The DEMOCRAT

BY JOHN HARVEE CABAL

17

20th SCon accomplishes 8 resolutions in 1st sem; Cloza pledges more to pass next year

USG releases 1st sem success report, to push more inclusivity project in 2nd sem

18 19 20

SPORTS

21 22

UNC CBA’s Charles Lara captures 4th place as 1st Filipino to win at SEASAC

Radio commentator Percy Lapid assassinated

F2F MOVERS returns in 2022 after two years

UNC College Majorettes, Band climb to top at 12th Bicol Military Parade

Now opposition leader Sen. Hontiveros urges suppporters to ‘learn-by-doing’

PBBM’s overseas trip spree promises billion-dollar worth of investments

UNC Taekwondo Team conquers National tournaments, bags 6 medals

UNC Greyhound Chess Team hauls 4 trophies in the Regional Open Tournament

UNC SPECTO muling nagpasiklab matapos ang dalawang taon; Provincial Football Open Tournaments pinagharian

Greyhound Esports Team debuts in AcadArena, ranks up in the Semi-finals

To many, education is a privilege — where the arms of many students are bounded by the onerous clench of poverty, pulling them down to dust and forbidding them from reaching the peak.

However, its firm grasp is not enough to keep some on the ground, as those with enough vigor continue to hold onto education--the salvation through it all. Perseverance and determination are what it takes to battle with life itself. Continue the resistance against the challenges, be stronger, reach higher.

WORDS BY MARIA JHOANNA YASIS

PHOTOS

Jean Aquino Isabel Azaña

Are you G to become Lara G? SMASH or PASS

BY PATRICK JOSEPH PANAMBO

Lights Camera Action

It was the 27th of December, 2002. You welcomed the world screaming your lungs out crying. The spirit of Christmas was ever more felt. The light sparkles and shimmers the same way your parents’ eyes glimmer. And as if you brought the cure that took away all the racking pain that your mother felt, lovingly smiles filled the room.

appears that shaking the entire hotel upside down is an option only to discover your passport. But, after all of their effort and time, it was just inside your clear envelope. Well, at least you wake their spirits up.

Years have passed, and you graduated with honors from Mabolo Elementary School and the University of Nueva Caceres, respectively, as a very active student. Your emotions andmentalthinkinghavealsogrownsignificantly.Therearedays when you wonder a lot about yourself and the world you live in. And Lara G. has emerged, proudly and devoutly raising the flag.

Those are just a few life chapters of Charles Kryxian Lara. Sure, there are more adventures and great events waiting to happen. Now that you know a few highlights of her life, would you take the challenge and be Lara G.?

Multiple doors are opening for you as a college student at the university. Your voice and confidence are two of your best assets that have helped you become the face of each event as one of the official hosts. People’s energy has never been low because of you.

Lara G. never gets tired of her awesomeness, are you sure you can be at par with?

Perhaps, just as Lara G. made so much effort to attain these life milestones; to portray her life will not also be easy. What you only see is the bright side of her life; it is still shallow to think that her life was made of pot of gold and will always be happy. After all, life is never easy. Nevertheless, these hardships made life more livable.

So what do you think? Game?

As a 2nd year student of Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management, your name will shine more. You are about to set your feet on the next level– internationally. It’s about time you went through a tense period in your life. You will compete in the South-East Asian Sales Competition (SEASAC) 2022, where you will meet students from all Southeast Asian countries as well as a few European countries. And, believe it or not, some of them are already master’s students from prestigious universities. Sounds easy right?

Right now is not the right time to slow down because eventually you’ll be witnessing yourself taking-in two roles you’ve never imagined before. Who would have thought you’ll be a part of SEASAC 2022? And yes, you will be acting as a seller conducting business-to-business sales interaction with a buyer in a role-play setting for a maximum of 20 minutes. What’s more nerve-wracking is that you don’t have an ounce of knowledge with regards to sales, so you know right away what you’ve got to do- review and practice.

But because your name is Lara G. you advanced to the final round after preliminary rounds: two days qualifying rounds, quarter-final, semi-final and final round. Many first times will be unlocked this time. First in a sales competition, first on a plane bound for Indonesia, and first to be the only Filipino participant in an international competition. Indeed, a core memory.

Above all, the best moment is yet to happen. Indonesian cuisine, such as nasi goring, soto betawi, and beef rendang, is something you’ll like eating. Finally, and most importantly, you will enjoy a meal that was worth the effort and wait because you will place fourth out of 105 delegates. Although it seems simple, it’s not.

Epic moments, on the other hand, make the adventure more memorable. During your last day in Jakarta, you were nearly on the edge of not being able to go home. It’s all because your passport is missing. You and the hotel personnel must check CCTV footage at 4:00 in the morning, look at the front desk, and it

When you have a chance to pick a role when you’re about to be born, are you brave enough to become a Charles Kryxian Lara?

PHOTO FROM CHARLES LARA’S (LARA G) FACEBOOK PAGE LAYOUT BY CYEN ESCLANDA

UNC’s F2F Classes: A Hybrid Reality to UNC Students

BY PAOLO GABRIEL JAMER

ThePhilippine Education’s normal set-up was put on hold when the COVID-19 virus global outbreak reached the country. The Philippine government declared a national lockdown last 2020 to control the contamination of the said virus nationwide. International and local travels were indefinitely suspended and the mobility of the Filipinos were also halted that made Filipino families confined to their homes. Students were baffled since there was no concrete program for the Department of Education (DEPED) to address the continuation of learning among students despite the fact that most students do not have an internet service provider nor a sustainable internet connection.

These difficulties aggravated the plight of most Filipino students since they will not only try to overcome the daily struggles of poverty, but the choice to continue to study with a confused mind and heart is too much to bear with.

The University of Nueva Caceres (UNC) kept up with the unforeseen coming of the chaotic COVID-19 virus and its disastrous effects on all students and their families. It maintained to serve its clients with quality education by providing learning modules and the conduction of virtual classes.

Vice-president (VP) Sara Duterte, who is also the DEPED secretary, has ordered that all schools all over the country should now reinstate the

traditional face-to-face classes to November 2, 2022 after the educational landscape was changed into virtual last March 2020. With this order declared by VP Sara Duterte, now the University of Nueva Caceres has adopted a hybrid set-up among its students so that the quality of learning will never be compromised yet the faculty and students shall be safe from COVID-19 virus at all times. There were mixed reactions among students and parents wherein some parents were anxious since the country is not totally COVID-19 free. However, education must continue in spite of the situation and teachers have to adapt to various means for them to engage their beloved students in learning

Marian Mae R. Lumacad, 3rd year Psychology Student, shared her difficulties with the virtual classes she had, “Marami po, una na lamang dito ay ang mahina at pawala-walang koneksyon sa internet. Pangalawa, madali akong mawala sa pokus kung kaya’t humahantong sa mga kaakibat pang mga problema. Pangatlo, hindi ako masaya lalo na’t kapag pakiramdam ko nahuhuli na ako sa pagsumite ng mga kailangang isumite. Pangapat, mas natatagalan ako sa pagsumite ng mga requirements dahil sa mga problema rito sa aming bahay.” Lumacad further said that she prefer face-to-face classes over virtual classes because she is active and productive with her class

sessions in UNC. Lumacad clarified that her 1st semester for the school year 20222023 is conducted virtually all throughout the 1st semester while most of the courses in UNC have already experienced the resumption of face to face classes.

“It was hard for me to cope to these changes specifically the transition of educational set up from Virtual to Face to face class. I had financial concern [nang] nagstart [sa] transition (virtual to face-to-face) since mas tipid ‘pag virtual class while magastos na [mabuti] ‘pag f2f class. And naginvest na kaya akong mga gamit sa online set-up so mas sanay na po ako [roon].” Ronalyn SJ. Rovera narrated her experiences, 4th year Political Science student of UNC. Furthermore, she also chose face to face class since she emphasized the good practice of communication that transpired in the classroom and it can also be beneficial to them also as they leave the university upon finishing the course.

“Aside from that, a part of me felt like it’s difficult to socialize again and it’s like starting a new journey with people you’ve actually known for years. However, mas magaan sa

[pakiramdam] when you get to talk to your professor and classmates in person rather than online set-up. Nakakapanibago nga lang ulit po,” she added.

Hybrid reality of UNC students strengthen their passion to learn to reach their dream profession but for some students it is burdensome since the COVID-19 outbreak greatly diminishes their will to learn due to the inconveniences brought by virtual classes and the anxiety towards the onslaught massacre during the heights of the COVID-19 surge.

Nonetheless, learning shall remain a basic need not only with the will to survive life but also students are given the opportunity to assess their dreams amidst the pandemic era. More so, there are new discoveries of learning methods and means that were realized during the pandemic. Quality education is made nearer yet so far for students studying far from UNC and those students who wanted to enroll in UNC with a promise of a nurturing environment. Hence, UNC opened doors forholistic learning opportunities and guaranteed success among students to have a decent profession.

PHOTOS BY HARVEE CABAL

PAGE LAYOUT BY DARWIN ESCARO

Sanakagigimbal na bilang ng nakuha niyang boto, siya ang pinili ng masa, ang kasalukuyang presidente ng bansang Pilipinas, si Ferdinand Marcos Jr. o mas kilalang Bongbong Marcos. Sa kampanya pa lamang, naging matunog na ang kanyang mga pangako; pagkakaisa, pag-ahon sa kahirapan, ipagpatuloy ang ibang nasimulan ni Rodrigo Duterte gaya ng war on drugs, bente pesos na bigas, at buhayin ang iba’t ibang proyekto ng ama niyang diktador na si Ferdinand Marcos Sr. Kahit siya’y lugmok sa mga ilang nakakakilabot na kontrobersiya gaya ng isyu ng pagnanakaw ng kanyang pamilya, ito ngayon ang bansang Pilipinas, paunti-unting sumasayaw sa kanilang awitin.

Bilang lider o ang may pinakamataas na posisyon sa gobyerno, ang kanyang pinakaunang responsibilidad ay punan ang mga posisyon, ang ibat’ibang gabinete ng gobyerno gaya ng sa komunikasyon, sa agrikultura, sa edukasyon at marami pang mga sektor. May mga ilang indibidwal ang

naitalaga na kwestyonable ang pagkakaluklok dahil wala naman sa kanilang kadalubhasaan ang pwestong ibinigay sa kanila. Gaya na lang ng kalihim ng edukasyon, kung saan ang bise-presidente ang naitalaga ngunit kulang umano ang kanyang kaalaman sa sektor ng edukasyon.

Samantala, bago pa man lamang mapunan lahat ng mga kinakailangang

ang implasyon ng bansa, na siyang nakaaapekto sa pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin. Bilang hakbang, itinalaga niya ang kanyang sarili bilang kalihim ng agrikultura, upang matutukan niya umano ang pagtaas ng mga ito. Kasama na rin dito ang kanyang pangakong maging bente pesos na lamang ang presyo ng bigas.

Matatandaan din na sobra ang itinaas ng presyo ng gas sa ating bansa na sobrang nakakaapekto sa karamihan. Sa palabas sa medya at mga pahayag nya, meron naman daw tugon ang gobyerno ngunit sadyang hindi ito nararamdaman

mamamayan dahil mas lumalala pa nga ang sitwasyon. Sa kabilang banda pa nga, mas kapansinpansin ang pagpapakita ni BBM ng karangyaan, gaya ng pagdalo sa iba’t ibang engrandeng party, at ang pagbisita niya sa iba’t ibang bansa kasama ang kanyang pamilya, gaya nung dumalo sila ng F1 Grand Prix sa Singapore. Walang malinaw na layunin kung ano ang pakay niya sa mga ganitong gawain, ngunit ikinadismaya ito ng marami dahil sobrang hirap na ng sitwasyon ng bansa, ngunit pinipili niya pa rin ang kasiyahan.

Sa mga unang buwan ng kanyang pamamalakad, wala pa rin nagbabago. Hindi pa nga nabibigyang solusyon ang mga nakaraang suliranin, may mga dagdag pasakit na naman. Ang patuloy na tumataas na bilihin ngunit hindi tumataas na sweldo, and araw-araw na pakikipagbuno sa lansangan upang makapasok nang maaga sa kanilang mga trabaho, ang mga korapsyong nababalita ngunit hindi masosolusyunan, at iba pa. Hindi malayong sa hinaharap, mas dodoble pa ang mga suliraning kinakaharap ng bansa.

Bilang isang mamamayang Pilipino, wag nating palampasin ang kapabayaang ito at dapat nating singilin ng pananagutan ang nasa pwesto. Tandaan, masang Pilipino ang amo, kung kinakailangan, paamuhin ang nag-aamo-amuhan.

GRAPHICS BY ROSE CLAVANO PAGE LAYOUT BY DARWIN ESCARO

Henlo mga mhieeee. Oh, yaon na naman kamo igdi sa saindong pinakapaboritong parte sa mga releases kang publikasyon. Para ano? Syempre para mabasa ang mga maiinit na chika sa unibersidad ta. Aram ko man kaya na chika man lang ang habol nindo sako. Arog man talaga kamo kayan! Eme hahaha. Ayan, handa na kamo?

Punan ko na o uurulaon ko nalang ni? Ay attitude, garo si ano–Charizz. Punan ta sa mga issue puon Hulyo 16 hanggang Oktubre 15 sa kasalukuyang taon.

Pero bago ang gabos, may importante akong hapot. Namiss man nindo ako? Sabihon nindong iyo ta kung dai, mayo na kamong masasagap na chismis sa sunod hahaha. Sa kahaloy haluyi nindo na nag babasang tingog, bisto na nindo ako? Pa-mysterious kaya ako. Haiyst! Dakulon kaya akong fans club (#feelingartista)

Basta pakalat kalat ako jan sa hallway kan sarong department kung sain harababaon mag grade ang mga prof. Kadakol paganap ang council, garo habo na kaming ipa enroll next sem. Pili na lang kamo sa pito hoho.

Dakulon na akong segway hahahaha. Oh sya! Mapuon na kita. Syempre ang pinakainot, ang daing katapusang pagtaas kan tuition fee kasabay kan pagbagsak kan satong ekonomiya (#GoldenEra).

Magbunyi ang mga gahaman! Haysttt! An sabi kaya nagTOFI para magtaong suporta sa mga university scholars, ano man daa ta nagkaigwang the purge sa resident scholars? Mayo lamang pating paisi. Nag kabiriglaan na lang katong nag haharagadan nang exam permit para sa midterm.

Ano na kita, yoensi? Sinisi pa ang mga estudyanteng lideres kan unibersidad ta dai daa tig imbitahan sa orsem. Jusskooo, dakulon paagi para maiwaras ang impormasyon na ini. Ang sabi daa mapa meeting, alagad hanggang ngunyan dai pa nanggad malinaw ang tungkol sa cut-off kang resident scholarship. Napahibi pati ako ta saro man ako sa nabibinipesyuhan kang discount. Nagmahal ang mga bayadan asin barakalon tapos matanggal pa sindang scholars.

Iyo na ngani to baga, syempre ang publikasyon nindo, naggibong paagi man para matabangan ang mga estudyante ta dae pa matatanyog ang admin kung dae pa naka abot sa Facebook ang isyu. Kan may nagpost na estudyante sa Fb, saka palang naging aware an mga estudyante. Tapos, bilang solusyon man daa ninda, ibinalik giraray si discount ngunyan ning 1st sem ning dai tig eexplain ning maayos kung tano may isyung arog kaini. Paalala sa mga arog kong resident scholars, hanggang 1st sem lang po ang implementation kang dating policy sa scholarship. Sa sunod na sem, susunudon na itong bago na 5% nalang daa kang every department ang makakaavail. Being a Pro-student ≠ Being one of the sources of students’ struggles. Hoorayyyy! From 1st to number 1. Tsk! Maray nalang dai napost si condemnation letter, ukag na naman kuta ang admin. Gusto nindong maaraman laog kato? Sali na muna kamo samo, kurulang na pati kami hahahha (#Sadmusicintensifies)

Dahil nililibak ta na man lang ang admin, dagos daguson ta na. Aram nindo na grabe ang issue sa SDO? Nagpuon sa paghali kan sarong head na mayo lamang pasabi sa saiyang mga nasasakupan. Forda proud man daa kapag may mga nanggagana pero ito palan espiya hahahaha. Bisto nindo? Basta yaon na to jan sa pinaka kalaban kang UNC. Dahil daa kaya sa swimming pool hahaha. Habo ata sa unc na literal na yoensea kapag grabe ang uran. Aram din ba nindo na sa kamahal mahali kan athletic fee na binabayadan ta, dae gabos na team nakaka kuang budget na para dapat sainda? Pati pang snack and renta sa boarding house, KKB pa o sadiring gastos kang coach. Tapos ang pasweldo sa coach dikiton, garo habo na bayadan. Ata ngani stress na sa pag training, stress pa sa EIE na dae man kasali sa kontrata ninda. Dai man invited sa mga event kang employees ang mga coaches, tapos every month mapasang EIE video? hahaha kalerkyyyyy. Forda paapod pa sainda sa office kapag dai nakakapasa. Pag nang gagana na, irigot igot mag omaw (#ProudToBeUNCean #ThankYouForBringingGloryToTheUniversity), pero pag nag hahagad budget pag ma dayo, dawa itong van na sakayan kuta, habo lamang ipasubli, huna mo dae na ibabalik (#CarnapperYarn?).

Hayyyy. Nag babasa pa man kamo? Dae pa ako tapos, biyo na pating nag iirinit ang kamot ko, igot igot mag

TINGOG

mga prof. Ngunyan nasuspend daa ta pirang beses ng nareport. Tano daa dai nalang patalsikon???

Baralanggo pati ni mag simbag, ang mga words na ginagamit garo bakong pang professional. Hababaon pati mag grade, pero kada meeting from the top pirmi ang lesson. Ang grade kani pirmi, nag-iikot sana sa duwa, 95 o 85 lang. Tapos pag malas ka, 75 ka. Sabi na talaga ta bakong major ang mapabagsak sa mga college students, umay ang arog kaning prof.

Izpeaking of professors, duman na kita sa sarong prof sa AS ta dawa acad break, igot mag tukdo. Ata ngani dakol nang pagibo, ang gusto mapa klase pa dawa may memo na. Actually nareklamo na ni dati, gusto nya gayod dakol syang entry sa Tingog (#SuperstarKaAnteh?). May club na pating nabuo dahil saiya, yun lang mga haters nya ang members. I must say, dasurv.

Masakiton talaga sa college, prof ang poproblemahon mo bako ang subject. Kaya palan dae tinapos ni @ bbm. I feel you sis, konti na lang pwede na rin ako mag president.

Maray pa ning sarong ini pa para party lang, uubuson gayod ang presidential funds forda gala. Sana all, kaya naiinspire kami mag trabaho para may panggala ang mahal na presidente (#Unity).

Ito mang saro may paconfidential funds. Igot igot magpa ROTC alagad habo mainitan ta mayo daa syang sunblock. Huna ko baya, DepEd secretary ni si VP, ano man daa ta nakaka abot sa defense sector saka sa CHED? Kadakol plano, dinaog pa si presidente na tuninong na nag dadalan F1 race (#SiBBMTahimikLang). Jussskoooo. ROTC, Toothbrush, ano pa? Dakulon problema sa DepEd, tapos ang mga program nya mayong sense.

And pag abot sa government, mati man nindo ang USG? Oooh issue. Nag hahapot lang hahaha ta pag may mga important announcements, kung dae pa mapost ang demmy, dae pa sinda mahiro, arog kang kapag may information na dapat maaraman kang student-body, may bagong memo, or mayong klase. Galawin nyo ang baso mga mhie. Base man sa mga nahapot ming students, dai daa sinda inform sa mga events tapos kapag naghahapot man daa sinda, haloy magresponse (mapamessenger man o kaya email). Hayyy, naalala ko na naman lugod si sarong bulan ning paghalat kang demmy sa simbag ninda tungkol sa achievement report sa inot sa semester, ampp. (#sorrylatereply #nabusykaya)

type. Paabot pa lang kita sa exciting part. Sinetch itey, sarong prof sa GE na nareport ta unprofessional na, problematic pa. Taga delete man nganing search history, sana all masahista. An istorya daa kaya, nag search daa sa FB tapos sa Google, nag luwas daa si search history na nag hahanap ning anek ni Tristan. Nagkalat pati ang mga screenshots sa mga groupchats kang first year. Nakakatrauma ang arog kaning

Btw, may sarong student leader na grabe mang victim-blame. Nahiling nindo si post? Nag chat baga to sa sarong GC na pinapareport si post ta binabash na daa sa twitter. Sa mga dae nakaka aram, grabe baga kaya ang rape cases sa Bicol these past few months. Si anteh man, forda share kang saiyang opinion na feeling nya very significant, yan lugod nabash. Mhiee, rape is rape. Kung mayong utak-rapist, mayong mangyayari ning arog kaini. Dai rin ginusto kang biktima ang nangyari saiya, and mayong taong gugustuhon ang arog kato. Dai mang victim-blame. Awat na sa mindset na arog kayan.

Oh, iyo na to gabos ang mga chika for today’s video. Sana nabasog man ang curiosity nindo. Oyy mga madi, baka ini man lang ang binabasa nindo sa magazine mi. Iexplore man nindo ang iba pang pages arog kang editorial, feature, sports, saka news ta dakol pa kamong maaaraman.

Since tapos naman ang paborito nindong paratingog, oras na para mahalon mo ako charizzz. Basta ang masasabi ko, goodluck sa college life nindo hahaha. Pero bago ko ni tapuson, may iwawalat akong malupit na tip. Since face-to-face na, maghanap na kamong jowa sa unibersidad hahaha. Mas magayon maggibong acad activities kapag inspired, may study-partner, tapos may mabakal saimong jabe kapag stress kana. Mafinals na pati. Kung mayo kang jowa na magiging inspirasyon mo para iwas singko, mag-rosaryo na sana. Prayers is the key sa mga single. Oh sya, mapaaram na ako ta mahanap naman akong jowa ta dai effective sako ang prayers. Byeee mga anteh! Dai man sana kamo magsuko. Ilaban ta ni hanggang graduation day.

Halaton nindo ako sa sunod na release ta for sure dakol na naman akong maitataong chika saindo. Wait well! Exam well!

GRAPHICS BY CYEN ESCLANDA PAGE LAYOUT BY ROSE CLAVANO

BY DANRIE JOSH GARCIA

Will, Mobility, Connection

As the gradual reopening of the economy in the country marks this 2022, this paved the way for the official comeback of onsite classes and work,especially in the third quarter of the year. However, during the return of students and workers to their school and work environments, they continue to grapple with long lines and several delays in the aging public transportation system, especially in one of the most congested metropolitan areas in the world, Metro Manila.

Commuters inside the said metropolitan area and even from neighboring provinces are tightly packed in the public transportation system plagued with various challenges that began decades ago. As this decades-old problem has existed since, how did the previous and current administrations respond to this?

Before answering the big question above, let’s first talk about the colonial history of Metro Manila’s transportation system. Back in the days when the city had a sophisticated and extensive transportation system.

During the late 19th century under Spanish colonial rule, horse-drawn carriages and steam-powered tranvias were introduced, owned, and operated by Compañia de los Tranvias de Filipinos (now Manila Electric Company or MERALCO), running from Malabon City to Tondo, Manila. Tranvias or trams are rail vehicles traveling on tramway tracks on public urban streets. Later during the American colonial period, these were replaced by electric tramways during the 20th century and the system underwent a period of significant expansion.

Meanwhile, the sole operator of the country’s intra-island railway system in Luzon, Philippine National Railways (PNR), had once dominated the nation’s largest major island. Its earliest predecessor, Ferrocarril de Manila-Dagupan, was established in the late 19th century under the colonial rule of Spaniards to serve passengers going north.

PNR’s last predecessor, Manila Railroad Company (MRRCo.), had undergone the largest expansion in its history connecting Luzon’s north and south from San Fernando, La Union to Legazpi, Albay in 1938.

Unfortunately, due to heavy bombardment between the Filipino and American forces, and Japanese troops during World War 2, some of the railway lines and all of the tramway lines were destroyed and never revived.

Several efforts were made to reconstruct and rehabilitate the railway infrastructure lost during the war. Finally, the PNR had entered its golden age despite the challenges of post-war from 1954 to 1956, according to the PNR’s website. Steam locomotives were replaced by diesel-powered fleets and the railway system served as a major backbone of Luzon’s transportation network. The railway agency even became one of the wealthiest government agencies at the time in terms of assets and diversified investments to bus and freight services, and hotels.

Surplus jeepneys left by the Americans as they withdrew from the Philippines after the war had ended were modified and refurbished by the Filipinos to serve the increasingly growing passenger population and densely populated cities throughout the country as means of inexpensive transportation cost. This trend made jeepneys one of the most popular choices among commuters and even hailed as the “King of the Philippine Roads.” Shortly after, buses, tricycles, and pedicabs dominated the roads along with jeepneys plying around even the country’s narrowest streets heading to residential areas. As

a result of this increasing popularity of wheeled transportation, the railroads were mismanaged and neglected leaving them dilapidated. Then, the government shifted its priorities for car-centric infrastructure by building the World Bank-funded Pan-Philippine Highway or Maharlika Highway in the 1960s as pledged by President Diosdado Macapagal in his final State of the Nation Address (SONA) in 1965.

On the other hand, during President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. regime, his administration oversaw the construction of highway networks in the National Capital Region (NCR) such as the Magallanes Interchange and to neighboring provinces such as the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and South Luzon Expressway (SLEX). According to the PNR’s website, this had further exacerbated the railway system, especially in the 1970s.

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) published a transport improvement study in the early 1970s recommending to the Philippine government the construction of an inner-city rapid transit and commuter railway systems serving the Greater Manila Area to cater the growing commuter statistics. Some of these never materialized, while some took years to be built.

The Marcos Sr. administration had put little attention on building mass transit systems in Metro Manila such as the opening of the Manila Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1 less than two years before he was ousted in power. It is the first and oldest rapid transit system ever built in Southeast Asia.

Several presidents after the late dictator’s term attempted to address the metro area’s lack of transportation network concern.

Manila Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3 broke ground in 1997 during the term of President Fidel Ramos under a build-operatetransfer (BOT) scheme by the then-Department of Transportation and Communications (now the Department of Transportation or DOTr) and opened in 1999 under his successor’s term, President Joseph Estrada.

BOT is an agreement between the government and consortium in the private sector wherein the concessionaire (consortium) receives a concession from the government to finance, design, construct, own, and operate a certain facility for many years and under specified conditions depending on the contract, and later the property will be turned over to the government after the consortium has recovered its investments and expenses for operation and maintenance of the project. This is widely adopted by many countries worldwide, especially for large-scale infrastructure projects. This is a typical model used in public-private partnerships (PPP).

Meanwhile, LRT Line 2 also began its construction under Ramos’ term in 1997 and opened during President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s term in 2003. Speaking of Arroyo’s efforts in improving public transport in and out of Metro Manila, her administration launched the Strong Republic Transit System (SRTS) to integrate LRT, MRT, and PNR lines.

PNR’s North Main Line or North Rail extending from the partially closed Metro Manila to Ilocos Region segment and South Main Line or South Rail stretching to the partially closed Bicol Region segment were also covered by the SRTS. The North Rail project was one of the flagship programs initiated by the Arroyo administration with the help of a Chinese contractor to connect Caloocan City and Clark International Airport. This 80-kilometer railway deal collapsed due to alleged corruption and irregularities as the contract had been abrogated by her successor, President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. Aquino largely adopted the PPP during his term to implement major transportation projects such as the building, expansion and rehabilitation of existing rapid transits, construction of additional expressways, and establishment of intermodal terminals. Premium pointto-point (P2P) buses were also introduced in 2015 to offer commuters a reliable, safe, and convenient mode of transport and help reduce traffic volume in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces.

When President Rodrigo Duterte came into power, he launched Build, Build, Build (BBB) program

promising big ticket infrastructure projects, including in the transportation sector, achieving its golden age to enhance mobility and connectivity. The construction of the Japanesefunded first subway system of the country has finally started in 2019 and is scheduled to partially open in 2025. Meanwhile, the North-South Commuter Railway’s (NSCR) construction began in 2019 connecting New Clark City to Calamba, Laguna. Extension of skyways and building of bridges were also finished. Some of Aquino’s PPP projects were included in Duterte’s BBB and their implementation were either continued or revived.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. promised the continuity of Duterte’s BBB in his administration’s Build, Better, More (BBM) program.

Beyond these projects of the previous administrations, many have still failed to address the real issue here and commuters are the ones who keep suffering.

According to a 2019 study published by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), it was reported that Metro Manila was the most congested city among 278 cities in developing Asia. In the same year, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) reported that NCR had the largest number of registered motor vehicles. In 2018, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) reported that the average daily volume of cars passing EDSA was 251,628 compared to that of public utility buses that averaged 13,356. Public utility buses comprised only 3% of total traffic along EDSA in 2017, while private cars overwhelmingly took up 67% of road space. And yet, then MMDA implemented a provincial bus ban cutting their route from the border of Metro Manila and neighboring provinces stopping them at intermodal terminals outside the cities.

87% of Filipinos wanted the government to give weight to public transportation over private vehicles based on the 2020 Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey. In a study conducted by the University of the Philippines (UP) School of Urban and Regional Planning in the same year, 70% of people rely on public transportation, but they only occupy 22% of the space, while only 30% rely on private vehicles.

This congestion which has been a pain on the backs of commuters is obviously some of the signs and symptoms of a mass transport crisis, according to non-profit think tank IBON foundation. As a commuter spends more time on the road due to transport shortage, the less time will be spent on family and quality of life will deteriorate due to extreme exhaustion from long hours of commute.

There are many solutions, actually. The think tank organization suggests slapping harsher penalties and demanding accountability for those government agencies signing self-serving and questionable contracts with other companies citing as one of reasons why the rail services have frequent breakdowns.

The other suggestion is to increase investment in improving capacity and reliability of rolling stocks for rail services, jeepneys, and buses to avoid passengers being packed inside and queueing up in long lines. Integrating buses and jeepneys’ routes to railway stations is a key to initiating a seamless and convenient transfer of mode of transport to easily hop on another. Establishing unobstructed bike lanes, sidewalks, and green spaces may encourage healthier travel to school or work and reduce pollution.

Decentralization of economic activities outside Metro Manila will disperse these commuters and stimulate economic growth in different provinces. The government may improve infrastructure anywhere in the Philippines, especially in Visayas and Mindanao, to make it attractive for companies to move their operations and headquarters there. Tax perks and other incentives may be provided to corporations who will withdraw from Metro Manila.

If the government would have to come up with political will and sustainable solutions, not just band-aid, a day in the life of a passenger would not be a long tiring day and not entering

school or work late. Proper urban planning to enhance mobility by focusing on commuter-friendly policies would reinvigorate the growth of the economy and ease the problems of ordinary Filipinos every day to become fully prepared in a potentially occurring postpandemic world.

GRAPHICS BY BRANDON JON DELOS SANTOS

PAGE LAYOUT BY ROSE CLAVANO

TOMO LXX BILANG II JULY - OCTOBER 15, 2022

THAT’S NOT CLICKING UNC!

The University of Nueva Caceres is known for its mantra, “Non-Scholae Sed Vitae” which means “Not of school but of life” that aims to hone its students to be well-rounded citizens of this country who are ready to serve the Filipino people using their talents, skills, and learnings. For years, the university became an education ally, especially for every Bicolano, particularly through its wide range of scholarship grants from the Academic Achievement Scholarship, President Jaime Hernandez Scholarship, Sports Scholarship Program, and Student Assistantship Scholarship Program allowing students who don’t have enough means to afford private education an opportunity to pursue their dreams.

However, a commotion on social media especially on Facebook happened when a student raised concern about not being granted a discount despite being qualified under the rules of the Academic Achievement Scholarship Program. The post sparked a conversation where a lot of students shared the same sentiment and were confused as to why they haven’t received the scholarship grant that they worked hard for. In order to shed light on this matter, the publication immediately consulted the Scholarships and Grants Office headed by Mrs. Matet Fajardo where she then confirmed that there’s a new policy in order to be a grantee of the said scholarship wherein this policy was approved by the University President as advised by the finance department. The new policy imposes a new cut-off where it highly depends on

the population of each department however the SGO failed to provide the main basis of the new cutoff. This news brought justified sadness and outrage from the students, especially since this policy is made without student consultation and utmost consideration.

The sudden imposition of this new policy is evidently contrary to the university’s core value of respecting each other and working as a team and an outright disrespect to student’s rights which is to be involved in genuine consultation on tuition and miscellaneous fee increases, as well as on all material changes in policies and rules directly affecting students’ rights and welfare as stipulated in the University Student Government Constitution specifically under Article III Section I.

In the administration’s defense, according to SGO, they failed to inform the student body because their office was not invited during the Orientation Seminar or the SIKHAY 2022. This excuse is absurd to its core since there are so many ways to inform the students about this matter, especially during the planning stage like coordinating with the University Student Government (USG), college councils, and the publication to name a few. This excuse will definitely not bury the fact that they failed to consult and inform one of their key stakeholders— the students. It’s also gut-wrenching to hear such an excuse from the administration given that the matter at hand involves money, something that everyone is having difficulty putting up with brought by the pandemic.

Another thing, this newly imposed scholarship policy is truly questionable, not only because this is imposed without explanation but also because this year, the university had its 5% Tuition Fee and Other Expenses Increase (TOFI) stating that there is a need for additional funding to cater more scholars this academic year. After failing to provide a valid basis for the said policy, the administration also failed to live up to its promise of making sure that everybody

makes it.

Some may be in deep shock after hearing the news but for most UNCeans who have been in the university for years, this is not the first time that the university failed to do the bare minimum– to consult and inform the students. During the peak of the pandemic, it can be remembered that some Student Assistants (SAs) were dispersed without prior explanation or notice removing them from the opportunity to finish their studies. Let us also not forget the time when the university imposed the 50% payment of tuition fee policy in order to view grades in the portal. Also, let us not forget the recently imposed i-Hire calendar where student activities for the first semester are already calendared that only provides organizations a week per month to conduct activities. This resulted in activity congestion among organizations and burnout among student leaders, especially since most professors still do conduct class activities such as examinations and quizzes when ideally there should not be as stipulated in the i-Hire memorandum. Alarmingly, the practice of

’’

the university of not consulting and informing the student body about policies which greatly affects will continue for as long as the administration fails to see its students as a stakeholder in the institution to whom they are obliged to be involved and invite rooms and discussions where decisions are being made.

Although the administration halted the imposition of the new scholarship policy for the first semester and impose it instead in the second semester, this does not take away the fact that it’s a problem-solution mismatch. This policy is more than just the discussion of “late notice” but of the lack of decency of the university to invite the students to participate in the decision-making of the policy and also to provide their basis of only granting a specific percentage of students per department. Questions, particularly on the aspect of fairness, will be raised since there will be students who will not be granted scholarship discounts despite that their grades prove that they are indeed qualified due to the ceiling percentage of this new policy.

This calls for action from the university administrators and university student government to revisit this policy and follow the necessary steps before coming up with a policy that creates a longterm impact on the student body.

The “I will not quit until graduation day” mantra will only be a facade as long as policies such as this put its students to the edge that only gave them the opportunity to quit by all means.

Although the administration halted the imposition of the new scholarship policy for the first semester and impose it instead in the second semester, this does not take away the fact that it’s a problem-solution mismatch. This policy is more than just the discussion of “late notice” but of the lack of decency of the university to invite the students to participate in the decision-making of the policy and also to provide their basis of only granting a specific percentage of students per department.

GIRLIES, LET’S TALK.

Cliche as this may sound but it is the moral obligation of society to make sure that everyone, especially the most vulnerable sector are well protected and shall exist in a space where violence, harassment, or any form of inequality do not prevail. In light of the recent event within our locality, we were able to witness how women are still subjected to such heinous crimes and how people do have a gut-wrenching and heartbreaking take on the incident.

Last October 28, 2022, family members of Irish Mae Payonga, a former UNCean noticed the public through a Facebook post claiming that Irish went missing after attending a church event at Pili Camarines Sur. According to her family, she was last seen Last October 28, 2022, around 5 pm and had her last conversation with her churchmate saying that she already boarded a bus by 5:44 pm. Three days after, the lifeless body of the Irish was recovered in a secluded area at Cadlan Pili Camarines Sur. Through the investigation made by Scene of the Crimes Operatives and the local police unit of Pili, it was confirmed that the life of Irish was taken away through suffocation and rape.

This incident sparked discussion, especially on the internet where people have different takes ranging from seeking justice for the victim and victim-blaming.

As expected, when rape incidents like this occur, there are people especially old ones who would always weaponize the incident to express their victim-blaming remarks disguised as “life lessons” that are mostly rooted in their old and conservative beliefs. However, what makes this heartbreaking most is to see women preach about how harassment, violence, or even rape can be prevented if the victims confide with the social norm— the norm that benefits the harassers, abusers, and most of all rapists.

Ideally, efforts to dismantle the abusive system that mostly

preys on women should be lobbied and acted upon collectively by the entire community of women especially since statistically and historically speaking, women are always the prey. But unfortunately, this is not the case. When the rape-slay case of Irish was confirmed, we can note a lot of women preaching that the incident will not happen if Irish didn’t go to the nighttime church activity. Some say that she could have better handled the situation which will allow her to escape from the scene and some share their life routine in an attempt to give other women advice to prevent such incidents to happen to them.

Remarks like these from women manifest how hate against women is often committed by women themselves. This premise leads to a bigger and more important discussion wherein women still do fail to take part in forwarding women’s rights and have a full understanding of women’s issues in a patriarchal society.

This is something we should also ponder on and put extra effort into ensuring that the discussion do not solely made to those who already share the same mindset and understanding but is extended to those who need to be more involved.

This is where now the challenge comes into life, which is to maximize the campaign by all means and make it accessible to everyone to ensure that it is holistic and inclusive and bring feminist advocacies to the grassroots who barely have an opportunity to be enlightened on issues such as this.

The only way to dismantle this mindset is to go beyond our echo chambers, bring our advocacies closer to the masses, and tirelessly and continuously educate despite and despite.

The efforts to create a safe space for women will remain stagnant because of the overwhelming number of women who still seek comfort in other women’s flaws, mistakes, and brutal mishaps.

Rolling On The Circus (ROTC)

In the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) released last 2019, the Philippines ranked lowest in reading comprehension among 79 participating countries as well as the second lowest performing country in Mathematics. Our educational system has been an ongoing problem for decades—and the MarcosDuterte’s priority as the two highest seat in the country is the implementation of the mandatory Reserve Officers Training Course (ROTC).

All the jokers dressing up as kings

Both Rodrigo Duterte and Ferdinand Marcos Jr. failed to complete the Reserve Officers Training Course (ROTC) during their days. In fact, Duterte admitted how he bribed a tuberculosis patient in San Lazaro Hospital for P1,500 to take an X-ray under his name as a proof to exempt him from his ROTC subject.

Meanwhile, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. never completed a degree in any country where ROTC is mandatory. These very people are the ones who extremely glorify the program and believe how it would “mobilize the students for national defense preparedness” and “instill perseverance and discipline” among 16-18 year-old Filipinos.

I think I’ve seen this film before, and I didn’t like the ending

The mandatory ROTC was abolished during the regime of former President Gloria Arroyo due to a series of protests from the death of UST Cadet Mark Chua in March 2001, whose dead body was found floating in Pasig River, wrapped in carpet, with his hands tied and face covered in masking tape, after exposing the averse system of ROTC. While it is known that corruption and violence was rampant during the time when the program was mandatory, a line was drawn when a blood was shed. Yet again, it seemed that we are going to the same path once more.

There are reasons why ROTC was elective, and the government refuses to consider them in pretense of achieving civic values that can be learned elsewhere. Instead of addressing pressing issues in the academe and improving the curriculum to enhance student learning, the government is wasting time, money, and effort in debating whether they should mandate a program that had been proven dangerous and corrupt.

Only one thing can save us

We should stand our ground and assert our denial with this repressing program.

The perversions on our country’s system should be stopped here. Mandating programs and laws should be well discussed to avoid putting lives in danger. Risks that must not be taken lightly are involved. ROTC is perfectly fine as an elective subject in National Service Training Program (NSTP), we don’t need it to be mandatory to learn patriotism.

Considering the dark history of the ROTC as well, it is very questionable why the government kept on pushing the implementation of a program that may cause harm to the people.

Instead, other issues in education should be addressed. The government should be prioritizing something else and not the ‘preparation’ on their imaginary wars. Students are failing and the education system is failing them.

The appalling irony and audacity of these people to compel the young Filipinos to undergo such rigorous trainings when there are more important issues in the academic sector that need urgent response.

OVP’s road to mishap in DEPED

Education has been part of the only promised inheritance of Filipino families among their children. “Anak wala tayong yaman na maipapamana saiyo tanging pag-aaral niyo lamang,” this line remains to be an echo among Filipino parents for several generations. The pivotal inheritance of education brings pride and decent lives for Filipino families from their impoverished situation for decades until such time that one of the children succeeds in his or her education that eventually gives him or her a decent job with lucrative income. However, this is not always the case wherein the Philippines falls below the minimum level of proficiency for their grade levels based on the 2021 World Bank Report. Former President Rodrigo Duterte reacted to the recent Philippines’ standing by emphasizing that poverty is the main reason for it and even his DEPED secretary Briones did not take it as an opportunity to improve her department but demanded an apology from the World Bank Report. Not only that, the recurring plight of students from the educational system that the Philippines have like the lack of school facilities, research for better academic performance among students, unfair income among teachers and the culture of corruption in the Department of Education continue to worsen the educational crisis.

These are some of the challenges that obstruct the rise of educational standards among Filipino students especially in public schools. Now, another Duterte is in the position and she will take part in leading the Department of Education. But another incompetent approach to the current educational problem drew doubt among Filipinos when her office got the P650 million confidential fund which according to her will be spent mostly to DEPED projects. The Office of the Vice-President (OVP) and Department of Education (DEPED) are two separate offices that are distinct. More so, if poverty should be addressed then one of the things that should be resolved first is education.

With decent education, it brings relevant knowledge and skills among Filipino students that makes them employable world wide.

Teachers should receive a decent package of income since they play a great role in molding the Filipino youth but in reality even Filipino teachers are victims of income insufficiency despite the fact that they sacrifice greatly for their students. Another one, VP Sara Duterte told the nation that she will reinstate ROTC to be mandatory among grades 11 to 12 and college students for the purpose of defending the country in case of war. This revival of mandatory ROTC shall strengthen patriotism and nationalism but for me this is not the only way to uphold it. Many armed personnel are not advocates of it but abused their badges to violently kill Filipinos capriciously. Consider the case of Jonel Nuezca killing point blank an innocent elder Sonia Gregorio and her son, is that patriotism and nationalism? How about the recent acquittal of Boying Remulla’s son from a drug case? Shall an incumbent Department of Justice Secretary Remulla be considered a patriot? No, since it is expected that his son will be acquitted. Nonetheless, the root of all problems is not resolved for a very long time and that is corruption in the government especially in DEPED.

At present, the educational curriculum should be revisited if it is relevant to global standards and creates more job opportunities among the Filipino youth. Also, the DEPED secretary should set an example not just exposing her iron rule she inherited from her father that never made a lasting solution. However, Filipinos are hopeful of the current plans and platforms of VP Sara Durterte for the betterment of her role as DEPED secretary. Still, as a democratic country suggestions and opinions of educational experts are highly considered to be a reference for educational reforms. Particularly, the fair salaries of Filipino teachers should be given now since they are also pillars of nation building, not only policemen and military men. How can we address poverty if we lack skills and knowledge brought about by earning a decent education? Are guns the main arsenal? I vehemently say not.

... if poverty should be addressed then one of the things that should be resolved first is education. With decent education, it brings relevant knowledge and skills among Filipino students that makes them employable world wide.

Walang matigas na tinapay sa mainit na kape. Ang malimit na kasabihang nagsasabing walang problemang walang solusyon. Ngunit, napakadaling sabihin at isipin, pero hindi ganun kadaling gawin. Sa dugo’t pawis na puhunan, tiyak ba ang pagkawala sa kahirapan?

Dalawa o tatlong dekadang alipin ka nito. Baka kinulang ka lang ng sipag at tiyaga? Kung wala ka nito, huwag na mangarap nito. Sapagkat kasalanan mong mamatay nang ‘di man lang umangat sa buhay na iyong kinamulatan at kinalakhan. Walang pero-pero kung gusto mong umasenso. Ang luho’y dapat wala sa bokabularyo. Wala kang karapatang magdiwang ng kahit ano.

Marahas? Ang tampalasang pagkapresinta ng mga salitang didildil sa sugat na nagkakagang. Ito ang realidad, maaring hindi sa’yo, pero tumingin ka sa paligid mo.

Isa na rito ang taong minsan mo nang nakasalamuha. Kung saan sa arawaraw niyang pakikipagbuno sa agos ng buhay, ay kasabay ang pagkuskus ng mga palikuran. Buhat ang responsibilidad na hindi niya tatakasan. Naramdaman niya ang mga salitang gumuguhit sa kanyang buhay.

Ngunit, naging sapat na nga ba ang kanyang sipag at tiyaga upang makatakas siya sa kadena ng kahirapan?

Ang simula

Taga-UNC ka ‘di ba? Malamang at sa malamang gumamit ka na ng mga palikuran sa loob ng unibersidad. Kung saan ang mga kadalasang ginagamit na palikuran ay ‘yung nasa JH building o sa AMS building. Kung gayon may limampu o sa tatlumpung porsyento mong paggamit nito, ay namataan mo ang isang babae na short-haired chinita, sa mabilis na paglalarawan. Dilaw ang kanyang buhok na epekto ng pagpapatina at may manaka-nakang pagsilip ng mga itim na buhok. Ang kadalasan niyang OOTD ay ang kaniyang uniporme na tucked-in sa kanyang suot na pantalon na nakatiklop sa dulo at suot ang kaniyang sneakers. Maging ako’y pamilyar na rin sa taong ito, mula nang ako’y pumasok sa UNC. Hindi makakaila ang kanyang pagiging magiliw kahit sino man ang makausap.

Tulad mo, siya rin ay isang estudyante ng paaralan. Nasa ikatlong taon na niya sa kursong Bachelor of Secondary Education. Ngunit, sa likod ng kanyang magiliw na mga ngiti, siya ay hindi ordinaryong mag-aaral.

Nagsimula siyang mamasukan bilang isang janitress sa UNC noong taong 2011. Matiyagang sinusuyod niya ang gusali ng AMS at JH sapagkat ito ang napagkasunduan nila ng kaniyang mga kasamahan na parte nya. Hindi biro

DOBLE

DOBLE

ang kaniyang trabaho ngunit patuloy niya itong ginagawa sapagkat malaking tulong na rin ito sa pag-aaral ng kanyang mga anak.

Habang nag-jajanitress siya noon sa unibersidad, ay may mga pagkakataon ding naglilinis sya sa mga tinutuluyan o bahay ng mga Ayala at ni Ma’am Fay Lauraya, and kasalukuyang Presidente ng institusyon, na inaabot naman ng limang libo. Kabilang na rito ang minsang paglalabada sa mga empleyado ng unibersidad. Ang mga tao ring ito, ayon sa kanya, ang nagtulak sa kanyang mag-aral sa kolehiyo.

Pitong libong piso ang kaniyang sinasahod buwan-buwan sa pagiging janitress na kaniyang pinagkakasya sa kanilang pamilya sa pang-araw-araw nilang gastusin. Sa mga panahong naglilinis siya sa mga bahay ng mga Ayala o ni Ma’am Fay, inuumaga siya at inaabot ng alas-dos ng madaling araw bago makauwi sa kanilang tahanan. Pagpatak ng ika-5 ng umaga, naghahanda na siya ng pagkain ng kaniyang pamilya, at ikawalo ng umaga hanggang ika-apat ng hapon siya ay nagtatrabaho sa UNC at pakatapos ay hanggang alas-otso naman ang kanyang online class.

Ang Dahilan

Bago pa man siyang maging estudyante ng institusyon na pinagtatrabahuhan, noong nagsimula ang English Immersive Environment, ang programa sa UNC na kinakailangang magsalita sa linggwaheng English ang mga mag-aaral, may nakapansin sa tatas ng pananalita niya sa wikang Ingles na nakapukaw ng pansin ni Ma’am Fay. Ayon sa kanya, mayroong ginaganap na exit visit at may tinanong noon ang PACUCOA sa mga personnel ng maintenance office na walang abaabang sinagot niya ito sa wikang Ingles. Ikinatuwa at ikinagulat ito ng karamihan sa oras ding iyon. Hinikayat siya ni Sir Joseph Mendoza at Ma’am Fay na ipagpatuloy niya ang kaniyang pag-aaral.

Bilang empleyado ng UNC, mayroon siyang 50% na discount sa kaniyang matrikula, nakatanggap din siya ng 30% scholarship mula sa kapitolyo at dalawang libong piso kada semester mula kay Mayor Legacion, habang ang

natitira’y sinagot na ni ma’am Fay. Kamakailan lang noong taong 2019 ay nalipat siya mula sa kanyang janitorial post papunta sa accounting.

Ang Bunga

Bagamat may edad na, hindi ito naging hadlang upang siya’y manumballik sa pag-aaral. Payo niya, ‘wag

magdalawangisip na magtanong kung

nahihirapan sa isang bagay.

Kung iisipin, mahirap para sa kanyang edad ang makapulot pa ng mga bagong impormasyon, ngunit kakaiba ang kanyang pag-uugali sa usaping ito. Salat man siya sa kaalaman sa mga bagong bagay ngayon, ngunit hindi sya salat sa pagkauhaw sa kaalaman. Hindi niya ito ikinahiya kailanman sapagkat ito ang totoo at masaya siyang natututo. Sa usaping pag-aaral niya

NI JHEZYLLE FAYE LORIA

CARA

sa kolehiyo maari nating maikabit ang mga gawaing may kinalaman sa teknolohiya. Siya ay 53 gulang na at may apo na. Malayo na sa kung ano ang sistema na gamit noong panahon na nag-aaral pa siya.

Naranasan niya naman ang isang taon na face-toface bago maganap ang pandemya. Batid niya ang pagkakaiba ng kanyang gawi sa kanyang mga kaklase.

Una na rito ay ang

paggamit niya ng kwaderno sa tuwing may klase na ‘di naman maikakailang hindi na talaga masyadong ginagawa lalo na sa kolehiyo, samantalang ang kaniyang mga kaklase ay panay kuha na lamang ng litrato ng kanilang pinagaralan. Ang iba’y natatawa pa sa kanya sapagkat parang nasa hayskul pa raw, ngunit wala siyang magagawa sapagkat noong panahong iyon ay wala siyang mobile phone, kaya’t nagtatiyaga siyang isulat lahat ng ipinapakita sa harapan.

Malaking tulong naman ito tuwing sila’y may exam. Hindi magkanda-ugaga ang kanyang mga kaklase na manghiram sa kanya ng kanyang kwaderno. Noong online naman ay nasa accounting office na siya noon at may mga pagkakataong may klase siya na may kailangan din siyang gampanan sa kanyang trabaho. May mga pagkakataong magbabayad siya para sa water bill ng UNC ngunit hindi ito naging hadlang upang siya’y makasagot sa mga tanong ng kanyang guro.

“Kung gusto mong magkaroon ng mataas na marka, kailangan mong sumagot kahit nasaan ka pa, magbasa para may sagot.” ani niya.

Napilitan siyang bumili ng mobile phone sapagkat talagang kailangan ito sa kanyang pag-aaral. Mabuti na lang at mayroon siyang mga anak na magtuturo sa kanya. Matiyaga siyang nag-aaral ng mga bagay na hindi niya nakasanayan makapagtapos lang siya ng pag-aaral. Pangarap niyang makapagtapos ng pagaaral kahit pa noong nakapag-asawa at nanganak na siya, hindi roon huminto ang kaniyang pangarap. Pinagpatuloy niya ito sa kabila ng mga bagay na hanggang ngayon ay pumipigil sa kanya—kahirapan. Sa kabila ng estado sa buhay ng kaniyang pamilya, nakapag-aral siya sa St. Joseph School, ‘yung palasyo sa likod ng SM, Oo, doon siya nag-aral ng elementarya. Kagustuhan ng kanyang mga magulang ang bigyan siya ng magandang karanasan sa pag-aaral kung kaya’t doon siya pumasok. Ngunit, sa kanyang pagtungtong sa hayskul sa UNC, doon nagsimulang gumuho ang kaniyang mundo. Namatay ang kanilang haligi ng tahanan, at sumunod na maputulan ng paa ang kaniyang ina. Hindi nagtagal

ay pumanaw na rin ito. Nakapagtapos naman siya ng hayskul, ngunit hindi na siya makatuloy sa kolehiyo. Nagtinda muna siya at namasukan sa Manila at nakapagtrabaho sa isang electronics company.

Dalawampu’t pitong taong gulang siya nang siya’y makapangasawa. Kasalukuyan itong nagpapadyak na ayon sa kaniya ay naipapambili nila ng kanilang kinakain sa araw-araw. Hindi sila nagdiriwang ng kaarawan, basta makabili ng ulam sa buong maghapon at dalawang kilo ng bigas na sakto na sa buo nilang araw. Paminsan-minsan nama’y nakakapag-karne kapag nakakaluwagluwag. Nabanggit niyang ang isa niyang anak ay tumutulong din sa kanya, na nagpapaluwang ng kanilang sinturon sa araw-araw na gastusin sa eskwela at ng iba pang mga anak. Ngunit kailanma’y hindi niya itinatanim sa isipan ng mga anak niya na kailangang paginhawahin ang buhay nilang mag-asawa; masaya na silang makapagtapos na ang mga ito sa pag-aaral.

“Ga-graduate akong 54 ang edad.” May pait marahil sa kaniyang pagkakasambit dahil sa edad niya, ngunit banaad pa rin ang saya at sabik na matanaw ang dulo ng kaniyang nilalakad noon pa mang kasabay niya sa daan ang kaniyang magulang.

Mahirap kumawala sa kahirapan. Abot-abot na pagsubok muna ang iyong mararanasan bago mo maabot ang nais mo. Mahirap mangarap para sa isang mahirap lalo na kung ayaw mong maghirap bago marating ang iyong pinapangarap

“Kulang sa tiyaga!”

“Wala ka lang diskarte!”

Animo’y punyal na tinatarak sa iyong puso. Batid mo naman sa iyong sarili kung papano ka magbanat ng iyong buto, ngunit may ilan na sadyang sarado na ang utak. Akala’y sipag at tiyaga lang ay may nilaga na.

Walang garantiya ang pagkakaroon ng diploma. Lalo na kung pinanganak kang mahirap. Ito ang takbo ng sistema ng lipunan. Salat na sa pera’y salat rin sa oportunidad. Tanging makakapitan na lang ng nasa laylayan ay ang patuloy na pagsusumukap maihaon lang mula sa kailalaliman.

Siya pala si ate Almira Martinez. Dating janitress na ngayon ay isa ng estudyante at nagtatrabaho pa rin pero makikita mo na siya sa accounting office. Isa ring ina. Pansamantalang natigil ang pagaaral ngunit hindi natigil ang kanyang pangarap. Isang patunay na sa kabila ng pagsisikap may mga pangarap pa ring naaantala dahil sa kasalatan sa buhay.

PHOTOS BY HARVEE CABAL DEBUHO NG PAHINA NI DARWIN ESCARO

PANAYAM NINA AILA JOY ESPERIDA AT MARIA JOHANNA YASIS

TOMO LXX BILANG II JULY - OCTOBER 15, 2022

What Almost Everyone Has

Jhezylle Faye Loria

Studying and working are in opposite directions Or steps that should not be merged. But look how I managed to slay both Getting high grades and high pay at the same time Is something I could tell I’m proud of Whilst everyone having their peaceful slumber Here I am trying to get at least an hour

The last full eight ones were long forgotten Now at least have an average of three That am now thankful for It’s the small things that you’ll appreciate now Same things you viewed before trivially Could not add a minute or two Coz I’m good as dead if I’d take that risk too More time for me is luxury

If only I’d have wishes that are three I won’t take out money and time from the list For me and for my family

They’re my bread and butter

It’s easy to leave things the way they were

And it’s harder to care about all the things

But what makes my day lighter Is when someone appreciates me at what I do What almost everyone has Is what I don’t have

I’d love to have what you have

Just the usual everyone has Time, money, and more money

But I guess I need more time to get there

Strive to thrive in this manner

To matter in this every chapter.

How is it going?

Neil Andrew Formalejo

Hey, how are you?

Yes, you, the fella breaking your leg in that uni office

I hope you’re feeling all the bliss

If not, then I hope that day would come For sure it would, just watch out for your thumb

Careful with that paper cutter and all those staple crumbs

I know you have deadlines to catch and all the energy to pour

But from time to time, rest yourself, just to be sure

Careful with those tacks and scissors

You still have hundred hallways to traverse And opportunities to reflect in those office mirrors

How is it going?

Being a student, while working?

To balance study, while you’re grinding Awe and salute is what I can give But it ain’t enough I know Hard and might be exhausting All those works that can be too taxing I may not fully know your story I may not fully comprehend your journey

But I am sure that what you’re aspiring will come true

With all those determination and strength in you

Surely you’d hit the spot and be person you’ve dreamed of Just from time to time, ask yourself, how is it going?

Because no amount of praise will do, If the essence of your mind and body comes fleeting So for the last, I will ask you, how are you doing?

Against all odds

Aila Joy A. Esperida

Your loud cries echoed in the midst of darkness, Swollen eyes and heavy breathing; everything was a mess. Problems after problems made you exhausted, Having second thoughts about your mom’s last wish.

Every day, your body’s about to give up, Bit by bit, you were feeling numb. Studying all day and working at night, Keep you restless just to survive.

You’ve endured it all to get a hold of the key, Fought all the battles for years to have a degree. Your sacrifices did not go to waste, You’ve finally got a diploma and fulfilled your promise.

Claps were heard as your name was called, The proud smiles of your family made you teary-eyed. It was a challenging journey, But a simple “Congratulations, Graduates” lifted all the heaviness away.

GRAPHICS BY E-JAY BORJAL LAYOUT BY CHRISTIAN REGANIT

Para kanino ka bumabangon?

Neil Andrew Formalejo

Ano ang kape mo?

Ekstrang tapang na may pinaghuhugutan?

‘Yung swabe ang pait, mula dila hanggang lalamunan?

‘Yung alam mong sunugan ng kilay ang laban?

O ‘yung may halong tamis at krema?

Tamang pang-gising sa umaga.

Para sa pangarap na inaabot, ‘yung tamang pangmulat sa mga mata?

Perpektong pares sa mainit na pandesal, pang lamang sikmura.

Para kanino ka bumabangon?

Sa iyong pag-banat ng buto, Sino ang iyong inspirasyon?

Sa iyong pag-abot ng diploma habang nagtatrabaho?

Paano mo ba kinakaya? Pagbabadyet ng iyong oras; Pag hati-hati ng iyong katawan; Pag-tulo ng iyong mga luha; Pag-tawid ng iyong araw, linggo at buwan.

Kung para kanino man ang mga pangarap mo, iyong pag-igihan. Isang anak, kuya o ate, at mabuting kaibigan

Tibayan ang loob at iyong paghusayan, Bako-bako man ang daan minsan, Sa huli, makakarating ka rin sa iyong patutunguhan.

Noon, Ngayon, at Bukas

Patrick Joseph Panambo

Ang tunog ng umaga ang gigising sa’kin, Habang ikaw ay tila binantayan mo ang ritmo ng oras, Sa responsibilidad wala tayong takas, Ngunit, magkaiba ang dahilan natin.

Nakadungaw na naman ang iyong panaginip, Habang ang iyong mga katabi’y tila naiinip. Nag-uumapaw ang mga kwento sa bawat upuan, Ngunit ilang kabanata na ba ang iyong nasimulan?

Kung gaanong kahalaga ang oras ko sa pagtuturo, Gano’n din kabilis ang paghabol mo sa alegro ng iyong buhay–Ang bilis ng bawat kumpas Sa kordang may sukat na 24 na oras.

Nawa’y ikaw ay makasabay Sa tinatahak mong buhay. Saludo ako sa mga katulad mo Dahil minsan na rin akong naging tulad mo.

Mother’s POV

Patrick Joseph Panambo

Rusted spoons–

How your eyes met the world the moment you’re born. Moonlight’s array softly touches your skin, Apart from crying, your lips moved sideways and saw you grin, With a heavy heart, as if— I hope I could get away from my sin. Seven summer seasons have passed, Wearing your smile and white shirt going to class. Also, a bag of peanuts…and biscuits…and a box, Not for you, but sell it to the mass.

I don’t know If this is right, But thank you for helping Nanay. You know we’re barely living, Yet, a child knows the concept of trying. Have high hopes and never stops believing.

Every night you keep on asking things, That I wish I have filled when your curiosity pings. Even though sometimes my heart stings–“Nanay, bakit tayo mahirap sila hindi?”

I never forgotten that you’re still a child, And so am I when you get into my side. I hope decades from now we’re never the same ‘Cause the last time we are, life would be aflame. Sweet creature, perhaps you could not atone my sins.

UNC Humansof

As a working student, what were the challenges or obstacles that affected you, especially during the pandemic?

Work and financial aspects - Cher B. Ayala, BSBA Financial Management

I don’t have time for after-school activities. I occasionally want to join the majorettes, but I don’t think it’s possible because I am a working student. One more thing is a lack of funds. Even though I earn money from my part-time job, it is insufficient to support my studies.

- Kimberly M. Millena, BS

in Information Technology

One of my struggles during pandemic is my mental health and having a hard time to do study and working. - Christine A. Rodriguez, Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in

Working is never an obstacle when studying the most challenging part I have experienced during pandemic is the [intermittent] internet connection especially we only had online classes most of the time during the time of pandemic. -

Judelyn P. Villarosa, Bachelor of Elementary Education

How do you balance work and school?

Time management - Cher B. Ayala, BSBA Financial Management

I have [good] time management [skills] to balance my academics and work at the same time, [as well as] the ability to prioritize things.

What are your advices/message for other working students? Or for those who are planning to become a working student?

It’s difficult to manage two things at the same time. But, it’s easier if you have the right support system and people. - Cher

B. Ayala, BSBA Financial Management

Work should take precedence over pleasure. Manage your time wisely; create a timetable for completing assignments in each of your courses. Make time for homework, study, sleep, relationships, and work. It is not always necessary to complete all tasks at once.

- Kimberly M. Millena, BS in Information Technology

It’s gonna be though but it’s totally worth it you can do it - Glyn

Harvey Osma Remoquillo, BSBA major in Financial Management

I only use cellphone, be proud of yourself keep fighting and your dreams will come true! -

Christine A. Rodriguez, Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in English

If you are a student and does not have any issues being one, most specifically about financing your education, just focus on it. To those who are planning to be a [working student], always know how to manage your time, yes it is enjoying and very amusing when you are already earning money by yourself but it’s more of a grateful thing if you ever get to finish your studies while working. And lastly to the working students like me, keep fighting and soaring, we’ll get to achieve everything that we want to achieve in life and be successful in the future.

What are your suggestions to address the issue?

Please have recorded videos for each discussion and reduce activities.

- Kimberly M. Millena, BS in Information Technology

My only suggestion not only in this department but to UNC College to be exact is to give focus to those students who are experiencing issues regarding their UNC BLACKBOARD especially about the password, yes they have online portal where they can try to fix and re-setup their password but it is not always working that’s why some students up until now cannot access or don’t have any access to their UNC BLACKBOARD.

- Judelyn P. Villarosa, Bachelor of Elementary Education

- Christine

A. Rodriguez,

Bachelor

of Secondary Education Major in English

Time management is always the key to everything. - Judelyn P.

Villarosa, Bachelor of Elementary Education

COLLATED BY KYRA FERMEL VICTORIA MA.ISABEL AZAÑA

What are the issues or concerns have you experienced in your department that you want to raise/address?

So far, I have none. I can see that every student in our department is doing their best to achieve their goals and be successful in life. -

Judelyn P. Villarosa, Bachelor of Elementary Education

- Judelyn P. Villarosa, Bachelor of Elementary Education

If they can do something else, we can do it too. just go and go -

John Lennon M. Espeso, BS in Business Administration major in Marketing management

GRAPHICS BY ROSE CLAVANO PAGE LAYOUT BY DARWIN ESCARO

UNC holds college-wide learning transition setup this A.Y. 2022-2023

BY JAY VHIE ABUNDA Blended

The Office of the University President issued Memorandum No. 049 s. 2022 last July 14 offering three learning setups namely blended flexi-kit, blended flexitech, and hybrid setups for the academic year 2022-2023 with faceto-face classes in all learning modalities across the tertiary level.

flexi-tech modality is a mixture of limited in-campus and virtual classeswhilelearning materials areavailable through online educational platforms.

Blended flexi-kit modality, on the other hand, is composed of face-to-face sessions for laboratory work and assessment while modules are distributed physically.

Lastly, the hybrid learning modality offers half of the class meeting on-site while the latter is online.

The frequency of on-site classes had relied on the nature of the course and perceptions of students.

The declining COVID-19 cases in the country enabled the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to finally allow higher educational

institutions (HEIs) to accommodate more capacities for in-campus classes.

Meanwhile, Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) Romeo Sumayo Jr. discussed the importance of being used in the new normal, which is the advanced way in order to adapt for the transition during day 1 of #SIKHAY2022 on August 1.

“We need a curriculum which shall transition us to these realities. We need an ecosystem such as UNC that will expose you guys to the new normal and will usher you to the imperative and will usher you later on to the ideal,” Sumayo said.

From the perspective of a student, Mark Ranier Mercado, a first year BS Accountancy student under the hybrid setup expressed the difficulty

#SIKHAY2022 OrSem, matagumpay na idinaos gamit ang hyflex setup

BY CHRISTIAN BAÑEGA

Matapos ang dalawang taon na online setup, inilunsad ng Guidance Center ng unibersidad ang halos isang linggong orientation seminar (OrSem) ngayong taon na pinamagatang #SIKHAY2022 (SEEK HIGH) noong ika-1 hanggang ika-5 ng Agosto gamit ang hyflex setup o pinaghalong online at face-toface setups.

Dinaluhan naman ito ng mga bagong UNCeano sa kolehiyo bago nila opisyal na simulan ang pag-aaral sa nasabing unibersidad.

Ibinahagi ni Kevin Morillo, ang program head at isa sa guidance counselors ng unibersidad, ang kanilang paghahanda sa #SIKHAY2022 para sa freshmen at transferees sa gitna ng pandemya.

“First thing that we did is to coordinate with the higher ups,

[particularly] the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) Romeo Sumayo Jr. and Guidance Counselor Head Angelica Cadag, in order to align it on the first week of i-HIRE, and to ensure that everything we want to show or tell to the freshmen and transferees will be included,” saad ni Morillo.

Dagdag pa rito, ginawa nila ito upang matulungan ang mga mag-aaral na makapag-adjust ng mabuti at para na rin malaman nila kung saan sila pupunta

sakali man na kailanganin nila ang tulong ng mga nakakataas.

Kanya ring isiniwalat ang mga hamon na kanilang kinaharap upang mailunsad nang maayos ang nasabing programa.

“One of the main challenges was budget. It was smaller than the intended budget or the approved budget maybe because of the other concerns or matters to be paid by the university kaya binawasan nang kaunti,” ani ni Morillo.

Kanya pang ibinahagi na dahil dito nilimita nila ang mga materyales na ginamit sa #SIKHAY2022.

Dalawa sa mga hamong kanilang kinaharap noon ay ang komunikasyon dahil sa nasabing setup at kakulangan ng tauhan dahil ang mga kasamahan nilang estudyante ay nasa ikatlo at ikaapat na taon na sa kolehiyo kaya’t nahahati ang oras sa akademika.

Samantala, inilahad naman ni Linly Rosy Clemente, kanyang unang taon sa College of Teacher Education (CTE) na kumukuha ng kursong Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in English, ang kanyang mga natutunan sa naturang

of changes as he is currently renting a boarding house near the university.

“Aside from the setup, there are also other things that I had to adjust to which is why it was more challenging such as trying my best to keep up, comply with all the necessary requirements and go along with the changes,” Mercado mentioned in an interview.

Nevertheless, Mercado is still optimistic about the learning deliveries this coming semester.

“Sa tingin ko kasi, mas makakatulong at mas madali kong maiintindihan ang mga lessons kung face-to-face na. Mas madali ring mag-approach sa mga professors in case na may mga concerns or questions kumpara kapag online,” he said.

The Colleges of Nursing, and Engineering and Architecture previously conducted very limited face-to-face classes during the second semester of A.Y. 2021-2022

kaganapan.

“One thing that I learned and applied to myself was to always be grateful and calm in every situation. We can’t avoid such challenges and obstacles in our journey, however, if we keep on worrying about that stuff, it’ll be all hard to deal with,” ani ni Clemente.

Kanya pang idinagdag na hindi niya inakala na mas higit ang pressure na nararanasan niya ngayon sa kolehiyo kumpara sa kanyang nakasagupa noong siya ay nasa sekondarya.

Gayunpaman, hindi ito naging dahilan upang tumigil siya sa paglaban sa anumang hamon na kanyang kakaharapin ngayong kolehiyo.

Nahati naman sa tatlong parte ang nasabing programa na kung saan sa una at ikalawang araw ay ang pagpapakilala ng mga matataas na opisyal na bumubuo ng administrayon ng unibersidad at ang mga staff ng iba’t ibang mahahalagang opisina na maghahatid ng serbisyo sa mga bagong UNCean na makakatulong

CONTINUE ON 17

UNC students show their wondering look of the details and uncertainties of the new learning set-up held last (date of this event) at (place inside the UNC).

CAPTIONS BY PAOLO JAMER PHOTO BY SYLVANNA SANTAMARIA

Masigasig na mga UNCeano ipinakita ang kanilang pagkasabik sa iba’t ibang oportunidad na mayroon ang hyflex learning sa UNC.

CAPTIONS BY PAOLO JAMER PHOTO FROM BIDYO

20th SCon accomplishes 8 resolutions in 1st sem; Cloza pledges more to pass next year

BY JAY VHIE ABUNDA

The student body’s legislative branch, the 20th Student Congress (SCon), approved a total of eight resolutions covering the issues of the diverse sectors of the UNC community during the 1st semester of the academic year 20222023.

Two of the eight resolutions were passed to assist several university-based organizations, fraternities, and sororities (OFS) in implementing their programs such as the Peer Facilitators Organization (PFO) for its free coffee event during the day 5 of #SIKHAY2022 Orientation Seminar OrSem) on August 5 and the Arts and Sciences College Council (ASCC) during its Peñafrancia Festival’s Community Extension Services (CES) on September 9.

The remaining were centered for a constitutional convention (ConCon) to revise the 2018 University Student Government (USG) constitution,

uniform exemption due to financial constraints, grades transparency, crossdressing, implementing a zero-tolerance policy against sexual harassment, and enhancing student publications’ involvement in student leaders-UNC administration meetings.

House Speaker Franzine Shane Cloza believed that the 20th Student Congress was able to create a turning point where changes in the university occurred.

“The resolutions that the representatives passed can serve as a precedent for liberal and progressive values to be instilled to the students. Moreover, it enables students to step up and speak for their rights,” she told The DEMOCRAT in an interview.

Moreover, Cloza shared the blueprint of the Congress for the second semester and planned to pass additional resolutions for the other sectors of the UNC community.

“The 20th SCon will still focus on student rights, leadership enhancement, and inclusivity,” she mentioned.

Furthermore, Cloza specified the resolutions for the next semester that will be passed: standard operating procedures of appointing officers,

limiting the number of organizations where a student can be an officer, semestral awarding, student leaders’ and publications’ easy access to memorandums issued by the UNC administration, and integrating minority groups in the objectives of all project proposals.

USG releases 1st sem success report, to push more inclusivity project in 2nd sem

BY JAY VHIE ABUNDA

The UNC University Student Government (USG) posted an accomplishment report on its Facebook page totaling to six projects and events launched for the first semester of the academic year 2022-2023.

In their post, the USG believes that they victoriously executed these initiatives and advocacies in pursuit of exemplifying the UNC core values and the best of students’ excellence.

The said semester had seen the UNCean Student Leaders’ Mass Oath Taking Ceremony, Orientation Seminar (OrSem) Night, Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa, HONORE, MOVERS, and i-Lead Camp.

The USG also mentioned the other organizations that helped them make all those events successfully done and believed that excellent service had been given.

“With the hard work, collaboration, and great camaraderie

showcased by each student body [such as the] USG Executive Cabinet, College Councils, Academic and Non-Academic Organizations, Fraternities, and Sororities, the university’s objective of providing an excellent service has been successfully achieved,” the USG wrote.

Louie Del Castañeda, a third year marketing student from the College of Business and Accountancy (CBA) and the current president of Junior Marketing Professionals (JMP) has agreed that USG had excellent service and was satisfied with what they had done.

“I believe the USG has been responsive and has been making sure to amplify the concerns of their fellow students. It is expected as that is one of its primary responsibilities as the student body, but what made it remarkable is the inclusivity being promoted,” Castañeda mentioned in an interview.

On the other hand, a first year accountancy student critiqued the accessibility of the USG officers as they often do not respond to the concerns of the freshmen during the first month.

“Sometimes students are not informed [about] their events, not everyone is [a] fan [of] scrolling on Facebook and stalking some school pages. I must say that they should

find other ways to inform the students about their programs and activities,” she added in an interview.

Nevertheless, she commended the effort of the USG despite the fact that it did not meet her expectations.

“I’m not satisfied with what they’ve done throughout this semester, but I appreciate them, given the fact that they tried and gave effort even though it’s not enough,” she added.

The interviewee put an expectation that the student body will have an improvement and will have great service for the remaining semester of the school year.

The USG President Angela Rubio, meanwhile, promised that the student body this coming semester will be ready to face a much improved student government.

“In this coming semester, USG is ready to face a student government that provides programs to promote an inclusive and sensitive UNC, continues building a harmonious relationship with the UNC administration, and empowers the community,” Rubio said.

However, Rubio mentioned that the lineup activities of the student body would be possible if the UNC administration and budget sources would allow it.

Meanwhile, the 20th SCon representatives will be having their leadership workshop on January 20, 2023 discussing parliamentary procedures, student political parties, and the importance of minority groups in nation building.

sa kanilang pag-aaral.

Habang ang ikatlo at ikaapat na araw ay nakalaan para sa college departmental orientation na kung saan nakilala ng mga estudyante ang kanikanilang deans, program heads, at mga bumubuo ng faculty ng kanilang departamento.

At sa ikalima at huling araw naman ay nabigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga mag-aaral na magtipon-tipon sa loob ng kampus para sa isang enggrandeng parada na napuno ng mga dekorasyon, ang Organizations’ Fair na hatid ang mga pasabog ng iba’t ibang organisasyon, at ang OrSem Night na dinaluhan ng iba’t ibang tagapalabas sa loob at labas ng unibersidad.

#SIKHAY2022 OrSem . . .

Enriching activities for all UNCeanos are approved during the 20th Student Congress last August 5, 2022,

PHOTO FROM UNC STUDENT CONGRESS’ FACEBOOK CAPTIONS BY PAOLO JAMER

F2f MOVERS returns in 2022 after two years

BY RACHELLE PAJA

After two years since the pandemic outbreak began, the University Student Government (USG) officially launched the first face-to-face (f2f) setup of MOVERS held from September 10 to 11, 2022 at the Naga City Ecology Park and the UNC Sports Palace.

With the theme “Sulong, MORADO: Mobilizing an Onward Reformation, and student Activism through Developing an On-mode greyhound leaders,” it was designed to uplift the student leaders’ leadership skills and boost the students’ transformation into likeminded individuals.

Michaela Angela Levina, the Internal Vice President of the Association of English Majors (AEM) and one of the attendees, on the other hand, shared how the student leaders’ testimonies were able to bring out the burning passion that she has.

“Until now I am still carrying the learnings that I got from them and the activity,” Levina shared.

Levina was able to build friendship among participants as she had less expectations and experienced it for the first time.

“I was able to build a friendship with other organization heads that have the same vision and goal as mine for the abundance of organizations that they are handling [and] that the activity was full of learning and camaraderie among the student leaders in the university,“ she added.

According to University Student Government (USG) President Angela Rubio,

MOVERS 2022 was one of the main highlights of USG-organized activities due to the comeback of the face-toface events.

However, the transition of modalities caused difficulties as experienced by the organizing committee.

“Preparation was challenging because of some unexpected changes from time to time,” Rubio stated.

Nevertheless, it was wrapped up in fun-filled activities that the student leaders found to be productive and enjoyable.

“A series of group activities also inspired teamwork and unity [and] it wouldn’t be complete without the presence of the honorable speakers, who strongly honed student activism and developed into on-mode greyhound leaders.” Rubio added.

Various speakers and honorable guests were invited to give inspirational talks such as Senator Risa Hontiveros and Attorney Chel Diokno.

“As a project head, this event put me in a breaking-root situation where a strong soul was needed. I hope greyhound leaders continue to lead the way,” Rubio concluded.

MOVERS is an annual UNCean leadership training program.

UNC CBA’s Charles Lara captures 4th place as 1st Filipino to win at SEASAC

BY KYRA FERMEL VICTORIA

Among 105 participants from all across Southeast Asia, Charles Kryxian Lara, a second year BS Tourism Management student from the College of Business and Accountancy (CBA) of UNC, bagged the fourth place at the third Southeast Asian Sales Competition (SEASAC) held in Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, on October 13.

Lara unveiled that her co-delegates had even master’s degrees representing prestigious universities across the said region.

In a Facebook post a day after the competition, Lara illustrated that she spent months reviewing sales from the very bottom.

“There were times that I felt so down because I didn’t know how to execute this certain thing in the meeting [and] also considering how great my fellow competitors were,” she said.

Meanwhile, the LGU Naga recognized the achievements of Lara and her mentors,

Maribel Ballon and Ar. John Paul Arellano, and was awarded with commendations of recognition for representing the country in the said event during the flag raising ceremony at the city hall grounds on November 14 which was also attended by some local government officials.

Lara also thanked the Business and Accountancy College Council (BACC) for assisting her to find sponsorships.

Lara was the only representative of

the Philippines and the first Filipino to win in the said competition since its first installment.

SEASAC is a European Commissionfunded program for students of universities across Southeast Asia with a goal of boosting their skills in business-tobusiness transactions amid the emerging rise of international markets.

Learning has always been way of life for all UNCeanos through various programs that captivates their interest in multiple relevant fields. Last (date) at (place of training), the traditional face to face set up of Movers resume after a two-year hiatus.

CAPTIONS BY PAOLO JAMER

PHOTO FROM BIDYO

World class Unceano. Charles Lara, a 2nd year BS Tourism Management of the University of Nueva Caceres, ranks fourth place in a global competition that took place in Jakarta, Indonesia last (date). Lara is joined with students from across southeast Asia’ s schools and universities as they receive their awards.

PHOTO FROM CHARLES LARA’S FACEBOOK

UNC College Majorettes, Band climb to top at 12th Bicol Region Military Parade

BY KYRA FERMEL VICTORIA

In keeping with the Peñafrancia Festival’s return after a two-year absence due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the UNC College Majorettes and Band proudly showed their outstanding performance and brought pride to the university during the 12th Bicol Region Military Parade on September 16 at Plaza Quezon.

The UNC Majorettes was awarded both second place in the Best Marching and Exhibition Majorettes categories, while the UNC Band claimed third place in Band Exhibition.

This 2022 was indeed a tremendous comeback since they last participated in 2019 in one of the longest military parades outside

Manila and one of the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia.

Vanessa Imperial, the Majorettes leader, shared how they went from building from scratch before achieving top awards in the said parade.

“As the new Majorettes leader, I also felt such challenges, especially in

recruiting new members, because we only have one and a half months to prepare for the said event,” she said in an interview.

“By that time, all of the majorette members [and] also with the band had to work double time just to be able to get fit and be ready to perform again,” she added.

Radio commentator Percy Lapid assassinated

BY JAY VHIE ABUNDA

Senator Robin Padilla, who chairs the Senate panel on public information and mass media, also called Lapid’s killing “an attack on the right to freedom of expression that is enshrined in our Constitution.”

Lapid is the second journalist killed under the Marcos Jr. administration after Rey Blanco was stabbed to death last September and the 197th one to be killed since 1986.

DILG and several lawmakers.

Meanwhile, then-Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director-General Gerald Bantag was tagged as one of the persons-of-interests by the PNP relating to Lapid’s killing.

Bantag was eventually placed under preventive suspension from his post by President Marcos Jr.

One of the members of the Band, JC Lucena, meanwhile, also emphasized the shorter time of preparation due to the start of classes being moved to August as the onslaught of the pandemic forced the school calendar to be adjusted.

“We also had to do doubletime training and start early. So last summer, we were already preparing for the [said] competition.”

Despite the short stretch of time preparing for the said event, both of them were passionate enough and dedicated to what they do as evident in their performance and awards achieved.

At around 8:30 p.m., Lapid was gunned down and died on the spot immediately along Aria Street, Barangay Talon Dos, Las Piñas City.

The nation mourned and underwent a period of dullness as some current and former government officials, and media organizations grieved for his sudden death and condemned the authorities in failing to protect journalists.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) said in a statement that Lapid’s murder is proof that “journalism remains a dangerous profession in the country.”

Lapid, as one of the most wellknown outspoken critics of former President Rodrigo Duterte and his successor, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr, had unleashed spicy revelations about themselves and some of their appointees regarding their alleged corruption, hidden wealth, and anomalous policies.

Lapid strongly denounced the government’s efforts to silence dissent and a staunch opponent of disinformation and the government’s war on drugs.

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) through the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) immediately launched an investigation regarding the murder and pursued a search for the perpetrators.

A Php6.5 million-bounty was placed on the killers’ head as pledged by the

A story broke out on Lapid’s radio program on September 15 when a certain “Cinderella man” had accumulated a large amount of wealth while in power.

Lapid showed images of a mansion and vehicles in Laguna to which the “Cinderella man” is the owner.

Lapid didn’t mention who this was, but Remulla expressed his certainty that Bantag was behind the killing as he alleged the suspended BuCor chief burst out of anger when he learned that Lapid roamed around his house and took photos.

Remulla added that Bantag skipped a graduation ceremony at the NBP for inmates enrolled in a joint education program between the University of Perpetual Help and the BuCor on September 9 the same day as Lapid . . .

Moreover, they jointly offered their deepest gratitude to the never-ending support of the UNC administration, Scholarships and Grants Office (SGO) Head Maria Teressa Fajardo, faculty, nonteaching personnel, Band and Majorettes Director Carl Fausto, and trainors Michael Angelo Averilla and Stib Briones.

On the night of October 3, Percival Mabasa, popularly known by his moniker Percy Lapid in his hard-hitting radio program “Lapid Fire,” was on his way home and armed riders of a motorcycle were following him.

Beautiful and festive faces of UNC majorettes bedazzle the crowd and judges in the 12th Bicol Region Military Parade last 2022 Penafrancia festival at Plaza Quezon, Naga City. Marching with honor and excitement as the accustomed Penafrancia Festival activities return after a two-year no show of activities but only solemn observance of the said annual religious festival.

PHOTO FROM DFC PHOTOGRAPHY

Now opposition leader Sen. Hontiveros urges supporters to ‘learn-by-doing’

BY DANRIE JOSH GARCIA

Just days before the first State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., lone opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros convinced supporters to not dismantle what efforts had been started during the campaign for the May 9 polls.

“We should mobilize once again, door-to-door, farm-to-farm, and shoreto-shore, with survey instruments on hand and academic experts in tow if need be, so that we can acquire and communicate an updated understanding of the challenges on the ground,” Senator Hontiveros said.

Hontiveros called this out as she lamented the economic crisis the country has been experiencing lambasting the alleged gaps of the government to respond.

Hontiveros labeled those people in power as out of touch with the issues ordinary Filipinos are facing.

That’s why she reiterated the volunteer network developed to

campaign for the opposition during the election season spanning across the country to assemble again and help fellow countrymen to understand issues and think of solutions.

“We need to learn-by-doing, we need to be bottom-up, we need to be deeply empirical — always testing, always prospecting for new approaches and always challenging each other. Mobilize, crowd-source and crowdfund, unlearn what we know and adapt quickly, only then we can be part of a better solution,” she remarked.

Hontiveros placed 11th in the May 9 senatorial race garnering more than 15 million votes, while the rest are overwhelmingly supermajority allied

PBBM’s overseas trip spree promises billion-dollar worth of investments

BY DANRIE JOSH GARCIA

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. was rocked with criticisms over an unannounced trip to Singapore when his images of attending Formula One Grand Prix in the city-state surfaced on social media during the first days of October.

On October 3, Malacañang admitted that the country’s chief executive was in Singapore for a “partly official and partly personal visit.”

“The President was invited by the Prime Minister of Singapore [Lee Hsien Loong] to join him in the revival of F1 Racing in Singapore,” Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin confirmed.

“But, of course, we could not announce that beforehand for security reasons,” he added.

Bersamin also claimed that President Marcos Jr. wanted to use this opportunity to expand investment opportunities in the Philippines as the said racing event was attended by some elite executives of the corporate world.

Meanwhile, Marcos Jr. was even treated as a “matinee idol” during his stay.

Marcos Jr. was accompanied by his wife, First Lady Liza AranetaMarcos, his neophyte lawmaker son, Ilocos Norte 1st District Representative Sandro Marcos, and his cousin, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, which he dubbed the visit as a “productive weekend” on his social media posts.

Some opposition and progressive lawmakers, on the other hand, called the trip as insensitive as the country had been recovering from the onslaught of Typhoon Karding and battered by inflation.

Liberal Party President and Albay 1st District Representative Edcel

Lagman said that the visit showed “the President’s priorities are flawed.”

Marcos Jr. embarked on several trips for both state and working visits to Indonesia, Singapore, United States, Cambodia, and Thailand throughout his first five months in office leading some critics to denounce the amount of foreign trips he made.

A total of US$18 billion worth of investment pledges from foreign investors in key sectors such as energy, agriculture, and information technology Marcos Jr. had brought home.

Marcos Jr. is expected to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-European Union (EU) Summit in Brussels, Belgium on December 14 and set to head to China for a state visit in early January 2023.

Marcos Jr. is the most frequent overseas traveler among post-EDSA Revolution presidents in first 100 days in office totaling four trips.

with former President Rodrigo Duterte and incumbent President Marcos. Jr.

Former Vice President Leni Robredo transferred the title of the leader of the opposition to Hontiveros after the reelectionist lawmaker took her oath in late June.

Hontiveros belongs to a twomember minority bloc of the Senate along with Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III.

Aside from being known as one of the most outspoken critics of the Duterte and Marcos Jr. administrations, Hontiveros has been prominent in pushing for progressive bills related to human rights, women, marginalized sectors, health, and family welfare.

FROM 19

. . .went to the Laguna house of Bantag. Bantag later denied the accusations, clashed with Remulla’s remarks, and dared him to resign during an interview with Pastor Apollo Quiboloy-owned SMNI.

Bantag accused Remulla of being a marijuana user as the DOJ chief’s eldest son was arrested on October 11 last year for carrying P1.3-million worth of kush, a type of marijuana, weighing close to 900 grams in Las Piñas City.

Meanwhile, the DOJ said Bantag’s words and actions from the said television interview “come from a misguided sense of betrayal.”

At the moment, suspended BuCor chief Bantag, former BuCor deputy security officer Ricardo Zulueta, and other Bilibid inmates are facing murder complaints for the death of Lapid and alleged middleman Cristito Villamor Palaña, previously identified as Jun Villamor.

The Philippines retained its spot in three consecutive years as the world’s seventh worst country for unsolved killings of journalists based on the Global Impunity Index of the New York-based media watchdog Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) as of 2022.

The lone opposition victor Sen. Risa Hontiveros exhorts hope to all Filipinos to continue building a better Filipino nation.

PHOTO FROM BIDYO

Radio commentator

UNC Taekwondo Team conquers National tournaments, bags 6 medals

BY RACHELLE PAJA

The UNC Taekwondo Team showcased their perseverance to bring pride to the university as they collated numerous medals in two national tournaments with weeks of intense training as part of the preparations.

The team conquered their rivals from different schools nationwide as they fast-kicked their way on the 45th National Taekwondo Championship to clinch three medals last September 3 - 4, 2022.

Meanwhile, they also delivered solid punches and kicks to bring home two silver medals and one bronze in the 2022 SMART/MVP Sports Foundation National InterSchool Taekwondo Poomsae and Kyorugi Championship, held at Ayala Malls, Manila, last October 1 and 2.

According to Alexander Mañugo, a 2nd Year BS Criminology

and Taekwondo Team Captain, the tournaments widen his horizon regarding sports and personal development.

“The tournaments I’ve fought recently reminded me that I still have lots to do and improve, stuff I need to change, and things I have to give up and endure.”

Despite various hurdles the team faced this school year, Mañugo foresees winning against others and himself and looks forward to the upcoming semester with positivity.

“To be better and reach places I want to go. The last and most

UNC Greyhound Chess Team hauls 4 trophies in the Regional Open Tournament

BY AILA JOY ESPERIDA

After two years of virtual games and tournaments, the UNC Greyhound Chess Team returned to the field with heightened perseverance, determination, and excellent tactics as they prevailed and were hailed as the overall Champion during the Coron Chess Team Championship in Tiwi, Albay, last August 6 - 7, 2022.

The feisty Greyhounds showed off their valiant performance to haul a total of 4 trophies from different categories against many chess players from the Bicol Region. Greyhounds Reymark Sagario, Jayvee Relleve, and Glennen Artuz, who played for the Chess Team category, marked the checkmate of the game as they clinched the championship, acquiring the team’s first trophy in the tournament.

For the individual event, Relleve also flaunted his fiery skills to dominate his opponents and bag another championship for the Top Albay category, while Ira Leus and Liberty De Vela got the Top Lady championships.

Furthermore, Leus, Odette Ollos, and Carla Pontejos, who also played under the Top Lady Senior Division, ranked fourth (4th), sixth (6th), and eighth (8th), respectively.

The junior greyhound players, Djon Carlos Francis Cortes and Lance Renjo Moraña, never backed down from their rivals as they delivered deadly counterattacks and solid defense to attain the top 7 and 8 spots and reap another trophy in the Junior Division Category.

Meanwhile, UNC Chess players Jonny Bon and Aalijah Jisella Romero failed to secure spots in their individual categories.

“Each player did their best, and they inspired me as well to do what I could do for the game, even though half of the team were new,” UNC Chess Team Captain Carla Pontejos stated when asked about the team’s performance during the tournament.

She also stated that the team practiced a lot and did individual training to be prepared for the game.

important thing is to have much more fun than last year,” he added.

As of this writing, the team plans to compete again in an online and face-to-face competition next month.

PHOTO FROM JEROME SABIDO

MASTERS ON BOARD. With their heightened perseverance and strategic moves, the UNC Greyhound Chess Team showcases why they are the masters on board as they clinch four trophies during the Coron Chess Team Championship in Tiwi, Albay, last August 6 - 7, 2022.

WORDS BY AILA JOY ESPERIDA

GREYHOUND’S PRIDE. The UNC Taekwondo Team once again proves they are the university’s pride as they conquer their rivals during the National Tournaments and bag six medals last September 3 - 4 and October 1 - 2, 2022, at Ayala Malls, Manila, 2022.

WORDS BY AILA JOY ESPERIDA

UNC SPECTO muling nagpasiklab matapos ang dalawang taon; Provincial Football Open Tournaments pinagharian

Matapos ang dalawang taong pagtigil ng mga kompetisyon dahil sa pandemya, muling nagpasiklab sa loob ng field ang UNC Greyhounds Football Team SPECTO sa pamamagitan ng pagpapakawala ng mga maiinit na goals upang hiranging kampeon at 1strunner up sa 7-A-Side at 11-A-Side Tournaments laban sa ibat-ibang koponan sa Camarines Sur noong ika-28 ng Agosto at ika-15 hanggang 16 ng Oktubre sa kasalukuyang taon.

Nasungkit ng Team SPECTO ang kampeonato sa men’s category ng 2nd Kapwa Cup 7-A-Side Football Festival na ginanap sa Albay Provincial Sports Complex, Guinobatan Albay, matapos durugin ang labing-anim na katunggali mula sa iba’t-ibang lugar sa probinsya, kabilang ang mga koponan ng BU - IPESR, LADFC, GUFC, LCUFC, at Polangui Football Cup.

“Sa panahon ng pandemya ay tuloytuloy pa rin naman ang aming Individual Training na malaking tulong upang kami ay maging handa sa mga laro. [Parang] payback [yung pagkapanalo namin] kasi marami na kaming sinakripisyo,” saad ni Rey Ricafrente, captain ball ng Team Specto.

Pinabulaanan niya rin na ang pagkapanalo ng koponan ay dahil sa kanilang paghahanda sa bawat laro. “Marami nang training ang ginawa namin

Greyhound Esports Team debuts in AcadArena, ranks up in the Semi-finals

BY

The UNC Greyhound Esports team made a stunning debut in the AcadArena after securing a spot in the semi-finals of Bracket B of the Alliance Games with five wins and two losses against other University Esports teams in the Philippines, which was held online last September 30October 10, 2022.

The team was categorized into five groups based on the different esports. Greyhound (GH) Fire which composed of Sean Kenneth “Furyken” Baylen, Jerico “IBYXNG” Cabreza, Sachi Miguel “Chaoo” Uvas, John Paolo “Paooo” Valeros, and Dean Joshua “NewPlayer” Pili played for the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) Split 2 and ended the game as victors.

While the Wildrift rosters, Keith Justine “KateJustine” Estrella Jumell “Vyer” Javier, Fholan “PSYX” Agdoro, Denzel “Xoar”

Saballegue, and Aldrin “Squishy” Medina of GH Yang, taken down the battle arena in the AcadArena Alliance Games Wildrift Split 2.

In the League of Legends Split 2, GH Yin represented the team which included Julz Anjjelo “Cheerioo” Dulce, Thomas Aaron “Feilian” Bocago, Jay “JIZY” Alvarez, Marjay “Khozen” Lopez, Justine “Bandales09” Abrenica, and John Victor “Woke” Doria who fought all out against their opponent and created epic plays.

On the other hand, Ken “TomatoBang” Zaldivar, Allain Roy “GHOST47” Credo, Benedick “Bioshock” Clerigo, Rex “Leo” Lorzano, and Jerico “Zico” Nacion of GH Sola have taken out their guns and conquered the AcadArena Alliance Game Call of Duty: Mobile (COD: M) Split 2; and GH Luna who was composed of Jan Emmanuel “JEB” Aspe, Jonathan David “DaviDV” Del Valle, Von “Ezeyr” Preconcillo, Allen “YawaKun” San Buenaventura, Ian Joseph “Keizer” Geroy, and Joshua “SaWHA” Nala locked up for the Valorant Game Split 2.

According to Cabreza, who recorded 7.3 kills, 4 deaths, and 12 assists in the game,

at matagal namin pinaghandaan ang bawat laro na aming sinalihan. Para sa amin ang bawat kampeonato ay aming pinagpaguran para makamtan.”

Samantala, hinirang ding 1st-runner up ang koponan sa 2D FOOTBALL LEAGUE: 11-A-Side Tournament na ginanap sa PGA Bicol University Sports Complex matapos pabagsakin ang tatlong katunggali mula sa Bicol University, Legazpi, at Masbate.

Puso at pawis ang naging puhunan ng koponan upang manguna sa elimination round at makarating sa finals kung saan nakapagtala sila ng 16 na goals sa buong durasyon ng kompetisyon.

Ayon sa tagapagsanay ng SPECTO na si Coach Francisco Banzuela, dahil sa naging laro ng koponan, nakuha nila ang respeto ng mga manlalaro na sumabak din sa torneo, maging ng mga tagapagsanay. “Grabe ang respeto na na-gain. Pati mga players, nagdurulok to give respect.”

[“Malaki ang respeto na nakuha ng team. Kahit mga manlalaro ay pinuntahan kami para magbigay respeto.”]

Dagdag pa niya na isa ito sa pinakamahalagang karangalan ng koponan dahil patunay ito ng dedikasyon at pagmamahal sa isports ng bawat manlalaro.

Samantala, puspusan ngayon ang kanilang ensayo bilang paghahanda sa Provincial at National Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) na inaasahang gaganapin sa susunod na taon. Kalakip nito, magkakaroon sila ng Greyhounds Futsal Games, isang fund raising event na gaganapin sa Enero, kung saan ang malilikom na pondo ay gagamitin sa mga equipment na kailangan ng koponan at magsisilbi ring badyet sa mga susunod nilang kompetisyon.

the team faced many challenges before joining the arena, especially playing as a team and communicating with each other.

“Since bago pa nga lang po yung Greyhound Esports, yung chemistry naming players kapag naglalaro kami as a team ang nakita kong challege. Hindi pa po namin gaano kabisado yung laro ng isa’tisa,” he stated.

[Since Greyhound Esports is still new, I think the chemistry of our players when we play as a team is the challenge. We haven’t memorized each other’s game yet.]

He also shared that they trained very hard, learned each others’ techniques, and tried using different heroes to enhance their skills and map awareness.

“May times na gagamit kami ng ibang hero na hindi namin alam tapos papracticesin namin para lalong lumawak yung hero pool namin. Tapos yung mga alam namin na hero is i-enhance nalang namin yung paggamit sa kanila,” he added.

[There are times when we will use other heroes we don’t know, and then we will practice them so that our hero pool will expand even more. Then, we’ll just enhance our skills in using the heroes we are familiar with.]

The team is doing their regular practice to join the tournaments inside and outside the campus. They will also participate in the other events held by the AcadArena these coming months.

PHOTO BY MOX RUBIO MENDONES

PHOTO BY GREYHOUND ESPORTS

BY AILA JOY A. ESPERIDA

AILA JOY A. ESPERIDA

PUSO AT PAWIS. Determinasyon at puspusang ensayo ang naging puhunan ng UNC Team SPECTO upang magapi ang ibat-ibang koponan sa Camarines Sur at hiranging kampeon at 1st- runner up sa Provincial Open Football Tournaments na ginanap sa Albay, noong ika-28 ng Agosto at ika-15 hanggang 16 ng Oktubre sa kasalukuyang taon.

WORDS BY AILA JOY ESPERIDA

RANK UP. The GH Esports team debuts in the AcadArena as semi-finalists of the Alliance Games (Bracket B) with five wins and two losses against other University Esports teams in the Philippines, which is held online last September 30 - October 10, 2022.

WORDS BY AILA JOY ESPERIDA

APAT TATSULOK

BY NEIL ANDREW FORMALEJO

Sa Pinas, samo’t saring tanawin ang inyong makikita. Mga kakaibang uri ng hayop, at napakagandang yamang tubig at lupa. Marami tayong maipagmamalaki gaya ng mga sikat na mangangawit, boxing icon, billiard legend at iba pa. Talagang pinagpala ang ating bansa.

Masaya rito sa Pinas. Kapag ikaw ay convicted sa kasong may kinalaman sa buwis, magiging presidente ka.

Pero kapag hindi ka pa convicted, at akusadong Drug Lord ka raw, kahit na halos lahat ng saksi ng estado ay binawi ang mga pahayag laban sa’yo, kulong ka pa rin ng ilang taon na. Kapag ikaw ay convicted ng pandarambong, ayun, basta ikaw ay naka-neck brace at wheelchair, at ang apelyido mo ay matunog gaya ng Arroyo, o Marcos, sa Ospital ang bagsak mo. At ‘yun, malaya ka na. Ngunit kapag ikaw ay isang hamak na hindi naman kilala, inakusahan ka lang na nagnakaw ng kakarampot na mangga, kulong ka, wala ng patumpik-tumpik pa. Kapag ikaw ay mahirap at nasa watch-list ka ng mga pulis sa pagtutulak ng droga, patay ka, wala ng korte-korte pa. Pero kapag ikaw ay anak ng Justice Secretary, “I wish my son a path of redemption,” lang ang siste.

Ito ang uri ng hustisya sa Pilipinas. Mabagal, hindi pantay, inutil, bulok. Ang tama ay nagiging mali, at ang

NA GILID NG

mali ay nagiging tama. Halos wala nang pag-asa ang pagbabago rito. Mula noon, hanggang ngayon, ganun pa rin ang kwento.

May kasabihan sa Ingles na “Justice delayed, justice denied”. Ito rin ang nangyayari sa Pilipinas. Isa sa mga dahilan ng sobrang bagal ng hustisya sa atin ay ang kakaunting bilang

mga korte. Ayon sa datus na inilabas noong 2013, ang mababang hukuman ay may karaniwang mahigit 4,000 na kaso araw-araw, ayon sa Philippine Statistic Authority (PSA). Ibig sabihin nito ay ang mga hukom ay may taunang 644 na kasong hinahawakan na nangangahulugang hindi sapat ang ating sistema.

overcapacity sa mga bilangguan. Ang pinaka sagad naman na kapasidad ay umaabot hanggang 2000%. Kung makikita mo sa mga dokumentaryo sa iba’t ibang medya ang estado ng ating mga bilangguan, parang sardinas ang mga preso. Nakakadismaya, nakapanlulumo.

Isa ring dahilan ay ang kahirapan. Kung wala kang pera, wala kang laban. Kung wala kang kapit, mas mahirap na. Kaya kung mapapansin niyo, ang mga malalaking kriminal gaya ni Imelda Marcos, Gloria Arroyo, Erap Estrada, at iba pa, kahit may mabigat na kaso at ang iba nga ay nahatulan na ng korte, nasa labas pa rin. Samantalang ang mga maliliit at mga pinoy na galing sa hirap, halos hindi umaabante ang legal na sistema para sa kanilang mga kaso.

Nakakabiyak ng puso ngunit ito ang reyalidad. Kahit gustuhin man nating gumawa ng mga hakbang para may mai-ambag para sa kinabukasan ng ating sistema ng hustisya, ngunit malabo at malayo pa ang pagbabagong ating inaasam. Heto at mas pinalala pa ang ating sitwasyon dahil sa mga nakaupong sila rin ang may mga pakana. Ang pinakamainam na magagawa natin ngayon ay ang walang tigil na pag kalampag sa ating mga kapwa na magising sa ating madilim na reyalidad at makialam sa paglaban sa ating bulok na sistema.

GRAPHICS BY E-JAY BORJAL LAYOUT BY CHRISTIAN REGANIT

HOROSJOKES

NI STAR WAX AND STAR-LORD

Kumusta mga ante asin ankol! Kumusta an pagsalubong nindo sa bagong taon?

Uya na naman kita sa panibagong yugto asin kabanata kan satuyang mga buhay, mabukas na naman an panibagong semester na madulot satuya ning parehong kamalasan asin swerte, na makawsa ulit kan satuyang kapagalan nin hawak

asin manlaen laen na mental problems.

Siring man kaiyan maburukasan man an mga pinto asin bintana nin oportunidad na parehonog may magagayon asin makakanos na dulot asin kaibahan, yaon na diyan ang makakaresibi nin biyaya asin grasya, arog kang flat one, siring man ugwang taong may jowa ang mahahabunan asin mawawaran.

The Pieces

Siya, mapabistado muna kami mga accla bago kami mag paratara-tara. Ta sisay man baga kami na mapara chika sana. Kami ang tambalang Star Wax asin Star-Lord, an mga eksperto asin dalubhasa sa pagbasa nin mga hiro nin bituon, planeta, bulan asin saldang, in short astrologist, siyempre tig search ko ta tibaad ma akusaran kita nin peyk news. Kami an matao saendo ning

Aries

La-goat (March 21-April 19)

Lagot ka! An saimong mga bituon nababanga sa swerte asin malas sa pag abot sa urulay nin kwarta, pero mas grabe ang butong kang malas asin kadefisilan mo sa pagkapot kaini, waldas ka kaya! Sinabihang mag-ipon,

LUCKY NUMBER: 0, halata man sa lucky color mo tas sa perak sa bulsa mo Leo The Caprio

Virgo The Bigo (August 23-September 22)

Libra The Bra (September 23-October 22)

LUCKY DAY: February30-31, sabi ko saimo malas ka ngunyan na taon LUCKY COLOR: … ini nalang daa mayo ng natadang color#ffffff

LUCKY NUMBER: UNKNOWN, grabe maski numero duminulag saimo

LUCKY NUMBER: EQUAL SIGN, magiging bias daa kaya ang mga numero

mga payo, gas lighting advice, asin cosmic tips sa tabang kan mga bituon ni Facebook, mga planeta ni YouTube, asin kan buong heavenly bodies kang social media.

Kasabay sa paglaog nin bagong taon asin semestre, suminabay man ang paglaog kang mga manlaen-laen na prediskyon, mga hulahula, mga huna-huna, pagrurulapiga-lapiga sa atop, paghimas-himas kan mga palad asin bolang crystal, asin pagtingag-tingag sa kalangitan, para mabasa sana an saendong mga bituon asin an kaakibat kaining kapalaran.

Sa samong paghurop-hurop asin pag-scroll sa peysbook nahiling mi ang manlaen-laen na mga prediksyon asin mga pangiturugan, ngunyan na bagong taon asin bagong semester an nag-abot, bagong barangaan kan swerte asin malas na

Taurus

The T(a)u-Bull (April 20-May 20)

naman ang nababasa mi.

Nahiling mi na nagbabago an sistema asin dalagan kan universe lalo na kang mga heavenly bodies, arog kan mga manlaen-laeng planetang nasasakupan kan mga Zodiac sign, siring man ang paghiro kan bulan, abnormal activity kan mga black holes, worm holes, meteorites, comets, asin androids, ay sala mga asteroids palan. Ini dae pa naipapaliwanag asin napapatunayan kan mga siyentista asin eksperto sa Feng shui, pero kami iyo na! Tested and proven pa!

Mga ante asin ankol, kun saendong paghuhurop-huropan asin oobserbahan an mga nangyayari sa satuyang kapalibutan, ini saendong maiintindihan. Edi sana dae na nindo kami kaipuhan, kaso dae kamo observant kaya kami nalang nag-initiate para kamo matabangan!

Gemini

The Kara Mia (May 21-June 20)

Ang mag kambal karibal. Mga ante asin ankol, ang kambal na bituon nindo maydarang parehong kambal na swerte asin malas, halata man baga,

Kun saendong namamatian grabe ang pagrilipot kan duros ni Amihan sagkod pag-init kan duros ni Habagat, mga pashnea daa kaya kita, mga ulopong; asin sabi ko ngane kansubago nagbabarangaan an mga planeta kang solar system asin mga elemento sa kalawakan. Sa mga arog kaining panahon may mga gustong sabihon asin ipahiwatig an mga ini.

Ini mga ante asin ankol, trabaho asin surubahan sana, mayong personalan asin dae sangkot maski anong politika igdiyu ha! Saka sisay man kamo mga accla para iresearch mi pa saro-saro ang mga Zodiac signs nindo? Grabeng swerte na nindo kaiyan.

Kung kamo interesado na maaraman an sinasabi asin ang gusto nindang ipahiwatig sa saimong kapalaran, magbasa ka na!

Para sa mga pinangaki sa bulan nin…

(June 21-July22)

Cancer ang kasag, ika an rason kun tano naibabali asin naidadagdag ang ulcer sa zodiac sign. Nin huli ta igdi, ika an sinasralaan kang gabos na

saendo

Scorpio

The Stereo (October 23-November 21)

luck!

LUCKY DAY: Everyotherday

LUCKY COLOR: Black and White, kung habo mo Greynalang

LUCKY NUMBER: 11, 22, 33, 44, and so on basta dobleng numero

Sagittarius

The Guitarist (November 22-December 21)

Sagittarius o an parapana. Ika ang sunod sa pinakamaswerte sa buong zodiac sunod k Leo. An saimong mga bituon nin swerte asin malas nababanga sa balanseng anggulo, pero dakula ang porsyento nin pagrani saimo kang swerte nin huli ta amigo/amiga mo c Leo asin an gabos na mga maswerteng constellations arog ni Aquarius, na maresulta nin madaling buhayasin magian na semestersaimo.

Pag-abotsaurulayninkwarta,ikadaemamomroblemataikamadiskarte asin optimistic na maray, madali saimo magrani asin magdakol an kwarta, sanaol nagseself reproduce ang kwarta sa mga palad, pero mag-ingat ka sa mga abusadong barkada na uubuson ang saimong kwarta kakapalibre sa pagkakan sa luwas, pero aram mi galante ka, kaya deserve mo magheras nin grasya!

Sa urulaynin mga psuo, ika maugma na ta nahanap mo na c foreverman daa, pero c mga single diyan maghalat-halat sana ta maabot man saendo c para kobra, sa hulugan na magiging mong da wan! Sa pagklase ika man makaresibenin1.5, taarog kang coke1.5 litersmapainomkadaangunyanna maypaabot na okasyon asin urugmahan.

Cosmic tip: Likay sa mga taong pa-fall baka mafall kaman tulos tas pa asahon ka sa huri, sayang kang saimong swerte beh! Maray pa k para kobra maykawarta kana padangat ka pa!

LUCKY DAY: LUCKY COLOR: LUCKY NUMBER:

hilang na kanser

Capricorn

The Buttered corn (December 22-January 19)

Capricorn ang kambing na sinungayan. Hayssss salamat man pang

tindahan ngunya

Walang garantiya ang pagkakaroon ng diploma. Lalo na kung pinanganak kang mahirap. Ito ang takbo ng sistema ng lipunan. Salat na sa pera, salat rin sa oportunidad.

Tanging

makakapitan na lang ng nasa laylayan ay ang patuloy na pagsusumikap

maihaon lang mula sa kailaliman.