The L Mag by The Luzonian

How many little wars do you face each day? How many tiny battles against traffic, peer pressure, insecurities and fears have you conquered already? In this edition of the The L magazine we featured stories that revealed the struggles that led to successes; villains that defined victors; and the tragedies that made triumphs more worth being told. From news articles that detail Envergansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; participation to various events to unsparing editorials encapsulating the political climate of this country, this magazine was designed to make each page come alive at the touch of your fingertips. On the cover of this edition is a portion of John Bonrev Roiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s face, Criminology Board Exam 2019 Topnotcher. The reader sees his glistening right eye and half of his smile â&#x20AC;&#x201C; his picturesque face making a portrait of a young dreamer. At the heart of this magazine is his humble story; a revelation; a talk about the tiny truths that made his story surface. So, open the page, Envergan. Your story had just begun.

TABLE OF 12

A clean slate for dirty men Analysis

MSEUF marks history; sends off 751 graduates

News

Every drop matters

MSEUF float among ‘the best’ in Pasayahan Festival grand parade

Opinion

Analysis

COO, VPAR earn global recognition

Facebook detox: Getting rid of toxic and trashy posts

The worst in the best policy

News

Opinion

News

The Luzonian reaches RHEPC milestone

The press gets louder when silenced

Commentary

Marcos unmasked: Imee edition | 17 Opinion

Engineering bet reigns as new Miss Enverga University News feature

Excellenece through students’s involvment Editorial

How do you say ‘lazy’ in Mandarin? Opinion

Gayness at its finest Commentary

CONTENTS 09

Pride across Asia

START SMART: EU’s first SHS entrepreneurial bazaar

Envergan lodi

Devcom

MSEUF Gala: A night of glamour and fun

Devcom

The feasibility of Green Homeland Subdivision

Features

Bellepat: Café in gypsy

Developed <Mushroom/>

By the platter

Devcom

Ulan’ in a nutshell

Building a better place for justice, peace, and security

Reel talk

57 32

How to be on Top? The story behind the topnotcher’s successful conquest Cover story

This is Likhawit Sound check

The footsteps of the shoe-less Devcom

Devcom

Regional PRISAA (Infographics) Sports

4 | editorial

Excellence through students’ involvement editorial

ducation. Excellence. Empowerment – These are the hallmarks of our University. From these three words extends the reach of pedagogical representation and institutional identity. Without this emphasis, students will be lost in utter confusion and almost complete disregard for discipline, participation, and involvement. But what how do these three words weigh against the term “Requirement” – a word that implies a compulsory action, a demand, a necessary condition – that is often used as a card to draw students to be more engaged, and whose lack of, would cause otherwise.

It is true that various measures were already taken to spark engagement. Among students, engagement encompasses activities such as seminar attendance, workshops, and community outreach. However, unless it is a required event, not a lot of students show interest in being a part of it, despite being provided with knowledge that they could carry on in the future. One of the reasons is due to the lack of consequential actions given when attendance is not met. While some organizers charge fees or other reasonable punishment for absence, others seem to be very lenient, or for the lack of a better term, forgives and forgets easily. Witnessing the leniency of punishments, their minds tend to be impenetrable by an impending consequence resulting in their lack of interest to participate. They see the advantages of going, but since there are no evident disadvantages of not going, they do not feel the need to be there. Basically, they know that from their absence, there is nothing to gain, but there is also nothing to lose. There is a must to look back at the three words that served as a threshold of University values and aspirations to inspire student involvement. Education – Education comes in many forms and transcends beyond the boundaries of social involvement. It is the universal language of hope and motivations and is the only thing in the world powerful enough to shape moral, intellectual, and psychosocial maturity. By educating students more about how much they could change themselves by being more proactive in community participation, it kick-starts a snowball effect that will eventually lead them to realize that optimizing their potential, could be heavily influenced by these activities. Excellence – learning comes at a quality. A great disservice is delivered to students when they receive knowledge in a way they do not deserve. The University is the perfect avenue for portraying and developing excellence, and this trait should also be present in its activities.

An excellent event must not be measured by the magnitude of resources spent or the extravagance of creation, but rather with output. There is excellence when students’ expectations are met; when their brilliance and creativity has expanded, and when it inspired them to be more involved. Empowerment – empowering people is intimidating, and is a rather delicate process that borderlines between leadership and authority. But to empower students, education and excellence need to be achieved first, understood, and represented. An empowered student is in a constant journey of changing himself or herself and the world he or she belongs in. Empowerment is what sets the fire inside a student to be more passionately participative, and dominates a student’s decision to be present and included. Lack of engagement among students is concerning and corrective actions are bleak. Instead of focusing on how absence should be treated, it should make participation more rewarding, and worthwhile.

editorial | 5

There is a must to look back at the three words that served as a threshold of University values and aspirations to inspire student involvement.

6 | news

Photo gallery shows the different highlights of the Baccalaureate Services and Commencement Exercises with the biggest number of graduates in MSEUF history. Photos from the EMRC

MSEUF marks history;

sends off 1,751 graduates John Rover Sinag

UCENA CITY - Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation (MSEUF) marked history as they produced 1,751 graduates in this year’s Baccalaureate Services and Commencement Exercises, June 14, at the University Gymnasium. Rev. Fr. Ramilo Esplana, the University Chaplain led the Eucharistic Celebration and urge the graduates to not live with the principles of “Akology.” “We, especially you, the 1,751 graduates should not live with the principles of ‘Akology,’ ‘yung ako dapat ang pagsilbihan, ako dapat ang mauna, ako

lang ang magaling, ako ang laging tama... Instead, let us always serve others selflessly.” Esplana said in his homily on Friday morning. As part of the Baccalaureate services, MSEUF awarded the 2019 Most Distinguished Alumni Award to Mayor Antonio Aurelio, BS Agricultural Education 1981, Arch. Laurel Manuel Barte, BS Architecture 1991, and to Dr. Chinita Tolentino, BS Education 1986, Master of Arts in Education 1997, and Doctor of Education 2019 who made significant accomplishments and contributions to their respective professions.

Meanwhile, Engr. Emelinda Parentela, BS Civil Engineering 1981, and a renowned professor in the California State University, received the Enverga Forever Global Award. The Baccalaureate Services ended with the imposition of hoods, candle lighting ceremony, and the induction of the graduates to the MSEUF Alumni Association, Inc. Jhon Angelo Virtucio, BS Information Technology from the College of Computing and Multimedia Studies (CCMS), and Melvin Alasas, BS Civil Engineering from the College of

Engineering (CEng), led this year’s biggest number of graduates as they were awarded Summa Cum Laude, the highest academic honors that any university could give. Virtucio and Alas-as both gave the Commencement Address and both expressed their gratitude to the people behind their success and to the Almighty God who they said guided them from the very beginning. There was also one Magna Cum Laude from the College of Business and Accountancy (CBA), and 13 Cum Laude from College of Education (2), CCMS (3), CBA (5), College of Arts and

Sciences (2), and College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences (1). Other recognitions such as Loyalty Award, Excellence in Research, and Excellence in Community Service, were also awarded to some students. Madame Naila Leveriza, the University President conferred the respective degrees to the graduates who came from 11 academic departments under the regular undergraduate programs, graduate and post-graduate programs, and the Expanded Tertiary Education and Equivalency Program (ETEEAP).

Dr. Benilda N. Villenas

Madame Naila E. Leveriza

news | 7

5 Lions roar;

COO, VPAR earn global recognition Karen Yvonne Daleon

adame Naila E. Leveriza, the University President and Chief Operating Officer (COO), and Dr. Benilda N. Villenas, Vice President for Academics and Research (VPAR), earn global recognition as they were given different awards by the 5th ASEAN Convention. Madame Leveriza received the “Most Outstanding CEO Asia Award” while Dr. Villenas accepted the “Highest Distinction of Leadership Excellence in Education Asia Award”, and Celso Jaballa, the Vice President for External Relations represented them, Jan. 24 at Puerto Prinsesa, Palawan. Franklin T. Agamata, the Convention Chairman and Dionisio G. Magpantay, Executive President, stated in a letter that the awards are given to individuals who have made an immense contribution to the field of their expertise. It is also explained that awardees have set remarkable benchmarks to multifarious human

activities that brought hope to many that aspire to do the same while inspiring others to yield for more. The Committee on Awards ranked and selected Madame Leveriza and Dr. Villenasamong the few equally distinguished nominees and later endorsed by the Executive Committee, the Board of Trustees of Asian+ Council of Leaders, Administrators, Deans and Educators in Business (ACLADEB). Madame Leveriza and Dr. Villenas were carefully ranked and selected by the Committee on Awards among the few equally distinguished nominees and later endorsed by the Executive Committee, the Board of Trustees of ASEAN+ Council of

Leaders, Administrators, Deans and Educators in Business (ACLADEB). The awards are continuing thrust to inspire the University to make global waves, develop learning and nourish positive values through education and accomplishments. The convention with the theme “Fourth Industrial Revolution or simply ‘Industry 4.0:’ Its Impact to Business, Education, and Industries in the ASEAN Region, in the Age of Emerging Technologies, Disruption and Change” was organized for the purpose of enhancing the delivery of quality business education.

aced Most Outstanding Achiever Awards Ada Loreen De Castro

ive out of six categories were claimed by the achievers from the College of Business and Accountancy (CBA) as they competed for the Most Outstanding Achiever (MOA). Maegan Mendoza, an with the Office of Student Affairs Accountancy student, stood out held the search from first week of from 13 nominees for In-Campus April until the first week of May Leader of the Year. Achievers were endorsed King Benedick Sante has by every academic departments’ claimed the title as Artist of the dean under six categories Year and Athlete of the Year namely, Athlete, Culture and through his passion and talent for Arts, Journalism, Off-Campus dancing. Leadership, In-Campus Achievers from CBA namely Leadership, and Academics, Kaye Marie Cueto and Hendrix achievers have an opportunity Obciana won the Academic to submit an entry under two Achiever of the Year and Offcategories. Campus Leader of the Year As the endorsed students respectively. submitted their portfolio, every Meanwhile, the College content was screened through of Computing and Multimedia the achiever’s membership in Studies won the Most Outsanding an organization, participation Achiever in Campus Journalism as in seminars, and recognitions John Rover Sinag proved campus received from national, regional, journalism supremacy. provincial, and local with its The Graduating Class 2019 corresponding points. have produced cream of the crop The awards were presented at students as the MSEUF Graduating the MSEUF Gala: A Night of Glam Class General Officers together and Elegance last May 17.

The Most Outstanding Achievers from the College of Business and Accountancy poses as they receive their awards during the Graduation Ball. Photos by Simon Romuel Uy

8 | features

We never dim,

we only shine Kimberly Mae Argosino & Ysabella Abriana Aranas

CBA’s folk dancers

The interpretative dance competition is in another dimension of artistry. CBA’s “Anak” interpretation made the gymnasium cry in child-like tears, while the CEng’s potrayal of “Kahit Ayaw Mo Na”, took a more mature turn and encapsulated a tumultuous relationship that seeped into the audience’s hearts. Finally, CEd allowed Envergans to feel liberty with “Malaya”, releasing the power humbled by a subtle surge of emotions, and empowered the crowd with a taste of becoming free. In a playful mash-up of “Macho-gwapito, Babaero, and Mr. Suave”, CBA swayed the crowd with their display of charisma, making

everyone stomp their feet with the addictive beats and clap along each rhythm. To balance this manliness, CEd served a whimsical plate of teenage crushes with “Mr. Kupido, Mr. Dream Boy, and Mr. Disco”: music about misters that drew the crowd back into a nostalgic journey of young love and pure fun. And Envergans might be in Lucena, but CAFA brought Envergans to “Manila”. Who would’ve thought that Wildcats could travel for free? With “Pag-ibig ko’y pansinin”, CBA’s singing enchantress made people silently weep and cheer at the same time during the vocal solo competition. CEng’s representative found himself a spot in second place with Moira’s “Tagpuan”, and rendezvous

Photos by Carmelo Eduardo Mesa

CAS’ faculty champ movers

CEd’s dancing duo

CAFA’s singing champ

Pulsating with passion, students showcased a week’s worth of hard work in their exhibits, painting a remarkable impression on the department they represent. Poise and grace clothed the stage during the folk dance competition. With music representative of Quezon Province and dances reflective of Quezonian identities, contenders brought their renditions into an unforgettable execution – impressing the audience and earning thunderous applause. CBA Lions brought another prize home into their pride after finishing first, with CIHTM in second and CEd in third. In the end, they all still won the Wildcats’ hearts.

CBA’s a capella singers

ondrously wild – Envergan Wildcats clawed their way into the talent scene, proving that at 72, one thing remains true: We never dim, we only shine.

with victory when he sang beautifully for the listeners. Chain of Talents wil not be complete without the muchawaited showdown competition. The advocacy-driven dances gave dancers a chance to triumph. CITHM converted words into fleeting movements and conveyed messages in graceful steps and poses. CEng uplifted spirits of the despaired and awakened eyes into the issues of depression. Champion department CAS put politics into play, allowing Envergans to be more open about elections in a fun and entertaining manner. We never dim, we only shine – the Chain of Talents made stars out of students in performances no one could ever forget.

ride P

envergan lodi | 9 features

across Asia

Kimberly Mae Argosino

wo of Enverga’s brightest students took home prestigious awards from the Asia World Model United Nations 2018 (AWMUN) – Sophia Margarette Caagbay for Most Outstanding Delegate and Ivan Chris Mabilangan for a Verbal Commendation award – giving pride not only to the University but to the entire Philippines as well.

Sophia Margarette Caagbay Sophia Margarette Caagbay is the epitome of female perfection. She’s all body, mind, and soul – a sensual spirit with savage wit and a sophisticated taste for fine things. Caagbay is a natural seductress, exuding an enigmatic charm that pulls all in an inescapable web. But more than this, she’s a woman – whose kindness could humble gods and strength could surmount mountains. AWMUN tamed this maiden. In the Philippines, Caagbay knew she was the master of her own cosmos. In the foreign land, she was swallowed by an overwhelming amount of people who were just like her – achievers, dreamers, travelers, – with far more academic distinctions than she does. “There were law students, med students, students who have achieved so much despite their youth”, Sophia said as she recounts her experience at AWMUN. “I was

really humbled by that experience. You cannot really claim that you’re good at something. It taught me to keep my feet on the ground.” Sophia considers her achievement as a “stroke of luck”. Initially, she was aiming for a verbal commendation award, but began to lose interest in winning, and thought about shopping instead. Through observation, she was convinced that the Most Outstanding Delegate award would be given to a Japanese delegate. But Sophia did something spontaneous at AWMUN that made her stood out from the rest. “Everyone was complaining that the debate was diplomatic, and it wasn’t what they were expecting and definitely not what they prepared for.” Sophia shared, “So I approached the chairman and told him what everyone felt. I may have approached him for three times until he actually gave the microphone to me, and allowed

me to somehow facilitate things and that’s what I did.” During the awarding ceremony, Sophia recounted that she immersed herself into playing games instead. She didn’t expect to receive anything, for the award she was aiming for was already given to somebody else. So, imagine her surprise, the paroxysm of shock, the sudden rush of adrenaline, that overpowered her body when the host called her name. “I couldn’t believe it!” Sophia exclaimed with her eyes gleaming with inexplicable joy. “I didn’t know what to say, I didn’t know what to do – the rest of the world stopped at that moment.” As each Thai minute ticked by with pulsating vigor, Sophia was left to rejoice at the most memorable day of her life and hopes to bring pride back at home, with a gift she simply did not see coming.

Ivan Chris Mabilangan Life offers brilliance, beauty, divinity and danger, and Ivan Chris Mabilangan knows exactly how to live it. The 20-year old electronics engineering student, spends each day basking at the delights brought about by the wonders of the mysterious and aches for answers. He finds that this pursuit has been well-served by his intellect, verbal acuity, and logical thinking. But the surprise never really ceases for him. “The best thing I’ve learned at AWMUN is that there’s always room for improvement.” Ivan said. It is true that this lad had displayed excellence at various times – from debates to journalism – and has proven to be the best in those fields. However, AWMUN showed him that there must always be a room for learning.

Ivan might be known as that sharp, well-spoken, and charismatic guy at school, who tends to be quite and prefers being alone. While that might be true in some occasions, Ivan took the chance in Thailand to become more sociable: gaining a lot friends, exuding spontaneity, sharing and hearing stories, enjoying himself. At AWMUN, Ivan was the leader of a team who were asked to propose a draft resolution. His task was to promote this proposal and defend it from criticism. Debate-trained Ivan was able to deliver his impromptu speech well, convincing the jury that their team’s proposal was indeed effective. “I guess the verbal commendation award is given to those who were able to speak in

public, persuade, and respond to criticisms well, and fortunately I was able to do these in a very effective way.” Ivan stated. More important than the verbal commendation award, AWMUN made Ivan see life differently. “I learned that life is like an art museum, and each of us can only stay in there for a limited time. It’s up to us whether to stay at the ground floor and spend the remaining hours fixated at the first set of artworks that we encounter, or we take the long staircases leading to halls containing more paintings and sculptures, many of which may be unfamiliar, but all is art nonetheless. And even though one may have to sacrifice his/her time sitting in the lobby to paint his/her own, it’s fine. New doors will open for artists of the mind.”

Sophia and Ivan brought the attention of international countries to the Philippines. These two will not only be remembered for their awards, but for showcasing to the world that the Filipino is smart, spontaneous, and always on the look to become better.

10 | news

The Luzonian reaches RHEPC milestone

The editorial board and staff of The Luzonian, together with their technical advisers shouted with so much joy everytime The L was announced triumphant in various individual and group categories. Photo by Gracelle Nicole Aseoche

Andrei Christian Cuario

ith a complete set of entries both in the group and individual contests, The Luzonian reached a milestone as they were hailed as the 5th place top performing school in campus journalism during the Regional Higher Education Press Conference (RHEPC), Jan. 11, held at MI Sevilla’s Resort, Brgy. Domoit, Lucena City.

From last year’s Rank 9, The Luzonian managed to exceed its record and reached at the top 5 spot this year. The Luzonian placed second best newsletter and claimed six special awards including first Best Page Design, second Best News, Opinion, and Sports Pages, seventh Best LiteraryFeature Page and tenth Best Devcom Page. In the tabloid category, The Luzonian’s Filipino-medium tabloid

placed fifth best tabloid with six special awards comprising of third Best News and Literary-Feature Pages, fourth Best Page Design, fifth Best Opinion, and Sports Pages, and ninth Best Devcom Page. Meanwhile, Andamyo, the official literary folio of The Luzonian, clinched 8th Best Literary Folio with four special awards namely second Best Visual Arts, sixth Best Page Design, eighth Best Content, and tenth Best Concept.

In the magazine category, The L Mag grabbed three awards including eighth Best News Page, eighth Best Devcom Page and tenth Best Opinion Page. On the other hand, six editors and two staffers bagged awards in the individual categories and they all qualified for the Luzonwide Higher Education Press Conference that was held at San Fernando, Pampanga.

The L Team proudly shows their medals, certificates, and winning outputs as they were proclaimed as the Top 5 Performing School in Campus Journalism.

Sophia Margarette Caagbay, Associate Editor and a LiaCom student shined as she became the second individual highest pointer after placing first in Copyreading and Headline Writing – English, second in Poetry writing – Filipino, and fourth in Editorial Writing – Filipino. Caagbay also clinched the Ms. CACE (Calabarzon Association of College Editors) 2019 crown. John Rover Sinag, Editor in Chief and an Information Technology (IT) student, claimed his back-to-back first place in layouting and landed as sixth placer in Sportswriting -Filipino. Kyle Joshua Cadavez, Visual Editor and a Civil Engineering Student, emerged first place in Comics Strip Drawing – English, sixth in Editorial Cartooning and eighth in Literary Graphics, all in English category. Ada Loreen De Castro, Business Manager, an IT student, claimed second place in Copyreading and Headline Writing, eighth in Devcom writing and tenth in Photojournalism all in Filipino category. Jhon Angelo Virtucio, News and Sports Section Editor and an IT student, won third place in

Newswriting and tenth in Sportswriting both in English category. Meanwhile, Ivan Chris Mabilangan, Managing Editor, and an Electronics Engineering student placed fourth in Opinion Writing – English. Senior staffer Adrian Carlo Villanera, a Psychology student won fifth place in Literary Graphics Illustration – Filpino, while Mill Angelo Prado, an Architecture student, grabbed fifth in Feature Writing and seventh in Editorial Cartooning, both in Filipino category. Lastly, for Special Contest for Observers, Senior staffers Andrei Christian A. Cuario, Communication Student, and Carmelo Eduardo Mesa, Electrical Engineering student, won third place in Newswriting and Photojournalism, both in Filipino category, respectively. Moreover, Batangas State University – Main Campus regained the Top 1 spot, seconded by the Lyceum of the Philippines University – Batangas, Southern Luzon State University – Lucban landed on third place, and the University of BatangasLipa on the fourth spot.

news | 11

MSEUF float among ‘the best’ in Pasayahan Festival grand parade Simon Romuel Uy

anuel S. Enverga University Foundation won 4th Place in Best Float Competition in Pasayahan Grand Parade as part of the celebration of Pasayahan Sa Lucena Festival, May 28. Through the effort and creativity of the students from the College of Architecture and Fine Arts (CAFA), they built the Sarimanok inspired float, a colorful bird with a fish caught between its beak, a symbol of prosperity, good luck, and a cultural icon. They also feature the newly crowned Miss Enverga, Juliene Redor of College of Engineering, and the runners-up, Shiena Rose Impreso of CAFA, Kate Rances of Enverga Law School, and Patricia Idea of College of Nursing and

Allied Health Sciences, with Ronni, the official mascot of MSEUF. Celso Jaballa, the Vice President for External Relations was also present in the event. Banyuhay Dance Troupe also represented the University in Pandong (Hat) Competition and the MSEUF Chamber Winds lead the parade. MSEUF yearly participates in Pasayahan Grand Parade exhibiting the excellence and artistry of university, bringing joy in Pasayahan Festival.

news.osa

The colorful float of the Enverga University becomes more colorful as the Miss Enverga University winners and Roonie ride onto it. Photo by Simon Romuel Uy

newsbits about the Office of Student Affairs’ activities and programs

Ivan Chris Mabilangan

Graduating students partake in Career Orientation Baccalaureate series John Rover Sinag

raduting students from various department participated in the Careen OrientationBaccalaureate Series, spearheaded by the Office of Student Affair (OSA), May 7 at the University Gymnasium. The event was conducted Specifically, OSA aims to Regulatory Commission to raise information among help the students to be familiar (PRC), Department of Labor the participants. According to about their functions in terms of and Employment (DOLE), and OSA’s report, as the graduating consumer protection, regulation Philippine Health Insurance class will soon be the new of professionals, and their health Corporation (PhilHealth). generation of professionals, they benefits. Students listened to the need to understand the roles of The OSA invited speakers talk of Romelo Menorca of CSC, government bodes, agencies, from four government agencies Benigna Mendoza from PRC, and organizations including their including the Civil Service Genecille Aguirre of DOLE, and involvement to the society. Commission (CSC), Professionals Arturo Ardiente from PhilHealth.

OSA recognizes academic scholars

John Rover Sinag

he Office of Student Affiars (OSA) once again recognized the academic scholars for this semester including university and college scholars, April 4 at the EMRC Main, AEC Bldg.

Madame Naila Leveriza, University President, and Dr. Rosario Rago, OSA Director lead the distribution of certificates to the awardees while Dr. Liandro Serrano, guidance counselor, presented the scholars. Madame Leveriza gave her inspirational message by reminding the awardees that being serious student in terms of academics can lead one’s success with their future endeavors.

Dr. Rago also encouraged the scholars to keep their interests in studying so that they can help the University in its many pursuits, as she stated in her opening remarks. University scholars received 100% discount on tution fee while college scholars were entitle with 50% but according to OSA, more than the scholarship grants, the students were awarded according to the effort wielded in their

OSA conducts E-Program

academic performance. Aside from the recognition that the scholars received, refreshments were also served after the program. Parents were also invited for them to witness and award the cwertificate to their scholar children. Every semester, the OSA conducts this activity to recognize the top students of the University in terms of academics.

he Office of the Student Affair’s conducted the “Student E-Program Series: Exploration Experience, Example, and Excellence” at the St. Bonaventure Student Center, May 20-21 Chairperson Leandro L. Serrano led the two-part E-program which consisted of an on-site psychology testing and a seminar workshop which involved three activities: group dynamics, mini-seminar and synthesis. The E-program aimed “to provide students with ways and strategies to deal with mental health issues and concern and build self concept by discovering this uniqueness.” The program also focused on helping “the student to develop life’s goals and objectives, enhance problem skills and decision making.” Its third objective is “to challenge students’ creative minds in creating techniques of dealing with obstacles that can be helpful in both school and personal setting.” According to April H. Marquez, one of the co-chairs, the program targeted first year students, as there will be careeroriented programs for 3rd and 4th year students.

12 | opinion

A clean slate for dirty men Kimberly Mae Argosino

Artwork by Jayson Javier

he NBI Clearance – a fancy, government-issued way of saying, “I’m not a criminal”. But in the Philippine political landscape, the value of this thin sheet of paper is minimal, microscopic, and almost ultimately – diminished.

The electorates of our nation are often overwhelmed by a plethora of candidates, whose faces and surnames we’ve met a thousand elections before. And while this is indicative of a political dynamic centered on recycling power, this proved no economic significance to our growth as a nation. With the weak election and candidacy laws, even the most heavily criminally charged politicians could still assume power. If we would analyze the criteria for political candidates in depth, you would realize that the standards are way too low for such lofty positions. We should already know by now that being literate; knowing how to read; knowing how to write, and being of the right age is not enough. When applying for a job, you need not only be qualified academically but must also possess soft and technical skills to ensure that you are able to perform what is needed. And when an aspiring employee could not present his or her NBI clearance, he or she basically send his or her resume down the trash bin. Why do we hold much higher standards for the people we employ? In the corporate world, to hire people with criminal charges is called insanity. Yet, when the same kind of people apply to become our legislators or city heads, they are welcomed with open arms. Politicians like these are like clowns in a circus-like political system. They divert the attention of the nation by making meretricious promises of uplifting their lives, providing opportunities, and creating laws that will serve the interest of the many. But once these politicians get elected into the position, everything turns upside down. Suddenly, the men we invest our hopes for a better country for, turn out to be the villains; the enemies; wolves in sheep’s clothing. Holes in the system allow these men and women to stay in power. It is almost as if the constitution exists to extend their

self-serving interests in the most inconspicuous methods. Take for example, how the police force gives consideration to the age and health condition of a prominent female politician after the former has been convicted with multiple counts of graft. But when an ordinary citizen performs even the pettiest crimes, they are treated brutally, mercilessly, and for a while, the motto ‘to serve and to protect’ ceases to exist. The main issue here is not about the NBI Clearance or the lack thereof of political candidates but rather a mixture of political ignorance and disinformation among the majority of the voters. Filipinos acquired tolerance of corruption and tend to just let it happen because they just got used to it. We do a great disservice to our country by allowing inept, corrupt, and criminal politicians inside the system. The Filipinos do not deserve leaders whose main agenda is to heavy their pockets with the nation’s hard-earned taxes. More importantly, we must realize that the only way we could protect our government from criminally charged politicians is to educate ourselves. We must emphasize on our individual critical thinking before we could chorus on collaborative change. In a country dominated with politicians with dark souls, we only have our fellowmen to trust, to believe in, to join in a revolutionary movement with. To reiterate, the Filipinos do not deserve leaders whose main agenda is to feed their famished pockets with the hard-earned taxes of the nation. We have fought and continue to do so, against this carousel ride of progress: only going up and down in a continuous eternal circle. The only way to liberate ourselves from the barbaric hands of criminal politicians is to put them in prison. And we invest our hope that one day, each will rot in their own time and pace, and decay together with all their wrongdoings.

opinion | 13

The press gets louder when silenced

Kimberly Mae Argosino & Sophia Margarette Caagbay t is a form of resistance indeed – when the truth struggles against the threat of being muted. Enabling this resistance are journalists who rigorously combat deception. However, some wars were not made fairly.

Ever since Duterte’s election in 2016, Rappler had begun using its voice to report the insanely many-to-mention and merciless accounts of the war against drugs, violation of human rights, the display of misogyny, and obscene speeches. Rappler also made the public aware of the misinformation and fake news, coupled with edited images and misleading headlines, that were delivered by Duterte’s supporters. #DefendPressFreedom landslide our social media feeds since the arrests of Rappler CEO, Maria Ressa. It is crucial to note at this point, that our president has always been sensitive about criticisms. Yet despite having a foul mouth, he cannot contain those who also have it against him, one of which he pulsed against the veteran journalist. Ressa was an investigative reporter, and Manila and Jakarta Bureau Chief for CNN for 20 years. She also headed ABSCBN’s News division. In

2012, she put up Rappler, an online news platform, together with three other female journalists. She is one of the most highly recognized journalists in the Philippines, receiving numerous awards for journalism and having been named as Time Person of the Year 2018. But despite her having such a powerful stand in the society, she is not exempted from the government’s attacks and bullying to the strongest critics of the Duterte Administration. Ressa is having mounting cases in just a short span of time. The most recent arrest was, the moment she arrived in the morning at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on March 29, for the alleged violation of Anti-Dummy Law wherein she has posted bail for Php 90, 000. This is just 43 days from her recent arrest on February 13 for a cyberlibel lawsuit. This relates to an article published in 2012 about Wilfredo Keng, a businessman, and his

connections to a top court judge. The law, however, was enacted four months after the article was published. This basically means that this lawsuit is void for the law is not retroactive – meaning, cannot be implemented upon activities which occurred before its inception. Clearly, something politically motivated has been going on. She now faces a total of 11 complaints and cases. But not only did Ressa was subjected to this threat card but also among others. The president supported the removal of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, who showed concern for the human rights situation under the drug war; he threatened Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales after she challenged him that he has undeclared wealth; he slut-shamed Senator Leila de Lima after alluding to have seen a sex scandal of her; and, he deported Australian missionary Patricia Fox,

who had joined rallies against him. In 2017, Duterte declared in his State of the Union speech that Rappler violated the constitution because it is ‘fully-owned’ by foreign entities. He later declared publicly “Not only is Rappler’s news fake, but it being a Filipino is also fake”. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) decided to revoke Rappler’s license but was remanded back for having no basis as per CNN. The government also claimed that Rappler evaded taxes worth $3 million in 2015. Typically, investigations for cases like this takes a minimum of a year, but the department already filed charges within five months. It is without-question that the president, along with his tentacles, is using his power supposed to serve the people, but instead serves his own by foregoing multiple arrests on Ressa and attacks on his strongest critics. In the climate of our country at present – where everything’s chaotic and laws that exist to serve the people’s betterment are not utilized as what they are built for, and are

Artwork by Jara Maiah Villaruel

instead weaponized to weaken the strong for the blinds to remain blinded; this is the time to think deeply about our future, to organize and to do something worthy of this country. This is a call, and this is admittedly a difficult agenda, but we are the people. We have done this before and we can do it again. Let the president know the Filipino people is not asleep, and we are not as ignorant as he thought us to be; let him know we are watching, and we are not to be blinded and silenced because we are the Filipinos, the power rests upon us, the sovereign people. Let Maria Ressa’s back and forth tour at the police stations and bold statements, supported by her unwavering actions, be a reminder that “We will not duck. We will not hide. We will hold the line.” So, why would you?

14 | devcom

START SMART

EU’s first SHS entrepreneurial bazaar

Ariana Julia Tadiosa

Photos by Ariana Julia Tadiosa

t had been early in the morning, but something unusual was already budding in the middle of the AEC Quadrangle. The classes resumed as usual, but dozens of students were piled up in the area having no clue to its purpose.

Finally, the crowd starts building up and the music starts blasting. Tents and booths are slowly coming into place. The tension is building up among the Senior High students and their advisers who were lined up at the entrance. The ribbon was finally cut, and the first START SMART Bazaar has commenced. This year’s START SMART Bazaar was formulated by the professors of the College of Arts and Sciences as a way to not only bring up a fun event that will teach these students the value of managing their businesses wisely but also as a means for them to fulfill their final requirements as well. Twenty-six sections of the Senior High School program have participated in the said bazaar. Not only were the booths adorned with different designs that match the personality of their respective motifs, but also the welcoming smile that the students showed. Most of the booths feature the normal student comfort

food including sweets, burgers, the usual kakanin and much more creative concoctions that everyone surely liked. The activity also includes a video promotion contest that was part of the competition as well. The participants have posted these promotional contents, but one particular contestant had caught the eye of its target audience well. The video “Isnubul” was meant to promote the ever so popular Filipino snack which are snowballs. It was a parody of the song “Siomai Rice” and is filled with funny antics that have made it meme-material and was shared hundreds of times by students. All in all, both the students and the faculty involved had declared the event to be successful. Everybody went home tired, but smiles were plastered on their faces even at the duration where they were under the scorching heat. It was a sure guarantee that this will not be the last time where you can see this kind of event.

Colors of the avenue

devcom | 15

Kimberly Mae Argosino

uezon Avenue has a new face. Not that it had not been beautiful before, but under the blissful stares of the night sky, it can take your breath away. The naked walls that it used to be were no more. Now it bathes in blithe colors, in mysterious straights and curves, in images, in stories, in the eyes of both an audience and creator.

Photos from EverythingQuezon Facebook fanpage

The heavily traveled roads in Lucena’s heart of trade now prides itself with an array of murals. The street art is painted on a portion of Quezon Avenue’s walkway, where feet coming from both directions meet. In a fast-paced ground, most people would need to take some time out to appreciate each painting and let it seep through their souls. A mural is a piece of artwork that is painted on permanent surfaces like walls. It is a picture incorporated with architectural elements of the very limited space. Perhaps one of the most remarkable mural projects is the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program (MAP), which created more than 3,000 murals since its inception in 1984. In the country, street arts could be found in UP Diliman, upscale communities like BGC, and Basketball Courts in Intramuros. Lucena is keeping its game up by teaming with different schools including Gulanggulang National High School, Lucena City National High School, Lucena Dalahican National High School and more to bring life to the once dull walkway. Each art piece breathes with passion,

creativity, strokes of patience, and uniqueness of style. Their artists, whose names were written on the lower portion of the pieces, placed themselves on the same spotlight, along with the immortal history of Lucena, and its undying roads where broken paths come to mend. But the murals aren’t just there to please the eyes. It isn’t just the same type of art that conforms to the standards of beauty or volume of aesthetics. These paintings convey messages. They captured nature in its most vulnerable state: where the leaves shiver under the weight of our touch, where the endless azure is bloodied with smoke, where soil labors for the interests of machines. They snatched a fragment of our present time, our current environment, and in various colors, they allowed each piece to tell their own stories. We are glad that art pieces like these are not sheltered from the eyes of man and beasts. This is a type of art that this community really needs – art that walks among us, art that inspires a community, art that promotes compassion for the earth.

Kimberly Mae Argosino

in the

The best worst policy

| opinion 16| ANALYSIS

k or

A ill

hen Davao Mayor Sara Duterte said “Honesty is not an electoral issue”, the Filipinos thought to themselves, “What on Earth was she thinking?”. Surprisingly, Rodrigo Duterte’s barbaric drug war, display of misogyny, and his sycophantic allies and their overall ineptitude to run a country, still do not encapsulate the worst we have seen in Filipino politics. Unsurprisingly, it is his own daughter who went as low as disregarding a fundamental principle that separates humans from other animals.

Creatures in the animal kingdom are the doyens of deceit. They camouflage and mix themselves among the unsuspecting eyes of nature as decoys for their preys. The poor prey draws closer to the predator, attracted to its beauty, lost in illusion. The predator reveals the beast, the wolf inside the sheep’s clothing, and pounces on the prey and begins feasting. This is what makes us human: the idea that we don’t need to deceive our fellow humans to serve our own needs. But it is also human to lie – it is natural. We lie to harmonize our social relationships, in order not to hurt, to save ourselves in humiliating occasions. We can lie about trivial matters. And politics is not a trivial matter.

Politics is what dictates the price of food, justice, social indignation, liberty, and living. It is only reasonable to want politicians to be honest because they have in their hands, the power, not even our collective individual participation could have. Everybody lies anyway – that’s what Sara Duterte said on the 6th of March when she defended candidates on the party Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) who were accused of dishonesty and corruption – particularly Imee Marcos on her academic degrees, and the ubiquitous Bong Go for using public funds for t-shirts printed with his name and caricature. Everybody lies, sure. But not everybody runs for public office. Sara, a lawyer, asserted that honesty is not a legal requirement

for senatorial candidates. However, Section 2, Article 11 states that “Public Office is Public Trust”. Sara, how could we invest our trust in people running for public office if they are dishonest? Honesty is the best policy, but the value of this virtue has been made minimal, microscopic, and almost ultimately disregarded by Sara Duterte. She cheapened the idea of public office by doing so, making it appear that lofty positions do not only have low standards but even lower morals. We do a great disservice to our country by allowing dishonest politicians inside the system. The Filipinos do not deserve political leaders who lie to them. Filipinos deserve figures they can trust and invest their hopes into. Liars go to hell. And we hope they do.

[Imee edition]

opinion | 17 ANALYSIS |

Marcos unmasked: Kimberly Mae Argosino

he Marcoses are the closest thing we could get to the Kardashians. Both families are dramatic and famous: one for having six lovely children and the other for having four disappointing ones. Both mothers have a thousand pairs of shoes too. The only main difference is – the Kardashian patriarch was not a dictator. And then there’s graduation from the University of Management (AIM). It must be graduate, therefore, she cannot Imee. the Philippines - Diliman, nor any some kind of sorcery because AIM be valedictorian. By now, it The eldest Marcos child is the honors or academic distinctions, did not even offer this degree. wouldn’t even be surprising if her embodiment of her family portrait contrary to Imee’s claim that Even her high school kindergarten years turn out to be – full of corruption, full of lies, she was Cum Laude from the achievements were fabricated. lies too. and full of herself. But Imee also Univerity. Imee stated in the same CV that Aside from being a portrays excellence in different The now-defunct curriculum she was valedictorian at Santa pathological liar, Imee also shares fields and the first one of which is vitae that listed these academic Catalina School in California. the same apathy of her family lying. distinctions also included However, head of school John towards the incurable agony and Unlike any other ‘craft’, that she has an MA in Aime said that while suffering of the families who lost lying requires guts, persistence, Management and Business Imee attended the loved ones during the Martial Law and the intestinal fortitude of a Administration school for a Era. serpent. You could see all these from the Asian brief period Imee is also as merciless as traits present in the plethora of Institute of in 1972, her father. On August 31, 1977, politicians who often overwhelm she did Archimedes Trajano, a student us with their recycled promises not activist from Mapua Institute of and controversies. But no one does Technology, questioned Imee’s it perfectly like Imee. appointment as the director of Sometime in 1983, Imee Kabataang Barangay in an open staged a ‘graduation ceremony’ forum at Pamatasan ng Lungsod ng at the Meralco Theatre, even Maynila. Apparently, Imee was not including Ferdinand and Imelda pleased and had Archimedes taken Marcos and Chief Justice Enrique out forcibly by her bodyguards. On Fernando as attendees or more September 2, 1977, his dead body appropriately, actors, in what was found on the road with signs could be described as a simulation of torture and abuse. Dead – just driven by the desire to deceive the by asking a question that Imee did masses. not like. It is insane to comprehend And let’s not forget how she how Imee could go to such used tobacco excise tax collections uncanny lengths when she could to purchase 115 vehicles without just actually go to college like going through mandatory public a normal person and earn her bidding. The corruption is strong degree. What is more baffling is with this one – she’s definitely a how she constantly insists on her Marcos. academic degrees that do not exist. It is important to note that in Imee declared herself to be this coming election, not only is it ‘one of the first female graduates of Imee’s lies that we should keep in an Ivy League School – Princeton mind but all the wrong things she University, graduating with has been doing as a politician and honors’. However, this was found as a person. to be untrue as Michael Hotchkiss, Do we want a corrupt, Princeton’s deputy spokesperson, heartless, liar to serve the confirmed that while Imee did Filipinos? enroll at various times from 1973 We surely don’t. to 1979, their records do not show that she was awarded a degree. UP Executive Vice President Teodoro Herbosa also confirmed that there is no record of her

Artwork by Mill Angelo Prado

18 | devcom

From blueprint

to ‘green’ community Maria Rizelle Tiama

ities are rising as we speak, as well as the depiction of modern “space branding.” Architecture and urban planning is the idea of branding as it is creating a recognizable image that would stand out. Come to think of it, a mid-class community in Brgy. Isabang is not just rather smart but feasible.

This thesis, which won the Best in Feasibility Study in the College of Architecture and Fine Arts, was proposed and investigated by Rendell Arpon, a fifth-year architecture student, whose main objective was to propose a green middle-class subdivision to rise in the humble Isabang community. The proposed green subdivision boasts amenities for entertainment and recreation such as a jogging path, a basketball court, a family-friendly swimming pool, and a decent-sized multipurpose hall that can potentially be used for various type of occasions. Residential homes both one and two-storeys are at around 80 to 100 sqm. which were designed to suite affordability and aesthetics.

Photos from Rendel Arpon

This proposal transforms the stereotype towards most subdivisions. While other residential and commercial layouts are critiqued for its lack of planning, towering rate, and loose security, the green subdivision promises effective land use that does not put its potential customers at risk. The green subdivision’s best advantage is its location. At the center of the economic progress, it is enclosed by institutions at a short distance: just along the Eco Tourism Road which will allow transit to move smoothly; the Scuola Gesu Bambino School; grocery stores; gasoline stations – it is truly at the heart of community development. In his written outputs, Arpon mentioned “new urbanism”, a phrase used to describe a raise of standards concerning individual and collective lifestyle which is achieved by creating better places to live. Basically, bedazzling the usual old way of living through working out with what’s already there. The best aspect of this proposed community is that its core are bioclimatic designs which adapts to environmental conditions that help achieve thermal comfort. It also provides the aid of “Green Infrastructures” which is an opt

to “Ecourbanism”, a portmanteau that means development of human communities within a harmonious and balanced environment. The purpose of this is to create a complex yet modernized design of a house, while in favor of the environment and the economy. Arpon’s idea for this subdivision is environmentfriendly, passive about progress with the assistance of innovative technological designs, and budget friendly: the best things to describe a community, the best things to describe a home.

devcom | 19

Developed <Mushroom/> T

Ada Loreen De Castro

he art of mushroom farming is a delicate landscape, with steep slopes only the skilled could conquer and mountains only the learned could summit. From this craft, a cultivation of cuisine and progress of food agriculture are born. Mushroom made livelihood, lifestyle, and liberty to a caged farming structure.

Photos and screenshot of the project from Genrev Gabriel Rodriguez

Postured against the heat of the sun, saturated with sweat, and punished by the scalding burn of the wind, farmers continuously plant amidst the dangerous Philippine humid, under the endless sky. Each seed planted with manual physical labor- the hardwork of a man. Before the rise of technology and its many utilities, farming was only done traditional: rice fields were plowed with carabaos and human tools, produce needed hands to be picked – it was a period so unknown from a point

of view today that allowed farming approaches to use the gift of machines. Nowadays, the Internet of Things (IoT) has been evolving and developing, through the young minds of the youth, they have fresh ideas to improve how technology can make an impact on society through agricultural progress. An IT Capstone Project from the College of Computing and Multimedia Studies (CCMS) introduced something that has been an awardwinning, which is known

in the campus, in the region, and in the national platform. Shroominator: IOT Based Environmental Monitoring and Controlling System with Outlier Detection Algorithm for Mushroom Farming which was developed by three students namely Genrev Gabriel Rodriguez, Edrian Nicker Principe, and Jan Adriel Ocampo, with their adviser Prof. Roselyn A. Maano, has been a big fuss that used IoT in a higher level.

Shroominator presents an environmental monitoring and controlling system that monitors and controls the environment inside a mushroom farm. It allows a mushroom farmer to monitor light intensity, carbon dioxide concentration, humidity, and temperature inside a mushroom farm on any device with browser by using the Shroominator Web Application. Also, the project used an outlier detection algorithm to be able to cleanse the collected sensor data to have more precise sensor measurements. Water sprinkler will automatically be enabled when the device has detected that the temperature and carbon dioxide is low. Sensors are placed inside the mushroom farm to monitor every needed data. Various awards were claimed by the project, namely MSEUF 11th Student Research Congress – Best Capstone Project, 4th Annual iSite Regional Conference, and Presentation in IT Education and IT

Competition – Champion, and Y4IT Research Summit 2019 – Champion. It was never easy for the team leader, Rodriguez, to make this far. “I did not expect that our team will win these awards, we just listen on what our adviser tell us which will be better for this and that, and I think God did the rest” exclaimed by Rodriguez. Technology can help anyone and everyone, we just need a great mind and wild ideas to pursue our little curiosity. Times like these when farmers are not treated properly by some people, someone needs to step up and create a new breeze of individual who can be someone’s helping hand. This way, agriculture can be much easier especially in our country where agriculture is the main source of living of many Filipinos. Truly, hard work and attitude is a great formula in winning life’s choices. Mushrooms may grow everywhere but we cannot compare our success with mushrooms because we are the farmers of our own success.

20 | news

Photo gallery highlights the winning moment of the Engineering Academic Team as they carefully answered the questions with so much dedication and focus. Photos by John Rover Sinag

BACK TO BACK CHAMP

CEng celebrates landslide win in online acad contest Kimberly Mae Argosino

he College of Engineering (CEng) academic team brought the championship home once again for Efren A. Micor Online Academic Contest with 44 points during the 72nd foundation year of MSEUF at the university gymnasium, February 19. With a ten-point lead against the second placer, College of Business and Accountancy (CBA), CEng which is composed of Melvin Alas-as, Kyle Joshua Cadavez, Mark Joseph Montera, Timothy Xaris Forbes, and Daniel Joseph Buban ensured another year of victory in the said academic contest. The College of Arts and Sciences finished third with a total of 32 points, just a point higher than the College of Computing and Multimedia Studies’ (CCMS) accumulated

points, who just landed on the fourth spot. CEng dominated the Philippine History and General Information categories and garnered 8 and 7 points, respectively. CEng managed to ace 5 questions in the current events category which brought the team to an immediate lead early in the contest. The academic team of CEng was challenged in the Science category which the College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences (CNAHS) led with 9 points.

With two points shorter against CBA’s 11 points in Spelling round and CCMS’ 9 points in Mathematics category, CEng was still able to gain higher overall scores as the first two mentioned departments lagged behind CEng in other categories. Efren A. Micor Academic Online Contests’ quizmasters were Sir Dexter Villamin and Dr. Maria Tamayo. Contest arbiters were Mrs. Cielo Pressa, Engr. Evangeline Constantino, and Dr. PJ de Castro

Nine Envergans ace essay, poetry writing contests Karen Yvonne Daleon

ine Envergans showed their writing prowess in this year’s Tobias Y. Enverga Essay Writing Contest and Pagsulat ng Sanaysay at Tula during the 72nd Founding Anniversary celebration of the University, Feb. 19, at the MSEUF Library Seminar Hall. Eighteen scribes from different Engineering (CEng), and CAS won Lianne Isabelle Jalbuena departments competed in Essay the three prizes in Pagsulat ng from CNAHS, Mikaela Tapic from Writing Contest and Pagsulat ng Sanaysay. CEng, and Joy Vencel Osela of CAS Sanaysay at Tula. Moreover, there are also three garnered second place in respective Students from the College of winners from CED, CAS, and CEng competitions. Arts and Sciences (CAS), College for the Pagsulat ng Tula contest. Lastly, Landing on the third of Nursing and Allied Health Francis Ernest Jalbuena from spots were Khristine Joy Lusterio Sciences(CNAHS), and College of CAS, Filipino essay writer Angelo from CED, Carmela Miranda from Education (CEd) reign as winners in Mercado from CBA, and Ann CAS, and Wyeanne Nichole Gamboa the Essay Writing Contest. Katherine Obciana from CEd seized from CEng. Meanwhile, participants the championship award in Esssay All the winners received from the College of Business and Writing, Pagsulat ng Sanaysay, and medals, certificate of participation, Accountancy (CBA), College of Pagsulat ng Tula, respectively. and a cash prize.

Student writers seriouly write their masterpiece to win the competition. Photo by Hamfrey Saniel

news | 21

Engineering bet reigns as new Miss Enverga University Kimberly Mae Argosino

ulienne Redor was crowned Ms. Enverga University on the night of February 22, as witnessed by Envergans at the University Gymnasium, Lucena City.

The crowning moment of the new Miss Enverga Univerity, Julienne Redor from the College of Engineering Photos by Carmelo Eduardo Mesa

Starting off strong, Julienne jived with the jolly pop beats during the production number. Even surrounded with equally beautiful lasses, Julienne stood on her own. In her color-popped sun-bleached dress, all attention was hers. Dazzling the crowd with her rainbowkaleidoscopic swimsuit, Julienne walked the stage and the colors of her suit clashed with the lights, providing an illusion of movement, as if she was wearing the rainbow itself. From these prism of colors, Julienne transferred into a white and silver gown. The simple fabric that hugged her body came

alive as she waltzed into the stage with the best thing she wore that night – her smile. Julienne secured the prestigious title during the final Question and Answer Portion when asked if transgender women should be allowed to join beauty pageants. Her answer made her opinion clear, and her delivery was brief, welltimed, and an absolute fit for the wit required of an Envergan Queen. With the duties and responsibilities of a Ms. Enverga Univeristy, Julienne Redor is now on a new journey towards institutional promotion and community engagement.

CEng’s Fifth Derivative dominates battle of the bands Andrei Christian Cuario

he Fifth Derivative from the College of Engineering (CEng) was hailed champion in the Battle of the Bands as they performed the hit song Babaero by Randy Santiago and Tayo’y Mga Pinoy by Heber Bartolome, MSEUF Gymnasium, Feb. 20.

The band also won the best vocalist and best lead guitar awards. They did not expect the result of the contest and shared that their preparation for the competition was really tough because of their work in academics and school organization . “Not expected kase pauwi na talaga kami tapos nung sinabi kung sino ‘yung nanalo, natuwa kami. Tapos napakahassle ng preparation namin gawa ng aming exams, plates, at y activities namin sa ME lab.” said by the lead guitarist and vocalist, Charles Harry Masiglat. “Nakakatuwa lang at sulit na sulit ang aming

practice kahit mga anim na beses lang siguro yun,” Masiglat added. The band did not also expect the overwhelming support of the people and they were the most awaited band to perform during the interview of the hosts of the event to the audience that night. “Di rin namin inexpect yung suporta ng mga tao dahil hindi naman talaga kami kilala sa school. Unexpected talaga at dahil dun lumakas ang aming loob na galingan pa lalo magperform,” Masiglat also shared. Meanwhile, the last band that performed Yawasac of College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) earned

the second place, best bass guitar and best drummer awards. Yawasac performed the rock songs Tensionado by Soapdish and Super Proxy by Eraserheads. The crowd favorite Bandaritas of College of Education (CEd) got the third place and rocked the crowd with their songs Hallelujah by Bamboo and Mama Knows Best by Jessie J. Other winners of special awards were Hello World of College of Computing Multimedia Studies (CCMS) in best pianist and Irregular of College of Architecture and Fine Arts (CAFA) in best violinist.

Charles Harry Masiglat, the vocalist of the Fifth Derivative band, emotionally and lively sing for the audience. Photo by Gracelle Nicole Aseoche

22 | column

Omnia causa fiunt E

verything happens for a reason,” and my entire college life was a great journey, which I never thought it would be - not planned but everything happened because it has a reason and I believe that it was destined - full of surprises, challenges, lessons, and great memories that will cherish forever.

Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation(MSEUF) was not my first-choice institution where I should take my college degree. Of course, there is the University of the Philippines but I failed the UPCAT. There is also the Southern Luzon State University (SLSU) where I already passed the exam, had already been interviewed by the Dean of the College of Engineering, and I’ve been also paid the reservation fee. So why was I graduated in MSEUF? I was already working with my admission application in SLSU when the deliberation of Honor Students happened way back in 2015 at Gulanggulang National High School where I took my high school level. Fortunately, the deliberation concluded that I was the Class Valedictorian. Knowing that MSEUF accepts Valedictorians as its Entrance Scholars, I enrolled in Enverga University but I was not aware that the scholarship only lasts for one academic year. Comparing the tuition fee and other expenses between MSEUF and SLSU, no doubt that SLSU is 300% - 500% cheaper than MSEUF but they do not offer the same academic programs. I trust my feeling and what my heart desired during that time, that I must enroll in the BS Information Technology program in MSEUF rather than BS Mechanical Engineering in SLSU. I chose that decision even though I was already listed in SLSU and already paid the

reservation fee and even though I did not know where to get the tuition fee for the next academic years ranging from 30,000-40,000 per semester whenever my Entrance Scholarship get already expired. My two sisters were also taking their college degree that time and University expenses were a very serious matter. Knowing that tuition and other fees at MSEUF are quite high and our family can’t afford it, there was a big chance that whenever we ran out of money for my expenses, I might stop studying. But what did I do? I just trusted God and myself and believed that it was my destiny. My feelings were never wrong. During the latter part of my first semester in Enverga University, I received a text message saying that I am one of the recipients of Full Merit Scholarship program of Commission on Higher Education which gave me financial support of 15,000 per semester, not enough for my school expenses but a great help to lessen it. In order to cope with other expenses left, I must study hard, have a grade point average of not lower

Truly, all the best things that happened to me were never part of my plan. JOHN ROVER SINAG

EXCOGIGATORIS

than 1.50 and no grade lower than 2.0 for any academic subject. This is for me to have the academic scholarship with at least 50% discount on tuition fee. So, I told myself that I must focus on my academics and get rid of my co-curricular activities and affiliations in other organizations since I have already been active in different extra and co-curricular activities during my high school days. I only saw my college life as a place where studying is my only priority and get my diploma someday. Yes, that was my plan in order to be an academic scholar and finish my degree. But things don’t always go as planned. Maybe, I was not a natural studious person and being a student leader and a campus journalist always have a very special place in my heart. So, I let go of my plan. As early as my freshman year, I became the President of the College of Computer Studies (CCS) Freshmen Class, the Asst. Secretary of the Philippine Society of Information Technology Students (PSITES) - MSEUF Chapter, the Head of Creative Committee

of the University Collegiate Student Council (UCSC), and the Layout Artist and writer of The Luzonian, the official publication of the collegiate student body of MSEUF. During my second year, I ran in student politics under the Coalition for the Advancement and Unity of Students of Enverga (CAUSE) Party and won the office of CCS Representative of the UCSC. I also experienced an initiation process and became a lifetime member of The Honor Society of the Lambda Kappa Phi, the first Greek Fraternity in Enverga University In my third year, I brought back myself to The Luzonian, tried to become the Editor in Chief through a qualifying exam and a selection process but I failed. Still, I was an active Layout Editor and I could say that I had a great contribution to our publication. I told myself that during my last year at Enverga University, I would just focus on academics and would never involve myself again in any organizations but again, it didn’t happen. I realized that I must involve myself in such matters because I want my last year in the Univerity to be worthwhile and worth remembering. I tried to become the EIC of The L again and fortunately, I was able to do it. Again, none of these were planned but I can say that I am forever grateful because I was able to experience being a student leader, a campus, journalist, a lifetime member of an Honor Society, and a consistent academic scholar because these things taught me a lot. Truly, all the best things that happened to me were never part of my plan. I believed that all of these happened for a reason - to make the better version of myself, not for me, but for the people around me and for the society, and all of these were according to His plan, not mine. Of course, I was never alone during this journey. I would like to give my sincerest and heartfelt gratitude to the ones involved behind this success: to the Almighty God, to my professors, college buddies, classmates, The L family, to the HSLKP, my family and relatives, and to my special someone.

Σοφία M

column | 23

y name has always been and will ever be associated with its Greek meaning. Carrying this name around has its burden; the burden of being wise. Now, the question stands am I wise? But one thing is for sure, I’ve accumulated the wisdom I need throughout my stay in the university. Each year a new one, an encompassing one:

1st Year College: Culture-shock-not. This is it; take a risk! Most of us step into college differently. There was no debriefing about how we should behave. I find college difficult. I am compelled to study every night just to fail every time. That’s one step to toughening up the courage for the dreams – the first thing I learned. But one day, I feel restless: “Is it still worth fighting for? Is this the life I want to live?” always lurk around me. This was the major turning point, the divergent road – no room for mistake, just the wise choice – to have balls and spine. I guess to be comfortable with yourself, have 1) the courage to 2) make choices and 3) take responsibility no matter the outcome because 4) you own them; they are yours to live for.

2nd Year College: Explore, basically just leap! Culture shock kicks in – everything looks different, liberated. These what welcomes me, but no I wasn’t scared, I was thrilled. It was like I was kicked outside of my comfort zone. I carry this to heart. Nothing worthy comes easy, for me to do so I have to be a brave soul by experiencing and existing as much – not by doing vices, but basically by living outside the confines of our usual fourcorner room, because true learning is when you apply and live out what you’ve been learning.

3rd Year College: Living in chaos And so differences ensue; misunderstanding comes in and fights broke out.

Though we know nothing is fully controllable, we still try to – stubborn to be resilient. Everyone has their own beliefs and battles to die for; a clash of titans. We fight, we get wounded, we bleed; the thing is not the hearts that we lay bare when we’re weak. Rather it is the strength, we had in our very veins, that we can heal for the world to see; that these are battle scars – proofs that we are warriors in our own right. But this sound righteous, selfcentered. It is not enough to be strong, to only fight. What makes our battles meaningful is to know when to step back, to retreat (because we understand that some just can’t). It will always be honorable fighting a battle without raising armor and shooting bullets: it is essential to learn when weapons are wasted, when to leave; not because we are defeated but the battlefield isn’t ready yet and needs time to be one.

4th Year College: Being human(e)? A warrior may need a comrade. At times, we find these comrades in the most unexpected places. I was able partake in a cultural student exchange in Malaysia for a week. What really puts me in awe is these people I’ve learned to call home in a

supposed cold-homelesscountry I am never part of, was something I did not see coming nor expected by supposed-strangers in a foreign land. Going back to my own land, I thought that laying my heart bare doesn’t seem so bad at all. That if we could care less being a warrior and being kind, sometimes, makes life (already hard on its own) lighter and easier; that it’s not about fighting, retreating and surviving (and hiding our flesh in the armors we wear), it’s about getting out of our shells and connecting with people. I guess, when I gave in to the call of humanity is the starting point where I truly appreciated the life I am leading and the world I am living in (both the good and the bad) – that I am just more than a breathing creature for I’ve found a home in a foreign land, in my own land; I guess it doesn’t matter where you are, as long as there’s humanity, there’s home, that makes me a human one with humanity.

5th Year College: Finding homeostasis Sometimes, journeys take longer than it should be. We brought experiences with ourselves along the way, and we meet people from different walks of

PRESOCRATIC SOPHIA MARGARETTE CAAGBAY

life– some passed by, some left a mark, some stayed for as long as the sun eats them alive – and these are the people we never expected to grow within us, who helped us shaped the person who we are – yet. And sometimes, we find ourselves at home, not just with them, but with ourselves. That leads me to realization, that my life in this year, is summed up together that everything combined is that it’s humanity right there in the picturesque brilliance in the imperfection of perfection of my brokenness and how I mended it. And same goes to you (probably). That we were able to understand that that something we’ve gone through made us

What makes our battles meaningful is to know when to step back, to retreat

today – an exquisite identity, with all the clarity and ambiguity, suffering and pleasure, laughter and cries, love and hate, friendship and enemies, strangers and families – we are made of all of these and that comes in-betweens: the marvel of how we are sculpted is always better than the glory after our construction. But it does not end here – because we keep on growing, on telling stories and on leaving footprints – and we don’t finish brilliance, we continue living with it for we are an unfolding art.

24 | column

The naked truth I

discipline my clothes the way my clothes discipline me. They dictate me to be spontaneous or cautious or a little bit of either. They tell me how to sit, where to lean, which shoes to match. They punish me with how much or little I expose and laugh at the bizarre and absurd mysteries of my skin.

The clothes I’ve worn have learned to wear me and somehow found their way into my private places: into the crevices of my insecurities, under the canopy of my fears. They’ve learned to exist palpably obvious around the spaces often under threat by the presence of male gaze, and invite themselves into the comfort of my own warmth. But lately, they frighten me. I am no longer confident, I am worried. Why does this skirt expose so much of my leg? This neckline? Too low. Shirt? Way too revealing. I am alarmed by this betrayal and struggled to find answers. My clothes were my advocacy, but now it is my enemy. I set them inside my closet and allowed each piece to think about the perils they almost brought me. But then I realized, why was I blaming my skirt for exposing my legs to creepy guys who couldn’t control themselves from staring? Why was I mad about an awfully low neckline in which I feel sensually beautiful in? And my shirt, with its merciless revelation of my depth, did not deserve to be folded and kept just because I had been catcalled in it. My clothes did not betray me. Society did. As a girl who grew up in bigger boxed shirts than posh primadonna dresses, I thought I was safeguarding myself against the threat of men’s dangerous looks. I had always been told to dress appropriately and my idea of appropriate was to cover as much skin as possible. But that’s something I did not understand growing up. Who was I being appropriate for? And why? Is it because women are so naturally sensual that it weakens the morals of men and provokes them to do things that disrespect and devalue women? The sad thing about it is that we always find ways to excuse men of these actions and defend them by saying that these are their natural ways. That is foolishly absurd! Men’s biological make-up does not excuse them from their bad behaviors. Are we trying to say that their natural behavior is to sexually assault women who dress provocatively? I don’t think so. I’ve met so many men in my life who respect women for who they are and what they want to be. Stop telling people that this is normal.

Sometimes I wish men could crawl into my skin and feel what it feels like to be caged in your own body: how dangerous it feels like walking alone at night; how frightening it is to pass by a group of men hoping not to get catcalled; how low you end up feeling after people tell you that you don’t deserve respect just because you exposed your wonderful skin. I want them to feel what it feels like to be an object, like a commodity, like a product, like a woman. The phrase ‘Grow some balls!’ has undertones often associated with male genitals – or to men in general – as if to say that confidence and strength only exist among men, just like what the phrase suggests. But what is confidence to a man who doesn’t have the courage to own his wrongdoings? What is strength to a man who is weak at the sight of

beautiful women? What is growing balls to a man who can’t even outgrow his own ego? I want to be naked- naked like the wind passing by unencumbered by the judgment of men. I want to be naked – naked like an empty canvass, mannequins, and dark silhouettes. I want to be naked – naked even with my clothes on. Naked without being naked. Naked by not exposing my skin, but instead, my soul. I discipline my clothes the way my clothes discipline me. I hope we could discipline men, too.

KIMBERLY MAE ARGOSINO

POLARIS I want them to feel what it feels like to be an object, like a commodity, like a product, like a woman.

column | 25

Syntax e rror

f you were given the chance to change something from the past, would you? I’ve always dreamt of being a writer for a known magazine or perhaps a cartoonist for the Philippine Daily Inquirer. I’ve always found it satisfying to see my name in print, especially in our school paper. Perhaps because I want to see my name published, not to be known for it, but to express my thoughts, take a stand and make my voice heard.

So, why did I choose Civil Engineering as my degree program instead of Journalism? Or even Architecture or anything arts-related instead? Since I was a child, I always hated mathematics. I easily give up when solving equations. Even answering simple mathematical problems is a problem for me. Not even once did it cross my mind that I’d love solving those, but being a risk-taker myself, I entered the Engineering program. It basically stemmed from three things: its practicality as a future job, the idea of the career as an in-demand profession by the time I graduate, and the fact that it was my parents’ dream for me. Honestly, I can’t imagine myself as an engineer. Never did I imagine that I’d stay and not flunk this program. But why did He choose me to stay on these

five long years of challenge and struggle? Maybe He didn’t want to turn me into that someone that I wanted to be but as what my parents wanted to see me. All for myself and for my family’s future. Now, however, I should see myself as one so as to help them as soon as I get my diploma. To my Nanay and Tatay, thank you for believing in me and helping me pick up myself when in doubt. My brother, Kenzo, and my Lola thank you for always being there to motivate me along the way. My everyday struggles for the past five years have taught me that rejections and mistakes are the tickets to the concert of my dream. Every failed quiz or exam, shaky recitation, and unforgettable embarrassment has honed me to better myself and be prepared for

the battlefield of tomorrow. To my main college circle: Anne, Duday, Marlou, Melvin, Niko, Rosette, Alyssa, Nicole, JM, Jolo, and Martin, I am greatly indebted of the knowledge, laughter, stories, and answers that we share for the past years. Thank you. Also, to my PHF, classmates, online friends, and kainumans: thank you for accepting me for who I am and never getting tired of it. There is no doubt that college is hard, yet my classmates always see me like a chill and relaxed student. I myself can say that my college life did not just revolve around the axis of academics but also in the atmosphere of campus journalism. My publication life started as early as grade school, then continued into my high school

KYLE JOSHUA CADAVEZ

ASYMP TOTE

Let us always remind ourselves of how such simple things can be so special to a person, just like me.

years. I was a cartoonist and artist back then, until my fourth year in college when I discovered the writer in me. Turns out I’m a ‘hybrid’, which surprised me. From editorial cartoons and graphics to news articles, poems, short stories, down to this last column, I am proud to say that I am a product of my creativity and self-learning. Of course, my own development as a student journalist wouldn’t be as progressive as it is now without the help of my The Luzonian family, which I considered my creative outlet and my safe haven. To Rover, Sophia, Kim, Ada, Angelo, Ivan, the new writers and artists of the pub, particularly Saym, Maria, AC, and Ham, thank you for being my home. My The Luzonian life is probably the highlight of my college journey even if being part of its staff meant sacrificing time and effort that should be allotted for academics. But I have no regrets. Still, I do not let my grades fall below the threshold for passing. I am not part of my college’s cream of the crop but I strive and I choose to not quit. These days, when I am asked to pick a task to do first, I remind myself to do what I love doing. I know that it should always be a matter of priorities, but in my case, it is a matter of my own happiness. Hitherto, my dream didn’t die there. I suppose writing for this publication and serving the whole student body is God’s way of telling me that I am now living my dream. It may not be a post at the Inquirer, but He introduced me to a family — a yearning and loving family that loves me for all the right and wrong reasons. Let us always remind ourselves of how such simple things can be so special to a person, just like me. Let us be goal diggers, always aiming for our target goals amidst our failures. I always believe that our dreams are a speck of stardust that orbit the nebula of our own hardships and the galaxies of our lives — glittering and glowing in the dark. Wrapping my (hopefully) last column, I want to end my five-year rollercoaster ride not with an extro, but with an introduction: I am Kyle Joshua Cadavez, a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, major in The Luzonian. And I do believe that if given the chance to change something from the past, I’d refuse to do so. No doubt, the answer would be no. And I, thank you.

26 | column

Her value A

s I close my eyes, I can feel the warmth of your breath. Your arms wrapped on me feeling the security that it is only you who could bring. Wiped my tears as it rolls down on my cheeks, saying everything will be alright. Held my hand and never let go because I was too weak to be on my own.

A tear fell as you see me brought to life, tears of joy indeed, but flashing today’s headline – ‘Taxi driver arrested for raping live-in partner’s daughter’, ‘Police arrest father charged with raping own daughters’, ‘Manila cop rapes teener after promising freedom for her detained parents’. Asking why is the world so cruel? Having fear all the time because your daughter has no place to call safe. What really is the role of women in society? Are they wasting their lives only for pleasure? Have we ever think about all the sacrifices they make every single day? What about the ‘dress code’ of women in the streets, what should I wear? A jacket, baggy pants and rubber shoes to cover up all my skin in the summer season? Infant, toddler, teenager, lady, even senior citizens are victims who are also blamed on the things that they are not aware of. We also have our own rights and freedom to express ourselves in everything we do. Many women are sexually harassed but maintained their silence rather than reporting it to the authorities due to the consequences they may face if a name slips on their mouth, but how about the justice that they need? Let us never forget that women are the ones who brought every single one of us to live. They have the purest hearts to care for every little one’s life, serving their families because they are expecting women to do so, and became the flaming light in every home. Women, as we all know, have most of the favor in the society but the fear on what men are capable of have led them to step back, and are closing opportunities for them to grow outside. As I have written the women empowerment article in our last issue, that was the time that I felt proud that I am a woman.

A woman that can do things that men were expected to excel on. Golf, skateboarding, and weightlifting have given the Philippines honor as notable women have raised the country’s flag in the sports field. As I end my last column in my campus journalism journey,

let us not belittle what women can do, we may be fragile, but we can step up to show how this gender can change everyone’s perspective on the unexpected things. Not all superheroes wear capes and we all have our mother who we look up to as our own heroes.

Let us never forget that women are the ones who brought every single one of us to live.

PERIPETEIA ADA LOREEN DE CASTRO

column | 27

Got rid of the bullseye, but hit the triple twenty JHON ANGELO VIRTUCIO

I could never ask for more than the triple twenty.

SPARK

ince day one in college, I keep on telling myself that I want to make something new, I want to create history, not just for myself but for the people around me to remember, I am focused on that goal and not foresee that I will lose balance on everything.

In these last months of my stay as an IT student of this University, I always regret that I did not give my best shot at probably my last project on school. During our defense, I told myself I could’ve done better if I am more serious about this. At those times I always see the project as a failure, because I always settle on the minimum and not exert my maximum effort for this. It is a failure not because it is not finished or not functioning well, I saw it as a failure because I knew that I did not give my best. I do always regret it, but as the days of graduation draws sooner and sooner, before my OJT started I realized that I have no reason to be in regret, as one quote says “Everything happens for a reason”, I then thought that “Hey, I achieved it, I became

a record, I got what I want in day one.” You know what is sweeter than that? If I focused on my goal while giving my precious time for that project, I may not be here writing this, I may lose my chance joining RHEPC and LHEPC. My friendships with Ada and Joro may not become stronger, we may be up til midnight programming and doing researches and not done talking with my friends on the glass table until 4 in the morning (Just talking – no coding), I may lose that precious moments with them. I love the fact that we finished the project well, I love the fact that we enjoyed the nights for doing researches. Hey, it is a success, who says it is a failure? It is finished, it is functioning well, we got good grades and also, I have my time ( just time for staying

at the office, not for doing articles) for dael and I get to know good writers here, well they are my friends. I made friends with the freshies who exerted their efforts to continue the legacy of The Luzonian. I do have a chance to be with the best writers, Sophia and Ivan, and also with my co-artist Kyle. I am happy for being part of the RHEPC 2018’s Big 6. I am more than blessed to have friends like the Seekaynum, Ced, Paolo, JN, Am, Chodi, Kevin, Paul, Ed, Batman, Rap, Rhenz, Derick, Michi, Neil and Siazy, and to the DSC Chairwoman of one of the academic department our university that is always been with me in my ups and downs and to her girls, I really enjoyed their company. I could never ask for more than the triple twenty.

28 | features

MSEUF Gala:

A night of glamour and fun Kyle Joshua Cadavez & Kimberly Mae Argosino

aga over gala – feting the theme “a night of glam and elegance”, graduating Evergans sashayed both fiercely and fashionably into Queen Margarette Hotel in their au courant gowns and suits. From modern-day daydreams to contemporaneous class, attendees transformed the MSEUF Gala into a fairytale fantasia, with no less than aesthetic ensembles that could humble anyone’s fashion plate.

In gowns both ambitious and sublime, and suits both playful and composed, a contemporary trope has been threaded into each attendee’s entrance. Everyone was silhouetted by charm and dazzling beauty and as each entered the ball, time ceased to run. Just like any other soirees, the MSEUF Gala proposes sophistication and fine taste mixed delicately with fun. The attendees crimsoned the red carpet with their killer heels and spectacular wears. In beauty almost unrecognizable from their typical day-to-day school looks, it was hard not to feel immersed by everyone’s charm. That night, everyone was royalty to their own kingdoms.

With gratitude to the Lord’s blessing, the gala kicked off with a solemn doxology that made everyone send prayers of thanks for the wonderful evening. The love of God was later moved to love of country when attendees sung the National Anthem, with hands on top of their chest, almost as if to pacify their excited hearts. Graduating class President, Sophia Margarette R. Caagbay, delivered perhaps the humblest yet most empowering message to the graduating class. Albeit unprepared, the lass was able to acknowledge the people who made the gala come to life, and all who made her dreams for the ball come true.

Perfectly lined after Caagbay’s inspirational message was the cotillion. The dance perfectly encapsulated the feels of the night and gave a glimpse of what will soon follow for the evening. After the exhilarating performance, dinner was finally served. While the menu was not as thrilling as expected, the AVP Presentations sufficed for each one’s famished hearts, feeding everyone with memories to hold on forever, serving attendee with a plate of familiar reminiscence.

Photos by Simon Romuel Uy

With tears still in their eyes, Dean Claudette J. Ayala sent the graduates off, as a sign that that night was not the end, but only the beginning of another journey for the graduating class. And celebration still did not cease in that moment, major awards were given to finalists of the Most Outstanding Achievers, which caused the gaiety inside the venue to be more palpably evident. With music fleeting the air, 5th Derivative, Battle of the Bands champion, sung songs

that caused attendees to feel a myriad of emotions. People sang along, people listened. It was a magical hour for music and everyone was loving each minute. The evening ends and the party begins. Gradations of laughter filled the room, loud music took over, bodies swaying restlessly to the sounds engulfed the stage. It was a night of glam and elegance, but who said one can’t have fun?

reel talk | 29 Photos from dnindia.com

A GAME-CHANGER Kyle Joshua Cadavez

he world felt like it already ended. It’s as if Thanos snapped half of the universe’s existence and you have nothing to do about it.

Imagine this--your terror professor wiping off the class in half out of frustration. And just like that, in one snap, everything went blur. But as the superheroes of the class stood up to your professor’s indifference, the president--raising his hand and making excuses to let them in, the other officers--who second demotions every word the president says, and you-who’s just waiting for the urge to make aim and stand for the greater good, indeed, there is hope that sprung to the snapped-in-half classroom.

Whatever it takes.

The MCU fans had patiently waited for every Marvel film that followed the 11-year storyline consisting of 22 movies which has introduced us to a spectrum of characters, from the original Avengers, the Guardians of the Galaxy squad, the tribe of Black Panther, Doctor Strange, Ant Man, down to the last character that was introduced, Captain Marvel. No doubt that the fans learned something from the franchise-commitment and loyalty. They have upheld the required trait of any Avenger--loyalty to its family.

Why 3000?

Endgame manages to tie the entire MCU up with a beautiful, touching, gut-wrenching, hopeful conclusion, which is an undeniable achievement. Infinity War was the cliffhanger of the MCU, and Endgame is its cathartic climax. Folks, with a universe and property this big, we have reached a saturation point and commitment level where fan service is necessary. That’s right. And Marvel has faithfully taken special effort to satisfy every fan’s craving for the saga. Not every piece of fandom has earned that. This one has.

True enough, Avengers: Endgame is unabashedly a three-hour festival of celebrating and reminiscing all the dreams from the past and present for this deep roster of beloved characters. The film is not a pivot point, but a grand finale of eleven years in the making of hardwork and heroic experience. True to the blueprint, it is hard to imagine a more gratifying and rewarding conclusion.

The battle is within us. We must not lose our conquest to fight for good. It is in our inner superheroes that will always make us believe that we are more than capable of something greater. This, have ingrained to the roots of our inner Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, and Spiderman, among others. This confidence and belief we owe to the Marvel Studios has embedded life lessons as we faithfully followed its 11 years of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Luckily, we existed in the perfect time. We do not need to do any time heist. The Marvel Studios has once again proven that life in this universe should be as celebrated as it is now, as the movie of the year and the last installment of the Avengers franchise, ‘Avengers: Endgame’, paved way to over thousands of cinemas worldwide. But this film is no ordinary since it highlighted different life lessons to each Avenger enthusiast.

I can do this all day.

With a three-hour timeframe, the fans obviously prepared for the ‘Endgame’ beforehand as they pampered themselves to the comfort room first so as not to interrupt their whole MCU experience. With popcorn in their lap and comic references in mind, they really embody the true meaning of a ‘fan’, learning the value of passion and love for the film. As what Captain America always says, fans can speak to Captain in unison, saying: “I can do this all day.”

I am inevitable.

In the film, just like in Infinity War, Thanos once again proved that he is inevitable, but it is always true that kindness always beats evil as the ending of the Endgame was seen. But in the earlier part of the film, the post-apocalyptic survivors of what has been called “The Vanishing” have to continue their lives without those who were lost, including many loved ones. With this, viewers can learn accepting loss and growing from it. They can learn about moving on, coping to problems, and dealing what is on their plate.

The battle is always within us. You, then, had the urge to make aim and stand for the greater good against the indifference of your professor. You took oath and pledged alliance to side with your principles and with the truth. You are an Avenger in disguise. You must not lose your conquest to fight for the greater good. It is in your inner superheroes that will always make you believe

Avengers Assemble

The MCU has given young people the courage to be themselves in their own ways. All throughout the franchise, the Marvel characters have built camaraderie, teamwork, and strong bond needed to save the people and the universe. Even though obstacles arise and personalities clash, they professionally set aside these in order to do their job. The Marvel heroes don’t fight alone. They assemble to form stronger alliances. Marvel shows us that when we connect, our powers multiply.

that you are more than capable of something greater. But what would you do if you live in a life with no superheroes at all? No mighty Captain America. No fantastic Iron Man. No amazing Spiderman. Not a single superhero at all. Me? I’d be my own hero.

30 | by the platter

Photos from the Bellepat Facebook fanpage

features |

BELLEPAT: Café in gypsy Sophia Margarette Caagbay

ellepat is the first-ever café in Tayabas dressed in bohemian, alluring its customers with its fancy for industrially crafted and door-recycled tables, cemented benches and stylish chairs, and salted-design lamps at the patio while the inside houses salted lamps and beatnik-comfy interior. The café can be dubbed as instagrammable for its heart, wow and like-worthy charms on social media. The three-way upbeat design couldn’t be more fitting for people from all walks of life from romantic, barkada and family bonding; and so flock of people continue to visit the place especially on weekends. The concept is to provide relaxation and cooling to its clientele. Bellepat can surely spike the mood with its picturesque. The menu caters the usual food in café’s and it also fiend for sophistication as its price equates to those of café’s in food-capital cities since the food quality ranges to average – but of course, our taste buds differs, what may be delicious for you won’t be for me and vice versa. Big groups though would be the best idea to save money, but if you’re the type to shrug off the

prices under the dust, then you’re good to go. Bellepat, it goes without saying, sets its pedestal higher for food prices than other diners in the city, being it the first-ever go to café in Tayabas. This is not to discount its rose as it’s time for the city to start to host this kind of businesses; it is just about time. To boot nonetheless, the café serves milktea as a boost. It’s enough to invite people in, sit and take in the view. Bellepat indulges you to enjoy the ambience it offers. After all, it is a seductress for a café, it will capture you for its beauty and it’s sulit for the price you are paying especially if you’re a café person who’s into aesthetics, taste of different, and winding off.

envergan lodi | 31

Maezon’s amazing groove in numbers Kyle Joshua Cadavez & Ada Loreen De Castro

ythagoras may have changed the world with his theorem and Einstein may have unlocked the cosmos with his laws, but Maezon Abella had mathematically mesmerized the nation with a dance craze that will add fun, decrease stress, and multiply your smiles with its undivided craziness. With over 6 million views, 136 with the creative steps that were thousand shares, and 94 thousand tailored with ease for his friends reactions and counting, the “Math to follow. He recalled when his Dance Challenge” popularized by circle of friends was having a the 23-year-old MSEUF alumnus, good time in an unexpected night dominated the social media swimming, having a hint of alcohol scene with its quirky yet clever into his body and just let the dance choreography. refreshed again. With simple hand movements Beyond the fun budots-like that seem to draw invisible music accompanying the dance, equations in the air matched and the illustrious colors it paints with well-time head bops and when performed, Maezon shared foot stomps, the math dance is the depth of pursuing both perfectly tuned for a quick and education and talent. To him, unique performance. time management and weighing The man behind this dance priorities are two factors needed to was a graduate from the College of excel in both fields. Engineering who is no stranger to “Kahit may talento kayo, stardom. His dance troupe, IconX, pagdating sa pag-aaral, pasok lang, had already been televised during a aral pa rin. Kahit kasabay ang guesting in the Gandang Gabi Vice pagsasayaw, tuloy lang dahil talento (GGV) Show and was also featured naman ‘yun, ‘yun ay natututunan. in the primetime entertainment Pero ang pag-aaral, ‘yun lang ang news show, Rated K. tanging pamana na mabibili ng kahit To Maezon, mathematics is na ninuman,” he exclaimed with no difficult labor. As a licensed conviction. geodetic engineer at the local True enough, education is a government of Tayabas City, it golden treasure no one could ever is his daily company – a friend rob from us. Maezon is a testimony almost, that allows him to thrive in that we can achieve our goals in his discipline. life and pursue our passion, as But before he became a well. We are all dancing our ways reputable engineer, Maezon’s love through life anyway. And all it for mathematics and dancing were takes is the gut and the courage to already palpable during his high put on a ‘Math Dance’ face every school years. It was during those day. young times when he came up

Artwork by Jara Maiah Villaruel & John Rossny Cleofe

How to be on top? The story behind the topnotcher’s

32 | cover story

successful conquest

Kimberly Mae Argosino

efreshing his browser for the third time, he unbelievably stared at the faint text illuminated by his phone. His thumb nervously rests on the home button, his index finger curling at each passing second, threatening to collapse at weight of what had just dawned to him. He closed then opened his eyes, blinking profusely, helplessly, as the words scrambled from his five-inch phone screen into his mind. The results were true and ever so surprising. Among the thousands of names unfamiliar to him, lies one sitting humbly on the top: the criminologist licensure exam topnotcher, the conqueror of a three-day exam, slayer of 22,000 applicants with a bright 90.50% posted beside it – John Bonrev Roi V. Rodas. It took him a millisecond before he realized it was his name.

His childhood days The days that led him to the victorious conquest of his long-lived dream were the ones he remembers well, moments still succulent and ripe in his mind, drawing quick flashbacks every now and then. Young Bonrev grew in a family typical and unsurprising to a Filipino-risen culture – with a high sense of familial piety and belongingness. In his childhood he played with pellet guns, shooting unseen, but rather harmless targets, perfecting his aim with his tiny fingers, and still developing hands.

The examination period These days of childhood play is what inspired Bonrev to view his future through the invisible lens of his toy guns – precise, strong, unafraid. He was a brave child growing up with his grandfather who was a policeman, who served the community, and served his family. His father was a jail officer, whom he loved so dearly, and aspired to be. These men, his father and grandfather, and the awards and badges they brought home like souvenirs, were the founding blocks of his ambition. Growing up, he lived in the mystic languor of daytime action films, and the faces of prominent Filipino action stars became his friends; his company at lunch; his family. Fortunately, the violent pictures of mushroom-clouded explosions, and blowing fires did not stir deeply in him. Rather, Bonrev saw the truth behind the graphics, the poor editing, and low-budget special effects, and understood what needs to be done – the country needed protection.

Bonrev arrived at St. Anne College, the exam center, straddling the present: one foot keeping him still, the other on his ambiguous future. It was the first day of the three-day exam and his stomach is trying to betray him. He inhaled then exhaled intermittently, trying to keep himself calm, pacifying the impeding bowel movement. His sweats began traveling all over his face – the exam room was not air-conditioned – his eyes began to blur in a pool of nervousness. Not knowing anything else to do, he began talking to his questionnaires. The second day was as panic-inducing as the first. Bonrev utilized each passing minute of the three hours of the exam. When he looked up, he was alone, the chairs

The exam preparation Review for the board exam was a collection of starless sleeps, in which nights and days are almost equally bruised with the ominous threat of failure. In fear that he may be unable to achieve his dream, Bonrev ensured that he followed everything in Stars NKL, his review center. He listened, memorized, familiarized, he learned. Each day at his review center was fueled by his energy drinks, boiled eggs, and snacks that consisted his diet – his brain food. Still, he knew his hunger for learning will never be satiated. To sharpen his mind, Bonrev answers a thousand questions a day, beginning on the basic subjects then

surrounding him were empty, and the proctor had been waiting patiently against the door frame. In three hours he answered all the items until he was satisfied, and before he surrendered his paper, he gave it a tight squeeze with his thumbs, as if hugging. On the last day of the exam, he began with rigor. Bonrev spent the entire 3 hours on his chair, not moving until each of the questions were answered. Still on the last day, he emerged last: the room only carried his presence with the proctor still, patient and kind, waited. It was the end of his three-day battle towards achieving his dream. Finally. He was so emotional when he talked to his paper for good luck he almost kissed it.

increasing difficulty with each one. It was a long process that demanded his patience and endurance, and is almost as exhausting as the field trainings he used to go through. For each query he tries to give an answer correctly, backtracking and keeping notes of those he missed. For months this was his daily routine – asking and answering – repeating until he perfects each one, while he tries to avoid a question he doesn’t yet know the answer to: Will he make it to the top? Bonrev prayed frequently. The Cathedral was witness to his humble prayers, words of gratitude, and simple hopes he threads in each calling to the Lord.

cover story | 33

Memorable college life Before Bonrev entered MSEUF in the early August of 2015, he found himself servicing at a 7-11 store for eight months while he spent his two years in Chowking, fully aware of his financially-demanding dream discipline – Criminology. He worked in the store for several hours a day, earning just enough to fund his tomorrow. He saved his hard-earned bills with the faces of Filipino heroes that stare blankly at him, and kept them until he collected enough of their stoic expressions to fund his enrolment fees. In the University, Bonrev battled with academics. He was a simple student who chose to learn humbly, listen carefully, and love his discipline in the only way he knew how. The Dean’s List has always been filled with names that didn’t include his, and an INC grade

has once passed generously on his records. He was a ‘lowkey’ learner, not pompous despite his wisdom; clever but not boastful; brilliant yet unashamed to admit his ignorance. For four years, he grew his knowledge this way. Bonrev also displayed a promising skill in table tennis. It is a sport in which he felt truly at home with, free from the pressure of losing, and enjoying the rallies in his free time. If his schedule had not been packed, and offered more time for practice and training, he could’ve been a varsity player for the University.

The perks of being the Top 1 Truly, being the Top 1 of a licensure examination is a very big deal. Blessings poured down abundantly to Bonrev after he brought honor and pride to the Enverga University, to the STARS NKL, to the Quezon Province and to the City of Lucena. He already received a scholarship grant fin Enverga Law School, a hundred-peso cash from Enverga University and fifty-thousand pesos from STARS NKL. Bonrev also received tons of job offers from various

companies where salary is worth paying his exceptional intellectual capability. The University also had a tribute for him together with the other latest board exam passers. They had a motorcade routing in the city and the nearby city and municipalities. A testimonial lunch was held to formally recognized his commendable board exam performance where the University executive officers awarded him the incentives he truly deserved.

Bonrev’s success story is a proof of that dreams really do come true. He is a walking evidence that believing in our dreams, and chasing them mercilessly, is the only to turn it into reality. With hard-work, perseverance, humility, and with God’s perfect timing, success is possible. Bonrev is an inspiration, to us, and to other dreamers as well. He was a simple student who climbed the treacherous mountain of risks and followed his ambition to bring it into reality. Bonrev is a son, a brother, a partner, a friend – but today he is only himself: John Bonrev Roi V. Rodas, Criminology Board 2019 Topnotcher, the conqueror of a three-day exam, slayer of 22,000 applicants – and his name will never be forgotten.

34 | devcom

The Footsteps of the Shoe-less Kyle Joshua Cadavez

erez Park has its own monuments of heroes and some of its heroes are yet to be known. The park is a place for families and friends to enjoy. It is a myriad of collected experiences, a witness of its folk’s day-to-day stories. Undoubtedly, it is a proof of a bruised hope that turned into a butterfly of catharsis.

However, under the light of the hopeful sun, an old man carrying his walking shoe mart, eagerly carries his cart and burdens, both to have something to eat and to learn, respectively. Different from the several others who ask for pity in exchange for money, he doesn’t want to be sympathized. He just wants to have a life.

Photos by Simon Romuel Uy

Learning life the hard way

‘Solo flight’

From one’s own perspective, his age can be easily noticed by his gray hair; his skin is dark in complexion due to everyday sunbathing from work; his hands are poorly calloused from moving his cart from one corner to the other; and lastly, his feet are scarred from the City’s bruised floor. This is Tatay Luisito Punzalan, preferred to be called Tatay Egoy, a 76-year-old shoe man with no footwear at all. As a kid, Tatay Egoy admitted that he went to school until 3rd grade. From then, he learned life earlier than anyone else has. He sacrificed his childhood to sell pandesal, barter for bottles, and exchange coconut in order to earn a living. Also, aside from the walking shoe mart, he first sold balut across the outskirts down to the center of the City. He also tried selling fruits in plastic plates, both from 1956 to 1960 until he learned about shoe repairing. Started from 1965 when he was 18, he learned the profession of repairing broken shoes when he watched an actual shoe man fix shoes. He was a visual learner. “Ako ay nanonood sa mga nanggagawa, ako’y nagmemorya. Minemorya (ko) lahat, panggagawa ng payong at sapatos. Noong ako’y nagmemorya n’yan, edad ko, 18,” he claimed.

Left alone and abandoned by his family who were deceased, he was now disconnected and forgotten by his relatives. “Solo flight lang ako. Ay wala silang ano, kung ako mapera baka araw-araw silang nasa akin,” he said. “Noong una, nasa [Barangay] Market View Subdivision ako, may bahay kami roon. Noong namatay [ang] nanay ko, nawala na [‘yung bahay]. Kaya ako pagala-gala na lang dito sa Lucena [kasi] wala namang gumagalaw sa ‘kin palibhasa kilala ako, miski saan ako matulog (ay) hindi ako ginagalaw,” he added. When asked if he have any ailments, he just said, “oo, may sakit ako. Itong buong katawan [ko], masakit.” Unaware of his own sickness, he brushes it off, for he needs to have the courage to face every day’s challenge. His feet naked, uncomfortable as it may seem, is what he wants to feel relaxed, at least. “Masakit,” he answered when asked why he doesn’t wear any footwear. “Pag gabi, (at) ‘pag tanghali lang ako nagtsitsinelas, pag ganito, wala na. Sa umaga hindi ako nagtsitsinelas,” he confessed. While his hand has an obvious bruise from everyday hardwork, it is nothing but a sly reminder to work even under pain. “Nasugatan ng ice pick, nagtatahi ako’y lumampas ng pa-ganyan oh,” he points with enthusiasm. “Eh lumampas ay akala ko’y magaling na ay napatama ari oh.”

devcom | 35 No help at all

A life he never wanted

According to Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) report, poverty incidence among Filipinos was at 21.6 percent. Also with the official government statistics’ research, more than 26 million Filipinos are living in povertyaffected areas. Even if the Republic Act No. 7432 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 already exists, it only benefits those who are welloff and can easily visit government offices. Tatay Egoy is one of the 5 million senior citizens who need help. Unfortunately, assistance for him is out there but he is neglected from it. Rejected from health and financial assistance from the government, he doesn’t want to need help anymore. “Hindi ako nagpapatingin d’yan (sa health centers), magpapatingin na (sana) ako (kaso) sabi sa ‘kin ay ‘wala, wala mag-aano (kayo) dito?’ Eh di ako’y umalis na. Mula noon ay ‘di na ako lumapit. ‘Wala na, wala na. Walang titingin dito, walang doctor.’ Kaya noong sinabi sa ‘king wala na ay ‘di na ako lumapit. ‘Di na rin ako naglapit ay wala eh.” “Nagpunta ako (dati, sa office nila), sabi sa ‘kin reseta, sabi ko’y kaya ako nagpunta rito (ay para) humingi ng pera para mapa-checkup ko ang aking katawan tapos ang kukunin mo kaagad sa akin, reseta?” He said, wiping off a tear. He needs to be heard. He did not walked a thousand steps just to be ignored by the government that should be helping someone like Tatay Egoy. He is already getting old yet there is still a need to work for a living.’

Although impoverished by hardship and daily labor, Tatay Egoy, eventhough shoe-less, always keeps her feet on the ground. He doesn’t fail to give to those in need. “’Pag ako nakabenta masaya na rin ako. ‘Yung mga matatanda d’yang namamalimos, kapag walang pera tapos kakain, binibigyan ko— singkwenta, “oh pasensya na kayo d’yan, wala pa akong kita eh.” Yung iba d’yan, may nagsasabi sa ‘kin, “Tatay Egoy, wala akong sapatos.” Eh di sinasabi ko, “pili ka na d’yan.” Kahapon nga may nanghingi sa akin ng isang pares ng sapatos, bingyan ko at nilinis ko pa. ‘Pag may nagpapatahi, wala ring bayad,” he shared. This is the life of Tatay Egoy; a life he never wanted. But ingrained in his roots is hope that each day he wakes up, someone out there, may it be a bystander, is willing to help. And someone up there, is guiding him. “Aba, nagpapasaya sa ‘kin (‘pag) buong kausap ko ang Diyos. Bago matulog. Pagkagising. Bago pumunta sa trabaho, Diyos ang aking kausap.”

The Shoe Mart success story may be popular to Filipinos. But Tatay Egoy is no Henry Sy. He was deprived of government assistance. He still works for food to put in his stomach. He still needs to do means in order to live instead of just staying home and be assisted with proper care. He didn’t have the chance to live the life he wanted. He didn’t have the opportunity to have proper schooling and long-lasting family. But one thing’s for sure; this is a success story--a story of his own. Perez Park has its own monuments of heroes and some of its heroes are now known. For Tatay Egoy, it takes a leap of faith--no, a walk can do, without shoes, to always hope for a better life--one step at a time.

36 | analysis

Artwork by Hamfrey Saniel

Facebook detox:

Getting rid of toxic and trashy posts Ariana Julia Tadiosa

t this time and age, it is considered rare for people to not have their social media accounts. And, out of all of this, probably the most populated is Facebook, with about 2.27 million monthly active users in the third quarter of 2018. So it is no surprise that the site will never have a shortage of opinions.

Since Facebook is an open site and Filipinos are known to exercise their “freedom of speech” very well, the result is an explosion of ideas and opinions. Some of them were helpful in a way, shedding light and expressing their views in a critical view. However, the case for most of the users is just rather… insightful. There was a loss of words in describing such circumstances where we see these kinds of posts and comments. You will be surprised in just how much a person can share with the whole world. Examples

include humblebrags, feelings about a certain someone that had wronged them or random memes that sometimes makes no sense at all. But alas, the types of posts and comments that are the reason why some of us lose hope in humanity are the dumb, unresearched ideologies about a very serious topic. These cases are very rampant and are not only limited to Facebook, but the majority of them are found on the site. Usually, these are the result of blind idolatry especially the

political kind. Things start happening where a certain group or individual supports a certain claim and just baffles people in what lengths they go through just to prove they are right. Participation in these kinds of online debates should not be encouraged because there will never be a winner. The end result will just be one big pile of nonsensical mess. This becomes a waste of time when people should be making results instead of fighting over the process. It is important to take in mind that just

because one ideology is believed to be correct and appropriate, the other ideologies presented are wrong. What’s worse is that even famous and important personalities encourage this kind of behavior. As a matter of fact, they themselves start propaganda and will stretch their own truths at the extent of embarrassing themselves. It is important to keep in mind that in certain situations, both of them could be right. In fact, both sides can be wrong, and the choice can be a matter of which is the

lesser evil, or there can be no better choice at all and we need to start looking for alternatives. In the end, it all comes down to control. These people who post such things cannot be stopped, but at least they can be limited. Once people shut their mouths (and in this case, metaphorically speaking) and start listening and collaborating, the online community will be a less toxic environment and will rather become an unstoppable force towards improvement.

Every drop

commentary | 37

matters Kimberly Mae Argosino & Carmelo Eduardo Mesa

ater is a necessity. We cannot live without water as it provides the basic functions of our daily lives: drinking, washing our clothes, cleaning.

Most of us struggle to wake up early in the morning or wait until the late hours of the night just to store water in our pails and other water containers. Lucky for those who live in the downtown area – where water runs for twelve hours, or better yet, does not cease to flow – they do not go into the trouble of keeping water in containers. Meanwhile, some of us only receive a little amount of water – droplets, or even worse, just air.Taking a look at our water bills, with service fees and other taxes, is this really the price we pay for such a frustrating service? Quezon Metropolitan Water District (QMWD) was one of the earliest water district

established in the Philippines. Known previously as LUPATA (Lucena, Pagbilao, Tayabas), it started its operation way back January 29, 1975. QMWD visioned that their concessionaires will receive a continuous supply of water for 24 hours straight. But, this vision remained just a fragment of a dream for it has never been translated into radical, concrete actions – just a bunch of words painted in thin air. News circulated that the water company

owned and operated by the Provincial Government will enter into a joint-venture agreement into a Private water company. But the water district administrators denied it, quoting that these are only rumors to pull the company down. They insisted that the water company will not enter any joint-venture agreement for the sake of public interest. Secrets never really sleep in silence as their concessionaires were shocked when they received a leaflet saying that QMWD signed a Joint-Venture Agreement between Prime Waters, a private water servicing company owned by the Villar Clan. After this, a lot of frustratingly noticeable changes took place. Previously, the supply of water in downtown areas continuously run for 24 hours. But, as the number of people in the city continues to hike up, QMWD decided to cut out the water supply to 12 hours only. Tayabas on the other hand; never felt the services that they were paying for, insisting that their place is where

water is sourced from but is unable to quench their own thirst. What people really want is efficient and reliable water service. They feel robbed out of the opportunity to receive what they pay for. More importantly, failure to deploy effective services ransack residents of their rights to the most basic human need – clean water. Their waters are dirtied and made rancid by greedy and hungry, private-owning entities that empty their pockets without giving anything of value in return. People whose thirst are founded on Prime Water’s services are also thirsty for significant changes. They want to see that their water bills reflect the quality of the water they receive. They want to be treated humanely and fairly – is this too much to ask? There has been a saying that a human could survive for three weeks without food but only three days without water. In this plight under PrimeWater’s condition, people may not be even able to survive a single day, under the dirty hands of their ineffective and inefficient services.

Artwork by Lynette Bernal

38 | opinion

An imagined war Daniel David Tan

he stance the Philippines has taken regarding its claims in the South China Sea can be said as both appalling and disappointing. Given that, despite the victory awarded to us by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) we are still unable to assert our claims. Their justification is that the arbitration done was just that, an arbitration, and that it did not come with an enforcing resolution, thus severely affecting its ability to be binding and instead leaves us to our own devises.

But, with this action, or rather, their inaction, combined with their previous statement, only incites unnecessary fear and hysteria amongst the populace that there is the impending threat of war if we are to assert our sovereignty and contest the claims of China. Though it is true that if there were to be a war, this is a war China can easily win; but at the same time, a war it cannot wage. With the entire situation at hand, China cannot afford to be in a war lest they risk the backlash of its neighboring countries, much more

of the international community. With the way the global economy is structured, even the behemoth that is China’s economy cannot risk being sanctioned and isolated from the world. To put it simply, war is never profitable for any country as it stunts growth and hinders prosperity. This isn’t even mentioning the fact their economic growth is already slowing down as a consequence of their restrictive social policies of the past. It is worth noting that there are arguments concerning the credibility and reliability of the

international community, citing instances of their inaction towards the Middle East and other fronts; it should be noted that these instances are far different from thereof. Given that these are instances of terrorism and not a full-scale war between nations; which if you will recall was the very premise of the establishment of the United Nations, to prevent the events that had led to world wars I and II. Adding to this, given how the current situation is over the disputed territories, this is without a doubt a “fire keg” that could

inevitably escalate to another world war, which makes it more unlikely that such a war would breakout given that this is a war that would be fought like no other, the real war to end all wars. With all that said, are we still to allow ourselves to bear witness as we slowly lose ALL of our SOVEREIGNITY, our IDENTITY, and our CAPICITY of thought, to think beyond what is told of us, that this, our situation, is a lost cause, that we need to accept our fate as we have for centuries, or are we to stand up and fight for what is ours.

Artwork by Hamfrey Saniel

‘lazy’ ?

opinion | 39

How do you say

in Mandarin

Kimberly Mae Argosino

Now, he became a name shared collectively by every Filipino worker – a painful misnomer that labeled the most diligent and skilled men of our country with undeserved misconception. When a public official refers to people whom his functions would prove irrelevant without as ‘lazy’, he sends a punch right onto his own face. Clearly, Ramon Tulfo never learned from his little feud with Claudine Barretto. He might even be brutally maimed for he reasoned out that companies prefer Chinese workers because Filipinos are lazy, inept, and leisurely enjoys their merienda breaks. It is difficult to fathom how he could say that – against the people whom he’s supposed to serve as a part of his duties; people whose direct and indirect taxes serve as his pay; people who are as Filipino as him – all in a poorly constructed tweet.

“Does the truth hurt?”, he dare asked. If you open your eyes enough to see, you’ll realize that there are a lot of things that hurt more than the truth, or at least Tulfo’s idea of it, that penetrates and wounds just as deeply. And that is our failure to recognize the plight of the Filipino. The Filipino is not lazy. The truth is that they have been exposed to the exploitation of labor, the entombment of human rights, and the exclusivity of opportunities for the elite. The Filipino is not lazy. The truth is that their plight has been reduced to ‘entitlement’ and is often viewed myopically by the privileged few.

The Filipino is not lazy. The truth is that they are victims of inhumane working conditions, grossly low wages, and contractualization that not even the laws and labor standards of the country could liberate them from. The Filipino is not lazy. The truth is that the labor system of our country is leaning towards individual competency that is aligned with the needs of the world but not of our country. The Filipino is not lazy. And that is the truth.

Filipino workers do not lie under a guava tree waiting for a fruit to fall into their open mouths. They labor with their minds and muscles each day just to provide for their families – to give them a life that isn’t like theirs. This is the truth that we need to accept. And it is all that matters.

Artwork by Lynette Bernal

uan Tamad is a Filipino nightmare – a jobless palamunin eternally paralyzed with illusory exhaustion. For the youth, he was a harmless children’s book character who embodies everything we despise. But today, he became more – Juan Tamad had changed.

40 | opinion

‘Pwederalismo?’ T

Daniel David Tan he notion that the Philippines’ change of form of government had already existed for quite some time, ranging from proposals of adopting a parliamentary form to the more recent, federal form of government.

Now, with the recent turnout of the 2019 senatorial elections paving the way towards the supposed shift of the Philippines from a unitary to a federal form of government; it becomes ever more apparent that we know what exactly is federalism and its supposed advantages and disadvantages over our current form of government. To start, federalism, by definition, is a form of government where power is divided between the federal government (national) and its subsequent states (provinces); wherein a greater degree of autonomy (legislative, fiscal, and judicial) and representation is given towards its member states. With that in mind, and in regards to the Philippines’ landscape, the main advantages of a federal form of government is that with its autonomy, it can create its own policies better suited to meet the needs of the state; while at the same time can bypass the needless bureaucracies in the present system, of which, can be said, hinder the implementation of effective governance, particularly regarding matters that require an immediate and responsive resolution. Add to this, as mentioned, it also assures that there be a greater representation of the states in the national government through the Senate. By designating each seat of the Senate to its respective state, it eliminates instances wherein the Senate is saturated by legislators

coming from the same place. Lastly, they are to be given access to a greater pool of resources through the larger retention of their tax collections, and a mutual fund intended to help other states that are lagging behind. With that said, one of the immediate drawbacks of federalism is likewise its advantages, particularly its ability to bypass bureaucracies. By doing so, it also circumvents the supposed scrutiny that is involved in the decision making on this scale. Also, as is quite evident for most people, is its ability to further propagate political dynasties from taking the reins of society to further their own. To summarize, the proposal to shift the Philippines from a unitary to a federal form of government comes from the reasoning that, it would best serve the interests of the nation as a whole; as it would help spur the growth of other regions in the country and would decongest the NCR. By granting them access to a greater degree of autonomy, they hope that it would provide more localized and responsive resolutions and policies to better cater to the needs of that particular state and its constituents; instead of forcibly trying to implement a “one size fits all” approach towards governance. But, despite the numerous, supposed advantages this would bring to the country, it is still eclipsed by the argument that federalism might just end

up further cementing and consolidating the presence and power of the political elites. Add to this the numerous drawbacks of federalism such as the cultural divide it might present amongst the people. As for whether or not federalism should be implemented or not, it’s complicated and needs more time to be thoroughly studied. For unlike the other success stories of federalism, which there have only been a few, we can’t simply look onto them and base our framework with theirs. The Philippines is unique, as are the islands and people that comprise her. Being archipelagic in nature, and at the same time have numerous geographic barriers scattered throughout the land, while simultaneously experiencing more than three centuries worth of colonial rule and influence. It goes without saying that, you simply can’t base the success of federalism from other nations, given that our entire history and culture is far from theirs; and that we should devote a greater amount of time trying to study the possible repercussions this might have upon our society. Similar to that of the proposed tax reform at the time (R.A. 10963, TRAIN), it indeed was promising, but with a lack of scrutiny and insights, it has, quite evidently, been troublesome for most, detrimental for some, and debilitating for the rest.

ShOW

The puppet

analysis 41

Karen Yvonne Daleon

Probably the most common conception of discipline is in terms of punishment. To the average person, the word “discipline” carries a connotation of arbitrary and severe enforcement of rules and regulations laid down by those in authority. This very narrow conception involves force or external influence and is based on the theory that compliance is obtained by the use of punishment or fear of penalties. This is only partially true, as the use of punishment for the breach of rules and regulations, neglect of duty, or general incompetence, is only one phase of the problem. In the Philippines, incidents of crime and violence involving policemen are usually treated as individual acts of misbehavior and are attributed to the idea that there are a few “bad apples” in every barrel. Terms like “scalawags” and “erring policemen” are commonly used to describe cops who have broken the law. The fact is, these events are commonplace and indicate a much deeper problem, as well as a complete refusal of the senior leadership to treat the situation with the seriousness it deserves. There is something fundamentally wrong with the way our policemen think. There is clearly a difference, in their minds, between the official “by the book” way and the “this is how we really do it” way. The average policeman truly seems to believe that anything goes, that planting evidence, gunning down cell phone snatchers, and protecting other crooked cops, is accepted and even condoned within their institution. Think about how this actually works. A policeman, or a group of policemen, makes an arrest, brings the subject to the police station and locks him

up, and then conducts businessstyle negotiations with the subject or his relatives, ending with the payment of “bail” and the release of the subject. All going on right inside the police station. Another situation that makes our heads shake in disapproval is the way our police supervisors or police chief officers discipline our cops as well as those individuals who are said to be criminals and suspects of a certain crime in front of a camera. These police head officers are just like puppets of our government politicians specifically President Rodrigo Duterte. Being scolded, reprimanded, bawled out, or dressed down for misdemeanor, misconduct or commission of a crime is not part and parcel of their life being in the uniformed service. Just recently, Police Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar angrily confronted Police Corporal Marlo Quibete who was arrested in an entrapment over an extortion case in front of media and other police officers. Although police commanders are obliged to maintain discipline among their men and make sure that any wrongdoing is not tolerated, this kind of situation will not wipe this kind of criminal act due to its aspect of public shaming. The cop’s rights were violated when he was humiliated in public even if he tarnished the image of policemen. Their intentions regarding their actions in public should be according to what is right and lawful and not by aiming for higher ranks or support and praise from our president. Furthermore, Duterte accused numerous policemen of ingratitude, reminding them that he has doubled their salaries and that he gave them new firearms. He challenged them to stage a coup against his

administration. Whether the officers “pushback” is due to self-interest (many top police officials are amnesty beneficiaries) or just because policemen sincerely feel that their loyalty is to the Constitution. The police force has always been completely servile to whoever occupies the presidency. This is in full display under the Duterte administration where policemen are the fawning enforcers of the bloody drug war. The police will stick it out with whoever is president until the tide shifts in favor of a change in power. The police force never creates the tide of change; it merely rides the tide to benefit from the resulting change. Those police and government puppets are utilized to distruct the public from more important societal and political issues. It is just like a theatre show wherein the actions and dialogues are all scripted making the audiences entertained and not be critical in any proceedings. In this case, the public is sitting pretty and blindfolded with the distraction the government puppets provide, without knowing that they are silently expunging the factual or extent issues in our minds. In the end, we can all agree that we want to make sure that the people who protect us and enforce our laws are worthy of the high level of trust the public gives them. They should practice maximum tolerance because we seek an ideal Philippine National Police (PNP) organization that will be respectable and honorable down to the last uniformed policeman.

Artwork by Adrian Carlo Villanera

practical police officer once said, “A disciplined patrolman possesses that indefinable something which makes him responsive to order and authority.”

42 | news

news .org newsbits about student organizations’ activities and programs

The quizzers from Dr. Niels Mulder Scholarship Foundation (NMSF) poses as they are hailed champion for this year’s Legends Quiz Bee.

NMSF wins HSLKP Legends Quiz Bee Andrei Christian Cuario

EU-JPIA holds 9th National Triwizard Tournament Ronald Sardona

he Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants- Enverga University chapter (EU-JPIA) conducted the 9th annual National Triwizard Tournament, March 9. The whole day event was consisted of seminars about the accountancy profession and mental health, and a quiz bee about the board accountancy subjects. Anna Remelea Bobadilla talked about the importance of an auditor in the business system of big companies. She also emphasized the role of accountants in the modernization of business. Moreover, Betty Duhaylongsod pointed out how mental health is a serious issue in the Philippines which is often neglected. She also gave tips on how to cope up with stress and anxiety that students usually experience. The elimination round in the quiz bee was conducted in the RBA hall, then winners proceeded to the main event- The Triwizard Tournament. Three schools had a tough battle between each other but PUP-Manila emerged champion of the event. Seond place went to Laguna College and the third spot landed to LPU- Batangas. “It was really a worthwhile experience as we got to meet these new amazing people from other school, and the quiz bee was seriously fun and exciting as each question really did test out our knowledge on accounting,” one of the participants said. Accountancy students from Polytechnic University of the Philippines -Manila (PUP-Manila), Laguna College, and Lyceum of the Philippines UniversityBatangas (LPU-Batangas) joined the national event.

ontenders from the Dr. Niels Mulder Scholarship Foundation (NMSF) clutched the first spot in this year’s Legends Quiz Bee, an annual quiz show competition by the Honor Society of the Lambda Kappa Phi (HSLKP), Feb. 8 at RBA Hall. The winning team is composed of Jon Humprey Albrando, Rachel Jane San Agustin, and Hendrix Obciana, where they scored 42 points against the 36 points CBA representatives consisting of Charlene de Guzman, Camille Joie Vita, and Juan Paulo Man Velasco. Meanwhile, Amalia Zestine Bongay, Alyssa Marquez, and John Robert Maano from the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) snatched the third place. Six groups from Engineering and CBA battled to clinch the championship in this year’s Legends Quiz Bee entitled “Legends HD: about Filipino TV shows and personalities.”

Participants for the Quiz Show Competition seriously answers the questions for them to qualify for the final round

The venue for the annual “Icon I Can” is allset and about to begin any moment.

Mass Comm Soc promotes 7th annual Icon I Can Andrei Christian Cuario

he Mass Communication Society holds their 7th annual Icon I Can with the theme “INDIE MO TRIP? O INDIE MO LANG ALAM?: Enlightening the Youth on Independent Arts” at the AEC Little Theatre, March 25. The goal of the said event is to promote the beauty of independent arts. There were two films shown in the event, the title of the first indie film was “Posas” a story about schizophrenia, a mental disorder characterized by abnormal behavior and a decreased ability to understand reality. The second film was “Obra”, a story about an extraordinary artist whose talented works was only recognized by people when he passed away. There were also two guest speakers in the event, the first speaker was Natalie Mondejar, a Disk Jockey and an Indie Artist and the second speaker was TV and Film director Felino Tanada. The two speakers discussed about the essence of independent arts of music and films in our country that the youth should value.

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KSBF honors CBA Jack-of all-Trades

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Andrei Christian Cuario

appa Sigma Beta Fraternity honored CBA students who excelled in different academic fields in the Search for Jack of All Trades: Master of One 2019, held at ETC 103, May 4. Kaye Cueto bagged the title as the Jack of all Trades: Master of One 2019 and also one of the stand-out finalists for Jack for Good community Service. Meanwhile, Maegan Mendoza won the Jack for Principled Leadership and Academic Excellence Awards. Mark Zedric Subol claimed the Jack for Sports Supremacy, Sean Deezly Ramirez took the Jack for Performing Arts and Culture, and Sophia Margarette Caagbay gained the Jack for Responsible Journalism.

Alas-as wins Most Outstanding Male Student Award Andrei Christian Cuario

elvin Alas-as, a Civil Engineering student, won the Honor Society of the Lambda Kappa Phi’s Search for the Benjamin V. Tan Most Outstanding Male Student of MSEUF, March 23. Alas-as outshined other male aspirants namely Christian John De Leon, and Jon Humprey Albrando, both Accountancy students, and Jhon Angelo Virtucio, an Information Technology student. Alas-as was declared the winner by the judges by garnering the highest percentage from the categories of academic achievement, leadership achievement, and social responsibility. The four male aspirants faced the initial interview, where they shared their excellence in academics, leadership, and social resposibility profile. De Leon, Alas-as and Albrando went through to the final interview where they faced questions from a lot more panelists to determine the Most Outstanding Male Student.

newsbits about student organizations’ activities and programs

UCSC conducts annual LTS Phians proudly show their awards after winning back to back champion in the CFC quiz.

HSLKP wins back-toback in CFC Andrei Christian Cuario

uizzers from the Honor Society of the Lambda Kappa Phi emerged victorious once again in the “CFC 2019: A Quiz on Countries, Flags, and Capitals,” an annual quiz show by the CBA Academic Circle, March 8 at the RBA Hall. The team of Simon Romuel Uy, Andrei Christian Cuario and Ace Rodson Igloria edged the quiz show competition with only one-point lead from the group of Charlene de Guzman, Hendrix Obciana, and Zaira May Valdeavilla who earned the second place. With the quiz on twist by adding different lifelines, the quiz competition became more interesting for the participants.

Andrei Christian Cuario

he University Collegiate Student Council (UCSC) conducted a Leadership Training Summit (LTS) named “KINAADMAN: A peek through a leader’s mind,” held at the university premises, April 26-27. LTS was a two-day summit that aimed to enhance the students’ leadership, interpersonal, and intrapersonal skills. On the first day, the summit focused on leadership challenges, amazing race and cultural activities. Two keynote speakers were also invited on the second day of the summit that motivated the students by discussing different points on how to be a great leader and how to boost confidence in life. The first speaker was Robessa Altamerano, life coach, and the second speaker was Dustin Cage Macaraan, Senior High School instructor. The event lacked in participants but the UCSC was still grateful when the event was already concluded and was still be able to achieve some of the LTS’ goals and objectives they have set.

MSEUF CBA Chorale executes Musiklaban Quiz Andrei Christian Cuario

Cesar Pacinos (left), the President of the HSLKP Alumni Association awards the plaque of recognition to Melvin Alas-as (right).

Photo by Angelo Edora

SEUF CBA Chorale executed the quiz bee about song writer, singer official soundtracks, title of songs and music artists, entitled Musiklaban: “Reinvigorating, Original Pinoy Music,” held at the Rodolfo Abadilla (RBA) Hall, March 29. The group of Christian John De Leon, Camille Joie Vital, and Charlene De Guzman emerged victorious in the contest. Meanwhile, John Emmanuel Laceda, Maegan Mendoza and Adriona May Santayana’s group earned second place.

Robessa Altamerano inspires the participants for this year’s Leadership Training Summit with her keynote speech.

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Abang brothers top APO Poster Making Contest Andrei Christian Cuario

rnold Abang Jr., a grade 12 ABM student, won the Librado I. Ureta Onthe-spot Poster Making Contest initiated by the Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity (APO), March 28 at RBA Hall.

newsbits about student organizations’ activities and programs

‘PsychFair’ back to its traditional Sophia Margarette Caagbay

he MSEUF CAS Psychological Society celebrated its 28th Psychological Fair: “Pagkilala sa Anino” by reverting to its “traditional” at St. Bonaventure Student Center from March 28-29. The PsychFair’s core: Signature Analysis, Kokology, Color Analysis, Counselling, Dream Analysis, and Anger Management were retained in the psychological services in the annual fair. The Psych Fair Art Exhibit in the student center and the PsychJamming, the open mic signature poetry jam, were kept in promotion of artistry. None of the last year’s 27th Psychological Fair revamp on its psychological services retained that focused heavily on psychometric devices and personality tests namely Narcissistic Personality Inventory, Holland Code Test, Dr. Phil’s Personality Test, Open Extended Jungian Type Scales 1.2, Open Hemispheric Brain Dominance Scale 1.0, and The Big Five Personality Test. The annual #PsychTalks Seminar tackled the #PagkilalaSaAnino: Knowing and Taming the shadows by Prof. Marco Antonio Rodas and the invited PsychSoc Alumnus Speaker Teofilo Palsimon on March 19, at the AEC Little Theater. The PsychBazaar, in partnership with Ysa Infinity, and raffle draw were the added feature in the celebration.

Students visit the booths and exhibits prepared by the members of the Psychological Society at the St. Bonaventure Student Center. Photo by Angelo Edora

King Benedict Sante and Rigene Magnaye poses after their crowning moment.

Sante, Magnaye seize Mr. and Ms. COBS title

Meanwhile, Jake Abang, a fifth-year civil engineering student representing the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineer (PICE), earned second place. John Rossny Cleofe, a first-year information technology student from the Honor Society of the Lambda Kappa Phi (HSLKP), got the third spot. There were also two consolation prices given to Diadelyn Tano, an architecture student and Jara Maiah Villaruel, an education student. With “We make change for women” as the theme for the said competition, APO conducted its first poster making contest as part of the celebration of women’s month.

Andrei Christian Cuario

ing Benedict Sante and Rigene Magnaye, both management accounting majors, take the crown and title of this year’s Mr. and Ms. Council of Business Students (COBS) 2019 at the AEC Little Theater, April 12. Sante also bagged the photogenic award, best in casual wear and corporate attire, while Magnaye claimed best in sportswear, best in corporate attire and photogenic award. Moreover, John Kenneth Orinday, an operations management major and Coleen Jizelle Ison, a financial management major, earned the 1st runners up spot. Orinday also captured best in formal wear, sportswear, and Mr. Popularity awards while Ison won the Ms. Congeniality award. John Andrew Jeremiah Pacalda, legal management student, and Kaye Verastigue, operations management student took the 2nd runners up. Mr. and Ms. COBS is an annual event being held by the Council of Business Students which aims to showcase the talent, beauty and brains of the business students of MSEUF and on how they will help the CBA Department. “Ang objectives ng Mr & Ms. COBS ay maipakita ‘yung talas ng talino, ganda at talento ng mga Business students na kasali sa event,” Mc Kinly Revilla said, the 2018 Mr. COBS. “Meron kasing mga tanong na connected sa business major at kung paano ka makakatulong sa CBA department,” Revilla added. Although the event was delayed due to a power interruption caused by the rotational brown-out, the organizers still managed to finish the program.

Participants from different departments and student organizations craft their masterpiece during the poster making contest.

CAS Soc Sci Soc holds Voters, Federalism Seminar Andrei Christian Cuario

he College of Arts and Sciences Social Sciences Society held the Voters and Federalism Seminar at EMRC Main, May 3. The said seminar aimed to help students learn about timely issues in the country especially in this issue about near Senatorial Election and Federalism. Atty. Ana Mei Barbacena served as the guest speaker for the morning seminar about Voters Education Seminar and she shared the value of the vote of every Filipino especially the newly registered voters for the development of our country. Meanwhile, Atty. Vincent A. Robles stood as the guest speaker for the afternoon seminar about Federalism topic entitled “Divided we stand, divided we fall.” Atty. Robles opened the meaning, history, and impact of Federalism to the listeners.

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UCSC, JPAMA organize financial and certification awareness seminar Mc Kinly Revilla

T Kaye Marie Cueto shows off her bumper harvest of awards for this year’s Search for the Most Outstanding Female Student of MSEUF.

Cueto of CBA wins SMOFS Andrei Christian Cuario

aye Marie Cueto, an Accountancy student, wins theSearch for Most Outstanding Female (SMOFS), given by the Honor Society of the Lambda Sigma, held at the AEC Little Theater, April 24. Cueto also bagged the Academic Achiever award, Leadership award and People’s Choice award. The said event focuses on finding the best among other graduating female students in the University. Meanwhile, the other female contestants who were part of the search for MOFS were Ada Loreen De Castro, Information Technology student, Faye Isabelle O. Flancia, Psychology student, Khristine Joy L. Lusterio, Education student, Lianne Isabelle M. Jalbuena, Medical student, and Maegan V. Mendoza, Accountancy student.

CEng Alumnus spearheads Trends and Developments Seminar

he University Collegiate student Council (UCSC) together with the Junior Philippine Association of Management Accountants (JPAMA) organized a Seminar awareness with a theme: ”Financial and Certification Awareness” at the AEC Little Theater, March 28. The free seminar aims to race awareness of different business certifications that proudly College of Business and Accountancy has. This Financial and certification awareness focus in all College and Senior High students specially ABM students, Manuel S. Enverga University. The UCSC invited resource speakers including Johnlery Laranga the assistant unit manager at Prulife UK, Quezon. Carlito Rodriguez the University Treasurer of MSEUF, a Certified Management Accountant and a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) also shared his knowledge to the participants. Lastly, Paz Bobadilla, the former Dean of the College of Business and Accountancy and a CPA was also present to add more awareness about financial and certification.

Carlito Rodriguez

Romerico Alvarez

Ivan Chris Mabilangan

newsbits about student organizations’ activities and programs

HSLS celebrates Mother’s Day Pampering Treat Andrei Christian Cuario

he Honor Society of the Lambda Sigma (HSLS) gave high regards to all the mothers as they celebrated the “Mother’s Day Pampering Treat: Our Way of Giving Back” held at the Event Center, SM City Lucena, May 9. The activity aimed to pay tribute to all mothers for all the precious time and love given to their children. Sigmans gave away beauty perks, gifts and certificates to all mothers in the venue and it also served as the bonding moment of the family in celebrating Mother’s Day.

Sigmans conducts ‘Kung kaya mo, kaya ko rin’ seminar Andrei Christian Cuario

he College of Engineering (CEng) conducted a seminar on Current Trends and Development on Engineering, Science and Technology, March 22 at the AEC Little Theater. Engr. Raynel Inojosa, CEng Alumnus and Vice President for External Affairs at the Institute of Electronics Engineers of the the Philippines (IECEP) - Japan Foreign Chapter led the seminar that served as an orientation of the latest advancements in the engineering field and industry. It was also composed of a discussion regarding the concepts of Engineering, Science and Technology, as well as specific topics such as sustainable development, food and nutrition security, and competitive industries.

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Paz Bobadilla

Student participants listen to the invited speakers for them to learn financially.

he Honor Society of the Lambda Sigma conducted a yearly seminar “Ipinagmamalaki ko, Babae Ako!” with a theme “Kung Kaya Mo, Kaya Ko Din!” | The Emerging Modern Filipina : Embracing Equality in the Society at the Library Seminar Hall, March 15. Sigman Christine Deocales served as the guest speakers and tackled different points about women empowerment in the society. The Honor Society of the Lambda Sigma conducted this event in celebration of the National Women’s Month Celebration every March.

46 | commentary

Debating is incredibly valuable Karen Yvonne Daleon

easoning, research, and even public speaking skills are just some of the positives behind learning how to be a great debater. From planning our argument (even if we don’t agree with it) to choosing our words wisely, debating will help us to take on whatever life chooses to throw at us. Debating is by no means deduct some vital points in your skill to manage but will gain us the same as entering into a score and make the audience respect in every walk of life. full-on argument. In fact, we question your actions. A good debater will remain will need to develop a succinct, That’s why we have focused and won’t stray from effective argument, which will speakers because they are the the issue they are discussing. gain us support and kudos, ones who will be speaking and Just like any successful orator, rather than blindly attacking try to think outside of the box. remember who it is that you our opponent. Researchers’ job is to guide the want to keep on your side, and History’s great debaters speakers and their team when present a personable argument have helped shape the world challenging their opponents – you will appear instantly much we live in and resolve many and be ready to identify any more amenable and likable. of society’s issues. That loopholes in their counterKnowing how to lose might be the reason why argument. graciously and accept your elimination and final round In addition, the research failings are important skills, debates are perennial during team is obliged to research both in debating and during our university’s foundation factual information in reliable everyday life. This will also anniversary celebration. sites so that when the speakers help resolve any conflict before As an audience in a debate rebut and try to defend their they have a chance to begin. So, competition, we should bear side on their resolution does accept any criticism and issues in our mind that debating, not feel any lack of confidence. that come your way especially instead of arguing, can help us The advent of the internet in the debating hours. It will in defusing a rapidly escalating makes this an easy task, since make you a much more polished situation. Rather than raising the speakers may use mailing and proficient speaker – and our voice when we are on the lists, blogs or online document human being – in the long term. platform, we should take a step hosting sites to share their Honestly ignorance is back and choose our words findings. a reality of this world, but as wisely with calmness and Of course, we do not warriors of life, we should maintaining eye contact just like want to make the judges, at least try to participate in what the three speakers in each especially if the judges are legal debates than believing on what college do. practitioners or lawyers, correct we do without challenging For a debater, knowledge is us during the competition. ourselves. power. No matter how eloquent Speaking in a powerful In the end, aside from or passionate a speech may be, manner or quite loudly is awarding a Champion Team, it will ultimately be toothless sometimes a necessity, but it is the invited judges also awards without key information by no means necessary to shout the Best Speaker for the entire and evidence to support the through every debate regardless debate competition. Both argumentation. Thus, debaters of context. There is absolutely awardees utilize their insight to will have to be well-read and no need to speak louder than think of the potential arguments well-researched if they are the volume at which everyone they might make and then plan to improve in the debating in the venue can comfortably for their counter-arguments. arena. Diligent research will hear you. Shouting does not All in all, structured provide not only the evidence win debates yet speaking too arguments such as a debate for cases but also generate the quietly is clearly disastrous competition is an excellent argumentation which can be since no one will be able to hear way of improving speaking used in any debates. from you. skills and is particularly helpful However, assigned We should consider in providing experience in speakers will always be speakers retaining an element of poise developing a convincing and designated researchers will and composure – addressing the argument. Those of you who always be researchers in the issue rather than getting carried are forced to argue against your entire competition. Researchers away emotionally. In fact, natural point of view realize do not have the power to speak managing our emotions will that arguments, like coins, and give their arguments about not only stand us in good stead always have at least two sides. the resolution because it can while debating. It is no easy

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DepEdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Laboratory: A take on the current situation of SHS program We were the ones who were rattled in figuring out how things should be done according to the curriculum.

ARIANA JULIA TADIOSA

ERISTOTLE

wenty nineteen had marked the seven years since the Senior Highschool program made its debut in the country. This current school year is a crucial event in the history, as it has shown the products of the activities and the revised curriculum has formed.

It had been supposed not only by the critics but those who are in the program themselves that it had failed to do its purpose, at least according to the students who they might have done wrong aka the first batch of graduates of the Senior Highschool program. A copy of a document has been circulating, namely the CHED Memorandum #105 series of 2017, which states that a student can take any course the student wishes without the need to take of bridging program if it is not in the league of the Senior High course they have taken. This has caused an outrage, especially to the parents and students of the first batch of graduates of the said program, since not are all

fortunate enough to have found their courses that they really wanted in their early years of being in the program. Some of them also had the misfortune of taking a bridging program last semester, only for it to be abolished right after. So, what went wrong here? These students have felt what every firstborn has ever experienced. Yes, we are glazed with benefits, but we are also the ones who went into the transition. We were the ones who were rattled in figuring out how things should be done according to the curriculum. We are also the ones who were tasked to provide the materials needed that will be recycled into the next school years. And yet, we are the

ones who carry the burden in representing the pioneers of the system. As much as they would want to complain, there is nothing that can be done about it. It is up to the amount on which the damage has been done. As the year passes, all we can do is just sit back and look at the future generations flourish before us. It is important to take note that the intentions of the program were good, but we might have just become the side effects. I guess we might just need to suck it up and deal with it amidst being completely clueless, just as we have been doing for the past few years.

48 | features

Farm of Joy:

Harvesting smiles, creating memories Kimberly Mae Argosino

arm of Joy is the untamed beast of Quezon. With its turquoise blue waters and proud trees, this spectacular sunrise to sunset sanctuary trapped paradise into 2.83 hectares of pure fun and heavenly bliss. Time to update your bucket list with Sariaya’s most marvelous resort. Farm of joy offers a summer getaway like no other: cotton-candy clouded comfort, luxe, and luscious lounging, and extraordinarily euphoric experiences made for lovers of the great outdoors.

What to Do?

What is it perfect for?

Where to stay?

How much and How to?

A lot of things of course! Wallow in a humble kiss of the green, do sports or swim - the long stretch of the farm is perfect to capture your most memorable with. Farm of Joy boasts features that will make your vacation more fun than ever. Play basketball with your family and friends with their very own basketball court. After sweaty morning gameplay, you can feed the koi fishes in the pond and watch how their colorful skins swim excitedly towards you. Take a dip in their family pool and let the azure waters re-energize your tired bodies. You could also play billiards in their billiard table or journey with the winged wonders in their aviary. But what’s a little fun and joy without a calm commune with nature. Its straight-forward beauty will sweep you away in the mornings and the nights. And whether with barbeque or bonfire bondings, nature is sure ready to join the party.

Weddings. Birthdays. Reunions. You name it. With special arrangements with Farm of Joy, any family, couple or celebrant for that matter, will expect nothing but a slice of the best from the resort. Events like these are what Farm of Joy is best used for. The Our Lady of La Leche Chapel in the resort is molded to the perfect size for humble weddings or baptisms. An array of books in the front seats contain words that could heal wounded souls. Its cobblestoned walls and glass windows encase faith, hope, joy, and love that resonates with any ceremony performed inside. A rest house is crafted delicately to fill the needs of a loud and lively celebration. No need to book expensive city hotels, Farm of Joy got you covered from karaoke to dancing lights, from breakfast to bed. Guests can have fun in a comfortably spacious place where they could gather together with all their loved ones.

Alone, with a company or with your whole family, Farm of Joy has cottages designed to please. Each room seduces you to a tranquil relaxation. And each unit has its own television set, kitchen appliances, separate toilet, and shower the comforts of home. Jason’s Cottage and Jeff’s Cottage can each accommodate eight guests. These fully airconditioned units have two double beds and two double pull-out beds. Another tree cottage called Jennifer’s Cottage has three rooms, one with air-conditioning unit, and can accommodate up to nine persons with its wide receiving area. The Mahogany Cottage lives up to its name. Unlike the three other cottages, this unit is located among rows of mahogany trees, making you feel a part of nature as much as nature is a part of you. The fully air-conditioned room has three double beds but can add two additional single beds to fit eight persons.

Priceless. The beauty of Farm of Joy comes at no cost and the experience is beyond valuable. Not to worry, this resort is pocket-friendly. And how much you’ll end up spending mostly depends on the nature of arrangements. From Mondays through Thursdays, each cottage costs P 5,000.00 a day, just the perfect price for a whole day of stay in units that will serve as your safe haven. From Fridays to Sundays, it costs just a thousand peso more. For only P 6,000.00 per cottage a day, you can truly say that it is a weekend well-spent. From the North, after passing Candelaria, a 1.5kmlong concrete farm-to-market road called Palasan Road must be traveled to get to the resort. From the South, a KM 113 marker on the left side of Sariaya town proper can be seen. After the marker, look for Villa Leandro and your lefthand side and follow the path towards Palasan Road. After the railroad and basketball court, you’ll find Farm of Joy.

Farm of Joy is more than your average resort. It offers the wind, the sky, the sound of the birds, the song of the trees, the chance to escape. The place provides us with an opportunity to free ourselves from our tiresome careers or school works. It gives us the space to breathe and threads our weary souls back into our senses. It’s more than a farm. It’s paradise.

Photo courtesy of National Review website

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Gayness at its finest Kyle Joshua Cadavez

ay” has been turned into a bad word by people who have chosen to use it as an insult. “Gay” is often used in exchange for “stupid”, “annoying”, “girly”, and “[any other negative word]”. It’s become so common, in fact, that people will call something gay without even realizing the word is normally attached to sexuality.

This, petty as it may seem to some people, has opened up sensitive topics that have plagued the LGBTQ+ community for generations — identity and equality. Being called gay when you’re not is clearly an insult. The intent is always the key. I believe that straight people can be offended when they are called gay, not because they hate gay people, but simply because they are not. The word “gay” or other similar words for that matter should never be used as an insult. It’s already 2019 and sexuality is still used as one. Last October 2018, an alleged tweet from Darren Espanto and JK Labajo have swarmed over the Internet like a wildfire. “Gayness at its finest,” Labajo reportedly insulted the former regarding his sexuality. Let us not take that road. The whole issue is deeply rooted in toxic masculinity. This happens when society has ingrained toxic masculinity and machismo in boys. The Philippine

nation, as a whole, still has a distorted view of masculinity. This may be due to societal factors that still somehow govern our society — religion, poor understanding of sexuality and sexual preferences, crab mentality, and etc. Instead of viewing masculinity as something measured by values and ideals, it is still marked by factors such as physical strength, sexual conquests, and other outdated stereotypes. Being a “real man” is not defined by superficial means. Emotions or the lack thereof do not make a man a real man, nor does the job they have or the things they do. However, some still misunderstand and judge. Those who don’t are also those who know little about equality. Masculinity for them is like a sign of power; they feel like those they call “gay” are weak. That they can do anything they want and have complete dominance over them. Anywhere you go, there is a

possibility that you’ll hear a person using gay as an insult. It’s wrong, but there will always be people who won’t correct themselves. Being gay does not mean one is lower than anyone else in any way. Toxic masculinity is a trait our culture has been living with. It has been nothing but regressing us as a society. Consequently, “gay” should never be used as a derogatory term, as it is an actual social community and self-identity. It is a word originally meaning “happy”. However, with how things have panned out, the word has become a myriad of different things, a rainbow of confidence and beliefs. Over the years, the LGBTQ+ community continues to fight for its rights and prove its essence as human beings deserving of all basic rights. True enough, the community strives for equality in all means. The world is now changing and adapting. Societies are slowly accepting the LGBTQ+ community. Soon enough, they will achieve

their desired freedom in their hands, basic rights and principles in their minds and utmost dignity and pride in their hearts. As time passes by, they will completely have a place in this world without fighting for it. Their sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression are as valid as ours. Let’s not burn bridges with our straight allies. Even if they are comfortable and fine with what we call them, we must be sensitive to their feelings. After all, we are all human beings, deserving of equal rights for the betterment of ourselves and our nation. Discrimination is inevitable. Hate should never be tolerated. Why be rude when we can just be quiet, right? Instead, let us all be happy and gay. Let us always be mindful of the words that our minds think and our mouths utter as words can kill the spirit, doing far more harm than sticks and stones ever could. Indeed, gayness is a fine word when used at its finest.

Lucena diversion road: An emerging place for business and governance Carmelo Eduardo Mesa

Photos courtesy of Google Streetview

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usinesses sprouting like mushrooms, convenient and transparent places for government transactions, widened roads to easily transfer the goods and to have convenient travel moments for the people around. Who will imagine that in a short span of time, the Lucena Diversion Road will be developed as the “Business District of Lucena?”

A 12-kilometer road from Brgy. Isabang in Tayabas City going to Brgy. Talipan in Pagbilao, Quezon serves its purpose to divert vehicles going in and out of Manila and Bicolandia and to further decongest the city proper caused by heavy vehicles yielding to traffic gridlock. It is somehow a useless road—not until the Lucena Grand Central Terminal (LGCT) was built in preparation for the future. It is a common terminal for buses and other public transport vehicles traversing the city without merely entering the city proper. LGCT also serves as “one stop shop” as the regional government offices and other public and private establishments merged into one specific area, making government

transactions more convenient to the people. Another one is the Lucena City Government Complex, a ‘new home’ of the City that houses various government offices with its spacious facilities making every transaction to the people a more convenient and transparent one. Also in the vicinity of the Government Complex is the ongoing construction of City Health Office and Lucena City Convention Center. Other than government offices, the Lucena Diversion Road also has hotels that are readily accessible for travelers and who has a personal transaction in the City that cannot find shelter immediately.

Queen Margarete Hotel and Quezon Premiere Hotel are to name some and another one — a 200-room hotel being established by Navilom Construction from Camarines Sur is being constructed within the vicinity of Lucena City Government Complex. Restaurants and local food hubs such as Shakeys, Cafe Jungle, DomoEat, and Ellizer’s Food Park, fill the silences of Diversion road. As they did not only provide food and enjoyment, they also provide local jobs which are income generating in the City of Lucena.

And the latest – as they wait on the formal opening of the 230-million peso Lucena underpass Project, the establishment of S&R and CitiMall are now in blueprints and they are only waiting on the approval of the city government to construct and operate once the underpass becomes operational to the motorists. Booming establishments of commerce and governance cannot stop the continuous growth of Lucena towards prosperity and progress.

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Building a better place

for justice, peace, and security Carmelo Eduardo Mesa

ransparency and convenience -these are the factors that most people wanted to see in any government offices anywhere in the country.

Because, why not? Who would love an office space that is too small and crowded to cater the needs of the people? Simply quoting, “transparency and convenience are the reflection of good governance to the people.” The Philippine National Police (PNP) Station in Lucena City, which is located on the backside of the old city hall building that we commonly see on the heart of the city has been in existence for more than decades. Now under rehabilitation works, the Lucena PNP Station covers 800 square meters in

total of its border facilities. By providing importance to our police officers and personnel for decades for its years of long service, it is the perfect time to renovate and upgrade its facilities, and to improve it and make it a trouble-free, more reliable, more convenient to our highly urbanized city. There is a saying, “out with the old, and in with the new”. From its different experience of it especially that the police stations facilities is important for our own safety and living the new world of innovation. It is then being said,

from the crumbling head and faces of yesterday’s past, it would raise the new innovative and superior service of the Lucena PNP with suitable peace and order facilities. On the other hand, The Provincial Office of the Department of Justice is now on its flourishing stage of construction. Located at the back of Lucena City Government Complex, it will soon cater much of the people who are in need of legal assistance, notary public and other legal matters. Former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre, a native of Mulanay, leads the inauguration of the said building on January. Together with him is Lucena City Mayor Roderick Alcala and the members of the City Council.

Aguirre envisioned of putting a DOJ office in various provinces in the country to further extend their primary services to the people, to make it more convenient and economically-sustainable, and to lessen also the office transaction that might lead to traffic congestions in Metro Manila. Once the DOJ Provincial Office is completed and operational, it will house not only the members of the DOJ’s National Prosecution Service but will also be the future home of the other DOJ-attached agencies in the province like the City Prosecutor’s Office, The Municipal Trial Court, and the likes.

Photo by Carmelo Eduardo Mesa

52 | devcom

Quezon’s quest

to preserving history Kimberly Mae Argosino & Carmelo Eduardo Mesa

he Capitol Building glistened in diamond-like flashes as it shivered under the embrace of the sun. It inhaled the polluted air – tolerating the painful dust – just watching threedimensional men pass by with its two-dimensional walls.

For many years, it had been like this, watching Quezon change before its eyes. Finally, it is now Quezon’s turn to witness the Capitol’s change towards preserving the past. The 150-million peso restoration and rehabilitation project put forward by Gov. David C. Suarez initialized the Old Tayabas Capitol Building’s road to progressive transformation. Under a team headed by Architect Joel Vivero Rico; Engineer Johnny Pasatiempo; Provincial Information Officer, Ma. Janet Gebeblazo; and local historian, Carlos Villariba, the Capitol’s restoration will turn the edifice into the “Gem of the Province.” Like any other treasure, it was kept inside the cages of conventional and traditional architectural details, to store it safely against the boundaries of time, and evolution of construction styles. It stood on the same ground donated by Gov. Filemon Perez in 1908 and stayed unbothered by the fast-moving present. For over 100 years, it wore a face conceptualized and designed by Ar. William Parsons, and towered over the sunken ground of the park. Photos by Carmelo Eduardo Mesa

From the facade, the simple columns, symmetrical composition and pediments, and friezes – the Capitol’s structure encapsulated the features of the neoclassical style. According to Villariba, the last governor who used the old capitol building was the late governor Anacleto Alcala. After the Alcala Administration, the succeeding governors transferred their offices, leaving the building on a lonely stage of deterioration. Suarez, however, will end his term in June 2019. Worrying about the interruption of the project due to the transition of the next administration, Pasatiempo said that when a new governor has taken over, it will not interrupt the process of restoration as it is now lined-up, with a budget already allocated to finance the restoration works. We are lucky to have a structure like the Old Tayabas Capitol. It is not just an ordinary building, but it symbolizes our identity as Quezonians. Let us appreciate the efforts of the Provincial Government and the Restoration Team as they show their eagerness to preserve our local heritage sites to showcase it to the next generations.

devcom | 53

River-SIDE Carmelo Eduardo Mesa

ucena is a highly urbanized city. Commerce is booming, development soaring, and people are continuously moving in its heart in hopes of brighter opportunities. With this, traffic congestion became a problem that we must admit, will always be affiliated with progress we commit.

Every day, more than a hundred thousand vehicles travel inside and out of the city proper. Narrow roads, double parking; and street vendors are some of the factors why traffic jams are rampant in the city proper especially during peak hours. Lucena is wedged between two rivers—Iyam and Dumacaa River—that serves as the main canal of the city. As safety is also one of the factors that everyone must consider, a structure must also be constructed to further preserve its riverbanks from further deterioration caused by natural calamities like floods. The government is working hands-on to find a

Photos by Carmelo Eduardo Mesa

long term solution to decongest traffic in the city proper, as well as the protection of our riverbanks for the safety of everyone. As such, the initiative to build a structure which has a dual purpose for the motorist and the people around is now on its way. The Iyam Riverbank Road project was constructed through the initiative of Barangay Captain Edward Sy Bang of Barangay 5 Poblacion, together with the Provincial Government of Quezon headed by Governor David C. Suarez. It is a slope protection and riverside road project, amounting to more than 100 million pesos. The project will start at the existing

spillway road between Barangay 5 and Barangay Ilayang Iyam stretching beside the iyam river. It will traverse Barangays 7 & 8 in the Poblacion Area down to the barangays of Cotta and Dalahican It will also traverse the northern side going to the barangays 1, 3, 11, and Gulanggulang. Once the project is completed, it will further help reducing the vehicles travelling the city proper, making a convenient access to the different barangays of Lucena. Also, it will ensure the safety of the people living nearby as this will prevent any untoward incident to someone’s life.

54 | reel talk

‘ in a nutshell‘ Sophia Margarette Caagbay

efreshing and riveting: Ulan clawed into the hearts of its viewers with its untainted storytelling of our Filipino culture and traditions that go far beyond romantic by encapsulating different forms of love and losses.

With all the saturation and thirst for anew, the Filipino cinema sprinkled on the withering interest of the youth to bring back their faith to our movies by showcasing a mythical exploration in our Filipino superstitions and obscure beliefs. It played along with our emotional mechanisms enough to elicit mixed emotions from nostalgia, reminiscence, and insights by pulling off different ironies and paradoxes of life, particularly as a Filipino. The movie, with its notch cinematography and OPM musical scores, glided slow and steady with everything – its character development and plot twists – as if it’s careful on being clear to what it wants to say from the start to the end; the movie doesn’t want you to miss anything, and

at the same time want you to be attuned and related to it. This is evident with how the protagonist (Nadine Lustre) portrayed a typical Filipina back in the days: hopeless romantic, in love with ideas, and hardworkingly complacent. Ulan was able to successfully tie the knot from the beginning to end with its symbolical messages remaining intact that were revealed one-by-one as the story unfolds. Ulan taught us that what’s typical and common, and at the same time that this “averageness” is not-so-average; that they were, in fact, the starting point where everything could go and be different; that something unique can come out from something so simple.

Photos from the Youtube trailer (Courtesy of Viva Films)

center stage | 55

Reality at play Ronald Sardona & Sophia Margarette Caagbay

opes pulled, curtains opened, lights flashed: the Ronyando S. Baldeo Drama Festival 2019 has once again coveted by the College of Business and Accountancy (CBA). Winning for three consecutive years, CBA secured its spot in the notch hall of famer.

The CBA actors and actresses wowed the judges with their symbolic play tackling the social and political issues of the country. The dialogues of the play were well-thought-out, mixing jokes and emblematic lines into one coherent colloquy. Background-wise, CBA was surely a crafty one, mixing simple household objects to create a realistic jeep.

Photos by Carmelo Eduardo Mesa

The characters perfectly performed with the made-up jeep tricking the crowd. The male protagonist Jan Carlo M. Regio playing as the jeepney driver has once again clinched the Best Actor Award for two straight years. Without question, the female and male protagonists created a dynamic duo. While the CBA portrayed the reality of life in a seemingly

realistic setting, the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) placed second doing away with a dark obscure content that been cover up with dumpster and landslide setting. Spirits have been lifted up and mystified with the witty and humorous performance of the actresses playing as kids but were already ghosts. Louise Imperio, the leading actress, performing on stage since 2015, finally clinched the Best Actress Award. After a realistic and dark play, the College of Education (CEd) brought melancholy into the hearts of the crowd as they masterfully endowed every line with pure emotions and style. The depth of the acting shrouded the

ambiance of the stage with a gloomy yet stylized feeling. The actress did a great job in exhibiting the empowerment of women against the constrict environment. While the main actor of play projected a bold steep character that gave a matured touch in the overall performance. The two stars blurred the boundaries of love, commitment and time passing. #MindBlown and #HeartWrenching were the best hashtags that would sum up this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plays. You cannot go the other way around as the masks do not unfold on stage with all the realities of this societyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s generation at play; it surely is watching our lives before our eyes.

56 | advocacy

T A WH

FACT! THE

An advocacy on media and information literacy Ariana Julia Tadiosa & Simon Romuel Uy

advocacy | 57

echnological advancements have given us one of the greatest gifts in humanity, a faster and better variety of media that bridged us to the rest of the world. We are able to reach places and audiences that we couldn’t have reached and do without the help of certain information.

This has a massive effect in our lives, considering that most of us spend several hours a day using our mobile phone alone. It directly influences our style, our culture, and how we perceive the world. Sadly, the massive amount of information is so overwhelming that we ourselves are unaware of just how precarious our situation is. The fact that we have relied so much on the information posted online that the line between reality and false information gets blurry. What’s worse is the exploiters also have the power and influence to

disseminate information which is most of the times irrelevant and harmful for the internet and its users. There is a saying that ignorance won’t excuse you from the law, but it also won’t excuse you of being a victim. Here are some things that you have to know about fake news. In order for you to distinguish fake news from facts, you will get an edge by informing yourself of what to look out for.

Distinguishing the Fake from the Facts

Now that you’re informed to what look out for, fact checking will be your greatest weapon in information literacy.

Fake news had been around for as long as we can remember, but what fake news really? The definition is self-explanatory. It is anti-news, meaning it contains the type of information that is false and/or intentionally deceiving. It comes on many forms, shapeshifting its way into mass media. As time goes by, it is getting harder and harder to spot since there are a lot of competing news sites on the internet and some contradict each other. Their competitiveness had also made their stories so outrageous that you can’t really tell whether it is fake or not. Here are the common types of fake news to look out for:

Satire or Parody

This is the type of fake news that is made to appeal to humor. This usually spreads due to the understanding that people will get the joke within the context, but this could still potentially deceive a person.

Misleading news that’s sort of true but used in the wrong context

These are selectively chosen facts that are real but rearranged and misinterpreted. Words may be twisted, or the truths are a bit stretched out. These types are usually the cause of clickbait since they are more realistic than the satire

Sloppy reporting that fits an agenda This is similar to the second, the difference being that it is a collection of facts (which may not be facts at all) without verification and use it to justify a claim without fact checking but kept it since it supports the claim of the article.

Misleading news that’s not based on facts, but supports an on-going narrative This type of news is where there is no established baseline where ideologies and opinions are used as “truths” unconscious biases come into play. They are usually “justified” due to a certain famous person that has supported the information, but it remains false. Conspiracy theories are included here.

Intentionally deceptive

This is the one to look out for. This is when news that has been fabricated for a malicious purpose either by making money, to cause confusion or discontent, or sensationalist propaganda which can either build or destroy a person or an individual. These stories tend to happen in both established news sites to the smaller, many independent sites. They can either be paid to do so, or they themselves do this because they can.

Here are some tips on how to do it:

When checking the data, always look at the source. Are the site and their sources reliable? What are the author/s credentials? Are they even allowed to report such type of news? This alone can totally defile a bogus news report. But if it passes through, you’re going to have to go even further. Analyze the data itself. Figure out what they are trying to tell you, or the purpose of the article (to inform, to persuade, to entertain, etc) and how it affects you emotionally (the emotions that it convey) and mentally (views and opinions). Do your own research about the topic to verify the data itself. Also, see into it that the data included are supporting each other and are valid points.

After analyzing the article, you must evaluate how the message is projected and if there are hidden and underlying agenda behind it.

It is also suggested that being a critical reading can help you in this kind of situation. The more you know about certain tWopics and is critical in which information to be believed, finding resources and second opinions regarding the information are very helpful in fact-checking.

Once you have distinguished that the information conveyed is fake news, refrain from sharing it. Now, let’s reverse the situation. What if you are the one creating the content? It is important for the creators themselves to create content that is truthful, respectful and carefully researched in order to avoid conflicts and faux pas. In connection to this, the number one enemy of information literacy is plagiarism, which is the act of stealing or copying someone’s content without crediting the source. People usually do this due to the fear of failure or fear taking risks, poor time-management skills or just plain negligence. When you aren’t that sure about a certain topic, always consult a second opinion. When using other people’s words or ideas, it is an acceptable practice for writers to use certain kinds of texts, but always make sure to acknowledge or ask the permission of the author and follow the proper ethics in doing so.

58 | features

The dragon must be awakened

Huawei to step up its software game Jhon Angelo Virtucio

fter Google pulled off Huawei’s android license, Huawei needs to step up its game especially on software, making their own OS and infrastructure and not depend on Google’s infrastructure.

Chinese telecoms giant Huawei has been in a tumultuous day previously as President Trump declared a national emergency to ban the sales and all the trades to US companies because of the alleged risks to the US national security. In one of the articles published in South China Morning post, Huawei has been under scrutiny around the world amid concerns its technologies and products could be used for espionage by Beijing.

The loss of Android Being one of the largest producers of smartphones who sold 203 million phones last year, from 150 million in 2017, overtaking Apple to threaten Samsung for being the top of the global charts according to the data tracking firm Gartner. And vast number of devices of Huawei is running the Android OS meaning that a large portion of its consumer portfolio will be affected.

I am a Huawei user, what might change? After the loss of Huawei to the android license, Huawei might not have access to Google Maps, Gmail, Google Drive, Waze and other services and apps included in the Android Operating System. Google and Huawei clarified that it will not affect the existing Huawei phone holders, but will be expected to experience issues on updates, so if you are a Huawei user expecting for Android Q or Android Pie maybe it’s time to give up.

The rise of the dragon. For the future mobile devices that will be manufactured and produced by Huawei it can use the Android Operating System under the public license. However, Huawei previously stated that they had plan B and is believed by experts to dominate the future, and that Google just gave Huawei a wake-up call to create their own infrastructure. Huawei has been working on their own OS – their plan B since 2008, and it’s likely being developed since the future day.

On the other side, having their own OS will be a great future for Huawei and this will be a great opportunity for them to be completely independent and shock the world, because Huawei is currently depending on Android on powering their devices. Now the challenge for Huawei is that software is not their strongest suit, so they need to level up their game on producing software and their own OS.

what’s app | 59

BE A LEGEND:

PLAY

Hamfrey Saniel & Kimberly Mae Argosino

ith a landslide of online games and apps, it is difficult not to drown in its addictive waters and inescapable quicksands. But for most millennial warriors, the battle in surfing against the tide of modern gaming could be easily won over by a dueling game that conquers the screen of most smartphones today.

The youth went gaga over the gaming colossal called “Mobile Legends: Bang Bang”. With its intuitive controls, realistic gameplay, and beyond-this-world setting, it captured the attention of gamers who have long looked for a gaming app that they could carry just inside their pockets. No need to go to cafés or buy expensive programs to enjoy a strategic and intellectually stimulating game. Mobile Legends offers the experience of MOBA or Multiplayer Online Battle Arena that people could dive into immediately when connected online. This 5v5 games has grown to be a trend amongst gamers young and old for its levels and ease. The game begins by allowing the player to find a match and which another player has to accept. The two opposing teams have 5 heroes each in their base that consists of roles suitable for your strategy. This concludes a tank, fighter, assassin, mage, marksman and support. Each hero has abilities tailored to the player’s gaming style. Fanny for example, a mobile legends hero character,

boasts superior agility and is able to combine ability effects to annihilate his opponents and bring destruction to the enemy’s disadvantage. While this may all sound too exciting, only basic champions like Layla, a marksman, are available for free to enjoy, and the rest of the heroes could only be unlocked when bought. But a random free-to-play hero will be given each week allowing the player to experience playing them at some point. The main goal in Mobile Legends is to push together with your team, abolish the 3 towers on a lane and finish the match by destroying the “Enemy’s Crystal” to reign victorious. Gameplay usually lasts for about 10-15 minutes, giving you an ephemeral pleasure and adrenaline rush. There are millions of players who played differently, each having their own technique, outplays and strategies to win the game. Hope you’ll get pass through them though. A bit of practice will help improve your skills and turn you into the legendary warrior you really are.

Photos from Pinterest and DeviantArt

60 | news

Envergans’ artworks among VAC 33 finalists

Simon Romuel Uy

wo Envergans’ artworks from the College of Architecture and Fine Arts (CAFA) was shortlisted and among the 30 finalists for the 33rd Visual Arts Competition (VAC 33) sponsored and conducted by the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT).

With the theme “Creating Legacy, Creating the Future,” Fine Arts students Genevive Catapangan’s “Tanging Yaman” and Christine Beatriz Tagarao’s “Sacrosanct,” were also given the chance to be included in the online voting. The Envergan fine artists received 10,000 pesos as cash prize for being included in the few 30 finalists.

“Sacrosanct” by Genevive Catapangan

“Tanging Yaman” by Christine Beatriz Tagarao

If education is important, why do they raise the tuition fees every time I pictured a poor child with a lot of questions, not knowing what was written on the board because she can’t read. She thinks everyone believes in the same God and religion she does, just like how I used to think. I remember my classmates were passing out a piece of paper with the word “sex” on it, the class laughed at me for not knowing what it meant, I was in grade 3, hopefully the girl doesn’t go through the same experience. I only found out what a “broken family” meant when I realized I was in one, the girl deserves more than that. Imagine a world where everyone went to school, then imagine a world where nobody can go to school because they can’t afford it. When will we realize that education is for creating a legacy and a future Until nobody notices, because not a single person will be “educated enough” to notice that something is wrong.

Ipinapakita sa aking painting ang isang ama na magsasaka na nagbibigay ng palay sa kanyang anak.Isang pagbabahagi, kung saan ito ay simbolo ng paghihirap at pagsusumikap ng isang ama upang mabigyan ng magandang kinabukasan ang kanyang anak.Ang bawat isa sa atin ay kayang mag-iwan ng isang pamana na magagamit natin panghabang buhay. Sinasabing tayo mismo ang makakabuo at magiging ihemplo sa mga ibang tao na nawawalan ng pag-asa at pananalig sa buhay.Katulad ng batang anak ng isang magsasaka na puno ng pag-asa na maiangat ang kanyang sarili tungo sa paglikha ng kanyang kinabukasan. Ang kanyang ama ang nagsilbing gabay upang makamit nya ang minimithi niyang pangarap.

Batch 2019 produces new breeze of best researches

Ada Loreeen De Castro

he MSEUF Research Club wrapped up the semester with the 11th Student Research Congress themed Research and FIRe (Fourth Industrial Revolution) was held last May 17 at the AEC Bldg.

As the best researches are compiled and identified from different academic departments, only one has the title of best research under five different categories namely Basic Research, Applied Research, Feasibility Study, Research and Development, and Capstone Project. The research entitled “Continuing Professional Development of Certified Public Accountants in Lucena City: An

Evaluation” won from seven different types of research who competed for Best Basic Research, the winning research was written by four Accountancy students Johanna Rose M. Aman, Kaye Marie L. Cueto, Russeine G. Padillo, and Zaira May O. Valdeavilla. Five different types of research have competed for the title Best Applied Research but the authors Lianne Isabelle M. Jalbuena and Lemuel

P. Pineda, both Medical Technology students, have stood out and won with their paper “A Comparative Analysis of Selected Disinfectants, in Inhibiting Pseudomonas Aeruginosa and Staphylococcus Aureus from a Government Hospital.” Rendell R. Arpon, an Architecture student, with his research entitled “A Proposed Mid-Class Residential Community won the Best Feasibility Study.

The Best Research and Development was awarded to Architecture student, Gia Sandrine R. Suarez, with her paper entitled “Casa de Sacerdote: A Retirement Home for Diocesan Priests.” “Shroominator: IOT-Based Environmental Monitoring and Controlling System with Outlier Detection Algorithm for Mushroom Farming” have competed with three different types of research and won the Best Capstone

Project with its developers and writers Genrev Gabriel Rodriguez, Edrian Nicker Principe, and Jan Adriel Ocampo, Information Technology students. Behind the winnings, tallies, and decisions were Dr. Aileen M. Manigas, Dr. Reicon Condes, Dr. Amelita O. Balagtas, and Dr. Ronald Calderon, who were crafted by their profession for them to share it to the young researchers of this generation.

S I S I H T

T I W A H K LI Romu Simon

sound check | 61

el Uy

uezon, as we know, is a big supplier of artists. There are a lot of artists in Quezon Province who contribute to the field of art, especially in music.” These words came from Ippo Huwano, the founder and producer of Kapit Productions-Likhawit Festival.

On October 27 last year, the Quezon Convention Center became the springboard of the local artists that Likhawit has to offer. Likhawit Festival 2018 was a music event produced by Kapit Productions, with a lineup of 12 local artists with different genres who performed onstage. They were DJ Galang, TeatroMukha, Paul Anca, Cloie Lorezca, Jam Labatigan, KBHD, Tagumpay, Tone of Rapture, Narra Lei, FLAURAH, Ruth Mondejar, Kyle Anunciacion, MVIBE and Ippo Huwano, with their main act – Ben&Ben and IV of Spades. Likhawit Festival is an active series of musical events and workshops that aim to support local singers, songwriters, and musicians. Together with Ippo Huwano was Kyle Anunciacion who initiated the Likhawit Festival. “Likhawit” whose name was derived from likha, which means

to create, and awit, which means song or music, together came up with a meaning “to create music.” With a vision to contribute to the Original Pinoy Music, promote local artists, and to make the limelight for the local music events in Lucena City, it began its first Likhawit as a seminar to introduce Likhawit and its goal to gather local artists in 2015. After that, Likhawit Jam Night started in local bars in Lucena City, and right after, information about Likhawit started to spread out and lots of artists started to participate. Singer-songwriter, DJ GALANG performed his original songs “Minimithi” and “Kwento ng dating tayo” under the contemporary rhythms of pop and classical violin tunes. Teatro-Mukha, a performing arts student organization from STI College Lucena performed

a magnificent set of songs and spoken poetry that made the entire night emotional. With his originally written songs, “Eksena” and “Mahimbing”, folk singer-songwriter Paul Anca, serenaded the crowd. While the lovely Cloie Lorezca filled the stage in pink glazing lights with her song “Lost”. Awakening the crowd with her jams “Yes” and “Where home is”, Jam Labatigan, sang with charm and liveliness perfect to the acoustic feels of her performance. This chill number was balanced by the hypedup performance of KBHD, a rapper-song writer from Lucena City, who performed his viral song “Walwalan na” - the anthem of all drinking sessions as the lyric says “Susuka pero walang susuko”. Tagumpay, a singer-songwriter from Laguna, used several exotic instruments,

with loops creating a forest-like ambiance. He performed his original song “Hopes and Lies” and ending his performance with a reminder about the situation of the environment– entitled “Nauubos” Alternative Rock Band Tone of Rapture captivated the crowd with its heartfelt music where they performed the crowdfavorite “The Only One”. Singer-songwriter, DJ, and filmmaker Narra Lei, filled the night with lovely blues. Christian band, FLAURAH played gospel songs, and Ruth Mondejar stunned the crowd with her first-ever single, “Baka Sakali.” Old musicality met contemporary style a when Kyle Anunciacion sang “Alon”, which exhibited his great vocals and signature style while Ippo Huwano gave a rock hard performance greeting the night with his original song “Kapit.” Meanwhile, A Capella group MVIBE

covered OPM and foreign songs. Finally, the crowd went wild when the indie band Ben&Ben began their performance. The group sang their popular hits, leaving the audience in awe. Moreover, IV of Spades gave a solid performance of their most celebrated hits with flashy lights and funky rock music. Likhawit displayed different genres. This is to put all the bands and artists together in one venue to give an unforgettable performance and to exhibit the amazing talents of Indie artists that keep OPM on its peek. Indie music is the most active in lauding OPM right now and Likhawit was made for us to appreciate the art of Filipino music. This is Likhawit! – an event that promotes local artists who deserve to be recognized.

REGIONAL

62 | sports

De La Salle DasmariÃ±as, Cavite

Infographics b

TABLE TENNIS

TAEKWONDO

COACH MARIE GRACE JASOLIN

COACH SHIELA TARRAY

BRONZE

SILVER

SILVER MEDALIST SILVER

BRONZE

GOLD

GOLD MEDALISTS

Dexter Rey Saguiped Julius Oxina Marc Vincent Arena Jercy Ann Tan Jean Ellenel Albina

Laiza Orfanel BRONZE MEDALISTS

Erissa Mel Gumasing Michaela Cheynne Dela Cruz Myke Dominic Maxino Cholo Robert Piguerra Chad Richmond Lacerna

SILVER MEDALISTS

Sedrix Urciana Romeo Clero Mendoza

ATHLETICS COACH ROBERTO MALAPITAN

BRONZE MEDALISTS

Jecil Manalo Jamie Dinglasan Euniel Cabusas Dranmae Zachary Jyke Rosales

SILVER GOLD

Maria Monique Mendoza Kayley Manato Nikki Malapitan Butch Rogelio Loverez Aeron Panotes

BRONZE

PRISAA

sports | 63

March 14-17, 2019

by Erika Marca

SWIMMING

BASKETBALL

COACH VIRGILIO DE LUNA

19 19

5 SILVER

GOLD

BRONZE

Drey Luna

GOLD

Keneth Espinas

Jacob Tredente Arabes Marit Jade Del Moro

BADMINTON

Marion Margaret Del Moro

COACH RUSTOM MENCHERO

AC Radovan

Alton John De Luna

Ysabelle Aranas

Jelwyn Zersuelo

CHESS

SILVER

COACH JOLAND ABARICIA

BRONZE SILVER

Joyce Irish Almozara

BRONZE

GOLD MEDALISTS

Julius Quindoza Jella Arielle Almariego Kiel Jin Delos Reyes SILVER MEDALIST

Marvic Joshua Villaverde BRONZE MEDALISTS

Jacqueline Macalalad Mindy Zaracena

GOLD

You’ve reached the end of this magazine, Envergan. You’ve threaded through the jungles of juggled news, grappling grapevines of ruthless opinions, and leaped over the abysmal gaps of bridging stories. Now you are here. We thank you for keeping up with us, for listening to our words translated in ink, for viewing our art in colors and feelings, for even just passing through just scanning, like a stranger taking quick glances without dwelling too long. We thank you for trying. You may have not read everything or found anything that interested you, so your next challenge is to put this magazine down and battle the real world ahead of you. The world has been dulled by the constancy of common things - find something that inspires you, something to look forward to, something to fight for. Own your wars, Envergan. We believe in you.

Editorial Board & Staff JOHN ROVER SINAG Editor in Chief SOPHIA MARGARETTE CAAGBAY KIMBERLY MAE ARGOSINO Associate Editor KYLE JOSHUA CADAVEZ Visual Editor ADA LOREEN DE CASTRO Business Manager JHON ANGELO VIRTUCIO News and Sports Editor ARIANA JULIA TADIOSA Features and Literary Editor CARMELO EDUARDO MESA ANDREI CHRISTIAN CUARIO DANIEL DAVID TAN KAREN YVONNE DALEON RONALD SARDONA MC KINLY REVILLA IVAN CHRIS MABILANGAN Writing Staff SIMON ROMUEL UY MILL ANGELO PRADO HAMFREY SANIEL JARA MAIAH VILLARUEL MARIA RIZELLE TIAMA ADRIAN CARLO VILLANERA GRACELLE NICOLE ASEOCHE LYNETTE BERNAL JOHN ROSSNY CLEOFE ERIKA MARCA JAYSON JAVIER Artistic Staff RAYMOND BERMUDEZ DEXTER VILLAMIN Technical Advisers ROSARIO RAGO, Ed. D. Consultant