Vol.XXXII Issue No. 12
PRE approved, APP delayed NORSU awaits BOR approval By John Dave V. Laturnas
Negros Or iental State University (NORSU) President Don Vicente C. Real disclosed to TN, Monday, August 18, 2014, the approval of university budget through Program of Receipts and Expenditures (PRE) at Php443,624,381 (based on Estimates of Income for Calendar Year 2014) however, the Php469,758,116.62 Annual Procurement Plan (APP) consolidated by the Bids and Awards Committee for Calendar year 2014, according to him, is still subject for approval of the Board of Regents (BOR). The PRE reflects the university budget for calendar year 2014 at Php443,624,381 based on the estimated income for calendar year 2014. Based on the document provided by Real, the PRE for 2014 was approved by the BOR last June 14, 2014 through BOR Resolution No.24, series of 2013. Meanwhile the university’s proposed APP which amounted up to P469,758,116.62 will be used for the entire procurement activities of the university within year 2014. This consolidates the various Project Procurement Management Plan (PPMP) prepared by the endusers comprising college deans, department and office heads of the whole university system. Before having the proposed procurement, Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) has to endorse the
August 18 - 24, 2014
SGDC-1 resolves SA honorarium delays
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By Dayanara G. Villalon
After a month of waiting, the Student Government of Dumaguete City one (SGDC-1) has finally released the June-July honorarium of the Student Assistants (SAs), August 11. Entailed in the Resolution no. 4, series of 2014 made by the SGDC-1 is the endorsement of the 138 new SAs, with their respective honorarium for the first semester of school year 2014-2015. It was approved by the university administration last August 6. According to SGDC-1 President Rojan Talita, one of the main reasons for the delay is the signatories of the appointed SGDC authorized personnel found in the said resolution. Meanwhile, Talita revealed there is no problem with the SGDC-1 budget which will be the source for the SAs’ salary. “The SAs honorarium is still Php 1,000 with a minimum 50 hours duty per month,” he shared.
Sad reality. The construction and repair of facilities are all temporarily stopped due to delayed APP. (Photos by Kendrex B. Pael)
APP to the Office of the University President that was done on February 18. It was then expected to be approved by the BOR during their scheduled meeting on July 4 in Manila, however, based on the press release report by Juancho Gallarde of The Visayan Daily Star, there was no quorum during the said meeting. In an interview with TN, BAC Secretary Glenn Lumjod said they have done their part for the APP. “Our job in the BAC office is to consolidate and finalize the PPMPs of the end-users and endorse it to the head
of procuring entity [university president],” Lumjod stressed. He continued, “We cannot do anything if the BOR will sign it immediately or not, because it’s them who have the authority as the procuring entity.” When asked about the delay, Real explained, “The university budget was already approved, it won’t happen that it won’t be approved because if so, we wouldn’t be receiving our salaries.” However, he stressed PRE APPROVED, APP... to page 4
SAS speak One of the SAs, Eliesar Calao, said he already expect that there will be delays in releasing their honorarium. “The delay was really like the previously released honorarium, delayed during every first month of the school year,” he said. For a library SA, Jomel Futalan, he is thankful that the honorarium was finally released. He said it would be a great help for him in making his projects and in support for his other expenses. Like Futalan, Maricris Catubig, an SA of the College of Business Administration Dean’s Office, is also grateful. “I believe that the compensation we can get from being an SA is very helpful to us financially, so hopefully we can have it exactly at the accurate time of release,” she said. Moreover, another SA, Keith Turco, expressed, “I just hope that it [honorarium] will not be delayed again.”
CEA-SG installs NORSU System records 18 ceiling fans 14.33 % population increase By Irish Mae S. Cuaresma
The College of Engineering and Architecture–Student Government (CEA-SG) has installed 18 units of ceiling fans on July 22-23 to provide good ventilation for the college. Taken from last school year’s fund, CEA-SG was able to purchase 18 units of fans amounting to Php33,390. Added with the expenses for the facility installation, the project has amounted to Php39,756.75.
A Mechanical Engineering student installs new ceiling fan with the assisstance of their college governor Mansueto (left) and another student. (Photo by Mayette Hanna F. Diez)
“This is my first project so far, as the SG governor of our college,” CEA-SG Governor Rojane Mansueto said. He said he chose to have the said project because it is affordable and would surely benefit both faculty and students. For his future projects, Mansueto revealed one of his target plans. He said they [SG] wish to secure recreational facilities for the students. “Hopefully, we could provide game boards like chess boards, table tennis and recreational instruments like guitar, beat box, etc. In this way, I believe we would be able to enhance the skills of those interested engineering and architecture students here in our college,” he said. CEA-SG Treasurer Gladys Marie Morales said, “With the help of the ceiling fans, students could finally focus with the lectures of their respective instructors.” Morales’ view was seconded by Roxanne Marie Madrigal, a Civil Engineering student, she said, “I am so thankful because the classrooms are now comfortable to stay thus we could finally study well.” Moreover, a first year Geodetic Engineering student, Alexa Torino, is also glad with the presence of the new ceiling fans. She stressed, “The ideal room to study in is the one with good ventilation.”
By Niña Marie T. Pino
N e g r o s O r i e n ta l State University (NORSU) System recorded a remarkable population increase of 14.33 percent this school year. In the data released by the Office of the University Registrar, NORSU system is currently accommodating 24,980 students this school year, much higher compared to last school year’s population of 21, 849. Comprising the total population of the whole NORSU system are the populations of two main campuses and six satellite campuses. NORSU-Mabinay Campus recorded the biggest population increase of 18.94 percent having 766 students. NORSU-Main Campuses one and two gained a 15.07 percent increase with a total population of 12,126. NORSU-Bais Campuses one and two, on the other hand, registered 11.89 percent and 14.21 percent increase with 1,412 and 2,042 number of students, respectively. Moreover, NORSUGuihulngan Campus’ population increased at 14.20 percent with 2,549 enrolees and NORSUBayawan-Sta. Catalina Campus’
Crowded. Norsunians walk elbow-to-elbow as they exit the university gymnasium. (Photo by Kendrex B. Pael)
population reached up to 13.57 percent with 4,385 students. Having only 11.55 percentage increase, was NORSU-Siaton Campus with 1,700 students this school year. Main Campuses population In the given data, College of Business Administration dominated the Main Campuses as its population reached up to 3,129. Next was the College of Industrial Technology having 1,899 and the College of Arts and Sciences with 1,720.
Meanwhile, College of Education reported a total population of 1,694. College of Engineering and Architecture and the College of Criminal Justice Education registered with 1,115 and 885 students, respectively. College of Nursing, Dentistry, Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences has 598 students and College of Agriculture and Forestry has 562. In addition, Graduate School and College of Law recorded 468 and 56 number of enrolees, respectively. NORSU System records... to page 4
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Vol.XXXII Issue No. 12
August 18 - 24, 2014
Vol.XXXII Issue No. 12
August 18- 24, 2014
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Hope The school year 2014-2015 is yet another ladder for Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) to move a step towards development and advancement. But how would the university climb up if it lacks resources in sustaining its plans and projects? Our university is now facing a great dilemma on the delayed approval of the Annual Procurement Plan or APP. Indeed, several reasons were plotted but before tackling it, let us first define what APP is. APP is a document reflecting the Project Procurement Management Plans (PPMPs) prepared by the end-users including the deans, department heads and office heads. For 2014, the proposed APP has reached up to Php469,758,116.62, a big amount that needs serious and series of discussions by the Board of Regents. What made the APP delayed? The university president claimed it was because only one third of the APP content was discussed on the BOR meeting last April 2, 2014. Thus, two thirds of the content is still to be discussed. He added that another reason for the delay was because of the late APP endorsement of one of the satellite campuses. In connection with this, another BOR member, opined that there could have been possible progress on the deliberation of the APP if only more members were present during the BOR meeting last July 4. Whatever was the reason or reasons for the delay, let us not talk about it anymore. To blame, is to waste time. Searching for the real culprit won’t change the fact that the construction of infrastructures here in our university is still temporarily stopped; many plans and projects are still postponed. Perhaps, at this point, it is our conscience which will awake and direct us to the reality of the current situations in our university. And as concerned Norsunians, the best thing we could do is to lift it up to the One above, that sooner or later, our aim and hope for development in NORSU through APP, will be granted.
Editor-in-Chief Joeylen A. de la Cruz Associate Editor Ariel B. Dizon News Editor Mary Grace G. Bornales Features Editor Kleine Jun B. Ontolan Arts and Graphics Unit Head Angelo K. Sastre Senior Reporters
Dayanara G. Villalon Kimberly Rose E. Lumaya • Meljean Dela Peña Feature Writers
Niña Marie T. Pino • Everon Joy P. Catanus Cartoonists
Karlo Billy S. Rubia • Joleos June S. Vegare Layout Artist
Alyana Wilma C. Molinos • Froiland D. Liu Photojournalists
Kendrex B. Pael Kent S. Mapula • Mayette Hanna F. Diez Webpage Developer
Jergo T. Acido Business Manager Marve G. Fabela Assistant Business Manager Princess D. Ebo Staff Secretary Richel Mae S. Dennison Circulation Manager Dennis M. Ybañez
Adviser Joy G. Perez, Ph.D. Contributions, comments, and letters are most welcomed. Articles must be typewritten or computer encoded, doublespaced and with sender’s full name and signature.
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Why NSF exists? My humble request to our valued readers, please spare this paper from professional way of critiquing. Remember, we’re just common students writing also for common Norsunians. Let me just clarify things out with full honesty and no sense of secrecy in this article. Perhaps, as you go along, you might find this too biased for the part of the NSF but I assure you that truth really shall prevail. NORSU Scholars’ Federation (NSF) is an institution under the supervision of the Counseling Assessment Resource Enhancement Center that molds and leads the NORSU scholars into becoming responsible students of NORSU. NSF also stands to monitor the scholars’ involvement in the university as well as to provide scholarship program to some ‘poor but deserving students’ for them to experience university life in NORSU and become better individuals in the future. For every semester, each scholar is collected with an amount of P130 which goes to the NSF fund. This will serve as the scholar’s contribution to the NSF in order to have its projects realized, to conduct activities beneficial for scholars and most importantly, to support its nearly 40 v vV
World War V Being my first time to write a column is terrifying! I even had my hard time in placing my fingers on the keyboard in order to start typing words. Indeed, this is not a work of a Webpage, Arts and Graphics Head. But I have no choice, our editor-in-chief will hit me with a paddle if I will not do it (just kidding). Anyways, I also believe that if you are in a publication, you are considered a journalist, hence, you need to be versatile enough. Thinking of what topic to write, I went to the library for enlightenment. I ended up staring at the blank spaces of the wall when suddenly, a student sneezed and it finally gave me a hint. Just recently, I was struck by the news about a handful deaths of people from Arab region and of Africa caused by a disease, a virus. What? Not again! Way back 2003 when I was in grade three, I could clearly remember the human’s scariest annihilation brought by a virus called Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome or SARS. Acting like pneumonia and infecting people by physical contact or saliva. Thanks, but no thanks to you SARS! Indeed, you’ve killed almost 9,000 people that year. Diseases do not rest in peace. They are not stopping us. Until we barely fight them. Six years later, we had another minute foe trying to invade humans’ immune system. There were no more SARS cases, but a new pack of viruses took the throne. The last time I heard about the petrifying issue when I was in high school, when a pandemic
scholars. Through the NSF Scholarship Grant, we can say that along with being a scholar enjoying free or partially free college education, one can still help give opportunity to other deserving students to study in NORSU subsidized through the NSF Fund. As what the famous line “attitude of gratitude” means, we, the grantees of the scholarship program, must possess gratefulness for our scholarship blessings in a scholar-friendly institution like NORSU. We must not ask for more and complain for minor inconveniences but rather be thankful because being a scholar is not a right but only a privilege given by our generous donors. Clarifications Since I am one of the leaders of the NSF, I am quite aware of almost all endeavors of the said institution most especially on the matters involving big amount of money. During the open forum of the Scholars’ Orientation conducted by the NSF on August 9, some scholars raised different issues. Some scholars asked questions concerning the breakdown of expenses on the different resolutions that NSF had processed. These perhaps were brought by the scholars’ curiosity or maybe because of the existence of some legal issues that the different NORSU stakeholders are currently facing especially on the budget expenditures. To give you an instance, some scholars asked what made the three-page (long-sized bond paper) scholars’ mini handbook worth P10. May I just let the others know that the prices on the resolutions are not the exact amount. These are just estimates and that taxes are still to be deducted on the written prices. So talking about the handbook, more or less 80 percent of the P10 is used to purchase each item. If in case the price of this is more than enough, then the excess money will be back to the NSF Fund. To tell you honestly, we, the officers, have not held even a single peso of the NSF fund. Figures of money written in a few pages resolutions don’t even let our eyes witness their disappearance. For the scholars to know, the NSF officers are just the ones Why NSF exists? ... to page 3
H1N1 virus blanketed the world with fear infecting more than 20,000 individuals. Thank God! I managed to survive those plagues. Nevertheless, it seemed to be a nightmare to everyone having another batch of giant slayers. Followed by this year’s killer duo, the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus or MERS-CoV and the Ebola virus. MERS-CoV had infected nearly 1000 people in the Middle East during the 2nd quarter while the Ebola virus, which originated from Africa, continuously steals lives from thousand and counting individuals. Well, these diseases do not only spread in one region but the whole world as long as you (if infected) have saliva and are ready to spit in your friend’s face. Good thing it did not reach the city! Again, I am still here and trying to survive! I will not be surprised if there will be another kind of infectious microbes creeping in and on our body. Why is this happening to us? But this made by men diminishing their own race? In short, a sort of a biological weapon as we see it in movies? Or biblically saying, the doomsday or shall we say, the verdict day is fast approaching? That God will cleanse the earth from sins resulting from a massive death of people as sinners. If that’s the case, I am not yet ready. But as I foresee it, I think this is a work of nature. It is simply a way of balancing the ecology, maintaining each life form function in an environment with equilibrium. Imagine, there are seven billion people living and occupying the five continents in the earth. To the point that we already have outnumbered other organisms that would lead to their extinction and imbalance of the ecosystem. See how amazing humans are! Yet we seem not to care even if in the first place, we are the antagonists in the entire scenario. Thus, I conclude, nature has its own technique of maintaining the flow, letting those viruses live in our lives and annihilating some of our friends. It scares us but let’s accept that fact. Whether we like it or not, they are always everywhere waiting to strike again and again. The corn plant needs sunlight to have kernels but later on, chicken eats the kernels. Soon, the man eats the chicken then eventually dies from old age or with a twist, he dies due to MERS-CoV or Ebola virus. Funny yet scary! But that’s how nature balances it. It’s a balance of life and death. It’s a natural law. I think it is good to let nature play the game and win it. I mean, in the first place we are part of it. It’s just that we are the pawns on the game and nature is the player.
Believe it or not, our pretty amazing complex-celled human body–digesting and assimilating food, pumping back and forth blood and oxygen, processing and sending signals to and from the brain – is ninetynine point ninety-nine percent (99.99%) occupied with germs. But as gross as you picture it, germs, collectively called the human microbiota (and so small that they account for 1-2% of our body weight), play a vital role in maintaining our health. Yet we disrupt them at our peril! For at least every single human cell, there are an estimated ten living single-cell microbes in and on us, at least 100 trillion in all, nuzzled in our guts and in our urogenital areas, lying on our skin and happily entrenched in our mouths and noses—an entire civilization of fungi, protozoa and (mostly) bacteria that eat, breathe, evolve, reproduce and die. Now that’s gross! Remember, we are massively, preposterously and forlornly outnumbered. But do we need to eradicate these guys? A massive genocide for them would also mean death for the culprit. Spare these guys We impulsively wash our hands, spray our countertops and grimace when someone sneezes near us. As a matter of fact, we do everything we can to avoid unnecessary encounters with the germ world. But the truth is we are practically walking petri dishes, rife with bacterial colonies from our skin to the deepest recesses of our guts. So, in determination to obliterate this disease-causing microbes, we carpet bomb our microbiota – with the antibiotics for colds (even though the strongest capsules are useless against a virus) and the antibiotic injected meat we eat, as well as the hand-sanitizer dispensers we see everywhere. And that war on germs takes a huge toll on beneficial bugs too. Before you reach for your sanitizing recourse, just think that everything around us correlates and our decades-long war on germs is looking seriously wrongheaded. Meet germs’ other friends Let’s get technical, so the focus of a latest research revolves around a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori, which causes the inception of ulcers and has been linked to stomach cancers. In 2011, Science magazine reported that the widespread use of antibiotics and antimicrobials terminated the presence of this bacterium and only present to a few 6% of US children.
Amazing? But with fewer ulcers, a dark lining to that silver cloud: H. pylori may ward off asthma. To test its capability, Swiss scientists infected half a colony of mice with the bacterium and left the rest germ-free. They showered all the mice with dust mites and other allergens. Mice with H. pylori were fine; those without it had airway inflammation, the hallmark of asthma. Exactly how H. pylori might ward off asthma is still a mystery, but researchers have made progress in understanding the link between our microbiota and other diseases. So you better start the search for this bacterium if you want to be asthma free. Another boggle, could these things cause obesity? Well, another study circles around a gut bacteria called Firmicutes, an extant of fat mice, not present on skinny mice. For them, Firmicutes causes obesity. To find out, scientists transferred the gut bacteria from obese mice into thin ones. The thin mice ate no more than they used to, but they quickly started packing on weight. Firmicutes, it turns out, are really good at making this creatures fat. This may explain why your friend can scarf down tons of food and remain slim, while you have merely to walk past a bakery to gain weight. Get the logic? Now, scientists are just starting to explore how to boost the growth of slimming gut bacteria using probiotic supplements and foods that fuel healthy bugs while zapping the fattening ones with other drugs. These ideas are in their earliest stages, so don’t go looking on your pharmacy shelves for such products just yet. Not yet, but it’s not possible to understand human health and disease without exploring the massive community of microorganisms we carry around with us. This allows us to better investigate what goes awry in diseases that are thought to have a microbial link, like obesity. Being the mysophobiac type, where we obsessively see to it that we disinfect ourselves with proper sanitation is a virtuous attempt to exterminate unnecessary micro-bugs and keep ourselves healthy. However, we have to anticipate that most of the 99.99% benefit us as human beings, and that the curative influence of germs could be within our grasps –in the nearest forthcoming. (With references from:http://www.med.nyu.edu http://institutefornaturalhealing.com)
Dear TN, I was abandoned by my father when I was still in my mother’s womb. And now, I am afraid to socialize with other people especially with boys. Simply because I don’t trust them. I’m afraid to be betrayed again and be left alone. Now, I belong to those anti-social people or shall we say, the loner ones. What should I do then? –Ms. Swift Hello Ms. Swift! We see that you have trust issues. Well, growing up without a father is really a challenging endeavor. But the reason behind why, should not hinder you to have faith on men. They too, are human beings. Remember the quote, “No man is an island”? Sometimes we need someone beside us whom we can depend and rely on. However, at your age now, being unable to socialize with people around you could be a factor benefiting your future. You don’t get peer-pressured. Just remember that a girl is neither for a boy or a man, but a woman is. Be the woman you dream to be and everything will follow. We believe that being anti-social or alone is quite psychological in nature. And if it really bothers you, we suggest that you should visit a professional counselor or the CARE office. --TN Why NSF exists?... from page 2
who decide and process the resolutions. Other than that, it is the part of the full-time faculty of CARE Center to get the cash advances (for some resolutions) or the Supply Office to deal with the payment of the NSF’s requested materials to the suppliers for some activities. Sometimes, we, the officers, even use our personal money just to canvass or communicate with the suppliers for our materials. It’s really a good thing to know that students are now participative and meticulous on the things involving the use of
their money. In fact, I am glad to know this because perhaps, this can help the NSF strengthen its aim towards better leadership with accountability and transparency. If you wished to see the supporting documents for all the expenses of our activities, the NSF is very willing to show everything to you. Feedback? Let’s talk about it! Please feel free to contact me through my e-mail: arieldizon8@gmail.com.
As our usual routine, my secret someone and I, had this ‘text text din pag may time’ moments whenever we had our mobile phones registered to unlimited texting promos. We always had this sincere dialogues, sometimes in a conventional way just to entertain ourselves and make the time pass by without noticing it. I could still recall the times when she sends me text messages containing ‘Hey!’ or ‘hoy!’ which makes me feel the chilling sensation that I couldn’t explain. I could notice the smile on my sullen lips as our conversation went along. I could feel the mirthfulness when she says that she’s smiling on the other side of the line, although I don’t know if that’s true or just a prejudiced gift for me. But why could she make me happy? Why could she fill the hunger in me? Why could I think that if only she was here by my side, I would tell her every forbidden feats for her? There were those days when we see each other unintentionally and my world seemed to move slower, as if I could see every pore in her skin, every strands of her hair, the wrinkling of her lips, and the blinking of her chinita eyes. We talked, laughed and shared everything with our hearts’ content. One night, I texted her my agitations and all my frustrated sentiments about this loathsome world, but it turned out the other way around, for her messages makes my day perfect, makes my being contented. I can’t hide this feeling anymore. I thought to myself. Then I texted her, “What if I’ll tell you that I can already feel something inside me like you’ve never imagined?” “Me too. There’s this feeling I can’t hide every time we had this conversation via phone, and I can only feel it if I’m having it with you,” she replied. “Really? So does this mean that we have a chance?” I assumed, direct to the point. Then there was no answer. I haven’t slept much that night, just thinking of the possibility to be her solitary company when the time comes. The next morning, she was in the university grounds, hanging around with her friends, and you know what, I can’t even call her, nor come near her. I don’t know if I was just ashamed of myself for that blatant personality or because I was nervously trembling, giving a tingling sensation across my spine, chills and the likes, that I just walked away, hoping that she’ll never notice me nor see me that day. But she distinguishes my presence, telling me to take a halt and asked me to come with her in the canteen. “Let’s talk?” she opened. We sat across each other, enough to see each other’s eyes and enough for me to savor those tender little smiles on her face. What’s alarming? She always laugh if I’m with her, like I was her medicine, when suddenly, a man approaches her, and sat beside her. I was awed, shocked, more than flabbergasted with the way that man looks, talks, and directs his contacts to that friend of mine. I excused myself, letting them two have their time, afraid to hear what my friend will say about them, well, blatantly, they are together, an enigma for me to move away and to keep my distance. The pain was unacceptable, it was like a wound being stabbed again a thousand times, like a sledge hammer was being pounded to me, like all the planets had collided, making me dead, making my whole being dead. That day, it was like I was no one, like I know nobody but myself. I guess, I was just her super friend, a friend whom she may turn into when her most depressing, crushing times. I guess I was just temporary company, who was hoping to be with someone he likes, someone he admires the most. I guess I was just her pretending friend, assuming that she also felt the same way like I do. I thought that maybe I was just her comedian friend who always brings laughter to her. Whatever the reason of this fate may be, I can’t go on living a day having a negative feeling for her, and
My Assuming... to page 4
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August 18 - 24, 2014
Vol.XXXII Issue No. 12
Inclusive Education taught to CEd students
National news PNoy increases 2015 SUCs budget President Benigno Aquino III has allocated Php43.3 Billion budget for the State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) next year, much bigger compared to this year’s SUCs budget of Php35.9 Billion. In his message, PNoy mentioned, “We allotted Php43.3 Billion for SUCs in 2015, a 13.8 percent increase over the 2014 allotment.” PNoy explained P3.5 Billion of the said budget will go to the scholarships under SUCs. Aside from the increased budget allocation for education, the government will also provide upgraded Information and Communications Technology (ICT) facilities, laboratories and equipment in order to improve the quality of Filipino workforce. To further respond to students’ needs, the president also planned to reform the higher education system. “We will continue to restructure our public higher education system—by pursing the amalgamation of SUCs into regional universities, developing specialized institutions, rewarding performing SUCs, among other reforms—so that it responds to the real needs of our students and
Representatives show their drawing during the Inclusive Education workshop’s group activity. (Photo by Kendrex B. Pael)
To expand the knowledge of some third year College of Education (CEd) students regarding Inclusive Education, a workshop was conducted on July 26 to August 2 at their college’s mini-theater. Rolando Villamero Jr., an Erasmus Mundus scholar and at the same time, a CEd instructor, said he loves to share his knowledge and expertise about Inclusive Education in order to guide them [students] in the teaching process. During the workshop, it is stressed that children with special needs must be educated in order to attain peace and order in the country, which is in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability and K-12 Basic Education Curriculum. According to Villamero, Inclusive Education should be implemented and supported with practice in order to concretize the idea of learning for all. He also advised the parents to have strong parental guidance in order to support those students with disabilities and that, they could also participate academically and socially in school. CEd Governor Kennith Omnos said the
workshop was successful. “At first, I really did not get it. But when the workshop was on the process, I slowly understand the main thought of it,” he said. Kirk Henry Demaclid, a Secondary Education student, said the Inclusive Education has lots of challenges especially in handling children with disabilities. “By this workshop, it allows us to open our minds. And that nothing is impossible,” he said. Demaclid further stated Inclusive Education for him is also an investment, wherein the government spends money for them, quoting it as “tax spenders turned to tax payers.” Meanwhile, two Education students, Natalei Vailoces and Edna Bangkat suggested, “Since the law about Inclusive Education was already implemented, we student-teachers should undergo trainings on how to deal with children having special needs.” Having 316 participating junior Elementary and Secondary Education students, two workshops were conducted in different schedules. The same workshop is also set to be conducted by Villamero to the other satellite campuses of NORSU.—Niña Marie T. Pino
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our economy,” he said. Moreover, to maximize the public resources, the government also asked SUCs to offer degrees most needed by students in their region. The allocated budget for SUCs was part of the proposed P2.606-trillion National Budget for 2015. Norsunians speak A sophomore Information Technology student, Wendy Jane Remellete, said the budget allotted for scholarships is a huge help for “poor but deserving students” who desire to go to school. “With the help of more scholarship grants, those who temporarily stop schooling could finally go to college,’’ she said. Another Information Technology students, Jel Miro and Mae Ann Ande, said “We want improvements in terms of the comfort rooms and buildings. The university should also add more computers and instructors,” Miro added.—Joanne P. Ferrolino (With reports from GOVPH Official Gazette)
Question Everything
PRE APPROVED, APP... from page 1
out, “But the APP for 2014 is not yet approved because only one third of the content was discussed last April 2, 2014. Another reason of the delay was the late APP endorsement of one of the satellite campuses which was just submitted last March.” Sought for his statement, Rochie Cabanlit, another BOR member and at the same time, the Negros Oriental State University Federated Faculty Association president opined there could have been possible progress on the deliberation of
the APP if only the majority of the BOR members were present in the meeting last July 4. “If we compare it to the previous years, the 2014 APP is the most delayed one,” Cabanlit said. To note, the PRE is the money component or the university budget which will be used according to the approved APP. While the APP is a document reflecting the PPMPs prepared by the different end-users (deans, department heads, office heads) based on the various needs identified in the respective sectors.
NORSU System records... from page 1
Furthermore, when asked about his opinion about the increasing number of students, University Registrar Reymil Cadapan opined, “There has been a change or shift in the market/preference
of the population. People now go to state universities and colleges because they still get the same education that they will have, as if they will be going to enrol in the private universities.”
City Prosecutor again dismisses case against University President The Dumaguete City Prosecution Office on July 3, 2014 denied the Motion for Reconsideration filed by expelled NORSU student Harold V. Pelaez on June 16, 2014 against the University President, Dr. Don Vicente C. Real, for lack of merit. It can be recalled that Pelaez filed a case of libel against Dr. Real which was dismissed by the City Prosecution Office on May 22, 2014 for lack of merit. The case stemmed from the comments allegedly made by Dr. Real to students during the NORSU Donors Day on February 22, 2014 at the NORSU Sports and Cultural Complex. During his speech, Dr. Real challenged students present to choose their next set of Student Government Officers wisely. Pelaez, who was running for SG president of main campus I, felt alluded to when the president called “shameful” the act of stealing money from student coffers. Pelaez was eventually expelled after
the Board of Discipline recommended to the University President his expulsion for allegedly mishandling over P400,000 of students funds when he was Student Governor of the College of Education (CEd) of the Main Campus. The CEd, spearheaded by its current student leaders, in their desire to reclaim the money of their students, have since filed a case against Pelaez in the court. The resolution denying the Motion for Reconsideration for Pelaez was signed by Assistant City prosecutors Atty. May Flor V. Duka, Atty. Ma. Angelita Banta-Alcoron, and Atty. Julito M. Lumusad. It was approved by Atty. Eliezer A. Escoreal, City Prosecutor of Dumaguete. The dismissal vindicates Dr. Real who said his words during the Donors Day was to encourage the students present to value having good character. Dr. Real is known for espousing Transparency and Accountability in his leadership of NORSU. (From NORSU IPO)
aside from the existing original sling or lanyard provided by NORSU, some colleges, departments and student organizations of the university acquired their own personalized ones. Will it be a sign for a change? Or a sign of losing our identity as Norsunians? For a first year Mechanical Engineering student, Maypaz Catanus, the existence of various lanyards in the university could lose our identity as NORSU students. “If all the colleges will secure lanyards, time will come that we will lose our identification as Norsunians,” she stressed. On the other hand, first year Education student, Gem Karl Bangay said, “Well, I find it nice so that it would be easy for the people to identify what college and what are our courses.” Second year Bachelor of Science in Geology student, Nobie Francisco opined, “I guess it is fine to have lanyards. Anyway, the logo or the name of NORSU can still be found in the sling. Thus, the people could still identify us as Norsunians.” Meanwhile, Reynaldo Quinquito Jr., a senior Business Administration student and at the same time the CBA-SG External PIO expressed, “I am very happy because our college’s student government came up with the idea of the college lanyard to signify unity in our college. However, I am very disappointed because other organizations under the CBA are also distributing their own lanyards which I think is not a good picture of unity.” In an interview with TN, Student Affair Services Director Robert Poculan stressed that the existence of the new college slings will not affect our identity as Norsunians. “NORSU was not totally disregarded since there is still the university’s logo on the lanyard,” he disclosed. My Assuming... from page 3
I can’t go on this madness within me. I hope that our friendship will never fade away, like a stone that may be weathered but will still stay calm and like a flock of birds that will still stay together even after they had parted ways. I love you my friend. Jun Jun looks at himself as a self-wounded man. He is already a graduating student.