The New Builder - May 2017 by The New Builder

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The WAY of The MAPú

New programs receive ABET accreditation Story on page 2

Sports

SHS students contend for glory in 1st Intramurals Story on page 12

Throwdown before the showdown. Mapúa’s AI dance group woos an audience of students, faculty and Mr. & Ms. Cardinals candidates during the opening ceremonies of MIT’s 92nd Founding Anniversary. Photo by John Ryan S. Sabado

DROID: Mapúa outlines roadmap to the future

A Digital, Research-Driven, Outcomes-Based, International Domain by Marc Jazer F. Esguerra and Czarrina Dianne L. Hernandez

eading the charge towards infinite possibilities, Mapúa Institute of Technology marked its 92nd founding anniversary by looking ahead towards the future, aptly captured by the celebration’s theme of “Future Mapúa: Paving the way towards a digital, research-driven, outcomesbased, international domain (DROID)”. Hosted by the School of Electrical, Electronics, and Computer Engineering (EECE) under the leadership of its Dean, Engr. Alejandro H. Ballado, Jr., the weeklong celebration presented the beauty, wit, intelligence, and talents of its students and faculty through various festivities held last January 23-28. DROID in action DROID, a term coined by Mapúa’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Reynaldo B. Vea, serves as the Institute’s banner in its continued drive to become a global center of excellence. “We already have a number of achievements to say that we are on track and we have gained traction in the road to becoming DROID,” Vea said. An example of this were the simultaneous virtual

News Feature

classes held on Blackboard Collaborate last November 2016. “We’re the first school in the Philippines to host simultaneous, massive and synchronous classes that involve over 2,000 students,” Vea lauded. Because of this, the Institute is now looking towards the preparation and launch of fully online courses and the roll-out of blended learning to complement the traditional method of classroom delivery. Speaking to the implications this will have on the Institute, Vea emphasized its benefits to the Mapúan community and exposing students to the world. “It behooves the school to employ educational technologies that are appropriate to a generation such as yours.” he said. The Institute also strengthened its focus on research, now having produced more research output year on year. “We had 51 (studies) last year, a significant increase from around 33 of the previous year. So we’re steadily increasing in our research output,” he said. Studies on the Internet of Things (IoT), wherein consumer devices are linked via the Internet to perform specific tasks, have also become a major research area for the faculty, with Mapúa having

begun partnerships with government agencies like the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to engage in joint undertakings around it. Part of the work around DROID has also involved tracking student outcomes with the aim of helping Mapúans become more globally competitive, “It is the point of everything – the students,” he said, then added, “When the learning outcomes are achieved, we can say that you have prepared yourselves for work out there, which is increasingly global in nature.” To achieve this, Mapúa touts its outcomes-based education (OBE) system, an initiative it adopted in 2006 that reinforced Mapúa’s trailblazing status in the Philippine educational landscape. Since the launch of OBE, multiple degree programs have been recognized by international certification bodies to be at par with degrees offered abroad, and just recently three new programs were accredited by ABET – namely, Biological Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Manufacturing Engineering. “ABET has continued the accreditation

of three more programs, making us the Philippine engineering school with the most number of engineering academic programs accredited by ABET,” Vea added. Lastly, with the Mapúa administration cognizant of the fact that next to its faculty, its own students need international exposure to open doors to more opportunities, Vea highlighted the significant number of students who have since gone on international visits and done OJTs abroad, as well as Mapúa’s increased research collaborations with European and Asian institutions. With support from the Institute, numerous Mapúans have undergone their OJTs in the United States of America, Japan, Singapore, Spain, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Iran, China, and South Korea, among others. Acknowledging the challenges faced by these multi-pronged efforts, the Mapúa president called for the participation of the whole Mapúan community in the endeavor, “Unless we do so as an entire community, I don’t think we can really be successful at it. So, participate.” Vea said.

Feature

Cardinal flair and festivities Other week-long activities to highlight MIT’s 92nd foundation week included the Mapúa DROID Conference, which saw various faculty members giving talks on the latest trends in the technology and education spheres, The Cardinal Excellence Awards (TCEA) where members of the Mapúa community who have excelled in various fields were honored, and the Athletics Department’s 3rd fitness fun run. Also held were the traditional Parade of Excellence, the opening ceremonies for the Don Tomas Cup, the Hernando Limsin Lecture Series hosted by the Foundation of Outstanding Mapúans Inc. (FOMI), as well as the Alumni Night organized by the National Association of Mapúa Alumni (NAMA). Various seminars and quiz bees held by the different student organizations and schools also took place during the celebrations, including a Cinemapúa showcase of student-made films, a thanksgiving concert by the Mapúa Cardinal Singers, and a presentation by the Mapúa Tekno Teatro on Gabriel Leyson’s “Triangle”. This year’s event also

had a Mapúa’s Got Talent segment, where the School of Languages, Humanities and Social Sciences (SLHS) was named champion with their DROID-themed blacklight performance. And, once again proving to be one of the Institute’s most anticipated annual events, the MIT gymnasium was jam-packed as 46 candidates represented their respective schools in a night of wit, glamour, and elegance to vie for the Mr. and Ms. Cardinals 2017 title. At the end of the night, Justine Alfonso from the School of Information Technology (SOIT) and Royce Cabrera from the School of Civil, Environmental and Geological Engineering (CEGE) emerged as the winners for the titles of Mr. and Ms. Cardinals 2017. Looking to the future All things taken into consideration, DROID accurately highlights the progressive directions for the Institute moving forward. “DROID puts together the strategic objectives of the Institute, that in the future, we want to be a domain which is digital, research-oriented, outcomesbased and international,” said Vea

Sports Feature

Cupcake’s It’s all about Ate is issue’s slice of life in th COED Feature! Story on page 3

Story on page 6

Story on page 10

2 ISSUE NO. 1

NEWS

MIT opens two new undergrad programs by Rhea Mae B. Jacintos, Inna Mae Joyce A. Lontok, Renzel Gene G. Reyes

eginning academic year 2016-2017, Mapúa will be offering the programs B.S. Entertainment and Multimedia Computing (EMC) and B.S. Physical Education (PE) at the Makati and Intramuros campuses, respectively.

Mapúa holds Fullwave Tech & Startups event by Nicholle Kim T. Fontanilla and Vincent Andre B. Ramirez

s a way of aiding tech-related startup companies, the Mapúa Institute of Technology, in partnership with the STW Family of Companies, held Fullwave Tech & Startups 2016 at the Intramuros campus gymnasium last October 14-15.

and possibilities for human technology. IoT Technology Inc. founder Leo Liro, George Parilla of Intel Philippines, and Dr. Timothy Senathriajah of Nokia Solutions Networks Philippines took the lead in the said confab.

Similarly, a hackathon was also held as part of The event was highlighted the event with the theme by talks and panel discussions “Communications and Social from the different CEOs Media”. According to Jenie and entrepreneurs who Bayog, a member of the Red participated in the event, Wizard Event Management putting focus on the team, the hackathon’s aim emerging concept of the was to have the participants Internet of Things (IoT). Of understand the convergence particular note were the of business and technology. discussions regarding the IoT’s This had participants involved relationship with education, in “creating a program or disruptive technologies, an app that investors might

be interested to invest and continue the app or the program as an incubator business.” Of the 15 teams who underwent the preliminaries, 8 teams moved on to the final pitch. In the end, Haraya won 1st place, whereas Looking4CTO/Angels won the Jury prize. Haraya and Looking4CTO/Angels received US$1500 and US$500 respectively, as well as Google Cardboard VR headsets. According to Nikolay Akatyev, Vice President of Engineering of Horangi, the event allowed budding entrepreneurs in the Institute to gain insights on how and where they should start a

B.S. EMC will be handled by the School of Information Technology (SOIT), while B.S. PE will be under the management of the Department of Physical Education and Athletics. Furthermore, apart from the undergraduate offerings themselves, the two programs will also have specialization tracks, namely Major in Game Development for B.S. EMC and Major in Sports and Wellness Management for B.S. PE.

business. “Find your true interest where you can express genuine passion, then study everything about it,” Akatyev imparted. “But feel a right moment to start without unnecessary delay.” he added.

According to SOIT Dean Prof. Ariel Kelly Balan, the growing need for game developers was the main reason for B.S. EMC’s implementation. As a result, when the Commission of Higher Education (CHED) released the guidelines and With a total of 610 policies last 2014 for B.S. EMC, attendees, 30 startup work began on implementing exhibitors, and 15 hacking the aforementioned program. groups, Bayog highlighted how “It is our obligation, simply both local and international as one of the best technical startup companies came all schools in the country, to open the way to the Institute just this program,” Prof. Balan explained. to take part in the big event. “They’re here to showcase. Prof. Balan further stated They’re here to listen. They’re that the focus of B.S. EMC will here to participate in the talks be on game development. To this end, SOIT has engaged and listen to our speakers,” in collaboration talks with she emphasized

the School of Multimedia and Visual Arts (SMVA). This cooperation will enable the new program to offer 9 programming courses dedicated to the process of creating a game. “We need to develop two components; technical expertise of programming and creativity in order to produce a good game,” Prof. Balan imparted. On the other hand, the drive to attain university status was a factor in the conceptualization of the B.S. PE program. “This new curriculum will be helpful in our objective of attaining university status,” B.S. PE coordinator Prof. Blair Mayorga said. The threeyear program, which will be open to both athletes and non-athletes, will focus on producing professionals in the sports industry, especially in the field of coaching and sports journalism. Both departments also expressed their interest in expanding the new programs and tracks with Master’s degrees in the future, but have decided to focus on the undergraduate degrees for now. “We need to strengthen the foundation first before we start adding additional programs.” Prof. Balan stated. The School of Information Technology and the Department of Physical Education and Athletics are currently accepting applications for the new programs

Mapúa hosts 30th Annual PAPJA Convention

New programs receive ABET accreditation

by Norman S. Delos Reyes and Kyle Joshua P. Castillo

mpowering scientific research and practice in the field of Psychology, MIT led the 30th Annual Convention of the Psychological Association of the Philippines-Junior Affiliates (PAPJA) last January 20-21, 2017. The Mapúa Psychological Society (MPS) organized this year’s conference with the theme “Emphasizing the Importance of Mental Health in the Philippine Society”. As mental health is one of the hot topics in the country today, PAPJA took the initiative in discussing human psychological welfare, and how psychology majors can contribute to the advocacy after they graduate. Several colleges across the nation participated in the convention. These included the Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University Manila, University of Santo Tomas, Far Eastern University, Western Mindanao State University, Saint Dominic College of Asia, Ateneo de Davao University, University of San Agustin- Iloilo, and the Central Philippine University, to name a few. “PAPJA is all about bringing together communities; creating opportunities in fulfilling human potentialities,” said Prof. Jasmine Nadja J. Pinugu, adviser of the MPS and Program Coordinator of the

Department of Psychology under the School of Languages, Humanities, and Social Sciences (SLHS). In the end, PAPJA’s convention served as an avenue for disseminating modern teachings and practices in the psychology field today. Participants engaged in a variety of activities throughout the event, such as workshops, short documentary clips, and quiz bees. 25 of the 150 workshops, attended by 700 students, were conducted in several rooms inside the Mapúa campus. The series of activities enabled PAPJA to promote more scientificallyoriented measures in undertaking the Psychology profession. Moreover, Mapúa’s first hosting of the annual conference helped to highlight the strong emergence of the Institute’s offered Psychology programs. Apart from the traditional engineering and architectural courses MIT is known for, the Institute has been entering related fields of science such as through the AB and BS Psychology programs, which began in 2005. To this end, Prof. Pinugu added,“Using the OBE framework, we instill in our (psychology) students the skills and values necessary to promote advocacies in mental health and holistic human development.”

by Sheina Marie I. Borreta and Kyrien Jewel Janeena L. Tabucan

apúa once again highlighted its commitment to academic excellence by obtaining international accreditations for three more engineering programs from the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET). The programs B.S. Biological Engineering (BE), B.S. Manufacturing Engineering (MfGE), and B.S. Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) received final confirmation of their ABET accreditations last August 18. “ABET is a way for us to prove to the world that our education is at par with what is being provided in other schools, especially abroad,” Prof. Hans Bosshard, ABET coordinator for BS Mechanical Engineering, stated. Power of synergy For the accreditation, the Institute had to

make sure that their offered curricula were in line with global standards. Additionally, they had to prepare for an evaluation by a team from ABET, which was held in November last year. Mapúa President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Reynaldo B. Vea said, “It takes a community to achieve something like this.” Under the leadership of Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Director Cesar Coronado and the various program coordinators for the three aforementioned programs, the assessment and evaluation conducted by ABET resulted to a favorable outcome. “Everybody participated. When the ABET team came over here, they interacted with faculty members, students, the nonteaching staff, officers, and even some of the alumni,” Dr. Vea imparted.

Fruits of accreditation The main benefit that the Institute receives from these accreditations is that they serve as further proof that Mapúa’s educational expertise is at par with international standards. “We’re doing this to broaden study opportunities for our graduates,” Dr. Vea explained. By expanding the academic resources and prestige of the Institute, graduates are given a head start not only for future studies abroad but also in job searches. “Graduates will be very competitive once they look for jobs,” Dr. Lemmuel Tayo, program head for BS Biological Engineering, stated. Even now, Mapúa continues to upgrade the programs that it offers in order to reach farther and greater feats. This is achieved through constant quality improvement and maintenance.

“The Institute is currently upgrading the curriculum and researches in their programs,” Dr. Tayo explained. This constant preparation is the reason Mapúa holds the most number of accredited programs in a single campus in the country. Planning for the future Having already made history by being the first academic institution in Southeast Asia to receive ABET accreditation, Mapúa plans to further broaden its international scope. “When conditions are right and with enough resources, we will go for European Accreditation,” Dr. Vea shared. It is the hope of the Mapúa administration that eventually, a successful European accreditation will even further increase recognition of the Institute’s programs around the world

3 ISSUE NO. 1

NEWS FEATURE

Building the future A

More than a profession F

ccording to Engr. Ericson Dimaunahan of the Physics

or Engr. Balbin of the School of Electrical, Electronics, and Computer Engineering (EECE), the main goal of teaching is not the monetary reward, but in passing on one’s knowledge to the succeeding generations. “Imparting to them my thoughts, my ideas, those are actually what I can consider as things I can actually leave in this world when I’m gone,” he explained.

Department, the essence of this profession is to mold the students to become the best they can be. “Teaching involves imparting character to the students, and not just transferring your knowledge to them. It requires an educator to pour out his soul and well-being to his students,” he

But being an educator isn’t simply about imparting knowledge. Developing students’ characters is also necessary since knowledge must be accompanied by a strong set of ethics. By building up these two aspects, educators can mold students into not only becoming professionals, but also model citizens of this country.

explained. Just as diamonds are only formed under pressure, teachers constantly challenge students through various conceptual and practical problems. By overcoming these problems, students can both excel academically and learn the tricks of the trade in the process.

by Marc Jazer F, Esguerra, Louise Anne M. Santos, and Maria Anne Therese C. Fernandez

Apart from equipping students with the skills they’ll use in their professional lives, Engr. Dimaunahan also stressed that as teachers, they have the unique opportunity to help their students figure out their long-term goals. “They should always be reminded that purpose determines direction in life, and that this purpose is God-given,” he stated.

eaching is a noble calling. It may not be as financially rewarding as other jobs today, but it is a responsibility held by those who wish to enlighten the minds of the next generation. In recognition of this, The New Builder sat down with some of the Institute’s faculty so that they may share their experiences, thoughts, and life lessons on what it means to be an educator.

Mixing work and play

owever, as important as the concept of lifelong learning is, the Institute’s professors are quick to remind their students that academics should not be the sole focus of one’s college life. Apart from studies, students must also learn to socialize well with others, a trait that can only be honed outside of the classroom. “Enjoy college

life. Collect as many memories as possible. Don’t let your college life end only knowing about conventional learning. Aside from academic learning, social learning is also important to everyone,” Engr. Balbin explained. Finally, the professors urged Mapúans to not back down from challenges in their lives, but

Of course, the teacherstudent relationship is a two-way street. It is not enough that the teachers share their knowledge and experience; the students must also reciprocate with their own efforts to create a truly active learning environment. “Be responsible to all your obligations as a student and as a person, and the importance of good communication to express your own ideas,” Prof. Nanette Santos of the School of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry (ChE-CHM) imparted.

instead face them head on, so that they may further grow as individuals. “My philosophy in life is that the hard things we encounter make us stronger and much better persons, so I am always giving challenging problems to students to feel good about themselves and realize their worth as a person,” Prof. Santos remarked

News Bits Mapúan leads PH team to victory in SoKor design bout Faculty members undergo by Kristin Clarisse H. Mateo and Buenaflor Chludel Ann M. Tolentino

nformation and Communication Technologies (ICT) Club President Alec Denji S. Santos bagged 1st place in the 5th World Invention Creativity Contest held in Seoul, South Korea last July. Santos, who competed alongside teammates from his former highschool, the Valenzuela City School of Mathematics and Science, won the Gold Award for the Environment and Biology category and the Excellence Grand Award for their invention, a security system called SecuriTree. “It can detect fire or motion, as well as check if there are signs of a forest fire or illegal logging,”

the young inventor explained. With concerns about widespread deforestation, as well as the Mt. Apo forest fire incident last year, Santos and his team embarked on the creation of the SecuriTree project last June. “Naging factor din sa amin iyong mag-decide na Securitree iyong gawin dahil nagiging widespread na ang deforestation [Widespread deforestation became one of the factors that contributed to our decision to create SecuriTree],” he elaborated. However, Securitree’s success on the international stage was just the beginning. According to Santos, they plan to further improve

their invention in order to overcome its current constraints, one being the limited 10-meter radius coverage. “Now we’re planning to integrate SecuriTree with Raspberry Pi, since for the moment, it is Arduino-based,” Santos stated. Furthermore, since he is the first ICT Club President, he intends to impart his knowledge in the field of robotics through workshops and seminars. Santos also aims for the ICT Club to join various contests in the future. “For projects, the ICT Club can join local or international competitions to allow them to get hands-on experience,” he said

. Mapúa hosts first Foreign Exchange Student program by Jana Rafaela B. Eusebio and Sophia Catherine G. Reyes

apúa Institute of Technology’s Senior High School welcomed two foreign exchange students during the first term of AY2016-2017 as part of the department’s newly initiated SHS foreign exchange student program. Mapúa’s partner institution, AFS Intercultural Programs (Philippines) sent the two exchange students, namely ESPC St. Joseph’s Ashley Antoinette Isabelle Rigaud and Lycée Fulbert’s Cloe Francoise Jocelyne Larbaqui, both of whom hail from France. The aforementioned

company organized the stay of the two exchange students, who promptly thanked Mapúa for its support towards the endeavor.

are glad that we attracted Senior High exchange students as early as the opening of SHS in Mapúa.” she said.

Mapúa initiated its first Student Exchange Program in 2008 particularly with Chung Yuan Christian University (CYCU) in Taiwan for undergraduate programs. Thereafter, AFS opened the idea of having a Senior High School exchange program this year, and MIT SHS’ principal Dr. Dionisia Lanuza said that it was an opportunity not to be missed. “We

The Office of Admissions and International Programs (OAIP) plans to add more partner institutions in the future to create more opportunities for upcoming foreign exchange students. Furthermore, new programs such as the English Camp, Summer Program, and the Leadership and Outreach Program are already being discussed

CHED GE training

by Marc Jazer F. Esguerra and Czarrina Dianne L. Hernandez

ast October, eighteen faculty members underwent training for three weeks in preparation for the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) upcoming rollout of the General Education Curriculum (GEC). “The faculty members were selected based on their specialization, competency to transfer knowledge and ability to train other faculty, and willingness and dedication to professional development programs,” Dr. Jonathan V. Macayan, Dean of the School of Languages, Humanities, and Social Sciences (SLHS), explained. According to Dr. Macayan, one of the key benefits of participation in the CHED GE training is for the Institute to implement an advanced faculty development program to retool professors in the new curricula being rolled out in schools, as well as position Mapúa as a possible host to a national or even regional iteration of a

similar program to train faculty from other Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The training is also inherently useful as those applying for GE faculty positions starting 2018 will need to be a certificate holder indicating a degree of proficiency in the new curriculum. “A new set of GE faculty qualifications will be released - aside from being at least a Master’s degree holder, a certificate of GE Training will be required,” Dr. Macayan stated. The new GEC planned by CHED is set to be rolled out in the year 2018. Eight of the nine GE courses are core subjects, while one dedicated to the life and works of Rizal will remain mandatory. The core subjects will be the following: Understanding the Self, the Contemporary World, Purposive Communication, Art Appreciation, Ethics, Readings in Philippine History, Mathematics in the Modern World, & Science, Technology, and Society

4 ISSUE NO. 1

OPINION

Editorial

The evolution of change

he only thing constant throughout the years is the idea of change. The election of firebrand political leaders both here and abroad, the rise of fake news and social media, and the increasing dangers brought about by the radicalism of religion, are examples of how the world today is far different from the one we had many years ago. Just last year our country became witness to this concept of change, when the electorate voted for a highly polarizing leader, resulting in what evidently became an apparent divide between extreme patriotism on one side, and radical nationalism on the other. Every President has his or her campaign promises to fulfill and specific causes to further. In the case of the incumbent, his promise was a crackdown on crime and an all-out war on drugs. Throughout the campaign season, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte had been brash, unapologetic, and straightforward that if elected, he would wage a war on drugs, and it would be a bloody one. This rhetoric contrasted starkly to the campaigns run by his opponents, who certainly did not leave crime out of the agenda, but were certainly not willing to push the envelope (and language) that far either. The problem of the multi-party system however, is that voters ended up having to choose between five presidential candidates, ensuring that anyone who won would be hard-pressed to get a majority of the votes. And truly, that was what happened – Duterte won with 16,601,997 votes, representing only 39% of the total votes cast for the Presidency. Political pundits, who had previously believed one of the other “safer” and more traditional opponents would win, clearly did not expect that Duterte’s slogan of “Change is coming” would end up resonating strongly with many. And now here we are – almost a year into his presidency, and never has the national news been so pervaded with reports of drug pushers or users getting gunned down, mostly for “resisting arrest”. How much of those were actually genuine cases remains up for debate, but the bottom line remains that many people have ended up dead due to police operations around the drug war. This war, like any other, is not without its unintended victims, and five-year old Danica May Garcia was one of them. She was having lunch with the rest of her family when a gunman opened fire on her house; the bullets were meant for her grandfather, who had recently registered as a drug user under Oplan Tokhang, but instead, ended up hitting Danica in the head, resulting in her eventual death. Another child, Angelika Bonita, was also lost to this war, when gunmen sprayed with bullets the pickup truck she was riding in. As it was with Danica May, the intended target was someone else, in this case the person she was riding with, but she was the one who ended up paying the price. Unfortunately, these are just two examples of the now many stories of “collateral damage” that have come with the drug war. The brazenness of these killings have been perpetuated by the apparent willingness of many in society to tacitly tolerate said killings in exchange for safety and security.

Historepetitious Übermensch John M. S. Pereira

grew up believing that history is supposed to serve as a guide for future generations. It would give us reminders and warnings for future events which seem to emulate past encounters. Based on these past encounters, we learn to make better decisions and altogether avoid conflicts and violent cycles from repeating. Is this not the way it is supposed to be anymore? Has history become irrelevant? Or has it just become a convenient set of references for justifying unnecessary killings? History is written by the victors, then forgotten by their successors – until a time comes that they have to present it before world leaders at a summit. Show the world a massacre that was committed in the past. Tell the people of today that these foreign predecessors were the true immoral animals; what is the point to be made? Is it that these ‘old gangsta’ predecessors are hypocrites? Is it the notion that we deserve to kill our own people because others have done it? If it is a ‘yes’ for both of these, then we are just as hypocritical as these accused foreigners, and we are worse

When we heard the slogan “Change is coming,” many became hopeful that this core message would truly bring about genuine reform in the country. But while there have been some hits – the ending of laglag bala, lower income tax legislation, etc. – there have also been many misses. With five years to go, the question therefore that we all need to be asking ourselves is, how far are we willing to go for change?

staff

John M. S. Pereira editor-in-chief Calvin A. Trilles associate editor Chaos Jeremy C. Pichay managing editor River Arliss M. Lontok news editor Maria Anne Therese C. Fernandez features editor Norman S. Delos Reyes sports editor SHS Staffers: Sophia Catherine G. Reyes Kristin Clarisse H. Mateo Maurine Claire F. Kim Jana Rafaela B. Eusebio Buenaflor Chludel Ann M. Tolentino Aaroh Jon Pichollo Q. Torreses Kin Anthony S. Nocum Charlene Samantha Quinlao Sophia Lorraine U. Estabaya

official photographers: John Ryan S. Sabado Keith Marie R. Dela Cruz graphic artists: Kevin Christian P. Javate Mariel Joy S. Ong staff writers: Louise Anne M. Santos Czarrina Dianne L. Hernandez Marc Jazer F. Esguerra Kyle Joshua P. Castillo Rhea Mae B. Jacintos Renzel Gene G. Reyes Kyrien Jewel Janeena L. Tabucan Nicholle Kim T. Fontanilla Pauline Kirby P. Cinco Vincent Andre B. Ramirez Sheina Marie I. Borreta Inna Mae Joyce A. Lontok Faye Lorelie N. Reyes

Prof. Armando J. Aguado adviser

The New Builder is published six times annually by Mapúa Institute of Technology. The editorial office is located at the 4th floor, Northwest Building. The New Builder is a member of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) TNB (02) 247-5000 loc. 3401

than our previous foreign oppressors who saw us all, without an inkling of empathy, as worse than animals. I do not understand why a reference had to be made to such an inconspicuous event at the 2016 regional summit in Laos where a new leader made his international debut. A more relevant and recent example could easily be made with a certain local dictator who continues to cause controversy even after death. History is also written by survivors, not just victors. That is why we now know of atrocities and massacres that have happened in the past – these things which drown out in all the noise of the whole conflict. Due to the casualties they bring, it is hard to say if anyone really wins a bloody war. This fixation on the necessary killing of drug addicts puzzles me. While we are laughing along with convicted drug lords and laughing at senate hearings on extrajudicial killings, people are being murdered on the streets for doing no wrong to anyone but themselves. Many of these supposed addicts are poor, with many of them frustrated due to their

“...history is being written and rewritten before our very eyes.” economic disposition, and it is this combination that causes a disturbance in stability (it is not the ‘international media’). Truly, it is not just the addict aspect that is the biggest problem. But it is becoming quite obvious that these fools are the scapegoats in a bigger plan. Distract the world with all this drama while the people in power are recalibrated to suit the needs of a red rebirth. I think what people are failing to understand right now is that history is being written and rewritten before our very eyes. Written the way victors do it. Full of alterations (new light on Marcos’ reign), adjustments (removal of online records of the past administration), and unverified sources (three irritating words: Mocha Uson Blog). There is praise for old dictators and their kin, while the miraculous survivors of a quickly forgotten era of pain are insultingly repressed in silence. Pay no heed to the many truths that history has given us, for history is irrelevant as we begin anew. History is irrelevant where morality is too

Who guards the guards? Skyclad Observer River Arliss M. Lontok

he Philippine National Police (PNP) may be effective in rooting out criminality from the streets of the country, but in recent months, it has shown itself to be inept in dispensing justice to its own erring members.

Superintendent Marvin Marcos. Just as in the Jee Ick-joo slay, Marcos and his accomplices have yet to appear in court. In fact, Supt. Marcos has been reinstated by no less than President Duterte himself.

Last January, SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel and seven others were accused of having a hand in the kidnapping of Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo. But instead of being promptly dismissed from service, Sta. Isabel and his cohorts were merely detained at the NBI, or placed under “restrictive custody”. Meanwhile, the probe on the murder continues to move at a snail’s pace with the Department of Justice opting instead to chase after rumors of an alleged Korean mafia.

The coddling of problem cops stands in stark contrast to how criminals are treated in the country nowadays. Day by day, we see grisly images of alleged drug pushers gunned down on the streets, either through legitimate police operations or through the work of unidentified assailants. Even the country’s jails are facing capacity problems due to the large number of arrests that the police have made in recent months.

Let us also not forget the killing of Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. last November, who was gunned down inside his detention cell by members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) led by

The fact that some criminals manage to be given leniency simply because they are police officers is a slap in the face of the Philippine justice system. When the police defend their corrupt members, it damages the

“The guardians of law and order start to seem more like grim reapers...” force’s reputation. By shielding their accused fellows from justice, the PNP is lending credence to the belief that if you are a cop, you can get away with almost anything. And when the police’s reputation is diminished, the guardians of law and order start to seem more like grim reapers in the eyes of the public. As such, the PNP needs to turn the screws on problem cops and make sweeping reforms within their organization. Instead of simply reassigning or detaining officers found to be engaged in illegal activities, the PNP’s officialdom must take off the kid gloves and allow these scalawags to be properly charged and tried in criminal courts. By arresting and dismissing these corrupt officers, the administration can definitively prove that in the Philippines, there is no such thing as selective justice

5 The Weapons/Armor

ISSUE NO. 1

FEATURE

hen one is inside the battlefield, you must not forget your gear! Common weapons include a file case, scientific calculator, bond papers, index cards, and of course, a ballpen! We all need an organizer where we can keep our bond papers and index cards. In a school dominated by future engineers and architects, we need our own scientific calculators to compute, and ballpens to jot down important notes! Nevertheless, a strong willpower and perseverance are essential to your victory!

The Enemy

ith a common foe that is singko, or a failing grade, both batches cling to the hope of killing the enemy. Though we were warned by our ancestors, to see is to believe became our motto. However, even if we don’t make the grade, we keep in mind that failures should not define nor destroy us. Instead, we know that failures should strengthen us.

The Other Allies

The Other Challenge

rofessors from the different college departments also coordinate with the SHS department, enhancing the knowledge of both groups. Though a number of them may be strict, a lot are fun to be with as well. We have grown to observe their medium of instruction, having varying opinions for each professor. We know what to do and what to avoid when in their company.

ost Mapúans are sporty, but in a different context. While athletes like running in marathons, most Mapúans find themselves running out of time. MIT’s college students are no strangers to procrastination and its consequences, especially with Mapúa’s hectic schedule. Some chill for long hours, exploring their social media platforms until the weight of their deadlines slam them in the face. They find themselves cramming, leaving them with only a few hours to spare.

The last minute is legendary among Mapúans, and Senior High School students have learned its significance too. Deadlines in Mapúa usually fall on a certain date with 11:59 pm on its schedule, and even if MIT’s students are given an ample amount of time, the majority of them adapt the moniker “buzzer beater”, passing their homework and other tasks at literally the last minute left. Their internet is what determines their homework’s fate; slow internet means tears, while a speedy internet connection gives way to an adrenaline rush and sparkles in their eyes.

The Focus

Allies in the Battle in Mapua by Jana Rafaela B. Eusebio & Kristin Clarisse H. Mateo

The Travel alking from the drop-off point to the home base on a daily basis is definitely exhausting, but what keeps us going is the idea of arriving at the destination wherein we can harness our skills and be the best version of ourselves. Not to mention the time-consuming travel with the factor of stress due to traffic when you are not housed in a dormitory.

The Amulet

ith lesser extra-curricular activities here in Mapúa because everyone is busy catching up to his or her own deadline and a distinct environment, everything is new to us. From the new people we’ve met, to the new habits that we’ve built up, we always give our best to get our hands on a high grade. We all have one goal in mind – to graduate on time.

We, the Senior High School (SHS) and college students, are cut from the same cloth and blaze with the same will of fire. Although the curriculum of both parties may be at odds, what we undergo in this Institute is what makes us Mapúans. Those experiences are, without a doubt, unforgettable. Here we are naming a few of those that have been experienced by college students for years and by SHS students for months.

n harmony with sleepless nights, Mapúans eagerly indulge in packs of instant coffee for instant refreshment, gaining the fuel which helps them shift into maximum overdrive. Prepped pitchers of coffee eventually replace water, reinforcing the belief that Mapúans are 70% coffee. Coffee is a staple in a Mapúan’s diet, yet because of the water refilling stations around the campus, everyone gets his or her fill of energy-giving water.

The Base or those who are thirsty for knowledge, the library is our haven. We do our research on various topics, read books to become familiar with unusual terms, and study to pass an exam. For those who need a recharge, the canteen is open early in the morning until night falls. Food and drinks that can satisfy your cravings and quench your thirst will always be our buddies.

For those who are fond of sports, the gym, where the varsity players of our school usually practice, invites us to watch them as well. Their determination may even motivate us to excel our next class. For those who just need to kill time, the hallways and vacant classrooms are always available, just be sensitive to students who are passing by!

The Recharge

aking naps in between the day without a proper place to sleep and having abnormal body clocks are pretty much normal for us. We wake at the middle of the night to study in advance, review for an upcoming test, or accomplish the assignments. Because of this sleep cycle, we tend to sleep during the day, calling for naps in the library or classroom.

Another noticeable part of a MIT student’s diet is the infamous Julie’s, which seeks to feed hungry Mapúans for affordable prices. Scholars do abound in this institute and bread from this bakeshop is their on-the-go snack, especially when they are hurrying from one class to another. Various kiosks line the canteen, but some Mapúans prefer venturing around Intramuros, where they get their fill with affordable rice meals from eateries such as Dencio’s, the Walls, and Liempuhan.

If truth be told, SHS and college students are not too far apart as others state they are. We may have different branches, but we come from the same roots. We may have different ambitions, but we possess the same goal. At the end of the day, we are all Mapúans with big dreams so we started here!

“Akala ko ay sabit yun pala ay pasingko” by Niña De Chavez So hindi lahat ng estudyante nakakakuha ng tinatawag naming “Christmas Tres”. Akala ko papasa na ako dahil ginawa ko na lahat but hindi pa rin pala sapat. Halos maiyak ako that time nung nakakuha ako ng singko kasi first time ko nun eh. Ang sakit pala magkaroon ng tumataginting na “5” sa grades mo and our profs are like “may next term pa naman”, and I’m like, hey stop acting like you know my pain, stop acting like you own it. Hindi kayo yung nag effort nang todo and bumagsak pa din. Daniel Padilla ang peg, sad but true. I love Mapúa until the singko broke me down the first time. I was in pain and my profs seemed okay about it and said that everything will be just fine. Alam ko that this will never be easy but I know it’s going to be worth it. Yes there will be times na sobrang dami pinapagawa ng professors to the point na tahimik ka outside but sabog inside, or maybe sabog inside-out. There will be times na hindi ka na makakain and there will be times na gustong-gusto mo na matulog kasi sobrang pagod ka na sa mga nangyayari sa buhay mo sa Mapúa. Pero dapat itatak mo sa puso’t isipan mo na optional lang naman ang buhay. Matutulog ka at makakakuha ka ng singko, or hindi ka matutulog para walang lightning 5 sa grades mo, or yung worst part na ginawa mo na ang lahat pero wala pa din talaga. It’s the worst kind of pain, yung malapit na mag Christmas tapos may makikita kang lightning singko na parang ang sakit ng bawat araw na pinagdadaanan mo. So ayun, wag tayo masyado maniniwala sa Christmas tres na yan because IT’S A TRAP. And ang payo ko lang is that wag tayo mawawalan ng pag-asa kahit sobrang hirap na hirap na tayo sa Mapúa kasi gaya nga ng sinabi ko, magiging worth it lahat ito and think positive lang. Pero huwag naman yung confident tayong papasa tayo, hahaha. Mag-aral din tayo nang mabuti. Minsan naiiisip din natin na grades are just numbers, eh although okay yung good grades but ang mahalaga is that may natutunan ka or natuto ka di ba, kesa naman pumapasa ka nga but wala ka naman natutunan, kasi in the long run, tayo din ang mag susuffer. So ayun, tiwala lang sa sarili and kay God!

Incoherence and other errors in technicality made on purpose by Skert Skert

My first block mate and I took a math subject last Christmas term and our instructor turned out to be one of the most generous professors in the campus. The professor assured us that he would “work” with us for our Christmas gift and so we congratulated each other right there and then. I did well in the long quizzes but my classmate failed ALL the quizzes. Still, we continued to chill because we knew that the instructor was too generous to fail any of his students, especially in the term where it is supposed to rain ‘Christmas Tres’. In the end, I passed but my classmate failed. The experience is the reason why I believe Christmas Tres is just another excuse to be lazy. Diligence is the way to go no matter what time it is in MIT.

Got words of wisdom for your fellow Mapúans? Message us on FB! facebook.com/mapuatnb

Hopeful Tres

by Relb Gonzales

During that term, I was absent the whole first week of classes due to me being on vacation longer than I should have been. When I returned to school in the second week, I already missed the plus points professors give a student when they attend the first day of class. Not only that, but I also missed some assignments and I missed the important lectures that were given in the first week. Being a student who passed all my subjects the previous term without much studying, I did not give much attention on the lessons that I missed and continued not taking my studies seriously. I continued to ignore my professor’s warnings to study harder because I missed the first topics that were needed to be applied on the next topics. The first quiz had been given and I got a failing score of 34 out of a hundred. I told myself that I would do better on the next quizzes to pass, but I also failed the second quiz, before passing the third but then failing the fourth. By that time, I knew that passing will be a very difficult goal to attain. Before our finals exam, my professor gave the whole class the scores needed by each student to be able to pass. The score I needed was 84 points. I tried to study, but playing that time seemed to be enough temptation for me to not study and this became the reason to cram before the day of the exam. The exam seemed to be easy for my classmates. I only needed to get about half of the final score so it seemed easy, and I thought that I would be able to get that score from the “effort points” given by the teachers. So the exam was done, and I was confident that I would pass. When the time to check my score came, I was shocked to see that I only got 74 points, thus giving me a general average of 57 percent for that course. I was nervous because I already told my parents that every subject was taken care of, and that I would pass every subject. So I talked to my professor via Facebook, and he said that there was a removal exam that he would be giving to those who are near the passing mark. I decided to take the removal exam, but I still did not study because I had a classmate there who was smart whom I would be copying from. In the end, I copied my classmate’s answer although not fully trusting that what I copied was correct. Although I was not sure of the answers that I copied, I still felt that I would pass because of the “Christmas Tres” that I kept on hearing about. So the time for grades to be released came and I was devastated to see that I failed in that course. The Christmas tres that I had hoped for was not given to me and my other classmates. Then I found out that what I copied from my classmate during the removals was wrong because the set that was given to me was different from the one given to her. That is why I failed the removals. Everything went south after that; my parents got disappointed and our Christmas was not as fun as it was supposed to be. So I suggest to all those who read this to stop relying on the “Christmas Tres” and start studying NOW!

6 ISSUE NO. 1

FEATURE

Kim e Claire F.

by Maurin

nd sleepless hool work, a sc g in d mental n -e er ms, nev bt , can cause ou d a ut ho it onsecutive exa ,w apúa to be e Mapúan life the halls of M es us ca ce en endeavors; th esperate for occurr rvival, while d l strain . This su a r n fo io g ot in em ht d an ly fig , one student ents ce aseless e bitter trials th ud st ut h ho it w ug ro ed fill , th our campus. tion . However of everyone in a es . il lax re sm t d n ee a sw rest the a , and Justin to bring back : Zuri, Ustin s es ie is m tr t a y n en ll l m te rfu ra ci seve chee delight and ex an known by n he arts with She is a wom a pú a M ll fi te Cupcake . e known to cognition - A re r Yet , the nam he te ens, and to d le for students , that has e on g m a ra kn pa ic n a e is th she reminds e Marasigan her diploma , s sp ra g y Justin Zuriell ll a how one can e fin crumbles , it is eneral. As sh ie g ok in co s e er th m a w dre tter ho t it doesn’t ma the world tha take the he at.

Birth of the Blueberry Cheesecake It was the 3rd of August 1994 when the bouncing bundle of joy that is to be Ate Cupcake came into this world. She grew up with a loving and close-knit family and from time to time, cared for and looked after her younger sister. Hence, her sense of responsibility sprouted at an early age. During her elementary and high school days, Justin decided to bake and sell cookies to her schoolmates both as a pastime and as additional income for her school needs. Justin’s mother was known to be a skilled baker. Fortunately, Justin inherited this skill and it has blessed tense hallways and classrooms with the caressing warmth of her sweets. By watching and helping her mother, she eventually learned the secrets to making the heartwarming desserts that are popular in our campus today. Struggle of the Crinkle At a young age, Justin

quickly discovered that the world is not all frosting and sprinkles. Her OFW father had to stop working because of conflicts in the country where he was residing. This led to financial difficulties and Justin was forced to stop schooling to give way to the other needs of the family. This, however, did not stop her from pursuing her dreams and aspirations. She made it her obligation to provide whatever her family needed, and she did this in the way she knew best – baking. Baking then became a full-time job and her family survived from the profits derived from the sales. Their income relied heavily on their customers’ loyalty and feedback so Justin made sure every batch was of top quality. This became the training ground that allowed her to earn the Mapúan community’s trust, thus making her sweets not only popular, but sought-after. Nudge that made the Chocolate Fudge Justin acquired a love for construction work at

A Mentor’s Drive

by Marc Jazer F. Esguerra

a young age. As a child, hearing the loud noises at the construction sites and seeing the large bars used as foundation tickled her fancy. This resulted to her interest in Construction Engineering and Management, which eventually became her program of choice. However, enrolling in a prestigious school came with a hefty price. Being the breadwinner of the family, she felt that her schooling should not be a burden for her family to bear. “Sa panahong iyon, sinabi ko sa sarili ko na ayaw ko nang tumigil sa pag-aaral, kaya ang goal ko talaga ay kumita nang kumita,” she recalled. So slowly but surely, she managed to provide for both her family and her education through her cupcake sales. Outbreak of the Oreo Cheesecake Strolling down the halls of MIT during her vacant time, Justin’s popularity grew into a successful business. But it was only when someone took notice of her frequent strolls

“I

t’s my passion.” These words describe what drives Engr. Jessie Jaye Balbin to continually educate the Mapúan community on both technical and life lessons for over twenty years. For him, his primary basis of success is being part of as many people’s lives as possible, and teaching at the Institute is his way of doing exactly that.

and published an article on a Facebook page called Mapúan Files that her story became known. As her story went viral, the nickname “Ate Cupcake” came to be, and the trademark “Elijus Cupcakes” was born, a name which was a combination of her own and her sibling Elijah. Her family made sure to support her by helping her bake and package the sweets for the following day. Until today, Justin cannot believe that the confections in her cooler bag led to her success in business. “Hindi siya naging madali, pero worth it,” she assured. Secrets of the Red Velvet “Rest: ito ang nakikita kong kulang sa mga Mapúans,” she stated. Amidst all-nighters and last-minute revisions, Justin reminds us not to forget to take care of ourselves and learn how to separate the wheat from the chaff. “Puro acads na lang, madalas nalilimutan nila i-enjoy ang college life nila,” she expressed. While the cookies and cupcakes rise in the oven, and the Mapúa Judo Club, and hanging out with a tightly-knit barkada.

Justin does not forget to spend time for her other hobbies and interests. Aside from baking and wandering around the campus grounds during her vacant periods, Justin takes the time to enjoy other activities. She considers herself to be a musical person. Aside from having an angelic singing voice, she is familiar with instruments such as the piano, guitar, and flute. She likewise composes songs. Sharing the Happy Cookie Justin’s responsibilities have not stopped her from being the bubbly and charismatic girl we know and love. There is no denying that Justin is the type of person everyone can be friends with. This has become the icing on her cake. With her charisma, she makes friends and attracts customers easily. Although she has numerous friends and acquaintances, she makes sure that every moment she shares with each person is valuable. This maintains the strength of every relationship she has. Aside from this,

discussions inside the classroom, he also extends his teachings outside the classroom’s walls. “My connection with my students Alongside his family, is 24/7. So, anytime, I can teach appreciating his life in Mapúa them anything about life; even and being a scholar during his entire tenure at the Institute gave though we’re not inside Mapúa him enough inspiration to finish anymore,” Balbin stated. his studies in April 1995. The Aside from his usual duties dean at that time immediately as professor, he also spends asked him to teach. By June of time conducting research. the same year, he began his Among Balbin’s recent forays stint at Mapúa as a professor. A into international conferences Engr. Balbin currently handles higher communications year later, he took up a master’s are: a session chair for the 8th degree in ECE, majoring in International Conference on courses in the School of Communications, and graduated Graphic and Image Processing Electrical, Electronics, and cum laude in 1998. (ICGIP) in Tokyo, Japan last Computer Engineering (EECE). October; and presenting papers He considers his being a Mapúan Since then, Balbin has along with others produced an accident, as he originally continued to teach in what he by the EECE faculty at the wanted to take up medicine. describes as “unconventional” 6th Institute of Electrical and He only became aware of the ways. He dedicates 15-20 Institute’s existence when he minutes for discussion about life Electronics Engineers (IEEE) accompanied two of his friends and the things around them, and International Conference on Control Systems, Computing and who were going to take the the rest on the subject matter. Engineering, held last November entrance exam. A year later, “In my class, you will not only a young Jessie took the exam learn about the technical aspect, in Malaysia. He also formed part of the delegation that included himself and subsequently chose you can also learn things about 20 of his thesis advisees at the ECE “without knowing what ECE life and career,” he remarked. is all about.” Highlighting the need for greater Second International Workshop interpersonal interaction among on Pattern Recognition to be held Balbin aimed to balance his in Singapore this May. college life between co-curricular Mapúans, the communications professor noted, “What Mapúans Balbin also participates activities and academics, being need is actually the time for as a licensure examination a student assistant, a scholar, socialization.” coordinator, where he organizes and the president of the Central the intensive review program, Student Council (CSC) during Though admitting that which prepares the would-be the mid-90s. As he adapted to teaching is not the best way to takers of the ECE and ECT board the ways of the Institute, he be financially successful, he learned to enjoy his life here, notes that he is more concerned examinations. joining different organizations about imparting his thoughts When it comes to the current such as the Engineering through and leaving a legacy with generation of Mapúans, Engr. Imagination and Research the students once he is gone. Balbin expressed the importance - Academic Society (EIR-AS) Aside from the 15-20-minute of collecting memories and

Justin describes herself to be the friend in the group who would always comfort anyone who is in need of it. Her Bread and Butter “Si Ate Cupcake ay isang patunay na walang imposible basta ginagawa mo ang lahat para sa mga pangarap mo. Madapa ka man, maraming tutulong sa’yo,” she ensures her fellow Mapúans as she finally ends her college life. Last November 17, 2016, Justin finally got a chance to march up the stage and receive her diploma. Looking back, she remembers all the little things she did that made an immense impact on her journey. Graduation though was not farewell for our Ate Cupcake. Justin could not bear to leave, seeing her alma mater striving without the sweet and calm taste that her sweets have to offer. Thus, she has made it her mission to continue roaming the campus during her free days, not as a student, but as a living legacy of how hard work, dedication, and patience can get you anywhere

enjoying college life. “Don’t let your college life end na ang alam mo lang gumawa ng report, na ang alam mo lang yung conventional na learning. Social learning is also important to everyone,” he imparted. Furthermore, he noted that one life is enough to do everything in this world. “One life is enough, YOLO nga eh, sabi nga nila. One life is enough if you enjoy it,” he remarked, before announcing plans for a doctoral degree and possible establishment of a food business or an engineering consultation firm. Engr. Balbin has a burning passion for teaching that defines him as an educator and as a person. “When you consider one thing as your passion - you are not after money when you are looking at it as a passion, kaya isipin mo 20 years [akong nagtuturo],” the communications professor remarked. He also considers the success of his students to be his greatest achievements. “My greatest achievements in my life are my students who are actually doing big right now,” Balbin proudly stated. Engr. Balbin goes on record to declare that he will not stop teaching even when he retires from professorship. He wishes to be a mentor, believing that he will touch more lives by being one

7 ISSUE NO. 1

FEATURE

The WAY OF The MAPú by Pauline Kirby P. Cinco, Marc Jazer F. Esguerra, Rhea Mae B. Jacintos, Inna Mae Joyce A. Lontok, Faye Lorelie N. Reyes, Sophia Catherine G. Reyes, Louise Anne M. Santos, Buenaflor Chludel Ann M. Tolentino

ifferent people possess different personal philosophies. This may be due to the varied environments in which they were raised, or the circumstances that have transpired in their lives. At certain times, without explanation whatsoever, it may just be their general disposition in life. Be that as it may, Mapúans are no exception. These various philosophies provide the very foundation of the Mapúan lifestyle,

which is why it is imperative that each student is made aware of the things that comprise each of these beliefs, to find out which attitudes are unique to them, and to know how each of them can affect a surviving student of the Institute. Variety is the spice of life, and what Mapúa offers is as spicy as it gets. So ready your synaptic taste buds as The New Builder unravels the depths of various Mapúan philosophies.

Fatalist Mapu

his Mapú believes that he has no control over his future and that everything is bound to happen as fate dictates. Even if he turns the world upside down, if an event is bound to happen, it will happen. Depending on how he views things, this Mapú can either be a logical fatalist or a theological one. According to the logical Fatalist Mapú, being called upon to solve a calculus problem on the whiteboard is an event that was set in

stone an infinite number of terms ago. He further argues that he is powerless to avoid being chosen to solve that particular problem. Therefore, his solution to the calculus problem was not a free action.

being. A perfect example would be retaking a subject with the same professor who had given you the cursed singko just the term before. To sum it up, the singkos, treses, unos, and everything in between, come either as willed by the universe or by an omnipotent being, and the mere mortal Fatalist Mapú has no power over these events. The key here is acceptance; denial would only cause panic and misunderstanding.

As for the theological Fatalist Mapú, he believes he has no control over events and actions as God has already willed such events to happen, provided the premise is that God is both an infallible and an omniscient

Existentialist Mapu

he Existentialist Mapú is an authentic individual who looks for meaning and purpose, despite his perception of an absurd world. Nothing, and yet anything, can give meaning to his personal objectives in life as this Mapú finds self-worth through his own free will. Heck, even a singko can be something that inspires an Existentialist Mapú to

Optimist Mapu

“T

here’s a light at the end of the tunnel”, says the optimist Mapú. This type of Mapú is known for his cheerful personality with a positive exterior as hard as steel. The Optimist Mapú believes that the power of tres is stronger than that of the singko. Despite the pressure, the quarterm system, and the skyrocketing standards of the school, the Optimist Mapú has faith in the quality of education of the Institute and is certain that it will be worth it in the end.

Given his encouraging spirit, one significant feature

of this Mapú is his will to finish the course no matter how small the possibility may be of passing. Hence, dropping courses is not an option for the Optimist Mapú. Got a singko? It’s okay. In time, there will always be windows of opportunities waiting. In this world of “Bagsak ako sa quizzes, GG na,” you can count on the Optimist Mapú to be your thriving voice of hope once he says, “Tiwala lang, may finals pa!” That concludes why everyone looks for that Optimist Mapú who can be the last hope for the dying soul brought about by many years of academic drought.

Confucian Mapu

he Confucian Mapú is portrayed as an individual who sees the positivity in a human being. He deems a human being can be taught, improved, and perfected.

Failure is still a no-no. This type of Mapú will always strive hard to get better results than the previous ones. If he gets a 95% on one quiz, he will work hard to get 100% on the next. Remember, For a Confucian Mapú, the Confucian Mapú believes education is of utmost he can be taught, improved, importance. He will make and perfected. A Confucian sure he learns everything that Mapú will always tread the is taught to him regardless of path of education. whether or not he passes his Generally, a Confucian courses. If he fails, then he Mapú claims education can will accept it wholeheartedly turn any human being into a and positively. The Confucian better one. Education is the Mapú seeks of learning key to being wise. If you are not with numbers but with wise, then you are a good experience. person.

Pragmatic Mapu

his Mapú is the kind of person who always goes into battle with a plan to conquer, although he usually picks a path that ensures his security by avoiding risks. The Pragmatic Mapú is known for practicality and usually tends to be goaloriented while disregarding own ideals and morals just to get the job done.

This type of Mapú strictly learns from his experiences. A full load in the previous term that produces a single singko would mean that the next term should be taken with a lighter load so as to avoid another failing mark. A simple analysis of this would reveal that a lighter load

must be more manageable – the Pragmatic Mapú will not give in to irrational things like willpower and chance. This Mapú tends to drop courses with previously encountered professors whom they have had difficulty dealing with. To this type of Mapú, things don’t have to happen twice or thrice for it to be conceived as a pattern; once is enough. The Pragmatic Mapú’s philosophy relies heavily on his experiences for selfimprovement; he doesn’t mind if the process is normally frowned upon, so long as he gets the results he wants.

Egoistic Mapu

“T

he ego is not the master in its own house” was a quote by Sigmund Freud pertaining to one’s conscious mind that makes each person unique from one another. Philosophically, egoism is an ethical principle in which one does things for one’s own self-interest. The Egoistic Mapú tends to do things that would only benefit himself, and there are two types. The first is what we call the “professor’s pet” or the “Additional Points Hoarder” (APH for short). Students who belong

to this category acquire all additional points given by the professor. Be it recitation or board work, they are ready to raise their hands and take chances at inching farther from the singko and closer towards the tres. The second type is the E.W. or “Egoistic Wapakels”. These are the students who do their homework at the canteen with no regard for hungry Mapúans who need tables. Likewise, they are the ones who block the hallways and stairways while having group discussions.

keep going.

However, there is a dark side to this delicate philosophy. This Mapú can be quite thoughtfully erratic and can also sometimes feel lost during his stay inside the Institute. This Mapú’s existential conflicts often stem from an internal struggle. Consecutive singkos, a scolding in class, or a low

quiz score after a hard night of studying can depress an Existentialist Mapú – and it’s your job to reel them back to the light. It is enlightening to be around an Existentialist Mapú but he can quietly break inside under pressure, so take good care of this type of Mapú.

Cynical Mapu

ynicism is characterized as a general distrust towards other people’s motives (or people in general). This is rooted from the belief that people are normally selfish and dishonest.

The Cynical Mapú usually comes off as a standoffish individual, and may be regarded as both puzzling and irritating at the same time. Establishing connections can prove to be challenging for the Cynical Mapú, as not many people can put up with his unusual wariness. Thus, this type of Mapú tends to be more independent, having only

himself to rely on. While it may not be applicable in all cases, one can spot a Cynical Mapú as the one taking most of the workload when it comes to group activities. He would rather inflict more strain upon himself than allow the possibility of a failing grade due to another student’s irresponsibility. He is also not the type to take it easy, even if he encounters what many would consider as a “sure pass” professor. Initial encounters with a Cynical Mapú can be a bit unsettling, but you are one lucky individual if you can get one to trust you.

Daoist Mapu T his Mapú is always on track. He acts in a way that is likely to achieve what is required. He remains natural, discards selfishness, lives a humble life, and refrains from struggling for material gain. A Daoist Mapú follows his gut feel and trusts his own instincts. This Mapú believes that the first answer is also the last. One must apply the principle of having no

erasures to all things – for such is the natural order of life. There are no second takes (unless you fail the first time) and no dropping of courses. What is given is what will be dealt with in the most natural manner.

Lily

ISSUE NO. 3

by Pauline Kirby P. Cinco

Quite a merry being Came to a sobering view The melancholy that came up roaring Beneath the blissful hue Marks the dawn ending of a lilac silhouette; A call of enigma for unwavering regrets The friends that came by her side Enticed by the so-called heaven sent, A gift of treachery unravelled among them For the alleged lily never thought twice Of what was wrong and what was right The spotless white never gave up her fright, Her heart caged in she couldn’t listen to what’s inside. Truths uncovered, lies came to hover It all came to a view, she had remained untrue. The lily wasn’t chaste; she was just two-faced Thus, confusion laughed as it gleefully reigned. Leaving a stamp on her mind telling her’ it’s okay’, That a damsel like her wasn’t lily white all the way.

LITERARY

F A T A L I T Y by Sheina Marie I. Borreta

I caused my own fatality Be ill with this disease: My self-being, my self-tragedy. In the late hours of the early day I look you up with hopes Quickly turned to dismay, Proving ever so slightly How vulnerable I am To those who torture slyly. I took your place, gave them the cue They put me in chains, Nobody ever knew. It was a painless prick, But it was the needle That ceased my time to tick. A few minutes after, I felt the pain I was glad you never had to face it, But my sacrifice was left in vain. It will permanently be A deed left untold In the course of history. Believe me when I say with all honesty I bit the dust and left the world; I am my own fatality.

MORNING Sun wakes in east Mankind makes a feast Until the light cease Apollo is now at ease

NIGHT

The night has fallen Stars glitter the heaven Dreams are woven Artemis is awaken

GAP

Son of Hades in wrath and anger Whilst the Daughter of Poseidon falters. The gap between grows again further; A glass of friendship shatters. by Faye Lorelie Reyes

on dreaming by Renzel Gene G. Reyes

I don’t dream. Ever since I could remember, the routine has always been the same. I come home tired from all the drudgery. Then a soft calling floats through the bedroom doorway. Slumber asks me to lie with her again. I think: hey, maybe I’ll dream this time around. But once I close my eyes, the next thing I see is the ceiling staring down at me. Sleeping has never been such a bore. Since we’re on the subject, I hope you wouldn’t mind me on giving you a full account of my dreaming habits, or lack thereof. Do not worry. Our conversation wouldn’t have gone anywhere either way. Falling asleep is easy. Every one mostly does it the same way. My body settles into the mattress, the grooves of last night still there. She, the mistress of rest, drags me under the fabric. A burial without death. Soon, my eyelids start to catch up. And I surrender. In this moment, the normal person would have started flying over both familiar and alien cities, or have seen a being so grotesque that they piss the sheets. To me, it’s just darkness. I’ve heard so many stories about the different directions their dreams have taken, yours included. Most have told me about the surreality

and vividness of their dreams. Others have told me their dreams were glimpses into the future. But again, to me, it’s just looking into darkness.

Sometimes, there is a flash of red. Flickering over it are blue and green. Sometimes, they chase each other across the darkness. When they meet, they create new colors and continue to run around. Sometimes, there are brick walls as high as two storeys. Portraits of everyone whom I haven’t met yet are hung on these walls with equal spaces between them. I stare at one girl, a single hair curving between her eyes, thinking how she looks familiar. Sometimes, there is a tall man leading the way. His skin paler than a corpse and has stars trapped in crystal globes as eyes. The man paves the overgrowth into a road in which I follow. We walk until we enter a library. I just stood there behind him and felt my skin melting away. The man slowly turns and tells me: “Rise.” Then I wake up. My eyes are open. The first thing I see is the sunlight, slashed across repeatedly on the ceiling by the blinds, greeting me good morning. I roll to the left and to the right, then I stretch my limbs spread out on the bed. A few minutes will come by before I finally get up on my feet and walk towards the bathroom. In front of the mirror, I ask myself: why do I never dream?

Well, anyway, thanks for listening. I hope I didn’t ruin our conversation. We should do this again sometime

9 ISSUE NO. 3

RAMPAGE

TAP

! T OU

As the golden rays of summer sun set on these testing days, I can't help but feel blessed for having witnessed this beautiful sunset.

"Bumbilya'y patayin at ako'y mapansin " -BITUIN PHOTO BY JOHN RYAN S. SABADO

PHOTO BY SOPHIA LORRAINE U. ESTABAYA

pasture of solitude PHOTO BY CHARLENE QUINLAO

ILLUSTRATION BY RENZEL GENE G. REYES

Despite being under the searing summer heat; the picture I took of Jumbo, who I met at Masasa Beach, kept giving me a 'Winter is Coming' vibe. Thank you, Jumbo, for giving me pleasant chills and something to look forward to in the summer PHOTO BY KEITH MARIE R. DELA CRUZ

10 ISSUE NO. 1

ith the second half of the season down in the archives of sporting history, the whole Mapuan athletic community showcased their red-and-gold performances in this year’s National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) com-

Head Coach: Ian Diamante Team Captain: Noel Laforteza “Familiar stunts, cleaner executions,” Coach Ian Diamante stated when asked about the Cheerping Cards’ playing style for this season. After last season’s mishap, Coach Diamante believes that relatively simpler aerial routines, but with polished finishes, would be more significant in the exhibition. Diamante further

shared, “Almost all NCAA teams can do difficult stunts, so the battle will really be on which school can perform the cleanest and most quality routine.”

today, we really need to guide the younger ones. We need to become role models in terms of discipline and work ethics,” Laforteza affirmed.

In order to achieve a smooth performance, team skipper Noel Laforteza was persistent in leading his crew by example. “Since few seniors are left on the Cheerping Cards

The hard work paid off as the Cheerping Cardinals seized the 2nd runner-up award in this year’s competition held at the Mall of Asia (MOA) arena.

Head Coach: Sean Guevarra Team Captain: Mark Avery Cuyugan After a close silver finish in NCAA 91, the Mapúa Tracksters will be gunning for the biggest prize at stake – the championship trophy. To reach the ultimate goal, three players are expected to lead the squad to victory: Reymond Alferos, Mark Vincent Ramos, and Mark Avery Cuyugan. The monster trio are part of the National Team training pool that wielded the country’s banner in various interna-

tional stints. Aside from the key athletes’ individual strides, Coach Sean Guevarra pointed out that team effort will still be the X-factor in their campaign. “In the past three years, we have been steadily improving from 6th place, to 4th place, and now 2nd. This is the result of our training and humane treatment towards one another,” said the Coach and registered Mechanical

Head Coach: Leo Toyco Team Captain: Hazel Sedenio Settling somewhere Morano and Alissa Mabelow the standings for gallanes, the women’s the last three seasons, the volleyball team nevertheVolleybelles attested the less had a strong buildup strength of their resolve this pre-season, resulting last NCAA Season 92 with to a sixth place finish in renewed gameplay under the 2016 National Intercolsophomore Head Coach legiate Volleyball ChampiLeo Toyco. onship held in Baguio City. Missing the services of graduating players Jhan

Once again, former

Engineer, who also shared his life lessons to the Tracksters on sports and academic balance based on his personal experience. With a collective mindset guiding them, the squad recently retained their silver medal against more competitive challengers. They raked in a total of 537.5 points, far greater than the 407.5 points of bronze winners, College of St. Benilde.

team captain Bea Aquino suited up as the team’s main setter. Together with attackers Jela Peña, Katrina Racelis, and Hazel Sedenio, the Toyco-mentored crew aimed to finish strong and do their best to position themselves at the front of the team standings.

SPORTS FEATURE

petition. From vindictive somersaults to powerful cross-court hits, they concluded the Institute’s journey in Season 92 with a deafening bang. Here are the last six teams that bannered the school’s pride in the latter half of the tournament.

Head Coach: Mario Mia, Jr. Team Captain: Anjo Pertierra With the likes of 2016 National IntercollePhilip Michael Bagagiate Volleyball Champilay, Paul John Cuzon, onship held in Baguio City and Sam Almalel last summer. graduating from the Despite losing some of team, the Volleyers its key players, the Mawere put in a tough rio Mia-mentored squad receiving stance in proved its toughness using NCAA Season 92. the balanced attack of Finishing at 8th seed in the Season 91, the men’s volleyball team showed some signs of life as they notched fourth place in the

team captain Anjo Pertierra and key additions Rey Arth Andaya, Alfred Pagulong, and Mark Egan. The win provided opportunities for the team in

discovering its untapped potential. Carrying the momentum of their pre-season run, the new set of volley muscles improved to 5th seed in the elimination round. They will rally further next time to get the elusive Top Four spot and possibly end the championship drought, which has lasted since 2002.

Head Coach: Antonio Quiza Sr. Team Captain: Kert Bryan Ocampo Fresh off another Malaysian stint, the Mapúa Tennisers capitalized on their international momentum towards an NCAA rapid-fire stretch. MIT’s lawn court heroes primed up for their best overhead slam under the guidance of Coach Antonio Quiza, Sr. and

team captain Kert Bryan Ocampo. “This is my last year so I need to have extra effort for the team,” skipper Ocampo stated on his added fierceness on court. As a veteran player in both domestic and foreign courts, the graduating team captain motivates his teammates to continuously train to improve

Head Coach: Arman B. Esteban Team Captain: Bency Ray Villanueva Revamped and Booters played tune-up renewed, the Mapúa games against UAAP footfootball team exerted ball juggernaut University extra effort to train of Santo Tomas and Don more than ever to Bosco Technical College. improve on their fifth Amidst the competitive place finish in the pre- skirmishes on the field, vious season 91 and the Intramuros-based regain their footing in kickers also had to reseason 92. As prepara- direct their attention to tion for Season 92, the battles in the classrooms

their game. “We should also have self-discipline and always listen to our coach,” he added onto the recipe for the team’s breaking serve. With experience and passion set in play, the Tennisers smashed the opposition in both the Singles and Doubles divisions this season.

as academics brought about concerns with some of the players’ eligibility. Advancing their hopes further in the grassy battlefield, the Booters gallantly pressed towards their goal in the recently concluded NCAA saga.

11 ISSUE NO. 1

SPORTS

Tennisers struggle in NCAA stint, vow to return to form next season T by Rhea Mae B. Jacintos, Faye Lorelie N. Reyes

he table top was not leaning in favour of the Mapúa Institute of Technology’s (MIT) table tennis team as they fell two notches during the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 92 games held at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran (CSJL) gymnasium. The team’s standing dropped from last season’s fifth seed to seventh after their loss to the table tennis team of University of Perpetual Help System DALTA (UPHSD). The women’s team also nursed battle wounds as they succumbed to a 10th place finish. The start of their campaign likewise signalled

a change in command in the group. Newly appointed captain Joshua Magpantay’s tenure was tested early as the absence of his predecessor haunted them offensively.

Magpantay addressed the renovation of the gym that lasted for two months, thereby affecting their training sessions drastically. “Two months kami hindi nakapagtraining nang maayos kasi hindi naman lahat naka-dorm, kaya pag may training kami sa Quezon, hindi sila nakakarating [We weren’t able to train properly for two months because not all of us stay in a dormitory, so when we have our training

sessions in Quezon, not everyone is able to attend.]” Magpantay shared.

In addition to their training dilemma, Magpantay further stated that the players had trouble juggling their team practices and academic commitments. This led to incomplete rosters even during the offseason training. Despite recent setbacks on and off the tables, both the men’s and women’s teams are determined to get out of their season slump. In preparation for the upcoming matches, they are improving their defensive stances through increased training sessions.

Head Coach Reggie Rosales pledged his commitment to train the team twice as hard as before, with more focus on the physical conditioning of each player. He also plans to intensify their implemented regimen in order to make up for the training lost during the gym renovation. Magpantay vowed to the Mapúan community that they will make a comeback next season and reach the Final Four. Along with this firm resolve, he urges the red-andgold crowd to support them further as they rally towards an explosive comeback next year

Female Shuttlers replicate, male Shuttlers slide in NCAA tilt

by Sheina Marie I. Borreta, Kyle Joshua P. Castillo, and Marc Jazer F. Esguerra

he Mapúa Institute of Technology (MIT) women’s badminton team ended their National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 92 stint at a standstill as they retained their fourthplace finish last season. On the other hand, the men’s badminton team struggled and dropped from last year’s fifth seed to seventh this season. Despite the loss of key players and injuries sustained by some team members, the Female Shuttlers were nonetheless able to bag fourth place for the 2nd consecutive year. Dealing with the same lineup

problems, the Male Shuttlers, on the other hand, wavered through the season. “I know we lost a lot of key players but that’s not a hindrance for us to fight for our beloved Mapúa,” reassured Senior Shuttler Jeff Manegdeg, in support of their team. Regardless of the setbacks and changes in the line-up, the chemistry between the teammates continuously prevailed. Kyle Acosta, who played one game despite being sidelined due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) last February, said “Our coach always tells us that, ‘We are a team!’ Basically, it’s all about the teamwork and the cooperation in the

line-up.” According to Coach Jerrwin Aguinaldo, both teams expressed their intent to participate in more tournaments outside the NCAA to gain more exposure and build confidence within the group. A number of players have already started to gain accolades in such events. Women’s team captain Teresa Canon bagged a bronze medal alongside Acosta in the Philippine National Games (PNG). She and fellow Shuttler Denise Estrella also garnered a championship appearance at a charity tournament. For their next NCAA

season, Coach Aguinaldo hopes that players will have their training and academic schedules planned hand-inhand. He said, “The level of competition gets higher every year as the level of academic load also increases for our players. That is why we need them to be more dedicated, hardworking, committed, and well-disciplined studentathletes who can balance sports and academics to be eligible to play.” With a renewed winning mindset, the Shuttlers look forward to taking advantage of the off-season to make a full redemptive stand next year

Woodpushers at a stalemate, team places 6th in NCAA 92

by Nicholle Kim T. Fontanilla and Czarrina Dianne L. Hernandez

laying through checkered battlefields, the Mapúa Woodpushers finished at sixth place with a 3-2-4 win-draw-loss record in the recently concluded NCAA Season 92 Chess Tournament. Although straying slightly from an inspiring start, Head Coach Boyet Tardecilla expressed satisfaction with his team fighting the good fight against highlyrated players from other schools. Despite landing on the bottom seed, the future looks bright for MIT’s chess team as freshman Andres Kasparob bagged a gold medal after a successful run in Board 3 territory. Tardecilla said that it was Kasparob’s perseverance that landed him the gold medal.“He did his best. He did his best talaga,” he emphasized. “Nataon talaga para sa kanya talaga itong season na’to,” Tardecilla added in Filipino. After a satisfactory finish in the 92nd season of NCAA, the Woodpushers look

forward to claiming a higher niche next year with an intact team relying on diligence and perseverance. “I’m not looking for another recruitment to find a new player. Sila na rin, ang laking tiwala ko naman sa kanila [It’ll still be them, I believe in them],” Coach Tardecilla said. To prepare for NCAA 93, the Mapúan board tacticians will be relying on their usual training regimen. “Off-season is this usual ME-PRA-TRA. What is ME-PRA-TRA? It’s meeting, practice and training. ME-PRA-TRA, that’s what we’re doing,” Tardecilla explained. Additionally, team upstart Kasparob will capitalize on his recent accomplishment during the Virac Open Chess Tournament where he and Paolo Garcia competed last December. The team likewise looks forward to partnering with the Chess Federation in order to gain more strategic knowledge, as well as to further their training opportunities.

Flight, no fluke: Cards repeat Final Four feat in NCAA 92

by Norman S. Delos Reyes, Czarina Dianne L. Hernandez, and Vincent Andre B. Ramirez

ast year’s semi-finals stint was no one-hit wonder.

The Mapúa Institute of Technology (MIT) men’s basketball team sent this strong message as they seized a Final Four spot anew in the recently concluded National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Season 92. The Cardinals finished the eliminations with the league’s third-best record at 12-6, fortifying their reputation as one of collegiate basketball’s top juggernauts today. Even with the loss of former King Cardinal Josan Nimes, the Intramurosbased cagers retained their dominant form under the leadership of team captain CJ Isit and the inside prowess of back-to-back MVP Allwell Oraeme. Together with the rest of the team, the frontcourt and backcourt tandem delivered another bronze medal for the second straight year under the tutelage of Head Coach Fortunato ‘Atoy’ Co. Turbulent flight in second round The hopefuls from Intramuros continued to punch their way through Final Four contention during the second phase of eliminations. MIT showcased character and team resiliency to finish the regular season with a 12-6 win-loss card. However, despite

finishing the first round with a win, the Cardinals failed to capitalize on that momentum as they lost against Jose Rizal University (JRU) on a fourth quarter meltdown, 65-60 during the second round. The next two outings went up and down as the red-and-gold squad showed two sides of the coin. MIT went clutch in crunch time to dispose of the LPU Pirates in a seesaw battle, 90-75. However, the San Sebastian College-Recoletos (SSC-R) Golden Stags snatched the victory from the Cardinals with a come-from-behind win, 69-67. In that game, turnovers were the issue for the Intramuros-based squad as they tallied 27 errors compared to SSC-R’s 16 turnovers during the showdown. After a haunting loss against the Stags, the Cardinals staged the comeback for all ages and stunned the top-seed San Beda College (SBC) in overtime, 101-97. Court general Isit poured 8 of his 15 markers in the extra frame and led the team to their first victory against the Red Lions since Season 89. Forward Joseph Eriobu was the unsung hero who led the Cards in regulation and posted a career high of 26 points and 9 rebounds. MIT kept their momentum going en route to another

victory against the Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) Generals, 82-72. They also put an early end to Colegio de San Juan de Letran’s championship reign after slamming the door on their Final Four hopes, 77-72. The Knights kept close and tied the match at 67, but Darell Menina buried back-to-back triples that sparked the 8-0 knockout punch for MIT. Interior powerhouse Allwell Oraeme led Mapúa with his MVP-style stats of 21 points and 26 boards. After dethroning the defending champions, MIT secured their semi-finals ticket at the expense of the College of St. Benilde (CSB) Blazers in an unexpectedly close battle, 69-59. In their pseudo-semis matchup, the Cardinals fell against Arellano University (AU) after a late-game run from Chiefs’ veteran player Donald Gumaru and his dagger threes, 95-82. Mapúa trimmed down the deficit to as close as 75-74 with 6:12 remaining, until Gumaru hit two clutch trifectas, sputtering a 19-1 dominating run of the Chiefs. Despite their losing effort, Isit still garnered a reputable finish of 25 pts, 4 boards and 5 dimes. Capping the eliminations on a high note, the redand-gold team showed resiliency and soared past top

defensive team University of Perpetual Help System DALTA (UPHSD), 67-63. Down by 11 entering the last canto, the Cards shackled the Altas defensively and instigated a 17-2 fourth quarter spurt to eventually notch the victory. Despite facing tidal waves in the eliminations, the kings of Intramuros held their ground at third seed and booked a Final Four showdown against the Arellano Chiefs for a chance at NCAA basketball supremacy. Landing on bronze Amidst a successful run in the eliminations, Mapúa failed to sustain their winning ways as they stumbled in the semis against eventual first runner-up Arellano Chiefs, 92-80. This season’s Most Valuable Player Allwell Oraeme tried to pace the Cardinals with his monstrous output of 20 markers, 24 boards and 4 blocks. However, the Chiefs proved their might as they went to secure the needed win to advance to the anticipated championship bout with San Beda. Playmaker Andrew Estrella also chipped in 15 points and 6 assists as he filled in the shoes of CJ Isit who had to leave the game with a bloody eye injury during the third quarter.

Isit got hit with Dioncee Holts’ right hand during a struggle for the loose ball. The graduating backcourt stalwart concluded his collegiate career with 14 points and 3 assists. Mapúa never got a taste of the lead in the game but kept Arellano within striking distance. The red-and-gold squad gradually clawed down the Chiefs’ lead to six in the fourth canto with an 11-5 run. Cards’ swingman Darrell Menina buried two triples, including the crucial hit that made it 76-70, with still 5:29 left in regulation. However, Zachary Nicholls answered with his own triple to stifle the Cardinals’ late uprising. Mythical Five member Gio Jalalon piled onto the Nicholls spark and nailed 10 points in the last minutes to end Mapúa’s campaign towards the NCAA Finals. Reflections for the next season With the curtains now closed on the Cardinals’ NCAA 92 journey, the Mapúan community will surely miss two of its most prominent cagers in Mapúan basketball in recent years: team captain CJ Isit and hustling forward Joseph Eriobu. “It was a rollercoaster ride,” Eriobu expressed in describing his comeback and playing in his final season.

Proving to be a vital piece in the Cardinals’ championship pursuit this year, the wellrounded forward has now taken his talents to the PBA. After failing to advance past the semi-finals stage, veteran playmaker Isit saw that the team could still grow in maturity - the lack of which clipped the Cardinals’ wings this season. “We fell short in terms of toughness and experience, which really showed in the Final Four as we failed to level up our game,” the Fil-Canadian guard pointed out. Despite the tough season finish, Isit saw great potential in MIT’s future on the hardwood warzone. “I feel Mapúa could be really good next season if they can all get on the same page,” Isit remarked. As they exit the red-andgold dugout, the graduating veterans have parting words for the remaining flock. “Play as a team and defend like you’re defending your own life,” advised Eriobu, highlighting the hand-inhand progress of individual and collective growths. “There’s no real reward in playing safe so be brave enough to dare. Don’t just fly but soar high, and know that God will take care,” Isit encouraged, motivating his teammates to be bold enough to believe in themselves

SPORTS

Clash of colors. Zeinah Al-Saaby (center) rallies on the Light Blue team at the opening ceremonies before they clash with the Reds, Yellows, Navy Blue, Green and Orange teams. Photos by Sophia Estabaya, Charlene Quinlao, and Aaroh Torreses

SHS students contend for glory in 1st Intramurals by Maurine Claire F. Kim, Sophia Catherine G. Reyes, Jana Rafaela B. Eusebio, and Kristin Clarisse H. Mateo

he spirits of fellowship and sportsmanship filled the entire Mapúa Gymnasium as the thrilled Senior High School (SHS) students played with pride and passion in MIT’s inaugural SHS Intramurals.

when my name was announced. Seeing my team happy made me so glad and proud of myself,” she expressed. The light opening ceremony served as the calm before the storm of athletic skirmishes that were to rage on.

The much awaited event kicked off last September 28. Athletes from six different teams, namely Red, Yellow, Green, Navy Blue, Light Blue, and Orange, proudly marched out to the opening ceremony. Following the theme “Sports Builds Character,” the participants vowed to engage in highly competitive yet friendly battles in the athletic field. The event kicked off with a ceremonial competition of muses. Ms. Cardinals 2017 runner up Zeinah Al-Saaby, who represented the Light Blue squad, led the other muses with her charm and wit as she took home the first-ever Ms. Intramurals crown. “I felt overwhelmed

Red dominates basketball hardcourt The six aforementioned teams engaged in a battle of hard-hitting hoops right after the initial ceremony. The SHS cagers battled it out through the elimination phase, which saw the Red and Yellow teams emerge in the final faceoff. The two league leaders faced off in their biggest stage last November 5. The two rugged squads fought evenly in the first half as no one was able to establish a clear advantage. However, the momentum clearly changed in the third canto when Red’s coach, Prof. Tess Magana, entered the gymnasium. Under the wing of Prof. Magana,

they started to click on all cylinders, leaving the Yellow team far behind. The revitalized Red cagers torched their Yellow counterparts and earned the first SHS basketball trophy. According to Earljan Camagong, the Red team’s scoring machine, the secret to their success was all about perfect chemistry in the Finals. “Don’t let your guard down. Lead your team to success. Don’t think about how you’ll score, think about how to win the game. Play as a team. And finally, yet most importantly, pray,” Camagong shared on their winning mantra. Red aces Navy Blue in Volleyball Finals Despite playing continuously under the net, the Red team did not back down in the Volleyball competition last October 19. They mustered their remaining strength to seize the gold medal and outlast Navy Blue in the heated Finals matchup. The Red team escaped

in the first set to within a hair’s breadth with a set point of 26-24. In this crucial moment, they calmly executed their play to gain the first advantage. Not wanting to drag the match further, they went for the kill in the second set, 25-21. The Red team did not waver to pressure and fatigue in eliminating their Navy Blue rivals. Following their maiden victory, team captain Patricia Amber Lamoca expressed their desire to defend the title next year. “We’ll improve our skills and practice more in order to remain champions in the next MIT SHS Intramurals,” she said. Lamoca and the rest of the team are looking forward to battle new challengers the next time. Navy Blue, Red smash forward in Table Tennis The Reds continued their overall domination in the Intramurals as they claimed the throne in Men’s Table Tennis. Adrian Dale Gomez boldly represented his squad by cutting down all his

competitors. He quickly finished them off with his trademark service aces that left his foes in shock. With his lightning quick offense, Gomez was able to gain the top spot in the tournament. Fellow Red team member Chase De Guzman and Joel Romero Jr. from Light Blue garnered the second and third place titles, respectively. Meanwhile, the Navy Blue team sank the opposition under their sea of skill in the Women’s Division. With Gracy Ann L. Rosios in tow, the troop secured 1st place in Table Tennis. She purged the four other competitors with her favorite chop strokes. According to Rosios, her chop style helped her negate the attacking strokes of her rivals, especially in the Finals. Completing the cast was 1st runner up Kathleen Millenne Pelagio (Red team), and 2nd runner up Heidi Ann Sofia Westermann (Yellow team).

Yellow and Red cap championship in Chess In the skirmish of tacticians on the wooden board, two teams emerged at the top. The Yellows captured the crown in the Women’s Division and shared the other gold medal with the Reds in the Men’s category. Silently slaying from afar, Kriszel C. Laranang astonished all her opponents in the Women’s Division. Laranang shared that her key strategy rested in being extra careful in every move. “When I attack, I make sure that I also enhance my defense. This way, my moves serve a dual purpose,” she stated. In the Men’s Division, the Finals match concluded in a stalemate between Ken Robert D. San Juan and Von Philippe S. Valera. After exhausting all their schemes and warriors, they settled for a tie in the endgame with the two masters complementing each other’s skills in the final deadlock.

Sports News

Flight, no fluke: Cards repeat Final Four feat in NCAA 92 Story on page 11

Woodpushers at a stalemate, team places 6th in NCAA 92 Story on page 11

Female Shuttlers replicate, male Shuttlers slide in NCAA tilt Story on page 11