January-February Issue 5 - A.Y. 2020-2021 by The LANCE

JANUARY -FEBRUARY 2021

VOLUME XLIV ISSUE 5

NEWS

FEATURES

Manila City set to operate vaccine storage facility for mass vaccinations

OPINION

An Old Jewel of Manila

SPORTS

The Flak, the Vaccine and the New Virants

Big men reign on the deepening PBA Draft Pool, includes Letran’s Larry Muyang

Letran partners with Commission on Human rights to conduct Human rights education week BY ANDREA YSABEL ANDRES

“LETRAN IS a center of human rights education,” the director of Community Extension Department (CED), Asst. Prof. Leo Bernadas on launching the Human Rights Education week from February 16 to 27 with a series of webinars to engage the Letranite community towards human rights issues and the basics rights. In partnership with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), Letran promotes human rights education from its curriculum to departmental activities. The institution envisions to be a vibrant and active center for human rights education in the National Capital Region (NCR). The pandemic brought lockdowns in different cities of the Philippines. According to Human Rights Watch, deaths regarding the country’s “drug on war” increased by 50% during the community quarantine from April to July. Bernadas acknowledged the human rights issues in the Philippines. For him, these kinds of events will help enlighten the public about the role of CHR in terms of these violations circulating in society. “The best way to empower an individual is through community education,” Bernadas claimed with

regards to empowering the youth towards the human rights issues. Bernadas, on behalf of the Letran community, hopes that in promoting human rights education, the department, together with the CHR, will not just engage with the Letran community through webinars. “We will find ways na magiging more engaging ang mga educational activities. Pangalawa, not only knowledge gaining but also sharing.” He also added that Human Rights Education is not just about sharing and educating but also practicing what was preached and learned. Last semester, the CED extended its efforts to conduct human rights education through the National Service Training Program (NSTP), in which they administered webinars related to Human Rights for students taking up the course. This year, the webinar series’ assigned topics were aligned with students’ respective academic levels to understand the discussion further. CHR talked about child rights in the COVID-19 pandemic and the basic concept and principles of human rights in basic education. Collegiate students attended the discussion for the universal declaration of human rights, while Letran staff and employees joined the forum on the Rights of the Accused. The graduate school department had attended a webinar regarding the right to life.

PHOTO FROM LETRAN FACEBOOK PAGE

Colloquia Manilana publishes Letran Rector and VPAA’s ONELETRAN Research study

BY QUEENIE ROSE RAMOS

THE INTERDISCIPLINARY Journal of the Institute of Preaching of the Philippine Dominican Center of International Studies, Colloquia Manila, published Rector and President Rev. Fr. Clarence Victor C. Marquez, O.P. SThD and Vice President of Academic Affairs, Assoc. Prof. Cristina M. Castro-Cabral, PhD’s research study entitled: Building an Integrative Organizational Culture for ONELETRAN Based on the 4I Framework. Marquez and Cabral submitted the study conducted prepandemic to Colloquia Manilana. With the institute’s criteria and standards, their research was chosen and published in their

For more exclusive content follow The LANCE at:

28th volume. The study aimed to pave the way for seamless integration by developing the ONELETRAN system – a collaboration of Letran schools which consists of Letran Manila, Letran Calamba (Laguna), Letran Manaoag (Pangasinan), and Letran Abucay (Bataan). It highlighted how the ONELETRAN System is in line with the 4I Framework that includes – intuiting, interpreting, integrating, and institutionalizing. It also strives to see the learnings, hits and misses of moving towards integration through the interaction between the campuses and the administration. The research is also an extension of their past study entitled A Grounded Theory Model for the Like us on Facebook fb.com/thelanceletran

ONELETRAN System: Challenges and Learnings, which focuses on the challenges and experiences of the administrators, faculty, and staff members of each school. In an interview with Assoc. Prof. Cabral, she said that this study is a way to know the similarities and differences of each campus to learn from each other. The VPAA also explained that with their ONELETRAN research, they would be able to come up with a wealth of research output, discovering the next set of steps to be undertaken so that they can continue their role towards integration. Furthermore, VPAA Cabral » ONE LETRAN/ PAGE 3

PHOTO FROM LETRAN FACEBOOK PAGE

Visit our official website www.thelance.letran.edu.ph

NEWS

NEWS EDITOR: RONI SERRANO LAYOUT ARTIST: ELDRICK NOLASCO

RSO, CPAG maintain positive outlook as they wrap Mid-Year report with accomplishments despite ‘New Normal’ challenges BY JOANNA FLORES The Recognized Student Organizations and Cultural & Performing Arts Groups of LetranManila presented their accomplished projects during the Mid-Year Report held last January 23 via Google Meet, fulfilling their oath to serve the students despite the challenges faced during the “New Normal”. While most of their events were held online, they noted positive rates on their project evaluations.

ADJUSTING TO THE NEW NORMAL However, student representatives acknowledged the many struggles of having their projects implemented online. “Hindi po nagingmadali for us to conduct events due to the limitations of activities being online. Simulasapag-asikaso ng papers hanggangsapag-wrap up ng activity,” said Sofia Cruz, the President of Letran Engineering Society (LES). [It has not been easy for us to conduct events due to the limitations of online activities, from handling the

papers to wrapping up the activity.] Despite the challenges, Cruz is highly motivated to make the Engineering community feel that their student organization is still at work and will always be ready to serve. She also elaborated that the number of participants is one of their main conflicts when conducting their projects as they only have a small population in their program, and some students also lack resources to participate. For Letran Community Volunteers (LCV), whose initiatives are to immerse themselves in their target communities for the fullness of their goals, Charlotte Trixie Collado shared how they restructured their operational plan. “One of the things that affect our organization is how we can build our project; we changed the whole operational plan of the Letran Community Volunteers,” she told The LANCE. “But we still continue in helping the community by spreading good deeds and by teaching that the true

PHOTO FROM LETRAN FACEBOOK PAGE

meaning of volunteerism has no barrier in helping other people,” she added. Furthermore, student leaders from different organizations shared their tips and motivations about

paving the way for a more efficient academic year. The Letran Student Council President, Mitch Costales, shared her word of advice to help their fellow leaders cope with the virtual set-up.

“Never hesitate to ask for help. Enjoy and love what you do so you’ll never get tired of it. When you’re having a hard time, always look back to the reason why you started it,” Costales emphasized.

“Shark Tank”, “Knights Trading” launched to provide avenue for Letran’s aspiring business owners

PHOTO FROM CBAA CERECRUM FACEBOOK PAGE

BY JOANNA FLORES

LETRAN STUDENT Council (LSC), in partnership with the College of Business Administration and Accountancy (CBAA), launched their new project “Sharktank: Empowering Business Prodigies” and “Knights Trading” last January 27, which highlighted this year’s “Negosyo Letranista” kick-off. In an interview with The LANCE, LSC Vice President Gio Francis Guerrero said the project aimed to offer indirect financial aid to the students by knowing the importance of Digital Marketing and establishing Knights Trading. “The main goal of our team is to provide our students the network,

the opportunity, and to promote youthful Entrepreneurship amongst the four walls of the Colegio,” he shared. While the pandemic forced everyone to shift to an online setting, LSC saw the need to provide knowledge and avenues for the students in exploring digital marketing to gain more convenience and efficiency in running their business. The idea of Knights Trading came up during the ECQ. The number of online businesses offering anything from medical supplies, furniture, gadgets, to home-cooked meals, increased as everyone stayed at home to minimise contact. They saw it as an avenue for their fellow students

to promote their online businesses and provide them knowledge with digital marketing. Furthermore, the LSC emphasized that the primary strength of their newly-launched initiative is “exclusivity.” It will pave the way for the equal opportunity to earn additional income through selling their goods or services as they invite Letranites to their online community. EMPOWERING STUDENT BUSINESS OWNERS “Shark Tank: Empowering Business Prodigies,” a webinar that aimed to develop, enhance, and encourage Letranites to become business owners, streamed last

January 27 via Letran Student Council’s official Facebook page. LSC invited speakers who shared various insights, knowledge, and experiences to the Start-Up and Digital Marketing Industry. The President and Founder of Rite Tea, Mr. Jaypee Morales, tackled the “Importance of Marketing for StartUp Entrepreneurs” while Ms. Tiarra De Sotto, the Marketing Officer of Penbrothers, discussed the “Relevant Role of Digital Marketing.” “We are indeed lucky to have young, talented, and ambitious [people] who will be able to share their insights and knowledge to our fellow Letranites,” Guerrero expressed. Furthermore, the webinar

provided a platform for Letranites who own small businesses to showcase and promote their products, services, and other offers.

LETRANITES’ BUSINESS PROMOTIONS In partnership with CBAA, LSC also launched “Knights Trading,” an online community wherein Letranites can promote, buy, and sell their products or services to fellow Letranites via a Facebook group. Along with their Shark Tank project, LSC also marked the beginning of Knights Trading with the hopes to successfully create an avenue for Letranites to earn extra income, which they believe is essential amid these trying times.

News

VO LU M E X L I V - I S S U E 5

Manila City set to operate vaccine storage facility for mass vaccinations BY JOANNA FLORES

MANILA City government is now ready to begin its operations with the completion of COVID-19 storage facility with the delivery of the three biomedical freezers intended for Pfizer vaccines last February 9. The freezers arrived at the Sta. Ana Hospital, where the vaccine facility is located. The local government said on Tuesday that the city has a total of 12 Covid-19 ultra-low temperature (ULT) refrigeration units. In a statement released by Manila Public Information Office (MPIO), the local government’s vaccine storage facility will begin operations on February 14 after receiving the remaining biomedical freezers can store vaccines up to -80 degrees Celsius. On February 12, Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno spearheaded the formal inauguration of its storage facility, where he said that the city government is willing to offer its units to other LGUs. “We will welcome anybody, any agency, including our fellow local government units (LGUs), meaning anywhere in Metro Manila can use this facility,” the local chief executive said. “This is a pandemic, we wanted to approach this inclusively,” he added. Moreno also shared that with their procured refrigeration units, the city can meet all types of required temperatures. The city government procured units that will store five different brands: five HYC-390

refrigerators for AstraZeneca and Sinovac, two -25 degrees Celsius (C) biomedical freezers, two -30 C biomedical freezers for Johnson and Johnson and Moderna, and three -86 C ULT freezers for Pfizer. As of now, Manila is waiting for the arrival of the approved and authorized 800,000 doses of vaccine from BritishSwedish company AstraZeneca, and it is set to obtain Pfizer doses for its residents. MPIO also shared that Moreno immediately called a meeting with Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan, along with other officials from the Manila Health Department (MHD), to discuss mass vaccination plans. Moreno told his officials, including Assistant to the City Health Officer Dr. Ed Santos, Sta. Ana Hospital Pharmacist Jude Beltran, Biomedical Specialist Walter Rigonan, City Engineer Armand Andres, and Haier Biomedical Company Managing Director Pilarcita Sta. Ana with Sales Director Jonathan Sta. Ana that the products must be protected as the efficiency and the value of the product lies on their hands. “Gawin natin ang lahat para maproteksyunan ang bakuna. That is a reflection of every life that we can protect. May buhay na nakasalalay sa bawat bakunang hawak natin,” he emphasized. [Let us do everything to protect the vaccines. That is a reflection of every life that we can protect. Some lives depend on our vaccines.] Moreover, Dra. Padilla said that Sta.

PHOTO FROM BUSINESS WORLD WEBSITE

Ana Hospital stands ready to receive the vaccines. The facility is secured with 11 CCTV cameras working 24/7 and 6 data loggers. She also added that the facility is equipped with a back-up generator for the vaccine storage facility in case of any power interruption. On the other hand, Moreno urged the hospital personnel to remain cautious and prudent as he stressed the vaccines’ sensitivity amid any temperature changes. “Once the vaccines are there, we will not stop — Monday to Sunday, hindi tayo hihinto. Hihinto lang tayo kapag tapos na. This is saving lives, protecting lives, yun ang goal,” he said.

Knights Speak

[Once the vaccines are there, we will not stop — Monday to Sunday, we will not stop. We will only stop when this is over. This is saving lives, protecting lives, that’s the goal.] Currently, Manila’s 12 vaccine freezers could accommodate two units of -10 C to -25 C freezers, containing 5,200 vials each; two units of -10 C to -30 C freezers, 17,200 vials each; three units of -70 C freezers, 35,000 vials each; and five units of 2 to 8 C freezer, 8,200 vials each. As of February 28, the City of Manila has a total of 28, 106 confirmed cases, 495 of which are active. The city has recorded 26, 807 recoveries and 804 deaths.

ONE LETRAN FROM PAGE 1 explained that research is ranked first among other clusters in Letran, followed by religious education and community service; however, research is also one of the challenges of the academic division in Letran. “Kahit napakaganda na ng mga incentives, kahit napakaganda na ng mga packages na ibinibigay at inihahain sa ating mga guro pati sa kapwa natin manggagawa o support staff, ikinalulungkot ko na mababa pa din ang bilang doon sa mga nais to go into research,” she stated. [Even with the great incentives and packages given and offered to our teachers as well as to our support staff, I regret that the number of those who want to go into research is still low,] Nonetheless, Cabral believed that their study, as well as other research outputs, is always a must for the institution, she said “It’s a must. Mayroon pong kinakailangan research output para tayo ay maging reputable higher educational institution,” following the pillars of Higher Educational Institutions (HEI) academics, community service, research, and production. [It’s a must. It is necessary [to produce] research outputs for us to become a reputable higher educational institution,] The research output is accessible in Colloquia Manilana (Volume 28) library located at Santo Domingo Church, Quezon City, and is also available in the Letran Research Center.

“What are your views on the government’s action in the presence of the new COVID-19 variant in the country?”

ARTWORK BY KUNO CREATIVE

Kyla Anne Velasco, Third Year BS Nutritionist and Dietician

Thomas Jason Morco, Third Year AB Journalism

The government is still showing that they are incompetent because even though it has been confirmed that the new covid-19 variant is here, they have not yet issued a travel ban. It seems that what happened last year just flashbacked, but it appears that their action is even worse now, especially since there is still no concrete solution in the COVID-19 variant.

Governance in the midst of a pandemic is but infuriating since the way I observe things, it favors mostly on either bureau personnel or military personnel only, posing incompetency and cronyism within the current administration. The conditions in this country are beyond saving, and it will only worsen unless the current administration is replaced by the second.

In my opinion, I did not feel any sense of urgency from the national government with the emergence of the new COVID-19 variant. Since March, even with the previous variant, they were not really reliable in terms of managing and leading the Filipinos. All the good news that I can read and hear from the news are only from some LGU initiatives. Even in the situation that we are in, be it with the new variant or the previous variant, most national government officials still put their personal agenda first before doing their jobs properly.

Rising cases of COVID- 19 globally became more dangerous with the UK’s identification of the variant B. 1. 1. 7. Even with the threat of the new virus killing more individuals, the government remains still and unbothered. I was saddened by the fact that they are not afraid of the effects of this mutated virus. They are not even prepared for what is coming. Instead, they are lowering the levels of quarantine restrictions, which should have been imposed strictly.

I have never missed a day without being displeased and disappointed for the past several months. And at some points in my life, I felt like knowing more is a sin, speaking up is a crime and, watching the news is a big clownery. Things started to get out of hand when the government allowed the Philippines to remain open to travelers from different countries, knowing that the Philippines has already acquired the new variant. Up to a point wherein they chose to divert the mass attention to various cases and made-up scenarios. With all these, I have realized that our life now is like in mobile legends. Every defeat equates to the number of deaths recorded in the Philippines, and every victory is the money and audacity being added to the pockets of these unjust and inhumane government officials.

The new COVID 19 variant is indeed alarming, hence causing panic to the PH citizens. In the digital era we live in, more and more fake news is being brought on the media, hence, worsening the situation. Personally, upon looking up the data regarding the comparison of the COVID 19 and the new strain, there’s no actual difference in the severity of the virus brought to an infected individual. However, according to the Centre for the Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the new variant has an average of 56% more contagious than the original version. However, as per the DOH confirming the new strain’s arrival in the country, there was no actual data shown to the public as far as I know. So for me, there’s no actual certainty at the moment regarding the arrival of the new strain in the Philippines. But it’s always better to be alert to the news and happenings, especially in this time of the pandemic.

Jernil Diaz, Second Year BS Civil Engineering

Mark Acido, First Year AB Broadcasting

Overall, I see no progress at these trying times. Even those people who are just concerned are being oppressed and red-tagged. I see no light at all. That’s why if you’re reading this, stand up and speak up for what is right and proper. This is not the perfect time to sit back and relax. Our country is in danger and so do us. Let us all light the torches we have and all together shout for the truth.

Marielle Joyce Dayto, Second Year BSE Math

Lance Redor, Human Resource Development Management Senator

K n i g h t s

S p e a k

OPINION

JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2021

EDITORIAL The Flak, the Vaccine and the New Virants It’s more than a year since the virus has surfaced from Wuhan, China. The world, more connected than ever, has collectively seen its first pandemic in a hundred years. Fortunately, with the hundred-year gap, we have developed technology and advanced scientifically to combat the virus. As of January 23,2021, the death toll from the virus reached more than 2 million. We are far better than our predecessors who have encountered a pandemic. We were able to identify how the virus works and treat the sick with medical aid and not with the medieval alternative to bleed the sick out until evil spirits flee and make a person less sick. Surely, if we were to be trampled by the virus, it’s not because of our lack of knowledge and resources; but rather because of politics, collective foolishness and improper distribution— of information, healthcare resources, and vaccines which is almost always determined by economic wealth. Due to the inconsistencies in the vaccine negotiations, the Philippines was unable to acquire the much-needed vaccines on time. Php 72.5B has been allocated in the 2021 Budget for the purchase of vaccines and necessary equipment. The first to seal deals for vaccines in the country were private institutions for their workers, followed by Local Government Units. Most of them opted for the Astrazeneca vaccine, manufactured at India’s Serum Institute. Unfortunately, unlike the vaccines, we are affected by the narrowing light at the end of the tunnel as we embrace looser protocols in the midst of a variant mutating virus. With the uncertainty of vaccine supply, comes new variants including the already locally transmitted UK variant. As of January 23, there are 17 cases detected in our country: from the Filipino businessman who came from Dubai, the two OFWs from Lebanon, and the rest locally transmitted in Bontoc, La Trinidad, Benguet, and Laguna. Internationally, there are three recognized variants and two variants under investigation. In September 2020, Danish authorities were alarmed by the spread of a new virant, “Cluster 5”, in mink farms. Just last December, an extensive spread of SARS-CoV2-VOC 202012/01 or variant 501Y in the UK. Followed by variant 501Y.V2 from South Africa. Currently, there are 2 variants from Brazil— VUI (variants under investigation) 202101/01 and VOC (Variant of Concern) 202101/02. Brilliant minds who are able to devise solutions and suggest protocols for combatting the virus. However, such suggestions are shunned when faced with economic opportunities. In a crisis, efficiency is ideal, but politics is the reality. We are all part of the collateral damage of leaders barely making ends meet. What a pity to live in an age of technical and scientific advancements placed at a pedestal for the rich, the politicians, and the selected few. We may have advanced in some sectors, but our humanity and morals are still medieval and selfcentered. Leaders should realize that the only solution for a pandemic is immunity of the virus not in one but in all citizens of all economic standing, nations and races.

E D I T O R I A L B O A R D S Y. 2 0 2 0 - 2 0 2 1

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

MEILINDA MALACAT

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

CHANTAL MACARAEG

MANAGING EDITOR

MELODY SORIANO

NEWS EDITOR FEATURES EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR MULTIMEDIA EDITOR DESIGN EDITOR

RONI SERRANO JUSTIN SANTELICES MARIA SOFIA DIMACULANGAN PATRICK ROMERO ELDRICK NOLASCO

ASST. PROF. MANUEL DASIG, JR., PHD. PUBLICATION ADVISER Published monthly, THE LANCE has its office at 3F Student Center Building, Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Intramuros Manila FOR COMMENTS, SUGGESTIONS AND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Email us at thelance@letran.edu.ph

ARTWORK BY ELDRICK NOLASCO

2021—a year we believed to hold onto our resolutions: improve study habits, start working out, manage time proficiently, and even revive old hobbies. Instead, many of us stopped counting days, making plans, and enjoying things we used to—in a hopeless situation with nothing to distract, some would think there is no way out but to destruct. The lockdown has forced many of us to coop into our little spaces—to make matters worse, in places we could not even cope. We have probably already memorized all their crannies and nooks; perhaps, how the light passes through windows, on stacked magazines and books. Heck, some of us could even hear It has been a long thirtyfive years since democracy was said to have been restored here in the Philippines. Last February 25th, the Philippines commemorated the 35th anniversary of the 1986 People Power Revolution; a series of peaceful demonstrations through which the people were able to oust former President Marcos. More than three decades after the People Power Revolution, the thought of a group of people peacefully assembling and asserting their rights seems to now be a thing that some would prefer to go without. It is incredibly ironic how the heart of the EDSA Revolution— activism—is nowadays deplored yet the people who constantly lambast modern-day activists, and for all the wrong reasons, are the same people who casually enjoy the fruits of activism itself. Under the current administration, various forms of activism have become commonplace. It

The kids aren’t alright LIMINALIST Meilinda Marie Malacat

@partyatmosbys eic.thelance@letran.edu.ph

bickering and exchanging of blows—often times, on the other end of those— from family members or mere passersby, who knows? Sometimes, such unsettling environment leads us to seek solace elsewhere: in fictional worlds, in virtual battle areas, and in the mundane things we do— or at least we try to (and that’s perfectly fine, too). Instead, we could find ourselves listening to the same playlists, re-reading the same pages, re-watching the

same series… in synch with life’s monotonous drill. With how it goes, it seems that’s how it feels. Maybe, for some us, it’s comparable to the sensation of succumbing into the wilderness like a child stepping outside its comfort zone—as if we’re too young for this complex world to wish we were back inside our mothers’ wombs. However, this new year has just begun— with doors unopened and more possibilities yet to come. In these challenging times we

Three decades later SLIGHTLY DEBATABLE Justin Santelices

@justinsntlcs featuresed.thelance@letran.edu.ph

is not unexpected given the continued cases of unlawful killings and violations of human rights. Even during a pandemic, the people find ways to protest against these injustices encouraged by a government that would rather please its neighbor up north than serve its very own people. Despite the numerous recorded cases of grave abuse of power, there are some who remain adamant in their belief that activism, in this time of President Duterte, is but an inconvenience. But how exactly does activism today differ from activism during Marcos’s reign? Why is it that the EDSA Revolution is so revered but modern-day activism is looked down upon? Ultimately, the

difference lies in the circumstances surrounding the respective eras. That, however, does not make activism in the time of President Duterte any less unjustified. To ignore the blatant violations of rights committed under the Duterte administration simply because it is “no Marcos” is nothing more than an approval of it. To condemn the activists who fight for the rights of others because it is an “inconvenience” is to actively remain blind to what is morally wrong. The circumstances present in the time of Marcos are indeed different from the circumstances at play in the time of Duterte. While they may have their similarities, they are

may feel tired, careless: behind our schoolwork, household chores, personal agendas, or whatever they may be in our respective cases. Procrastination is one thing, but prioritizing our mental health is another, especially when we still could not adapt to this set-up—when things are definitely not okay. There are still 335 days left (after this month), and not everything has to happen today. Maybe we have learned the lesson that A LOT can truly happen within a year, in the most unexpected manner, at least. Though it could feel like a slow ride towards the finish line, in this state of uncertainty, one thing’s for sure: this is when we realize we aren’t kids anymore. situated in vastly different eras. But it remains to be the case that the Filipinos do not need more individuals who grossly and casually violate the powers conferred upon them by the people they serve. After all, the point of history, or at least one of the many, is that it acts as a point of reference. The freedom won from the EDSA Revolution will be for naught if the lessons from it are ignored and not applied in the present situation. Like the classic adage says, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”. Unmistakably, activism was pivotal to making EDSA Revolution possible. It becomes doubly important now in this time where there is scant regard for human rights and human life by some of those in power. Activism is a “necessary inconvenience” not just to effectuate positive social change but to also protect those who were gained because of it.

Opinion

VO LU M E X L I V - I S S U E 5

t h e

l a n c e

On January 14, President Rodrigo Duterte remarked that “presidency is not for women,” and honestly, it is enraging but not that surprising anymore. The man has been openly looking down on women ever since he was seated into the presidency position. For context, he said this phrase to justify that his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sarah Duterte-Carpio, will not be running in the 2022 elections. Although I agree that the younger Duterte should not run for the upcoming presidential elections, his statement is something that is not tolerable. This is not the first time that the president expressed sexist remarks. Even before he sat in position, he spoke of offensive rhetoric against women, numerous episodes of rape jokes, and sexualization of the female gender. Even Vice President Leni Robredo was not exempted from the misogynistic remarks when he called out her skirt’s length at a commemoration ceremony for victims of a deadly typhoon. Yet another episode of dropping misogynist

If you’re a Harry Potter fan, you might even tell how the whole month was somehow similar to the Battle at Hogwarts. Some of the central characters in the Harry Potter series are Lily Evans, Molly Weasley, and Narcisa Malfoy. While they are known to be the mothers to three young wizards, each of them had their own traits. Lily, in particular, was known for her sacrifice so that Harry could live while Molly willingly took Harry as one of her own. Narcisa is much quieter and more subdued of the three but loved Draco, her only child just as fiercely. In 2020, three mothers stood out: Sonya Gregorio, Sharon Dacera, and Claire Dela Fuente. While their circumstances were different, they showed different forms of strength as a mother. In a viral video that spread around in December 2020, Sonia Gregorio shouted at Nueszca to “just kill her” minutes before

2 0 2 0 - 2 0 2 1

Not today, Patriarchy FREE REIN Roni Mae Serrano

@srrnrnm newsed.thelance@letran.edu.ph

remarks happened again, ridiculing women’s abilities in society. However, from the facts Forbes magazine released through an article in April 2020 regarding countries with the best COVID-19 Responses, they saw a common denominator between these countries’ leaders. Guess what? They are all women. Among these women leaders is Tsai Ingwen, the president of Taiwan. Back in January of 2020, when the then 2019-NCOV first emerged, the Taiwanese president introduced possible measures to block the spread without resorting to lockdowns. Her administration instituted one of the world’s most effective pandemic-response protocols. In fact, in December 2020, Taiwan went more than 200 days without a locally transmitted Covid-19. New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda

Ardern was also praised around the world for their government’s quick actions regarding COVID-19. The country conducted an earlyimposed lockdown, ordered self-isolation on people entering New Zealand when there were still fewer cases in the country, and banned foreigners entirely from entering soon after. It is no longer necessarily required to impose a lockdown or wear face masks or face shields in New Zealand anymore. The response led by Ardern also means children are safe to attend physical classes, and adults can harmlessly go back to their craft. Other countries such as Germany, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Finland, who also happened to have female leaders, were praised for handling the pandemic better, more reliably than most countries with male leaders. With these facts, we can say that the

A mother’s love MORTEMUS Maria Sofia Dimaculangan

@Sofieeeed sportsed.thelance@letran.edu.ph

getting shot. The image of her arms wrapped around him as they cried in vain could very much showcase the fact how she was willing to take a bullet for him. Their lives were taken away, but her love for her son, Frank, would remain alive through the years. The nation hasn’t recovered from the Gregorio double murder when the year was welcomed with another news that was just as shocking. Christine Dacera, a 23-year-old flight attendant, was found dead in the hotel bathtub. The night before, her mother revealed that Dacera called around midnight to wish her family a happy new year and that she is currently celebrating with her friends. Everyone expressed

their doubts about Sharon’s love for her own daughter. What kind of mother would willingly step over her own daughter? Despite the criticism she faced, Sharon stood strong, like how Molly stood her ground to defend her children during the Battle of Hogwarts. WHATEVER THE FUENTES ARE ON. Claire Dela Fuente was no different either. In comparison to how Narcissa Malfoy just lied to Voldemort to see if Harry Potter was still alive in the seventh installment of the franchise, it was quite a bold move to do in front of the most powerful dark lord in history. During that time, the Malfoys were very much in a heated situation with him as well. Setting aside their

Presidency, in general, has nothing to do with gender or sexuality. There is no gender requirement in the qualifications of the job because Presidency is a job that strives to be the most dependable in governing a nation and utilizing every means to sustain every citizen’s needs and safety amidst a health crisis. It is for someone who can efficiently lead with respect for democratic freedom and individual rights. Gender is not some kind of a measure or a basis to state that someone is fit for a specific job. Regardless, if a leader is a male or a female, the standard of leadership is competence and reliability. The prolonged mindset in a patriarchal country is that men are so used to being the stronger gender it was normalized to look down on the other genders’ capabilities. It is viewpoints like this that result in society not being able to harness women’s potential and skills. Society should not internalize patriarchal values because patriarchy and its culture denote oppression, and in this society, we do not welcome any form of oppression.

personal issues and standing up to the rest of the death eaters is what exactly Claire Dela Fuente did for her son. Rather than risk losing him, she chose to speak up regardless of the tax evasion issue she had last year. She remained silent throughout that time, but she disregarded all of that in order to defend her son, Gregorio. We tend to look at the surface of things. Probably it’s human nature. That isn’t simply the reason, but it’s the fact that we weren’t able to see all the sides and angles of the picture in just one day. We need to rationalize and understand. However, we end up saying more than knowing more because of how things flipped in the welcoming and ending of this month. There may have been monstrous happenings and changes around our country, but deep down is a mother fighting and sacrificing all her will and strength for the sake of her family.

Minority, privileged? UNDER SPOTLIGHT Chantal Macaraeg

@chanporaduh assoced.thelance@letran.edu.ph

Almost a year ago, the issue on police brutality erupted when George Flyod was murdered. There was an outpouring of support from all corners of the globe and calls for the reform of the United States’ justice system. It wasn’t an overnight event. It was a culmination of hundreds of years of racism and discrimination by people of color, waiting for the match to be lit. Hundreds of petitions continued to pour on Twitter, whether it was asking for financial support or to save an innocent black person’s life. Even a few months later, there is still outpouring support for black people wrongfully sentenced to death. As good as their intentions may be, I feared that it is becoming more for show than genuine desire for change. In the Philippines, police brutality remained a rampant problem since the colonial times. Give men a little taste of power and they get drunk off it. Give them a gun and they demand respect like it’s everyone’s duty to worship the ground they walk on. If you have enough money to throw around, the uniformed men will give you at least some ounce of respect. They wouldn’t want to bite the hand that feeds them. One would argue that there are decent policemen. I deeply apologize if your father/brother/uncle/grandfather are policemen, but they are just as complicit to the system of oppression. If Filipinos are able to easily talk about how black lives matter on the internet but ignore their own countrymen, would that make them just as responsible? Was it the Western privilege that allows light to be shone on the issues African-Americans are facing? What about our own Aetas who are at risk of being red-tagged right now? They might not be George Floyd or Brianna Taylor but they are just as deserving of our helping hand. But why allow ourselves to focus on Western problems when it’s not even our problem in the first place? Was it because it’s easier to understand? Something to occupy our idle days in quarantine? Then you are not an activist for change at all. You are just someone who, after reading several threads and checked out cards, wanted to join in for the sake of feeling less guilty about something. Sadly, most of this information is still very Western-centric or at least viewed with Western lenses. If the West can’t relate, then what is the whole point of raising concern? Not to mention the white savior complex by American/European missionaries who elevated themselves just because they are white, and they have money to throw away. Even in the Philippines, you’d notice that most of the time, the ones who are loudest on the internet are usually the upper middle-class children who are angry because “they were not taught about it”. What would your fancy, private school teachers teach you about the real world beyond the comfort of your gated subdivisions and having staff at your beck and call? Admitting privilege is difficult. But privilege can be simply turning back on what is happening to your own country because “there are other people who can help them”. If you can afford to spare a minute to what is happening to the rest of the world, I’m sure that you can also take a moment to see what is happening right in front of you.

VIEWFINDER

STRUGGLES. Letranites capturing scenes while experiencing struggles in the midst of the ‘New Normal’. PHOTOS BY CARA FADRIGO, KYLA VELASCO, JANEA ORATE, ARALI SANTIAGO, AND CHRISTELLE HARO

Features

FEATURES

The Internet saves the day! or... maybe not

Soul: Find your spark

Manila Memories

FEATURES EDITOR: JUSTIN SANTELICES LAYOUT ARTIST: ELDRICK NOLASCO

» TURN TO PAGE 8

» TURN TO PAGE 9

» TURN TO PAGE 8

An Old Jewel of Manila

PHOTO BY MARK AVERILLA

PHOTOS FROM PHILIPPINES TATLER WEBSITE

BY SAMANTHA BERNARDO

The show must go on! After more than two decades, the Manila Metropolitan Theater will finally open its doors this April 2021. It has been in the limelight for the past few weeks as it was reported that the theater is in its final stage of renovation. Its reopening is also just in time for the celebration of the 450th anniversary of Manila’s cityhood in June and for the commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Battle of Mactan, which will serve as the maiden show of the theater in April. With its opening fast approaching, it is fitting to reminisce on the theater’s history—a history filled with multiple attempted restorations.

PROLOGUE Also known as “Tanghalang Pangkalakhan ng Maynila”, this theater is an Art Deco building located in Ermita, Manila. Its design was created by Filipino architect Juan M. Arellano, who is known for designing Neo-Classic and Art Deco buildings. The theater, inaugurated on December 10, 1931, had a seating capacity of 1670. The structure’s interior and exterior are also adorned with different ornaments that symbolize the Philippines herself. After its inauguration, the theater housed different events such as variety shows, musicals, and even award shows. The theater was thriving until the unexpected happened. CONFLICT As a consequence of the Second

World War, the theater’s roof and walls were damaged. After renovation by the Americans, it was gradually left to rot and was eventually used by informal settlers as their housing. The once vibrant theater became nothing more than a dilapidated building. Then, a restoration plan was set by Imelda Marcos when she was the Governor of Metro Manila. The renovation was led by Otilio, the nephew of the late Juan Arellano. The renovation should have brought it back on its feet but, alas, it was a short-lived success as there was a conflict regarding its ownership between the Manila City Administration and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS). In the recent decade, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and then Manila mayor Alfred Lim initiated another revival plan for the

theater. Unfortunately, it did not go as planned. In 2011, the venue was then used for a concert of Filipino band “Wolfgang” but sadly, it closed a year after due to decay. Since then, Manila Metropolitan Theater just continued to deteriorate and the people just sort of forgot about it altogether.

RESOLUTION In 2015, the Department of Budget and Management issued a whopping PHP 270 million from the National Endowment Fund for Culture and the Arts for the purchase of the theater from the original owner, the GSIS. In the same year, the GSIS gave the ownership to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) to initiate the rehabilitation of the venue. After years of renovation and clean-up drives, the theater is finally

ready to accommodate the people’s need for the arts as the NCCA gave the public a sneak peek of the renovated theater a few weeks ago. The restoration of the structure is part of Mayor Isko’s to-do list as mayor of the nation’s capital. He swore to reopen the theater before his term ends in 2022. Its renovation can also lure potential tourists as Isko hints at the possibility of hosting an international independent film festival. ENCORE The arts are a part of life. It is where people usually turn to when something good or bad happened in their lives. The Manila Metropolitan Theater is more than just a building and the several attempts for its restoration may attest to that. With the renovation in full swing and its doors soon to open, appreciation is due.

FEATURES

FEATURES EDITOR: JUSTIN SANTELICES LAYOUT ARTIST: ELDRICK NOLASCO

Manila Memories BY GEORGINA SANTIAGO

If you ask a child to name a cartoon that is made in the Philippines, they will probably answer some anime that aired during afternoons on the local channels back then. But those are Japanese animes dubbed in Tagalog. If not that, then perhaps they’d answer something that came from Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, or Disney. Though relatively lowkey, the Philippines has had its fair share of animations, like RPG Metanoia which was a 3D animated film released back in 2010 and bagged several awards. Another is ‘Hayop Ka!’—a film produced by Rocketsheep Studios that aired last year. There is also the popular and locally made ‘Barangay 143’ that premiered in 2018. While some of these aren’t animation productions done by Filipinos through and through, it’s a good start. In recent years, the local animation industry has slowly been starting to make some noise, however, its voice is yet to be fully heard. So, this 4th year student from Mapua University decided to lend a hand by creating Manila Memories, a “thesis animated series” about two childhood friends going around tourist spots in Manila to try and get back the memories of the other. In an online interview with The LANCE, the man behind Manila

Memories, Renti Bautista, said that the series was inspired by the anime “Yuru Camp”. The characters were likewise inspired by the same show, with the exception of one of the main characters having amnesia. That idea was all Bautista’s and is one that is central to his goal of impacting viewers in a way that made them want to “visit Manila and maybe change their perspective of Manila even just a bit”. When asked why he chose Manila out of all the places he could have chosen, the creator responded by saying that Manila is “usually known for its slums, traffic jams, and pollution, which gives it an infamous and scary facade” and that, he says, might affect the country’s tourism as the nation’s capital. With this in mind, he made it so that the series would be able to showcase that, despite this “scary facade”, Manila has a gorgeous scenery with equally beautiful stories and rich cultures behind it. This resulted in multiple of his overseas viewers showing interest in coming to the Philippines and visiting the different tourist spots that Renti showed in the series. Bautista revealed that it took him 1-2 weeks to animate one episode. That included finishing the storyboard, sourcing and making the background, and creating the

ARTWORK FROM THE SM ART LOCAL

characters. There is also audio work and animating the episodes itself. He says that had the series been made during the pre-pandemic period, the quality of the backgrounds in the series would have been better. Instead, the pandemic pushed Bautista to be creative with his work and change his original plan of going around Manila to take photos for backgrounds. “After the pandemic hit, I had to be resourceful and use mostly Google Street View screenshots and some old photos I had on my hard drive”, he says. Manila Memories was created as part of his thesis which is a study on whether 2D animation could be an

effective way of promoting tourism. “After seeing all the responses to the animation, a lot of people have mentioned that since animation is a new type of media rarely used for tourism, and after watching the animated series, it could be a new potential interesting type of promotional tourism material in the future” says Bautista. He was initially hoped to reach just a few hundred so that he would have data for his paper. The one-man animator did not expect for the first episode to reach over sixty thousand views. As per his survey, viewers coming from US, Japan, Indonesia, China, and Malaysia have shown

interest in visiting Manila. Like all great things though, Manila Memories had to reach its conclusion. All five episodes composing the whole series are uploaded on Bautista’s YouTube channel, “rentikoy”. With all the positive reactions from the series, the fans of Manila Memories don’t need to worry as Bautista is highly motivated to release another series. Bautista says he’s thankful for everyone who supported the series and his works. He is glad to have made locals and foreigners alike interested in coming or going back to Manila, and to have inspired others in creating similar animations.

The Internet saves the day! or... maybe not

PHOTO FROM TBA STUDIOS

BY LIZA PORE

“You’re cancelled!” A term we’ve all probably heard at least a thousand times. With the general public becoming more social media-driven, it is no question that discussions and arguments often happen online now. Most of these conversations frequently relate to current news and societal issues, with netizens quick in voicing out their sentiments and sharing them on the web, even calling out some people and completely changing their lives overnight. Sometimes though, there are individuals who have been majorly affected by public backlash that goes

much deeper than being “cancelled”. Information can spread like wildfire through various social media platforms. Even if the issue itself is just developing, a conclusion is already decided by the public and is often the one that negatively affected all parties involved. Take for example the infamous case that swept the country just as 2021 arrived: the Christine Dacera case. The incident caused major uproar in social media, with celebrities and influencers calling out the heinous crime that was supposedly committed against the flight attendant, only to find out that the investigation was far from a closed case. New information kept popping

up left and right, further proving that the alleged suspects were not at all linked to the death of Dacera. Unfortunately, the damage had already been done. The mass posts, tweets and articles that were shared overnight had already gone viral, and the reputations of those wrongly accused were already tainted. The people, who became victims of an unjust decision prematurely made by the police force and the public alike, have fallen prey to a trial by publicity. Although we cannot fully blame the public for their emotions getting the best of them, it is inexcusable that these innocent people had to go through being people’s punching bags only to be revealed that in the end they had

no part in what was being accused of them. Another example of public by trial is the TV5 public service program Raffy Tulfo in Action. Hosted by Raffy Tulfo, the show aims to provide justice to ordinary Filipinos with swift remedies for their legal problems. On a surface level, it seems like a genuine way to help out those who don’t have the connections to assist them. But as the show grew and gained a massive following, the negative implications of the show became much more apparent, like how “due process”, a constitutional right of every person, is oftentimes disregarded in favor of pleasing the viewers’ established opinion on the

matter which, for better or worse, paints the picture of this television personality as a modern-day hero. A trial by publicity is a dangerous phenomenon that affects the lives of individuals, especially if a case isn’t even halfway done from being solved. It gives room for more unneeded opinions from the masses that may sway a verdict and may cause unnecessary mental struggles to the parties involved. As passionate we may be in criticizing what’s wrong in certain issues, we must also be aware of whether the information we are consuming is reliable, and to try as much as possible, to not let our emotions get to us to the point that we spread misinformation ourselves.

Features

VO LU M E X L I V - I S S U E 5

Soul: Find your spark BY ALEXI AQUILINO

“Life is not all black and white”— that quote is often shared to us when people pertain to the hardships and good things we experience in this world, claiming that at certain times, even though unfortunate events may happen to fall upon us, that doesn’t mean it’s all that is left for us to experience. Instead, it should drive us to understand how complex, or funnily simple, life truly is, and in Pixar’s latest animated film ‘Soul’, we get to see that belief from a whole new perspective. Released last December 25, 2020 in countries worldwide via the streaming platform Disney+, Soul showcases a modern and appealing concept when it comes to the idea of life before birth and life after death. It features Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx), the first African-American protagonist in a Pixar film, as an aspiring jazz musician who’s finally given the chance to get the big break he’s been aiming for throughout his career. However, before his dreams could fully turn into reality, he falls into an accident that separates his soul from his body. Unwilling to let go of his life just yet, Joe does everything in his power to go back, even teaming up with an unborn and pessimistic soul named 22 (Tina Fey) to assist him. As we watch the movie unfold, we get a glimpse of the obstacles Joe had to face in order to return and his realizations when it came to matters he thought he already had figured out. This draws us back to the quote above which allows us to see that there are multiple facets to a situation; never limited to just one or even two

viewpoints for us to consider.

THE SPARK Oftentimes whenever we’re left alone with our thoughts, we venture off and wonder what exactly our purpose in life may be. We think of various probabilities why we are born on this planet—in this specific time, with these types of people surrounding us and these kinds of opportunities presented in our way. Regardless of our age and how mature our outlook in life may be, we still catch ourselves coming back to square one—pondering why we are even here in the first place. Though in the middle of all of our assumptions about life, we neglect the idea that perhaps it is not even meant to be solved or directed in a strictly straight path. Maybe all that we need to do is to simply exist, to make mistakes, to keep learning, to carry on, and to find something worth living for. And that is what this film makes us think about. Like Joe Gardner at one point in the story, we too may hold some kind of belief that each one of us has a certain “thing” that can explain the universe’s intention of putting us here, but maybe it really isn’t as deep as we make it out to be. Maybe it’s just living life to the fullest, seeing the beauty of it, and appreciating every single piece of it down to its tiniest detail. And when we do instill that mindset, perhaps it is only then that we will be reminded of the spark we once found when we were at the “Great Before”, urging and convincing us that after dozens of uncertainties, it is finally time for us to live.

Ready or not

BY NICOLE ANTE

Just like that, Christmas break passed by quickly with Letranites celebrating the holidays with family and loved ones. Despite the pandemic, students made use of the time to bond with the people they love, do the things they are passionate about, and to just take a break from the academic hustle and bustle. However, after the celebration of new year comes the resumption of classes. On January 11, 2021, the second semester of Colegio de San Juan de Letran officially began, still in the “New Normal” virtual setup. Though it may be a new semester,

many still haven’t fully adjusted to the current setup. The first semester was much like a series of trials and errors that helped Leranites, students and teachers alike, to get a grasp of what needed to be done to make online classes easier for both sides. This meant investing in laptops, quality webcams, and headsets among others. Some even had to switch to a different internet provider just to have a more stable internet connection, one that would not have them “reconnecting” every five seconds. Of course, the positive experiences of one aren’t the positive experiences of all. “During face-to-face classes, I would learn

PHOTO FROM CLICKTHECITY

PHOTO FROM DISNEY WEBSITE

so much because I am more focused but now it’s gotten to the point that I am doing school work just to pass”, says Gian Mandap, a second-year psychology student of the Colegio. “Don’t get me wrong, I learn from some subjects and kudos to the professors for that, but most of the time, I’m not absorbing any knowledge at all”, he added. There were Letranites who decided not to enroll and there were those who chose to transfer schools. If not for the difficulties of the setup faced by some, it’s the expenditures that made them reconsider enrolling. This was the case for Bob Lina, an old psychology student of the Colegio, who opted not to enroll this school

year because of the pandemic, stating that doing so “also lessens the expenditures of my parents”. Some students who transferred schools, like Christine Magay, found that the setup took toll on their personal mental health, so much so that academic responsibilities had gotten to the point that they were too much to handle, further exacerbated by the national situation and their personal circumstances. All in all the second semester was met with a number of students who found themselves still struggling with and in this setup; some lack the appropriate gadgets, the all too necessary stable internet connection, and in some cases,

both. To put it differently, resources to achieve the most comfortable virtual setup inside their homes are still options not readily available for everyone. At the end of the day, amidst the technological difficulties, personal problems, and the in-betweens, everyone is just doing their best in trying to survive in the situation we find ourselves in, whether that meant enrolling for the second semester or taking a much-needed break. Once all of this is over, let us give each other a pat on the back and celebrate the silent victories we have won and the failures we overcame during these challenging times.

SPORTS

VO LU M E X L I V - I S S U E 5

Are we there yet?: A timeline of Gilas Pilipinas’ rough road ahead of the 2021 FIBA and Olympic Qualifiers

PHOTOS FROM SMART GILAS PHIL

BY ROMWEL ANZURES

Gilas Pilipinas, along with its governing body, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), went through a lot, not only trying to qualify for the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup which will be held on August, but also pushing through with its qualifiers which was severely affected by the ongoing pandemic worldwide. The last leg of the qualifiers was supposed to be held on home soil last February, but it did not come into fruition.

What were the reasons behind these series of unfortunate events? Last January, SBP announced their withdrawal from hosting the final leg of the qualifiers only a few weeks ahead due to travel restrictions in the country. Groups A, where Gilas belongs, and C were supposed to enter a bubble set-up in Pampanga before everything was cancelled. By early February, Qatar offered to host the last leg of the Qualifiers, which was eventually accepted by FIBA. It was set from February 1823, with NBA hopeful and Gilas

young star Kai Sotto suiting up for the national team. However, on the 12th of that month, five days ahead of the qualifiers in Qatar, the country’s basketball governing body begged off from hosting because of the rising cases of COVID in their country. Along with this, Sotto also withdraws from the team due to the uncertainties, SBP reports. Hours after the cancellation on the 13th of February, the SBP offered to host the qualifiers once again. FIBA instantly accepted it and made it official.

Days after the latest development, FIBA and SBP are just waiting for the final approval from the Philippines’ IATF, but all roads point to it pushing through. It is just a matter of when and not if. Gilas is only a win away from gaining a spot in the Asian Championships, and just like the qualifiers finally pushing through, all of these are just within an arm’s reach. The work has been done, preparations have been set, and Gilas is only a few inches away from competing for Asian Basketball supremacy.

FROM ASIA TO THE WORLD As if regaining the hosting of the Qualifiers isn’t enough, FIBA announced on February 26 that Gilas Pilipinas regained a spot in the Tokyo Olympic Qualifiers after New Zealand begged off due to COVIDrelated reasons. This is after Gilas’ elimination in the 2019 FIBA World Cup, where they underperformed and lost their chance to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. They would be facing Serbia and the Dominican Republic in Belgrade, Serbia from June 29 to July 4.

Sports

JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2021

Match Point: Letran Lady Knights to win match against game drought

PHOTO FROM THE NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION (NBA)

PHOTO FROM LETRAN FACEBOOK PAGE

BY ZENILYN YAP

The Letran Lady Knights are ready to end their match against lockdown limitations. Last year, they accepted the excruciating frustration when pandemic protocols affected all NCAA Season 96, meeting sharp ends on their covered games. However, that did not stop the Knights from bouncing back from what others think is ‘loss’. Double the grit to the current conditions of their team upon seeing the disadvantage as a ticket to grow another room for

improvement, to boost their game, and to refine the structures of their plays amidst reality deuces. The 21-year-old setter, Edma Musngi said that despite the lockdown, they continued to practice at home individually in order to prepare themselves for the future training on the court. “To be honest, we still need to improve for the next season for us to maintain our rank and attain our next goal.” The 5 foot 9 Pampanga native Kathleen Dela Cruz shared. Bars have been set up high by the Letran Lady Knights as they stepped-up their game during the

previous season of NCAA to attain their primary aim. Lady Knights Chamberlaine Cunada, Julienne Castro, Kathleen Dela Cruz, and Edma Musngi shared the same goal of climbing the sole spot for the final four of NCAA Women’s Volleyball division and will not stop hustling until their team book a seat on one of the Top 4 thrones. “Our team is continuously aiming to enter the Final 4 next season. We are going to do whatever it takes to win every game. We won’t go down without a fight.” The 3rd year Marketing

Major Cunada claimed. 2nd year Advertising Major Julienne Castro lit a positive retort, “I think it’s possible, especially with the dedication and ‘gigil’ of my teammates to play again.” The determination isn’t as subtle as expected when Castro continued to disclose the team’s plan to do their best and surpass their standing last year onto the next tourney. When GMA was mentioned to be the NCAA’s official broadcast partner, several reactions from the Lady Knights went inevitable as they expressed their excitement

upon hearing the news “We are excited to work with GMA, especially knowing that our games would be televised (again). We are beyond honored and thankful.” Castro said on behalf of her teammates. In talks of how the Lady Knights attend to the expectations of their fellow Letranites, the girls are very positive to deliver what the Letran Community looks forward to. It is the end of an era for the dead-air battle. The Lady Knights will push through their limitations and make their opponents watch out.

Sports The Lance

Big men reign on the deepening PBA Draft Pool, includes Letran’s Larry Muyang BY ZENYLIN YAP

2021 PBA draft pool is set to harvest the bigger and better rulers of the court. It is said that PBA draft hopefuls have been given the deadline to accomplish their applications on the 27th of January for this year. Big men from collegiate and amateur plays to all-rounder Fil-foreigners were set to complete the roster of rookie aspirants to enter the league. Among the 67 huge playmakers that threw a shot to be part of the pool, the Colegio’s very own Letran

Knight, Larry Muyang, made the hoops partially full, having only one year in the institute before completely joining the real deal. Muyang can make it to the cut because of his previous endeavors and being a huge contributor to the accomplishments of Letran Knights. Before the big man was introduced as a full-pledged Knight, the 6 foot 5 Pampanga native seized his size to bulldoze other opportunities including Pampanga Giant Lanterns, San Juan Knights in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL), and Pampanga Delta in the National

League. Sitting on the front row of big men together with Muyang is the undeniable talent and a previous Tamaraw, Ken Holmqvist, a 6 foot 8 Norwegian that previously proved himself at the courts of University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP). Holmqvist scooped a scenestealing moment at the UAAP Season 78, who ended the Tamaraw’s longdecade drought by fishing for the gold medal last December 2, 2015 against University of Santo Thomas. Standing beside the center court

with Muyang and Holmqvist is the 6 foot 6 forward from Greece, William Navarro, who’s skipping his final year on Ateneo Blue Eagles by taking a leap of faith in the PBA Drafts. Navarro tapped the Blue Eagles by proving not only his large-scale demeanor but also by emphasizing his intellectual plays, creating an amount of benefits favoring the Blue Eagles in their three-peat run on the 82nd season of UAAP. Navarro on his 21 minutes of play weighted his averages of 7.3 points on 44 percent shooting, with 5.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists becoming

FILE PHOTO

a turning point to consider himself joining the big league. Big men: Santi Santillan (UV/ La Salle), Ben Adamos (TIP/San Beda/Perpetual), Troy Rike (NU), and James Laput (La Salle) are also aspirants for the upcoming draft. The PBA administered all hopefuls to submit their videos exhibiting their skills by doing skills test and drills as a replacement for the traditional draft combine. The PBA rookie draft will happen on March 14 and shall happen virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic limitations.

Rhenz Abando and co. pay campus visit

PHOTOS BY PATRICK ROMERO

PHOTOS FROM LETRAN FACEBOOK PAGE

BY GABBY BALCOS

For the first time since deciding to join the Knights late last year, Rhenz Abando donned the Letran blue and red in an Instagram post taken during his recent campus visit. Abando, together with fellow new recruits Brent Paraiso, Ira Bataller,

and Neil Guarino happily posed for pictures shared by Letran’s official Facebook page. This was the first known campus tour for the four cagers since the Knights acquired the former Growling Tigers after leaving University of Santo Tomas in September 2020. The four first made headlines when

they were involved last year in the Growling Tigers’ infamous Sorsogon bubble. Considered as one of the rising stars in Philippine collegiate sports, Rhenz Abando averaged close to 12 points and five rebounds per game in his last tour of service for UST. With the departure of a key-piece

such as Larry Muyang who opted to join the PBA despite being eligible for one more year with the Knights, the addition of other former Tigers Paraiso and Bataller adds more firepower to Coach Bonnie Tan’s squad as they try to go for back-toback titles. With former squire Guarino, the

trio together with reigning Finals MVP Fran Yu makes the Knights a heavy favorite to win it all in the upcoming season 96 of the NCAA Season 96 is tentatively slated for April this year. With just four sporting events set to take place, no official update regarding an exact opening date has been released.