The Hillside Echo Tabloid Vol. 85, Issue No. 1 - 2021

VOLUME LXXXV • NOVEMBER 2021

THE HILLSIDE ECHO The Official Student Publication of Filamer Christian University INFORM. INSPIRE. EMPOWER.

SCAN THE QR CODE TO READ THIS TABLOID ONLINE ON ISSUU.COM

FRONTLINERS’ PLEA. Health workers in black shirts gather in front of the RMPH to stage their protest and to call for the approval of the provincial hospital’s budget.

SAVE RMPH Facebook Page

RMPH FRONTLINERS INITIATE PROTEST TO PASS SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET “We are not Ghost Employees!” Cry of unpaid health workers

BY MICHAEL JAY DEMINGOY

To signify that the Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital is in critical condition and its health workers are still unpaid, hospital staff and medical frontliners of RMPH initiated a two-day protest, Sept. 22-23.

Only 21 medical personnel of the RMPH have received their salaries for the month of August,

and there are still 203 employees of the said hospital that were not able to receive their salaries.

As of September 23, based on the data presented by the Budget Officer of the Provincial Capitol, PHP 12, 489. 36 is intended for the salary of doctors and nurses and a sum of PHP 1, 183, 665.

75 is intended for employees

(non-medical professional fees) which are not enough to cover the salaries of the employees.

The hospital needs at least PHP 5, 168, 000 to pay the medical professionals and PHP 2, 325, 000 for job orders and casual employees.

“We are not ghost employees.

Guina risgo namon amon kabuhi

para makasalbar sang iban tapos amo pa ini ang guina himo sa amon guina pakabudlayan guid kami (We are not ghost employees.

We risk our lives just to save others and this is how they treat us. They make us suffer),” according to a frontliner who took part in the protest who respectfully asked not to be named.

Moreover, the Committee on Appropriations of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, chaired by Board Member Jonathan “Sonny” Besa said in a press conference that there are other sources to procure funds for the salaries and that the requested CONTINUE TO PAGE 3

FCU clutches high notes in CHED’s songwriting tilt

SONGWRITING CHAMPIONS. (L-R) Sanque Gregorio; Lizalyn Francisco; Pierre Angelique Rae Rose; and Charita Mae Enate singing their hearts out in the music video of their winning entry.

FCU Mass Media

Manifesting the Filamerian prowess in music, FCU emerged triumphant in the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Region VI Songwriting Competition for the song “Law of Attraction,” announced via Facebook Live, Aug. 26.

BY VANESSA GLENISE USISON

With the theme “PADYAK! Moving forward, Claiming Victory for the Philippine Higher Education in the ASEAN Community,” the competition was in celebration of the 54th

Founding Anniversary of ASEAN. The music and lyrics were crafted and performed by Arnel Heremias; Lizalyn Francisco; CONTINUE TO PAGE 2

Filamerians confer concerns to admin in Kasanagan ‘21

BY ALYZA PAMILLARAN

FCU admin faced different solicited concerns of students during the “Kasanagan 2021: A General Assembly” spearheaded by the Filamer Christian University Student Republic via Zoom meeting, Oct. 1.

Through their respective Governors and Representatives, students voiced out their concerns, questions, and suggestions regarding school-related matters which were answered by the concerned administrators, faculty, staff, and organization officials.

“We were able to voice out and discourse in behalf of our fellow students with regards to our concerns on the current situation,” Divine Grace Dacles, Governor of CTE department, said.

CONTINUE TO PAGE 2

ECHOES OF CONCERN. FCU administrators and faculty personally answer the students’ concerns relayed by the FCUSR officials.

Michael Jay Demingoy

CONNECT WITH US

NEWS FCUSR launches SR Talks: Coping, Finding Hope Program Read on Page 3

k thehillsideecho@gmail.com E The Hillside Echo Publication Q @hseoffpen EDITORIAL Pagkatuto: Umuusad o Lumalabo?

Read on Page 8

ECHOES Filamerians express the challenges of the NEO LMS Read on Page 11

SPORTS 2020 TOKYO OLYMPICS: BIGGEST MEDAL HAUL FOR THE PHILIPPINES Read on Page 18

issuu.com/thehilsideechopublication

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VOLUME LXXV • NOVEMBER 2021

News

THE HILLSIDE ECHO

Classes resume in FCU Basic and Higher Ed

BY THOEN ANN SOCOBOS

Proving its versatility and resiliency amidst the health crisis, Filamer Christian University’s (FCU) administrators, principals, deans, faculty and staff, virtually welcomed the students, pupils, and parents to its opening of classes in Basic and Higher Education for this Academic Year, Sept. 13 and 20, respectively.

During the program, the administrators and faculty assured that the University remains firm in its commitment to provide quality and holistic Christian education through flexible learning modalities consisting of modules and a learning management system (LMS).

“Today, we are very happy that in spite of this difficulty, of the situation, we still have a number of students that came to us especially from Kindergarten to Graduate School,” Dr. George O. Cortel, University President, said.

Furthermore, Dr. Cortel also asked the parents and guardians for their full cooperation when it comes to financial obligations to the Institution.

“The school also just like family, would require also funds for its operational expenses that is why I’m asking for the full cooperation of the parents and the guardians that as much as possible we pay these accounts on time as requested by the school because we also planned out the expenses that we have to disburse so that the operations of the school will not be hampered,” Dr. Cortel expressed.

Moreover, Mrs. Esther S. Arceno, Trustee-in-Charge of Finance, emphasized that while safety is the University’s priority, education must continue whether face-to-face or virtual.

The welcome programs were streamed on the Facebook page of the University.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

FCU clutches high notes in...

Nicole Erika De Tomas; Leo Jake Dadivas; Charita Mae Enate; Sanque Gregorio; Pierre Angelique Rae Rose; and Miguel Belo Basas, all hailing from the College of Teacher Education assisted by Ariel Orola and Dr. Marcelo Julius Caezar Diaz.

“Actually nag-shout gid ko tudo kay wala ko ga expect nga nga makasulod kami sa top 3 and happy [gid] kami kay maski mabudlay ang mga nakontra namun out of 29 entries, kami ang top 1. And we are proud to say nga ‘Filamer baskug,’” Heremias articulated.

The CHED’s song writing competition aims to provide

opportunity for student songwriters and music enthusiasts in all HEIs in Region VI to express themselves and showcase their talents while fostering the ASEAN identity and uniqueness.

“We have been given the opportunity to show our talents in music,” Heremias added.

The “PAMADYA SA ADLAW SANG PAGTAKOP; Kasadyahan Sa Bulan sang ASEAN 2021,” the closing event of CHED’s Founding Anniversary Celebration, was virtually graced by students from different colleges across the region.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Filamer confer concerns...

Students expressed their concerns regarding the NEO Learning Management Systems (LMS) which will be implemented this academic year, including its payment and application.

“LMS is a system designed to create, distribute, and manage the delivery of educational content that caters the needs of both students and teachers.

It is like an upgraded version of Google Classroom but with more, more features. Outputs can be sent in this platform which is more systematic compared to emails and messengers,” explained by Dr. George O. Cortel, FCU President, and Mr. Jorgen M. Gregorio, VP for Administration.

The amount to be paid by the students for the LMS is 500 pesos per semester which is equivalent to 100 pesos per month as offered by the outside provider which includes license fees, VAT, LMS team, and other costs.

The possibility of limited in-person classes among several courses as mentioned

by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) upon compliance of requirements, the distribution of course materials, and the schedule of virtual classes were also discussed.

Concerns regarding college school fees including that of PTEA, The Hillside Echo, FCUSR, and test paper fee were also raised.

“Our queries have been honored but at some point, we asked for further details. We hope that our requests shall be addressed as soon as possible [and] with this kind of event, we will be able to cater the needs of the students in general and work on plans for the Institution and its people,” Dacles added.

KASANAGAN 2021 was attended by Administrators, Unit Heads, Coordinators, Deans and representative teachers, FCUSR National and Local off icials, while students participated via Zoom.

The said event was held in the FCU Roblee Hall and minimum public health protocols were observed by the attendees.

UNITY’S VIRTUAL BEAT. The FCU Chorale dance to their cover of “Raise Your Flag” and also with them in the virtual presentation were the ROTC cadets.

FCU Mass Media

FCU holds virtual ASEAN Month Celebration

BY YSABELLE ANN BESORIO

To express its participation and support for the commemoration of the ASEAN month with the theme “Padyak! Moving Forward, Claiming Victory for Philippine Higher Education PHE in the ASEAN Community,” Filamer Christian University held a virtual celebration accessed via the off icial FCU Facebook page, Aug. 6.

ASEAN will mark its 54th anniversary on August 8 when the Philippines and four other founding member countries signed the Bangkok Declaration in 1967.

“Filamer, cognizant of its important role, can embark into some kind of institutional assessment on how to prepare its system, curriculum, educational approaches, among others to keep at tune with the demands

of the internationalization of education and regional integration,” said Prof. Jorgen M. Gregorio, Vice President for Administration, in his opening remarks.

Professor Gregorio also presented the ongoing efforts of FCU towards the aforementioned goals through its investment in computer integrated system to increase connectivity in the delivery of instructions and student services.

“This ASEAN month celebration certainly invigorates Filamer that despite the challenges of the pandemic, it will not waver to relentlessly deliver excellent education and services to its clientele for this will contribute to the realization of the vision of ASEAN,” Professor Gregorio added.

The Association’s history was read by Dr. Marcelo JC M. Diaz, Head of BPED and BCAED. “I hope that all of us starting today will learn to explore the ASEAN culture and will learn to appreciate not only the Philippines but [also] the rest of nine other member countries in the ASEAN,” Dr. Minnie P. Chan, VP for Academic Affairs, expressed.

A special number was performed by the FCU Silak Dance Company, FCU Chorale, FCU ROTC Cadets, and selected faculty and staff as they danced to the FCU Chorale’s cover of “Raise Your Flag.”

The celebration was spearheaded by the FCU SocioCultural Off ice and hosted by Ms. Lira Sheen Azarce.

Online cultural competition showcases Filamerian talents

BY REYNAN JOEL ECAMINA

As part of the 117th Virtual Founding Anniversary celebration and to provide platform for students to share their talents, Filamer Christian University held the Online Cultural Competition via the official Facebook page of the University, Aug. 31.

In Spoken Word Poetry, Christian Dela Cruz of the Graduate School clutched the first place while Lester John Carnaje of the College of Arts and Sciences and Berlyn Catedrilla of the Senior High School placed second and third, respectively.

The blending and harmony of Marian Corneth Amoroso and Laejem Cunada of the of the College of Nursing secured the top spot in the Vocal Duet Pop, leaving Princess Kyla Mamay and Tristan Taoa of the Senior High School and Pierre Angelique Rae Rose and Lizalyn Franscisco of the College of Teacher Education in second and third place, respectively.

“We were very surprised guid with the result kay we recorded our song two days prior the deadline and the video recording, one day before the

due. It was very unexpected guid kay the participants from other departments were amazing as well,” said Marian Corneth Amoroso and Laejem Cunada.

With the solemnity of voice, Kristel Poras of the Graduate School nailed the f irst place in the Vocal Solo Religious while April Kate Durias of the CTE and Kiann Gee Roxas of the Junior High School Department placed second and third, respectively.

“The overall activity was enjoyable and great! It showed how versatile Filamerians are despite any situations. The pandemic was indeed not a hindrance to showcase the Godgiven talents of Filamerians.

Kudos to the team behind the event!” Amoroso and Cunada added.

Prof. Jorgen M. Gregorio, Dr. Minnie P. Chan, and Mr. Exequiel A. Calimutan served as judges of the virtual competition.

With the theme “Paghili-usa sa tunga sang Pandemya,” the said activity aims to unite and connect the students of FCU in the middle of this pandemic through technology and cultural activities.

WINNING PERFORMANCES. (T-B) Christian Dela Cruz (GS); Kristel Poras (GS); Marian Corneth Amoroso; and Laejem Cunada (CN), champions of the online cultural competition.

FCU Mass Media

VOLUME LXXV • NOVEMBER 2021

News

THE HILLSIDE ECHO

3

FCU registers 75% in SWLE

BY ALYZA PAMILLARAN AND CZARELLE LUCES

DISCUSSIONS TOWARD AWARENESS. The Suicide Prevention Awareness Month observance through virtual discussions centered on mental health.

FCUSR

FCUSR launches SR Talks: Coping, Finding Hope Program

BY JIMIL FAITH CAPUTERO

To express its active participation to the Suicide Prevention Awareness Month campaign, the FCU SR Nationals conducted “SR talks: Coping, Finding Hope,” a virtual program streamed via FCU SR Nationals Facebook page and Zoom, Sept. 28.

Ms. Raphah G. Cortel, RPm, emphasized how to win in the new normal setup of learning and provided 10 tips to effectively manage the new setting including time management to productively work, avoid cramming, and prevent stress.

“Routine is familiarity; familiarity is security... you don’t go from 0-100 agad-agad. Make it gradual, make the progress gradual.

You go from 0-20, then 20-50, 5070, then 70-100,” Cortel said.

Mr. Maru Alayon talked about “in-arte” or the art within that gives light to the benefits of engaging in arts, how art can become a safe place for self-discovery and healing, and shared his five takes on how one can make progress in their journey with art.

“As a human being, it is our nature to express, might be in a positive or negative way of expression; it can be towards ourselves, towards others, or in any medium like speech, non-verbal actions, or in an artistic way,” Alayon stated.

Mr. Prince Dacles also dispensed his take on the healing

REVISITING HISTORY. Ms. Raphah Cortel presenting the history of the University.

Exemplifying its success in the social work program, Filamer Christian University registered a 75% passing rate in the Social Workers Licensure Examination (SWLE) conducted by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

The newly registered Social Workers are Ritchel M. De Lara, Christine Dorado, and Hajil Luces.

“We are so happy with the result. It means that our graduates are really prepared in knowledge, attitude, and skills on their profession,” Dr. Maria Teresa D. Cosico, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, expressed.

DE LARA

power of human-animal bond as the talk further centered on mutual healing by finding peace between the built relationship of humans and their animal companion.

Furthermore, Dacles discussed that animal companion in therapies has a positive effect in the client’s level of stress, anxiety, and mood.

“You feel loved, you feel wanted, and that’s because of the mutual healing between you and your animal companion,” Dacles articulated.

The SR talks concluded later in the afternoon with a forum break out rooms in Zoom meeting together with the speakers and limited number of students.

FCU Mass Media

Filamerians connect at 11th U-Day celebration

As announced by the PRC, 612 out of 1,621 or 37.75% passed the August 2021 Social Workers Licensure Examination around the Philippines.

“I just hope that our SW trend in FCU will continue to increase its students and higher percentage in the board examination, thus creating more Registered Social Workers to be part in the nation’s development program,” Dr. Cosico added.

Since 2019, FCU has been producing quality graduates in its social work program. This is the third batch of graduates after the program was offered in FCU. DORADO

LUCES

FCU Mass Media

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

RMPH Frontliners initiates... supplemental budget of RMPH is still being reviewed.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan requested the said hospital to submit the following documents: purchase request; purchase order; delivery invoice receipts; requisitions and issue slip, and that the said documents must be “on a per transaction basis.”

The RMPH is also obliged to comply and submit a 2021 petty cash voucher and succeeding replenishment summary from January 1 to July 31 of this year for the following: pharmacy; laboratory; and central supply room.

“Tani indi nila kami pagdalahigon because we are just there to work and the least nga pwede nila ubrahon is to respect the frontliners. We are already tired. Indi sila kabalo kun ano ang feeling nga nagasaka ka sa COVID ward. Ang naka intindi lang ang nakasaka didto. So amo lang gid na, show respect to the frontliners (I hope that

they would leave us out of this because we are just there to work and the least that they could do is to respect the frontliners.

We are already tired. They do not know the feeling when you go to the COVID ward. Those who understand are those who went in. So that is it, show respect to the frontliners),” Dr. Ma. Lourdes Pelobello, Chief of Clinics of RMPH, said in an interview with Radyo Bandera.

In addition, BM Besa said that there are still documents that are not submitted by the RMPH, mainly the purchase order; delivery receipt; requisition; and issue slip.

As of this writing, only a partial amount of PHP 17,543,955.36 of the supplemental budget was approved by the SP intended for general services and professional fees while the budget for drugs, medical expenses, and medical and laboratory supplies is still pending for approval.

BY VANESSA GLENISE USISON AND CZARELLE LUCES

In celebration of the 11th University Day, Filamer Christian University held the f irst virtual celebration with the theme “Still Connected: A Virtual University Day Special” through FCU’s off icial Facebook page and YouTube accounts, July 14.

The event commenced with the introduction of the FCU history by Ms. Raphah Cortel, followed by a devotional led

by Pastor Medy T. Alimoane, the singing of the Philippine National Anthem and Capiz Hymn, and a prayer delivered by Dr. Vima Olivares.

“The University survives satisfactorily even facing the pandemic and come up of what

the school can do according to its power and capacity that the mission and vision of the school will be achieved,” said Dr. George O. Cortel, University President, in his welcoming remarks.

Dr. Cortel also thanked the parents, alumni, teachers and faculty, and everyone in the campus that helped the school sustain and maintain its status as a University.

“Don’t you know that we became a University last July 14, 2010? For those who just enrolled in Filamer, you have to know that piece of history that means we are only a child in terms of university hood,” Dr. Minnie P. Chan, Vice President for Academic Affairs, remarked.

The U-Day celebration was graced by the parade of talents where representatives from different departments offered a tribute to the University.

“We are now moving forward not because of our own strength but because of the love that Filamer has given us,” Mr. Francis Panaguiton, faculty of Elementary School, expressed in his testimony.

With their voices and energy, the FCU Chorale and the Silak Dance Company also graced the program with their song and dance performances, respectively.

“I am really happy to the success of the first virtual U-day.

I know that the students really missed performing on stage. The

EXHAUSTED YET UNPAID. Health workers of RMPH hold protests outside the provincial hospital over unapproved budget and alleged ghost employees.

SAVE RMPH Facebook Page

socio-cultural committee and the department coordinators were trying to continue and be back on having school programs virtually.

As our theme says, we are still connected despite everything,” said Dr. Marivic Balasa, University Socio-Cultural Coordinator.

The f irst virtual U-Day celebration was spearheaded by

the Socio-Cultural Committee; Dr. Marivic Balasa, Ms. Mary Jane Tormon, Dr. Marcelo Julius Ceazar Diaz III, Mrs. Arlene Upano, Mrs. Agnes Miranda, Ms. Maria Joela Lopez, Mr. Earl Brain Gregorio, Mr. L. Marius Alayon, Mrs. Maribel Buenavides, Dr. Joy Maravilla, and department sociocultural coordinators.

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VOLUME LXXV • NOVEMBER 2021

News

THE HILLSIDE ECHO

Virtual Commemoration kicks off Founder’s week celebration

BY MICHAEL JAY DEMINGOY

UNITED BY FAITH. Rev. Felix B. Colinco delivering his message on unity during the pandemic.

FCU Mass Media

Paying homage to the establishment of the University, Filamer Christian University virtually commemorated its 117th Founding Anniversary, Aug. 23.

The commemoration service is a kick off for the week-long virtual celebration, highlighting how the University, despite this pandemic, still speaks the word of the Lord and its Gospel.

“Given with situations like this, we are very happy that we have changed our attitudes, we have changed our perceptions of things, [and] we have changed some of our relationship because there are limitations, especially for interaction. But still the word of the Lord and its Gospel are being spoken during CEW [...] and even though it is virtual we have seen that the number of people has doubled, tripled than those when we are in face-to-face basis,” Dr. George O. Cortel, University President, said in his welcoming remarks.

The opening song and prayer were performed and led by Marian

Corneth Amoroso and Rev. Jehiel C. Caman, respectively.

The FCU History and the singing of the Founders Hymn were delivered by the FCU Chorale.

Rev. Felix B. Colinco, the Commemoration Service preacher, was introduced by Pastor Medy T. Alimoane.

“We too need to be emerged into the living as part of the whole.

So what [are] the important things that we can do as part of our unity in time of pandemic? We have to serve one Lord, we have to serve one Filamer, and we have to be united in one love with each other, and with our communities, and we have to be empowered by God’s grace,” Rev. Colinco expressed.

The said program was attended by selected administrators, faculty, and staff of the University.

Students and other faculty and staff virtually attended the commemoration service which was uploaded in the official Facebook page of the University.

FCU celebrates 117th Foundation Anniversary

BY YSABELLE ANN BESORIO

In celebration of the 117th Foundation Anniversary of Filamer Christian University amidst the pandemic, a Virtual Opening Ceremony was streamed on the University’s off icial Facebook page, Aug. 24.

With the theme “Paghiliusa sa Tunga sang Pandemya,” the week-long Virtual Foundation Anniversary Celebration kicked off last August 23 with a Virtual Commemoration Service to honor the establishment of the University.

“Sa tunga sang pandemya, napakita sang mga tawo sa komunidad sang Filamer nga may-ara kita paghiliusa…We would be celebrating and would be joyfully gathering together although it is only virtually but I hope that we can see what we have accomplished through this year of the pandemic,” Dr. Minnie P. Chan, Vice President for Academic Affairs, expressed in her welcome address.

To renew vows and commitments to this new phase of changes, the heads and faculty of the University’s academic units led the raising of school flags.

“Come what may, we will trust the Lord of this institution that the vision and mission of the school will continue to prosper and sustain the efforts

HONORING FOUNDERS’ LEGACY. The FCU Chorale paying tribute to the Founders of the University through a virtual choir.

of providing quality education to these young people who [entrusted] their lives to Filamer,” Dr. George O. Cortel, University President, emphasized in his message and official declaration of the celebration.

The virtual presentation also showcased Filamerian talents

through the music videos of “Sikad” and “Law of Attraction,” Top 10 Finalists in the CHED Region VI Song Writing Competition for the ASEAN Month.

Exemplifying the Filamerian spirit, a glimpse of Filamer during pandemic and dance

FCU Mass Media

presentations of the faculty and staff of various off ices and departments followed afterwards.

Paying tribute to the Founders of this Institution, the “Founders Hymn” was then virtually performed by the FCU Chorale.

The ceremony concluded with a prayer of thanksgiving and benediction led by Pastor Jasper B. Martin, Chairperson, Bible and Theology Department.

The virtual program wa s h o s t ed by R e v. J e h e i l Caman.

Rule of Law ng administrasyong Duterte, bumagsak ng 51 na pwesto NI THOEN ANN SOCOBOS

Dahil sa mga kaso at akusasyon tungkol sa laganap na paglabag sa karapatang pantao at katarungang kriminal sa ilalim ng panunungkulan ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte, tuluyan nang bumagsak ang pandaigdigang ranggo ng Pilipinas sa usaping Rule of Law kung saan sumadsad ito ng 51 na pwesto sa loob ng anim na taon.

Batay sa tala ng 2021 World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index, bumaba ng 2.9% ang puntos

ng Pilipinas at sa 139 na bansang nakuhanan ng datos sa buong mundo, lumapag sa ika-102 na pwesto ang Pilipinas.

Samantala, sa Silangang Asya at Asia Pacific, ang Pilipinas ay kasama sa may nakaaalarmang pagpapatupad ng rule of law kung saan ito ay ika-13 mula sa 15 rehiyon. Sa buong Asya, kabilang ang Pilipinas, Cambodia, at Myanmar sa mayroong pinakamalalang rule of law dahil sa

pagkakaroon ng mga kaguluhang sibil at kudeta.

Matatandaan na noong 2015, ang Pilipinas ay nasa ika-51 na ranggo ngunit ito ay bumagsak sa 70 nang si Duterte ay naging pangulo noong 2016. Ang Pilipinas ay nasa ika-91 na pwesto noong 2020.

Nakaangkla sa pagbaba ng ranggo ng Pilipinas ang madugong war on drugs at mga naganap na patayan sa Davao City nang alkalde pa si Pangulong Duterte sa

nasabing lungsod na nauna nang inimbestigahan ng International Criminal Court (ICC). Kabilang din dito ang pagtuligsa ng pangulo sa malayang pamamahayag na nagresulta sa pagsara ng pinakamalaking TV network sa bansa na ABS-CBN, at patuloy na pag-atake sa CEO ng Rappler na si Maria Ressa.

Ayon sa WJP Rule of Law Index, lumala ang Pilipinas sa pagpapatupad ng fundamental

rights kung saan mula 107 pwesto noong nakaraang taon ay naging 123 ngayong taon, at criminal justice na mula 112 noong nakaraang taon ay naging 120 ngayong taon.

Ang WJP Rule of Law Index ay isang nangungunang mapagkukunan ng datos tungkol sa panuntunan ng batas. Sa kasalukuyan, saklaw na ng WJP ang 139 na bansa batay sa survey sa 138,000 kabahayan at 4,200 legal practitioners at eksperto.

VOLUME LXXV • NOVEMBER 2021

Nasyonal

THE HILLSIDE ECHO

5

Limited face-to-face classes, pinayagan na sa lahat ng degree programs NI ALYZA PAMILLARAN

INAPRUBAHAN NA. Mga mag-aaral suot ang kanilang face mask at kinukunan ng temperatura habang papasok sa kanilang kampus.

PHILSTAR

Pinayagan na ng Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) ayon sa Commission on Higher Education ang limited face-to-face classes sa lahat ng college degree programs sa lugar na nasa ilalim ng Alert Level 2 kasama ang Maynila, Nobyembre 5.

Limitado sa 50% ang kapasidad na pwedeng bumalik sa paaralan at may kaukulang kondisyon na dapat sundin.

Sa isinagawang ceremonial COVID-19 vaccination sa mga college students sa Palawan State University, isinaad ni CHED Chairman Prospero de Vera III na kailangang may mataas na

vaccination rate sa mga magaaral at guro, pag-apruba ng local government units, at na-retrofit na mga pasilidad.

“In the IATF [Inter-Agency Task Force], we discussed in the other day that in places that are already under Alert Level 2, we will allow now limited face-to-face up to 50% in all degree programs in these areas,” saad ni De Vera.

Samantala, nagpahayag ang Malacañang ukol sa face-to-face classes na hindi ito maipapatupad agad-agad.

“Hindi pa po magkakaroon ng face-to-face classes sa Lunes.

Kailangan po na pumayag muna ang mga LGUs at mag retrofit muna tayo ng mga classrooms,” pahayag ni Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.

Ito ay matapos na maaprubahan ang limitadong face-to-face classes sa ibang college degree programs noong nakaraang Setyembre kung saan kabilang sa mga kursong pinayagan ang Engineering and Technology programs, Hospitality/Hotel and Restaurant Management, Tourism/Travel Management, Marine Engineering, at Marine Transportation.

Maria Ressa, ginawaran ng Nobel Peace Prize Award NI REYNAN JOEL ECAMINA

Nagbigay karangalan sa Pilipinas ang batikang mamamahayag na si Maria Ressa, Chief Executive Off icer (CEO) ng Rappler, matapos gawaran ng prestihiyosong Nobel Peace Prize Award sa taong ito bilang pagkilala sa kanyang katapangan sa pagtatanggol ng malayang pamamahayag sa bansa upang mapanatili ang demokrasya at kapayapaan.

Gumawa ng kasaysayan ang CEO ng news website na Rappler bilang kaunaunahang indibidwal na Pinay na tumanggap ng nasabing parangal kung saan kasama niyang nagwagi ang Russian journalist na si Dmitri A. Muratov.

“This relentless campaign of harassment and intimidation against me and my fellow journalists in the Philippines is a stark example of a global trend that journalists and freedom of the press facing increasingly adverse conditions,” pahayag ni Ressa.

Matatandaang naging kontrobersiyal si Ressa dahil sa pagkakasangkot nito sa iba’t ibang isyu kaugnay ng pagsisiwalat niya sa umano’y

HAGUPIT NG BAGYO. Labis na naapektuhan ang mga magsasaka matapos ang paghagupit ni bagyong Maring.

DA, naglaan ng P822-M para sa mga nasalanta ng bagyong Maring NI THOEN ANN SOCOBOS

MAMAMAYAHAG. Ginawaran ng Nobel Peace Prize ang mamamahayag at CEO ng Rappler na si Maria Ressa.

The New Yorker

mga katiwalian ng kasalukuyang administrasyon.

Ang Nobel Peace Prize Award ay isang prestihiyosong parangal na iginagawad sa mga indibidwal

na nagbibigay ng malaking ambag sa kanilang lipunan at naiimpluwensiyahan ang kaniyang kapwa sa pamamagitan ng mga mabubuting gawa.

Kauna-unahang openly-gay beauty queen, kinoronahan bilang MUP 2021 NI REYNAN JOEL ECAMINA

Pinatunayan ni Beatrice Luigi Gomez, kandidata mula sa Cebu City, na wala sa kasarian ang pagiging beauty queen matapos mangibabaw ang kanyang ganda at talino laban sa 28 kandidata sa ginanap na Miss Universe Philippines 2021 pageant sa Hennan Resort Convention Center Panglao, Bohol, Setyembre 30.

Isang proud LGBTQIA+ member ang 26-year old Cebuana na isa ring Philippine Navy Reservist at gumawa ng kasaysayan bilang kaunaunahang lesbian winner ng nasabing kompetisyon. Maliban sa titulong Miss Universe Philippines 2021, nakuha rin ni Gomez ang Miss Creamsilk

PNA

Award, Best in Swimsuit, at Best in Evening Gown.

“Just like what everyone hopes for in the LGBTQIA+, I aspire for acceptance and inclusivity—especially equal rights and protection for the younger generation who oftentimes suffer from bullying and different forms of violence.

They are left to fend for themselves, particularly those that are oppressed by their own parents,” pahayag ni Gomez.

Dagdag pa ng beauty queen, isa sa naging inspirasyon niya ang kanyang kasintahan na isang DJ na sa loob ng pitong taon ay hindi siya iniwan mula pa noong sumali siya sa Binibining Cebu hanggang sa kinoronahan na siyang MUP 2021.

Bitbit ang adbokasiya para sa Gender Sensitivity and Awareness, magiging pambato ng Pilipinas si Gomez sa Miss Universe 2021 pageant na inaasahang gaganapin sa darating na Disyembre sa Eilat, Israel.

Sa paglalayong mabigyan ng agarang tulong ang mga magsasaka at mangingisda sa bansa na nasalanta ng Bagyong Maring, naglaan ang Kagawaran ng Agrikultura ng halagang ₱822-milyong ayuda upang muling makabangon ang mga nasabing pinakaapektadong sektor.

Batay sa ulat ng Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC) ng nasabing Kagawaran, tinatayang ₱1.17 bilyon ang napinsalang pananim at libu-libong ektaryang sakahan ang nalubog sa tubig-baha sa Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, MIMAROPA (Mindoro-MarinduqueRomblon-Palawan), Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, at SOCCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato-Cotabato-Sultan Kudarat-Sarangani-General Santos City).

Sa kabuuan, naapektuhan ng nasabing bagyo ang 40,225 na magsasaka at mangingisda sa bansa at aabot sa 68,693 metriko toneladang farm commodities mula sa agrikultura at sektor ng pangingisda ang nasalanta.

“Bilang tugon, P650-M ng nasabing ayuda ay gagamitin sa emergency loans ng mga naapektuhang magsasaka at mangingisda sa ilalim ng SURE Calamity Loan Assistance Program sa pamamagitan ng Department of Agriculture (DA)-Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC),” pahayag ni Agriculture Secretary William Dar. Kaugnay nito, ₱172-M naman ng ayuda ang nakalaan para sa rehabilitasyon ng mga sakahan at taniman sa Regions 1, 2, at CAR sa ilalim ng Quick Response Fund. Bukod pa rito, bawat benepisyaryong magsasaka ay maaaring makautang ng nagkakahalagang ₱20,000 na babayaran sa loob ng 10 taon ng walang interes at collateral.

KORONA. Beatrice Luigi Gomez kinoronahan bilang Miss Universe Philippines 2021.

MUPH

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VOLUME LXXV • NOVEMBER 2021

Lokal

THE HILLSIDE ECHO

Ceremonial launching para sa Pediatric A3 vaccination, nagsugod na NI REYNAN JOEL ECAMINA

Madinalag-on nga ginlunsyar sang probinsya sang Capiz kag Department of Health ang Ceremonial Launching sa pagbakuna sa Pediatric A3 nga grupo kontra COVID-19 nga guin hiwat sa Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital, Nobyembre 4.

Bahin sang Pediatric A3 nga grupo amo ang mga kabataan nga naga edad 12 tubtob 17 anyos nga may ‘comorbidities’ ukon ang mga may ginabatyag nga balatian sa lawas.

Mahibaluan nga Pf izerBioNTech vaccines ang nabaton

sang mga kabataan sa pahanugot man sang ila mga ginikanan agud mangin proteksyon nila kontra sa makalalaton nga sakit.

“Wala sang problema sa bakuna. Supisyente ang supply sang vaccines sa Capiz.

Ang problema ara sa mga magapabakuna,” pahayag ni Dr. Alex T. Nolasco, Provincial Health Off icer II. Guin pangunahan ni Governor Esteban Evan “Nonoy” Contreras ang nasambit nga aktibidad kung sa diin naghatag man siya sang iya pagsuporta kag ginganyat ang

mga ginikanan nga pahanugutan ang ila mga kabataan nga mabakunahan.

Nanging pangunahon nga bisita si DOH Assistant Regional Director, Dr. Helen D. Tobias kag kasubong nga nagtambong man sanday Dr. Edmarie M. Tormon, Acting Chief sang RMPH kag ang Provincial DOH Off icer nga si Dr. Mary Joy D. Castroverde.

Kaangot sini, guinapangabay sang mga natungdan ang mga ginikanan nga ipalista ang ila kabataan sa Hospital Management Section sa

PROTEKSYON SA KABATAAN. Nagsugod na ang pagbakuna sa mga Pediatric A3 nga grupo batok sa COVID-19.

RMPH Facebook Page

Kapitolyo Probinsyal kung sa diin sa tion nga magkadto sa vaccination site, guinapanugyan nga magdala sang Medical

Certif icate, PSA birth certif icate, kag Valid ID sang bata kag sang ginikanan ukon guardian.

Pagsuksok sang face shield sa Roxas City, boluntaryo na lang NI MICHAEL JAY DEMINGOY

PORMAL NGA GUINBUKSAN. Ang TTMF handa na nga mag accomodar sang mga may ara sang Mild to Moderate nga symptoms sang COVID-19.

BOMBO RADYO ROXAS

Temporary Treatment and Management Facility sang Roxas City, guinbuksan na NI MICHAEL JAY DEMINGOY

Para masolusyonan ang kakulangan sang bed capacity sa mga nagagutok nga ospital, pormal na nga guinbuksan ang Roxas City Temporary Treatment and Management Facility (TTMF), Oktubre 4.

Ini nga pasilidad magabaton sang mga pasyente nga may ara sang Mild to Moderate nga symptoms sang COVID-19 kag may referral sang ospital. Diri temporaryo

nga pagatatapon ang mga pasyente samtang gahulat sang bakante sa ospital antes maka pa admit.

Ang nasambit nga pasilidad may ara sang 16 ka kwarto, kaugalingon nga doctors, nurses, kag nursing aids nga magatatap sa mga pasyente 24/7. Kumpleto man ini sa oxygen, oxygen concentrators, kag high flow cannula. May CCT V ang kada kwarto, Wi-Fi connection, aircon, intercom, kag iban pa nga kagamitan.

Libre ini sa tagsa ka pumulyo sang siyudad humalin sa akomodasyon sang kwarto asta sa medical staff and personnel. Ang wala lang diri madala amu ang laboratory cost kag mga bulong nga kinahanglan sang pasyente kay ini magahalin sa ospital nga nag pasulod sa ila sa TTMF. Guin tambungan nanday Mayor Ronnie Dadivas, Dr. Pip Acepcion, kaupod ang Capiz Medical Society, kag iban nga mga opisyales sang siyudad ang nasambit nga hilikuton.

UPOD Kita Program, finalist sa Gawad Galing Pook Awards Sa masobra 200 ka mga entries sa bilog nga Pilipinas, ang Unif ied Pandemic Operational Deployment, ukon ang UPOD Kita Program sang Roxas City, top-20 finalist sa Gawad Galing Pook Awards 2021, Setyembre 21.

NI MICHAEL JAY DEMINGOY

Ang guinpasidunggan sa nasambit nga programa amo ang “Bugas para sa Taga Roxas,” kung sa diin kada bulan may ara sang 10 kilos nga bugas

PARA SA PROGRESO. Guin presentar ni Mayor Ronnie Dadivas ang Upod Kita Program sa National Panel sang Gawad Galing.

Ronnie Dadivas Facebook Page

ang guina baton sang tagsa ka pamilya sang siyudad.

Kasubong man, nag-atubang si Mayor Ronnie Dadivas sa National Panel sang Gawad Galing para ipresentar ang UPOD Kita Program sang Setyembre 27.

Isa na ka daku nga pagkilala sa siyudad ang malakip ini bilang top-20 f inalist bisan damo nga pag panghangkat ang guinatubang sang siyudad subong nga tuig.

Kaupod nga f inalist sang Roxas City amo ang mga lugar nga humalin sa National Capital Region, kasubong ang Quezon City, San Juan City, Valenzuela City, Pasig City, Malabon City, Manila kag iban pa nga lugar sa pungsod Pilipinas.

Ini nga programa kag dungog naangkon sang siyudad pinaagi sa pagtinguha kag pagpanikasug ni Mayor Ronnie Dadivas.

Boluntaryo na lang ang pagsuksok sang face shield sa siyudad base sa Public Advisory halin sa COVID-19 Command center sang siyudad, Nobyembre 18.

Ini guin base sa IATF resolution No. 148-D, series of 2021, kung sa diin yara na lang sa Alert Level 2 ang siyudad sang Roxas kag boluntaryo na lamang ang pagsuksok sang face shield sa mga lugar nga yara sa Alert Level 3, 2, kag 1.

Base sa interview sa Bombo Radyo ni Mr. Ronald Amigo, Assistant Department Head sang Roxas City Government, guin hambal niya sini nga wala man guina bawal ang pagsuksok sang face shield sa mga gusto magsuksok sini.

Dugang pa niya, maga pabilin sa guihapon nga mandatoryo ang pagsuksok sang face shield sa mga ospital, health clinics, quarantine kag isolation facilities.

BOLUNTARYO NA LANG. Indi na obligado ang mga pumuluyo sang Roxas City nga magsuksok sang face shield.

Rappler

Pwede naman sa karon nga indi na magsuksok sang face shield kung magsulod sa mga shopping malls kasubong man ang mga manugbaligya sa merkado kag mga pasahero.

Hugot sa guihapon nga guina patuman ang pagsuksok sang face mask kung magguwa sa tagsa-tagsa ka mga panimalay.

DAKOP SA AKTO. Nadakpan sang CAPENRO RSU ang isa sa apat ka mga quarry violators nga may karga sang balas.

CAPENRO

Quarry violators, nadakpan sang CAPENRO NI JIMIL FAITH CAPUTERO

Nadakpan sang Capiz Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office – Regulatory Services Unit (RSU) ang mga guina alegar nga apat ka quarry and mining violators sa idalom sang Ordinance No. 011, Series of 2017, Setyembre 20.

Nadakpan sa akto ang mga nasambit nga quarry violators nga illegal nga nagakuha sang balas sa Brgy. Poblacion Ilaya, Pontevedra.

Ang mga illegal nga mineral guin karga sa duwa ka salakyan sang mag-abot ang CAPENRO RSU. Pinaagi sa guin paabot nga reklamo sang isa ka tumandok nga concerned citizen sa CAPENRO,

gilayon nga nadakpan ang mga quarry kag mining violators.

“Despite the challenges, CaPENRO remains faithful to its mandate of enforcing the environmental laws and ordinances in the Province of Capiz. Through the collected action of Capisnons, we can fight against unlawful practices to combat environmental degradation,” pahayag sang CAPENRO sa ila nga Facebook page.

Sa karon, padayon sa guihapon ang pag-amlig sang CAPENRO sa dunang manggad sang probinsya sang Capiz pinaagi sa paglunsar sang mga nagkalain-lain nga mga proyekto kag inisyatibo.

VOLUME LXXV • NOVEMBER 2021

Environment

THE HILLSIDE ECHO

REGIONAL COLLABORATION. Dr. Mary Kristerie A. Baleva of ACB, Ms. Clarissa Arida, and Ms. Desiree Maño (Top row, L-R); Ms. Antoinette Taus, Dr. Theresa Mundita Lim, and Ambassador Noel Servigon (Second row, L-R) after the success of the Mana Mo webinar.

GOVPH

MANA Mo webinar highlights marine biodiversity conservation in ASEAN

BY YSABELLE ANN BESORIO

To raise awareness and encourage action on marine biodiversity conservation in the ASEAN region, the Permanent Mission of the Philippines to ASEAN and the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) held the “Marine Biodiversity Conservation in ASEAN: Current State and Ways Forward” webinar via Zoom, Sept. 24.

The webinar is in celebration of the Philippines’ Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month (MANA mo) this September with the theme “Our Seas, Our Livelihood, Our Heritage: Connecting Lives and Nations.”

In his message, Ambassador Noel Servigon, Permanent

Representative of the Philippines to ASEAN, emphasized that the ASEAN region’s marine ecosystem is also one of the world’s most threatened in terms of coastal marine resources degradation.

“It is fitting that marine biodiversity conservation should be a major area of cooperation and collective action among ASEAN

member states and their partners,” said Ambassador Servigon.

Dr. Theresa Mundita Lim, Executive Director of ACB, reiterated that we cannot advance our action to save the planet without solidifying our ways forward to protect our marine environment.

“The seas connecting the ASEAN member states encourage

7

to unite and forge stronger linkages in addressing the climate crisis and the pandemic we are currently in,” Dr. Lim expressed.

On the importance of marine protected areas in the ASEAN region, Dr. Clarissa Arida, ACB Director for Programme Development and Implementation, noted that with the region’s growing economies despite the current COVID-19 pandemic, ecosystems become more vulnerable to threats such as overexploitation, pollution, and climate change.

“Threats to these shared resources have cumulative and synergistic environmental impact [and] underscores the need for integrated and multi-sectoral management approaches,” Dir. Arida added.

Ms. Desiree Eve R. Maaño, Chief of the Coastal and Marine Management Section of the DENRBMB, emphasized that while we share common heritage and benefits, we also share the common responsibility in protecting and conserving our natural wealth from threats.

The virtual activity was attended by participants from different ASEAN member-states and was hosted by Ms. Antoinette Taus, Founder and Executive Director of Communities Organized for Resource Allocation (CORA).

DENR promotes bamboo-planting to combat climate change; PH targets 75% emission reduction

BY VANESSA GLENISE USISON

Due to the adverse impact of climate change, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) advocates bambooplanting as a mean to alleviate the effect of the major environmental problem in the country through the Bamboo Plantation Development Project (BPDP).

DENR’s Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) emphasized that this project under the National Greening Program (NGP) aims to use bamboo in rehabilitating one million hectares of denuded uplands inside the country’s critical watersheds between 2017 and 2022.

Based on study, it was found out that bamboo can sequester more than 5.0 tons of (carbon dioxide) CO2 per hectare annually which is a big reduction in the CO2 emissions as stated by DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu.

“It’s not just economics that makes bamboo attractive for reforestation -- bamboo is also ideal

for climate change mitigation,” Sec. Cimatu shared during the virtual summit on re-imagining, developing, and sustaining mining communities with bamboo on Sept. 10.

Reforestation of the bamboo species is one of the government’s current priority as it is good in sequestering or absorbing CO2 which is among greenhouse gases (GHGs) driving climate change according to Sec. Cimatu.

“The areas to be developed and rehabilitated include critical watersheds, marginal areas, creek lines, riverbanks and areas prone to erosion in order to improve and enhance the natural defenses and resilience of those areas and its adjacent sites against the impacts of climate change,” ERDB said.

Currently, areas where DENR is spearheading bamboo-planting include banks of Cagayan, Bicol, and Marikina rivers and plans to include many areas in the country where river bank erosion is possible to happen anytime.

POTENTIAL SOLUTION. Standing tall are bamboos which are included in the government’s reforestation project.

Meanwhile, BPDP targets to help alleviate poverty while promoting food security, environmental stability, biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation.

The DENR noted that although the Philippines is not a major emitter that accounts for only less than one percent of global GHG, it is among countries most at risk for

DENR

and vulnerable to climate change’s impacts which also increases the effects of extreme weather events such as stronger typhoons, sea level and temperature rise.

NGP is the forefront decadelong reforestation project of the government which made significant developments greening denuded and degraded land in

Coco Twine Training and Coco Coir By-Products, guinlunsad sang CAPENRO NI MICHAEL JAY DEMINGOY

COCO TWINE TRAINING. Nagsugod na ang coco twine training para ma edukar ang mga miyembro sang ISFA Sta. Carmen.

CAPENRO

Para ma-edukar ang mga miyembro sang Integrated Social Forestry Association (ISFA) sang Sta. Carmen, Dumalag Capiz, nag lunsad ang Capiz Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (CAPENRO) sang Coco Twine Training and Coco Coir By-Products, Setyembre 27-28.

Ini nga hilikuton guinlunsad para maka umpisa sang isa ka simple kag mabinungahon nga palangabuyanan ang tanan nga miyembro sang ISFA. Kasubong man, guin pakilala sa tanan nga benepisyaryo ang EcoFriendly Sustainable Livelihood kung sa diin ini isa ka pamaagi para maka umpisa sila sang palangitan-an nga wala sang malain nga epekto sa palibot.

many areas in the country using billions of seedlings including the recent inclusion of bamboo grasses.

NGP’s first implementation ended in 2016 but was extended until 2028 through EO 193 series of 2015 to cover all remaining forestland which need a greening program.

Tuyo sang CAPENRO nga mas mapasangkad ang ila kaalam kag ihibalo hanungod sa Eco-Friendly Sustainable Livelihood.

Nagpromisa man ang CAPENRO nga magahatag sila sang duha ka Twinning Machine para sa mga benepisyaryo sang ISFA Sta. Carmen.

Guin tambungan sang mga manunudlo halin sa CASCOFAMCO, nga day Ms. Lerma Salcido, Ms. Regina Upod kag Mr. JR Oximer kaupod si Hon. Rose Marie Fuyon kag president sang ISFA Sta. Carmen nga si Mr. Rolando Billarmino ang nasambit nga hilikuton.

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VOLUME LXXV • NOVEMBER 2021

Opinion

THE HILLSIDE ECHO

THE HILLSIDE ECHO The Official Student Publication of Filamer Christian University

INFORM. INSPIRE. EMPOWER.

EDITORIAL BOARD A.Y. 2021-2022 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

MICHAEL JAY DEMINGOY ASSOCIATE EDITORS

YSABELLE ANN BESORIO VANESSA GLENISE USISON MANAGING EDITORS

ALYZA PAMILLARAN THOEN ANN SOCOBOS NEWS EDITOR

REYNAN JOEL ECAMINA FILIPINO EDITOR

JIMIL FAITH CAPUTERO SPORTS EDITOR

CZARELLE LUCES LITERARY WRITER

ALLEA ROSE VASQUEZ SPORTS WRITER

JOHN CARL BARREDO EDITORIAL WRITER

MA. ESTELLE ANTONETTE VAFLOR ART DIRECTOR

JOSHUA SOLIS ADVISER

LEO ART DIOSEP BORRES CONTRIBUTING WRITER

ANGELI QUEEN DEVELOS CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS

ZEAN HARVEY QUE DENISE MICA BECHAYDA STUDENT AFFAIRS DIRECTOR

REV. DR. WEBSTER J. BEDECIR MASS MEDIA COORDINATOR

MS. MARY JANE F. TORMON VICE PRESIDENT- ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

DR. MINNIE P. CHAN VICE PRESIDENT- FINANCE

MRS. ESTHER S. ARCEÑO VICE PRESIDENT- ADMINISTRATION

MR. JORGEN M. GREGORIO UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT

DR. GEORGE O. CORTEL OFFICE ADDRESS

2nd Floor, Suman Building, Filamer Christian University, Roxas Avenue, Roxas City 5800 INFORM. INSPIRE. EMPOWER. The Hillside Echo is the Official Student Publication of Filamer Christian University and is publishing thrice every academic year. For more information and comments, please contact us via our phone number (036) 6212-318 Local 135, or simply email as at thehillsideecho@gmail.com.

Copyright © 2021. No part of this tabloid may be reproduced in any form without written consent from The Hillside Echo.

EDITORIAL

Pagkatuto: Umuusad o Lumalabo?

Mahigit isang taon na ang nakalipas nang maipasailalim ang Pilipinas sa digmaang hindi inaasahan at nakikita ninuman. Sa paglobo ng mga kaso nitong nakaraang mga buwan, hindi nagpatinag ang Kagawaran ng Edukasyon matapos aprubahan ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ang pagbubukas ng panibagong akademikong taon 2021-2022. Sa naitalang datos ng DepEd, mahigit 27.5 milyong mag-aaral ang nakapag-enroll sa unang linggo pa lang ng klase mula pampubliko at pribadong eskwelahan sa buong bansa.

Kaugnay nito, naglatag ang ating pamahalaan ng mga pamamaraan kung paano ipagpapatuloy ang edukasyon sa kabila ng banta ng COVID-19.

Isa ang edukasyon sa mga sektor na labis na naapektuhan ng pandemya subalit nagpatuloy ang distant at flexible learning bilang alternatibong pamamaraan ng pag-aaral. Mula sa nakasanayang pagkatuto sa paaralan ay lumipat sa kaniya-kaniyang tirahan ang paglinang ng mga mag-aaral.

Ngunit hindi lahat ay mapalad sapagkat may kanya-kanyang estado ng pamumuhay na isinasaalang-alang at may iba’tibang kwento ng paghihirap ang bawat mag-aaral. Hindi lahat ay biniyayaan ng pribilehiyong matuto nang maayos.

Kamakailan lamang, umingay ang mga hinaing ng mga apektadong indibidwal kaugnay ng naging pahayag ni Kalihim Leonor Briones na isang matamis na tagumpay ang pagbabalik-eskwela ngayong taon ngunit hindi maitatangging taliwas ito sa reyalidad. Labis na nahihirapan ang mga mag-aaral

na inakalang makatutulong ang nasabing bagong sistema upang makaahon mula sa lugmok na pamumuhay. Kumalat sa social media ang mga karanasan ng mga estudyanteng hindi nakasasabay dala ng kanilang kinakaharap na sitwasyon na sa halip na bigyan ng simpatiya ay pinayuhang mag-drop out na lamang sa klase. Napilitang huminto ang iilan sa kadahilanang kapos sa pangangailangang pinansyal lalo na ang mga kabataang naging katuwang ng mga magulang na kumayod dahil nawalan ang mga ito ng hanapbuhay. Nagbukas man ang panibagong akademikong taon subalit hindi ito indikasyon ng isang matamis na tagumpay kundi hudyat ng isang taon pa ng mga suliraning hindi pa rin natutugunan.

Hindi maikakailang sentro ng nasabing usapin ay ang mga magaaral na siyang sumusuong sa mga pagbabagong hindi tiyak kung kailan matatapos at makababalik sa kani-kanilang paaralan. Maraming mga mag-aaral ang nahihirapang matuto sa kanilang mga tahanan dahil sa hindi sapat na access sa internet connection at mga kinakailangang gadyets. Maraming mga mag-aaral ang nawawalan ng interes dahil pakiramdam nila ay hindi rin lubos at wasto ang kanilang pagkatuto. Maraming estudyante rin ang napipilitang umakyat ng bundok o lumabas sa kanilang mga tahanan upang makahanap ng malakas na signal.

Sa halip na edukasyon ang susi upang makaahon sa kahirapan ang mga kabataan, naging dahilan pa ito upang mahirapan ang sana’y pag-asa ng ating bayan. Marami ang nawalan ng trabaho dahil sa

pagsara ng maraming negosyo at establisyemento at maging ang ekonomiya ng bansa ay sumadsad din. Dahil dito, ang mga gastusin upang matugunan ang pag-aaral tulad ng matrikula, load, at gadyets ay hindi biro sa mga pamilyang kinakapos na sa panggastos sa pangaraw-araw nilang pangangailangan.

Dahil sa mga makabagong pamamaraan, nadagdagan din ang tungkulin ng mga magulang sapagkat nakasalalay sa kanilang balikat ang pagkatuto at pagsubaybay sa pag-aaral ng kanilang mga anak. Subalit maraming mga magulang ang aminadong hindi sapat ang kanilang kaalaman upang mapunan ang pangangailangan at magabayan ang kanilang mga anak.

Ayon sa United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), ang pagsasara ng mga paaralan ay may masamang epekto sa mga kabataan. Ilan sa mga nabanggit ng UNICEF ay ang epekto sa mental health at ang maaaring pagtaas ng bilang nga mga dropouts, mga batang nagtatrabaho, at mga batang maagang mag-aasawa.

Nangangamba ang mga mag-aaral, guro, at mga magulang na hindi magiging sapat ang kasalukuyang sistema upang maihanda ang mga kabataan sa kanilang kinabukasan.

Gayunpaman, hindi nagtatapos sa kalagayan ng mga mag-aaral ang suliraning kinakaharap ng sistema ng edukasyon sa Pilipinas.

Pilit ding ginagampanan ng mga guro ang kanilang tungkulin kahit na hindi pisikal na nakikita ang kanilang mga estudyante.

Naranasan din nila ang kakulangan sa mga materyales at ang mahinang internet connection. Mula sa paghahanda ng mga modules,

paghahatid ng mga ito sa mga magaaral at ang patuloy na pagtuturo sa mga bata lalo na sa mga malalayong pook ay hindi naging madali. Sa kabila ng matamis na tagumpay ayon sa kalihim ay nananawagan ang mga guro ng pinaigting na suporta at mas maayos at sapat na sweldo at benepisyo.

Noong Agosto, matatandaang pinuna ng Commission on Audit (COA) ang kagawaran dahil sa “deficiencies” sa mahigit 8 bilyon pisong pondong inilaan sa Basic Education-Learning Continuity Program (BE-LCP) ngunit pinanindigan ng DepEd na hindi ito dahil sa korapsyon.

Matatandaan ding marami ang nadismaya sa mga maling kontekstong nakapaloob sa mga modules na ipinamamahagi sa mga mag-aaral. Kung ang mga selflearning modules ang nakikitang solusyon ng kagawaran upang patuloy na matuto ang mga magaaral ay dapat na bigyang-tuon ang paglikha sa mga ito upang hindi na dumagdag sa nakababahalang kalagayan ng edukasyon.

Mahalagang desisyon ang pilot run ng face-to-face classes matapos ang mahigit isang taon.

Hindi rin madaling balansehin ang kalusugan at kaligtasan ng mga mag-aaral at guro kasabay ang pagnanais na mabigyan ng dekalidad na edukasyon ang mga mag-aaral. Malaking hamon sa kasalukuyang administrasyon ang masigurong magiging ligtas ang mga mag-aaral at guro sa kanilang pagbabalik sa paaralan.

Nakasalalay sa tunay na tagumpay ng planong ito ang pagbabago sa sistema ng edukasyon sa bansa habang patuloy tayong nakikipaglaban sa pandemya.

VOLUME LXXV • NOVEMBER 2021

Opinion

THE HILLSIDE ECHO

Champs-Élysées

MICHAEL JAY DEMINGOY

Vanguards of truth and truth alone In my Campus Journalism class, my teacher played a video montage of articles, news stories, and statistics depicting the actual state of journalism and journalists in the Philippines. I was astounded by the way journalism is being practiced and how journalists are being treated in our country. It simply goes to show that fighting and seeking for the truth is more than just mere accolades, but rather it is a risk that a journalist is willing to take.

In terms of the practice of journalism here in the Philippines, it is no surprise that journalists

for various networks, media practitioners, and journalists to #DefendPressFreedom. Freedom of the press is fundamental in democracy. Without this, freedom in itself in this democratic country is useless.

In a report from Rappler, the Philippines is one of the deadliest nations for a journalist in Southeast Asia. Indeed, it is. Who could forget the Maguindanao Massacre —the world’s deadliest attack on journalists, and the worst case of election-related violence that happened in the country.

How about the 152 journalists

“Freedom of the press is fundamental in democracy.

Without this, freedom in itself in this democratic country is useless.” and the media are being subjected to malicious attacks online, harassment, red-tagging, and censorship for criticizing the government. They were considered enemies, “bayaran,” and “dilawan,” by the supporters of the Duterte administration or as they like to call themselves DDS. In the current administration, the state of the press worsened.

ABS-CBN, one of the biggest networks in the country, was shut down by Congress in 2020 for unproven allegations.

This was a turning point

who were killed from 1992-2016, together with the 41 unsolved murders of journalists here in the country. The worst of them all occurred during the Martial Law, where hundreds of journalists and campus journalists were abducted, tortured, and killed for speaking against the Marcos regime. No wonder, that up until now the Philippines is one of the deadliest countries for journalists.

A journalist will have to, and will, put their life on the line to bring accurate and timely information to the public. Journalists will

Alitaptap

ALYZA PAMILLARAN

Benepisyong Nararapat Nang magsimula ang pakikipaglaban natin sa COVID-19, tumindi rin ang pagsubok na kinaharap ng mga healthcare workers na siyang isa sa mga frontliners na nakikipagbuwis-buhay para sa mga biktima ng hindi nakikitang kalaban.

Naglilingkod at sinusuong ang panganib kapalit mismo ang kanilang mga buhay.

Ilan na sa kanila ang binawian

hapong katawang natutuyuan ng pawis.

Saan at sino ang nagkulang?

Kailan matutumbasan ng sapat ang serbisyong inihahandog?

Dulot ng mababang sistema ng pasahod sa Pilipinas, ilan sa mga kababayan nating healthcare workers ay sumusugal na mangibang bansa at iwan ang pamilya para lamang may

“Sa serbisyong kanilang iniaalay gayundin din sana ang serbisyo at benepisyong kanilang natatanggap mula sa gobyerno.” ng buhay sa gitna ng serbisyong walang humpay na inihahandog para sa bayan. Mga tinaguriang bagong bayani ng henerasyon.

Subalit tila kay saklap ng reyalidad para sa kanila. Sila na nakikipaglaban para sa atin ay tumatanggap ng hindi sapat na mga benepisyo at mabagal na pagdating ng sweldo. Sila na nakasuot ng mainit na kasuotang pangproteksyon habang inaasikaso at ginagamot ang mga pasyente na katumbas nito’y mga

sapat na pantustos sa mga pangangailangan at maiahon ang kanilang kinabukasan. Habang napupunan ng ibang bansa ang pangangailangan ng mga healthcare workers na nangibangbayan ay siya namang kakulangan ng mga staff sa mga ospital ang naiwang problema sa Pilipinas lalo na sa panahon ng pandemya.

Sa isinagawang paghahambing ng Iprice Group base sa datos ng Salary Expert sa average na buwanang sweldo ng mga ASEAN

do whatever it takes to serve its country and their fellow citizens.

Remember when Ces Drillon was abducted and held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf back in 2008? How about Chiara Zambrano, when she and her team ventured towards the Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea and got harassed by Chinese ships and missiles. And of course, Atom Araullo—who was dubbed as “superman” for bravely reporting when Supertyphoon Yolanda hit the country to report on its devastation in the city of Tacloban. It takes a lot of guts and courage to be able to do those lifethreatening coverage.

Being a journalist is so much more than just fame and fortune.

Its main goal is to serve its fellowmen by giving them accurate developmental stories that they need to know. More than that, journalists function as watchdogs of the country. It is their duty and responsibility to criticize and give their respected stand on the issues with regards to the government and they should neither be silenced nor threatened.

It is not enough that we only know how to write. We should also know how to stand up and defend what we write and the message we want to convey to our readers.

I hope in the years to come that true change will indeed transpire in our country and to every one of us. Press freedom should be freely exercised and standing up for the truth and expressing our opinions should not be considered a threat by the government or those people in power but rather as an opportunity for them to improve themselves and their service. For at the end of the day, the truth, and only the truth will prevail. frontliners, pinakamababa ang sahod ng mga rehistradong nars at medical technologist kumpara sa mga karatig nitong bansa sa Timog Silangang Asya katulad na lamang ng Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam at Indonesia. Sumasahod ng 57 porsyentong mas mababa ang mga Pilipinong rehistradong nars mula sa sinundan nitong bansang may mababang sahod, ang Vietnam. Samantalang mas mataas ng 178 porsyento ang sahod ng medical technologist ng Malaysia kumpara sa mga Pilipino.

Ang suportang kinakailangan ng mga healthcare workers ay tila nadadamay sa pamumulitika ng iba. Ilang ulit nang pag-aapela ang ginawa at protesta para lamang mapakinggan ngunit bakit ang sistema ay kay bagal umaksyon at hindi napuna ang nararapat para sa mga naglilingkod sa bayan?

Bago tuluyang mawalan ng mga tagapag-alaga ang bayan nating patuloy na nakikipaglaban sa sakunang hindi matanto kung kailan magwawakas, ating alalahanin ang mga sakripisyo at hinaing ng ating mga healthcare workers. Sa serbisyong kanilang iniaalay gayundin din sana ang serbisyo at benepisyong kanilang natatanggap mula sa gobyerno.

Hindi sana maging bingi at bulag ang ating pamahalaan para sa kanilang mga pangangailangan dahil sa bandang huli tayo-tayo rin ang makikinabang.

9

Salient Notes

YSABELLE ANN BESORIO

Maladies and choices

The election season simply does have the most dramatic and most of the time, the most unexpected turn of events. This may be a constant scenario but given the risks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we witnessed a mass registration that is expected to dictate the results of the 2022 national elections. Voter registration sites were flocked, those long lines of registrants who even camped out, and the massive call for the extension of the registration period are manifestations of our realizations.

According to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), as of Sept. 11, there are already more than 63 million registered voters, and more are expected after the onemonth extension of the registration period. The number of registered voters for the 2022 elections will continue to exceed COMELEC’s target until the end of October.

If this huge turnout will equal engagement on Election Day, we can transform our ways and the fate of our nation.

The youth group comprises the majority of the registered voters.

Young voters like us are witnesses to the mistakes that put us in this never-ending war for freedom and justice. We have challenged the “life’s like that’s” that were laid before us and the upcoming election will be a major one. Based on numbers, the

choices but in the end, we share in the consequences of the election results and the events beyond that.

Before we can act on the Election Day, the act of registering also comes with the responsibility of distinguishing the candidates who will care about and fight for our rights and welfare. Each of the candidates who will be declared as official by the COMELEC is someone who is beyond the color, sign, and name that they represent.

It is safe to say that all of them will stand as foreboding figures of our future. The period between our registration day and the election itself should be full of reflections so that we can confess even to ourselves the sources of social and political upheavals and maladies. Whether the present maladies will be ended or will only be treated with promises depends on our willingness to allow change.

To be enablers of change in the coming 2022 elections necessitates our honest reflection of our ways that while may be useful for some, are actions that provided a permissive system, allowing political figures to thrive though they do not fit in our ideals and do not deserve our trust. The election in itself has an established set of traditions and voters also have voting patterns.

Through the years, the consequences of this combination have become

“Casting a vote is a dose of medicine to occurring maladies but dosing mistakes are more likely to be useless and much of them is proven to be fatal.” youth or those aged 18-40 could have the upper hand in the 2022 polls, and this power is significant enough to cause a vast social and political change if done right.

After the midterm elections a few years ago, the 2022 national elections will be the second time that I would cast a vote with the hope that we could finally enable change, not only change in the embellishments of the country’s political system which badly needs urgent removal but change that will challenge traditions and atrocities.

The 2022 elections, in an optimist view, are the new hope for the sufferers of injustices, oppression, and incompetence. Our experiences and the upheavals for the past years cannot be taken as a joke.

We have become hungry for truth, justice, and freedom. To register to become an eligible voter is to act on that hunger and to engage with our power when that day comes.

Young voters have the power to elude the mistakes of the past and to reclaim the honor of our nation. We have learned our lessons the hard way and one of which is that mindlessly casting a vote, whether it is based on popularity and propaganda, is a pitfall that can trap us for six years. Social maladies have gone worse through the years and the determination we have witnessed is a sign of how chronic they really are. We may differ in our

cumulative and the effects are now too much for our country to handle.

The repetitive pattern of inaction was also significant but the numbers of first-time voters and those who reactivated their voter status give us hope.

Our right to suffrage is not unlikely to be meaningful if we cast our vote without thinking beyond Election Day. We may vote for their platforms and if we are unfortunate, for their interests. But in the end, we are voting for our children’s education, for families suffering from poverty, for victims of abuse and oppression, for neglected sectors, for our environment, for peace, and for our rights and future. The election cannot give us a surefire fix to the country’s complex problems but we can treat a deep running issue that stems from the government and from the way we choose our leaders. We owe to our sufferings and to the future to vote with our learnings and conscience.

Casting a vote is a dose of medicine to occurring maladies but dosing mistakes are more likely to be useless and much of them is proven to be fatal. If millions of doses will go wrong, those who will govern, together with their actions, will encumber us in the future. I hope that from the day of our registration, we can be informed and empowered enough to decide for the Philippines and our future.

VOLUME LXXV • NOVEMBER 2021

10 Opinion

THE HILLSIDE ECHO

Cyd

JIMIL FAITH CAPUTERO

Rebolusyonaryo ng makabagong panahon: Hija/Hijo Maraming mga daliri ang naghahanap ng maituturo. Maraming mga bibig ang nagsasalita ng pabaluktot. Ang mga may kasalanan ay naghahanap ng mapagbubuntungan ng sisi. Sa bawat kasong rape at sexual harassment, bakit ang palaging katanungan ay, “Hija/ Hijo, ano ba ang suot mo noong naganap ang krimen?”

Ang hinagpis at pagdurusa ng mga biktima ng sekswal na karahasan ay nawawalan ng kahulugan. Ang kanilang mga tinig ay nilulunod ng mga akusasyong wala sa katwiran at pinapalabas na sila pa ang may kasalanan. Ang rape culture ay

Philippine National Police noong Setyembre 2020, simula nang mag umpisa ang enhanced community quarantine noong Marso 17 hanggang Agosto sa taong 2020, 3,016 rape cases ang naitala sa buong bansa.

Ito ay katumbas ng 18 rape cases sa karaniwang araw. Dagdag pa ng PNP na ang istatistika na ito ay mas mababa nang 26.09 percent kumpara sa mga kasong naitala anim na buwan bago ang COVID lockdowns. Samantala, kung ikukumpara sa nagdaang Oktubre 2019 hanggang March 16, 2020, naitala ng PNP ang 4,081 rape cases, o katumbas ng 24 na biktima

“Kailanman ay hindi naging patnugot ang uri ng kasuotan ng kahit na sinuman at kailanman ay hindi ito indikasyon ng imbitasyon.

Ang ‘hindi’ ay hindi magiging katumbas ng oo, magkaiba iyon.” pumapatungkol sa nangingibabaw na paniniwala kung saan ang panggagahasa ay tinatanggap at inaangkop sa usaping mababaw at hindi kritikal.

Samakatuwid, ito ay ang pagtingin sa lahat ng uri ng sekswal na karahasan bilang karaniwan at hindi dapat pagtuunan ng pansin. Ito ay nagmula sa patriarchal na paniniwala, kapangyarihan, at kontrol ng mga kalalakihan sa anumang sitwasyon, desisyon, at mga organisasyon.

Binibigyang katuwiran nito ang lahat ng pang-aabusong seksuwal na nag-uugat naman sa hindi pantay na pagtingin sa bawat kasarian at pakikitungo sa anumang sekswalidad.

Ayon sa datos na inilabas ng

kada araw. Hindi na nagbigay pa ng detalye ang PNP tungkol sa mga kaso at detalyadong istatistika.

Hindi lamang mga kababaihan ang nakararanas ng sekswal na pang-aabuso kundi pati rin ang mga kalalakihan, mga bata, at mga miyembro ng LGBTQIA+. Sabi nga nila, “A family will disown a child for coming out, but that the same family will also keep a sexual harasser.” Halimbawa ng mga diyalogo ng tinatawag na boomers sa modernong panahon at pawang mga sirang plaka sa bawat rape at sexual harassment cases, “Hija, kung ayaw mong mabastos, huwag kang magsuot ng malalaswang kasuotan,”“Hija/Hijo, sana noon ka pa nagsumbong, natuwa

Paraluman

THOEN ANN SOCOBOS

Panata at Pananagutan “Boboto ba ako?”

“Hanggang saan ba aabot ang isang boto?”

“Kaya ba nitong baguhin ang takbo ng isang bansa o resulta ng eleksyon?”

‘Kapangyarihan pa bang maituturing ang isang karapatan na

nakaririndi’t lumalalang problemang ng ating bansa.

Subalit iyan ay larawan ng sitwasyong kinalalagyan ng mga kabataan noon. Nang dahil sa patuloy na paglantad ng nakaririmarim at bulok na sistema sa ating gobyerno, dagling

ka naman siguro kaya natagalan ang iyong pananahimik,” “Hijo, dapat maging proud ka, tingnan mo babae na mismo ang lumalapit sa iyo.”

Sa halip na ang mga nagkasala ang dapat na kinukuwestiyon, binabaliktad nila ang argumento, at sa halip ay mas interesado silang malaman kung ano ang uri ng iyong kasuotan, kung ikaw ba ay nakainom at kung anong oras ka umuwi. Sa halip na bigyan ka ng proteksyon laban sa may sala at mapanghusgang lipunan, ikaw pa ang pinagpapasan ng kasalanan.

Ang pananamit ay walang kinalaman sa iyong kawalan ng disiplina sa sarili. Kailanman ay hindi naging patnugot ang uri ng kasuotan ng kahit na sinuman at kailanman ay hindi ito indikasyon ng imbitasyon. Ang ‘hindi’ ay hindi magiging katumbas ng oo, magkaiba iyon. Kung bastos ka, bastos ka. Huwag kang maghanap pa ng dahilan upang pagtakpan at makawala sa iyong pagkakasala.

Binigyan tayo ng “intellect” upang magkaroon ng kakayahan sa pagpili ng tama o mali, mabuti sa masama. Nasa ibabaw tayo ng herarkiya at angat sa lahat ng uri ng nilalang dahil may kakayahan tayong mag-isip ng makatwiran at lohikal. Samakatuwid, ang rape at sexual harassment ay iyong conscious na desisyon. Pinili mong isagawa kahit alam mong mali. Kahit ito ay labag sa batas ng estado at sa karapatan ng tao.

Ang ganitong pagkakasala ay hindi na kinakailangan pang pangatwiranan.

Ang mga modernong dalagang Pilipina at mga ginoo ay nagkaroon na ng lakas ng loob na itaas ang kanilang mga tinig, magsalita kung alam nilang may mali, at maging boses hindi lang para sa sarili kung hindi para rin sa nakararami. Sumasalungat sa baluktot na daang inilatag ng naunang mga henerasyon at ipinaglalaban ang alam nilang tama. Umaalma sa maling kurokuro, nagkakaisa sa pagtigil at pagputol ng mga nagiging mantsa hindi lamang sa lipunan kundi pati sa karakter ng bawat isa. Layunin nilang turuan at ipalaganap ang kamalayan sa iba’t ibang problema sa lipunan at ipaunawa ang dahilan nito.

pampulitikang karapatan ng bawat mamamayang Pilipino ang pagboto.

Kung saan nagkakaroon tayo ng karapatang pumili ng mga pinunong kakatawan sa iba’t-ibang sangay at lebel ng ating pamahalaan. Ang nasabing karapatan ay minsan nang ipinagkait sa atin ng rehimeng Marcos. Nawala ang kalayaan at pagkakapantay-pantay ng bawat isa subalit nang dahil rin sa pakikibaka at pagkakaisa, muli itong nakamtan.

Ayon sa datos ng Commission on Election (COMELEC), sa kasalukuyan, tinatayang 60 milyon ang kabuuang

“Bumoto ka hindi lamang para makamtan ng kasalukuyang henerasyon ang pagbabago kundi para na rin sa ikauunlad at ikabubuti ng iyong tinubuang lupa sa hinaharap.” kung minsa’y ipinagsasawalang-bahala na lamang ng karamihan?”

Ilan lamang iyan sa mga katagang kadalasang bumabagabag sa isipan ng ilang kabataang tumatamlay na ang interes sa sistema ng halalan sa ating bansa, sa Pilipinas. Unti-unting nawawalan ng pakialam ang mga kabataan sa usaping pulitika at sistema ng eleksyon sa kadahilanang tila wala namang pagbabagong nagaganap.

Sa halip na ipagsigawan ang kanilang mga hinaing, nanatiling mga umid at pipi. Mas pinipiling maging bulag sa masalimuot na katotohanan.

Nananatiling mga bingi sa mga

nagising ang natutulog na diwang makabayan ng mga kabataang ‘kay tagal nabalot sa takot at agam-agam. Sa pagnanais na magkaroon ng pagbabago sa ating pamahalaan, namayagpag ang boses na puno ng pag-asa. Sa kahit anumang plataporma, social media man o hindi, ipinangangalandakan ang kanilang mga propaganda, ipinagsisigawan ang mga reklamo, naging mapagmatyag sa kapaligiran, at naging mulat sa kung ano ang totoo at hindi. Higit sa lahat, natutong pahalagahan ang boto ng bawat mamamayang Pilipino.

Isa sa mga napakahalagang

bilang ng mga rehistradong botante sa bansa kung saan 4.3 milyon dito ay mga bagong botante na nagparehistro para sa darating na May 2022 National at Local Elections. Kabilang ka ba sa mga rehistradong botante na nabanggit?

Ang Pilipinas ay isang demokratikong panlipunan kung saan ang taumbayan ang pinanggagalingan ng kapangyarihan at may kakayahang makapili ng opisyal na mangangasiwa at mamumuno sa isang bansa. Ang mamamayan ay may karapatang makialam sa paraan ng pamamalakad ng pamahalaan. Lahat ng mamamayan ay pantay sa harap ng batas kung saan

Cricket Sprocket

VANESSA GLENISE USISON

Screen-based learning disconnects us from objective reality Disconnecting from the real world is a major frontline issue of the 21st century; we were all taken aback when this pandemic outweighed the world we live in-our lives, and the ways we deal with life.

The occurrence of this health crisis made a great impact in the field of education. After a while of interruption, the usual ways of learning shifted from traditional classrooms to virtual ones, and from the standard paper and pen to keyboards, documents and PDFs. It is undeniable that technology has offered a lot of opportunities to maintain and sustain our education,

assignments which clearly signifies that screen-based learning demolishes the essence of absorbing and imparting real knowledge in the presence of standards, ideals, and terms of the real world.

Based on preliminary data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, they found out that children who spend more than two hours a day of screen time got lower scores on thinking and language tests, they often tend to be distracted, isolated, and lack the ability to communicate and socially interact. Not only that it affects their ability to learn and interact, but screen-

“As the digital world advances, we must remember that as we connect more to the virtual world, our connection to the real world must not be diminished.” to research and learn about other people, culture, and history without stepping foot in a library. However, being connected to technological devices twenty-four-seven is affecting our ability to connect, associate, and engage with the real world and the people around us. Alarmingly, the utilization and overuse of technology may have a significant impact in learners psychologically, physically, emotionally, and socially.

Screen-based learning, the use of technology, is not always beneficial because it makes it hard for students to absorb lessons and concepts being taught online, and having such face-toface conversations becomes a struggle as they fail to develop the needed communication skills. In addition, students may struggle to connect due to poor reception and the inability to provide appropriate tools needed to cope with the current mode of learning; cheating as well is made easier as students may just easily copy-andpaste information from the internet to comply with their online tasks and

based learning with the utilization of technology, also affects their health causing, eye strain, sleep problems, reduced physical activities, bad posture, depression, and anxiety.

As the digital world advances, we must remember that as we connect more to the virtual world, our connection to the real world must not be diminished. Often, we fail to notice how connected we are to realize how disconnected we have become.

In conclusion, the negative impacts of online school or the screen-based learning outweigh the positive ones.

Although it is helpful in keeping our community safe during this time of pandemic, the difficulties it brought about are more protrusive than the pros.

We need to connect with the world, the people around us, and embrace face-to-face interactions that teachers provide. Surely, this virtual classrooms create plenty of opportunities but we cannot deny the human need to associate, interact, and engage with the realities of the world.

sila ay may pantay na pagkakataon at pribilehiyo. Binibigyang katuwiran ng halalan ang mga nabanggit na katangian ng isang demokratikong bansa. Halalan ang natatanging paraan kung saan may direktang pagkakataon ang mga mamamayang Pilipino na makialam sa pamamalakad ng pamahalaan.

Habang maaga pa, baguhin natin ang paniniwalang hindi mababago ng isang boto ang pamamalakad ng isang bansa. Tuwing sasapit ang eleksyon, mainam na gamitin natin ang kapangyarihang mailuklok ang mga opisyal ng gobyerno na mayroong paninindigan at konkretong plano para sa ikauunlad ng Pilipinas.

Hindi lahat ng tao ay nabibigyan ng pagkakataon na bumoto, sasayangin mo lang ba ang pribilehiyong kay tagal ipinaglaban ng mga nauna sa atin?

Sa botohan, nalilinang ang malayang pakikisangkot at naririnig ang boses ng masa. Naiimpluwensyahan natin ang patakaran na ipinapatupad sa gobyerno.

Ipakita mo na isa kang mabuting mamamayan sa pamamagitan ng aktibong pakikilahok sa mga usaping panlipunan.

Bumoto ka sa paniniwalang ang

bawat tintang nagmamarka sa balota ay mayroong pag-asa ng repormasyon para sa ating gobyerno. Bumoto ka hindi lamangparamakamtanngkasalukuyang henerasyon ang pagbabago kundi para na rin sa ikauunlad at ikabubuti ng iyong tinubuang lupa sa hinaharap.

Lagi mong tatandaan na ang desisyon na ginawa, ginagawa at gagawin mo ngayon ay may malaking epekto sa mga susunod na henerasyon. Ang anumang pagkakamali natin sa pagboto ay maaaring magbunga ng hindi kanaisnais sa katayuan at reputasyon ng ating bansa. May pag-asa pa, kaya bumoto ka!

May halaga ang isang boto. Ang boto ng isang botante ay kapantay ng bawat isa. Bagama’t gasgas na ang katagang binitiwan ni Gat. Jose Rizal, babalik at babalik pa rin tayo sa paniniwalang tayong mga kabataan ang pag-asa ng ating bayan. Panatilihin nating bukas ang ating mga mata at tainga, at gising ang ating diwa at isipan upang masaksihan natin ang mga hakbang na ginagawa ng mga nasa posisyon. Maging mausisa at matalino.

Maging isang kabataang marunong makialam. Magparehistro at bumoto.

VOLUME LXXV • NOVEMBER 2021

Echoes 11

THE HILLSIDE ECHO

Filamerians express the challenges of the NEO LMS With the commencement of the second year of flexible learning in higher education, Filamer Christian University will utilize the NEO Learning Management System (LMS) this Academic Year 20212022.

As presented by Dr. George O. Cortel, University President and Mr. Jorgen Gregorio, Vice President for Administration, during the Kasanagan 2021 last Oct. 1, the LMS is designed to create, distribute, and manage the delivery of educational content that caters the needs of both students and teachers.

To capture the views of Filamerians on the new educational platform in this year’s “Echoes,” The Hillside Echo asked the students via an online survey, “What are your thoughts about the utilization of the LMS this academic year?”

Filamerians who responded to our question continue to be concerned about the associated requirements and changes of the said platform.

For those students who responded, the 500-peso fee per semester is untimely and costly given the fact that we are still going through the COVID-19 pandemic

and many students are struggling financially.

It was previously presented by the administrators in the general assembly that the said amount was offered by the provider and this includes license fees, VAT, and LMS teams among others.

The need for a new platform was also questioned by respondents who pointed the availability of Google Classroom as a learning platform and even the convenience of Facebook Messenger. According to them, the new platform is unnecessary due to the availability of the said web-based free service

which is easier and was primarily utilized last academic year.

The administrators also explained that the LMS is like an upgraded version of the Google Classroom but with more features and it is also more systematic compared to emails and messenger.

However, those who have used the platform reported accessibility issues and concerns.

The respondents expressed their concern on the accessibility of NEO-LMS especially for mobile phone users and those who do not have a stable internet connection.

Furthermore, respondents are also concerned that the shift will require time and will cause challenges for students and teachers alike due to the complexity and novel features of the said LMS. Students who have on-the-job trainings also called for consideration.

Although some respondents expressed their optimism that they can adapt with the new system, from the financial aspect to accessibility and learning issues, majority of the respondents do not find it necessary and practical to use the NEO-LMS as the new educational platform.

THE HSE ASKS

What are your thoughts about the utilization of the NEO LMS this academic year?

Hello

Panchito Tigasin

LMS is anti-poor. 500 pesos is too much, we have survived first without it - there are free apps that we can use like Google Classroom.

For a fact that we are in the midst of pandemic, another expenses na naman, LMS is also hard to use, especially if naka phone ka lang and data - not everyone can afford but no choice na for mandatory sya. The time given for training is not also enough. Both teachers and students are struggling from it. LMS is a good platform actually, features are nice but its not for everyone. Salamat.

It’s great yet quite frustrating because of the new features but I think I can adapt to this way of learning and if this is the best way for the school to deliver excellent education, then I’ll support it. Thank you.

2ND YR

Xyz CTE

I have a lot of thoughts to be honest lang, kay in the first place budlay mangita 500, anyway my final thoughts is that indi ni mahupos para sa akon kay tungod kabudlay gid ya mag access sa cp (wala ako laptop) kag isa nga concern ko is that wala ako stable nga internet connection, wala man sa gina pakalain ko ining NEO LMS pero ngaman need pa namon mag access LMS? Kay ara naman ang Google Classroom nga for free na lang gani para indi mabudlay samon nga mga wala kwarta, pero ngaa mostly sa ila LMS gid? I know not only ako ang may concern about sini nga LMS, I hope nga maintindihan nyo man kami especially in this time of pandemic kabudlay mangita sang kwarta. Hoping for kind consideration. Thank you.

Adira

BEED-2

Having a Learning Management System this school year was quiet challenging for us students. It’s new for us and it is also expensive.

Mamser

Faculty Member (SHS)

Well, it’s actually an upgrade from last year’s LMS. Cheaper and has good features. It’s a good and accommodating portal. However, it has multiple irrelevant features, hard to maneuver options, and a mazelike structure. It’s a complex version of the Google Classroom. As for the point-of-view of a teacher, this is certainly taking up so much of our time uploading files, making assessments while at the same time entertaining technicalities from the students and from the portal itself. Also, it would take months before anyone can utilize it to its full extent, yet it was recently given to us and we are required to use it with less training.

AB PolSci-2

Z

BSN

It should have been implemented earlier not in the middle of the sem.

Us students and as well as my teachers are having a hard time to adjust since we’ve always utillized Google Forms and Google Classroom as our way of learning. Especially in my course, our lectures are compressed because we need to focus on our RLE and our teachers are busy planning for our F2F classes, this implementation is a challenge to us this time because we are piled up with lessons and exams to study and at the same time with activities that need to be passed.

Angel BSA-1

Hindi po ako maka access. Ang gamit ko pong device is phone.

Secret JHS-10

Damo damo gid ya sala sa LMS, honestly a waste of money. Kung nag stick nalang ang eskwelahan sa Google Apps kundi nami pa kay very easy to use kag waay pa problema. Libre pa.

Finell Joy Estiaga BSBA-4

WAY KO INUGBAYAD!!! KAG YAWAN NAKO SATO LOG IN KAG ILIS SANG PASS PARA LANG KASULOD KO TAPOS NAPINDOT KO LANG ANG BACK BAW AYAW NA MAGLOG IN LIWAT PAG MAG-ATTEMPT KO KAAWAT!!!

And actually po classroom is enough. And a 500 peso bill is too much. We’re in a situation na we do really need to save for everyday expenses.

Editor’s Note: Some of the respondents did not use their real names to protect their identities.

Nakapoy nga Accounting Student BSA-4

Tani may consideration sa 4th year nga BSA student or even iban nga course nga gamay lang ang subject load yanda nga sem. Ma pay ka 500 tapos indi man ma utilize kay research man lang kag OJT ang subjects. Ang research, file lang man na send sa MESSENGER, including announcement. Same goes sa internship. Imagine paying that HUGE amount for a learning platform nga indi man magamit this sem. There must be a consideration after all. P500 is too much for the abrupt changes sa learning platform to be used. Come to think of this, very rush ang pag inform without asking students if ano ang convenient sa ila nga part.

Mar Nathaniel M Tirol

AB Political Science

I found it hard using the LMS especially when the internet connection is unstable. When I use the LMS in my phone I’m struggling every time I have to pass something because it turns unscrolled or I can’t go back to the bottom every time I get back from answer/response box. Not a serious problem for me because I can manage and have patience but how about to the students who are struggling with internet issues?

Miriam Palma

STEM-11 Aristotle

I would conjecture that if inferred, is rather oddly and egregiously insane. Perhaps, not merely the students are vis-á-vis with this dilemma, but also, towards teachers. In this case, I would be very skeptical in regards to this matter at hand, providing it be for this Academic Year all throughout. I have not chosen terms such as “egregious” and “dilemma” for nothing, but as insinuated, is a corollary of complete cahos in its first trial of usage, however, I can’t deduce it as an umbrage to the learners and teachers, but rather a test/trial for the pertinence of education and its prolongation. Uncertain as it may be, it could actually be easier after redundant trials and errors opting for adjustments in both teachers and students erstwhile. Quondam to this LMS, we already had the intrinsical expectation from last year that this will be catastrophic again...yet we hope for the better. It is better than last year, but not better than Google Classroom, with all due respect. With all of this, I can still say, of whom is of due course, is still bearable and worthwhile analogized to having none. It is not the best, but certainly not the worst, it’s just moderately anodyne. God bless us all!

VOLUME LXXV • NOVEMBER 2021

12 Feature

THE HILLSIDE ECHO

JOSHUA SOLIS

Haliya: Ang Balangaw sa Mata ni Imao

A

ng panimalay ang saksi sang tanan nga bahin sang kabuhi sang tagsa ka pamilya; sa lawod sang pagtuo, sa init sang kasakit, sa hapdi sang sakripisyo, sa dalanon sang kapawa kag puro nga paghigugma.

Ang panimalay nga indi lang sa pundasyon sang bato nagabakod kundi sa mga tawo nga gapalanggaanay kag gahiliusa sa pareho nga atop.

Ang panimalay nga may haligi, suga kag mga kandila nga gahatag kusog kag kabuhi sa tanan nga bagay, sa sulod man o sa guwa.

Apang ang panimalay nga guintukod bunga sang lawas, balhas, kag dugo guinlumos na sang silot kag katalagman. Magapabilin pa bala ini nga mabakod ukon matup-ay nalang?

Ang haligi, suga kag pertahan Ang edukasyon ang pinakaimportante sa ano man nga aspeto sang kabuhi. Masami mahangpan sa katigulangan nga ang pag-eskuwela ang labing manggad nga puwedi nila mabilin sa ila kabataan ukon kaapuhan bag-o sila magtaliwan sa kalibutan. Edukasyon nga tani puwedi sa tanan, indi lang sa pinasahi.

Menor de edad palang si Ester, nag-untat na ini sa pag-eskwela sa hayskul kag nagpasimpalad sa Maynila. Nangin mananahi siya sang cover sang sofa sa isa ka paktori.

Bilang subang, nagpangisog siya nga magtindog sa iya kaugalingon nga mga tiil kag nagpangabuhi sang isahanon sa syudad.

Ang sofa indi manami kung wala ini sang cover kasubong sang isa ka babayi nga gaisahanon lang sa kabuhi. Didto man nakilala ni Ester si Celso, ang nangin amay sang iya duwa ka anghel.

Bag-o paman niya matawo ang iya subang nga si Dennis, nagpuli na ini sa Capiz.

“Nabudlayan ako sa Manila kapin pa kung didto ako mabata,”

NI ANGELI QUEEN DEVELOS

panguna ni Ester. “Tanan didto kwarta, wala libre kag malayo ang mga center kag ospital,” dugang pa niya.

Harden ni Adan Ano kabudlay ang kabuhi kung umpisa sa pagmuklat sang imo mga mata kag asta sa panamguhon, matalum nga mga tinaga ang imo naaagum? Matawag mo pa bala ini nga normal bisan ang panulok sang tawo sa imo kabaliktaran sini?

‘Iba’ man sila sa panulok sang kadam-an, apang sila, tawo guihapon nga gakabuhi kag gapangita sang lugar nga kung sa diin matawag sila nga “normal.”

Kung imo siya himutaran base sa kataason, gapang edaron siya sang 10 ka tuig, apang kung imo siya istoryahon, siya 27 ka tuig, puno sang nanari-sari nga panaysayon.

Bone Tuberculosis ang rason ngaa ang kataason ni Milbert, nagtinir sa kasubong nga taas sang bata. Nag-antus na ini sa sakit sa sulod sang tatlo ka tuig, nakahigda lang. May mga suya sang iya isig ka tawo tungod nga siya ay may cleft palete nga mas nagpabug-at pa sang iya palas-anon.

“Ang tatlo ka tuig nga gahigda lang ko, muna man ang pinakamalaot nga natabo sa akon kabuhi. Gakaon lang ako pero wala guid ko may binuligan sa akon pamilya,” masubo niya nga ginpabutyag.

Ang mga matalum nga tinaga ang nagpabakod kag amo ang nangin rason agud magtimakas si Milbert. Sa pihak sang iya kondisyon, nangin cook siya sa isa ka canteen, dishwasher sa restaurant, staff sa City Social Welfare and Development Office, tricycle driver, caretaker sang apartment kag nagalibod lab-as nga isda agud lang may ibulig sa pamilya.

Ang Dalit sang Kamatuoran Ang pamilya amo ang bagay nga puwedi mo mapabugal sa kadaman. Mga tawo nga rason sang tagsa

ka pagpangabuhi, timakas, kag paglaum. Apang ang panahon, dasig magbag-o, kasubong man sang mga tawo.

Si Ester kag Celso, masami na tawgon nga “Tatang” sang iya mga gumangkon. Nag-untat sa pagubra si Celso sa paktori kag guinpili magbantay sang ila kabataan sa probinsya. Isa ini ka ex-convict sa sala nga iya lang guinsawo para sa utod. Natagaan ini sang parol kag nagpadayun pangabuhi sa guwa sang selda.

Si Ester, nangin manugbaligya sang mga santo nga replika. Pirmi lang ini ara sa patad sang initan kag ulan para lang makatibawas sila pangabuhi adlaw-adlaw.

“Maglibod kami sina, masigmasig kami baligya,” malumanay nga hala ni Ester samtang nagduko ini. “Kay kung duwa kami malakat, ang ginansiya, tungaon pa namun.

Kung gamay man lang ang benta, gamay ang parte,g amay nga kwarta mapuli ko sa balay,” masubo niya nga saysay. “Kulang pa gani ang adlawan nga kita sa amon kan-on sa tatlo ka beses,” didto indi man niya mahala, mabatyagan sa iya mga tinaga ang kapigaduhon nga naagyan nila.

Sa tunga sang mabalhas nga pagbakas, wala na sang mas masakit para sa isa ka iloy nga makita ang panghibion kag pagkalunod sang buas damlag sang iya dalagita nga si Girlie matapos ini magbusong sa hiyang nga edad.

Si Girlie, nagbata ini sang tatlo ka lalaki [isa sa iya una nga migo, duwa sa pangaduwa nga bana.

Agud mahatagan sila sang maayo kag bugana nga buas damlag, nagubra ini sa guwa sang pungsod Pilipinas. Nabilin sa puder ang iya mga puya sa guinikanan.

Ang iya subang nga si Gir Carlo ukon “Biboy,” may deperensya sa pisikal nga aspeto. Indi ini kalakat sang normal parehas sa aton, indi ini kasampot sa panghalaon kasubong sa kadam-an apang indi siya matawag nga abnormal.

“Wala ako kabalo kung ‘man nagmuna siya. Basi nag-inom si Tezai [Girlie] sang kung nano para mahulog ang bata,” sambit ni Ester.

“Sadto, adlaw-adlaw ko na sa nadala sa baybay. Ginapalakat ko na sa kag nalubong sa balas iya mga tiil,” may yuhom nga masayran kay Ester sa paghala sini. “May bulong man ina siya galing nauntat man kay pigado lang kami,” pagbaylo sang emosyon niya. “Guintatap ko ini kag guin antusan asta sa kahit papanu makalakat sa kag makatindog,” dugang niya.

“Mayad ka ya kay imo apo imo guid guintutukan kundi nakalakat na,” mga tinaga nga nakakuha sang iya kalisod kag kulba nga basi iya apo punsukan sang insulto kag panunlog tungod siya kondisyon.

Sang napatay na iya bana, ang pagkalinga sang iya tatlo ka apo,siya na nagsawo. Komon na sa mga bata ang pagkadungol apang sa sitwasyon ni Ester, mabudlay ini kapin pa nga may highblood ini kag may edad na.

“Kis-a napabay-an ko nalang kay kung sapakon ko pa, daw ako pa ang atakihon,” dugang niya.

Sa aga maeskwela ang mga bata, updan niya, mapuli sa udto manyaga, buhi sa hapon kag madigamo para sa panyapon, tanan nga obligasyon kargo ni Ester.

Pagtulog lang ang iya luwas kag pahuway.

“Taga gab-i, guinahibi ko nalang tanan. Napangamuyo sa Ginoo nga buligan niya ako,” maluha-luha niya nga pahayag. “ Bisan gani maglantaw ko drama sa tv, gasabay man na tulo luha ko.”

Suno pa siya, kung wala sila kwarta, indi ka eskwela ang mga bata pati ila kalan-on dalahig pa.

Apang sa tanan nga ini, nagapabilin siya nga makusog para sa mga apo.

Oo, puwedi, indi Ang tanan may rason, nakadepende ang resulta sa imo paghangop kag pakigbato sa kaaway nga guintugyan agud magapaayo ukon magapakalain sa tagsa-tagsa.

Sa tatlo ka tuig ni Milbert nga nakahigda bangud sang Bone TB, nagapasalamat ini nga sa sulod sang haba nga tion, nakabangon ini nga himpit ang pagtuo nga ang tanan nga iya guinagyan, may palaabuton nga mas mapawa kag madinalag-on.

“Wala ko guid guinpamangkot ang Ginoo ngaa sa kadamo-damo nga puwedi mag-amuni, ako guid,” klaro niya nga guinpa-athag.

“Guinbaton ko ang iya guinhatag kag nagtuo sa iya tuyo nga ihatag nga kabuhi sa akon,” masadya niya nga guinhambal.

Guintumod man ni Milbert nga gaabot ang punto nga gapamingot siya kung guinasunlog ukon nasumay-sumay sang iban katawo apang wala niya lang ini nasapak agud wala sang gamo.

“Akon mga manghod, nagabakas man kag kahit papano may kwarta sila kag kabulig na kami sa amon guinikanan,” suno sa iya. “Ang mga natabo sa akon, guingamit ko ato para magbakod ko kag magpadayon sa kabuhi,” sambit pa niya.

Balangaw sa tunga sang gal-um Ang tanan nga katalagman nga hitabo sa nagligad, indi mo man mabag-o pero puwedi mag insakto para ‘di maliwat ang sadto. Amo ini ang magatulay para sa pagbutwa sang masadya nga pangabuhi kag himpit nga paglaum.

May gakadula kag gaabot apang ang isa ka panimalay indi basta matumba sang silot kung may hugot ini nga pagtuo kag pundasyon nga pulido.

Si Ester, babaye kag nagpakalalake, iloy kag amay, lolo kag lola kag magapabilin nga haligi kag suga para maugabayan ang iya mga pinalangga kag magabakas sa palaabuton nga maham-ot nga buas.

Para kay Milbert, kadugo man o indi, wala sang kabaylo ang pagkabig sa iya nga isa sa aton, pagpabutyag nga siya indi lain, utod kung siya itratar.

Gatimakas siya para sa pamilya kag sa palaabuton agud ang kabuhi nga iya nahandum, iya maagum.

VOLUME LXXV • NOVEMBER 2021

Feature 13

THE HILLSIDE ECHO

A battle against the incurable

W

hen one hits a lurking stumbling block, life takes a dramatic turnaround. When someone is at the prime of his life, to face an odd whose cure seems impossible may steal his momentum and steer his journey.

There is no primer for facing life’s everyday frustrations lest a rare genetic disease that will stand on one’s way. For patients with X-linked Dystonia Parkinsonism, this incurable disease that affect men almost exclusively proved to be inevitable and life-changing.

Awareness and hope have something with one another.

While misinformation and lack of awareness persists, the stigma that lingers around XDP patients keeps support far and bleak.

Genetic culprit According to the Collaborative Center for X-linked Dystonia Parkinsonism at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), XDP or lubag in Hiligaynon, is a neurodegenerative disease that results in significant disability and a shortened lifespan. This adult onset, genetic movement disorder predominantly affects males who descend from Panay Island.

JP Anthony Cuñada was as a lawyer, mountaineer, biker, and a writer. He was at the prime of his life when his right leg started twitching sometime around 2015. A DNA test confirmed that he has X-linked Dystonia Parkinsonism, the disease that took the lives of some of his family members.

First reported in 1975, lubag affects males through female carriers.

The disease-causing gene mutations are inherited by males from their ‘carrier’ mother. The Dystonia Medical Research Foundation (DMRF) explains that women who are carriers have a 50% chance of transmitting the mutation in each pregnancy and that males with XDP can pass the mutations to all of their daughters but not their sons.

RESEARCH GATE

BY YSABELLE ANN BESORIO AND THOEN ANN SOCOBOS

Twists and turns When he has no deadlines to meet, JP would go biking and mountain climbing. He was able to climb several mountains in different parts of the country before XDP caught up with his adventures.

From his right leg, his left leg started moving beyond his control which according to him would sometimes put him to embarassment when he was commuting.

People with XDP experience signs and symptoms of both dystonia and parkinsonism. According to the DMRF, the earliest symptoms are usually parkinsonian, including resting tremor, bradykinesia or slowness of movement, rigidity, poor balance, and a shuffling gait.

Symptoms of dystonia develop later in the limbs, tongue, pharynx, and/ or larynx, with the most common being jaw dystonia that progresses to the neck and shoulders.

“Dystonia patients need all the help that we can get. We are all useful members of society before dystonia.”

Majority of the patients supported their families and were active members of the society before XDP. For a genetic mutation to occur at that point in their lives is a significant loss for a father, brother, son, and a member of the community.

“It’s a matter of capacity–if they still have the capacity to work, they will work. Some still farm, some do not. You can deduce that one’s condition does not diminish his determination and hope in life,” says *Eli Clark, a youth volunteer of Team Ekis, a community organization raising XDP awareness in Capiz.

Gaining momentum Since false beliefs are contagious while XDP is not, the needed care and support patients were overlooked for many years. Though it is incurable, treatments such as oral medications and Botulinum neurotoxin injections are available to address the symptoms of dystonia and parkinsonism.

For a more invasive treatment, Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery is a hope for patients.

According to MGH, DBS is a surgical treatment in which an implanted device delivers electrical stimulation to the brain in order to alleviate neurologic symptoms.

Though readily available, the cost and accessibility of treatment options remain as odds for patients and their families.

XDP made JP a warrior with the purpose of raising awareness about XDP and to build the momentum for this advocacy. Inspired by his journey, he raised awareness about XDP and helped other XDP patients. After his recovery and within the limits of his body, but with unfailing determination, JP biked from Pasig City to Pilar, Capiz where he was able to raise donations for eight botox vials.

“It is our personal experience that pushes us to do something good to others because we don’t want them to endure the same pain that we’ve encountered or at least help them to lessen the agony that they might feel.”

Hazy track The inevitability of this condition and the associated social stigma is a deadly combination.

While genes are to be blamed for its occurrence, myths cast XDP patients deeper into the shadows.

Aside from the burdens due to the symptoms that they are enduring, they can’t flee from society’s criticisms and judgments.

There is no curse on the afflicted but there is a problem that dwells on superstitions and misinformation.

There is a social stigma that clouds the patients’ opportunities to seek for care and support but promoting public awareness could make a difference in improving medical care and their lives.

A wrong turn from the fact led to the persisting discrimination and lack of support for the dystonia community. The lack of education on the nature of this disease is the baseline for delayed diagnosis and

other challenges that loom on XDP patients.

What XDP needs Raising awareness on the nature of the disease could improve lives and bring hope to XDP patients.

Irreversible changes, lifelong medical care, and dependency are inescapable realities for them but without being stigmatized, funding and treatments could light hope up.

“Because it comes from a little island, the number of people who are sick with dystonia are too little for a drug company to pay attention to and research for a cure. That’s why people have to know about this disease because awareness brings attention, attention brings curiosity, and curiosity will someday bring cure.” *Not his/her real name

VOLUME LXXV • NOVEMBER 2021

14 Feature

THE HILLSIDE ECHO

Tales of a Single Mother: Enlivening optimism geared with hope

BY VANESSA GLENISE USISON AND MICHAEL JAY DEMINGOY

A

s the enthusiastic footsteps of future Educators going to their next class f ill the vacant hallways of the Centennial Building, you cannot help but notice a slender lady who looks more matured compared to her younger classmates, interacting actively with them. During vacant hours, you can also see her running errands for the faculty of the College of Teacher Education, fulf illing her duties as a student assistant. No one would ever imagine that behind those glints of hope that shines in her eyes and vibrant smiles lies a story of hardships and struggles.

The grounds of fate In life there are things that we do not expect or anticipate nor believe to happen, but life for *Haniya, thirty-three years of age, a working student, and a proud single mom, life for her had gone differently from what she was once expecting.

“Nagkamali ako sang desisyon kay abi ko akon life maging better kung mag upod ko sa akon partner,” uttered by Haniya, as she shares her life story.

Haniya is the eldest among six siblings and is the only girl in the family, since her younger siblings are all boys. She bore her f irst child when she was just 20 years old, and was madly in love with her partner.

She heard many hearsays and stories from her family and friends about her being pregnant at an early age and why she settled with his partner. But she did not mind what other people said about her because she saw how sensible and hardworking his partner was and how his

partner strived to give her and their children a bright future.

“Mahugod gid siya as in… naka pa-ubra pa kami tricycle nga duwa, masinop gid siya,” she said proudly.

But as the days passed, she never could have imagined that her dream of having a happy life would start to crumble, as she saw the true façade of her partner. With the influence of her partner’s “barkada,” his partner suddenly changed and started taking advantage of her.

“Nadala guid siya (sa iya) nga barkada… Matiison ako kag mabuot muna siguro nag take advantage siguro akon partner sa akon,” she confessed.

When she can no longer handle the dilemmas and the inf idelity of his partner, she made the courageous decision to break up with him, and they are now separated for almost seven years.

Putting herself together Life was like a roulette played by fate where Haniya placed her bet. It spinned and stopped at a different space, far from the outcome she had imagined.

Things may have turned out differently for Haniya, but the occurrence of such challenges did not hinder her from thriving.

As a mother of four little angels, she knew she cannot give up. Haniya did not let the knots brought by life slow down her role as a mother. In the midst of a deep introspection on what should be the right thing to do as a single mother, Haniya reckoned that education could shed her life a light for a better tomorrow.

Responsibilities, time, f inancial instability, and age were

not reasons for her not to pursue her education. So Haniya pushed her feet towards her dream–to provide a better future for her children. She brought hope and courage with her as she entered the halls of Filamer Christian University and took an entrance examination in the College of Teacher Education.

But as playful as her fate had been, Haniya failed to meet the required average set by the department to pass the entrance exam to be admitted as a student. The hope and courage she brought as she entered the University for the f irst time was braced by a f irmer determination. The second time she stepped inside, she decided to plead to the Dean of the department to give her a chance to pursue her career.

“Nag hinyu pa ko kay Sir Leal (Dean, College of Teacher Education) hambal niya sa akon, sige tagaan niya ko chance pero within this semester I have to get an average of 85 and above. So nakaluy-an man naka 92 above ako,” Haniya announced with a wide smile on her face because her mettle of uprightness paved a way for her to realize that her fate is not so bad after all.

A Student-Mother As soon as the light escapes in the break of the clouds, roosters would crow–the hint that Haniya’s duty as a mother begins. She would wake up at three AM, take a sip of coffee, prepare her children’s school uniform, and make sure that things to be brought to school are complete, she would clean the house and cook breakfast and lunch for her children while studying because she might not

be able to go home during lunch time. Haniya is glad that her eldest child would sometimes take some of her responsibilities to help her, such as tying her siblings’ hair, dressing them, and feeding them whenever she has a 6:00 AM class.

“Ang akon subang grade six na, may buot na, siya na lang gapakaon sa iya mga manghod.

Malapit man lang sa amon balay ang school nila muna siya lang anay ga alaga,” Haniya proudly told us.

Being a student and a mother was not easy. Haniya would go home during class breaks, grabbing the chance to wash their laundry. Every moment counts for her, she values time and does not waste it. Not only that Haniya focuses on her studies and duties as a single mother, she also prioritizes their religious certitude and would bring all f ive of them, including herself to go to church on Sundays.

Haniya values every penny so she would walk from their house to school for about a kilometer, setting the money for her children instead of using it for herself because her duty does not only stop as a regular college student but also as a fulltime mother of not only one, but four.

“Mabudlay gid financially...

Basta busog lang ko indi gid ko mag bakal sang iban. Indi na importante ang balon, ang importante ang ma tun-an sa school.”

In order to provide the needs of her family placed upon her shoulders, Haniya would assist her aunts in their goto business, she would sell food in school, and would occasionally hand wash other’s laundry to get paid

and save up all of the money she earned for expenses.

Haniya is beyond blessed and grateful for having aunts whom she has gotten f inancial support for her studies. According to her, the reason why she is able to bear all the loads she is carrying as a student and as a single mother is because she gains courage from the comfort and support she receives from them.

For a bright future “Libre lang ang mangarap…

That’s why gina tinguhaan ko gid nga makatapos kay para sa future sang akon mga kabataan.”

She really believes that f inishing her studies and having a degree is a big help to have herself employed in a stable job or profession. In this way, she will be able to give a bright future for her family, all on her own.

Haniya is always up for any challenge that life might bring her. She does not only conform to a single job or to a single obligation, but she is open and looking forward to many ways as long as it can provide for herself and for her children. She saw her misfortunes as ways for her to be determined to crave even more for luck and positivity so she can face the future head on.

Instead of abandoning hopes and giving up in the face of self-despair, Haniya, a mother of four, poised the columns of their home and remained strong to resist collapse. She, indeed, is a genuine example of a single mother who proves that a mother can do both things in the same complexion, with the strength of two, and is capable of building a home with a single column. *Not her real name

Feature 15 LOOKING BACK

THE HILLSIDE ECHO AT 53

BY YSABELLE ANN BESORIO

T

he might of the pen and anything with power is revealed by the way it informs, inspires, and empowers. We may be gathered by our skills and passion but for a publication to become one, we take them beyond our pursuits to embody and uphold the freedom, values, and advocacies which are at

the core of our establishment.

The Hillside Echo, the official student publication of Filamer Christian University, is celebrating its 53rd anniversary.

Founded in 1968, The Hillside Echo established the foundation of Campus Journalism in Filamer.

This year, we also give honor to the pioneers that led the way of the first 50 years of The HSE and also inspired us to keep our voices echoing for many more years.

We navigated through waves of development, yet the lifeblood of The Hillside Echo did not fade. Our ways may have taken different hues, yet The HSE remains a platform for students to express and enrich themselves through leadership and responsible journalism.

However, we were then forced to step out of life’s conventions to dwell in a global health crisis where there is an inflation of fear. To be gathered together was peril and to share a space can give power to our enemy. Freedom and communication became everyday frustrations and despite the savage cost of the pandemic, ruthless figures have come to inflame the wounds of the nation. Promises turned out to be coppery-red coatings to intentions of abuse and oppression.

Some fights were lost and won in and out of our virtual rooms, as a family and as a student publication.

The pandemic may be a test–to uphold what is being reined in so that we can take the legacy of this publication through more years.

To cut across pandemic-induced barriers remains a challenge for this generation’s journalistic endeavors but this gave our commitment different energy and pace. This pandemic called for different routes so The Hillside Echo has begun to take a new direction.

To commemorate this milestone, The Hillside Echo will look back to the different generations of HILLSIDERS who upheld campus journalism through the years. Before moving forward, we will spare a thought to our pioneers whose passion still echoes off the walls of our Institution.

The HSE’s fifty-three years were defined by the passion and service of Hillsiders from the past to the present.

The Hillside Echo was not spared from the inevitability of change. The rise of digital technologies and the current pandemic, among others, are vessels of change in which we are definite passengers. Stories and photographs may have long since faded and only a few may remember, yet the legacy born from more than five decades of service is still smoldering. The commitment to inform, inspire, and empower may take different forms, but it is always reborn in every generation.

VOLUME LXXV • NOVEMBER 2021

16 Sports

THE HILLSIDE ECHO

MICHAEL JAY DEMINGOY

Indak: Ang sayaw ng buhay

A

ng sayaw ay isang ekspresyon ng damdamin, sining at estilo na gumagamit ng musika’t ritmo upang maihatid ang mensahe sa pamamagitan ng mga koreograpiya. Ito ay daan tungo sa isang pansamantalang paglimot sa bigat ng pasanin ng buhay. Umulan man o umaraw, ito’y hindi nawawala sa tiyempo; laging naghahanap ng lugar upang maibahagi ang kwento.

Ang bawat indak, paresan man ng magagarbong kasuotan ay hindi magiging kaaya-aya kung walang pusong nag-aalab at pangarap na lumalagablab.

Dilag, sayaw na nakakabihag Nakakagiliw kung sila’y kumembot at gumiling— wasiwas ng balakang, kasabay ang masayang padyak ng mga paa. Masisiglang musika na nagbibigay-buhay sa isang pagtatanghal at koreograpiyang kakambal ng isang mananayaw.

“Dance gives me a feeling like no other, I dance whenever I’m sad or happy. The stresses and burdens of my life, school, and hardships somehow are lifted away when I dance,” tugon ni Jyan Flaga, isang estudyanteng mananayaw.

Nagsimula si Flaga sa pagsabak sa mundo ng pagsayaw noong siya ay nasa pre-school pa lamang. Sa murang edad, napagtanto niya na ang tunay na kaligayahan ay nasa bawat pagindak ng mga paa at paggiling ng mga baywang. Lubos na lumalim ang interes niya rito dulot ng mainit na suportang nagmumula sa kanyang pamilya.

“Bigla ko lang siyang nakahiligan maliban sa suportang galing kay Mama na sa bawat aktibidad sa paaralan, pinapasali niya ako. Nakikita ko

NI ANGELI QUEEN DEVELOS AT CZARELLE LUCES

rin si tita at tito na sumasayaw at ginagaya ko rin ang mga sayaw na napapanood ko sa tv,” dagdag pa niya.

Dala ng labis na pagmamahal sa pagsayaw, kinuha ni Jyan ang kursong Bachelor of Physical Education (BPE) kasabay ng pagpasok sa Silak Dance Company, ang opisyal na organisaysong pansayaw ng Filamer Christian University.

Bukod dito, nais ni Jyan na mas mahasa at mahubog ang sarili sa pamamagitan ng pakikilahok sa iba’t ibang patimpalak at umaasa na mas mapalawak ang pinto ng mga oportunidad na magbubukas para sa kanya.

“Dance is the perfect way to escape from our thoughts and troubles. Having the gift of dance means we can help others to escape from the troubles of life— by performing with all your heart,” sabi pa niya.

Kung ang pagsayaw ay nakapagdudulot kay Jyan ng walang katumbas na kasiyahan, kaakibat naman nito ang malaking responsibilidad sa sarili—ang pagbalanse sa limitadong oras sa pagitan ng pag-eensayo at pagaaral. Sa kabila ng hamong ito, mas naging matatag ang kanyang pagkatao at dedikasyon sa ngalan ng pagsasayaw.

“Marami akong napagdaanan sa Silak, sa mga patimpalak na sinasalihan, sa mga imbitasyon upang magtanghal, at pagbalanse ng oras. Nakakakaba palagi kapag nasa entabladong pampaligsahan ka,” usal niya.

Ginoo, ritmo’y nangangako Kung ituring man ng iba na ang pagsasayaw ay isang hadlang upang tahakin ang mataas na antas ng karera, para sa mga mananayaw, ito ang kanilang

pinto hindi lamang sa pagtupad ng kani-kanilang pangarap kundi upang ibahagi ang talentong naging buhay nila. Madulas man ang entabladong pinagsasayawan, bakit ‘di mo tanggalin ang iyong sandalyas nang sa gayon, malaya kang gumalaw?

“Noong una, ayaw ng parents ko sa pagsasayaw.

Nakakapanlumo kasi dapat sila yung unang suporta ko pero tutol sila sa gusto ko,” malungkot na bungad ni Shang Carlo Alapa. “ Pero nung tumagal, nakita nila na masaya ako sa ganito at tuluyan nilang sinuportahan ang larangang pinili ko,” maaliwalas niyang idinagdag.

Ilang taon na si Shang sa pagsasayaw at marami na siyang kinaharap na mga pagsubok na lalong humubog sa kanyang talento’t pagkatao. Bilang isang mag-aaral, hindi rin naman maikakaila na mahirap hawakan ang oras lalo na’t ito’y usapin sa pagitan ng pangarap at kinabukasan.

“Nasa Senior High pa lang ako, nahirapan ako sa pag-aaral dahil sa pagsasayaw. Nagdulot rin ito ng masamang epekto ngunit time management lang ang kailangan at dapat marunong ka nito,” ani pa niya.

Miyembro rin ng Silak si Shang at humigit-kumulang tatlong taon siyang sumasali sa mga patimpalak. Ayon pa sa kaniya, dahil sa organisasyong ito, ang kanyang pang-matrikula ay natutulungan at mas lalong tumaas ang kanyang tiwala sa sarili.

“Through dancing, I can be more confident, naipapakita ko kung sino at ano ang gusto ko. Pagsasayaw ang buhay ko,” masaya niyang pahayag.

Simula pa nang siya ay nasa

elementarya, marami na siyang sayaw na naitanghal at cha-cha ang kanyang paborito. “The light and bubbly feel of the chacha gives a unique sense of fun, every step gives me enjoyment,” pagbubunyag niya.

Clara, Ibarra, indak ng panahon Maraming grupo at indibidwal na ang namamayagpag sa larangan ng pagsasayaw. Mayroong ginawa itong propesyon at trabaho, ang iba naman ay naging adbokasiya upang maibahagi sa iba ang talento at ang iilan na pagsasayaw ang batid nilang tutupad sa kanikanilang pangarap.

“Pumasok na sa isip ko na umalis sa grupo pero nanatili ako dahil ito ang gusto ko, buhay ko na ang pagsasayaw,” madamdaming sagot ni Shang.

Hindi rin naman maikakaila na ang larangang tinatahak ay hindi ganoon kadali. Kagaya ng sayaw, babagsak at babagsak ka, babangon nang paulit-ulit.

Gayunpaman, ang pagtatanghal ay patuloy, matarik man o pulido ang entabladong iniindakan.

“Kahit gaano kahirap, wala o hindi talaga sumagi sa isip ko ang mag-quit. Dedikado ako sa pagsasayaw kaya hindi ko ito iiwan,” dagdag naman ni Jyan.

Ang magkaparehang kilala hindi dahil sa galing sa sayaw kundi sa pagkataong hinubog ng larangang ito. Dahil sa pagsasayaw, nakapaglakbay sila sa Pilipinas, nakakakilala ng mga bagong kaibigan, nakakatulong sa magulang, at unti-unting natutupad ang mga pangarap.

“This is where I am meant to be,” pagtatapos ni Jyan.

“Hanapin mo kung saan ang mundo mo.”

VOLUME LXXV • NOVEMBER 2021

Sports 17

THE HILLSIDE ECHO

Chicken Adobo

MA. ESTELLE ANTONETTE VAFLOR

The upsurge of virtual sports

EDITORIAL

With triumph comes sacrifice Filipinos are known for their patronage in sports like basketball, volleyball, and boxing; both local and international. Lately, the victory of Hidilyn Diaz in weightlifting made history for the Philippines for obtaining its very f irst gold medal in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Along with this, one bronze and two silver medals were won

by Filipino boxers. However, joining these prestigious sports events does not only need mere skills, strength, and strategy. Let’s be real, financial support is a necessity.

Diaz’s team admitted that the government did not give them enough funds for the Olympics.

They even said that they asked for f inancial help from private organizations.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque stated himself that “it is not enough.”

With this reality that our athletes face today, is this only applicable to Ms. Diaz or to all sports communities that need finance in terms of equipment, food, and facilities? The government might be neglecting these athletes who bring honor and fame to the

country. The past victories of our athletes were not given enough recognition—the achievement of Hidilyn Diaz should be enough as an eye-opener for officials to not disregard the blood, sweat, and tears of Filipinos that excel in the f ield of sports. How will these people thrive if they see only little support from our countrymen?

Filipinos should not glorify resiliency at this point. It is not a “game-changer” that athletes survived the hardships of not getting proper equipment due to the lack of funds. Sports, as taught in schools, do not only improve the physical wellbeing of a person but also their emotional and social welfare. In line with this, the government must encourage the youth to engage in sports. Investing in athletes will produce more triumphs and podium wins for our country. Through this, the country can be promoted more.

Only after the historic wins of our Filipino athletes that the government realized the need of the sports sector for better funding and support. The

Congress already approved an additional of P650 million for the Philippine Sports Commission’s 2022 budget aside from the P175 million appropriated by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). However, the PSC President called for additional budget to support Filipino athletes in next year’s international tournaments as the current amount is insufficient.

Both the Congress and the Senate expressed their support for the PSC’s budget increase.

Let us hope that it will not go through the hands of corrupt politicians who are hungry for money and power.

May the athletes receive the funding they need for the betterment of equipment and training. Through these aspiring athletes, there may be hope for the growth of the Philippines.

Filipinos, known for their resiliency, must not only resort to sacrif icing their wellbeing if there are people that can strategize in distributing funds for every sector in need.

Readiness is better than only being resilient.

Sports—what goes on in our minds when we think of this word?

Perhaps, traditional sports like volleyball, basketball, badminton, and many more. There has been an ongoing discussion whether online games should be considered as a recreational and social activity among communities especially the youth; in fact, considering to call these online game multiplayer competitions as electronic sports or eSports. On April 22, 2021, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) proposed to hold its very first Olympic Virtual Series wherein people are encouraged to connect through the virtual world in a non-physical way. In cooperation with International Federations and gaming publishers, the series is said to consist of online baseball, cycling, rowing, sailing, and motorsport.

Now that the pandemic has caused people to stay in their homes, gaming tournaments have been in resonance. In line with this, eSports

can be considered as eSports—but only the types Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA), First-Person Shooters (FPS), Collectible Card Games (CCG), and Real-Time Strategy Games (RTS).

There are also traditional sports that only require accuracy and manipulation, like archery, dart, and shooting. Why must these games be not considered sports, too? They still require training, time, effort, and skills to excel. While the people that play in these sports are not considered athletes, eSports still promote social skills and sportsmanship among professional gamers. It is in fact one of the easiest ways to connect with people in the virtual world. Like the sports that we used to view, eSports also has its own rules, schemes, and concepts. As a youth that belongs in Generation Z, the excitement that these eSports brings is just as the same when watching a basketball game in PBA. For me, it has a great

has recently grown in popularity with over 200 million spectators across the world, watching professional gamers play video games on various platforms.

What does it take to be considered as a “sport,” really? First, it should at least form a competition among individuals or teams. While eSports only require being in front of one’s PC, there are real gaming strategies among teams that compete in leagues. There are real people behind the virtual characters that fight in the multiplayer battle arena.

The term eSports has been around since the 1990s. However, it has only been renowned in the late 2010s with the rise of new multiplayer online games, like League of Legends (LoL), Defense of the Ancients (DotA), and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO). This year, while the said games remained relevant, Overwatch and Valorant came into the picture.

Moreover, not every online game

entertainment value especially that spectators may also place their bets on the team they believe will win— just like in traditional sports. ESports has no discrimination; regardless of gender, race, or height—anyone can participate in a team if they have a properly-built PC setup. Maybe, in the near future, developers could hold tournaments with the use of mobile phones.

Moreover, many would say that eSports is about merely sitting down in front of the monitor and controlling your characters; eSports, like traditional sports, also promote interrelation. Especially now in our trying times, it is one way to connect with people without physical contact.

Maybe, this topic should be talked about more in a positive manner.

Each person has their own skills to offer and this is a great way to promote creators and developers—with eSports, we can use these multiplayer games for collaboration. ESports is the evolution of competition.

“While the people that play in these sports are not considered athletes, eSports still promote social skills and sportsmanship among professional gamers.”

SPORTS FORUM

What can you say about the support of the Philippine Government to Filipino athletes?

Justinmae Gutierrez

Anonymous

Carl Daniel Londete

Nessa Mae Alonsagay

As an athlete, the Philippine government only supports a sport that is well known in the Philippines. [The] government don’t pay attention to other sports until Ms. Hidilyn Diaz won a gold medal in Weightlifting in the 2020 Olympics. She became the voice and inspiration of other athletes who didn’t receive support from the government and she proved that even if the support was lacking, we will still be able to bag a gold medal.

If the government will give a hundred percent support to our Filipino athletes, we can get more gold for our country because the dedication of the athletes is already there, they just need a support system that can make them better.

For me, the support of the Philippine government (local, province, national) depends on the head of a [particular office] and on how they understand how athletes suffer in their trainings, how they prepare themselves for the coming games, and represent the school, town or province where they belong. Some of the so called leaders are not supportive to the athletes.

Financial assistance is essential in preparing the athletes for competitions because they have to buy their needs like vitamins, food for their diets, equipment, and etc. [With my experiences], I can say that I am disappointed at some point. But as an athlete, I am still humbled and proud to represent my town, province, and school [in every competition].

I’d say the support is insufficient. It is true that there are lots of sports-related programs today which promote athletes to excel in sports globally. Additionally, the Philippine Government’s budget in this field is decent. However, [for the athletes], these are just not enough. The support is clearly meager. There are still aspiring athletes who cannot afford to sustain their careers because of various aspects, such as financial.

The government does not have enough fund to update training facilities for our athletes. Sending athletes abroad for trainings is not feasible due to its lack of fund resulting to incompetent athletes, locally and/or internationally.

BSBA FM IV

BS Crim IV-A

BS Biology IV

Still, there are goals that cannot be accomplished, opportunities that cannot be taken, and dreams that cannot be fulfilled. Filipino athletes, aspiring or already excelling, should really demand more from the government.

BS Nursing IV

Supporting our athletes emotionally, physically and financially is vital for the Philippine government to mark up the economic status of our country. At the end, they bring honor for our country.

2020 TOKYO OLYMPICS: BIGGEST MEDAL HAUL FOR THE PHILIPPINES It’s a great golden year for Philippine sports!

BY CZARELLE LUCES

Fueled with extreme enthusiasm and determination anchored with dexterous willpower, The Philippines nabbed its first gold medal, two-silver medals and one bronze medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Aug. 8.

The Philippines recorded its biggest medal haul, landing 50th place over-all and is recognized as the top performing Southeast Asian country and 10th best Asian country, outshining other Southeast Asian countries in the Olympic stint.

With her eagerness and drive to redeem herself to win a gold medal, Hidilyn Diaz clutched the first-ever gold medal for the Philippines in weightlifting in the inaugural women’s 55kg division after an almost century-long wait since the country participated in the Games.

“Hindi ako makapaniwala.

Nasorpresa ako na nagawa ko ‘yun.

Kakaiba si God. Sa lahat ng prayer warriors ko diyan sa Pilipinas, thank you so much. At sa team HD at sa lahat ng sumuporta sa akin,

thank you so much for believing in me,” expressed Diaz in an interview with Gretchen Ho after her feat.

Inspirited with her historic win, the national boxing team secured a spot in the podium bagging three medals.

Nesthy Petecio clutched silver in the featherweight division making her the first Filipina Olympic boxing medalist. Carlo Paalam also clinched silver in the men’s flyweight division while Eumir Marcial secured a bronze medal in the men’s middleweight division.

Carlos Yulo (Men’s all around), Ernest John “EJ” Obiena (Men’s pole vault) and Margielyn Didal (Women’s street skateboarding) also left the Olympics with remarkable performances. Twelve other Olympians also represented the Philippines.

Diaz stands to receive millions worth of incentives from the government, companies and donors. Other Olympic medalists and non-medalists were also bound to receive cash incentives.

“With our success in the Tokyo Olympics, hindi na mahirap kumbinsihin ang ating mga congressmen at senador to sustain our momentum after the Tokyo Olympics,” said Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez.

The four-medal haul and outstanding performance of Filipino athletes in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics simply goes to show that no virus can stop them in bringing honor and pride for the country in the international arena.

Matic Cuties rules 1st CBA ML tournament

BY JOHN CARL BARREDO

With massive firepower and unreadable tactics, Matic Cuties outsmarted Tara Omegle, 3-1, to capture the Championship in the inaugural season of CBA ML tournament, Sept. 24.

Matic Cuties banked a stellar gameplay after putting up an orthodox pick and ban composition which made it hard for the counterstrike of Tara Omegle .

In the opening game of the bestof-5 finals showdown, Matic Cuties made a quick hijack against Tara Omegle after feeding their Kagura’s ruthless umbrella to prove their dominance, 0-1.

“Importante na makuha namon ang Game 1 para maka build kami

momentum kag ma-lessen ang pressure,” said Karl Besa, side-laner of Matic Cuties.

Tara Omegle fought back in the second game and refused to go down without putting a fight as they solidified their tower-first game plan led by their armored Borg to match the scoreboard after a 16 minutes of action, 1-1.

As the intense heat immersing on the third frame, it was a game of inches for the both teams as series of offensive exchange were seen. On the latter part, Matic Cuties found their way to win the battle after charging up their attacks with the dance of the Lord dealing pesky offensive schemes to dim Tara Omegle’s hope in saving the night, 2-1.

“Dikit amon hampang asta sa ulihi pero nag-stick lang gid kami samon gameplan kag nag salig samon team mates mina nga nakuha namon ang Game 3,” shared JP Torres, core of Matic Cuties.

Raring to cruise for victory, Matic Cuties invested in their main core, Lancelot, delivering enormous physical attack that dealt 15 kills and seven assists. An early push was a severe destruction for the towers of Tara Omegle, giving the former a huge advantage to utilize their strategies enough to lock the title.

The win hailed Matic Cuties as the Champion, Tara Omegle finished as 1st runner-up, and Account Ants settled for a 2nd runner-up output.

VICTORIOUS GAMEPLAYS. John Patrick Torres, Karl Jade Besa, Mark Josan Artates, Justin Eduard Genzola, and Rafmart Felongco (L-R), members of “Matic Cuties.”

FCU CBA FB Page

FCU Alumni jins clutch gold in int’l taekwondo “Surmounting international again!”

Releasing

the mat of taekwondo their lickettysplit kicks and full tilt attacks, Thea Mae Del Rosario and Mikee Rose Regala cops gold in international taekwondo as they outplayed other participants during the 2 0 2 1

DEL ROSARIO

BY CZARELLE LUCES

Online Kim Un-Yong International Taekwondo Championships in Korea, Oct. 8.

Unleashing her breakneck assaults, Del Rosario shellacked her adversaries, clutching the gold in the individual Poomsae-Junior category after securing points against Korea and other countries.

“I felt overwhelmed. This is the year na halos tanan nga competition namon international.

It wasn’t easy juggling my responsibilities as an athlete, academics and student council though I always tell myself that I need to excel in all,” said Del Rosario.

Del Rosario is now taking her Senior High School at the University of Santo Tomas where she was offered a scholarship while pursuing the Physical Education Strand.

“Before I entered this year, I was reminded that this is going to be my last playing year in my category which added to the pressure of succeeding.

So, after I completed my last game for my category (kim un-yong) I was satisfied,” added Del Rosario.

Meanwhile, Regala also made her way to victory with her top-notch strategies and killing tactics against other performing nations in the individual Poomsae-Senior category.

“Actually, I didn’t expect to win the gold medal, because the fight

PRIDE OF CAPIZ. Team Capiz together with Coach Conwel Diestro (center).

Conwel Diestro

Team Capiz hauls 106 medals, bags overall championship

BY JOHN CARL BARREDO

Mission accomplished for Team Capiz as the 1st Ilocos Tigers Pencak Silat National Tournament Virtual Edition concluded after stamping their supremacy to claim the overall championship, Sept. 19.

Capizeño Athletes emerged from the horizon, hauling 54 gold medals, 29 silver medals, and 23 bronze medals to snatch the top spot of the table.

The 2-day virtual competition was partaken by 16 different teams coming from the different parts of the country in which the host province, Team Ilocos, hailed as 1st runners-up, and Team Aklan as the 2nd runnersup.

Coach Conwel Diestro of Team Capiz went to a bright happy smile after their successful campaign [was] super tough. And I really felt blessed after knowing that I won the gold,” Regala expressed.

Regala is a 4th year AB Sports Management student at the De La Salle University Manila where she is a full-merit scholar.

Both representatives of the Philippines are alumni of Filamer Christian University and part of the Venancio Taekwondo Academy (VTA) where they also took their performances for their video entries.

Together with them in the online international competition were Joven Venancio and Adorico

which brought so much pride for the province. He shared his heartfelt gratitude for the organization and the parents of his players after taking the feat.

“Thank you for the advanced gift you gave me, PESILAT CPB,” said Diestro in a Facebook post.

“Hindi matatapatan ng kahit anong bagay ito,” he added.

In a courtesy call, Capiz Governor Esteban Evan “Nonoy” Bacero Contreras expressed his congratulations to the team for their dedication for the sports despite the circumstances brought by the pandemic.

Team Capiz also shared their concerns to the Governor with regards to their facilities during trainings where they utilized a basketball court as their honing ground.

Ve n a n c i o t h e

REGALA

Jr., coaches from VTA.