TheSPARK Vol XL, Issue No. II

TheSPARK TRUTH KNOWS NO LIMITS

NEWSLETTER | VOLUME XL | NO. 2

THE OFFICIAL STUDENT-COMMUNITY PUBLICATION OF CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES | AUGUST-NOVEMBER 2020

UNENDING PLIGHT ON RESILIENCY PAGE 31

DEVCOM

Sentimo sa Lansangan | 12

FEATURES

SPORTS

SK sa Panibagong Yugto | 20

OPINION

Who is the Real Gamer? | 24

Contact and reach us through:

Barriers: Both Good and Bad | 29

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THE OFFICIAL STUDENT-COMMUNITY PUBLICATION OF CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES AUGUST-NOVEMBER 2020 | VOLUME XL | NO. 2

PSUB conversion still on track despite pandemic

A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. With the deadline of being a full-fledged university in the offing, the College is now gearing itself up to comply with its deficiencies for universityhood by 2022, under the direction of President Charlito P. Cadag.

STORY BY MARY GRACE RONCO

PHOTOS BY JOSHUA CEDILLA

Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges (CSPC) is still of continuous efforts in converting the College to a full-fledged Polytechnic State University of Bicol (PSUB), despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Republic Act 11283, an act converting CSPC to PSUB was signed into law in April 2019 by President Rodrigo Duterte. However, the College can only be granted university status if it has already complied with the requirements of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and CSPC is still non-compliant with some of the indicators.

The College is now taking the necessary steps to comply with these deficiencies and keep to its deadline of becoming a university by 2022.

Graduate Program Offerings In May 2020, a feasibility study to offer new graduate programs was sent to CHED. Such programs included are Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing, Doctor of Philosophy in Business Management, and Doctor of Engineering. Three master’s degrees, viz.: Master in Hospitality Management, Master in Information Technology, and Master of Arts in Nursing Major in Disaster Resilience are also included.

For it to be converted to a university, the College must at least have one doctoral program in three different fields of study with enrollees.

To date, the College has no doctoral programs offered, yet.

“Now, ang sabi dun sa requirements, there should be three doctoral programs in different fields of study. So, nasagutan na natin ‘yung

-MICHAEL WILLIAM RONCO

kakulangan natin do’n. […] nag-aantay na lang tayo sa CHED na sabihin na ‘pwede na ninyo ‘yang i-open [the graduate programs proposed]’,” Dr. April Z. Luzon, the Director of the Institutional Planning and Development Office (IPDO), stated regarding the graduate programs intended to be opened by 2021.

“At present, we have three master’s programs.

That’s Master in Engineering, Master in Business Management, and Master of Arts in Nursing,” she added.

Faculty Profile CSPC is working to raise the number of faculty members with doctoral and master’s degrees. As required by CHED, instructors at higher education levels must have at least a master’s degree in the fields in which they teach. This is in view of the faculty’s vital role in influencing educational outcomes.

In 2018, out of the 121 faculty members, 38 percent were recorded as bachelor’s degree holders, 50 percent have master’s degrees, and only 12 percent have doctoral degrees.

The administration, then, conducted intensive recruitment of qualified faculty, and have sent some to study in pursuit of having doctoral and master’s degrees.

During the evaluation of the CHED Regional Office on August 12, the number of faculty with doctoral degrees rose to 18.75 percent from 12 percent, and the faculty with bachelor’s degree decreased by 10 percent from the previous record of 38 percent.

On the same date, the Regional Quality Assessment Team evaluation took place, as well, wherein the College was assessed in terms of its compliance to the minimum requirements for universities based on CHED Memorandum Order No. 46, series of 2012.

College President Dr. Charlito P. Cadag reiterated, in the said event, the CSPC’s steadfast commitment in conforming to the requirements of CHED towards becoming a fully qualified university, in spite of the coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile, the Human Resource Development Office is, as of writing, in a reevaluation of the incentive program for faculty scholars to encourage them in pursuing a doctoral degree. The College is also looking into

scholarships not only in the Philippines but outside of the country, as well.

Internationalization Dr. Luzon said that one of the goals of the institution for the present academic year is to expand the College’s scope in internationalization.

The establishment of the Center for International Linkages and Public Affairs, with Professor Filmor J. Murillo as the Director, was therefore realized.

The new department together with the other offices under the supervision of the Office of the President looks into avenues for international linkages and into establishing partnerships with foreign universities that can potentially permit the College to conduct exchange programs.

A strategic plan, according to Dr. Luzon, was formed by the offices around September and is deemed to be the starting point of CSPC in its efforts towards fostering linkages with foreign institutions.

However, with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Academe’s mobility in line with the institutional component was placed of restrictions, as well.

Nevertheless, as Dr. Luzon affirmed, the College will continue in its conduct of other undertakings relevant to CSPC’s internationalization, with the direction of the Academe’s strategic development plan and operational blueprint.

PSUB CONVERSION ON PAGE 7

Highest Degree Earned

by Faculty Members AS OF 2018

12% 38%

50%

bachelor’s degree

master’s degree

doctoral degree

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NEW NORMAL.

Janeth C. Illagan, a BSEE student (top photo) and the class of BSCE-3A (bottom photo) are holding classes through distance-learning format. CSPCeans will be learning mostly from their homes through printed and digital modules, and online classes on video conferencing platforms.

-MICHAEL WILLIAM RONCO

PHOTOS BY JOSHUA CEDILLA

CSPC starts AY amid COVID-19 pandemic STORY BY MARY GRACE RONCO

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges (CSPC) remained in its provision of quality higher education as it commenced the academic year 2020-2021 on August 10, shifting from the traditional face-to-face classes into flexible teaching and learning.

According to Dr. April Z. Luzon, the Director of the Institutional Planning and Development Office (IPDO), it is in light of the present public health concern along with the corresponding restrictions to the conduct of in-person classes that CSPC “has recalibrated its instructional deliveries and implemented flexible learning strategies to facilitate continuous class interaction while exercising consideration and leniency.”

“Given the situation, we need to re-adjust our focus, and what the College did is we have crafted a learning continuity plan,” Dr. Luzon stated.

With its intent to reconsider and restructure both short-term and long-term academic goals and policies to ensure the safety of all faculty, staff, and students while remaining compliant to the guidelines of the Commission on Higher Education as well as to the enforced procedures of the national government, the Academe crafted the learning continuity plan to establish its policies and directions in the delivery of instruction and services toward the students and the College community.

“We have two modes of system in the delivery of flexible learning. We have the synchronous teaching and the asynchronous online teaching,” Dr. Luzon said.

For the transition to flexible learning, the College is to “adapt synchronous and asynchronous teaching, or both, depending on the needs of the students.”

Synchronous teaching In the synchronous mode of teaching, the instructors and students are both expected to be present in the conduct of learning delivery that can be through video conferencing, live chat, or instant messaging.

Due to the necessity of attendance in virtual meetings, it is in this mode where students are to work through a course subject in a scheduled time, similar to the practice of classes in a face-toface environment.

“For the synchronous [classes], it is where teachers are present as the learners. […] this is almost the case of a face-to-face pero ngayon ay virtual,” the Director emphasized.

The instructors’ role in this setup is alike in the setting of traditional in-person instruction wherein students are provided with lessons in a real-time manner.

Synchronous teaching, furthermore, may feature webinars through live online sessions, or virtual meetings for consultative matters.

Asynchronous online teaching Asynchronous online teaching, meanwhile, is the mode wherein instructional materials are posted online and students can work through them according to their own pace.

It is also in this setup wherein teachers can communicate ideas via discussion boards or forums, or through electronic mail.

It is in this teaching delivery that a variety of multimedia platforms are imperative in the provision of instructional resources, and where students access these online.

The flexibility in this setting is emphasized of its given convenience to students in the manner of acquiring lessons that is, in this mode, of consideration to the time when they can easily access learning materials.

Classification of students’ level of technology The Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, in partnership with the IPDO and the Center for Management, Information and Communications Technology (MICT), conducted an online survey with regards to the level of technology of the students in line with the delivery of instruction through online means.

“Before we identify if it is synchronous or asynchronous, we need to consider different factors like availability of devices ng students, internet connectivity, and digital literacy,” Dr. Luzon stated.

The objective to lay out a framework of specific and workable strategies that can facilitate the progress of the academic year, particularly in the delivery of lessons, completion of a course syllabus, and execution of required class hours while in the effort of ensuring the College’s development in feasible and effectual academic endeavors, the modalities in the delivery of flexible learning were then brought about in the Academe’s aim to provide equal learning opportunities for every CSPCean.

“We have classified the students sa high, medium, and low. For the high, pure online classes; for the medium, it is half online classes and half module; and for the low, they are to be provided with modules every week,” Dr. Luzon put forth.

For students who were classified under the category of high-level technology, the learning and teaching process is within video conferencing of classes via online applications such as Zoom, Google Meet, or others. All learning activities will be done virtually and in the actual time of occurrence.

For students under the category of mediumlevel technology, lecture sessions are a mix of online and offline activities with the distribution of modular lessons via electronic mail, instant messaging, or Facebook groups. It is in this category that self-paced learning using handouts is administered.

For students who are identified to be under the classification of low-level technology, modular lessons are to be provided on designated pick-up and drop-off points in a scheduled day for every week. The class advisers are the ones who will consolidate all of the modules for every subject in a class, in coordination with the involved faculty CSPC STARTS AY ON PAGE 7

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THE OFFICIAL STUDENT-COMMUNITY PUBLICATION OF CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES AUGUST-NOVEMBER 2020 | VOLUME XL | NO. 2

DESTRUCTION AFTER THE WRATH.

The wake left by three successive typhoons, one of which is the most powerful storm of the year, is only now becoming clear as it wreaked havoc through much of Southern Luzon, in just a span of three weeks.

PHOTO COURTESY OF UNTV RADYO LA VERDAD

-MICHAEL WILLIAM RONCO

Successive typhoons leave Nabua with P31 million infrastructure damage, P97 million agricultural loss STORY BY CHRISTELLE ONG

After three consecutive typhoons hit the Bicol Region with Typhoon Quinta, Super Typhoon Rolly, and Typhoon Ulysses, the municipality of Nabua recorded at least P31 million in damage to public infrastructure and reported agriculture as the most obliterated sector with over P97 million loss.

In exact figures, the public infrastructure in the municipality logged P31,680,000 of damages, with La Purisima as the barangay of the largest cost of destruction listing P9 million.

The agricultural sector, meanwhile, incurred the heaviest impact with P97,111,903.51 overall amount of loss.

According to the assessment of damages for agricultural products of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO) of Nabua, the three consecutive typhoons caused the P96,227,973.51 loss in rice production,

DAMAGES DONE

ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

by Typhoon Quinta, Super Typhoon Rolly, and Typhoon Ulysses

PhP 96.2M loss in rice production PhP 467K worth of damages in corn

PhP 416K

worth of damages in livestock & poultry Data from Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO) of Nabua

P467,400 worth of damages in corn, and P416,530 in livestock and poultry.

Meanwhile, the typhoons resulted to a total of 10,261 damaged houses with 8,053 partially and 2,208 totally damaged ones.

MDRRMO Research and Planning Head Mr. Adam Kristian G. Bardon said that the consolidated number of damaged houses is of cases wherein partially damaged ones in Typhoon Quinta turned to become totally damaged in Super Typhoon Rolly, and completely wrecked, then, after Typhoon Ulysses.

Public schools, on the other hand, recorded a total of P18,041,157 cost of damages with P15,418,716 in infrastructure and P2,622,441 in supplies and equipment.

As to the record of evacuees, Mr. Bardon stated that their number varied according to the anticipated strength of every typhoon, of more families sheltered in evacuation facilities, therefore, in Super Typhoon Rolly than in the other two.

“Iba-iba ‘yong number of families na nagevacuate, depende sa lakas [of the typhoon]. So, mas marami ‘yong nag-evacuate kay Rolly,” stated Mr. Bardon. “Marami nang bahay ang nasira ni Rolly, kaya marami ring nasa evacuation center [by the time of Typhoon Ulysses],” he added.

In Typhoon Quinta, the cumulative number of families in evacuation centers is 783 or 3,354 persons, 3,600 families or 18,742 persons in Super Typhoon Rolly, and 2,679 families or 8,062 persons in Typhoon Ulysses.

Apropos of flooding incidences, the MDRRMO officer stressed that the floodwater level in most areas was alike as its usual occurrences.

Although, as the typhoons occurred with only around a week of intervals, the floodwater failed to recede in time.

PHOTO COURTESY OF EDMERO CAMARINES SUR

PHOTO COURTESY OF UNTV RADYO LA VERDAD

“Ang naging problem lang kasi is hindi pa nagre-recede ‘yong water dahil sa naunang bagyo, […] hindi pa tuluyang nawawala ‘yong baha, dumating naman si Rolly at pinalala pa ito ni Ulysses,” Mr. Bardon said. “So, ‘yong amount ng water, kumbaga, walang time para mag-subside,” he added.

As per MDRRMO, Typhoon Quinta and Super Typhoon Rolly with heavy to torrential rainfall, and Typhoon Ulysses with heavy to very heavy rains, similarly clogged Antipolo River along San Miguel Bridge. The highness of floodwater for every typhoon recorded eight feet, 18 feet, and 14 feet, respectively.

Thus, of the 42 barangays in Nabua, Super Typhoon Rolly flooded 34 barangays in total, followed by Typhoon Ulysses with 29 barangays, and 13 in Typhoon Quinta.

Furthermore, due to the incidences of heavy inundation, the natural source of water was affected and several waterborne diseases were reported, as well, such as leptospirosis.

Mr. Bardon, meanwhile, told that in the three successive typhoons, one casualty was recorded, specifically, in Barangay La Opinion during the period of Super Typhoon Rolly.

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The College to allocate P2 million in providing learning tablets to ‘marginalized’ studes STORY BY CHRISTELLE ONG

In keeping with the universal significance of having ‘no student left behind,’ Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges (CSPC) is to allocate P2 million for the provision of 400 learning tablets to marginalized students as part of the Academe’s flexible learning delivery initiatives amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Proposed by the Gender and Development Office, the said effort is aimed at enabling the disadvantaged or vulnerable CSPCeans who are mostly living in poverty and have little or no access to basic services in having the opportunity to engage in the flexible learning system.

Of cognizance to the significant need of addressing the limitations that the students are experiencing with the current changes in the delivery of instruction, according to the Institutional Planning and Development Director Dr. April Z. Luzon, the College deems it necessary to provide helpful means that can essentially aid in the all-inclusive learning of every student,

given the evident challenges that the sector of education is dealing with in present time.

“Tinitingnan ng College na meron talagang mga estudyante na walang kakayahang bumili ng mga ganitong gadgets. So, through the Gender and Development [Office], they are proposing to provide learning tablets to poor and marginalized students,” said Dr. Luzon.

Furthermore, in accordance with the envisioned endeavor, a Committee was organized in crafting the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for the distribution of the learning tablets.

Dr. Luzon affirmed that these are to be used by qualified and enrolled beneficiaries as a form of Commodatum. The learning tablets are to be lent to the selected students who are to be given of an entire semester as the timeframe of utilization. These, further, are to be returned and be lent anew to other beneficiaries for the ensuing semester.

However, Dr. Luzon stressed that the entirety of the IRR is still in the process of finalization, as of writing, and the College administration is yet

to release the overall guideline structure of the projected pursuit.

Meanwhile, the College appropriated P6 million for the procurement of laptops intended for the faculty members.

“As part of the technological modernization assistance, […] we sought for the approval of 143 laptops for the faculty, [and was] allocated of six million [pesos],” stated Dr. Luzon.

The initiative is targeted to assist and capacitate the faculty in the delivery of online learning activities and in the development of instructional materials through videos, animation, and other multimedia platforms, the Director added.

Significantly, as per Dr. Charlito P. Cadag, the College President, these technological assistance initiatives are in line with the aspiration of having these learned fine points, on how to “expand effective social interventions and introduce new ways of working within educational systems” amid the pandemic, across the comprehensive provision of quality learning opportunities for every CSPCean.

CSPCeans select new CSC, Inc. officers in first remote election STORY BY CHRISTELLE ONG

With the implemented restrictions to the conduct of in-person activities due to COVID-19 pandemic, the College student body, on September 8 to 10, elected the new set of Central Student Council, Inc. (CSC, Inc.) officers through voting in distance via the College’s crafted web-based program.

In order to carry out the annual selection of campus student leaders, in the midst of the current public health concern, the College of Computer Studies, together with the Center for Management Information and Communications Technology, enhanced its self-developed CSPC U-Vote portal site, where students casted their votes, online.

The now web-based program had only the capacity of 2,000 logins per day, thus the extension of the election period was needed during the election.

Upon the release of results, United Students’ Party (USP) standard-bearer Nick B. Namoro led the polls for presidency. He garnered a total of 2,717 votes with 1,618 difference from Powerful Alliance of Reliable and Trustworthy Youth (PARTY P) standard-bearer Jopeth B. Otares who got 1,099 votes.

Aside from the president’s post, USP also secured five of the top positions in the Council, including 12 representative seats.

Next to Namoro are the following elected officers: Vice President Zairah Shane J. Barcela, Secretary Eric John B. Namoro, Treasurer Lian Shaine R. Naparato, Auditor Erros Jul R. Regondola, and Business Managers Angela Nicole O. Figuracion and Kent Steven T. Senaon.

Johrichelle Kate S. Casco, on the other hand, is a candidate of PARTY P and she earned the Public Relations Officer position.

Meanwhile, the following are the ones who emerged as representatives in the College of Engineering: Aldrex P. Viduya in Bachelor of

OATH OF LEADERSHIP.

Oath taking of the newly elected Central Student Council officers was held at the College Board Room, with Nick B. Namoro taking the helm of the organization.

-JAMELA HAZEL TRANQUILO

PHOTO COURTESY OF VICTOR BARDON

Science (BS) in Civil Engineering, Michael B. Alejandro for BS in Mechanical Engineering, Kirk Henrich A. Reforsado for BS in Electrical Engineering, and Roi Joshua B. Baeta for BS in Electronic Communications Engineering.

In the College of Education, Arts and Sciences, the following secured the said position: Chabelita P. Molina for Bachelor of Arts in English Language Studies, Marian Joyce D. Nuyda for Bachelor of Technical Vocational Teacher Education, and Trisha Mae B. Praxides for BS in Mathematics.

In the College of Health Sciences, the following earned the post: John Michael B. Salcedo for BS in Nursing, and Aileen C. Razon for BS in Midwifery.

In the College of Computer Studies are the following: Jade Lester C. Ballester for BS in

Information Technology, Jan Marc P. Culas for BS in Computer Science, Policarpio E. Bante III for BS in Information Studies, and Marc Christian C. Viñas for Bachelor of Library and Information Science.

And in the College of Business Management, Mark Anthony S. Yosores for BS in Office Administration, Nikita Marisse H. Awa for BS in Tourism Management, Christian E. Cantor for BS in Entrepreneurship, and Patricia A. Nacario for BS in Hotel Management are the elected representatives.

Reforsado, Baeta, Nuyda, and Praxides are the elected representatives from PARTY P, while the rest are from USP. Viñas, meanwhile, was an independent candidate.

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THE OFFICIAL STUDENT-COMMUNITY PUBLICATION OF CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES AUGUST-NOVEMBER 2020 | VOLUME XL | NO. 2

ENSUING PROTOCOLS.

The conduct of rapid diagnostic test to all persons entering the province is strictly enforced as a mandated necessity to Section 4 of the Executive Order No. 9 by Camarines Sur Governor Miguel Luis Villafuerte.

Cam Sur tops in Bicol coronavirus cases with 43.39% of total infections STORY BY HADJIE BAZAR PHOTO COURTESY OF EDMERO CAMARINES SUR

The Department of Health Center for Health Development (DOH CHD) - Bicol recorded a total of 3226 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Bicol Region as of November 30 wherein the province of Camarines Sur, along with Naga City, logged 1400 or 43.39 percent of the regional sum for known infections.

The province of Camarines Sur has registered an alarming spike of cases in just a few months.

Most of these are returning residents or those whom they have had contact with.

As per the records of the regional health department, the first confirmed case in the province was recorded on March 31 after a 30-year-old Overseas Filipino Worker from Dubai, who traveled to Naga City, tested positive for COVID-19.

The first logged confirmed case came a day after the city’s chief, Mayor Nelson Legacion announced that the 11 Persons Under Investigation listed at the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit tested negative in their Reverse Transcription - Polymerase Chain Reaction (RTPCR) tests, thus the city government’s “complete shock” as they learned about the first confirmed case in the city.

Strict quarantine protocols were then implemented, and rapid contact tracing was set into emergency priorities.

In June, the number of confirmed cases in Bicol, particularly in Camarines Sur, incurred an alarming state wherein several municipalities recorded multiple infections, a few weeks after the region opened its borders to locally stranded individuals (LSIs) from the National Capital Region and CALABARZON. Authorities were prompted to do rigorous contact tracing and RT-PCR tests as cases of transmission occurred among LSIs on-board to a Philippine National Railways travel en route to Camarines Sur, concurrent to the governmentinitiated effort, Balik-Probinsya Program.

According to the regional health bureau, moreover, returnees in the province who contracted the disease were mostly the first registered infections in municipalities of COVIDfree status during the early period of community quarantine.

Considering the exponential increase in cases, Governor Miguel Luis Villafuerte asked for the cancellation of flights in Naga City due to

-JAMELA HAZEL TRANQUILO

COVID-19 CASES IN BICOL

AS OF NOVEMBER 30, 2020 INFORMATION FROM DOH CHD - BICOL

risks of further transmission incidences.

The provincial chief also emphasized on the occasions of several passengers turning out to be positive in the Provincial Incident Management Team’s conduct of rapid testing, after presenting medical certificates of negative COVID-19 results.

Furthermore, the two registered testing facilities in the region, Bicol Medical Center (BMC) and Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital (BRTTH), were reported to have a significant number of test backlogs, contributing to the delayed information dissemination efforts of local government units in their combat to prevent community transmission.

Bicol rerouted samples to the Eastern Visayas Regional COVID-19 Testing Center in Tacloban due to the depleting supply of GeneXpert cartridges and magnetic extraction kits in BMC and in BRTTH, respectively.

DOH Bicol Health Education and Promotion Officer Noemi Bron, in a press briefing, stated that the lack of material and human resources is the main problem that the regional health bureau is in critical need to address, aside from coronavirus suppression.

Consequently, with the rise of COVID-19 cases in Camarines Sur, Governor Villafuerte issued Executive Order (EO) No. 9, series of 2020, ordering the strict implementation of rules and regulations within the borders of the province.

Section 4 of this EO adheres to the necessity of mandating the conduct of rapid diagnostic tests to all persons entering the province.

In consonance with the said measure, those whose test results are positive will no longer be allowed to return to their respective municipalities and are to be brought to the quarantine facility of the province for isolation and swab testing.

The City Government of Naga, on the other hand, launched its novel way to conduct contact tracing with eSalvar, an online application developed for a more accurate and time-efficient contact tracing procedure. The application was crafted to serve as a confirmatory tool in entering establishments within the City and it is also of the part to the formation of community regulations.

Meanwhile, DOH CHD-Bicol enjoins the faithful obedience to standard health protocols.

The department asserts that the cooperation and discipline of the public are crucial factors in this time of the pandemic.

3,226

464

2620

142

CONFIRMED CASES

ACTIVE CASES

DEATHS

RECOVERIES

Camarines Sur & Naga City 856 CAM. SUR 544 NAGA CITY

1,400

279 ACTIVE 1,063 RECOVERIES 56 DEATHS

Albay

824

Masbate

320

Sorsogon

416

Camarines Norte

148

with Legazpi City

Catanduanes Others* *Quezon Province

115 3

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DSWD lauds Bicol Region for rapid operation of SAP disbursement STORY BY MARIELLA VILLAR

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) recognized Bicol as one among the regions that swiftly disbursed the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) aid with a nearly 100 percent pay-out rate in the first tranche.

Alongside Bicol, of 99.79 percent pay-out rate, CARAGA and Cordillera Administrative Region were also lauded with 100 percent and 93.92 percent pay-out rate, respectively, as per SAP report on May 8, two days before the deadline of the first tranche.

According to DSWD Bicol spokesperson Marygizelle Mesa, the region was “leading in terms of the total targets and the number of beneficiaries served.”

“For our regional target, 1,087,787 out of the 1,146,914 families were able to receive the amelioration fund,” Mesa said.

Mesa added that for non-Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries, 99.21 percent received the financial aid, and 86.29 percent were logged for 4Ps beneficiaries.

“From the 772,287 non-4Ps target families, 766,199 families were already served or [have] received the cash aid, while for the 4Ps, from the 374,627 target families, 323,280 families were given of the cash aid,” she stated.

Jan Scarella and Vincent Montarde, both second-year students of CSPC and residents of

PSUB coversion...

FROM PAGE 2

Research Component Aside from the aforementioned steps taken by the College in its endeavors en route to universityhood, CSPC is also expanding its research pursuit.

In 2018, only two percent of the then 121 regular faculty were performing research undertakings. But in 2020, the figure surged to 42 or 32.81 percent of the 128 regular faculty who are now actively involved in research.` “There is now the innate desire of faculty to do research because there is really a need to do research. Only research can generate new knowledge. Only research can generate technology. And this is what the community needs,” Dr. Luzon said.

The Director added that the faculty could also receive P50 thousand as an incentive for every research published in reputable journals.

PSUB by 2022 Meanwhile, the College is still laying the grounds for the possibility of PSUB by 2022.

As per Dr. Luzon, an institution does not automatically become a university even if it has already completed all of the requirements. CHED is still to conduct a visit and evaluation. On the other hand, Dr. Cadag ensures that the roadmap will be achieved, and the highlight of that is CSPC becoming PSUB by 2022.

Iriga City, said that their families were included in the first tranche of SAP disbursement and received the subsidy around May. According to Scarella, their family became a recipient of the SAP aid as none of them were earning a living during the period of community lockdown.

Montarde, on the other hand, said that the program served as a ‘big help’ to their family’s daily needs, especially that his father, during the period of community lockdown, was financially struggling.

DSWD LAUDS BICOL ON PAGE 8

A BLISSFUL AMELORIATION.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DSWD REGION V

CSPC starts AY...

FROM PAGE 3

members.

In Buhi Campus, the assigned pick-up and drop-off point is the campus itself. “[…] every Thursday, magpupunta sila [the instructors] sa drop-off point. Do’n nila ilalagay ‘yong mga modules and kukunin ‘yon ng estudyante. Next Thursday naman, babalikan ng faculty yung isinubmit ng mga estudyante at iiwan naman nila ang another set of modules for that week,” Dr. Luzon explained.

Meanwhile, in accord with the learning system’s present guidelines, the time for synchronous classes is now capped to one hour of the virtual session and two hours of asynchronous learning, in order to limit the screen-time exposure of students. However, Dr. Luzon clarified that the arrangement of class sessions will still depend on the instructors.

As to the course requirements, outcomebased assessment tools shall be utilized by the faculty for evaluation, and the extension of submission for outputs and projects shall be observed. “[…] magiging flexible tayo in providing these instructions and lahat ng adjustment na pwedeng gamitin ng faculty adapting the word ‘flexible’ will be used,” Dr. Luzon affirmed.

Meanwhile, the College administration brought into light a number of students’ concerns regarding several inconsistent scheduling of classes especially in the conduct of quizzes, in the early period of the academic year. The faculty was then advised to accordingly maintain adherence to the fixed schedules of their respective classes when executing instruction or assessment activities.

Preparations of the College The College with its faculty and personnel

A number of Bicolano family members receiving the monetary aid during the implemented Social Amelioration Program (SAP) assistance. The subsidies were received around the months of May, April, and August supporting underprivileged recipients. -JAMELA HAZEL TRANQUILO

observed various preparations before the onset of the academic year, to resolve the gaps in adjustments for a well-coordinated system between the learners and the institution.

Numerous training was conducted since June to equip the instructors with enough knowledge in using the CSPC Learning Online Space (LeOnS), an online platform designed for and by the College in line with flexible learning delivery.

“Eventually, even with that series of training, meron pa ring mga feedback na mahirap, na hindi masyadong naiintindihan ang paggamit ng system, at mabigat siya sa data consumption. […] so, paulit-ulit na ginagawa ang training,” Dr. Luzon stressed with the struggles faced by the faculty in the establishment of CSPC-LeOnS. Aside from training, the College also strengthened its MICT Office, the department that is responsible for the technical operations of the Academe.

Further, the services of the College’s radio station were also expanded, as CSPC is of efforts in line with technological modernization assistance for faculty members and students, as well.

Enrolment Despite the pandemic, the total number of enrolees spiked with 7,190 students. It is comprised of 7,031 undergraduates which made a 24.75 percent hike from the previous academic year with 5,636 students; while 159 students are from the Graduate School which also made an increase of 5 percent as compared to the 151 students from the previous semester. “‘Di pwedeng i-close ang enrolment sa mga estudyante. We need to accommodate them because that is the role of the College to provide quality education.” Dr. Luzon said.

Another reason for the increase in enrolment is the opening of new programs, which according to the Director, is inevitable and is needed for the university aspiration of the College.

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Guidance Office launches mental health awareness program in school radio STORY BY CHRISTELLE ONG

To extend services in increasing mental health awareness among the students and the entire community of Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges (CSPC), the Guidance Office launched its initiated program, “GC (Guidance Counsellor) Mo, Kadamay Mo,” in the College’s school radio.

The said program tackles on different mental health topics wherein students are provided PHOTO COURTESY OF CSPC GUIDANCE OFFICE

of motivational lectures and advices relating to psychological concerns.

According to the Guidance Office, these topics vary between aspects in which students are met of difficulties that critically affect their psychoemotional condition. Specifically, these are of relation to problems they encounter in their personal, social, and academic life, including the struggles they face in the new setup of learning amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“There are many factors affecting the students

SHARING MINDFULNESS.

Johnrichelle Kate S. Casco (right) hosts one of the mental health awareness programs of the Guidance Office at the College’s school radio. The program will air for the rest of the academic year starting last September. This is to attend with the student’s mental health status amidst the present challenges brought by the pandemic. -JAMELA HAZEL TRANQUILO

DSWD lauds Bicol...

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Meanwhile, the second tranche of SAP disbursement started in early July.

According to DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista, as of October 8, approximately P83.5 billion worth of SAP’s second tranche was already disbursed to over 13.9 million beneficiaries.

Based on the SAP monitoring data of DSWD, there were around 13,967,421 or almost 99 percent of the 14,117,957 target beneficiaries who have already received a subsidy through manual and digital pay-outs.

Clarisse Rafols, a second-year CSPCean residing in Buhi, Camarines Sur, said that her family was given financial assistance through the second tranche, in August. She shared that alongside the distribution of subsidy to designated areas, safety and health protocols were also accordingly implemented and observed.

“Para ma-abide ‘yong [health and safety] protocols, may mga LGU personnel na nagbabantay and by station ‘yong pag-pila,” Rafols stated. “May station for verification, submission ng requirements, and releasing [of monetary aid],” she added.

Moreover, Bernard Siaron, a first-year student and a resident of Libon, Albay, imparted that his family received the SAP assistance two times. The first was in April and the second was in August.

“Nakatulong ‘yon sa parents ko kasi si mama walang work tapos si papa naman sa palayan nagtatrabaho, tapos nag-lockdown pa,” Siaron said. “Wala kaming ibang mapagkukunan ng pera, and that time, nanganak si mama,” he stressed.

Similar to other beneficiaries, Siaron emphasized that SAP provided necessary aid during the stringent community quarantine period.

Essentially, as per Mesa, DSWD Bicol intends to maintain the ‘outstanding’ record of the department in the ‘fast and efficient’ delivery of financial assistance to Bicolanos. Also, she averred that their office already completed the distribution of the second tranche to non-4Ps and waitlisted beneficiaries by the end of August.

As stipulated by Republic Act No. 11469, otherwise known as the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, SAP was put into effect to assist lowincome families and informal economy workers.

It is of the objective to aid the country’s 18 million poorest families affected by the work suspensions due to the pandemic and is to give priority attention to the underprivileged, vulnerable, and marginalized sectors of the society.

right now kung saan ‘yong mga difficulties nila [ay] varied. […] this (GC Mo, Kadamay Mo) is one way of extending the services and programs of the Guidance Office, especially ngayong nandirito tayo sa pandemic,” said Kuya Mon, one of the guidance counsellors who requested for the privacy of his real name.

Of cognizance to the imperative need of maximizing the available resources in the Academe, in the midst of limited physical engagements, the Office intended to initiate the program to utilize an existing means wherein mental health awareness can still be promoted in the face of distance learning.

In its onset on September 18, the program talked about helping children in better managing their stress as a form of psychological first aid. It was followed by talks in dealing with loneliness amid the pandemic and overcoming procrastination.

For the month of October, the topics were focused in the discussion of self-harm, viz.: talking to someone about self-harm; protecting peers from self-injury; fighting depression and anxiety; suicide; and anger management.

The month of November, meanwhile, was planned with a series of talks relating to the inner voice of oneself. The topics were intended to converse about the practice of meditation; the things to do in the wake of trauma; and the ways in dealing with dread.

In line with the Christmas season, on the other hand, the month of December was arranged with a lecture in handling financial stress, including a talk in finding joy through giving and receiving.

As per Kuya Mon, there is already a succeeding roster of topics in January, and the program is to air for the rest of the academic year.

“We are extending the services especially in mental health awareness not only for the students but also for the listeners within the Rinconada Area. Hindi man sila estudyante ng CSPC […], inaabot sila nitong serbisyo natin because of the radio program,” he added.

Through this effort, furthermore, the Office intends to be of knowledge to the response and feedback of the community concerning mental health issues and thus make psychological guidance accessible through the school radio.

“Since mental health crisis is a very complex reality, kailangan ng inter-disciplinary solution dito. We are targeting multi-faceted problems so we need different disciplines to address this,” stressed Kuya Mon. Other related programs In terms of the services that the Guidance Office delivers aside from the radio program, it is also of spearheaded webinars in keeping with mental health awareness and it is of emphasis to the conduct of routine interview wherein the department aims to essentially assess the mental health needs of the students.

“The nature of routine interview is a way of kumustahan. Just to have the temperature check […] of the emotional, social, and psychological status of the students,” stated Kuya Mon. The routine interview is a mechanism in which through the Office’s collaborative efforts with the College deans, counselling services are GUIDANCE OFFICE LAUNCHES ON PAGE 9

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BUILDING SOLUTIONS WITH INNOVATION.

CSPCeans are making use of the CSPCLearning Online Space (LeOnS), a Learning Management System (LMS) developed by the College of Computer Studies to aid in the conduct of distance learning.

PHOTO BY JOSHUA CEDILLA

-MICHAEL WILLIAM RONCO

CSPC develops online system to aid in flexible learning STORY BY JERICHO DAGAMI

To administer in the delivery of instruction amidst the enforced restrictions in the conduct of face-to-face classes due to the coronavirus pandemic, Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges (CSPC) established the CSPC-Learning Online Space (LeOnS) to assist in the attainment of flexible learning.

CSPC-LeOnS is a Learning Management System (LMS) developed by the College of Computer Studies. It acts as the primary medium of the Academe in its venture into the new setup of education wherein online and technological means are highly imperative.

The system supports the dissemination of announcements and in the provision of learning materials by the teaching personnel to students.

It also assist in the crafting and handling of lectures, classes, quizzes, and other resources for instruction.

According to Mr. Joseph Jessie S. Oñate, the Research Publication Management Coordinator of the College, three principal initiatives were observed before the official implementation of CSPC-LeOnS. First, CSPC has partnered with Google which results to the provision of free G-Suite to the institution. With that, services such as Google Classroom, Google Drive, Google Meet, and many others can be accessed at hand.

The second initiative was aimed at the establishment of LeOnS as the College’s official LMS, and later, customized for CSPC. Apropos of this effort, however, training was first administered in adherence to the comprehensive integration of the system to the College’s academic components.

Initially, a two-phase training program in collaboration with the University of the

Philippines-Open University was conducted to train the teaching staff in the delivery of flexible learning arrangements using the system.

In its first phase, it was held with the objective to enable and encourage the instructors of the Academe to utilize CSPC-LeOnS in their respective classes. The second phase focused on the pedagogical context.

In addition, according to Mr. Oñate, supplementary training was further administered, and these were intended for the all-inclusive acclimatization of the teaching personnel to the online-based system.

“As we established LeOnS, we conducted the training. We started first in the College of Computer Studies department and those whom we have trained will also be the ones to train the other faculty [members] in the other departments,” he explained.

Meanwhile, the third preparatory effort before the official implementation of CSPC-LeOnS to the Academe was the conduct of extension activities. These were in the form of training toward other academic institutions in Camarines Sur. “We have created and organized these training to help them establish their own learning management system in response and adaption to the new normal,” said Mr. Oñate said.

Ceguera Technological Colleges and the Holy Trinity College of Camarines Sur were two among those who have undergone workshop courses, stirred by the Academe, in the integration of LMS to their respective academic curricula.

On the other hand, Mr. Oñate remarked on the advantages of the system.

Essentially, CSPC-LeOnS can be modified to suit a particular individual or task. It comes with a grade book wherein the grading system can be viewed as it also let instructors compute for

students’ ratings in every subject.

While the Academe aims to fully implement and utilize the CSPC-LeOnS, Mr. Oñate emphasized the challenges observed in the course of distance learning. Among these and the most prominent one is poor internet connectivity wherein many students are struggling with.

Also, as the administration received several remarks about the difficulty in the use of this system, the College maintains that the faculty and students are free to access other available platforms such as Zoom, Schoology, Canvas, Loom, and other similar online services.

As per Dr. Charlito P. Cadag, the College President, the institutionalization of CSPC-LeOnS is designed to develop the outlook of the teaching personnel to the recent developments in the environment of instruction.

Further, he believes that this can fundamentally influence the realization of the Academe’s mantra: To pivot excellence and transformation in polytechnic education.

Guidance Office launches...

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targeted to be offered to students with the purpose of attending to their mental health concerns.

“Dito, magkakaroon ng idea kung kumusta ang mga estudyante and, also, this is an opportunity for the Guidance Office na mag-provide ng serbisyo patungkol sa mental health status ng mga estudyante, especially ngayon na maraming estudyante ang nagsasabi na nagkakaroon sila ng difficulties and struggles,” Kuya Mon emphasized.

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DOST-PCIEERD acclaims CSPC as Kabalikat Academe Partner STORY BY CHRISTELLE ONG

With the implementation of two completed extension projects in response to community needs and endeavors, Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges was recognized as an enabling institution for innovations in the industry, energy, and emerging technology fields.

The Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) presented the Kabalikat Academe Partner Award to the College, as the base agency of the Bicol Consortium for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (BCIEERD), after implementing community-responsive undertakings with the Portable Perlite Expander Machine for SmallScale Industries and the e-Governance (e-Gov) System of the College of Computer Studies (CCS).

Portable Perlite Expander Machine The Portable Perlite Expander Machine for Small-Scale Industries is a BCIEERD-funded project of the Academe.

Essentially, it was intended to improve the livelihood of small-scale industries in Baao, of

cognizance to the abundance of perlite in the municipality.

The researchers of the College, in this undertaking, crafted a study on the development and evaluation of the performance of a portable perlite expander machine. This provides an alternative to the common ones which are mostly expensive, and thus support in the perlite production of small businesses in the community.

e-Gov System Meanwhile, the e-Gov project of the College is an effort headed by CCS Dean Dr. Challiz D. Omorog.

It is an undertaking developed with six systems and was implement­ _ed in the local government unit (LGU) of Nabua with the objective to empower, enable, and enhance citizen participation and socio-economic opportunities through open source technologies.

The e-Gov system is a software solution crafted primarily for LGUs, of programs that is envisioned to cover interrelated functions such as: Legislative Management and Tracking System, that manages and stores communications and requests including proposed resolutions and ordinances; e-Building Permit System, that

systemizes building permit processes; e-Business Permit and Licensing System, that simplifies the business permit and licensing operations through the computerized permit application process, assessment of taxes and fees, billing, and liquidation of collections; Local ID System, that establishes the enhancement of citizen portfolio; Point of Payment System, that acts as the core section in accepting and managing payment transactions from fees, taxes, and charges collected by LGUs; and Real Property Assessment and Tax Management System, that automates transparency in government transactions.

Furthermore, during the enforcement of community lockdown, LGU-Nabua utilized the e-Gov system, particularly in the validation of records of 4Ps grantees and in the identification of affected tricycle drivers, through the Local ID System.

As per a College statement, the automation and transparency offered by the e-Gov system boosted the performance of the local government as it incurred a 30 percent increase in revenue.

Also, the system is of assistance in the implementation of the “Ease of Doing Business Act” in the delivery of government services.

Renowned family in Cam Sur donates 20-ha land in Bula to CSPC

Bula Campus is to be realized – College Planning Director STORY BY CHRISTELLE ONG PHOTO CREDITS TO CSPC FACEBOOK PAGE

LAND FOR EXPANSION.

The Deed of Donation was signed with the College President Dr. Charlito P. Cadag and Mr. Benjamin R. Arejola as the consignatories on September 12, transferring the ownership of a 20-hectare lot in Bula to the College. A new campus will soon rise in the said lot, to be named as Polytechnic State University of Bicol - Gen. Ludovico P. Arejola Campus. -MICHAEL WILLIAM RONCO

Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges (CSPC) is envisioned to have its third campus and it will be situated in the municipality of Bula after Arejola family donated a 20-hectare land to the College.

Mr. Benjamin R. Arejola, the eldest son of Don Luis P. Arejola, and the grandson of Gen. Ludovico P. Arejola represented their family in transferring the property to CSPC during the signing of the Deed of Donation on September 12 at the College Administration Building.

According to the Institutional Planning and Development Director Dr. April Z. Luzon, the Deed of Donation states the exclusive usage of the lot for educational purposes, therefore, the projected construction of academic buildings in the following years to support the establishment of a campus in Bula.

On the other hand, the Director, clarified that the start of infrastructure development to the site is so far in the process of planning and the budget allocation for the construction of its buildings is yet to be underway. Although, in 2021 priorities, the College allocated for the fencing and installation of a landmark in the area.

“For this year, wala pang naka-allocate for infra[structure development to the donated land] kasi late part na ng 2020, and we do planning and budgeting a year prior. But, for next year, we have allocated for fencing and ‘yong installation ng landmark for CSPC Bula Campus,” Dr. Luzon said.

She emphasized that while infrastructure development might take a while to occur, the College has already crafted a proposal to put up an Academic Building on the site, and it is to go through the evaluation of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) before receiving its allocated construction funding.

“We have a proposal for the construction of Academic Building but that will pass through NEDA muna at tsaka DBM kaya hindi pa kami makakapagsabi na magco-construct RENOWNED FAMILY ON PAGE 11

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PHOTO COURTESY OF CSPC COE OFFICE

CSPC spearheads COVID-19 initiatives; provides aid to front-liners, displaced workers

OFFICIALS’ AID.

College of Engineering Dean Radmar Tañamor (center-right, left photo), navy reservist volunteers, and Alumni Treasurer Yolanda Santorcas (right, topright photo) in distribution of food packs to front-liners and other affected individuals, furnished warmth and assistance in the COVID-19 pandemic strike.

-JAMELA HAZEL TRANQUILO

STORY BY LORENZO ARENGO

As the rate of COVID-19 infections increases in the nation and with the enforcement of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in the entire Luzon, Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges (CSPC) spearheaded initiatives in response to the provision of assistance to front line personnel and other affected individuals.

The College commenced its COVID-related assistance efforts by producing face shields intended, particularly, for the local frontliners.

The Office of Production Services headed

by Engr. Wenifredo L. Pacer organized a team of faculty volunteers and produced improvised face shields which were then turned over to the members of the border control and checkpoint teams assigned in the boundaries of Nabua, Bato, and Baao.

In addition, the College of Health Sciences provided face shields to the front line personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection and of the Rural Health Unit in Bato, during a separate distribution activity.

The said department gave face shields and food packs to displaced workers and frontliners in Nabua, as well. Headed by Dr. Marilyn N. Rivera, the college dean, together with Mrs. Alice D. Nuyda, the Program Chair of the Bachelor of Science in Midwifery, the office administered relief assistance to 50 identified drivers of tri-wheeled and motorized vehicles in the municipality.

The said recipients were among the informal workers in the community whose source of income has been heavily impacted by the imposition of rigorous restrictions in ECQ. To augment the provision of assistance in

the local community, the College of Engineering (COE) launched its fundraising campaign, CSPCCOE Bayanihan: Tabang sa Banwaan, as part of the Academe’s initiatives in the midst of the pandemic.

The said effort aimed to raise funds to conduct relief operations for underprivileged families who have been mostly in need of basic necessities during community lockdown.

On March 31, furthermore, the College distributed food packs to the members of the CSPC Security Workforce and General Services.

Those students who were stranded in their respective dormitories or boarding houses, including the severely affected households in barangays San Miguel, San Nicolas, and San Isidro, were also provided with food essentials.

Meanwhile, the College of Computer Studies, the Graduate School, and the CSPC Alumni Association, Inc. headed fundraising activities, as well.

In the said initiative, the two academic units and the association raised approximately P20 thousand and P21 thousand, respectively.

Together, they distributed 188 food packs to their first group of target beneficiaries who were mostly members of the informal working sector in Nabua, and some front line personnel in identified barangays.

The College, moreover, assigned its navy reservists to deliver assistance in the security augmentation and in the regular enforcement of rules and regulations under the enhanced COVID-19 operations in selected municipalities.

Composed of five employee-reservists and two student-reservists, the said officers were deployed in major and minor entry and exit points in Nabua, Iriga, and Pili. They assisted the border control, checkpoint, and roving teams in the said areas.

Renowned Family...

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immediately,” Dr. Luzon stated. “But, of course, there are plans,” the Director added.

Meanwhile, the Deed of Donation was sealed with the College President Dr. Charlito P. Cadag and Mr. Benjamin R. Arejola as the cosignatories, in the presence of the following officials: Fifth District of Camarines Sur Representative Hon. Jocelyn Fortuno, College Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Maria Laarni M. Salcedo, Dr. Luzon, Atty. Rico D. Borromeo, and Mr. Albert Arejola.

Located partly in Itangon and Caorasan in the municipality of Bula, the 20-hectare land that is projected to be the College’s third campus is to be named the Polytechnic State University of Bicol – Gen. Ludovico P. Arejola Campus.

As per a College bulletin, the initial programs that will be offered on the campus by the time of its opening, are the following: Bachelor of Science (BS) in Agro-Ecotourism Management, BS in Entrepreneurship, BS in Marine Fisheries, BS in Agricultural Entrepreneurship, and BS in Environmental Management.

As Dr. Luzon affirmed, the abovementioned undertaking is an additional enabling means in the Academe’s commitment to expand its educational frontiers while persevering to journey onwards excellence and transformation in polytechnic education.

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LANSANGAN KWENTO NI HERMINIA VASQUEZ MGA LARAWANG KUHA NI JUDE ZYMON CASYAO

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Tangan ang tatlong daang halaga ng salapi sa kan’yang palad, kakaibang galak ang maaaninag sa hapong mukha ng isang ama. Makalipas kasi ang pitong buwang tigil-pasada dahil sa pandemya, ito ang kauna-unahang kitang kanyang nahinuha mula sa buong araw na pakikipagpatintero sa mga humaharurot na dyip, sa lansangan. Tiyak na isang araw na naman ang mairaraos ng kaniyang pamilya, ngunit wala pa ring kasiguraduhan kung hanggang kailan na lamang babagtasin ang kalsadang noon pa ma’y naging pamuhatan na ng kanilang kabuhayan.

Halos labintatlong taon na rin kung susumahin magmula nang pumasada si Tatay Joseph gamit ang pampasaherong dyip, na noo’y inaarkila pa sa kan’yang lola. Sa edad na apatnapu’t apat, ito lamang ang tanging pagkakakitaan na natitiyak niyang papawi sa kumakalam na sikmura ng kanyang mag-iina.

Maliliit pa ang kaniyang tatlong anak na puros nag-aaral sa pampublikong paaralan, ilang metro lamang ang layo mula sa kanilang barangay—nasa ika-apat na baitang ang kaniyang panganay; nasa ikatlo ang sumunod; at, nagsisimula pa lamang sa elementarya ang kaniyang bunso. Bago pa man ihatid sa paaralan ang mga bata, ipinipila na muna ni Tatay ang kan’yang dyip sa terminal, nang sa gayon ay maaga ring makalarga sakay ang mga pasahero. Ang kaniyang asawa ang kadalasang nagaasikaso sa mga bata at gawain sa loob ng bahay, habang siya nama’y araw-araw na nakikipagbuno sa ilalim ng mapanlapos na init ng sikat ng araw.

Sa maikling pakikipanayam, natunghayan ko ang payak na pamumuhay ni Tatay Joseph; sa mga sandali ring iyon, hindi maipagkakaila sa kan’yang mga mata ang napakalaking pangambang suong ng isang amang kumakatawan sa imahe ng bawat drayber ng ordinaryong pampasaherong dyip. Sa kabila kasi ng naghihingalong kabuhayan, nagbabadya naman ang banta ng isang programang pilit na isinusulong ng pamahalaan— ang modernisasyon ng dyip na maaaring kumitil sa kabuhayan ng humigit-kumulang 500,000 bilang ng mga jeepney driver sa Pilipinas.

Bumabagal na Usad Alas kwatro na ng hapon nang datnan ko sa terminal ng dyip si Tatay Joseph na matiyagang naghihintay ng mga pasahero.

Habang pinupunasan ng bimpo ang salamin at manibela, sinasariwa naman niya sa kan’yang isipan ang mga sandaling nasa normal pa ang pamamasada.

“Noon, nakakarami sa amin ‘yong mga estudyante, baka mga 60% sa pasahero. May mga nakakabit pa. Minsan meron pa d’yang nasa taas, tsaka madali pa no’ng wala pang pandemic kasi paglabasan ng mga estudyante, ilang minutes lang puno na kami. Ngayon 30 minutes oh [wala pang masyadong pasahero],” ani Tatay Joseph.

Nasa kalahati na lamang ang dating dalawampu’t tatlong kapasidad na pasahero ng kan’yang dyip, kaya’t talagang mababatid kung gaano kadalang ang mga taong bumibiyahe papasok at palabas ng Nabua.

Lingid sa kaalaman ng iilan, napakaliit lamang ng kinikita ng isang ordinaryong jeepney driver. Kung noong wala pang pandemya ay kumikita lang siya ng isang libong piso mula sa labindalawang oras na pamamasada, ngayon ay hindi na tataas sa 600 ang kaniyang naiuuwi sa isang araw.

“Noon, ‘yong isang biyaheng pagano’n [pa-Bato] naka500, pabalik [pa-Nabua] 300, isang pila. Kung makadalawa, mga 1600, pero mababawasan pa ‘yon ng krudo, pagkain namin, sa dispatcher, dito sa terminal. Mababawasan talaga.

Ngayon, sobrang mahina na.”

Bukod pa rito ang gastos na inilalaan para sa makakapal na plastik na nagsisilbing partisyon sa loob ng dyip at alcohol sanitizer para sa mga pasahero; ito ay bilang tugon sa ipinatutupad na health protocols. Kuwento ni Tatay Joseph, noong malakas pa ang kita ay nagtatabi pa s’ya ng kahit isang daang piso mula sa maghapong pasada, na kaniya namang inilalaan para sa maintenance ng sasakyan, nang sa gayon ay mayroon s’yang huhugutin sa oras na pumalya ang minamanehong dyip.

Dyipni ang pinakatampok na anyo ng pampublikong transportasyon sa Pilipinas kung kaya hindi rin nakapagtataka kung bakit libo-libo ang tinatayang bilang ng mga Pilipino sa hanay ng jeepney driver, ngunit sa kabila ng kalagayang ito, nananatili pa ring mababa ang atensyon at tulong na ibinibigay sa kanila ng gobyerno. Dagdag pa sa kahirapan nila ang pasakit ng kasalukuyang krisis sa kalusugan at ekonomiya, dahilan upang lubhang mahirapan si Tatay Joseph na itaas ang antas ng kanilang pamumuhay.

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na gano’n, lalo na ngayong nagka-COVID [pandemya]. May savings ako noon, ngayon wala na, kaya nagtitiyaga ako maski papa’no.”

Para sa mga katulad niya, napakadalang din ng benepisyo at insurance. Kung matatandaan, sa ka-Maynilaan, libo-libo sa hanay ng mga jeepney driver ang nagkilos-protesta bilang panawagan sa agarang tulong-pinansyal mula sa gobyerno.

Hindi man nila ninais, bagamat karamihan ay hindi nakatanggap ng karampatang ayuda at benepisyo, marami pa rin ang nauwi sa panlilimos, bitbit ang karatulang naglalaman ng marubdob na mensaheng nagpapaabot ng pagsusumamo.

Ang higit na masaklap, ang iba ay nauwi sa pagkakakulong.

Sa sitwasyon nila Tatay Joseph, sa ikalawang linggo ng pagbabalik-pasada sa probinsya, ang dating tatlumpung bilang ng mga bumibiyaheng tsuper ng dyip sa rutang San Juan, Bato – Nabua, ngayon ay nasa dose pa lamang. Bukod kasi sa mababang bilang ng mga pasahero, limitado rin ang rutang kanilang maaaring daanan. Isa sa mga dating ruta nila sa araw-araw ay ang karatigsiyudad na Iriga.

“Di pa kami pwede do’n, bawal pa. Pero pwede rin, kaso kukuha pa ng sticker, may bayad tsaka may requirements pa. Dapat magpamedikal pa. May mga kailangan pang [lakarin na papeles]— mga xerox ng rehistro ng sasakyan.

‘Yong prangkisa dapat hindi expired.”

Pagdaragdag niya, lubhang napakahirap sa kanila na maglakad at gumastos para sa mga naturang requirement. Imbis na mamuhunan, mas nanaisin na lamang nila na ilaan ang kakarampot na kita para sa araw-araw na pangangailangan ng pamilya.

“Tipid lang. Dati ang ulam namin sa tanghali tapos sa gabi iba. Ngayon, ‘yong tira [na

tanghalian], ‘yon din ang iuulam namin [sa gabi].

Dati naggro-grocery ako para sa isang buwan ng mga bata. Eh ngayon, hindi na […] wala na. “ Banta ng Jeepney Phaseout Matatandaan na ika-19 ng Hunyo, taong 2017 nang unang ilabas ng Department of Transportation ang Department Order No. 2017-011 (Re: Omnibus Guidelines on the Planning and Identification of Public Road Transportation Services and Franchise Issuance) o ang Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP). Ito ay panukalang proyekto sa ilalim ng Administrasyong Duterte na naglalayong palitan ang pampublikong transportasyon (kabilang na ang dyip) na nasa 15 taon o higit pa ang tanda, bago matapos ang taong 2020. Ang bawat unit ay papalitan ng modernong sasakyan na pasok sa Euro 4 emission standards na mas mababa ng 450 ppm ang sulphur dioxide emission kumpara sa Euro 2 engine na nagbubuga ng 500 ppm. Maaari ring gumamit ng electric engine na

DEVCOM

walang ibinubugang usok, dahil sa rechargeable nitong baterya.

Ilan lamang sa mga hangaring nakapaloob sa programang ito ay ang makapagbigay ng ligtas na sistemang pantransportasyon para sa mga komyuter at masyolusyunan ang problema sa lumalalang polusyon. Mapapansin na ang porma ng chassis at disenyo ng modernized jeepney ay kakaibang-kakaiba kumpara sa ordinaryong dyip na nakasanayan nating makita sa kalsada— maihahalintulad ito sa isang mini-bus. Kung noo’y kinakailangan pang yumuko bago makapasok sa loob ng dyip dahil sa masikip na espasyo, ngayon ay tinaasan at nilawakan na ito bilang konsiderasyon lalo na sa persons with disability (PWD) at senior citizens. Mayroon na rin itong GPS tracker at CCTV camera nang sa gayon ay makaiwas sa insidente ng nakawan.

Ngunit, kaakibat ng magandang hangaring ito ay ang dagdagpasaning dulot sa mga taong nasa laylayan ng lipunan.

Ayon sa pagsusuri, ang kakulangan ng kaayusan sa programa, mabagal na usad ng implementasyon, at hindi mabisang sistema ng pautang ay magdudulot lamang ng kawalan ng trabaho sa mga drayber at operator, at dagdag pasakit na rin sa mga komyuter na umaasa sa murang singil na pasahe.

Ang isang unit ng modernisadong dyip ay nagkakahalaga ng hindi bababa sa PHP1.2 milyon—malayong-malayo sa dating PHP100,000 na halaga ng lumang pampasaherong dyip. Naglaan ang pamahalaan ng PHP2.2 bilyon para sa planong modernisasyon na gagamitin upang isubsidiya sa mga tsuper at operator. Bagama’t may inaalok na tulong puhunan ang gobyerno, hindi pa rin ito magiging sapat para makabili ng isang unit ng modernized jeepney.

Sa ilalim ng programang ito, magbibigay ang pamahalaan ng aabot sa PHP160,000 (dating PHP80,000) bawat sasakyan, subalit, kung susumahin, ito ay sampung porsyento lamang ng kabuuang halaga ng isang dyip. Ito ay higit ding mababa kumpara sa buwanang hulog na PHP21,000 sa loob ng pitong taon, kasama na rito ang taunang anim na porsyentong interes sa pautang.

Naglabas din ng kalkulasyon ang Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper and Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON), isa sa malalaking transport groups ng bansa: ang isang unit ng Electric Jeep ay nagkakahalaga ng mula sa PHP800,000 hanggang PHP1.2 milyon; ang Euro 4 Engine naman ay mabibili sa halagang PHP1 milyon hanggang PHP1.5 milyon; samantalang, ang Solar-powered naman ay tinatanayang aabot sa tumataginting na PHP1.6 milyon.

Bagama’t maganda ang hangarin ng bagong polisiya—ang isaayos ang magulong sistema ng pampublikong transportasyon sa bansa—ito’y dagok para sa karaniwang drayber na katulad ni Tatay Joseph na nagmamaneho ng kaniyang sariling pampasaherong dyip; gustuhin man niyang pumasada gamit ang e-jeepney na ika ng gobyerno’y “magtataas sa antas ng pampublikong transportasyon”, wala sila sa buong kapasidad upang makakuha at makapagbayad ng nasabing sasakyan.

“Panget ‘yong gano’n [kooperatiba], kasi parang kami na ang poporsyentuhan. Mas lalong bababa ang kita namin, kaya dapat hindi nila i-phase out. Kawawa naman kami. Ano na lang ang pagkakakitaan namin? Wala na kaming trabaho n’yan.”

Ayon pa sa PISTON at No to Jeepney Phaseout Coalition, tinatayang hindi bababa sa 500,000 na drayber, 250,000 malilit na opereytor at 2 milyong pamilya sa buong bansa ang lubhang maaapektuhan ng jeepney phaseout, kaya naman mistula itong hatol na kamatayan para sa kanila na mawawalan ng hanap-buhay.

Wastong Ruta sa Pag-unlad Sa aking pakikinig, malinaw na binanggit ni

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DoTR Undersecretary Thomas Orbos sa inilabas na bidyu sa youtube page ng LTRFB, “Responsibilidad ng gobyerno na ibigay ‘yong dapat talagang karapat-dapat sa ating mamamayan.”

Kung tunay nga na ang programang inilatag ng gobyerno ay para sa kapakanan ng mga Pilipino at isinulong sa ngalan ng pag-unlad, wala sanang katulad ni Tatay Joseph ang natatakot sa nakaambang banta ng jeepney phaseout.

Kung ipagpapatuloy ang ganitong iskema, habang ang malalaking negosyanteng dayuhan at lokal ang nanginginabang sa

operasyon ng jeepney, higit na masasadlak sa kahirapan ang dati nang naghihirap. Tiyak na marami sa lupon ng mga drayber ng dyip ang madaragdag sa mga taong nangangarap na lamang ng trabahong bubuhay sa kanilang pamilya.

Ngunit, kung nais talagang mapabuti ang kalagayan ng mamamayang katulad ni Tatay Joseph, malinaw ang dapat gawin: ipagtanggol ang kabuhayan ng mga jeepney driver laban sa neoliberal na polisiya, sa pamamagitan ng pagsulong ng makamasang sistema ng pampublikong transportasyon na nasa pag-aari at kontrolado ng pamahalaan. Kinakailangan ding maglatag ng mekanismo para sa mababang interes sa pautang at sapat na konsiderasyon para sa mga hindi agad makabibili ng modernisadong sasakyan.

Sa panahon ngayon, nararapat munang suriin kung angkop nga ba ang programang ito lalo na’t tayo’y nahaharap sa malawakang krisis at sapat nga ba ang hakbangin ng mga lider upang isaalang-alang ang kapakanan ng bawat drayber na nagtitiis sa kakarampot na kita sa kasalukuyang pagbabanat ng buto.

Sumapit na ang umaga, nangangahulugang panibagong hamon na naman ang susuungin ni Tatay Joseph gamit ang kaniyang pampaseherong dyip. Wala mang katiyakan kung gaano kaliit ang

“

Kung ipagpapatuloy ang ganitong iskema, habang ang malalaking negosyanteng dayuhan at lokal ang nanginginabang sa operasyon ng jeepney, higit na masasadlak sa kahirapan ang dati nang naghihirap.

perang maiuuwi at gaano kaikli ang natitirang panahong gugugulin sa pamamasada, nasisiguro niya naman na hanggang kaya n’yang ipaglaban ang karapatan ng kanilang lupon, hindi siya mawawalan ng pag-asang magtiyaga para sa bawat sentimong kikitain sa lansangan.

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Magandang araw, mga ka-CSPCean.

Ang ISPAY na lagi niyong inaabangan, ay narito na’t aarangkada na naman.

Sakay na at ang inyong kapit ay higpitan.

Wala munang bababa hangga’t ‘di pa tapos ang patutsadahan.

Mga matang mapagmatyag, isyu’y handa nang ispatan.

Kung makapagbigay ng modules, sabaysabay.

Pagdating ng oras ng klase, mayroon ding mga sablay.

Minsan nakikipagpalitan ng sched kaya’t nakakalito kung may pasok ba online o asynchronous lang muna tayo.

Pasintabi sa mga taong makikitid ang utak: Palawakin ang isip at huwag puro pagsalungat.

Kumustahin naman ang ating mga kaeskwela.

Mga activities, case studies at modules niyo ba, tapos na?

Aba’y huwag tatamad-tamad at umpisahan niyo na!

‘Wag mag-isip ng mga negatibong linya— “Baka mas mauna pa akong matapos.”

Ay huwag naman sana!

Mga bahong binulatlat, ngayon ay amin nang isisiwalat.

Basahing maigi; maduwag o makampante ay huwag.

Baka hindi mo lang alam, isa ka na pala sa tatamaan ng mga salitang nakalimbag.

Aba! Positibong gawain ay amin ding pupurihin.

Namumukod-tanging inisyatibo, aming bibigyang pansin.

Atin nang simulan sa taong 2020.

Swerte raw ngunit anong nangyari?

Paglaganap ng COVID-19, problema ang dulot sa nakararami.

Binago ang lahat, sistema’y nagkanda-letse letse.

Mga nakasanayan natin ay biglang nagiba.

Dati rati’y gumigising tayo nang maaga.

Mag-aayos ng sarili at poporma.

Ngayon, pagkagising, harap na agad sa camera.

Kahit ‘di naligo ay hindi naman “daw” halata.

Sa iba nama’y tamang off-cam na lang muna.

Bubuksan na lang kapag si maam mag-aattendance na.

At dahil online class ang sumalubong ngayong semestre, Learning Online Space o ‘LeOnS’, ipinakilala sa mga estudyante.

Ang Official Learning Platform na ito ang dapat daw na gamitin.

Ngunit bakit hindi user-friendly at mahirap ding ‘paamuhin’?

Kaya Google Classroom na lang talaga ang choice namin sa mga requirements na dapat i-turn in.

Speaking of submission, may nakarating sa amin.

May mga guro raw na sobrang dami kung makapag-bigay ng gawain.

Dahan-dahan naman po, paki-usap lang namin.

Hindi po kami robot na kaya ‘tong pagasabay-sabayin.

Breakdown at stress, ‘di nawawala sa amin.

Mental Health ng bawat isa, kailangan ding pagtuunan ng pansin.

Kaya salamat na lang at may iba ring mabubuting guro.

Nagbibigay ng konsiderasyon at maayos na nagtuturo.

Nawa’y lahat ng prof ganito— mabait, marunong umintindi, at hindi istrikto.

Mga estudyante, panay ang reklamo.

Pawala-wala nga namang internet, nakababagot nang todo.

Hahamakin ang lahat, nang makahabol sa deadline ay masiguro.

“Pasensiya na ho, bahay namin ay sobrang layo.”

Makahanap lang ng signal, kinakailangan pang umakyat sa puno.

Ang iba nama’y wala raw pang-load.

Kaya ang gawain ng iba, nakiki-connect na lang sa kapit- bahay.

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Pagdating sa internet connection, hindi lamang mga estudyante ang nahihirapan; mga instructors din ay nawawalan, hindi ‘yan maiiwasan.

“Ma’am choppy ka po,” ang madalas na linyahan ng mga estudyanteng kunyare nakikinig pero may iba palang pinagkaka-abalahan.

Kaway-kaway naman sa ibang guro d’yan.

Mga ma’am at sir, wala ba kayong nakalilimutan?

Marka namin no’ng huling semestre, wala pa rin hanggang ngayon.

Konting buwan na lang, aabutin na tayo ng isang taon.

Sobrang nakakapanibago ng ganitong sitwasyon.

Dumadayo pa sa ibang lugar upang makahanap lang ng solusyon.

Sa mga may Wi-fi, “sana all” na lang ang aming tugon.

Idagdag na natin na hindi tayo komportable.

Ang daming ingay sa paligid, maraming sagabal sa klase.

Mga asong tumatahol, manok, at mayroon ding batang umiiyak.

Mga kapit-bahay, rinig din ang mga talak.

Minsan, marami ring utos si Nanay.

Kailangang pagsabayin ang pag-aaral at mga gawaing-bahay.

Shout-out naman sa kaklase kong walang malay.

Nakabukas pala ang camera, kumakain habang namamaypay.

Paalala lamang, hindi po ito mukbang sa youtube.

Gawin ang nararapat sa oras ng klase, makinig sa instructor at ‘wag ding patulogtulog.

Dumako naman tayo papasok ng eskwelahan.

Nakakapanibago dahil marami nang bagong patakaran.

Sa lahat ng dadalhin, face mask ay huwag kalilimutan.

Maghugas din ng kamay sa washing area na nakalaan, upang maging ligtas at COVID-19 ay maiwasan.

Nakaiinis rin kasi kung minsan napagkakamalan na mainit ang temperatura dahil sa labas ay maalinsangan.

Oo nga pala, muntik na naming makalimutan.

Congrats sa mga ate at kuya na nagsipagtapos kamakailan.

Hindi man kayo naka-akyat sa entablado, huwag paring malumbay.

Sa mga plano niyo sa buhay, tiyak kayo ay magtatagumpay.

Nais din naming bigyan ng komendasyon, mga opisyales ng Central Student Council na gumawa ng aksyon, para sa mga nasalanta ng bagyo, sila’y naglikom ng donasyon.

Sa pagtulong ngayong mahirap ang panahon.

Saludo kami sa inyong dedikasyon!

Isang payo para sa lahat, mga ka-kolehiyo.

Sumunod sa protocols upang ligtas sa anumang mikrobyo.

Maghugas ng kamay at mag-sanitize din tayo.

Panatilihin ang kalinisan, dumistansya ng isang metro.

Hanggang dito na lang, mga kaibigan.

Sana’y walang napikon sa mga pahayag na purong katotohanan.

Sa susunod na biyahe, tayo’y muling magkita-kita.

Tiyak na mas tumatak sa inyong mga memorya, ang mga pagpuna, pagkilatis, maging ang pagpuntirya.

Hanggang sa muli, paalam na muna.

DIBUHO NINA JOANNA ERIKA PUZON AT ALESSANDRO BERNALES

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Year-round

BY ALYSSA FRANZ UVERO

T

his is how I picture it: my Mom and I wedged between the chains of the playground swings that creaked as I pushed my feet against the ground and swung. It was uncomfortable, but its motion gave me excitement like how a baby chuckles when jokingly thrown into the air. That’s summer in my memory. I jumped, rolled, ran around. “Get up,” Mom would say whenever I tripped, so stern and straight, but with care in her voice. The sun’s heat stung my delicate skin, but it was nothing compared to the freedom the weather made me feel, like how my uncomfortable butt was nothing compared to my leaping heart.

It sounded sad for most, but it’s all I’ve known – just me and my Mom. I was content. I had a mother and a best friend. My life was complete. And I was reminded of it every day by the photo on the living room table – Mom and I hugging at the playground, hair being blown against our faces by the wind that signals the end of summer and the start of autumn.

I always frown when autumn comes along. No more free days, no more doing whatever I want with Mom under the sun.

The leaves turn red, yellow, and brown. Trees would soon be stripped bare. Dried leaves would be in piles, scurrying across the pavement with every blow of the wind. More work for me, more leaves to sweep. I hate autumn.

I hated it even more now. This autumn is different from the rest. As it neared its end, it got drearier. Sadder. Gloomier. Mom’s

been away, lying on some hospital bed. Alone.

We both were. But I know she had it worse. The thought of being by myself scared me, and I wanted to tell her, “Get up.” I wanted to say it, as stern and straight as she used to tell me. But unlike tripping on the playground, it won’t be easy for her.

Then it happened. The sun was there – I know it was because it always is during the day – but thick clouds hid its shine. It was a gloomy morning when I got a taste of it.

The taste of a life ending is not of wild apricots or peaches, which I have never eaten, or the apples that poets have reimagined into the end of holiness. Instead, it is luncheon meat, pink with ketchup that has made a mess on the side of the overcrowded plate, paired with rice, a staple of my mother’s mandated breakfast that I try so hard to imitate recently.

There was a call, but unlike the others, it wasn’t from someone talking in between short breaths that reminded me of when Mom used to chase me around the playground.

It wasn’t Mom, calling me from her hospital bed, tubes protruding from her arms and nose, an oxygen machine beside her.

Or maybe not. I didn’t see it. I wasn’t allowed to.

It was another woman, speaking to me with a voice as gloomy as this morning’s weather.

I found out about death, which is to say that I didn’t find out so much as it was forced onto me, with very little room for choice, since there was already a knock on the door, to which a man covered in white plastic-like suit that covered his entire body showed up. He was holding an urn – white with swirls of grey, soft like Mom’s flawless skin.

Mom. She’d be inside this urn. But instead of flawless soft skin, she would be ashes.

I tried to will it to be a normal autumn’s-end day, because it should be. I was just eating the breakfast I so crudely made, about to spend another stagnant day wishing Mom would come home all better and sprightly. I tried to steer my thoughts away from this: “Would I be alone?”

Because I know that the answer would cleave me in two.

Tears fell from my eye, and with them, the heavens unleashed winter. Snow poured, cold and damp on my skin, through the open window, giving meaning to the days ahead. Cold. Lonely.

I grieved, angry and spiteful even weeks later. Today is so much colder, inviting unwanted thoughts. The life I’m left with is solitary. If I could’ve died with her there, I would’ve done it and surrendered. I would’ve choked on the processed meat and the already cold rice, heart-wretched and relieved. I’d let my body collapse on the table, cheek smeared with ketchup like a splay of blood. Violent.

That’s when I saw it – the photo on the living room table.

She’s smiling so brightly it matched the brightness of the sun.

It felt as if a flicker of hope struck me. Next thing I knew, I was reminiscing my happy days with her. It’s the first time I felt anything good in weeks. And I knew, even if she’s now gone, it’s still her that would keep me going. That smile, it will be my ray of sunshine. No matter what weather comes along, I’ll always be reminded of summer – when days were carefree and joyful, and I never knew of loneliness.

I took my coat off the rack. I suddenly felt like getting a feel of that uncomfortable swing again. I opened the door, and instead of inches of snow, it’s a wet pavement. Specks of green cover the branches that were previously ugly and lifeless. The wind blew past, and I think I heard it.

“Get up.”

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Antitilaw NI LEO ANGELO LUCEÑA

Tila alitaptap, ika’y kumikinang; ngiti’t tawa sayo’y nadadarang.

Sa bawat araw na ika’y aking natatanaw, para bang kometang pumupukaw sa aking balintataw.

Ang mabagal na pagkurap ng iyong mga pilikmata, kalawakan ko’y iyong nadadala.

At sa mabagal na pag hakbang ng iyong mga paa, oras ng aking mundo’y nag-iiba.

Humihinto ang oras, bumabagal ang paligid.

Ano na ba ang susunod, bakit di ko mabatid?

Sa taglay na liwanag na iyong ibinigay, ako’y nagunaw sa iyong antitilaw.

Torture

BY JAMELA HAZEL TRANQUILO

I shoved my way up, your oceans, I drown.

I swam away, breathe and bit my lips tight.

Stabbed you with my soft kisses, wounded you that summer night.

You fall weak from my grip, I saw your face frowned.

You were mad at me, said it was torture.

You growled with sweet lullabies; Oh, that I admired your inner might.

You caressed me— my sins were forgiven.

I was the reason you were dying, but you hold me still, have me still.

Thought I should have changed, but I didn’t.

Still torturing you, because I thought, you were at your finest.

Then it struck me, face-first.

The earthquakes, the rain, and the plague, was it her revenge?

Or did I do it to myself?

All that time it was nowise.

When she cried and asked for mercy, I overlook, wary.

Now my mother nature’s dying.

I had myself ill; dying, burning in her oceans, tortured back at my Achilles’ heel.

ARTWORKS BY JOSEPH RYAN IBARRETA

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Tanikala sa Talasarili NI SHIELA MAE PARCO

Kasabay ng matulin na pagbabago ng panahon, mabilis ding nag-iiba ang lahat.

Naalala ko pa noong bagong lipat kami sa lugar na ito, habang naglilinis ako sa aking silid, nahagip ng aking paningin ang isang munting talaarawan na nakapatong sa lamesa. Kusang gumalaw ang aking mga kamay na pilantikin ang bawat pahinang dito ay nakasiksik.

Sa bawat lagitik ng orasan, hindi maiwasan na dumapo sa aking nababagabag na isipan ang pagbabalik-tanaw kung kailan ko siya unang nasilayan.

ISA— Isang buwan bago ang pasukan, naisipan ng aking mga magulang na magbakasyon sa bahay ng aking lola sa probinsiya. Sariwa pa sa aking memorya ang mala-impyernong sinag ng araw na dumampi sa aking balat habang tinatahak namin ang kalsada.

Makaraan ang ilang oras na paglalakbay, narating rin namin ang paanan ng aming destinasyon. Ang tanglaw ng bahay ni lola ang nagpapaliwanag sa karimlan ng paligid. Gabi na rin nang matuntong namin ang bahay niya sa nayon.

Nakaupo lang naman ako habang nagbibiyahe kanina ngunit bakit parang pagod na pagod ako?

Dumiretso ako sa may paminggalan

at humingi ng makakain. Pagkatapos nito, nagpatuloy na ako sa silid-tulugan upang makapagpahinga. Kalaunan, dinalaw na ako ng antok.

Kinaumagahan, agad akong tumungo sa banyo upang maligo at mag-ayos ng sarili.

Nagpaalam ako sa aking mga magulang at lumabas para magpahangin at maglakadlakad. Napadpad ako sa bakuran kung saan may mga nakatanim na iba’t ibang halaman.

Sa angkin nitong kagandahan, pinagmasdan ko ang bawat bulaklak na nakahanay sa hardin.

Mabikas… Matipuno… Guwapo….

Umiling-iling ako. Hindi na pala ako nakatingin sa mga bulaklak kun’di sa isang lalaking ilang metro lang ang distansiya mula sa aking kinatatayuan. Ano ba ‘tong mga naglalaro sa isip ko?

Hindi ko mapigilan na mapasulyap sa kaniya at siyasatin ang kanyang kaanyuan.

Nagulat na lamang ako dahil pagnakaw ko ng dagling tingin sa kaniyang mukha, saktong nagtama ang aming mga mata—wari’y nagtatalastasan ang mga ito.

“Magandang umaga, binibini,” ani nito sabay nagpakawala ng isang nakakatunaw na ngiti habang naglalakad papunta sa akin.

“Mmm…magandang u-umaga,” sagot ko na medyo nauutal. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nararapat kong gawin sa sandaling ito.

“Jack nga pala.” Sabay abot ng kanyang

Under Serene Skies

BY ALYSSA FRANZ UVERO

Cottage in a shady wood Amid soft branches it stood Through the verdant woodland trees Perfume hung on hazy breeze The shades of tranquillity Like light through water – sparkly The hums soothe the silver moon Stars will span the ocean soon A song floats from sandy shoal Voices creep into the soul That soothing peace of day’s end Is what these hearts need to mend

kamay. Kinuha ko ‘yon at nagpakilala rin ako.

“Rose ang pangalan ko,” sabi ko na lamang at ngumiti na kita ang suhay sa aking ngipin.

“Bagay na bagay sa’yo ang iyong pangalan, talagang nararapat ka sa hardin na ito,” sambit pa nito na siyang mas nagpainit ng aking mala-rosas na pisngi.

DALAWA— Dalawang minuto akong nakatitig sa larawan na kinuha namin. Tanda ko pa ang mga ngiting suot niya noong kasama ko siya.

Ang mga ngiting iyon ang naging salarin sa pagkahulog ng puso kong pihikan… sa pagkabihag ng ang aking kalooban.

Habang nasa bahay pa kami ni lola, palagi na akong maagang gumigising upang makipagkita sa kaniya. Malapit lang din naman ang kanilang bahay kung kaya nama’y nakasanayan niya na akong puntahan sa may bakuran. Nag-uusap kami tungkol sa iba’t ibang bagay. Isang beses, tinuruan niya rin akong mag-bisekleta.

Minsan, sabay kaming kumakain ng meryenda habang nanonood ng pelikula o naglalaro ng chess. Sobrang saya niyang kasama kung kaya’t hindi ko maipagkaila na gumagaan na ang aking pakiramdam sa kaniya.

Ipinakilala ko rin siya sa aking lola at mga magulang kaya lalong napadalas ang kaniyang pagbisita. Dahil subsob ako sa pag-aaral at walang panahon para gumala, nagalak sila

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nang lubos dahil unang beses ko itong magpakilala ng kaibigan.

Kinabukasan, gumising ako nang maaga at nagmadaling inapuhap ang sarili. Mula sa aking aparador, buong galak kong pinili ang pinakamagadang damit na tiyak na babagay sa pulang lasong nakapusod sa makakapal kong buhok. Ilang araw na lamang kasi ay matatapos na ang bakasyon at kinakailangan ko nang bumalik sa Maynila; bago pa man ako tuluyang lumisan, sa mismong araw na iyon, ninais kong ipagtapat sa kaniya ang aking tunay na nararamdaman.

Subalit, bago ko pa man maihakbang ang aking paa palabas ng pinto, isang nakasisindak na balita ang bumungad sa akin. ... ... ...

“Rose, wala na si Jack.”

Nasagasaan ng rumaragasang trak habang siya ay nagbibisekleta papunta rito upang bisitahin ako.

TATLO— Tatlong taon na, ngunit hindi ko pa rin alam kung paano kumawala sa kadena ng nakaraan. Simula noong mabalitaan ko ang nangyari sa kaniya, tila nayayapos pa rin ako ng pighati.

Hindi ko lubos maisip kung bakit ang lakas makahalik sa Hudas ng tadhana. Ilang linggo lang kaming nagkita ngunit sa ikli ng panahon na ‘yon, gano’n pa ang nangyari. Nakapanghihina.

Isang umaga, nagising ako sa pagtawag sa akin ni mama.

Manliligaw ko raw, hinahanap ako sa baba. Hindi na ako nag-ayos pa at pumanaog na sa hagdan.

“Pasok ka na, iho,” sambit ni mama habang akmang bubuksan ang pinto. Sila na mismo ang naghahanap ng aking talisuyo, ngunit wala paring makapapalit sa una.

“Hindi na kailangan, maaari na siyang umalis,” tahasang sambit ko sa kanila. Diretso silang napatingin sa akin, ngunit tanging malamig na titig lamang ang aking naging tugon.

“Ma, pwede ba? Huwag mo na akong ipagpilitan sa iba. Wala na akong interes sa gan’yan!”

Nagbago na ang lahat. Ang dating namumulaklak na rosas, ngayon ay…

Naluntoy… Naglagas…

Namatay…Nanlamig.

APAT— Apat na oras na akong naghihintay, habang nakatingin sa malayo. Oo nga naman, kahit ilang taon pa akong mag-abang dito sa bakuran, hindi na nga pala siya darating. Hanggang ngayon, hindi ko pa rin maintindihan kung bakit pumayag pa akong bumalik sa lugar na ito.

Ilang bakasyon din na hindi ako sumama sa aking mga magulang para makalimot at tanggapin na lamang ang katotohanan. Subalit sa puntong ito, parang tinatawag ako muli ng hardin upang sumabay sa kanilang pamumulaklak.

Ramdam ko ang preskong hangin na humahaplos sa aking balat. Maaliwalas ang kapaligiran. Isang perpektong araw upang maglakad-lakad at magliwaliw, ngunit imbis na ako ay malibang, bigla na lamang akong nanlumo.

Paalis na sana ako dahil sa pagka-inip. Ngunit nang pagsulyap ko sa may ‘di kalayuan, hindi ako makapaniwala sa pigurang untiunting bumubungad.

Isang lalaki na kamukha niya ang naglalakad papalapit sa akin dala-dala ang tangtaw ng panibagong pag-asa.

“Magandang umaga, binibini.”

The Rife

BY JAMELA HAZEL TRANQUILO

My body tensed, they asked if I’m still normal, I had it clenched, my fist; my cry was tidal.

I was in anguish, felt my self—sinking, I hope I could banish, but my wrath growing.

And then this pain overtook, I tried calming, but my sickness is overlooked.

And then their words stopped me.

I reached out, they silenced me.

We invoked for an aesthetic world.

Amidst our past and future, I am the demoiselle.

In imminence of their vile, I am dauntless.

In aesthetic to my miseries, all these that happened in the past are occurring once more in our present.

The Rife has begun, shall it be done?

ARTWORKS BY JOSEPH RYAN IBARRETA

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LATHALAIN NI ROSE ANN LAGATIC DIBUHO NINA JOANNA ERIKA PUZON AT JOSEPH RYAN IBARRETA

THE OFFICIAL STUDENT-COMMUNITY PUBLICATION OF CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES AUGUST-NOVEMBER 2020 | VOLUME XL | NO. 2

Naniniwala ka ba sa second chance?

Mahirap nang muling ibigay ang tiwala sa minsang naging sanhi na ng malaking pagkakamali. Gayunpaman, ang pangalawang pagkakataon ay maaaring magbigay-daan sa pagbabago o sa kabilang banda, maging sanhi muli ng pagkasira ng tiwala.

Pag-ungkat sa Nakaraan Ang Sangguniang Kabataan o SK na siyang nagbibigay pagkakataon sa mga kabataang nasa edad 15 hanggang 17 na maging parte ng pamumuno sa bawat barangay ay nabuo dahil sa Local Government Code of 1991 na higit na pinaigting ng Republic Act No. 7160. Disyembre 4, 1992 nang unang maitala ang matagumpay na pagkakaupo sa puwesto ng mga kabataang bubuo ng SK sa halos 42, 000 na barangay. Layunin ng batas na ito na mabigyang partisipasyon ang kabataan sa pagpapabuti ng komunidad gamit ang kanilang boses at angking kakayahan sa pamamagitan ng pagsasagawa ng mga proyekto at programa.

Binubuo ang samahan ng: isang SK chairperson, anim na SK kagawad, isang SK secretary at isa ring SK treasurer. Ang chairperson ang siyang mamumuno sa grupo samantalang ang mga kagawad naman ang magsisilbi niyang tagapayo at katuwang sa pagpapatupad ng mga programa at proyekto ng samahan. Ang sekretarya at ingat-yaman naman ang mamamahala sa mga papeles at kanilang badyet.

Ang pondo ng SK ay nagmumula sa Internal Revenue Allotment o IRA ng barangay.

Bawat barangay ay may iba’t ibang halagang natatanggap na IRA, depende sa populasyon at iba pang aspeto. Sampung porsyento nito ang gagamitin ng SK upang pondohan ang kanilang mga aktibidad.

Bagama’t nasa mabuting adhikain ang misyon ng grupo, hindi rin maipagkakaila ang mga baluktot na sistemang naitala sa kasayayan.

Batay sa pag-aaral na isinagawa noong 2007 ng United Nations International Children’s Emergengy Fund at Department of Interior and Local Government, mababa ang performance rate na ipinakita ng SK sa nakalipas na sampung taon. Higit pang bumaba ang morale ng SK dahil sa isang salaysay ng noo’y senador na si Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr., kung saan nabanggit niyang maraming opisyales ng SK ang hindi tumutupad sa kanilang tungkulin at pangakong sinumpaan.

Isinaad din ng dating Commission on Elections Commisioner na si Lucenito Tagle na maraming kaso kung saan magulang mismo ng tumatakbong kawani ng SK ang nangunguna sa pamimili ng boto at ang SK ay nagmimistulang “breeding ground” ng politikal na dinastiya. Bunsod nito, napilitan ang mga kawani ng gobyernong itigil ang halalan sa barangay noong 2015, kung saan kabilang ang eleksyon sa SK. Ito ang nagbigay-daan sa pagkakabuo ng panibagong patakaran ng SK—ang RA 10742.

Bagong Kabanata Sa bisa ng RA 10742 o Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015, muling naibalik ang SK kasabay ang ilang pagbabago.

Mula sa 15 hanggang 17, itinaas ang edad ng mga maaaring tumakbo sa mga posisyon.

Ngayon, 18 hanggang 24 na taong gulang na ang pwedeng kumandidato.

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Upang maiwasan ang politikal na dinastiya, ipinagbawal din ang pagtakbo ng mga kaanak ng nakaupong opisyales hanggang sa pangalawang antas ng pagkakamaganak at pagkakaugnay. Mayo 7, 2018 nang matagumpay na maisagawa ang eleksyon ng SK sa barangay matapos ang limang taong pamamahinga.

Dahil sa mantsang dulot ng nakaraan, tila mahirap pa ring linisin ang dating nasirang reputasyon ng organisasyon sa isipan ng nakararami. Ngunit sa kabila ng mga negatibong impresyon na ibinabato sa kanila, marami pa rin ang namumukod-tangi sa pagbibigay-serbisyo sa kanilang mga nasasakupan.

Isa na rito si Marifel Maglente, ang SK Chairperson sa Cawacagan, Bato, Camarines Sur. Kasalukuyan siyang nasa ikatlong taon sa kursong Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering. Mahirap mang pagsabayin ang pag-aaral at pagiging SK chairperson, masaya siyang nakapaglilingkod sa kaniyang komunidad.

“

Balang araw, kabataan ang tatayo at mamumuno sa ating bansa. Sila, na may mulat na puso at kamalayan, ang babago sa Pilipinas na ngayon ay sinisira ng mga sakit ng lipunan.

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imposible. Lahat ng gugustuhin mo para sa barangay, mangyayari.]”

Ayon naman kay Kenneth Mata, isang SK kagawad sa San Vicente, Bato, Camarines Sur, walang katumbas na anumang bagay ang ligayang dulot ng pagnanais na makatulong sa komunidad. Wala siyang nakukuhang monetaryong kompensasyon sa kaniyang pagiging isang kagawad. Ngunit sa kabila nito, bukas ang kaniyang pusong pagsilbihan ang kinabibilangang barangay.

Ilan sa proyekto ng kanilang lupon ay ang Freenting, o pagbibigay ng access sa mga kabataan ng libreng internet connection, printing at iba pang serbisyo na kaakibat ng panibagong sistema ng edukasyon sa kasalukuyan. Madalas din ang paghahandog ng kagamitan at pagkain sa kanilang lugar upang tugunan ang pangangailangan ng kanilang kapwa-kabataan na lubhang naapektuhan ng mga kalamidad.

Maliban kay Kenneth, si Bobby Nacario, na isang SK secretary sa barangay Salvacion, Iriga City, ay patunay din na walang halagang makatutumbas sa ngiti ng bawat kabataang kanilang natutulungan.

Sa kan’yang halos tatlong taong pagiging sekreterya, natutunan niyang pagsilbihan ang kabataang Pilipino—ang pangunahing rason kung bakit ipinagpapatuloy niya ang serbisyo-publiko.

“We will prove that [the] youth is the catalyst of change and hope of this country,” saad niya.

Si Princess Tagum na isang SK Chairperson sa San Antonio, Iriga City ay naninindigan na mahihikayat ang mga kabataan, bawat pamilya, at buong komunidad na makiisa at kumilos sa pagabot ng kaunlaran sa pamamagitan ng mga programa ng SK na nakatuon sa eduksayon, kalusugan, kalikasan, isports, at iba pa.

Pagsibol ng Pag-asa

Ilan sa kaniyang matagumpay na proyekto ang Material Recovery Facility kung saan maaaring iimpok ang mga patapong bagay upang iresiklo o ipagbili sa junkshop. Ani niya, simula no’ng hayskul pa siya, ayaw niyang nakakakita ng pakalat-kalat na basura, kung kaya’t nang maluklok siya bilang SK chairperson sa kanilang barangay, ito agad ang kaniyang pinag-tuunan ng pansin.

Ilan pa sa mga programang ipinatupad nila ay ang cleanup drive, Linggo ng Kabataan, Basketball Tournament, Search for Miss Cawacagan, outreach programs at ang pagkakaroon ng tangible projects na mapapakinabangan, hindi lang ng kasalukuyang nasasakupan, kung hindi maging ng susunod pang henerasyon.

Dagdag pa ni Marifel, “Kin galin sa puso a pagtahak mo ka daan na an, uda imposible.

Ngamin na gugustuwon mo ka barangay, mingyari. [Kung galing sa puso ang pagtahak mo sa daan na ‘yan, walang

Sa Sangguniang Kabataan, ang pangalawang pagkakataon ay isang daan upang makamtan ang tunay na pagbabago Sa tulong ng mga karanasan na dala ng pagiging kawani ng SK, mas mahuhubog ang kanilang isipan upang makalikha ng solusyon sa mga suliraning kinakaharap ng kanilang komunidad at mas magiging handa sa mga hamon at pagsubok ng panahon.

Balang araw, kabataan ang tatayo at mamumuno sa ating bansa. Sila, na may mulat na puso at kamalayan, ang babago sa Pilipinas na ngayon ay sinisira ng mga sakit ng lipunan.

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Patungong KABUNDUKAN

LATHALAIN NINA JOHN REYNOLD BRIOSO AT HERMINIA VASQUEZ MGA LARAWANG KUHA NINA MICHAEL WILLIAM RONCO AT JAMELA HAZEL TRANQUILO

isang pares ng tsinelas sa magkabilaang kamay, nakayapak niya nang tatawirin ang maputik na palayan, paitaas.

“Good morning, Sir Jen,” malugod na bati ng kaniyang mga estudyante.

Sa wakas, matapos ang labintatlong kilometrong layo ng paglalakbay sa kabundukan, narating na rin ng apatnapu’t apat na taong gulang na si Teacher Jen Quinto ang Aneks ng Mataas na Paaralan ng Caranday, sa Barangay Iyagan, Munisipalidad ng Baao.

B

ago pa man bumagsak ang malakas na ulan, isinuot niya na ang kapote, kapagdakay lumulan sa minamanehong motorsiklo.

“Pahirapan na naman,” tanging buntong-hininga sa sarili habang pinagmamasdan ang makakapal na ulap sa dakong Hilaga.

Habang binabagtas ang matarik na kalsada, unti-unti nang pumapatak ang gabutil na tubig-ulan sa kaniyang mukha—hudyat upang pabagalin ang takbo ng motorsiklo dahil sa madulas na daan; isang pagkakamali lang kasi sa pagpihit ng manibela ay maaari siyang dumausdos sa matarik na bangin o kaya’y tumilapon sa malawak na palayan.

Ilang kilometro pa ang layo mula sa kaniyang destinasyon, kinailangan niya munang huminto at bumaba mula sa pagkakasakay upang lusungin ang bahang nagmumula sa spillway, tulak ang motorsiklo; kadalasan kasing umaapaw ang tubig sa kalsada kahit walang ulan sa mismong lugar. Sa mga pagkakataong iyon, halos gatuhod na ang taas ng rumaragasang baha. Tiyak niya na aabot na naman ito nang hindi bababa sa baywang kapag nagtuloy-tuloy pa ang buhos ng ulan, na mas mapanganib lalo na sa mga batang naglalakad.

Sa ‘di kalayuan, halos isang daang metro ang distansya, tanaw niya na ang silid na kaniyang patutunguhan—nasa mataas na bahagi iyon ng lupa at nasa tabi lamang ng malawak na parang kung kaya nama’y mapapansin agad ito mula sa kalsada, kung saan naman niya ipinaparada ang kaniyang behikulo. Bitbit ang

Pagsulong ng adbokasiya

Isa lamang ang Iyagan sa mga barangay na matatagpuan sa bulubundukin ng Baao.

Sapagkat nasa mataas na bahagi at malayo sa kasentrohan, hindi nakapagtataka kung bakit mahirap matugunan ang ilan sa mga pangunahing pangangailangan ng mga naninirahan dito—madalang ang mga pampasaherong sasakyan; kakaunti lamang ang tindahan dahil sa hiwa-hiwalay ang mga kabahayan; walang sapat na suplay ng koryente; at higit sa lahat, lubhang malayo ang mga paaralan para sa mga bata na ang tanging nais ay makapag-aral.

Sa paghahangad na maitaas ang antas ng pamumuhay sa Iyagan, taong 2014 nang simulan ng dating kapitan na si Sir Jen ang adbokasiyang nagsusulong sa pagtatayo ng matataas na paaralan sa far-flung barangays ng Baao, lalo na sa mountain areas.

Anim na taon na rin ang nakalilipas magmula nang maidestino si Sir Jen ng Kagawaran ng Edukasyon (DepEd) sa Caranday National High School-Main Campus sa barangay Caranday.

Ito ang kauna-unahang eskwelahang kaniyang naturuan matapos makapasa sa Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET), taong 2015.

Sa kaniyang pamamalagi roon bilang guro, doon niya natunghayan ang kawalan ng paaralan sa Iyagan na karatig-barangay lamang ng Caranday, kung kaya nama’y bukod sa feeding program, sinimulan niya ang isang programa, sa ilalim ng CNHS-Main, na naglalayong makapagturo sa out-of-school youth ng naturang lugar. Buo ang kaniyang paniniwala na upang mapalakas ang pundasyon ng isang lugar, kinakailangang pagyamanin muna ang kaalaman ng kabataan, kung kaya’t nahihirapan man sa simula, gamit ang kaniyang masidhing adhikain at kasanayan, buong tiyaga niya itong iginapang.

Iginagapang na edukasyon

Sariwang-sariwa pa sa alaala ni Sir Jen ang mga panahong wala pa silang maayos, permanente at sariling silid-aralan na mapagtuturuan sana sa mga bata. Lubhang napakahirap ng mga sandaling iyon lalo na’t wala silang sapat na pondo upang makapagpatayo ng kahit isa man lang na klasrum.

“So ‘yong first day of teaching ko, nag-ano [nagturo] kami d’yan sa old barangay hall ng Iyagan. May 21 students ako; iba-iba ‘yong edad nila—may mga matatanda na, mga binatang medyo may edad na, so halo-halo, kasi gusto lang naming matulungan [sila] no’ng mga panahong iyon.”

Ang kanilang pagbibigay katuparan sa isinusulong na outreach program ay nagkaroon

“

Buo ang kaniyang paniniwala na upang mapalakas ang pundasyon ng isang lugar, kinakailangang pagyamanin muna ang kaalaman ng kabataan.

ng magandang simula, ngunit hindi nagtagal; taong 2016 nang padapain ng isang malakas na bagyo ang kanilang tinutuluyan. Dahil pagmamay-ari ng isang private owner ang lupang kinatatayuan ng lumang barangay hall, agad nang ibinalik ng barangay ang pangangasiwa ng lupa sa tunay na may-ari nito; walang nagawa ang grupo ni Sir Jen kung hindi ang maghanap ng panibagong malilipatan.

Sa kanilang paghahanap, barangay chapel naman ang kanilang natagpuan, ngunit sa kasamaang-palad, alinsunod sa napag-usapan ng pastoral council, sila ay nabigyan lamang ng maikling panahon upang doon ay mamalagi.

Matapos ang sandaling iyon, tila naubos na lang lahat ng posibleng matutuluyan nila at ng kanilang mga estudyante, ngunit para sa isang gurong may magandang bisyon para sa Iyagan, walang bagyo o kahit ano pa man ang maaaring magpahinto sa kanilang hangarin.

Kung para sa iba ay panandaliang pahingahan lamang ang lilim ng malaking

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punong-kahoy pagkatapos ng nakahahapong paglalakad o pagtatrabaho sa bukid, para kina Sir Jen at mga bata ito ay maituturing bilang bagong tahanan na huhubog sa kanilang kaisipan. Tanging lilim lamang ng punong Akasya ang nagsisilbing pananggalang nila sa mapanlapos na init ng sikat ng araw sa maghapon—gustong-gusto nila ang ganitong uri ng panahon, sapagkat sa oras na bumagsak ang malakas na buhos ng ulan, paniguradong magsisitakbuhan na naman sila upang humanap ng ligtas na mapagsisilungan.

Dahil lubhang mahirap para sa kanila ang ganitong uri ng sistema, lalo na’t pabago-bago ang takbo ng panahon, mas minabuti na nila Sir Jen na gumawa na lang ng improvised na malilipatan. Tatlong silid ang pinagtiyagaan nilang itayo na nagmistulang koprahan ng niyog dahil sa porma nito—walang dingding, puros haliging kahoy, at bubong na yari sa nipa. Kahit papa’no ay hindi sila agad mababasa at hindi na rin maaantala ang klase sa oras na umulan ulit nang napakalakas.

Ngunit tila sinubok ata ng tadhana ang katapatan ng ulirang guro sa pagtuturo— taong 2017 nang manalasa ulit ang isang bagyong nagpatiklop sa kanilang barong-barong.

Halos nanlumo ang kaniyang katawan nang makita ang kahabag-habag na sitwasyong iyon; hindi lamang kasi silid ang nawala sa kanila, kung hindi maging ang oportunidad na mapagtapos sa pag-aaral ang mga bata.

Makalipas ang dalawang taong pagtataguyod sa programa, hindi nila mawari kung paano muli magsisimula. Ngunit lingid sa kanilang kaalaman, ang katapusan pala ng sakunang iyon ang magiging hudyat nang isang magandang simulain para sa mga tiga-Iyagan.

Panibagong simula Matapos ang pananalanta ng bagyo, saka naman naipaabot sa DepEd ang nasabing outreach program sa komunidad. Bilang tugon sa magandang layunin at pagkakawanggawa sa ngalan ng edukasyon, nagpatayo ang DepEd ng tatlong klasrum sa dating kinatatayuan ng silid. Ngunit hindi tulad ng dati, higit na itong matibay dahil sa konkretong estruktura nito.

Sa kaparehong taon din, labis ang kanilang pasasalamat nang makatanggap muli ng dalawang silidaralan mula naman sa ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya Foundation. Maging ang lupang kinatitirikan ng paaralan ay bukas-palad na ipinagkaloob sa kanila ng mismong dating

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alkalde ng Baao.

Dito na opisyal na kinilala bilang isang paaralan ng Iyagan ang Aneks ng Mataas na Paaralan ng Caranday na nagsimulang tumanggap ng enrollees na nasa ikapito hanggang ikasiyam na baitang.

Kasalukuyang hamon Palibhasa ilang taon pa lamang ang nakalilipas magmula nang maitayo ang Aneks, hindi maitatanggi na salat pa rin ito sa maraming bagay.

“Wala kaming sariling budget, alam nila ‘yan. Kung ano ang experience ko sa pagiging punong-barangay, ginagamit ko ‘yan para makalikom lang ng mga resources na magagamit ng mga estudyante, kagaya nito [modules]. Nakahanap ako ng mga donors, binigyan nila ‘ko ng mga ink, mga coupon bond, para hindi umasa sa budget ng main campus, kasi hindi pa independent ‘yong budget namin,” saad ni Sir Jen. Ngayong may pandemya, tuwing araw ng Lunes, ay pumupunta sila sa paaralan upang iabot sa mga magulang ang modules na sasagutan ng mga bata sa loob ng isang lingo.

Dahil nga sa kakulangan sa learning materials, hinahati nila ang walong asignatura sa Set A at B—apat ngayong linggo at apat naman para sa susunod.

“Ang ratio ng books namin dito, minsan 1:5, [minsan] 1:4—isa pa ‘yan sa mga problema namin. May mga subjects na okay naman [ang bilang ng libro], pero karamihan dahil nga kung ano lang ‘yong tira sa main [campus] kami ang sasalo. Kumbaga sa pagkain, kami ang kakain ng tirang kanin.”

Binigyang-diin din ng guro ang labis na kahirapang kinasasadlakan ng karamihan sa mga mamamayan dito na nagiging sanhi ng kanilang madalas na pagliban sa klase.

“May mga estudyante kaming member ng indigenous people. Ang IP namin dito ay nasa 50%. Majority ng aming mga estudyante ay talagang mahihirap—below the poverty line.

‘Yong iba, lumiliban talaga dala ng kahirapan.

Sa murang edad nagtatrabaho kung saan.

Minsan wala pa sa 50% ang

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pumapasok. May experience [kami] na anim o lima lang ang pumasok, lalo na kung maulan.”

Bagamat mayroon na silang malapit na posong mapag-iigiban, hanggang ngayon ay wala pa rin silang suplay ng koryente. Hindi rin sapat ang palikuran maging ang ibang pangangailangan sa loob ng silid katulad ng maayos na upuan.

Sa mga susunod pang taon “Noong panahon ng lockdown pumupunta ako mag-isa, mag-serve lang ng enrolment form para makuha namin ‘yong target namin [na bilang].”

Ngayon, ang dating 70 na bilang ng estudyante sa kanilang paaralan ay umabot na sa 114 na binubuo ng hanggang sa ikasampung baitang. Agad na nadagdagan ang bilang nito sa kadahilanang doon na rin piniling mag-aral ng mga batang nakatira sa karatig-bayan na Ocampo.

Bunga ng kaniyang patuloy na pagsisikap, sa susunod na taon ay magbubukas na rin ang enrolment para sa mga mag-aaral ng Grade 11.

May mga nakausap na rin s’yang benifactors na mag-aabot ng libreng uniporme para sa mga bata at maging ang pagkakabit ng koryente ay madali na ring matapos.

Sa loob ng humigit-kumulang anim na taon sa serbisyo, isa lamang ang kaniyang hangarin bilang isang guro—“Ang vision ko [ay] magkaroon ng tinatawag na Sustainable Development School—‘yan naman talaga kahit sino, [gusto ‘yong] pangmatagalang plano. Dito ang vision ko [ay] ma-separate [itong annex] sa main campus, para maging independent sa lahat ng bagay, may sariling fund na galing sa national government, and ang desisyon mo, ang kausap mo lang ‘yong superintendent.”

Sumapit na ang gabi, ngunit kauuwi pa lamang niya mula sa eskwelahan. Suot ang maputik at basang damit, panibagong araw na naman ng pagbibigay-kaalaman ang kaniyang naitawid. Nakapapagod man, lahat ng hirap sa araw-araw na paglalakbay ay hindi niya na alintana, ika nga’y bahagi na lamang ito ng kaniyang payak na pamumuhay sa kabundukan.

Ayon pa nga sa guro: “Ito talaga ‘yong nakaanong [nakaatang na] trabaho sa akin, kahit tumanda ako—[ang] harapin ‘yong komunidad na kinabibilangan ng mahihirap.”

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SPORTS NEWS

Professional Basketball at Football Leagues, pinayagan na ng IATF-EID STORY BY EMMANUEL BRISENIO Isang magandang balita para sa mga fans ang inanunsyo ng Inter-Agency Task Force of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) matapos nitong aprubahan ang pagbabalik-ensayo ng mga atleta sa professional basketball at football.

Batay sa IATF Resolution No. 51 Series of 2020 na inilabas noong Hulyo 2, 2020, lumagda ng isang joint administrative order ang Philippines Sports Commission (PSC), Games and Amusement Board (GAB), at Department of Health na nagpapahilntulot sa mga health-enhancing activities at sports sa gitna ng pandemya na dala ng COVID-19 sa mga lugar na may GCQ and modified GCQ status.

“Pinayagan na ang practice at conditioning ng basketball at football sangayon sa request ng PBA at ibang football association,” ayon sa tagapagsalita ng pangulo na si Harry Roque sa Laging Handa Media Briefing noong araw ding iyon.

Matapos ang pahayag ni Roque, maraming haka-haka ang nabuo gaya kung kasama rin sa pinayagan ang mga amateur basketball at football leagues.

Agad itong nilinaw ng GAB, ang namamahala sa mga professional sports sa bansa. Ayon kay GAB Chairman Baham Mitra, sakop lamang ng nasabing IATF Resolution ang mga professional basketball at football players.

Sinabi rin ni Mitra na ang IATF go-signal ay para lamang sa Philippine Basketball Association at Philippine Football League.

Nitong Hunyo lamang ay nagpadala ng sulat si PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial sa IATF upang humingi ng permiso na magkaroon ng training ang mga atleta habang sinusunod ang striktong health protocols para na rin masiguro ang kaligtasan ng bawat isa.

BAGONG PAGASA. Matapos mapahinto ang laro ng iba’t-ibang sports organizations dulot ng pangnib na dala ng pandemya, nabigyangsigla muli ang industriya nang pinahintulutan ng pamahalaan ang mga atleta sa professional basketball at football sa GCQ areas. -MICHAEL

WILLIAM RONCO

PHOTO COURTESY OF INSPIRE SPORTS ACADEMY PHILIPPINES

Sa sulat, dinetalye ng PBA na apat na manlalaro lang ang papayagang makapagensayo kasama ang isang safety officer at isang coach o trainer sa bawat practice session.

Ikinatuwa ng PBA ang desisyon ng IATF na ibalik muli ang liga na 45 na taon nang namamayagpag sa Pilipinas.

“Masaya tayo sa development na ito. We’re still on track for our scheduled return. I’m Sure masaya din ang mga players sa balitang ito dahil sa sila mismo gusto na makalaro uli,” ayon sa isang statement ni PBA Commissioner Marcial.

SPORTS OPINION

Noong Mayo, 2020, nagpalabas din ng resolusyon ang IATF na nagpapanumbalik ng mga non-contact sporting activities sa GCQ areas.

Ayon sa IATF-EID Resolution 38, ang mga atleta at nagsasanay ng sports na running, biking, golf, swimming, tennis, badminton, equestrian, at skateboarding ay pinapayagan nang magsanay sa mga lugar na nasa general community quarantine, sa kondisyong striktong pagsunod sa mga minimum public health standards tulad ng pagsusuot ng mask, at pagsunod sa physical distancing.

Who is the Real Gamer?

T

SHOTS FIRED FELIMON GOZUN JR.

imothy John “Tims” Randrup, a Dota 2 professional player from the Philippines commented in one of his streams that he doesn’t consider Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) players as gamers.

“Do you call players who play Mobile Legends gamers? I won’t call them gamers,” Tims stated while having a chat with his friend on his stream. “They’re playing it on the cellphone right? Anybody can play it—even grandmothers.”

The incident stirred different opinion about the matter and put Tims on a hot-seat with criticisms coming from MLBB players.

In Merriam-Webster dictionary, it states that a “gamer” is “someone who plays games”. Anyone who is enthusiastic towards gaming can be called gamer. It doesn’t state a specific platform or at to what level of competitiveness/kind of game a player should be playng.

Owning high-end computers doesn’t make anyone superior over the one who is using mobile phones only. Mobile gaming became a hit as it democratized gaming to many who wishes to play games. It is handy and can fit in your pocket

thus, playing anywhere is possible even with limited time. Most of the games are also free to download on play store for android and app store for iOS—giving an upperhand over PCs and consoles.

At present, mobile phones is the much-preferred gaming device by the gamers—dominating computers and consoles. Knowing this trend,

“

‘gamer’ is ‘someone who plays games’

many developers are making games available on mobile phones. Even League of Legends, a well-known pc game worldwide, created a mobile counterpart of it, the League of Legends: Wild Rift. Recently, Nintendo also announced that they will launch Mario Kart Tour on mobile to reach more people. The gaming is evolving and we can’t keep living in the past.

Though playing on pc is much harder than on a mobile phone, the

level of difficulty of the game that a player is playing is not a standard to be called a gamer. We are different from each other that’s why our gaming preference differs from one another. Just like an art, realism and abstract are way different in terms of difficulty in making it but in the essence, both who made them are called an artist.

In gaming community, there are two different types of gamer —hardcore and casual gamers.

Hardcore gamers are very much competitive. They invest time and money in gaming and most of them pursue professional gaming. On the other hand, casual gamers are not that much competitive and just play for leisure or fun.

Being a hardcore gamer is fine, but putting up a barrier against others is selfish. We must let others have fun as well and let these people call themselves a gamer. Casual players are no inferior for they also love playing games. The gaming community must be one, most especially that it is aiming for the approval of the people that gaming is also a sports—and sports promotes sportsmanship and camaraderie.

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SPORTS FEATURE

OVERCOMING CHALLENGES, DELIVERING PE AMIDST PANDEMIC FEATURE BY FELIMON GOZUN JR. PHOTOS BY LUIGI SAN JOAQUIN

Physical Education (PE) is one of the most demanding subjects in terms of physical interaction. It needs face-to-face teaching in order for the students to thoroughly understand the proper way of body executions. Though it is a minor subject, it is still integral to the holistic development of a college student.

Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges’ PE subject focuses more on actual output rather than on pen and paper; and in this time of pandemic, PE teachers are facing a huge challenge in delivering their lessons due to the restrictions.

Problem is constant in this world and the only way to move forward is to overcome it.

With the new normal, the school adapted the flexible learning method wherein instructors need to adjust their lessons in all possible means. For this reason, the preparation of

“

“We highlight the importance of physical literacy so that they can develop their body awareness.”

the teachers in delivering their lessons were doubled. Before, powerpoint presentation is enough. Now, the teachers need to make modules, as well, for the sake of those students who have limited to no internet connectivity.

The load of burden is greater than ever.

Nevertheless, work is easier when everyone work together.

“That’s the beauty here in CSPC because we work as one. We divided the topics and assign who will make the module for the specific topic,” said Jay Luzon, when asked about how the PE instructors of the College are adjusting their lessons in response to the pandemic.

Knowing that not all students can attend to virtual classes, teachers became more considerate. Modules are placed in the Dean’s office of every college department so students can have them even without the instructors.

Students were also given ample time to

accomplish the activities given to them, and work on their most available time.

“I give them [students] a minimum of two weeks to do their activity and sometimes even more time,” Luzon added.

In terms of achieving the goal of physical education, it all boils down to the students.

As the saying goes, “It takes two to tango”.

The objective will only be realized if the students will honestly do the activities that were assigned to them. This will also test the discipline of the students.

Physical fitness is very important in this challenging time. Strong immune system is needed to combat the deadly virus that took millions of lives. By that, time to time, teachers are monitoring the students about their physical activities. They even encourage the students to have a physical activity log to monitor themselves, so that they can see the improvements in their health and physique.

“We highlight the importance of physical literacy so that they can develop their body awareness,” Luzon emphasized.

As the situation continues, teachers are looking to localize the instructional materials rather than depending on those that are performed by foreigners. In this manner, it will make more impact to the students and will inspire them to do the activities.

“We can create a dance video where the performers are from the school itself,” Luzon likewise shared in an interview with TheSpark.

The teachers are still optimistic that in a few months from now, small gatherings will be allowed so that they can monitor the students even more. They are, furthermore, open on having a community extension which aims to promote physical education in barangays that has many CSPCeans.

With goals on set, there’s no obstacle that can hinder the desire to instill the knowledge to the next generation.

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SPORTS FEATURE

IS PH Sports Dead?

FEATURE BY ANTHONY JAY COMBATE ARTWORK BY JEROME IBARRETA AND JOSEPH RYAN IBARRETA

“Only the forgotten are truly dead” – Tess Gerritsen Certainly, we cannot compare the valor of a soldier battling between life and death for our country to an athlete whose mission is to bring pride and honor to his motherland. Moreover, we can never weigh an athlete against doctors who are racing against time to save a dying soul.

Everyone has their own battles to fight with. Nevertheless, there is one thing amazing in sports and enthusiasts, they are all filled with a burning passion— the light will not easily die no matter how strong the wind is.

The “Sportsquake” March 16, 2020; it was a blue day for the Philippines when President Rodrigo Duterte enforced a Luzon-wide Enhanced Community Quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This resulted in a total lockdown and movement restrictions in Luzon. Essential shops and building establishments were forced to close causing job loss, strict enforcement of social distancing protocols, and many more. The whole country eventually suffered a huge blow as everything shifted to the “new normal”, and everyone needs to follow—including the Philippine sports.

Before the pandemic, Philippine sports was an indoor and outdoor spectacle packed with action and supportive cheering of the fans. The joy and excitement of watching your favorite athlete or teams doing their best to win make sports not just mere entertainment, but an inspiration for sports lovers. The star players of every game had somehow impacted our lives in many ways. They become role models and the public loves them.

Unfortunately, one deadly virus exploded like a bomb that caused a huge disaster to the sporting world. The tremor has caused many Filipinos to be constrained from playing and watching their favorite sports as the COVID-19 pandemic paralyzed the real-time conduct of sports in the country.

Promising athletes across the country also felt the damage as the pandemic blasted away their “Palarong Pambansa” dreams. The bleeding didn’t end there as the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) have announced on April 29, 2020, the cancellation of all of their sporting events until December 2020. This further shattered the nation’s athletes as PSC withdrew its sports army starting from the grassroots level up to the professional and international ranks.

The Magnitude On May 22, 2020, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) issued Resolution 38 that mandated areas under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) and Modified ECQ the banning of sporting events.

Meanwhile, non-contact sports and other forms of exercise such as, but not limited to, walking, jogging, running, biking, golf, swimming, tennis, badminton, equestrian, and skateboarding are allowed in General Community Quarantine (GCQ) and Modified GCQ regions. Provided, that the minimum public health standards are observed. Furthermore, spectators are not allowed as large mass gatherings are strictly being discouraged by the national government.

The scale of the damage was felt among various sporting leagues in the country. This includes the postponement of the Philippines Basketball Association (PBA) regular season, and the cancellation of the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup, and the inaugurals of its 3x3 tournament. Likewise, the Philippine Superliga Grand Prix, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 82, the National Collegiate Athletics Association Season 95, and the Philippines Football League (PFL) together with the opening debut of its women’s league counterpart were also affected.

In a nation fanatic to sports like basketball and volleyball, we find sports and athletes already part of our lives. Even if they are just a form of entertainment for others, we cannot treat them as mere hobbies and icons. Sports and athletes, local or international, school intramurals or Olympics–they all serve a purpose

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of joining us together.

Just a year ago, Filipinos were once fragmented due to uncertainties and obstacles faced by the country in hosting the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. Nevertheless, all the anxieties were gone as the Philippines fashioned out a remarkable opening ceremony.

Most of us were astonished and felt proud of being Filipino. The fire burning in the hearts of the supporters and athletes blazed through the end of the games as the Philippines clinched the championship with a 149-117-121 goldsilver-bronze medal haul.

This 2020, the Philippines gunned to prove itself, once again, in various international arenas, yet the pandemic came and ruined the party. As a result, many were disappointed as several major international events were postponed and suspended. Fans around the world will miss, for the first time in the history of modern games, the most anticipated 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Gilas Pilipinas fans have also missed for a while their favorite team playing for FIBA Asia Cup 2021 qualifiers which resumed on November 27, 2020, after several months of suspension, and the FIBA 3x3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament which was also suspended. Moreover, the joint 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 Asian Cup qualifying tournament together with the 10th ASEAN Para Games were deferred as well.

“

The quest for gold continues. The desire of athletes and coaches to bring pride and honor to the country will not be stopped by a virus. The determination and courage staged by our sports heroes, inside and outside of the country, will be unfazed even with the threat of this deadly disease. The pandemic made us crumble but we will surely rise again.

The Aftershocks As the country failed to see action in sports due to the pandemic, several major sporting venues were converted as temporary quarantine facilities for COVID-19 patients which includes the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, New Clark City Sports Complex, the Philippine Arena complex, and the Philippine Sports Center.

Unfortunately, some sports organization like ALA Promotions situated in Cebu have also announced its permanent closure after 35 years of promoting prominent Filipino boxers and world champions in the country.

The pandemic heavily wounded their funding, giving a lot of budding boxers a hurtful heartbreak as the organization can no longer support them and ALA Gym shutting its doors as well.

SPORTS

As the community quarantine eases in most parts of the country, sports have started to regain the spotlight. On September 24, 2020, the PBA community was in high spirit as the IATF-EID finally gave them a provisional approval to resume its season, but with strict restrictions. All their games, which started on October 11, are played in the “PBA bubble” where all the people involved including the players, coaches, referees, and other staff will be isolated with no single audience at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga.

In addition, the IATF-EID now also allowed the Philippines Football Federation to resume the PFL, but with similar restrictions.

Certainly, the global pandemic had undeniably transformed the sporting world like never before. Fans today, can only send their cheers and supports virtually. This, somehow, spoils the fun and excitement of watching and playing the games. This situation happens not only in the Philippines, but in other countries, as well. In fact, we just adopted the “PBA bubble” format from the NBA bubble of the USA. In an article published online on May 17, 2020, by Eddie G. Alinea, a sports columnist of Manila Times, he mentioned Former Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Celso “Cito” Dayrit sharing his views on how bad the current COVID-19 pandemic will affect the country’s preparations and participation in several international sporting events like the 2020 Olympics and the 31st Southeast Asian Games that will be both held next year.

In connection, Dayrit was worried that four of our Filipino athletes namely: gymnast Carlos Yulo, pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena, and boxers Eumir Marcial, and Irish Magno, who already sealed a berth to the prestigious 2020 Olympics, might get their performance affected. He stated that after booking their tickets on the grandest global arena, they have been idle and have been training on their own—away from their coaches and trainers.

Likewise, the article also cited current POC President Abraham Tolentino and PSC Chairman William Ramirez being anxious about the five or six more Filipino athletes they are expecting to join the 2020 Olympian squads who, just like the others, face the same obstacles and constraints. Everyone is in thirst for training, but PSC has no other choice but to send back all the athletes quartered in training centers in Luzon and Metro Manila to their respective provinces due to the pandemic.

Calculating the Casualties The global pandemic had threatened the country’s sports development. Aside from the local athletes, there are a total of 1,620 affected national athletes and coaches being

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catered by the PSC. Among these figures, 996 are athletes and 262 are coaches, 280 are Para athletes and 82 are Para coaches.

Moreover, the pandemic also wreaked havoc in all casinos ran by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, from which the National Sports Development Fund secure some of its resources. From an average of P125 million, PAGCOR’s contribution whooping dropped to only P7 million since the pandemic. The disaster does not end there, the PSC was also forced to cut the allowances of its national team members by half as the national coffer focus mainly on the COVID-19 pandemic response.

The casualty further escalated as fifteen more foreign coaches were disheartened to say “mission unaccomplished” after their contracts were terminated on August 31, 2020. Non-Filipino coaches battling together with the country’s combatants for the Tokyo Olympics, luckily, were spared from the list.

“Puso” The global pandemic had undeniably shaken the world of sports which caused a huge heartbreak for many athletes and sports enthusiasts in the country, nevertheless, sports were already rooted deeply in our hearts. Nothing can stop us from loving sports—a Filipino heart is bigger to compare with.

The quest for gold continues. The desire of athletes and coaches to bring pride and honor to the country will not be stopped by a virus. The determination and courage staged by our sports heroes, inside and outside of the country, will be unfazed even with the threat of this deadly disease. The pandemic made us crumble but we will surely rise again.

Philippines sports is dead? No, it is surely alive!

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LITERARY

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OPINION

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Barriers: Both Good and Bad

A

SILENT DAMSEL ALYSSA FRANZ UVERO

A

mid the threat of the COVID-19 virus and the worsening situation of the Philippines under a pandemic, the world has witnessed a successful presidential election in the United States last November. This sparks hope in the hearts of the Filipinos; how the US government and its citizens were able to manage a national election in a middle of a health crisis? and how powerful the youth vote can be in choosing the right leader?

With the 2022 elections creating a clamor in social media brought by young Filipinos eager to replace those people in power, campaigns have been created to urge young people to register as voters. “Tayo Naman” (it is our turn) had been a trending topic on Twitter. It is not a mere trend but a protest of the youth who are hungry for competent and good governance.

The Filipino youth has become more politically involved—using social media to express their thoughts and getting more involved in different social movements. These participations of the youth in the society are truly important because they are setting an example as critical thinkers. The youth sector often urge people to not remain silent and to always hold the government accountable for their responsibilities as public servants.

Being a democratic country, elections are, indeed, important events to the Filipinos. It is a civic duty of every Filipino to choose a leader that suit to represent its people. Everyone

fter months of rigorous research and numerous attempts at developing a vaccine for COVID-19—much of which led to failures—one has finally been a success.

The World Health Organization stated that more than 2 billion doses are now secured, and the end of a pandemic is now in sight.

The final results of the Pfizer vaccine clinical trial have exhibited a 95% efficacy. However, clinical trials show that nine vaccinated participants became infected with the virus. Still, protection was high across different groups who were tested, mostly white people, regardless of age, ethnicity, or underlying health conditions.

Although, even if it does prove to be effective in repelling the virus, the body’s ability to build immunity after vaccination typically takes a few weeks. Within the period of time between getting a shot and finally being immune, there exists the possibility that the person could catch the virus.

Questions about obtainability are being raised as well as the fairness in the vaccine’s distribution.

A wide gap lies between “available” and “accessible” when it comes to medical treatment. Being available merely depicts the presence of a resource. Accessibility includes the factors that permit and contribute to its use. Unfortunately, many barriers show that local health authorities

will have to put much more work into ensuring that these vaccines are truly accessible.

Several of these obstacles are apparent in vulnerable populations, as they cannot easily present themselves at clinics and pharmacies due to residing in far-flung areas or simply due to lack of means to purchase medical

“

Unfortunately, many barriers show that local health authorities will have to put much more work into ensuring that these vaccines are truly accessible.

necessities. Some even experience homelessness and other forms of financial instability. These are already high walls even without considering the poor access to information such as updates about the pandemic and news about where to go for preventive medical services.

There is also the question of cost.

By most accounts in most countries,

vaccine shots will be free. However, to ensure its accessibility to millions of low-income and uninsured patients, public health authorities will have to mount money for messaging campaigns in order to have information reach every corner. In this case, the expense should not be a deterrent.

It cannot be assured though in a country like the Philippines where the top brass always seeks opportunities to pocket money that’s intended for public use.

Say the vaccine is successfully secured, clinics are nearby, and the cost is affordable, it is not guaranteed that everyone in need will get vaccinated.

Skepticism will be presently brought about by fear of new medicine due to a history of failed trials. This fire will be kindled by ignorance that’s inevitable especially when information is not being disseminated properly.

The system of the Philippines when it comes to healthcare and other consequential matters includes providing service for the powerful and the rich first. The government authorities must keep in mind that the importance of the members of a community is not determined by the level of attained education or the fanciest titles.

Only through being fair and urgent will the world be able to build a biological barrier against the virus and succeed.

Youth, It’s Our Turn

owes it to one another to exercise their suffrage and participate in selecting individuals to govern them.

In the last 2019 election, Commission on Election (COMELEC) data shows 61,843,750 are registered voters in the Philippines and 1,822,173 more are from overseas. This data includes the big contribution of the youth vote—Millennials and Gen Z make up 31% of the total votes. The report says that it will further increase when the 2022 election comes as more

“

It is a civic duty of every Filipino to choose a leader that suit to represent its people.

Filipino youth voters are qualified to vote on the next national election.

This can drastically change the situation and turn the tables against traditional politicians who prey on innocent voters by feeding them lies and rotten promises of change and prosperity.

As seen in the various acts of activism in the country, young people provide the greatest amount of involvement in voicing out complaints and in demanding change. They serve as the voice of the lower class in terms of unfair wealth distribution, job discrimination, unjust wages, and the unlawful claiming of farmlands.

The youth are on the front lines when it comes to protests regarding the lax response to the health crisis. They viciously oppose authorities who are abusing their power—killing activists and detaining people without performing due processes.

The young people are the most aware of the injustices happening in the country. They are witnesses to the corruption, misdeeds, and abuse done by the government. They are driven to social change. It can be confidently said that the future of the country is at its safest if it rides on the palms of young people who see the truth as naked as it is.

Hope is alive as long as the youth— who are considered to be the future of a country—fight the wrong in order to pave the way for a better society where equity is evident and oppression is non-extant.

Every vote is powerful enough to rid the Philippines of the oppressive government that continues to neglect its people.

Every vote counts.

Every vote is powerful.

Don’t waste this power.

BATUBALANI KENYON WAYNE FORTUNO

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OPINION

TheSPARK

Your W Choice

OLLIE

JOHN ROBERT OÑEDO

ith the debt, stress, hard work, and time spent towards obtaining a degree, some people ask: “Is college necessary for success?”

In our society, we have this idea that there is only one path to success—study hard enough up until college, then work and build wealth afterwards. It seems like there is no other way to succeed in life but only after obtaining a degree.

But the thing is, this conventional approach does not apply to all and wastes time for those who believe college is not for them.

People have their own strengths, and not everyone finds it useful to develop them in the academe. However, many are still pressured to do the same as anybody else.

Having gap years before heading to college is shamed and is often related to having no direction in life. The problem with the people’s mindset is that anything unrelated to pursuing a degree during years that you are expected to be in school is deemed a waste of time and potential.

Deciding to take a breath and reflect on the grand scheme of things to finally decide where you genuinely want to immerse yourself in is nothing to be ashamed. In fact, it is a good opportunity to know yourself more and learn what are the things that give value to you the most. Through this, you can know where to steer your life towards.

Higher education is considered by many as a rite of passage in becoming a respected and successful citizen, so much so that people forget that college

LETTER TO THE EDITOR anonymous

Ever since the pandemic started, I’ve been wondering what difficulties I would end up facing once the next school year started. I tried to be hopeful and trusted that the learning situation would be easy to adjust to.

Months into the start of classes, I have realized that I am not made for this kind of learning. First of all, I don’t have all the necessary things for online learning.

Acquiring even the basic things such as a laptop and wifi (or even load) are almost impossible considering my family’s financial standing. Lastly, the fact that I’m struggling in school, the ongoing pandemic, seeing my family’s difficulties with finances and not being able to do anything has taken a toll on my mental health. I don’t know if I can get through the year like this. I’m thinking of dropping this school year but I’m scared that I’ll regret wasting a year. What should I do?

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is optional. There are also other opportunities waiting for those who have just graduated from Senior High School and many become successful with that educational attainment, alone. This thinking and shame for not conforming to this norm force people to limit their options only to this one path. But there are many paths to success.

If you decide to work after graduating from Senior High school, it is also a wise decision. There are more opportunities now for Senior High School graduates especially

“

Finishing higher education does not directly correlate to success. It really depends on the person if he wants to attain such standing. Achieving a college degree might be useful for many, but it is not for everyone.

for those who took the Technical, Vocational, and Livelihood (TVL) strand. They now have National Certification from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) that makes them eligible to work in their respective fields. These certifications serve as proof that these students underwent proper training and testing before obtaining

these certificates— proving the graduates’ qualification.

Artistic skills can also be honed with time freed upon deciding to not take higher education. Though there are programs offering to hone artists in their crafts, only a select few in the Philippine universities offer such programs. These programs also cost a hefty price and are not easily accessible to those students from lower to middleincome classes. These talents can be self-sharpened with enough dedication and determination.

Starting a business is also a road to success—that is, if financial stability is brought up as a measure of being successful. Being strategic is the key to expanding a business.

Although taking business-related courses is also a wise way to go, many entrepreneurs with booming businesses are not all college graduates or did not take college programs related to such.

One notable example is Bill Gates. He was a dropout when he first started Microsoft.

Finishing higher education does not directly correlate to success. It really depends on the person if he wants to attain such standing. Achieving a college degree might be useful for many, but it is not for everyone. People should stop discriminating against those who decide to take a different path, instead, learn from their experience because there are things that other people have learned and developed better than others.

At the end of the day, it is your future on the line, and you should be the one who gets to choose what to do with it.

DEAR ANONYMOUS, TheSPARK

This pandemic has been tough on all of us. Remember, you are not alone. We commend you for your courage in sharing with us how you feel about everything going on. But we also encourage you to share this with someone else—someone you trust. Perhaps, your parents? A friend? It is important you have a person to talk to. In times like these, we all need a support system to help us get by. If needed, our school’s Guidance Office is always there to help.

Regarding your question about whether you should drop school or not, we cannot make the choice for you. Neither of the choices are wrong either way. It probably comes down to what you feel you need to prioritize in these moments.

There is no shame in putting your mental health first. If that means taking a break from school then, so be it. Maybe you have plans to get a job to help support your family? Go ahead. However, if you know you can power through the year and are determined to graduate as soon as possible, go for it. But you need to commit to whatever decision you end up making. Just remember: only you truly know what you are experiencing, therefore no one is in the position to tell you how you should face it.

THE OFFICIAL STUDENT-COMMUNITY PUBLICATION OF CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES AUGUST-NOVEMBER 2020 | VOLUME XL | NO. 2

EDITORIAL

TheSPARK

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EDITORIAL BOARD & STAFF 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

UNENDING PLIGHT ON RESILIENCY As three successive typhoons cut a swathe through much of Luzon, its destruction wreaked havoc on the region—leaving ruin, distress, and lives claimed as its grievous postscripts. In the wake of this aftermath, praises for people’s so-called resilience continue to take center stage.

But problems arise when this resiliency narrative draws the attention away from the flaws in the system and incompetence to tales of tragedy of their fellow countrymen—leaving broken parts in the country’s disaster response hard to get fixed.

As calamities batter the nation, the Filipino people’s rise from such

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Filipinos should stop falling to stories of people’s rise from destruction, but instead taking a stand to voice accountability. With this, we will have a more functioning corrective mechanism to change all that is wrong and lacking.

devastation continues to be the source of their pride. It persists to proliferate on the public psyche and cemented the idea as one of their prime identity.

This has been used to sensationalize their hardships in a bid to hide the government’s failings.

But along with this reality, the people also fell short to call out the missteps of those in power, which made it harder to correct them.

The feedback mechanisms ought to call them out to fix these problems, which rests upon the people, are seemingly nonexistent—making the country even more vulnerable to calamities.

Though some made calls for change in the government, it is not strong enough to shake this country up to realize that gaps are existing.

What we need is one strong voice to demand accountability from those in power. Sans political will, change is hard to make in this country.

That is why it is important for the people to stand and call out all that is wrong.

While the country has established robust coping mechanisms when dealing with disasters after years of experience with hazards, the truth is, significant gaps remain especially in ways to implement these processes. Worse,

when these become mishaps and cause unfortunate events to happen.

This is best exemplified by what happened in Cagayan. As torrential rainfall pours on the province and the release of water from Magat Dam aggravated the already massive flooding experienced, it caused ‘unprecedented’ flooding in the area which killed 9 people.

Many pointed out that oversight is at fault for this.

Officials such as Vice-President Leni Robredo called out the situation and said oversight is definitely to blame. Though there is a confluence of many factors that resulted in this unfortunate event, this shortfall in performing duties has made ill-fated results.

Robredo even seeks to probe into this deadly historic flooding to determine who fell short in their duties.

This reflects the unreliability of the country’s disaster response as mechanisms set in place to protect the people is not functioning at all times. Many instances where the government is caught off-guard by calamities and yet, little attention is paid to call out these failures, especially by the people. These are problems that the citizens and, most especially, the government needs to act on.

FOLLOW ON PAGE 32

VISION

MISSION

Polytechnic education at its best for the Bicolanos

Transforming lives to be free of poverty by creating a better future through world class polytechnic education and technological innovation

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 Mariella Villar Lorenzo Arengo STAFF ARTISTS Joanna Erika Puzon Jerome Ibarreta Jan Kloude Igana Larry Andrie Pacardo Rafael Angelo Morales Joven Ceguera LAYOUT ARTISTS Ken Horlador Mary Ann Bermido Alessandro Bernales Aizer Joy Junio PHOTOJOURNALISTS Joshua Cedilla Jamela Hazel Tranquilo Jude Zymon Casyao Luigi San Joaquin CONTRIBUTORS Angelo Luceña Paul David Luna PUBLICATION MODERATOR Gigi Severo

TheSPARK NEWSLETTER | VOLUME XL | NO. 2

THE OFFICIAL STUDENT-COMMUNITY PUBLICATION OF CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES | AUGUST-NOVEMBER 2020

Editorial

UNENDING PLIGHT ON RESILIENCY FROM PAGE 31 ARTWORK BY JOSEPH RYAN IBARRETA

At t i m e s , people take notice of the situation and stand to voice their sentiments out. #NasaanAngPangulo made rounds in social media as people call the President out and seek accountability for his alleged lack of actions prior to and succeeding the typhoons. Many said he failed to prepare the nation which resulted in the unfortunate events that unfolded last November.

Meanwhile, President Duterte has not offered specifics on how the Philippines plans to handle Typhoon Ulysses and others after its onslaught.

People’s outrage was further fueled by his unnecessary jokes and fake positivity in press conferences, when in fact calls for plans is high at this point.

What the people are seeking are plans of the government to help the country recover from this disaster. As if ruin and destruction after three successive typhoons are not grievous enough realities to take attention awhile people are urgently crying for help, the President made it more important to bring people’s attention to these unnecessary things—all these made even worse by the onset of diseases among the population.

Seeing such actions by any leader in this country is not uncommon. With the type of officials elected by people—most brought by populism or clans—the country is limited by a select few to choose from. This lack of alternatives makes changing leadership hard to make and gives officials less incentive to step up.

But efforts can be augmented more on calling out for change. This way, leaders will be pressured to perform better as public outcry is increasing.

However, a big hurdle in the way of achieving this is the messed-up narrative of Filipino Resiliency. As this idea become inherent to the society and those in power are taking this to their advantage to hide their shortcomings, parts in the system that needs correction are not changed. People must realize that sensationalism of this idea is being used by politicians for their benefit, at the expense of the people’s welfare.

Filipino resilience should not be glorified. Instead, the people must call out all mistakes and inaction to FEATURES Patungong Kabundukan | 22

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As the government lacks political will to make change, it is important for its people to voice out their concerns.

If the narrative changes to one that aspires people to be truly resilient, all flaws and mistakes will be called out.

Thus, there will be greater chances of correcting them.

OPINION Youth, It’s Our Turn | 29

make a difference in this country.

Filipinos should stop falling to stories of people’s rise from destruction, but instead taking a stand to voice accountability. With this, we will have a more functioning corrective mechanism to change all that is wrong and lacking.

Now, what we need is change.

The people must constantly hold authorities accountable for their actions and demand for a more proactive approach in dealing with calamities.

These corrective mechanisms rest upon the people and are essential to the check and balances that are missing currently.

This ‘resiliency’ narrative, which is a myth, hinders people to call for change as attention is not paid to areas where is it needed.

As the government lacks the political will to make a change, it is important for its people to voice out their concerns. If the narrative changes to one that aspires people to be truly resilient, all flaws and mistakes will be called out. Thus, there will be greater chances of correcting them.

Not only in issues like the country’s responses during disasters where this change in the narrative can help the society but in the plethora of problems plaguing the whole country as well. If people stop accepting everything that is given up-front, especially when it is all flawed, then we will achieve to have a well-functioning society where its citizens call out all faults around them and seek to change all that is wrong.

We will have a better country as a result of this, and mistakes and incompetence in the government will have better chances of being corrected.

With the changing perspective and more people are voicing out for change, this Filipino Resiliency narrative continues to change as well. This voice will be a force to reckon with as Filipinos wake up from the flaws of the status quo.

Soon enough, because there is now hope, people will have a different narrative to Filipino Resiliency. As people continue to call for change, awareness is gaining momentum. Those in power will have no choice but to hear the plea of the people and act.

SPORTS Is PH Sports Dead? | 26