THE COLLEGIATE
HEADLIGHT JANUARY - MARCH 2018 Volume 42 | Number 3
EPITOME OF A GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE FIRE EXIT TO DEATH
PINABABANG BUWIS PARA SA MASA
Gloyd Mesibas
Abner John P. Jayme
When a man is trapped inside a pitch-black tunnel, he will do anything with might and main to find his way out. As a saying goes: “there is always a light at the end of the tunnel”. In the event that the tunnel is illumined – not by the light nor any guiding light – but red-orange flames of fire devouring the exit and the tunnel, the man then who is trapped would lose his hope to escape hell.
Sa kagustuhan ng pamahalaan na maresolba ang problemang pinansyal ng bawat mamamayang Pilipino, gumawa ng mga hakbang ang kasalukuyang administrasyon. Ito rin ay upang matugunan ang krisis na humahantong sa matinding kahirapan ng milyon-milyong tao sa bansa.
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PLAYERS’ MENTAL BATTLEGROUNDS Alren John D. Dabon With the tempting atmosphere of a known gaming café in front of the university, a typical USePian can attest how money-draining and cutting class-tempting it is when he is already inside the café. The café holds the USePian “hostage” as he sits in a comfortable chair, facing a wide screen with various addicting games to play with. With the trance the addiction brings with, gaming addiction has been classified as a disorder. CONTINUE TO PAGE 11
Ika-19 ng Disyembre 2017, nilagdaan ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ang isinusulong na Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act o TRAIN para maging batas. Sa pagpasok ng taong 2018, agarang isinakatuparan ang naipasang batas. Ito ay naglalayong mabago ang sistema sa pagbabayad ng buwis nang sa gayon ay maibsan ang paghihirap ng mga manggagawa, lalong-lalo na sa mga tumatanggap lamang ng mababang sahod buwan-buwan. Sa ilalim ng panukalang ito, walang kaltas na buwis ang kitang PHP 250, 000 sa isang taon o pababa, habang ang pitong bonuses hanggang PHP 90,000 at 13th-monthpay ay hindi na rin mababawasan. Ibig sabihin, mas malaki ang maiuuwing sweldo ng isang manggagawang Pilipino. Aasahan ding bababa ang buwis ng mga “small and micro businesses owners” na kumikita lamang ng tatlong milyong piso taon-taon tulad ng sari-sari store, fruit and vegetables stand business, meat shop, at iba pang mga negosyong may manggagawa na umaabot lamang sa bilang na sampo o mas mababa pa. CONTINUE TO PAGE 7
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EDITORIAL
NEWS
The Collegiate Headlight 3
USePians excel in Local, Regional, Nat’l Competitions
IGNORANCE: FILIPINOS’ BESTFRIEND
The Collegiate Headlight
Keilah Faith F. Pelingon
The Official Student Publication of the University of Southeastern Philippines-Obrero
Plenty of online debates have been perceptible for these past few months and various topics have been argued. From mass demonstrations to prenuptial photographs, Filipinos have kept on pulling each other down and it seemed that no one wants to lose.
Editorial Board and Staff Academic Year 2017-2018 Editor-in-Chief: John D. Valle
This egoistic mentality has created a paradoxical gap that has been continuously increasing which created a huge disparity among Filipinos. The endless flaw pointing attitude resulted to conflicts and division of mindsets, ironically failing the concept of aspired unification.
The CEd soared highest as the overall champion in the United Future Educators of Davao Festival (UFED) 2018 last January 2728 held at Davao Vision College, Catalunan Grande and Holy Child College of Davao (HCCD), Mintal. Education students topped in demo teaching in Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSEd) level, Modern Dance, Dance Sports, and Cheerdance Competitions. In the major sport competitions, Basketball men ranked third and second in the volleyball for men. They also dominated minor sports like Chess, Word Factory, and Scrabble – men’s category
Photo Editor: Rhona Mae J. Rodriguez
Photo by CEd Local Council
Layout Editor: Kent Charles Cutamora
For some, the posted photographs were not offensive in any way. They see it as a work of art and even strongly argued that the contrast between race, color, culture, and other elements in the scene to the subject of the photos were important factors to achieve focus. They perceive those as justifiable actions because it was idea of photography.
On the other hand, Bachelor of Science Business Administration (BSBA) students from the College of Governance and Business (CGB) were able to defend their throne as the over-
all champion in the 10th Mindanao-wide AguiPo Awards last February 17 held at Ateneo de Davao and University Ritz Hotel at Garden Oases. The CGB was able to seize the throne as champions in various competitions like sales pitch, case analysis, essay writing, quiz bowl, radio advertisement and video advertisement competitions. The Institute of Computing (IC) dominated the Information Technology (IT) Olympiad last February 8-9 held at the Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC) and Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) as they bagged awards in quiz bowl, poster research presentation, IT project exhibit, infomercial, and infographics competitions. Moreover, the USeP athletes that competed in the National State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association (SCUAA) 2018 held at University of Antique, Sibalom Antique last February 18-25 got gold, silver, and bronze medals in the Arnis and Karatedo while silver medal in Lawn Tennis.
Circulation Managers: Ferlyn J. Cabalida Gloyd Mesibas Senior Staff Writers: Sean Arcent A. Marapao Abner John P. Jayme Senior Photojournalists: Rexel Jay A. Clemeña Jayson M. Evangelio Early Rose A. Javines Claudette Pammela B. Onita Daneille B. Sabanal
On the contrary, the posted photographs were without a doubt, offensive. They were simply offended for the Ethiopians in the scene who were serving as complementary objects to give focus to the celebrities. The Ethiopians were clearly diminished, understating their culture and existence of the in the background.
While those who pointed out the evident flaws, unable to escape ad hominems, being coined as know-italls, judgmental, and self-righteous individuals, believe that works of art should not be taken and contextualized from a surface level, rather, on a deeper meaning. They even stressed the subtle
Photo by CGB Local Council
Associate Editor: Alren John D. Dabon Managing Editors: Maria Cristina Kasandra T. Galagala Jay Ann D. Alroriza News Editor: Prince Jay D. Esdrelon Literary Editor: Marcy Mae V. Santillan
Even pre-nuptial photographs of two celebrities became the talk of the town recently. It gained a lot of opinion and most of which are from Filipinos. Some were actually delighted about the photos and many were not.
The stated issue started online conflicts. Filipinos who took the photographs as works of art believe that those who were easily offended are “hypersensitive individuals,” taking the photographs out of context and hasty to judge the photos without even understanding.
USePians representing the university and different colleges excelled in local, regional, and national competitions. College of Education (CEd), College of Governance and Business (CGB), Institute of Computing (IC), and USeP athletes bagged special and major awards.
Senior Cartoonist: Kimberly F. Sumodlayon Staff Writer: Therese Merll C. Jabido Pool Writer: Keilah Faith F. Pelingon
discrimination to the Ethiopians by comparing and contrasting them with the celebrity couple. It is but unfortunate to realize that though some Filipinos are thinking critically in these kinds of issues, people who are unable to produce logical arguments, continuously arguing with fallacies, are still huge in numbers. To be ranked as the 3rd most ignorant yet confident country by Ipsos MORI, the second largest market research organization in United Kingdom, indicates an implication that many
Filipinos are still apathetic and unable to provide logical arguments. The recent events are subtly showing that some of us are inflating our egos, while fulfilling our selfish desires. We should start to think critically on socio-political issues for our country to be progressive. No good will happen if we continue to be apathetic to issues and act as if we know something when we are actually talking null. If we truly aspire unification, do we really have to create divisions, prove who’s better, and pull each other down?
Technical Adviser:
Dr. Patricia O. Elbanbuena Member:
USeP - Campus Press Guild College Editors Guild of the Philippines School Press Advisers’ Movement, Inc.
Photo from USeP Website
Duterte appoints USeP alumnus as PCUP commissioner Therese Merll C. Jabido Randy H. Halasan, an alumnus of the University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP), along with a fellow Davaoeño and an alumnus of University of Mindanao, Norman B. Baloro was appointed as the new commissioner of the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) on the 16th of January this year. Following President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign against corruption, Halasan and Baloro were appointed after the president fired all of the previous PCUP commissioners for their failure to meet as a collegial body and because of their excessive travels abroad. Halasan is a school teacher who was awarded with a Ramon Magsaysay Award for Emergent Leadership in 2014 for his years of service and efforts for the Matigsalug tribe in
a remote village in Sitio Pegalongan, Marilog District, Davao City. He was cited for going beyond the call of duty and for leading various actions through agriculture and infrastructure developments to improve the lives of the Matigsalug people. On the other hand, Baloro, a former District Head of Davao City’s Social Services Development Office (CSSDO) had served under the said office for 15 years. He is also a strong advocate of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT)rights. As commissioners, Halasan and Baloro are expected to work with PCUP in the formulation and implementation of policies and programs needed to alleviate the conditions of the urban poor.
Photo by Jose Alther Rivera
Councilor succeeded as new Vice-Mayor Keilah Faith F. Pelingon Third district Councilor Bernard Echavez Al-ag succeeded as new Davao City Vice-Mayor last January 10, following the official resignation of former Vice-mayor Paolo “Pulong” Duterte, last December 25, 2017. Legalized by the Local Government Code of 1991, Al-ag received an order from the (DILG) Department of the Interior and Local Government as the first person with the highest vote as councilor way back 2016 which made him next in line to the position. He assured the Davaoeños that he would continue the projects entrusted to him as the new Vice-Mayor.
“Since it is official, we will make sure that the City Council will do its mandate,” Al-ag said in a press conference. Al-ag is a local party mate of Duterte in “Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod Department of the Interior and Local Government”, and intends to end in service after his last term as a councilor. With information from: Rappler.com CNN Philippines.com pressreader.com newsinfo.inquirer.net
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NEWS
FEATURE
The TheCollegiate CollegiateHeadlight Headlight 55
Programmed to Start Over Jay Ann D. Alcoriza
There is one year left for the trial period of the K-12 program. The country is now preparing for these beta testers to proceed to the next level – college. The Republic Act (RA) 10533 or the Enhance Basic Education Act of 2013 emerged the new K-12 curriculum. Stated on the RA 10533, which K-12 is described as to “[...] enhancing the Philippine Basic Education system by strengthening its curriculum and increasing the number of years...” making the 10 years of Primary and Secondary Education into 12 years of education plus a year in kindergarten, which became a prerequisite before entering primary education.
This year, the first batch of the K-12 products will reach their next level upon entering college. The Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) was on the verge of their preparation on the transition program of the Senior High School (SHS) students to the universities and colleges for tertiary education. Therefore, in the next semester, these beta testers will enter the premises of universities and colleges including the University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP) as neophytes. In an interview with Dr. Shirley S. Villanueva, Vice President of Academic Affairs (VPAA), she said that in the next academic year, the university will offer new courses and some of it are current courses which are renamed into new ones. However, these changes are only applicable to the SHS students who will enter the university in the A.Y. 2018 - 2019. These preparations of the university are in line with their “Internationalization” or the level V
Wage Page Marcy Mae V. Santillan
A nation’s progress is determined not only by the functioning of its economic system but also by the standard of living of its citizens. By saying standard of living, it includes the level of wealth of a certain household, wherein one of its measurements is the wage of the family members. Wage is the amount of money which a worker is paid based on the number of hours he worked. It mainly motivates a worker to do his job efficiently and have the commitment on the company where he is working. On the other hand, a low wage often means a low commitment to stay in a certain job. In Philippines, this is the common reason why there are Filipino workers who choose to work abroad rather than to work in their own country. As a remedial solution, there exists a government-mandated minimum wage where no worker in the country can be paid less than the minimum rate. On the last months of the year 2017, the Philippine government under the Duterte administration paved its way to wage hike for government employees. According to the Secretary of Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno, a 24 billion peso budget is allotted by the government for the 3rd tranche of the Salary Standardization Law (SSL). It would benefit about 1.2 million government workers who will also receive midyear and year-end bonus. Moreover, the increase in the minimum wage is already executed on some regions in the country last year. One of these regions is the National Capital Region (NCR) where there is a
21 peso increase in the daily minimum wage rate for the non-agriculture workers is implemented. Other Regions who did not have an increase in minimum wage last year is expected to have it this year. Furthermore, last December 20, 2017, Secretary Diokno also said that there will be an increase in the base pay of the military and other uniformed personnel. According to him, 60 billion pesos is the expected budget to be spent by the government for this project. By this year, the personnel at the police officer 1 level or private officers in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) will receive a doubled base pay. While there is a doubled base pay for the military and other uniformed personnel, workers of other professions like those in the field of education are also hoping for a salary increase. For this reason, President Rodrigo Duterte is eyeing for government projects regarding the salary increase for teachers. Ensuring that the standard of living of every citizen in the nation is in good terms may sound easy as telling a story but it takes a lot of process, time, and money for it to be possible. The Philippine government under the Duterte administration is making its way to a progressive country despite the fact that change is way too hard for a country wherein poverty was once a trend and economic crisis was a flesh of history. However, this act of increasing the wage can help motivate the workforces in the country to work efficiently and effectively for the nation’s development.
of the State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) accreditation, with an aim to provide quality education for the formation and production of globally competitive students. On the other hand, the old and current students of the university will not be affected by the changes and new tracks that are offered for the SHS students. They will still continue the course they have enrolled until they finish tertiary education. In some cases, if a student has gone to college but stopped, they can still continue without being affected by the K-12 curriculum. On the contrary, when a student would be unable to enroll in college before the K-12 program curriculum, he/she is obliged to take up the additional two years in SHS. With the country preparing for the new curriculum, the same situation happened in the reign of former President Gloria MacapagalArroyo. Beta testers were also tested with the
Bridge Program which mandated graduating grade 6 pupils to undergo an additional year before they are admitted to high school. However, this program was unsuccessful because of the readiness issues and scarcity of budget planning of the Department of Education (DepEd). Enhancing the Philippine Educational System is a priority of the government for the production of the globally competent graduates. The trial period is about to end and the beta testers will now enter the next level. As they are programmed to start from scratch and be able to change the current educational status of the country, rest assured that the government agencies, schools, universities and colleges would also be ready to accommodate these neophytes. Nonetheless, this program will also face the same fate as the failed concepts that will only waste the years of testing and spending in the education that will never improve.
USeP adapts new curriculum for 2018-2019
QUITTING SMOKING TIMELINE Infographic by: Kent Charles Cutamora Source: betterhealthtogether.org
20 MINUTES Your resting heart rate reduces
Students flock at the University kiosks and library for a devour academic work and study.
12 HOURS
The level of carbon monoxide in your blood reduces
1-12 WEEKS
Risk of heart attack reduces and lung function improves
1-9 MONTHS
Coughing and shortness of breath decrease
1 YEAR
Risk of coronary heart disease is halved
10 YEARS
15 YEARS
Your risk of lung cancer falls to about half that of a smoker
Risk of coronary heart disease falls to about the same as someone who has never smoked
Sean Arcent A. Marapao
The transition period in the educational system that began in 2013 from Basic Education Curriculum (BEC) to enhanced K to 12 Basic Education Program is considered as a milestone in the country. This shift aimed to improve the quality of education in the Philippines and align the system to international standards. As an impact of this transition, excessive change in higher education curriculum is expected to transpire starting this coming School Year, 2018-2019. Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) of this university, Dr. Shirley S. Villanueva, said in an interview that the administration is doing its best, from 90 to 100 percent ready before the next school year starts. Preparations are
poised ongoing; including the accommodation of new courses, faculty capacitation, facilities enhancement, and reviews and revisions on existing policies. Undeniably, facilities in the university have improved. Several infrastructure projects and office renovations have been undertaken, including the construction of college buildings and laboratories as well as the rehabilitation of some service offices like the University Registrar. Together with the changes in the system, the university plans to offer new courses effective next academic year. Some of these courses are Bachelor of Science in Sanitary Engineering and Bachelor of Science in Library and Information Science. Moreover, prior to the revision process done by each college, there are courses that are updated and revised. According to Dr. Villanueva, the change in
the program is only applicable to new entrants or freshmen. On the other hand, the existing undergraduates may continue their courses using the curriculum they had in their first year. She also added that the administration is doing its best in the preparation for the admission of new students. “Students [incoming freshmen] have varied preparatory courses due to the track they have chosen. Hence, the university is formulating criteria to consider their basic education background,” Dr. Villanueva said. The Vice-President assured that the university will accomodate deserving students with the availability of resources granting that the law for free tuition in state universities and colleges has taken effect since this year. In relation to CHEd’s memorandum on reducing the General Education (GE) program load, from 63 units it will become 36 units
next academic year. It is anticipated that the length of some college degree programs will be lessened as well. Former CHEd Chairperson, Patricia Licuanan, mentioned in an interview with Inquirer last July 2016 that, “Engineering will be shortened from five to four [years]. [But shortening the curriculum] is not across the board.” Dr. Villanueva also mentioned that faculty trainings were being handled as preparatory for the new GE subjects mandated by CHEd. Various seminars has been organized throughout the year. As education serves as the foundation of any country, Dr. Shirley S. Villanueva hopes that with this transition, “USeP graduates will be ASEAN competitive and research-driven professionals”
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FEATURE
FEATURE
The Collegiate Headlight 7
Sweet Threat Ferlyn J. Cabalida Extreme happiness or severe stress can cause an individual to crave for sugar. The more a person wants it, the higher the chances of getting addicted to it. A study on the consumption of sweetened drinks conducted by the Department of Health (DOH) considers sugar as the leading cause of health problems in the Philippines. In fact, according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the country is now a part of the world’s emerging hotspots of diabetes, reaching more than four million people being diagnosed of diabetes. Moreover, sugar is undoubtedly one of the reasons of prediabetes, obesity, hypertension, hormonal imbalances, and worst— death. When eating sugary food, a neurobiological process takes place to regulate the system and to maintain behaviors necessary for survival. However, as sugar travels inside the body, nerve cells release body chemical messengers like dopamine, a neurotransmitter substance, telling
Epitome of a Government Employee
the brain to reward itself more. As a result, sugar consumers tend to hear themselves asking for it and unconsciously, they are slowly abusing it. The same process also occurs with drug addicts. Drugs and sugar never differ that much except for the components and the severity of consequences. Ancient books like the Bible, Koran, and Mosaic Law have never mentioned about processed sugar. The spread of the sweet chemical increased way back the sixteenth century across the West Indies and tropical parts of America. Harvested and refined in India, sweet cane produced fermented drink and later on, turned to granules as it reached China by trademark. Soon after, new diseases aroused together with the production of opium, morphine, and heroin. As time passed by, society, especially the modern-era generation, finally accepted the once-luxurious and destructive drug, now a cheap and tasty additive. From bread to coffee to monosodium glutamate, it hides its poisonous composition. Checking the label of the food products being sold in the market will surely reveal any of the following: sugar,
artificial sweetener, syrup, fructose, dextrose, glucose, sucrose, maltose, lactose, and other tricky terms of sugar with the sugar-coated schemes on nutritional facts. Allowed by the government, sugar is now marketed worldwide. “Addicts supported the government rather than vice versa - once upon a time,” writes William Dufty in a dietary classic, “Sugar Blues”. The author pertained the statement to the 1840 sugar pushers and the Washington government. To date, the Philippine government tries to exterminate drug addiction. Along with the war on illegal drugs, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte also wanted to review and reform the Philippine Tax System. Recently, the tax on the sugary products was imposed gaining various reactions. The government chose to impose tax on sugary products instead of the income taxes for it is presumed to benefit the majority. Consumers are expected to be discouraged to buy it due to the increased price, thus, lessening the possibility of acquiring diseases associated with high sugar intake. Meanwhile, others view this as another form of corruption.
Pinababang Buwis Para sa Masa
Photo by: Inquirer.net Abner John P. Jayme
Maria Cristina Kasandra T. Galagala
According to Philippine National Statistics (PNS), the employment rate of the Philippines from 2017 is estimated at 94.4 percent and the remaining 5.6 percent belongs to the unemployment rate. With the large given percentage, it is undeniably overwhelming to know and as for the employment rate in the Philippines is comprised with professional and non-professional employments. In the working hierarchy, those who are employed usually work outside the country as Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), as local and national government employees, and the rest belong to other private sectors in the country. Poverty in the Philippines is highly rampant. The number of people who cannot afford to go to school is still high compared those who were able to finish their studies. This
results to the majority of the population who are forced to work in government sectors in the community. Being a government employee is an opportunity for a citizen residing in his own country. It is quite overwhelming to think that the government is paying the employees for the labors and services that they offer to the society but it is also frustrating that regardless of the hard work and efforts, the labor is still not paid off. The ideal system is that these government employees receive minimum wage, enough to compensate the labors of the workers. They are also able to have insurances such as life insurance that would cover their family members, but in the Philippines, the opposite proved right. Rogelion Villaruel is among these Filipinos who suffer from this problem while currently working in the government. Villaruel is working as a security guard in the University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP) – Obrero Campus. When asked about his salary, Villaruel
stated that being paid in the right minimum wage is still not enough to suffice the daily needs of his family. “[…] we are following the minimum wage. Tama yung salary namin, Pero actually, yung salary is not enough, kulang ra, kulang ra sa pagkakaron.” Mr. Villaruel said. Job opportunities in the Philippines are truly inadequate. With this, people are forced to work even if they are paid unjustly. Those people who aim to have a higher salary are forced to leave the country and work abroad and the rest who cannot afford tend to go abroad to make the insufficient enough. Lately the current President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, imposed the Tax Reform for Acceleration Inclusion (TRAIN) Law which is a primary move for the Charter Change project of the government. Under the TRAIN, private companies would pay higher taxes. On the other hand, this would give privilege to those employees who receives less than PHP
21, 000 salary per month to be exempted in the aspect of paying their taxes. Furthermore, President Duterte also fulfilled the most anticipated platforms that he promised during his campaign as a president – the increase of the salaries of the soldiers and police of the country. There are also increase of salary in some of the government employees, but these are not enough to compensate the labor of the workers and adequate to suffice the daily needs of a worker. Being exempted in paying taxes is good but it could be as disappointing when the rising price of the commodities are continuously hiking and salaries that people receive are still inadequate. In the midst of the left and right expenses of the Filipinos, the government must allot budget intended for increase in salary of the workers. After all, the workers are one of the investments of the country. There should be a satisfaction in their part.
FROM PAGE 1 Lahat ng kape, gatas, at juice, mula sa gulay at prutas ay may eksempsyon na rin sa sugar tax. Ngunit sa kabilang banda naman, nagtaasan ang buwis ng mga produktong petrolyo, asukal, softdrinks, alak, at tobacco. Ang regular at premium unleaded gas ay aangat ng 7 piso sa taong ito, 9 piso naman sa susunod na taon, at 10 piso sa taong 2021. Sa diesel at bunker fuel, makokolektahan ito ng 2.50 piso, 4.50 piso sa taong 2019, at 6 piso pagdating ng 2020. Samantala, umabot sa 32.50 piso ang itinaas na buwis sa produktong tobacco, hanggang sa susunod na taon. Dinagdagan naman ng 6 piso kada litro ang mga inuming may caloric at non-caloric sweeteners, at 12 piso kada litro sa inuming may mataas na fructose corn syrup.
Nagtaasan ang mga nasabing produkto sapagkat dito kukunin ng gobyerno ang pangpuna doon sa pundong nabawasan dahilan sa pagbaba ng buwis. Layunin din ng TRAIN ang makapaglikom ng perang mailalaan para sa mga programa ng pamahalaan tulad na lamang ng pagpaparami at pagpapalawak ng mga imprastraktura. Alinsunod sa 1987 Constitution at sa pagpapatibay ng National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, ang pagbabayad ng buwis ay isang tungkulin ng bawat mamamayang Pilipino na naninirahan sa bansang Pilipinas. Ang buwis ay magiging pondo ng pamahalaan para sa mga gastusing pang-ekonomiya at pagtugon sa pangangailan ng mamamayan. Kung kaya anumang pagbabago sa sistema o pamamaraan ng pagbabayad ng buwis, ang lahat ay makakaranas nito at responsableng sumunod sa ipinanukala tulad na lamang ng TRAIN law. Ayon sa pangulo, ang TRAIN ay isang magandang balita para sa mga manggagawang Pilipino, pero kung pagbabatayan ang naibawas na buwis ng isang indibidwal ay halos katumbas lamang sa naibili niyang produktong tumaas
ang presyo. Kaya masasabing walang gaanong pagbabago sa kita at pagbabadyet nito. Dagdag nito, maaring mapunta ang negatibong epekto ng TRAIN sa ibang mga manggagawang Pilipino na dati nang walang binabayarang buwis dahil sa mababang kita araw-araw tulad ng mga magsasaka. Dahil sa nagsitaasan ang mga pangunahing bilihin, mas lalo silang magigipit at mahihirapang makabili sapagkat walang nabago o naidagdag sa kanilang kita. Gayunpaman, ang mga hakbang at aksyon ng pamahalaan ay nagpapakita lamang na hindi sila bingi at walang pakialam sa bawat iniinda at hinaing ng masa. Maituturing man na hindi gaanong malaki ang magandang naidulot nitong naipasang batas, magiging daan naman ito sa mga batas at sistemang kailangan pang punan at baguhin para sa ikauunlad ng bansa.
Since most Filipinos use sugar as a common additive in daily consumption, many are against the implemented price hike. True enough for some students of the university who always drop by 7/11 near the campus, can testify that the products are already costly and much more with the imposed tax on sugar, it becomes more expensive that some customers can no longer afford the new price. Still, despite the harmful effects of sugar, people continue to consume this legally marketed substance, similarly linked to illegal drugs. Getting rid of sugar is a gradual process and it is easier if people only realize the danger ahead of abusing it. Being sick is already an alarm for humans to be health conscious. Unless manufactured, sugars found in fruits, vegetables, and beehives are beneficial and nutritious. Indeed, natural foods remain to be the best source of vitamins and minerals, ever since Adam was created.
Rhona Mae J. Rodriguez, Early Rose A. Javines, Claduatte Pammela B. Onita, Rexel Jay A. Clemenia, Jayson M. Evangelio, and Danielle B. Sabanal
Photos by
BAHAG
HARI
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LARAWANG BUHAY The Collegiate Headlight 9
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FEATURE
The Collegiate Headlight 11
Bangungot ng Eskandalong Dengvaxia Prince Jay D. Esdrelon
Matapos maugnay sa pagkamatay ang 26 na bata na sumailalim sa bakuna, sentro ng kontrobersiya ngayon sa bansa ang antidengue vaccine na tinatawag na Dengvaxia. Kamakailan lamang, umamin ang Sanofi Pasteur, ang French Pharmaceutical company na gumawa ng Dengvaxia na batay sa pinakahuli nitong pag-aaral, maaaring magpalala ang bakuna sa tumamang dengue sa mga nabakunahan na hindi pa kailan man nagkaroon ng sakit na ito.
Fire Exit to Death
Sa ulat noong nakaraang taon, may apat na bata ang sinasabing unang namatay umano dahil sa Dengvaxia. Sa resulta ng forensic examination, lahat ng mga biktima ay nakaranas ng pamamaga ng internal organ at pagdudugo ng internal na parte ng katawan. Sa pagsusuri ng isang health advocate na si Dr.
Susan Mercado sa isang panayam sa DZMM, ang komplikasyon ng internal organs ay bunsod ng mga posibleng side effects ng bakuna. Dumating ang bakuna noong Enero ng taong 2016 at sa naturang taon rin sinimulan ang programa kung saan 1 milyong kabataan ang siyang target ng Department of Health (DoH). Dahil sa pangamba ng manufacturer na posibleng magkaroon ng negatibong epekto ang bakuna, ipinatigil muna ni Health Secretary Francisco Duque III ang Dengue Vaccination Program ng DoH at maghintay sa rekomendasyon ng World Health Organization (WHO) upang tugunan ang advisory ng Sanofi Pasteur. Ayon sa WHO, ang mga bansang Pilipinas at Brazil ang siyang unang gumagamit ng Dengvaxia. Ang Brazil na may katulad na anti-dengue vaccination program ay hindi nagkaproblema sa ma¬nufacturer ng kanilang dengue vaccine sa 30 munisipalidad nitong nagbakuna mula noong 2016.
Ang Pilipinas bilang pinakaunang bansa na nag-apruba ng Dengvaxia ay nangamba sa posible nitong dulot na suliranin lalo na umaabot sa kabuuang 70,000 estudyante mula 9-14 taong gulang, gayundin ang may 15,000 pulis, ang napabakunahan. Umabot sa PHP 2.9 bilyon ang ginastos ng DOH para lang sa Dengvaxia vaccine at ang bawat bakuna ay nagkakahalaga ng PHP 1,000. Gayunpaman, inanunsyo ni Secretary Duque na nagbalik ng PHP 1.2 bilyon sa gobyerno ang manufacturer para sa mga hindi nagamit na vaccine. Samantala, nanawagan pa rin si Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo Teves, Jr., ang Vice Chairman of House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, na hingan ng dagdag na PHP 2 bilyon ang Sanofi-Pasteur. Ang perang ito ay upang iwasan ang pagkamatay at pagkakasakit sa mga batang naturukan ng bakuna. Ito rin ay gagamiting pampaospital ng mga estudyanteng naturukan ng bakuna ngunit hindi pa rin gumagaling at tinatamaan pa rin ng dengue.
Bakit pa ba humantong sa pagbebenta ng gamot ang Sanofi para sa malawakang pagbakuna bago pa nalamang masama ang siyang epekto nito sa hindi pa nagkaroon ng dengue? Sa isang panayam kay Dr. Gene Nisperos, pangalawang tagapangulo ng Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD), pagkamal ng tubo na ang pangunahing konsiderasyon ng malalaking mga kompanyang pharmaceutical at hindi na ang kalusugan ng mamamayan. Hindi man sapat ang datos at saktong pag-aaral sa magiging epekto ng mga bakuna, inaprubahan agad ang kinakailangang badyet sa pagbili ng gamot. Samantala, ang badyet at pondo para sa health cares at maging dagdag sahod ng mga health workers ay hindi ganoon ka dali kung iapruba. Ang eskandalong Dengvaxia ay nagdudulot lamang ng pangamba, hindi lamang sa mga magulang ng mga batang napabakunahan kundi pati narin sa lahat ng mamamayan. Napapahamak nito ang kalusugan ng bansa habang ang nasa katungkulan ay kumikita.
Photo by: BusinessWorld
Gloyd Mesibas
FROM PAGE 1 In a similar way, Davao City’s New City Commercial Center (NCCC) Mall was on fire last December 23, 2017. It did not just raze the mall down but it also ravaged a call center office – the US-based Survey Sampling International (SSI) Davao that used to occupy the fourth floor of the building. Unfortunately, 36 customer service agents and a NCCC mall employee, Melvin Ga-a, were among the casualties as reported by Sun Star Davao. Recalling his ordeal, Reggie (real name withheld), an SSI survivor, said in an interview that he was at work in the SSI production floor when the fire broke out and it was already burning for almost an hour on the third floor. “We were left for dead; that is my complete, honest opinion. We found out the fire was already beneath us and it was already too late even. It only took a matter of not more than five minutes to get out of that hell hole and stay alive,” he shared.
Reggie also added that there were no lapses from SSI for there were proper and precise instructions given for evacuation. During the incident, SSI employees did not hear the fire alarm. It was not due to the soundproofed facility of SSI but the fire alarm just did not work. He said that NCCC mall personnel did not attempt to call them, not even by the telephone, about the conflagration that was happening on the third floor. In fact, SSI had many telephones lines which the establishment could have used via local dialling. Reggie had witnessed the incident tragic. “I believe something like that should not even be possible in the first place. It is stupid to think something basic as a fire alarm did not even work for an establishment where hundreds or thousands of people visit every day,” he stated. Witnessing the fire incident, Valster Huera posted on Facebook to explain his experience in the teeth of the fire. He smelled something like burning plastic or toxic fumes at five to 10 minutes before 10 in the morning. Seconds later, smoke started to come out from airconditioners. In just a matter of few seconds, the smoke started to get very heavy and dark,
so they ran to the fire exit near the locker area. “We were all panicking and I heard people shouting and crying as the lights went out, light bulbs started exploding, and smoke was already very dark and unbearable,” his post read. Fortunately, he and other colleagues had survived when they saw someone from the lobby waving and directing them to the lobby area’s exit to the mall’s theater. In a different Facebook post, Aprielle Bolosito stated that it was difficult for them to leave the area because of the zero visibility caused by the thick, heavy smoke. She and her co-workers were left screaming and crying in the locker room, as they were not able to go to the fire exit. Bolosito rushed to the lobby when she saw her co-worker yelling. Nobody followed her as some of her colleagues opted to hide in the comfort room. Three months after the fire, the incident has still brought about a post-trauma to the victimd. A number of survivors from the incident can tell how the fire burned down their dreams – and their loved ones.
Incident like this can be prevented in the first place if a company or any establishment would have been taught of the fire precaution such as training, instruction, and emergency plan. The company must regularly check its emergency tools like fire alarm, fire extinguishers, and sprinklers. Fire exits should be located at an area where anyone can easily run to in case of emergency. If the fire was prevented in the first place, there would be so many lives saved.
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As to the man who is trapped in the tunnel, he found his way out from hell as he passed through the suffocating smoke and the searing heat of the fire to escape. Nevertheless, he was haunted with the memories of his friends who were trapped and died in the incident. He could also hear voices from the people who have been longing for – justice.
Players’ Mental Battlegrounds Alren John D. Dabon
FROM PAGE 1 The World Health Organization (WHO) in its 11th International Classification of Diseases (ICD) has included gaming addiction as a mental health disorder for the first time. The ICD describes it as “a pattern of persistent or recurrent gaming behavior so severe that it takes ‘precedence over other life interests’”. Symptoms include impaired control over gaming
(frequency, intensity, duration), increased priority given to gaming and continuation or escalation of gaming despite negative consequences. Impaired control over gaming explains that an addict may play more than the average gamers. The times how addicts play in a week, the way they play, and how long they play are expected to be higher than that of the average players. When addicts prioritize more their necessities and more important things than playing, this exemplifies addiction. For example, a gaming-addicted USePian would be glad to miss his programming subject just to be with his squad and land on Pochinki and get that “chicken dinner”. He does not feel any concern
of what the outcome will be when he skips his class. The escalation of gaming despite negative consequences come. Many countries have taken countermeasures to prevent such a addictions. The South Korean government has implemented a law that bans children under the age of 16from accessing online games between midnight and 6:00 am. Japanese players are alerted if they spend more than a certain amount of time each month playing games. Tencent, an internet giant in China, limits hours when children can play video games. In Davao City, the 10 pm curfew, although the curfew is not directly intended for gaming
addiction, intends to cease children below 18 years from going out without an accompanying adult. Children under the age of 18 are forced to leave the café but people from all ages are vulnerable to this form of addiction. It is understandable that playing video games is an escape from boredom – a haven from emotional distress and a haven for socialization. It is a recreational activity intended for emotional boost. However, with its accompanying happiness comes the side effects. The key for this predicament is balance. Balance between academic standing, recreational playing, and household responsibilities.
OPINION
Makalaway nga kalami Therese Merll C. Jabido Makalaway gyud magtan-aw sa laing tao na nagkaon sa paborito nimong pagkaon. Usahay makabati pa og kagutom magtan-aw nila nga nagtagbaw og kaon, tilap, ug supsop sa ilang pagkaon. Maibog nalang kag tan-aw ug huna-huna na unta imo pud matagamtaman ang kalami na ilang natilawan. Kini nga higayon, susama ra og magtanaw ang usa ka tao og porno. Ang tintal sa mga naghubo nga lawas kay magsilbing kalayo sa mga gibating nag awas-awas. Daghang mga tao ang mahaylo niini, mga taong ginapangita ang makapaukyab sa ilang higal, ilabi na ang kalami nga hatod sa porno. Sa Pilipinas, tulo ka tuig na nga nagsagunson nga mitala ang Pilipinas nga numero uno sa tibuok kalibutan na adunay pinakataas nga oras magpundo sa Pornhub. Ang pornhub kay usa sa mga na ‘block’ na ‘porn sites’ sa nasud tungod sa gipatumalang ‘porn ban’ subay sa Republic Act 9775 o ‘anti-child pornography law’ sugod ngadtong tuig 2017. Ang maong balaod kay nagalayon nga protektahan ang mga kabatan-onan sa mga malaw-ayng butang. Usa ka third year nga estudyante gikan sa College of Education nga nagpatago sa alyas nga MachuPapa ang naghatag og testimonya bahin ani nga isyu. Matud pa niya, wala na siya natingala nga nalupigan sa mga Pinoy ang tanang nasud sa kadugayon sa pag tan-aw og porno. “Kung ana [porno] man gani sturyahan, pinoy jud ang bagtikan ana na butang. Dili na katingalahan based from true to life experiences [base sa mga tinuod na panghitabo sa kinabuhi],” ingon niya. Apan nasayran bag-o lang nga bisan pa ug naay gipatumalang ‘porn ban’, nagpabilin gihapong numero uno ang Pilipinas sa tibuok kalibutan na adunay pinakataas nga oras magpundo sa Pornhub base sa gipagawas nga impormasyon sa maong site kaniadtong Enero tuig 2018. Sa pagpangutana kang MachuPapa og unsa iyang unang reaksyon ngadtong gianunsiyo sa gobyerno ang pagahimuong pagbara sa mga porn sites, ingon siya nga wala daw siya mabalaka kay aduna may ubang pamaagi arun makatan-aw pa siya.
“Okay ra para sa akoa kay naa man na sa GC [group chat sa facebook, ug uban pang social media]. EZ [Easy] access,” tubag niya. Sato pa, nahulog nga walay mahinungdanong resulta nga nakuha ang pagpangusog sa gobyerno nga barahon ang mga malaw-ay nga website. Wala gihapon nagpapugong ang mga Pinoy og nakakita og lusot pinaagi sa mga dili kaayo iladong website na wala masakup sa ‘ban’. Ilakip na diri ang mga tawo nga adunay hanas sa mga buluhatong teknikal nga dali rang makalusot sa gibutang nga bara sa gobyerno sa maong mga website gamit ang mga ‘web proxies’ ug ‘VPN’. Idungag pa jud ang pagdagsa sa mga klaseklase nga bag-ong teknolohiya na nagasaad na maghatud og mga bag-ong sensasyon sa pagtan-aw og porno. Kung sa una makontento nalang ang mga tao magtan-aw sa mga taong nakighiliwas pinaagi sa
magasin, salida ug tradisyonal nga ‘porn video’, karun aduna nay ginatawag nga ‘virtual reality porn’ o ‘VR porn’ kung asa mamahimo nang aktibo nga partisipante sa birtwal na pakighilawas ang babae o lalaki. Dili naman katingad-an nga kasagaran sa mga taong nagatan-aw ug porno kay palami ang tuyo. Ang uban ang tumong kay alang sa dugang kasayuran ug pagtuon sa mga butang na sekswal. Ingon pa ni Dr. Marty Klein, usa ka amerikanong ‘sex therapist’, daghan sa mga kabatan-onang henerasyon karun ang nagatuon sa pakighilawas pinaagi sa porno sa internet.
Bisan pa og pirmi mitala ang Pilipinas na pinakadugay magtan-aw og porno, dili kini pasabot na ing-ana najud kauwagon ang mga Pilipino. Kung huna-hunaon, Pilipinas ang ikaduha sa pinakahinayng kapaspason sa internet sa tibuok kalibutan, matud pa sa gipahigayong surbey sa OpenSignal ngadtong Nobyembre tuig 2016 hangtod Enero 31 tuig 2017. Naay posibilidad nga ang hinay na internet sa nasud ang isa sa mga hinungdan nganong taas kaayo og oras makalas ang mga Pinoy magtan-aw og bidyo sa Pornhub. Sa maka-usa, mubalik ta pagtan-aw ngadto sa laing tao nagkaon, apila napud dira ang pagtan-aw og porno ug sa mga taong nakighilawas. Lami man ug makapahinam og tuod kining mga butanga tan-awon apan ikaw ra gayud ang giduwaan sa imong hunahuna. Busa pakyas kaayo, maglaway ra gyud ka kutob, mata ra nimoy nabusog.
The Collegiate Headlight 13
NULL AND VOID John D. Valle
The Apathetic’s Comedy You know what’s funny? Protests and rallies are seen as mere absurdities and inconvenience to society. Nowadays, for many Filipinos, aside from making noise through microphones, uttering nonsense, and protesting irrationality, mass demonstrations only result in congested highways and destroyed public properties. You know what’s more hilarious? More often than not, Filipinos who oppose these radicalities are those who are apathetic and passive individuals of the society. These people are not even making an impact for the betterment of the majority of the people aside from ranting on their social media accounts. To them, there is no day they make illogical fallacies of generalization to “UP students” as a waste of tax payers’ money. Most of them believe that students should be in class listening to their professors instead of wasting people’s
taxes, walking out in classes, and participating in rallies. Are we even aware that celebrating EDSA People Power Revolution annually commemorates the series of mass demonstrations that gave us freedom from the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos? Many Filipinos are quick to judge activists who fight against the ill-side of the government without even contemplating on themselves if they did something similar. These aggressive interventions against the status quo are ironically opposed. They even think students who participate in these movements are being truant when in fact, they are just not letting their schooling interfere with their education – as their saying goes. As a student-journalist, I write to defend the freedom of the press and to inform my fellow students of disregarded pressing issues.
“Reading our publications to protect your head from the bullet of ignorance instead of using it cover your head from the rain will also make you informed and involved.
In this way, I am already involved. Reading our publications to protect your head from the bullet of ignorance instead of using it cover your head from the rain will also make you informed and involved. It’s not that hard, isn’t it? Mass demonstrations like walk-outs, rallies, and protests are not the sole means to fight for now. Let’s not wait for the time that these acts would be necessary. Truth be told, when the time comes these demonstrations result in something beneficial, some would hypocritically benefit from it and act as if they contributed something when in the first place, they were opposing and never gave a support. I am not really advocating people to protest and participate in rallies. I just find it hilarious that there are those who choose to live an apathetic and passive life, waiting for somebody to fight for them, instead of doing something for their own.
PRAGMATISM TO THE BONE Alren John D. Dabon
The Game When do you say enough is enough? I like to start when I was still that boy who plays by the rules. Every kid who was a big brother would know the feeling when you just have to sit there and watch your brother play the game. As a family with a PlayStation 1 back then, even though I was not playing, I always felt the excitement rushing through my veins as if I was the one playing. It gets me high how my brother shows how much he is enjoying the game. I looked up to my big brother. I idolized him in every way, no matter how flawed he was in any way. To me, he was flawless. I became the slave my brother wanted to be. He would tell me to do things for him so that he would let me use the controller. As the stupid and obedient little brother that I am the thought of me playing his games just keeps me obeying his errands. When he would let me play, he would give me a controller that was not plugged in and the dumb me would not notice, but still, I was enjoying. I felt the urge to become number one; I felt the need to become the Player 1. When I grew up – just enough maturity that I can say that the controller is plugged in or not, my brother would let me play Player 2 and that was how when I really got into his world.
It was something I have never seen before. The point of view when handling the controller was so much different back when I was still sitting and watching him play. That was when I got to know more about the game, and so much about my brother. I never really paid attention to the game. It was easy; I was a natural. Every stage and every game was as easy as 123. The thing was, the more I got to know my brother, the more I planted hate against him. It was not because he’s better than me in the game. It was because he was different from the brother I used to idolize. At times, he would got sloppy in a game and get tired from trying. I always encouraged him but nothing seems to work. There were times that he’d leave the controller and make me shoulder the completion of the game. Worse, he tried cheat codes to jump start the game. I tried to intervene once and confronted him but all I get is silence. He would still play the game but it was not the same anymore. Maybe it was the same; I just did not notice it in the first place. Nevertheless, I realized that everything my brother did was okay. It was okay to sloppy, to unfinish the game, and to slack of as much as I want to. Things changed when my brother had to leave. I did not become sad at the departure.
I knew the time would come for him to leave. Still, the cloud of hate was still there. With the departure, I had my hopes up that my brother would give the player 1 controller. The player 1 controller is something I wanted for since day 1. My world crashed when it was handed to mu young brother, and the fact that I was still Player 2 crushed my world even more. The only thing I can ask myself was “Why?”. It hit me. It hit me so hard that all the things my big brother was became myself. I was sloppy and I slack off, giving my younger did not deserve it. I never blamed myself. I blame my big brother. I blamed him for what he turned me into. I blamed him for the things I idolized him for. That was why I missed the old me – cheerful, obedient, and punctual me. I guess there are things that matter to us the most, even the pretty ones like games. Games always have to do than playing games or you just do not like playing with the person currently, I guess it is better for you to raise the white flag. When you feel like you’re already a parasite or a cancer siphoning the productivity of the one you are into, throw in the towel. In order for you not to disrupt and slow down the game, giving up is enough.
“I guess there are things that matter to us the most, even the pretty ones like games.
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FEATURE
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OPINION
OPINION
IN MEDIAS RES
IT DRILLS ON
Maria Cristina Kasandra T. Galagala
It happened again.
A temporary suspension of deployment was announced by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary, Silvestre Bello for the aspiring OFWs that are heading to Kuwait. The suspension was covered in the Administrative Order 25, series of 2018. Under this, Bello commanded the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to temporarily suspend processing the Overseas Employment Certificates (OECs). Furthermore, the POEA is not allowed to resume their transactions while the investigation is ongoing. Recently, another incident was added to the tension. President Rodrigo Duterte announced the death of a Filipina whose
“A Filipino who tries to save his family from the bittersweet reality, usually sets asides his own needs just to fulfill the primary needs of his children, ventures to another country, suffers from maltreatment, and comes home – dead.
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Recently, the Philippines was bombarded by the news regarding the brutal death of the considered “Modern Heroes of the Country”. January 20 this year, seven migrant workers were killed unjustly in Kuwait. It earned different reactions from Filipinos through the internet and media.
body was found in a freezer. It earned severe criticisms when President Duterte made an immediate move to save the lives of the OFWs in Kuwait. He ordered a total ban for the OFWs who are heading to Kuwait. He also commanded rescue for the workers and send them home to prevent them from being the next victims of brutal maltreatment from their employers.
Let’s recall the case of the defenseless Mary Jane Veloso and Flor Contemplacion who were all executed abroad. Both shared the same story where their capability to defend themselves were neglected. These are just clear manifestations that maltreatment and unjust execution to OFWs are happening continuously over and over again.
An Filipino who tries to save his family from the bitter-sweet reality, usually sets asides his own needs just to fulfill the primary needs of his children, ventures to another country, suffers from maltreatment, and comes home – dead. This kind of scenario is common to Filipinos, but it is ironic enough that it sounds normal and tragic at the same time. The façade of being a hero is tough. At the back of it lies difficulties, misfortunes, tears, bruises, and dilemmas.
Suspending and banning these Filipinos to go abroad is not the answer to this problem. Truth be told, poverty is deeply rooted in the veins of our country and this problem is not easy to expel. It is evident that the main reason why OFWs tend to leave their country is the lack of job opportunities inside the country, especially those who do not have any educational attainment. As long as there is not enough job opportunities that would suffice the work needs, there will always be that someone who will choose to leave the country and take the risks to give a better life for his family.
According to the data of National Statistics Office (NSO), there is an estimated 2.2 million Filipino migrants from 2017 up to the present who left the country to find work abroad. Most of these are Domestic Helpers (DH) that are destined in Arabian countries such as Iraq, Dubai, Saudi, Singapore, and Kuwait which are undeniably some of the most dangerous countries for OFWs. There’s no doubt, I completely agree for I am a daughter of an OFW who eyed these issues as the years went by.
OFWs are considered as one of the biggest investments of the country; they are more than just overseas workers. What these people need is a complete protection of their rights and a responsive government who would protect them against anyone who would violate their human rights. After all, they deserve the protection and attention they seek for they bring glory and honor to the country. Now, it is time to save these heroes.
Just Another Addiction
In short, addiction to social media is comparable to the intake of drugs that will
“People often cling to their vices to avoid seeing the reality of life. Social media, may it be Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, is not the same with the expected reality, but because it was ideal, people tend to cling to it.
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According to the American Psychological Association (APA), addiction is the obsession of a certain substance, a drug, or a particular activity, which can cause changes in the function of the brain. It is a chronic disorder that can affect the social, emotional, biological and psychological aspects of a person.
While holding my pen, I could not think of a valiant topic to write for this column. Eager to find a topic, I decided to scroll my social media newsfeed and found a question that shattered the silence for hours of brainstorming, “Who is brave?” Curiosity drove me to the comment section and found one comment that made me laugh, “Brave is the man who has diarrhea and wants to fart.” Directing it to the world’s perspective, brave is being pale but tough; kill and not afraid to be killed; continue to fight even when it’s losing; continue to serve even without something in return. Since I entered USeP, I have been consistently reminded by my family to focus only on my studies; to study well during exams and excel academically. Entering this university takes a brave choice and if one still decides to join a publication, which is known as the hotbed of activism, takes a gallant decision. In a university dominated by students who opt to watch ‘Korean Drama’ than reading news and become aware of the societal issues, it is never easy to become a student journalist. Along with the articles you must finish before the deadline are the projects, quizzes, exams, theses and journals that need to be
accomplished. Because choosing to write the articles first, going to the publication instead to the library, and risking your life for a picture’s right angle is truly choosing to be brave. When we write, we put a mirror to the readers’ face and tell them, “Hey, this is the status quo, this is what happening in the country and in the university, do you like it? What are we going to do about it?” In the current landscape, we can expect a bombardment of awful response, including threats, name-calling, cursing, and, calling a journalist a ‘paid-hack’. These people have gone as far as basically saying, ‘I will fail you in class if you do not omit this article. I will not let you graduate If I will be featured in your publication.’ Worse, ‘You are just one bullet away.’ Behind every societal issue that are loosen for exposure, are unnoticed journalists who dared to remain ‘brave’ serving as guardians of the public. Since then, journalists have been courageous in playing the role as watchdogs— though at times with risk of losing their lives. With all the threats they receive just because of exposing the truth, they still choose
Marcy Mae V. Santillan
Jay Ann D. Alcoriza
Those were the things that Millennials always do: criticize someone’s posts, envy a friend’s vacation, imitate a new dance craze, idolize a fashionista blogger, and even lie about your new post. You do not know that you are doing all those things without even realizing you are addicted to it.
Who is brave?
Right now, these are the worst of times and the best of times for journalists. The worst, because we have been watched not just by ordinary people who hate journalists but people who have the power to investigate to track, know where we are. The best because we unravel what the truth really is even if exposing it means danger to ourselves. This made me believe that democratic country needs free press to function, they become the checking government of what truly lies behind closed doors It is sad that the Philippines has been rated as one of the most dangerous countries for journalists. According to the data of Committee to Project Journalists, since 1986, 177 journalists and media employees have been killed in the Philippines, making the country one of the most unsafe states to exercise journalism. Fortunately, there were launchings of task forces for media killings on the previous administrations. However, all were unsuccessful to finish impunity for those deaths. Last 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte created a task force through the President’s administrative order no. 1 to investigate media killings. Still, there were cases of harassment, online attacks, and death threats. Even more, it was upsetting that leaders themselves curse journalists in public, catcall a female reporter, and asserted without serving proof that journalists are slayed because they are corrupt.
Along with these journalists are youth who remain active in the societal issues. Brave for they go against charter change, Martial Law in Mindanao, alleged fake free education, jeepney phaseout, and the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law. They are even braver in joining protests such as mass walkout because they know something is wrong in the system. Brave are the youth who chose to fight for freedom and for everyone’s right. Brave are those who are constantly active amidst the tale of apathy in the society. Every Filipino has the challenge to be brave, to hold on to their integrity even when many of the leaders cannot and to be the nation builders and the guards of their conviction. Money and unswerving propaganda can perfume a foul past but will not make Filipinos willingly accept the distressing past happen again. We have the courage to write, to speak, and act for our rights. Bravery is not the absence of fear but conquering of fear. There will always be threats, but bravery is being calm amidst these intimidations, showing boldly what is right and just. Dredging something from that line in the comment section in a Facebook post asking, ‘Who is brave?’, we get the point of the answer, being brave is being willing to give in, to “lose,” and to sacrifice—like journalists and activists.
SEE MORE
LIGHT AND SHADES First thing in the morning, as you wake up from your bed, you grab your phone and immediately open your social media accounts. Is it interesting to see how many likes you have earned in your new profile picture? Or is it fascinating to spy on someone’s timeline and critique everything he or she posted about?
to uncover what needs to be unleashed. They now become the epitome of “bravery.” Without accountability for killings of journalists, these brave people will remain under threat.
Prince Jay D. Esdrelon
The Facade of a Hero Another episode was added to the series of unresolved cases of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) repression over the Arab countries. As the episode multiplies, the conflict is increasing rapidly but only a few of which is being resolved.
The Collegiate Headlight 15
greatly affect the body. Some of this changes involves your motivation, memory, judgment or worst, it can cause “dramatic increase in craving for a drug or an activity” that would enable someone to do the same thing over and over again. Social media addiction is just the same with any other addiction; once you started it, you crave for more. People often cling to their vices to avoid seeing the reality of life. Social media, may it be Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, is not the same with the expected reality, but because it was ideal, people tend to cling to it. With this uncertainty, users have become envious with other people’s lives and tried to imitate other people making yourself a fool. In an interview of ABC News, Sean Parker, one of the founders of Facebook, admitted that Facebook was meant to be addictive that can affect the human psychology. He said, “It literally changes your relationship with society, with each other.” It was his idea to make people spend too much “time and conscious attention as possible”.
Parker further added that every click on the “like” button would enable someone to post for more. Facebook is intended to be very addictive, but we are not children that are meant to be taught about the obvious things. Hours spent on social media are best spent on reading books, doing chores, making assignments and preparing for quizzes or examinations. This social media trend has affected us so much that we even forgot to do our priorities and wasting it on criticizing or spying other people’s lives. It is not our fault to use social media as a tool to know what is happening around us, but the blame is on us when it is used lavishly without caution and control. Social media is practically an instrument that can enable people to be socially connected, not to be socially addicted. It is not to be forgotten the internet was practically made for research and connection, not a way to develop your addiction.
Reader’s Choice I had so many thoughts in my mind these past few days and most of these circles in just one question, “What will be my next column all about?” There are so many topics under the sun and those give me a hard time to choose just one. After realizing that I had a difficulty dealing with choices, an idea came into my mind, “Why not write about it?” Perhaps, I am not the only one who struggles in this aspect and that USePians have also been in this similar situation. Anyone who never chooses is never alive because living is a choice. In life, we deal with so many choices but basically we only have two, the one that we think as right and the other as the opposite of the latter - the wrong one. Every day, in everything that we do, we are constantly choosing between two things: to wake up or to continue sleeping, to go to school or not, and even when we eat we are choosing. Moreover, the moment before we make a choice is also a choice between two things, to choose or not to choose.
When I was in elementary, I was glad whenever exams were answerable by true or false because I thought that it would be easier for me to answer such questions, since in each item I had fifty percent chance of choosing the correct one. Even though I have not studied that much, I could rely on the thing called “luck” made by guessing. From this, I perceived that it was not that difficult to choose between two things. Not until I encountered a true or false test in high school wherein when the answer is false, I have to identify which word in the statement is wrong and I have to make it right, that made me change my perception. Time came, I was in the first year of college when true or false test have to be checked as right minus wrong where the number of correct items minus the number of wrong ones would be the final score. This made me so careful in choosing. It made me a little bit scared, knowing the possibility of having negative score.
These experiences made me realize that as an individual grows old, it is harder for him to choose and make a decision because situations get tougher and there are so many factors to be considered. Some of these factors are the effects it can make for his loved ones, for himself, and even for the humanity. Also, there are so many what ifs that arise into one’s mind giving him difficulties in identifying which one is possible and not. As a result, this will then cause him to limit himself, thinking that asymptotes do exist when in fact often times it is just a product of his pessimism. A person’s identity can be determined by the choices he makes and how he deals with choices. In dealing with choices, one can either be impulsive or indecisive. An impulsive person thinks that choosing the right thing is a matter of choice and deciding that the choice was right is another thing. On the other hand, an indecisive person thinks that deciding that the choice is surely right matters most and so he is held in anticipating the possible consequences before choosing. Both may sound negative since being impulsive frequently results to wrong choices and being indecisive takes a lot of time. However, having either of these identities varies on the situation a person is in.
According to Tim Carey Ph.D, a clinician and a researcher, he said in his article published at Psychology Today that by becoming aware of the more important goal, an option to choose becomes obvious. Whenever a decision gives a moment of pause, one must pay attention on the higher-valued goals that appear as he is considering the choice he is pondering. In this way, the choice to make will be more evident. It is too hard for a person to choose between two significant things which appear to be both good because he thinks that this state is like a right minus wrong test. A situation wherein all the choices he made which resulted to good outcomes will be disregarded depending on the choices that resulted to wrong outcomes. Besides, maturity requires him to commit no mistakes if possible. However, choosing between two things may not be that difficult if one thinks that all choices are right. Even though a person’s choice leads to unpleasant results, it can still be considered as right if he learns from it. This time, a person proves that maturity does not solely come from all the right choices he makes but also from the learnings out of the wrong ones.
H U LA S C O P E Enjoy gud talaga ang lessons sa major subject ba, like kunti nalang gud gusto ko nang sabihin kay Prof na, “Sir! I’feel talaga natin yung pagiging major. Kabahan tayo
Gemini (Mayo 21 - Hunyo 20)
Leo (Hulyo 23 - Agosto 21) Mafeel ko talaga ang affection ng Prof namin ba like palagi gud niya ako ginatawag sa recitations, ginautusan niya pa ako, tapos everytime gud mag exam at quiz ginabantayan niya talaga ako. Like mafeel ko gud minsan na supergaling ko talaga.
Virgo (Agosto 22 - Setyembre 22) Perfect gud dapat ako sa isang exam namin kung gisagutan ko yung all. Nagstudy gud talaga ako masyado like magdamagan gud kami nag face to face ng book ko gud. Tapos nagwatch pa talaga ako sa YouTube ng tutorials gud ng mga Indian.
Libra (Setyembre 23 - Oktubre 22) Unique gud talaga ang tanan gud namin na subjects, easy-peasy lang gud tapos legit pa na mahuhusay at talented ang mga Profs gud. Kunti nalang talaga mapapapindot na ako sa golden buzzer ba.
Scorpio (Oktubre 23 - Nobyembre 21) Proud talaga ako ba na USePian ako like pangarap ko man gud talaga na dito magschool. Tapos ngayon gud na natupad na ang pangarap ko, I feel like ayaw ko nang mangarap pa. Super love ko na ang school ko, mahirap lumisan.
Capricorn
Aquarius (Enero 20 - Pebrero 18) Nasa point na gud ako ng life ko na super fan na talaga ako nang kape. Like for me it is the universal solvent na gud dahil into man gud ang nagasustain sa akin everytime magstudy ako for the exams and quizzes.
(Disyembre 22 - Enero 19) I’m super tired na bimb, parang ayaw ko nang pumasok pa sa klase gud namin. Super dali lang man gud yung mga ginalesson tapos ang exam easy pa din. Wala na yung excitement gud, kunti nalang i’let go ko na siya.
Gusto ko na gud talaga i’try yung sa Naruto gud na “kage bunshin teknik times 2 times 2”. Super fun siguro yun ba para matapos ko gud dayun lahat ng mga assignments, projects, and presentations.
Sagittarius
(Nobyembre 22 - Disyembre 21)
Every time gud magpasok si Sir sa classroom, mafeel ko gud na parang summer na. Tapos pagmag exam na gud kami, I feel like ayaw ko na sa close, gusto ko na mag open. Yung feeling gud na kunti nalang mafall ka na.
Pisces (Pebrero 19 - Marso 20) Makainspire gud talaga ang klase ng Prof namin like kapag magquiz gud maremember ko talaga lahat nang gituro niya. Pero may mga times din nga pagmag exam gud mapapaiyak gud ako kasi like parang may magplay man gud na song na Remember me.
Putak Yano
Cancer (Hunyo 21 - Hulyo 22)
Taurus (Abril 20 - Mayo 20) Makaoverwhelm gud masyado yung mga sunod sunod na quizzes and mga projects na ginapagawa sa amin ni Prof. Like yung feeling gud na gusto ko silang i’hug lahat.
PahumotAY 2k18 by Kimberly F. Sumodlayon
Aries (Marso 21 - Abril 19) Gusto ko gud talaga magquiz palagi si Sir. Like favorite ko gud talaga yung magsige study. Sa mga naghirap gud dyan sa acads “Lavan lang mga kadzaiers!”