The Bosun April 2016 by The Bosun

Associate Editor Ara Espina* Liezl Cabrera Managing Editors Gleefer Jalea* Rob Rosario* Shiloh Laciste Anica Franco News Editors Isa Abola* DJ Navarro* Miguel Alonzo Pia Medina Andre Rañeses Promenade Editors Liezl Cabrera* Maxine Castillo* Bianca Marañon Kristina Garcia Christine Zamora Politics AND Opinion Editors Carlos Victa Allen Urnieta Schools Section Editors Karina Pineda* Pat Cabatay Ave Merencillo Cathy Zamora Sports Editors Miguel Alonzo* Cyb Cruz Andione Rañeses Training AND Development Heads Bianca Marañon* Anica Franco* Clarisa Manzon Allen Fernandez Patrice Salas

Socia Media Heads Patrice Salas* ArianneTimola Canoy Dindin Romar Bercasio Arianne Canoy Bercasio Romar Bercacio Marketing Heads Mich Sianghio Ramon del Rosario Gio Herrera Ramon del Rosario DESIGN Heads Shiloh Laciste* Trista Lingao Denise Tan * Outgoing Contributors [Articles] Gab Abit, Cathy Lee, Loub Balatbat, Mika Bernardo, Jesselle Pollero, Mafe Sanchez, Andrea Lim, Mikee Lim, Antonette Pasquin, Kat Olan, Tina Enriquez, Hanna Arbilo, Pauline Torrejon, Katherine Arevalo, Brylle Bae, Ana de Luna, Patrick Nafarrete [Photos] UA&P CCO, Wendel Domingo, Grace Wong, Reinal Fortes, POLIS, UA&P Comelec, The Blaze Photographers Rheia Maliuanag Micah Buela Paolo Navarro Paulo Jacinto Graphics Cathy Lee Ramon del Rosario Mich Sianghio Patricia Dela Chica Layout Shiloh Laciste Denise Martir

Cover design: Shiloh Laciste Ship picture on cover: Yakovleva, Daria. Sailing ship top view. Digital Image. Shutterstock, n.d.

EDITORIAL BOARD

Editor in Chief: Rhencis Ann Recaña* Maxine Castillo

What’s Inside? News Bulletin Sports - The Psychology Behind Being a Sports Fan - MS. Ross in PBA - MNCAA Futsal Champion Promenade - Heroes United! - Notes on the Insta-culture - Kalyeserye: A Glimpse - Codename: Xander Returns…Onstage - The Return of the B.O.X. - 1967 Thank Yous: Big Things by Small Hands - Shakespeare’s Not Dead - Blocking Writer’s Block - Mortimer Adler on How to Tackle Readings - Torre de Manila: The Tower that Rocked Manila - Why We Have Fandoms - 6 Things You Probably Don’t Know about the Eucharistic Procession - Pecha Kucha 2015: The Highlights of a Night of Fighting the Dark Side - The Story behind the Belens in UA&P Schools - SLG: The Beauty of the Liberal Arts Education - SCM: Confluence: The Liberal Arts and SCM Majors - Liberating the Sciences: The Role of Liberal Arts - SMN: Not about the Money - SEC: Ceteris Paribus (Other Things Held Constant) - Humanities : Of Life, learning, and Culture - SED: To Educate is Human Politics and Opinion - To Vote: Musings on the Upcoming 2016 Presidential Elections - #LoveWins? Syrian Exodus - The Science Fiction #LoveWins? - Syrian Exodus The Science Fiction lives after - Mamasapano: One year and 44 sixty lives after

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News bulletin

Editor’s Note

SHIFTS

Sometimes, we are too caught up in the now—there’s just too many things on our plate today—that we are startled when confronted by changes, significant or not.

UA&P Junior College & Integrated Six-Year University Program In response to the K-12 Law, the University will be offering Junior College starting school year 2016-2017.

A month from now, we will be having a new face in the Malacañang and in other government offices. That, we knew was coming while most of us were caught red-handed throwing our frustrations about the outgoing administration. There may be nothing wrong with that as we become more aware of what needs to be done by the incoming government officials since we have immersed ourselves greatly to the current haps and mishaps of the country. However, focusing too much on the now and what has come creates a fear for some: believing that a huge progress which can be felt by every Filipino, especially those who consider themselves poor, is nearly impossible. On a brighter side, three months after that shift in the Philippine government, we will be seeing two new kinds of faces in the University—that of the incoming first year college students and that of the pioneers of our Junior College, the equivalent of senior high school in the University. Twenty-one years have passed ever since the University was also confronted with a change as big, or even bigger, as the establishment of Junior College. It was in 1995 when the Center for Research and Communication, which was then a thinktank and a graduate school, became the University of Asia and the Pacific and accepted its first batch of undergraduate students. Such a shift was made possible and successful because of the solid vision of the people who have established UA&P giving way to educated students who they hope would become catalysts of progress in the Asia-Pacific region and in the rest of the world. From here, we can see that right on that moment when we are confronted with change face-to-face, we, as human beings, naturally immerse ourselves on what has come and even on what will still be coming. That, we do through looking back to the past and having a good vision of the future. As what history professors have told us, there’s no other way to make sense of the now other than to review the past and imagine the future. We always have a choice to be afraid of the unknown, to hope for something greater, or to be indifferent about what is coming. The said approaching changes might not be considered by some of us as something relevant. But relevance is not always something that just happens; it’s something that we should also work hard for. Maybe, instead of finding the relevance of things to us, we should be doing our best to be relevant to important things. We, in The Bosun, know how hard it is to try to be relevant. As a publication, we have continually strived to be of relevance to UA&P students. In our five years of existence, there were moments when we have failed and have succeeded. Undoubtedly, there are a lot of things which we need to improve on so as to successfully and consistently be of relevance to our dear readers. That, we do, through making sure steps little by little such as launching the website this school year and hosting the USG candidates’ miting de avance and debate. We hope that each of us would be making our own baby step towards creating our relevance—may it be in the form of enduring the long line in the precinct poll so as to be able to vote for the right president or to reflect on our own lives to see how we can become better persons. There’s really nothing too small a step towards good change. Every second is the right moment to take a step that will start to create significant changes which we hope would not just startle the others but also encourage them to take their own step.

Rhencis Ann Recaña Editor in Chief

According to Dr. Antonio Torralba, UA&P Board of Trustees member, UA&P has decided to offer Junior College to Grade 10 graduates with the added edge of giving them an opportunity to obtain a master’s degree through the Six-year Integrated University Program, the foundation of which is a strong liberal arts curriculum – one of the hallmarks of a UA&P education. Available Master’s degrees include MA in Communication major in Integrated Marketing Communications, MA in Humanities, MS in Management, MS in Industrial Economics, and MA in Political Economy with Specialization in International Relations and Development

KAPELEKSYON: A New Avenue for Thought Discussions The Business Economics Association of the School of Economics, together with The Bosun, launched Kapeleksyon—a series of monthly forums wherein the current and major issues in the country are discussed. It aims to unify the different schools in UA&P through conversations. The first three Kapeleksyon forums tackled the platforms of the presidential candidates, the Bangsamoro Basic Law, and P-Noy’s administration.

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THE BOSUN | 4 Defensor & Robredo Dominated Mock Election of PolThought Students Students taking Political Thought under Ms. Vida Gruet held a Philippine presidential and vice-presidential mock election which was opened to UA&P students, faculty, and staff. Six hundred ninety-six people participated or about a fourth of the UA&P population. Miriam Santiago and Leni Robredo emerged as the chosen president and vice president. The students also aimed to raise awareness about the platforms of each candidate through representing each candidate in a mock miting de avance and debate.

University Residence Hall Construction On-going

Photos taken by Micah Buela, Paolo Navarro and Rheia Maliuanag. Graphics provided by POLIS, The Blaze, UA&P Comelec

Last February 2016, the Professional Organization and Council of the School of Law and Governance, POLIS, launched the POL ECO month. This occasion was a month-long event comprised of a series of activities aimed at giving the UA&P community a concrete idea of the nature of Political Economy. Unlike the previous years, wherein the organization celebrated February by holding EDSA week in commemoration of the People Power Revolution last 1987, POLIS worked with The Bosun and MMC to promote the new event which gave importance to political milestones in the Philippines. POL ECO month consisted of six major events that advocated the event’s theme: “2016 Elections: A Beginning of Change.”

I-SA Dance Crew Celebrated its 20th Anniversary

UA&P and the University Center Foundation (UCF) tied-up in order to come up with the plan for the new University Residence Hall and to start its construction. It is being constructed along Escriva Drive in the open space where buses for school trips would usually park and is expected to finish construction by January 2017. According to Engr. Paulino C. Lazarte, member of the building committee of the project, the University Residence Hall will act both as a dormitory and a center for men, providing more facilities for the male population of the University. It is mostly geared towards the formation of the male students, similar to the activities of Amber; the building will include a chapel for dormers and visitors.

Political Economy Month: A Beginning of Change

Leading the Vote: The 360° Approach

Varsity Teams & Clubs’ Milestones Men’s Futsal – Champion in MNCAA Futsal Championships Men’s Table Tennis – 2nd Runner-up in 12th MNCAA Table Tennis Tournament Women’s Table Tennis – 1st Runner-up in WCSA Table Tennis Tournament Men’s & Women’s Table Tennis – 2nd Runner-up in 2015 Lobaton Cup Men’s Volleyball – 2nd Runner-up in MNCAA Volleyball League Firestarters – 1st Runner-up in 46th WNCAA Cheerleading Championships, Champion in WCSA Cheerdance Competition Squadra – 1st Runner-up in 2nd MNCAA Streetdance Competition UA&P Powerlifting Club – garnered 5 Gold Medals, 9 Silver Medals, 3 Bronze Medals, and 1 National Record from the team in the 2015 Philippine National Raw Powerlifting Championships

Two months before the anticipated 2016 Philippine elections, CHARIS Foundation and the UA&P’s University Student Government and Project Management Team collaborated in 2016’s CHARIS Leadership Summit, where experts and professionals from different fields share their perceptions to a crowd of scholars, young professionals, student leaders, and fellow professionals about the upcoming elections, from different perspectives.

USG Elections Results

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Sports The Psychology behind Being a Sports Fan Miguel Alonzo

To the casual non-sports fan,

questions such as: ‘Why do people enjoy watching sports? Do people actually learn something from watching sports or is it just a means to pass the time?’ are not new to him. He wonders how people find watching athletes shoot balls into hoops, kick soccer balls into goals, even get knocked out in the middle of a boxing ring, fun and exciting. Why would then a number of people willingly devote a substantial amount of their time to follow and keep themselves updated on a sports team which they aren’t even players of? What moves people to want to cry in jubilation or sulk in depression whenever their favorite squad garners a well-earned victory or suffers a bitter defeat? Does watching sports actually make people better than they were before they watched the game? Or, is watching sports simply just an escape from boredom, from the day-today stress at school or at work? Could there be something more behind it? Dr. Susan Whitbourne wrote an online article entitled “Why Sports Fans are Sports Fans” in his attempt to answer the said questions, which many diehard sports fans have trouble answering themselves. In his article he cites several reasons as to why people become sports fans. According to him, people become sports enthusiasts because of the “high drama” they experience while watching sports. There is some truth to this notion, since this is the same reason that some people read books, watch movies, or follow their favorite television series. In the same way we learn to find the same affinity with ourselves and the characters we read or watch, sports fans learn to do the same with their favorite team or player to the point that every sports loss becomes their own personal loss, and every sports victory becomes their own personal victory. We allow ourselves to become personally affected by the lives of people and characters, whether fictional or real, not just for the entertainment it affords us, but also because we seek the excitement and drama which we seem to find lacking, at times, in our day-to-day activities.

Infographic by Shiloh Laciste | Research by Arianne Canoy & Andre Rañeses

In the same way we learn to find the same affinity with ourselves and the characters we read or watch, sports fans learn to do the same with their favorite team or player to the point that every sports loss becomes their own personal loss, and every sports victory becomes their own personal victory. Moreover, sports fans like to identify themselves with those athletes they idolize such as Kobe Bryant and Lebron James. There is a tendency that sports fans also aspire to be like these athletes hoping that they too could emulate their work ethic and other things not necessarily in sports per se, but rather, practicing that same kind of dedication at work or school. Another major reason why people become sports fans, Dr. Whitbourne points out in her article, is that sports can bring people, regardless of gender, nationality, or social status, together. Aside from playing online multiplayer games or going on trips, watching sports can also serve as another avenue to forge and strengthen relationships with others. In the same way people make friends with those whom they align themselves with in terms of similar likes and interests. When we watch sports, we also tend to affiliate ourselves with those who share the same sentiment regarding this certain player or team. Similar also to when students join a school club or organization, when people become sports fans, they become a part of something bigger than themselves. In fact, sports can even unite a nation. One prime example of this is when Filipinos, all over the world, act as one in supporting Manny ‘Pac-Man’ Pacquiao every time he steps into the boxing ring. There’s a certain sense of belonging in knowing that you are not alone in experiencing your personal elation or depression, that someone else knows what you’re going through. Finally, Dr. Whitbourne also adds in her article that sports can “provide an escape from life.” For the average sports fan, when the

stress at the office or school becomes too much for him to handle, watching sports can actually relieve that stress. However, depending on the degree and extent of the time and effort a sports fan dedicates, watching sports could indeed serve as a stress reliever but it could also act as a distraction and an addiction as well. Similar to when one reads books, watches movies or plays online games, sports fans should also keep in mind their priorities such as taking care of their families and prioritizing their education and office work. Sports fans have to remember that there is a lot more to life than just watching sports, and that their problems and struggles will not disappear with the sound of the game-ending buzzer. There are times when we get too engrossed with our passions and interests that we forget that there is indeed a reality that exists outside of that fictional story, online adventure, or basketball game. As supported with the reasons enumerated above, sports fans are driven and dedicated to their passion of watching sports to relieve their stress with the drama and excitement they experience, to aspire to emulate their favorite athletes, and also to become part of a community of people with shared interests and views. Indeed, there is a lot that life has to offer, and watching sports complements other fields of study and culture such as music, arts, and science, as we strive to reach our full potential as human beings in the road to self-perfection.|||

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UA&P: Back-to-back Champions in MNCAA Futsal following their 1-0 victory over PWU

An Interview with PBA Tag Heuer Women’s 3X3 Commissioner’s Cup Player Ms. Rosc

Andre Rañeses

Ms. Rosc, now the Sports Development Desk Head of the CSA, has been playing basketball for 14 years. In our interview with her, she said that she started playing when she was in Grade 7, and has carried her love and passion for the sport throughout her high school years as well as her stay in UA&P. When asked about her thoughts on being part of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, Ms. Rosc said, “It’s very surreal. Until now, I’m still overwhelmed about it happening, because I never really thought that there would be an opportunity like this for women’s basketball, at the same level, playing with the same standards as that of the men’s.” She believes that this has become another platform for female athletes like herself to step into a bigger picture, a bigger role.

She gave aspiring female athletes some tips and words of inspiration. “You should never lose sight of your goals but also keep in mind that even if we’ve got dreams of our own, it should also be balanced with what reality gives us. We should never lose faith in ourselves or in each other, especially because there are such unlimited opportunities for women in sports. We must also at least help each other push ourselves to get to where we want to be, and hopefully, in the process, inspire others and help them achieve their own dreams.” Lastly, not forgetting those who have helped her through her journey in life and in getting into this competition, Ms. Rosc said, “I am incredibly grateful to the alumni for their continued support, especially also to my players, the women’s

Miguel Alonzo

ast February 21, the UA&P Men’s Futsal Team was put to task as they gave it their all in their finals match with the Philippine Women’s University (PWU). In the previous season, the defending champions, UA&P, had beaten PWU in the Semifinals, however, this year was a different story, as PWU, hungrier than ever had a shot at winning the championship. On the other hand, the UA&P Futsal squad had to contend with the challenge of not just defending their title as MNCAA Futsal Champions, but also with the pressure of winning the championship in their own homecourt amidst their family, fans, and fellow Dragons who expected nothing less than a UA&P victory.

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) launched its TAG Heuer Women’s 3x3 Commissioner’s Cup on October last year. With the conclusion of its first conference, open tryouts commenced for its second batch of players. Competing in the cup is an alumna of UA&P, Ms. Ma. Roscelle “Rosc” F. Teotico. With the second conference opening last Feb. 19, and her first game on the 24th, The Bosun had an interview with Ms. Rosc to know her thoughts on what has led her to this moment, representing the University as an athlete and a Dragon alumna.

She also believes in perseverance as a key trait in order to achieve success as an athlete. “I remember when I started out playing basketball then, like any other player, I started out from scratch. Then you start doing what you’re doing day in and day out. So you do that continuously, and you keep striving to be better than you are the day before.” She also mentioned that a healthy mix of discipline, hard work, and humility, along with respect and “being coachable as a player” are what should always be present in an athlete when playing sports. As for her goals in this competition, “I think, being in the team of 4, in a 3-on-3, our goal would be at least to get our first win. But then again, competition is tough, and since this is a competition, we’ll try to take it game by game. Day in and day out.”

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basketball team and the coaching staff, CSA, students and, UA&P staff. Lastly, to my family and friends, and above all, God- for the strength and inspiration to be able to keep doing what I love as both passion and work.” With this, we hope to see more of Ms. Rosc as she competes in the PBA TAG Heuer Women’s 3x3 Commissioner’s Cup and the entire University wishes her the best of luck. |||

“

“You should never lose sight of your goals but also to keep in mind that even if we’ve got dreams of our own, it should also be balanced with what reality gives us.”

”

With both teams having something to prove, the match turned out to be a very emotional and heated one with the two squads utilizing almost similar styles in play, emphasizing defense and controlling the pace. Although both squads would set effective plays, the players struggled in terms of execution as multiple wellplaced strikes coming from UA&P Team Captain Lorenzo Hermosa and Shawn Haosen would miss the goal by a mere couple of inches. UA&P’s goalkeeper, Dood Santos, however, played a crucial role for the defending champions as he fended off the strikes coming from PWU’s players with his multiple dives and saves. Due to the well-concerted effort of both goalkeepers and defenders, from both squads, the first half ended with a score of 0-0. In the second half, clearly, emotions were on fire as both teams did not want to face the dreaded penalty shootout. Fatigue and exhaustion also became a factor in the second half as UA&P’s team roster of 15 were better-rested as compared to the 10-man rotation of PWU. Yellow cards were handed to players from both teams including UA&P’s Shawn Haosen and Luigio Miranda, as well as PWU’s Raven Sacendoncillo and Aldrin Lufamia as both teams made this one a very physical contest. With the championship at stake, emotions were an all-time high as there was even a slight scuffle that involved PWU’s Ronald Adalin and UA&P’s Jose Malig. As the match progressed, it seemed that the championship would have to be decided by penalties. However,

the second-half strike of Paolo Garciano in the 27’ minute ended the scoring drought and gave UA&P the edge with a 1-0 lead over their opponents. With the match still very much in the balance, UA&P Coach Chris Dominguez decided to emphasize defense in preserving their lead. This proved to be an effective strategy, as UA&P were once again proclaimed MNCAA Futsal Champions with the final score of 1-0. Following their victory, the medals and trophies were then awarded. With their victory over Centro Escolar University, Enderun College was awarded, third place, while the first runner-ups, PWU were awarded the second-place trophy. Prior to awarding the champions, was the Mythical Five selection which featured the season’s best five players,

including three players from UA&P: team captain Lorenzo Hermosa, first-option goalkeeper, Dood Santos, and Paolo Garciano, who scored the championshipwinning goal for UA&P. After being crowned back-to-back champions, the UA&P squad displayed sportsmanship and humility in congratulating PWU on a well-fought match, as well as in thanking the Lord for a well-earned victory. Truly, the UNITAS spirit was on full display as the UA&P Dragons are once again MNCAA Futsal Champions, following a very competitive finals match and a memorable season as a whole. |||

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Promenade

Heroes United!

Mafe Sanchez & Andrea Lim | Photos taken by Grace Wong Hard work, perseverance, and love — these are the three main ingredients one needs to prepare for a handful of smiles and a bottle full of vitality. Last January 30, UA&P CATALYST had its second outreach fair project entitled “Heroes United” which was spearheaded by Reesa Marasigan, CATALYST’s Chief Research and Evaluations Officer. The project aimed to bring together the different organizations in the University for a common purpose of bringing joy to 50 kids from Alay Pag-asa Christian Life Foundation. The day was filled with fun activities for both the kids and UA&P students alike. There were numerous booths from various UA&P student organizations that participated and even varsity members who gave up their Saturday training session just for the sake of bringing joy to the said children. The student organizations also had their share of fun. Each organization prepared booths that showed their passion and executed their skills. Firestarters executed their skills in dancing by teaching kids some easy stunts as well as dancing with them. Dulaang ROC along with ViARE prepared games that showed their talent in acting. CATALYST likewise put up several kinds of booths ranging from arts and crafts to carnival games. Even though the energy of UA&P students was depleting, that didn’t make a difference as the energy of the kids was increasing: the children ran around, explored the different booths, and played their hearts out that day. With the efforts of UA&P CATALYST and the rest of the student body, January ended with a smile on everyone’s faces. It was the day when UA&P students and organizations realized that it is not always material things that give joy to people. More often than not, it is the gift of time one gives others that matter the most.|||

Notes on the Notes on

NSTA-CULTURE

nsta-Culture Bianca Marañon | Graphics by Cathy Lee

ate in the afternoon, say, as you and the rest of your org’s officers are wrapping up a photoshoot on thesay, ACB roofdeck, Late in the afternoon, as you and the somebody exclaims in awe – “Look!” rest of your org’s officers are wrappingShe points to the sky and all ACB of youroofdeck, turn to up a photoshoot on the behold the setting sun. The –sky is afireShe somebody exclaims in awe “Look!” with reds, oranges, and yellows theretoare points to the sky and all of you turn no names for. Never in your life behold the setting sun. The sky iscould afire you seeyellows such a there beautiful withhave reds,dreamed oranges,toand are sight – andfor. in the normally no names Never in yourpollutionlife could choked skies of Pasig, no less. you have dreamed to see such a beautiful sight – and in the normally pollutionLet us suppose study no were to be choked skies ofaPasig, less. conducted observing 100 people and their variedareactions to to thebe Let us suppose study were same sunset. A select few would conducted observing 100 people and probably reach for some their varied reactions to watercolors the same sunset. and capture sunset with the deftfor A select fewthe would probably reach strokes of a brush. Perhaps even some watercolors and capture the sunset fewer would, theofflourish a with the deft with strokes a brush.ofPerhaps ballpen, compose a sonnet. And, it of a even fewer would, with the flourish can probably be presumed theit can ballpen, compose a sonnet.that And, fewest number of people, if the any fewest at probably be presumed that all, would sit in silence, watching number of people, if any at all, would the sun sink closer and the closer the sit in silence, watching suntosink horizon in rapt contentment. closer and closer to the horizon in rapt contentment. As to the rest of the study’s respondents, not berespondents, amiss As to the restitofwould the study’s to assumenot that would have that it would bethey amiss to assume whipped outhave theirwhipped smartphones, they would out their taken a picture, and it and smartphones, taken posted a picture, on Instagram. The advent of posted it on Instagram. The advent of the the smartphone quite smartphone hashas hadhad quite an intriguing an intriguing effect upon man’s effect upon man’s perception of beauty perception beauty (henceforth (henceforthofreferred to as the Instareferred culture).to as the Insta-culture). To To take take aa slightly slightly philosophical philosophical perspective perspective on on the the Insta-culture, Insta-culture, one one consult Mortimer Adler’s can can consult Mortimer Adler’s “Six Great “Six Great Ideas” foron hisbeauty. views on Ideas” for his views To beauty. throw To throw in a few vocabulary words, in a few vocabulary words, Adler explains Adler explains thepleasure disinterested pleasure the disinterested that comes of that comes of beholding the beautiful in beholding the beautiful in his work “Six his work “Six Simply Great Ideas”. put,for Great Ideas”. put, itSimply is enough itusistoenough for us to contemplate thecontemplate beautiful forthe it to beautiful for it to give us We need give us joy. We need seekjoy. nothing else seek else from it. fromnothing it. Let Let us us return return to to the the aforementioned aforementioned sunset. Our respondents sunset. Our respondents who who were were content to watch the sun kiss content to watch the sun kiss the the horizon, horizon, bathing bathing the the city city in in an an explosion explosion of of color, color, were were able able to to appreciate appreciate the the sunset sunset as as itit ought to be appreciated. They did not see the sunset as a stepping stone to anything

Bianca Maranon | Graphics by Cathy Lee

ought to be appreciated. They did not see the sunset as a stepping stone to anything else, else, whereas whereas our our respondents, respondents, instead instead of simply enjoying of simply enjoying it, it, see see itit as as aa means means to to an end, as a good sought for the an end, as a good sought for the sake sake of of aa further further good. good. In In other other words, words, Instagram Instagram renders us incapable of renders us incapable of properly properly enjoying enjoying beauty beauty in in art art or or beauty beauty in in nature, nature, but but induces induces us us to to see see beauty beauty as as future future Instagram Instagram posts. posts. This, This, of of course, course, isis all all mere mere conjecture, conjecture, and the author welcomes accusations from her readers that this is so. Having anticipated violent reactions of this nature, the author decided to conduct an experiment.

At the beginning of his “Man’s Search for Meaning,” Viktor Frankl acknowledged that one may question his study of man in a concentration camp because he and was the the author subjectwelcomes of his ownaccusations research, from her readers that this so. Having thereby compromising hisisobjectivity. anticipated violent reactions this He stipulates, however, that aofsimilar nature, the author decided to conduct study conducted by someone outside an experiment. a concentration camp would be just as lacking, because that person could never At the what beginning his “Man’s Search for know livingof inside a concentration Meaning, ” Viktor Frankl acknowledged camp was like. With similar sentiments that question his study of man (andone themay promising comparison between in a concentration camp because he Instagram and a concentration camp), was the subject of her his own the author began studyresearch, by getting an thereby compromising his objectivity. Instagram account herself. He stipulates, however, that a similar study someone outside Surely,conducted the authorby(who is incessantly teased by family and friends about her love for the sky) thought, “I can use

a concentration camp would be just as lacking, because that person could never know whattoliving concentration Instagram showinside peopleathe profundity of camp was like. With similar sentiments the ever-changing, intricate sky!”. Surely, (and the promising between the author thought,comparison “I can use Instagram Instagram and atoconcentration camp), to draw people the true, the good, and the author began her study by getting an the beautiful!” Surely, the author thought, Instagram account herself. “I can get through Instagram unscathed!” Surely, the author (who is incessantly In a word: surely, the author thought (as teased by family and friends about you may now be thinking), my hypothesis her love the sky) thought, “I can must be for wrong! use Instagram to show people the profundity of the has ever-changing, Woefully, the author suspended intricate sky!”. Surely, author as herself from her Instagramthe account, thought, “I can use Instagram to she can now say, with David Sedaris, draw people to the true, the good, “I’ve become like one of those people and thesort beautiful!” Surely, the author I hate, the who go to the museum thought, “I can get through Instagram and, instead of looking at the magnificent unscathed!” Brueghel, take a picture of it, reducing it from art to proof. It’s not ‘Look what In a word: surely, the thought Brueghel did, painted thisauthor masterpiece’ (as you may now be thinking), my but ‘Look what I did, went to Rotterdam hypothesis must be wrong! and stood in front of a Brueghel painting!’” Woefully, the author has suspended her rendered Instagrama account, The herself author from has been wretched as she can now say, with David creature sitting on her hands, her fingers Sedaris, “I’ve become like one itching for her phone, saddened at of the those people hate, who now-tainted viewIshe hasthe of sort her beloved sky. go to the museum and, instead of looking at the magnificent Brueghel, take this a picture reducing Perhaps studyof is it, a flawed one,it and to for proof. not ‘Look holdsfrom trueart only theIt’s author herself. whatthese Brueghel did, painted this Perhaps are the groundless masterpiece’ butwriter ‘Lookinfatuated what I did, ramblings of a silly with went to Rotterdam and front beauty. Perhaps every word stood in thisin article of aand Brueghel painting!’” is false, is of no bearing on you at all, dear reader. The author has been rendered a wretched creature onus herto see And yet – perhaps it issitting time for hands, herwith fingers itching|||for her phone, the world #nofilter. saddened at the now-tainted view she has of her beloved sky. Perhaps this study is a flawed one, and holds true only for the author herself. Perhaps these are the groundless ramblings of a silly writer infatuated with beauty. Perhaps every word in this article is false, and is of no bearing on you at all, dear reader. And yet – perhaps it is time for us to see the world with #nofilter. |||

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Kalyeserye : A Glimpse

Loub Balatbat | Illustration by Ramon del Rosario

Indeed, the Aldub craze has taken the Filipino nation by storm.

nless you have been living under a rock for half a year now, Aldub should not be new to you. There are intermittent shrieking and giggling as people swoon over the Aldub romance, representing Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza (Yaya Dub) in Kalyeserye, a short segment of Eat Bulaga, the country’s longest-running noontime show. The term Kalyeserye was coined to describe the set of the scenes in the segment as most of the events happen on the streets. The Aldub phenomenon has made new records in social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook, and even in local TV ratings. A question then arises: Why are Filipinos so fond of this tandem? There are some things that are very significant to our collective consciousness as Filipinos: our cultural values. Kalyeserye’s ultimate love team—Aldub—connects the points of millennial perspective of love and traditional Filipino values and this is what makes it a hit to Filipinos. Here are three of the general good points of Aldub: Respect for Elders As the pscyhologist Carl R. Rogers puts it, “what is most personal is most universal.” The tandem has caught the Filipino consciousness in a universal scale because it highlights our ancestral values, which are, deep down engraved with our very own personal values. In the Filipino culture, elders are respected not just because of age but because of their experiences and wisdom. Filipinos value respect for the elderly as much as, if not more than, their respect for themselves. Our ancestors respected their elders since within tribal villages, the elders have lived the longest, they are the most knowledgeable. Of course, knowledge is useless if one cannot remember it. Thus, elders are respected because they are considered as receptacles of knowledge. This is reflected today in the respect that we accord to teachers, doctors, and lawyers, among others, whom we believe to be wise. Kalyeserye exhibits the virtue of elderly respect which is showcased, for example, in the kissing of hands (pagmamano) of Alden and Yaya Dub to the three lolas: Lola Nidora, Lola Tidora, and Lola Tinidora portrayed by Wally Bayola, Paolo Ballesteros, and Jose Manalo, respectively. The use of po and opo is also constantly portrayed in the daily acts of Kalyeserye as well as following orders from the elders and most importantly, listening to their advice and admonitions. Respect for Women

In Kalyeserye, Maine portrays the role of a housemaid, hence, she is named “Yaya Dub.” This depiction of an ordinary career makes her role very relatable to the audience. So, the happiness and achievements that she gets will make the people feel like their own. This is one secret recipe to the phenomenal Aldub

love team. But more than that, Yaya Dub’s attitude in the segment reflects an ideal Filipina. She does not need to show off much skin in order to earn the admiration of her suitor—Alden. She prioritizes her family more than her personal desires, and she remains faithful to her obligations to Lola Nidora despite her affection towards Alden. In short, Yaya Dub’s actions are worthy of respect. She does not need to be very fancy and sexy to be appealing to the masses. Respect for women is an inherent part of our culture. Our forefathers respected the women of their villages because only the women are capable of childbirth thus ensuring the posterity of the village. They are also responsible for taking care of the needs of the family and for child-rearing. Perseverance and Determination Lola Nidora’s strict emphasis on Tamang Panahon (right moment) calls for patience and dedication from Alden. Most of the time, Lola Nidora appears like a barrier to the budding love of the two but in reality, she wants Yaya Dub to be happy. She imposes stringent rules and gives a series of challenges because it is more than just to wait for the perfect moment, she wants to test Alden’s perseverance and dedication in courting Yaya Dub. Following the popular adage, “Patience is a virtue” and our very own, “Kapag may tiyaga, may nilaga,” Alden was finally granted permission by Lola Nidora to visit Maine at home. Furthermore, the Aldub phenomenon is a hit because of several other factors. First, the Aldub romance has brought out our collective penchant for matchmaking, called “tuksuhan” in local culture. This makes the segment very appealing to the eyes of the people. We enjoy setting people up for romantic situations and in this particular case, everyone in the show indulges everyone else’s in the game. Second, there’s also the spontaneity factor; the whole thing is not scripted and it is clear that everything is made up as the show goes along. Everyone is improvising and the mishaps and foibles all form part of the show’s charm. Third, at the same time, the humor is organic. Because it is mostly improvisation, everyone has to mine the situation for laughs and end up bouncing ideas on each other. The Kalyeserye may just be a simple segment of a noontime show that was crafted after Alden and Main stumbled into the “romance” purely by accident. However, the phenomenon was also the start of a new approach of presenting timeless Filipino values to the general audience like the recently concluded On the Wings of Love teleserye. We can certainly pick important lessons from Aldub that will not only benefit our personal lives, but will also revive the great sense of culture and nationalism in the country. |||

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13 || THE THE BOSUN BOSUN 13

CODENAME: XANDER RETURNS… ONSTAGE Mika Bernardo | Photos taken by Reinal Fortes

A year after its first production, Dulaang ROC proudly presented Codename: Xander Returns in the Dizon Auditorium of the University of Asia and the Pacific.

Once the lights dimmed and the music started to play, the audience was no longer sitting in the plush rows of Dizon, but strapped into the passenger seats of Vavilolz, the spaceship of the Pulis Pangkalawakan and watching firsthand their battles against the forces of Fuschia. The engagement of the audience to the said setting was intensified by the special lighting and sound effects provided by the Exposure Advance Lighting and Sound Services and, of course, the production members who have really outdone themselves by creating artistic and eyecatching masterpieces for the masterpiece itself.

his intergalactic space adventure penned by Mr. Christian Vallez tells us of the story of JJ who wants to be a part of the Pulis Pangkalawakan, the protectors of the universe, like his sister, Annie; his role model, Alexis; and his long-time secret crush, Cami. All is well and peaceful (or so they thought) until villains Drigo and Ida along with Bebe Ley-Ar and the Amazonas wreak havoc on Earth by making people dance and harnessing their kinetic energy to revive their slain leader, Papi Ley-Ar. The villains win the first round and are able to take control, forcing the Pulis Pangkalawakan to become the Katipunan, a secret revolutionary movement. After the demise of Annie, JJ has turned into a hopeless drunkard, and Alexis has turned over to the dark side due to his grief (much like Darth Vader). Did the Pulis Pangkalawan defeat Papi Ley-Ar in the end? What happened to Alexis? Did JJ and Cami end up together? Well, if you did not watch it, you will never know (unless, of course, you asked your friends).

Top Center(L-R): Diandra Concepcion & Iggy Zuniga Top Left:(L-R) Iggy Zuniga, Jesca Canto, & Jed Lirios Bottom Left: Francis Corpus Top Right: Jed Lirios Bottom Right: Iggy Zuniga

Xander may seem like a “Robo-Cop the Musical” play, but it is so much more than that. It is a fusion of the different genres that we love. Drama. Romance. Action. Comedy. You name it, Xander has it. This piece of art made me sit at the edge of my seat the entire time, made my stomach hurt from laughing, and made me tear up. With its hugot-able feel and actionpacked dramarama, this year’s plot had many additions and surprises that made the audience want for more.

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The songs written by Ian Amane for this production were another catch. They were of different genres connecting to the mood of the scene and making the audience’s hearts cry out loud. I, as I was part of the production last year and to this day, still sing some of the songs (PagIbig Ko’y Bulalakaw and Kaya Ko Bang Maging Bayani, to be specific). Most of the audience also made a remark about this as they did not expect Dulaang ROC to produce a musical play with earcatching songs. One can only hope for more amazingly creative and mind-blowingly awesome productions from Dulaang ROC and Mr. Christian Vallez in the future. (P.S. Yes, Xander has a happy ending.)|||

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15 | THE BOSUN

The Return of the B.O.X Patrick Nafarrete | Photos taken by Rheia Maliuanag

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Since B.O.X. 2 is all about the Basic Onstage Experience, most of the actors and actresses were either freshmen or a first-time actor on stage he University welcomed the return of B.O.X. on the first month of 2016. B.O.X. 2 is an acronym for “Basic Onstage Experience 2,” the second installment to ViARE’s B.O.X. which premiered last year. B.O.X. 2 aimed to express the love for the arts by presenting four different approaches to theatre, namely, a 10-min play, an adaptation, a “spectacle” or medieval play, and lastly, a comedy sketch. Each play had a different approach to how theatre is portrayed on stage. The production featured “Just Max,” “In an Alley,” “Everyman,” and “Dirty Forks.”

The first play, Just Max, was written by our very own UA&P students for their Literature class under Dr. Joem Antonio, the moderator of ViARE. It featured an exaggeration of what goes on in a student’s mind as he or she writes a paper. It strikes a relationship with the audience because of the struggles of writing numerous papers the University is known for. In summary, Max (Dino Robles) was struggling to write a paper for his class and begins to stress out. During this struggle, Max hallucinates and starts having conversations with fictional characters. He had to deal with a talking painting of Dorian Gray (Kirsh Manago), “Franky” Frankenstien’s Monster (Hans Menge), and Galatea (Chelah Corpus), a statue from Greek mythology which comes to life. Their antics and conflicting statements drive Max to the point of hysterical ranting. The play then ends with Max once again alone in his room, ready to finally begin writing his paper.

In an Alley is an adaptation of a Japanese short story called “In a Grove.” The story revolves around testimonies of what happened in a crime scene where the death of a man had taken place. The three witnesses to the crime were the wife, Masago (Gabriela Lagunzad), the criminal, Tajoumaro (Jaggy Lucagbo), and the victim and husband, Takehiko (Miguel Cruzado). The true dilemma is given in the form of their conflicting testimonies. Tajoumaro openly admits to doing the crime and forcing Masago to come with him. Masago claims to have been the one to kill her husband while Takehiko says he watched his wife betray him but was not killed. According to Takehiko, he took his own life after witnessing the betrayal. The interesting fact was that there was a fourth character who represented “Death” (Brendan Robleza) as he enacted the violent acts that each person testified. It was up to the audience to decide who was telling the truth and who was lying. Everyman is a medieval play on morality. The play was originally about an hour long but was abridged to fit into this production. Everyman (Jose Palabyab) is the representation of every person on earth. The plot revolves around Everyman and his slanderous and selfish ways accumulated in his BOX of Life. Death (Carmel Valiente) pays him a visit and tells him its time to die and face God with his obviously faulty BOX of Life. He is forced to comply and asks the aid of the many companions in his life like Beauty (Dawn Medel), Fellowship (Joby Sta Ana), Strength/Wits (Joby Sta Ana), Goods (Dawn Medel) and Knowledge (Mafe Sanchez) to help him change his life around. All the while, he realizes his most neglected companion, Good Will (DJ Navarro). After realizing his faults and receiving his absolution, he resolves himself to face God with his new BOX of life. Good Will reveals himself to be God and proceeds to call death. A fun piece of trivia is that Good Will was dressed similarly to Everyman, which was a reference to man being made in the image and likeness of God. Dirty Forks is a returning title from ViARE’s LOL 3 from two years ago. This was a comedy sketch made by a British Comedy Group called Monty Python. The sketch involves a couple that wanted a nice dinner out when they unsuspectingly enter into one of the most traumatic and

Leftmost: Kirsh Mañago Top Right(L-R): Patricia Patangco, Jake Narag, and Avery Marquez Bottom Right (L-R): Jose Palabyab and Carmel Valiente

chaotic moments of their lives. The Man (Avery Marquez) struggles to keep sane as he tries to calm down the staff as they go ballistic over a dirty fork while trying to appease his Wife (Patricia Pantanco). The Waitress (Gabriella Peralta) begins the chaos as she speeds away when she learns of the dirty fork leaving a confused couple. The Head Waiter (Javier Trinidad) then arrives to apologize about the fork and breaks down in front of the couple now disturbing the couple. The Manager (Jake Narag) does the same only worse, prompting the rage of the Chef (Robby

Reyes). The Chef attempts to kill the couple but is delayed by the Waiter just in time for him to see the Manager impale himself with the dirty fork. The Chef goes berserk and attacks the shocked couple but is once again stopped, this time by the Waitress. As the Waitress is chased away, the traumatized couple are given the chance to escape but not before mentioning that there was a dirty knife. All four plays were of different styles and genres. Since B.O.X. 2 is all about the

Basic Onstage Experience, most of the actors and actresses were either freshmen or a first-time actor on stage. Despite the differences in each play, they were all weaved into one whole fun experience as even the emcees acted as though it was just one big play. This is ViARE’s method of spreading the love of the arts through their productions—by putting smiles on the audience’s faces and giving them memorable experiences.|||

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THE BOSUN BOSUN || 18 18 THE

1967 Thank Yous:

Not Shakespeare’s Dead Pollero Illustration Jesselle Pollero |Jesselle Illustration by |Paulo Jacintoby Paulo Jacinto

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Lysander on Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s dream may not be as cheesy like those guys in Chick lits, but he was on point when he said that “The course of true love never did run smooth.” It was also Polonius from Hamlet who taught us to be true to who we are, when he spoke “This above all: to thine own self be true.” It is in the course of reading his works that we develop ourselves to become a more mature and better individual than we were before.

Big Things by Small Hands

Mikee Lim

At the core of every lasting institution lies a fundamental idea of excellence, and such is the case for the University of Asia and the Pacific. Founded in 1967 as the Center for Research and Communication (CRC), it was a modest think-tank that contributed a great deal in the educational field. Slowly, it expanded into the UA&P community that we know of today, with excellence inculcated in every move, and having it as the lynchpin of its growth. Faced with the mammoth task of bringing back and cultivating this culture of excellence that the founding fathers have envisioned for the UA&P community, IMC students of 3SDL pioneered the 1967 Thank Yous, a movement which is more than just a campaign. It is a movement geared towards reclaiming excellence, ultimately aiming to serve as catalyst for inspiration and action. Often enough, the success of the pursuit of anything gargantuan, or anything larger than life, hinges on the culmination of smaller scale movements. Upon these smaller movements is the standpoint from which the entire movement operates. We understand that excellence can be achievable by simple means, such as the small acts of kindness that can make another person’s day.

The significance of the year 1967 is where 1967 Thank Yous movement draws its strength, as UA&P’s humble beginnings can serve as the model for starting greatness at a small scale. By underscoring the importance of saying a simple ‘thank you’, we are able to contribute to a larger network of virtuosity and excellence through means of gratitude. Gratitude is one of the many important values that an individual should possess, and it can be used to touch others and extend a part of ourselves to the people around us. It is inherent in human beings, as rational creatures, to find satisfaction in being recognized, even for something that is seemingly insignificant, and this is why showing gratitude validates people and motivates them to continue to act in kindness and generosity. On the other hand, people are also eager to recognize others as persons and attend to them as persons holistically. Through the simple act of saying ‘thank you,’ we can inspire courtesy to flourish within our community. We decided to take the small act of saying thank you and make something creative out of it, which led to the use of cards. Unlike posters and signage, the cards allow for a more intimate and discreet way of making a statement: also, it is more tangible and a more permanent token of gratitude that people can literally take with them wherever they go. It

is a long lasting and personal show of kindness, and makes it a more remarkable form of gesture, which is entirely different from the temporal uttering of a ‘thank you’. Think of the cards as a unique form of currency: while money is impersonal and utilitarian, these thoughtful cards can tug at people’s heartstrings and inspire them to make a change in the simplest ways possible. The goods that are being exchanged are not objects, but virtues. With witty lines inspired by CAS teachings, 1967 Thank Yous effectively touched not only the students, but the teachers as well. Taking UA&P’s strength in its liberal arts education, and invoking fundamental lessons in literature, philosophy, and the like, it has become an agent for action, and has aided in connecting member of the community with one another. Overall, this perpetuates a culture that holds eudaemonic happiness at the center of its existence. At the end of the day, it is vital to remember that someone’s show of kindness can also become an opportunity to give back. The 1967 Thank Yous cards can serve as a simple and creative way of showing gratitude, and open an avenue where virtues can be exchanged. It serves as a reminder that your actions matter, and what you put out into the world outside of yourself can create a change.|||

t is on those lazy Saturday afternoons that I sleep, start a movie marathon, or just chat with my friends through Skype—the normal laidback Saturdays, I guess. But one lazy Saturday afternoon, I decided to be more active and go to this bookstore located just a few minutes’ drive from our home. Searching along the aisles to find the bookstore’s list of their best sellers, I was shocked to see these chick-lit books with colorful covers fill the store’s ‘Top 10 bestsellers’. These paperbacks turned out to come from these online story sharing site called Wattpad, which teenagers from all walks of life go to when they either want to some ‘kilig reads’ to flatter their imaginations on love or just a short story to spend their time on. While it is good to see millennials patronizing books, we cannot deny the fact that this type of literature does not provide the best avenue for its readers to grow and mature as a better individual--which is provided more on the pages of those classical literatures made by great authors who lived hundreds of years before us. It is saddening that we live in the world where most people do not have the lessons of Homer which filled the Iliad and Odyssey, or even have some of the virtues found in Dante’s Divine Comedy. But aside from knowing Homer and Dante with their works, do people, specifically millennials, still read and know by heart the works of one of the greatest authors who ever lived-- William Shakespeare? Well, I think almost everyone might know a thing or two regarding Shakespeare. They might know that the famous Romeo

and Juliet was written by him, or the soliloquy “To be or not to be,” is a product of his great word play. However, do people today know with their minds and have in their hearts the magic of Shakespeare’s words? Have they seen Shakespeare’s words come to life on plays that captivated their souls after? Sure enough, Shakespeare has been [literally] long dead and gone-- but will his soul found in his great works be buried six feet off the ground because of this generation who fails to know, appreciate, and instil in their hearts the magic of Shakespeare’s literature? And it is in this light that UA&P’s Shakespeare Week came to happen. Because of Dr. Joachim Antonio and Dr. Marcelino Nicdao’s vision of spreading Shakespeare’s works, together with their Renaissance Literature and Poetry classes, that this event took place. For one whole week, ACB’s Metrobank lobby was filled with infographics, excerpts, and facts about Shakespeare wherein students stop by to and have some more knowledge of one of the best authors who have lived. The highlight of this celebration was the 10-minute Shakespeare plays, in which students got to take part and perform Shakespeare’s works in a span of 10 minutes. Some of the works presented were Romeo and Juliet, Merchant of Venice, and Hamlet to name a few. Sure enough, because of Dr. Antonio and Dr. Nicdao’s dedication, together with their hardworking students, the UA&P’s Shakespeare Week became successful.

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But more than making students become more literate on Shakespeare’s works, UA&P’s Shakespeare week ignited the hearts of each Dragon on knowing the importance of learning this great author’s works and instilling in them the virtues and lessons they got from his plays down to his sonnets. Each class, presenting a 10-min rendition of some Shakespeare’s works, made their way to have a unique and understandable production. Understanding his works may not be as easy as reading those YA novels we are used to, but it is surely worth it for it teaches us essential lessons in life. Lysander on Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s dream may not be as cheesy like those guys in Chick lits, but he was on point when he said that “The course of true love never did run smooth.” It was also Polonius from Hamlet who taught us to be true to who we are, when he spoke “This above all: to thine own self be true.” It is in the course of reading his works that we develop ourselves to become a more mature and better individual than we were before. It is in our journey through the pages of his book that we get to understand people, make right decisions, and become passionately human. Indeed, UA&P Shakespeare week paved the way for the whole community to instill in their hearts the value of reading the works of one of the greatest authors who ever lived. William Shakespeare may have been long dead and gone; but his soul hidden in between the pages of his books will continue to thrive within our blood and live forever in our hearts. |||

19 19||THE THEBOSUN BOSUN

Blocking Writer’s Block DJ Navarro

s university students, I take the assumption that all of us, one way or another, have experienced that numbing, horrifying feeling of putting in maximum effort and thought into an idea and coming up with absolutely nothing. No matter how much is pushed into forming congruent sentences and arguments, somehow that perfect sentence and formation of words continue to elude us, akin to spirits in haunted woods. Horror is an understatement when it is three o’clock in the morning and there is not a single word typed down on the screen with a blank page to show for it. A blank paper is symptom of only one thing: writer’s block. The writer’s block is one of most feared problems and ailments that a student can ever suffer from. And yet can one break the block when there is limited time and a paper that is hounding at one’s knees?

Madness. There can be no rest or peace of mind when one encounters a blank paper that is to be filled within the next 24 hours lest one suffers the (indifferent) wrath of the professor. The blank page potentially means countless things and tells various stories. It can tell a story of tortured genius: a blank page filled with deleted invisible sentences that weren’t good enough, or shadows of ideas that were shot down before they even came into print. There lays a blank page telling all and telling nothing at the same time. Perhaps it speaks of a form of perfectionism, where one would not move on from the beginning paragraph since the idea is not congruent. “The brilliance has not yet shown itself! Just give it time and it will be absolutely perfect.” But alas, nothing. However, despite all these assumptions, speculation, and creative stories one can propose, a blank paper is still blank. It still tells nothing short of the story of

nothing: It is, indeed, nothing. And yet within the span of 24 hours, the blank paper must transform into one of worth and value. And yet how? Some people would say that to beat the writing block would mean to dig deep within yourself and see exactly what sources of information you have and yet, this would also mean a lot more relenting and a lot more torturous thought. It would seem more of a fighting fire with fire sort of situation. What then can we do? Sometimes it is best to put down everything and not focus. Stop panicking, stop thinking so hard. Nothing good will come out of straining one’s mind. One should let the mind wander for a while and let the subconscious take over. Sometimes, we focus too hard on something that we only see that thing clearly, with everything else blurred; we

Mortimer Adler on How to Tackle Readings Pat Cabatay

Ahh, readings.

As college students we are required to read a lot. Every week, readings are assigned for our respective classes with chapters of information to take in. But even if our readings can be overwhelming and hard to manage there are ways for us to get by. Mortimer Adler, a prominent philosopher and educator, offers sound advice in his book entitled “How to Read A Book”, saying that a good way to tackle difficult readings is to read purposefully. According to Adler, there is no such thing as passive reading. He says that all reading, whether it is deep or not, is active bcause the reader is engaging the text. But he goes on to say that the best and the most fruitful kind of reading is when the reader demands much of himself and of the text, making an effort not just to know but also to understand. This brings us to another helpful point that Adler brings up when it comes to difficult readings: have a good mindset. He says in his book, “The goal a reader seeks—be it entertainment, information or understanding—determines the way he reads. The effectiveness with which he reads is determined by the amount of effort and skill he puts into his reading.” When we read our readings begrudgingly, it gets in the way of a deeper understanding of it

forget the bigger picture. We forget the outside. Perhaps we’ve been thinking too hard about things, but the answer was just staring at us. This would then begin to sound familiar. It happened many times in history, when a fabled scientist or scholar was simply thinking or daydreaming and then the idea, the BIG IDEA, comes out and surprises them. It happened to Isaac Newton when he discovered the laws of gravity, and it also happened to

Archimedes when he was in the bath. It can also happen to a student whose paper is just five hours away from submission. Then you begin to write. It is funny, that moment when everything falls into place. It’s that moment when you aren’t so much trying to finish your paper, but more of the moment when you are simply trying to connect everything unconsciously. It just “happens.” Sometimes, the greatest ideas are also found, not only in the ceaseless toiling in academic life, but also in the calm and silence of the night. |||

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There lays a blank page telling all and telling nothing at the same time. Perhaps it speaks of a form of perfectionism, where one would not move on from the beginning paragraph since the idea is not congruent. “The brilliance has not yet shown itself! Just give it time and it will be absolutely perfect.”

” because we are not fully invested. It’s important to be willing to learn while reading the text. This is also the reason why, to make the most of your readings, you have to set aside time to read them. This will enable you to focus on the text better. Granted, this is easier said than done. The process of going from one paragraph to another when it comes to a long reading can be tiring. Understanding difficult readings don’t come at the snap of a finger, too. Sometimes readings don’t even make sense to us the first time we read them and we get stuck on certain parts that we don’t understand so we end up reading them over and over. Although this process is common, Adler says that there is a better way to overcome difficult texts.

This is what he calls “superficial reading”: when one reads a text continuously to form a general idea about it. In his book he says that if a part of a text is hard to understand the first time around, the thing to do is to not repeat that part but to keep going. Take note of the things that you do understand and don’t pause for those that you couldn’t until you finish the text. This is to keep your momentum up when you read and to have more or less an idea of what you will be encountering when you read it the second time around. This is a good technique because even if we don’t understand the text fully, it is much worse to get stuck in a page and not move forward. As Adler puts it, “If you insist on understanding everything on every page before you go on to the next, you will not get very far… You will miss the forest for the trees.”

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In light of all of this, we have to remember that the root of all the things that Adler said is persistence and willpower to learn. Understanding difficult and confusing concepts/ideas is not reserved for certain people. If you really want to increase your knowledge and understanding, you can. We also have to remember that readings are our friends, our guideposts, and our “absent” teachers—they help us understand what our professors are teaching us and provide additional information. They help us survive through our classes and can sometimes teach us a thing or two in our daily lives as well. They are great sources of knowledge and making an effort to read them can be worthwhile. |||

The goal a reader seeks—be it entertainment, information or understanding—determines the way he reads. The effectiveness with which he reads is determined by the amount of effort and skill he puts into his reading. – Mortimer Adler

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THE THE BOSUN BOSUN || 22 22 one would properly view the monument, the Torre De Manila would appear to be “photobombing” the Rizal Shrine. Many fans of the iconic shrine find the projection of the building to be very displeasing calling it an “eyesore” which violates the historical preservation rights of the monument. This is the primary reason why many Filipinos are enraged and are expressing their frustration through social media posts we see on the Internet lately. Luckily, not all of us are focusing on loathing the Torre De Manila. Not only government officials but also many creative minds have come up with very viable solutions to this issue, such as the solution formulated by the Filipino people themselves:

Torre de Manila:

The Tower that Rocked Manila

All it takes for this vision to become a reality is the cooperation and collaboration of the many government officials working on this case and the DMCI Homes Executives with the support of the Filipino public. This solution is what should be promoted in various media such as news, Internet and print media in order for the proposition to gain attention and eventually support which will lead to its eventual implementation. But for now, we can only wait and see, among the buzz and pandemonium caused by this issue, whether the tide turns to our favor so that we can help save a national cultural treasure.

Solution Three This plan included the relocation of large trees to create a large layer of foliage to cover the sight of the Torre De Manila. But to me, the idea of designing the side of the Torre De Manila facing the monument into an appropriate backdrop for the park is the most effective win-win solution to this dilemma. By implementing this, the Torre De Manila will not only remain an operating and functioning residential building but it will also serve as an added attraction to the park and the monument which can attract even more tourists. Some designs suggested incorporating either the Philippine National Flag, the iconic portrait of our national hero Jose Rizal, or the authentic signature of Rizal accompanied by his other symbolisms such as the pen and paper and 3 gold stars. The moral of this idea, is instead of destroying or concealing the problem, why not think outside the box and create over the problem until it becomes a solution? This principle is what makes the most reasonable answer. Being an art and history enthusiast, no more emphasis can be added to the sensibility and viability of the idea of designing over the Torre De Manila to make it a suitable historical background for the Rizal Park. Regardless of the design, as long as it is very appropriate for the monument and the park, it would most undoubtedly work well.

In its greater heights, the now called “Pambansang Photobomber,” Torre De Manila remained true to its name “Torre,” which in Spanish means tower, by “towering” over in public attention. Having said that, there is no doubt that Torre De Manila is certainly the tower that rocked Manila. |||

Andione Raneses | Photo taken by Paolo Navarro

One of the country’s biggest development breakthroughs is in the field of construction. We see towering infrastructures such as semi-sky scrapers and new bridges being constructed not only in Metro Manila but also in big cities like Cebu and Davao. But all of these did not develop without some overlying issues. Take for example the “towering” problem surrounding DMCI Homes, a contracting company. This issue erupted when the company started to erect one of their residential building projects. This became a center of controversy up to today both in social media and government.

Overtime, several viable solutions have been proposed. First, mostly by government officials who formally hold the case:

Thousands of citizens in and out of Metropolitan Manila, from netizens to government officials, have been expressing disapproval, aggravation and resentment over a rather peculiar topic, a contentious infrastructure. Since late 2014, the construction of a now 46 floor tower has been subject to controversy not because of its architectural design, nor by a disastrous event, nor because of any contractual funding issue but rather because of its geographical location and some constitutional violations. This particular building is the much detested Torre De Manila.

Solution Two A rather more popular suggestion comes from Bicol party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe. According to Batocabe, “We ask DMCI to voluntarily demolish the structure. Otherwise, we will be condemned by the next generations to come for allowing this monstrosity.” Batocabe adds a remarkable statement: “There’s no ‘Torre de Paris’ obstructing the view of the Eiffel Tower, there’s no Torre obstructing the view of the Taj Mahal in India. This is a national embarrassment… for our generation.” Nothing can be more accurate in addressing the issue than Batocabe’s remarkable statement. This remark also stresses the urgency to either choose which idea to support or to formulate a more attainable resolution.

The Torre De Manila is currently under much flak from local Manila government and the Supreme Court after violating zone requirement laws and land occupancy percentage ordinances. Several restraining orders and suspensions have been filed against DMCI’s construction project and now it is currently under a temporary restraining order issued by the Supreme Court, while hearings are being conducted to resolve this issue in a formal and feasible way.

Solution One This quote comes from the rationale of Manila Rep. Amado Bagatsing: “Turn the national hero’s monument by 180 degrees so that its new background would no longer include the DMCI Homes condo project.” This proposal was acknowledged by a few chuckles from his co-workers for its infeasibility. Still, this remains a viable solution, argued several lawmakers.

The structure in question, the Torre De Manila, is located at the heart of Manila, thus the name “Tower of Manila,” where it sits relatively close to the world-famous Luneta Park, the memorial site of our national hero, Jose Rizal. Even though the building’s location is not within the area of the park, it is still the only clearly visible building behind the iconic monument. When

“

The idea of designing the side of the Torre De Manila facing the monument into an appropriate backdrop for the park might be the most effective win-win solution to this dilemma. By implementing this, the Torre De Manila will not only remain an operating and functioning residential building but it will also serve as an added attraction to the park and the monument which can attract even more tourists

”

Why We Have Fandoms Isa Abola

Doctor Who. Star Wars. Sherlock. Harry Potter. The Avengers. People have posted, tweeted, liked, discussed, obsessed, and made fanfiction about the latest adventures of their favorite one, two, or ten fandoms. Other people might question how imaginary beings and events cause mild to intense anger, excitement, “feels,” and heartache for kingdoms of fans. What is it in fandoms that draws people to be involved, intellectually and emotionally, in characters and places that they will never meet or visit? 1 Reading about or watching the events taking place in other times and places, more than making us wish we could escape reality, provides us with a haven that lets us indulge our imagination to take a break from the stress and depressing chaos around us. Then, as if we had taken a nap or listened to relaxing music, we can come back refreshed and ready to conquer the world (or at least tonight’s readings and papers). 2 Contrary to forgetting about the real world, being interested in other lands, fictional kingdoms, and planets of the galaxy helps us realize that people (or aliens, centaurs, elves, heroes, and highfunctioning sociopaths) are different on the surface, but are the same in what

really matters. Whether their quest is fighting crime, finding romance, saving the world, or staying alive, characters, deep down, have desires, needs, sorrows, and joys that we can relate to. 3 People might ask, “What does Luke learning to use the force, Harry trying to defeat Voldemort, or Frodo walking into Mordor have to do with anyone?” But seeing the things characters do to solve their problems inspires people to be strong, to never give up, to be patient, or one of many other cliche sayings, makes a deeper impact on us than reading quotes. Sometimes, when we read or watch episodes, we discover how much you can learn that isn’t, and cannot be, told with just words.

4 Ranting, crying, or rejoicing over characters’ lives is something people outside of the fandom cannot understand. The (relation)ship set sail and I’m unbelievably happy, the ship fell apart and I’m heartbroken. And yet our emotional joys or trauma can have its perks. We remember what it’s like to feel good, bad, or confused. We practice using our hearts. Whether fandoms help you have faith in humanity, get in touch with your sentimental side, or simply give you something to talk about with others, fandoms, if you allow them to, can bring your mind and heart to life. Simply put, fandoms are stories. And we don’t need a tardis or a time-turner to relive these stories whenever we want. |||

6 Things

You Probably Don’t Know about the

Eucharistic Procession Christine Zamora & Kristina Garcia | Photos taken by Paulo Jacinto & Paolo Navarro Once you hear the melody of the organ and the baritone voices singing Latin prayers, smell the aroma of incense, and see the colorful carpets made out of flowers and sawdust, you know it means only one thing: the Eucharistic Procession. Whether this year’s Eucharistic Procession was your first or fifth, there will always be more to learn about this annual event. Here are some things you might want to know:

1. Everything on the floral carpets is a donation. Flowers were bought from monetary donations while the sawdust, which was dyed by the school, is from furniture and woodcarving shops. 2. Before the carpets were made, the flowers to be used filled two closed vans and there were fifty feed sacks of sawdust. The leftover sawdust is kept to be used for next year’s Eucharistic Procession (which also means that some of the sawdust used this year was saved from last year). 3. This year is the tenth year of the Eucharistic Procession. 4. Preparations for the Rite of the Eucharistic Procession started in August. Because it is complex, with priests, servers, marshals, flower girls, and many more people involved, months of preparation was key to the event running smoothly. 5. The stations – ALB, Study Hall A, MPC, and Dizon Auditorium – are symbolic.These stations represent different aspects of the university life. Study Hall A is where students would study and be with friends; MPC is where sports are played; and performances and events are held in the Dizon Auditorium. Jesus physically goes through all of these different realities and symbolically He is present in everything and the people follow him. 6. The essence of the Eucharistic Procession is going in joy of the Resurrection. In the words of Fr. Bermejo, “The Lord is risen and leads us. In the narrations of the Resurrection there is a common and central feature, they just say ‘The Lord goes ahead of you to Galilee where you will

see Him.’ The procession responds instead in a symbolic way to a mandate of the Risen One… He goes ahead of us, we want to see Him, and we follow Him. Our Lord Jesus Christ is sending us to go out and proclaim the good news to all the world. It’s a procession because we are walking. Walking means journey – it’s the journey of a Christian in this world.” From all of this, you can see that there is more to the solemnity of the procession, the beauty of the floral carpets, and the experience of helping in the meticulous preparation of the Eucharistic Procession. Even if this event occurs only once a year, our lives should be like a Eucharistic Procession – walking through the world with God taking the lead. |||

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Pecha Kucha 2015 The Highlights of a Night of Fighting the Dark Side Kristina Garcia and Pia Medina | Photos taken by Micah Buela

Last December 5, 2015

was the most-awaited Communitas event of the year, the Pecha Kucha. The LSG auditorium was fully packed with Star Wars enthusiasts who warmly welcomed another exciting battle of wits and creativity. With this year’s sci-fi theme, all the blocks under the School of Communication were challenged to send in their best representative who would show his or her best presentation skills and compete for the title of the Pecha Kucha Champion. This year’s theme was inspired with anticipation of the new installment of the epic Star Wars series which would be released later this month. All Communitas students from first to fourth year grabbed their light sabers, donned their best Star Wars-inspired ensemble, and brought in their special dash of witty humor. To relive this thrilling experience, here are the highlights of the night: The showstopping entrances To set the mood for the event, the students of Communitas came up with creative and entertaining entrances. Amidst the cheers and hoots of the crowd, each representative battled it out with their with lightsabers; either showing off their lightsaberwielding skills or surprising the audience with their entrance by doing backflips or insanely hilarious antics that got the crowd up on their feet.

The Fours of the SCM Galaxy Pecha Kucha is never complete without the emphasis of the four pillars of communication–obsessively creative, passionately human, keenly strategic, and insanely truthful. Throughout the whole event, these were present not only in the Zen presentations but also in the contenders themselves. They displayed creativity through their personalities and presentations, presented with keen strategy in mind, showed what it means to be human by discussing flaws and displaying emotions, and told the truth on what lies beyond the dark side.

All Stars Comeback The judges–Ms. Shirin Ramos, Mr. Armin Narciso, Ms.Kathleen Francisco, and Mr. Daryll Patco–came back for a short homecoming to judge the galactic Zen presentations. These judges made a name in the Communitas community both outside and inside the University. These presentations are characterized by ten-second timed slides, no looking back, and using given image slides such as the mangosteen, the dancer, and the lightsaber chopsticks.

Freshmen Step Up Despite being first-timers, the freshmen also made good impressions on the judges and the audience. Joebacca (Jose Palabyab) impressed them with his articulate storytelling ability and Asajj Ven-tress (Seleen Simora) with her charismatic humor, and Roda (Rosh Roshan Uttamchandani) with his clear presentation. There may have been technical difficulties but Jedi Masters, Jashoka (Jash Jacinto) and Comm Juan Kenobi (Troy Jose) were able to push through.

Battle of the Wits The competition would not be complete without a heavy dose of clever remarks and humorous pop culture memes whether it would be food, a cup of coffee, political, and/or media personalities. This battle depicted the ability of the representatives to make use of puns and incorporated them into making splendid stories that explained the slides they flashed on the screen. While keeping their character in check, they made sure to add a hint of their various personalities into their presentations. Their original speeches got the judges and the audience pleased and amazed.

Seniors gave it their last shot Communitas seniors gave it their all by showing what they were made off and sharing the story of their humble beginnings in UA&P into their presentations. They stepped up the game by being natural and being downright phenomenal. Each senior student took the stage by storm by dazzling the audience with their confident and eloquent presentations. They are experts in this field as shown in their brilliant word play and acronyms of the four pillars. Clearly, they were ready and the stage has become one of their comfort zones.

“

What is this dark side that they talk about? Most of us are familiar with the dark side as the force that spurs negative emotions amongst the people in the galaxy like fear, anger, and hate. It’s the same concept for this event.

”

Fight the dark side: Focus What is this dark side that they talk about? Most of us are familiar with the dark side as the force that spurs negative emotions amongst the people in the galaxy like fear, anger, and hate. It’s the same concept for this event. They tried to emphasize the need to focus on morals and the purpose to counteract the negative factors that affect modern society, namely, the everyday obstacles that could lead us to the dark side and prevent us from performing the best we could. Examples are the distractions from our studies, the media dictating what we are supposed to be, and the miscommunication amongst ourselves. “Focus on the good…focus on the morals…use the fours to become better people.”- Jash Jacinto as Jashoka

The Champion among the Jedi Masters The night commenced with the awarding ceremony. The Best Block Attendance also known as the Han Solo No More Award was given to 4SCL, while the Luking Great Skywalker or the Best Costume as a Block award, was given to 2COMM2. Other awards consisted of the following: – The Best Marketing Effort or the Best Intergalactic Transmission Award was awarded to 3SCL – Yoda People’s Choice or the People’s Choice was awarded to Joey Barreiro also known as Chewbearka The most awaited portion of the awarding ceremony was the announcement of the top four winners of the competition. The third runner-up was Rapha Nava of 4SDL as Navakin Slytalker. The second runner- up was Ina Teano of 4SEL as Queen Inadala, while the first runner-up was Jek San Juan of 3SEL as Obi Wan. Last but not the least was the champion of Pecha Kucha: “Jedi Master” Joey Barreiro of 3SCL as Chewbearka. Joey Barreiro was complimented and admired by both the judges and the audience for his wonderful and inspiring presentation that exemplified his skills as a good communicator. He spoke in front with confidence and shared a story that captured the audience’s attention. Joey Barreiro focused on his struggles and how he responded and how he overcame them. He presented different acronyms of SCM such as S-et goal, C-ommitment, M-istakes. But what probably caught everyone’s attention was when he said that S-truggle, C-reates , M-e. Everyone was brilliant and deserving of due recognition. They excelled in showing what a good communicator is and they have set the bar to a higher level. There is truly more to take home from the night of lightsabers, laughs, cheers, and Star Wars personas of this year’s Pecha Kucha. The unitas spirit lives in all of us, which was especially manifested in the fours of Communitas, to battle the dark side of our daily lives. We all have our dark side to battle outside the SCM galaxy, so take up your lightsabers and may the fours be with you. |||

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APRIL issue 2016

The Story behind the Belens in UA&P Claudine Timola | Photos taken by Rheia Maliuanag & Micah Buela Belens were put up around the university because Dr. Mariano, the former president, espoused that they be put around the campus to truly enliven the spirit Christmas in the university. This started more than 10 years ago and after some time, people already started looking forward to it when the month of December comes. Thus, it became a university tradition. Eventually, the Human Resource Committee decided to turn the said tradition into a competition. This was to encourage people to join in the Belen-making, and also to strengthen the values of unity, camaraderie, and even creativity. The competition is unit-based, but it is not limited to the employees rather anyone from the unit can help. After a while, with the help of the Ortigas Center Association, Inc., the idea spread out to Ortigas Center. It even levelled up into a life-size competition known as the Belenistas. Lately, according to Mr. Duke Real, people flock to the ALB lobby to take a look at the beautiful Belens done by each unit. But why at the ALB? Before, the Belens were placed in their respective units in the hopes of facilitating more interaction between the people from different units. However, in 2012, the Belenistas Ortigas was featured in TV5. Since it started because of Dr. Mariano’s idea, part of the segment was done in the University. To avoid the hassle of going to each unit, the units were then asked to place their Belens at the ALB. This was also a balancing act between solving the problem of people not having the chance to see the Belens and the idea of people interacting amongst other units.

Every year, a theme is decided by the organizing committee by which the design of the Belen must be in line with. The theme is usually related to Christianity. This year, since it is the year of the mercy, the theme is “Merciful like our Father.” Now, some of the Belens include that of the ICT, SEC and the Library. The Information & Communication Technologies’ (ICT) Belen, which is usually a contender every year, featured a shadow art. As they explained it, “one sees litter strewn about, with depictions of images”. The materials that they used turned out to be scrap materials from their unit. The School of Economics (SEC) presented a Belen in a golden dome with open sides. It is also surrounded by bright lights. Over all, their Belen, as they said “reflects the call of the Merciful Father.” The Belen of the Library staff played with the elements of light and water. As they said, “God’s mercy is like a fountain or river that keeps on flowing” which is what they actually portrayed in their Belen. They also hope that every one of us showcase mercy not only in the Yuletide season but throughout our lives. Winners of the competition receive a cash prize not to mention bragging rights. For others like Mr. Duke, it also considered as a personal achievement. |||

LIBERAL Arts EDUCATION Illustration by Anna Sabado Junior and senior students from the seven schools of UA&P tried to elaborate on the essence of the Liberal Arts Education with regards to their respective courses and the day-to-day life.

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SCHOOL OF LAW AND GOVERNANCE

The Beauty of the Liberal Arts Education Antonette Pasquin [Note: This is the speech given by the Outstanding Student Awardee Antonette Pasquin, a 3rd Year Political Economy student, in the Equatorial Rites 2016.]

A few days ago, I asked some my friends one of the

famous questions usually given to freshmen, “What do you think is the significance of the Liberal Arts education?” I remember how this same question was also repeatedly asked when we were freshmen. Back then, since we still did not know much yet, we were groping for words to answer and it is funny how up until now that we are almost finishing the last few CAS subjects that we have, whenever this question is asked to us, we still get the same shock expression. However, I realized that if before this expression meant “Oh no! I do not know what to say.” Now, it already means “Oh no! I have a lot to say.” Perhaps the grandeur and importance of Liberal Arts education, especially in today’s world, could not be simply expressed in words especially when you’ve taken almost 158 units of CAS subjects already. However, today, I will try my best to share with you three of the many things which I believe the Liberal Arts program of UA&P has given us from the moment we started studying here.

“Liberal Arts education taught us to not just be result-oriented but person-oriented.”

Second point I would like to make is that the Liberal Arts program also taught us to not be contented with just knowing what matters, but why or how they matter in life. In other words, more than just knowing the facts, we are also equipped with the necessary knowledge to understand the reason behind those facts. Because we are discussing the root of things, we are able to connect and integrate those lessons with common themes. How many times have we experienced having those eureka moments whenever we realize that the lessons we have in one subject are related or pointing out to the same thing discussed to other subjects? The coherence and consistency in our lessons all the more allow us to understand each lesson in different perspectives. With this, we grow in understanding of the subject matters and ultimately we are able to craft substantial and more accurate and objective opinion of issues. Indeed, these healthy classroom discussions which are usually a dialogue between the professor and students facilitate enrichment of one’s knowledge.

Now for my last point, I would also like to

share the realization that Liberal Arts education really taught us to love. Yes, you’ve heard it right but I do not mean to give out hugot lines here as you might perhaps expect (it’s not really my thing). Anyway, on a serious note, it is true that Liberal Arts education empowered us to truly love: to expand our horizons and to go beyond ourselves because it is always emphasized that the invaluable lessons we learn from our CAS subjects should not just remain as theories in our heads, for they are meant to move us to do something concrete for other people. Hence, we could also proudly affirm the words mentioned in the poem Desiderata, “With all its sham, drudgery and broken

First of all, I think most, if not everyone, would agree

that Liberal Arts education taught us to not just be resultoriented but person-oriented. Group presentations and paper works are very common in UA&P. Anywhere you look you would see students either with eyes fixed on their laptop screens writing a paper or having group meetings. I bet these school requirements usually eat up our vacant periods already. Many have already toiled so hard even to the extent of crying due to these school requirements. Yes, no doubt that they are challenging but in the course of our stay in UA&P, we also realized that more than the corresponding high, low, or ok-na-pasado-na marks that come from every academic requirement, the process by which we achieve the output, the relationships we build, and the values that come with it such as perseverance, patience, professionalism, and friendship especially in group works should also be given importance.

“Liberal Arts education empowered us to truly love: to expand our horizons and to go beyond ourselves because it is always emphasized that the invaluable lessons we learn from our CAS subjects should not just remain as theories in our heads for they are meant to move us to do something concrete for other people.”

“More than just knowing the facts, we are also equipped with the necessary knowledge to understand the reason behind those facts.“ dreams, it is still a beautiful world” because we are able to draw out meaning in our life through self-giving. We were not simply taught to appreciate a work of art but to also make a masterpiece out of ourselves by serving others. After all, we are persons in love and so we persevere to achieve the simple but great things in life and eventually make a ripple effect in society through the Liberal Arts education we have received and continually receiving in the University.

We may miss the CAS subjects in Art,

Literature, Citizenship, Sciences, Philosophy and Theology, Physical Education, and Asia-Pacific studies and languages. However, I think we would not miss so much these subjects if we actually remember them by heart and put them into practice in our daily activities. Besides, they are supposed to be the foundation on which we should build upon what we initially learned now and will still learn in our majors in the next two academic years. Having said all of these things, I hope we treasure our Liberal Arts education more than ever because this will be a living testimony of how we are living up to our motto: Unitas!|||

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SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATIONS

Confluence: The Liberal Arts and SCM Majors Katrina F. Olan My friends from other universities are

often shocked when I tell them about the number of units I have. For a regular student at the University of Asia and the Pacific like myself, to juggle around twenty-four to twenty-seven units is common while they on the other hand, struggle to work out eighteen to twenty-one units. “You guys have Literature side by side with majors? That’s hell!” one of my high school friends once exclaimed. I replied with, “Dante’s Inferno, to be precise.” “But how do you do it?” another asked. And I would answer, “Well, I offer it up, of course.”

Aside from noticing how heavy my load is,

people who do not come from UA&P and who know that I am a Communications major would tell me that subjects like History and Philosophy are irrelevant to either Marketing or Media. They say that learning the general curriculum is a waste of time and money, but I beg to disagree.

To some, it seems that once we, IMC or

MEM students, begin taking our majors, we spring off from the realm of the humanities. In truth, we never leave it. Integrated Marketing Communications and Media & Entertainment Management are extensions and applications of everything that we have learned when

we took the CAS curriculum. There are many lessons in the CAS curriculum that carry over into the realm of marketing, communication, and media. Here I will share with you three ways this applies.

First, In the School of Communication (SCM), the

human person is the core of our purpose. As SCM students, we are taught that the person—more popularly known as the consumer—is our focus. Never does a day go by when we fail to refer back to the consumer while looking at our ‘backstrat’ during some majors class. We are taught that the customer is king; he is the center of all of our operations. But more than a consumer or a buyer, he

“We are taught that the customer is king; he is the center of all of our operations. But more than a consumer or a buyer, he is a person.”

is a person. This idea is the first and most important step in knowing how to craft the “big idea” and employing the creative execution. Many times, we are convinced that we know the consumer. But we never really do. We attempt to understand people from different walks of life. We say this woman is an Urban S.E.C. AB Mother with four kids and drives a sedan. But, even the most detailed consumer profile cannot scope the complexity of the human being. That is where CAS subjects come into play; they become the lens in which the Communication student sees the world. This is how the SCM student is a craftsman, as opposed to the average salesman. Philosophy gives us a glimpse of man’s inner world—how he thinks and how he acts. If we are worthy, as communicators, to understand the complex nature of man—that is the only time that we can create a worthwhile and enduring campaign, one that is hinged on the classics. After all, one of our four pillars in the SCM is humanity.

Second, in the SCM, we are trained to see past

the context of history. We see beyond what others cannot—especially when it comes to thinking media and marketing. This is because we have a firm grasp of the masks under the spectacle of our industry. We study the dynamics of business motives and how these motives play a role in the mass media. Instead of fearing what the motives in business may do in media, we, as students of the SCM must understand them—their past, present, and possibilities for the future. We see the importance of numbers and figures, as we learned in General Math, and we must learn to love them even if we do not. We see the ebb and flow of digits across surveys, charts, and computing in finance. We flounder through surveys to conclude that 9 out of 10 women choose Brand X. While mathematical figures may not always be accurate

“Our four pillars: creativity, truthfulness, strategy and humanity, manifested in our work are all directed with the intention of bringing the human person closer to his perfection.”

“Instead of fearing what the motives in business may do in media, we, as students of the SCM must understand them—their past, present, and possibilities for the future.”

representations of the truth, it is one of the most tangible symbols that build a clearer picture. A person who is schooled in the Liberal Arts does not find it difficult to have this balance of views. This sort of mindset is essential, especially in our industry that tends to border on immoderation.

Third, in the SCM, we bring the CAS subjects to life,

and direct them towards a greater purpose. The SCM provides tangible applications. We do not stop at simply analyzing literature and speculating on theories as per the CAS subjects, but we bring those theories into life through practical yet creative executions. We do not simply make art, but we allow people to experience them fully. This is seen through the print ads, commercials, and radio spiels we make. Our four pillars: creativity, truthfulness, strategy, and humanity, manifested in our work are all directed with the intention of bringing the human person closer to his perfection. It is through the application of our CAS subjects that we are able to bring something truly human into the human experience.

The mindset that the School of Communication

provides to each member of the community is rare in this age. We live in a world inhabited by humans, but let’s be real—we’re far from humane. Nations thrive on capitalism. Most of the time, corporations only see people for their spending power and not for their personhood. It is important, as SCM students, that we use the school’s principles to add value to people’s lives. We must create demand not only for products, but also for the common good. It is only through the correct understanding of the human being, as what we have grasped from our CAS subjects, that we can achieve such a great feat.|||

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SCHOOL OF SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING

Liberating the Sciences: The Role of Liberal Arts John Brylle L. Bae

In one of the many profound discourses

in Dr. Jose Rizal’s El Filibusterismo, Simoun and Basilio came across the debate on the relevance of science in the modern world. Basilio, the medical student, claims that science “…is more eternal… more human… more universal” than patriotic ideals that in the end, only the pursuit of science will remain. Simoun countered this by asserting that science is not the end of man. He stressed that science is “…only…a means of seeking their welfare.” This debate still resonates today, especially now that science has become one of the essential building blocks of the modern world.

Science has liberated our way of thinking

from the prisons of ignorance and fanaticism. It has opened new possibilities for men, paving the way for this so-called modern era. But do these achievements make science the end of man already? I do not think so. Just like Simoun, I believe that science is not the end of it all. Science, just like any form of human knowledge, is in itself limited.

By its nature, science is a systematic method of

thinking. It generates figures and numbers vital for us to gain insights about the world surrounding us. As a result, it guides us in coming up with logical and reasonable conclusions. In short, science is a thinking process. But it should be emphasized that thinking should not be perceived solely as a process. More than that, thinking

“Metaphorically speaking, science has the potential to be a prison as pernicious as ignorance and fanaticism.”

As I course my study of Applied Mathematics in

the University, I learned that what can liberate science is the Liberal Arts. Through the University’s Liberal Arts curriculum, we, future scientists, are trained to put things into their proper perspectives. From philosophy, for instance, we learn that the numbers generated by the sciences are not the ultimate end. There is something more in store for us—and that is eternal happiness.

is a process that needs to be complemented by a proper context upon which interpretations and insights are founded. Without a proper context, thinking is merely relegated into a useless, meaningless exercise.

This is where the limitations of science lie; it does not give this context. It is the reason why despite all its promising benefits, science may be used as a means to harm society. It accounts for why discoveries in genetics are used to modify food for greater profit at the expense of consumers’ safety and that discoveries in nuclear physics are turned into weapons for mass destruction. Without proper context, science can be destructive. Metaphorically speaking, science has the potential to be a prison as pernicious as ignorance and fanaticism. Therefore, science needs to be liberated from the prison imposed by its own limitations; and it can only be freed if a proper general framework guides it.

“CAS education also teaches us that man is more than just a number contributing to an aggregate data.”

“Basilio, the medical student, claims that science “…is more eternal… more human… more universal” than patriotic ideals that in the end, only the pursuit of science will remain. Simoun countered this by asserting that science is not the end of man. He stressed that science is “… only…a means of seeking their welfare.””

It also teaches us that man is more than just a number contributing to an aggregate data. On the contrary, man is a person who has dignity that must be respected. From literature and history, we are exposed to the subtleties of human experience. Thus, we are led to the realization that before we are scientists or engineers, we are humans susceptible to the weaknesses and foibles of our humanity. Indeed, science can never be an end in itself. It may be a means to improve man’s rationality. But if left without a guiding perspective, it will be a formless, meaningless process that may ravage the society it is supposed to serve. To better serve its purpose, science must be liberated by the human spirit. Without this “human touch,” science will be nothing but a quibbling of irrelevant figures. Without the Liberal Arts, science will be a misguided process. The Liberal Arts education is the perfect complement to science because it ultimately liberates science.|||

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SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT “Those thick readings and long papers that we were required to do in CAS have helped us acquire not only patience, but also analytical and critical thinking skills that are essential in making case study analyses, industry analyses, feasibility studies, and others.”

Not About the Money

Through the Liberal Arts curriculum,

Katherine Arevalo

“I have taken up most of these subjects Being seniors, we have proven that what in high school. Do I really have to ‘find x’ all over again? Why do the readings have to be this thick? It’s not even related to the course I am taking up.”

Those were some of the thoughts that

most of us during our freshmen years probably have had, especially during a tiring all-nighter as we do our requirements for our CAS subjects. With all those thoughts, we were usually told that we would definitely thank our CAS professors in the future as it is through the Liberal Arts curriculum that we ought to become students, professionals, leaders, and individuals who are grounded in values.

“As leaders, it is clear that we must treat our subordinates not as machines or tools, but as persons.”

we were told was right. It was good to undergo the kind of education before taking up our own major courses because it was where we would first learn how to learn. Indeed, it is true that to learn is not to think objectively at all times; it is to think logically. While it is important to memorize facts, we must explain how a fact can turn into an idea and how one idea connects to the other. That is how one learns.

Liberal Arts puts balance in us be it through

the mind, the heart, or other aspects in life that makes us human. Those thick readings and long papers that we were required to do in CAS have helped us acquire not only patience, but also analytical and critical thinking skills that are essential in making case study analyses, industry analyses, feasibility studies, and others. We were also trained to use our creative minds through our art subjects as well as those group or class presentations in different CAS subjects. Moreover, these acquired skills became our foundation to creativity, which we now find useful in making business presentations. Liberal Arts education has influenced us to become students who have a relentless and continuous quest for learning.

we were being prepared to become well-rounded entrepreneurs and professionals. We were taught to have perspectives that are humanistic enough to understand that businesses exist not only for profits, but also for the people who constantly depend on these businesses. Being exposed to how malpractices or ethical issues in business are being done, we know how easy it is to commit to these wrongdoings. However, through the Liberal Arts curriculum, we were taught to become trailblazers in doing businesses which respect the human dignity of a person. Living out that respect, we do our best to maintain the fairness of the competition not only for our competitors, but most especially for the people we serve through the products and services that we offer.

CAS subjects such as Philosophical Anthropology

and Ethics have made us more aware of our duties to our future employees or colleagues. As leaders, it is clear that we must treat our subordinates not as machines or tools, but as persons. This is how we think the School of Management could be living the vision of our university— to promote the dignity of the human person in every circumstance.

Liberal Arts is the foundation of how we

learned to love compassionately and think intelligently. With all the challenges each CAS subject has given us, the importance of the learnings we get from the process transcends high marks. After all, what matters are values that we acquire and how we use these to become our better selves while helping others improve as well.

Liberal Arts has played a big role as to

how we have become students who value objectivity and logic, and are in love with continuous learning. The CAS subjects being offered will definitely continue to influence how we will become professionals and leaders in our own fields of expertise. Furthermore, it will always be part of the reasons why we strive to become a better version of ourselves.|||

“After all, what matters are values that we acquire and how we use these to become our better selves while helping others improve as well.”

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SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS

named labor and capital. They cannot assume that price is constant. They do not always respond to supply. People are sometimes even irrational. In other words, we are dealing with the human person and its entirety.

This is beyond the scope of economics.

Ceteris Paribus

(Other things held constant)

All things are held constant in a world

where conditions are ideal. To represent the factors of production, let x be labor and let y be capital. There are endless combinations that are ultimately restricted to a budget. Their moves and reactions are simple enough to be assigned plots on a graph making exact lines and curves. Everything is perfectly placed so that when something goes wrong, it can be corrected. All things are set such as to take a snapshot of several choices while all else will be put aside for another place and time. These are the typical things an economist assumes.

Economics, just like any other subject,

is there to systematize and organize truths and realities. Assigning variables, making connections, and giving them meaning are done in economics. The economist makes models to find reactions that reveal what the multitude of data is hiding in numbers. They collect observations and experiences that transform into theories, formulas, and graphs that help explain them. Through varied tools and skills, they also dissect moments and events to answer particular questions and solve different problems in business and society. However, economics, like any other subject, has its limitations.

Pauline Torrejon One of the few things in economics that is first realized is that the real world is not as easily changed and controlled. When you want to fix a problem, it does not always react as expected. Most of the time, it will be surrounded by webs of contexts and unspoken laws that are far from the theories students try so hard to memorize. This is because the world is populated with hardworking people who manage machines all day to make a living, but is simply

“One of the few things in economics that is first realized is that the real world is not as easily changed and controlled. When you want to fix a problem, it does not always react as expected.”

Where then can it be attributed to? It should rightfully be put under the wings of the humanities where humanness is explored and discovered. Thankfully, it is taught by The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) in UA&P. It explores the basics of a human being who is a whole person. For example, we understand what makes a human think and why he acts the way he does through subjects such as Philosophical Anthropology and Biology. On the other hand, the creativity of man is showcased in works of literature and arts that bring life to certain truths. The humanities shows us the capacity of the human person throughout the passage of time: making different choice which may be good or bad; only a part of which economics can capture.

“The School of Economics is constantly reminding their students that the welfare of society is the reason that they engross themselves in the study of the allocation of resources.”

ethics, social responsibility, or development studies. It helps give importance to the role of history and culture in systems and transactions. Any ordinary student can also forget, in the heat of sleepless nights and mountains of papers due the next day, that what we are to study are not variables but people—people who have lives, people who suffer and enjoy in every story. The School of Economics is constantly reminding their students that the welfare of society is the reason that they engross themselves in the study of the allocation of resources. The same thing can be said of maths and sciences, of business and entrepreneurship, and of art and literature. That is, everyone wants to be happy.

The world is not perfect and that is perfectly

For instance, human emotion is rarely tackled. It

is extremely hard to quantify for it is constantly changing. Macbeth, a tragedy written by Shakespeare, exemplifies this; it also happens to be taught in Renaissance Literature, a subject under CAS. A shallow reading may give the impression of the usual melodrama of brutish violence in a faraway country. At closer inspection and analysis, one appreciates that each choice Macbeth made, as well as what the other characters made, was a deep inward debate with full knowledge of the consequences. It exposes the strength of greed and the thirst for power, which turn out to be a shell of loneliness. It is impressive, to say the least, to understand and express human emotion and different choices in a span of a few pages.

However, what is wonderful about the humanities

is that it will mold into other studies seamlessly. That is why it is taught before or in hand with major subjects. One becomes more willing to accept teachings of business

true. What UA&P provides their students aids in coping with that reality. It is time to remember, as economists have, that the world is full of people. It is world of yous and mes and thems who are far greater than any average x or y. Specialties will be for nothing if it is not directed to the people they are made for and what better way to know them than through the humanities.|||

“Specialties will be for nothing if it is not directed to the people they are made for and what better way to know them than through the humanities.”

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HUMANITIES

Of Life, Learning, and Culture: Celebrating the Spirit of Humanitarian Education Ave Merencillo In his Starry Night and other paintings, Vincent van Gogh depicted a phenomenon that still remains a mystery to scientists today - turbulent flow, a phenomenon which attempts to explain the way certain things in nature move, and is accurately portrayed in the brush strokes van Gogh used to paint the stars, clouds, and other objects. From this, we realize that we can not only contemplate scientific phenomena in art, but also do the same when we combine subjects in the humanities and technical subjects; this is one of many skills acquired from attaining a Liberal Arts education.

Here in the university, the CAS subjects form an essential part of the school’s approach to Liberal Arts education. However, what is a Liberal Arts education according to UA&P? For the institution, to be liberally educated is not to be exposed to liberal ways of thinking. “Contrary to popular belief, the humanities is not just about the arts. Rather, it is about man, the maker of the arts.”

“For the institution, to be liberally educated is not to be exposed to liberal ways of thinking. Rather, it is to learn how to connect different forms of knowledge with each other.” materialistic and output-oriented society, we are often so focused on technological advancement and things that will make our lives more convenient that we forget that success is not measured by man’s ability to produce, but on man himself and the way he lives his life. In other words, it looks at man as an end in himself, not as the means to an end.

Humanities studies the condition of the

Rather, it is to learn how to connect different forms of knowledge with each other. It is also to understand important truths while instilling humanitarian values. It is through the CAS subjects that one is taught not only the value of this kind of education, but also the unity and harmony that all forms of knowledge contain when connected with each other—all with the goal of forming a well-rounded and holistically developed person. All of this contributes to the institution’s spirit of Unitas - in knowledge, in one’s profession, and in life. One may ask why we need to have the values part instilled as well. It must be understood that it is through such values that we, as young minds, are given direction instead of being left to navigate through a bewildering jungle of various ideas for ourselves. Thus, Liberal Arts is not just for educational attainment and professional formation, but also for bringing out the fullness of the individual’s capacity and potential to become a better human being. Because of this, the CAS subjects as the foundation of humanitarian education are crucial; they teach us to love learning, and to learn to love.

human person, events, and results influenced by him and for him. It is a course dedicated to man as he truly is—a human being—and which celebrates his life and learns much from him to aid other lives. Thus, to hold so little significance for the course is to undervalue man, or at the very least to remain ignorant. One more way in which it is different from other courses is in how it trains the student to assess subjective information logically and critically, which is altogether different from other courses that assess objective information. It also opens one’s awareness to different mindsets, cultures, languages, and histories to pinpoint what is common among people as well as what is different, and to see areas which need improvement. It opens one to the issues that mankind is experiencing; it fosters human equality, which is the basis of democracy and promotes positive social consciousness, cultured individuals, and better citizens. The course also develops one’s reading and writing skills, takes these to a higher level, and enables the individual to profoundly enjoy it. Humanities provides a self-transforming process that enables one to live more fully and more deeply as well as to treasure his human heritage. The course in itself not only celebrates these treasures, but also preserves them. That is why mankind thrives better in places where the humanities also flourish.

With this in mind, UA&P’s concept of Liberal

The CAS subjects and the Humanities

Arts focuses on what it means to be truly human, and is thus encapsulated in the Humanities course. Contrary to popular belief, the humanities is not just about the arts. Rather, it is about man, the maker of the arts. In this

teach one to be open to new ideas, information, and culture. They train the individual to adapt to life situations, which is so crucial especially since the country is experiencing a diaspora of people looking for

more opportunities, and a better life. Because we—as Humanities students—are taught to be specialized and at the same time non-specialized, we can face the world armed with a ready mind and heart. We know that if somehow in the future we choose an endeavor that is not related to our college course, we are ready to take up the challenge and will not be stuck with fragmented, specialized knowledge to work with.

These are the keys to rising above the mindset

of poverty; it is to see the world as connected, and not fragmented; to love what you do, and to do what you love, and at the same time to constantly challenge oneself to do more and learn more. Fully realized in the Humanities, these things pass down the legacy of not only cherishing holistic education, but also to cherish life as we find meaning, beauty, and harmony in it and in others, all in the spirit of Unitas.|||

“Fully realized in the Humanities, these things pass down the legacy of not only cherishing holistic education, but also to cherish life as we find meaning, beauty, and harmony in it and in others, all in the spirit of Unitas.”

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SCHOOL OF EDUCATION “It made us understand what it is to be human—to be persons with freedom.”

To Educate is Human Hanna Arbilo and Tina Enriquez In the corporate world, there is a growing interest in human capital. Here in the University, how could Liberal Arts shape Human Capital Development practitioners as well as teachers and educators? We’ve known since we were freshmen

that Liberal Arts education is important. But even if this was the case, we could not yet understand how philosophy could be any way related to or useful to our course—we were not sure as to how it would be able to equip us with the necessary tools for our future careers nor did we understand how philosophy would be integral in our development as persons. Hence, we ended up feeling that we were taking CAS subjects simply to fulfill a requirement. Since both of us were in love with philosophical ideas, we considered ourselves fortunate.

Over the years, we slowly began to see the

impact and relevance of philosophy to our courses and realized that the CAS subjects were carefully knit into our curriculum all along. Through undergoing various CAS subjects, we were able to gain insights as to how the Liberal Arts education in UA&P would help us discover our future roles in society as educators and practitioners in the field of human capital.

What then is the significance of CAS subjects to students currently taking up Human Capital Development and Child Development and Education? The answers came as we learned what our courses expected from us. To be a Human Capital Development practitioner means creating an environment conducive to learning that would facilitate and promote the individual’s growth in the corporate setting. Before ensuring an individual’s development in the workplace, there must be a profound understanding of what a person is and what he or she is capable of doing. It is in our CAS subjects that an “A person will always be free in terms of what he decides and our job as educators is to help him arrive at the best possible conclusion that will benefit his individuality as well as his being.”

understanding of a person was emphasized to us. We learned that a great teacher is able to see the good and the truth in a person, enabling him or her to effectively guide and teach children. When a teacher possesses this knowledge, he or she is able to spot and nurture the skills of children so that they will grow and become the best versions of themselves.

value of a person and how that person has freedom and a discretionary character. A person will always be free in terms of what he decides and our job as educators is to help him arrive at the best possible conclusion that will benefit his individuality as well as his being.

We are well aware that philosophy is

grounded on the truth. It made us understand the value of seeing human beings as persons and not as resources that one can utilize for the company’s benefit or, in the school’s setting, view children as a nuisance. Liberal Arts served as a cornerstone for our own growth and development in terms of how we will carry out our practice in our future schools and organizations. It reminds us to promote a person’s integral development.

The combination of CAS subjects and majors in

SED has given us a better understanding of the human person. In Theology, we learned that God created man who is made up of body and soul. At that time, we were also taking up Philosophical Foundations of Human Capital Development wherein we discussed the importance of work-life integration in the workplace. We made the connection between the two ideas when we realized that there is a need for employees to be taken care of because man not only possesses a body and a soul, but is also a social being. Thus, we now understand the

“As educators of both schools and the workplace, our role is to train and to mold persons to become the best version of themselves and for us to be able to draw out their maximum potential which in turn will result in a progressive society.”

In a nutshell, what has Liberal Arts education

taught us? It made us understand what it is to be human— to be persons with freedom. We also learned that to educate is human. The word education comes from two different Latin roots: educare, which means to train or to mold, and educere, which means to lead out or to draw out. As educators of both schools and the workplace, our role is to train and to mold persons to become the best version of themselves and for us to be able to draw out their maximum potential which in turn will result in a progressive society.|||

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To Vote: Musings on the Upcoming 2016 Presidential Elections DJ Navarro There are particular times during college when you realize that you are slowly turning into one of the adults: maybe it is when you get your driver’s license, or when you realize that you are (or nearly turning) two decades old, or perhaps it is when you realize that in a few years, you’ll be walking the world of jobs and taxes. However, there is also that one particular time wherein you’d feel more of an adult, and a whole lot more of a citizen of the Philippines: voting season.

public opinion and by the media, both mass media and social media, that depicts candidates as “this” or “that”. It is easy, or even more than easy to jump the bandwagon. However, the quest to know and examine the candidates does not stop there.

As with books and poetry, one does not simply take another’s opinion as fact, nor does one simply sway with the As we all know, by 2016, President Benigno Simeon wind and go with the public opinion. As a citizen, one must “Noynoy” Aquino III will be stepping down as President learn to see exactly who the candidates are, and if the media and will hand over his position to the new 16th President perceives them to be “this” or “that”, the responsibility to of the Republic of the Philippines. Whether this President learn exactly why they are like that still lies on the citizen, will bring forth great change in this country, or simply be the voter. another number, another portrait in the Malacañang Palace, we do not know yet. However, we do know that there will be We are dealing with deciding who will be the one who will a President who will replace Noynoy, and we do know that lead this country either to glory or to shambles. And this, I some of us will be involved in the decision-making process think I can surely say, is one of the more decisive moments in Philippine history and this is a decision that cannot be of who gets to take the chair. chosen lightly. With all due respect to the news, I think there Perhaps it is simply a negative assumption about the still lies a need to show more information to the public and Philippines regarding the way government is run, or how let the deeds of each politician speak for themselves. politicians themselves behave, but I can’t help but feel a bit pessimistic or at least extremely concerned with the We, as citizens, cannot simply make an uninformed elections. We, as citizens of this country, are now given the decision, but we can’t simply let all the information walk up responsibility to see just who are these candidates and what to us. We must take our own opportunities to learn more can they bring to the table. Now, it is easy to be swayed by about these candidates and who they are.|||

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Whether this President will bring forth great change in this country, or simply be another number, another portrait in the Malacañang Palace, we do not know yet.

#LoveWins? Syrian Exodus Allen Fernandez & Clarisa Manzon The issue of same-sex marriage became a heated topic after the Supreme Court of the United States of America legalized it in a court ruling last June 26, 2015. People A lot of things have happened in the past years that led from all walks of life have either expressed their approval to the development of what we might call the Syrian or disappointment with the said ruling. Advocates of nightmare. Most people are largely apathetic towards same-sex marriage argue that it is their right as fellow the ongoing tragedy behind the war and tend to steer members of society to be able to marry the one they clear from the issue. Knowing is part of the battle to raise love. They point out that same-sex marriage would also consciousness and move the global community to action. prove beneficial to society since it would not only lessen discrimination to LGBT families, but it would also Social media has shown us news on numerous Syrian promote true religious freedom, and drive the economy nationals who embark on journeys to far-away lands forward. Meanwhile, dissidents, especially most Christian seeking refuge. Sky News released a story about two men churches, contend that God declared marriage to be a who cycled their way to Norway just to escape the chaos. union of one man and one woman. It is for this reason that Another is from Independent about two Syrian men supporters of same-sex marriage can’t help feeling that the who died swimming to England from a refugee camp. opposing party make it a religious issue. However, it is not Perhaps the most famous story which circulated on social just an issue of religion. media is the one about a young Syrian boy who drowned on Turkish shores which, of all the published stories, Conventionally, marriage is defined as the “union of epitomizes the risks the Syrians are willing to take to man and woman in body and mind; inherently ordered escape from the violence in their homeland. to procreation and thus the broad sharing of family life; and calling for permanent and exclusive commitment” Though it is not sure whether the accusations on Canada (Anderson & George, 2012). However, same-sex marriage are true, one thing is assured, the issue with the boy alters this definition as it promotes the union of two who drowned triggered the public’s awareness and homosexuals. Redefining marriage will greatly affect caused people to turn on their inquisitiveness on what several aspects of society. At this point, it is imperative that is happening in Syria. Pictures of the boy spread on we examine the arguments presented by the advocates of social networking sites and people began to question: same-sex marriage and determine if its legalization will “What happened?” According to The Daily Caller, the have negative implications on the institutions of society. three-year old Aylan Kurdi was travelling with his family from Turkey to Europe. His lifeless body carried by a Effects on Religion soldier caused a public uproar that even raised questions on Canada’s supposed rejection of the Kurdi family’s Supporters of same-sex marriages say that they fight application for migration. This tragic incident, though for equality. They believe that by legalizing same-sex questioned as to its veracity, was transformed into a marriage, homosexual couples would become free from positive catalyst in directing the global eye into Syria and stirred a public clamor for support to the Syrian refugees by encouraging other countries to provide safe refuge.

the supposed oppressions of religious men and be Piawill Medina allowed to live according to their own beliefs, especially on the of marriage. couples no longer denied andissue encouraging otherGay nations andwill groups to helpbethe their right to marry. besieged Syrians. This can be done quite simply by people

and nations turning a listening ear to start caring and take On thetocontrary, it would impede rather promote steps increase awareness at home and than abroad as to what true religious freedom. With the Supreme Court’s ruling, exactly is happening in Syria. it is now unconstitutional in the United States of America to marriage to gay couples. whoauthority refuse their In deny March 2011, President BasharPeople al-Assad’s services to gay weddings can beprotests throughout sued and imprisoned since was challenged by democratic Syria. their refusal is tantamount to denying gay couples of their The protesters demanded the end of the authoritarian right to marry. practice of the Assad administration. Unfortunately, the government dealt with this issue using brute force with There wasofone in and 2012military. when a Naturally, baker named Jack the help the case police opposition Phillips was sued forfought refusing to bake cake for a gay groups formed and against theagovernment leading wedding. According to his lawyers, Charlie Craig and to a full-scale civil war. The United States of America, David to Jack’s ” in Russia,Mullins France came and Italy have “Masterpiece taken interestCakeshop, in the conflict. Lakewood, Julyvery 19, 2012. were asking The United Colorado States hasin been activeThey in lending a hand Jack to bake a cake for them, but being an Evangelical to the rebels by supplying them with weapons, strategic Christian, heand believed thataid. marriage was a union the of one intelligence, medical The war destroyed man andhomes one woman; and refused. Soon Craig and Syrians’ and displaced millions ofafter, civilians who Mullins filed a complaint to the Colorado Civil Rights were left with no choice but to leave the country to Commission andthe won thenecessities case. Jack was thenwater forcedand by the find shelter and basic of food, court to bake cakes for gay couples in the future or face medicines to keep them alive. Fortunately, according 12 months in prison. By adhering his Lebanon, belief, JackJordan, Phillips to Los Angeles Times, countriestolike was “persecuted” by the Sweden, law. Turkey, Italy, Germany, France and Britain

have offered to take in refugees. Despite the number of Another Donald Evelyn Knapp, countriescase thatwas havewhen opened theirand doors to Syrian refugees, ordained ministers of their church, were forced by the are more help is needed. More than four million refugees court to marry homosexuals or else jail time out there in search of assistance and“face it is time to doand our fines. ” The Knapps were asked by a gay couple to officiate part in the international community. in their wedding ceremony. However, the Knapps refused since teaches God reserved If the their storyreligion of the boy who that drowned is enoughmarriage to catch our only for a man and a woman. Because of this, they were attention, respond to it, and continue to listen for other prosecuted with charges based on sexual news, then there is hope of fordiscrimination humanity. Awareness opens

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the eye for us to believe that a simple act of compassion and kindness will go a long way in rebuilding a world shattered by war, indifference, and enmity. It is time People who refuse their services to can be sued and togay end weddings the streak of ignorance that has desensitized the These stories have the right to be known and have world. Action can only be taken if knowledge since As their tantamount to denying gay couples of theiris gained encouragedimprisoned others to end apathy. whatrefusal has beenissaid from an active and sincere search for world developments by the Mercy Corps, a group of people who help theright to marry. affecting people from different races. It starts from the Syrian refugees, we can help the refugees by inspiring heart.|||

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O PINION

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Th to an gi ci ar

P fa si p le o th to re n ch b p

F co Th lo co p m

H co su A o co Th fo

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preferences and are now facing 180 days in prison and a fine of $1000 for each day that the ministers refuse to officiate in same-sex marriages. These cases are indicative of the government’s willingness to violate other people’s rights in the name of “tolerance and equality.” It seems that the people are no longer given the right to adhere to their moral beliefs. Given the circumstances, there is no assurance that these situations are merely isolated cases and will not be repeated.

Effects on the Family Prior to the legalization of same-sex marriage, LGBT families felt that they were merely second-class citizens since they were not accorded with the same rights and privileges as heterosexual families. They argued that the legalization of same-sex marriage would affirm the dignity of their families through the nation-wide recognition of their marriage. This entitles gay couples and their children to certain rights, benefits, and privileges previously reserved for married couples. Married homosexuals now have access to joint adoption which would provide children with two legal parents instead of just one. Health benefits and insurance claims would also extend to their partner and their children. Furthermore, marriage entails a stronger and exclusive commitment towards each other and their children. This would lead to the establishment of a more loving environment suitable for raising children than cohabitation can ever provide. These arguments clearly present the positive impacts of legalizing same-sex marriage to the LGBT families. However, research shows that traditional families– consisting of a mother and a father–remain as the most suitable family structure for the upbringing of children. According to a 2012 study conducted by Mark Regnerus on homosexual parenting, children of heterosexual couples tend to fare better than the children of the former. The children who lived with homosexual parents are found to be more likely unemployed, unchaste, depressed,

and unhealthy as compared to the children who live in traditional families. Robert Oscar Lopez, who was adopted and raised by his mother and her female partner, asserts his stance against same-sex marriage. According to him, his longing for a true fatherly-figure had caused him to seek comfort and love in men who were his father’s age. He often resorted to prostitution. It was only after he met his biological father that he transitioned from being confused and lost to being “stable and romantically fulfilled.” B.N. Klein also had unpleasant experiences while growing up in an LGBT household. She recalled how her lesbian mother and her partner would often try to incite hatred against Jews and Christians by telling her that they are “stupid and violent.” If she disagreed, she was told that she would be grounded from going out except for school. Another aspect of same-sex marriages that we have to consider is that gay unions will not be able to procreate through natural means. This leaves same-sex couples who want to have children with two options – artificial insemination or adoption. The problem with these options is that it would cause children confusion as to how they came into being. Finding out he was adopted, or worse, that he was created in a laboratory, would take a heavy toll on a child.

Effects on the Economy Some states and countries have proven that the legalization of same-sex marriage could boost the economy as it allows the businesses in the wedding industry to access a bigger market. An example of this is the injection of $260 million into New York’s economy subsequent to the legalization of same-sex marriage. However, the adverse effects of legalizing same-sex marriage to the economy in the long run is proven to be more disconcerting. It could aggravate the demographic winter, or population decline brought about by a cultural shift. By legalizing same sex marriage, a greater number

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They point out that same-sex marriage would also prove beneficial to society since it would not only lessen discrimination to LGBT families, but it would also promote true religious freedom, and drive the economy forward.

of children will be adopted and raised by homosexual couples. In a study conducted by the American Sociological Review in 2001, they found out that the children of homosexual couples have greater inclination to engage in homosexual behavior. Also, public schools and other public institutions will have to equate heterosexual unions with homosexual unions to promote equality. As in the case of Massachusetts, one of the first states in U.S. to legalize same-sex marriage, the public schools worked on a homosexual-friendly curriculum, which includes educating the children on homosexual intercourse. By exposing these children and young-adults to homosexuality, their inclination to engage in homosexual behavior increases as well. One of the possible consequences of this cultural shift is the increase of homosexual unions, which are not capable of procreation, eventually leading to the fall of birth rates. When birth rates fall, the ratio of the youth population would be smaller relative to the elder population. Since the elderly are not capable of working, the labor force of the society would eventually decrease. Consequently, the productivity of the economy will fall, and this would result to adverse effects on the economy.

Marriage: Reflection of Human Nature As mentioned, the legalization of same-sex marriage redefines traditional marriage. Some revisionists claim that marriage is a social construct, and can therefore be

redefined by the people. They believe that the definition of marriage can be remodeled to fit the preferences of the people. However, the Australian Marriage Forum (AMF) asserts that marriage is not merely a social construct but an institution established as a reflection of the nature of men. Man can only be male or female, and it is in our biological nature that only through the bodily union between these two can new human beings be produced. The institution of marriage then emerges from the need to protect the children and to establish stable family units, which serves as the foundation of every society. Through marriage, the sexual behavior of men are regulated to ensure that the children will grow in a family, where both parents are committed to each other and to the nurturing and supervising of their children. The institution of marriage, therefore, creates a social order that dignifies the nature of men. The harm in redefining marriage arbitrarily is that the people would begin to undermine its norms – norms of exclusivity and permanence. By doing so, the social order created by the institution of marriage will be shattered, and this could adversely affect the cultural and political benefits that the people acquire from this institution. Truly, the legalization of same-sex marriage brings forth an endless string of consequences that greatly affect society. Based on the facts provided in this article, we could conclude that the negative implications of the legalization of same-sex marriage far outweighs the benefits.|||

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The harm in redefining marriage arbitrarily is that the people would begin to undermine its norms – norms of exclusivity and permanence.

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However, the adverse effects of legalizing same-sex marriage to the economy in the long run is proven to be more disconcerting. It could aggravate the demographic winter, or population decline brought about by a cultural shift.

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Allen Urnieta Let’s face it: our university isn’t exactly the first choice of most top high school graduates—particularly those from the public science high schools. Only scholarship grants seem to invite them to study in our university. They normally pursue degrees in the sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) as the rise of new technologies coupled with rapid globalization has made skills in STEM subjects more of a necessity in the labor market. It follows then that they have less chance of acquiring and knowing the Liberal Arts education. But such a situation could be a manifestation of the fictional narrative that has perpetuated over the years: that science specialization is enough and that it should be the goal. Such belief is a fiction, as there is a bigger reality out there that science specialization alone cannot cater to. It cannot be denied that our nation needs more scientists. In our country where development seems to be stagnant, we certainly need to produce young minds that will spur innovation; young bloods that can infuse ingenuity to an otherwise lifeless national system choked by resistance to change. Our society needs more than just highly specialized technical professionals. Still a developing nation, a lot of work needs to be done across all sectors and facets in our society. We need innovators who can bring their ideas from the laboratory not only to mere conferences abroad,

but to diverse communities which need it most. We need groundbreakers who can break not natural and written laws for trivial gains, but those who could smash cultures of poverty and mediocrity. Most of all, we need catalysts who are sensitive not only to social issues but above all, to the human condition. One of the issues of specialized science education is for all the technical expertise that it can provide, it is too focused on applying a specific body of knowledge for a specific purpose for it to contribute to society beyond its scope. Even the soundest scientific knowledge can only solve specific problems. Clearly, this is one of the realities that scientific knowledge alone cannot deal with. It needs help from other disciplines. On the other hand, with a Liberal Arts education, one of its components is the cultivation of knowledge across all fields. Such multidisciplinary approach allows one to make connections across all disciplines. As each discipline offers a unique perspective, it enables one to see the bigger picture, the problems in society interrelated to one another, and the fact that all actions or solutions have varying effects on different levels. Even if we are to delve in practical thinking, Liberal Arts would still come in handy. Over the course of a career, one will be called upon to play many different roles. Flexibility is then of importance and what better way to have one is to have an understanding of a multitude of disciplines.

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We need innovators who can bring their ideas from the laboratory not only to mere conferences abroad, but to diverse communities which need it most.

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We need groundbreakers who can break mediocrity.

Another issue is the disconnect between scientific advancements and public understanding, especially among the uneducated masses. Effective public communication is then needed, but not all are blessed with effective oral and written communication skills. Nonetheless, it is something that can be attained through training. Another component of Liberal Arts education is the training of the mind to think, reflect and express critically and clearly with the study of the arts, humanities, as well as social sciences. With the help of Liberal Arts education, scientists can better convey scientific researches into simpler language for the public. On the other hand, there have been numerous but unfortunate scientific advancements in the past that have been deemed as unjust or unethical. Without Philosophy subjects such as Philosophical Anthropology as well as Ethics, and even studies in Theology, scientists will tend to act without the gaze of a critical eye and the guidance of ethical judgment. Instead of contributing advancements for man, scientists may create breakthroughs that are against man and will destroy man in the end. It should be noted, nevertheless, that the purpose of a Liberal Arts education goes beyond its benefits to one’s line of work or career. The focus of Liberal Arts education is the development of the entire person. Thus, Liberal Arts education not only trains students to be holistically competitive in the workplace, but also – and more importantly – it perfects the inner dimensions of a person, making him whole. It understands the potentials of a whole man and, as such, it provides him with the opportunities to develop the many sides of his nature in harmony together with his character.

Also, with its multidisciplinary approach, a Liberal Arts education exposes one to different ideas, norms, cultures and societies of man, thereby enabling him to understand the question of the human condition as well as how it was confronted throughout time. What are then produced by such education are not men who are distinguished by the number of zeroes on their checks, but men who are essentially human, in that, with their broad understanding of the world, they rise above their imperfections and tirelessly pursue greater things. Progress is tricky. Rapid industrialization and globalization have elevated societies to unprecedented economic prosperity but have also changed man’s values and priorities. Nowadays, as man’s worth is more determined by the success of his career and the extent of his wealth, education has been transformed – or rather, reduced – into a mere system that aims to produce employable citizens. This extends to scientific specializations, which, although a noble pursuit, has been blindly made more of an end rather than as a means. Sadly, acceptance of this alternate reality, of this fiction, may prove to be unfavorable to man: what science alone can confront becomes the only thing that matters, making man ignore his bigger reality and thus limiting himself and his society. Man’s greatest reality is that he is destined for perfection, and this cannot be attained by being one-dimensional with one specialization alone. What he should then have is a strong training in one’s area of specialization complemented with a sound foundation of the Liberal Arts. This does not only help him readily contribute to society in the best way that he can, but it also allows him to cater to his bigger realities; to facts that are bigger than fiction.|||

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Most of all, we need catalysts who are sensitive not only to social issues but, above all, to the human condition.

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Science Fiction

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“ Syrian Exodus We need groundbreakers who can break mediocrity.

Another issue is the disconnect between scientific Also, with its multidisciplinary approach, a Liberal Arts advancements and public understanding, especially among education exposes one to different ideas, norms, cultures Pia Medina the uneducated masses. Effective public communication is and societies of man, thereby enabling him to understand then needed, but not all are blessed with effective oral and the question of the human condition as well as how it was and encouraging other nations and to help the written skills. Nonetheless, is something confronted throughout time. What aregroups then produced A lot communication of things have happened in the past ityears that led Syrians.are This bewho doneare quite simply by people that attained through Another bybesieged such education notcan men distinguished by tocan the be development of whattraining. we might call thecomponent Syrian and nations turning a listening ear to start caring and take of Liberal Arts education is the training of the mind to the number of zeroes on their checks, but men who are nightmare. Most people are largely apathetic towards steps to increase awareness at their homebroad and abroad as to what think, reflect and express critically and and clearly with the essentially human, in that, with understanding the ongoing tragedy behind the war tend to steer exactly is happening in Syria. study offrom the arts, as well as social clear the humanities, issue. Knowing is part of thesciences. battle to raise of the world, they rise above their imperfections and With the help of Liberal Artsthe education, scientists can consciousness and move global community to action. tirelessly pursue greater things. In March 2011, President Bashar al-Assad’s authority better convey scientific researches into simpler language was challenged democratic protests throughout Syria. forSocial the public. Progress is tricky. by Rapid industrialization and globalization media has shown us news on numerous Syrian Theelevated protesters demanded the end of theeconomic authoritarian have societies to unprecedented nationals who embark on journeys to far-away lands practice of the Assad administration. Unfortunately, the Onseeking the other hand, there havereleased been numerous but two men prosperity but have also changed man’s values and refuge. Sky News a story about government dealt with this issue brute force with unfortunate scientific advancements in the past that Nowadays, as man’s worthusing is more determined who cycled their way to Norway just to escape thehave chaos. priorities. of the police andand military. Naturally, been deemed as unjust or unethical. Without Philosophy bythe thehelp success of his career the extent of hisopposition wealth, Another is from Independent about two Syrian men groups formed and fought against the government subjects such as Philosophical Anthropology as well as education has been transformed – or rather, reduced –leading into who died swimming to England from a refugee camp. to a full-scale civilaims war.toThe Unitedemployable States of America, Ethics, and the even studies in Theology, scientists will on tend to a mere system that produce citizens. Perhaps most famous story which circulated social Russia, France and Italy have taken interest in the conflict. actmedia without the one gazeabout of a critical eye and the of This extends to scientific specializations, which, although is the a young Syrian boyguidance who drowned The United States been has been verymade active in lending a hand ethical judgment. Instead of of contributing advancements a noble pursuit, has blindly more of an end on Turkish shores which, all the published stories, Claudine Timola | Photos taken by Rheia Maliuanag & Micah Buela to the rebels supplying them with weapons, strategic forepitomizes man, scientists maythe create breakthroughs are to rather than as aby means. Sadly, acceptance of this alternate the risks Syrians are willing that to take intelligence, and medical aid. The war destroyed the against man and will destroy man in the end. reality, of this fiction, may prove to be unfavorable to escape from the violence in their homeland. Syrians’ displaced millions of civilians who what science alone can confront becomes the committee only Everyhomes year, aand theme is decided by the organizing Belens were put up around the university because Dr. man: were left with no choice but to leave the country to by which the design of man the Belen must in linereality with. The Mariano, thewhether former president, espoused that they thing that It should nevertheless, thataccusations the purpose of matters, making ignore hisbe bigger Thoughbeitnoted, is not sure the on Canada theme isand usually tohis Christianity. This water year, since beeducation put around the campus to enliven the spirit and find shelter the related basic necessities of food, and it a Liberal Arts goes beyond itstruly benefits thus limiting himself and society. Man’s greatest are true, one thing is assured, the issue with thetoboy is the year of the mercy, the theme is “Merciful like our Christmas in the university. This started more than 10 medicines them alive. Fortunately, according one’s line of work or career. The focus of Liberal Arts that”to hekeep is destined for perfection, and this who drowned the some public’s awareness and started reality is Father. yearstriggered ago and after time, people already to Los Angeles Times, countries like Lebanon, Jordan, education is the development of the entire person. Thus, cannot be attained by being one-dimensional with one looking forward to it when the month ofonDecember caused people to turn on their inquisitiveness what Now, some of the Belens include that of the ICT, and comes. Thus, it became a university tradition. Turkey, Italy,alone. Germany, France Britain Liberal Arts education only trains to beon specialization WhatSweden, he should then and have is a SEC strong is happening in Syria.not Pictures of thestudents boy spread the Library. have offered takeofinspecialization refugees. Despite the number of holistically competitive inand the workplace, but – and in one’stoarea complemented with social networking sites people began toalso question: Eventually, the Human Resource Committee decided training countries that haveofopened theirArts. doors to Syrian refugees, more importantly it According perfects theto The inner dimensions a wasa sound foundation Liberal This does not only “What happened?” Caller,of the The Information &the Communication Technologies’ (ICT) to turn–the said tradition into aDaily competition. This Belen, which is usually a contender every year, featured to encourage people to join in the Belen-making, and more is needed. Moretothan fourinmillion person, making whole. It was understands potentials himhelp readily contribute society the bestrefugees way thatare three-year oldhim Aylan Kurdi travellingthe with his family help a but shadow art.allows Asof they explained it,to “one sees litter alsoand, to strengthen the values ofhim unity, camaraderie, and out there in search assistance and it is time to dostrewn our of afrom whole man as such, it provides with the he can, it also him to cater his bigger realities; Turkey Europe. His lifeless bodyiscarried by abut it is about, with depictions of images”. The materials that they eventocreativity. The competition unit-based, in the international community. opportunities tolimited develop many sides of raised hisanyone nature in the to part factsused that are bigger fiction.||| soldier caused a public uproar that even questions turned out tothan be scrap materials from their unit. not tothe the employees rather from unit can help. After a while, with the help of the Ortigas harmony together with his character. on Canada’s supposed rejection of the Kurdi family’s School of Economics (SEC) presented a Belen in a our Association, Inc., the idea spreadthough out to Ortigas If theThe story of the boy who drowned is enough to catch applicationCenter for migration. This tragic incident, golden dome with open sides. It is also surrounded by Center. It even levelled up into a life-size competition attention, to it, listen otherthe questionedknown as to its veracity, was transformed into a bright respond lights. Over all,and theircontinue Belen, asto they saidfor “reflects as the Belenistas. call of the Merciful Father. ” news, then there is hope for humanity. Awareness opens positive catalyst in directing the global eye into Syria and Lately, according to Mr. Duke Real, people flock to the the eye for us to believe that a simple act of compassion stirred a public clamor for support to the Syrian refugees The Belen of the Library staff played with the elements of ALB lobby to take a look at the beautiful Belens done by and light kindness will go athey longsaid, way“God’s in rebuilding a world by encouraging other countries toALB? provide safe refuge. and water. Asto mercy is like a fountain each unit. But why at the Most of all, we need catalysts who are sensitive not only social issues but, shattered bythat war,keeps indifference, and enmity. It is time or river on flowing” which is what they actually portrayed in their Belen. They also hope that every Before, the Belens were placed in their respective units above all, to the human condition. to end the streak of ignorance that has desensitized one the These stories have the right to be known and have of us showcase mercy not only in the Yuletide season but in the hopes of facilitating more interaction between world. Action can only be taken if knowledge is gained encouraged enddifferent apathy. units. As what has been said the throughout our lives. theothers peopletofrom However, in 2012, an active sincere search for aworld developments by the Mercy Corps,Ortigas a group offeatured people who help the it started fromWinners of and the competition receive cash prize not to Belenistas was in TV5. Since mention bragging rights. For others like Mr. Duke, it also because of Dr. Mariano’s idea, part of the segment was affecting people from different races. It starts from the Syrian refugees, we can help the refugees by inspiring considered as a personal achievement. ||| done in the University. To avoid the hassle of going heart.||| to each unit, the units were then asked to place their

The Story behind the Belens in UA&P

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Belens at the ALB. This was also a balancing act between solving the problem of people not having the chance to see the Belens and the idea of people interacting amongst other units.

Mamasapano: One year and 44 60 lives after Ana de Luna

The Senate has concluded on January 2016 its reopened on the bloody in Mamasapano, Theinvestigation Senate has concluded on clash January 2016 its reopened several days after the first year anniversary of the several investigation on the bloody clash in Mamasapano, encounter.

crafting a flawed plan – a conclusion similar to that of the Senate’s draft committee report. However, as much as Enrile would have wanted to put

the blame on Aquino, it seems that witness accounts have According to the AFP, Napeñas was “detached from instead chief Getulio Napeñas to the spotlight. theplaced realitySAF of the SAF operation” and “unaware of the

days after the first year anniversary of the encounter.

The hearing on the reopened investigation, attended by thanon 20the resource persons, including top officialsby Themore hearing reopened investigation, attended and military and police personnel, took close to eight more than 20 resource persons, including top officials and hours.

magnitude of the SAF casualties” during the operation.

military and police personnel, took close to eight hours.

Minority Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, who has been away in the duration of the previous investigations on Minority Senatorand Juan who hasMILF been and Mamasapano thePonce Enrile, 44 slain SAF troopers, awayBIFF in the duration the previous members, andofcivilians pushedinvestigations for the reopening of the Senate investigation. Enrile,SAF whotroopers earlier said that for on Mamasapano, and the 44 slain pushed he has evidence that would implicate President the reopening of theIIII, Senate investigation. Benigno Aquino led the questioning of resource Enrile, whowho earlier said that he has evidence persons attended the reopened probe. that

would implicate President Benigno Aquino IIII, led The blame game the questioning of resource persons who attended the reopened probe. The elderly senator spent the first few hours of the

hearing trying to pin the blame on Aquino for his alleged failure to prevent the killing of the 44 troopers. The blame game “Aquino did not do any effective action as president of

Republic of the Philippines prevent theofbarbaric Thethe elderly senator spent the firsttofew hours the hearing slaying and slaughter of the PNP SAF troopers whom he to trying to pin the blame on Aquino for his alleged failure knowingly and deliberately sent on a dangerous mission” prevent the killing of the 44 troopers. Enrile quipped. However, as much as Enrile would haveaswanted to put “Aquino did not do any effective action president of the blame on Aquino, it seems that witness accounts the Republic of the Philippines to prevent the barbaric have instead placed SAF chief Getulio Napeñas to the slaying and slaughter of the PNP SAF troopers whom spotlight. he knowingly and deliberately sent on a dangerous The tables were turned when top officials from the mission” Enrile quipped. military were called in to the witness stand.

In a presentation by top officials from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), it was concluded that Napeñas was to take the blame for the botched operations for

The tables were turned when top officials from the military A photo presented by the military showed a smiling were called in in to civilian the witness Napeñas attire,stand. supposedly taken past 4 pm In a presentation byDuring top officials fromthethe Armed Forces on January 25. that time, 55th Special Actionof Company (SAC) had been annihilated while the 84th the Philippines (AFP), it was concluded that Napeñas was SAC were still pinned down in Mamasapano. to take the blame for the botched operations for crafting a flawed plan – a conclusion to that of the Senate’s The talesimilar of 44 heroes draft committee report. During the hearing, facts about the clash that claimed

According to the “detached from the lives of 44AFP, Napeñas was elite cops were re-established. As reiterated in the hearing for the reopened of probe, the reality of the SAF operation” and “unaware the authorities have launched “Oplan Exodus” on January magnitude of the SAF casualties” at the time of the 25, 2015 to go after Al-Qaeda linked terrorist and bomboperation. making expert Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, since 2010.

A photo presented by the military showed a smiling Marwan had been on the run for the past years. He Napeñas in civilian attire,Basilan, supposedly past pm was located in Sulu, Lanaotaken del Sur, and4in Mamasapano where he was down by on January 25. At that point, thefinally 55th taken Special Action members of had the SAF team that reached his lair. Company (SAC) beenassault annihilated while the 84th SAC were still pinned down in Mamasapano. However, this led to the SAF’s bloody encounter with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom resulted in the death of 44 TheFighters tale ofthat 44 heroes SAF commandos.

During the from hearing, fact cops, about18the clash that claimed Aside the elite members of the MILF, the civilians were also killed in the lives offive 44BIFF elitemembers, cops was and re-establishes. clash. in the hearing for the reopened probe, As reiterated authorities have launched “Oplan Exodus” on January Napeñas insisted that the bloody encounter was not a25,

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failure, since the authorities were able to neuter Marwan, the terrorist who was the target of the Oplan Exodus.

The collective struggle to find closure, accountability and justice amidst the Mamasapano tragedy is a herculean effort.

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ke he ust dia to n,

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APRIL issue 2016 51 | THE BOSUN THE BOSUN | 51 2015 in the attempts to go after Al-Qaeda linked terrorist and bomb-making expert Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, since 2010.

Establishing closure and accountability

drugs, which led the Upper House’s probe on the incident, concluded that the report from last year’s However, this led to the SAF’sunchanged. bloody encounter with the investigation will remain

2011

2012

established by the official inquiries, but to shed light to other facts that uncovered. are too This is notvital to say that weremain debunk the factsThere already many loose ends and questions that were left hanging established by the official inquiries, but to shed light tofor the victims and their families, and the nation too.

Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Bangsamoro Senator that Graceresulted Poe, chairperson of Senate IslamicAccording FreedomtoFighters in the death of 44 committee on public order and dangerous drugs, there SAF commandos. was nothing in the hearing on Wednesday that would

other vital facts that remain uncovered. There are too Mamasapano reopened inquiry indeed not for for manyThe loose ends and questions that were left ishanging politics or publicity. The committee owes it to the nation the victims and their families, and the nation too.

change the committee’s draft report released last year.

Aside from the elite cops, 18 members of the MILF and 3 Twenty-one senators are expected to sign the draft civilians werewhich also killed in to thebeclash. report, have yet introduced to the plenary. Napeñas insisted that the bloody encounter was not a No charges filed failure, since the authorities were able to neuter Marwan, the terrorist who was the target of the Oplan Exodus. Meanwhile, a year after the incident, the Department of Justice (DOJ) admitted that no charges have been filed

the truth. It may or may not be an “alternate version” of the working draft report, but the reopened inquiry The Mamasapano reopened indeed not for is aim at establishing two inquiry key strands of theisstory: (1) closure and (2) accountability, with justice to be the politics or publicity. The committee owes it to the nation primary objective.

yet in courts regarding the bloody massacre of 44 SAF Report remains unchanged troopers.

Despite the reopened the Mamasapano clash, Newly appointed probe acting on Justice Secretary Emmanuel Caparas denied, however, that the agency was sitting on the Senate committee on public order and dangerous the case and promised that a resolution would soon drugs,released. which led the Upper House’s probe on the be incident, concluded that the report from last year’s investigation will said the DOJ had concluded the initial remainReports unchanged.

investigation on the case last January. Former Secretary Leila De Lima, who was then the According Senator GraceatPoe, of Senate sittingtoJustice secretary the chairperson time of the Mamasapano massacre, earlierorder announced that chargesdrugs, wouldthere be filed committee on public and dangerous was in court against 90 suspects. However, these charges nothing in the hearing on Wednesday that would change have yet to be filed in courts.

the committee’s draft report released last year.

Establishing closure and accountability

No charges filed

2010

While there was considerable opposition to the reopening notably vice presidential aspirant and of thelawmakers, Mamasapano investigation among lawmakers, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, on the ground that notably and Camarines the vice probepresidential may lead offaspirant into unseemly politickingSur withRep. Leni the Robredo, on the ground that the mayislead 2016 elections, it is no doubt thatprobe the same an off urgent andpoliticking compelling necessity. into unseemly with the 2016 elections, it is no doubtThis thatis the same is an urgent andthecompelling necessity. not to say that we debunk facts already

Marwan had been on the run for the past years. He Report remains unchanged was located in Sulu, Basilan, Lanao Sur and recently in Mamasapano, where heprobe was finally down by Despite the reopened on thetaken Mamasapano clash, the Senate committee on public order and dangerous members of the SAF assault team that reached his lair.

Twenty-one senators are expected to sign the draft report, While there was considerable opposition to the whichreopening have yet to toinvestigation the plenary.among of be theintroduced Mamasapano

Meanwhile, a year after the incident, the Department of Justice (DOJ) admitted that no charges have been filed yet in courts regarding the bloody massacre of 44 SAF commandos.

the truth. It may or may not be an “alternate version” of the working draft report, but the reopened inquiry is aim at Undisputedly, the Mamasapano incident brought massive outrage to both the government and the establishing two key strands of the story: (1) Closure and MILF, compounded the multiple challenges in the (2) Accountability, be theand primary implementationwith of thejustice peace to process, put to objective. the test the commitment of each party thereto. That being

so, there isthe a growing speculation that the country is on Undisputedly, Mamasapano incident brought the verge of losing opportunity to bring much-needed massive outrage to both the government and the harmony and tranquillity in the war-torn Mindanao. MILF,But compounded theprobe multiple in the concluding the with challenges moral certainty as to who must beof held forprocess, the tragedy implementation theliable peace andwill putrestore to the the test pre-existing peace negotiation process between the the commitment of each party thereto. That being so, there government and the MILF. is a growing speculation that the country is on the verge The collective struggle to find closure, accountability of losing opportunity to bring much-needed harmonyand justice amidst the Mamasapano tragedy is a and tranquility in the war-torn Mindanao. Butherculean concluding effort. This will pave way to development and sustained the probe with moral certainty as to who must be held peace and independence in the troubled Philippine liableSouth. for theAnd tragedy will restore pre-existing peace we cannot stand tothe allow peace process to collapseprocess triggering fear among people, not only the negotiation between the government andinthe Mindanao region, but nationwide as it could mean that MILF.war is going to prevail any sooner.

LOOKING BACK, TOMore MOVEthan FORWARD More than words. The Bosun | More than words. More than Stories. | April stories. Issue 2016

The collective struggle to find closure, accountability and justice amidst the Mamasapano tragedy is a herculean effort. This will pave way to development and sustained peace and independence in the troubled Philippine South. And we cannot stand to allow peace process to collapse triggering fear among people, not only in the Mindanao region, but nationwide as it could mean that war is going to prevail any sooner.|||

LIBERAL EDUCATION

www.bosun.uap.asia

Newly appointed acting Justice Secretary Emmanuel Caparas denied, however, that the agency was sitting on the case and promised that a resolution would be soon released. Reports said the DOJ had concluded the preliminary investigation on the case last January. Former Secretary Leila De Lima, who was then the sitting Justice secretary at the time of the Mamasapano massacre, earlier announced that charges will be filed in court against 90 suspects. However, these charges have yet to be filed in courts.

Illustration by Anna Sabado

WHAT’S INSIDE? Doc Stan: I WAS STRUCK BY AND STRUCK IN THE UNIVERSITY The ascendency of Dr. Padojinog to the office of University President marks the beginning of another promising era for UA&P

2013

2014

Our Work is to LOVE

Realizing the Ideal

The entire UA&P education is summed up in this short sentence with only five words:

But how does one make life worth living? It is not by staying put to the point of complacency. Rather, it is by dreaming, working, and achieving

“YOUR WORK IS TO LOVE.”

2015

UA&P accredited for academic excellence Pia Medina

This April 2016, the University

of Asia and the Pacific has garnered positive feedback for its academic excellence from Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (PACUCOA) after undergoing accreditation processes. Various programs such as Master of Arts in Political Economy, Master of Science in Management, and the School of Education and Human Development’s Teacher Education Program have been awarded their respective status for improved quality of education and meeting the standards set by the two aforementioned accreditation agencies. Moreover, UA&P received a Higher Education Institution Autonomous and Deregulated status from CHED which will be effective for three years. The PACUCOA awarded the graduate programs of the School of Management and School of Law and Governance a Level III re-accreditation status. The accrediting agency carried out its visit in the University last December 2015. The Level III status will be effective until December 2018. According to the former registrar and now managing director of the Quality Assurance Office, Ms. Humildad Claro, “After PACUCOA examined the programs of Master of Science in Management and Master of Arts in Political Economy, a letter was addressed to UA&P President Dr. Winston Conrad B. Padojinog stating that a Level III status was awarded to the two programs. As of now, other programs under Level III are the Liberal Arts Program, MA in Education, Master in Business Economics, MA in Applied Business Economics, and MS in Industrial Economics.” The schools of UA&P have been undergoing accreditation of its programs since 1993. In 1993, the Center for Research and Communication (CRC) submitted their liberal arts program to be accredited under the PACUCOA. A year later, CRC’s Liberal Arts Program (AB Humanities) received a Level I status of accreditation. Afterwards, in 1995, the Center for Research and Communication received a university status and therefore changed its name to

the “University of Asia and the Pacific”. Since then, the University has been consistently submitting its programs for accreditation. According to Ms. Claro, there were certain standards that the two graduate programs, MS in Management and MA in Political Economy, had to meet in order to be awarded a Level III status. “There are four criteria followed for accreditation of graduate programs. A reasonably high standard of instruction and a highly visible research tradition are two mandatory criteria. While a strong faculty and staff development tradition and an extensive and functional library and other learning resources are optional criteria. The two programs successfully met the standards for Level III.” “There are four benefits that come with a Level III accreditation. First is the authority to offer new programs without the need for approval of CHED. Second is the benefit of revising the curriculum without the approval of the commission. Third is the benefit of distance education and extension classes. Fourth is ability to participate in transnational education which enables students to take subjects which are aligned to the program abroad,” she said. “The re-accreditation builds up the school’s image when the programs are being accredited for quality and excellence,” she added. In addition, the re-accreditation of programs helps the university assess itself by probing deeper into their programs as well as various areas relevant to educational services. These include student services, the library, philosophy, and many more. The assessment helps improve the programs that serve to support and shape the students. As mentioned by Ms. Claro, “Accreditation is now outcome-based where the focus is the assessment of what the students have become because of these programs.” On the other hand, from Dr. Antonio Torralba’s perspective, the benefit of the accreditation process may be the recognition of the connection of accreditation and education excellence. “With the virtual importance we give to impressions and evaluation by our external publics, we in effect pay tribute to the fit between accreditation and education excellence despite lack of constant interest in accreditation

amongst some of us.” According to Dr. Torralba, accreditation can help us know where we are. Aside from that, he mentioned that it is a healthy process that has values promoted through rubrics and criteria. He said that people in the University should give importance to these values. “It would be good for the members of the academic community to appreciate the areas of strengths and weaknesses pointed out by the accrediting team, and work out to preserve the strengths and make the weaknesses irrelevant,” he added. Following the accreditation of the two graduate programs, the Teacher Education Program, both undergraduate and graduate levels, of the SED were appointed as a Center of Development (COD) by CHED. As of now, UA&P is one of the two universities in NCR that has been appointed as a Center of Development. As stated by Ms. Humildad Claro, “The Teacher Education Program was able to acquire the reputation of COD because it was assessed for excellence in instructional quality, research and publication, outreach programs and institutional linkages, and institutional qualifications.” The benefit that comes with attaining a status of COD includes the possibility for School of Education to receive funding assistance from CHED. In return, there are responsibilities and expectations that SED must comply with. “Examples of these are developing strategic development programs and projects, undertaking basic and applied research activities on emerging trends and advancement in the field and undertaking outreach and linkage projects through consortia agreements, internationalization activities and industry-academe collaborations,” Ms. Claro said. In the end, the concept of accreditation serves as a means and not an end. It helps improve the university’s overall performance dedicated to student formation. To put it in Dr. Torralba’s words, “We should not do good things in and for the University with accreditation as a motive but with the objective value of teaching and learning excellence, of UNITAS in university life, of the spirit of service, of the highest levels of professionalism, and of personal integrity.”