The New Builder - April 2018 by The New Builder

Mapúa University

April 2018

VOL. L Issue I

Proud Procession. Members of the ROTC unit of Mapua University stand at the helm of the annual school parade as the University opens its 93rd Foundation Week. Photo by Maurine Claire F. Kim

Mapúa celebrates 93rd Foundation Week: Unity in Diversity By Maurine C laire F. Kim & Kristin C larisse H. Mateo

apúa University embraced Dr. Reynaldo B. Vea imparted.

to apply the fruits of their education of Mapúa Alumni (NAMA), served as the 93rd foundation week, Mapúa

its

in practical situations. Furthermore, a reminder of the long journey which showcased its achievements of the

recently-acquired

university

status

and

the changes it has brought as the

Celebrating a new chapter The festivities began with the

seminars such as the Outcomes-Based shaped MU into what it is today.

Education (OBE) best practices and the university celebrated its 93rd opening ceremony on January 22. Foundation of Outstanding Mapúans, Foundation Week with the theme: This was followed by a five-day long Inc. (FOMI) lectures were held to serve celebration that featured events such Unity in Diversity. as catalysts of further research and as the Parade of Excellence, exhibits development in the University. As Mapúa once again looks from the various student orgs, and forward to another year of greater “With outcomes-based education, the much-celebrated Mr. and Ms. opportunities, it implores the Cardinals 2018. The students, faculty it’s mostly on the initiative of the students and faculty to continue members, and personnel engaged in students to perform outcomes, and the hard work and passion that has the festivities to usher in another year, that’s the environment we want to brought the university this far as carrying the core values of discipline, provide -- a learning environment,” an educational institution. “All the excellence, commitment, integrity, and Vea shared. achievements of the past years would relevance, while transitioning from an The Cardinal Excellence Awards not have been possible without institute to a university. (TCEA) likewise took place, where the participation of everyone -- the members of the Mapúan community The celebrations also exhibited entire Mapúa community from

Proving to be one of the most anticipated events of the Foundation Week, the Mapúa Cardinals 2018 crowned a new king and queen for the night on January 26. Each candidate represented his or her respective department in the fight for the title of Mr. and Ms. Cardinals 2018. The final event took place on January 29, along with the investiture of Dr. Reynaldo B. Vea, CEO and President

Mapúa

University.

Various professors and administrators witnessed Dr. Vea as he was formally

past years, including its university status and 3-star QS Audit. “Mapúa University is still going to be centered around DROID. We will keep on pushing the boundaries of outcomesbased education and harness the technology into its full potential,” Vea stated. As part of Mapua’s mission to continuously provide solutions to the problems of industries and communities, the university is set on pushing its boundaries once more by encouraging both the students and faculty to increase their research

output. “We are going to have an inaugurated as the first president of whom I have always been asking for the wit and aptitude of Mapúans who have excelled in diverse fields undergraduate research competition Mapúa University. were honored and given special support. All those, and nothing in through competition. The Math next year, and we’re going to award Looking to the future the future would be possible without Wizard and Physics Olympics held recognition. The Alumni Night, faculty members whose output in them,” Mapúa CEO and President during the week enabled the students organized by the National Association

Along with the activities during research is prolific,” Vea elaborated

SLHS profs prepare for new GE curriculum By Nicholle Kim T. Fontanilla

ast January, faculty members of the School of Languages, Humanities and Social Sciences underwent training in preparation for the new General Education (GE) curriculum. This was done in line with the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) memorandum order number 20, series of 2013, known as the “General Education Curriculum: Holistic Understandings, Intellectual and Civic Competencies”. The New GE and its benefits According to Dr. Jonathan V. Macayan, SLHS Dean, the new general education curriculum is “a paradigm shift from the usual

disciplinal general education Aside from being one of the courses. It has been transformed participant schools in the said CHED training, Mapúa is also one of the into multi-disciplinary courses”. few schools with faculty participants With the new GE curriculum, who were certified as COC Trainers the subjects will not be redundant after the first round of training. As with the senior high school such, CHED designated the university curriculum, and these subjects will as one of the Delivering Higher be taught in a non-disciplinal, multi- Education Institutions (DHEIs) for all disciplinary manner. This will allow GE courses, namely: Understanding students to be informed about the the Self, Contemporary World, contemporary issues that are arising Mathematics and the Modern World, with regard to multiple fields of Science Technology and Society, study. “This is the same direction Reading in Philippine History, that other advanced countries are Revised Rizal Course, Purposive using,” Macayan stated, “They don’t Communication, and Ethics. confine discussions about general Being one of the Delivering education in one discipline or in one Higher Education Institutions subject area only.” (DHEIs), SLHS developed a Deliverers of higher education framework for GE training called

“An Outcome-based Digital GE Training for Faculty Members” to allow faculty members coming from different universities to be able to “learn about the contents of GE, while being trained on how to use technology in delivering GE courses.” The GE Courseware Apart from being a DHEI, SLHS is likewise working with C&E Publishing to publish a project that is being developed in preparation for the new GE curriculum. The project, called “GE Courseware”, is designed to have a blended teaching and learning approach.

between faculty members and students, as well as online modules, and is projected to start on the first term of the new academic year. “There will be a 3-hour face-to-face encounter with students, and the rest of the time will be devoted to online,” Macayan explained. In the future, SLHS plans to develop a full online version of the project once they are able to determine the strengths and points of improvement in the “GE Courseware”. “We’re thinking along

“GE Courseware” will involve that line—offering GE in a fullydynamic face-to-face interaction online mode,” he emphasized

Issue no. 1

News

Dr. Vea formally named as first University President

Mapúans reap 3rd in National CpE Challenge By Nicholle Kim Fontanilla

By Maurine C laire F. Kim

wo students from the CpE Challenge, Ilejay and Abel School of Electrical, secured first place during the Electronics, and Computer 2017 National Capital Region Engineering (EECE) emerged CpE Challenge as champions of the October 7, 2017. National CpE Challenge last November 24, 2017 at the Casablanca Hotel, Legaspi City in Albay.

Entering

held into

last the

competition, Abel elaborated that both experience and

confidence are what held Supporting Jim Gregorie them up. Their experience Ilejay and Gabriel Ian in programming different Abel were their coaches, kinds of softwares, and the Professors Dionis Padilla confidence that they would

and Analyn Yumang, both be able to solve the problems faculty members of Computer to be given during the contest, Engineering in the School of helped them a lot in bringing EECE. home the bacon. “Study more According to Ilejay, there than what Mapúa teaches were a total of four questions

given during the competition,

you”, he stated. Additionally,

with the questions being In Good Hands. Dr. Reynaldo B. Vea holds the symbolic staff to formally accept the responsibilities as President of Mapua University. Photo by Maurine Claire F. Kim

n line with the granting of university status, the President of then Mapúa Institute of Technology, Dr. Reynaldo B. Vea, was officially appointed as the first University President. The formal ceremony took place at the Philippine International Convention Center last January 29.

Age”, Vea recalled the past events that built Mapúa into what it is today. Additionally, he declared his objective of turning Mapúa University into a “Multiversity”.

According to Dr. Vea, “A university is no ivory tower. The journey to become a university was long and difficult, but amidst all the hardship, Mapúa has all The investiture started along been inside the fabric with an academic procession of Philippine society. “ of invited quests and A d d i t i o n a l l y, he representatives, composed stated that research and mostly of faculty members, u n d e r g r a d u a t e education d e a n s , a n d c h a i r p e r s o n s . are the main features of a L i ke w i s e i n v i t e d t o t h e modern university, and these prestigious event w a s came to Mapúa in a slow but Commission on H i g h e r progressive process with the Education chairperson, Dr. help of its partners and sister Patricia Licuanan. companies. In his speech entitled, Although having “Mapúa University: A achieved back-to-back Philippine N o n - S e c t a r i a n a c c o m p l i s h m e n t s , D r . Ve a School in the Global and Digital e m p h a s i z e d t h a t p r o g r e s s

will continue to be evident in

Mapúa

U n i v e r s i t y,

particularly in being digitally driven. “We will keep on pushing the boundaries of outcomes-based

education

and harness technology into its

full

potential.

Mapúa

will continue to see itself as

digital,

research-

driven, outcomes-based, and international

domain,”

stated. L a s t l y, president ambitious

the

university

hinted

prospects

more for

the university. “If this is what Mapúa has achieved throughout the years, what

The elimination round, organized by the Children’s Museum and Library Inc. with the Junior Council-Regional Executive Board National Capital Region (CMLI JC-NCR), was held last September 17 at the Notre Dame of Greater Manila, Caloocan. For their performance, Replika Mapúa gave a rendition of Sa Aking Mga Kamay by Mark Angeles. Their goal in this performance was to promote the Filipinos’ fight for human rights in t o d a y ’s struggle against injustice.

the competition was their nervousness and fear. “Pero nung ma-execute namin nang maayos at may damdamin ang aming napaghandaan, feel na namin ang tagumpay,” she said. Thanks to the positive reaction to their choral piece, they emerged as one of the top five finalists and performed in the Sigabo Finals held at the AFP Theater in Quezon City last October 28. While Replika Mapúa’s Finals performance was seemingly a bit lacking on the technical aspect, they more than made up for it with their talent on stage. “Kahit wala kami gaanong props, ang mensahe at puso ang aming [mga] naging sandata,” Laranang imparted.

Likewise, she shared that before they came up with the According to Replika Mapúa final concept of unity and leader Kriszel Laranang, their awareness, they deliberated g r e a t e s t o p p o n e n t d u r i n g on every word and every

binary

conversions

and c o m p u t e r p r o g ra m m i n g programming”, such as C++ books.” and Java. As advice to future Prior to the competition, contestants, Ilejay shared Professor Padilla shared that Ilejay and Abel prepared that the best thing one can

themselves by taking the time do in these contests is to have to solve different machine the patience to methodically problems

that

had

been solve the problem. “Welcome

given during international the problem and face your programming c o n t e s t s . problem first. Just think “We downloaded previous about what your problem problems of international is, then from there you can contests and solved the usual subdivide it into smaller parts problems found in textbooks,” or components and start with he imparted. the easiest thing that you can Leading up to the National do,” he said.

By Kyrien Jewel Janeena L. Tabucan

By Jana Rafaela B. Eusebio & Kristin C larisse H. Mateo

orty-two (42) Senior High School students represented Mapúa University and competed with twenty-two (22) other schools in the 9th Sigabo Speech Choir Competition with the theme, “Piglas: Karapatang Pantao Ipaglaban, Bakas ng Karahasan Tugunan.”

He likewise added that the future iterations of the topics covered during the competition must “spend competition included “simple more time coding and reading

CBMES faculty and students ramp up research output

Replika Mapúa clinches Top 5 finish in choral speaking contest

divided into sub-categories: Padilla recommended that easy, medium, and hard. students who wish to join

might the future Mapúa look like?” Vea imparted

Professor

verse. They divided the work by grouping themselves, then assigning groups to manage the team’s choreography and props. Prof. Krizzia Anne Garcia, mentor of Replika Mapúa, stated how she admires the students’ ability to manage and balance their extra-curricular activities with their academics, since being part of the group r e quir e s c o mmitme nt and dedication. “I am a witness to the manifestation of their phenomenal skills and I’m looking forward to more victory with this group,” she said. Currently, Replika Mapúa is preparing to join the next University of the Philippines Speech Communication Association (UPSPECA) competition. In preparation, they will be organizing workshops for the benefit of their members to further improve their speech skills

ithin six months, the School of Chemistry, Biological, and Materials Engineering & Sciences (CBMES) published and presented a total of 12 papers in three different international platforms. Profs. Menandro C. Marquez, Ruth R. Aquino, and Larry T. Reyes, in cooperation with students from CBMES programs, recently presented their work in conferences in Malaysia, Thailand, and Japan.

Acetate and 12-Aminolauric Acid Modified Montmorillonite”, respectively.

In the 2nd International Conference on Materials Engineering and Nanotechnology (ICMEN) held last May 12-14 in Kuala Lumpur, the CBMES professors were able to bag the Best Oral Presentation award in 3 out of 4 sessions. Prof. Marquez won in his session for his paper entitled “Optical and Morphological Characterization of Sonochemically Assisted Europium Doped Copper (I) Oxide Nanostructures”.

After the 2nd ICMEN, Prof. Marquez was able to present two additional research papers at the 2nd International Conference on Advanced Materials Research and Manufacturing Technologies (AMRMT) which was held in Phuket, Thailand last August 2-5.

Profs. Aquino and Reyes likewise bagged Best Oral Presentation awards in the same conference with their research work entitled “Thermal Treatment Temperature and Time Dependence of Contact Angle of Water on Fluorinated Polystyrene as Hydrophobic Film Coating” and “Biocomposites based on Cellulose

Aside from the presentations of the CBMES professors, ICMEN also featured the undergraduate thesis of recent Materials Science & Engineering (MSE) graduate Abdul Rahman Mariscal entitled “Evolution of Cobalt Oxide Nanostructures on Glass Substrate via Two Step Solution Route Synthesis”.

Similarly, the School of CBMES presented six papers during the 6th International Conference on Nanostructures, Nanomaterials and Nanoengineering (ICNNN) last October 26-29 in Tokyo, Japan. Professors Marquez and Aquino presented two of their research papers alongside two MSE students, Cyron Custodio and Annalou Salut, with the two undergraduates presenting their respective theses

Issue no. 1

News Bytes & News Feature

News Bytes

Physics students present research at SPVM

B.S. EMC launches Cardinals Game Initiative

Kyrien Jewel Janeena L. Tabucan

By Inna Mae Joyc e A. Lontok

temperature for 2DES under the Earth’s magnetic field was extremely disturbed by this phenomenon. influence of magnetic field.

Lemuel John F. Sese presented his paper entitled “Analysis of the Specific Heat of Half-Filled Landau Levels”, where he elaborated on one of the thermodynamic properties of a two-dimensional electron gas (2DES) - the heat capacity. His paper analyzed the simulations of heat capacity near the absolute zero

SPVM, is a nationwide event Sese conducted his research with the help of Prof. Rayda Gammag, with which serves as a platform the two working together for over a for students, professors, and professionals in the field of Physics year to complete the paper. to present their papers and/or learn In the scope of Space Science, new found concepts. Two students Merlin M. Mendoza, under the from the BS Physics program were tutelage of Dr. Ernest Macalalad, able to represent Mapúa and share shared his work on the “Analysis their work to the SPVM community. of the Ionospheric Total Electron This year, the conference was held Content During the 2015 St. Patrick’s alongside the 2017 ASEAN conference Geomagnetic Storm Over the on Advanced Functional Materials Philippine Sector”. He explained the and Nanotechnology (ASEAN-AFMN) occurrence and the source of the and the 5th International Meeting on said geomagnetic storm and how the Complex Systems (IMCS).

ast October 19-21, students from Mapúa’s BS Physics program presented their research papers in the 19th Samahang Pisika ng Visayas at Mindanao (SPVM) National Physics Conference held at the University of San Carlos – Talamban Campus.

YGC in talks with Ayala over potential education merger By Kristin C larisse H. Mateo & Kyrien Jewel Janeena L. Tabucan

apúa University (MU) continues to seek and present to the Filipino youth a wide array of educational and career options. In line with this vision, the university has entered into negotiations with the Ayala Group of Companies for a possible merger to take place in partnership with Malayan Education System, Inc. “The program offering of the merged entity will be over a broad range. It won’t just be the fields that we are strong in,

such as engineering, sciences, numerous branches that offer and information technology,” senior high school and so Mapúa President and CEO Dr. many branches of their Asia Reynaldo B. Vea stated. Pacific Economic Cooperation T h e p o t e n t i a l m e r g e r (APEC) schools,” Vea noted. will offer more programs With a common goal, for the Filipino youth that will not only have a great the two companies seek impact on the students, but to enhance the quality of will also be beneficial for education at an affordable the two companies involved rate here in the Philippines. – Mapúa’s mother company, the Yuchengco Group of Vea however, clarified that as Companies (YGC), and the of writing, no finalized plans Ayala conglomerate. for the merger have yet been “There will be synergies, reached between the two especially since Ayala also has companies

By Nicholle Kim T. Fontanilla

side from being one of the top engineering schools in the Philippines, Mapúa University is likewise known for honing young professionals’ skills for them to be ready in the endeavors they wish to pursue in the media industry. In line with this, the School of Media Studies’ Student Council (SMS SC) continues to fulfill their duties to help students broaden their knowledge, make a name for themselves in media, and strengthen relationships between SMS students and faculty, as well as their relationships with the other schools and departments. According to SMS Student Council president Marx Reinhart Fidel, the culture that the School of Media Studies has is something that they want to spread through camaraderie. As such, the SMS SC has made it their mission to continuously advocate Media Studies in and out of the campus. Given that Mapúa is known for honing engineering professionals all around the

globe, Fidel stressed that they also want the “SMS name to be acknowledged”. To do this, the SMS SC makes it a point to organize events such as the “Linggo ng Likha” to show what SMS students are doing in their everyday lives. In an interview with The New Builder, Fidel stated that the SMS SC is currently planning an outing with SMS students and faculty members in order to continue a previous tradition. At the same time, they wish to create an artbook showcasing a collection of artwork as a way of celebrating the 10th year anniversary of the School of Media Studies. “So far, nawala na yung connection na matindi sa faculty and the students, and we want to build that up again,” he emphasized. Furthermore, they also plan to organize an event or activity with other schools in order to build connections with other students pursuing the same course. “We can use those connections para mas maging flawless yung trabaho namin at yung mga magiging projects namin, para basically makilala namin yung isa’t isa,” Fidel noted

nder the guidance of Prof. Saharkhiz Aresh, students of the program B.S. Entertainment and Multimedia Computing (EMC) founded the organization Cardinals Game Initiative (CGI). CGI offers a chance for students of Mapúa to either become part of the development team that will produce games every term, or become part of their team of developers that will participate in competitions. This year, CGI secured a place as one of the top 30 finalists during the Game Development Association of the Philippines (GDAP) competition held last October 28-30 at the SMX

Convention Center. According to CGI president Ethan Ruzsik, the group is an opensource organization willing to accept applicants from any program in Mapúa. “We believe everyone is talented in their own way and they can share those talents with us, whatever their program is,” Ruzsik stated. CGI’s vision for the future is to make Mapúa University known as one of the prestigious game development schools and to not only represent Mapua, but the whole country in future competitions on game development and design

Mapúa excels in regional Data Science competition By Inna Mae Joyc e A. Lontok wo Information Technology (IT) students of Mapúa Makati achieved a third-place finish in the ASEAN Data Science Explorers (DSE) national competition held last October 26 at SAP Philippines, Taguig.

“Team D’Papis”, a team of two 3rd year B.S. Information Technology students, Tristan Bal and Jay Mark Butalon, bagged third place with their education-oriented presentation. The two students detailed potential reforms in the K-12 program such as “the introduction of industry promotions through awareness in education and support of the government”. Team D’Papis was supervised by School of Information Technology (SOIT) Professor Grace Diaz Intal.

Bal and Butalon’s proposed reforms hope to solve the problem of a Filipino graduate’s incompatibility in choosing a job after college. The two made their presentation with data from DepEd and the Philippine Statistics Authority, which produced results related to the unemployment and underemployment rate and gap on different industries in the Philippines. Overall winner of the ASEAN DSE national competition was Team VizziePeople from the University of the Philippines, Diliman. Team VizziePeople was likewise the Philippine representative during the ASEAN DSE Finals held last November 29 in Jakarta, Indonesia

Issue no. 1

Opinion

Editorial

All aboard the TRAIN wreck

here is a clear benefit that can be reaped from “saying what you mean and meaning what you say”. Yet, behavioral studies dictate that only about 18% of the world’s population deal with conflict head-on. As for the remaining percentage, they tend to shy away and tolerate. On that note, the Filipino can give President Rodrigo Duterte a pat on the back for his attitude of utter intolerance. Over and over, he and his government have never shied away from trying to address certain situations. This is evident when he addressed the spread of fake news by assigning Mocha Uson as assistant secretary for the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO). And who would forget how he solved poverty, and every other societal dilemma for that matter, by declaring war on drugs. Oh, how he never shies away. But to make an argument that he belongs to the 18%, to the people who say what they mean and mean what they say, is an injustice. The same can be told about the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law. Republic Act No 10963 or the TRAIN law is the first package of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP) by the Duterte government. It highlights the tax exemptions of people earning up to Php 250,000 annual income, repealing the Php 50,000 of the previous tax scheme. On the surface, this is very alluring especially for the middle class as they are the primary beneficiaries of such reform. But like a soft-boiled egg, it’s all gooey on the inside. Apparently, TRAIN entails price hikes for petroleum, cigarettes, and automobiles. Not only that, the tax reform also adds a subclause for sugar tax, in which sugar sweetened beverage prices rise by Php 6 per liter and Php 12 per liter for caloric and non-caloric sweeteners, and high fructose corn syrup, respectively. While this may not sound alarming to the people, the effect of such new taxes will be dire. When prices of these commodities will rise, the tendency of affected companies will be to pass the burden on to the consumers in which prices even without the tax will be exaggerated. In terms of transportation, one can expect more protests from Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) operators if not given the corresponding hike in fares, not to mention the pressure brought about by the modernization program that requires jeepneys to shift to modern, but more expensive, models. Truly, while the move by the government to reduce the income tax rate is laudable, the poor are likely to suffer the most in the short term. While it can be argued that this is purposed for infrastructure development in the future, who’s to say that this is not just another facade? Would this kind of sacrifice, of marginalizing the poor even more, be worth it for a supposed infrastructure development? Where is Mocha Uson when we need her the most? After all, the logic in this does not require an economist or tax lawyer to be fully understood. The domino effect on the economy is already starting to kick in, with the ceiling of most product prices at an all-time high. Now that the government is gearing towards adding the next few packages of the CTRP, the Filipino can only hope to cope with the impending doom brought about by this TRAIN wreck. There is a clear benefit that can be reaped from “saying what you mean and meaning what you say”. President Duterte’s TRAIN law is the perfect example of saying one thing but meaning another, in which, wholeheartedly, no benefit can be reaped at all

Calvin A. Trilles editor-in-chief River Arliss M. Lontok associate editor Marc Jazer F. Esquerra news editor Sheina Marie I. Borreta features editor Czarrina Dianne L. Hernandez sports editor

staff

Louise Anne M. Santos Kyle Joshua P. Castillo Renzel Gene G. Reyes Kyrien Jewel Janeena L. Tabucan Nicholle Kim T. Fontanilla Pauline Kirby P. Cinco Vincent Andre B. Ramirez Inna Mae Joyce A. Lontok Sophia Catherine G. Reyes

John Ryan S. Sabado

Kristin Clarisse H. Mateo

Keith Marie R. Dela Cruz

Maurine Claire F. Kim

official photographers

Jana Rafaela B. Eusebio Buenaflor Chludel Ann M. Tolentino

Kevin Christian P. Javate

Charlene Samantha Quinlao

Mariel Joy S. Ong

Sophia Lorraine U. Estabaya

graphic and layout artists

staff writers

Prof. Armando J. Aguado adviser The New Builder is published six times annually by Mapúa University. The editorial office is located at the 4th floor, Northwest Building, Mapúa University, Intramuros, Manila City 1002. Phone (02) 247-5000 local 3401 | Email: editor@thenewbuilder.com | Web: www.thenewbuilder.com

Dengvaxia debacle: A Calamitous Overtone “...the most alarming effect of this Let Your Game Speak Calvin A. Trilles

ow ironic is it when something which is envisioned to aid, instead delivers havoc and death? Such is the supposed case of the Dengvaxia Mass Immunization Program of the Department of Health under then secretary Janette Garin. The tally as of this writing by the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) revealed that 19 deaths were now reportedly being studied in relation to the Dengvaxia implementation. But more laboratory tests are required to prove that the vaccine indeed was the cause.

than just of health. The 3.5 billion peso national dengue immunization program was reportedly the subject of corruption. Ex-President Benigno Aquino III was, in fact, invited by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to talk about the hasty purchase of the vaccine in December 2015, while his DOH secretary and former members of the department are continually being hounded for possible connections inside Sanofi. Aside from the investigation for corruption, the controversy highlights the absence of liability of the parties involved. Understandably, the probe has not yet determined the person or group to point the finger to. But given the current situation of the parents whose children were given the vaccine, it would be morally upright if the groups concerned would reach out and offer help. Except right now, Sanofi has refused to financially support the hospitalized vaccinated children.

The alarm was set off when drug manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur found out in a study that Dengvaxia, their own drug, may cause neurotropism, viscerotropism, or severe dengue when administered to children who have not yet contracted dengue. This came after some 840,000 children were vaccinated under the government program. A probe is now underway to determine if the drug indeed has caused the deaths of the 19 children, and whether The French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi, together with the former leadership explained ,“As for the indemnification of DOH should be held liable. fund, there are no safety or quality But more than the deaths itself, the concerns about the Dengvaxia vaccine. implications surrounding the Dengaxia Should there be any case of injury due to fiasco are severely appalling. While the dengue that has been demonstrated by possible adverse effects to the children is credible scientific evidence to be causally the main topic for debate, the issue is more related to vaccination, then we will assume

fiasco is the loss of trust of the people in public health services in general.” responsibility.” But aside from the company, there is no presence of the previous administration reaching out to the inflicted. Whatever effort was done to reason out and deny allegations should have been used to provide help to some 80,000 children, a tenth of the total vaccinated, who are at risk. Among all of these however, the most alarming effect of this fiasco is the loss of trust of the people in public health services in general. While there are already less options for the marginalized in terms of health care, they will find it even harder to accept public health services because of this affair. More and more people will have to choose private or semi-private sectors which would hurt financially, given the cost of professional health care. Or worse, people would simply turn to buying overthe-counter drugs when proper prescribed medication is actually needed. The probe has yet to produce results, hence this Dengvaxia debacle will continue to hound Sanofi Pasteur, the PNoy administration, and the people. It’s a deterrent to the innovative solutions that medical science can provide, and the ability of the government to offer inexpensive and effective healthcare

Professional exploitation Skyclad Observer River Arliss M. Lontok

t the start of this year, Republic Act No. 10912, also known as the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Act, finally took effect for all professionals in the country. This means that to renew one’s license, professionals are now required to undergo a certain number of training units before their license renewal is processed by the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC). The number of units required for renewal varies depending on one’s line of work, from 45 units for engineers and medical professionals, to 120 for accountants.

The CPD Act states that units can be earned either through attending seminars relevant to one’s profession or pursuing an advanced degree. However, each training session costs thousands of pesos, with the number of units that one can earn from these sessions as a participant subject to approval by the CPD Council. As a result, one can spend a lot attending one of these seminars only to receive a measly number of units in return.

“Why must the government force professionals to pay more for a license they already earned as reward for years of hard work?” to believe that Filipino professionals can pay for such exorbitant fees. The reality, however, is more depressing. According to the latest data from PayScale, a salary comparison website, Filipino professionals earn an average of 371,257 pesos annually, which translates to an estimated 31,000 pesos a month. From this data, it should be quite obvious that the average Filipino can ill-afford to spend precious money just to attend random training sessions for license renewal.

This doesn’t even take into consideration the fact that seminar attendees must be able to present a list of participants, In other words, those behind the However, ever since RA 10912 first took otherwise their credited units will be CPD Act appear to be out of touch with effect for certain professions last July, revoked. many have lodged complaints regarding As for the pursuit of an advanced our nation’s economic realities. the law, and for good reason – despite degree, unless one is lucky enough Life-long learning is a value that its good intentions to instill life-long to get a scholarship, this method of learning, the CPD Act is a money-making earning units is expensive, with the price any hardworking professional should scheme in disguise. range for a graduate studies program strive for, lest he be left behind by the In the first place, why must the being around 50,000 – 100,000 pesos. progress of society. However, continuing government force professionals to pay Furthermore, an advanced degree is education shouldn’t come with such a more for a license that they already earned only good for one license renewal. heavy financial burden to our country’s as a reward for years of hard work? Thus, if you finished a graduate studies workers. Instead, what the government program to get the units necessary for After all, a quality college education in your latest renewal, for the renewal and private companies should be doing the Philippines already costs hundreds after that, you would have to get yet is advocating life-long learning without of thousands of pesos. Now, with the another degree simply to meet the turning it into an avenue for greed and introduction of RA 10912, the burden renewal requirements. corruption. By doing this, we can give of license renewal has been added to the ever-growing list of financial woes From the way the prices and our best and brightest the respect that experienced by the Filipino working requirements of the CPD Act was they deserve without subjecting them class. devised, those behind RA 10912 seem to financial exploitation

Issue no. 1

Opinion

Bias animosity for the Goliath

Main Course before Dessert Ephemeral Perpetuity Sheina Marie I. Borreta

e d i a , a s we k now i t , c o nt in io u s t o e xpand i t s ho r i zo n o v e r t h e in t ernet and oft e n ta ke s o v e r t he m i nds an d l i v e s o f p e o p l e . St ori es see n i n a lm o s t e v e ry form of media u s u a ll y rev ol v e ar o u n d t h e p e rs o n al l i v es of pr o mi n e n t p e o p l e . Sel dom do w e s e e v ira l st ori es ab o u t t h e mo re al arm i ng con c er n s a b o u t o u r c ount ry’s we l l b e i ng. Tel e vi s io n p ro gra m s and soc i a l n e t wo rkin g si t es are cu r r e n tly t h e ma in sources of s to r i e s a n d n e ws. T here ar e ti m e s lo t s f or new s pr o g ram s a n d mo s t , i f not al l , ne ws a ge n c ie s a lre ady hav e t h e i r r e s p e c t iv e s o c ial m edi a acc o u n ts t h a t e n a bl e t hem t o b r i n g s t o rie s t o peopl e fas te r . H o w e v e r, t h e probl em li es i n t h e o t h e r prog ram s, ar ti c l es , a n d p o s t s t hat t he me d i a r e le a s e s . Us u a ll y, people di v ert t h e i r att e n t io n f ro m seri ous ma tte r s a n d ch o o s e i nst ead t o en ter t a in t h e m s e l v es w i t h petty te le v is io n s h ow s t hat br i n g the m n o t h in g but ki l i g an d su p e rf ic ia l d ra m a. T here ar e ev e n s p e c ia l t el ev i si on

prog ram s whos e main purpose i s t o s imply dig out t he st ori es abo ut the pe r s onal l i v es of art is tas . This type of soci al me dia te nds to hi g hl i g ht people , fake ne ws , m ake fun of s e r io us is s ue s , and al l t og ethe r , s tray away from rel ev a nt dis c us s ions , m ay i t be abo ut po litic s and t he g ov e r nme nt, o r the Phi l i ppi nes as a whole . How ev er, the me dia is not t he onl y one who is at faul t w hen it c o me s to this di l em m a. The audie nc e l i kew i se pl ay s a majo r r ole si nce i t i s the pe ople who deci de w hat c onte nt will and w i l l not go viral. Sadly, for F i l i pi nos, c his mis and cont rov ersi es ar e mos t like ly t o be shared and pas s e d on t o fri ends, e ithe r thr ough soci al m edi a o r by wo r d o f m out h. T here i s ho ne s tly nothing w rong about e nte r taining one’s sel f on whate ve r the m edi a has t o o ffe r . Howe ve r , one shoul dn’t for ge t about w hat i s m ore s ignific ant. The count ry i s i nvolve d with mo r e t han a handful of pr e s s ing concerns. T he r e is a ple tho ra

“Social media tends to highlight people, fake news, make fun of serious issues, and all together, stray away from relevant discussion.”

o f is s ue s one s ho uld be mo r e foc us e d on. Be ing awar e and we ll-infor me d will he lp one mo r e in the long r un. Pe r haps if mo r e pe o ple tune d in to the e ve ning ne ws , the n the y would be mor e we ll-infor me d abo ut how muc h the pr ic e o f gas o line has r is e n, about the trans po r t s tr ike and why the r e ar e no je e pne ys to r ide on the ir way to wor k, o r abo ut the natio nwide s moking ban. The lis t go e s on and o n. Ente r tainme nt lighte ns o ne ’s moo d, give s one a br e ak, and s ome time s give s o ne a laugh o r two . But we mus t ke e p in mind that whe n we r e ad a ne ws pape r , o r tur n on the te le vis io n o r radio , s c r o ll thr o ugh our Fac e boo k o r Twitte r fe e d, the main pur pos e of me dia is to de live r fac tual and r e le vant ne ws . Ente r tainme nt s ho uld jus t be the de s s e r t o ne ge ts afte r s avor ing, finis hing, and dige s ting the main c o ur s e o f o ur c ountr y’s ne ws and c ur r e nt affair s

Misfiring in the communications department “...the PCOO, in its attempt to cushion the fallout of Extra Muros

Marc Jazer F. Esguerra

andling public relations at the government level is not an easy task. In the dog-eat-dog world of politics, anything a politician says can and will be used against him; say the wrong words, and he may just as well bid goodbye to his chances of getting re-elected in the near future, or if his position does not allow re-election, he may find his legacy tarnished in the flicker of a light. As the de facto propaganda and public relations arm of the President, it is the job of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) to convey the former’s thoughts, words, and actions to the greater public. However, when you have a President running around with a loose mouth, it should make sense that they have to double as crisis managers, considering stopping Duterte from hurling invectives and cuss words for good would be a small miracle on its own. The thing is, the PCOO, in its attempt to cushion the fallout of any of the chief executive’s fiery pronouncements., has instead either added more confusion on top of what he has already said, or one-upped him by committing another blunder. The series of high-profile gaffes during the opening days of the Marawi siege last May, which involved the Philippine News Agency (PNA) using a photo of the Vietnam War and assistant secretary Mocha Uson citing “symbolism” as an excuse for using a picture of Honduran soldiers in one of her posts are just some of the examples in a

any of the chief executive’s spicy pronouncements, has instead either added more confusion on top of what he has already said...”

long list of the communications agency’s blunders committed in the previous year. It was not until late last year that Communications Secretary Martin Andanar assigned Undersecretary Joel Egco to supervise the news agency and formed an editorial board, which fortunately eradicated PNA’s blunders…for now. It’s not just the PCOO that has had trouble in what it is supposed to do. Duterte and some of his cabinet officials have had a history of contradicting each other, considering the former’s tendency to declare high-impact pronouncements apparently without consulting any of his cabinet secretaries. This was the case with National Economic and Development Authority Directorgeneral Ernesto Pernia suddenly being thrust into the spotlight after the nation’s leader decided to reject European Union aid, and with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana having to constantly tone down his boss’ more scathing remarks towards the country’s most recent colonizer and traditional ally, the US. The disarray of the communications apparatus isn’t its only challenge, however. Another thing to note is the agency’s heavy reliance on social media, a platform often touted by administration supporters as a key piece in Duterte’s victory in the recent elections. While social media presents much potential as a marketplace of free ideas, it has also served as a backdrop of increasing political polarization, with politically-aligned pages

running the risk of being reduced to echo chambers conforming to the respective biases of their followers. The proliferation of misinformation in the social media landscape has proved to be another hurdle for the agency, especially with the appointment of the influential, but highly controversial, blogger Mocha Uson as Assistant Secretary in May last year. It also presents another challenge as to how the agency would manage her activities; as the most visible administration supporter in social media, her personal opinions could be easily misconstrued as official positions of the PCOO. It also doesn’t help the agency’s case that her name is practically synonymous with the term “fake news.” In this case, Uson should have at least refrained from posting anything confrontational upon her assumption into office; after all, it reflects badly on the government’s communications apparatus. Of course, communication problems are among the least of the Duterte administration’s concerns, considering it is also facing a slew of more tangible issues such as allegations of human rights violations in the drug war, and its China-friendly foreign policy, to name a few. Likewise, communicating effectively is not the be-all and end-all of good governance; no amount of spin or mental gymnastics can cover up the shortcomings, perceived or otherwise, of our current administration

Antithesis

Norman S. Delos Reyes

“Most folks are ecstatic with initial uprisings of underdogs, yet repeated achievements are given lesser praise and importance.”

t is 2018 already and still, San Beda College continues to dominate the NCAA scene. The Red Lions of Mendiola just earned their tenth championship trophy in 12 consecutive years of Finals appearance. While it is certainly a momentous feat in the league, not everyone a p p r e c i a t e s t h e i r l e g a c y. It may be because some are fans of other teams, but another human trait can make people devalue their dynasty: bias hate on others’ ongoing success.

mistakes are what are highlighted. They even credited his success to his G o d - g i f t e d a t h l e t i c b o d y, his All-Star teammates, and other crazy reasons. But not everyone who has a great physique becomes a f o u r - t i m e M V P. N o t everyone who has reliable teammates can earn three rings. In the end, Lebron still rightfully earned all his accolades fair and square. Such underhanded bias is present not just in the world of sports alone, but even in everyday life. Some students think academic achievers are naturally gifted enough to ace college exams. They don’t realize these topnotchers actually worked hard for such recognitions and not because they have, as some w o u l d s a y, h i g h l y e n l a r g e d brain cells. The common remark “Genius/gifted kasi siya e,” belittles the actual effort performed by these individuals who continue to excel in their respective fields.

Most folks are ecstatic with initial uprisings of underdogs. Ye t , repeated achievements are given lesser praise and importance. In time, the mob will detest the existence of ‘overpowered’ institutions as foul play in the ‘fair’ landscape. As the dominant side continues to rule on top, bitterness will intensify in the hearts of the defeated ones. In some cases, their rivals, instead of looking for ways to rise up, will simply search for means to drag them down. In fact, bashers do not see that the real reason winners continue The worst part in this to be successful is due to mentality is wallowing on consistent hard work and personal weakness and dedication. self-doubt. Some people The scenario is almost will s impl y s e ttle f o r the same for the Red mediocrity in the belief Lions. Their development that they will never be and improvement in the able to reach the top of past decade tilted the the pedestal. Hence, they b a l a n c e s c a l e s t o w a r d begin to limit themselves themselves, leaving old with subpar standards, powerhouses crumbling w h e n a c t u a l l y, i t i s v e r y in the ashes. Casual fans much possible for them to are turning a blind eye achieve greater things in on efforts in dominating the NCAA realm. They life through passion and don’t recognize the sweat perseverance. A warrior and passion exerted by doesn’t become strong everyone in the team just because of natural abilities t o u p h o l d t h e i r l e g a c y. a l o n e , b u t d u e t o t h e b l o o d After all, bearing the Red and sweat he exerts in L i o n n a m e a l o n e d o e s n ’ t training. guarantee a championship In the end, everyone trophy after each season. should learn to stop bias It can also be related animosity on dominating to the hero and villain entities, be it in sports status of Lebron James in or in real life. Learn to t h e N B A c o m m u n i t y. P e o p l e admire and appreciate actually bash him for their greatness, and being an excellent player. They despise his overall acknowledge the fruits of greatness and impact to their labor. After all, if you the league. Instead of his consistently push yourself consistent victories, his to pursue your dreams, you flopping habits and other too can become a Goliath

6 Issue no. 1

Alumni Corner

Inspiring the next generation By Jana Rafaela B. Eusebio & S ophia Catherine G. Reyes

Features

University Voice

What does it take to be a teacher? Prof. Jasmine Nad ja J. Pinugu (SLHS D epar tment of Psychology)

t has always been said that teaching is a noble profession, that it serves humanity and enables societies to become productive and progressive. Educators in the Philippines have always been regarded in high esteem since they are seen to be smart, dedicated, and passionate by the majority of the public. However, not everyone chooses to be a teacher and the teaching profession is often a “by-product” of choice of people who are after security and permanency in their lives. In other countries, people who choose to be teachers often do so because

“A

im to achieve the impossible – that way you will never be afraid to do even the greatest task that this world can offer.”

bring out the best in Mapúans. He added that everyone can learn in innovative ways and bring out the best in themselves.

In 1990, one of the most respected engineers today set foot into the corporate world. Engr. Antonio L. Mateo is an alumnus of Mapúa Institute of Technology, now Mapúa University. To this day he still recalls the grueling challenges he faced during his stay in Mapúa. Sleepless nights were a constant challenge and requirements seemed to pile up to no end. However, through determination, he was able to graduate and prepare himself for the true challenges in life. Passing the government professional examination was a simple chore for him. His experience in surviving the ever-challenging environment of Mapúa geared him towards an easy life in the world of graduate studies.

After serving as a professor in Mapúa, Engr. Mateo was then given the responsibility of being the Vice President for Student Affairs (VPSA), where he trained student leaders from various councils and organizations in Mapúa. In his stint as VPSA, he handled eight different centers, namely, Student Discipline, Student Activities, Scholarships & Financial Assistance, Guidance & Counseling, Student Publications, Career Services, Campus Ministry, and the Student Yearbook. The responsibilities this position placed upon him included working during Sundays, guiding student leaders, and doing community service projects. His time management skills came in handy in such a hectic environment to precisely fulfill all his tasks, both on and off campus. His experience as the VPSA served as an invaluable motivating force in his succeeding career abroad.

Engr. Mateo was able to excel in his field as a licensed Chemical Engineer and Mapúa helped him develop a different outlook about solving various technical dilemmas. It taught him the art of patience and persistence, as For those who aspire to be on he would spend a long amount of time focusing on one problem the same path as him, he wants until a solution was successfully to see them live by the Mapúan principles. He shares that failures formulated. will be part of the journey and His excellence was soon the path will be riddled with repurposed when he was tasked challenges, but if one is easily to share his knowledge and principles on servant-leadership to intimidated by these obstacles, others who soon joined the legion then one is not a true Mapúan. For of Philippine engineers. On this, him, a true Mapúan would have to he imparts, “Discreetly identify the go through the worst of times first academically challenged students before coming into the best. in class, then creatively teach them Encouragingly, he expresses, a difficult engineering principle “I always learned something or technique alongside average meaningful from a road less or above-average performing traveled by many people. I don’t classmates. If these inferior ones suddenly ignite or improve in learn nor enjoy much from taking their performance, then somehow easy routes. Remember, our finest that professor has tapped the moment in life would only happen appropriate voltage or potential after we have gone through a for students to learn more and painful process of finding a better to achieve greater heights in solution to a complicated problem the future.” He remarked that it or a better answer to a difficult was truly a blessing to be able to question.”

of the opportunities associated with the profession; lifelong employment, continuous training, and socialization networks; never mind if some people see it as a “menial” vocation enslaved by lifelong learning. In my experience as an educator, teaching is a difficult lifelong process; oftentimes, there is only a beginning and no end to being a teacher and mentor. We start the profession by review of the knowledge content that was handed down to us by our own mentors. Along the way, we

study the methods, strategies, and approaches that make for effective learning, and toward the end, we empower the younger generation by values orientation and modeling. Being an educator has never been an easy job. Teachers have to be constantly updated with new theories, knowledge frameworks, global and national educational policies, and to be earnest in our honest attempts in reaching out to students and addressing their needs.

To answer the title of this article, I would suggest three simple guidelines to live by:

As a practitioner, we need to be adept in knowledge, research, and ethics. In my opinion, this can be addressed by enrollment to graduate school, where recall is only a minimum skill requirement but moreover, application and analysis of theories, concepts, and frameworks. Graduate students are also exposed to research, where generation of new knowledge and dissemination of such information can be of help to fellow educators and other education stakeholders. Ethics is of utmost importance in the practice; knowledge of right and wrong, our sense of morality, and what laws and ethics say about appropriate behavior dictate the manner by which we practice education.

Challenge and competence. As I had earlier mentioned, being an educator is a lifelong endeavor. We should not rest on our laurels; what we know from twenty years ago is different from what is the truth in these contemporary times. We should push our boundaries and never settle to be in our comfort zones; we need to open our minds to new concepts and ideas; we must pursue training and other professional development opportunities that would benefit our teaching; and we should constantly re-tool and re-calibrate our skills because we owe it to the teaching profession to do so.

Empathy and Respect. We need to understand that we are not the main protagonists in the educational process. For one, there are

our students who are our clientele and, cliché as it may sound, the future of our country. If we expect the best from them, shouldn’t we also be at our best? If we expect them to come to class on time, then we should also come to class on time. If we expect them to do research, then we should do research as well. We should not have the mindset that “we know everything” and that students are “tabula rasa” (clean slate). Learning is a two-way, give and take relationship; they learn from us and we learn from them. We are their mentors, but to guide them in the best possible manner, we should also be at our best and be ready to listen to what they have to say. Then we also have the school administrators who develop policies and ensure that implementation of such will

ensure a smooth learning process. As educators, we also need to acknowledge their leadership and follow their example. They too have a stake in our professional development through scholarship grants, training opportunities, and employment incentives. Thus, we are also duty-bound to compromise with them and establish fruitful partnerships that will not only benefit just one side of the relationship.

At the end of the day, I often ask myself “How did I last long in this profession?” I do not claim to be perfect, far from it. I have experienced walking out of the classroom out of sheer frustration, crying out of anger, being the subject of rumors and ill-wishes, getting bashed in social media, and other negative experiences in my 20+ years of teaching. But I guess what has kept me going is that the positive experiences outweigh the negative; students coming up to me and saying thank you, being greeted on special occasions, recognition by peers and students for good effort and achievements, and just being surrounded by people who have always believed in me, even when I was losing faith in myself. What does it take to be a teacher? A mind that is open to new challenges and experiences, and a heart that embraces the profession and fuels the passion to be a better educator in the years to come. University Voice features article contributions from University administrators, faculty members, and non-teaching personnel. Interested parties may submit their articles for consideration to editor@thenewbuilder.com. Submissions should not exceed 1000 words.

7 Issue no. 1

Features

REBEL The girl who stood her ground on her convictions against societal constructs is what Beverly is best known for. A force to reckon with at the tender age of 19, there is more to her than what meets the eye. Oozing with passion and dedication, she started her journey as an artist way back in grade school.

rt enables mankind to grasp the true essence of existence. It gives justice to the abstract,

bridging the liberty wrought from creativity, and the discipline that is technicality. But most of all, art is a powerful tool for expression. And in the words of famous author Jerzy Kosinski himself,

TREBLE

She loved drawing cartoons as a child, which eventually blossomed into filmmaking. Her competitive spirit was ultimately honed during her teenage years in high school. “Every time na may contest sa school, sali ako nang sali until I realized na sobrang saya ko kahit nakakapagod siya. I told myself na, eto na yun, eto yung gusto kong gawin for the rest of my life, dito ako masaya,” Ramos expressed.

Although not short on looks, her works speak more about who she really is. In fact, she has taken her talent in the arts to incredible heights as she ended 2017 by being shortlisted at the London Labour Film Festival for ‘Dory’, as well as taking home the awards for Best Film Poster, Best Film Teaser, and 2nd Best Festival Film for ‘Laya’ in the recently concluded CineMapúa 2017.

As a student, Ramos is evidently responsible and competitive. Persevering to maintain her scholarship grant, she believes that studying in a prestigious school is already a privilege which she owes greatly to her parents. She doesn’t want to let them down. Self-proclaimed to be brave and bold, she doesn’t care what others think of her as nothing can stop her, given that she doesn’t step on anyone’s toes.

The show didn’t stop there. The relentless Ramos started her new year with a bang by getting hold of the Best Documentary Film and Audience Choice awards for ‘Dory’ at the UP Cinema Piling Obra Vidyo.

“The principle of true art is not to portray, but to evoke”. Being in a technical school, the inclination of most students of Mapúa is to draw in very straight lines, figuratively and literally. We are fed with formulae, of patterns and of convention. But once

While she attracts attention readily for her mystique as a person, she likewise expresses her hunger for unravelling the sensitive through filmmaking and photography. She has made waves in the filmmaking industry by incorporating unconventional story-telling with even more unconventional themes. Her brave unravelling of sensitive themes has continued to separate her from the monotony of the filmmaking world.

in a while, the Gods reach out their hands to us and bless us with people who refuse to be typical, who bid farewell to the ordinary, and who put the contours to our very straight lines. In this rendition of The New Builder’s COED, frolic in the picturesque face of the woman who

REVEL As a filmmaker, Ramos maintains strict leadership. She admits to having inevitable misunderstandings with the production crew, which she doesn’t take personally. At the end of the day, professionalism reigns. With a distinct view and knowledge of the outcome she wants, she has reaped the fruits of her hard work. In terms of inspiration, she looks up to Director Jun Lana, an 11-time Palanca Award winner for literature. She says that his political stand is what she greatly admires. Furthermore, Ramos implied that passion is key in filmmaking. She believes that through passion, one can evoke deep thoughts and emotions of an entire society. When asked about her thoughts on filmmaking as a career and the future of Filipino filmmakers, she closed by saying “Filmmaking is really hard, pero kayanin niyo kasi tayo yung future ng film industry ng bansang ito. Tayo yung pag-asa na mas gumanda at lumalim pa ang pagtingin sa pelikulang Filipino. Huwag kayo matakot na mag-offer ng something new sa audience since eto talaga yung hinahanap-hanap nila sa atin. Create films na may pinaglalaban, binabasag ang stereotypes, ine-empower ang minority, at nagpapaintindi ng mga importanteng issues sa audience. Mahirap, pero kakayanin natin, so laban lang!”

represents the eccentric and the avant-garde --Beverly Ramos.

SAVORING CES 2018: TECH-SAVVIES SATISFIED B Y M A U R I N E C L A I R E F. K I M A N D V I N C E N T A N D R E B . R A M I R E Z

ome 170,000 tech geeks and journalists occupied 2.5 million sq. feet of Las Vegas, Nevada last January 9 -12 to witness tech giants showcase their newest creations in the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES). While most Mapúans are certainly tech enthusiasts, the pace of study ensures that there is no time to attend the event held in Sin City. That’s why The New Builder is here to deliver the juiciest concepts and trends presented in the event, so read on and discover how the future will unfold, tech-wise.

COMFORT ROBOTS

CHILDHOOD FLASHBACK!

Robots are commonly referred to as unfeeling individuals, but Honda and Sproutel aim to remove the connotation with their latest advancements present at CES 2018. Honda flaunted its 3E (Empower, Experience, Empathy) Robotics Concept featuring multiple robots designed for different purposes. Model 3E-B18 is a robotic chair while Model 3E-A18 provides a sense of empathy through its glowing face. Model 3E-C18,

on the other hand, can take care of storage and transport of materials. Continuing with empathetic bots is Sproutel with its My Special Aflac Duck – envisioned as an interactive toy to serve as a companion to children with illnesses. The duck can listen to children’s feelings and respond, easing their anxieties as they go through therapy. Children are expected to receive their Aflac Ducks at no cost by late 2018 to early 2019.

ALEXA TAKING OVER Digital assistant Alexa, developed by Amazon, first arrived in the technology scene in November 2014, encased in the company’s smart speakers termed Echo. Fast forward to January 2018, Alexa is seen to transcend its speaker confinement. Today, tech companies are scrambling to incorporate Alexa into most of their products. Lenovo, HP, Asus, and Acer declared that their new PCs would have Alexa to assist users in

controlling smart devices. Jabra unveiled the Elite 65t headphones with one touch away from the digital assistant. LG and Hisense followed Sony in incorporating Alexa into their new TV models. Ovens and microwaves, fire alarms, bathroom mirrors, cars, baby monitors, and even home theater projectors are ready to evolve with Alexa, and the CES presentations are just a taste of what’s to come.

POWERMAT TAKING INITIATIVE As the world continues to become a fast-paced environment, speed is the key to navigating through everyday life. Technology experts felt it was time for phones to keep up. Thus, Powermat was the first to demo technology that could drastically double wireless charging speeds. Currently, we’re looking at a maximum of 15watt output to wireless charging pods. Soon, the advancement would enable users to charge phones at a maximum of 40 watts. How? By separately charging over the air. It uses radio frequencies to

power up multiple devices in order of your priority, with an app to set the user’s preferences. This means companies are also starting to bring simultaneous over-the-air wireless charging to multiple devices. Although cordless charging has been around for years, it’s struggled with the acceptance of the public. But now, hindrances to a wireless charging world are breaking down rapidly, and advances to the state of wireless charging are bringing us closer to a wire-free charging life we’ve never experienced before.

Game Boy lovers rejoice! Hyperkin revealed their plan to revive, remake and tweak the Game Boy we all once loved. Dubbed as the Ultra Game Boy, the retro gadget will brandish an aluminum casing -- shedding its older plastic casing. A rechargeable 6-hour battery will power the device. Ultra Game Boy will also feature a third dial for adjusting the backlit LCD to

join the volume and contrast dials, audio-out connections, and two stereo speakers. The device is still at developmental stage, but look for your old cartridges or buy new ones ASAP! Prepare for the nostalgia trip before the revamped device hits the shelves later this year.

PHONE-NOTEBOOK UNION BLESSED BY PROJECT LINDA Razer presented a triple-screen gaming laptop last CES, which the tech people thought was impressive enough, but Razer is back on top last year with Project Linda – a dualdisplay notebook powered by a Razer phone. The Razer phone will fit in a gap where the touchpad would usually be, and act as one. It will also serve as a second screen and

system speakers. Meanwhile, the notebook component would be more like an accessory with extra 200GB of storage, extra batteries, and a built-in keyboard for the phone. Still in the developmental phase, Razer’s Project Linda holds a lot of promises and can revolutionize how people use their handhelds and notebooks.

GO FOR AUTOMATED AUTOS Over the past few years, automobiles always seem to steal the show for CES. From technology mods to self-driving cars powered by artificial intelligence, it was all on display and out for the world to feast its eyes on. Overall, the three recurring trends in car tech at CES were driverless cars, cars that connect to pretty much everything, and super-smart new dashboards with entertainment features. Self-sufficient cars were the biggest fad at the automotive section of CES.

Several developers, including Ford, Toyota, Mercedes, and more, had prototype versions of autonomous vehicles on display and were even available for demo rides in controlled environments. Related to the autonomous vehicle trend is the very connected car, which intends to establish faster communication with other vehicles as well as smart city transportation, particularly road-related matters like signs, traffic lights, etc.

VR HYPE COMEBACK Virtual reality headsets are back at it again, and this time they’re a lot better. HTC showed off its Vive Pro, an upgraded version of its first VR headset, inclusive of a higher-resolution display and wireless adapter. That means users will be able to walk around virtual space with no cables inconveniently dangling. Not wanting to hold back, Google and Lenovo are releasing a VR headset

powered by Google’s Daydream VR platform. The Lenovo Mirage Solo will provide HD-quality virtual reality without requiring you to dangerously stick your smartphone in front of your face. Together with an optional Mirage Camera accessory designed to record 3D content, virtual reality is only a few steps away from being another parallel universe.

UNHEEDED BY MAURINE CLAIRE KIM

I savor the night, so bracing and clean. While the moon radiates a silvery sheen. I always feel it that I am simply locked away; There is no escape from this darkness of everyday.

Notice the night, its beautiful smell. I let the moonlight take me over, a hex, a spell.

Issue no. 1

Literary

7 3 0 D AY S

BY SANGUINE SAPIEN

BE MACHINE

I loved him truly for 730 days And he loved me back

BY SPEAKER-TO-ANIMALS

Or that's what he says

The wiring’s gone to hell on this machine Yet, somehow the connections still reach the right ports The output isn’t pristine But it gives results of sorts

To avoid his life being pitch black

It just can’t sometimes it doesn’t It fits then it sits stares blankly no one’s looking Number one two three then there’s two more Who’s into that time you remember?

He was everything I wanted So I did everything to keep him jubilant Yet he has taken me for granted

The single soul I learned to trust, No. It’s forgotten hope for us.

There is no one else to love or hold, Yet now I wait for her world to unfold. To loved and have lost? The pain is much of a cost.

I am an eccentric creature, I do not rest. My fragile heart does not beat within my chest. Now I know a feeling of sorrow and sadness, Replaced the thirst for blood and madness.

I am bloodless, but forever in bloodlust. Take my spirit, instinct ensures I must. But she slips away, like all I have needed. I asked, I prayed, I begged, I pleaded.

The machine’s self-repair protocol kicks in: “It doesn’t seem broken,” it chimes to itself. The machine’s denial parameters are going off. “Re-checking for errors”

When I believed he was my lifelong confidante

I did everything right with him

Terrors that fervor the most delightful shin Cracking on hardwood floors bones protrude That’s rude, he said. Who’s talking? She asked her to tell him.

At least I thought I did But he really had to make my life so dim And made loving him so stupid

The machine is not sentient on most days. It just has fleeting moments of self-awareness. These moments leave itself in a daze Due to the stress of the mess it creates Select all. Backspace. Print. That’s not right. Oh, right right. Oh no, I reforma-

For 730 days I've made myself a fool It’s time to stop and look back Enough is enough with that tool Because that's 730 days of my life I'll never get back

“It reformatted itself this time” That’s the user talking. “The user is saying that” That’s the machine. It’s time again Gan! Gan! Gan! Gan! It’s time to be, Machine Be beep be beep be beep! It’s time to be machine But first…breakfast.

I still go unheeded.

THE UNIVERSE OF US BY THUNDER

From the first day our eyes met, Or the first day our lives crossed in a far corner of the universe, Rush coursing through like a comet, You wave at me as the sun and moon immerse. Out of love and effort, I come to you, Under the rays of sunshine and moonlight, My inner peace transforms from blue, You become both my might and kryptonite.

HE WAS, I AM

BY DISCLOSED PSYCHE He is that spur-of-the-moment Excitement I’ve been missing out of I was that other passing thought He couldn’t care less of He is my rose colored spectacles in this dull world of black and white I was his sepia toned forgotten photo In his world, I was always out of sight He is that shoulder I could never lean on The one person I can never depend on I was there for him when called upon The one person who stayed ‘til dawn

Looming push and pull of asteroids and planets, Over the milky way and galaxies, Viewed as the cosmos in the whole event, Emerging as the great star in the mixes.

He was the plot twist I’ve been asking for But now I know how my story goes I am the person I should love first The girl who has left last year’s shadows

“SOMEDAY”

BY MADDERTHANTHEHATTER Under the setting sun, they watched the marmalade hues of the skies fade into the horizon. He was complaining about the unfairness of life, when another fit of her coughs interrupted him. “Geez, you didn’t take your medication again, did you?” he inquired whilst running soothing gestures over her back. “And I’m guessing your father showered your little brother with praises again?” His brows furrowed over the brutally honest remark, but truth be told, it’s also one of the things he loves the most about her. His silence must’ve lasted longer than usual, for she was about to apologize when the words just came out of his mouth.

BY INFINITE RESIGNATION Shooting stars last for a moment As were your lips touching my cheeks But such is a tender imprint

“Hey... we should definitely get married someday, don’t you agree?” He enclosed her smaller hands with his own, drowning himself in her azure eyes. She chuckled a little. “Where’s this coming from?”

For a while, I was the bright sky However, the only answer she got is the sound of the

Time marched on and the fire grew weak

waves crashing against the cliff. She figured that he

The passion I swore to burn you with

must’ve meant it when he asked, so she averted her

Gone -- extinguished -- replaced by ice

eyes and said,

I exit, numb to your long cries You’re the star that brightened my nights Still, I reached for constellations I needed more to show my might It was like you didn’t exist

“Then maybe... maybe when we’re older.” A decade later, he came back to the same spot. The white veil he held between his fingers fluttered in the wind, much like a forlorn ghost. He placed it over his head, making sure that the faded fabric also draped over the unmarked grave beside him.

Made you sob till suffocation With no fire, I’d find new sparks

Closing his weary eyes, he spoke to her once again,

Move and exercise “single” rights That’s why I left you in the dark

“Hey... let’s get married.”

99 Issue no. 1

Rampage

by Keith Marie R. Dela Cruz

Aureolin Hour. Bathed in aureolin rays, she shined gracefully. In peaceful sunlit moments, a soliloquy: The most silent hour shouts the most beautiful harmony. To women, the time to shine the brightest is when the soul is at peace with thyself.

P O R T R A I T S in LANDSCAPES

by John Ryan S. Sabado

Aureolin lights. Urban lights are your everyday scenic backdrops. They’re pale, indifferent, and unappreciated. They’re us.

by Sophia Lorraine U. Estabaya

Aureolin power. “Yellow is for girls and blue is for boys”. I believe that there is no thick or thin line where boys and girls should stand, we are all capable of doing anything; so long as we set our hearts to it. Masculinity isnt just for boys and sensitivity isn’t labeled for girls only.

1.00

mapua

M apua m a pua

An Ode to Our Varsity Seniors by Czarrina Hernandez, Sheina Borreta, Jazer Esguerra, Vincent Ramirez Lady Cardinals: Spiking through life, digging for a better future

fter years of playing with Mapúa University, Lady Cardinals Niella Ramilo, Dianne Latayan, and team captain Katrina Racelis have reached the last playing year in their collegiate career. Truly, there are the highs and lows of each student-athlete, and the team captain shared her greatest challenge as one --“When I need to motivate myself because sometimes I get afraid and nervous. And of course, being a student-athlete is not that easy because you must both play and study,” Racelis imparted. Racelis shared that giving one’s best brings out one’s success, not just in games but also in life, “I learned that when you give your best in everything you do, you will be happy in the end,” Racelis noted. And as she bids farewell to the university, the former Ms. Cardinals and Lady Cardinals team captain gives her thanks to Mapúa, and leaves her co-studentathletes with these words, “Give your best in everything you do. You need to be patient that you will be successful in time so don’t give up easily.”

Tankers: Swimming against the tide Leinel Co, the sole graduating player from the Tankers, recalled the beginnings of his aquatic journey that started way back in 2nd grade, elementary school. After just one year, his swimming form had already reached competitive level. Although Co stopped swimming for several years after that, he propelled himself back into the pool when he reached 1st year high school. The Civil Engineering graduate swam through the tides during his high school career and followed it with his bold tryouts in Mapúa, which led to an athletic scholarship grant. Gradually, he

regained his form while balancing his studies and his sports. “Yung pinakaimportanteng natutunan ko sa pagiging student athlete ay kung paano mag-manage ng time wisely,” Co shared. With added pressure outside the pool, Co had to set his priorities between studying and swimming, “Bago ako mag-tryout, sinet ko sa isip ko na study first ako,” he said. “Kung hindi ko kaya pagsabayin ang pag-aaral at athletics, mag-stop ako sa pagiging varsity.” His shot at redemption – the most memorable event of his collegiate career – arrived when he participated in the 100-meter butterfly event during NCAA 92. The tanker faced his fear and emerged a stronger person than ever before. Co continued to balance both academics and athletics up to his last year, despite having grueling on-the-job training and thesis writing. He self-practiced at home to compensate for his absence in regular training as it was, according to him, “better than nothing”. His method paid off as he achieved his best time since his 2nd year in high school – 29 seconds in the 50-meter freestyle. “It’s actually somewhat slow, but considering two months of training only, that record is an honor already,” Co said. During graduation rites last November, the student-athlete left these key words for his remaining comrades. “Kung gaanong kaeffort binubuhos mo sa training, doblehin mo sa pag-aaral,” he imparted. It’s now up to his successors whether or not to heed his advice. What matters to him now is treading towards his dream of being a licensed engineer and managing a construction firm.

Woodpushers: King of his own board In the game of chess, the tactician’s fate can only end in victory, in defeat, or at some point, in a stalemate. In the case of recent Woodpusher alumnus Paolo Angelo Garcia, he left the black and white board triumphant and ready for another game called life.

Garcia bid farewell to the University and expressed, “Super thankful ako sa mga taong nakilala at nakasama ko sa stay ko sa Mapúa.” Looking back at all his exploits, Garcia’s first game struck him the most. He remembered the feeling of being a rookie and not wanting to disappoint his coach and teammates. Fortunately, the greenhorn debuted with flying colors as he won against powerhouse San Beda. As a student-athlete, he never failed to recognize the importance of cooperation. The former team skipper remarked, “Teamwork talaga ang pinaka-importante.” He explained that players should trust one another and be confident in each other’s skills to perform effectively as a unit. The Woodpusher alumnus deeply expressed how much he will miss his teammates whom he treasures like his very own brothers and sisters. For his fellow studentathletes he imparts, “Kapag exam, exam lang. Kapag training, training lang,” and continued, “Kahit fastpaced ang Mapúa, KALMA lang.” Garcia expressed how he can easily relate to every Mapúan’s dilemmas. After all, he was once a student who also had his fair share of ups and downs. He reassured everyone though that Mapúa is simply another chess deadlock to be overcome. “Kung kinaya ko, sure akong mas kakayanin nyo.” After serving many years in the University, Garcia exited the tabletop arena with fellow senior player, Christian Dave Cabida.

Cardinals: Hooping for a better future After shooting baskets and spending years training in the gym, two of season 93’s heroes, team captain Andrew Estrella and coskipper Hesed Gabo both relayed their parting messages to the redand-gold community. There’s no denying that the Intramuros-based squad went

through a rocky season, yet they fought against the odds and went home to the Cardinal turf with their heads held high. Through their wins and losses, experience and lessons have always been their prize. For Gabo, the NCAA homecourt game had the largest impact on him throughout his playing years. “Even though we lost, what really mattered to me was that the Mapúa Community, together with our families, were united in supporting us. It’s not every day that we get to experience that, right?” Meanwhile, Estrella likewise expressed his thanks to Mapúa. Known for his exhilarating gameplay, Estrella admitted that the greatest challenge throughout his collegiate career was dribbling between academics, family, and training. The clutch point man also shared what he learned most as a student-athlete, stating “I have learned to be more determined and to be a good sport.” Both seniors extended their gratitude to their teammates, with the unfaltering Gabo having a trip down memory lane on his thankyou list. “First of all, I would like to thank Coach Atoy Co for giving me the opportunity to play for Mapúa; to coach Ed Cordero who never gave up on teaching us basketball and life lessons; and to the other coaches and staff, coach JB Deang and our PT Julius Magaling who made sure that we were always physically in shape.” Gabo likewise expressed his deep appreciation to his mentor since high school and Red Robins head coach Randy Alcantara. “Last but definitely not the least, to coach Randy who never fails to bring the team’s energy up, our optimizer and motivation. Thank you for being my mentor since high school.” As they bid farewell to the red-and-gold community and aim to finish their education in the university, Gabo left a motivational message for the younger players. “Trust the process, always give your 200 percent so that if you

come up short, you still get a hundred. Never give up and continue the bond we started.”

Men Volleyers: Volleyball beyond the spikes and digs Coming off from a recentlyconcluded training session at the gymnasium, seniors Anjo Pertierra, Samyr Navera, and Raven Evangelista chimed in their thoughts on their last playing year. The three of them all agree on one thing – their most memorable moments do not hinge on individual accomplishments, but instead rest on the camaraderie, on and off the court, that had become a fixture on their lives. “Kada problema, kada game, kada pag-eenjoy namin, kada pagsasama-sama namin, lahat ng pinag-gagagawa namin dito sa court na ‘to, sa labas, sa NCAA, sa kahit saan pang liga, yun yung di ko makakalimutan dito,” Navera recalled. “Sacrifices will always pay off,” Pertierra remarked as to the lessons he had learned throughout his Mapúan journey. “One team, one family,” according to him, is and will remain the guiding mantra of the team. Considering the difficulty of the academic side of things at Mapúa, Evangelista imparted the importance of balance and responsibility as a studentathlete, “Hindi mo alam kung anong mangyayari within the day, but you have to plan,” the departing spiker said then added, “Yung struggles, pinush through ko kahit alam ko yung mga consequences, lalo na sa academics at saka sports.” Despite showing renewed intensity, the Cardinals ended the season just one notch short of the Final Four for the second consecutive year. While not having reached their goal in their final year, the three are all set to face and fight new challenges beyond the hardcourt

Tracksters blaze through PATAFA tournament by Sheina Marie I. Borreta and Marc Jazer F. Esguerra

efore pursuing the route to the 93rd season of NCAA this March, the Mapúa University Tracksters proved themselves in the Philippine Sports CommissionPhilippine Athletics Track and Field Association’s (PSC-PATAFA) Weekly Relay held last July to December at the PhilSports Track Oval in Pasig City and De La Salle University-Dasmariñas. Hundreds of athletes from schools all over Luzon participated in the 32nd season of the PSC-PATAFA weekly meet. Young gunners also joined the meet through separate schedules allocated to them by the athletics body.

po is mag-set ng new personal best sa event nila,” Cardinal trackster Wenard Merin said. “Tuluy-tuloy lang po yung training kahit wala si Coach. Kanya-kanya silang trabaho sa part nila,” he continued.

in the boys’ under-18 category. Both Christian Dave Geraldino and John Christian Capasao snatched the gold for the High Jump and Discus Throw, respectively, in the boys’ junior/under-20 category.

Team captain Merin placed 4th for the Discus Throw and 6th for the Javelin Throw in the men’s senior/elite category. The rest of the Tracksters likewise excelled in their respective categories in which they gained places for the finals.

For Schedule B held in the afternoon of the same day, Reymond Alferos in the 400-metre race and Rowel Galvero in the 1500-metre race both clinched the top spot in the men’s senior/elite category. Mark Vincent Ramos landed second in the long jump event under the same category, while Faizal Salasim bagged a bronze for the 400-metre race under the boys’ junior/ under-18 category. Finally, France Patrick Ramos finished third for the pole vaulting event in the boys’ junior/under-20 category.

Divided into three schedules, the following finished in the top three spots in their respective events: For Schedule A held in the morning of December 9, Rowel Galvero snatched the gold for the 500-metres running, while John Paul Sale and Mark Vincent Ramos obtained respective first and second places for the High Jump in the men’s senior/elite category. Faizal Salasim logged third for the 100-metre sprint

The Intramuros-based runners raised the red-and-gold flag in their respected finishes in the tournament despite PATAFA’s switch from a point-based system to a medal tally. “Yung expectation lang

Lastly, for Schedule C held the following morning, Reymond Alferos again bagged another gold, this time for the 200-metre sprint,

MU Tennisers falter in NCAA 93 after preseason success by Sheina Marie I. Borreta and Vincent Andre B. Ramirez

espite a successful preseason stint, the Mapúa Tennisers fell short in keeping their momentum and ended with an 8th place finish in their NCAA season 93 tourney held last January 3 to February 9 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. Injuries struck key players, while other vets were ruled ineligible to play due to a lack of academic units. These misfortunes forced the team to compete with reserves who had a premature taste of the league. “Pinush ko yung mga reserve players namin na mas galingan pa nila, kaso first time pa lang nila sa NCAA, so expected yung nerbyos,” team captain Janeo Sanchez shared. Despite

swinging

their

racquets for season 93 with a depleted lineup, Sanchez and his team took the season on a positive note. “Positive pa rin kami, basta tiwala lang at gawin lang yung best para sa team,” Sanchez said. Sanchez himself was held off through the season with an injury. “Ako na senior nila ang may injury, dapat ako sana ang magbubuhat kasi ako yung inasahan ng coach, kaso di inexpect na ganito pala mangyayari sa akin,” Sanchez explained. On a positive note though, the red-and-gold team had a preseason filled to the brim with accolades obtained from two international events last August 2017. Their back-to-

back international exposure was certainly a boost to the team’s morale, “Pagdating ng local or national tournaments, di na ganun masyado ka-pressured o kabigat maglaro,” Sanchez stated. “Kaya rin pala namin makipagbakbakan at lumalang sa mga ibang lahi o ibang bansa,” he further noted.

Both the men’s and women’s teams were left with holes as four players were unable to enter the final roster and compete this season. This led the Shuttlers to slide further in the ranking ladder of NCAA tournament. Jairus Bobi, Kyle Cayanan, Katrina Canon, and women’s team captain Kyle Acosta, found themselves seated out in season 93 due to their eligibility statuses. Bobi was left on the sidelines because of his absence during the first term of the school year. On the other hand, Cayanan, Acosta, and Canon, were unable to represent the Shuttlers due to their failure to comply with the required academic units. Women’s skipper Acosta explained that an athlete should

“ I t a f f e c t s t h e t e a m ’s performance, because there were some players who were trained for a specific game (singles or doubles),” Acosta said on the implications of the Shuttlers’ troubled status, and added, “If you trained for almost the whole year getting ready as a singles player in the upcoming season, then eligibility term came up and some players were not able to play, masisira yung lineup.” Under the helm of new coach Angel Crisostomo, Acosta bared that they are finally solving the roster puzzle for next year. Coach Crisostomo engaged the Shuttlers

After a series of cancellations within the same month, the weekly relay resumed on November 5 at the PhilSports Track Oval in Pasig City. PATAFA eventually scrapped the semi-finals schedules and instead chose the top eight for track events with distances of 400 meters and below, and the top 16 for running events 800 meters and longer and

Sports Bytes

“Semi-final schedules are omitted to give way to athletes who have not competed due to venue [issues] and long rescheduled dates of our game (sic),” the athletics body announced through its Facebook page. Aside from the weekly meets in the relay, the team likewise trained with their counterparts from the Ateneo, which included a tuneup game against the Katipunanbased Blue Tracksters. According to Merin, the red-and-gold Tracksters have been training with them for the past two years. Determined to chase the gold medal after coming up one notch short for two consecutive seasons, the Tracksters are promising redemption. “We still believe in our motto ‘Be a better you today than yesterday, and to be the best tomorrow’,” Merin concluded

MME takes game 3 for DTC Volleyball crown by Vincent Andre B. Ramirez

by Sheina Marie I. Borreta and Czarrina Dianne L. Hernandez

be able to pass at least 60% of their enrolled units in the eligibility term to be cleared to play for the upcoming NCAA season. Apart from this, the player should be consistently enrolled throughout the whole academic year with eight or more units per term. Failure to comply with the requirements set by the NCAA organizing committee would deem a student-athlete unqualified to play for his alma mater.

The dismantling of tower lights at the PhilSports Track Oval last September led the athletics governing body to move the venue to De La Salle UniversityDasmariñas. Despite the change of venue, which made it more difficult for the Tracksters to participate in DLSU-Dasmariñas, the team was nevertheless able to regain their momentum and end the tourney with their respectable finishes.

for all field events.

Despite their poor showing in the tourney, the team has sworn to bolster their forces for next season. Sanchez shared that incoming freshmen can help them bounce back towards victory. With a younger squad in sight, Sanchez expects a rejuvenated lineup the next time around. “Mas lalo ko iga-guide ang team as a senior sa kanila. We will come back.”

Depleted Shuttlers slip in NCAA standings fter a Final Four finish last year, the Mapúa Shuttlers were left handicapped due to an incomplete lineup in the badminton league of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) 93rd season last September at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

and Chris Paulo Haluber placed third for the shotput under the men’s senior/elite category.

in more organized training yet without losing focus of their academics. “Our new coach deeply encourages us to pursue our studies, but she also never fails to remind us to regularly attend the practice,“ the team captain stated. “She told us to focus on our academics first, then after eligibility term, train rigorously“ Acosta bared how their new coach has been supportive of the Shuttlers inside and outside the court. Coach Crisostomo is also scouting for new players to carry on the torch in the coming years. Having their main problem figured out, the Mapúa Badminton team is all set to avenge themselves in the next season. “We are really sure we are gonna get back if we try hard. Our new coach told us that our attendance in our training and our skills are not the greatest problem,” Acosta vowed to not let their academic qualifications hamper their flight once more in the upcoming competitions

Battle in the Clutch. MME players display their offensive arsenal versus SCEGE in the third and final meeting in the Don Tomas Cup 2018. Photo by Keith Marie R. Dela Cruz

fter an upsetting loss in game 2, the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (MME) bounced back for an explosive Game 3 finish to cap the gold in the Don Tomas Cup Volleyball Tournament 2017.

semifinals for the past three years. “Matagal na naming dream na magchampion,” said Gabriel Joshua Ancheta. “First time naming makapasok sa finals at sakto champion agad,” MME’s outside hitter followed.

The MME Dragons clawed down the School of Civil, Environmental and Geological Engineering (SCEGE), 3-0 in the rubber match, to covet the grand trophy last October 20 at the campus gymnasium.

Ancheta bared that better team chemistry proved to be the main ingredient of their success this year. Setter Paul Aguilan affirmed the statement and shared, “Hindi lang naman kami inside the court magkakasama. Outside the court kami-kami pa rin magkakasama.” Ancheta added that some of their hangouts consisted of “playing the game” or training while having fun, which became a vital component to their triumph.

SCEGE began the assault in the decisive game 3, but failed to keep up the momentum as service errors plagued their rallies. MME capitalized on their opponents’ turnovers and displayed better teamwork to snatch the first two sets. SCEGE, on the verge of defeat, stepped up their game in the third set, but their service woes persisted, allowing MME to sweep the match and take home the chip. MME players relished their hard-earned victory after tasting bitter defeat in the

After their fiery success this year, the North Buildingbased players are eyeing a back-to-back championship. “Yung 3-peat mahirap sabihin kasi marami na rin kaming mawawala, pero yung backto-back kakayanin namin,” Aguilan boldly announced

Hampered today. Hopeful tomorrow.

The Volleyers rally for one another despite a shaky NCAA Season 93 stint. Photo by Manual U. Ribo Jr.

Tempest in 93: Volleyers stymied in NCAA return by Marc Jazer F. Esguerra and Vincent Andre B. Ramirez

o t h t h e m e n ’s a n d women’s teams of the Mapúa University Volleyers made premature exits in the 93rd season of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) as they floundered in the tourney held last January 4 to February 1 at the San Juan Arena.

The Cardinals then returned to form by thrashing the hosts, the San Sebastian CollegeRecoletos (SSC-R) Golden Stags, 3-0. In a show of utter dominance, the Volleyers looked like the team to beat as their offensive repertoire went on full display, with Coach Paul Jan Dolorias at the helm.

Despite fighting tooth and nail throughout the season, the Volleyers settled for identical standings with the previous year, with the male spikers logging 5-4 for fifth place and the Lady Cardinals enduring another winless season at tenth place.

In their next outing, Mapúa showed might against Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) as rising stalwart Mark Jason Egan netted 10 points, and departing spikers Samyr Navera and team captain Anjo Pertierra contributed 11 points apiece in another clean sweep.

Men’s Volleyball: Unfortunate in the clutch

With the Volleyers in high spirits, they handed Jose Rizal University (JRU) a loss before losing to University of Perpetual Help System-DALTA (UPHSD), 1-3. Their 0-3 loss against the College of Saint Benilde (CSB) came two days later, thereby s p o i l i n g t h e i r F i n a l Fo u r aspirations this year.

Undeterred by their loss against Arellano’s opening s a l v o o n t h e f i r s t d ay o f the tournament, the men’s volleyball team stood up and routed neighbors Colegio de San Juan de Letran (CSJL) in a clean sweep and Lyceum of the Women’s volleyball: Philippines University (LPU) Another troubled season three sets to one. However, San Beda University (SBU) After another winless season, later snapped their two-game the Lady Cardinals headed back winning streak in a scrappy to Intramuros still hoping for match-up, 1-3. a brighter future despite a

lackluster run in NCAA season ng good game yung kalaban, ok Malaking tulong sa amin yun. na sa kanya yun.” 93. Nakakatuwa kasi kahit naging Instead of focusing on the ganun yung outcome ng games Katrina Racelis shared a sad sentiment with fellow athletes losses, the Lady Cardinals are namin, andun pa rin sila para Niella Ramilo and Jhan Morano focusing on the silver lining – i-cheer kami,” Racelis said. regarding the outcome of the the lessons for improvement With Pertierra, Navera, season. “Syempre nalulungkot in the future. This year’s finish k a m i k a s i w a l a n a n a m a n emphasized the importance Raven Evangelista, Pipo Lumakaming napanalo this season,” of confidence for Ramilo, who ad, Katrina Racelis and Niella stated that confidence is like a Ramilo all playing on their final referring to their 0-9 record. domino effect. “Pag confident T h e s e a s o n ’s o u t c o m e s ka sa sarili mo, makikita ng year, incoming rookies will have seemed to stem, not from a teammates mo yun and as an big shoes to fill for the following lack of talent, but from the effect, magkakaroon sila ng season. mental aspect of the game. tiwala at confidence din na Despite all the shortcomings, “Hindi naging pareho yung you’re giving it your all,” she t h e Vo l l e y e r s a c k n o w l e d g e mga mindset and attitude explained. what Damian describes as a namin throughout the season,” Seeking Redemption said Ramilo. She added that development in their mentality the team didn’t gel together at After another season of – preferring to fight back even times, thus affecting the team coming up one notch short of in the face of overwhelming chemistry. Cohesion aside, a Final Four slot, the Volleyers o d d s . M e n ’s t e a m c a p t a i n they also pointed to the lack of from the men’s team vow to Anjo Pertierra also cites their guts as a factor for their loss. r e d e e m t h e m s e l v e s i n t h e “Sa una, kakabahan ka tapos following season. “Babawi kami, intensity on the court as the magtutuloy-tuloy, so dapat kasi wala naman ibang way main factor for their victories. sa susunod e lakasan nila kundi pataas lang,” spiker Sam “Nung na-build yung intensity yung loob nila at tumapang Damian explained. [on the court], na-develop lalo sila sa loob ng court,” Racelis On the other hand, women’s yung character ng team namin,” elaborated, addressing her team captain Racelis shared the he remarked during a post-game younger teammates. same sentiments and thanked interview. “Lagi sa amin sinasabi ni t h e M a p ú a n c o m m u n i t y, With renewed vigor and coach na every game ibigay especially the Mapúa Drum yung 100% namin,” Morano Corps for their untiring support. experience gained, the Cardinals revealed. “Kung di man kami “Nagpapasalamat pa rin kami hope to redeem themselves in manalo, basta mabigyan namin sa support na binigay nila. the next season of the NCAA