The DEMOCRAT Volume LXIX Issue No. 2

TOMO LXIX, BILANG II NOVEMBER 2021 -JANUARY 15, 2022

LXIX

FOR A FREER STUDENT PRESS

DEMOCRAT

index

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT-MAGAZINE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NUEVA CACERES

Editorial Board & Staff A.Y. 2021 - 2022

18

FEATURES 3 4 5 6

Vows to Visions Vax Card, Master of Freedom Gulong sa Palad ng Batikang Mandurugas Beyond Motivation

EDITORIAL & OPINIONS 7 9 10 11

Ticket to Ride Hindi po kami Virus-proof!

MINE: ANG E-SHOPPING SPREE Battle for the truth

19

UNC illuminates in pink; endorses Robredo UNC records 38.75% passing rate in CELE ‘21

20

LABAN DS! UNC DS bags awards in RC XIV

22 23

This Information vs.

Disinformation

24

Tingog Points of You Hotseat

NEWS 16

50/50 Vision Sa Eleksyon 25 UNC Research Center pulls off first-ever Virtual Research Colloquium UNC Law elects new LSB, aims to push for inclusive platforms

17

Regional PRISAA susubukang idaos ngayong 2022; Greyhounds studentathletes patuloy na makakatanggap ng scholarship hindi man makapag-compete

26

JGBG scholarship adds up to UNC’s scholarship programs; 4 J.D. studs chosen as scholars

John Paul Borito Senior Editor Berlineth Nymia Montes News Editor Patrick Joseph Panambo Feature Editor Jonna Mae Bagasbas Sports Editor Creative Director Brandon Jon Delos Santos Cyen Esclanda Design Director Christian Reganit Web Manager Earl Dwight Serrado Broadcasting Head

APPRENTICES

Aila Joy Esperida Danrie Josh Garcia Charles Kryxian Lara Jannsen Martinez Jhezylle Faye Loria Joy Villaspin Marie Juvy Lea Violeta Paolo Jamer Trisha Bañas Rachelle Paja

ON THE COVER WORDS BY NORENE CANTOR

CONCEPT & GRAPHICS BY ROSE CLAVANO

Jean Aquino Maria Jhoanna Yasis Janah Carmela Ng Sang Ma. Isabel Azaña Asuncion Christine Reyes Kyra Fermel Victoria

TECHNICAL ADVISER

Mary Allysa Jenica Sariba

Be the Bomb

MEMBER

College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP)

Ang Pagmamahal na Higit sa Sinumpaang Salaysay

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

LXIX

02

CONTRIBUTORS

LITERARY 27

Norene Cantor Kenn Daniel Montecillo Charey Mae Alvarado Neil Andrew Formalejo

Editor/ Circulation Manager

UNC Greyhound OL tournament, muling idinaos

Athletes not Pets

#RememberThe58: stud journs,progressive orgs in Naga commemorate Ampatuan Massacre

COVER LAYOUT BY CYEN ESCLANDA

Deputy Managing

Ang Dahilan A Quarter Pounder Salad

2022 PVL Conference set to happen this February; Various teams clinch their initial strategies

COVER STORY 14 - 15

Editor-in-Chief Associate Editor Managing Editor

SPORTS

LAMPOON 12 20 21

AMIDST ALL ODDS: Masarig barristers face Bar ‘22 Challenge

EDITORIAL BOARD

FEATURES

DEVCOM 8

UNC-USG launch Ayuda E-skwela; 5 students receive mobile tablet

OFFICE

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

CONTACT US

thedemocrat@unc.edu.ph

Mula sa mga kataga ni Bill Bullard, ang opinyon ang pinakamababang uri ng kaalaman. Ngunit kung bubuksan mo lang ang mga mata at isipan, babangon ka mula sa komportableng pagkakahimlay.

Pinatutulog ka ng maliwanag na kislap ng salapi at ng matayutay na kapangyarihan nito, habang ginigising ka ng madilim na katotohanan at ng kaparusahan sa pagsuhay rito.

Ngayon, ang tanong ay hindi na lang kailan, ngunit paano ka mamumulat sa katotohanan?

The

DEMOCRAT now on

issuu.com/thedemocrat

TOMO LXIX, BILANG II NOVEMBER 2021 -JANUARY 15, 2022

COLLATED BY MARIE JUVY LEA VIOLETA The Philippines–pearl of the orient sea–has seen many Presidential hopefuls come and go. As the 2022 Election nears, the Presidentiables behold many solemn promises to a captivated audience.

As of January 6, 2022 COMELEC has made a tentative list of 10 candidates gunning for presidency. Personalities are positioning themselves in the race and bit by bit laying out their platforms– allowing the public plenty of time to chew on information presented.

ERNESTO ABELLA, running as an independent, is the former undersecretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs, and former spokesperson of President Rodrigo Duterte. He gave a speech after filing candidacy for president, claiming that the government and business giants have been running the country for ages– he believes that the ordinary citizens, ranging to private and small businesses should be included in the conversation by giving them a wider platform.

He commends the Build, Build, Build program yet he also sees a need to build up the citizens– children should be given free food and free healthcare; “the foundation of a nation is based on the youth and the children.”

LEODEGARIO DE GUZMAN is a long-time leader activist, running under Partido Lakas ng Masa. “Kailangan walk the talk… kumilos tayo labas sa ating base,” he said during PLM national convention livestream on their facebook page. “Kailangan system change, hindi lang palitan si Duterte, hindi lang para palitan ang mukha ng pangulo sa Malacañang, kundi dapat palitan ang buong sistema ng gobyerno,” he adds.

In the Rappler 2019 senatorial forum, he vowed to create law ending contractualization, that will remove middlemen or third-party firms that burden workers.

FRANCISCO DOMAGOSO from Aksyon Demokratiko is to continue the Build, Build, Build program of President Rodrigo Duterte and will add his own version– to build more housing, hospitals, schools and jobs. He plans to cut excise taxes on electricity and oil to ease the citizen’s distress.

Increase income, purchasing power, and to stimulate consumer spending are also partw of his goals.

“Dahil gumastos kayo sa akin, meron kayong singilin. Ang bayad ko naman, simple lang – magkakaroon kayo ng mainam, masinop at episyenteng pamahalaan.

Tao muna,” Inquirer reported Moreno say in CMA market, Antipolo City.

NORBERTO GONZALES, of Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas is the ex-Defense Secretary of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, now aspiring for presidency. “Sa aking karanasan na halos isang dekada na paglilingkod sa gobyerno, nakita ko ang pagiging importante ng politika at uri ng politiko na magpapatakbo ng bayan natin.”

“Ipatutupad po natin and modelo kung paano ang isang gobyerno ng social democrats ay nagpapaganda ng buhay sa isang bayan,” he addresses media after COC filing. Like many other candidates, he too believes it is time to change the rotten governance system in the country.

PANFILO LACSON is with Partido Para sa Demokratikong Reporma. He was Rehabilitation Czar for the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013. He was one of the principal authors of the Anti-Terror Law. “Local government units must be given bigger roles and responsibilities and more autonomy in nation building but with greater accountability.” He also wants to propagate sustainable recovery from the health crisis.

INFOGRAPHICS

3

Faisal Mangondato is running under Katipunan ng Kamalayang Kayumanggi. He has yet to make any notable appearance in the media to date, although he was in DZMM TeleRadyo during his run for senator where he wishes to progress federalism together with the KKK party list.

He wants better job opportunities beyond the confines of Manila and believes Chinese workers in the Philippines are taking a toll on the Philippine economy.

EMMANUEL PACQUIAO representing Abag Promdi accepted nomination of PDP-Laban to run the presidential race. “Panahon na upang manalo naman ang mga naaapi, panahon na upang makabangon ang bayan natin na lugmok sa kahirapan, panahon na ang isang malinis na gobyerno, kung saan bawat centimo ay mapupunta sa bawat pilipino.” He points to officials serving the government that is still taking advantage and stealing from the coffers of the nation that their time is up.

He shared his main objectives during the first 100 days if he is elected, “Let’s focus on the revenue income of our country, we need to focus on that because the Filipinos do not deserve a government that borrows money every year for its annual budget,” he deliberated.

FERDINAND MARCOS JR. of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas.

“I know that it’s this manner of unifying leadership that can lead us through this crisis, get our people back safely back to work for all of us to begin to live our lives once again… I will bring that form of unifying leadership back to our country,” Marcos says in a stream on his Facebook page.

Facing the media after filing his COC, he clarifies his intent, “harapin natin itong covid, harapin natin ang pag-ahon, pagbukas ng ating ekonomiya, ‘yon ang aking pangarap– that is why I call it a unifying leadership because it requires leadership that unifies the country, [and] does not polarize the country.”

JOSE MONTEMAYOR JR. is a cardiologist at the Philippine Heart Center and is running under the Democratic Party of the Philippines. “I will eliminate criminality, corruption as well as COVID… One who is running for president must have ample knowledge on what are the effects of this virus, not only on the health condition of our country but also on the economic side.”

He states, after filing his COC, that he is an economist, aside from being a doctor and a lawyer. “Another thing is our people are desperately looking for a leader, one who is knowledgeable, honest with integrity, and also they will have confidence in him,” he continued.

MARIA LEONOR ROBREDO, running as an Independent is the incumbent Vice President of the Philippines. She took on the legacy of good governance when she became Third District Representative Camarines Sur in 2013.

She says in a PCCI forum that the pressing problem is in getting the pandemic under control. Succeeding points aim towards revitalizing the economy, GDP growth, addressing unemployment, and investing in digital infrastructures.

“Let us declare a crisis on education already,” she then elaborates by comparing budgets spent for students are lesser compared to other countries. “We will also accelerate the rollout of universal health care by concentrating on enrolling every Filipino in the UHC system in the first three months,” she added.

To elect the faithful anointed one brings a mixture of hope and disquiet to onlookers— who will stay true to their words? Emman Baltazar, a UNCean, shares his sentiments towards promises made by candidates to the citizens.

“Whenever I hear a presidential candidate making promises for our country, I feel… quite upset,” he continues on to explain how they make the same promises to the country yet most would go unfulfilled, that he’s heard jokes thrown into vows before. Observations from the current administration made him realize how important it is to choose the right candidates.

“Sa pagdating ng pandemya, mas pinili kong tumigil muna sa pagaaral ng isang taon upang matulungan ang aking magulang sa pag tinda.

Nakita ko kung paano kami nalugi ng husto. Dito ko napagtanto, na hindi sapat ang mga pangako lang kung walang aksyon,” he concludes.

In the next wave of challenges, which of these leaders can the pearl of orient sea— with all its diverse people, hopes and riches be entrusted to? Along with its torrent of pressing issues? You have a choice, a voice. Vote wisely.

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FEATURE

VAX CARD, MASTER OF FREEDOM

BY JEAN AQUINO

A single piece of card dominating over numerous rights in a country? Oh dear, you better believe what you’re seeing, because believe it or not, we are living in a divided world now; the world between the vaccinated and unvaccinated. Those who have that single piece of card can be considered as the privileged ones.

This pandemic is a burden to society. But looking at the people in front of me now, making their way out of the public bus that they will be riding, I have encountered a more dreadful disease; the never-ending anti-poor policies by the government.

From the outside of the bus, a big tarpaulin was placed on the wall saying that vaccinated people are the only ones allowed to ride the bus. Two elderly citizens were begging an officer to let them take the bus because they needed to get home as soon as possible. The officer refused and shooed them like dogs. I looked down and held my own hand. I was trembling in fear as I looked at my feet, praying silently that I will not suffer the same way the two elderly did. In no time, the officer was already in front of me. Slowly handing the card that I’m holding, I did not bother lifting

my eyes, my feet still shaking from fear. I was only relieved when the officer gave back the card to me, saying that I can now ride the bus.

Months ago, I was confident going out for work.

The only thing I was worried about was getting sick; afraid that my sister will have no one to take care of her. I always knew everyone’s health was at stake because of this disease. But I am more than afraid of one thing, that we won’t have something to eat because there are too many restrictions. Policies that are of the same thing, impulsive without consideration to others. Seems like the card that the officer asks from me holds so much power that even one’s right to ride public transportation should be questionable. I almost forgot that months ago, they said that this card will not be mandatory.

Grabbing my things, I immediately went off the bus. Time to work again. “Sana marami ang bumili ngayon”, I murmur while looking at the crucifix that I am holding. I took the CDs out of my bag and got myself working. I have to sell more today.

In

the middle of my work, I noticed the jeepney drivers constantly checking every new passenger’s vaccination card

before they are allowed to ride the jeepney.

One driver caught my attention as he was counting the money he was holding. “Neng may barya ka ba? Kaunti pa lamang ang kita ko’t malapit na maggabi.

Mahirap ang pasahero ngayon. Hindi lahat pwedeng sumakay.”

He said while wiping the tear that escaped his eyes. Giving him the coins, I smiled warily and told him the words I also needed to tell myself this morning, “Matatapos din po ito.”

As I was about to take the bus going home, I was still nervous to be declined.

Maybe because it was my lucky day, no one notices what I am afraid of. I was able to get home. Once I was inside our house, I immediately took off the wig that I borrowed

from my friend. A hair that looks just like my sister’s. My sister turned to me and asked, “Wala po bang nakahalata na hindi sa’yo ang card?”

“Wala,” I said as I handed her her card. If only I’m not ill, maybe I can also get the vaccine.

As I took a seat, it just came to my senses that I had to lie about the card for me to actually ride a bus. I had to lie for my rights. Must not be known to that officer, or else I’ll be treated like a criminal for only trying to survive. That single piece of card dictating what rights I am only entitled to.

Indeed, that card is the new master of freedom.

GRAPHICS BY BRANDON DELOS SANTOS PAGE DESIGN BY DARWIN ESCARO

FEATURE |

TOMO LXIX, BILANG II NOVEMBER 2021 -JANUARY 15, 2022

5

GULONG SA PALAD NG

BAT IKANG MAN DURUGAS GRAPHICS BY ROSE CLAVANO PAGE DESIGN BY CHRISTIAN REGANIT

BY NEIL ANDREW FORMALEJO

Walang imposible! Ika nga ni Kuya Kim, ang buhay ay “weather weather lang”. Panapanahon lang ang mga ganap gaya ng pag usbong at pagbagsak, lalo na dito sa pinakamamahal nating bansang Pinas. Sa bayan ni Juan, pwede mong gawin ang nais mo kung alam mo lusutan ang mga butas sa ating sistema.

ng lipunan, isa sa may pinakamataas na antas ng responsibilidad. Kung tutuusin ay dapat mas salain ang mga uupo dahil kailangan ang may pino at mataas na karakter lamang ang maaaring magsilbi sa lipunan. Sa trabaho nga napakaistrikto ang aplikasyon, kaya nararapat lamang na mas maigting ang kwalipikasyon at pageksamin sa mga nagnanais kumandidato.

Akalain mo, isang macho-gwapito na leading man, nakakuha ng upuan sa pagka-senador, nakulong dahil sa korapsyon, nakalaya, pinili ulit ng mga tao at nakabalik sa upuan. Isang madam na may magarang koleksyon ng isang daang mamahaling sapatos, may hatol na guilty sa salang graft, nakatakbo ulit bilang gobernador ng kanyang balwarte.

Dating presidente ng Pilipinas, sangkot sa korapsyon, na-wheelchair, nanalo ulit ng pwesto sa kongreso. Narinig mo na ba ang awiting ganito? Paulitulit na lamang na tinig.

Malabong

Mahirap paniwalaan na marami pa rin ang sumusuporta sa mga kandidatong sangkot sa mga hindi kanais-nais na gawain. Ngunit gaano man ito nakakalungkot, ito ang realidad sa ating bansa. Sa ganitong mga pangyayari hindi mo mapigilang magtanong kung kailan nga ba matututo ang ating mga kababayan.

Marcos pa rin! Solid mga kabisig kahit anong mangyari.

Kahit sila’y nagnakaw.

Kahit sila pa ay pumatay. Solid na solid.

Kahit sino mapapa intindhin ang taas-kilay sa ganitong Siguro, dahil na rin sa sistema. Isang gulong, lohika na ganito kadalasan ng ganitong nakadesineyo upang laging lamang ang senaryo sa ating bansa, iikot sa itaas ang mga may manhid na ang mga kapangyarihan kahit sila ay pamantayan sa tao. Parang naging parte bumagsak nang malalim. na ito sa kung ano ang ‘Wag ka nang ma sorpresa. pagiging serbidor maituturing na normal.

Ganito ang kalakaran dito Ika nga ng iba, lahat sa ating bansa. Ayon sa ng lipunan naman daw ng nakaupo Commission on Elections ay may bahid ng mali (COMELEC), pwede pa dahil walang perpekto. rin makatakbo ang may hatol basta’t ito Ito ang lohika ng ibang tao kapag ay may sentensyang hanggang labing- sila’y tinatanong kung bakit napili walong buwan lamang. Isang salik din nila ang isang kandidatong hindi dito ay dapat ang krimeng kinasangkutan maganda ang rekord. Ayos lang na ng isang kandidato ay may timbang ng may ninakaw basta may nagawa. moral turpitude upang ma-diskwalipika. Ayos lang kung may nilabag basta Ang moral turpitude ay tinutukoy ng iyon ang napupusuan nila. Kahit mga aksyong may layuning makasama, sandamakmak na libro ang isampal mapaminsala at taliwas sa hustisya at at mga papel na patunay ng mga katotohanan. Hindi ba maituturing na hatol sa napili nilang kandidato, masama ang pagnanasa ng korapsyon? sadyang makunat ang mukha ng iba.

Gaya na lamang ni Imelda Marcos na may Kahit isinuka na ng bansa, pipiliin pa pitong hatol ng graft ng Sandiganbayan. ring muli.

Malabong intindihin ang lohika na ganito lamang ang pamantayan sa pagiging serbidor

Isa pang salik dito ay ang noon pa mang tipikal na pagkamkam ng balwarte bilang teritoryo. Solid na suporta daw ang hakot ng mga nasasakupan. Bakit pa nga

naman magsasayang ng oras ang mga tao para kilalanin ang mga bagong mukha?

Mas sanay sila sa pamilyar na karikatura ng ibang pagpipilian. Basta kung sino ang may matunog na apelyido, siya na ang karapat dapat. Solid North!

Dahil sa ganitong sistema, parang walang takot nang gumawa ng karumaldumal na krimen ang mga opisyal ng gobyerno. Nasa kanila pa rin ang huling halakhak. Kapag ikaw ay magsaliksik sa mga listahan ng bansang pinakakorap, asahan mo nang makikita mo ang Pinas.

Sagarang inaabuso naman ang gulong ng palad dito sa bansa ni Juan. Kung ikaw ay nagsasawa na, makialam ka. Walang ibang solusyon sa ganitong malubhang sakit ng Pilipinas kundi putulin ang sigalot na siklong lumalason sa ating bansa.

6 | FEATURE

The DEMOCRAT thedemocratunc

“If you are reading this, I just want to say I am proud of you!”

“You are not alone in this battle.”

“You are enough.”

“Padayon lang!”

These expressions are wonderfully crafted in just a few sets of words, and they are able to make so much impact on people’s mood. That is right, social media is so rich with these kind words of affirmation from loved ones and even strangers wishing for you to hold on and keep going. And fairly enough, they seem to have spoken to you in a way that helps you face the brighter side of your life–in an instant, it was like those words pushed you further than you have ever been. It’s splendid, isn’t it?

But with too much of these affirmations and less concrete actions, could we find ourselves pushed rather to the edge than where we should be?

It is important to note that mental health is like physical health that also finds moderation as an essential part of growth; like too much salt damages the liver, but ridiculously less of it can raise bad cholesterol. With that being said, you can cover your health well if you are informed enough of what is good for you and what is not.

The World Health Organization defines mental health as the “foundation for the well-being and effective functioning of individuals.” It is central to the brain, which is technically one organ but is the center of all human functioning. Mental health goes beyond the lines of extrinsic experiences and subjective philosophies–it is more than just the things that make people emotional. It is altogether psychological, neurological, and physiological.

This is a more than enough reason for people to be educated about how mental health works, and how it should be managed. However, everything surrounding talks on mental health varies due to difference in perspective; but the worst of it is the stigma which is a result of lack of proper education. Sadly, the Philippines is blatantly one of the countries with several stigmas on such an aspect.

In this country, Mental Health was only recognized legally as a basic human right in 2018 through Republic Act 110361 also known as the Mental Health Act. According to a 2019 review published in the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, the Philippines was one of the few countries without any mental health legislation prior to the passing of the law. There was a lack of education and guidance on the ethical practice of healthcare workers in the field, and patients’ rights were not clearly defined nor recognized. The government, which should have been taking the lead in bringing the subject to the table, had only recently paid attention to this essential part of human life. Until then, it has been the most neglected aspect of healthcare, as the same review had stated.

Psychology was not too popular in the advent of practical upskilling–with people looking for highly demanded jobs nationally and internationally. The same criticism of older generations regarding how unprofitable the job is–thus impractical–still exists to date. There are also confusions regarding the specializations in this field, and simply what their functions really are. Take for example the stigma on Guidance

Counselors; students would rather fear than feel at ease with them because of how poorly defined the job description is–at least to the students and how they were used to scare those “in need of disciplinary actions”. Students, teachers, and parents think their role is primarily to scold students to correct their behaviors. So, what their offices do is initiate conversations and approach stakeholders themselves to specify to them what their service really is about; after all, recipients of such service should be the first ones to know what they are in for.

While our mental health professionals are gradually getting the recognition they need and such a health aspect is gaining more attention and is initiating constructive conversations, the complications and its overlap to other societal aspects are still like an unsolved riddle. The Philippines has just started its journey towards a mental health-friendly country as the law mandates sufficient support in prioritizing mental health, as well as decentralizing its functions (e.g., community-based mental health care centers). However, let us not forget to mention how inaccessible they are as of now–its expensiveness and strong stigma being the top obvious reasons.

Mentally ill Filipinos need more medical attention than ever. Apparently, exposition of symptoms without diagnosis would make the bearer vulnerable to discrimination. It shows as if making fun of or judging someone for it is an easier way to interact than trying to understand them. This has built up a stigma, which is sadly all over social media; but in response, there are people who choose to do otherwise–to pause, think, and understand.

But despite this, there had been barely any education about how mental health works. As early as elementary, it could have been covered, considering of course the appropriate lessons as levels progress. People should know that they do not have to deal with their psychological/mental problems on their own, and that starts with proper education on the basic aspects of mental health; just as simple as emotions, what they are, and how they are managed would do for a start. It is high time we broaden our mental health vocabulary, as it is not just all about the mentally ill, but it simply is all about you, literally all of us as individuals and as one community.

Filipinos, in a collective culture, love the feeling of pakikisama, and social affirmation is a great part of our being. And it is understandable that we have reached the point of having affirmations from almost everywhere. While these are of great help in going through the day, mental health care does not boil down to motivations, to just checking on our loved ones, and to sending them mental help lines. It is time to step up the system with broader perspectives, education, facilities, and science.

Motivations might be enough to fuel many individuals at once, but stable mental health care systems can boost communities and help individuals function better.

BY NORENE CANTOR

GRAPHICS BY BRANDON DELOS SANTOS PAGE DESIGN BY JANNSEN MARTINEZ

EDITORIAL

TOMO LXIX, BILANG II NOVEMBER 2021 -JANUARY 15, 2022

Ticket to

7

Ride

In a world where the bulk of Filipinos secured their vaccination, enormous attention has been drawn to those who remain unvaccinated against COVID-19 whose primary concern is vaccine safety. If the government can ban smoking in enclosed public spaces to shield public health, then why cannot they provide protection against a highly contagious and deadly disease? Perhaps this is one of the government’s neoteric sentiments towards the region’s worst omicron-driven surge that led the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to rapidly implement the ‘no vax, no ride’ policy.

A policy as demarcating as this appears to be just burying the most imperative issues of lack of plan to suppress the surge and driving away from the rights-based approach such as free mass testing, efficient surveillance system, isolation, contact tracing, and treatment. The government must’ve been so fond of clinging to the anti-poor and anti-people policy-making schemes. If you think of it, the world of the unvaccinated is getting petite in the course of time which started from being blocked to government buildings, malls, restaurants and now prohibited from riding any public transport.

Looking back, the Philippines was the last country in Southeast Asia to launch its vaccination program where Duterte’s pandemic task force was sorely ill-prepared. Based on the Philippine National Deployment and Vaccination Plan for COVID-19 Vaccines (NDVP), the congress approved ₱82.5B to procure the vaccines where the ₱2.5B is readily available for nationwide usage. The grandness of it, ₱70B, turned out as an unfunded cheque placed separately under “unprogrammed appropriations”, while the rest is a backup fund which the finance department is still contending to subsidize.

With million vaccine doses reaped from donations and purchases, vaccination is still advancing at a turtle’s pace. Since Duterte’s task force advised congress behindhand, the vaccine rollout was needlessly put off and the Philippines succumbed to other countries in obtaining vaccine supplies from manufacturers besides Sinovac. Unable to solve constrictions in accession, coordination and administration, the government consistently misses its own aim. For these reasons, it is extremely unfair if those who want to get vaccinated but have limited access are denied public transportation. Ask yourself, is it always the people’s fault who were willing to line up to be vaccinated, when the government cannot address the demand?

Partially vaccinated passengers in Metro Manila have been reportedly unable to travel to their workplaces because the order only permits fully vaccinated people to hop on public transportation.

Because of this, the labor chief clarified that workers should be exempted from the rule. But the supposed transparency of the policy which is criticized as impractical and violative of people’s right to travel, emerged to be not fuzzy among enforcers who ended up forbidding workers who have not been fully vaccinated. Even if there is immunity made only for the unvaccinated that have medical reasons or have to do essentials, conversely, partially vaccinated commuters are strictly not given enough consideration by enforcers. Showing how detached officials are from the reality on the ground, the prevailing notion is that more people will lose jobs and livelihood, leaving them unable to pay for their basic needs.

In case of certain areas with a high demand for vaccines from the local population despite the virus spike, the implementation of irresistible measures seems to be irrelevant because the policy should focus on the regions with sluggish operations.

While DOTr defended the policy by stating that it’s meant to avert the exhaustive shutdown of public transport as observed in the fresh months of the pandemic, which is another means of keeping the economy open, curbing the mobility of 58 million unvaccinated Filipinos nowise entirely supports the operations on economy.

There may be admissible arguments for enforcing restrictions on individuals who are unvaccinated, but these people should not experience denial of access to essential government services. Despite every stipulation, unvaccinated individuals must also continue to be granted to access essential services. Similar policies must envisage valid exemptions such as religious and valid medical grounds. In making this possible, the implementation of the ‘no vax, no ride’ policy to the common Filipinos is like a tall barrier built out of

despair and jitters to hide from the real bandits. Who knows, this is what the government meant when they disclosed that the country was now more ready to face the Omicron variant after gaining ordeals from previous waves.

Whether citizens conform or not on this policy, there’s one thing where people could settle on – the government must escalate all efforts to convince more people to be vaccinated, so that a policy like this may not be necessary ultimately. While they believe that not imposing interventions is extra antipoor and anti-life that induces loss of life due to non-vaccinations, the other side of the coin similarly does not promote basic human rights. In solving the nation’s greatest challenge, it is a remorse that the proposed solution has been creating another dispute.

There are other deterrent actions that they can ratify in order to weaken the spread of the new variant and reassure citizens to get vaccinated without having to taint their basic human rights.

Assertive information dissemination would be a great strategy to mass educate every single member of barangay communities, especially those who lack internet access. There should also be extended information drives for the enforcers of the rule who ignore the weeping of the unvaccinated passengers.

And while it is the government’s responsibility to regard, protect, and effectuate every human’s rights, people also have to serve their part by being dutiful and promoting the common good to end the threat of pandemic.

Remember the time when Filipinos exasperated of beating poverty, corruption, and confusion and found their deceitful salvation in an aloof lawyer from the southern Philippines? Few years after his ruling, folks find themselves once more at the tail end of government priorities. This might sound forlorn, which it should be, but the repeating acts of inequality seem to reach out and hunt almost every aspect of Filipino lives. For all we know, the right of an individual will always be subservient to the rights of the majority.

8

DEVCOM

The DEMOCRAT thedemocratunc

THIS VS.DIS .

INFORMATION (Social Media in PH Political Campaigning Landscape)

BY KENN DANIEL MONTECILLO

I

t’s 7:00 a.m., and the noise of the streets has jolted you out of bed. The repeating election jingles and the endless honking of cars and trucks -- it’s 2010.

The campaign season has begun, and various motorcades and caravans will be present until the very last minute of the campaign season.

All of these, however, are just memories from years ago that you can find on Facebook.

Because, like any other, political campaigns today are transitioning from a traditional approach to the virtual world of social media.

Candidates’ faces, as well as their signature political colors and campaign taglines, were seen plastered across various social media platforms.

As we turn the pages of our calendars to a new year, the 2022 election is also just around the corner. How trustworthy do we believe these social media platforms are at disseminating accurate information, and should we unsubscribe to avoid being misled? #Throwback Political campaigns in the Philippines have long relied on one-way communication strategies, in which candidates communicate their political platforms through party rallies and propaganda distribution. This has become the standard method for politicians to communicate with their constituents in the hopes of gaining their support when it comes time to exercise their right to vote.

Politicians spark their imaginations by devising their own campaign gimmicks. Prior to the broken record-like stumped political speeches, there are dancers to make the event more festive, stand-up comedians to keep the audience laughing, and other performers, such as singers, to enliven the audience in between.

These politicians also distribute items such as umbrellas, t-shirts, candies, and fans, all of which have their faces glued on.

Not only are these politicians’ faces plastered across the streets and their names printed on tarpaulins and placards, but the majority of them also choose to pay millions in exchange for exposure to television media giants.

According to the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), candidates spent an average of PHP 54 million per day during the 2016 national election, or PHP 2.25 million per hour during the first 50 days of the 90-day election campaign period.

The PCIJ report was compiled using Nielsen Media’s monitoring of ads placed on TV, radio, and print media, as well as the corresponding rates for each, from February 9 to March 31, 2016.

Several faces began to appear on everyone’s television screens prior to the official campaign period. According to PCIJ, candidates for the 2022 Philippine elections ran tens of thousands of television, radio, print, and billboard advertisements worth P3.67 billion ($72 million) from January to September

2021, prior to filing Certificates of Candidacy (COCs). During the nine-month period, former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano was the top spender, with ads totaling P610.4 million ($12.2 million). #ICYMI (In Case You Missed It) So, just to refresh our memories, the Philippines is dubbed as the world’s most “social nation.” According to a Statistical Research Department report from August 2021, the Philippines had nearly 76 million Facebook users in 2020, with 31.2% of those between the ages of 18 and 24. The numbers are so large that citizens in the virtual world could be easily swayed by someone’s opinion, and people could be overburdened with information (or misinformation).

Furthermore, the spread of the COVID-19 virus compelled politicians to devise strategic campaigning strategies while following implemented health protocols. The situation was made worse when the country was infected with the highly transmissible Omicron variant of COVID-19 in the first quarter of the year – just months before the 2022 election.

Thus, the majority of politicians have chosen to campaign in the digital world of social media, just like how they are expected to go any length just to get the public’s attention.

Based on a 2017 survey, Filipinos with internet access trust social media more than mainstream media, with 87% saying they trust information found on social media. Some politicians use this mentality to their advantage in their campaigning to make their names more appealing to the public. A strong effect to remove any blemishes attached to them, as well as a heavy filter to beautify their names, is a winning formula for social media-worthy content, just like in a regular photo editing app.

The Philippines will be gearing up for the final stretch of national elections on May 9, 2022, in no time. In light of the country’s current situation, traditional, in-person campaign events are difficult to hold. Campaigns are deemed necessary for national election candidates because the numbers are too large to be narrowed, with Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. leading with 53%, followed by Vice President Leni Robredo with 20%, according to independent polling firm Pulse Asia from December 1 to December 6, 2021. It’s safe to assume that these candidates will engage in more virtual activity than in previous elections, as they will undoubtedly rely on social media to reach out to voters. #IMHO (In My Honest Opinion) While social media election campaigns may become the most convenient mode for both candidates and voters, they also have the potential to kill the truth. The voters have the freedom to examine and scrutinize the candidates using the information about them that is available on the internet. Some candidates, apparently, have the same freedom to spread false credentials, unverified achievements, and even misinformation and disinformation about their opponents.

Consuming content through social media is an easy and convenient option. On the other hand, it has become a prime platform for

swaying public opinion through manipulated content designed to deceive people’s perceptions as a result of its widespread use. It has become too destructive because it is now being used not only to conceal the truth, but also to fabricate lies and even revise what is claimed to be “the truth.”

Desperate, dirty tactics abound in the cyberspace of the internet. As some people set up their own troll farms to create inflammatory content online in order to gain attention, political campaigns are becoming more extreme. These trolls appear to be endemic in the Philippines, as more and more people, including politicians, are using them to cast negative light on their political opponents.

As a result of social media, the country’s political landscape has changed dramatically.

Online polls have had a significant impact on election dynamics, primarily persuading undecided voters who rely heavily on pre-election polls and will simply join the bandwagon effect. It was also turned into a battleground for die-hard and rabid supporters willing to throw decency and ethics out the window in order to protect their bets. #Periodt During the campaign season for the 2022 elections, Google announced that it would no longer accept political ads in the Philippines.

As politicians flocked to social media to launch their 2022 campaigns, especially in light of pandemic-related mobility restrictions, it’s a smart move for Google to distance themselves from the possible spread of misinformation on their large platform.

Meanwhile, Facebook has promised to take more proactive measures in the run-up to the May 2022 election. Nawab Osman, Facebook’s Asia-Pacific head of CounterTerrorism and Dangerous Organizations, pledged that their content would not be misused by individuals or groups seeking to disrupt the election process.

As various social media giants commit initiatives, COMELEC is taking steps to expand social media regulation in connection with virtual campaigns. Only candidate and political party-registered websites, blogs, and social media pages may run campaign ads for the May 9, 2022, elections, and they must disclose that these are paid advertisements and identify who paid for them, according to COMELEC. I suppose social media is here to stay for the foreseeable future. Countless times I heard people ask, “Is social media an advantage or disadvantage to mankind?” I’d like to respond that it’s both, and that it’s up to us to make it work for us or against us. As responsible citizens and users patronaging several social media platforms, we shall observe to follow only credible sites. As we heavily depend on these in terms of getting information, let us subscribe to media outlets that spread only authentic information.

Let us join forces to shut down malicious social media accounts that spread false information. We may not be able to control the creation of this deliberate misinformation, but we can all put a period to it.

GRAPHICS BY CYEN ESCLANDA LAYOUT BY CHRISTIAN REGANIT

OPINION

TOMO LXIX, BILANG II NOVEMBER 2021 -JANUARY 15, 2022

9

Hindi po kami Virus-proof BLACK SHEET CHAREY MAE ALVARADO @ chalvaradz • alvaradochareymae@gmail.com

Noon, signal no. 3 na, ang college students may pasok pa rin. Ngayon, Alert level 3 na may face-toface pa rin. Tss..CHED ano na?

S

a simula palang alam na ng mga opisyal ng edukasyon ang mga hamon na dulot ng online at blended learning sa mga magaaral at guro. Nariyan pa ang mga problema tulad ng kakulangan ng mga kinakailangang gadget at koneksyon sa internet para sa distance learning. At lalo na ang problema sa mga bayaran na hindi naman kinakailangan tulad ng lab fees at ibang miscellaneous fees dahil sa bahay lang naman nag-aaral.

Ngunit ang online at blended learning ay itinuring na mas mahusay at mabuti kaysa sa hindi makapag-aral ang mga estudyante habang nananatili sa bahay. Dalawang taon na rin nang mawalay tayo sa eskwelahan, sadyang sobrang sabik sa mga kaganapan sa loob ng paaralan. Lalo na ang matuto kasama ang mga kaeskwela at ang guro na pisikal na nagtuturo.

Dahil sa mga ganitong hamon sa edukasyon, nagkaroon ng mga panukala noon pang nakaraang taon upang ipagpatuloy ang limitadong klase sa mga lugar na mababa ang panganib ng pagkalat ng COVID. Kaya’t maraming pagkakataon na sumigaw tayo ng “Limited face-to-face”.

Paulit-ulit, nananawagan na sana pagbigyan na tayong mga estudyante. Napakinggan naman, kaso ang problema ay napahintulutan kung kailan masyado nang delikado at dumagdag nang sobra ang mga kaso na nagkakaroon ng sakit buhat ng Omicron Variant na biglang kumalat sa bansa

pagkatapos ng bagong taon.

Napakaganda ng timing!

Hindi na nakapagtataka na marami ang nadismaya at bumatikos sa balitang nais ng Commision on Higher Education (CHED) na ituloy ang limitadong face-to-face class sa lahat ng college programs sa mga lugar na nasa ilalim ng Alert Level 3.

Ang alert level status na ito ay hudyat na medyo mabilis ang pagkalat ng bayrus sa lugar na nasa ganitong lebel. At dahil sa biglaang pagrami ng nahahawa, marami ring lugar sa bansa ang nasa Alert Level 3. Kaya’t halos ang lahat ay nabahala samantalang ang CHED ay hindi man lang iniisip ang magiging resulta ng desisyon nila. Mukhang mas nilalagay pa nila sa kapahamakan ang mga estudyante na ang nais lang naman ay ligtas na balikeskwela.

Maaalalang nauna nang bumalik paunti-unti ang mga estudyanteng nasa kursong medisina, narsing at iba pang kaugnay dito sa kanya-kanyang mga unibersidad noong nakaraang taon, at mga lugar na may mababang alert levels noong Disyembre 2021—ang Phase 1 ng reopening plan ng CHED. Sa phase 2, naman ito ang ay plano noon pang Nobyembre 2021 na may face-to-face na klase ang mga HEI kahit nasa Alert Level 3. Ngayong Enero umusbong bigla ang baging variant na Omicron at mabilis itong kumakalat. Ngunit, kahit ganoon ay hindi binago ang

plano at sinunod pa rin. At muling silang naghayag sa mga eskwelahan na maaari na raw ang mga ito na magbukas ng klase sa katapusan ng buwan.

Ang hindi ko talaga maintindihan kung paano nagdesisyon ang ahensyang ito.

Wala nga man lang mass testing na ginagawa ang gobyerno.

Paano masisigurong ligtas nga talaga? Sa patuloy na pagkurba ng bilang ng dinadapuan ng bayrus na umaabot na ngayon sa tatlong milyon ang kabuuang datos ay papayagan pa rin ang balik-eskwela. Inihayag din naman nila na nasa kamay pa rin ng mga unibersidad kung sa tingin nila ay mas mabuti ito para sa mga estudyante, at kung sumusunod sa gabay ng IATF na nagsasabing ang maaari lang pumasok na mag-aaral ay ang mga fully vaccinated, 30% ang papayagan sa loob ng paaralan at 50% naman sa labas.

Ayon pa sa kanila, ‘di na kailangan mag-apply ng mga kolehiyo at unibersidad upang sumabay sa pagbubukas muli ng klase. Bakit hindi? Paano malalaman kung pasok ba ang isang paaralan sa mga dapat isaalang-alang para masigurong ligtas nga ang mga ito? Bakit naging mas naging maluwag kung kailan mas kailangang maging maghigpit at magdoble ingat? Dapat magkaroon pa rin ng pagsusuri tulad ng ginagawa bago payagan ang mga

Samantala, nang mga panahong iyon ay hindi na masyadong mapagbanta ang COVID-19 at unti-unti na rin natututo ang mga tao sa new normal ngunit dito ay mas naging mahigpit.

eskwelahan sa pagpapasok ulit ng mga estudyante ng mga health-related course.

Samantala, nang mga panahong iyon ay hindi na masyadong mapagbanta ang COVID-19 at unti-unti na rin natututo ang mga tao sa new normal ngunit dito ay mas naging mahigpit. Mayroon pang mga unibersidad ang hindi agad naaprubahan at naghintay pa ng ilang buwan para tuluyang maging sapat upang ligtas ang mga mag-aaral. Baliktad ata ang desisyon na nagagawa ng CHED patungkol dito.

Sana naman ay may maayos na programa na pinagplanuhan ng mabuti upang maging panatag ang kalooban ng mga magulang at mag-aaral. Lumalabas na pabigla-bigla ng desisyon at hindi kinokonsidera ang kalusugan at kaligtasan ng mga estudyante. Nariyang ang pangangailangan na ipagpatuloy ang mga klase ngunit higit pa ring mahalaga ang makakabuti sa mga estudyante sa kolehiyo. Hindi naman virus-proof ang katawan namin para hindi mangamba na mahawa ng sakit. Pati na rin ang mga guro nakikipagbuno para maging maayos ang edukasyon sa panahon ng pandemya.

10 | OPINION

The DEMOCRAT thedemocratunc

MINE: ANG E-SHOPPING SPREE P’GEMINI EARL DWIGHT SERRADO @mx_dearl • earldwight023@gmail.com

“Mine!”

“Na-add to cart mo na ba teh?”

S

a pamamagitan ng paggamit ng cellphone o kung ano pa mang gadget, madali na ang akses natin hindi lang sa impormasyon, kundi pati sa mga produkto at serbisyong nais nating tangkilikin at bilhin upang mapakinabangan buhat ng pag-usbong ng online shopping. Scroll lang nang scroll ay maraming pagpipilian na swak na swak sa pangangailangan mo.

Naging talamak at marami ang tumangkilik at mas tumatangkilik dito. Ito ay isang pamamaraan ng pagbibili ng mga produkto o serbisyo sa pamamagitan ng mga online websites, kung saan ang mga seller o tagatinda o may-ari ng negosyo ay ibinabahagi at isinasapubliko ang mga ito upang mas malaking sakop ng publiko ang maabot ng kanilang mga paninda. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Shopee, Lazada, at marami pang iba, ay ilan sa mga aplikasyong nagiging daan ng mga maliliit at malalaking mga negosyante upang itinda ang kanilang mga produkto.

Sa katunayan, lumobo ang bilang ng mga Pilipinong gumamit ng online shopping applications. Mula sa lima bago ang paglala ng pandemya, pito

na sa sampung Pilipino ang nag o-online shopping, ayon sa pinakabagong ulat, dahil na nga rin sa restriksyon sa paggalaw ng mga tao at pagsasagawa ng social distancing buhat na rin sa pag-iiwas ng patuloy na pagdami ng mga tinatamaan ng sakit dulot ng Corona Virus 2019.

Malaking tipid at iwas sa pagod ang pamamaraang ito ng pagbibili. Nakatulong itong bawasan ang oras sa iyong pagpili dahil na rin sa madaling ma-filter ang mga produktong hinahanap mo, kung kaya’t iwas pagod na rin kaysa sa paglilibot sa mga malls o department stores. Ang kinaganda pa nito, may barayti o pagpipilian ka depende sa iyong nais. Hindi lang iyan, makatitipid ka rin sa pamimili buhat na rin mga mga diskwentong hatid ng mga shop vouchers. Ang mga ito ay mga digital certificates na ibinibigay sa mga mamimili na nakadepende sa bilang at halaga ng iyong binibili. Dahil na nga rin may karagdagang bayad para sa shipping o delivery fee, madalas naman ay may vouchers

upang makadiskwento, o di kaya naman ay makalibre sa karagdagang bayad. Malaking tipid rin ang pamimili buhat na rin nga sa murang presyong nakatalaga sa mga produktong nakapost sa mga online stores.

Hindi lamang ang mga mamimimili ang talagang nabebenipisyuhan ng online shopping kundi maging na rin ang mga maliliit at malalaking mga negosyante. Hindi lang dahil nga ay mas malawak ang kanilang naaabot na konsyumer, ngunit nagbukas rin ito ng maraming oportunidad sa ibang tao na magsimula rin ng kanilang sariling negosyo.

Sa katunayan, marami na rin tayong mga kaibigang nagwholesale purchase o bultuhang pagbili ng mga produkto upang ipagbili ito sa kanilang mga kakilala. Kung kaya ay nauso rin ang online live selling ng mga produkto gamit ang iba’t ibang social media applications, tulad ng Facebook. Mabilis ang pag-

Hindi lang dahil nga ay mas malawak ang kanilang naaabot na konsyumer, nagbukas rin ito ng maraming oportunidad sa ibang tao na magsimula rin ng kanilang sariling negosyo.

ikot ng ekonomiya, partikular na ng pera, dahil sa magandang kalakalang hatid ng online shopping.

Sa patuloy na pagbabago ng teknolohiyang tumutugon sa ating mga pangangailangan, madali na nating naaabot at nabibili ang mga produkto at serbisyong swak sa atin.

Samakatuwid, ang pagpapatuloy sa pagtatangkilik ng online shopping applications ay malaking tulong hindi lang sa mga indibidwal na nais na ring magsimula ng kanilang pangarap na negosyo, kundi pati na rin sa mga mamimimiling lumiligaya sa mga produktong kanilang pinapatron.

OPINION

TOMO LXIX, BILANG II NOVEMBER 2021 -JANUARY 15, 2022

11

Battle for the truth VITO CORLEONE PAOLO GABRIEL JAMER @paolojamer • paolojamer@gmail.com

My 65-year old auntie, who witnessed the martial law era, argued with me that martial law years were the golden era of their time since there was peace and order in the country and Filipinos were disciplined at that time. She added that in Naga City there are no human rights violations as far as her memory can recall. “The truth is during martial law that is the best years of my life,” my auntie decisively said.

F

rom then on, I am confused about the truth since there are many boomers in our family that are convinced that romanticizes orderliness during martial law years until such time that I figured out that there are 2 faces of the truth. One which is beneficial and the other which is wicked. If the truth for some is beneficial, then can we be indifferent to the others who have experienced the evil truth of a particular event such as martial law years, which is considered as one of the darkest eras in Philippine history?

The battle for truth remains a constant fight because of this apathy and narcissistic mentality.

There are Filipinos who still believe that the Marcoses are the greatest leaders disregarding the truth that there were human rights violations during martial law years and it is not to be regarded as golden age since there are pieces of evidence that suffice the fact of abuses, extrajudicial killings, corruption and violations of human rights. These Filipinos can still fathom to claim such when in fact 70,000 were incarcerated, 77 disappeared, 3,275 extrajudicially killed and 35,000 tortured as provided by Amnesty International.

These atrocities were further corroborated by Primitivo Mijares, media man of Ferdinand Marcos and a

writer of the book titled, “The Conjugal Dictatorship,” wherein he narrated how his youngest son disappeared, was tortured, and eventually found dead due to his father’s revelations in the said book. This horrific tragedy that happened to the life of Mijares and his son manifests the brutal rule of the Marcos rule. If someone will oppose their policies, for sure anytime Marcos men will just abduct them.

There are still claims of the Marcoses that the martial law years is the golden age of economy for the Filipinos since the Philippines was exporting rice to other countries and the extravagant projects of the First Lady Imelda Marcos as the greatest legacy of the Marcos regime up to now. The Martial Law Museum stated in its report that the debt of the Philippines skyrocketed to $28.26 billion in 1986 from $0.36 billion in 1961.

More so, the infrastructures being bragged by Imelda are funded by debts that sacrifice long-term benefits for shortterm gratification and put future generations’ burden on paying these debts.

With these historical facts and data, claims that martial law years being a golden age for Filipinos should be stricken

out and those Filipinos made to believe in those golden lies must adhere also to the totality of what happened at that time. Nevertheless, they cannot just turn a blind eye that the protagonists’ reality of Martial law years should only be the content of our history.

More than that, it is crucial for learning especially in seeking historical truths of martial law that it never brought golden haven to all Filipinos. Most Filipinos experienced death already while they are longing for life.

Now, the students are being targeted to believe in those lies of the Marcos family by revising history in textbooks.

These disgraceful acts made a great divide among Filipinos of the truth. The youth who were not yet born at that time were susceptible to be fooled, but not all. Adults who never experienced cruelty at that time persuade the young that indeed there is discipline and clamors of being the best days of their life without regard to those martial law victims.

It is high time for all of us

Are you all oblivious of the brutality of martial law since you did not experience this tragedy of being tortured and threatened of your life? Are you apathetic to my yearning for justice? You should pray that it will never happen to you and your family. to be united on what is right.

The Filipinos should dispel lies and apathy so that victims of the cruel martial law years will be alleviated of the pain which is irreversible all at once by the proliferation of the truth. The reverence of the wholistic truth should be the means for us to be united as Filipinos especially now that the election nears with the namesake dictator’s son, Ferdinand “Bongbong “Marcos Jr, aspires to be the president of the Philippines.

All students have the responsibility of ascertaining the historical fact that martial law years are not the golden age of the Filipinos and that must remain in the textbooks and minds of all Filipinos. Students now, being learners and the future generation, are imbued with this promising responsibility of valuing patriotism, historical truth, and advancing Filipinos’ interest first.

An octogenarian martial law victim once said, “Are you all oblivious of the brutality of martial law since you did not experience this tragedy of being tortured and threatened of your life? Are you apathetic to my yearning for justice? You should pray that it will never happen to you and your family.”

12

| LAMPOON

O

h pak! Chikana, bless!!

Maliputon baga na depz, pm kung depz ka man. EMZ! Tara? Kumusta an pagsabat sa bagong taon na mayong panlasa ta inuuragan kang kararabas na lintik ka? EMZ ul8. Anw, new year, new covid variant, new mental suffering, same lab fee (asikaso man yoensi, garo kamo others), and same mental gymnastics man giraray kang mga fanatic ni daddy digs <3!!

Kumusta ka? Kumusta pagklase mo? Oh baad ma-fall ka sako tamili tinawan takang dikit na atensyon hahaha grabe na yan kaya ka sana pirmi nag-aasa ta tamili ayos ang typings saka complete ang punctuation marks kang ka-chat mo huna mo si the one mo na.

Haist, dae ko na palalawigon mga echos ko digdi ta aram kong si chismis man sana ang gusto nindo madangog mga lintikuras na ini pero syempre bago yan mapabisto muna ako dawa ang tsansa na mabisto nindo ako is kasing sadit kang ano mo... kang pasensya sa lab fee na yan na dae mawara-wara. Ako hali sa department na ang council daa, ini chismis man sana, pirmi daa nawawaran kwarta lalo na kadtong huring intrams bago magpandemic tas hasta daa tudei, wiz ma-knows sines nagjikitar hahhahaha. Oh siya, udi na an recap kan mga ganaps puon kang bulan nin nov kaiba an sakuyang mga side comment ta syempre relevant ako hihi.

Tanda nindo kadtong biglang nag-implement ang UNC na dapat 60% kang tuition fee mo, paid na para mahiling mo grades mo sa portal?? Syempre tanda mo to ta saro ka man sa dae pa bayad kang mga panahon na to hahahhahahaha parehas kita hahahah #SameVibes #SameFeelings.

Tinarakig ako kadto ta sabi ko, makamunduon man dae ko mahihiling si mga uno kong grade,,, emz!!

Pero ano man daw naisip kang yoensi anes? Tag-tius na gayod kaya may papremium kineme naman. Kulang pa gayod si lab fee na sinisingil ninda sato dawa dae man kita naglalab ta pandemic gayerd anes?? Pero honestly, barda ako kang naaraman ko to ta biriglaan si implementation kadto garo lamang si naaraman mong kabit ka palan after ka ma post sa fb with a caption “kati yarn??”

Pero tig-ease man lang to eventually kang admin tas next sem na pinatupad kaya kitang mga sakit sa buhay, tamang uru-estimar na lang muna kang grade kung pasangawa or pass-away hasta makabayad

TIngog k

UNIbersidad o

GRAPHICS BY CYEN LAYOUT BY CHRIST

kan obal

ESCLANDA TIAN REGANIT

The DEMOCRAT thedemocratunc

anek?

Ay ini, gusto ko ning next na ire-recap ko, itong aldaw na tigannounce kang IATF na pwede na mag f2f ang gabos na college programs haha. Honestly, torn ako what to feel upon hearing that news OH PAK! Pang-EIE Champion ang galawan!!

SYEMPRE happy ako ta talagang mayo ako manudan sa online set-up bhie, atang may mga prof na hugakon talaga magtukdo since f2f, mas naghugak pa sinda ngonian na online set-up!! (sinuntok si ma’am, este ang pader). Kaso on the other side, medj hesitant ako mag f2f ta dae na ako makaka-google sa exam tas quillbot sa essay... MGA MA’AM/SIR IF YOU ARE READING THIS PLS CLOSE YOUR EYES LALO NA KUNG ANG MGA PA QUIZ PO NINDO, MAKUKUA SA COURSE HERO. On a serious note, syempre may mga UNCean na dae tulos makakaklase ning f2f lalo na pag harayo ang balur sa izkul ta need mag boarding house and byahe-byahe, syempre dahil sa pandemic dakol nawaran trabaho na parents kaya magkakasarakitan ang ibang student na mag-f2f or worse dae na sinda magklase at all kaya ko sa-10-ion ko man lang sa IATF saka CHED, planuhan na maray ang pag kondusir f2f bako tong kasta sana ma-implement without assessing the whole situation tas waley contingency plan, bako tong Alert Level 3 na most cities sa PH tas ma push through pa nanggad sa f2f, ano kami made of steal? Este steel ta ang steal palan is itong sarong presidential aspirant na paraikit tas paragadan ang angkan.

Tanda nindo itong nagka online barda ta ang UNC-USG admin, naglaag ‘men empowerment’ rep sa execomm ninda? Tas may mga alumni saka taga ibang school na nag call out man sa USG ta ano man daa ta naglaag men empowerment rep hahahhaha tanda ko may sarong student na naghagad list of cases kung sain may mga antimen polices sa UNC na nakakatumak sa rights kang mga lalake tas hinagadan din plans pero waley natao haist bareta ko pa hali sa sarong credible source, tig-argue daa kang sarong officer na kaya daa may men empowerment rep ta pirmi naman daa women empowerment inuurulayan, hanep ta naumay tas may sarong officer na nag-tweet na dapat ba daa oppressed lang may empowerment and representation. Malalaon si barda kato pero sa totoo lang mga marzy ha, men are oppressed by the society ruled by men itself kaya ngani ang feminism movement, pirming tigiinclude sa discussion ang plight kang men inflicted by the patriarchal society oh diba dami ko ebas pero

sa recit waley, emz. Tas syempre talagang si oppressed sector talaga ang need empowerment and representation ta oppressed ngani, alangan man i-empower pa si mga beneficiary kang power imbalance, edi malala ang power inequality and oppression, pero maray na lang madali kaulay ang USG, tiggibo na

ninda Gender and Development Focal reps, ganyan dapat, nagdadangog sa constituents <3 naalala ko may pa statement pa sinda kadto tas may pa thank you sa admin. Syeah, thanksgiving yarn? Chz lablab USG. Huna nindo tapos na ako? Dae pa, ugwa pa akong cheka hahaha. Naalala ko kadtong nag color pink ang grounds kang UNC!! Dawa dae nagluwas official statement ang UNC na means ninda to of endorsement sa candidacy ni VP Leni, syempre inassume ta na na iyo talaga i mean out of all presidential candidates ngonian na election, sisay pa man ang worthy of endorsement.

Aside sa UNCean man si VP, nahiling ta baga na talagang nag-function sya even during her congress years. Oh maaanggot na naman ining mga BBM saka DDS fanatics. Kalma lang mga marzy, nagsasabi lang me facts#.

Sending love sa SCon kang UNC na nagpasar reso regarding professors supporting preferred pronouns kang mga students. Magdiwang! I mean if homophobic or transphobic ka pa rin this year, get a life hahahah. Seriously, demeaning baga sa end kang mga co-students ta na member kang LGBTQ community na ma-misgender.

Imagine, you identify yourself as a woman tas aapudon kang mister sa klase??? Nakakawara bagang angas as if magiging kabawasan sa profs ta if apudon ninda ang mga members kang LGBTQ community kang pronoun na preferred

ninda adi?

Udi paaaa, ugmahon talaga ako kang naging covid-free ang Naga City for 6 consecutive days tas biglang BOOM! Alert Level 3. From zero cases naging 100’s per day. Ang cheka sa 7hol, omicron na daa ning namamati ta, efek! New Year, New Variant man talaga. Pero herak na naman kang mga frontliners ta bhie, overworked tas underpaid na naman kaya mga mare, magpa vaxx na kamo ta ano pa man hinahalat. Dae maghadit ta clinically tested man mga vaxx ta and ang side-effect from the vaxx is naturalism hehe.

Izpiking of Naga City, mainitinit ang election this year former mayor vs incumbent mayor vs long-time mayor aspirant ang naglalaban-laban. Pero risa nindo mga marzy, gabos na tarp kang ciudad sa mga projects kaini, may mga mukhang nakataplak?

Epal anez? Kung mahiling gayod yan ni Mayor Jess, sya mismo mapukit kayan. Tanda ko pa itong birthday ni Mayor Jess tas may pa tarpa ang city tas sa baba, greetings and pic pa kadtong mayor na secret ko na lang ang name. Garo ngani nabardet duman si VP ta on the same day, niluwas ni mamshie mo si order ni Mayor Jess about Anti-Epal thing kang sya DILG Secretary pa, kaloka ka yormie!!

Ini man si same yormie na tig-invite kang USG na mag-talk dapat sa sarong seminar about leadership pero imbes na talk/speech about leadership, nagtaram sya about plans and propaganda nya bhieeee, aminin sa mga student leaders na nag-attend, nabardet man kamo duman ;-) Oh siya, hanggang digdi na sana ta garo baga nasiraman na kamo sa mga chismis kez!! Haist second sem na lamang dae pa nabawasan lab fee kang yoensi, kukunat emz not emz!! Arasikaso na kang pagbuhay ta dae pwedeng habang-buhay ka palamunin. Good luck ngoniang second sem, ayos lang magklase basta tultulon ang pagtiktok saka paggala iyo? Know your priorities marzy!! Oh sige na, bye na. Lowbat na phone ko, saaga na lang ulit. Sleep tight, i love you. Oh may naalala ka?

Tama na yan marzy, labanan mo. Okay lang maalala yan and ma-miss mo sya pero always remember the disrespect, okie? Sige na, mga marichu, marites, mariyas, asin marzy kong mahal.

Next tingog ulit, pramis dae ko kamo bibitinon arog kang mga ex nindo, chariz! Byeeee~

14

COVER STORY

50-50

The DEMOCRAT thedemocratunc

Vision Sa Eleksyon?

BY JHEZYLLE FAYE B. LORIA

Magandang umaga rin.

Elsa Zamora, 40 años.

Ano kamo? Boboto?

Ewan. Bahala na.

Depende.

Ni minsan ‘di ko man lang pinaghandaan ang araw na ito katulad ng bagong taon at aking kaarawan. Itinuring ko lamang itong parte ng buhay ng isang mamamayan na kailangang gawin bawat tatlong taon o anim na taon na para bang leap year na kumbaga ay tungkulin lamang at hindi isang karapatan at pribilehiyo. Ni minsan ‘di ko ito itinuring na espesyal na kailangan pang paghandaan.

Limot ko na kung kailan ako huling nasabik sa pagboto sa halalan. Malamang, ‘yung unang beses ko ring pagboto sapagkat ‘di ko pa nararanasan ang madismaya sa pag-asa na tuparin ng mga pulitiko ang kanilang ipinangakong plataporma.

Haaay… akala ko dati kapag binigyan ka ng kendi ng mga dumadaang kandidato ay kailangan mo na rin silang iboto. Ngunit hindi pala yun ang dapat na batayan o ang pera mang ibinibigay nila sa’yo, bagkus ang plataporma nila at kung may kakayahan nga ba talaga silang tuparin ang mga ito. Kapani-paniwala at posible ba ang mga ito, o sadyang inilagay lang upang magmukha silang maraming magagagawa?

Nakakairita.

Kasi gumising kami nang maaga at pumila nang matagalpara lang mabungaran ang ganitong klase ng mga politiko. Sayang lang ang tintang ginamit at espasyo na pinaglagyan ng kanilang pangalan sa balota.

‘Yung iba naman ay naidyaryo, nairadyo at naibalita pa sa telebisyon ang kanilang pagkasangkot doon sa pork barrel scam, aba’t talagang nakuha pang tumakbo at idinaan pa sa sayaw. Wala pa ngang plataporma. Ang mas nakakapag-init ng aking ulo eh binoboto pa rin ng mga ignoranteng botanteng dahil nakita na nila sa pelikula o kaya’y gwapo raw. Aba’y huwag naman nilang idamay kaming mga nag-iisip bago bumoto

sa kakatihan nila. Bansa natin ang nakasalalay dito.

Marami-rami na ring artista ang pumasok sa pagpopolitika. Ang ilan, propesyon talaga nila, ang iba naman ay tuwing eleksyon nagwoworkshop bago humarap sa tao. Karamihan ‘di mo mapagkatiwalaan at puro pabango.

Nakakasuka.

Sana matauhan na ang mga tao.

Ang nakakatuwa eh nakikita ko ang mga kabataan ngayon na mas nakikilahok sa usaping politikal. ‘Yung isa ko ngang anak na nasa elementary pa lang ay pinapabayaan kong makinig sa usapan naming matatanda kung tungkol sa ekonomiya o politika. Hindi dapat sila pinagbabawalang makilahok dahil sabik sila sa kaalaman.

Hindi naman masama ang paggamit ng social media at internet kung ginagamit mo ito sa mabuti at hindi natatabunan ang kung ano mang bagay ang itinuro sa paaralan. Ang masama eh idinipende mo na lahat ng impormasyon na isiniksik mo sa iyong isip sa internet at hindi na pinapaniwalaan ang dati ng natutunan sa paaralan.

Mahirap maging bulag sa katotohanan lalo na kung nasa harapan ng nakalatag sa’yo ang mga patotoo ay patuloy pa rin sapagkat pilit mong ipinipikit ang iyong mga mata at tinatakpan ang iyong mga tenga.

Sa kabataan, ang masasabi ko ay hindi masama ang may makuha kang kaalaman sa mga bagong teknolohiya ngayon, pero huwag mong hayaang ito ang magpatakbo ng iyong pagdedesisyon sa susunod na halalan. Ang iyong susunod na anim na taon ang nakasalalay rito.

“Apply now, suffer later.” –Ping Lacson Ayon sa tweet mula sa account ng isa sa mga tumatakbo sa pagka-presidente, mayroon lang namang sampung problemang kakaharapin ang sunod na mailuluklok sa pinakamataas na pwesto sa bansa. Hindi para umatras ang mga tatakbo, bagkus upang ipakitang hindi lamang basta-basta ang posisyon na kanilang tatahakin.

Nangagailangan ito ng maayos na pamamahala.

Hindi naman para magtanim ng pangamba sa mga botante, bagkus magtanim pa ng

pagnanais sa kanilang isip na mailuklok ang karapat-dapat na kandidato sa pagkapangulo.

Kabilang rito ang isyu patungkol sa West Philippine Sea, COVID-19, ang trilyon-trilyong utang ng bansa, pagtaas ng unemployment rate, at pagbaba ng tax revenue.

Marahil sobra pa sa sampung nakalista ni Lacson ang ilan pa sa iba pang kinakaharap na problema ng ating bansa ngunit pinapakita lamang dito na kailangang may kaalaman sa ekonomiya ang dapat na mamuno sa atin at hindi lang basta pumili dahil swak sila sa ating style at panlasa o dahil sa gusto lang natin.

Malaki ang nakataya sa susunod na halalan.

Ito ang magpapasiya ng iyong hinaharap. Kung paano gagalaw ang pagtaas ng bilihin magmula sa iyong kinakain hanggang sa gasolina na nagpapatakbo ng iyong sasakyan at direktang makaaapekto rin sa pamasahe sa pampublikong transportasyon; ang posibilidad na makapaghanap ka agad ng trabaho at pagiging panatag sa pagkakaroon ng ligtas na bansa.

Napakaraming maaapektuhan sa pagpalit ng lider dahil dito masusukat kung gaano kagaling ang isang lider ng bansa. Hindi natin maaaring isisi sa gobyerno ang ating kahirapan, ngunit ang mga bagay na ating inaasahan sa pamumuhay tulad ng trabaho, ang gobyerno ay mayroong kontrol sa pagiging mababa o pagtaas naman ng minimum wage sa bawat lugar. Mabigat ang trabaho pero kaunti lang ang sahod. Hindi sapat sa karaniwang pamilyang Pilipino. Dagdag pa ang inflation na nagpapahirap sa mga tao.

Limang Milyong Dagdag Ikinatuwa naman ng pamahalaan ang pagdagdag ng mga botanteng nagparehistro para sa Halalan 2022. Higit sa apat na milyon naman dito ay mga kabataaan ayon sa kanila. Sa panahon ngayon, mas may kabuluhan ang mga pinaguusapan ng mga netizens sa Facebook, kompara dati kung saan ginagamit lang ito para mag-post ng kanilang litrato. Kung iyong mapapansin, may mga post ngayon na nakikilahok ang netizens sa mga usaping politikal o ano pa mang mag-trending o matunog na balita. Nabansagan na ngang ‘woke

culture’ ang kasalukuyang henerasyon dahil lahat na lang daw ng topic ay pinagdedebatehan.

Parating may masasabi ang bawat kampo. Minsan nga’y kung ano ang nagte-trend na balita ay nakakaapekto na rin sa ibang desisyon ng iba.

Hindi pa nagpapalit ang taon ay napakainit na talaga ng debate ng mga tao sa Facebook sa kung sino ang karapat-dapat na mamuno. Isa ito sa magagandang naging epekto ng social media, na akala ng ilan ay magbubunsod lang ng labis na pagbabad dito nang walang natututuhan.

“Aba’y nangako na nga kami, kailangan pa bagang tuparin?”

Marahil ‘yan ang pangisi nilang iniisip habang pinagmamasadan ang naloko na naman nilang mga botante na patuloy pa ring bumoboto sa kanila sa kabila ng kawalan ng kongkretong nagawa ang mga ito bukod sa pagpapagawa ng tarpaulin na nagpapasalamat sa sariling ipinatayo na galing naman sa pondo ng bayan.

Nawa’y ‘di na natin masilayan pa ito pagkatapos ng eleksyon at ‘di na maranasan ng ating magiging mga anak. Napakatagal ng anim na taon. Hindi ito basta lumilipas lang na parang hangin kung iyong gustuhin. Mararamdaman at mararamdaman mo ang epekto ng kanilang pamumuno sa pamamagitan ng mga panukalang kanilang ipapatupad.

Sabi ng ilan, mulat na daw tayo.

“Pare-pareho lang naman silang lahat, dun na tayo sa may nagawa.”

“Siya ang may magagwa.”

“Hindi na kami paloloko.”

Sari-saring sentimyento. Pero sa huli, mulat na nga ba ang mga botanteng Pilipino? O lalong nabulagan pa sa mga bagong teknolohiya? Gising na nga ba tayo sa mga nangyayari sa ating paligid at handa nang tanggapin na mayroon pa ring pagasa ang ating bansa laban sa korapsyon? Minsan, mas madaling magduda kaysa sa maniwala.

Mas madaling pumili na lang nang basta kaysa pag-isipan ang iyong desisyon. Mas madaling gawin ang isang bagay nang walang ipinuhunang pangangalap ng impormasyon na kung ano na lang ang nasa harapan ay siyang susunggaban.

GRAPHICS BY ROSE CLAVANO PAGE DESIGN BY CYEN ESCLANDA

16 | NEWS

The DEMOCRAT thedemocratunc

UNC Research Center pulls off first-ever Virtual Research Colloquium

ONE DOWN, MORE TO GO. As the event moves to a successful close, student researchers and event organizers of the university’s first Virtual Research Colloquium flash their winning smiles after sharing their meaningful studies, December 18, 2021 via Zoom.

WORDS BY JOHN PAUL BORITO & PHOTOS FROM UNC RESEARCH CENTER

BY ISABEL AZAÑA

With the goal of celebrating the oncein-a-year research milestone, the University Research Center (URC) conducted the 2021 Virtual Research Colloquium: Poster and Oral Sessions with the theme “Breaking the Barriers: Translating Data to Solutions” last December 18 via ZOOM Cloud Meetings and Facebook Live.

The event was joined by representatives from the College of Business and Accountancy (CBA),

College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), College of Engineering and Architecture (CEA), and School of Graduate Studies.

With a total of eight (8) entries, the winners for the awards of Best Research Poster and Best Poster Presenter were determined through an Online Exhibit and by the Panel of Reactors, which were composed of the UNC Research Director, Kristine Idda Del Rosario, M.Sc., and the VP for Research, Extension, and Linkages, Dr. Nora Elizabeth Maniquiz, CPA. Hailed as this year’s Best Poster Presenter and Best Research Poster were John Paul Borito, Claire Nicole Diaz, and Kim Alexis Macalindong, representatives of the CEA Department for their research titled “Development of an EM Generator through Kinetic Energy Harvesting.”

Meanwhile, Kiarrah Zhane Misolas, Kenn Daniel Montecillo, and Alliah Mae Pacala from the CAS Department placed 2nd in Best Research Poster on their

research titled “Tech & Kit: A Comparative Study on the Academic Anxiety Level of the Secondary Education Majors in the New Normal.”

At the same time, the 3rd Best Poster Presenter was awarded to Donna Rose Godino, Allyza Mae Bayrante, Mary Jane Deinla, Jennifer Leal, Mieru Jane Mon Alon, and Gia Sto. Tomas from the CBA Department on their research titled “Challenges that Affect Livelihood of the Fisher Folks in Sta. Rosa Del Sur, Pasacao, Camarines Sur.” Final examinations were also conducted a week prior to the colloquium, which gave the participants limited time to prepare. However, it did not hinder Lucky Ravago, a 4thyear biology student, from attending the event, where he emphasized the significance of his study in the community.

“It’s a topic everyone can relate

to… With the increasing health risks present in the environment, addressing a problem such as the one posed in my thesis, could really benefit the community... It is the responsibility of researchers to uplift lives,” said Ravago.

Ravago was awarded with the 2nd Best Research Poster and 3rd Best Poster Presenter. Ravago’s research was titled “Pathogenic Bacteria in Dips of Street Food at Plaza Rizal, Naga City.”

This activity aimed to provide community development solutions based on available data that can respond to the impacts brought by the pandemic, says Nico Ogarte, a research officer.

He then added that the UNC Research Colloquium will become an annual activity of URC every December to expand the extent of information dissemination to national and international researchers or field experts.

UNC Law elects new LSB; aims to push for inclusive platforms

BY PAOLO GABRIEL JAMER

Newly installed Governor of University of Nueva Caceres (UNC) Law Student Board (LSB), Eric Kabigting, commited to “establish a proactive student government that involves and put the student body first in every decision” despite the risk and challenges brought by this COVID-19 pandemic.

Some of the projects of the newly elected LSB officers are the following: (1) UNC Law Care wherein the UNC LSB will reach out to different channels where they can donate whatever they can and proceeds will go to deserving students or to the community; (2) PUSONG Greyhound troUNCe which will amplify voices of the students to address any gap in the academe; (3) UNC LAW in ACTION which will normalize discussions on inclusivity such as LGBTQIA+ and magna carta for Disabled Persons; (4) Mental Health Awareness wherein there will be seminars on the importance of talking about mental health and will encourage the students of UNC LAW to pursue their dreams in becoming lawyers while taking care of their mental health; and (5) UNC LAW One WITH NATURE wherein

there will be projects in taking care of the planet by joining conservation programs or eco-clubs and participate in naturefocused citizen science initiatives.

LSB officers led by Kabigting emphasized an adaptable leadership wherein no law students will be left behind amidst the continuing threat of COVID-19. He also envisions law students participating in activities that will bring pride and honor to the UNC School of Law apart from studying the law.

Almost all positions starting from Governor until Public Relations Officer remained unopposed but with the positions of year level representatives, only the first-year level representative had opposing candidates namely Camille M. Nagrampa and Francis Louise C. Nisolada while there was no

candidate for the position for fourthyear level representative. Nisolada with 47 votes toppled Nagrampa with only a difference of 2 votes, garnering 45.

The proclaimed winners and newly elected LSB Officers are Governor Kabigting, Internal Vice-Governor John Paul Laban, External Vice-Governor Jing Carla Dy, Secretary-General Maryl Louise Ramos, Treasurer Abiel Ferrer, Auditor Trishia Barreda, Public Relations Officer Margarita Louise Jamer, 1st-year level representative Francis Louise C. Nisolada, 2nd-year level representative Princess Lea Bombase, and 3rd-year level representative Johnson Yaplin.

The LSB officers had their oathtaking ceremony last January 5, 2022.

NEWS DEMOCRAT | 17

TOMO LXIX, BILANG II NOVEMBER 2021 -JANUARY 15, 2022

#RememberThe58:

12th RATTLE FOR JUSTICE. Studentjournalists hold their calls to end impunity, serve justice, and continuously uphold and defend press freedom during the 12th year commemoration of Ampatuan Massacre, where 32 journalists were slain.

WORDS BY NORENE CANTOR & PHOTOS BY PAOLO JAMER

BY DANRIE JOSH GARCIA

Over 40 representatives from various progressive and campus publications gathered at Plaza Quince Martires, Naga City on November 23, 2021, to stage a candlelight vigil and protest, remembering the 58 victims of the Maguindanao Massacre.

Led by College Editors Guild of the Philippines–Bicol, along with other school pubs including The DEMOCRAT

stud journs, progressive orgs in Naga commemorate Ampatuan Massacre

of the University of Nueva Caceres (UNC), ThePILLARS Publication of Ateneo de Naga University (ADNU), The Naguenian of Naga City Science High School (NCSHS), The Naga Collegian of Naga College Foundation (NCF), The Spark of Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges, and The Seafarer’s Gazette of Mariners Polytechnic Colleges recalled the Maguindanao Massacre as the “bloodiest and deadliest single event for journalists”.

CEGP Bicol Regional Coordinator Abby Bilan expressed her hope that the Maguindanao massacre will not happen again in the upcoming 2022 elections.

“Ang Ampatuan Massacre ay ang pinakamalalang election-related killings sa history ng Pilipinas, at hindi lamang sa Pilipinas, maging sa buong mundo.

Nananawagan kami na sa nalalapit na 2022

elections ay hindi na maulit ito, na hindi na magkaroon ng patuloy na panggigipit lalong-lalo na sa administrasyong Duterte na magkaroon ng mapayapa at malayang pamamahayag ang bawat journalists at media workers sa ating bansa,” she said.

She added that utilizing propaganda and data as weapons to deceive the public needs to come to an end.

Meanwhile, Berlineth Nymia Montes, News Editor of The Democrat and a member of CEGP CamSur, called out the Duterte administration’s continuous harassment of the press.

“Nobyembre na at sa karakas ng administrasyong ito, sigurado tayo na tumataas pa ang bilang ng mga mamamahayag na humaharap sa ganitong klaseng sitwasyon. Maaari ring tumindi pa ang bilang at karahasan sa ating hanay

Bar Examination in 1912 without having taken a formal law course.

According to Maria Theresa Fajardo, director of the Scholarship and Grants Office, the Guevara family ought to produce aspiring lawyers in the future just like their late father, hence, putting up a scholarship program in honor of their father’s legacy as a remarkable lawyer. The scholarship program is exclusive to Juris doctor students.

“At first, I thought only one student would be selected as the recipient of the scholarship program, but the UNC was fortunate enough to have four law students to receive the scholarship,” said the SGO Director. She also added that the family of the late Judge Guevara was swayed by the easy process through the Scholarship and Grants Office in organizing the scholarship program at the university and decided to increase the number of scholars that will benefit

from the JGBG Scholarship. The SGO was able to secure the scholarship program even though the interview with the scholars took place in a virtual setup.

Meanwhile, recipients extended their gratitude for the opportunity.

“JGBG is indeed a blessing in disguise, it came at the right time when I was already on the verge of hitting my rock bottom in law school, particularly in financial matters. It really became a beacon of hope which rekindled my faith that ‘God really provides.’ JGBG is helping me, as it already helped me so much in easing the burden of my financial worries at law school. I am immensely grateful to my benefactors for choosing me in this humbling privilege,” Mortega shared.

The JGBG Scholarship will cover the tuition fees of the scholars until graduation under the condition that they will follow what was agreed upon in the contract.

JGBG scholarship adds up to UNC’S scholarship programs; 4 J.D. studs chosen as scholars

BY JEAN AQUINO

Four Juris Doctor students, namely Jesuphat C. Mortega, Lexi Alena O. Velasco, Mia F. San Lorenzo, and Carlo Jayfer N. Caparres of the University of Nueva Caceres, were chosen as recipients of the newly installed JGBG Scholarship after they passed the screening process of the scholarship program The JGBG Scholarship was named after the late Judge Guillermo B. Guevara, a well-known law professor and graftbuster during the late President Ramon Magsaysay’s term. He also passed the

dahil sa darating na eleksyon–matatandaan na ang massacre ay nangyari sa panahon rin ng eleksyon–at higit kailanman mas kailangan nating palalimin ang kanaisang maging tagapagmulat ng taumbayan at patibayan ang pinanggagalingan ng ating mga isinusulat,” she said.

She added that the commemoration of the massacre is fueling the courage to write against any kind of violence, anomaly, and fallacy of this administration.

Montes, along with CEGP, vowed to tirelessly call for an end to harassing the media and bring those who attempted to silence the media to justice.

The Ampatuan Massacre took place last November 23, 2009, six months before the 2010 Philippine general elections.

18

| NEWS

The DEMOCRAT thedemocratunc

UNC-USG launches Ayuda E-skwela; 5 students receive mobile tablet

PHOTOS FROM UNC UNIVESRITY STUDENT GOVERNMENT FACEBOOK PAGE

BY DANRIE JOSH GARCIA

UNC University Student Government (USG) benefited five students from different colleges through Ayuda E-skwela – an assistance program to those bonafide students of the university who lack the digital materials needed for distance learning.

Students who have proof of combined gross monthly income below Php 15,000 are qualified for the assistance program provided that they submit either an Income Tax Return (ITR) or a Certificate of Indigency showing the family’s monthly income.

Beneficiaries of this assistance program are Vivian Marie R. Ayate, College of Engineering and Architecture; Lorenz Jean A. Lagasca, College of

Business and Accountancy; Lyn April D. Lamadrid, College of Business and Accountancy; Mary Claire A. Rubi, Criminal Justice Education; and Christine Joy B. Sales, College of Education.

Lamadrid expressed her gratitude to those who supervised the implementation and funding of the program.

“Being one of the beneficiaries of the USG’s Ayuda E-skwela is very thankful

and overwhelming. This is the first time that I’ve joined this kind of program at UNC-USG. I feel so much joy, especially for my sister when I receive a message from one of the facilitators of this event.

I am thankful and overwhelmed that they gave me this opportunity to help me in my studies, especially at this time when we are all using the new normal set up. My whole family is very happy and thankful too for this because they know how much we need this,” she said.

UNC-USG President Anabelita Villete, who oversaw the implementation of the project, said Ayuda E-skwela was the most significant proposed project among the 10 proposed projects in the MOVERS 2021 Project Proposal Making Competition held on August 14, 21, and 28, 2021.

“Among the ten (10) proposed projects, the organization sees the importance of Ayuda E-Skwela, especially in this time of distant learning. With the existing difficulties in online classes, this activity aims to provide digital learning materials for financially incapacitated yet deserving students. We know that doing this will help these beneficiaries attend these school activities and engagements,” she quoted.

Ayuda E-skwela collected a total amount of Php 20,000 from various donors such as Mayor Nelson Legacion, UNC Student Elections Commission, UNC University Student Government, Director for Student Affairs Kim Francia Bigay, Dean Kenjie Jimenea, UNC Student Congress, UNC Women’s Club, and other anonymous donors.

uncthedemocrat

BY BERLINETH NYMIA MONTES

Juris Doctor students and graduates of the Greyhounds community doubled their preparation and review efforts as the Philippine Bar Examination drew near, which will take place on February 4 and 6, 2022.

Coined as Masarig which means ‘strong’ or ‘tough’, this year’s UNC Law Bar Operations Commission intensifies its assistance to every UNCean Barrister residing in Naga and nearby municipalities. Headed by Ariane C. Panes, the UNC Law Bar Operations Commissioner and a 3rd year Juris Doctor student of the university, the commission will provide support to every UNCean Barrister in the means of information dissemination regarding the latest bar bulletin released by the Supreme Court, monetary, and spiritual support.

AMIDST ALL ODDS: Masarig barristers

PHOTOS FROM UNC LAW BAR OPERATIONS FACEBOOK PAGE

This year’s bar was moved several times due to the threat of COVID-19, which resulted in the postponement of reservations for caterers, and antigen testing centers booked by the commission for the barristers.

“Early September last year, we already prepared the 3rd party suppliers for them like antigen testing centers, caterers for food, committees assignments, budget, and support for monetary, spiritual, and moral. But after knowing that the exam last November 2021 was postponed due to the surge of Covid-19 cases, we also talked to

face Bar ‘22 Challenge

the suppliers to standby and we also confirmed if the SC will be the one to provide the antigen testing for the barristers or not,” explained Pranes.

Meanwhile, Ghiel “Oying” Rosales, an incumbent councilor of Naga City and a graduate of UNC Law School in 2019, shared that he enrolled in a Bar Review Center based in Manila that conducts online review sessions since May last year.

“Beginning January 2022, nag-file ako ning leave so that I could focus during the pre-week lectures for the Bar Examination,” Rosales answered when

asked how he fulfilled his councilor duties while preparing for the bar.

This year’s barristers will have to undergo self-quarantine weeks before the scheduled examination and take an antigen test hours before the exam.

Barristers only have 2 Sundays to take the examination, which originally took place four Sundays during the prepandemic years.

Nonetheless, amidst all odds, Pranes claimed that Greyhound barristers are very much ready to take this year’s Bar Examination.

TOMO LXIX, BILANG II NOVEMBER 2021 -JANUARY 15, 2022

NEWS |

UNC illuminates in pink;

endorses Robredo

BY BERLINETH NYMIA MONTES

Through the joint efforts of the University of Nueva Caceres General Alumni Association (UNCGAA) and school administration, the university grounds shone in pink last November 22, 2021, as a means of UNC’s endorsement and support to Vice President Leni Robredo’s presidential bid this coming election.

It can be remembered how the university drew flak for being silent regarding Robredo’s bid that pushed the University Student Government (USG) to write a letter urging the presidential aspirant’s alma mater to show their support.

“Now is the high time for the administration to be loud and proud of its student. Because it is not every day that our country comes across a firm leader with integrity, transparency, and accountability” USG penned last October 16, 2021.

“Thank you to my Law School Alma Mater’s University Student

19

PINK CHRISTMAS. The university arc, entrance and exit gates, and the entire university grounds are adorned with pink Christmas lights to express support for Vice President Leni Robredo’s presidential candidacy.

WORDS BY CHAREY MAE ALVARADO & PHOTOS FROM UNIVERSITY OF NUEVA CACERES FACEBOOK PAGE

Government for this statement of support,” Robredo wrote in her Facebook (FB) post in response to USG. Meanwhile, Hon. Elmer S. Baldemoro, a Naga City Councilor and an officer of UNCGAA, explained that they needed to conduct and undergo a series of consultations with different batches of graduates that delayed this activity.

“Medyo natagalan because of the consultation to different batches and the admin supported the initiative since VP Leni is an alumni of the university” said Baldemoro.

UNC in pink brought joy and excitement to a number of UNCeans and Alumni upon hearing the news.

“Proud UNCean. An awesome gesture of support to your alumna.

Let Leni Lead” wrote Josie Petrache in an FB post regarding the said activity.

UNC records 38.75% passing rate in CELE ‘21

BY CHARLES KRYXIAN LARA

The University of Nueva Caceres (UNC) gained an overall passing rate of 38.75% after success of 31 out of 80 Civil Engineering Licensure Examination (CELE) takers on November 1415, 2021.

The newly registered civil engineers from UNC are as follows: Engr. Kenneth James Abad, Engr. Bobby Aguilar, Engr. Mary Allen Albus, Engr. Fatima Belale, Engr. Alain Mark Bermas, Engr.

Abegail Bolima, Engr. Kirby Botastas, Engr. Princess Mae Cantillo, Engr.

Marlon Chris Castor, Engr. Joseph Clinton Cheng, Engr. Mary Ann Austine Co, Engr. Mary Grace Corpus Engr.

Kimberly Dayo, Engr. Venancio Dela Peña, Engr. Marynielle Era, Vincent Estonido, Jonathan Francisco, Joshua Benjamin Galicia, Jaymee Garcia, Engr.

Ariel Grondiano, Engr. Roilan Claine Gutierrez, Engr. Raymond Imperial, Engr. Anneth Mikaela Madronio, Engr.

Jordan Malipot, Engr. Zymon Vincent Ordas, Engr. Vanessa Mae Payago, Engr.

Mark Arthur Prado, Engr. Miel Carlo Reganit, Engr. Badji Husayn Regnim, Engr. Marianne Joy Sadia, and Engr.

Aldrin Velasco.

According to Vanessa Mae Payago, one of the newly registered civil engineers, she enrolled herself to a review center and she mostly relied on review materials and handouts from her previous review center.

“I didn’t buy a lot of books at all because I knew that I didn’t have time to cover them. Instead, I got the opportunity to borrow books with the help of Ma’am Charm from the

Engineering department”, she said.

Payago also admitted that there were many ups and downs before taking the board exam. The CELE had three postponements and the online review setup made it difficult for her to focus on lectures. She added that she overcame them by taking time to grow throughout this career.

Payago then emphasized the importance of having “like-minded peers” while preparing for board exams.

“It’s always helpful to have likeminded peers about the goal of passing the CELE. I am so grateful to have friends I can ask when I can’t seem [to] get the correct answers,” she expounded.

CELE 2021 had a total of 6,474 takers nationwide and 2,374 passed with a national passing rate of 36.67%.

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) posted the results on November 25, 2021, exactly eight (8) working days after the last day of

ACTIVISM IS NOT TERRORISM examination. The CELE was given by the Board of Civil Engineering in Manila, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Legazpi, Lucena, Pagadian, Rosales, San Fernando, Tacloban, Tuguegarao and Zamboanga.

The online oath-taking of the new civil engineers was held last December 16, 2021 via Zoom Cloud Meetings.

20

NEWS | OPINION

LABAN DS! UNC DS bags awards in RC XIV

BY BERLINETH NYMIA MONTES

For over 9 years, the UNC Debate Society continuously brought pride and honor to the university in the Roco Cup XIV held last November 19-23, 2021 via Facebook Live.

Composed of 3 teams of debaters and 5 adjudicators, UNC DS executed their matter-loading and discussion training via an online platform.

“Kumpara noong pre-pandemic, pahirapan ang preparations namin.

Halos bibihira lang makumpleto ang teams at adjudicators. Issue rin yung internet connection at health concerns ng bawat isa. Pero dahil sa mga experiences at independent efforts ng

COLLATED BY MARIA JHOANNA YASIS, TRISHA BAÑAS, ASUNCION CHRISTINE REYES, AND KYRA FERMEL VICTORIA

18.2%

College of Arts and Sciences

9.1%

College of Business and Accountancy

2.3%

College of Nursing

bawat isa, kinaya at napagtagumpayan din namin ang Roco Cup,” claimed UNC DS in an interview conducted by the publication.

Meanwhile, Krislen Gaile Bismonte, who placed 3rd as Best Adju Chancellor of UNC DS shared her preparations for the said tournament.

“More on online training kami together with the teams and then may mga matter loading and lectures din with the adviser, Kuya Tords. Personally, struggle para sakin yung mag train given na may academic matter, org affairs and other responsibilities din po na mga sumabay.” explained Bismonte.

Contingents of the said debate cup from the university are Marvin Cañaveras and Sophia Balcueva of UNC A (1st Reserve Breaking Team), Art Jun Sumalinog and Jhun Mar Canino of UNC B (Semifinalists), Dioma Francis

to witness the arguments or fights of their parents because it brings trauma, anxiety, and other psychological effects.

Worst case, the children may instill or copy their parents’ behavior and will apply it to their own family, so cut the cycle.” -@apriljoy.falabi

“I agree that we should legalize divorce because abuse, unhealthy environment for the children, assault, 38.6% and other harmful circumstances should College of Education not be tolerated just for the preservation of the sanctity of marriage.” -@jaymart.fernandez

44

Responses

31.8%

College of Engineering and Architecture

Legalizing Divorce AGREE

“Marriage is bound with love. If one or both parties already fell out of love, then there’s no reason for them to stay with one another because this can result to violence and harm [to] one or both parties especially, if they have children. We wouldn’t want

“I agree because there [are] things that love can’t fix. Love is not enough, it won’t ever be enough, especially in marriage. It would help those who are in a really bad relationship and also to those who are being abused. It will also help those who are chained unwillingly in the bind called marriage. Of course, it would have other effects not only on the success rates of marriages but also on how people think of marriage.

That’s why there should be grounds for divorce.” -@luijoyfrance.salcedo “I am a Roman Catholic but I think it’s time to legalize divorce in our country.

If the well-being of each other is at stake and it’s not healthy anymore for them to be together, then it could be the [reason] to consider divorce.” -@ralphpatrick. malate “I do agree with legalizing divorce in our country because a lot of people are being stuck in an unhappy marriage. People are [are] experiencing abuse in a

Durante and Hannah Joy Rosero of Team Last Minute, Krislen Gaile Bismonte, High School Final Chair (3rd Best Adjudicator), Jemina Vera Pante, Breaking Adjudicator (Semifinals Chair), Janah Carmela Ng Sang, Reserve Breaking Adjudicator (Quince Martires Cup Panel), and Cyen Esclanda. “’THP (This House Proves) a world where all news outlet disclose their political learnings and abandon impartiality’ is the motion in the tournament I will never forget because, except we got 3 points in that motion, the motion is indeed very timely since election here in the Philippines is fast approaching. I had so much fun and learned a lot from my opponent” said Cañaveras when asked about his favorite motion during the tournament.

Roco Cup XIV is the 8th tournament UNC DS joined in amid the pandemic. relationship, and many children grew up in a broken or complicated family that may cause them negative development while growing up. Also, I find it absurd that we have annulments here in the Philippines yet we do not have the law/ bill about divorce. Annulment can be only availed by the rich people.” -@lyka. navarette “Divorce is not really a barrier to [having] or [achieving a] happy family. Legalizing divorce may also be a protective weapon against domestic abuse, which is the most compelling reason for its existence. When divorce became a viable option in our country, it can lead to a dramatic drop in spousal conflicts and severe partner violence. But I think there should be a deep analysis for this kind of topic because it might be abused kasi.” -@joshua.aguila “Why do we have to take marriage like an absolute pact when the people themselves are imperfect and make mistakes? Laws should not deprive the people of having another chance in life for we do not know their circumstances.

Divorce also costs money and can be used by the government to create projects that may benefit the welfare of the people. Imagine, you can make a mistake and help people at the same time.”

-@markjopet17 “[Divorce should be legalized] because there are cases where there can no longer be any provided solution to help solve the long-term problems involving a married couple especially [if] there is emotional, physical, or mental abuse in a household.

I see this as an opportunity to end a legal relationship between a victim and abuser if presented with evidence. This can also help

separate the children in the family from a traumatic event that can scar them [for] life” -@wyeth. imperial

DISAGREE “My answer WILL be “NO”, because I don’t believe in divorce. I married him because I can see my future with him.

Building our goals and reaching our dreams at the same time. He married me because he truly loves me. If we don’t love each other anymore, divorce will never be an option for us. We need to look back on ourselves and reminisce the journey of ours and why we started this journey. So, my answer is NO. I am not in favor of legalizing divorce.”

-@mariejoy.suzara “[Divorce should not be legalized] since it frequently contributes to depression, anxiety or substance abuse in one or both parents and it may bring [out] difficulties in balancing work and child rearing for the parent.”

-@francisxavier.quintela “[Divorce] would lead one to believe that marriage is easily ended, resulting in people putting less effort into making it last and ensuring that they choose the correct partner.” -@kate.salandanan “What is the essence of getting married if they will divorce in the end?

As Catholics, we believe that marriage is sacred. Having a complete family is a blessing from Him, so why bother getting a divorce? If you want to divorce because of an unresolved problem between you and your wife/husband, don’t get married in the first place—or better yet, don’t marry someone to avoid divorce:)” -@onquitfranz “[I do] not agree with legalizing the divorce in Philippines because it will just result in a lot of broken families which is not good for kids.”

-@daimevillaraza2018

MAYBE “I answered maybe, because either way, legalizing it would [have] both positive and negative effects.”

-@janandrew.lee “Divorce is a very long process that will waste your time and money. We will also experience a lot of criticism, loss, and regret after divorce. There are also a lot of couples [who] see marriage as a joke because once they are tired, they can easily get divorced. But on the other hand, divorce will help us to untie a connection with our spouse that gives a negative impact to our life. Divorce will only be beneficial to those couples with a big problem such as abuse.”

-@gwyneth.ledesma “There are a lot of instances where divorce can be helpful, but I also believe in the sacrament of marriage.”

-@ryzamaureen.zuniega GRAPHICS BY ROSE CLAVANO PAGE DESIGN BY DARWIN ESCARO

TOMO LXIX, BILANG II NOVEMBER 2021 -JANUARY 15, 2022

HOTSEAT

HOTSEAT |

21

WITH DR. NORA ELIZABETH F. MANIQUIZ Vice President for Research, Extension, and Linkages

Q Q

COLLATED BY JANAH CARMELA NG SANG AND JOHN PAUL BORITO PAGE DESIGN BY CYEN ESCLANDA

Using one word, What is the main function of REL? Please explain why.

Tell us about a quick history of the Research, Extension, and Linkages (REL) department in the UNC. The Office of the Vice President for Research, Extension, and Linkages was

Q Q Q

created formally amidst the year of pandemic, in August of 2020; where along the several changes in our new normalcy, the University also made REL a separate entity to mobilize productivity and networks through the fused units, which comprise integral functions forming two of the trifocal functions of a university - Research and Extension. Instruction, being another of the trifocal directions of a university is with Academic Affairs. The following units or offices originally comprised the REL: Research Center, Institutionalized Community Extension Services (ICES), Alumni Relations, Student Scholarships and Financial Grants Office, Career Center, and English Immersive Environment (EIE) Office. The latter two were later transferred to Academic Affairs. With the creation of this department, it made more sense and purpose to drive individual goals into one, unified strategic impact.

How can UNCeans take part in the aspirations of REL?

For starters, students can take part through the crafting of theses, research or capstone projects anchored on the University Research Agenda which responds to various issues in our community; by actively participating in the several initiatives of ICES to provide tangible assistance to those in greater needs; and to be an ally on networks who have the same values and aspirations as our University.

More concretely, A UNCean can participate in the aspirations of REL by becoming a responsible scholar, a productive researcher, and by being an ICES volunteer actively participating in community services.

I can give two words: SHARE, because in REL we are the ones who seek opportunities for the benefit of our stakeholders. We SHARE knowledge through research that is designed for community development solutions. Also, we SHARE resources through extension programs that address the existing problems of the community beneficiaries. Furthermore, we SHARE opportunities by expanding our partnerships through linkages with alumni associations, grant-giving bodies, and government agencies that offer scholarships for our students.

IMPACTFUL. Through REL, constituents of the University, whether students, faculty or non-teaching personnel, get to produce relevant contributions to the community through research, extension and forming linkages and partnerships with groups of similar vision and purpose. They will not be limited to yielding theoretical knowledge, but they will be able to translate all this knowledge to solutions for the community- whether in the local scale to global scale.

Q Q

In the coming years, how do you like to see the footing of REL within the university?

Dr. Fay Lea Patria M. Lauraya, our University President, gave a most fitting attribution to REL as the Heart of the University- and that is also how we see REL; it is The Heart of UNC. As in the human body where the heart is the center of the circulatory system that forms the network of blood vessels responsible to deliver blood and nutrients to every part of our bod, In reality we in REL aspire to be the most vital key in shaping UNCeans as they finish education here in UNC; to mold them not only as professionals but as wellrounded individuals ready to carry on that knowledge and impart them through impactful service to the community.

In your experience in the realm of research, what were the common misconceptions about research that students usually think of?

Academic requirement. This is coupled with the common misconception that Research is difficult. Often, students would frown upon the idea of conducting research because it’s a very complicated subject. Yes, it’s not a one-night thing, but research is very interesting. Imagine coming up with a solution to a problem or bridging knowledge gaps, that is surely the win of research.

Now that we are able to establish the definition of research in a real sense, we see students developing and creating products, knowledge and innovation through research. They no longer have the notion that researches are meant to sit in the desks of their advisers nor to accumulate dust in the library, but students are now revolutionizing the true purpose of researchthey are now extending to their communities, local governments and several agencies for information dissemination and innovation.

Q

What are the main challenges that REL faces? And how are they being addressed?

Just like any other office, our challenge is also to do everything as remotely as possible. Although, most of our engagements and activities have to be done face to face in the physical environment, we still find ways to be as impactful and as relevant just the same. In addition to challenges during COVID, there is also the challenge of limited manpower in the REL; some of us must perform different roles simultaneously and efficiently, but we take on these challenges with teamwork and shared vision for the University.

What has the department accomplished in its first year after being formed?

For research, we were able to forge partnerships with LGUs across Camarines Sur which resulted in several research projects. To cite, we have DOST iSTART program being implemented in LGU Pasacao, now being developed to become a city within five to ten years from now. REL is contributing to the realization of this vision through 7 research projects for the municipality. We also had the chance to work with the 2nd highest office in the country, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) of the Philippines in her Angat Buhay Program where UNC did profiling assessment, housing project management, and skills training for 119 displaced families. Now, we have 2 more LGUs we partnered with OVP to realize more housing projects for households that are usually being affected by typhoons here in Bicol.

Highlight of our first year is the several partnerships we have forged with various agencies, such as USAID with STRIDE and the BRIDGE Bicol projects, DTI V, DILG and many more LGUs where we have many projects in the pipeline.

We were also able to forge community extension projects with LGUs based on their needs, focusing more on projects that would help address problems on environment and climate change. For student financial assistance, partnerships with the BUKAS, Land Bank of the Philippines and private benefactors were also established. The Alumni Affairs Office has also been active in mobilizing community outreach works especially to displaced communities and individuals affected by the pandemic, in providing financial assistance to students who have financial challenges in connection with their studies, and in advocating the knowledge philanthropy where alumni share their experience and expertise to students to make their learning more attuned to real-life situations.

Share us your message/invitation to UNCeans to take an active part in the REL. We are encouraging all UNCeans to engage with REL, as there are many possibilities and opportunities in our department for you to be part of The Heart of UNC. It’s about time to fully immerse yourself in a holistic UNC experience as we will provide you ways of transforming yourself to become future ready as you finish your scaffold foundation in the university.

Go beyond yourself. By taking active part in research, extension, linkages and productive scholarships, you are also living out our University Motto of “Non Scholae Sed Vitae, Not for School but for Life.”

Ang Dahilan

22 | FEATURE

NI PATRICK PANAMBO DEBUHO NG PAHINA NI CHRISTIAN REGANIT

H

anggang saan ka kayang protektahan ng batas?

Panahon pa lang na walang kalayaan ang bansang Pilipinas, alam ng kasaysayan kung paano ipinagtanggol ng mga Pilipino ang Pilipinas. Ngayong mas pinaiiral ng mga Pilipino ang kamalayan at demokrasya, humahakbang bang paurong ang mga Pilipino upang magtangka ng kasamaan sa bansa?

Terorista, ika nga nila.

Matatandaang ika-3 ng Hulyo 2020 nang lagdaan upang maging batas ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ang Anti-terrorism Law sa gitna ng pagsugpo sa pandemya na nilalabanan hanggang ngayon.

Ang hakbang na ito ay umani ng samot-saring reaksyon dahil sa mga nilalaman nito. Sa katunayan, umabot ng 37 grupo ang naghain ng petisyon upang maibasura ang nasabing batas.

Ang Anti-terror Law ay nahahati sa 56 na seksyon na tumatalakay sa iba’t ibang tunguhin. At higit pa sa 23 rito ay nagkaroon ng diskusyon at pagpasa ng mga memento dahil sa nilalabag nito ang ilang karapatan ng sibilyan. Ngunit alin nga ba sa mga ito ang dapat huwag ipagwalang bahala?

Ang Kapangyarihan ni Juan Sa isang pabirong post sa isang social media ni Juan, nalagay sa panganib ang kanyang pangalan.

Dahil nagpakalat siya ng isang haka-haka na magkakaroon ng kaguluhan. Sa mata ng batas, isa na siyang terorista ayon sa AntiTerrorism Law. Ito ay nakapaloob sa napakalawak na depinisyon at walang nakalagay na tiyak na krimen tulad ng pagpatay, paghihimagsik, at iba pa. Matatagpuan ito sa loob ng ika4 na seksyon, at ika-5

hanggang 14. Kamakailan nga ay inilahad ng korte suprema na ‘di naalinsunod sa saligang batas ang ika-4 na seksyon dahil nga sa ‘di tiyak nitong kahulugan.

Sa kabilang banda, ang pagbibigay ng opinyon, legal na protesta, pagsasagawa ng adbokasiya at karapatang pantao, at mga katulad nito ay hindi dapat magtatatak sa iyo bilang terorista.

Taliwas ito sa nangyayaring malawakang red-tagging o ang pagaakusa sa mga indibidwal o grupo na kasapi umano ng isang teroristang grupo.

Makikita rito kung gaano kalakas ang kapangyarihan ng isang Juan.

Kung kaya’t dapat mong gamitin ang iyong kalayaan at tinig sa kapakanan ng bansa. Hindi rin natin masisisi ang kilos na ginagawa ng nasa itaas dahil sino ba naman ang maghahangad ng kapahamakan sa bansa? Sana ganoon nga.

Ang Kahihinatnan ni Juan Nang dahil sa post ni Juan, ang Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) ay kaya siyang patawan bilang terorista kahit pa walang dumaan na paglilitis.

Mayroon ding kakayahan ang AntiMoney Laundering Council (AMLC) na ipatigil ang kanyang mga pag-aari.

Ayon pa sa seksyon 29, si Juan ay kayang arestuhin nang walang kaso at warrant at idetine hanggang 24 araw. Sa ilalim ng seksyong ito, kahit pa maghain ng writ of habeas corpus o ang kasulatan ng utos ng hukuman ang suspek na magbibigay kalayaan sana sa kanya hanggat ‘di legal na dapat siyang ikulong, ay hindi ito mapapayagan ayon sa konteksto ng bahaging ito.

Ang seksyon na ito ang isa sa dapat pangambahan ng lahat sapagkat maaari itong gamitin laban sa mga kritiko ng gobyerno at abusuhin. Ngunit hindi ito nasama sa mga labag sa konstitusyon na ibinigay ng korte suprema kundi ang ika-25 seksyon na kung saan may kakayahan ang itinalagang ATC na humingi ng pagpapatibay na isang terorista ang suspek tulad ni Juan.

Sino si Juan?

Ang lahat ay apektado.

Pilipino ka man o banyaga, may pagkakilanlan tulad ng artista o may tungkulin sa gobyerno at iba pa. Si Juan ay pwedeng pangkaraniwang tao, isang influencer, at sino-sino pa.

Ngunit ang pangamba ng karamihan, ang gamitin ito sa mga progresibong grupo, mga kritiko ng gobyerno, mga nakikilahok sa protesta, at mga tulad nito.

Patunay rito ang kaunaunahang kaso sa ilalim ng batas na ito. Dalawang magsasakang ayta o ita ang hinuli dahil lumabag umano ito sa Anti-terrorism law noong Agosto, 2020, partikular ang ika-4 na seksyon nito. Sila ay nakulong sa tagal na halos isang taon hanggang sa walang naipakitang sapat na ebidensya.

Sa tagal ng oras na nasayang sa buhay ng dalawang magsasaka, sila ay biktima ng napakalawak o walang tiyak na depinisyon ng pagiging terorista.

Makikitang hindi lang si Juan na nagpost ng isang haka-haka ang apektado sa lawak ng saklaw ng batas na ito.

Maaring ikaw naman ang sunod, sinasadya man o hindi.

Alam ng kasaysayan na ipinagtanggol ng mga Pilipino ang kalayaan ng bansa laban sa mga dayuhan. Ngunit, mayroon

bang malalim na dahilan ang namumuno ngayon upang ipasa ang nasabing batas gayong wala namang mananakop sa panahon ngayon? Kailan naging paurong ang hakbang kung nagiging matalino ang mga Pilipino?

Ginawa ang batas para protektahan ang nasasakupan nito. Ang pag-abuso at pagpili ng pinoprotektahan nito ang siyang nagiging dahilan kung bakit ito nagiging mapang-abuso.

FEATURE | 23

TOMO LXIX, BILANG II NOVEMBER 2021 -JANUARY 15, 2022

A QUARTER POUNDER

Salad

BY NEIL ANDREW FORMALEJO

GRAPHICS BY BRANDON DELOS SANTOS PAGE DESIGN BY DARWIN ESCARO

Did you know that you can wash the gluten out of flour until what remains is that precious hunk of protein and voila; sprinkle some spices, fry, cook, simmer in vegetable broth and you now have meatless meat. Instead of your regular sugary smoothie with all those disgusting animal dairy products, why not go for a blend of kale, spinach, any non-dairy milk (Oat milk, Soy Milk or Almond Milk), and a dash of the holy grail of superfood, chia seeds. As was the claim, it is healthier and more free of toxins.

Why not switch to tofu instead of consuming those disease-full hunk of swine or those cancer-causing artificially manufactured poultry? So you decided to quench your sweeth tooth. Is your cookie worth the trouble of using those forcefully plucked coagulants from the uterus of chickens who probably have already suffered from their not-so-good living condition? Well you can use flaxseed instead; a more merciful and friendly alternative while doing the same job.

Sounds familiar?

You might have already read this kind of ostracization in an article or was posted by one of your social media friends. It even has a name; VEGANISM. According to the Cambridge dictionary, it is the practice of not using any animal products like not eating meat, fish or cheese and not using eggs, or leather.

This is a social movement that is somewhat now trendy, almost becoming a religion you might say. Why? Some of

those believers of this practice force their belief upon other people.You may see vlogs, journals on the internet or influencers demonizing those people who have not yet converted to veganism.

Go meat-free, it’s healthy!

Be green and abstain from animal products!

Choose sustainable consumption! And many more of those pesky slogans. Your choice is judged.

They go as far as being Karens/ rude customers in restaurants with no vegan alternatives in their menu. They go nauseous by the smell of their barbecuing neighbor and so they call the cops. Are you as they always said, so blind as to not bat an eye about the animal abuse in the meat industry? How about the concern of being unhealthy by consuming those chemically-modified meat or if not, their flesh so riddled with toxic viruses and bacteria?

Some of their concerns is actually legit; like for example the existence of toxins to some of the meat products as they may contain a hefty amount of preservatives or chemicals that could harm you over time. We can’t also dismiss the fact that some industry practices inhuman treatment of animals.

There are also threats of disease such as recently, the country is ravaged by Swine Fever wherein thousands of pigs were burned and killed in fear that they are contaminated. Then as you dig deeper, you find out that the dairy industry is somewhat non-sustainable because to mass produce all their products, they need thousands of hectares of land for the grazing of cows. Plus, they consume massive metric tons of water in growing those grasses from thousands of acres.

Most importantly, meat, especially pork, may contain unhealthy amounts of fat. According to the World Health Organization, the leading cause of death around the world is heart disease wherein one of the main contributors are obesity siphoned from this animal fats.

blame. producing a not only to also to the

You could say that their calls are somewhat reasonable.

Very convincing in making you switch. However, just because these problems exist doesn’t mean that we have to completely erase meat consumption from society. Others have said that this argument of veganism is preposterous because humans have been eating meat for thousands of years. It is a part of our diet as we are omnivores by nature.

Besides, because of the fact that there are essential nutrients that you can only get from meat, veganism is not for everyone.

For example, vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient that synthesizes the metabolism of the different cells in our body. It is only available from meat, fish, eggs, poultry and dairy products. Lack of this vitamin could cause folate deficiency anemia. Deficiency of vitamin B12 has also been identified in some under-nourished people. Vegetarian and vegan diets could cause these types of malnourishment problems. What you thought was good and healthy could actually cause more harm than good in others.

Judging and demonizing consumers won’t even solve the concern such as harming the environment, harming the people with their products or maltreatment of the animals. Consumers are not the major cause of it. In fact , by acting like this, you are just shifting the blame and only letting those

actual perpetrators be scot-free. Industries and exploitative corporations are the one we should They are the ones destructive system, the environment but people.

This is the peak of capitalism– to diverge the issue and escape accountability; these corporations would even blind you with their “green substitutes”.

You would be surprised if you look closely. Some products that are vegan with meat-free labels can actually contain animal products. It’s just hidden.

Ever wonder about those number coded ingredients? E120 for example is a code for red food colorant, derived from a crushed cochineal beetle. Some foods even contain harmful substances, only their nature is disguised by this code.

E285 is actually being used as a food preservative. Guess what this mysterious substance is? Borax. It is by the way also used as a laundry detergent booster or a household cleaner. This can be anywhere.

Veganism won’t make this all go away.

So you see, this problem is etched deep into the established greed and corruption in our society. Vilifying a fellow consumer for their choice further distances you from the big picture. At the end of the day, you all have the right to choose. It’s your life and so live it the way you want. Do whatever works for you. Here are two cents worth pondering; having a choice is good but ramming down someone’s throat with your belief is a different story.

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SPORTS

The DEMOCRAT thedemocratunc

UNC Greyhound OL tournament muling idinaos

BY CHAREY MAE ALVARADO

Sa ikalawang pagkakataon idinaos muli ang greyhound online chess tournament na pinangunahan ng UNC varsity team noong ika-10 ng Disyembre taong 2021.

Matatandaang ginanap ang unang torneo noong nakaraang Marso ng parehong taon na nilahukan ng 347 manlalaro. Sa panibagong pagkakataon, umabot ngayon sa 217 ang bilang ng sumali mula sa iba’t ibang lugar sa bansa.

May mga naturang manlalaro galing

sa mga kilalang unibersidad ng bansa tulad ng University of the East, University of Northern Philippines, Holy Cross of Davao College, Negros Occidental High School, University of Santo Tomas, Cagayan National High School, Ateneo de Manila University, University of Cordilleras, Saint Paul University, Bulan National High School, at University of Baguio.

Tulad ng nakaraan, ginanap ang laro sa online platform na lichess.org. Ang nasabing torneo ay naglalayong magudyok sa mga batang manlalaro na maging mahusay hindi lamang sa akademya kundi pati na rin sa palakasan, bumuo ng mabuting koneksyon at sportsmanship sa kapwa kalahok, at higit sa lahat pahusayin ang analytical skills ng mga manlalaro.

Sa humigit-kumulang alawandaang manlalaro, pumili ng top 20 kung saan ang ginawarang kampeon ay si Nitzan Steinberg, at Alekhine Nouri at Airel Santander naman para sa una’t ikalawang pwesto. Mayroon ding ginawad sa Top School Scorer na naiuwi ni Christian Mark Daluz, Top Performing UNC Varsity

—Joseph Mendoza II, Top Open Lady— Kylen Joy Mordido, Top Open Senior - Cris Adgardo, Top Open Kiddie—Trina Mhariz, Top Bicol—Rommel Valdez, Top Bicol Kiddie—Jervy Angelo Briones, Top Bicol Lady - Juzeth Marielle Agne at sa Top Bicol Senior si Carlo Lorena. Maliban dito, may napili ring 15 lucky viewers bilang tanda ng pagkalugod sa mga sumubaybay.

Nagpasalamat naman si Joseph Salazar, Chess Team Captain, na nakapanayam online, sa lahat ng mga tao sa likod ng matagumpay na paligsahang kanilang hinawakan, “The enthusiastic organizers who gave life to the live stream of the tournament by providing them with fun terms but great help in developing the skills of the players and all the reasons why this tournament was a success, in various departments from the dearest president to our players, thank you all very much.”

[Salamat sa inyong lahat—sa mga masisigasig na organizer na nagbigaybuhay sa live stream dahil sa magaan at masayang mga tuntunin, ngunit malaking tulong sa pagpapaunlad ng kakayahan

ng mga manlalaro; at sa lahat ng mga nagpatagumpay sa larong ito, sa iba’t ibang department mula sa pinakamamahal na presidente hanggang sa ating mga kalahok.]

Ayon pa kay Salazar, “Once a chess player always a chess player. The players became respectful of the rules enforced by the tournament [and] they gladly understood and followed them.”

[Ang isang manlalaro ng chess ay mananatiling manlalaro. Iginalang, inintindi, at sinunod ng mga sumali ang mga alituntunin ng paligsahan.]

Tulad niya, nagpapasalamat din si Liberty De vela, Team Captain, kay Mark Angelo Godino ng Mobile Chess Club of the Philippines (MCCPH), sa kanilang mga tagapagsanay na sina Glennen Artuz, Mia San Lorenzo at Sports Director, Roel Rosales, at lalo na sa mga naglaro at nagpamalas ng galing sa kompetisyon.

Kabilang din sa mga nag-organisa ang MCCPH.

2022 PVL Conference set to happen this February; Various teams clinch their initial

BY RACHELLE PAJA strategies As part of each team’s preparation before the much awaited 2022 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) season coming this February, various competing teams contrive with their new set of line ups shuffling its players left and right during the offseason.

The newly named PLDT High Speed Hitters will open this era with a new and fresh selection retaining four players.

Along with the new head coach, George Pascua replacing Roger Gorayeb, High Speed Hitters also signed star players Mika Reyes, Jules Samonte, Heather Guino-o, Dell Palomata, Jovie Prado, Jessey De Leon, and Mean Mendrez together with 2016 Shakey’s V-League Best Setter Wendy Semana and Reigning Best Libero Kath Arado, will also be part of the PLDT High Speed Hitters this season.

Meanwhile, The Choco Mucho Flying Titans added Des Cheng, Isa Molde, Aduke Ogunsanya, Thang Ponce, Jem Ferrer and Cherry Nunag to its already-loaded selection.

Cheng is a leader and an all round player graduated from De La Salle University, a powerhouse team in the UAAP Volleyball scene. She played for the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers since 2016 having four titles with the said team.

On the other hand, Petro Gazz Angels bid farewell to its nine star players keeping five from its original line up while the team signed Yeye Gabarda, MJ Phillips, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, Bang Pineda, Cienne Cruz, Jonah Sabete, Djanel Cheng and Nicole

Tiamzon.

One of the new recruits, Aiza MaizoPontillas, a former UST Growling Tigress, has established herself in the volleyball scene as a national team player for several years as she started international career in 2014 getting bronze in the 2019 ASEAN Grand Prix.

After a dismaying debut in the league, Cignal HD Spikers has decided to load up for the upcoming season signing former Petro Gazz Angels’ Ces Molina, Ria Meneses, and Jerrili Malabanan, together with ex-PLDT middle blocker Marist Layug and former Sta. Lucia quicker Glaudine Troncoso.

The veteran and San Beda College alumnus Ces Molina adds to the seasoned outside hitters like Rachel Anne Daquis and Fiola Ceballos.

As part of their plan, HD Spikers also recruits Graze Bombita, Gel Cayuna, Angeli Araneta, and Bia Generals.

Furthermore, the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers composed of De La Salle University alumni such as Aby Maraño, Ara Galang, and Kim Fajardo signed Dzi Gervacio and Shola Alvarez.

Alvarez, an outside hitter and a Jose Rizal University NCAA Season 93 Volleyball MVP will add up to Cargo Movers’ dominant spikes.

Meanwhile, the remaining competing teams will head to the new season with a roster mainly unchanged such as Defending Open Conference champions

Chery Tiggo Crossovers, r u n n e r - u p Creamline Cool Smashers, BaliPure Water Defenders, and Army.

Cool Smashers’ star player and Volleyball phenom, Alyssa Valdez will participate this season as she goes outside Pinoy Big Brother House (PBB) and recovers from COVID 19.

“To everyone who’s asking if I’m going to play this coming season, definitely,” she said during a livestream.

While teams prepare for the upcoming PVL Season, Sta. Lucia Lady Realtora and Perlas Spiker have decided to take a leave of absence, concerning the continuing surge of COVID-19 cases in the country.

The league is targeting three conferences this year to start this February 16 in a bubble setup at Paco Arena Events and Sports Center in Manila or Royale Tagaytay as an option.

“We’re looking at three conferences this year which will start with the Open Conference, hopefully, next month in a

bubble set up. We have Royale Tagaytay as our backup venue in case we won’t be allowed to hold our games in Manila.” said PVL president Ricky Palou.

“We are still waiting for clearance from the IATF and GAB,” he added.

As of this writing, there are two new teams applying for the league.

“There are new teams that want to join. We are still deliberating on it and doing our due diligence to see if they are willing to commit to the league for years,” said PVL president Palou.

Athletes

TOMO LXIX, BILANG II NOVEMBER 2021 -JANUARY 15, 2022

BY AILA JOY ESPERIDA

Bringing pride to the Philippines has become the primary goal of every common athlete.

Competing in different events with their countrymen as a source of inspiration and securing the awards for their beloved nation, yet these prodigies are being pulled down by the national sports organizations who were supposed to uplift them.

It was heartbreaking to witness another Filipino Olympian and legendary pole vault star driven away to his passion and goal due to mudslinging.

Ernest John Obiena, a 26-yearold national treasure, became the No. 6 vaulter in the world with an Asian record of 5.93 meters leap, and has won numerous top-level competitions. He was also the sole Asian to reach the final round in the recent Tokyo Olympics, ranking 11th place. However, the pole vault star almost lost his shine after the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) claimed that he had falsified the liquidation of funds and had not paid his Ukrainian coach, Vitaly Petrov a coaching fee of P4.8 million.

The allegations started when the letters from PATAFA addressed to Obiena leaked to various media outlets last November 21. It was stated that Obiena should return the money to PATAFA, and the funds for his training in Formia, Italy would be suspended until the issue was resolved. And the fire between the two ignited when Obiena released a press statement defending himself.

After months of squabbling, Obiena was charged with a criminal case of estafa by PATAFA and was expelled from the national team, following an internal investigation that noted how he created a wedge between the national federation and his coach.

Obiena denied all the allegations and provided the audit of payments to further prove his innocence. His camp also revealed

not Pets.

SPORTS | 25

the complete email exchanges between him and PATAFA in which he requested the federation to pay his coach and team staff directly for the past two years but the organization turned a blind eye about this.

This issue in the late incident transpired to be prevalent already with Philippine sports. Mistreatment, harassment, and dismantling the athlete’s reputation became normal inside the national sports organization. Even the highly regarded officials treat them like pets who take the responsibility for their bidding.

Other Filipino athletes also had a beef with the national federation and sports association. The 2016 Rio Olympics marathoner Mary Joy Tabal was also subjected to mudslinging, and boxer Eumir Marcial pleaded for support from the government.

Also, Olympian superstar Hidilyn Diaz was forced to be muted while facing harassment and lack of support from the authorities. And let’s not

forget the Chess grandmaster Wesley So, who denounced his Filipino citizenship because of his complicated relationship with the federation.

It is certain that athletes will most likely succeed when there are people supporting them genuinely excluding those authorities who only cherish their achievements after every competition. National officials must support, encourage, and provide them assistance, instead of adding hindrance in their path. Athletes are national gems who bring glory and fame to the country out of their passion, dedication, patriotism, and perseverance. If the national sports federation will not address its shabby treatment, Obiena will not be the last Filipino athlete who can speak up for his rights and fight for what he deserves.

Every act of exclusion given to the most promising athletes corresponds to shutting the country’s dream of making a name in Olympic competitions.

It was not a loss for Obiena, but a significant markdown for the Philippines.

Regional PRISAA susubukang idaos ngayong 2022; Greyhound student-athletes patuloy na makakatanggap ng scholarship BY KENN DANIEL MONTECILLO Matapos ang higit dalawang taong pagkakatigil ng Regional Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) bunsod ng COVID-19, susubukan idaos muli ang tanyag na kompetisyon ngayong 2022, ito ay ayon kay Coach Roel Rosales, UNC Sports Development Office (SDO) Director.

Ayon kay Coach Rosales, balak ng National Board na simulan ang muling pagbubukas ng Regional PRISAA ngayong taon virtually at kasalukuyan ring pinag-aaralan nang maigi ang iba pang sports events na maaring ganapin.

“Ayon sa National Board ng PRISAA, susubukan nitong umpisahan ang pagkakaroon ng paligsahan sa 2022 sa pamamagitan ng mga virtual platforms. Pinag-aaralan sa ngayon kung aling mga events ang posibleng ipatupad at kayang salihan ng nakararaming

member schools,” pagbabahagi ni Coach Rosales.

Tiniyak din ni Coach Rosales na handa ang UNC Greyhound studentathletes dahil patuloy ang pag-eensayo ng mga ito mapa-virtual man o actual. Dagdag pa niya, mahigpit din na ipinapatupad ang mga standard health protocols sa pag-eensayo at pansamantala rin nilang ipinagpaliban ang trainings para sa mga may physical contact sports.

Ayon kay Stephen King Sebello, UNC Badminton player, patuloy na umaarangkada ang kanilang pageensayo at tiniyak na handa silang magcompete anumang oras.

“Preparation po namin regarding sa incoming PRISAA is practice weekends and maximizing yung mga free time po sa bahay to make some workouts po, and nag-papractice din kami sa trishot with the team during weekends. We are assuming kasi na anytime dapat ready kami for the incoming tournaments, and proud to say that we are ready for the incoming

tournaments,” salaysay ni Sebello.

SCHOLARSHIP PARA SA STUDENT-ATHLETES PATULOY Sinigurado rin ni Coach Rosales na buo ang suporta ng UNC sa mga student-athletes, hindi man sila makapag-compete at mairepresenta ang unibersidad. “... yun din kasi ang worry nila na baka dahil walang games ay mawala na din ang support ng admin in the future.

Although sa ngayon ay buo ang suporta,” paglilinaw ni Coach Rosales.

Malaki rin ang pasasalamat ng mga student-athletes sa patuloy na suportang iginagawad sa kanila ng UNC, gaya na lamang kung paano sila sinusuportahan noong panahong lahat sila ay nakikipagpunyagi pa. “...very thankful kami sa UNC, na very considerate and never kami pinapabayaan ng sports department specially kay Coach Bing. Kahit na walang competition kami as of now yung support sa amin ay walang pinagkaiba sa

meron na competitions. We can say na super ganda ng system sa sports in UNC,” ani Sebello.

TAEKWONDO, CHESS COMPETITIONS MALAKI ANG TYANSANG IDAOS

Ibinahagi rin ni Coach Bing na isa ang UNC sa mga sinangguni na hingian ng suhestiyon para sa mga events ngayong pandemya. Dulot ito ng magandang performance ng unibersidad sa mga nagdaang kompetisyon sa taekwondo, maging ang matagumpay na pagdaraos ng online chess competition.

“Hinihingan ng mga suhestiyon ang iba pang regions kung meron na silang nasubukan na events ngayong pandemya.

Lahat ng ito ay i-finalize ng National Board sa lalong madaling panahon. Isa ang UNC sa hiningan ng tulong dahil sa tagumpay nito sa mga dumaang competition tulad ng Taekwondo kung saan nanalo ang ating manlalaro ng maraming gold, silver at bronze sa international level. Gayon din sa Chess kun saan nakapag-host na tayo ng online competition at sumasali sa katulad na platform,” dagdag pa ni Coach Bing.

Sa ngayon ay wala pang tiyak na sporting events na sasalihan ang UNC Greyhounds, ngunit malaki ang posibilidad na matuloy ang taekwondo, chess gayundin sa vocal Solo at duet, ayon kay Coach Rosales.

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| SPORTS

BY JONNA MAE BAGASBAS Behind her talent and swarm of exclusive awards and special recognitions, therein lies the clandestine story of a UNCean who now transpired to be one of the most outstanding players of Philippine volleyball.

Be the

Grazielle Berdin Bombita, a 5’9 open/outside hitter, became remarkable due to her explosive spikes and blazing attacks igniting like a bomb which led her to greater ascendance in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL). But this 30-yearold conversant already arised making a name for herself way back in 2016 when she joined the Iriga City Oragons as the team captain.

Humble Beginnings At the age of eight, Grazielle marked her first indulgence for her beloved sports when she spent early days in Tambang Central School and National High School at Tinambac, Camarines Sur. Like any other budding volleyball player, she grew up playing amateur games and wall passing drills. “Nakikisali ako sa training ng High School lagi and nanghihiram ako lagi ng bola kay Sir Olarve para makapag-walling ako sa bahay,” Graze shared.

Coach/Sir Olarve is the person who introduced the sport to Graze — a man whose motivation pushed her beyond her limits. No matter what the circumstances, this young star would come into the training of the high school boys and girls.

“Inaabangan ko lagi training nila noon and kahit maulan go padin sa paglalaro kahit nakayapak go padin sa paglalaro. Sobrang saya ko kapag naglalaro ako ng Volleyball.

And ganun ko kamahal ang volleyball hanggang ngayon,” Graze affirmed.

Greyhound Spirit Paving the way for her refined passion, Grazielle’s younger self grew further her interests by joining the UNC Volleyball Team in 2007 while undertaking a course in the College of Business and Accountancy.

Aside from being a hard worker student with a BSBA major in financial accounting, she pursued her sports and played several competitions including the 2011 PRISAA National Games in Zamboanga City which is her most memorable game with the team.

When the no. 7 Greyhound varsity player graduated in 2012, she considered it as her first success in the field of volleyball.

According to Graze, giving her 101% in every game serves as a real strength and using her weaknesses as a motivation requires acceptance while learning and unlearning things to revamp oneself.

But if there’s one thing that the UNC team contributed to her ultimate growth, “Always be grateful. And saan ka man makarating don’t ever forget the people who helped you,” Graze expressed as she reminisced about her life as a student athlete. “You should have a constant reminder of where you want to go and what you want to achieve. Be confident ika-nga FAKE it until you MAKE it. Be disciplined sa kinakain and ginagawa. Invest in yourself.

Believe in yourself, focus on your goal, and always do your best and just have fun! And lastly, do what is right, not what is easy,” she added to encourage the UNCean athletes who are now facing challenges due to the pandemic.

Time to Shine In the year 2016, Graze chased another extra mile to reach her dream by joining

the Iriga Lady Oragons. Her team returned to PVL during the reinforced and open conference in 2018 where she led them acting as a team captain. Despite not securing a final four spot, she played clench to drag Iriga-Navy to its prime backto-back sweeps in the PVL Season 2.

The Bicolana spiker soon joined the BaliPure Purest Water Defenders in 2019 where she exhibited the veteran demeanor for a youth-laden core and caused a compelling improvement from their underdog campaign in the reinforced conference. She emerged to be a key player during her first stint with BaliPure in the PVL Season 3 by ending a 12-game losing streak, evading Air Force.

Before the 2019 PVL Open Conference reached its end, Graze committed to play for Motolite. But when Motolite folded due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Bombita was courted by three various teams and ended up with BaliPure, the team where she started off her career in the Premier Volleyball League.

She earned Player of the Game by recovering from an upheaval to outplay a Chery Tiggo side bannered by national team star Jaja Santiago during the 2021 OVL Open Conference. Graze sparked the late-game rally from a 1-2 set deficit with 24 points. With her explosive performances in the concluded conferences, the pride of UNC and Iriga City surprised many supporters and people who just learned of her glaring talent for volleyball.

Man Behind her Glory Growing up, Graze has always been reminded of several valuable lessons from her father, Natividad Bombita Jr., who unleashed the potential and molded her humble figure. He continuously advised her that family is essential who can always lend a shoulder when needed. “He always helps other people, and tries to do the right thing no matter what is the cost to himself.

He makes sacrifices for the people he loves,” Graze proudly conveyed, recalling the goodness of her late father.

She also added that he taught her to embrace imperfections and unconditional acceptance. After everything that happened to her in the real battlefield of life, those words brought so much courage to fight her obstacles, “It made me understand what life is about,” she concluded.

Athlete Equals Better Person Beyond the great opportunities of having a fit and healthy life, building friendships and career, Graze emphasized

that being an athlete greatly improved her mental health.

“Dito ako natuto na kahit maiyak ka na sa pinapagawa sayo, pipiliin mo pa rin ipagpatuloy or tapusin kasi mahal ko iyong ginagawa ko, kasi gusto ko iyong ginagawa ko, kasi masaya ako sa ginagawa ko.

Kasi ito iyong passion ko,” she exemplified.

Realizing that every person is only as strong as his/her weakest link, Graze took a lot of determination and discipline to bear these in her mind. If someone uses failure as an opportunity to learn, then they can go farther and become even more successful, “Okay lang pala na magkamali kasi ibig sabihin sinubukan ko, at iyon ang mas importante,” Graze stated.

She also mentioned how being an athlete enhanced her time-management skills, sense of respect and humility for everyone. “Hindi ko makakalimutan iyong mga taong tumulong, naniwala, sa kakayanan ko. But above all, you need to believe in yourself - kailangan mo talagang pagtrabahohan and pag tiyagaan [lahat],” she hinted.

Future Plans The Bicolana pride is set to enter a new chapter in her career together with Cignal HD Spikers.

She became an addition to the squad to strengthen its lineup ahead of 2022 PVL season.

Believing that her dream of becoming a champion is within reach, Graze hopes to help her newly-found home which recently finished 10th in the PVL Open Conference last August with one win and eight losses.

The DEMOCRAT thedemocratunc

TOMO LXIX, BILANG II NOVEMBER 2021 -JANUARY 15, 2022

LITERARY |

27

Ang Pagmamahal na Higit sa Sinumpaang Salaysay NI PATRICK JOSEPH PANAMBO

“We are in need of a doctor and nurses to assist our patient.

Please proceed to the emergency room now.”

Ito ang paulit-ulit na maririnig sa loob ng ospital na aking pinagtatrabahuhan. Ang lahat ay aligaga; balot ng espesyal na kasuotan, pawis at hapo. “Dok! Ikaw na lang daw po,” sambit ng isang nars na batid ko’y kulang din ang tulog at kasama ko rin sa loob ng pasilidad.

Sa tawag ng sinumpaang pangako, ang magamit ang pinag-aralan lalo na sa mga hindi inaasahang pangyayari tulad na lamang nito ay hindi mapipigilan. Agad na kami ay nagtungo sa kung saan naroroon ang pasyente. Tunog lamang ng mga aparato ang maririnig.

Ang pasyente ay positibo ng COVID-19. Siya ay nangangailangan mapasukan ng tubo sa baga sapagkat masyado nang nanghihina ang kanyang sistema. Sa kasamaang palad, wala pala siyang bakuna kontra rito.

Habang ang lahat ay okupado ang oras sa prosesong aming isinasagawa, naisip ko kung may naghihintay rin bang pamilya sa taong ito. Kung alam ba “Kailan nilang nasa malubhang kaya kalagayan ang kanilang sa buhay. O matatapos mahal kumusta ang mga ito?” nakasalamuha niya sa kanyang tahanan.

Paano na lang kung bigla na lang siyang mawala?

Sa kailaliman ng pagtatanong ng aking isipan, naalala kong magtatatlong taon na tayong nakikipaglaban sa COVID-19. Libo-libong buhay na ang pumanaw, milyon na ang natamaan, at marami-rami pa ang lumalabang makahinga.

Dumaan na tayo sa taong puno ng takot ang nararamdaman. Dumaan ang mga araw na ang galit ng mga tao’y ipinararamdam.

Panaghoy, sigaw at pagmamakaawa na sana’y mahanap na ang lunas sa karamdamang ito. Magtatatlong taon na tayong nasisikil ng oportunidad.

Mistula na tayong bilanggo sa sariling tahanan.

“Kailan kaya matatapos ito?” ang mahina kong tanong sa sarili ko.

“Dok, tapos na po tayo.”

Sagot ng aking katulong na nars.

GUHIT NI CHRISTIAN REGANIT DEBUHI NG PAHINA NI JANNSEN MARTINEZ

Ngumiti na lang ako sa kanya sapagkat ‘di ko inakalang narinig niya ako. Mas masarap sanang mapakinggan kung tapos na talaga ang laban natin sa delubyong ito. Ngunit pasalamat na rin at maayos naming natapos ang operasyon.

“Dok, Nurse, salamat po sa agaran niyong aksyon. Alam naming positibo rin kayo sa COVID at kayo’y nagpapahinga sa inyong pasilidad pero nagkukulang po tayo ng propesyonal ngayon. Pwede na po ulit kayong bumalik at magpagaling. Palakas po tayo!” Ang paalala ng head doctor ng hospital. Oo nga pala, positibo rin kami sa sakit. At marami pang frontliners ang natamaan nito. Sana talaga ay matapos na ito.

Magtatatlong taon na tayo ngayong 2022.

Kapapasok pa lang ng Enero ngunit ito ang bungad sa atin. Kaming mga frontliners ay tinamaan na rin ng sakit. Kaya ang tangi naming hiling, mag-ingat tayong lahat. Magpabakuna hangga’t maaari sapagkat ito ay dagdag proteksyon laban sa COVID. ‘Wag na sana nating hintayin ang ilang taon pa.