T R U T H
B E Y O N D
VOLUME 64 NUMBER 3 · JULY TO AUGUST 2019
K N O W I N G
Maligayang kabuwanan, Lasallians! THE OFFICIAL S TUDENT MEDIA CORPS OF THE UNIVERSIT Y OF S T. L A SALLE
NEWS
The University celebrates another accomplishment as three USLS-IS students went home victorious after nabbing the bronze medals in an international Math competition. read on page 2
EDITORIAL
The Spectrum calls for the humble countrymen to rise and unite against the fallacies shrouding the Filipinos from the truth. read on page 4
DEVELOPMENT
CEd Dean felt honored as he secured a spot for a scholarship grant given by UB Fellows program among the nominees from various Asian universities. read on page 6
VANTAGE POINT
Lasallians engaged themselves and built bridges with fun-filled activities in a three-day club fair themed “Myriad: An Era of Possibilities”. read on page 8
DAGWAY
A Bacolod-based band is rising to stardom from their humble beginnings as former members of USLS’ music club continue to serenade the crowd. read on page 10 OUST DUTERTE. The people of Negros reunited and rallied the streets at the Capitol Park and Lagoon during the annual State of the Nation Address.—PETER JOB T. BEARNEZA JR.
NEGRENSES SLAM FOURTH DU30 SONA BY IVEE E. MANGUILIMOTAN AND HANA PATRICIA RAJ E. HAUTEA WITH REPORTS FROM JORIE E. TORIANO AND MAEGAN JOY MATAMORO
Thousands of people all over Negros Occidental converged in Bacolod City to defend their rights, sovereignty, and freedom in a twopart series of rallies and protests organized in light of President Rodrigo Duterte’s fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 22. UNITED PEOPLE’S SONA Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Negros (BAYAN) spearheaded the United People’s SONA which involved approximately 2,000 protesters marching from the Capitol Park and
Lagoon to the Bacolod City Public Plaza at 1 p.m., along with speeches and the burning of an effigy of the president. Participants of the rally included sugar workers, farmers, and people from different fields of work, as well as various human rights groups. Correspondingly, two priests were invited to give the Statement of Solidarity— one from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bacolod and one from the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI Aglipay). “These are the faces of the
citizens who protest no matter how difficult their situations are, because it will only get worse if they sat down and did nothing,” BAYAN-Negros Secretary General Michael Dela Concepcion stated. Dela Concepcion continued to list four things they predict to happen following the United People’s SONA: (1) that Duterte will “ratsada” Charter Change, (2) that he will attack the UN Human Rights Council for passing a resolution to investigate the Philippines, (3) that he will “ratsada” death penalty, and (4) that he will
Lasallian prof co-founds first Negros digital paper BY STARLENE JOY B. PORTILLO
Journalism in digital ink— this is how Digital News Exchange (DNX), the first online paper in the Negros Island, was described by its founders. The DNX team is led by former Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) Multimedia Director, Julius Mariveles, as the Executive Editor with his wife, USLS Communications Department Chair Hannah Papasin-Mariveles. Launched last Aug. 19, DNX aims to cover “often neglected angles” on news stories relevant mainly within Bacolod City and Negros Occidental, accessible through multiple online
SHIFTING. Hannah P. Mariveles shares the relevance of digital journalism in an interview at the English Cafe.—ANGELO F. DESPI
platforms, namely: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, along with an independent news portal. “What is great about technology is that it can merge everything. Who doesn’t want to go to a onestop shop?” said PapasinMariveles, who serves as E-MAIL thespectrum.usls@gmail.com
DNX’s Managing Editor. According to her, DNX wants to maximize what digital technology has to offer. Thus, the online paper combines traditional and new media through the use of audio and visual supplements such as infographics, photos, NEWS / PAGE 2
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declare Martial Law. “He is not a unifying president, he is a divisive president,” Dela Concepcion remarked in connection with the administration’s issue on the implementation of Martial Law referring to mass protests and critiques. He added that there are many who protest against the president because he has
done many things that the community does not agree with. “Number 10—he’s the best in terms of human rights violations. [Duterte is] the number one human rights violator. Out of all the presidents, he even beat Marcos,” Dela Concepcion said as he rated the president’s performance on a scale of one
to 10. NEGROS YOUTH SONA PROTEST Later that day at 4:30 p.m., Tribu Duag organized the Negros Youth SONA protest through a series of speeches and the raising of placards as they protested under heavy rain by the Fountain of Justice. NEWS / PAGE 2
USLS collars PERAA award BY MA. KRISTINE JOY R. BAYADOG
WITH REPORTS FROM ANGELA A. CORONEL AND CHRISTIAN DOMINIC L. LEDESMA
The University of St. La Salle–Bacolod received awards on three categories during the 57th Private Education Retirement Annuity Association (PERAA) anniversary celebration that took place at the Marco Polo Hotel, Davao City last July 26. PERAA was focused on providing adequate programs to participating private educational institutions through the achievement of economies of scale from commonly managed funding and retirement arrangements, and by operating as a nonprofit organization. This year’s anniversary theme, “The Search for The Outstanding PERAA Members”, shows affirmation and recognition of dedicated, exemplary, and outstanding service to the nation through education.
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“We are lucky to have three top five semifinalists from the University of St. La Salle that basically were chosen from over a thousand PERAA member institutions,” Dr. Annabelle Balor, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and one of the PERAA awardees, said in an interview. Along with Balor who garnered first place in the Academic Head Category, Jessica Pacalioga also won second place in the FullTime Teacher Category, and University of St. La Salle grabbed first place in the School Category. “I always say that as education leaders or as administrators, we don’t have any control over the results, but what we have control over are the conditions that will bring about success,” Balor expressed. Moreover, she also shared her immersive training experiences
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at Harvard Graduate School of Education and University of Melbourne in Australia prior to PERAA achievement. Balor said that through her observations as a visiting academic, she was able to adapt and put into implementation one of the best practices of the University of Melbourne–the Study Without Teaching (SWOT) Days program provided for students to have a breathing space of two days before exams and one day after. She also expressed that the administration is doing everything to bring the university to the next level—from formulating development programs, setting goals for the academic year, hands-on support in the licensure examination performances, and to maintain the university’s accreditation status.
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NEWS
JULY TO AUGUST 2019
Remembering the past, gearing up for the future BY ALAN S. VILLANUEVA JR. AND DISNEY MARIE L. ESPARTERO
The perception that deterioration is entwined with age is ordinarily ingrained into people’s minds, but it is undeniably true that age is accompanied by growth and development. The curtains have been drawn for this year’s Handumanan Week Celebration, marking its 67th year with the theme, “Mehora”—signifying the improvement and continued growth of the institution over the years. Furthermore, new buildings and infrastructures built in the past year, from the Br. Miguel Building, the renovation of the university lavatories, and to the Handumanan Park were featured during the celebration with paintings showcased by the Artist’s Hub. Additionally, the university’s academic and spiritual advancements were also presented during the event. Specifically, the development of the Study Without Teaching Program
(SWOT) was cited as an effort to facilitate educational enrichment along with the university’s placement as 2nd among the prominent schools in the June 2019 Nursing Licensure Examinations. Celebrated annually, the Berde Bash aims to remember and relive the principles of the school’s founder, St. John Baptist de La Salle. This year’s celebration was truly special, marking the tercentenary of the death of La Salle. “While our founder may not be physically present, his spirit is with us. It is in us and among us,” said Geoffrey Bob Bergante, Vice Chancellor for Mission and Development. In relation to the central focus of the event, Bergante also expressed his desire for the Lasallian community to be driven by the founder’s legacy into the fulfillment of the university’s shared mission, particularly encompassing the spirit of faith, zeal for service, and communion in mission. In the course of the celebration, performances by the De la Salle Chorale, Vivace Strings, sports team captains, and faculty members were
FORGING THE ANIMO. The Maskara Theatre Ensemble performed during the Berde Bash with the theme “Mehora: Animomovement Chronicles” at the University Coliseum. —KARL BRIAN T. MARQUEZA
also featured. Br. Jose Peter Vincent H. Fernandez, Director for the Center for Alumni Relations, discussed the achievements made by La Salle in its 67th year of serving the Filipino youth. The event concluded with the annual tradition of
USLS-IS students prevail in SIMOC BY ERICA JAINE A. MESTRE
Three students from the University of St. La Salle-Integrated School (USLS-IS) brought home awards from the fifth Singapore International Math Olympiad Challenge (SIMOC) held in Gems World Academy, Singapore last July 6-9. Carmelo Velez (Grade 3) won two bronze awards in the Mind Sports Challenge and the Math Olympiad Challenge while Emmanuel Salgado (Grade 3) garnered a bronze award and Caleb Zeke Mellina (Grade 5) obtained an Honorable Mention in the Math Olympiad Challenge.
The students took a qualifying exam called Singapore and Asian Schools Math Olympiad (SASMO) and were awarded with bronze medals which qualified them for SIMOC last April 7 organized by the Asian MathSci Leag. Inc (AMSLI). “Our students who joined the SIMOC did not have any formal mathematics training, unlike their other counterparts in the Philippine team,” said USLS-IS teacher Dr. Michael Cañada when asked about the struggles they faced throughout. Cañada and other Math teachers took the challenge and trained Velez, Salgado, and Mellina by following a training plan based on
reviewers given by the Iloilo AMSLI Center. They also went to Iloilo on Saturdays to attend lectures from seasoned AMSLI trainers. Cañada expressed his gratitude to the rest of the school administrators for giving them the chance to partner with AMSLI so that the same opportunity could be passed on to the students in the field of Mathematics. “This year we are looking forward for more engagements in the international arena when it comes to mathematics competitions. I know that there’s so much talent hidden in our Lasallian students, particularly in Math,” Cañada expressed.
being complacent as well as highlight local demands such as the implementation of City Ordinance No. 562, or the plastic bag regulation ordinance. “We want the people to know that the youth is here, that we are aware of what’s happening, that we are not complacent about the current issues that plague our nation. We want to show them that we
have a voice,” Girard Mariano Lopez, Lead Convenor of Tribu Duag, declared. Alongside Tribu Duag, other organizations representing different sectors were also involved in the event such as Kabataan Party List, Anakbayan, Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino, Linghod, and Youth for Climate Hope, among others.
media” in order to engage the audience, especially the young, to read. Mariveles emphasized that the Web and social media has opened a lot of opportunities for a storyteller. However, the medium is not the question, but the discipline. “It is dependent on the journalist to provide value,” the Executive Editor said. Other than delivering stories, DNX also intends to provide facts and context— the whys and hows—through the following segments: DNX Verifies, the paper’s fact-checker; DNX Focus, its
investigative leg; and DNX Xplains, a newly-launched segment that merges video, text, and infographics to provide nuancing for issues, phenomenon, policies, or laws. Furthermore, other segments include: Public Life, Health, Lifestyle & Culture, Movie Reviews, and Columns. “They say that in journalistic principle, we must make the interesting relevant and the relevant, interesting,” stated Mariveles. And that is exactly what DNX intends to follow through.
NEGRENSES DOUSE DU30’S SONA
“The youth are concerned in various issues and we are affected in these issues. We hope that the voice of the masses—the voice of the streets—will be heard in the palace,” Krishna Ariola, Lead Convenor of Youth for Climate Hope, remarked. Through this, they aim to build awareness not just among the youth, but also the local community, to stop LASALLIAN PROF CO-FOUNDS
videos, film, animation, and podcasts to support text. “The craft of journalism hasn’t changed [...] Our traditional practices and values are still there. But whether you like it or not, you have to move with technology,” she added. The idea for a digital paper started four years ago, after Mariveles, then working for PCIJ, had a stroke. He was left unemployed for the first time in his 22 years of service as a journalist, which led to talks with his wife about starting a traditional newspaper, but decided later on to “fuse old and new
singing the birthday song and the administration consisting of the Director for Mission and Development Geoffrey Bob Bergante, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Dr.
Annabelle Balor, and the USLS Basic Education Principal Br. Sockie de la Rosa, giving their messages to the Lasallian community. “Therefore, we can say
with conviction, individually or collectively, I am La Salle. You are La Salle. We are La Salle. With one heart, one commitment, one life,” Bergante concluded.
Awardees slash 2018 Recognition Rites digits
ZEALOUS SERVICE. Giovanni Ferreras accepts his Medrano Award for tenure given by Br. Martinez at the University Coliseum.—CHRIS JOHN T. ACERO BY JOHN VINCENT E. RIVERA & STARLENE JOY B. PORTILLO
Two hundred and sixty-two administrators, faculty, and staff took their spot in the annual Recognition Rites last July 3 at the Coliseum, surpassing the previous year’s record of 168 awardees. The Recognition Rites has been a yearly activity which aims to promote excellence by acknowledging the loyalty and the committed service of employees to the University, conducted during this year’s 67th Handumanan Week celebration. As part of the ceremony, awardees received a trophy, certificate, and reward money in accordance to the award/s they received. “[The Recognition Rites] is our way of affirming them. Without this, we assume that good work is usual […] We need to get affirmation also in a good way,” Br. Joaquin Severino Martinez, FSC said. The awards, which
were all based on tenure and dedicated service exemplified by the employees, are as follows: Service, Juan Medrano, Merit, Perfect Attendance and Punctuality, and The Outstanding Mentor, Administrator and Staff (THOMAS) Awards. In addition, the Service Awards were given to the employees who served the university in 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 40 years respectively. “These are some of the awards which are difficult to maintain and attain. [I am] very happy because it is a good reflection that many are rising up to the challenge,” Br. Martinez said in a separate interview after the event. Having said that, Br. Martinez elaborated that the challenge is on how Lasallian staff become not just ‘present’, but ‘joyfully present’ in their journey to ‘staying and persevering’. Br. Martinez highlighted how he looked up to the only three awardees who received the 40 years Service Awards namely:
Alma Aboy, Suzette Eurabia, and Rosie Jardeleza ,EdD. “Let us consider this recognition, however, as a challenge to do better [and] become better. Let us not use this award to define us,” Vice Chancellor for Administration Charo Mae Cordova said, as a reminder for the awardees. She further stated that the actions of [the awardees] define themselves instead. The Recognition Rites has existed through years to acknowledge the efforts of employees in making sure that quality education is provided for the students. “To where is this University [headed] in ten years?” Br. Martinez asked as he narrated his three-week-long pilgrim in Spain in the middle of his closing speech. On that note, Br. Martinez challenged the awardees to maintain their good work and continue doing better, as part of his vision for the university.
THE OFFICIAL STUDENT MEDIA CORPS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. LA SALLE · USLS STUDENT ACTIVITY CENTER, LA SALLE AVE., BACOLOD CITY, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL 6100 · VOLUME 64 NUMBER 3 · JULY TO AUGUST 2019
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NEWS
JULY TO AUGUST 2019
SOA 2019: An Introduction to an Inclusive Government BY ALAN S. VILLANUEVA JR.
Centering on the University Student Government’s (USG) goal of promoting the inclusion of Lasallians in its initiatives, the 2019 State of the Organization Address (SOA) was delivered on July 30 at the University Forum. As Executive President Angelica Moreño commenced her speech, she discussed her visualization of Lasallian students’ dreams and aspirations, upon succeeding in the election. In addition, she emphasized her team’s unity in fulfilling La Salle’s mission and vision by formulating activities focused on inclusion. “LeZgo La Salle, the USG’s platform for the Academic Year 2019-2020, is the inspiration and driving rhythm for us to move towards an inclusive student government wherein everyone will be given a chance to shine their brightest,” Moreño cited. Regarding the stated objective, she specified that student-centered programs are aimed to present Lasallians’ potentials and views. Moreño shared her conceptualization of this generation wherein, she stated, “taking a stand is not merely an option, but the passion and the drive for societal change.” Aligned with this, she acknowledged the Summer Splash 2019 for reinforcing climate action’s importance through talks by the Youth for Climate Action and Linghod. “During this event, the Executive Branch gave out bookmarks with tips and fliers about the Lasallian Ambassadors (LAMBs) and
Unweathered: 67 Years of Lasallian Spirit BY CARL HASON T. GERALE & SHAN MARC O. JABAGAT
WITH REPORTS FROM ANDREA DANIELLE A. GAMBOA
STRIVE. USG Executive President Angelica Moreño delivered her speech at the University Forum during the State of the Organization Address. —KARL BRIAN T. MARQUEZA
the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” Moreño narrated, pertaining to the Lasallian Freshmen Awareness Program (LFAP) organized by the USG. Supplementally, SDG Fora, a series of talks and activities about issues concerning the students and the society headed by Coleen Awit of the Department of Advocacy Programs, was commended. “This month, Study Without Teaching (SWOT) upgraded to free days for rest and requirements before and after exams,” Moreño proclaimed. The Club Fair 2019 was noted for exhibiting the clubs’ identities through activities led by Mares Alegada, Campus Clubs and Organizations Liaison and Erasmo Tan Jr., USG Executive Vice President. “With that, I would like to emphasize the union of all [...] in building a stronger League of Campus Organization Presidents, and that through highlighting collaboration and changing the concept of competition, we remain inclusive,” she added. In relation to the Club Fair, Moreño recognized “Dagway: Faces of Reality” for promoting different facets of expression through featuring the freshmen’s potentials, and
City dad discards NFP relocation plan BY JOHN VINCENT E. RIVERA
During a meeting for the proposed relocation of the Negros Forest Park (NFP) last May 22, Mayor Evelio Leonardia unofficially announced the retainment of the organization on their present space at the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol Complex. The Provincial Board of Bacolod City recently suggested the relocation of the conservation center, in order to consequently turn the area into a commercial compound open for lease. Due to the proposed relocation, a petition by Jed Jalandoni was posted on change.org which already garnered almost 50,000 signatures in opposition to the relocation of the center. “[Leonardia] promised to us that we will be staying for another 25 years,” NFP Curator David Castor said during an interview. Castor considered the result of the meeting as a victory not only for the entire NFP community, but to the wildlife as well, commending how the mayor saw the importance of the site. However, Castor said he does not want to “hype” the people about the successful prevention of the relocation, until the legal papers for the announcement will be approved and released. Castor is the last remaining individual of the NFP pioneer group who initiated the conservation program together with 24
NEWS FEATURE
other field staff, 13 board of trustees, and some other volunteers and affiliate scientists who worked to make the first steps of converting a kangkungan into a rescue and captivebreeding center. He also pointed out that the continuation of the relocation will bring an immense negative impact to Bacolod in totality. “We will lose our forest [...] This forest is like a lung in the heart of the city,” Castor stated, as he explained the adverse effects of the relocation to Bacolodnons. The NFP pioneer also pointed out that the forest park is located strategically within the heart of the city, which makes it more accessible for visitors who pass by and visit the landmark. Meanwhile, the proposed relocation area in Panaad is approximately one hectare smaller compared to the present land area where the site presently stands. He further explained how bigger cities like New York maintained even larger green spaces in their landscape, such as the Central Park. To date, the conservation center houses around 140 animals varying from birds, mammals, and reptiles of which most of them are endemic and 500 tree species with 15 of them can only be found in the Philippines.
U-League for accommodating preparation for the Sportsfest. Moreño’s speech entailed that the USG officers will plant more trees, continuing La Salle’s Million-Tree Project. Furthermore, she detailed projects including: Pinoylympics for facilitating the recollection of childhood experiences, Project Homebound for providing convenience to students travelling to North and South terminals, Treasurers Union Skills Training (TRUST) Seminar and Financial Management Seminar for advocating financial literacy, the General Appropriations Act for securing all initiatives’ funding, and a new Students’ Rights and Welfare (STRAW) Law for ensuring the comfort of Lasallians. “Simply put, this system will allow Lasallians to experience the decisiveness, comfort, and promptness of governance, where the executive relies on potential legislative support,” Moreño explained in her proposal of a parliamentary system. Quoting former United States President John Kennedy, Moreño concluded her speech by stating that those who only look at the past or present are certain to miss the future.
Despite the pelting raindrops descending from the doleful Tuesday sky, the Lasallian spirit remains undeterred. Clad in long-sleeve clothes and thick coats, Lasallians flocked the University Chapel to attend the 7 a.m. mass, officially commencing the start of yet another Handumanan Week last July 2. The festivities continued later into the day, where musical acts, which included Musikat, the De La Salle Choir, and the Center for Lasallian Ministry (CELAM) Choir, performed at the Coliseum Lobby as part of the opening of a festive week. CELAM debuted their new original song “AniMotion”, with lyrics highlighting the Animo Spirit. USLS Integrated School (IS) Vocations Coordinator Br. Irwin Climaco culminated the program, reflecting on the life of St. John Baptist de La Salle and his humble beginnings in growing his faith through community. “My prayer for us in the 67th year of USLS is that we take care of each other, look after each other, and when one is down, help the person get back up. Because in faith, we remember that we have each other,” Climaco said. With hands held to their hearts and an inspiring sense of camaraderie in the air,
SEED OF LIFE. USG Executive President Moreño and SAC President Verzosa planting the molave plant at the College Plaza in commemoration of the Handumanan Week. —CHRIS JOHN T. ACERO
Lasallians, connected by their beloved alma mater and from all walks of life, recited what they had learned to encapsulate in their everyday lives: Live Jesus in our hearts, forever. When the Handumanan banner was unrolled, Eurasian tree sparrows were released from the top of the Coliseum, and a congress of birds cascaded down to the crowd. The ceremony proceeded to the planting of the 67th commemorative tree at the College Plaza. This year, a healthy-looking molave seedling was chosen for the Tree Care Program. Balayan Social Development Office Director Andre Tagamolila led the event, in cooperation with the Institutional Events Committee, and presided by the Vice Chancellor for Mission and Development, Geoffrey Bob Bergante. Deviating from tradition of chancellors and presidents planting the 67th commemorative tree, this year, the honor was passed
onto Lasallian students. Tagamolila explained, “Young members of our institution symbolically planting trees of hope if I may call it—a symbol that we are investing something into the future through the care for our environment.” With the grounds—damp and cleared out of wild weeds—the IS Student Affairs Council (SAC) President Edrian Verzosa together with the University Student Government President Angelica Moreño bedded the young molave plant to the soil—a pact between the young generation and nature itself. The annual commemoration of the university’s foundation week remains a significant reminder of how far the Lasallian community has come. Comparable to a sparrow that takes flight, success leads one to greatness. But just as the molave tree that was planted into firm soil, success shall waver if one is not rooted to the ground. This makes the Handumanan Week an event worth celebrating and remembering in every Lasallian’s heart, and to anyone who has been a part of its success.
Renowned lensman directs IMI photography workshop BY ERICA JAINE A. MESTRE AND PAULA MAE E. VILLAROSA
Canon Ambassador PerAndre Hoffmann led the Pros Path photography workshop for practicing photographers at Museo Negrense de La Salle last July 16-20. This five-day photography workshop was organized by the Institute of the Moving Image (IMI) with the Office of the President and Chancellor, in cooperation with the School of Professional and Continuing Education of the College of St. Benilde, where Hoffmann also serves as a consultant and teacher. Pros Path was generated to enhance the abilities of amateur photographers through four-hour lectures in the mornings and exercises in the afternoons—focusing on lighting, photo storytelling, photojournalism, and street photography. “This event aims to spread and enhance the photography skills and artistic abilities in this generation,” IMI Director Manny Monetlibano stated. He also added that the IMI invites speakers yearly to host workshops, like the Bacolod Workshops held every summer, for those willing to develop their skills in this field. “Help one another—we must say what we think and be open to critique,” the National Geographic, Vogue,
THE PHOTOGRAPHER AND THE VIEWER. Participants and organizers of the Pros Path photography workshop posing for a photo op with Per-Andre Hoffman —ANGELO F. DESPI
and TIME photographer began his lecture by stressing that everyone in the field should be willing to learn and grow as artists. On the first and second days of the workshop, Hoffmann presented his works as basis for highlighting the use of Photoshop with regards to stitching for photo enhancement. After the lecture on the second day, Camera Haus sponsored the first raffle event that constituted a camera bag and a receiver, and transmitter speed light remote as raffle prizes. “We don’t just shoot what we see; we see what we shoot. […] That is the creative cause— it is not just shooting but it is seeing before shooting,” the renowned photographer stressed. During the third and fourth days, Hoffmann emphasized
the importance of choosing a subject matter and its impact on the marketability of one’s works. A shooting assignment around Museo de La Salle’s collections was then given to allow the photographers to apply what they had discussed. “If you’ve been in the business for a long time and you’ve gotten used to a certain style, it’s difficult to reinvent yourself, but you have to do that,” Hoffmann urged the photographers to adjust to the global standards of photography so that their outputs could be marketed on a global scale. The Canon ambassador capped off the series of workshops through encouraging the participants to have more outward perspectives by targeting
high-dynamic markets and pushing themselves to adapt to the changing times as opposed to the static photography in the Philippine setting. To culminate the event, another raffle draw was held at Pros Path’s closing ceremony where Gloven Gerogalin, Roberto Luz Coscolluela, Nicky Ledesma, and Charley Sta. Maria won apparels and camera equipment from their sponsors in Camera Haus before Certificates of Recognition were given to the photographers. As their last assignment, the group then took off to Silay for a photo-walk and had a small farewell gathering at the Orange Project after. Ten of the participating photographers opened their output exhibition, Unappreciated Beauty, which ran from August 8-20 at the Museo Negrense De La Salle.
THE OFFICIAL STUDENT MEDIA CORPS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. LA SALLE · USLS STUDENT ACTIVITY CENTER, LA SALLE AVE., BACOLOD CITY, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL 6100 · VOLUME 64 NUMBER 3 · JULY TO AUGUST 2019
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OPINION
JULY TO AUGUST 2019
Editorial
A Knock from Menace
Red-baiting (red-tagging) refers to the practice of publicly classifying individuals and organizations, mostly outspoken critics, as communist terrorists, state enemies or subversives. Such was the case of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group vs. Vice-Pres. Robredo, senators Leila de Lima and Risa Hontiveros, members of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, and Lasallian Br. Armin Luistro, and Atty. Chel Diokno in the context of an alleged ouster plot which circulated through ‘Ang Totoong Narcolist’ videos and ‘Project Sodoma’. By this minute, the opposition is braving charges such as inciting to sedition. More than that, activists and advocates, both young and old, in Negros and beyond, had been tagged as members or sympathizers of the New People’s Army, too, thus facing these haphazard risks: interception and recording of communication; detention without charges; restricted travel and personal liberties; examination of bank records; and seizure and sequestration of sheets. Another infuriating buzz: Brigadier General Benedict Arevalo of the Armed Forces of the Philippines conducted a forum titled ‘Security Situationer’ at the University Coliseum last Aug. 24. His presentation, under the guise of an NSTP lecture, aggravated netizens at it listed CPP-NPA-NDF democratic mass organizations and students across the archipelago. Was this appropriate? Was someone in USLS liable and should face scrutiny? Yes and yes. The aforementioned are proofs of how the DU30 Regime stirs nationwide efforts to quell the youth from associating themselves with insurgent alliances. Not every conscious citizen believes in the armed struggle. In fact, only corrupt public officials see criticism as destabilizing the country even though they are the ones who reduce dialogues to bouts of ad hominem and insular mudslinging. Because of virality and public relations, level-headed discourses are trampled. In short, they are shaken off their high horses whenever someone stands in their way. And the masses are indelible reminders of whom they shall submit themselves to. Also, think of our case this way: in three or more years, perhaps a lifetime, under this current administration, we will not only mimic, but even exceed, the abusive terms of former President Arroyo and the late dictator Marcos. Authoritarian rule has always entailed more names, more bullets, and more bodies drowning in red. This is why The Spectrum calls for the end of red-tagging, intimidation, and the culture of death. As building blocks of Generations Y and Z, we are not seditious by nature. Rather, it is our politics, which could cleave to armed struggle, that’s been grossly generalized and misconstrued countless of times. All Filipinos must collectively rise from fallacies, combat multigenerational stifling, mitigate discriminatory traditions in order to stay alive. Because to fight and resist is our duty. And unease must and should not relentlessly kill us.
THESPECTRUM FOUNDED 1956
facebook.com/thespectrumusls · thespectrum.usls@gmail.com VOLUME 64 NUMBER 3 · JULY - AUGUST 2019 Member Alliance of Lasallian Campus Journalists and Advisers Hezron G. Pios
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Starlene Joy B. Portillo Joshua L. Mahilum MANAGING EDITOR
Andrea Danielle A. Gamboa EXTERNAL AFFAIRS DIRECTOR
NEWSPAPER EDITOR Ivee E. Manguilimotan ASST. NEWSPAPER EDITOR Ma. Kristine R. Bayadog MAGAZINE EDITOR Lance Christian M. Juarez ONLINE PUBLICATIONS EDITOR Kynah Rhea B. Fuentes LITERARY EDITOR Disney Marie L. Espartero CREATIVE DIRECTOR Martini M. Falco PHOTOS & VIDEOS EDITOR Martini M. Falco LAYOUT AND GRAPHICS EDITOR Alexandra V. Bachoco ASST. LAYOUT AND GRAPHICS EDITOR Alfredo Jr. R. Bayon-on
Alan S. Villanueva John Vincent E. Rivera Patrick N. Billojan
PHOTOJOURNALISTS
Karl Brian T. Marqueza Angelo F. Despi Chris John T. Acero Peter Job T. Bearneza Jr.
MAGAZINE WRITERS
Willi T. Florete Maegan Joy Matamoro Hana Patricia Raj E. Hautea ONLINE WRITERS
Shan Marc O. Jabagat Jorie E. Toriano
VIDEOGRAPHER
Joshua Adrian N. Bastillo LAYOUT AND GRAPHICS ARTISTS
Kiara Nicole D. Villa Katherine E. Co Gerico T. Guanco ILLUSTRATORS
LITERARY WRITERS
Paula Mae E. Villarosa Erica Jaine A. Mestre Alvin Brian S. Legario WEB ADMINISTRATORS
Angela A. Coronel Christian Dominic L. Ledesma
Once is Too Much
The fact that Bawal ang Bastos is now a law or the Safe Streets and Public Spaces Act (R.A. 11313) is eyed to prevent genderbased sexual harassment occurring in the streets, online workplaces and educational or training institutions, the fact that stiffer penalties shall be placed on slurs that are misogynistic or transphobic or homophobic or sexist, stalking and cyberstalking, cursing, wolf whistling, leering and intrusive gazing, taunting, unwanted invitations and comments on one’s appearance, and relentless requests for one’s personal details, the fact that Sen. Risa Hontiveros, a woman, an opposition, principal sponsor and author of the measure in the Senate, was victimized, coincidentally, due to her piña barong attire during Pres. Duterte’s 4th SONA, the fact that a Twitter user named Carlo Malonzo made this ruthless comment: Dear Risa Hontiveros: Dress appropriately. There’s a place and time to dress like a thirsty slut and a senator of the republic, the fact that Sen. Hontiveros replied: Stop telling women how to dress, the fact that the patriarchy is beyond comparison, the fact that, once, my ate, tired from hospital duty, had been followed by a man, a bagong salta, large and dark in frame, who attempted to rob my ate’s bag, the fact that my ate, in turn, screamed her loudest, for someone to come and rescue her at any second, to quell the violence, the fact that the man, thankfully, panicked and ran away, the
Fig. 451
Hezron G. Pios
hezpios@protonmail.com
[...] the fact that nobody owns somebody else’s body fact that my ate came home traumatized after the event, breaking down nonstop when she showed up in our sala, the fact that mama and I immediately alerted our neighbors, trisikad drivers, barangay kagawads and higher authorities, the fact that this still makes me so furious, the fact that the local police patrolled J.R. Torres Village for a few consecutive days, the fact that the patrol ended after a few consecutive days, the fact that LGUs are mandated to pass ordinances whereas schools and universities such as USLS should create standard procedures, allowing victims to file their complaints, the fact that those who are found guilty as charged will be fined P1,000 to P100,000 and imprisoned for a month, the fact that violators deserve incarceration and
impunity should not be upheld, the fact that women are always compromised, invalidated, abused, and isolated, the fact that toxic masculinity restrains us from removing sick double standards and vitriol, the fact that I, too, was a firsthand witness as to how harassers employ pity when they are met against a dead end, the fact that, once, three construction works catcalled my female colleague who was merely passing by during a national event we were hosting, the fact that one of them said: Uy, gwapa! Pwede magpakilala? the fact that when we confronted them, they were speechless at first, the fact that the offender issued an unapologetic apology, the fact that when I berated him that was when they got serious and I told he and his accomplices to distance themselves away from us, especially from the woman whom they preyed on, or we will summon the management who actually did not give a crap, the fact that reality demands out of us an assertion of respect for human dignity, the fact that this should be a fulcrum in a supposedly progressive, functional, and postmodern society, the fact that consent is non-negotiable, the fact that nobody owns somebody else’s body, the fact that there are many salient propositions left unpacked but it’s monumental that you’re here, reading and reading, so you’d know and do better next time, and the fact that ‘boys will be boys’ is pure insolence.
Dapat mayor muna mauna!
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
NEWSPAPER WRITERS
—EARL JOHN D. PABULAR
Anna Theresa S. Parayno Carl Hason T. Gerale Earl John D. Pabular EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
Ida Sarena M. Gabaya
PUBLICATION MODERATOR
Jean Lee C. Patindol
The Spectrum is the Official Student Media Corps of the University of St. La Salle. Its editorial office is located at the USLS Student Activity Center, La Salle Ave., Bacolod City, Negros Occidental 6100; it can be reached through the telephone number, (034) 432-1187 local 172 and e-mail address, thespectrum.usls@gmail.com. All rights reserved. No part of The Spectrum may be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the Media Corps. All contributions become The Spectrum property and the Editor-in-Chief reserves the right to edit all articles for publication.
Tatlong taon na ang nakalipas nang maging ulo ng balita ang mga katagang ito. Dating kandidato pa lamang sa pagkapangulo si Rodrigo Duterte nang pabiro niya itong binanggit tungkol sa balitang panggagahasa sa isang Australyanang misyonero. Tatlong taon na ang nakalipas ngunit nananatiling isang malupit na katotohanan na hanggang ngayon, mayor pa rin ang nauuna sa kahit anong pila. Gabi ng Hunyo 1993, may regalong natanggap ang dating alkalde ng Calauan, Laguna na si Antonio Sanchez. Dahil naturingang panghimagas ang regalo, tinamasa niya ito. Subalit, nang matapos siya’y iniluwa niya ang mga tira-tira at binigay para pagsaluhan ng kaniyang mga alaga. Sa kuwentong ito, ang regalo ay ang estudyanteng si Mary Eileen Sarmenta. Muling naungkat ang salaysay na ito nang idineklara ni Bureau of Corrections Director General Nicanor Faeldon ang posibleng paglaya ni Sanchez, na naparusahan ng pitong bilang ng reclusion perpetua o panghabang-buhay na pagkakabilanggo dahil sa paggahasa at pagpatay kay Sarmenta, pati na rin sa isang kasama nito. Kabilang daw ang alkalde sa mahigit 11,000 na mga bilanggong kwalipikado sa maagang paglaya, batay sa Republic Act 10592 o ang Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) Law. Bilang pagkilala sa posibilidad na magbagong-buhay ang mga bilanggo, nakasaad sa GCTA ang pagbawas sa sentensiya ng persons deprived of liberty na palagiang nagpapakita ng mabuting
asal sa loob ng selda. Magiging batayan sa pagbabawas-araw ang pagsunod ng mga bilanggo sa patakaran ng kani-kanilang mga bilangguan, rehabilitation center, o penal institution. Gayunpaman, nabubukod sa gatimpalang ito ang mga bilanggong nakasuhan ng heinous crimes, o mga krimeng naglalantad ng “labis na kasamaan, bangis, lupit, at kabastusan”. Kung susuriin, ang panggagahasa’t pagpatay na pinamunuan ni Sanchez ay maituturing na halimbawa nito. Nakalulungkot mang isipin, ngunit sa hilera ng paglaya, ang makatutubos lamang sa’yo ay kapangyarihan, hindi kabutihan. Isang kaso lamang ito mula sa naitalang 816 na heinous crime convicts na napalaya ngayong taon. Ang mukha ni Sanchez ang nagsilbing sagisag sa saklaw na kayang bilhin ng pera at pribiliheyo. Kinakatawan niya ang katiwaliang laganap sa mga mayayamang kriminal, pati na rin ang pagbubulag-bulagan ng gobyerno dito. Sa isang bansa kung saan larong pulitika ang nananaig sa katarungan, mahirap ang maging mahirap. Dahil kay mayor, nanlamig ang pagtanggap at ang talakayan ukol sa GCTA. Dala ng takot at galit, may mga mamamayang gustong ibalik ang death penalty. Sa kabilang dako, nagtatangka ang gobyerno na ibalik sa bilangguan ang mga pinalaya ng batas na ito. Subalit bago natin batikusin ang GCTA Law, nawa’y maunawaan natin na ang totoong kalaban dito ay hindi ang batas, kundi ang mga tiwaling tagapagpatupad nito. Isa sa mga magandang naidulot ng R.A. 10592 ay ang pagpapahupa sa lumalalang overcrowding sa mga selda, dahil na rin sa laganap na drug war kung saan karamihan sa mga nabilanggo ay pawang mga nadawit o
Buzzerbeater Starlene Joy B. Portillo
starleneportillo@gmail.com
Sa isang bansa kung saan larong pulitika ang nananaig sa katarungan, mahirap ang maging mahirap. napagbintangan rin lang naman. Simula nang maipatupad ang GCTA noong 2014, libu-libong mga inosente ang nabigyang hustisya, samantalang daan-daan naman ang nabigyan muli ng pag-asa at pagkakataon para makapagbagongbuhay. Dahil sa kapabayaan at kamangmangan ng pamunuan, nagmimistulang ang hustisya ay para lang sa mga may kayang bumili nito. Hindi ito ang unang pagkakataong nagkamali ang ating mga pinuno sa pagbasa at pagpapatupad ng batas. Kung kaya’t hindi rin makatarungang naiisaalang-alang ang karapatang pangkalayaan ng mga ordinaryong Juan. Ilang linya pa kaya ang kailangan nating pilahan bago natin mapagtanto na tayo ay nauungusan?
THE OFFICIAL STUDENT MEDIA CORPS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. LA SALLE · USLS STUDENT ACTIVITY CENTER, LA SALLE AVE., BACOLOD CITY, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL 6100 · VOLUME 64 NUMBER 3 · JULY TO AUGUST 2019
5
JULY TO AUGUST 2019
The climate change catastrophe charade
Ivy Aguas
Ivee E. Manguilimotan iveeechinm@gmail.com
Ignorance is a choice and choosing not to act against the system is a declaration of compliance and submission. “Ano na ang gakatabo sa kalibutan man?” Even with the three-week burning of the Amazon rainforest of South America, the 12 million tons of ice melting in Greenland in just one day, the sudden forest wildfires igniting across Siberia and Indonesia, the Alaskan salmon dying due to warming waters, a hundred dead reindeers found on Norway, the Spix’s blue macaws (from the Rio movie) going extinct, the whales found dead on Iceland beach, the accelerating biodiversity loss in the ocean, the record high temperatures and heat waves around the world; and yet, people still cannot grasp the idea that the planet we are living in is
deteriorating at such a rapid pace. Ten years after the animated movies The Lorax and WALL-E—both tackling essential environmental subject matters, equally encouraging people to take action against the drastic climate changes—were released in 2008, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reported that there is only a dozen years for global warming to be kept to a maximum of 1.5C degrees celsius, or else the risk of drought, floods, extreme heat, and poverty for hundreds of millions of people will significantly worsen over time. We’ve always heard issues on climate changes, climate strikes, climate injustices, and climate crises; and as alarming and real as these issues are, the people are not alarmed as they ought to be. They turn numb and accept what the future could possibly seem like—somber, prosaic, insipid. Generation Z has felt the gravity of the situation, leaning to a more grotesque vision of the decades left to live out. Yet, we do not treat this state of climate emergency with sound solution and urgency in our actions. The Proceedings of the National Academy of Science also found that in most poor countries, higher temperatures are more than 90% likely to have resulted in decreased economic output, compared to a world without global warming. In this advent of climate crisis, poor countries will likely face critical challenges, including the destruction of entire communities and millions of premature deaths. Higher temperatures affect economic output in a variety of ways. The poorest countries are facing the worst effects of rising temperatures—for which they are least responsible. This includes the Philippines.
It is a fact that climate change is a natural occurrence in Mother Earth’s life yet the events we are experiencing now are happening at an abnormal rate. The big people around the world choose to hide behind their wealth and power as the world’s current capitalism is fossil-based, and fossil-fueled capitalism is the face of the most profitable companies—automotive and aviation—in the history of humankind. These represent our current capitalist system. Infrastructure and cities are built for them, markets function for them, and governments are conniving with them. Preventing climate breakdown is incompatible with the very existence of capitalism. The big people side where the dollar thrives. The Earth is dying, and we, with it. Empathetically, we are contributing to its murder. Posting on social media asking strangers to raise awareness does not erase the fact that we ourselves do not practice what we preach. Less than twelve years left before the irreversible forthcoming, we must act now. Ignorance is a choice and choosing not to act against the system is a declaration of compliance and submission. It is up to the small people. To truly accept the impending probability and act towards providing viable solutions. It is up to the youth. To voice out to the elderly that there might not be a world left for us to care for. It is up to you. To get angry for the right reasons— with the knowledge of saving our home— and to finally practice what you preach. We are the solution as we are the cause. We. Must. Act. Now.
Watch out: Red Flag! (and why we should be worried) If you want, just make us a province (of China). Such a bold, strong, and worrisome statement coming from our very own head of state, Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte (PRRD) during the oath taking of newly-elected officials of the Federation of FilipinoChinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. which was attended by a crowd of Filipino-Chinese businessmen last February 19. Not only influential tradesmen and industrialists were there during the event, but also Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines, Zhao Jianhua, who even applauded the Philippine President’s statement. It was not the talk that made the event striking, but the President’s notable declaration. From this, questions circulated within the Filipino community such as: What is going on? What is China doing in our territories? Is the Duterte administration favoring the Chinese over the Filipinos? What action does the government do?, one notable set of queries was that: Is he really selling us out to the Chinese? Are we slowly becoming China’s underdog? Or have we become one already? The Republic of China has gone from minor transgressions to hostile advances— step by step, trespassing on our very homes. First, they were considered to be visitors to the Philippines, but little by little, they are trying to penetrate and literally go beyond our borders. I have cited two major events that show China is not just a visiting neighbor, and why Filipino masses should be noting a red
Hindi ko inakala na may mas iluluwag pa pala ang mga kalye sa lungsod ng Bacolod. Kamakailan lang, sa ilalim ng Memorandum Circular No. 2019121 na ipinalabas ng Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) noong ika-29 ngw Hulyo ngayong taon, at sa utos na rin ng ating pangulong Duterte, sinimulan ng iba’t ibang lokal na pamahalaan ang demolisyon ng mga ilegal na istruktura sa gilid ng kalsada pati na rin ng mga nagtitinda sa daan, kabilang na ang ating lungsod. Sa isang banda, kapuri-puri ang ginawang hakbang na ito ng ating gobyerno na isa ring solusyon sa lumalalang trapiko dito sa ating bansa. Ngunit, ang tanong: hanggang kailan? Ngayong pinagbawalan na ang mga tindero’t tinderang maglatag ng kanilang mga paninda sa kalsada, mawawalan na ang karamihan sa kanila—kung hindi man lahat—ng mapagkukunan ng kita. Ang resulta: ilang araw lang matapos paalisin, andiyan na naman sila. Sa mababaw
Madame
Ma. Kristine Joy R. Bayadog tinbayadog@gmail.com
[...] they were considered to be visitors to the Philippines, but little by little, they are trying to penetrate and literally go beyond our borders. flag onto them. Trespassing on water territories. Since the start of the Duterte administration, China’s involvement in the country has been repeatedly aired in media that it became a familiarity— hence, a nuisance. Remember when a Chinese vessel capsized a Filipino fishing boat in Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea last June? After sinking the PH fishing boat, the Chinese vessel sailed away without rescuing the helpless fishers. For the Filipinos, what China did was an act of cowardice and betrayal towards the offended, a nation that is considered a friend to the Philippines will never do such actions. The Chinese vessels’ illegal hauling of giant clams within the West Philippine Sea’s vicinity
is also worth noting. If given full rights to fish in the Philippine territory, what more China do other than seizing fishes from our Filipino fishers’ catch? “I thought I was in China.” The nation, since then, has been trying to foster the Philippine economy through investments from partner countries and tourism promotions. The influx of foreign tourists largely contributes to its persistence in the Philippine setting, only validating our country’s abundance in tourist attractions, natural resources, culture, and tradition. But what if the entry of these visitors in the country is no longer for tourism purposes, but for residency and labor? This is the existing case of Chinese nationals flooding dominantly in our metropolitan cities: getting jobs as construction workers and purchasing condominiums for residency of workers. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the unemployment rate of Filipinos was 5.3 percent in 2018, which means that an estimate of 2.3 million Filipinos were unemployed. Now, the question is: Among all these 2.3 million jobless Filipinos, was the government not able to find a single Filipino soul qualified to do the job instead of absorbing Chinese workers? On a personal note, I am in fear that China might have a total and integral control on the decisions (regarding territorial sovereignty) made between the Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping—which supposedly, China has no jurisdiction over.
Hanggang kailan?
Extra Josh
Joshua L. Mahilum
joshuamahilum22@gmail.com
Sa mababaw na bulsa, mas malakas kaysa sa sigaw ng batas ang tawag ng sikmura.
na bulsa, mas malakas kaysa sa sigaw ng batas ang tawag ng sikmura. Isa pang isyu dito ay ang dati nang pasaway na mga drayber at tsuper. Nawala nga sa bangketa ang mga tindero, mga pribadong sasakyan at mga dyip naman ang umokupa sa kanilang puwesto. Problema na noon pa man ang kawalan ng disiplina sa daan na siyang sanhi rin ng trapiko. Sa pagkawala ng mga nagtitinda sa gilid ng kalsada, maaaring gawing paradahan ngayon ng ilang mga sasakyan ang mga pasilyong nilinis nga para daanan ng tao. Lumuwag man sa gitna, sumikip naman sa mga gilid. Kaya’t marapat lamang na kasama sa implementasyon ng programang ito ang maigting na pagpapatupad ng mga batas trapiko. Ang isyung ito ay hindi lang isyu ng espasyo. Ito rin ay isyu ng kahirapan, ng kawalan ng maayos na hanapbuhay, ng pag-unawa at ng disiplina. Hanggang kailan walang tindahan sa gilid ng daan? Hanggang kailan matitiis ang sikmurang walang laman? Hanggang kailan magbabantay ang mga pulisya? Hanggang kailan magiging maluwag ang daan sa gitna?
Teetering on the Truth
Hard Candy
Andrea Danielle A. Gamboa adgamboa0@gmail
Knowing about the inherent subjectivity of any body of work, where can a line be drawn between good intent and questionable impact? I don’t know about you, but I love a good piece of subversive art. Something about the way a piece of work can “stick it to the Man”, lights a fire in me, especially when that Man is Donald J. Trump, President of the United States. We’ve seen criticisms of him from the very start of his term, but one prevailing criticism against him and his administration is their desire to build up the wall. Sure, conflicts in border relations between the United States and Mexico have been long standing, and yes, Trump hasn’t been the only proponent to this divide, but it has certainly defined his presidency. At the end of July, videos of children playing on The Teeter-Totter Wall, an installation created by two Californian professors Ronald Rael and Virginia San Fratello, went viral. On the outskirts of El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, three bright-pink seesaws were wedged between the border, creating a ‘transnational playground’ of sorts for children on either side of the divide to play on. The protest piece, conceptualized for ten years and only up for a mere 30 minutes before it was removed, intended to bring together two nations divided. Rael emphasized its purpose: “to show that we are equal and we can play together.” A noble pursuit, but for me, the piece created another flashy instance of cognitive dissonance. What happens when a piece of political art comes off as exploitative? Knowing about the inherent subjectivity of any body of work, where can a line be drawn between good intent and a questionable impact? Partisan issues aside, the indisputable fact is that the border is not a safe place to be, let alone for children to play. Painting it as such erases a very important narrative of white supremacy that denies the suffering of the oppressed people. Have we forgotten the countless number of children detained in camps, in cages, separated from their families everyday? What does this piece of art do besides distract from that? The piece, in my opinion, teeters on that fine line, empowering the wrong people, eluding a scary and necessary truth and simplifying the complex narrative of the Trump administration in the name of unity. Although we all can argue about its intentions, and yes, there is nothing explicitly wrong with children playing with each other, do we ever acknowledge who are most affected in this ‘art piece’? These children from the Mexican border, who have possibly come to seek refuge and have been denied, playing on fluorescent seesaws, contributing to the irony in which they must ‘stay down’ for the free american children to ‘rise up.’ The exploitative tendency of artists is a narrative that transcends American issues. As Filipinos, we participate in poverty porn sometimes unconsciously. As CNN puts it, “poverty porn is a tactic used by nonprofits and charity organizations to gain empathy and contributions from donors by showing exploitative imagery of people living in destitute conditions.” And it does just that. It promotes charity over action and activism; something that we’ve all found out isn’t the most effective in creating substantial change. When concern about humanitarian issues only comes momentarily from the images of disenfranchised children enjoying a passing moment of childhood, one must question their concern. Are you only upset, simply, because of your guilt?
ERRATUM
S
The headlines “USLS ranks in nationwide best school” and “BCD-based researchers press for AI awareness” published on our May-June issue have been accidentally interchanged from its accompanying articles. The Editorial Staff has overlooked the interchanged articles and take full responsibility. Rest assured appropriate action has been taken in pursuit of the delivery of accurate information to our readers. Our apologies.
— The Editorial Board
THE OFFICIAL STUDENT MEDIA CORPS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. LA SALLE · USLS STUDENT ACTIVITY CENTER, LA SALLE AVE., BACOLOD CITY, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL 6100 · VOLUME 64 NUMBER 3 · JULY TO AUGUST 2019
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DEVELOPMENT
JULY TO AUGUST 2019
Impact Hub MNL set to break hackathon world record
ACCELERATE. Diego Ramos sharing his insight on the essence of devising feasible solutions to tackle vexing tech-related concerns during the Elevate Roadshow at the Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation. —KARL BRIAN T. MARQUEZA BY MA. KRISTINE JOY R. BAYADOG WITH REPORTS FROM LANCE CHRISTIAN M. JUAREZ AND MAEGAN JOY MATAMORO
In preparation for its official attempt to break
the Guinness World Record for the biggest and largest number of participants in a hacking marathon, Impact Hub Manila organized
the “Elevate Roadshow” at the Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation last August 24. The national one-day
boot camp training aimed to teach students in techrelated fields on how to develop feasible and impact-driven solutions
with regards to solving real-world vital issues that continue to exist and aggravate until today. The roadshow was held in preparation for Hackathon on October 3031. An abbreviated term for “hacking marathon”, Hackathon is a 24-48 hour coding event wherein participants are challenged to create ideas and solutions for real-world pressing issues. The concluded roadshow event was a portion of Impact 2050, Impact Hub Manila’s project which envisions large-scale economic transformations through trainings and innovative startups by the year 2050. “Impact 2050 started with the idea of creating something that would accelerate the growth of startups in the Philippines and put us on the map of innovation— in technology,” April Cuenca, Project Co-Head for Impact
2050, said in an interview. Impact Hub, a global network of Impact Entrepreneurs and a Manila-based hub founded in 2015 is an organization that aims to connect people and provide them with opportunities in making change and difference in a global perspective. “The vision of Impact 2050 is to put us on the innovation map[…] so we decided to collaborate with every single local community that we could find that has any sort of initiative in technology and integrate their problems with ours. This has become the first step for us: activate everybody, bring everybody together,” Cuenca expressed when asked about Impact Hub’s vision for 2050. After Negros, Impact Hub Manila will be holding their events for Impact 2050 Project in Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, and Manila in the months to come.
Solar-powered irrigation extends to Hinigaran farms BY IDA SARENA M. GABAYA
The small town of Hinigaran is advancing in agricultural technology through its establishment of a SolarPowered Irrigation System (SPIS) covering 60 hectares of rice farms and 40 hectares of sugarcane fields. The P5.99M irrigation facility located at Brgy. Bato, Hinigaran was funded by the Department of Agriculture (DA). SPIS is the agency’s flagship program initiated by DA Secretary Emmanuel Piñol which aims to build at least 200 units in all areas across the country that have no access to irrigation systems. Piñol has closed an agreement for a P44B budget loan with the Israeli government to complete the solar power plant project in line with strengthening the country’s agricultural industry last July 9. Furthermore, the funding will provide 6,200 computerized SPIS that will irrigate 500,000 hectares of farming lands over the next three years. In the entire Western Visayas, a total of 34 lands have already been chosen by the DA - Regional Field Unit 6 as recipients for SPIS in their respective farmlands. The system is not limited to helping rice and sugar production but could also be used in other high-value crops. Earlier reports from the Visayan Daily Star indicated that DA-6 Director Remelyn Recoter announced that the first bidding for the nine SPIS last year have failed the tests given by the Machinery Testing and Evaluation Center (AMTEC). Later on, they proceeded
to move forward in their progress by realigning it through research and development and a technodemo program. The equipment consists of solar panels that absorb sunlight to generate electricity for the system. Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino, with the assistance of the Municipal Agriculture Office of Hinigaran, was left in charged of the project here in Southern Negros. “My role is essentially facilitation and monitoring of project implementation,” he stated. Likewise, with the cooperation of his team and local farmers, the construction of the first SPIS in Negros delivered successful results. According to Masculino, the first step to solar-powered farming is the identification of a suitable site. “It is cost-free water using renewable energy, hence the environment friendly pump operation,” Masculino added. The provincial agriculturist shared that some of the many benefits are having additional cropping and more opportunities for the farmers to diversify to other crops, save money, and increase their productivity as well because of water availability. In addition, 60 farming families are to benefit from this system as they will no longer have to rely for rain. Masculino plans on strengthening the organization of farmers by including training on other technologies appropriate to their area. He also shared that the SPIS facility is the first in the province but there will be two other solar irrigation projects that are to be implemented.
—PHOTO COURTESY OF DR. RICVER P. URETA
CEd Dean qualifies for UB Fellows Program BY KYNAH RHEA B. FUENTES
Out of around 100 nominees from various Asian universities, the College of Education (CEd) Dean Dr. Ricver Ureta was declared as one of the 17 fellows in this year’s United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia’s Fellows Program. The fellows, including Ureta, have the privilege of a one-year scholarship program made up of three phases: a three-week intensive leadership training in Harvard Graduate School of Education (which was completed already a month ago), Asia placement where they get to choose any Asian university for 2-3 months of deployment, and a weeklong internship intensive leadership seminar in Singapore. “To be nominated is really an honor, but to be chosen as a fellow is even a bonus [...] The opportunity that was given
to me could have been given to someone else, that’s the reason why it entails so much responsibility on my part to translate it into something useful,” Ureta expressed. The United Board Fellows Program is mainly for mid-career faculty and administrators of Asian countries and universities to become dynamic leaders who will advance whole-person education in their respective institutions. While other fellows are being paid by the United Board (UB) throughout this program, Ureta was selected by the Freeman Foundation, one of the benefactors of the UB, to be their scholarship grantee in the course of learning. “The biggest factor [of my nomination] is probably because the university had seen my potential and that there is still so much room for improvement [in me] to grow as a leader [...] Also, potentials
to move further as far as my leadership capabilities and, probably because of, modesty aside, my faithful service in the mission of the Founder,” he emphasized. According to Ureta, the requirements for qualification include: the university’s nomination, submission of certain documents such as forms from the UB and portfolio with one’s leadership background, a number of interviews, and finally, the process of selection. “There is no preparation in the nomination, actually. It’s really more on after you have [been] nominated [that] you have to prepare yourself for the interview. I just have to be natural and to speak as a genuine person [...] to answer them according to my experience,” he explained. Furthermore, he shared that in the first phase of the program, they were given outputs in Harvard
such that of a case study of real situations in their universities, which they will work on for the whole year, and will explicit hands-on in Asia placement and in which findings and results will be presented in the last phase as a culminating activity. When asked about his most significant learning after finishing the first phase, Ureta replied: “To be an authentic leader. It’s really okay to show your real self as leader because that’s what makes you who you are, that makes you authentic. You don’t have to create pretentious effort just to hide your weakness.” Finally, he quoted one of his most unforgettable lessons from a professor during one of the processings of a small group discussion in Harvard: “It’s alright to make a mistake and if you commit a mistake, do it early so that you still have time to correct it.”
THE OFFICIAL STUDENT MEDIA CORPS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. LA SALLE · USLS STUDENT ACTIVITY CENTER, LA SALLE AVE., BACOLOD CITY, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL 6100 · VOLUME 64 NUMBER 3 · JULY TO AUGUST 2019
7
HEALTH & LIFESTYLE
JULY TO AUGUST 2019
Battle-ready: Fortifying your immune system amidst dengue season BY KATHERINE E. CO
The infamous Dengue virus carried by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes has hit 23,330 people this year for the first seven months in Western Visayas alone, which is the highest recorded number of cases among the regions in the country. Now, it has been declared by the Provincial Health Office as a national epidemic after more than 600 deaths. But aside from the compelling tasks of cleaning possible mosquito-breeding places and using repellants for fending off the nasty viruscarrying insects, there are also more things we can do to prepare ourselves for facing potential harmful influences from our environment, such as bolstering our immune system function to help it fight against infectious organisms and diseasecausing substances like dengue. 1. Eat a healthy, balanced diet. As “sick”
as you are of hearing these words from your parents, still, do eat your greens. Getting poor nutrition will definitely take a hit on your immune system and overall health. So eat a variety of nutrient-loaded fruits and vegetables every day, a balanced amount of protein sources like meat and eggs, carbs from grains like oats and potatoes, and healthy fats from nuts, seeds, and dairy products. The key here is simply balance, and relying on nature for our best sources of nutrition. 2. Cut down on sugar. Believe it or not, but a good dose of sugar can put your immune system in a temporary coma that lasts for hours. So think twice before buying that can of soda, that bottle of fruit juice, and that colorful, tasty candy bar. That donut? Nuh-uh, you can put that down, too. 3. Exercise. Your body needs good blood circulation to get its parts to function properly and efficiently, including major organs like the heart and lungs, as well
as cells and substances of the immune system. Regular moderate exercise also helps your body produce natural antioxidants, in addition to promoting our general health. 4. Get enough sleep. To college students surviving on three to five hours of sleep to get that passing grade-point average, sorry, but you need to close that book and go to bed if you want a properly functioning immune system. According to a recent study in the University of Tübingen, Germany, sleep enhances the responses of specialized white blood cells in our body to aid in their correct functioning and effectivity. In addition, your immune system also produces protective cytokins during sleep that play an essential role in the innate immune response. 5. Avoid too much stress. Although stress in general is something we naturally face every day, its prolonged state which leads to chronic stress increases stress hormones in your body that suppress your immune system.
ECOBOX
The Preservation of the Last Kind
-GERICO T. GUANCO
6. Laugh. Surprised? Laughing doesn’t only boost your mood or trigger the release of endorphins to temporarily relieve pain, it actually reduces stress hormones and increases immune cells and infectionfighting antibodies. So don’t ever deprive yourself of a good laugh (of course, except during inappropriate situations).
Although numerous studies have proven the complexity of determining direct correlations of factors like diet and exercise to our immune system, making sure it is properly functioning by maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the most surefire way to take care of our body’s natural defense system. And of course, don’t forget to put on your mosquito-repellant lotion,
wear long sleeves and pants, and get rid of stagnating water in your area during this dengue season. Disclaimer: The recommendations listed above are not meant to be treated as the cure to dengue, nor as prevention. They only seek to ensure a properly functioning immune system, to help our bodies fight harmful substances like viruses and bacteria.
How to Bridge the Gap of Technology
-KATHERINE E. CO BY SHAN MARC O. JABAGAT
Concrete walls slowly envelop the green pastures that were once a paradise. The melody of winds slowly fades as metal and gray hollow blocks overlap the shades of blue and green that ultimately become nothing but memory. The age of a new era has come. Everything is now different from before—oceans become lifeless and forests turn into barren landscape. But as the scales are about to be tipped, a beacon of hope ignites—a seedling. These seedlings of native species were planted as part of a Tree Planting activity conducted by the personnel of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (DENRCENRO) of Bago City, led by CENR Officer Joan Nathaniel Gerangaya last July 16 in Espinos 2 Village,
Brgy. Taculing, Bacolod City. The planting site is an arboretum (tree museum) which currently presents 140 endemic naturallygrown trees, maintained and managed by former DENR Undersecretary Arturo Valdez. It also showcases 40 critically-endangered species of trees, some of which can no longer be found in our forest lands—only being preserved in the aforementioned arboretum. An ideal place for students and researchers during educational trips, this arboretum offers more than just a deep appreciation of the endemic trees in the Philippines. It already serves as a catalyst for an environmental change in the midst of the massive demands for urbanization. It is a calling to utilize upon learning—to bring back what has been lost over time. Moreover, in the midst
of the surge of a declining ecosystem, the arboretum itself becomes a beacon of hope in every seedling that was reunited with the soil. Fancy it is to hear that we have an existing museum for endemic trees, but this simple effort to preserve the last kind takes one giant leap, preventing it from reaching the brink of extinction. Leaves rustle in their branches brought about by the winds from the West. Flowers bloom in full spectrum as the sun melts its light upon the green pastures that touch the clouds. Birds take their flight of freedom. Oceans replenish back its color. Everything is no longer a memory. It is now present, in our very own eyes. All of these only started with a single seedling. Then a museum of trees, and finally, a paradise we all have been longing for.
Generation lines have been pointed out by the youth as the utmost factor for behaving distinctively from their parents. Instances brought about by this gap led to negative labels from both ends. A boundary was developed between the two worlds: the Millennials and the Baby Boomers. Today, the largest factor that creates the divide between Millennials and Boomers is technology— making the latter think that the former believe they are way better. However, a good percent of the Baby Boomers are trying to learn about the world of digital tools and services, having positive views toward the benefits that online platforms can offer them. Despite this drive, elders still trail behind the younger ones in technology adoption. Parents tend to depend more on their children with gadgets. I bet, you have probably been annoyed by your mom when she accidentally clicked the exit button of her unfinished message or have been at the peak of losing your patience whenever your dad asks what to press to check on his timeline, for the seventh time. And as your fellow ‘almost-millennial’ who also has struggles in educating technological matters to the elders and feels guilty after almost giving up because of their repetitive questions, I generously share these few guidelines to remember when dealing with their queries. Thanks to Hannah Jane Parkinson’s article titled: How to explain tech to your parents in five easy steps, though I will give much emphasis to the
Maalala Mo Kynah Kynah Rhea B. Fuentes kynahrheaf@gmail.com
The next time your dad asks you technology-related things [...] try to think about how patient they were, in teaching you when you were still young. following recommendations: Try to keep calm. Before your eyebrows meet, note that your parents were not born during the Computer Age, unlike us. Do not expect them to understand everything related to technology right away. You were once like them, as learners. Remember that even your progress took time. Keep it simple. When you were still young, your parents found ways for you to interpret things the way they should be interpreted. Imagine how they tried to understand the reasons behind your sudden screaming in the middle of the night. Parkinsons clearly expressed that you shouldn’t explain the technicals to someone foreign about technology, but instead, direct that person to how he/she could make it work or resolve an issue. Explain the importance of privacy. Hackers are on duty at any time of the day, targeting anyone who will be
clicking their bait. You must warn elders about this because no one wants to have their accounts invaded. Moreover, Parkinsons asserted in the article that the young should inform their parents that passwords in accounts must serve their purpose, and that is of course, to be kept secret to anyone. The next time your dad asks you technology-related things such as how to set an alarm for his 7:00 a.m. appointment on his android phone, or your mom yelling your name because she’s having a hard time sending an emoji to her friend—try to think about how patient they were, in teaching you when you were still young. Who taught you how to talk? Who was there to answer the unending questions to your curiosity? None other than your parents. So avoid being too hard towards them when all they wanted to know is how to share that funny Facebook meme.
THE OFFICIAL STUDENT MEDIA CORPS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. LA SALLE · USLS STUDENT ACTIVITY CENTER, LA SALLE AVE., BACOLOD CITY, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL 6100 · VOLUME 64 NUMBER 3 · JULY TO AUGUST 2019
MAY TO JUNE 2019
Vantage
A Myri
Possibilitie
WORDS BY ALVIN BRIAN S. LEG PHOTOS BY MARTINI M. FALCO, KARL BRIAN T.
lub booths and food stalls filled the University Parking Lot last July 23-25, as the University Student Government (USG), together with the different campus clubs and organizations, unfolded this year’s Club Fair themed “Myriad: An Era of Brighter Possibilities”. With the decoration of club booths featuring individual organizations and achievements to pique the interests of Lasallians, student involvement was encouraged all throughout the event. The Club Fair had different themes each day. The first day was themed “Possibility to Unveil Global Realities”, while the second day was themed “Possibility to Echo the Voice of Change”, and the third was “Possibility to Build a Brighter Future”. The highlight of the event was Dagway: Faces of Reality where the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) emerged as the overall champion after bagging four major and minor awards, followed by the College of Nursing (CoN), Yu An Log-College of Business and Accountancy (YAL-CBA), College of Education (CEd), and College of Engineering and Technology (CET) who landed second, third, fourth, and fifth place, respectively. “I did believe in the capabilities of the Artians that represented the college but I didn’t want to expect too much because I wanted to maintain a mindset that we should always strive hard,” CAS Vice Governor Oliver Villavert expressed. Myriad kicked off with a mass and the launching of The La Salle Yearbook theme, Horizon: Prime of the Decade. Day one ended with Talentadong Lasalyano where Cluster 2—comprised of the Decision Makers’ Incorporated (DMI),
C
THE OFFICIAL STUDENT MEDIA CORPS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. LA SALLE · USLS STUDENT ACTIVITY CENTER, LA SALLE AVE., BACOLOD CITY, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL 6100 · VOLUME 64 NUMBER 2 · MAY TO JUNE 2019
MAY TO JUNE 2019
e Point
iad of
es Unfolds
GARIO & PATRICK N. BILLOJAN . MARQUEZA, AND JOSHUA ADRIAN N. BASTILLO
Communications Society USLS (CSU), Engineering Society (ES), Junior Philippine Economics Society (JPES), Association of Creative Entrepreneurial Students (ACES), and the Philippine Instrumentation and Control Society (PICS)—was hailed champion. Cluster 2 echoed their voice of change once again as they dominated the second day, bagging the gold in the 3D Art Competition, followed by Cluster 4, Cluster 1, Cluster 3, and Cluster 5. This was then followed by an Amazing Race competition. On the third day, Club Presidents and USG officials—namely the Executive President, Executive Vice President, Chief Judge, and Senate President—took part in the Presidential Challenge where Ji Roxanne Secong of Young Educators’ Society clinched the championship trophy. Meanwhile, Axel Rose Casiple from Marketers’ Union was hailed as the Club Icon 2019 followed by Brent A. Alilain from ASSET, Paulo Pajarillo from CSU, Juan Miguel Gallenero from YES, and Joshua Fajardo from DMI who landed first runnerup, second runner-up, third runner-up, and fourth runner-up, respectively. “My goal is just to finish the entirety of it and I never expected anything but now that I got the title, I dedicate it to the whole Marketers’ Union for giving me the chance to represent, share, and deliver our vision towards a transparent and responsible business practice for the Lasallian community as a club,” Casiple said. With a vast array of events filled to the brim with cheers and jests of students, this year’s club fair is truly one for the books.
THE OFFICIAL STUDENT MEDIA CORPS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. LA SALLE · USLS STUDENT ACTIVITY CENTER, LA SALLE AVE., BACOLOD CITY, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL 6100 · VOLUME 64 NUMBER 2 · MAY TO JUNE 2019
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DAGWAY
JULY TO AUGUST 2019
Along the Sidewalk to Success BY LANCE CHRISTIAN M. JUAREZ
WITH REPORTS FROM HANA PATRICIA RAJ E. HAUTEA & MAEGAN JOY MATAMORO
Week. The brigade was formed not only to answer the Lasallian call “to be stewards of God’s creation”, but to also take part in the collective mission with other nations in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation on Inclusive Mobility. According to an article by Rappler, Inclusive Mobility is an idea that advocates “mobility of all, by all, and for all”, promoting accessibility to different parts of the community to commuters and drivers alike. The origin of the idea arose from the various traffic-related issues inside and outside the Philippines. Due to its gradual increase in popularity, it was adopted by other groups and organizations spread across
the Asia-Pacific region striving for similar goals. The Green Brigade places the principles of Inclusive Mobility at its core. According to Hector Gloria Jr., Director of Marketing and Communications, “The Green Brigade defines its
The Pursuit of Meaning BY HANA PATRICIA RAJ E. HAUTEA
Everything is meaningless until one gives it meaning. Teddy bears are mere stuffed toys until they become a little child’s best friend. Flowers are but pretty products of nature until they’re gifted by a loved one. Instruments are just oddly-shaped pieces of wood or metal until they become the embodiment of an aspiring musician’s hopes and dreams. Such is the case for Mojo Nova—a Bacolod-based band which allotted enough meaning to their old school’s music club that it eventually became the catalyst for their flourishing presentday musical careers. Their journey started from a humble beginning: within the hallways of the University of St. La Salle (USLS), four members of the Musikat are busy practicing their craft in the year 2015. Throughout the years, these four students performed together event after event, and graduation is no obstacle for them as they continued playing as a band even after a few members graduated. Over time, their bond grew and eventually, during the earlier half of 2017, they made the lifechanging decision to create
their own band. Drummer and vocalist Timothy Gregory de la Rama, vocalist Joanne Lorvene Bernal, guitarist Hans Christian Samson, and keyboardist Reovanny Luceñara are the faces behind the instruments, as well as the names behind the group name. See, interestingly enough, “Mojo Nova” is said to be the combination of each member’s names. Their connection with music extended beyond the walls of the USLS Musikat practice room. In an interview with SunStar, Bernal expressed that their roots started in music. “I’ve been singing my whole life. Van started as a church musician. Tim took up music production. Hans is a really amazing composer, artist, and songwriter,” she explained when asked about the band’s motivation to keep performing. As for the members themselves, the quartet is a near ideal picture of everyone’s squad goals. They travel to various places, share new experiences, and did what they’re passionate about while motivating their fellow local artists to keep their music playing. Nowadays, one can hardly find this talented group of people in a specific setting— their repertoire of engagements includes weddings, parties, and shopping mall events among many others, and they cater to an assortment of genres depending on the occasion. But
wait, there’s more! Based on their Facebook page (Mojo Nova Band), their total band package can also include services like makeup and hosting alongside their usual composition of songs and offering of live performances. It almost seems like they can do a little bit of everything. There’s one thing for sure when it comes to this four-man band: they’ve come a long way from gaining public recognition through small-scale school gigs. As of the present, they have an eyebrow-raising, head-nodding amount of achievements under their musically-inclined belts, which include winning Kalamayan Festival: VMC Battle of the Bands 2018 and performing as a front act for some big names in the music industry like Ben&Ben, Moira Dela Torre, and South Border. In reality, it’s not just the school club or the instruments that the quartet gave meaning to and led them to where they are now. There’s more to their story than that. It’s how they imparted value on the significance of friendship, on the understanding that a musician’s journey comes with sharps and flats, on the vision of a steadfast road to follow their dreams while never losing hope. Through giving meaning to the things that matter, they found meaning.
-ANGELO F. DESPI
c o m m u n i t y, and city with clean air, clean streets, clean vehicles, clean facilities and where the sanctity, dignity, and security of human life is upheld. 3. Enhancing productivity by moving people, not vehicles with efficient and effective public transportation -PETER JOB T. BEARNEZA JR. and driver and commuter education. activities and projects 4. Enhanced mobility in view of the following at the least cost, and travel mobility principles and time. Enhanced safety with toward greater inclusion: the least risk of loss of life, 1. Mobility of all, by limb, and property. Civility all, for all. A transport with enhanced empathy, modality that works for courtesy and discipline in an the poor, the vulnerable, engaging and encouraging the disadvantaged, and the mobile environment. marginalized. 5. Habitual planning 2. A walkable, bikeand communicating, able, accessible school,
individually and collectively. Traveling less by sharing information to increase connectivity and accessibility.” The Green Brigade looks to formalize itself in the coming years and also serves as a call for Lasallians to engage in environmental protection. “It’s also an invitation to anyone, [...] whether bata ka man or may edad ka—it’s really for everyone,” Green Brigade Committee member Irene Gargaceran shared. The Inclusive Mobility group hopes to extend their influence to members of the Lasallian community to join in supporting the call for positive social change— for the purpose of societal health, wellness, and of course, environmental preservation—one pedal at a time. So how do we save the world? Simple: any and every gargantuan goal can be achieved by continuous collectives of small but doable efforts.
Wellness from the Spine, Outwards BY ANDREA DANIELLE A. GAMBOA
A great philosopher by the name of Socrates once said, “If you would seek health, look first to the spine.” Did he consider this before finding himself knee-deep in a bout of digestive issues or a throbbing headache? It just doesn’t seem right. We treat our bodily
sticking out of bodies also didn’t really seem to denote ‘wellness’ at first. But yet, I was curious. Being one of the only chiropractic clinics in Bacolod, there was something about the image of chiropractic that came off as confusing, making it difficult
ailments in isolated manners: pills to combat pain, an ice pack to fight off the swelling— what role does the spine play in all of this? The healthcare industry has come a long way in the age of mass information and alternative medicine. But if we set aside the latest crazes that seem to promise wellness at a snap of a finger, we return back to the center of our bodies. You guessed it, the spine. The words, “Your Wellness and Quality of Life Specialist,” plastered across the brochures of Unichiro Chiropractic Clinic, raised a few questions for me at first glance. As I opened up what seemed to be a comprehensive infographic about the practice, I still held many misconceptions and apprehensions about the nature of this clinic. After all, I wasn’t entering into a spa; scents of eucalyptus that we’ve all grown to associate with relaxing pain relief, instead, was replaced by a slight tinge of rubbing alcohol. Images of backs twisting and needles
for people to find the relief they desperately need. “Instant relief,” Annrizza Joernaldo, Chief Physical Therapist at Unichiro said, as she explained the benefits of the once-formidable dry needling technique. Pain seemed to be the most common misconception about the service, yet having the procedure done on myself, I felt quite the opposite. The needle inserted into a trigger point causes a muscle spasm, activating the body’s innate healing capabilities. The same goes for chiropractic. Whereas therapeutic massage focuses
-MARTINI M. FALCO
How do we save the world? Such a titanic concept can be a simple query addressed to an imaginative child. But in recent times, it seems that the tone of this conundrum has become hushed and serious—how do we save the world? During the 67th Handumanan Week, the Green Brigade hosted their first-ever bike exhibit at the Solomon Quadrangle. The exhibit showcased a variety of bikes and also introduced the Green Brigade to the Lasallian community. And despite being the organization’s first exhibit, the Green Brigade has hosted annual bike rides ever since its conception. Rewind to July 2017, the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Mission and Development launched the Green Brigade during the 65th Handumanan
on muscles and trigger points, a chiropractor’s goal is to release the power of the body. “The body already has the ability to heal,” Dr. Alan David Wedell, a Doctor of chiropractic at Unichiro, explained. “But there is a miscommunication between the brain and the body, taking place through the nervous system.” In adjusting the spine, a chiropractor is able to restore joint functions and support the nervous system. “The three T’s of chiropractic are Thoughts, Trauma, and Toxins that can all cause ‘dis-ease’ within the body,” Dr. Wedell explained. It made perfect sense. Going about our daily lives, how
often are we exposed to pollutants, whether it’d be through our food or the air that we breathe? How often do we think negatively, causing trauma responses to initiate within the body? We live in a constant state of misalignment, and to return back to your initial state means more opportunities to build a better, more quality life. “Try and Trust,” Dr. Wedell explained when asked what he could say to get more people to visit the clinic. The methods speak for themselves: we have the mechanics in us to heal, all we need is a little push.
THE OFFICIAL STUDENT MEDIA CORPS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. LA SALLE · USLS STUDENT ACTIVITY CENTER, LA SALLE AVE., BACOLOD CITY, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL 6100 · VOLUME 64 NUMBER 3 · JULY TO AUGUST 2019
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DAGWAY
JULY TO AUGUST 2019
Practicality in Passion: The Makings of a Young Director Glen Jed Descutido was in the sixth grade when he first came across Windows Movie Maker. His cousin was then working on a school project, and Jed was amazed by the fact that anyone can make something fit for the big screen from the convenience of one’s own computer. From then on, he has always longed for the day he got to make his own film. Ten years have passed and the desire only grows stronger.
He spends his free time watching films, Youtube tutorials, and listening to people’s critiques about iconic movies. But theory alone does not make a film. Diskarte, as Jed had come to realize, is half mind and half movement. So three years ago, he made an oath to make at least one film a year to translate his learnings into action. “Sometimes, it feels like there is no way to do it. But at the end of the day, you can never let go of what you love. And so, you have to make time,” Jed insisted.
PRE-PRODUCTION Now a 5th year BS Electronics & Communications Engineering (ECE) student, Jed struggles to balance his course and his childhood passion. Despite that, he has found the closest there is to a common ground: the stories. “In our review class, our teachers tell stories that they relate to the formulas. From there, I have come to understand that if stories are everywhere, then we can all perhaps contribute and weave our own,” the student director said. “If I were given the freedom to choose, I’d pick Film [as a course],” he stated. The film aspirant, however, acknowledges that it is not something their family can afford for the meantime. “I had to make choices and learn film on my own, without making my parents spend money for it—diskarte.”
PRODUCTION The ECE student has come a long way from his filmmaking journey. He started out by making music videos, instructional videos, and short films—all of which were class requirements during his high school years. Yet, what he considers his first formal film experience was during his second year in college. It was an entry for the Cinema One Originals’ One Minute Short Film Competition. “Practicality in Passion: The Makings of a Young Director” told the story of a young man introducing his girlfriend to his same sex parents for the first time. Unfortunately, his submission did not make the final cut. “Siyempre, you don’t stop if you fall down. You let yourself grow; you let yourself be stronger with the situation that you’re in,” Jed shared. Being an ECE senior, he felt the need to focus on his
BY STARLENE JOY B. PORTILLO
*Descutido academics this time. But not before honoring his film oath. And so, he sought out to join another film competition. POST-PRODUCTION On the 15th anniversary of the Cinemalaya Philippines Independent Film Festival, the organization held its Campus Short Shorts Film Competition. It aims to showcase regional student talent through screening the top 10 filtered
—PHOTO COURTESY OF KYLE JYRAX SEVILLA
entries from certain regions alongside the Cinemalaya feature-length competition films. The festival, which ran from Aug. 7-13, grouped the entries into three: Bicol, Western Visayas, and Davao respectively. Jed’s “Sa Manlulupig” not only made it to the Top 10 for Western Visayas, but also nabbed the Jury Prize, as well as nominations for Best Poster Design and the Ang Pinasahi:
Western Visayas Spirit Award. The short, at first view, has a premise we are all too familiar with: a bullied student being questioned by school authority over the legitimacy of his oppression by a more well-off student. Upon closer scrutiny, it is revealed to be a metaphor for the statement retraction of Filipino fishermen involved in the Recto Bank incident. “Oppression, regardless of the face it reveals, is still
oppression,” Jed declared. “The reality is that both of these situations are happening in the country, and it is something we can no longer ignore.” Ten years into his craft, Jed has moved way past Movie Makers. His work has graced the big screen and was welcomed warmly by a supportive audience. Needless to say, he earned what he yearned for. But the urge to create, for Jed, will never wane.
20 ways to excuse yourself from awkward situations BY MAEGAN JOY MATAMORO | ART BY ANDREA DANIELLE A. GAMBOA
We are all a prospect for awkward situations, so we should always come prepared. 1. Entering the wrong classroom - Just enter calmly and ask them questions like “Hi, ari di si Ms. Lopez?” or “ABPS 1-A ni? Wala lang, survey lang. For thesis purposes,” to give a funny and wholesome impression than just the ‘lutang’ college kid. 2. Being in the same group as your enemy Remember that you are doing it for the sake of your grades, comply and contribute without hesitation. Give your best and project the “thank me later, sis” attitude. 3. Laughing in the midst of a serious event - Think of a tragic situation to keep yourself calm because it’s hard to stop the giggles. Cover your mouth and pretend that you are coughing—it’s better to appear sick, than insensitive. 4. Your teacher messaged you in a dating app - If you stated your whereabouts, it’s better to block him/her right away so you won’t catalyze
an awkward interaction inside the class. This is not fake classroom, okay? 5. Sleeping inside the class and your teacher calls you out - Wake up immediately and formulate an alibi like “Ms. can I go to the clinic?” or you can just seek help with your friends and be a drama queen, act as if you passed out. 6. Your parents saw you in a mall with your boy/ girlfriend - Don’ts: Be defensive, panic, and run. Do’s: Say hi, stick with your normal gestures, and immediately talk about educational stuff loudly. 9. Seeing your friend’s dirty web history - Don’t click it, take it this way— you have a better genre preference than him. 8. Waking up only to discover that you drunk chatted your ex - Tell him/ her that your account was hacked and coordinate with your friends to make the
situation realistic. Tell them to post stuff in your timeline like “Back off, hacker.” 9. Realizing that you forgot your wallet while riding a jeepney - Of course, you can’t ask anyone there to provide your fare. Learn the 123 principle, but never the 456. 10. Liking your crush’s old post - Never mention it or explain yourself, just act as if
u p
you never d i d anything. If he/she approached you back it with “I unconsciously
did it.” 11. While being stuck in a person who monopolized a conversation - This is pretty annoying but interrupting him/her in a rude way might heat up an argument. Learn how to go with the flow
and just mock that person internally. 12. Forgetting to close your zipper and someone approached you about it Don’t shout nor panic—laugh, smile, or have an alibi “it’s part of the outfit” or “it’s the latest trend”. 13. Being in a table with the people you barely know - Silence is awkward, too. Try to initiate a conversation by asking them about their most hated character in Kadenang Ginto. 14. Meeting your ex in a restaurant with his new girl - Maintain a sophisticated aura and act natural. If they’ll approach you, smile and be at your best behavior, if they won’t, act as if you don’t have the slightest idea about their existence. 15. Meeting the person that you ghosted in a dating app - Act as if you didn’t see the person. In case they have ample information about you, keep yourself distracted by utilizing
whatever stuff available. 16. Farting inside an air-conditioned room Never admit that mistake, just play it cool by acting innocent and joining the bandwagon of loathing the suspect. 17. Forgot to pay in a restaurant and the cashier runs outside to tell you about it - Since it will not be believable to drop the “I forgot,” card it’s better to have another alibi like you’re just looking for your friend to come and you have to fetch them since the place is unfamiliar to them. 18. Grabbing someone’s phone because you thought it was yours - Immediately say the words “I like the specs” or ask them “Is this the latest Samsung?” in order to divert the state of shock to a flattering moment. 19. Sending your derp picture to a stranger Formulate funny stuff to back up the embarrassment “Pass this to 20 people to survive your upcoming exam”. 20. Your crush caught you staring at him/her Pretend that you are calling someone near them, act as if you are just spacing out, or act as if you were captivated by nature and you are appreciating every inch of it.
THE OFFICIAL STUDENT MEDIA CORPS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. LA SALLE · USLS STUDENT ACTIVITY CENTER, LA SALLE AVE., BACOLOD CITY, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL 6100 · VOLUME 64 NUMBER 3 · JULY TO AUGUST 2019
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FILIPINO
JULY TO AUGUST 2019
Basura ba talaga? NI LANCE CHRISTIAN M. JUAREZ
Sa panahon kung saan maraming krisis sa kapaligiran, nakakatakot unawain kung gaano tayo kaliit sa harap ng gabundok na problema—mga malakas na hanging habagat, ang nanggagalaiting init ng araw, at panghuli, ang mga tumpok-tumpok na basura natin. Pero ano nga ba ulit ang kahulugan ng basura? Maiuugnay ang salitang basura sa salitang tira—mga bahaging hindi nagamit. Ibig sabihin, nasasayang ang isang bagay. Ang kabuuan ng Blastik Project ay sumusuporta sa ganitong kaisipan. Ang Blastik Project o Balik Plastik Bottle Project ay isang proyekto ng
organisasyong PeacePond na nabuo noong kalagitnaan ng Hulyo ngayong taon. Ang PeacePond ay isang pamayanan mula sa Binalbagan na nagtataguyod ng aquaculture at ng tamang pamamahala ng basura— naghahanda rin sila ng mga programang outreach sa mga liblib na lugar tungkol sa kanilang mga adbokasiya. Sa Blastik Project, ang pangunahing kaisipan ay ang “full-circle” na konsepto. Itinatalagang ang lahat ng bahagi ng isang bote ng plastik ay ginagamit ulit sa paggawa ng iba’t ibang bagay tulad ng mga pitaka, guwang, lamesa, at upuan. Dahil dito, walang nasasayang na bahagi. Nangongolekta ang mga miyembro ng mga bote sa iba’t ibang lugar at
tumatanggap din sila ng mga plastik mula sa tao. Nililinis at pinapatuyo nila ang mga ito, pagkatapos ay pinaghihiwalay ang mga parte. Kasunod nito, ang mga bote ay sumasailalim sa karampatang proseso upang maging mas paki-pakinabang. Dahil dito, maaaring magamit muli ang mga nasayang. Isa pang aspeto ng proyekto ay madali lamang itong sundin ng ibang barangay o ng isang kompaniya—hindi lang ang kapaligiran ang nakikinabang dito. Nagtuturo rin sila sa mga taong interesado tungkol sa iba pang paraan kung paano mag-recycle ng mga bote. Sa kanilang pagsisikap, binabago nila ang pag-iisip ng mga mamamayan sa kanilang basura. Para sa kanila, ang pagturo ng mga paraan at ideya nila ang pinakamahirap na mga
gawain. Maraming tao, lalo na sa mga liblib na lugar, ay hindi pa nalalaman ang epekto ng maling pagtapon ng basura. Ayon sa pinuno ng proyekto na si Checcs Osmeña-Orbida, hindi ang gobyerno ang may kasalanan sa problema ng basura. Ang solusyon ay nasa mga tao at ang kanilang pananaw sa mga itinapon nila. Mula kay OsmeñaOrbida, sa pananaw na ito, dapat kaakibat natin ang responsibilidad at pagkamulat sa buhay. Ang solusyon sa problema ay minsan hindi pangkaraniwan. Minsan mahirap, minsan hindi. Ngunit, iisa lang ang sigurado: nagsisimula ang lahat ng solusyon sa isang desisyon. -KATHERINE E. CO
Lasalyano, ipinagmamalaki ang pagka-Pilipino
—ANGELO F. DESPI
NI WILLI T. FLORETE
Upang gunitain ang kultura’t kasaysayan ng ating bayan at maipagmalaki ang pagsulong ng ating Wikang Pambansa, ipinagdiwang ng Kagawaran ng Wika sa Filipino nitong Agosto ang Buwan ng Wika na may temang, “Lasalyano:
Pagbubuklod at Pagkakaisa Tungo Sa Kaunlaran ng Wikang Filipino.” Hinirang na pangkabuuang kampyon ang College of Education (CEd) habang nasungkit ng Yu An Log-College of Business and Accountancy (YAL-CBA) ang unang gantimpala, ikalawang gantimpala para sa College
of Arts and Sciences (CAS), ikatlong gantimpala sa College of Nursing (CoN) at panghuli at ikaapat na gantimpala sa College of Engineering and Technology (CET). Pormal na sinimulan ang pagdiriwang sa pamamagitan ng Pambukas na Selebrasyon na ginanap sa harap ng Coliseum, umaga noong ika-anim ng
Agosto. Ginanap din sa parehong araw na ito ang Patimpalak sa Pagpinta sa University Forum, na napanalunan ni Isabelle Infante ng CET. Naging parte din ng pagdiriwang ang inorganisang Pagpanuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino noong ika-siyam ng Agosto, kung
saan ang mga mag-aaral ay nanood ng pelikulang “Tanging Yaman” sa MM Audi A. Samantala, isang misa sa Montelibano Chapel ang inialay para sa selebrasyon, na dinaluhan ng mga magaaral at gurong napabilang sa CAS. Sa nasabing misa,
binanggit ni Father Jerryvel Celestial ang importansya ng wikang Filipino sa pagpapanatili ng ating kultura at pagkakakilanlan bilang isang bansa. “Dapat palagi nating ginagamit ang wikang Tagalog sapagkat ito ang ating wikang pambansa, at ito rin ang naglalarawan ng ating nasyonalidad,” kaniyang iginiit. Sari-saring aktibidades naman ang ginanap noong ika-29 ng Agosto upang pormal na isara ang pagdiwang ng Buwan ng Wika. Bilang panimula, ginanap ang Parada ng Mga Lakandula at Lakambini sa umaga ng naturang araw. Ang nasabing parada ay nagsimula sa harap ng Coliseum at nagtapos sa MM Audi A, kung saan ginanap naman ang huling serye ng mga akitibidades na napabilang sa “Literari at Musikal”. Nakuha ng YAL-CBA ang kampyon sa mga sumusunod na mga kompetisyon: Katutubong Sayaw, Vocal Solo, at Dagliang Talumpati. Ang CET naman ay nagwagi sa Patimpalak sa Pagpinta samantalang naipanalo ng CEd ang Vocal Duet at Talumpati. Ani nga ni Padre Celestial, ang selebrasyon ng wika ang nagpapahayag ng ating kultura at oryentasyon.
1,723 kaso ng dengue, naitala ng CLMMRH NINA JORIE E. TORIANO AT MAEGAN JOY MATAMORO
Naalarma ang mga mamamayan ng Negros Occidental sa dengue outbreak na inanunsyo ng Department of Health (DOH), kaya kaliwa’t kanan na rin ang paghahanda ng mga pampubliko at pribadong ospital sa pagdagsa ng mga pasyenteng may dengue. Umabot na sa 1,723 katao ang naitalang may kaso ng dengue sa Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) simula noong buwan ng Enero hanggang sa ika- 20 ng Agosto sa taong ito. “Mas tumaas ang kaso ng dengue, kabilang na rin
ang mga namatay sanhi nito kung ikukumpara noong nakaraang taon,” ani Christopher Mudanza, Infection Prevention Control Nurse at Disease Surveillance Coordinator. Ayon sa tala ng CLMMRH, taong 2017 ay mayroon lamang 1,984 kaso ng dengue sa kanilang ospital, 2,289 kaso noong nakaraang taon kabilang ang 26 na namatay noong Enero hanggang Agosto 10, 2018; at ngayong taon mula Enero hanggang sa ika-10 ng Agosto pa lamang ay may naitala ng 1,541 na kaso, kabilang ang 32 pasyenteng namatay. Ayon sa obserbasyon ng naturang ospital, karamihan
sa mga pasyenteng nagkaroon ng dengue ay nagsisimula sa edad na isa hanggang 10 taong gulang. “Nagsisimula ang transmisyon ng dengue virus sa pagkagat ng lamok na Aedes Aegypti at Aedes Albopictus,” wika ni Mudanza. Makakaranas ng biglaang lagnat ang mga nahawa sa dengue virus na maaring tumagal ng dalawa hanggang pitong araw. Dagdag pa dito ay ang panghihina, pangangati sa balat, at pagsusuka ang kadalasang mga sintomas nito. “Mas mainam na painumin ng sapat na tubig o i-rehydrate ang taong pinaghihinalaang may dengue upang hindi ito tuluyang manghina. Huwag
painumin ng aspirin para sa lagnat,” dagdag pa niya. Ginagawa ng CLMMRH ang kanilang makakaya upang maasikaso ang lahat ng pasyente sa kabila nang lubusang pagtaas ng kaso ng dengue at sa kakulangan ng mga suplay, kagamitan, at aparato. “Iminumungkahi po namin na kapag ang taong may lagnat na tumagal o humigit na sa dalawang araw ay kinakailangan nang dalhin sa pinakamalapit na ospital,” ika ni Mudanza. Sa datos ng ospital, nangunguna sa pinakamaraming kaso ng dengue ang Lungsod ng Bacolod na may 525
kasong naitala, kung saan pinangungunahan ito ng Barangay Estafania, 58 na kaso at sinusundan ng Brgy. Handumanan, 46 na kaso, pagdating sa munisipalidad ay nangunguna naman ang Murcia na mayroong 154 na kaso. “Inaasahan na namin ang pagtaas ng dengue ngayong taon dahil na rin sa pag-ulan at kakulangan sa kaalaman ng mga Local Government Units (LGUs) at ng mga Barangay kung paano maiwasan ang dengue,” paliwanag ni Mudanza. Naglunsad rin ng mga programa ang CLMMRH tulad ng health teaching sa mga lugar na kadalasang
apektado at pagsunod ng kanilang 4 ‘o clock habit kung saan nililinis nila ang kanilang paligid lalong- lalo na ang mga lugar na maaaring pamugaran ng lamok. “Pinaaalahanan po namin ang publiko na kinakailangan pong sundin ang 4S kontra dengue (search and destroy breeding places, self-protection, seek early consultation, at say yes to fogging) upang maiwasan ang dengue dahil wala pa ring gamot para rito,” mensahe ni Mudanza sa publiko. Tinataya ng ospital na mas tataas pa ang bilang ng kaso ng dengue sa mga susunod na araw at sa kalagitnaan ng Setyembre.
THE OFFICIAL STUDENT MEDIA CORPS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. LA SALLE · USLS STUDENT ACTIVITY CENTER, LA SALLE AVE., BACOLOD CITY, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL 6100 · VOLUME 64 NUMBER 3 · JULY TO AUGUST 2019
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DAKBANWA
JULY TO AUGUST 2019
Bacolodnon, naka-imbento sang gasolina halin sa basura NI JORIE E. TORIANO
-GERICO T. GUANCO
John Denver Trending, may mensahe si Arden Rod Condez
Ginpamatud-an sang isa ka Bacolodnon nga imbentor nga pwede mangin langis para sa salakyan ang mga plastik nga basura. Ang nasambit nga imbentor amu si Jayme Navarro, isa ka negosyante nga nagka-ideya sa pageskperimento sa kung ano ang pwede mapuslan kag maubra sa mga plastik nga basura. Tuig 1970 sang nagsugod siya sa pag-recycle sang mga plastik nga scrap para himuon plastik nga pisi, straw, kag stick . Nag-eksperimento siya kag nakaubra sang likido nga hydrocarbons ukon mga kemikal nga masami ginagamit nga gasolina sang tuig 1983. Pagkaligad sang pila ka tuig, nakita ni Navarro ang pinakamaayo nga pagproseso sang mga basura kag nakaubra siya sang mga plastic bag, garbage bag, styrophors kag gasolina. Natukiban niya nga ang mga basura nga plastik
pwede haylohon sa gasolina, diesel kag kerosene paagi sang proseso nga ginatawag nga pyrolysis (pagdunot sang kemikal gamit ang mataas nga temperatura). Ginapamala ang mga plastik, ginagunting sang ginagmay (shredding), kag ginatunaw sa isa ka thermal chamber nga may gamay lang gid nga presensya sang oxygen para indi masunog ang plastik. Ang likido nga makuha sa plastik daw pareho man sa regular nga langis pero mas manubo ang asupre (sulfur) sini amu na nga mas matinlo ini kung masunog kumpara sa iban nga mga langis. Pwede haylohon sa 800 ka litro nga gasolina ang isa ka tonelada sang kontaminado nga plastik. Tungod sa barato nga paggasto sa pag-ubra kag pagproseso, mas manubo sang 10-20 porsyento ang presyo sang gasolina nga halin sa plastik. Nagdugay sang malapit o masobra sa 30 ka tuig bag-o nangin perpekto ang naimbento ni Navarro kag ginsapak ini sang mga
media outlet sang 2012. Napasundayagan sa Umagang Kay Ganda kag gintistingan sa isa ka pickup truck ang gasolina nga naimbento niya sang tuig 2012. Sang 2008, nakabaton sang pagkilala ang iya nga pagtuon sa kategorya nga Outstanding Creative Research sang Kagawaran ng Agham at Teknolohiya (DOST). Gin-aprubahan kag nangin patentado ang iya imbesyon nga ini ni Navarro sang Nobyembre 2008. Makahatag sang solusyon ang naimbento niya sa problema sang pagsaka sang bili sang gasolina kag sa mga nagatambak nga basura kag sa polusyon sa palibot. Napamatud-an man nga environmental friendly ang gasolina, diesel kag kerosene nga naimbento ni Navarro halin sa plastik. Nakabase sa Payatas ang kompanya niya nga Poly-green Technology and Resources, Inc. nga nagabuhat sang 1,600 litro sang langis halin sa duwa ka tonelada nga plastik kada adlaw.
CERES APEKTADO SA AWAY YANSON NINA DISNEY MARIE L. ESPARTERO AT ANGELA A. CORONEL
NI ERICA JAINE A. MESTRE
Ginpakita sang isa ka Negrense nga direktor ang iya pelikula nga kaupod sa pulo ka entries para sa ika-15 nga Cinemalaya Film Festival sa Ayala Malls Capitol Central Cinema sang Agosto 7-13. Gindirekto ni Arden Rod Condez nga taga Pandan, Antique ang pelikula nga “John Denver Trending”, kung sa diin ginabuyadyad sini ang mga malain nga epekto sang social media sa mga pamatanon subong. Ang sine nagalibot sa isa ka 14-anyos kag Grade 8 nga estudyante nga si John Denver Cabungcal (ganap ni Jansen Magpusao) nga gin-alegar nga nagkawat sang iPad sang iya kaklase, kag nangin bayolente sang na dulaan ini pasensya. “Ang istorya parte man gid sa social media, pero gahatag man siya pokus sa mga personal nga epekto ka social media labi pa sa nagviral nga bidyo kag sa mga naapektuhan,” suno pa sa direktor. Dugang pa ni Condez, ang inspirasyon niya sa paghimo sang “John Denver” nagabot sang pakadto siya sa ulobrahan niya sa ABS-CBN. Apang, nakabati siya sa radyo nga may isa ka bata nga lalake sa siyudad sang Bago nga ginbully sang iya mga kaklase tungod lang nga naakusaran man nga nangawat sang iPad. “Na-intriga ko—ano ayhan ang mabatyagan sang isa ka tawo kung ang isa ka bagay nga personal maka lab-ot sa iban,” hambal ni Condez. Naghatag sang madamo nga pasalamat ang direktor sa artista niya nga si Meryll Soriano, ang nagdala sang karakter sang iloy ni John Denver. “May problema dyutay kung paano si Meryll
Soriano mag-adjust sa mga adjustments sa produksyon. Una pa lang, indi niya ma ityendihan ang linguwahe, so kinahanglan gid i-adjust ang bilog na script. May konplikto man sa timing kung san-o magsinulod ang iban nga artista pero waay gid kami nakabati reklamo halin sa iya,” siling ni Condez sang ginpamangkot parte sa mga problema iya naagyan sang produksyon ka pelikula. Dugang man ni Condez ang iya paglaum sa mga lokal
nga sine nga tani mas masaka ang industriya sang Ilonggo Cinema kag nagbilin siya sang iya nga mensahe para sa mga malantaw sang iya sine. “Kabay pa nga ang ‘John Denver Trending’” makapahimok sa mga tawo kung ano ang gakalatabo sa subong nga nga tion. Sa mga huben na direktor diri sa Bacolod, kabay pa magaan sila inspirasyon nga posible maghimo sine nga low budget pero grabi man ang epekto sa tawo,” hambal ni Condez.
—PHOTO COURTESY OF NICHOL FRANCIS ANDUYAN
Kapin libo ka mga commuter ang naapektuhan sa iregularidad sang operasyon sang Ceres Liner sugod sang bulan sang Hulyo. LRY GINPATALSIK BILANG PRESIDENTE Nagsugod ang kinagamo matapos ipatalsik ang gintalana nga presidente nga si Leo Rey Yanson (LRY) sa ginpatawag nga special board meeting nagligad nga Hulyo syete sang Vallacar Transit Inc, ang multi-billion peso transportation company nga ginatag-iyahan sang pamilya Yanson. Ang Yanson 4 lang nga ginabilangan nila ni Roy Yanson (RSY), Celina YansonLopez (CYL), Emily Yanson (EY), kag Ricardo Yanson Jr. (RJR) ang nagdesisyon kag indi bahin sa sini nga board meeting sila ni Leo Rey Yanson (LRY), ang ila iloy nga si Olivia V. Yanson (OVY) kag si Ginette Yanson-Dumancas (GYD). Sa pahayag sang Yanson 4, ginpatalsik nila si Leo Rey tungod sa gina-alegar nga malversation of funds, matapos makapila ini magwithdraw sang kwarta sang kompanya. Gindepensahan naman ini ni LRY nga bilang presidente sang Yanson Group of Bus Companies (YGBC), may ara siya deretso nga mag-usar sang miscellaneous funds para man sa kamaayuhan sang ila negosyo, nga nakasaan man sa memorandum nga ginpirmahan sang Chief Finance Officer nga si Celina Yanson-Lopez. EPEKTO SA PUBLIKO Ginakilala bilang pinakadako nga bus company sa Pilipinas nga
may kapin dese otso mil nga mga empleyado kag quatro mil nga mga unit sang bus, gakaapektuhan ang operasyon sang Ceres matapos ang kapila nga pwersahan nga pagtakeover sa mga terminal, nga nagatuga man sang perwisyo kag katingalahan sa publiko kag ila man nga mga empleyado. Sa isa ka pahayag, gin ako sang Yanson matriarch nga si Olivia V. Yanson nga gakaapektuhan gid ang ila mga empleyado sa kinagamo nga gakatabo. “Ang aton dese otso mil nga mga empleyado ang gakapirdi diri: mga empleyado nga nagakabalaka kag nagakahadlok nga madulaan sang obra kung sundon ang mando sang isa ka partido kag sikwayon ang isa,” hambal niya. Matapos ma-recover sang kampo ni LRY ang main office kag mga terminals sang Bacolod sang Agosto nueve, nahibal-an nila nga nadula ang importante nga mga dokumento kag ang Yanson 4 ang iya ginabasol. “Madamo sang mga importante nga mga dokumento ang nadula, dala na ang mga Land Transportation Franchising kag Regulatory Board franchise papers, titulo sang duta, case files, kag mga finance documents,” suno kay LRY. “Gin-ransack nila ang bilog nga opisina.” LRY IBALIGYA ANG KOMPANYA? Ginapanginwala ni Emily Yanson nga indi sila ang nagkuha sang dokumento kag ginhambal nga si Leo Rey ang nagkuha sang mga ini kay may plano siya ibaligya
ang kompanya. “Why would we ransack our own offices and steal those documents which Leo Rey claims to be missing? We were occupying the offices for weeks now, and during this whole time, Leo Rey was even there, freely checking and spending his time leisurely as our director?” hambal niya. Y A N S O N PAGASTURYAHAN ANG PROBLEMA Nagahulat na lamang ang duwa ka kampo sa desisyon sang korte kun mapamatudan man gid nga legal ang special board meeting nga ginhiwat kag kun bala pagapatihon ini. YANSON 4 BUKAS SA PAG AREGLOHANAY “Gina-intiende namon ang posisyon ni Leo Rey, kag bilang mga magulang, dapat intiendehon niya man kami. Tapuson ta na ni ang ilinaway kag pagadesisyunan ta kung paano kita makapadayon. Palangga gid namon sila ni Leo Rey, Ginette, kag ang amon iloy pero kinahanglan hatagan importansiya ang layi. Handa kami magpatawad sa sakop sang layi,” hambal ni Emily. RSY NANGAYO PATAWAD, MAGBALIK LOOB BILANG PAMILYA Sa isa ka pahayag sang Agosto bente dos, nagayo si Roy Yanson nga mag-intiendehanay kag magpinatawaray sila nga pamilya. “Pungkuan ta ni bilang isa ka pamilya. Isturyahanay kita kag ibilin kag magpinatawaray,” hambal niya.
THE OFFICIAL STUDENT MEDIA CORPS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. LA SALLE · USLS STUDENT ACTIVITY CENTER, LA SALLE AVE., BACOLOD CITY, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL 6100 · VOLUME 64 NUMBER 3 · JULY TO AUGUST 2019
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SLANT who was the proctor or how it must have felt to be a doubtful despite belonging to Section A, and how inept and less of a role model I had become. Okay, the latter was exaggerated. Relentlessly. I received curious querying. I answered them matter-of-factly: Got a low grade in a subject. No more, no less. No big deal. My mother also quipped, ‘Alam ka ya. Wala ka dapat sang ikahuya.’ If only I could assure high school Hezron to not be too hard on himself because of matters he may find quite difficult to grapple with, I would.
-ANNA THERESA S. PARAYNO
The Doubtful by Hezron G. Pios
75 meant I made it. In mathematics and science, my grades were not frontrunners. I graduated high school from a prestigious institution dead set on excellence. For three years, I belonged to Section A: the top class. Comparing of grades per grading and shuffling of cliques were rampant. Soon, I got tired of the blistering toxic environment. But I’m getting ahead of myself here. You see, when your name is registered among the lineup of the brightest students in
your batch, one should carry it with pride and confidence. Your knowledge, although rendered immature, is held unquestionable. You’re like a superstar. Even if you position yourself in the lower ranks, you would still be reduced to as the ‘cream of the crop’. What a privilege. All was well until the release of an announcement. ‘Must attend remedial classes’, mandated a bond paper sheet glued to the bulletin. It enumerated the names of doubtfuls. Students who needed some shaking, who should lift their grades.
Supposedly, one would not be expecting a name from Section A. But Hezron Pios was there—representative of Section A. I could only wince at the worst responses. ‘What happened to him?’ ‘Must be so stupid.’ ‘Let’s tease him!’ ‘He’s faking it.’ ‘Really? Someone from the top class?’ In contrast, there was no bullying that ensued. When I attended remedial classes, I talked to batchmates who perhaps requested for an extra yellow pad, or borrowed a pen, or asked what time it was, or
In my senior year, I was relegated to Section B. Adjustments happened. It granted me a novel pair of lenses. I understood how such thirst for ‘excellence’ can blind one from seeing the mundane. The experience threw my life off-center. But I am grateful. I shine further in my own making. Additionally, I am not in denial of my slip from staying in Section A. There were actions and inactions. However, it must not be dismissed that class divide begins early on when students are pit to one another. Unrealistic definition of success and intelligence stunts those whose forte are not yet adequate.
JULY TO AUGUST 2019
Kailan Magiging Malaya? by Jorie E. Toriano Lakbayin natin ang hiwaga ng buhay. Masukal na daan, tayo ay huwag sumabay. Ihakbang ang mga paa papalayo sa matarok na bangin, At sundan ang direksyon ng hangin. Imulat ang ating mga mata sa mga kaganapan. Maging mapagmasid sa paligid na ginagalawan. Alalahanin ang kinakapitang pag-asa, At huwag hayaan na ang sinag ay mawala. Sa pagsapit ng dilim, kahit papaano’y may liwanag. Bawat tahanan ay may ilawan hanggang sa magdamag. Ganito rin sana sa totoong buhay, May liwanag na maaaring sindihan na siyang gagabay. Oh Ilaw! Gabi-gabi, ang ilaw na yaon, Ating natatanaw sa malayo. Ninanais na maabot sa maikling panahon ngunit maraming balakid upang makamtan iyon. Lipunan na inaakala nating kakampi. Tila bang nagbago, ganito na lang parati. Tinatangay tayo sa mga bagay na ‘di natin pinili. Inaakalang makatutulong, nagpapahirap pala sa sarili. May kurapsyon, kriminalidad, at marami pang iba, Na umusbong at nagpapatuloy sa pagsira ng pamilya. Mga mahihirap ay labis na naghihirap, At ang mayayaman ay lubos na naging gahaman. Kailan magiging malaya sa panahong tayo ay nagdurusa, sa mga araw na parang hindi na makaya, sa mga oras na nag-iisa? Maghanap tayo ng karamay at masasandalan, Sa ating pagtahak sa lipunang ginagalawan. Marami ang nahihirapan ngunit mapapagaan, Kapag ang mga nasa laylayan ay magtutulungan.
To be doubted is paralyzing. But to prove to oneself that you are more than a typecast is liberating, empowering even. Today, I am an advocate, a poet. A consumer of Filipino and English word-work. Without a doubt, wala ko dapat sang ikahuya. -GERICO T. GUANCO
Sin-o naman Bantay? by Paula Mae E. Villarosa
Daw naligto kag naminhod ang akon mga tuhod. Nagalangsa ang laway sa kada pagpanagitlon sang akon gahugot nga tutunlan.
Pen-pen-de-sarapen. Sa bangga pa lang, nabati-an ko na ang matagsing nga tingog sang mga yagit— biskan wala pa nagsirom, ‘di ko na maathagan ang ila mga guya.
Nugon-puti-tatlo-ka-salapi. Nagasulit-sulit lang ang dalanon, upod sang galanog nila nga pagkanta. Gakata-is ang akon bitas nga tsinelas sa pagkadusmo-dusmo ko papuli.
De-kutsilyo-de-almasen. Pagliko ko sa kitid nga alagyan, hinali naglinong ang ila binalaybay— naghagong sa kahipos ang akon kabos nga panginhawa.
Tik-tak— naghipos ang palibot. Nabuy-an ko ang sako— gatindog na’ko sa atangan sang amon payag. Ginhampak ang akon kalimutaw sing matudo nga hangin—
Haw-haw-de-karabaw-de-ba-tu-ten. Nagasunod s’akon ang ila mahinay nga salambiton— dali-dali ‘ko nagpadulong sa akon puluy-an, nagahugot ang kapyot sa sako nga may humay, nahalab sang pasmado nga mga tudlo
Ginbuno sang aswang. Nagkinadlaw sila sa tunga sang kasisidmun. Nagpitik ang akon tangkugo, nanig-a ang akon pusug-pusugan— nangdulom ang akon panulukan.
ang gasablay nga binangon sa’kon hawak. Nugon-pula-tatlo-ka-kwarta. Gulpi may nagngut-ngot sa akon kilid. Nagpin-ot ang akon nagakuba-kuba nga dughan.
Namurag-muragan ako— nagahuray-ad kag gasingo-singo sa matig-a nga duta nahupog kag napaliguan sang kaugalingon nga dugo kag luha. Ginatudlo ako sang mga yagit— Bantay mo!
-ALFREDO JR. R. BAYON-ON
A General’s Wish by Erica Jaine A. Mestre please do not weep; dry your eyes, men. dry your souls and dry your fears; the sun is still in the east, the winds are still comforting and though i am weak, carry on, carry on, my men. remember my word; that these lands shall uphill, that our rifles shall be clean, and that our hands be none of stolen lives; the oceans with freedom, the children with fire souls
and though i am tired, live on, live on, my men. tomorrow does no favor and time is still gradually ill; demanding of what could be now… time and i? limited; my men, hold strong in the face of uncertainty, look back and ponder of me and hear the wind’s gentle reminder of my final plea. stand together, brothers, stand broken and undefeated,
stand proud with fear and loss, carry my name over my fall, i, too, am tired, your general is tired, one more request, my comrades: push through, i beg of you push through, my men. please do not weep, remember my word, tomorrow does no favor in this cruel, surviving world; i will be alive in your breath, still in the essence of your soul but one last more before i go: move on, i demand of you move on, my men.
-KIARA NICOLE D. VILLA
15
LEISURE
JULY TO AUGUST 2019
Krosword
KOMIK BYTES
By Alvin Brian S. Legario Complete the crossword below.
“Pinoy Pride”
-Anna Theresa S. Parayno
“Bayan > Jowa”
Across: 4. Known as the summer capital of the Philippines. 5. The coldest place on Earth (aside from your ex’s heart). 6. The lowest possible temperature where nothing could be colder and no heat energy remains in a substance. 7. A Filipino frozen dessert made from shaved ice and a plethora of other ingredients. 9. The Ice King’s real name from the cartoon Adventure Time.
Down: 1. Where was ice-cream invented? 2. The alias of two video game characters from the Mortal Kombat franchise. 3. A Filipino figure skater who was the 2015 Asian Figure Skating Trophy champion. 8. A fictional snowman character from Disney’s Frozen franchise.
-Kiara Nicole D. Villa
“Aisle 6”
-Alexandra V. Bachoco
Key:
“Totoy”
-Earl John D. Pabular
Wikationary There are just some things only a student from USLS would understand. Are you familiar with the everyday Lasallingo? Here are all the relatable terms you must add to your vocabulary and must know—or already know. BY IDA SARENA M. GABAYA | ART BY CARL HASON T. GERALE
Hepa Lane Why drive-thru, when you can walk-thru? A sidewalk (or shall we say foodwalk) right outside the campus gate that caters to students, providing their allowance-friendly favorite snacks such as: fishball, isaw, Spanish bread, empanada, Indian mango, and the like. Wanna grab a cup of coffee before hitting class? Or just a quick bite to eat in between vacants? Hepa Lane is everyone’s go-to food strip that won’t hurt your wallets. Chinita Princess The Guardian of Gate 2—all who pass must answer to her first. Her chinky eyes are clearly not too small to spot any slight rip in your jeans. Indeed, you don’t have to be at the South China Sea to experience being provoked of your rights—well, your student rights at least. Uniqlo Reversible Parka More popularly known as the “Pambansang Jacket ng mga Lasallians”—you’ll have more chances of bumping into someone wearing the same Uniqlo jacket than bumping into your crush in the hallways.
- CARL HASON T. GERALE
Br. Miguel Building Multi-Purpose Hall This hall serves as a co-working space for senior high school students’ dance practices, speech choirs, project-making, and a date spot. Handumanan Park The IG-worthy exterior of the Br. Miguel Building along with the green pastures of the newly-renovated Handumanan Park makes it the perfect designated area for those post-thesis defense groufies and boomerangs. Familiar with the terms yet? Wear each word like a badge the soonest you enter the perimeters of our campus, Lasallians!
THE OFFICIAL STUDENT MEDIA CORPS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. LA SALLE · USLS STUDENT ACTIVITY CENTER, LA SALLE AVE., BACOLOD CITY, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL 6100 · VOLUME 64 NUMBER 3 · JULY TO AUGUST 2019
JULY TO AUGUST 2019
VOLUME 64 NUMBER 3
PROUD PINOY. Students competing in the Pinoylympics 2019 before the event was cancelled due to conflicts within the participants. —ANGELO F. DESPI
STINGERS PUTS ON A SHOW IN DUAL MEET BY PATRICK N. BILLOJAN
WITH REPORTS FROM JOHN VINCENT E. RIVERA
The University of St. La Salle (USLS) Stingers vanquished the entire Dual Meet scene as they thrashed the Silliman University (SU) Stallions in their homecourt, bagging six out of seven sporting events last August 24.
The green shirts only lost the Basketball men tourney due to a crucial trey of the Stallions in the dying seconds of the regulation, 50-52. After gingerly coasting along the first half, the Stingers amped their defense on the third quarter to open scoring opportunities but the Stallions always had a response. The Stallions kept their
cool and took care of business in the last period, drubbing the Stingers through an upset three-pointer. However, the Stingers successfully overcame and reasserted dominance on the basketball women, football men, lawn tennis men and women, as well as volleyball men and women to seal the deal for USLS.
“The Dual Meet is an annual event hosted alternatively by the USLS and SU to strengthen the unity of both universities and sharing of best practices through sports,” College Varsity Sports Head Harley Hojilla said. Hojilla also shared that they are planning to invite other teams next year aside
from Silliman, but he said that it still depends if both sides would agree. “This meet also serves as a preparation for the upcoming Negros Occidental Private Schools Sports Cultural Educational Association (NOPSSCEA) season and also for the Unigames. It also tests the development of the players
from their trainings to real game scenarios,” Hojilla added. The university sent around 150 delegates—athletes and coaches—to partake in the said event. Meanwhile, USLS will be holding the Dual Meet next year during the Lasallian week celebration.
Before you call someone a ‘dumb jock’
TIMEOUT
Kicking his way to glory BY WILLI T. FLORETE
Sports are more than mere competitions that every player wants to win, and more than just an exhibition of bravado and prudence during an intense game. In truth, sports are avenues for inspiring others and for achieving holistic betterment—a chance to help those who are beginning to lose hope. This kind of epiphany is what Paul John Embahador wants all athletes to reach and consider. As a varsity player of Sepak Takraw who assumes the role of a tekong, he believes that his duties are not only limited to serving the rattan ball and defending their side of the court from any attack. Above all, he makes it a point to impart his skills to his fellow athletes and to practice selflessness and modesty—he hopes that this outlook of his will also be adapted by others. Paul xalso emphasized the fact that all the training he underwent gave birth to his sense of discipline, desire for his chosen sport, and most of all, dedication for his family. For everyone to understand how Sepak Takraw is being played, Paul gave the following explanation and guidelines: a Sepak Takraw team is comprised of at least 12 members, and only a maximum of three players from this one team are allowed to play on the court. This lineup of three players is called a “regu.” All in all, there are four regus in each team,
—PETER JOB T. BEARNEZA JR.
Name: Paul John Jalandoni Embahador Age: 20 years old Sport: Sepak Takraw Course: BEMA
and in case someone from the regu currently playing on court gets injured, a separate set of three players is reserved to ensure that the game continues. The game only starts when the rattan ball is tossed at the tekong by a teammate. The said server then has to kick the ball over the net, all the while keeping one foot in a small serving circle. To win the set, a team has to garner either 15 or 21 points, depending on the rules. The first team to accumulate two set points wins the match. One important rule to remember here as well is that the use of hands is prohibited. Sepak Takraw is a challenging yet riveting sport that often requires a player to leap aloft and do acrobatic moves to send the rattan
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ball cruising over the net. This perhaps, is one of the
reasons why Paul developed an affinity for the sport. But while it may gladden him to hear that more and more people are aiming to become players of Sepak Takraw, Paul makes it clear that the process will sometimes be rough and strenuous. “If you’re planning to be a sepak player, you must sacrifice your enjoyment to achieve your goals, kick the ball as long as you want, and never give up,” he asserted. Sepak Takraw is more than just what its name implies. Like any other sport, it’s a chance to achieve greatness, bring inspiration, and bring better change in one’s life. After all, this is where you kick your way to glory.
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In a world where differences are given spotlight, everyone is susceptible to discrimination, prejudice, and stereotyping— student-athletes are no exception. The “dumb jock” stereotype is a common typecast in schools where student-athletes, the ones regarded as “dumb jocks”, are generally perceived as students who are supposedly less engaged and less competent in academics. Although, a number of student-athletes might prove this true due to having low or failing grades, the “dumb jock” stereotype is still a misconception. Everyone is susceptible to academic failure, not just sports enthusiasts. However, there might even be an added load of work for student-athletes because of their intensive practices before and after classes. But it’s really up to the person on how he or she would cope with it, juggle things, and enact which measures to take to avoid downfall. St udent-at h lete s—ju st like other students—face the challenge of balancing their time effectively between studying and extra-curricular activities. Students involved with extra-curricular activities such as dance and singing clubs, student government, and even school publications are equally the same with students involved in sports. Some might not do well in juggling work, but let’s not forget those who managed to overcome the challenge and were able to receive average to high marks. Some personalities have also proven the falsity of the
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Extra Josh
Joshua L. Mahilum
joshuamahilum22@gmail.com
[...] It’s really on the person on how he or she would cope with it, juggle things and enact which measures to take to avoid downfall. stereotype, including Ateneo Blue Eagles’ former team captain Christopher John “Chris” Tiu, who managed to consistently stay on the Dean’s List and graduated cum laude with a double degree in Management Engineering and Applied Mathematics, majoring in Mathematical Finance in 2007. For some studentathletes who failed to reach the standards of academic excellence, it might be because they learn differently than anyone else. In 1968, Howard Gardner, a developmental psychologist and a graduate of Harvard University, developed the theory of Multiple Intelligences, believing that everyone excels with different types of giftedness. One of the eight types of intelligence he described was bodily/kinesthetic intelligence. According to Gardner, those who belong in this category or has higher intelligence in this category learn more
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through movement and experimentation, and enjoy sports and activities that require physical exertion and mastery. This explains the incapability of some studentathletes in performing well academically compared to nonathletic students whose logical/ mathematical intelligence are high. And surprisingly, those non-athletes with high logical/ mathematical intelligence experience minimal stereotyping or none at all. The “dumb jock” stereotype has unfortunately become a social reality that looms over campuses and haunts studentathletes from the field to the comforts of the classroom. With it being a misconception, it is something every culture must get rid of. Although, eradicating this hidden yet prevalent stereotype threat can be a difficult task, with open minds, a stereotype-free community, where differences no longer create division, is a possibility.