The DEMOCRAT Volume LXVIII Issue No. I

FOR A FREER STUDENT PRESS

August 2020 • October 2020 Vol. LXVIII Issue I

LXVIII

index

democrat

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT-MAGAZINE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NUEVA CACERES

Editorial Board & Staff A.Y. 2020 - 2021

EDITORIAL BOARD

Editor-in-Chief John Paul Borito Associate Editor Norene Cantor Managing Editor Rex Garing News Editor Kenn Daniel Montecillo Features & Patrick Joseph Literary Editor Panambo Arts Director Lester Isip Filipino Editor Charey Mae Alvarado

FEATURES

3 Equation of Life: Worry equals Painstaking 4 Hukay sa Hating Gabi 5 Quaranthings 6 A Rich Gratitude 7 Free Indeed - Sign Up!

NEWS

DEVCOMM 8

Let thy dreams come true

OPINION 9 10 15 16

Humans of UNC Points of You Acceptance but not Normalizing No happy ending for an ill-plotted drama

LAMPOON 11

STAFF

Tingog Kan Unibersidad Obal

17

18

19

SPORTS 20

21 22 23

Brandon Jon De Los Santos

APPRENTICES

•Tulong pinansyal para sa mga iskolar patuloy, ayon sa UNC • Castañeda in FYS 2020: ‘Youth is the key to change’ •USG new normal leadership thumbs up for several UNCEANs • Lugatiman joins Nat’l Boot Camp, echoes learning through seminar • IN DEFIANCE DAY: Naguenos holds protest on independence day • Tayo ang tulay ng mga mag-aaral - Averilla

*broadcasters

Rose Clavano Cyen Esclanda Neil Andrew Formalejo Raymond Balote Irish Sierda Darwin Escaro Christian Reganit Jonna Mae Bagasbas Dinalyn Reñon Berlineth Nymia Montes Kyra Fermel Victoria Earl Dwight Serrado

Tulong pinansyal para sa mga student-athlete patuloy, ayon sa SDO Uncaged Royalty Bubble Trouble Yikes! Mahiya kayo please!

LITERARY

CONTRIBUTORS

Rowel Gabriel Mirador Jean Aquino Aila Joy Esperida Maria Juvy Lea Violeta

TECHNICAL ADVISER

12 & 13 Liwanag sa Dilim

Shirley A. Genio Mark Phillip Paderan

EDITORIAL 14

MEMBERS

Pasilip sa Palipas

Luzonwide Association of College Editors (LACE) Bicol Association of Student Campus Journalists (BASCAJ)

LXVIII

01

College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP)

TUNGKOL SA PABALAT MGA SALITA NI NORENE CANTOR CONCEPT & GRAPHICS BY RAYMOND BALOTE DIGITALIZED COVER LAYOUT BY LESTER ISIP

OFFICE

Right-Wing, Sports Palace University of Nueva Caceres J. Hernandez Ave., Naga City Philippines, 4400

CONTACT US

thedemocrat@unc.edu.ph

The HINDI AKO MAKAHINGA. Kapos ang hininga sa panggigipit ng ‘di inimbitahang bisita. Lumalaban ngunit hindi alam kung sapat ang depensa.

Malabo kung mumulat pa ba bukas-makalawa. Parang pelikula dahil hindi ako nagiisa; gusto ko nang bumalik sa likod ng mga kamera.

Ilagay ang sarili sa sapatos nila at tahakin ang wastong daan, habang ang puwang sa iyong pag-iingat ay malawak pa.

DEMOCRAT now on

issuu.com/thedemocrat

FEATURE DEMOCRAT | 03

n o i t Equa e:

B G YP PA rap atr GE hics by ic kJ DE os SIG N DIN eph

BY AL P Le YN anam st RE er ñ b is on o ip

Lif

of

She’s cautious yet unaware.

Crickets started to sing while she hid her emotions under her eyes, barely asleep. A sweep of cold air beneath the starry night is her company.

Shed from her laptop light and a notebook and pen. She should be sleeping, but she’s not. This is her reality. Can you feel it?

Waking up early in the morning and getting ready for school, she sings in her bath as she is excited to see her classmates and friends. She bubbly jumps on her way to learn new things she should know. Eight hours of staying at school, it’s not that exhausting in her experience.

She sometimes makes faces when she can’t understand her teacher, especially on numbers. Although, admit it, aren’t we all? She’s not a fast learner and needs attention to learn quicker. You would give more patience to students like her, which is crucial in learning—the guidance from educators. And just like every student, she loves the subject called recess—a time to have some break and take some snacks.

The best part will be walking home with friends, sharing thoughts and chit-chats while laughing all the way. Every way home packs eventful memories without the fear of having poor insights into the subjects they’re taking. And when she’s home, she will only recall the learnings she had.

She, a happy and carefree student, is capable of learning. Or at least, she was.

The real site is where she can learn and enjoy, where she can be burnt out but turn out fine, where people feel at home because some can’t feel the word home in their own home, a real place—school.

Today morning, she still wakes up early but still sleepy because she did not have enough sleep. Her fine energy was loose. She’s not singing in her bath. And sometimes, she is still in her pajamas. Instead of walking to school, she sits in front of her laptop again. It’s not eight hours of class, but she already feels weary. She’s calm and trying to get the lectures. But it seems like everyone is like her—barely surviving their current ordeal.

She would always make faces— mostly grumpy and teary.

She can’t understand thoroughly.

Plus, the internet of not only hers but most of them is unstable. Her teacher’s voice isn’t clear and also seemed to adjust. Now all of them are doubling their patience. And even though it is not time for a break, she eats to lessen her stress.

Going outside is strict. She will no longer walk with her friend because she’s at home; no short but fun memories this time. Recalling her lectures is endless just to make sure she got it. They say she can learn at her own pace, but the problem is she’s not ready with this stage. Maybe someone can learn by himself, but she is not him, not you.

This is her state. Her present state where she must learn. But to do so, she needs to push her limits and stay up late at night to call her day. She’s trying, just like everyone does.

She, a happy and carefree student, is capable of learning. She still is, but now follows a but.

She’s facing everyone’s reality right now. She’s maybe him, she’s maybe me and you. She is one of those students who face difficulty when it comes to virtual learning and other modality. She is the embodiment of a student who surely misses the short walks when changing rooms and subjects. She belongs to those who are giving their best even though they weigh second thoughts.

She’s wary of everything, considering and keeping check of her future.

Little did she know, she’s unaware of how courageous she is. Oh! How strong she is when dealing with her current situation. She does not notice that she truly cares for her future with how uncertain she is at school and how much more to this new way of learning. And that is what everyone is doing, keeping the battle steady and slowly winning.

It’s okay to be conscious. Such a feeling only means you’re caring for yourself and are scared of what may happen to your future. You can cry and worry, but don’t stop chasing what you’re aiming for. Be more frightened when you don’t care at all.

GRAPHICS BY ROWEL GABRIEL MIRADOR & LESTER ISIP PAGE DESIGN BY ROSE CLAVANO

FEATURE DEMOCRAT DEMOCRAT | 04 FEATURE

NI NIEL FORMALEJO “Tagumpay,” pahayag ni Leonor Briones, Kalihim ng Kagawaran ng Edukasyon (DepEd), patungkol sa pagbubukas ng klase sa gitna ng pandemya. Ang tanong, saang banda ba matatanto ang katagang “Tagumpay”? Ito ba ay tumutukoy sa pagbukas ng klase sa gitna ng hirap na nararanasan ng bawat isa? Ito ba ay tumutukoy sa matagumpay na pagbingibingihan ng ahensya sa mga hinaing ng stakeholder sa pagbubukas ng klase? O sa pilit na pagdiin ng kaisipang wagi ang panukala nila sa balik-eskwela?

Bago pa man ang pasukan, batid na ng mga guro at mag-aaral na mahirap ang naka-disenyong sistema sa pag-aaral ngayong “new normal.”

Matatandaang nag-trending sa sosyal medya ang #AcademicFreeze dahil sa dulot na pangamba at takot ng balik-eskwela. Kung titingnan, umusbong ang negatibong epekto sa mental health ng bawat isa; nandiyan na ang pagkabalisa dahil sa kawalan ng kasiguruhan sa mga nangyayari, takot na mahawaan ng sakit, at lungkot dahil sa matagalang quarantine lockdown.

Ngayong pasukan na, mas nakaapekto pa sa usaping mental health ang mga bagong hamon sa mas pinahirap na sistema ng edukasyon.

Nariyan ang mahal na gastusin sa paggamit ng gadget at pagbili ng load, mahinang koneksyon ng internet, gabundok na tatapusing modyul, hindi sapat na oras para tapusin ang mga gawain bago

ang nakatalagang oras na pasahan, maingay na kapaligiran kaya ‘di maka-pokus sa synchrounous na klase, nariyan din ang mga responsibilidad sa bahay at pag-aral ng mga modyul sa sariling kakayahan.

Kaugnay nito, matatandaang sunod-sunod ang kaso ng mga mag-aaral na kinitil ang sariling buhay dahil sa online class. Gaya na lamang ng isang 21-anyos na dalaga sa lungsod ng Iriga sa Camarines Sur. Ayon sa kanila, wala naman naikukuwentong problema ang dalaga maliban sa ito’y nahihirapan sa online class dahil sa mahinang koneksyon ng internet at problema sa gadget na gamit. Isa pa sa trending ngayon ay ang estudyanteng lalaki mula sa Bohol na nagpakamatay dahil hindi tinanggap ng guro ang late na ipinasang modyul, dahil pa rin sa pahirapang signal ng internet. Isang estudyante rin mula sa Albay, baitang siyam sa pasukan, ang kinitil ang sariling buhay dahil ito ay nangangambang hindi na makapag-aral ngayong pasukan dahil sa mahal na gastusin sa gadget at load.

Ngunit ang tanging tugon ng DepEd sa kasong ito, hindi naman daw kailangan gumastos ng marami dahil hindi man lang daw gadget ang paraan. Pwede naman daw sila magbigay ng modyul at learning materials. Kung ganun, bakit hinahayaang humantong pa sa ganito?

Hindi hamak na mas mainam na bigyang diin ang mga insidenteng ito upang maunawaan ang mga pagsubok at pagkukulang. Gayundin, ay nang matigil na ang mga naitatalang kaso.

Ngayong new normal, mistulang kalabit ng baril ang deadline sa mga pang-akademikong gawain.

Pagpatak ng hatinggabi, takdang oras ng pasahan, parang may hukay na na nakalaan sa hindi kakayanin ang pahirap na sistema. Ang pag-aaral na sana’y kapupulutan ng kaalaman ay para bang naging isang mabigat na pasanin.

Nakapanlulumo na umabot pa sa ganito. Ngunit mas nakapanlulumo ang pagsasawalang bahala sa mental health ng mga estudyante at ang kawalan ng aksyon ng ahensyang dapat isinasaayos ang pagtataguyod ng mga programang tutulong sa mga ito.

Hindi naman magrereklamo ang mga apektadong indibidwal kung walang nakikitang dapat punahin.

Maayos na implementasyon ang kinakailangan, sumusunod naman ang taumbayan. Gustong matuto ng lahat, walang gustong mapag-iwanan.

Ang malungkot na katotohanan, hindi lahat ay nabigyan ng pribilehiyo upang maki-angkop sa new normal lalo na sa pag-aaral. Karapat-dapat ba talaga ang salitang tagumpay? Hindi.

05 | DEMOCRAT FEATURE

S G N I H T N A QUAR NI Jean Aquino

Marahil ay kailangan mo na ng salamin kung hindi mo aninag ang pagusbong ng agarang pagbabago. Kailangan mo na yatang magpatingin ng tainga kung hindi mo naririnig ang alingawngaw ng pitong buwan ng pagkakakulong. Nandito ka sa kabanata ng bansang Pinas kung saan...

Buwan ng Marso nang ipatupad ang Enhanced Community Quarantine sa ilalim ng administrasyon ni Pangulong Duterte. Ito ay para pigilan ang pagkalat ng sakit at ang mabilis na paglaganap nito.

Sa ilalim ng panukalang ito ay isang miyembro lamang ng pamilya ang maaaring lumabas na siyang bibili ng pangangailangan ng buong pamilya. Ang malaking bahagi ng populasyon ay nawalan din ng trabaho kung kaya’t napilitan ang iba na manatili na lamang sa bahay.

Dahil dito ay natuon ang pansin ng mga tao sa ibang bagay na maaring pagkaabalahan habang nasa ilalim ng quarantine.

Internet Explorers Pagmasdan mo ang kabataan na dagliang nakahanap ng makakalaban, nasisiguro kong hindi ito lingid sa kaalaman ng kanilang mga magulang. Quaranfling kung ito ay kanilang tawagin, baka nga naman dito na nila mahanap ang kanilang “the one,” hindi ba? O kaya’y isasama sa listahan ng mga nagpa-iyak sabay magpopost ng “ men are trash.”

Ibaling mo naman ang iyong tingin sa mga kababaihan. Tiktok dito, tiktok doon. Suot ang maninipis na damit upang pantakip sa kanilang sarili. Ano na naman kaya ang iniisip ng iba habang ito’y kanilang pinapanood? Ang kakapiranggot na piraso ng tela na kumukuha sa atraksyon ng mga taong hindi maikalma ang kanilang sarili, mula sa sekswal na paanyaya ng mga larawan at bidyong kanilang napapanood. Totoy, kumalma ka at hingin mo na lamang ang tulong ng iyong mariang palad. Hayaan mong kamay mo na ang sumalo sa mga pantasya mong mahirap maabot.

Tunay ngang napakaraming naidudulot ng internet. Ilang pindot mo lamang ay kung saan-saan ka na mapapadpad. Mainam ngang pampalipas oras subalit pinapayuhan ang lahat na gamitin ito nang tama.

Upang hindi maging resulta ng anumang disgrasya.

I woof you!

Sila ang mga alagang hayop na itinuturing na hindi hayop, kundi bilang pamilya. Ang mga nagsisilbing sandigan ng mga tao at karamay sapagkat kung iisipin mo, mas mabuti pang sila ang kaibiganin kaysa sa mga tao. Aminin man o hindi, mas asal-hayop pa ang ilan kaysa sa tunay na hayop. Shoutout sainyong mga mapapel sa mundo.

Kaya siguro naturingang man’s best friend ang mga aso. Pero hindi lamang sila ang nagpapakalma’t nagpapasaya sa mga tao. Nandiyan din naman ang iba pang uri ng hayop tulad ng pusa, ibon at iba pang sinamahan ka sa quarantine.

All Natural, No Chemical Aba! Tingnan mo si Tita, nanghihingi na naman ng halaman sa kumare niya. At tingnan mo rin ang dagsaang pagkalat ng mga naturalists, environmentalists sa social media. Mga plantita at plantito kung tawagin.

Nakamamangha naman kasi talagang tingnan ng mga cactus at succulents na binebenta rin online.

Kakaibang antas ng kasiyahan din naman kasi ang bigay nito. Abotlangit din kaya?

Relationshit Bukod sa mga nabanggit ay kapansin-pansin din ang relasyon natin sa gobyerno. Sa lahat ng relasyon, ito ang may pinakamaraming issue.

Hindi matapos-tapos na problema, minsan nga’y kusang tinatakpan at kalilimutan. Akala ko ba bawal matulog hangga’t hindi okay ang isa’t isa?

Ang patunay rito ay ang mga nagkalat na raliyista sa lansangan.

Ipinaaabot ang pagtutol sa pamamahala ng kasalukuyang administrasyon.

Itinataas ang mga plakard na nagpapahiwatig ng pagtutol sa mga hakbang ng gobyerno na taliwas sa mga solusyon na kailangan ng bayan.

Ganito ang isa sa daan kung paano magkamabutihan. Demokratiko ang bansa kung kaya’t lahat ay dapat mapakinggan. Normal na siguro ito sa dalawang nagmamahalan. Ika nga nila, ang mga problemang dumarating ang nagpapatibay ng relasyon. Pero sana nasosolusyunan, hindi ‘yung magbabago ng pinag-uusapan. Ang bastos naman ni Love.

Ito ang mga naganap na relasyon sa mga nakalipas at nagpapatuloy na mga buwan. Nasaang relasyon ka na ba? Kung meron, pagbati! Kung wala, bakit?

Pansin mo rin ba ang mg bagay na ito? Ang mga pagbabago dahil sa pandemyang kasalukuyang umiiral ngayon? Ang mga biglaang pag-iba ng gawi ng mga tao? Ang pagkahilig sa mga bagay na gawain na noon ngunit hindi naman binibigyang pansin? Pansin ko ang mga ito.

FEATURE DEMOCRAT | 06

By NORENE CANTOR

E

verybody is told about how heroes beat villains, but not about why there are villains.

Gra p PAG hics B E DE y SIGN CYEN ESC

BY D ARW LANDA IN ESC ARO

Alias Juan’s hero is every Filipino’s hero—noble, someone people cannot live without. Everybody knows why he became a hero. He tills the land, rises every day to feed a hundred million. He is one of them, those who carry the economy, the backbone. Unlike any other, he does not save the day, but infinite lifetimes.

Juan learned the ways of this hero at an early age.

Dirty hands, sweat-damped clothes, the smell of the sun, muddy feet, and countless sighs. He wished every night would be brightened by the Harvest Moon, that each investment would be a bountiful harvest. But it is not easy with only luck at hand.

Many fans are thrilled of being this hero someday— the honorable acts of Juan’s father would descend to their hands, and save a hundred million lifetimes, too.

Their hearts would feed on hails, praises, and shouts of joy. But, again, it is not easy with only luck at hand.

Juan learned one day, his hero was facing the filthiest villain of all. It came to them like a stealthy ally who swore to protect their lives and let them live on as heroes. It was a criminal in law’s clothing.

T

HE RICE LIBERALIZATION LAW Coming like Valentine’s gift, signed last February 14, 2019, the Republic Act No. 11203, also known as the Rice Liberalization Act, opened the barriers for rice imports, following the removal of tariffs to such products. The primary purpose and surface effect of this law is to make rice affordable to consumers as the competition among sellers triggers the movement of an accomplice—the law of supply and demand. The rise in the number of rice competitions in the market would depress their prices.

Juan admitted this villain is hard to defeat, with his hero ceaselessly doing his job despite this pressing atmosphere of working. The pretentious ally refused to invest in their needs, being one to support the country towards a sustainable flow of the economy. The backbone now carries a lot, and it hurts them.

T

HANKED, BUT BOT VALUED While October was declared the Peasant Month, the celebrated heroes cried it was not enough as they are forced inside a cycle, only they and their families suffer most. Laws supposed to protect all citizens seem to lose sight of

the balance and forgot farmers share the same citizenship as consumers.

“Our buyers almost ask for our palays for free,” Juan sadly said, protesting the disadvantages his hero had been through.

And as they cried for help and attention upon the rulers, the pretentious slammed them with “Farmers don’t know how to do business.”

T

HE FIGHT CONTINUES Weapons against these heroes include gaslighting—elites say they are lazy and are bound to be poor; oppression—people in power take advantage of everything they have to put these heroes at worst so they can be at best, and silent majority.

It is not easy to win with only luck at hand, with only prayers to the harvest gods for bounty. Farmers, like Juan’s father, are forced inside a circle of hell no tycoon would ever want to be in. They are first drowned in debt; then they invest in rice farming in hopes that it will do them well; deal with natural circumstances; pray for success and wish themselves luck. Juan shared they only get the return of investment, and at rare times, income—a nightmare for every investor.

Up until today, farmers plead their villains for government aid for local farming, as it will be a way to stabilize the prices of rice in the market. But antagonists remain antagonistic. They control the luck these heroes are relying on. They are the masterminds of such evil acts for selfish desires. Or they might be disguised as luck designed to be bad.

Juan’s life goes on, but they have to be in that cycle, for no one knows how long, to continue living. He wonders how life would be in the future if they continue to feed while being hungry; if they continue to dip themselves in debt while being able to make the country rich.

He put down the notes he was holding, pushed aside the digits too many to bear, and comforted his father. They were thinking about how they will pay their debts—the money they used to pay for his tuition, to feed themselves, and to feed the people.

With only luck at hand, without knowing why there was such a villain, these heroes need gratitude so rich in action, a “thank you” with so much to look forward to, and a salute with more than just honor—also with the aid to carry on.

07 | DEMOCRAT FEATURE

BY MARIE JUVY LEA J. VIOLETA

T

o registered voters, congratulations! May you partake in voting wisely this upcoming 2022 Philippine elections, to those who haven’t yet— well in this case, the fear of missing out is a healthy sense of nationalism.

For many young adults, the act of voter’s registration sounds like a hassle to their already made plans of studying, gaming sessions, movie dates or perhaps the proverbial mindless scrolling on their news feed.

Take the hassle out of it! Remember the thrill when you first created one of your social media accounts? It is as simple as entering your basic information and some type of verification to begin enjoying the features that come with signing up.

Think of voter registration that way, easy, simple, free, and a privilege.

The start of September marked the resumption of voter’s registration amidst the COVID-19 crisis. Local Commission on Elections (COMELEC) offices are

ready to accommodate, as they wait for people with the initiative to take a day off their busy schedules.

Voting in the national election amplifies your plea for change with the chance to choose a candidate with a platform that aligns with your views. Your involvement and ability to discern a capable leader is very much appreciated, and is certainly a big help to push the Philippines a step towards prosperity.

Here are timely guidelines according to Venus Zoleta posted on Moneymax ph Government Services. First is to prepare registration requirements, like your valid ID, and keep in mind to bring two for backup.

Be sure to visit the official COMELEC website for more details as they advise to prepare an accomplished application form at the comfort of your own homes, downloadable from their website, leaving the signature and thumb marks blank for the meantime.

It is good to keep in mind that we are living during a pandemic, thus, you must book an appointment before storming in on your local COMELEC office. If there is no appointment system, it is recommended that you come in early if you want to avoid contact with people. Bringing your own ball pen, wearing facemask, and face shield is also a must and is in fact required.

“The election officer will check your ID to verify your identity, place of residence, and voter’s registration status on the government agency’s database,” Zoleta enumerated. At this phase, you may now present your accomplished voter’s registration application forms to the assigned officer to check if everything has been filled out accordingly.

Now, to have your biometrics recorded, your photo will be taken commonly via webcam, and you may ask to confirm if the picture was captured properly or if your worried that you made an awkward quirky smile. Next is to capture fingerprints, and last is to have your signature captured by swiftly scribbling your sign on a signature pad.

The staff will provide a logbook where you to write your name and signature before receiving an official acknowledgment receipt. Although, you won’t be a full-fledged registered voter yet.

“Your application will undergo approval by the Election Registration Board (ERB) during its scheduled quarterly hearing.

After the ERB hearing, your information will be recorded in the book of voters of your district, city, or municipality,” as Venus described, then you’ll automatically be a registered voter.

Signing up is open every “Tuesdays to Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.” according to COMELEC Resolution No. 10674. Go cast your vote and reap the noble privilege of exercising suffrage, as a political science UNCean student once expressed.

If you have the heart and mind set for the betterment of your country, then consider it done. Carry on with a reassuring weight of responsibility resting on your shoulders as you anticipate the campaign seasons; a glimpse of a new generation delighting in a product of your participation, congratulations!

May you partake in voting wisely this upcoming 2022 Philippine elections, and remember, if its free, then take it!

But not for granted.

LET THY DREAMS

COME

THRU

BY JOHN PAUL BORITO

There is no denying that the healthcare system took, and is still taking, a huge blow upon facing the COVID-19 pandemic. As to whether the government should take all the blame for not closing the country as early as January or for not having an efficient strategy to contain the virus, one thing remains constant—our healthcare system is nowhere ready to face a crisis.

It is a timely initiative for local government units to up their strategies in delivering improved and sustainable healthcare facilities—a measure they, and the national government, should have done long before this pandemic. Providing accessible public hospitals, for starters, is vital in ensuring community welfare, especially for those whose pockets do not allow extra cents for health emergencies. When opted to remain in its current state, the healthcare system in the country will remain a luxury for some 20 million poor Filipinos.

Naga City in Camarines Sur exudes such belief even before COVID-19, and for that serves them commendable—although not triumphant just yet. City Mayor Nelson Legacion shared in an interview that as soon as he assumed his position, along with the rest of the City Council, plans and projects for his term were laid down.

Giving birth to a new Naga City Hospital proved crucial in their list of priorities.

The current city hospital has been running for almost three decades. And as it has served plenty of Nagueños, it is high-time for the facility to see progress. The facility has witnessed years of modification just to keep up with the demands for improvement. While it has provided care and service to an average of 200 patients daily, the number continues to increase. The size and workforce of the hospital foresee an overwhelming number of patients that is too much for what they and the Level 1 facility can handle.

Mayor Legacion said the size of the hospital was probably matched to the smaller population decades ago. He added, “Ngunyan, after around 30 years, nagdoble na, nagsobra pa sa doble si numero kang tao asin si pangagaipo pag-abot sa salud naglangkaw man.”

[Now, after around 30 years, the population doubled and even more than doubled, and so is the health demand.]

The current hospital only has a 16-bed capacity, whereas the City target’s around 100- to 200bed capacity. Aside from resolving the capacity worries, Legacion also said they aim to improve the health service delivery, provide better ventilation, and pack the facility with sufficient equipment. They also believe the project will open job opportunities for the citizens of Naga.

As the initiative calls for a massive improvement,

the required budget to fully realize such an aspiration is 550M Php. The City pursues the help of the national government for the construction of the facility in Balatas, covering at least three hectares, as required by the Department of Health (DOH). Legacion also said they are thinking of another option for the budget sourcing, which he said was still premature for the interview discussion.

The mayor showed adamant desire to get the project going as he believes this is an improvement the public highly needs, even pressing, “kaipuhan talaga siya.” [It is really needed.]

Once all is set, Legacion shared his hopes that the project construction will be set forth in the 1st or 2nd quarter of 2021. He asked for the support of the Nagueños for the realization of the City’s aspiration.

Naga is continuously thriving from the humble city it was decades ago. And while it has seen triumphus feats, the battle is far from over—as progress never ceases. As we look forward to improvement and innovation, let the dream of the New Naga City Hospital come to life. Stay safe, not only during this catastrophic time but in every endeavor you seize in life.

09 | DEMOCRAT OPINION

PAGE DESIGN & GRAPHICS BY LESTER ISIP

OPINION DEMOCRAT | 10

I’m not going to be biased about the two, I’m rating them from what I see from the news. Rodrigo Duterte is the kind of President that we usually have like “puro salita”. We can prove it by what we hear from his statements, and I cannot understand why he’s into china, why not travel ban early, and why is he pursuing other things other than this pandemic and then when people bash him he can’t do anything but to be a “sadboi” lol gosh the clownery. While, VP Leni do what she can do for the country - Maribelle Ortiz, College of Engineering and Architecture The President focused on other projects instead of focusing on eradicating the COVID-19 pandemic here in the Philippines. Also, many issues on corruption and abuse of power have risen during this pandemic. While VP Leni’s response was adequate enough by laying out a strategic plan to combat the pandemic and help different sectors in the society to cope up and survive the crisis brought upon by the pandemic.

- Philline Togñi, College of Arts and Sciences President Duterte lacks precaution for the country and also is being very lenient to those officials under him that didn’t follow the protocols - John Allen Manalo, College of Engineering and Architecture Duterte’s actions were all just full of threats and blatant corruption.

If only he mandated a travel ban earlier, the country would probably not go as atrocious as its current condition. Furthermore, he and his fellow corrupt politicians take advantage of this pandemic to do their hidden agendas. Instead of providing solutions for our country to survive this pandemic, they just keep on attacking actually competent politicians, normal citizens, and as well as universities.

- Aira Angela Cantor, College of Engineering and Architecture

VP Leni undoubtedly publicized her plans or solutions as a COVID-19 response. We’ve witnessed this when she started posting approximately 30-minute videos that briefly synthesized the need to undermine the economic, political, and social problems that add up to the deterioration of public services. Even without knowing who Leni is, just by staring the list of plans would make an impression of appropriation. The causality is an important aspect in problem-solving.

- Alysa Kristel Asido, College of Arts and Sciences Well during this pandemic only vice pWresident leni robredo took initiative in creating a sleeping area for doctors and nurses - Rio Cille Javal, College of Education

COLLATED BY JUAN DELA CRUZ LAYOUT BY DARWIN ESCARO

Eyow mga bhie uya na naman akooo! Ohh halat lang mga bhie, iluluwas ko lang ining sakong mga tasa hali sa eskaparate. Excited na naman kamo sa mga nakakapasong chika kan unibersidad obal? Kung ready na kamo kumurua naman kamong mga tasa asin baso nindo mga bhie! Ma-spill na ako ning tea, madya na! Ata iyo na yan dawa yang aluminum na baso mo na arog kang ibang baso sa Rabut Eatery, keri na siz.

Pwedeng- pwede na yan, basta baga ugwa ka man lamang pansalo ning mga maiinit as in nagkakaralayo pa na mga chika na nasagap ko sa interong unibersidad.

Sabay-sabay kitang mag-spill and sip ning tea! Ata bhie! Sinasabi ko saimo dawa si c0VidR@_DisEnuEve dae mapapapundo ang satong ngurapak sa pag-isplook kan mga chika kan yubersiti. Dawa ining mga nagkapirang chismis, through virtual naman. Ano pa an tighahalat nindo? Punan ta na ini, aram naman nindo habo mi na row 4 kamo pag-abot sa chikahan. Wiz ta yan bet mga siz. Malate na ako sa 8:00 am class o 7:00 am na PE, pero dae sa mga chikahan. Dae ta na pagparahaluyon ini, habo ta man magpanos ang mga chika. Arat na!

Pero, pero, pero asin pero! Before kita mag-drop ng bombs in here!

Kumustahan muna mga bhie! 7 months na kitang dae man lamang naghihiriligan. Miss mo naman ang bench sa atubangan kang AMS? Nakakamiss man magbakal ki Ate sa Bambam’s, asin nakakamiss man ang mga kiray nindang plakado, adi? Miss mo naman ang chicken burger ninda?

Miss ko naman magturatambay man ngaya sa e-lib, nagrereview kuno. An sabihon nindo, sige na naman lang kamong pang-estimar, asin palipot sa AC. Don’t me! Been there, done that!

Haha char’nt.

Kaya for now, let’s all hope for the best nalang mga bhie na matapos na ining pandemonyong este pandemya na ini, ta garo baga mapagal na pirmi nalang virtual gabos. Gmeet here, Zoom in there, hala serend nalang baga ning serend ning link! Maray nalang ugwang mga supplier ning memes. Garo baga may second runner - up sa pabaha ng UNCWC, ta flooded naman ang wall mi bhie ning mga memes

nindo!

Always mo naman garu madadangog itong “if dae mo gusto ang mga post ko, edi i-unfriend/unfollow mo ako!”

Pero minsan itong mga dae nareact before i-share ang mga inot na maga-unfriend haha!

Aside from memes, saro pa sa nagpano kang newsfeed ko iyo ang mga rant. Patahian ka girl? ma-rantz ka kaya!. So ining si ate gurl, hala ka nagrant na. An saiyang post nagguno nin kadakol na reactions asin like, kadakol man nakisimpatya saiya through comments. Ta iyo man talaga, relate much man ang madlang pips sa rant nya. Ta uyam man talaga, ang module na iyan. So ang mega hanash, nakaabot sa sarong faculty na dae ta na pangaranan ta dae man daa sya nagsusubscribe sa satuyang page. Basta if maisipan nya man magsubscribe, don’t forget hit the like and the notifcation bell na lang, para bongga na! Gusto mo yon? Gusto ko yon!

So, na-pick up na nga ni patolang faculty asin tig-pm si ate gurl, napakua akong popcorn bhie, dawa si convo ninda ni faculty pinost ni ate mo gurl.

Ate gurl lang malakas. To cut the story short using my glittery scissors, tig-erase ni ate mo gurl ang post, ang sabi “tig-paerase daa saiya” ang sabi man ni patolang faculty dae man sya nagsugo to turn down the post. The bottomline is, korek man si faculty na may proper avenue ang mga bagaybagay. Mag-approach kita sa mga profs or dean mismo, to make paabot our hinaings. To quote him, “go to the right avenue”. And on the other hand, may point man si gurl na magdemand ng quality service from the school, ta dae man tabi madali magka-kwarta, lalo ngunyan na panahon! As per patolang faculty, dae daa kita magpost ning mga nakakaraot sa reputasyon ning institusyon. Well, sorry man po ta kung mayong katuyaw-tuyaw nata man matuyaw kami? Serve the students well, and you’ll hear nothing from us but appreciation. Actually, kakasend mi man lang kang concerns “through the right avenue”, pero until now waley pa reply. Baka sala na avenue ang pinaagihan mi, dapat ba si december avenue o avenue plaza? Comment down below saan dapat.

Ano na-radar nindo sirisay ang nasa chichi number 1? Dae na yan importante, basta baga may napulot na ang both parties ning lesson, oks na kita! Sa kadakol-dakol na negativity , if dae kaya mag-add ning positivity maambag kana lang mag-lessen nin ka-negahan. Speaking of lessen, garo baga mga acads work nalang ang dae naglelessen, kadakol gibuhon.

Pero infairness can relate man ang miscellaneous fees sa lessen. Gusto mo yon? gusto ko rin yong 20% reduction sa misc fees. Applause man ang yoensi sa pagbibigay buhay sa mga ghosted fees. Kaya itong tigququestion nindo na tano may bayad pa ang activity, Internet tapos energy fee, nasimbagan naman ninda. Kaya naman mga bhie, if nagbayad kamo duman, halat-halaton nalang nindong magrefund "daa" ta

sabi pig-anticipate man lang daa ito sakaling magbago gabos asin magbalik sa dati dae na need magbayad.

Kundi ngunyan mayo man nangyareng pagbabago nakakulong pa man kita este naka-quarantine pa asahan ta na yan refund na iyan.

Padamay man po si Intrams Fee, bekenemen po! Sayang man ang 100 petot ni Mama. Dae mi man yan namati. Makamisooooon lang pati ang intrams iyo baga mga beshewaps.

Kami kuta nagparapagal mag-cover tas mag-live tweet, makamison man mangarag. Tas kamo aram ko miss nindo magcheer sa mga bibi nindo, ang iba mag-estemar ning mga player makurakuragit man daa tanganing mapansin. Sisay nanaman kuta ngunyan ang mapapa-sit properly or may madaog na kuta sa bench yell kang EA. And si iba sa gigilid sana tamang kakan-kakan lang dae man talaga nagdadalan. Ta I remember required magdalan asin mag-attend kan mga kawat kan department dae ko na ngaranan hihi. Ang malupet may pacard pa iyan tas pasign sa mga college council. Napapathrowback na lugod kita, igdi. Pero can relate man kita ta kadto habol-habol kita sa attendance, ngunyan sa module naman kita habolhabol kun nuarin na baya yan ipapanarao!

Ika bhie arug ka man sako nagparahalat sa module na iyan na haluyun baga mag-abot?

Tipong two weeks na nag-agi puon kan karalasehan mayo pananggad.

Maray kuta kun gabus may sapat na access sa internet tas kun ugwa man maluyahon man na maray, ehem converge! *ubo - ubo, mayo man. Ata dawa ngani pneumonia na ini dae pa man gayod madadangog or habo man talagang dangugon.

Ugggh kairita! Ngarig kuta sa BB muna maggibo ning Learning Activities. Speaking of BB musta man relationship nindo?

Strong man?

Woowers!

Sana all. Kami kaya paruro na. Chars! Dae man, garu kaya mayong katapusan ang gibuhon. Ata ugma na ako ta natapos na tas pakabanggi ugwa na naman. Hyyssss…iyo na daa kaya ang new normal, i-embrace ta na sana. Pero kuta sana man bakong 12:00 A.M. ang due date ta puyat-puyat na kita. Nararaot pa ang sakong beauty rest. HAHAHAHA. Dagdag pa ning pirming hudang kuryente ta si saronggola nagsarabit daa sa poste, or minsan trip lang ni koyang casurecs... hnngg! ka-stress na maray. Feel me? Thank you! Tas itung ugwa naman kutang module na madeliver sa satong mga siyudad asin municipality, haloyon daa ito naghalat si manong driver… mga 10 minutes. Grabe man po aram mi man po na consider kamo as frontliner pero kuta po nagwait - wait man po kamo. Pa'no si mga hali pa sa kataid na municipality? Nagsakay pa ito

PAGE DESIGN & GRAPHICS BY LESTER ISIP

or worst naglakaw ta mayong masakayan kaheraki man po sinda.

Yan pa ta'no sa kataid na municipality or city? Bako na sa mismo? Flexi Kit in your area!??? Bako man sadiring area ang tigbagsakan, nagpakatraveller pa ang iba sa karatig munisipyo para duman mag-claim. Ayy beri bad man!

Nakulayan na daw ang “will deliver the modules via courier” art piece, ta drawing baga po ano? Para mas madali sana dae na mabalyong dagat.

Now po, maabot nakita sa Cluster 2 patake note na lang po kani. No! Bako po dyan sa likod ning notebook ta scratch man baga yan. Ilagay mo man sa sticky notes, madam! Tenchuuu!

Pero mars halat, nakakagulat man.

Nagduman na ngani sa munisipyo ning ibong na banwaan, arog pa kaini ang makukua, Whaaaat! Nashookt ako pag-open ko kan module ta kala ko answer sheet puro link mars tas diit - diit na mga definition of terms tas mga question na. Pero malay mo man PATULOY SA 20

LITERARY DEMOCRAT | 12

NI IRISH SHIERDA Alas nueve y medya ng umaga, tirik na ang araw. Hindi ang tilaok ng manok ang gumising sa akin at hindi rin ang sinag ng araw.

Bagkus ay ang kilabot na dumaloy sa aking buong pagkatao.

Nagising na lamang ako isang araw na tila ba tinutusok ang lalamunan ko na sinabayan pa ng tuyong pag-ubo. Hindi mawari kung bakit ito nararamdaman, hindi naman ako tumungga ng nagyeyelong tubig o kumain ng sorbetes.

Nakapagtataka ngunit isinantabi ko muna ang aking mga haka-haka. Maaaring dala lang ito ng pagkahapo mula sa maghapon na trabaho.

Hindi maikakaila ang takot na nararamdaman ko sa panahong ito kung saan umusbong ang isang pandemyanng tahimik ngunit nakamamatay---Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Sa isang ulat na aking nabasa, nakatala ang mga karaniwang sintomas na dulot ng coronavirus: lagnat, ubo’t sipon, hirap at pag-iksi ng paghinga at iba pang problema sa daluyan ng paghinga. Nakadagdag pa ito sa aking pagkabalisa, kaya naman sinubukan ko na lang ipikit ang aking mga mata.

Lumipas ang mga araw at ang dating matamis na kahapon ay hindi ko na nalalasahan. Nagbago na ba ng timpla ang paborito kong toothpaste o sadyang nawawalan na talaga ako ng panlasa? Ang halimuyak ng aking pabango ay hindi ko na mahagkan. Animo’y nagbabaga ang pakiramdam ko sa taas ng lagnat. Nangangatal ang buong katawan ko sa madaling araw kahit nakabalot na sa makakapal na kumot.

Para bang unti-unti akong nilalamon ng sistema na hindi ko mawari.

Agad naman akong pinayuhan ng aking mga kaibigan na magpakonsulta na sa espesyalista. Hindi na ako nagdalawang-isip pang pumunta sa ospital at dumiretso na sa emergency room.

Kaliwa’t kanan ang pagresponde ng mga nars, doktor at iba pang mga empleyado; makikitang abala ang lahat Sa bawat pagpatak ng oras ay ang siya ring pagdagsa ng mga pasyente. Samantalang, heto patuloy pa rin ako sa tuyong pag-ubo. Hindi pa rin nawawala ang lagnat ko. Napakasakit na ng lalamunan ko. Nakapanghihina dahil apektado ang buong sistema ko. Para bang winawasak ang baga ko sa bawat pag-ubo.

s a ko na ako sa n a n g lagnat at

Makalipas ang ilang minuto at sa wakas, nakausap ko na ang isang doktor patungkol mga sintomas na nararamdaman ko. Hindi rin matiyak ang mga oras na naghintay kung ano nga ba ang sanhi pabalik-balik kong pag-ubo.

GRAPHICS BY RAYMOND BALOTE & ROSE CLAVANO

“Pneumonia. Isang impeksyon sa baga kung saan ang baga ay nagkakaroon ng malubhang pamamaga na dala ng virus, bacteria, fungus at mga katulad na mikrobyo. Ang air sacs ng baga ay napupuno ng fluid o nana. Kasabay ng impeksyon na ito ang ubo, lagnat at hirap sa paghinga.”

Dahil na rin sa mga sintomas na nararamdaman ko ay minabuti na ng doktor na magpa-admit at diagnostic test na ako. Ang pagsusuring ginawa ay nangailangan ng mga sekresyong nasa pinakaloob ng ilong. Upang makakuha ng maayos na sample, gumamit ng swab. Ang swab ay gaya ng isang mahaba’t manipis na Q-tip,na marahang ipapasok sa loob ng ilong hanggang sa may likuran ng bunganga. Ilang segundo ko ring ininda ang kakaibang pakiramdam sa pagsusuri, pero tuloy pa rin ang laban. Ano man ang maging resulta, handa akong harapin ito.

Isa, dalawa, tatlo. Tatlong araw ang lumipas at lumabas na ang kinatatakutan kong resulta. Para bang bumagal ang ikot ng mundo: positibo ako sa Covid-19.

Naramdaman ko ang pagkirot ng aking dibdib na para bang tinutusok nang paulitulit. Bakit ako? Handa nga ba akong lumaban sa digmaan na ang tanging kalasag ko lang ay lakas ng loob at armas ay pag-asa? Sa digmaang walang kasiguraduhan, sarili ko lamang ang makakasama.

lamang ang quarantine at pagpapagaling sa loob ng bahay. Sabik na sabik na akong makauwi. Naging mas maingat ako, bumawi ako ng kain, nagpapalit rin ako ng sipilyo kada linggo habang hindi pa ako tuluyang gumagaling, at syempre, sanitize at disinfect lagi’t lagi. Dahan-dahan na rin akong bumalik sa work from home na setup. Hindi na ako makapaghintay na tuluyan ko nang malampasan ito.

Bumalik ako sa ospital para muling i-swab test. Wala na akong ibang hiling kundi maging negatibo lamang ang resulta.

Tatlong araw ang lumipas at sa wakas, negatibo na ako! Ang pinakahihintay kong resulta ay natupad na. Malaya na ako sa digmaang lumamon sa sistema ko.

At syempre, dahil mataas naman na umano ang anti-bodies ko, hindi kumpleto ang pakikipagsapalaran ko sa digmaan na ito kung hindi ako magdo-donate ng plasma sa mga patuloy pa ring lumalaban sa pagsubok na ito.

Hindi ko magagawang malagpasan ito kung wala ang tulong ng aking pamilya at mga kaibigan. Hindi ko man sila pisikal na kapiling, pinaramdam naman nila na hindi ako nag-iisa sa laban na ito.

Habang tumatatagal ay lumalala ang ubo ko, maging ang paghinga ay tila ba pinagkakait na sa akin. Maging ang simpleng paggalaw sa higaan ay kinakapos na ako ng hininga. Ni hindi ko na magawang umupo man lang. Hindi ko na magawang maihakbang ang aking mga paa. Animo’y nalulunod ako sa sarili kong baga at hindi ko magawang makaahon.

Walang anuman ang makatutumbas sa mga patuloy na pagsasakripisyo na ibinibigay ng mga frontliners sa digmaang ito. Kailan ma’y hindi ko nakitaan ng pagalangan at pandidiri ang mga nars na umasikaso sa akin. Isa sila sa rason kung bakit mas lalo akong ginanahang lumaban. Ngunit gaya ko at gaya mo, napapagod din sila.

May mga pagkakataon na nagigising na lang ako sa madaling araw at nakipagtitigan lang sa dingding. Maraming tanong ang pumapasok sa isip ko. Bakit nga ba ako nandito? Bakit ko ba ‘to nararanasan? Hindi na napigilang tumulo ang likido mula sa aking mga mata. May hinaharap pa kayang naghihintay sa’kin o ito na nga ba ang katapusan ko? Maraming katanungan ang pumapasok sa isip ko: mga katanungang maging ako’y hindi ko mabigyan ng sagot.

Darating tayo sa punto na walang kasiguruhan at ang tanging matitira na lamang sa pagpipilian ay ang sumugal. At dito nagsimula ang kwento ng aking pakikipaglaban, sa mundong walang kasiguruhan. Nalampasan ko ang digmaang sumubok sa aking pagkatao.

Marami nang nakakabit na mga hospital apparatus sa katawan ko. Kinailangan ko na rin kabitan ng oxygen support, catheter, at pampers na kung saan ay nakadepende na lang ang lakas ko sa tulong ng mga nars.

Bawat tusok ng karayom ay tumatagos sa pagkatao ko. Pakiramdam ko’y hindi umeepekto ang mga gamot na binibigay sa akin. Lalong lumala ang pneumonia ko at hindi nawawala ang lagnat at pag-ubo.

Dumating rin sa punto na kung ano-anong mga clinical trial na mga gamot ang binibigyan ko ng pahintulot at nilagdaan, nagbabakasakaling makatulong ito sa mabilis kong paggaling. At kapag wala pa ring pagbabago, sasalinan na ako ng plasma na galing sa isang COVID-19 survivor.

Sobrang hirap pala ng sitwasyon na wala kang ibang kasamang lumaban. Walang pamilya o mga kaibigan ang pwedeng dumalaw. Ramdam ko ang patuloy na paghina ng katawan ko. Unti-unti na akong nawawalan ng lakas. Hindi rin stable ang blood pressure ko, masyadong mababa. Bagsak din ang heart rate ko. Sumusuko na ang katawan ko at parang anumang oras handa na magpaalam. Nasa punto na ako na baka kapag isinara ko ang mga mata ko ay tuluyan ko ng hindi masilayan ang umaga.

Saksi ang kalawakan kung gaano kabigat ang bawat naging hakbang ko. Sa kagustuhan ko pang ituloy ang laban, unti-unti na ring bumuti ang pakiramdam ko. At sa wakas, kaya ko nang huminga nang mag-isa na walang suporta mula sa oxygen.

Sa kasamaang palad, positibo pa rin ako sa ikalawang swab test. Ngunit sa halip na panghinaan ng loob, pinag-igihan ko na lang ang pagpapalakas ko. Unti-unti ko nang naihakbang ang mga paa ko. Kaya ko nang gumalaw nang mag-isa. HIndi na ako masyadong naka-depende sa mga nars. Mukhang nabawasan din ako ng timbang. ‘Di bale na, kaya ko pa naman ‘tong mabawi ‘pag nakalabas na ako sa apat na sulok ng silid na ito.

Ikatlong swab test, positibo pa rin. Sa kabutihang-palad, pwede na akong umuwi ng bahay at ipagpatuloy na

Nawa’y magsilbi itong paalala na hindi biro ang pinagdaanan ng mga taong nagpositibo sa Covid-19 at isa ako sa nagpapatunay na totoo ang labang ito. Buksan natin ang isipan at magsilbi sana itong paalala na hindi lamang simpleng sakit ang Covid-19. Bukod sa magastos magkasakit, hanggang ngayon ay wala pa ring gamot sa pandemyang ito.

Virus ang tunay na kalaban, hindi ang tao.

Bangungot man itong maituturing, ngunit ito ang kilabot na siyang nakapagbigay sa akin ng mga aral na habang-buhay ko nang dadalhin.

Ako si Karen Naning at isa akong Covid-19 survivor.

[DISCLAIMER: Ang kwentong ito ay binigyang-buhay mula sa totoong kaganapanan at mga karanasan ni Karen Naning.]

EDITORIAL DEMOCRAT | 14

Pasilip ng Palipas Mariing ipinahayag ng UNC admin na ang lahat ay makapagaral, at magpapatuloy ang edukasyon nang walang maiiwan sa gitna ng pandemya. Bakas ang pagkakampate ng mga enrollees na lubos ang suportang maihahatid ng institusyon sa kanilang pag-aaral habang nasa tahanan. Subalit, ngayon ay tila mas nangibabaw ang pangamba dahil sa kakulangan ng paghahanda na nauwi sa pagkakamali sa paghahain ng layuning maging epektibo ang

pinagplanuhan.

I

buwan upang makuha mula sa opisina o maihatid sa kani-kaniyang bayan, lalo pa na ang materyal na ito ang pangunahing pagkukunan ng aral at impormasyon ng mga dapat ipasang gawain. Ito pa lamang ay matinding dagok na sa pagtupad sa gawain, lalo na sa mga nasa Cohort 3 o yaong mga walang access sa internet; mas pinatindi nito ang stress at nakompromiso ang mismong pagkatuto, na siyang pangunahing layunin ng edukasyon.

binida ng UNC admin ang plano nito para sa akademikong-taon 2020-2021 nang halos tatlong buwan bago ang balik-eskwela. Ang inilunsad nitong Flexi-tech at Flexi-kit modalities ay nagbigay-linaw sa mga mag-aaral nito na maibibigay ang aralin nang maayos—habang hawak ang sariling oras, sa tulong ng maunawaing mga propesor, at mga naaangkop na pamamaraan ng pag-aaral lalo na sa hindi inaasahang pangyayari sa komunikasyon. Ngunit, sa kabila ng mga paghahanda, kapansin-pansin sa unang araw ng pasukan, Agosto 17, ang mga aberyang hindi inaasahan Hindi man na maaari sanang maiwasan.

sadya, ang

Hindi rin nagtatapos sa naantalang paghatid nito ang isyu—nariyan ang napakalaking pako sa pangakong flexible at detalyado ang flexi-kit. Kulang, hindi nakapagsusustento, at hinding-hindi matututo ang magaaral gamit lamang ang modyul.

Mapanuyang nakatala rito ang mga link na kailangang buksan upang makuha ang sagot at matutuhan nang lubos ang aralin.

Para sa lahat ng undergraduate layuning programs, ang buong semester ay matuto ay hinati sa dalawang cluster—ang bawat isa ay mayroon lamang patuloy na dalawa at kalahating buwan. Ang lumalabo Sa pagpatong-patong ng mga biglaang pagbabagong ito ay inibsan dahil sa dami aberyang ito, napipilitan na lamang ang mabigat na bilang ng papasaning asignatura sa isang semester. ng dapat ang mga mag-aaral na sagutan ang Bagaman nakatulong ito upang habulin. lahat ng gawain; hindi man sadya, ang layuning matuto ay patuloy maging magaan ang pagtatapos ng na lumalabo dahil sa dami ng asignatura, hindi lubusang naaabot ang layunin dahil sa butas na tila hindi mapunan dapat habulin. Tunay na rin ito maging sa mga hanggang sa pagtatapos ng unang cluster; bagay gumagamit ng flexi-tech modality. na makapagkukumbinse na ito ay pasilip lamang Mauunawaang ang lahat—mga mag-aaral ng mga susunod pang cluster, kung hindi pa at guro, maging ang administrasyon--ay nasa maibabalik ang dating sistema. iisang sitwasyon lamang sa institusyon. Sila ay Sa detalye, ang mga nag-aaral gamit ang flexi- nakikibagay rin sa bagong sistema ng edukasyon kit ay umasang makukuha ang printed modules na hindi singhanda ng iba dahil sa limitadong bago ang unang araw ng pasukan. Naging hindi pag-aaral. Ngunit, hindi rin maitatanggi na ang kaaya-aya ang paghihintay ng mahigit isang administrasyon ang responsable sa pagtupad ng

kanilang mga pangakong binitawan, lalo na ang tungkulin nito bilang tagapamalakad ng isang institusyong pang-edukasyon.

Habang ang mga mag-aaral at guro ay nagiging singtatag din ng administrasyon sa pagtupad ng layunin ng bawat isa, at para sa bawat isa, malaki ang gampanin ng mga tagapamalakad sa pagsuporta sa mga kalahok at kasosyo nito.

Mas mainam ding simulan ng admin at mga kasapi nito, kabilang ang mga mag-aaral, ang pagturing sa UNC bilang isang tagapaghatid ng edukasyon at hindi isang simpleng pangangalakal ng negosyante-konsyumer; ito ang uudyok sa mga mag-aaral na magdemanda ng dekalidad na serbisyo, at sa admin ay ang pakikinig sa hinaing ng mga mag-aaral at guro at agarang bigyan ang mga ito ng solusyon.

Malaking tulong ang pagiging bukas/ transparent ng administrasyon sa mga paghahandang dapat malaman ng tatanggap ng serbisyo--tulad ng kasalukuyang lagay ng hinihintay na modyul, ang paggagamitan ng perang ibinabayad, lalo na ang mga konkretong layuning dapat abutin ng mag-aaral.

Sa pagtatapos ng cluster 1, mangyari lamang sanang pakinggan ang lahat ng dapat pakinggan, ayusin ang dapat ayusin; nang sa pagdating ng susunod na cluster ay hindi na maranasan ang siklong pinagdaanan. Dapat nang maalarma ang tagapamalakad sa reklamo at tingnan ito bilang mga puntong dapat bigyang atensyon para sa ikabubuti ng kalahok ng sistema.

Babatay sa aksyon kung ito ay pasilip o lilipas lamang.

15 | DEMOCRAT OPINION

Acceptance but not Normalizing

“PSEUDO” • PATRICK Joseph Panambo @patpatpatatat 114.patrickstar@gmail.com

Sabi nila, kung nagawa mo ang isang bagay na ‘di kaaya-aya, maaring ito’y pagkakamali.

Ngunit, kung ito’y naulit na muli, ito’y iyong pinili.

Malimit na reaksyon ng mga tao sa salitang puri dahil wala nang mapagpilian. Kailangan pagpuputa o prostitusyon ay isang makasalanan ng pera sa agarang panahon upang magamit sa at maruming gawain. Kabawasan sa dignidad pamilyang naghihikahos o kaya’y masuportahan at walang pakundangang pagmamalabis sa ang pag-aaral. Mga naipit sa sitwasyon ng gumagawa nito. Gaano ba dapat kalinis upang buhay na hindi kayang takasan. Pwede ring maging pasok sa pagbibigay kuro-kuro sa mga nagawa ito upang magsimula ng bagong buhay taong ito? Marahil ay hindi rin ako pasado. ngunit walang kakayanan, kung kaya ito rin ang Maaaring nakakita ka na ng isang Magdalena ginawang daan. Maniwala ka ‘pagkat ilan sa mga na tumatanggap ng pera kapalit ang isang gabing sikat na personalidad ay minsan ding nagamit kahihibangan ng kliyente niya. Sa sarap na ang ganitong sistema, bago tuluyang makawala kanyang hatid, ang siya namang sa kadena ng kahirapan. pumapawi sa hapdi ng kalamnan Nakalulungkot lang isiping ng kanyang binubuhay na kung talamak pa rin ang ganitong pamilya. Hindi alam kung paano pamamaraan, ibig sabihin ding at bakit niya ba ito ginagawa. marami pa rin ang nakakulong sa Maaring kasiyahan o pampalipaskahirapan. Mga taong hinubaran oras o kaya’y para sa kanyang na ng kalayaang magbago kahit pamilyang binubuhay. Hindi ko na pilit itong nagsasaplot upang alam ang tunay na katotohanan. makapagbago. Nakatatawa ring Mga taong Sa kabilang banda, tipikal isiping kinahiligan ng mga pinoy hinubaran na naman nating maririnig na dahil ang panonood ng pornograpiya ito sa kahirapan. Hindi nakatapos ng kalayaang pero kayang-kayang husgahan sa pag-aaral kung kaya’t upang magbago kahit ang mga tulad nila. magpatuloy ay kapit sa patalim Sapagkat tunay ngang ito’y na pilit itong ang nakuhang paraan. Ngunit, nakatutulong kahit papaano pero minsan ko ring napansin na nagsasaplot kapalit naman nito ang walang hindi rin nagagamit sa tamang upang katapusang tingin ng kababaan. pinagkakagastusan ang kanila Kung kaya’t hindi ito ang pinakasanang kinita. Ang ilan ay nahubog makapagbago. sagot sa kahirapan. Matagal na sa bisyong hindi mapigilan lalo na lumaban ang kababaihan sa sa pag-inom ng alak na minsan kanilang karapatan, sana’y mas ding nagpahamak sa kanila. mabigyan sila ng trabahong hindi maisusugal Totoo namang lugmok pa rin sa kahirapan ang kanilang kapurihan. At sana’y mabago na rin ang karamihan. Tinatayang 16.6% o 17.6 milyong ang tingin ng karamihan.

Pilipino ang nakararanas ng kahirapan noong Maaring sa iyo ito’y pagkakamali, at sa kanila 2018 ayon sa Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). ito ang kanilang pinili. Ang sa akin nama’y ito’y At lumabas sa isang pag-aaral ng UNESCO, na katanggap-tanggap ngunit hindi dapat gawing 72% na katao ang nagsasabing ang kahirapan ay dahilan upang isabuhay habambuhay ‘pagkat mabigat na kadahilanan upang pumasok sa iligal hindi pa rin ito pangkaraniwan. na trabahong ito.

Matagal nang hinahanap ang sagot sa Mayroon namang isinangla ang kalinisang kahirapan, ikaw kaya ang makahahanap?

OPINION DEMOCRAT | 16

No happy ending for an ill-plotted drama

UNSAFE HAVEN • John Paul Borito @jpaulborito jpaulborito@gmail.com

Filipinos are long fond of watching teledramas on their screens. And as the biggest media network in the country was bullied into shutting down, a new set of actors are stealing the thunder from celebrities. Although, the storyline is basic abusive and nonsense.

The aged political jungle in the country is finding new colors in delivering its narcissistic nuances.

The Congress, for one, is building up its protagonist, playing the role of a fragile egomaniac whose intent lies on hoarding power--as if he does not have enough yet. And like any drama, this main character has 184 supporting lawmakers to feed his hunger for power. The antagonists would be anyone who defies their greed, hoping a meaningful change would kick start whatever delayed progress has been lost in the history of this unhappy archipelago.

But for an eye well-aware of the cycle of deception and trickery, this is no different than the mainstream story of power manipulation.

But the drama of our false protagonist would apparently overshadow the rest of the soap opera.

Cayetano’s filing of a resignation was an old trick, crafted in years of deceit, to display his power. Winning an overwhelming landslide vote was meant to show how the rest of the Congress would rally behind his back. And, voila! One cry for help and our shameless lead can claim how his co-representatives supposedly believe in his capacity (or perhaps, the lack thereof).

If you are still into this drama, it would be safe to assume how you failed to notice the series of manipulation right in front of your eyes.

Unveiling the hidden content is easy, the 2021 budget allocation sits next to approval. For whatever deeper intent rests in Cayetano’s mind, the spectrum would range from power overdue to budget reenactment. The latter, however, makes more sense as the 2022 election draws near. His agenda may be equivocal, but one thing remains certain--a change in leadership was decided to take place on October 14.

However, this has been a classic plot in our traditional teledrama. This is no different than when the Congress passed the Anti-terror Law, or denied the franchise renewal of the ABS-CBN, or junked the call for mass testing. If you are still into this drama, it would be safe to assume how you failed to notice the series of manipulation right in front of your eyes.

This display of allegiance is no old news. All share the same nature that when a decision has to be made, these actors we call representatives will crowd in the administration’s side.

The reason is also clear, one would secure his allegiance to maintain good contact with their director--the President himself. Each threads a series of narratives inclined in his will to overpower the nation.

And as inhabitants of this country, we are not merely spectators of this dramatic presentation of power abuse but are also a character in this story. We are branded to be minorities, but in fact, the rest of us should be the main character. Remember that we ought to place them in their seats to be our servants.

We are not paying them to see their fragile egos shattered.

Now would be the perfect time to turn off the spotlights they brutally focused upon themselves.

EVERYONE MAKES IT. Inilahad nI Scholarship and Grants Office (SGO) Director Maria Theresa Fajardo (makikita sa larawan) na patuloy ang suporta at tulong pinansyal ng unibersidad sa mga dati ng iskolar nito. Gayunman, mga atletang estudyante muna ang idinagdag sa bilang ng mga bagong benipisyaryo. Mga salita ni John Paul Borito. Litrato ng University of Nueva Caceres

17 | DEMOCRAT NEWS

The

DEMOCRAT now on

issuu.com/thedemocrat

Tulong pinansyal para sa mga iskolar patuloy - UNC NI Kyra Fermel Victoria & Aila Joy Esperida

Ayon kay Maria Theresa Fajardo, Director ng Scholarship and Grant Office (SGO), hindi tumitigil ang suportang ibinibigay ng unibersidad sa mga iskolar, ngunit pansamantalang ipinagpaliban ang pag-akomoda sa mga bagong miyembro nito, maliban sa mga varsity at student-athletes.

“For Band, Majorettes, Glee Club, we did not get new members but the current scholars still enjoy the scholarship. We get new varsity scholars since we cannot afford to stop training new players in preparation for the competitions when things get back to normal (hopefully soon),” tugon ni Fajardo.

Dagdag pa ni Fajardo, hindi rin maapektuhan ang diskwento para sa iba pang inaabutan ng tulong ng unibersidad.

“We still give all the discounts for children of Alumni members, Loyalty discount for graduates of UNC, Members of the Same Family, Employee Dependents, DepEd Teachers, Guidance Counselors and Principals,” pahabol niya.

Sa inilabas naman na datos ng UNC mula sa pahayag ni President Fay Lea Patria Lauraya, ang mga student assistants ay patuloy na mabibigyan ng tulong pinansyal, subalit alinsunod sa pagbabawal ng IATF na lumabas ang mga 21 years old pababa, ang ilang SAs ay mananatili sa kanilang bahay habang ginagampanan ang kanilang responsibilidad.

“Oo, patuloy parin ang tulong pinansyal ng UNC lalo na samin sa mga student assistants. Sa aking sitwasyon 22 years old ay pinapayagan kami na magpatuloy na pumunta sa UNC para mag-duty, yung tungkol sa aming mga ginagawa sa office ay katulad rin naman ng dati 8hours per day pero depende rin sa ibang office katulad ng registrar 3pm ang cut off. Sa aking department, Oo

work from home scheme kmi kasi nga limited ang aming duties so pag wala kaming duty meron silang pweding ipagawa samin,” pahayag ni Evaristo Roda, isang student assistant.

Para naman sa Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) grantees, binanggit ni Fajardo na mula sa 3,063 estudyante na nai-upload noong Agosto 30 alinsunod sa deadline ng UniFAST, mayroon nang aprubadong 300 slots ang CHED-UniFAST. Naging maayos naman ang tugon ng UniFAST National, para sa hiling ng opisina ng SGO na extension upang mapaunlakan ang mga huling nakapagpatala, kung saan nakapagpasa ng 100 na mag-aaral na inaasahan ding maaprubahan.

Inilunsad naman ang Bukas Educational Loan na bagong

Layuning mapanatili ang suporta sa mga estudyante na lubos na nangangailangan, patuloy ang pagbibigay ng tulong pinansyal ng UNC para sa mga mag-aaral sa kabila ng hamon ng pandemya.

programa ng SGO kung saan ang tuition fee ay pwedeng bayaran ng 12 monthly installment para sa mga estudyante na hindi sakop ng Scholarship.

Sa easy enrollment scheme ay maaaring magbayad ng 3k sa pagenrol, 4k pagdating ng examination period at ang natira ang babayaran bago matapos ang semestre.

Binigyang linaw din ng SGO ang installment method ng pagbabayad, maaaring magbayad ng 20% ang mga mag-aaral na walang problemang pinansyal habang ang balanse ay mahahati sa tatlo; prelims, midterm at final.

“We want to maintain this program so that UNC can help students finish their schooling,” pahayag ni Fajardo.

‘Youth is the key to change’ Educ stude campaigns social involvement in FYP 2020

BY Irish Sierda

FORCES OF CHANGE. Jinky Lou Castañeda from the College of Education presses that the youth can drive a meaningful change in the society as she advocates for accessible and quality education during the 2020 Filipino Youth Summit. Words by John Paul Borito.

Photo from Jinky Lou Castañeda

Campaigning for youth participation towards sustainable change in nation building, Jinky Lou Castañeda, College of Education, hoisted the Bicol region’s flag in the Filipino Youth Summit 2020 (FYS) through a virtual conference held September 11-12 and 18-19.

According to Castañeda, the Filipino youth plays one of the most crucial roles in sustainable change and betterment of the society. She calls for youth to lend their voices and energies in providing help and inspiration to others.

“With what is happening today, the nation needs us more than ever.

We shall be brave [in] using our energies and voices to help, educate, and inspire others. Being united in this, formulation of new long term solutions is possible. Change is possible,” she claimed.

The conference was divided into four pillars: educational reform, livelihood empowerment, societal civic welfare, and geographic human mobility, which Castañeda selected.

Her advocacy mainly revolved in the Education Accessibility and Quality; Good Governance and Social Responsibility, where she emphasized the need to campaign for change in light of practicality and sustainability.

“Geographic and Human Mobility is the most challenging pillar, but the talks given [to us] made us believe that we are the prime movers of change and today, it should be the ‘practical’ one which is the sustainable change,” Castañeda uttered.

During the summit, she managed to interact with other people, where she was able to hear and share various advocacies. ”I was able to meet active young people from different parts of the Philippines upholding different advocacies to ensure all voices are being heard; protect and promote rights,” she added.

Castañeda said representing the Bicol region was an honor and at the same time, a [huge] responsibility. “It was a great reminder that I have to continue as a catalyst of change for and with the Filipinos because with all what is happening today, youth is the answer,” she reiterated.

The Filipino Youth Summit is an annual event aiming to shed light on relevant advocacies, such as youth empowerment through forming alliances in addressing relevant national concerns.

By Kenn Daniel Montecillo

Despite the sudden shift to a new normal in the academic setting, several UNCEANs approved the University Student Government (USG) services in midst of the challenging situation brought by the pandemic.

According to Kiarrah Zhane Misolas, College of Arts and Sciences, USG succeeded in establishing connections and in rendering their service to the student body.

“Leading the student body is twice as hard ngayon, compared to when classes are face to face. Interactions are very limited yet they did not fail in providing services and in reaching out to the students,” Misolas expounded.

Misolas hoped USG will continue what they have started despite the leaders’ own struggle in terms of balancing “their academics, responsibilities in their home, and duties amidst the new normal setting.”

As for Niño Neil Catanduanes, 3rd Year Education student, USG should secure stronger connections with the students to ensure that everyone is updated.

“One thing that I want to suggest is that, make sure that students can access or know whatever those

Some UNCeans approve USG new normal leadership; Averilla bows to keep service initiative FULL FORCE. UNC-USG constituents make collective effort in preparing bundles of donations in fulfillment of Tabang UNCeano. The student-government herein manifested adaptability without stagnancy of service to communities in and out of the campus, which several UNCeans approve of. Words by Norene Cantor. Photo from Marie Angella Averilla’s FB page.

steps they do for the students to be updated and [ensure] to have a strong connection with them,” he exclaimed.

Catanduanes also applauded the labor poured by USG in providing service to the rest of the UNC community, “I really admire them for everything they have done not only for me but to all College Students. I highly appreciate the time and effort that the USG made in making steps to adapt with the new normal,” he added.

Lugatiman exits gray area, echoes leadership views in nat’l boot camp

PRIDE BEYOND PARTICIPATION. Rofe Mae Lugatiman takes a spot in a national leadership bootcamp specially for the Tourism and Hospitality Management learners. She shared how the bootcamp made her realize her interest in leading her field, which she later shared to her UNCean colleagues in an attempt to move them into greater depths. Words by Norene Cantor. Photo sourced from Rofe Mae O. Lugatiman

BY Jonna Mae Bagasbas

Rofe Mae Lugatiman stepped out of her gray viewpoint as she echoed the importance of leadership in The Junior Tourism and Hospitality Management Association of the Philippines (JTHMAP), a national training camp held on July 18 to August 15, 2020.

According to Lugatiman, a second-year Hospitality Management student, the online leadership camp repolished her gray viewpoint, from never fully appreciating the course to suddenly wanting to be a leader in the field.

“If you want to be a great leader, you need to participate actively in social life and connect to all different social groups, build your own support web, accept constructive criticism from your colleagues, communicate and establish connections,” Lugatiman said.

She furthered that various external aspects make a great leader, like building connections from

Catherine Buban, 3rd year BSEd Major in Filipino student, also believed USG is showing “enough to accomodate and serve the student body despite of this pandemic that is currently occurring.”

“The only thing that they should improve, in my opinion, is the promotion of their page as it is their platform to address help and information to the students. They have great contents that the students groups and actively participating in its events.

The first-ever virtual apprenticeship program aimed to select students from the different regions all over the country to be the next Junior Executive Board of the organization.

The event was a series of relevant online activities and group sessions pioneering its advocacy to provide leadership opportunities that will boost the learning and appreciation of the tourism and hospitality disciplines.

According to Lugatiman, the boot camp further served as a juncture for every student to pry into their leadership skills amidst the pandemic, pressing that being a good leader can be seen as an extra challenge to better one’s self.

In the seminar she campaigned about effective teamwork and leadership, hoping this will drive her peers to continue what they have already started, and discerned the importance of their field in great depth.

“We’re facing a pandemic right now and the government officials implemented the New Normal, but that should not serve as a hindrance to be a good leader,” Lugatiman urged.

should know and be aware of so bigger promotion of their page will surely be a great help not only for their projects and programs but also for the students’ wellness,” Buban suggested.

Meanwhile, USG Interim President Marie Angella Averilla assured that the needs of UNCeans will be addressed and will serve the best interest of the students, through the help of designated committees.

“Aside from the Executive Cabinet, we have the Committees on Media & Communications, Student Welfare & Development, and Community Involvement and Awareness. In that way, mas mapagtutuunan namin ng pansin ang concerns and needs ng students,” Averilla stated.

Averilla spoke as well about their preparations for the forthcoming second cluster, like further initiating activities for students’ interaction. “We will continue to initiate projects and activities that are advocacy-based and those that would help in the interaction of students,” she remarked.

“We would also be looking more into the progress of Cluster 2 so as to ensure that the concerns in Cluster 1 will be resolved and won’t happen again, hopefully,” said Averilla.

ACTIVISM IS NOT TERRORISM #JUNKTERRORLAW PHOTO: ABS-CBN NEWS

19 | DEMOCRAT NEWS

IN DEFIANCE DAY:

Nagueños protest #JunkTerrorBill on independence day

BIRTHDAY PARODY. Nagueños assembled and made possible a protest amid policies restricting mass gatherings. The marchers protest-spoofed the controversial “Mañanita” of the then high-ranking police officer Debold Sinas through their placards displaying objects reminiscent of a birthday party. Independence Day became a day to decry the piling administrative injustices and attacks. Words by Norene Cantor. Photos by Berlineth Nymia Montes

With their placards and birthday bash props, representatives from youth-led groups such as Anakbayan, AdNU SSG, Bunyog, and CEGP-Bicol shared their dissent to the fleeting passage of the Anti-Terror Law with an emphasis on how unconstitutional this law is.

Khian Jamer a law student of the University of Nueva Caceres said, “trust is earned and the government did not earn it” as he explained how the government will weaponize this law to continuously silence critics and curtail freedom of speech.

A lot of Naguenos attended the protest due to the continuous negligence of the government to the plight of the Filipino people and the poor COVID-19 response, said Khryss Arañas, Anakbayan Naga City spokesperson.

“Nakita ng mga kabataan na ninanais ng rehimen na busalan ang ating mga bibig sa panahon na tinutuligsa na natin ang mga kapabayaan nito,” Arañas added when asked about the reason why many youths joined the protest.

Before the program commenced, policemen headed by Station 1 commander Gil Otivar approached the protesters and reminded them to observe social distancing to avoid COVID-19 infection and conflict with the law.

The rally began as birthday songs were played, condemning National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Chief Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas who recently violated quarantine protocols after conducting a mass gathering in line with his birthday celebration called Mañanita, which was not punished nor condemned by the government.

Despite being signed into law last July 3, organizers considered the Grand Mañanita Rally a success since it is a manifestation of t h e people’s stronger collective resistance, said Arañas.

NI Berlineth Nymia Montes

Weeks after Naga City eased into community quarantine, protesters staged a rally dubbed as Grand Mañanita on the 122nd Philippine Independence, carrying out the call to junk the controversial Anti-Terror Law.

Tayo ang tulay ng mga mag-aaral - Averilla

NI Earl Dwight Serrado

Upang himukin ang mga mga studentleader na patuloy na gampanan ang mga tungkulin sa gitna ng pandemya gamit ang makabagong teknolohiya, idinaos ang taunang Management of Organizations for Visible Effectiveness, Responsibility, and Service o MOVERS 2020, noong Agosto 21-22.

“Modern problems require modern solutions. We have to exhaust all means para mapagsilbihan ang student body, dahil sa panahong ito, tayo ang magsisilbing tulay nila upang marinig ang mga hinaing ng mga estudyante at maiparating sa mga nanunungkulan,” pahayag ni Marie Angella Averilla, Pangulo ng University Student Government [USG].

Katuwang ang opisina ng Student Affairs, sa pamumuno ni Kim Francia Bigay, pinangunahan ni Averilla ang pagpaplano at pag-organisa ng nasabing programa gamit ang iba’t ibang online platforms tulad ng Facebook, Google Meet, at Zoom Cloud Meetings, batay na rin sa tema ngayong taon na “PADAGOS: Driving Initiative and Action through Digital Leadership and Service.”

PADAGOS SA HARAP NG UNOS. Sa pangunguna ng Office for Student Affairs at USG-UNC sa ilalim ng pamumuno ni Marie Angella Averilla (makikita sa larawan), itinaguyod ang MOVERS 2020 bagama’t nasa gitna ng pandemya. Isinulong ng aktibidad ang matalinong paggamit ng makabagong teknolohiyo upang maihatid ng mga lider-estudyante ang sinumpaang serbisyo higit lalo ngayon. Mga Salita ni John Paul Borito. Source: Marie Angella Averilla’s FB Page.

Hinimok ni Averilla ang mga kapwa student-leaders na isulong ang paninindigan at pagtataguyod ng karapatan ng mga estudyante, nasa gitna man ng krisis pangkalusugan.

Naging pangunahing tagapagsalita ang pangulo ng Sangguniang Kabataan Federation ng lungsod ng Naga na si Hon. Mary Kyle Francine B. Tripulca, kung saan binigyan-diin niya ang kahalagahan ng mga pinuno at pamumuno sa gitna ng pandemya.

“Leading and serving the people is of no excuse amid this pandemic most especially in our transition towards the new normal,” saad ni Tripulca.

Dagdag pa niya, ang tunay na layunin ng isang pinuno ay hindi lamang na manilbihan sa katungkulan, bagkus ay maging motibasyon at inspirasyon ng iba na manilbihan din sa kapwa.

Ibinahagi naman ni Krislen Gaile Bismonte, isa sa mga lumahok, ang kanyang naging karanasan sa programa,“Napo-promote [ng MOVERS] ang collaborative learning ng lahat kasi kami-kami o tayo-tayo mismo yung natututo sa isa’t isa.”

Para kay Bismonte, ang tiwala ng student body ang kanyang susi upang magpatuloy sa kanyang tungkulin.

Naniniwala naman si Janah Carmela Ng Sang, isa pang kalahok, na sa pamamagitan nito, matutulungan ang mga studentleaders na ipagpatuloy ang kanilang mga tungkulin at malampasan din ang kanilang mga limitasyon.

Bagaman mas kaunti ang dumalo at nakaranas ng aberya tulad ng hindi maayos ng koneksyon ng internet, ang nasabing programa ay dinaluhan ng halos 80 mga mag-aaral mula sa iba’t ibang mga kinikilalang organisasyon sa unibersidad.

NI Aila Joy Esperida

Natuldukan ang pagkabahala ng mga student-athlete ng UNC matapos kumpirmahin ng Sports Development Office (SDO) na magpapatuloy ang tulong pinansyal sa kanila, ito ay sa kabila ng pagbabawal ng mga outdoor sports activities.

Binigyang linaw ito ni Coach Roel Rosales, Direktor ng SDO, sa naganap na virtual orientation noong ika-6 ng Agosto, kasalukuyang taon.

Buhat nito, wala rin dapat ikabahala ang 143 na atleta mula sa Junior High School, Senior High School, at College level tungkol sa kanilang scholarship dahil ayon kay Rosales, “Athletes will continue to have scholarships,” ngunit ang kabuuang pondo ay hindi pa pinal.

Para naman kay Joseph Salazar, Chess Team Captain, “Mahirap humanap ng pagkakakitaan dahil sa pandemic lalo na’t ang iba sa kanila ay nanggaling sa indigent family kaya mas kailangan nila ang tulong pinansyal.

Kaya’t nagpapasalamat ako sa ating unibersidad sa hindi pagtanggal ng tulong-pinansyal sa mga estudyantengatleta.­” Dagdag pa ni Salazar, ang mga atletang tulad niya ay nagsumikap na makapasok sa isang unibersidad upang makapag-aral ng libre, kalakip na rin ang tulong pinansyal na lalong mas kailangan nila ngayong panahon ng pandemya.

Matatandaang naglabas ang Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) at Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) ng General Guidelines No.3 of JAO No. 2020-0001 noong ika-16 ng Hulyo, 2020 na nagbabawal sa anumang pagsasagawa ng tournaments, sports events at athletic meets dahil sa banta ng COVID-19.

Kaya’t habang nasa quarantine, ang mga atleta ay patuloy pa rin na pinapanatiling kondisyon ang kanilang katawan sa pagsasagawa ng exercises, tamang health practices at online training, kung saan pagkatapos ng buwan ay magpapasa sila ng individual report tungkol sa kanilang improvements sa kani-kanilang coaches, pagbabahagi ni Gelan Gados ng UNC Taekwondo Greyhounds.

Samantala, inaasahan ng mga atleta na muli silang sasabak sa court sa pagbubukas ng PRISAA sa susunod na taon para sa regional level.

Tulong pinansyal para sa mga student-athlete patuloy, ayon sa SDO

Ngiting Iskolar | Sila ang mga student-athlete ng unibersidad na patuloy na makatatanggap ng tulong-pinansyal ayon sa Scholarship and Grants Office (SGO). Mga salita ni Charey Mae Alvarado. Litrato mula sa University of Nueva Caceres FB page.

MULA SA 11

Tingog kan ...

may infused technology ang module and fortified with with L-Carnitine and Gingko Biloba, Papaya and Aloe Vera Extracts para kayanon nyang mag-open ng link ning sadiri niya. To be honest talaga, dae man ni kaya kun module ka lang alone. Napaisip lugod ako sa iba na as in mayong signal sa lugar ninda or kun ugwa man minsanan lang.

Come to think of it din, ang iba kaya nag-modular ta mayo man sadiring laptop, computer and phone. Plus ang internet, kinabog pa ang frenny mo sa abang paka-slow. Natapos na lamang ang my day ni cruxx, inabot kang my week kakadalan magikot-ikot ang loading na yan. What more sa pagaccess ng BB at Emails.

Ito pa, kumarapot kamo ta ini ang malala, kung anong kinagayon kang cover kun-todo bind at pa-shala pa ning plastic na take note! Back and forth. Iyo man ang pagkadisaster kang laog. Ugwang modules na baraliktad tas may butas sa magkabilang gilid?

Dae po tabi nakakaugma. Kung mayincluded na magnifying lense, baka mas nakakahappy pa ta, garo baga mabubura na ang letters mga mamsh!

Maray pa su chicken burger, dae tinipid si mustard and white sauce pero ang ink nindo naghihingalo na po mam/ zer! Kuta tig-apod nalang na activity book ang module ta iyo man sana, mas dakol man ang activity compared sa mga explanation. Remember, modular pa ini pero ang mga reference kung pano mo masasagutan provided through link. Cutesy man ano?

And yan bes ta pigkabog kan module ta ang litfolio mi basa man, it is now up and if you want to read the

PHOTO: RAPPLER

#DEFENDPRESSFREEDOM

HANDS OFF JOURNAL-

whole issue, mangyari lamang po na bisitahin ang aming page at hanapin ang link. Sawasdeeka! Tigsingit mi talaga yan sa schedule ngarig may mabasa kamong udok sa boot na mga literary. Pwede man yan Icebreaker from acads na maka-stresson. At salamat man duman sa mga nakisali asin nagsend kan sainda man na literary pieces magagayon na maray kundi pili lang ang samo pwedeng i-publish. See yah next time na lang.

Isip ka pa pwedeng paghugotan para mapili na yan saimo. Pero ang dae ko knows sain naghugot ining prof from berdeng dept ning pagka- strict.

Ms. Minchin ka gurl? Ata nag-reach man lang saiya si kuyang late enrollee tas nagka-ugwa pa saindang power interruption. Pero ang sagot ni zer, "You know how strict I am". Ayy kaloka naman sa tahaw kan kadipisilan ngunyan ma-istrikto ka pa zer. Sabi niya pa na dapat nagprepare daa si koya for power interruption ta naka-schedule man daa iyan. Tas kuta daa nagduman na lang si eschudent niya sa Internet Cafe "just follow the health protocols" sabi niya or nagload for data. Clap!

Clap! Clap! na may halong dance steps naman kay zer sa advice na yan nilagay mo pa sa kapahamakan ang aki asin mayong ka pong KONSIDERASYON. Bako lang mga prof ang gusto ta i-shout igdi mga mars and lods. Igwa man nagkapirang studs na dahilan na lang ning dahilan. Minsan try ta man mag-effort muna ano po? Maggibo asin magsimbag ta pinagalan man yan kang mga real lods na committed na profs ta. Welcome to module legends muna ang siste, tapos tamili off cam na maparaturog ka nalang. Hirak man kang nginangala-ngala ning prof mo.

Dawa nasa harong maging polite pa man giraray as respect sa prof ano po?

Ta aram ko man, sa Values Education ka lang dae nakaranas mag-line of 7.

Ipamuhay ta man iyan. Asin minsan, dae ta man i-treat na youtube channel ang Gmeet, kung makakan kang chicharon off mic man please and off cam, bako man ini mukbang ano po?

Biyo ka pang nagASMR, dae mo naman tig-isip si mga kaklase mong macrave.

Ata marayo man yan jowa, dawa makapirang shared post ka sa FB ning cravings mo, mayo saimong maabot.

Kung habo mo manao ning chicaharon cuneta, dae mo naman ipagdamot sa mga minahagad ning information sain reference mo nakua ang simbag, ano paka-gets mo sa question number 1.

Ta nonoy, nene, beshy mga tall! ikaw na malakas, if arog ka kayan. Edi ikaw na mag-prof! Iyo man lang yan aram mi man na kung ano ang kinadakula ning eyebags mo iyo man ang heart mo. Lablab sa gabos na dae nagive up!

Aja laban!

Anyway, Highway, aram mo naman itong EIE in the new normal?

Kun dae pa maray ta maka-strees man ni prend. Gusto kaya ninda na 85% - 100% ang mapasa nin video every month. Masend daa sindang readings tas matao feedback through guide questions and duman habang tig-pi-film ang sadiri and the video with the highest score based on the criteria for judging will be awarded as Best EIE Spreader. Okii man kuta ni, ta padagos ang EIE program kan padangat tang unibersidad. Kundi garo kaya dae doable. Kung iisipon ta si iba na pagal na ngane sa online class, module and all magibo pa kani. And sa iba huda man internet na kalaban ta ngunyan. Pwede man kuta na pilion lang si magibo kayan si capable lang kuta bakong 100%. Dae na ngani, nakaka-Tiktok dahil sa kadakulan kang gibuhon, igwang pang mga arog kayan.

Kulang na ang 24 hours sa sarong aldaw!

Hyyssss mga bhieeee! Dakol issueeee ano? Napagal kamo magbasa? Sana dae, ta aram ko fave nindo ako...ayy ining page pala.

Salamat ta naka-abot kamo sa last paragraph na ini at dahil umabot igdi sa pinakadulo hindi mo na kailangan mamili between JOWA or GWA, both mo yan makukua! Arti pa ba?

Salamat again sa pagiba sako, sa mga baliktaktakan asin endless na chikahan.

Bago ako magpaaram, mangako muna kamo sakuya na mabalik kamo sa page na ni next release. Iyo? magbalik kamo, bakong arog niya na nagpamati sana tas nawara na lang bigla. Hashtag relate ba? Yan dyan kayo magaling! Oh siya mahali na talaga ako ta sobra na baga ning haba...ohhh iba na naman naisip mo. Ikaw ha! Sige na babusshhhhh! til next time...tugsshhhh (takop sa cam).

UNCaged

Royalty

NI KENN DANIEL MONTECILLO

An open ground, arena, coliseum, multi-purpose hall, a court—call it names, but Lamadrid steps on it as a kingdom.

Claiming her best libero title in 2019, Alaisa May Lamadrid of UNC Lady Greyhounds Volleyball team furthered her reign and legacy.

She sealed BUCAL Season 3 wearing the same crown securing a back-to-back best libero distinction of the tourney. The streak of taking the honor twice attested how rigid training, discipline and a winning mindset can aggrandize student-athletes in becoming the best on their own.

The 20-year old Alaisa, like an archetypal athlete, delved into sports as a novice. She first stepped foot on court at the age of 12, a timid child then came wearing nothing but a pair of shoes, a wrinkled uniform, with little doubt and vast vision. Spending time under the pouring rain and blazing sun, Alaisa is trying to get that athlete-like stance able to conquer any grounds.

Toilsome years knocked to Alaisa after she departed her hometown at Paracale, Camarines Norte.

She pursued her studies in the University of Nueva Caceres (UNC), majoring in Physical Education, where her collegiate varsity career forayed. Alongside physique and form, Alaisa’s mental fortitude was situated likewise in a furnace like steel. The wearied scene hurdled her in whilst, as she juggled academics concurrent to homesickness. For her, balancing emotional stability became more effortful than ball handling.

In no time, Alaisa found home away from home within her teammates, whom she called her second family. The comradery flourished within them, translating how they are on the court—cheering for each other and motivating each other’s spirit. Coach Solis, Ate Marose and Ate Ai—as Alaisa fondly refers to some members of the team, provided the guidance she needed, along with the rest of the team. Their teamwork made their dream work, setting this as a concrete foundation to feed the ravenous spirit of champions.

For years of sharing both joys and travails, the team had always opted to mount nothing but their best. Alaisa and the rest of Lady Greyhounds are eyeing an extra mile of improvement. Alaisa’s up to spry farther and seek comfort within the four corners of the court as if it was an empire she’s building.

In sports, it is a notion to perceive height as either player’s coign of vantage or stranglehold. But for

Alaisa, who stands 4”11, height does not impede her as an athlete. Alaisa thinks that height may be an edge, but there are still things that smaller players like her are the only ones can offer. To cite a few, her agility and nimble are things her coaches have commended her for. She diverted her focus more on her strengths, while gradually dealing with her weakness.

Spending almost half of her life on the court, Alaisa pens on what an athlete’s greatest triumph should be. Sparkling medals, shining trophies, and seconds of crowd’s cheers and claps were not the best take away from any game. Alaisa took us on a ride on her vantage point, why did she landed her foot in court to play volleyball in her early years, and that is because of that seed of dream buried deep in her. “…hindi sa lahat ng oras ay panalo, pero hindi naman purke natalo ay malulungkot na dahil ang tunay na kasiyahan ay kapag ginawa mo ang best mo sa loob ng court at napasaya mo ang mga manonood dahil nabigyan mo sila ng magandang laro,” Alaisa exclaimed.

Victory is like a rainbow for athletes; they can deal any rain and storm for the sake of stealing a glimpse in that kaleidoscopic scene. However, Alaisa learned to love the rain—the failure. Rainbow is not a guarantee.

It may show or may not after the rain. What’s best is to play under that pouring rain while it lasts and utilize that moment to embellish you with confidence, drive , and skills necessary for games to come.

Indeed, failure is not the opposite of success, in lieu it’s part of it. Countless times Alaisa fell, but those did not clamp her to stay in the bottom.

It was a progress of advancement she took keenly—An opportunity to discern two faces of tossed coin and delight; both hold similar values.

Looking forward to better days, Alaisa continues to prime in forthcoming competitions, while pristinely lustring her crown set to reclaim supremacy once more.

22 | DEMOCRAT SPORTS FEATURE

Bubble Trouble I

BY Jonna Mae Bagasbas

n the wake of the new normal, the talk of people in desperation for sports, especially student-athletes, is still prevalent. Sports is supposed to be another diversion from stressful matters in life, but a coerced pursuance of it in this pandemic turned out to be a stimulus of a total fallout to a prominent UAAP team.

Everything is now left to patch up as the UST Growling Tigers bore the departure of several key players and coaches due to the controversial bubble training in Capuy, Sorsogon.

All the prattling about the bubble in Bicol began with the unexpected exit of former UST star captain CJ Cansino. He soon claimed it was an obscure and biased removal because he only intended to raise concerns about the alleged maltreatment of the players fed deficiently while in Sorsogon. However, their coach took this as a “defiance of authority” for posting the supposedly confidential group chat conversations.

Coach Ayo could have reassessed the situation and reflected on using his power instead of instantly removing an impotent but worthwhile athlete without a justifiable reason. Besides, the bigger picture comes not with a question of food but the legality of the incident. Although it mostly boiled down to the initiation of the coach, the players still shared decisions on the success of the training given their awareness of the imposed protocols by IAFT. This event only deduces speculation that if there was no problem encountered in Sorsogon, the training could have reached its end and got away from the penalty.

that case, a rival game against their former team is not possible. Coach Ayo received indefinite bans from the sporting league. While Governor Chiz Escudero cleared him from any violation of the health protocols, he should still reinstate his appeal after the UAAP banned him from joining all events.

The aftermath of the exclusive training has gone too far, but the reason behind it is still questionable.

The motive can be the far-reaching determination of the Tigers to bring down the Blue Eagles since they failed to carry it out last year. On the contrary, Coach Ayo stated the Tigers did more than just basketball training. This notion of basketball players being engaged in other activities aside from their sports is indeed unconvincing. But the latter findings supported his claim with the absence of rough training but more of agricultural exercises.

This well-intentioned, but ill-considered bubble training seemingly did not fit the paragon of sports.

It speaks out a voice that cross-questions something about priority, for there is a team ready to compromise the safety of the players for the sake of Due to the initial probe for violating enforced athletic various quarantine protocols, some development and pivotal players of UST opted to transfer achievement. Being schools in anticipation of the effect on cooped up in isolation their future as athletes. Cansino had for months is detrimental, second thoughts about transferring to but in the new normal, another team. He could have joined the pursuit of training the NCAA champions Letran Knights is like playing not with with Abando, Paraiso, and Bataller, a ball but fire. but he chose Diliman after a welcoming assurance from Coach Perasol of UP. In

Ma hiy a ka

yo p

leas e

Yikes!

!

23 | DEMOCRAT SPORTS

NI Charey Mae Alvarado

H

indi natin maikakaila na ang bawat panalo ng atletang pinoy laban sa ibang bansa ay tagumpay ng buong Pilipinas sa larangan ng isports. Sila ay maihahalintulad sa mga magsasakang dugo at pawis ang puhunan upang sa pagdating ng panahon, umani ng inaasam na medalya. Sa sandaling makamit nila ito, hindi lamang sila ang nakikinabang kundi ang buong bansa at ang bawat isa sa atin na kaisa sa karangalan at pagkilala sa iba’t ibang sulok ng mundo.

Tulad ng mga magsasaka, kailangan nila ng sapat na suporta mula pa man sa pagpunla hanggang sa pag-ani ng parangal. Subalit, sa kasamaang palad, tila ba sa oras na maging matunog ang kanilang pangalan ay doon lang nabibigyang pansin ang magigiting na mga manlalarong ito. Doon lang nakikita ang mga pangangailangang dapat iniabot na sa kanilang kamay sa unang hudyat pa lamang ng kanilang laban. Nakalulungkot ang katotohanang kailangan muna nilang mag-uwi ng karangalan bago makita ang kanilang paghihirap at pangangailangan mula sa kanilang pagsasanay.

Ang karanasan ni Alex Eala ay isa lamang sa mga kuwentong kulang sa pansin at isinasawalang bahala sa kabila ng makasaysayang titulo na iginawad sa ating bansa. Si Eala ay isang manlalaro ng Junior Tennis at unang Pilipina ring nagkampeon sa Grand Slam sa 2020 Australian Open Juniors Doubles. Sa parehong taon din, siya ang representante ng Pilipinas sa 2020 French Open sa Paris, France kung saan nakapasok siya sa Semi-finals. Sa kasalukuyan, ito na ang pinakaprestihiyosong titulong naabot ng isang dugong Pilipino sa loob ng 35 na taon.

Labis na ikinatuwa ito ng buong bansa, lalo ng Philippine Sports Commision (PSC).

Agad nila itong pinangalandakan sa buong Pilipinas gamit ang kanilang Facebook Page.

Ayon sa post, proud sila sa naiuwing karangalan ni Alex at ang mga nagawa niya sa larangan ng Tennis. Nabanggit din ang tatlong milyong pisong suporta ng pamahalaan para sa kanyang tournament travels at tho-months training sa Europe, US, at iba pang bansa.

Ngunit, ang impormasyong ito ay inalmahan ng pamilya ni Eala, partikular na ng kanyang ina. Ani niya, wala namang natanggap na milyong piso ang mahusay

na atleta, na sa tutuusin ang lahat ng gastos ay mula sa sarili nilang badyet. Ang nasabing suporta ay pangako ng PSC kay Eala na hanggang ngayon ay nananatiling pangako.

Dagdag pa ng kaniyang ina, nagsumite sila ng dalawang pulgadang kapal ng papel na naglalaman ng mga resibo para sa pagsasauli ng nagugol nilang gastos. Subalit, maging ito ay walang kasiguraduhan kung maibibigay.

Walang masamang maging proud tayo sa mga atleta natin at ibahagi ang kanilang mga naiambag sa larangan ng isports lalo na sa social media dahil malakas ang hatak nito sa tao. Kung kaya't anumang ilagay na impormasyon ay paniniwalaan, lalo pa't ahensya ito ng gobyerno.

Kahit pa sabihin na nating nakatanggap nga sila ng milyong piso, hindi na kailangan pang ipagmalaki ito sa tao dahil iyan ang siya naman talagang inaasahan sa inyo.

Higit nilang kailangan ang suportang pinansyal na inaasahang makukuha mula sa pamahalaan. Ang lakas lang din kumambiyo nang sabihin ghindi intensyon na magkaroon ng maling impormasyon at hindi lang sila naintindihan. Dahil ang sinasabing pondo raw ay ibibigay pa lamang. Pero ang sabi sa post ay naibigay na at muling nangako na mapapasakamay rin nila ito.

Sa pagkaka-alala ko, itinayo ang ahensyang ito para mabigyang halaga ang isports sa Pilipinas, para mayroong aalalay at susuporta sa mga pangangailan ng mga manlalaro natin sa loob man o maging sa labas ng bansa. Nakalulungkot lang na mas marami ang hindi nakakakuha ng anumang suporta subalit ipinagpapatuloy pa rin ang laban, nagbabakasakaling mapansin din at maambunan ng tulong.

Nawa'y sa ahensiya ng gobyerno at pati na rin sa mga administrasyong humawahak sa isports, maglagay rin kayo ng puhunan, hindi taga-ani lang ng tagumpay. Mas magandang magtulungan para sa ikabubuti ng lahat kaysa hayaan sila nang paulit-ulit at pahirapan silang makakuha ng inaasam na pondo na dapat ay sa kanila. Magbigay ng sapat na suporta hindi iyong saka lang kayo kikibo kapag nanalo na sila at winagayway na ang bandera. Mabuti na lamang at may mga taong handang humugot sa sariling bulsa at gumastos ng malaki upang surpotahan ang mga atletang tulad ng palay ng magsasaka, uhaw sa pansin at aruga. Mahiya kayo please!