[The Dawn] Volume 75 - Issue 3

UE COLLEGE ENROLLMENT UP BY 3.36% IN 2ND SEM

Battad urges UE community to help in school marketing

THE UNIVERSITY of the East (UE) saw a slight increase in enrollment turnout as it reopened its doors for more face-to-face classes in the second semester of the academic year 2022–2023.

According to data from the Information Technology Department (ITD) as of February 10, the Manila and Caloocan campuses have a total of 12,601 students enrolled in the current semester. This is a 3.36 percent increase over the previous academic year’s second semester enrollment turnout of 12,191 UE Manila has 7,707 students enrolled, while the Caloocan Campus has 4,894. The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) had the most students enrolled at the Manila Campus, with 2,268 students. It was followed by the College of Business Administration (CBA), which had 1,808 students, and the College of Dentistry (CDent) with 1,688. Furthermore, 859 students enrolled at the UE Manila College of Engineering (CEng’g), while 839 students registered at the College

by Marie Gold Vivien M. Totanes & Mae Rocelle D. Sulit

of Computer Studies and Systems (CCSS).

With only 245 students, the College of Education (CEduc) is the smallest College on the Manila Campus.

Meanwhile, CEng’g has the most students at UE Caloocan, with 1,898, followed by CBA and the College of Fine Arts, Architecture, and Design (CFAD), with 1,178 and 1,133 enrollees, respectively.

Unlike the counterpart College on the Manila Campus, the UE Caloocan CAS has the smallest population, with only 685 students enrolled in the second semester.

Despite the improved enrollment results, the Dawn observed that enrollment in half of UE Manila’s colleges had slightly decreased, including CDent, which now only offers face-to-face, onsite classes.

Three of the four colleges on the Caloocan Campus, on the other hand, saw significant increases in enrollment. CFAD was one of them, with a 35.53 percent increase in enrollment. CFAD,

like CDent, offers full-fledged in-person classes.

During an interview with University President Zosimo Battad, he praised the Caloocan Campus for its high enrollment turnout over the previous four academic years.

“It was the Caloocan Campus that has been saving the University for the last four years sa enrollment. Ngayon, university-wide, we are about seven percent [higher] compared to last year, basically because of the higher enrollment turnout in Caloocan,” revealed Battad, who previously served as Chancellor of UE Caloocan for 11 years.

The UE President also stated that the decline in enrollment turnout in some undergraduate programs was caused by “difficulty many of our citizens are experiencing.”

“Mabuti nga sa UE nag-survive tayo because of, probably, the strength of our academic programs. ‘Yun ang nag-save sa’tin. The resilient courses saved us.” According to Battad, many private Higher Education Institutions (HEI) were forced to close due to the pandemic.

As a result, the UE President encouraged the UE community to help in promoting the University, emphasizing that everyone in the institution—not just the marketing director—is responsible for doing so.

“Trabaho rin ‘yan ng chancellor, trabaho ng deans, trabaho ng mga faculty, at trabaho ng mga student leaders. We are all marketers of UE, and we should [it] carry with pride always,” he said.

Battad also stated that he has always worn and carried something associated with UE, believing that this can help in the “direct marketing image of the University.”

“Kaya nakikita ninyo lahat ng uniform ko, may UE dito. Kung wala ‘yung barong, naglalagay ako ng pin. I carry that everywhere, even if I go to another country. I always have my handbag with me na may UE,” he said.

“That is how you should model the University. The whole studentry [and] the whole faculty—that should be their attitude towards the University,” the UE President added.

UE’s F2F classes spur mixed reactions from students

THE UNIVERSITY of the East (UE) has implemented more face-to-face classes in the second semester of the academic year 2022-2023, but students have had mixed reactions.

Mae, a Multimedia Arts student from the UECaloocan College of Fine Arts, Architecture, and Design (CFAD), has been perplexed by the “immediate changes” of the learning environment.

This semester, CFAD and the College of Dentistry (CDent) have returned to a fully onsite learning mode, while other colleges have implemented hybrid classes, which combine onsite and online sessions.

“It would be more convenient if they settled into one [learning] setup per school year only,” the Multimedia Arts student suggested.

Similarly, Lia, a Psychology student from the UE-Caloocan

by Florieghin A. Sanglitan & Amariah C. Dimatangal

College of Arts and Sciences, stated that the new arrangement has resulted in additional costs for the students.

“Mas naging magastos ngayong hybrid setup, almost pa-fully F2F (face-to-face) na kaya magastos talaga. Also, mas tiring and exhausting ‘yung schedule kasi may mga inaabot na ng gabi and ‘yung iba malayo pa ‘yung bahay nila sa school,” she attested.

The Psychology student also claimed that the University was not prepared to offer full onsite and hybrid classes. She stated that UE needs to improve its facilities and services, such as its Internet connection and faulty projectors.

“Hindi fully ready ang University for hybrid and full F2F, marami pa dapat i-improve sa facilities at classrooms, like their WiFi and classroom projectors,” she underscored.

During a dialogue with the University Student Council (USC), UE President Zosimo M. Battad admitted that the Caloocan Campus has been experiencing Internet problems, particularly in computer learning centers, due to its limited Internet speed of 200–250 megabits per second (Mbps).

He did, however, say that UE’s Internet bandwidth is “okay” as long as there is no concurrent usage.

“The bandwidth is okay if the students are not using it at the same time. There is traffic when the students and the faculty are using it at the same time,” Battad explained.

Despite the difficulties caused by the new setup, the Psychology student sees a bright side to the situation.

“It’s fine naman for everyone kasi may mas matututunan [ang] students with face-to-face interaction rather than online, and makakapagcommunicate pa with each other,” she told the Dawn.

Jean Gabrielle, a Dentistry student, has similar problems with the University’s “slow” Internet connection.

“We still have to load data on our phones to get a proper connection because sometimes the connection on campus is slow, so the students and

teachers are having a hard time getting a proper connection,” she reiterated.

Meanwhile, Andrew, an Architecture student, prefers the new learning modality because it allows students “more time to do their activities.”

“I see myself learning further with this setup because it is easier to understand my professor’s instructions because you can ask them personally,” he stated.

Likewise, Catherine, an Accountancy student from the UE-Manila College of Business Administration, said that the hybrid setup allows students to have a more convenient learning experience.

“The face-to-face classes enable us to attend lectures and ask questions. Asynchronous sessions are when I usually catch up on my readings or review subjects that I have difficulty understanding,” she said.

However, the Accountancy student expressed how difficult it is for her to commute to school during on-site classes.

“Coming to the University during face-to-face classes to attend a 7:30 a.m. class is tiring for me since I have to wake up earlier to avoid traffic and the rush hour,” she lamented.

Tourism candidates dominate MMCAS 2023

by Terenz Dave L. Silverio & Patricia Deenise L. Samodio

MATTHEW Ray Marasigan and Eunjung Park, both of the Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management program, were crowned Mr. and Ms. College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) 2023 on February 10 at the University of the East (UE) Manila Briefing Room.

The BS Tourism students defeated candidates from other CAS programs and received special awards. Marasigan and Park won the Popularity Award after garnering approximately 1,300 Facebook reactions to their respective headshots.

Marasigan also bagged the Mr. Photogenic Award from Photo X Media, as well as the Best in Advocacy recognition. His advocacy is centered on the lack of inclusivity for the queer community.

“It has always been an issue if a girl runs for the position, but how about a man who portrays himself as a gay that will run for a position?” he asked in his speech.

“Today, we will change history. I will use this platform to raise awareness and inclusivity— that no matter who you are or whatever you are, as long as you have a good heart and leadership, you will succeed,” the tourism student added.

Marasigan was asked about his most impactful service and volunteer experience

during the question-and-answer portion.

Mr. CAS 2023 described joining student organizations as one of the challenges he faced during his senior high school (SHS) years, especially while serving as a Public Relations Officer (PRO) in UE’s SHS student council.

“I need to easily communicate with different people regardless of their age, gender, identity, [and] ethnicity. If you want to do something; if you want to make an impact on everybody, you should inspire them. You need to influence them,” Marasigan answered.

“Because today, I am not joining this pageant as a person who had a lot of struggles, but by bringing and raising the flag of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and

ENSC slams UE’s ‘underperforming’ computers, broken ACs, projectors

added.

Meanwhile, when asked how she could encourage civic engagement in today’s generation, Park gave the answer that earned her the crown.

She said that inspiring others to help themselves is a good way to help them realize potential that they may have overlooked due to lack of selfconfidence.

“I have been encountering this situation when I was interacting with people. However, they weren’t able to socialize with me or other people because they weren’t confident about themselves,” she attested.

“And I believe that one way to help them is to help them trust in themselves. Sometimes, they get to overlook their potential. And I believe that one way to inspire them to help themselves is to encourage them,” Ms. CAS 2023

Mr. Francis Louis Babon and Ms. Marian Grace Gonzales of BS Psychology were named first runnersup. Mr. Skin Sense and Best in Talent went to Babon, while Ms. Skin Sense, Ms. Photogenic, and Best in Advocacy Margareth Divino, a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science student, was named second runner-up and Best in Talent. Meanwhile, CASSC Vice President Queenie Leal revealed that the Legal Management candidates did not compete due to health issues.

Following the pandemic, the CASSC’s returned to in-person pageants with this year’s MMCAS.

THE UNIVERSITY of the East (UE)-Caloocan Engineering Student Council (ENSC), led by President Jemina Geronimo and Vice President Angelica Eleazar, has urged the University administration to address and resolve issues concerning its equipment and facilities.

The ENSC claimed in a letter sent to Officerin-Charge Dean Angelita Guia that many students and professors are dissatisfied with UE’s “capacity to provide quality education.” According to the council, computers in the College of Engineering’s laboratories are “slow, unresponsive, outdated, and lacking essential software.”

The ENSC also slammed UE for failing to respond to students’ needs, claiming that the issue had been raised last semester but no action had been taken.

“This concern was already raised in the first semester of A.Y. 2022-2023 but still remains unaddressed to date, despite the fact [that] the engineering courses require the use of computer laboratories to carry out various activities,” the letter read.

UE-OCA fires up ‘Arts Month’ with big production

by Angela Mae H. Mupada & Kimberly Jane A. Bacani

THE UNIVERSITY of the East (UE) Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) offered the UE community a series of cultural group performances in February 2023 to commemorate National Arts Month.

The OCA collaborated with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) to present “DulaYaWitAn sa Silangan,” a performance that included acting, singing, and dancing. The theme of these presentations was “Ani ng Sining, Bunga ng Galing.”

On February 1, the Office kicked off the celebration with a presentation of its cultural groups at UE Manila’s Dalupan Lobby.

The UE Drama Company and the UE Band set theatrical and musical performances at the Dalupan Lobby for “TANGHALian sa Silangan” on February 6.

The UE Band, conducted by Daniel Quianzon, performed songs by Filipino

alternative rock bands Eraserheads and Mayonnaise. A clarinet duet of “Toreador March,” an aria from the French opera “Carmen,” was also performed by the group.

Students also saw the band’s brass choir perform songs from the hit musical drama film “The Greatest Showman,” and a majorette performed a dance number while jiving to Maymay Entrata’s “Amakabogera.”

Meanwhile, members of the UE Drama Company demonstrated their skills with a spoken poetry performance. The theater group also held an open stage for the audience to showcase their talents.

Another performance took place in the Dalupan Lobby on March 3 at 4:00 p.m., that is “Alab UE” by the worldrenowned UE Chorale.

According to OCA Director Gener Caringal, the month-long celebration aims to expose students to various types of arts. In an interview with The Dawn,

he emphasized the students’ lack of interest in the arts.

“With the technology now, lagi na lang silang naglalaro ng game sa kanilang cellphone. Kung anoano nalang pinapanood nila kaya nawawala ang artistry nila which is very important, especially sa academics,” Caringal pointed out.

The OCA director also discussed the significance of National Arts Month, emphasizing how the arts contribute to people’s well-being.

“If you have no arts in your body, you will have a hard time passing your academic subjects because ang art, nagbi-build ng emotion ng tao; how to express themselves. By expressing, it’s already an art,” he explained. Meanwhile, due to the transportation strike, the UE Silanganan Dance Troupe’s “Indak sa Silangan,” which was scheduled for March 9 and 10 at the UE Theatre, was postponed to a later date.

As a result, the signatories have urged UE to buy “new, up-to-date computers” and secure software licenses, claiming that these would benefit students and professors during laboratory activities.

“This solution would provide a much better learning experience for them, as they would no longer have to deal with hardware and software issues,” the council underscored.

In addition, the ENSC requested the defective projectors and air conditioners in some rooms be replaced or repaired.

“The air conditioner has been malfunctioning in some of the rooms, and teachers and students cannot use it during classes as it disrupts their teaching,” the council said.

“Furthermore, the projectors present in some of the rooms are not working properly, making it impossible for teachers to use them during lessons,” it added.

In A.Y. 2020–2021, at least 20% of the incremental proceeds of tuition fee increases were used to improve facilities, including laboratories.

Mr. BSESS, Ms. BSEd win MMEduc 2023

THE BACHELOR of Science in Exercise and Sports Sciences (BSESS) and the Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in English won the Mr. and Ms. College of Education (CEduc) 2023.

Ethan Dean Lazaro, a BSESS student, and Sophia Louise Porciuncula, a BSEd candidate, won the crown and will represent their College in the Mr. and Ms. University of the East 2023. They were crowned on February 8 at the Instructional Resource Center of the UE Manila CEduc Building.

In addition to the title, they received the Best in Advocacy Award. Lazaro has focused his advocacy on the promotion of his degree program, whereas Porciuncula has focused on the “upliftment” of their College.

In response to a question about how she could promote her cause, Porciuncula stated that she wanted to show and remind people that teaching is the “noblest profession,” despite the fact that it is not always appreciated.

“I firmly believe that being an educator has been disregarded for the longest period of time. And if I will be given a chance to win this

title, as a prospect[ive] educator myself, once I enter the classroom and face my students, I will redundantly remind them each and every day of the beauty of being an educator and why it is being called the noblest profession of them all,” she said.

Lazaro, on the other hand, believes that his degree program should be treated equally with other courses. He stressed that his course was the “root” of his passion and aspirations.

“Throughout the years, my course has always been the ‘lang’ of the courses. Sports lang ‘yan, madali lang ‘yan. It’s always like that,” the 21-year-old student said.

“Nevertheless, I’m standing right here in front of you to show that the sports science course is the root of my passion and my dreams. Right now, here I am to show you what a true sports science student is,” Mr. Education 2023 added.

Meanwhile, first runners-up were Elijah Mikhael Diaz of BSEd and Milca Joel Casamis of Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEEd). Second runners-up were Axl Dela Cruz of BEEd and Dea Pauline Villamor of BSESS.

Sophia Louise Porciuncula and Ethan Dean Lazaro

UE student councils condemn 9.5% tuition increase

STUDENT councils of both University of the East (UE) Manila and Caloocan campuses strongly opposed the impending imposition of a 9.5 percent tuition and other fees increase (TOFI) next academic year.

During the consultation meetings, the student leaders slammed the UE administration for proposing a tuition increase despite the University’s inadequate facilities and services. They provided reasons why the proposed hike should not be implemented.

University Student Council (USC) President Wyncyr Cuizon urged UE officials to reconsider their decision and begin prioritizing students’ welfare.

“Naiintindihan po namin ‘yung business side, pero ang UE is not solely a business institution. Ito pong Pamantasan ay para sa mga estudyante [na nangangailangan ng] mura pero quality education,” Cuizon lamented.

“Ang puso ng institusyong ito ay ang mga estudyante.

Sana po mas maging considerate tayo sa mga estudyante dahil wala po ang Pamantasan kung wala sila,” he underscored.

Meanwhile, Central Student Council (CSC) President Rabbi Polina Cruz called UE management’s

proposal as “illogical, unreasonable, and downright inhumane.”

Cruz criticized the UE administration for putting the burden on the students and their families while failing to take their financial situation into account.

struggling to pay their fees—those who went to UE for affordable, quality education will be barred from their dreams of a better future, all because UE is shifting the burden to the students,” the CSC president said. “UE is not only leaving its students behind but is throwing them under the bus. It is an act of survival more akin to betrayal,” she exclaimed.

Furthermore, college student councils expressed dissatisfaction with the outdated computers, as well as the defective air conditioners and projectors. They also emphasized the poor Internet connection on campus.

In addition to the aforementioned, the student leaders echoed students’ concerns about underperforming professors who have been “abusing” the output-based learning modality. According to Republic Act No. 6728, 70 percent of the incremental proceeds from tuition increases must be used for the benefit of the teaching and nonteaching faculty and staff.

Cruz emphasized that UE should not even consider proposing a TOFI because the University must first provide “quality services with promptness and efficiency because what is delayed is ultimately denied.”

“Show us these so-called enhancements: replace the old computers with ones that are up-todate and usable; fire incompetent professors; [and] make the tuition fee now worth our while,” she stated.

Similarly, Cuizon highlighted the students’ collective call to halt the impending imposition of a tuition increase the following academic year.

“Gusto lang po namin i-reiterate, as representatives of the students, that we reject the 9.5% increase. We are appealing for the reconsideration of this percentage,” the USC president implored.

“Sana maitanim po natin sa mga puso natin na gawing priority ang mga estudyante, kasi without them, lalong malulumpo ang Pamantasan,” he added. Meanwhile, UE Senior Vice President Florence Siy maintained that they want to give students the “best and affordable education.” She explained that increasing the school fees is the “balancing act” that the University must perform.

UE produces 26 new MEs, 8 master plumbers

UNIVERSITY of the East (UE)

Manila and Caloocan campuses produced a total of 26 new mechanical engineers and master plumbers in the recently concluded licensure examinations.

Mechanical Engineering Board

According to the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), UE

Manila had an 86.67 percent passing rate in the February 2023 Mechanical Engineering (ME) Licensure Examination, with 13 Warrior examinees passing out of 15 total.

Half of all UE passers came from the Caloocan Campus, which had a 68.42 percent passing rate after 13 of 19 examinees passed.

Both campuses performed better in

comparison to the overall national passing rate of 62.17 percent. A total of 3,774 out of 6,070 passed the February 2023 ME board.

Master Plumber Board

Furthermore, the University produced eight master plumbers in the Master Plumber Licensure Examination (MPLE) in February 2023.

According to PRC data, the Manila Campus had a 40 percent passing rate, with four out of 10 passers.

Meanwhile, the UE Caloocan tallied a 28.57 percent passing rate, with four passers out of 14 Warrior examinees. The February 2023 MPLE posted an overall passing rate of 43.25 percent after 1,614 out of 3,732 examinees made the cut.

UE alum receives Ani ng Dangal ‘23 Award

by Terenz Dave L. Silverio

UNIVERSITY of the East (UE)–Caloocan visual communication graduate Elvin Jay E. Macanlalay has been named one of the Ani ng Dangal Award grantees by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts’ (NCCA).

The UE alumnus earned recognition for his short documentary titled, “Di Niyo Ba Naririnig?”

The documentary depicts the plight of Sangandaan, Caloocan jeepney drivers during the COVID-19 pandemic’s peak in 2020, as they beg for money to survive.

In an interview with the Dawn, Macanlalay stated that he was “overwhelmed” by the Commission’s recognition. “Sobrang overwhelming to receive such recognition from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, kasi this film was shot on mobile, guerilla, at not well produced in any sense,” he said.

In addition to Ani ng Dangal, his

UE proposes 9.5% TOFI; UEFA prexy questions proposal

documentary was awarded the Golden Kinabalu Award for Best Documentary Film at the 2022 Kota Kinabalu International Film Festival in Malaysia. Macanlalay recalled how he felt his intentions were “validated and valued” after receiving the international honors.

“Mas na-e-encourage din ako bilang artist na ipagpatuloy ang pagkukwento ng kapuwang lumalaban para sa kani-kanilang buhay, kabuhayan, at pamumuhay,” Macanlalay shared.

The visual communication graduate also emphasized the importance of being involved in social issues, as evidenced by his work.

“Saan ka man nanggaling, ano man ang iyong dahilan, at ano man ang iyong paraan, basta’t may respeto’t mula sa pagmamahal, importanteng nakikilahok tayo sa lipunan,” Macanlalay said.

“Lalong-lalo na sa panahon ngayon, kailangang-kailangan natin ipakita na may kapangyarihan tayo,” he added.

THE UNIVERSITY of the East (UE) administration revealed during February 27-28 consultation meetings that the institution intends to impose a whopping 9.5 percent tuition and other fees increase (TOFI) for the academic year 2023–2024.

The tuition increase was prompted by the country’s inflation rate, which was 8.7 percent in January 2023, according to UE officials.

The tuition fee per unit at the UE Manila Colleges of Arts and Sciences (CAS), Business Administration (CBA), Computer Studies and Systems (CCSS), and Engineering (CEng’g) would rise from Php 1,768.31 to Php 1,936 as a result of the impending increase.

Once the hike is implemented, the tuition fee per unit at the College of Education (CEduc) will rise from Php 1,539.84 to Php 1686.00. The tuition fee per unit at the College of Fine Arts, Architecture, and Design (CFAD) will increase by Php 153.31 next semester.

The proposed increase, according to the UE administration, would “provide funds for the expansion of student services and the implementation of faculty development programs and training.”

Furthermore, an increase in alumni and cultural fees of 66.7 percent and

50 percent, respectively, is proposed.

Students would also face massive increases in the installment and sports development fees, which would rise by 401 percent and 100 percent, respectively.

According to the management, these increases are necessary to “sustain the financial requirements of laboratory classes, cultural programs, and sports activities, which include the scholarships and meals of athletes, and to offset the cost of money for installment payments of school fees.”

Meanwhile, University of the East Faculty Association (UEFA) President Antonio Roland Co Po did not mince words in criticizing the UE administration over the proposed tuition hike.

Co Po questioned the UE administration about the “exact formula” used to arrive at 9.5 percent during the TOFI consultation on February 27.

The UEFA president stated that this is the first time in his many years at the institution that UE will impose a raise greater than five percent.

“Hindi ko talaga makita paano tayo dumating sa 9.5 [percent],” uttered Co Po, urging the UE management to review the proposal “carefully.”

Co Po urged University officials to

think about the welfare of the students who would be affected by the increase. He believes that raising tuition now is not the best time because the University has only recently begun offering more onsite classes.

“Are we after the possible income?

What is our objective? ... Why can’t we take the time? Why are we rushing things?” the faculty union chief asked. Co Po told the Dawn that the impending increase in tuition and other fees may have an impact on the University’s enrollment next semester because students may be unable to afford the school fees.

The UEFA president said, “9.5% is so high for our students, I’m telling you. And our competitors, there are so many schools now, especially state universities, that offer good and quality education.”

Despite the significant increase, the UE administration believes that its decisions remain consistent with the school’s vision and mission.

“You (students) are our number one client. Kung wala kayo sa’min, wala ang UE,” University President Zosimo M. Battad attested.

UE Vice President for Finance Annie Villegas emphasized that the University needs “to do something to survive.

National Commission for Culture and the Arts

Battad’s first order of business:

Tuition fee increase

New year. New president. Same old anti-student system.

Following the retirement of the President, who revoked the scholarships of hundreds of students, froze the freshman enrollment in four “unattractive” degree programs, fired faculty and staff during the pandemic, and disbanded several sports teams, the University is now headed by a new president, handpicked by Dr. Ester A. Garcia herself, who seemed to be merely serving as a shadow of the former Chief Academic Officer.

Less than 100 days after assuming office, new University of the East (UE) President Zosimo M. Battad’s administration has already been pushing for a 9.5 percent increase in tuition and other fees for the upcoming academic year. “I do not want what I have invested in and done for UE to just go to waste.” These were the words of Garcia to Battad, as recalled by him. True enough, the new president would not like to disappoint her and undoubtedly wants to live up to his predecessor’s expectations at the expense of the students.

The University just reopened its doors for more face-to-face classes after over two years of online distance learning, and it greeted its students not with safe back-toschool policies but with yet another burden to bear. In February 2023, the UE administration conducted a series of consultation meetings with the student councils for its proposed tuition increase for A.Y. 2023-2024, following the provisions of Republic Act No. 6728. But do students really have a voice in those consultations? Or were those consultations merely a formality? That, regardless of what the students say, the UE administration has already made a decision, and the dialogue had no real impact on the situation. The University held the consultation not because it values students’ opinions but rather to formalize another antistudent plan.

During the TOFI consultation meeting, Battad revealed that the impending increase in school fees is “based on the inflation rate.” The UE administration said that they have to do something for the institution to survive. The students and their families, who chose the University for its affordable, quality education, will, however, bear the brunt of this tuition hike.

The impending implementation of a whopping 9.5 percent TOFI is clearly unjustifiable and undeniably inhumane. Inflation has also had an impact on the students and their families. On top of that, due to UE’s hybrid classes, they also incur higher transportation costs just to attend one on-site class and then return home to complete their online asynchronous activities for other subjects. Not to mention that these students have struggled to budget their allowances for mobile data because the University’s Internet connection is so poor and slow that it cannot even perform a simple Google search.

Meanwhile, according to the certificate of compliance (COC) released by the University, at least 20 percent of incremental proceeds from A.Y. 2020–2021, when it last imposed an increase in school fees, were utilized for the improvement of buildings, equipment, facilities, and laboratories. However, just recently, UE Caloocan engineering students complained, through a letter sent to Officer-in-Charge Dean Angelita Guia, that computers in laboratories at their College are “slow, unresponsive, outdated, and lacking essential software.” They also expressed concern about the defective projectors and air conditioners in many rooms. This was not an isolated case, since students at UE Manila also complained about the same issues.

For A.Y. 2022-2023, students paid more than Php 1,700 per semester for the Technology Systems Fee— one of which was last semester, when students did not even utilize this fee due to online classes. And now the UE administration is proposing another tuition increase when it cannot even provide good services to the students.

Battad and the Board of Trustees may tell the students that they are the top priority, but everybody knows that it is a total fallacy. They promised a bright tomorrow to the students. But does tomorrow really begin in the East? These proposed tuition fee hikes appear to indicate otherwise.

UE has never been, was not, and will never be for the students because it is pure business and nothing more. And just like that, Battad has already taken his first order of the day— tuition fee increase. It’s business as usual at the President’s office!

MAUNA raw tayo. Sa ipinahayag ni Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. noong ika-7 ng Pebrero 2023 sa National Tax Campaign launch ng Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), itinapal niya sa noo ng mga Pilipino na magbayad ng tamang halaga ng buwis sa tamang oras. At kung mayroon mang manguna sa pagpapatupad nito ay tayo raw ‘yon.

Tayo na muna ang maging pamantayang susundan dahil masyado nang abala ang ating pangulo sa maraming bagay, tulad ng pagpili ng bulaklak bilang pagbibigay-pugay sa himagsikan na pinangunahan ng mga nagpatalsik sa rehimen ng kaniyang ama na si Ferdinand Marcos Sr. Dagdag mo pang mahirap pagsabayin ang pagiging presidente’t vlogger. Kaya naman, halina’t ibsan natin ang ngalay niya nang mga balikat sa kakahawak ng kamera at banat niya nang mga pisngi sa kakangiti. Isang pagsubok ang magsilbing modelo ng kaniyang mga mamamayan—ng mga totoong naghihikahos sa buhay at lipunan. Tiyak na puyat din siya sa bawat pagdiriwang, lokal at internasyonal, sa tuwing nalulugmok ang bansa sa samu’t saring mga bagyo at trahedya. Nakapangangamba rin kung komportable ba siya o hindi sa tuwing siya’y alo-alo ng Philippine Air Force jets sa kaniyang mga pagbisita sa ibang bansa. Sa modernisasyong ginagalawan natin ngayon, mas kamungka-

mungkahi na ang pangunguna ng publiko sa pagtala ng mga dapat at hindi dapat gawin. Siguro nga’t hindi na maiiwasan, lalo na’t mas marami tayo sa bilang kaysa sa mga opisyal. Kaya huwag panay reklamo, tayo ay humanap ng solusyon!

Huwag tayo masyadong umasa at sumandal sa lider na binoto natin no’ng eleksyon sapagkat maaaring hindi pa sapat ang tibay ng kaniyang mga poste. Maaaring may karupukan pa, lalo’t ginagapang pa niya ang ₱203B na napaglipas na ng panahon. Iwasang maging lubusang magaspang sa kaniya, yamang may taglay siyang kasensitibuhan dahil wala pa siyang isang taon sa panunungkulan. Hindi ba’t kaya nga tayo ang mauuna dahil baka nangangapa pa siya? Bilang isang hindi nakapagtapos ng kolehiyo? Malamang ay sinasaulo niya pa ang mga patakaran at hakbang patungo sa tamang pamamalakad ng bansa, lalo na ang pagbabayad ng tamang halaga ng buwis sa tamang oras, sa pamamagitan ng panonood sa kaniyang mga mamamayan na manguna rito.

Hinay-hinay, kababayan. Idinagdag naman niya sa kaniyang pahayag na para sa ikabubuti nating mga Pilipino ang bawat kilos niya. Tanggapin na lang natin na baliktad na ang mundo ngayon: ang mga Pilipino ang pinuno, at ang pinuno ang magsisilbing Pilipinong sugo.

Woefully Equidistant from Amelioration

A PEACEFUL Thursday evening greeted the upper-level students, despite Manila’s chaotic reality outside their classroom. A celebration was brewing. Yet before the acquaintances gave greetings, a girl blurted out, “May tumalon na naman,” (Someone jumped again) as she scrolled through an article on her phone.

The news report was about the San Beda College Alabang incident involving a 17-year-old who barely finished his last year in high school. It can be remembered that a few weeks ago, another senior high school student from the University of the East Caloocan Campus decided to end his life.

Senators urged Department of Education Secretary and Vice President Sara Z. Duterte to do more to curb the increasing number of people taking their own lives. Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, in particular, hopes that Duterte hires more school guidance counselors to addresss the alarming rise in student suicide rates. However, Duterte’s nonchalant attitude toward these cases is evident through the lack of new programs under her department to strengthen suicide prevention and eradicate mental health stigma in the Philippines. The last initiative for suicide prevention under DepEd was back in September 2022, during World Suicide Prevention Day. Since then, the Filipino people have heard nothing from the office about mental health. Unbeknownst to her, her silence is loud enough to write the country’s mental health status in the blood of its new victims.

Taboo: mental health discussions summed up in one word. Despite the outrage among younger generations and various developments in global awareness of these illnesses, most Filipinos

continue to turn a blind eye and silence those who speak out. On January 23, 2023, DepEd released an official statement lending condolences to the bereaved family of one of the victims: with an education secretary who expresses empty sympathy instead of proactively preventing further damage, students have difficulty vocalizing their need for help. The most straightforward act of going to the guidance counselor for consultation will be shamed, turning a hurt kid into a laughing stock.

Things would be different if the vice president prioritized information dissemination for mental health awareness and openly discussed underlying issues. Holding a position as influential as education secretary would allow someone to devise programs that could alter the thought processes of students and instructors alike. A shift in perspective on what seriously affects students’ lives could significantly reduce suicide rates and open the door to progressive conversations about mental health. This could eliminate the stigma that burdens learners; one could only wish that DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte knew how much power she holds.

It is clear that the tragic deaths of these adolescents are not enough to grab the attention of the Education secretary, as her department carries on with operations as usual, seemingly without regard for the recent events. Unfortunately, the Philippines is still far from achieving the freedom to discuss what burdens its citizens down, so many continue to fall into the abyss. Until the education secretary learns to utilize her authority to counter the very thing that took away the lives of hundreds of students, it will remain taboo and unsaid.

Una ang mga Pilipino, saka susunod ang Pangulo

Amby Marielle L. Masiglat

DUYOG

Janae P. Ammugauan

ANGELA MAE H. MUPADA VENUS AMOR P. PESTAÑO FLORIEGHIN A. SANGLITAN PATRICIA DEENISE L. SAMODIO TERENZ DAVE L. SILVERIO MAE ROCELLE D. SULIT MARIE GOLD VIVIEN M. TOTANES CALLIOPE C. VALMONTE

MIKHAELA P. LLADONES Managing Editor

(Balat) Sibuyas

ni Amby Marielle L. Masiglat

24 oras

SA MABABAW na bayong sa gitna ng malaking lamesa, kami’y naroroon ng aking pamilya: si tatay ang kalabasa, si nanay ang ampalaya, si kuya ang okra, si ate ang luya, at ako ang sibuyas. Sibuyas na kay ganda ng pagkalila, kay tama ng hugis, at kay tapang ng presensya pero teka—

Bakit parang hindi nila ako ganyan nakikita?

Hindi maganda ang kulay, hindi tama ang hugis, at mas lalong hindi matapang ang presensya. Sa kanilang mga mata, ako’y palaging alinman sa dalawa: maaaring kasing puti ng multo o pusikit na parang usok; o ‘di kaya’y manipis na parang hindi kumakain o kasing laki ng pridyider. Higit sa lahat, ang katauhan ko’y hindi matapang sa kanilang pagkilala. Paano naman mangyayari ‘yon kung sa simpleng puna nila’y ako ay nasasaktan na?

‘Pag naglagay ng kolorete sa mukha, para kay tatay ay masyado akong maarte. ‘Pag nagtampo, ako raw ay masyadong seryoso. Hindi na raw ako mabiro!

‘Pag nakaligtaang mag-ayos at magsuklay, ako ay tila raw batang gusgusin, ani nanay. ‘Pag sumimangot, tiyak na ako’y lagot. Hindi raw ‘yon naaayon!

‘Pag nababawasan ang pagkain, sa mata ni kuya ay ako’y mapagpanggap. ‘Pag nasaktan, ako raw ay masyadong kapit sa aking nararamdaman. Hindi na raw ako nasanay!

‘Pag humirit ng isa pang sandok ng kanin, si ate’y mahina nang tatawa upang mang-asar. ‘Pag napahiya, ako raw ay hindi marunong magsaya. Hindi na raw ako nakisama!

Sa mababaw na bayong sa gitna ng malaking lamesa, kami’y naroroon ng aking pamilya: si tatay na kasing tigas ng kalabasa ang puso, si nanay na kasing pait ng ampalaya ang mga salita, si kuya na kasing lagkit ng okra ang pag-uugali, si ate na kasing anghang ng luya ang gawi. . .

At ako. . . ako na kasing nipis ng sibuyas ang balat— sensitibo at maramdaming sapat.

Sinapupunan ni Calliope Valmonte

MAHAL kong mga magulang, Malinaw sa ‘kin ang pagkabalisa dahil sa desisyon kong ikandado ang pagkakataong makapagluwal ng anak sa mundo. Nais kong ilahad hindi lang ang akin kundi ang mga damdamin, paniniwala, at alaala din ng mga kagaya kong pinili ang magpatuloy nang walang kalong-kalong na isa pang buhay. Mahirap man tanggapin ngunit nawa’y mamulat kayo sa mga puntong sana’y naging tipikal at rasyonal sa inyo noon pa man.

Ang kulturang pamilya sa lipunan natin ay kaakibat ng pagtutulungan at pagsasama, ngunit bawat isa sa ati’y may kaniya-kaniyang mga pangarap, prinsipyo, at desisyon. Bagama’t nasaksihan ko ang madaliang pagpapasiya ng iba na magka-anak sa tamang panahon, hindi ko pa rin malaman kung saan ko pupulutin ang sinasabi nilang dalawang salitang ‘yon.

Marahil pribilehiyo ang namamagitan sa gusto ninyo. Sa panahong ito, kahit na pare-parehas tayong may dalawampu’t apat na oras ay hindi pa rin iisa ang kakayanan nating kumita’t umangat. Kung noo’y napagkakasya sa bente pesos ang baon, puwes katumbas na ng tatlong pirasong sibuyas ang baon ngayon. Hindi na ako nagluluto dahil halos pareho lang din ang gagastusin sa labas at madalas, nagdadalawang-isip akong lakarin ang destinasyon ko ‘pagkat nakapanghihinayang ang sampung pisong pamasaheng pang-estudyante. Habang yumayaman ang mga nasa itaas, nawawalan ng katiyakan naman ang lipunang ating ginagalawan. Natatanaw ko na ang imahe kong lubhang nalulunod sa kadukhaan, naghihintay na mapansin ng isang nakatataas. Nagpapantig na rin ang mga tenga ko sa kung ano ang mga maisusumbat sa ‘kin ng magiging anak ko kung ‘di ko maiaabot ang bawat pangangailangan niya— materyal man, atensyon, aruga, o oras. Ilan lamang ito sa mga bagay na marahil ay hindi ko kailanman magagampanan, lalo na’t kapos din sa sarili kong pangangailangan.

Kasabay ng gastusin ay ang ipagpaliban ang mga pangarap ko, mga pangarap na tiyak na maipagpapapabukas ko na lamang para sa anak ko. Sa pagdadala ng panghabang-buhay na responsibilidad, habang-buhay na rin akong nakatali sa titulo ng pagiging ilaw ng tahanan. Walang “tamang panahon” para sa isang mahirap, lalo na kapag nasa laylayan.

Patuloy na nagbabago ang mundo at nahahabag ako sa kapasidad kong mapantayan ito. Mainam nang isipin ko na lamang kayo at ang sarili ko. Nakababahala ang kalagayan ng ekonomiya at hindi ako mag-aanak para lang nakawan ko siya ng kalayaan at karangyaan. Mahal kong mga magulang, hindi ko inaasahan na matatanggap ninyo ito kaagad. Sana lamang ay huwag ninyo akong maipipinta na makasarili. Maisasalin ang aking konsensya sa maraming kahulugan ngunit hindi ito karamutan dahil higit na mas makasarili ang magluwal ng anak sa mundong hindi pa handa para sa kaniya.

Nagmamahal, Ang inyong anak

HINDI sapat ang bente kwatro oras para ako’y umangat.

Sa paanan ng palasyong nakatirik sa Pasig, kahirapa’y nakaugat.

Doon, mga mamamayan ng may-ari ay nababalutan ng mga sugat, Mga sugat buhat ng bente kwatro oras na kahit kaila’y ‘di sasapat.

Kahit na anong banat, Kahit na anong puyat, Kahit na anong bigat ng pasan sa balikat, at Kahit na anong hiling sa agimat.

Dahil ba ‘to sa aking kasamaang-palad?

O baka tama silang ako’y tatamad-tamad?

‘Di kaya dahil ang pangarap ko’y sayad?

O bulag lang ang marami sa katotohanang hubad?

Ang oportunidad sa ‘ting bansa ay walang dudang maalat. Dahil ang pundasyon nating mga Pilipino’y mahina’t makunat, Ang mga inaasahang tagapagtaguyod ay ‘di ginagawa ang dapat, Mga salita at kilos nila ay pawang kasinungalingan at patumapat.

Hindi sapat ang bente kwatro oras para ako’y umangat.

Hindi dahil ang sipag at tiyaga ko’y kulang sa sukat, Kung hindi dahil sa limitadong kilos ng aking bansa, Bansang dapat ay aking kaakibat.

ni Amby Marielle L. Masiglat

Jeepney Journey

by Phoebe Vernice Cheng

YOU WAKE up one morning hungover from the elixirs of the previous night, which you drank to keep your sanity most of the time. While still lucid, you prepare to go to school and rush to the door to catch a jeepney. You are physically ready but emotionally unprepared. In fact, you’re supposed to study for a quiz on a significant subject, but visions of surrendering come to mind.

Moments later, you’re inside the vehicle beside the driver’s seat. You look at the cerulean skies, and the golden sun rays shine upon your gaze, but the smoke-belching traffic enters the picture. Trying to gain a positive aura, you look at the side mirror, and your reflection is you either as a banker, a teacher, an entrepreneur, a lawyer, a flight attendant, a doctor, and many more. As you intently stare at your reflection, you see that you also live a fulfilled and successful life, both materially and spiritually. Some of you might even see your name hung on billboards, standing under the super trouper lights.

As the journey sails on, you see yourself paying bills without the hassle of thinking about where the money would be coming from. Aside from that, you travel to various destinations for both business and leisure. You get to sip mimosas and have brunches with those you hold dear in new facility while reminiscing the heydays of college life. Other times, you spend your weekends having picnics in the lush countryside to escape the exhilarating pace of your career. Ah, manifesting la dolce vita!

Suddenly, the bolt of reality strikes. Your mind is emblazoned with the premonition from the mirror that you are stunned when you see the lightning. You immediately ponder: what should I do to make the daydream tangible? The reflection feels like you’re in the celestial paradise; you cannot stay in it forever, but it’s embedded in your mind as something to be achieved, and the keys to achieving it are just there: study, pass, enjoy, and graduate.

The jeepney stops in front of the university gate, and you descend from the vehicle. You walk with your head held high, with the vision radiating on your heart and mind. Your soul feels renewed, and you are ready to conquer the world.

Survival Tips: A Warrior on the Field

by Venus Amor P. Pestaño

LIKE BIRDS free from metal bars, we are outside again, roaming around like lost children. After years of being in the comfort of our homes, we have forgotten how to survive in this chaotic world. If you are not wiseenough, you will be eaten alive: a mere student thrust into the world will undoubtedly struggle.

The daily life of a student is a war zone where the only strongest warrior lives. As a student, there are things to worry about like getting to school, beating traffic, and budgeting your allowance. Here are tips to help you survive.

7 survival tips outside the University of the East:

1. Travel smart. We can all agree that stumbling in traffic is a pain, so leave your house early to get to school on time. Rush hours usually happen from 7:00 A.M. to 9:00 A.M. and again from 5:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M., so take note!

Pro tip: Use Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Metro Rail Transits (MRT); train rides are a great way to avoid traffic and get to your destination with little to no hassle. If you’ve managed to avoid the dreaded influx of passengers, riding the jeepney is the cheapest way of getting from point A to point B!

2. Get your cardio going! Instead of hailing rides from Etryc, Grab, or Angkas, you should consider walking. It will help us avoid traffic, save money, and improve our health.

3. Feel free to ask for a discount. Students are also entitled to discounts on public transportation, too! And if you want to buy something, don’t be afraid to bargain for a better deal or a lower price. Asians take pride in frugality!

4. Support local businesses. Supporting local businesses will not only help them grow, but it will also help us get great deals. Every peso counts, so make sure you make the most of it.

5. Gastambide meals. Gastambide street offers the most affordable and diverse meals out there. It is cheaper than eating in a fast-food chain nearby and you get to choose from numerous options, plus it’s right in front of the university gate!

6. Bring a water bottle. Reusable water bottles/tumblers will help you save some cash because water fountain dispensers are available almost everywhere! A handy water bottle will help you stay cool and hydrated throughout the day. It’ll also help you cut back on plastic waste by eliminating the need to buy bottled water from convenience stores.

7. Prepare your lunch and snacks. Bringing homemade food is a lot healthier and cheaper, especially for quick snacks throughout the day. When we go to school with food in our system, we have the energy to start the day because a happy tummy means a happy life!

Are you ready, Warriors? May the odds be in your favor!

Recitation Encounters

by Calliope Valmonte

IT IS universally acknowledged that a student with a failing grade must be in want of recitation points. Whatever means are necessary, we must put aside our pride and be the class clown to salvage ourselves from shuffled index cards and unannounced graded recitations. Class participation is a mixture of anticipation, dread, and succumbing to strong palpitations that make us wonder whether it came from the coffee we chugged this morning or the unnerving glare from our professor (or both). As frightful as it sounds, since rolling back to the four corners of the classroom, recitations have been an inevitable quest without the bright red ‘end call’ button to save us from embarrassment.

At the start of the semester, a friend taught me this survival technique to help me get through insufferable situations like graded recitations. Though I have experienced a handful of times returning to my seat with a contented heart after being called to recite, my confidence will continue to betray me with just the idea of talking in front of a whole class. Sometimes, I get afraid that I might stutter between sentences or throw my head at the window when my mind goes blank. So, I paid close attention to my friend when she told me how to speak to a crowd.

Like any reasonable adult, she advised me, “If you’re worried about talking in front of a whole class, just imagine them naked, and you won’t be self-conscious anymore.” It was such a good idea, I thought.

It’s a mental technique that turns my audience vulnerable, giving me power. Who would have thought I could get ahead of myself by playing tricks on my mind? I did not know though if this technique would be helpful or just downright mortifying.

The faithful day has arrived. My professor announced a graded recitation about the Executive Branch of the government, such as qualifications, powers, and their line of succession. In a nutshell, it was a lot to digest, and I still needed to learn which questions I would get. In my mind, I just wanted to have a go. In this setting, students either want to start ahead to spare the anxiety of waiting to be called or are convinced that raising their hand would cut their nervousness short. I did not have to pick from either; the professor called me at the right time. It was not like any other class recitation, though. I had to stand in the middle of the classroom and get bombarded with questions by the professor, who had an unreadable expression. Despite enjoying class discussions, I do not share the same pleasure of standing face-to-face and getting asked to explain the power of eminent domain (though I have reviewed it overnight). There’s something about knowing I’m not stupid but having no capacity to articulate my thoughts to more than forty people.

One inescapable afternoon, my fears came to life. I stood in the middle of the classroom, knowing that I was not the only one with crippling anxiety, but I remembered having what no one else has: that survival technique. Maybe it was not going to be so bad after all.

I waited for my professor to ask me the question. Me being anxious was an understatement. “Have no fear,” I

whispered, “Just imagine them naked.”

“When the elected President of the Philippines cannot discharge the duties of his office due to death, disability, or resignation, who is next in line of the succession?” blurted out the professor. The heavens are aligning for me today. I was thankfully given an easy question.

The Vice President, ma’am,” I answered with confidence and a mistakable smug grin. I might not need that technique, after all. But looking at my professor, she wanted more: this is where I contemplated whether I had studied enough about the line of succession of Philippine Presidents.

“And if the Vice President cannot discharge the office duties due to death, disability, or resignation, who is next in line?” she sent me a follow-up question that unnerved me.

“The Senate President,” I retorted, reasonably sure of my statement.

“Very well, then. Is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court also in the line of succession?”

I knew the answer. Yet, like everyone else, my brain cells have an expiration date. The riveting anxiety stopped me from producing a single intellectual thought. A yes or no answer still constituted an explanation I was unprepared for. I tried to conjure every photographic memory and cursed myself for being foolish not knowing the answer to a simple question.

Nonetheless, I had my survival tool. I closed my eyes briefly and tried to exhaust myself by imagining the silent audience naked: this was going to clear my head, I figured. When I finally opened my eyes, I found all of them naked. It worked!

Instead of feeling more confident, I was speechless. No one told me that it would probably scare me if it worked. It is just simply appalling to imagine your crowd naked. Everyone looked at me when I realized I had made a haunting decision.

I had no choice but to add diapers for them. When the mind works in splendid and humiliating ways, I cannot help but laugh. With my classmates wearing just nappies in my mind, I stifled a laugh vibrating throughout the whole room. I looked stupid, more like, insane. I told my professor that it was due to so much stress from studying.

“Get back to your seat,” my professor ordered. While walking back to my place with so much humiliation, I saw my professor scribbling a few strokes on my index card with a tired sigh on her face.

It was not a satisfying experience for my grades, but it did earn me a funny memory. Recitation encounters to spice up college life, making all these years genuinely unforgettable. Being called to recite in class or raising your hand to answer a question does not always have to be a culmination of discomfort and shame. Sometimes, it can also be a funny priceless moment you can look back to with your college friends.

Catch up on your readings to avoid imagining anyone in diapers. Best of luck, Warriors!

A Letter From The Past

by Jazmin Dhane O. Garcia

DEAR 2023 Self, Hi.

It’s been a while since we last connected with each other. Since you’ve been doing so many things lately, it must have been quite stressful and hectic. I can sense you are unmotivated and disconnected from our passion. I know every cold drop of sweat makes you slip and every warm tear forces you to melt. You don’t have to lower your head. Rather, I wrote this letter so you can lift your head up high again. I want to remind you why we even started in the first place.

We started because we wanted to make our family proud, to be like Mulan, who will bring honorto the name we bear. They were the first to support us in pursuing our aspirations, and as such, we wanted to reciprocate their generosity tenfold;

We began because we aspire to be wealthy and successful. Who doesn’t want that? To be able to buy the things we want and need without worrying, to sleep without having to plan the next day’s expenses, to go out with friends without the fear of being left behind;

We started because we wished to inspire others just as others did to us. We want those who have yet to make their first step know that if we can achieve it, so can they. We wanted to be their ray of hope.

There are many reasons why we took a step forward. However, the best of them has yet to be engraved on our minds and bones, on our hearts and souls— we wanted to make us proud.

You’d always say if my past self is watching me now, I want them to be proud of what I’m doing and not be disappointed.

You wanted me to be awestruck by your craft. And guess what? I am. You wanted me to be ecstatic that our dream is becoming a reality. And you know what? I am. You wanted me to be proud of you for persevering through the hardships of life. And voila, I am. I truly am.

I can’t imagine how exhausted and stressed you must be to feel unmotivated and disconnected, but, still, look at you! You’ve managed to accomplish what needs to be done while producing excellent outcomes. You’ve managed to regularly give 100% to your tasks. And you’ve always been able to demonstrate improvement and growth in both your work and yourself, and for that, I am very proud of you.

Remember that I am always here for you and will be your biggest supporter. If you ever feel like giving up, remember why you started in the first place.

Wishing you the best, Your inner child.

SA ATING pagtahak sa pang-araw-araw na buhay, anuman ang ‘yong antas at kalagayan, ay mayroon lamang iisang katotohanan—ang bawat isa sa atin ay may dinadalang pasanin na kung minsa’y hindi batid ng iba.

Tayo ay mahihilantulad sa mga manlalayag na humaharap sa bawat hampas ng alon sa dagat. Ang kada pag-uga ng bangka ay may bitbit na samot-saring hinagpis, gayon din ang bawat talsik ng tubig dagat ay may dala-dalang iba’t ibang kuwento: kuwento ng katapangan, pagpupursigi, pagbagsak, at pagbangon. Sa madaling salita, ang kuwento ng pangarap. Gaya ng mga manlalayag, ang bawat isa sa atin ay nilalabanan at sinasabayan ang alon ng buhay. Tayo’y nagpapakita ng katapangan sa tuwing nababatuhan ng pagsubok at palaging nilalabas ang pagiging pursigido kahit na minsan sa dulo’y talo.

Sa mga pagkakataong tayo’y bumabagsak, natatalo, at napapagod, tiyak na sa susunod na pahina ay muli tayong bumabangon—bumabawi at tinitindigan ang lupit ng panahon.

Patuloy lang nating kabisaduhin ang ruta ng paglalayag ng buhay, hanggang maisarado natin ang libro at mabuo ang ating kuwento.

BEAT THE ODDS:

UAAP SECOND SEMESTER PRIMER

What to Expect and Who to Watch out for From the Red Warriors

BY JESSICA ANN S. EVANGELISTA

AFTER returning to full action and welcoming sports fans back into the arena for the first semester events, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) is set to continue the athletic momentum as the second semester sports commence in February.

The University of the East (UE) is expected to produce more game-changing moments this semester in order to build on the men’s basketball team’s commendable stint last semester, which was better than the previous season. The games in which the Red Warriors will compete are expected to boost the team’s spirit and level of play to new heights.

The Recto-based squad may be a UAAP underdog, but their first semester performance surprised many. However, as the second-semester of UAAP fencing and volleyball events begin, the Red Warriors are poised to excel and not back down. Here are the things you can expect: the schedules, what sports to watch, and which players to root for. Being an underdog demands appreciation but never contentment, so let’s witness how the Red Warriors will continue to thrive this time around!

VOLLEYBALL

UE’s volleyball team currently holds the third spot with the most championships among the UAAP schools. Twelve victories for Men’s, six wins for Women’s, 14 for the Boys’, and five for the Girls’ with 37 wins in total as of this writing.

Over the years, UE has managed to birth volleyball players who have begun to make their names in the professional league, one of them is Kathleen “Kath” Faith Arado, a member of the Philippines women’s national volleyball team. She won Rookie of the Year, Best Digger, Best Receiver, and Best Libero awards in the UAAP. She is a two-time Best Libero in the semi-professional league Philippine Super Liga.

Other notable players from UE include Shakey’s V-League Best Blocker Suzanne Roces, 2019 PSL Collegiate Grand Slam Conference Best Setter Laizah Ann Bendong, 2019 PSL Invitational Cup 2nd Best Outside Hitter Ma. Shaya Adorador, and 2018 PSL Collegiate Grand Slam Conference 2nd Best Outside Hitter Mary Anne Mendrez.

Below are the names of the volleyball players that will don the red and white this season

Men’s Volleyball Roster

Middle blocker Lloyd Josafat, who played for the national team during the pandemic, will lead the squad this season. Over the years, Josafat has exhibited impressive outputs for the Red Warriors, one of which was his stint against University of the Philippines (UP) during Season 82 in which he fired 32 points and delivered the match-clinching block. He is expected to solidify this year’s line up, with team captain Ralph Imperial by his side.

Players who also showed their noteworthy stint in the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) Champions League last year will debut this Season 85, along with new faces and reliable players that will give the Lualhati tribe a chance on the podium. The complete lineup is listed below:

Imperial, Ralph Ryan (C)

Josafat, Lloyd

Reyes, Jose Mari Solis, Aldwin Culabat, Kenneth Roi Andaya, John Michael

Mangahis, John Paul Reyes, Angelo De Lima, Eryn Maui Torres, Giles Jeffer

Camaymayan, Xjhann

Defeo, Axel

Pozas, Joshua Lamis, Steve Kent

Head Coach: Jerome Guhit

Women’s Volleyball Roster

Hoping to live up to the footsteps of Kath Arado and others, Janeca Lana will captain the team alongside notable twin towers Lia Pelaga and Riza Nogales, who are included in the national team training pool for the 32nd Southeast Asian Games. Despite the departure of some key players, new faces like KC Cepada, who is slowly proving she is one to watch due to her preseason performance, will try to increase the team’s chances of victory as the Lady Warriors work together in this second semester’s match. The complete lineup is listed below:

Lana, Janeca Janine (C) Babol, Jasckin May Manalo, Rhea Zeta, Jenina Marie Quizon, Jhudielle Pelaga, Lia Alexa Nieva, Percae Darabella Balingit, Kayce Nogales, Riza Bangayan, Vanessa Karzai Reyes, Angelica Cepada, KC Dionisio, Kamille Tequin, Shainely

Head Coach: Kris Ronwald Dimaculangan

FENCING

UE’s fencing team has been one for the books given the number of accolades it has brought to Lualhati over the years. As of this writing, the Recto-based squad holds the title with the most championships among the UAAP schools. Fourteen victories for men, 12 for women, nine for boys, and seven for girls, for a total of 32 wins, with the possibility of adding more this season.

UE was the home of sporting pride and fencing phenomenon Samantha Kyle Catantan, who is currently

at Penn State University in Pennsylvania, USA, to hone more of her fencing skills. Catantan is the first Filipino gold medalist in Asian individual fencing. She has ruled the UAAP Juniors Fencing with four consecutive Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards under her name during her time at UE and has also gathered other national awards along the way. The Red-and-White fencing team has yet to release the names of all the players that will banner the Red-and-White this season,

FOOTBALL

but according to Vicious Brainiac Fencing’s Facebook page, fencing stars Prince John “Tipoy” Felipe and Shawn Nicollei “Kulay” Felipe will lead the Men’s Foil this season, alongside national fencer RJ Perez. Meanwhile, in the Women’s Foil, Maricar Matienzo, who pocketed the gold in the U23 Women’s Foil, is reportedly one of the UE players who will take the competition by storm this season. As for the game schedule, it is slated to run from February 23–26.

After a two-year absence from the UAAP men’s football competition, the UE Men’s Football Team is set to return to the field this season, grappling for triumph. The Lualhati tribe is overjoyed with the squad’s additions, which include new recruits and a veteran presence. The team is prepared to go all out in the competition in order to reach the top.

National team player and goalkeeper Lance Bencio and Joniel James Pamati-an would defend the post of the Rectobased tribe. Jerome Abarca,

Edmar Adonis, Paolo Alovera, Jerome Ang, Michael Brobbey, Duane Calawod, Sammy Capellan, Lester Carandang, Ronniel Ebbah, and Ian Gatilao would fuel the squad.

Also joining the roster are Crimson Inguito, Kian Lauriano, Joshua Macaraig, Elbrin Madrid, John Bernard Magallon, Champ Marin, Jam Ray Mariveles, Nuar-Mar Modin, Nikko Palacio, and Emmanuel Robrigado. The team will be mentored by head coach Fitch Florence Arboleda.

The Red Warriors may not

have a stellar UAAP record when all game results are considered, but they do have their moments of brilliance in between. What matters is that they believe they have a reasonable chance of winning every time they enter the arena or field. Every time and in every match, the Red Warriors grow stronger and more determined, ensuring that they will always be a source of pride for the Rectobased community. So let us all do our part and cheer them on this season!

The UE Fencing Team ready to take on the UAAP as the reigning overall champion.

The UEMFT aiming to conquer the field as they take on different teams from UAAP.

The men’s and women’s volleyball team of UE gearing up for the upcoming season.

Obiena misses Asian Championships over logistical, financial issues

by Stephanie Lacey A. Mendoza

FILIPINO Olympian and World No. 3 pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena was unable to compete in the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships on February 10–12 in Kazakhstan due to logistical and financial constraints.

The 27-year-old Olympian posted on Facebook that none of the airlines serving Astana, Kazakhstan, could transport the poles due to the 17-hour flight time.

“It’s a sad state when the best vaulters in Asia are excluded from competing in the biggest indoor championships in Asia,” Obiena said

in the post, mentioning that some Asian pole vaulters had been withdrawn from the Olympics for the same reason.

Obiena also addressed the financial issues that he and his team have been dealing with for over a year, which led to his withdrawal from the tournament.

This concern arose in late 2021, when former Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) chief Philip Ella Juico publicly clashed with Obiena over the liquidation of documents and finances.

While both the Commission on Audit

(COA) and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) ruled in Obiena’s favor, the national pole vaulter and his team have yet to be paid.

Due to payment delays and Team Obiena’s inability to receive their payout, some athletes have decided to leave the team.

“I cannot blame them. Who could work [for] free for over a year? They have families to support and bills to pay. They can’t keep working for free. I can only hope this resolves soon. I am losing a team I desperately need. Nobody wins alone. It’s always been a team effort,” the pole vaulter said.

RED WARRIORS BOLSTER FINAL FOUR HOPES WITH NEW FIL-AM RECRUIT

BY PIOLO S. ALMOITE

THE UNIVERSITY of the East (UE)

Men’s Basketball Team has added Ethan Galang, who hopes to help the squad reach the final four of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86, which UE will host.

The Filipino-American shooter will enter Season 86 of the country’s premier collegiate league as a two-and-through player, team head coach Jack Santiago confirmed on February 7 via sports writer Naveen Ganglani.

Galang completed his third and final seasonas a member of the Life Pacific University (LPU) Warriors in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) men’s basketball competition in the United States of America, and he will graduate in the first half of 2023.

The 6-foot-4 forward from Chino Hills, California, was previously committed to the UST Growling Tigers before deciding to pursue a master’s degree at UE.

Galang averaged 10.8 points, 3.2

rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 27.7 minutes per game at LPU. His shooting percentages were 47.3 percent from the field, 45 percent from deep (on about five attempts per game), and 84 percent from the free throw line.

Galang’s service for the Red and White is expected to have a big impact, as the UE Red Warriors have lost two key players in CJ Payawal and Mythical Five awardee Luis Villegas, who both graduated and turned pro.

VOLLEYBALL

Obiena said his heart is “broken” because he missed an opportunity to fight for his country. Despite his absence from the Asian Indoor Championship, he assured his fans that he would continue to represent the Philippines in future competitions.

The world’s third-ranked pole vaulter won his first gold medal of the year at the Perche En Or tournament in France on January 29. He then defended his title and finished first in the Orlen Cup in Poland on February 4, 2023 for the second time.

Furthermore, the addition of the FilAm basketball player is seen as a significant move for the University, as Athletic Director Rodrigo Roque has previously stated that he does not want UE to have an import.

The highly anticipated player is excited to join Kyle Paranada and Rey Remogat, who will lead the charge for the Rectobased squad.

The UE Red Warriors finished sixth in the UAAP Season 85 with a 5-9 win-loss record

by Anna Marie B. Atutubo

UNIVERSITY of the East (UE) middle blockers Lloyd Josafat, Lia Alexa Pelaga, and Riza Nogales were named to the national volleyball training pool in preparation for the 32nd Southeast Asian Games after being nominated by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation Inc. (PNVF).

The PNVF has named the 15-man pool that will begin training in Chinese Taipei for 10 days, starting February 15. The 17-woman pool, on the other hand, will begin training overseas following the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference in March. Despite being in the pool, a place on the national team is not guaranteed.

Josafat had a memorable rookie year as the Recto-based squad competed against the University of the Philippines (UP) in the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 82, earning him a spot on the national team that finished fifth in the 31st SEA Games in 2021.

Furthermore, the 6-foot-2 Zambales native has been representing the Warrior community since 2018 after beginning his career with the Pikit-North Cotabato AMC G Spikers.

Joining Josafat in the men’s pool are Jade Disquitado, Rex Intal, Rwenzmel Taguibolos, Leo Ordiales, Kim Dayandante, Joshua

3

UE MIDDLE BLOCKERS INCLUDED IN 32ND SEA GAMES POOL

Umandal, Vince Lorenzo, Jay Rack de la Noche, Madzlan Gampong, Jelex Mendiola, Vince Mangulabnan, Edward Camposano, Noel Kampton, and Jayvee Sumagaysay. Head coach Odjie Mamon and assistant coach Rommel John Abella will mentor the national squad, along with team manager and UE men’s head coach Jerome Guhit.

Meanwhile, Pelaga and Nogales, who first appeared as Lady Warriors in UAAP Season 84, have also excelled in net defense, leading the team in the 2022 Shakey’s Super League Preseason Tournament.

Pelaga was one of the team’s top scorers in the previous UAAP season, while Nogales was

named the best middle blocker in the PNVF Champions League, where the squad finished first runner-up. The tournament was held at the PhilSports Arena in November 2022.

Pelaga and Nogales will train alongside former UE star libero Kath Arado and veteran players Alyssa Valdez, Tots Carlos, Jia De Guzman, Ced Domingo, Jema Galanza, Kyla Atienza, Mylene Paat, Kat Tolentino, Chery Nunag, Jules Samonte, Gel Cayuna, MJ Phillips, Mika Reyes, and Dell Palomata. Brazilian coach and Olympic gold medalist Jorge Souza de Brito will be the head coach of the women’s national team.

OFFICIAL PAGE OF THE POLE VAULTER FROM THE PHILIPPINES, ERNEST JOHN “EJ” OBIENA.

Lia Pelaga Lloyd Josafat Riza Nogales