The NORSUnian Vol XXXV Issue 27

WE write for you. we fight for you.

VOL XXXV ISSUE NO 27 | JANUARY 8-12, 2018

WEEKLY REGULATIONS. ROTC second class officer checks the cleanliness of cadettes’ hands during their Sunday formation in MC-II as part of their weekly inspection. Photo by John Michael Ausejo

CHED orders NORSU curriculum revision

Photo by John Michael Ausejo

QUAMC targets 50 programs for accreditation

Faith Jessica E. Alejano

In pursuance to the enactment of General Education Curriculum (GEC), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) ordered Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) to revise its curriculum, effective next school year.

“We will be revising all our curricular offerings because naa tay mga bag-o nga

CPSG [Curriculum, P o l i c i e s , Standards and Guidelines] sa pag-offer og mga courses,” Rose Marie Pinili, VicePresident for Academic Affairs (VPAA) confirmed.

The revision is supported by CHED’s mandate in Memorandum Order

No. 20, series of 2013, entitled: “General Education Curriculum: H o l i s t i c Understandings, Intellectual and Civic C ompetencies,” establishing a learning competency-based standards, and limiting GEC to 36 units and is based in the College

Readiness Standards and GEC series of 1996.

Pinili said the university’s curricular reforms will be revisited and revised.

“Daghan tang trabahuon sa curricular reforms based on policies, standards, and guidelines for each course,” she added.

The new curriculum will be used by incoming freshmen and pioneering senior high CHED/to page 4

Elections (COMELEC) officials will provide laptops on specific voting stations during the election.

The software to be used for the election is programmed by selected Information Technology (IT) students in which a database is used to store the student’s name, ID number, and candidates’ information.

“They will just input

it there [sa computer], then click kung kinsa ilang ganahan na butohan,” Dimatulac said.

He added the software will automatically count the number of votes after the students have voted; however, they will have a manual voting for president and vice president after the students voted through electronic to reassure

accuracy of vote count.

“Ang init na competition kay ang president ug vice president,” Dimatulac said.

“In this way, we can check if sakto ba jud ang counting.”

Before the election period, the COMELEC officials will have to undertake initial testing for the electronic voting system’s effectivity.

FSG to launch electronic voting

Narlyn R. Mascardo ENSURING QUALITY. Dr. Cesar Estrope, QUAMC Director, welcomes and gives message to all the accreditors during dinner held in Negros Oriental State University-Pamplona Campus last December 2017.

(QUAMC) director, shared lessons from the accreditation Estrope, on December 2017 and Assurance expressed how these would Center QUAMC/to page 4

Kenneth Carlorio S. Surilla

Cesar Quality Management -

Filmfest ‘18 on hold

Narlyn R. Mascardo

norsu Student Government of Dumaguete City (SGDC) temporarily stopped the preparations for the university-wide Film Festival 2018 due to pending approval from the Board of Regents (BOR).

According to the Film Festival chairman Genesis Dimatulac, the event which is included in their Project Procurement Management Plan (PPMP) is subject for approval during the

next BOR meeting on February 23.

“We are trying to look for ways nga mapaapprove ang budget,” he said.

The film crews in every college have started organizing their film and main actors as a preparation for the launching of the said activity.

“Na launch na siya [Film Fest] pero among gi-hold kay wala pa na approve ang PPMP. We don’t want na masayang ilang efforts,” Dimatulac FILMFEST/to page 4

To secure vote count and avoid delayed results, Federation of Student Government (FSG) plans to launch electronic voting scheme for the next set of student leaders in March 2018.

Genesis Dimatulac, FSG Speaker of the House said the Commission on

FSG reveals accomplishments, plans Faith Jessica E. Alejano

WHAT’S ACCOMPLISHED? The student assembly attended by students from the previous semester. The NORSUnian File Photo

With less than a month of service left, Federation of Student Government (FSG) president shared significant activities that they successfully spearheaded, and their plans before the academic year ends.

Kristine Rose Pening, FSG president disclosed the list of their achievements,

including the invitation of Philippine vice-president Maria Leonor Robredo as guest speaker during the first student assembly.

Furthermore, they initiated a symposium with the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), conducted a partnership with Amnesty International (AI) on human rights awareness, and headed the Charter Day and the fsg REVEALS/to page 4

UNVEILING THE HOAX

WALKING A cobbler’s...

international...

SEE PAGE 2

SEE PAGE 3

SEE PAGE 4

VOICELESS RANTS

features

UNIVERSITY POLL

OPINION

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VOL XXXV ISSUE NO 27 JANUARY 8-12, 2018

EDITORIAL No price tag for Cha-Cha Cha-cha-cha! For beginners, dancing this timeless Latin dance is tough to make adjustment as it requires timing and rhythm; however, another popular word Cha-Cha is recognized by some politicians in the government to shut down the country’s ailment — Charter Change (Cha-Cha). The move for massive constitutional shift is lumpy in the beginning, and it is not proper to place a price tag on it.

The call for Duterte allies in pushing for Cha-Cha is determine through overhauling the government structure to federalism. This effort draws a current dispute among congress and senate ending a split of vote in which two of the three methods of constitutional reform shall be used.

In amending and revising the 1987 Philippine Constitution, three modes are taken into consideration — a Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass), a Constitutional Convention (Con-Con), and a People’s Initiative. Subsequently, government officials are setting an eye between Con-Ass and Con-Con as chief choices for the target reform.

The concept of Con-Con permits the Filipinos to choose representatives as constitutional members who shall be accountable for drafting the amendments of the constitution in accord to their localities, so members of congress hold no direct hand in the deliberations; however, this idea has been reflected due to timeconsuming process and huge price to embark on, considering the May 9 elections may cost the government P70 billion according to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

In a Con-Ass, drafting and voting in pursuance to constitutional modification are done by the congressman and senators, in which amendment shall be passed thru a three-fourths vote. Contrariwise, critics see Con-Ass as murky for Cha-Cha since it may serves a springboard for corrupt lawmakers to alter the constitution that is apt to empower their personal interests.

The hardnosed President Rodrigo Duterte abruptly called for a switch of preference after a huge cost for Con-Con came up.

When his decision tilted to Con-Ass, it was motioned with his selfassertion that we trust senators enough for the system to work.

The urgency of Cha-Cha centers on economic inequality such that our national competence slid into disincentives. The economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution limit foreign investments in certain sectors including mining, utilities, transport and communications. These restrictions are seen as drawbacks to the investment inflows of the country, resulting to loss of employment and slow-growth opportunities.

This controversial move for Cha-Cha is said to be an avenue to establish impartiality in distribution of power and wealth through radical reforms for federalism. Then, again, the assurance is not a-hundred-percent to end or at least mitigate all economic inequality.

In view of a democratic and a participative nation, it is right to consider Con-Con as a superior method to provide a venue for free expression. Thus, we must ponder that the supreme law of the land is the Constitution affecting all individual as well as the next generations.

To compromise the future by putting a price tag to Cha-Cha, is tantamount to neglecting the value of the millions of ordinary Filipinos in the grassroots. Well, dancing with the beat of Cha-Cha is best to have a close watch over the steps just like how we look out the government Cha-Cha process.

Unveiling the hoax “Oh, the deception!”

This famous line from a 2004 American film, White Chicks, appeared on my news feed while scrolling through my mobile phone. It is funny how a single line can mirror the university’s façade whenever significant events occur within the premises.

As we welcome 2018, let us appreciate all the alumni from different colleges who gave honor to the university by passing, or topping different licensure examinations. The university is showered with

compliments, but despite everything, the deans and department chairpersons, spend for tarpaulins coming from their own pockets most of the time.

I send my respect to the people who were able to make it despite how flawed the system is— Flaws that are so evident yet no resolutions were made. For instance, the Physics and Geology department has not received the attention it deserves. To think, the department yields top notchers and has recently

been the center of attention as Alec Benjamin Ramirez, a fresh graduate, ranked first during the recent Geology Licensure Examination (GLE).

Now, here is a fun fact.For 23 years, there has never been a regular instructor since the establishment of the program.

What did the students do to take action regarding this status?

Way back in 2016, the entire Geology student body protested during the Charter Day celebration. To note, Ramirez, the Geology Student Society president during that time, led the silent protest.

How did the admin respond to the protest? The students were called for disciplinary action, saying that the university cannot tolerate such actions. The university is currently surrounded by banners of Ramirez’s triumph during the recent examination. It is ironic that the person whom the admin is commending today is the same person who they turned

a blind eye to before.

For more than two decades, has the admin not solved the problem with the lack of regular teachers?

This does not only apply to the Physics and Geology department. Also, I think a lot of programs are deprived of the development they deserve, while the university continues to receive praises. As the university’s name continues to blossom, students continue to battle for survival through the flawed system— lack of classrooms, facilities and instructors, thousands worth of procured equipment that are unallowed for students to use, and teachers who are paid even if they do not teach well.

The students are not voiceless. It is the system urging them to stay silent.

Saving faces will not bring development to this institution. Tear the deceit and unveil the true situation that the students in this university are actually facing. Then maybe, change might really happen.

Illustrated by Claire Francis Elum

university Dairy

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Good Ol’ Work Story by Old Cap

No one expected for the worst to come, until it happened.

My eyes were glued to the screen, because I was doing a project prior to our midterm examinations.

The assignment was so complicated that I only accomplished a five percent progress in an hour. Just then, an old friend invited me for a hang-out which I completely obliged.

My friend was already drinking beer when I arrived. And after taking my dose, some of my course mates, most of them girls, arrived too. Amidst the deafening singers, lime-colored beers, and nonsense talks, everyone found a short-term enjoyment.

But, the bar had to close and my old friend was still not satisfied with what she got. She wanted to continue her enjoyment, so we decided to hop to another place.

Fortunately, we seemed to be the only costumers for the night in the venue where we transferred, so we weren’t asked to pay for the entrance fee as they gave it to us for free.

There were black seductive sofas, violet jumping lights, and dark, wild music. A tower of beer was delivered to our table, and we began calling for shots.

We reached the fifth glass when the tower suddenly fell like the leaning tower of Pisa, leaving everyone ice-cold and smelly wet.

Arguments swooshed like swift magic, and people from both sides of the counter were trading reasons.

My old friend, a girl, was leading our side along with another girl. Although we were the only people there, I still felt ashamed of how my friends were communicating with the other side– they were not really shouting but the way they spat out their words was so relentless.

I tried advising them to take things lightly since the staff members were beginning to consider our debate.

Meanwhile, my old friend’s boyfriend tried calming her down. We both failed, and a barrage of sermons and reasons outdid the club music and filled the vast emptiness of the club. The place closed immediately.

Well, we all went home without paying for the beer and broken tower. But one thing is for sure— we could have gone home paying for both damages if it wasn’t for these two girls who were pretty much knowledgeable about the place’s policies and laws. Not that I don’t know them, though.

Old cap is a Norsunian who would dare go to exams without studying.

Photo by John Michael Ausejo

FEATURES

Illustrated by Jameel E. Daksla and Jessa C. Araneta

VOL XXXV ISSUE NO 27 JANUARY 8-12, 2018

Campus Image

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Larry V. Villarin

angeleah Grace J. Acaso

A tack knife, stitch picker, thread snips, awl, scalpel and other paraphernalia placed in a particular toolbox are the important things for their job to mend worn out shoes, broken heels, and slippery soles. The scorching heat of the sun – which pierced through every person who walked under its rays – failed to bother these people along the sullen road. Instead, they have their eyes fixed unto scrutinizing an old piece of shoe.

They say being a cobbler He knows that no matter what emphasized the decency of it. things. This is for the future of is not a profession, because you happens, he can always overcome According to him, they make our children].” money in an honest way and with don’t take exams or formally pass it.

And more than anything “Bisan sa ginagmay that fact alone, he is contented else, he only hopes that his qualifications and interviews. But what the majority of our citizens ra, matigom ra man pod and proud. children would see the sacrifices For a moment, Abondancio he has made, and to pursue with do not know is that it takes years para makapalit ta sa mga of practice to really become a kinahanglanon sa panimalay paused and fixed his gaze at the their studies because it is the only master in the craft of repairing [Even with not much earnings, busy road saying, “Proud kayo treasure he and his wife can give— shoes. One must be extra I can still save to buy our daily [ko]. Bisan ingon ani ra mi, nothing more, nothing less. careful with hands as articulate needs at home],” he said with an pina-Dios mani among trabaho.

Now, after a long day’s as surgeons and eyes keen as a obviously genuine smile.

Pangpamilya man ning amo, dili work, they can finally go home hawk’s.

Teody’s story is no different pangbisyo or unsa. Para ni sa and spend time with their Teody Parcon, a 61-year- from this next man who works kaugmaon sa among anak [I’m families, happily eating dinner old cobbler works just within as a cobbler as well. Meet proud. Even if this is the only in humble home. Even less the city. He expressed the beauty Abondancio Lagahid Jr., 47 years work I have, we work for God. income, they are the master of his simple job in which he old from Candau-ay, Dumaguete We work for our families, and not of the craft of mending, an art and his fellow mates get to serve City. Just like any other cobbler, just to spend for vices or other underappreciated— a shoe less people who are in need of their life is never easy for him. u n n e c e s s ar y walked. expertise. He knows that shoes “Sama ra gihapon sa are part of man’s daily needs. He kinabuhi og construction ba— believes they play quite a role in init, ulan. Ga-antos mi diri the community. sa abog pero at least, naa “Makatabang pod ta sa mga miy income bisan tawo nga wala-wala pod [We og ginagmay pero can also help people who are maka pa-skwela ra less fortunate] ,” he said as there pod sa among mga were times when people came to estudyante [Similar him and asked if he could mend to the life in a their shoes. Some of them, he construction site— explained, were rescued for free. we work despite the Because for him, it is his simplest heat or the cold. We form of help to those who really bear the dust, but at least, we have income. need it.

Life has many things to offer, Even if it’s not too much, I can at least that is how he describes still send our chidlren to school],” it— one of these is the challenge he explained while he was sewing that he has to face on a daily basis. a broken shoe, patiently.

Their job may seem Life is hard, especially in financial terms, but he doesn’t mind at all. very simple for others but he No one truly understands what it’s really like growing up without a father until it happens to a person.

Perhaps, she exudes a strong character, but she is a daughter who longs for a father’s affection deep inside. Once.

Twice. Thrice. Many times, she has been asking why she doesn’t have a complete family.

“It is heart crushing especially if naa ko makit-an nga complete family sa church [It is heart crushing especially if I see a complete family in church],” she said while tears stream down on her fair cheeks.

And it seems the world of bliss was totally against her at the age of five for she lost her mother due to Leukemia.

Bombarded with adversity at an early age, living without the only precious person of her life was a hanging question, and worst, her mother left without leaving a piece of memory of her father.

It took her a year to sink it all in and go back to reality.

She remembered before that she was tirelessly crying at the corner of her room, hoping one day everything will be okay. But she knew that life always tested people. Later on, she accepted the fact that having a real and complete family is no longer likely.

After the death of her mother, she was under the custody of her grandfather who is a tailor. For how many

times, she was struck by the tales of struggle and used them as building blocks to move forward and beat the tides of life.

While receiving financial support from her aunt, she finished her elementary and secondary education at City Central Elementary School in 2010 and Dumaguete City High School in 2014 with flying colors.

She is grateful for her aunt’s support, but the money provided for her and her grandfather is not enough to suffice their daily needs. To help her family with their financial dilemma, she started working during her high school. She chose to be independent

through her work experiences as a dishwasher in a local eatery, street sweeper, student assistant, part time field reporter at a local FM-radio station, and tutor.

A resident of Tugas Piapi, Dumaguete City, 21-year-old Alexandria Marie Lagordo born on November 14, 1996, is now in her senior year taking up Bachelor of Mass Communication (BMC) at Negros Oriental State University (NORSU).

Being a consistent scholar of Answering the Cry of the Poor (ANCOP), and being a Dean’s list awardee in 2015 and 2017, she is more determined to have a positive outlook for her future with her remaining CAMPUS IMAGE/to page 4

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Backpage

ITO to install Wi-Fi: 2 NORSU Dgte Campuses

Angeleah Grace J. Acaso

Photo by Pamela Louise M. Abrasado

Both Dumaguete Campuses shall soon become a free Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) zone, as Information Technology Office (ITO) works in response to the academe’s requirement for accreditations.

Randy Teves, ITO head said they are currently working on the installation in both campuses with BT InfoCommunication as the contractor.

He said the Wi-Fi installation for both campuses was proposed in 2016 and was only approved this year; however, he has no further information regarding the specification of the project since he is new in the position.

ITO assures the connection will not be limited to offices only but also to everyone within the campus.

“Pag naa natong server, katong mga students nga enrolled for that particular semester… amo rang i-diretso og load. So,

BIG HELP! Information Technology Office (ITO) on the installment of the brand new Wi-Fi said that the configuration of the server and installment location has already been started yet Norsunians can only access on it next semester. Photo by Pamela Louise M. Abrasado

automatically makadiretso ramo [students] og connect anywhere bisan og naa mo sa Bajumpandan,” Teves said.

Meanwhile, Dylan Villaruel, a senior BS Information Technology student hopes the connection will

be consistent unlike the previous Wi-Fi installation in which students were only able to access it for a few days.

“Okay kaayo na nga idea kay dako siya og advantage… dali ka maka-research and di

na kinahanglan pa nga muadto sa gawas og mugasto para internetan,” Anjanimfa Villana, a junior Education student added.

The availability of Wi-Fi in both campuses will be in June as disclosed by the ITO.

VOL XXXV ISSUE NO 27 JANUARY 8-12, 2018

quamc/ from page 1

help Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) in the accreditation in 2018.

“Programs are not good in the documentation,” Estrope said regarding the papers presented to the accreditors. “We [instructors] were able to convince the accreditors that the processes are there and the implementation is not so evidence-based and the outcomes are there.”

According to Estrope, the concerned faculty should prepare their documents before hand, especially the existing documents for the last three years.

“Materials were not foreseen ahead of time,” he said, hoping the committees will not run out of resources.

“They [accreditors] are fsg REVEALS/ from page 1 110th Founding Anniversary celebration.

Kathleen Marie Banquerigo, a junior BS Information Technology student said they are not satisfied with the federation’s accomplishments­and did not meet their expectations.

“Wala mi ma-inform maayo, mag-post unta sila sa mga activities or meeting,” Michelle Jean Ceriales, BS Industrial Technology student said.

On the other hand, Pening shared their plan to pursue the film and music festivals, and to have a foam party for the students to wrap-up the academic year.

FILMfest/ from page 1

said.

He is positive that their PPMP for this year’s film showing will be approved together with the inclusion of the previous postponed films. “We will proceed no matter what,” he added.

Meanwhile, the committee disclosed this

CHED/ from page 1 school graduates this year.

Meanwhile, current ongoing ENGAGING CLEANLINESS. Norsunians feel relieved when they saw the comfort rooms near the gym entrance is going through clean-up. students will continue to follow the non-revised curriculum.

CAMPUS IMAGE/ from page 3 “Basta para sa kaayuhan through, she would simply say if you let trials engulf you. and the longing to see him. ug paglambo [sa university], months in college.

She asked, “Pa, ngano But she believes their paths If you ask this gal what that life is a cycle, and that there okay rako i-usob curriculum,” keeps her moving despite is no reason for her to lose hope. ko imong gibiyaan?” as she will cross when time gives Jea Reva Azores, a sophomore the dilemmas she has been She said that you will never win recalled the desire of her heart them a chance.

able to find the clasping of process implementation and outcomes in other programs which shown best documents,” he said upon the 100 percent passing performances of the teams.

“As early as February we [committees] have to meet and decide what will be our best practice claim in the four areas that we will pass for phase two oral defense,” he noted referring on the recent evaluated programs in December 2017.

QUAMC is determined to have an estimated 50 programs accredited in 2018. Among them, 25 programs come from the Dumaguete Campuses while the other 25 programs come from the campuses of Bayawan-Sta. Catalina, Bais, and Mabinay.

“Naa pod mi plan project— ang Information Dissemination System,” she said. “Mo put-up mi og mga speakers kada floor sa buildings diri sa university with the help sa university administration para sa budget.”

In response, Shiela Bansuela, a junior BE Education said it would be better to have regular social media updates and have the announcements posted in each department instead.

“Maayo kung naay speakers, naay mo-inform kada college para makabalo ang students,” Trixie Clare Duhaylungsod, a junior BS Forestry student added.

year’s Film Festival for the participants not to be limited with a certain genre. Thus, the committee aims to involve majority of the student population in the said activity as a way to recognize their skills and creativity, and to fight apathy.

BS Mass Communication student said.

Liezel Piala, a junior Bachelor of Elementary Education student said it would be better if the revision will add more practical learning.

Infographics by Jeke Cris G. Rocaberte

ERRATA

20th issue Banner Photo Caption (front page): NORSU recognizes four alumni...

(Error: FEDNORSUA recognizes four alumni...)

20th ISSUE headlie (front page): Norsu honors 4 alumni (Error: FEDNORSUA honors 4 NORSU alumni) The Norsunian headed bt its current set of Editorial board, humbly regrets the publishing of information herementioned that may have misguided the readers. We entend our apologies to everyone.

For comments email us at thenorsunianpub@gmail. com