TheCrusader August Broadsheet 2015

RADIANT SMILES. Winners of the Little Miss Cagayan beauty pageant wave to the admiring crowd during the Higalas parade on August 27.

XU removes class attendance from grading system

by Samantha Isabelle H. Bagayas

I

n a memorandum issued by Academic Vice President (AVP) Fr. Rene Tacastacas, SJ on July 25, all tertiary faculty members in the University were informed that student class attendance will be removed from the present grading system effective on the 1st semester of school year 2015-2016.

According to Catherine Almaden, executive assistant of the AVP, the policy was derived from a recommendation made by the Philippine Accrediting

Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU) during their visit last February. It is also in compliance with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Memorandum Order (CMO) no. 40, series of 2008, Article 22, Section 107, stating that a student’s final grade should be based on academic performance alone. Factors such as attendance, co-curricular activities, or misconduct are prohibited from being incorporated into a grading system by any academic institution unless a policy restricts

it or it fulfills the subject’s requirements.

The policy was brought to fruition after a resolution made by the Academic Council in its meeting on July 15 was approved by University President, Fr. Roberto Yap, SJ. Previously, student class attendance was a standard component in the grading system listed in the Student Lifecycle Management Information System (SLMIS).

Almaden explained that the removal of student class attendance in the grading system entails a reassignment of percentages

Continued on page 3

XU to maximize intranet potential, speed up network connections

by Kevin Paul P. Mabul and Lorenzo A. Botavara Tasked to oversee one of the major explained the important concepts behind projects of the administration for the the upcoming maximization. Basically, current academic year, the Computing NEUP ­IPTel seeks to take advantage of the and Information Services Office (CISO) maximum bandwidth of the network whose is set to upgrade the University’s network fiber-optic cables are capable of reaching infrastructure this November with the data rates of up to 10 Gigabytes per second Network Equipment Upgrade Project­ (Gbps). However, the distribution-level Internet Protocol Telephony (NEUP ­IPTel). switches – devices that presently distribute internet from XU’s data centers to its Wireless widening different buildings within the campus – mete In an interview with CISO Director out a measly rate of 1 Gbps, utilizing only Ms. Harriet Fernandez, CISO – Computing a tenth of the fiber optic cables’ potential. and Network Services Unit (CNSU) Head Doblados compared the upgrade to a largeJonathan J. Doblados, and Systems and scale road-widening. “Imagine lang nga kani Network Administrator of CISO – CNSU, siya, super highway. Sa current nga equipment, Fren Marlon B. Peralta, the administrators murag gi-ablihan lang nila is one lane lang. With

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the current upgrade, 10 lanes ang ablihan,” he expounded.

The project replaces the now aging switches with ones that make full use of the infrastructure’s capacity. At the same time, the project will introduce improvements to the access-level switches that distribute WiFi to individual floors and bring wireless connectivity indoors.

These enhancements will increase wireless signal coverage and bring about faster internet connection, especially to XU’s online services which are hosted on its data centers like the Student Lifecycle Management Information System (SLMIS) and eLearn.

Continued on page 5

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[J. RACAZA]

Higalaay Festival: Color, Culture, Companionship

by Raizah L. Bagul and Charissa D. Santiago

T

here is no better way to celebrate the gift of friendship than to join the Kagay-anons in the Higalaay festival. Celebrated throughout the entire month of August, this recently popularized festival is a symbol of Cagayan de Oro’s hospitality, along with the closeknit relationship of the members of the community.

CdeO is the only city in the Philippines to celebrate the beauty of making and keeping friends, which is why the ‘Higalaay’ is a fitting concept.

History of Higalaay The name of the festival was made official in the year 2013 through the effort and creativity of Evans Yonson, member of the City of Tourism Council and XU Press Director.

“I lived in Spain for eight years and there I saw and felt that warmth that I have as someone from the Cagayan de Oro,” Yonson shared. According to him, this sense of friendliness made him different from the rest, earning the affection of his foreign friends.

“Friendship and care for others are really part of my whole being,” he said. It is this friendliness that inspired him to come up with the idea of ‘Higalaay’.

He also explained that “Higalaay is not a remodeling of the Kagay-anon brand.

Higalaay is entirely what the City of Golden Friendship should be all about.

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NEWS FEATURES

Experiencing CSG: the hundred day span

by Alexa Kim K. Bacong

D

uring the joint oath taking ceremony and benediction of student leaders on July 18, current Central Student Government (CSG) President Jrold Tagalog gave the annual 100 days report—a report which details the CSG’s progress during their first one hundred days of service. The entire audience seated in the University Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary bore witness to his account.

Students first Among the CSG’s achievements for the first 100 days is their fulfilment of their role as the voice of the student body. By relaying students’ complaints and suggestions to the administration, they have contributed to the development of the new self-enrollment system.

With this, Tagalog recalls his promise even before winning the elections. “From the first day, kato akoang gi-promise, CSG will be for you. [Students] will experience CSG this year… We will have to make them feel the existence of the student government not only during events, but also with the other initiatives that are ongoing,” he says.

To realize the improvement of organizational collaboration and integration, the CSG has already started collaborating with the different organizations in the University to widen the scope of its initiatives. Entailed with this effort is the CSG’s aim to assist college councils and organizations. “Whatever guidance and assistance na ma-provide para sa ilaha, mao pud na amuang gusto para ma maximize ang collaboration,” he explains.

However, there has been no breakthrough in the aspect of student

BLESSED TO SERVE. Student leaders conduct their annual oathtaking at the University Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

[J. MEJICA] services, except for sustaining the ministore named Tindahan sa CSG, which was initiated years ago by the Neri administration. The store also provides rentals for calculators, lockers, and bibles.

To be continued As with the national and local governments, things do not necessarily run flawlessly during the first hundred days.

They’ve encountered major setbacks due to the lack of manpower; no matter how great and doable their plans are, without

game-changers to set out the initiatives, launching programs and events would be close to pointless. Although Tagalog’s term started in March, the CSG’s list of appointed officials was only completed in the middle of April.

Despite having to change a few priorities and minor details to suit the situation, Tagalog announces that his vision remains the same. He also reminds everyone that the CSG’s first one hundred days report mainly focused on internal development. “Sa first 100 days, one cannot say nga ma-expect ug

achieve ang tanan deliverables kay internal [system] pa lang among gina-develop.” *** More than one month after the annual report, the CSG now has projects and events in store for the students. Among these are the much-anticipated Intramurals in September and the Buklod Atenista during the semestral break. Tagalog is hoping that the success of these events would entice students to be more participative and interactive with their government. C

CSG Sector Hearings to proceed to second phase before semester ends

by Xian Louis Patrick R. Arcayera and Raizah L. Bagul

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imed to empower and increase the visibility of sectors in the University, the XU Central Student Government (CSG) Department of Sectoral Representation (DSR) conducted the first phase of Sector Hearings in July and is set to start phase two in September and October.

Sector Hearings are a series of consultations and meetings conducted by DSR with pre-identified sectors such as the foreign students, scholars, athletes, LGBTs, IPs, and student assistants. The second phase will serve as a venue for different sectors in XU to raise their concerns to the administration.

Proposals will be presented to people of authority to be able to address the concerns expressed by the sectors.

“If naa na mi [na-gather nga] problems and concerns from them (sectors), mangita mi’g people na maka-answer sa ilang concerns,” explains DSR Associate Secretary Lovie Andaling.

DSR Secretary Rodyard Camarin also explained the mechanism of the Sectoral Hearings, citing the Xavier International Student Association’s (XISA) concern last year as an example.

“Example sa XISA, wala sila kabalo asa padulong ang ilang foreign fee. So gi-invite namo si Lennie Ong (University Treasurer) tapos nag present siya sa breakdown sa ilang fees. Ga-invite mi’g right people para mo-answer sa ilang concerns kay we want to be a bridge,” he says. The gathered information

would then be consolidated by the department to conceptualize projects suited for the needs of the sectors.

Presently, the Sector Hearings is at its first phase, where the gathering of raw data is the priority. So far, the department has already met with the scholars and student assistants sector for this stage.

“Sa scholars, ang problem kay mostly academics, like delayed ang grades. Sa ilang [organization] pud, limited lang ang budget for them, so dili sila maka move if ever naa silay gusto buhaton. Like gusto sila mag conduct og tutorials pero wala silay resources,” shares Andaling.

With regards to student assistants, Camarin shared that unequal rates for different offices have been a problem. Formal talks and collaborations are still to be arranged by the department and the student assistants sector.

When asked about how they find the program, Xavier University Scholars’ Guild (XUSG) President Rezza Mae Tolinero opined, “For me, this program is really helpful but I do hope that we, the scholars, could really count on them in addressing our concerns.”

Aside from attending to various, raised concerns, the Sector Hearings also aim to promote self-development and camaraderie. Through the support of the CSG, it will not be long before this goal can be achieved. C

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NEWS

XU RSO launches KDC and Festival of Ideas

by Alexa Kim K. Bacong and Mary Antoinette M. Magallanes

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elebrating its 10th year, the XU Research and Social Outreach (RSO) held the joint launching of the Knowledge for Development Community (KDC) and the second annual Festival of Ideas on August 26 at the XU Nursing Amphitheater.

Two leaders, University President Fr. Roberto Yap, SJ and Country Director of World Bank Philippines Motoo Konishi, commenced with a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing, which officially launched XU as the 18th member of the KDC network in the Philippines.

The University holds the distinction of being the only KDC member in Northern Mindanao.

In his opening remarks, Yap expound on the shared vision of both XU and the World Bank. “The plight of the poor is intrinsically connected to the fragility of the planet. As far as I can understand World Bank’s thrust, we share very much these concerns in trying to give meaningful lives especially to the poor and to the powerless,” he states.

Konishi also spoke on the primary purpose of KDC, referring to President Aquino’s message stating that “…poverty can only be eliminated through the eradication of corruption, prevention of climate change, and occurrence of peace.”

Konishi explained that the ‘Asian way of development’ is through uplifting the country by efficient interplay between the five thematic areas: Peace, Food Security, Environment, Health, and Governance.

A press conference was held thereafter to entertain questions from the audience.

According to Evans Yonson, XU Press Director, “the XU KDC will initiate, plan, organize, promote, and facilitate activities that will benefit our community here in

STAND-UP ADVOCATE. Santaner Iray, one of the two speakers at the Festival of Ideas, highlights the importance of drug education especially in the youth.

[J. RACAZA] Northern Mindanao.” These activities constitute dialogues, workshops, researches, consultations and XU RSO’s most recent tradition, the ‘Festival of Ideas’.

Now on its second year, the Festival of Ideas mainly featured two topics: ‘The Philippine Rural Development in Mindanao’ and ‘The Dangers of Illegal Drug Use’.

The topics were discussed by Consolacion

Satorre, PRDP Mindanao Deputy Project Director, and Santaner Iray, International Trainer for Preventive Drug Education (PDE) and Life Skills for the Youth, respectively.

“The Festival offers a platform for public intellectuals, researchers, performers, policy and institutional makers to celebrate the power of ideas and share them in various

XU celebrates Buwan ng Wika through friendly competitions

by Merryane Rose S. Bacud and Rezza Mae B. Tolinero

T

he entire month of August was full of festivities and excitement as the Xavier University Filipino Department spearheaded the celebration of Buwan ng Wika with the theme “Filipino: Wika ng Pambansang Kaunlaran.”

As part of the celebration, eight various competitions for students were held both inside and outside the campus. All the activities stressed the importance of the Filipino language not only to the students but also to the community and the country.

According to Filipino Department Head, Erna Salas, PhD, various schools and departments in the country are advised to conduct activities connected to the annual celebration. “Nakatakda sa batas na ang buwan ng Agosto taun-taon ay magiging Buwan ng Wikang Filipino,” she shared.

Among the highlights of this year’s

celebration is the Lakan at Binibining Paraluman 2015, actively participated by select XU students. Denise Marie Lofranco, a fourth year education student, was entitled Binibining Paraluman while AB – Economics freshman John Francis Bascon was hailed as this year’s Lakan.

Talumpating Interskul Ekstemporeynyus, an extemporaneous speech competition, was also held with 18 contenders. Other speaking contests, such as Sining ng Pagkukuwento and Sinaulong Talumpati were also held. Tunes also brought beautiful Filipino lyrics to life as students vied for the honor of being the Boses ng Bituin.

Salas was happy to announce that this year’s celebration was indeed unique from the previous ones. “Noong nakaraang taon, ang pagdiriwang ay dito lang naganap sa Xavier.

Sa taong ito, ang patimpalak sa Boses ng Bituin,

Interskul na Talumpating Ektemporeynyus, at Lakan at Paraluman ay idinaos sa SM City.”

There were also other events which gauged the students’ creativity such as the poster-making contest Guhit Atenista, Filipino writing contest Pagsulat ng Sanaysay, and Tagisan ng Talino trivia contest.

“Masasabi kong ang pangkalahatang pagdiriwang ay naging matagumpay. Ang tagumpay na ito ay hindi mangyayari kung wala ang tulong at suporta ng Pamantasan ng Xavier,” shared Salas.

Buwan ng Wika is an annual celebration in the country’s public and private schools in line with the Proclamation No. 1041 signed and approved by former President Fidel V. Ramos.C

forms,” explains Yonson.

Hilly Ann Roa-Quiaoit, PhD, Vice President for RSO, further stated that the Festival of Ideas resembles a ‘fiesta’ that features various kinds of dishes. “The concept of ‘fiesta’ is a halu-halo; so don’t expect two topics to be really aligned and the same so we try to mix it as halu-halo as possible,” she shared.C

XU removes... from page 1

in other performance indicators. “There could be a host of areas to which a student can be graded. And I know teachers can determine which areas have to be prioritized, and so therefore be given greater weights.”

The reassignment of the percentages, however, is not uniform for all teachers.

Each department will tailor their grading system according to the subject’s requirements. This means that the grading system will vary for every subject in the University due to varied success indicators in academic performance.

Although this policy indicates that attendance will be removed from the grading system, students can still receive a failure due to absence mark. “If you go beyond the required number of days that you can be absent, you would still be given the [failure due to absence mark]. That remains because, again, mastery requires that you have to attend classes regularly.” C

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EDITORIAL

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The

Rule of law

Publishers Subscribing students of Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan

Illustration by Christian Loui S. Gamolo

Editors Xian Louis Patrick R. Arcayera Editor in Chief Nitzschia Cassiopiea Beroe A. Lozarita Associate Editor Keith Obed J. Ruiz Design Editor Samantha Isabelle H. Bagayas Managing Editor Andrew Rey L. del Fierro News Editor Mary Antoniette M. Magallanes Campus Features Editor Rezza Mae B. Tolinero Local Features Editor Kevin Paul P. Mabul External Features Editor Lorenzo A. Botavara Sports Editor Jericho B. Montellano Graphic Design and Layout Editor Jigo L. Racaza Photography Editor Rico M. Magallona Freehand Editor Finance Officers Jigo L. Racaza Auditor Maria Gladys B. Labis Senior Finance Manager Anna Jamela Soraida S. Balindong Junior Finance Manager

W

ho would have ever thought that exercising religious freedom could come with the cost of massive traffic jams, trash-strewn streets, and downright nuisance?

On August 27, thousands of Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) members flocked in front of the Department of Justice (DOJ) building, carrying banners bearing the words “Freedom of religion. Church and State separation”.

This may not come out as a surprise since INC, being a religious institution, would expectedly fight for what they believe is true. However, one can only shake his head at the irony of how INC demands for the separation of Church and State while calling for the DOJ, obviously a government agency, to stop its probe into their case.

The INC rally was triggered when a former member filed a complaint before the DOJ. The complaint was directed against the top leaders of the INC, accusing them of serious cases such as illegal detention, harassment, and coercion. Naturally, if the accused are genuinely innocent, it would be fitting for them to face the case and submit themselves to investigations. Sadly, the accused ministers responded by claiming that it is their church that is being attacked and insulted, thereby condemning the government for meddling with internal issues and crossing the fine line of separation between the Church and State.

For one thing, the INC is right. The Church and State, though similar in their goal of upholding the common good, must be separated. The Church’s interest doesn’t necessarily conform to that of the State’s, and vice versa.

Ironically though, this church, which somehow holds an unhealthy influence over politicians due to their bloc voting policy, would complain about the violation of the separation between Church and State. Their attempt to dissuade Justice Secretary Leila de Lima --- announcing that they will not be supporting her 2016 senatorial campaign --- is clearly a desperate attempt to influence the government official.

It should also be noted that the complaint against the INC leaders was filed legally and has followed the due process of law. The DOJ, as a government body responsible for addressing violations to the laws of the land, reserves all rights to act on the filed complaint. The separation of the Church and State has absolutely nothing to do with saving the religious from trials and inquisitions. Affiliation to a church or religious order does not, and never will, guarantee a free pass to the rule of law.

However, it would be wrong to assume that INC is the only religious group that meddles with the affairs of the State; other denominations have done this, too. In fact, it was only a few years ago when the Roman Catholic Church constantly interjected with the Philippine government, disagreeing with the passage of the Reproductive Health (RH) Law. In the end, no religion should be given a privileged place in society, just as race, color, gender, and ancestry do not entitle one with special privileges either. After all, a truly democratic country upholds a rule of law, where laws and procedures apply equally to all citizens.C

OPINION

By Mary Antoinette M. Magallanes

Staff Writers Nikki Gay Louise P. Amores (Trainee), Alexa Kim K. Bacong (Trainee), Meryanne Rose S. Bacud (Trainee), Harmony Kristel D. Balino (Trainee), Raizah L. Bagul (Trainee), Charissa D.C. Santiago (Trainee) Staff Artists Maria Kristina G. Abing (Trainee), John Niccolo A. Aquino, Ben Clark B. Balase, Paul Clinton B. Balase, Erah M. Balindong (Trainee), Ian Kenneth O. Bicar (Trainee), Marlon R. Boro, Deciri Beione Tharyn A. Braña (Trainee), Ej Gallego (Trainee), Christian Loui S. Gamolo, Dave Allyster R. Gultiano (Trainee), Jinky M. Mejica (Trainee), Mark D. Rodriguez, Jon Michael A. Semilla (Trainee), Jan Michael A. Sy, Melrose Rae C. Talimio (Trainee), Paul Joshua B. Tan (Trainee), Lynette L. Tuvilla, Rizalyka Joanne M. Waminal (Trainee) Moderator Ms. Ann Catherine Ticao-Acenas For contributions, please address your articles and/ or comments to: TheCrusader Publication Office, Rm. 302, Student Center Bldg, Xavier University 9000, Cagayan de Oro City Circulation: 5, 000 copies

Vol. 42 No.2 | September 2015 Layout by Maria Kristina G. Abing, Jericho B. Montellano, Keith Obed J. Ruiz, & Jon Michael A. Semilla

No strings attached

O

Mea accipies

Managers Lynette L. Tuvilla Human Resource Manager Marlon R. Boro Office Manager Mark D. Rodriguez Circulation Manager Evan B. Aranas Video Productions Manager Jo Marie Claire B. Balase Online Accounts Manager Senior Computer Systems Manager Ker Ruben A. Ramos Junior Computer Systems Manager

n July 27, the Filipino community has once again taken a pause from their daily lives and focused their eyes on television screens for another momentous event for the country. No, it was not the Ms. Universe pageant nor Pacquiao’s most awaited fight. On July 27, President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III delivered his sixth and final State of the Nation Address.

The SONA usually covers the accomplishments (and sometimes letdowns) of a president’s year in office. However, much like in the previous years, it seems like PNoy has also recapped the performance of the administration from more than five years ago – a leadership far behind his scope.

Although disparate and unique from each other, PNoy’s SONAs have always counted in a common subject: former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

This year, the introduction of the newly opened Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway served as the gateway for PNoy’s SONA. One could only expect a litany of feats after the prompt remark of one of the developments in his administration. Unexpectedly, however, the first two minutes of his speech immediately constituted the political scandals

that hounded his predecessor. From then I thought: here goes the same pattern.

“Dinatnan natin ang taumbayang namanhid na sa walang humpay na alegasyon ng kasinungalingan, pandaraya, at pagnanakaw,” started his quick, nameless yet obvious remarks against Arroyo’s slipups. He proceeded by mentioning the undying issues on the fertilizer fund scam in 2004, the anomalous ZTE-NBN deal, the ‘Hello Garci’ scandal and other infamous corruption blunders.

Apparently, PNoy has continued to lambast the Arroyo administration and has unfailingly tied his accomplishments to the failures of another.

There is nothing wrong, though, with resolving the clutters of the past. I also acknowledge the fact that history has been, and still is, part of what is happening in the present. To be fair, some of the development trends in PNoy’s administration began to take shape during the Arroyo administration.

Thus, in one way or another, PNoy has also benefitted (although mostly burdened) by the governance of his predecessor.

In his speech, he said, “May mga magsasabi: Mag-move on na raw tayo. Ako naman po ay naniniwala sa sinabi ni George Santayana: Ang

makalimot sa mali ng nakaraan, garantisadong uulitin ito.” True enough. But if we try to look at it, PNoy may have just seemed to overlyattach himself to the past. He may mention the history of corruption in the Philippines, but can he not anymore painstakingly take the time to comment on every single blunder of Gloria Arroyo? Can his achievements fragrantly stand-alone before the Filipino people even without the need to use the stinking scandals of Arroyo? Mr. President, mag move on na nga lang tayo.

In all fairness though, much of his speech talked about his concrete successes as president. Of course, he had the choice to either present these achievements as stand-alone facts or comparatively present his accomplishments contrasting it to the previous administration. Predictably, he chose his usual style – the latter.

For PNoy, this may be his last SONA but for sure, there will be more instances where he will still be probably talking about his foe.

So, to the President of the Philippines, as you move on with your last year in office, I hope that you also move on from the past; no more strings attached.C

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NEWS

XU to maximize intranet potential ...

All in one Extending its fiber-optic backbone out to its various campuses within the city, the upgrade will unify the XU campuses in Macasandig, Manresa, Center for Intergrated Technologies (CIT) Pueblo de Oro, and Corrales into one converged network.

Consequently, the enhanced connectivity will pave the way for the deployment of the Internet Protocol Telephony project. Upon successful implementation of the project, all campuses will have been connected to one singular data center where all communication in voice, video, and data will be handled by the University’s highly capable network infrastructure.

Easy talk Although not an immediate replacement for analog telephones, the

CISO sees IP Telephony as a transitory step into modernizing the school’s communications equipment which currently uses unsupported and obsolete Private Automatic Branch Exchange (PABX) technology initially installed in the late 90’s.

Taking a page from the freeway analogy of Doblados, a ten-lane superhighway almost never experiences vehicular congestion – cars and other vehicles zoom right through at velocities that tease the speed limit, unobstructed. Similarly, channeling voice, video, and data traffic through a single, high-capacity system reduces the tedious management of the University network. “This will ultimately lead to a more effective customer service and improved employee productivity,” the CISO administration added.

from page 1 The NEUP – IPTel project not only means the simplification of all the tubes and wires that link together the different areas of the university, but also a more natural communication between the different offices as it allows video conferencing, data sharing, and other collaborative tasks between faculty and staff to be done over the network, not to mention crisper audio than that of the PABX system.

CISO has claimed that installation of the infrastructure would not entail network downtime or any other interruptions.

Should there be any, however, they are to be relatively ignorable compared to the degree of improvement the project is expected to endow the University network with.

By 2016, Wi-Fi will be as abundant as oxygen as long as you stand within XU premises.C

KKP Trains Youth to Facilitate Voters’ Education

by Harmony Kristel D. Balino

VOICE OF THE YOUTH. Facilitators share ideas on the importance of voters’ education, especially among the youth.

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oung facilitators gathered on August 26 for the Voters’ Education Training of Facilitators, an interaction activity and discussion organized by the Kristohanong Katilingban sa Pagpakabana - Social Involvement Office (KKP-SIO). The training, which is under the Lambigit Igsuun alang sa Hiniusang Uswag sa Katilingban (LIHUK) 2016 program, aimed to prepare young volunteers who will be sent to communities to facilitate ‘Kuwentuhang Bayan’.

“Kuwentuhang Bayan is just a dialogue,

basically panaghisgot-hisgot sa unsa ang nahitabo sa community nila na setting. We are training students to become future facilitators in a community setting,” said Jim Akut II, Faculty Program Officer of KKP-SIO. Kuwentuhang Bayan was originally the Voters’ Education Campaign of Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan (SLB), a church-based organization concerned with the sociopolitical and economic affairs of the Philippines. According to Akut, SLB is “... the social arm of the Society of Jesus.”

KKP adapted Kuwentuhang Bayan when

their partnership with SLB was established more than a decade ago. According to Akut, they revised the module to make it more appropriate for the target community. “…we didn't just adapt it as plainly Kuwentuhang Bayan. We formulated a loose coalition, a loose network called LIHUK 2016… so our module is very basic, very facilitative; the entire module is a friendly guide to a facilitator. That is the entire concept of LIHUK 2016.”

The 2 ½ hour-long seminar was comprised of three modules: ‘Aha Ka

[B. BALASE]

Karon?’ by Cecille Turrecha of the Jesuit Volunteers Philippines, ‘Ako Ug Ang Katilingban’ by Victoria Melissa Pulido of KKP, and ‘Ako Isip Botante’ by Robin Waban Jr., also of KKP. These modules are designed to empower individuals, enabling them to troubleshoot problems in their community, form realizations that they can be instruments of change, and maximize their power as voters and as participants in their system of government.C

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Higalaay Festival... from page 1 The celebration of the City Fiesta should reflect who really are the people of Cagayan de Oro.” This is in time with this year’s theme which focuses on the present. It’s that special time of the year where the Kagay-anons take pride in who they are as people from the City of Golden Friendship.

Friendly festivities The Higalaay Festival covered many events that promoted culture, friendship, and religiosity.

The Kumbira, held on August 1214, endorsed some of the city’s products, both commercial and handmade. The Miss Cagayan de Oro, Barangay Gwapo, and Little Miss Cagayan de Oro were also held in search of candidates that embodied the beauty, intelligence, and heart of a true Kagay-anon. Other highlights of the celebration include the first Mindanao photo summit, Kagayan festival marathon, Milo little Olympics, carnival parade, Higalas parade of floats and icon, religious procession, and Kagay-an pyro musical festival.

Another highlight of the festival is the Fluvial Procession, which started from Macajalar Bay, all the way to the Cagayan River, and on to the area near Duaw Park.

Colorful boats with statues of the saint paraded in the city’s very own Cagayan River in honor of the saint.

According to Aileen San Juan, Chairperson of Higalaay 2015, the fluvial parade is a traditional event. “It recognizes the historical value when our patron saint was introduced to the city of Cagayan

de Oro,” she said.

When asked about her opinion on the festival’s events, San Juan happily answered that she was pleased and looks forward to the coming years wherein the people of Cagayan de Oro and its visitors can experience an even better Kagay-an Festival.

“We have very good coordination sa atong mga event coordinators sa core events sa atong Higalaay festival. And so far it has been very peaceful, orderly.

Hopefully, we can improve more in the future years. Every year, we keep adding new features so mas mu gwapo pa jud ni in the future years,” she explained.

City Mayor Oscar Moreno was also pleased with this year’s festival. He also reminded the citizens of Cagayan de Oro of the root cause of the celebration. “It (Cagayan de Oro) is called the City of Golden Friendship, so we are connecting that friendship to go beyond just the term, but become a defining element for the city and its people… Fiesta is not an individual activity. It’s a community activity and here, now, we’re seeing not only just Cagayan de Oro, but including the whole region celebrating fiesta together.”

According to Moreno, the festival most definitely exceeded his expectations.

Behind the many colors of the Higalaay festival is its beautiful meaning, making the fiesta enjoyable and significant.

As a reflection of its people, it symbolizes the heart of merriment, religiosity, and hospitable character of the Kagay-anons. C

WATER PROCESSION. Boats carrying the historical icons pass throught the Cagayan River.

[D. GULTIANO]

LIGHTS AND SPARKS. Explosions of colors filled the sky during the Pyro Festival.

SPLASH OF COLORS. Street dancers bring the festivities to the streets during the carnival parade on August 23.

[P. BALASE]

[J. MEJICA]

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September 2015 | Vol. 42 No. 2

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NEWS FEATURES

Making room for more: Student councils exhibit magis

by Andrew Rey L. del Fierro and Nitzschia Cassiopiea Beroe A. Lozarita

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ollege students have varying needs.

Some are financially challenged while some are having trouble with their grades. Problems could take lots of forms actually, from looking for a sense of belongingness to looking for a cheap book to rent.

Thus came the student councils. Student councils were formed to address the need of the students, be it in academics, athletics, or any other aspect of their University life.

Their presence is felt the most during the University-wide Intramurals, where they bump into each other to grab the muchcoveted trophy.

Some student councils, though, aim for magis in every move. They are implementing projects which are too important not to mention.

SoYLS The Agricultural Student Council’s (ASC) newest program, Sowing Young Leaders for Service (SoYLS), intends to recruit twenty Aggie student applicants and train them to be effective leaders of their college. Applications will be accepted starting on September 12-13.

Aggie Huddle The Aggie Huddle, another project from the ASC, is mainly held in recognition of the college’s athletes participating in intramurals.

As of publication time, the council is currently preparing for the event to be held on September 2.

The event serves a secondary purpose of encouraging student involvement.

“There are still students who are not participative,” replied council president Faith Ranises on the grievances of the council.

MENTORENG’G Like many other college councils, the Association of the College of Engineering Students (ACES) is mainly concerned with preparations for intramurals. However, they remain concerned with their academic performance.

The MENTORENG’G tutorial program is for struggling Engineering students who are having problems with some of their subjects.

They are indeed embodying their infamous slogan, “One Tribe, One Goal” as they try to help each other in overcoming the difficulties encountered in their chosen field.

Lean startup boot camp The Computer Studies Student Council (CSSC) is gearing up not only for intramurals but also for the numerous programs they plan on implementing next semester, one of which

is the lean startup boot camp.

The lean startup is a method developed specifically for creating businesses that are both innovative and sustainable. Having received their training from faculty members that are well-versed in the methodology, the seminar requires the cooperation of other colleges/courses like SBM and IS, as their curricula will most probably integrate the use of technology. The seminar will most likely be held in September.

When asked about any further plans in community development, president Jhisied Arcala eagerly shared “If katong XU lean startup boot camp kay successful, among plan is i-CdeO wide namo siya na event.” The president went on to explain that this was their response to the local government’s call for more startup businesses in the general community.C

CSG budget approval delayed due to unconstitutionality

by Samantha Isabelle H. Bagayas & Harmony Kristel D. Balino

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he 22nd Directorate, also known as the legislative branch of the Central Student Government (CSG), drafted the Directorate Enactment 00015-16—a budget proposal for the entire CSG. This proposal intended to allocate a higher percentage of funds to student services and departmental projects based on the recommendation of the Department of Budget and Finance, though it was rejected by the Supreme Court due to being recognized as unconstitutional.

The technicality The enactment proposed that the CSG Electoral Commission (Elecom) receive one percent of the CSG’s total budget during the first trimester instead of the five percent budget allocation mandated in its 2005 Constitution. The

Supreme Court—the judiciary branch of CSG— raised this issue to the 22nd Directorate after its review in the third reading, declaring the budget allocation unconstitutional and delaying budget approval for the whole CSG. Edison Lacea, CSG Vice President and head of the 22nd Directorate, believes a budget allocation of one percent for the Elecom in the first semester can be considered constitutional because the Constitution specifically states the commission should be allotted five percent for the whole school year. Considering that Elecom is mostly only active during the election period in the second semester, it was a common practice for previous administrations to allot a small percentage during the first semester.

The Supreme Court, on the other hand, believes this hinders the fiscal autonomy of the Elecom.

Due-process Previous CSG administrations only create a resolution of the CSG budget. Lacea, however, wants a law instead of a resolution. Turning the CSG Budget into a law will allow students to file a case, should they ever suspect misusage of funds.

“The main functions of the Supreme Court is [to] settle cases between student leaders versus student leaders. Also, we uphold the Constitution for checks and balances,” explains Joeces Cual, Chief Justice of the XU Supreme Constitutional Court. He went on to explain that “checks and balances” is the action in which the Court monitors the resolutions proposed by the legislative branch for any possible conflicts with the Constitution.

Resolving resolutions The enactment of a law goes through three separate readings. The first two readings are presided by the 22nd Directorate to make certain adjustments and review inconsistencies in the draft. After that, the draft is passed for review to the Supreme Court to check whether it is constitutional.

When asked about the current status of the budget proposal, Cual shares that it is being revised and possesses the sentiment that it will be approved. “Ginautro og first and second reading.

And after that is, i-approve na siya namo.”

Cual, however, believes that the whole thing shouldn’t be considered as an issue because it simply follows the processes described by the Constitution.C

“This year is going to be a comeback for CIT. Expect a stronger and united Knights,” remarks Center for Integrated Technologies (CIT) sports committee head, Chesmon Jan Hao. After being unable to participate in several events due to the unavailability of players, the Knights placed dead-last in the previous Intramurals. However, this chivalrous group has grown tough and tenacious, ready to once again march into battle with resolved purpose.

Disdainful drawbacks Limited funds for the Center for Integrated Technologies Student Council (CITSC) hinders the Knights’ way to success. Aside from making do with a very limited budget, the athletes also have to face the challenge of proper time management, having to strike the balance between tending to their academics and practice games.

The distance of the campus from downtown Cdeo, where there are several venues for training, is also an indispensable problem.

Hao also laments on the lack of decent sporting gear. “Equipment ang pinaka-importante [sa training] because it helps you improve your skills and develop physical firmness to be able to perform in the sport that is required,” he shares.

There is also the problem of having very few female enrollees, holding the Knights back from joining in most of the events in the women’s division.

Hashtag uKNIGHTed With an appropriate pun for a slogan, the CIT Knights are bound to the realization of their goal: redemption. The Knights have found solid footing in that they garnered medals in last year’s team sports and they to build on that momentum.

To be consistent, they started training rigorously as early as the second week of June.

The Knights’ performance in the past Intramurals are solid proof that no matter how small they are in numbers, they can still compete with other colleges and grab the coveted medals.

Go for gold Amidst all the drawbacks, the CIT Knights are positive that history will not repeat itself.

Like their courageous and devoted namesake, the Knights are driven to be back on track and claim the title. “[We aim] to bring home the bacon and to go for gold [this year],” mused Hao, ardent on ending their hiatus. “This time, naa nami mga players nga nadugang para sa uban events so it is possible for us to gain more medals. We are all doing our best for this year’s intramurals through the hard work and commitment of our athletes.”C

For the past years, the College of Agriculture has consistently placed 4th in the overall results, leaving the Bullriders thirsty for the victory they’ve been longing for.

Paul Cornelia, head of the Agriculture Student Council (ASC) sports committee, believes that while the college has been strong in team events last year, their individual sports roster has been severely understaffed. “Example, sa Karate-do, ang minimum nila is 16 [players], ang amoa kay pila ra, six or seven. Sayang kaayo to ang 10 ka slots nga wala na occupy nga opportunity pa unta to para maka medal,” he shares.

Whipped into shape The Aggie Bullriders are now more prepared than ever for the upcoming Intramurals season.

All the slots for the events have now been filled in. Coaches, as well as training opportunities, have been provided for players in order to push them to their full potential. More personal, weekly meetings among team captains are implemented to check on training progress.

Furthermore, each sport is assigned with a moderator from the faculty as expressions of

support from both the teaching staff and their fellow Agriculture students.

Despite problems in reserving sports facilities like the University courts and field, the Bullriders have nonetheless shown utmost dedication and commitment towards taking the ultimate prize as they conduct their practices outside the campus even with limited finances.

Got your back Perhaps one of the Aggie Bullriders’ greatest strength for this coming season lies not only on the players themselves but on the contributions of everybody from the colleges. “Naa gyud ang Aggies spirit sa amoa karon, ang oneness namo ug unity,” shares Cornelia.

Cheers for the green-hearted athletes will also be louder, as the ASC --- treating moral support as a factor of utmost importance --- has come up with a system for information dissemination to rally their fellow Bullriders in supporting their athletes’ games.

Support even extends as far as the college’s alumni. Come September 2, the Aggie Huddle, a sending-off ceremony to be attended by the faculty, students, and former athletes of the college, will be held at the XU covered courts in honor of those participating in the Intramurals.

Indeed, the Bullriders seem to be firing on all cylinders. Hardened players poised to charge and close in on the crown? Check. Support from the student and faculty body? That would be an understatement.

As Cornelia subtly puts it to anyone looking to lock horns with their teams, “Watch out.” C

Falling short on their leap for a three-peat, the College of Arts and Sciences Tigers landed 3rd place in last year’s Intramurals. This year, however, they are ready to claw their way back to the top of the podium.

Poised to strike Since July, the Tigers have been preparing rigorously by holding practices more than twice a week. United Arts and Sciences Student Council (UNITASS) Sports Committee Head Jan Arthur Sendaydiego shares that the thought of being barred from a championship streak last year adds pressure, which serves as the team’s driving force.

“Mas gihatagan namo og pressure ang mga [team] captains karon kay syempre ga-apas man mi nga mobalik mi sa top karon kay natagak man mi last year,” says Sendaydiego.

He also expresses confidence in all their teams, especially in their men’s basketball team and the Tigers Supreme Coed cheerdance squad, both of which claimed three-peat wins last year.

Strength in diversity “Ang greatest advantage gyud sa ArtScies, ever since before pa, kay ang diversity namo kay daghan gyud kaayo courses ang [under] sa College of Arts and Sciences,” shares Sendaydiego, explaining that a diverse and large population provides a larger pool of players to choose from and a higher chance of finding good ones.

The Tigers also strengthened their ranks in individual sporting events, pointing out that these events served as gold medal mines for the other colleges.

Silent hunters Last year, the Tigers’ roars and cheers bared the slogan “compete for three-peat”. However, none of those words will be heard this year as the warm-blooded predators opt for a light-footed approach this time around.

“Wala mi ipagawas nga tagline karon, like ‘comeback’ or ‘three-peat’. We just want to play, participate, do our best,” shares Sendaydiego.

“Since July, hilom man gyud kaayo ang [College of Arts and Sciences]. Mag expect sila nga hangtod mag start ang Intrams hilom ra gyapon mi kay didto ra namo itigom tanan namo pang buhaton,” adds Sendaydiego.

Who knows what the striped cats are up to?

In a forest, being aware of a tiger’s presence and not hearing anything from it only means two things: either the beast is asleep or is preparing

for an attack.

Other colleges can only hope that it is the former. C

“We will be giving a good fight for this year,” declares College of Computer Studies Student Council (CSSC) Department of Sports and Recreation Head Jordan Neil Paña. The Wizards’ magic fell short in bringing them to the top during last year’s Intramurals, placing only 6th in the overall ranking. This time around, with newly forged spells and a renewed willpower, a much more determined pool of warlocks is set to enter the Intramural arena.

Potion for success Seeking to find the cream of the crop, the College of Computer Studies organized an inter-year level sports festival dubbed “Dula Ta Compstud” to select the best players that would represent their college. Rigid training and scouting of players started as early as June. As Paña asserts, “[The] College of Computer Studies [has] really prepared a lot for this year’s Xavier Cup 2015.”

However, just like the plight of the other colleges, Paña says that financial constraints and scarcity of players have long been two of their major problems. “Given that our population as a college [is small], we have constraints in our budget and players.”

A crown for a wizard Since the start of the school year, the Wizards have already set their eyes on their ultimate goal: to aim for gold in as many events and endeavors as humanly (or wizardly) possible.

This determination is reflected through their promotion of their college hashtag, #GO4GOLD. “It signifies … that we are aiming [for] gold in all aspects, not just in sports but also in our academics and in our community,” he imparts.

Being a relatively new independent college, the Wizards are nonetheless resolute in their belief that despite the college’s young age, they can be at par with their opponents’ skills and accomplishments. “Even [if] we are still a baby college, we can stand and do what other schools and colleges can do,” opines Paña, adding that they will do their best to work their magic before the whole XU community.

Will the Wizards’ passion potion and sportsmanship spells bring them to the top?C

Dominating last year’s competition with a grand total of 710 points, the College of Engineering is ill-content to sit idly on its throne.

After denying ArtScies a three-peat complete last year, the Warriors must now shift from offense to defense and set their eyes on a new objective: defend the title from those who dare to steal it.

Sounding the war horn The college began scouting prospective players as early as the beginning of the semester and during ORSEM, recruiting incoming freshmen as well as negotiating with Eng’g students belonging to the varsity teams. The result is a volatile, but potent, combination of new energy and veteran experience.

“This year is a tough year… since the Warriors are defending the trophy,” shares Princess Bael, the current head of the Association of College of Engineering Students (ACES) sports committee.

She stresses the importance of carrying on the legacy of the college as top contenders in the annual competition.

Despite the lack of resources, the committee strived to assist their athletes in any way they can, from providing the players with jerseys to fighting for the preferences of each team instead of adhering to the Central Student Government’s (CSG) standard.

Challenges for the brave Echoing last year’s concerns, the council mainly struggles with the budget allocated to intramurals, though they are currently trying to reduce their spending via fundraising and conserving materials.

The list of obstacles, however, has grown to include miscommunication.

“I experienced a lot of miscommunication with my [associate sports committee heads] and encountered complaints, but hand-in-hand with the ACES family, I was able to manage,” says Bael.

One of the council’s chief concerns is the late start of the advance games, which puts a significant strain on the schedules of their players and their performance.

“Naa silay reklamo, pero dili man namo ma [address] kay kuti na kaayo if i-adjust,” says Vaughne Dagaraga, acting associate sports committee head. “Ilang reklamo is katong two games per day sa advanced games. Though morning siya and gabii… kailangan pa og taas-taas na time, like a day, para maka-pahulay.”

working students, striking a balance between academic schedules and sports practices proved to be a hard case. Amidst the obstacles, Barba is hopeful that this year, they will be able to prove their strength to everyone.

Justice will prevail “Since this year is the College of Law’s 60th year, were aiming to up our game and not settle for just ‘trying our best’. Were aiming to win, and beat Med! It never hurts to be positive” said Barba. Through practice and determination, the Lady Justice will endeavor to put the same amount of passion they give in class during the games, dominate their rivals into submission, and impose the law on the rest of the competition.

For the Lady Justice to reach the heights they aspire for, they will have to assume the role of ruthless prosecutor. C

The path to victory seems to be fraught with danger for the reigning champions, given the added pressure of retaining the title for two more years in order to be recognized as overall champions. Though they’ve already established themselves as ‘streak-enders’, it could very well be that last year’s performance was only a preview of what’s to come—a herald for an age in which the Warrior stands indomitably over the competition. C

“Everyone should hold on to their seats, because we are going to blow them away this year,” decrees College of Law sports committee head Olivia Adrienne Barba. In celebration of the college’s 60th year, expect the Lady Justice to reveal more of her competitive, athletic side.

Rising valor Law athletes have been known for their splendid performances in both the lecture hall, and on the sports field, particularly in team events such as basketball, volleyball, football, swimming, and chess. Sound judgment is a handy thing to have in your repertoire, not only in court hearings, but on other courts where these people wear jerseys and sweaters instead of suits and ties.

Reminiscing their performance in the past year, Lady Justice pounded the gavel on her great rival, the Medicine Wolves, in men’s basketball, swimming, and volleyball. However, they weren’t as lucky against the undergraduate colleges, finishing 8th overall with 200 points.

Lawyers needs balance Since July, the college has been mentally and physically preparing their way to v i c t o r y.

With most of them being

“Strike Hard, Strike First, and Strike Fast!” beams Council of Nursing Students (CONUS) Sports Committee Head Chrisler Pamisa. Despite an underwhelming 7th place finish in last year’s Xavier Cup, opponents are still keeping an eye on the Pythons as their suffocating death grip could easily lay waste on the competition.

Bumps on the way Even top predators experience troubles, too.

A major problem that has long been worrying the Pythons is the relatively few number of students in the College of Nursing. Every year, they would have to do with limited budget and facility usage brought about by their small population.

The rigorous and tight schedule of the Nursing students has also been a problem.

Their hospital shifts and academic requirements give them less to zero time for preparation and practice. Aside from time, location is also something to consider. “Usahay kay ma alinlangan jud mi, labi na sa space kung aha mi mu-practice.

Kanang mag practice mi sa softball kay mu-adto pa mi ug Iponan para lang jud naa mi lugar,” explains Pamisa.

Versatile reptiles Nonetheless, the Python’s determination, together with resiliency, has never let these major setbacks affect their performance. Solicitations and contributions from the Nursing students themselves are put up in lieu of the minimal budget. School holidays, aside from giving them a break from their heavy workloads, are also utilized for intense practices.

A lethal weapon The Pythons’ nonparticipation in the cheerleading competition last year has been disadvantageous to their overall ranking.

However, this year may be the time where the Pythons could finally hit the top spot in the tally since the Elite Cheer Pythons cheering squad has been revived and is ready to strike again this coming September.

“Sa 2014 Intramurals, ang competitive kay ang Badminton [team] ug Women’s Soccer team” Pamisa proudly states. The athletes also shined in swimming, where they were able to accumulate points from the harvested gold medals. This year, Pamisa could see that overall, most of their teams had undergone intense preparations, making them a force to be reckoned with.

Pamisa encourages Nursing students to participate in the various sports to ensure that the Pythons will come out stronger than ever and would be able to represent the college with utmost pride. C

Being hailed as one of the top-performing medical schools in the country, the Jose Protacio Rizal School of Medicine (JPRSM) has quite a reputation to maintain. Who has time for athletics?

The Wolves, apparently – a formidable group of students with an even more formidable stack of photocopies and hardbound books waiting at home. Their namesake is a species that hunts in packs and shouldn’t even exist near the equator.

But here in Xavier, they study for doctorates without compromising their athleticism.

Your fur won’t fight the heat “Success, to us, is not winning the whole thing but [to] participate and compete with the support of our classmates,” says Ron Moreno, Team Captain of Basketball Men. Known for their strength in individual games such as chess, taekwondo, and swimming, the howling Wolves, through favors from the University Athletics Office (UAO), are busy gathering more strength in team games such as basketball, softball, and ultimate. “Fortunately sa basketball, we were allotted 3 gym practices compared to 1 [gym practice] lang last year,” he shares.

Moreno admits that no matter how far their willpower goes, time isn’t on their side. “Yes, [we have a] shortage of players. Dili same [ang] schedule with other year levels because duty ang upper years, quiz every week plus group discussions with [the] facilitator twice a week.”

Behind the white coats Every once in a while, the Wolves pull off upsets at the most unexpected of times. The School of Medicine nearly hit rock bottom in 2010 with an overall tally of 34­ points for the tournament. It only took three years for the pack to improve their overall output five-fold, howling past the Lady Justice and Phoenixes with a total tally of 181 points in the 2013 Intramurals.

Although things may have been different before graduation, med students are now estranged from the competitive, sports-first mentality of the undergraduate colleges.

But never count out a snarling beast; its primal instinct will occasionally transcend disadvantage and catch you unaware. C

It’s been four years since the School of Business and Management (SBM) Eagles took a nosedive and lost their six-peat to the Warriors in 2011. Since then, the Eagles have failed to perch on the highest roost and regain their long lost glory, conceding the title to the Tigers for two, straight years and then to the Warriors once more last year.

However, one thing is for sure: the Eagles have set their eyes on the prize, talons itching to grab hold of the title they had so staunchly defended in the days of Yellow Army supremacy.

Birds of the same feather Convinced that their winning mentality will be the wind beneath their wings, they have not only prepared themselves physically but mentally as well. Aside from the painstaking training, they have also inculcated the spirit of camaraderie within their athletes. Instilling the picture that they are not just several individuals making up XU’s largest college but a whole team, they strive to make the statement “There can only be one SBM” a reality. With the thought of being one big family composed of several teams, athletes along with the rest of the SBM student body have been encouraged to support not just their team, but also the other competing teams.

B e i n g XU’s largest college has its pros and

cons. Though they may be the most populated college, the challenge lies in getting the support of their fellow SBM students who are non-athletes.

Many may prefer to use the week as time off instead of cheering on their fellow Eagles. But should they decide to leave their nests and cheer on their athletes, it would be a very effective way of boosting their morale; Seeing streaks of yellow flooding the stands will be a sure encouragement that they will never fly alone.

Pull up or plummet down Even in the world of sports, the Eagles mean business, in every sense of the statement. With their eyes firmly targeted on the prize, the vast yellow army is something to be wary of. Defying nature, they never fly alone, but send an army.

With their claws ready to snatch back victory, eyes trained on no other than the trophy, and wide wings strengthened from vigorous preparation, the Eagles are ready to soar and glide towards victory.

Will they finally regain their position as the commanding eyes of the sky or will their feathers once again be ruffled? Only time will tell if the Eagle can stabilize from its free-fall and ascend up the throne with the trophy of redemption safe in its clutches once more. C

Despite their obvious efforts and rigorous practice, the School of Education (SOE) Phoenixes have yet to snatch glory from the frontrunners. Their blaze has been momentarily reduced to embers as they settled for 5th in the overall tally last year.

Though unsuccessful in the past years, it is still unwise to turn one’s back on the Phoenixes; a new beast is about to rise from the ashes.

Brave the storm According to Sports Committee Head Rodre Oponda, the sheer passion of the athletes, combined with the full support from their council and faculty, is the team’s driving force this year.

However, he acknowledges that rising after being defeated has never been easy for them, especially with the lack of players in the male category. To cope with this, they are focusing on certain sports where they have high chances of winning. “Non multa sed multum…ga-focus na lang mi sa sport nga na’y mga players daan and mao amo gina develop na mas mu-kusog,” explains Oponda.

Though bombarded with unfavorable odds, the Phoenixes remain unafraid to defend their turf in the women’s category, specifically in athletics and basketball. Oponda trusts in the skills and dedication of their players. “I know nga dili nila sayangon tanan nila hago para magpapildi lang,” he shares.

Ready to burn On top of coping with their shortcomings and setting up a course to victory, SOE strives not only for a glorified win but also for the involvement of everyone in the SOE family. With this noble resolve in mind, the Phoenix nation will without a doubt put up a good fight as they are; they are about to leave the opponents charred beyond recognition.

“The Phoenix is more than ready to rekindle the flames of power that will burn with us all throughout our battle for victory,” Oponda claims. “But instead of leaving destruction in our wake, we will be leaving the marks of our sportsmanship and hard work, all on our way to success.”

Expect nothing less from the SOE as this season will be different. These future educators will give everyone a lesson; these Phoenixes will rise and glow transcendently in the rebirth of their glory.C

By Xian Louis Patrick R. Arcayera, Nikki Gay Louise P. Amores, Alexa Kim K. Bacong, Merryane Rose S. Bacud, Raizah L. Bagul, Harmony Kristel D. Balino, Andrew Rey del L. Fierro, Kevin Paul P. Mabul, Mary Antoinette M. Magallanes & Charissa D. Santiago

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NEWS

Manresa Days 2015 celebrates 2nd year of ‘Agriculture at the Center’

By Rezza Mae B. Tolinero

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he noise of penned cattle grows loud enough to be heard above the chatter, signifying their readiness to chase and be chased. Alumni gather as they renew their ties with the 64-hectare farm that was once their home during college; another extraordinary day in Manresa Farm.

On the 28th annual celebration of its Manresa Days held on August 19-22, the College of Agriculture once again emphasized the significance of agriculture in people’s lives with its theme, “Agriculture at the Center.”

Agri-“culture” “One year is not enough to spread the word. So we are trying to see if we can do this for another year and another year,” said College of Agriculture Dean, Maria Rosario Mosqueda, PhD. “Personally, it would be good to have a three-year theme na agriculture is the center gyud.”

University President, Fr. Roberto Yap, SJ, graced the opening program of the event by expressing his delight that, among all the Ateneo schools, only XU has an Agriculture program. In his speech, he underscored the importance of maintaining the environment.

“We really have to take care of Mother Earth, brother sun, sister moon, our seas, our rivers, our whole environment. If there is any program at Xavier University that can really respond to these, it’s very naturally the College of Agriculture.”

True to its theme, the events included activities that focused on agriculture and how it affects the people’s daily lives. Together with the Xavier Science Foundation, Inc. (XSF) and Institute of Land Governance (ILG), the

TAKEDOWN. College of Agriculture students struggle to defeat a bull in Rodeo sa Ateneo.

celebration held the first Indigenous People (IP) color run which gave financial aid to IP scholars in Bukidnon.

Moreover, high school students were also given the chance to showcase their proficiency in agricultural matters through the Manrazing Race and the quiz bee. Other activities include the Mr. and Ms. Rodeo, Puppet Show, Manresa Tours, Techno Demo, and Alumni Homecoming.

Brought by the drought A popular feature of the event, Rodeo sa Ateneo, continues to be a highly-anticipated attraction despite it being only open to the College’s students and not to other participating schools.

This year, the University was not able to borrow cattle from Del Monte and other farms from Libona, Impasugong, and Lanao.

Cattle that were supposed to be borrowed were said to be in bad condition due to the drought that was experienced last year and also because

[A. YAO]

the cattle in Del Monte were castrated in May. Due to this, there were fewer participants in the Rodeo sa Ateneo this year. “We are considering the welfare of the baka. So if we will invite more teams, more teams will do cattle-wrestling so mastress ang baka,” said Rodeo sa Ateneo project head Ivy Kristel Quiño.

Manresa Days is an annual tradition of the XUCA that serves as an avenue of honoring the founder of the College, Fr. William F. Masterson, SJ, who also contributed to the acquisition of the farm.C

a d i b :Of History and Heritage a r t n o C a Cor

LAMPOON

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he month of August is about to end. City-wide celebrations based on various historical things are upon us, and that only means one thing: classes off! ...but not really.

In the plane of existence that I currently find myself in, holidays are usually synonymous with “tons of take-home classwork in the form of research assignments” and “some degree of sleep deprivation”. Ugh. “Outline the history of our city’s festival and write the most bombastic essay as your own personal celebration,”

an eLearn assignment enthusiastically states, complete with a party hat, confetti, and vuvuzela emojis.

Pffft. Research is my thing (along with countless other things). What could possibly go wrong?

But alas, my optimism has failed me. The interconnected series of tubes that comprise the internet has been of little help, and I was forced to get my bum off my “research cave” and do manual labor.

And so with a faint glimmer of hope I lazily set off to experience firsthand the displays of our culture and heritage through the numerous events scattered within the month.

Again, what could possibly go wrong?

(The following are insights, analyses, and speculations of our ancestry and heritage as I spectated the myriad of random happenings in the city) Festival Marathon Legend probably has it that our forefathers found their way to Cagayan de Oro by accident.

Long ago, runners from different

barangays would hold their yearly marathons, sending their best men and women in this competition of endurance and strength.

With no one man accepting defeat, they ran as far as they could until they could run no more. Their tired bodies couldn't go any further, but with a stroke of luck, their feet landed them on fertile landscapes.

Settling on their newfound land, those who were once rivals turned into Higalas and flourished a community for ages to come.

Probably.

Miss CDO and Barangay Gwapo 5 Originating only from the best men and women (following the legend of the marathonturned-higala-men), our ancestors must have annually reveled in their aesthetic superiority.

If the legends are true, we should have predated what was considered as the first modern beauty pageant held in Scotland during the year 1839 by more than 200 years.

Now that’s something to be Pinoy and Kagayanon Proud about!

Fluvial Parades Nth day, and still no definitive answers to my research assignment.

I try my luck by giving the fluvial parade a chance, inspecting each giant Higalas personality and how they could possibly help me with my requirements.

I have come to a conclusion that these personalities are a random collection of the most influential from different eras. Nope.

Minutes passed and my currently fruitless “closer inspections” took a turn for the worst: I found myself stuck in one of the monstrosities towering Cagayan River.

Fireworks and Pyro Musical Celebration Did you know that gunpowder was once considered to be an elixir of immortality, and people once used to ingest these deadly things until it was discovered to be really good at propelling small objects off of small, tight tubes in an effort to kill people from a distance?

Whoops, taking someone’s life isn’t friendship. And last I checked we’re not China.

Sorry about that. *** And thus I end my long weekend with a few cups of coffee and a blank sheet of paper, wondering where our identity as a people has gone all along.C

*Any resemblance to real persons or life events is purely coincidental

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September 2015 | Vol. 42 No. 2

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SPORTS NEWS

Crusaders survive late breakdown against Mustangs 96-94, finish bronze

SPC outshoots XU, 66-52

By Lorenzo A. Botavara

By Lorenzo A. Botavara

O

A

n August 28, with a dozen-point lead and two minutes left, the Cagayan de Oro Basketball Federation (CDOBF) bronze medal was in the bag for the Xavier University (XU) Crusaders before the Mindanao University of Science and Technology (MUST) Mustangs reared up for a last ditch effort that almost trampled XU’s third-place hopes.

In the final possession of the ballgame, with XU up 96-94 and the MUST gym roaring, the Mustangs drew up an inbounds play to free up the right corner for a hotshooting Jerome Menaling. The execution was good, but the Crusader defense was better as Immanuel Peralta rejected a long jumper, making the XU bench celebrate out of both elation and relief.

XU was slow to pick-up on their offense to begin the game as the Mustangs applied full-court pressure to disrupt the Crusader’s half-court sets and force baskets out of broken plays, ending the first quarter with a six point disadvantage, 19-25. It wasn’t before XU employed full-court defense themselves that the passing lanes opened up for them on the other end of the floor.

Playing without their veterans, the Crusaders’ driving force for the game was a high-octane duo of ex-intramural standouts.

Former Artscies Tiger, Ivan Sabal, sparked a late first half surge that established XU’s offensive rhythm. His layup in the waning moments of the second quarter gave the Crusaders a 47-46 advantage – a lead they would never relinquish.

Perhaps the most crucial game-long mistake the home team committed was the

HANGTIME DUEL. Mustang and Crusader wrestle for possession after a missed free goal.

[M. RODRIGUEZ] refusal of their defense to collapse on the other half of the energetic duo, Juanito Biwang. He was basically a one-man fast break machine whose game mirrored that of Sabal’s, an ability which was on full-display in the third quarter where he scored 11 of his 19 points.

On the other hand, MUST had numerous opportunities to mount earlier comebacks, but missed more than half of their free throws. They even missed five out of six at

one sequence in the third and could not buy a basket when they desperately needed one.

“We came up short of the championship, but it was a good learning experience for the new recruits,” states Crusader head coach, Rocky Calingin. The first year coach decided to rest out his veterans to prepare for “a more important game” the following day.

The Crusaders were ousted from championship contention after being edged out by Lourdes College earlier that day.C

relatively one-sided affair took place at the Capitol University open courts on August 29, where the hot-shooting Southern Philippine College (SPC) Sharks outgunned Xavier University (XU) Crusaders in a Cagayan de Oro Schools Athletic Association (COSAA) regular season game, 66-52.

Roselito Aquino’s brilliant offensive orchestration led to open jumpers and shots at the basket for SPC, whose offense featured a well-balanced perimeter and interior attack.

Uncharacteristically for XU, merely putting the ball in the basket seemed a tedious task in itself.

Come halftime, SPC had built an 18-point cushion, 50-32, and were content to trade baskets from that juncture onwards. The Sharks’ lead maxed out at 20 earlier in the second quarter, 4525, on a straightaway rainbow from Aquino.

The game’s final tally was barely reflective of the intensity of the game, featuring a range of cheap shots and flying elbows, and a tacky shove in the final minute that emptied both teams’ benches as the players rushed to the court. The game was momentarily stopped and both sides were charged with technical fouls.

A telling factor in the outcome would be the fact that Xavier took two quarters to execute the defensive 2-3 Zone – intended to shadow the opposing shooters – properly. By then, the lead had grown too large to come back from.

“Ang nahitabo, ga-collapse mi sa driver sa tunga unya i-pasa ra sa kilid. Dapat naa’y tao didto (guarding the corner) permente,” says Crusader Head Coach, Rocky Calingin.

XU split its first two COSAA outings thus far this season.C

Crusaders volleyball varsity splits COSAA openers

By Alexa Kim K. Bacong

T

he Crusaders Volleyball varsity, composed of the women’s and men’s teams, started its Cagayan de Oro Schools Athletic Association (COSAA) season with a head-tohead matchup against Capitol University (CU) on August 23 at the CU gymnasium, breaking even with their counterparts with one win apiece by the end of the day.

In the men’s division, the Crusaders found themselves dancing in front of a mirror, exchanging a near-equal number of points with CU for two sets, but came out on top – albeit narrowly – both times around.

Xavier seemed to have a little more on-court communication, coordination, and energy.

Winning the game in two sets, 25-22 and 2523, the Crusaders were unfazed and closed out each set with composure.

“Though daghan newbies sa team, I can say nga nag-strive hard jud mi. Before the game, nagset mi ug goal na kailangan namo ma-give amoang

all,” says team captain Jake Dalde. The vocal leader of the team provided the spark which hyped up the rest of the squad.

For the Lady Crusaders, the team opened the match with a 6-2 lead before CU called for a timeout. Since then, CU outscored XU by a total of six points, 17-23, constituting a final tally of 23-25 in the first set for CU. XU’s take at retribution was stymied by numerous errors, miscommunications, and net violations, disrupting whatever offensive scheme they had in mind as the second set leaned in CU’s favor, 16-25. The final set was almost like watching a replay of the second, again with CU coming out on top, 15-25.

“Wala kaayo mi nagkahi-usa kay halos new among members sa team, unya kung mag-practice gani kay daghan absent kay daghan gaka-sakit” says team captain Hailyn Yap. She also lamented on the lack of on-court communication as a team.C

HUDDLE. Crusaders get together to celebrate a winning set.

[N. AQUINO]

Swimming, women’s basketball varsity turn heads in Davao invitationals

By Lorenzo A. Botavara

S

eparate sports events in Davao City yielded similar results for the Crusader swimming and women’s basketball team.

The Lady Crusaders finished bronze in the 2nd Ateneo de Davao Women’s Basketball Invitational on June 1, with

tournament-best forward Marie Chris Yañez leading the charge for the female ballers. Yañez was also named the Power Forward for the tilt’s Mythical Five.

The 13-woman roster was coached by Diomedes B. Caño Jr.

More recently, the swimming team reaped hardware in the All Ateneo Swim Fest 2015 held at the Ateneo de Davao University Matina Campus, en route to a 2nd place overall finish. Alexandra Louisse Goyeneche and Sixto Abeth Lalanto were

awarded the most medalled woman and man swimmers, respectively. The team, composed of six swimmers, is trained by Mark Jeremy Neri. C

daghan na kayo ta artpips bah?

pero ikaw ra ang gah gud atag ug art sa akong heart

ded openmin ka ba sa ? business

The Crusader Artpips jwo

ys a gu d s g lo su akon a ip a ko na yab h u

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ambot lang sir,sir man ako tawag saila tanan

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kanang ipon naay ng wala?

e smil daw beh

libre ka unya?

atleast Saba makaelevator ba keyo na ko ei

Makasukli ba kag gugma?

wew

gapabayad man ko permi

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grabe kaayo t ug makakapo tte bai lapis lyne g di ju n mura ma mabuy-an

sa tanang cards sa baraha ang akong heart jud imung ibunot ug ilabay?

boringa ypag ana oi ma ang tag tanaw nl ver sa en scre

guys, starbucks ta, buy one take one daw apeke kaayog dagway oi.

kabalo na ka unsa ko makauyab

tananman ni ta gihimu apo, lord gw ng la t ambo ghimu kinsay na saiya

hanap kaayu imung dagway murag imung kaugmaon

ZZZZZZZZyna

gelang para makatulog sad ta panalagsa

KURISCOPE Dear Ate Charot, Tawaga lang ko sa ngalang Al, Al Moran-as. Dako kaayo akong problema ate parehas kadako sa akong tiyan. Bitaw ate wala gyud ko’y ka labteam.

Mulapas nalang ‘ning akong edad sa kalendaryo, wala gihapon ko’y uyab. Huehuehue! I cannot carry this ina mo! Gwapo man unta ko ingon ni Mama pero wala gihapon nitalab. Gakaligo na gani ko ug cologne, gakaon nako’g sabon pero wala gihapon, wala gihapon ko’y gakailad.

Unsaon man nako ni Ate? Kinahanglan na gyud nako manganak. Ay! Kinahanglan nako ug anak kay sige nag padungog-dungog si Mother Earth.

Sige Ate, labyu.

Dear Al, Ikaw na ba si Mr. Right? Ikaw na ba ang love of my life? Ngee kangilngig! Bitaw uy, mura mag anghit kaayo paminawon. Hahaha! Ako pa nimo doy muapil ka’g Barangay Gwapo. Basin diay, who knows, mapili ka as Champion. Champion nga sabon ba. Jokens! By the way, walay way. Taympa, aha man diay ang imong Yayadubs? Wala namo?

Ay hinuon ingon nila walay poreber. Ikaon nalang na’g proven imong problema doy gamay pa ka’g magasto. Pero kung mu-push gyud ka, hala bira!

Panglumaya nang imong mga kras. Pagkuhag tulo ka udlot sa alugbati, isa ka litro nga singot sa isda, ug duha ka bagol. Hala paglapog ug sugdi na ang Urimos. Hala sige doy. Goodluck sa imong new career. Baboosh!

KURISWORD

Ania na sad mga higala ang horoscope nga gihimo para lang sa inyuha.

Ayawg kabalaka binuang ra’y atoa kung naigo ka sa mga linya.

Aquarius (Swimmer down the road) Hala paspas gyud ug langoy doy. Abi pa lang wala ka gilihi sa okoy nga kung mulangoy pina-spin moves pa uroy.

Sport: Swimming Lucky charm: oxygen tank

Aries (Ikaw na ba si Mr.Right? Orayt) Naa kay makaila karon intrams ging. Kyut sya nga pabebe gikan sa Nursing. Ayaw lang mo ug sobrag dikit kay ang baho sa imong tiil makaulit.

Sport: Jolen Lucky charm: Foot powder

Cancer (MVP: Most Vulnerable Player) Ayaw ug palabi’g dagan kung mudula ka’g basketbol kay basin mahul-os nang imong purol. Wala raba mo’y budget bisan pampalit nala’g medicol.

Sport: Basketball Lucky charm: baller sa liog

Capricorn (Your typical pulubi friend) Lisod idagan-dagan kung ang brip nato luag ug garter. Ayaw’g kabalaka kay naay stapler nga grabe ka-pawer. Brip nimo mu-last poreber.

Sport: Athletics Lucky charm: Tsinelas

Gemini (Dancing Queen sa Sibyer) Abi jud baya sa imong mama nga ga-Dance Sport gyud ka dear. Pero ang paglakwatsa man diay imong gi-career. Wala na ka’y sulod2x since first semester.

Sport: Dance Supports Lucky charm: T-bak

ni rizal

Leo (Lisod ni sya sabton, samot na’g saputon) Maglisod ka sa imong kontra sa Karate karon higala.

Nawong palang niya daan kahadlokan na. Busa ayaw gyud pag-duha2x, pagduol niya, dalunggan paaka.

Sport: Karate Lucky charm: Brass Knuckles

Libra (Mga pabhebhe, dagwayg Fresbhe) Kung magdula ka’g Frisbee karon, siguro-a nga daghan ka’g nakaon. Lisod raba tabangon nang player nga kakuyapon, samot na’g baho’g ilok agoy atong ilong dug-on.

Sport: Frisbee Lucky charm: pagkaon gamit frisbee para plato

Pisces (Mga runner kung makakita’g foreigner) Gusto unta nimo muapil ug swimming pero saon taman dili man gyud ka kabalo ana ging. Maypa mag-jogging2x kita pa’g mga chiks gapa-fling2x.

Sport: 1 meter dash Lucky charm: Pentel pen

Taurus (Mga Azkals sa Sibyer) Kung ang soccer dili madala’g sinipaay hala iagi nala’g pinaakay. Gamay raman sad na nga yayay.

Para sad inyong kontra dili na mulahutay.

Sport: soccer Luck Charm: Highcut na studs

ACROSS 5 7 11 13 14 17 19 20 21 22

S of CISO Lady Justice Olivia ________ Barba, College of Law sports committee head First name of the CITSC Sports Committee Head is _______ Derived from Latin words which means "within walls" Second A of COSAA Last name of CSG's current president The head of CSG's Department of Sectoral Representation is _______ Holds the Voter's Education Training of Facilitators The S in XSF "Higalaay" also means _______

DOWN 1 2 3 4 6 8 9 10 12 15 16 18

L of SLMIS He said “We will be giving a good fight for this year” The winning team of Manresa's Manrazing Race CIT's prevailing hashtag is _______ Evans Yonson is the XU _____ Director A great rival of The Law Lady Justice last year MUST's Varsity Team is named _______ CDO's Patron Saint Ex. Three-peat Won the Quiz Bowl Competition at Manresa A race through quiz bee in Manresa Ivy Quiño, Project Head of _______ sa Ateneo

To Join: Photocopy this Kurisword with your answers and submit your entry to TheCrusader Publication office at StC 302 with your name and contact number. Lucky participants will receive limited edition collectables.

Congratulations! sa mga winners sa last na Kurisword ug salamat sa ato mga sponsors(kunuhay) para sa mga prizes. The winners will receive a rice cooker with factory defect! Pero joke lang to bes! Just claim your reward at TheCrusader Publication office, StC 302 ug salamat sa mga nag-apil.. And Ang mga nidaog sa Kurisword aniagi aky si ten-tenenen-tenen!

Danna May Q. Poblete ug si Hilary Mae S. Najeal!!! “Tintiririntireeee! Booom Peyns! Congrats! Paburger na!

Virgo (mga fling pero kung maka-swing ang galing2x) Agoy inday ayaw gyud tawn pabebe’g swing anang bat. Basin maigo ka’s bola mukalit ka’g kalibat. Dili na dayon ka musikat.

Sport: Softball Lucky charm: Paddle

Sagittarius (Murag chess. Complicated ang fes) “Maayo kaayo ko mudula ug Chess.” Kung in-ana imong na feel, then you’re not feeling well. Undangi na lagi nag lanlan ang katol ug Ariel.

Sport: Chess Lucky charm: Helmet, para stronger defense

Scorpio Tarunga imong dula karon sa volleyball kay ang imo kras nagpaduol. Pina-tricks2x dayon para mahimo ka niya’g idol. Pag-abot sa bola sa imong nawng dayon ipauntol.

Sport: Volleyball Lucky charm: Studs