TheSPARK Vol XL, Issue No. 3

TheSPARK Ang opisyal na pahayagan ng mga mag-aaral ng Dalubhasaang Politeknik ng Camarines Sur Karapatang-ari © 2020 Reserbado ang lahat ng karapatan sa may-akda.

Walang bahagi ng magasin na ito ang maaaring ilathala muli sa alinmang anyo nang walang pahintulot mula sa mga manunulat, dibuhista at patnugutan ng TheSPARK.

TUNGKOL SA PABALAT Labinlimang taong gulang pa lamang si Tatay Mariano nang siya ay namulat sa buhay-pangingisda.

Hanggang sa kasalukuyan, ito pa rin ang nagsisilbing pampawi ng kumakalam na sikmura ng kaniyang pamilya.

Para sa isang karaniwang mangingisda na kadalasa’y parehong nakalubog ang paa sa marahas na realidad, ang pangingisda ang kanilang naging pundasyon sa pagbuo ng maginhawang pamumuhay.

Ang sektor ng pangingisda ay kabilang sa mga pangunahing pinagkukunan ng pagkain, kung kaya’t isa ito sa itinuturing na pinakamahalagang bahagi ng ekonomiya ng Pilipinas. Ngunit sa kabila ng marangal na hanapbuhay, nananatili pa rin silang kapos sa benepisyo at suporta.

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Editor’s Note As the world has been ravaged by the pandemic and its effects permeate to all, this has brought a unique situation of our time that immensely changed the way we live our lives. Across all classes, generations, and facets of life, the ramifications of the situation we are in spared not even one.

The challenges that we have are a stumbling block many have to face, but people’s lives continued, still. People, despite these changes, have managed to find ways to carry on with their lives.

Even as many reels from this unique set of circumstances, people remained unyielding to their willingness to live through and survive.

In this magazine are stories that reflect these realities in our time. Stories that encapsulate truths that we may or may not realize. Through this, we can have a better

lens to view the community we live in. Be inspired by its lessons. Create meaningful change upon seeing the light from these truths.

Like the stories here, we must continue carrying on with our lives. Change if we must, but we can never lose hope. This present challenge may indeed last... but for a moment. Time will come when we will no longer deal with the same challenge we face now. Just like millions of stories passed before the present time, this challenge will pass, too.

Hope is what we have. However, it is enough, still. So keep going.

Michael William Ronco Editor-in-Chief, TheSPARK

NI SHIELA MAE PARCO LARAWAN NI JOSHUA CEDILLA

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A

ng Pilipinas ay isa sa may pinakamalawak na dalampasigan sa buong mundo, na may tinatayang 17,460 kilometro na humahanggang sa 26.6 milyong ektaryang tubig-dagat. Dahil dito, ito ay sagana sa iba’t ibang produktong pangisdaan gaya ng isda, molusko, tahong, sugpo, at pugita. Hindi nakapagtataka na bukod sa pagsasaka, ang sektor ng pangingisda ay isa sa mga pangunahing pinagkukunan ng pagkain ng napakalaking populasyon ng bansa.

Kabilang ang bayan ng Buhi sa mga lugar na kilala bilang sagana sa likas na yaman. Dahil sa 1,800 hektaryang tubig-tabang na matatagpuan dito, ito na ang ginagamit ng mga Buhinon bilang nabigasyon, irigasyon, imbakan ng tubig at maging prodyuser ng koryente. Isa rin ito sa mga natatanging lugar dahil dito matatagpuan ang pinakamaliit na komersiyal na isda sa mundo—ang Sinarapan.

Bukod pa rito, ang lawa ng Buhi ay tirahan din ng iba’t ibang uri ng isda kagaya ng tilapia, carpa, hito, burirawan, dalag, irin-irin at marami pang iba.

Ang geyograpikal na anyo ng pamayanang ito ay ang rason kung bakit marami ang nangingisda rito upang gawing pantawid-buhay. Kabilang na lamang dito ang nakapanayam ng TheSpark na si Tatay Mariano Tadeo, animnapu’t tatlong taong gulang na mangingisda sa Sta. Justina East, Buhi, Camarines Sur.

KUMPAS NG LAMBAT Mula alas-dyis ng gabi hanggang alas-sais ng umaga, kumakayod si Tatay Mariano upang magkaroon ng salapi na ipantutustos sa pangangailangan ng kaniyang pamilya. Tangay ang kaniyang lambat, sagwan, at determinasyon bilang isang ama, hindi niya alintana ang puyat at hirap upang magkaroon lamang ng sapat na pagkain ang kaniyang asawa’t mga anak.

Tuwing hapon, kahit maalinsangan pa ang panahon, inihahanda na ni Tatay ang kaniyang mga kagamitan upang mamalakaya pagsapit ng gabi. Sakay ng kaniyang maliit na bangkang yari sa kahoy, magdamag siyang nakalutang sa gitna ng lawa at minsan ay kailangan niya pang lumangoy pailalim para lamang makakuha ng mas magandang puwesto sa panghuhuli.

“

... kapag matumal ang bentahan, umaabot lamang ng singkuwenta pesos ang naiuuwi niyang pambili ng pagkaing ilalatag sa kanilang hapag—kulang na kulang na pantustos sa kumakalam nilang sikmura.

Sa kabila ng antok at pagod, matiyaga pa ring naghihintay si Tatay Mariano; nagbabakasakali pa rin na maraming isda ang kaniyang maiuuwi pagsapit ng umaga. Bandang alas-syete na kung makabalik si Tatay sa kanilang munting tahanan at iyon lamang ang kaniyang oras upang magpahinga. Ang mga isda naman na kaniyang nahuli, kagaya ng tilapia at ayungin, ay siya namang ipinagbibili ng kaniyang kapatid sa labasan ng kanilang barangay.

Ganitong eksena ang kaniyang nakasanayan mula nang siya ay magkaroon ng sariling pamilya at kailanman ay hindi niya ikinakahiya ang marangal na hanapbuhay na ito.

Kinse-anyos pa lamang si Tatay Mariano nang maging parte na ng kaniyang araw-araw na buhay ang pangingisda.

Sa murang edad pa lamang, sumasama na siya sa kaniyang ama upang makipagsapalaran sa lawa, makaalpas lamang sa mapanghamong kahirapan.

Doon na rin siya natutong gumawa ng lambat na panghuli ng mga isda.

Gaya ng isang karaniwang mangingisda, kakarampot lamang ang kinikita ni Tatay.

Kapag pinapalad, umaabot naman ng isang libo ang kaniyang benta, ngunit kapag matumal ang bentahan, umaabot lamang ng singkuwenta pesos ang naiuuwi niyang pambili ng pagkaing ilalatag sa kanilang hapag—kulang na kulang na pantustos sa kumakalam nilang sikmura.

ALON NG PAGSUBOK Sa kasalukuyan, kabilang ang pangingisda sa mga sektor ng lipunan na labis na naaapektuhan ng pandemyang COVID-19. Nagkaroon ng ilang restriksiyon at nagsara ang mga

pamilihan kung kaya’y natigil ang kanilang pagbebenta ng mga huling isda; kung meron man, limitado lamang ang nailalako nila sa isang araw. Tila naging isang masamang bangungot para sa mga mangingisdang katulad ni Tatay ang biglaang

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paglaganap ng pandemyang ito.

Hindi lamang isa ang pagsubok na kinaharap ni Tatay.

Makalipas ang ilang buwan, magmula nang magkaroon ng malawakang lockdown sa probinsya, sinalanta rin sila ng sunod-sunod na hagupit ng mga bagyo. Ito ang dahilan upang maianod ang kaniyang pinakaiingat-ingatang kasangga sa pangingisda—ang kaniyang bangka—kung kaya ay itinigil muna ni tatay ang panghuhuli sa lawang kaniyang kinagisnan.

Bukod sa pandemya at mga bagyo, nagkaroon din ng fish kill sa lawa ng Buhi. Ayon sa datos ng Kawanihan ng Pangisdaan at Yamang-Tubig (BFAR), halos 20 metrong tonelada ng mga isda na may halagang 2.1 milyong piso ang nasayang matapos itong mangamatay noong nanalanta ang bagyong Quinta. Ang mga lugar na naapektuhan ay ang barangay ng Tambo, Iraya, Ebayugan, Cabatoan, Salvacion at Sta. Elena. Sinabi ni Nonie Enolva, tagapagsalita ng BFAR5, na ang naturang fish kill ay nangyari buhat ng pag-landfall ng bagyo sa kanilang lugar.

Kung babalikan, halos ilang

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taon na rin nang magkaroon ng fish kill sa naturang bayan.

Taong 1998, naitala ang limang kasong ito na dulot ng labis na paglagay ng mga isda sa isang kulungan. Noong Setyembre 22, 2007, ang insidente ay naging bunga ng pagkalat ng sulfur dioxide na galing pa sa karatig nitong syudad. Polusyon din sa tubig ang naging dahilan ng pagkamatay ng mga isda, noong ika-29 ng Oktubre, taong 2010.

Dahil dito, labis na naapektuhan ang pamumuhay ng mga mangingisda.

PAG-AHON SA BALAKID “Kung tamad ka, lugi ka.”

Ito ang tumatak sa akin noong nakapanayam namin si Tatay.

Isang simpleng kataga na punong-puno ng inspirasyon, para sa lahat ng taong gustong umasenso, gaano man kahirap ang kanilang kalagayan.

Bagama’t maraming hamon na ang kaniyang hinarap, kailanman ay hindi siya nagpatangay sa nakalulunod na alon ng buhay.

Hindi uso ang salitang sumuko kay Tatay kung kaya nama’y hindi siya nawalan ng pag-asa at ipinagpatuloy pa rin ang kaniyang pagpupursige bilang

“

Nakasisid man sa malamig na tubig ng lawa, nananatili pa ring tuyot ang kaniyang magkabilaang bulsa.

isang haligi ng tahanan.

Bago pa man tuluyang mawalan ng hanapbuhay ang ulirang mamamalakaya, bukod sa pangingisda, pinapasok din niya ang mga ekstrang trabaho gaya ng pagsisibak ng kahoy at paglilinis ng ibang bahay. Ang tatlongdaang pisong kita kada araw ang pansamantalang bumubuhay sa kaniyang pamilya.

Para kay Tatay na parehong nakalubog ang paa sa masalimuot na realidad ng buhay, ang pangingisda ang kaniyang naging angkla upang makaahon. Laking pasasalamat niya na dahil sa pangingisda ay napagtapos niya sa kolehiyo ang panganay niyang anak na kasalukuyan nang nagtatrabaho sa isang hotel sa Maynila. Bilang pagtanaw ng utang na loob sa patuloy na pagsasakripisyo ng ama, ang kaniyang anak ay buwan-buwang nagpapadala ng pera na ipantutustos sa kanilang araw-araw na pangangailangan sa probinsya. Sa anim na anak ni Tatay Mariano, isa na lamang ang kaniyang pinapaaral at ilang taon na lang ay matatapos na rin ito sa kolehiyo. Unti-unti na rin silang

nakababangon mula sa hagupit ng mga sakuna. Ang dating bahay na pinadapa ng bagyo ay napalitan na rin ng mas matibay.

LAYAG NG PAG-ASA Sa aming panayam kay Ronilo Leal, ang Lake Development Officer ng Buhi, maraming katuwang ang LGU Buhi upang mas mapaunlad pa ang buhay ng mga mangingisda, gaya ng BFAR, Kagawaran ng Kagalingan at Pagpapaunlad Panlipunan (DSWD), at Kagawaran ng Kapaligiran at Likas na Yaman (DENR). Ang mga nasabing ahensiya ng gobyerno ay tumutulong sa maliliit na mangingisda sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng bangka at panghuli ng isda, pagsasagawa ng centralized fish landing, fingerlings dispersal at water quality monitoring para sa aquaculture.

Noong Abril 17, 2019, nilagdaan ni Pangulong Rodrigo R. Duterte ang Batas Republika Blg. 11321 o ang tinatawag na Sagip Saka Act. Ito ay batas na naglalayong suportahan at tulungan ang mga magsasaka at mangingisda sa

ating bansa, na iangat ang antas ng kanilang pamumuhay. Nakasaad dito ang pagbuo ng mga programa na kung saan ay magbibigay ang pamahalaan ng ayuda, credit grants, at modernong teknolohiya sa pagsasaka at pangingisda.

“Ang pagsasabatas ng Sagip Saka Act ay tagumpay ng mga magsasaka at mangingisda, ang mahigit 10 milyong Pilipinong nagpapakain sa atin.” Ito ang pahayag ng pangunahing may-akda ng batas na si Senator Francis N. Pangilinan. “Ano ang nais gawin ng Sagip Saka? Siguruhin na bibili ang gobyerno ng mga produkto ng ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda sa iba’t ibang programa nito,” dagdag pa niya.

Masasabi natin na kulang pa rin ang benepisyo na natatanggap ng mga mangingisda kaya’t sa tulong ng programang ito, labis na mapapalakas ang kita at produksiyon ng mga mamamalakayang katulad ni Tatay Mariano.

HILING NG ISANG MANGINGISDA Noong tinanong si Tatay Mariano kung ano ba ang nais niyang gawin bukod sa pangingisda, tanging pamamalakaya pa rin ang kaniyang naging tugon. Nais niyang ipagpatuloy ang ganitong hanapbuhay, sapagkat ito ay pamana pa sa kaniya ng kaniyang ama. Kung may isang bagay mang hihilingin si Tatay, iyon ay ang pagkakaroon muli ng bangka nang sa gayon ay maipagpatuloy niya na ang pamamalakaya.

Hindi pa rin mabingwit ni Tatay ang karampatang benepisyo mula sa gobyerno, kahit na nagpapakapagod sa panghuhuli ng isda. Nakasisid man sa malamig na tubig ng lawa, nananatili pa ring tuyot ang kaniyang magkabilaang bulsa.

Kailanman ay hindi biro ang pagiging isang mangingisda, sapagkat sila ay may kritikal na gampanin sa ating lipunan. Kung mabibigyan lamang ng kaukulang atensyon at suporta ang maliliit na mangingisdang katulad ni Tatay Mariano, tiyak na mas lalago pa ang produksiyon ng produktong pangisdaan sa ating bansa at tiyak na mas maraming pamilya ang makaaalpas sa nanlalamong dagat ng kahirapan.

TheSPARK | DEVCOM 09

COVID-19 postpone moves ex

READ ON PA

In response to academic adjustments amid pandemic

Onwards PSUB, quality higher education amid pandemic

CSPC heightens tech services, facilitiesCSPC among the

CSPC establishes radio and READ ON PAGE 12 TV transmission tower

READ ON PAGE 15 9 forces exam ements, PRC xam dates in 2021

AGE 17

15 semi-finalists on a business idea competition, bares Green Market Project Innovation READ ON PAGE 14

READ ON PAGE 16

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CSPC allots P35 to campus radio upgrade

CSPC heightens tech services, facilities

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CSPC among the 15 semi-finalists on a business...

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CSPC establishes radio and TV transmission tower

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CSPC allots P35 million to campus radio upgrade

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COVID-19 forces exam postponements, PRC moves...

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BSN stude bags 2nd place in reg’l on-the-spot essay...

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CSPC attains Level III in gender mainstreaming efforts

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CSC, Inc. leads donation drive, conducts relief operations...

TheSPARK | BALITA 11

In response to academic adjustments amid pandemic

CSPC heightens tech services, facilities STORY BY CHRISTELLE ONG

Geared with its commitment to ensure the delivery of quality and excellent higher education in the midst of current academic adjustments due to the coronavirus pandemic, Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges (CSPC) initiated programs and undertakings which are aimed at the reinforcement of the Academe’s technological services and facilities.

The effort to amplify these institutional components is in line with the necessary steps that take part in the establishment of effectual flexible learning arrangement.

Further, the College administration believes that the improvement of these can manifest the capacity of CSPC in the delivery of essential technological operations.

Specifically, these heightened technological services and facilities of the Academe are in response to the needed modifications for its academic and nonacademic endeavors to better serve the students as well as the community in the face of distance learning. Thus, the College’s departments for admissions, library access, guidance and counselling, and extension services, to name a few, have

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undergone specific developments over the early quarter of the academic year alongside the implementation of flexible learning.

Online admissions The Student Testing and Admission Office commenced the conduct of online admissions in the previous academic year and with the current restrictions to inperson activities in obedience to health and safety protocols, the said operation was fully utilized to receive students’ application requisites and to deliver the statement of their examination results.

As per the Database Center, the associate department of the Office, the online-based system is a means to facilitate accessibility in the College’s provision of related services toward its clientele.

A NEW ONLINE PORTAL. The school library upgraded with Academic E-Book Collection for students to access online in their research purposes, the online library now has more than 190,000 e-books and journals, provided that this will help students to access the library wherever they are. The online library was established along the new admissions, and on-air special programs that will aid students and instructors’ burdens in the academe.

- JAMELA HAZEL TRANQUILO

Online Library As part of the institutional components that the College intended to upgrade for broader reach, the College Library expanded its facility and observed the effort of shifting the traditional book collection into a resource of online references through the Online Library.

With the Academic E-Book Collection, which is a multi-disciplinary library interface that includes more than 190,000 e-books and journals encompassing a large variety of academic subjects, students are now provided with an accessible platform that they can utilize for research pursposes.

Guidance Center On-Air Alongside the expansion of the campus FM radio station in serving as a medium

of both formal and non-formal education, programs to aid in the delivery of other key institutional services were also commenced, particularly, in partnership with the Guidance Center and the Extension Services Office.

With the program Guidance Center OnAir, the Guidance Center tapped the school radio to provide value-based insights for the holistic development of CSPCeans.

It is a program that deals with the discussion of matters concerning character, personal development, and other related aspects. Also, it serves as an avenue to provide on-air counselling services to students.

Extension-on-Air The Extension Services Office similarly launched a program in the campus radio station. Extension-on-Air is a program that intends to convey the involvement of the Academe in community development. It is designed to serve as an alternative in the provision of extension activities amid the present restrictions to the conduct of face-to-face gatherings due to COVID-19 pandemic.

While the College holds the purpose to continually perform community undertakings, Institutional Planning and Development Director Dr. April Z. Luzon emphasized that given the set measures to the movement of people with the current public health concern, the College faculty and personnel are also restricted in the delivery of usual training and other related programs outside the campus for their safety.

“We deliver Extension-on-Air because hindi natin kayang i-risk ang buhay ng faculty in going to different localities and delivering extension programs,” the Director stated. “So, in a way, the pandemic helped us realize that we can reimagine and do things out of the usual scenario,” she added.

Extension-on-Air, in its first airings, provided technical assistance in the form of lectures on topics related to digital marketing, social media awareness, mental health advocacy, food safety and sanitation, carbon footprint awareness, and others.

ENCOMPASSING THE DISTANCE. A year since the pandemic started the Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges paved way for technological improvements and school programs for students partaking the online classes of the academic year and the next, that initially will help students to adapt more in the implementation of flexible learning.

- JAMELA HAZEL TRANQUILO

As the College is in pursuit of effectual ways to deliver instruction in the midst of distance learning, it has essentially employed the campus radio station to extend programs which are “relevant to educational, developmental, social, and cultural needs.” Thus, the said programs were caused by the Academe’s aim to largely engage on necessary information sharing activities that can also promote mutual harmony in societal affairs through on-air broadcasts.

The College President Dr. Charlito P. Cadag, in a statement, expressed

that these technology-based undertakings, which are after the principal intent to manifest CSPC’s commitment in the delivery of its institutional functions, are anchored to the Academe’s efforts to ensure the welfare and development of its students, faculty, staff, and other stakeholders.

TheSPARK | BALITA 13

CSPC among the 15 semi-finalists on a business idea competition, bares Green Market Project Innovation STORY BY HADJIE BAZAR

Three students from the CSPC College of Computer Studies jumped the hurdle of being hailed as one of the 15 semi-finalists in the Enactus Philippines Business Innovation Ideas Competition as Jade Ballester and Michael Flora, both of Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT), and Alyssa Aliviado of Bachelor of Library Information Studies (BLIS) premiered their innovative leap towards the advancement in farm marketing entitled Green Market Project.

As the team supervisor, Ms. Rosel Onesa, a CSPC faculty adviser, highlighted that the main objective of crafting this project is to come up with a business innovation that will answer the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal of effective farming that adapts to the challenges brought about by these technological advancements and trends in the society, and thus bridging the gap between proprietor and the marketplace in a time-efficient worklog. “[This] Green Market [Project] is actually a progressive app intended to help our farmers.” she affirmed.

Green Market Project is a web and mobile-based application that intends to open up a new avenue for farmers to trade their produce, driving into a smoother exchange of harvests between the market and the consumers through an online platform called Green Market App. “Since yung green market

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project is hindi lang siya app but an intersystem [of processes] … kasama doon sa project nila is yung training through partnership. So, makikipag-collaborate sila [CSPC Team] with Local Government Units (LGUs), probably barangay council[s] or kung merong [mga] kooperatiba kung paano ba gamitin yung app or kung paano ba sila mag level-up ng brand ng kanilang produce,” Ms. Onesa furthered.

Following the restrictions imposed due to COVID-19, the CSPCean Green Market team along with their public consultation and supposed interviews has met several hindrances in data gathering. Yet, the goal to set an innovative marketplace for the local farmers continued to assert

against the odds. Hence, first-hand responses from the local farmers were gathered through phone and online interviews initiated by the business project innovators.

Subsequently, common problems faced by the farmers unbeknownst to the masses came into pronouncement as per the data gathered like, insufficient income from their harvests that does not equate to sweats of their labor; lesser mobility of their product due to the effect of a pandemic; struggle from trade competitions from the marketing advancements and branding.

As part of the business idea’s inclusion, the team, CSPC Green Market Project Innovators, had purposely made training and incurred branding assistance to the local farmers as an answer to the adversities mentioned in the latter.

The synergy between these three (3) student-innovators of the College of Computer Studies, made this project an entire success.

The main inspiration of crafting this onlinebased marketing initiative rooted from the futuristic mindset of Aliviado, as she personally experiences the hardships brought about by the pandemic to the local farmers. Meanwhile, the concept of programs used upon its creation was then administered through the expertise of Flora, whereas the development of the app’s user interface (UI) has been made possible through the ingenuity of Ballester.

Along with the continuous endeavor to link traditional farming to the digitization of its trades, CSPC Green Market has literally made its leap, geared with novel approaches in the business industry empowering the minority of local farmers.

Onwards PSUB, quality higher education amid pandemic

CSPC establishes radio and TV transmission tower STORY BY MARY GRACE RONCO

Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges (CSPC) accelerated from its parameters, as it embraced technological modernization in support to flexible learning through broadcast media.

On December 15, College President Dr. Charlito P. Cadag led the ceremonial ground-breaking to officially commence the construction of the Polytechnic State University of Bicol (PSUB) radio and television transmission tower.

CSPC, in partnership with the Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation, endeavored into upgrading the campus radio and setting up digital transmission with an allocated budget of P52 million for the erection of the tower, broadcast baseband, and radio-frequency equipment as part of the PSUB Blended Learning Project.

“This global project addresses the demands for a more effectual system along with the new normal and new modalities of instructional delivery,” Dr. Cadag said in his speech during the ceremony.

The 5-kW transmitter designed to operate around the vicinity of the campus and is expected to operate at 87.5 MHz to cater the delivery of lessons on a larger scale of audiences.

Through this venture, the College’s frequency bands will now not only be within the Rinconada Area, as it was put forward to reach Central Camarines Sur, Partido, and Albay, as well.

In its implementation, the project shall facilitate instructional delivery wherein each college, including Buhi Campus and Graduate School, will be given separate timeslots to broadcast lessons as an alternative to the face-toface class arrangement.

Each department is to be provided with an assigned television channel, and faculty members in their respective colleges will be allotted fixed time-slots for live and recorded television broadcasts.

On the other hand, Dr. Cadag emphasized the importance of careful airing and uploading of instructional content by the faculty to prevent incidences of plagiarism and other common mishaps related to broadcast media undertakings.

“Before the scheduled live broadcast of instruction delivery, kailangan ma-review and finalize ‘yong kanilang (the instructors) materials,” the President stated.

As to the employment of the enhanced facility, a black box and dongle shall be provided for the access to the Academe’s channels.

These can be rented and are purchasable, as well.

Essentially, as per the College administration, the project is set to be operational by the second semester of the present academic year.

CSPC is one of the few state universities and colleges (SUCs) in the country with an existing campus radio of its own, and the first and only SUC to endeavor into this particular broadcast media project.

“We are facing challenging times, most likely, because of this pandemic. And so, in CSPC, we calibrate our efforts and initiatives so that we can become more relevant and attuned to the needs of the students,” Dr. Cadag remarked.

AIMING HIGH. CSPC’s radio and television transmission tower’s construction was completed and now ready to serve the college’s students. This project was carried out as an aid for the problems in dissemination of instructionional informations now that new normal is being implemented.

- JUDE ZYMON CASYAO

AN ANTICIPATED TOMORROW. The ceremonial ground-breaking was headed by the College President Dr. Charlito P. Cadag (center) along with college officials last December 15,2020, in partnership with Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation, for the onset construction of the Polytechnic State University of Bicol (PSUB) radio and television transmission tower that was built as part of the school’s blended learning projects.

- JAMELA HAZEL TRANQUILO

TheSPARK | BALITA 15

CSPC allots P35 million to campus radio upgrade STORY BY CHRISTELLE ONG

In its re-aligned budget priorities corresponding to the adoption of necessary technological approaches in the midst of the current academic developments, Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges apportioned P35 million to the enhancement and upgrading of the campus FM radio station.

As the College aims to provide an effectual system in the delivery of education to students not only in the Rinconada Area but also in Central Camarines Sur, Partido Area, and Albay, the campus radio is to extend programs which are “relevant to educational, developmental, social, and cultural needs.” Further, it is to highly engage on necessary information sharing efforts while enabling mutual harmony in societal affairs through on-air broadcasts.

“For 2020, we have re-aligned budget for the upgrading of the radio station. Nag-allocate ng 35 million [pesos], […] so ‘yung reach and width ng radio station pina-expand para mas malawak ang marating [ng frequency],” Institutional Planning and Development Director Dr. April Z. Luzon said, in an interview with TheSPARK. Of consciousness that there are a number of students living in far-flung areas and are mostly experiencing poor internet connectivity, the College ventured into the expansion of the campus radio’s reach to provide an accessible platform in flexible learning.

With its assigned budget, it is to essentially facilitate in instructional delivery wherein each

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college, including Buhi Campus and Graduate School, will be given of separate time-slots to broadcast lessons as an alternative to face-toface class arrangement.

Moreover, additional programs of the objective to aid in the delivery of other services were also initiated, in partnership with the Extension Services Office and the Guidance Center.

Thus, along its intended purpose to perform its presently vital role in serving as a medium of both formal and non-formal education, the campus radio with the programs Extensionon-Air and Guidance Center On-Air is to convey the involvement of the Academe in community development and provide value-based insights for the holistic development of students, respectively.

Essentially, the former is designed to serve as an alternative in the provision of extension activities while the latter is of focus on discussing matters about character and personal values.

While the College intends to continually perform community undertakings, Dr. Luzon emphasized that given the restrictions to

TIMELY UPGRADE. In one of the broadcasts of the Guidance Office called the guidance-on-air which is delivering counselling and value-based insights to CSPCeans, such programs are now possible to be heard by more students as the College now upgraded and expanded the reach of the Campus Radio Station.

- JAMELA HAZEL TRANQUILO

the movement of people with the current public health concern, the College faculty and personnel are also limited in the delivery of usual trainings and other related programs outside the campus for their safety. Hence, the introduction of Extension-on-Air in the campus radio was realized.

“We deliver Extension-on-Air because hindi natin kayang i-risk ang buhay ng faculty in going to different localities and delivering extension programs,” the Director stated. “So, in a way, the pandemic helped us realize that we can reimagine and do things out of the usual scenario,” she added.

Extension-on-Air, in its first airings, provided technical assistance lectures on topics related to digital marketing, social media awareness, mental health advocacy, food safety and sanitation, carbon footprint awareness, and others.

Meanwhile, the Guidance Center On-Air intends to have an essential role in balancing the physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual condition of the students with conversations on relevant issues and concerns including counselling services.

COVID-19 forces exam postponements, PRC moves exam dates in 2021 STORY BY HADJIE BAZAR

Due to the outgrowing number of coronavirus cases in the Philippines, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced the postponement of licensure examinations in 2020 and the movement of these to 2021.

The said department, in a series of online advisories, stated that most of the licensure examinations scheduled from May up to the succeeding months of 2020 were eyed to postponement due to the health risks brought about by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, citing that its occurrence has “resulted to fear and anxiety to the health and safety of all concerned.”

In pursuance of Presidential Proclamation No. 922, declaring the state of public health emergency throughout the country to disallow mass gatherings, PRC suggested the resolution alongside its grounds to ensure the health and safety of the examinees, Professional Regulatory Boards, and examination personnel.

In response to these unforeseen circumstances, the Commission, in a virtual meeting with the House of Representatives in July, discussed its concerns and provided recommendations that can essentially back up the conduct of licensure examinations.

PRC Chairman Teofilo Pilando Jr. emphasized the following issues, in particular: the availability of examination venues and personnel as well as the alterations in the InterAgency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases guidelines from time to time.

“The Commission of the Boards made some recommendations, one of which would be the prioritization of small-scale examinations for the remaining part of the year [2020], meaning, those that would involve 1,000 more or less examinees,” Pilando furthered.

Meanwhile, the Commission is also looking into the conduct of computerbased examinations as a mechanism to adopt for the licensure examinations pushed to 2021.

Some of the rescheduled board exams of 2020 are for chemical engineers, naval architects, marine engineers, metallurgical engineers, certified public accountants, optometrists, ocular pharmacologists,

PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE.

Engineering students are taking pre-board examinations conducted by Excel Review Center.

-MICHAEL WILLIAM RONCO I PHOTO COURTESY FROM EXCEL REVIEW CENTER

chemists, chemical technicians, electronic engineers, electronic technicians, geodetic engineers, fishery technologists, and agriculturists.

From March to December 2020, PRC has postponed a total of 67 examinations due to the pandemic and successive lockdowns

imposed by the national government.

Hence, regularly visiting the department’s official website [www.prc.gov.ph] and social media accounts are advised by the Commission to all the affected examinees, in order for them to be notified upon the release of important updates.

BSN stude bags 2nd place in reg’l on-the-spot essay writing tilt STORY BY MARIELLA VILLAR

Dareen C. Dianela, a second year Bachelor of Science in Nursing student, bagged 2nd place in the virtual on-the-spot essay writing competition of the Commission on Human Rights Regional Office (CHR-V) on September 18, 2020.

In line with the 48th Martial Law Anniversary, CHR-V spearheaded the said competition for the purpose of commemorating the integral messages brought about by the military rule and reviving these to the Filipino youth.

The essay writing event revolved around the theme “48 Years After: How martial law shaped the current human

rights situation in the Philippines,” in which Dianela focused on the essence of awareness to the critical concerns that occur in the country so as to safeguard the rights of the Filipino people.

With his piece entitled “On Repeat,” Dianela pointed out that history is repeating itself little by little, as scenes of common ground between the regime of former President Ferdinand Marcos and the present administration of President Rodrigo Duterte are perceived to be of occurrence. “The rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened,” he stated in his essay.

Additionally, he highlighted in his written composition that the citizenry

BSN STUDE BAGS 2ND PLACE ON PAGE 9

TheSPARK | BALITA 17

CSPC attains Level III in gender mainstreaming efforts

STORY BY MARY GRACE RONCO

Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges (CSPC) is now Level III in gender mainstreaming efforts, as certified during the Assessment of Gender Mainstreaming Activities for the Conduct of Gender Audit Training-Workshop to CSPC Gender and Development (GAD) Focal Point System on October 5-9, 2020.

Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) – GAD Resource Pool Mr. Frederick P. Pablico bestowed the said recognition after the four-day gender auditing conference that assessed the College’s GAD responsiveness and equality in terms of policymaking, enabling mechanisms, and programs/activities/projects (PAPs) from 2016 to 2020, as stipulated in the Enhanced Gender Mainstreaming Evaluation Framework of PCW. In the handbook of this framework, it is stated that an institution with Level III signals that the strategic framework on GAD is already adopted and integrated into its major programs and projects.

According to the College’s GAD Director Mr. Dennis N. Rañon, the attainment of Level III in gender mainstreaming efforts is an indication of the Academe’s notable

degree in the observance of gendersensitive undertakings.

“Kung nag-level three [na] tayo, ibig sabihin [ay] maganda ‘yong gender mainstreaming efforts ng Center for [Gender and] Development. […] Mataas na ‘yan compared to other SUCs (State Universities and Colleges),” Mr. Rañon said in an interview with TheSPARK. “Ang challenge sa amin is to mainstream; isiwalat kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng Gender and Development, hindi lang sa administration ng CSPC kundi [pati na] sa clientele natin,” he added.

Mr. Rañon mentioned that most of the credited accomplishments were implemented under the tutelage of the previous office director, Dr. Leni Malabanan, and are being continued by the present administration, as the GAD focal point system is “continuously working on implementing and recognizing the development of activities that ignores gender biases” which is necessary to preclude inequitable impacts on beneficiaries.

Child-Minding Center, wherein parents who are also stakeholders of CSPC can entrust their younger children for care while working, and a fitness gym for the faculty, are projects of the College’s GAD department, to name a few.

“We also coordinate with the extension

office in conducting outreach programs such as the recent one that we conducted last November 28 in which namigay tayo ng bigas sa senior citizens,” Mr. Rañon imparted.

Meanwhile, the Academe had a Memorandum of Agreement with the local government units of Nabua and Bula to conduct lectures and realize programs about gender and development, physical education, nutrition, sexual and reproductive health, Human Immunodeficiency Virus awareness, teenage pregnancy, and organize initiatives relative to some of the College’s advocacies.

“Ang sentro lang naman ng Center for Gender and Development is to be gender sensitive. For us to have equal opportunities, dapat pantay-pantay tayo,” the Director remarked.

Significantly, gender equality remains central to the development of CSPC and by 2023, the Academe aims to achieve the highest degree of gender mainstreaming which is Level V: Replication and Innovation.

A GREAT TURNING POINT. The four-day Gender Audit Training-Workshop for CSPC GAD Focal Point System for the Assessment of Gender Mainstreaming Initiatives, became another milestone for CSPC as they reached LEVEL III for its efforts on gender mainstreaming, certified by Mr. Frederick P. Pablico, Philippine Commission on Women - GAD Resource Pool during the said gender auditing conference held on October 5 to 9, 2020 via Zoom.

- JUDE ZYMON CASYAO I PHOTO COURTESY FROM CSPC-GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE

18 BALITA | TheSPARK

CSC, Inc. leads donation drive, conducts relief operations to typhoon victims STORY BY CHRISTELLE ONG

In response to the need of providing assistance after the calamities that hit the region with Typhoon Quinta, Super Typhoon Rolly, and Typhoon Ulysses, the Central Student Council, Inc. (CSC, Inc.) spearheaded a series of donation drive and conducted relief operations intended for severely devastated CSPCeans.

In cooperation with the student council of Buhi Campus, CSC, Inc. initiated the “Tabang Mo, Pagbangon Ko” donation drive that aimed to further fund the relief operations stirred by the Council and called for in-kind donations such as clothing, toiletries, and other essential equipment for protection.

On November 9, 2020, the first wave of relief operations was administered and 300 relief packs were distributed to students of Nabua and Buhi Campuses who were identified to be of totally or partially damaged households. It was initially funded by the Council from its remaining budget of the previous academic year.

According to Nick B. Namoro, the CSC, Inc. President, the Council prioritized the students who lost their homes and those who were in urgent need of assistance such as relief goods. “Ang pinag-prioritize namin is ‘yong CSPCeans na nawalan ng bahay at ‘yong mga nangangailangan talaga ng tulong,” Namoro stated.

Meanwhile, the second wave of relief operations was realized to extend the number of assisted students. The said phase, in its donation drive, gathered approximately Php 90 thousand from the different organizations of the College and from a number of groups outside the

Academe, and it was utilized to purchase goods for 200 students.

The third wave, on the other hand, was focused on cellular load assistance that aimed to deliver aid to some CSPCeans who are mostly lacking of the said necessity, particularly, in online learning. The program was largely supported by a donor who gave a total amount of Php 50 thousand. It has served 250 student-beneficiaries and they were provided Php 200 worth of load.

Significantly, the donation drive and relief operation efforts were taken part of the student organizations within the Academe through assisting the Council in the identification of beneficiaries, in the distribution of relief packs, and in the collection of financial assistance from other sectors.

“Nag-tap din [ang Council] ng different organizations to help us with the distribution [of relief packs] and collection of donation from different sectors,” Namoro said.

The CSC, Inc. President furthered that these assistance initiatives performed an instrumental role in alleviating the situation of severely devastated students after the obliteration caused by the consecutive typhoons in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

WE HELP AS ONE. Members of CSC Inc. from Nabua and Buhi Campus team up to start off a donation drive for CSPCeans who were mostly affected after a series of typhoon hit Bicol Region.

- JUDE ZYMON CASYAO I PHOTO COURTESY FROM CSC INC.

BSN stude bags 2nd place ...

FROM PAGE 10

of the country can become united and strong through collective efforts, and that the Filipino people hold an imperative role in preventing another ruler to press the play button of dictatorship, for the second time.

Meanwhile, the awarding of the winners was held on September 21 via Zoom. Dianela, then, received his certificate, cash prize, and other awards in Legazpi City, Albay.

CHR-V in collaboration with higher education institutions organized the said event alongside an Online Black and White Photography Competition which was also participated by students within the region.

Essentially, the initiatives stated above are corresponding to Republic Act 10368 or the Human Rights Violations Victims Reparation and Recognition Act that aims to “teach the Martial Law atrocities and the lives and sacrifices of human rights violations victims in the history to give the Filipino youth a ‘window into the past’ and forestall the nefarious effects of historical revisionism.”

TheSPARK | BALITA 19

Sa Git Pand

READ ON PA

Bugsukan Falls: Wandering in a Hidden Wonder

Online Seller

READ ON PAGE 22

tna ngREAD ON PAGE 26 demya

AGE 34 17

Online Learning: Pagkonekta sa Pangarap READ ON PAGE 30

lathalain 22

Bugsukan Falls: Wandering ...

26

Online Seller

30

Online Learning: Pagkonekta sa Pangarap

34

Sa Gitna ng Pandemya

38

The Case for COVID-19

The Case f COVID-19 READ ON PAGE 38

TheSPARK | LATHALAIN 21

(Bugsukan Falls:) WANDERING IN A HIDDEN WONDER NI SHIELA MAE PARCO LARAWAN NI JOSHUA CEDILLA

“

22 LATHALAIN | TheSPARK

Oh mayna kamo sa Buhi, usad na sana.”

Pagkasakay ko sa dyip, agad kong iniabot ang kuwarenta pesos na pamasahe kay manong, kapagdaka’y sinagot ko siya sa aking isip, “Oo na, kuya, ako na ang mag-isa.”

Paglalakbay… ito ang paglipat ng tao mula sa kanyang pinanggalingan patungo sa isang lugar. Bawat isa ay may kani-kaniyang dahilan sa kanilang paglalakbay. Maaaring ito ay rekreasyon o libangan na magpapaginhawa sa katawan at isip ng tao. Maaari namang ito’y eksplorasyon o pagdiskubre nang sa gayon ay makaranas ng kakaibang bagay at makabuo ng panibagong alaala. Katulad sa akin, ang paglalakbay ay nagsisilbing kawala sa mga bagay na nais kong kalimutan.

SAAN BA TAYO PATUNGO? Sumakay ako sa dyip mula Iriga at bumaba sa monumento ng NakaBuhi.

Talaga nananadya ang tadhana dahil doon ko nalaman ang ibig sabihin ng terminolohiyang “NakaBuhi”. Kung ang salin sa Ingles ng salitang ito ay “The one that got away”… bakit niya ako iniwan?

“Welcome to Buhi, Camarines Sur— home of the smallest edible fish in the world.”

Kilala man ang bayan na ito dahil sa sikat na isda na kung tawagin ay “Sinarapan”, lingid pa rin sa kaalaman ng ibang tao na maraming atraksyon sa lugar na ito ang maaari nilang bisitahin at pasyalan. Hindi ako si Kuya Kim ha, pero bago tayo magpatuloy sa aking paglalakbay, bibigyan ko muna kayo ng trivia. Alam niyo ba na sa loob ng 246.65-kilometro kuwadradong lupain ng Buhi ay maraming natatagong paraiso at nakakapukaw-atensiyon na iba’t ibang klase ng talon tulad ng Itbog Falls, Malabsay Falls, Vera Falls, Busay Falls, at ang aking pupuntahan ngayon—ang Bugsukan Falls na mas kilala sa tawag na, “Binangkaan”? Ang tanong: kung marami ang falls sa Buhi, bakit sa kanya pa ako na-fall?

GINUSTO MONG MAPAGOD. Natural ang mapagod kapag alam mong binabalewala ka na lang pero mas nakapapagod ang pag-akyat sa bundok para lang makapunta sa sinasabi kong Bugsukan Falls. Huwag magreklamo habang umaakyat dahil mas lalo ka lang mapapagod; tandaan mo, ginusto mong puntahan ang lugar na iyon kaya nararapat lamang na handa kang mapagod at maghirap bago mo ‘yon marating. Ayon nga sa isang kasabihan, “There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.”

Mula sa binabaan ko kanina, naghanap ako ng tricycle na sasakyan ko papasok sa Igbac, Buhi—baranggay kung saan naroroon ang Bugsukan Falls.

Inabot lamang ng ilang minuto bago ko narating ang dulong bahagi ng kalsada, kung saan naroroon din ang bahay ni Kapitana. Hudyat na ng mahaba-habang lakaran sa mabatong ilog at matarik na bulubundukin.

Mahigit kalahating oras din ang pagbagtas ko mula sa bukana hanggang sa himlayan ng makapitlag-pusong talon.

Kung tutuusin, hindi naman lubhang mahirap hanapin kung nasaan ang nasabing destinasyon dahil mayroon namang pwedeng mapagtanungan habang naglalakad papunta roon. Halos marami na rin ang dumayo at patuloy na dumarayo rito dahil na rin sa mga vlog at litrato na nakikita sa social media, kung kaya’t naging gabay na rin iyon sa mga gusto pang dumayo kagaya ko. Ngunit mas mainam pa rin kung magsasama

kayo ng tour guide nang sa gayon ay mas mapadali ang paghahanap at maging ligtas sa paglalakbay.

ANG PAROROONAN The best view comes after the hardest climb.

Ilang minuto pa bago masilayan ang pagbagsak ng tubig, alam ko na malapit na ako dahil rinig ko na ang mapanabik na bulusok nito sa paanan ng talon.

Pagkatapos ng lahat ng sakripisyo sa nakahahapong paglalakad at pag-akyat, sa wakas ay narating ko na rin ang Bugsukan Falls.

Lahat ng pagod ay hindi ko na alintana habang pinagmamasdan ang napakalinaw na tubig na bumabagsak mula sa tuktok ng bundok, lalo pa’t ito’y nasisinagan ng araw. Sa paanan kasi nito ay may nagliitawang maliliit na bahaghari na tila ba’y nagyayaya sa akin na lumusong sa tubig at maglakad sa mga bato papalapit dito.

Habang nakalubog ang aking mga binti sa ilog, papalapit sa makukulay na arko, unti-unti kong nararamdaman ang tilamsik ng tubig na animo’y ulang nababalot ng hamog. Tila ba ako’y minamasahe at kinikiliti kung kaya’t hindi maialis sa aking mukha ang ngiti at galak.

Iginala ko ang aking mga mata. Sa kanang bahagi, gawing itaas, napansin ko ang mga batang masayang kumakain ng tanghalian. Medyo patag kasi ang lupa sa bahaging iyon kung kaya nama’y magandang umupo roon ng nakapaikot habang sama-samang nagkukuwentuhan at nagpapahinga.

Kahit saan ko iikot ang aking mga mata, tatambad sa akin ang naglalakihang mga bato. Maging sa ilalim ng tubig ay may malalaki at malilit, kung kaya nama’y hindi rin nakapagtataka kung bakit marami ang namumulot at naghahanap ng magagandang hugis nito upang pagpatung-patungin na para bang isang tore.

Tila ba’y nakalimutan ko ang layo ng aming nilakad dahil tunay ngang maihahalintulad ang lugar na ito sa isang paraiso.

FALL AT YOUR OWN RISK. Alam kong wala namang nagtataka, pero bakit nga ba ako nasa bahay ng kapitan kanina? Wala lang, nakigamit ako ng banyo. Alam ko rin na mahirap tanggapin ang pagkawala niya, pero mas mahirap ang magpigil ng napupunong pantog. Mabuti na lang talaga na naparaan ako roon, sapagkat wala nang ibang makikitang palikuran sa oras na binagtas ang daan patungo sa talon.

TheSPARK | LATHALAIN 23

Narito pa ang ilan sa mga bagay na dapat nating isaalangalang bago pumunta sa Bugsukan Falls: Hindi lahat ng bagay ay minamadali. Kinakailangan ng maayos na pagplano kung kailan nararapat pumunta sa lugar na ito. Siguraduhing pumunta habang mainit ang panahon nang sa gayon ay makaiwas sa madulas at maputik na daan.

Kailangang alamin din kung ano-ano ang mga dapat na dalhin. Ang pinakamahalaga sa lahat, kalimutan na ang ex, ‘wag lang ang face mask at face shield. Stay safe, kahit hindi ka niya iningatan.

Magdala ka ng payong na panangga sa mapanlapnos na init ng araw. Balat na lang ang alagaan, h’wag na ‘yong taong nang-iwan.

Minsan, kailangan mo rin ng karamay sa lahat ng hirap na iyong pagdadaanan. Iminumungkahi ko na kung gusto mong pumunta roon, siguraduhing may kasama kang mas nakaaalam sa lugar upang magsilbing gabay, ika nga’y tour guide. Mas mainam din kung may mga kasama kang kaibigan o kapamilya para mas maging masaya ang iyong paglalakbay. Pero kung gusto mo rin na mag-isa, eh di sige. Choice mo ‘yan.

Magsuot ka ng sapatos o tsinelas na hindi madulas upang maiwasan mong bumagsak sa maling tao… ay, este sa mababatong daanan pala.

Nakapapagod maghabol sa taong tumatakbo palayo sa’yo, pero mas nakapapagod ang umakyat sa bundok na may mabigat na nararamdaman... este, bitbit pala. Magdala lamang ng kaya mong dalhin upang hindi ka mahirapan sa pag-akyat. Ayon nga kay Earl Shaffer, “Carry as little as possible, but choose that little with care.”

Bago ka rin maglakad paakyat, siguraduhing may laman ang iyong sikmura at may dala pang makakain; tiyak na makararamdam ka ng uhaw at gutom dahil sa init at pagod. Hindi man kayo Girl/Boy Scout, dapat ay lagi kang handa.

Madalas tayong nasasaktan dahil hindi tayo nag-iingat.

Kung pupunta ka sa Bugsukan Falls, kailangang maging alerto ka sa anumang uri ng panganib na maaaring mangyari, katulad na lang ng pagkagalos. Nararapat lamang na magdala ng firstaid kit kagaya ng band-aid, alcohol, betadine, at iba pang pwedeng maging paunang lunas. Ika nga nga sa kasabihan ni Joe Espi, “Climb with precaution and fall at your own risk.”

24 LATHALAIN | TheSPARK

BULAG SA KATOTOHANAN Para sa iba, hindi na dapat pang balikan ang nakaraan, ngunit sa puntong ito, ikukuwento ko pa rin sa inyo ang karagdagang senaryo mula sa aking nakapapagod, ngunit masayang paglalakbay. Habang naglalakad pauwi, huminto muna ako sa isang tindahan upang habulin ang aking hininga.

Kumpara kanina, hindi ko na gaanong ramdam ang pagod dahil mas madali na ang pagbaba sa bundok kaysa pagtaas. At ayon, namangha ako sa aking nalaman dahil buong akala ko, “Binangkaan” ang tanging tawag sa talon na iyon. Tama nga talaga ang sabi ng iba, hindi lahat ng pinaniniwalaan mo ay totoo. Nang magkwento si Jude, isang residente ng Igbac, mayroon palang kuwento ang lugar na iyon; bukod sa pangalang “Binangkaan”, tinatawag din ito sa pinakatumpak na ngalan nito bilang “Bugsukan”.

Hindi ko alam kung kaiwan-iwan ba talaga ako dahil saglit lang kaming nakapag-usap ni kuya sa pagmamadali niyang makaalis o sadyang busy lang talaga s’ya? Dahil d’yan, ipinagpatuloy na lang ng kan’yang nanay ang kuwento.

“Narinig ko man lang ito sa mga matatanda dito sa lugar: Ang alam ko n’yan, may mga taga-Albay na dumayo papunta rito sa Igbac. Pagkatapos ay gumawa sila d’yan ng bangka [sa ilog] kaya tinawag iyang Binangkaan. Tapos

[...] noong may mga katutubong agta pa... naanod daw ‘yong ginawang malaking bangka.” Pagdaragdag niya, “May mga Hapon din dito noon na nagtago d’yan, kaya kilala talaga ang lugar na iyan.”

HULING YAPAK Ang paglakbay ko sa lugar na iyon ay para bang pagpasok sa isang relasyon— nakababagot at nakapapagod dahil sa maraming pagsubok na kailangang lampasan.

Ngunit sa kabilang banda, ito ay nagsilbing inspirasyon patungo sa panibagong pag-asa.

Sa pag-akyat ko, napagtanto ko na gano’n pala talaga ang buhay ng tao— sa dulo ng matarik at bako-bakong kalsada, naghihintay ang magandang patutunguhan na siyang magsisilbing pahinga. Mahirap sa umpisa, ngunit kapag nasanay ka, hindi na alintana ang pagod at hirap. Walang imposible sa taong may tiyaga at pagpupursigi.

Ayon nga kay Zig Ziglar, “Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations.”

Hindi na mahalaga kung gaano ka nahirapan sa iyong paglalakbay dahil ang totoo, marami man ang iyong pinagdaanan, narating mo pa rin ang iyong nais paroonan nang may tunay na kagalakan at aral sa buhay.

TheSPARK | LATHALAIN 25

BY CHRISTINE ASTIBE

26 LATHALAIN | TheSPARK

If you’re like me, you’ve probably spent more time scrolling through your social media feed everyday since the pandemic started than anything else.

Doing that, you might have noticed how online businesses have been booming this past year.

And it makes sense; you get to go shopping from the comforts of your home and also the sellers get to make a living without having to physically go out to promote their products. You might have even thought of starting an online shop yourself. However, seeing how it’s shops galore on Facebook and Instagram feeds, it might feel a little intimidating.

It seems as if so many online stores have reached success in just a few months, but is it really possible?

F

or this particular person, it is definitely achievable.

So achievable, as a matter of fact, that she was able to buy herself a brand-new car recently.

From the city of Malabon, we introduce Kyla: an online seller. At just 21 years old, Micaela Larioque is a student and at the same time, fullon businesswoman. She uses Facebook as her online platform to sell her products and also to interact with her customers. If you catch one of her livestreams on said platform, it usually lasts four to six hours. Some of her livestreams even start from late in the night and end in the early hours of the morning. But you may ask why it takes so long? What does she even sell?

If you frequent online shops on Facebook or even Instagram, you have probably already heard of branded overruns.

Branded overruns are basically clothes from known brands that have not passed their quality standards. Many of these items have small holes, stains, discolorations, etc. The rejected pieces of clothing are then resold at lower prices. Many of these come directly from the factories where they are manufactured.

Although Kyla is now a proud online seller of these branded overruns, these weren’t the first things she ever sold. “Dati pa lang mahilig na ako magbenta, siguro noong Grade 1 or Grade 2.” At a young age, she used chocolate from her mom to sell to her classmates at about five pesos apiece. Not only that, but during her senior high school years in Arellano UniversityMalabon, she also sold newsprint after taking inspiration from another classmate who sold them as well. “Sa AU kasi wala kaming notebook, newsprint lang, tapos pagandahan ng designs.”

Her hobby selling newsprint continued on until she graduated from high school. She also started a paluwagan for iPhones during this time.

Unfortunately, Kyla admits although she earned quite a lot doing this, she was met by a few setbacks as well. “…hindi pala ganun kadali. May mga tatakbuhan ka kasi nakasahod na. Nagkagulo ng sobra ‘yon pero wala akong magawa kaya lahat ‘yun inako ko kasi ako naman ang handler.”

By her first year in college, she had applied to a fast-food chain for her very first job. At the same time, she also started selling ukayukay, otherwise known as thrifted clothing.

“Pumapasok ako sa UE (University of the East) na may dala akong dalawang bag na malaki kasi puro orders. After school, meet-up naman sa mga buyers.” This meant the start of her college life had her juggling three responsibilities at once: a job, a small business and school. Sadly, she had to abruptly stop selling in 2019 to focus on her studies. And although she started selling thrifted clothing again in January of 2020, this was halted by the newly emerged pandemic.

TheSPARK | LATHALAIN 27

“

Although becoming a successful online seller is definitely possible, it doesn’t happen overnight. Ms. Larioque’s story is about hard work and taking risks.

On May 2 of 2020, Kyla discovered branded overruns in one of her Facebook groups.

According to her, this was the real start to her online selling journey. Because she didn’t have money to invest in clothing to sell, she posted the items on Facebook for line-up. This meant her customers would have to pay for the item first, then she would buy the item from a supplier, have it delivered to her, and proceed to ship it to her buyers. “Hindi ko alam na sobrang daming o-order kasi grabe, halos lahat ng umorder hindi ko kilala!” This was the process she went through until she gained enough profit to buy what she wanted to sell.

By June of that year, Kyla and her father would roam around different business establishments to look for good quality overruns to sell. She started with one box of assorted overruns. After taking pictures, she would post them online.

After that, she’d be able to buy two boxes. Very soon she was able to purchase five boxes. And the rest is history.

These days, Ms. Larioque is financially able to purchase 30 to 40 boxes of overruns almost every week. To put that into perspective, each box may contain 240-300 pieces of clothing.

When live selling, it usually only takes her three

28 LATHALAIN | TheSPARK

days to completely clean out her inventory.

Despite her usually being alone on-cam, behind the camera she is frequently accompanied by her either of her parents, friends, or siblings who help her out.

Knowing that live selling may not look like much on-screen, Kyla does show her customers from time to time how tiring it can be. Some days, she livestreams how her room is full of pouches or boxes to be shipped out to customers. Other days, she reveals how many unopened boxes of new clothes she still has to arrange into her display shelf. Still, she frequently posts after her live selling how thankful she is for the buyers who continue to support her.

Through her passion for online selling, she has earned enough money to purchase a brandnew car for her and her family to use not only for personal errands but to pick up her items as well. She is also proud to say she bought a new washing machine and now has a bodega for her boxes.

When asked about what her next goal is, she answered, “My family and I have always planned to renovate our house for better living and for wider space, of course, for the garage of my items.”

Because she is still currently a student (taking up a Business Administration course), Kyla always expresses how grateful she is that her family has and continues to support her throughout her journey as an online seller. As she answered when asked about what she’d like to tell her family, she expressed, “I’d like to thank my family for an endearing and unstoppable love and support [they] have given me.”

Her advice to any other aspiring online sellers? “Malaki man o maliit na business, dapat suportahan lang.” She also hopes for people to change their belittling view of people who choose to do business on online platforms. “’Wag na ‘wag niyo sasabihin na ‘online seller ka lang’ o ‘wala kang mararating niyan’. Pangit na mindset ‘yan.”

Although becoming a successful online seller is definitely possible, it doesn’t happen overnight. Ms. Larioque’s story is about hard work and taking risks. And since there is no one way to success, we can take inspiration from people like her to create our own path to accomplish goals.

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NI ROSE ANN LAGATIC

30 LATHALAIN | TheSPARK

“Maluya po talaga a pagklase sa online, kinding uda man kami maginibo, kun’di mag-adapt.

Tibaad matapos na sana talaga ‘ding virus ta ngamin man kita nasasakitan kining pandemya.”

- Glen Virtus, mag-aaral ng Civil Engineering sa ikalawang taon.

Sinong mag-aakala na ang isang simpleng araw lamang noong Marso 14, taong 2020, ay huling araw na pala ng makabuluhang usapan, tawanan, at kung ano-anong kalokohan sa loob ng silid-aralan? Makalipas ang mahigit isang taong panggugulantang ng pandemya, kumusta na kaya ang mga magaaral?

Ang hudyat ng makabagong sistema Buhat sa COVID-19 protocols na ipinatutupad ng IATF-IED o Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases na itinalaga ng pamahalaan upang manguna sa laban ng bansa sa pandemya, ipinagbabawal ang malawakang pagtitipon gaya ng panonood sa sinehan, konsiyerto, at iba pang gawaing panlibangan, maging ang ‘di mahalagang pagtitipong pantrabaho.

Kabilang din sa naapektuhan ng mga alituntuning ipinatupad ang mga institusyong pang-edukasyon.

Kung kaya bilang tugon sa kasalukuyang sitwasyon, ang Commission on Higher Education o CHED ay nagpanukala ng mga pamamaraan upang ipagpatuloy ng mga kolehiyo at pamantasan ang edukasyon ngayong new normal— isa na rito ay ang online learning.

Mula sa dating pagpasok sa paaralan, pagkakaroon ng diskurso sa loob ng silid at pagsabak sa harapang pagsusulit, ngayon, gamit na lamang ang cellphone at iba pang gadget, halos lahat ng gawain sa paaralan ay possibe nang maisakatuparan sa pamamagitan ng virtual meetings at iba pang online applications.

Ngunit kasabay nito ay ang mataas na demand sa Wi-Fi o data connection, na siyang nagsisilbing lisensya upang makakonekta sa online classes. Sa kasamaang-palad, ayon sa datos ng Ookla, ang isa sa mga kompanyang sumusuri at kumukolekta ng mga datos mula sa bilis at kalidad ng internet sa iba’t-ibang bansa, isa ang Pilipinas sa may pinakamabagal na koneksyon sa buong mundo.

Sa 140 bansa na kanilang sinuri, nasa ika-86 ang Pilipinas na may 25.77 Mbps (Megabits per second) noong Enero— dahilan kung bakit napakaraming kabataan ang sa ngayon ay pilit na itinutulay ang pag-aaral upang maabot lamang ang kanilang mga pangarap. Ilan na lamang sa mga estudyanteng ito ay ang grupo nila Glen.

Acbang, Ryan Angelo Guillera, Nestor Rosales, Joshua Japhet Gabarda, Ronald Passiona, at Marvin Abugao ay isang grupo ng kabataan na sa ngayon ay sumasabak sa mapanghamong online class. Lahat sila ay kumukuha ng kurso sa iba’t-ibang kasanayan sa Inhenyeriya at kasalukuyang naka-enrol sa iisang pampublikong paaralan sa Nabua— ang Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges o CSPC. Sila ay naninirahan sa Palsong, Bula Camarines Sur— isang barangay kung saan ay payak ang pamumuhay at ang mabilis na koneksyon ng data ay talaga namang pahirapan. Sa kadahilanang ito, si Glen at ang kanyang pamilya ay nagbukas ng isang Wi-Fi station sa kanilang tahanan nang nagsimula ang online classes. Doon nagtitipon-tipon ang kaniyang mga kaibigan,

Kabataang lumalaban sa pandemiya Sina Glen Virtus, Johnrey Roldan, Rico John Figuracion, James

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“

Karamihan sa kanila ay nagmula sa pamilya na ang pangunahing ikinabubuhay ay pagsasaka at pagiging construction worker.

Naapektuhan man ng pandemya ang hanapbuhay ng pamilya, ang kagustuhan ng kanilang mga magulang na sila ay mapagtapos ay malaking inspirasyon pa rin upang ipagpatuloy ang kanilang nasimulan.

araw-araw, makapasok lamang sa klase.

Simula pagkabata ay nahubog na ang samahan ng grupo. Magkakamag-aral sila sa elementarya hanggang sekondarya, ngunit nagkaroon ng kaniya-kaniyang kursong napusuan pagtungtong sa kolehiyo. Gayunpaman, ang sitwasyong kinasasadlakan ngayon ay ginawa nilang daan upang sila ay mabuong muli at maging kaagapay ang bawat isa.

Karamihan sa kanila ay nagmula sa pamilya na ang pangunahing ikinabubuhay ay pagsasaka at pagiging construction worker. Naapektuhan man ng pandemya ang hanapbuhay ng pamilya, ang kagustuhan ng kanilang mga magulang na sila ay mapagtapos ay malaking inspirasyon pa rin upang ipagpatuloy ang kanilang nasimulan.

Sa ngayon, sila ay nasa ikalawang semestre na ng pangalawang taon sa pag-aaral. Napakalaki ng pasasalamat nila sa pamilya Virtus dahil sa halagang 200 pesos kada buwan ay naihinga rin nila ang isang semestere na nagtapos noong Pebrero. Sa karanasang iyon at maging sa patuloy na pakikisabay sa makabagong sistema ng edukasyon, aminado sila na hindi madali; napakaraming pahirap ang kanilang nararanasan.

Panibagong hamon sa makabagong panahon Bagamat nasa isang bayan lamang sila, hindi pa rin madali ang paglalakbay nila patungo sa lugar kung saan naroroon ang Wi-Fi Station. Si Johnrey na mula pa sa La Purisima, katabing barangay ng Palsong Bula, ay kinakailangang

32 LATHALAIN | TheSPARK

maglakad ng mahigit dalawang kilometro bago makarating doon. Ayon sa kaniya, pwede naman sana siyang sumakay ng tricycle, ngunit mas pinipili na lamang niyang maglakad upang makabawas na rin kahit papaano sa gastusin ng pamilya.

“Agi sana ta nganing exercise naman dagos.” Pabiro niyang sabi. “Dawa napapagal na, uda man kami choice kun’di mag-iyan sini, kaysa man di kami makapasa.”

Ayon sa isang artikulo sa Yahoo News, ang pagiging kapuluan ng Pilipinas ay isa sa rason kung bakit maraming lugar ang hanggang sa ngayon ay hindi pa rin maabot ng maayos na signal dahil ang pagtatayo ng cell sites ay mahirap para sa ganitong topograpiya.

Lahat sila ay may kaniya-kaniyang smartphone, ngunit iisa lamang ang ginagamit nilang laptop upang gumawa ng mga proyekto na kinakailangan ng computer programs katulad na lamang ng AutoCad. Kuwento ni Japhet, upang

mapagbigyan ang lahat, nagkakaroon sila ng iskedyul sa paggamit nito.

“Su iba po ngaya turog muna, ta’s su usad man amo naggigibo. Dawa pa iton alas-tres sa mararamrag, sige sana. A importante puro makapasa.”

Maging noon pa man ay suliranin na sa pag-aaral ang kakulangan ng computer at laptop na makikita sa mababang studentto-computer ratio ng Pilipinas. Sa ilang mag-aaral, ang pagkakaroon ng ganitong kagamitan ay nananatiling panaginip hanggang sa ngayon.

Hindi rin maiiwasan na magkaroon ng malabong komunikasyon sa pagitan ng estudyante at guro. Ayon kay Ronald, may mga pagkakataon na ang kanilang katanungan ay hindi nabibigyang-pansin.

“Sabi, kung may concern, mag-message lang, pero siguro, ‘di naman kami natatawan sa atensyon na simbagun pausad-usad.”

Sa kabila nito, malaki ang pasasalamat nila sa karamihan ng kanilang instructors na inilalaan ang buong husay sa pagtuturo at bukas ang puso sa pagtanggap ng kanilang requirements kahit na ito ay nahuhuli paminsan-minsan.

“Dakulong pasasalamat man talaga namo kanda ta dawa late na pig-aako pananggad. Ta’s siyempre effort man talaga sa paggibo sa mga videos.”

Tunay na ang online class ay hindi lamang mabigat para sa mga estudyante, kung hindi maging sa kaguruan.

Higit sa lahat, ang pinakamalaking

bagay na kanilang iniisip sa ngayon ay ang kanilang natututunan. Sa kabila kasi ng pagtitiyaga, aminado sila na ang kaalamang hatid ng online class ay hindi sapat.

“Buko kaya kaming self-learning na tawo,” paliwanag ni Ryan. “Syempre kaipuwan pa nanggad sa gabay ka guro, lalo na ta a mga kurso ta buko man sanang basta-basta, kaipuwan sa dakul na actual [na laboratory works].”

Ang pagkatuto nila ay kanilang inihambing sa manggang hilaw. “Bagana nagbaba ngani a standard nguwan ta puro sana activities, requirements, pangala okay na. Pasado tulos!”

Sa ganitong sistema, apektado hindi lamang ang kakayahan ng mga mag-aaral, kung hindi maging ang kinabukasan ng ating bansa.

“Iba pa rin talaga kapag face-to-face [classes],” linyang biglang nasambit ni Rico. Kung papipiliin, paulit-ulit nilang gugustuhing balikan ang sistema noon kaysa sa ngayon. “Dawa kadto nagbabaragsakan, parang mas nakaka-proud pa naggad ta isi mo na agko talaga ika naturan.”

Pag-asa sa Gitna ng Pangamba Sa pagpapatuloy ng online class, hindi mawala sa isip ng grupo ni Glen kung ano na lamang ang mangyayari sa kanila pagdating ng panahon.

“Nasa isip ngani namo na baka kami a batch na maka-graduate sa pure na online class, tapos baka kaababa ka passing rate namo sa board

exam. Kasusupog baga?.” Sa likod ng pag-aalinlangang ito, hindi pa rin nila pipiliing tumigil sa takot na pagdating ng panahon ay baka sila naman ang mapag-iwanan. “[...] naggugurang naman ehh, tsaka agko nag-uulat na pamilya.”

Sa ngalan ng edukasyon, tayong mga Pilipino, maikli man ang kumot ay pipilitin pa ring mamaluktot.

Kaya pero kulang— ganito nila, sa ngayon, ilarawan ang online class.

Kaya... dahil kahit ano pa mang hamon ang dumating, hahamakin ng kabataang Pilipino ang anumang paraan upang mapagtagumpayan lamang ang pag-aaral.

Kulang... dahil mas naisasapuso at nailalagay nila sa totoong buhay ang aral ng face-to-face learning kumpara sa online class na limitado ang pagtuturo at pagkatuto.

Ang grupo ni Glen at ang ibang kabataan ay patuloy na magpupursige upang makapagtapos ng pag-aaral at matupad ang kanilang mga mithiin.

“Pangarap! Amo talaga ‘yan pinaka-rason kin ngata kami sini nguwan,” wika ni Nestor. Umaasa sila at maging ako, na bukas o kaya sa makalawa ay matatapos na ang pagsusuot ng panangga sa mukha at muling masisilayan ang ngiti ng bawat isa. Kasabay din nito ay ang muling pagbubukas ng pangalawa nating tirahan, kung saan ang edukasyon ay para sa lahat at ang pagkatuto ay lubos.

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NI HERMINIA VASQUEZ DIBUHO NI CHRISTIAN CANTOR

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PHOTO CREDITS: Pixabay

Next in line: COVID-19 patient no. *** Address: **********, Camarines Sur  Mask  Goggles  Face shield  Nitrile hand gloves  Coverall with hood  Shoe cover Wang! Wang! Wang!

Tagaktak man sa pawis, hindi alintana ng 24 anyos na si Nico Paul Monedero ang matinding init at pagod, habang lulan ng humaharurot na ambulansya.

Para sa katulad niya na isang frontliner nurse, hindi na ito ang problemang kaniyang iniinda sa maghapong pakikisalamuha sa mga COVID-19 patient; aniya, wala nang mas nakatatakot pa sa kawalang katiyakan kung makauuwi pa ba s’yang ligtas o siya’y mapapabilang na rin sa mga taong kanilang ihahatid sa quarantine facility.

Sa araw-araw na pagpasok sa trabaho, isa lamang ang tanging pinanghuhugutanan ni Nico, ang katagang kumintal sa kan’yang isip nang mabasa ito mula sa kahon ng pretzels na may guhit at deskripsyon ng iba’t ibang propesyon—“Doctor… to save lives.” Simula noon, sa murang edad, ninais niya na maging isang mahusay na doktor. Nang siya’y nagsimulang magtrabaho, lalo na sa gitna ng pandemya, mas napagtanto niya sa sarili na ang pagiging isang healthcare worker ay hindi lamang basta pagsagip ng buhay ng ibang tao, kung hindi ang pagsasakripisyo maging ng sariling kaligtasan at buhay para lamang sa kapakanan ng iba.

Panimulang hakbang Halos dalawang taon na rin ang nakalipas magmula nang makapagtapos si Nico ng kursong Batsilyer ng Agham sa Narsing sa Dalubhasaang Politeknik ng Camarines Sur. Sa mismong taon din na iyon, naipasa niya ang Philippine Nurse Licensure Examination at natanggap ang kaniyang unang trabaho bilang isang emergency nurse sa Medical Mission Group, sa munisipalidad ng Nabua.

Sa pagsisimula, naitalaga siya sa loob ng ospital kung saan treatment at emergency cases ang kaniyang prayoridad. Ngunit matapos ang isa’t kalahating buwan, mas pinili ng binata na ipagpatuloy ang pagtatrabaho sa Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) ng Camarines Sur, partikular sa Environment Disaster Management and Emergency Response Office (EDMERO), nang matanggap ang kaniyang aplikasyon bilang isang ambulance nurse o nurse responder.

“Para sa’kin kasi, mas nafi-feel ko ‘yong pagiging nurse ko outside the hospital [setting]. Gusto ko na kami ‘yong unang healthcare persons na mami-meet ng patients sa isang emergency case.”

Gampanin ng isang ambulance nurse na magbigay ng agarang pangangalagang pangkalusugan, suriin ang kondisyon ng kaniyang pasyente at panatilihing ligtas ito bago dalhin o habang idinadala sa ospital. Base sa kaniyang sariling karanasan, binigyang diin ni Nico ang

napakabigat na tungkuling pinapasan ng bawat nars dahil sa kanila unang nakasalalay ang kaligtasan at buhay ng bawat pasyente. Ayon sa kan’ya, kadalasan sa mga kasong kanilang tinutugunan ay accident, medical, trauma, obstetrics at mass casualty na kinakailangan ng sapat na kaalaman sa first aid at kalmadong pag-iisip.

Sa kabila ng obligasyong nakaatang sa mga healthcare worker, may mas matindi pa palang trabaho ang kanilang haharapin bitbit ang napiling propesyon—ito ay ang pagiging isang frontliner sa kasagsagan ng COVID-19 pandemic.

Tagaktak ng pawis Katok dito, katok doon—katok hindi sa silid ng ospital o maging pinto ng ambulansya, kung hindi sa bahay ng mga taong nakasalamuha ng may sakit na COVID-19—ganito kung simpleng ilarawan ni Nico ang dating senaryo sa araw-araw na pagsabak niya sa trabaho.

Magmula kasi nang lumaganap ang pandemya sa bansa, isa na si Nico sa matatapang na frontliner na nanguna sa pagbibigay tulong-medikal sa mga tao at pakikipaglaban kontra sa nakamamatay na virus. Bilang isang ambulance nurse, napabilang siya sa Camarines Sur COVID-19 Task Force, partikular sa Incident Management Team.

“Grabe ‘yong kaba noon. That time, kapag sinabing nakasalamuha ka ng [nagpositibo sa] COVID-19, iba, sobrang nakakatakot talaga. Hindi pa natin alam noon kung gaano kalala [ang magiging epekto nito sa

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PHOTO CREDITS: Pixabay

katawan] kapag humawa sa’tin ‘yong sakit,” saad niya.

Ang pangambang nararamdaman para sa sarili at kapwa-nars ay mas lumala nang mailipat siya sa Del Gallego Checkpoint na matatagpuan sa hangganan ng Camarines Sur, bago ang probinsya ng Quezon. Dito nila hinaharang ang bawat taong umuuwi sa probinsya upang isailalim muna sa pagsusuri katulad ng temperature checking, history taking, at rapid drug testing. Bawat drayber at pasahero ng sasakyan ay matiyaga nilang pinabababa at kung sinuman ang nakitaan ng sintomas sa isinagawang pagsusuri ay maiiwan upang maghintay ng sundo mula sa kani-kanilang siyudad o munisipyo. Ito ang maghahatid sa kanila patungong quarantine facility upang i-isolate at isailalim sa swab test. Maging ang mga naglalakad mula sa malalayong lugar katulad ng Manila ay hindi rin nila pinalalagpas sa checkpoint hangga’t wala pang sasakyang susundo mula sa kanilang lokal na pamahalaan.

“Para sa akin ito ‘yong pinakamahirap—’yong magbantay [sa border] at magassess [sa mga pumapasok sa probinsya] kasi hindi rin namin alam [kung] sino ang may sakit na COVID-19.

Although may PPE kami, ‘yong takot din talaga namin as a responder [ay hindi mawawala].”

Sa araw-araw na pakikipagsapalaran sa labas, hindi lamang takot sa nakamamatay na sakit ang nangingibabaw kay Nico, kung hindi maging ang labis na pangungulila sa kaniyang pamilya. Halos limang

36 LATHALAIN | TheSPARK

buwan din kasi siyang hindi nakauwi sa kanilang tahanan magmula nang lumaganap ang COVID-19 at sumabak siya sa peligrosong trabaho.

“Doon lang kami nag-istay sa office namin kasi ayaw din naming magkahawaan sa pamilya namin.”

Ang mga kasamahan sa trabaho ang nagsilbing pangalawa niyang pamilya— natutulog, kumakain, nagpapakapagod at nagdadamayan sa ilalim ng iisang bubong. Hindi na mahalaga kung gaano kakomportable ang higaan o kung gaano kahaba ang oras ng pagtulog, ang importante ay makabawi ng pahinga mula sa magdamagang pagpupuyat.

Pagpatak ng alaskuwatro ng madaling-araw, kinakailangan na naman nilang bumiyahe patungo sa Del Gallego, nang sa gayon ay makarating sila ng alassyete ng umaga. Pagdating doon, tiyak na kumpletong dalawampu’t apat na oras na naman ang kanilang gugugulin sa pagtatrabaho.

“Minsan umiidlip naman, kung may chance lang, kasi ang dating ng mga tao hindi namin alam kung anong oras.”

Tanging mga tent lamang ang kanilang silungan kung kaya’y ramdam nila ang labis na alinsangan dahil sa tirik na araw at mainit na singaw na nagmumula sa kalsada.

Dahil dito ay hindi na rin nakapagtataka kung bakit nagkaroon ng grassfire na ‘di kalayuan mula sa kanilang kinaroroonan. Kung ito ang kanilang nararanasan sa taginit, pagkabasa naman ang kanilang inaabot sa tuwing bumubuhos ang malakas na ulan, lalo na kung may

kasamang pag-ihip ng hangin na anumang oras ay maaaring liparin ang mga trapal na kanilang tanging pananggalang. “’Yon ang pinakamahirap kasi kahit umaga, gabi, maulan, mainit, kailangan naming parahin ‘yong mga sasakyan [at] tao kasi ECQ (enhanced community quarantine) nun eh.”

Nang nagkaroon muli ng shifting sa kanilang trabaho ay nailipat naman siya sa Swab Team.

Habang balot ng PPE (personal protective equipment) mula ulo hanggang paa, matiyaga nilang sinusuyod ang bawat bahay ng mga taong nakasalamuha ng isang COVID-19 patient, upang sunduin at ihatid sa Bicol Medical Center na nagsisilbing COVID-19 facility. Dahil probinsyal ang saklaw ng kanilang trabaho, maghapon silang bumibiyahe sa malalayong lugar katulad ng Caramoan, Tinambac at Garchitorena. Kadalasan ay inaabot ng 34-50 ang pasyenteng kanilang inaasikaso sa loob lamang ng isang araw.

Sa kabila ng lahat ng pagod at takot na nangingibaw sa kaniyang puso, may mas hihigit pa pala sa karanasang kaniyang pinagdadaanan bilang isang frontliner—ito ay nang mapabilang na siya sa mga taong kinailangang dalhin sa quarantine facilty upang sumailalim sa ilang linggong pagsusuri, matapos makasalamuha nang ‘di inaasahan, ang isang COVID-19 patient.

Hindi niya makalilimutan kailanman, ang labis na pagkabagot, pagkalungkot at pagkatakot sa bawat araw ng kaniyang pamamalagi sa nakapopoot na apat na sulok ng silid.

“Kinabahan. Natakot. Iniisip ko na lang noon, kung magpo-positive man ako, sana hindi ko nahawaan ‘yong iba, kasi alam ko umuwi pa ako noon dito [sa bahay]. Wala, na-miss ko sila eh. Hindi ko alam pag-uwi ko naka-contact pala ‘ko [ng nagpositive sa COVID-19]. Iniisip ko, sana ako na lang, ‘wag na ‘yong family ko.”

Sa mga oras na iyon, tanging panalangin ang naging sandata ni Nico upang hindi mangyari ang kaniyang kinatatakutan at magpatuloy nang may katatagan ng loob. Matapos ang halos apat na linggong pagsusuri at pamamalagi sa isang kwarto, laking pasasalamat ni Nico nang s’yay mag-negatibo sa sakit.

“Once na naging healthcare worker ka, expected na ‘yan na magkakaroon ka [ng sakit]. Ang tanong na lang, kung kailan [...]. Kaya everyday, nag-a-ask kami ng guidance kay Lord na sana hindi ngayon, paulitulit.”

Dahil din sa mga nakikitang balita hinggil sa mga health worker na nakararanas ng diskriminasyon,

PHOTO CREDITS: Pixabay

katulad na lang ng isang nars na sinabuyan ng asido habang ito’y naglalakad sa kalsada, hindi niya naiwasan na malungkot at magbigay ng simpatya para sa mga katulad niya na ang tanging hangad ay makatulong sa gitna ng krisis pangkalusugan.

“Sa panahon ngayon, hindi kami dapat pandirihan; we’re still humans.”

Nakalulungkot lang isipin na, minsan, kung sino pa ang nagsasakripisyo ng kanilang buhay para sa kapakanan iba ay siya pang nakararanas ng ‘di katanggap-tanggap na pagtrato sa lipunan.

Nahinuhang aral “Na-realise ko na ‘yong bawat araw pala ay importante, kasi hindi mo alam kung kailan ka matatamaan [ng sakit]. Itong araw na ‘to, i-live mo to the fullest kasi bukas hindi mo na alam kung anong mangyayari.”

Sa loob ng isang taon at apat na buwang pagbibigay-serbisyo sa kasagsagan ng pandemya, sa kabila ng lahat ng pinagdaanan niya bilang isang frontliner nurse, hindi kailanman maiaalis ng hirap, pagod at takot ang magagandang karanasan at natutunan niya hindi lamang hinggil sa propesyon kung hindi maging sa realidad ng buhay.

“Wala akong regret, promise. Mas na-enjoy ko nga. Na-enjoy ko ‘yong stay ko. Wala akong regret dahil nando’n [sa larangang-medikal] ‘yong puso ko.”

Panibagong yugto Sa kasalukuyan, isinantabi na muna ni Nico ang trabaho niya bilang

isang nars, hindi upang magpahinga kung hindi upang isakatuparan ang mas magandang layunin na kaniya nang pangarap noong siya’y paslit pa lamang.

“Habang nagtatrabaho ako sa Edmero, nakita ko ‘yong need ng mga tao[...] Nakita ko ‘yong scope ng Camarines Sur na kulang pala talaga ng health care services. Nakita ko ‘yong kakulangan ng staff, doctor, nurses, so nag-decide na ako ngayon pa lang i-start [ko na] ‘yong journey ko as a medical doctor. Gusto ko mag-work sa public health [...], tumulong dito sa minorities ng Camarines Sur, lalo na sa far-flung areas.”

Siya ngayon ay isa nang fulltime student sa Our Lady of Fatima University, College of Medicine.

Unang taon pa lamang niya ngayon at mahaba-haba pa ang oras na kaniyang gugugulin sa pag-aaral, subalit natitiyak ni Nico na mararating niya rin ang dulo sa pamamagitan ng tiyaga at dedikasyon.

Mensahe para sa kabataan Sa pansamantalang pagtatapos ng kaniyang tungkulin at pagsisimula ng panibagong yugto ng kaniyang buhay, bitbit ang karanasan sa mga nakalipas na taon, isa lamang ang nais iwan ni Nico sa bawat taong natatakot at nagdadalawang-isip na pasukin ang larangan ng medisina dahil sa komplikadong sitwasyon ngayon.

“Kung kailangan mo ng sign na mag-pursue ka sa healthcare path, ito na ‘yon, kasi nakita natin kung gaano ka-essential ang mga healthcare worker sa panahon ng pandemic. Maraming nawalan ng trabaho. Alin ‘yong

constant? ‘Di ba ‘yong healthcare workers [...]. Kahit walang COVID-19, kulang pa rin talaga ‘yong mga tao sa healthcare [field]; kailangan talagang makahikayat tayo ng maraming youth.”

Tunay nga na mabagsik ang sakit na COVID-19, ngunit sa kabila ng banta nito ay marami pa rin ang handang tumayo sa unahan ng linya sa ngalan ng kanilang sinumpaang tungkulin; kung kaya’t bago natin ipagsawalang bahala ang ating kaligtasan para sa walang kabuluhan, isipin natin ang mga taong handang isugal ang kanilang sarili para sa kapakanan ng nakararami. Huwag nating hintayin na ang bawat butil ng pawis na dulot ng kanilang takot at pagkahapo ay mauwi lamang sa kawalang-saysay.

“

“Na-realise ko na ‘yong bawat araw pala ay importante, kasi hindi mo alam kung kailan ka matatamaan [ng sakit]. Itong araw na ‘to, i-live mo to the fullest kasi bukas hindi mo na alam kung anong mangyayari.”

- Nico Paul Monedero

TheSPARK | LATHALAIN 37

BY JOHN REYNOLD BRIOSO ARTWORK BY JOVEN CEGUERA

38 LATHALAIN | TheSPARK

On the 30th day of January, 2020, the Philippines was alarmed by its first confirmed Coronavirus case when a 38-year-old Chinese female who arrived from Hong Kong to Manila has tested positive for Severe Acquired Respiratory Syndrome- Coronavirus-2 which causes Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Since then, the number of infected individuals in the country continued to rise inexorably. Recent data from the Department of Health (DOH) suggests that more than 500,000 Filipinos have been infected by the virus with an almost 2% fatality rate in the country.

For nearly three months of being a region free from COVID-19, such record has been obliterated when in the 27th day of March 2020, the first three confirmed coronavirus infections in the Bicol region have been reported— two from the province of Albay and one from the Naga City. From that day forward, neighboring cities, as well as towns across the region, have managed to score records of occupants who have as well tested positive for COVID-19.

Jenny, not her real name, is one of them.

When the first case of the COVID-19 was detected in the suburbs of Manila, the government had tried to hamper the spread of the disease. However, despite the interventions made, the virus managed to sneak into almost every corner of the city infecting nearly 10,000 individuals just within four months. Eventually, the virus continued its sneaky mobility as it managed to reach the rural regions of the country including Region V.

A learner from Iriga City, Jenny spent most of her time as a student at a well-known school in Naga City.

The Case of “Jenny”

The moment she heard the news about this new virus, she became cautious immediately as she knew that, in a way or another, she might contract it.

She took all the precautionary measures

to not get infected by the virus, however, seemed ineffective when she got a confirmatory result saying she is positive for the COVID-19.

It was during this point of time when she realized that perhaps she had contracted the virus when she went to her school with just a cloth mask and an eye shield. It was also possible that she got it in one of her commutes.

Two weeks after her travel to the metropolitan city, when she experienced a dry cough, runny nose, chills, and fevers. At first, she thought it was just the flu, but then things worsened. She started losing her sense of smell, and soon had difficulty breathing— some of the symptoms that sets COVID-19 apart from the flu. That was when she opted to undergo both rapid and confirmatory tests for COVID-19.

Two days after she was tested, she received the result confirming that she had acquired the virus. Her world was shattered to pieces. She was just emotionally and physically broken.

Her family, upon knowing first-hand the diagnosis, immediately began to home quarantine.

Jenny was then moved to an isolation facility in Bula where nurses accommodated her. She was given vitamins to boost her immune system and equipped with one oxygen tank to use whenever she experienced difficulty breathing.

Her stay in the quarantine facility, according to her, was nonetheless similar to that of a ‘boarder’.

One thing that arose during her stay in the isolation facility was when Jenny experienced shortness of breath. Results from the laboratory also showed that the levels of oxygen in her blood had dropped. Despite this, Jenny remained steadfast showing no signs of threatening symptoms.

TheSPARK | LATHALAIN 39

To comfort herself from the stress, Jenny would spend most of her time inside the quarantine facility watching drama series as well as expressing emotions in her diary. Sometimes, she was able to meet her fellow ‘quarantiners’ to share thoughts about life in general. To her, these had helped her tremendously.

After two weeks in the quarantine facility, she was discharged after having been tested negative for the virus.

However, she was still advised to self-quarantine for seven days. Jenny was fortunate enough to fully recover from COVID-19.

Jenny was indebted to the people who had helped her battle COVID-19.

She was more than blessed to have her family who were only one call away during that season of her life. She was also grateful for the friends who served as an outlet for her anxieties and to the frontliners who risked their lives to help her fight and recover from the disease. Indeed, she survived the virus through the effort of her body and the collective efforts of the people around her.

The case for health practitioners From a physician’s vantage point, Jenny might be right as to how she had gotten the virus.

Dr. Edsel Salvana, the director of the National Institute of Health briefed everyone about the infectivity of cloth masks: “Ang cloth mask, hindi gumagana dahil walang filter. Akala niyo protektado kayo, hindi pala!”

Wearing just a cloth mask, as in the case of Jenny, is just one of the probable reasons as to why she had gotten the virus. Other viable theories may include, among others, touching contaminated surfaces, or having close contact with an infected person.

Further, it is common for a COVID-19 patient to have undergone symptoms that Jenny experienced.

“Difficulty in breathing is the most common symptom for moderate to severe COVID[-19 patients], ” said

40 LATHALAIN | TheSPARK

“

The decision of Jenny to connect with her family and friends during her quarantine period has benefited her mental health. More so, her mastered art of expressing her emotions on paper had helped her mind on perspective.

public health specialist, Dr. Mary Jane G. Uy of Bicol Medical Center.

To prevent COVID-19 infection, common knowledge still applies: Having sufficient rest and boosting the immune system which may include drinking of vitamins.

As for Dr. Uy, age and comorbidity play a role in the survivability of an individual.

“If you were one of our resident physicians, I would ask you, how old is the patient? Are there any comorbid conditions?… All of which will determine survival [on this disease],” said the veteran public health practitioner.

As in the case of Jenny, she had no record of comorbidities when she acquired COVID-19. More so, her age was not included in the age-range of individuals at high risk of coronavirus complications.

Regarding how Jenny managed her time in an isolation facility, counselor Doys Merelos, who had spent most of her time in the field of psychotherapy, has her say.

“Connecting with our friends and family is helpful for mental stability.

Usually, writing can help one ventilate his or her emotions. Writing can also help someone process his or her thoughts,” the counselor said.

Additionally, the counselor stressed, that coping mechanisms may vary from person to person.

The decision of Jenny to connect with her family and friends during her quarantine period has benefited her mental health. More so, her mastered art of expressing her emotions on paper had helped her mind on perspective. An article published by Intermountain Healthcare suggests

that writing “reduces stress, improves immune function, keeps memory sharp, boosts mood, and strengthens emotional functions.”

The current case of COVID-19 In general, the world is still facing the global health crisis brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, inflicting nearly a hundred million individuals and killing over two million people according to the recent data of the World Health Organization.

The discovery of two scientifically recognized vaccines such as the developed vaccines of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna has become a major feat of humanity as it gives hope to billions of people who have been affected by the current pandemic.

that the vaccine has not been made accessible yet, the general public is still encouraged to observe proper health protocols such as social distancing, wearing masks and face shields, and staying at home as much as possible.

Having known these, Jenny took a deep breath and said: “I hope na magkaro’n [na] ng proper and not ‘yung puchupuchu (sub-standard) na vaccine ‘tong COVID[-19]. I want the old norm to come back. Even my inner introvert misses the crowd of people.”

Jenny has never viewed life the way she used to. Having been a COVID-19 survivor, she learned that life is such a precious gift and that people around her make this life even more precious.

Above all else, she knew that faith is such a powerful instrumentality towards battling the mental distress brought by today’s phenomenon.

While other countries have already procured these standardized vaccines, recent reports regarding the availability of coronavirus vaccine to limited individuals in the Philippines is deemed to be in February of this year as reported by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID). Given

TheSPARK | LATHALAIN 41

Ispay

Komikazee READ ON PAGE 48

READ ON PAGE 50

Mga Tula READ ON PAGE 44

panitikan 44

Mga Tula

48

Komikazee

50

Ispay

TheSPARK | PANITIKAN 43

Pula

NI ALYSSA FRANZ UVERO

Tuwing sasapit and buwan ng Setyembre, unti-unti nang nararamdaman ang diwa ng kapaskuhan. “Ber months na!” kadalasang maririnig sa mga Pilipino bilang pagbibigaykahulugan sa malamig na simoy ng hangin, mga nakasabit na parol sa bintana, mga awiting pamasko na pinatutugtog sa mga kabahayan, at Jose Mari Chan memes na naglipana sa Facebook. Ika nga, sa Pilipinas matatagpuan ang

pinakamahabang selebrasyon ng kapanganakan ni Hesus.

Sariwa pa sa aking alaala ang pinakamasayang Disyembreng naranasan ko. Marahil iyon ay dahil unang beses akong nakasakay sa karosel kaya’t hindi ko malimot ang Paskong iyon. Paikot-ikot, paitaaspaibaba—abot-tenga ang aking ngiti habang kumakaway kay Nanay, sa bawat paglibot ng estatwang kabayo.

Gabi ng ika-bente-kuwatro ng Disyembre, lahat kami ay nakapula. Ito raw ang kulay ng Pasko—damit ni Santa, ilong ni Rudolph, mga regalo sa ilalim ng Christmas tree, at mga ilaw na nakapulupot sa puno ng mangga. Sa mga oras na iyon, maaliwalas sa mga mata ko ang kulay pula.

Malamig, malaya, masaya. Pula ang Pasko.

Sa paglipas ng mga taon, kasabay ng pagdagdag ng edad ko ay siya ring pagdami ng kahulugan ng kulay na ito.

Pula ang mga bakas halik sa ilalim ng mistletoe. Pula ang yakap tuwing malamig ang hangin. Pula ang mga pusong iginuguhit ng mga bata sa Christmas cards. Pula ang pagmamahalan ng pamilya.

Ngunit sa tuwing nasasambit ang salitang pagmamahal, kaakibat din nito ay sakit.

Sakit...

Dugo...

Pula ang dugo!

Sa pagmulat ng aking mga mata sa katotohanan, ang kulay pula ay unti-unting naging simbolo ng paghihirap at pang-aabuso. Patunay rito ang nakaraang taon. Ang karaniwang maligayang Pasko ay napalitan ng pagluluksa dulot ng pandemya at kaliwa’t kanang patayan.

Sa patuloy na paglala ng mga kaganapan sa lipunan, unti-unting mabubura ang saya ng pagkabata. Ang tanging mananatili ay pighating dala nitong mga luha.

Ito'y Isang Bugtong NI SHIELA MAE C. PARCO

Minsan, Akoy napadpad sa isang puting palasyo.

Punong-puno ng mga payaso.

44 PANITIKAN | TheSPARK

Tawa ng Isang Payaso NI HADJIE BAZAR

Nagsimulang humalakhak ang naturang payaso— tawang katumbas ay panlulumo.

Tangan niya ang kartilyang laman ay alimpuyo— talaang ipinansulat ay dugo.

Mabagsik— ang payasong inilarawan sa mga naisulat.

Imbis na maaliw at magtawanan, mga tao’y napuno ng suklam.

Payaso nga!

Idolo ng may piring at silaw sa katotohanan.

Pagkukunwari ay itigil na lamang, ‘pagkat ang payaso’y nakatatakot at walang alam.

Ang tunay na payaso ay wala sa teatro, kung hindi nasa pedestal na ginto.

Nakapagtataka?

Hindi!

Dahil tayo’y bulag— nakapiring sa ideolohiyang “PANATIKO AKO.” Ang payaso ay muling humalakhak: “HAHAHAHAHA!”

A Well-Played Play

BY HADJIE BAZAR

Unbeknownst to the mass, we are all actors on a staged storyline— playing on a theatrical act, costumes of betrayal delving on a hideous, forsaken land.

—A clown at its finest. Clowned.

TheSPARK | PANITIKAN 45

Mawkish Jamboree

BY JOANNA ERIKA PUZON

Beethoven could never orchestrate such festive sounds of lively music and buzzling crowds.

Circus it must be, to be taken up against a firewall— a path where the pavement’s absurdly narrow.

The ginormous wheel will then decide to take a creaking halt, for fanfares of gasps and no words to exalt.

“Must we need to come down when we’re at our highest?

Which clown should be crowned as the stealthiest?

November's Script to Die NI HADJIE BAZAR

A bloody massacre happened inside the entertainment house.

Artists found lying over the limelight, with torch’s burns around their necks and deep scratches on their faces.

Thoughts have been clouded by suffocating vapors— darkened by the narrow hints of light.

As murmurs spread across the corners of the crime scene, saying: “It’s hard to live like dead.”

Indeed, they were killed by their own pretenses as the public would like.

Strangled from the fear of hate.

Burned in the coldness of fate.

Truly, they were all actors on stage.

46 PANITIKAN | TheSPARK

Love Thrills

BY HADJIE BAZAR

Who’s about to give a damn to ride on a broken roller coaster of no definite end and direction?

No one.

But I’m a fool, hoping for eternal thrill, would give it a try— just to die in reverie into the unknown cupid carnival’s play.

Life is a Carnival

BY SHIELA MAE C. PARCO

If I had a superpower, I wish I could teleport to an amusement park, that makes me wonder about a few realizations in life: Where most of the time we’re not at the top.

Where we should prepare for a major downfall.

Where we get frightened even if we knew reality.

Where we get to roll the dice and make a bet.

Where we cannot predict what will happen next.

Where people should enjoy every moment.

Life is …a carousel. …a drop tower …a horror house. …a color game. …a roller coaster. …a carnival.

Grande Roue

BY JOANNA ERIKA PUZON

At a carnival, hearts that are filled with empty hopes are those owned by foolish folks.

What goes up will eventually come down.

Afterall, a ticket is only worth an itty-bit of fun.

ARTWORK BY LARRY ANDRIE PACARDO

TheSPARK | PANITIKAN 47

48 PANITIKAN | TheSPARK

TheSPARK | PANITIKAN 49

Heto na muli ang maiinit na patutsada, ng inaabangang Ispay na ngayo’y raratsada.

Mga puna’t papuri amin nang binalasa.

Handa nang ibato, sa pag-ilag ay humanda na.

Paalala lamang kaibigan: Ito’y puros katotohanan.

Walang pinapaboran.

Walang kasinungalingan.

Hindi GMA, pero serbisyong totoo lamang!

Kung sa nakaraang semestre ikaw ay nakaligtas, puwes, humanda na’t wala ka nang takas.

Mga papuri’y amin nang ibubulalas.

Matatalim na puna’y amin nang ilalabas.

Mga Ma’am at Sir, ano naman ‘tong nakarating sa amin?

Dumadalas na synchronous learning, kung saan ang attendance ay required din.

Baka nakalilimutan n’yo ang mga alituntunin— 3 modes of learning na ipinaliwanag ni Dean!

Globe, TNT, Converge, at PLDT— lahat ng ito’y nagloloko parati.

Ano pa kaya kaming nakatira sa masukal na bahagi?

Sana naman ito’y lubos ninyong mawari.

Mahabang pasensya ang aming hinihingi.

Sa wakas, weekend na, araw na ng pahinga.

Teka, may bagong notification— plates at activities posted na.

Pagbukas ng to-do list, naku nakakaloka!

Bukod sa gawaing-bahay, ‘di na alam kung anong mauuna.

Ma’am, Sir, wait lang...

Kailangan kong huminga.

Sa online meeting lamang ang talakayan.

Pagsagot sa modules at panonood ng videos, ang tanging pinagkakaabalahan.

Walang asignaturang praktikal na kinakailangan.

Aktuwal na activities sana upang lubos na maunawaan.

50 PANITIKAN | TheSPARK

Paano na lamang ang mga soon-to-be inhenyero?

Sa harapan ng kompyuter, kaniya-kaniyang halo ng semento?

Paano na kaya kapag nakapasok sa trabaho?

Kamot-kamot na lang sa ulo Kapag building ay gumuho?

Paano naman ‘yong mga susunod na nars?

Ngayo’y matiyagang naghahanap ng tatayong pasyente para sa demo.

Pagkatuto ay hindi magiging buo sa panonood at paggawa ng bidyu.

“Pasensya na, God bless” na lang kapag mali ang saksak ng suwero.

Naiintindihan namin na iniiwasan ang pandaraya, kaya’t bawat guro ay may sariling sistema.

Ngunit kailangan ba talaga ng real-time quiz?

Mahina ang internet; ‘wag naman, please.

Mabagal na internet connection, nararanasan din ng mga guro.

Sa problemang ito, lahat tayo ay magkabaro.

Kudos kay Ma’am at Sir sa pasensya at tiyaga.

Ngunit ‘wag namang magpaklase nang pabigla-bigla.

Magugulat ka na lang, mayroon nang link sa gc.

At dahil free time, sa ibang bagay, kami ay busy.

Mabuti kung simpleng announcement lamang ang sinabi, kung hindi, kawawa ang sa leksyon ay mahuhuli.

Sa mga butihing estudyante naman d’yan, isang paalala lamang na base sa karanasan: ‘Wag sanang abusuhin ang ating kalayaan, dulot ng kawalan ng matang tayo’y babantayan.

Messenger ay tumutunog parati.

“Par, pakopya naman,” ang palaging bati.

Sagot ay ‘wag ilako na para bang bibingka, kahit pa sila ay iyong mga barkada.

TheSPARK | PANITIKAN 51

Isang paalala muli sa estudyanteng nag-aalala: Sa pagkuha ng ID, ‘wag sanang kalimutang may pandemya.

Pakiiwasan ang sabay-sabay na pagpunta, dahil hindi ito excuse upang sa tropa’y makipagkita.

Napakahaba ng pila ng estudyante sa hallway.

Hindi pagsunod sa social distancing, no way!

Seryosohin naman sana ang panganib ng virus.

Kung ‘di man importante ang lakad, ‘wag nang pumunta sa campus.

Dumako naman tayo sa usaping scholarship.

Naku, talaga namang ang ulo ko’y ‘di mapigilang uminit.

Paano ba naman, sa dami nang gustong makasama, mga graduate na, aba kasama pa sa lista!

Listahan n’yo, paki-update naman sana.

Syempre naman, CSC ay ‘di makalulusot sa Ispay.

Pero kalma lang, pakibaba na ng kilay.

Masyadong n’yo naman kasing ginagalingan.

Malaking thumbs up, kayo’y dapat handugan.

Salamat sa isang linggong sayang inyong ibinigay!

Sa kabila ng pandemya, school intramurals inyo pa ring isinabuhay.

Sipag at dedikasyon nyo’y walang kapantay.

Mula sa student body, tanggapin n’yo ang aming pagpupugay.

Shout-out din sa mga koponang nanalo!

Maging sa lahat ng ‘di nag-atubiling ipamalas ang galing at talento.

Sulit din ang oras at pawis n’yo sa ensayo.

College of Engineering, nasa inyo na muli ang trono.

52 PANITIKAN | TheSPARK

Pasintabi sa isang department d’yan.

Pagkatapos ng awarding, meron kaming nabalitaan.

Batikos at reklamo, inyong pinapaulan.

‘Di n’yo pala matanggap na kayo’y naungusan.

Tower sa campus, di n’yo ba napansin?

Pinakauna sa Bicol, CSPC, talagang iba rin!

Mga lessons sa TV ay pwede nang panoorin.

Tipid sa data, bawas na rin sa gastusin.

Mga piling mag-aaral, nabigyan ng tablet.

Para sa online class ay merong magamit.

Pag-ingatan sana’t maging sulit.

Sa panahon ng pandemya, kitang-kita ang malasakit.

Aba si teacher, meron din, libreng laptop na ibinigay ng admin.

Tiyak na mapapadali na ang kanilang gawain.

Aba meron pa, may dagdag pang vitamins.

Tuloy-tuloy ang lessons ngayong malakas ang immune system.

Rinig mo na ba?

May mga bago na namang kurso.

Mas marami nang mapagpipilian ang mga tao.

Sa CSPC, kitang-kita ang progreso.

Kaya naman pa-unibersidad na ang dating kolehiyo.

Mahigit isang taon na ang lumipas.

Panibagong academic year na naman ang magbubukas.

Sa kabila ng hirap at pagod na dinanas.

Pinagsumikapan pa ring makaalpas.

Maiinit na isyu na namang aming pinakawalan.

Mga papuri’y aming pinalakpakan.

Ang Ispay ay lagi kayong pinagmamatyagan, umayos nang ‘di maispatan.

ARTWORK BY JOANNA ERIKA PUZON

TheSPARK | PANITIKAN 53

B P

Game Changer READ ON PAGE 12 Greatness at All Cost READ ON PAGE 15

Fair Play READ ON PAGE 14

Buhay ng Siklista: Punto sa Ruweda READ ON PAGE 17

palakasan 56

Buhay ng Siklista—Punto sa Ruweda

60

Greatness at All Cost

64

Game Changer

66

Fair Play

TheSPARK | PALAKASAN 55

NI JOHN REYNOLD BRIOSO LARAWAN NI JAMELA HAZEL TRANQUILO

A

ng buhay ay isang punto sa ruweda. Ang puntong ito, kung minsan nasa ibabaw, kung minsan nama’y nasa ilalim.

Maihahalintulad sa puntong ito ang buhay ni Avegail Rombaon, 25 taong gulang na siklistang tubong San Andres, lungsod ng Iriga.

56 PALAKASAN | TheSPARK

Katulad ng punto sa isang gulong na mahigpit na humahalik sa rabaw ng baku-bakong kalsada ang takbo ng buhay ni Avegail noong mga panahong makailang ulit siyang nabigo sa larangang kaniyang napili.

Maraming beses na siyang natalo at sinabihang hindi siya sapat. May mga pagkakataong pinanghinaan rin siya ng loob at gusto na ring sumuko. Sa kabila nito, nanatili siyang taimtim na naniniwala na makakamit niya ang kaniyang mga mithiin.

Nagsisimula ang kaniyang ensayo kasabay ng bukang-liwayway, oras kung kailan padilat pa lamang ang mga mata ng iba. Tulad ng matingkad na sikat ng araw ang linaw ng kanyang adhikaing maipanalo ang bawat sasalihang kompetisyon.

Gamit ang determinasyong taglay ng kaniyang puso, handa na niyang i-angat muli ang punto sa gulong na minsang humalik sa rabaw ng kalsada.

Una niyang isinuot ang tayts, nikers, at helmet, ‘tsaka itinapak ang de-sapatos na mga paa sa pedal ng bisikleta. Huminga siya nang malalim bago tuluyang umarangkada. Sa kaniyang pagpipedal, makailang ulit din siyang natumba, nagalusan, nanghina at napaha, bago maabot ang huling punterya. Pagkadaka’y, pansamantala siyang namahinga’t muling binagtas ang daan pabalik sa lugar kung saan siya nagsimula.

Araw-araw, sa loob ng tatlong buwan, ganito ang naging gawi niya upang masungkit ang mailap na medalya. Ikatatlong puwesto sa Mountain Bike Cross Country (XCO) Women Category— ito ang napanalunan niya sa Southeast Asian (SEA) Games taong 2019.

Hindi naging madali para kay Avegail ang kaniyang naging karera sa 2019 SEA Games, hindi pa man nakalalayo mula sa simulang guhit ay natumba na siya, dahilan upang malagay sa peligro ang kaniyang inaasam na podium finish. Bagaman natumba, hindi ito naging rason upang siya’y panghinaan ng loob.

Bagkus, taglay ang tila nanlilisik na mga mata at isipang nakatutok sa hangganang guhit, mas binilisan pa niya ang pagpipedal. Taas-baba, taas-baba, ang pauulit-ulit niyang ginagawa sa kaniyang mga paa para maipanalo ang kaniyang pinasukang karera. Hanggang sa abot-tanaw na niya ang huling linya. Hindi niya aakalaing sa araw ding iyon ay susulat siya ng kasaysayan— isang tansong medalya para sa sarili, sa pamilya, at sa bayan.

“

Bago pa man ang panalo sa SEA Games, maraming karanasan na ang dahan-dahang nagtulak sa kaniya sa pagiging siklista.

Ang tagumpay na nakamit sa biennial meet ay isang pasada lamang sa mahigitkumulang 35 medalya at higit sa sampung tropeong kaniyang naipon mula sa iba’t ibang patimpalak sa pagbibisikleta na kaniyang nilahokan.

muling makopo ang ginto sa Nuvali Masters Cross Country Cup taong 2014. Nagbigay karangalan din siya sa bansa matapos pamunuan ang 2014 ASEAN Mountainbike Cup at idineklarang kampeon.

Bukod pa rito, malaki rin ang naging ambag ng pagkapanalo niya sa Palarong Bicol sa arnis noong 2012, dahil dito nahubog ang kaniyang pisikal at mental na kakayahang kakailanganin sa mundo ng pagbibisikleta, ngunit hindi niya na ipinagpatuloy dahil sa kawalan ng interes. “That time kasi medyo na low morale ako kasi nag-gold medal ako [sa pag-aarnis sa Palarong Bikol] pero ‘di ako naka-pambansa [Palarong Pambansa]. Tsaka kapag college [na], ‘di naman na masyadong nabibigyang-pansin ang arnis.”

Sa parehong taon, 2012, nang tuluyan niyang pinasok ang pagbibisikleta at naging opisyal na miyembro ng pambansang koponan sa cycling. Ang una niyang naging tahanan ay ang road biking. “NagpaManila ako, mountain bike gamit ko.

Nang-hiram lang ako ng road bike sa pinsan ko.”

Gamit ang bisikletang hiniram niya sa kaniyang pinsan, ipinamalas

Ang punto sa hugis bilog na ruweda, na minsang humalik sa rabáw ng kalsada, ang nagdala sa kanya sa hanay ng pinakakamahusay na siklista sa Timog-Silangang Asya.

Samakat’wid, ang pagkapanalo ni Avegail sa palarong ito ang naging pinakamalaking tagumpay ng kaniyang karera bilang isang atletang siklista.

Bago pa man ang panalo sa SEA Games, maraming karanasan na ang dahan-dahang nagtulak sa kaniya sa pagiging siklista. Ang tagumpay na nakamit sa biennial meet ay isang pasada lamang sa mahigitkumulang 35 medalya at higit sa sampung tropeong kaniyang naipon mula sa iba’t ibang patimpalak sa pagbibisikleta na kaniyang nilahokan.

Ilan sa mga pinagbidahan niyang kompetisyon sa pagbibisikleta ay ang National Games na pinangasiwaan ng Sports Commission of the Philippines at ng Olympic Committee of the Philippines taong 2013. Nagpakitanggilas din si Avegail sa Giro De Pilipinas 2015 matapos sikwatin ang ginto sa kategoryang pambabae. Hindi rin nagpagupo ang pambatong siklista na tubong Camarines Sur matapos

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niya sa lahat ang angking galing sa pagbibisekleta, dahilan upang makapasok siya sa national team.

“Ku una talaga kaya mountain bike pa, [kaya sa] mountain bike ako nagstart. [...] Su first SEA Games ko, road bike naman a gamit.” Apat na taon siyang namalagi sa pagrorowdbayk mula 2013 hanggang 2017 hanggang sa naisip niyang tila wala talaga siyang “swerte” rito. Dagdag pa niya, na kapag sa mountain biking ay nakakapwesto raw sya lagi. Sa katunayan ay naging matagumpay noon ang kaniyang kauna-unahang sinalihang international competition kung saan ibinulsa niya ang tanso sa mountain biking na ginanap sa Cebu.

Taong 2019 nang muli niyang pasukin ang pagma-mountain bike. Matapos ito ay naging madali na lamang para sa kaniya ang transisyon mula road biking patungong mountain biking dahil sa pamilyar na siya sa mga ito bago pa man niya pinasok ang pambansang koponan.

Hindi niya akalaing ang desisyon niya palang ito ang magpapabago sa kaniyang karera.

Mula pagkakasadsad, ibinangong muli ni Abegail ang kaniyang pangalan bilang namumukod-tanging mountain biker mula Pilipinas nang maiuwi niya naman ang bronseng medalya sa isang internasyunal na karerang naganap rin sa Cebu. Simula araw na ito, naging maayos na ang karera ni Abegail bilang isang siklista alinsunod sa kaniyang pagkapanalo sa iba’t ibang patimpalak.

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Nagsimula ang kaniyang kagustuhang maging isang siklista nang imbitahan siya ng kaniyang dalawang kuyang si Jonathan at Angki na sumali sa isang karera sa mountain biking na ginanap sa lungsod ng Iriga. Itinuring niya itong isang malaking oportunidad dahil sa simula pa lamang ay nahumaling na siya sa pagpipedal ng bisikleta. Hindi niya inakala na ang kompetisyong iyon ang magbibigay sa kaniya ng unang tamis ng pagkapanalo at magbubukas ng pinto sa kaniya tungo sa daigdig ng mga siklista.

Ang kaniyang husay sa pagbibisikleta ay nananalaytay na ‘di umano sa dugo ng kaniyang pamilya. Ani niya, ang kaniyang mga pinsan at mga kapatid ay pawang nagbibisikleta rin. Sa katunayan, isa sa kaniyang mga tito ang naging miyembro na rin ng Pambansang Koponan ng mga Siklista at nag-uwi na rin ng mga medalya sa SEA Games.

Kapuwa pinalaking maayos nina Nanay Leonida at Tatay Pedro ang kanilang unica ija. Sila ang naging isa sa mga motibasyon ni Avegail upang

ipagpatuloy niya ang kaniyang nasimulang karera. Sila, kasama ang anim niyang kuya’t butihing tagapagsanay, ang naging pangunahing tagasuporta ni Avegail sa bawat landas na kaniyang tatahakin. Ang kaniyang mga tagahanga ay mas higit pang nadagdagan nang maipanalo niya ang tanso sa SEA Games.

Sa kasalukuyan, patuloy pa rin ang kaniyang pageensayo bilang paghahanda sa paparating na 2021 SEA Games na gaganapin sa Vietnam.

Ngunit dahil sa kasalukuyang pandemya ay nalimitahan ang kaniyang pag-bibisikleta.

Katambad ng pandemya ang pagtaas ng bilang ng mga indibidwal na nahuhumaling sa pagbibisikleta. Sa kaniyang artikulo na inilathala sa website na Bicycling noong Nobyembre 2020, sinabi ni Robert Annis na sa panahon ng Pandemya, naghahanap pa rin ang mga tao ng alternatibong transportasyon at mabisang pamamaraang pang-ehersisyo sanhi upang sila’y bumili ngbisikleta. Sa Pilipinas naman, pinabulaanan ng Associated Press sa kanilang inilathalang artikulo sa spin. ph noong Nobyembre 2020 na bunsod ng pagbawas ng mga pampublikong sasakyan, maraming Pilipino ang nagaganyak na magbisikleta na masasalamin sa patuloy na pagtaas ng demand sa bisikleta.

“Kung uno gusto nira, gibuwon nira, pero with discipline ‘yun. Tapos kung uno talaga passion nira, kung uno nasa puso nira, amo nira sunudon. Tapos syempre, ‘di man basta-basta mig-abot lang. Kailangan pagsikapan mo man, pagtrabahuhan para machieve mo,” pagbibigay inspirasyon niya para sa mga taong ibig tahakin ang buhay ng isang siklista.

Mag-wawalong taon nang miyembro ng Philippine National Team si Avegail, at sa mahabang taong pamamalagi niya rito, lagi niyang sinasabi na “When in doubt, pedal

“

Katulad ng isang punto sa gulong ang naging takbo ng karera ni Avegail. May mga pagkakataong siya ay nasa ilalim, minsan naman ay nasa ibabaw. Minsan mang sumayad sa lupa, hindi naging hadlang ang pangyayaring ito upang ang punto’y muling subukang akyatin ang rurok ng tagumpay.

it out.” Paliwanag niya na kailangan nating magpatuloy at manatiling nasa pokus sa kabila ng mga duda, pangamba at batikos na bumabalot sa ating paligid. “So, kapag kadakul ka mga nagda-doubt, continue lang… pedal lang. Ba’la man sira. Mababayad na sana ‘yan nira sa progress mo, sa achievements mo.”

Katulad ng isang punto sa gulong ang naging takbo ng karera ni Avegail. May mga pagkakataong siya ay nasa ilalim, minsan naman ay nasa ibabaw. Minsan mang sumayad sa lupa, hindi naging hadlang ang pangyayaring ito upang ang punto’y muling subukang akyatin ang rurok ng tagumpay.

At sa dahan-dahang pag-angat ng punto, ay siya ring patuloy na pag-andar ng makinang sanhi sa pag-ikot ng gulong.

Sa kaso ni Abegail, ang makina ay ang kaniyang pusong hindi humihinto sa pag-abot ng kaniyang mga pangarap.

Si Avegail Rombaon, mamimisekletang tubong Iriga, patuloy na magpipedal para sa sarili, para sa pamilya, at para sa bayan.

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BY EMMANUEL BRISENIO ARTWORK BY JOSEPH RYAN IBARRETA

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T

he world of sports has become even more competitive. Training and conditioning regimens are even more challenging.

Ahletes gifted with good physique and training incentives rise above the ranks of being a superstar. And the conquest for greatness have become far from the grasps of the unprivileged.

Aside from searching for greatness, sports is also the source of perks, contracts, and incentives that every athlete dreams of having. Every year superstar athletes earn millions of dollars of compensations and sponsorships. The charm of fame, financial, and social perks have driven some athletes to go to extreme lengths in order to win, no matter at what cost.

According to the Forbes Magazine, over 3000 athletes, from junior and senior age groups, around the world test positive for anabolic steroids. Football, soccer, basketball, tennis, swimming, cycling, track-and-field, body-building, baseball, weightlifting, boxing, wrestling, ice hockey, and rugby are some of the sports that have track records of doping.

What are performanceenhancing drugs?

Modern sports is now infested by allegations of the use of performance-enhancing drugs or doping not just by amateurs but also by top players. These players resort to this ‘act of cheating’ so that they could lift their standings in hopes of grabbing the fame and perks of being a ‘superstar’.

Over 192 substances and performance-enhancing methods are banned by the World Anti-Doping Authority (WADA), which the list constantly changes as new drugs come out of the market. The use of a drug can be considered as doping if it is potentially performanceenhancing, harmful to the athletes’ health, and it violates the spirit of sports. Such drug and methods are included to the World Anti-Doping Code Prohibited List.

Types of PerformanceEnhancing Drug Out of 192 substances, the most common PED’s are the anabolic steroids, human growth hormones, stimulants, beta-blockers, and erythropoietin (EPO).

What do they do? Do they pose short- and long-term risks? And can they be detected?

Anabolic Steroids One of the main goals of every athlete from training is to gain muscle mass and muscle strength. This is to give them an edge in taking on opponents and to have greater advantage of winning. So, some athletes especially weightlifters, body builders, and football players are the most known to use this kind of drugs.

The main hormones that anabolic steroids produce is the testosterone, which has two main effects on the body.

First is anabolic, that helps to promote muscle building.

Second, is androgenic that is responsible for enhancing the male traits like facial hair and deep voice.

Anabolic steroids are so attractive to both amateur and professional athletes because it helps to make the muscles bigger. Aside from that, anabolic steroids reduce muscle damage caused by intensive workout regimens— helping them recover faster. As a result, players may workout harder and more often.

Anabolic steroids can be taken orally in tablets or injected directly in to the muscle. Stanozolol, nandrolone, boldenone, trenbolone androstenedione, tetrahydrogestrinone (referred to as THG or The Clear) are the most common form of this drug.

Athletes who are into this kind of drugs often manifest both short-term and long-term risks, including, high blood pressure, severe acne, liver abnormalities and tumors, heart and blood circulation problems, aggressive behaviors, depression, and the decrease of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) which is the good cholesterol. For men, enlargement of the breasts, shrunken testicles, infertility, and prostate gland enlargement are the possible result.

While for women, they may develop, a deeper voice, increased body hair, baldness, and absent periods because of the excess testosterone they take which is unnatural for women to have.

Among the several famous athletes who were caught doping was the New York Yankees hitter and infielder Alex Rodriguez. In 2009, he admitted his steroids use in 2001 to 2003 while he was with the Texas Rangers. He was suspended for the entire 2014 season for violating the baseball’s drug agreement and labor contract.

American cyclist Lance Armstrong was also connected to anabolic steroids consumption. He was accused of doping from 1999 to 2002 after his remarkable records including his seven-time championship in Tour de France from 1999 to 2005.

The U.S Anti-Doping Agency soon confirmed that all the allegations against Armstrong is true and concluded that he had been lying and named him a “serial cheater”.

U.S sprinter and 2000 Australia Summer Olympics bronze medalist Marion Jones also admitted that she used steroids. In 2008, Jones was imprisoned at Fort Worth, Texas after lying to investigators about her usage.

Jones lost her career and served six months in the prison.

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Stimulants Stimulants are drugs that have direct effect on the central nervous system. They speed up parts of the brain, which as a result, increases the heart rate, metabolism, body temperature, and blood pressure. Athletes use this substance to reduce tiredness and fatigue, suppress appetite, improve endurance, and increase the alertness and aggressiveness.

Stimulants come in the form of cocaine, ecstasy, amphetamine, and methylphenidate which are banned by the WADA. These drugs can be snorted, ingested, or taken in pills.

However, nicotine and caffeine which can be found in energy drinks are not considered illegal.

Although these drugs help players become aggressive and alert on the field, they can also pose serious risks that can hinder athletes’ performance. These problems include, nervousness or irritability, insomnia, dehydration, heatstroke, and addiction.

Some minor effects are palpitations, weight loss, hallucinations, and heart attacks.

In 2013, Asafa Powell, the former 100m world record holder in 2008 and 2005 was caught using the banned stimulant oxilofrine.

Human Growth Hormone Human Growth Hormone (HGH) just like steroids, has an anabolic effect on the body. It is a naturally-produced hormone which promotes physical development and stimulates the growth of collagen that is important in strengthening cartilage, bones, tendons, and ligaments of a human body.

For athletes, HGH increases the number of red blood cells and stimulates the breakdown of fat which will help in improving muscle mass and performance. This hormone is only available by prescription and is injected.

Taking Human Growth Hormones may lead to serious effects that include joint pain, muscle weakness, fluid retention, diabetes, vision problems, and impaired glucose regulation.

Other Performance-Enhancing Drugs On 2018, Gilas Pilipinas guard and NLEX Road Warriors player Kiefer Ravena was suspended by FIBA for 18 months in all of basketball-related activities after testing positive for three banned substances listed in the WADA Anti-Doping Code Prohibited List.

The substances were Higenamine, 1,3-Dimethylbutylamine, and 4-Methylhexan-2-amine. These substances were found in the urine sample of Ravena that was collected after their match against Japan on 2018.

Ravena’s suspension was because of his pre-workout drink called “DUST”. The supplement is not Ravena’s typical preworkout drink. However, he ran out of the drink he usually consumes and was recommended to purchase the “DUST” without knowing that there is a banned substance present.

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According to Atty. Aga Francisco of Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas, DUST is not illegal in the Philippines and can be bought over-the-counter.

"So it's not illegal," Francisco added. "You take it, you buy it, you go to the gym."

But FIBA still sanctioned Ravena regardless of his intentions and said that his "erroneous assumption results from his lack of anti-doping education, which in no way exonerates him, but … contributes directly to the risk wrongly perceived by the player when using DUST." FIBA also admitted that Ravena’s action was an ‘honest mistake’ and did not disregard his anti-doping duties, but was simply "not well equipped to make the right, informed decision.", so instead of 2 years suspension, the association has downgraded his sanction to 18 months.

Why can’t doping be stopped in Sports?

Despite of a strict implementation of anti-doping programs, like the suspension of Ravena, it is obvious that doping is a large-scale activity in sports. It is a problem that persists in the sporting world.

In 1999, International Olympics Committee (IOC) declared a war on doping and created the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

It was set up to be the guard against doping and to write rules that would command best sports practice worldwide.

But WADA’s credibility is being put to the test.

In a short documentary of The Economist, Dr. Antoine Duval, founder and editor-in-chief of ASSER International Sports Law Blog said that, “WADA, as an institution, is weak. It is basically a naked legislator. It produces rules that it has absolutely no power and capacity to enforce,” According to The Economist, WADA has around 120 employees. But only seven of those are responsible for conducting investigation of doping activities. As a result, the agency is dependent to the different anti-doping agencies and sports associations to do drug testing. With this, different countries who conduct their own drug tests have variations of mean, ability, and political will to apprehend the dopers.

The Bottomline

While different groups argue about the morality of doping in sports, it is easy to say that doping is cheating and has to be stopped. Sports has been, and will always be, an image of fairness, transparency, and discipline. It must remain as is and remove what is killing the system.

Sports is for everyone who dreams for it. It is not just for the privileged, like the athletes that have bodies built for their sports.

However, doping is not the reason to be at par with competitors, but training is. Superstars like Michael Phelps, Tiger Woods, Manny Pacquiao, Cristiano Ronaldo, and other sports G.O.A.T.S do not take an expressway to greatness. They trained and mastered their sports a thousand times to be at their place.

Greatness is not achieved in a day or two, it takes years of mastery to make a superstar.

“

Sports is for everyone who dreams for it. It is not just for the privileged, like the athletes that have bodies built for their sports. However, doping is not the reason to be at par with competitors, but training is. Superstars like Michael Phelps, Tiger Woods, Manny Pacquiao, Cristiano Ronaldo, and other sports G.O.A.T.S do not take an expressway to greatness. They trained and mastered their sports a thousand times to be at their place.

“

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56 PALAKASAN | TheSPARK 64

BY FELIMON GOZUN JR. ARTWORK BY JAN KLOUDE IGANA

Basketball enthusiasts can never deny the amazing feeling whenever someone pulls-off a dunk. The more creative it is, the more we are hyped towards the game. However, over the past years, it was not only the highflying dunks that keeps us in awe but also the three-point shots that are sometimes way beyond the arc. It is fun to watch and absolutely a beauty on its own.

The 6-foot-3 guard, Stephen Curry of Golden State Warriors made three-point shots a highlight-worthy and deadly at the same time. Being small in the playground of towers, Curry found a place to dominate the league. His playing style earned him three championships in a span of four years and put himself as the only unanimous MVP in NBA. From then, he revolutionized the game of basketball that even big men forced to adjust.

In 2015-2016 regular season when he earned his unanimous MVP award, he shoot a record breaking 402 threes. No one ever broke the 300-mark in a single season but Curry even surpassed it outstandingly.

Comparing the volume of shots he threw, his percentage was 45.4% and placed second behind JJ Redick in three-point percentage who only shot 200 with 47.5%.

Curry, set himself apart from other shooters with his impeccable shooting style.

“

In 2015-2016 regular season when he earned his unanimous MVP award, he shoot a record breaking 402 threes.

Unlike any other shooters in the league, he only needs .33 seconds to set his footing. His foot is always slightly pointed towards left whenever he shoots the ball. He tends to bend his legs at 115-120 degrees before jumping – enough for him to gather his strength and complement his quickness.

With the shooting form, Curry makes an angle of 90 degrees between his body and elbow.

His right arm (shooting arm) is positioned inward and his hand is placed an inch above his eyebrow.

The average release time in NBA is .54 seconds, however, the bay-area guard shoots the ball with only .4 seconds. This was recorded as the fastest release time in the history of the league. Comparing to other NBA players, Curry’s shot is already 12 feet above the ground when others started to release theirs.

One thing that is certainly noticeable in Curry’s shot, it is his trajectory. Trajectory refers to the path a ball takes while in flight towards a basket after being shot or thrown by a player. Legendary shooters like Larry Bird, Reggie Miller, and Ray Allen has the same trajectory when they’re shooting the ball. They create an angle of 45 degrees. In Curry’s condition, he shoots the ball at higher trajectory with 50-55 degrees.

For reference, the rim of basketball is 18 inches in diameter if we look at it in 90 degrees. With 45 degrees, the rim will look like 9 inches and the shot of the players will not be a clean one because the ball is 9.5 inches. With Curry’s trajectory, he creates a rim of 10.7 inches, wide enough to shoot a ring-less three pointer.

The combination of quick release, range, and high arcing shots became a formidable weapon of Curry – an arsenal that puts him as the greatest shooters by many.

TheSPARK | PALAKASAN 65 57

FAIR PLAY

BY ANTHONY JAY COMBATE ARTWORK BY JEROME IBARRETA

66 PALAKASAN | TheSPARK

“

“Great players are not born, they are made, but a true great player never cheats.”

There were only to sexes that exists in the history of sports — male and female. Throughout the years, we’ve been amazed by sport once in our lifetime. The sporting world offers a stardust of talents that inspires everybody. The brightest stars were looked upon by many people.

These includes great sport personalities like Manny Pacquiao, basketball superstar Michael Jordan, Olympic legend Michael Phelps, tennis queen Serena Williams, gymnast sensation Simone Biles, and many others. They are all outstanding athletes of today’s generation, but being one is not an easy feat.

Male Vs. Female Sport is a physical activity in which an individual or team competes against another or others for the purpose of entertainment. It aims to promote camaraderie, sportsmanship, unity, and fairness. To achieve fairness, there are written and unwritten rules and laws to be followed. This includes the separation of players into two categories, male and female.

Physically, males outclass females in sports in terms of strength, power, and speed. Based on studies, adult males tend to be taller with longer limbs and have wider shoulders which gives them more advantage in upper-body strength. Adult males were also proven to have more overall muscle mass and less body fat than females.

According to Best Practice for Youth Sport by Robin Vealey and Melissa Chase on 2016, male athletes average 4% to 12% body fat compared to 12% to 23% in female athletes. Aside from these, males develop larger skeletal muscles, as well as larger hearts and lungs. They even outscored females in aerobic aspect as males produce more red blood cells that supply our body with the needed oxygen. These factors

certainly affects and influence sport performance.

When fair becomes unfair?

Historically, females find it mostly very difficult to join any sports competition before. It was around 20th century when female’s participation started to gain more recognition in sports. Still, there are rules to be considered and not all sports can be played by women. Sport competitions played against opposite sex is against the norms and is highly considered as unfair.

Another main reasons for categorizing sports based on biological sex is to eliminate unfair competition due to concerns that males would crossdress as females for the sake of winning the competition. This form of cheating is not new anymore.

Going back at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, a Polish athlete named Stanisława Walasiewicz, also known as Stella Walsh, dominated her rivals by winning the gold medal in the women’s 100 m. Four years later in 1936 Berlin Olympics, Walasiewicz was accused of being a man by American Helen Stephens who at that time, already dethroned her as Olympic champion. After her death in 1980, it was then when Walasiewicz was discovered to have had partially developed male genitalia.

The Dawn of Transgender Athletes As technology advances through the years, things get more complicated as athletes who have undergone gender reassignment surgery started to join sports competition, too. These athletes are called transgender athletes.

Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries defined transgender as people whose sense of gender identity does not match their biological sex or does not easily fit in with the usual division between male and female.

The participation of female athletes

Still, there are rules to be considered and not all sports can be played by women. Sport competitions played against opposite sex is against the norms and is highly considered as unfair.

in competitive sports took a long process before formally accepted by many. Yet, here comes the transgender athletes talking about their rights to play on their desired sports category.

It became a controversial issue as the public claims that such move is unfair and may cause a significant increased injury risk to female-by-birth competitors.

Sport Revolution In a world where sexuality of a person is strongly considered, one transgender tennis player named Renee Richards beat the odds and provided her fans and supporters with hope and inspiration. Richards, formerly known as Richard Raskin, was banned from playing in the 1976 US Open because of a supposed women-born-women policy.

Regardless, giving up was never became an option for her. She fought for her spot in the tournament.

“I was female and deserved to be allowed to play with other women,” Richards quoted on Sports Illustrated.

She sued the United States Tennis Association and won the case, allowing her to play in 1977 as a woman. As a tennis woman player, she made a name for herself after a career-high overall ranking of No. 20 in February of 1979.

On the same year, she also defeated Nancy Richey, former World ranked no.

2 in singles in the 35-and-over singles title.

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Twitter. In an op-ed that she wrote in The New York Times, Ivy also shared that she received a number of death threats, and was even targeted

by Donald Trump Jr. on Twitter.

Another revolutionary transgender athlete of the 21st century is Chris Mosier, popularly known as the first transgender man to represent the United States in an international competition and first known openly transgender athlete to compete in an Olympic trial.

On January 25, 2020, Mosier made history by competing in 50 Kilometer race walk held outside San Diego, California. He is relatively new to the sport, yet it didn’t become an obstacle for him and was able to dismantle the barriers. He proved his skills to the world despite being a femaleborn. Moreover, he is also credited with prompting the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to change its policy on transgender athletes.

Today, in the modern era, Veronica Ivy formerly known as Rachel McKinnon, is making noise in the world of sports after becoming the first transgender world champion in track cycling when she left all of her opponents out of gas at UCI Women’s Masters Track World Championship in Los Angeles for the women’s 35–44 age bracket. A day before, on October 12, 2018, she also shattered the world 200-meter sprint record for women in the 35–39 age range.

Despite the various criticisms, the Canadian didn’t let the fuel gone and further expanded her reign when she returned to defend the title in the October 2019 Masters Worlds in Manchester, where she clocked another world record in qualifiers and took home her second gold in the competition.

However, her victory doesn’t please everybody most especially her other fellow competitors and the netizens. They claimed that it is unfair for Ivy to compete from the start. Her recent win only sparked the unfairness issue with regards to transgender women athletes joining female sports competition.

“The science is clear—it tells us that trans women have an advantage,” former British Masters Champion Victoria Hood, who was unable to compete in the championship due to injury, told the British Broadcasting Corporation.

“It is excluding women and girls from their own category… it is a human right to participate in sport. I don’t think it’s a human right to identify into whichever category you choose.”

“Fairness in sport means inclusion and respect of every athlete’s right and identity,” Ivy responded to Hood by posting a press release on

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Transgender Eligibility in Sports Competition In a system that separates athletic competition by sex for reasons of fairness, where do transgender athletes really belong?

Long before, everyone was still puzzled and clouded with the idea not until the IOC finally released the guidelines concerning transgender athletes in 2004 to settle the issue.

According to OIC, there are three ways for a transgender athlete to be able to compete: First, they must have had gender reassignment surgery. Second, they must have legal recognition of their assigned gender and third is they must have at least two years of hormone therapy. Given these conditions, the IOC does not consider being transgender an unfair advantage and allowed transgender athletes to participate in the Olympic Games.

In 2015, the IOC modified the rules understanding that legal recognition of gender could be difficult in countries where gender transition is not legal, and that requiring surgery in otherwise healthy individuals may be inconsistent with developing legislation and notions of human rights.

The new guidelines require only that trans woman athletes declare their gender and not change that

assertion for four years, as well as demonstrate a testosterone level of less than 10 nanomoles per liter for at least one year prior to competition and throughout the period of eligibility. The only transgender athletes that were allowed to compete without restriction are those athletes who change their sex from female to male.

These guidelines were in effect for the 2016 Rio Olympics, although no openly transgender athletes competed.

Revised Guidelines Despite the efforts, things didn’t turn out like how it supposed to be.

In October 2019, the guidelines for transgender athletes were once again reconstructed when World Athletics set the testosterone limit for transgender competitors from 10 nmol/L to 5 nmol/L, following the Differences in sex development (DSD) regulations.

According to the new guidelines, in order for a trans woman to compete in the women’s category: she must provide a written and signed declaration, in a form satisfactory to the Medical Manager, that her gender identity is female; she must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Expert Panel (on the balance of probabilities).

Also, the concentration of testosterone in her serum has been less than 5 nmol/L3 continuously for a period of at least 12 months; and she must keep her serum testosterone concentration below 5 nmol/L for so long as she wishes to maintain her eligibility to compete in the female category of competition.

World Athletics also has specific rules for intersex/ DSD athletes. Intersex, as per Oxford dictionary definition, is the condition of having both male and female sex organs or other sexual characteristics. In reference to International Association of Athletics Federations, DSD athletes will be subjected to the specific rules if they are legally female but have the following conditions: XY male chromosomes, testes rather than

“

People may classify sports into categories to ensure fairness, but no matter what, this division must not separate all of us, too.

We must promote unity instead and let the rainbow shine in sports.

ovaries, have circulating testosterone within the typical male range (7.7 to 29.4 nmol/L), and are androgensensitive so that their body makes use of that testosterone.

World Athletics requires that any such athlete must reduce their blood testosterone level to 5 nmol/L or lower for a six-month period before becoming eligible for track running events from 400 meters to the mile run in international competition, though World Athletics publicly remains open to extending this to other events based on new scientific study. World Athletics created these rules as a way to ensure fair competition in the women’s category.

Sex Verification To ensure fairness in sports, various tests and methods were tested and conducted in the past to verify the sex of the female athletes.

This started in the 1940 wherein femaleness must be certified by a physician. In the 1960s, physical examinations such as visual genital inspections were used to confirm gender. It was then followed by chromosome testing and hormone testing. Yet, despite all the efforts exerted just to ensure fairness in sports at all cost, it’s heartbreaking to know that these just put many intersex athletes at a bigger disadvantage.

According to Elsas et. al on their review on gender verification of female athletes, gender verification, specifically chromosomal based gender testing is irrelevant, costly, and highly discriminating; that it has caused unknown numbers of female athletes emotional and social injury.

“

It also lacks scientific basis and proved to be functional and ethical inconsistent.

Testosterone Level Testing As the battle cry continues, experts believe that sex verification is still one of the key factors for the validation of fairness in sports.

From physical examinations to chromosome testing and to hormone testing, we are now adopting the testosterone level testing, as per international level.

As mentioned earlier, rules were changed starting 2015 and 2019 as to how the IOC deals with the sex verification of female athletes by means of testosterone level testing. Still, this doesn’t punctuate the problem. Even the upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympics is also being troubled about it, specifically over whether the IOC’s guidelines should be amended to set stricter testosterone limits.

The increased figures of trans women in professional sports keeps challenging the IOC policies. People who oppose transgender women competing in women’s sports say that they are given an unfair advantage over cisgender women due to higher testosterone levels and different muscle and fat distribution.

Cisgender, in a brief definition, refers to those persons who matches both of their biological sex and sexual identity.

Why is testosterone a big deal?

Testosterone is a hormone found in humans. In men, the testicles

primarily make testosterone. That’s the reason why they can be able to produce more testosterone as compared to women who also make testosterone, but in relatively smaller amounts.

Testosterone significantly affects the bone and muscle mass, the way men store fat in the body, and even red blood cell production. Moreover, a man’s testosterone levels can also affect his mood. That’s the reason why many people are against transwomen athletes. They believe that having a higher testosterone level can greatly influence sport performance too.

How about the intersex female athletes? How about female-born athletes with high testosterone levels?

For the sake of fairness, this reality really gives the IOC and other international sporting organizations a vicious cycle.

What it means to be fair?

Categorizing athletes by sex or gender have always been an unending issue throughout the years. No matter what your sex or gender is, in sports, there will always be two options for every athlete. You lose or you win. Still, whatever you choose or get, always remember the true essence of sport. We need to be fair at all times for sports doesn’t revolve in winning alone.

People may classify sports into categories to ensure fairness, but no matter what, this division must not separate all of us, too. We must promote unity instead and let the rainbow shine in sports.

TheSPARK | PALAKASAN 69

Let’s Face It? READ ON PAGE 73 Liquid Gold

READ ON PAGE 72 Infodemic: The Untold Havoc of Truth Persecution Amid Pandemic READ ON PAGE 71 17

Hopes in Constraint READ ON PAGE 74

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Infodemic: The Untold Havoc of Truth...

72

Liquid Gold

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Let’s Face It?

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Hopes in Constraint

70 OPINYON | TheSPARK

Infodemic: The untold Havoc on Truth amidst the Pandemic JieSays!

HADJIE BAZAR

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Remember that the more a person gets familiar with something, the more likely they will believe it and justify its likelihood. Just like any other propaganda tactic, repeat a lie often enough, it becomes the truth.

Our deeply entrenched beliefs have confined us to give our full trust in believing our own truth as fact; neglecting any room for doubt that we could be wrong. Thus, we tend to believe that side we took even if we are presented with factual arguments.

This clouded dilemma made our difficult battle against the coronavirus disease harder due to the demise of valid reasoning—putting the most vulnerable sectors to an escalated danger of misinformation and worst, death by ignorance.

People’s biases root from this “wear to fit” idealism—when something fits and is convenient, then it might be the truth.

For instance, in a person’s political views, that person will likely believe and support notions and propagandas exhibiting the same political stand as his. Similarly, our biases also affect our decisions especially when choosing what information to believe in.

As misinformation continues to proliferate the internet and people became more exposed to these unfiltered data, a prime breeding ground for misguided dogmas and conspiracies has come into life. Added by the fact that people are harder to convince once they had made their convictions, it makes it tougher to implement necessary intervention especially when we need to guide people on their behaviors. Thus, has the utmost potential to actually undermine public safety.

In lieu to strengthen this argument, in an Associated Press report, nearly 300 people in Iran have been killed by ingesting methanol based on treatment recommendations found across social media. Meanwhile, 46 churchgoers in South

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Korea were unfortunately infected by SARSCoV-2 after church leaders sprayed viruscontaminated saltwater into their mouths out of their ill-advised faith. Furthermore, the United States and even the Philippines have been recently exposed to similar cases of misinformation under the daylight after highrisk recommendations of bleach and gasoline intake were told to help in killing the virus.

Though these are isolated cases that should never be equated to the situation in the whole population, this shows how far people can go in believing anything they think is true. Mistakes can easily reveal themselves from believing in misleading sources. Unfortunately, these mistakes could have been prevented only if these people were properly informed and were taught to be critical thinkers.

People must listen to facts and not on some made-up and over-the-top stories. However, it is easier to be said than done. When they have their preconceived notions, it takes a lot of effort to change their mindset. Forcing people to stop believing in their woven truth in favor of the complete opposite is as good as saying nothing at all. If the intention is to change someone’s mind, this does not work— for it needs the will for someone to oppose his/her previous self.

So, what most people do if we see false information or article on the internet? It might sound counterintuitive, but the best thing is to do nothing. Well, according to a study done by the University of Westminster saying the more engagements a piece of information receives from the public, the more it becomes visible.

Basically, people who are tying up their

time to share and react to this information, both supporting and against, are helping to make it spread exponentially.

Remember that the more a person gets familiar with something, the more likely they will believe it and justify its likelihood. Just like any other propaganda tactic, repeat a lie often enough, it becomes the truth.

That is why in situations like in the Philippines where the online world is extremely polarized, the efforts that these extreme ends throw at each other’s side are close to pointless. No side will give up on the other. However, the friction that it creates further forces them to believe that they are right.

Fake news has completely infiltrated various social media platforms faster than the spread of COVID-19; proliferating like wildfires leaving nothing behind but ashes of regrets. This abundance of data has driven us into confusion where it seems like this gift is turning its tides against us; generating deleterious consequences on health amid this disaster at hand.

Personal reasoning is imperative for our decisions and takes. Yet, truth is not something we can simply say based on what we think is right. The pandemic is presently at large and if we will constantly let ourselves be fooled by unnecessary speculations, these challenges might end as tragic as they could be—in no time and in no definite track.

That clear boundary between lies and truth started to blur in the absence of the heuristic principle of discernment and it is still in the process of public exploitation; an untold danger amid the battle cries of the pandemic.

TheSPARK | OPINYON 71

LIQUID GOLD SILENT DAMSEL

ALYSSA FRANZ UVERO

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Normalizing public nursing will help de-objectify females by recognizing that breasts have a function other than ogling.

Being a mother to a young child should not be isolating. Feeding a baby should be done by a woman unapologetically.

“Breastfeeding is a private activity.”

“Women should not feed their babies like that in public.”

“I’m eating. I don’t want to see you hang your breasts while I have food.”

“It’s not some misogynistic ideal – it is basic public decency.”

Most people still possess the mindset that stemmed from an overly conservative society that measures the worth of women based on their lady-like movements and willingness to subject themselves to men’s superiority. Unlady-like traits equate to indecency. This includes clothing— less skin exposure means more decent.

Because showing skin in public is unacceptable to most, this is often being related to sexual matters. Breastfeeding in public has been deemed indecent due to women inevitably showing a portion of their breasts while feeding their babies.

The sexualization of breasts has become so pervasive that even women themselves think that breastfeeding is gross, forcing them to retreat into bathroom stalls just to feed their young ’uns.

Being shamed for breastfeeding in the open is only another page in the compendium of stories about gender inequality— most of which favor men.

Public nursing remains taboo in our porn-

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72 OPINYON | TheSPARK

warped society that’s been brainwashed to believe that female breasts used for anything other than male pleasure is indecent.

Men, who think the same way would say, “We can’t whip our genitals under the table because it is gross, so why would you slip your breast out of your shirt?” The obvious answer is that, unlike the latter, whipping male genitalia in public has no definite purpose like to feed a crying child who needs to live. This is nowhere near the idiocy of showing off balls and shafts for the whole populace to see.

Breast milk is not bodily fluid. It’s food.

Humans barely even know everything about how awesome breast milk is because science has barely scratched the surface regarding the tremendous amount of ingredients and nutrients it contains. It can even kill cancer in a petri dish.

This is even more difficult to normalize because some women seem to be the worst perpetrators when it comes to this public display shame game. The logic here is confusing. Breasts are intended to provide milk for babies. With all the progress on feminism, how can such a plain biological imperative remain stigmatized? It seems that this disgust lobbed at women — by women — who choose to breastfeed in public arises from two sides of the same

coin: incredulity that these women dare use breasts for anything other than sexual pleasure—thereby defying gender norms and expectations—and concern that breastfeeding moms are going out of their way to capture the male gaze— a silly but common cause for competition between women.

Normalizing public nursing will help de-objectify females by recognizing that breasts have a function other than ogling.

Being a mother to a young child should not be isolating. Feeding a baby should be done by a woman unapologetically.

Since a culture of shame and privacy surrounding breastfeeding exists, young girls don’t see it enough to cultivate thinking that puts this act on the list of normal. It wasn’t an indecent act until the mid-20th century. There weren’t any alternatives before so breastfeeding was a part of daily life. People need to see it again and learn that it should never have been about modesty or sexualization. It is simple biology that’s intended to nourish a living human.

Normalize.

Don’t sexualize.

LET’S FACE IT? OLLIE

JOHN ROBERT OÑEDO

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Online learning has been difficult for students especially for those who have poor internet connection and for some having problems concerning their finances.

However, even they would agree that implementing faceto-face classes in the middle of this health crisis is a bad idea.

It cannot be denied that online classes are no substitute to the familiar face-to-face classes conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic. That is why hopes are high whenever students read about articles saying the government considers bringing that back to schools.

But though vaccines have started to be rolled out, this is not a good reason to go back to the old system especially when the available vaccines will not yet able to cover a significant portion of the population to achieve herd immunity.

Pushing forward with the idea not only increases the risk of higher infection rates but also introduces a number of difficulties that the students will have to face.

Online learning has been difficult for students especially for those who have a poor internet connection and for some having problems concerning their finances. However, even they would agree that implementing face-to-face classes in the middle of this health crisis is a bad idea—that it puts us, students, at a higher risk of infection that is hard to detect and is easily transmitted in a tight, crowded space which is exactly what every classroom is.

The fact that COVD-19 is a disease that

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can easily be transmitted is what caused it to become a pandemic in the first place.

A student who is a carrier of COVID-19 who also happens to be asymptomatic could come to school and spread the virus unknowingly. It cannot be assured that every time students come to school, they will be immediately greeted with a swab test at the school gate.

Contact tracing is also a measure being conducted by many establishments to reduce the spread of the virus. Schools, meanwhile, are no exception. But when talking about hundreds of students all in a single area, this becomes completely useless.

The idea of resuming face-to-face classes also fails to take into consideration what it would cost for every student to get to their campus. Commutes have become far more difficult for there is a limit to how many people can occupy a single multicab, tricycle, bus, and jeep.

The increase in fare makes it even harder. Since there is a limit in the number of passengers that PUVs are allowed to carry, operators decided to increase the fare for every trip to compensate for that losses. Now, added by the fact that costs in commutes are high, many struggling with finances, and the possible risk of getting infected and infecting others are

reasons enough why face-to-face classes are not yet feasible now.

This does not intend to contradict the idea that face-to-face classes are the best option for students because it is easier to learn in an environment built for learning—the social interaction with friends and colleagues and being able to engage in practical subjects the way students are supposed to. However, the country is still far from getting back to its previous normalcies.

The silver lining is that there are now vaccines but it is not yet enough to vaccinate a significant number of the population. When the time comes that herd immunity is reached, easing restrictions in schools will eventually happen. Then is the right time— when we can make sure everyone is safe— when we can go back in our classrooms and see each other’s faces.

TheSPARK | OPINYON 73

Editoryal

Hopes in

Constraint The clear-cut divide existing between classes has become apparent then, but has worsened with the advent of the new normal. The situation that students face amidst this health crisis revealed how these long-neglected issues and inaction brought many at the disadvantage.

This has led to a situation where it favors only those privileged enough to get through it, meanwhile, leaving those who cannot.

Access to education is a basic right.

However, because of the circumstances that students have as they live through the pandemic, the situations they face limit them from having this access.

With the current trend that the country is heading, this widening of the gap between peoples is likely to get worse.

In 2019, 1.3 million Filipino children remained out-of-school, according to a London-based child aid agency, Save the Children. This year, at least 2.3 million more children have not enrolled as families grapple through the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and as the education system migrates to distanced modes of learning.

The pandemic exacerbated this problem of education inequality— forcing some students to be left behind.

A myriad of factors are existing why this happens, and actions need to be augmented to the solutions for these.

One major factor is that more people are living in poverty because of the pandemic. A Social Weather Stations survey shows that the proportion of families experiencing hunger due to lack of food to eat has increased threefold to 30.7 percent at the height of the pandemic from 8.8 percent last December 2019.

With levels of lockdowns were put into effect, engines of the economy were put to a halt. Many, as an effect, have lost their livelihood and thus, a major factor for this increase.

This could lead to 1.5 million more Filipinos becoming poor, according to the Philippine Institute for Development Studies. With families in a desperate situation and barely manages to survive, it prompts them to prioritize first on providing themselves with bare essentials; especially that having food at the dinner table has become difficult.

Unfortunately, this forces students to also give less focus on education as it is more important to cope themselves to survive. Worse, some decide to stop studying altogether.

Poverty is a problem that is hard to fix, as no silver bullet exists to solve this. Access to economic opportunities and

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education are two of the most effective strategies to solve this. However, with the pandemic having a toll on these two, it worsens the problem and thus, creating a self-reinforcing cycle of poverty.

The country needs to restore back the health of the economy to bring more economic opportunities. This will improve on decreasing the number of Filipinos in poverty. In effect, this prevents more students from leaving school.

Another reason for this widening education gap because of the new normal is the toll that the current situation has on people’s mental health.

According to a study where it gathered online surveys in the country, one-fourth of respondents reported moderate-tosevere anxiety and one-sixth reported moderate-to-severe depression.

A rising trend is also reflected by the significant increase in monthly hotline calls to the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) regarding depression, with numbers rising from pre-lockdown calls of 80 to nearly 400.

As people face these new and unprecedented challenges, the situation can be stressful and overwhelming for some. As the government implements public health actions, such as social distancing, which are necessary to curb down the spread of COVID-19, they can also make people feel isolated and lonely which can potentially increase stress and anxiety.

The lack of finances, which were exacerbated by the economic disruptions, also has an effect because seeking treatment and counseling is often sidelined to prioritize on providing for essentials, such as food. Programs supporting them in giving access to treatment and counseling, regardless of economic status, is important to take the edge off the problem.

In many cases, another reason why students have a hard time attending classes is the poor and unreliable telecommunication infrastructure in the area they live in. In spite of limited finances, many still make a way to continue their education. However, because of the this, it adds another obstacle between them and education.

This is a clear manifestation of inaction and neglect in making

If we sit on it and do nothing, the breadth of this disparity will not change but rise.

Necessary steps must be taken now and the people must call out all that needs change.

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to all of these situations. However, we do not have a one-size-fits-all solution for this. The best strategy is to have a set of solutions to cater to these diverse circumstances.

That is why the policy of most universities is to tailor-fit each class to the demands of the course and the preference of the students.

Nonetheless, access to the internet and economic situation have a more defining role if these students can attend classes or not The pandemic has revealed the social, economic, and educational realities in the country that made it hard for some to continue with their education. It has created new challenges that aggravate the problems that the country already has.

Now as Filipinos are reeling from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and this disparity worsening with students who can and cannot continue with their education, we must make sure that this is being dealt with even with new problems are arising.

If we sit on it and do nothing, the breadth of this disparity will not change but rise. Necessary steps must be taken now and the people must call out all that needs change.

However, much work has to be done and there is no other way but to act on this problem, now.

Editorial Board & Staff

these services available for all. The slow internet connections or limited access especially from homes in rural areas can contribute to students falling behind academically. This in turn will make educational setbacks that can have significant impacts on their academic success.

This is unfortunate because this gap has ripple effects that may last an entire life. Due to this unequal playing field, this makes the cycle of poverty harder to escape for those who are already poor.

Reliable access to the internet— being one of the only ways universities use to carry on with educating students—should be extended to all. To deny people access to this basic utility is also denying them the opportunity to make a change in their lives.

Companies and authorities must make sure they extend internet coverage to all communities and should uphold the quality of their internet services to the highest standards.

These factors influence why students are having a hard time attending classes or simply why they choose to leave school. With these, many are being left behind.

Even as the country faces a new set of circumstances because of the pandemic, this also presents an opportunity for the government and the academic community to step up and innovate to develop strategies that will allow more students to access quality education, given the restrictions.

Universities, also, have an important role to offer support and consider all situations of students to include those who lack resources by making policies supporting them.

Because of the diversity of every situation that each student has, it is clear that a strategy needs to cater

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michael William Ronco ASSOCIATE EDITORS Felimon Gozun Jr. Herminia Vasquez

MANAGING EDITORS Christine Astibe Shiela Mae Parco

ART EDITOR Joseph Ryan Ibarreta

LAYOUT EDITOR Charis Joy Luna

NEWS EDITOR Christelle Ong

FEATURES EDITOR John Reynold Brioso

SPORTS EDITOR Anthony Jay Combate STAFF WRITERS Mary Grace Ronco Hadjie Bazar Rose Ann Lagatic Emmanuel Brisenio Alyssa Franz Uvero Kenyon Wayne Fortuno John Robert Oñedo Jericho Dagami LAYOUT ARTISTS Ken Horlador Mary Ann Bermido Alessandro Bernales Aizer Joy Junio CONTRIBUTORS Angelo Luceña Paul David Luna Christian Cantor

STAFF ARTISTS Joanna Erika Puzon Jerome Ibarreta Jan Kloude Igana Larry Andrie Pacardo Rafael Angelo Morales Joven Ceguera PHOTOJOURNALISTS Joshua Cedilla Jamela Hazel Tranquilo Jude Zymon Casyao Luigi San Joaquin PUBLICATION MODERATOR Gigi Severo

TheSPARK | OPINYON 75

Bawat Mangingisda NI SHIELA MAE PARCO

Bawat gabing malamig, siya’y nagpupuyat.

Kaibigan ay bangka, sandata’y lambat.

Magdamag kumakayod, kahit tulog ay ‘di sapat.

Pamilya ang inspirasyon, kasipagan ang agimat.

Bawat huli ng isda, katumbas ay kabuhayan.

Pagod at hirap ay kanilang pinagdadaanan upang matustusan ang lahat ng pangangailangan.

Nang sila’y magkaroon ng magandang kinabukasan.

Bawat alon ay kaniyang susuungin, Mga pagsubok ay kaniya ring tatahakin.

Sakit sa katawan ay titiisin, Mabigyan lamang tayo ng isdang lulutuin.

Bawat mangingisda’y tiyak na mahalaga sa pagpapaunlad ng ating agrikultura.

Malaking ambag din maging sa ekonimiya.

Ngunit, bakit tila kulang parin sa suporta?

Maralita man at kapos sa kapalaran, Isa parin sa sandigan ng ating bayan.

Nararapat lamang na sila ay bigyan ng tamang sustento para sa kaunlaran.

TheSPARK TRUTH KNOWS NO LIMITS