RELEVANCE
EXCELLENCE
GROWTH
SIRMATA
The Official Publication of the College Students of Mariano Marcos State University
Volume XXXI No. 1
mmsu.sirmata@yahoo.com
Ilocos Norte
June - September 2013
New vision, mission steer MMSU
National Champions. The MMSU-Enctus savors their victory after being announced as the national champion.
MMSU-Enactus is nat'l champion by: Jireh Kayl Pajela, Zinnia Jane Fabre and Kharel Ezra De Guzman
The Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) Enactus team represented the nation at the Enactus World Cup after having bagged the national championship on July 27. Formerly known as Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), Enactus is an international organization that works with business and academic leaders to mobilize tertiary-level students to become socially responsible through community development projects. The Enactus World Cup took place on September 29 to October 1, and was held in Cancun, Mexico. Schools from 39 different countries vied for the international championship.
A total of 12 teams competed in the Enactus National Competition held at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia, Pasay City, with four schools advancing to the final round: Sultan Kudarat State University (SKSU)Isulan Campus, SKSU-Tacurong Campus, Divine Word College of Calapan (DWCC), Mindoro, and MMSU. Senator Paolo Banigno “Bam” Aquino IV functioned as guest speaker for the event. The MMSU team presenters were James Ceasar A. Ventura, Ulysses S. Gaygay, and Generous C. Ubasa from the College of Teacher Education (CTE), and Mariann Jane F. Gan and Aldrin N. Chavez from the College of Business, Economics, and Accountancy (CBEA). Psalm
David A. Pastor from the College of Engineering (COE) serves as the information technology (IT) expert of the team. The team’s adviser is Ms. Bella C. Gervacio of the extension directorate; coadviser, Mr. Errol John V. Valdez; and executive adviser, Dr. Marivic M. Alimbuyuguen, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS). Ventura, the team leader, was a recipient of the Leadership Award, while Alimbuyuguen was awarded Faculty Adviser of the Year. Both received cash prizes. The team’s project entry, “Fast-tracking Inclusive Growth through Enterprise Development,” includes three sub-projects: “Strengthening a Cooperative
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MMSU aims for institution'l accreditation Sci n’ tech park up in 3 years
by: Jheia Lindhelle Paned
The Programs Accreditation and Quality Assurance (PAQuA) spearheads the preparation of the university in attaining the prestige of institutional accreditation. According to Dr. Cristina Johnson, chief of PAQuA, subjecting the university to institutional accreditation is an attempt to be attuned to the global trend in quality assurance in higher education. This would also bring MMSU to a level comparable to the best HEIs in the country. She added that accreditation is a major criterion in normative financing and SUC leveling as well as for the performance-based bonus. President Pascua shares that in order for the university to qualify for institutional accreditation, a review and refurbishment of the facilities is needed. She said that MMSU has to revisit its provision of state-ofthe-art facilities for the students, classrooms, curriculum, improved faculty profile, research, and other
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key factors. “Prestige is one of the benefits of being institutionally accredited,” said Pascua while also emphasizing the higher allotment of budget for the university. She added that board exam results are also factors in the consideration of budget for certain institutions saying that, “if we could present to the government that we are doing our assignment, providing quality education, then the state will be convinced to give us higher budget.” Nine criteria are under the evaluation sheet of accreditors namely governance and management; teaching and learning and evaluation; faculty and staff; research; extension, consultancy, and linkages; student support; infrastructure and learning resources; financial generation and management; and healthy practices. To have a closer look on the journey to institutional accreditation, MMSU invited
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Pascua shows deck of huge goals...p3
by: Lane Franchelle Caleon
Among the increasing number of infrastructural projects, the Physical Plant and General Services Division (PPGSD) pans its focus on a science and technology park to be constructed within the university. “We have lots of projects on deck, but there is this project that we are focusing on right now,” said Engr. Marlon Agloco of the PPGSD. According to him, it was proposed and soon after, the university president requested the preparation of required documents. The Science and Technology Park will be composed of two main buildings; a landscape, for a comely scenery, and a parking area. It would house equipment and serve other Department of Science and Technology (DOST) purposes. The university, in cooperation with the DOST, finds it a helpful entity not only to constituents of MMSU, but also to students of other institutions. It will also be
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Editorial Virtue worth emulating p6
The MMSU Board of Regents revised the University Vision and Mission, refocusing the institution’s goal from producing industry-ready to globally competitive and virtuous graduates during its 103rd Regular Meeting, June 27. The Vision now states, “A world-class university dedicated to the development of virtuous human resources and innovations for inclusive growth,” while the Mission is, “To develop globally competitive professionals and industry-ready graduates via various modalities and generate new knowledge and technologies for the improvement of the quality of life.” The former Vision of the university was to “be a major source of industry-ready graduates and market-oriented technologies for agri-industrialization in the context of sustainable development.” On the other hand, the university Mission then was to “contribute to a better quality of life and ecological balance through quality instruction, productivity, client-oriented research and extension programs and projects supported by adequate manpower and educational resources in information technology.”
University President Dr. Miriam E. Pascua explained that there was no problem with the previous vision and mission. She said that it was tailored towards developing industry-ready graduates, the time when law and medicine were still far from the administration’s mind. “Since we have started offering law, and next school year we will also be developing the medical professionals, maybe it is no longer relevant and appropriate to use ‘industry-ready graduates”, stressed Pascua. She also emphasized the need for virtuous human resources for it is not only the technical skills that the university would like to impart to the students, but also the endowment of good values and virtues in life. F u r t h e r m o r e , consideration of a global-scale arena was not present in the original set of Vision and Mission. The inclusion of the new set parallels the university’s goal in light of accomplishments already made. “Why don’t we aim also to be recognized globally? If we aim to have that quality, then that is positioning ourselves also and
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After COA oks CETC demolition proposal
Univ plans to build GE building by: Mizpah Grace Castro and Michael Nacario
“We have applied to the Commission on Audit (COA), and once we get the nod, it will be demolished,” said Dr. Miriam E. Pascua, university president, regarding the burned portion of the Continuing Education and Training Center (CETC). This is after the fire razed the CETC two days before the University Commencement Exercises last April. According to the Bureau of Fire Protection, it was not a case of arson, contrary to the rumors that circulated shortly after the incident that a certain group, which called themselves “Spider,” was behind the blaze. The “Spider” group also roamed in social networking site Facebook under the name, “Marcus Marcos,” anonymously claiming responsibility over the burned building. However, according to
president Pascua, "the result of the investigation disproved it." While the unusable part of the CETC will be demolished, the hind portion of the building, which is still being utilized, will be renovated and developed since some students are still using the classrooms. “We are thinking of constructing a new building adjacent to the CAS building,” shared the president. In addition to supplementing classrooms for general education (GE) subjects, this building would be an institute for communication and be jointly held by the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and the College of Agriculture, Food and Sustainable Development (CAFSD) due to their offering of the Bachelor of Arts in English Studies,
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FIRE ALERT. A fire truck from the City of Batac extinguishes the fire which razed the frontage portion of the Continuing Education and Training Center of the university.
Mother of all Mother Pearls...p10
Sucking the Marrow Out of Life p13
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Board Exam Stick Pad CIVIL ENGINEERING (May 2013) Overall Percentage - 85.71% Takers Passers Rate Repeaters 14 12 85.71% Nat'l Passing Rate - 42.82% ACCOUNTANCY (May 2013) Overall Percentage - 18.75% Takers Passers Rate First Timers 1 1 100% Repeaters 15 2 13.33% Nat'l Passing Rate - 27% NURSING (June 2013) Overall Percentage - 100% Takers Passers Rate First Timers 1 1 100% Repeaters 1 1 100% Nat'l Passing Rate - 42% PHARMACY (June 2013) Overall Percentage - 37.78% Takers Passers Rate First Timers 14 12 85.71% Repeaters 31 5 16.3% Nat'l Passing Rate - 58.96% AGRICULTURE (July 2013) Overall Percentage - 51.02% Takers Passers Rate First Timers 74 45 60.81% Repeaters 24 5 20.83% Nat'l Passing Rate - 35.22% PHYSICAL THERAPY (August 2013) Overall Percentage - 20% Takers Passers Rate First Timers 19 6 31.58% Repeaters 5 1 20% Nat'l Passing Rate - 52.28% MECHANICAL ENGINEERING (September 2013) Overall Percentage - 85.71% Takers Passers Rate First Timers 14 12 85.71% Repeaters 0 0 0.00% Nat'l Passing Rate - 68.87% ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING (September 2013) Overall Percentage - 51.35% Takers Passers Rate First Timers 32 19 59.38% Repeaters 5 0 0.00% Nat'l Passing Rate - 53.64% Source: PRC website (www.prc.gov.ph
from Scie n’ Tech...p1 a resource for faculty and other professionals involved in related fields of science and technology. University President Dr. Miriam Pascua, said regarding the park, “It would also house some coffee shops, maybe where students can hang out, like a food center,” in addition to souvenir shops and other displays, showcasing the results of research and products of MMSU. Agloco also stated that
the contract amount for the entire venture is 54 million pesos (Php54M). At present, however, there are limited funds, thus the committee has projected its completion within a three-year period to make its construction more feasible. This entails seventeen million pesos (Php17M) to be used for the project each year. While there are still no final settlements, the PPGSD is driving
CBEA dean challenges accountancy studes, profs by: Marc Jaylord Guillermo
After the result of the May 2013 Accountancy Board Examinations that marked the university’s poorest performance in years, Prof. Lorna Salmasan, Dean of the College of Business Economics and Accountancy (CBEA) challenged the future accountants to regain the glory of MMSU. It is noted that only three out of sixteen examinees (18.75%), lower than the national passing rate, passed the board examination. “It was really disappointing, especially realizing that the cream of the crop is in the accountancy program,” shared University President Dr. Miriam E. Pascua when asked to comment on the performance drop. Nevertheless, Salmasan showed positivity for MMSU to gain back the title as one of the top accountancy schools in the country. During the celebration of Accountancy Week in June, she shared, “I don’t know what went wrong, but I know we have the potential of regaining the title.” She went on to challenge the students and the faculty, asking, “Pwede ba?” She then advised students not to be complacent in their studies and pushed them to prioritize academics. Likewise, she urged faculty members to exert extra effort and make sacrifices to ensure their students absorb their lessons.
focus towards this project for it to be started as soon as possible. After the bidding, construction of Building One shall begin, a preliminary of the project. “Building One would measure 17 meters by 53 meters and will occupy an area of 901 square meters but that’s still tentative,” noted Engr. Agloco. They are still clinching the project and as of press time, the office is concentrating on the bidding requirements of the project. Expectations are for the science and technology park to be completed by 2016.
CASAT avails BFAR’s aquaculture dev’t project by: Aaron Roa
Committed to increase fish production despite lack of expansion areas, the College of Aquatic Sciences and Applied Technology (CASAT) has partnered with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in establishing a project entitled “Verification and Demonstration of Plastic Liner Covered Fishpond Technology in Wasteland Areas.” Proposed in 2012 with an investment of around Php1,059,200.00, the project underwent installations that can be seen around the campus freshwater hatchery. It aims to promote aquaculture development in wasteland areas as a potential
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economic and scientific activity. Targeted beneficiaries include not only fisher folks and students in the college, but also outside entrepreneurs outside the locality willing to invest in the venture. With a law prohibiting operation of fishponds in mangrove areas, a fishpond covered with plastic liner has been installed in CASAT under BFAR. It is one of the different sites that can be found in Region One. This answers the trend of decreasing productivity of capture fisheries in aquaculture such as ponds, pens, and rice fish culture. The first growing cycle of the fish, which include mangrove snappers and pompanos, will be sampled for a period of five months.
During the cycle, students and a caretaker will keep track of the size and weight of the fish monthly. This is to keep close observation on and evaluate the growth increment of the product and to determine the average body weight required in feeding. Following this period, the fish will be ready for harvest. Meanwhile, on the longterm goals of the project, Prof. Facundo B. Asia, former CASAT dean and current faculty member of the marine biology department, said that the project will benefit the institution in many scientific and research pursuits, but most notably increase the existing income of the college and university as a whole.
To improve the performance of the school in the board exam, Salmasan introduced two solutions: as advised by Atty. Conrado Valix, author of widelyused financial accounting textbooks, programs must be stricter when it comes to foundation; in addition, she raised the idea of students taking up Saturday make-up sessions to review certain accounting lessons. At the same program, Accountancy Department Chair Dr. Angelina Tagay also imparted the measures being taken to address the problem regarding board exam performance. “As your humble servants in the department, we are all doing our best to impart knowledge to all of you. We implemented the Technical Competency Enhancement Program (TCEP), which provides review classes for our graduating students. Likewise, we have revised the curriculum based on CHED memorandum and recommendations of our alumni”, Tagay shared.
After thanking the officers of the Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (JPIA) and the Institute of Accounting Technology Students (IATS) who had made the celebration possible, the college also thanked the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) for coming up with the theme, “Act Now! Accountability, Credibility and Transparency.” A week prior to the celebration, JPIA students, on their 2nd general assembly, officially launched the “Turuan Mo, Ka JPIA Mo!” which is an academically inclined project that is to provide free accounting tutorials to students in their second year, and the “Iskolar ni Manong Jay Pia,” which was established to provide free books to the less-fortunate and deserving students in Accounting, Law, and Taxation subjects. These projects were formulated in an effort to improve the future performance of MMSU graduates in the accountancy board examinations.
MEP renews admin posts by: Irene Ulit
By virtue of Special Orders Nos. 13-088, 13-089, and 13-090 dated June 7 and June 10 respectively, University President Dr. Miriam E. Pascua completed the members of her cabinet who will perform leading roles for this academic year. According to Dr. Pascua, it is healthy for any institution to have such reorganization in order to give a variety of staff opportunities to harness their potentials. Most of the appointees retained their positions; however, some were lead to new posts. Former Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), Dr. Prima Fe R. Franco joined the seats of vice presidents as the new VP for research and extension. Dr. Wilma C. Natividad, VP for academic affairs, and Dr. Heraldo L. Layaoen, VP for planning, development and external linkages maintained their positions. Dr. Alegria T. Visaya also maintained her position as secretary of the university and of the Board of Regents. Despite the shooting incident of Atty. Ramon Leaño, he is still the VP for business and administration. However, he is under rehabilitation leave. Directorship under various offices also have new designations including Dr. Carmelo J. Esteban as director for research and development; Prof. Suerte R. Dy, director for business; Dr. Gliceria S. Pascua, director for extension; Engr. Samuel S. Franco, director for the physical plant and general services division (PPGSD); Atty. Brian Jay Corpuz, director for administrative services; Dr. Virgilio Julius P. Manzano, Jr.,
director of the Ilocos Norte Science Community (INSC); Dr. Ericson Miguel, director for security and monitoring services; and Prof. Ami Ruth R. Cocson as director for planning and management information system (PMIS). At the Graduate School, Dr. Joselito L. Lolinco was appointed the new dean. New deans were also appointed at the College of Teacher Education (CTE), College of Business, Economics and Accountancy (CBEA), and in College of Engineering (COE, respectively: Dr. Eliza T. Samson, Prof. Lorna Olivia F. Salmasan, Dr. Marivic M. Alimbuyugen, and Dr. Edmund Edison D. Esteban. Deans of the College of Health Sciences (CHS), College of Agriculture, Food and Sustainable Development (CAFSD), College of Aquatic Sciences and Applied Technology (CASAT), and College of Industrial Technology (CIT) were retained. Dr. Jocelyn A. Bernabe is also the new assigned Program Coordinator of CAFSD-Dingras Campus, while former CAS Guidance Counselor Prof. Dyrma I. Sabas was designated chief of the guidance unit. With regards to the chiefs of other offices, no adjustments were made. New norms and procedures are expected to change following the new positions/ designees. The latest appointees assumed their new duties and responsibilities immediately after taking their oaths of office last June 27, with their appointed positions effective until May 31, 2014.
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Pascua shows deck of huge goals this year by: Michael Nacario and Mizpah Grace Castro
In an interview with the SIRMATA, University President Dr. Miriam E. Pascua shares the goals for her next two years. She names the offering of the Doctor of Medicine, as well as improvement of infrastructure in the university, which includes the creation of additional classrooms and refurbishment of laboratory facilities, as her main agenda. “We will look also into the various curricular offerings, especially in terms of relevance to the needs of the industry," she commenced. Other highlights on the timetable are the upcoming institutional accreditation and the move of regional State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) towards amalgamation. Dr. Pascua has two years remaining as head of MMSU, and is relatively the longest-running University President. She clarifies that her first two years were the unserved term of her predecessor, Dr. Saturnino Ocampo, who was appointed as Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Commissioner, discounting the first two years of her tenure.
“Accreditation should be done as a way of life for the personnel and staff of the university."
Business process outsourcing “We were awarded as having the best infrastructure for the BPO, and so we will strengthen this,” says MEP. There are plans to utilize the second floor of the University Main Library, due to its wide and clear space, for a call center to be set up with business locators in cooperation with MMSU. “They are requiring at least 3,000 square meters, and we can meet that. Since we have the needed infrastructure, all we need to do is prepare our manpower”, she further explained. She also emphasized the difficulty of qualifying for the BPO industry, revealing that companies usually accept an average of five out of 100 applicants. The construction of the Mangasep building, where the College of Law is now situated, would have housed a call center company assisted by CHED. However, it did not materialize due to certain setbacks. Security issues The hiring of new security guards, says MEP, had been on the agenda even before the shooting occurrence of Vice President for Administration and Business, Atty. Ramon A. Leaño beside the Mangasep Building last February. “It is still under investigation,” she says, referring to the incident and the news that it arose from conflicts in the
US embassy augments MMSU-AC’s info sources by: Jade Agapinan
In an effort to augment students’ increasing need for information, the United States Embassy has donated additional multimedia equipment to the University Main Library. The donation was made through the Thomas Jefferson Information Center (TJIC), in cooperation with the American Corner (AC) of the University Library System (ULS). ULS Director Dr. Lucena Felipe shared, “We are indeed grateful that MMSU is one of the two chosen state universities in the country that has an American Corner. These new equipment provided by the US Embassy will hopefully attract more users to come and avail of the varied electronic media information and learning resources offered by the AC.” These resources, which are to be utilized for filmviewing activities as well as improve interactivity during class discussions or external seminars, include: a digital Asus notebook, a wireless keyboard, a ViewSonic projector, two units of a wireless microphone system, and a 55-inch television screen.
The implements are set for use at the American Corner of the University Main Library. Aside from these, other media paraphernalia earlier handed by the US Embassy can also be found there, such as tablets, a Kindle, educational board games, CD-ROMS/DVD ROMS, audio books, and printed materials by American authors. The eLibrary USA, a virtual library consisting of more than 30 databases of scholarly journals and other online publications on various subjects, is also offered at the corner. In addition, the AC houses the Education USA Advising Center, which offers advice for both students and professionals who want to study in the USA, freely gives consultation regarding available scholarships, financial aids, or enrollment procedures. “We are very thankful to the university administration for its effort in maintaining international linkages, such as the US Embassy. Indeed, the information resources and equipment provided by the US Embassy are vital augmentations to the information and learning resources provided for the university,” said Felipe.
Security and Monitoring Services of MMSU that “according to the gunmen, there was connivance... but it has yet to be proven.” Accreditation woes The president is aware that some instructors only exert extra effort in their teaching methods and use of technology in classrooms during accreditation period. “Accreditation should be done as a way of life for the personnel and staff of the university. It’s not only when you are visited or evaluated that you put your best foot forward... If you are really outstanding and exemplary in your teaching, it should be done every day of your life,” she said. She further reminds the faculty to adopt outcomesbased teaching, as it is the trend of CHED nowadays. She further critiqued that “there was a time when the faculty, in his or her desire to finish the syllabus, would hurry them [students] up! As if to say, ‘Okay, these are your meals for the day. Take it, all at once.’ It should be outcomes-based. It should be learner-centered.” Faculty profile being an aspect of accreditation, the university is aiming for full compliance to the CHED memorandum requiring tertiary-level teachers to have the minimum of a Master’s Degree. To answer this, MMSU provides scholarships for its faculty members to pursue advanced degrees, whether full-time or part-time. Pascua admits to there being a problem with professionals who leave the university shortly after accomplishing advanced degrees due to being offered higher salaries elsewhere. “It happens. We always take risks, of course, and that is one risk − sending faculty, and later on, they are being swayed to join these agencies and institutions. But we always take the brighter side. Once they go for scholarship, we
from New vision, mission...p1 creating that passion in our hearts”, she challenged. She also praised the high employability of MMSU graduates, emphasizing that such standards of performance should be radiated also to the students. Joint with the university’s heightened benchmark set by the new Vision and Mission, preparations are underway to open the MMSU College of Medicine by next academic year. According to Pascua, a twinning arrangement will be made with the University of Northern Philippines in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur. “It is UNP that offered this course ahead of us, and as per advice of CHED [Commission on Higher Education], we have to consult and coordinate with them because we are into the process of having a regional university system,” she explained.
try to inculcate in their minds that the Filipino people should be served”, she highlighted. A regional university Though a long-term goal, MEP is taking preliminary steps towards the creation of a regional university system known as amalgamation. “Amalgamation is another term for complementation, for coordination, for harmonization,” she explains, “we are talking here of the same academic policies, the same standards... especially for student mobility.” She referred to student mobility as how a student from one institution, upon transferring to another university, would be able to carry all units and have them credited at the other institution, and thus be able to finish the degree that he or she has started at the former school. She also talked of the harmonization of programs stressing that “because we are all government-funded institutions, we should be talking here of quality standards − quality education.” The creation of a “regional university” system would not mean a change in the name of MMSU, due to it being the only state-funded tertiary institution in Ilocos Norte. The case would be different, however, for Ilocos Sur, with three SUCs: Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU), Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College (ISPSC), and Northern Luzon Philippines State College (NLPSC). “If we have to move for
She furthered that there is a likelihood of a traditional curriculum geared towards general medicine. “We are also looking into the possibility of adopting a curriculum that is suited to the Ilocanos,” explained Pascua. According to her, predominant causes of morbidity and mortality will be studied. Citing the foods commonly found in the Ilocano diet, she added that cardiovascular diseases would be a relevant field in which to specialize, further emphasizing that “it depends on the needs of the community." To house the College of Medicine, the rehabilitation of the Cotton Development Administration (CODA) is being considered. This college is one of the major undertakings of the university set in focus with its new level of institutional goals.
“It is through prayers, lots of prayers, that we can succeed in any given assignment.” provincial amalgamation first, then these three institutions will have to form themselves as one to represent Ilocos Sur,” explains Dr. Pascua. After provincial harmonization, the entire regional university system will likely employ a higher body that will oversee the implementation of uniform policies in all state universities and colleges in a single area or region. To the new designees Asked for words addressed to the new designees adjusting to their new duties and responsibilities, MEP first quoted Psalm 90:17, “May the favor of the Lord rest upon you and establish the work of your hands,” elaborating, “If we are assigned any position or designation, this is an assignment coming from God, and so we have to look at it this way: that this is an opportunity to serve not only the organization where you belong, but this is an act of service to our Almighty.” She stressed, “It is through prayers, lots of prayers, that we can succeed in any given assignment.” The battle cry “Our battle cry in the university is to attain that vision to be recognized as a university that is committed to develop virtuous human resources, and we hope that MMSU will be recognized in the near future; that is, with the cooperation of each one, from the faculty to the non-teaching staff, and especially to our students. Everyone has a role to play”, she concluded.
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USC Pres answers student concerns CSC is now USC by: Michael Nacario and Jeniffer Yagui
Newly-elected University Student Council President Addielou Abad sums up his plans for this academic year. From CSC to USC After attending the Leadership Congress and Convention sponsored by the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) last academic year, Abad found out that MMSU was the only university using the name Central Student Council, or CSC. The student leader opened the concern during the council’s executive meeting, and the conversion to University Student Council was eventually approved. Student-oriented plans to materialize this AY
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supplements his campaign platforms by attending to the real needs of the university, particularly with students in mind. “We shall hold an itinerant USC General Assembly (USC-GA) with the different colleges and dormitories to make the USC-GA a more accessible venue for the students to raise their respective concerns,” he said. As an output of the preliminary movements of the council, the request of purchase of 10 six-seater reading tables and 40 monobloc chairs has been approved by the administration to address the concerns of students at the COEDS dormitory. The installation of additional lighting fixtures around Batac Campus has already been started which was a project in collaboration with the former council members. This minimizes possible danger that could arise
within the campus at night. Abad also drafted a resolution regarding the No ID, No Entry policy which may lead to the university-wide adaptation of the Electronic ID system actualized by the College of Engineering (COE). However, the design of the entry points and other factors for the success of its implementation is still under deliberation. Also on the shortlist are plans to draft a resolution to provide a stipend for USC Scholars. Environmental and community concerns In response to the lack of environmental concerns of students, the USC is planning to conceive the Eco-Active and Green Initiative Projects. This project involves the elimination of plastic and Styrofoam usage in the university which will be
Leadership camp ‘13 is dynamism - Abad
To promote unity and dynamism among MMSU student leaders, the University Student Council (USC) organized a 3-day Leadership camp, September 6-8, 2013, at CASAT with the theme, “Stallions: Making Transformations, Prancing beyond Limits”. A total of 393 students participated in the camp: 40 students each from CHS, CAS and COE; 43 from CBEA; 45 students each from CTE and CAFSD; 41 from CIT, 36
by: Lane Caleon and Zinnia Fabre
from CASAT; 20 from LHS (Batac Campus) and 10 from Laoag Campus; 16 elementary pupils from Batac and 19 from Laoag. “The activities this year were more intense in some way to strengthen group dynamics and we also minimized sessions,” said Hon. Addielou Fidelfio Abad, the President of the USC. Not only that it boosted the leadership skills of the participants but it also gave them a
Helping Hands. The last day of the Leadearship Camp 2013 was highlighted with an outreach program to pupils of Pias-Gaang Elementary School, Currimao, Ilocos Norte wherein school supplies were distributed.
chance to meet and befriend fellow leaders not only from their college but even from other colleges and laboratories. However, time management and the involvement of the students were specified to be improved for the subsequent leadership camps. “I admit that all of us in the organizing team saw the loss of consistency time wise and other problems but I believe that every problem has a solution. So every time that a problem came up during the camp, we (the USC team) cracked our heads immediately for a solution,” he said. There were really problems met in the way such as the camping ground lighting and other minor complaints from the participants. But despite these problems, the camp ended successfully. “It was really hard. I felt the pressure and the difficulty in the preparation of the camp. But it was also really good because I felt the need and the drive to improve myself as an officer. We worked together as a team and also finished it as a team”, said Ms. Michelle de Vera, USC Business Manager.
started through a campaign for plastic-free and straw-less Fridays in coordination with the Business Directorate of the university. The plan to have a competition for the cleanest and greenest college is also on the lineup to regulate the solid waste management program of the university. Regarding the annual leadership camp, Abad plans for reach out for national youth leaders who have done accomplishments in the realm of students’ service to impart their experiences to MMSU students who want to do the same. He said that the Leadership Camp will no longer be divided into groups composed of the different colleges. This time, participants will be grouped according to their chosen advocacy and with this; they will be given an action-plan making activity. “I am thinking that we will not just focus on one beneficiary on the Basic Masses Integration and Community Immersion like we did last year; different groups will be distributed to different places in Currimao to really see the diversity of the daily living of the people,” he stressed. As a part of this, the council also plans to formulate a program called Stallion Volunteers (STALVOL) to boost volunteerism, stewardship, and youth empowerment. Perennial problems to be addressed Answering the burden imposed by the tricycle fare hike, the Council plans to purchase two additional electrically powered multi-cabs to accommodate the students. However, since these e-cabs cannot cater to all of the students in the Main campus, he encourages them to walk to their classes between nearby colleges under the covered pathwalks. The continuous wail of students who do not receive information regarding university activities via the SMS of the USC is partially answered with the move of the council to disseminate using Social Networking Sites such as
Student leaders join 2nd Phil Model Congress by: Jeniffer Yagui
Student leaders of MMSU participated in the 2nd Philippine Model Congress (PMC) held at the Philippine Senate Building, July 27-28. University Student Council (USC) President and Student Regent Addielou Fidefio Abad headed the MMSU delegation composed of six other students of the university, namely: Glenn Mark Galiza and Kathryn Fei Chen from the College of Engineering (COE); Michael Mugas and Kaye Ann Gacho from the College of Business Economics and Accountancy (CBEA), Aljohn Ortal from the College of Health and Sciences (CHS); and Mark Anthony Baloaloa from the College of Teacher Education (CTE).
PMC emerged from the collaborative effort of Filipino college students coming from various universities and has earned the accreditation and sponsorship of the Department of Education (DepEd) as well as the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). In PMC’s second year, two days were utilized to achieve the three specific aims of the Congress: to give students the opportunity to be heard by the country’s leaders, to increase awareness of national issues, and to create a community of young people committed to nation-building. Participants simulated congressional debates, engaged in committee workshops and plenary sessions, and learned from speakers
such as Sen. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, Sen. Sonny Angara, KABATAAN Party-list Representative Cong. Teddy Ridon, National Youth Commission Chairman Leon G. Flores III, and Chinese-Filipino business icon Washington Z. SyCip. Activities also included speeches from established individuals from both public and private non-profit sectors regarding their experiences. This was in order to introduce delegates to a diversity of views on leadership and public service. Participants also recounted their own stories with other Filipino youths through the Share Your Story Session. “This life-changing experience with the brightest
student leaders all over the Philippine archipelago really speaks and defines our generation’s framework for understanding the roadmap engineered for the youth, by the youth,” said Abad. Out of 1,363 applicants, only 450 high school and college student leaders were accepted to join. MMSU was the only university in Ilocos Norte represented at the affair. A major output of the conference was a set of bills drafted by the delegates on students’ rights and welfare. These will be presented directly to the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives.
Facebook, and through chain messaging. Asked about the perennial problem on “abortion roads”, particularly in front of CAFSD and the road leading to the COEDS Dorm, he stressed that the concern is beyond their capacity but that he would extend it to the BOR, sharing that when he consulted SSD Director Prof. Henedine A. Aguinaldo about this issue, she replied that studies conducted have shown that the main cause of the abortion roads’ detrimental condition is a natural effect of the loose soil underneath them, as well as of the large roots of the trees lining the streets. Refurbishment of the abortion roads would then only curb the issue temporarily. Defective toilet flushes, broken bowls and tank fittings will also be implemented, as part of the Comfort Rooms 2.0 project. On Stallion strides Abad believes that institutional accreditation would uplift the university’s standards since it’s a chief basis for normative financing and SUC levelling. As he learned during a seminar-workshop with Dr. Mario Suba of Central Luzon State University (CLSU), accreditation adds prestige to an educational institution as well as its qualities for additional funds from CHED and other agencies. However, even the student regent feels alarmed with the performance of MMSU in board examinations, noting that MMSU posed low results in the CPA board exam this year. Tidbits on leadership and academic homeostasis “I have earned enough training and I firmly believe that if a student leader’s interpersonal relationship is a dance, I know I am not doing that bad. I know the dynamics and fundamentals. I can swirl when needed. I can pause if necessary and strut when the time calls for it,” he said, when asked how he handles the pressure of being USC president. While everyone thinks that his job is too tough to be handled, he still manages to perform well academically. Abad, the first student regent coming from the BS Pharmacy program, stressed, “The bottomline is – management and discipline. In a physical sense, it is all about balance; it is all about homeostasis.”
from Univ plans to..p1 Major in Communication Arts, and the Bachelor of Science in Development Communication. Meanwhile, the university transformed the Teatro Ilocandia basement, University Training Center, and the nearby Cotton Development Administration (CODA) as alternate classrooms accommodating mainly GE subjects especially that the enrolment for this academic year has increased.
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CTE wins 1st FEM Debate Cup by: Karen Mae Tesora and Jheia Lindhelle Paned
With an aim to look for the next “leader and debater Ferdinand Marcos”, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN), in cooperation with the Marcos family, conducted the first ever Ferdinand E. Marcos Intercollegiate Debates participated in by the college students from the different universities and colleges of the province held at the La Tabacalera, Laoag City, September 17. The competition started through an elimination held at the MMSU- CTE on September 16 and continued its Debate Cup Finals on the 17th, with the motion: This house would abolish the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Election. Participants from the MMSU- CTE were awarded as champions namely James Ceasar Ventura, Opposition Whip; Generous Ubasa, Deputy Leader of Opposition; and Jadeene Arzaga, Leader of Opposition, coached by Miss Jeanette G. Dials.
4th SMaP journ seminar-workshop connects MMSU journalists by: Jheia Lindhelle Paned
James Caesar Ventura was the Opposition Whip of the College of Teacher Education (CTE) debate team who was also awarded as the best Debater and Best Speaker.
Meanwhile, Ventura also garnered the Best Debater and Best Speaker awards. “We are highly positive that this event will be repeated and at the same time, we’re hoping that it will be an avenue for our local debaters to enter the national debating tournaments”, stressed Provincial Communications and Media Office Head and Tournament Director Jun Gudoy.
September 13 marked the start of the 4th Sosimo Ma. Pablico Journalism Seminar-Workshop (SMaP), an event hosted annually by SIRMATA to cater to student journalists outside of the paper itself. The theme, “Merging Ideologies and Forging Links for a Responsive Campus Journalism,” was formulated with an aim to increase solidarity among the existing college publications of the University, as well as to encourage other colleges to come up with their own papers. Following suit with previous SMaP events, an alumnus of the paper, Mr. Glenn Batuyong, was invited as keynote speaker. Batuyong was a graduate of the AB English Studies program in 2003, the pioneer batch, and former literary editor of SIRMATA. A native of City of Batac, he now serves as production coordinator, video editor, and playback director at GMA Network, Inc., Ilocos.
EGS boosts Laoag’s BPO industry Expert Global Solutions (EGS) sets up its third provincial site in Laoag City in cooperation with the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte, Manang Imee’s Capitol Express, Task Force Trabaho, and MMSU. The holding company for two organizations in the global business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, EGS is headed by President Rainerio “Bong” Borja. Borja chose Laoag City as the site for the third branch after it passed qualifications for building infrastructure and due to the rich human resource in the province. Around 500 job vacancies are expected from the company, with an entry-level monthly pay of Php12.5k for call center agents and a sign-up bonus of Php10k. Hiring began last September 2, with applicants screened to be at least 18 years old, have completed a minimum of one year in college, and
by: Karen Mae Tesora
pass five processes: initial screening, communication skills assessment, behavioral interview, computerbased test, and a call simulation. As one of the council’s lead agencies and having seven BPAPcertified trainers, MMSU has initiated the Coaching for a Call Center Career (Project C4). Hundreds of students and graduates of the university and other institutions in Ilocos Norte trained under Project C4 and are already working in BPOs located in Metro Manila and Baguio City. University President Miriam E. Pascua sits as Metro Ilocos Norte ICT Council (MINICTC) Chair, while Governor Imee R. Marcos as the Honorary Chair. As of September 19, 108 out of 773 applicants (14%) were hired and sent immediately to EGS Clark, Pampanga, to undergo a three-month training. Meanwhile, the company is
from MMSU prepares for..p1 Dr. Mario S. Suba, member of the board of trustees of the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (AACCUP) as resource speaker in the seminar workshop on preparation of documents last June 20-21 at Teatro Ilocandia. Dr. Suba is also the accreditation coordinator of Central Luzon State University (CLSU), who propelled the school to Level II Institutionally Accredited status. CLSU is the second comprehensive state university in the country who qualified for institutional accreditation last year. Visayas State University is the first ever SUC to acquire the prestige. If the university goals are actualized, MMSU will be the third SUC to obtain institutional accreditation. Meanwhile, different courses offered in the university are also going to be evaluated by the usual AACCUP. Courses that will undergo
accreditation are to be judged by the following criteria: curriculum, extension, faculty development, and library. For Phase 2 of Level 3, the BS Computer Science program will be evaluated. For Level 4, BS Agriculture, MS Agriculture, MS and PhD Rural Development, MA Nursing, BS Agricultural Engineering, and BS Forestry. The said courses are still waiting for AACCUP to schedule a date, considering the number of state colleges and universities nationwide. Moreover, a preliminary survey has already been done last May for the BS Physical Therapy and BS Pharmacy programs. Another one will be conducted for the BSBAHuman Resource Development Management, BSBA-Marketing Management and BS Hospitality Management degree programs on October.
still undergoing the bidding process for the final location in Laoag City, but construction is expected to start soon and be completed by August 2014.
from MMSU-Enactus..p1 through Enterprise Development,” which benefited 75 dragonfruit farmers through an enhancement seminar on financial management skills conducted for members of Kailokuan Saniata Cooperative (KASACOOP); “Transforming Life through Business,” which catered to 15 socially secluded detainees in partnership with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and provided dragonfruit seedlings for the inmates to tend with an aim to boost their trust and selfesteem through acquisition of agribusiness skills; and “Empowering Women through Business,” which assisted women entrepreneurs through establishing linkages, strengthening entrepreneurial capabilities, and improving their products. The third project also promoted organic-based farming in rice coffee production and environment-friendly techniques in food processing and soap making. It was in the year 2006 that MMSU last represented the Philippines, making it to the semifinals to the World Cup held in Paris, France. “It is a challenge for us to go as much as possible in the finals,” said Alimbuyuguen, adding, “We have a chance if we have a very good preparation and presentation. Only God knows. If we will win, it is God’s will. And if we lose, it is still God’s will.” MMSU-Enactus is open to all students of MMSU and is the only international organization in the university that students can join. An orientation seminar on the organization is scheduled for October.
Natural Cracker. Mr. Glenn Batuyong, former Literary Editor of Sirmata, catches the heart of the student journalists while delivering his keynote speech.
The seminar-workshop provided avenues for MMSU college students to enhance their skills in various fields of journalism with service rendered by resource
speakers: Miss April Rafales on news writing and literary writing; Dr. Francisca Nicolas on feature writing; Mr. Florante Nicolas on development communication
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PASUC general assembly upholds SUCs' unity by: Charmaine Paguio
President Miriam E. Pascua headed the delegation of Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in the 2013 Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) General Assembly on July 3-5, with an aim to have a more effective administration and platform in being one of the prime movers of worldclass education. The event was held in Crown Regency Suites and Residences, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, with the theme, “PASUC: Moving as One for Globally Competitive Public Higher Education.” More than 800 high-ranking officials coming from the different state universities and colleges of the country attended the gathering, including administrative officials and some faculty members of MMSU. Dr. Patricia B. Licuanan, chairperson of the Commission on
Higher Education (CHED), served as the guest of honor and speaker. Activities of the three-day event included an academe-industry partnership forum spearheaded by Dr. Chito B. Salazar, president of Philippine Business Education, wherein everyone was encouraged to share their opinions on how to maintain excellent administration and to cooperate on the extensive development of education in every state university and college. This was to further PASUC’s primary goal of attaining better quality of education in the country. A business meeting concluded the event, wherein a new set of officers for the association was elected. Dr. Ricardo E. Rotoras, president of the Mindanao University of Science and Technology, retained his position as PASUC president, and he is to hold his term until 2015.
3rd dragon fruit fest celebrated by: Edessa Dana Salacup
The third dragonfruit festival was celebrated on July 9-11 at Teatro Ilocandia with the theme, “Patibkeren Industria ti Saniata para iti Nadur-as a Turismo ken Agrikultura.” With the theme, the festivity aimed to promote the many uses of the dragon fruit and to boost the province’s tourism and agriculture. The 3-day activity introduced more dragon fruit varieties and launched a dragon fruit recipe book specifically for growers and businessmen seeking to invest in the dragon fruit industry. A fun walk was also conducted, followed by competitions in essay writing and photography. A cook fest, the “Saniata Dishcovery,” was also held - a first in the history of the dragonfruit festival. On the last day of activities, the Agri-Tourism/Produktibong Pinoy was presented by Center Director Rogelio C. Evangelista during the techno forum. July being the peak season for dragonfruits, the Ilocos
Agriculture, Aquatic and Resources Research and Development Consortium (ILAARRDEC), through the Regional R&D Coordinating Committee, approved Resolution Number 9, Series of 2013, declaring July as “Saniata” month. Different institutions, from the academic, research and development, and medical sectors, as well as individual investors and partner/member-agencies, participated in the various activities of the festival. The activity emerged from the joint efforts of MMSU, ILAARRDEC, its allied agencies like National Tobacco Administration (NTA) and the Cotton Development Administration (CODA), and the Agricultural Training InstituteRegional Training Center I, the Provincial Local Government of Ilocos Norte, the Regional Field Unit 1 of the Department of Agriculture, the Kailiukuan Saniata Cooperative, and the Department of EducationDivision of Ilocos Norte and Laoag City.
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PepsCommentariesPoints
EDITORIAL
Virtue worth emulating
President Miriam E. Pascua believes that apart from technical skills, students should also be imbued with good values in life. This ignites the greater role of the university as indicated in the newfound vision which is the development of virtuous human resources quite relevant considering the country’s ongoing brigade against corruption. Previous university vision designed to produce industryready graduates has been attained, so the introduction of the newfound vision is imperative. According to the President, it was tailored for when the prospect of the establishment of the College of Law and College of Medicine were still far from view. And since, the university geared the first batch of its law graduates to conquer the industry and now aims to contribute in the community’s medical needs, it is but fitting to adjust the focus and heighten the greater level of motivation. Invasion in the global arena may be deemed possible and attainable through the commendable performance of the university. However, what takes a greater deal to pursue is the development of virtuous human resources. Virtue at stake touches the issue of morality. Religion is not necessarily invoked since a person can have moral values without theological convictions. From whom, then, do virtue and good values emanate? The administrators should play a huge role in the first step towards developing virtuous human resources. However, they do not socialize with the students, who happen to be the major lifeblood of the university and thus need to be equipped with proper values. Conquering the international arena should mean inculcating in MMSU graduates a principled and dignified culture of values.
Students’ ethical views are obtained primarily from their social environment. Apart from their family, the university is the ground where most of their professional outlook is honed. There is a linear relation to the attitudes and values exhibited by the instructors with whom they spend much of their time. To be in line with the university’s vision is to have collaborative efforts between the university constituents in showing exemplary values. As stated in the vision, it is a priority to train the purest desires and moral values in students while maintaining technical standards. It demands the degree of readiness and willingness of teachers and administrative staff to be commendable not just in instruction, but in character as well. Failure to commit this idealistic approach would lead to lost direction. This would remind us of Peter Marshall’s famous line – “Give us clear vision that we may know where to stand and what to stand for – because unless we stand for something, we shall fall for anything”. Practically, most students would have least possibility of valuing hard and earnest work when their own instructors emit an aura of half-heartedness. They would not learn to be patient and appreciative of people if they experience hostility from their teachers. The value of humility would be lost on a generation that only encounters haughtiness when dealing with high-ranking officials. Justice would lose meaning for a student whose professor refuses to grade with transparency. Such scenarios result from the prioritization of meeting technical standards while sacrificing all else. May this be easier to lambast now that our university vision directs us to virtuous motives. Both technical turn to next page
SIRMATA Editorial Team 2013-2014 The Official Publication of the College Students of Mariano Marcos State University Vol. XXX, No. 1 June-September, 2013
In the Name of Bureaucracy Messy Moratorium
We are constituents of an iron cage. Before you raise your fingers, allow me to clarify: this is not an assault of sentences demanding autonomy against my best-loved bureaucratic entity in the University. As much as I want to join that army, that battle has already been fought and the victors proclaimed. Rather, these are... musings, at most, of one who has experienced firsthand the gaucherie that often occurs in place of efficiency and rationality. Lethargy. I first learned the word to describe the symptoms of newly vaccinated animals. They become sluggish, unwilling to move at even the most insistent stimuli. Later, it became my standard of describing what two months of academic inactivity, also known as “summer vacation,” does to me. Now, I attribute it to desk-dwellers immensely fond of assuring swift action and then maintaining paralysis until the last minute, content to loll on the modus operandi in spite of urgency.
Editor in Chief
Michael Nacario Associate Editor
Jheia Lindhelle Paned Hanna Mae Bancud Marc Jaylord Guillermo Managing Editors
J h e i a L i n d h e ll e P a n e d
Circulation Managers
John Lester Alos News Head Alyssa Marie Jacinto Features Head Michelle Galangera Literary Head Aristotel Aaron Agpaoa Sports Head Gieade Leomar Rosario Visuals Head Albert Reiner Luis Photojournalist Aivan Jericko Labuguen Illustrator Herleyson Baldoz Graphic Artist John Methuselah Balmes Layout Artist Michael Nacario Layout Artist Lane Franchelle Caleon Karen Mae Tesora Irene Ulit Dale Addun Section Writers (News)
Glenn Dave Baltazar Erika Francisco Edessa Dana Salacup Jade Agapinan Section Writers (Features)
Jireh Kayl Pajela
Mark John Ley Ligsay
Kaycee Balaan
Section Writers (Literary) Zinnia Jane Fabre Dominic Claor Aljon Tugaoen Charmaine Paguio Aaron Roa Jeniffer Yagui Ma. Isabel Buena Agua Kharel Ezra De Guzman Correspondents
Dr. Florecita Q. Cortero Technical Adviser
Mrs. Luvee Hazel C. Aquino English Critic
Dr. Francisca S. Nicolas Filipino Critic
Dr. Marlina l. Lino
Iluko Critic
Mizpah Grace Castro
Inconsistency. One thing I have noticed is that requirements are not made clear from the first encounters with the “powers that be.” Nor from the second. Nor the third. Sometimes they even suddenly turn over a new leaf, demanding one thing when they had previously asked for another. Each section of each document is another visit to their office, another return for attachments, another walk or another tricycle ride in between classes. If only all expectations and instructions would be made clear from the beginning, then it would save everyone a lot of time, money and effort. Hazy requirements produce inadequate results, hence all the corrections and edits that follow. It is a learning process well-
If only all expectations would be made clear from the beginning, then it would save everyone in the system a lot of time. appreciated, but it is also painstaking. Depersonalization. Certain realities are overlooked when rationality is swallowed whole by an obsession with procedure. Among these realities is the fact that when it is raining − and not merely drizzling − one would generally take a tricycle from one building to another, regardless of the distance between them (unless, of course, one is a masochist and fantasizes about catching a fever). Furthermore, a logbook, though admittedly subject to certain inconveniences, is currently the sole method of tracking SIRMATA staff members’ presence during press activities, routine or scheduled. I can vouch for the factuality of the names listed in our perennial turn to next page
Tip of the Iceberg Poltergeist
Clarence Manarpaac Oscar Agustin
Teach a Man How to Fish Pe r i p h e ra l V i e w s
Mizpah Grace Castro
PepsCommentariesPoints
I still remember that day when I was sticking posters for SIRMATA in a bulletin board of a certain college (I chose not to name it for a reason, surely). A group of students passed by me and I overheard them chattering about Sirmata. I clearly heard one of them say “Ta met lang agsurat ti ubrada dita.” Congratulations dear, you’re a head-turner. This is the major misconception: “Ta lang agsursurat ti ubrada dita SIRMATA.” Well, I can’t blame students for thinking such. It is a student publication, after all. We don’t have to state the obvious. You’ve barely scratched the surface. Let me take you deeper.
I’d go berserk trying so hard in managing my time, fulfilling both academic and extracurricular duties. Let me divulge the different tasks and undertakings the editorial team (fully) performs. Perhaps it will help emphasize the difference between simple and fatiguing, aside from nerve-wrecking and brain breaker! First, a staff should submit his/her article on or before the imposed deadline. No one has the right to complain how many or how hard her assigned beat is. Everyone should comply. But I also have to attend to my academics. I strive hard to attain and maintain a good academic standing because I don’t want to suffer the consequences, lest graduation would be far-fetched. Other than that, I see to it that my parents get their expectations
of me met satisfactorily so as to compensate their efforts and hard work earning a meager income. When schoolwork and journalistic tasks collide, I am torn between which should go first, especially when the article I am assigned to write needs to be submitted early for editing and critiquing. It’s definitely harder when we are rushing to finish an issue in just a couple of days. I go berserk trying so hard to manage my time, fulfilling both academic and extracurricular duties. Second, do what the members of the Ed Board bid you. This can be of many branches, but limited to SIRMATA-related things only. It includes going to different colleges to post posters of activities or anything regarding the publication. When the certain activity is only a couple of days away, then I have to get the job done sooner. Sacrificing my own allowance for [double] tricycle fares has already become a norm when doing assigned tasks. At the end of the day, I often find myself gasping for breath and turn to p8
M i c h a e l C. N a c a r i o
“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man how to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.”
Some of the solutions that we address to deeply rooted problems have side effects, which result in unfavorable conditions. In remote communities, the new trend is the arrival of government dole-outs in the form of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). Each household that comprises the poorest families in the society is given assistance to combat risks in life, temporarily. It partially earned my nod when I learned that beneficiaries are given educational assistance up to secondary education. Also, health monitoring is upheld. However, this solution to the aggravating case of poverty in the country fails to realize one thing − spoon-feeding creates severe dependency and, ultimately, lethargy. Direct subsidies are given to poor and marginalized families. Guidelines and objectives of the program are seen as operative and expected to conjure hopes in partial-
ly addressing the economic problem of every Third World country (poverty-stricken); this is also in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. However, the effectiveness of such an action plan is tethered to intensified glitches. The fund used to distribute dole-outs to the poor is actually a loan, adding to the country’s debt to international banks. With hopes of transforming the less fortunate into agents of economic growth, a large portion of money is allotted for the 4Ps. Close and strict monitoring is necessary to attain this ideal scenario. If this fails to materialize, the assurance of having deserving recipients is compromised. Worse, it might become a ground for corruption − already rampant in our country. Total reliance on the program produces indolent citizens with their palms open, lazily waiting for their share of the state’s dole-out. In
Utang na loob, magklase tayo! Isang masigabong palakpakan para sa sinumang makapagsasabi ng mga katagang ito. Marami sa atin ngayon ang madalas na nakatingin lamang sa orasan-hinihintay ang bawat paggalaw ng tatlong kamay ng orasang “analog” o kaya ang pagpapalit ng numero para sa mga “digital”. Patingintingin naman sa selpon yung iba, akala mo may importanteng mensaheng hinihintay. Huwag nga lang pahuhuling naiinip o kaya natutulog baka bigyan ka ng pagkakataong sumikat ng propesor. Tandaang dapat bigyan ng respeto ang sinumang naglalaan ng oras para tayo ay mamulat sa mundo ng karunungan. Nakakabagot nga namang nakaupo sa isang klase na puro na lamang salita ng instructor ang naririnig na nasa monotone na boses. Dadalhin ka rin sa prosisyon tungo sa mundo ng mga panaginip ng mga nagrereport na akala mo kung ekspertong pinuno ang mga slide ng mga salita. Akala mo magpapaliwanag, yun pala babasahin lang. Sana man lang ginamit nila yung mga natututunan natin sa pagsummarize, dalawahan din ang leksyon na ito nasa Filipino at Ingles. Kaya naman, imbes na makinig, magsasanay from Editorial p6
and virtuous aspects should be given equal amounts of priority. To attain this, the university should come up with an effective game plan. The real challenge of MMSU’s newfound vision is in the dream for a virtuous human resource − starting within the university to eventually influence the community, the region, the
such a system, people are trained to dangle uselessly from the empathy of the government. When 4Ps program ceases to tolerate the condition of the people, which was originally the product of their being less fortunate, what will happen? They will be contingents of uncertainties, and those who were expected to be assets end up as liabilities, a waste of the efforts of the government. Filipinos are not beggars. Their resilience amidst dilemmas is outstanding. They should not therefore be spoon-fed. As the Chinese saying goes, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man how to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” The potentials in Filipino traits should be utilized. Better yet, instead of allotting billions of funds for the 4Ps program, a larger portion should be added to the budget for SUCs to aid the improvement of the country’s educational system. State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) receive government subsidies to aid less-fortunate yet deserving students in acquiring quality education. Partially, the ailing clamor of students who cannot experience the educational system of the proverbial University of the Philippines (UP) due to the tuition fee (despite being the shelter of the Iskolar ng Bayan) is answered.
Since education is seen as a prime mover of a country’s development, such an investment would have a higher likelihood of producing desired outcomes. If SUCs would be equipped with necessary facilities and their teachers are given opportunities to acquire the most effective teaching methods, then they would equal even the prestige of UP and other prominent academic institutions. These can only materialize through the aid of the government. However, what can we expect from the government if even the halls of UP are littered with suicide cases due to reported financial difficulty? The country will not run out of intelligent students who are somehow prophesized to bring the proverbial change; what is running out are the opportunities to hone these human resources. More tricycle drivers would lament the fact that they cannot send their children to the schools that give quality-assured education. More farmers would believe their sons are for plowing fields. And more teachers would grow weary if their combined salary could not support their daughter’s education in
nation. And as demonstrated by recent issues of discovered corruption, the nation is in dire need of virtuous men and women. We stay relevant in the needs for inclusive growth and to sustain this, teachers and administrative staff alike should endow students with good values. After all, this university is a family where virtue is passed on from generation to generation.
Paprika
Hanna Mae Bancud
a trusted institution. The issue here is not only the varying matriculation in different schools, but also the insufficient support of the government for the country’s educational system. Societal problems will result. Like I mentioned, education is a prime mover of a country’s progress − mirrored in the histories of First World countries. But how can this be achieved if the budget for SUCs for next year will be diminished? Education teaches people how to survive. Any hungry man would kill to get a piece of bread, but only the wise few would humble themselves and ask how to bake a loaf. If we say that most of the population is composed of killers, then no one will ask for long-term solutions. Herein, proper authorities should take advantage. Dole-outs are only buckets of fish that may only last for a month; but investing in the educational system of the country teaches people to be fishermen. And who says fishing is not a credible job?
The country will not run out of intelligent students who are somehow prophesized to bring the proverbial change; what is running out are the opportunities to hone these human resources.
Attendance is a Must na lang na maging susunod na Juan Luna o kaya babalik na lang sa pagiging isang CCTV ng mga orasan o makipagkomunikasyon kay Sandman na may dalang paghimbing o maging isang talk show host candidate “bulong version.” Matapos magsideline sa loob ng klase, biglang magkakagulo dahil walang papel para sa biglaang pagsusulit. Hindi mawawala ang mga kunot-noo dahil walang maisulat, yung mulat ang mata sa pagkabigla at yung mga nakapokerface para hindi halatang nakapagadvance reading. Halu-halo ang mga eksena sa loob ng klase. Nauubos ang oras at enerhiya sa pag-aaral maghapon sa mga subject lalo na sa mga major na nag-aastang ito lang ang subject mo buong semestre. Hindi rin malayong matanong ang sarili kung mababaliw ka na sa dami ng ginagawa sa title role mo bilang dakilang estudyante. Huwag mabahala dahil normal lang yan. Normal lang yan sa may pakialam sa kanyang kinabukasan paglabas ng unibersidad. Pero kung tutuusin, hindi naman lahat ng matututunan mo sa pagiging estudyante ay magagamit mo pagpasok mo sa trabaho.
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Kung ang pananaw mo ngayong estudyante ka ay kaya mong gawing lahat nang magisa, simulan mo na ngayon nadagdagan ng rebisyon ang pananaw mong ito.
May mga empleyado ngayon na malayo sa tinapos na degree ang kasalukuyang trabaho. Kumbaga parang magsisimula ka ulit. May training, seminar o kaya mga panuto para sa magiging parte mo sa bagong gagalawan mong mundo. Hindi ito isang klasrum na kung may pagkaakamali ka ay maaari mong imake-up sa susunod. Kailangan mong mas maging matibay at agresibo sa pag-aplay maging sa pagtagal sa trabaho. Kung ang pananaw mo ngayong estudyante ka ay kaya
mong gawing lahat nang mag-isa, simulan mo na ngayon nadagdagan ng rebisyon ang pananaw mong ito. Hindi puro teorya ang gagawin mo sa labas ng unibersidad, kailangan mong makisalamuha sa kapwa mo upang mas maging prudoktibo ka bilang isang manggagawa at maging kapakipakinabang bilang isang miyembro ng isang organisasyon. At gaya sa klasrum, tuturuan ka dito tungkol sa karera mo sa buhay. Kailangang maging mas maingat sa paggawa ng mga desisyon at resposibilidad dahil wala ka nang
In the name of bureaucracy from page 6 attendance sheet, and − pardon my leaking sardonicism − would willingly begin documenting and submitting photographic evidence of our activities and the participants, if required. Maybe then we wouldn’t need a million justifications as to why we went there to do this and that for the paper. I sound exasperated? I am! Long before we began work on this issue, staff members like me had to dole out considerable amounts from our own pockets to supplement the preparation and conduct of the Qualifying Examinations. We had not been allowed to withdraw a cash advance for the activity. The rule
behind this is reasonable. Indeed, it encourages responsibility and immediate accountability of funds. One cash advance per person at a time. But considering the fact that the three offices involved − all being under one name − have separate sources of funds, is it still reasonable that two of the three said offices be barred from the withdrawal of their rightful reserves due to the one having unliquidated assets? Students comprise the Editorial Team, and operational expenses of a university publication are generally not included in students’ allowances. Anyhow, in the name of red tape, we were obliged to unload our pockets.
kakapitang markang estudyante na katanggap-tanggap pa naman ang mga kapalpakan (siguro). Sarili mo na mismong pangalan ang nasa bingit ng pagkakadungis na maaaring makaapekto sa mga susunod mong tatahakin sa buhay. Magsisilbing pundasyon natin ang mga natututunan natin sa loob ng klasrum upang gumalaw. Dito tayo kakapit at sasabihing hindi tayo mangmang. Karapat dapat na tanggapin ninyo kami dahil kaya namin. At sa pananatili natin sa eskwelahan, binibigyan natin ng realidad ang pagnanais nating matuto. Burahin natin ang konsepto na kaya tayo pumapasok dahil sa allowance. Pumapasok tayo sa iskwelahan hindi para makipagkwentuhan sa mga kaibigan, magkaroon ng moment sa crush mo o kaya ay matulog. Papasok tayo sa klase upang matuto ng mga bagong kaalaman para sa nais nating maging propesyon at hasaan maging ang ating personalidad. Kung tutuusin ang mga klasrum ay dinisenyo para maging turn to p9
This is only a toneddown description of the setbacks encountered by the paper in its various endeavors. Indeed, there are times when I feel like the only right we have left is to write; including writing what we feel about being pushed too much to the wall. Too much officialdom often backfires, achieving only unproductivity. Such a formal system of organization would only reach maximum efficiency in an institution of assembly-line automations. Nevertheless, I am a mere client of the establishment, and I am only musing.
8 MMSU is living with the definition of its moniker. Like the Stallion, this university is creating major strides such as institutional accreditation which sounds at least more possible than its first goal of becoming the premier university in Asia. Proving the seriousness of this stride is the conception of a new vision and mission which meet the standards of institutional accreditation. Institutional accreditation indicates a university’s quality to producing outstanding outcomes such as globally-geared graduates, earning extra credit for the national and international arena. However, before this stride gets to its greater and higher leaps, CHED has to conduct sustainability assessment. This evaluation includes the scrutiny on five major key grounds. Three of these are governance and management, quality of professional exposure, research and creative work, and relations with the community. MMSU can easily prove itself qualified considering these criteria alone.
The university cannot afford to find out too late that the next move it makes may lead to a colossal mistake.
T h e Vo i c e
Marciano
In every angle, the glory of MMSU is unparalleled by any academic institution in the region due to the unceasing innovations and technological advancements it contributes to the country; making it viable to its present goal. However, there are two more criteria that may put the institution’s chance in peril when evaluated thoroughly. One of these is the quality of teaching and learning, specifically its competency, programs, and faculty. Another is the support for students that clearly define the learning resources and support structures that the university creates for them. Although effective showmanship always eradicates these risks whenever accreditors visit the university, the real scenario cannot be stopped from resurfacing. As much as administrators want the name of MMSU to be at par with few prestigious universities in the country, students also share the same urge to earn another thing to boast about being MMSUblooded. Everyone wants glory for this university. However, let us not be easily seduced by the potential splendors waving at us without
Colossal Stride assuring our strengths to meet standards. In terms of teaching and learning competency, the university emphasizes its aim to improve its quality despite the setbacks it had undergone last academic year. New educators are hired which are duly screened to hone students’ academic potentials in effective ways, as some of the previous faculty members chose to find greener pastures. However, the assurance of their styles in squeezing the creative juices of students by not delving into the “mentor-tormentor” scheme is still being closely watched. If the traditional ways of instruction always meet the modern students, the competence of the teaching force and the performance of students will not create an outstanding outcome as what the revised vision and mission of this university pertain. There should be a better platform that fits the modern students’ style of knowledge acquisition. The rainbow of feats comprising the résumé of teachers should not be the end of their evaluation as effective educators. Psychology of education must always be upheld. Another, classrooms need to be conducive for learning environment. Everyone wants to be globally-competitive products
Between shades of gray
Three years ago, watching my parents drive away from me on my first day of college was a moment of unabashed excitement over a newfound sense of freedom. As time wore on, however, feelings of dread over the first daunting round of finals brought woes of being unaccustomed to dealing with such pressures in a then-strange environment. I experienced a myriad of reflections, mentally beating myself up for choosing this course.
Selecting a course, for some, is easy; some people know exactly what they want to be when they grow up. But for others, choosing a college course is probably one of the hardest decisions they will make in their lives. It does not help that there are so many different degree programs from which you have to choose from. The idea may sound passé, since the semester is already nearing its end. But mind you, being in the university is much more than preparing ourselves for a career. Reassess yourself. Do that. It is scary;
because it is hard especially when you find out that what you thought would make you happy has not made you happy after all. Imagine yourself accomplishing complicated paperwork and other school requirements in a course that you never even wanted in the first place. Pushing yourself to do things that are not really within your interests might only stress you out in the end (although people have different stress thresholds). However nicely you might be performing in such a situation, there will always be that horrible displeasure invading your well-being. Imagine yourself pointlessly studying for four or five long years in the university with the sole purpose of doing what your parents or relatives want. Obviously, your time, money and effort predicated to assure you a better
Tip of the Iceberg from page 6 struggling to stay awake, for it hits me that I still have lessons to review. From my first year, I have had to tag along with Ed Board members during processing of documents. I would be asked what my vacant time is, and after answering, I would regret it for I foresee that again, I have to go to the Admin building to follow-up papers and go through different offices. And in each office, I have to handle different reactions and instructions of staff. I am very lucky because the staff members are all accommodating, but there are also times when I get assaulted with complaints, if not sermons, which may be the product of a document’s flaw or a change in the staff ’s mood or my bad approach in negotiating.
I tell you: if it goes bad in one office, it becomes a chain reaction. It ruins my entire day and shatters my confidence. But then again it is a part of running errands—lots of errands. It is also inevitable to be late or absent in class just to finish everything. Third, we travel. No, not just to attend seminars and competitions. We have to travel for printing purposes as well. You may be wondering where SIRMATA prints its issues. If my memory serves me right, it’s been over five years since the last time an issue was printed in Laoag City. Nowadays, it’s always done outside the province, usually in either Metroprint Asia in Dagupan, Pangasinan, or Damatech Enterprise in Tuguegarao City,
because these two often win in the bidding process necessitated by the Government Procurement Act. The entire printing process takes at least a week, but we have only two days, at most, to stay at the printing press in case there are necessary revisions; thus, we take the blame for nuances in printing quality. There are a lot more that I want to add, but considering the space allotted for this column, I am limited to revealing only the most important ones. Now, you’ve had a glimpse of the experience of a SIRMATA staff. As they say, “It’s ironic that people who do not know you have more to say than those who do.” Well, if you read this entire article, then you may consider yourself an exception of the mentioned adage.
Some students are forced to tread paths they did not choose. Some enter college with their eyes closed in ignorance. They are totally unprepared for what lies ahead and later get stuck kneedeep in quicksand, in a course that makes them hate their lives. I think I belong to the latter, and I am not the only one.
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of this university. Even though students’ are like pigs or sows groomed for a perfect slaughter that will cater to the carnivorous population of the world, studying here is a privilege that most look forward to. In order for them to be served well in the national and international tables, their prerequisite is to taste deliciously; they need to be technically modified to suit the taste of competentgraduate-hungry employers. However, not everyone finishes the process. Some may have given up due to the tough screening of students. Some may have finished the process yet fails to reach the tables due to the poor performance in the final evaluation – the board examinations. Problems make them surrender; some of these are even perennially experienced. Financial assistance is definitely not a huge reason, considering the state-subsidized tuition fees and the abundant scholarship grants
coming from various government and private institutions. History may just have to enumerate the loopholes of the administration that drown students and teachers into incompetency. The alarming results of board examinations lead many institutions’ goal into jeopardy. If this trend becomes endemic, there might be a need to review the universities strength and qualification issues. The university cannot afford to find out too late that the next move it makes may lead to a colossal mistake. Every MMSU-blooded individual wants nothing but the global recognition of this dear university. However, the true-blooded ones prefer to act accurately and ensure that every move and decision the university makes shoots nothing but the bull’s eye. MMSU can unquestionably hit the bull’s eye, but is the right time for this stride, now?
If the traditional ways of instruction always meet the modern students, the competence of the teaching force and the performance of students will not create an outstanding outcome as what the revised vision and mission of this university pertain. future, end up going to waste. I remember my classmate crying over the same scenario. The course she enrolled in was her brother’s choice. Due to her high CFAT result, her brother thought it would be better for her to take a course other than her first choice. Really, one of the most difficult decisions facing many young people is what college degree program to choose. What they allow and are forced to let influence this decision determines whether they become successful or not. (Wouldn’t it be nice if there was an instruction manual for “How to Be Successful?”) There was once a time when choices were simple: good or evil, ketchup or mayonnaise, Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts. Nowadays, you have to choose between shades of gray, one gazillion condiments and a plethora of courses. The trick now in making a decision on a college course, they say, is to narrow things down as you go along. Ideally, you should pursue a college course that allows you to explore both your interests and hone your aptitude. In a less-than-perfect world, however, this is not possible for all students. In that case, you would have to weigh your priorities: pick a college major you will be good at, or pick a college course that is in line with your interest? Better yet, find a college course that you would excel in and has the potential of arousing your interest. It is never too late to stop and ponder on whether your course is the best that can fit you, most especially the freshmen. But, be sure that you actually possess the skills and patience to go the distance
"Quitting when you know you are in the wrong spot is a natural way to find the right spot. " prescribed for your chosen route. There is also the possible factor of parents expecting you to tread a certain academic path. Have the strength and the will to stick it out, against all odds. Those who opt to shift this coming semester, have the courage to get out from their disgruntled position. Testing out lots of different courses is a great idea. Course hopping is the sign of someone who is genuinely trying to figure out where they fit. Quitting when you know you are in the wrong spot is a natural way to find the right spot. A resume with lots of wrong turns is not cataclysmic. After all, a career also comes with non-quantifiable stuff: fulfillment, meaning and purpose, pure altruism - you name it. Whether you see yourself sharing more years with MMSU or even other institutions, having a defined course will help you nag a suitable career. With a little hard work, some planning, and some serious self-reflection, you can plant your feet firmly and with confidence on a path towards a fruitful, fulfilling career that can provide for you and your family in the future in addition to giving you the unique sense of fulfillment that your persona craves. Lastly, if you are a believer, I strongly recommend that you pray for it. Ask God what He would will you to take. After all, only He knows what path you will ultimately pursue.
"Reassess yourself. Do that. It is scary; because it is hard especially when you find out that what you thought would make you happy has not made you happy after all."
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Crowdsourcing Act: Let’s make Laws by: Hannah Mae Bancud
“When the people are allowed to participate, we have better laws; when people are allowed to participate, we have better people.” –Sen. Teofisto “TG” Guingona III
Photo from the Internet
“The anatomy of poverty in the country implies that poor people’s intestines eat themselves until they start burping even their own souls.”
The evolution of Philippine Corruption by: Michael Nacario
It was an endless wonder why the Philippines cannot totally move forward even with the many solutions suggested by geniuses in different fields, be it economics, tourism, education and the like. The wonder ceased when the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam explained why the country is stranded in minimal progress. The PDAF, more popularly known as pork barrel system, is supposed to be creating large indicators in the development and growth of the country; however, it appeared to impose overwhelming unscrupulous results than the actual benefits gained. With the loopholes of PDAF that resulted in its misuse and misappropriation equaling to corruption, it became easier for the infamous Janet Lim-Napoles to hoodwink large amounts of government funds through her bogus non-government organizations (NGOs) and connections to different government offices. It’s a disgrace to the unsung heroes who fought for the freedom of the country to learn that some authorities take part in the pocketing of the people’s money. And eventually, it supports the aggravating cliché – the poor become poorer and the rich become unreachable. The bomb ignited by the whistleblower on the pork barrel scam, which fired names of lawmakers who allegedly took part in fake processes in the pocketing of the people’s money, opened a door of opportunity for the partial lambasting of corruption in the country. The essence of democracy should be revisited, if changing the form of government is not necessary. Public servants exist to serve the people, and not otherwise. Constitutionally, lawmakers’ job is to create laws. Giving them the authority to implement projects in the form of PDAF is unconstitutional and a violation to the separation of powers between the executive and
the legislative branches. The anatomy of poverty in the country implies that poor people’s intestines eat themselves until they start burping even their own souls. They fight to survive every day. They cannot uplift themselves from the mud, and not because they are lazy or have become passive towards the culture of poverty. They remain stagnant because projects intended to assist them are fueled by amounts that are inadequate due to numerous other recipients and worse, being funneled to non-existent NGOs or worse, being pocketed by greedy persons. The culture of impunity is indeed rampant in our country, with incessant corruption happening even in broad daylight. Citizens have become skeptical and cynical about the justice system of the country. They have witnessed how the rich and powerful distort the law. It has been explicitly shown how the elite are given special accommodation when convicted, while the poor are mercilessly thrown in jail, convicted to life sentence and languished in the harsh environment beyond the cell bars. Even the hospitals became the favorite sanctuary of “influential” felons to slow down and seek an opportunity to divert focus from their conviction. “Being sick” during arraignment sessions was the refuge of those “almost guilty.” The aroma of the suspected lawmakers’ names is now starting to feed hungry masses, as they are big fish to fry. Trial by publicity significantly weakens the panorama that tries to obscure the disgusting truth; also, it serves as a message to the hidden accessories of such crimes that unscrupulousness and insatiable hunger for power must end. They should be quivering now as they are being tracked down. These prime suspects will answer to an authority higher even than the Ombudsman: the people. It is but fitting to recognize the masters of this huge endeavor towards ending corruption – the
The essence of democracy should be revisited, if consideration of changing the form of government is not necessary.
people who took part in the “Million People March.” Without the collective million voices that hailed the ailing clamor of the Filipino nation, Malacañang Palace could not have acted as bravely as it has. It could be seen as a fortune for President Noynoy’s administration to amputate this monumental leg of corruption. Apparently, his “tuwid na daan” is going right in place with the boost of the people. P-Noy’s claim to a better road map will be fully realized if he totally abolishes PDAF. Certainly, it does not require another maneuver. This social disease is terminal and incurable, even amidst the presence of endangered dignified lawmakers. Some are concerned about the elimination of actual projects funded by the PDAF, such as scholarships, fertilizer distribution, road construction, but this shall be no setback. The budget allotted for the PDAF can be distributed to the different departments of the government that are closely monitored by the Commission on Audit. The Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education should be given the budget they deserve to cater to the needs of students seeking assistance. Sufficient funds should be provided for the Department of Health to ensure the medical well-being of citizens. In this way, politicians would not name their projects after themselves when in fact; it is the people’s money being used to implement the said projects. The whole thing calls for the passing of responsive laws such as the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill and the Crowdsourcing Act. Transparency on government undertakings and officials’ SALNs can partially bring confidence to the people. Determination of their major concerns and their own solutions to such would be a wise start in reprimanding poverty at its very roots. These would only be one portion of the quest to kill the monsters that conjure corruption in the country. The other portion is the courage and conviction of the leaders, particularly the president, in fighting the biggest evil of this time.
Senate Bill 3300, or the Crowdsourcing Act of 2012, is another attempt to empower the Filipino towards involving themselves in governing the land. Drafted by Senator Teofisto “TG” Guingona III, it promotes transparency, collective participation and accountability. It would shatter the geographical barriers of the archipelago and allow every citizen to take part in the legislation of the pending bills and agendas of the Senate and the House of Representatives via Internet access. At first glance, this bill could be a counterpart of the freedom-of-information (FOI) bill. Crowdsourcing was first introduced in June 2006 by Jeff Howe of Wired magazine. He described it as “the process by which power of the many can be leveraged to accomplish feats that were once the province of a specialized few.” Instead of limiting an idea to mature within a closed group, others could be included for a widened brainstorming. Though the term was only coined recently, the idea of crowdsourcing has already been utilized in the past. Consider what Napoleon Bonaparte did to continuously feed his army while away from France. He offered an award for someone with an idea that would solve the problem of food shortage. As a result, Nicolas Appert was able to share the process of boiling wax sealed to keep food from spoiling. Today, products continue to be innovated, guided by the feedback received from consumers. Crowdsourcing is also utilized by the German Enquete Kommission des Deutschen Bundestages Internet und Gesellschaft, a German governing body, for public hearing. Hence, its concept of collecting the views from a large population crosses the borders of any field. Guingona, whose advocacy is to promote and strengthen people involvement in the formulation of national policies, uploaded a draft of the bill online, calling the attention of Filipinos and soliciting comments for further polishing. He believes that all Filipino people have the same privilege as the legislative department in lawmaking. With the bill, there would no longer be a wall blocking the way between citizens and voicing out their concerns. The bill shows faith in the collective power of citizens when they
“The bill shows faith in the collective power of citizens when they are freed from the geographical boundaries of the country...” are freed from the geographical boundaries of the country through the borderless world of the Internet and/or other information and communication systems. It also recognizes a new breed of citizens who can work effectively and productively towards national development. The people are encouraged to participate, as their welfare will be the ultimate concern in every session of either the House of Representatives or the Senate. For public access, the bill mandates both house to post online all agendas, committee reports or pending bills at hand. The public then would have three days to convey their personal opinions through email or a link posted on the website online. These comments would be further filtered to come up with an expounding argument truly voicing out the concerns of the public. The senate and congress would then take these opinions into consideration as they evaluate before their final voting. The same would apply to the president before signing, with a five-day period to evaluate and then solicit reviews from the public. This bill takes the technology used by the majority individuals and encourages constituents of a nation to be more participative in the happenings that shape the Filipino sate. Allowing such involvement would potentially strengthen solidarity in the society. However, with the current mindset of Filipinos, is our society ready for such extended right? Manuel L. Quezon once said in his inaugural address, “We must take a step forward only when we are sure of ourselves, and such steps must necessarily be few”. Are we ready?
from Attendance is..p7 isang pre-social ground natin para sa isang mas malawak na sosyedad. Ang mga katauhan ng mga kaeskwela at guro natin ay ilan lang sa dami ng mga posibleng makilala natin pagkatapos ng ilang taong pag-aaral. Iba’t iba ang bawat isa pero pare-parehong natututo kaya hindi katakataka ang kadalasang pagkakamali. Sa bawat pagkakamali ay ang mga pagkakataon upang iayos ang mga ito. Iayos para hindi na rin
maulit sa susunod at magkaroon ng karagdagang kaalaman para sa susunod na hakbang. 'Utang na loob magklase tayo!’ Isang masigabong palakpakan para sa sinumang makapagsasabi ng mga katagang ito at maging sa mga araw-araw na pumapasok upang matuto sa loob ng klasrum o sa mismong trabaho.
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other of all Mother pearls bids MMSU goodbye
“First call for the (insert sporting event here).” Students always recognized her voice reverberating through the athletic oval during the University Palaro. The perennial announcer during athletic events, she always broadcasted the first call for every game... And last academic year, she made her last call as a professor of MMSU. Dr. Ritha Biol Reyes spent 28 years in the university, entering in 1984 and leaving in early 2013 as a legendary mentor. However, her legacies were not only within classrooms. Along with previous MMSU retirees Dr. Perla G. Ulit and Dr. Jurlita U. Basuel, she was a proponent of the AB English Studies, MA English Language, and Ph.D Linguistics programs. In addition, she was one of the founding faculty members of the Nasudi, with Prof. Arsenio Gallego. SIRMATA was also a direct recipient of her expertise, having enjoyed her as English Critic for a few years. A mentor She spent four years as chair of the Department of Languages and Literature. “I cannot remember the years. The last time, I begged off na because I was getting older and I want the younger faculty to experience it, and may magqualify naman.” Dr. Ritha (or Dr. “Ritz,” as known to many) left her deepest footprints, however, not in the named feats s h e
by: Alyssa Marie Jacinto and Mizpah Grace Castro
"Motherhood is known to be one of the toughest jobs in history, and it has to be juggled even among other duties." performed for MMSU, but in those she took under her wing and treated as her own children: the students. Even during her latter years in the university, her psyche was not compromised by age as she engaged everyone with a lively attitude that outshined everyone else’s. Despite having been the oldest faculty member at the CAS Department of Languages and Literature, she stood out as one of the most youthful. She was the type who understood and even made jokes that would supposedly only be found funny by the students’ generation. She honed talents like an understanding trainer and scolded like a tiger mom, squeezing out only the best from her students and trainees, saying of her experiences in mentoring, “I am the motherly type of coach. Just don’t take pressure seriously. Matataranta ka. Sa mga oral naman, we will go to the Teatro early morning, kung kailan bakante yung student, kasi very important yung voice,” she advised, “at most, two weeks dapat ang preparation.” In the classroom Both a strict professor and a comedienne, her classes were always challenging and stimulating. She was the perfect balance of orthodox and eccentric needed to produce disciplined yet radical students. Tardiness is not in her vocabulary. Even in her last year of teaching, she would walk from their family duplex to her home college in the morning, never late for classes as early as 7a.m. “I think I am the only teacher who prays before and after class,” she said in an interview. She is also against teacher walkouts, telling, “I learned from the older faculty na it was not good teacher behavior to walk out from the class. So instead of walking
out, what I do is to keep silent, and then they realize I am angry.” A third-year CAS student divulged, “I got my lowest grade ever from Ma’am Ritha, but I know I deserved it. Still, I can say I learned more from her than I did from instructors who have given me higher grades. And for that, I am thankful.” “She was my literature teacher, and she could capture our attention through her animated storytelling, so Shylock, Romeo, and Juliet came alive for us back then,” shared a product of CBEA. Truly, Dr. Reyes taught to enlighten and touch lives, and not simply to give out grades. At the end of her teaching path, she admits to having learned something as well from her students: youth is full of talents waiting to be honed. Question constituents of the university from the past 28 years, and few would lack anecdotes about the memorable Ma’am Ritha. A trove of memories Dr. Reyes cites Dr. Frederick Rodrigo, a CAFSD graduate, as one of her most superb students, explaining, “He was the only student I gave a grade of 1.25. That’s the highest. I cannot give a grade of 1.0 because for me, you can never perfect language.” Reminiscing about her time as language critic of the paper, she retold of an instance when she accompanied staff members in rush travels between press activities in Baguio and competitions in Pangasinan at which they represented the university, explaining, “Magkasabay kasi noon ang SCUAA, yung Cultural Olympics, and SIRMATA.” “Another trademark I left when I retired was: I always adjourn in university council meetings. Hahanapin talaga ako ni President Pascua.” Asked what she misses the most from her career, she relayed, “Teaching, classrooms, contact with students... not so much with teachers. The enjoyment comes from students, kahit pasaway pa sila. Both positive and negative, I learned.”
An Idealist She entered the world on May 23, 1948, and began to bask in her own native paradise: Malaybalay, Bukidnon. She showed exemplary aptitude and promise from a young age, and from then, teaching had been her utmost ambition. It was at MMSU where she pursued her master’s degree, and at the Philippine Normal University that she earned her doctorate in linguistics. She said of the university publication, “[It] is the voice of the students. It is not the voice of the university. Eh meron silang sariling papel. Nakakasawa naman kung puro praises to the president and projects.” “Yung vision-mission of the university, especially on the side of research, I salute. [But] we are losing grip on sports, and commitment is fading among the faculty members.” In the same way she did not accept mediocrity from people, she, too, lived up to her high standards. A queen of not only beauty, her crown reflects an unbeatable mental integrity and instructional competence. “Education does not stop. It should be nurtured, because it is already planted. So, it should be nurtured. Teachers should consider individual differences and multiple intelligences of students,” she pointed. A Wife, A Mother She was not named the Mother of All Mother Pearls merely for her motherly aura as an educator. At home, she loves and is loved by her king, Mr. Rolando R. Reyes, and their three children: Ri Anthony, Rilan Grace, and Leo Domino. Motherhood is known to be one of the toughest jobs in history, and it has to be juggled even among other duties − in Dr. Ritha’s case, as a university professor. The life of a working mom is no simple matter. Her oldest son, Mr. Ri Anthony Reyes, describes her as the best. That is unquestionable. He considers her as his best friend, for she molded him not only as an individual, but also as a big brother to his siblings
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Systematic and gradual change- these are essential for a step towards the new calling of our nation. The Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino (KWF) issued a resolution last April regarding the new name of our country to use “Filipinas”, not “Pilipinas”. This resolution aims to recognize its history and development for the Filipino nation. National Artist and President of KWF Virgilio Almario led the advocate for the change. And he also argued that the existence of three names of our nation is a contribution of national confusion.
by: Aljon Tugaoen
name — Pilipinas, Philippines and Filipinas—leads to “national confusion”. The “Name”
Alamrio said that the “Filipinas” should be used because of the original term by the Spanish Colonizers, who named their new colony after Spanish King Felipe II. He also said that we should eradicate the “Philippines” because the American Colonialism is still prevailing in our minds. Just like the “Philippines”, Alamrio also wanted to erase the name “Pilipinas”, noting that “Filipino” is used to refer the national language. Almario, a former dean of the University of the Philippines College of Arts and Letters, also said that the alphabet is modern and the letter “F” was acknowledged in the alphabet, adding, “We fail to unite even in what to call ourselves. My suggestion is, it’s time to have an official name for our country and republic, and as Diyaryo Filipi-
National Confusion
and a role model for his own children. “Don’t spend beyond your means,” is her famous line, according to her children. She may have, at times, given off the image of an extravagant lady, but, he says, when she has a budget, she sticks to it; if she has made up her mind not to spend, then she will not. Such is the practical wisdom she has inculcated in her children: not to abuse resources, not to plan without the future in mind, not to be careless and absentminded. She raised them in hopes that they will inherit from her the principles she wishes to share with the world, a queen who values the ideological as well as intellectual development of those she loves.
The 1992 article entitled “Patayin ang ‘Pilipinas’” (Kill ‘Pilipinas’) said the use of three names that are floating within the nation’s
A Treasure Indeed, Dr. Ritha has reached the fulfillment of her academic mission. If only one could age without physical enervation, then the university certainly would have cradled her even closer to keep wielding the talents of one of the most outstanding figures in the educational realm − this may have been attempted, for Dr. Ritha once quipped regarding a numerical error in the Personnel Office that MMSU did not want her to retire and thus subtracted a year from her age on a data sheet, which forced her to retire later than she could have. Alas, our dear Ma’am Ritha has earned the time and rest she is enjoying during her retirement. Her regal journey as an educator molded her into an example well worthy of emulation. May she stay gold in her golden years.
ational Confusion: ilipinas kong Mahal
IN
“Ang Filipinas ay naging Pilipinas dahil gusto nating magkaroon ng sariling identidad na bagama’t kapansin-pansin ang kolonyal na nakaraan ay may malawak pa ring pagtanggap sa kasalukuyan,” no initiated, we should be known around the world as ‘Filipinas’”. On the other hand, the KWF proposed these initial moves which are: to gradually introduce “Filipinas” in seals, letterheads, notepads, and other materials; and to urge institutions and companies with the name “Pilipinas” to spell it as “Filipinas”. He said it may also be awkward to call UP, for example, as the University of Filipinas. He stressed, however, that regardless of cost, there is greater practical and historical benefit if we unite under ‘Filipinas’. Other “Names” Over the years, many proposals had been made, but none were adopted. In 1913, under the Rizal Constitution, “Rizaline Islands” would have been the name of our nation, and its citizens, “Rizalines,” after our supposed national hero Dr. Jose Rizal. Queenie Palafox wrote, “Jose Rizal aficionados strongly favor the name Rizalinas for they believe that Jose Rizal is
locano Heroes Hall: ot Broken, Just Bent
Back in high school, I asked my classmate where he bought his new shoes. I was startled when he replied, “Heroes’ Hall.” Why on earth would people buy things in the shrine of our heroes? I could not imagine monuments of Valentine Diaz or Josefa Llanes Escoda advertising the latest fashion trends for sale. I had never been in that place, so all I knew was that Heroes Hall was a museum for heroes’ valor, as the appellation literally suggests.
I found out that Ilocandia Heroes’ Hall was a decade-old building located in front of the Ilocos Norte Provincial Capitol. The edifice was one of the well-known hangouts of media personalities. It was a place where the ambience of Ilocano folks’ resilience against colonizers is at its best atmosphere.
by: Erika Francisco
Thus the rumored conversion of the structure into a commercial center earned speculations. People felt dejected and started to bid farewell to this landmark which had long been touching the hearts of Ilocanos. The backdrop of some of their most vintage memories paralleled with heroic antiquities is now ready to be drowned under the fast-paced modernization occurring in the province. While we eagerly embrace industrialization, there is a bigger tendency to alter and even eradicate the cultural heritages that impede the process. And at present, industrialization is equipped with modernization enslaving the remaining tokens of our cultural backgrounds and legacies. Probably, lack of modernization could worsen poverty conditions. And so, provincial leaders are constantly aiming for ways to improve economic
It hurts to think that the coming generations would not have a better understanding on the heritage our Ilocano heroes had cultivated long before industrialization had mocked it.
growth and standards, in order to address the basic needs of people. The conversion of Heroes’ Hall into SM Hypermarket appeared to be the one of the ways. October last year unveiled this modern leap and people witnessed its opening with a banner: ILOCANO HEROES HALL NOW SM HYPERMARKET. Some showed no concern and read the sign as a normal “Now Open” post in newlybuilt commercial establishments and busied themselves acquiring the from 4th SMAP journ...p5
writing; Atty. Brian Jay Corpuz on editorial writing and page layout and design; Prof. Emile Kathleen Aguilar on copyreading and headline writing; Mr. Roberto Jose Domion on editorial cartooning and comic strip drawing; Dr. Florecita Cortero on photojournalism; Prof. Ryan Dean Sucgang on opinion writing; and Prof. Arsenio Gallego on sports writing. Competitions were also held immediately after the lectures, except for the page and layout design category. Champions
the pride of the Filipino race and epitome of Filipino nationalism,” Palafox wrote. Similarly, the nation of Bolivia was named after a leader who was contributory in the Latin America’s revolution against Spain, Simon Bolivar. Palafox also mentioned “Solimania” (after Raja Soliman), “Luzvimin” (from the three major islands Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao), and “Perlas ng Silangan” (from Rizal’s “Perlas del mar del oriente”). In 1978, Former President Ferdinand Marcos supported Former Senator Eddie Ilarde’s bill proposing to change the country’s name to “Maharlika”. Ilarde said that the “Maharlika” means “nobly created”, and the country’s ancient heritage. It was, perhaps coincidentally; also the name of Marcos’ guerrilla unit which he claimed fought the Japanese invaders. In 2008, Rodel Rodis, pointed out that before Ruy Lopez de Villalobos gave the islands the collective name “Filipinas” in 1543, Ferdinand Magellan had al-
11 ready named them the “Archipelago de San Lazaro” in 1521. In an essay published in the Phil. Daily inquirer, he wrote, “We would have been called Lazaroans, if Magellan had survived the Battle of Mactan against Lapu Lapu on April 27, 1521.” Refusing the “Name” Rodis also agreed to change the country’s name but not to “Filipinas”. Andres Bonifacio refused to use such a term, instead referring to Filipinos as “Tagalog” and to the Philippines as “Katagalugan”. Criticisms According to historian Celedonio O. Resurreccion’s paper “Why We Should Change the Name Philippines,” changing a country’s colonial name is a world tradition: Nueva España was changed to Mexico, Formosa to Taiwan, Malaya to Malaysia, Dutch East Indies to Indonesia, Ceylon to Sri Lanka, and many others. On the other hand, Danny Arao, who teaches journalism at the University of the Philippines, said he preferred “Pilipinas” and “Pilipino,” despite the terms’ bearing the country’s colonial past. “Pero kumpara sa terminong Filipinas, masasabing inangkin natin ang dayuhang bansag noon sa pamamagitan ng mas komportable nating pagbigkas ng P. Sa madaling salita, ang Filipinas ay naging Pilipinas dahil gusto nating magkaroon ng sariling identidad na bagama’t kapansin-pansin ang kolonyal na nakaraan ay may malawak pa ring pagtanggap sa kasalukuyan,” he wrote.
benefits of the commercial store. However, others took the liberty to debate in their minds the tint of mocking stated by the sign. Be it a wise way of advertisement, however, it speaks of the compromised legacy of Ilocandia to achieve a more relevant structure for changing times. SM Hypermarket is added to the artificial jewels beautifying Laoag City, replacing the genuine treasure that it originally had. Nevertheless, it boosts the treasures of the province as customers’ presence spiked economic growth and provided contractual jobs to Ilocanos. It serves its purpose well. Laoag City is attaining various degrees of recognition with its developments. Indeed, progress demands open-mindedness and willingness to remove one thing in order to allow a more necessary and productive structure to spring up.
Sacrifice has valid reasons; sacrifice parallels the way to success. The fact that I had not seen the structure while it was still in its raw form as Heroes’ Hall does not sadden me at all. However, it hurts to think that the coming generations would not have a better understanding on the heritage our Ilocano heroes had cultivated long before industrialization had mocked it. The only left thing for them to realize will be the idea that we have chosen to succumb into modernization even if what it had taken to achieve it was to alter and partially abandon the physical representation of the late heroes’ legacy. Maybe, Heroes’ Hall will be forgotten. But what most of the conservative people will never forget is the sacrifice that took the representation of heroes’ sacrifices that brought liberty for us all.
were: in opinion writing, Katrina Fagaragan (CHS); development communication, Mark Ian Tagami (CTE); photojournalism, Mark Bryan Palma (CAFSD); editorial writing, Jude Patrick Cabading (CTE); news writing, Marian Amaryllis Abellon (CHS); copyreading and headline writing, Cabading; sports writing, Jeric Angala (COE); literary writing, Aubrey Gail Pesca (CHS); editorial writing, Guiller King Amodo (CTE); comic strip drawing, Brian Jay Talamayan (CHS); and in feature writing, Kristine Grace Guillermo (CTE).
Unlike the previous year, which extended the participation to high school students, the 4th SMaP concentrated on bringing together the different colleges in a healthy competition. This reiterated the aim of the seminar workshop to make sure that every college establish and maintain their respective publication. CASAT participant Rhea Espiritu, a marine biology student, took the opportunity to share on the last day, September 15, that the activity also boosted her college’s sense of belongingness to the whole MMSU community.
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SightsFeaturesReview
PersonalityFeaturesFame
Deciphering the intriguing gates of hell
Glee, gloomy, glee
by: Jheia Lindhelle Paned
by: Michael Nacario and Lane Franchelle Caleon
In American high school, a football quarterback is the last option among the students who can possibly join Glee club. Popular kids are not supposed to be mingling with the nerds and losers, let alone musical geeks. But when Fox’ musical comedy series titled Glee was aired in 2009, the hostile convention was defied. Finn Hudson, portrayed by Cory Monteith, was the popular quarterback kid who changed everyone’s conception of Glee club. And his heartbreaking death would never change anything that he contributed. Glee fanatics mourned when his death bombarded the entertainment industry. Evaluating the morale obtained by the audience from the hit TV series and the unusual portrayal of social issues’ acceptance to public domain; this abrupt misfortune to the shows’ lead star shattered their hearts. However, people who only
knew his name and did not bother to dig even a bit deeper in his life’s accomplishments judged him by the way he died. After Monteith’s body was found dead in his room at the Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel in Vancouver, an autopsy reported to be caused by mixed drug toxicity consisting of heroin and alcohol. With the conception of most conservative people, their assessment to the Glee star’s death was an absurd thing, even indicating that the management should make use of it as a warning to young individuals. Saddening as it seemed, but Cory was more than that. Born in Calgary, Alberta, on May 11, 1982 as the younger son of an interior designer and a military man, Ann McGregor and Joe Monteith, Cory Allan Michael Monteith was too young to be surrounded with many problems. His drug addiction was ignited when his parents were divorced. This caused social difficulties at school, and at the age of 13, he got into alcohol and marijuana, leading to his truancy at school. The turning point in Monteith’s life came three years later, when
Panambitan ni Marciano kay Manong Drayber
“Usok ng tambutso, Paghinto sa bawat pagpreno, Nakakabinging ingay nito, Ayan na naman ang humaharurot na motorsiklo!”
…Panandaliang natigil ang aking pagmumuni-muni nang bigla akong nagulantang sa pagdaan ng isang traysikel. Kasabay ng pagkunot ng aking noo ay ang alingawngaw ng malutong niyang halakhak; halatang isa sa mga pinagkakaabalahan niya ay ang mang-asar. Kumalansing ang baryang tila nag-aagawan ng espasyo sa masikip kong bulsa. Pila-pila sila habang aking binibilang upang pambayad sa traysikel na sinakyan ko. Isang araw, natulala na lamang ako nang biglaang itinaas ang singil sa pamasahe. Ang dating sampung piso ay naging dose na. Walang h a b a s na hindi nagsasauli ng pisong sukli ang mga drayber n a
by: Alyssa Marie Jacinto
ito noong siyam na piso pa lamang ang singil. Paano na ngayon? Huwag lamang nilang maisip na maningil ng sobra sa maliit lamang na distansiyang babaybayin. Batid ko ang importansiya nila sa daloy ng pamumuhaykaya nararapat lamang na bigyang pansin din nila ang kalagayan naming mga nakaasa pa lamang sa limos ng magulang. Naiisip sana nila ito sa tuwing pinapadoble nila ang singil kapag nagkataong mag-isa ka . Hindi aandar ang makina kung hindi puno ang traysikel. Minsan naman, ayaw kong magpatalo sa kanila kaya pinipili kong maghintay ng kasabay. Kahit na limang minuto n a lamang a n g
natitira upang hindi ko malampasan ang labing limabg minutong palugit upang hindi maging absent sa klase, malaki ang paniniwala kong may makakasabay din ako na magpapalamon sa bulsa ni manong drayber. “Mr. Marciano! Ano na naman ba ang idadahilan mo sa akin at huli ka na naman sa pagpasok sa aking klase?”. Halos ganyan na lamang palagi ang musikang naririnig ko noon sa bawat araw na pinipili kong maglakad sa ilalim ng nagbabagang araw. Sa halip na maalab na pagbati ang bubungad sa umagang iyon na papawi sana sa matinding pagod ay hindi. Kaya naman sinusubukan kong magtabi ng kakarampot na halaga mula sa kakarampot ding baon. Kinukurot ako ng panghihinayang sa tuwing mababawasan ng labindalawang piso ang baong bigay sa akin ni inang. Kung sana’y maaari lang na makiangkas ng libre sa bawat traysikel na nakadadaupangpalad ay matagal ko ng ginawa. Pangalawang taon ko na sa institusyong ito at sanay na rin akong maglakad sa ilalim ng mainit na sinag ng araw. Nagsisilbing musika ang mga huni ng ibon na nakatutulong sa pagpawi ng pagod ko. Humahagod ang mainit na ihip ng hangin na unti-unting nanunuot sa aking katawan. Gayun paman, kaysarap
his mother and a group of friends staged an intervention. Willing to change for the better, Cory agreed to attend a rehabilitation program. His acting prowess was discovered in Vancouver, British Columbia where he played minor roles in a few movies such as Final Destination 3, Whisper and Deck The Halls. He had a recurring role in Kyle XY and also made guest appearances in television serials such as Smallville, Supernatural, and Flash Gordon. Montieth made his most well-known role as Finn Hudson in the Fox series Glee in 2009. Finn was the star quarterback of his high school football team who risked alienation from his jock friends by joining the school’s glee club named New Directions. The storyline showed him struggling with his decision to stay with Glee club at the bottom of the social ladder, while maintaining his reputation as the “popular guy”. The character also dealt with his attraction to both head cheerleader Quinn Fabray (Dianna Agron) and Glee star singer Rachel Berry (Lea Michele). Montieth’s role as Finn won a lot of awards. According to Adam Shankman, one of the show’s directors, Cory Montieth was the ‘Glue of Glee.’ He said that he was always welcoming, whether it was to a guest director or a new cast member. Shankman also added that the actor knew all of his lines each time filming began and would congratulate his fellow cast members when he thought they did well. In the series, Monteith’s character played with character of
Lea Michele as lovers. Before his tragic death, Cory had found the love of his life in Lea. In early 2012, it was reported that they had recently begun dating in real life as well. According to those who are close to him, Cory would always say that Lea is the one. The fact that Lea and Cory’s love was so true made it even harder for Lea to cope with his death. Reports say that she was “devastated beyond belief ”. She didn’t even want to go out of bed crying making her eyes swollen. She would even listen to the love of his life’s voice mails to her to ease her despair, and to feel his presence. However, with the overwhelming support given by her solid fans, family, and friends, she is surpassing the tragic event and trying to move on without taking Cory out from her heart. The character of Finn Hudson appeared in all episodes of seasons one through three, and appeared on fifteen episodes of season four. The episode titled “Sweet Dreams” was the last appearance of Finn Hudson marking a bitter coincidence. Who could’ve known that he would soon be taking his last sleep with sweet dreams and never again wake up? His last scenes with Lea as Rachel also suggested unfortunate metaphors. The premier episode of Glee Season 5 titled ‘Love, Love, Love’ already aired last September 26 with the classic song catalogs of The Beatles. Episode 2 went with the title ‘Tina in the Sky with Diamonds’. The third episode of the Glee season 5, which will air on October 10, will be a tribute to Monteith, and would incorporate the death of Finn Hudson.
“I’ve got the rest of my life to be a grownup. And for now, it’s okay to be young.” -Finn Hudson, Glee Season 4 paring balik-balikan ang mga panahong kasama ko ang aking mga kaibigang sumasakay sa traysikel. Ngunit, nakapanlulumong isiping heto ako, mag-isang nakabilad sa araw at inaanod ng sarili kong pawis. Ang mga drayber na ito kasi! Ako na nga itong nagpapakasasang mantabi ng kahit kakarampot lamang na barya ay sila pa itong may ganang hindi mag-abot ng sukli minsan. Gustuhin ko man silang talakan at punuin ng laway ang kanilang mga mukha ngunit dahil sa nakabinbing respeto ko sa mga nakatatanda, hindi ko ito ginagawa. Ngunit minsan naman sana ay kurutin sila ng kanilang konsensya at masabing “Estudyante siya. Ama ako. Pareho kaming may pinanggugugulan ng perang nakalatag sa mga kamay namin”. Sana maisip ito ng ilan sa kanila na nasisikmurang hayaan ang mga estudyanteng nakangkas sa kanilang likuran habang nagdadalamhati ang
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langit. Makalikom lamang ng maraming pera sa dami ng pasahero, kinakalimutan nila ang kapakanan ng mga estudyante. Nakalulungkot na isiping sarili lamang nila ang kanilang iniintindi. Hinahayaan ang ilang pasaherong magkasakit. Siguro nga’y kaya ng kanilang budhi ang kumita kahit na ang iba ay nagdurusa na. Naranasan mo na bang halos malaglag ang iyong kaluluwa dahil sa napakabilis nilang pagpapatakbo? Naranasan mo na bang mauntog at mabukulan dahil sa walang habas nilang pagpapatakbo? May mga drayber na kung magpatakbo ay parang wala nang bukas; pilit nakikipagkarerahan kahit hindi naman kinakailangan. Minsan sana naman ay isapuso nila ang salitang kaligtasan. Humantong ka na rin ba sa nakakainis na puntong nagagalit sila dahil walang panukli? Halos araw-araw ko na yata itong nararanasan.
turn to p15
Cerca trova. Seek and find. Curious? Hmm… This is not a command. This is an invitation. I presume you are one of those frantic Filipinos who revolted against Dan Brown’s morbid descriptions of Manila. He wrote, “Manila had 6-hour traffic jams, suffocating pollution and a horrifying sex trade, whose workers consisted primarily of young children, many of whom had been sold to pimps by parents who took solace in knowing that at least their children would be fed.” Indeed, the upsetting image proclaimed by the famous author of our beloved city ignited rage among us. But that is not why I invited you. I do not intend to intensify the outrageous comments about our country.
I invited you to come with me to the gates of hell. Come with me. Together, let us seek and find. Let us swim forward into the unknown…and pray for an exit. Cerca trova. Harvard professor of symbology, Robert Langdon, wakes up disoriented in a hospital in Venice. Having a head wound, he recalls nothing of the events that had happened in the past two days. What’s strange is that a macabre object filled with disturbing codes and symbols is hidden in his jacket. Intrigued by the enigma of the unsolicited canister, Langdon begins to scrutinize it and discovers a horrific modified
S
painting of Botticelli’s La Mappa dell’Inferno—depicting the horrifying images of writhing bodies turned upside-down, an indication of grave and perpetual suffering in Hell. Soon, he breaks into a nightmare of non-stop chase, running for his life with a stoic young woman, Sienna Brooks, while trying to figure out how and why was this object in his possession, who are the people trying to kill him, and why. During the pursuit, Sienna does everything to save Langdon’s life. She helps Langdon finish his unknown mission and finds herself strangely attracted to the tall American professor. Amidst the clamor and confusion, Langdon and Sienna find themselves facing a huge jigsaw puzzle of life. One that is filled with codes that will lead them to an invention created by a brilliant scientist, Bertrand Zobrist—a pioneer of genetic engineering. As the search for this dangerous invention continues, Langdon learns the incomparable obsession of Zobrist to Dante Alighieri, especially on the famous author’s magnum opus The Divine Comedy. The clues left by the genius perfectly epitomize the first book of The Divine Comedy: Inferno. This style he used to associate his creation with impeccably makes a striking metaphor. One that leaves the readers amazed and entertained. The journey to unlocking the codes in Langdon’s hands will
take him and Sienna to the very heart of Italy. In here, Dan Brown waves his artistic wand in vividly describing every tree and shrub of the Boboli Gardens, every pillar and the dim lighting of the Vasari Corridor, every painting and artifacts located at the Hall of Five Hundred in the Palazzo Vecchio, and every intricate detail on the massive bronze gates of the Duomo—all of which, Langdon and Sienna will weave through in a labyrinth of secret passages within these historic edifices, struggling to elude their pursuers. Their journey will finally lead them to the depths of the submerged cistern of the gilded mouseion of holy wisdom: Istanbul’s gargantuan Hagia Sophia. In the so-called sunken palace beneath the Blue Mosque, a few blocks from Hagia Sophia, in the bloodred waters of the lagoon that reflects no stars, the purported plague created by Zobrist incubates, waiting for the right time to be dissolved into the water-filled room where it is tethered. In this novel, Zobrist is a prime mover of the Transhumanist group which believes that the only way to save the world from the edge of collapse due to overpopulation is to sacrifice the lives of few, in order to save the many. He had this burning love and desire for humanity that he advocates the modification of our genetic structure in order to improve our quality as humans, a stronger race, as he calls it. However, Zobrist’s idealism is highly disapproved
by the director of the World Health Organization, Dr. Elizabeth Sinskey and set forth to find Zobrist and do everything she can to prevent the dispersal of the plague. To add to the sizzle of events, Sienna will soon reveal that she is a long-time lover of Zobrist and did anything to stop him. Her betrayal left Langdon questions. Questions that layered Langdon’s mind with cynicism, not knowing who to trust anymore. What makes this novel far more interesting than its characters is the qualities of the so-called plague invented by Zobrist which deliciously mixes science with classicism in this fiction. However, unlike the common plagues, this plague isn’t designed to kill people. The vector virus created by Zobrist, which he named Inferno. is designed to make people infertile—a less brutal way to control mass overpopulation. Dan Brown’s new thriller novel will surely fascinate readers across the globe. Not only does it provide an exciting sensation and suspense, it also gives an accurate portrait of the aesthetic paintings, sculptures, spires and edifices that trace back to the Renaissance Period in the heart of Italy. It also leaves questions and wonders how science will be ultimately able to shape our fu-
ture. Dan Brown, l i k e Dante Alighieri, is f a m e d across the globe. Although these bards’ greatness couldn’t be compared with one another, considering the time frame and the genre, their names are already in songs of men. And so long as men speak your name, you shall never die. Brown ended his masterpiece with this scenario: The plague is all over the world. It has already infected everyone. Inferno. Now, I tell you, Hell had grant what we did seek—Zobrist’s plague. The chthonic monster. The key to overpopulation’s demise. Or so we thought. Cerca trova. Seek entertainment, find Inferno.
...the only way to save the world from the edge of collapse due to overpopulation is to sacrifice the lives of few, in order to save the many
ucking the Marrow Out of Life
Warning! This is not a biological lecture on the components of bones. You may have experienced being forced to extract hidden knowledge you didn’t know you had. Some of you may have been teaching your two left feet to dance with the irksome sounds emanating from a degree program chosen by your parents. Most of you might have been enduring the agony of imagining an alternate life, had you fought for the course you had dreamt of. And some of you might have wrestled with your parents and even school authorities, trying to defy their rotten conventionalities. If any of these describe the tiniest facet of your life, you may want to watch the epic movie entitled “Dead Poets Society.” Tradition and Travesty
Dead Poets Society is a 1989 motion picture focusing on the defiance of the conventional, conservative, and aristocratic methods of learning inside the allboys school of Welton Academy. With the school’s feat as the best preparatory school in the United States, they strictly abide by the four pillars: “tradition, honor, discipline, and excellence.”
The academy revolves around traditional methods of teaching, burdening the students. Learning, supposed to be a joyful craft, is an instrument of turmoil for many. Their eyes were strained to focus on a goal that was not theirs to devise. Parents were obsessed with the idea that their children are bound to be huge names in the future. Welton students were doomed to fall mindlessly into these predetermined paths until a new English literature professor, John Keating, sparked in them the sense of deviance they needed to purse their own dreams. Discipline and Decadence
The individual beliefs and characteristics of the boys who will find out about the almost-forgotten Dead Poets Society emerge in scene after scene. Neil Perry, who is being prepared to be a medical doctor by his father, is a model of excellence in the academy. The cripplingly shy Todd Anderson faces pressure to fill in giant shoes, his brother having been valedictorian at Welton. Knox Overstreet, a romantic, meets the love of his life. Charlie Dalton, the most flamboyant of them, is just itching to revolt against the academy’s coercive system. Other boys who comprise the group
Keating emphasized the difference between “being wise and stupid” in protesting against the rotten system.
are Cameron, Meeks, and Pitts. Tongue-in-cheek, the group mocks their beloved Welton Academy as “Hell-ton,” translating the school’s four pillars into “travesty, horror, decadence, and excrement.” In Mr. Keating’s first class, he led his students to a hallway displaying photographs of past Welton students. In that moment, he introduced to the boys a Robert Herrick poem, “To the Virgins to Make Much of Time,” in order to impart to them the Latin phrase, “Carpe diem (seize the day).” Tired of academic standards that attempt to “measure” the value of art, Keating later orders his students to rip the pages off a standard textbook. He launches into a litany of passion, saying, “We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race.” News of Keating’s actions reaches a Professor McAllister, who confronts him about his unconventional methods. They end up having a brief yet poetic debate over conformism and idealism. Excellence and Excrement A teacher’s power in bringing out the hidden talents of students is manifested in every scene. For instance, Mr. Keating triggered Todd to overcome his shyness by compelling him to spit
out a poem from his incredibly wild imagination. In another scene, Keating eccentrically reminds his students to look at things in a different way. Yet through another exercise, he demonstrated to his students the challenge of maintaining individuality in the midst of such a conformity-oriented environment. Dalton, having been mesmerized and moved to action by Keating’s words of unorthodoxy, later gets in trouble with the school administration. Here, Keating explained to him the difference between wisdom and stupidity when protesting against a rotten system. Honor and Horror
The main conflict of the movie is when Perry, discovers his true passion – to become an actor. Against his father’s wishes, he auditions and wins the main lead for the Shakespearean “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” He is able to perform, but is dragged home by his
by: Michael Nacario
infuriated father only minutes after the curtains close. Scolded for his artistic endeavor and threatened to attend a military school, Perry trembles under the pressure. The young boy, a fragile glass, slowly cracked, the water seeping out. He found his father’s gun. To furbish the horror of that night, the academy created a scripted investigation that made Keating appear to be the direct cause of Perry’s suicide, and the atypical professor was fired. Before leaving the academy, Keating had to drop by his old classroom, where his former students were in the middle of a lesson taught by the headmaster of Welton. The movie ends with a dramatic scene of respect and mutual adoration between students and a person who inspired them to believe in the value of their own personal ambitions. “O Captain, My Captain!” had never sounded so honorable.
14 TouchLiteraryMood Sika ket sikanto latta... uhay nga naman B by: Jireh Kyle Pajela
Ang saya at ang sarap mabuhay. Pero kahit anong saya ng buhay, andami pa ring nagdadrama. Andami pa ring nabubuhay upang wakasan ang sariling buhay. Mapa bata man o matanda, propesyunal o tambay, at kahit nga mga artista. Ang nakakaawa pa ay yung mga 'heartbroken' daw. Tsk, mas matino pa pala yung mga nakikita kong 'Sisa' na pakalat-kalat sa kalsada. Buti pa sila, pinagpapatuloy ang mamuhay sa kabila ng sitwasyon nila. Kahit na pinagtatawanan natin sila, nilalait, pinagtitripan, at pinandidirihan, nakakaya parin nilang ipagpatuloy ang buhay na ibinigay sa kanila. Buti pa sila. Hindi naman lingid sa atin na maraming mga pagsubok ang dumarating. ganun talaga eh, pero hindi dapat ito ang maging rason upang sumuko at ibaon ang sarili 'six-feet below the ground'. Tama na ang drama. Huwag gayahin ang mga makabagbag damdaming mga palabas sa telebisyon. Ipinalabas and mga ito uapang magbigay aliw at aral, hindi para himukin tayo na gayahin ang drama. Hay naku, tao nga naman kasi, mahilig mag 'copy cat'. Kung tatanungin mo kung maganda o masaya ang buhay ko, hindi ko muna sasagutin yan. Ano nga ba ang ikinabuti ng buhay ko at nasabi kong masaya at masarap mabuhay? Sige, ikukwento ko nalang ang ilang 'episode' ng buhay ko. Alam mo ba yung numerong siyam? (Malamang, oo) Sabi nila, masuwerte raw iyon. Ewan ko lang sa akin, hindi naman kasi ako naniniwala sa suwerte. Pero para sa akin, may kabuluhan na rin ang numerong iyon. Ika-siyam na buwan ng taon, siyam na araw pagkatapos ng aking kaarawan. Ang petsa kung saan ay sumakabilang dimensiyon ang tatay kong siyam na taon kong di nakasama. Hindi ko inakala na hahaba pa ang panahon na magkahiwalay kami. Hindi na siya babalik. Ikakasal na dapat sila ni Mama sa Disyembre ng taong iyon. Kumpleto na sana ang pamilya ko, ngunit napawi lamang ang paghangad nito. Siyempre naiyak din ako nun, pero yun na yata ang huling pagkakataon na umiyak ako ng kusa, dahil nasaktan ako. Sa oras na iyon, naging yelo na yata ang malambot kong puso. Alam mo ba yung pagkakataong di mo na matandaan kung kailan ka huling humagikgik dahil sa tuwa? Alam ko meron din namang tumatawa na hindi masaya. Alam mo rin ba yung pakiramdam na ang dami mong gustong gawin? Mga pangarap na pagkaganda-ganda, yung tipong nakikinita mo na ang iyong magandang kinabukasan. Kaya lamang, gumuho ang lahat ng mga iyon dahil nasipagan ka sa katamaran. Sayang, ang layo na sana ng narating. Naranasan mo na rin bang magka-bestfriend? Ako, oo, marami, nagsimula akong magka-bestfriend nung nasa ika-anim na baitang ako. Pero alam mo rin ba yung pakiramdam na pagkatapos ng isang taon ay nawawala na sila? Grabe, may 'expiration' na pala yun. Pwede kayang maglagay ng ad na 'Wanted: Bestfriend Forever'? Naku,naku, buhay nga naman. Naranasan na rin ba ng pamilya mo na makatanggap ng 'threats'? Kami, oo, hindi naman kami mayaman o negosyante pero nakatanggap na kami ng 'threats' na tinatawag. Ni wala nga kaming pagmamay-aring bahay o lupa. Nirerentahan nga lang namin angn bungalow naming bahay. Ni sasakyang kurong-kurong, wala. Ang meron lang sa amin ay 'Volvo....', may tuloy pa yan. Sa mga Ilokano, ang 'Volvo' ay 'Volvo-luden' (sa tagalog, hinihiram). Ang lupit ano. Sabi nila, mayayaman daw ang mga taga-siyudad. Pero para sa amin, hangin lang ang maginhawa. Okey na sa amin na nakaka-
kain pa rin ng tuyo na naihain sa hapag. Suwak na sa amin ang magtimpla ng tig-dos pesos na kape at mabahaginan ng pinagtabasan ng tinapay sa bakery ng kapit-bahay. Ayos, sabi nga sa Bibliya, 'Love your neighbor'. Naranasan mo na rin bang isipin kong magpapatuloy ka pang magaral? Kung kakayanin mo pa bang pumasok na kumakalam ang sikmura at wala pang pananghalian? Ako, naranasan ko na iyan. Naranasan mo na rin bang maaksidente? Ako noo, naranasan ko ng mabunggo ng motorsiklo. Alam mo ba ginawa ko? Pagkatapos ng aksidente, pinilit kong tumayo at maglakad kahit masakit and buong katawan ko. (Yung nakabunggo sa akin, yun tumba rin.) Iniisip ko kasi na kailangan kong bumili ng longganisang ulam namin. kaya iyon nga ang ginawa ko at saka umuwi na parang walang nangyari. (Yung nakabunggo sa akin, dinedma ko lang. Ang inisip ko kasi ay makauwi ako bitbit ang longganisang ulam namin. Buti na lang, hindi ako duguan. Yung mga nakabunggo ata sa akin ang napuruhan.) Lumipas ang isang araw noon bago ko sinabi sa pamilya ko ang nangyari. Ang tapang ko ano, ako na yata ang buhay na 'Wonder Woman'. May isa pang aksidente, yung kuya ko naman. Aksidente nga naman, nasa gilid na nga ng daan, nabubunggo pa. Isang Nissan Patrol ang nakabunggo sa kanya. Ang aksidenteng naging dahilan kung bakit walong buwan na siyang nakahiga sa kama. Ang saklap. sa isang iglap, unti-unting napukaw ang mga pangarap. Nagtataka ka siguro kung saang parte ng kwento ko ang nagpapatunay na masaya at masarap mabuhay. Maganda yan, magtaka ka lang. Kaibigan, kahit ganito pa man ang naging karanasan ko, ni minsan hindi ko inisip na tumalon mula sa Gilbert Bridge. Sayang naman ang maganda kong pangalan kung kakabitan lamang ito ng pangit na pangyayari. Ni hindi ko rin inisip na nakawin ang tali ng alagang kambing ng lolo ko upang itali ito sa puno at isabit sa leeg ko at hayaang malagutan ako ng hininga. Para sa akin, ginintuang kwentas na may diyamante lamang ang sinsabit sa maganda kong leeg. Hindi ko rin inisip na ioverdose ang sarili ko sa gamot at pagkatapos ay bubula na lamang ang bibig. Ni 'vitamins' nga na pinapa-inom sa akin ni Mama ayaw kong inumin, sandosenang tableta pa kaya. Bibili na lamang ako ng 'toasted bread', siguradong mabubusog pa ako. Bumangon ka kaibigan, may rason kung bakit ka nabubuhay. Para san pa ang bukang liwayway, o mga bituin at buwan sa gabi? Tignan mo ang iyong sarili at masdan ang paligid. Alamin mo kung anong rason kung bakit ka nabubuhay. Marami kang makikita, bibigyan kita ng halimbawa. Si Ate Yca, kaibigan ko. Akala namin noong nalaman niya na may gf na ata yung crush niya eh tumalon na sa bintana ng Room 206. Hindi pala. At ano kamo ang sinabi niya sa amin? Eto lang naman, :Bakit naman ako magpapakamatay? Sayang naman si crush kung mapupunta siya sa iba." O diba, ang lakas ng 'fighting spirit'. Si DJ naman na nagdadrama na hindi nakapasok na 'staffer' sa 'school paper'. Akala namin ay minasaker na niya yung isang nakapasang 'correspondent'. Pero sabi niya, :Ayos lang, may next time pa naman." Buhay na buhay pa turn to the next page
by: Michelle Galangera
Palubosannak man a lukaisan dagitoy kurtina, A naiyartap ditoy diding kas iseselnag ti init iti agsapa; A kas ibubukirad dagitoy dua a ruangan ti mata, Kageddan ti umayamuom nga angot ti dalluyon aggaput’ daya.
No labsek ti agsao, saan a makaumanay dagiti bilang ti ramayko, A mangsaggaysa kadagiti nagkallaysa a kanito; Sangaraay a gundaway ti malaglagipko, Sipud pay naam-ammoka o biagko!
Ngem no kasanut’ kinapakumbabak, kastat’ kinatangigmo… panagkunak. Amin intedko, awan nagkurangak; Kasano la unay ti kayatmo a panangtagibenkot’ ayatmo? Ladingiten ‘toy riknak ta inpalubosmo nga artapak ‘toy tanemko.
Napalaus la unay ti panagleddaangko iti ipapanawmo, Dikan maimatangan iti sidongko; Sisasaganaak iti aniaman a mapasamak, Uray pay panaginnadayota tungpal biag.
Numan pay dagiti naikitikit a karkari, Ket uray inton kaano man didanto pulos agsublin; Naragsakak to a manglaglagip kenka, A kas ipupukkaw toy nanumo a pusok… SIKSIKANTO LATTA!
enta
Y
by: Mark John Ley Ligsay
Adu a parsua ita a panawen Babainda ket napukawen Agitsismis ti saan a kusto Agipadamag ti saan nga umno
Dagitay ngata ti impaadal dagiti nagannakda? Agiwaras saan nga agpayso a sarsarita, Mangpadakes padada a tao? Agbasol iti sanguanan ti Dios Apo! Siasinnoman a ti ugalina ket kasdiay Dina koma urayen a dumteng pay la ni Patay A mangpasardeng iti nalaad a panagsarsarita Ken tapno masalbar pay ti kararuana Datayo met a mapanda ipadpadamag Panunotentayo a parte laeng daytoy ti biag Ammotayo la ketdi ti usto Baybay-antayo latta dagitoy a tsismosa, tsismoso Isuda ti mangpaspasikat kadatayo.
LaughComic wit by: Herleyson Baldoz
h
CREEPY
You study in a crowded classroom. You sit on a hopeless chair. You sweat under a defective fan. You pee in a horrible CR. You are cheated during enrolment. Et cetera.
You are a pathetic Stallion. You are forsaken. Now here comes the freakin’ awesome WEBENGERS, the newest league of superheroes with the nerve to save Mu Mu Sa University, the academe of the forsaken! Allegedly established by the frustrated avenger Spiderman, this alliance, through their Pestbook fan page named Arachnus Arachnos, proudly proclaimed themselves to be the epic responsible behind the burning of the ZETZ Building. Die-hard fans of these superheroes feel disappointed because they have not yet shown their faces or appear in public even just for recognition and appreciation. But it’s a common notion, superheroes work secretly. This mysterious spiderinspired alliance has got the most silkily creative ideas in the world! According to their Cobwebstitution and By-legs, the body, to resemble a spider it seems, must be composed of one head and twelve legs, equaling so to thirteen members. They declared from Sir Arsi...p16 kahit isang level lang ay aangat kayo.” Iba-iba rin ang kanyang mga challenge, which I keep in mind always and translated into actions. Palagi niyang sinasabi na, “kaya natin.” And the best weapon to win in any game and any competition is to pray hard, which we always do.
What words do you have for our athletes who continue to toil for the honor and glory of the university? We had the overall championship for 10 straight years already. Let’s continue with our sports supremacy; not only sports excellence, but also sports
15
ReliefTrip
power comes Responsibility
that they only need eight more members to make their collaboration a reality. They might have forgotten that a real spider has 8 legs only but 12 makes it so much creepier. Foolishly wise! Well, application of membership is kind of interesting. One aspirant must kill one present member in order for him to enter the league. However, completion is conceived but only replacement is achieved. Looks like out of logic. Yet, one desirable trait of the Webengers is sovereignty. They are free to say whatever they want in any way they want. Freestyle if we call it. They may distort their sentences if they wish to be observed in their formal public notices. If there must be a more realistic phenomenon, the alliance has better find three, instead of eight, new members majoring in Zoology, Logic, and Grammar respectively. Contrary to the famous definition of a superhero, these Webengers living their niche crave to carry out adverse undertakings to transmute the world into a better habitat. They have to destroy a hopeless environment to put hope in it. They wish to kill a portion of the community to keep the rest of it alive. How rational! Yet somehow, they have a point. For instance,
the alliance claimed that their first infestation targeted, as mentioned above, the haunted-looking ZETZ Building which is supposedly their home with the Bats, Rats, Cockroaches, and other pests. They cast a web of fire around the edifice to burn it entirely down into ashes. Alas, they fail a bit to succeed because the structure is made of concrete. And after that, they also frightened the mass, begging for millions of pesos to rebuild their home, that, if not granted, they have no choice but to kill a hundred people during graduation. There seems to be a moral in the metaphor brought by the Webengers. They symbolize the students while ZETZ building represents the whole university. The building is being managed by some people and dwelt by the Webengers. At some part of the building, there is comfort; that means in others, there is less or maybe none. Webengers may really possess good hearts and yearn to death for balance that they may cause warnings and threats to achieve it. They desperately want people to take care of them. Perhaps, what they want to convey to the public especially the administration of the university is that there should be a balance in everything. It should
not be that new things become n e w e r whereas old things look even older. It should not be that intelligent students become more intelligent while the opposite becomes poorer and poorer. Their real identities are not yet revealed and only a few dare to discover them for the danger it may cause. They may have vanished for good but their ve n o m o u s sting in the hearts and minds of some might still remain. Talk about arachnophobia. Webengers bear the glory of their self-endowed power and now they carry the burden of their selfproclaimed responsibilities. But regardless of how credible the
supremacy at its highest peak. Long Live Stallions!
asang patuloy akong mabubuhay para sa sarili ko at sa iba at pananalig na kaya kong patalunin ang bundok patuno sa dagat. Ayan, at sana may naisip ka ng rason kung bakit ka nabubuhay. Bumangon ka kaibigan sa tinik ng rosas mong himlayan. Nasugatan ka man, maghihilom din yan. Imulat mo ang iyong mga mata, masdan ang kalangitan. May mga ulap man na dumaan, hayaan mo lang. Hayaan mong ibuhos nito ang dalang ulan, dahil pagkatapos nito, makikita mo ulit ang maaliwalas ang bughaw na langit. At sana mapagtanto mo ngang masaya at masarap mabuhay.
from Panambitan ni...p12
from Buhay nga naman...p14
naman si DJ, masaya pa ring kasama at mas matakaw pa sa akin kung kumain. Simple lang naman ang motto niya, "Maganda ako." Motibasyon niya yan para patuloy siyang mabuhay at lumaban hangga't may hininga. May bago siyang pangarap, iyon ay ang maging direktor daw ng mga "Indie Films". Ayos, libre lang naman ang mangarap. Ako naman, ang meron lang ako ay pag-asa at pananalig sa Diyos. Mababaw man pero malaki ang naging epekto nito sa buhay ko. Pag-
Mag-aabot ka na nga ng bente ay ipagpipilitan pang walang panukli kahit na sa pagkahaba-haba ng panahong pagkakaupo mo ay narinig mo ang pagkalansing ng barya sa kahong kinalalagyan ng mga ito. Minsan ay nanaisin mong makipagdebate ngunit mapagtatanto mong sayang ang oras. Hindi rin lang naman sila magbabago. Sa puntong ito’y wala akong kinikimkim na napakalaking galit sa kanila. Ang sa akin lamang ay matuto naman silang umunawa. Kung puwede lang sanang sumigaw ang bawat pisong nasa bulsa ko ay marahil matagal nang nabingi ang mga drayber na iyon. Ngunit pipi ang salapi.
testimonies of these superheroes are, enough to be saluted with pride and honor in jail, evidences will still prevail at the end and necessary actions will be applied to solve the various problems existing in and out of the academe of the forsaken. Sila ang alipin at pinuno ng lipunan. Ngunit sa mas kritikal na konteksto, salapi ang siyang ugat ng mga maiitim na gawain. Ako si Marciano. Lantaran kong inilahad ang mga mensaheng matagal ko ng kinikimkim. Magising na sana sila. At sana, darating pa ang araw na matututo silang magpreno at panandaliang pagpahingain ang makina ng kanilang mga motorsiklo. Sana naman, ang pamasahe ay hindi habangbuhay na makikisabay sa pagharurot ng kanilang matuling pagpapatakbo. Batid kong lahat ng ginagawa natin ay may pinanghuhugutan. Ngunit dapat nating isaalangala ang kapakanan ng ating kapwa upang magkaroon ng kaaya-ayang relasyon sa bawat isa.
Escape the Fate by: Jireh Kayl Pajela
by: Clarence Manarpaac
by:Aivan Jericho Labuguen
by: Herleyson Baldoz
by:Oscar Agustin
by: Clarence Manarpaac
by:Oscar Agustin
Run kid, run! Don't stop, no, don't. Don't think, just run. Run to the door. Door of your freedom. freedom of your soul. Soul's been weary. Weary you are. Open your eyes. Eyes been blind. Blind to the truth. Truth you fail to see. Pathetic child. See that door? It's the same. The same door you have entered. Just the entryway. No way out. No exit. No escape. So kid, will you still run?
by:Aivan Jericho Labuguen
16
Conquest
Triumph
Sir Arsi shares Stallions’ strides of victory by: John Lester Alos
Prof. Arsenio Gallego, Director of the Physical Education, Sports and Socio-cultural Development Office (PESSDO), reveals the schedule, clarifies changes, enumerates factors, and challenges athletes in polishing the green and gold emblem to gear up for the seasoned State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association (SCUAA) competitions through a short interview. When is the University Palaro for this year scheduled? How about the SCUAA-I Regional Sports Olympics? Who will be the host university? In the calendar of PESSDO and as agreed upon by the College Sports Coordinators, if everything will be set fine, we will have the Palaro a week after enrolment for the second semester. With regard to the Regional Sports Olympics, we met with the different regional directors of SUCs [State Universities and Colleges] last September 25, and we agreed that the Regional SCUAA would be on January 8-13, 2014, at the University of Northern Philippines, Vigan City. This is by virtue of rotation.
Last year, the Unigames lasted for only two days. Will there be any change this year? Originally, we had it for four days. But in order to cope with so many vacations and holidays, we decided to do it for three days only. And if we can come up with an agreeable schedule for everyone, hopefully this year we can go back to the double elimination because we only had a single elimination last year. Para mas gaganahan ang mga estudyante, and to have better choices. Tell us about the change in the scoring system for last academic year’s University Palaro. We have a separate overall trophy for cultural, and we have another for sports. But we have a perpetual trophy that they can get if you combine their performances in these fields. Before we implemented this change, we referred it to the Mathematics Department of CAS and to the University Statistician. When they approved the system, ginamit na natin last year. That’s why we have the perpetual trophy.
Sports Feature
Gintong alay ni Mitra by: Aristotel Aaron Agpaoa and Alyssa Marie Jacinto
Maugong ang pangalang Fatima Altarejos Mitra isang 3rd year BS Agricultural Engineering sa larangan ng shotput matapos niyang sunod-sunod na ilampaso at pakainin ng alikabok ang kanyang mga kalaban sa mga nakaraang State Universities and Colleges (SUC). Isa siyang patunay sa matulin at malakidlat na pagarangkada ng MMSU Stallions sa mundo ng isports. Laki siyang Maynila ngunit taglay niya ang pusong Ilokana. Bata pa lamang, nakakitaan na siya ng potensyal upang maging tanyag na atleta. Nahubog nang husto ang kanyang kakayahan nang siya’y sumailalim sa puspusang pag-eensayo noong siya’y nasa antas elementarya, taong 2003. Mula noon, naging beterana na siya sa Ilocos Region Athletic Association (IRAA) at nagtamo ng walong gintong medalya sa lood ng tatlong taon. Lagi niyang pinapauwing luhaan ang mga kalahok mula sa ibang mga rehiyon sa SCUAA sa loob ng tatlong taon mula nang siya’y naging kolehiyo. Noong 2011, nakamit niya ang unang gintong medalya sa SCUAA Nationals. Sinundan ito ng isa pang ginto at tansong medalya noong 2012 SCUAA Nationals. Naging mas matunog ang kanyang pangalan ng tinangay niya ang isa nanamang gintong medalya at isang pilak sa nakaraang 2013 SCUAA Nationas. Lalo pang tumatak ang kanyang pangalan nang nagpamalas siya ng makapatindigbalahibong tira na umabot sa layong 9.53 na metro. Hindi niya iniinda ang mainit na sikat ng araw
sapagkat nag-aalab sa kanyang puso ang hangaring iangat hindi lamang ang kaniyang sarili kung hindi pati na rin ang pangalan ng unibersidad. Matinding pag-eensayo ang kanyang pinagdadaanan araw-araw bilang paghahanda sa mga nalalapit na kompetisyon. Taglay niya ang pagpupursiging mahirap tibagin sapagkat maging sa kanilang bahay ay pinapatibay pa niyang lalo ang lakas ng kanyang istamina at mga kamay sa pamamagitan ng iba’t ibang mga routines. Para sa kanya, ang lahat ng kaniyang naabot at narating ngayon ay dahil sa walang tigil na pag-suporta at buong pusong paggabay ng mga taong naniniwala sa kakayahan niya lalo na ang kanyang tagapagsanay at buong MMSU faculty at staff. “Isang karangalan ang maging MVP ng isang napakalaking institusyon lalo pa’t maraming mga atleta ang nagpapakitang gilas masungkit lamang ang titulong ito. Sa mga kapwa ko manlalaro, ipagpatuloy lamang ang pakikibaka at pangangarap dahil hindi tayo pababayaan ng minamahal nating MMSU”, magiliw na inilahad ni Mitra. Bilang gantimpala sa natatangi niyang kakayahan, siya’y isa sa mga athletic scholars ng unibersidad. Inaasahang mas marami pang atleta ang magpupursigi upang magbigay karangalan sa MMSU gayong maraming mga benepisyo ang naghihintay sa mga may katangitanging talento sa larangan ng isports.
How well does our administration support our athletes? I’ve always told people that I’m the most blessed and luckiest director among the five SUCs in Region 1 because I’m getting 100% support from the administration, alumni officers, non-teaching staff, faculty association and student councils. That support is propelling us to the top. Given the university’s success in last year’s National Cultural and Literary Tilt, are you inclined to believe that MMSU is now at par with other SUCs in the national sports arena? Why do you say so? Let’s put it this way: it’s not only MMSU who competed. We had other SUCs in Region 1; we only led them. Sa cultural, oo, pero sa sports, tinatanggap ko naman na hindi pa natin kaya. Our time will come. Kailangan lang siguro nating maghintay ng tamang pagkakataon. What do you think was the cause for our athletes’ lackluster performance in the SCUAA National Sports Olympics? Compared to other universities in other regions, they have high-caliber trainers, and they got all the aces; tayo, wala. Sooner or later, magkakaroon tayo niyan. And another factor kung bakit tayo
nagkakaroon ng lackluster performance ay nasa athletes din. In terms of skill, wala pa tayo doon sa level na maging champion. And this year, ang goal namin for MMSU ay magkaroon tayo ng gold in one of the team sports. Palagi naman tayong may gold medal, pero isa o dalawa lang. How does the university cope with such shortcomings and move towards better performance in the national level?
First, we are revitalizing the recruitment and training program. With this, I know for sure we will get the better athletes to banner the green and gold. Second is to level up the heel in training and coaching the athletes. What were the words of challenge left to you by the University President? Every time na pupunta tayo sa competition, palagi siyang
may sinasabi sa’kin. When we went to the National PASUC Cultural Festival, ang sabi niya sa akin, “Arsi, I know we have an edge over other regions in cultural competitions, so if we made it as third runner-up last time, siguro naman ay kaya niyong turn to p15
Basketball exhibition game between MMSU Stallions and Omega Pro
Bad weather suspends Stallions’ 1st battle
The excitement of game MMSU
escalating the exhibition between the Stallion and Omega Pro of Cebu was suspended after the end of first quarter reaching only a score of 31-19 due to heavy rainfall that flooded the university covered court, August 6. Stallions struggled to make a basket in the first minutes of the game adjusting mainly on the large physiques of Omega Pro’s players generating the latter’s preliminary d e f e n s e . Incessant booming jeers from Stallion fans served as the booster of the team which paved their way to generate nerve-wrecking shots. Stallions’ struggling offense against unprecedented shots of Omega Pro was sympathized by sudden darkening of clouds concluding a cruel
by: Michael Nacario and Dale Addun
weather. Heavy rain became the metaphor of Stallions sweats and tears in lambasting the tricks of Omega Pro. The sky lamented with the Stallions for managing only 19 points compared to the opponents’ crunching score of 31. Anthony Mata, one of the coaches of the team, said that their performance exceeded his expectations considering only the two-week training that they had since the start of this academic year. Some of the varsity players of MMSU are newly-selected and the match was their first game this season. “Despite the gap of the scores, I am still proud of their performance considering the game was ambushed and the opposing team’s composed of well-trained players who even experienced playing in the national arena”, indicated Mata. The coaches of both team admitted that the game cannot be totally evaluated basing from the results of the first quarter. The heat of the game was still getting at its climax when it halted due to the inconvenience brought by the weather. Spectators, composed mainly of MMSU students, shared their dismay with the game pointing out the failed purpose of the university covered court. “The construction of this covered court is not yet fully done since the administration still plans to put
barriers around the court so it won’t be flooded when it rains hard like this”, said Prof. Arsenio Gallego, Director of Physical Education, Sports, and Socio-cultural Development Office (PESSDO). “They have potentials. They only need to strengthen their communication with their team members to improve their performance”, shared Emmanuel Calo, star player of Omega Pro. With a slogan of “Alay Basketball Tungo sa Pakikipagkaibigan”, Omega Pro tours around the country sponsored by the International Pharmaceutical Incorporated (IPI) for promotional campaign of their products that specifically cater to athletes. Players were composed of college graduates from different colleges and universities in Cebu. Some of them were also members of Philippine Basketball’s Association (PBA) like Jan Villaver, reserve of Red Bull. According to Mr. Norberto Manalili, team’s head coach, they have already visited some provinces like Pangasinan, La Union, and Ilocos Sur since the start of the year. Their route goes to north targeting mainly academic institutions. The team’s name was taken from the newest product of IPI which is Omega Pro. As they offer a friendly game, they also distribute samples of their products.