THE RADIANCE OCTOBER 2019 TABLOID

“CULTURE IS WHO WE ARE.”

“MY VICTORY IS OUR BARRIO’S PRIDE.”

-Gov. Esteban Contreras

-Princess Nicole Alivar

NATION | PAGE 3

NEWSFEED | PAGE 4

OCTOBER 2019 | OFFICIAL STUDENT PRESS CORPS OF MAYOR RAMON A. BENJAMIN SR. NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL | VOLUME 9 NO. 1

WHAT’S INSIDE:

2,593,555 39,994 PUBLIC SCHOOLS NATIONWIDE BELONG TO

FILIPINO LEARNERS WHO ARE ENROLED IN

INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES

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COMMUNITY

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FEATURE

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SPORTS

A CLIMB TO THE IP’S PLIGHT IN EDUCATION

SPECIAL REPORT ON PAGE 5

‘EDUCATE AND CARE’ Pub holds immersion, gift-giving to IP community

BY PRINCESS NICOLE ALIVAR SIGHTS OF HOPE Joshua Mistas, is one of the IP children in Mt. Tag-ao who hopes to have a better future through education. And the young age, he reckons all the difficulties that may hit and surround him. But with hope he faces a brighter future ahead of him free of discrimination and open for acceptance. (PHOTO BY: MARK ANTHONY BAJADA)

DUMARAO, Capiz - Launching its second year of valuing the Indigenous People’s community, local student publication staged its outreach activity by visiting the uphill community of Mt. Tagao in Brgy. Tamulalud, Oct. 29.

With 20 volunteer journalists who hiked the 947-meter concrete road to the Ati community, 10 kids became The Radiance’s beneficiaries of early Christmas relief goods.

The community which comprises nearly a hundred IP

learners belong to the 2.6 million learners in the country which are among the targets of the Department of Education in protecting the children’s right to quality education as mandated by the Constitution.

“We don’t only educate, but we

also care for these children who have special needs in the society,” said Philip Jayson Falcis, project founder.

On. Oct. 14, the publication in partnership with the Senior High School students organized an advocacy photo exhibit which earned Php. 3,040.00 and used to fund for #TakladTag-ao.

Furthermore, Falcis cited over the years poverty is no longer the main

NATIONAL NEWS

Robredo grants ‘Angat Buhay’ aid, services to Panay

BY JEFF HASIGAN

Vice President Leni Robredo said her latest visit in Roxas City, Capiz is purely intended for some series of interventions which include the ‘Angat Buhay’ program.

In a press conference launched at Island Hotel in Pueblo de Panay, Robredo discussed about her ‘Laylayan’ program and her advocacy to help especially the less fortunate and forgotten municipalities in the country.

“It’s pure public service,” emphasized Robredo adding she is willing to extend help despite any political affiliation.

On Oct. 29, Robredo joined a group of physicians for a surgical mission at Roxas Memorial

Provincial Hospital and met with some fisher folks in some coastal areas of the city.

Meanwhile, the vice president also led the turnover of 5.98 million financial assistance from her office to the municipal government to help improve the livelihood of farmers in the area.

“Through this, the federation will purchase equipment that its members can use including a tractor, a rice harvester and a ricetransplanter,” added Robredo.

Prior to her appointment in Capiz, Robredo also went to Iloilo where she took part in the launch of 10 million Mingo Meals feeding program in Badiangan and Concepcion.

The program aims to help the towns in their fight against malnutrition among children through a six-month supplementary feeding program with 470 stunted and wasted kids.

‘Angat Buhay’ is the flagship program of the OVP committed to addressing the most pressing needs of the poor and marginalized under the key advocacies of the program.

battle for IP communities but they long to be fully valued by the society.

“It’s no longer poverty. It’s full acceptance from the society that they long for regardless of their color and race,” said Falcis expressing that it’s not about making them richer, but recognizing them after going out of the dark shadows of discrimination.

The concrete road which connects the Tag-ao community to

the base of the mountain is a joint project by the LGU-Dumarao and Kalahi amounting to 2.5 million pesos.

Meanwhile, DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones in a press statement affirmed its programs especially for the IPs. “ We care about them and we care about what are taught, who their teachers are, and what they do before or after schooling,” she concluded.

EXCLUSIVE NEWS

FARMING IS LIVING | For Wilson Gole, a farmer for the last five decades, farming has become his way of living making him endure the rain or shine. (PHOTO BY: MARK ANTHONY BAJADA)

‘Be proud and loud’

Agri advocates to farmers: You are nation’s backbone

BY ARIES BANGCOYO

DUMARAO, Capiz - Farmers of the town may forget their suffering on rice crisis at least for a day as local government slated Oct. 22 in recognition of ‘their role’ as nation’s backbone.

Agriculture advocates reminded the farmers representing the 33 barangays in Dumarao town civic center to take pride despite the challenges on farming.

“You [farmers] are the backbone of the nation. Don’t look yourself down – be proud and loud,” said Martina Felistina, officer-in-charge of Dumarao Research Institute.

Felistina delivered the message of Dir. Remelyn Recoter, regional executive director of Department of Agriculture - Western Visayas.

In a statement, Recoter noted farmers are the country’s pride and they must be proud of themselves for they ‘feed’ not just the Filipinos but the whole world in general adding “farmers are giving life to everyone.”

Furthermore, Dumarao Mayor Edgardo Arancillo lauded the presence of the officials and representatives of farmer’s associations within the municipality.

“We are trying our best to help you with our facilities and personnel who can assist your agriculture needs,” said the town executive. “We will strengthen our partnership with cooperatives and other agencies to provide the needed attention to support your ‘market outlets’.”

The celebration, which is first of its kind in the town, is aimed to inspire and to recognize the efforts of every farmer in the municipality.

REACHING OUT THE ‘LAYLAYAN’ | Vice President Leni Robredo has been true to her promise of reaching out and empowering communities including the fishermen in Roxas City which then signals hope and inclusivity to the poor and needy. (PHOTO COURTESY: Roxas City Communications) DACUTON, DUMARAO, CAPIZ | SCHOOLS DIVISION OF CAPIZ | REGION VI - WESTERN VISAYAS | PHILIPPINES

NATION’S BACKBONE | PAGE 3

THE RADIANCE

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The Official Student Press Corps of Mayor Ramon A. Benjamin Sr. National High School

2 news

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Beacon of Freedom & Flagship of Change

VOL. 9. NO. 1

ACADEME

OCTOBER 2019

Alumnus bags silver in int’l data challenge

BY LHEM SEJADE ABORDE From barrio to the world of excellence!

Expertise and dedication prevailed for Joseph Ricafort, a batch 2009 alumnus of Mayor Ramon A. Benjamin Sr. National High School as he garnered a spot in the international arena for his data innovation project.

“Anything is possible when excellence is paired with dedication,” said the 26-year old

engineer who earned his degree from Central Philippine University.

Ricafort’s entry dubbed “Out of Reach” notched the silver spot out of the 40 entries in the 2019 Human Development Data Visualization Challenge.

Interactive Things is a design studio with a focus on data driven digital products that help organizations to innovate unique combination of strategic thinking

and practical things.

“Half of my team is Swiss, others are French, German, Italian and Australian,” said Ricafort citing that their entry’s main objective is to visualize the scale of the income gap within and between countries.

His entry came second out of 40 entries in the said competition where master’s graduate from Parsons School of Design from New York City was hailed champion.

RICAFORT

‘GREATEST SHOW SO FAR’

Up by 27 percent

Padagyaw prep levels up, earns online praise

Brigada ‘19 sets record, reaches 1M donations

BY ARIES BANGCOYO DUMARAO, Capiz - It’s a new year in the Padagyaw Festival for the Ramonian community.

From the usual modest presentation, Mayor Ramon A. Benjamin Sr. National High School came out of nowhere on Aug. 2 just to stage its ‘greatest show’ for the first time after years of joining the annual celebrated festivity.

BY BENJIE HALLARDA For three years in a row, Dumarao’s barrio school secured anew one of the top spots as Best School Implementers for the Brigada Eskwela in the Schools Division of Capiz.

Garnering more than one million pesos of monetary and in kind donation, Mayor Ramon A. Benjamin Sr. National High Schooly notched the 4th rank in the Brigada Eskwela 2019 for medium school category.

The said amount was confirmed by Iren D. Salgado, BE Coordinator, in a meeting together with the parents and stakeholders.

Meanwhile, with the massive support for the project, Principal Jocilyn Gialogo extended her heartfelt gratitude to the Ramonian community who volunteered for this year’s maintenance week which happened on May 20-24.

Under Gialogo’s term, the school pocketed recognitions with its active involvement in the search for three consecutive years: 5th place in 2017, 3rd place in 2018 and 4th in 2019.

As stated in DepEd Memo no.

36, s. 2019, Brigada Eskwela is the National Schools Maintenance Week that aims to bring together all education stakeholders to contribute their time, effort, and resources to prepare public school facilities for the opening of the school year.

Collectively dubbed as ‘Tribu Hugpong’, the Hugpong tribe united to usher an uplifted presentation which heightens a concept about strengthened culture, tradition and religious beliefs of the Ati tribe and the Dumaraonons.

In an interview with The Radiance, Cultural Coordinator Francis Gil Berana confirmed 140 participants joining this year’s presentation - 106 of them are dancers and 34 are props men. “Padagyaw ’19 sets the highest number of participants since the school participated,” said Berana.

PRODUCTION COST With its goal to stir the production to the next level, the school pocketed more than Php. 200,000.00 in expense of the Padagyaw presentation.

“Ramonian community have masses of talented individuals but few opportunities are open,” Berana asserted adding the great production cost contributed to magnify the performance.

Meanwhile, Principal Jocilyn Gialogo said the generated fund came from the collaborative support of the donors, sponsors, teachers, club funds, parents, alumni community, other stakeholders and even students.

“I would like to thank our donors for their unending support to our LEVEL UP PERFORMANCE | Tribu Hugpong dancers were trained to their maximum potential to effectively school be it in moral and financial convey the message of the theme through character portrayal. (PHOTO BY LHEM SEJADE ABORDE)

support, stated Gialogo.

PADAGYAW RESPONSE Seven secondary schools from the district of Dumarao set glorious performances enough to awe the local tourists and guests of the highly anticipated cultural dance.

For Charity Geffrey A. Sobremisana, Dumarao tourism officer, the overall cultural dance was wonderful as they [participating schools] showcased different flavors of Padagyaw.

As the presentation becomes tougher, according to Sobremisana, the ‘secret judges’ will determine who will be the contingent school to represent the town in the forthcoming Capiztahan 2020.

The town has to defend its winning streak as last year’s best performing tribe, the Hubon Astorgahanon of Manuel F. Onato NHS, holds the township pride as the provincial champion.

However, for the Ramonians, Berana is gratified for the positive feedbacks he received after their presentation.

“This is just the start. We will continue to shine,” Berana promised.

As of this writing, a facebook video posted by one the school’s faculty already gained more than 9,000 views and 500 shares, making trends online.

Barrio school pilots journ cup; CapDiv lauds local pub initiative

BY RAQUESHA ERA PARDILLA “We work hard for Capiz to shine more.”

This was the challenge of Dr. Merlie Rubio to the 156 student-journalists of Capiz Division who attended the Word Press 2019, a journalism cup by The Radiance.

Providing quality an affordable local training, journ season started as early as June 12-13 at Mayor Ramon A. Benjamin Sr. National High School which is aimed to promote campus journalistic excellence.

In her keynote message, the division journalism coordinator and at the same time Filipino supervisor noted the importance of ‘journ training’ behind the sterling performance of Capiz in last year’s regional presscon.

Aside from Rubio, English supervisor Salvador Dale Artates also graced for the first time the Ramonian community.

Renowned regional trainer Dr. Jude Thaddeus Iledan lauded the barrio school’s initiative for piloting the said training under the leadership of Philip Jayson Falcis, school paper adviser.

Meanwhile, Falcis said journ cup also aimed to create a friendly environment among the campus journalists within Dumarao and interested schools outside the district.

“Through trainings provided in the local level, our campus writers will be more ready to conquer higher level of competitions in the journalism arena,” said the five-year school paper adviser.

Other resource speakers who also helped prime the participants include Jonel Gregorio, a prize-winning coach in Editorial and Feature Writing, from Aklan State University – Banga Campus, and Wilbert Tabuena for Science Writing and Photojournalism.

Aside from lectures and writeshops, one of the highlights of the activity is the “Raise Your Flag”, an Independence Night celebration as participating schools showcased varied cultural presentations.

At the end of the two-day training, student-journalists who exceled were given medals and certificates of GREGORIO recognition.

Campus exhibit promotes art beyond ‘just expression’

BY CAMELLE PROFUNGA

ART BEYOND EXPRESSION | Art teacher Gonzales inspires her students with the works of art including painting and she hopes her stduents would have to appreciate painting through the gift of art. .(PHOTO BY: MARK ANTHONY BAJADA)

To highlight appreciation of ‘art beyond just expression’, Grade 10 students here opened a one day art exhibit, July 15.

Led by MAPEH teacher Mediatrix Gonzales, skillful paintings made by the students filled the exhibit with artworks with sense of freedom across the different genres.

For Gonzales, art is the creative imagination and skill of a person to express works while painting is the art of making pictures using paint.

“They are both important because through them, we can express our ideas, feelings and emotions,” she affirmed.

The freestyle painting bannered different ideas and pushed expression of freedom which focused on depicting the beauty of nature.

Paintings from two sections of the said grade level gained attraction not just for the students but for the teachers as well.

For Grade 10 Claire Arsenal, art is simply an expression of one’s self and inspire others through painting.

“I am inspired while painting and through the help of my art teacher, I made it successfully and I painted it freely without hesitation even I am a first timer,” said Arsenal.

DACUTON, DUMARAO, CAPIZ | SCHOOLS DIVISION OF CAPIZ | REGION VI - WESTERN VISAYAS | PHILIPPINES

The neophyte artist gained inspiration from the still-life of Vincent Von Gogh and was influenced by one of the post-Impressionist artists Claude Monet.

Meanwhile, Grade 8 adviser Larry Giner, who bought some of the students’ artworks, believes art i represents Mother Earth.

“Duwa gid to kabilog akon ginbakal kay nanamian lang gid ko to sang concept ya about nature. Nature lover abi ako (I liked two artworks and bought them.

I like concepts about nature and that makes me a nature-lover,” Giner is certain.

Beacon of Freedom & Flagship of Change

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The Official Student Press Corps of Mayor Ramon A. Benjamin Sr. National High School

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THE RADIANCE

news 3 Local culture alive in Capiz

VOL. 9. NO. 1

NATION OCTOBER 2019

BY PRINCESS NICOLE ALIVAR

House nods mandatory ROTC for SHS

BY AXEL PAUL ATAZA

With 167 affirmative votes, four against and no abstentions approved the House Bill 8961, or the proposed measure making ROTC program mandatory to all students in Grades 11 and 12 in public and private educational institutions.

Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo made the statement as he welcomed “good news” with the House of Representatives’ approval of the proposed act mandating the “institutionalization, development, training, organization, and administration” of basic ROTC for senior high students around the country.

Duterte, in his letter, said a law is required to restore basic military and for the Filipino youth "to invigorate

their sense of nationalism and patriotism necessary in defending the State and to further promote their role in nation-building."

The ROTC training is aimed to instill patriotism, love of country, moral and spiritual virtues, and respect for human rights and adherence to the Constitution.

On the other hand, legislators previously argued that requiring ROTC for students in Grades 11 and 12 would expose them to corruption.

ROTC was previously implemented at the college level, but it was scrapped in 2002 after an investigation showed that a college student was murdered after he exposed alleged corruption in the program.

The military has lamented that membership in the country’s reserve force drastically went down when the National Service Training Program (NSTP) Law was passed in 2001.

ROTC is now one of the three components of the NSTP, along with Civic Welfare Training Service and Literacy Training Service.

Rehab or Rubout?

Ramonian spared from drug list on minors, says town PNP

Online poll names pub ‘best paper in Visayas’

BY J-ZIARRA VIENZ ALADA

After leading the online votes for three consecutive weeks, Capiz division’s multi-awarded student publication reigned as the People’s Choice Awardee for the Visayas for the Best- Designed Campus Papers of the Philippines (BDCP).

With more than a month poll which started on Aug. 13, The Radianceoverpassed the The Guiuan Gazette of Region VIII with 300 like emoticons, The Lakandiwa Magazine of Region VII with 800 likes and fellow contender from Region VI Ang Biyaya of Region VI with 4,600 likes.

The BDCP Awards is the first and only award-giving body for Campus Paper design which aims to recognize visual and creative excellence showcased through news design of the country’s campus newspaper.

To qualify the said award the school newspaper or publication must be published between May and December 2018.

“BDCP is an online platform which intends to foster the exchange of information about the concept and design of school papers and campus media throughout the country,” cited by Philip Jayson Falcis, adviser of The Radiance adding “we’re honored to capture the hearts of the Visayan journ people.”

GRAPHICS BY | The Radiance Creative Team

SHELTERED ARTISTRY | Built to home locally-rich artifacts and traditions, 18-year mud artist Lloyd Develos recognizes painting as his way of life and offers extra income to support his pocket. Local artists like him are featured in Balay Capisnon inauguration.(PHOTO BY: MARK ANTHONY BAJADA)

CUARTERO, Capiz - “Culture is not merely for entertainment. Culture is who we are.”

These are the evocative words of Capiz Governor Esteban Evan Contreras during the blessing and inauguration of the Institute of Living Traditions or Balay Capisnon at the Capiz Ecology Park and Cultural Village in Nagba, Cuartero to, Sept. 5.

Serving as a learning space for the Capisnon indigenous knowledge systems and practices, the local heritage and traditions of the Capisnon community is ensured to be kept alive as Balay Capisnon was made possible through the National Commission for Cultural and the Arts.

“Learning about the culture is comparable to learning about ourselves,” said Contreras highlighting the project’s aim to serve as a center for the protection, promotion, and development of the Capisnon traditions.

According to Contreras, once, art is an intricate, luxury, accessible only to the rich or those fortunate enough to have access to influence, however in these days art can be easily available with just a click of the finger.

“What more can we do to advance the Capizeno culture and the consciousness of our society?” a question asked by Capiz governor, saying that they’re present because of their commitment to preserve the very fabric of the Capisnon culture and legacy.

Moreover, Contreras also urged everyone to be bold in protecting the culture from being diverted by globalization. “Padayon ang amon suporta sa mga proyekto nga gapakigbahin kag gapalig-on sa paghangop sa publiko sa ila kultura nga nagahulma sang ila identidad (We continue to support projects that uphold and strengthen the public that art is part of our identity),” said Capiz governor, expressing his support to the said project.

Contreras further reminded that the commitment and earnest support for such initiative is a step towards protecting and fortifying the shared identity as culture and heritage is deeply rooted in the legacy left behind by their ancestors.

“Capiz is the home not only abundant with natural resources but the rich cultural heritage as well. We will not let ourselves and our inheritors down. Let’s keep the will burning,” Contreras concluded.

BY PRINCESS NICOLE ALIVAR

GRAPHICS BY | The Radiance Creative Team

DUMARAO, Capiz - In response to the ‘war on drugs’ campaign

by President Rodrigo Duterte, local police town officer clarified not even one from the Ramonian community plays with drugs.

The data was confirmed by Police Staff Sergeant Rhezel S. Jinon from the Police Community Affair Division of Dumarao along with the current status of drug surrenderers in the town.

According to the police officer, active cooperation and responsible action on the revitalization of campaigns against illegal drugs in the municipality must be heighted to attain a fully drug free community.

In an exclusive interview with The Radiance on Aug. 22, Jinon identified 27 out of 33 barangays in Dumarao are affected in drug clearing operations with the total

of 236 drug surrenderers in which 4 of them are in their minor ages while the remaining 6 barangays were unaffected, as of August.

“The complete status of Dumarao when it comes to drug surrenderers is still on the move,” said Jinon, noting that the first five barangays were cleared on December 13, 2018 while the remaining eight were cleared on June 4, 2019.

Moreover, on September 19, 2016, the Dangerous Drugs Board passed Board Regulation No. 4, Series of 2016, entitled “OPLAN SAGIP - Guidelines on Voluntarily Surrender of Drug Users and Dependents and Monitoring Mechanisms of Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Campaigns”.

Apart from establishing clear guidelines in dealing with drug personalities who voluntarily

submit themselves to authorities, the regulation also mandated Local Government Units (LGUs) through their Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (ADACs) to facilitate the establishment of community-based treatment and rehabilitation services and intervention to surrenderers found to be of low-risk or having mild substance use disorder.

“We are about to start with 3rd Batch of CBRP. Out of 236, 86 has graduated and the rest are still subject for the rehabilitation program,” stated police staff sergeant.

Dumarao PNP further reiterated members of Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council members should entirely give their full support for the rehabilitation of drug users and dependents in the communities.

NATION’S BACKBONE | FROM PAGE 1

‘FARMER’S LOAN’ Representative of the Presidential Consultant for the Visayas also noted road development as one of the government programs to provide easier access for farm to market roads.

However, among the timely issues named is the Republic Act No. 11203, also known as Rice Tarrification Law which was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on Feb. 14.

A National Food Authority representative who also graced the said event announced the agency no longer adds tariff on buying rice as prices lower down due to open importation.

Under the RTL, the NFA is limited only to maintaining buffer stocks for emergencies and disaster relief.

“Deliver your palay, preferably dry and clean, to NFA so we can buy,” said the representative after understanding the burden of most farmers who suffer for the aftermath of RTL. As palay farmgate prices reportedly drop to as low as P7 per kilo in some areas on September, small farmers hurt by the said law will not be receiving conditional cash transfers from the government however they may avail of zero-interest loans, according to DA. The increase of the rice imported is the reason behind the lowering prices of local rice products, as cited by the NFA personnel.

AFFECTED RAMONIANS With its location on an agricultural school site, the Ramonian community is not exempted with the current rice crisis.

At most 80 percent of the students of the school, 671 out of 835 officially enrolled, confirmed that farming is the primary occupation of their parents,

a concerted exclusive survey of The Radiance shows.

According to Novie Faith Escamilla, an agriculture advocate and teacher, most of the Dumaraonons rely on farming and it is a sad reality that local farmers have to face problems with selling their crops despite their hardwork.

“The price of rice is not well compensated to the cost of seedlings, fertilizers and insecticides used in farming,” shared Escamilla.

Students become affected as they rely their needs and allowances from their parents who are local farmers, the TLE teacher is certain.

“The government is focusing more on other industries but agriculture should not be taken for granted as we’re all consumers,” she concluded.

DACUTON, DUMARAO, CAPIZ | SCHOOLS DIVISION OF CAPIZ | REGION VI - WESTERN VISAYAS | PHILIPPINES

THE RADIANCE

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The Official Student Press Corps of Mayor Ramon A. Benjamin Sr. National High School

4 news

NEWSFEEDS Ponkans fire dominance in Capiz journalism tilts

BY KRISTINE ALFUENTE AND SHANEL ASHLEY VALDEZ

JOURN LEGACY GOES ON | For Princess Nicole Alivar (center), above the back-to-back victories earned by the publication this year, real gold comes when the gift of writing is shared to future generation of writers which is part of the publication’s passion and commitment. (PHOTO BY: JEFF HASIGAN)

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Beacon of Freedom & Flagship of Change

VOL. 9. NO. 1

COMMUNIT Y OCTOBER 2019

Chairperson told to explain

3-month roadwork irks Ramonians

BY PRINCESS NICOLE ALIVAR

Aggravated reactions started to flare up from the Ramonian community as the road construction in the Dacuton proper facing the brgy. hall which started around June.

Precluding road obstruction paired with severe air and water pollution, the said road reconstruction is the quick response of the brgy. council to the rising complaints due to the foul smell coming from its waterways.

Not less than a year of its construction, Chairperson Darlyn Palomo clarified that the reconstruction was due to the foul smell coming from the marketplace which flows through the waterways of the main brgy. roads, causing another reconstruction to take place.

“Ginhimo gid man nila ang kanal ugaling kay inde maayo ang paghimo nanda kay nagasulod ang mga labno nga nagaclog sa daloy sang tubig, (The waterway is not properly established.

The water canal is not working),” said Palomo, explaining the reason of the reconstruction.

Responding on the complains about the current burden of the said community, the municipality of Dumarao and Department of Public Works and Highways replied 15 more days to finish the construction however after following up, another 15 days were promised.

“Nagaguwa ang baho sa mga kanal.

Even sa Brgy. Hall nagadapya ang baho so ginareklamo ko ina kay ang flow sang tubi pakadto sa suba nagapollute sang river as well as nagapollute sang air sa mga pumuluyo (The foul smell comes from the canal which even reaches the brgy. hall causing water and air pollution),” said the chairperson while noting the importance of the reconstruction.

Moreover, student-drivers also raised their concern about the said problem which caused difficulties for

them in their everyday situation.

“Nabudlayan kami kag delikado kay mabudlay magliko kay isa lang ang alagyan tungod sa reconstruction kag kitid pa (It is difficult for us to make another turn to escape from the reconstruction. There’s only one way and the road is narrow,” said Bryan Hallarda, a Grade 12 student.

Despite the burdens of the reconstruction, Palomo highlighted that it is still for the betterment of the said community as they continue to stop hand-in-hand the pollution by conducting clean-up drives and planting trees.

“Bilang kapitan, ginperform ko gid ang akon role para sa kamaayuhan kag pag-uswag sang aton subong nga barangay (As brgy captain, I see to it to perform my job for the general welfare of all),” the chairperson concluded.

Early on September, the reconstruction was finished and the road routes are now back to normal.

Passion and excellence spiced up for Mayor Ramon A. Benjamin Sr. National High School as its student-journalists have proven its dominance in the journalism arena early this school year.

But for the majority of the student-journalists of The Radiance, victory becomes sweeter if it is shared with budding journalists in the barrio where they come from.

GOLDEN PEN STAYS AT BARRIO The Radiance reasserted its back-to-back championship as the best press corps in Capiz after amassing a total of 197 points during Golden Pen Awards held at Robinsons Place Roxas, Aug. 10.

Dubbed as Team Ponkans, the barrio-grown 26 student-journalists of Mayor Ramon A. Benjamin Sr. National High School showed its strength to regain dominance and harvested a total of 12 golds, four silvers, eight bronzes and 59 runners-up.

“In terms of participants, we were outnumbered by some big schools,” shared publication adviser Philip Jayson Falcis adding the team devised a strategy to regain last year’s pilot victory.

Leading the list of Golden Pen awardees is the publication’s editor-in-chief Princess Nicole Alivar who garnered first place in editorial writing, news writing, and copyreading and headline writing.

“What makes a great writer is not merely the skill but the passion to thrive” said the two-time Golden Pen awardee Alivar further citing “my victory is always a barrio’s pride.”

A total of 43 secondary schools with more than 800 participants joined this year’s writeshop.

Golden Pen is an annual Journalism Writeshop organized by Western Visayas Schools Clusters Awards and Regional English Circle spearheaded by Dr. Jude Thaddeus Iledan.

DSPC CHAMPIONSHIP CLUTCHED Team Ponkans also ruled the Division Schools Press Conference held at Dao National High School on Sept. 27 with its record-high number of winners in the school history.

Earning 15 slots for the upcoming regional tilt, the publication dominated the individual awards for both English and Filipino contests.

“Our preparation was worth it. We finally made it,” said Falcis whose hunger for DSPC dominance became a tough process.

37 individual participants completed the list of the Team as the competition becomes tougher with the ‘three contestants per category’ memorandum released a week before the contest.

“We pulled back those staff who resigned and did not continue in the pub to join the battle,” Falcis asserted.

The team landed 2nd and 3rd runner-ups for the overall school standings for English and Filipino, respectively.

Moreover, Alivar was also elected as the President of the Capiz Division Young Writers Guild for the Secondary level.

The 15 winners will be joined by 10 group qualifiers as the publication to represent the division in the online publishing contests comes RSPC on November.

GUSTING TOP WRITER BAGGED Not just one, not two, but three.

Staging her relentless dominance this year, Princess Nicole Alivar led the awardees of the 10th Gusting Journalism Seminar-Workshop on Sept. 21 at The Mansion including the top-coveted Gusting Writer of the Year.

Alivar bagged second places in Development Communication and Sports Writing in secondary level.

“As campus journalist, I have learned that it is not about using our pen inside the campus but to use it as a weapon to contribute to the development of the community,” said the 16-year old Ramonian studnet.

The publication sent five partincipants including Mark Anthony Bajada, Joanna Grace Beringuel, Lhem Sejade Aborde with their adviser Philip Jayon Falcis.

The annual seminar is conducted by the University of San Agustin Publications with the theme “PENumbra: Finding Light Among the Shadows through Campus Journalism” participated by more than a hundred studentjournalists in the region.

PUB GIVES BACK: GOLD IN REACHING OUT Aiming to provide a more inclusive but free training to prime elementary kids, The Radiance launched the second year of its Journback to three feeder schools nearby.

The identified three cluster schools include Badbaranan Elementary School, Dacuton Elementary School, and Gibato Elementary School.

From 15 last year, the publication welcomed 45 participants coming from three different schools in a simultaneous training Aug. 24 facilitated by three cluster journ trainers who are Team Ponkan staff.

Journback is The Radiance’s expression of giving back the love of journalism which is in line with the celebration of the National Heroes Day. This is also the publication’s commitment to share the gift of writing after the series of victories topbilled from different journ feats.

“Team Ponkans who share their expertise in writing also desire to show the true meaning of journalism which is to voluntarily give empowerment to other, that’s why our team are the ones who went to different elementary schools,” shared project lead Alivar.

COMMUNITY WATCH | Due to the surge of dengue cases, the Municipality of Dumarao conducted the Aksyon Barangay Kontra Dengue (ABKD) advocacy that puts emphasis on the enhanced “4S” aiming to lessen up the widespread cases to the different barangays of the said municipality.

As such, each barangay is required to hold a misting activity particularly in schools to fight against dengue. The government intensified its “4s” campaign which stands for Search and destroy mosquito-breeding places; Self protection, Seek early consultation and Say “yes” to fogging indoor and outdoor spraying if there is an impending outbreak. (PHOTO BY: MARK ANTHONY BAJADA)

Dengue cases highest in WV

BY LHEM SEJADE ABORDE

Western Visayas topped all the regions in the country - but this time - not for a good reason.

Earning the highest number of dengue cases in the country as revealed by the data from the Department of Health - Center for Health Development, WV is no doubt the home of best dengue-causing mosquitoes.

National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council Executive Director and Office of Civil Defense Administrator Ricardo Jalad said the Philippine Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response data for WV reported the number of dengue cases exceeded the epidemic threshold in the period of Jan. to June 2019.

94 people have died of dengue in the said period covered.

Amassing a total of 18,834 mosquito borne diseases, Aklan have been recorded with 2,095 dengue cases, Antique with 570 in Antique, Capiz with 2,500, Guimaras with 486, Iloilo with 5,955, and Negros Occidental with 3, 268 cases.

Department of Health recorded 106,630 nationwide from Jan. 1 to June 29 with 85% higher compared to the same period last year wherein 57, 564 cases were recorded.

DUMARAO COMBATS DENGUE The rise of dengue cases prompted the Local Government of Dumarao to conduct the Aksyon Barangay Kontra Dengue (ABKD) advocacy that gives emphasis on the enhanced “4s” aiming to lessen, if not totally prevent, the

widespread cases of the different barangays on July 18.

“Naga-misting kami para maghalin ang mga lamok nga naga-cause sang ginatawag nga dengue sa inyo tagsa tagsa ka classrooms sa inyo eskwelahan kag indi ini magpalapit within six months para mabuhinan ang mga kaso indi lamang sa banwa sang Dumarao kundi sa bilog nga Capiz (Misting is conducted to free our classrooms with the dengue-causing mosquitoes and prevent them from coming back within six months. This is to lessen the dengue cases not only in our town but the entire provinces as well),” said Rowena Durana, town rural health inspector.

According to Capiz Epidemiological Surveillance and Response Unit, 14 deaths were recorded from Jan. to June 26 and more than 173 cases came from Dumarao as of July to Aug. 2019.

Gov. Esteban Evan Contreras signed the task force to strengthen anti- dengue campaign or the Executive Order No. 2019.001 after Capiz became the third province in WV to have a dengue outbreak, and dengue cases went beyond the five year epidemic threshold.

In response to the alarming dengue cases, Brgy. Dacuton also conducted a clean up drive among all its households on July 21.

PREVENTIVE MEASURE | In an exclusive interview with The Radiance, Rowena Durana from Dumarao rural health explains the importance of conducting a misting in every school to prevent the breeding site for dengue-causing mosquitoes. Further, a bottled water found was tested to be positive with dengue causing mosquito here advising everyone to take extra care. (PHOTO BY: MARK ANTHONY BAJADA)

DACUTON, DUMARAO, CAPIZ | SCHOOLS DIVISION OF CAPIZ | REGION VI - WESTERN VISAYAS | PHILIPPINES

Beacon of Freedom & Flagship of Change

VOL. 9. NO. 1

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The Official Student Press Corps of Mayor Ramon A. Benjamin Sr. National High School

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THE RADIANCE

devcom 5 ‘IT’S A CLIMB’

SP EC I AL R E P ORT OCTOBER 2019

A 947-meter hike to Mt. Tag-ao and the plight of the Aeta community

BY PRINCESS NICOLE ALIVAR AND MARK ANTHONY BAJADA

Aiming to assure the Indigenous People communities and learners that their right to basic education is upheld and protected, the Department of Education reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the rights of IPs to basic education as they comprise more than two and a half million learners in the public school system.

Anticipation to fairness never leaves the heartening minds of these people, hoping that someday they could freely and safely walk around the park.

And in Dumarao town, Capiz province, a 50-km ride from the heart of Roxas City, there stood a mountain which serves as a safe haven to the 10-15 IP households found at the mountaintop. Staying at Mt. Tag-ao for several years, located at Brgy. Tamulalud, IP families felt the freedom there to unveil their true colors without the discriminating eyes of other people and achieve quality education they equally deserve.

TWEAK OF TIME Another timid morning came to greet Jelyn Valencia Juntado, 13, of Bungsuan National High School.

Going down from the steep mountain where their not-so-firm shelter is located, obstacle points were ready to impede her journey to education.

Along with her great desire to learn something new in school is her fear to be differently noticed again by others. Fear that they endure as they breathe and continue to exist. Fear that they always want to conquer.

But that was long ago.

That was when people could not see their beauty and the beat of goodness inside their hearts. That was years back when they still hardly seek for empowerment they always want to receive from their fellowmen.

Jelyn finally overcame the uneasiness every time she would enter the gate of socialization through education. Living in Mt. Tag-ao during her younger years, bullying was still one of the problems she can do nothing but to face as an IP student but as years passed, she became free from the deafening voices of discrimination.

Education is as precious as gold for Jelyn. Not only it is the key for her success but it is also the only way to make their community more empowered and secured.

Hoping for the day of their prosperity to come, Jelyn, who also dreams to be a news reporter someday, is one of those IP students who need more support and value from the society they are staying with.

Just like any other IP youth, Jelyn does not only want to be free from poverty or any other life adversities that is somehow normal as we live here on Earth. She also craves for the freedom to act and speak as a normal youth and be visible to the eyes of other people without the gaze of disgust.

“Palareho man lang kita nga tawu.

Palareho man lang kita nga gakasakitan (We are just the same as humans. We all experience being hurt).”

There are words that were spoken and stories that were told that will shoot you deep in your heart, finding the vessels where the blood flows, aiming to destroy the clots that hinder you to live, grow, and bloom.

SLOPE OF HOPE Achieving goals in life is just like doing a mountainous climb. In every step a climber takes, there will always be rocks, thorns, and holes that will delay his journey but what’s important is he keeps going, he keeps climbing and he keeps advancing because life is not a race.

Just like other IP families in Mt. Tag-ao, sending their children to school is an uphill burden but because of their dream to make their future as well as their community

achieve betterment someday, the everyday trek will never stop them to chase their goals in life.

One of the native mothers hoping a good future for her children is Nanay Lucia*. Everyday of her life, she devotes most of her time taking good care of her children and leading them to the right direction. She believes that training, despite the fact that they belong to IP community, starts at home.

Non Government Organization like Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan or KALAHI founded the 947-meter constructed road going to the mountain top where their shelters and livelihoods are found. The construction of the road was initially budgeted from the NGO with 1.5 million and was added after nearly a year with another one million by the local government.

Paving a more convenient path to success, the constructed road has been a great boon to the IP community in helping them accomplish the things they aim to have. They may still lack some good things in life but with the help of few people who appreciated their value as a human; their lives are somehow being placed in a prosperous side of existence.

Thus, faith in their generation especially when it comes to education was inculcated to the heart of Rona and Roy*. They believe that with proper education, their dreams to become professionals would become more affordable someday. They only need to work hard to make their dreams come true

TWEAK OF TIME | Jelyn finally (rightmost) overcame the uneasiness every time she would enter the gate of socialization through education. Living in Mt. Tag-ao during her younger years, bullying was still one of the problems she can do nothing but to face as an IP student.

RONA’S*SIGHTS OF POSITIVITY

SLOPE OF HOPE

STORIES OF STRUGGLES LIKE THAT OF ROY’S*

SMILES OF AN ATI MOTHER WITH HER CHILDREN

PENUMBRA OF CHANGE | The last day of the month of October was not wasted for nothing as the staff of The Radiance accepted the challenge to finally climb the mountain top that will lead them to the territory of the IP community of Mt. Tag-ao.

2,593,555

FILIPINO IP LEARNERS WHO ARE ENROLED IN DEPED SCHOOLS NATIONWIDE

39,994

PUBLIC SCHOOLS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ARE ACCOMMODATING THEM

14-17

MILLION INDIGENOUS PEOPLE BELONG TO 110 ETHNOLINGUISTIC GROUPS “*” means not the real name

DACUTON, DUMARAO, CAPIZ | SCHOOLS DIVISION OF CAPIZ | REGION VI - WESTERN VISAYAS | PHILIPPINES

PENUMBRA OF CHANGE The last day of the month of October was not wasted for nothing as the staff of The Radiance, the official school press corps of Mayor Ramon A. Benjamin Sr. National High School, accepted the challenge to finally climb the mountain top that will lead them to the territory of the indigenous people of Mt. Tag-ao.

Beads of sweat and heavy breathing can be seen and heard as the gleaming sun beamed at them.

Accompanied by not just their limited household gifts for some of the IP families in the area, the rejoicing heart that aims to acknowledge the formerly unreachable beings was overflowed with fulfillment.

Reaching on top, they have seen sights of development. Houses are finally made of blocks. Electricity lights homes. Gadgets are not outdated. Indigenous people are not out of reach no more.

Staying steadfast to their passion to give appreciation to the IP communities, The Radiance never falters to acknowledge the value and presence of these people in our society. Not only that, the Department of Education also continues to provide protection and help to cope with matters such as access to jobs, livelihood support, and quality education.

Reaching out is indeed a noble action. Indigenous people have gone out of their shells and what they truly need is acceptance and love from the society. Just like what Mother Theresa taught us, “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.”

The stories of Jelyn, Roy*, Rona* and Nanay Lucia* are just some of the realities that IP communities have to face. But these are stories worthy of emulation, worthy to be shared and worthy to be taken inspiration from.

The struggles they face and the chances they take might knock them down but they are not breaking.

They need to keep going and they have to be strong. There will always be literally an uphill battle for them but just as the song says, ‘ain’t about how fast you get there and ain’t about what’s waiting on the other side’. Now, what matters? ‘It’s the climb.’

THE RADIANCE

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The Official Student Press Corps of Mayor Ramon A. Benjamin Sr. National High School

6 opinion

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Beacon of Freedom & Flagship of Change

VOL. 9. NO. 1

VOICES

OCTOBER 2019

RAINBOW’S FAIR ENDS

EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL CARTOON BY | JOSEPH LASAP

Sharing the same privilege and stabilizing fair shake with one another regardless of shape, belief, culture, or sexual orientation are what a nation which hopes for a positive growth aims to attain however as House Bill no.

258 or an Act prohibiting discrimination on the basis of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity or Expression (SOGIE) was further pushed, threat to ethical standards and misconception of right and wrong conduct can be triggered.

EMPTY BASKETS

Farmers – the plowers of hope and sowers of a great nation. Yet, nothing is more lamentable than our farmers being neglected by the government; left to shackles of poverty and drudgery. Nowadays, the plight of Filipino rice farmer is totally worst with the signing of Rice Tariffication Act or RA 11203 by President Rodrigo Duterte. This has raised fears over its adverse effects not just to the farmers but to the whole nation.

The fear is not unfounded. Rice prices nowadays are endangering the income and livelihood of more than two million Filipino rice farmers nationwide. The new law aims to protect the rice industry from volatile prices and consumers from rising inflation by liberalizing rice importation even to small players. In fact, recent reports show that the Philippines has become the number one rice importer, overtaking China.

But at the receiving end of this measure are the hapless farmers. Data confirm farm gate prices plummeted to as low as P9 per kilo in Pampanga and P7 per kilo in Nueva Ecija and Bataan. Worse, the buying price of locally-grown-and -produced rice continue to hit record lows. At this juncture, we firmly believe that the law which replaced the old import quotas and tariffs so that anyone can import rice which aims to lessen the burden of Filipino farmers is to be blamed.

The rice tariffication law not only directly affected the rice industry, other businesses which make use by products from rice are also inevitably hit by the onslaught of rice imports from countries such as Vietnam and Thailand. According to Deutsche Bank, liberalizing rice imports “will help, but will not solve the Philippines’ inflation problem.”

As an agricultural country, the government still does not invest heavily on modernizing agriculture and educating farmers. In fact, Senator Cynthia Villar even criticized the Department of Agriculture’s allocation for research saying that what the farmer needs is immediate help. This of course is a fallacy because we are yet to see long-term investments in sustainable production. During the latest El Nino phenomenon, 247,610 farmers and fisherfolks were affected.

The National Economic and Development Authority contends that the law was created to fulfill the country’s obligation to the World Trade Organization, which the Philippines has been a member since 1995. While the law stipulates loans to farmers of up to P15,000 at zero interest, payable in 8 years, we strongly believe that this law is a total burden to our poor cultivators who are now on the brink of selling their lands. Our farmers simply could not compete with cheaper rice imported from ASEAN countries. The high cost of tilling the land to grow rice is not a lucrative effort for farmers anymore, seeing that the buying price is only five pesos.

As student journalists, we have to continue educating our communities and stakeholders of the negative impacts of the new rice tariffication bill. It is part of our duty to empower communities, being the vigilant watchdogs and fearless mouthpieces of the poor and marginalized. It is our duty to provide enlightenment and voice to those who are deprived of their power to fight for their right. Writing about the plight of our farmers is one step toward unshackling them from poverty, ignorance, and oppression.

It is therefore crucial for our government to invest heavily on agriculture. Widening the reach of irrigation through building more infrastructures is imperative. The government also needs to expedite and continue to provide access to farmers and their produce through more farm-to-market roads. Most of all, scrapping the rice tariffication law is essential to ensuring the future of our farmers and this country.

Rice is a Filipino staple, be it the rich or the poor, and a pivotal political commodity in the Philippines. If the farmers are demotivated to grow and produce rice because of the prevailing low prices per kilo, we cannot achieve sustainable production and supply of rice now and in the years to come. It is said that if the farmer is poor then so is the whole country. The government must do everything in its power to make sure that the rice granary of the country, its basket, is not empty.

EDITORIAL BOARD PRINCESS NICOLE ALIVAR Editor-in-chief MARK ANTHONY BAJADA JOANNA GRACE BERINGUEL Associate Editor LHEM SEJADE ABORDE Managing Editor JEFF HASIGAN AXEL PAUL ATAZA Asst. Managing Editor

BENJIE HALLARDA Sports CLAIRE ARSENAL Column VANESSA MAE HALLARDA Filipino EUME MUYCO Science RAQUESHA ERA PARDILLA MAYLEN SUMAGPAO KRISTINE ALFUENTE Junior Editorial Staff

SECTION EDITORS

EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS

ARIES BANGCOYO FLORIE JANE SIMEROS News EDEN PUNSALAN CAMELLE FROPONGA Feature

JOSEPH LASAP Creative Artist J-ZIARRA VIENZ ALADA Layout & Graphic Artist KEITH BRYAN MINGUILLO Editorial Cartoonist

ALLYZA ATAZA KURT SIANDEL PEDROSA BRYAN PEREZ Consultants BRITNEY KYLE LAURON SHANEL ASHLEY VALDEZ JASHMINE ANDREA VENTAR Editorial Staff SHINA MAY FONTINILLA JUVY MAYOR Co-advisers (Filipino) HAZEKIAH PARRENO ROXANNE GUILLERMO Co-advisers (English) PHILIP JAYSON FALCIS Adviser JOCILYN GIALOGO Principal

EDITORIAL POLICY | The Radiance is the official student press corps of Mayor Ramon A. Benjamin Sr. National High School located at Dacuton, Dumarao, Capiz. It is published twice every school year which stands as a breed of scholastic campus writers center of campus journalism as the voice of the studentry waving the BEACON OF FREEDOM and FLAGSHIP OF CHANGE. Contributors, comments and suggestions may be sent to the editors. The opinions herein are the views of the authors and cannot be taken as the position of the school as such. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written consent to the press corps. All rights reserved.

Being blind to sexual orientation as it is, the law would be tantamount to special interest even it is certainly agreeable that Philippine law should uphold the basic human rights of everyone.

LGBTs enjoy the same rights to equality and non-discrimination as all Filipino citizens already within the reasonable bounds of law and an orderly society, thus I firmly believe our law need not to afford LGBTs special rights.

Loaded with legal infirmities and unsettling questions on social acceptability and feasibility of implementation as what Citizen’s Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) Party list Representative Eddie Villanueva said, instead of promoting equality, the SOGIE Bill will only unduly give special rights to some members of societies at the expense of others. Also, the said bill blatantly violates the Constitution which expresses that to desecrate one gender is to desecrate the family as well which is the very basic foundation of the nation. The bill is no less but a subtle invasion to destroy the whole nation by the virtue of legislation.

Not only is this against the essence of democratic rule, it also illogically violates the doctrine of equal treatments as well as the idea of human rights being universal. Intending to say that there is no difference between the rest of the Philippine population and the LGBT, and then proceeds to provide rights and protections to the LGBT that the rest of community does not enjoy is a right that is very eccentric and unreasonable.

Furthermore, Senator Aquilino Pimentel III also questioned the need for a SOGIE Bill, saying that some acts of discrimination are “already covered “under present laws. The senator said that some discriminatory acts may be covered by Republic Act No. 11313 or the Safe Spaces Act, which covers forms of sexual harassment and use of words or gestures that ridicule on the basis of sex, gender, or sexual orientation among others acts.

Ending discrimination against and abuse of people based on their SOGIE – their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression and constantly fighting that it does not infringe on religions doctrines, teachings and rights is a good intention, however I still strongly urge the Senate not to pass the bill as it threatens academic freedom and puts into question the very foundation of the country’s laws.

As descent human being who respect the rights of others, I believe that people need to work towards a world where everyone is equal regardless of being LGBT or not, no special rights; where no one is afraid of going to school to be bullied, LGBT or not; where all are not made to suffer crimes, regardless of sexual orientation, and where everyone is considered equal in all aspects of life.

It is therefore needed for all lawmakers to focus on the ‘essence’ of the bill which is PRINCESS NICOLE ALIVAR to afford all Filipinos and LGBT community members

FALSETTO

...“the said bill blatantly violates the Constitution which expresses that to desecrate one gender is to desecrate the family as well which is the very basic foundation of the nation. The bill is no less but a subtle invasion to destroy the whole nation by the virtue of legislation.” the same rights when it comes to work, schooling, receiving services from the government, access to public establishments and not to be insulted in the streets.

No matter what, where, or who we are; black, white, or copper skinned; extra-large or medium sized or even being an adam or eve, we should always protect each other’s right fairly and make sure that no one should be deprived of their right. As we continue to hope for a world where everyone can exist equally with peace, let us not forget that every rainbow has fair ends also.

ABOUT THE MUGSHOT Behind the hedge of spears is a lie coated with sweets. Enwrap the lie and the poison will harm you twice. But with the unflagging voice of accuracy, toxins can be spitted out of your soul. Let the sound of conviction step up within you. Speak the truth even your voice shakes and withdraws.

DACUTON, DUMARAO, CAPIZ | SCHOOLS DIVISION OF CAPIZ | REGION VI - WESTERN VISAYAS | PHILIPPINES

Beacon of Freedom & Flagship of Change

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The Official Student Press Corps of Mayor Ramon A. Benjamin Sr. National High School

VOL. 8. NO. 1

VOI C ES

OCTOBER 2019

INVADE US NOT! “Xi sells shellfish from our seashore.”

These are the words that were flaunted on the posters being raised by the poor Filipino protestants who are being deprived of their territorial rights while the red flag freely waves its flag on their land. Arbitral Case Tribunal took side with the Philippines and the “nine-dash line” of China were trashed, but how come that Chinese people cross over the Philippine’s strait without any notice and what’s worse is they keep on watching at the Scarborough Shoal with their giant warships threatening our small fishermen and harvesting our own natural resources illegally.

This is not an act of friendship, this is an abuse to our silence, harassment to our fellow Filipino and an underestimation us to our size.

When this issue won’t be settled, there will be an ‘elephant versus ant war’, and surely Philippines will fade out in the world map if this will happen.

The rivalry began when China released a nine-dash line and tendash line which is strongly opposed by various Asian countries such as Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Philippines. According to Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio, China’s conquest in territory began in 1932, when it claimed the Paracel islands.

The expansion of military and economic power is the reason why China is interested in the West Philippine Sea because it is rich in oil, petroleum, and minerals. We have to rely to the facts and not only to react to what other says.

Some of the arguments that discussed at PCA is the ‘historical rights’ of China that according to it, China claims the South China Sea for centuries, however it was trashed because even if true, these historical rights have no bearing on sea disputes under UNCLOS. Carpio explains that UNCLOS extinguished all historical rights of other states. Another is the Nine-dash line which has no basis whatsoever under international law insofar as it purports to define the limits of China’s claim to ‘historic rights.’ Evidences say the truth; China has no entitlement to the West Philippine Sea. The Duterte administration must act about it. Our government should secure that no foreign vessels can enter the Philippine waters without authority. However, for now, we should prolong our temper to avoid a horrible war that may happen between countries that once became friends. *** Our commuters are humans not sardines!

Everyday, people who go to work, school, and home on a daily basis undeniably suffers a crisis in transportation. They fight for a battle of tight and overcrowded transport system which also slow down the progress of our country. Time is gold they say. We should not waste every second, but what happened right now is clearly a big problem if not given a solution.

Filipinos have long suffered mobility issues. This disproportionately affects the most vulnerable in the country: the young and the elderly, the women, the poor, the working class and the persons with disabilities who mostly rely on public transportation and active transport in every part of the country.

It affects many Filipinos especially to urban areas such as Manila, Cebu, and Davao because of the heavy traffic. It is MARK ANTHONY BAJADA

VIBRATTO

...“Those who wakes up early in the morning and leave their home not even the sun has risen.

They left their children asleep, and when goin’ back home, it’s evening already and they can’t even eat together with their family. ” a huge obstruction to the quality of life that many Filipinos have to endure just to arrive at their destinations on time. Eventually, we can say that our commuters today are lack of dignity. Our public transport systems, sometimes, have mechanical defects which brings inconvenience to people who are trying to catch the time but it seems that they have to wait for a couple of hours to arrive.

It’s so sad and I pity those people whose quality of life is being compromised. Those who wakes up early in the morning and leave their home not even the sun has risen. They left their children asleep, and when goin’ back home, it’s evening already and they can’t even eat together with their family. The time consumed in the transportation must be spent on their family. This problem should be stopped. It is not right that after you arrive at work, your clothes are mangled up and smells like sour sweat because you are struggling to just have a seat, but you can’t sit either. This is too much. The sacrifices of our commuters should be done.

Our government should act in this problem, not just discuss and discuss this problem again and again.

We really lack means of transportation. Sometimes, LRT and MRT were bagged down and causes a delay to commuters. We loss millions or even billions of pesos everyday because of the time that has been wasted which supposed to be spent on the work. We can’t barely notice that our economy is going down because of poor productivity of people who experienced commuting problems.

For me, we should have a strong law that will govern the rights of our commuters and also a law that listens to the voice of the people who are in-need of action. People of the Philippines, senators, and government officials, I’ll tell you, this is not a joke anymore. We must do something on it before this problem became our critical concern.

Doing what is good for our country is exceptional. It is important to help so these rebels, drug addicts, and law violators will stop to play a role in our community. In accordance to this, the House of Representatives passed on final reading the bill reviving the mandatory military training program for senior high school students. A law under the National Service Training Program (NSTP) signed by President Gloria M. Arroyo in 2002.

Corruption, hazing, and violence.

These will instill throughout the nation if ROTC will be revived. If not stopped, this will ruin students specifically the senior high school. It is perilous to students for violence will come in abruptly. So I strongly disagree to impose again this program.

Remember the death of Mark Chua, a student of the University of Santo Tomas who exposed the alleged irregularities in his unit. The revival of this program mentioned, will kill more innocent students in the future. Do we need to die just for our country? No. Our life is precious so why do we need to do something violent?

Well, this will test our patriotism and love for our homeland. But for me, this is a spy simply taking chance to take lives.

However, according to Anakbayan National Chairman Vencer Crisostomo, ROTC is ‘abusive and burdensome’. This should be abolished not made mandatory, which is a great idea to lessen crime all throughout the nation.

Postponement is real again not just for the first nor second, but for the third time.

Under Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s administration, the holdback of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections is not that surprising anymore.

Lately this year, the Congress moved to postpone the next year’s BSKE to May 2023 in a unanimous decision.

Many Filipino citizens, belonging to the young or old age bracket, gets ballistic and infuriated without even hearing further explanations why this has happened again. Yes, barangay and SK elections were already postponed twice under the Duterte administration. The polls were first postponed from October 2016 to October 2017, then pushed back once more to May 2018 after Duterte signed Republic Act No. 10952. But we can’t just go and protest to allow the May 2020 BSKE to happen if the President and the senate have finally decided to move it.

Variables. Many variables are part of the reason why it has to be postponed. In our advanced world today, where everything is developing and progressing, we also need leaders who can make our nation prosperous and ready to perform their duties as ‘leaders’.

And by means of being ready, that doesn’t just stop physically but with mental, emotional, social and spiritual readiness. Thus, in line with Pres. Duterte’s wish during his fourth State of the Nation Address, the tentative schedule of local polls would have been May 11, 2020 but with the proposed postponement, it will be held three years later.

The said postponement is only

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THE RADIANCE

opinion 7 CRIPPLED SOCIETY

“The revival of this program mentioned, will kill more innocent students in the future. Do we need to die just for our country? No. Our life is precious so why do we need to do something violent?”

CANTUS FIRMU JEFF HASIGAN

More issues and grafts will rise and this country would sink through the deepest void of violence. Students would know the rules and techniques in using dreadful weapons which may cause to quarrels and misunderstanding.

Department of Education Secretary Leonor M. Briones said that the program would provide the Philippines a source of defense and would help to instill discipline and patriotism among students. Well, she’s having a different perspective but I have this part that ROTC will ruin and will continue to downcast the future of Senior High School students.

As a journalist and marked as the ‘mouthpiece’ and ‘watchdog’ of the society, I have this role to spread true, accurate, and nonbiased news that my fellowmen

will know. We’re the light-bearer to give brightness to the darkened world.

In response to this issue, why won’t the government critically brainstorm for some programs to do the project and save our country? Why shouldn’t they make plans and critique each one so that no one will spare his/her life again.

Government have good leaders but such a foul activity covers this homeland.

I hope the government, together with those people concerned about our country, will do something to stop ROTC, so that this activity won’t ruin us. If it gives good image t the government, then it’s better. But I have this simplest wish that ROTC will give our country a blissful future, not a crippled society.

one of the ways that our leaders can totally prove theirselves to those who are hopeful for them. The long three years could be enough for them to let their proposals, platforms, and projects flourish so our fellowmen could really take benefit from it.

Moreover, according to the data by Philippine Statistics Authority, there are 42,045 barangays in the Philippines. In the May 2019 elections, data from the Commission on Elections confirm that there are about 61 million voters in the Philippines. Of there 31% or more than 18 million comprise the young people, known as ‘millennials’ who were born from mid-90s and early 2000s.

This data doesn’t just show how many citizens will be affected by the elections and take part to it but it also shows the importance and impact of choosing the most prepared ones for the future of our nation is at stake and they must perform well to save our tomorrow.

Despite the advancement of technology that made the people in today’s age more skilled and honed to become the product of the future, I still believe that our town and village leaders have not yet shown the full growth they had and have not yet reached their full potential. It hasn’t been just my eye who have seen and noticed this but also our government did.

Not all the time, our government could be selfish and evil. There would always be times wherein they’re considerate of things that could lead to the betterment of our fellowmen and country. Just like the postponement of the BSKE, this simply implies to our town and village leaders to make a more remarkable move and continue in moving as it is part of their responsibility to make our lifestyle easier and our nation prosperous. They’re like runners inside the oval who cannot reach their finish line yet, for it is their unfinished moving race.

UNFINISHED MOVING RACE “Many variables are part of the reason why it has to be postponed.

In our advanced world today, where everything is developing and progressing, we also need leaders who can make our nation prosperous and ready to perform their duties as ‘leaders’. ”

DACUTON, DUMARAO, CAPIZ | SCHOOLS DIVISION OF CAPIZ | REGION VI - WESTERN VISAYAS | PHILIPPINES

CRESCENDO

JOANNA GRACE BERINGUEL

THE RADIANCE

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The Official Student Press Corps of Mayor Ramon A. Benjamin Sr. National High School

8 feature

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Beacon of Freedom & Flagship of Change

Sweet success from legendary

BY PRINCESS NICOLE ALIVAR

go.

Ingredients? Check. Unfaltering hands? Ready. Steadfast heart and skill? Fit to

In a small kitchen room, there waves a legendary hand which not just strains the fine from coarse ones but also the negativities from the gratifying boons, not just mixes some various ingredients to cook but also blends different pieces of positivity to accomplish goals, and does not only produce mouth-watering delicacies but also paramount beings whom she has molded with her own magic and tools.

Continuing her steps to the muddy road and her not-so straight path which blockades her smooth journey to greater heights, 49-yearold Berlita Falcis has impressively dominated and proved a lot after many years of her establishment as a small kakanin vendor who continues to dream big not just for herself but for her beloved family. More trials and errors have come along her way which showed that her ability to conquer challenges from the start of her journey made her the being she has become.

From the heart of Capiz, Roxas City, it takes 60-km to reach and locate Barangay Puti-an, Cuartero, Capiz where the home of their “kakanins with love” are found. Standing tall and firm, even not in literal manner, their only home has sheltered them enough to create outstanding humans and build a stronger relationship with each and every one in their family.

HANDMADE IS HEARTMADE Wife to 51-year-old Henry Falcis, Mama Berlita has shown the true essence of being a mother. Waking up early to get ready for another productive day ahead, doing her everyday routine as both a mother and a sprightful vendor, and staying up late at night to prepare anew for tomorrow’s sunshine, made her become the parent a child would always want to have.

Pushing them to work harder and earn higher are their three children who brought out the best of their parenthood. Raising all three gentlemen, feeding them

3-times a day, sending them to descent schools, and wishing nothing but the best for all of them gave her the determination and perseverance to make use of her skill in cooking and selling her specialties in order to provide the necessities of her loved ones.

“Mayad na lang nga maghimo ko sini kesa mangutang (I prefer doing these than just lend money from anyone),” says Berlita. No matter how tiring it is, no matter how physically or mentally adverse it is, or no matter how it causes a severe pain in the back, it will never stop her to do the things that helped her family conquer life’s challenges and made them the better beings they are today.

MAGIC HAND. MIXING WAND. Like a fairy with a magic wand in her hand, Berlita also holds a wand-like cooking tool in order to produce her specialties and one of these is her special Puto Lanson or locally known as “aripahol”. This Filipino delicacy is a type of steamed cake from the Visayas region made with grated cassava, coconut, and brown sugar, perfect for a snack or dessert. Aside from aripahol, Mama Berlita also produces other kakanins such as Cassava Suman or “Alupi”, Inday-Inday, Banana Fritter or “Combo”, “Ibos” and more.

Selling for almost 26 years, Mama Berlita’s kakanins have reached not just within their community or locally but also set foot across the world particularly in Hong Kong and Canada.

Berlita’s delicacies became a hit not just to

their community members but also to Overseas Filipino Workers, professionals, and others who made the product reached other places.

Starting from 50 centavos, to 2-3 pesos, to 5 pesos, until it costs 10 pesos, the kakanins did not ever fail her customers or “suki”. They always welcome the awesomeness in their taste buds and in fact, she never experienced not selling everything out.

PERSISTENCE AT ITS FINEST The difference between impossible and possible lies in a person’s determination. To achieve success in any venture, one need to take cognizance of some essentials that are pivotal in bagging any form of success if correctly applied. Being just a kakanin vendor or should we say, being a noble kakanin vendor who strives hard to provide what her family needs and wants is a job worthy to be acknowledged.

Aside from giving enough provision which always satisfies her loved ones, Mama Berlita and her business also paved way to a more sustainable living. For how many years of sending her kids to school, at last, the time where she could somehow taste the fruit of her labor has finally arrive. Entering in a Christian school, Philip Jayson Falcis, Mama Berlita’s first born, has made his parents more than prouder as he did not just finished college, he also graduated with flying colors and became summa cum laude. He did that! A child of a kakanin vendor did that!

Life consists of experiences; all of which are building blocks that essentially creates ones path to success. In one’s lifetime they can experience tough and difficult challenges. Sometimes these challenges become unbearable, especially when the odds are against you.

However, going

Last legendary weaver No ethnicity or race can hinder a gift of talent that deserves to be seen by the society. Every single ability has its purpose that prepares you to your lifetime destiny.

And for those virtuoso indigenous people, they were able to easily break the stigma in the society that made them feel peculiar. Through their own form of art and livelihood, they were saved not just from the everyday poverty but also from the rejective human race.

Her everyday routine seems so endless.

Since the day she sprung from the roots of the Aeta community, Amalia Valencia couldn’t just stop weaving for our pennies and bills to have its native home—the malam-an, is an aboriginal wallet that’s just one of IPs products worth to be proud of.

At the age of 71, she could still not stop entwining the leaves of buri and nito to form her masterpiece, the malam-an wallet or can even be used as a small pouch. Her clear vision has not aged compared to her longtime existence. Though she can’t speak well, this didn’t affect her dexterous hands with every malam-an she

created in as fast as two hours.

Amalia even learned this from her previous great ancestors. The pride and legacy was then passed to her which made her one of the oldest malam-an wallet maker.

Her masterwork can even be considered as one of the magnum opus of the Aeta community as it is one of their greatest achievement or greatest work of their elders.

And even sold in a cheap price, you can have this eco-friendly wallet just for 50-pesos and it’s all worth the money a s

you have not just gave yourself a nice pocket hand but have touched the lives of other based on how you appreciated their work.

Up to this day, Amalia still doesn’t rest just to make malam-an not for the sake of money but to a calling and that’s how to make their community well known and how their art crafts will be appreciated by not just our fellow Filipino, but also by the world that they can get along the society despite all the discriminations they have undergone.

The last weaver from their tribe, Amalia might be old enough and time will come that she will pass this world yet she stays unbothered and unshaken as all her life, she lives to just weave.

DACUTON, DUMARAO, CAPIZ | SCHOOLS DIVISION OF CAPIZ | REGION VI - WESTERN VISAYAS | PHILIPPINES

PHOTOS BY | Eden Punsalan

BY JOANNA GRACE BERINGUEL

Beacon of Freedom & Flagship of Change

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The Official Student Press Corps of Mayor Ramon A. Benjamin Sr. National High School

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feature 9

A dusty box. A dusty box was opened and as it was unfolded, a glossy black fountain pen,was waiting. It wasn’t just an ordinary calligraphy pen for it was archaic that lived a life longer than yours, a life that began even before you existed.

A scrunched scroll. A scrunched scroll was then unrolled to reveal what’s inside it. Bamboozling symbols, ambiguous characters, and bizarre scripture was to be seen. It seemed to be outdated that can be misinterpreted as a code used by agents and spies, but it wasn’t.

The scroll and pen wasn’t any ordinary antiquated stuffs but is part of the preserved culture and tradition of our early Filipino ancestors. The unusual scripture found was an example of a Baybayin script, and it was owned by Ted Villanueva who’s fond of knowing and learning the history of the Baybayin.

The 26-year old secondary school teacher at a private school in Bacolod City is an impressive Baybayin writer, culture preservationist, and a patriot to his country. And having a deep-rooted love for the Philippines’ alluring culture and fascinating tradition, being engaged to Baybayin and its history have captured him more and awoken his sleeping interest in learning Baybayin that eventually led him to his undying passion— just like how Baybayin continue to live despite its ageless milestone.

PHOTO CREDITS | Ser Peyep Fb account

against all odds is something everyone is capable of doing, and to overcome these challenges everyone needs to have a “never quit” attitude in life.

As life challenges continue to come to their way, their motivation still remained down-theline which brought significant attainments to them. Sweats, scars and bruises are normal to a person who really aims for the best. No one could ever make it to the other side of the road without showing signs of hardships or initial failures.

Just like sugar, spice, or anything nice, the ingredients needed for everyone who wanted to have improvement in their lives are dedication and persistence and Mama Berlita just showed to us how this works and how it helps a person a c h i e v e the things they always wanted.

Based on Wikipedia, Baybayin is an indigenous Indic script that has been widely used in traditional Tagalog domains. It is one of many suyat scripts in the Philippines. It continued to be used during the early part of the Spanish colonization of the Philippines until largely being supplanted by usage of the Latin alphabet.

Time. You will never know what time brings you. Just like for Sir Ted, who can still trace back how he was greatly affected by our own preserved set of alphabet, he started to immersed with Baybayin last 2017. He can’t even determine if it’s coincidence or a twist of fate but he could freshly remember how he was enchanted that time.

He was attending a seminar for teachers organized by their school.

During the snack break, he came across a post in social media about Baybayin. Before that moment, he had previous encounters already with Baybayin but he didn’t mind it at all knowing that he doesn’t have that leisure or free time to study about it and just by looking at it, he thought of how difficult it was to learn the said alphabet.

And yes, you will never know when is the perfect timing and when is not. It’s like the value of time played a game against you. So from that moment on, in that typical ordinary seminar, he decided to focus on learning the script. With the help of the internet and fact checking on different sites, he finally learned how to write Baybayin and gained nothing from the seminar. Still, it was a winning momentum for him who may not earned a single knowledge about the seminar but accumulated a priceless wisdom that will live forevermore as it has been part of our legacy that was hardly built with much effort and fully protected with preservation by our greatest ancestors.

Through learning and loving the art of literature brought by Baybayin, Sir Ted was dragged even more deeper in loving and knowing the history, culture and tradition of our country. He tangled and tackled the history of the script through research and workshops, wherein he learned things that he could never imagine learning at the school ground.

“Right now, Baybayin is integrated in the things that I do, especially in arts and designs. I also added teaching Baybayin in my skill set. If given the chance to talk and do writeshops for anyone who would like to understand and learn about the script, I would gladly take it,” says the inspiring modern Baybayin writer.

And to those who have no background about Baybayin but is really willing to learn about this script, he left us with pieces of advice and tip to avoid in believing certain misconceptions:

1. It is not called Alibata.

Alibata is a misnomer.

Baybayin and Alibata are the same thing except that Alibata is the wrong term.

It’s also been called Sulat Tagalog and other names but Alibata has stuck so don’t call it Alibata, it’s a common misconception.

2. Baybayin is not used by pre-colonial Filipino. It is used by the Tagalog people only. There are other scripts in the different part of the Philippines that is different from Baybayin. An example for this is Surat Hanunuo, the script of the Hanunuo tribe in Mindoro.

3. Every Filipino should know is that writing Baybayin is easy.

It’s not hard even though many say it is. The alphabet that we are used to has 26 characters. Baybayin has 17. And when talking about numbers, learning 17 characters is easier than learning 26 characters.

“I wish that many Filipino will start engaging in writing and learning about the script. It is true that we have many challenges in using baybayin today. But appreciation of our culture is different from being ‘in’. I hope that baybayin will not end in shirts, logos, or designs alone,” he adds.

Baybayin is such a beautiful piece of our cultural art and heritage.

It shouldn’t be a missing piece but it shall be carved and engraved in our hearts and souls as we’re part of the Filipino community, Baybayin is just one of our pride and treasures.

Just like what Sir Ted is doing, we must also make way to preserve it.

Just like by learning Baybayin, it can be a gateway for us today to go back to our forgotten and neglected past where we can renew it in our present and let the future generation see the beauty in every stroke of it.

Legend in every stroke

PHOTO CREDITS | Ted Villanueva Fb account

BY JOANNA GRACE BERINGUEL

DACUTON, DUMARAO, CAPIZ | SCHOOLS DIVISION OF CAPIZ | REGION VI - WESTERN VISAYAS | PHILIPPINES

Beacon of Freedom & Flagship of Change

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The Official Student Press Corps of Mayor Ramon A. Benjamin Sr. National High School

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THE RADIANCE

VOL. 9. NO. 1

P ROFILE

OCTOBER 2019

HERO SANS CAPE

The legendary tale of Mayor Ramon A. Benjamin Sr. and his legacy to the people of Dumarao

BY JOANNA GRACE BERINGUEL

“To be doing good deeds is a man’s most glorious task.”

These are the intellectual words by one of the most famous and celebrated writers of tragedy plays in ancient Greece, the great Sophocles. These utterances he had can be reflected to the life of the late Mayor Ramon Arancillo Benjamin Sr., who had his name engraved in the history of Dumarao as the longest serving mayor to hold office for four terms.

“He is a pious, staunch, and man of strong character. He is also a supporter of the church and a generous benefactor to many deserving less privileged,” says Hon. Leslie Warren Benjamin to his grandfather and former town mayor Ramon A. Benjamin Sr.

At Nov. 13, 1908 in the town of sadness that’s now known as town of Dumarao in Capiz, the ‘one of a kind’ public servant was born to spouses Heracleo Benjamin and Carolina Arancillo.

Since then, Ramon Sr. had a bestowing heart. He’s like the Cinderella boy version of having a kind heart and courageous personality.

For him, doing good deed is not just a task to fulfill as a public servant. He considers this just like a dharma, something that is part of his lifestyle. And a particular spot in his life is filled with complete joyance whenever he helps and does good work.

In line with these, some of his achievements were being the president of Dumarao Parish Council & Director General of the 4th Centennial Executive Committee for the 4th Centennial Celebration.

And even before running for Mayor, he was first elected as Vice Mayor of the town in November of the 1940 local elections. There after the war (Post Liberation Period), he finally ran for two successive terms as Municipal Mayor without any opposition.

During his third term, he had an opponent during the election but he again won.

Still unstoppable, he ran for a fourth term when his third

term was expired but this time, he lost. But still hopeful to continue serving his people, he grabbed the chance of another election that came.

Finally, he regained his spot and this was his fourth yet last term. Though his regime have ended a long time ago, he still emerged in the history of Dumarao as the only mayor elected four times by his constituents.

The well-known town leader was captivated by the lovely Estefenia Montemayor, a native of Alaminos, Pangasinan whom he got married with. They were blessed with four prosperous and professional children— Reynaldo, Nida, Ramon Jr., and Heracleo.

“He is a pious, staunch, and man of strong character.

He is also a supporter of the church and a generous benefactor to many deserving less privileged,” says Hon. Leslie Warren Benjamin, the Vice Mayor of Dumarao and grandson of Ramon Sr. as he described how was his late grandfather as a person.

Ramon Sr. didn’t just focused on the political views and strings but also appraise education and become instrumental to the establishment of the first private catholic school - Our Lady of the Snows Institute in

TALE BEHIND THE NAME

1966. He prioritized education by donating lots of his own to Dacuton Barangay High School now MRABSNHS and this philanthropic spirit influenced his scions to do the same.

He also helped in uplifting livelihood by opening the Dacuton Public Market during his term and he even opened lots for Dacuton Public Plaza.

“He was a strong willed Mayor, respectable leader

to witness. Though he came from a background where he didn’t show off the good things he did to honor modesty, still his good works and veridical deeds left a trail that’s imprinted on the hearts of the Dumaraonon people.

Just like to the longest school name in Capiz, the Mayor Ramon A. Benjamin Sr. National High School (MRABSNHS), it is just a simple way to honor the living legacy of Ramon Sr. who

...“For him, doing good deed is not just a task for him to fulfill as a public servant. He considers this just like a dharma, something that is part of his lifestyle. “ to Dumaraonons but with a kind heart. He was also a family man who looked up to a brighter future of his children.

He was a stern disciplinarian to ensure his children to become successful in their career,” Hon. Leslie adds as to describe his grandpa on how inspiring Ramon Sr. was not just to him or to his family, but to the whole Dumaraonon community.

The legacy of Ramon Sr. will forevermore live not just in the present generation, but also for the future ones

remains as a role model in the world of public service. He who never got tired of doing little things for others, made those little things occupy a big spot in the community’s hearts.

He will forever be acknowledged as a hero for saving the lives of many in terms of education, livelihood and even political dynasties. Ramon Sr. may have passed away but his patrimony remains and will forever be a hero, but not just in cape.

WORDS AND GRAPHICS BY MARK ANTHONY BAJADA

DACUTON, DUMARAO, CAPIZ | SCHOOLS DIVISION OF CAPIZ | REGION VI - WESTERN VISAYAS | PHILIPPINES

Not everyone has freedom to express and not all who can express has freedom Too many are blind of societal realities, and too few dare to make a stand While others are bold enough, the rest are still oppressed As journalists, we serve to hold the line.

Unchain the melody of truth. Release the screams of growth. Yell with the speechless. And be bold to stand with press freedom.

Your voice matters.

A Statement by THE RADIANCE Photography: Mark Anthony Bajada Concept & Text: Princess Nicole Alivar Model: Charles Francis Mayors

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The Official Student Press Corps of Mayor Ramon A. Benjamin Sr. National High School

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Beacon of Freedom & Flagship of Change

VOL. 9. NO. 1

SOCIET Y

OCTOBER 2019

Away from monstrosity EDITORIAL CARTOON BY | JOSEPH LASAP

BY JOANNA GRACE BERINGUEL

Different stories.

Different testimonies. Science may or may not tell. But they are connected and lead to one main point as we witness them every day - moral decays.

In some hideous dark alley of the streets, or some prestigious hotels or conference rooms, or in some justified or government property buildings, or even in your own comfortable room, immorality can uprise and rule over you.

A porno enthusiast. A suicidal daughter. A wild and woolly youngster. A harum-scarum ladylove. The world’s a stage and they are just some of the filthy masked characters set to play.

CHAPTER 1: BLINDNESS After an onerous and stressful day at school, he suddenly slammed the door in his room without even bothering to give her mom a peck on the cheeks or just utter the words ‘I’m home.’ As he entered his foully and squally room with random stinky socks and boxers at the floor, he then threw his bag at the side and he flashed a naughty smirk while holding his greatest possession—his phone.

There, history repeats itself. A routine, a disgusting routine that happens not just to him, but to almost all populace especially to those part of the young people bracket.

He opened it again. Just few taps on his mobile phone bring up a frequently viewed website with the black and orange logo couple with a motif of the same colors. As the ‘play video’ icon is pressed, the heat is on where various moans are heard and the view could totally knock his eyeballs off. And it doesn’t just end here as his hands, his long and firm hands suddenly creeps below his pants, started to join the mood and vibe of the video he watches. Few moments later, explosions happened everywhere.

Pornography. Often colloquially referred to as porn, is any material—whether written, visual, or otherwise—that consists of sexually explicit material and is intended to sexually arouse as stated by the psychologytoday.com.

Addictive, very seductive. With just an average of 12 minutes and 45 seconds, it can totally manipulate and corrupt your mind and control over your self or body. The use and viewing of porn can easily become a habit,

which will lead to eventual desensitization, boredom, distorted views on reality, and an objectification of both men and women.

He, who must open his eyes to the reality of his rotten habit of viewing pornography addiction.

CHAPTER 2: DEAFENING Same sober, gloomy, and depressing day for her. She went home in her usual frowning face, trying to keep up with her heavy eyes and dark circles. As she opened their wooden fence, she paused just to gaze at the moving trees and shrubs. She thought to herself that how come this lifeless plants seem so lively? Not for her case as the world went opposite.

Everything’s at its usual phase—only when she didn’t not give her mom a kiss but with a tight hug also that made her mom wonder why is this so. Before entering her cloudy and desolate room, she stopped at the doorway for awhile just to see her loving and caring mom cooking dinner at their cozy kitchen, purely opposite to the sadness contained by her room.

She gave a weak smile just before leaving the priceless scenario.

This is it. This is the final momentum of her demising life, she will soon reach her flatline. Just one more pill to take, one more slit to her beating pulse, one more hard punch to the concrete and cold wall as her tears fell.

She thought by all of these, her pain and suffering will end. No more voices to be heard, no more whispers to make her feel crazy. She will be then put to rest.

But no, a death wish isn’t an answer to her calling. Being depressed, anxious, or suicidal isn’t just a joke and must not be a gateway to taking one’s life. Thankfully and luckily, she have survived. Eventually her mom knew it and just waited for her daughter to open it up to her for she can’t make a move as a mother.

Indeed, no one’s perfect.

And according to World Health Organization, every year, close to 800,000 people take their own life and there are many more people who attempt suicide. In fact, Philippines ranked 163 in the world with those who have a massive suicide cases with having 3,413 total number of cases per year.

Thus, those suicidal kids must be fully aware that they are not alone, the surrounding cares and listens.

She, who must lend her ears to comforting advice and therapy on her blue and crestfallen life.

CHAPTER 3: NUMBNESS Semestral break is coming and today’s the last day of the first semester. Speaking of the final day at his hellish school, he decided to call some of his gay friends to hook up with him. It’s definitely the ‘night-out’ time of the month. At exactly 6:00 p.m., they met outside the school campus and went straight to the nearest favorite KTV bar.

Finally, inside the four-cornered illuminated room, they had a blast thinking it’s the last day of their lives. Chugalugging dozens of bottled alcoholic drinks and smoking a box of cigars, the place is filled with filthy fogs from cigarettes, strong aroma from beers and vodkas, and noisy ambiance from the random songs they’re singing.

Five hours have passed and they’ve decided to leave the scene. Except for him and his gay friends who did not want to go home and have a spiced-up experimental fun, the two decided to check in the nearest motel.

As they opened the door, lust and arousal started to rise and overfill the room. Naked bodies face each other, lips and tongue meet each other, yet same gender reflect each other just like how he saw himself in the mirror.

Man to man. How awkward it was to make out with someone who’s the same as you. Yet they didn’t care as long as they can feed their sexual necessity. It wasn’t love, it was lust. Then few weeks later, he thought the world was about to end when he found out that he got AIDS or the Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome.

According to avert.org, AIDS is a set of symptoms (or syndrome as opposed to a virus) caused by HIV. A person is said to have AIDS when their immune system is too weak to fight off infection, and they develop certain defining symptoms and illnesses. This is the last stage of HIV, when the infection is very advanced, and if left untreated will lead to death. Yes, everything is too late for him who have done outrageous things that led him to his shortened life span.

He, who must feel the pain of his incurable disease caused by his reckless actions.

CHAPTER 4: CONVERGING One more day before their first anniversary as love birds. She could still remember how she said ‘yes’ inside the basketball ring when the MVP of the game asked her to be his girlfriend.

As she sat on her bed, she thought of something to give to her boyfriend as an anniversary gift—a rubber shoes as he’s fond of playing basketball.

The 16-year old teenager was ready to leave and go find the shoes she’d buy to her beloved boyfriend when suddenly her phone rang and a smile suddenly flashed from her cute face when her ‘babyloves’ called. He asked her to come over their house as he got something important to say. As she arrived at her boyfie’s house, she felt something off from the mood of her guy.

She’s then dragged by him to his room and excitedly greeted her an advanced ‘happy first anniversary.’ She smiled so wide and kissed her boyfriend to show appreciation to his sweet words. But that close scenario just led them to uncontrollable fond. He started taking off his clothes and so does her little girlfriend. Bareness and nudity were shown and her boyfriend was real fascinated by her petite body. Smooching, pounding, and moaning were to be seen and heard in such gauche and iniquity scenery.

After that tiring moment, she went home impure and lascivious. She could still pull off a smile as she thought nothing will go wrong and all she received was pleasure. But little did she know that something got inside her. Few weeks later, she observed and found symptoms of pregnancy. And just to confirm it through a pregnancy test, two straight red lines appeared.

She suddenly broke down when her knees trembled and unconsciously tears fell down from her eyes.

According to news.abs-cbn, about 500 teenage girls give birth in the Philippines every day as more adolescents engage in premarital sex, the Commission on Population (POPCOM) said. And some 196,000 Filipinos between the ages of 15 and 19 years old get pregnant each year. Though it’s too hard for her to accept the fact that she’s now part of the teenage mom population, she can’t do more but just to ready herself on this new phase of her life and her upcoming child.

She, who must detach herself to the influential temptation and lustful people of today’s generation.

In wheelchair and crutches’ company

BY JOANNA GRACE BERINGUEL They, who have the brightest smile among all the stars and moon. They, who have the sparkling eyes among all the porcelains displayed. They, who are born as priceless gift to their parents and family. Almost everyone thought of them as perfect angels sent from above, but they literally became angels as they have lost their innocent souls in such an early age.

Loss of reflexes. Severe spasms and muscle pain. Sudden paralysis. Death.

These are just some yet the most common suffering of those patients diagnosed with Polio.

It was year 1993, where a massive-destructive virus has struck the country. Poliomyelitis, more commonly known as Polio, is a highly contagious viral disease caused by three types of polio virus consisting of types 1, 2 and 3. The disease can result in irreversible paralysis affecting most commonly the leg muscles but for 5-10% of acute flaccid paralysis cases, the breathing muscles are also affected which can cause death.

The disease can be usually traced down to an act of proper hygiene. When having a poor hygiene, especially when it comes to water and sanitation, Polio can come near.

And according to Mayo Clinic, the virus is so contagious that anyone living with someone who has the virus can catch it too.

People living in areas with limited access to running water or flush toilets often contract polio from drinking

END POLIO NOW | The Department of Health urged parents of children, especially under five years old, to have them vaccinated so that they can be protected againist polio for life since the virus spreads rapidly among children, especially in unsanitary conditions where healthcare access is limited. (PHOTO BY: MARK ANTHONY BAJADA)

water contaminated by infected human waste. Poliomyelitis usually and mostly affects children below five years old but luckily, the health department have protection for this infectious and pestilent disease and that is through vaccination as multiple doses of polio vaccines have long been proven safe and effective as a strong alternative to prevent Polio.

Other ways to prevent Polio rather than vaccination are: 1.) Always wash your hands with water and soap.

2.) Be sure to cook and heat food well to be safe and to avoid contamination.

3.) Always be sure to inspect drinking water for safety.

The year 1993 was a mourning year for almost all Filipino parents who lost their kids in just a snap after being diagnosed with Polio that made them unmovable through paralysation and eventually led to death. The last known cases of wild poliovirus recorded in the Philippines was in year 1993 and in year 2000, the country was declared wild polio-free along with the rest of World Health Organization’s Western Pacific Region.

Two decades and 6 years have already passed since the polio-free case was observed in our country, and it just recently came back. This epidemic sickness that’s mainly affecting children have now entered our country again.

In early as now, we should not let ourselves encounter wheelchairs and crutches. We shall remain as humans who can be moved.

DACUTON, DUMARAO, CAPIZ | SCHOOLS DIVISION OF CAPIZ | REGION VI - WESTERN VISAYAS | PHILIPPINES

Beacon of Freedom & Flagship of Change

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The Official Student Press Corps of Mayor Ramon A. Benjamin Sr. National High School

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science 13 Endless battle of ‘Lubag’ Warriors

PHOTO CREDIT: JEFFERSON ESCALADA

BY JOANNA GRACE BERINGUEL

DATA FROM UNAIDS

BREAKING THE STIGMA

BY JOANNA GRACE BERINGUEL

Evolution does not just picture here, it isn’t my pity or your happen to humans but to the pity that can save them or can undo world itself. Fascinating it is their immoral actions. Some would when you come to think of how even say that it wasn’t their decision inevitable humans are when they to make or that they were forced to undergo metamorphosis. Not be atrocious, but I strongly believe how beautiful compared to the that life’s a matter of choice. They butterfly, but rather how alarming can’t just blame other people for their and forbidding. Transformation own doings as it was their choice, doesn’t just mean you are changing it is what they chose to be. And yes, or transforming as transformation regret will come last. After all of their comes with a irresponsible bigger sense of actions, the PH IS COUNTRY WITH FASTEST responsibility burdensome for when you GROWING HIV CASES - UNAIDS and unavoidable transform, you consequences will also bury down come and knock your old self. Not only implied to on their doors. yourself but to the whole society As what we can see, not all sexual who got bolder and fiercer, only desires can provide great feeling of after undergoing through a drastic satisfaction as too much of this can change. lead you in front of the grim reaper, These days, we also face waiting to take you away from the formidable rampant issues living world. A helpful response circulating around our country and to this major ‘call for help’ kind of one of it has made Philippines top dilemma our country faces is to not in the list as the country with the be influenced by the immorality and fastest growing number of Human cruelty of the world. You must keep Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) cases in mind that wherever you are, you in the world as the Joint United shall remain moral and decent and Nations Program on HIV and AIDS if can’t be prevented, never engage (UNAIDS) have stated. Regarding in unprotected sex. But never allow this, 80 percent of them are from immorality up rise and rule over you.

Everything changes, so does your younger age groups. More than 19,000 people aged to 15 to 24 tested actions ad even yourself. Don’t let your inner peace be eaten by cruelty and positive for HIV, while there are more than 34,500 aged 25 to 34 who don’t let your real self be shattered by atrociousness. tested positive. And if combined, Self-discipline. Self-love. Self-worth. they would compromise 80 Self-care. Self-awareness. Self-assurance. percent of those Filipinos who are These are just some of what you have to living with HIV and therefore, the possess in order for you to live a happy, epidemic demographics is getting positive, and peaceful life. If all of the younger and younger. nations have these quality, we can even As part of the Filipino youth, I achieve a prosperous and tolerable world can’t help but to feel pity over my fellow teenagers who felt neglected where we can relive humanity. You don’t have to go with flow but rather, break and lost that have paved way for them to walk in such dim and filthy the stigma not just to save yourself, but also your fellowmen. pathways. But to see the bigger

To raise awareness about X-linked Dystonia Parkinsonism (XDP) in the community, harness, and promote the psychosocial health among patients with X-linked Dystonia Parkinsonism and their family members, Team Ekis from Region VI aided the XDP patients through ‘Operation Lubag’ in Roxas City, Capiz.

With ‘Operation Lubag’, they have formed and empowered a network of youth advocates to conduct community and school-based awareness campaigns about X-linked Dystonia Parkinsonism.

The youth network, in partnership with Genetic counselors of Sunshine Care Foundation for XPD, were trained on how to provide psychosocial support the XDP patients and their families, engaged 12 XPD patients with their families and be able to improve their coping mechanism and well being through houseto-house visitations, allowed more XDP patients to come out from their limelight and became willing to ask for help and support through community based health symposiums and awareness campaigns.

Team Ekis is composed of project leader Mark Anthony Durana, and project implementers Jefferson Escalada and Preesym Joy Denosta. They became one of the 14 national finalists, grand finalist, and 3RD placer as a Spark Awardee in “YOUthCan: Unleashing the Power of the Youth” in Davao City, Aug. 10-12.

According to ghr.nlm.nih.gov, X-linked Dystonia Parkinsonism, also known as X-linked Torsion Dystonia Parkinsonism Syndrome or Lubag, is a movement disorder that has been found only in people of Filipino descent. This condition affects men much more than women.

Parkinsonism is usually the first sign of X-linked Dystonia Parkinsonism.

Parkinsonism is a group of movement abnormalities including tremors, unusually slow movement (bradykinesia), rigidity, an inability to hold the body upright and balance (postural instability), and a shuffling gait that can cause recurrent falls.

Later in life, many affective individuals also develop a pattern of involuntary, sustained muscle contractions known as dystonia. The dystonia associated with X-linked Dystonia Parkinsonism typically starts in one area—most of the eyes, jaw or neck, and later spreads to other parts of the body. The continuous muscle cramping and spasms can be disabling. Depending on which muscles are affected, widespread or generalized dystonia can cause difficulty with speaking, swallowing, coordination, and walking.

X-linked Dystonia Parkinsonism has been reported in more than 500 people of Filipino descent, although it is likely that many more Filipinos are affected.

Most people with this condition can trace their mother’s ancestry to the island of Panay in the Philippines. The prevalence of the disorder is 5.24 per 100,000 people on the island of Panay.

The signs and symptoms of X-linked dystonia parkinsonism vary widely.

In the mildest cases, affected individuals have slowly progressive parkinsonism with little or no dystonia. More severe cases involve dystonia that rapidly becomes generalized. These individuals become dependent on others for care within a few years after signs and symptoms appear, and they may die prematurely from breathing difficulties, infections such as aspiration pneumonia or other complications.

Moreover, there is no known treatment for XDP and medical treatment offer only temporal relief.

And for the XDP warriors, this will seem an endless battle for them to face but with their heads held high, their souls remain untainted and their hearts remain lionhearted.

PHOTO TREEBUTE

BY MARK ANTHONY BAJADA

TREES OVER MONEY OR MONEY OVER TREES Out of 800,000 hectares covered by forest in the Philippines, only 20% is left. Trees are referred as the lungs of the earth, and without it humans will become nothing and die.

When the last fish is caught, the last water is poisoned, and last tree is cut down, there we will realize that money cannot be eaten.

Always think of a tree above money. Be an eco-warrior!

DACUTON, DUMARAO, CAPIZ | SCHOOLS DIVISION OF CAPIZ | REGION VI - WESTERN VISAYAS | PHILIPPINES

THE RADIANCE

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The Official Student Press Corps of Mayor Ramon A. Benjamin Sr. National High School

14 sports

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Beacon of Freedom & Flagship of Change

VOL. 9. NO. 1

FE ATURE OCTOBER 2019

CARLOS YULO

GRACEFUL CURVE

FAST FACTS 1. He is the first Southeast Asian male world champion.

A Filipino gymnast’s inspiring journey toward world recognition

2. He has been training in Tokyo, Japan for 3 years.

BY JOANNA GRACE BERINGUEL

3. He surprised the world in his senior debut.

4. He is the 2nd Filipino to qualify in 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

5. He is set to compete in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

SOURCE: RAPPLER.COM

Entering the wide squared-shape blue floor, he gave a calming sigh and showcased his captivating deep dimples. He aesthetically flexed his arms just like an eagle who’s ready to soar, ready to fly high. Thereafter, a kinetic and ferocious awing performance was shown.

With his every bend, every twirl, and every split, his determination, perseverance, and burning passion also comes out. He, who only dreamt of reaching the world stage, has become a living legend as he have not just reached out nationally, but have dominated the world.

The 19-year old young gymnast Carlos Edriel Yulo have raised our flag high in the field of artistic gymnastics after qualifying in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, reaching the top 10 of the men’s individual allaround final and becoming the first Filipino world champion by ruling the men’s floor exercise.

All of his endless pivots and leaps haven’t just gave him a spot in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics but also paved his way at the top in the 2019 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships where he clinched the men’s floor exercise title in thrilling fashion at Hans Schleyer Halle, Stuttgart, Germany.

The 4-foot-9 astonishing athlete won the event by a hairline - edging Artem Dolgopyat by 0.1 point - as the erstwhile Israeli front runner seemingly had an untouchable tally of 15.200 points but Yulo came through with an awe-inspiring and an aesthetically display of

grace, artistry, and athleticism as he secured the gold with a score of 15.300 points.

A dynamic and exquisite double straight with a full twist and a clean triple twist were part of his winning routine that merited him a score of 15.300, surpassing Dolgopyat's 15.200 score.

"I am speechless because I did not expect to win because I thought the Israeli's score was far too high," admitted Yulo. "But I wanted to show everyone what I could do, so I just wanted to do my best. Talagang napakasaya ko po (That's why I'm really happy)," he added.

He could never imagine reaching all of these—being able to flaunt his well-built body specially made for the blue floor, to carry the pride and honor of representing the country, and to not just share his love for

gymnastics but to inspire the youth to never stop in conquering their dreams and fears.

According to Rappler.com, the Filipino world champion Carlos Yulo started back when he was 12 years old, wherein the gymnastics prodigy was still training at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex with the National Capital Region (NCR) team.

When Rappler covered him in 2012, he was the Palarong Pambansa individual all-around defending champion. He started at the age of 7, was then focused on clinching another Palarong Pambansa gold.

A student of Doña Aurora Quezon Elementary School,the bubbly kid had just a dream of winning the Southeast Asian gold.

And seven years later, Yulo have not dominated the local scene but have vanquished the global

platform as he became a latest icon himself in artistic gymnastics.

One more high leap. One more firm bend. One more elastic twirl.

These are just some of his spectacular and graceful moves accompanied with self-discipline, self-confidence, and oozing dedication for him to totally prove who he really is. For Carlos Edriel Yulo is not just a Filipino teenage gymnast who put the spotlight on the country, but is a loving son, a respectful young citizen, and became part of the Filipino pride and legacy. He is a one in a million, he is our one in a million that our country must be proud of. For his every twirl and pivot values his hard work and effort just to be where he is now. He is a young talented boy gifted with a graceful incurvation.

BOY WONDER OF CAPIZ

BY LHEM SEJADE ABORDE

To win over the iconic Efren Bata Reyes in billiards and say you are just a Grade 8 student only might sound “hello are you serious?” But he did. Yes, you read it right, Toto Noli pocketed him in an arranged match.

Elija Noli Balasa Alvarez started his interest in billiards at the age of five utilizing the kiddie size billiard table in their house. A second child to four of Erna and Arvie, Toto Noli began joining biliard local tournaments at the age of eight, such as LGU organized and Robinsons sponsored events.

Seeing his potential, Coach Carlo Solido grabbed the opportunity to further develop his prowess and ability and when he was in Grade

7 and enrolled at Hercor College – High School Department, the school itself started to create a sports program for billiard. This Palarong Pambansa, the school has provided him two cue sticks (tako) worth P50,000.00 aside from allowance and other benefits.

“I see his eagerness, his attitude and genuine interest toward this sport and so, I am triggered more to initiate interventions and support mechanism for Noli,” said Solido.

Last year’s WVRAA Meet, when he was in his Grade 7 year, Noli took home bronze medals only for 8 and 9 balls categories. This encouraged him to dream bigger and take a lot of practice. This year’s regional meet, he had proven his worth to represent

Standing straight with a trivial whistle and round ball on his both hands, a 35- year old coach Mauro H. Venus is ready to make a new piece of masterpiece.

Sir Mauro is an owed teacher of Badbaranan Elementary School and is currently 12 years in service.

In the 12 years of his career, he became the persona behind those students who scintillated in this sport in their secondary years.

Despite the challenges he encountered, Sir Mauro isstill willing to give his time, financial and he is amenable doing magnificent exertion.

“For me, it is hard to become coach because you have a lot of experiences especially coaching the beginners like elementary pupils. As a coach you are willing to give your time, financial and effort,” Mauro says.

the Blue Barons in the Philippine grandest national sports tilt.

“Coach Carlo would remind me have constant practice. So every day after my class in the afternoon, I never failed to practice. With the closing of the school year, I used to practice three times a day for almost every day also. Coach also instructed me to be remindful of call shots so as not to violate any rule. Remain humble and respectful are his daily sermon to me,” revealed Alvarez.

He was known as “Boy Wonder sang Capiz” after he defeated the world-known Efren Bata Reyes in a 15-ball rotation last October, 2018 tournament with P66,000.00 pot money. His battle against Bata Reyes had been watched and witnessed by

people not only surrounding the billiard house but people around the world via Youtube.

“This Palarong Pambansa, “In Jesus name, I play.” I want to become a champion so that I can be a pride of our region, of our school and people who believed in me and pride of my parents. And for those kids trying to excel in billiards, they must know how to prioritize their time for practice over other nonsense mobile games,” he ended.

Article Reference: Scallop (2019) ; WV Barons (2019)

by Jovenel Magno

WHISTLE OF VICTORY

BY CAMELLE PROPONGA became the pride of their present Jogging, stretching and drills perseverance, he made his name schools – the Mayor Ramon A. were their everyday routine as in the field not only in teaching but Benjamin Sr. National High School their blockade for their throes. also from being an enthusiastic and the Bungsuan National High simple treadmill is one of his volleyball coach. Aside from being School. scheme so that his players a vigorous teacher and a mighty will have enough trainer, Mauro also a endurance during “For me, it is hard to become coach because you have a hero for his family. He the game and be lot of experiences especially coaching the beginners like is the one who strives physically fit. He elementary pupils. As a coach you are willing to give your so hard and makes produces a numerous more effort, just to time, financial and effort,” Mauro says. of excellent athletes. send his siblings to “Mabuot lang sya sa amon, Some of Coach Mauro’s college. kag sa training namon waay ya gid former players are now successful Coach Mauro is not only kami na pabay-an, he is very good athletes in their secondary years. a sports hero, but a mighty to us,” Reymark Raymundo his And they are Reymark Raymundo, superhero of his own family. former player who is a WVRAA Gary Clarin, Art Raymundo, Rec He might be unlucky with his qualifier in the year 2013 and 2019.

Palermo, Reymark Jagodilla, lovelife, but he believes that he Coach Mauro became a legendary Rey Francis Baldonasa, Sherwen is showered with blessings of life coach for everyone because from Ocampo, Jhon Lester Cabrura, brought by his competency in the being an ordinary person, he Jhon Adrian Maputol, and Gerald field of sports. He considers ball as produced an extra ordinary one Ocampo. Some of hese athletes his sword and the whistle as his and competent athletes. were qualified in Western Visayas shield to boost wrathful warriors By his patience and Regional Athletic Association who in the battlefield of volleyball.

DACUTON, DUMARAO, CAPIZ | SCHOOLS DIVISION OF CAPIZ | REGION VI - WESTERN VISAYAS | PHILIPPINES

Beacon of Freedom & Flagship of Change

|

The Official Student Press Corps of Mayor Ramon A. Benjamin Sr. National High School

VOL. 9. NO. 1

O PI N I O N OCTOBER 2019

EDITORIAL

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THE RADIANCE

sports 15

BOOKS OVER BALLS

EDITORIAL CARTOON BY | JOSEPH LASAP

Sprinters, spikers, or even backhanders first came from the shadows of classroom settlers who are required to ace performances physically, morally, and academically. Recently, Dumarao Secondary and Integrated Schools Athletic Association Meet, formerly known as DUMSSAA, continues to promote sportsmanship among players and hone more disciplined athletes with a constant reminder not to leave their textbooks and answer sheets behind.

Balance is ever-crucial to student athletes as competitive sports and academics work side by side in their not-so-normal life. As one realm continues to weigh greater than the other, it may not just bring demoralization and frustration as an athlete but also build a towering eclipse of disappointment as a part of a student body whose main purpose is to show excellency in his academic field.

Student-athletes have the invariable task to study and compete and being one is both a challenge and an opportunity to develop one’s leadership and organizational skills.

“Playing a sport in school helps to Stressing their responsibilities both inside get you out of your desk and get into the court and classroom, Capiz Division EPS the action; it offers a break with major in MAPEH Ronnie C. Reteracion said, being benefits.” a player of any competing sports does not guarantee you to pass any academic subjects.

According to him, Department of Education K-12 Curriculum gives greater importance and focuses more to a student’s academic performance and special talents.

Playing a sport in school helps to get you out of your desk and get into the action; it offers a break with major benefits. Staying all day long in the four-corner room of the school and staring at a general mathematics text book can be awfully boring and exhausting however, it is always a must not to forget the fact that you became an athlete because you were primarily a student who has a responsibility to comply first the requirements and activities you needed to complete.

Bringing home the bacon while proudly carrying and waving the banner of your beloved school is indeed one of the greatest feeling a student-athlete can feel in his whole sports journey but bringing home with a satisfying average written in his report card all because of the sacrifices and hardest labor in achieving academic distinction is a more fulfilling sensation a student can ever experience.

Once a student-athlete, always a student that sometimes moves as an athlete.

Smashers will never be smashers without being a student. Woodpushers will never be one without being homework doers. We should always be reminded to choose first education over recreation; homeworks over footworks; projects over ball checks; and always prioritize books over balls.

EXTRA SPORTS NEWS LOUD VOICES

ARE ‘LARO NG LAHI’ GONE?

“

Tell ‘untold’ stories - Asec. Ambat DepEd, PSC hone journos for Palaro exposure

BY MARK ANTHONY BAJADA

Pikyaw/Pitaw was my favorite and my masterpiece game during my childhood days. We can still relive the traditional games by teaching the children in school and in our home. Playing Laro ng Lahi during P.E time help them understand the values of these games that they will still enjoy and become physically fit on the same time without using their gadgets. In our home my children play sunka and tumba patis during weekend.

MEDIATRIX GONZALES, Sports Coordinator

“ During my childhood days, I played games like patintero, luksong tinik, and tumbang preso. The key to revive is on our hands. We cannot deny the fact that we need technology for our progress and make life easier but we should not forget our land, embrace our cultures and traditions and be a model to the younger generations t with a heart of real Filipino.

Be The Radiance that would give hope to the gradually disappearing traditions of our land.

JERICK BRILLO, Master Teacher I/Sports Coach

“We’re going to become memes sharers not story tellers.”

This sums of the challenge posed by Department of Education Assistant Secretary G.H. S. Ambat to the participants of this year’s Sports Journalism Seminar in partnership with the Philippine Sports Commission at the Malayan College, Davao City.

Gathering some 177 campus journalists and advisers nationwide, the three-day seminar from April 24-26 aimed to showcase and hone the competencies of campus journalists to become holistic and proficient through media exposure and press conferences.

“Palarong Pambansa is such a big deal,” said Ambat adding that this exposure is designed ‘for campus journalist’s to become holistically developed and wellrounded.’

DEPED PARTNERS PSC Dubbed as “Communicate Sports”, the three-day seminar is the second of its kind partnership with Philippine Sports Commission which gathers journalism and media practitioners to help train the campus journalists in line with the upcoming Palarong Pambansa.

Lectures and discussions include SunStar Davao Editor Marianne S. Abalayan for Sports News Writing; DepEd Region XI Information Officer Maria Gemima C. Valderama for Sports Feature Writing; Prof. Ed Hernandez for Sports Photography and Page Design; and, Ripples Daily Editor Randy Calauag for Covering Sports for Social Media, among others.

SMASHERS | FROM PAGE 18

Magdamit fired series of smashes in the last set which rattled Hachuela leading to the getting in- and- out of the court powered defense resulting to a failure.

Meanwhile in a gritty vie for doubles, the duo of Aizyl Joy doministo and Merllie Castilla launched a total eclipse dominating two straight sets against the

Aside from the sports coverage, the young journalists are also encouraged to produce stories that effectively promotes Palaro and the theme “Shaping the Future through Sports.”

Meanwhile, Chairman William I. Ramirez of the Philippine Sports Commission in his keynote message addressed the participants to ‘go back to the basics’ by developing the habit of reading and by sharing the 3D’s one needs to learn – direction, destiny, drive.

“You’ve got to be a learned to

environment to be able to survive,” concluded Ramirez who also gave some glimpse of the programs of the PSC for the grassroots and elite sports.

CONSERVATION PHOTOGRAPHY The participants were also exposed to a workshop at the Philippine Eagle Center on the third day as Conservation Photography is an advocacy of DepEd Usec Alain Del BPascua.

Participants from Region 6 received special recognition as their photo entries garnered the following: Most Shares, Caged Sky by Philip Jayson Falcis; Most Comments, Wild Dream by Ernie Diocos and Jerico MRamirez; and 2nd Most Comments, Brunch by Lhem Sejade Aborde.

WV REPRESENT. Sports writers and advisers with PSC Chairman Ramirez during the Communicate Sports Seminar in Davao City . (Photo by PHILIPPINE SPORTS COMMISSION)

contenders of Presentacion Diez Gregorio National High School; 2111 and 21-14.

Castilla released powerful smashes together with Doministo’s strong defense and ended the first set with 21- 11.

Both teams rallied in the next set, but the stronghold of Ramon still prevailed as the duo did a great flash unleashing strong

DACUTON, DUMARAO, CAPIZ | SCHOOLS DIVISION OF CAPIZ | REGION VI - WESTERN VISAYAS | PHILIPPINES

attacks that lead them to take the crown as champions in the last set, 21-14.

“The determination and cooperation of both of us has been the reason for us to play well and win the match,” said Doministo after the match.

It’s the first time in history of Ramon that both teams made a huge wave in Badminton.

SPORTS

NATIONAL COVERAGE

WV retains 3rd spot in Palaro overall ranking

BY LHEM SEJADE ABORDE

DAVAO City – Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association (WVRAA) Blue Barons harvested a total of 147 medals – 49 gold, 40 silver and 58 bronze – for a third place finish at the close of the 62nd Palarong Pambansa.

WVRAA IN PALARONG PAMBANSA ‘19

49 GOLD 40 SILVER 58 BRONZE FLAWLESS BLOCK. Blue Barons’ powerful blocks and outstanding attacks stunned the CARAGA-filled crown at UP Mindanao stadium as they secured their first win in the Volleyball tournament April 29 to qualify in the next round.

(Photo by LHEM SEJADE L. ABORDE)

The National Capital Region regained the overall championship with a 86-7156 medal haul, followed by Region 4-A (Calabarzon) with 66-49-73. Finishing behind WV were Region 3 (23-29-23) and Region 5 (23-22-30).

Despite its early lead, the Blue Barons added up to its medal haul with gold medals in relay events, gymnastics, table tennis and splash of silvers and bronze medals in swimming and tennis.

Bernalyn Bejoy, Trexie dela Torre, Alexie Brooks, and Angel Ann Pranisa ruled the secondary girls 4×100 relay, while Vince Jayson Buhayan, Angelo Gepilga, Ralph Lego and Tristan Plotria topped the

secondary boys 4×100 relay.

WVRAA also got a relay gold from elementary boys’ Justin Manantan, Eduard Jornadal, Joshua Sevilla and Jacob Granada. The Blue Barons also got silvers in elementary girls’ 4×100 and 4×400 relay and bronze in elementary boys 4×100 relay and secondary boys and girls 4×400 relay.

Negrense gymnast Kiana Alagaban, meanwhile, took home four medals – individual gold medals in the individual all-around and clubs category and bagging bronze medal in ropes.

The Blue Barons got two gold medals in table tennis courtesy of J Allan

Noel Gayoso and the team of Clarice Gomez, Ann Oliva, Levee Oliva and Jan Vicencio. Also delivering golds for WVRAA were Jerson Parreno in wushu and Sugary Montales in boxing.

The WVRAA got silvers in swimming from Alexie Cabayaran, Raymund Paloma and relay teams of Paloma, Regan Garbanzos, Martin and Moses Bito-onon, and the group of Gabriel Barlin, Kyla Soguilon, Mary Louise Lacson and Stefany Saac.

During the Palaro Opening on April 28, President Rodrigo Duterte personally welcomed all the delegates and sports enthuasiasts to his home city.

In his speech, Duterte encouraged the youth to be engaged in sports activities rather than be involved in drugs.

‘HOME OF SMASHERS’

Ramonians solidify back-to-back badminton leads

BY JEFF HASIGAN AND CLAIRE ARSENAL Unbowed and unbent.

Ramonian smashers undeniably ruled as this year’s badminton kings and queens after amassing seven out of eight golds in the Dumarao Secondary and Integrated Schools Athletic Association Meet staged at Manuel F. Onato National High School.

Beating other seven competing schools on Aug. 23-25, Team Smashers kept the momentum as the leader of the tally board for the past four years, coach Philip Jayson Falcis asserted.

Seasoned Single A contender Mackev Tenegra penetrated his first gold after defeating French James Hapitan of Manuel F. Onato NHS in two straight sets; 21-10, 21-15.

With their unstoppable kills and defenseless attack, the powerhouse duo of Erjie Olmido and Kent Ryan Bayatan emerged undefeated for three years after demolishing the pair from Estefania Montemayor NHS; 21-8, 21-10.

Meanwhile, neophyte Single B player Cris Niño Navarro clutched a hair-like victory versus Ralph Edil of Estefania Montemayor NHS in a match which reached a deciding set; 21-19;22-20;2116.

Furthermore, the badminton boys swept an overall championship anew.

“It was a victory out of passion and labor,” said Navarro who gets emotional in a post-game interview.

On the other hand, Emerging unstoppable, remarkable smashes, Lady Ramonians coup the golden crown in Badminton Girls category.

Sharp-eyed Kristel Magdamit of Ramon showcased thunder- like

attacks against Lorraine Ann H a c h u e l a of Estefania Montemayor National High School which prevailed her to notch the crown in the game.

Hachuela managed to rely in the winning peak in the first set as she emerged seriesof swift attacks and ended the game with a 3point lead.

However, with courage to win the match, Magdamit fueled a big run on the next set and come up with a hair- like difference against Hachuela with 5point lead.

Despite being a rookie, SMASHERS | PAGE 17

Capiz Cagers end ‘57 years’ Palaro drought

BY MARK ANTHONY BAJADA ROXAS City, Capiz - Talent caused by training prevailed for Capiz Golden Warriors after stealing a phenomenal basketball championship against Negros Occidental in the Western Visayas Athletic Association Meet after ‘57 years’.

EAGER FOR THE CROWN. Capiz Golden Warriors penetrated in Palarong Pambansa after 57 years of drought. (Photo by MARK ANTHONY BAJADA)

Jawell Condrad Famarranco of Hercor College led the play for Capiz ensuring that the pain in this championshipstarved province will no longer be felt.

Golden Warriors rocketed 77 points, triggered by several layups, 3-pointers, jumpers and runners which impressed the crowd and surprised the opponents in the asketball secondary - boys held at Capiz Gymnasium, Feb. 21.

Negrenses settled for silver, scoring 63 points as Warriors were hunting for history in a trip they completed yesterday at Capiz Gymnasium.

Capiz Warriors endured some nervous moments in the third quarter when a teammate was out of the game due to ankle injury which forced them to make adjustment to their game plan and strategy.

Spectators and fanatics of basketball from Capiz and Negros fired-up the heat of the game which sometimes triggered the play better and became an instant hit for basketball fans all over the province.

The team represented WVRAA in the Palarong Pambansa last April but Team Capiz continues to aspire for future championship in the upcoming WVRAA Meet which will be held at Kalibo, Aklan province by 2020.

DUMSISAA NEWS

Bungsuanons reclaim volleyball supremacy

BY JEFF HASIGAN

Overpowering two straight sets, Bungsuan spikers redeemed the throne in Volleyball boys against the tough contenders of Mayor Ramon A. Benjamin Sr. National High School, 2- 0, during the 2019 Dumarao Secondary and Integrated Schools Athletic Association meet.

With much eagerness, Rey Francis Baldonasa of Bungsuan showcased monstrous spikes against their rival ending the 1st set with a hair- like 25- 23 score.

Ramonians played well in the next set to offset the other team but it’s a must- try for Baldonasa as the captain ball fired some solid and remarkable adroitness ending the game with 25- 22 score.

“Happy gid kami nga nagdaug kami. Isa sa mga rason nga nagpadaug samon amo ang amon mga supporters kag syempre ang coach namon,” said Baldonasa of Bungsuan.

Under the coaching of Sir Dalisay, Bungsuan spikers consists of Baldonasa, Careos, Handa, Hinguillo, Ocampo, and Piral have exemplified dynamic spikes and strenuous blocks sending the crown to their team.

With Ramonians pinned victories in the past years, the pressure they felt just to defend the crown doubled.

“Nagkulang lang gid kami sa receive kag depensa. Ma- praktis pagid kami kag mabawi lang sa sunod,” said Jomel Borres, captain ball of Ramon.

Lady Ramonians clutch 2-peat championship

BY JEFF HASIGAN

Determination and dedication sum up success.

Cementing a solid 11-5 score, Mayor Ramon A. Benjamin Sr. National High School Lady rookies turned again the table to victory in 3x3 Basketball- girls League during the 2019 Dumarao Secondary and Integrated Schools Athletic Association meet.

The 24th day of August jolted to an excitement as the power- saturated Sharmaine Dayang of Ramon boost 2- points to fuel the team in the first quarter at Dacuton town plaza.

With strong foot works and assists, sharp- eyed Chin Leong of Aglalana Integrated School charged to net the 2nd quarter but Dayang with her teammates showcased monstrous moves to put an end.

“Okay lang kung na loss kami. Bawi lang kami galing next time ah,” said Leong after the quarter break.

Both teams rallied to notch the 3rd quarter but Ramonian rookies fired a big run resulting to a total eclipse until the last quarter of the game.

“Tungod sa determinasyon namon nga magdaug, nadepensahan namon amon korona, kag tungod sa teamwork namon nagdaug kami,” stated Dayang after the game.

Ramonian tasted the crown again and proved that their vigorous trainings and prayers contributed to their triumph.

DACUTON, DUMARAO, CAPIZ | SCHOOLS DIVISION OF CAPIZ | REGION VI - WESTERN VISAYAS | PHILIPPINES