The Crusader Publication Super Magazine 2014

Contents 1 | Editorial 2 | Column 4 | Ending the Silence 6 | Security Check:

public safety inside the malls of CDO

7 | Gay Lingo:

from the margins to mainstream

8 | The Big Shift:

outcomes-based education

10 | Vox Internationalis 12 | Creating Boundaries:

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safety or risk?

14 | Innovations on Instruction: a look on the XU eLearn system

16 |

Beyond all comparison: XUFD 2014 Cover story

18 |

Christmas Stories in Ecoville

22 | The Switch

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23 | Onward to 2033:

steps to achieving the mission and vision

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24 | Investing in the VEST way 25 | On Stage:

an alternative path to learning

26| XU’s Underrated Music Scene 27| Going beyond the gates 28| Better:

Late or never?

30| Christmas stars made behind bars

31| Teenage Romance and Wattpad Stories 32| Transcendence

34| The surest things in life 35| Cora Contrabida:

The Cover

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he closing program of XUFD 2014 was more than about upbeat music and strobe lights: Everyone, regardless of gender, background, and race, reveled in that respite.

This holiday season, as Christmas lights shine brightly, remember that the people who make our community as it is but don’t receive much recognition also deserve to be in the limelight.C Words by Louren B. Aranas Photo by Jaymar T. Patana

the curse of maybe

36| Kuris Kuris

Crusader

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The official student publication of Xavier University- Ateneo de Cagayan Vol. 41 No. 4 October 2014

Editors Louren B. Aranas Editor in Chief, Andrew Rey L. del Fierro Associate Editor, Rico M. Magallona Design Editor, Nitszchia Cassiopiea Beroe A. Lozarita Managing Editor, Rezza Mae B. Tolinero News Editor, Samantha Isabelle H. Bagayas Campus Features Editor, Xian Louis Patrick R. Arcayera Local Features Editor, Marina M. Garcia External Features Editor, Ma. Isabella C. Agawin Sports Editor (OIC), Jericho B. Montellano Graphic Design and Layout Editor, Paul Clinton B. Balase Photography Editor, Marlon R. Boro Freehand Editor (Interim) | Finance Officers Rochelle D. Barros Auditor, Yoshabeth A. Valdehuesa Senior Finance Officer, Maria Gladys B. Labis Junior Finance Manager | Managers Ben Clark B. Balase Human Resource Manager, Jigo L. Racaza Office Manager, Marlon R. Boro Circulation Manager, Keith Obed J. Ruiz Video Productions Manager, Samantha Isabelle H. Bagayas Online Accounts Manager, Mchael D. Poncardas Senior Computer Systems Manager, Jo Marie Claire B. Balase Junior Computer Systems Manager| Staff Writers Romualdo Manuel C. Bacungan III (Trainee), Karl Patrick P. Bontanon (Trainee), Lorenzo A. Botavara (Trainee), Fatima Roqaya A. Datu-Ramos, Daphne J. Dujali (Trainee), Mary Antoinette M. Magallanes (Trainee), Marvin N. Pamisa (Trainee), Charissa D.C. Santiago (Trainee), James Edgar T. Sia (Trainee)| Staff Artists Evan B. Aranas (Trainee), Francis Ryan O. Avellana John Niccolo A. Aquino, Ben Clark B. Balase, Ian Kenneth O. Bicar (Trainee), Mirachelle L. Broñola (Trainee), Christian Loui S. Gamolo, Kimberly Mae V. Llano (Trainee), Jigo L. Racaza, Mark D. Rodriguez (Trainee), Keith Obed J. Ruiz, Jan Michael A. Sy, Lynette L. Tuvilla, Deanne Antoinette B. Yecyec (Trainee), Lorenzo B. Yecyec (Trainee), Venice Marie P. Villo Moderator Ms. Ann Catherine Ticao-Acenas For contributions, please address your articles and/or comments to: The Crusader Publication Office, Rm. 302, Student Center Bldg., Xavier University 9000, Cagayan de Oro City Circulation: 7, 500 copies

Editorial

Triumph of evil?

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Crusader

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www.thecrusaderpublication.com

Illustration by Christian Loui S. Gamolo

ecent local headlines have been filled with desolation and despair. News of violence such as bombings, shootings, and robberies has been increasingly notorious. The latest, a bus bombing in front of Central Mindanao University which claimed the lives of the innocent, mostly students, shows how violent acts like this could happen on the spur of the moment. How could this act of senseless killing and destruction easily occur despite the existence of authorities whose mandate is to prevent cataclysm in the first place?

For one, incidents that pertain to violence are preventable. Ironically, the authorities responsible for the prevention of such incidents only heighten alert levels after the incident has happened or if there are immediate threats. While some crimes are not within our control, some of them can be prevented if stringent measures are taken. The authorities who handle public security should maintain heightened vigilance at all times. It is not enough that every citizen be vigilant and careful if the people in authority are perpetuating complacency.

Our justice system struggles to keep up as crimes of violence continue to rise rapidly. Even at the local scenario, several crimes such as the Limketkai bombing on 2013, the SM robbery, and the various shooting incidents have yet to be served justice. The Maguindanao massacre on 2009, considered to be one of the worst election-related cases of violence in the country, is still waiting for justice that officials have vowed to serve many years ago. When these instances of violence end up forgotten, a culture of impunity is being strengthened.

With issues on complacency and a slow-paced system, the Philippine law enforcement and justice system needs to be continuously scrutinized. ClichĂŠ as it may seem, urging authorities to take action serves as a constant reminder that issues of security and justice are not to be taken lightly. If the system was suitably implemented in the first place, there would be no need to pressure authorities to do their job properly.

Peace and security are issues that concern all of us. A sense of safety does not just affect the individual but the whole community as well. The people in authority, being in the position, have primary responsibility to uphold the security standards and ensure that security measures are properly implemented. Even so, a firmer system and steadfast implementation do not guarantee success.

Maintaining peace and security requires a great deal of effort not just from the authorities but also from the people.

It requires the cooperation from all facets of society. A stricter system also entails a more tedious process. It may impart a few inconveniences; nonetheless, it is worth the trouble it serves for the better.

Violence never yields effective results. It does not solve any problem; it only creates new ones. The existence of danger will always be present. Whatever the reason behind the nonsensical acts of violence, nothing will change if we won’t do something about it. In the end, evil triumphs when good men do nothing.C

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Opinion

Lights and stripes

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Mariwer

By Marina M. Garcia

went out to the street the other day, and I realized that it’s full of green and red lights – and no, it’s not because it’s Christmas. I’m talking about all those traffic lights that seem to be shooting up like mushrooms around the city.

This is one of the many changes that have been implemented with Operation “Hapsay Dalan,” a traffic code which is supposed to improve the traffic in CdeO. Despite having a lot of brand new traffic lights, the ones in Divisoria sadly cater only to the needs of drivers. I was walking down Divisoria and I decided to cross, not jaywalk, because there were no incoming cars. Suddenly, an RTA (Roads and Traffic Administration) officer approached me and asked if I hadn’t seen that the traffic light was green--for the vehicles, I assume. Inside my head I said: “Excuse me, sir, but I should be checking the pedestrian lane and not the traffic light! It’s clearly non-functional that’s why I crossed.” After, he warned me that next time, he’d make me pay PHP500.

Also, the first provision of the aforementioned operation states that “everyone who intends to cross the streets should do so only through the pedestrian lanes.” So I ask, what pedestrian lanes?

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Speak

By Samantha Isabelle H. Bagayas

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They aren’t supplied in most streets. If someone wants to cross from the XU side straight to McDonalds, they’re already breaking the law.

However, although crosswalks are meant for people, they’re also supposed to be respected by the vehicles. They have to stop and yield to pedestrians who are aiming to go to the other side of the road.

It is not the first time (nor will it be the last) that I’ve seen people crossing to XU in a rush because taxis, motorelas, and jeeps wouldn’t stop.

A couple of weeks ago, I saw how a car stopped a few centimeters away from a pedestrian rightfully crossing the street, only because the driver didn’t bother to pay attention to the person in the middle of the street.

Seeing these things, I wonder: Why aren’t there penalties for drivers who don’t stop at pedestrian lanes when civilians are crossing? The City Hall has obliged us to learn how to cross by implementing costly fines; when is it going to teach drivers to respect the Land Transportation and Traffic Code?

Perhaps the RTA officers should pay attention not only to pedestrians, but also to reckless drivers who, unfortunately, characterize the Philippines.

Because CdeO can be in the process for hapsay, but its drivers still have a lot to learn. C

I’m (Not) Yours

y now, it’s almost too easy to witness overly sexual music videos and magazine covers that showcase the bodily assets of reality stars. While media has dulled people’s shock in seeing this kind of images, I remember the angry feminist in me spike when news broke out of a nude photo leak of several celebrities, including Jennifer Lawrence.

As Lawrence speaks out about the obvious breach of her rights, it’s common to see people commenting on the mistake in taking the pictures in the first place. How exactly is this wrong?

When did taking pictures of yourself, in ways you want only certain people to see, become wrong?

If this leak proves anything, it’s that people have become unaware of their quick dismissal of sexual exploitation. This thinking has become so prevalent that Lawrence almost issued an apology. What is there to be gained in putting victims at fault instead of focusing on the issue at hand?

Had it been a theft or a murder, people would have been quick to search for justice. But what difference exists between the wrongness in a sexual violation and a theft? To its core, both are crimes,

yet society perceives each differently. That the nude photos existed usually eclipses the person’s privacy being violated. Reasons like not being careful enough and her being a celebrity arise. Banks experience burglaries but it’s rare to hear someone say, “Why did you even have money in the first place? You asked for it.”

The truth is: No one asks for it. Even celebrities, whose lives are already deemed a commodity by paparazzi and showbiz sites, don’t ask for a breach in their privacy.

While I don’t recommend anyone to take nude photos of themselves, as this requires caution and preparedness for the consequences that might occur, these consequences do not apply to Lawrence in the same way because she never released those photos herself. What is inherently ours as human beings is our ability to do whatever with our bodies. This could be you, expressing yourself in the way you want to be seen, whether you prefer to do it naked.

Female bodies do not exist for the male to appraise. Recognize these sexual violations as they are because no one should have to apologize for the injustice done to their own bodies.C Vol. 41 No. 4 December 2014

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Chironex fleckeri

By Nitzschia Cassiopiea Beroe A. Lozarita

am a devout Roman Catholic. I love hearing news about the Pope, a miracle, or any event that deepens and strengthens my faith. I love going to mass, singing responsorial psalms, and receiving the Holy Eucharist every Sunday.

What I don’t love, however, is how the Roman Catholic Church constantly tries to meddle with governmental issues.

The separation of Church and State is stipulated in Article 2, Section 6 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution. This principle is said to be inviolable, thus the Church must not interfere with the affairs of the state and vice-versa.

Though it is true that the Church does not have any legislative power, it is undeniable that, in a country with a population that is 80 percent Catholic, the opinions of cardinals and bishops can influence the majority. Hence, this tells us that in one way or another, the Church still has some say on which bills get passed as laws and which ones go to the trash bin.

When news about the reimplementation of death penalty spread, the Church strongly opposed its passing and was eventually successful, as lethal injections and electric chairs are absent in today’s

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Lorem ipsum

By Louren B. Aranas

Crusader

The

Of church and contraception

Opinion

prisons.

When the Reproductive Health Bill was drafted, the Church once again showed strong opposition, emphasizing that the sanctity of life is being violated by the said bill. The disapproval was so strong that in a small parish in Bukidnon, female church-goers who used Intrauterine device (IUD) as contraceptives were prohibited from receiving communion.

I’m not sure how they found out that the woman used an IUD (and I wouldn’t want to know, I swear) but isn’t it quite ironic? For a religion that preaches about peace, acceptance, and forgiveness, that move was surely a low blow.

What if that woman only wanted to space her pregnancies? What if she had too many children so she desperately needed the IUD? What if her next pregnancy would put her on high risk?

Did she really have to choose between practicality and religion? Does using contraceptives, in any way, lessen one’s faith? I just don’t see the point. The choices of Filipino Catholics shouldn’t be limited by the Church’s own agenda.

To express one’s opinions in the hopes of influencing others is one thing. To excommunicate others because of disparity in opinion is another.C

Rainbow-colored glasses

hey say that same-sex relationships and transgender identities go against their culture, religious beliefs or traditional values.

My answer is that human rights are universal,” says UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay.

Allowing gay people to enjoy the same rights as heterosexuals does not equate to giving “special rights,” rather, it means allowing everyone to exercise equal rights as human beings.

Same-sex relationships, for instance, is met with strong opposition especially from the Church. People seem to forget that gay people are as capable of committing to relationships or raising a family. They often rebut that God made only man and woman for each other. Citing Bible verses as an excuse to discriminate people of different sexual orientation leads me to think of the irony of religion—how it is intended to unite people but can become a cause of divide instead.

Although the Philippines is touted as one of the most gay-friendly countries in the world, the discrimination experienced by homosexuals remains a bitter reality. For one, some gay people are

abandoned by their own family upon their coming out or are treated differently in the workplace.

Jennifer Laude’s murder case is a strong evidence of discrimination based on gender identity. Saying that her murder is justifiable—for her type of work, sexual orientation, or both—is like stating our gay family members and friends deserve such attack, too.

It also doesn’t help that local media portray them only as cross-dressing beauticians who serve as a comic relief—as if forgetting that gay people can be productive members of the society in ways other than styling people.

Perhaps I feel strongly about issues that concern them primarily because some of the people I trust most are members of the LGBT community. I cannot imagine declaring that I love them, followed by a condition: “I’m fine with gay people as long as they aren’t involved in a relationship romantic in nature.” The degree of hypocrisy that come with such statements is appalling.

At the end of the day, behind masks and labels, we are all people who deserve to love and be loved.C

www.thecrusaderpublication.com

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By Fatima Roqaya A. Datu-Ramos

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ugust 3 2012, Friday, I will never forget that day. It never crossed my mind na he ever had plans [to rape me] diay kay high school sweetheart lagi [mi].”

“Nagkita mi sa Mcdo at around 1 p.m. and nagsige mi’g huna-huna unsa’y buh aton, so ni ana ko nga mag-shot na lang [mi] and kumpyansa kaayo ko kay kabalo gyud ko he would not do anything bad sa ako. Kato nga time, ang Double A tapad pa sa Magic [eatery] sa una and didto mi nag-inom og Tanduay nga lapad ug pineapple juice,” Bella*, a third year sociology student, tearfully recalls.

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“I swear I only had two shots and the next thing I saw when I woke up kay dimmed lights and my half-naked body and then I passed out again.”

According to Bella, she was in and out of consciousness until her then boyfriend woke her up and told her it was already past eight in the evening. Bella checked her phone and saw several missed calls and text messages from her parents.

Afraid and bewildered, she picked up her clothes, dressed up, and ran as fast as she could away from that room.

“I didn’t care na nag barag-barag ko ug lakaw and nag-ulan. All I cared about was making it to

Coffeeworks kay my parents were there,” she says.

Her parents, assuming from her appearance that she had just returned from a wild college party, became furious. “My mom even slapped me but I don’t recall feeling anything and pag-andar sa car kay I passed out again and the next I know, naa na ko sa hospital.”

A series of tests found that Bella was drugged and that her hymen was recently broken. She says she still doesn’t know what happened during the hours she was unconscious, but the bruises on her neck and the soreness she felt in her thighs and legs were sensations she could never forget.

“I felt so dirty inside. When I woke up in

Vol. 41 No. 4 December 2014

Defining rape culture Rape culture is a term coined by feminists in the United States in the ‘70s and is used to describe the validation and perpetuation of sexual assault in society. It includes segments often seen on TV, songs, and jokes that trivialize rape. An example is the infamous “gang rape” joke that Vice Ganda, a comedian, made about news reporter Jessica Soho. It is also evident in casual conversations, such as commenting that a friend is “rape-able” when he or she looks more dolled up than usual. Unknown to many, rape culture is also perpetuated when people deny its existence and put the blame on the victim—as if such act is justifiable.

Rape culture does not mean that rape is accepted as part of a culture, or that it becomes a tradition for a group of people to follow. To put it simply, any act that condones rape or denies its presence in a particular community can be considered part of rape culture.

Crusader

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The perpetrators and the victims A common misconception about rape culture is that men are assumed to be rapists who lurk in dark alleyways waiting for the perfect opportunity to jump out and take advantage of women. The reality is that rape can happen to anyone, regardless of age, gender or orientation. More often than not, rapists can be people closest to the victim.

“I had several respondents who raped their children—biological children,” reveals Dr. Joey Marie Jegonia, a psychologist who conducted a

From the legal point of view The anti-rape law of 1997 redefined rape as a public offense and crime against person.

Meaning, the law considers that anyone may be a victim of rape. Anyone who knows an incident of this kind may file a case on the victim’s behalf and even if a victim drops charges, prosecution will still continue. Based on the anti-rape law, rape is committed “when a man has sexual intercourse with a woman through force, threat, or intimidation; when the victim is deprived of reason or is unconscious; through fraudulent machination or abuse of authority; and when the victim is under 12 years of age or is demented even if none of the conditions mentioned before is present.” Rape is also committed when a person “does an act of sexual assault through oral or anal sex or by inserting an instrument or object into the anal or genital orifice of another person.” To put it in layman’s term, if a person has to use force upon the victim, the act is considered rape.

Punishment depends on the circumstances surrounding the act of rape. Reclusion Perpetua, or life imprisonment, is imposed if rape was committed through sexual intercourse.

Rape committed through oral or anal sex is punishable by prision mayor (imprisonment for 6-12 years) or life imprisonment depending on the circumstances. *** In the first place, the very reason rape culture exists and thrives in our society is people refuse to acknowledge its existence— this seemingly innocent denial of such perpetuates rape culture. It’s time that people take a stand and help diminish rape culture. If you know someone who has been victimized, help them and encourage them to take proper and legal action.C *Name withheld by request of anonymity.

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Design by Francis Ryan O. Avellana

the hospital, I don’t think they gave me a bath so nag-stay sa ako ang baho sa yosi [and] sa Tanduay. I smelled it in my hair. So I went sa CR and cut my hair. I cut it all.”

Not wanting to relive the pain and horror of the incident, Bella chose not to take any legal action right away. Her parents decided that filing a case might tarnish their daughter’s reputation and even jeopardize her life. Instead, her family devoted their time and effort to making Bella feel safe and normal again. “Without my parents, my family, most especially my God, I don’t think I would have survived,” she adds.

‘You were asking for it’ Many people share the same story with Bella but because of stigma attached to being a victim of sexual assault, they prefer to keep mum instead. They carry this heavy secret with them for the rest of their lives and will probably carry it with them to their graves. The most common manifestations of rape culture are victim-blaming and slut-shaming: “Mao na, sige man og short shorts,” “It’s the way she carries herself, kinsa ma’y mu-respetar ana niya?” or “Nakig-inom gani, expect na dayon na mahitabo na.”

Instead of helping the victims overcome a horrifying and life-threatening experience, these comments place undue pressure on them, which may even shame victims into reporting to the authorities. It took Bella two years before she could share her experience to anyone outside her family because she was afraid that people would blame her and look at her differently.

study on rapists. “May nara-rape din [ng] incest, not perhaps [by] the father but perhaps an uncle—the brother of the mother or the brother of the father—or cousin, and so on. So naisip-isip ko na it comes true to anyone, hindi siya specific in terms of age, social-economic status or even the educational background. It can happen to anyone, the person can be a perpetrator whatever he is,” she adds. In Bella’s case, she was raped by her long-term boyfriend—someone she never would have suspected of doing something so horrible to her.

cungan III

By Romualdo Manuel C. Ba

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Design by Ben Clark B. Balase

act: Crimes occur every day. Even with the presence of security officers, such activities can still happen, and busy places like shopping malls are no exception The question is, how safe are we inside our shopping malls?

Complacency vs. insecurity On July 22, a robbery took place inside SM City CDO, taking an estimated amount of PHP 2 million from a jewelry shop. Using hammers and grips bought from a hardware shop also in the mall, the burglars smashed glass cases and stole the jewelry inside. Julie*, a mall-goer, was in the mall when the robbery occurred. “We were eating when we heard the gunshots. We were very afraid kay grabe kaayo ka strong, and then we realized the men who fired the guns were in the vicinity,” she says.

Though SM City CDO is touted to be a highly secure business establishment in the city, it is questionable how the men, armed with guns, could enter the mall, swiftly loot the jewelry shop, evade attack, and escape the premises without much resistance. As of press time, the men responsible are not yet captured and could still be roaming the city. Is complacency the major contributing factor to this near-perfect heist in the mall? Or is it simply the mall’s lack of security?

The public’s standards Almost every mall in the city has similar security features: full-body metal detectors in every entrance, security guards performing body and baggage checks to every person entering the premises, and K9 security dogs that can detect bombs and illegal drugs. Strategicallyplaced CCTV cameras also monitor and record the activities inside the mall. All of these factors contribute to the level of safety that mall-goers feel when present in the mall.

Rose*, a senior citizen who frequents Ayala

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Centrio, Gaisano Mall, and Ororama CDO, opines “Dapat dili pasagdan jud sa mga guard ang ilang responsibility. Basi’g taman ra sila sa pag-check sa entrance and exit pero wala na dayon sila kung naay emergency.” Also, mall-goers who frequent SM City CDO have noticed that the mall’s security checks have gotten stricter and more meticulous.

XU: a safe haven?

With the safety of malls in question, what precautions does the University take to ensure our safety? Standing at the gates of the University are the security guards. Armed with wooden sticks and handheld metal detectors, they inspect everyone that enters the university. They are present in every entrance and exit of the school.

A total of 50 guards are in the campus: 26 from En Visage Security Agency who takes care of the entrance and exit points of the school and baggage inspection, and 24 security guards from Right Eight Security Agency who are responsible for patrolling the campus. Also, a two-layered security system is applied in the University: the use of CCTV cameras and feedback from the XU

community. The question is whether this system is adequate enough to protect a population of 10,000 students plus administration and faculty.

According to an interview with some students, the security checks at the entrances and exits are not enough. “Igo ra man nila ginatugsok ilang stick, hawid-hawidan ang bag gamay, human na dayon,” comments Jeff*, an agriculture student.

“Tapos kung wala kay bag, diretso ra ka makasulod, wala na’y check-up sa imoha… Naa pu’y times nga strict sila. Ambot lang ngano.”

Recently, a vandal, sprayed in red ink that read “Mabuhay ang kabataang makabayan” was found at the 6th floor of the Agriculture building. The said graffiti, which was different from the usual vandals found in the campus, triggered discussion in social media among members of the XU community about security measures in school.

Col. Danilo Sotto, current head of the XU Security Office, states that human factor plays a role in the strictness or passiveness of the security guards. He says that though the guards come from different agencies, they should embody what is known as the 4 C’s: Christ-centered, courtesy, courage, and consistency. “We’re trying our best nga atong mga [secutiry] guard will value consistency; kung ano ang requirement niya sa pagpapapasok sa isang miyembro ng community, dapat ganito sa lahat.” *** We can never do away with harm or danger—it lurks everywhere. Alertness is not a responsibility reserved for security guards and law enforcers, but also for everyday citizens. Although we have a role to play in keeping our city, our loved ones, and ourselves safe, people in authority also have a greater responsibility. It may sound too cliché, but in the end, staying safe is what really matters.C *Name withheld by request of anonymity. **TheCrusader Publication has tried to contact SM City CDO’s security office for information on the recent robbery but has received no response.

Vol. 41 No. 4 December 2014

misa

By Mar vin N. Pa

Language in a nutshell Strictly defining language is an almost impossible task given that linguists have many differing theories on what it truly is. It is dynamic and it changes as society develops. The real significance of language, however, lies in its use.

Kleone Butaslac, an instructor of the English Department, believes that language is a survival skill—it enables man, as a social being, to connect with others.

“We learn through language [and] we express love through language. In other words, we live because of language,” Butaslac adds. In the same way, gay lingo is an avenue for the expression of life and self—each unique and innovative in its own way.

To become widely accepted, a language undergoes standardization, a process of conforming a language’s rules and nature to common standards. Similar to how words are included in the dictionary based on their realworld application, official recognition of a language depends on how it is used in the context of everyday life. In Merriam-Webster’s case, its editors allot an hour or two every day to read published materials in search of new words. This activity is called “reading and marking.”

Before and now Historically, gay lingo was known as swardspeak: a word coined in the 1970s by

director Jose Javier Reyes to movie critic Nestor Torre. It was replaced years after as essayist Ronald Baytan, in his essay “Language, Sex and Insults,” opines that the term sward these days has become anachronistic—terming it gayspeak instead.

Beth Calinawagan of the UP Department of Linguistics in Diliman says, “Tago ang pagiging bakla noon. Gay lingo was their secret code.” Nowadays, it’s commonly known as gay lingo and baklese among others. Its influence has reached the latest generation even—seeping into different media.

Gay lingo in the campus Gays, isolated and marginalized in the 1970s, have only recently enjoyed acceptance in mainstream culture. The use of gay lingo is no longer exclusive to gay people, sometimes trending amongst people of different sexualities.

Supernova*, a sophomore student, has some heterosexual friends whose tongues, too, are peppered with gay lingo. “Dili lang gay people ang gagamit sa lingo, kay even [heterosexual] boys and girls know a word or two about it.” He adds, “Joker and tsada biya jud siya [gay lingo] paminawon.”

Apart from using it for secrecy and humor, gay lingo, according to freshman Yann Famas allows him some freedom in a society that he feels judges and criticizes him too much. “There’s freedom when I use gay lingo. This importance allows me to say out loud things which only few know.”

Despite their differing views on the purpose of gay lingo, both students agree that it is easy and adaptable. “To translate words into gay lingo is to literally reverse the spelling of the word lang jud and articulate it with appropriate diction,” notes Famas.

Common words include noak (eat), mutogs (hungry), pepa/shofa (beautiful), bangladesh (to defecate), bet (object of admiration), Crayola (cry) and edj (no). Gay lingo also associates feelings and characteristics with the names of famous people: Hagardo Versoza (haggard), Rica Peralejo (rich), Joross Gamboa (pregnant), Shakira (shocked), Stress Drilon (stressed, from newscaster Ces Drilon) and

Source: “Let’s talk baklese” By Bum D. Tenorio Jr. (http://philstar.com/) ,“Language Standardization” By Richard Nordquist (http://grammar.about.com/), “Swardspeak: A Queer Perspective” By Sonny Catacutan (http://academia.edu)

Tom Jones (hungry), for example. These words, accordingly, never go obsolete. They only get reinvented, never redefined. *** To the members of the LGBT community, gay lingo has become more than a form of entertainment. It has become their identity; a unique way of depicting their innate creativity. In a culture punctuated by stigma and tolerance— but never acceptance—of gays, gay lingo creates a truly liberating space where they can freely express themselves without fear of discrimination.C *Name withheld by request of anonymity.

Design by Jericho B. Montellano

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t’s difficult to stay near a group of foreigners and try to understand their language.

Nowadays, however, it has become equally difficult to stand near a group of Filipino gays and desperately try to catch the gist of their conversation.

Most of them use gay lingo—a colorful and dynamic language which Filipino gays generally switch into to hide intimate conversations from unwanted eavesdroppers. The words come from pre-existing languages, but their meanings are different from the actual meaning of the root word; something peculiar especially to those unfamiliar with the language.

cbe obe T

he mere mention of the word ‘classes’ usually brings to mind long lectures by professors while students are tasked to listen and take notes. By 2018, however, students are set to experience a different kind of learning as XU plans to fully implement outcomes-based education (OBE). This change in curriculum means learning in the classroom is expected to be more “student-centered,” thus expecting more participation from the student.

Basics of OBE OBE, in a nutshell, is an approach to education that is “results-oriented thinking.” Among its many advantages is self-directed learning. Because students know what they are trying to achieve, they have a greater sense of responsibility in learning. For example, a medical program has specified outcomes such as “ability to use research to plan, implement, and evaluate concepts and strategies leading to improvement in care.”

According to Academic Vice President Lina Kwong, OBE is scheduled to be implemented by 2018 when graduates of the K-12 basic education program will have enrolled in

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by Louren B. Aranas and Lorenzo A. Botavara with reports from Andrew L. del Fierro

Vol. 41 No. 4 December 2014

college. The academic council, headed by Kwong, sees that each college is preparing for OBE and the process will be overseen by a committee responsible for planning the new curriculum. The committee will be headed by the Acting Dean of the College of Engineering Hercules Cascon.

Implementing OBE entails clarifying the institution’s mission and vision, which XU has recently revised. “What’s important now is establishing the goals of each college and based on the goals of each college, we now determine the different outcomes,” says Dr. Agaton Panopio, Jr, Assistant Dean of XU Jose P. Rizal-School of Medicine.

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All geared up?

Needless to say, an overhaul in curriculum requires adjustments and increased effort from the side of the teachers. Panopio states, “Muchange ilang teaching and learning strategy to a certain extent because there are certain outcomes that you will never be able to measure or develop using only lectures.”

A faculty development committee, as appointed by the academic cluster, is responsible for training the educators. The committee gives them different modules as majority of the teachers’ past trainings focused primarily on their specialized subject. Now, trainings have emphasized more on the efficiency of the non-education graduate teachers in imparting knowledge to the students. Normally, education graduates are most effective in carrying out teaching and learning strategies in class, while graduates of other courses who are in the academe struggle in teaching despite possessing wide knowledge in the said field.

Delosa says, “Teachers should be able to communicate that these [new standards] are now the assessment evidences that we want to really measure if we are getting them to the right outcome that we envisioned them to achieve; a little shift from traditional assessment of the ‘paper-pencil’ to performance-based.” Delosa believes the implementation will be a success, particularly in XU, claiming that the teachers’ “constructivist nature” would see them through.

Dapanas, on the other hand, comments that the University has yet to overcome many challenges before successfully adopting OBE.

*** While grades may matter in securing a decent career and are a symbol of one’s diligence, straight A’s could mean significantly less if the student simply follows what he or she is told, instead of employing actual critical thinking. Hopefully, this shift to OBE will live up to the essence of being in school—that actual learning is prized over a mere passing score.C Source: “Outcome-Based Education” by Margery H. Davis (http:// utpjournals.com)

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Design by Jericho B. Montellano

Effect in the classroom The shift to OBE from competency-based education includes putting more emphasis on the students’ experiences and their situation after graduation rather than on written exam results.

“We also have to have a change in assessment tools, so that assessment tools don’t have to be confined only to written exams,” Panopio states.

These tools will not only measure expertise on the subject but also communication skills, teamwork, and critical thinking. Aside from utilizing a different approach to measuring knowledge, the requirements will be more varied.

With OBE, the teacher facilitates and enriches learning rather than becoming the only source of knowledge. “In the traditional curriculum, the teacher decides on everything. The teacher lectures and after the lecture, students are assessed in the form of written exams,” Panopio explains. “In the lecture, let’s face it, students are passive unless you make the lecture interactive. So if the students are passive, how will they be able to develop communication skills?” Small group discussions, he cites, are a way of honing students’ communication skills. Meanwhile, Kwong recalls, “The old curriculum, if you were at our time, it was mostly lectures. It looks like it is not even student-centered. It’s centered on how the teacher wishes it to be done but does not consider what the students are feeling.”

While several courses—such as nursing, dentistry, physical therapy, and psychology—will greatly benefit from OBE, this curriculum may be less of an advantage to other fields of study.

Referring to liberal arts curriculum, Panopio says, “If ever the outcomes will be specified, it will restrict their potentials to develop other outcomes that they want.”

Going global Aside from it being a mandate of the Commission on Higher Education, this shift is for the University’s ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) integration. Among the undergraduate colleges, the College of Engineering is the first to implement OBE especially because of the Washington Accord.

According to former College of Engineering Dean Eliseo Linog, Jr. “[The] Washington Accord is an accord that the countries have already signed, wherein our graduates can practice in Southeast Asia without any borders… If I am an engineer here in the Philippines, I will be competing not only with my co-Filipino engineers. I will be competing with Malaysian engineers, those in India, etc.”

Signed in 1989, the Washington Accord enables graduates of programs accredited by any of the signatory bodies to be recognized by other bodies as having met the academic requirements to practice engineering. Panopio adds that, in the case of engineering students, they can work anywhere in the ASEAN region as they have the same specified outcomes. It allows graduates, then, to compete globally.

As stated in CHED Memorandum Order 46 Series of 2012, research suggests that the lack of a pool of graduates with critical thinking, technical, and behavioral competencies are among the factors constraining the invigoration and optimization of the Philippine manufacturing and service sectors. “We have to respond to the call of times, like in the world stage. We have changes,” opines Jovelyn Delosa, Dean of the School of Education. “One [of those changes] is the ASEAN integration and the global call for quality, that constant challenge of quality, and we have to be up to par [sic] or even beyond what our vision is—to be leading and to be very good.”

Many question the old curriculum’s ability to produce globally-competitive individuals. “I think we are products of CBE (competency-based education),” states Alton Dapanas, President of STREAMS (Supplementary Training to Reinforce Education of the Academically-gifted but Marginalized Students) XU-Pathways to Higher Education. “CBE is specific but when it comes to outcomes [based education], mas specific pa gyud siya.” He believes that the skills possessed by students having graduated from the old curriculum do not conform to many employers’ standards, especially on the global market, which is why OBE is being attuned to the Philippine context.

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By Marina M. G

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s of the second semester of AY 2014-2015, 71 non-Filipino students are enrolled in XU. Some of them have been in the Philippines since high school while others have chosen to continue their studies at XU, or to stay for a short period of time because of exchange student programs such as the AFS Intercultural Programs.

All of these programs are coordinated by the Office of International Cooperation and Networking (OICN) which is headed by Elizabeth Enerio, Director of the OICN, and Grace Casiño, School Representative. The OICN aims to connect XU with international institutions and effectively link the University’s students with the global community. How, then, do foreigners truly experience life as a student in a community with culture and practices different from theirs?

Reine Cabreira BS Marine Biology-3 Country: USA Type of Visa: Resident Alien Duration in XU: 3 years

Design by Rico M. Magallona Photo by Ian Kenneth O. Bicar

Rajesh Pandey BS Mechanical Engineering-2 Country: Nepal Type of Visa: 9F (Student Visa) Duration in XU: 2 years

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Reine Cabreira doesn’t consider herself an international student because she grew up in the Philippines. However, she still has to undergo an immigration process to get her Resident Alien Permit and go through the OICN. During her stay in XU, she has not noticed significant changes in how the office operates. Although she knows other international students in the University, she states they’re not very close.

According to Cabreira, the OICN needs several improvements to better service the Xavier international community. “I wish the OICN would make our academic requirements clear to us and to our enrollment evaluators. I was once enrolled in NSTP even though it was not required and until now, I am not entirely certain if I will have to make up for the units,” she says.

Despite being in XU for more than two years, Rajesh Pandey shares that he does not feel as welcome as he did in his college experience in London, where he took his first degree. He points out that in his previous university, he was never treated like an alien and was not the center of attention. “Should it even matter of [sic] where you are from? I mean, isn’t being human enough?

We are here trying so hard to cope up [sic] with a culture which is so new to us, and instead of helping us, it’s sad sometimes to know that you are actually being joked at when you try to mingle in,” he says.

He believes that while the University welcomes international students, there is still much room for improvement. “If the home students would welcome us in not so weird [a] way, which happens almost every time, we international students would probably start coming out of our shells too.” His relationship with other international students is almost nonexistent, and he thinks that a social gathering among the international students of XU would promote interaction between members of the community. “It would really be nice, if we would have some sort of a club or something which would be exclusive for the international students,” Pandey suggests.

Regarding the functions of the OICN, he confesses that it couldn’t be much better. Casiño’s help is helpful since, according to him, “it would never be the way it is now without her.”

When asked for suggestions for the OICN, he expresses that Casiño and Enerio are hard at work in making the foreign students’ lives easier. However, he feels as if the international community in XU lacks a definite identity and urges the said students to interact more with their peers.

Vol. 41 No. 4 December 2014

Valerie Chudi-Arinze came a long way from her homeland to pursue her degree in Chemistry. She has friends in other schools around the Philippines who tell her about activities organized for international students in their areas and how much the students enjoy them even though the programs cost extra fees. These activities allow foreign students to connect to other international students and increase awareness of the plans of the international community in that area.

The lack of these activities in XU frustrates her and she attributes the low number of international enrollees to the strictness of the admission of foreign students.

She expresses a desire to see a more welcoming environment in XU so that “more students from [sic] worldwide [could] come to join and get the best out of it.”

Regardless, she thinks that the OICN has improved in terms of visa extension and enrollment since her arrival.

Louise Foulon came to the Philippines because of her uncle, a Catholic missionary who lived in Parañaque for 50 years and helped Filipinos who suffered from leprosy. Her uncle, being one of her role models, sparked her curiosity about Philippine life and so she decided to follow his steps to discover what made him stay for so many years. She says, “Now I’m here, I start to understand why he stayed here for so long. It’s more fun in the Philippines!”

She is satisfied with OICN’s performance due to her feeling at home in the University since her enrollment. “They help us a lot with our papers for immigration and if ever [we have] other concerns we can always count on them,” she states. Regarding her interaction with other foreign students, she comments that she scarcely talks to other international students, mostly due to them not belonging to the same program as her. However, she enjoys talking to people from other cultures as it broadens her perspective.

Her experience as an international student in the Philippines is different from the life she had in Belgium, explaining that the Filipino culture focuses more on religion and values such as hospitality and kindness. “People look after each other, while Belgians are more independent,” she adds.

Foulon says the differences between her experiences here and in Belgium make her life more adventurous and she resolves to make the most out of her 10-month stay.

Valerie Chudi-Arinze BS Chemical Engineering-4 Country: Nigeria Type of Visa: 9F (Student Visa ) Duration in XU: 4 years

Louise Foulon ication BS Development Commun Country: Belgium m: Name of exchange progra grams Pro l ura ult erc AFS Int SSP, ith t(w Type of visa: Touris ) mit per special study ths Duration in XU: 4 mon

*** Having international students is a privilege that select institutions enjoy. The richness of meeting people of different cultures, religions, and races helps people grow.

Culture shock is almost an inevitability for foreign students who come to the Philippines. It is highly recommended, then, that educational centers they are enrolled in provide venues which help them understand the culture and socialize with other students. In the same way, Filipino students can maximize activities such as cultural presentations to glean as much information as they can from people who live in different countries. Similarly, language barriers shouldn’t hinder one’s communication with the international students. Quench your thirst for knowledge by learning more about their country, culture, and reasons they like your country by interacting with them. Who knows? Maybe you’ll meet a long-time friend, which means you’ll have a place to stay when you visit another part of the world.

How cool is that?C Crusader

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By Rezza Mae B. Tolinero

long the Cagayan River, floodwalls will emerge which will force riverside settlers to relocate and start anew. Thousands of families will be affected, more or less fifteen barangays are involved, and one project will be established—the Flood Risk Management Project for Cagayan de Oro River (FRIMP-CDOR).

Plans and progress

Having experienced the brunt of typhoon ‘Sendong’—which is the worst flashflood in 50 years—the government saw a flood control project as a long-term solution. Also known as the mega dike project, FRIMPCDOR is a plan which the government has implemented to mitigate possible damage in flood-prone areas in the city. It is scheduled to begin in 2015.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) spearheads the PHP8 billion flood control project, which is expected to be completed on March 2022; PHP5 billion is for civil works while PHP3 billion is for resettlement. To be built along the banks of the Cagayan River, the project is funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) as part of their contribution to the city after Sendong’s devastation reached global audience in 2011.

With the project being implemented and funded by the Civil Defense and JICA, areas such as the Bonbon, Kauswagan, Carmen, Acacia, Balulang, Puntod, Calacala, Burgos, Consolacion, Nazareth, and Macasandig will be emptied of any residences and establishments that are nestled beside the

river stretching from Macajalar Bay to the Pelaez Bridge.

DPWH markers are now apparent in the affected areas, which are also referred as “no-build zones.” These zones are measured

by JICA based on where the floodwaters reached during the aftermath of ‘Sendong’.

The 12-kilometer flood-protection structure is projected to affect a total of 949 residential buildings, 117 private buildings, and 62 public buildings.

Should this project be implemented, several infrastructures will be affected.

Sandra Flores, spokesperson of DPWH, clarifies, “Ang pagbalhin and relocation is the concern of the city and local government unit. Ang DPWH igo ra muguba ug magtukod.”

She adds that the National Housing Authority (NHA) can help in giving houses along with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for any assistance.

Seeking assurance

The mega dike project has garnered mixed responses, mainly because it will entail demolishment of residential houses and relocation of residents.

“Personally, supak gyud unta ko kay dapat unahon ang tao [in relocating] pero since tao man gihapon ang mu-benefit ani, so dili nako gakakitan kung aha ko magpatunga. Pero ang ako lang gusto kay ang maapektuhan kay mahatagan og proper relocation and amenities,” says Dante P. Roa, barangay captain of Consolacion, one of the areas drastically affected by ‘Sendong’.

Through consultations by DPWH, effects

of the project were discussed and residents have been guaranteed that titled lots will be paid by the government. With this, Roa comments, “Gipasabot na sa mga tao [ang mahitabo] pero sa akong tan-aw kay dili siya [consultation] conducive [for discussion] kay daghan kaayo mga tao sa consultation nga gihold sa DPWH.” In Bonbon, for example, around 200 residents have opposed the construction of mega dike in the area as majority of them rely on fishing and nipa roof weaving— sources of livelihood that will be affected by the construction. “Once the mega dike is constructed, the relocation of the affected families to other places and the destruction of man-made mangrove become inevitable, and the existing government infrastructure in Bonbon would be demolished such as the four-year-old school building,” said Lope Matildo, a village official of Bonbon, in an article published in InterAksyon.com on June 2014.

On the other hand, Pauline Giani Montellano, a fourth year psychology student who lives at Burgos Street opines, “Ideally it would be great for us to be transferred to a safer place. But, the question is, could the government compensate as much as what we would lose? Because they should provide exactly what we’d have to give up.”

Sight for relocation site

“As of now, we already have five units available for transfer. Pero kung mahuman na among ongoing projects, then we can assess it

Source: “Reloc site identified for families affected by mega-dike” by Alyssa C. Clenuar (www.sunstar.com.ph)

“Residents along Cagayan de Oro riverbank oppose P5-billion mega dike construction” Philippines News Agency (www.interaksyon.com)

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already,” states Ramon Medrozo, community relations officer of NHA. He indicates that these five units are equivalent to five families that will be catered to for the relocation.

Medrozo explains the surplus of houses is necessary for the NHA’s future projects.

These include families whose houses are washed out by ‘Sendong’. According to him, “Kana’ng sa mega dike (project) na affected families, dili na sila with totally washed-out houses kay partially damaged ra na sila. In short, second priority ra na sila sa una pero karon priority na sila tungod kay kinahanglan na sa gobyerno.”

Together with the city government and Habitat for Humanity, Medrozo assures the public that the NHA is doing their part in finding resettlement areas.

In an article published in SunStar Cagayan de Oro, Teddy Sabuga-a, City Social and Welfare

XU Involvement

The FRIMP-CDOR, having a 25-year flood design scale, is identified to be ideal

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With this, a study is being conducted by the fifth year XU Civil Engineering students entitled, “Deterministic Flood Inundation Mapping along the proposed dike system of the Cagayan de Oro River: the ‘Sendong’ Scale Flood”. This project aims to delve deeper into the capacity of the dike in terms of the volume of water it can hold. Aside from that, it seeks to find out which parts of the river built along the

mega dike would possibly still overflow when typhoons as strong as ‘Sendong’ occurs.

According to Carl Ammiel P. Lapure, one of the proponents of the study, it would be best if a dam is also created as a second part of the flood control project. Dams can be used to regulate river level by temporarily storing flood volumes that can be released afterwards.

He says that having a dam will provide the people with security even under horrific storms like ‘Sendong’. ***

Considering the recent strength of typhoons, long floodwalls

are seen as the solution to assure the safety of Kagay-anons. This measure may have negative connotations however like the people facing quandaries like being homeless or living in undesirable conditions. While the FRIMP-CDOR has the safety of the people as top priority, they also need to be guaranteed of another kind of security— having decent replacement shelters for their families.C

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Design by Niccolo A. Aquino Photo by Kimberly Mae Llano

Development officer, said Barangay Balubal is the most feasible relocation area for around 2,000 families. He said, “There is a relocation site for them; Balubal is the model area. Logically, when you make a project where people will be affected, there has to have a relocation site for them, otherwise the project will be nonsense.”

for floods with intensities comparable to Tropical storm Pablo. However, flood intensities leveling tropical storm ‘Sendong’ requires a 50-year flood design scale. This means that should tropical storms identical to ‘Sendong’ hit the city, the dike may still overflow – making the project somehow half-baked.

“Uyon ko nga naay project nga mkaprotect sa tao, sama ani; pero gusto ko na among sa sabton kung unsa gyud ang dagan ani bantug among ga-studihan ni kay naa gyu’y mga pangutana na dapat tubagun,” says Dexter Lo, XU Engineering Resource Center (ERC) director.

By Xian Louis Patrick R. Arcayera and Jo Marie Claire B. Balase

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nnovation comes in various ways. It doesn’t, however, come on a silver platter. It starts off small, taking on basic steps. Eventually, with proper development and adequate application, it could grow and reach its full potential. XU eLearn, a reasonably innovative platform, has walked its baby steps in terms of providing new methods of learning.

Learning on the Internet With the start of the Internet age, several learning methods have been developed to aid education. One of these developments is the Learning Management System (LMS). LMS is a platform wherein educational resources could be administered, documented, and delivered. It allows teachers to hold activities and lectures, fostering learning through the use of computers and the internet.

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“XU eLearn is a Learning Management System where teachers can upload files such as resources and conduct quizzes and do online and offline activities.” says Shayryl Mae Ramos, XU eLearn administrator.

According to Ramos, the platform started in the XU Computer Science Department when an instructor used a web-based system called Moodle in which they can conduct activities and take quizzes. Moodle, a free open-source course management system, provides an organized interface for eLearning, or learning over the Internet. After a series of testing and utilization, the department decided to provide the same system for university-wide use. Once the system has stabilized, the department integrated their system to the whole university.

In 2006, the Xavier University Center for the Advancement of Teaching (XUCAT) handled

eLearn. It facilitated trainings on how to use the system. In 2012, CISO started to conduct trainings and at the same time, provide the technical support for eLearn.

The system was then branded as “XU eLearn” which, technically, is just a customized and personalized version of Moodle. As Moodle is an open-source system, it can be acquired and used freely. This is contrary to the common notion that the students are paying for it. The university does not specifically charge the students any fees for the usage of the XU eLearn platform.

Difference from SLMIS Most students associate XU eLearn with the Student Lifecycle Management Information System (SLMIS). However, as a learning management system, eLearn differs greatly from the SLMIS. These two systems, although having Vol. 41 No. 4 December 2014

Demystified issues In a survey conducted on 600 XU students, only 19.5 percent say they use eLearn. One factor that could be seen as the cause of low student utilization is the disregard of some faculty members to utilize eLearn in their respective subjects.

Some faculty members claim that reasons hindering them from using eLearn include lack of knowledge on how to use the system, slow Internet connection, difficult interface, and timeconsuming preparations.

However, Ramos debunks most of these issues. In fact, CISO conducts constant trainings and seminars on how to use eLearn. “Every semester, we set two or more training schedules.

We send invitation to faculty who wish to use eLearn in their class,” she says.

The eLearn interface is also modeled for easy access. In terms of ease-of-access, 67.83 percent of respondents say eLearn has a userfriendly interface. Ramos explains, “If you can use Facebook, then it’ll be easier to use eLearn because it’s web-based as well.”

Regarding the slow Internet connection, Ramos clarifies that eLearn is allocated enough bandwidth and that it runs inside the XU network; therefore, it loads faster than other websites.

“XU eLearn uses intranet, if you are within XU network, you do not even need an internet connection. But if you are accessing XU eLearn outside XU, then there must be other factors affecting the connection.”

Another reason for non-utilization of the system is that it doesn’t fit the teaching styles of the teachers. Also, it is found by some teachers as irrelevant to certain subjects in their curriculum.

Subjects that are requirement-heavy may find eLearn to be convenient. On the other hand, subjects which requires a great deal of application and hands-on approach may not need the use of the system.

Still, Ramos says, “Right now, we use XU eLearn to augment classes. For example, PE [physical education] classes can upload their resources like dance instructions, videos and tutorials.”

Password plights One main issue that concerns the students is the complicated password system of eLearn.

It requires an uppercase character, a numeric character and a non-alphanumeric symbol. Most students complain on forgetting their passwords, justifying their lack of patronage for the system.

However, Ramos explains that it is Moodle, not CISO who demands the long and complicated passwords. “Since Moodle is an open-source software, hackers can easily devise and get into the system. Hence, the Moodle developers set a complicated password syntax,” she explains.

The password reset process has also been made easy. “Actually, password reset has been easy with the XU student email. All student accounts especially XU eLearn and SLMIS use XU student email for password recovery,” explains Kim Francis Lopez, an eLearn support staff.

Outside-the-classroom convenience One of the main purposes of eLearn is to augment and support learning processes set outside the classroom.

The overall feedback on eLearn’s efficiency as an online tool shows that it can clearly extend the scope of learning beyond the gates of XU. On the aspect of convenience, 65 percent of the respondents say that eLearn is relatively accessible to them while 60.67 percent claim that eLearn is most helpful in terms of submission of requirements at home.

Additionally, XU eLearn offers an advantage when it comes to cutting down on costs for printed materials. Teachers can easily upload learning resources such as handouts, files, syllabi, and video links into the system. In case of absence, the teacher can also use eLearn to facilitate activities and lectures at specific hours.

Untapped potential Aside from the mentioned benefits, eLearn possesses great potential in enhancing learning modes. For one, XU could start offering online courses that is common for many universities abroad. Simulations can also be done although it would necessitate installing add-ons or plug-ins in computers.

Relatedly, survey results show that 70.83 percent of students think that eLearn has not been fully tapped by XU. Another 69.17 percent

acknowledge that eLearn is not enough to supplement the needs of the students. “For now, we are utilizing the basic features of XU eLearn and we are yet to maximize its full potential with time and support from the XU community,” expresses Lopez.

The statistics might be related to classrooms not being fully equipped to access eLearn during class hours. “We need to improve our learning spaces to cater lecture classes like the ones used in CS [computer science],” says Ramos. *** As a free system, the XU eLearn platform does offer promising outcomes. However, the lack of utilization and participation from the XU community can render it ineffective to a certain extent. If we aim to be at par with leading ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nation) universities, we have to continually update existing systems and accommodate state-of-theart learning approaches.C

Design by Jericho B. Montellano

the same purpose which is to ease the life of students, provide different functions.

The SLMIS is a management system which handles all the matters from admission, enrollment, and up to graduation. Examples of its functions include the enrollment process, and viewing of grades and class schedules. On the other hand, eLearn is a subject-specific system that allows teachers to make activities, assignments and quizzes. At present, eLearn is not connected to the SLMIS but CISO hopes to integrate the two systems together so that grades in eLearn will reflect directly to the SLMIS gradebook.

Beyond all comparison: XUFD 2014

Photo by Jigo L. Racaza

by Nitzschia Cassiopea Beroe A. Lozarita and Daphne J. Dujali

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n all modesty, this year’s XUFD is the best that we have experienced so far,” states Ivanell Subrabas, chairperson of the Xavier University Festival Days (XUFD) Committee.

Last year’s XUFD was reduced to a oneday event designed to be in solidarity with the nation’s grief over those who passed and were drastically affected by typhoon Yolanda. After the celebration, Subrabas, also the director of the Office of Student Affairs (OSA), expressed his expectations of the future XUFDs. “More than the festivity, we do hope that it will be more of a venue for gathering resources to do more significant efforts for the community; do things that we want to achieve, meet the expectations of the community, and to provide more substance to the event.”

With over 91,138 guests—XU community members excluded—participating in a span of four days, it is safe to say that this year’s XUFD has met, and maybe exceeded, the expectations of people inside and outside the XU community.

The celebration’s lingering aftertaste of fun and excitement gives people something to look forward to in the future.

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Vol. 41 No. 4 December 2014

Beyond exciting Just as the CSG started distributing planners containing the University’s calendar of activities, everyone was all smiles upon seeing the XUFD brought back to the usual four-day celebration. As December 3 neared, tarpaulins started appearing on lanes and hallways, and schedules of planned activities spread like wildfire on social media.

“I knew through Facebook nga daghan diay activities ang XUFD this year, even those such as biking, and to be honest, maka-excite jud siya,” shares Clark Louisse Sta. Elena Jr., a junior.

Activities which were taken out last year such as the horror house, fireworks display, and annual dance party were brought back. With these highlights back on the roster, verbal invitations among friends and acquaintances started flying.

Though fast and enticing, it was filled with eclectic colors and dancing stars which mostly held the promise of an experience beyond compare.

Owing to the recent launching of the revised vision statement of the University, Subrabas states that XUFD’s theme for the year should be appropriated to the community, thereby, hyping it up for further publicity. “What better way to do this than to make use of the celebration in order to reach out to a larger community?” he says.

Beyond masks and make-ups XUFD would not have been a major success had it not been for the climax of celebration.

Among the activities that gave life to the celebration, the Cirque du Mal (Circus of Evil)themed Horror House and the Beyond rave party caught people’s attention the most.

XUFD’s Horror House, famed for its capacity to inspire the most frightening of terrors, returned with a Cirque de Mal theme on its 10th anniversary.

“My experience in the horror house was fun,” Eyzaville Monteza, a sophomore education student, remarks. “Although I was quite surprised that it was not that terrifying because I expected more monstrosities from the house itself.”

According to her, her fear lessened as she saw the staff waiting near the entrance to the Horror House.

Erman Chris Baron, a sophomore chemical engineering student, thought something was definitely lacking. “Mas tsada kung kurat-kurat kay nag-expect baya ang mga tao nga pag musulod ug Horror House hadlukon jud,” he comments.

The Xavier University Psychology Society (XUPS) put together the Cirque du Mal. According to Project Head Chezter Coquilla, they had to face many challenges, such as internal

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conflicts, due to differing ideas and on the venue to be used. “Supposedly, ang Horror House sa Engineering building man gyud but the Xavier Building Development Team … wala sila nisugot,” explains Coquilla.

Despite the problems the Horror House committee faced, they were able to push through with the opening. “Our organizational process began through concept-making by all the officers especially the project heads, followed by brainstorming the materials and the people we will need for this project,” states Rosemarie Silmonet, member of the Horror House committee.

Beyond breaking exclusivity Another highlight of this year’s XUFD was the annual dance party. On the last night, people gathered in the University soccer field to take part in the rave party which, according to Dance Party Production Manager Jason Tadeo, was a success in all aspects.

Appropriated with XUFD’s theme “Beyond Character, Beyond Borders”, the rave party’s Beyond theme aimed to convey the message of breaking exclusivity and promoting unity through music. “It [the rave party] was successful in a sense that na-communicate namo ug tarong ang message,” says Tadeo.

On the night of the party, the “XU” or “Ateneo” label, often attached with elitism, was erased as members of the XU community and guests united as one through the power of music.

According to Ladylene Almanzor, a volunteer of the XUFD Tough 100, the organizers had ample time to prepare for the event. “Like a month before pa and I could really say priceless kaayo ang experience,” she says. “Though hago siya and all, worth it kaayo at the end na the people who attended enjoyed the event, especially ila’ng comments toward the event were also good,” Almanzor adds.

In organizing an event as extensive as the rave party, Tadeo shared that the organization process of the event was all but flawless. “Some problems kay kana bitaw small details like printing certificates, tabulation sheets for the judges, transferring materials to the field, ang supervision sa dancers pud while ga-blocking sila, [and] time management as well,” he says.

He adds that some volunteers may have forgotten the essence of volunteerism and professionalism. Nevertheless, the struggles that the Tough 100 volunteers went through proved to be worth the hard work regardless of problems that cropped up in the planning and organizing of the event.

Beyond bottles and papers Also noticeable during the celebration was the Mood Meter set out to determine how people’s XUFD experience suited them. Located behind the University Church are the metal containers for the moods Beyond Happy, Happy, Satisfied, Alright and Not so. People were encouraged to drop plastic bottles into the container that best described their mood.

“Overall mood meter to siya dili to siya trash bins lang,” states head of the Mood Meter Project, Kenneth Sy. “Siguro ang amo’ng lapses kay wala mi nagbutang og signs like only bottles lang ang pwede i-drop kay ang gibutang dadto kay mga basura na and all pero at least ang advantage adto, is on the brighter side mas daghan ang sa beyond happy [meter].”

This project was one of the events that helped determine the success of the XUFD because it gave people the liberty of expressing their mood in a convenient and innovative way.

Beyond expectations The celebration, which took around two months of preparation, received mostly positive response, making Subrabas jubilant. “Roughly, on social media, we can read a lot of positive reviews about the celebration affirming what we have promised from the start that this is indeed a celebration beyond compare.”

According to Julius Padla, a sophomore business administration student, this year’s XUFD was the most enjoyable he has ever experienced.

“Mas lingaw karon kaysa last year. XUFD 2014 is the best,” Padla comments. Sophomore student Hyeje Sumajit also feels the same. “With all the lights and entertaining activities, it was all worth it and the days were well spent with friends and loved ones.”

Feedbacks like these keep the committee driven to do better every year. “We’re grateful for the many students and alumni who have said that they have never been this proudest of their alma mater given their experience in XUFD,” says Subrabas. *** In sum, XUFD 2014 would not have been a success without the immense talent of the students and the generosity of people who gave their best in making the celebration an unforgettable event in the University’s history of the festival days. More than this, XUFD’s move toward breaking exclusivity greatly manifested the University’s sense of community all throughout the four-day celebration.C

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ChristmasStories in Ecoville

By Louren B. Aranas, Ma. Isabela Arcadia C. Agawin, Xian Louis Patrick R. Arcayera, Samantha Isabelle H. Bagayas, Andrew Rey L. del Fierro, Marina M. Garcia, Nitzschia Cassiopiea Beroe A. Lozarita, Rezza Mae B. Tolinero, with reports from Karl Patrick P. Bontanon

Photo by Jigo L. Racaza

Y

et another year, yet another Christmas at Xavier Ecoville. To this community, Christmas is a bittersweet memory—a season of giving that once took almost everything away from them.

But the people remain undeterred. Borne back by unceasing hardship, they continue to improve their makeshift lives; alone or with the help of their fellow refugees.

These are their stories.

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Vol. 41 No. 4 December 2014

XU student in Ecoville: Alexie Colipano, Jr. Alexie C. Colipano, Jr., a second year business administration student in XU, has a unique view of Christmas and its nature of giving. He shares, “Christmas is a preparation of welcoming Christ and freeing yourself from any problems or sins. It’s a time to give love and to give hope to other people.”

“Christmas is all about showing love and also doing all the things that St. Ignatius taught us, like we give ourselves to others and we must develop this sense of responsibility in our society,” Colipano adds.

He points out that Christmas after ‘Sendong’ is different compared to his past holidays.

Together with his family, he had fireworks, bountiful food and parties organized by his father during Christmas. Now, Colipano shares that they don’t celebrate Christmas as much as before. As the president of the Xavier Ecoville Youth Club (XEYC), he plans to make Christmas special by celebrating with his fellow youth members and other programs organized by his father.

Being the president of the youth club and a student entails balancing responsibilities. On Sundays, he serves the Ecoville Church and the XEYC, and completes his school work. He envisions to unite all youth in barangay Lumbia with XEYC as the pioneers.

“I have lots of responsibilities but I can handle this with the use of time management and not abandoning all the things, although many people tried to knock you down from your responsibility. They want you to just quit this…

It’s not [only] about the time, it’s all about the courage,” he shares.

Bag maker: Mary Jean Abejuela Mary Jean Abejuela, 32, used to work as a cashier in the Northern Mindanao Medical Center. Having decided to prioritize her children after being relocated in Ecoville, she resigned from her job. Now, she makes high quality bags for the PagBAG-o Project, a sewing social enterprise of Ecoville.

Although ‘Sendong’ was a tragedy not to be forgotten, she says the typhoon made her remember how to empathize during Christmas.

She says her saddest Christmas season was during ‘Sendong’ when she, together with her family, temporarily lived in Capitol Grounds. “I knew what it was like to live in the streets. I cried while watching a fireworks display because I realized we were homeless for the first time,” Abejuela shares in Bisaya.

While working as a cashier, she remembers looking down at children who were asking for

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alms in the street. “Makasaway bitaw ko nga, ‘Ngano man na sila, mga bata pinasagdan sa ginikanan.’”

The days after ‘Sendong’, however, offered a new perspective. She recalls seeing her neighbors beg for food as they had nothing to eat; fortunately, for her, some of her friends were kind enough to bring her food.

Abejuela’s plan of celebrating Christmas is similar to the one before the said typhoon hit the city—reunite with her relatives and feast over food they prepared together. “Para sa ako, ang Pasko malipay gyud ta bisa’g wala’y kwarta,” she says when asked of the meaning of Christmas.

President of XEHA: Alexie Colipano, Sr. “Ang Pasko mao ang panahon sa paghinatagay, sharing sa mga blessings og maghatag og kalipay sa mga kasilingananan na diin naa sa kalisud,” shares Alexie Colipano, President of Xavier Ecoville Homeowners Association (XEHA).

For Colipano, Christmas is not only the time to bond with his family but also with the bigger community. “Nag-prepare mi sa una og ukay-ukay og gipanghatag namo sa silingan labaw natong mga silingan nga mga naglisod,” he recalls how he celebrated Christmas in his former residence in Balulang.

As the head of XEHA, he does not only focus on making the mood for festive to his neighbors but also make the community a sustainable one.

With more than a year of service, he is proud to say that XEHA had established rules and regulations, board resolutions, and extension projects. Moreover, infrastructures such as daycare centers, basketball court, and wet market are already put up in Ecoville.

Although successful with these endeavors, Colipano says the challenges he often encounter are disagreements with the board of directors and inactivity of some members. Being a leader for him is to have great patience and to learn how to sacrifice, especially that being the president of XEHA is voluntary. With his term as a president about to end, he considers a re-election for him to continue serving Ecoville.

On the onset of Christmas, together with the association, Colipano plans to hold activities which cater to the interests of the community, such as Ms. Teen Ecoville and parlor games for the youth. According to him, this lineup of activities will prove that they can enjoy the holidays although they are still on the stage of recovery.

Senior citizen: Erlinda Pialagao When asked of the meaning of Christmas, Erlinda Pialagao, 62, answers: happiness.

“Christmas kay kalipay. Bisa’g walang wala, bisa’g

inani kami mga senior citizen. Wala naman gyud mi mga trabaho, suportado mi sa among mga anak…

Malipay sab ta ani’ng Christmas tungod sa pangidaron na inani.”

While she is grateful to have celebrated Christmas at this age, Pialagao can still remember December 2011 when ‘Sendong’ overshadowed her holiday celebrations. She describes how she was homeless days before Christmas Eve, hence, forcing her family to sleep on cold floors and thin mats.

Still, she looks forward to celebrating Christmas of which she has two wishes: “Ang amo lang kay matagaan og maayo’ng lawas ug grasya. Mao ra gyud amo’ng gipangayo sa Ginoo.”

This October, Pialagao became the head of the Senior Citizens Cluster in Xavier Ecoville.

Being the former secretary of the cluster, she realizes she is capable of leading the group as she had been accomplishing work which wasn’t part of her job description. One of the challenges she is facing is lack of participation of other senior citizens in Ecoville. “Kung magpatawag ko ug meeting, ang uban mu-anha ug ang uban dili. Dili na ko masuko ana kay kini mga senior citizens, kailangan gyud nato ayum-ayumon,” she shares.

She plans to gather all senior citizens; when the number of senior citizens will reach 50, Pialagao and the current members can officially make an organization for senior citizens in Ecoville. “Mu-tabang gyud ko sa mga senior citizens. Kalipay man sab nako na maka-tabang sa akong mga kauban.”

PWD: Susan Waggerman Enriquez For a blind person, Susan loves to look on the bright side. The President of Persons with Disabilities (PWD) in Ecoville, Susan Waggerman Enriquez, 53, has a rich Christmas history—equal parts joy and tragedy.

“When I was in Japan, it was the year 1987.

Entertainer and interpreter ako doon. Nandoon ako sa ginta ng snow,” she recalls. “I was covered in snow, I remember being very happy. I was 27 years old.” Her happiest Christmas memory ended with an allergy that forced her to return to the Philippines after four years of service, which eventually cost her sight.

Now, in the humble refuge of Xavier Ecoville, she struggles to recreate happiness for her daughter, Clarence Joy Enriquez, and her husband, Wilfredo Enriquez.

“If naa mi kwarta, ako gi-ingnan ako bana nga naa unta mi spaghetti og chicken,” Susan says as she smiles. “Maskin mawala na ang fruit salad, kung naa mi kwarta.” Fruit salad is her favorite treat.

When asked to elaborate on her plans

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Photo by Paul Clinton B. Balase

to celebrate Christmas, she shakes her head, indicating that their plans don’t amount to much.

“Ga-lisod na gani mi ug budget sa PHP100 nga kita sa akong bana sa isa ka adlaw.”

Her memories, however, afford her some much-needed respite—to a time before Sendong’s destructive touch.

“Sa una daghan kaayo mi handa na pagkaon, naa mi fruit salad, spaghetti, chicken ug daghan pa pagkaon.

Manghatag gud mi sa among mga silingan,” she recalls.

“Pero paghuman sa ‘Sendong’, wala nami handa.

Manghatag nalang amo’ng silingan ug pagkaon sa amo.”

Enriquez is unemployed and her daughter depends on Wilfredo’s income as a motorela driver to get through the day. Wilfredo is starting to suffer from polio.

Despite circumstance, this woman remains poised—unmoving in her simplicity. When asked about what Christmas meant to her, she gave this short reply: “Every day kay dapat Christmas, whole year round.” For Susan, one day isn’t enough time for people to give, to love, to forgive. “When Jesus was here, every day was Christmas for Him.” Development services: Vicenta Mota Vicenta Mota, head of development services, is bubbly and ecstatic for a 59-year-old. As her term as the head of the cluster ends on December, she has decided to put up an alacart stand to keep her busy and generate enough income for her family’s daily expenses. “Wala man gyu’y trabaho akong bana. Masakiton ba, dili siya maka lakaw-lakaw.

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Maulaw na pud ko sa akong mga anak, sige na lang mi nila’g suportahan,” she opens up.

She also speaks of the difficulty in earning money in Ecoville. “Sa amo’ng gi-gikanan, paniid namo dali ra gyud kaayong kwarta. Dinhi, Hesus Ginoo, wala koy singkwenta pesos (PHP50).” In her past home, she prepared spaghetti and biko for Christmas; in here, she has to settle with coffee and bread. Despite having to live a life quite different from her life in barangay Consolacion, she still has a positive outlook in life. “Sa pagkakaron, wala na ko’y laing mahanda para pagpasalamat sa Pasko sa pagkatao sa atong Ginoong Hesukristo kundi kaugalingon ko na lang.”

XEMPCO: Shirly Siarot Shirly Siarot used to spend her Christmas alone with her family. Now, she celebrates Christmas not just with her family but with a whole community. “Sa una, kami-kami lang family ga-celebrate og Christmas. Karon kay open na, by community na siya gina-celebrate,” she shares.

Looking forward to the decoration contest organized by XEHA, Siarot finds Christmas in Ecoville better than the celebration in her previous community. “Sa amo’ng block lang daan, nag-plano nami nga diha mi sa gawas then mag-bring lang ug pagkaon para salo-salo sa gawas.” says Siarot, who is also the chairperson of the Xavier Ecoville MultiPurpose Cooperative (XEMPCO). XEMPCO was established by the Livelihood Cluster to empower the residents and be economically independent.

The cooperative was able to operate livelihood arms such as wholesaling enterprise, microfinance, tree seedlings marketing, sewing and bag production, and manpower services. One of XEMPCO’s hallmark achievements was the opening of Xavier Ecoville Livelihood Center which stared operating on April 2013.

Siarot recalls how reliant she was to the XU facilitators when she was starting with her role in XEMPCO. “Sa permiro kay naa man gyud ang Xavier [facilitators]. Mura’g naa lang mo ana na role pero wala mo galihok kay ang Xavier [facilitators] man tanan ang ga-facilitate. So, murag ang posisyon, naa lang.”

In 2013, Siarot was officially elected as the XEMPCO chairperson. Now, with XU being less hands-on and Ecoville gaining more independence, she can confidently say they can already stand on their own especially with the trainings experienced. When asked how she is coping with life in Ecoville in general, Siarot shares, “Back to normal na. Mura’g wala naka nanghinayang kung unsa ang nahitabo.”

Student volunteers After two years of assisting Ecoville, Nestor Banuag, Director of Kristohanong Katilingban sa Pagpakabana (KKP), sees an improvement although he states that “some of them [residents of Ecoville] are still adjusting.”

At the same time, Banuag is worried of the sustainability of their livelihood because they are far from town and the people still struggle with Vol. 41 No. 4 December 2014

the same needs they had before their houses were washed away. Their sources of income are barely enough. However, with the help of the cooperative, these needs were partially covered.

Other concerns of KKP include the future support of the barangay to Ecoville when XU will leave the community in two years in hopes of making their lives more sustainable. Banuag also expresses concern regarding access to water, and the safety of the area. He suggests that “the government should do something about the whole barangay.”

Banuag insists that to help with community development, they have to think how to empower the residents and how they can stand on their own.

“I know that some of them want more effective approaches to sustain themselves,” he says.

Regarding KKP’s involvement in Ecoville, Banuag shares that even if XU won’t be fully hands-on anymore, Ecoville will always be a partner community. There, students have learnt how to apply and implement concepts learnt in the classroom and they have grown as people by listening to the survivors’ experiences.

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Ecoville when it’s not mature enough. “Strategic siya nga plano nga five years, nahitabo atong mga gi-visualize, kato’ng self-sustaining [and] selfgoverning [community].”

The team is implementing a system that would put XEHA as the top governing force, while the livelihood, food security cluster will be in charge of offering livelihood opportunities. These two clusters will helm Ecoville once the Team has withdrawn. They also hold more leadership and enhancement trainings, as it focuses on capacitating the members to become leaders.

If the majority of the residents has a family income that is above the poverty level, the team can conclude that Ecoville is a self-sustaining community.

“Hopefully, part of them nga kana’ng nasustain ang basic needs by that year. Siguro shared value system nga kung unsa to’ng gi-share sa Xavier, hopefully, ila gihapon ma-nourish,” Flores states.

“By 2016, they run as a community nga nakamove forward from past happenings. Dili man sa nalimtan nila to’ng ila’ng nahitabo sa ‘Sendong’ but they’re moving forward.” *** This Christmas marks the 3rd anniversary of the Sendong disaster and even now, the Ecoville community strives to support and sustain itself.

And yet, we see its efforts to stand on its own through the everyday acts of ordinary people.

People who, though still looking back on their stolen past, stand at the precipice of a brighter future.

They wish you the merriest, most blessed Christmas and a joyful New Year.C

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Photo by Jigo L. Racaza

Moving forward XEP was established not just to build houses but a community of ‘Sendong’ survivors.

However, how do you lead a large group of people in becoming a self-governing and selfsustaining community?

For Phillip Robert Flores, project coordinator of XEP, the long process led to six clusters— governance, peace and order, and environment; senior citizens; persons with disabilities; health and sanitation; livelihood, food security; values

formation. Upon the establishment of XEP, it was agreed that if the community is close to becoming self-sufficient by 2016, the project management team of XEP will withdraw and allow the community to thrive on its own.

“Dili permi ta nga naa sa ilaha kay gusto man nato nga makita atong gi-set na goal—self-sufficient, selfsustaining, ug self-governing. Dili nato makita kung naa ta dadto sa ilaha permi,” says Flores. “The way na gi-manage nato ang community is dili gyud siya forever.”

A common misconception of the team’s withdrawal is that XU will pull out its support to the community. As Ecoville is XU’s partner community, it will continue to hold outreach programs and activities. Only the XEP Project Management Team, which acts as the governing force in the community, will leave by 2016.

Flores expounds that the team takes on a government role. “Like kung na’y problem sa water, dili sila muduol sa government; muduol sila sa project management team. Mao siguro ang major adjustment kay amo gina-hinay-hinay sila’g integrate sa ila’ng host barangay. Hopefully, kung naa sila’y mga problems, dadto na sila mu-duol.”

However, the withdrawal of the project management team isn’t set in stone. The Executive Committee, comprised of Vice President for Research and Social Outreach cluster Hilly Ann Quiaoit, Governance and Leadership Institute Director Dixon Yasay, Lumbia Barangay Captain Wilhelm Valencia, City Shelter Head Ramon Fernandez, and Flores will decide if Ecoville is able to support itself without the team.

Flores says XU is responsible for forming the community, hence, it will be difficult to leave

By John Kenneth E. Ching and Fatima Roqaya A. Datu-Ramos As the ASEAN integration looms, will XU follow the lead of some universities and colleges in making the switch of the academic calendar from June-March to August-May?

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Design by Keith Obed J. Ruiz

n 2015, some of the country’s biggest universities will start their academic year in August, looking to maximize the upcoming ASEAN economic integration, which brings various economic and academic opportunities available to Filipinos in neighboring countries.

The Philippines starts classes in June; most countries start the school year either in August, September or October. The switch promises a better facilitation in terms of student movement between Filipino universities and foreign partner institutions.

Synchronization The biggest universities are set to change their academic calendars starting the next academic year.

Among them is Ateneo de Manila University, the only one from the five Ateneo universities set to participate. XU President Fr. Roberto C. Yap, SJ says, “Ateneo de Manila is making the change because they have clear internationalization targets.” He adds that these targets involve having a percentage of students going a semester abroad to complement their Ateneo education, and establishing academic programs to have internationalization compartments.

According to Yap, XU—as well as the other regional Ateneo universities—isn’t ready for that yet.

“We are not yet in the stage where we can actually say that, ‘This is our internationalization strategy, [these are] our targets. We want this number of international students, international teachers, how will we get them? How will we recruit them? How will we make our programs more international?’ We have not yet done that planning yet. So, that’s why it doesn’t make sense to change school year when you have not done your internationalization strategy.”

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Put on hold At this juncture, this remains to be a farfetched goal for XU as the University administration focuses more on handling the challenges of the ASEAN nations’ closer cooperation starting next year, as evidenced by the recent revision of the University’s mission and vision statements. They also have their hands full on getting the University ready for K+12.

XU’s Vice President for Academics, Lina Kwong, PhD, says that the move won’t affect the curriculum of the University. “You still have the same, you know, hours in a [semester],” she maintains. Rather, any change of curriculum is being brought by the shift towards outcome-based education, which is independent from the issue of scheduling.

However, it will affect students who earn academic grants to foreign universities, where they will spend a semester or two abroad. Citing the case of an Agriculture student, she relates, “Na-delay iyang graduation kay wala man ta’y ana na i-credit, kay ang iyang gi-adtuan didto kay it’s really different [from our subjects here].” Likewise, the move would also affect foreign exchange students as they would also take a term off so as to enroll into XU after their transfer from their mother universities.

Gathering XU’s pulse An electronic survey conducted by the University about the idea of changing the start of the academic year was generally met with approval from the XU community. As reported by the administration, 60 percent of the respondents are in favor of such a move. Other specifics in that survey, however, are not open for disclosure as of this moment.

Despite the apparent support gathered from

that sample, the idea is, as far as XU is concerned, still in its infancy. Yap admits that it was among the discussions conducted between the University’s Board of Trustees and the administration. He says that the Board’s decision not to move the schedule depends on various factors.

He cites, for example, that XU would have to install air conditioning units in classrooms for when regular classes be held in the summer months. “You know, Ateneo de Cagayan, if we shift, will have to do that. But then last summer, how many hours of brownout did we have? […] Two, four, six hours, so even if we put aircons in the classrooms, they won’t run because there’s no power.” *** So far, XU is adopting a wait-and-see approach regarding the developments of how the move is to be implemented and maintained by the Manila institutions, especially those of Ateneo de Manila.

Yap relates that XU has not even made plans regarding that switch, saying, “So it’s things like that, it’s not just the simple decision of when we’ll begin classes, there are really many, many adjustments that will have to be made.”

The administrators maintain that this will be beneficial for the XU community as a whole, and that it will serve to strengthen XU’s linkages with its international partners. For the students though, it is yet another one of those changes looming on the horizon as we focus on passing the subjects and continually wishing for better and more fulfilling academic instruction.

For all parties concerned, one thing is for sure as of the moment: we do have bigger fish to fry.C

Vol. 41 No. 4 December 2014

By Samantha Isabelle H. Bagayas

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s the revised mission and vision statement paves the way to a slowly evolving and ambitious University, changes are bound to happen to achieve its goal of globalization. With XU’s vision of becoming a leading ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) university forming leaders of character by 2033, only 19 years are left to accomplish such a heavy task. What can students expect from the new mission and vision?

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Sculpting leaders The revised mission and vision emphasizes on forming competent leaders while instilling Jesuit ideals. The Mission and Ministry cluster is entrusted with overseeing the non-academic formation of the administration, faculty, students, and alumni. “Among many aspects, I’d like to take that aspect on the formation of character because I think that really distinguishes us; that’s what makes us distinct as a university,” Irene Grace Guitarte, Vice President of the Office of Mission and Ministry, opines.

To allow formation, the cluster has placed the University Ladderized Formation Program, which requires students to take core subjects handled by the Freshman Formation Program (FFP), National Service Training Program (NSTP), Religious Studies Department, and the Psychology Department. These departments offer socio-cultural and spiritual formation: socio-cultural formation is achieved through FFP, NSTP, Person Program, Ateneo Guided Apostolate in Pastoral Engagements (AGAPE), while spiritual formation is achieved through prayer sessions, processing sessions, and retreats.

“We are saying that we are having a Ladderized Formation Program because we would like to ensure that… we can track the formation programs of our students. It’s also well-planned, so everyone will have a chance to really be followed up in terms of the content of

what they will be getting since first year until they reach fourth year,” explains Guitarte.

Bridging the gap University President Fr Roberto Yap, SJ, explains that a university strategy map, which details the plans of XU to achieve its mission and vision by 2033, is being drawn up. It will also serve as a basis for the strategies the other colleges will create. He says the map will be prepared in two to three years; it will last for at least 19 years, hence, deliberate planning is needed to secure the path of the University. While the strategy map is in its planning stage, XU has set out awareness campaigns on the revised mission and vision by putting up posters around campus.

Yap states that students can contribute to achieving the mission and vision through student organization aligning their activities to the goals of the University. “So two things: awareness and appreciation of the vision and mission. And then see alignment,” he explains. “How can we align ourselves and say, ‘What we are doing: we can do many things as students but we can start to prioritize and say, we do this because we believe it helps us achieve the mission and vision.’” *** “I think the better question should be: Is it guiding our journey? Or are we doing something else, which is not anymore sort of guided by this?

If that’s the case, then it’s wrong. You’ll have to ask, ‘Are we still faithful to our mission and vision? That the things we are doing are helping us at the mission and vision?’,” Yap reflects on its importance. “The nature of the mission and vision are like the stars—we don’t reach them but we’ll always be guided by them.”C

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Design by Rico M. Magallona

Making the change Academic Vice President Lina Kwong acknowledges that changing the curriculum— from competency-based education to outcomesbased education (OBE)—will prepare the University for the ASEAN integration of 2015.

“You cannot just have all your students thinking very micro. You have to think ASEAN in 2015.

So if you really have to open the market in 2015, you have to think about how well our students… will stand.”

“The students can expect that whatever they learn here, they can relate back to something which is outcome-based. Students will expect that they will learn more,” Kwong states on the practicality of OBE. “The University will feel that they are actually successful in giving education, proper education to our students.”

She believes the University will have achieved its mission and vision once all of its programs have attained PAASCU (Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities) accreditation. The accreditation is a measure of the University offering high-quality education—a factor needed in becoming a leading ASEAN school.

According to Kwong, three colleges—College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Business and

Management, and the School of Education— have been awarded level four status, which is the highest standard a college can receive. The other colleges are still undergoing accreditation, with the College of Computer Studies having conducted a pre-survey and the College of Nursing already taking the formal survey.

by Ma. Isabella C. Agawin

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ocated at the foot of Mt. Kalatungan, Miarayon—a community of the Talaandig tribe of Bukidnon—provides a vast land for local farmers to grow flowers such as calla lilies and vegetable crops such as carrots, potatoes, and Chinese cabbage. Unknown to many, Miarayon can greatly impact the environment of Cagayan de Oro City and Bukidnon.

A place beyond

Throughout the years, Miarayon’s forests have been worn down—a process called denudation.

Being the water head of the Cagayan de Oro River basin, its denudation contributed to the immensity of tropical storm Sendong’s aftermath in 2011.

Foreign non-governmental organizations (NGO) partnered with XU for a project, Payment for Ecological Services (PES), to help save the forests in Miarayon and prevent flooding.

Started on June 2014, PES has a one-year target to accomplish its objectives in environmental conservation while preserving people’s livelihood.

As much as addressing environmental concerns is important, the locals need financial support from different sectors—corporations, cooperatives, Church, households, and academic institutions.

Design by Evan B. Aranas

Addressing the issue

A research conducted by several NGOs of the Cagayan de Oro River Basin Management Council showed that Miarayon needs a community development plan to address issues such as flooding. McKeough Marine Center, under the Research and Social Outreach cluster, headed a social marketing program called Valuing Ecosystem Services Together (VEST), which invites people to help the tribal community.

Before launching VEST, the XU research team went through an immersion in the area

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with Miarayon Lapok Lirongan Tinaytayan Tribal Association (MILALITTRA), a tribal association of Talaandigs in Talakag, Bukidnon.

It is composed of four barangays of the Mt. Kalatungan region headed by tribal leader Datu Dongkuan “Rio” Besto.

“We had to immerse ourselves in that area especially in Miarayon where he [Datu Dongkuan] resides. We have been there five times already and in order to really see for ourselves what’s going on in Miarayon [and] that will have an impact here in Cagayan de Oro,” says VEST project head Evans Yonson. The project aims to reforest 1,600 hectares of land in Mt. Kalatungan.

The research team also saw other issues, such as lack of knowledge in business management which leads to an unfair deal with CdeO businessmen. For instance, calla lilies bought from Miarayon are sold for PHP10 each although Miarayon locals price it at PHP10 to PHP12 per dozen.

The distance between the students’ houses and the school also proves to be an obstacle. The barangay, while being surrounded by elementary schools, has only one existing high school.

Because the high school is a private institute, most of the students only finish primary education because of financial constraints. A Jesuit mission school, St. Therese of Lisieux High School, has been helping the students of Miarayon by offering scholarships and assistance from government, private institutions and individuals.

InVEST in nature

To help reforest Mt. Kalatungan, people can donate cash through the Xavier Science Foundation (XSF). Given a certain value per hectare, it can sum up to PHP13,000 each year per hectare of sponsorship. In other terms, the sponsorship of an individual or group to

the VEST project amounts to PHP40 every day; Kagay-anons are paying for the services MILALITTRA offers which are flood control and adequate water supply.

“The VEST project started because we want to attract different sectors in Cagayan de Oro river basin to participate and get involved in rehabilitating the degraded headwaters and protecting our forest,” says Anne Mejares, VEST technical assistant. “We also want to raise people’s awareness on the importance of protecting critical upstream ecosystems and reward ecosystem managers for conserving ecosystem services.”

The first percentage goes to buying the environment allotted for seedlings to replace the endemic trees. Honorariums are also given to residents who will serve as forest guards in maintaining the growth of the trees. Another percentage will go to the education of the locals wherein they will be trained in proper product development. Another amount is given to enrich the culture and heritage of the Talaandig tribe— to put up a ‘tulugan’ or a place the tribe can hold meetings and tourists can stay.

“The XSF is in charge of the disbursement to MILALITTRA based on their annual work and financial plans. They will also monitor and evaluate the project implementation using a communitybased approach and produce a performance report for the buyers,” Mejares states.

*** As of press time, VEST has already collected around PHP700,000 which will be handed over to XSF. “This project is only good for one year, and we are doubling our effort in the coming months but hopefully the rippling effect of the project program VEST will take a longer time,” Yonson adds.C Vol. 41 No. 4 December 2014

By Mary Antoinette M. Magallanes

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o watch or not to watch: that is the real question.

Since the sixties, the University has recognized theater and other cultural arts as effective media for education. Today, we see teachers encouraging—at times, even requiring— their students to attend cultural performances as a supplement to learning. However, has this gone too far to the point that the academic achievement of the students can now be equated to just purchasing tickets?

Financial setbacks Despite the interest of some students in supporting performances and activities in line with culture and the arts, one thing sets them back: funds.

Cultural shows charge ticket fees ranging from PHP60 to PHP100, a price not all students can afford. Why, then, are cultural performances ticketed in the first place?

Savior explains that despite the cultural fees included in the students’ enrollment fee, the finances of the Center are still not sufficient to fund its various productions and programs. The cultural fee is not only expended on the programs of XCCA but also for other personal-related expenditures such as the employees’ salaries.

“The cultural fee is just half of the operations [so] kukulangin… So kanang PHP75 or PHP50 [ticket fee] mao pud na inyong student subsidy,” says Savior.

However, not all cultural and theatrical performances require a fee. The Xavier Stage (TXS) regularly presents free theatre shows during their June and December productions, as well as during the Holy Week. TXS is a repertory theater company of the Unversity. Dulaang Atenista (DA), a theater organization under the XCCA, has also planned to provide free theatre shows starting this academic year.

“Last year, gapa-pay man mi [theater shows], karon ra gyud ni nga libre ang shows.

theater

Springboard to learning Theatrical plays and other cultural shows possess great potential in offering an alternative and unconventional approach to education. “[It is] a good academic endeavor that they [students] could actually go into,” says Lao. He adds that ensuring the relevance of cultural shows in student learning depends on an active discourse between students and their teacher.

He states, “There should be a mutual understanding between the practitioners and the audience. If people will see it that way, then definitely it [theatre as a tool for learning] will work.” *** Integrating a deeper understanding and a greater love for the culture and the arts may still be a distant goal for the XCCA. Yet, with the gradual exposure of the XU community to various literary and artistic performances, the XCCA remains hopeful that eventually, students will be driven by a genuine interest to watch cultural performances—not by mere academic compliance.C

*Name withheld by request of anonymity.

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Design by Jericho B. Montellano

Not compulsory “If mag-watch [theatre play] daw mi, “A” na amo’ng grado sa semi-[finals]. Wala na to’ng essay,” shares Mia*, a third year Education student. This is a familiar, albeit less than ideal, scenario in the University.

Hobart P. Savior, Director of the Xavier Center for Culture and the Arts (XCCA), clarifies that the watching of plays and other cultural performances should not be made compulsory nor be considered affective of a student’s class standing; an opinion supported by Section 3, Article 10 of the Magna Carta of Students’ Rights and Responsibilities. It states that “Teachers shall not require the purchase of tickets or the like as part of the academic requirement of any academic course. Failure to pay should not be counted against the grade of the student.”

In the event that the student will not be able to watch a given performance, he or she may seek for an alternative activity from her teacher to compensate.

On the other hand, Jason Manaois, a faculty of the XU Psychology Department, explains the benefit of using theater as a teaching tool. “Theater performances are just one tool to enrich teaching and provide a variety for students and capture their interest,” shares Manaois.

We’re looking forward to doing that pa … as a service to the University,” says Ray Anthony Lao, artistic director of DA. However, having both TXS and DA give free performances might be an improbable scenario.

If the XCCA has to depend solely on the 80-peso cultural fee per semester and render all performances free, the cultural activities of the center will be cut short or the cultural fee will be raised to a higher amount.

Despite the heavy criticism and a relatively meager budget, XCCA still yearns to continue providing excellent productions that students deserve.

By Karl Patrick P. Bontanon

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Design by Jigo L. Racaza

avier University is a community that showcases a great deal of various talents.

Students come from different aspects of life with diverse artistry and skills that are worthy of recognition. Local musicians, one of the many talents in XU, lurk behind the shadows of mainstream artists—deprived of appreciation or even outright ignored. Two of the many exceptional but underrated local artists are XU’s very own Francis Cang and the rock duo Miles and Mot. Curtain call An indie rock super duo that started in 2012, Miles and Mot is composed of a couple who share the same passion for music—Francis Vincent Camomot and Camilla Malferrari. Camomot, a fifth year civil engineering student and Malferrari, who is working in Manila, have been playing together for almost eight years. Having released their first selftitled extended play (EP), “Miles and Mot,” a month ago on SoundCloud and Bandcamp, Miles and Mot plans to release their first album, “Island View,” next year in April. According to Camomot, “Island View” is an album that is a collection of sentiments and emotions.

Meanwhile, guitar aficionado, solo artist, and instrumental rock guitarist Francis Cang is a fourth year development communication student.

Jazz music captured his attention as a child but he eventually focused more on progressive rock, a rock music subgenre. In 2011, he released his first EP, “Concepts,” on SoundCloud. Cang is planning on releasing his next EP, “Obsolete,” hopefully this December; it is a mix of jazz funk and blues. He describes it as groove-oriented and “not your usual kind of funk.”

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On writing and recording Writing and recording a song continues to be a major challenge for these local artists.

Camomot shares that long distance was the main problem. Nonetheless, technology and their strong relationship help them endure the challenge. They are a team when it comes to song writing, constantly exchanging ideas and sending melodies or tunes via SoundCloud. As what Camomot realized, “Long distance works.”

Both Camomot and Cang lack the financial support necessary to record professionally. Despite not having the facilities and equipment of a studio at their disposal, they are still able to produce quality music. With little else but a guitar, a sound interphase, and a computer, they are able to construct a song using software.

Underappreciated talents “Not getting much recognition from people is a sad and nagging feeling,” shares Camomot. For him, the lack of recognition limits the exposure of their music. Coupled by the fact that few people would exert themselves to listen to new music released in less popular media outlets, these artists have come to terms with the disadvantages of not producing music in mainstream media. Camomot smiles as he shares, “If you don’t want my music, I will still keep on doing it.”

On the other hand, Cang just shrugs at the problem instead of dwelling on it. He always reminds himself, “Don’t get angry but get better.”

Cang opts to focus more on improving his skills rather than attaining fame. “I can’t force people to listen to my music,” he adds. At first, recognition for Cang was a big factor but he eventually realized that focusing on gaining recognition overshadowed his true intentions. Somehow, it made him lose his identity as a musician.

Plans “My plan in the future is to keep progressing,” Cang says. For him, his primary focus will be on improving his skills, not his popularity. He says, “Music is not a race so just keep getting better and make art for yourself.”

Miles and Mot also want to push their music and the two are passionate advocates of local music. “For us, it is something that is growing,” says Camomot. His message to other local musicians?

“You can do things. You just got to find the right kind of stuff and help from people.” *** The local music scene is not dead, but fast growing—not only in the XU community but also outside campus. Francis Ryan Camomot and Francis Cang are only two of many underappreciated musicians pushed to the margins by mainstream music. They create ballads from their own sweat and blood. They struggle with simply getting people to listen to their music. Support and share local music; become a part of a burgeoning community that is just as talented as mainstream artists. No matter how humble the beginning, a passion for music begets the greatest of legends.C

Vol. 41 No. 4 December 2014

By Charissa D. Santiago

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ressed in clean yet simple clothes, a child struggles silently through the dark halls. With his hands stinging from the saltiness of his own sweat, legs struggling to keep himself standing, and arms weak with fatigue, he opens the door. Beyond the gate before him lies the life he misses: a life back on the streets.

Just outside the walls of XU, children in tattered clothes can be seen begging for alms and sleeping in the plaza. People question what the government is doing for them; it is said that these kids are rescued and taken to government-funded centers where they are looked after. Why, then, do we still see them lying on stone-cold pavements?

The answer lies in what happens when they are rescued.

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On the other side Reports of these children may cause uproar against the CSWD but perhaps all is not as it seems.

In an interview, Nida Paña of the CSWD explained the actions of the department. She said workers try to convince children during rescue operations, but if the child proves to be stubborn, they end up taking them by force.

Would such a reason give the CSWD workers the excuse to physically hurt these children? Such abuse would result in the workers’ suspension and

affect their chances of renewing their contracts.

According to Paña, the CSWD is completely against corporal punishment. She admits they have received reports of such incidents but maintains that the department heavily punishes abusive workers.

The value of fifty-five pesos Paña clarifies the issue of shaving the children’s heads. She answers it was done because those children were severely infected with lice. She also reveals receiving very little financial support from the government. “Supposed to be mga 100 [pesos] man unta na per day per person, pero ang ga-kahitabo is mura’g 55 [pesos] pa man gihapon.”

The price of a student’s single meal is the price of a street child’s daily budget. With such little funding, it’s unsurprising that the Office cannot provide the children with medication to treat lice. *** Street children are often viewed by the community as a nuisance. Brutal as it is for them to live in a hostile environment, given the resources, government centers don’t seem to be much of a better option. The CSWD’s services, though enough to provide the barest necessities, are still unable to give the genuine love and care these children were deprived of.

There’s more to living than just food, shelter and water. These kids struggle to survive and all the more to live. In this struggle, they are continuously forced to choose between a full stomach and a full heart, unable to choose both.C

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Design by Francis Ryan O. Avellana Photo by Mark D. Rodriguez

Life behind the gates Having first-hand experienced the rescue methods of the City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) Office, some children shed light on an otherwise unclear and shocking process. Leomar, 15, said that when workers from the CSWD Office arrived to rescue him, he didn’t want to go with them. Faced with resistance, they threatened him by putting a knife to his throat.

Orlando, 15, said that he was grabbed by the collar of his shirt and thrown into a van.

They were then taken to the Tahanan ng Kabataan in Lumbia, an institution originally intended for the rehabilitation of minors with criminal cases. Other centers such as the Boys Town center take care of less complicated children with no criminal records. However, even children without cases are currently kept in Tahanan ng

Kabataan due to lack of funds and space in other welfare centers.

Despite the initial scare, the children fondly remember their treatment in the center. When asked about how they were treated there, they spoke highly of their “house parents” or caretakers.

They ate three meals a day and bathed daily. They also did household chores and received education through the Alternative Learning System (ALS).

Predictably, the institution’s punishments weren’t met with the same fondness as their treatments. Punishments included being forced to hang on a bar for 500 seconds, do 20 push-ups, or being locked in their quarters until the following morning. “Gikulata ug gibunalan [mi],” said one of the children.

Jett Torres, faculty of the Freshmen Formation Program who spearheaded the CDO Street Tutorial, mentioned that some children— even girls—had their heads shaved by their house parents. According to the children, it was done so that they wouldn’t have to struggle with untangling their hair.

By Samantha Isabelle H. Bagayas and Andrew Rey L. del Fierro with reports from Karl Patrick P. Bontanon

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he question comes to mind when you consider the price of a PHP3500 yearbook that, for a substantial amount of time, has been delayed. The discontent of the Crusader Yearbook’s (CYB) subscribers is palpable—their irritation expressed through social media or even through the doors of the organization’s own office.

Most of the CYB’s clientele—confused by its actions, angered by its explanations, or an alarming mixture of both—know little about the organization’s actual production process and thus, the problems it encounters.

So is all the vitriol well-deserved?

In production The CYB’s production period is a year-long, intensive process that requires its members to work through the summer to meet the subscribers’ requests on time. Each production is estimated to

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be completed by the second semester of the next year—a student graduating in 2014, for example, can expect their yearbook by the second semester of 2015.

The first half of the semester is spent preparing for the production by hiring staff and planning out the specifications (i.e. type of paper, design of the cover) of that year’s yearbook while simultaneously ensuring the successful production of the previous year’s yearbook.

“We can’t really move because there’s limited na movement in the first sem because of the subscribers,” says Arielle Gellez, editor-in-chief of the CYB 2014-2015 administration. “We only get [the subscribers] after the second sem; that’s where we get the candidates sa the graduates.”

Once the previous year’s yearbook has been completed and the planning of the current year’s yearbook has been finalized, the members of the organization initiate the production by securing a

list of graduates—a process that requires constant communication with the University Registrar. The acquisition of this list was a policy implemented recently by the administration that ensured that only graduating students were to be included in the current yearbook.

Gellez explains, “So nag meeting ang university, with Sir Ivan [Subrabas], Ma’am Irene [Guitarte] and naa’y gi-release si Fr. Bobby [Yap] nga ang maapil sa yearbooks, kato gyu’ng graduates.” The process is long and arduous, and problems can further prolong the already-lengthy production.

One after another The 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 productions were fraught with complications, with both yearbooks distributed years after their scheduled release. CYB organized the Great College Party on November 29, to release the 2013 and 2014

Vol. 41 No. 4 December 2014

successfully complete their production in the midst of planning for the next production.

A misstep made by one can result in severe consequences for the other. “We started late kay naa pa’y issues sa [2011-2012 production] so naghire mi ug [members] mga second sem. Na-late mi tungod sa issue sa 2012,” says Padero during his time as a member of the 2012-2013 production.

“Katong naa’y mga sayop, wrong spelling, wala na feature sa yearbook.”

The 2013-2014 production, in turn, suffered from having to troubleshoot the remaining problems of the 2012-2013 production, especially with the implementation of the University’s policy on the yearbook only featuring graduate students.

“Nag-start siya late kay ma-release naman jud ang official graduates after graduation. Compared before, dapat gyud namo ipang check,” Padero explains.

Shouldering the burden The organization’s current process requires a concerted effort from both the current administration and its succeeding members, with the former ensuring that the latter can

From a loss, lost Students may question the disturbing absence of the previous administration—or any guiding force, for that matter—during a time when their assistance was needed most. The answer? Circumstance.

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Bigger shoes to fill The preceding administrations’ problems notwithstanding, the CYB administration of this year and the previous year suffered from the same problem: relative inexperience.

Gellez and Padero recount their times as new members and their unprecedented rise to the governing positions of the organization. Padero, despite being a relatively recent addition to the organization, went on to become the editor-inchief of the 2013-2014 production, with Gellez becoming his associate editor.

“First, I was a photographer and she was a copy writer and no one wanted to step up,“ Padero recalls. “And we talked to Sir Ivan [Subrabas] and he said if no one will step up, he will dissolve the yearbook organization. So someone needs [sic] to step up sa amo duha.”

With the departure of the previous administration, both Gellez and Padero began to struggle with guiding the organization. Padero had to make do with the knowledge he gained from being a member of only six months.

Padero states that the previous editor-inchief was busy with work after graduation, thus forcing the 2013-2014 administration to finish the production with his assistance rendered unavailable. This succession of duties also coincided with the death of Paulo Gener—known fondly as Sir Puloy—thus, the sudden loss of the organization’s moderator. With the disappearance of their mentor, the organization was forced to begin anew.

“As an EIC, secure ko before kay I had Sir Puloy. And when he died, we started from scratch kay wala mi kabalo unsa’y buhaton,” says Padero.

Gellez and Padero then turned to Ivanell Subrabas, director of the Office of Student Affairs, to be their moderator who, they confess, provided indispensable assistance to the organization.

Giving assurances To prevent similar problems in production from recurring, CYB has started their press work early, says Gelez. As of press time, the organization is almost finished with its pictorials and has already prepared a page plan.

Padero also mentions that CYB has corrected and enhanced their system in claiming the yearbooks, as well as its rules and regulations.

Although Gelez assures that the estimate release of the 2015 yearbooks will be as planned, specific and concrete measures in production planning and the overall process of the organization haven’t been specified.

Moreover, with problems occurring from the administration and the production process, CYB has only disclosed changes in early pictorial schedules and a page plan. Efforts to achieve timely productions, especially in the current administration’s role in solving the lapses of the previous administration, are needed to adequately cater to the students’ concerns over late releases. *** Circumstance has dealt the CYB a hand that would deter most, but they continue to persevere.

With three years’ worth of work riding on their shoulders and the Great College Party on the horizon, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Here’s to hoping it’s well-worth the wait.C

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Design by Ben Clark B. Balase

yearbooks, and the 2015 Graduates’ Manual—a manual specifying details a graduates should know to be included in the yearbook (i.e, pictorial schedules, solicitation and subscription details, and payment)—in one go. However, due to the printing conflict of the 2014 yearbooks and 2015 Graduates’ Manual, the event was postponed to December 20.

Despite the suspension of the party, CYB still continues to release the 2013 yearbooks to the public. Specific details on printing conflicts that arose in the production of the 2014 yearbooks and 2015 Graduates’ Manual were not disclosed in their official statement.

Johnlery Padero, the current associate editor of the organization, attributes the delay of the 2014 yearbooks to a miscalculation of the duration of the production process.

“First kay wala mi nag-expect na ma-extend diay ang production kay supposedly ma-release siya November but na extend siya kay there were some changes in the yearbook. Naa pa’y things na kailangan pa i-edit sa yearbook. So ako as EIC [of the previous administration], I [wanted] to give the 2014 graduates the yearbook na mahatag sa ila. So we decided to postpone,” says Padero, a senior development communication student.

The 2015 Graduates’ Manual also experienced problems in its production, causing a delay in its delivery. The manuals were set for delivery by November 28, which proved to be unrealistic in its promise to be released on the next day.

In addition to the problems that arose in the proofreading stages of the 2014 yearbooks, the delay caused the contents of the 2015 Graduates’ Manual to be edited, especially in the dates set.

“Sa Graduates Manual, it was already okay but knowing na kung ma-delay ang event kay machange ang dates inside. So nag-change pud ang info inside. What we did on the delay was to make use of the lost time, so we took our chance to enhance our work, especially on the printing like the stitches and everything,” explains Gellez.

by James Edgar T. Sia

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Design By Keith Obed J. Ruiz Photo by Venice Marie P. Villo

is hands caked with rubber cement, a small, wiry man assembles a parol from a few bamboo sticks and tinfoil clippings in a small room. A few others with tattooed arms are with him, doing the same. Cagayan de Oro City residents may have seen some of their work sold in malls or on display in public places–not at all realizing that the stars were made by the very same men.

These men are inmates of the Misamis Oriental Provincial Jail or MOPJ. To most, the parol or lantern hearkens back to the very first Christmas. Said to be a symbol of hope, it also stands for merrymaking and togetherness during the holidays. To the MOPJ inmates, the parol stands for other things.

As a means of livelihood MOPJ Warden Dominador Tagarda, who began his career with the facility as a casual employee, says that it was in 1984—the year he started out—that the inmates assembled the first parols. “Kaniadto, dili pa guwapo ang mga hinimo nila,” he remarks. “Apan sa pagdagan sa katuigan, nag-improve ang style nila.”

Jayboy Bahian, the wiry fellow from the small workshop, shows half a dozen run-of-the-mill small parols he has completed so far. Inexpensive as they may be, Jayboy derives a great deal of pride from his handiwork. “Kinahanglan nga tsada gihapon ug insakto ang color combination,” 30

he says. This single-minded devotion to quality has won them customers as far as North America.

At the Provincial Capitol grounds, Rhodora Montecalvo, the wife of an inmate named Ricky, tries to sell some of the inmates’ more modestly priced works. She says she receives five percent from each sale she makes, which, she admits, isn’t much—especially considering that she managed to sell only a handful during the two weeks she has been in business.

The look on her weathered face hints that this sort of disappointment is nothing compared to what she had to endure in life—not least of which is her husband’s detainment for being at the wrong place at the wrong time. As one of the men caught in a narcotics dragnet two and a half years ago, Ricky remains detained without ever having been convicted.

Rhodora can only do so much. “Wala koy nahimo kay nahitabo na man sa iyaha,” she says.

As a means to redemption Though they work to earn money for t h e i r families, the inmates also strive to regain whatever dignity and respect they might have lost by winding up in prison. Jayboy used to be a promising student—until he turned to drugs.

He was arrested for possession, whereupon his

ex-girlfriend broke up with him and left their child with his parents. That was nearly seven years ago.

For now, he strives to do well in lantern-making to show his sincerity to those he left behind.

Tagarda shares a story of an unnamed inmate whose family broke off all contact after he was convicted of rape. The man took up lanternmaking, and, with the help of a major television station, was able to send one of his parols to his wife. Understanding the gesture, she forgave him. That Christmas, the inmate’s wife and children came all the way from their hometown to visit him and stayed in the city for a week.

As a message to the outside world It is said that everything people do—even lack of action—is a form of communication, even when they are not aware of it.

What, then, do the inmates’ star-shaped lanterns tell us? “Gihaguan ni namo sila aron dili mi maulawan bisan kon piniriso mi,” Jayboy says of the reputation he and his mates work hard to uphold. Their dedication to their trade is their way of telling people that they wish to leave the past behind, and that they wait for the day when they themselves could feel the joy evoked by the bright colors of their lanterns. *** With their stars, it strongly feels that they wish to tell us—we, who are merely on the outside, looking in—these thoughts: “We still yearn to be free. We still hope to rejoin our loved ones. Please remember us.” C Vol. Vol. 4141 No. No. 4 December 3 October 2014

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t’s been more than a century since Jose Rizal last stroked his quill to slam Spanishfriar oppression.

Today, we have keyboards which we use to write for many reasons other than criticizing colonizers.

Any literate person can write and share stories to a wider audience.

For instance, people have maximized the Internet to write teenage romance novels which, despite eliciting mixed reactions, are popular especially among adolescents. These novels have filled the Philippine literature section of bookstores – a testament to the genre’s popularity.

Ironically, the said books—such as My App #Boyfie, Secretly Married, and Operation: Break the Cassanova’s Heart—have broken the hearts not only of their intended audience but also of literature students and writers.

By Lorenzo A. Botavara Literature is defined as “written works that are considered to be very good and to have lasting importance.”

Lorraine Musa, a freshman secondary education student who has been reading Wattpad for almost three years, says the teen romance novels propagating around the Internet do not reflect much of the country’s culture, but are very relatable for adolescent readers because of the theme. “A lot of teenagers will get inspired in writing such stories and others will have an idea on how to handle heartaches and love problems,” comments Musa, reiterating that literature is harmless and is generally beneficial to a person.

The woes As much as it has gained praise, some people have taken to social media to criticize on these

*** While reading per se is beneficial as it enhances vocabulary and encourages critical thinking, the quality of materials people, especially the youth, expose themselves also matter. This begs the ageold question media people face: Do we give the audience what they want or what they need? Lourd de Veyra compares media—from television and programs to film—to a child’s food. A child wants junk food and candies but he needs vegetables.C

Reference: “How Wattpad CEO Allen Lau changed Filipino books and movies” by MST Business (www.manilastandardtoday.com)

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Raging literary hormones The teen romance craze hit the country when Wattpad—a website where users write, read, and share stories written by fellow members—gained popularity among adolescents.

Allen Lau, CEO of the site, explains in an interview with Manila Standard Today why the site became such a hit in the country, “Every single Filipino has a mobile phone and Filipinos are very social on the Internet.” He adds, “Writers have the opportunity to interact with the readers, every time they upload. Because of that, it fits really well for the Filipino culture.” Five out of 30 million Wattpad users worldwide are from the Philippines, second only to America.

Some consider Wattpad advantageous as it encourages self-expression in the form of creative writing and is an avenue for aspiring writers to showcase their talents, thus, attracting opportunities that could lead to a professional career in writing. “Literature always has a positive effect,” opines Alice Cubillan, a Filipino instructor.

She adds that any negative effects literary pieces may have on a person are products of their own interpretation and are subject to individual bias.

literary pieces’ lack of substance.

For example, Allan Severino, who posted an open letter to Marcelo Santos III in Facebook, says “Filipino literature is not dead, but it is dying a slow, painful death” and Santos is contributing to such “travesty.”

Among other features of great literature listed by David Cope, a poet, are: “able to present many different situations convincingly and characters from a broad range of social classes with empathy and understanding” and “grasps the spirit and historical particulars of the age yet seems able to transcend them.”

A fraction of English majors and creative writers also regard this trend with disdain. “[The] topics are so mundane and have no impact,” states Abigail James, an English instructor who worries that teenagers might become too preoccupied with books focused purely on romance than those that tackle contemporary societal issues.

“There are other things that should be talked about, there’s so much more out there than the common theme,” James says. Compared to food, this genre of literature appeals to the emotions of the teenage audience in the same way potato chips are palatable but provide little nourishment.

Literary malnutrition, according to James, can be remedied with ‘good food’—literature that entertains without compromising its content and overall message.

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girl with waist-length hair is sitting in the table across from you, pretty and poised. She brushes her hair over her shoulder. You watch, mesmerized as each hazel strand cascades softly down her back. She sees you staring as she stands and smiles before she walks off. You try to catch one last glimpse.

And see her purposefully walk into the boys’ bathroom.

Believe it or not, this scenario is a reality for some students in XU—students who haven’t been exposed to members of the transgender community. Most are unsure of what to call these students; some couldn’t care less, referring to them with the general (and often derogatory) bayot, unaware that something as simple as a pronoun can define so much of a person.

But beyond mere stereotype lies an identity fully developed, fully defined.

Gender vs. sex Transgenderism is based on the premise that gender and sex are two separate concepts. The term “gender” refers to how individuals feel about and see themselves and is influenced by social conventions like masculinity and femininity. “Sex,” on the other hand, represents the biological characteristics of the person, specifically their genitalia.

The term “transgender” refers to people whose gender and sex don’t necessarily match, while the term “cisgender” refers to people whose gender and sex do. Even with this distinction, the term “transgender” is actually a general term that can be further divided into pre-op transsexuals— transgendered people who have not undergone an operation to change their genitalia—and post-op transsexuals, who have.

The idea of a person’s gender being as much of a social concept as it is a biological concept is unfamiliar to many and often met with opposition, especially in traditional (hence, cisgender-biased) settings. What, then, do transgender students experience from other students and the Administration of a Catholic institution like XU? Student interaction “The first time I enrolled in Xavier University, wala may stigma nako na bati gikan sa mga tao,” says Yumie, a former senior development communication (DevCom) student, on her* experiences in Xavier. Though fully aware of the uneasiness that people may have toward her, Yumie expresses her understanding of the initial hesitation she often encounters. Yumie shares, “Of course, kabalo ka nga you will see that fierce na look sa imo like, confused sila na, ‘Unsa man ni, babae ba ni siya or lalaki?’ Pero it doesn’t matter naman kay na-anad naman siguro ko sa outside world [and] outside the XU community.” She even goes on to say that she is very well-treated in the University and she enjoys acceptance from many of her peers.

Arjay Dilangalen, another fourth year DevCom student, presents a different perspective.

A common issue amongst transgendered students is their usage of the bathroom. Due to their* usage of the boys’ bathroom, Arjay has seen the uglier side of student reactions.

“When they come in the CR, ma-shock sila kay ‘Hala, abi nako pang lalake na CR.’ Sila na lang ma-ulaw sa ilang self na ‘Ay, bayot man diay sa sulod’ dayon ga-talikod dayon murag naa’y babae daw.”

Bullying remains the primary issue affecting most transgender students, no matter how wellaccepted they may be. To Yumie, transgendered students are still being treated like second-class citizens. “Gina-bully nila, gina-himo nila og laughingstock ang mga bayot kaysa mu-support ug mu-stand up para sa ila, kay ingnon man sila na bayot apil maskin dili sila bayot.” The treatment received from other students, however, is only one issue that shapes the day-to-day lives of transgendered students.

Administration and policies When taken into consideration, the concept of clothing plays a significant role in defining a person’s identity. Transgendered students experience a level of difficulty in properly expressing themselves within the guidelines of the University dress code. This is further complicated by their experience that the policy applied to some isn’t necessarily applied to others.

“I’m one of the few transgendered people in Xavier University who wear female uniform inside the school campus,” says Yumie. Despite being brought to the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) after a security guard noticed the alterations to her uniform, she was still allowed to wear the uniform. She recalls, “Nag-ingon dayon ang teacher [sa OSA] nga mas bagay kung ing-ana daw na uniform, so I really feel blessed na ing-ana ang treatment bitaw sa administration sa Xavier University toward sa amo-a.” Arjay, however, wears the male uniform. “Dili ko ga-agi sa new gate [Student Entrepreneurship Center] kay ginasita ko kay fitting daw kaayo akong uniform. Dili daw pwede, dili daw siya appropriate na uniform sa lalake.”

a M. Garcia

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Vol. 41 No. 4 December 2014

In these situations, the guards arbitrarily decide whether students are wearing the appropriate uniform, leading to a disconnect between the OSA and the enforcers of its policies. “Kung [connected] sila, dapat tanan gates ang nag-bawal og pa-sulod sa amo-a,” says Arjay.

“Dayon dadto [SEC entrance] ra man na guards ang ga-stop sa amo.” Yumie shares the same sentiment, saying that the guards require a small amount of convincing for people to wear what they want to wear.

LGBT advocacy Based on the observation of Yumie and Arjay, Evans Yonson—a DevCom instructor and director of the XU Press—is the faculty member most invested in LGBT rights in the University.

Yonson considers himself an advocate of LGBT rights, especially in XU. “In fact I’ve talked to several faculty [members] about putting an LGBT group in the University, and they were very welcoming about the idea,” he states. He also says that, keeping in mind that XU’s mission includes being “characterized by a preferential option for the poor,” the University should start considering the LGBT sector as “poor” because, as Yonson says, “this sector is marginalized”.

However, his perspective toward change is hopeful for the next years. Having opened the idea

of starting an LGBT group in a meeting among the faculty and Administration, he was able to see that people are open to it. “In fact, I spoke with one of the religious persons in the University and she opened the idea that we can probably start an LGBT discussion group in the University, but we still have to formalize all these things,” he mentions. One of the plans is to identify potential leaders in XU who are members of the LGBT community and discuss with them which issues are apparent. With a written reference from the discussion, XU will be able to address all the concerns of the said community. *** Transgendered students and other members of the LGBT community, having secured their own place in the XU community, still struggle in an institution and culture that may not yet be ready to accept them. Be it limiting their ability to express themselves or subjecting them to subtle and explicit ridicule, they stand resolute as they know full well that time will come when the phrase “being a person for others” finally rings true.C

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Design and Photo by Niccolo A. Aquino

*Pronouns indicated have been chosen by the subjects described.

Guest Contribution

By Sam D. Garcia

Sam D. Garcia graduated on March 2014 with a degree in nursing from XU.

D

eath is a universal phenomenon that we mostly fail to comprehend or even acknowledge. Despite its absoluteness, in the sense that all of us are bound to expire, we may not really give it much thought for many reasons. We may be too afraid of the unknown or we just cannot fathom that there is in fact an end to our animated lives.

We recognize that it’s a powerful constant of nature. Perhaps our subconscious mind even helps us evade the topic. Whenever we hear that someone we know has died, we always default to a state of disbelief in an effort to protect our egos.

We try to validate what we hear by saying “Ha? Unsa’y namatay?” before we let our emotions take their natural course and before we could summon an appropriate reaction.

This bias towards death transcends our personal lives. In literature, death could be the most anticlimactic device that a writer can use.

We’ve even forged this sort of unrealistic standard as consumers that we feel like a story can never be happy if a key character dies.

In the real world, death can altogether affect our way of thinking. When we become aware

of social issues and stories of injustice, it always takes a heavier toll when we know that there’s a victim – and that this victim has died. Our feelings and partiality are also amplified when the number of deaths grows.

‘Sendong’ for example has given us a glimpse of how death may feel like when it takes thousands of people within close proximity at the same time. Most of those who perished may have been strangers to us, but we were all disturbed by the amount of pain the tragedy has left behind. We were all perplexed with the reality that life certainly hangs by a fragile thread that the slightest force can cut. More recently, we were enraged that 11 innocent people had to die because of an unforgivable bus bombing incident in Maramag, Bukidnon.

Yet some questions may remain despite seeing and hearing about death on a regular basis: How deep is our understanding of death? Have we imagined for more than ten minutes how it’s like to have somebody close to us die? Have we accepted that we are all going down that way in one way or another?

Photo and Design by Rico M. Magallona

, a r d n a x e l A r o F the sweetest siastvee.r I could ever h

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My opinion to this is simple. I believe that we can never really know death so intimately until it claims the people closest to our hearts.

Last May, my 26-year old sister passed away in a very untimely manner and that was, I dare say, the sharpest turning point in my life. That experience shook my world in more ways than one, and I’m still shaken up to this day.

Her death went against everything I had imagined the future to be. Her death made me understand that nobody can truly escape his or her mortality. Her death made me see life from a very different vantage point.

Before she died, I tried my best to feel for friends and relatives who have lost someone from their immediate families. I was so quick to use clichéd words of comfort like everything will be okay, that there’s a reason behind our trials, and that I was there for them amidst such trying times. But when it was my turn to suffer, I realized how easy it is to feign understanding of the loss of someone. I realized that we may never really know how badly it hurts until the same wounds are inflicted on us.

My point is that we should all be mindful of how we feel about the death of others, and even ourselves. Empathy and awareness can lead us to help those who are grieving, and at the same time allow us to make necessary changes in our lives while we still breathe. What happens after death may be beyond our control, but the events now up to our last waking moments are largely under our influence. *** Death is a puzzle that’s unlocked individually.

It is something so casual yet so seemingly unacceptable at the same time. Whatever the cause or motivation behind the end of one’s life, and however we ultimately come into terms with the concept of death, we must not forget to humble ourselves and recognize that each day could be our last.C Vol. 41 No. 4 December 2014

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smoothly but I endow no trust to the weather for it might change anytime. Perhaps even a little double-time in walking can contribute in this doeverything-quick XUFD. A little of every program and activity is enough for me to suffice my desire to experience the real XU Beyond. Everything was going well except that ‘Ruby’ declared her signal number 1. Mom says I should stay home with her sweet spell of “better safe than sorry.”

And not a single ‘but’ nor ‘if ’ was given then.

Day 3: Storm-or-no-storm. In the caves of our house I stayed, in the hopes of going back to XUFD one day. The weather still looks fine but I can never be too complacent. I feel so safe, however, my mind still wanders on the ‘what if ’s’ of spending time in the caress of my beloved school. The hopes of there is still tomorrow, literally tomorrow, helps me get through all of these.

Day 4: No Storm. This is it! News articles say no Ruby will actually visit the city! Will I be pissed for being too safe to the point of sacrificing fun activities or will I be glad for our place is spared?

Well, for someone who’d rather embrace storms than going to school, I commend your brilliant principles.

Now, I’m ready to resume my XUFD with no hint of urgency and even worries. Perhaps I should first stroll at the Main Lane and listen to songs as if they welcome my great comeback. I’ll

probably try rappelling, too, just for me to have a reason for stamping the happy mood meter for a hundred times.

Above all, I am most excited with the Horror House. It is so safe that I could clearly see and recognize some of my friend’s scary get-up, I presume. I wanted to say hello to them but the screams of those who almost did not even tried to look around makes me want to scare them more.

After all, the privilege to be scared is what they paid for.

Lastly, what better way to shake off my entire week’s stress than a dance party? I truly love the idea of dancing and by that, I meant the choreography of jumping, clapping, and rising of hands repeated forever. But the best part of that rave party was the package deal of adopting the sweat from someone I do not even know.

Knowing that, I should have brought with me extra-absorbent skin so as to cater their sweat as they execute their socially-involved dance steps.

That looks gorgeous, really gorgeous. With those, you became simply as impressive as the showcased fireworks; which is by the way, how much?

I enjoyed the XUFD, really. Its aftermath is not only joyful hearts but also unanswered prelim exams caused by such overwhelming event. We might have escaped the wrath of the storm, but not the curse of Monday’s exam. We’ve got a little more time for that, at least.C

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Photo and Illustration by Rico M. Magallona

our days of Xavier University Festival Days: check! Four best dazzling shirts: check! Four skirts and shorts: check! One just-in-time-great-‘Ruby’: pshhh, check.

So from last year’s one-day celebration, here comes this year’s four-day XUFD celebration— with the threats of another strong storm approaching. These storms have a great taste of choosing a month to visit, I guess. With this, I have no days to waste and I must attend every event before ‘Ruby’ takes it all. You see, knowing ‘Ruby’ will make you think I’m not that mean after all. Or not.

Day 1: Strike while the weather is right. No rain touched the clear skies today. Now is the time to resurrect my well-kept best attires that weren’t allowed during normal school days before the rain takes over. I tried to visit every booth and activity from one to another gasping. Not even a part of the opening ceremony was missed and I made sure to take photos of everything including the not-so-prepared-OOTD of my friend before anything happens.

Day 2: Fine weather and the later. The sun still shone today and I declare the second day of my XUFD. I joined Bike Caravan which sounded great because a food festival was to follow. Things seemed to work

Dear Ate Charot, Hahaay, akong hinayhay…Ate, gaproblema jud ko sa akong ginaagian karon ay…nga dalan. Bitaw oist, nag warm pa ko.

Akong problema jud te kay akong uyab, sigeg ingon na gwapa ra daw kaayo ko. Char! Syempre tinuod. Jowkens! Kanang Ate, regaluhan daw ko niya karong pasko ug car nga Chevroley, with wings. Unya ma-presyur pud ko ba kay highblood raba ko! Wala jud ko kahibalo unsa pud akong i-regalo sa ‘kong ekal te oy! Sapatos? Hiwi man to’g tiil! Kalo? Dako pud kaayo to’g ulo! Bonnet kaha? Ayaw nalang basin maalaan na nuon syag mangunguot. Huehuehue. Hahahay. Materialistic man gud siya Ate oist and dili sya ganahan anang gikan lang sa Te-ets! Inarte pang amaw! Bitaw Ate oist dili nako gusto mawala sya tungod lang ana! Tigpinans raba to sya sa akong paniudto kada-adlaw.

Unsaon mani nako te?

Dear Inday?

Hahaay, Inday! Curious kaayo ko kung unsay itsura sa imong uyab? Kay sa pagka deskrayb nimo… feel nako mas gwapo paman siguro ‘tong kanding namo ah! Jowkens! Bitaw palanggingging dili man mag matter unsa ang i-gift nimo basta gikan lang sa Te-ets, aw hart diay! Hart ha? Gikan sa hart! Nah! Nah! Gi highblood napod kog apil! Hmm…in hill, exhale. Okay.

Basta day ayaw na pagproblema unsa imung i-regalo, pagsaba lang ug bulagan ka ana kay ako nalang mudaginot ana! Maayo nalang naay tig-sponsor sa akong paniudto. Kay sus intawon!

Mahal kaayong mga pagkaon sa canteen, ininit tubig ra akong ma-afford. Hala sige Inday oist. Diri nalang sa kutob kay mananaw pa ko’g Foreverpamore. Baboosh!

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Misamis Oriental Provincial Jail warden.

A flood control project was funded by this agency.

Life imprisonment.

CEO of one of the most popular site for readers and writers.

He is a faculty of Freshmen Formation Program who spearheaded the CDO Street Tutorial. _____ Sabuga-a is the City Social and Welfare Development officer.

One of the heads of Office International Cooperation and Networking that aims to connect XU with international institution.

A term coined by feminists in the United States in the ‘70s and is used to describe the validation and perpetuation of sexual assault in society.

Dr. Joey Marie _______ is the psychologist who conducted a study on rapists.

Based on the premised that gender and sex are two separate concepts.

Officer of the CSWD who explained the actions of the department about the treatment of the street children.

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Website where users write, read, and share stories written by fellow members and probably gained popularity among adolescents.

A tribal association of Talaandigs in Bukidnon which is composed of four barangays of Mt. Kalatungan.

Exchange student program.

Provides a vast land for local farmers to grow flowers such as calla lilies and vegetable crops such as carrots, potatoes, and Chinese cabbage.

She is an English instructor who worries that teenagers might become more too preoccupied with books focused purely in romance than those that talked contemporary societal issues. ___________ of 1997 is a law that redefined rape as a public offense and crime against person.

Mega ____ Project is a project has garnered mixed responses, mainly because it will entail demolishment of residential houses and relocation of residents.

A theater organization under XCCA; planned to provide free theater shows.

Director of the Xavier Center for Culture and the Arts (XCCA).

Tahanan ng ________ is an institution originally intended for the rehabilitation of minors with criminal cases.

Help to save the forests in Miarayon and prevent flooding.

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

Congratulations! sa mga winners sa last Kurisword, ug salamat sa mga nag apil. The winners will receive two-year supply of ice water gikan sa drinking fountain. Joke. Just claim your reward at TheCrusader Publication office, StC 302. And the winner is...Achooo! Ahem...Tantananan! Masangcay, Mel Meriane Fil P. Congrats bes! Mwuah.

Kuriscope Meri Krismas mga dodong ug inday. Ayaw ninyog kalimti ang inyong horoscope para kamo malipay. Ayaw lang pasubrag katawa kay basin mutulo ang inyong laway.

Aquarius (‘Coz all of me loves half of you) Bilari sa kadyot imong Math langga, kape ramay katapat ana arun di na ka tawgon ug banga.

Lucky Day: Na-postpone man OOTD: Heels nga naa sa atubangan ang takong Aries (Meheheheri Krismas and Happy New Year) Magbangga mo unya sa imong soulmate! Matagak imong gamit di dayun ka niya tabangan ug punit, matumban pajud niya imong kamot Agoy! Kasakit!

Lucky Day: Karon taod2x. Hulat lang ug wanmelyon years.

OOTD: B Neck Cancer (Dili ko ganahan Cancer! Maypa si Ma’am) Mag away mo sa imong uyab karong pasko, kay imong regalo sa iya sapatos nga baho kaayo.

Lucky Day: Aysa kay mangutana sa kong Simsimi OOTD: Backless nga jacket Capricorn (Ang isdang kandingon) Hala! Naay muregards nimo. Katong imong klasmeyt nga maligo rag makadumdum unya feeling pa jud gwapo.

Lucky Day: Wala nakay lucky day kay gipakyaw na nimo gahapon.

OOTD: Santa Costume nga makuha nimo sa networking Gemini (Samahan ng may kasama palagi pag pasko) Isurprise ka sa imong mama karong Christmas. Iya nang ibulgar sa imo nga anak ka sa gawas.

Lucky Day: TBA OOTD: Tattered nga XU uniform Leo (Dakong iring sa Magis) Dili jud maayo nga mag-expect ka nga naay madawatan karong pasko. Pero dili man pud sala ang mangayo, ayaw lang sa ako!

Lucky Day: Adto rang XU Day OOTD: Sapatos nga naay bulsa Libra (Timbangan sa imong gugma kanako) Dili naka ga-lunch kay naadik naka sa Clash of Clans. Sige na nuon mog away sa imong mama, tungod ana wala nakay alawans.

Lucky Day: Katong adlaw nga nag-ila mo ni Aheeeem.

OOTD: Maong nga naay password ang zipper Pisces (Butete for sale! Palit namo barato ra!)

I-invite ka sa imong kaila karon migo/miga. Mag apil daw mo’g conference about “social media”, networking diay tong pasabot niya.

Lucky Day: Depende sa imong mood OOTD: Rubber shoes nga with 4 inches heels Taurus (Your typical bouncy friend. Bouncyngot) Dili jud lalim nang mainlab ta mga migo ug miga.

Hinumdumi, maypang baha kay mapugngan pa pero sus ang gugma dili na.

Lucky Day: Coming Soon...

OOTD: Tuxedo nga naay hoodie Virgo (Yagit pag umaga, model pag gabi) Maglagat imong mata karong adlawa kay dili ka kasabot sa leksyon sa imong maestra. Samot nag magquiz siya amiga, agoy masi ka amega.

Lucky Day: Abangan bukas OOTD: Sapatos nga naay Christmas lights Sagittarius (Mag solo napud ko karong pasko. Huhu.)

Ayaw nag pabitter-bitter diha higala. Hala pansina na na imong tapad nga nagnganga nag tan-aw sa imuha.

Lucky Day: Bitter than yesterday OOTD: High-cut nga taman sa hita Scorpio (Hilis nga bulad, prospero ano y Felicidad) Tungod kay hapit naman ang pasko dodong/inday hala sugod nag pabuotan-buotan kunohay para naa kay regalo gikan kay nanay.

Lucky Day: Dayspededa OOTD: Paghukas nalang kay wala kay OOTD karon