THE GOLD PANICLES EDITORIAL BOARD AND STAFF E.I.C: Isagani Roma Jr. Associate E.I.C: Rally Jay B. Naife Managing E.I.C Kurtnhy Love Maderal lay-out Artist: Kadesh Hanah McCarthy ASSOCIATE EDITORS Opinion Editor: Feature Editor: News Editor: Sports Editor: Literary Editors: Web Admin.: Cartoonist: Photojournalist:
Vince Ivan Libao Shaina Benedecto Rey Bade John Francis Cadampog Vanessa Ybañez John James Goleña Reymond Java Dean Joshua Solis
COLUMNIST: Marie Claire Virtudazo Celmer Villareal Eliphaz Signar Jr. II Caryl Suzy Pagaran Roselle Lumahan
VISION
A premier university known for academic excellence in science and technology, agriculture, environment and natural resources, engineering, education and the arts towards the sustainable development of Caraga Region.
MISSION In pursuit of academic excellence, Caraga State University shall endeavor to deliver the highest quality of instruction, research, extension, production, and administration to produce scientificallytrained, technologically-skilled, and morally-sound individuals contributing to the creation of an eco–friendly and healthy environment.
GENERAL MANDATE
THE GOLD PANICLES ADVISERS Jan Grenechaux Rolyna S. Trugillo Shella M. Alingato
CARAGA STATE UNIVERSITY
Chief Adviser Technical Adviser (English) Technical Adviser (Filipino)
ABOUT THE COVER The theme for this semester’s magazine is RED. It is a very powerful color which is closely associated with strong human emotions. The cover of the magazine shows an image of handprints in a rough wall with a red color overlay. The handprints represent the human feelings and senses. Love, hate, anger, and fear are only some of the emotions which are vividly described by the color red. We taste red as spicy; we feel red as hot; we hear red as a rock music; we smell red like the scent of a rose; and we see red like an appetizing food. These are the emotions the publication would like to express in this issue. The handprints also depict a stop sign and the rough surface of the wall signifies adversities and pitfalls. We should be aware and cautious because we’re now on these critical times, where conflicts and hostilities are ubiquitous. This publication also adheres in presenting relevant local and national issues that would induce the readers to be cautious and be skeptical.
Caraga State University shall primarily provide advanced education, higher technological, professional instruction and training in the fields of agriculture and environmental studies, fishery, engineering, forestry, industrial technology, education, law, medicine and other health-related programs, information technology, the arts and sciences and other related courses. It shall undertake research and extension services, and provide progressive leadership in its areas of specialization.
CORE VALUES
Competence Service Uprightness The Gold Panicles
is the Official Student Publication of Caraga State University (CSU) - Main Campus. The office is independent by function and administration from other student organizations. It does not actively promote particular political, religious parties, and other ideologies. The official domicile of the office is within the premises of CSU Main Campus, Butuan City.
SERVICES OFFERED The office serves as the official student publication of CSU, anchored on the principles of the freedom of the press. The office is by the students, for the students, and through the students.
The Gold Panicles reserves all rights in the textual, graphical, and other contents appearing in this magazine. Redistribution is prohibited without expressed written permission from the Editorial Board. In compiling and presenting the contents of this magazine, GP has used its best endeavors to ensure that the information is correct and current at the time of publication but assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, or defect herein. The issue may inadvertently contain technical inaccuracies or typographical errors. Further, references to any specific commercial products, processes, or services by trade name, trade mark, and manufacturer or otherwise do not necessarily constitute or imply endorsement or recommendation. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein should not be used for advertising or product-endorsement purposes. Furthermost, the opinion expressed herein are those of the authors. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Gold Panicles or its staffers. The designations employed in this publication and the presentation of material therein do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the GP concerning the legal status of any institution, area or territory, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers.
Editorial
LEADERSHIP: THREE SIDES OF A COIN We
often compare leadership with a coin, thinking that there are only two sides—the heads and tails (the good and the bad, respectively). We failed to grasp that a coin is a three-dimensional object which has the third side—its depth.
We judge leaders by giving definition with the way they carry on their duty: either good or bad. We’ve set our perspective either looking at the bottom or at the top. Maybe, we can step outside of comfort zones for a while or think outside of the box and get some new perspective. Maybe, this time, we can choose our leaders based on the depth of their passion and sincerity to lead.
as the “Tiger of Asia”. It was then that our economy was its finest. His administration had proven to be effective as there were increases in industrialization and several creations of durable infrastructures nationwide. There were also rapid decrease of crime rates due to his martial law.
This duality, however, is deconstructed as newer information on the internet have surfaced. These information are somehow trying to rewrite the Philippine history as we know it. Although, online information have credibility issues like gossips, some information prove to be logical, hence believable.
According to the theory of symbolic interactionism, individuals create and shape the society where they form part of. This dynamics can be accepted as a natural order of things-change. Everyone who constitutes any social structure has the voice. Every voice has the power to lead in creating a desirable state that benefits all. In psychology, we have the theory which maintains that there’s Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde in everyone of us. We can either be good or bad. Leaders are no exemptions. We visualize bad leadership highly associated with corruption driven by self interests and selfish doings, but that’s not what “bad leadership” really means as far as this article is concerned. Bad leadership in this article refers to what our society has been given to believe as inhumane to have carried out questionable decisions, but delivered best results, nevertheless. This involves governance with clear intentions regardless of what the society demands for itself. Bad leadership may sound unjustifiable or immoral at some point, but somehow it gets to contribute more to the society than its counterpart. History itself is a witness to this. In 1965, Ferdinand Marcos was elected as the 10th president of the Philippines. Since then, his administration has been described as the cruelest. However, the same administration made it possible for our country to be dubbed
Both administrations brought significant changes in the lives of many Filipinos who had experienced the Martial Law and Cory Magic. Their lives, their families’, and even their cronies’ are written in history books. They are read in schools and the tale continues on TV news and newsprints even today. It’s a long-standing rigmarole of unfortunate events and redemptions. The good and the bad. The tale is a domestic byword passed on from one generation after another. Everyone becomes a follower.
In return, however, he received massive criticisms and negative feedbacks from the society who elected him. His main purpose was to discipline the people but the masses saw this as a threat to the illusive medium they think they need—FREEDOM. In democracy, the people create the laws which the leaders execute. This is the only reasonable and acceptable order in the eyes of the masses. The other side of the coin is a government that pursues development with honor. This is what people respect and call a good leadership. In contrast with Marcos administration, the Aquino administration is known for its bestowment of democracy—a government that embodies freedom. The tale of how Ninoy and Cory fought against the alleged cruelty of Marcos’s and their allies is worth to be noted. Cory was undoubtly one of the good leaders. She pursued her dreams with the people’s approval. She succeeded in making the people believe that freedom was restored.
Withheld or not, information has yet again led the people torn in between. But come to think of it, Marcos administration had accomplished so much better than any presidents in succession—that including the mother and the son, and yet somehow many people are convinced otherwise and would rather follow the socially labeled good leadership as tailored by the yellow propaganda. Again, maybe it’s about time to step away for a while from our comfort zone. Let’s all play divergent. Maybe leadership, really is neither good or bad. Maybe it takes a combination of both to actualize an ideal state. Maybe, we fail to advance as a race because we have false leaders, not bad leaders. In order to improve we must seek for the truth, live with the reality that either sides of the coin doesn’t really matter. History will remind us time and again but it still won’t matter because all the society will think about in the end is the RESULT. We don’t place value in either of the two alternatives we get from coin flipping; just as we don’t put the future of our country to some kind of sortition with only two equally possible and likely outcomes. The value, in reality, is based on the DEPTH.
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What’s inside
To Those Who Know Nothing Gross Scenes Instructor’s Index
Portrait Photography Basics Temptations Fire in the Rain
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The Gold Panicles
NEWS
CSU HOLDS 1ST STAT FAIR By: Isagani M. Roma Jr. With the theme “Quality Statistical Data towards Quality Learning Outcomes,” the College of Science Education (CSE), together with the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), through its Department of Mathematics highlighted students’ statistical research papers in the very first CSU Statistical Fair on 8-9 OF October, CSU- Main Campus. It aimed to showcase students’ acquired learnings in the statistics; to provide venue for students’ shared learning experiences in sampling and data analysis; to enhance students’ related experiences in the analysis and presentation of statistical data; and to motivate students in the conduct of quality research though generation of quality data.
The fair had various activities, such as research colloquim, poster presentation, statistics quiz and brochure-making contest, in accord to the celebration of the National Statistics Month, then on its 26th year. Jeremiah Atenta, Jan Myrtle Villanueva, and Genelyn Roble’s study entitled “A survey on estimating the average library working hours among CSU students” grasped top notch in every competition in the fair: oral presentation, poster presentation, and brochure-making contest. Additionally, the research papers “A Survey on CSU Students’ Attitude towards Same-sex Marriage” and “Waste Segregation Awareness and Practices among CSU Students
and Employees” landed on second and third places, respectively in the oral presentation category. The study “A Survey on Estimated Mean Weekly Study Hours among CSU Students” clutched second place and the study “Waste Segregation Awareness and Practices among CSU Students and Employees” on third place in the poster presentation contest. Moreover, on the brochure-making contest, the studies “Waste Segregation Awareness and Practices among CSU Students and Employees” and “Proper Practices of Ecological on Solid Waste Management” grabbed second and third places, respectively.
ROTARY CLUB CONDUCTS BLOOD LETTING By: Jeff Justin Dawis
ATENTA-BUDLAYAN HAILED STAT QUIZ CHAMP With the theme: Give Blood, Give Love, Save Life, University Student Council (USC), in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross and sponsored by Rotary Club of Central Butuan, organized a blood-letting at the Sanchez Gymnasium on August 5, 2015. Arturo G. Gabua, Jr., University Student Council President stated the main goal of the program. The organizers aimed to encourage the CSU community to donate blood to help ameliorate the blood supply shortage and to inform everyone of the health benefits in taking part of this kind of endeavor.
By: Isagani M. Roma Jr.
“Every drop of blood gives life”, Mr. Enrique Andres, President Elect of Rotary Club of Central Butuan said during his inspirational message in the event. There are 5 Health benefits of donating blood: the joy of saving human lives, free health check-up, reduced risk of heart disease; calorie-burning; and reduced risk of cancer. The activity culminated with a dance exercise called Zumba.
Jeremiah Atenta and Marco Laurence Budlayan of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) flourished their way to champ Sangka sa Utok Dos Mil Kinse, an intercollegiate statistics quiz bowl, championship title on October, 2015. The showcasing of statistics prowess was in consonance with CSU’s celebration of the National Statistics Month (NSM), spearheaded by the CAS-Mathematics Department and College of Science Education (CSE). This was the first statistics quiz ball in CSU. The activity was participated by BS Mathematics students, CASMathematics Department and some CSE faculty, and representatives from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Three teams per college battled in the competition. The Atenta-Budlayan tandem took down 11 other teams in the competition. Jonel Vernante and Willy Manzanas of the College of Engineering and Information Technology (CEIT) followed in second place. Also, Marjun Pajal and Divine Faith Almocera, still from CAS, grabbed third place after a clincher round against Kenth Orgen and Hannah Tinio of CSE. Dr. Rosalinda C. Apura, Director of PSA-Region XIII and the activity’s keynote speaker, stressed that the competition aims to assess the students competence in the field of statistics, promote and enhance capabilities, and to generate public awareness in the significance of statistics in their everyday living.
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The Gold Panicles
NEWS
BUWAN NG WIKANG PAMBANSA 2015 IPINAGDIWANG By: Eliphaz A. Signar Jr. II
N
oong buwan ng Agosto ginanap ang taunang pagdiriwang sa Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa, na sa taong ito ay may temang, “Filipino: Wikang Pambansang Kaunlaran”, na nilahokan ng mga estudyanteng nakapag-enrol ng asignaturang Filipino at mga estudyante ng AB Philippine Literature.
Ang komikal skit na nagpakita ng pagkamasayahin ng mga Pilipino at debate o pagtatalo na nagpakita ng kahusayan sa pagiisip at pagsasalita sa wikang Filipino ay nasungkit ng kuponang Vergara. Samantalang ang sayawit na nagpamalas ng pagiging masining sa pag-awit at pagsayaw ay napanalunan ng kuponang Castro.
Nagkaroon ng iba’t ibang patimpalak at mga gawaing mapagkukunan ng aral, an buong buwan ng Agosto, upang maipakita na buhay parin ang wikang nakapag-iisa sa mga Pilipino.
Natapos ang nasabing Gawain sa pamamagitan ng isang mensahe mula kay G. johnny P. Bolongaita, tserman ng LSSD. Sa kanyang mensahe, binigyan diin niya ang mga linyang mula sa Pambansang Alagad ng Sining at tagapangulo ng Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) na si virgilio Almario na, “ Ang mataas na pagpapahalaga sa sariling wika ay nagpapakita ng mataas na pagpapahalaga sa sarili bilang Pilipino.”
Sa katunayan ang unang lingo ay isang “pakighihimamat” na dinaluhan ng mga estudyante ng programang AB Philippine Literatureat ang mga guro sa Departamento ng mga Wika at Agham (LSS). Naging kakaiba ang Gawain nang magsgawa pa ng isang Boodle Fight” para maging mas malapit ang loob ng mga nagmamahalsa wika. Sa pangalawang lingo, isang patimpalak ang ginawa na sumubok naman sa kakayahan ng lahat ng estudyante ng Caraga State University (CSU) na makagawa ng mga tula sa wikang Cebuano na batay sa tema ng pagdiriwang. Samantala ang panghuling lingo nawa noong ika-26 ng Agosto, 2016 ay inilunsad sa Sanchez himnasyon ang pampinid na palatuntunan. Kung saan nagkaroon pa ng mga panghuling patimpalak tulad ng Komikal Skit, Sayawit at Pagtatalo o debate.
Ngunit ang naging kaabangabang at nagpapuno sa naturang lugar ay ang naging pagtatanghal ng mga guro mula sa LSSD. Sapagkat ipinakita ng mga ito ang kanilang mga nakatagong talent sa pagawit ng mga awiting bayan at sayaw sa mga katutubong sayaw ng Filipinas. Tunay ngang makikita na estudyante man o guro ay kakikitaan ng pagmamahal sa ating wikang pambansa at pahyakap sa kulturang Pilipino. Ang mga katangiay iilan na lamang ang nagtataglay ngayon. Sa pagbungad ng talumpati ni G. Johnny Bolongaita, tserman ng LSSD ay nabanggit niya at pinagpahalagahan ang sinabi ni ni G Almario ang pangulo ng
Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, “Ang mataas na pagpapahalaga sa sarili bilang Pilipino.” Nabunga ng maganda ang masusing paghanda ng mga estudyante at mga guro nang maging matagumpay, masaya at kaaya-aya ang kinalabasan ng programa.
CSU TOPS JIECEP SUMMIT By: Isagani M. Roma Jr.
E
vincing competence in Electronics and Communications Engineering, CSUBSEcE students dominated the Junior Institute of Electronics Engineers of the Philippines (JIECEP) Caraga Student Summit 2015 on the 3rd day of October at the Robinsons Mall Atrium, Butuan City. The whole day activity was facilitated by the Caraga Chapter Institute of Electronics and Communications Engineers of the Philippines led by Engr. Leo Cipriano Urbiztondo Jr. PECE, IECEP Caraga Governor. The JIECEP- Caraga Chapter is composed of schools from Caraga Region which offers BSEcE course; namely, Saint Paul University (SPU), Surigao State College of Technology (SSCT), Agusan del Sur College of Agricultural Technology (ASCAT), Saint Joseph of Institute of Technology (SJIT), and Caraga State University (CSU); however only 3 schools participated the said event, SSCT, SJIT, and CSU.
CSU Quiz Bees, champion of last year’s Quiz show, successfully defended supremacy after seizing Annual Regional Inter- Scholastic Quiz show Championship this 2015. 5th year students Rene Cubilla, Alfred Dennis Balamad, Isagani Roma, Jessiedee Mark Gingo, 4th year Freddie Homocillo, and 3rd year Judie Rose Saguidon, composed the winning team in the said competition.
confidently presented and grasped first place in the Technical Paper Competition. Also, Ian Blair Dalman clutched second place with his project entitled “Wireless Network of Synchronized Digital Clocks”. “I’m happy with the victory my students clasped. It a testament of their hard work and I hope that they do the same in the national competition.” Engr. Brian Luche, team coach, uttered with smile in his face.
The team will represent the JIECEP Caraga in National Inter- Scholastic Quiz show on December 9, 2015, at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia, Pasay City. Moreover, Gleen Solis, with his project “Design, Implementation and Evaluation of Touch Screen-based Automated Home Switching System using Infrared Sensor Sync to Android Phone via Bluetooth”,
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2015 MINING PASSERS: BATAL MARKS TOP 9 By: Marie Virtudazo The 2015 graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering Program (BSEM) mark their names on the pool of the Newly Licenced Mining Engineers, garnering for the second time a 100% passing rate in the Mining Engineering Licensure Examination (MELE) which was conducted at Manila, Philippines- Edwin P. Batal marked top 9 with 87.00% rating.
The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced that out of 214 takers, only 173 passed the MELE including the CSU takers, given by the Board of Mining Engineering in Manila. CSU-EM showed an excellent performance which surpassed the 80. 84% National Passing Rate of the said examination.
Together with For. Tering, listed below were the newly licensed foresters.
The College of Agricultural
Sciences and Natural ResourcesForestry
Department
produced
another placer in the Foresters Licensure Examination. Rece Ruby G. Tering clinched the second place in FLE of the Philippine Regulation Commission given by the Board of Foresters in the cities of Manila, Cagayan de Oro and Davao on August 2015.
The PRC noted a total of 461
out of 961 passed the examination and 32 of them were from CSU.
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ENGR. EDWIN P. BATAL ENGR. MARY KASSEL T. BLANCO ENGR. SWEET DAWN N. CHAVEZ ENGR. MARICEL P. MIÑION ENGR. LOVELY JANE O. CIVIL ENGR. SAZKIA ZANTANA DIAMANTE ENGR. KATHLEEN A. RANAY ENGR. KISH CRISTY G. LASPIÑAS ENGR. PSYCHEMAR MANTE ENGR. AILYN G. TOLENTINO
Truly, CSU ensures to uplift its institutional goals to produce excellent engineers in the society. It’s another honor and pride for the institution
TERING HITS SECOND IN FLE By: John Francis Cadampog
NEWS
The roster of the CSU’S New Mining Engineers:
For. Abian, Ialyn M. For. Lamela, Maricris O. For. Aguilar, Jeshaiah Chen Mopeth B. For. Lamoste, Rodel A. For. Alvizo, Richard T. For. Lolor, Iresh O. For. Animo, Charice Mae E. For. Malaluan, Mary Anthonette C. For. Asis, Karen L. For. Marababol, Rachel Jean R. For. Atanacio, Irene P. For. Martin, Gazmin For. Balinton, Verna Liza A. For. Orehuella, Agnes B. For. Bedanillo, Jessrie For. Potenciando, Lalaine E. For. Cinco, Mar Jun C. For. Sabuero, Demecris R. For. Dali-on, Shiella Lyn G. For. Saguidon, Shiela Mae P. For. Deniega, Louella Grace. A For. Saligumba, Lord Noli For. Escalera, Mary Charlotte G. For. Salo, Rommel L. For. Galinea, Eleandrea A. For. Solon, Flordicante M. For. Gier, Jay C. For. Tanedo, Wilfred Catingog For. Goles, Aljon O. For. Velasco, Jaynard B. For. Goyo, Jepper John M.
GE GRADS EXCEL LICENSURE EXAM By: Rey Bade
The 22 Geodetic Engineering graduates from Caraga State University proved that they can be on top in terms of academic excellence. It was indeed a reverie for all takers as they successfully marked their names on the roster of Geodetic Licensure Examination passers given by the Board of Geodetic Engineers on October 13-14, 2015 in Manila City. Inasmuch as the faculty and staff of the College of Engineering and Information Technology (CEIT) hone students into competitive individuals, the new passers successfully accumulated a 66.67% in overall performance over a 35.10% national passing rate. The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) annunciated that out of 510 takers of the examination, only 179 passed and 22 of them come from CSU, namely: Engr. Ronnie Apas, Engr. Roylem Balinton, Engr. Roseknee Bayangbang, Engr. Daryl Beniga, Engr. Melfred Anthony Berdera, Engr. Kendel Bolanio, Engr. Melchor Rito Camacho III, Engr. Raffy Capote, Engr. Jared Culdora, Engr. Almer Cris Estorque, Engr. Gilbert Gaballo, Engr. Dwight Kintanar, Engr. Amira Janine Mag-usara, Engr. George Hussein Mordeno, Engr. Sherwin Pulido, Engr. Archie Salvador, Engr. Francis Ben Taglucop Engr. Rubi Boie Tahil, Engr. Synfor Taray, Engr. Adrian Tayapad, Engr. Shella Jay Ugat, and Engr. Godfrey Veloz. Truly, the excellent performance of the passers showed that CSU, really actualizes its mission of producing excellent individuals to contribute in building the nation.
The Gold Panicles
NEWS
AC C R E D I TO R S S AY “ V E RY G O O D ” , A AC C U P V I S I T By Celmer Charles Villareal
A
milestone achievement for Caraga State University came as the College of Engineering and Information Technology programs, namely Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Communication Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Information System, and Master of Science in Information Technology, were awarded as Level II Re-accredited and Level 1 after the AACCUP visit last August 18-21, 2015. The programs BSAE and BSECE were awarded as Level II Re-accredited from Level I last September 2012. According to the results given by the accreditors, the programs’ strengths were mainly on the areas of Faculty (Area 2), Curriculum and Instruction (Area 3), Physical Plant and Facilities (Area 8), Laboratories (Area 9), and Administration (Area 10). For BSAE, accreditors were astounded of the program’s excellent performance in the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) for the past five years. Also, BSAE Curriculum in CSU [meets] the requirements and standards with updated syllabi and enough improvised machinery equipment devised by very own students” . The BSECE also showcased its excellent performance. The results showed that it has a “legitimate curriculum and instruction established that exceeds the minimum requirements of CHED” and a “strong indication of Industry Linkages: regional, national, and international”. The program’s
pursuit toward excellence was well-supported by the university, as reflected by the sufficient computer sets and electronic equipment in the laboratories, and improvised gadgets crafted by the students. Likewise, BSIS and MSIT were accredited for the first time, yet they fascinated the accreditors. The excellent online instructional portal which is accessible to the faculty and students anywhere as a support to classroom instruction, greatly amazed them. In addition, “laboratories are well-equipped more than adequate” supply of computer sets. The dean and faculty of each programs with master’s degree holders related to their field is
another significant data considered. The remarks above come from the accreditors themselves. President Penaso reassured the whole university family that “these feedbacks will tell us what we should still do more. This year’s results of the accreditation have proven the university’s efforts to continuously improve for an even more quality education in CSU. “If better is possibility, then good is not enough”, said President Penaso in his welcome remarks.
M S - M AT H , O U T S TA N D I N G A A C U P A C C R E D I T A T I O N By: Eliphaz A. Signar Jr. II College of Arts and Sciences, Master of Science in Mathematics swiftly took Level 1 in its first survey, during the AACUP visit on 18-21 of August. Area II Curriculum and Instruction of Master of Science in Mathematics are the primary factors why this program passed the accreditation for level 1 effective from September 1, 2015 to August 31, 2018. The MS-Math got a grand mean got 3.66 over the accreditation required grand mean 3.00. The program was rated “very good” and qualified to the next level.
The result was sustained highly in the Area II (faculty) weighted 30.72, Area III (Curriculum and Instruction) weighted 29.44, Area IV (Support to Students) weighted 26.96 and Area V (Research) weighted 21.10. “If good is better, then better is not enough”, CSU President Anthony M. Penaso reminded the stakeholders and students in his welcome address that being best is more appreciable than being better.
MS-Math was surveyed by the accreditors headed by Dr. Dennis A. Tarepe and Associate Professor III of Mindanao University of Science and Technology (MUST), with his specializations in Mathematical Sciences, Applied Mathematics, and Statics.
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OPINION
“A calling to all the imprudent people out there who say that being against mining is nonsense, yet they know nothing” “No to mining”, those are the words blabbered by the people who think mining is an irreversible destruction. “Strip off your clothes if you don’t want mining” the common statement given by the pro-mining. Both parties have their basis but do they really both know what they are saying? This isn’t about me going against or supporting mining. I’m a Mining Engineering student and I’m writing this as a call to all the people out there who say that being against mining is nonsense, yet they know nothing. It is easy and natural for the people to choose the side that benefits them, because it’s what most people only think about— benefits. The benefits I’m talking about are not just the products given by mining—the clothes, computer parts, and pretty much all the useful technology we use today, but also the welfares you can gain if you claim that you are against mining—just like what
happened in some activist who claimed to be against mining yet were silenced when money was thrown at their feet. Whether they were pretending from the start or just changed their mind after a generous offer doesn’t really matter at all. Im not gonna lie and say that I’m all up against mining. Im just against the way it is being practiced in the Philippines. We must be blind for not seeing the apparent violations. It’s the bitter truth that proves our laws serve only two purposes: for corruption (thru permits, quarterly environment checkup); and for decoration (to justify the first purpose). Yes, there are honorable companies that practice responsible mining, but the number is scarce if you compare them to those who don’t. They’re sometimes dragged down with the stain created by others in pursuit to their economic needs. Those who cultivate the virgin forests without second thoughts, and those who’d rather leave their equipment behind and leave the land barren where they took the minerals from.
Yes, the earth won’t die even if we try to destroy it intentionally. But as humans, we highly depend our survival on the soil we walk on. After the trees that produce our oxygen were cut, the bodies of water became contaminated, and the air polluted, would we ever survive such kind of planet? Can we afford to tolerate foreign-owned companies exhaust the natural resources that have helped us survive since the dawn of time? Yes, these companies can make the employment rate go over the top, but with their current practices, what will be left for the next generation? I attended seminars participated by pro-miners and witnessed how they would laugh at those who are up against mining. I also see posts in social media bashing the people who talk about how the mining industry harms the lives of the people affected by it. They have thrown harsh words and would later on bully online. I say, pro-miners who get to enjoy the benefits of the mining industry should not judge those who voice out
TO THOSE WHO KNOW NOTHING!
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their anxiety about it because they are the people who suffered the detrimental effects of mining like being forced to leave their homes without protection of the law. It is true that some people who are directly affected by the mining industry have now become rich, you can see them having their own cars, luxurious houses, and a comfortable life. These, among other fronts, however, are just all part of the show. That is how these irresponsible miners play the game. Behind those that meet the eyes are indigenous people who are driven out of their houses, threatened to be killed like the Lumads who got to see their Datu killed in front of them for being against the industry, which until now remains unresolved despite the many witnesses crying for justice. According to Republic Act 7942 otherwise known as “The Philippine Mining Act of 1995” chapter 3 Section 16, “No ancestral land shall be opened for mining operations without the prior consent of the indigenous cultural community concerned”. This section specifically gives the Indigenous cultural community the right to lay their terms. ICC is a very important component in the mining industry, they are the land owners where mining is most
feasible. Unfortunately most ICC have no education and this fact drives the company and the other people who take advantage from such operations to either trick or use some force to eject them in order to practice the selfish operation. “In the event of an agreement with an indigenous cultural community pursuant to the preceding section, the royalty payment, upon utilization of the minerals shall be agreed upon by the parties, the said royalty shall form part of a trust fund for the socioeconomic well-being of the indigenous cultural community”, the law further specifies. However, It lacks special components specifying the people who lay the terms; there are stories where the person who had an agreement with the company is the only one who gained the royalty payments. The fact that some people are being judged for being against the mining industry only means that our society today remains clueless of the real scenarios that happen on the ground. I say, that such an industry is also political. Leaders who are supposed to protect the land of our ancestors are the very people who sold our fate to environmental destructions for profit.
BETWEEN THE LINES
Vince Ivan Libao vince_libao@yahoo.com
It is time to cure the blindness cast by the influence of money. Let’s stop the cycle of selfish thinking. As part of the new generation of soon-to-be Mining Engineers, I’m asking this generation and you, the generations to come, to care for the others, be a good person, and most of all do not forget that we walk on the same land. Photo Credits: Romulo Sotelo Ampucap Rigde, Itagon, Benguet
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OPINION
HONEST BROKER
John Francis Cadampog jfcdmpg_1995@yahoo.com
FOUL PLAY D
uring the intramurals, there were MAST athletes who were allowed by their college governors to play in the basketball tournament, which was apparently a violation of the guidelines. Presumably, they were better trained than the amateurs inside the court. Every governor was oriented about the guidelines a week before the intramurals. It was included in the guidelines that an athlete who represents the university in the previous MAST and to other athletic meets should not be allowed to participate or else they will be disqualified. This was agreed by the competing teams and approved by the head committee, ensuring a fair game and to give the chance for all students to showcase their talent and
12 RED
skills in the sports. “Our governor let us to play, as what he understand it is not against in the guidelines,” a MAST athlete said. The college he represents shows supremacy—winning games after games, outscoring the other teams. The College of Arts and Sciences governor, Nestle Amuray insisted that their opponents didn’t follow the guidelines. She said, “they (CASNR and CEIT basketball team) should at least change their line-ups or ban their players in the game”. The CASNR governor insisted that the MAST players should be allowed to play since their previous opponent (the CEIT) let both of their MAST players to play.
The head committee, governors, and players made a compromise that the MAST athletes will be allowed to play but should personify the essence of a fair play. The college governors should always follow what is in the guidelines to avoid conflicts. And should not act like a child distorting the sense of fair play just to win. It is good to win but winning through breaking the rules triggers discord. As the old saying goes, “it’s not whether you win or lose, the more important is how you play the game.”
The Gold Panicles
OPINION
Lax Conservation
IF
nothing is done, we may wake up one day to find that we’re in a primitive-like living— a life without electricity. U p o n inspecting the status quo of the country’s electric power sufficiency, a certain problem has surfaced. Philippines is on the brink of a looming insufficiency of electric supply. Yet we are still very much complacent about this problem especially on using electricity in our households, thinking that the power we’re enjoying is unlimited. Truly, ignorance is perilous. Crucially, power conservation is needed to mitigate the eroding volume of power supply. In the first quarter of 2015, the nation had already suffered ample power supply interruptions, and the trench of this crisis gets even deeper with human enterprises which are dependent on non-
renewable energy sources. In Mindanao, out of 32 power plants, 24 are coming from non-renewable energy sources and most are bunker and diesel internal combustion engine power plants, while the rest are mostly hydropower plants. The figures show how dependent we are to non-renewable energy sources. It is incorrigible that we all follow the physical law imposed by the nature, including the law of conservation of energy, a law which states that energy can’t be created nor destroyed and that energy only transforms from one form to another. This implies that in due time, power plants which uses nonrenewable energy sources will run out of fuels to burn, especially that the number of households dependent to these power plants grows exponentially. At present, some parts of the country are suffering from rotational blackouts.
IPSO FACTO
Isagani M. Roma, Jr. ganzamor.ii@gmail.com
Moreover, fossil fuel-fired electricity generation brings danger and contributes to the emission of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere resulting to global warming. As part of the ripple effect, global warming causes widespread drought, flooding, and rainfall inconsistency which threaten hydropower plants. The call to switch from non-renewable to renewable energy sources is indeed desired. Solar energy is slowly gaining prominence in the Philippines. Here in the university, I have observed solar panels in the S & T building. The panels provide electricity in some rooms of the surrounding buildings, relatively lessening the electric bill of the university. With the looming energy shortage, investing in alternative energy can cut down dependence on fossil fuels. Additionally, this can help the environment by depressing carbon dioxide emissions. The government drafted measures and several mechanisms addressing the problem. I believe that this adversity concerns us all. Indeed we are all accountable. Social responsibility is required to be a keen observer and understand the results of our negligence for us to be concerned with this insuppressible truth. The challenge has been laid, and it needs discipline to generate realistic results. Though you may think that I am overacting, but the call to conserve energy is a fact right under our noses.
RED 13
GRO The Gold Panicles
OPINION
SAPERE AUDE
Celmer Charles Q. Villareal ccvillareal123@gmail.com
One
of the detriments but overlooked issue of our university is the threat that food establishments inside our campus impose to the health of their valued customers, especially to us, students. For sure all of us can observe about the poor services they offer to their customers. But we are complacent because of our need of these affordable food products, and so we overlook the obvious—that the foods served to us are prepared, handled, and served improperly. Strict provisions for food safety were laid by our legislators, and these were reflected in the Presidential Decree No. 856, known as the Code on Sanitation of the Philippines. The Department of Health formulated the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for the Chapter III-Food Establishments of the said Code, for implementation and strict compliance of all concerned, and therein outlined the specific guidelines of establishing food-related businesses.
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SCE
I said “poor” because these food establishments violate most of the provisions of the Code, if not all. And ironically, it is quite noteworthy to see the Sanitary Permit—the most essential document upon establishing food-related businesses—posted on their walls. Having the Sanitary Permit posted on their walls signifies that these establishments have passed the existing sanitation standards for food establishments. This means that they should have at least a satisfactory rating, which rating should have an equivalent percentage rating of 5069%. This is according to Section 3-A of the IRR. Therefore, issuance of permit is only when the establishment is inspected and rated by the local DOH sanitation inspectors. But I doubt whether the standards were followed during the inspection or not—or was there really an inspection that occurred? Because if there was a “real” inspection, perhaps the foods would have been properly displayed, stored, prepared, and served, and protected from contaminations such as dust, flies, rodents, and other vermins; perhaps there would be no cats and dogs entertaining the customers; perhaps overcrowding might be prevented; perhaps every eatery would have accessible and
OSS NES well-maintained wash-hand basins and toilets; perhaps every food worker would have a health certificate pinned on their garments; perhaps utensils and paraphernalia would have been sterilized; or perhaps every worker should have worn working garments and hair restraints upon preparing, handling, and serving foods. A new act was approved by the Congress, the Republic Act No. 10611, known as the “Food Safety Act of 2013”. Surely, our esteemed men of high ranks have great concerns towards establishing strict laws in order “to protect the consumer health”, and may as well prevent for possible health risks that unsafe foods may threat. However, they usually end up only in paper, and realization of the provisions is only a daydream. Perhaps that is the case here in our university. Complacence or just negligence. Either of the two describes the attitude of our local officials toward the issue of food safety among the food establishments in our campus. After all, the primary responsible for this issue is the university administration, since these establishments are built within the campus jurisdiction. The problem is, they, too, lack the courage to implement the Code in full force. Well, this is not a “simple” issue. It may be the obligation of the owners to supervise and manage their food processes in order to serve clean and healthy food to customers, but, as the primary authorized personel who have power to control the administration and operation inside the university, it is their responsibility to assess and evaluate whether the foods taken by the campus people are safe and healthy.
Several reports of amoeba and diarrhoea are spreading inside and outside the university. There were also several unreported cases of improper food handling and serving. I for myself could not afford to eat an eggplant salad I bought one time in one of the karinderias of the university upon discovering that a worm was mingling in my food. How would those who found a cockroach, a twig, a dried leaf, a pebble, or a fly in their food, or witnessed that a 20-peso bill fell over a displayed afritada dish, have felt also? These and many other unreported cases are concrete evidences that the food establishments inside our campus are “notthat-quite-satisfactory” yet. We do plead for an immediate action. We, as concerned students, believe that our university officials can do something about this issue, to prevent even grosser scenes that may possibly happen. May we all be reminded that we do not pay our orders just to get sick.
RED 15
The Gold Panicles
OPINION
Second Time Around
HONEST BROKER
John Francis Cadampog jfcdmpg_1995@yahoo.com
A
fter the strenuous intramurals, the council called for a general meeting to all students. This was to present the treasurer’s report and liquidations of expenses and to gather students’ suggestions for the annual project and imposition of sanctions in attendance. The student council broke the silence of the crowd as they revealed the anomaly. It’s the same crime but not the same students. The USC President claimed that he was about to raise the issue to the Board of Regents, unfortunately the USC office failed to get the names of the violators. Another set of violators left unpunished for the second time around. One of the violators went to the USC office and spoke with the president about her dishonesty that she intentionally tampered the attendance. “She did the crime intentionally to be able to spend more days with her family”,
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Arthuro Cauba Jr., the USC president said. It would takes an hour for most students to sign the attendance during intramurals. With the in flooded population of students, it was really impossible to accommodate everybody at the fastest time. Normally, students would grow impatient. “For me, neither the committees nor the other officials should be blamed for this issue, besides it was her personal interest after all”, Cauba said in defense of the council on the leaked issue. The other reason was to avoid sanctions because she’d rather have an early vacation instead of participating in the event.
Will the officials responsible of this case take actions or will they give another consideration just like what happened in the past? The first tampering issue happened after the LCO days celebration in 2013. Some students created an identical stamp of the LCO logo and tried to trick the committees for an easy way of attendance. Numerous students got involved and proper disciplinary actions was given but not implemented. The violators got a first warning. As a sanction they were asked to render a community service. The USC seemed to turn a blind eye to the issue and this caused an alarm to the prying public eyes.
The Gold Panicles
OPINION
RED ZONE: CONVENIENCE VS. SAFETY
Red zone—
a symbol for stop; an insignia for danger; a sign that demands to be followed. Convenience is something that contributes to an easy and effortless way of life. As it may be desirable, it can also be deadly. It blinds us from making dicey decisions compromising our safety with the benefit of doing a task facilely. Which is more important? Convenience, or safety? Here in CSU, it happens everyday. When we choose to cross the road without any pedestrians lane instead of using the overpass. The overpass was realized to ensure the safety of the students while crossing the highway; and if we ignore to use it, we’re only putting our lives in danger especially during rush hours. Accidents may occur and may end someone’s dream and life. On July 12, 2014, in front the university’s main gate, a van unfortunately hit a first-year BS Mining student crushing her bones, putting her in coma, and putting an end to her life. The incident called the attention of the administration to provide an overpass for the safety of the crossing pedestrians. The construction of the overpass was proposed
several years ago but was rejected; and the incident became the grounds for the approval of the project. Even though the administration materialized its mechanism to ensure their assets safe, still, some students don’t get its essence. Filipinos are known for our bahala na attitude, and CSUans are not exempted. It’s already in our culture, but for the sake of safety, shouldn’t we make amendments in our practices? After all, we only get to live once. When danger overpowers your awareness, you lose the gamble with death. CSU reclined physical endeavors to the student, taking long walks from one building to another. These may seem disadvantageous to the students but it can also be viewed as an advantage because walking actually have better effects physically and mentally than we think. It’s the same with using the overpass.
SORRY NOT SORRY
Caryl Suzy N. Pagaran cspagaran_96@gmail.com
Now it’s up to us, whether we choose to risk our lives for our convenience or to follow the rules that the university has implemented for our safety. Upon crossing the road, let us keep our eyes wide open, stay calm, and make the right choice because we’re definitely in the red zone.
RED 17
Instructor’s Index
BETWEEN THE LINES
Vince Ivan Libao vince_libao@yahoo.com
G
reat knowledge creates good grades, but do excellent grades also mean superb knowledge? In some known universities, maybe, but I doubt in mine. The age of information and the advent of technological advances have made education as a basic need for human survival. Apart from the real world that we live in, there’s an even bigger world out there, virtual, but ridiculously bigger and more attractive than what we have, and this world is a superhighway of information. Access to both worlds can only be acquired through formal education; in essence, college education. Unlike in primary and secondary schools, college education fosters academic freedom. This academic freedom takes its form in different ways. For instance, college instructors can teach a certain course in different approaches, techniques, and methods. Likewise, college instructors may use different sets of rubrics and grading systems. In short, there is no uniformity as per instruction. In college, it is most likely that in one course, there are several instructors assigned to teach it. In college, there are different types of instructors. There are the kind instructors and there are those who resort to terrorism to get their discussion across. The same instructors would extend their differential attitudes in giving grades. The former tend to be generous and the latter, well, one can only expect a grade of 3.0, INC, DRP, or 5.0.
The point being, that the grading system is rather relative to the handling instructor’s attitude toward the course and the students in that course. Different sections apparently get different exposures and teachings. Knowledge, according to my mother during their times, was mirrored by the grades they gained after an academic semester. Now, the two seem to have become separate entities—something that is neither inversely nor directly proportional. This teacher factor issue in a classroom setting has been an all-time problem that most human interaction theorists and social cognitivists wish to address, if not completely eliminate. According to some instructors, the students write their own fate. Of course it’s because they are the ones taking the exams, they are the ones to decide whether or not they give the effort to pass, and they are the ones to decide whether or not they should follow the rules in the classrooms of the school. These statements imply that instructors are merely
facilitators of learning and a secretary who observes and juts down all the salient interactions that transpire in each learning session. What really happens in reality suggests otherwise. This ‘academic freedom’, they so enjoy, has somehow created different kinds of instructors who have the tendencies to play gods and goddesses. A s the teacher’s notorious expression goes, “Your fate (i.e. student’s grade) is at the point of my ball point”. There are the merciful teachers, the ruthless, the full-of-himself teachers, and the punisher— the list goes on. Differential grading systems in one course handled by different instructors is just one of the many problems caused by this academic freedom. Some instructors have grown complacent in upholding the standards of a university. Then, there are the issues on tardiness, mediocrity, and incompetence. There are a variety of ways to address this problem. We just hope that the university will do something to make a homogenous implementation of academic policies to foster an environment conducive for a fair and holistic learning experience to all.
The Gold Panicles
OPINION
ICT CENTER SERVICES: RED HAS BEEN DETECTED Computers have become one of the basic needs of human beings. It is true especially to students who are learning in the age of information. It is the age when having computer literacy is an advantage. That is why a university is compelled to have a computer center at their disposal for the student to use. In CSU we have the ICT service center to cater that need. Information and Communication Technology has become more liability than an asset. It has attained so many setbacks over the years. It has grown unresponsive to the needs of students. The computers they provide for the use of the students are at times troublesome. It has an operating system which is not mainstream in the real world. We shouldn’t be learning the tango when we are to do cha-cha later on. Some units are also technologically left out; they stand obsolete beside the units utilized by the staffs in their offices. They can barely run high-end applications. The widespread of virus in their computers is another overwhelming concerns. Users would not risk having their flash drive infiltrated with viruses so they are forced to avail the very expensive printing inside. This somehow gives us the impression that ICT is actually promoting to the students to resort going to commercial printing cafes. This has become the controversial concern especially that we have also learned that some printing kiosks inside the university which offer cheaper printing services are in truth owned by the same people concerned.
BEHIND THE HORIZON
Eliphaz A. Signar Jr. II je.signar@gmail.com
They have allotted 10 hours of using the computers per student each semester, but this proves insufficient for doing so many assignments and online research. This limitation, however, kept the students from overusing the computers at bay. But come to think of it shouldn’t the needs of the students take precedence that maintenance of these computers. If traffic is the issue here, we propose to have more computers to accommodate the growing population of the students. It is the students’ prerogative to have the welfare and be catered by the ICT Service Center. I believe that, it is the responsibility of the ICT Personnel to fix those unsolved problems, answer the students’ questions, and students’ complains and somehow put justice to the fee they imposed on the students for the ICT Services. ICT can do better than that.
RED 19
The Gold Panicles
OPINION
W
TRIED-AND-TRUE
Kurtnhy Love Maderal kiffikisses13@gmail.com
22 RED
hen we enter college, we get too excited with all our notions of academic freedom and of the idea that we are finally turning our backs from the burdens we survived in high school. Nobody really told us that the stack of paper works in college is actually thrice higher than the height in high school. Position, reaction, analysis, whateveryou-call-it kind of paper, from a simple on-the-spot essay to a term paper to a thesis paper—college demands a lot of writing tasks. We get too excited about being in college until the midnight before the deadlines, when we are finally robbed from our dreamland back to the reality where we are left with the blank page and a blinking cursor. What to right? And how to even start? When we enter college, we get too excited with all our notions of academic freedom and of the idea that we are finally turning our backs from the burdens we survived in high school. Nobody really told us that the stack of paper works in college is actually thrice
higher than the height in high school. Position, reaction, analysis, whateveryou-call-it kind of paper, from a simple on-the-spot essay to a term paper to a thesis paper—college demands a lot of writing tasks. We get too excited about being in college until the midnight before the deadlines, when we are finally robbed from our dreamland back to the reality where we are left with the blank page and a blinking cursor. What to right? And how to even start? Copying and pasting from the web is now the trend in doing research. In fact, Google is now a synonymous word for research. Technological advances have made life easier to the point where everything is now instant or one-scroll down and just a click away. Too many students either don’t know that this is cheating—or they just don’t care. A freshman at CASNR copied and pasted from a certain website about deforestation. He didn’t feel the need to acknowledge the source of information in his assignment because there is no
The Gold Panicles
OPINION
‘COPY-PASTE GENERATION’ ARE WE?
author in the article he read online. In English 2, a student was caught copying verbatim without proper citation. When she was confronted by the teacher, she was unable to defend herself. Many students also think that Wikipedia’s entries—unsigned and collectively written—do not need to be credited since they are counted, essentially, as “common knowledge”. There is a free flow of information online. ‘Copy-paste’ seems to be the panacea to any academic writing conundrums. What students need to know is that plagiarism is a crime. We must avoid plagiarism so we give credit when it is due to the author. There two types of plagiarism: we can plagiarize an author’s words or we can plagiarize an author’s thoughts. Good writers want to make sure that they will not plagiarize in either way. In order to avoid plagiarism, we must cite our sources correctly. There are actually four options where we can actually cite our sources within our paper. For a complete copy of the guidelines, we can ask a copy from
our writing instructors at the Languages Division or we can google it online. “It’s digital cheating. We must learn to respect one’s property and the value of originality”, says Ms. Jewry S. Catle, a thesis adviser at Sociology Division, LSSD-CAS. Many educators have feared that this modern form of dishonesty has gone too far that it’s now like an infestation in the academic community. As a response to this alarm at the rise of digital cheating, the Innovation & Technology Support Office (ITSO) regularly conducts an awareness seminar on plagiarism every year since 2013. Their mission is to provide patent information and intellectual property services to researchers in CSU community.
without any attribution, free for anyone to take. It must be the real experience of actually walking into the library and physically holding a book that makes researching a scholarly thing to do. Whereas researching on the internet, we don’t get to experience those things. We don’t get to read the cover with the name of its author, and so it’s easier to be oblivious of the fact that the ideas are not ours. It’s the difference between researching in the stacks of dusty books inside a library versus online. Plagiarism does not foster creativity. It does, however, foster laziness.
Our generation seems no longer inclined to go the antiquated library and scan for books which are dead as a dodo. We think information are just out there in the cyberspace
RED 23
The Gold Panicles
FEATURE
LAZINOCOLOSIS Isagani M. Roma Jr.
24 RED
The Gold Panicles
FEATURE
MEOW...
Pile
of dirty laundry all over your room, foul-smelled dishes in the kitchen sink and on the table, unkempt bedroom, and projects or assignments left undone. Is this you? Maybe it’s hard to admit but if your way of life depicts the said scenery, then, you’re probably a sloth-like lazy individual.
A gene, which is made up of DNA, is the basic physical and functional unit of heredity; and passed on to an organism’s offspring so that certain traits are inherited. Hence, genes from your parents conspicuously influence your individuality. Researchers maintain that laziness might be hereditary. However, the resemblance of the SLC35D3 variant in you to the studied gene variant is still a fogged glass.
Your parents must have surely scratched their heads in frustration, reminding you every morning and nagging “Can you make yourself useful” (I hope your neighbors didn’t hear that). Well, I’m pretty certain that you are very much aware of this adversity you are facing, but still doing your lax thing. The reason why your brain refuses to register these ear-thrusting inculcations is because you’re too lazy to even listen. But what if I tell you that this might not be your fault? What if you were just unconsciously enslaved with your own genes? What if it were a sickness medicine could cure? The answers might be found in the smallest details of yourself- your genes. A certain study claims that a casual gene, an SLC35D3 variant, in your body is said to have mutated to form the lazy gene or the “couch potato gene” (couch potato is a slang term which refers to a person who spends much time in sitting or lying down, usually watching television); the same gene plays an important role in regulating body weight, food intake, metabolism, and activity levels. The underlying study does not involve humans, but mice. According to the study, looking on the genetics and brain chemistry of mice, researchers from Chinese and Scottish universities and funded by the National Basic Research Programme of China, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, concluded that the alteration in the gene causes interruption in the dopamine signaling.
The researchers found that mice with their genes mutated had problems in metabolism and were found less active in contrast to those who did not have mutation. They also had higher levels of cholesterol and fats in their blood and poorer blood glucose control. The brains of the mice which chose to run on a wheel more often compared to those who decided not to run as much had larger dopamine system and regions that deal with motivation and reward. After ten generation of offspring, the desire for physical activities was found to be genetic.
The struggle you are experiencing in getting yourself motivated to do physical work can be worked on. It’s just a matter of mind setting and thinking that you have to do something about this problem. Find solutions by setting goals and by engaging into physical activities. Do sports, exercise, but most important, do your house chores. Your mother’s eyes would surely widen in surprise; then you can tell her, “Mom, I know my laziness was a mutation of genes which I inherit from you, but see, I’m doing something about it”.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter concomitant with physical pleasure and reward. It is essential to evolution and survival of a species. Dopamine system can also regulate motor movements as well as motivator and reward behavior according to a study in 2010 by Ethan S. Bromberg-Martin, a researcher from the National Institute of Health, Bethesala, Maryland, USA. The sluggishness the mice experience is a result of a latent absence of dopamine receptor from the normal genes due to mutation, in which they associated with the desire to be inactive and to be lazy around.
RED 25
The Gold Panicles
FEATURE
“
My purpose being an educator is not because for the privilege of salary, what counts first is the essence of your degree to function well to educate the student
“
Serviceable: Obligated for Her Vocation By: Marie Claire Virtudazo
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The Gold Panicles
FEATURE
“She’s
a lecturer now in CSU after retiring from her profession” a woman said as I sought for a help where I can find a safe “boarding house” last June of 2015. The person she’s referring to is the owner of the house she recommended to me. I could still remember I told the sikad driver, “ya pakihatod raku sa boarding house ni Ma’am Aray” and he immediately made his way. “She must be well known in this place”, I pressumed for a second. That was the very first time I came across with Ma’am Aray who is now as my landlady. Alicia Limana Aray, 67, has taught for 43 years. She’s usually seen wearing slacks complemented with a blouse. She has encountered the children of her prior students. “First and foremost you have to love your work, be obedient to your superior blended with cooperation to your co–worker and take your family as an inspiration and especially your students because without them you’re worthless”, she said. Those were the tactics of Ma’am Aray that inspired her to stay for long years in service to CSU. Education isn’t her first choice, it is midwifery. A perplexing fact how a future midwifery worker suddenly ended up being a soon to be an educator. There are reasons why it happened. But as far as we know she’s now a successful educator.
In the year 1981, she took her first step in the ground of NORMINAC as high school teacher by profession who held two advisories at the same time According to her it’s a manpower. She took over to teach Biology after she got her degree in Bachelor of Science in Education General Science from the Notre Dame of Midsayap, North Cotabato. Her loved for plants, orchids, and botanical gardens were the obvious facts that led her to admire Biology. She even cried during her first teaching knowing that she exerted her efforts to discuss, but her students got a low scores after her assessment. It was big challenge she considered ever since. She did everything for them to understand fully what she meant in her lessons. “Being a high school teacher I am a mother, a teacher and most important a guidance counselor for my students”, she said. Ma’am Aray gives inspiration and encouragement to her students. She handled about 50 students each class. “As far as I can remember the school compound used to be surrounded with dorms where my co-teachers were residing and my house was beside the library. The library during that time was under construction”, she said. After 3 years, NORMINAC became NORMISIST and because the institution lacked of instructors Ma’am Aray joined the workforce in NORMISIST. It’s a different kind of situation, from a Biology teacher to being a Filipino College instructor. I started to love to teach in college and thus continue my passion in this different stage”, she stressed out. She’s not eligible enough to be an instructor she accepted it to herself, but the thing is she was held as a permanent college instructor, which was indeed awesome.
She’s one of the pioneering instructors in this institution before it became a university. She come across with different thrills and adventures every semester with different sets of students. A legendary instructor— that’s what she is. She never thought to stop working, “When I graduated I had an oath to do my function, as a teacher, I need to educate the students and that turns out to be my passion in life”, she said. She can’t even imagine to transfer to other school to teach. CSU, NORMISIST, or whatever is its name, is part of her existence ever since. It completes the missing pieces of her life being a mentor. It plays a big role in her being as an educator. Time has passed by and we couldn’t hide the fact that there are circumstances that naturally occur aging. November 27, 2012 was the official date where she retired on service, after 3 decades of teaching where she’s attained her peak. But that was not the end of her journey, she was immediately hired as a lecturer, still one of the working divisions of the LSSD Department. Now it’s been 33 years that she has solidified her service to CSU. Seems that nothing had changed on the way she discussed decades ago, her approach to the students are unchangeable well except the fact that she’s approaching into the golden years in her life and it doesn’t altered her craving to continue to impart her expertise and knowledge to the students. “My former students are now professionals and they kept on thanking me for inspiring them so much”, she said. Maam Alicia Aray is indeed a commendable mentor. She’s definitely resilient and committed for her desired profession. She’s one of the living foundations for the history of this school and her existence now plays a big role for this institution. She’s still working because she wants to, not because she needs to. She loves her work, her desires, and her passion because it’s a gift from above and she’s really brave to continue to hold it.
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t i a r t r Po y h p a r g o t Pho ics n By: Dea
olis Joshua S
s a B
- Ever wondered how some people manage making their self-portraits or portrait photographs to not look apparent with how they look in personal? Well, the secret to that is in the correct manipulating of angles, proper lighting, and the help of the rule of thirds.
1. Manipulating Angles The art of positioning your camera is a factor in good photographs. This affects how viewers or the photographer perceive the subject whether the subject is dominant/tall or is the subject short /weak. There are many angles to consider in taking photos but I will be only giving the three most angles: (1) Eye-level angle, (2) low angle, and the (3) high angle.
Eye-level angle
-is the most used and common angle there is. In this angle, the camera is levelled with the subject’s height so that when the subject looks at the camera lens, he/she no longer needs to look up or down. This angle is neutral, but its dramatic power can still somehow be manipulated by the intensity of the subject’s eye and expression. Though the subject’s eye is not directed to the camera, the angle used in taking this shot is levelled with the subject’s eye. The eye-level angle is commonly used for commercial purposes as well. If you’re up to taking shots that would showcase your outfit of the day (OOTD), the eye-level angle is what I would recommend.
Tip: Enjoy this angle by trying unique and artistic poses.
Models: Ennea Theresa Durango, Frechelyn Valencia, Jay rico recimo, and Maria Isabel Ato
28 RED
Next is
Low angle
- The camera looks up the subject’s eye making the subject look dominant, strong and tall. Low angle is used in taking dramatic, dynamic and emotional shots. In the world of street photography, the low angle is sometimes termed as the ‘hip angle’. Dynamic shots such as jump shots, hair flips, and poses with flick would suit well in this angle as well as poses with eye contact portraying emotions. Portraying emotions in this angle has is somewhat limitless. If you feel elated and ecstatic, you can do whatever dynamic pose you can think of, and when you feel too emotional to do dynamic shots you can express you emotions in static poses to portray the emotion.
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FEATURE
2. Proper Lighting Photography comes from the word ‘photo’ which simply means light and ‘graph’. Without light there can be no photography, which is why proper lighting must be considered in taking pictures. Failure to consider proper lighting may result to over (too much light) and under exposition (too dark) of the photo. In proper lighting, the direction of where the light comes from and where it hits will help you get artistic shots. The direction of your lighting may be diagonal, upward or direct. If you take a photo with direct lighting, you must consider first the subject. In the sample picture below, I used a built-in flash to lighten my subject. If you know how to manipulate proper lighting, then the size of your megapix el would somehow no longer matter.
In High
high angle
-the camera is above the subject looking down. Without much emotions expressed, the subject in this photo would appear to be submissive, weak or frightened. However, the high angle can also be used in capturing selfies of adventures, party and fun experiences. The emotion in this angle depends on the subject’s expression in showing character
Rule of Thirds. If you’re using a smartphone or A digital camera, click on your settings menu and look for ‘grids’. The three division grid is a useful tool to guide you in taking a photo. If you can notice, some of the photos used are layered with a grid. In the Rule of Thirds, use the grids to divide the parts of the photo by one-thirds. Divisions are the upper part, middle part, lower part, left part and the right part. Play with the lines of the grid to make your photo look symmetric and to avoid capturing unnecessary spaces. However, if you still got some unnecessary parts you can always crop it out. Always remember that it is not on the camera you use, though I’d recommend cameras with more than two mega pixels,but on how you use the three tips mentioned and on how artistic you are. We are living in an ever evolving world, therefore we are tasked to learn how to use the technology handed to.us by those before us. We need to cope up with the fast-pacing time for us not to lag behind.
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The Gold Panicles
FEATURE
THE LADY GUARD: SIGN OF GOOD G E N E R A T I O N
F O R
W O M E N
By: Vanessa Ybañez
History
THEY ACTUALLY FIND IT WRONG, BUT WE ARE JUST DOING OUR JOB
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have continuously taught us that women are inferior and only created to serve men. They have treated lowly and differently in our society. However, as time goes by, traditional role of women has changed. Indeed the elevation in the social standing of women is one of the remarkable and distinguishable features of the 20th century. The occupation as a security guard, which was once dominated by men, is now getting a lot of attention, especially that, here in CSU, we have lady guards around. Maribeth T. Septimo popularly known as “Lady Gagard” is one of the female security guards. She is a 47-year-old woman who has proven that what other people think about women is wrong; that she can also do what men can do, sometimes, even better. She used to be the only female security guard of Caraga State University (CSU) for 7 years since her employment. Being one of the strictest guards when it comes to outfit and ID wearing policy are also the reasons why many students actually know her. Most of the people would probably think that being a security guard is easy—just sitting by the gate gazing at anybody who enters. They probably think that being one only means determining who is allowed to enter the school, but it’s complicated than what the naked eye sees. SGs face constant threat. They are the human wall of the school, an anti-virus to infiltrators. They fearlessly enforce the rules that everybody seems to hate. Still then, Maribeth has her family to inspire her to do her job right. She is not just a responsible worker of the university but she is also a good wife to her husband Ernesto Septimo and a mother of three. In spite the nature of her work, she still finds time to take care of their pigs, cow, and carabao. She even has a garden that she takes care of. “To protect life and property of the establishment where we are assigned.” This is what Maribeth said when asked about the duties and responsibilities of being a security officer. Even though there are times she is the one who’s in danger, she stays strong. She actually considers and accepts it as a challenge that will test her ability to serve.
According to her, there was no such time that she had difficulty in giving service to CSU. She could see that most of the students and even employees of the said university know how to respect and even greet her in the morning. In her 7 years of service it is not new to her to encounter students who don’t follow rules and regulations of the school. She admitted that she is strict. She believes that the rules should be followed for the well-being of everyone. One time when Maribeth encountered a student who’s not wearing a proper dress, without any hesitation, she gave the student a warning that if she’d continue to violate the proper dress code, she would be given a student violation form to be sent to the Office of the Student Affairs and Services (OSAS). Instead of saying sorry, the student mocked her with the belief that she is doing the right thing. Maribeth knew then that she cannot please everyone but it takes more than a small turbulent to change to the tide of her will to serve. When I asked her of what are her dreams in life, she said that she only wanted a successful life for her family. “I wanted to become a police officer to give a better life to my children but the National Police Commission examination did not allow me to realize my dreams”. Just like other people, Maribeth also experienced how hard it is not to achieve one’s goal in life. There may be times that she feels like being a woman is somehow a disadvantage in his line of work, but because of her commitment to her alma mater, she continues to do her duty even better than most security guards do. Maribeth Septimo truly is a lionheart in the face of danger.
The Gold Panicles
TEMPTATIONS: The College Life Intimidations FEATURE
By: Marie Claire O. Virtudazo
“
Temptations are all around, luring us at our weakest. It’s really up to you if you’ll run but for sure you cannot stop the chase.
“
Every
moment in your life you are being tested. Undeniably, most of the things around you are temptations. The things that you want to have or do but you know you shouldn’t are temptations. You know yourself that it’s wrong but you find ways anyway because you are tempted. Suddenly wrong actions are mistakenly taken as right. It happens when you are at your weakest point or involved in a compromising situations. You’re confounded on what action to take it’s either to resist temptation or give in. It happens to every one. Once, twice, couple of times? No one is exempted for this kind of threat even if you’re a student or a professional. I always hear this from different people that college life is vulnerable to temptation. Well, my parents also told me that, it’s like a warning, a signal for you to tune in. Being in college means having some adjustments and other experiences, and it also guarantees another one: new temptations. Being in college means taking up a new lifestyle. Others call it freedom. Well, more likely is it. Everything slowly changes and you should be aware that college life is indeed a room full of temptations. Why? It’s because we are more curious about the things that we didn’t try from our past. We want new experiences and definitely love to do experimentation. We think that we are grown ups to make our own decisions in life. We are more prone to anxiety, grief, and depression. Just a crack of pressure from your peers and
you become vulnerable. It creates a hole and there temptation enters. To be honest, I also have my fair share of some tempting moments when I entered college. Cheating is a very common tempting moment in a normal college classroom, especially every time there is a major examination or simple a quiz. You’re tempted to look on your seatmate’s paper and tell yourself, “Just a glance, no one can see me, it will be the last time. I promise”. Well, you’re cheating your own self. You will cheat because simply you want to pass in that subject but unfortunately you do it in a wrong way. You will do everything even if you know your actions are absolutely wrong and you’re acting unaware. It becomes depressingly clear that if you think nobody is looking, you don’t even consider your conscience to be your guide. Drinking liquors and excessive parties when you know that you should not be doing such vices are also an example of temptation. There is always a party going on whether it is on or off campus. Sometimes a student will drink just to fit in or to experience something new. When studying the lessons, sometimes you also want to sign in to social media or you want to start a conversation with someone through cellphone. You think it’s okay to do two things at the same time but obviously you cannot focus on one thing if you have another to consider. I once
failed in an exam because I tried to do it. I gave in to temptation. I didn’t study because I was tempted to do other things like texting and chatting. Temptation also exists when you’re truly stressed with academic hurdles. Sometimes your expectations do not meet with the reality. You wanted to pass but you failed. It’s good to be curious about the things you want to discover but just don’t forget your limitations. Temptations are always there to chase you. Conscience will always be a guide in resisting temptations. If you know how to assess yourself in order to know what actions should be taken at the right time, then temptations will not haunt you. Try to balance your academic life with your social one. Try to make good decisions in life that will eventually shape you into a better person. As long as you’re breathing there will be those tempting moments circulating around. Remember the purpose why you are in college. Remembering that the actions you take greatly affect in the long run will help keep your toes in line. The atmosphere being in college may suffocate you, but it’s only a matter of strategies on how you cope with it, on how you decide on your actions, and on how you resist the chase of temptation.
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The Gold Panicles
FEATURE
10 Ways to mend a Broken Heart By: Rey Bade
Don’t
ever regret meeting someone who stomped your heart and left you behind. One day you will realize that they taught you the most important lesson in dealing with love. Nobody says that it would be a piece of cake to face a new day clad in an inverting chapter of life. Though the process towards healing can take a while, still it’s a good journey that you’ll be facing in your darkest clouds – like the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche once said: “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”.
If you want to get over with that pain in you – continue reading this, if not then so be it.
1 DO NOT THINK OR TALK TOO MUCH ABOUT IT. We all know that dwelling too much on a problem is not good. “HEALING” means letting go of something valuable. It’s best to neutralize the feelings from the past for them to lose their value over you. Focus your attention to your future plans (it’s the least thing you can do for now).
MAKE A PLAN. Sit down, relax, and make a plan for moving on. If Plan A won’t work, remember you still have 25 more alphabetical letters to plan.
2 3 4 5
LISTEN TO MUSIC. Create a healing space for yourself by listening to a happy melody. Music is best known as the pain reliever to any sentiments. Music helps you relate to your problems and help you to get over them.
GET BUSY. Don’t let the loss destroy the rest of your life. Do things that will divert your attention away from the situation and try not to look back. Keep yourself occupied like joining new fun activities or starting new hobbies for you not to have some time to be upset. The busier you become, the faster you forget all the miseries. MEET NEW PEOPLE. Don’t get cooped up with your life. We’re now living on the 21st century world where social life entails engagement with modern practices through modern technology. Always find an amazing adventure to know someone new and be exposed to a whole different world.
6 7
REMEMBER THE BENEFITS OF MOVING ON. Life is too short to wake up every day living with regrets. It doesn’t make any sense to hold on when your partner’s feeling is gone. When you let go, you put yourself at ease. You have now all your time to focus on your goal without the consent of your partner.
8
LEARN FROM IT. Part of learning to move on after some heartache is the learning experience. Everything in life, good or bad, is a learning experience. Remember, every learning experience will positively form part your future. Let those things take their own natural course. Don’t bother.
10
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KEEP YOUR DISTANCE. The most logical action after being hurt is to keep a distance. Do not just hysically distance yourself, close of any communications you have.
9
WRITE ALL YOUR FEELINGS DOWN. How you write plays an important role as well. Be honest and don’t edit yourself as you’re writing. One of the best results of writing is that sometimes you’ll be amazed by a sudden insight that comes as you pour out your thoughts onto paper. According to a research, 15-20 minutes of pondering your thoughts is enough to deal with traumas, stresses, and emotional events.
ACCEPT THE FACTS. Your emotional wounds will heal faster if you deal with your heartache straight on. There’s nothing wrong to grieve in the situation. Accept the fact that it really hurts and there’s not much you can do to stop the pain. Feel free to sob and do whatever you want to do because the more you try to control something, the more the pain finds its way to control you.
The Gold Panicles
FEATURE
Fire in the Rain By: Mary Roselle Lumahan
Close
your eyes. Raise your right hand. Put it above your left chest. Feel the pumping of your heart. Feel the beat. Does it tell you something? Did you feel anything aside from the rate of its beating? In the heat of the moment, there’s a fire wanting to escape from within you. A fire that ignites into your whole being. A fire that brings you to life. Something that keeps you living and gives you reason to continue breathing. A fire called LOVE. Love is one of the most wonderful things anyone can feel. It brings happiness and joy. It means hope and power. It gives glory and satisfaction. It creates life and inspiration. It is from where courage and determination are molded; where respect is sought and loyalty is kneaded; where success runs smoothly; and where the world come sto a halt and sometimes hypnotized by fear and sadness; where the rain starts to pour and continue. An extinguisher called PAIN. Love hurts. Once, I had fallen in love and it felt so amazing. I never expected that the fairytale I’d been dreaming would suddenly turn into a dark nightmare. I learned to love without any hesitations and pain slapped me without any preparations. Why? Is it wrong to love someone? How did it make me broken instead? I thought that love is just all about happiness. Now, I realized that love also is a mysterious piece of life. You’ll never know what will happen next. You can’t read its agendum. You can’t predict how it is going to change your life. If only the world turns into an opposite direction. Where there are no heartaches, no failures, and no downfalls. No grudges to bear and no pain to suffer. Why do we have to deal with all the unconventional things when we are in love? Why do we have to feel a pang in our hearts? Why does love sometimes make us loveless in the end? If only there’s a time machine to go back where we can correct our past mistakes. If only there’s love that will only make everything pleasant and wonderful. Look at what the world has become. Cruelty is ruling the land that should
have been nurtured with goodness. People have sometimes chosen fame and wealth over humanity. Existence of individuals has come to a great crisis due to competition of power and selfish desires. Love for material things and belongings. Love that destroys family and relationships. Love that brings false hope and devastating journey. Can we still call this love? When hearts are broken? When dreams have been destroyed? Where lives have been sacrificed? It seems that love now becomes invisible. Like it exists as an outcasted shadow that needs a light to be seen by everyone. That needs a spark to make it come to life again. Our society needs a love that will make our lives brighten and not darken. There’s political dirt, armed conflicts, civil wars, violence, environmental destructions and social discriminations. These are just some of the manifestations of immorality, selfishness, and loveless spirits. Can love still save the world out of these dreadful curse and malady? Can it be love that will bring social transformation? Can love conceive another love? Can love save people from misery, hopelessness, and restlessness? Will it bring forth, change and appease nation in conflict? Will a fire in our hearts burn these unsettlements into ashes? Will love count? Love is an immense emotion that can change anything. It’s our love that will free us from the cage of our hearts. We may have been hurt in the past because of love. We may have been wounded. But it will still be the same love that will save us. It can discard envy, hatred, anger, sorrow, and misery. Because it’s how love works. It has its own entrance and own exit. But what’s important is to know when to start and when to end. How to make use of an umbrella when the rain starts to pour. When there’s love, there may also be pain. But what is for certain is that love never fails. Like the love of God. It should always win. It should be stored in our hearts with kindness and humility. Enduring for peace and honesty. Beating for happiness and harmony. Love that despises hatred and anger. Because love will never make sense if it doesn’t do well to others and if it remains a love that only inflicts pain. Instead it should be a kind of love that will not form tears of pain but rather create endless smiles. A love that is worth cherishing for. To shout for and to live for.
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The Gold Panicles
LITERARY The wind is whispering on my ear A reality that I don’t want to hear With this heart that can’t bear Every pain and despair
The Whisper By: Mary Roselle Lumahan
How can stars shine at night? When there’s a feeling I can’t fight How can birds reach the sky? When even I can’t try We sometimes froze in a cold air We dreamt on something that we fear Where our eyes left an evident tear To a soul that’s hard to repair How I wish to finally come out in a maze This life seems a labyrinthine race How I wish to finally feel the ease And to endure a life of peace The wind is whispering on my ear A reality that takes away my burden Where the only thing left was stain Out of the shadow of death and pain
Nothing Lasts Forever By: Mary Roselle Lumahan Falling in love is a good feeling Being with special someone, happily dating Moments together are worth keeping But sometimes it costs a tragic ending Nothing lasts forever Even a love that flows like a river Relationships could be broken And pain is the most painful token Fairytale doesn’t always come to everyone Even to those who dream of the perfect one For sometimes love is like a clock You’ll never know what will happen in every tick-tock Nothing lasts forever Love may sometimes be unfair But everything happens for a reason That will somehow teach us a lesson Falling in love is a sweet feeling Each day is worth living Being with the one you love is enjoying But it depends, if there’s a happy ending
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The Gold Panicles
LITERARY
Teenage Mom’s Letter By: Vanessa Ybañez
Dear reader, I have been through a lot of hardships. This was especially when I started my journey as a student in college. Yes, I admit that I am poor, financially, and that may be one of the reasons why the difficulties. Poverty is not a hindrance for one to attain success. This is what other people say that is what I also believe and what I’m holding on. I would like to conceal my identity as ‘Anna’. I am just a simple girl who wants to have new clothes, bags, shoes, and beautiful accessories to wear. I’ve always felt envious to those who can easily buy what they want. Back when I was still in first year, I took notice of a guy named Reid taking up the same program that I was in. He was my classmate in all the courses where I was enrolled. We had few small talks which he initiated. From then on, we became friends. He kept on buying me dresses, accessories, shoes, stuff toys, and flowers. I knew that he was interested in me, yet I simply convinced myself that I was only imagining things. Until the time came when he confessed his feelings to me and as proof of his serious intentions towards me, he invited me to his house to meet the people he love the most—his parents. It was not long until my heart gave in to his majestic showmanship of love towards me. I was sure that he was “the one” so I gave him my yes. As the days, months, and a year had passed, our relationship only got deeper. He made me experience the things that I never had experienced before. The time came when he was not contented with kisses and hugs. I was very in love with him and was prepared to give anything for his happiness, I even gave him my virginity. We did it as much as he liked. The time came when I did not have my day of the month, and it extended for three months already and that made me think of one thing, that I was probably pregnant. I took a pregnancy test and it’s … POSITIVE!!! I really did not know what to do by that time. I din’t even know how to confess to my mom. I wondered if she would still accept me, if she would still send me to school after everything that happened. Since I was not yet ready to become a mother, I wanted to have an abortion. I told my boyfriend about it but then, he refused. He promised to stay with me all the way to the end and be a father to his child. I know I’m at fault in this dilemma I’m facing—a dilemma where my mother never wished for me to be involved. The day came when I really had to tell it to my mom. It was my boyfriend’s idea for he thought that it was the right thing to do. He even prepared his car, not far away from our house, so that if mom denied me and my baby, he would be there to pick me up. Fortunately, things turned out to be different from what I anticipated. When I told mom about my situation, she said that she was just waiting for me to confess. She told me that she had noticed the changes in me. I am really grateful for having a mother like her -- a mother who is always present and considerate. I know that my mom already accepted the fact that I am pregnant. She is always telling me that I should be happy for I am now a mother like her and it has been evident on her how happy she is to be having her first “apo”. However, other people’s criticism still upsets me. I know that I have committed a mistake and that is for not waiting for the right time. I am just a human being. I also commit mistakes like other people do. I realize now how difficult it is to be put into such situation—engaging in marital sex and having a burden of being a young mother. I just hope that you, my reader, will learn from my own experience, from my own mistake, and don’t wait for this thing to happen to you before you learn. Sincerely Yours, ‘Anna’
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The Gold Panicles
ASAL A N G
Sa sanaysay ni Rizal na pinamagatang Indolence of Filipinos ay nagsasabing ang katamaran ng mga Pilipino ay namana sa mga kastila. Kung atin pang susuriin ang kasaysayan, dahil ito sa iba’t ibang factor na siyang nagpahirap ng lubos sa ating mga ninuno. Ngunit isa ba itong katangian na dapat tularan at gawin sa araw-araw na buhay o isang katangian na dapat iwasto upang hindi maisalin sa sumusunod na henerasyon. Parang isang epidemiko na mabilis kumalat sa isang lugar na mahirap ng lunasan at ‘di matunton ang pinagmulan. Sa aking masinsinang pagmamasid sa ating unibersidad, may iilan na mga indibidwal sa iba’t ibang sektor ang nagpapakita ng ganitong uri ng katangian. Tila ba mga puyat at kung saan-saan dumalo ng parti kagabi na sa tuwing oras ng siesta ay mahimbing kung o ‘di kaya naman ‘beast mode’ kapag nadadagdagan ang kanilang trabaho. Una sa listahan, ang mga estudyanteng ‘on time always’ kung magpasa ng mga gawain o ‘di kaya naman kapag pumapasok sa klase. Iyon bang on time na mismo sa deadline kung magpasa at ang iba ay ‘on the spot’ pa nga di ba? Naku! Ibang lebel rin ng katamaran ‘yan ah, kaya siguro stress sila sir at ma’am eh may mga pasaway na tulad niyo tapos magrereklamo kapag binagsak at sasabihing nasaan ang hustisya? Ikaw, nasaan ba ang orasan at kalendaryo mo at hindi mo magawa ang mga tuntunin sa tamang panahon? Hay naku, ang iba naman ay ‘paasa’ at sasabihin na “magpapasa po ako mamaya, bukas, bukas na bukas, sa makabilang araw” hanggang sa matapos na lang ang semestre. Talaga ngang walang forever hahaha....At eto pa, siguradong madaming matatamaan na iilang instraktor o empleyado ang ‘on time’ kung pumasok. Yun bang ‘on time’ kung magbiometriks pero late sa klase marahil tinatamad magturo at mga estudyanteng ‘on time’ din para sa next subject marahil tinatamad din sa pagbangon galing sa masarap na pagtulog dahil na rin sa computer games, textmates, barkada at mga forever daw ng buhay nila. Sana’y pag-isipan at bawasbawasan ang mga bagay na ‘di makabuluhan ng sa ganoon ay matahak natin ang tuwid na daan ng pamumuhay. Next on the list, ay ang iilan sa mga empleyado ng ating unibersidad. Itong sila ma’am eh napakasungit sa ibang estudyante at ‘yan tuloy takot na ang mga estudyante pumasok sa gusali niyo para magbasa, oopss.. pasensya na po trabaho lang. Tanong ko lang po, bakit po kayo galit sa mga estudyante na natutulog? Samantalang ‘di naman po nagagalit ang mga estudyante kapag kayo ang nakikitang natutulog. At kayo din naman na mga estudyante
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S A
A M I N
ENTERTAINMENT
L A N G
huwag masyadong pasaway at huwag din gawing unan na pantakip sa ulo ang mga aklat. Bawasan din ang pagiging madaldal para ‘di madisturbo si ma’am sa kanyang ginagawang candy crush at sa pagtulog na rin, sa matamaan lang po. Hiling lang po sana namin eh ‘time for work is for work only’ trabaho po muna tayo bago ang mga ‘di makabuluhang bagay. Isa ring nangunguna sa laziness ay ang opis na ito, kung saan si ma’am o minsan si sir ay nagtatamad-tamaran sa trabaho kahit sa pagkuha lang ng blood pressure. Kung minsan nga eh kahit masakit na ang ulo mo, lalong sasakit sa pagpasok mo dahil sa mabaluktot na mga katwiran at mga payo ni ma’am o sir tulad ng ‘walang stock para dyan, wala si Doc, wala lang ‘yan iinom mo lang ‘yan ng tubig.’ Ma’am at sir, nanghihingi po ng panlunas o di kaya nagpapatulong nga po di ba? Bakit pagkatapos magbigay ng lunas ay may freebies ng trashtalks niyo? Paalala lang po, nagbabayad po ang mga estudyante para dito tapos walang makuha o ‘di kaya naman mapapagalitan lang? Parang high blood pressure po yata kayo, pwede pa check sa BP? Joking.....trabaho lang po, nagmamasid lang. Kandidato rin sina sir at ma’am na napagbabalitaan na kung magpa-eksam ay talo pa ang short quiz. Aba! ‘di na kailangan bumili ng booklet at kung may ½ o ¼ sheet of paper kana ay makaka-eksam na. Bakit po ganun? Imbes test I to IV ang dapat sa eksam ay ginagawa lang na number 1 to 4. Marahil gustong-gusto ka ng mga estudyante mo sir o ma’am? Less numbers and less questions therefore, less study effort. Hahaha....tanong ko lang po sir o ma’am, nakakapagod po ba ang gumawa ng questionaires? Paalala lang po, nagbabayad po ang mga estudyante para sa inyong pagtuturo upang may matutunan ang mga mag-aaral, hindi po yung easy to pass lang sa inyo ngunit walang kaalaman. Pasok din sa banga ng mga katamaran ang ibang opisyales ng mga organisasyong kinatawan ng mga estudyante. Mabilis pa sa jeep kung magpasanksyon sa mga kakulangan ay gayun din kabagal ang mga transaksyon. Hindi ba nila naisip na ilang libo ang populasyon ng mga mag-aaral habnang dalawang window for transactions lang ang binubuksan, minsan pa nga isa lang lalo na sa tuwing unblocking of clearance. Anong problema? Mahirap ba buksan ang ibang bintana o mahirap pagbuksan ang mga estudyanteng nagtitiis maglinya sa labas? Tila napapalitan ng katamaran ang mga maimpluwensya nating mga lider.
Gising-gising din pag may time student liders, nasaan na ba yung mga pinangako niyo sa smga estudyante? Hay naku! Pabago-bago man tayo ng student liders pero ang sistema ay walang pagbabago. On the top list din ang mga opisinang ito na sa tuwing magbabayad ang mga estudyante tuwing clearance o ‘di kaya’y enrollment ay sobrang mabagal ang transaksyon. Pero, buti na ngayon ay dalawang bintana na ang binubuksan pero sa magkabilang opisina nito ay usad pagong pa din. Syempre hindi lang naman sa pagbabayad ng tuition matatapos ang transaksyon tuwing enrollment ngunit itong sistema ng opisinang ito na ‘one window per department’ ay di pa rin nagbabago. Tapos kung magbuikas ng window sa umaga ay ubod pa ng kay tagal-tagal. Meron pa, may isang window din doon na kahit mahaba ang linya ng mga estudyante ay bigla na lamang aalis itong si ma’am at matagal-tagal rin kung bumalik. Anong klaseng katamaran iyan at ‘di magawang baguhin ang proseso upang mapabilis ang mga transaksyon? Buti na lang hindi tamad ang iba na pumunta sa eskwelahan ng maaga para makauna lamang sa linya. At ang huli, itong student body organization na ito ay may mga katamaran din. Kung magrelease ng magazine issues ay next, next, next, next, next, next, next, next month pa, minsan nga one year pa. Kung inaakalang pabor-pabor kung magsulat, dito ay pantay-pantay at dapat din na maisiwalat ang katotohanan maging kapalpakan man. Tunay na ‘di madaling magsulat ng mga artikulo at magproseso ng mga papel kaya natatagalan ang pagrelease pero sa katunayan meron din naman kaming pagkukulang at katangian ng katamaran minsan sa pagsulat. Kaya nga siguro hindi rin masyadong pansin sa iba ang opisinang ito. Subalit, ngayon may konting improvement naman kahit papaano, nabawasan na ng isang ‘next month’ ang timeline dahil nagawa naming magrelease ng isang magazine na hindi one year ang gap. (smile face) Sadyang di maalis sa atin ang pagiging tamad kung minsan. Ito’y katangiang taglay na talaga ng iilang Pilipino. Mahirap man baguhin, bagamat ating ilagay sa tamang panahon at lugar. Bawasan natin ang katangiang ito na walang naidudulot na mabuti sa bawat isa. Maaaring kantahin ang ‘lazy song’ ni Bruno Mars pero huwag naman sana natin gawin sa araw-araw na trabaho at obligasyon. Kung sino man sa tingin nila ay natamaan at tinutukoy sa artikulong ito, huwag sanang magalit at gawin lamang itong pamulat sa ating pananaw tungo sa daan ng pagbabago.
The Gold Panicles
GP WIKINARY Words which are actually in the dictionary but nobody seems to be using
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The Gold Panicles
ENTERTAINMENT
Who’s who?
Just Asking.! 1. Kung kamote cue, kamote ang tinutuhog. Bakit kapag barbecue, hindi si Barbie ang tinutuhog? 2. Unsaon magpa-SMART alert sa TM? 3. Bakit hindi star ang hugis ng STAR apple? 4. Earthquake pa rin ba ang tawag sa lindol kapag nasa Mars na?
Dora The Explorer
The Folk Singer
Chinito Hearthrob
5 Maniniwala ka ba sa taong sinungaling kapag sinabi niyang sinungaling siya? 6. Anong petsa naimbento ang kalendaryo? 7. Anong oras nagawa ang relo? 8. Ano ang middle name ni Lapu-lapu? 9. Anong size ba talaga ang paa ni Cinderella? At sa kanya lang talaga nagkasya ang sapatos‌ 10. Pwede ba ma-WAXan ang buhok ni maGELlan?
The Moody
The Multitasker
The E-bicycle man
11. Kidnap pa rin ba ang tawag kahit matanda na ang kinuha? 12. Sta. Maria, Sta. Irene, Sta. Clara, at Sta. Josefa ay mga babaeng santo, bakit hindi babae si Santa Claus? 13. Bakit hindi nakakalipad si Batman? 14. Bakit hindi maaaring matulog sa rest rooms? 15. Sa bahay bata ba may living room, dining room at comfort room?
The Whistle Blower
38 RED
The One Punch Man
Mr. Johnny Bravo
illustrated By: Reymond Java
16. Kapag ang langaw ay namatay lalangawin ba? Eh, ang uod ay inu-uod din ba? Ang langgam, lalanggamin din ba?
The Gold Panicles
ENTERTAINMENT
KAMPUS KATUWAAN KOMIKS
RED 39
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