KAMALAYAN 2018-2019 1T by KAMALAYAN

IN THIS ISSUE

news:

MCL Student Council Officers answer the call to serve with excellence and virtue

FEATURE

An Outstanding Mapuan’s take Know your meme: The line beon technopreneurship tween humorous and derogatory

INFORMATION WITHIN REACH

opinion: The Lumad Struggle: Displacement and militarization

2018-2019 Volume 5 Issue No. 1

KAMALAYAN ka ma la ya n

THE OFFICIAL STUDENT MEDIA OF MALAYAN COLLEGES LAGUNA

“

Bagyo ka lang. Pinoy kami. We are resilient.

“

DR. ESPERANZA CAYANAN Weather Services Chief of PAGASA

|PHOTO BY: RIZA ALEJANDRIA|

MCL hosts the first Disaster Resilience Program of Cabuyao KHAYLE ATIENZA

ABUYAO CITY –The Philippines is susceptible in terms of disaster and climate change. The wrath of nature like Typhoon and Earthquake is considered as one of the greatest threats all over the country. In response to that, the local government proposed disaster resiliency programs nationwide to inform and educate the public about calamities and how they should respond to it. That’s why last July 27, 2018 (Friday), in observance of the National Disaster Resilience Month, the

Cabuyao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) organized its first Disaster Resiliency Program at Malayan Colleges Laguna’s (MCL) Francisco Balagtas Auditorium with this year’s theme, “Katatagan sa Kalamidad ay Makakamtan Kapag Sapat ang Kaalaman at Kahandaan.” Yes to Disaster Resiliency: A Symposium about Disaster Preparedness was conducted by five reputable keynote speakers: The Weather Services Chief of Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and

Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA); Dr. Esperanza Cayanan, Subject Matter Expert of ABS-CBN’s Red Alert; Dr. Teofredo Esguerra, Private Security Training Director of Quadrant R Security Training Center; Dr. Enrico De Guzman, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Filipino Research Scientist; Dr. Joselito “Jojo” Sayson, and the Executive Director of the University of the Philippines' Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards (UP NOAH); Dr. Mahar Lagmay.

The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) members, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Philippine National Police (PNP), Pastoral Ministries, Miss Beautiful Planet Philippines 2016; Apol Mora, Pamantasan ng Cabuyao teaching personnel, Barangay officials, and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials were present during the program.

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MCL Ablaze 2018 attendees count more than 2,300 MICHAEL GNILO

blaze 2018: Flicker Beat, MCL’s welcome party for college freshmen and grade 11 Senior High School students were attended by thousands as trending and known performers joined the rave party last August 3, 2018. MCL Ablaze is organized annually by the Supreme Student Council, College Councils, and Senior High School Council to warmly welcome new students that will be staying in the institution. Student Affairs Office (SAO)

Director Dr. Angelito Platino noted the first-ever joint Ablaze event of the Senior High School and the Colleges was the biggest than the previous welcome parties in the past. “What’s new for us in this year’s Ablaze is that we both have Grade 11 and Freshmen students which is around 2,300 people, excluding the number of transferees and visitors that attended,” he added. Performances were held by various bands, singers, and dancers before the main acts

of the party which were DJ Siyangyoo, OPM bands Carousel Casualties, Love Thy Neighbor Movement and Agsunta. Yearly traditions such as the fashion show being held by the Malayan House of Fashion and Arts (also known as MHFA, or The HAUS) and the Blue Flame Lighting also were the highlights of the event, showcasing the proper attires and uniforms that should be worn at the campus and igniting the symbolism of the burning heart of MCL Wizards, respectively.

The MCL Blue Flame signifies the burning passion of Wizards and is signalling the start of the Ablaze 2018. |PHOTO BY ROBBIE DOCTOLERO|

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CSCE launches Project: ECHO in partnership with The Plastic Solution DANNA DELALAMON

ustainability plays a key role in our society that ensures all our needs are met without compromising our primary resource -- the environment. It must not endanger the natural system that supports life on earth. In order to ensure that our needs are met, solutions must be economically viable, environmentally appropriate, and socially acceptable. The Center for Service-Learning and Community Engagement (CSCE) recognizes the growing problem of our community with regards to how we treat our environment. That is why last September 21, 2018, the CSCE launched the Project Environmental Conservation through Holistic Outcomes (Project ECHO)‒-an institutional advocacy which serves as a platform for contributing solutions to environmental problems. Under this is also the launch of the first initiative of this project, Mission: Plastic Solution. MCL’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Engr. Dennis Tablante’s opening remarks emphasized that it is our institution’s advocacy to contribute to the solution of industries and society by the expert application of knowledge through collective action. The MCL community should address sustainability issues while being agents and positive forces of change. CSCE Director Ms. Rachel Artuz started off with asking the audience what they stood for as an individual -- she also asked what MCL, as a community stood for. MCL should be able to contribute to solutions regarding the plastic problem by doing something that is useful, practical, and easy. The Mission: Plastic Solution creates an environment where people are putting conscious efforts to avoid single-use plastics. The steps to be taken for this initiative is to campaign the advocacy, collect the eco bricks, propose projects and conduct research and development, which then leads to project implementation. CSCE aims to create an infrastructure made from the eco-bricks collected from this

Ms. Fiona Faulkner addresses questions and concerns by MCL students |PHOTO BY: ANDREA PENALES|

The audience, faculty, and staff take a photo with Ms. Fiona Faulkner as the program closes after the signing of the memorandum of agreement |PHOTO BY: ANDREA PENALES| initiative. The guest speaker of the event was the Environment and Community Development Officer for The Plastic Solution, Ms. Fiona Faulkner.The Plastic Solution is an environmental conservation organization that aims to inspire individuals into taking action to preserve lands and waters. The Plastic Solution provides sustainable solutions to plastic pollution through the simple act of stuffing loose plastics into a smaller and compact container. Ms. Fiona Faulkner explained in further detail the impact of this

CONTINUATION OF MCL host the first Disaster Resiliency... The program commenced with an opening prayer, followed by the singing of the National Anthem and the Cabuyao Hymn. To formally open the event, an opening speech was delivered by the Cabuyao City Counsilor, Atty. Leif Opina followed by the Designate Officer of CDRRMO, Rodolfo Derez Jr. Afterwards, a welcome speech was delivered by the Executive Vice President (EVP) of MCL, Engr. Dennis Tablante. After Engr. Tablante’s speech, the first keynote speaker, Dr. Esperanza Cayanan presented in front of the audience as she discussed about the agency; PAG-ASA on how it serves the community and its modernization. She also mentioned how they use the Early Warning System which informs the public about the risk of incoming calamities. Some scientific terms that are incomprehensible by most people like Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and Storm Surge were briefly explained by Dr. Esperanza in her discussion. She ended her lecture by giving the audience an activity on how to track a typhoon. Afterwards, Dr. Teofredo Esguerra took over the stage as he discussed about Rescue and how to respond to emergencies. As he began his

discussion, he shared a story about a medic that he met personally who tried to save an enemy during a gunfight in Marawi which serves as an inspiration that a rescuer does not have to choose whom he/she wants to save. Then Dr. Esguerra recalled some of his memorable moments in rescuing civilians which he mentioned that saving lives is not an easy task; it requires a lot of effort and experience. He also discussed the proper way on how people should respond during and after an earthquake and the right way of doing a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on a person. To end his presentation, Dr. Esguerra emphasized how great Filipinos are as he shared his experience during his expedition on Mt. Everest together with his team. “Be the best you can be. Show to the world how great Filipinos are. We can actually surpass them (the Foreigners)” as he proudly mentioned that his team set a world record wherein three Filipinas: Noelle Wenceslao, Carina Dayondon, and Janet Belarmino; were the first Southeast-Asian women climbers to reach to the top of Mt. Everest. After his presentation, a lunch break was given to everyone. After the lunch break, at around

initiative. She highlighted that no one is safe from the various effects of plastic pollution -- may it be birds in Australia or deep oceans in Mexico, everything and everyone is affected by this problem. In order to create and innovate something for an impact, individuals should get their hands dirty in order to identify and familiarize with the problem. Plastic is a non-biodegradable material used in our everyday lives. It’s in our clothes in the form of polyester, single-use plastics for takeouts, and even in the food we eat. There are 1:00 p.m., the City Mayor of Cabuyao; Rommel “Mel” Gecolea dropped by at the program for a short time and delivered a speech regarding disaster preparedness. “Sa gitna ng disaster, ang solusyon ay nasa ating lahat” (In amidst to disaster, the solution is within ourselves) as he emphasized that with a disciplined community, everything is going to be fine. Mayor Mel also shared his achievements as a mayor and the upcoming projects for the City of Cabuyao. He ended his speech with a statement; “Ang totoong yaman ng Cabuyao ay ang mga tao” (The true wealth of Cabuyao is its own people) After his short speech, he immediately left the venue as he was about to catch up on a meeting for an upcoming project of Cabuyao. Later on, the third keynote speaker Dr. Enrico De Guzman discussed about School Emergency Management: Maintaining a safe school environment which he advised that every school should prepare a Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan. Dr. De Guzman also said in his discussion that every school should also motivate their students to participate seriously at Fire and Earthquake drills. Subsequently, after Dr. De Guzman’s presentation, the fourth keynote

studies that confirm that certain microplastics are ingested by marine life, which are then consumed by humans. People have no consideration for plastic disposal terms since it is convenient, cheap, and readily available. Most people do not think about the repercussions it may bring once it leaves from our hands. To produce plastic, it undergoes several process that involve extraction, manufacturing, refinement, and then distribution. All of which require a huge amount of fossil fuels, water, and energy. When we think of sustainability, we should contemplate the cradle-to-grave process or Life Cycle Analysis of a material. When we do, think that is one plastic straw, bag, or bottle worth all the trouble from all the consumed fossil fuel, water, and energy? The Plastic Solution aims to eliminate non-biodegradable materials, especially single-use plastics from the environment, since there are plenty of alternatives to it. The Philippines has a huge problem in terms of plastic pollution, with it being the 3rd largest contributor to worldwide plastic pollution, according to Greenpeace. That is why we are dubbed as the “Sachet Economy.” Our country’s dependency on sachets is due to our status as a third world country, where the majority of people work for a day-to-day living. If people in the 1800s could live without plastic, so can this generation. The method to achieve this is through a network of volunteering and through Project ECHO. This creates a lasting movement that contributes to solutions first, then solve the problems. This was solidified and strengthened by the signing of a memorandum of agreement between The Plastic Solution and our institution Malayan Colleges Laguna, as a sign of the MCL community’s commitment to be agents of social and environmental change for this initiative.

speaker Dr. Jojo Sayson introduced his organization; Project Michelangelo Foundation and gave an inspirational talk wherein he encouraged his audience to change their paradigm of thinking. ”Whatever you believe, it will happen. Step outside the box” he said to his audience, advising them to think differently and unconventionally. Dr. Sayson also mentioned that problems are considered as opportunities for us to grow. “The best way to solve your problems is to go through it.” he added.

After the motivating talk by Dr. Sayson, the last keynote speaker; Dr. Mahar Lagmay discussed about Mainstreaming Climate Vulnerability and Disaster Risk Assessment in Development Planning of Communities wherein he emphasized the significance of planning a safe location for evacuation centers. “Intelligent Development is a solution to disaster. When we do smart planning, we need to understand the psychology and mindset of people.” The symposium came to an end after the certificates of appreciation and recognition were given to the keynote speakers.

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An outstanding Mapúan’s take on technopreneurship DAVE MOLINA

usk. Gates. Zuckerberg. Page and Brin. Jobs and Wozniak. They are a few of the most influential and successful innovators and entrepreneurs who used their innovations to create businesses geared, not just to earn profit, but to provide products and services that will benefit society. These tech-savvy, passionate, goal-oriented individuals are not just nerds, they are very much entrepreneurs. Technology merged with entrepreneurship, better known as technopreneurship, is the process of merging technological prowess and entrepreneurial talents and skills with the purpose of making goods and services. Peter Drucker, the Father of Modern Management considered entrepreneurship as “the practice of consistently converting good ideas into profitable commercial ventures.” This statement not only talks about entrepreneurship, but also of innovation—to sell and to make profit. The technopreneur is the individual who takes advantage of technology and uses it to come up with innovative products that can be capitalized and be sold into the market. They will be responsible for the whole venture. A part time Engineering Management (EMGT101) professor in Malayan Colleges Laguna, who also happens to one of The Outstanding Mapúan awardees, has had enough experience to be able to share sufficient knowledge on technopreneurship. Engr. Juanito “John” Chavez, a graduate of Mapúa Institute of Technology (now Mapúa University)

worked as a process engineer at Caltex Philippines. Through his sheer hard work, dedication and wit he rose up to become the Vice President of Sales and Marketing of Engelhard Corporation, a Fortune 200 company who has patented the production of the catalytic converter, a device that converts the harmful exhausts of a car into harmless compounds. He eventually quit his job to start his own company. According to Engr. Chavez, technopreneurship is a fast changing field due to information technology. It starts with a piece of technology that is designed specifically to gain profit, which managed by people who has the expertise of handling it. The development of mobile applications is one example. Apps not only offer fast and express service, it also offers ease of access, which makes convenience a viable commodity. Some examples are transport network vehicle services like Uber, Grab, and Angkas, and e-commerce services like G-Cash and PayMaya. Developing an app that answers the need and demand of consumers will definitely become profitable. There are various opportunities to take advantage of. A good technopreneur needs to maintain a keen eye and a sense of imagination. But how can somebody start up a tech venture, when the lack the necessary funding is an issue? Worry not! Engr. Chavez said there are many venture capitalists such as Kickstart, First Asia Venture Capital Inc., and Gideon Venture Capital who are out there waiting for startups with

Engr. Juanito "John" Chavez served as a guest speaker in a talk on Career Development for Electrical Engineering students. |PHOTO BY ROBBIE DOCTOLERO.| attractive business models to leap and invest on. A perfect local example would be QBO Innovation Hub. A local organization supported by DOST, they aim to develop a globally competitive system of startup companies here in the Philippines. With their partnership with institutions and startups, they create an avenue for innovation as well as collaboration with the aim of having Filipino startups to be world-changing companies. Do you think being a technopreneur sounds good? Great. However, how are you going to start? Engr. Chavez introduced a simple guide to follow. First come up with a product, service, or technology. Second, think of your target customers. Third, set the goal

of your business venture. Is it to inform? To advocate? For customer service? Make sure to jot them down. Lastly, set up a website then advertise. Communication is the overarching driver of technopreneurship. With how fast information goes around these days, such ventures will be around the public’s ear in no time. Why should students consider technopreneurship as a career path? According to him, it is the fastest way to develop yourself personally while making a good amount of money. Innovation and entrepreneurship going hand in hand offers a lot of lessons and experiences. Nerding out, meeting new people and earning huge amounts of money can be a promising

The Optimum Gig Experience YSABEL FERRAZ

t’s Friday night and you're on your way to a gig to see your favorite band, then you wonder how you’ll make the most out of it. Will you remember the night because of the music or a mishap? It could be both, but don't worry, because here are some tips for the optimum gig experience from Valine Aquino, the Executive Producer of Independent Play -- a boutique touring agency that organizes intimate, live music concerts, and promotes local and foreign independent artists in Manila.

pedals, getting hit by the instruments, and possibly ruining the experience for other gig-goers. We all like souvenirs, but don't steal any of the musicians’ items. There are times when audiences love to bring home something from the musicians like their personal microphones or drumsticks. It may sound odd, but this actually happens. Ms. Aquino witnessed this in one of the events at Saguijo, Makati. “The

band was Saydie. Someone stole her mic after the set.” she shared. Instead, audiences could kindly ask the band if they have merchandise that they can buy. The audiences end up supporting the musicians, and they get to keep a souvenir from the band. It's a win-win situation! Make sure your voice is modulated enough for your friends to hear. Ms. Aquino suggests that the audiences grab a table far from the

Refrain from making disruptive noises. Audiences should not bother the musicians performing on stage. The musicians may get distracted while playing because of surrounding noises. If the audience refrains from making disruptive noises, it shows that they respect and appreciate their music. “It depends on what type of gig you're going to. Intimate gigs cater to a smaller crowd, and definitely a smaller venue which means noise is easily heard.” Ms. Aquino shared. Have some spatial awareness. Audiences should not crowd the musicians because this may lead to accidents such as tripping on cables,

ARTWORK BY: JAQUILYN ARCILLA

blaring speakers, outside if it's a small venue, or just listen to the bands when they're performing. Then chat away with their companions during the 15-minute set up time in between performances. She has had a lot of good and bad experiences with gig-goers during shows as a producer, but she said it all depends on the venue. “Most of the time, guests at the venue know that the venue, is in fact, a music dive. They don't just walk in and get surprised that there's live music there, but there are circumstances that only one person in the group knows the dynamic of the place and the other people in the party don't care very much. These are rare occurrences for music venues. More or less you'd see this type of behavior in other bars and restaurants that employ showbands. So in terms of ruckus, it is rare, which is also the reason it is easily noticeable.” Have fun! Above all these tips, gig-goers most certainly need to have fun. Gigs are where audiences get to discover new music. They have the opportunity to make connections. As long as the audiences keep these tips in mind, it will be a smooth experience for everyone.

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KAMALAYAN

CONTINUATION OF An outstanding Mapuan... Know your WHY’s –“I want to do better than what I did the day before. And from my idealistic stand point, I want to leave this Brave enough to take the BE TENACIOUS – “If you fall, world a little better than how I challenge? Take Sir Chavez’s dust off and continue walking.” found it.” Know what wakes you life tips that made him who he is Learn from your mistakes but do up in the morning. When the going today. not dwell on them. gets tough, this will keep you from falling down. TAKE NO PRISONERS – Work very, VERY hard – “Be Technopreneurship is a high “Never take no for an answer.” If there is an obstacle in the way do not in it to win it!” Once you commit risk, high reward road to take but get sucked into a downward spiral yourself into winning, you will win. it provides an exciting career for future to consider. Not only that, you will be providing jobs for those who need it.

of despair. Find a way to get what you want, whether it be breaking an obstacle or going around it.

anyone brave enough to consider it. Many local students had already set up their own startup companies based on the technology that they have invented or innovated. They are driven, not just by the thought of earning money, but the idea that your passion can be your work. And as Engr. Chavez said it, “Once your passion becomes your work, you’ll never have to work for the rest of your life.”

MCL Student Council Officers answer the call to serve with Excellence and Virtue ROSHMEIR DE LEON

n the first Monday of September 2018, our elected student leaders gathered in the F. Balagtas Auditorium to commit themselves to a promise to bring change, to encourage development and to establish community within their colleges and the whole institution. College councils for the Academic Year 2018-2019, namely the College of Arts and Science (CAS), College of Computer and Information Science (CCIS), College of Maritime Education and Training (CMET), Enrique T. Yuchengco College of Business (ETYCB), and Mapúa Institute of Technology at Laguna (MITL), attended the Induction of Student Council Officers. Following the opening formalities, Engr. Dennis H. Tablante, MCL’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, officially started the program with an encouraging message on leadership as a developed skill, rather than an acquired trait. He shared his own challenges as a leader, when at the young age of 29 years, he was entrusted to be the Dean of the School of Electrical, Electronics, and Computer Engineering in the Mapúa Institute of Technology (now Mapúa University). He shared how he saw these challenges as an opportunity to hone his talents and skills. As of July 2017, he stands as Malayan Colleges Laguna’s second highest ranking officer, succeeding President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Reynaldo B. Vea.

[CENTER]MCL Student Council Officers took their oaths last September 3, 2018 at the F. Balagtas Auditorium. |PHOTO BY DON DEREK RODRIGO| [LEFT] CMET President Micoh Capuchino shared his two-point agenda for the school year. |PHOTO BY RIZA ALEJANDRIA|

The program proceeded to the awarding of the Certificates of Incumbency to the College Student Council Officers. The certificates were presented by the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Director of the Student Affairs Office, Engr. Maribel G. Songsong and Mr. Angelito D. Platino, respectively, along with Engr. Tablante. The recitation of the oath of the councils of CAS, CCIS, CMET, ETYCB, and MITL was led by Mr. Platino. This was followed by the awarding of the Certificates of Incumbency of the SSC Officers. There were major changes in the line-up of the SSC Officers, due to the resignation of Elected President Gabrielle Medina. Elected Vice President Arielle Sacriz succeeded as the new President, while Elected Secretary Leo Brian Pancho became the new Vice President, and Elected Assistant Secretary Gabriel Ramos stepped up as the new Secretary. The position of Assistant Secretary will be left vacant for the Academic Year 2018-2019. Engr. Tablante led the recitation of the oath of the SSC Officers. He remarked that the oath is a collective commitment to promote the common good for the MCL Community. THE TWO-POINT AGENDA Each college council president took the podium to discuss their twopoint agendas for the academic year. CAS President Januario Paul Austin

Girang VIII shared a heart-felt speech on making CAS events even more enjoyable than they already were. He also aims for a CAS council that is welcoming and accommodating to freshmen. Mr. Girang drew this objective from his own experience as a shifter from ETYCB, even though he was initially a stranger to the CAS family, he found the people under their college to be friendly and accommodating. CCIS President Chantal Jem Malabayabas opened her speech stating that being a leader is to care about the concerns of the people. The CCIS council’s two-point agenda follows “PC” meaning potential and cooperation. Ms. Malabayabas opt to carry out events that would give the CCIS students an opportunity to explore their potentials and spark their interests. The CCIS council chose the word ‘cooperation,’ because they believe that no man lives for himself. They aim to create a stronger bond between the CCIS students. CMET President Micoh Capuchino thanked the CMET Faculty and former CMET President Michael Fred Monedo for appointing him to pursue the highest position of their college council. This is Mr. Capuchino’s first time to be a part of the CMET Student Council. The CMET council’s twopoint agenda focuses on discipline and community. The CMET council intends to create projects that will instill

discipline, especially self-discipline, because it is a highly valued trait in the College of Maritime Education and Training. The council also aims to unite the whole MCL student body to build a better community. ETYCB President Ronnie May Labordo announced a two-point agenda based on the keywords leverage and engage. The ETYCB council will implement programs that promote inclusive growth, equip students with business knowledge and skills, and hone them to become well-rounded students. The ETYCB council will conduct leadership training programs for the next batch of prospective council officers, which they hope will continue their legacy. The ETYCB council based their agenda to engage the ETYCB students to expand and build networks on John Maxwell’s three Cs from his book “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership”--competence, connection, and character. The ETYCB council persuades the students to become active in their organization, then their college, up to the MCL community. This is in-line with the college’s tag line “We are ONE, ETYCB.” Their overall vision for the ETYCB students to practice excellence in everything they do. MITL President Mark Jay Nery commended his fellow council officers for overcoming the struggles

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KAMALAYAN CONTINUATION OF MCL Students Officers... of balancing their council duties and their academic goals. Mr. Nery came prepared with a presentation for the MITL council’s two-point agenda. The MITL council coined the term “ACSion Plans” and “COMPASS” as their keywords. “ACSion” is an acronym for plans that embody academic development, community development, and student and campus camaraderie. On the other hand, “COMPASS” combines commitment and passion. The MITL council aims to instill these qualities in the MITL student body, because it promotes dedication and love in everything they do. Mr. Nery emphasized that actions with love are the best things to sustain. He concludes his speech acknowledging his fellow MITL council officers, council advisers Engr. Kevin Dugay and Engr. Ada Vianca Rebutiaco, and especially MITL Dean Anthony Hilmer Medrano for his continuous support for their projects. THE ARETE GOAL Before discussing her five-point agenda, SSC President Arielle Sacriz opened her speech citing Mr. Platino on his definition of “Excellence” as “doing things right,” whereas “Virtue” as “doing the right thing.” Ms. Sacriz emphasized that as student leaders, they must create worthwhile projects and synchronize their advocacies. Ms. Sacriz abbreviated her five-point agenda using the Greek word “Arete,”

which was defined as “excellence of any kind.” The first two agenda were on academic excellence responsible trait. The SSC aims to create projects that will maximize the development of the students’ intellectual capacities and skills, as well as instilling a sense of social responsibility. The first “E” in their five-point agenda tackles equality. The SSC advocates fair and equal treatment to all MCL students, eliminating discrimination due to their race, religious belief, gender, sexual orientation, or age. One of the audience, Angel Lafradez, shared that the consideration of equality was a significant inclusion to this year’s SSC presidential speech. “Maganda yung five-point [agenda] niya kasi mayroon siyang equality dinagdag niya yun, which is mostly hindi napapansin or ngayon lang siya binigyan ng pansin talaga.” (The five-point agenda was good, because she included equality which was not previously taken in to consideration or at least recently, it was now considered.) Ms. Sacriz emphasized that bullying and harassment has no place in MCL as an institution. Teamwork succeeded their agenda on equality. Ms. Sacriz points out that teamwork divides the work while multiplying success. She promotes the establishment of tutorial and mentoring projects in every program

designated for the college freshmen. The fifth agenda roots back to their mission for their term—to build an MCL community. The SSC is geared to strengthen the MCL students’ school spirit, something that we have yet to possess as a young institution. The SSC claimed their position as the bridge between the students and institution. Ms. Sacriz stated that their council is open to ideas, feedback, and suggestions for the improvement of their service and the betterment of the MCL student life. THE CONCLUDING ANNOUNCEMENTS Director of the Student Affairs Office Angelito D. Platino ends the program with a few closing remarks and announcements of some changes for the Academic Year 2018-2019. He recognized and thanked former SSC President Gabrielle Medina for leading the first three SSC activities of the academic year. Mr. Platino announced that the “Student Council Fee” included in the miscellaneous fees will be budgeted between the Supreme Student Council and the College Councils. Sixty percent of the fee will be allotted to the student’s respective college, while the remaining forty percent will be added to the SSC’s budget. This gives the college councils the capacity to execute projects every term by reducing their financial woes. As for their project

the first term, MITL will conduct a Leadership Training Seminar for the officers of organizations under MITL. CAS plans to organize a CAS Collab and an MMA Summit for the following term. CCIS substituted their weeklong college celebration for monthly Information and Technology Literacy seminars and workshops. In addition to the announcements made, amendments to the Student Council Elections will be effective for this academic year. At least fifty percent of the student population under that college must participate in their respective student council elections to consider the results valid. Election of Supreme Student Council Officers will be through the appointment of handpicked student representatives from each college. Official announcements on these changes are yet to be made this school year. The Induction of Student Council Officers was organized by the Supreme Student Council and embodied the theme “Leadership: Called to Serve with Excellence and Virtue.” This year’s theme was chosen to show that the mission and vision of the Supreme Student Council is in parallel with the institution’s mission and vision – to serve with excellence and virtue for the welfare of students.

Dancing ain’t easy: Malayan Dance Crew tops inter-school dance battle MICHAEL GNILO

ilipinos are known for being competitive especially when it comes to things they love do to – singing, dancing, sabayang pagbigkas – name them all. They would put their heart into the things that take pride in their talents and to prove to the rest of the world that they are worthy of the throne—even when things get rough. Last October 4, 2018, selected MCL Mages proved to the whole province of Laguna that the saying was right. The campus’ very own Malayan Dance Crew (MDC) dominated seven other schools this year in Dance Factor: The Ultimate Inter-school Dance Battle held at Holy Rosary College in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Selected Senior High School students along with their Computer Science student-coach Joseph Bay told KAMALAYAN that they hoped and did their best, but never expected to claim the top spot in the annual dance contest. “Ang naging focus lang namin is yung sayaw namin para mai-execute namin ng maganda tsaka para mai-express namin yung gusto namin ilabas. Hindi namin pinansin o ikinumpara 'yung sarili namin sa iba,” Bay and his SHS crew said during the interview. In fact, some of the participating dancers have already experienced the rough battle in the dance floor several times but still, they felt greater heights after their recent triumph. “May competition na kaming sinalihan dati, pero ‘di kami nag-champion. Ngayon po na champion kami, mas

Malayan Dance Crew on their winning performance on Dance Factor 2018 at Holy Rosary College, Sta. Rosa, Laguna. |PHOTO COURTESY OF ANNIKA PENAFLORIDA| naramdaman po namin yung saya sa bunga ng pinaghirapan namin,” Grade 12 STEM student Ric Bihis said. Groove over ‘Angas’ Disclosing their winning formula, MDC distinguished themselves in the contest with their smooth and groovy steps instead of the mainstream ‘angas’ factor that is usually flaunted by most professional and established dance groups. The crew also emphasized that they wanted to show the whole crowd that dancing is more than just being extravagant and appealing it is to the crowd. “Usually sa mga competitions, halos magkakaparehas lahat – laging ending krump, tapos urban lagi sa intro. Nag-switch kami sa hip-hop na groovy kaysa sa puro angas. Kami, dapat masaya lang, saya lang ang pinakita namin

‘dun; kasi after all, dance should be enjoyed,” the student-coach noted. Dancing Ain’t Easy KAMALAYAN asked MDC what it takes for someone to be a dancer, but their reply was three short words: It’s never easy. “Baka isipin nila madali sumayaw – na madali mag-champion. No, hindi madali. Sa likod ng championship na ito, maraming pinaghirapan itong mga dancers na ito,” Coach Joseph advised those who aspired to become dancers like them. Mark Angelo Mapue, a Grade 12 STEM Student also mentioned that dancing equates to another commitment – even when it gets hard and personal, one needs to balance things out. “Kung gusto mo talaga sumayaw, hindi ka sasayaw kasi sinabi sa iyong

sumayaw ka. Dapat ikaw mismo, may sariling commitment dun sa sayaw. Kung gusto mo talagang sumayaw, dapat may disiplina ka rin sa sarili mo. Minsan kasi sa amin, may sumasayaw pero bigla magkakaproblema sa acads, ang nasisisi nila ay ‘yung pagsasayaw, which is hindi naman dapat talaga. Kung may disiplina ka at commitment sa pagsasayaw, gagawa ka ng paraan para ma-balanse mo ang priorities mo,” he concluded. After all, Filipinos sure are hardworking if it means that they would get what they really want. This was mirrored by the MDC in this competition and should serve as an inspiration not only to aspiring dancers, but to everyone else who chases their dreams in their respective fields.

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KAMALAYAN

New Breed of Student Leaders Converge at MCL’s First ASEAN Young Leaders’ Congress SYBERT NARVAEZ

n September 28, 2018, Malayan Colleges Laguna held its first ASEAN Young Leaders’ Congress at the Francisco Balagtas Auditorium with the theme “Timeless Tale of Leadership: Challenges and Opportunities for the Gen-Z”. The event was able to gather 271 participants from 46 educational institutions around the CALABARZON region. The visiting participants consisted of young student leaders from their respective institution’s student councils ranging from elementary to senior high school level. The event was an avenue for this generation’s student leaders to develop their leadership profiles and to adopt the dynamic approach of contemporary youth leadership in our times in the ASEAN context. Prof. James Ronald O. Mesina, director of the Office for Strategic Partnerships and Global Engagement (OSPGE), served as the conference convenor to spearhead this celebration of diversity in leadership. He formally opened the program by welcoming the attendees and by providing them an overview of what to expect in the workshop. He also started to ignite the excitement from the students through an interactive learning of the necessary quality traits of a good leader by holding a human bingo game, asking the students to go around the auditorium and meet students from other schools. The students were participative and eager to savor the experience to maximize their learnings throughout the day. The floor was turned over to Mr. Angelito D. Platino or “Sir Lito” as how students address him, MCL’s director of the Student Affairs Office (SAO), to talk about his version of his timeless tale of leadership in “Leading with Soul and Spirituality”. Sir Lito encouraged the students to identify reasons to aspire for an inspiring student leadership, to exchange insights with other student leaders, and to renew their commitment to be cultivators of inspiring student leaders throughout the workshop. He emphasized the value of one’s perspective leading to one’s condition to perform what one is tasked to. Aligned in his objective of the students exchanging insights with one another, he asked them to find a partner to discuss each other’s aspirations regarding student leadership and why they answered the call to serve. The students readily obliged and realizing that they have what it takes to be young leaders toward the progress of their institutions was the popular response. Sir Lito also stressed on how our generation’s leaders are prone to becoming casualties of independence, deception, arbitrariness or double standards, purposelessness, and complacency. Today’s new breed of student leaders may have a different

Student Representatives of Blessed Christian School de Sta. Rosa pose for a photo opportunity with the event emcees and Prof. James Ronald Mesina, convenor of ASEAN Young Leaders' Congress, at the Francisco Balagtas Auditorium, Malayan Colleges Laguna |PHOTO COURTESY: OFFICE FOR CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS| approach of managing things; however, we should still overcome the aforementioned roadblocks to successfully lead. Sir Lito also reminded the students about the inspirational leader of mankind, who led the people with soul and spirituality, Jesus Christ. He is one to always look up to for those who are aspiring for an inspiring leadership. He also gave emphasis on leadership being inevitable in a striking manner, saying that either you provide leadership or we seek the leadership of others. According to Sir Lito, while it takes a lot of qualities to be a good leader, one cannot deny that a leader must have a broken heart for the lost, be responsive to the hurting, and must be fair to everyone. For a fitting end to his session, Sir Lito made the students renew their experience as servant leaders by singing the song, “Make Me a Servant”. The next speaker to take the floor is an epitome of a model student leader as he serves as the Vice President of the Malayan Colleges Laguna – Senior High School Student Council himself and was awarded Outstanding Youth Delegate in his stint as one of the Filipino representatives in the Asia World Model United Nations 2018 held in Seoul, South Korea. Jose III A. Tolentino, or “Kobi” as how he prefers to be addressed, is a grade 12 student of the host school directed to inspire other student leaders to aspire to be like him or to be better than him as how he chose to put it. Kobi went up the stage wearing a pink jacket, a simple gesture to advocate for gender equality or SDG 5 (Sustainable Development Goals), one of the global goals set by the United Nations aspired to be achieved by 2030. Kobi started his session by letting the student wander around the auditorium to meet their counterparts from other schools. His goal for this activity was to highlight the importance of building connections and forming

relationships which will serve as the foundation of a harmonious working relationship with other people. He was able to recall his experience of making friends with young professionals and even master’s degree candidates which are older than him. He was not afraid to meet people as he is determined to be an agent of change, and having people sharing the same vision with along the way eases the burden a little. He encouraged everyone to be a “Global leader”, one who acts and works locally but thinks globally. It is an inclusive way of leadership wherein no one is left behind regardless of nationality. He also left remarkable words of how we can deal with others in a progressive manner such as “Never say an idea is dumb, say an idea can be better.” It sets the tone of encouraging every one of us to continue aspiring and finding solutions to global problems. Kobi also recollected on how MCL’s motto of “Excellence and Virtue” guided him in pressurepacked moments that he was in when he was in Korea. He continued to carry the Malayan spirit and never failed to look back from where he came from. “One Nation. One World. One Goal.” is his ultimate ambition of why he continues to work hard and to do what he does. He ended his talk in a manner encapsulating the Filipino culture, encouraging the student leaders to fulfill their mandate with this in mind: “Para sa Bayan, Para sa Pamilya”. Afterwards, the first open forum commenced wherein the students actively asked their questions that were addressed by Kobi and Prof. James Mesina. A lunch break followed suit to allow everyone to replenish energy and prepare for the second part of the Congress. The afternoon portion of the workshop started with a dance activity to keep everyone moving and to brush off the siesta atmosphere with Kobi and volunteer students from the participants coming up to the stage.

They moved to the beat of the music following a choreography video played on the screen. The next speaker to come up the stage was Ms. Mabeth B. Francia, head of MCL’s Center for Guidance and Counseling (CGC), who spoke about youth leadership opportunities for the Gen-Z. Ms. Mabeth began by clarifying that this generation’s students belong to what we call as the Gen-Z—not the millennial generation, or those who were born from the years 1995 to 2010. Again, she gave the participants some time to roam around the auditorium to meet other students, shake their hands, and ask for their names and the school they came from. Ms.Mabeth’s objective was to educate the participants on the leadership profiles of the youth in Gen-Z to better understand how it can be utilized as strengths in leading this generation in our fast-changing society. As told by Ms. Mabeth, research revealed that this generation is inclined to smartphones and video streaming. These are powerful tools that if utilized correctly, will aid the students in learning and even in fulfilling their leadership roles. Differences in the personal and leadership traits of this generation were also tackled as well as contemporary adversities that they face such as mental health disorders. Future problems that may arise for the Gen-Z leaders are the lack of social skills, lack of patience, and unwillingness to take risks. Ms. Mabeth encouraged everyone to be involved within their environment for them to be able to channel the leadership style that their community requires. To end her presentation, Ms. Mabeth reminded the students that leadership is not a position or a title, but an action and example. The last keynote presenter who graced the stage was Mr.

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KAMALAYAN

Bahay Tugtugan solidifies its ground at Malayan Colleges Laguna JACOB UMALI

MCL modifies its nonacademic offices with new titles DANNA DELALAMON

Bahay Tugtugan’s official and prospective members gathered at Café Enrique last September 21, 2018. |PHOTO BY SHAIRA SERIOSO|

“

A house without music is like a body without soul.” Those were the words of Mr. Henry Paz at the first General Assembly of Bahay Tugtugan, one of MCL’s new student organizations, last September 28, 2018. Music is the focus of Bahay Tugtugan. It is the successor of U-Sound, a currently defunct music organization of MCL. U-Sound iwas the mind behind the annually celebrated, battle of the bands competition, popularly known as OctobeRock. It is now considered an MCL tradition. Bahay Tugtugan’s president Joshua Duena explained the organization’s foundation at the ceremony. He said that the organization was conceived when Uno Cinco, the local music studio right across the school, was shut down. Approximately 80 members immediately signed up to

be a part of the organization. Bahay Tugtugan intends to have a lounge inside the campus, which will be exclusive to members of the organization. Mr. Duena also said that the organization has already laid out plans for their future activities. Workshops will be conducted throughout the year, and will be divided into two categories: technical and practical. Technical workshops involve learning about musical theory and musical notes. The practical workshop will enable students to apply what they learned through forming a band and arranging a song. Every now and then, the band roster rotates in order to enhance the versatility of the organization’s members with one another. Bahay Tugtugan’s Vice President for Internal Affairs Noel Madolid Jr. added that the organization hopes to estab-

lish an orchestra in MCL in the coming future. Future activities that the organization intend to conduct are the following: ‘Shred Wars’— where two guitarists face-off in a guitar battle; a tribute concert—where the organization will pick an artist or a band and perform covers of their songs; ‘Open Mic’ sessions—where the skills and knowledge learned from the workshops are executed in recitals; and lastly, ‘Battle of the Bands’—which will be exclusive to the organization’s members. According to Mr. Duena, Bahay Tugtugan will be a platform for all music lovers and music enthusiasts in MCL. They aim to showcase all the members’ skills and at the same time, enhance it even further.

CONTINUATION OF New Breed of Students... Voltaire Tupaz to talk about the contemporary challenges for youth leadership. He was a former nongovernment organizatio executive director who transitioned into being a journalist. He is also a co-founder of FYT Media, a digital platform dedicated to create innovative content to educate the youth about pressing issues in our society. He reiterated how social media is a reflection of real life and reminded the students to be cautious and vigilant of what they share and post on their platforms. Social media was a vital part of his development as a journalist and how FYT Media was established. Since the use of social media is rampant nowadays especially for the youth, it is an opportunity to shape the minds of the people for the better. Research also suggests that the internet world is quickly becoming a community of

video content, statistics that were recognized as FYT Media devoted to producing socially relevant video content. The spread of fake information and the decline of internet use as a means to capture news are contemporary challenges being faced by the youth today. He encouraged the student leaders to advocate for the use of social media and technology to promote empowerment and to advance the people’s rights. Values such as honesty, purpose, compassion, and perseverance were also discussed by Mr. Tupaz as essentials in forming our leadership character. He was also able to share a few of their featured content which included a 360 perspective of an environment and disaster coverage, the struggles of a student diagnosed with a mental health disorder, and a single

mother who persevered to finish her secondary education. They were well-received by the participants as they zoomed into stories that happen in real life. Mr. Tupaz ended his presentation by asking feedback from the students on how they felt after watching the videos. A second open forum was held wherein numerous students addressed their questions to Mr. Tupaz, Ms. Mabeth, and Kobi. The questions asked ranged from political issues to mental health queries. Prof. James Ronald Mesina formally closed the program by expressing his gratitude to all the attendees and dropping hints that this is only the first installment and might not be the last assembly of student leaders in MCL. He bade everyone farewell and hoped to see the student leaders for team building activities on November.

ertain offices in MCL, particularly the non-academic offices, have been given new titles along with the beginning of a new academic year. Here are the offices whose titles have been changed along with their new titles: Information Technology Services Office (formerly Office for Information Technology Services), Instructional Facilities Office (formerly Laboratory Management Office), Learning Environments and Innovations Office (formerly Learning Environments and Innovations), Office for Corporate Communications (formerly Corporate Communications Office), Office for Quality Management (formerly Quality Management Office), Office for Risk Management and Business Continuity (formerly Risk Management and Business Continuity Office), Office for Strategic Partnerships and Global Engagement (formerly Office for External Programs), Registrar’s Office (formerly Office of the College Registrar), Research Promotion and Coordination Office (formerly Office for Research Promotion and Coordination), and Student Affairs Office (formerly Office for Student Services). Meanwhile, the Student Affairs Office (SAO) also felt the need to change their office title since they deemed that “Office for Student Affairs” was too broad of a scope or it was a “misnomer.” “Student Services” meant everything related to the students -- the security office, clinic, admissions office, registrar’s office, cafeteria, the bookstore, and such. They wanted to be consistent and specific on the centers under the student affairs, primarily the center for guidance and counseling, student activities and affairs, and scholarships. Although nothing significant has changed in the office, Mr. Angelito D. Platino, the Director for SAO, stated that they’re beefing up the manpower complimentary to fulfill the duties of the SAO. The Center for Student Affairs and Development (CSAD) was created to govern student councils, organizations, and supposed clubs for both the college and senior high students. CSAD is headed by Mr. Christian Sorisantos, the former Administrative Officer of the Senior High School Department. For distinction, Mr. Platino is the prefect of students while Mr. Sorisantos is the prefect of discipline. The SAO’s aim to be more efficient and effective in serving the student body is being amplified through the I-ASCEND framework, which was implemented last school year. I-ASCEND stands for Integrated Advising for Student-Centered Enrichment and Development whose primary goal is to guide students, especially the newcomers, as they traverse through the ladder of success -- they want to attain student success, especially in the field of academics. The SAO also wishes to highlight that they promote the students’ rights while upholding discipline. All of which will be possible through proper cooperation and participation of all parties.

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KAMALAYAN

Innovation in necessity:

Mechanical Engineering professor awarded the best accolades in the International Conference on Sustainable Environmental Technologies 2018 ARVHIE LATOZA

hilippines, being part of the Best Paper Presentation in International Pacific ring of fire, is a stormConference on Sustainable Environmental prone country—where approximately Technologies (ICSET) 2018. He was moved 15 to 20 typhoons enter its area of by the fact that a thousand people hoped to responsibility annually. And due to the be recognized, and yet he—who did not see it following reasons, Filipinos adapt and coming—achieved the best accolades of the improvise to this regular phenomenon. conference. The Mapúa Institute Technology By being crafty and creative we cannot at Laguna (MITL) is proud to have Engr. contain and conceal these ideas in our Atienza as a part of their faculty and family heads, we need to put it into practice by as well. His accolades speak volumes on nodding on the benefits of renewable how concerned he is on development and energy over oil-consuming vehicles. innovation; that you do not need expensive Upon hearing the recommendation materials to help. All you need is a big heart of Dr. Liza Patacsil, the Director of to help and everything will eventually come the Office of Research Promotion and back to you ten times. |PHOTO BY: RIZA ALEJANDRIA | Coordination (ORPC) of Malayan “Siguro dapat talaga, ma-encourage Colleges Laguna, Engr. Alexander [students] natin sila na gumawa ng mga Hamilton Atienza submitted the proposal titled: “Design and testing of gan’tong [sic] capstone na nakaka-help sa communities.” Engr. Atienza amphibious water vehicle transport for potable water,” since water was added. the prime concern of the forum. The research team was composed of (Hopefully, we can encourage more students to pursue creating capstone ME students (now engineers): Engr. Jayvee Suelto, Engr. Cydrick Aldea projects that help communities.) and Engr. Mark Gil Diangkinay. Under the supervision of their capstone The ICSET Forum 2018 was held last August 13 to 15, 2018 at the adviser Engr. Atienza, they improved the study by adding a transport for Mapúa University in Intramuros, Manila. The forum was supported and relief goods for typhoons and other natural disasters in hard to reach areas recognized by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the with muddy and uneven terrains. Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Maynilad and other major The topic was conceptualized as a collaboration of the ergonomics industry players in risk reduction and environment protection. The forum expertise of the Industrial Engineering Department and machine design served as a playground to showcase different ideas and create a platform for expertise of the Mechanical Engineering Department. Engr. Atienza researchers, practitioners, and professionals from the industry, academe doubted that his proposal would win any awards and joining was enough and government to discourse on development and professional practice. It consolation, but to his surprise and a turn of events, he bagged and took also aims to bring together researchers, scientists, engineers, and student home major paper accolades. His paper won: Best Paper in a Technical scholars to exchange and share their experiences, discuss the practical Session, Best Paper Presentation in a Technical Session and the overall challenges encountered and the solutions adopted.

KNOW YOUR MEME: THE LINE BETWEEN HUMOROUS AND DEROGATORY CARMELA DE VERA

n this period where our phone screens double as a portal to a dimension of trends and crazes, we can’t deny that meme culture is the best thing that happened to social media. In fact, one proof of meme culture’s pervasiveness on the social media realm is the ability of an individual to create a meme out of an existing meme, and still render the same humorous effect to the netizens. While meme culture is inherently funny and at times intellectual, it also has dolorously become a chamber for oppression and disparagement. If you are keeping tabs on the latest news, you may have heard of the rape case about the four Grade 12 boys raping a 15-year old girl whose revolting video circulated the internet. Some netizens made dreadful memes out of the atrocity in hopes of luring audiences— as if trivializing the gravity of the crime by resorting to victimblaming was not enough. One of the affiliated memes is a four-panel meme with “Mga bagay na pinapasok” as the title containing images such as a cotton swab, spools of thread, a knife and a bottle of gin referencing the vicious insertion of a knife and a bottle of gin into the victim’s anus. To add fuel to the fire, the notorious issue concerning a 3-year-old girl who was almost beaten to death by her father’s live-in partner, Berna, yet again triggered the jocular minds of the netizens. People were initially repugnant about the issue. But that

feeling didn’t last that long seeing how they were able to make a laughingstock out of a serious matter. Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms have been bombarded with the infamous “Bugbog Berna” memes for quite some time now. The initial intention of the memes was to mock the offender, Berna. Still, the 3-year old girl’s testimony was being used as a caption to such memes and has progressively become a catchphrase for some irrelevant posts. Because of this, the issue itself submerged to obscurity and got outshone by the memes corresponding it. Most netizens were more interested in the comedy parade brought upon by the issue rather than shedding light against child abuse. Some netizens who have not lost their sense of morality went furious over the rise of these offensive memes and the number of supporters condoning it. “Child abuse and rape jokes will never be funny”, as their battle cry goes. Unfortunately enough, the other hand would rather resort to ad hominem attacks or calling the contrarians ‘KJs’ and ‘party poopers’ instead of contemplating on their actions. Oftentimes, the ‘memers’ behind a disparaging meme would justify their work as a medium to solidify the country. They believe that normalizing an issue through mundane and lame jokes would create a common ground and a tight bond between the Filipino netizens. However, posting offensive

ARTWORK BY: ARIZA ONG memes for the sake of comic relief only promotes discrimination and social diversity. Even more so, this might traumatize the victims and induce an inferiority complex. For the record, Visayans, particularly those residing in the National Capital Region region are being hastily generalized as ‘yayas’ or domestic helpers through memes. Take note, there is nothing wrong with being a domestic helper to make ends meet. Moreover, they do not deserve to be the target of insults considering how tough and low-paying their job can be. But to deduce that every Visayan in Manila are all domestic helpers, invalidates those who have strived hard to attain their professional status. What they do not understand is that in a broader horizon, what seems to be a sheer joke for them might be a real-life struggle for some people. Critical issues

such as rape, child abuse should never be in any way, casted in an amusing light. Furthermore, memes should not tolerate social problems like racism, sexism, homophobia, and suicide. Because the moment something as appalling as those problems become a subject of a derogatory meme, the issue will forever be remembered as a meme, and not as an issue that deserves justice and awareness. The rise of Filipino memes may be both a blessing and a curse. It gives the netizens the chance to creatively express their opinions and to convey a message. However, we must keep in mind that a meme should never be an outlet for harassment. A meme can be witty and substantial without the intention to degrade an individual or a group. Let us refrain from posting and condoning offensive memes and always remember to meme responsibly.

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KAMALAYAN

SupportOPM: Agsunta’s take on local music and passion

MICHAEL GNILO

KAMALAYAN had an opportunity to converse with Ablaze 2018’s main event Agsunta, a YouTube sensation known for their outspoken support for Original Filipino Music (OPM). Their four-man band, assembled with Jireh Singson on the rhythm guitar and keyboard, Mikel Arevalo on lead guitar, Stephen Arevalo on the drums, percussion, and keyboard, and Josh Planas on the bass, are on the loose backing up OPM by doing covers of famous Pinoy hits then and now. Inspired by lots of popular OPM bands of the country such as Mayonnaise, they started doing covers of Filipino music which were uploaded to YouTube regularly, garnering them more than 130 million of total views over the past four years. Some of their popular uploads are their covers of songs Nadarang by Shanti Dope ft. John Roa and Sa Ngalan ng Pag-ibig by December Avenue. “Siyempre ‘yun lang naman yung gusto naming mangyari. Kaya naman lagi naming sinasabi na Support OPM kasi parang gusto naming maipakita sa tao na ang ganda ng OPM, na ang ganda ng tugtog, ang sarap pakinggan, ang sarap niya panoorin.” Jireh, the lead vocalist, said. (Of course, that’s exactly what we wanted. That’s why we advocate Support OPM, because we want to show the people the beauty of OPM, the unique sound, it’s great to listen to, and watch as well.) Ironically, Agsunta’s eagerness to spread the beauty of local music were also amplified by foreign music genres, such as K-POP and the like. They mentioned that foreign music genres spreading across the country gave them motivation to actually promote OPM. “Personally, my ultimate goal is ‘yung makilala naman tayo sa buong mundo. Kasi diba, meron nung mga music such as K-POP na hindi nila kailangan mag-English, but then, they are recognized at naririnig sila sa buong mundo. That’s our highest dream – sana ang OPM naman, ‘yun naman yung marinig. Well, hindi naman kailangang laging Tagalog ang kanta, pero sana makilala naman tayo sa buong mundo,” Jireh added. (Personally, my ultimate goal is for Filipinos to become known in the world. Since music such as K-POP can be popular worldwide without the need to translate it to English. That’s our highest dream — hopefully OPM will have a chance to be heard. It’s not necessary that the song should be in Tagalog, but for OPM to become popular worldwide.)

|PHOTO BY ROBBIE DOCTOLERO|

On the other hand, after long years of being together as one band, Agsunta shared their epiphanies and realizations in their journey on being one of the supporters of OPM. “Natutunan ko na lahat ng bagay hindi mo makukuha ng madali. Kumbaga, kung meron ka talagang ultimate goal, meron ka talagang drive, and gustong-gusto mo talaga ‘yun, mararating mo ‘yun. You have to be ready to face all, kasi ganun ang buhay. Every time that you want to go up, lahat ng force ng buhay gusto kang bumaba. Kaya kailangan mo laging maging ready na kaya mong labanan [‘yun]. ‘Tas mas maganda yun, na siguro as a band – or as a company, as friends, alam mo yun, maganda yung meron kang mga kasangga palagi sa buhay na sabay-sabay kayong aangat,” Jireh said. (I learned that you cannot have everything easily. If you have an ultimate goal, the drive, and the desire to achieve it, you will achieve it. You have to be ready to face all, because that’s life. Every time that you want to go up, all the forces in life will want you to stay down. So you have to be ready to resist those forces. And it will be much easier as a band—or as a company, as friends, you know, it’s better if you have someone to accompany you in your road to success.) Aside from their song covers, they are also producing their original music content and were also uploaded to YouTube. Above that, they also released their self-titled album last February containing their very own songs. “‘Yun yung mga unang patikim ng mga originals namin. Pero makaka-asa ang lahat ng tao na in the coming years, mas madami pa kaming mala-labas,” Jireh and Stephen said. (That was a first taste of our original songs. But everyone can look forward for the coming years, we will be releasing more.)

From tired to exhausted: How to battle student burnout DAVE MOLINA

“

Pagod nako. Ayoko na. Bahala ka dyan.” There will always be a point where it feels like it will take a few more tasks for you to succumb into an untimely despair and self-pity. From being simply tired, you become exhausted—overwhelmed by tasks and deadlines that pile up within the blink of an eye. You lose every bit of motivation you have and you decide to curl into a ball, try not to cry, but eventually cry a lot. All these emotions are caused by a phenomenon known as burnout. Burnout is the state of physical, mental, or emotional exhaustion caused by stress within an extended period of time. Burnout takes place when the person feels drained, overwhelmed by everything, and failing to meet continuous demands. “Everything makes you tired. You don’t care about anything. EVERYTHING SUCKS.” According to Thomas Frank, host of the YouTube channel College Info Geek, burnout is a state of being that takes time to get into; which means incremental tiredness add up and compiles into a humongous issue that needs to be addressed immediately, or else suffer the grave consequences. Burnout is composed of three dimensions: emotional exhaustion—where people get overwhelmed at a psychological level; depersonalization—where pessimistic and cynical attitudes develop, which

create the perception that other people deserve the problem they are currently experiencing; and reduced sense of personal achievement—which is the possibility of the person to think so lowly of themselves, and see their accomplishments as useless and futile pursuits (Maslach and Jackson, 1981). The University of Southern Maine in 2006 conducted a study on around 345 students regarding the cause of burnout. Five percent of the students said burnout was caused by mental/ physical issues. Another five percent blamed their professors. Thirteen percent claimed it was due to their lack of motivation. Twenty-four percent of the students said it was due to external issues such as family, finance, time management, and etc. But a whopping forty-nine percent claimed it was from school work overload. Excessive academic requirements and extracurricular responsibilities that pile up with an approaching deadline is indeed overwhelming. Burnout is characterized by low motivation, decreased satisfaction with work, increased risk of health problems, rise in social conflicts, and decline in productivity (Journal of College Student Development, 2003). What are you supposed to do about it then? As previously explained, it takes time to get enter the state of burnout, so it will not be a question of “What should I do during a burnout?”

ARTWORK BY: TOMMY LEE SANTOS but more of a “What should I do to prevent burnout?” Here are some tips according to Thomas Frank of College Info Geek: 1.Don’t bite off more than what you can chew Accept tasks that you think you can handle. Do not make too much commitments knowing that your body won’t be able to handle it. Weigh in what you can manage. But in college, there are instances where they will give you too much to chew.

2.Make sure that your system is in working order Prioritize your health above everything. Take care of yourself mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. No excuses. 3.Get organized An untidy workplace eats up unnecessary energy. It is advisable to clean up, so that by the time you need to get working, you can start immediately. As Jordan Peterson, a famous professor and clinical psychologist said, “Go clean up your room!”

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KAMALAYAN

Rape culture in social media: The rise of misogyny and advocacy in the digital age

KNIX DENZEL OLIVENZA

ape culture is like a shadow that will perhaps follow you everywhere especially in your vulnerable hours. Most women have thought that being outside your home is no longer safe. Being catcalled, coerced, harassed, and victim-blamed became a daily experience for women as soon as they step foot outside their house. Unconsciously, they cannot escape rape culture even if they are just sitting, scrolling and holding their gadgets; for rape culture has already invaded social media. Last August 30, 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte once again boomed social media because of his comment on the reason why there were many rape cases in Davao. “They said that Davao had many rape cases. For as long as there are many beautiful women, there are plenty of rape cases as well,” he said. Netizens, especially women, were furious and expressed their sentiments on social media. Ms. Eva Pedregosa, the program chair of B.A. in Broadcasting in Malayan Colleges Laguna shared her opinion on Duterte’s quote, “Definitely not funny. Any decent man or woman should take offense at his misogynistic remarks. He often forgets that he is supposed to protect the nation and its people, especially those who are unable to protect themselves.” She added, “His continued arrogance and misogynistic behaviours can embolden fellow misogynists, which can be very worrisome.” The behaviours and activities of these misogynists are indeed apparent in social media; in fact, social media is the first tool that people may use to react or engage in this kind of issue. As Ms. Pedregosa said, the reason why these offenders do such activities online is because the Philippines does not have stringent laws on social media use. Pauline Ramos, a Multimedia Arts student in Malayan Colleges Laguna, exposed her dark experiences behind this culture. There were instances wherein men would send her messages like “Hi ganda!”, “beautiful”, “beh”, and “cute”, through private messages,

but also in the comments section of photos she posted. Those kind of comments are offensive and disturbing for her. According to Ms. Ramos, those comments were not even relevant to her posts. Due to these occurrences, she feels anxious when posting photos of herself, and would rather choose to make anime characters as her profile picture, as well as modifying the privacy settings from viewable by the “Public” to “Only me” in order to avoid digital catcalls. We can see that even a single word is enough to make women cringe in anxiety, which also affects how they utilize social media. Nonetheless, Ms. Ramos fights for the rights of women by spreading awareness on her advocacy to educate her friends on sexual harassment and rape culture through social media. “Although lately I would rather ignore most of them than bother allotting my energy, and would rather share posts on my timeline that could educate my friends on Facebook about harassments and rape culture, hoping that it could make a change to me, my friends, and the society who can relate and empathize on one another’s stand on this kind of harassment.” [Sic] Social media is not steered clear in the proliferation of rape culture. Social media has become a platform for the practice of misogyny, as well as a platform for advocacy to counteract rape culture. People may not be aware of the existence of rape culture in social media fora number reasons. It may be because they do not understand that concept of rape culture is not only about physical harassment; or maybe they think that their behavior in social media would not directly affect a person. This is a big misconception, for rape culture is not exclusive to physical harassment, but it can also be in the form of written words, pictures, videos, and even stalking and impersonation. On the other hand, social media is readily available for us to counter rape culture. One of the defenses that people may say that they are not perpetuating rape culture is their freedom of

ARTWORK BY: GENEVIEVE MEALA

expression. Although freedom of expression is part of our human rights, there should always be a limitation. Others may say that victim-blaming, catcalling, and rape jokes are only an expression of their opinion and they are not being misogynists. These people do not recognize the line between humor and misogyny. There’s a huge difference between complimenting and catcalling, between suggesting and joking, and between protecting and blaming. There will always be a distinction, and we cannot change other everyone’s perspective on simply practicing their freedom of expression from proliferating rape culture if we will not uplift this reality. When women fight against sexual harassment, catcalling, coercion and many other of forms of misogyny, they are fighting for their right to peace and respect as a human being. Sharing content that counters rape culture is one way to speak out against this alarming circumstance. Let us literally apply the word ‘active’ when we are online in our social media accounts, we should be active in speaking out against misogyny and engage in the advocacy on ‘rape counterculture.’

CONTINUATION OF From tired exhausted.... 4.Take breaks Don’t immerse yourself studying for extended periods of time without breaks. You will easily wear yourself out. Taking breaks from time to time will increase your productivity. 5.Have a hobby A hobby that gives you sense of progression will help a lot, such as learning an instrument, playing a

sport, practice martial arts, etc. Go for hobbies that give you high-intensity entertainment. 6.Ask for help You don’t have to do this alone. Ask for help. Go seek the school counselor. 7.Know your WHY’s Remember the reason why you are studying in the first place. Why do you

wake up each morning? Knowing the purpose of your pursuit, keeps your eyes on the prize, even when the going gets tough. Burnout is a tough enemy to beat, but it is definitely preventable. There is no single correct way to get through college, but once you figure it out, it can be as simple as Dante, together with Virgil, traversing the 9 Circles

of Hell. It will be a rough ride, but hopefully it won’t comprise of frequent mental and emotional breakdowns. If in case the worst happens, remember that you will get through it. Dust it off. Pick yourself up, and keep on going. You will finish your degree in no time.

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KAMALAYAN

ARTWORK BY: NICOLE CASTRO

A synopsis of Federalism in the Philippines A

s President Rodrigo Duterte formerly served the City of Davao as a Mayor for nearly two decades and now nears the end of his third year of presidency, he still carries the torch of a federal form of government to be implemented in the Philippines. Two years ago, before he ran for the president, he described Manila as “imperial” and he even refused to live in the Malacañang Palace since it was a symbol of oppression for him. These things only show how eager he was to attain the idea of having a different form of government in the Philippines. Pres. Duterte’s idea had provoked a repercussion among certain aspects of society including the business sector, the church and the media, whom all have questioned the rationale for the constitutional change. A recent survey by Pulse Asia was conducted, and it was found out that 67 percent of Filipinos oppose the change, 18 percent were in favor while 14 percent were still undecided. How about you--do you belong in that 18 percent? 14 percent? Or still undecided? Since the 1971 Constitution Convention, federalism had been discussed since then and the idea of a federal form of government is not new to the people in Mindanao, because it has long been carried by Pres. Duterte. Moreover, it has mustered positive reaction from the townsmen but considering its wide scope, most Filipinos are not fully aware of the technicalities and benefits it has. It is a complex topic indeed and for some people, it is challenging to explain most likely to a vendor, a commuter, a student, or even to an employee. Majority of the ordinary Filipinos will only throw you the question “What’s in it for me?” Jonathan Malaya, executive

RHAINE MACALALAD

director of the PDP-Laban Federalism Institute stated that federalism itself is not “the solution” to the country’s problems rather a means towards better development. It will provide better services –- more schools and hospitals, better roads and better access to our resources, and this development will not focus on the adult’s welfare rather on the future of this generation. One of the wrong impressions that Filipinos think is the choice between the forms of government. Technically there are three options that we can choose from – unitary, federal, and confederate. In a unitary form of government, the regional government is subordinate to the central government. Currently, the Philippines employ this form of government with much power coming from the central government. Another option that citizens can choose from is the confederate form of government. Primarily, it is the opposite of unitary – the regional government will have a greater influence instead of being the subordinate. The last form of government is the federate, which is also known as the federal system, it explains the clear division between the national and regional government. Although the national government will remain more powerful than the regional government because of their authority over national concerns, particularly when it comes to foreign affairs, national defense, monetary and fiscal treaties and their supervision for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Also, greater source and political power will be considered and will be distributed evenly to each region of the country. It can be seen in the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

that around 63 percent of the political and economic power is centralized in three regions alone, namely - NCR, Region 4A, and Central Luzon. The population in the Philippines is a whopping 100.98 million, and out of the population, 12.75 percent of the people are found in the denselypopulated cities of Metro Manila, other cities in Luzon accounts for around 44.16 percent, followed by Mindanao at around 23.9 percent and lastly, Visayas with around 19.18 percent of the national budget. Presuming that the federal system will be approved by our government, this power will not focus only in Metro Manila rather to allocate the greater access to the resources evenly and will now have individual states with their own federal legislature and state governments, and with that, poorer regions in the Philippines will also have the chance to prosper on their own. Pres. Duterte has not laid out the details on how the states will be divided, but the Joint Resolution No. 10, which was proposed by Senator Koko Pimentel in 2008, suggested the creation of 11 federal states out of the provinces, municipalities, and cities in the Philippines - Metro Manila acting as the federal administrative region. The division of powers between the regional and national government must be clearly stated in the constitution. Last June, the leading jurists and political scientists who were handpicked by the President were called to be a part of the Special Consultative Committee. The 22-member committee already had a final draft last July 9, 2018 and was submitted to Pres. Duterte for his consideration. However, the Congress may still either accept or refuse the proposal.

Former Chief Justice Reynato Puno, the head of the Consultative Committee (ConCom), said that the current unitary system failed because the national government has too much power. He hopes for a referendum to approve the proposed charter which is planned to be held in the mid-year of 2019 and separate it from the elections so that the public can focus on its merits. “Federalism is not just a delegation of power, but an equitable distribution of powers between the federal government and the government of constituent regions," Puno said. There will be big adjustments and risk in approving this proposal, some of them are as follows; citizens will choose a president-vice president tandem. Meanwhile, from each federated regions, there will be two senators elected. The draft that was written by the ConCom also states that President Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo should step down from power by the end of their term, which is on June 30, 2022, dispelling concerns over an extended term for one of them. In addition to the changes stated in the draft of the new constitution, political dynasties will be banned. One of the members of the ConCom, Antonio Chua said that the committee is open to accept any changes for the President’s liking, except for one – the removal of the anti-political dynasty. It is important for the people of our country to have an idea or better knowledge of what may occur in the future. Now that you have a synopsis on the controversial issue of federalism in the Philippines, where do you stand?

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KAMALAYAN

Raising the value of Filipino workers for responsible consumerism

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We become fixated towards a brand, because of their emotionally-appealing advertising, budget-friendly promos, and acquisition of local flavor. These marketing strategies always lead back to the purpose of a corporation – to gain profit, b ut at what cost?

e live in a generation where our basic necessities like shampoo and coffee may come in small packages—sachets, ready for our daily consumption and accounts for a meager portion of our budget. Consumers also look for express service aside from being cheap and readily-available. Chances are very likely that you have quick meals in fast food chains on a regular basis. As for you and me, who belong to the middleclass, the majority of the people in our socio-economic group overlook the repercussions of what we consume. We become fixated towards a brand, because of their emotionally-appealing advertising, budget-friendly promos, and acquisition of local flavor. These marketing strategies always lead back to the purpose of a corporation – to gain profit, but at what cost? Last May 1, 2018, exactly on Labor Day, President Rodrigo Duterte finally signed the executive order which supposedly prohibits “Endo” contractualization—a short-term employment scheme practiced by many corporations here in the Philippines. The ending of “Endo” had been one of Pres. Duterte’s main agendas during his presidential campaign back in 2016. This may seem like a call for celebration for labor groups who have lobbied for the long-overdue order, but it omits the provision on illegalizing all forms of contractualization, a section originally included in the labor group’s submitted draft. Pres. Duterte signed a different version of the E.O. for which he is accused of backstabbing the labor groups. Thousands of workers have been

ARTWORK BY: EDMUND DELA CRUZ Jollibee Food Corporation tops the Department of Labor and Employment’s list of companies engaged in labor-only contracting regularized as reported by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). Yet, a number of labor strikes have turned up this year. Oftentimes, these strikes escalate to violent dispersal where strikers end up in either prison or the hospital. One notable example is the violent dispersal of the workers in the NutriAsia strike. The violence was caused by the security of NutriAsia and it was even documented by those who participated in the strike, but NutriAsia’s press release says otherwise. Production line workers reportedly are on duty for more than 12 hours a day under unsafe conditions and minimum wage pay. Others have reportedly been employed

by NutriAsia for years, but have not received any salary adjustments. NutriAsia reportedly hires their contractual labor from third-party manpower agencies, making them not liable to provide the benefits of a regular employee. Although NutriAsia may have found legal loopholes and have blatantly exploited it, it does not change the fact that the rights of the workers are being violated in their business operations. Looking into the situation, the tasks of these contractual workers are part of the normal operations of the company. “Frontliners” as we may call them are directly involved in the success of a business. Without them, who will do

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the dirty work? Yet they are treated as second-class citizens being denied of basic benefits for health and the security of tenure. Getting the chance to ask a former company executive’s opinion on contractualization, he admitted that this practice was only meant for, well, contractual jobs. It was never meant for workers that are part of the normal operations—bottlers, sales people, machine operators, and cashiers, they are needed for the daily functions of a corporation. Why not regularize them? The former company executive also admitted that the salary difference of giving benefits to an employee is minuscule as compared to what a huge corporation earns on the daily. As of 2018, DOLE has regularized 318,000 workers and has continued to call out companies who are violating the labor code on regularization. The issue of contractualization has a long way to go. The president himself admitted that the executive order is not enough to put an end to corporate greed. If there are people who can change lifestyles as they recognize the exploitation and death that animals experience, how hard can it be to feel for our fellow human beings? There are many other available commodities in the market. It will not harm you to reconsider where to eat lunch or which ketchup brand to buy. Aside from taking a stand with the workers who fight for their regularization, this is the next big thing we can do as ordinary citizens. As long as we continue to patronize the services of these greedy corporations, there is blood on our hands.

New era of corruption: Our nation’s self-image

“ Stop being a schadenfreude and help our country revive from the mud of stagnation.

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common folk-joke has been around in our culture for years now which has been carried from one generation to another; and it does not sound like your typical call of nature like the birds chirping or your favorite music playing on stream. No, but it is the call of your fellow countrymen to join their band of “chismakers” or for our understanding, ”gossip”. Take for example, in MMA (Mixed Martial Arts), taking down and punishing your opponent in the ground is impressive as it sounds because you -- almost -control the pace of the game. Same goes with the context of this prestigious club. They’ll come swarming and take you down through their flowery praises until you turn around and forgot that you shared a time with this person. Richard Javad Heydarian, a Manilabased academic and is a regular contributor to Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and Council on Foreign Relations (CFR)

ARTWORK BY: TYRA MONZONES

academe who specializes in Asian geopolitical/economic affairs, filed a report for Forbes Magazine stating that: “Since 2011, the Philippines has broken out of its historically mediocre growth pattern to feature among the fastest growing nations in the Southeast region. But the country’s growth has been shallow and far from comprehensive, leaving high levels of unemployment, poverty, and hunger relatively untouched.” Also, the Japan International Cooperation Agency conducted a study and found out that traffic congestion in Manila is accounted for economic losses of about P2.4 Billion in 2012, and could exponentially increase through time. With that being said, by 2030, we can lose around a triple amount of money. And yes, as days go by I came to realize that we Filipinos are dual in

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KAMALAYAN

The Lumad Struggle: Displacement and Militarization

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And by the time we have acknowledged and accepted that these happen in real life, we can think about the notion of what real progress is and how we can contribute. Let us ask ourselves, progress for whom?

The Native Filipino orced evacuation, land grabbing, human rights violations, the terrifying sound of gunfire and bomb explosions have become normal occurrences for our brothers and sisters belonging to the communities collectively referred to as indigenous peoples (IPs). These communities were the first inhabitants, early conservationists, and protectors of certain lands and have inherited them through time by ancestry. They are spread all over the country and the Lumads of Mindanao comprise more than half of all the IPs in the Philippines. They have established their own cultural identity and lived in harmony far from the complexities of the urban way of life, until we interfered. They are without a doubt Filipinos in every sense. However, their identity and culture must be given respect. We cannot tell them what is right and what is wrong as they were able to thrive without us before. We may even have different notions of what is and what is not. The disruption originates from our inner desire for our so-called national progress. But if advancements come with the price of exploiting our indigenous peoples, maybe we should start asking ourselves if these developments are for the benefit of the selected few. Ancestral Domains and Cultural Identity One of the major calls of our indigenous peoples is to respect their claim to their ancestral lands and everything that lies within—a call that we unfortunately have yet to answer. Moreover, the absence of land titles and the lack of government support make it hard for them to defend their lands when business entities try to get a hold of it for profitable use. The right of the indigenous peoples to their ancestral lands is protected by Republic Act 8371 or The Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997. Under this law, they are given the chance to secure titles and solidify their claims of their ancestral lands. This law looks good on paper as it was designed to empower them, but power and class struggles always come into play when it comes to its implementation. Along with

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ARTWORK BY: JOLO CANTOS their fight for their ancestral domains, their call for the preservation of their own cultural identities may also be another hard pill for us to swallow. In our perspective, we might view their way of life as outdated. In reality, they have gained exceptional knowledge and skill on things that we may never have the opportunity to learn. The indigenous peoples are actually very good agriculturists as they have spent hours learning agricultural theories and practicing it to become selfsustaining communities. We may help them improve the efficiency of their processes or supply them with electricity, but we have to draw the line. We should not impose our modern ways to their communities as their ancestry and identity are beautiful on its own when left untouched. Militarization and Being Caught in the Middle of the War The state forces in uniform are supposed to protect us citizens and make us feel safe. However, it had always been different for the indigenous peoples. The Lumads of Mindanao have endured accusations

of being linked to rebel groups and being tagged as enemies of the state. Heavy military presence have become a daily circumstance in their areas, especially now that Mindanao is still under the Martial Law. In turn, the list of alleged human rights abuses and incidents of their leaders being harassed and slain might get longer in time. They are in the middle of what seems to be an unending crossfire of a war where they are not involved, but they have no choice but to suffer the same violence. This is why they call for the end of militarization in their lands, so they can go back to their usual, peaceful way of life. It had always been insensitive of us to say that there’s nothing to be afraid of when their innocence is pure, when the account of their experiences implies otherwise. Let us not invalidate their continuous struggles. Evacuation and Displacement Chad Booc, an ALCADEV (Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development) Lumad School volunteer teacher, described their

experience of the evacuation in Surigao del Sur as a grueling sixteen kilometer walk for ten hours straight. According to him, they were forced to evacuate as the government have been deploying an increasing number of military personnel to clear the way for the entry of coal mining in their area. The supposed primary targets of the military operation are those who strongly oppose the entry of coal mining. They use the term “bakwit” to refer to themselves whenever incidents like this occur. The communities are being displaced for economic interests disguised as progress. What can we do to support their cause even if they are on areas that seem unreachable? I believe that the first step that we have to take is for us to acknowledge that their plight is a real problem. And by the time we have acknowledged and accepted that these happen in real life, we can think about the notion of what real progress is and how we can contribute. Let us ask ourselves, progress for whom?

help our country revive from the mud of stagnation.” That is why many Filipinos hate our country so much because of its myopic vision and lack of competency in terms of urban layout, development and planning; superficial and shortterm palliatives on country’s illness and abomination; the palpable and flamboyant display of ostentatious politicians who sit all day doing nothing only to look for solutions that are merely working. How long we will be at this deep and dark abyss? Can we still experience the bliss and eternal happiness after living in the hell’s pit? Is this what being “Globally

Competitive” means for us? And let me raise a question: Is this the freedom that we really want? To deteriorate and mortify our already dilapidated country? We didn’t change, we are still indulging the thoughts of this lavish room of unabated pursuit for being branded as a third world country. Our mentality affects the country’s current state also. If you could only delve on the minds of the populace, you can feel the divisiveness of the people. We are not one, we can only hope for it. And if we continue this kind of practice, we cannot attain progress.

CONTINUATION OF New era of corruption.... nature. We have multiple characters, as always. We utter everytime that we are proud Filipinos but deep inside, we are really ashamed of it because of what fate has befallen before us. We tell our friends that they are trustworthy but behind their backs we are mind-killing them. We say that we love our country but we are still spitting everywhere, shouting and pointing fingers at anyone--the multiplying number of undisciplined drivers, street hawkers, and vendors. You can smell right away the putrefaction of our nation from a distant and you can tell it by how we care about our fellow men. The elite never really cares whether the

people living under bridges ate their breakfast, no one really cares. We are all responsible for our image as a nation, not just as an excellent and functional individual who dominates the world in rags to riches success stories. But we should fix our eyes on how we could help other people rise up and make themselves better. Stop being a schadenfreude and help our country revive from the mud of stagnation . We always want other people to have an ideal picture of our society but we neglect the most important, the truth. Remove this attitude and integrate this with discipline and we are good. “Stop being a schadenfreude and

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KAMALAYAN

The Case for Spending Time by Yourself

“ When you are by yourself, you feel less pressure to perform for society and can just focus on how you really want to be.

ocialization and companionship are essential parts of a student’s life. Bonding with your friends can take different forms, such as working with them through challenging academic workloads or attending fun events in the campus. Spending time with friends is one way to destress because you know you are with people who share your struggles and will listen to you. But sometimes, you might want to spend time by yourself, and there’s nothing wrong with that. It is also a valid option to spend some days alone. For starters, some people are introverts. While it may not be the same for everyone, for introverts, external stimulation such as socializing with other people expends their energy. This means that unregulated amounts of time spent with other people tire them out. Excessive social interaction tend to exhaust introverts, and they need to spend some time with themselves again to “recharge their batteries,” so to speak. The source of an introvert’s energy is themselves and their introspection. If you are an introvert, there’s no shame in spending time by yourself—it’s just what works for you. Some people might try to make you feel bad for deciding to be alone sometimes, but there’s nothing wrong with being true to yourself and embracing your personality. There are more reasons why you would want to spend time alone

though. One is higher levels of productivity—according to research in the Journal of Environmental Psychology by Jungsoo Kim and Richard Dear, being surrounded by others can lessen one’s productivity. The results state that people perform better at work when they are allowed some privacy. As such, in the context of being a student, while there are advantages to group review sessions with classmates, if you are with people who are not well-disciplined and are eas-

ARTWORK BY: TOMMY LEE SANTOS ily sidetracked, your study schedule could get messed up and your own study habits influenced negatively. In addition, alone time helps improve concentration, according to contributor Sherrie Carter, Psy.D in the magazine Psychology Today. This is because with less people around your personal space, there are less distractions and interruptions, enabling you to focus on your work. Spending time by yourself is also an opportunity to practice being more in-

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dependent. If at school, for example, during meal time breaks you are often subjected to the whims of your more vocal companions where to eat, you could choose to be alone sometimes and explore a new food place and be as adventurous as you want with your food. Doing other activities such as shopping, going to the cinema, and traveling by yourself will also equip you with life skills such as communicating with strangers effectively and finding your way around in a new environment without another person to rely on. Being by yourself while you do recreational activities or run errands will enable you to have experiences that will shape you into a more independent, confident person. Lastly, having alone time will help you know yourself better. When you are alone with the quiet, you have more space to observe your thoughts as they come and go. When you are by yourself you feel less pressure to perform for society and can just focus on how you really want to be. According to Maria Hill, a life coach at grablifego. com, spending time alone will boost your self-awareness because as your thoughts become clearer, so does your understanding of your own emotions, beliefs, strengths, and weaknesses. Spending time alone is just as valid an option as spending time with companions. It is another way of learning more about yourself and the world— just more independently.

ARTWORK BY: TYRA MONZONES

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KAMALAYAN

The entrepreneurial mindset for starters: A short guide for Young Aspiring Entrepreneurs

The most important thing about being a young entrepreneur isn’t what you have “ or what you do, it’s you.

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’m sure all of you have already read a few “rags to riches” stories or watched cliche movies involving a small town girl aiming for gold and eventually succeeded. Come to think of it, somehow it builds high hopes for most of us who wanted that Cinderella story as well. But I tell you, success stories don’t always happen overnight and the Bill Gates story is definitely not for everyone. No, I’m not trying to tell you that it’s impossible to go from a small business to one of the biggest local brands since every successful brands has also been there; the story might not be as extravaganza as you thought they would per se; but slow and sure. You may ask, How? Is it Luck? Nope. Determination? Maybe. Capital? Meh. What most of us don’t know is that the most important thing about being a young entrepreneur isn’t what you have or what you do, it’s you. Here’s a few pinpoints you may want to remember upon establishing a long-lived business. Have you heard anyone say, “I will think of a unique business idea.” I think I’ve heard it a million times until probably the “unique” that they are talking about isn’t that unique anymore since everyone wants to do the same thing— to stand out and innovate. Let me tell you this first fact, ironically; A good business idea isn’t wholly about innovating and being outside the box. You may want to sometimes come up with an idea so crazy which it

ARTWORK BY: JOLO CANTOS could blow some minds thinking that it will make you rich in no time but in this era, no. The question that really matters more is that, “who will buy these? who is my market?” Instead of just coming up with a Unique Selling Proposition, you have to also come up with your Value Proposition; why would my market value my business? You have to not just come up with an idea or a product. You must also have to come up with an actual business that involves the basics such as target market, location, and distribution channels. Second, not every opportunity is an opportunity that you should take. Trends come and go, which basically means that just because it’s trendy

Hermits Riches

Looking Back on the Sunlight

BY: NIKOLAI DINEROS

I thrive best in solitude sailing the wide, open sea. Impressively catching the strangest of fish with no crew to see. I board my deck every morning sweeping through wooden pavements and surveying the horizon with a trusty parrot on my side who has sworn by his every word, from the limited knowledge in his pea-sized mind, to worship the only master that he ever knew. I thrive best knowing that I see myself in the mirror covered in gold and in Earth’s precious candies from the treasures that I’ve sought

now, it will still be in five to ten years later. Always make sure that your business idea will fit the satisfaction of your target consumers which it is timeless as well. Remain versatile and transparent too as much as possible by adapting to changes every now and then. Third, the “millennials” as a target market isn’t the only option and isn’t always a good idea. Everybody is out there releasing stuff for us to enjoy already—skin care routines for “millenials”, edgy clothing brands for “millenials”, or even cute makeup brands for “millenials” that looks like we are the only generation out there to sell things to. It won’t hurt a bit to come up with a business idea

that involves the entire household. After all, it’s all about the right positioning and branding. Fourth, choosing the right marketing tools is everything! That’s when the beauty of e-commerce is very much appreciated. A lot of small and big businesses uses social media promotions for the clout and sometimes it works, but sometimes, coming from experience, it doesn’t. Use your marketing tools wisely and efficiently. Make sure to be striking, bold and memorable since social media can either make you or break you. Never forget to use the classic marketing as well like flyers, posters, and promo cards which can make huge differences too. Lastly, never forget to do what you love and love what you do. Never let the thought of making more money distance you from the things you are passionate about. Try thinking of three things that you really want to pursue and start from there. You know how the classic saying goes; “It will never feel like work if you enjoy what you’re doing.” These five things are not the only formula to a long-lived business since it is definitely not an easy journey considering how cut throat industries are today, but by taking these advices by heart, it can help you create a really strong foundation especially when you hold on to that vision of yours all throughout. Always remember to be an entrepreneur by heart, soul, and mind. Also, be your own brand.

in my own adventures. In my every partaking, from island to island, one storm to the next, the tides of magnificent thrill splash my face like a shark eyeing its next prey as I may finally see the treasure that I’ve been searching for for the longest time. I thrive best on my own and I always convince that to myself, but time and time again, it gets lonely being the ruler of the sea especially when you’ve become an island yourself, waiting for the next voyager to weigh anchor and to never set sail ever again.

BY: JULIENNE BIEN

Doing something holy in a neon-lit alleyway, like feeling the warmth of your neck with my knuckles And remembering a past life of delirious connection, when your name was Henry Or not Henry, and you sweated on the cement and I sweated on the cement and I thought Sink your claws into me and give me your blessing, let’s go up to the rooftop and bathe in blinding sunlight Let’s go and talk about God, or gods, and what seafoam means when we’re ashes A flash of a second in a rainy humid night, and lovers come and go and come and go And physics say no one ever truly touches

Insomnia

I still remember nights of fluid passing It’s almost like a dream Memories of when i was whole There’s nothing i’d do without it Seems as it’s so, I still crave the times when the thought of life

BY: TOMMY LEE SANTOS Didn’t rot me to my core I’d still go back to the moment, The thought of that one person, Where everything were just this, And never wanting more. And never even began to think What would happen if we ever miss. Without it, it seems hopeless to try When the nights isn’t worth the crying I’d never give up opportunities like When memories is all you live by, these Nothing more than what is felt. Waking up in the middle of the night With the streets light going by

Passing up the moments, and us never knowing why It’s opportunities like these, at times like this Why we wake up in the middle of the night And think of a place that doesn’t exist

ART

DALLAS BUYERS CLUB

BY: JENNY GERNALE IG: @jennygernale

KAMALAYAN ka ma la ya n KAMALAYAN is the official student media of Malayan Colleges Laguna. Materials in this publication do not necessarily reflect the official views of Malayan Colleges Laguna, its colleges, or any collaborating groups and institutions of the aforementioned. For comments, suggestions, or reactions, you may visit or send us a message at: KAMALAYAN Newsroom R214 Rizal Bldg., Malayan Colleges Laguna, Cabuyao, Laguna 4025 FACEBOOK facebook.com/MCLKamalayan TWITTER @MCLKamalayan

ALAPAAP

BY: GENEVIEVE MEALA

BY: EDMUND GABRIEL DELA CRUZ

IG: @edmunddlcrz

IG: @hypothalamuzst

INSTAGRAM @MCL_KAMALAYAN ROSHMEIR DE LEON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF YSABEL FERRAZ MANAGING EDITOR KHAYLE ANDREW ATIENZA ASSOCIATE EDITOR FOR PRINT RIZA ALEJANDRIA ASSOCIATE EDITOR FOR PRODUCTION EDMUND GABRIEL DELA CRUZ ART DIRECTOR KENNETH MIRA SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER WRITERS

LETTER 1

BY: INAKAB

IG: @inakab.d

CAPTAIN MARVEL

BY: TYRA MONZONES IG: @tachi.png

Mark Joseph Ambrocio Julienne Bien Carmela De Vera Danna Delalamon Nikolai Dineros Ysabel Ferraz Michael James Gnilo Arvhie Latoza Rhaine Macalalad Dave Molina Sybert Narvaez Christiana Protacio Knix Denzel Olivenza Jacob Umali PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO PRODUCTION Cseline Dela Rosa Robbie Doctolero Emmanuel Esmenda Gino Mendoza Allen Edward Pascua Andrea Penales Chester Rara Don Derek Rodrigo Shaira Serioso Moi VillaseÃ±or ART DEPARTMENT Jaquilyn Arcilla Jolo Cantos Nicole Castro Genevieve Meala Arvin Miranda Tyra Monzones Ariza Ong Tommy Santos

Wishful thinking BY: NIKOLAI DINEROS

Sing me a song of the west countryside Where flowers wither under the waning red sky. Eagles fly at the distance as the sun Enkindles the hearts of many a villager. Tell me tales of the deep blue sea. Poems of the ancient mariner, Riding his sail as he learns to love Every God's creature from fish to dove. Tens of wonders we ought to know,

Tales of love, of joy, of sorrow; You can imagine, together we can grow. Remember all your dreams recurring, I could never get a hold of mine; A memory of a small paradise, Nights filled with fireflies. Everything I remember of you was just... So beautiful, so sweet, so you.

IVAN KHALIL DESCARTIN ADVISER SPECIAL THANKS TO: Office for Corporate Communications

MEMBER: COLLEGE EDITORS GUILD OF THE PHILIPPINES (CEGP)