September-October 2022 Online Newsletter

MASSKARA FESTIVAL MAKES COMEBACK

Alive and back on the streets.

With the theme “Balik Yuhum (Smile Again)”, the 43rd MassKara Festival crowded Bacolod City with vibrant smiles in a three-week celebration from Oct. 1 to 23 after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic.

Made possible with the Bacolod Yuhum Foundation Inc. headed by festival organizer Atty. Pinky Ocampo, City Mayor Alfredo Benitez expressed his sentiments on his first MassKara as the city’s chief executive.

Benitez revealed that he wanted the festival to be something memorable, unique, and entertaining, welcoming an estimated 200,000 visitors, including the First Family as guests of honor who were present at the festival.

The festivities took place at six main festival sites: Lacson Street, Bacolod Public Plaza, Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC), Baywalk at the Reclamation Area, The Upper East, and the Pana-ad Park and Stadium, where 12 cities and 19 municipalities from Negros Occidental showcased their culture and delicacies through decorative pavilion buildings.

During the Miss Bacolod MassKara coronation night, Kara Villarosa was crowned Miss Bacolod MassKara Universe, while Eirine Granada and

Sandale Masangcay were hailed as first and second runners-up, respectively, alongside Miss Bacolod MassKara World Janine Gelera and Miss Bacolod MassKara International Jan Marie Bardon at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum on Oct. 19.

“This [was] just a dream ever since. It was surreal [at] that time. I said [to myself], ‘This is really happening,’” Gelera, a Lasallian nursing student, said as she reflected on her pageant victory as a humbling experience after advocating for the destigmatization of HIV/AIDS.

Furthermore, among the festival highlights was the Electric MassKara Float and Dance-off competition at the BCGC on Oct. 22, wherein Barangay 17 took home a total of P320,000 against 14 other barangays.

In attendance were the First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and her son William Marcos as Barangays 25 and 32 emerged as the first and second runners-up, respectively.

Meanwhile, Barangay Granada was victorious during the MassKara Street Dance and Arena competition at the Paglaum Sports Complex, securing a cash prize worth P1 million.

“Everybody has contributed to the success of our MassKara dancers; the props, the headdresses, and the costumes,” choreographer Joedem Casabuena said in a SunStar interview, with the barangay also bagging the special awards

for Best in Music, Most Disciplined Contingent, and PauPau’s (Food Panda) Choice.

However, the festival highlights were also met with signal jams and the deployment of 2,174 cops for security, jeepney rerouting, and road closures, especially along the streets of Lacson, Rizal-Locsin, Gatuslao, and Araneta towards the Paglaum Sports Complex.

Delivering his speech at the festival’s closing rites, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. cited MassKara’s return as proof that the Philippines is “back to normal and ready to receive tourists” after the pandemic.

Village aims

By Gem Francin R. Diola & Anna Maria J. Vilanueva

THE OFFICIAL STUDENT MEDIA CORPS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. LA SALLE

VOLUME 67 NUMBER 4 · SEPTEMBER TO OCTOBER 2022

TRUTH BEYOND KNOWING

SMILE AGAIN. Bacolodnons enthusiastically welcome the comeback of the MassKara street dance competition after a two-year hiatus at Rizal Street, Bacolod City on October 23. - KEILAH N. BALDOMAR

GOLDEN HUNDRED DAYS

fellow

- LEARN D. FLORES

USLS COMMEMORATES 50TH MARTIAL LAW ANNIVERSARY

Remembering the country’s dark past

By AC Himaya V. Tupas

Never forget, never again.

Lasallians resounded this call as they memorialized the 50th anniversary of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s Martial Law, which was signed on Sept. 21, through a series of activities including a candle-lighting ceremony, film showing, and Martial Law exhibit, spearheaded by the University Student Government (USG) in partnership with both Lasallian and external organizations.

The commemoration started off with Negrense veteran journalist and Martial Law survivor Edgar Cadagat’s sharing of his experiences under the Marcos dictatorship during the USG’s candlelighting ceremony themed “Dekada 50: The Fallen Heroes of the Forgotten Past” at the Solomon Quadrangle, which was then followed by an on-campus protest march, para liturgy, and solidarity song.

“The University of St. La Salle Student Government remembers the 11,103 victims of

BCD unveils plans to ease flooding

By Drexel John N. Amit

In the midst of the country’s rainy season, Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Benitez and Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran met with the City Engineering Office, the Department of Public Works and Highways, and the Disaster Risk Reduction Management on Oct. 4 to determine short-term and long-term solutions that would address flood concerns in the city.

This was after cases of flooding in several areas around the city were reported, following the

human rights violations and those who were murdered, imprisoned, and subjected to torture. We honor those who gave their lives in the pursuit of justice, freedom, and truth,” USG Executive President Fred Donguez remarked.

Along with other student councils across the country, the USG also encouraged Lasallians to wear black on the same day in honor of the Filipinos who fought and sacrificed their lives against oppression during the martial rule.

In addition, the USG’s Department of Advocacy Programs—in partnership with the Balayan Office and human rights organizations DAKILA and Active Vista—hosted a free film screening of “11,103”, a documentary about Martial Law survivors, on Sept. 24 at the University Moot Court.

“It is our social responsibility to remember and learn from the atrocities that Martial Law has brought upon us. In this time of misinformation and disinformation, it is important for us to continue to speak up and provide legitimate information, especially to the misinformed

moderate downpour the day prior, which brought around 5.5 to 7.5 liters of rain volume.

Among the short-term plans identified are the construction of steel-grating type manhole covers, the clearing up of drainage systems, the enlarging of catch basin openings and water inlets, and stringent waste collection and disposal in the barangays.

On the other hand, the long-term plans call for the building of diversion channels as drainage release sites to reduce flooding in the downtown area and the surroundings of SM City Bacolod at the Reclamation Area.

Moreover, officials have also identified 22 “problematic areas” in the city where drainage systems are no longer capable of carrying floodwater as they reach 0.5 to 2.0 feet during moderate rains.

The flood-prone areas, which would be prioritized for declogging of drainages,

masses,” USG Department of Advocacy Programs Undersecretary Ghillean Fegidero said.

Lasallian organizations such as the Communication Society USLS and USLS Political Science Society also participated in the commemoration through a flash mob reenactment of the experiences of Martial Law victims and a Martial Law forum entitled “Of Pains and Scars: The Martial Law Narratives”, respectively.

Moreover, the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines, together with Akbayan! Youth - Bacolod, Center for Youth Advocacy and Networking, Balayan Office, and several Lasallian organizations, launched an exhibit entitled “For Democracy and Human Rights Exhibit: Rekindling the Lessons of Martial Law and the People Power Revolt” at the Coliseum Lobby from Oct. 3 to 7.

“As Lasallians, let us be a vessel of knowledge to the last, the least, and the lost and become catalysts of change,” Fegidero highlighted.

included the streets of Burgos-Hilado, Lacson-Hernaez, Rosario-Mabini, GonzagaLopez Jaena, Luzuriaga-Gatuslao, GonzagaMabini, Gatuslao-Hernaez, Mabini-Libertad, Magsaysay-Lacson, Hernaez (Cokin Bldg.), and Sta. Ana in Barangay 31.

Likewise, commercial districts were also included in the list, such as the downtown area, Hi-Strip, SM City Bacolod in Barangay 12, Libertad Public Market, Central Market, and Lopues East, as well as other miscellaneous areas like the Gonzaga Subdivision in Barangay Villamonte, J.R. Torres, Magsaysay Flyover, Lupit River in Barangay 40, and Mandalagan River near the Queen of Mercy Hospital.

Meanwhile, as they finalize further details on the flood control plans, Benitez sought the cooperation of the city’s stakeholders, reminding them to be responsible in disposing and managing their waste to help ease the issue of flooding.

MEMORIALIZATION. Lasallians wear black and march with lit candles during the commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of Martial Law at the Solomon quadrangle on Wednesday, September 21.

PBBM OKs SIM registrationlaw

Increased security for telecoms

By Jenny G. Millares & James Aldrin C. Pamposa

In hopes of combating the spread of scam messages in the country, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act No. 11934, or the “SIM Card Registration Act” on Oct. 10, making it the first law to be enacted under his administration.

Under the law, a new scheme for the distribution and registration of SIM cards will be developed, wherein a valid, government-issued identification document with a photo is necessary upon purchase.

“With the signing of this Act, we will finally achieve what has long been overdue—an effective means of regulating the issuance of SIM cards to curb the spread of spam [and scam] messages,” Marcos remarked during the ceremonial signing.

Subscribers with existing postpaid and prepaid SIM cards are given 180 days from the law’s commencement to register their cards in order to prevent their deactivation.

Furthermore, publication of a subscriber’s personal data is forbidden by the legislation, and violators will be penalized with operation suspension and a fine of up to a million pesos unless imposed by a subpoena, a legal court order, or upon written notice from law enforcement regarding an existing investigation.

However, the Computer Professionals Union (CPU), a group of Information and Communications Technology professionals, along with other civil society organizations, expressed concern about violations of free speech and data privacy.

“The mandatory SIM [card] registration [law] puts our right to data privacy and data protection at risk. It is ineffective and has ill effects as seen in other countries,” the CPU expressed in their media release.

While the National Privacy Commission (NPC) supported the bill’s passage, it insisted that the new system not be left to retailers who lack the capacity to secure it due to the risk of data breaches.

“Mechanisms must be developed and implemented to prevent security risks and data breaches that may arise from overcollection and inadequate monitoring practices,” the NPC urged in their joint press statement.

Additionally, Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center Executive Director Alexander Ramos noted that the law will make it easier for authorities to identify hackers and scammers, holding those involved in cyber fraud accountable.

“This act outweighs the general security of subscribers than issues of privacy some critics have raised,” Ramos assured.

RECORD-SHATTERING NUMBERS

Over 3K Lasallians enter A.Y. 20-21 Dean’s List

By Alyssa Nicole T. Maquiran

The efforts of 3,329 students during their first year of online classes were recognized during the Dean’s List for Academic Year (A.Y.) 2020-2021 Recognition Rites on Oct. 6 at the Coliseum.

Among the 3,329 awardees, Office of the Registrar Director Paolo Valladarez disclosed that 1,652 came from the Yu An Log - College of Business and Accountancy, 696 from the College of Nursing, 411 from the College of Arts and Sciences, 353 from the College of Engineering, and 217 from the College of Education.

“This is not only record-breaking, but recordshattering,” Sir Valladarez remarked, noting that the current number of awardees has nearly tripled since the A.Y. 2019-2020 count of 1,161 Dean’s Listers, and that this was the first time in the university’s history that the number surpassed 2,000.

With an overall grade point average (GPA) of 1.10, or 99 percent each, BS Psychology major Michael Besa and BS Business Administration major Seth Llamas—both in their fourth year— were hailed as students with the highest GPA for A.Y. 2020-2021.

Aside from the Dean’s Listers, the university also acknowledged the top 10 feeder schools for the academic year, with the University of St. La SalleLiceo De La Salle ranking first after supplying 2,593 senior high school alumni.

Likewise, the best performing school—alma maters bearing the highest ratio between honorees and enrolled students—under Category A, or those

with more than 100 enrollees, was the University of Negros Occidental - Recoletos, while St. Scholastica’s Academy - Bacolod was lauded as the best performing school under Category B, or schools with less than 100 graduates enrolled.

Regarding the two-year delay of the Dean’s List for A.Y. 2020-2021 recognition rites, Valladarez explained that the Office of the Registrar had to postpone the face-to-face ceremony in consideration of the strict health protocols during the early stages of the pandemic.

“Paramount to holding any activity is the safety and health of the students and attendees,” he vowed, mentioning that their office also had to oversee more pressing concerns like enrollment week and the shift to the new Academic Information Management System.

The director also clarified that rolled parchments were given in lieu of the official Dean’s List certificates during the ceremony because the certificates are still being printed and that their office will issue an announcement once these are ready for claiming.

To keep up with the backlog of Dean’s List recognition rites caused by the pandemic, Valladarez shared that plans for the A.Y. 20212022 rites are already in the works.

“We already have a tentative date, which is February 10,” he revealed, adding that the recognition rites for A.Y. 2022-2023 is slated for either September or October 2023.

ACHIEVERS. USLS recognizes high-performing students from different colleges and year levels in the dean’s list awarding for A.Y. 2020-2021 on October 6. - KYLE JOBE B. DE GUZMAN

FIRST 100 DAYS: MARCOS JR. MUDDLED HIS WAY THROUGH SOMEHOW

“PROTECT PBBM”

On October 6, ahead of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s first 100 days in office, this phrase trended nationwide.

What exactly are you protecting him from?

Let us look back and see if Marcos Jr. truly achieved a “functional” government with “the best and brightest” officials, as he claimed in his first 100 days as president; or if there is something we need to protect him from—anything that could endanger the life of our beloved president.

Marcos promised to develop a “comprehensive” economic agenda to help the Philippines surpass its pre-pandemic level and become a “new and transformed” nation, and just a day after delivering his first State of the Nation Address on July 25, his economic team unveiled the administration’s eight-point agenda that will address short-term and medium-term constraints to the economic transformation.

Among the Marcos administration’s socioeconomic agenda is the protection of the purchasing power of Filipino families and the mitigation of socioeconomic scarring, as well as the upholding of public order and safety, peace, and security.

These points, however, seem not to have been tracked well as the Philippines’ inflation rate jumped to a nearly 14-year high of 7.7 percent in October, as a complex mix of global shocks and shortfalls in domestic policies triggered a consumer crisis.

By definition, inflation is a broad rise in the prices of goods and services across the economy over time, eroding consumers’ and businesses’ purchasing power.

In other words, your peso is not going as far as it did yesterday. Inflation will always be a part of the economy, but the government has always had the power to control it.

The Filipino people continue to bear the brunt of the negative effects of inflation caused by the government’s incompetence.

Aside from that, the country was ranked seventh and has been in the annual Global Impunity Index of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) for the past 15 years. “The election of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. brought hope of a shift away from former President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign of intimidation and harassment of the press,” the CPJ said in its report.

It did, however, note that the heinous murders of two tough-talking radio broadcasters, Renato Blanco and Percival Mabasa (better known as Percy Lapid), since Marcos took office in late June have “raised fears that the culture of violence and impunity will endure.”

Given the continued attacks on press freedom and the existence of a culture of impunity, civilians will remain restless in fear of another martial law.

His claim that his administration has the “best and brightest” officials also comes into question, as he appointed himself as Agriculture Secretary despite having neither the time nor the qualifications for the position, and the appointment of former PNP chief Camilo Cascolan as Department of Health undersecretary, someone who has no background in the medical field. It

just goes to show that not all the “best and brightest” are the most qualified.

With all of this in mind, the Spectrum firmly believes that if there is anyone we must protect, it is the Filipino people. There are still so many parts (and parties) we have yet to see, and as long as plans are unclear and not transparent enough, the lives and futures of more than 110 million Filipinos, including the 31 million who voted for him, will remain in jeopardy.

“...if there is anyone we must protect, it is the Filipino people.”

Art by Lana Jewryna L. Barzo

Masking Up

It’s ridiculously ironic, but quite fitting, for a city celebrating a festival of masks to put one on itself.

At first glance, there seemed to be nothing controversial about Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family joining the festivities of one of the country’s most prestigious celebrations. But the origins of the “festival of smiles” are too stained with grief and injustice for this insult to be taken lightly.

As I thought, and rightly so, the confirmation last September 5 did not go quietly and was, instead, met with a valid outburst. With the Marcoses in attendance at a festival that wouldn’t have existed if not for their family’s abuse of power, it leaves such a disgustingly bitter taste (even for the sugar bowl of the Philippines) that it’s difficult for a Negrense to celebrate MassKara with them—at least not while they’re pretending nothing happened.

Like a row of dominoes, Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s reliance on foreign funding and Negros’ reliance on sugar export collapsed in on itself during the president’s second term, which jeopardized the economy, provoked social unrest, and brought famine, among other things.

Of course, no one can say for sure that the visit was yet another attempt to rewrite history. Mayor Alfredo Benitez mentioned wanting to get the word out about the MassKara festival and the city being back on track, so it might be safe to say it was mainly business, or simply colleagues casually inviting each other to a party. While the

title of “guest of honor” remains questionable, as long as the mayor’s relationship with the first family brings no “harm” to Bacolod and its people, there’s not much to be said against the political play conducted by the big guns.

I’m no expert in diplomacy and have very little authority to discuss strategies, but I’d feel more at ease to see office seats sat on and desk documents attended to than to see the president of the Philippines handing out certificates of awards—no matter how many farmers or hectares this covers. Just as well, I think The Upper East

Yzang Ma. Nunulat

could have been inaugurated without requiring the presence of the country’s head of state. Then again, the business opportunities may have been too beneficial for Bacolod to pass up. But what do I know?

Marcos Jr. sitting with Bacolod’s affluent at the Php 3,000 MassKarade Ball sure does bring back unwelcome memories, like the glitz and glamour his teenage self donned while Negros starved in ‘85. But it’s not like the president can just stroll around Lacson Street with an isaw in one hand

and the First Lady in the other, though that would have been a more welcome sight.

Considering our forgiving, caring, and idealistic nature, what’s giving one family a chance to prove themselves and waltz back into the good graces of the public—even if it’s the Marcoses. This charade has gone on for far too long, and I’d gladly welcome a redemption arc any day than condone the keeping up of appearances and bottling up of frustrations, especially from the people who deserve nothing of the sort.

Some Filipinos admonish my generation for dipping our toes into matters from before we were even born, but we want this soap opera to wrap up and move on already just as much as the next person. Unfortunately, for everyone involved, this will never be over until an apology is given where apology is due. On the contrary, I believe that doing so would unite the nation and bring the administration leaps closer to the dream they envision for the Philippines.

A Slap in the Face of Struggling Students

Mental health. Financial support. Discrimination. Harassment.

These are just some of the real struggles of students on a daily basis, of which I am sure Lasallians are not exempted from—and the response of education authorities is a proposal on reviving the mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). Saklap.

Philippine education has long been in crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic only worsened it. The Student Council Alliance of the Philippines, together with Akbayan! Youth and the Bukluran UP System consulted Filipino students, where several concerns in the education sector arose.

The Filipino students are concerned about poor budget allocation and monitoring; delayed school reopenings; inaccessible education and mental health services; students’ rights and welfare violations; historical distortion; inadequate educational infrastructure and materials; threats to academic freedom; ineffective pedagogy and noncontextualized curriculum; lack of social welfare programs; and unwieldy administration and bureaucracy.

The fact that more than 130 student councils and youth organizations signed the agenda means that these are not just “personal” problems.

Amidst these pressing concerns, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. only includes mandatory ROTC in his priority bills for education, avidly

supported by the Vice President and Department of Education Secretary Sara Duterte.

According to him, ROTC will “motivate, train, organize, and utilize students for national defense preparedness or civil-military operations.”

Likewise, Marcos Jr. added that it will also include civic training and preparedness during disaster response operations to enhance the nation’s capacity to produce the needed manpower in times of war, calamities, emergencies, and in support of the government’s law enforcement strategy against crimes by creating a pool of trained reservists.

None of these will solve our education crisis.

Instead, this brings more burden upon the shoulders of Filipino students. The concern over civic education is valid, but requiring students’ involvement in socio-political affairs they are not comfortable with is, undoubtedly, ineffective. Sen. Risa Hontiveros emphasized it best: “If it is the passion of the person to serve the Filipino nation through military service, let them be [...] But allow those who want to show their nationalism through the public service, private sector, civil society, among other various ways to do so.”

We should also remember that we are operating amidst an education crisis. To quote Edilberto de Jesus on the country’s learning poverty, “children cannot appreciate civic education lessons if they are unable to read the texts that teach them.” In the same way, Filipino students cannot effectively

absorb civic education while struggling with issues brought about by the education crisis.

Further, reviving mandatory ROTC will require pouring more money into the armed forces, as it will require equipment and other operational needs. Where do we get the money? Do we further cut the budget of other relevant departments or agencies in education to cater this?

Ultimately, it is insensitive and audacious to make mandatory ROTC a top priority for the education sector, turning a blind eye to the real struggles of Filipino students, teachers, parents, and the whole education sector.

Let us stand firm in our resistance against this absurd proposal, demand for the government to declare an education crisis, and address it by responding to the proposals raised by the Filipino students, who are in the right position to set the agenda as it is we who experience the crisis on a daily basis together with the rest of the education sector.

“...what’s giving one family a chance to prove themselves and waltz back into the good graces of the public—even if it’s the Marcoses.”

Ken Paolo G. Gilo

Yzang Ma. Nunulat

yzama.nunu@gmail.com

LASALLIAN CORE

The Lasallian Legacy of Camaraderie

By Marianne Izabelle T. Reyes & Hana Patricia Raj E. Hautea

If there is anything that ties the Lasallian community together, it is the spirit of togetherness to help a fellow Lasallian in need.

A perfect example was the Sept. 2 fundraising event “Wellness for a Cause”, which hoped to aid the medical expenses of Balayan Office Director Andre Tagamolila after a motorcycle accident placed him in the Intensive Care Unit of the Bacolod Adventist Medical Center.

Following the devastating news, the community wasted no time to act. Almost immediately, there were donation channels and fundraising initiatives created to lighten the financial load on the former Office for Student Affairs (OSA) director. But perhaps the most ambitious project arose when the OSA and University Student Government (USG) Executive Branch—together with the Physical Education, Sports, and Recreation Office (PESAR), the Balayan Office, and the Advancement Office under the Office of the Brother President—

banded together to organize “Wellness for a Cause.”

The activity was divided into four parts: swimming, walking, biking, and zumba, all with the goal of promoting both physical and mental health while simultaneously assisting Sir Tagamolila. Walking and biking took place at the Dizon Sports Complex Oval’s Track Area— the former in the morning and the latter in the afternoon—while the zumba and whole-day swimming activities occurred at the College Covered Court and USLS Pool, respectively.

“Most of our participants came from the first and second years because we coordinated with PESAR about the participants,” USG Executive President Fred Louie Donguez expressed. “The activity was also successful in helping reach our goal of helping Sir Andre. […] I think [around]

2,000 to 3,000 students participated in this event, which [really] hit our target, and we also acquired [a] great amount of donation[s].”

While the activities were free, donation boxes were placed at the wellness program’s venues for the generous Lasallians willing to extend financial aid. At the end of the day, the event raised a total of P53,180 for Sir Andre Tagamolila. Donguez even revealed that the major success of this fundraising event inspired the USG to integrate wellness into their future programs.

Sir Tagamolila has since been released from the hospital and has been steadily improving, with many assuring that he is doing well now. Truly, if there is any lesson to take away from “Wellness for a Cause”, it is that the power of Lasallian solidarity is second to none.

Club Fair Spaceflight No. 2022

By Immalie Rose E. Cafifge

When intergalactic sparks collide mid-space, heavenly bodies ascend to empyrean euphoria.

A two-week splendor of booths, cloaks, and halos filled the University of St. La Salle as students celebrated Club Fair 2022 with the theme “Cosmos: Constellating as One” from Sept. 5 to 16, where Lasallian clubs caroled their way to the skies in prominence and heated competitions.

Amongst its array of activities, the most awaited slanging match was the Empyrean Club Icon 2022, where clubs flaunted unique dispositions their club can offer to the student body through an icon they chose to compete in the Creative Photoshoot, Introductory Entrance, and Tikal-Tikal categories.

However, she who arose triumphant among all deities was Communications Society of USLS (CSU) representative Esther Limbaña, who ranked second in Best in Tikal-Tikal and Introductory Entrance, fifth in Best Club Icon photo, and was crowned overall champion of Club Icon 2022.

“Representing [our] club is a big privilege [to let] the student body see that [we are not

‘just’ Communication students],” Esther stated, reiterating that CSU has something more to offer to the Lasallian community compared to the stereotypical undertone that AB Communication as a course is “easy”.

As for the Multiverse Club booths, various groups displayed each of their assets, functions, and interactive games to the public alongside promotions through stickers, bookmarks, goodies, and so much more.

After two weeks of showcasing the booths from the five colleges and special interest clubs, the Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (JPIA) - USLS ultimately went back-to-back for the best club booth, followed by the Marketers’ Union (MU) and the Google Developer Student Clubs - USLS.

JPIA - USLS was also named the Most Engaging Club Booth, MU the Most Creative Club Booth, and the Earthguards the Most Resourceful Club Booth.

On a different note, the PasiCLUBan 2.0 Game Show 2022 also transpired, where selected club members’ brain cells were challenged by guessing the right answers in categories involving popular campus spots, prominent people in La Salle, and pop culture trends like music and movies.

With over 26 campus clubs and organizations battling out on the galactic game show, the Decision Makers Incorporated came out on top,

WIN-WIN! USLS students and faculty members spearhead fund-raising activities such as zumba, bike and walk for a cause for the Balayan Office Director Andre Tagamolila at the university campus on September 2. - JOHN BRAINARD G. UBERAS

RESURGENCE. Club icons representing various clubs and organizations gaily pose for a photo amid the crowd during the awarding of “The Empyrean: Club Icon and Tikal-tikal 2022” in line with this year’s Club Fair on September 16.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ESTHER JOYCE M. LIMBAÑA

Cashing out sustainability

Bacolod incentivizes waste segregation program

towards sustainability. New users are to provide either a valid email address or scan a QR code at the IPM-CDC booth to successfully register.

By

If your trash could be exchanged for cash, would you still throw it away?

That was what Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez asked as his administration launched the “Trash to Cashback” program to address the city’s unrelenting, decades-long garbage issue on Sept. 5 at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC).

“I’ve been hearing about segregation for several years now, but it is very difficult to do. It’s hard to discipline people to segregate at the source,” Benitez said, pointing out the persistent challenge in the city’s waste management even after numerous environmental campaigns and movements.

Instead of letting recyclable materials take forever to decompose in landfills, the project aims to encourage Bacolodnons to segregate and deposit their scraps at drop-off centers like the My Basurero Eco-community Center at the BCGC which is open at 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Monday to Friday.

IPM-Construction and Development Corp. (IPM-CDC) representative and Basic Environmental Systems and Technologies Inc. executive assistant Lester Mateo further explained that the project follows a waste-to-goods point system, wherein accepted recyclables (plastics, papers, and metals) will have an equivalent amount of feel-good Environmental Points (EP) per kilogram, which will then be turned-over to recycling companies to give the waste a new purpose away from a sad lifetime of rotting away at dumps.

Signing up for an account on the program’s official cashback partner, bXTRA Philippines, is the first step to partaking in this endeavor

Hard-earned EPs can later be exchanged via the verified users’ cashback card for useful knick-knacks like groceries, backto-school chattels, and other convenient services—all redeemable from the bXTRA application or on-site at BCGC.

Aside from aiming to achieve an efficient zero-waste management system in Bacolod, the program also instills awareness among the citizens to responsibly maintain a safe and clean environment because who doesn’t want a trash-free community?

The Spectrum is the Official Student Media Corps of the University of St. La Salle. Its editorial office is located at the Coliseum grounds 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.

Benitez, DHSUD launch housing project for informal settlers

Overall, the “Trash to Cashback” program—likened to a modernized junk shop and scrap business generating a garbage-to-gold trade—is a starting step to land recovery and enlivening the recycling initiative of the city. Although not an unusual combo as movers for change, “trash” does have a nice ring with “cash” after all. 10k families to be

effective housing plan through the PagIBIG Fund’s membership program, as the project is exclusive to Pag-IBIG Fund members.

Together with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), the Yuhum Village onsite housing project of Mayor Alfredo Benitez will be constructed at the city’s relocation site in Barangay Vista Alegre’s Purok Arao, Barangay 8, and coastal areas such as Barangay Banago to provide shelter for informal settler families (ISF).

Around 10,000 families are eyed as initial beneficiaries of the housing program in the aforementioned barangays, where most families currently reside.

“This is a very historic moment [regarding] our dream to have decent and affordable housing for every Bacolodnon. Bacolod will take the front seat as a pilot model [...] in our housing industry,” Benitez shared as his administration aims to have the initial 5,000 housing units ready by early 2023.

According to Benitez, Yuhum Village will feature concrete modular houses that are five stories high and complete with a living room, kitchen, and bathroom—identical to the mock-up model his administration presented at the Bacolod City Government Center.

“[The houses are] soundproof, earthquakeresistant, and well-insulated. The basic unit has a toilet and kitchen counter [and] the owners can make it one bedroom or two bedrooms,” the mayor added.

Moreover, the local government is currently assessing the eligibility of its target beneficiaries for residence at the Yuhum Village through a socioeconomic survey where profiling measures are taken.

Likewise, DHSUD Housing Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar noted that families with low income could access the cost-

Additionally, the Yuhum Village is one of DHSUD’s settlement projects under the “Pambansang Pabahay Para Sa Pilipino: Zero ISF Program for 2028” which aims to construct a million houses every year throughout President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s presidential term.

“This part of the program [will address] the six million housing backlog. We will provide financial assistance [and] we’re 100-percent committed to build the 10,000 housing units for Bacolod,” Acuzar vowed.

Consequently, he also affirmed that plans for the same housing projects are already ongoing in Victorias City, where Benitez’s son Javier Miguel is the mayor, having also signed a memorandum of understanding with DHSUD.

As per Republic Act No. 11201, DHSUD seeks to provide a “continuing program of housing and urban development that shall make available at affordable cost, decent housing and basic services to underprivileged and homeless citizens in urban centers, and resettlement areas”.

Patrick N. Billojan EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Anna Maria J. Villanueva ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Krizzia Ricci T. Nepomuceno MANAGING EDITOR

Immalie Rose E. Cafifge OIC EXTERNAL AFFAIRS DIRECTOR

Gem Francin R. Diola & Meryl C. Sigaton

PHOTO COURTESY OF VISAYAN DAILY STAR

VANTAGE POINT

Of Grains, Beans, and Leaves

By Adrianne H. Saplagio

COURTESY OF NVC FOUNDATION

Malnutrition and hunger have been among the world’s top problems for eons. Unfortunately, akin to poverty and overpopulation, humanity has yet to find solutions to these pressing problems. However, this does not mean that we’ve stopped trying, as people from all over the world continue to strive towards a better tomorrow for future generations.

On September 15, Negrense Volunteers for Change (NVC) and Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez signed a Memorandum of Agreement for the integration of a Mingo Meals Nutrition Program at the Bacolod City Government Center, along with Councilor Kalaw Puentevella, City Nutrition Action Officer Dr. Rosalie de Ocampo, and NVC President Milagros “Millie” Kilayko and Trustee Tima Lacson.

Sponsored by the Angat Buhay project arm of former vice president Leni Robredo’s Angat Pinas Inc., 200 malnourished Bacolod children will get meals from NVC during the program’s six-month

long run. In conjunction with Barangay Nutrition Scholars, local Angat Buhay volunteers deployed on the ground by the Bacolod City Nutrition Action Office will work to monitor the recipients of the meals and offer activities for the target moms and children.

Kilayko shared that the Department of Science and Technology encouraged and provided the technology for the development of Mingo. Rice, mung beans, and malunggay are the three main ingredients of Mingo—which is a healthy and instant supplemental food mostly used for babies, toddlers, and occasionally older kids in necessary situations. Initially, the formula used sesame seeds but this idea was scrapped as Kilayko wanted to utilize ingredients that would support Filipino farmers. After nutritional content testing, NVC found that malunggay was an appropriate alternative.

“The fact that there is so much to be done and we are barely scratching the surface [fuels

my drive]. It comes as part of being a Christian,” Kilayko shares when asked about what keeps her going in her endeavors with NVC.

Present on both Facebook and Instagram, NVC welcomes people who wish to get in touch with them to volunteer, donate, or even just learn about the programs they run for the community.

“Our hearts are always full as we see the volunteers and ground partners embrace the program and provide us with much-needed arms and legs to the program. Volunteers are our lifeline, and no one can take the place of the love they put into their work,” she closes.

Though malnutrition and hunger continue to plague the world, it is important to remember the golden hearts—driven by love and selflessness— that chip away at them bit by bit with every small act of kindness. Whether it be a feeding program for hundreds of people or a single meal for the less fortunate—every little bit helps.

Is it Disappointment or Discrimination?

By Hana Patricia Raj E. Hautea

Man’s greatest nightmare: a black Ariel.

With all the serious problems plaguing society right now—like inflation and securing Taylor Swift concert tickets—you’d think people would focus on the bigger issues in life, no? Alas, skin color is still on top of the problem priority list for many. Just look at when Halle Bailey was announced as Ariel in the upcoming live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid and when Leah Jeffries was cast as Annabeth Chase in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians TV series.

The backlash was off the charts.

But these casting decisions are not as wild as you think, and the arguments are not as valid as you’d hoped. Here’s why: “Their appearance is clearly different in [insert source material]! It’s no longer accurate.”

Firstly, someone can be a brilliant actor and embody their character perfectly without needing to look exactly how the “original” character was described. In Ariel’s case, she is a literal fictional aquatic creature—scales and all.

Plus, according to Rick Riordan, the author of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, physical appearance was secondary when looking for the perfect Annabeth Chase. What he prioritized was how well the actress could embody their personality.

In other words, the accuracy of a casting does not lie solely on the appearance. A character is so much more than the texture of their hair or the color of their eyes. “They’re just doing it for the sake of ticking a ‘diversity’ box.”

This one would only be valid if the actor was actually bad at acting. Neither the Ariel remake or the Percy Jackson series is out yet—we haven’t even given these people a chance!

While there is a problem in forcing an unnecessary agenda (like the token LGBTQ+ comedic relief character), it’s really not hard to believe that these protagonists were casted simply because they’re brilliant actors. If they’re talented and more than capable of bringing the role to life, who are we to argue otherwise?

“They’re going against the original creator’s wishes!”

Rick Riordan literally helped handpick Leah Jeffries to be Annabeth Chase.

In other contexts, this argument is something fans can only debate endlessly about until the original creator themselves speak out. In which case, we can shut up about our opinions until then. Rick Riordan even came out with a statement defending his choice of Leah as Annabeth after the hate on the 12-year-old actress got increasingly appalling. That is a literal child, everyone.

It’s understandable to feel upset when the character you see on screen isn’t the same as the one you’ve been picturing in your head. I was too, at first. But it’s not right to demand that your vision is the only right one—you’re taking away the creative freedom that comes with remakes and undermining the production team’s efforts in finding the perfect actor.

Hollywood is fickle and petty, and it’s difficult enough for minorities to find their footing in the industry. So the next time a POC actor is cast for a role you wanted a white person in, take a moment to ponder why. It may come as a shock to you, but they were likely chosen because they deserved the role—no discrimination, no prejudice.

PHOTO

A Portal to Another World

By Rieden Denielle N. Cuadra & EJ Nell Voen A. Florendo

What happens when your favorite parts of the internet meet reality? POP-X Bacolod.

Years ago, buds of pop culture and hobbyism started to sprout in the city, but due to the Blip brought by COVID-19, we were confined within our quarters. However, the two years of immobility only helped these pursuits of pleasure bloom when the SMX Convention Center transformed into an

“almost” utopia of cosplay, dance, art, and many more exhibitions.

The two biggest pop culture organizers in Bacolod—Playground EX and BaCon Pop— joined forces in opening a multiverse for the 7,000 kasimanwas who constellated an otherworldly hobby convention in Western Visayas last Sept. 17 to 18.

Frequent Iloilo cosplayer Allyssa Buelo even traveled to the convention all the way from Iloilo despite it being her first time. Cosplaying as Yae Miko from Genshin Impact, she transformed

herself into a character who’s known to electrify the battlefield through her god-ordained powers.

Other attendees embodied their favorite fictional characters from their favorite fandoms, like Studio Ghibli, Marvel Studios, Role-Playing games, and other fictitious universes. By purchasing a VIP pass, fans also had a chance at an exclusive meetand-greet with professional cosplayers.

Aside from bringing their favorite characters to life, ardent K-Pop stans manifested their “biases”, or favorite members of their ultimate idol group, while local dance collectives rode the Hallyu wave with their best stylish fits. One performer that stood out was Kyle Esmeralda, who danced K-Pop trends both by himself and with a group, initially finding it nerve-wracking albeit fun and fulfilling in the end.

Moreover, wherever the travelers and voyagers led, the merchants also followed. Exclusive merchandise, stickers, and toys were marketed and flaunted through the magic of visual artists. For one, merchant seller Yara Sevilleno loved selling and seeing people buy her work, despite the struggle of maintaining the booth. Her talent yielded stickers and fanart posters of Encanto, Haikyuu!!, and iconic DC women loved by enthusiasts.

Aside from the aforementioned enchantments, the convention also convoyed Trading Card Game tournaments, toy displays, mini four-wheel drives, and virtual reality games.

For those who missed to enter the recreation paradise, fret not, since the chance to roam the wanderland is still possible with event organizers planning to hold POP-X 2023, BaCon Pop 2023, and Playground EX 2023 in the future.

So if you’ve been foraging mighty distant lands for kindred spirits that share your interests best, POP-X might just be the place you can call home.

On the Job: The Missing 8

By Zaldy Mar L. Lavada Jr.

Fifteen minutes into the screenplay, neo-noir spawn

On the Job: The Missing 8 already has its claws set deep into its target, proving that Bacolod-born playwright Erik Matti has only gotten more furious since the film’s 2013 prequel On the Job, which he directed during a time he dubs as the “angriest he has been.”

On the Job: The Missing 8 is a blood-curdling marriage between fast-paced western tempo and hyperspecific eastern writing which chronicles a hitman’s all-or-nothing gambit for his emancipation and a corrupt journalist’s steps into the poisonous underbelly of urban Metro Manila in an attempt to investigate the strange disappearance of his coworkers. It is an unavoidant social commentary on politics-orchestrated media delivered with moving cinematographic execution and top-notch writing from screenwriter Michiko Yamamoto.

Often blurry but never toothless, the 2021 crime-thriller is reminiscent of Gilroy’s Nightcrawler’s reporter-gone-rogue and cops-andcrooks storyline and Davis’ The Fugitive’s which had everyone on tenterhooks during its prime—a reputation which Variety, too, has recently inscribed upon the Filipino film, calling it: “a sprawling, satisfying big-screen binge.”

It has the perfect balance between the fingerprints of Matti and reality itself.

Boasting a star-studded ensemble featuring John Arcilla and Dennis Trillo, the film is in no way a sequel slump; in fact, it finds more compelling late-night twists and turns in the relatively stripped production compared to its prequel. Inspired by true events, character arcs and plotlines felt very tied to social realities—a tiny question mark still lingering on the aftermaths of the prequel. It is with certainty that the movie carried out its eye-opening

cause, to bare alleged truths behind the Philippines society, without being preachy and awkward as it doesn’t feel like a pointing finger looming on the tip of our noses—one of the hallmarks of a good social critic screenplay.

“What I do mostly in my films is to explore. I’m interested in processes: ‘how does a newspaper get its news? How does one build a church in the guise of getting money from its parishioners?’ Those are things that matter to me. There’s a lot of research that went into it,” Matti comments on his creative process.

Matti adds that inklings of the movie can be traced back to small towns which have politicians taking care of newspapers and radio stations, saying that “that’s where the problems with selfinterest come in.” Such political weight adds more to the pang, giving the screenplay an ethos that feels very human, very near, and very dangerous.

The three-hour screenplay climaxes in fragments of flashbacks and understandably predictable yet

could easily think of its entirety as a possible reality occurring within their town.

In a nutshell, On the Job: The Missing 8 definitely deserves its public traction and universal acclaim for its perfectly crude representation of a grander scheme. With his latest nail-biter, Matti pushed the boundaries of crime-thriller to bloodcurdling and unfortunately real new terrains.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF VISAYAN DAILY STAR

PHOTOS COURTESY OF RAPPLER

Buhol ng Banyagang Sining Krizzia Ricci T. Nepomuceno

Implasyon, kalamidad, krimen, at ngayo’y dinagdagan pa ng isa—K-drama—ito ang mga pangunahing problema ng Pilipinas.

Kahit sa pangaraw-araw na kayod, hindi pa rin kasya ang sahod sa mga bilihin; o kahit matapos man ang isang kalamidad, mayroon namang nakatakdang susunod; maski sa pagpatak ng oras ay unti-unting dumadami ang kasamaan sa lipunan…na sa bawat pag-iskrol sa Facebook ay puro mukha ni Jongsuk-oppa ang nakatanghal. Sasabihin ng iba na may isang naiiba sa apat na ito; pero taliwas ang pananaw ni Sen. Jinggoy Estrada.

Tirik na tirik ang mga mata ng mga netizens noong Oktubre 18 nang ipinahiwatig ng senador na dapat ipagbawal ang mga Korean drama o K-drama upang mapabunsod ang suporta ng mga Pilipino sa mga lokal na mga palabas. Ayon sa kanya, “Kapag palagi tayong nagpapalabas ng mga telenovelang Koreano, mas iidolohin sila ng mga Pilipino kesa sa sarili nating mga artista.”

At hindi naman siya mali, importante nga namang suportahan natin ang mga produkto ng bansa, lalo na sa larangan ng sining. Ngunit para sa akin, hindi solusyon ang pagbabawal sa mga palabas na ito.

Una sa lahat, ang pagiging nasyonalista ay hindi lamang nasusukat sa laki ng suporta sa mga gawa ng kapwa Pilipino. Kung gusto talaga nating suportahan ang gawang Pinoy, hindi ibig sabihin na hindi na tayo puwedeng tumangkilik sa iba. Pangalawa, lahat tayo ay may kani-kaniyang kasarinlan sa pagpili ng gusto nating panoorin, lalo na at mas nagiging globalisado ang bansa.

Kung iisipin, wala sa K-drama ang problema at wala rin sa pagtangkilik ng mga tao dito. Ang suporta ng mga Pilipino sa sariling sining ay nakabase sa kaledad ng gawang Pinoy. Kung ilalagay pa sa mga

salita ni Ilocos Norte Congressman Sandro Marcos: “Mahina ang gawang Pilipino hindi dahil malakas ang gawa ng mga dayuhan. Mahina ang gawang Pilipino dahil mahina ang gawang Pilipino.” Makikita naman sa mga palabas sa telebisyon ang mga paulit-ulit na tema ng pakiki-apid, karahasan, at kanuluan—hindi na natuto at inulit-ulit pa kahit sa mga pelikula. Ni hindi man lang natin sinusubukang gumawa ng mga makabagong konsepto.

Kung titignan, sinusuportahan naman talaga ang mga pelikulang Pinoy—pero dapat galingan din ang paggawa sa mga ito, no?

Para sa akin, hindi na tanong kung kailangan bang bigyang pansin ang mga sariling gawa natin. Sa halip, dapat hinggin ang naratibong “kasupo-suporta ba ito?” Dahil ang kaledad ng sining ng isang bansa ang nagpapakita ng kulay ng kanilang kultura. Kung ang mga palabas natin ay nauukol lamang sa mga kasakiman ng mundo, iyon din ang magiging imahe natin.

Ika nga ni Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda, kailangan ng gobyernong kumuha ng inspirasyon o sundin ang balangkas ng mga nagpapalago sa industriya ng pelikula sa Korea. Kaya upang makakuha ng mas malaking suporta mula sa mga Pilipino, dapat bigyan tayo ng dahilan kung bakit dapat nating tangkilikin ang mga gawang Pinoy. Sa daan-daang mga pelikulang pinalalabas sa bansa kada taon, napakakitid ng talaan ng mga gawang nakakamangha. Noong nakaraan lamang, tumanggap ng papuri ang pelikulang “Dollhouse” ni Baron Geisler dahil sa maganda nitong kuwento. Idagdag pa rito ang mga gawa nina Peque Gallaga, at Lino Brocka na hinding-hindi natin makakalimutan gaya ng Oro, Plata, Mata, Insiang, at On the Job.

Gayumpaman, hindi isang problemang kailangang basagan ng ulo ang pagbabawal sa K-drama at hindi dapat ito isang paksang pinaglalaanan ng panahon sa Senado. Siguro naman, kahit sa papaano, ang oras na ikinikikil sa mga naratibong hindi naman inaapura ay mas mabibigyang halaga kung gagamit ito sa paghahanap ng solusyong makakapagbuti sa ating bansa at sa mga Pilipino.

Hindi lang musika ang pumupuno ng utak niya kundimgakonseptorinngsiyensyaatmatematika— bilang isang 4th year Management Accounting na mag-aaral, ito na lamang ang nilalaman ng oras ni Krizzia. Marami man ang pokus sa iba’t ibang bagay, ang tanging gusto lang niya ay ang tapusin angkanyangmgaaralinatsulatin.

Limampung Taong Patuloy na Pakikipaglaban

Nina Marianne Izabelle T. Reyes at Drexel John N. Amit

Limang dekada.

Iyan ang bilang ng panahong lumipas mula nang pinirmahan ni diktador at dating Pang. Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. ang Proklamasyon Blg. 1081. Napasailalim ang buong bansa sa Batas Militar at nagdulot ng libu-libong pang-aabuso sa karapatang pantao ng mga mamamayan. Maaaring sa pananaw ng ilan ay napakatagal na nito at mas mainam na ipagwalangbahala na lamang. Ngunit ilang taon man ang dumaan, namumutawi pa rin sa puso’t isipan ng mga biktima ang malalim na sugat dulot ng isa sa pinakamadilim na kabanata sa kasaysayan ng Pilipinas.

Ang Pagbabalik-Tanaw

Ayon sa Amnesty International, tinatayang nasa 70,000 ang pinakulong, 34,000 ang pinahirapan, 3,257 ang kinitil, at 878 ang mga taong nawala at hindi na muli nasilayan pa noong Martial Law. Karamihan sa mga biktima ay mga aktibistang estudyante, mamamahayag, relihiyosong manggagawa, magsasaka, at iba pang salungat sa diktaturyang Marcos.

Sa kasalukuyan, nasa 11,103 lamang ang mga kinikilalang biktima at may karapatang makakuha ng reparasyon bilang pagkilala sa dinanas nilang kalapastanganan sa rehimeng Marcos ayon sa Human Rights’ Claims Board. Kung susumahin, hindi ito aabot sa kalahati ng kabuuang bilang ng mga biktima

kung kaya’t nararapat lamang ang pagpapanatili ng kanilang mga kuwento lalong-lalo na sa panahon ng paglaganap ng maling kabatiran. Ang Pagbali sa Naratibo

Mula sa mga mapanlinlang na bidyo sa YouTube, TikTok, at Facebook, tila ang kabataan naman ngayon ang puntirya ng mga nambabaluktot ng kasaysayan. Kamakailan lamang, wari’y sinimulan na ang tangkang historical distortion sa isang modyul mula sa isang paaralan sa Marinduque. Sa nasabing materyales, ipinangalanang “Period of the New Society” ang Martial Law na siya raw ugat ng paglago ng ekonomiya, kultura, at turismo sa bansa, at maging ang mamamayan ay disiplinado.

Ang pangyayaring ito ay isa lamang sa marami pang mga pagtatangkang baguhin ang kasaysayan. Labis na nakaka-alarma rito ang pamimilog na nakasentro sa mga kabataan sa mismo nilang paaralan. Samakatuwid, lalo dapat pag-igihan ang pakikipaglaban sa ganitong uri ng pagbabaluktot sa kasaysayan.

Ang Pagpapatuloy ng mga Kuwento

Dahil sa paglaganap ng historical distortion ay napapawalang-bisa ang kuwento ng mga biktima ng Martial Law. Kung kaya, upang ipagtanggol ang mga ito, layunin ng ilang institusyon tulad ng Project Gunita

na mapanatili ang wastong salaysay tungkol dito, sa pamamagitan ng pag-digitalize ng impormasyon at kaalaman, lalo na sa panahong laganap ang disinpormasyon at historical denialism. Nagsisikap din sila na palawakin ang inisyatibang pag-archive sa mga dokyumentong pumapaksa sa Martial Law upang mas maiparating ito sa publiko.

Kasali rin ang Active Vista Center, Inc. sa paglulunsad ng mga exhibits, pelikula, at iba’tibang kaganapan tuwing Martial Law Anniversary Commemoration Week upang bigyang liwanag ang kahalagahan ng demokrasya at karapatang pantao sa taunang Active Vista International Human Rights Festival. Sa kanilang ikasampung selebrasyon ay nagkaroon sila ng premiere event kung saan ipinalabas ang dokumentaryong ‘11,103’ bilang pagbabaliktanaw sa karahasang dinanas ng mga biktima ng Batas Militar.

Sa panahon kung saan paunti-unting ibinubura ang karimlang sinapit ng mga mananalaysay ng katotohanan ukol sa Martial Law, ang bilang ng iilang nakaligtas ay hindi sapat upang sugpuin ito. Sa gayon, nasa atin—mga mamamayan ng makabagong henerasyon—ang kapangyarihan upang itaguyod ang katotohanan at puksain ang naratibong pilit na kumukubli sa madilim na nakaraan ng bansa.

“Kung iisipin, wala sa K-drama ang problema at wala rin sa pagtangkilik ng mga tao dito. Ang suporta ng mga Pilipino sa sariling sining ay nakabase sa kaledad ng gawang Pinoy.”

Bugana nga Halalban para sa mga Negrosanon

Sa bugana nga biospera sang Negros Occidental ginpamatud-an sang siyudad ka Bago kag Sagay nga wala naga-untat sa sugilanon ang pag-ulikid sa dunang manggad, kundi may kaupod man nga disiplina agud maamligan ini.

Ang panikasog sang duha ka siyudad agud maprotektan ila kinaugali nga manggad amo ang nakakuha sang kahimtangan matapos sila malakip sa 2022 World’s Top 100 “Green Destinations” sang Green Destinations Foundation, isa ka internasyonal kag non-profit nga organisasyon nga naka-base sa Netherlands, nga naghiwat sang pagpadungog sa Athens, Greece sang Setyembre 27.

Para makapasar sa ini nga listahan, kinahanglan magpasa ang siyudad sang self-report kag matuman ang 60 porsyento sang 15 core sustainability nga talaksan sang organisasyon, amo dayon ang pagsumitar sang ila Good Practice Story—isa ka detalyado nga paathag tuhoy sa sustainability project sang lugar.

Gindayaw man sang organisasyon ang mga takus nga ginhimo sang duha ka siyudad pareho sang pagpasag-uli sang Bago sa ila halangdon nga watershed kag ang inisyatibo sang Sagay nga mangrove forest protection paagi sa communitybased ecotourism

Suno kay Bago City Mayor Nicholas Yulo, matuod nga ang internasyonal nga pagkilala sa ila nga pagpaninguha ang nagabugna sa mga pumuluyo nga magpanikasog para maprotektahan kag matipigan ang Bago Watershed para sa masunod pa gid nga mga henerasyon.

Nagsiling ang Green Destinations nga nagaatubang ang Bago Watershed sang madamo nga mga isyu kung diin ginabutang sa katalagman ang balanse sini, pareho sang polusyon sa tubig kag pagkalbo sa kagulangan.

Nalakip man sa kahimtangan ang pagpadamo sang ani sang humay kag ang paghaylo sang upland farms nga mangin sustainable agro-forestry areas

Para naman kay Sagay City Mayor Narciso Javelosa Jr., isa ka kadungganan nga madayaw sang organisasyon ang ila marine reserve—ang 32,000 nga ektarya sang katubigan nga ila ginaamligan.

“Isa ka padungog sa nagligad kag sa karon nga mga lider kag mga tawo nga nangabudlay para sa dekada nga pagamlig sini,” ambit ni Javelosa.

Hidugang sang Green Destinations, sa una, wala naapresyar sang komunidad ang matahom nga mangrove forests kag ang ilahas nga kasapatan sini. Apang paagi sa social media marketing nga kampanya kag mga plano para sa eco-tourism development sang lokal nga gobyerno, nakita ka mga pumuluyo ang importansya sang mangrove

Upod sa kadalag-an sini, nagapabilin nga protektado ang 15.5 nga kagulangan sa Suyac Island sa marine reserve sang Sagay kag ang 6,000 nga dugang sa flying fox species sa isla sa sulod sang isa ka dekada.

Sa karon, padayon ang pagtipig sang duha ka siyudad sa ila palibot kag ilahas nga kaupod sini— hangop sa pagpati nga sa pagsustenar sa manggad sang probinsiya ang dako nga solusyon tubang sa gakatabo nga climate crisis sa kalibutan.

Pinakauna nga intellectual property help desk sa NegOcc, ginpatukod

Ginpatukod sang Intellectual Property of the Philippines (IPOPHL) sang Setyembre 29 ang pinakauna nga Intellectual Property (IP) help desk sa siyudad sang Bacolod agud mas madamo nga negosyante ang ila mabuligan tuhoy sa isyu sang copyright.

Nahamtang ang help desk sa Provincial and Economic and Development Center lapit sa Ayala Malls Capitol Central kag nagabukas lamang kada ikatatlo nga Miyerkules kag Huwebes sang bulan.

“Nakitaan ang Negros Occidental sang mataas nga potensyal sa mga aplikasyon sang IP. Tungod sini, mahapos ang desisyon sa pagpatukod sang help desk sa probinsya. Luyag kag handa ang IPOPHL magdala sang mga programa kag serbisyo nga lapit sa stakeholders sang Negros Occidental,” siling ni IPOPHL Director General Nelson Laluces.

Dugang pa, ginpatukod ini para makabulig sa mga lokal nga negosyo nga mag-usisa kung peke ukon huwad ang ila nabakal nga produkto kag kung kinahanglan magpasaka sang kaso tuhoy sa copyright, trademark, ukon pagpatente sang ideya.

Sang una, isa lang ka programa ang regional operators division, apang subong mangin isa na ini ka full division—amo ngaa ginapatigayon ang pagaplaag sang satellite offices kag help desks sa kada rehiyon para matinguhaan ang pagtatap sa tanan.

Ang panguna nga hilikuton nga gina-atubang sang IP help desk amo ang paghibalo kung nagagamit ang isa ka negosyo sang counterfeit nga mga produkto pareho sang mga may ginlain sa logo ukon mas nubo na kalidad sang orihinal nga produkto.

“[Kung] magpadala ka [sa amon] sang reklamo nga nakabakal ka sang peke nga produkto, ipafill up ka namon sang form para mapangitaan handler sang IP Rights Enforcement Office, ukon tan-awon sang officer-in-charge ang kasangkaron sang reklamo. Sa masami, ginatawag ang atensyon sang husto nga trademark owner, ” paathag ni IP Region 6 Officer Marianne Bebit.

Ugaling, kung indi kaanggid sa trademark ang isyu, ginapasa ang reklamo balik sa iban nga ahensya kaangay sa Department of Trade and

Industry ukon sa Bureau of Internal Revenue.

“Para sa iban nga mga kaso, ginapasa na namon sa [amon nga] partner bureau. Nagako-operar kami kaupod sa 15 ka mga ahensya nga nagalakip sang National Committee on IP Rights,” dugang niya.

Bisan kalabanan nga mga opisina online na ang operasyon, nagpatukod gihapon ang IPOPHL sang physical help desk sa siyudad para maatipan ang mga nagareklamo nga pumuluyo, labi na ang mga tigulang kag mga wala gagamit internet

“Indi tanan kabisado ang teknolohiya kag indi man tanan nami ang koneksyon sa internet [ukon] sagad mag-email, amo ngaa mas luyag nila makigkita sa akon sa personal agud mahatagan ko solusyon ang ila problema,” ambit ni Tajanlangit-Bebit.

Suno pa sa iya, ginabantayan man ka ahensya ang mga datos sang Negros Occidental bangud pananglit nga magsaka ang mga kaso nga ginaasikaso sang help desk sa masunod nga tatlo ka tuig, mapasa sila sang panugda nga himuon full-time satellite office ang help desk sa probinsya.

Nila James Aldrin C. Pamposa kag Alyssa Nicole T. Maquiran

Nila AC Himaya V. Tupas kag EJ Nell Voen A. Florendo

PHOTO COURTESY OF DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY-WESTERN VISAYAS

Panindugan ang copyright ka negosyo

By Angelyn Emmanuelle H. Taruballes

BY JOHN PAUL V. PECHON

Beyond the Pocket of the Glove

By Krizzia Ricci T. Nepomuceno

Practice, virtuoso, and a splash of hope go a long way—no matter where you are in life.

A team of young Negrense girls, batting under the Negros Occidental Softball Team, Majors Team, proved to be a dime in the rough after clinching a glove-handed fourth place during the 2022 Little League World Series semifinals in Greenville, North Carolina, on Aug. 16.

After pitching with teams from Canada, Italy, Maryland, and Connecticut at 1-0, 4-1, 0-2, and 1-0 respectively, the girls made their way to the semifinals, losing a 0-11 match against Connecticut.

Ultimately, the team fell short in the battlefor-third match against Chesterfield, Virginia, 0-9, finishing with three wins and three losses.

and her husband from training the girls living in their community who would soon make up the dream softball team that December.

“During [the] pandemic we [trained and housed them in our own home] since outdoor activities were not allowed. We are lucky that our place has a vacant lot [we could utilize] as our training venue,” Jalandoni said.

She narrated that the players would wake up at 4 a.m. for a two-hour workout, have breakfast by 7 before training for three hours in the field, eat their lunch, take a quick nap, and back to the field for another three hours from 2:30 p.m.

Still, that was just the beginning. Jalandoni shared that they struggled a lot with food but nonetheless overcame it all through faith, courage, and determination so that they could continue with their training.

Other than placing fourth, the Majors Team was able to clinch the Team Sportsmanship Award, while their accompanying Seniors Team placed fifth in the Senior League of the same tournament.

Composed of daughters of tricycle drivers and sugarcane farmers, members AC Maratong, Audrey Valenzuela, Krystal Lobatong, Anne Manalo, Angela Esperida, Princess Ablig, Chear Blancia, Chezka Palmera, Erica Pasion, Jean Estrada, Jona Mongcal, Jewel Bejar, and Hezekiah Cuerda came together last December, when the pandemic was still on high alert, under the captainship of Jacey Pajotal.

“It was a life-changing experience for them since [it was their first time]—riding a plane, staying in a hotel, [eating unfamiliar food], and meeting people of different races. Who could have thought [these girls] could go to the U.S. and compete in the World Series?” Head Coach Lizvi Jalandoni recounted.

The Negros Occidental Softball Team has been on the field for about two decades, but due to quarantine protocols, their training was halted. However, that did not stop Jalandoni

A Multi-medal Metamorphosis

By Karen E. Pico & Zaldy Mar L. Lavada Jr.

Maphi Daniel Polvora, a multi-awarded rising powerlifting athlete, used to go to the chapel every morning at 6:30 when he was in ninth grade. It was not until that one visit, when the sun rose behind him and cast his shadow overhead, that he realized, “Wow. I’m a tiny person.”

Every sports phenom has a starting point, but Maphi is nowhere near the finish line. At 20 years old, the Lasallian third-year BS Accountancy student championed the Philippines in powerlifting at the International Powerlifting Federation South East Asian (SEA) Cup held in Malaysia, where he bagged gilded medals. His laurels, however, pale in comparison to the self-love and confidence he has gained since his epiphany five years ago.

“I got into weightlifting, to be brutally honest, because of insecurity issues. You start off as a skinny kid, you get bullied for it, and it’s going to hit you hard. I wanted to be better for myself, and I wanted to love myself more,” Maphi said, reminiscing his early days at the gym.

Self-doubts can be harmful, but Maphi decided to take measures to ensure that he would not always be in that inferior position—kick-starting his rapid ascent into sports stardom.

“I think we just live in a very sad society [where] I was pushed into changing myself just to fit in. I’d be lying if I said that I wish I were smaller, but I don’t want anybody else to feel the way I felt because I don’t think anyone should feel like that,” the SEA Cup champion added.

Breakthroughs demand breakdowns, and Maphi has had his fair share of rock bottoms. He remembered throwing up all over the kitchen sink because of how bad exercising was. “I vomited in the sink, and then I [told] myself, ‘This is the last time that you’re going to quit. [...] You’re not going to quit on anything.’ I carried that mindset until now.”

During that moment of extreme vulnerability, he expressed that he wanted to abandon the domain. “I was like, ‘Is this worth it?’ And then I said, ‘Let’s just see how far we can go.’” And off he went, realizing his vision of wanting more. Now he holds the record for having the best bench,

deadlift, and overall total in the Philippines for the junior class under 66 kg.

“That’s how life goes: you want something more. Don’t live in comfort. [...] Always stay hungry when it comes to achieving something great,” Maphi remarked.

Lately, the team has been eyeing to join a grassroots tournament in preparation for the Little League Philippine Series National Finals in 2023. It was an epiphany.

With his swift growth in the powerlifting sport, the rising athlete plans to win more events and, eventually, compete in the World Classic Open Championships. After years of actualizing his epiphany, he now leaves a lesson: “Have fun. Enjoying the process is like the big chunk of going from point A to point B. [...] Learn how to love the process. Learn how to love the pain. [...] You [have] to force your mind to think that it’s going to be worth it in the end.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF LITTLE LEAGUE SOFTBALL WORLD SERIES

PHOTO COURTESY OF TEAM PH (POWERLIFTING ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILIPPINES)

ATENEO OUTPLAYS UST IN CLIFFHANGER

Veterans Vanessa Gandler and Faith Nesperos were a force for the Blue Eagles in the first two sets, as they provided the crucial hits and needed offense to put the squad ahead, 2-0.

The comeback is greater than the

The Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) Blue Eagles proved just that as they asserted their mastery over the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Tigresses after hacking out a 25-21, 27-25, 21-25, 22-25, 15-11 statement during the Balik Yuhum Volleyfest exhibition game on Oct. 9 at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum, following a five-set loss to the Akari Power Charges on Sept. 18 at the same venue.

This was their first meeting since their UAAP Season 84 step-ladder semis match last June, when the fourthranked Blue Eagles dispatched the third-seeded Golden Tigresses in three sets, 25-23, 25-23, 25-20.

Likewise, the Blue Eagles’ twin towers, Joan Narit and AC Miner, blanked the Tigresses at the net in the opening set, as the offense-focused team simply could not keep their attacks going.

Behind a partisan crowd cheering them on, UST found renewed energy in the second set as they led the contest by as many as five points, 16-11, but their defense faltered in the endgame, allowing the Blue Eagles to claw back and snatch the set, 27-25.

Though ADMU tried to ride their momentum coming into the third set, UST’s point city Eya Laure just could not stop hitting the markers, while Camille Victoria provided the needed firepower for the Golden Tigresses to keep the game close for UST, 1-2.

Moreover, it was the Blue Eagles who took the driver’s seat in the fourth set, courtesy of Gandler and Lyann De Guzman’s hot hands, who nailed the scoring column for the Blue Eagles to give their team an early lead, 8-2, but let their guard down halfway, enabling the Golden Tigresses to mount a comeback and equalize the contest, 2-set apiece.

The deciding set eventually became a game of spurts, but the Lady Eagles simply held out longer, and when the game came down to a match point, 14-11, the Coliseum crowd went ballistic as Lady Eagle Gena Hora delivered a service ace to close out the game for Ateneo.

In an interview with Panay News, Ateneo head coach Oliver Almadro shared: “Last UAAP tournament, we really had a short preparation. We were limited to a few tuneup games. Having games like this is really important to us.”

Will pranking—at its core of making someone look foolish while getting some amusement out of it— ever be okay?

This was the very question I asked after hearing about the malicious, and quite unfathomable, act that transpired at the first Balik Yuhum XC Race during the 43rd MassKara Festival: a group of spectators handed a plastic bottle filled with water from a carabao-infested stream to one of the participants, which she unknowingly consumed. If that wasn’t enough, these “pranksters” filmed the entire ordeal, posted it on Facebook, and poked fun at the victim.

Now, the golden rules of pranking: there should be no intention to ridicule, and it should not cause permanent damage. Otherwise? Well, one might find themselves in serious trouble.

Based on these rules, this so-called “prank” was anything but such. There is no defense that can erase the fact that this was a malicious and degrading act committed out of sheer ignorance and a lack of basic human decency.

If anything, the MassKara Festival’s “Balik Yuhum” theme did not mean bringing back smiles by pulling offensive pranks at the expense of one’s health and dignity.

Furthermore, there are notable factors that make the situation even more outlandish.

The victim won the race in the LGBTQ category, which made me wonder: was this prank on the LGBTQIA+ community intentional? Regardless, a member of the community was victimized—which does not read well, given the history they’ve had in terms of fighting discrimination in the conservative Philippines. In fact, Roseller “Jojo” Ramos, a member of the race’s organizing group, Team Armands, said it best, “It was supposed to be a big thing for the LGBTQIA+ community because races don’t normally have that kind of category, and we are sorry that this thing has to happen.”

In a twist of events, the said perpetrator—a Grade 12 student—asked for forgiveness, citing that he “only wanted to pour [the water] on her but she asked to drink it instead.” While the video paints a different picture, with the perpetrator clearly handing

her the bottle, the damage was done, and pulling the “immature minor” card does not help.

Altogether, I can say that this incident spotlighted the implications of poor sportsmanship and the ethics of pranking as a whole. It goes against everything the biking community stands for: respect and community. “Members of the biking community [in Bacolod] and elsewhere always respect their fellow bikers, and this would not have happened if they were real biking enthusiasts,” Ramos explained.

Take this as a lesson: risking another individual’s life for kicks and giggles is simply not worth it. If you in your right mind would still attempt to do such, well, ask yourself: is a five-minute gag worth a lifetime of culpability?

Armed with her emotional support water bottle, Anna is a third-year BS Psychology student who strives for perfection even when she knows it’s impossible. She plans to skateboard her way through life, just figuring things out along the way.

HEIGHT IS MIGHT. Joan Narit towers over to swipe a point for the Blue Eagles. - KYLE JOBE B. DE GUZMAN

“The MassKara Festival’s ‘Balik Yuhum’ theme did not mean bringing back smiles by pulling offensive pranks at the expense of one’s health and dignity.”