November Issue 3 - A.Y. 2020-2021 by The LANCE

NOVEMBER 2020

VOLUME XLIV ISSUE 3

NEWS

Typhoon Ulysses: the aftermath

FEATURES

OPINION

A time for festivities: Letran’s Quadricentennial Year

SPORTS

NCAA, GMA Network ensures landmark deal until 2026

The Calm Before the Storm

Letran commemorates 400th founding year with relief operation

PHOTO BY DAVY CHIOA VIA LETRAN FACEBOOK PAGE

BY ANDREA YSABEL ANDRES MANILA, PHILIPINES - Letran’s much-awaited Quadricentennial Foundation Celebration changed its course as “Colegio Day” became “Tulong Letranista Day”. It is a series of humanitarian efforts that are thematically and topically relevant especially with the recent typhoons “Rolly” and “Ulysses” ravaging Northern Luzon and Bicol Region. It started with Misa de Gracias, a Eucharistic celebration presided by Rector and President Rev. Fr. Clarence Victor C. Marquez, O.P. at the Colegio Chape, and was aired via Facebook live. “Nang tulad sa ebang helyo, nakalaan sana ang taon 2020 para papurihan ang Letran, mistulang “templo” ng karunungan para sa atin.” (Like the gospel, the year 2020 would have been set to praise Letran, as if it were a” temple” of wisdom for us.), the Rector said. Preparations for the long-awaited Quadricentennial Celebration

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started in 2016. However, the commencement of the COVID-19 pandemic and the eventual implementation of lockdown in Metro Manila and nearby provinces resulted in the postponement of school activities indefinitely. Similarly, Fr. Rector emphasized that the Letranite must be always prepared to help others regardless of their shortcomings.

ANG “HANDAAN” NG APAT-NARAAN A highlight of this year’s celebration is “Ang Handaan ng Apat-na-Raan” wherein students, faculty and staff, alumni members, and administrators repacked relief goods at Salon de Actos. It was streamed on the Colegio’s official Facebook page and was followed by Enviar in which 17 teams of student and staff volunteers from the Letran community joined the en route to affected communities. Each department of the Colegio has designated location assignments; Like us on Facebook fb.com/thelanceletran

Basic Education-Rodriguez, Rizal; Senior High School – San Mateo Rizal; College of Engineering and Information Technology - Montalban, Rizal; College of Liberal Arts and Sciences & College of Business Administration and Accountancy – Marikina City; Graduate School and Admin – Bulacan; College of Education and Support staff – Pampanga. The relief drive was in partnership with the Dominican Family for Justice and Peace and Care for Creation.

institution. A grocery raffle for partner communities ensued as well as several interviews with the Enviar team. Social media celebrity and Letran alumnus-cum-part-time BAAdvertising instructor Mark Averilla (aka “Macoy Dubs” and “Aunt Julie”) also shared his wondrous recollections of his student years in the Colegio.

“AYUDA LETRAN” The Ayuda Letran, hosted by BABroadcast Communication alumnus, employee, and part-time Institute of Communication instructor Nathaniel Gonzales, featured the Quadricentennial short film entitled ‘Gunita’ (produced by Letran Alumni and Public Relations Department). It depicted a fact-based story of a family who witnessed the Arriba Letran spirit in each generation, with members being alumni of the

“REGALO”: A BENEFIT CONCERT AND FUENTE ESPECTACULAR As part of the celebration, a benefit concert was held to raise funds and help the victims of typhoon “Ulysses”. The show was performed by numerous local artists, including Jason Fernandez, This Band, Mayonnaise, and several others. Finally, this year’s celebratory events ended with Fuente Espectacular (hosted by the City Government of Manila and was led by Mayor Francisco “Isko” Domagoso_), wherein the Letran community, together with several guests and

onlookers witnessed a blue and red fountain show held at the Kartila ng Katipunan (Bonifacio Shrine). Despite the apparent changes in the supposed-to-be magnanimous Quadricentennial Celebration of the Colegio’s founding anniversary, the outcome turned out to be more than apt given the recent cataclysmic events in the nation. As Rev. Fr. Rector Marquez addressed the Letran community during the Misa de Gracias: “Arriba lang nang Arriba! Ang taong 2020 ay Taon ng Letran, ikaapat-na-raang taon ng ating alma mater. Ang apat na taong paghahanda ay dito nakatuon - sa papuri sa Diyos, pagtulong sa kapwa, sa pagpapasalamat ng Letran.” [Arriba lang nang Arriba! The year 2020 is the year of Letran, the fourthcentury year of our alma mater. The four-year preparation focuses on this - to praise God, to help others, to express Letran’s gratitude. Despite these challenges, the Arriba spirit goes on. As the popular adage goes: Siempre Arriba! Siempre Letran!

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NEWS

NEWS EDITOR: RONI SERRANO LAYOUT ARTIST: ELDRICK NOLASCO

Typhoon Ulysses: the aftermath BY RONI MAE SERRANO

For two consecutive days in November, Typhoon “Ulysses”, the Philippines’ 21st tropical cyclone for an otherwise turbulent 2020, brought heavy rains that generated massive flooding in the country’s northern province. Apparently, “Ulysses” is the most destructive tropical cyclone to hit the country this year as it instigated a devastating number of casualties and damages in Marikina City, Cagayan, and Isabela that left these areas submerged in massive flooding for weeks. As of November 17, the death toll from Typhoon Ulysses has ascended to 73 according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council. Not only the residents were affected, but it was also reported that the typhoon caused losses in modular materials. In certain areas, the loss of electricity also resulted in the loss of internet connection for some. In an interview with secondyear BA-Political Science student Shan Arnold Bautista (an Ilocano who currently resides in Tumauini, Isabela, one of the affected provinces) he mentioned that “The typhoon wasn’t that strong [in our area]. The reason for the flooding was because Magat Dam opened all its gates,” he shared in a phone call interview last November 17. While his family was not directly affected by the torrential flooding, some parts of his barangay were submerged up to the second floor. Those who were not directly affected lived along the highways. According to a GMA News Network story, the residents who were directly affected by the floods camped out on the road

for four nights as they pleaded for help. Fortunately, The LANCE later learned that Mr. Bautista had been helping with rescue operations during the flooding in Tumauini, Isabela. When asked about this, he said that his sister is a member of the town council, and his family had been active with the relief operations. “We went with her to provide relief goods and [mineral] water in certain villages where massive flood occurred,” he added. The BA-Political Science sophomore added that the flood already reached 10 meters in their area, which is up to the second floor for some. There are residents who can only be reached through boats as they are stranded on rooftops. When asked if the Colegio reached out to him for help, he accepted and said it wasn’t for his family but for his fellow kababayan. Interestingly, Bautista stressed the challenges of pursuing online classes, especially after the typhoon especially as he is currently enrolled in the Colegio. He argued: “33 barangays were affected. The other barangays had [experienced] power interruption. They do not have electricity.” He continued, “Of course, as an individual, even if I am lucky that I was not [directly] affected, I cannot afford that [my community is suffering], how about them?” Like Shan, many Filipinos shared the same suffering in the aftermath of typhoon “Ulysses” and the damages it causes amidst the pandemic. Thousands of families had their homes submerged, lost their loved ones, and students had to compromise their online classes due to internet connection loss and modules swept away by the flooding.

PHOTO SATELITE FROM PAG-ASA

PHOTO FROM PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER

Cemeteries, columbariums closed for UNDAS 2020

PHOTO FROM PHILIPPINE STAR

BY QUEENIE ROSE RAMOS

Malacañang announced all cemeteries, columbariums, and memorial parks nationwide to be closed for a week during Undas 2020, from October 29 to November 4, 2020, to avoid public gatherings in the light of COVID-19. However, the Inter-Agency Task Force allowed visitors in all

cemeteries and memorial parks from September 17 – November 15, 2020 but set a maximum capacity to 30 percent. All visitors during this period must observe physical distancing and must wear face masks and face shields. Age restrictions were also lifted for those who will visit cemeteries. Those who are under 21 years old and over 60 years

old were allowed to visit their departed loved ones only for the given period. Cemeteries in Metro Manila were usually densely populated due to millions of people commemorating their departed loved ones. However, with the risks of the COVID–19 and government-imposed lockdown, the usual Undas traditions were halted.

PHOTO FROM RAPPLER PH

Since March, Metro Manila and other parts of the country have been placed on lockdown under different restrictions levels. As of writing, National Capital Region (NCR) remains under the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) until the end of November. Still, NCR mayors proposes to extend the community quarantine until the end of the 2020.

Meanwhile, Letran–Manila also announced an Undas break on Friday, October 30, 2020, until Monday, November 2, 2020, in observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. The given break also encouraged students and staff to spend quality time with their families in honoring their departed loved ones.

News

VO LU M E X L I V - I S S U E 3

Letran alumnus donates books for Colegio’s Library BY MARK ALLAIN MANATAD

THE LIBRARY Services Department (LSD) receives book donations from an alumnus now included in the newly renovated Colegio Library. The collection was named after William Carlos Uy, an alumnus from Batch HS ‘60, as a token of gratitude for his generous donation for his alma mater. Asst. Prof. Carolyn R. De Jesus, the Colegio’s Chief Librarian, expressed how these newly-donated books can be beneficial for the learning and research needs of the Letranites. However, with the given situation where students are prohibited from visiting the Colegio for safety purposes, Asst. Prof. De Jesus admitted that the donated books are still inaccessible. “[…] we cannot have the system yet wherein they can [students] digitize or make accessible remotely,” she said. “Pero siguro pwede naman once na-encode na namin siya sa system and pwede ma-browse sa OPAC, that’s the time for the physical book to be loaned sa inyo,” [Once the books can be encoded in the system and can be browsed through the OPAC, that’s the time for the

PHOTO FROM LETRAN VIA FACEBOOK PAGE

physical book to be loaned by the students.] she added. Furthermore, Asst. Prof. De Jesus explained the relevance of donating for the improvement of the Colegio, “Syempre yung benefits na nabibigay nito sa ating mga stakeholders. So if you have [donated] sa library, you are part of the [people] na nagbibigay services sa ating mga stakeholders; students, faculty, and alumni,” [Of course, the benefits it provides our stakeholders. So if you have donated in the library, you are part of the [people] who offers services for our stakeholders; students, faculty, and alumni, ] she expounded. The Chief Librarian announced that resources available online are accessible on the official website of the Letran Manila. She also shared that the library’s Letran email and official Facebook account are open to students’ library concerns and needs in this pandemic. Last November 16 to 20, the Colegio, together with the Library Services Department, recently celebrated the 86th National Book Week, with the theme “Libraries as Catalysts in the New Normal Environment: Changes. Reforms. Transformations.”

Knights Speak “With light of the recent natural disasters that devastate the Philippines, is there a need to create a new disaster management government agency? Why or why not?” ARTWORK BY KUNO CREATIVE

Dominic Enrique Sarip, second year BA-Political Science student

John Jaca, First Year BS-Information Technology student

I do not think it is necessary to establish the Department of Disaster Resilience though the said department is intended to solve the problems brought by natural calamities. If the government is willing to establish another [agency] wherein financial leverage is apparently needed, why not allocate it instead to the LGUs (Local Government Units) since they are the first line of defense against disasters and emergency situations in their respective cities and towns? Given the massive impact of the pandemic and recent typhoons and floods in some cities and provinces in the Philippines, local government officials must be given autonomy to strategize their respective disaster management platforms.

I think there isn’t a need to create a new disaster management-related government agency because we have an existing one which is National Disaster Risk Reduction Management. What is urgent is to review their respective work functions and guidelines in order to perform better and to coordinate with each other. If we create a new or another government agency, there is a tendency to complicate the process considering there are other ones that they have need to consult with. Also, we have to revise relevant legal statutes. Remember that natural calamities are beyond our control as human beings. and that it is our collective responsibility to protect the environment.

For me, we should strengthen existing government institutions instead na magtayo ng panibagong agency [instead of creating a new agency]. We already have NDRRMC (National Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Council), and what we need is to strengthen it in order to utilize what they can do, and increase the budget to modernize. If this is done, addressing disaster and emergency situations will become transparent and strategic. Building a new agency will be unnecessary if its mandate is similar to the existing institutions that we have.

In my opinion, no, we have existing disaster management-related government agencies. There is no need for another one. What we need to do is to enhance these institutions. We have to change those protocols na hindi naman talaga effective [that are ineffective]. We have to improve these standards to navigate relevant issues such as climate change, global warming, and health-relevant ones. What are the new disaster-related agencies for if they have the same protocols and management style? This is nonsense because apparently, the current agency protocols are not functional.

Yes. The trustworthy and transparent one. Local government officials could not appropriately distribute the donations and other forms of assistance from the private sector with people without access to essential goods and services or displaced ones in need of emergency assistance.

In my perspective, inaugurating a law that will improve the disaster and risk management of the Philippines could be advantageous if there will be concrete, consistent, and sustainable objectives for implementation. However, if this is going to be another example of a wellestablished law but poorly operationalized, it might confuse the public and weaken the existing coordination between the government units and non-government stakeholders. Since this will require another funding, why don’t they just return the funds they reduced from the national calamity budget or modify the preparation and responses to climate emergencies through efficient and realistic disaster preparedness measures? This is to avoid repetition or Instead, we should empower and strengthen the surviving units - particularly LGUs and nongovernment sectors through sufficient financial and specialized assistance, which the national government agencies prioritize in the proposed disaster-related government. This isn’t just a matter of environmental consideration butan affirmation that disaster preparedness is an individual and collective responsibility.

Jose Rafael Aggabao, Second Year BA-Political Science student

Denise Dela Cruz, Third Year BA-Advertising student

Ryan Paolo Padlan, First Year BA-Political Science student

From my viewpoint, I think there is a need to create a disaster management-related agency that will focus on the disaster and identify which areas are prone to it, thereby strategizing to mitigate its impact.

Pia Membrere, Treasurer, Letran Student Council

Andrew Dominic Landingin, Third Year BA-Communication student

OPINION

NOVEMBER 2020

EDITORIAL The Calm Before the Storm

We were too ‘chill’ before the devastation. Even with the preliminary knowledge of the storms and the worsening state of climates change, Philippines remained unprepared for the worst that is yet to come. The National Capital Region was hit adversely by typhoon Ulysses, ten days right after Typhoon Goni surged in South Luzon. Along with the effects of the pandemic, the country is in turmoil; Goni and Ulysses left the lands devastated, calamity funds depleted, and people wearied. Annually, there are 20 Typhoons in the Philippine region with five of them being deadly. Seven years ago, the Philippines reached international headlines with Super Typhoon Haiyan, local name Yolanda, destroying the Visayan islands with strong winds that reached the speed of 315 km/h. Similarly, Goni came and devastated the lands of Bicol and Cagayan with winds that go up to 315 km/h. Ulysses followed with a wind speed of 213 km/h, a lower intensity but came with a higher casualty rate. Typhoon Goni left 25 dead, 399 injured, and 6 missing. As Ulysses hit heavily populated areas, including Metro Manila, it left 73 dead, 76 injured and 19 missing as of November 24. It is essential to consider the area of the landfall and the population mass, the urban poor population has suffered the most as Ulysses left almost half a million more affected families than Goni; 522,600 families affected by Goni, 1,001,364 by Ulysses, or 2 million more affected individuals than its counterpart. The Republic Act No.10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Management Act of 2010 was supposed to prepare the country for the storm’s adverse effects. There is a comprehensive guideline of creating an efficient disaster risk reduction and management committee in the national, regional, provincial and barangay levels. A five percent allocation of Local Government Units is set aside for disaster preparedness. Supplementary to that the RA 10639 or the Free Mobile Disasters Alert Act is now inefficient in its purpose, “Bilasa na ‘yung alert kapag dumarating. Sa halip na makatulong ay nakakainis ‘yung nangyayari,” [the report comes in late. Instead of helping, it becomes annoying] former Bayan Muna Chairman Rep. Neri Colmenares said. Although the intent was great the comprehensive act was inauspicious, here are the reasons why: THE OCD IS A DND WING The Office of Civil Defense is the implementing arm of the NDRRM Act. The current administration has an inexplicable adoration for the military that the administration chose the military to lead disaster and risk management programs. Scientists were set aside and immediately blamed when they “did not warn” the officials. But does the military listen? No. They only carry out orders from higher-ups and are forced to fumble their way through disasters with the use of “common sense” and finger-pointing. The Office of Civil Defense can only do so much. DOST, along with the coordination of DENR and Climate Change Commission, should be leading the disaster risk and management instead. Proper research, along with the knowledge regarding the geographical condition of the country, can help mitigate severe impacts. LEFT IN THE HANDS OF THE CIVIL SOCIETY DRRM fund has been slashed from P38.9 billion in 2016 to P15.8 billion in 2017. The Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazard) was defunded by the administration last 2017. We see how ‘resilient’ the victims are, and how ‘helpful’ the civil society is. It is no longer romantic when leaders start pointing fingers and criticize each other’s donation drives for the past Typhoons while the society is left to face the consequences; respond as quickly as they can to ease the effects and aid the needy. This is a calamity characterized by climate change intensified by poor systematic preparation and response. The response is not ample but what’s way worse is a facadial law; a budget-stripped military-led office left to prepare the country for one of the century’s biggest challenges: climate change.

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 ASSOCIATE EDITOR MANAGING EDITOR NEWS EDITOR FEATURES EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR MULTIMEDIA EDITOR DESIGN EDITOR

MEILINDA MALACAT CHANTAL MACARAEG MELODY SORIANO 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

Climate action begins with environmental initiative

2020 is arguably one of the worst years many have come to experience. Everyone is challenged in personal, social, political, and economic aspects but above all, environmental. In fact, the Philippines faced numerous natural and man-made disasters this year alone: volcanic eruption, earthquakes, fires, and most recently, typhoons and floods. These left an irreversible impact on people— destroyed houses, damaged livelihoods, and even took innocent lives. Whatever status in life, these tragic events definitely gave a lasting impression for years to come, especially to the poor and marginalized sectors who are always greatly affected. Indeed, natural disasters are brought upon by natural conditions. No one can stop heavy rains, landslides, storm surges, and the likes by simply snapping one’s

“Mahirap pero alam niyo naman ang mga Pilipino, alam niyong tumindig uli,” [It’s difficult, but you know the Filipinos, [they] know how to rise up again.] says President Duterte anent the recent floods in Cagayan Valley. Indeed, they are survivors. Time and again the Filipinos have “triumphed” over history’s worst disasters and proven themselves as an indomitable bunch. Against these natural calamities, it seems that the government’s regularly inadequate responses coupled with the decision to employ the Filipino resiliency narrative is the way to go. It makes even the apocalypse look like a walk in the park. (knock on wood) Jokes aside, the resiliency thing has to stop being the goto answer whenever

LIMINALIST Meilinda Marie Malacat

@partyatmosbys eic.thelance@letran.edu.ph

fingers; it takes collective climate action to cushion climate-induced impacts. This can be made possible by proper disaster management plans by the government, officials and business-owners being responsible with their actions, and individuals having their own environmental initiatives. Yes, Filipinos are “resilient”—a nation identified to bounce back from trials with optimism—but its neverending narrative only romanticizes the struggles consistently being faced whenever calamities strike. Moreover, the term ultimately downplays the severity of these catastrophes and leaves

little room for those in power to be accountable for incompetence—when there shall be no excuse when lives are at stake. True resiliency begins with the initiative to be environmentally conscious. Being privileged in disastrous times calls for sensitivity and support to those who are suffering through concrete actions rooted from the impulse to care. In this time of pandemic, it is okay to begin an eco-friendly lifestyle by sharing factual information online, minimizing consumption of hazardous products, and even taking care of plants at home. Still, one of the best ways to fully

Too much resilience SLIGHTLY DEBATABLE Justin Santelices

@justinsntlcs featuresed.thelance@letran.edu.ph

the Filipinos suffer the consequences of different phenomena. In times of crises, what is necessary are real and practical solutions — not long-winded speeches that leave it to fate and faith. While there is undoubtedly a need for public servants to assure the people that things will be fine, it will mean absolutely nothing if the problem itself is not met with tangible solutions. More than the need for an improved disaster response, the government should focus on making better its disaster preparedness. The damages left by Ondoy and Yolanda should have already told us that the country, among other

things, must improve its infrastructures, allot more funds for contingencies, intensify information dissemination especially in secluded areas which do not rely on modern mediums of consuming news, and ultimately be better prepared. From here on out, the Philippines should only expect that these super typhoons will be the ones visiting the country rather than its nonsuper siblings. These harsh realities should dictate how the country moves forward with its disaster response and disaster preparedness. It cannot go on relying for sympathy from bigger countries forever.

grasp environmentalism is by joining non-profit organizations that focus on climate change and sustainability advocacies, push for environmental laws and science-based solutions, and raise eco awareness to everyone, especially the younger generation. Some youthled conservatism groups are Letran Community Volunteers, Project Puno, The Initiative PH, ALON, and Wavefarers. In truth, the climate crisis is here. Turning a blind eye on this striking phenomenon can only worsen the state everyone already is in. Meanwhile, significant change can only happen when Filipinos work hand-in-hand with communal efforts and accountability. It is time people acknowledge this reality, as well as each one’s vital role, to make this planet a better home for children in the future. Yet despite all these, I cannot say that the Philippines should forgo the concept of resiliency altogether. For while the shortcomings of the government should not be left to an old and dangerous narrative, there is value in providing hope to those who look for it and to those who may not know that they need it. It seems even necessary for public servants to let the people know that they will overcome that which has happened, that which is happening, and that which will happen. The success of the resiliency narrative, however, is contingent on the existence of concrete solutions that truly address the people’s needs before, during, and after calamities. As with most things, it has to be a balancing act and, in this case, it is a balance between being optimistic and being realistic.

Opinion

VO LU M E X L I V - I S S U E 3

“De-normalize” sensationalism

In a world where the media plays an outstanding role in creating and shaping public opinion and strengthening society’s voice, what happens when we get to see the other side of the coin? This was my question after watching the film Iska on Netflix. The indie film was an official entry to the 2019 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, which garnered big awards, including Best Screenplay, Best Sound, and Best Actress award for Ruby Ruiz, who played Iska’s role. To give context, Iska is a hard-working, persistent person, a loving but impoverished grandmother to her grandson who has autism. For her, he was her reason for living. As the film progresses, a TV show program called “Defenders of the Mass” got hearsays that Iska had been chaining and locking her grandchild inside their house. Consequently, the show had gone to Iska’s place to take away her grandson and brought him to a bahay-ampunan. Since then, Iska’s life had In every academic and media discussion on the topic of equality in all genders and their rights, society is actually starting to make that big leap of change. From the SOGIE bill, to every fight on the violence against women, the march goes on. In this state of the pandemic, we finally came to the point of finding a cure. Through this journey, each and one of us has successfully fought different kinds of battles. The International Men’s Day was celebrated this month of November to honor the yielding contributions men have made for society and their families. In line of this day, it’s time to turn the page and give men the same amount of attention they deserve from all of their unrecognized series of success and sacrifices, at the same time, turning away from toxic masculinity. Toxic masculinity refers

FREE REIN Roni Mae Serrano

@srrnrnm newsed.thelance@letran.edu.ph

never been the same. The film presented relevant social issues, including poverty, abuse, employment, lack of government support to children with special needs, and patriarchy. But suppose there’s one more relevant issue the film has shown, and it’s the media’s flaws—how it can change an individual’s life by manipulating, framing, or distorting the truth through sensationalizing stories and irresponsible journalism. Media sensationalism is not a rare thing. It’s a preexisting problem whether on online news, from the prints, or on a TV show. And for a journalism student, it is an urgent matter that needs to stop because sensationalism speaks of irresponsibility and absence of ethics in reportage. Media companies and news outlets tend to sacrifice

journalism principles to sensationalize ordinary people’s stories for the sake of high ratings and public interest. As a consequence, it damages the media’s reputation in many ways. When the facts of a story are exaggerated or distorted to receive better ratings, it obviously fails the goal to provide people with accurate information. Sensationalized stories also impact our lives without even realizing it, whether it’s your story being used, or you’ve come to see an information that was sensationalized. Either way, its effects can change our perception of the media. It provokes us not to trust the media anymore and may lead to a disparity between the press and the masses. Towards the end of the film, it was revealed that Iska was wrongly accused, and it turns out that it was her neighbor who

Real Men Do Cry MORTEMUS Maria Sofia Dimaculangan

@Sofieeeed sportsed.thelance@letran.edu.ph

to the kind masculinity that can be or is damaging to society and to men and women in general. The idea to be resilient and push through issues or challenges, is a good trait to have. Psychologists Tomas ChamorroPremuzic and Derek Lusk warned that when taken too far, it encourages individuals into focusing on impossible goals and makes them unnecessarily tolerant of unpleasant or counterproductive circumstances. Men no longer need the typical advice, “That’s life, we all have issues, don’t let it affect work or mention it at work.” The unrealistic expectation that men must be

stuck in a routine that solely revolved around work is very damaging. This notion led to rise in cases of mental health problems among men, some of them resorting to unhealthy coping mechanisms to cope. Nowis a perfect time to focus on the issues and challenges men are currently facing during this period. We can’t let the stereotype that men are not allowed to express their concerns, lest they be judged for being too “emotional”. There are things where men must learn to keep their mouths shut out of respect. Genes and family heirlooms aren’t the only ones that must be passed down to generations.

had done an inhumane thing to her child, but she can’t do anything about it anymore. She can’t take back what the media reported because she’s just a mere ordinary citizen without the power to correct the story told about her and her grandson’s life. Although it is evident that there is a business in the media, journalism is still about telling people’s stories because they matter, and the world needs to hear them and not for the purpose of ratings. While it’s nice to have tons of engagements, high ratings, or thousands of views, the media industry should not forget the basics; to always strive for accuracy because our obligation is to the truth, to not harm people’s lives because our allegiance is to the citizens, and to be responsible with our reportage. With the realization I had after watching the film, I asked myself again: How many Iskas have had their lives changed negatively because of the media’s unethical actions and irresponsibility in reportage?

Men should be able to express themselves, and at the same time, be strong, and don’t brand them as weak. Men can also remain calm and handle fights without resorting to violence. In order to achieve this, the idea of men being “strong and silent” all the time should be destroyed. It’s time to re-educate the men on what healthy dominance is. The elimination of “Lad Culture” and “Locker Room Talk”, emphasizing the importance of healthy relationships, the value of emotions, how to properly handle conflict and so much more. The march never stops until every wall that limits society and its people from greatness is broken down. It’s time to continue rewriting what’s inside the book and give a brand-new sense of education on respect, equality and freedom for all mankind.

NOSTALGIA

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TADAAH! UNDER SPOTLIGHT Chantal Macaraeg

@chanporaduh assoced.thelance@letran.edu.ph

If you are one of those who keep up with “Twitterverse,” there is a chance that Joseph Morong is one of the names you are on a look out for. With his easy to understand, listed summaries, Morong became an instant hit. He was praised for his patience with being able to sift through the President’s nightly ramblings and deliver news right on one’s screens. With how quickly he released the summaries, typos and all, he was bound to make a mistake at some point. On November 18, 2020, Morong posted his usual summary. Instead of getting the usual praise, netizens began to attack him for a simple reason: He failed to fact-check the information. Everyone on Twitter suddenly became journalists overnight. Not to sound condescending but people hold journalists to a higher standard than government officials. Their outrage is understandable; any misinformation can result in actual damage. Morong should have seen this coming. Instead of dealing with the situation maturely, he decided to act all shady, making people question where his loyalties lie. I thought GMA’s motto is “Walang kinikilingan, Walang pinoprotektahan, Walang kasinungalingan, Serbisyong totoo lamang.” Their news research team is actually known for their stellar outputs. Maybe loyalties do change when one realizes they need their jobs to survive. So, what’s the truth? Did Morong suddenly lose his magic touch to common netizens, despite running a program that is focused on fact-checking? As a Journalism student, it’s pretty funny to see people who only see journalists as a source of news suddenly tell us how to do our jobs. We do know how to do our jobs, thank you very much. Journalists learn how to convey information effectively for years only to be told off by a random netizen that we forgot to fact-check. Yes, Marisol, we have Google. But there is a limit to the information we can share. Maybe the fault wasn’t in Morong not factchecking with the information. His mini tantrum on social media is a story for another day. Let’s focus on the facts, shall we? I remember that one of the things our professors loved to tell us was “Verify your information and sources.” They stressed the importance of being as transparent as possible. Along with being transparent, we had to be as concise as possible too. News isn’t a random article pitch for the campus publication. News is the world presented to you in a format that you can digest easily. With hundreds of journalists out there, it is easy to find an article that catered to your needs. Imagine getting in a restaurant to order your favorite dish. Once your food is served, it tastes different. Of course, you’ll complain to the chef about why your dish tasted different than usual. Some chefs would offer to replace your dish with something else. Others would explain why it tasted weird. Morong? He probably told you there is nothing wrong with the dish. Wouldn’t be surprised if that’s what happened that night. He has been posting summaries during the times the people are already fed up with listening to the president. At first, he was helpful. His in-verbatim summaries make it almost impossible for the official to retract their spoken statement since it was already recorded. The problem is it made one question about how we should report the news. Do we want real-time fact-checking, like Pia Ranada did or do we prefer Morong’s condensed summaries that we can refer to later? If people wanted instant news so bad, they could have looked elsewhere. Morong is not the only journalist on that day, you know.

VIEWFINDER

ULYSSES. Letranites capturing scenes during the Typhoon Ulysses. PHOTOS BY KING MARTIN AND CHARLES FRANCIA

Features

FEATURES

Cinema ’76 and chill

Atypical Filipino politician

The perplexing concept of Filipinx

FEATURES EDITOR: JUSTIN SANTELICES LAYOUT ARTIST: ELDRICK NOLASCO

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A time for festivities: Letran’s Quadricentennial Year

PHOTO BY MARK AVERILLA

PHOTO BY PATRICK ROMERO

PHOTOS FROM LETRAN VIA FACEBOOK PAGE

BY LIZA PORE

In the month of November, an institution celebrated a historic milestone: Letran’s Quadricentennial Year. From a countdown that kickstarted four years ago following the themes of past, present, future and forever, the Colegio’s 400th year was a commemoration that every Letranite looked forward to. THE EVOLUTION OF THE COLEGIO Established in 1620 in Intramuros, Manila, Colegio de San Juan de Letran is known for being one of the oldest schools in the Philippines. Having survived atrocities of two world wars,

withstanding natural calamities, and experiencing several changes in the Philippine government, the institution founded by Don Juan Geronimo Guerrero, a retired Spanish officer, and Diego de Santa Maria, a Dominican brother, continued to stand firm and proud to this day. THE ROAD TO 400 Every year when November comes, a grand fête awaits the entire Letran community. From carnival rides that would make you scream with thrill and excitement and open mic karaoke booths where you could sing your heart out to countless food stalls that satisfy every foodie’s cravings, the institution glimmered with

all its colorful history, one that is rightfully celebrated. The Letran Quadricentennial Celebration started in November 2016 with a week-long celebration of events, activities, and tributes to past students of the institution. Each year observes specific phases: looking back at the past, dwelling in the present and being generous with our blessings, looking forward to what is in store for Letranites, and the culmination of all the phases: perpetuity. A UNIQUE CELEBRATION The COVID-19 pandemic has altered the way people live, so the plans for the Colegio’s 400th founding year celebration had to be adjusted. A series of

online events were introduced to Letranites in order to partake in the Quadricentennial year of the Colegio: eucharistic celebrations, online fun run, Zumba sessions, and other activities that were streamed from Letran’s official page. The recent calamities likewise played part on why the grand plans for the quadricentennial anniversary had to be moved. The Colegio instead lived out its being a “haven for the poor” and conducted a relief drive “Tulong Letranista” to help those affected by the calamities that hit the country in recent months. A benefit concert was likewise organised to further aid the victims of the recent storms and floods. With physical gatherings

prohibited, Letranites took to social media to celebrate the 400th founding anniversary of the institution. The flood of love and appreciation for the Colegio was echoed through the copious posts of Letranites, both old and new, as they share their experiences and memory-filled photos with the beloved institution under the hashtag #Letran400. Letran’s celebration for its quadricentennial year solidifies that the Arriba spirit truly lives on no matter the circumstances. The continued growth of the Colegio is perhaps a manifestation of a line that Letranites are familiar with—Como el Sol es tu Gloria Sin Fin—for like the sun your glory is without end.

FEATURES

FEATURES EDITOR: JUSTIN SANTELICES LAYOUT ARTIST: ELDRICK NOLASCO

The perplexing concept of Filipinx

ARTWORK FROM SQUEEZE.PH

BY ALEXI AQUILINO

Names and labels are important things to keep in mind when it comes to knowing someone’s or something’s identity, for how can you classify them or know who they really are without having an initial basis? Like with how each one of us has a name to live by, how songs have titles for us to remember it with, or how people in relationships each have their roles, having labels are a must. In the same way, ethnicities, races, and nationalities go by their own labels. With that, let’s start with one easy

question related to the idea: As a citizen of the Philippines, how would you call and identify yourself? Do you go with Filipino? The most common tag out there; Filipina, if you are a female and the sound of it resonates with you; or as the emerging and debated term these days, Filipinx? Filipinx is said to be pronounced as “filipineks” or “filipinks” and is to be used in place of Filipino and Filipina, the former supposedly being the masculine form and the latter being the feminine form. As we find ourselves in the 21st century where people are in no doubt being more critical to matters

Cinema ’76 and chill BY GEORGINA SANTIAGO

Netflix, HBO Go, Amazon Prime, and Hulu are some of the famous international streaming platforms that feature movies of various genres and countries of origin. However, not everyone can afford their rates. Fret no more! Cinema ’76 Film Society is now online and offers free movies via ‘Cinema ‘76 @ Home’. Since the pandemic, going out with friends and family members has become extinct. With all the physical distancing and minimum health standards intact that individuals must observe even just to buy essential goods outside their homes, the lure of online streaming networks as a diversion from the turbulent social context is irresistible. What started out as a lone microcinema in San Juan City has already branched out to Quezon City; with the accessibility of its new streaming platform, Cinema ’76 will be open to an audience bigger than the two branches combined. So for indie film lovers, local film buffs, or general Filipino film enthusiasts, have at it with Cinema ’76 @ Home. Just register on their website and you can unlock films for free. Here’s some of what to expect: MATANGTUBIG (2015) BY JET LEYCO In Matangtubig, the quiet little town was disturbed when two young girls suddenly disappeared in the quiet of the night—one of which was found dead and defiled the next morning, with the other still nowhere to be found. The media caught wind of the whole matter and, no sooner than later, the whole town finds itself under spotlight. All this while a local fisherman

that used to be ‘controversial’ in the past, conventional beliefs with regards to gender are being challenged as well; advocacy for gender-neutral terms like Filipinx is one of the rising notions we see in this decade. But really, don’t we consider ‘Filipino’ as a neutral term? Even as females, we introduce ourselves to other foreigners as Filipinos rather than Filipinas. The same goes with Tagalog pronouns that, unlike in the English language, do not have ‘her’ and ‘him’ but rather just has ‘siya’ which functions the same as its gendered English equivalents.

The argument of some of our “kababayans” who prefer to be referred to as ‘Filipinx’, most of which are Filipino-Americans, is that they reckon American culture as a huge influence on ours, seeing as how the word Filipinx is derived from the concept of Latinx and Chicanx in the US. If this is the case, is using a term that promotes gender-neutrality such a bad thing just because it is a Western concept? Not at all. But if these movements that call for genderneutrality actually considered how Philippine culture has always been and put it in the same picture, then

maybe it would not be seen half as bad as it is perceived. With the Philippines having been colonized by Americans for roughly 48 years, it is not exactly a brandnew thing for us to adopt what is prominent in the States. However, the idea that some people who are in favor of the term so easily ignore the already-set standards in our nation just to give in to the ‘correct’ method of labelling is why most do not identify with the term. So, once more, I ask you: How would you call and identify yourself: Filipino, Filipina or like others insist, Filipinx?

struggles with his conscience on whether he should admit to an evil he had witnessed that night. GAYUMA (2015) BY CESAR HERNANDO Mike has a good life: He is an ‘isko’ at the UP College of Fine Arts; he has a loving girlfriend; he has a supportive aunt. Mike indeed had everything going for him until he catches a glimpse of a woman who works as a figure drawing model in their school. Like a moth to a flame, Mike becomes drawn and eventually meets her. With the air of mystery emanating from her, Mike’s simple curiosity turns into an uncontrollable obsession that ends with discovery of a dark truth about the history of his family.

WATER LEMON (2015) BY LEM LORCA In the town of Mauban, mundanity leads the lives of the people, but when the widow, the socially handicapped genius, and the helpless grandfather find themselves involved in each other’s lives, mundanity suddenly has a different color. For individuals with a fascination for mystery, Matangtubig is definitely worth checking out; for those fond of the slice of life genre, try Water Lemon; for those looking for something more serious, mysterious, and with a hint of thriller, Gayuma is your pal. Better yet why not check it all out? Not only will you be having a blast watching these gems, but you will also be supporting the local film industry. As of now, there are only a few films available in their lineup, but it looks like they are planning to add more. For more information, visit their official Facebook page ‘Cinema ’76 Film Society’.

PHOTO FROM TBA STUDIOS

PHOTOS FROM IMDB PAGE

Features

VO LU M E X L I V - I S S U E 3

Atypical Filipino politician

PHOTO FROM CLICKTHECITY

PHOTO FROM RAPPLER PH

BY SAMANTHA BERNARDO

Our nation had its fair share of subpar governance. It endured this for decades though perhaps continues to do so now. Every citizen has the duty of contributing something, in any way one can, for the development of the country. However, public servants (the LGU especially) have bigger shoes to fill than the ordinary citizen. In relation, this specific politician has made his name visible in a multitude of headlines across the nation. At the young age of 31, he already made a mark for being one of the notable mayors of the current year. He is none other than

Pasig City Mayor: Vico Sotto. Let us start from his childhood:. Sotto’s fascination with politics began when he was only 10 years old. He stated in an interview that when he was still young, his halfbrother, L.A. Mumar, would let him read his politics and governance textbooks from college. At the age of 12, his brother would even make him read the Philippine Constitution. With all this, there was no turning back. After graduating from high school, he took up a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at the Ateneo de Manila University where he graduated in 2011. However, he did not stop there.

The Walled City BY NICOLE ANTE

There it stood with its palpable history where time has seemingly taken root and halted its march; there it stood the magnificent walled city: Intramuros. This place has long been close to the hearts of those who had been privileged to see and experience it. With its undeniable beauty, mesmerizing old buildings, historically rich grounds, picturesque places, and more, Intramuros brings enchantment to people everywhere. On November 4, 2020, the Intramuros Administration posted on their official Facebook page an article that hailed Intramuros as ‘Asia’s Leading Tourist Attraction’. The award is hardly surprising, seeing as how Intramuros is no stranger to it. Five years earlier, the Intramuros Administration also received the ‘Premio Patrimonio de la Humanidad’ from The Association of World Heritage Cities of Spain for its efforts in preserving Spanish historical and cultural heritage. One of the reasons that it is so adored is its amazing tourist spots like the famed Manila Cathedral. The basilica that has undergone massive changes over the course of time has been in the thick of wars and natural calamities. Like the other infrastructures inside Intramuros, Manila Cathedral has a long history worthy of its own article. Intramuros also houses the admirable stone fortress that is

Fort Santiago. Entering the Fort is like going back through time. It might even take a minute to absorb the fact that history is surrounding you as you stand in the middle of a land that has been witness to wars from centuries ago. With all the space inside the Fort, everyone can likewise just hang out and enjoy the scenery. While you are at it, it is worth checking out the Silahis Center. Far from being ‘just a souvenir shop’, Silahis Center is a showcase of the rich and diverse culture of the Philippines and its people. Take a gander at quality handmade Philippine products and maybe even take some home. This museum-like store and those above-mentioned are just a few from the long list of places worth checking out in Intramuros. Intramuros also offers a variety of food. If you are looking for affordable meals, the ‘Walls’ (as it is called by students in the city) is the place to be. Geographically, it refers to the outer walls of Intramuros and is the go-to place for people looking to eat their heart out without breaking the bank. For coffee enthusiasts, Intramuros offers homey coffee shops as well. One of the famous ones is ‘La Cathedral Cafe” that is noted for its elegant interior design and an atmospheric roofdeck within the Manila Cathedral purview. The coffee shop is perfect for romantic dates and chill hangouts with friends.

Sotto then pursued a postgraduate degree in ‘Public Administration’ at the Ateneo School of Government (from which he graduated in 2018). In 2019, the word ‘Mayor’ was synonymous to ‘Vico Sotto’, effectively ending the Eusebio clan’s 27-year rule over the city.

TALK OF THE TOWN Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, he is one of the few mayors who stepped up and acted quickly to meet the needs of the city such as launching a mobile palengke to encourage its residents to stay indoors to prevent the possible spread of COVID-19; procuring tablets and laptops for its public-

school students and teachers for distance learning; and providing free rides for medical front-liners. He has already done a lot for Pasig City which is a hallmark of his “proactive” leadership that made him become popular especially in digital and social media networks. There were some claims that the Pasigueños are lucky to have a mayor like him, especially nowadays wherein people are fed up with the “traditional politician” image. His leadership skills apparently become the “standard of measurement” of being a public servant. With Mayor Vico, the city has definitely undergone positive changes but it is premature to say

he is the “best” mayor in the country known for many “traditional politicians”. Even with his proactive leadership skills that earned him massive praise and prominence in the media, this should not be the reason for Filipinas and Filipinos to dive into the hole of fanaticism. Certainly, there is more to come under his rule in Pasig City, and his impressive performance as mayor especially during the pandemic leaves much to be desired in the next two years of his political term. The people likewise must remain objective and critical of their assessment of the mayor. When it comes to politicians, rose-colored glasses must never be worn.

PHOTO FROM MAPS OF WORLD

Even students who already frequent Intramuros still find the place as extraordinary as when they first saw it. “Intramuros is a place rich with history and culture with preserved glory and beauty,” says Stephany Marquez, a second year Psychology student of the Colegio who still catches herself in awe when she enters the Walled City. “I could not think of the appropriate words to describe how ethereal it is to witness firsthand the beauty of it,” she said. On the other hand, Charles Francia, a third year Broadcasting student, who much like others “fell

in love with Intramuros” the first time he caught a glimpse of it, found Intramuros to be a perfect subject for his photography because every shot is able to convey a greater story. “Being a photographer and a Letranite allowed me to capture photographs that are beyond my imagination. Every capture taken was worth it,” he said. It is not just the attractions that allowed Intramuros to bag the award; its cultural and historical ties to the Filipino identity are likewise responsible for such recognition. As such, it remains the responsibility of

Filipinos to preserve it. After all, it has more stories to tell. In the bigger picture, the award is a constant reminder for us to preserve historical sites not just with tourism in mind but out of a sense of duty to conserve our cultural heritage—our bloodline. In many ways, Intramuros is a symbol of resiliency that, much like Filipinos, has withstood difficulties and hardships; to preserve it and its history for posterity is only proper. While the Walled City may be old, the stories that lie beneath are forever gold.

SPORTS

VO LU M E X L I V - I S S U E 3

The Deadman finally rests in peace BY PAOLO TRINIDAD

From his slow walk entrance to his iconic tombstone finisher, The Undertaker will surely be missed after Mark Callaway—the man behind the popular name, retired from wrestling after 30 years. The Undertaker announced his retirement last June 2020 on the final episode of “The Last Ride”. Wrestling fans around the world were shocked about this. By November 22, he bid his final farewell on Survivor Series, the same event where he debuted. THE PHENOM Callaway started his career in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in the 1990. He debuted in Survivor Series when he became the mystery partner of Ted DiBiase’s Million Dollar Team. Since then, wrestling fans fell in love with the Undertaker because of his “deadman” persona and because of how unique he was presented in the wrestling entertainment scene. One of the most iconic pairing in the industry is Callaway and the late Paul Bearer (his manager). They are a pair of wrestler-managers that dominated the different decades of WWE, making them one of the popular pairs in the history of World Wrestling Entertainment. By 1998, ‘The Brothers of Destruction’ debuted as the Undertaker united with the Demon in the Red Mask, Kane. His halfbrother and him in wrestling were in an on and off relationship where the two feuded and teamed up from time to time. The brother duo won three tag team championships together.

THE STREAK The Undertaker’s WrestleMania matches became one of the cornerstones of the event. His 21-0 streak became one of the most

impressive not just in wrestling, but in the history of sports entertainment. Brock Lesnar handed Callaway his first ever WrestleMania loss. Giving an end to the Phenom’s perfect record. But in his most recent documentary, ‘The Last Ride’, he revealed that he actually suffered a concussion during the match, leaving him disappointed. However, losing did not slow the Deadman down, as he won four of his next five WrestleMania matches. His final match was in WrestleMania 36 where he won against AJ Styles in a Buried Alive match. He finished his run with a 25-2 record. The Undertaker’s 21-0 WrestleMania streak is arguably the most impressive record in wrestling entertainment and will probably not be broken by any other wrestler.

THE FAREWELL The Undertaker concluded his 30year long career in Survivor Series, the event where he first debuted in wrestling. His half-brother Kane, Shawn Michaels, Ric Flair, Triple H, and other big-name stars appeared in the ceremony to pay tribute to the Undertaker. The Phenom did his final walk and speech while wearing his iconic black outfit He ended his speech with the final words stating, “My time has come to let the Undertaker rest in peace.” After his short speech he did his iconic pose in front of a hologram of his former manager, the late Paul Bearer, and he did his signature throat slashing gesture before exiting the ring. Lights out, bell rings, crowd cheering, opponent frightened. These moments will forever be in the hearts of wrestling fans around the world. Farewell, Taker.

PHOTO FROM SPORTS NET

PHOTO FROM THE SPORTS RUSH

Two sports, same pride: Ravena and Espejo put other countries on notice

PHOTOS FROM RAPPLER PH

BY GABBY BALCOS

In their respective stints abroad, two former Ateneo standouts, Thirdy Ravena and Marck Espejo, are starting off strong and giving fans a lot to cheer for. Ravena, who left for Japan in mid-October to play for the SanEnNeoPhoenix of the B. League

lived up to the hype of being the first Asian import in the Japanese pros. The former University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Finals MVP tallied 13 and 12 points each in his first two outings with his new ball club. The NeoPheonix Head Coach had nothing but great words for Ravena.

“He is one of our excellent players and you can see it with his talent,” said coach Branislav Vicentic. Meanwhile, fellow Atenean Marck Espejo just dropped a debut performance to remember in his first game for Bani Jamra in Bahrain. Despite losing in four sets, Espejo dropped 19 markers and thanked

fans for supporting him in his first outing. A decorated volleyball star in the country who was a key contributor to the national team’s silver medal finish in the 42nd South East Asian Games, Espejo is also the first Filipino to play in the league in Bahrain.

forward to a better season as they will safely push through with the upcoming seasons amid existing difficulties. The Colegio will get its first dibs on the newly found partnership by also rejoicing in its 400th year celebration onto the next NCAA season.

Sports

NOVEMBER 2020

Return of collegiate sports in sight; “bubble system” to takeover BY GABBY BALCOS

With the recent draft made by the Technical Working Group (spearheaded by the Commission on Higher Education or CHED), the return of collegiate sports in the country will have to take a familiar road adopted by the pros. Collegiate varsity squads that are restricted to non-contact sports can commence rehearsals in their own “bubble”. The said draft (waiting for approval as of the last week of

October) states that varsity teams are allowed to conduct training within their respective campuses. Of course, it is difficult. Schools would have to comply with government protocols (including the issuance of certificate of compliance by the school itself). In an earlier version, Tiebreaker Times reported that those below the legal age of 18 are allowed to join (however virtually). Meanwhile, as recently reported in Spin.ph CHED backpedaled a bit and lowered

it to 15 years old and above as long as there is consent from legal guardians. Surprisingly, there is no swab testing required for the trainees according to Mr. Rodely Carza, Head of Department of Health (DoH) Policy and Technology Office. As for now, teams would just have to wait for the approval of IATF, UAAP, and the NCAA. The two mentioned giant collegiate sports leagues are looking to start their seasons in the first quarter of 2021 - fingers-crossed.

PHOTOS FROM IMDB PAGE

A Cinderella story in basketball

PHOTO FROM THE NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION (NBA)

PHOTO BY RYAN MIGUEL RONA

BY PAOLO TRINIDAD

It’s been five years since the Letran Knights won their seventeenth title in NCAA Basketball. It was one of the most exciting and most memorable championships in college basketball recent history. Let’s take a quick look back on Letran’s “film-esque” championship run.

THE DOWNFALL Season 90 was a “not-so-good” season for the Knights. They only finished sixth in the standings and failed to make it into the semi-finals after a promising run a season prior when they were only one win away from the championship. The Knights also lost key players

such as Ford Ruaya, Von Tambeling, Daryl Singontiko while head coach Caloy Garcia stepped down from his current post.

NEW BEGINNING In season 91, Letran replaced coach Caloy Garcia with an unknown rookie coach, Aldin Ayo. They also added rookies Jom Sollano, Maui Bernabe, Tommy Gedaria and a sophomore Bong Quinto who was a reserve player for the Knights a season ago. Many people thought that the Letran Knights is on a rebuilding process and were not seen as contenders. Even the players did not even think they had what it takes to win. They were seen as a promising young team at the hands of an inexperienced coach.

This unknown rookie coach was not fazed but rather was motivated to lead the Knights in a different direction.

MAYHEM! The well-known mayhem system in college basketball that is prominent today was made popular by coach Aldin Ayo. It is a fast-paced small ball line-up that applies non-stop pressure on defense as well as a run-and-gun style of offense led by Letran’s big three: Mark Cruz, Kevin Racal, and Rey Nambatac. The ‘mayhem’ style of play is something new that Coach Aldin brought into the college basketball scene, and many coaches do not have an answer to this style of play. After not making the playoffs

in the previous season, Letran finished the elimination with a 13-5 win-loss record, tied for the best record in the league. They reached the NCAA finals as they have beaten their arch-rivals San Beda Red Lions in an overtime “do-or-die” game three.

ONE FOR THE BOOKS That was Letran’s first title after a ten-year drought (winning their last one in 2005). They also dethroned their arch-rival San Beda who was looking for their six-peat championship title. “Tama na yung sakit. Tayo naman.” [Enough of the pain. It’s our turn now.] These are the exact words of coach Aldin Ayo after he delivered his third championship for Letran, this time not as a player

but as a coach. The 2015 Coach of the Year award was believed to be possible though everyone else did not. In an interview by Andei Felix with Mark Cruz after game three of the NCAA 2019 finals, the latter shared that he and his teammates laughed at Coach Aldin when he said at the beginning of the season that they are going to reclaim the title.. Coach Ayo, an unknown rookie coach, not much of a roster change, no foreign big man, against the five-time defending champions. In the beginning, the odds were not in favor of Letran. However, that is why that championship season was extra special and was surely remembered as one of the best narratives in the history of Philippine college basketball.

Sports The Lance

NCAA, GMA Network ensures landmark deal until 2026 BY ZENYLIN YAP

The Season Six host, Colegio de San Juan de Letran proudly proclaimed “The first Philippine athletic league deserves to be in the #1 network.” as the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) is set to go to its new broadcast home: GMA-7 “Kapuso” Network. While its previous media partner ABS-CBN failed to acquire a new

franchise five months ago, it was on November 20 that the media Network officially announced that they had signed a broadcast partnership deal with the Philippine’s oldest collegiate league. The landmark deal will cover five and a half years of broadcast which includes the NCAA’s centennial year in 2024. This will secure the broadcasting rights of NCAA’s major sports leagues which include

basketball, volleyball, swimming, and athletics with the widest reach from Season 96 to Season 101. This partnership was warmly welcomed by NCAA participating colleges and the entire committee including Colegio de San Juan de Letran’s Director of the Athletics Department Fr. Victor Calvo, OP who expressed his expectations on their new broadcast partner. “[I expect a] better reach with

the Philippines’ #1 network. Better exposure and better schedules.” He stated. The interview with Fr. Calvo zeroed-in on the factors of NCAA broadcasting that needs to be emphasized by GMA Network, which he straightforwardly answered right off the bat that the branding of NCAA and “to make NCAA number one” should be considered. Keeping the talk short and

PHOTO FROM FASTBREAK

simple, he later claimed that the NCAA fans and the communities of participating collegiate should look forward to a better season as they will safely push through with the upcoming seasons amid existing difficulties. The Colegio will get its first dibs on the newly found partnership by also rejoicing in its 400th year celebration onto the next NCAA season.

Undefeated no more! Letran ends San Beda’s historic streak: A year after

PHOTOS BY PATRICK ROMERO

BY ROMWEL ANZURES

“He (Fran Yu) intentionally misses the shot. And the Knights have done it! The Letran Knights take game number one, stunning the three-time defending champions San Beda Red Lions” It was the last thing heard before the MOA Arena erupted as the Knights took Game 1 of the NCAA Season 95 Men’s Basketball Finals, 65-64. It was an emphatic and heartfelt win for

Letran, virtually giving them a twiceto-beat advantage over number one seed San Beda. It was more than being a win away from the championship; it was beating the Knights’ arch-rivals and handing them their first loss in over 15 months. Letran spoiled an almost perfect season from San Beda, going 18-0 throughout the eliminations and even winning 14 straight more dating back from the previous season, making it a 32-game win streak.

Letran and San Beda went back and forth, the latter even being up 60-56 with over four minutes left in the fourth, until Fran Yu and JerrickBalanza hit back-toback triples to reclaim the lead. The following sequences led to the crucial lay-in of San Beda’s Evan Nelle, cutting the lead to a solitary point, which proved enough as the Knights eventually won the game. Batiller, Balanza, and Yu led the way for the Muralla-based squad, having scored 12, 10, and 10

respectively. Nelle scored 20 big points, with Calvin Oftana and James Canlas contributing 11 apiece. That specific win proved and answered a lot of doubts about this Knightly Squad, and it led to them eventually winning the NCAA Title, giving the team its 18th Men’s Basketball championship. Not only did they end San Beda’s impressive win streak but also prevented them from getting their third straight championship. Streak busters indeed. Coincidentally, it was

also Letran who stopped San Beda’s road to a sixth title in season 91, when the Knights were still led by Kevin Racal, Rey Nambatac, and the Antman: Mark Cruz. It would be a while before the Knights can showcase their beefed-up roster and defend their titles. However, their impressive performance last season is already in the record books because of that. The Letran and San Beda dynamic: much-awaited, frenzied, and memorable, all for pride and glory.