The Spectrum July 2016 Newspaper and Dagway

TRUTH BEYOND KNOWING

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JULY 2016

THE OFFICIAL STUDENT MEDIA CORPS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. LA SALLE V O L . 6 1 N O . 3 | J U LY 2 0 1 6

NEWS USG Pres. Tiu delivers her first State of the Organization Address, highlighting aims and successes.

Read on page 2

EDITORIAL We argue that plagiarism is not only an act of theft, but also breeding ground for bullying.

The first SK election after its three year hiatus is fast approaching. Learn about the reform act aimed at targeting past loopholes.

Read on page 4

SPECIAL REPORT Philippines won the arbitration case against China in the territorial dispute, but what exactly did we win?

Read on page 6

Read on page 3

UNIVERSITY La Salle Philippine’s Bro. Pres. urges Lasallians to break their silence against the rampant extra-judicial killings.

Read on page 7

ONE LA SALLE. Br. Robert Schieler, FSC shakes the hand of a student of St. Joseph School – La Salle during his pastoral visit last July 23.

Photo by Jhon Aldrin M. Casinas

USLS, SJS-LS greet Sup. Gen. Schieler, FSC in his Pastoral Visit Miguel Bldg. to be Br. Robert Schieler, FSC, Superior General of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, visited the University of St. La Salle (USLS) and St. Joseph School-La Salle (SJS-LS), the only two Lasallian schools in Bacolod, during his Pastoral Visit in the Philippines last July 22.

An array of young Lasallians clad in their green and white uniforms with their flags and banner awaited Schieler outside of the SJS-LS campus despite the scorching sun.

Schieler, who is the 27th successor of St. John Baptist de la

Salle, had experience serving for a while in Bacolod City as a young Brother several years back. Not surprisingly, Schieler or “Brother Bo” as he is fondly called, received a warm welcome during his homecoming.

Schieler was also accompanied by Pacific-Asia Regional Conference General Councilor Br. Angel Ricardo “Ricky” Laguda, FSC, who is a Bacolodnon himself.

Students of USLS— from the Integrated School, Senior High School and collegiate levels— joined the SJS-LS community in listening to Schieler’s address at the SJS-LS Activity Center, where he interacted with the students by

entertaining their questions.

“I know a lot of good can be done because of the one, big Lasallian community that we are all part of,” expressed Schieler during his talk.

After the visit to SJS-LS, Schieler and his company were escorted to the USLS Campus where a warm welcome from the Lasallian community also awaited them.

The gathering had around 600 administrators, faculty, staff, and retirees, both from USLS and SJSLS, housed in Sanctuario de La Salle. This time, Schieler listened to the people coming from varying sectors as they shared their

stories as Lasallians and expressed gratitude to the Institution.

The USLS’ Jean Baptiste Dance Company rendered a cultural presentation to liven up the program, showcasing Bacolod’s MassKara Dance, derived from its signature annual MassKara Festival.

Schieler then graced a short visit to the boys of the Bahay PagAsa (House of Hope), the student Acolytes and Aspirants.

Schieler’s Pastoral Visit may have lasted for only a few, jampacked hours, but it was no doubt a memorable one for him and the whole Bacolod Lasallian community.

Photo by Jhon Aldrin M. Casinas

USLS to launch film program in Aug

EQUIPPED. A student sits in front of the new computers of the Institute of Moving Images last July 28.

By Maria Angelica M. Ape

Institute of the Moving Image (IMI), a new program under the Institute of Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning, is set to launch in August 2 according to IMI Director Manny Montelibano.

The new program will offer

certificate courses that will be eligible to both Senior High School and College students as well as professionals.

IMI aims to create four programs: Arts Education, the Visayan Moving Image Archive, the IMI Residency Program, and the IMI Volunteer Program.

“The educational program will focus on arts education, covering cinema, the visual arts, dance, drama, literature, music and sound design, while The Visayan Moving Image Archive is a digital archive of art works, films, documents or documentation and is the only Moving Image archive in the Visayas,” Montelibano said.

The Visayan Moving Image Archive will be open to the whole University and the community as a resource for research.

Meanwhile, The IMI Residency Program will specialize in hosting talks with international and local artists, writers and researchers that aim to produce new works of art and material to be shared to the University in the form of an exhibition or publication.

Moreover, the IMI Volunteer Program aims to educate Lasallians and the community through involvement in IMI projects, such as art events, talks, film festivals, and

future events.

Montelibano added that IMI originally started in February and is currently polishing the foundation of the program.

“We are still working on the administration concerns of the Institute. Once all are fixed, we can proceed with the courses,” he said.

In terms of the teaching personnel, Montelibano said that practicing professionals, like directors, artists, writers, performers, and managers will be holding the classes.

The program is said to be launched in August and will be a permanent and independent program that will support other academic programs of the University.

IMI also plans on having film festivals, art exhibitions, artist talks, design seminars, technology advancement talks and even art collaborations with students, barangays, and artists.

reconstructed

Photos by Nichol Francis T. Anduyan

By Christiana Claudia G. Gancayco

ON-GOING. Construction materials lay scattered on the floor of a vacated room located in Miguel Bldg. which is under renovation.

By Starlene Joy B. Portillo

To accommodate more Senior High School classrooms, a slated one-year construction contract for the renovation of the Bro. St. Miguel Febres Cordero building will commence on the first week of August.

The Miguel Building will be renovated to five floors and shall house five classrooms per floor, explained the Director of Engineering Services Engr.

Ronaldo Uy, MT. Having a single existing floor in front of the Solomon Building, the old Miguel Building previously accommodated the Job Placement Office (JPO), the National Service Training Program (NSTP) office, Office of the University Chaplain, the English for Global Communications (EGC) office, University Research Center

Official Student Media Corps of the University of St. La Salle - USLS Student Activity Center, La Salle Ave., Bacolod City, Negros Occidental 6100 - July 2016

(URC), the University Press (UPress) and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Mission and Development.

“The former occupants of the building have been temporarily relocated to vacant spaces and offices within campus. But rest assured, another building will be put up for them, although we have not yet identified the exact locations,” Uy said.

For the meantime, the vacancy in the lobby of the College of Medicine serves as the office for the URC and UPress, the Vocations Office for the Office of the Chaplaincy, the Institute for Negros Development at the Yanson Building for the EGC, whereas the NSTP and JPO offices have been relocated to the conference room on the Coliseum ground floor and the second floor, respectively.

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THESPECTRUM / NEWS

Tiu: One Lasalle still

*TIU

Photo by Ariana L. Chua

By Iris Denise N. Rivera and Daphne Tanya L. Molenaar

University Student Government (USG) Exec. Pres. Kathlyn Tiu delivered her first State of the Organization Address (SOA) last July 28 at the Forum regarding the Pusong Lasalyano team’s first few months in office.

During her speech, Tiu restated the platform for the current academic year and its aims.

The plan of Pusong Lasalyano is to empower students, raise advocacies, and establish a sense of identity.

Before the year even started, the Department of Academic Affairs partnered with BrainTrain School of Positivity and Power Memory Franchise Inc., which aims to mold people’s passion and memory for learning and using their imaginations through the Neuro-Lingustic Program.

The Human Resource and Development conducted an outreach activity as well, where they

gave gifts and blankets to homeless people around the city in June.

July involved the celebration of Ice Cream Month which incorporated an advocacy on Global Warming awareness. This year’s Club Fair with the theme “Voyage: Dare to Discover” was also hosted and included the culmination of the Lasallian Icon pageant, which is the replacement for the annual Frosh Icon pageant.

“We will be conducting outreaches, seminars, and workshops that will aid in the formation of the people in Barangay Singcang,” Tiu said regarding the planned ocular visit.

The USG is also planning to implement Project Development and Empowerment Through Involvement (DETI) which is a program that aims to actively and openly involve class mayors and allow them to give feedback, suggestions and raise their concerns about different USG activities and policies.

Tiu assured the student body that they are presently preparing for the Lasallian Week and aims to make the annual event grand, memorable, and at the same time, relevant.

“Despite the changes this year has brought and will be bringing, let us not forget that the purpose of this whole journey is about us growing together, as one Lasallian family. Because leadership is about growing while letting others grow with you.

This is what I always tell people,” Tiu concluded.

NSTP students assemble for Drug Forum

Photo by Nichol Francis T. Anduyan

REDEEMED. A former drug addict shares his story of renewal.

By Daphne Tanya L. Molenaar with reports from Nichol Francis Anduyan

The University held a Drug Education Forum with distinguished guests from the Philippine National Police (PNP) for the National Service Training Program (NSTP) students at the Santuario de La Salle last July 30.

The speakers consisted of former drug addicts from the New Beginnings Foundation – Bacolod who shared their experiences and how they coped with their addictions.

Raffy, one of the speakers who had rehabilitated with the help of the foundation, says that he believes that they are equipped to help other people recover from their addiction because as they say in their program, “The therapeutic value of one addict helping another is without parallel.”

The foundation was established as a drug and alcohol treatment center.

It was formed by a group of Filipinos who realized the need to provide the Philippines with a humane, caring and effective treatment option for drug and alcohol dependency, according to their website.

Also, their primary orientation is that chemical dependency is a disease and has the capacity to affect anyone who cares for a person with a drug or alcohol problem.

“Nobody questions the sovereignty of drug performance and its impact on the youth,” said Andre Tagamolila, Dean of Student Affairs.

Tagamolila urged everyone to listen with their minds, with their hearts, and with their entire persons. “We want to see you trying to understand the situation, we want to see you move yourselves to take an active role in making sure that we create an atmosphere conducive for us and for future generations,” he said.

JULY 2016

Int’l journal publishes Lasallian biologist’s research

By Maria Angelica M. Ape

Lasallian biologist and professor Joval Martinez’ research on isolated disease-causing bacteria from red seaweed was published in the international journal Marine Environmental Research by Eselvier.

Martinez presented the first part of the research in the Mares Conference on Marine Ecosystem’s Health and Conservation in Portugal last 2014.

The research specialized on the isolation and identification of bacteria that may be considered as causative agents of seaweeds’

diseases affecting their quality.

“As a microbiologist, I’m working on the protection of our marine resources like seaweeds,” Martinez said.

The paper is co-authored

by Philip Ian Padilla of the University of the Philippines (UP) Visayas, Martinez’ graduate school adviser.

“I am glad that I have established collaboration with other institutions like UP as part of our University’s research agenda,” he added.

“Publishing in the international journal like Marine Environment Research is one way of disseminating

*MARTINEZ

the information not just to the scientific community but as well as to those people who

are interested in my study,” Martinez said.

He also presented the continuing part of his research at the recently concluded Philippine Society for Microbiology’s 45th Annual Scientific Convention andthe 7th Asia-Pacific Biotechnology Congress, held in Vigan, Ilocos Norte, last July 13-15.

“I thank the USLS, especially the University Research Center through our Assistant ViceChancellor for Research, Dr. Romeo Teruel, for being supportive in all our research endeavors,” Martinez added.

La Salle alums win backpacker challenge tilt

By Maria Angelica M. Ape

Three Lasallian alumni were hailed as champions of the Cebu Pacific’s Juan For Fun Backpacker Challenge 2016.

University of St. La Salle graduates, John Ray Blance, Glenn Layola, and Audrey Ramos were the only team hailing from Bacolod City and were declared as “The Ultimate Backpackers.”

Now on its fifth year, the Juan For Fun, an annual travel challenge, chose five teams of three college students or fresh graduates that would get to travel to the airline’s destinations.

Teams will be travelling for free to several of the airline’s destinations and each team will be assigned and guided by an ‘adventure coach.’

Celebrity Robi Domingo became the team’s adventure coach for the Challenge.

The mechanics of the Challenge requires the teams to do the most number of ‘fun’ activities with the given budget and the team who will be able to fulfill the challenges will take home the grand prize: a travelall-you-can pass to any Cebu Pacific domestic or short-haul international destination.

“Joining the Juan For Fun 2016 was only a dream— a dream to travel and discover new places around the country,” Blance, an AB Communications graduate and one of the members of the winning team, said.

*(L-R) BLANCE, LAYOLA, RAMOS

He also added that for the team, getting a slot in the competition already felt a big win.

“As we are getting near to the adventure, we received a lot of surprises and support from Bacolodnons and Lasallians.

We’re so proud to represent our city and school at the same time. We learned a lot from the adventure,” Blance added.

Audrey Ramos, an AB Psychology student, said that she saw an ad about the Challenge on Facebook and initially asked her barkada but didn’t push through with it.

“Another friend of ours mentioned it to us and then Glenn asked who was willing to join. Then John Ray and I said yes,” Ramos said.

Marketing Management and Operations Management graduate, Glenn Mark Layola said that the team was only formed two days before the deadline for

Photos courtesy of John Ray Blance

FROM THE CITY OF SMILES. The Bacolodnon backpackers snap a photo inside the cockpit of a Cebu Pacific passenger plane.

the entry.

“Capturing moments through traveling is one of my greatest sources of happiness and I saw a huge opportunity in maximizing and widening the scope of that happiness through this Juan For Fun Challenge,” he added.

Meanwhile, Layola said: “Through this Juan For Fun Challenge, I realized so many things especially valuing time, money and moments. It made me conclude that traveling is for everyone. Before the Challenge, I tend to think about negative situations that will possibly hinder me to travel. It can be because I am afraid to get lost or I have not enough money or, simply, I’m not the traveller type.”

The teams were announced during a send-off event last June 22 while the challenge ran from June 23 to June 29.

“It was a tiring but very fulfilling experience. We had to

compromise and get out of our comfort zones. However, we always made sure to feel for each other and know when to adjust,” said Ramos.

“We are grateful to have him [Robi] as our guide [...] and we are thankful to Cebu Pacific and Primetime for giving us the chance to be part of this program. We will never forget the support and cheers of Team La Salle-Bacolod. They were our inspiration to win the Challenge. This is not only for us, but for them as well,” Blance said.

“The Challenge helped me grow as a person. I got to know myself better. I think it’s because I had to go out of my comfort zone. It’s like you think you know everything but you actually just know some. It made me open my eyes more about life, really. It helped me let go of all the stress and pressure,” Ramos said.

BSN partners with FDM Training Center

By Ian Kristoffer V. Ga

The College of Nursing (BSN), in cooperation with Fe del Mundo (FDM) Training Center for Allied Health Professionals, conducted a three-day health care training for both professionals and nonprofessionals held at Nutrition Laboratory and Nursing Arts Laboratory 2, Benilde Building last July 14 to16.

“For nurses to be qualified for work, both for local and international, this is now a requirement that they should have their Basic Life Support (BLS) training as well as Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS),” BSN Dean Jocelyn May Flor Cadena, PhD said.

FDM Training Center is an authorized training center of American Heart Association and is in partnership with

the University for two years starting this June as signed in a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) by Bro. Pres. Manuel Pajarillo, FSC and Dr. Adrian Joseph Luansing, the owner of the Training Center.

“When the MOA was signed, the original minimum requirement expected for the number of participants was only 15, but based on the turn-out of the actual participants during the first training of the two-year contract, we actually went beyond our expectations,” she said.

“We could have ran the first training even just with 15 participants for the package, but we reached 17 or nearly 20, excluding the other participants in the BLS training,” she added.

She shared that there were already requests for further trainings by September. However,

they are still preparing for an upcoming accreditation.

“We might have it ran, if not October, then November, and then probably another one for March. We hope to have at least four trainings every year,” she said.

The courses offered by FDM Training Center are BLS for Healthcare Providers, ACLS, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, Heartsaver First Aid Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Automated External Defibrillator, and Electrocardiogram and Pharmacology.

“Among the other local competitors, I should say in terms of the courses they are offering, this is actually different because whoever will join in the training can actually earn license and be internationally accepted,” she added.

Official Student Media Corps of the University of St. La Salle - USLS Student Activity Center, La Salle Ave., Bacolod City, Negros Occidental 6100 - Volume 61 Number 3

Cadena also mentioned that “the training is unique because of an add-on” which allows them to “issue immediately the certificate or license to those who can pass the training. However, the training is rigid and intensive.”

She revealed that before the Academic Year 2015-2016 ended, there was a communication from the previous University Student Government Pres.

Veronica Te through the Office for Student Affairs requesting the administration to consider the integration of which in the curriculum of the other programs aside from BSN. “Probably this was a good start should they push through to that. […] So far, that request wasn’t pushed yet but if [the student body] would request that again, I think they’ll respond to that,” she said.

NEWS / THESPECTRUM

the Mutya ng Pilipinas upholds to further explore opportunities for myself,” Amaiz said.

Majoring in Political Science and Economics, Almaiz juggled both keeping up with school and joining the pageant.

“I had a lot of absences which were discretionary on the part of the professors. It wasn’t easy for me to study for long quizzes on the course of rehearsals and pageant preliminaries.

Because we were housed, I still have to bring my uniform with me and go to school when there’s a need to do

By Maria Angelica M. Ape

Second year Liberal Arts and Commerce (Liacom) student Fercy Lyn Almaiz was crowned second runner-up for the Mutya ng Pilipinas-Negros Island Region (NIR) held at the SMX Convention Center last June 25.

This was the first year for NIR to hold a pageant in search for a representative for the Mutya ng Pilipinas. “[I joined] to win the title and be the image of the advocacy that

*ALMAIZ

so,” Almaiz recalled.

“It was [a] privilege on my part, to represent our very own USLSBacolod, a school that continues to espouse moral values with distinctively excellent students guided by Christian faith. I can really say, I am a proud Lasallian,” she added.

Renelyn Deguit from the Municipality of Ayungon was crowned the first ever Mutya ng Pilipinas-NIR, while Jianne Althea Germudo from Dumaguete City bagged first runner-up.

NEWS FEATURE

RA 10742: SK Under a New Light

By Andrea Nicole C. Farol

After a three-year hiatus and bids calling for its abolition, the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) made its comeback following the signing of Republic Act (RA) 10742 or the SK Reform Act last January 2016. The law mainly seeks to enforce its anti-dynasty provision which has long been the issue— along with corruption and inefficiency— since the beginning of SK. SK’s Roots Before SK came to be, by virtue of Presidential Decree 684 of 1975, the Kabataang Barangay (KB) was established during the Martial Law by former Pres. Ferdinand Marcos.

It decreed that the Filipino youth shall elect a chairman and six members, aged 15-18 years old, in their respective barangays. His daughter, Imee Marcos, was the chairman.

Controversies on authoritarian rule on youth arose and one alleged case was the torture and killing of Archimedes Trajano, who was a student at the Mapua Institute of Technology.

In an open forum at the university, Trajano questioned Imee on why the KB chairman must be the president’s daughter. He was forcibly taken out of the event by Imee’s guards and was later found dead from torture.

It was further amended until its clampdown during former Pres. Corazon Aquino’s term and until the enactment of RA 7160, known as the Local Government Code (LGC) of 1991, which reinstituted KB to its current name and created the Katipunan ng Kabataan (KK), constituted by youth aged 15-21 years old, which was required to meet quarterly to discuss youth-related issues in the barangay.

“On hold” Not mentioning its controversial history, SK on its own had a wealth of issues

during its dormant existence before the hiatus. The public began to notice elected SK officials as relatives of known political figures, both local and national. There were also allegations on the cleanliness of the elections especially on the SK federations. Other complaints raised included lack of transparency on the use of funds, low impact of organized activities, and poor attendance during meetings.

In 2010, SK National Federation Pres. Jane Cajes was charged for the unaccounted funds. Eventually, SK developed a reputation which discouraged youth from supporting and participating in it. The public was concerned about the youth getting exposed to corrupt practices and political dynasty resembling that of the government.

In response, an act to postpone the SK elections until some time between October 28, 2014 and February 23, 2015 called RA 10632 was enacted. Subsequently, a month before the deadline, the House of Representatives passed the reform bill. In March 2015, former Pres. Benigno Aquino III signed RA 10656, or “An Act Postponing the Sangguniang Kabataan Elections to the Last Monday of October 2016.”

The Change That Has Come According to the National Youth Commission (NYC), the SK Reform Act brought about 12 major modifications in SK. First, age requirements were raised from 15-17 to 18-21 years old. The officials’ legal age allows them to sign contracts, thus making them more responsible in handling funds. The age requirement for KK members was also changed from 15 to 30 years olds.

In order to free SK of its crooked repute, relatives of up to second degree of consanguinity and affinity of incumbent elected officials from barangay to national government are barred from running. Consanguinity or relationship by blood means parents, children and siblings for the first degree, while grandparents and grandchildren are for the second degree. Affinity or

relationship by marriage involves parents-, children- and siblingsin-law for the first degree with grandparents- and grandchildrenin-law for the second degree.

The reform also seeks to promote the financial independence of SK by having the funds deposited in a governmentowned bank. These funds will be spent only on youth development programs and projects. The SK Chairman and Treasurer shall be the bank account signatories.

Together with the KK, the SK will need to create a threeyear rolling plan known as the Comprehensive Barangay Youth Investment Plan (CBYIP) anchored on the Philippine Youth Development Plan (PYDP). PYDP has three objectives which are to improve enabling conditions for youth participation in governance, society and development; increase the contribution of and benefit for the youth in the attainment of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and other goals; and improve the access to quality basic services and social protection through enabling policies.

Also, to guarantee wide and multi-sectoral youth participation in local governance, every province, city and municipality shall establish Local Youth Development Councils (LYDC). The SK Federation President shall serve as the Council Chairman and meet with various youth organizations.

Every province, city and municipality shall also designate a local youth development officer, whose rank is equivalent to Division Chief. He or she will head to the Secretariat and provide technical assistance to the LYDC. The SK Reform Act also requires the newly-elected SK and LYDC officials to undergo a mandatory training before assuming office. They must attend programs under NYC in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Local Government Association, National College of Public Administration and Governance, and Disbursement Acceleration Program. They will need to learn about the SK history,

RA 6713 also known as the “Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees,” and SK duties and functions.

Every August, the Linggo ng Kabataan will also be observed which will include the election of local government official counterparts which will be open to youth aged 13 to 17 years old.

Elected SK officials will also be granted privileges.

One of these is free tuition if they are enrolled in a public tertiary school or in any state college or university. Also, SK officials can be exempted from their National Service Training Program if they submit documentations (written reports, photographs etc.) of participation to activity.

They will also have PhilHealth coverage.

Lastly, the Reform also includes the new grounds for suspension and removal from office of SK officials.

These include two consecutive absences or four accumulated absences without valid cause within 12 months, failure to convene the KK twice consecutively, failure to convene the regular SK meetings for three consecutive months in the case of the SK chairperson, failure to formulate the CBYIP and the Annual Barangay Youth Investment Plan (ABYIP), or approve the annual budget within the prescribed period of time without justifiable reason and failure to implement programs and projects outlined in the ABYIP without justifiable reason.

SK Redeemed Addressing the crisis on trust in the SK started with this Reform. This October 2016 shall mark the first SK election under the changes enforced by the Reform.

NYC Chairperson Gio Tingson hailed the law, noting that “a new era for youth leadership has come.”

Nestle sets ‘MILE’ for college graduates Photo by Nichol Francis T. Anduyan

Liacom sophomore bags 2nd place in Mutya ng Pilipinas-NIR

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By Starlene Joy B. Portillo and Joshua Martin P. Guanco

With an aim to cultivate a new wave of learning experience and to gather promising college students, the Nestle Management Immersion for Leadership Excellence (M.I.L.E.) road show held a symposium at the Cody Conference Hall A and B last July 5.

Now on its seventh year of nationwide scouting in top provincial schools, the M.I.L.E. road show provided activities for selected graduating Lasallian students, divided into six groups, to come up with ideas on how they envision Nestle by the year 2025 with the themes: Leaders of the Future, Best Place to Work, Total Rewards of the Future, Communications Landscape 2025, Winning Route-toMarket, and Consumers of the Future.

Promoting the Nestle values of academic strategy, leadership skills and “having a heart,” the road show observes how the selected participants engage themselves in business simulations and invites them to submit M.I.L.E. program applications, after which they house initial screenings for

*DANDAN

students interested on landing a job in the said company.

“The products of M.I.L.E. will be Corporate Management Trainees (CMTs). These CMTs immerse in Nestle businesses and, after two years, would be able to handle real positions because they are being groomed to become future leaders of Nestle,” said M.I.L.E. talent acquisition specialist Gracy Dandan.

“What we’re looking for are not just the best and the brightest, but also those who have the same values as Nestle and those who really want to make a difference. So, if they think that they have the right qualifications, then they can take part in this program,” Dandan invited.

BALAYAN, The Spectrum holds forum on Drug Abuse

Photo by Nicci Bernelle D. Aguilar

JULY 2016

DRUG AWARENESS. Residents of Purok Gonzaga listen to the symposium.

By Starlene Joy B. Portillo

In partnership with The Spectrum, the Balayan Social Development Office conducted a Drug Abuse symposium at the Purok Gonzaga gymnasium, Brgy. Taculing last July 2.

Rose Jessica Octaviano, Kalipay Negrense Foundation Communication Manager, was invited as the guest speaker for an estimated 90 participating local residents predominantly composed of middle-aged mothers and their young children. The talk focused on the negative effects of various drugs and what measures the people can take to avoid being addicted, especially among children and adolescents.

Having worked as a Peace Advocate for Paghiliusa sa Paghidaet Negros as well, Octaviano relayed to the crowd how she handles cases resulting from substance intake and abuse daily.

“Little girls often become sexual preys to their intoxicated uncles and fathers. On another note, I recently met with a 10-year old who was inhaling rugby to forget hunger because his parents fight too often and neglect their parental duties,” Octaviano recalled.

Official Student Media Corps of the University of St. La Salle - USLS Student Activity Center, La Salle Ave., Bacolod City, Negros Occidental 6100 - July 2016

“It’s a pity how children see the sadness and darkness of this world long before they begin to see the light,” she added.

Having previously toured the purok and made it recipient of last year’s Wall News edition which was also about drugs, The Spectrum and Balayan chose to go back to Purok Gonzaga, believing that they are in need of in-depth drug awareness both through print and by word of mouth.

“Different drugs, different effects. None of it is ever good,” said Octaviano during her talk, adding that drug abuse is everyone’s problem and as such, everyone’s responsibility to be aware.

“If we do not take [drug abuse] precautions, one way or another we will all suffer in the aftermath,” said Brgy. Captain Alex Diamante during his closing remarks.

Balayan Assistant Director Dexter Ian Tabujara stressed how parents should not let their children be led astray by the wrong types of people and should be cautious by those they call peers.

“Their future lies on the palms of those whom they follow. Help and guide them while there’s still time,” he said.

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THESPECTRUM / OPINION

JULY 2016

How to Get Away with Plagiarism EDITORIAL

“Walang krimen na plagiarism sa Pilipinas, kahit hanapin niyo sa Revised Penal Code, sa Intellectual Property Code, at maging sa Special Penal Laws,” Vicente “Tito” Sotto, actor, comedian and senator, has publicly said in defense of his act of plagiarizing parts of his speeches. This was back in 2012, and his statement remains true today.

And plagiarism, as recent events that highlight it proves, from Melania Trump’s speech being too similar to one of Michelle Obama’s and soon-to-be Commission on Higher Education (CHED) head Jose David Lapuz’ alleged plagiarism of his book from different academic papers, is still a rampant issue.

Plagiarism, the act of passing one’s work as your own, remains only bound under the “unethical” not “unlawful” in the Philippines. Department of Justice (DOJ) has this to say about the matter: “In sum, plagiarism does not in itself result in a criminal violation unless it also constitutes copyright infringement under the Intellectual Property Code (IPC).”

This is a telling of the dangers one’s academic or creative works are prone to once published or put out on the Internet, where ease of access also means ease of theft. May it be by deliberate and serial offenders or victims of unintentional copying and mere editorial laziness.

Although in the University, violations against “Academic and Intellectual Property” is made clear under Article 9.6, stating therein the consequences of intellectual theft, not much is said about the protection of the entity or individual copied from. This and the weak provisions in our existing laws that are against plagiarism entails a larger implication of impunity and, as past and recent events here and abroad have proved, a breeding ground for bullying.

When Sotto dismissed his case of plagiarism reasoning that where he copies parts of his speech from is “just a blogger” (Blogger lang ‘yan.”), he recognizes his relative power against the aggravated and thus spins it around to his advantage.

It also seems like it will not be considered as plagiarism if the copier and the one copied from are not on the same level of popularity. Michelle Obama and Melania Trump’s issue is controversial because they’re both renowned. However, if Obama wasnot the first lady and just some undergraduate scholar, the issue of plagiarism might not have even been addressed properly and with due process.

It’s like when big companies plagiarise the works of minor organization, the issue gets disregarded as soon as it arises.

You won’t get a thorough trial if you’re the minor organization.

Why should you? You’re not as credible as the biggies. In that sense, plagiarism is just another weapon for bullies.

THESPECTRUM

F O U N D E D 1 9 5 6 www.facebook.com/thespectrumusls | thespectrum.usls@gmail.com VOLUME 61 NUMBER 3 | July 2016 Member Alliance of Lasallian Campus Journalists and Advisers and College Editors Guild of the Philippines RJ Nichole L. Ledesma Editor-in-Chief Daphne Tanya L. Molenaar Associate Editor Robert H. Jerge III Managing Editor Andrea Nicole C. Farol External Affairs Director Newspaper Editor Christiana Claudia G. Gancayco Magazine Editor Lex Diwa P. Aloro Asst. Magazine Editor Katherine E. Co Online Editor David Willem L. Molenaar Asst. Online Editor Joshua Martin P. Guanco Literary Editor Chad Martin Z. Natividad Photos and Videos Editor Jhon Aldrin M. Casinas Asst. Photos and Videos Editor Margaret E. Yusay Layout and Graphics Editor Jowan Dave G. Guides Newspaper Writers Maria Angelica M. Ape Starlene Joy B. Portillo Ian Kristoffer V. Ga Iris Denise N. Rivera Magazine Writers Lyle John L. Balana Hezron G. Pios Online Writers Charlene Marie D. Lim Maria Angeline M. Mayor Ida Sarena M. Gabaya Danielle Emmie L. Villaera Filipino Writer Ma. Lore P. Prado

Illustrators Katrina Y. Nemenzo Karen D. Panganiban Seth V. Pullona Sophia Inez A. Bilbao Cedric Lance M. Militar Photojournalists Ma. Henna A. Pilla Nichol Francis T. Anduyan Ariana L. Chua Videographers Neil Angelo F. Pelongco Kyle Jyrax D. Sevilla Layout and Graphics Artists Glen Jed J. Descutido Shara Mae L. Pelayo

Sports Writers Gian Von J. Caberte Stephine Paul M. Dungca

Editorial Assistant Keanu Joseph P. Rafil

Web Administrator Keanu Kent Gargar

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.

Cartoon by Keanu Joseph P. Rafil

Variations on the Word ‘Protest’ Protest should transcend a hashtag. On paper, it should leap.

Protest, according to Pope Francis, addressing thousands of youth in Brzegi, Poland,‘demands a good dose of courage, a readiness to trade in the sofa for a pair of walking shoes and to set out on new and uncharted paths.’ And, adding to a thundering applause, that “The times we live in do not call for young ‘couch potatoes’, but for young people with shoes, or better, boots laced.”

Protest, then, must compel us to get up on our feet. Once we do, we must compel and empower others to do the same, too.

Protest is not bound by good grammar and excellent rhetoric. It should never be pre-packaged or worked up to appeal.

Protest is not a trend nor personality politics. It does not measure intelligence. It does not prove one superior over the other.

Protest is learning to look beyond our walls of safety and privilege.

Protest means to deny the self, to become nameless for once and to strip off our egos, in order to work for something other than ourselves. In this context, protest is never personal. Protest should never solely serve a personal end, if not at all.

Protest simply means acknowledging our shared humanity.

Protest means acknowledging our complicity to social ills and doing our part, in whatever capacity we have, to pay for it.

Protest and privilege is directly proportional.

In other words, with privilege comes greater

Metaphor-Play RJ Nichole L. Ledesma rjnicholeledesma@gmail.com

Protest must not be a machinery that inadvertently feeds what it’s fighting against. responsibility for protest.

Protest is to question our privilege and at whose lives are at stake in order for us to achieve it.

Protest must not be a machinery that inadvertently feeds what it’s fighting against.

Protest does not mean to condescend. Instead, it means to educate.

Protest is the language of democracy.

Protest does not only condemn, but more importantly, demands liability.

Protest means not only selectively rallying against a few causes that benefit us or that which are near our social vicinity, but acknowledging the systematic oppression that rules over our daily lives.

Protest is a refusal to desensitization from

violence, but it is our capacity to stay angry when faced with it.

Protest also means to stay mad, to stay mad, but, in the same breath, also means overwhelming restraint.

Protest must always be pro-human.

Protest must work to amend the brutishness of our anger and our capacity to curb it through our humanity. Protest, therefore, is not an excuse to be vicious nor unkind nor to kill nor to hurt.

Protest is the inverse of apathy.

Protest means, regardless if fists are clenched and unclenched, eyes are keen— education and vigilance paired with being critical.

Protest, as Mahatma Gandhi proves, is not only an act of defiance, but also an act of prayer.

Protest, too, can exist in deep wells of silences.

Protest, in the same breath, also means to break silence.

Protest is valid in spite of instrumentation. It is valid in spite of and despite the circumstance.

Protest is not exclusive to insurgent groups or red-clad rebels or to the Left.

Protest must not be divisive. Instead, it calls for solidarity.

Protest should be enfolded in the mundanity of our lives.

Protest does not only exist in public spaces. It can also exist as a principle that guides us and helps us measure our understanding of the world.

Protest does not only come in the form of mass uprisings as it could come in microscopic acts of kindness.

What Really Matters Two children are admitted to the hospital: one has a two-day fever, the other a bullet lodged in the chest. The latter is rushed to the packed emergency room (ER) which can only accompany one more patient, but wait – the parents of the fevered child cries foul because both children arrived at the same time and insisted that they are equally as important for the ER, as the fever could be something just as fatal as the bullet wound. No one goes into the emergency room yet because now they have to decide which of the two should be prioritized first. They’re both children and should be taken as equals. Now, what is the criteria? The doctors start deciding on this as well, all the while the child with the bullet starts bleeding to death.

Although the situation above is fictional, it could be like what would happen if we made sure that all lives ‘mattered’ and that everyone gets the same treatment for everything at the same instance— which sounds ideal, but the fact that the circumstances to begin with aren’t the same for everyone should be considered. The battle for equality has been sought-after by the masses and is still happening and for good reason. However, it doesn’t make sense in plenty of different settings.

Whenever a movement like Black Lives Matter (BLM) starts, someone comes up with “All Lives Matter” to counter it. BLM is not implying that black lives matter more than the others. “The entire point of Black Lives Matter is to illustrate the extent to which black lives have not mattered in [the United States of America],” Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, an assistant professor of African-American Studies at Princeton University said.

“Gay Pride Day” was met with “Heterosexual Pride Day” too, an infrequent moment for straight-love. And the wildly disputed feminism

Redumbdant Daphne Tanya L. Molenaar daphne_tanya@live.com

Instead, it seemed like an agitation to downplay the other, to make it sound like their slogan is selfish. was also contradicted with a semi-satirical gender equality and men’s rights movement, ‘meninism’.

Why do these pressing issues keep getting pressed back?

There’s a reason why they go to the extent of starting movements and protests to finally let people register the fact that, yes, we are all humans but no, we are not treated the same.

You give food to the hungry, medicine to the ill, alms to the beggar, and books to the illiterate, but when the oppressed finally speaks out, someone else points out that everyone can be oppressed too. When a group is being maltreated, another brings up the possibility of every other group becoming an injured party just the same.

But a statement like “Everyone should have shelter” is no consolation to the person who sleeps on the streets every night. It won’t give them a house or even a meager roof above their heads.

The intention was to bring people together – that’s a given – to remind each other that we’re all still here as equals fighting for the same privileges, but that didn’t happen. Instead, it seemed like an agitation to downplay the other, to make it sound like their slogan is selfish and that we are all entitled to the same notice regardless of the different circumstances.

It’s starting to seem more like a fight for attention.

From the moment we get out of our mothers’ wombs, we apparently start to crave this more than anything: attention. Babies would cry to get an adult to attend to their needs, like that bottle of milk that has to be prepared as well. Our survival depended heavily on how much attention we got – and are still getting.

As the babies become toddlers then become children then become adults, the search for attention is consistent. It doesn’t stop at the first time we learn how to hold a spoon to our lips or to the time we finally learn how to pay our own taxes. We are too social of beings, from the need for someone to feed us before we are able to do it ourselves to the need for interaction with each other, we will always need the attention.

But if everyone is going to keep on arguing about which party deserves more attention, it’s wasting precious time. Time and energy. Time and sagacity. Time and more lives.

Even this column itself is a waste of time and paper trying to explain why something needs more attention than the other when it’s supposed to be obvious enough in the first place.

Official Student Media Corps of the University of St. La Salle - USLS Student Activity Center, La Salle Ave., Bacolod City, Negros Occidental 6100 - Volume 61 Number 3

OPINION / THESPECTRUM

JULY 2016

911 + 5 Jargonaut Andrea Nicole C. Farol andreanicolefarol@gmail.com

On the other hand, it could keep prank calls at bay and keep the line clear for those who are truly in need.

In the years before smartphones took the world by storm, I remember the telebabads that my mother would have on our landline. And as a kid, one of my favorite made-up games to play was (as macabre as this sounds) was being a detective on a murder crime scene (I loved reading Nancy Drew) which involved “calling” the police.

And to my young mind, from everything it has absorbed from the tube, the logical thing was to

call 911.

Years later, it seems that the games in my childhood are coming true, thanks to the upcoming nationwide rollout of the official emergency hotline 911 by August 1. This was made possible by an agreement signed by Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Information and Communications Technology, and National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) as instructed by Pres. Rodrigo Duterte. This agreement will make the existing 117 hotline and the new 911 emergency hotlines accessible to the general public through each of the party’s respective networks. Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) Company and Globe Telecom both expressed support for the project. As of now, simulations are being done to test the reliability and efficiency of the hotline.

But last July 27, Globe has announced that it will charge five pesos per call on top of the regular voice charges for their subscribers.

According to Globe, however, it was mandated by the government. This statement brought about a flurry of complaints and comments

in social media. Netizens were furious about the thought of a public hotline with charges. In other countries, particularly in Europe, 911 is a public service part of the telecommunications company’s corporate responsibility. Many were concerned of the possible scenarios of the charge affecting the response to an emergency situation.

On the other hand, it could keep prank calls at bay and keep the line clear for those who are truly in need. Also, these charges are for maintenance, according to the company.

Meanwhile, Duterte is said to have directed 911 to be free of charge. However, this new executive order is yet to be signed. Till then, the callers will have to shoulder the fees.

It has only been more or less than a month since Duterte was seated as president. His initial campaign against drugs has proven to be more of a force of nature and has since awakened the country with debates, fear, clash of beliefs and hope. It is not surprising to let a sliver of hope into our minds with this.

Our country has long needed this hotline.

The Filipino people has long needed the ease in their minds that safety is just a call away, and perhaps, not five pesos away.

Early Tech, Early Harm Childhood— a time for imagination, play, and curiosity. At least, that’s what it used to be. However, nowadays, this stage in life is being thwarted by premature exposure to smart mobile devices. Yes, these devices may be used to maintain a quick line of communication between child and parent, but should it be the center of entertainment and development for the child?

The most significant mental growth occurs in a person’s middle childhood (nine to 11 years old).

This is where personality traits begin to take form, and start to paint the child’s outlook on life and their surroundings. Erik Erikson, a psychoanalyst known for his theory on psychosocial development of human beings, viewed the years between seven and 11 as a time for children to develop a “sense of industry.” This entails cooperative interaction with peers and adults, and introducing them to new social rules in which they earn social status based on their competence and performance. A child who has failed to master skills required by these rules is likely to develop what Erikson calls a “sense of inferiority,” where the child has a tendency to feel that society is too demanding. It is in this stage of development where children begin to look towards adults for formation. They notice the various roles they play in society and how they influence people around them, but it would be fairly difficult for a kid to notice this if their eyes are locked onto a small five-inch screen (and no, this doesn’t mean that a bigger screen would help).

Imagination is the gateway to worlds beyond.

It gives us the chance to visualize extraordinary outcomes to the most ordinary situations. A child’s

Anony-mouse Robert H. Jerge III rhjjerge@yahoo.com

We live in a world that demands that we be connected or be left behind, but this should not pertain to children. chance to enact roles which is not their own allows them to develop a sense of perspective and understanding towards others. It also expands their physical, cognitive, and emotional capabilities by exposing them to scenarios they have created. These roles don’t even have to be played by the child, but by objects that depict the role imagined by the child controlling them.

These pieces of technology that some people give to children, cheat them out of the chance

to create something original and not based on a block game the child played all afternoon the day before. These original roles can be added or adjusted upon, if someone joins them and not bound by rules they learned from reenacting scenes and situations they have experienced in a game.

Kids weren’t always looking down on their smart devices. The first affordable smart phones didn’t appear on shelves till the mid-2000s and even then children were burying their hands in the dirt, or their noses in books, not their eyes on a screen. Their constant exposure could lead to obesity due to lessened physical activity, as well as underdeveloped social skills resulting from lessened peer interactions. These were never issues before. Children would be outside with each other, creating memories offline, and mingling with new people.

Smart mobile devices have allowed us to access vast wells of entertainment instantly, but this ability to access something is slowly draining our younger generations of the ability to mingle outside of their phones, tablets, and personal computers and growing exposed to everything that is happening in the world, whether it be good or bad.

We live in a world that demands that we be connected or be left behind, but this should not pertain to children. They should be connecting with each other before they connect with the rest of the world, imagining their roles before pursuing them, and growing ever curious of their environment to make discoveries on their own.

Of Silence and Lost Chances Four hundred and sixty-seven. Silence.

Four hundred and sixty-seven have been slain. The blood of 467 alleged drug dealers and pushers, may it be clean of crime or filth-ridden, has already gone dry down the drain, creating stains on the concrete that look no different from each other under the moonlight. 467 human beings – persons, with names, like you and me – will never wake to see the light of day again to find a new beginning, or even to simply avail of their rights to justice and life. Yet, there is silence.

By the time this paper gets published, a few more digits will have moved upward. Until the president changes his mind on his violent procedures that are enforced by police and vigilantes alike on the elimination of drugs and criminality in the country, especially those who resist or try to fight back against officials in-charge, the death toll will go on.

Yet, there is silence.

The president reassured the nation in his State of the Nation Address last 25th of July that “vindictiveness is not in his system” and that his administration shall be sensitive to the State’s obligations to promote, protect, and fulfill the human rights of our citizens as social justice will be pursued and that the rule of law shall prevail at all times. This is the promise, ladies and gentlemen, but it seems that human rights are being put quite differently from what we perceive them as they are— inherently intact, inalienable entitlements of all human beings for the sole reason that we are human beings, no matter how constantly the concept is being challenged

by extreme conditions. During the 98-minute speech, Pres. Rodrigo Duterte also proclaimed that human rights “must work to uplift human dignity,” but at the same time also saying that they “cannot be used as a shield or an excuse to destroy the country” in the following sentence, which can only translate to equating the efforts that human rights activists have been putting to stop extrajudicial killings (which rip alleged persons of their right to due process and fair trial) to the ‘destruction of the country’, as he puts it, unless he aimed to contradict himself.

But to attempt to find a common ground with the President’s viewpoint, let us ask ourselves the same question: Do we hate drugs? Do we loathe it? Do we loathe drug lords, rapists, parents who rape their children, murderers, human traffickers and corrupt officials? I do. Whenever I think of all the innocent being unjustly victimized, I convince myself of my unequivocal abhorrence for sin.

I absolutely do. But should we let hate do all the dirty work? If yes, then we are no better than the criminals who committed crimes out of hate. We are no better than the hypocrites we allow ourselves to be. But today, there is this most alarming and the most lethal reality we are facing and not talking so much about: the possible deaths of innocent people who are falsely accused. Now this is something I can never accept and shut up about.

Now I desperately wonder: why the silence?

Do the criminals who deprived other people of their lives deserve death? Of natural

Skatherin’ Around Katherine E. Co katyuiop@gmail.com

Now I desperately wonder: why the silence? consequences, they do, and by understanding this law we breed a consciousness of “treating others the way we want to be treated.” But for the harm already inflicted and the mistake already made, is it that “an eye for an eye makes the world blind?” Shall we do the ‘honor’ of serving to them their deaths? Shall we not let death find those who refuse to feel guilty? Are we forgetting that by killing criminals we also kill all chances of them feeling the full guilt as consequence to their crime and a chance to change for the better?

Has change really come, then, for the 467 lifeless below the ground— those who have lost all their chances for it the moment they were killed?

Let’s not contribute any more to the numbers by thinking that we can reverse time and give peace to the dead, ‘alleged’ criminals. Let’s stop our poisonous silence here and now.

5

Freedom or Free Doom?

Just recently, our newly-seated Pres. Rodrigo Duterte finally signed the Executive Order on the Freedom of Information (FOI). What exactly does this mean?

The FOI order mandates that “every Filipino shall have access to information, official records, public records and to documents and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions or decisions, as well as to government research data used as basis for policy development,” as cited in Section 3 of the EO. This is said to be done for the sake of transparency, in the name of a ‘clean and honest government.’

“We firmly Claudiaphrodite believe that greater fiscal transparency Christiana Claudia G. Gancayco leads to a more christianacg@yahoo.com.ph r e s p o n s i v e government, ” Former Pres.

I am calling for a louder Benigno S. Aquino III said last July of public outcry every last year. time a journalist is slain But other than because he merely did that, what else does this mean? Let his duty for society. us look at things at a different perspective.

On the other side of the spectrum, there’s the Philippine press.

Take a pause to consider this: what are the implications of FOI to our country’s journalists? This is a serious aspect in need of profound deliberation especially when taken into consideration that the Philippines has been ranked as the third deadliest country for journalists next to Iraq and Syria, both of which are war-torn countries while the Philippines, on the contrary, is not. In fact, the irony gets worse because we’re actually supposed to be democratic!

Let us simplify the situation with an analogy about a beehive farmer and a swarm of angry bees. A farmer was hired to work in a beehive farm but his employer did not provide a safety suit for him to use. Nevertheless, the farmer still went about to do his job because it is his obligation. He made sure to move a little slower, a little more careful so as not to upset the bees. But he still got stung several times every now and then. One day the wooden rack where the bees were situated got shaken and caused the flap to open, which resulted to a swarm of angry bees to have gotten out in the open and attacked the farmer. This apparently ended bad, since the farmer was vulnerable without the suit in the first place.

The farmer represents the Philippine press, the bees are the corrupt seeking payback and the beehive symbolizes the hive. This is exactly how things could most probably go once the FOI is already in full-fledged implementation (say no cover-ups and manipulation would occur). With easier access to data, it is inevitable for the press to gobble up all those government data and go over each with careful scrutiny in search for a trace of foul play in the fiscal governance. (Isn’t that the very essence of their existence?) It will be easier now for the press to expose corruption, yes. However, as Newton’s Third Law states, “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” With this said, who is there to stop the angered corrupt party to silence or extract revenge from the journalists responsible for the exposé? Consequently, the lives of journalists are in a greater deal of danger now more than before. And have we considered this? What are the steps we’re taking to ensure safer lives for journalists?

Every time the news reports of a journalist being killed, do we pause for a moment to ponder how could this (and should) be prevented? Do we just shrugged our shoulders, say “well, what else is new” and change the channel? Or maybe we argue about the possibility that the journalist killed might have been corrupt, that’s why he or she was murdered— as if the murder would be justified by then.

What now becomes of our supposedly “democratic” country? What does this speak of when the emblems of that very democracy are unjustly being killed left and right? Is the word merely a political description for our republic; a mockery of the remnants for something heroes bled and died for?

I am not saying that the FOI shouldn’t be pushed through just because of the possible consequence that the press would be more aggressive in exposing corruption. That’s absurd and downright narrow-minded. Instead, I am calling for a louder public outcry every time a journalist is slain because he merely did his duty for society. I insist that the bodies of journalists murdered for an exposé they wrote don’t just end up in a heap of pile that symbolizes the mocking irony, otherwise known as “Philippine democracy” and “Philippine press freedom.” I demand that when a journalist is reported to be have been beheaded, we don’t just leave it to yesterday’s news or last year’s statistics. Why? Our silence, impassiveness and non-action towards the murder of our nation’s journalists are other ways of condoning the attacks to our democracy. We are unknowingly trampling our freedom, replacing it with free doom instead.

If we truly want our liberty, if we truly want to deserve our democracy then, by all means and at all cost, we must fight for it.

Official Student Media Corps of the University of St. La Salle - USLS Student Activity Center, La Salle Ave., Bacolod City, Negros Occidental 6100 - July 2016

6

THESPECTRUM / SPECIAL REPORT

JULY 2016

West Philippine Sea Dispute

By Lex Diwa P. Aloro and Katherine E. Co

The People’s Republic of China is set to engage in a routine military drill in the West Philippine Sea on September of this year, in partnership with the Russian forces according to China’s Defense Ministry. In that time, it will be almost two months since the Philippines won the arbitration case in the territorial dispute. But with China holding military drills, launching daily air patrols and continuing their construction of man-made islands, what exactly did the Philippines win?

The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) ruled in favor of the Philippines on July 12, 2016. The three-year arbitration case was finally put to an end through the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). In response to the Philippines’ win against China, other countries suffering the boundary issue with the nine-dash line had given out their response to the verdict. India, for one, is content with the result of the case saying, “States should resolve disputes through peaceful means without threat or use of force and exercise self-restraint.”

Meanwhile, Vietnam says that bilateral talks with China itself are a more preferable strategy for its government. “Our consistent policy is to settle disputes through peaceful means in accordance with national laws and United Nations (UN),” says Le Hoai Trung, Vietnam’s UN Representative.

The Government of China had made it clear that they did not want a multilateral hearing concerning the territorial dispute, but with the frequent meddling and incursions of Chinese vessels in Philippine territory, the Philippines was forced to file the arbitration case three years back. With threats coming from China, the Philippines was also compelled to seek for military help from the United States (US).

The unification of the two countries’ military forces was sparked when Beijing was accused of militarizing the region around Woody Island.

Reports about the alleged newly-built submarine harbor in Mischief Reef also caught America’s attention to intervene in the heated dispute.

All of these incursions were done even after the tribunal conducted a hearing on the merits of the case of the Philippines.

Preceding the November 2015 tribunal hearing are China’s constant reaffirmations on its non-acceptance of any international arbitral ruling on the maritime dispute as well as its completion of a 3,125-meter runway on Fiery Cross Reef located on the disputed waters.

This was after China officially issued a position paper almost a year before, which reiterated the Philippines’ weak stance on the maritime dispute and how the latter violated and abused international law and efforts to create a legally binding Code of Conduct especially as members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

community. The irony of this position paper is that the US had called out how China’s “nine-dash line” does not follow the international law of the sea when they finished constructing a military aircraft runway on an island owned by Vietnam.

China’s incursions were more rampant in Philippine territory than in any other countries in 2014.

There were incidents of Philippine protests against the alleged water cannon firing at Filipino fisher folks in Bajo de Masinloc and Chinese coastguards expelling Philippine ships from Ayungin Shoal. It was after these instances that led to the submission of the 4000page memorial to the PCA. The PCA requested China to submit a counter-memorial to the Philippines’ pleadings, but the Chinese government once more declined.

With China’s lack of participation, the Philippines took it upon itself to ensure some sort of backing on itself.

On April 28, 2014, they signed the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the US, allowing the presence of US military forces and supplies to be stationed in the Philippine’s military bases.

There was a slight lull in the Philippine versus China dispute before face-offs happened.

When Super Typhoon Haiyan (locally known as Yolanda) struck the country, Chinese vessels were sent to shore while Filipino forces remained in their posts and passed the storm inside a grounded World War II-era ship. This seems to be the only time China had retreated nine-dash lines back to shore, because they came back immediately after the storm had passed for their daily patrols.

Chinese maritime vessels and economical ships sail the disputed waters on a daily basis. Even the filing of the arbitration case on January 22, 2013 did not scare them off.

In fact, they rejected the case presented by the Philippines to the PCA, saying that issues on the clashing territorial sovereignties should have remained bilateral between the two countries only. And the PCA, in view of its final ruling on the West Philippine Sea, lacking in enforcement powers, could no longer impact final decisions of the States Parties after fulfilling its sole arbitration role. Not only this, but China has rejected its jurisdiction ever since the arbitration case was filed – it believes that the filing of the case in itself is violating international law as the Philippines resorted to compulsory arbitration, which is a secondary and complementary method after more peaceful, preliminary measures such as negotiation and consultation.

According to them, the preconditions required for this level of action is not satisfied since the UNCLOS does not include territorial and sovereignty rights in its scope and that China had

declared optional exception on sovereign disputes and maritime delimitation in accordance with Article 298 of the convention on the day they ratified it. They stood in their proclamation that because the UNCLOS does not determine the ownership of the islands, the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) involved cannot also determine until they are ruled upon by rightful organizations such as the Charter of the UN, the foundational treaty of the UN whose main organs of implementation include the International Court of Justice, its principal judicial force.

In addition, China has frowned upon the choice of arbitrators in the resulting tribunal, in light of refusing to appoint an arbitrator or even in participating in the proceedings per se, saying that the panel which consisted of four Europeans and a Ghanaian does not adequately reflect the diversity of the world’s legal system.

President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, clearly affirmed their unwavering stance following the July 12 ruling of the arbitral tribunal, saying that China’s territorial sovereignty and marine rights in the disputed seas would not be affected by it, and that China will be committed to resolving disputes with its neighbors.

On the contrary, the PCA’s tribunal was clear in its role limitations regarding the issue on hand by emphasizing in its official press release that it does not “rule on any question of sovereignty over land territory” nor does it “delimit any boundary between the Parties”.

The five-person panel also asserted its right to “satisfy itself” even if a party refuses to take part in the proceedings because not only does it have jurisdiction over the dispute but also that the claim is “well founded in fact and law.”

The tribunal’s Award or final ruling concluded that China’s historical rights on contested waters are “extinguished to the extent they were incompatible with the exclusive economic zones provided for in the Convention”. It also explained that the status of features play an important role in the features’ ability to generate an entitlement, whereby China’s claimed islands and seamounts do not pass the certain requirements to be able to generate EEZs, ensuring that the sea areas within the Philippines’ EEZ are indeed theirs because there is no possible entitlement of China that may overlap these areas.

Moreover, the press release cited various violations by the Chinese of the Philippine’s sovereign rights in its EEZ by “interfering withPhilippine fishing and petroleum exploration, constructing artificial islands and failing to prevent Chinese fishermen from fishing in the zone” which also led to irreparable harm to the coral reef environment and threat to the preservation of fragile ecosystems and protection of endangered species and their

habitat.

But what really sparked this territorial feud between China and the Philippines? Analysts could not pinpoint the cause of the problem, but tension between the two countries intensified with small misconducts such as venturing Chinese fishing boats in Scarborough Shoal.

With the persistence of these vessels in spite of the warnings from the Philippine Coast Guard, the Philippine government sent its largest warship to the area. This, in turn, pushed China to deploy surveillance vessels, resulting to an intense military standoff.

In lieu of this standoff, both governments implemented a fishing ban in Scarborough Shoal in an attempt to lessen the conflicts in that area but the problem with that agreement was that it only covered the area near the shoal, making the other areas still vulnerable to incursions.

The problem worsened when a missile frigate from the China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) docked on Hasa Hasa Shoal (internationally known as Half Moon Shoal), a maritime territory just 60 miles away from Palawan.

On September 12, 2012, former Philippine President, Benigno Aquino III propagated the Administrative Order No. 29, which renamed the South China Sea into the West Philippine Sea. But as the order garnered negative feedbacks from the neighboring country, an envoy was sent in the person of Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV. Trillanes was said to have gone to China 16 times for negotiations regarding the clashing boundaries. Discussions in these meetings were held discreetly by the government, even the agreements (if there were any) were not made known to public. But as discussed in the earlier paragraph, the following actions of China became more aggressive towards the Philippine dispute. Needless to say, the negotiations did not solve the dispute over the West Philippine Sea. The disagreement between China and the Philippines did only start with the filing of the arbitration case. It was built up by years of misunderstanding, those of which are not even solved until now. The arbitrary case may have been put to an end by the PCA in favor of the Philippines but the dispute still lives on.

China will not stop because of a ruling from a tribunal that they deem to be unjust. The Philippines may have won in the litigation but, again, what did we win exactly? China is an economic powerhouse backed up with lawful reasoning in accordance to UNCLOS. The Philippines is still a developing country backed up by tribunal with no enforcing power. The PCA and US Military forces can meddle with this affair in support of the Philippines, but it is unlikely that China will back down.

The West Philippine Sea dispute is a long-running drama series and it will not end with the ruling of the PCA. There will be another episode after that, and another episode after the other. We can only hope for a peaceful finale.

Infographic by Jowan Dave Guides Prepared by Lex Diwa P. Aloro and Katherine E. Co

Official Student Media Corps of the University of St. La Salle - USLS Student Activity Center, La Salle Ave., Bacolod City, Negros Occidental 6100 - Volume 61 Number 3

UNIVERSITY / THESPECTRUM

JULY 2016 SPECIAL EDITORIAL

Engaging Civil Authorities in Building an Inclusive and Life-giving Society:

A CALL FOR LASALLIANS TO MAKE A STAND AGAINST THE CULTURE OF DEATH Dear Lasallians,

As a Catholic and a Filipino, I am deeply disturbed by the spate of killings that have attended this administration’s pronouncements regarding its anticrime and illegal-drugs campaign. Media reports indicate that from 10 May to 15 July 2016, cases of drug and crime-related killings have risen to 408* casualties and continue to rise. While these figures are alarming in themselves, what troubles me even more as an educator is the absence of a significant public outcry against the blatant contempt for the human life and the rule of law that these extra-judicial killings represent.

This disregard for the inalienable value of human life and the public silence that gives tacit support for such disregard does not bode well for the vision of a just and humane society enshrined in our Constitution.

What these extrajudicial killings demonstrate is how desperate many people have become in the face of the issues of drugs and criminality.

The approval of so-called solutions that deny the sanctity of human life and respect for each person’s right to due process amounts to a crisis of faith in the possibility of governing our nation by reason and the rule of law. These lethal acts and the attitudes that ground them undermine the fundamental respect for human dignity and the obligations of human solidarity which are the foundation of social life. We need to remind everyone that if we want a just and peaceful society, our means must partake of our ends. You cannot build a culture that respects life while relying principally on the instruments of death.

It is appropriate to recall here the much publicized pronouncement of Pope Francis on 21 February 2016 when he called for the abolition of the death penalty. “The commandment ‘You shall not kill’ has absolute value and applies to both the innocent and the guilty.... It must not be forgotten that the inviolable and God-given right to life also belongs to the criminal.” Behind these prophetic words is the vision of a God who refuses to give up on anyone, a God whose mercy embraces

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

By Maria Angelica M. Ape

The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) started out the academic year with commendable zeal.

Despite getting the last place during the first event of the annual Club Fair, the college bounced back by the end of the week by bagging the second place for the first-ever Lasallian Icon pre-pageant and production.

CAS also conducted an outreach activity called “Paskwa sa CAS in July” last July 8.

Headed by the Guidance and Evaluation Center (GEC) office together with their Dean, Dr. Rowena Bañes, members of the faculty and staff, the CAS council, and representatives from their five clubs, a party was thrown for the janitors of La Salle and their family members with games, a giftgiving session, and a small feast for everyone invited.

“The five clubs of the College will unite with the CAS faculty and staff once again to adopt a community in Banago for our succeeding outreach activities,” says Mycka Navarro, the CAS Council Secretary.

The college is already gearing up for the celebration of University Week and the launching of their annual sportsfest “PalaCASan” in August.

“We also look forward to meeting with our adopted community for more outreach activities to be conducted in partnership with the five clubs,” Navarro added. “We want to show that we are not just members of a council, but that we are student-leaders driven by the passion to serve.”

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND ACCOUNTANCY

By Stephine Paul M. Dungca

The College of Business and Accountancy (CBA) greeted July with victory, being hailed as Best in Production Number during the culmination night of the Club Fair 2016 themed “Voyage Dare to Discover”.

“We never expected to win. We just told ourselves that whatever we will be showcasing in the production number is out of love for God and for CBA,” said CBA Gov. Joshua Michael Benedict Feliciano, Furthermore, CBA had an outreach at the social development center last July 9. They conducted a praise and worship activity courtesy of the Advocacy and Religious Committee in collaboration with the Center for Lasallian Ministries.

The CBA council and clubs had their respective Agape lunches with their members during the Handumanan Week to promote camaraderie amidst the College’s population.

“Seeing the smiles from the CBA students was our affirmation that we did our part. The recognition given to us is just the cherry on top,” Feliciano said.

CBA began selling lanyards last July 18, while the CBA Eagles 2.0 application forms were released last July 25.

They also continued to prove that they are the home of the champions as their clubs garnered various awards during the Club Fair, namely: Lasallian Society of Hospitality Managers dubbed Most Visually Appealing Booth, Junior Philippine Economic Society hailed first place for OPM

all without distinction. As Christians and Catholics, we give witness to the truth about God when we defend the right to life as unconditional.

We give witness to the mercy we have received in Christ when we seek to rehabilitate rather than execute wrongdoers.

Furthermore, it is a mistake to believe that we can create a peaceful society by denying those suspected of wrongdoing their fundamental rights to life and to due legal process. The doctrine of the common good rejects any notion that the good of the majority may be attained by violating the fundamental rights of any member of society. It is a mistake to think the respect for the dignity of each individual and the pursuit of the common good are in competition or opposed to one another; indeed protecting and promoting the rights and welfare of each individual is constitutive of the common good. What is needed to create a better society is that all cooperate in insuring the promotion of each one’s dignity, rights and responsibilities without exception (Solicitude Rei Socialis 1980).

Thus, while we resonate with our government’s desire to address in a resolute way the problems of crime, drug-addiction and corruption, we need to insure that this is done within the framework of the law and the principles of human dignity and the common good enshrined in both our Constitution and in Catholic Social Teaching. To this end, our schools should critically engage civil authorities to insure that effective solutions to these social ills be pursued in the just and right way.

I urge our Lasallian educational communities - Brothers, faculty, students, personnel parents and alumni - to take up this urgent task.

We need to engage civil authorities, not as adversaries, but as partners in building communities that reflect the values of truth, justice, freedom, love, equality and peace enshrined in our Constitution. In our various educational spaces, let us teach young people to reflect critically and equip them with the values and skills they need to help create a society that upholds human dignity, solidarity and the common good. Let us embed these three principles in our own school cultures, in our curricula, indeed in the understanding of the professions we educate our students towards.

Furthermore, let us use the resources and influence of our schools to help create more life-giving conditions for those disadvantaged communities within our reach where often, the young and the poor become vulnerable to the machinations of corrupt and criminal elements.

Let us not allow violence to rule us but in every circumstance be vigilant and zealous in upholding the dignity and rights of all as befits responsible citizens and followers of Christ.

Fraternally, Br. Jose Mari Jimenez FSC President, De La Salle Philippines

Battle, while Marketers’ Union won first runner-up in the Amazing Race and CBA dancers bagged first runner-up in the Dances of Odyssey.

“At the end of the day, it all goes back to God. Our accomplishments go out to the CBA dancers, production team, participants, club officers, faculty, moderators and the different people who helped us in making this a success. All for God! All for CBA,” said Feliciano.

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

By Ma. Angeline M. Mayor

The College of Engineering and Technology (CET) celebrated their annual Orange Week with the theme “Portals: Gateway through the Dimensions of Time” last July 4 to 8 (Handumanan Week) to let the students socialize and have fun as they participate in the activities prepared by the CET council.

Activities included were Family Feud: CET Edition, CET Playtime, Agape Lunch and Club Wars which were participated both by the faculty and students of the college.

The Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineering (IIEE) Club was proclaimed champion in the Club Wars followed by Computer Hardware Interfacing and Programming Society (CHIPS) and Engineering Society (ES), respectively, last July 8.

“The theme ‘Portals’ was chosen because we made a mini gallery in the library lobby which looked like gateways into the past clubs and council activities, as well as officers, on the present, and of course, future plans for the college,” explained CET Gov. Nila Mae Apares.

CET also conducted a leadership camp titled ‘Orange Cubs: All In’ for aspiring leaders from all year levels of the College last July 23 to 24 with the theme Dugok, a Hiligaynon term which means converge.

“It’s a leadership camp to continue on the legacy of training and producing more leaders who will eventually lead the college,” the CET Gov. said.

CET is now preparing for the big comeback of the upcoming college tournament, Tiger’s League, wherein it will conduct various team sports such as Basketball, Volleyball, Frisbee, Badminton and Football which will be played by interested CET students.

The mini sports fest of CET will also serve as a big preparation for the College for the upcoming Animolympics 2017.

“Prism: The CET Socials,” which will serve as a substitute for Acquaintance Party, will take place this August 13 in Plantazionne Verdanna Homes Ayala.

COLLEGE OF NURSING

By Charlene Marie D. Lim

The College of Nursing (BSN) bagged second place in this year’s club fair production number.

“First of all, I would like to congratulate other colleges for pulling off another event last July 1. As for the college of nursing, we were really blessed to have reached that far. Placing 2nd runner up during that night was already a blessing for us. We didn’t expect that especially because we were always having a hard time with our schedule, but still we thank God for giving us the strength to manage

7

USG unleashes new batch of HEROES

Photo courtesy of Marielle Galinea

By Maria Angelica M. Ape

Continuing the success of the first batch of Heralds of Excellent Service (HEROES), the University Student Government (USG) launched and introduced the second batch of HEROES during the Club Fair last June 30.

The Executive Branch aims to empower the students through formations and trainings that will discover and hone potentials by also being involved in strengthening advocacies. And this academic year, the Executive Branch continues HEROES. “Its main purpose is to involve the future student officers of our campus clubs and organizations in camps, seminars and workshops for them to effectively lead the University and implement advocacies in communities,” USG Exec. Vice Pres. Patricia Villalon said.

The first batch of HEROES, together with the Executive

members, held UNLEASH: Discover the Power Within, a camp for the second batch of HEROES conducted last July 8 to10. “[The program] aims to exude the passion, potential, emotion, and spirituality of every participant [for them] to be equipped enough for their advocacy implementation and leadership skills,” Villalon said.

Speakers during the camp included Prim Paypon, Bea Laino, Hanemar Ponteras, Richelle Verdeprado, and Nel Dingcong with Center for Lasallian Ministries volunteers.

Villalon also added that the Executive Branch plans to have a series of talks or strategic planning for the finalization of the advocacies where the implementation will start August until November.

“There will be a pre-presentation during the University Week and final presentation will be on January, while awarding of the winners will be on February,” Villalon said.

everything. I believe that we did our best for everyone to enjoy our production number,” Danica Llamas, BSN Gov. said.

BSN participated in Lakad Lung, an annual celebration themed “Kalusugan ay Ingatan, Paninigarilyo ay Iwasan.”

“This is a campaign as well as an awareness for everyone to have healthier lungs,” said Llamas.

Morever, BSN participated in both the cheering and dance competition.

According to Llamas, the college planned several outreaches but were canceled due to several reasons.

In celebration of the 64th Foundation Week, BSN partook in activities such as the campus wide Agape lunch and mass of the Holy Spirit.

BSN is now preparing for more outreach activities for the month of August despite the schedule constraints.

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

By Lex Diwa P. Aloro

The College of Education (CEd) launched its Eskwela sa Kalsada (ESK) outreach program for out-of-school street children last July 9.

This year, the ESK Program aims to be more systematic in its approach by profiling each student and taking time to learn each one’s family background.

CEd Gov. Lyn Nicole Chua expressed how she wants a graduation ceremony for the students when the program ends.

Aside from ESK, CEd is also developing another program in partnership with Don Alfredo Montelibano, Sr. AFSC Memorial Library and also a reading program they hope to implement in the following months.

During the Club Fair, CEd won almost every category except for the Best Booth and Best Interactive Booth. With the help of its two main clubs, Young Educators Society and Association of Synergized Secondary Education Teacher, they were able to champion in the Amazing Race, Dances of Odyssey, Mural Painting, Talentadong Lasalyano and Battle of the Duets. They placed fourth during the college production in the Lasallian Icon Pre-Pageant.

“Actually, it’s not about the awards,” Chua remarked. “[...] More than anything, seeing the CEd crowd cheering for their college was breathtaking. The biggest achievement of the CEd recently is the igniting of the spirits the students,” Chua added.

CEd also held the Future Educators Confederation of Negros (FECON) general assembly last July 31, wherein discussions on upcoming activities and new set of officers were tackled. The first FECON assembly this year was attended by education students around Negros Island Region including the University of Negros Occidental Recoletos, West Negros University and Colegio de San Agustin.

In their intercollege Acquaintance Party, the Student Council implemented different houses in CEd to be carried throughout the academic year. Chua said that this is to build better unity in the different majors.

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DIVING. Julie Ann Samonte, Lady Stinger’s Libero, dives to save the volleyballs dropped by Coach Arman Deogracia during practice last July 28 at the Covered Court, in preparation for the upcoming NOPSSCEA.

Negros victorious at friendship game against South Korea Team Negros came together to clinch a 90-78 victory, winning their first international exhibition game at the first Korean-Negros Friendship Game, against Team Shinyong of South Korea held at the University of Saint La Salle Coliseum last July 10.

The home team consisted of players from most of Bacolod’s major collegiate teams, namely La Consolacion College Bacolod, Colegio San AgustinBacolod, University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos (UNO-R), and University of St. La Salle head coached by Roland Aledron of the UNO-R Rams.

Shinyong, the visiting contenders, had players who are actors, media producers, and singers. Despite having non-sport related professions, Shinyong had Negros work hard for their win.

Team Negros won the opening tip, but quickly missed the opportunity for the first basket to Shinyong after losing

Photo by Karen D. Panganiban

By Robert H. Jerge III

LINE-UP. Bacolod team pose for a photo after the game.

an offensive rebound on a missed lay-up. Shinyong stabs at an ‘up & under’ (a pump fake from a post position to a pivoted layup), only to get the ball snatched and scored by the opposing team. Team Negros showed their dominance through the first quarter maintaining a twopoint lead on Korea. Shinyong settled for rushed plays and risky

drives resulting to turnovers throughout the first quarter.

However, the fast-paced plays slowly paid off as Team Negros lost their grasp of the lead after letting up on defense giving Shinyong opportunities to drain a couple of three pointers within the first three minutes of the second quarter. Team Negros called for a timeout after

Shinyong splits a free throw that tied the game at 32.

Shinyong, learning from their turnovers, opted for a more cooled-down approach, allowing them to play through Team Negros’ defenses taking a single point lead, 65-64, at the end of the quarter.

This lead lasted for most of the fourth quarter with one of the Shinyong players sinking three three-pointers, consecutively.

This came as a surprise to the Team Negros who quickly called for a timeout to stop the momentum.

The game became more physical with just under three minutes remaining.

Team Negros tightened their defenses and denied Shinyong most of their passes to pressure them into returning to their rushed play style. This came as a costly move

by Shinyong, who were unable to pick up the slack their plays have created allowing Team Negros to grab the win, as the KoreanNegros Friendship Game came to a close.

Lasallian competes in SVL

By Stephine Paul M. Dungca

Interdisciplinary Studies senior Dell Palomata played for the Philippine Airforce Jet Spikers against the country’s big names in women’s volleyball in the recently-concluded 13th Shakey’s V-League Open Conference last May to July at the FilOil Flying V Centre, San Juan City.

In her first Manila game against Bali Pure Water Defenders, the six-feet and

three inches Lasallian made a surprising debut as the team’s top scorer with 16 points after shoving a team of Amy Ahomiro, Charo Soriano, Dzi Gervacio and others within four sets, as cited in Fox Sports Asia.

“I was pretty nervous and shy at first. I wasn’t expecting to be the Player of the Game. My motivation is my family, friends, teammates and coaches,” she said in an interview with Fox Sports.

Likewise, Palomata

competed against her idol, Jaja Santiago, of the National University last July 15. “Of course I was starstruck. She is my idol. I was nervous at first since I know I can’t overpower her but it was alright. At least I did my best in trying to push our team to a win,” she said.

However, Palomata was not able to play in all of the jet Spikers’ games since she still settles in Bacolod and has to process her enrollment during the ongoing matches.

“She prioritizes her studies first. We made a deal that if she has classes, she will not travel here in Manila to compete,” Air Force Coach Jasper Jimenez said in an interview with ABSCBN News.

She said to Fox Sports that she needs to improve her speed inside the court, as well as her communication with the setter. She added that she will continue training so that she’ll become a stronger player in her games.

Photo by Nichol Francis T. Anduyan

Never Shall She Fall

Photo courtesy of Gilbert Ferraris

Name: Shaira Marie Lim Age: 20 years old Sports: Volleyball Course: COMK4A - COMT4A

TIMEOUT

By Gian Von J. Caberte

“God is within her, she will not fall.” – Psalm 46:5.

These are words to live by in this world of chaos and disarray; words to hold on to when you feel like the world is bringing you down.

After all, words can build a mountain.

God is within her; she will never fall.

These are the words Shaira Lim live by. A fourth year student and a player in the University of St. La Salle Women’s Volleyball team, she majors in Marketing Management and Operations Management.

With her teammates, she faced victory and defeat– but she knew she could be better, so she worked hard. She gave it her best, but still she lost some and she won some. Through it all, however, she never did fall.

During her elementary years at the Bacolod Tay Tung High School, she was into athletics but stopped

Official Student Media Corps of the University of St. La Salle - USLS Student Activity Center, La Salle Ave., Bacolod City, Negros Occidental 6100 - Volume 61 Number 3

playing by fifth grade.

That was when she got the opportunity to try-out for the Girls Volleyball team.

“I wanted to try volleyball as it was something new but I was shy since I was alone.

However, I was encouraged by a former Board of Trustees member who was handling sports. So I brought a friend and we tried it out. That was when I fell in love with the sport,” said Lim. “You’ll never know what’s in store for you if you never take the risk,” she added.

As a student athlete, she has been part of teams that won numerous volleyball titles in the Negros Occidental Private Schools Sports Cultural Educational Association (NOPSSCEA), in the Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) Regional, and other National volleyball titles. She was also chosen to be part of the team that played in the 2016 Nestea Beachvolley held in Boracay. Most of all, however, she has been a consistent Dean’s Lister, bar a semester, since her first year in college.

Shaira owes all of this to her teachers, coaches, and family who have been with her through highs and lows, and to time management – a trait student athletes depend on, for the greatest challenge is managing time between studies and training.

“I have loads of work to do on both majors, I must maintain my grades, get enough sleep, and look after my social life,” she said. For her, she is of one mind with her coaches because as they always point out: play hard, study harder.

Dagway

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Dagway V O L . 6 1 N O . 3 | J U LY 2 0 1 6

FEATURES A married couple, both self-taught artists, debuts their first solo exhibit of hyperrealistic portraits.

Hindi bayani si Jose Rizal ayon sa batas. Bakit nga ba?

Read on page 3

Read on page 2

UNIVERSITY Look back on the highlights of this year’s Handumanan Week themed “Keep the Fire Burning.”

Read on page 4

REVIEWS Local crafts made from naturally-occuring minerals in the province are featured on this month’s Negros Tours.

LEISURE How well do you know the Hiligaynon dialect? Try out this month’s crossword.

Read on page 7

Read on page 6

COLORS AND STROKES. Participants sit on the USLS Parking Lot grounds during the mural painting contest last June 28.

Photo by Nicci Bernelle D. Aguilar

By Iris Denise N. Rivera | Illustration

by Shara Mae L. Pelayo and Jowan Dave G. Guides

A family sits around their dining room table, slightly apprehensive of taking part in the small, sweet breakfast (a mound of dates and strong tea) set up for them after a month of fasting. The patriarch smiles at his children and grandchildren. He takes one date, says “Bismillah (in the name of Allah)” and consumes it. The rest smile and follow suit.

On the ninth month on the Islamic lunar calendar (otherwise known as the Hijri calendar), all sane and healthy adult Muslims who are not traveling, participate in a celebration that obligates them to fast from dawn to sunset, give alms to the less fortunate, and act kindly towards their neighbors out of obedience to Allah. This celebration is called Ramadan.

In an interview with Lasallian and practicing Muslim, Aisha Aquino, she details how she and her family celebrate the Holy month. Food preparations would begin around seven in the evening to be given to brothers and sisters who would soon have their Iftar, or the first meal after sunset. Alms to be given to the poor (zakat) would also be set aside.

“It [Ramadan] signifies sacrifice and generosity towards people, and faith in God,” Aquino said, explaining that around this time, selflessness becomes a common feature among the Muslim community.

Ramadan fasting or Sawm begins and ends with the new moon. However, the exact date varies annually on the Gregorian calendar. This year, Ramadan began on the sixth of June and ended on the fifth of July.

The purpose of the fast is to develop and strengthen one’s self-control and discipline to resist wrongful desires and habits.

Besides eating and drinking, it is also forbidden to engage in sexual activities, to backbite others, to or gossip.

It’s a time where an adult, free from compulsion or coercion, devotes himself fully to the word of his Creator.

Muslims who aren’t able to fast during this time can make up the days they missed along with feeding one person for every day they have to make up. As long as they accomplish this before the next Ramadan, it will not be considered a sin. For those who were ill, menstruating, bleeding after childbirth, or traveling, and could not fast, they only have to make up for the days they missed.

They do not have to feed any poor people as cited in the Qur’an.

On the last night of Ramadan, there is an obligation for every financially-able Muslim to give his or her contribution to charity.

Zakat Al-Fitr is a more specific form of zakat wherein food must be given. This is usually the local staple food with a minimum amount of one prophetic saa or sa’ (a measurement of volume

equivalent to three liters).

Shielah Baguec, a Filipina Muslim situated in the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh, explains that Zakat Al-Fitr is paid on behalf of every single member of the family, including non-fasting members such as the children, the ill, and the elderly.

“Our dad would give one sa’ of Basmati rice, which is the local staple, as a contribution from each of the 10 members of our household. That’s around 30 liters of Basmati rice,” Baguec elaborated.

In Riyadh, a truck usually collects the sacks of rice and delivers them to the poorer regions of Saudi Arabia. However, one may also give these donations to any perceivably deserving Muslims, such as homeless families or street cleaners.

Eid Al-Fitr, the most important holiday on the Hijri calendar, is celebrated at the end of Ramadan or the first day of the month of Shawwal. It is a threeday celebration where those of the Islamic faith give thanks to Allah for the strength and will to observe

the fast. During this time, fasting is actually forbidden, so practicing Muslims must help themselves to a small, sweet breakfast before attending a large public gathering.

“The prayer would start at around six in the morning and would usually last for about two to three hours because of the numerous ceremonies,” Aquino said.

Families then visit relatives and neighbors to celebrate. Children are given envelopes of money, and the needy are given food.

Since 2002, Eid Al-Fitr has been considered a national holiday in the Philippines despite it being a predominantly Christian nation.

Muslims constitute at least 11% of the population but their traditions still evade a number of Filipinos.

Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr are holy and cultural traditions that should not only be thought of as holidays. These are families, and communities, and friends, and neighbors who, even on empty stomachs, still look forward to giving away a portion of their surplus wealth in order to help.

They are a community with faith so deeply ingrained in their bones that they are able to sympathize with the needy in humble obedience to Allah.

Even when their practices are misconstrued, even when their beliefs are questioned, and even when their faith is bastardized by outsiders and soulless terrorists.

Imagine how difficult it would be to cause wars and conflicts if one side took the time to reach out and understand where the other is coming from. Today’s youth is being barricaded by erroneous information posted on multiple social media platforms that could otherwise be platforms for truth. It’s about time for those barriers to be broken down for brother to see brother, regardless of tradition, culture, or belief.

Muzones in Translation

Photo by Jhon Aldrin M. Casinas

Eid Al-Fitr: The feast after the fast

SIGNING. Ma. Cecilia Locsin-Nava laughs as she signs her translated book titled “Shri-Bishaya” launched last June 30.

By Starlene Joy B. Portillo and RJ Nichole L. Ledesma | Photo by Jhon Aldrin M. Casinas

Most novelists have recurring subjects embedded in the length of their prolific careers. For Dr. Ma. Cecilia Locsin-Nava, it is the Hiligaynon-writer Ramon L. Muzones. Her literary furor towards Muzones has led her to write books about him, as well as translate his works from Hiligaynon to English.

Last June 30, Nava launched her second book in translation titled Shri-Bishaya, another Muzones classic, at The Negros Museum.

A recasting of Pedro Alcantara Monteclaro’s book about a pre-Spanish account of the history of the Island of Panay titled Maragtas (1907), Ramon Muzones’ Shri-Bishaya (1969) is both, according to Leonicio Deriada, Professor Emeritus of the University of the Philippines (UP) Visayas, “a nostalgic paean addressed to Western Visayas as well as a commentary on the state of the nation under the Marcos administration” which tackles two of Muzones’ favoured themes: the concept of an ideal state and the making of an ideal leader.

Having been published in

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Hiligaynon Magazine two years before the declaration of Martial Law, Shri-Bishaya acquired its second Hiligaynon – English translation through Nava’s efforts.

With a Ph.D. in Philippine Studies from the University of the Philippines (UP) and a master’s degree in English Literature from the Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU), Dr. Ma. Cecilia LocsinNava once headed the Mass Communications Department, served as a moderator for The Spectrum, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and a full-time professor here in the university.

She has previously penned three books, namely: From Redaction to Subversion: The Evolution of the Hiligaynon Corrido (2008), and two books concerning Muzones: History and Society in Novels of Ramon Muzones (2001) and a translation of a Muzones classic titled Margosatubig (2012), both of which won The National Book Award for Literary Studies and Best Novel in a Foreign Language, respectively..

“If [this book] wins again, it will break the impasse and pave the way for regional writers to compete. I feel that the others would be inspired as well,” Nava said.

Dagway

2 ECOBOX

The Deadly Manchineel

Photo by Dick Culbert/Flickr

By Lyle John L. Balana

In the coasts of Florida, the Caribbean, and Central America, there exists a deleterious entity that lurks in its beaches, overseeing the luscious waves that visit the living ever so often. Its very essence is suffering. Those who touch it are harmed. Those who eat of it may perish.

Survivors are ravaged by sickness, coming in blisters and rashes, sometimes inner pain.

It has no call, no chilling cry, only its impassive trunk and tempting grace to the unwary and the reckless.

Bear witness to the manchineel, a tree with a unique distinction for being poisonous all over.

Its general name comes from the Spanish “manzanilla,” which means “little apple” in reference to the leaves and fruit of the apple tree. Its genus name comes from Hippomane, hippo meaning “horse,” and mane, which is derived from mania and means “madness.”

The Spanish also had an alternate name for this, the “arbol de la muerte” meaning “tree of death” in reference to what happens to people if they eat the fruit.

Perhaps it had made its mission to contrast the lifegiving wholesomeness of the coconut tree. Whether its danger comes from some supernatural urge to be an antithesis or the far more plausible explanations that lie in the spectrum of belief and research, the fact stands that its leaves, fruits, trunk— in short, everything— is equipped with strong, water-soluble toxins.

Standing underneath it while it’s raining grants you the unenviable reward of painful blisters, making you wish you

got thoroughly wet instead.

Eating its fruit— which may be sweet at the start— will give you inflammations and blistering at the mouth, and probably severe gastrointestinal pain. There may also be death, but who really wants to try it out in a bout of empirical altruism?

Someone did. Radiologist Nicola Strickland unwisely chomped down on a manchineel fruit back in 2000, and here is a short description of her ordeal: “I rashly took a bite from this fruit and found it pleasantly sweet. My friend also partook [at my suggestion]. Moments later we noticed a strange peppery feeling in our mouths, which gradually progressed to a burning, tearing sensation and tightness of the throat.

The symptoms worsened over a couple of hours until we could barely swallow solid food because of the excruciating pain and the feeling of a huge obstructing pharyngeal lump.

Sadly, the pain was exacerbated by most alcoholic beverages, although mildly appeased by pina coladas, but more so by milk alone.

Over the next eight hours our oral symptoms slowly began to subside, but our cervical lymph nodes became very tender and easily palpable. Recounting our experience to the locals elicited frank horror and incredulity, such was the fruit’s poisonous reputation.”

As you can see, the manchineel’s reputation isn’t hearsay. It is a poison tree. Do not touch it when you find it.

Don’t even think of burning it, as the smoke can even poison you. Just stay away, and perhaps put a complimentary fence around the general borders of the tree.

JULY 2016

Museo launches Lasalliana Exhibition

By Chad Martin Z. Natividad

The Museo De Lasalle Bacolod launched the Lasalliana Exhibition last July 4 during the Foundation Week. This opened the doors for the Lasallian community to access important events and artifacts originating from the history of the University of St. Lasalle (USLS).

The Lasalliana Exhibition is a yearlong feature of Museo. “We have it on the panel board: the milestones for ten years, what have transpired, what have been the important events, milestones, board passers, [historical] firsts, and what buildings were constructed, so it just lists down what have happened in Lasalle for us to know our heritage and for us to be proud of what we have gone through for the past 64 years,” Lyn Marie Mapa, Museo Director explains.

Tours were held for representatives from the Integrated School as well as from Philosophy classes of the Liceo De La Salle since the first few weeks of its opening. Throughout the tour, students were divided into two groups. The first half were to be led across the halls where mementos like previous USLS logos and honorary pins, the diary of Br. Felix Masson, FSC and an

3 OF 5. Sculptures of Br. Denis Ruhland, FSC, Br. Felix Masson, FSC, and Br. Hugh Wester, FSC are showcased in the year-long Lasalliana Exhibit in Museo De La Salle – Bacolod.

ancient disciplinary tool known as the “paddle of love” are displayed behind glass shelves. The second group remains at the lobby to watch an animated film entitled Fre’re which portrayed the life of St. John Baptist de La Salle.

“Some people take longer especially if they’re interested or [care for] the history of St. La Salle

like alumni,” Lyn shared. “But we would encourage them to come back and read further. Because in a [minutes-long] tour all we can show are just snippets.”

Old pictures of familiar campus facilities like an unfurnished Room 10, a grassier version of the oval, and an overhead view of the campus several years back are

Photo by Nichol Francis M. Anduyan

plastered on the walls, showing how the school has changed through the years.

Museo staff are available to assist as guides for visitors and tours can be requested for classes.

The exhibit is open to all students and alumni who are interested in taking a glimpse of the past of their Alma Mater.

When Words Aren’t Necessary

Photos by Iris Denise N. Rivera

By Iris Denise N. Rivera

Ayla August and Billy Boy Abonado Jr. launched their first ever two-person visual exhibition titled “Phases” last July 15 at the House of Frida art gallery.

Both husband and wife are self-taught artists, and they have only ever shown their works in group exhibits. This is their first solo exhibit.

“So you’re probably asking why ‘Phases’”, Billy said while addressing the crowd during his welcoming speech. “Faces are one of the strongest indicators of a person’s emotions. Even if we flip it around, even if a person was mute and they can’t speak or hear or any of the like, a person’s expressions are still distinguishable.”

Billy further explained that he and Ayla got their inspirations for the expressions from their close friends. Emotive eyes on neutral faces are a common feature in the pair’s portraits, leaving guests with a feeling of somber curiosity.

“Even if they’re just portraits, my husband and I wanted to portray how behind those

paintings, there are bigger stories to tell,” said Ayla when asked about the driving force behind their artworks.

In Ayla’s younger years, expressive eyes caught her attention, thus drawing her towards anime. She is a nurse by profession and has spent some time out of the country for her career. Despite having always been captivated by art, it wasn’t until she met Billy in 2012 that she decided to pursue the arts once again. In 2014, she came back home to devote herself fully to her passion, with eyes that are profound with emotions still as her focus.

“Somehow, even if it’s just through the eyes, you can see that this person is going through something,” Ayla mentioned the night of the exhibit, adding that for her, “eyes are the windows to the soul.”

Billy gained his interest in art at a young age, joining and winning multiple art contests throughout his formative years.

His mediums ranged from graphite, charcoal, pastel and, finally, to oil. Now, he also

uses his skill to leave permanent works of art on other people in his professional life as a tattoo artist.

With over a dozen pieces in the gallery, the couple’s portraits of each other stood out from the rest. Guests drifted back and forth between Billy’s

Official Student Media Corps of the University of St. La Salle * USLS Student Activity Center, La Salle Ave., Bacolod City, Negros Occidental 6100 * Volume 61 Number 3

hyperrealistic oil painting of his wife with a goldfish and Ayla’s watercolor on canvas portrait of Billy with a large pink flower.

Both used a “trompe l’oeil” (French for “deceive the eye”) technique for their paintings to create more vivid imagery almost like an optical illusion.

Dagway

JULY 2016

“Memellennials” Ni Hezron G. Pios| Dibuho ni Shara Mae L. Pelayo

“Bes, wait lang. Luh, don’t me. Monday na naman? Pak ganern!” Marahil ay parati mong naririnig at nasasaksihan itong mga palaboy-laboy na mga linya (idagdag mo pa ang mga larawang may kuwelang pamagat) sa iyong social media accounts, lalonglalo na sa malawakang daigdig ng Facebook at Twitter. Ngunit hindi lamang ang wika ang labis na nadadawit sa mga hashtags at usong mga usapin— kahit ang sining ay nagiging patok na rin sating mga netizens.

“Nakakatawa syempre.

Positibo naman ‘yung epekto para sa’kin kasi nilalantad ‘yung Pinoy na sining at ito naman ang ibinibahagi. Nababawasan din ‘yung stress ko sa gawaing pangpaaralan at nakikilala ko kung sinu-sino ‘yang mga nasa memes kasi ang ilan sa kanila ay mga tanyag na Pilipino. Parang bagong paraan na rin ‘to para matutunan ang Filipino History,” sabi ni Giallie Pasculado, isang mag-aaral sa Riverside College. Isa si Giallie sa mga netizens at millennials na mahilig mag-share ng kahit anong nakakaaliw o usong posts na lumalabas sa kanilang timeline.

Bukod dito, ang mga kumakalat na mga viral ‘memes’ (mga ideyang ipinapalaganap sa pamamagitan ng World Wide Web na maaaring nasa anyo ng isang hyperlink, bideyo, larawan, website, hashtag, salita o parirala) ay napapabilang sa kolokyal at balbal na mga antas ng wika sapagkat mali ang pagbabaybay at halata ang pag-iiba sa tunog kumpara sa orihinal na anyo ng mga salita.

Ang PH Classical Art Memes naman ay isang tanyag na Facebook page kung saan ang mga larawan o gawa ng mga kilalang pintor at iskultor ay nilalagyan ng mga twists o nakakatawang paglalarawan upang gawing mas interesado at relatable sa mga likers nila, lalo na sa mga estudyanteng halos bente kwatro oras na gumagamit ng Facebook.

Mayroon ding pagkakataon na ang bayaning si Apolinario Mabini ay inilarawan sa pamamagitan ng lyrics ng kantang Thinking Out Loud, “When your legs don’t work like they used to before.” Samantala, ang bantog na Spoliarium ni Juan Luna ay dinikitan ng mga salitang, “Bigwasan na lang.” “Yoko na beh.”

Maliban kina Mabini’t Luna, nasangkot na rin pati ang Ama

ng Katipunan, “Si Bonifacio ka ba? Kasi I wanna Andres you.” at kahit si Jose Rizal na kahit “pambansang bayani pero nasa piso lang.” Kadalasan, ang sense of humor ay nakasisira dahil na rin sa mapanlait nitong konotasyon at di-kagandahang implikasyon.

Ngunit ito nga ba ang perpekto’t wastong paraan ng pasasalamat natin sa mga taong nagbuwis at naglaan ng kanilang mga buhay para sa kalayaa’t kinabukasan ng Inang Bayan?

Matutuwa kaya sina Mabini, Luna, Bonifacio, Rizal kapag nagkaroon sila ng Facebook at Twitter accounts at natuklasan nilang pangkatuwaan o usapangbalbal na lamang ang kanilang reputasyon sa modernong Pilipinas?

Sa sobrang pagkagusto ng mga Pinoy netizens na ipakalat ang mga natatanging obra maestro o handog ng mga manlilikhang Pilipino sa social media, nababawasan nito ang kanilang halaga o artistic value. Para makaramdam lang ng panandaliang ‘good vibes’, nilalangat nila ang respeto’t konsiderasyon para sa manlilikha’t sa kanilang nililikha upang makasabay lamang sa kung anuman ang nasa uso.

Gayunpaman, ang teknolohiya pa rin ang nangungunang kasangkapan sa pagbabahagi ng kanya-kanyang sentimyento, gaano man ito nakakabuti o nakakasira, sa pangkasulukuyang panahon. Binansagan na rin ito ng mga eksperto bilang “Digital Age.” Dahil sa digital age, untiunting nawawala sa pokus ng mga kabataan ang importansya ng pagbabasa, simpleng pananaliksik, at ang pagka-

mausisa sa mga bagay-bagay.

Samakatuwid, napakadali silang mabiktima ng mga misleading news, hoaxes at black propagandas lalo na tuwing kapanahunan ng eleksyon.

At marahil kung bubudburan pa ng kahit kaunting rekado ang mga ipinapahayag sa social media, basta kapani-paniwala lang, kakagat at kakagat pa rin itong mga netizens o Millennials na tinatamad nang manaliksik kahit ‘yung paborito nilang kasangga na si Google ay isang pindot lang nila’t nandiyan na agad. Nahahasa ang katamaran ng kabataan kung hindi wasto ang pagkakagamit nila sa silbi ng teknolohiya.

Sabi nga ni Paulynn Sicam (The Philippine Star), “Saan ba nila kinukuha ang mga delusyonal nilang mga ideya?

Hindi dahil sa pagbabasa ng mga malalalim na mga artikulo dahil, sa pangkalahatan, hindi sila mahilig sa mga libro, ngunit marahil mula sa mga memes—mga larawang mensahe na nagpapasimple sa isang komplikadong ideya bilang isang kaakit-akit na biswal. Ang mga memes ay ang lengguwahe na ng kampanya ngayong araw.”

Wika, sining at iba pang mga usaping “ediwow” para sa modernong henerasyon ang nais na ipagpatuloy ng hukbo ng kultura at edukasyon sa bansa upang mapuksa hangga’t maaari ang kamangmangan sa bawat isa sa atin. Ngayon, tanungin mo ang iyong sarili: Tanging isang patok na meme o usong hashtag na lang ba ang parating mag-uudyok sa kung paano ako umunawa, pumuna, lumikha, at pumili ng sarili kong mga desisyon?

Katuwang sa Mainit na Klima

Ni Ma. Lore P. Prado at Hezron G. Pios | Dibuho ni Glen Jed Descutido

Init, dulot ng pagtaas ng temperatura. Kung susuriin, hindi na mapipigilan ang paginit ng paligid. Nakatirik na araw, nagdudulot ng matingkad na ilaw at nakakapasong epekto sa ating mata’t balat, ay pilit tinatakasan sa pagpunta sa mga malililim na lugar. Naghahanap ng maaaring gawin ngunit nariyan na si “Antok” at nararapat lamang na pansinin mo ang kanyang pagdating.

Pagtatak ng hapon, hindi mo mapipigilan ang unti-unting pag-

iglip ng mga mata. Naghahanap ng pwestong pwedeng higaan ng bumibigat na katawan. Oras tila’y tumitigil sa iyong paghiga; katawa’y nagmimistulang halamang makahiya sa paggalaw at nawawalan ng lakas. Sa sarap ng pag-ihip ng hangin, parang dinuduyan ang pakiramdam.

‘Di mo na namalayan na ika’y mahimbing na nagpapahinga.

Paano nga ba sulitin ang maikli mong pag-idlip? Ito ang napakahirap bigyan ng sagot dahil habang tulog ka ay hindi mo alam ang nangyayari. Para sa iba ay simple lang: mag-isip muna bago matulog. Tandaan itong

limang simpleng tips upang makatulong sa pagsulit ng iyong siesta.

Madaling bilangin, madaling gawin.

Planuhin ng mabuti ang mga posibleng mangyari dahil maraming pwedeng makasira sa iyong pagtulog. Anu-ano nga ba ang mga sagabal at paano mabibigyan ng lunas ang mga ito?

Una, isipin ang mga gawaing kailangan mong tapusin. Lahat ng tao ay may mga responsibilidad na kailangang gampanan.

Ang mga gawaing ito ay naaangkop na tapusin upang sa pagtulog mo’y walang manggagambala sa’yo kundi mga positibong bagay lamang. Isulat sa papel o maglagay ng paalala sa anumang gadget upang walang pagsisisi sa sarili ‘pag nasobrahan sa pagtulog.

Ikalawa, alalahanin ang mga masasayang gunita sa iyong buhay, iwasan ang pag-iisip sa mga problema at mga gawaing nagbibigay ng negatibong bunga. Kung bagsak ka sa iyong pagsusulit, ‘wag mo nang damhin nang masyado— idaan mo na lang ‘yan sa panaginip na may “forever” kayo ng crush mo. Minsan sa sobrang antok at pagod, mas madali tayong dalhin ng ating mga emosyon kaya ugaliing tandaan ang mga mabubuting pangyayari para

happy lang, walang sad.

Ikatlo, huwag bigyan ng limitasyon ang iyong pagtulog, isantabi muna ang mga maiingay na bagay. Kahit sapagtulog, ‘sky’s the limit’ pa rin. Huwag masyadong i-pressure ang sarili na bigyan ng time limit ang pag-iidlip. Ngunit hindi ibig sabihin nito’y parati ka na lang maghahanap ng dahilan para makatulog. May oras para sa lahat ng bagay, mapa-pambuhay, pangeskwela, pang-trabaho o kahit pang-love life man ito!

Ikaapat, magpatugtog ng mga musikang angkop sa pagtulog nang mahimbing. (Tamangtama rito ‘yung mga nakasanayan na nating mga OPM songs.)

Ang tuloy-tuloy na pagtulog ay magbubunga ng tuloy-tuloy na sigla sa bawat tungkuling gagawin.

Ikalima, pumili ng pinakamainam na pwesto para sa iyong pagpapahinga. Siguraduhin ang lugar ay tahimik at katamtaman lang ang pagbuga ng hangin.

‘Wag matulog sa madidilim na lugar at baka lamukin ka. Mas mainam na komportablengkomportable ka ‘pag ika’y matutulog na. Samantalang kung namamaluktot, kulang sa kumot, matigas ang unan, o maingay ang paghilik ng katabi, maaaring magtulak ito sa’yong pagsusungit o mahinang resistensiya sa mga gawain mo.

Lahat tayo ay nararapat na mabigyan ng wastong paghinga sapagkat ang katawa’t isipan ay nangangailangan ng tamang pagaaruga upang laging handa sa mga pagsubok na ating tinatahak araw-araw.

3

Bayani sa Puso, Wala Pa sa Batas Ni Lyle John L. Balana | Dibuho ni Glen Jed Descutido

Isang taong sagana sa talento at kaalaman si Rizal. Sa murang edad, makikita na ang landas na kanyang tatahakin— pagkapanalo sa mga patimpalak sa pagsulat at pagdula, matataas na iskor sa lahat ng kanyang mga asignatura, paggalang sa mga magulang, at pag-iisip na hindi hulma sa ibang Pilipino na nasasakupan ng Espanya.

Sinikap niyang mahikayat ang Inang Espanyang mareporma ang sistemang nakakabit sa Pilipinas upang mawala ang pang-aaping pinapatong ng mga prayle at mga kurakot na opisyal ng gobyerno sa mga ordinaryong magsasaka at mamamayan na lubog sa utang at buwis. Gusto niya na may tinig ang Pilipinas sa parliamento sa Madrid. Gusto niyang lagyan ng kapangyarihan ang maliit na tao. Kaya’t nagsikap siya upang makagawa ng paraan upang marinig. Nagsulat siya ng dalawang nobela, ang El Filibusterismo at ang Noli Me Tangere. Itinatag niya rin ang La Liga Filipina na siyang naging inspirasyon para sa mga tulad ni Andres Bonifacio upang maghimagsikan laban sa Espanya.

Siya’y namatay na poliglotadalawampu’t dalawang wika ang kanyang kayang maunawaanat isang polimata, na may natutunan sa mga disiplinang pagsusulat, pagdudula, kartograpiya, iskulptor, pintor, guro, at magsasaka.

Makikitang ito ang mga dahilan kung bakit marami ang may gusto kay Rizal upang maging pambansang bayani.

Sa lahat ba naman ng nagawa niya, siya na ang naging simbolo ng kayang maabot ng Pilipino gamit ang wastong edukasyon at pagsisikap. Hindi naming maikakaila ang kanyang nagawa para sa bayan dahil kinaya niyang isakripisyo ang yaman at karangyaan sa Europa upang matulungan ang Inang Bayan.

At kahit reporma at pagiging probinsya ng Espanya ang kanyang gusto, nakumbinsi pa rin si Rizal na ganap na kalayaan mula sa mga mananakop ang tadhana ng Pilipinas.

Ngunit sa katunayan, hindi pambansang bayani si Rizal.

Ang Pilipinas ay may mga simbolong ipinahahayag nitong nangangatawan sa kanyang kaluluwa at kakayahang maging isang bansa. Ilan lamang ang opisyal na mga simbolong ito na nasa batas upang maging opisyal.

Ito ang Narra, Sampaguita at Arnis.

Ang Narra na naging pambansang puno ng Pilipinas.

Nai-deklara ito ni Gov. Gen. Frank Murphy noong 1934 sa pamamagitan ng Proklamasyon No. 374. Dapat sana ay “naga” ang tawag sa kahoy na ito, ngunit nasunod na lamang ang pangalan ng puno sa tawag ng mga Kastila. Matibay ang Narra, na di madaling matumba ng bagyo at kahit na ng palakol. Madalas itong gamitin sa mga silya at sopa.

Ang Sampaguita, na naging pambansang bulaklak, ay naisama na rin sa Proklamasyon No. 652 bilang Pambansang Bulaklak. Kilala rin ito bilang Arabian Jasmine at sa kanyang masarap na samyo. Pwede itong gawing kwintas para ilako sa mga

Official Student Media Corps of the University of St. La Salle * USLS Student Activity Center, La Salle Ave., Bacolod City, Negros Occidental 6100 * July 2016

turista at ialay sa mga santo, kaya naman na sikat na sikat ito bilang produkto ng mga nagtitinda sa daan o sa mga simbahan.

Nandiyan naman ang Arnis, na idineklarang Pambansang Martial Art noong 2009 ni dating pangulong Gloria Macapagal Arroyo sa pamamagitan ng Republic Act 9850. Ito’y isang pamamaraan ng pagdepensa sa sarili gamit ang patpat. Naging sikat itong martial art para sa mga taong gusto ng praktikal na depensa para sa sarili, dahil tinuturo ng Arnis ang paggamit ng sandata at naglalagay ng kahalagahan sa pagilag at angulo ng atake. Nagamit na rin ito bilang koreopgrapia para sa mga laban sa pelikula na gumagamit ng espada at kung ano pa.

Pero wala pang opisyal na pahayag o proklamasyon na nagsasabing Pambansang Bayani natin si Rizal ang nagawa ng gobyerno ng Pilipinas. Ayon sa National Historic Commission, wala pang natalagang “National Hero” ng bansa na magsisimbolo sa kadakilaan at kakayahan ng isang Pilipino. Ang matatawag lamang natin kay Rizal ay isang cultural icon dahil hindi naisabatas na siya ang pambansang bayani.

Kasama niya sa estadong ito ang Mangga, Barong Tagalog at Baro’t Saya, Lechon, Nipa Hut, Tinikling, at Bangus.

Ang meron lamang si Rizal at ibang mga bayani ay ang mga batas at proklamasyon na nagbibigay dangal sa mga karapatdapat na tagaukit ng kasaysayan. Nakagawa si Fidel V. Ramos ng Technical Committee ng National Heroes Commission upang makarekomenda ng National Hero para sa Pilipinas.

Napabilang sa mga kandidato dito ay sina Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Aguinaldo, Apolinario Mabini, Marcelo H. Del Pilar, Sultan Dipatuan Kudarat, Juan Luna, Melchora Aquino at Gabriela Silang.

Hanggang ngayon ay wala pang may napili o napasang batas patungkol sa komisyon na ito, at hanggang hindi ito nabigyan ng kahalagahan, wala tayong matatawag na pambansang bayani.

Hindi naman mahirap na mabuhay at gumawa ng kagalang-galang na bansa kahit na walang pambansang bayani na tatangkilikin. Ang mas importante ay ang pagsunod sa kanilang mga ideya at mga mithiin para sa bayan, ang kanilang paglaban para sa kasarinlan at pagpapalaganap ng pagmamahal sa sariling atin.

Mas mahalaga sa pagbabatas ang totoong pag-aaruga sa alaala ng mga nagsakripisyo upang maging Pilipino ang Pilipinas— ang patuloy na pagpapalago ng naiwan sa atin.

Handumana USLS keeps fire burning at 64

By Starlene Joy B. Portillo

With the theme “Keep the Fire Burning,” the University of St. La Salle (USLS) celebrated its 64th Handumanan Week last July 4 to 8.

A Hiligaynon term translating to “remembering,” Handumanan Week is the commemoration of the founding anniversary of the University.

It has been set off by the traditional Handumanan Mass at the Montelibano Chapel on its first day, subsequently followed by a procession of St. John Baptist de La Salle’s image going to the newlyinstalled Liceo de La Salle office and the planting of the 64th annual tree at the Handumanan Park.

Vice Chancellor for Mission and Development (VCMD) Hector Gloria, Jr. declared the Handumanan Week open in behalf of Bro. Pres. Manuel Pajarillo, FSC at the University Parking Lot.

This was then trailed by the University Student Government (USG)’s Music Fest open to both Liceo and college students.

Seventy four Lasallian faculty and staff were then awarded for having rendered between 10-40 years of service in USLS during the Service Awardees Recognition Rites at Santuario de La Salle.

After which, the Golden Jubilarians of Class 1966 partook in a cocktail reception at Balay Kalinungan, and were given a Thanksgiving Mass, Honoring Rites and Lunch Reception the next day.

Additionally during the week’s second day, the Brother’s Open House, Sign of Faith: Alumni Speakers’ Bureau, Nestle Roadshow and the Nestle MILE (Management Immersion for Leadership Excellence) were also held, focusing on the school’s alumni, partners and advocacies.

Meanwhile sports, cultural, arts

and special interest groups were the concentration of the events during the third and fourth days, namely the Charge of the Green Brigade biking event, Bayle de La Salle at the Coliseum, invitational Basketball and Volleyball games with Brgy. Lantad, Silay, Bacolod Taytung High School and the University of Negros OccidentalRecoletos (UNO-R).

The final day of celebration involved students, faculty and staff celebrating the Mass of the Holy Spirit at the Coliseum directly proceeded by the Lasallian Network Game Show, Fellowship Games and respective Agape Lunches by the various university-wide clubs, societies and organizations.

In culmination of the weeklong festivity, the annual Berde Bash commenced at the Coliseum wherein Lasallians from different sectors of the university gathered to showcase their talents and celebrate the instituting of USLS.

an Week 2016

Dagway

6

JULY 2016 BOOK REVIEW

Negros Tours

The Native Inhabitant is World-Class

Crush by Richard Siken

By Iris Denise N. Rivera

Back in the ‘80s, a woman fell in love with the beauty of Negros crafts such as pandan-woven bags and antique-looking Terracotta vases.

That woman is Josephine Locsin, who not only wanted to help promote local crafts to both local and international markets, but also to provide job opportunities for those who were affected by the decline of the sugar industry.

“Perhaps I was influenced by the advocacy of former Negros Occidental Governor Daniel Lacson Jr. who encouraged the province to produce commodities for the global market,” said Locsin.

Along with her best friend from college, Locsin set up a small and trendy native shop along Hernaez street in Bacolod city in 1987. The store was named “Tumandok” which literally means “native inhabitant” in Hiligaynon.

It would later become Tumandok Crafts Industries (TCI), a dynamic handicraft company specializing in resinlaminated home wares and light furniture made from naturallyoccurring minerals around the Negros Island, with Locsin as its owner and general manager. They were inspired to make the switch when they joined the Association of Negros Producers (ANP).

ART IN CRAFT. Italia holding one of his works.

Tumandok’s pieces are displayed in Kultura stores nationwide, ANP showrooms within Bacolod, and in the Tumandok Gallery located at Robinson’s Cybergate Center in Singcang.

TCI started with simple picture frames made of bamboo, but now they’ve expanded to banana bark, coconut shells, capiz shells, and kapok seed pods. These materials are washed, cut into strips, and coated in a resin before they’re all turned into tables, vases, mirrors, and other home ware.

Not only are the materials and

technology used eco-friendly, but the artistry and skill behind each piece make for quality products that suit the rapidly progressing tastes of societies both within the country and abroad.

This is proven by the awards TCI bagged in the Table Tops Category and the Best in Luminary of ANP’s annual Bulawan Awards.

Xavier Italia, the artist who conceptualized the entry, says that he got his inspiration from local sugarcane workers. The collection was called ‘Tapaz’, a play on the Hiligaynon word tapas.

This year, TCI’s entry for the competition is called The Genesis Collection inspired by the biblical creation story.

However, the odds weren’t always in their favor, like in 2003 when a fire started in their temporary factory at Greenplains Subdivision in Bacolod.

“The fire happened on a Sunday,” recounted Locsin, “which saved a lot

Photos by Ariana L. Chua

of lives, as there would have been 50 people inside if it were a work day.”

Help and support poured in, which included a buyer who generously offered a huge loan that enabled TCI to finish the construction of their permanent factory in Barangay Calumangan, Bago City.

At present, the company stands strong with 56 skilled workers and office staff. TCI even hopes to become accredited by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority as a training center in order to help individuals desiring to increase their level of competence in the industry.

“The one thing I cannot overemphasize: make God your partner in business, and you will be amazed in what He will do,” Locsin said.

MOVIE REVIEW

The Shallows Columbia Pictures

beach and hit the waves.

Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, The Shallows is a horrorsurvival film that is predictable and boring despite a lot of praise from critics. Collet-Serra resorts to quick shots and messy use of digital clock and GoPro inserts. The movie fails to build up the mood and the scenes even though the antagonist barely made an appearance (Similar to Jaws, Spielberg’s 1975 classic.)

Written by Anthony Jaswinski, the film mainly focuses on Nancy’s survival on top of a rock making the film dragging and predictable. Plotwise, the film was just expanded so that Lively could have more exposure— which she did. The main props were the rock, coral, jellyfish, and the rotting husk of a dead whale

By Maria Angelica M. Ape

Two-hundred yards from the shore, medical student Nancy (Blake Lively) finds herself trapped in a rock with a hurt (and useless) seagull, a dead whale floating and a deadly shark ready to prey on her weak body.

The film opens with a boy wandering around the shore spotting a helmet with a GoPro attached to it. The boy plays with the GoPro and discovers about the shark attack.

The film then cuts to where Nancy is riding a vehicle going to the secret

ALBUM REVIEW

Stranger to Stranger

by Paul Simon

By Lex Diwa P. Aloro

The other half of the 60’s folk rock powerhouse, Simon & Garfunkel, is back after five years of stagnation in the music industry. On June 3rd, Paul Simon released an 11-tracked album called Stranger to Stranger, which is rather fitting for an album filled with hand claps, nature sounds, ritualistic chants, and the distinct, crooning voice of the 74-year-old music icon.

A lot has changed after the release of the classic Simon & Garfunkel album, Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M., back in 1964, but Simon’s

voice remained as melodic as when he first sang the timeless tune of The Sound of Silence. Simon’s highly narrative lyrics are also showcased in the new album, prominently in the

which became important at one point except for the seagull which is just sitting on the rock and also a probable metaphor for Nancy’s character.

Although set in Mexico, the film was actually shot in Lord Howe Island in Australia with a budget of $17 million. The location and Computergenerated imagery (CGI) makes up for the poor story plot.

The protagonist has a mom-whodied-to-cancer backstory, which has led her to decide that she doesn’t want to study Medicine. This causes her to go check out the beach in Mexico that is very sentimental to her mother. Nancy’s med student training comes in handy when she later nurses herself after being bitten, stitching herself with her necklace and her ability to turn her wetsuit into a tourniquet. Lively deserves praise for her acting which greatly improved since her Gossip Girl days. However, given her wit and charm, she is better casted in comedies and romance films compared to a survival-thriller movie.

Collet-Serra’s remarks on casting Lively: “I didn’t necessarily fall in love with the character from the first read of the script. So that was always open for discussion. And we knew that we would find the actor that would really have a big influence, because it’s much smarter to cast somebody and then write for that person, when there’s only one person in the movie.”

Collet-Serra described Lively as smart, tough and capable making her the perfect fit for the lead role even though the original age of Nancy was three to four years younger.

Blake Lively’s performance makes it comparable to Sandra Bullock in Gravity, Suraj Sharma in Life of Pi, James Franco in 127 Hours. All became only cast of the respective films but managed to pull it off quite well.

For shark-attack films, Jaws remain unbeatable. The rest are just all sad attempts using new CGI technology and techniques.

opening track, The Werewolf, which tells the story of a Milwaukee-bred Midwesterner murdered by his own wife. That song alone showcases the dark and whimsical mood that you will hear throughout the whole album. The oddness and folly surrounding the vinyl record makes it seem like a soundtrack for the upcoming Through the Looking Glass movie. But no matter how odd the elements of his songs are, Simon was able to put together an album that is one hell of a throwback to the rockin’ ‘60s.

Through the adventure of listening to the tracks, Simon’s acoustic skills percolate with effortlessness, putting out the signature earthy tones of a classic Paul Simon composition. But unlike his previous albums, Simon admitted

to have focused more on the music rather than the lyrics this time around, which was made obvious by the lyricless song, The Clock. This one-minute-long track composed of the sounds of a ticking clock, repeating guitar chords and wind chimes may easily be reproduced by a garage band but its soothing rhythm and peculiar concept is something only Simon can originally come up with. Simon’s focus on the sound also shows in the acoustic set In The Garden Of Elie. The track is much like The Clock in terms of the lack of lyrics but is a more mellow tune— one that can be counted off as a lullaby. In spite of that, Simon’s long-missed lyrics make a strong comeback on songs such as the previously mentioned The Werewolf and Insomniac’s Lullaby.

His illustrative storytelling feeds a positive vibe of nostalgia to the old fans while introducing the classic humorous-

By RJ Nichole L. Ledesma

This book is not just about panic, as Pulitzer-prize winning poet Louise Glück writes on the foreword. It is also about the thin line between gentleness and violence; between emotions and physical damage; sex and death. This book of poetry explores this duality with great urgency—panic-like. It is all in the title: Crush.

In the scrutiny of the word, much of its genius surfaces. The word crush could mean, for one, as “to compress opposing bodies to cause damage or distortion.”

Behind this destructive implication of the word lies its saccharine informal meaning: infatuation.

This strange and sweet fixation between a girl and a boy, but in this book’s case: boy on boy. The book revolves around such tricky connotations. It hurtles on subjects such as abuse, heartbreak and obsessive love with a speeding and breathless intensity.

Crush is the successful debut of poet and painter Richard Siken.

This won him the 2004 Yale Young Poets Award, of which previous recipients consist of prolific names such as Adrienne Rich and John Ashberry.

The language enforced by Siken throughout this collection is violent and raw, fitting of its fast-paced cinematic imagery.

Backyard stabbings during a party.

Bruises and bones seen through strange light. Getting out of the lake, naked. Lovers wrestling each other’s demons.

Long lines that refuse to be tamed is part of Siken’s deftness in manipulating language. It is messy and perfect in its calculated formlessness. The abrupt line breaks and the uneven spacing give the poems a feel of restlessness, fitting of the poems’ hurtling intensity.

Crush, too, is a page-turner: an unusual term to attach to a book of poetry. Siken, in tackling different stills and moments of a violent relationship, draws the reader into an endless, bullet train ride. His words, at once urgent and well-crafted, increasingly propel yet-deep writing style of Simon to the new listeners. His lyrics passively tackle social issues such as privilege in Wristband and in a Parade and mental illnesses in the title track Stranger to Stranger. On the unexpectedly explicit track of Cool Papa Bell, Simon also comments about the “bogus newage bullshit point of view” of people nowadays, borderline skewing reality into something that it’s not. Simon’s views on issues are toned and broken down into more docile representations in the lyrics but still able to convey the songwriter’s stand.

In this album, the nearly-dying genre of folk rock was resurrected but with a more experimental slant.

Using instruments like zoomoozophones, xylophonetype instruments, to complete his musical ensemble, Simon went all

Official Student Media Corps of the University of St. La Salle * USLS Student Activity Center, La Salle Ave., Bacolod City, Negros Occidental 6100 * Volume 61 Number 3

you to pursue endless questions and nuisances. It begs you to keep reading on. This is Siken’s wicked spell.

“They want to stop but they don’t stop. They cannot get the bullet out. / Cut me open and the light streams out / Stitch me up and the light keeps streaming out between / the stitches.” This line from The Dislocated Room echoes the cut-throat desperation and helplessness of the persona against a certain insistence which, throughout the book, remains hovering namelessly.

But one may ask: whose “violent relationship” is the book perusing and obsessivelyruminating over? Again, the answer is never definite. Siken is fond of connotations. For one, it is believed that the book is partly inspired by the death of Siken’s lover back in 1995. Another, through closer inspection, one can deduce that this referred relationship may not simply be about two bodies. Instead it can be seen as a portrait of one’s anxious relationship with death itself.

In its best moments, Siken gives us a brief glimpse of tenderness in this bleak world he has created.

This is often unexpected and passing, and its transient nature makes it a triumph. The effect is apparent in these lines from A Primer for the Small Weird Loves: He hits you and he hits you and he hits you. / Desire driving his hands right into your body. / Hush, my sweet. These tornadoes are for you.

And sometimes Siken structures it in reverse to fool the reader. It is reading something redeeming, as in these lines from Little Beast: The radio aches a little tune that tells the story of what the night / is thinking. It’s thinking of love. / It’s thinking of stabbing us to death / and leaving our bodies in a dumpster.

The individual poems can stand on their own as strong urgent pieces. However, when taken as a whole, the book is a lot more potent. The poems, when placed side by side, resonate more in the larger context of the book. There are recurring symbols, repeated metaphors and chorus-like litanies (hands that are at once tender and violent, a Rocky Horror-like “camp” movie set, murders on freeways and backyard alleys). It is almost as if the book centers around selected images and flips the ones upside down, unlocking every corner for possible meanings.

These obsessive repetitions are its luring magic.

These poems are definitely not for the faint-hearted. Siken skillfully exposes us to a person’s many vulnerabilities, fears and fatal obsessions, and through this, even compel us to face our own. out with the sounds accompanying his compositions. He garnered help from bizarre instruments and musical concepts invented by a music theorist by the name of Harry Parch. A good amount of Caribbean and African styles also influenced the album, heard through flamenco handclaps and didgeridoos, an African wind instrument. All the oddity that is infused in the album only screams one thing: that Simon certainly is “still crazy after all these years” in terms of musical experimentations, and he’s made it clear that he won’t settle for the same old sound over and over again.

A different album, a different Paul. As he sang in Stranger to Stranger, “It’s hard working the same piece of clay, day after day, year after year.”

Dagway

JULY 2016

7 CROSSWORD PUZZLE #2 How well do you know your vernacular? Translate the following English words to Hiligaynon.

GGWP by Katrina Y. Nemenzo

Y u do dis? by Karen D. Panganiban

I Cry Every time hu hu by Sophia Inez Bilbao

ACROSS 5. itchy 8. friend 9. nephew; niece 10. beautiful 13. yet 16. rainbow 17. embassy 19. according to 20. meteorite, shooting star 21. meeting

DOWN 1. Song, chant, hymn 2. Purple 3. Clock 4. Rely; trust 6. notice 7. this 9. low tide 11. thunder 12. lucky 14. window 15. ingredients

16. daybreak; morning-light 18. cicada; cricket

SUDOKU #2

Beach Body, Big Body by Cedric Lance M. Militar

Panaginip lang ba? by Seth V. Pullona Solution to Crossword #1:

A student’s guide to few of the many infrequently used words that the Hiligaynon dialect has to offer.

Prepared by Joshua Martin Guanco Illustrated by Keanu Joseph P. Rafil

Official Student Media Corps of the University of St. La Salle * USLS Student Activity Center, La Salle Ave., Bacolod City, Negros Occidental 6100 * July 2016

Solution to Sudoku #1:

Dagway

JULY 2016

PSG prepares the stage for the Lasallian Icon 2016.

Musikat opens the program with a musical and dance number.

Voyage: Dare to Discover

By Ian Kristoffer V. Ga

This year’s Club Fair themed “Voyage: Dare to Discover” kicked off last June 27 at the University Parking Lot, starting the new academic year with a bang.

“It’s basically our journey of discovering talents, passion, identity, and creativity,” University Student Government (USG) Exec. Pres.

Kathlyn Mae Tiu said.

Students got a shot at winning a trip to Lakawon Island and other door prizes by presenting their completely stamped “passports” to the USG. “I think what is different about this year is [that] we try to be innovative [in] our events. Since this is a year full of changes, we try

our very best to keep up with the transition year in order to give the students something more, something that will enable them to take part and involve themselves— not because they have to, but because they want to,” Tiu stated.

Lasallian Icons Pre-Pageant was the highlight of the five-day activities. Considering that there will be no freshmen enrollees for the next two years, the Lasallian Icons replaced the Frosh Icons which used to be the highlight of the previous Club Fairs. They carried with them certain advocacies and starred in their respective colleges’ production numbers. The pageant night is set sometime in September as part of the University Week 2016.

Dances of Odyssey, Battle of the

Iyra Garce Defensor and Fritz Andrew Abria of CEd

Duets, and Talentadong Lasalyano were some of the activities that showcased the talents and creative juices among Lasallians.

“Teamwork” was also the name of the game as members of various clubs proved they have brains and brawn in the Amazing Race.

Meanwhile, club presidents took on the President’s Challenge where they were grouped as Team Suroy and Team Tation.

Tikal-Tikal was also to watch during the Club Fair as icons from the different clubs took pride in the clubs they represented and showed what they got.

When asked about the delay, if not disruption, of some activities due to bad weather, she said that “since we anticipated that kind of weather,

Jermaine Lamboso and Daniel Yared of CET

we made sure to inform the clubs to be rain-ready. To set up booths that can stand still amidst the rain and as organizers, we made sure that the activities can be pushed through despite the rainfall.”

Tiu gave credits to Angelica Torre, the Liaison for Campus Clubs and Organization, for spearheading Voyage.

“The events in the Club Fair were more about unleashing potentials as they go through the journey of discovery. And since one of the aims of Pusong Lasalyano is to empower students, I think the week-long celebration is a testament that there has been overwhelming student participation,” she said.

Club booths at the parking lot

Photos by Jhon Aldrin M. Casinas, Margaret E. Yusay and Nichol Francis T. Anduyan

Heena Elles and Bryce Jareno of CBA

Amity Dragon Dance Team

Chaela Ruth Mirano and Ian Kenneth Khubchand of CAS

CBA performers during the Culmination Night

Ma. Theressa Wong and Jenny Mae Fernandez represent CET in the Battle of the Duets.

Marie Kathleen Medina and John Aldwin Jamero of BSN

CAS dancers for Dances of Odyssey

CEd dancers for Dances of Odyssey

Club presidents took part in the Presidential Challenge

Official Student Media Corps of the University of St. La Salle * USLS Student Activity Center, La Salle Ave., Bacolod City, Negros Occidental 6100 * July 2016