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Kinabuhi Luyo sa Estudyanteng Irregular
THE COLLEGIATE
HEADLIGHT VOLUME 41 | NUMBER 4 DECEMBER 2016
USeP eyes offering sanitary eng’g, med, law
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SeP eyes to offer Sanitary Engineering, Doctor of Medicine, and Bachelor of Laws in the future.
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UNDERSTANDING S.O.G.I.E (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression) PAGE 10
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LIKE OF THE LIVING DEAD
ar from the traditional groaning and stumbling type, these modern zombies do not crave brains. They do, however, exhibit endless hunger — for attention, that is. Yes, brains for these zombies come in the form of likes, loves, or any reaction to things they share to the world.
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...pressured kay imong ka-batch mo-graduate na, ikaw nagkamang pa.
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THE COLLEGIATE HEADLIGHT
2 NEWS
USeP eyes offering sanitary eng’g, med, law by Sean Arcent A. Marapao, Rasheena D. Amanon, and Lawrence P. Deligero
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SeP eyes to offer Sanitary Engineering, Doctor of Medicine, and Bachelor of Laws in the future. Prof. Angelo E. Jadraque, who led the feasibility study for these programs, said the proposal is still in the infancy stage as the Board of Regents (BOR) has yet to review it. It will be subject for approval by Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Legal Education Board.
Jadraque added these new offerings would present an opportunity for USePians to cope with the growing demand for these courses. Sanitary engineering, in particular, is in demand, with possible income at six figure-levels overseas. Some students have already expressed their optimism in the addition of Sanitary Engineering to the list of courses offered by the College of Engineering.
“I believe that it will happen and that they are already preparing the curriculum [for it],” said Paul John Infante, a 5th year Electrical Engineering student of the university. However, possible challenges include lack of facilities, inadequate faculty training, and lack of qualified deans. For the College of Medicine and College of Law, the deans must be licensed physicians and lawyers, respectively.
In addition, authorization from CHED requires quality laboratories and a partner hospital for apprenticeships. If approved, the College of Law will occupy the 5th floor of the soon to rise College of Governance and Business Building.
YMCA conducts congress SSG attends 37th PACSA for societal change confab by Antonio Valentino B. Garcia II
by Ferlyn J. Cabalida
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o combat problems hindering change towards society’s development, Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) conducted the National Congress of College Students and 21st Campus Club Advisers seminar-workshop last November 26-30, 2016 at Benitez Mess Hall, Baguio City. Resolutions based on different societal issues were drafted during the event’s General Plenary Session. Approved resolutions will be sent for thorough discussion and implementation. Delegates, for instance, issued a resolution urging Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to prioritize research and development in alleviating pollution. Other approved resolutions were as follows: to reconsider the omission of Filipino subjects in Senior High School, to establish YMCA regional congress, to build a sustainable development by planting bamboo, and to initiate a campaign
for newborn screening in various communities in Manila. With the theme “CHANGE towards youth empowerment and sustainable development,” YMCA continues its mission in shaping youth to be proactive by challenging them to take part and to work as one in solving societal, territorial, environmental, and political problems. “Our main role was not just for USeP but for Mindanao to be represented in a national scope through student leaders where its view and perspective will be a great help in the advancement of our country in achieving genuine change,” said OCSC Secretary Jay-R R. Tayaban, elected as YMCA Deputy Speaker for Mindanao.
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upreme Student Government (SSG) officers from the university attended the 37th Annual Philippine Association of Campus Student Advisers (PACSA) Convention and 1st International Conference last November 26-29 at the Baguio Crown Regency Hotel, Baguio City. Various talks by international speakers and contests were held during the event to encourage collaboration among delegates. SSG Secretary and Mintal Campus Student Council (MCSC) President Cyrhod John T. Tirol placed first in poster-making contest, while Student Regent and SSG President John Mark P. Sual came in third for story-telling.
with OCSC Adviser Dr. Benjie Badon as Assistant Secretary for Mindanao. With the theme “A Step Towards Collaboration Among Campus Advisers and Student Leaders in the ASEAN Region,” the convention’s primary goal was to train campus advisers and student leaders in advising and leadership, and to encourage collaboration within their administration. The confab was attended by campus student leaders and advisers from Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and National Capital Region (NCR).
In the latter part of the program, SSG Treasurer and Obrero Campus Student Council (OCSC) President Ariel D. Aranjuez was elected as Philippine Association of Campus Student Leaders (PACSL) Treasurer for Mindanao along
USeP to release new student handbook by Jay Ann D. Alcoriza
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he Student handbook was already approved in the first quarter of 2016 and will be distributed probably by 2017. The university is just waiting for the printing machine,” said Office of Student Services (OSS) Director Tamsi Jasmin D. Gervacio. The oldest student handbook was published in 1994. The next edition was in 2004 but was not released until its revision in December 2015. In the latest edition, the tuition fee was increased from PHP 50 per unit to PHP 200 per unit for day students and PHP 250 for evening students. The Student Assistance Program is now called Student Labor with hourly wage increased from PHP10 to PHP 25 with a maximum of 4 working hours per day.
USeP student leaders attend YMCA Seminar-Workshop in Baguio City. From left to right: Tyra Phoebe Coquilla, King Emil Madarang, Michelle Oberez, Jay-R Tayaban, and Jo Frann Wendell Llanto. Photo by YMCA of Manila
Some notable changes in the handbook were the specifications of the proper school uniform such as the regular uniforms, Physical Education (PE) uniforms, and On-the-Job Training (OJT) uniforms, which was not mentioned in the 1994
version of the handbook. The university history, logo, and symbol were also elaborated and specified in the new edition. There are also minor changes such as the Organizational Structure, the entry of the Board of Regents (BOR), and the addition of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) scholarship. In the meantime, an electronic copy of the student handbook is available for download from the USeP website. The student handbook will be distributed for free to all students in 2017. In the 1994 version of the student handbook, the scholastic record was placed at the back portion where the teachers can monitor the educational progress of students in terms of their grades. However, years ago, the online-based Student Portal, replaced the scholastic record. As of this writing, however, the student portal is only available for the students of the Obrero Campus.
THE COLLEGIATE HEADLIGHT
NEWS 3 Davao launches anti-child abuse hotline by Abner John P. Jayme avao City Local Government Unit launched the Kean Gabriel hotline dedicated to combating child abuse on October 28, 2016.
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With the hotline number 0908-818-4444, it operates 24/7 with 25 employees trained on counseling, case reporting, therapeutic voice and resiliency, and stress management. Five agencies compose the inter-agency effort working on the hotline: the Integrated Gender Development Division (IGDD), Philippine
National Police (PNP), Central 911, City Health Office (CHO), and the Children Center of City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO). The hotline was named after 3-year-old Kean Gabriel Agustin, who died last August 24 after being maltreated by his stepfather. With information from: www.davaocity.gov.ph www.sunstar.com.ph
Gov’t pushes Minda railway project
by Sean Arcent A. Marapao s part of the priority infrastructure projects of the Duterte administration, the government pushes the construction of the Mindanao Railway System.
A The Jaguars pose after winning in the Milo Cheerdance Competition. Photo by: Thomas Spencer Gamas
Jaguars champ in Milo Cheerdance by Gloyd Mesibas
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SeP Obrero Jaguars emerged champion during the 40th National Milo Marathon Davao Leg Cheerdance Competition on November 6, 2016 at SM Lanang Premier, Davao City.
Ace All-stars of USeP Tagum and the Red Paladins Pep Squad from the University of Mindanao Main Campus placed as 1st and 2nd runners-up, respectively.
BBL tungo sa panibagong politikal na kasarinlan nina Jay Ann D. Alcoriza at Prince Jay D. Esdrelon
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abuo ang panukalang batas na Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) sa nagdaang administrasyong Aquino na naglalayong maisabuhay ang karapatan para sa sariling pagpapasya ng Bangsamoro. Naisumite man sa kongreso, hindi naman ito pumasa bilang isang ganap na batas.
dagdag niya.
Sa pamamagitan ng Executive Order (EO) na pinirmahan ni Pangulong Rodrigo R. Duterte noong Nobyembre 7, 2016, madaragdagan ng miyembro ang Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC). Mula 15 na miyembro noon, ito ay magiging 21 na siyang magrerebisa sa BBL upang mas mapabuti pa ito.
Ayon kay Jayson Ismael Suazo, pangulo ng USeP Muslim Students Association (UMSA) na isa sa mga mabigat na rason upang maipatupad ang BBL ay ang pagkakakilanlan.
Sa Artikulo 3, Seksyon 2 na balangkas ng nasabing panukalang batas nakasaad na bubuuin ang BBL ng ARMM at lahat ng karatig pook na may 10 porsiyentong petisyon ng mga rehistradong botante na ipapasa sa dalawang buwan bago ang ratipikasyon ng BBL. Naiiba ito sa ARMM dahil sa pagtatatag ng tanggulan o national security na hindi ipinagkaloob ng dating pamahalaan sa ARMM. Nakapaloob sa Artikulo 10, Seksyon 2a ng pagkakaroon ng sariling kapulisan ng Bangsamoro at magiging esensyal na bahagi ng Philippine National Police na siyang magpapanatili sa kapayapaan ng estado. Naiiba rin ang uri ng gobyerno ng Bangsamoro na magiging Parliamentary na pamumunuan ng Chief Minister at magkakaroon ng demokratikong pamamahala at pagpapasiya. Ayon kay Arbar Sahibuddin, isang estudyanteng Muslim sa USeP, ang BBL ang siyang tugon upang magbago ang tingin ng mga tao sa mga Muslim. “I agree sa BBL. Sa society hindi maiiwasan na discriminated ang mga Muslims. Walang total equilibrium lalo na sa benefits na nakukuha,”
THE COLLEGIATE HEADLIGHT
Ang BBL ay magbibigay daan sa bagong politikal na entidad na Bangsamoro. Ito ay nagtatakda ng maayos na paghahati-hati ng yaman at kapangyarihan ng gobyerno at ng Bangsamoro.
“Sana sa pagdating ng panahon, ito ay magiging malaking dahilan upang hindi ako maging iba dahil sa aking pananaw at gawain bilang isang Muslim],” dagdag pa ni Suazo. Sa pagbuo ng panibagong politikal na entidad na Bangsamoro, inaasahang makakamit na ang kapayapaan at kasarinlan ng gobyerno at mga rebelde. Gayundin ang pag-asa ng mga Muslim na magkaroon ng karapatan sa sariling pagpapasya at ang pangarap na pangmatagalang kapayapaan sa lupang pangako—ang Mindanao.
The 2,000-km project will link major cities in the region including Davao, Zamboanga, Butuan, Surigao, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, and General Santos City.
According to Socio-economic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia, project details and costs are now being considered for the 2017 Budget Plan. The said project hopes to boost economic development and improve the transportation system in Mindanao. With information from: www.gmanewsonline.com
Digong to ban smoking in PH
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by Abner John P. Jayme
fter the Sin Tax on cigarettes and The Graphic Health Warnings Law, President Rodrigo Duterte plans to ban smoking in public across the country through an Executive Order (EO). The policy will prohibit smoking in all public places and will inhibit drivers, conductors, and passengers of Public Utility Vehicles (PUV) from smoking. With Republic Act 9211 or the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003 already in place, the EO will address gray areas to establish stricter sanctions.
The no-smoking policy was patterned after Davao City’s Anti-Smoking Ordinance which was awarded the Red Orchid Award from the Department of Health (DOH) and Global Smoke Free Partnership (GSFP) Award from South East Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA). With information from: www.cnnphilippines.com www.davaodaily.com
PH-China Relationship Goals on Scarborough Shoal by Maria Cristina Kasandra T. Galagala and Marcy Mae V. Santillan
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ost of relationships keep their solidarity by setting plans and goals. Likewise, the Philippines-China relations had set its plans and goals in helping each other for each of nation’s development. One of the plans is the protection of the marine resources on the West Philippine Sea or the South China Sea, which was once a cause of each country’s territorial dispute. The country’s relations to China had started when President Duterte took a step on solving the issues by having meetings with the Chinese President. Damages on the aquatic resources particularly in the small fishes’ habitat in the Scarborough Shoal are the results of Chinese authorities’ failure to fulfill their obligations to stop the Chinese fishermen from poaching endangered turtles, corals, and giant clams. They have also created artificial islands that affected the local ecosystem. For this reason, President Duterte is set to sign Executive Order which declares Scarborough Shoal as a marine sanctuary. It will establish a “no fishing zone” in the lagoon to preserve it as a breeding ground for small fishes. However, the areas around it has to be opened for both Filipino and Chinese fishermen. Although it is a unilateral action, President Duterte relayed the idea to Chinese President Xi Jinping during their meeting at the APEC Leader’s
Meeting in Peru. Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said that President Jinping responded positively to the proposal. National Security adviser Hermogenes Esperon also said that in due time unilateral declarations will lead to a bilateral decision. As an initial step to making a marine sanctuary, the Philippine Coast Guard needs to consult both the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to determine the boundaries of the sanctuary. While waiting for the definitive guidance of the said agencies, larger fishing vessels have to restrict themselves in the periphery of the shoal wherein the coastguards are in control. Recently, Filipino fishermen have the freedom to fish on the West Philippine Sea since they already have good relations with Chinese coastguards. The reports about the Chinese coastguards who rescued the missing Filipino fishermen and also about the Filipino fishermen who had exchanged goods with Chinese fishermen made indications of each nation’s alliance. After many years of arguing on the rights on the West Philippine Sea, finally it came into a new beginning for each nation. It would be a matter of time if the benefit will be mutual or if the Philippines will be short-changed.
4 FEATURE
Independent Foreign Policy: Pagtatapos ng Ugnayang Pilipino-Amerikano? nina Ferlyn J. Cabalida at Cherry Mae O. Suan
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n this venue, I announce my separation from the United States both in the military… not social, but economic also,” ang pahayag ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa ginanap na Philippines-China Trade and Investment Forum sa China, ika-20 ng Oktubre, 2016. Sa mga bansang sumakop sa Pilipinas, ang Amerika ang pinakamatagal at matibay na kaalyansa nito. Bukod sa kanilang mga impluwensya sa sistema ng edukayon, kalayaan sa relihiyon, pananamit, wikang Ingles, at maging sa pagkain ay nariyan din ang mga kasunduang pang-militar: Mutual Defense Treaty (1951), Visiting Forces Agreement (1998), at ang kasalukuyang Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). Matapos ibigay ng Amerika ang kalayaan ng Pilipinas taong 1946, nagpatuloy pa rin ang ugnayan ng dalawang bansa sa pagdaan ng mga taon. Ngunit ang palaisipan, kung magpapatuloy
pa ba ang ganitong samahan ngayong hangad ni Pang. Duterte na itaguyod ang independent foreign policy. Idineklara ni Duterte ang hangaring paunlarin ang independent foreign policy ng Pilipinas matapos ang ASEAN Summit sa Laos, bunga ng panghihimasok ng US sa mga isyung kinakaharap ng bansa partikular na sa madugong digmaan ng administrasyon laban sa droga at ang usapin patungkol sa pinag-aagawang teritoryo ng bansa. “We will observe and I must insist – I repeat, I must insist – on the time-honored principles of sovereign equality, non-interference, and commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes to best serve our people and protect the interests of our country,” wika ni Duterte. Ito ang unang pagkakataon sa kasaysayan ng pulitika ng Pilipinas na may tumindig upang itulak ang nasabing patakaran sapagkat isa sa
tungkulin ng pinuno ng bansa ang itaguyod ang soberanidad at kalayaan nito. Ibig sabihin nito ay magkakaroon ng higit na kalayaan ang Pilipinas na makapagpasya para sa sarili nitong interes bilang isang bansang malaya mula sa impluwensya at pangingialam ng mga dayuhan. Sa pagsulong ng independent foreign policy ng administrasyon, isa sa mga naging hakbang ni Duterte ang pagkansela sa pagtanggap ng bansa ng humigit kumulang 26,000 na mga armas galing Estados Unidos. Samantala, nilinaw naman ng Pangulo na ang nais niyang ipahiwatig sa mga salitang binitiwan ay nakasentro sa layunin na ang Pilipinas ay magkaroon ng kabuuang kontrol at kasabay ng balanseng pakikipag-ugnayan nito sa ibang bansa. Patunay dito ang pagbisita ni Digong sa mga karatig na bansa, gaya ng Vietnam, kung saan ay napagkasunduan ang anim na taong strategic partnership. Samantalang big-ticket investments naman ang laan ng Japan sa Pilipinas. Kaakibat din nito ang kalayaan sa paglaot ng mga
Pilipinong mangingisda sa Scarborough Shoal na siyang ipinangako ni Duterte matapos niyang makausap ang Pangulo ng China patungkol sa mga kaayusan sa naturang teritoryo. Mananatili ang ugnayan sa pagitan ng Pilipinas at Estados Unidos ngunit sa pagkakataong ito, susubukan ng Pilipinas na tumindig sa sarili nitong mga paa nang hindi umaasa sa anumang tulong mula sa iba. With information from: www.abc.net www.cnnphilippines.com www.philstar.com www.rappler.com www.inquirer.net
Playing the Trump Card by Robert Roy Immanuel S. Bat-og and Rasheena D. Amanon
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he world held its breath as the votes came on the fated day. The lines closed, the votes tallied, and when the dust settled, the 45th President of the United States of America took his seat. Donald J. Trump had trumped his rival, Hillary R. Clinton, leaving many to wonder about the future of the superpower under Trump’s pro-American rhetoric and its effects on other countries. The relationship between the Philippines and the United States of America had always been described as historically strong and special. Up until recently, the USA has had a considerable influence in PH policies, only recently being put into question with President Rodrigo Duterte’s pro-China foreign policy. Keeping true to his word, President Duterte announced a “severance” of military and economic ties, weeks after warning outgoing US President Barack Obama when the latter criticized the Drug War that the PH has been conducting for months now. However, with Trump’s victory in the US Presidential Elections last November 9, Duterte extended his congratulations and hopes for an improvement in US-PH relations with the new administration. A partnership between the Duterte and Trump administrations seem probable as Duterte assigned Jose E.B. Antonio, perhaps in anticipation, to the position of “special envoy to the United States “to enhance business ties.” Antonio and Trump are business partners, the former being the CEO of Century Properties, developer of Trump Tower Manila. Trump’s win had evidently surprised many, with the immediate effects of his victory already being felt by foreign and local markets. Fearing a blow in the flow of international trade and aid,
investors began pulling back on the stock market, causing the Philippine Peso (PHP) to drop minutes after Trump’s election. This blow on the economy could spell disaster as anxious businesspersons may shy away from investing in the Philippines and move to other markets instead. Times seem grim for Overseas Filipinos Workers (OFWs) in a Trump presidency, partly due to Trump’s passionate statements during his campaign where he vowed to bring jobs back to Americans and make America “great again.”
has already had several negative effects on the Philippines. After such an unfavorable start, with the only grace being a chance of renewal of ties between the United States and the Philippines, one could only wonder, “What’s next?” With information from: www.rappler.com/business www.gmanetwork.com www.thinkprogress.org
Trump’s statement of tightening control in the United States’ immigration policy could mean a stop to the stream of foreign workers and would damage the Philippines’ Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO) industry which derives 70% of its earnings from the United States. Furthermore, OFWs applying to work in America would find it harder to apply once Trump’s policies take into effect. The effects of a Trump presidency would be a big jolt to the Filipinos. With many Filipinos in danger of losing their jobs, some would be forced to return to the country. This would damage the economy. At best, families that rely on remittance for income would have a hard time to adjust, OFWdependent students would not be able to pay on time until their parents find another job and it would be a challenge for some college to apply for jobs in the United States. At worst, students who rely on OFW parents would stop studying entirely, and college graduates would be forced to work low-income jobs in other countries, a bad situation for many who are relied upon by their families to escape poverty. Trump’s win in the US presidential elections
THE COLLEGIATE HEADLIGHT
FEATURE 5
Kinabuhi Luyo sa Estudyanteng Irregular nila Ferlyn J. Cabalida, Alren John D. Dabon, ug Prince Jay D. Esdrelon
ahalag dili Grand Slam basta ang importante, dili mi irreg.”
Siguro pamilyar sa imo ang maong mga pulong. Dili ra dugay, mao kini ang nahitabong panagbingkil bahin sa mga irregular ug regular nga estudyante sa Facebook. Kini nahimong usa ka dakong isyu sa mga USePian, hilabi na nga daghan ang naigo, nasakitan, ug nisupak sa maong post. Kung basahon ang mga kumento, nagpakita kini og kapungot ug kasakit. Musunod dayon ang pangutanang, “Unsa man gyud ang kinabuhi sa usa ka irregular nga estudyante?” Daghang rason ang makutlo sa mga estudyante sa lain laing college sa USeP kay nakadepende kini sa ilang kurso ug ilahang mga propesor. Kadaghanan kanila nabagsak ug nahimong irregular tungod sa kalisod sa mga subject nga naglambigit og Mathematics sama sa, Algebra, Trigonometry, Calculus, ug uban pa. Usa ka engineering nga estudyante naghatag og testimonya nga siya wala migradwar sa hayskul nga adunay kurikulum sa Science, Technology, Engineering, ug Mathematics. Sa pangalan sa maong kurikulum pa lang, kini nagahulma ug nagaandam sa matag estudyante sa kurso nga pagapilion pag-abot kolehiyo. Kini naglangkob ug engineering, biology, ug uban pang susama ani nga mga kurso. Sa pikas nga bahin, ang uban naglisod og pagbalanse sa pagtuon ug pagpanarbaho. “Nagabaligya baya jud ko, so nag-focus na ko sa akong business kaysa akong studies,” tubag sa usa ka working student nga taga College of Governance and Business. Lisod. Tungod kay taas ang standard sa mga propesor nga usahay, dili kini makab-ot. Ang uban kay transferee, adunay bag-o nga curriculum nga gipatuman sa kolehiyo o anaay problema sa kwarta. Nakita sa pipila ka estudyanteng irreg ang problema sa pagpangita og trabaho. Linibo ka mga estudyante ang mogradwar matagtuig og kadaghanan kanila kay regular. Apan nakita usab nila ang paglaum nga tungod mugradwar sila sa usa ka ilado nga tulunghaan sa nasod bisan paman og nahimong irreg, dali ra sila makakita og kompanya nga mudawat kanila. Ingon pa sa usa ka estudyante sa School of Applied Economics, “First, pressured kay imong kabatch mo-graduate na, ikaw nagkamang pa.”
THE COLLEGIATE HEADLIGHT
Hinuon, naay mga panahon nga hapit na sila muundang tungod gamay nalang ang paglaum nga nabilin, apan nagpadayon gihapon ug nagmatarung sa gi-eskwelahan. Ingon pa sa kadaghanan, “Laban lang, mo-graduate ra ta.” Ang katawhan dapat sa kanunay maghuna-huna nga walay sayon nga kurso. Adunay kalahian hilabi na sa kaalam ug gimbuhaton sa matag kurso.
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...pressured kay imong ka-batch mo-graduate na, ikaw nagkamang pa.
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Ang mga estudyante adunay nagkalahi-lahi nga rason sa pagkuha sa maong kurso apan respeto sa tagsa-tagsang kurso ang gikinahanglan. Ang maong respeto mutubo ngadto sa pakighiusa. Ang panaghiusa nagpakita sa atong garbo isip mga USePians. Regular man o irregular, tanan nangandoy sa malampusong paghuman sa kursong napili. Regular man o irregular, tanan nalambigit sa kalampusan ug dungog nga nahimo niining unibersidad.
6 FEATURE
Student Regent’s Bucket List by Robert Roy Immanuel S. Bat-og
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ith the departure of one leader, the stage opens up for another. Following the end of Hon. Darwin O. Dolog’s regime, another begins in the person of Hon. Johnmark P. Sual. Hailing from Bislig, Sual stands on platforms such as improvement of correspondence between the student body and the university administration, making the Student Development Fund (SDF) more accessible, and promotion of gender sensitivity. “It is one way to give equal opportunity to the students of the different campuses,” said Sual in an interview, making his views clear on the SDF, a
fund allocated by the government to the university for funding student activities and events, and how he seeks to make it more accessible. This ensures that there is fair distribution of funds to the whole system and not merely focusing on one campus. Sual also stated an intention to implement gender sensitivity within the university system, stating that the Supreme Student Government (SSG) is formulating rules that would cater to the rights of all genders. He also expressed a desire to provide opportunities to students in the LGBT community, stating, “[We are planning on] giving the LGBT the right to celebrate and
create programs inside the university as long as it does not violate any rules that the university is implementing.” In addition, Sual also seeks to establish a dedicated exchange between the administration and the student body through collaborations between the SSG and the Office of Student Services (OSS), ensuring that the latter office would be the primary go-to when it comes to student concerns. Other plans by the new Student Regent include the implementation of a student feedback
system, revitalization of student knowledge through seminars of their specialization, and the conduct of socio-cultural, environmental, and other seminars to make the student body aware of the issues and problems that they currently face. The legacy of the previous Student Regent rests in the hands of his successor. Sual indeed has a broad vision and goal for the student body, but he has yet to prove if he fits the shoes that were passed down to him, and if he is indeed worthy of the Student Regency.
BeauCon: Sa Puso ng Pinoy nina Rasheena D. Amanon, Jorgeanne M. Barbarona, at Gloyd Mesibas
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eauty pageants? Ano nga ba ito sa mga Pinoy?
Kapag beauty pageant ang pinag-uusapan, madalas nating marinig ang mga katagang, “Bring home the crown!” at “Break a leg,” Kaugnay ng kultura ng mga Pilipino ang beauty contest o paligsahan sa pagandahan. Isa na yata ito sa maituturing na pinakainaabangang patimpalak kahit saan dumako. Mapa probinsya man, o sa mga malalaking syudad. Ang pagpapahalaga sa kagandahan ay makabuluhan sa bawat tao. Kaya ito ay hindi nakakagulat kung bakit ang kasaysayan ng beauty pageants ay isa sa mga nagsilbing bakas ng kalumaan at pag unlad ng panahon. Nagsimula ang lahat ng mga pakulo ng beauty pageant noong panahon ng midibal kung saan, may tradisyon ang mga taga-Europa na pipili ng isang babae bilang simbolo ng kagandahan at karangalan na ang pwedeng lumahok lamang ay mga birhen at hindi pa kasal. Ang pag-usbong ng mga beauty pageants ay naghudyat upang ito ay maging pampalipas ng oras, libangan at paglimot sa totoong buhay. Ang parehong mga kalalakihan at kababaihan ay nahuhumaling sa sindak kapag ang isang kaaya ayang larawan ang napapadaan. Subalit sa ganitong patimpalak kung saan ay maaaring makapagbigay sa ganoong uri ng kapanapanabik na karanasan, umusbong ang isang argumentong nagsimula noon at patuloy na nilulutas hanggang sa ngayon — sino nga ba ang pinaka maganda? Ngayong ika-21 siglo, hindi lamang kababaihan ang nakikilahok sa beauty pageant. Mayroon na ring mga lalaki at mga taong nabibilang sa LGBT community ang sumasali. Dito sa Pilipinas, nagsimula ang pagkahumaling ng mga Pilipino sa beauty pageants noong 1969. Tulad ng kidlat, mabilis na tinangkilik at kinabaliwan ng karamihan ang prestihiyosong patimpalak na ito. Bagaman noong taon ding iyon unang narating ng tao ang buwan, isang balita ang mas umakit sa puso ng mga Pilipino. 18 anyos na Pilipina — Gloria Aspillera Diaz — ang kinoronahang Miss Universe at tinawag na pinakamagandang babae sa balat ng lupa.
Sumunod naman si Maria Margarita Roxas Moran na umani ng magandang papuri sa kaniyang sagot na : “I would buy a big house where I can live with all the people I love.”
mga kabataan kasi iyan daw ang pakay natin sa buhay.
Simula noon, hindi maitatanggi na isa ang Pilipinas sa sa mga pinakatanyag at naging bukambibig na sa mundo ng beauty pageants.
“…through Beau Cons, naa-aapreciate iyong kagandahan nila. Pagiging binibini at pagiging kayumanggi. Beau Cons made them, us acknowledge and able to share the true Filipina Character,” dagdag niya.
Noong Disyembre 20, 2015, datapwa’t mahigit apat na dekada ring “runner up,” at “thank-you-candidates” ang mga kandidata ng Pilipinas, ay isang Pilipina — si Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach – ang kinoronahang Miss Universe. Si Wurtzbach ang ikatlong Pilipinang nakamit ang titulo at nagpasabog sa magulong sirko ng social media. Siya ay naging patunay na hindi pa naagnas ang ganda ng Pinay at patuloy paring nakikipagsabayan sa larangan ng pagandahan.
Sa kabilang banda, mayroon ding mga kalalakihan na sumasali sa beauty pageant gaya ni Neil Perez na kinoronahang Mister International 2014. Si Perez ang unang lalaking Pilipino na nanalo sa nasabing paligsahan. Ipinamalas din ang natatanging ganda at galing ng mga Pilipinong transgender tulad ni Kevin Balot na nasungkit ang titulong Miss International Queen 2012 na isang pamosong beauty contest para sa mga transgender at transsexual.
Sa likod ng matamis na titulo at brilyanteng korona ay ang hindi madaling proseso na pinagdaanan ng mga sumasali sa mga ganitong patimpalak. Dumadaan sila sa matinding pagsasanay sa mga training team o center. Ang mga training team sa Pinas ay naglalayong sanayin ang mga gustong maging isang beauty queen, isa na dito ang Aces and Queens na pinamunuan ni Jonas Gaffud.
Naging bahagi na ng kultura ng Pilipino ang makilahok sa ganitong patimpalak sa pagandahan sapagkat hindi lamang nito sinasanay ang mga babae at lalaki kundi isa itong instrumento upang maipakita ang galing, kulturang kinagisnan, at ang ganda ng Pilipino at nang bansa sa pangkalahatan.
Layunin ng grupo ni Gaffud na patatagin ang sarili at sanayin ang mga Pilipina sa iba’t-ibang patimpalak sa pagandahan gaya ng Binibining Pilipinas, Miss International, Miss World, Miss Universe, at iba pa. Marami na siyang naihubog na mga Pinay na nanalo sa Pilipinas tulad nina Megan Young, Ariella Arida, Janine Tugunon, at iba pang kumatawan sa bansa at umuwing bitbit ang tagumpay. Sumibol, dito sa Pilipinas, ang pagkahilig ng mga Pinoy sa beauty contests sa maliliit na paligsahan tulad ng pambarangay, mapa-piyesta man, o pampaaralang patimpalak hanggang sila ay nasanay at nakikilahok na sa mas malalaking kompetisyon. Sa pambarangay na Beau Con din nagumpisang namulaklak ang ganda ni Shania Monica Altamera ang kinoronahang Miss PASUC XI 2016 at Binibining UseP 2016. Ayon sa kaniya magandang maging role model higit sa lahat sa
Sapagkat ano nga ba ang magandang dulot ng beauty pageants sa mga Pinoy? Ayon sa ilang Pilipino, ang pagsali sa mga patimpalak na gaya nito, ay nakapagbibigay ng maraming benepisyo bukod sa kasikatan, gaya ng kumpyansa sa sarili, pagkakaroon ng maraming kaibigan, pagkakaroon ng ugnayan sa mga charity works, at ito ay isang maganda ring ensayo para sa mga gusting ipagpatuloy ang karera sa entablado at telebisyon. Sa mainit na pagtangkilik ng mga Pinoy sa beauty pageants, mahalagang huwag kalimutan na ang tunay na basehan ng kagandahan ay hindi lamang ayon sa pisikal na kaanyuan. Ika nga ni Ellen DeGeneres, “Above all things physical, it is more important to be beautiful on the inside — to have a big heart and an open mind and a spectacular spleen.”
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FEATURE 77
Museo:
Kaluluwa ng Bansa nina Jorgeanne M. Balbarona at Maria Cristina Kasandra T. Galagala
ang iba’t ibang disenyo ng kani-kanilang tahanan, mga instrumentong pangmusika, kagamitang pandigma, at kasuotan. Mayroon ding silid sa loob ng museo na tinatawag nilang ‘art gallery’ kung saan naman makikita ang iba’t ibang gawang sining ng mga lokal na pintor ng Davao. Nakasaad sa Seksyon 2 ng Republic Act of No. 8492, National Museum Act of 1998 na ang Pilipinas bilang isang estado ay nararapat na magtatag ng isang museo bilang bahagi ng pagsuporta sa kultural na aspeto ng mga mamamayan. Higit pa rito, ang Museo ay hindi lamang nakatoon sa pagpreserba ng nagdaaang kultura, kundi pati na rin sa hinaharap at ang kasalukuyang henerasyon. Sa pamamagitan ng museo, naiipapakita sa mga tao kung papaano nalinang at umunlad ang sangkatauhan sa pagdaan ng panahon.
Pagkakakilanlan ang pangunahing dahilan kung bakit mahalaga ang Kultura at Sining sa kasalukuyan. Sa henerasyon ngayon, kung saan popular ang pagtangkilik ng mga produkto at gumaya sa dayuhang gawain, mabilis na nakakaligtaan ang sariling kultura. Pangalawa, ito ay sumasalamin sa uri ng mamamayan at pamamalakad sa isang bansa. Pang-huli, ito ay nagsisilbing balik-tanaw upang makita ang pagunlad ng sibilisasyon mula sa nakaraan hanggang sa kasalukuyan. Ang ating kultura ay isang bagay na naghihiwalay sa atin mula sa natitirang bahagi ng mundo. Ang ating makulay at buhay na kultura ay isang katibayan bilang mga Pilipino kung kaya isa lamang ang pagtatayo ng mga museo sa napakaraming paraan upang maipakita ang kahalagan, respeto, at pagkilala sa ating kultura. Masasabing ang museo ang kaluluwa ng isang bansa. Ito ang nagbibigay buhay at nagpapakita ng pag-unlad ng isang bansa at siyang naguugnay sa kasaysayan at sa kasalukuyan.
I
sa sa mga tunay na maipagmamalaki ng mga Pilipino ay ang pagkakaroon ng mayamang kultura. Hindi rin makakaila na nagsisilbing pasilip sa isang mayamang kasaysayan ang mga museo. Ang Museo ay isang institusyon kung saan nakapaloob ang mga koleksyon ng mga artipakto at mga sinaunang gamit na napreserba ng isang lugar. Naglalayon ito na maipakita ang kahalagahan ng kultura nasiyang sumasalamin sa mga paniniwala, paraan ng pamumuhay, kaugalian, at sining ng isang partikular na lugar o grupo. Sa Davao City, upang maipaalala ang kahalagahan ng kultura mayroong dalawang museo: Ang Davao Museum at ang Museo Dabawenyo. Ang Davao Museum ay isang pribadong museo na naglalaman ng mga kolektibong memorya ng mga mamamayan, etnisidad, at kahanga-hangang kasaysayan ng mga katutubong komunidad ng
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Timog Mindanao. Makikita rin sa loob ng museo ang katangi-tanging koleksyon ng pangunahing ikinabubuhay at libangan ng mga kababaihan – ang paghahabi. Sa kabilang dako, ang Museo Dabawenyo naman ay isang pampublikong museo na kung saan dinadayo ng mga turista dahil sa kahangahangang mga bagay na nakapaloob dito. Hindi lamang kasaysayan ng Davao ang tampok dito kundi pati na rin ang mga koleksyon ng sinaunang sining at kagamitan. Tampok din sa loob ng museo ang sampung tribo sa Davao, kabilang na
8
Naghintay ako. Naghihintay ako. Maghihintay pa rin ako. Pero kailan ba siya pwede? Baka kasi sa panahon na pwede na, Tapos na akong maghintay.
LARAWANG BUHAY Kuha at Tula nila: Vanzyle P. Deligero, Early Rose A. Javines, Claudette Pammela B. Onita, at Rhona Mae J. Rodriguez
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9
Nagbago na siya Hindi na siya ‘yong kilala ko noon Mas pinaganda, mas pinabuti ‘Di na siya tulad ng dati Subalit totoo ba ang kanyang ipinapakita? Tapos na ba talaga?
Pero ‘di nila alam, Marami pa siyang sira. Marami pa siyang kulang THE COLLEGIATE HEADLIGHT
10 FEATURE
UNDERSTANDING S.O.G.I.E
(Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression) by John D. Valle
*The chart is but a guide in understanding the concepts, it is by no means a fixed one that will apply to everyone at all times. The chart does not foreclose other orientation/other identity. Infographic based on #MediaSpeaks: A quick guide on LGBT rights for media reporting by the Rainbow Rights Project
ASSIGNED SEX/GENDER
HETERO MALE male
GAY MAN male
BISEXUAL MAN male
TRANSWOMAN male
GENDER IDENTITY
male/boy/man
male/boy/man
male/boy/man
female/girl/woman
GENDER EXPRESSION
feminine/ masculine /androgynous
feminine/ masculine /androgynous
feminine/ masculine /androgynous
feminine/ masculine /androgynous
SEXUAL ORIENTATION
attracted to women
attracted to men
attracted to men or women
attracted to men or women
HETERO FEMALE female
LESBIAN female
BISEXUAL WOMAN female
TRANSMAN female
female/girl/woman
male/boy/man
Declared by the doctor/midwife/birthing assistant upon examination of genitals at birth
Homeness to being female or male, how one sees himself or herself
External manifestations, clothing, mannerisms etc.
Answers the question of “who are you attracted to?“ *Attraction has varying degrees of intensity
LGBT Myths There are only a few industries where LGBTs thrive. Being LGBT is a disease. Being LGBT is contagious. Exclusive schools breed being LGBT. All gay men are pedophiles. All lesbians are violent. All bisexuals are automatically sexually promiscuous. Being LGBT is something that a person can turn on or off, at will. All relationships within the LGBT community don not last. HIV only occur among Males having sex with males (MSMs).
ASSIGNED SEX/GENDER
Declared by the doctor/midwife/birthing assistant upon examination of genitals at birth
GENDER IDENTITY
Homeness to being female or male, how one sees himself or herself
female/girl/woman
female/girl/woman
GENDER EXPRESSION
feminine/ masculine /androgynous
feminine/ masculine /androgynous
feminine/ masculine /androgynous
feminine/ masculine /androgynous
SEXUAL ORIENTATION
attracted to men
attracted to women
attracted to men or women
attracted to men or women
External manifestations, clothing, mannerisms etc.
Answers the question of “who are you attracted to?“ *Attraction has varying degrees of intensity
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FEATURE 11
Setting Aside Suicide by Alren John D. Dabon
Author’s Note: This article discusses sensitive topic. Reader’s discretion is advised.
A
rope around the neck, a bullet to the head, and a poison to the body are permanent solutions to temporary problems. People are psychologically prone to constant changes in emotion. They tend to laugh when they are happy, cry when they are sad, and scream when they are scared. However, emotions can sometimes get the better of them which may affect the psychological thinking of a person. When the going gets too tough to handle, they tend to harm themselves, or worse – cause their own deaths. According to World Health Organization (WHO), the factors that affect the risk of suicide are mental disorders or stress. Mental disorders include depression, bipolar disorder, alcoholism, and substance abuse. An example of this is how American comedian Robin Williams committed suicide due to dementia and depression. On the other hand, stress-related suicides are more prevalent among undergraduate students. WHO also stressed that the usual causes of this type of suicide are financial difficulties, relationship troubles, and bullying.
Tristan Yuvienco, a student of the University of the Philippines, wrote a comprehensive paper about mental depression. In his findings, he noted that among the 135 students he surveyed, 96% of them have experienced moderate to intense levels of depression in their academic work. “When faced with stressful events, individuals prone to depression experience negative thoughts to one’s self, the world, and the future,” wrote Yuvienco. “For these individuals, the environment presents obstacles that are so overwhelming that they guarantee personal failure. This world is seen as an overwhelming burden filled with excessive demands and daily defeats, making these individuals experience helplessness. This ends up with a negatively distorted way of thinking.” The movie entitled “3 Idiots” shows how pressure can lead students to commit suicide. In the movie, a student was told by his professor that he would not graduate after several failed attempts at finishing his project, which prompted the student to commit suicide. The movie not only shows the effects and causes of suicide but also tells “This is college, not a pressure cooker.”
Teresa L. Exala, University Guidance and Testing Office (UGTO) Guidance Counselor 3, said that there were three cases of passive suicidal ideation recorded since her service in the office. “On my own analysis, these students have poor survival skills,” shares Counselor Exala. “These are life skills which [give them] the ability to handle frustrations and bullying which do not go away. It is difficult for them to cope with these types of problems.” She added that people with suicidal ideations are first assessed and go through psychological tests. If they fail, psychotherapy is administered. “When we have a friend who has problems we cannot handle, try to refer them to the professionals,” Counselor Exala said. “Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.” Since the Philippines currently does not have a law that caters to the needs of people with mental problems, the Department of Health (DOH) created intervention hotlines for mental health assistance which aim to listen and comfort people with deep emotional crises and to serve as guidance counselors.
Project HOPELINE claims to help people through the numbers 804-4673, 0917-5584673, and 2919. The call to establish the hotlines arose from the WHO’s report which shows that the country ranks with the most number of people suffering from depression among ASEAN-member countries in 2012. However, testimonies from people who have tried calling the hotlines say that no one picks up whenever they call. Replies to text messages come a few days later which is already too late for those at risk of suicide. There is no cure for suicide; once someone kills oneself, that person’s life cannot be restored. A heart that listens and a pat on the back can save a life. To the suicidal, depressed, stressed, or emotionally agitated people: keep the stool, drop the gun, break the bottle. There is always a rainbow after the rain. With information from: http://www.rappler.com http://www.wheninmanila.com http://opinion.inquirer.net
Reposting ≠ Freedom of Speech by Maryan R. Te and Lawrence P. Deligero
M
ocha Uson, a vocal supporter of President Duterte, politics enthusiast, and a former sex blogger, banged the headlines last October 2016. She was petitioned by many to shut her page down because of her blog being a hub of pro-Duterte propagandists and only creates destabilization in social media, and to some extent, public opinion. With the advent of the internet and modern technology, social media such as blogs and Facebook pages have been the popular choice of expression. Celebrities and common folks are spreading the idealized version of things, perhaps, ideas viewed with a very narrow perspective. Everyone, from all social classes, now has access to various information and misinformation alike. With the popularity of her blog, having over four million likes, many concerned citizens and journalists have taken to analyzing her statements regarding existing socio-political issues. Last October, Uson confronted Ateneo de Manila University’s Matanglawin publication about a satirical issue called Tanganglawin, bearing an imitation of her Facebook profile and a collage of President Duterte’s photos. Rambo Talabong, Editor-in-Chief of the Matanglawin, said that the Mocha Uson Blog is perfect for satire because it is critical of traditional
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media institutions and practices. Usonalso shares posts that are not credible on her own page. Talabang had hoped that Uson would verify her posts first before sharing them due to the number of engaged followers she has. “Ganyan naman ang mga disente, pag nang ba-bash sila sasabihin satire,” Uson said in one of her interviews. “Pero pag sila ang binash o ‘di kaya binash ang mga kakampi nila, sasabihin below the belt.” What concerns some readers is that Uson had shared articles and videos from both fake news websites such as TrendingNewsPortal.net.ph. and legitimate news organizations. She also shares blog and Facebook posts from real individuals, which can also be unreliable and could be equally confusing as Uson’s own blog. Anyone can use fake news articles as attentiongrabbers for his or her own opinionated statement. A person can use that certain article maybe because it perfectly encapsulates their views disregarding where it was sourced from. Ensuring the quality of information before disseminating them is essential. Freedom of Speech does not only apply to a blog or page with hundreds or millions of followers but to everyone who has the access to communicate to the public. The most bold and uneducated opinions
get the most attention, supported by cherry-picked facts. With the misinformation, netizens waste their time arguing in the comments section, rather than doing productive work.
that this right is tied up with a responsibility. Irresponsible sharing of blog posts disregards this, thus in some cases, reposting is not freedom of speech.
Netizens have been careless in social media because they are protected by the comforts of anonymity, and not facing directly the potential readers. They dare the limits of freedom of expression, tempting and teasing not only the law of men, but also sometimes also that of God.
Freedom of speech is not just mere reposting. It entails analyzing, digesting, filtering, and evaluating what is read before speaking up.
Even the common folk now starts to question the system and get involved with the sociopolitical discussions. It is necessary to gather information and fact check what is in social media. One does not simply take pale bread to share with his friends. The bread has to be tasted and chewed thoroughly before it can be considered for sharing. This way, instead of misinforming the public, he or she will be able to give light to the problems at hand. Netizens exercise their freedom of speech more than ever. Everyone knows
With information from: http://opinion.inquirer.net http://cnnphilippines.com
12 FEATURE
Like of the Living DEAD by Robert Roy Immanuel S. Bat-og and Antonio Valentino B. Garcia II
S
ocial media is turning everyone into zombies.
Far from the traditional groaning and stumbling type, these modern zombies do not crave brains. They do, however, exhibit endless hunger — for attention, that is. Yes, brains for these zombies come in the form of likes, loves, or any reaction to things they share to the world. With the steady rise of social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, netizens are finding more and more reasons to stay online for longer periods. This is very noticeable in the current generation, where gadgets have become more engaging than what or who is in front of them. It is now more common to see people staring at the screens of their devices, head tilted, eyes peeled, and generally dead to the world around them. This reliance on technology breeds a dependence — an addiction — which manifests itself as a constant need to update and be updated on social media. Whether it is taking photos of food, or checking in by the minute on every social app they have, most users do not realize how
obsessed they have become with social media. While this may seem harmless, there are, however, some dangers that come with being too deeply immersed in the digital world. Being overly engrossed in their devices, people tend to lose track of time. More often than not, this results to insomnia and loss of sleep brought about by staring at digital screens until twilight hours. Aside from this, research has shown that the blue light that electronic gadgets emit can disrupt the body’s rhythm which may cause heart disease, obesity, and some types of cancer. On the other hand, spine health specialist Dr. Kenneth Hansrej of New York Spine Surgery & Rehabilitation Medicine has observed a recent trend among those who frequently use their smartphones. According to his research, 79% of the population between ages 18 to 44 have their phones with them almost all of the time. He coined the term “text neck” or the act of staring at the phone’s screen with the head tilted for long periods. This can cause moderate to severe neck pains, with the amount of pressure
subjected to the neck area ranging from 12 kg to 27 kg depending on how low the head is tilted. This reliance on technology has been attributed to the overwhelming number of innovation experienced in recent years. Social media and smart devices have taken so much hold of a person’s life that even doing arbitrary tasks like crossing roads or going up and down the stairs can potentially be fatal as their focus is placed elsewhere rather than in their environment. Social media aims to connect users of all sorts and of all regions. Humans are social creatures, and it is therefore only natural to need interaction. Yet, in today’s society, people are bred to crave that need. This can be seen in the ever-increasing number of accounts on social media. As of November 2016, there are over 1.79 billion active users on Facebook alone.
moments of idleness end up becoming more and more frequent for some and may eventually turn them into virtual zombies. In today’s era, technology and social media have turned social interaction into its exact opposite — bland and unsocial. They have made many tolerant to the shallowness of it all. Social media is being treated as some sort of life-support, something to cling to it at every waking moment. It is all too easy to wait for just one more notification, one more comment, and one more message. While not all participate in this contest for vanity, it only takes little for some to fall down a whirlpool, slowly circling into a hole of vanity and narcissism. With information from: www.realspinesurgery.com www.washingtonpost.com
Unfortunately, there are only a few alternatives to social media for filling up the many idle moments during the day. These
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EDITORIAL 13
L
‘It’s A Genius Solutions’ — USeP Portal
ong gone were the days of stacked handbooks on the professor’s desk during the releasing of grades since the USeP Student Portal was launched two years ago. In fact, this is not only true to our university but with other educational institutions in the country as well. But shifting to these digital solutions, if done incorrectly, can lead to hiccups. Several universities have reported crashes and overloading of their student information systems. Ateneo de Davao University’s Student Information System reportedly went down an hour after their adding and dropping period started. Meanwhile, University of the Philippines Los Banos’s newly implemented online enlistment Student Academic Information System (SAIS) suffered multiple crashes during enrollment. The UP administration pointed at a possible Denial of Service (DoS) attack as the cause of the crashes. It prompted the students to use the hashtag #JunkSAIS and even skipped their first day of classes to protest its controversial implementation. USeP’s very own Student Portal suffers outages especially at the end of every semester when there is a surge of students trying to access the website. Several students have also noticed grammatical errors in its content and issues with the user interface. And there is no accessible way to report these errors and issues.
Students from the external campuses do not have access to the Student Portal yet. As of this writing, it is exclusive to the Obrero Campus. There are plans to open it to the external campuses but in the meantime, they are stuck with the traditional handbook or passbook system in which they have to actively seek out their professors to get their grades. These technologies have made everything faster and convenient but they can be fragile. DoS attacks
similar to that of UP’s SAIS may happen. Hacking by people seeking thrills and students trying to be mischievous are also possible.
The USeP Student Portal should provide convenience to the students when they need it – not add to the students’ perennial problems.
As long as these systems are not smooth and seamless, improvement should be done with the coordination between developers and the end users – the students. The lack of mechanism for student feedback should be addressed, and a venue to report errors and issues should be present.
Editorial Board and Staff Academic Year 2016-2017
Editor-in-Chief: Jan Marcelo B. Lescain III Associate Editor: Paul Christian Y. Eyas Managing Editor: Maryan R. Te News Editor: Antonio Valentino B. Garcia II Feature Editor: Patrick M. Ariate
Circulation Managers:
Alren John D. Dabon Maria Cristina Kasandra T. Galagala
Senior Staff Writers:
Jay Ann D. Alcoriza Robert Roy Immanuel S. Bat-og Marcy Mae V. Santillan Cherry Mae O. Suan Senior Layout Artist: John D. Valle Senior Photojournalist:
Rhona Mae J. Rodriguez Layout Artist:
Kent Charles Cutamora
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Writers Pool:
Rasheena D. Amanon Jorgeanne M. Barbarona Ferlyn J. Cabalida Lawrence P. Deligero Prince Jay D. Esdrelon Abner John P. Jayme Sean Arcent A. Marapao Gloyd Mesibas Cartoonists:
Jezreel Reinhart G. Francisco Kimberly F. Sumodlayon
Photojournalists:
Vanzyle P. Deligero Early Rose A. Javines Claudette Pammela B. Onita
Technical/Financial Adviser:
Prof. Angelo E. Jadraque Member: USeP - Campus Press Guild College Editors Guild of the Philippines School Press Advisers Movement, Inc.
14 OPINION FROM MARS TO EARTH
Hyping Up and Fizzling Down: Free Education by Jan Marcelo B. Lescain III
efore 2016 ended, news broke out that made State University and Colleges (SUC) students celebrate – free tuition in 2017 in the form of an PHP 8.3-billion in the 2017 national budget. I was rushing out of the campus trying to catch my bus going home when a reporter from a well-known news outlet stopped me in my tracks and asked me, “Sir, what can you say about the free tuition fees in State University and Colleges?” I answered in a hopeful manner, saying it is every SUC student’s dream becoming reality. “But I guess we have to wait for its implementing procedures so we will know who can truly avail of the free tuition,” I continued. “But, sir, CHED said that it will be free for ALL!?” he retorted. For three seconds, I was silent, thinking for an answer. Maybe I was just overwhelmed that we would not have to pay for tuition fees anymore. Was that PHP 8.3-billion really enough to lift the
financial burden of the “iskolars ng bayan”? Have we really achieved what we thought was “only a dream?” I just grinned and said, “That’s great!”
of free tuition. You can even tap your way into social media and speak your thoughts about this supposedly groundbreaking policy.
But the free tuition hype train pulled its breaks when President Rodrigo Duterte announced a “conditional implementation.” In this implementation, poor but intelligent students will be prioritized. Youth groups have expressed dismay over what was thought to be a blanket free-for-all tuition. Some also expressed their worries that it may fuel anti-student tuition schemes like the socialized tuition system which has a tendency to be unfair.
Conditionally implemented or free for all, free tuition is free tuition. It is a step away from the privatization and commercialization of education. It is a step into a future where we do not have to spend a dime to send our children to school. Maybe your voice is what is just needed to ensure this kind of future.
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) were tasked to formulate the guidelines, which is expected to manifest before the start of the next academic year. It is not too late.
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Have we really achieved what we thought was only a dream?
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B
It is now up to the Filipino students. Youth and student groups are preparing to form protests to fight for a blanket implementation
BERSIKULO This is a Mistake by Paul Christian Y. Eyas
f all the good that I have done, the bad onse were the only things people remembered.”
The statement seems familiar, don’t you think? Why is this so? Surely people are not dumb to mind that good should not be the thing to be considered, right? Then how come there are people who focus more on the bad side? Clifford Nass, a professor of communication at Stanford University, said that this is a general tendency for everyone. “Some people do have a positive outlook, but almost everyone remembers negative things more strongly and in more detail.” Notice when you talk about someone or something, sometimes the thing you speak of is the error or the negative aspect of the subject. Example to this is the backstabbing, sharing secrets or most embarrassing moments, and making fun out of bad events which are called jokes. In the perspective of psychology and physiology, Nass also explained that negative emotions generally involve more thinking, and the information is processed more thoroughly than positive ones. This is why people think more about the despicable events and describe them better compared to the positive ones.
Roy Baumeister, a professor of social psychology at Florida State University, has also an idea about the topic. ”Bad emotions, bad parents and bad feedback have more impact than good ones. Bad impressions and bad stereotypes are quicker to form and more resistant to disconfirmation than good ones,” he stated in the journal article he coauthored in 2001, “Bad Is Stronger Than Good.” The idea of Baumeister can be put in another way though. This can be seen in the person who is sadder breaking up with his or her lover than having a new girlfriend or boyfriend. You may think of another example but the bottomline however is being more affected by the impact of the unpleasant experience. If you are to think about it, you may notice the reports being published and reported by the media, most of the contents are negative. They discuss issues like killings, immorality, corruption, illegal drugs addiction, and the likes; and these are broadcasted every day. You see, seeing the bad side more than the good is not an unusual thing.
‘‘
You see, seeing the bad side more than the good is not an unusual thing.
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“O
that there is something to do to fix and improve it. Let us say that the media only exposes the problems that are relevant to the society so the government and the people would attend to and the individuals who judge or criticize others only want to express their opinions. Either way, the two means no harm but only for the development. That is the positive thing we can get out of looking the negative. There may be good and bad effects in seeing the negative ones more than the good, yet only you can determine it. You may be affected in a way that all you can recall is pain but keep going anyway. I want the introduction statement of this column to sound inspirational. If this column be the bad of the entire columns I made, then perhaps, this is a mistake and I want you to remember this.
I on the other hand, can look at it in a different angle. Seeing an error or a mistake in what people do or in the surroundings only means
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OPINION 15
REDEFINE MONOTONY Heroes and Villains of Traffic
TELL-ALL-YOUR-UHM
Condoms that Condemn by Maryan R. Te
The statistics are certainly alarming but distributing condoms at schools is not as easy and ideal as it sounds. As what DepEd Sec. Leonor M. Briones said in an interview, distributing condoms is far from giving leaflets to the people at the mall. This distribution would only establish sexual activity as a norm among young teens thus creating peer pressure to participate in sexual activities. Emphasizing to the youth the risks of engaging in premarital sex is way better than mere distribution of condoms. I believe that this proposal springs from a genuine concern but this should be done with consideration of the parents’ right in discussing to their children about sex education at home. Before students come to school, they have a home where their lives are first molded. The school cannot replace the family as the shaper of their own personal values.
Condoms or any contraceptives should only be available at health centers where there are properly trained individuals who can guide those who need and want them. Distributing them at schools would only give misinterpretations to the teenagers and would entail negative effects. Education is about providing information. School can give information about how to use and where to get condoms but not to distribute them directly.
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Emphasizing to the youth the risks of engaging in premarital sex is way better than mere distribution of condoms.
P
edestrians in Davao City once had the power to slow down passing cars with a mere hand gesture. But just like the green kryptonite to Superman, Davao City Ordinance No. 778 or the Anti-Jaywalking Law has weakened the power of these crossers, effectively putting a damper on their crossing spree. Although the ordinance has been on paper for about a decade as part of the Comprehensive Transport and Traffic Code of Davao City, it was not strictly implemented until the City Traffic and Transport Management Office (CTTMO) apprehended over 200 violators during the first day of implementation last December 1, 2016. Those who were caught jaywalking were loaded off a truck and sent to the CTTMO to attend a seminar. Violators will also be subjected to a PHP 200.00 fine or 4-hour community service. Gone are the days when street crossers can cross anytime and anywhere they want. The implementation of the ordinance was welcomed by pedestrians and drivers alike as a means to help curb the worsening traffic in the city. With the fall of Superman, however, comes the rise of Bizarro, the antithesis of everything that makes the former a hero. In this regard, drivers also need to be taught a lesson. Drivers now supposedly disregarding civilians who are using the crossing lanes. Rather than slow down, these villains on wheels deliberately drive on without wait. Pedestrians should not be forced to make haste when crossing the street, especially when they are using the right lanes for crossing; drivers should slow down when approaching these lanes. A friend of a friend was recently sent to the hospital due to an accident caused by these irresponsible drivers. The incident was briefly talked about on social media, with netizens saying effectuate good change starting from the basic unit of the society to the rest of the world.
TRICK OR TRUTH Grades are Just Numbers by Patrick M. Ariate
M
ost students care too much about grades and miss the real essence of education.
Who would not want a grade of 1.0 in a major subject? Acing a course is absolutely an achievement, but so is learning authentically out of it. You would feel way confident about your candle-like grades if and only if there is good change in your behavior. If you have the liking of getting line-of-one grades, fine, rest assured it is not all for the beauty of your Transcript of Records. I do not say you should settle for less. If you can get 3.0, why not 1.0?
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I do not say it is unnecessary to work in school as hard as you can. It would lead you to getting good grades since hard work is key to academic excellence and personal development. “A grade is just a number,” said Tiffany Grace Uy, the Biology graduate who has the highest postwar weighted average grade (WAG) from UP Diliman. She nearly got a perfect WAG, but for her a grade is only a circumstantial evidence of learning. She emphasized the true meaning of learning is its application toward serving the Philippines. The point of education is all about improving oneself so as to become an instrument that could
If any of you has failed in a course or two last semester, it is not the end of the world. If you got disappointed because of your line-of-two grades, please know they do not measure your intelligence. Even Kevin T. Cabante, the lone engineering graduate with Latin honors from USeP Obrero last April 2016, believes a grade is not a measure of someone’s knowledge. As for him, a grade is a mixture of a student’s performance, attitude toward the teachers, and emotional preparedness on examination days; a teacher’s views on how students are to be rated; and a teacher’s emotions the moment he/she make exams. He added it is an objective way of rating performance which is affected also, and most of the time, by subjective factor way out of students’ control. With this view, one may conclude grades are a vital part of education. But if it lowers a student’s self-esteem, that is a problem. Grades do not define us. The good change in our behavior does.
there are still dangers even when using pedestrian lanes. This is not an isolated case as my colleagues and I experienced the same indifference to traffic rules on several, different occasions. The Anti-Jaywalking Law should not only focus on pedestrians but also on drivers, and must tend to the state of overpasses and the maintenance of traffic lights. The CTTMO should likewise enforce a stricter penalty for drivers. This is not the first time the city has carried out a campaign against jaywalking. The “Hapsay Dalan” program was a game changer back in
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Pedestrians should not be forced to make haste when crossing the street...
2013 as pedestrians were not only made to cross in the right places but also made to wait in yellow boxes designated as loading and unloading areas. Drivers who did not follow the rules were also sanctioned. With the current state of traffic, it leads one to think it is high time for a throwback. Heroes and villains must correlate together to bring balance. Superman and Bizarro must coexist. In the absence of the other, the scales are tipped, causing chaos and disorder. The lives and safety of civilians not only depend on the law; proper execution must be observed by both sides of the road. There is nothing wrong with burning the midnight oil just to get the ideal grades needed for future employment. But never ever forget about becoming a better version of you.
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...become an instrument that could effectuate good change starting from the basic unit of the society to the rest of the world.
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On a surveillance report conducted by DOH, there were 3,112 new HIV/AIDS cases documented in July to October 2016. Of those cases, 333 already had full-blown AIDS when reported to the DOH; while 11 of the cases are less than 11 years old; 885 belong to the 15 to 24 age bracket; and 1,637 are 25 to 34. The cases of unprotected sex have also led to the increase of teenage pregnancy.
Moreover, schools are supposed to teach moral values and maintain the positive outlook of students in all aspects. The school should focus more on heightening awareness among learners regarding the reproductive health, preventing the spread of diseases, and maintaining the selfconcept of every learner. Cultural norms somehow stem from the religious views of the people in the country. While views are basically not allowed to be imposed at school, it is still the responsibility of the institution to guide the students in every decision they are going to make while they are at school.
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hile the Department of Health (DOH) is pushing for the distribution of condoms among students as a solution to the increasing rate of HIV/AIDS cases and teenage pregnancy among the youth, the Department of Education (DepEd) has yet to give its decision on the said matter. More than just combatting these situations, the two agencies should deliberately discuss the pros and cons of the giving out of contraceptives before it is implemented.
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by Antonio Valentino B. Garcia II
16 ART-IKULO
Unexpected delivery
ANTONIO VALENTINO B. GARCIA II
HINAMBUGAY KIMBERLY F. SUMODLAYON UG PAUL CHRISTIAN Y. EYAS
Unsa ang naa sa amo nga wala sa ilaha?
Naa mi sofa, tiles among salog ug pinturado ang among building... Boooom!
Daghan mi ug floors,champion sa intrams ug naa sa amo ang mga gwapa ug gwapo, kana lang!
Bes, naa sa amo ang cute nga mascot sa owl. Pinturado pajud among building nga murag hospital sa kaputi!
Basta kami, hawud mutinda!
PASSIVITY kills FREEDOM! Ez. Amoa jud naay computers. Mas high-tech kay apple ang brand. Bleh!
Sus, unsaon mana? Kami, nindot kaayong “COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY” nga pangalan sa atubangan. Not just that, naa sa amo ang high-tech gadgets and gizmos
facebook.com/colheadofficial Puro mo istorya. Humana sa jud among building! Laban para sa ekonomiya! Tse!
Moral: Do not let others feel like they are left behind. Improvement, besh. Improvement.
twitter.com/thecolhead issuu.com/thecollegiateheadlight thecolhead.usep@gmail.com youtube.com/TheColhead
Erratum: Page 7, line 2, Volume 41 - Number 3, for “ika-13,” read “ikalawa.”
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