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nudoveritas • Vol. 27 No. 2 • February 2022-June 2022
DEAD MINDS FOR DEADLINES TWO YEARS LATER
by NICOLE BONSILAO
ane slumps; breathes a sigh of defeat when the assignment J tab disappeared at the stroke of midnight. Having spent the morning tending to her siblings and the afternoon looking after
their carinderia, she now tends to her academic duties. Two years later, Jane beams as she marches onstage with a silver medal on her chest, carrying her diploma with her head up high. After all that she has gone through, this final hurrah signifies a new journey to embark on. “It was bittersweet,” she expressed her sentiments in an interview. For Jane, her countless struggles with academics and familial responsibilities weren’t easy to balance. Especially in a no face-to-face setup, having no stable internet connection and inadequate resources hung heavier on an already heavily burdened student. If we recall, the Department of Education noted that 3 million fewer students enrolled in 2020 because of the dilemma of a virtual academic setup. There were countless times that she doubted herself and often pondered the idea of dropping out and resuming until the situation alleviates, but expressed she could not put years of hard work dissipate. “Maybe my senior high school life wasn’t a smooth sailing journey mainly because it was hard to juggle SCAN TO READ PART 1 all my responsibilities other than academics. However, I was able to overcome it all,” she said. Jane conveys how grateful she is for the many opportunities that opened for her. With most institutions pushing for hybrid and face-toface classes in the coming academic year, Jane is hopeful for her journey, “I don’t know what becomes of my next journey, but I know I’ll never give up whatever comes my way.” With battling dead minds for deadlines and juggling responsibilities, and despite the anxiety of what lies ahead, on the podium stands the triumphant Jane who pushed through it all.
FINDING PEACE AS A FORMER 4PS
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espite centuries-long struggles for women’s equality and status in society, biased opinions toward the woman and her position continue to be a troubling circumstance. This is well-reflected in the National Elections 2022 in how Leni Robredo and Sara Duterte become subject to criticism and gender-biased opinions that belittle and target their leadership—all just for being a woman. In politics, the color says it all. While green has been a neutral color paired with its stark-red counterpart, pink has faced its dilemmas all for being too “feminine” by the country’s macho-political standards. Pink may have always been regarded as a woman’s color representing calmness and compassion— but it doesn’t mean it cannot lead. This calm and compassionate leadership is seen in the current Supreme
by MARTHA MACALTAO
n the city of Cagayan de Oro, Balulang houses hope for those in poverty in the form of Ishines a parlor. Where both hard work and beauty bloom—the owner—a former 4Ps member, with perseverance after bringing her family to a life out of poverty. Evelyn Caballero, mother of three and wife to a diligent taxi driver, is a force to be reckoned with. Despite witnessing the destruction of her parlor during Typhoon Sendong in December 2011, her heart continued to burn with perseverance. As a Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiary, Evelyn took and graduated in the Beauty Care Course of Philippine Institute of Skills and Development (PISAD), and passed the NC II accreditation by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). With a heart full of pride, she proudly marched up on stage with her husband and daughters, happy for her success at the PISAD graduation ceremony. As an entrepreneur and a mother, the pressure of having to make ends meet for the sake of her children’s education is heavy. Despite having a TESDA accreditation and being eligible to work abroad, she is determined to stay in the country to guide her daughters in their formative years—thus deciding to rebuild Shammah Beauty Parlor and start over. Evelyn keeps a steady stream of customers thanks to her high-quality and affordable services; and her dream of providing a better life for her family, particularly for her three children's schooling became a reality. Her aspirations don’t stop there. "The training has aided me and other compatriots who had previously been denied such possibilities to better our lives. Pantawid Pamilya recipients, too, are
by NICOLE BONSILAO
now receiving the advantages of government initiatives," she said, expressing her gratitude for the program. She extended a hand to the DSWD-Field Office X Haven for Women—a center for victim-survivors of abuse—and educated them in manicure, pedicure, foot massage, make-up, and spa, wanting to see other people succeed. The success of the 4Ps in keeping Filipino children healthy and in school was highlighted in the Impact Evaluation Report, released every three years by the agency and partner organizations of World Bank, Australian Aid, and Asian Development Bank. 4Ps, as noted in its findings, encourages households to invest in education, does not foster dependency or increased spending on vice products, and allows parents to aim for a brighter future for their children. Evelyn Caballero is one force to be reckoned with, and many others will follow her footsteps very soon. "I can only achieve all of my ambitions for myself, my spouse, and my children through the help of schooling," she shared. To live out of poverty via education and have a dream of an opulent life that would never end is an aspiration many should follow. Should this mindset come about, we could only hope for success to be caught in the grasps of many and heroes like Evelyn to grow in numbers.
Student Government (SSG) and actively upheld by its president, Ms. Kyla Tiffany Javier. “When I ran for presidency, back when I was just still campaigning with my party, I have always made sure that it was a collaborative effort between me and my members,” she expressed. Her approach to leading a student government has always been open and impartial, something
