMall Mandalagan, Gaisano City, and Robinsons Place, and two drive-thru vaccination centers at Ayala Malls Capitol Central, were among the adaptable approaches initiated by the city government.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia, chairman of the EOC-TF, said that these vaccination sites were simultaneously launched to cater residents here who want to get vaccinated and to encourage others as well.

“You know how important vaccines are. Most of those in the hospitals today are unvaccinated.

Please help us educate and encourage others to get vaccinated, especially your family members,” said Mayor Evelio Leonardia.

Leonardia also expressed his confidence that the local government will meet its goal to inoculate 100 percent of the city’s target population by December 2021, with more than 50% of the target population now vaccinated.

DA 6 lauds farmers

WV sustains high rice self-sufficiency rate MDPN. RENGIL MANA-AY

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Western Visayas remains high rice self-sufficiency with 138.73 percent in the first semester of 2021, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 6.

In a virtual press briefing, DA-6 Regional Executive Director Remelyn Recoter reported that all provinces in Region 6 achieved at least 100% rice sufficiency rate, except Aklan and Negros Occidental: Capiz, 186.76%; Antique, 181.17%; Iloilo, 169.30%; Guimaras, 152.48%; Aklan, 96%; and Negros Occidental, 87%.

The palay production in the region during the first six months sustained its high performance with 818,600 metric tons (MT) or an average yield of 2.58 MT per hectare.

Furthermore, Recoter commended the farmers in the Western Visayas for their efforts that helped increase rice production in the region.

“The credits will go to the rice farmers because they are the ones who plant,” Recoter said.

“Kanami sang feeling nga mabal-an nga nakabulig ka sa pagpakaon sa

mga pumuluyo,” Rubelyn Canon, a farmer from Hinigaran shared.

Furthermore, Recoter attributed the region’s high rice self-sufficiency rate to the government’s intervention.

She said fertilizers and free seeds were distributed to support the affected rice farmers during the pandemic through various programs such as the Rice Competitiveness Enhanced Fund from the Rice Tariffication Law and Bayanihan 1 and 2.

Despite the high rice self-sufficiency rate, the DA-6 also promoted other staple foods such as white corn and vegetables.

“We also advocate other staple foods because hindi lang puwede nga magsalig lang kita magsalig sa humay. Other alternatives are white corn... puwede man nga combination of rice-corn mix. May mga study man nga [nagasiling] manami ang rice-corn mix. Of course ang aton usual nga mga root crops could be alternative staple foods, like kamote, balinghoy, kag mga ulutanon in lieu para sa iban nga wala gakaon kan-on for their meals,” Recoter shared.

NegOcc’s coastal wetlands protection initiative wins Galing Pook Award MDPN. RUER TORCULAS

The Provincial Government of Negros Occidental was named as one of the Ten Outstanding Local Governance Program winners of the 2021 Galing Pook Awards for its entry ‘Network Alliances for Coastal Wetlands Conservation’ during a virtual awarding ceremony, October 20.

Out of 206 Local Government Units in the country, the entry of Negros Occidental Coastal Wetlands Area Management Alliance (NOCWAMA) received P300,000 in cash prize and a Galing Pook marker and signage for its innovative practices.

The alliance consists of 52 coastal barangays in the cities of Bago, Himamaylan, and Kabankalan as well as in the municipalities of Pulupandan, Valladolid, San Enrique, Pontevedra, Hinigaran, Binalbagan, and Ilog, people’s organizations, fisheries, and aquatic resources

management councils, and hundreds of community-based environmental law enforcers in the province.

“The concern of our environment is a problem of global proportions, but reducing its adverse impacts must be done locally. This honor will definitely inspire and encourage us, together with all the stakeholders, to do better and do more in terms of good environmental governance,” Gov. Bong Lacson said.

“With the state of our environment, including the decline of the state of our wetlands, we are in a race against time to save and conserve our natural habitat.”

Oct. 20 also became significant as it marked the fifth anniversary of the declaration of Negros Occidental Coastal Wetlands Conservation Area (NOCWCA) as the country’s seventh Ramsar site or Wetland of International Importance.

“Among the Ramsar sites in the

Philippines, this is the only [one] that is locally-managed with network of alliances and local conservation areas. The biggest impact is on the community that live in this area.

They have added income because of the conservation efforts. There has also been a reduction in the cutting of mangroves,” Lacson said.

The NOCWCA is home to globally threatened species, extensive mangroves, and mudflats where thousands of migratory birds feed, according to the Provincial Environment Management Office.

The Galing Pook Foundation presented the 2021 Galing Pook Awards in collaboration with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Local Government Academy (LGA) and SM Prime Holdings.

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson shows the award received by the provincial government for being one of the top 10 winners of the 2021 Galing Pook Awards.

CAPITOL PIO

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04 editorial TheCarrier

VOLUM E 4 N O.1 JU LY - N OVE M BE R 2021

Mockery of Democracy It is about time we tame the clowns who continue to ridicule the decorum of the proceedings. Yes, whether they win or not depends on the number of votes cast, but honoring the process of dedicating oneself to the Filipino people will prove who we are as a country.

EMMY NAVA

Since its enactment, Article IX, Section 77 of the 1985 Omnibus Election Code has been the governing rule on substitution in the election process. This is a regulation that allows substitutions to be made in case of death, disqualification, or withdrawal of the original candidate. However, the third reason has become a target of manipulation and mockery since the last few electoral processes in the country, especially by plutocratic politicians.

Rufus Rodriguez, Deputy

TheCarrier EDITORIAL BOARD

Speaker, and Cagayan de Oro Representative submitted House Bill No. 10380. The bill will amend the Omnibus Election Code, to prohibit a political party from substituting a candidate unless the nominee is dead or disqualified.

He argues that substitution due to withdrawal, or what some refer to as “voluntary substitution”, raises severe concerns and might lead to election rigging and “mockery.” He further stated that the measure he suggested would require the candi-

date to resign from his existing position before filing for a new one. This, he believes, will “force aspirants to take higher office seriously and to stop manipulating and mocking the electoral process”.

Candidates will be prohibited from using their position, public funds, or property to promote their campaign under this legislation.

This is a reasonable prohibition for those who want to serve the public, especially those who are looked up to as leaders of the community. Placeholders are betrayals of public trust.

Leading the nation is a serious job.

The bar for good behavior must be set higher for those who pledge to serve the country with integrity, dedication, and competence.

There should not be any place for drama and political negotiations.

Aside from the withdrawals and substitutions of known political candidates, there is also a huge increase of nuisance candidates— those who have no serious intentions of running for office.

The substitution mechanism is

intended to be used in emergency situations where a candidate is incapacitated or forced to withdraw.

In such cases, the candidate may legally relinquish his/her candidacy to another candidate from the same political party. This rule has been around since 1985 but the time for it to be modified is long overdue.

Candidate substitution must end or be severely limited because it perpetuates “personality politics,” which is universally condemned but no one seems to want to change.

The COMELEC and the Congress should work hand-in-hand to have a more efficient and reliable version of our current system such as having substitution be allowed only if the substitute candidate has been a legitimate party member for a year, not just for some time to pave way for last-minute switching.

For the last few years, there has not been a significant irregularity in the substitution of candidates owing to withdrawal. However, the proposed measure is intended to counter those who are attempting to raise the bar in politics by requiring seriousness while seeking higher office. It is about time we tame the clowns who continue to ridicule the decorum of the proceedings. Yes, whether they win or not depends on the number of votes cast, but honoring the process of dedicating oneself to the Filipino people will prove who we are as a country.

E DITOR- IN- CHIEF Mdpn. Rengil V. Mana-ay

ASST. MAN AGIN G EDITOR Mdpn. Chryshan Nheil F. Alejano

LITER AR Y E D I T O R Mdpn. Carlo Miguel O. Barodi

ASSOCIATE E D ITOR Jasele Mae S. Priolo

N EWS EDITOR Mdpn. Angelo Ryan D. Giltendez

SPOR T S E D I T O R Mdpn. Gerald C. Diano

MANAGING E D ITOR Mdpn. Ruer G. Torculas

FEATU RE EDITOR Mdpn. Mark John P.

LAYO UT AND G R AP HI C S E D I T O R Emmy S. Nava

S.Y. 2021-2022

T H E O F F I C I A L S T U D E N T P U B L I C AT I O N O F J O H N B . L A C S O N C O L L E G E S F O U N D AT I O N ( B A C O L O D ) , I N C .

TheCarrier

opinion 05

VOLUME 4 NO.1 | JULY - NOV E M BE R 2 0 2 1

Filipino seafarers, number one!

RAISE THE BAR HIGHER!

merchant shipping, crew members come from the Philippines. This shows that amid the pandemic’s ongoing crisis, Filipino mariners continue to dominate the maritime industry as they are the most trusted seafarers by the global shipRengil V. Mana-ay rengil.manaay@jb.jblfmu.edu.ph ping companies and shipowners.

It gives me so much pride and bigEGO honor that the profession I once looked down on is something that the world looks up to now. As I take Growing up, I would always hear so a step closer towards becoming a many things about seafaring— from seafarer, I now truly understand and the lavish lifestyles to having the appreciate the significance of this privilege of traveling the world for profession in nation-building and free. But most of the time, I would keeping the world afloat. Seafarers hear people insulting this profession run the global economy, with 90% of and blabbering about how much the world trade are delivered by sea. better theirs is as they mumble many UNCTAD also cited the critical ecomisconceptions about the maritime nomic contribution of seafarers for industry. The prejudice towards the supplier countries. For instance, seafaring and Filipino seafarers UNCTAD said the Philippines earned had been unconsciously absorbed $6.4 billion in 2020 from its seafarers. by my system. Consequently, this Behind these, many Filipino had become seafarers have my notion for The seafaring industry been through a long time. I round-thebecame one of is now as fast-paced as the clock work. the ignorant world, and the seafarers Some of them majority who not have of today keep up with the do looked down communicaon seafarers changes that occur every tion with their when I was moment. loved ones for yo u n g e r. a month or two

But the due to a lack of thing is, times have changed. Sea- internet onboard. They all have to farers are not what the majority see endure the toughest seas and roughthem anymore like dumb people est weather as well as to face extreme who just chisel rusts onboard ships health hazards. Not all are immune whose lives are just a bed of roses to seasickness, more so the longing with dollars but no financial litera- for their loved ones. Many of them cy. The world has changed, as have fight alone, and some have given up. we, and the standards that govern The maritime industry in this industry have changed dramat- the country with its seafarers at ically. The seafaring industry is now the frontline is doing great today. as fast-paced as the world, and the However, I believe that Maritime seafarers of today keep up with the Education and Training Institutions changes that occur every moment. (METIs) and the governing bodies Filipino seafarers are now system- should focus not just on the compeatic, multi-faceted, and dynamic. tence of the Filipino seafarers but

In the latest report released by also more on their mental and emothe United Nations Conference on tional fortitude and financial literaTrade and Development (UNCTAD) cy. This is to ensure that every Filipilast Nov. 18, the Philippines topped no mariner is as great as the others as the world’s biggest supplier of and that we are honored to say “we both seafarers and officers. About are seafarers and proud,” retaining 700,000 Filipinos were deployed on as Filipino seafarers, number one! domestic or foreign-flagged seagoing vessels. Over a quarter of all global PHOT O & V I D E O E D I T O R Nele Stephen M. Pacurib G R A PH I C A RT I S T Beanne Y. Jaca S T A FF W R IT E R S Angelic Cheil Feril Jeremy Josh Alojado Mdpn. Jerric R. Claridad

P H OTOGRAP H E RS Mdpn. Bab Christian D. Sanchez Mdpn. Vince Dave T. Duquilia Mar y Aileen R. Labios MODE RATOR Alyn G. Libertad, MAEd

appointed in a government position and accused of disseminating “fake news” on social media. She was also chastised for promoting federalism by releasing a video on her blog featuring her co-host Jasele Mae S. Priolo Drew Olivar singing and dancing priolojasele@gmail.com to the obscene “pepe-dede-ralismo” jingle. Now she is all over Philippine news with her arms being raised

by President Rodrigo Duterte, for Incompetence has been sitting filing a Certificate of Candidacy for comfortably as our companion for MOCHA (Mother of Change) Party.

Well, there is nothing wrong if decades, wandering around and silently destroying our system. It is you want to run for a government as if one rotten apple has spoiled position, but consider your qualthe bunch. We have become so ifications first. Are you fit for the accustomed to it that some peo- job? Can you deliver quality service ple can’t even tell the difference and uphold the integrity of your between what is and what isn’t. work? Will your qualification and

While people are living in competence be perfectly aligned unprecedented times with the pan- for the position you applied for? It demic being over the entire nation, is always smart and ethical to assess it should not be a reason for anyone oneself first before grabbing what is in front of them. to relax standards It is always smart We are now living on politicians and even allow the and ethical to assess in a time when politicians disregard of laws. oneself first before inept are brazen enough

According to the 1987 Philippine grabbing what is in to seek office in areas where they Constitution, public front of them. are unqualified. elective positions in the Philippines especially, the posi- A politician who has no idea how tion of the president, requires the tough it is to manage a country that following specifications (1) Natural prioritizes its citizens’ well-being born citizen of the Philippines (2) over the greed of its leaders. But I registered voter (3) able to read and believe that only animals go extinct, write (4) at least 40 years of age on not those people who aspire to be of the day of election (5) resident of great service to the Filipino people.

As the May 2022 election is the Philippines for at least ten years immediately preceding the election. rapidly approaching, may the good

Anyone can wake up one Lord give us light especially to the morning and decide to run for blind and deaf Filipino people, a state job. I mean, how can that may they not impulsively tick you run and take jobs without a box next to the name of someone a grasp of knowledge about it? who is just famous, someone who

One great example of this is remains unshakable of his lies, and former Presidential Communica- someone who is a mere puppet of tions Operations Office (PCOO) his own greed. May our experiencAssistant Secretary Esther Margaux es, history, and observance of how “Mocha” J. Uson, appointed as the rotten our system is, be our guide new Deputy Executive Director in choosing officials who are comV (deputy administrator) of the petent and committed to serving the Overseas Workers Welfare Adminis- Filipino people. One who does not tration (OWWA). A sexy star turned bite to more than what he can chew. political blogger who has been

Pepay

EDITORIAL POLICY. TheCarrier is published twice every year as the official newsletter of John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation (Bacolod), Inc., Pauline Village, Alijis, Bacolod City. TheCarrier accepts original articles from students and faculty. We edit contributed articles and provide correction for write-ups that need modification or improvement. All contributions must be legibly written and double spaced. All submitted articles automatically become properties of TheCarrier

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06 opinion TheCarrier

VOLU M E 4 N O.1 JULY - N OVE M BE R 2021

Last call for humanity

Last August 9, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released the 6th Assessment report summarizing the alarming increase in Earth’s temperature by 1.09 C (1.96 F) since pre-industrial times and other climate effects such as the sea-level rise and glacier melts are now almost irreversible. And, escaping from human-driven climate change is no longer possible as it is now affecting every region and continent on Earth. The sobering IPCC report has left me horrified and it seems that some world leaders, large corporations, and developed countries are not taking this seriously. We’re all digging our own grave here unless our leaders start cooperating now.

In the past months, the Philippines has been struck with typhoons in the middle of a global COVID-19 pandemic, leaving families scathed and losing their homes. Natural disasters such as typhoons have been continuously getting intense over the years and it saddens me that people especially the poor and marginalized communities in developing countries are constantly paying the price.

As a student activist and an advocate, I feel that my contributing voice to call for action is barely scratching the surface. This doesn’t mean that the youth are ineffective. Rather, our leaders and

Ruer G. Torculas turkzruer0@gmail.com

Turksilog policy-makers are those people who mainly dictate the tides of how we take drastic action on this issue.

According to the National Panel of Technical Experts, the increasing frequency and severity of tropical cyclones and extreme rainfall are among the top 10 climate-induced risks facing the Philippines. Along with it are the coastal erosion, flooding, extreme drought and rainfall, temperature increase and rising urban index, climate-induced diseases, wind patterns, biodiversity loss, and rising sea levels which the country is experiencing one of the fastest sea levels rises in the world and affecting approximately 800 municipalities. This impact was also pointed out in the IPCC report that evidence of observed changes in extremes and their attribution to human influence, has strengthened.

For over years of discussions and global conferences tackling

It may be a long fight, but we need the collective effort of each one to clean the mess of those who have come before us. about impending issue of the climate crisis, developed countries have been all over the place scrambling for solutions of what they can do to mitigate the impacts. It is so unlikely when the COVID-19 pandemic has happened that policymakers and world leaders get to arrive in a quick response through imposing intensive quarantine status and health protocols and not to mention, we already have the vaccines.

But we don’t have enough solutions to address the worsening climate yet. It only tells me that they get to act if the danger is in an instant.

The high-stakes 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations (UN) Framework Convention on Climate Change taking place in Glasgow, United Kingdom this October 31 – November 12 will make or break whether we will fail to keep global warming to 1.5C and betray future gener-

ations. The submitted plans of participating countries to ‘secure global net-zero and keep 1.5 degrees within reach’ through the nationally determined contribution (NDCs) for the next decade can make a deciding difference especially on governments – including Russia, Brazil, Australia, and Mexico that had presented weak plans and were no improvement on their 2015 Paris pledges as stated on the UN report.

I hope the climate summit will not be another talking shop, instead, it will bring parties with clear intentions to accelerate climate actions.

Instead of blabbering on data and numbers, leaders should listen more to their constituents especially the youth, environmental activists, climate scientists, marginalized sectors, indigenous people, and developing countries like the Philippines that are vulnerable and directly affected to what their plans may be.

Although time is running out, there’s still a chance and we reject to create our extinction. It may be a long fight but we need the collective effort of each one to clean the mess of those who have come before us. We also owe this to our generation and future generations to experience and see the world in a much better shape.

All set to begin (again) Ever since COVID-19 struck, the students of John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation – Bacolod have been confined at the four corners of their room; where they’d get to study and accomplish their schoolwork in the safety of their own homes. For the duration of the conduct of online classes, I have longed for the day when face-toface classes would be reinstated.

Despite adapting to the new normal way of learning, students like me still wish to return to the traditional classroom setup, where we can interact with one another in real time and in person. We could only go to school on very specific occasions, such as settling of statement of accounts, parent-teacher conferences, processing of documents for scholarship, or organization meetings.

However, in order to prevent the virus from spreading, students must follow the strict rules and guidelines established by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) when attending school.

Angelo Ryan D. Giltendez giltendezangeloryan31@gmail.com

Nayrcissistic

Hand disinfection, temperature checking, and filling out the Health Declaration Checklist or scanning their BACTRAC QR codes were all part of it. These actions ensure not only the safety of the individual entering the campus, but also the overall safety of the institution.

These strict COVID-19 guidelines, however, do not stop at the entrance; they extend to the offices, the library, and even public areas such as the mini park. Plastic barriers were placed in between the corridors to avoid traffic, and even inside the offices to avoid the transfer of tiny respiratory droplets

The school has been adaptable and quick to respond to any situation pertaining to everyone’s safety. between people; markings on chairs were also prominent inside the campus so as to maintain social distancing between people on campus.

As with the recently issues CHED Memorandum No. 20, series of 2021, the school has decided to retrofit the entire campus, including classrooms, laboratories, and other areas that will be used for the upcoming partial face-to-face classes. Built-in washstands, floor markings, directional arrows, isolation rooms, and limiting the number of students per classroom were all part of the plan.

On October 25, I had the opportunity to speak with the

school administrator, Engr. Roberto Neal S. Sobrejuanite, along with my fellow publication mates. We were able to discuss the school’s preparations prior to and during the release of the CHED Memorandum. We’ve also managed to discuss the for operations that are required whenever the partial face-to-face classes takes place.

With all of the school’s adjustments, and retrofitting, I believe it is important to commend the institution for its efforts in maintaining a safe working environment for our teachers, faculty, and staff. For as long as online classes have been conducted, the school has been adaptable and quick to respond to any situation pertaining everyone’s safety. That being said, I am hopeful that through the school efforts, we will be able to begin the gradual reopening of face-to-face classes by the Second Semester, or even earlier than that.

T H E O F F I C I A L S T U D E N T P U B L I C AT I O N O F J O H N B . L A C S O N C O L L E G E S F O U N D AT I O N ( B A C O L O D ) , I N C .

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VOLUME 4 NO.1 | JULY - NOV E M BE R 2 0 2 1

opinion 07

Fine Line between Humor and Slurs

A Kaleidoscope of Progress

“You can’t do this because you’re gay!”, “You don’t want to do pushups? You are putting masculinity to shame!”, “Stay away from that black person he may be a thief”. As you read these lines, you cannot deny the Jeremy Josh Alojado fact that these phrases can be heard Jcuison559@gmail.com so common that sometimes we do not anymore understand how to QueerFrontier deal with them. How much more do the different groups of society needs The current generation is on its way to do to prove that these norms are towards the epitome of freedom in a construct of society that is created every aspect: speech, expression, ac- from pride and selfish thoughts? tion, etc. And yet with this freedom Respect– six letters that form accompanies grave responsibility to one word, so easy to admit, yet so people who withhold them. Then the hard to do so. To continue to nurture question now is who doesn’t. With this form of behavior hinders the the rampant advancement of tech- community to continue to grow and nology, one can easily rise up to fame continue to progress in a better way. in a simple snap, click and post. One And this relies on each and every can be uplifted and be known, but individual. We must discipline ouron the flip side of the coin, one can selves to speak in a respectful, kind, also be broken down to pieces with and humble manner. Furthermore, a simple comment, duet, and alike. standing by and witnessing these

Many would agree when we forms of negative nature doing say that today, in a continuously nothing is giving way for this negaprogressing world of globalization, tive nature to continue and to grow. possessing a

Humor strong sense must be Words can be considered of humor is i n t er p ret ed desirable and as one of the most powerful by the reis commonly forces available to humankind ceivers—the associated and their power is no simple a u d i e n c e . with those Hence, for who have thing. a joke to be climbed the funny, it must social ladder simply with the power be accepted as just that. However, to make other people laugh or smile. it relies on the audience and the And yet in the current times, this receiver to be aware the moment asset has now been the common things get a little out of hand. Learn guise of discriminatory denigration when to stop and also learn to set based on stereotypes and prejudice. up a line even with friends and

There is a fine line between family in order to save some sense what one can consider as a joke and of dignity and respect for oneself. what then be considered as a slur, Gary Chapman in his book, “Love as may it be in a way that it’s sexist, ho- a Way of Life”, made use of bullets or mophobic, or racist. Words can be seeds as metaphorical symbols for considered as one of the most pow- words depending on how we chose erful forces available to humankind to use them. If we choose to use our and their power is no simple thing. words like bullets with a feeling of Words can build a person up and superiority and condemnation, we they could also break a person down. are not going to be able to restore The words we release may it be that a relationship to love. On the other we spoke it or we simply texted or hand, to use them as seeds with typed it in the comments may nour- a feeling of supportiveness and ish, heal, support or it would hinder, sincere goodwill, we can rebuild a discriminate, hurt, and humiliate relationship in positive and life-afsomeone. Just then we can realize firming ways. And in the end, the that sometimes the jokes we chose choice is ours to make, what’s yours? to say have stepped over the line and may have offended anyone listening.

room performance should.” Some instructors in her state who don’t have credentials are considered insufficient, paying little heed to how their students perform.

Alternately, every instructor with Angelic Cheil Feril credentials would be thought of angelicferil30@gmail.com as successful, again without any thought of understudy execution.

StereotypeBreaker

“Students are more than numbers, just as teachers are more than The people around me did not have credentials.” He planned to gauge any expectations towards me as I was educator viability in more than one growing up. I’ve been the family’s way. He encouraged the individuals black sheep since I didn’t have what to embrace the final statewide it takes to vie for credentials. It has school quality arrangement that been intoxicated in my mind that incorporates a comprehensive perI’m incompetent, which made me spective on student learning in its underestimate my capabilities. I’ve meaning of instructor insufficiency. been clapping for others’ success be- Luckily, there are some people cause I already accepted my fate that that I met who are willing to break I will never be competent enough. the stereotype. I learned from them

As I continued to embark on that I don’t need to vie for anything new journeys, I met a lot of people to be competent. I merely need to like me: unheard, unappreciated, start, and it will just follow through. and underestimated. It doesn’t This is indeed a fact because when I seem like we’re going through sto- started doing things at my own pace, icism because I was able to we’re merely I realized that it is make progress. making jokes

Moreout of our more important to be a over, I realized insecu rities. purpose-oriented person that it is more It’s always rather than a goal-oriented important to be been those a purpose-ori“bahala na” one. In that way, you won’t ented person moments that have to stress yourself rather than a serve as our because you can’t achieve goal- oriented acceptance one. In that that we’re on time or ponder about way, you not enough what you are going to do won’t have to because of next. stress yourself the stereotype because you social conforcan’t achieve mity that “competence is measured on time or ponder about what by credentials.” In fact, competence you are going to do next. A goal is merely the ability to do something is a mere system to be improved successfully or efficiently. Hence, inclined with your purpose in mind. it’s not a dependent variable.

I was also able to build a support

It’s been an ongoing dilemma system that genuinely backs me up. that we’re pressuring ourselves They trust that I can do the things for unrealistic standards. We tend that I desire without even proving to try to fit into another person’s to them my competence; that is pace of improvement, causing the world that I want to live in, a us to feel disappointed. It has world where there’s no such thing been intoxicated in our minds as credentials can define. And when that credentials are proof of our I get disappointed countless times competence. When in fact, compe- because progress doesn’t go accordtence does not have any baseline. ing to my plan, I just believe that my

Jose Gonzales, a doctoral can- progress is a sequence that is not didate at the University of Southern constant. Yet, like a kaleidoscope, California, once wrote, “Credentials the outcome was indeed beautiful. do not prove competence. Class-

FA C E B O O K / T h e C a r r i e rJ B L C F | I S S U U / j b l c f b t h e c a r r i e r | E M A I L / j b l c f b t h e c a r r i e r @ g m a i l . c o m

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VOLUM E 4 NO.1 JULY - NOV E M BE R 2021

Dapat bigyan ng mas malaking halaga ang maritime industry: Robredo

MDPN. RENGIL MANA-AY

BACOLOD CITY — Naniniwala si Bise Presidente Leni Robredo na dapat bigyan ng mas malaking halaga ang maritime industry dahil dito nagmumula ang napakalaking parte ng ‘foreign earnings’ ng bansa.

“The fact is a large part of foreign earnings natin from OFWs nasa maritime industry, so they need all the protection… Para sa akin, dapat bigyan ng mas malaking halaga ang maritime industry kasi umaasa tayo sa maraming earnings from them,” wika ni Robredo sa isang panayam sa kanilang pagbisita dito sa pagbukas ng Leni Robredo - Negros Headquarters, Nob. 6.

Sa pinakahuling ulat ng United Nations Conference on Trade and

Development (UNCTAD), Pilipinas ang “world’s biggest supplier of both seafarers and officers” at kinilala rin ang kahalagahan at kontribusyon ng mga marinong Pilipino.

Sabi ni Robredo napakakomplikado ng mga problema sa maritime industry kung kaya’t marapat lamang na aksyunan ito nang may “holistic approach”, kasama na ang proteksyonan ang mga nagtatrabaho rito.

“’Yung COVID response, we actually volunteered already na mabigyan kami ng supplies sa vaccines, kami ‘yung magpapabakuna sa lahat. Kasi marami sa kanila ‘yung pending pa. Marami sa kanila na kahit may call na for work, hindi pa sila makakaalis kasi ‘yung bakuna ay hindi pa available,” aniya.

Dagdag pa ni Robredo, dapat

Active Vista holds satellite human rights film screening MDPN. RUER TORCULAS

Active Vista International Humans Rights Festival of DAKILA - Philippine Collective for Modern Heroism held a satellite human rights film screening to exhibit socio-political issues in commemoration of the Martial Law declaration in the country, October 4-9 at Safe House, Art District, Bacolod City.

The weeklong satellite festival with the theme, “Pagsaysay sa Nanligad, Padulong sa Bwas Damlag” screened a local documentary directed by Candy Nagrampa entitled “Ang Kalibutan ni Nunelucio Alvarado” along with two critically-acclaimed full-length feature documentaries, “Aswang”

by Alyx Ayn Arumpac and “The Kingmaker” by Lauren Greenfield.

“The film festival wants to bring the film to communities because especially here in the province, Bacolod, for example, the only films that reached us before Netflix and other platforms are the blockbuster films only in cinemas,” said Krishna Ariola, human rights advocate and organizer of the festival.

“We know how narrative is shaped in society, we already know how easily we can be misinformed or informed depending what reaches us, and that what this event aims to do, for people to talk about real

issues and take actions and take the conversation outside,” Krishna added. “This is a rare opportunity amidst all the noise, all the quiet, all the disinformation, all the distortion, something is real and raw is coming right in front of us.”

Moreover, Ariola proudly said that Bacolod is the only satellite festival over the Philippines that was able to hold a screening on the ground amidst the COVID-19 restrictions.

By the end of every film, a talkback was initiated as part of the event. Martial Law survivors and director of Aswang, Alyx Arumpac graced the festival to discuss and process the films watched.

Other festival films like fulllength features, documentaries, and short films were up on Active Vista’s website for viewing for the week.

DAKILA

inaasikaso ang mga pamilya ng mga marino habang wala sila rito.

“Dapat may office for migrant workers tayo na ‘yung mga families ma-ca-capacitate. ‘Yung mga pinapadalang earnings nila, dapat sinisiguro na ‘yung families kaya nilang ma-spend ‘yung pera in a most prudent way para ‘yung worker na’tin mag-decide na ayaw niya nang magtrabaho sa maritime industry, may uuwian siya… So ‘yung pag-aasikaso sa kanila hindi lang sa kanila kundi ‘yung families na rin.”

Ayon sa datos ng Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, bumaba ang remittances ng land-based OFWs ng 2.4% habang tumaas ng 1% sa $558 million o tinatayang mahigit ₱28 billion ang remittances mula sa mga Filipino seafarers ngayong Enero.

Samantala, nagpapasalamat si Rosa Giltendez, maybahay ng isang marino, sa plano ng bise-presidente na bigyang suporta ang mga marino at ang kanilang mga pamilya, aniya sana ay matupad nila ang plano para sa maritime industry.

Tingin naman ni 3/E Charles Mangga, JBLCF-B maritime instructor, napaka-holistic ng approach ng plano nina VP Robredo dahil kinikilala nila ang kontribusyon ng maritime industry sa ekonomiya ng bansa.

“Their focus is not only to support seafarers but their families as well. It is a very holistic approach, knowing that Filipino seafarers sacrifice the time that they should have spent with their families in order to provide them with what they need.”

Seafarers to receive 10% fare cut on board domestic ships MDPN. JERRIC CLARIDAD

The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and various domestic shipping operators signed agreements on fare discounts for Filipino seafarers on board domestic passenger ships to acknowledge their major contributions, both local and international.

On Sept. 27, Marina’s Regional Offices (MROs) and 45 shipping companies such as 2GO, TransAsia Shipping Lines Inc., and Lite Shipping, signed a memorandum of arrangement (MOA) on fare discounts in a virtual ceremony.

“All of MARINA’s good concepts and efforts will never be achieved without the cooperation and complete support of our shipping operators, although being severely impacted by the pandemic, have voluntarily cooperated in this great event to honor our Filipino seafarers,” MARINA Deputy Administrator for Operations, Engr.

Nannette Villamor-Dinopol said.

Denmark Duquilla, a Filipino seafarer, expressed his delight at the potential of receiving a discount on a domestic ship, it made him feel recognized.

“Considering my company’s main office is located in Manila

while my hometown is in the province Negros Occidental, the domestic passenger ship discount would benefit me as a seafarer. I have to travel on domestic ships more frequently than ordinary individuals,” he said.

Furthermore, Dr. Conrado Oca of the Associated Marine Officers and Seafarers’ Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP) expressed appreciation to MARINA and all domestic shipping operators, for this initiative.

“It will serve as a significant token of appreciation for the work that seafarers have been doing as key workers performing essential services, not only for the benefit of the Philippine economy but also for the global economy’s sustainability.”

Meanwhile, Joshua B. Malapitan, a Deck Cadet, believes that this is a good move for the seafarers and the maritime industry amidst the pandemic.

“More than anything else, it’s not how much the discount that matters but the initiative to give credits to seafarers’ roles in the continued world trade is already enough. It is an eye-opener to everyone that we can still be kind in times of our own despair.”

T H E O F F I C I A L S T U D E N T P U B L I C AT I O N O F J O H N B . L A C S O N C O L L E G E S F O U N D AT I O N ( B A C O L O D ) , I N C .

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VOLUME 4 NO.1 | JULY - NOV E M BE R 2 0 2 1

Hontiveros mobile health clinic launched to provide free services MDPN. ANGELO RYAN GILTENDEZ

Senator Risa Hontiveros launched her Mobile Health Clinic project with Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson at the Negros Occidental Capitol grounds in Bacolod City, Sept. 27.

Healthy Pinas Mobile Health Clinic is equipped to provide Negrenses with free consultations, as well as free medical examinations like electro diagram (ECG) testings, x-rays, ultrasounds, and lipid-profile testings.

Governor Lacson described the Mobile Health Clinic project as a “complete necessary and timely intervention” in the province.

“With our hospitals operating at maximum capacity due to the surge of the COVID virus, the mobile health clinic will be a great help in addressing the non-COVID health issues of our constituents, thereby helping decongest our hospitals and giving timely care to those having other health care concerns,” said Governor Lacson.

The Mobile Health Clinic was originally operating in Luzon,

but because of Senator Risa’s assistance, it was reproduced to also cover the grounds of Visayas.

“Alam naman natin, ‘yung ating provincial and municipal leaders na ginagawa ang lahat para tulungan at asistahan ang mga Negrense na kailangang magquarantine, magpagamot, at pati na rin yung mga Negrenseng nawalan ng trabaho’t hanap-buhay dahil sa pandemyang ito,” said Hontiveros.

Even before the formal launching, the mobile clinic already started serving Bacolodnons and Negrosanons. It can accommodate 300 to 500 patients.

Along with the non-COVID-19 consultations, Hontiveros and Lacson have signed an agreement to provide medical assistance for indigent patients at the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City.

“Sa ating pagpirma na tungkol sa MAIP program, ay makabulig dutay sa mga Negrense, para mas maraming makapagpagamot doon sa ating Provincial Hospital,” said Senator Risa.

Sobrejuanite promotes vax among Lacsonians MDPN. ANGELO RYAN GILTENDEZ

“You have to remember that the vaccination is protection for your own self.”

This is what Engr. Roberto Neal S. Sobrejuanite, John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation-Bacolod administrator emphasized as he encouraged the students, faculty, and staff to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

“The vaccination is akin to wearing our masks because we use it to protect ourselves from inhaling tiny expiratory droplets when breathing, talking, or coughing.”

He also underlined vaccination’s beneficial impacts like mitigating the effects of the COVID-19 to avoid critical conditions.

Although Engr. Sobrejuanite is stern about vaccination, he does not force anyone who does not choose to be vaccinated.

“We really try to convince our employees, even the faculty, but if they will not get vaccinated because of like—nahadlok, and the other one is religion… We could not require anybody to be vaccinated because that

is against the law. The government is saying you could not discriminate against people who choose to not get vaccinated, so that will be the same stand of the school,” he shared.

Engr.

Sobrejuanite hopes that by being completely vaccinated, students, faculty, and staff would not be required to submit to swab testing once the partial face-to-face will be implemented.

VINCE DAVE DUQUILA

Number of first-year ‘placed students’ drops MDPN. RUER TORCULAS

As of November of the Academic Year 2021-2022, John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation-Bacolod (JBLCF-B) Placement Office has noted a significant drop in the number of 1st-year ‘placed students’ on shipping companies compared to the last two school years.

Citing the reasons like COVID-19 pandemic, change of qualifications, low ingress of cadet selection from shipping companies, the office has recorded only one freshman who passed the company placement exam, far from the seven freshmen passers last AY and 29 from 2019.

DECLINE OF NUMBERS

“This academic year 20212022 there is really a significant difference when it comes to company recruitment of student, not necessarily company-sponsored scholars but as cadet selection of companies,” Maria Christina B. Gallego, the Unit Placement Coordinator shared her concern.

However, the statistical report has shown a considerable number of passers in 2nd-year and 3rd-year levels as some shipping companies opted to choose sophomores, juniors, and completers of Completed Academic Requirements (CAR).

Pacific Basin (PB) Maritime Personnel Inc. logged the greatest number of 2nd-year level passers, qualifying 38 cadets for company placement during the AY 2020-2021, while four for Bouvet Shipping Management Corp. and seven for Fukujin Kisen Co. Ltd. Ship Management.

Meanwhile, the Leonis Navigation Company Inc. selected 22 more third-year level passers for their company.

Gallego said this trend of demand is justified since there are few shipping companies taking 1st-year students as they have the ‘prerogative’ on what year level to take, and the office has no control over their preferences but only supplies potential cadets for selection.

“The decision is in the company, just like when it comes to the requirements, criteria, and qualifications of the students. It’s the companies’ qualifications and the requirement that are given or being demanded to the and being complied by the students.”

BEANNE JACA

CHANGES AND LIMITATIONS

Given that the pandemic affected the shipping industry and there are still limitations and strict health protocols imposed, cadet selection of some shipping companies came to a temporary halt, a reason seen by Gallego is the possibility that these companies have ‘long-term plans’.

“Those companies who are recruiting possibly have the urgent need for additional cadets. But for the other companies that are not taking yet, there is also a possibility that they already that long term plan even during pandemic there is no urgent need for them to do their cadet selection,” she said.

Gallego also indicated that the postponement of face-to-face transactions can also be considered as one of the factors that contribute to the decrease of scholars and companies having their cadet selection.

“They [shipping companies] believe that they can assess the student applicants more if they are meeting them personally,” she added.

While a number of shipping companies find alternatives for their cadet selections since last years like online examinations and interviews, there is still a disadvantage on the virtual set-up.

“There can be a difference especially that they cannot see the person or applicant personally so they have to depend on the internet, on the looks on the applicants digitally, very limited of exposure and assessment of personality.”

Amidst this, Gallego hopes that these numbers would eventually increase in the next school years as the situation will continue to be better brought by the increase of fully-vaccinated individuals and somehow relax quarantine protocols as it builds confidence for shipping companies to take their cadet selection.

T H E FOAFCFEI C B IOAOL KS T / UTD he EC NaTr rPi U e rBJLBILCCAFT I| OI SNS O UU F J/ Oj bHl N cfb B t. hLeAcCa Sr rOi eNr C| O E LMLAE IGL E/S j F bO l cU f bNtD hA e cTaI O r rN i e r( B @Ag C mO aL i lO . cDo)m , INC.

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VOLU M E 4 N O.1 JULY - N OVE M BE R 2021

Sail on Maribel’s Journey

MARIBEL SINGIAN JASELE MAE PRIOLO & MDPN. MARK JOHN PRIOLO

She stood there, gazing up at the vastness of the sky and appreciating the cool breeze that blew through her clothes. She would get up late at night or early in the morning to work on her watchkeeping shift.

Onboard an international seagoing tanker vessel, Third Officer Maribel V. Singian is responsible for ensuring the vessel’s safe operation and allowing the ship to respond promptly to crises and other circumstances.

Maribel was born and raised in poverty and learned how difficult life can be from an early age. Her father was a motorman who was involved in an accident on board and was unable to return to work due to a medical condition that rendered him ‘unfit’. Her mother is a licensed teacher, but due to a lack of vacancies, she became a volunteer teacher given only an allowance.

Her parents also had to acquire and sell junk to meet their daily needs.

In her interview on GMA, she would consider herself as poor when she was young. They used to live in a worn-out house, and sometimes her younger siblings would drink coffee instead of milk. Due to the occasional unavailability of water, they would opt to wash their clothes at the river, and what made Maribel sad is seeing her mother being drowned to debts, and her family getting teased because they are poor.

At a young age, those serve as her eye-opener of how life works.

2018 and 2019, she served as a Junior Officer; in the year 2020, she was promoted to Fourth Officer, and in the following year, she was promoted to Third Officer. She has sailed aboard Bulk Carrier and Oil Tanker ships, both international seagoing vessels, allowing her to circle the globe at the age of 24 and visit over 30 countries.

Maribel has shown herself worthy of her position and received positive feedback and assessment from her senior officers and even shipowners, even though she is the only female onboard in a 21-member ship crew. She has always wanted to prove that gender isn’t a factor in determining what you can and can’t achieve. She believes that there is no such thing as a world that is exclusively for males.

“I am a woman but being one never hindered me from becoming the person I dream to be.”

She has also shown her active involvement in the Bluebird Humanitarian Rescue Operation, which has saved a total number of 29 lives last Oct. 27-30, 2019, 300NM South of Gran Canary Islands.

There may be doubts and failures walking through her path, but she remains unstoppable because she has her experiences, family, and loved ones that will accompany her.

Maribel cast her nets far beyond her expectations and succeeded with her endeavors. Now, as she gazes at the sky, she can clearly see the future she had dreamt for her family.

The weight of the responsibility she is carrying on her shoulders is unimaginable— that ignited her drive to study well and dream big for the gems of her life.

“Para sa akin, ang pinakaimportanteng bagay dito sa mundo ay ang edukasyon, dahil edukasyon lang ang makapagbibigay sa atin ng magandang kinabukasan,” said by young Maribel.

Her life has become more purposeful since she was selected as a Norwegian Shipowners Association (NSA) cadet scholar in 2014 by Thome Ship Management Pte. Ltd. She transferred to John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation – Bacolod, where she became the first female president of the Waypoint Club Organization and was named M o d e l Cadet of the Year, the most prestigious distinction in her school.

S h e obtained her Officer in Charge of Navigational Watch license shortly after HELPING HAND. Singian lends a hand to a rescued man during Bluebird Humanitarian Rescue Operation. graduating.

MARIBEL SINGIAN In the years

PH Journalist Maria Ressa wins Nobel Peace Prize 2021 MDPN. RENGIL MANA-AY

The first-ever Filipino Nobel Laureate is a journalist.

The Nobel Peace Prize 2021 has been awarded to Filipina journalist Maria Ressa and Russian Dmitry Muratov for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression in the Ill. Niklas Elmehed Philipines and Russia.

Ressa is the CEO of Rappler, a news outlet vocal of the current administration’s war on drugs, while Muratov is the EIC of the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, a critical newspaper with national influence in Russia today.

“The award of the Nobel Peace Prize to Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov is intended to underscore the importance of protecting and defending these fundamental rights,” The Norwegian Nobel Committee said in a press release.

Ressa and Muratov have faced legal and physical threats during their careers, as their respective governments tried to curtail the rights of journalists.

“The journalists will continue doing our jobs. But there are always repercussions if you do a story someone doesn’t like. I think what our public has realized is that Rappler will keep doing those stories. Journalists will keep doing those stories, and that’s what I hope that will give us power to do this,” Ressa said in an interview.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee also said that free, independent and fact-based journalism serves to protect against abuse of power, lies, and war propaganda.

“Without freedom of expression and freedom of the press, it will be difficult to successfully promote fraternity between nations, disarmament, and a better world order to succeed in our time.”

The Nobel Peace Prize award is given annually to remarkable people who champion peace.

Prominent winners were Mother Theresa and Martin Luther King Jr.

T H E O F F I C I A L S T U D E N T P U B L I C AT I O N O F J O H N B . L A C S O N C O L L E G E S F O U N D AT I O N ( B A C O L O D ) , I N C .

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VOLUM E 4 NO.1 | JULY - NOVE M BE R 2 0 2 1

Wala Usik Challenge: Business Innovations MDPN. CARLO MIGUEL BARODI

A group of Negrense students was among the five teams who have won the Wala Usik Challenge, a Circular Economy Hackathon organized by the Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation in collaboration with other eco-sustainable organizations.

THE CHALLENGE

The challenge was created to induce the idea of zero waste. 41 teams pitched their ideas for innovations regarding the overall reduction of waste in the community and the use of plastic containers and products then they were cut down to 18.

Through a hackathon, the 18 challengers underwent and presented their ideas. Among them, five teams from Negros Occidental have been selected by the organization, earning them a prize of 100,000 pesos, as well as the eligibility to have their products be supported by the organizations at large.

“Paano ta ma re-design ang mga produkto, mga systems para ma dula ang single-use plastic or disposable packaging. Amo ni

siya ang call sang Hackathon, na may lain-lain nga mga teams to compete for the best ideas but at the same time it is also a place for people to gather their ideas before they pitch and compete,” said Dave Albao Executive Director of PRRCFI. THE 100,000 PESO IDEAS

The organization identified these ideas presented during the Hackathon to be the most viable and fit the criteria it had set beforehand.

The Juan Bag is a concept that provides users with returnable and reusable packaging when purchasing from an online shop.

These bags will then be used to ship the item and then be returned after an agreed date. Once the bag is returned, users will be able to earn points through the Juan Bag app.

Tabo, which is a slow market from Lokal Lab network, is forming packaging using materials, uncycled goods, and souvenirs to recreate homemade merchandise.

Suds or sustainable pods aims to replace traditional plastic sachets of shampoos and soaps. These pods and containers melt away as the soaps or shampoos are being used.

PRRCF

ZERO WASTE INNOVATION. 18 challengers of Wala Usik Challenge: A Circular Economy Hackathon presented their ideas for innovation via Zoom.

Wear Forward, an AI Circular Fashion Marketspace and Virtual Wardrobes where individuals can rent, buy or even swap pre-owned existing clothes.

Lastly, Agubay, which was created by five Negrense students who have developed a cellulose-based bioplastic that degrades and decomposes within 110 days.

This bio-plastic is created from agricultural wastes such as rice hulls and sugar cane bagasse.

“I wasn’t expecting to be on the top 5. Just to be in the 18 is more than enough for us to share our stories. Thank you so much to the mentors, judges, and the organization,”

Dustin Veriadno of Agubay shared.

The winners of the hackathon will then be under the monitor of PRRCFI to see if the ideas brought by the respective teams of the Hackathon would be producible for the masses.

This hackathon is organized by the Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation Inc. (PRRCFI) for the “Rethinking Plastics - Circular Economy Solutions to Marine Litter” project, co-funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by GIZ and Expertise France.

New JBLCF-B SSG officers now ready to serve JASELE MAE PRIOLO

Include the excluded.

This is the vision of the newly elected JBLCF-B Supreme Student Officers who have been officially sworn into office for A.Y. 2021-2022.

On the 30th of Sept., they completed their 3-day Virtual Leadership Training and Seminar organized by the College Guidance Office and I Am Legacy, as well as their Oathtaking Ceremony which was led by the College Administrator Engr. Roberto Nele Sobrejuanite and the Office of Student Affairs and Services.

According to the SSG President, Rian Navarro, during the seminar, he realized the importance of self-esteem and that everyone must prioritize their health to serve the student body and the school as best as they could without reservation.

“My favorite part of our activity was having the chance to interact and listen to Samira Gutoc talk about Inclusive Leadership. I learned that when there’s inclusivity, the world will have lesser conflicts,

which would make it a better and happier place for all humankind to co-exist,” Navarro answered when asked about what activity impacted him during the seminar.

He also planned to apply this type of leadership because he envisioned himself as a leader who amplifies unheard voices and empowers people to reach their full potential.

“We already made a group chat that includes all the class representatives of every department where they can give their suggestions, opinions or comments which I believe is a small step taken in my journey of implementing ‘Inclusive Leadership’,” he explained.

Kyle Salazar, SSG Vice President also vowed to strive hard in bridging the gap among the students to ignite their potential and strengthen their fellowship.

“As the Vice President, I am eagerly anticipating for a sublime academic year when the Lacsonian Community, especially the studentry will unify,” said Salazar.

Jaireh Melgar, BSME Governor,

was enlightened that race, age, gender, religion is not something to have an issue with being a leader after listening to Samira Gutoc.

“I experienced discrimination when I was in Junior High. They would have doubts in me when I am doing something in our classroom, and it affected me by having self-doubts,” Melgar confessed.

The organization is under the supervision of Mrs. Julie V. Palma, a faculty member of the

College of Maritime Education.

Now that the organization has been equipped with the training and seminars needed, Navarro ensured that together with the workforce of the SSG, they are going to do everything with hard work and passion.

They will lead the whole student body this academic year with the core values and culture instilled by the institution.

BIGGER. The new set of SSG officials are ready to amplify the unheard voices.

FA C E B O O K / T h e C a r r i e rJ B L C F | I S S U U / j b l c f b t h e c a r r i e r | E M A I L / j b l c f b t h e c a r r i e r @ g m a i l . c o m

JBLCF-B SSG

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PADAYON:

Negrenses Forging Ahead Despite Adversities Bab Christian Sanchez Mary Aileen Labios Nele Stephen Pacurib Vince Dave Duquilla

Stalls on sidewalks spread, loud streets clamored, and bright and dim lights lit in nights out.

All things were moving at their pace from any field like business, school, organizations, and job works. The presence of this flow was brimming and loud as the usual pre-COVID scene.

With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have found themselves and their families in difficult financial situations. There are wide gaps and disparities in the degree to which different persons have encountered exposure, vulnerabilities, and the capacity to respond to the pandemic-related shocks, owing to huge variances in their economic risk experience.

Such pre-existing inequities have underlined the extent to which large-scale crises have an unequal influence on family and individuals’ financial stability.

Negrenses way of life and work has completely altered. The restrictions make it difficult to move freely and enjoy mingling

with friends and relatives. The pandemic’s economic and social upheaval is devastating.

Negrenses have a tough time providing and feeding themselves and their families since it is inadequate to earn a living during the lockdowns.

For some, seclusion is a blessing allowing them to think and reflect, while for others, it is a burden. From the fishermen working to import the fish and deliver it to the market, to the farmers on the pastures planting, cultivating, and harvesting crops, they were not spared from it. Traffic enforcers doing their job under the heat and vendors on transportation services along with the online food delivery drivers, all of them suffered from the confinement.

Despite the challenges and turmoil caused by the pandemic, the Negrenses continue to persevere in life. “Padayon” is a Hiligaynon term that means “to continue,” and this enlivens the Negrenses in grinding situations— they never stop pushing forward.

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A legend’s era: The final bell

MDPN. JERRIC CLARIDAD

By swallowing a very tough pill, the ‘Pacman’ ends everyone’s confusion, following his on and off decision-making. After a disappointing loss against a young Cuban boxer, Yordenis Ugas in Paradise, Nevada on Aug. 21, Manny Pacquiao has finally said conclusively that he will be hanging up his boxing gloves for good.

Known for his spectacular

BUYS

highlights during over the course of a phenomenal 26-year career, the 42-year-old Filipino boxing legend (62-8-2, 39 KOs) has won world titles in an unparalleled eightweight division. Manny Pacquiao is the only boxer in history to have won twelve major world titles in eight different weight divisions.

However, this shifts to a denouement – the end of his era.

“To the greatest fans and the greatest sport in the world, thank you! Thank you for all the wonderful memories. This is the hardest decision I’ve ever made, but I’m at peace with it. Chase your dreams, work hard, and watch what happens.

Goodbye boxing,” Pacquaio tweeted.

In a 14-minute video, Pacquiao thanked a long list of people who have helped and supported him.

He thanked boxing for shaping his life all those years ago.

“You gave me the chance to fight our way out of poverty.

Because of you, I was able to

IN HIS LAST JAB. Manny Pacquiao retires after his 26-year career as a Filipino boxing legend after his last fight against a Cuban boxer.

inspire people all over the world.

Because of you, I have been given the courage to change more lives,” Pacquiao said to the camera. “I will never forget what I have done and accomplished in my life, I can’t imagine. I just heard the final bell.”

His best years in the ring arguably came from 2008 to 2011 when he conquered one weight class after another which culmi-

MANNY PACQUIAO FB PAGE

FROM

nated with a 12-round demolition of Antonio Margarito for the WBC light middleweight belt.

Pacquiao made his pro debut at 16 in 1995. He is the only boxer to have won world titles in five different weight classes and in four different decades. He was the oldest boxer to ever hold the welterweight title in 2019.

sports opinion A Horrible Decision

Older players, most likely veterans should be given a spot in a pool for the reason they had the ability to cope with the game with the help of their experiences.

Gerald Diano

Angelzzzcorp@gmail.com

CluelessThinker

Dismayed and intrigued. These were the feelings of each and every volleyball fan to the Philippine National Volleyball Federation’s decision to exclude Alyssa “The Phenom” Valdez and the all-time favorite setter Jia Morado in their quest for qualifying in the SEA Games Women Volleyball Preliminary round.

See, the result itself spoke how lowly the decision of the pool was.

Finishing in 7th place, Rebisco’s lineup is a mess and it cannot justify Souza De Brito’s statement “I think that I need fresh players, younger and taller.” The absence of Valdez and Morado is such an insult, how

could a First Best Open Spiker and the Best Setter be not included in the competition where they both proved themselves years before?

Certainly rubbish and misguided decision to a pool that caused clamor to the Philippine Volleyball, which should not be done again.

Slammed by other countries, it is quite painful to see your countrymen mismatched in height, experience and team plays. The coaching staff did their best to handle the situation, the head coach sounds different when he said, “For this time, I think you have here all the best” and after their run, they just

clung to nothing but frustration.

As a spectator who vividly analyzed the whole team situation, respect picks of players must be observed next time. Older players, most likely veterans should be given a spot in a pool for the reason they had the ability to cope with the game with the help of their experiences. Especially, if they had already proven themselves in past major tournaments, picking fresh youngsters is a risk. Their talent and height might be enough, team composition and chemistry must be carefully considered, and that’s what Valdez and Morado had.

After all those years, Rebisco’s coaching staff and management denied the fact that Jia and Allysa had the best setups in a game that demolished the opponent’s defense in all their games together. Their chemistry was tested for years.

These players are good at making adjustments in their game, pulling several championships in their pockets.

I realized the importance of having a coach in a team, all team efforts will be nothing if misled by an idealistic coach. As the head of the team, he must take responsibility for the before and after of a game, preparation is relatively the same as selection and it is the most important key, which Coach Souza de Brito failed to consider even though he had enough time of scouting and studying.

From all angles, it is absurd to regret such a result. It only led to a questioning of credibility, miscalculation, and other negative stuff in PNVF’s one-day tryout. Though they had some good picks like Dawn Macandili, Kim Dy, Kat Tolentino, and Deanna Wong who are great athletes and also had proven themselves deserving of the spot, I would say it is still not enough to satisfy a team’s composition and the 7th place is just simply horrible.

T H E O F F I C I A L S T U D E N T P U B L I C AT I O N O F J O H N B . L A C S O N C O L L E G E S F O U N D AT I O N ( B A C O L O D ) , I N C .

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Back-to-back Win for Blacklist Int’l

sports 15 LASER FOCUS. Carlo Biado aims his shot to clinch the US Open Pool Championship at Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City, USA. CARLO BIADO FB PAGE

JEREMY JOSH ALOJADO

The code remains unbroken as Blacklist International managed to protect the crown in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) Season 8 to snatch a back-to-back win.

After dropping just one game during the grand finals before heading en route for a 4-1 win against the uncrowned Onic Philippines, the crown remains among the fingerprints of Tier One Entertainments, Mobile Legends Team, Blacklist International, last October 24.

MPL fans nationwide anticipated Blacklist’s journey in this season, as many remember their historic win in the MPL season 7 wherein they maintained more than 10 win streak throughout the regular season. After an impressive run, they topped the leaderboards from assists, kills, and even gold and experience per minute.

Game 1 ensued showcasing one of the best Yve performances this season from “Had Ji” achieving a 3/1/15 Kill-Death-Assist record.

The game intensified as Onic notched a point against the defending champions, as they equalized the battlefield after securing the win in the second game. But Onic didn’t gain further momentum, as the Land of Dawn was painted black and white after Blacklist international dominated the remaining games of the best of seven series. The queen Ohmyveenus’ Mathilda airways gameplay and as well as Edward’s Paquito dominance were notable.

Wise’s jungle Bane made an unexpected debut as he enters the battlefield. Dealing the final blow in the fifth game, securing the back-to-back win for the team.

Winning a grand sum of $35,000.

With Had Ji winning the title of finals MVP pocketing another $1,000.

“My teammates helped me a lot. When I moved to Blacklist, I struggled in adjusting. But they never let me down, and they cheered up for me and I thank them for that,” Had Ji said, the Final’s MVP on his 1st championship journey.

AFTER 27 YEARS

PH’s Biado wins US Open 9-ball title MDPN. RENGIL MANA-AY

Carlo Biado ended the Philippines’ 27-year drought for a US Open Pool title with a come-from-behind 13-8 win over Singapore’s Aloysius Yapp in the 2021 finals on Sept. 19 at the Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City.

Biado stunned Yapp and won the last 10 racks after being down 3-8, to become the first Filipino to win the US Open since the billiard legend Efren “Bata” Reyes ruled the 1994 edition.

Yapp had the first two favoring him for the majority of the tense race-to-13 finale, trailing to an 8-3 lead after yielding three of the first four racks. But a miss from the Singaporean player gave a golden opportunity for Biado to get his fourth rack on the board, then glued his opponent as he stormed the remaining racks.

“I’m very happy because this event is one of my dreams,” Biano said as he fought back tears.

“I dedicate this to my family, also to my baby. Thanks to all of you. Even in the time of pandemic, you’re still here watching around the world,” he added.

The Malacañang also congratulated the 37-year-old player for winning the prestigious title.

“We congratulate Carlo Biado for bringing pride and honor to the country by

FA C E B O O K / T h e C a r r i e rJ B L C F | I S S U U / j b l c f b t h e c a r r i e r | E M A I L / j b l c f b t h e c a r r i e r @ g m a i l . c o m

winning the 2021 US Open Pool Championship in Atlantic City,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press statement.

The 2021 US Open Pool Championship is now added to Biado’s major world titles after the 2017 World Pool C h a mp i on sh ip.

B i a d o received $50,000 for winning the US Open Pool trophy.

US Open 9-ball final score

BEANNE JACA

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SP RTS THIRST FOR THEIR FAVORITE SPORTS OFF THE BLOCK. Lacsonian outside hitter spikes off the block to move a point closer to match point during the 43rd Intramurals.

RON ALBERT LIBOSADA

JBLCF-B athletes long for courts, fields MDPN. GERALD DIANO

It has been a long time since cheers and yells were heard in the campuses and the famous athletes with their catchy charisma that most of the people talk about. As a result of this ongoing onslaught of the pandemic, restrictions to sports are implemented. Holding the hands of the sporty people, adding thirst for the sport they loved for a long time.

Stadiums, halls, courts, and fields were the loudest places where intramurals, sports fests, and interschool competitions were held. Lacsonian athletes were never exempted from this pain, not having a place to play and companions to be with.

MISSING THE SPIKES AND BLOCKS

Mdpn. Drylle Demafelis, a BSME

III student, is one of the JBLCF-B Men’s Volleyball team. This former utility spiker represented team Bacolod in his senior high school years. Right from an early age, he became a novice volleyball player. In his junior high school days, he competed in the provincial meets and volleyball tournaments around Negros like Batang Pinoy Tournament and a few volleyball invitationals.

“My quarantine days are quite boring, I missed playing volleyball outside with my friends in their private places, but I still long for a competitive game and hyped audiences.” Drylle shared.

As he moved into JBLCF-B in 2017, in his pursuit for his maritime dream, he participated in the volleyball tryouts where they

DROP BALL. JBLCF-B spiker tricks the blocker with a soft touch.

RON ALBERT LIBOSADA

represented the Basic Education Department, they came up short against the Bachelor and Science Marine Engineering, but after that year, they sought redemption and took the championship away.

“There was a time when I and my teammates lost our interest in going to school because of the daily training we’ve been doing for months,” Drylle shared.

“I learned a lot from them, and we shared treasurable moments together. I personally tell them to go home so we could play together, but because of the COVID19 outbreak, their flights were canceled,” he added.

KICKING GOALS THEN AND NOW

Another Lacsonian athlete with a significant amount of experience is Mdpn. Christian Dave Serran, a BSMT I student who is a successful footballer in his 12-year campaign. Tired of watching games on his TV, Dave somehow missed the times when he dominated football fields. He led the Basic Education Department in school year 2019-2020 to snatch away the championship crown in the 43rd Foundation Anniversary Intramurals of JBLCF-B.

“It’s been a year since my feet touched a ball. This pandemic is the biggest barrier that pinned us down. I can’t even imagine if I could

go back playing again because I’ve been gaining weight since the lockdown.”

Serran shared.

This NIRAA Regional Meet Silver medalist keeps his feet on the ground.

In his Junior High School days, he managed to be a 3-peat champion in the Dynamic Football League (DFL), and represented Bago City in the Football Festival of Negros Occidental Football Association (NOFA) where they secured 3rd place.

“Now that I’m in college, it seems so impossible to have playing time like before, so I decided to drive my focus to studies alone.”

Like these athletes, ordinary people and sports enthusiasts were dismayed because of these unfortunate events. Still, thankfully new doors were opened to sports. Thanks to the worldwide efforts of vaccination, the sports industry is going back on its feet. Soon enough, the inactive athletes will be back on track again.

T H E O F F I C I A L S T U D E N T P U B L I C AT I O N O F J O H N B . L A C S O N C O L L E G E S F O U N D AT I O N ( B A C O L O D ) , I N C .