MV - Lantaw sa Mindanao

The Official Student Publication of Mindanao State University, Marawi City Member: College Editors’ Guild of the Philippines Vol. 27, No. 3 | A.Y. 2011 - 2012

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inside

what’s

About the

COVER:

A different, innocent look of Mindanao. The cover entails that the island’s Tri-people (moro, migrant and lumad) though of different customs, views and beliefs, have the same face, and equal love for their land. This is for a better look of what is usually unseen.

Mindanao is never only a land of bloodsheds and wars but is an abode of peace-loving and multi-ethnolinguistic people.

For its innocence and beauty are spoiled by prejudices, Mindanao wishes to be heard. Lantaw sa Mindanao (Take a look of Mindanao).

Theme by Mike ArielPlaza Photo by Jayson Leigh Segovia Cover by John LouieMargate Model: Ashaabi Kyle Damien Dalaten DISCLAIMER: The MV secured consent from the model’s parents before the photoshoot.

ABOUT THE COVER LETTER FROM THE EDITOR FROM THE READERS MV UPDATES

7

EDITORIAL

34 | Bitter TOFI

NEWS

6 | MSU student leaders convened 7 | MSUans attend communication congress at CDO 8 | PNoy’s couz quests at YEBMC 9 | Rostrum makes history at 5th MPDC

8

NEWS FEATURES

10 | MSU extends hands in helping Sendong victims 10 | Students voices heard thru TOFI diretsahan

FEATURES

11 | Health Madness: Ang Pagbabalik 12 |In the Arms of an Armed Man 13 | The Pain worth eight pesos 14 |Raja Indarapatra: A Timeless Maranao Legend 15 | Ang Mundo ng Dormitoryo

11

Lantaw sa MINDANAO 16 | Minda Rebels: Freedom fighters or

Terrorists?

17 | General Outlook: Minda War Zone 18 | Mindanao: The Unheard Archipelago

COLUMNS

21| Double Edged 22 | Taking Choices 23 | My Rebuttals 24 | Sweet Irony 25 | Walang Personalan 26 | Sighed View 27 | Autofocus 27 | A Slip of aPen

18

LITERARY

28 | Ang Kuya kong MSUan 29 | Hibi sang tagipuso-on 29 | Unwritten

INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS

30 | “The Delay of the SSG Elections” 31 | Enrolment: Slower than snail

OPINION

20 | Dayuhan sa Sariling Bayan 32 | Ang Tunaw nang Palayok ng Timog 33 | Tingog

COMIX

35 | Trip to Comcent

31

E

ven if we’d run out of ink, we would still write.

Hearing the talks on MV brouhaha was so disheartening. Imagine the pain I felt when people blurted their questions about the publication’s dissolution.

It’s more than being caught in a crossfire. People would then have their says of you-deserveits, you-should-haves and I-told-yous like they have known the entirety of the story. I know I never had the most ear-pleasing answers to their questions. I know what prevailed was my unnecessary silence. But you have it now, the very evidence that would disproof all the rumors. You have it now, at your own hands, what would prove that Mindanao Varsitarian is still on papers.

LETTER

FROM

We would rather be the parrots of the students than be the puppets of the big hands. And if serving the studentry is a mistake, then we would rather “err” than do what others consider “right.” But this publication stands for the right, therefore we cling to what we believe is right for the studentry. Serving the students is. Hearing their clamors is. Speaking for them is. What’s not right is not doing these.

So here is your copy. But as much as we want to give every student of this academe a copy of the publication’s issue, we could not. What they pay is much lesser than a value of a copy, including the publication’s operational expenses (transportation, printing costs and even stipend). Therefore, we could not publish enough for everybody, let alone give each one a copy. Seriously, where can you buy a magazine now which worth is only P20? That’s a lapse, of course. But instead of focusing to what we could not possibly do, we maximize the service to the students through better innovations and pieces that, we hope, are much worthy to be read. After all, it is not the number of copies that matters; it is the contents of the paper. For those who will not be able to have their copies, you could actually browse it virtually through our website or you can visit the library for inside reading. Share -share na lang sa gud ta! Nevertheless, we try to bring you more than what we used to offer. We strive to make an impact to every MSUan’s heart.

Editor

THE

No one could ever silence a paper that many would still want to read. No one could ever silence a paper whose writers are still willing to ink their pieces. No one could ever take away our pens from us.

With this magazine, we bring you the aching issues of this University, of Mindanao and of the country as a whole. We commend the visible improvements of the campus with the newly built infrastructures (the administration also deserves recognition). We celebrate the success of FINALLY having a Supreme Student Government we expect would also stand for the welfare of the students. We bring to you the scents of love, the pain of brokenness, the deep sighs of accomplishments, and the blank pages we ache to write on. We provide you a better and wider view of Mindanao. We put lenses to the blurry eyes. We make you peek to what is not commonly seen. We put an end to the questions by trying to answer them. With our pens. With this paper.

For this issue is never Mindanao Varsitarian’s. It is the MSUans’. It is for the students who still believe in us.

This issue is for Mindanao and those who live in it. This is for those who had boxed their thoughts about the island and for those who willingly fight for its good. This issue is for those who still believe in happy endings. And for those who believe that this is not still the end.

Read on.

To God be the glory!

Mike Ariel Pastor Plaza Editor-in-Chief Mindanao Varsitarian

from the

READERS

PRAISES AND STANDING OVATION

Mindanao Varsitarian is getting better and better and better! Congratulations to the MV Staff! You guys surely have great talents! Keep writing! I really enjoy every issue. Kudos.

- Hanna Paula Jinayon CONGRATULATIONS on [yo]ur latest ish! I really like reading it.....this deserves a STANDING OVATION.... =0 - Camela Muti Naim [Yo]ur volume now is fabulous and I like the articles regarding those one that touches our feeling, bravo!

- Cuttie Pucca I super like your latest issue! I love reading the columns most especially the “F-Perfect”. Keep on doing the best MV. - akoawad Woi MV staff! ang galing ng Magazine ninyo..hehe like na like ko yung mga Comics. Grabe ang Astig talaga ng Cartoonist niyo. WOOO! I love you mr. REntenia. haha - ambisyusa the latest issue of the MV was indeed very good... thanks for voicing out our feelings!GOD BLESS... keep up the good work - spegs Daog! Nice innovation with the cover!

- marky The EB and staff of MV are more than pleased to have read and heard positive comments from our readers. These are the things that keep us going. We thought of giving you something remarkable in line with MSU’s Golden Jubilee so the innovation with the cover was done. We solely give the credit of the cover’s idea to our layout artist. And REntenia, was really great with all his comics (even us are always kept in awe). All the staff had actually given their best to deliver the best for you, though. Hope we get the same amount of praises in our preceding issues.

MISTAKEN IDENTITY Dear Mindanao Varsitarian Publication, Assalamu alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

I am Ronnel Magsigay Pelenio whose name appeared on the recent released publication of Mindanao Varsitarian. I am addressing my concern regarding the publication of my name found in page 5 with all the caps lock RONNEL PELENIO stating a positive or negative comment or what you may call it and how you interpret the statement. I am respectfully asking for a clear explanation regarding the inclusion of my name without my knowledge on the said concern.

Another thing, I visited/entered on your site and I found out that the process of giving comments, opinions and suggestions on your site is as easy as writing any name/s as registration of any identity they want to use in addressing their concerns or what have they, which for me it basically weakens your site. I apologize if I released such words due to the illegal use of my

name and I might suffer any sanction or any penalty which I hope you understand now my recent condition.

The EIC already conferred with Mr. Pelenio regarding the issue. However as of the moment, the MV holds no control of whether what name the students enter or use when sending their comments and complaints through the site. Some use pseudonyms and initials, but it never appeared to us that a student would use another student’s name at the expense of the latter. We apologize to Mr. Pelenio and we hope your name’s already cleared through sending us this message. Thank you.

COVER-CONTENT CONTROVERSY nice cover! except for the model’s hair. sana pumili kau ng model na na hindi ‘fly away’ hair para naman di nkakasira ng view - concernedstudent The theme and the concept is ex[c]elent – walang papalag! Pero ang model po ay hinde. Pangit po ang model na nakuha ninyo tapus mali ang posisyun nya. Marumi sa paningin ang buhok at expresyun ng mukha… na hinde naman talaga klaro kung anung ginagawa nya don.

- MR.C Bakit naman parang pangFHM ang cover? Be sensitive naman po.

- XXX Gusting gusto ko lahat ng articles but I found it na kulang talaga, sorry. I like 100times the commix. Bwahaha.

- mr. r Yung content kay kulang. Not powerful.

- Kit We actually didn’t find something offensive about the cover nor did we consider it something that of a men’s magazine’s. And we think we made the concept of the cover clear. The face of the model (who represented MSU) was not completely shown for she was looking through the dreams in her golden jubilee. Understand that she was not advertising a shampoo; she was the face of MSU in one of the most critical days of her life – her 50th year, that is. And by the way, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, they say.

What do you mean with ‘kulang’ and ‘not strong?’We could all remember that the golden jubilee’s greatest blow was when the Meanduhnow Varsh*tarian had released its first lampoon issue. And having all the possible controversies and issues published before the MV’s magazine, the EB chose to not write about all of those again but instead write about the lighter side of being MSUan and human being, at that. We opted to write about life and any other stories that would make ordinary MSUans change. Understand that the main theme of the last issue was about the Golden Jubilee and what will make MSU and the MSUans become better.

VOICE, LIP SYNCH

You have constantly maintain your stand as the voice of the students and my heartfelt applaud goes to you for that and for keeping that stand for so long years.

However, there is a danger in listening to the voice of the crowd. The crowd is not always right. The crowd I mean, here, are the students. To tell you frankly not all students are intelligent if they are so, then they will no longer be required to study. What I want to say is this: be very wise and discerning in the different voices that you are hearing be it your own voice, your friend’s voice or the crowd’s voice. I don’t want you to be like parrots.

If so, then you will be what R.W. Emerson stated in his essay, The American Scholar, “a mere thinker, or, still worse, the parrot of other men’s thinking,”. You guys should not merely be hearing voices but also straining even the minutest detail of the hearsay. You should be what Emerson considered as the Man Thinking. Doing a scientific study of the event is a good thing to do in order for you to preclude this kind of error and avoiding your usual habit of merely asking for forgiveness after being corrected by your critical readers and then place it in your “errata” section. I raise this point because you are now being swayed by what the students’ say which, are at times, very subjective – notions made at the height of their emotion. In the contrary, kindly correct any misinterpreted notions made by the students with the use of your writing.

Kindly do some appreciations to the authority. It’s not that you want to give an insult in a perfect disguise of praise but to let them know that the students are noticing what they are doing. This will imply that were not just angry jurors who amplify the wrongs that we see in them but we are also audiences who applaud at their good performance. According to John C. Maxwell, “Brains are like flowers. They grow when they are being watered.” Let us water them with appreciations because I’m pretty sure that they are not all crocodiles.

Some of them are lizards – small and yet they keep the mosquitoes away. I hope you’re getting some of my petty analogies.

- Unang Tinig sa Ilang We appreciate too much the words you’ve sent for MV. You actually had numerous points that really made sense. Thank you. And yes, we are the voice of the students but it doesn’t mean that we only listen to them. It is the very reason why we make efforts in writing investigative reports to shed light in some issues and eventually clear the illgotten name of the administration. Though, at most of the instances, the other side would always opt not to comment. But there are also others whose doors had always been very open in moments we needed to interview them. We are not blind of the administration’s accomplishments but we don’t need to worship them because of that. After all, it’s their responsibility. We do our very best to be balanced albeit in journalism, there’s no such thing as objectivity. A journalist or a publication would always have its biases to a certain side. We can never be completely objective because even in writing a mere news story, the choosing of an angle to deliver is already subjectivity. And no, being pro-students would not always mean we’re anti the administration. We’re getting their sides also. We write and we speak in behalf of the students because MV is a student publication. It was, it is and it will always be.

Until then, we’d tell our stories – the students’ stories, granting that we are still anchored to truth.

MV Republic of the Philippines Mindanao State University - Marawi, LDS Mindanao Varsitarian Official Student Publication Division of Student Affairs FINANCIAL STATEMENT 2nd semester, A.Y. 2011 - 2012

1st Semester Remaining Balance 35, 249. 16

Add: 2nd Semester Enrollment Collection PHP 203, 934. 00 TOTAL 239, 183. 16

Less: Enrollment Expenses (Collectors meal) PHP 7, 100. 00 Enrollment Receipts (250 stubs) 11, 403. 00

Maguindanao Massacre Commemoration (CEGP) 1, 400. 00 CEGP Assembly 820. 00 CEGP Registration 300. 00 Financial Assistance to Hold-up Victim 250. 00 Operational Expenses (materials, transportation, snacks, paper printing) 6, 549. 64 Computer Repair 7, 500. 00 Stipend

10, 000. 00 Printing Expenses (10, 000 copies) 160, 000. 00

TOTAL EXPENSES 205, 332. 64

TOTAL REMAINING BALANCE 33, 850. 52

Prepared by:

Sohayla Michelle B. Gonting Managing Editor, Mindanao Varsitarian Approved by: Mike Ariel Plaza Editor-in-Chief, Mindanao Varsitarian

PENS UP! The MINDANAO VARSITARIAN is in need of the following: - Junior Writers - Junior Cartoonists - Photojournalists - Layout and Graphics Artists (works with Adobe InDesign, Illustrator & PhotoShop) - Web developer If you think you have what it takes, try out. schedules for screening will be posted soon.

This is a reprint of the essay of a staff of Mindanao Varsitarian that has been published at the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s “Young Blood” last March 27, 2012.

Ending Prejudice Reyjhon G. Entenia

“We never do anything well till we cease to think about the manner of doing it.”—William Hazlitt (1778-1830) When I was a child growing up in Claver, Surigao del Norte, I always mocked the Mamanua. I made fun of them every time they passed our house, and every time they stopped to ask for food and/or water.

The Mamanua are dominant in our place. Some people say the Mamanua already existed even before our ancestors, and have lived near our town since time immemorial. They live in the mountains that are about 10 kilometers away but are still part of our municipality, and they walk on their bare feet to get to Claver, where they visit every house to beg for money, food or clothes, or just to stay in for about an hour to rest from the long day (or night) trip.

They are generous and respectful.

They always say, “Maayong adlaw, tagbalay (Good day, household!)!” at every house they pass. They go in groups or with family members, the mother carrying her baby in a sling, the younger children walking with the father, the older ones holding their pets, mostly monkeys and pythons.

They have distinct features—dark skin, curly hair, gold teeth, big and bright eyes. I felt insecure whenever they talked because they used their own language, which I didn’t understand.

They smiled so widely, laughed so loudly, their jaws widening as though no one was looking.

The Mamanua have no permanent place. They sleep in the stalls in public markets, oblivious to mosquitoes, rats and cockroaches. They are never absent during fiesta celebrations because, like everyone else in town, they would be welcome to enter any house they wished.

It was an ordinary thing for me to say “Itom (Black!)!” then burst into laughter every time I saw them (although like them, I am not white).

At night, seeing them wearing lightcolored clothing, I’d say, “Naa may baro na nagpanaw (Oh, there’s a dress walking!)!” They would just stare at me and smile.

But not once in my life have I heard any unpleasant story to make me fear them.

When I turned 17, my parents decided to send me to Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi City. It is the only university in the Philippines with a student population coming from diverse tribes and cultures—the migrants, Bangsamoro, and Lumad (indigenous people).

I had to obey my parents’ decision although I did not want to go to MSU. Yes, I feared the Muslims there, and the possibility of meet-

ing members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Abu Sayyaf.

When I first got to MSU, I was amazed to see so many members of tribal groups—Iranun, Subanon, Maranao, T’Boli, Mangyan, Tausug, as well as the Bangsamoro and the Lumad. They lived in dormitories together with Christians, peacefully and happily. No war, no conflict.

I met a good teacher in history, Tirmizy Abdullah, a Muslim. “Mindanao is originally for the Bangsamoro and the Lumad… Christians are grouped as migrants because their ancestors are from the North, or somewhere in Luzon and the Visayas,” Sir Tirz said. He taught us the value of integration and the names of every tribe, and inculcated in our minds that no one deserved to suffer from prejudice.

Analyzing what he said, I arrived at the conclusion that a migrant like me is only a visitor in Mindanao, and that I must be ashamed of myself for mocking the Mamanua. “I am supposed to thank them because I live in their land,” I said to myself. I felt guilty about my past behavior.

Gradually, I changed my views. I learned to appreciate and respect every tribe, especially the Mamanua. I learned how to communicate with them, to treat them with gentleness, and to totally end my prejudice toward them.

It has been 10 years since the last time I mocked the Mamanua. In that span of time, I witnessed a great transformation in them.

The present life of the Mamanua is better than the past. They are now part of the changing world. Many Mamanua children are now in school, and some have graduated. Taganito Mining Corp. and three other mining companies in Surigao del Norte have built them better shelters, provided for their primary needs, and given them compensation— all in exchange for the Mamanua land that has been mined.

Yes, the Mamanua in our place are now educated, know how to drive and to socialize with others—and have discovered modern technology through mobile phones. Now, only a few of them walk from house to house to beg.

The Mamanua are only an example of the tribal groups in the Philippines that are suffering from prejudice. They are victims of arrogance from people who deem themselves physically superior. I hope and pray that somehow people would realize, just as I have, that the prejudice has to end.

student leaders convened 6 MSUS

by MAPPlaza “Leaders being leaders.”

This has been the theme of the 42nd General assembly of the Federation of Mindanao State University Supreme Student Councils (FEMSUSSCO) where 104 student leaders from the eleven campuses of MSU gathered together at the MSUMaigo School of Arts and Trades, January 5 to 8.

The three-day congress started with an opening program in the morning of January 5 at the cafeteria of MSU-MSAT graced by Prof. Rosy Sario, Officer-inCharge of MSU-MSAT. In her opening speech, Sario expressed her gratitude to the delegates and to the FEMSUSSCO for choosing them as the host of the assembly.

“With leaders coming from the different campuses of Mindanao State University, I know the assembly would be a success. You had convened here for the welfare of the students you represent from your campuses. Kudos young leaders,” she said.

Team-building Activities In the afternoon of the first day, assistant secretaries of all the campuses convened in a judiciary meeting to screen the minutes of the general assembly headed

by Shehyll Caress Layog, general secretary of the federation.

While the presidents gather for an executive meeting, some other delegates enjoyed themselves through team-building activities. The following is the result of the different activities held: Amazing Race – MSU-Gen San Poster Making – MSU-Gen San Slogan Making Contest – MSU-Naawan In the evening, student leaders showcased variety of talents in FEMSUSSCO’s own version of “Showtime” where the presidents of each campus’ student councils served as the “hurados.” The performers from the MSU-Sulu were proclaimed winners, showing their own culture through Sulu’s traditional dances. MSU-Buug bagged the second place while MSU-MSAT got the third.

“Lahat magagaling. Nakakagulat talents ng iba. Super naenjoy ako,” expressed Afnan Cana, SSG president of MSU-Marawi, who served as one of the judges.

Leaders of physical strength and beauty The second day began with a fun run attended by the delegates and some students from the high school department of MSU-MSAT and was then followed by the FEMSUSSCOlympics where the delegates were divided in four groups to play different traditional and sports games.

At the evening was the coronation of the very first Mr. and Ms. FEMSUSSCO where eight pairs from eight campuses competed in the Production Number, Cultural Attire, Casual Wear, Formal Suit and Interview competitions.

At the end, Colt Ian del Castillo of MSU-Gen San and Dayang Jamasali of MSU-Tawi-Tawi were hailed as the Mr. and Ms. FEMSUSSCO, respectively.

Abdul Saddam Gonting and Mary Chain Paudac of MSU-Main were both hailed as the first runner-up.

“I was overwhelmed, surprised and honored for my campus. I haven’t really expected,” said Castillo.

“The title serves as the symbol of the FEMSUSSCO somehow. With it, we can glance what kind of organization FEMSUSSCO is with its hailed model,” he added.

“Aside from being a leader, we also know that we are model[s] of excellence.

Not just in leadership but also in beauty,” Jamasali said.

The general assembly The very highlight of the three-day activity was the general assembly where five

officers from each campus were given the chance to take seat in.

The general assembly lasted for almost twelve hours. They have tackled the formal membership of MSU-MSAT to the august assembly giving them five voting power. As of the present time, nine campuses are official members of FEMSUSSCO and are entitled to have five voting powers to the assembly.

They are the campuses of Marawi, IIT, General Santos, Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, Buug, Naawan, Maguindanao and the newly added MSU-MSAT. They had also approved the propositions on the uniformity of council names to Supreme Student Councils as well as the uniformity of student identification cards, institutionalization of teacher day celebration and tree planting activities.

What took the assembly long was the amendment of the Constitution and By-laws of the federation. The assembly went into the commotion as the body approved that the president of the federation and at the same time MSU’s student regent must be determined through an election rather than campus rotation.

MSU-Sulu, the next to supposedly take in the position had walked out from the assembly causing tension to the entire body.

Leaders at work. The FEMSUSSCO members deliberate during the General Assembly, January 8 at the MSU-MSAT. Photo by JLSegovia

Engineering, HRM studes win Mr. and Ms. PE MMaylan

PE Beauties. The top 5 Mr. and Ms. PE show smiles before the flashing lights after the coronation, March 3 at the Dimaporo Gym. Photo by LJLosaria

Hassanain Magaring of the College of Engineering and Jamaica Elumbaring of the College of Hotel and Restaurant Management won as the Mr and Ms Physical Education 2012 last March 3 at the Diamporo Gymnasium.

Magaring bested out 12 other male candidates after bagging the awards: Best in production Number, Mr. Talent and Best in Malong Attire.

Meanwhile, Elumbaring edged out 12 other female

NEWS

A good way to end Despite the tension, the whole delegation ended the activity with a socialization ball where different student leaders in formal wear mingled and bade goodbye with their co-delegates.

“It was stressful but absolutely a fun-filled activity,” said Joy, a delegate from MSU-Gen San. “In spite the commotion and tension [that had] happened in [the] general assembly, I can say we all have decided to advocate for the true spirit of democracy,” commented Cana.

“As the SSG president of MSUMain Campus, I’m still hoping that whatever abject situation we’ve gone through, still looking forward that in time, the hurts and heartaches will [be] abate[d],” she added.

It was the first time of MSU-Main’s newly elected SSG officers to join in the federation’s activity.

“Somehow, I have been acquainted with the technical knowhow of the parliamentary procedure and was able to establish friendship with the different student leaders of different MSU campuses,” said Cana.

Twenty-five delegates from the Marawi Campus were composed of the SSG and the former University Student Council (USC) who were also members of the assembly’s technical working committee. #

opponents after hitting the titles Best in Production Number, Ms. Talent and Ms. Hataw.

The following were the runnerups. For the Mr. PE, 1st runner-up, Hamza Zaiton (Mr. Photogenic); 2nd runner-up, Edel Bryan Casio; 3rd runner-up, Jessie Arlan (Best in Jeans Attire); and 4th runner-up, Aldrich Salomon (Best in Sports Wear).

For the female category: 1st runner-up, Gay Marie Talosig; 2nd runner-up, Charie Mae Trazo (MS. People’s Choice); 3rd runner-up, Kathryn Claire Benitez; and 4th runner-up, Beverly Gallegos.

The said pageant was adjudged

by Mrs. Emmalyn Catubig, Mr. AlFarouk Mangondato, Joel Almero, CApt. RAnilo Micarandayo and 1st Lt. Haz Vincent Ramoneda.#

News Bits The IR 100 (Diplomatic and Consular Practice and Procedure) and IR 135 (Diplomacy of Europe and America) classes in partnership with the Professionals of International Studies in Mindanao (PRISM) and King Faisal Center Research and Community Extension Services Office held a re-echo of the 1st Visayan Corps Diplomatique Convention (VCDC) 2011 and Seminar on the Philippine-Indonesian Relations last October 11, 2011 at the Mamitua Saber Research and Technology Center (MSRTC). It was themed “Building Bridges among ASEAN Countries and Strengthening Indonesian-Philippines Mutual Relationship and Understanding through Socio-Cultural and Historical Ties.” With the sub theme “Taking Steps for a Better Relationship”. The convention was originally held in Cebu and is already re-echoed in Davao. VCDC is an organization of IR students in San Recoletos in Cebu.# -In line with the university’s Golden Jubilee, the IR 145 (Diplomacy of Africa) class held a Symposium and Exhibit on Africa Today last Feb 29 at the Digital Library with the theme “AFRICA: Divulging Issues, Challenges, Opportunities, and Privileges across the Continent through Enlightenment as Paradigm for World Peace.” The class partnered with the Mindanao International Studies Society (MISS), the Professionals of International Studies in Mindanao (PRISM), a group of universities with seven members; and the King Faisal Center Research and Community Extension Service Office. Mr Sukarno Tanggol, DPA, Chancellor of MSU Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) and former Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait, served as one of the resource speakers of the event.#

CSSH champs first BPDCO

by NPabil

CSSH Team B composed of Paolo Alberto Martinez, a 3rd year BS Psychology major, and Efren Leo John Aribal, a 4th year AB Communication Studies major, bagged the championship title for the 1st British Parliamentary Debate Championship Open(BPDCO).

Faced with the motion that ‘this house believes that in the event of natural disasters in areas prone to those disasters, the state should only provide reconstruction aid to people that agree to relocate to safer areas,’ CSSH B beat out three other teams from King Faisal Center Islamic, Arabic and Asian Studies and

Hear here! The BPDCO top 10 best Speakers pose for a smile during the awarding ceremony, Feb 5 at the IPDM. Photo by PAMartinez

MSUans attend Communication Congress at CDO Twelve junior Communication Studies majors of Mindanao State University attended the SIBYA: the First Northern Mindanao Student Communicators Congress at SM, Cagayan de Oro on Feb 17.

The said congress sought to gather communication majors, student journalists and other college students around and outside Region X to jointly learn and discuss emerging trends in the media and communication in general.

It was organized by the Crusader Publication along with the Development Communication department of the Xavier University, Ateneo de Cagayan.

The speakers were Maria Ressa, Chay Hofileña, Patricia Evangelista and Josh Villanueva, all from Rappler, an online news and current affairs site.

Maria Ressa, being the chief executive owner of Rappler and once the Bureau Chief of CNN at Jakarta, spoke about the changes that a media worker can make to the world.

The next to speak was Patricia Evangelista, a columnist in the Philippine Daily Inquirer and a producer of Storyline of the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC). She showed her documentary videos of the typhoon Sendong victims and the families of some Ampatuan massacre victims.

“We tell stories not just because it’s entertaining. But because it tells us how to live our lives,” she stressed.

She had emphasized on how people must move and react to the different

College of Education during the finals round held at the Institute of Peace and Development in Mindanao Convergence hall last February 5.

“We are proud that finally we are able to take the first debate championship title for our college,” said Martinez, who was also proclaimed as the Finals Best Speaker, adding that their sacrifices just to represent their college for the tournament were all worth it.

BPDCO is the first debate tournament hosted

by ROSTRUM-MSU Debate Varsity in cooperation with the Marker Organization that used the British Parliamentary format which, compared to the usual Asian Parliamentary format used in the annual Intercollegiate Parliamentary Debate Championship, has 4 teams competing in a round comprised of two members each.

“To host a debate tournament in a britparl format is something that we’ve always wanted to do. We were really excited and we’re glad that the debaters responded and performed really well in this new format,” Mary Claire Sansaron, tournament directress, expressed.

36 teams from different colleges vied for the title which also includes participants from two high school institutions: ISED and ISIS.

changes brought by other people. “Silence is consent. If we do nothing, we’re part of it,” she stated.

A social media consultant, Josh Villanueva lectured on social media and multimedia journalism - how it is used as a tool for journalists and most people to get information and to tell stories.

He added, “There is a new generation of consumers who consume the news exclusively on social media.”

On the other hand, Chay Hofileña told trivia about Filipino use of social media. She stated the usefulness of digital communication technology to people, especially on linkage and consumption of information.

The open forum followed, wherein one participant asked what Rappler means. Hofileña answered that it is a combination of two words, Rap, meaning ‘to discuss’; and ripple, meaning ‘to make waves’ or ‘to make changes’. It is a

“This is a great avenue for young Mindanaoans to be exposed in the craft of debate and the tournament just proved that high school students can really compete and even beat out college contingents,” Nasheer Pagadilan, one of the deputy chief adjudicators, expressed.

Here is the complete list of the best speakers and adjudicators for the 1st BPDCO: Top Ten Best Speakers: 1. Numairy Batua-an ISED A 2. Charmaine Grampon KFCIAAS A 3. Idyl Mae Acompanado KFCIAAS A 4. Saffrollah Khalid CNSM A 5.Trecy Ricaborda ISED A 6. Mojaheden Cosain CSSH A 7. Giron Paul del Rosario CSSH A 8. Nova Carl Torralba CNSM A 9. Efren Leo John Aribal CSSH B 10. Paolo Alberto Martinez CSSH B Top 5 Best Adjudicators: 1. Junelle Pondara CSSH 2. Melquesidic Lagurin KFCIAAS 3. Ronnel Pelenio KFCIAAS 4. Raxiey Adolfo KFCIAAS 5. Fatima Mote CHS #

coined word for one who discusses issues to make a change.

Ressa also encouraged the studentjournalists to “make ripples.” That is, to make vital changes to the society.

“It was a great experience because the speakers were also great. It truly encouraged us to take more steps on the field we have chosen, that is journalism.

We would tell our stories and offer imagination to people who lack imagination,” said Zairnee Salic, a third year journalism major and a participant of the congress.

Other participants of the congress came from the different Universities and high schools of Region X. # **With reports from HKEIlupa

Tell your stories. Journalism and DevCom majors of MSU with the SIBYA speakers Villanueva, Evangelista, Hofilena and Ressa at SM CDO.

lantaw sa

MINDANAO

CBAA celebrates 49th birthday

by EManlangit

With the theme “CBAA at 49: Onwards to the Gold- Biggest… Highest…

Greatest…,” the College of Business Administration and Accountancy blew their 49th candle.

Last Feb 23-24, CBAA held their college foundation, which was started with a sports festival held on Feb 18 at the grounds of College of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation.

Padian sa CBAA was also opened on the 20th at the college’s Multi-purpose Pavement followed by the Vocal Solo and Vocal Duet competitions in the afternoon. Acapella and Impersonation competitions highlighted the 21st. Essay Writing, Logo Making, and Poster Making Contests were done on the 22nd.

The celebration was formally opened on the 23rd with a parade by the different departments followed by a ribbon-cutting held at the pavement.

Members of the faculty, staffs, and students together let loose of the colorful balloons while singing the birthday song to their beloved college. The program proper was done on the same day and followed then by the parlor games.

On the 24th marked the culmination of the celebration and as this year’s theme said, CBAA is hopeful to be the biggest, highest, and the greatest college in MSU in terms of academic achievements and in producing efficient and high-standard graduates as they approach their golden year of existence.#

7

8

PNoy’s cousin guests at YEBMC

Search for new deans deliberated

By RPSunio

by RPSunio

“He may be the best of the Aquinos in terms of Physical looks” a line on an introduction about the guest speaker said.

Hon. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, President Noynoy’s cousin, guested in the 2nd Young Executive’s Business Management Convention (YEBMC) of the Department of Management, College of Business Administration and Accountancy (CBAA) last March 3 at the Institute for Peace and Development in Mindanao (IPDM) Convergence Hall.

He gave inspirational talks at the convention about small entrepreneurship. One of it is about Micro Venture’s Hapinoy Project, a social enterprise that works with sari-sari store owners. He said that sari-sari stores “was a symbol of one of the smallest entrepreneurs in the Philippines.” When they come together, they will be able to collaborate with bigger companies, he said.

“Minsan mas kailangan nila (Filipinos} ng negosyo’t trabaho kaysa sa dole-outs… Our country has a lot to give to the world.”

“Very nice campus,” Bam said.

He said that he was pleased and thrilled to be invited for the convention and that it was his first time to be in the campus. “It’s nice to change the mindset of the students,” he added. “Business is about being up to date. [A solid-valued program

Germano attends 14th AYLC

by NPabil

Another MSUan got the opportunity to be part of the biggest leadership congress for tertiary level in the country.

Norbert Germano , a 4th yr BS Accountancy major was the sole representative of Mindanao State UniversityMarawi to this year’s Ayala Young Leaders Congress held last February 4-6 at the San Miguel Corp. Training Center, Alfonso Cavite.

“I was really excited when I confirmed that I made it. I know for a fact that MSUans always have a slot in the congress and that the university is well recognized there,” Germano expressed adding that he is proud to continue what the past MSUans started in the congress.

The said leadership congress which is now on its 14th instalment gathers 81 student leaders nationwide coming from different fields like Business, Communications, Engineering, Health Sciences.

The 4-day seminar leadership summit featured feature talks, outdoor

NEWS

HaPINOY. Bam Aquino tells the story of the “Giving Tree” during his speech at the YEBMC. Photo by JEC

is] one way to solve our problems in a more sustainable way. Social enterprise is one model we need to look at.”

Bam Aquino is the son of the youngest brother of the late Sen. Benigno Simeon “Ninoy” Aquino Jr, Paul Aquino. He graduated as Summa Cum Laude in 1999 at Ateneo de Manila University with the degree BSC in Management Engineering. He is also the co-founder and current president of Micro Ventures Incorporated, a “social business enterprise that services micro financing organizations and their clients.”

Other guests and resource speakers of the YEBMC were Assistant Secretary Earl Pioquinto Saavedra, the commissioner representing Mindanao of the National Youth Commision (NYC); Ms. Rosa Marie V. Rivera, microfinance expert; Dr. Nasroden B. Guro, senior researcher on various research studies; and Dr. Mary Joyce Guinto-Sali, acting director of MSU’s Institutional Research and Evaluation Officer (IREO).

The YEBMC is the annual convention organized by the Management 196 (Seminar in Management) participated by 496 business majors from Al-Khwarizmi International College (AKIC), MSU Naawan, Iligan Institute of Technology (IIT), and Buug, ; and HRM students of the Marawi campus as well. The two-day event included team-building activities on the second day and also a pageant in the evening.

This year’s theme was “Meeting the challenges of the global economic and environmental crisis through ethical skill building and effective management of business organization.”

Bon Bon Ambang, vice president of YEBMC, said that the theme of this year’s YEBMC was based on today’s social problems such as the recent Bagyong Sendong. He also said that they aim expand the YEBMC and make it a nation-wide convention.#

activities, plenary sessions and workshop group discussions. Well-known and highly respected leaders from government, civil society, business, the arts, media and entertainment shared their own leadership stories and experiences that will challenge participants’ perspectives and paradigms.

“The best part of the whole experience is you learn to be humble,” Germano said when asked about the best part of the congress. “I realized that leadership is also self-serving, that before you satisfy other people for your service, you have to satisfy first yourself.”

Germano added that he was overwhelmed with all the things that he

experienced in the congress and that he hopes that more MSUans will get the same chance to better their leadership skills.

“Maraming deserving na student leaders sa university na hindi lang talaga nabibigyan ng mga ganitong opportunities,” he said. “Pero ang goal naman ng congress e to influence other students from what we’ve learned and I will do my best to achieve that goal.”

AYLC looks for outstanding student leaders with a track record of effective leadership, who possess a strong love for our country, a sincere desire to serve its people, and passion to bring about change in society. #

AYLC SMILE. Germano (3rd from left) with his co- AYLC participants.

The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (OVCAA) formed a search committee for deanship for all colleges of the University including the Graduate School and Integrated Science Education (ISED).

The said committee is currently in the process since February. Dr. Carmelito E. Go, secretary of the search committee, said that the acting deans are subject for replacement.

The chairperson of the committee is Dr. Zenaida Ababa. According to a Board of Regents (BOR) resolution, the current Vice President for Academic Affairs shall be the chair. Other members of the board are Assistant Vice President for Development and Planning Dayampad Batuampar, Dr. Marianita Dablio, Dr. Otinggue Masmar, Dr. Go and Prof. Norania Batabor.

According to Dr. Go, the search goes through four phases. First is the prequalification where there will be three nominees per college. The qualifications are set by an approved BOR resolution.

The second phase is the straw poll elections which make up 20% or 20 points of 100 to be chosen. The 20 points will be further divided into the votes of the faculty which is 60%, the staff, 25%; and the students, 15%.

The remaining 80 points is determined by the nominees’ “educational attainment, administrative designation, and others,” said Dr. Go. Third phase is the nominees’ interview where their concept proper for their three-year plan for their colleges will be checked together with other information.

The last phase is when the search committee will give the results of the previous phases to the Office of the President (OP) that will give the recommendation to the BOR, which will then decide who the new deans will be.

Dr. Ababa said that the office still cannot divulge any information about the search because it is still ongoing. However, she said that the results may be out

by April.#

Rostrum makes history at 25th MPDC

SW studes conduct forum on human trafficking

by NPabil

JMPiquero

They may not have brought home the championship but they were still victorious.

Rostrum-MSU Marawi Debate Varsity proved once again that MSUans are forces to reckon with in the debate community during the 25th Mindanao Parliamentary Debate Championship (MPDC) hosted by Father Saturnino Urios University, Butuan City last February 24-26, 2012.

MPDC is a bi-annual debate tournament that features some of the best and brightest debaters from tertiary and secondary schools across the island of Mindanao. It is a celebration of youth empowerment, free speech and debate excellence, a platform for deliberating the most pressing issues in today’s global spectrum and in recognition of the dialectic skills of our youth.

For the first time an institution dominated the Top 10 Best Speakers award of the said tournament with the Rostrum members taking six of the ten slots.

“Everyone was hopeful for this tournament but we’ve also prepared ourselves for the worst. That is why the group was really happy that we’ve performed well,” said Sittie Ayesa Gadia, Rostrum Vice Grand Archon and the 3rd Best Speaker.

Gadia was joined by Arkhe Manuel Telen (4th Best Speaker), Nizam M. Pa-

The Social Work 65 (Deviancy in Human Behavior) organized a seminar on human trafficking last February 26 at the Academic Complex, College of Law. The seminar, themed ‘I Move… I Stop… I move to stop Human Trafficking,’ was participated by a number of students from different colleges. It revolved on the true and accurate definition of human trafficking and emphasized the detection of probable human traffickers and their victims in association with the therapeutic management or approach to the victims. It even tackled the financial and psychological problems brought by this event.

Legal sanctions in various cases were also discussed to inform everyone how violators should be answerable to the law.

According to Sharmaine Love Sanchez, head of the organizing committee, the group’s aim is to eliminate human trafficking in the society. Miniplays portraying situations regarding the topic were also shown.

Guest speakers were Jessie Catherine Aranas, RSW, of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Caraga, Lornito Mahinay, Jr of the Movement of Anti-Trafficking Association (MATA) – Mindanao and Macapong Asmali BAduan from the Recovery and Reintegration Program for Trafficked Persons. #

Comstud, English studes stage play for women MAPPlaza

“Mga Honghong sa Bisong” This was the title of the play staged by the Communication Studies 145 (Theater and Stage Production) and English 145 (Dramatics and Stagecraft) classes under Mr. Rustom Bauya, March 26 at the University Show Room (UVS).

The play, which means “Vagina Whispers” in English, showed nightmarish scenes from the subconscious of a woman. It tackled about different stories of women people least heard of.

“Honghong sa Bisong is basically about women telling their issues and stories to the people and the society as well,” said Mr. Bauya.

He added that the play is a sort of a tribute to women since March is the International Women’s Month.

The play used surrealism, a theatrical style seeming to enter and show the subconscious of a character. It is characterized by juxtapositions, the rejection of dramatic psychology, and a frequent use of shocking imagery.

“It’s the first time in MSU to use such style. We were at first hesitant but I told them (the students) that they will not know [the effect] if they will not try,” Bauya expressed.

Different issues of women were showcased and portrayed. Some of the

Vol. 27 | No. 3

bil and Jayson Lumasag (5th Best Speakers), Jaymon Dave Rosima and Suhaini Nasheer Pagadilan (9th Best Speakers).

Three from Ateneo de Davao University and one from Xavier University completed the tournament’s best speakers.

“We are very proud of what we’ve achieved and that all our sacrifices, both financial and academics, were all worth it,” said Gadia adding that they are also grateful for the continuous support of the university administration to the group.

Rostrum sent three teams which all qualified for the final series and was part of the top 16 teams out of the 32 registered teams from different colleges and universities here in Mindanao. MSUM Team A (Sittie Ayesa Gadia, Nizam Pabil, Nash Pagadilan), MSU-M Team B (Jaymon Dave Rosima, Jayson Lumasag, Arkhe Manuel Telen) and MSUM Team C (Idyl Mae Acompanado, Christian Atienza, Arobe Goling II) were proclaimed as the 3rd, 4th and

14th breaking teams respectively after 4 elimination rounds.

Two high school institutions here in Marawi also joined the tournament.

MSU-Institute for Science Education (ISED) and Ibn Sienna Integrated School (ISIS) both sent one team. ISIS Team A even managed to reach the Octofinals as they were proclaimed as the 16th breaking team of the tournament.

MSU-M Team B reached the semi-finals (Top 4) where they were up against the eventual champion of the tournament ADDU Team A. “We were close from bringing back the championship but dominating the Top 10 speakers already felt like we won the whole tournament,” Lumasag expressed. “We hope that the next generation of Rostrum members will continue to excel in carrying the name of MSU in outside tournaments,” he added.#

short scenes include the stories of a mother who wishes expiration date of marriage, a wife struggling with her husband, a bride of a fixed wedding, an opportunistic woman lover, a girl that believes that love waits, a lesbian and a prostitute.

“It ends with the woman being pulled away from what the church, society and other egos dictate. Because everything lies still in her own decision and choice,” Bauya explained.

“I had goose bumps. It’s different from the usual theater plays I’ve watched here in the campus. It empowers women,” said Cherlyn Quicoy, a viewer.

The play was actually a product of the writing workshop of the same sets of students last December.

“It is so fulfilling having two different classes with two different courses merged as one for this play.

I’m glad that the feedbacks from the audience were all good,” said Exxon Tamula, a Speech Communication and Theater Arts major and the director of the play.

When asked of a possible restaging, Mr. Bauya expressed, “Next sem, we hope next sem.”#

1st Mindanao Citizen Values Conference held

By RPSunio

Student leaders and faculty from MSU campuses and university officials convened last Feb 14 to 15 at the 1st Mindanao Conference on Good Citizenship held at the Institute of Peace and Development in Mindanao (IPDM) Convergence Hall.

Topics discussed were about the roles of the citizens of the country to have an effective government and how can change happen in the country.

Speakers were Former Commissioner Teresita D. Baltazar; Good Citizenship Movement (GCM) Director Hermenegildo C. Ceniza; Infinity Training Center Chairman Dr. Rolando N. Quintos and; Mr. Reynaldo M. Rosas, MPA, of the Government Performance Monitoring Office of the Office of the President in Malacañang.

Commissioner Baltazar said that MSUS President Macapado A. Muslim chose the topic about love for the country in accordance with the month of love. She also said that citizenship values conferences have already been held in the different part of the country and this is the first in Mindanao and in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).#

2nd Semester | A.Y. 2011- 2012

9

extend hands in 10 MSU helping Sendong victims

GPDdelRosario

Everyone is aware of how severe the devastation was. For those who have lived to tell the tale, it is a nightmare. But the rising of the sun showed us a painful reality.

Friday night, December 16 last year, flashfloods brought by typhoon Sendong swept through the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, claiming the lives of a thousand people. There were 12 emergency incidents recorded during the storm’s onslaught, including six incidents of flooding, two landslides, a road bed spillage and three sea mishaps. But according to Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), Sendong was technically a “weak” storm. Though similar to tropical storms Ondoy and Pepeng, the rainfall associated with Sendong was extreme and resulted to severe flooding.

Mindanao State University felt the urgent need to help the Sendong victims. So last December 20, a Relief Operation Task Force has been created, with its Chairperson Nazarollah R. Macalandong, Vice President for Administration and

Finance, and Vice Chairpersons Alma E. Berowa, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Abdullah D. Alonto, Vice President for Planning and Development. In accordance with its Special Order, it states that “the committee shall assist in the collection, packaging and distribution of relief goods and services in selected areas in Iligan City and Cagayan de Oro City and shall make recommendations to the University President in enhancing the services of MSU to the affected communities.”

“All the 11 campuses of MSU contributed by cash, clothing and goods,” said Macalandong. The Task Force went to Mandulog, Navarro, Bunbunon, and Upper Hinaplanon last December 24 and 29, distributing food relief assistance with each of the package costing P350. In it were 3 kilos “the best rice,” candles, matches, sardines, noodles, sugar and coffee. Used clothing and medical assistance were also given.

In addressing psychosocial problems of the survivors, the Task Force conceived a Psychosocial Intervention.

“Nagbuo kami ng psychosocial team ng MSU to address psychosocial problems [of the victims] in selected areas,” Norania M. Acmad, the then OP Special Assistant, as-

Total wreck. This picture was taken a day after Bagyong Sendong Struck Iligan City. Photo by SLMacapodi

serted.

The team was composed of faculty and student volunteers from the departments of Psychology, Social Work, Community Development, and the College of Education, as well as the Division of Student Affairs.

VP Macalandong emphasized how many students had participated to the relief operations, especially the Christian students who even sacrificed their vacations had spent their Christmas on helping the Task Force.

Aside from the task force created by the MSU, there are also other student organizations who conducted relief operations such as the Ranao Council, Eyoners Club, League of Filipino Students, Duyog

Student voices heard thru TOFI DIRETSAHAN GPDdelrosario

Like or Dislike?

This was the question raised at the TOFI DIRETSAHAN, an open forum and debate organized by the DUYOG Tri-People Youth Organization in collaboration with the Supreme Student Government last March 16 at the Science Lecture Hall.

The open forum aimed to give an avenue for the students to express their sentiments and opinion with regards to the issue of the tuition and other fees increase (TOFI).

Reemar Alonsagay, a DUYOG member, said the activity wished to hear both the positive and the negative sides with regards to the implementation of TOFI. “It (TOFI) has been subject to endless debate and deliberation for a few years now. Many have tried to implement it, but failed to do so. Thus, some students concur, some are against it, and some are just caught in between,” Alonsagay added.

According to the organizers, the activity was supposed to be merely for the students. But the Adminis-

NEWS

Like or dislike. The anti (left) and pro (right) students voice their stands about the TOFI through a debate last March 16 at the SLH. Photo by Duyog tri-people

tration and the Division of Student Affairs requested to participate and also hear their sentiments, answer some of their queries, and clarify some information vis-à-vis the issue. Representatives and guests namely, Dir. Amer Pangandaman of MSU-Community Relations, Dean of the College of Engineering, Rodrigo Baid, and Dean of the College of Information, Glenn Lorenzo were recognized.

Speakers of the debate and open forum were picked randomly from the audience; three (3) for the Anti-TOFI and another three for the Pro-TOFI. There were six (6) questions prepared by the organizers. Each side was given three (3)

minutes to answer the questions and defend their stand. After each side have spoken, four commentaries were entertained from the audience. This made the activity more interesting for it was not only the speakers who spoke but the audience became active as well.

As the forum and debate heated, a number of issues had floated.

Transparency and due process of the proposal were questioned, assurance of the development after its implementation, the capability of the students to pay the increase and the consideration of alternative solutions instead of having a TOFI. “We are so proud of the SSG. They have shown that they are still

Tri-People Youth Organization, and the Supreme Student Government.

The SSG said to have solicited help from establishments, boarding houses, dormitories and have used their own money as well in conducting relief operations for the survivors.

“Masakit pag nakikita mo yung mga taong nawalan ng pamilya, bahay, at kamag-anak,” said Amron Mangacop, SSG Councilor.

Duyog have also stressed how overwhelming it is to see a lot of people willing to help during this ill-fated incident.

“There are still a lot of people out there who still needs our help.

Let’s extend our hands to them” Al Marvien Savandal, Duyog member, said.# for the students and they still consider their voices,” Alonsagay asserted.

A speaker in the forum stressed how insulting it would be for the SSG that the initiative to organize an activity came from a different organization. But the SSG have released a statement saying they were never insulted and was even glad of the concern DUYOG have shown for the students.

“I believe we still have done something in regards to the issue, it’s just that we respond to it in a different manner – in a different approach. We know on our part, we won’t deny that we also have lapses. We’re really perplexed to the situation, whether what kind of things we are to do, we’re caught in between. After all, it seems like the students have already made their stand, their silence is a manifestation we believe,” Olman Campilan, SSG Secretary General said.

Just this March 21, the MSU Student Regent Albert Cabolobol confirmed, through a phone call to the Mindanao Varstitarian, the approval of the TOFI proposal during the Board of Regents (BOR) meeting. And starting first semester of the the next academic year, students pay P50 per unit.#

HEALTH MADNESS:

Ang Pagbabalik!

N

ang muling maitakda sa akin ang sulating ito, ako’y napaisip: Ano na naman ba ang gagawin kong paksa? Pagkatapos ng mga sakitsakitang pokus, ano na naman

kaya?

Doon ko lang uli napagtantong kay rami pa palang pwedeng pag-usapan. Ngayon, akin nang napagdesisyunan na matapos siyasatin ang tungkol sa iba’t ibang sakit na kadalasang nagiging daing ng mga estudyante, ako’y susubok na ibahagi sa inyo ang ilan sa mga bagay-bagay o mga gawaing maaring naging dahilan ng mga sakit na ito.

Iniimbitahan ko rin kayong isa-isang pagbalik-tanawin ang mga gawaing ito habang nag-iisip ng mga dapat baguhin.

Akin na lamang, ililista isa-isa ang mga kagawiang marahil ay pamilyar sa ating mga mambabasa.

A. PAGKAIN 1. Di pagkain ng tatlong beses sa isang araw (lalo na ng almusal) .

Alam niyo ba na ang madalas na pagliban sa pagkain sa isang araw ay di mabuti?

Lalo na kung ito ay ang iyong almusal?

Bilang isang estudyante, tayo ay nangangailangan ng sapat na sustansya upang masuportahan ang pagod na ginugugol ng ating utak sa pag-aaral. Dito natin kinukuha ang ating enerhiya para sa buong araw. Ika nga nila, kumain ka kung ayaw mo mawalan ng bait. Ikaw rin, baka gusto mong tumira sa mental hospital.

Aanhin mo ang pinagtapusan mong kurso kung sa asylum naman ang punta mo. Iyon lang iyon.

Dagdag kaalaman: Alam mo bang ayon sa mga pagsasaliksik, ang mga taong di kumakain ng almusal ay may mataas na tsansang tumaba kaysa sa mga taong kumakain ng tatlong beses sa isang araw? Ito’y dahil mas nakakaramdam ng gutom ang mga di nag-aalmusal kaya mas napaparami ang

Vol. 27 | No. 3

subo sa susunod na kainan.

2. Kumain nga, junkfoods at softdrinks naman.

Ito’y para sa mga taong nahihilig na gawing snack time ang “only free time” nila sa isang diretsong klase nila sa isang araw.

Imbes na kumain ng kanin at matinong ulam o kaya kahit biskwit nalang at tubig ay mas napili pang kumagat-kagat ng mga tsitsirya sa canteen, samahan mo pa ng sopdrinks. Sinong nakaka-relate?

Narinig nyo na ba na ang isang brand ng sopdrink ay mabisa nang panglinis sa banyo at kubeta sa mga barko sa ibang bansa?

Isipin niyo nalang anong linis ang ginagawa nito sa ating sistema. Lalo na kung ang kanyang nililinisan ay walang laman! Idagdag mo pa ang pagkain ng mga junkfoods; acidic na nga ang ating digestive tract, dadagdagan mo pa ng acid. Ano nalang ang mangyayari? Eh, di halos maluha-luha na ang tiyan mo nyan.

Mas mabuti pa’y subukan nalang nating magbaon ng kanin at ulam at kumain nalang sa canteen kung may oras o kaya’y magbaon ng biskwit at tubig. Mas mura pa ang magagastos mo kaysa sa tsitseryang di nakakabusog.

3. Pagkahilig sa mga noodles at canned goods.

Bilang isang estudyante, lalo na kapag malayo sa alaga ng sariling tahanan ay di natin maitatangging tayo’y nahihilig sa mga “instant.” Kunin mo lang sa iyong mga grocery stocks o bilhin mo lang sa tindahan ay may halos pang-isang araw ka nang ulam.

Ang iba namang malayo sa 5TH street ay napapagod ng maglakad mula sa klase upang bumili pa ng ulam sa nasabing lugar.

Kaya ayun, dun nalang sa instant.

Alam naman siguro natin na ang mga pagkaing ito ay may mga preservatives na kung ating kakainin ng madalas ay makasisira sa atin. Alam na rin naman siguro natin na ang mga pagkaing ito, lalo na ang mga canned goods, ay di lubusang naluto.

Ito’y kailangan pang lutuin talaga ng maayos para mamatay ang mga mikrobyong kasama nila.

B. GAWAING PANGKALINISAN 1. Di pagpapalit ng damit sa loob ng isang linggo?

Sino ba ang gumagawa nito? Nakakata-

wa mang pag-usapan ngunit totoo. Marami sa atin ay di ganoon kadami ang damit. Inaalternate na lang ang damit sa loob ng isang linggo. Sabi nga nila isang linggong tshirt at medyas, isang buwang pantalon at undies?

Now on its second week, nakaside A and B pa.

Isipin sana natin na parang mawawalan rin ng silbi ang pagligo natin para umano’y maging malinis kung ang damit naman nati’y daig pa ang may sakit sa di pagligo.

Kinukuha ng damit ang lahat ng mga dumi mula sa itim na usok ng mga sasakyang ating nasasalubong sa isang araw, pawis sa klase sa P.E, at tubig sa baha. Isipin niyo na lang?

2. Di pagsisipilyo ng ngipin.

Sino kaya sa mga nagbabasa ngayon ang di nakapagsipilyo? Alam niyo ba yung kakatapos lang kumain ng hapunan ay mag-aaral agad, hanggang sa namalayan niyo nalang na umaga na?

Kung alam lang natin, marami ang ganyan. Makakita lang ng libro ay parang sleeping pills na ang epekto. Kahit na yung mga maaralin talagang tao; na sa sobrang aral ay pati pagsipilyo ay nalilimutan na.

Imbes na tatlong beses sa isang araw dapat magsipilyo, ay nagiging isang beses na lamang. abang tayo’y bata at kumpleto pa ang ngipin, dapat nating siguraduhin na tayo’y nakakapagsipilyo ng mabuti pagkatapos kumain, lalo na sa gabi. Ang ating bibig ay may sariling natural na microflora na pinapangalagaan. Kung hahayaan niyong di nasipilyuhan ang bibig ng buong gabi, isipin niyo na lang ang saya ng mikrobyo kapag may tira silang pagkain? Pati ngipin mo’y nakakain na.

Sino ba ang tapat na makapagsasabing di sila dumaan sa ganitong senaryo sa buhay dito sa unibersidad? Atin lang isipin na gaano man kahirap ang buhay estudyante, dapat pa rin nating panatilihing kumain ng tama at masusustansyang pagkain tatlong beses sa isang araw. Dapat rin nating tandaang maging malinis sa sarili nating pangangatawan. Itong lahat ay para sa pansariling kabutihan upang makaiwas sa malagim na pagkakasakit.

H

2nd Semester | A.Y. 2011- 2012

11

12

In the S Arms of an Armed Man (Guns and Roses)

By EMManlangit Illustration by REntenia

oldiers are heroes.

They are called so because theirs could be one of the hardest professions in the world. While some work in the comfort of their offices to earn money, these men go out in the jungle, hold the trigger, hunt beasts that threaten everybody’s peace, and die. Yes, death is their nearest neighbor and half of their body may have already been buried six feet under the ground.

In a place like ours, we truly, madly, crazily need persons like them. It’s because anytime, while scanning your notes for a nearing examination, a group of idiots might come rushing in your room and get every treasure you have. Anytime, while walking in the cozy atmosphere of Tagaytay, someone might snatch your blackberry cellphone, and anytime, while glancing at the blue sky, you’ll suddenly fall to the ground and lose your life. And so, while many of us are thanking them for the peace (if there really is) that we are (temporarily) experiencing right now, some are happily enjoying every second of the day in their love and care.

And while some of us are lonely and are desperately looking for a date on the “Heart’s Day,” these lucky ladies are relaxing in their cottages and apartments because they know, that with only a call or text away, their uniformed men will come undoubtedly with their troop and battalion.

Sweet, isn’t it? So, while some of you are still twisting your lips because you still don’t get it, oh, come on, I’ll tell you one of the most exciting stories that you would ever hear. (*drumroll*)

FEATURES

WHEN SOLDIER MEETS STUDENT Falling in love is as swift as the longest arm in the clock, as fierce as a lightning, and as sudden as death. Yes, you’ll never know when, why, and to whom you’ll fall in love. But if you’re a wonderer like me, you’ll probably wonder how ‘soldier’ and ‘student’ met. How did they bump and fall into each other’s arms? Let’s take a look at these nearest to possible answers which I and my accomplices had formulated.

1.) They could be “Kabz” (an MSUan slang for ‘Kababayan,’ not ‘Kabayo’), who crossed their roads again in the melting pot of the South. Soldier shares his frightening and near-to-death experience in the barracks while Student pouts with sympathy and amazement over his toughness, and discloses her feelings of emptiness and sadness to him being away from home.

And because they have known each other way back then, it is not that hard for them to fall in love and get hooked up.

2.) They could be “phone pals” (textmates, callmates, etcetera). Tell me what a cellphone does when you’re lonely and alone? Of course it will help you find someone to whom you will share your sentiments with. Whether you know him or not, simple soothing words can make your knees weak and will change your perspectives in not trusting “strangers.”

With today’s latest innovations and people’s changing points of view, anything can be said and done on the phone, and if he’s a friend’s friend, well, everything becomes as easy as ABC. 3.) If you don’t believe in fairytales, then it’s time you must accept the truth that they could be “lovers at first sight.” Cupid’s mischievousness might have worked out on them, made them bump into each other, and poof! They fell perfectly in love. <3 “WHEN NOTHING ELSE MATTERS, BUT US.” I haven’t had any experience about this stuff (I mean this ‘soldier’ thing), and I don’t even have any plans of doing it, but I have the most reliable sources that had given me the informa-

tion I needed. A friend of mine once had an army boyfriend.

They lasted for a year, and according to her, he never failed to make her day worth remembering. They go out, do the usual dinner date, and spend the rest of their day in the most romantic way possible. She said that he was the sweetest man she had ever known, and once dreamt of a perfect forever with him. But everything turned upside down when she found out that he, the guy, was unfortunately married!

It caused her months of temporary emptiness and from then on, she swore never to fall in love with men like him again.

But of course, “Soldier and Student” love stories don’t always happen like that. There are also those happy and fairytalelike moments which every girl dreams of experiencing. It’s going to make your heart skip a beat when your man gives you the custody of his ATM card.

You’ll also try to conceal that it made you fall perfectly when he handed you a 4-feet-tall teddy bear during your 1st monthsary.

You’ll probably write it in your diary the moment he made you enter the fanciest resto in the campus which made you feel like his VIP. And what else, when he introduces you to his troop saying that he’s going to kill and kick the ass of the lad who will ever try to hurt you, and dare to snatch you away from him. There are a lot of countless moments like that, and whether you hate it or not, these things can make you lose your senses when you experience them yourself.

IN THE ARMS OF AN ARMED MAN here is nothing more lovable and exciting than to be in the arms of the person you love the most. And as I put my story to its dramatic end, I’ll leave the chips for you to munch; judge them or not, it’s all up to you.

But there’s only one thing I can say, whoever you are, a teacher, a bank manager, a criminal, a soldier or a student, trust me, you will forget everything when you fall in love.

So pen and paper, or guns and roses? Primacy effect, I’ll choose the first.

T

Illustration by NKRanara

The O Pain worth

Eight Pesos

By MJBArnejo

ctober 28, 2011 was my last day of practicum in Granexport, Iligan City. My final task was to release the employees’ 15day salary. I had to put the money into individual packs to be directly given to employees. I knew it was a tricky task, but I never thought it would change so much in me.

In the middle of my counting and packing, with numbed shoulders and weary eyes, I noticed one salary sheet with a 15-day salary of only 8.72php.

I felt a sting inside and asked my supervisor how an employee could receive such a small amount.

He enlightened me that it was because of the loans he had for the previous months.

And every payroll, his debts just kept on eating up his salary. It was the sad thing of the employee’s life.

“Practically, wala na jud na sila’y ginasweldo…

lantaw sa

Gatrabaho na lang na sila para sa utang” he added. (Practically they’re not receiving any salary…

They’re just working to get by their dues.)

Although these people work to sustain their needs, because of the little income, they need to loan to fulfill the immediate financial needs of their family: tuition fees, medical emergencies, and other family requests. So when the salary comes, what they receive is an amount that wouldn’t even sustain a lunch break. Therefore to compensate to their family, they again borrow money for the present needs. This cycle goes on and on, and they get stuck in a vacuum of debt.

Then by four o’clock in the afternoon, I released the salaries.

The employees came, signed the papers and took their salary. And then that person came. The person I will be handing only 8 pesos for 15 days of work. He asked for the paper to sign and I reached to give the money. With all his co-workers laughing at how small their own salaries were (some had a thousand or more while others only had hundreds left in their salary), he just took the package I gave him, silently poured the coins on his hand and insert them in his pocket, and gave back the package. He left without a word.

At that very moment, I summoned all my composure to fight back the tears. I wanted to just reach out for the money in my pocket and give it to him. I felt a hard pang of pain in my chest and then I remembered my father.

For the previous months I have been asking him to shed a lot of money. Partly because I needed it and partly because I think I deserved it. I was still cautious of what I spent the money for, the thrifty girl was still in me, but somehow I knew I was spending a little more than what I really needed.

For the previous months I told myself, I can spend my allowance in any way I want because it’s mine. As long as I don’t ask for any addition to it, it would be fine. I now have clothes that I really don’t wear, shoes that I don’t have to use every day, accessories that amaze my friends and all the extravagance I only dreamt of as a kid.

MINDANAO

But am I happy? No. Am I satisfied? Not even close.

I tried to fit in to a world I know I don’t belong to: a world of fancy clothing brands, exquisite food, monthly escapades, and glittery accessories. I tried to live a lifestyle that I was struggling to keep up on. Many people saw me as one of those who get whatever they desired, whenever they want it. But of course I was not one of them; my actions were only premature actualization of my wishes and dreams.

And as I looked at the man, holding that precious 8 pesos in his pocket, I realized I have wasted many of those coins just for fancy things: things that made me happy only until they glittered. Things that made me fit in, accepted, and loved by people who cared about me just a little bit more than those jewelers at the store. But I don’t blame them, they are not at fault.

It was me who stopped being my parent’s daughter for a while. It was me who chose to ask for too much just because I thought I deserved it.

I am affected by the 8 pesos not really because I care about the person’s family or his feelings. I am affected by the 8-peso salary because I wonder that maybe at one point in time; my father also received the same amount all because of me; because I asked too much of what I really needed. And maybe, at one time or another, my father felt very low because after all the work he had done, he only gets to receive an amount which wouldn’t even help him survive lunch break.

I felt bad for the man, but I felt worse for the possibility of my father undergoing the same pain. I wonder if he did experience such a situation and how many times he received the same eight-peso pay. I wonder if I could have done anything to ease his burdens during those times. love my father and family more than my grandiose hallucinations. I’ll earn my own money one day and buy whatever that pleases my eyes. But as of today, I’ll be contented of what I have, what we have, and what we can have. My caprice will have its own time, as of now, I’ll keep that 8-peso lesson deep in my heart.

I

13

14

Rajah Indarapatra: ATimeless Maranao Legend

by RPSunio and SLMacapodi

I

n the advent of all the techy TV shows, movies, and other entertainments; animations from moving pages to 4D and movies passed from flash disc to another, theatrical plays still never fail to entertain people even from the BCs. It will always leave a mark in history and in our culture. Live plays will always have its own touch and uniqueness. And one of Mindanao’s very own work of art is nationally recognized again.

Rajah Indarapatra of the Sining Kambayoka Ensemble is awarded at the 24th Aliw Awards for Best in NonMusical Play. The Aliw Awards is an award-winning body who recognizes excellence in live entertainment.

It was watched and critiqued by the director of the national Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA), Malou Jacob in its first mounting during the University’s Golden Jubilee Anniversary last year, and so, it was nominated for the award. On top of that, Mr. Pepito Sumayan, the writer and director of the play, was also nominated as best director.

“Alamat ng kagitingan ng Lanao,” as the one of the line of the play’s opening

song says.

Rajah Indarapatra is a Maranao folktale about the young prince’s courage and journey to save Lake Lanao from the monster, Makaan, and is one of the stories of the Darangen, a maranao epic and is one of the longest in the world. The play was sponsored by the History department and was restaged last at the University Visual Studio (UVS) February 10-12, 17-19, and an encore last March 4.

Sumayan shared that the play was inspired from one of his grandmother’s bedtime stories when he was still young.

Even the story of the snails were mentioned by his lola. He once told himself “Pag naging director na ‘ko, ima-mount ko talaga ang Rajah Indarapatra.” He also said that he did not expect the play to be given a prestigious award.

But it was no easy task to create that award-winning performance. It was at the cost of a series of overnights and internalizations. The director said that he had to tell Rajah Indarapatra’s story over and over again to the ensemble.

The story may have been as old as the beginning of time, yet the Kambayoka added to it lots of modern touches that made the play as timely, and still

timeless, as possible, saying that the applied anime-like choreography “para makaride-on ang mga bata.” Aside from the exciting choreo, Kambayoka has its own style of theater which includes the used of malongs and human bodies as props. But aside from being entertained, the play aims to educate people about Lanao’s legendary heroes.

Its script even touches some current issues of today’s society such as gender equality. It also lifts up the beauty of the Maranao culture. “Gusto naming itong ipanood at i-tour sa mga schools,” Sumayan said.

The Sining Kamabayoka Ensemble has already garnered several awards and has taken its performances outside the country. However, there are still some things that hinder them from reaching their full potential. One of it is the dilapidated and obsolete UVS, their platform. More support from the university and the country for this kind of art will also boost theatrical plays a lot.

Truly, we Mindanaons should be proud of the art that we have. We must raise the banner of our culture.

Be amazed at Lanao’s timeless legends!

THE BLANK PAGES

By SLMacapodi

These books would really engulf you and make you want to be a reader all your life. And oh, say hello to the books for me if you happen to pass by Book Sale! =)

THE WOMEN’S ROOM NOTES FROM THE UNDERGROUND

Marilyn French

This feminist book talks about women whose lives revolve around their own miserable existences, how they deal with their harsh lives every single day. The chief narrator, Mira, shares her day to day experiences as a depreciated housewife, and the lives of her neighbour/friends who were wives, too, and whose worth and potentials were overshadowed by their husbands’ careers.

The harsh truth is also laid down in the book—women only have their own stories to listen to—and it seems normal to them to be treated as last priority by their spouses—as if it’s even absurd to even think otherwise.

And, as quoted from the back page —‘Anybody who thinks they knew women very well must read this!’.

FEATURES

Fyodor Dostoievsky

This novel centres on the morbid thoughts of a young Russianman whose quite peculiar experiences lead him to form peculiar notions about love, reality, and life as a whole. The whole book serves as a diary of a person whose thoughts are better kept to his own self. The absurdities of his notions are quite profound that for the common lay man, his ideas would appear farfetched to actually amount to anything.

ODD THOMAS

Dean Koontz

‘I see dead people.’

Quite amazingly, dead people could communicate to Thomas, a young man, who, on his own opinion, does not deserve any unwarranted attention whatsoever because he is a nobody. Not for dead people, he isn’t. He is their only chance for justice, their only chance to have questions answered by those people looking into the deaths of these ghosts.

Ang

Mundo ng

DORMITORYO

By Batang BD

Vol. 27 | No. 3

P

inili kong mamalagi sa Dorm sa natitira kung taon sa unibersidad, at isa ito sa mga padalus-dalos kong desisyon. Kaya naman noong may inabot sa akin ang isang graduating student para sa thesis na ginagawa niya, natameme at napakunot-noo ako sa isa sa mga tanong nya: “Reasons why you chose to stay in MSU Dormitory.”

Nagsusulputan man ang mga illegal cottages sa kahit saang dako ng MSU, ninais ko paring di ito pansinin at makipagsapalaran sa buhay dormitory. Di ko naman talaga alam kong bakit sinisiksik ang sarili ko sa matao, magulo, mabaho, at lumang dormitoryo. ‘Di naman sa kadahilanang pasakit sa bulsa ang renta ng cottages, ilang lakad lang yung lapit ng college namin o di kaya’y may kakilala akong tagadorm na nagyaya. Sadyang may kung anong bagay na humihila sa akin palapit ng Super New Boys Dormitory.

Sa mga una kong buwan talagang napaisip na ako na mag-impake at umalis sa dorm. Araw-araw kinakailangan kong gumising ng maaga, makipag-unahan at pumila sa mala-enrollment na haba ng pila sa banyo para lang makaligo.

Pagdating ng tanghali mauubos na ang tubig sa reservoir, may mga araw ding magtatampo bigla yung tubig, mawawala nalang sa mga oras na balot kapa ng bula, at mapipilitan kang itigil ang pagligo (at ang kinakanta habang nasa banyo). Mapalad yaong ang paggising nang maaga ay nakasanayan na at matagumpay na natapos ang pagtatampisaw. Kaya naman naging uso sa ’kin ang pagpasok sa paaralan na pisik-pisik sa mukha ang ginagawa, at nong nakaraang SSG eleksyon patayong pinapalakpakan ang mga kandidatong patubig ang plataporma.

Naging mistulang isang pangarap ng mga taga-dorm ang 24 hour non-stop suplay ng tubig na parating pinapako ng mga nagdaang kandidato.

Dagdag din sa mga tumutulak sa akin paalis ng dorm ang palikuran. Di maitatanggi ang dumi ng kubeta ng dorm. Kasing tanda ng lolo ko ang cubicles, ang karamihan ay di pa gumagana at talagang ang panghi ng amoy sa loob ng banyo.

Mawawalan ka talaga ng bait dahil maraming naiiwang kung anong lumulutang na bagay at basura (may janitor naman ang dorm, sadyang marami lang talagang nagtatapon kumpara sa nagpupulot). Kaya

naman maraming beses ko nang pinipigilan ang magbawas, hangga’t kaya pang barahin, babarahin ko talaga kesa naman mamatay ako sa nakakasukang palikuran. At kung minsan kung hindi na talaga paawat ang tawag ng kalikasan ika nga, eh tatakbo nalang ako sa mga kaibigan ko na nagkacottage para lang guminhawa ang aking pakiramdam.

Gabi-gabi naman ay tumitindig ang balahibo ko dahil sa mga naririnig ko sa loob ng dorm. Tungkol sa mga nagmumultong kaluluwa sa Dorm; mga kwento tungkol sa mga nagpatiwakal na frustrated law students, pinatay dahil ang shinota ay maranao, at nirape na estudyante. Gumagawa kuno ng ingay, kumakatok sa mga pinto sa dis oras ng gabi at nagpaparamdam tuwing kalahating gabi. Di ko paman napapatunayan sa sarili ang mga kwentong iyon, natatakot na din akong lumabas ng kwarto pagkagat ng hatinggabi. Lumang misteryo din sa dorm ang biglabiglang mawawala na parang bula ang mga sinasampay at mga gamit na ‘di mo akalaing may magnanasa, kahit mumurahin o munting bagay.

Magugulat ka na lang sa kisapmatang paglaho nito at wala ni isang bakas na maiiwan, para lang isang nakakamanghang mahika. At mas lalo kang magugulat kung pagpunta mo sa ukay-ukayan ay maayos nang nakasabit ang nag-iisa mong Calvin Klein na jaket na bigay sa’yo ng tito mo’ng galing pang Saudi.

Nakakainis din ang curfew hours. Kinakailangan kong agahan ang pag-uwi, magmakaawa kay kuya guard kung mahuli ako (hangang ngayon nasa Office of the Manager pa ang dorm ID ko dahil nasarhan ako at nagpumilit pumasok). Kung meron man akong nakalimutan kunin, bilhin o gawin sa labas eh kinakailangan ko pang hintayin ang bukang-liwayway at kailangang umuwi ng maaga na tila dalagang Pilipina. May gabi ngang sumakit ang tiyan ko dahil nakaligtaan kong bumili ng pangmidnight snacks,kaya buong gabi kong tiniis ang kumakalam kong sikmura.

Nakakatakot din si Manong guard, minsan sinusumpong. Minsan ay nagpaputok ba naman siya ng baril sa loob ng dorm, at talagang sumabog ang dibdib ko sa lakas ng aking narinig kaya agad na pumasok sa isip ko ang mag-impake at lisanin ang dorm. Ngunit sabi ng iba, aksidente

2nd Semester | A.Y. 2011- 2012

daw ang nangyari,nakalabit bigla ni Manong guard ang baril na di nya napansin na may laman. Ngunit hanggang ngayon dama ko parin ang takot sa tunog ng baril.

Maraming maiingay sa dorm; mga bakla sa hallway na nagtsitsismisan, manager na laging nag-aalburuto dahil sa daming nahuhuling rice cooker o nagsusuntukang roommates, mga batang musmos na gumagala sa loob, mga pusang nagkakalat at naghahanap ng pagkain sa basurahan. Mayroon ding katakatakang silid sa dormitoryo gaya ng Study Room, nakakainis isipin na ang nag-iisang study room ay ginawang T.V. room at smoking area. a dinami-rami kong rason na nagsasabing dapat ko nang lisanin ang dormitoryo, tila hindi ko pa rin alintana. Nasabi ko na lang sa aking sarili na masasanay din ako sa mga di kanais-nais ngunit katangi-tanging karanasan dito sa dorm, dahil sa mga karanasang iyon natuto akong gumising ng maaga, makibagay, makontento kung anong meron, magpahalaga sa tubig, oras, kalinisan at maging independente sa sarili. Ito ang mga importanteng bagay na ‘di ko natutunan at matututunan sa silidaralan, ito ang mga nakakatawang karanasan na pwede ko’ng ipagmayabang sa kahit na sinong humamon sa aking makipagkwentuhan.

Di ko din makakayang iwan ang mga tao na nakasama ko sa dorm.

Naging masaya ang pagdodorm ko sa mga sandaling natutunan ko nang makipag-usap sa aking mga roommates-may roommate akong genius, bakla, relihiyoso, guitarista, masahista at karatista. Magkaiba man sa lahat ng bagay, nagkakaisa kami sa tuwing may pelikulang panonoorin at nagdadamayan kami sa tuwing wala ng pera, makain at masuot na damit.

Isa man ito sa mga padalusdalos kong desisyon at pabiglabiglang plano, hindi ako nagsisisi na pinasok ko ang magulo ngunit masayang mundo ng dormitoryo.#

S

15

Illustration by NKRanara

16

Minda Rebels: Freedom Fighters orTerrorists?

By SLMacapodi

Has anybody noticed that when Mindanao rebels do something, they are immediately addressed as terrorists? But when some random rebel group up north have a killing spree, they are merely labelled as rebels. The worst brand could be communist. Once, somewhere in Europe, an anti-Muslim killed at least 30 innocent souls, and he wasn’t branded as a terrorist. I’d bet my bottom peso that if the killer were a Muslim, he would be called a terrorist in international news.

Let’s take a look at the situation here in the Philippines. Has anybody noticed that mainstream media takes pleasure in concocting the idea that Muslims are terrorists, especially if the term MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) or MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front) is tagged along with their names? Or, that anybody coming from Mindanao is a terrorist, disregarding his convictions, his views, ideologies and advocacy? But what are Mindanao rebels, really? Are they true freedom fighters? Or are they merely the spreaders of terror amongst the innocent? Are they victimisers? Or are they victims too?

What is terrorism in the first place? According to the Oxford Student’s Dictionary, terrorism means the killing of ordinary people for political purposes. The same is true according to Encarta Dictionaries. Thus, would that shortlist my idol Adolf Hitler as a terrorist? What about Napoleon Bonaparte? Or the goody-good GI Joe’s whose boots still bear the stain of innocent blood they’ve shed for the whims of their beloved America?

There seems to be such a thin line that separates being a freedom fighter and a terrorist when the issue comes to the freedom fighters of Mindanao. First of all, what are they fighting for? Are they killing for the fun of it, or are they like Simoun who has decided that only bloodshed could start the wheel of change? And if so, don’t they think they could do something else to be heard by those who choose to let their plights fall on deaf ears?

I’ve once asked an MILF reserve, who is a good friend of mine, ‘What are you really fighting for, and why choose this way of fighting for your beliefs?’ He just smiled, and told me, ‘Maude, when you try waking up somebody, don’t you shake him up if after calling his name doesn’t do the trick?’ I was quite dumbfounded by his answer, and just nodded. I realized it’s true that it has been quite long since the Mindanao rebels started wanting to be heard, but still their voices remain unheard.

They are not just the MILF or the MNLF. There are other groups not belonging to the two groups, but like the Moro groups, their movement is rooted for freedom.

Some could be associated with the socialist/communist group CPP-NPA, some are mere factions. They are not too many, but their numbers are not too small also. They are in the hiding most of the time because the government is always breathing down on their necks. They tend to go to the mountains because the mountains provide them protection the government couldn’t possibly give them.

They are actually the kind of people who are just like you and me—with their own aspirations, their own dreams, and their own hopes. They get frustrated too, they get sad, they get happy, and yes, they too, smile. They are actually very far from what the media like to describe them. They are not bloodthirsty savages whose urges need to be quenched by the blood of the innocent. And most importantly, they too, want peace.

They have spent decades trying to gain back the independence the past colonisers took from their forefathers. They are not like most of the rulers who assume power by virtue of conquest. Their forefathers had been the rulers of these lands

lantaw sa

MINDANAO

before there even were Philippines.

Their forefathers had been the farmers that tilled the very land the big corporations and companies own today.

Their own sweat and blood shed as the big bosses sit down and watch them labour for the next meal on their plates.

Their own mouths gagged as their voices are muted for fear that the people would hear their plight.

We cannot deny the fact that there had been too much blood shed for their cause, but we cannot put all the blame on them either. Had the government been heeding to their plight, the unnecessary deaths could have been prevented. Lives could have been saved. If only attention were given to them, they would not have killed those innocent people.

We cannot blame the victims who died because of the rebels’ doings. Nor could anybody rob their families the right to grieve. They have the right to blame the rebels. Nobody could ever turn back the time and give back the lost lives sacrificed for this quest for freedom. They were the ones caught in between and nobody should ever ignore them and the sacrifices they made.

But these deaths do not necessarily make them terrorists. These rebels, even though they are subversive from the government, still seek peace for their own kind, their own people, and their own families. They too get tired of fighting, and they too ask their own selves if they are fighting in vain.

One might tell me, no, they are cold-blooded killers, they killed our families and they did not even flinch.

They deserve to die, the way our loved ones got killed; they do not deserve to live. Perhaps, they do. Perhaps there really is part of them that would drive them to kill in cold blood. But had their lives and roles been reversed, those grievers would do the same things they did, they would make the same deci-

sions, and they would have felt the same.

Who wouldn’t want to resort to violence if your rights had been trampled upon by the very people whose jobs were to protect these rights? If your voice had been gagged by the very people who are supposed to hear you all throughout? If your ideas had been killed by the very people who are supposed to put these ideas into reality?

Had the media been considerate enough to check and see through the real story before sensationalising everything, then these people wouldn’t be as misunderstood as they are. Had the media been sensitive enough to get to the bottom of everything and find out the other side of the story, then these people wouldn’t be branded terrorists. Had the media been thoughtful enough to get to know them first as humans and not as mere armed rebels, then these people wouldn’t have been mere murderers in the eyes of the masses. If only someone would exert the effort to sit down and listen to what they had to say, then all the misconceptions about these people could be straightened out.

Is it too late to change that? Not quite. There’s still time, as long as one is really willing to make a difference.

Who’s supposed to make the first step?

The government? The rebels? The victims? The common people? No one quite knows. But if all the parties involved would only work hand in hand, and stop thinking of each other’s desires and own purposes, then this could jumpstart the real talk for freedom. For peace. No more bloodshed. No more deaths. After all, there was still something left when Pandora opened the box. There’s still hope, as always.

GeneralOutlook: MindaWarZone

17

By SMBGonting and SLMacapodi

“’Di ba malapit kayo sa Ampatuan Massacre? Hindi ba kayo natatakot?” asked by my supervisor from the Province of La Union, when I answered his query from where my campus is located. Those were the times that the issue stirred the nation and the world a couple of years back.

Perhaps my boss – whom I assumed had earned his History units and thus was taught about the country’s localities - was just busy with work. He forgot how wide Mindanao is. Or could this problematic paradigm be blamed to the media, the very institution that inculcates these views upon the minds of the people? The media, whose scope could reach all the spectrums in society--from the minutest and lowest member, up to those who belong a few rungs above most—like my boss back in La Union?

Since time immemorial, mass media has painted a very negative picture of Mindanao—along with the Muslims living within the island. From rebels (who are immediately considered terrorists), kidnappers, corrupt politicians, and all the evil characters in society—they are more often than not associated to the people of the south, with no more questions asked as to the validity of these claims however outrageous these could be.

These stereotypes and misconceptions had been in circulation even before the ill-famed Ampatuan Massacre. This is due to the over sensationalized depiction of national media to the real situation in Mindanao—negative images plastered across every households’ television sets portraying all the ill of society on going in Mindanao, not bothering to show the good things happening in the south, however unimportant these could be in the eyes of those who control national media. And what choice do the people up north have but to accept these things at face value? To think these claims are truthful, and that there is no other side of the story? To assent these half-concealed truth about Mindanao without thinking that these could lead to negative stereotypes and marginalizing amongst the peoples of the country?

In an article entitled “The Other Face of Mindanao,” Gina Mission said that “Mindanao is portrayed as a war zone and that for the uninitiated, it is easier to visualize an island at war than go to the place and see for one’s self the validity of such a description.” Mass media practitioners prefer to see news from Mindanao only in terms of violence, conflict, and crime, and thus only such would be aired to the masses. This coverage in turn gives the public impression that there is a full-blown “war” on going in Mindanao.

As a result, the media’s portrayal has prevented business investors, developers and prospective financiers from putting up businesses and projects in Mindanao because they have been fed beforehand by the negative and scary half-truths about the ‘situation’ in Mindanao.

Why,then, is this happening?

The island has started being infamous to the media’s eyes since the so-called ‘war in Mindanao,’ where several armed groups started wreaking havoc on several far-flung areas in Mindanao. These groups, having conflicts against the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, started using violence to get their plights known to the government. These events had consistently been making the headlines—the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) purportedly bombed this resort and that airport; the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) kidnapping this personality, the Abu Sayyaf beheading this priest; among many others.

Since then, banner stories range from robbery, shootouts, military ambushes, massacres and kidnapping incidents to the more sober peace talks and “failed ceasefire.” Headline photos also show the fatalities of “war”, women and children taking up arms, and military men and insurgents in full battle gears and in combat position. Moreover, evening news feature war journalists in the outskirts of Mindanao donning Kevlar vests, yards away from military missile launchers while covering the soldiers gunning down the trees from the sorry mountains on their backgrounds.

These scenes flood the mass media up north. But unbeknownst to the people, the media is only grabbing the opportunity to get full coverage of the negative or ‘bad news’ happening in Mindanao, as the media very well knows these kind of stories cater to the hunger of people for distressing news, thinking of their own good-natured luck knowing these kind of misfortunes are not happening to them. And in turn, these events slobber pulsing red paint upon the image of Mindanao and the people on it: that down south is a place condemned by violence and danger; and should be kept at bay at all costs.

But, do the people know of the good happening in Mindanao? Is there even a notion of good upon the minds of the northerners regarding Mindanao?

Data released by the Growth with Equity in Mindanao, a non-governmental organization working towards accelerated economic growth in Mindanao, shows that a lot of developmental activities are happening here down south and these are also the concern of the northerners. Yet only the gunfire and explosions make it to the news.

This issue remains to be in question.

Instead of reporting events associated with the development of Mindanao and its peoples as a whole, mass media practitioners prefer to cover the bloodshed fo-

cused on small parts of the island. They prefer to focus on the violence caused by a few, rather than give attention to the good spread by the many. They do not even bother to specify the location of such events, disregarding the fact that the island itself it 94,630 sq. kilometers in area. They just mention ‘Mindanao.’ Could an army of a few hundred actually spread violence on such a vast area? And armed with their weak convictions rooted upon much weaker bases, they lead the rest of the nation into believing that the whole of Mindanao is a scaffold bathed in violence and war.

Is this responsible journalism?

Are these media practitioners rational?

Are they even sane? Are they aware of the yawning gap they create between Mindanao and the rest of the country?

Have profits become the only important factor concerning the many faces of the truth? Has the TRUTH gone down the drain without anybody noticing it? Or does the government have yet another role in the scheme of events, leaving Mindanao at the mercy of a few unknown parties, especially those with white skin?

Questions remain hanging on a high string, with vague hopes of getting answered. Yet these are too vital to be ignored. Who are to be blamed, anyway? To whom should the questions be directly addressed? To us, people living in Mindanao? To the media practitioners propagating Mindanao as a danger zone? To the government that has taken too feeble steps regarding this issue? To the different faces and names of God whose solitary existence found refuge in the varied faiths of people all over the nation? To you?

To me?

What if we all owe everybody else an answer? Who knows, each of us would end up getting the same amount of the blame. But despite all the uncertainties, what’s important is that justice is given to the image of Mindanao. It is, after all, ours. Let’s all prove to it and to ourselves that Mindanao is not a place of violence, but a paradise we could all call home.

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Mindanao: The‘Unheard‘ Archipelago By: MJBArnejo

Mindanao is alive with plants and wildlife, but no, it is not a jungle.

The Mindanao Archipelago is the second largest island group of the country located at the southernmost part. It is one of the richest islands in terms of natural resources. Aside from securing 80% of the country’s iron reserve, it also produces over half of the country’s total pineapple, corn, coffee, copra, cocoa and abaka products.

Furthermore, Mindanao does not only prosper in agriculture but also in tourism. It is a haven of luscious virgin beaches, picturesque landscapes, and tropical forests which serves as sanctuary for many rare species of both flora and fauna. One could enjoy surfing in Siargao, wter rafting at CDO rivers, zipline in Bukidnon, and even the cold climate at MSU. Many tourists, both from inside and outside of the country, fly in the islands to spend their vacations and rekindle their intimacy with nature.

However, because of these great contribution to agriculture and environmental tourism, Mindanao has been placed side-by-side with descriptions such as forest, jungle, indigenous, tribal, and even to some extent – uncivilized. It has been collectively imagined as a mere place of great plant life, adventurous terrains, and exotic animals. The adornment is lovely and is well appreciated, however it downsizes the real image of the archipelago to a mere jungle filled with jungle people, if not fortified natives.

Before going further let me first answer all those ignorant questions coming from many people from outside the archipelago: Yes we do have running electricity in Mindanao.

We have high speed internet connection, malls, and cellular phones. We speak the national language, which is Filipino by the way and not Tagalog. And just for the record, YES we do have Coke in here.

I and many of my friends have been asked with

lantaw sa

such odd questions that we can’t decide whether to laugh at their ignorance, or be insulted by their remarks. It seems that despite the efforts of the people in Mindanao to thrive in different fields to uplift the national economy and pave way for the archipelago

It is called “the land of promise” because it showed opportunities for greatness and prosperity, and the promise never fails. to have a place in everyone’s view, we remain unseen and unheard. Seemingly, Mindanao onWly becomes a concern when there is a threat in national security and in the legibility of national elections.

The reality is, Mindanao is not just one province; it is an archipelago of 26 provinces divided into 6 administrative regions. The characteristic of one province may or may not be true to all provinces in the archipelago, and so different events or situations in one place may not be existent in another. The armed struggle is indeed existent in various parts of the archipelago but it does not automatically classify the entire Mindanao as a war-torn place. It is absurd to think that every inch of the 94,631 square kilometrearchipelago is at hostilities. Moreover, if all of the 21,582,540 people of Mindanao (2007 census) is directly involved with the conflict, who then would have been working for those agricultural products that partly supply the rest of the country?

Moving on to another clarification, Mindanao is not just a vast land of tilled earth nor is it just a wide tropical forest. For the many decades, the ar-

MINDANAO

chipelago has evolved into a more urbanized place progressing not only in agriculture, but also in tourism, industry and in services, expanding the income of the different localities. In the most recent National Statistical Coordination Board (2007), out of the 136 cities in the country, 33 are in Mindanao with six Class-A highly-urbanized cities: Butuan City, Cagayan de Oro City, Davao City, General Santos City, Iligan City, Zamboanga City. The term “class-A highly urbanized cities” refers to cities with a minimum population of two hundred thousand inhabitants and an average annual income of 400 Million Pesos.

These different cities, as well as other municipalities are pursuing better ways at improving their own localities: from infrastructures to roads and other amenities. There are available well-accommodating hotels, inns and fine lodges, busy malls, great food outlets, and fun-filled night life. But unlike other industrialized places, many of the localities preserve the natural settings of most flora and fauna. This not only maintains a harmonious relationship with nature, it also boosts tourism.

Despite the primordial identity and negative notions tagged to the people of the south and the archipelago itself, we never fail to surprise the rest of the country and the world with our local prides – both places and faces – and even food.

Mindanao may not be filled with skyscrapers or may not have MRT’s, subways and what have you, but it’s keeping up with the modern pace of living.

It keeps on bringing bounty to the country despite the little attention given to it. And despite the criticisms, irrational accusations, and prejudices thrown at its people, it continues to prove that it deserves a place in the Philippine map worth knowing and appreciated. It is called “the land of promise” because it showed opportunities for greatness and prosperity, and the promise never fails.

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DayuhansaSarilingBayan By: EMManlangit

Malungkot. Mahirap. Magulo. Katakot-takot. Ito ay ilan lamang sa mga katagang madalas ihalintulad sa pulong Mindanao. Mga katagang buong pusong binibigkas ng ating mga kababayan sa Hilaga. Mga salitang itinatak na nila sa kanilang mga balintataw kahit hindi pa man napapatunayan. Mindanao, maihahambing sa isang suspetsadong kawatan na hindi pa man nahahatulan, ay tinatanggap na ang pinakamasahol na kaparusahan ng taumbayan. Mindanao, kailan ka pa nga ba nila maiintindihan?

Sa labinsiyam na taon kong pamamalagi sa Mindanao, halos hindi pa rin ako nagsasawang igala ang aking mga mata sa mga luntiang bukirin at nagkikislapang karagatan na sa sikat ng araw ay parang mga diamanteng nakalatag sa kabuuan ng lupain. Walang kaguluhan. Mapayapa at simple ang pamumuhay ng mga tao.

Dito natipon ang mga taong nabibilang sa magkakaibang kultura. Lumad ka kung nabibilang ka sa mga indihenong grupong tulad ng Subanon, Higaonon, Manobo, Tiboli, at marami pang iba. Isa kang Moro kung alam mong nanggagaling ka sa tribong Maranao, Magindanao, Tausug, Samal, at iba pa. At kabilang ka sa mga tinatawag na Migrante kung hindi ka tunay na taga-Mindanao, lumipat at napiling manatili at mamuhay dito. Bawat isa ay may sariling pagkakakilanlan at may sariling pinaniniwalaan. Ngunit sa kabila ng mga kaibahang ito, hindi nakikipag-usap ang mga taong ito sa pamamagitan ng pagtatanong sa iyong mga paniniwala.

Nginingitian ka ng mga taga-Mindanao hindi dahil Moro ka. Kinakaibigan ka ng mga taga-Mindanao hindi dahil alam nilang isa kang Lumad, at mas lalong tinutulungan ka ng mga taga-Mindanao hindi dahil halata nilang Migrante ka. Ginagawa nila ito dahil ito ang kanilang paraan para maipakita sa’yo na ang Mindanao ay hindi ang nakikita mo sa telebisyon. Gusto nilang ipadama sa’yo ang kapayapaan at hindi ang kaguluhan na madalas mong naririnig mo sa radyo. At gusto nilang baguhin mo ang iyong baluktot na paniniwala na ang Mindanao ay tahanan ng mga terorista, gaya ng nababasa mo sa diyaryo.

Sa Mindanao nag-uusap ang mga taong magkakaiba ang lengguwahe. Dito nagkakaisa ang mga taong magkakasalungat ang mga paniniwala. At dito sumasamba ang mga mamamayang magkakaiba ang pananamptalataya. Oo, sa Mindanao napag-iisa ang magkakaiba.

Malungkot? Kung titingnan ang mga nakangiting mamamayan, ay hindi mo mababanaag na minsan lang ay binayo ng hagupit ng kalikasan ang ilan sa mga lugar sa pulong ito. Hindi mo maaalitana na minsan ay dinilig ng dugo ang isang lupain dito gawa ng mga taong kapangyarihan ang pinapakain sa kanilang mga kaluluwa. Simple man ang pamumuhay ay hindi nakakaligtaan ng mga taga-Mind-

anao ang ngumiti at magpasalamat sa biyayang patuloy na tinatamasa.

Mahirap? Kung ang batayan ng kayamanan ay ang mga nagtatayugang gusali ng mga malalaking siyudad, ang nagkahaluhalong polusyon na hindi mo na alam kung saan nanggaling, at ang mga taong naninirahan na kahit respeto sa sarili ay hindi alam, marahil mahirap nga ang Mindanao. Ngunit kung paguusapan ang likas na kayamanan, ang mga kabundukan at karagatan, at ang yaman at dibersidad ng kultura, wala ng mas yayaman pa dito. Sadyang maipagmamalaki na kahit sa lawak na ng ebolusyon ng makabagong kabihasnan, ang kulturang ipinaglaban kahit pa noong bago pa dumating ang mga kastila, ay masaya pa ring pinakaiingatan.

Magulo? Oo, magulo ang pagkakalarawan ng ilan sa Mindanao.

Makakarinig ka ng putukan minsan sa katahimikan ng gabi. Makakarinig ka ng balita na may pinatay sa kabilang kanto. Ngunit kung susuriin, ito’y gawa lamang nga mga taong halang ang kaluluwa. Sa ibang lugar ba ay wala nito? Estranghero ba ang putok ng baril sa mga lugar doon? Wala bang pinapatay sa bahaging iyon? Nabahiran man ng dugo ang isang parte ng pulo, ngunit huwag sanang ikalat ang mantsa sa buong kapuluan. Nagkamali man ang ilan, ngunit huwag sanang parusahan ang lahat.

Katakot-takot?

Oo, katakot-takot na panghuhusga ang araw-araw na ibinabato sa mga taga-Mindanao. Ang pakikipaglaban para sa katarungan at kalayaan mula sa mga mapagsamantalang nilalang ang dahilan kung bakit tinaguriang terorista ang ilan sa mga tagarito.

Katakot-takot na diskriminasyon ang patuloy na sumasampal sa mga nakikipagsapalaran na wala namang ibang nais kundi ang makaahon sa putik na kinasasadlakan. Katakot-takot man, ngunit ilan pa kayang buhay ang kailangang ibuwis mapatunayan lang na ang mga panatang binitiwan sa Lupang Pangako ay mabibigyang katuparan, at hindi na ituring na dayuhan sa sariling bayan ang Mindanao?

Mindanao, maihahalintulad sa isang suspetsadong kawatan na kahit bugbog na sa parusa ay hindi pa rin sumusuko sa laban mapatunayan lang ang katotohanan. Mindanao, kailan ka pa nga ba maiintindihan? Sana ngayon na.#

Mindanao: TheLostParadise JMPiquero

When a person living either in Luzon or Visayas, or out of the country asks you where you live, and you answer him or her , “I live in Mindanao.” What responses do you usually get?

“Mindanao? Is it the place where many of the terrorists in the Philippines live?”

“Are there malls in that place?”

“Can the internet reach that place?”

“Where is that?”

Funny, right? But it’s really true. If not known for being the land of rebels, this big Philippine island remains unheard. However, do you know that our own beloved Mindanao is a paradise hidden from those unattractive propaganda on terrorism?

She has this untouched beauty left to be discovered by the Filipinos. She is prided with her own set of white sand beaches freely and relaxingly found in Surigao, Sulu, and even in Davao del Norte. With this, you don’t need to travel far to Boracay, or Thailand just to find your holiday treat!

Furthermore, these beaches as well as the rich waters of almost every region in the place have this fresh and yummy fishes and other seafoods traditionally prepared by the fishermen and sold at an affordable prize compared to the main cities in Luzon. This waters as well,shelters the precious pearls most women yearn to have. Black pearls and normal pearls are commonly found and harvested in the seas of Zamboanga del Norte. Wonderful sea shells are also found along the shores of the untouched beaches of Misamis. Even the spines of a specific sea urchin used to make music chimes are found

OPINIONS

in the seas of Siargao.

The usual way of living of the people in almost every place in Mindanao are fishing which coexists with farming along the plains. These plains, as well as the mountain areas are the places to look for, for fresh fruits and vegetables heartily cared by the natives.

In addition to this, several regions in Mindanao also have virgin rainforests enchanted by fresh fruits and rare tree species ringing with the sound of magnificent waterfalls such as those found in Surigao del Sur and Lanao del Sur. These falls are usually visited by tourists and serve as hydroelectric sources in the nearby provinces and even reaches as far as Visayan and Luzon.

When it comes to the people of Mindanao, many may usually say that we are the fierce and threatening type.

But as we all know people here, like people in any other places, have diverse attitudes. There are the good and bad types as well. Just like a natural Filipino, people in Mindanao are also hospitable and loving. Guests are always welcome at every home, no matter how less fortunate a family may be.

People in Mindanao usually live in peace despite the diversity, in contrast with what’s usually heard on the televi-

sion. Some people wear their veils, some do not. Some wear their traditional clothes everyday while some only wear them at special occasions, yet all of them live in harmony. People even have different religions, some believe in Allah as their God while others believe in the Holy Trinity. Some still believes in different gods that control nature.

I’ve said it at the start and I’ll say it again: Mindanao is as beautiful as her diversity. It’s a paradise waiting to be appreciated by everyone who set their eyes on her. People who have not set foot on this land may think otherwise due to the misunderstandings and disrespect but people living here consider this as their home despite everything. Someday, I hope that the name Mindanao will not be misinterpreted and everyone will not be lost with the chaos that’s currently going on with the other parts of the island. I hope that together with the other residents of Mindanao, all Fillipinos will learn to respect and appreciate Mindanao without biases and doubts.#

“Subjected to HisWill”

By RPSunio

COLUMNS

During an immersion with the survivors of Bagyong Sendong, our team asked the victims of the storm who lived in Upper Hinaplanon of what they thought the reason was why the extraordinary catastrophe that shook the whole city happened. They said that it was because God allowed it to happen. It was a punishment for “man’s wickedness.” Almost all of them thought about it that way. I wondered if they really knew the reason behind the tragedy.

Did they know about the logs? Definitely— they’ve actually seen the rushing logs with their very own eyes. It even crushed their loved ones and those who should have survived the rushing torrents. The government said the high flood water level was because of the logs that clogged the rivers, making an “artificial dam.” When the dam busted, it created a torrent that swept the communities. How could a weak storm like Sendong be able to destroy at such an unbelievable extent in such a short span of time? It wasn’t merely because of the storm.

Residents of Upper Hinaplanon were loggers themselves. Some sources also say that the catastrophe was because of the legal loggers. You read it right: LEGAL. Elementary schools usually teach that deforestation was all because of the illegal ones. Even newspapers claimed it was caused by the illegal ones. But actually, the legal ones had the most loot. Illegal loggers escape with only a few logs when rangers or police pass, while the legal ones can log-all-you-want and nobody questions them because they will just flash the magic paper called “permit” and the suspecting ones couldn’t even handcuff them. It was because of the so called “legal loggers” that the country’s forests have been reduced from 77% to a present 6%. Legal they may be called, but how they dirtily made those permits is nott that nice at all.

How about Cagayan de Oro? Do they know what caused the thousand’s demise?

Do the people of CDO know how a pineapple is planted? In order to plant one, the soil where one pineapple will be planted must first be dug by five feet. The soil where the plant will be planted must be grinded to become fine. The pineapple plantation in Don Carlos Bukidnon alone is as wide as one’s eyes can see; that’s probably more than a million pineapples. What’s worse is there are many more of those plantations in Bukidnon. It’s hard to imagine that it was a former rice plantation but was grabbed by rich companies and foreigners, bulldozed, and privatized. Not only did they commit theft in a seemingly “legal” but rotten way, they’ve also taken many lives in CDO because of the grinded soil from their plantations that rushed down with the water to the city. The muddy water found in CDO was the very type of soil found

in Bukidnon – grounded and fine. All the water and mud that flowed in Cagayan were from Bukidnon. Those millions of pineapples could not hold water in its roots unlike corn and rice that’s why all those water surged the city. It was all because of excessive greed. Money cannot buy those lost lives back. Greed can just add up to the economy of the coffin industry.

Even during the typhoon, a lot of anomalies happened. Forgivable may be if it were only glitches or simple mistakes; greed took quite an impressive role during those life and death situations. Rescue boats that asked for fees before taking the people with them, lack of preparation, are just some. Even the relief goods sent from across the country and globe got messed about.

Instead of reaching the survivors, food went to the government people’s tables. Even the donated clothes their greed did not spare.

The residents themselves shouldn’t be blamed for what happened to them. They didn’t cause nor wanted the waters to rise. They never asked for that kind of fate. They lived in Hinaplanon because, for many years before Bagyong Sendong, that river never rose to a level as dangerous as the night of December 16. The victims need something else other than poorly founded reprimands thrown at them. Besides, there’s a long, winding story why they moved to those cities and was forced to build a house at the most dangerous areas. Some had their homes and lands taken from them back in their hometown and were forced to find a place to live. Not all of them are looking for greener pastures; they just needed a place to live. Some of them did not even think of the area as dangerous, and their speculations are true, if it weren’t for the legal logger.

What are the other reasons behind the flood? We can count all the natural causes and anomalies, but though they lacked knowledge about what happened to them, they were right with one thing: It was all aligned to the will of God. As the Holy Scriptures say, absolutely nothing happens without His consent—small or big.

While we throw all the fire balls to the government and other groups involved whether illegal or not, this calamity didn’t just accidentally slip out of God’s hand. He knows what He is doing and he always will. It is all for the good—no matter how bad the picture may seem. He’s certainly not playing or making fun of us. We just have to open our eyes to the thought of trust and faith in Him. Divine involvement it may be, but it doesn’t excuse the evil doers to continue their deeds. #

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Blank Paper on Stage

By MJBArnejo

A professor in a commencement exercise in UP once said that graduation is not just about the people who graduated with flying colors and earned awards on stage. It is also about the graduates who received no other awards that day but had spent every college day struggling to cope up with the standards of education. And you know what, I would second, third, and fourth his idea. This article is an elaboration of his proposal. This article is for the “laude’s” and the rest that can only take pride on the “graduate” ribbon pinned on their chests.

I came in MSU on my first year with high hopes (and pressures) of graduating Cum Laude. I had plastered a goal reminder on my headboard that says “P.L. 1.00, no excuses” in bold. I was idealistic and I thought of the best way to graduate, that is, with a “laude,” I tried and did my best but I realized college is not some fairy tale that ends with an actualization of a dream. It was harder than it seemed.

The five years I thought I’d be spending in a fiveyear course, was instead spent rebuilding my dignity and my family’s trust. Between the first year and now, I have earned my DL awards, then on the second year I flunked my Math 61 and with that losing my science scholarship. I later restarted life in another course which I finally had the chance to really choose, pushed myself to prove my worth to my chosen field, had my financial needs fluctuate from time to time, made friends and later lost some, got comforted and slapped by the same hands, found a place for myself in this big university, built a name for myself and then later witnessed it fall back to the ground, and from one moment to another torture myself with the idea of not being able to graduate cum laude. Nevertheless, thanks to everyone who never stopped believing in me, to God and me (for not giving up). I am finally painstakingly completing my requirements for graduation (by graduation I mean this March 2012, and please don’t make me beg, please).

College was not easy for me, and I know the same goes to everyone else. So I believe, for all the Titans (the batch name this graduation), this graduation is not just about those who flashed through with flying colors. This graduation is for every heart that never gave up and allowed the streams of obstacles to stop their fight.

This graduation is for every one of us who aimed for the best in academics, and did the best to be on top. This is for everyone who did reach the top and will be graduating with great honors and awards. We never took our eyes away from the gold and now all our efforts and dedication will finally be rewarded with a blank sheet of paper (reality check: diploma comes later when we complete our clearance) and of course, great honors and acknowledgement.

This graduation is for everyone who tried to reach the top but due to some certain circumstances (like technical difficulties and others) however did not. This is for us who did our best but just didn’t actualize our goal. We may have failed but we know there is no room reserved for regrets, the important thing is we gave our all, never hesitated and never gave up.

This is for us who stepped out of our comfort zones and joined the realm of extracurricular activities.

We have defied the ideals of academic extremists and decided to learn not only in clasWs but also outside the four corners of the classroom. We have sacrificed

COLUMNS

some time to know the things that books will never be able to teach. Despite the little (or big) sacrifices in our grades, here we are, still graduating. And just like what my friend’s mother said “3 ra man ang ginapangayo sa gobyerno, unsaon man nimu ang sobra?”

This is for the graduates who never thought they’ll be graduating this year and are still willing to spend more years in college. Our carefree days is about to end so let us enjoy every allowance and time that college life is about to offer. Waiting ahead of us is starvation without perseverance and industry.

Most especially, this is for all the patient people who annually line up the registrar for the INC forms and dropping forms completion. Our yearly perseverance to get the grade or drop the unnecessary subjects we were forced to show up in will now end. This is also for those who got 5 (in painful red ink) in Math subjects and other related brain twisting fields, and those who have been extended and super-extended in our stay. This part includes and gives high regard to the few of us who have accepted that our brains were weaker compared to the rest but decided to transcend our failures and pushed ourselves to make it through.

We have endured the shame and pursued to overcome the trials, and despite the snail speed of our survival, finally college life is over.

Graduation is near (or has come, depends on the distribution of this MV issue) and no matter how we got the diploma, we all deserve a celebration. The tumultuous (check Webster) reality outside the college life is creeping outside our doors. So before we forget and miss all the good things in our life now, let us not forget to thank the people who stayed by our side through it all. May it be our family, our close friends, co-majors, instructors, roommates, guardians, God, and our special someone. They have played great roles in our success. On the other hand, let us not forget to be grateful for the little angels we had in our lives including our haters who did nothing else but to put us in misery and the seatmate who never fails to allow us to borrow and photocopy notes for the exams, guide us on assignments and give us hints (if not answers) during quizzes.

This graduation is for all of us, for we are but one. Honor rolls, average graduates, barely surviving graduates, “over-stayers” and busybodies, we did it by different means but still we did it. This is for the sinko, tres, uno and the in-betweens; for the INC, DRP, and ODP; for the retained and the lost scholarships; and for everyone who will and will not be graduating a virgin, kudos! The stage is set (expensively for the amazement of guests), the blank bond papers are ready, and the atmosphere already smells like togas in aromatic mothballs. Prepare to tap your legs to follow the beat of the alma mater song, and prepare your hearts to say goodbye to your accustomed environment.

Buckle up, because the end of college is just life’s beginning. #

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Better thanhim NPabil

All along he had a plan.

My classmates and I were browsing old copies of our university yearbook in the ‘80s. We were hoping to find anything that can be helpful in our final requirement. For our lay-outing class, we had to publish a magazine about our university which recently celebrated its Golden Jubilee. We were specifically looking for pictures that portray how MSUans dressed up before.

We saw a lot of interesting stuffs. We even joked about how the students looked like before.

The silly hairstyle, the funny beard, the awkward smile. We had a blast making fun of people’s faces in the past.

But one picture caught my attention. It was an image of a man. Yes, he has a silly long hair.

Yes, he has a funny beard. And yes, it is obvious in his smile that posing for a yearbook isn’t really his thing. I almost cracked to laughter, but when I saw his name, I was in disbelief. On the second look, that man looked really familiar – actually he even looked like me.

He was my father.

To my surprise, I called everybody and shared what I just found. They had questions about him. They asked why my father’s first name is my surname. I told them his was too long and that it is an accepted practice in our religion. They also asked why my father’s job today is not in line with the course he finished. I told them, before finishing Islamic Studies, my father already had a degree in Agricultural Engineering. They were amazed.

For that moment, I was proud of that man. I was proud of my father. Something that I never felt before towards my father. I was smiling. It felt really good.

They then read the credentials written below the image of my father. My classmates praised him and I joined the ceremony. I know that my father was good when he was a student, you have to be one to be able to finish two degrees consecutively, but I didn’t know that he was better.

What’s written there speaks for his brilliance.

He was a student leader. He wasn’t just the President of his own college, but he also led various organizations of the university. He was smart, if that’s even enough to call it. He had academic awards, a lot of it. It was even my first time to hear some of those achievements. I was convinced that my father made sense and he had influence. He was someone else.

He was that person described in that yearbook. He is my father.

Then it hit me. For the first time, I got where my father’s treatment towards me is coming from. Now, I’m beginning to understand why for some moments, he was so disappointed in me. Why when I was in 3rd year high school, he didn’t attend our Awarding Ceremony in school

Vol. 27 | No. 3

to hand me my Silver Medal. Why he never appreciated the fact that I was 2nd for two consecutive years in the uWniversity-wide Extemporaneous Speaking contest. Why he wasn’t satisfied that I graduated Valedictorian because I got less awards as expected.

The truth is I hated him for that. Who wouldn’t? I’ve done everything to be on top, but what do I get in return? I’ve sacrificed my personal time to satisfy his demands, but what do I get after that? Because of this, I was never close to him. When I’m near my father, my heart trembles. I am always nervous to death. What have I done wrong this time? Am I in a big trouble again? It’s like I only get his attention when something is not right.

He was never a fan of runners-up. He thinks that they’re the biggest losers. He was also a dictator, he always had a say on everything. He always wants our TV tuned in to CNN and BBC or any other ‘educational’ channels; he doesn’t like his children wasting their time watching stupid reality shows. He always wants to see me reading books, “First Things First,” “7 Habits of an Effective Leader” are his own best-sellers. He is even my biggest fashion critic; he doesn’t like me wearing pink and he hates fitted pants.

He is mean and a bit too demanding, but now that I’m about to graduate in college and finally be independent, everything is making sense.

If it weren’t for the pressure he gave me, I wouldn’t strive to be better every time I fail. If it weren’t for the insults and judgments he threw on my face, I wouldn’t have the guts to stand tall.

If it weren’t for my father, I wouldn’t be all that he was in the past.

He wants me to be somebody else. He wants me to be respected and sometimes it’s what you’ve achieved that earns you one. He wants me to be successful and getting there needs a strong foundation. He engineered the blueprint of my future. I owe him everything that I have and everything that I am.

All along he had a plan. He wants me to be like him. No, he wants me to be better than him.

Like how my classmates praised my father, I also want my future children to feel the same way towards me. That when they see my credentials written on my own yearbook, they would be proud of their father. That he was better than his father. #

2nd Semester | A.Y. 2011- 2012

24

Nursingatbp., Bye2xnangaba?

By EMManlangit “Licuanan, under CHED Memorandum number 32, ordered a moratorium on the opening of new programs in five disciplines—business administration, nursing, teacher education, hotel and restaurant management (HRM), and information technology (IT) starting on school year 2012-2013.” (www.philstar.com) Kung ito ay mangyayari, pakahulugan ba nitong ang CED, CHARM, CHS, CBAA, at CIT ay hindi na tatanggap ng mga enrollees sa susunod at sa mga darating pa na pasukan?

Masasabi kong “in demand” ang mga kursong Nursing, Accountancy, HRM, at Information Technology noong bago pa man ako tumuntong ng kolehiyo, habang ang kursong Education ay matagal nang kilala sa larangan ng mas mataas na edukasyon, mula pa noong bago pa man ako isinilang. Madalas kong naririnig ang aking mga kaklaseng nagpaplanong magenrol sa kursong HRM. Ilang beses ko na ring nababasa sa mga slambook ang ambisyon ng aking mga kaibigan na maging nurse balang-araw.

At kung hinayaan lang akong makaenrol, di sana ay Accountancy major na ako ngayon.

Dahil nga sa pagiging “in demand,” naging napakabilis ng pagdami ng estudyanteng nagsipagkuha ng mga kursong ito. Pagdaming naging dahilan kuno ng “worsening oversupply of graduates” at “increasing rate of unemployment”.

Kaya naman ang Commission on Higher Education (CHED) , ang ahensya ng gobyerno na namamahala sa mga higher education institutions ay naisipan ang pagpapasuspinde ng mga disiplinang ito sa susunod na pasukan, kaugnay na rin sa plano nilang pagpapasara sa mga HEI’s na may mababang passing rate sa mga board exams, gaya sa nursing, education at accounting. Siguro kabutihan ang nais nila. Pero bakit parang iba ang dating ng nais nilang mangyari?

Kailanman hindi ko narinig na ang Amerika, Japan, Korea at iba pang mauunlad na bansa ay namroblema sa dami ng kanilang mga graduates. Hindi ba’t hinihikayat nga tayong magsipagbuti sa ating pag-aaral para sa pagdating ng panahon ay makahanap ng mabuting trabaho?

Bakit ngayon ay tila mas proproblemahin pa natin ang paghahanap ng trabaho kapag nakatapos na? Sa mga linyang “worsening oversupply of graduates,” tila ba’y napakalaking problema kapag lahat ng nagsipag-aral ay magsisipagtapos.

Paano ba ‘yan, mag-aral na lang tayo at huwag nating tapusin para hindi na sila mahirapan?

Pangalawa. Naging “in demand” ang mga kursong ito dahil mas kailangan ang mga propesyonal na tulad nila, lalo na sa mga mahihirap na komunidad.

Nars—higit na kailangan ang mga tulad nila sa mga lugar na walang sapat na perang pambayad sa mga mamahaling ospital para makapagpagamot. Siguro, sosobra lang ang suplay kung maitala na na wala ng taong nagkakasakit sa Pilipinas.

Guro—kailan ba sumobra ang suplay ng mga magtuturo sa bansa? Sa pagkakaalam ko, kulang na kulang pa nga. Tingnan na lang natin ang mga pampublikong paaralan, na hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa nasosolosyunan ang 1:60 ratio ng guro sa estudyante.

Business administration graduates, hindi ba’t sila ay mas nararapat na i-enganyo na magsimula ng mga small and medium enterprises

COLUMNS

(SME’s), dahil unang-una, kumikita din naman mula dito ang gobyerno? HRM at IT, napakaraming tulong ang magagawa ng mga graduates nito sa bansa, at ang pagdami nila ay mas benepisyal pa nga.

Ang problema ay hindi naman talaga masosolusyunan kung hindi titirahin ang pinagmulan at hindi gagamitin ang pinakasaktong solusyon.

Kumbaga, hindi talaga gagaling ang alipunga, kung ang igagamot mo ay paracetamol.

Hindi naman kasi oversupply ng graduates ang dahilan kung bakit nagkakaroon ng unemployment, kundi ang mababang pasahod at kulang na job opportunities sa bansa. Hindi ba’t ang rason kung bakit nangingibang-bayan ang ating mga magagaling na nurse ay para magkaroon ng mas malaking sweldo? Kung tutuusin, hindi dayuhan ang dapat nakikinabang sa ating mga magagaling na propesyonal kundi tayong mga Pilipino mismo. Hindi nga ba’t maraming guro ang mas pipiliing maging domestic helpers na lang dahil sa napakababang pasahod nila dito, na hindi pa sapat para mabayaran man lang kahit na kaunti ang kanilang mga paghihirap at sakripisyo? Hindi kasalanan ng mga graduates ang unemployment, kundi ng hindi maayos na pagpapatakbo ng gobyerno, at aminin na lang natin na dala na rin ito ng katamaran ng tao.

Kung sisisihin din naman nila ang hindi kalidad na edukasyon ng mga paaralang pinanggagalingan ng mga ito, sino ba ang sisisihin nila kung hindi naman kasi kumpleto sa kinakailangang kagamitan ang mga institusyong ito? Paano sila/tayo magkakaroon ng mga competitive na graduates kung kulang ang kaalamang ating nakukuha?

Hindi naman kasi dapat kinakaltasan ang budget sa edukasyon, kundi DINADAGDAGAN! Mas makakabuting magdagdag sila kaysa magbawas, hindi ba?

Sa tingin ba nila ay masosolusyunan ang problema ng unemployment sa pamamagitan ng pagsuspinde sa mga kursong ito? Mas pinapalala pa nga nila ang problema, maaari pang maharap ang bansa sa kakulangan ng mga propesyonal sa larangang plano nilang alisin.

Kung balak nila talaga itong ituloy ay magisip-isip muna sana sila. Ikaw, papayag ka ba na hindi makaenrol sa susunod na pasukan ang kapatid mong mula pa pagkabata ay pinangarap ng maging nurse? Kung estudyante ka ng mga kursong nabanggit, papayag ka ba na sa susunod na pasukan ay wala na kayong matatawag na freshmen at taun-taon ay mababawasan pa kayo hanggang sa tuluyan ng maubos ang lahi este mga katulad ninyo?

Syempre hindi. Kung gusto nilang masolusyunan ang problema ng unemployment, huwag sana nilang idamay ang ating mga graduates.

Kung gusto nilang magkaroon ng tamang solusyon, tanggapin sana nilang SILA ang problema, hindi yung kung sinu-sino ang napagbubuntunan ng kanilang mga kakulangan. #

25

Proud to be Tibak

By SMBGonting

Oo. Alam ko namang alam niyo na kung ano ang pagiging aktibista. Iyon iyong pananaw na dapat kang kumilos upang ipaglaban ang karapatan mo, lalu’t lalo na kung tinatapakan na ito ng iba. Naisip ko na ring hindi kayo sasang-ayon ng agad-agaran sa pagiging tibak dahil sa mga negatibong usap-usapan sa ganitong samahan.

Ngunit bago tayo pumuna, hindi ba dapat muna nating bigyan ng pansin ang mundo ng pagiging tibak at bakit ko nasabing “proud” ako sa pagiging kasapi nito?

Kapag tibak ka sa paaralan, normal at dapat lamang ang pag-kwestiyon sa iyong pamantasan sa mga katiwalian nilang pinaggaAgagawa. Alam ko naman ding sa pamantasang ito, maging sa gobyerno mismo, maaari kang mapahamak sa katapangang gagawin mo kung sakali mang ipaglaban mo ang tama sa mali nilang ginagawa.

At hindi, hindi ko sinasabing mali lahat ng ginagawa nila – mas marami nga lang kumpara sa ginagawa nilang tama.

At bakit nga ba kailangang i-kondena ang mga katiwalian at anomalyang nangyayari at maaari pa nilang gawin?

Simple. Dahil karapatan nating mga magaaral ito.

Hindi itinaguyod ang pamantasang ito para magkaroon ng empleyado lamang, kung hindi itinaguyod ito para sa mga mag-aaral.

Ang pera ng gobryerno, kulang man o hindi, ay para mabigyan ng sapat na edukasyon ang mga estudyante sa wastong paraan at materyales.

At nariyan sila dahil pinatawan sila ng responsibilidad na ibigay sa atin ang para sa atin. Kung kaya’t may karapatan tayong makialam.

Takot? Hindi iba sa atin ang mga maaari nilang gawin kung pagbabanta lamang ang pag-uusapan. Marami na akong kakilalang napagbantaan na nilalasap pa ang sarap ng buhay ngayon. Bakit natin kailangang matakot sa isang bagay na hindi siguradong mangyayari sa umpisa pa lamang?

Ang pagbabanta naman ay magdedepende rin sa kung papaano mo tinama ang kanilang mali at kung papaano mo rin ipapaintindi ang mali nila sa maayos at madaling paraan ng pagpapaintindi.

Ang pagiging tibak sa paaralan ay hindi naiiba sa pagiging aktibo sa pag-alsa sa mga panlipunang problema ng bansa. Hindi tulad ng ibang nagkukunwaring pumupuna lamang sa sulok ng pamantasan, ang totoong tibak ay nakikialam at lumalahok sa sari-saring akitibidades basta’t may masang naaapi.

Bakit? Dahil ang lahat ng bagay ay magkaugnay. Papaano tayo makakabayad sa pamantasan at magkakaroon ng pambili ng gamit at pagkain kung ang pagpapasweldo sa ating mga magulang ay hindi sapat? Kung sila ay may permanenteng trabaho, mainam na kung ang pagpapasweldo sa kanila ay sumusunod sa Regional Wage Board. Papaano kung hindi?

Ngunit hindi lamang ang pantustos sa atin ang kanilang pasan;“pangkabuhayan showcase”

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din nila- pagkain at iba pa na nagsisitaasan dahil mahal na daw ang materyales para maisaprodukto ang mga ito. Tama nga ba ito?

Sa dinami-rami ng problema: pasahod para mabuhay, at pantustos sa ating pag-aaral, kasama ang mga pang-aaping dulot ng kasakiman, alam kong pagod na kayong yakapin ang punto ko, lalo na kung maging tibak pa.

Pero para sa akin at sa mga katulad ko, posibleng mapagod kamiW sa pisikal na aspeto ngunit hinding-hindi kami napapagod sa ganitong adhikain, enjoy pa nga eh.

Bakit ko nasabing enjoy? Dahil nagagawa ko ang responsibilidad ko sa masa na siyang pinanggalingan ko, nating lahat.

“I belittle my sufferings as I think of the sufferings of the people,” ika nga ni Amando Liwanag o mas kilala bilang Jose Maria Sison. Katiting lang ang pasakit ng isa sa pasakit nanararanasan ng mga kababayan natin. Bakit hindi tayo tumulong at makialam habang tayp’y bata at malakas pa?

“May klase pa ako, may eksam pa, may ganito ganyan,” “Para sa magulang ko, para hindi na kami maghihirap,” “Para mapag-aral ko ang mga kapatid ko.”-linya ng mga indibidwalistikong pag-iisip.

May oras nga tayong makabili ng beer at rhum sa tabi-tabi kahit gabi-gabi pa o kahit may nakaabang pagsusulit kinabukasan? Yung iba may pambili pa ng pinagbabawal na gamot?

Ang iba naman ay may naibibili pa ng damit na dagdag lang sa labahin nila? Imbes mag-aral, kalokohan ang inuuna?

Paano tayo uunlad sa ganitong paraan? Nakalimutan na ba natin ang bayanihan na konseptong ating pinagmulan? Napalitan na ba ito ng dayuhang konsepto ng pagyaman para lamang sa pamilya at kakilalang iilan?

Maari ngang kasama tayong nagrereklamo, ngunit hanggang doon lamang ba ang maaari nating gawin? Paliliparin lang ba natin ang ating laway sa kawalan? Sayang.

Bilang estudyante, may kaya ka pang alamin ang katotohanan at kumilos ng walang inaalalang sakit sa katawan. Hindi ko adhikaing huwag kayong mag-aral o pabayaan ang inyong responsibilidad, hinihikayat ko kayong makiisa at bigyang pansin ang mga suliranin ng ating lipunan, hindi lamang sa sulok ng paaralan.

Pagtuunan n’yo din ang inyong responsibilidad bilang Pilipino. Ang isang isyu ng bansa ay kaugnay ng lahat ng isyu. Napapanahon nang ito ay bigyang halaga.

Sabi nga ni Albert Einstein, “The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything.”

Huwag tayong padadala sa dayuhang konsepto ng indibidwalismo, hikayatin mo ang sarili mong maging tibak at sama sama nating alamin at punahin ang mga bagay na makatwiran lang na bigyang hustisya. Hindi lang para sa atin, para na rin sa ating magulang, at sa lahat. #

2nd Semester | A.Y. 2011- 2012

26

Scanning Senses

By MAPPlaza

This column is bred out of pure confusion and fear of deadlines. The point is invisible. The dots are not connected. This column revolves around all the matters inside the columnist’s mind. The same columnist who had written of bullying is caught inside the teasing of words and letters and is floating at least between the lines of sound arguments.

This column would kill the first paragraph and would think of a better intro. The same column would let people ask because they would not understand. In the mind of a student journalist who is not certain what to write about, how this column started is already enough.

The previous months and years had fallen into a sickening cycle. When things are the same, we too write the same. This column talks about how people talked and how people let their tongues get pasted with their own pallets. This talks of different issues, seemingly unconnected. No coherence is found because the purpose is to not make such.

This is about the cheapest tuition fee in the whole wide world and how the campus would lose the record.

They said it would only be 50. But regardless of how the students would react, the officials already had put their earphones on, in full volume.

I am neutral about it, the student regent says.

I have to hear what the students say before I say my word.

And on that table occupied by the regents, having one who would listen to the voice of the students’ is yet fulfilling. But one is not all. And we see not how the others would think. This column might as well have to concede to the fact that winning is hard. This column would pray the cheapest tuition is still in us. No matter how big the possibility of its being gone is. No matter how little the voices of the students are. This column calls for a proper consultation facing the students, and condemns how they cut the thousand questions, saying they were already running out of time.

The time would lie as it was on the huge digital clock, but this column would seek to tell the truth− true to the paradigm of the one who’s holding the pen now. Fifty years after, the buildings turned white, the tarpaulins are scattered in every corner, the pool, once christened a shame, is now truly a pool. Fifty years after, we’ve got seven dormitories with some boxermanagers and gays are destined to be banned inside the dorm’s premises. Fifty years after, the fog is still blinding and is devoured by the smell of sprawling commercial center eye-sores. The cottages and academic buildings are broken in and the police, confidently saying they have the lead, still are left with no one to seize. One is held-up and becomes the majority.

Fifty years after, constant still are the blind nights and scholars burning their lashes for a hope of a 2.2 grade point average. Reluctant is change. It is 2012. People talk of endings and Armageddon yet talked nothing about change.

This column is from a milieu where pens would not thrive because the land is barren. The truth is planted but it would not grow. A college publication was ordered to be dissolved. Questions asked are answered not. Text messages to His Excellency go unread. Doors are closed, so is the Cafeteria. This is written with respect to accounts unsettled, unreleased funds and debts to Jergens.

This column is written on a tissue paper at Dining

COLUMNS

Room, on an arm chair at the annex, under the shades of a bald tree at the golf course, on a long bond paper using green ink. This was written using the style of an idol called Patricia who said I should tell my story before I forget, so I write all of them in a single piece. This was written, cocooned in mystery, asking where the money of the previous SSG went. This column would talk about a chair that was empty for a semester. The chair was once fought for by intelligent young minds and competitive spirits, or so we thought it was. A migrant would hesitate to sit on it in fear of a bullet in the head and expected disappearance.

It would remind you of an election of the Supreme.

The students had to choose who would lead and serve them. And instead of having their finger stained with ink indelible, some students shrugged their shoulders, took a nap and dreamt of the swirling strands of nothingness, and mighty god defenders of the ancients. The month was December not July; one hundred thousand bucks for those who watched. Two obscurely raced on the poll. And why not the folly, the winner is yet too evident for people to guess. This column talks of unknown leaders, some even don’t recognize and see.

This column sees a cigar’s light, a bottle of beer and a night at Ayala. A councilor was seen ‘flirting.’

The president is a girl, and new to the field. She is the second gal in seat but is different from the former.

She’s pretty and sweet and kind−sort of someone incapable of breaking the plates. She seemed a doll. And the column prays that she’s not a puppet played by the shadows that are starving of power, of voices behind the echoes’ epiphany, of alter egos and abusive hands, of wise tongues and illegitimate rhymes. This column prays no computer would again disappear and may the others be found. Amen.

This column wishes of an effective student government. And to whenever the term ends does not matter anymore so long as the visions are fulfilled, responsibilities are taken and roles are played - and as long as it is ethical. The old people would always want to see the young people fighting each other. But this paper wants to end the feud of time immemorial. This paper wants peace and understanding and freedom. So long as the pens are not chained and stopped to stroke and write, your way is yours. Our business is ours.

This column is bred out of pure confusion and fear of deadlines. The point is visible. The dots are connected. This column wears lenses and white shorts, a yellow shirt designed by a heartbreaker and a pair of green tatty Spartan. This column is written by someone who would rather write poems than commentaries who later realized he could do both. This column is a riddle which answers are locked inside our hearts. It’s 1 am and the room is dark. The darkness once fought by the blinking lights of an orange mobile phone would fall permanently. But it takes an open eye to see what’s in the midst of the dark. Much focused. Much vigilant.

This column mourns over the deaths of those who see and care and pray for their rebirth and resurrection.

The scenes are sickening. They seem insignificant and burdensome and irrelevant.

This column hopes for you not to look, but see. #

Sentiments of a Moro

by HSBatuan What comes to your mind when you hear the word “Muslim?”

Covered women?

Man wearing a dress with a white turban? Perhaps a suicide bomber or even a terrorist. Well, these are just some of the common misperceptions about Muslims.

What I am about to write is a big chunk of reality.

Stereotyping always plays in view on us Muslims. Here’s a young woman wearing a kumbung walking inside the mall that gets conscious because of the intimidating stares of the people around. Here’s an old lady being keenly checked up by the arrogant security guard when in the first place he has not taken even a glance on the fore comers. Here’s a Muslim Magna Cum Laude graduate applying for a job but his resume has been dumped. This is all because we are tied behind the label that we are all terrorists; a common misperception about us.

The most common image of a Muslim woman is someone who is entirely covered by cloth. Many people interpret this as an oppression. Many non-Muslims who see a woman in black is already thinking of a tyrannized and controlled woman. When people see a nun passing by, they don't think of a poor, oppressed woman, do they?

So why do they for a Muslim?

You see, the purpose of the covering is protection for the woman and also for modesty. By completely covering her body, her hair and sometimes her face with cloth (Mastura), a Muslim woman is demonstrating her faith. By that, woman with faith like that should garner more respect. A Muslim woman is seen by her intelligence and not as a sexual object. That is why they are strictly prohibited to go along with a man (even having a hand shake) for temptation is al-

Vol. 27 | No. 3

ways around.

On the other side, the most common perceptions on Muslim men are their maltreatment on their wives. Based on the passage in the Qur’ an, a Muslim man has the right to beat his wife (but this does not mean that he can freely do so).

He can only do this if and only if his wife has committed a big sin like prostitution or a forbidden relationship with another man.

And, there is more: the issue about polygamy. Yes, it is true that Muslim men are allowed to marry as much as four wives but they have to consider things: First, there must be consent from his wife. This may seem impossible but the usual reason for another marriage is to help, especially when a woman is a widow or an orphan; second, he must treat them equally. So, it means that if a married man buys a car for one wife; the three other wives must also have one.

Lastly, the most controversial issue about Muslim culture – the buying and selling of brides. This is definitely a myth. During marriage, a Muslim man is required to give a gift to his bride. This gift symbolizes or signifies that the bride will be financially secured after the wedding. This only means that the money will go to the couple and not to the parents. This is also to show to the bride’s parents that they (the couple) can already live independently.

These misconceptions should come to an end. I wrote this article to make people realize and understand the violence and the negative effects of these discriminations to Muslims all over the world. I don’t think we can still move on if we don’t get rid of these misperceptions that we live out for so many years. We need to have a dialog for people to start to understand in order to move forward.

This is not an easy task. I am not seeking for instant equality but I’m seeking for accountabilities. I hope that this column will somehow shatter the myths and misperceptions on us and bring people together. We must all have respect for all faiths, have the vision to see the commonalities among them; and show respect for our differences.

This is just my sentiment, more than a plea. This is a sentiment of a Moro. #

Not the real answer

by MLOmelio The proposed implementation of K+12 this S.Y. 2012-2013 is not the answer to the call of quality education in the country.

Aside from their aim of providing better quality education for all; of enhancing the basic education` and accordingly, of saving parents two years of expenses, the Department of Education has planned to implement this 12year curriculum because as they cited, ‘studies in the Philippines have shown that an additional year in schooling increases earnings by 7.5% and increase GDP growth by 2-2.2%.

With the thought that a graduate of this said program is already employable, its implication is demoting the pursuit to college degree. For the parents who are too practical about life - to think that their kids could get a job even after graduating in high school - what’s the point then of sending them to university?

And the issue now here is, they intend to add two years because they said that high school graduates are younger than 18 years old and are too immature for entrepreneurship and employment. Why, are they thinking that all secondary school graduates would immediately go to employing themselves?

They are just trying to look into things at their short cuts.

They try to silently instill in the minds of the parents that there is no need to precede their children to the tertiary level.

Because in this case, it is the government that would benefit because the number of collegegoers will be lessened and it would mean lesser amount of budget – a justification of the SUCs’ budget slash.

Another thing is that, they

would add two more years because K+12, accordingly, will facilitate recognition of Filipino graduates and professional in other countries. But if we would try to run back the years or even until now, Filipinos had long been recognized by the foreign nations – and that’s with the tag of being hardworking domestic helpers, if not cyber sex ‘models.’ Because for all we know, we are being left behind by our professionals here. And the government could not just stop them from flying because they will eventually save the economy; with the dollars, of course.

They say two more years because Philippines is the only country in Asia with a 10-year basic education. But the point is, so what? If we are to tail with this new curriculum, are we sure of making our country like China, Japan or Thailand? If we just improve our quality education, then we will be assured that our economy will flourish.

This two more years is not the kindest way to perk up our degrading quality education.

Because no matter how many years they would add in order to ‘specialize things,’ but then the teachers are incompetent and are slowly turning into ghosts, the books are losing the pages, and the facilities had all gone dysfunctional, it is not just going to happen.

If they want to standardize the quality of our education here, then the government could have controlled the exporting of professional teachers and mostly, they could have allotted a bigger amount of budget for this sector.

It is not precisely in the number of years. It is on how the government regulates these matters and it is how they manage the financial concerns in order to really make an ideal avenue for the children’s further learning. #

2nd Semester | A.Y. 2011- 2012

27

28

Pangandoy nga Huy-anan Ni Zuli-ann

Yaun ako sa isa ka lugar Ngadto, tingog ng hangin ang tukar Trabaho ang lingaw ng mga tao Malipayon ang pamilya sa kada baryo

Ngadto nga lugar humot ang hangin Katawa ng mga tao mabati bisan hain Pagtabang ang ila kalipay Bisan kanin-o abri kada bahay

Mga tingog sa langgam nga mabati sa gabii Waray alingugngog nga mabatian sa kapuyuan Bayho sa palibot dayawi Lugar nga lami huy-an

Kasing-kasing ng mga tao ngadto limpyo Sa ila dili uso ang abuso Gihangkupan ang ini nga lugar ng kalinaw Amo ini ang wa nila makit-i nga itsura nan Mindanaw

Life’s Crossroads

By IssayAdjaraie

Ang Kuya kong MSU’an

How often we must bear the challenges of life; The endless roller coaster between happiness and sorrow; The constant ups and downs of daily strife, And always the question remains…why?

By Ian Go Mendoza

Kring! Kring! Ingay ng alarm ay napakasakit sa tenga Pero ang boardmate ko, tulog na tulog pa Oo nga’t gumising siya, pero para patayin lang ang alarm niya Atsaka bumalik sa tulog, laway niya’y tumutulo pa.

Life is not an easy road for most; It has twists and turns with so many forks on the road, Although always, and inevitably, we are given a choice…

Do we turn to the right...or the left?

Do we take the high road…or the low road?

Do we take the easy path…or the difficult one?

Alas-nuebe na gumising ng umaga Tapos may pasok siya sa Math alas otso y medya Hindi na kumain dahil super late na Pati paliligo at pag-toothbrush dinedma.

Decisions are not easy for those struggling for direction…

And sometimes the many choices and signs become overwhelming.

While standing at a crossroad in life, The urge is to take the most comfortable path.

The road with least resistance…

The shortest or most traveled route And yet, if we’ve been down that comfortable road before; We have gleaned its lessons in life, And learned from our experiences.

Do we yet again follow the known?

Or does our destiny lie in another direction?

The fear of the road less traveled Is tangible and all too real; It manifests itself in many ways, and tends to cloud the issues That might otherwise be clear.

It is in the time of confusion, that we must seek peace and solitude; Time to contemplate on our life, our experiences and our choices; Time to look back, and reflect on what we have learned without fear or confusion.

For only each of us know our own personal thoughts; Our unique and personal history; The experiences that brought us to the crossroads we now face.

We can always learn a small degree from others’ experiences, And yet, no person can walk in our shoes, Others know not the trials and tribulations faced in private…

For each individual is unique.

And that is why,while standing at a crossroad, Only we can formulate the decisions for ourselves; The true direction that lies within; The choices we must deliberate on with clarity and wisdom.

For it is only through personal reflection, that we can now choose Our destiny; …our next adventure; …and the future we will embrace.

Walang oras para magpagwapo’t pumorma Dumiretso na sa paaralan si kuya Tsinelas na sobrang nipis ang nasa paa Atsaka shorts na sobrang luma, wala pa talagang laba.

To my fading memories

by Juan Balabac

Magkakaroon ng quiz pagpasok na pagpasok ni kuya Ang problema, hindi siya nakapag-aral dahil sa DOTA Wala nga siyang bolpen at papel na dala Humingi nalang sa classmate kasamana ang pangongopya.

Kaya yun sa quiz bumagsak dahil katabi’y hindi nagpakopya Pero okay lang daw kasi may next time pa Kaya ayun, nakinig nalang sa chika ng guro nila Pero di katagalan ay nakatulog ang kumag, laway ay talagang tumutulo pa.

Clock is ticking so fast that I can’t see How memories I brought together is easily set free Afraid that I can’t remember the tears I dropped in the sea Tapos na ang klase, ayon nauna pang lumabas sa titser For the sands of time are running out for me nila As I leap to another side of my world Memories of my past will surely get old For new stories worth remembering are waiting to be sold And old stories I had may remain untold As I wait along the shores for my sun to set Remembering the ocean of memories I did forget Regret and despair, how lonely this feeling can get How hard I cherish, the picture of joyful past flies yet

Literary Literary

As I go through life to search for greater glory What would I do to treasure every moment so I won’t be sorry?

Afraid for my happiness may only amount to worry Now I sigh with fear and hope to my fading memory

Kasi mag-iinternet, magre-research umano pero ang totoo’y maglalarong DOTA Pagkatapos ay mag-iFB, mang-aadd ng mga magaganda Uuwing hating-gabi tulad ni Cinderella.

Ang requirement na bukas ipapasa, gagawin ngayon pa Nakalimutan kasi niya, kaya pati classmate binulabog pa Pero no worries si kuya dahil may motto siya: “Kahit pangit ang resulta basta ako ay nakapasa” Tulog agad kapag ang project ay tapos na Gigising mamayang alas-tres ng umaga Kasi mag-aaral, bukas kasi’y prelim sa major subject niya Natatakot ma-repeat subject kasi wala siyang pambayad na pera. ` Ano ba talaga, parang baliw si kuya Hindi sineseryoso ang pag-aaral niya Pero kung tatanungin kung bakit ganyan siya Ganito lang talaga daw, kapag MSU’an ka.

Chains and a rope

Monster Are Pea

Walang nararamdamang sakit Bato ang puso ko Kailangang linangin ang bukas Hindi makikinig sa’yo Gagawin ang mga naisin Wala akong pakialam sa inyo Kayong lahat ay susugatan Ang mahalaga ay ako Walang awa, manhid Makasasala, masama, Mamamatay tao Isasara ang mga mata Sayo’ng panibugho Umiyak kang umiyak; Pakialam sa’yo?

Nagtatago sa kadiliman Ito ang aking sangtuaryo Magkubli malayo sa mundo Sa kadiliman, sa malalim na kawalan Walang makikita – walang nakakakita Sa kadiliman ako’y iiyak Hagulgol, unti-unti ako’ng mabibiak Hubad, mahina, wala’ng laban, nakasalagpak Nanlulumo sa kung ano ako Anyo’ng kailanman ay di ginusto Nawala na ang puso’ng tao Pakiusap, sa kadilimang ito; iligtas niyo ‘ko

Unwritten

by Juan Balabac

I stared at her while she walked in front of me With her shining dress and glittering shoes.

It was our JS Prom. She looked and smiled at me.

I want her to know that I don’t want us to be just friends.

I love her but I’m just too shy and I don’t know why.

I stared at her while she passed by me with her boyfriend.

Her eyes were not the happy eyes I used to see when we were still in high school. She looked at me and she smiled.

I want to approach her and embrace her.

I want her to know that I don’t want us to be just friends.

I love her but I’m just too shy and I don’t know why.

I stared at her as she walked down the aisle with her husband-to-be.

She looked at me and she smiled. But a tear fell from her eye.

I was about to approach her but it’s too late. I want her to know That I don’t want us to be just friends. I love her but I’m just too shy And I don’t know why.

I stared at her while she was in her deathbed.

I sat beside her and found her diary.

I started reading the last page.

“I think of him, my bestfriend and my love. Today, I am about to die.

I want him to be at my side. But it’s too late. I want him to know that I don’t want us to be just friends. I love him but I’m just too shy and I don’t know why.

Hibi Sang Tagipuso-on -ninefourteen-

Gisugot taka, kag naging kita Isa ka text ko lang simu, ara kana Ok lang biskan gahampang ka DOTA Tanan biyaan mo basta upod lang ta duha.

Kung sin-o may sala sa aton, ginapasaylo dayon, Indi makatulog kung may kaakig sa tagipuso-on Biskan busy ta nga duha sa iskwela May oras lang gyapon ta sa isa kag isa.

Nainggit lang ko sa iban nga magnobyo, Daw permi sa ila may kilig kag may bag-o.

Kis-a ginahambal ko sa kaugalingon ko “Tani maagyan ko man ng amo na noh?”

Indi ikaw ang may problema, ako tana Waay na ko mabatyagan nga “spark” sa ton duha Pero indi ka gid dapat magkabalaka Kay kung sa palangga lang: palangga ta gid ka.

Subong bal-an mo na ning hamdum ko Amo lang gid ni masegurado ko simu: Indi ko tuyo nga pangunahan mga plano mo Gusto ko lang ipagawas balatyagon ko.

He sat there trembling. He held a pen. And his hands were shaking.

He stared at the blank piece of paper. He couldn’t start a word. He remained clueless for a minute. Then the words abruptly sank through his mind. He was then certain what was happening – the start of an end.

He wrote without pausing. Emotions.

Thoughts.Pains.

He wrote the last letter of his life.

He wrote for her – the girl he had secretly loved for years now. The primordial source of his every depression, she broke his heart without her knowing.

He wrote for them – the folks who had brought him up to this messy world. They love him but he feels strangled. He loves them and this he had long struggled to prove.

He wrote for himself – the weary ego who couldn’t seem to understand things too clear. The questions are still hanging. So he wished he is.

He folded the paper and left it to the desk, leaving things unclear and unanswered.

The gallows are waiting, he thought. He climbed up the stool. He stood still. The rope hung.

He placed his head inside the knot. He cried.

He thought of her. Her smiles were in a sudden flashback. He cried with phantasmagoria of her.

He thought of them. Their dreams of a better son shall remain a dream. I want to breathe, he uttered. I want freedom. I want to leave.

He thought of the laughter. He thought how his best friends would cry. He grinned while tears ran down his cheeks. He thought of the memories.

They love you, a voice within him argued.

I know. They’ll understandd. He answered.

He stood still on the stool. And prayed, forgive me.

He cried. He sobbed.

And in that last second of his life, he kicked the stool.

The questions hung. Also he.

29

30

“The Delay of the SSG Elections”

By MCMaylan and RPSunio

The Supreme Student Government may be considered as one of the most controversial organizations in the campus. “Complex” its “structure” and annual elections may be, this academic year’s election also made it to the controversial: The Delay of the SSG Election.

Organizing an Election

For an election to happen, a special order (S.O) from the Office of the President (OP) must first be forwarded for the creation of an Electoral Board composed of office, faculty, and student representatives “who will supervise the election” and will have “the power, control, and discretion over the electoral process subjected to the appeal of the university president.” Without a board, no election can happen, said Mr. Lacson B. Gadia of the Division of Student Affairs.

The DSA is the office responsible for the overall election matters with the Legal Office said Atty. Saadudin Alauya Jr, this academic year’s electoral board chairperson. By tradition, electoral tribunal chairpersons should come from the Legal Office because they are knowledgeable in law and conduct said Prof. Tambas Cader, Director of DSA and the board’s con-chair. After the approval of the SO, the budget for the election is then given. What follows is the filing for candidacy, campaigns, and the election day.

The Reason for the Delay

The SSG by-laws sets the election to be held “not later than the second week of August or a time determined by the tribunal.” According to Prof. Cader, this academic year’s election had to be postponed because of Ramadhan, the University’s celebration of Golden Jubilee, and the piled final exams on October. Even if the election would be pursued right after the exams, there would still be low turnout because the students would already be home to their places after their exams said Atty. Alauya. Nonetheless, MSUS President Macapado A. Muslim ordered the pursue, and so the admin pressed on for the SSG election and set it on the second semester.

Former SSG Councilor Asnar “Bata” Aniego said they were not even informed of the plan to pursue it.

He added that he worked with the University Student Council (USC) to petition for its postponement to make the supreme government parliament-like and only appoint someone to be an SSG President. The council wanted to “establish a transitory government” said Lornito Mahinay Jr., former head of USC. A petition was made mainly because of the “use of enormous funds for the elections.” Aniego also said that accord-

ing to the by-laws and constitution of the SSG, the election should be done in August only and setting it in another date is against the constitution and that the DSA seemed to have personal interest over the election, specifically, about the budget.

“That is merely an opinion, speculation. DSA is purely innocent by standing as far as SSG elections.

We won’t stand for anyone,” said Prof. Cader about Aniego’s statement. He also said that the DSA is purely apolitical and neutral and that they only pursued the election because it was demanded of them. He also said that taking the election to another time is an alternative provision in the SSG constitution in Article 10: Sec. 2 Date of Election – The election shall be held not later than the second week of August or such time as determined by the Electoral Board. In other words, the Electoral Tribunal can reschedule the election dates.

About the petition, it was also not in the by-laws that the SSG Elections can be postponed. Presidential Management Services Director Nasser M. Andam also said that the petition was done after the elections were ready and was passed on the day of the election that is why it was readily dumped. The proposal was also said to be without the approval of the acting SSG Vice President Axa Guro who is also the presiding officer of the council. The failure to fight against the election caused the dissolution of the USC last January.

Their members, composed of college and department presidents and volunteers, were absorbed to the Presidential Management Division. The USC was formed in June 2011 and was “designed to strengthen student governance in the campus through social responsibility and academic excellence,” has an edict and nature that is different from the SSG or the University Student Assembly (USA), and had partnered with national, local, and government institutions, organizations, and networks.

Olman Calimbaba, current SSG Secretary General said that the petition could have been good if it was raised earlier. Former SSG Vice President Mohammad Faisal “Butchoy” Pangadapun however said that it was better to have the election last August because the current officers seemed ineffective because of their number and inactivity.

“Holdover is a desperate mission” said Atty. Alauya.

There is no reason to delay the election and that just retaining the current officers or appointing another is against the vote of the students. “It’s better to have the elections regularly,” he added.

Pangadapun said he proposed to recent SSG President Sittie Norhanie “Tickee” Lao to amend the CBL and move the election proper from August to February “dahil masyadong magulo pag August at nakakaligtas ang mga officers na may ginagawang anomalya during sa administration nila. Dahil nakakagraduate nga, kung sa February and election ay pwede pa nating habulin at ma-stop ang mga officers na gumagawa ng masama at sinasamantala ang kapangyarihan nila.”

After the coming of the second semester, the elections had been set on Nov 21 according to the S.O, then was moved to Dec 4, but because there was no immediate candidacy filing from the students, it was rescheduled again to Dec 14 said Afnan Cana, the currently seated SSG President. Cana is an Education major and has just transferred here in the campus a year ago from MSU-IIT. Pangadapun said there were anomalies and conspiracy during the Election Day especially in the College of Agriculture. Even so these are the officers who won in the recent elections: President: Afnan Cana Vice President: Saidamen “Damen” Mala Councilors: Aslia “Asli” Balowa

Amerhassan “Ikoi” Mala

Mohammad Bajunaid “BJ” Basher

Mohaimen “Mojo” Sumagayan

INVESTIGATIVEREPORTS

Abdul Hakim “Barry” Talib Mohammad Harbie “Bon” H.Jamel Amron “Mero” Mangacop Jamaela “Mela” Guro Janaimah “Shux” Abdullah Hahmod “Macky” Mohammadali

Prof. Cader said that the current SSG officers’ tenure will last to the next academic year. Since she sat on the position, Cana’s administration had already started some activities such as relief operations during the Typhoon Sendong and participation in the FEMSUSSCO General Assembly in Maigo. The USC remarked that they are confident enough with the new SSG officers. Cana said that they are currently having financial difficulties including the questionable financial statement of the recent administration. They also noted of the empty SSG Office and the missing SSG Computer.

Pangadapun said that the missing computer was dated back during Lao’s term. The computer was donated to them by the Office of the President. A blotter report has already been filed in the Department of Security Services (DSS). For the mean time, Cana said that she is still building on the “internal problems” of the SSG.

The Recent Administration

“Noong si Butchoy na ang Acting President, pinabayaan na ni Tickee and administration niya. Ang nangyari is parang one-man play: siya ang president, treasurer, P.I.O, auditor; basta all of the function is nasa kanya. At kung makikita niyong mga student that we don’t have any projects at all during noong admin ni Butchoy [ay dahil] naging iba ang palakad niya sa SSG,” said Aniego.

Pangadapun, in the other hand, said that when he sat as the acting SSG President, he ordered the other remaining officers to be active since there were only a few of them.

“Pero ano ang ginawa nila? Hindi sila bumibisita sa office, paminsan minsan lang kami mabuo ng mga officer. Dahil ba sa wala kaming makolekta? Sinabihan ko sila na tumulong tayo kahit walang budget at mobilization…. Hindi ako nagkulang sa mga officers, alam nila yan! Hindi ako nagkulang sa salita sa kanila, hindi ako naging biased sa kanila,” said Pangadapun about the accusation.

It can also be remembered that the SSG themselves, during the first days of the enrollment of the first semester, collected the P20 SSG fee and was later on transferred to the cashier.

“Hindi kami naka-kolekta ng SSG Fee dahil iilan lang ang mga officer na natira sa Supreme Student Government. Ang collection sa first at second sem ay lahat nasa Cashier’s Office. Wala akong nahawakan na pera galing sa mga estudyante simula noong mahalal ako bilang bise presedente ng SSG,” Pangadapun added.

Though there was no election during the first semester, the SSG Fee was still present in the Cahier’s Module. Ms. Hashmina Dimalna, Head of the Collection Section of the Cashier’s Office, said that the admin itself, during the first semester, moved the SSG Fee collection to the Cashier and the module for that fee was not deleted in the second semester enrollment.

“It doesn’t mean na kapag walang SSG election, walang collection” she added. It is also stated in the SSG’s CBL that the SSG Fee will be collected every semester.

“Ang sabi ng Administration/OP ay ibibigay daw nila [ang pera] sa next administration (Cana Administration).” Said Pangadapun.

Whether the studentry will like it or not, there will always be a Supreme Student Government and there will always be an election, and the primary purpose of their existence will always be for the students.#

31

Enrolment: Slowerthan `aSnail?

(Cracking the Real Scenario of the Long Enrolment Process)

by MCMaylan, MLOmelio, GPDDelRosario | Photo by LJLosaria

There are shouts and screams and everybody wants an answer. When asked about his perception on this semester’s enrolment process (or even the previous semesters), an MSUan would surely give that sarcastic smile and say: “Langan kayo uy; Slower than a snail.”

It is everybody’s desire (and just a few steps to be called as “everybody’s need”) to know the real scene behind the “the very long enrolment process.” The drama, the cries, the shouts, the cheats, the arguments, and the palakasan factor – everyone gives meaning to what the enrolment drama in MSU is all about. The long enrollment process had been an MSUan’s longlived dilemma during the past 50 years. Most, if not all, had surely given almost half of the secreted product of their sweat land just to be admitted for a semester.

Unfortunately, some were not able to take a strong grip and just desperately raised their white flags in the midst of the battle.

Could still there be any justice for the victims of this ancient dilemma? Will their shouts and screams be heard and responded? Certainly, yes. Knowing first the different side of the story is the best way to draw the best claims, based conclusions, and eventually, catches the elusive answers.

The Start of the Worse It was actually last summer when the Enrollment Task Force found out that somebody had cut the fiber optic cable wires located on several sites inside the MSU campus. This event contributed to the undesirable process of this semester’s enrolment.

When asked if they have suspects who they think are responsible for the cutting or any reason why it was cut, Dr. Glenn Lorenzo, vice chairperson of the Enrolment Task Force and the dean of the College of Information Technology said that they just really do not have any idea. He said that it might be somebody whose intention is to put stains on the administration’s name. Another theory drawn by the ETF was that it was just stolen by the thieves of wires because prior to that cutting, there are reported theft of copper wires in the College of Engineering, Integrated Science Education, King Faisal Center for Islamic Arabic and Asian Studies, and in the College of social Sciences and Humanities. Dr. Lorenzo also stated that the cable wires look like copper wires so they assume that the alleged culprit could have thought that it was just a copper wire.

The Entire Enrolment Days The original schedule for this semester’s enrolment is on October 17 to November 3. However, on October 21, the database server crashed because of the frequent brownout and resulted to data loss. Only the

files of Oct 17 were saved while the transactions done from Oct 18-21 were all corrupted, including the payroll of the employees. The ETF personnel then decided to postpone the enrolment because they have too recovered first the data, and it was yet on October 22 that the data were restored.

The enrolment officially started on Nov 3, which was the supposed date of the start of classes and while the billing and the add-matriculation process took place on November 11 to 16 and the . Nevertheless, there were still students who requested to extend the enrolment because they still do not have the money to pay the bills, that is why it was extended for one week after November 17 before the entire enrolment process finally ended.

Engr. Glenn Lorenzo said that, the time spent for the enrolment is still to the original time allotment which is 2-3 weeks. As to what happened, this semester’s enrolment consumed 2-3 weeks after the time the data were restored. It’s just that the Data Base Server crashed down due to frequent brownouts leaving the enrolment be extended.

“We were able to finish the enrolment within the allotted period,” Dean Lorenzo claimed.

The Power of Brownouts Meanwhile, we were mentioning about brownouts on the preceding paragraphs. But, how do these power interruptions affect the entire enrolment process?

Based on ETF’s sentiments, frequent power interruptions really caused the damage of the Data Base Server.

Here’s the pattern: brownouts -> Crash of the DBS -> sudden shutdown -> data loss.

Supposedly, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) will send an advisory to the University if in case there would be power interruptions on the power supply. But the University didn’t receive any advisory from the said corporation. The ETF also further emphasized that the power source is already out of their control or out of MSU’s scope because it is actually controlled by the NGCP. In addition, the University’s Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) is already on its bad condition because it has been wornout after years of usage thus, it wasn’t able to sustain the power source needed for the enrolment.

The enrolment personnel did look for alternative ways to cope up with the problem. They come up to a solution of connecting the Data Base Server to the generator which needs about 600 liters of crude oil to empower the enrolment period. Since the generator has its limited capacity to provide power source, they thought of shifting the power supply, meaning, one spot at a time. This was the reason why our dear instructors could not give our CPRF’s at an early time

because the source of power for the ADP is only from 9-12 am which means, they only have 3 hours for the encoding of subjects. And to imagine, almost a hundred encoders couldn’t actually accommodate the more or less 16,000 enrollees for this semester for just a matter of three hours a day, considering the fact that the downloading takes too much time.

What to be expected?

To avoid what was expected by the students, a new UPS was purchased from Manila. It is digitalized. It is capable of detecting signal if in case the power shuts down. So, it will be easy to detect if there is a brownout. Another is to upgrade the servers located in ISED, Education area, and on the perimeter of CHARM and Fisheries.

Vox Populia!

Having been totally affected and wrecked by the process, the MSU studentry speaks for few common suggestions which they thought would give convenience to the next enrolment not just for them, but for the facilitating individuals as well.

1. Additional facilities and devices 2. Additional facilitating personnel to cope with the “huge-wave-of-zombies-is-fast-approaching” scene in the cashier and on the places where the printing of COR takes place.

3. Effective leadership should be practiced 4. If possible, have some innovations on the enrolment mechanics Now that we already know the scenario behind the delay of enrolment, supplemented with our own perceptions on it, is it justifiable to still put negative designs on the phrase ‘slower than a snail?”#

32

11.23.11 MAPPlaza

That day, the University’s Peace Park was flooded by red and black. The location of the infamous fountain became an abode of students shouting for justice. I was there. Overwhelmed with the number of students who responded to our invitation, I looked unto the faces – some where familiar, some were new.

Two years. Two years had passed when pitiful people were massacred. What flashed on my mind were the graves, the dead bodies and the backhoe. I hoped the candles would somehow help.

I once again looked at the different faces. Then, I saw you. *** You came wearing red, bringing the fight for the 58 who have been killed. In your heart you wanted justice. I saw you from afar calling and persuading the people to join the fight. A megaphone in the right hand. A camera on the other. You wanted to be a journalist – alive, not dead. You stand with the burning passions to spreading the truth and serving the people. You wished to dig the justice buried in the graves. You lit a candle. And you whisper your prayers in the air, neglecting the fact that you might not be heard. A silent tear fell. *** I saw you lining up for the unity march. You stood behind me wearing white.

You were pretty – the kind of face people would not usually see shouting on the streets. We started agitating. You started laughing. It was your first time, I heard you saying. And you enjoyed it. You were with the group of student activists but you know you never belonged. We continued shouting. You continued smiling. It was cute. The experience was. You know what we were fighting for but you never understand why we do. You lit a candle. And you asked a friend to take a photo of

yours – for FB. *** Written on the streamer was a call.

Hustisya para sa mga biktima ng Maguindanao Massacre. You held the other end with a strong grip. Clutched in your other hand was a paper. You took glances to start off the bat-bat. You tried to shout the words out and pained your throat to speak the words even louder. Being in the frontline never embarrassed you.

You had been used to attending rallies.

You had been used to shouting the fight others would not even give a damn. You lit a candle, certainly not for the last time. You’ve got a heart willing to bleed for the plight of the people. You serve them at your own expense. *** You watched us at the side of the streets. You were with your friends and I knew what your smirks meant. I could almost see you rolling your eyes.

But I am certain you said the words.

It stabbed me. “What’s the use of the rally?” Then you laughed as if we were the dumbest persons you had ever met.

I wanted to blurt out right in front of you the cause of what we were doing.

I continued heading to where the road will lead – shouting and doing the thing you considered futile. You remained at the side of the road throwing a despising look to the queue of student activists.

You never lit a candle. I hope you did.

The candle melts but the fight wouldn’t. *** I was taken aback with your voice.

You turned away after speaking the lines. For a long time the words were

trapped inside my head. “Those who support the most have the least to offer.”

It had taken me a couple of seconds to finally have a grasp to those very words.

I felt my throat was burning. My chest tightened. I never thought it would come from someone like you. You wore glasses but you still failed to see the essence of what we did. We support the most but we don’t have the least to offer.

We have chosen to support because it’s the best thing we could offer. You never lit a candle. I hope you did. The light might have saved you from your clouding mind. *** Like the hundred you’s, I lit a candle. I was thankful that many of the youths are still involved in the struggles for meeting social ends. Our voices were small. The candles’ light had already burnt out but the passion of some still is igniting. I hope it would last.

I lit a candle. I prayed for the souls of those who had died and of the justice that we had long sought for.

I lit a candle. I prayed for the people who haven’t heeded the time’s call.

I lit a candle. I prayed it would be the last time I’d be lighting a candle for those two reasons.

Editor’s Note: This article was first published in the writer’s blog www.antepara. wordpress.com. Written last November 23, 2011, this article mourns over the slow-paced work of justice for the victims of Ampatuan Massacre. Two years had been too long.

30/180(Ang Unti-untingPagkatunawngPalayokngTimog)

By JMPiquero

Matapos ang limampung taong pamamayagpag ni Sarimanok sa ere, saan na kaya siya napadpad?

Limampung taon ang nakakalipas, ang Pamantasan ng Mindanao ay isa sa mga prestihiyosong unibersidad sa bansa. Napakalamig ng klima dito at iilan lang ang mga estudyanteng nakapagtamasa sa kakaibang handog ng pamantasan.

Dito, mapayapang nagsama ang mga Kristiyano at mga Muslim, kasama ang mga dayuhang propesor at ilang dayuhang estudyante. Nag-aaral dito ang nangungunang limang bahagdan na mag-aaral na nakapagtapos sa kanilang klase sa sekundarya, at lahat umano ay pawang mga iskolar. Tinawag nga nila noon ang paaralang ito na “The University of the Scholars.” Sa panahon ding iyon ay kaunti pa lamang ang populasyon sa MSU. Astig diba?

Ngunit limampung taon ang nakalipas, saan na nga ba tayo?

Sa kasalukuyan, ang MSU ay isa pa ring pamantasan kung saan matiwasay na nagkakahalubilo ang magkakaibang kultura mula sa iba’t ibang dako ng MINSUPALA Region. May ilan pa ngang galing sa Luzon at Visayas. Mas dumami na rin ang mga imprastraktura sa paligid ngunit halos hindi naman napalitan ang lumang kagamitan. May mga makabagong makinarya, hindi naman gumagana. Magagaling pa rin ang karamihan sa mga tagapagturo, ngunit hindi lahat. Mayroon pa ring maituturing na mga scholars. Marami ngang nagbago, ngunit bakit waring tayo’y napag-iiwanan na ng panahon?

Mula sa kakalabas lang na SASE result para sa taong pang-akademya 20122013, may makakapasok na umanong mga estudyanteng may kuhang 30 mula sa mahigit na 180 na kabuuang bilang ng katanungan. Ang iskor na ito ay maaari nang makapasok sa tinatawag na techno courses. Kakaiba nga naman, diba?

Eto pa, ang pribilehiyong ito ay espesyal lamang umano sa mga kapatid nating napapabilang sa mga cultural minority groups. Yaong kabilang sa majorities, pasensyahan na lang muna. Ito raw ay upang mapagbigyan ang mga kababayan nating ito ng pagkakataong makapag-aral sa isang magandang pamantasan habang ang mga nasa majority ay maaari pa umanong makapag-enrol sa iba pang paaralan. Ngunit, bakit tila hindi pantay-pantay na isaalang-alang ang mga pagkakataong ito? Bakit nga ba masyadong mapagbigay ang ating administrasyon at kahit kakarampot na kuha ay talagang tinatanggap pa?

Unang-una sa lahat, walang kahit na anong unibersidad sa Pilipinas ang nag-

OPINION

babawal sa ating mga cultural minorities upang doon mag-aral. Kaya, bakit pa kailangan itong isali sa mga dahilan kung bakit sila lang ang pwede? Pangalawa, makatarungan bang tanggapin ang 30/180 na iskor sa isang System Admission and Scholarship Examination?

Maaaring dahil rin ito sa awang nadama ng ating administrasyon para sa mga hindi nakapasa o kaya’y dahil pa rin sa usapin tungkol sa mga “pagkakataon.”

Ngunit bilang isang paaralan na may pinanghahawakang pangalan sa mundong pang-akademya, nararapat bang basta-basta na lang itong tumatanggap ng estudyante, nakapasa man o hindi?

Opo, nandiyan nga ang PUC para gumabay sa mga hindi nakaabot sa cutoff score para makaenrol sa mga Baccalaureate Courses, at sabihin na nating talagang nakakaawa ang mga hindi nakaabot dahil hindi sila makakatungtong sa kolehiyo sa tamang oras. Ngunit, hindi naman kaya mas makabubuting isipin na may pangalawang pagkakataon pa?

Hindi man sila nakapasa ngayon, may susunod pa naman, diba?

Hindi naman sa iba ang tingin ng iyong lingkod sa mga may iskor na 30.

Ngunit hindi ba kinakailangan naman natin na kahit kaunti lang ay makapaghanda sa pagkuha ng mga pagsusulit para sa kolehiyong ating napili? Hindi

ba dahil sa ang kolehiyong ito ang magtuturo sa atin sa pagharap ng hamon ng buhay, kung kaya’t kahit kaunti ay kailangan nating magsakripisyo para makapasok man lamang? Ngunit para sa mga nakakuha ng markang 30, ano kaya ang ating masasabi? Sapat na nga ba ang kanilang naging pagsasakripisyo at paghahanda? Hindi ba’t mas nakakaawa ang ating paaralan na nagawa pa nitong maawa sa mga taong hindi nga nakuhang maawa sa kanilang sarili?

Ang naipaliwanag na mga punto ay ilan lamang sa mga dahilan kung bakit masasabi nating ang dating palayok tunawan ng Mindanao ay unti-unti nang nagbabago. Hindi man sang-ayon ang iilan sa mga makakabasa nito ngunit alam ko na karamihan ay lubhang nauunawaan at umaayon sa aking punto. Dapat sana nating isaisip lahat na ang pamantasang ito ang pinaghahasaan ng mga estudyanteng nagsisikap upang maiangat ang sarili sa pamamagitan ng totoong pag-aaral, hindi lang dahil sa awa at pag-asang baka sa hinaharap ay magbunga ng isang mabuting puno.

Paano ka nga naman makakapagluto ng isang katakam-takam na pagkain kung ang iyong palayok ay tunaw na?#

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Why I fell in taboo I think people are fairly sick of seeing love stories in this column. I mean, do we have nothing else to read but heartsick women’s sob stories? But what I am about to share is a story that is repeated once every now and then, and most of my peers will agree that to some extent it is taboo. After all, there are lots of Moros, both boys and girls, who go in relationships with one another; but how many Moro girls commit to Christian boyfriends?

‘This is how the story went/ I met someone by accident/ It blew me away/ It blew me away’ sings Adele.I wouldn’t really say we met by accident. We’ve been seeing each other around campus for years although we’ve never had the chance to talk.

It was only by some funny instance that I was finally introduced to him, and up until now it makes me smile when I remember how his eyes widened when he saw me. I guess you could say he wasn’t expecting me for company.

‘It was in the darkest of my days/ When you took my sorrow and you took my pain/ And buried them away, you buried them away’ A lot of people didn’t understand what I saw in him at first – including my friends. They’d acknowledge his presence but didn’t ask much about him since they assumed he would quickly become ‘an old topic’. But guys and girls must never, ever underestimate the power of humour. Good looks will definitely make your heart skip a beat, but there is something much more butterfly-inducing about a guy who can make you laugh even when you don’t want to. And it wasn’t just how he tried to annoy me by giving weird gifts (I was highly affronted he gave me TWO toothbrushes, was my breath that bad?!), or the number of times he showed up at our boarding house with an egg (of course, that was his only valid idea of a surprise – to throw it at my head), or the fact that he kept picking on me in front of people (particularly reenacting how I dropped all the freshly baked bread across the street just in time for the tricycle to run over it), but the way he was always there even when I didn’t want him around. I think he really is one of the few reasons I stayed sane throughout all the pressure, disappointment and self-hatred.

‘It is a curious thought, but it is only when you see people looking ridiculous that you realize just how much you love them,’ writes Agatha Christie.I admit it was a little embarrassing later on as I could no longer deny I started harbouring feelings for him when in the first place, I swore that I would never see him beyond anything as a friend. My best friend probably knew I was doomed even before I did. She laughs as she pictures how my smiles changed when I read his text messages, or how I didn’t mind so much when she teased me with him. I finally crossed the bridge when the day before his birthday, I finally said ‘I love you too,’ to his weeks of unanswered I love you’s. I wasn’t going to let him get away with all his pranks, so my girlfriends were only too helpful with my plan. We filled several balloons with fruit juice and told him to meet us in the field where I waited with his birthday cake.

As he walked towards me, he was pelted with cold strawberry juice balloons. My friends laughed at him and while he did smell quite tasty at the time, he was also shivering from the chilly wind.

‘What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet,’ says Romeo.No, no, no, the others will argue. It doesn’t matter that he’s funny and understanding and spontaneous (even if in a peculiar way), he is still a Christian – completely different from us! See, that’s always

TINGOG

‘TINGOG’ is a column in the Mindanao Varsitarian where students can share their sentiments or their ideas on anything under the sun. If you would like your article be printed, kindly send it to our e-mail address.

Nile Dame

Vol. 27 | No. 3

amused me. I see lots of Moro guys dating non-Moro girls, and I know exactly what the conservatives think. ‘He wants a girl who’s easier to get.’I for one don’t make assumptions (duh, it would be hypocritical of me). There may be the occasional jerk who will date non-Moros for that reason, but not all guys.

The restthough react like being with a non-Moro is equivalent to mating with a whole new species or worse, an alien race. Is it so hard to believe that ‘Christians’ and Moros would brave that boundary? The reality is that for some (moi included), ethnicity doesn’t count all that much. Besides, sometimes it is easier to be myself with someone who doesn’t know anything about the cruelties of my culture.

‘I wish I could lay down beside you/ When the day is done/ And wake up to your face against the morning sun’Perhaps the irony is that this is the most serious I’ve ever been with anyone, in the romantic sense. I would be lying if I said I haven’t imagined getting married with him. But that would present another obstacle to the relationship: what about his religion?

And how would we raise the kids? First of all, I abhor the idea of forcing him to convert. While his conversion would probably pave the way for my family to accept him, it is not an assurance they would welcome him with open arms and put away the guns. And besides, if he were to convert merely for the sake of marrying me and still eat pork or go to mass behind my back at every opportunity, I would rather he never convert in the first place. Yes, I would be happy if he converted, but only if this were sincere. It hurts me to see how much he would need to give up in to be with me. I remember one of the many afternoons we spent talking, and how it was one of his dreams to stand in front of thousands of people and talk about his faith. If he had to convert, I would be taking that away, too.

‘But like everything I’ve ever known/ You disappear one day/ So I spend my whole life hiding my heart away’ I am not blind. I know there are other couples like us, others way before us who faced the same situation. I know of one where the guy really did convert and became a very pious Muslim, but that didn’t stop the family from marrying off the daughter to a richer man. They all contain the same Romeo-Juliet ingredient of tragedy, and I cannot begin to explain the fear that grips me if I will have to face a similar challenge. Some would say it’s a lot healthier if we just stopped right now and save ourselves from the heartbreak we’re surely heading for. Come to think of it, life would be a lot easier for him if he weren’t in love with me. He wouldn’t have to look at me from afar, or pretend to be a stranger when we’re in public. He wouldn’t have to fake a relationship with his friend to protect the both of us. Yes, it would be easier.

But it would also be empty, colourless, barren. I would not know the simple joys of having someone love me so deeply in return. Mouthing the words ‘I love you’ across a crowded room. Exchanging a quick glance as we pass each other by in the lobby. Walking together in the rain. Playing games in the fog. Singing songs under the moonlight. There are only so many things we can give up in life, and these are all the material details. If you knew a love that consumed your entire being so completely, would you ever forgive yourself if you gave it up?

Nile Dame, 21, says the world should not be so offended with the idea of different people falling for each other.

2nd Semester | A.Y. 2011- 2012

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Bitter TOFI The tuition fee increase would have been a great idea, if it were not MSU and if it were a different administration.

Since the issue on the implementation of TFI in the campus had rung, many students had already opposed to the idea. We see them having noise barrage and rallies. We see them signing on a signature campaign against its implementation. We see them wishing of an accessible, if not free, education. We see them. But it seems the Board of Regents does not.

March 21. The Board had finally approved about the implementation of TFI starting June of the next academic year. And it happened without taking the supposed sides of the students. It happened without a proper consultation. It all happened in the hands of the people who did not even dare listened to what the students have to say.

According to the student regent, the administration had completed all the requirements for them to finally forward the approval of the proposal. It even included papers saying the students already had approved of the plan. And the board, assuming the MSU student community had already said ‘yes,’ also opted to say ‘yes.’ There is no problem, if that is the case. The thing is, when did we ever have a consultation that had catered the questions and concerns of the students about the issue? Never. Where had they gotten the written approval of the

students in every college? No one knows.

The tuition fee increase would have been okay should the ones who proposed it had also shown transparency.

The tuition fee increase would have been justifiable if the ones who proposed it explained methodically through simple words and proper communication the University’s need for such a dramatic change. It would have been all good for development’s sake but the game was not played fairly.

How do we trust them then if yet at the proposal stage, everything was not made clear? Everything

MINDANAO VARSITARIAN

The Official Student Publication of Mindanao State University, Marawi City

EDITORIAL

was in blur.

No one can blame the students if they stand skeptical about where their money would go. They have learned to earn distrust from people who did not even try to prove they are worth of the trust. Lack of procedural due process is never a good sign, let alone unseen documents. Students are still part of the decision making. They should have never remained unheard.

The tuition fee increase would have been a great idea, if only the students’ sides were taken, if only their stories were told, if only they were heard.

The tuition fee increase would have been a great idea, if it were not MSU and if it followed the right and properprocedural due process.#

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Mike Ariel P. Plaza ASSOCIATE EDITORS March Joy Arnejo and Mary Louise Omelio MANAGING EDITOR Sohayla Michelle Gonting NEWS EDITOR Nizam Pabil OPINION EDITOR Emelyn Manlangit FEATURES/LITERARY EDITOR Riz Sunio PHOTO EDITOR Louie Jay Losaria CARTOONIST Neil Kirby Ranara LAYOUT/GRAPHICS ARTIST John Louie Margate CORRESPONDENTS Giron Paul del Rosario, Safia Macapodi, Mark Maylan and Jesslei Piquero PHOTOJOURNALISTS Hapsa Batuan and Noreen Millan ILLUSTRATORS Reyhon Entenia and Al Marvien Savandal LEGAL CONSULTANT Atty.IbrahimM.Mimbalawag ADVISERS Dr.CatherineG.AlicanteandProf.JalaludinM.Alonto

TRIP TO COMCENT

Visit his blog at utakkamay.blogspot.com

COMICS

by REntenia

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